Principal Report

Welcome to Week Six of Term Four. I hope everyone has enjoyed a positive and productive week. Term Four is always an exciting and busy time at Highvale Primary School, and this year is no exception. Alongside our much-loved events such as Graduation, Transition, and our Christmas Carols, we also have a range of additional activities planned, including our Whole School Fun Day, various year-level excursions, and end-of-year celebrations. We are very excited about the rich opportunities and experiences ahead for our students. Please continue to check Compass and our school newsletters regularly for up-to-date information and details about these upcoming events.

Birthdays 

Happy Birthday to the following students who will celebrate their special day throughout November:  Lily Y 4U, Andrea W 4A, Austen H 3J, Meera S 4A, Parinaaz K 5X, Minghao G 1D, Nimthula (Tevin) R 4A, Adriana Yue Zi C 5S, Adrian Yu Zi C 5X, Aarna D 6S, Kian D 4A, Zoe L 2S, Avni S 2S, Irene L 6D, Victoria Z 4U, Lingxiao W 5S, Ansh P 5X, Aleina N 5X, Indiana O 1D,  

Anjali C 3CBB, Sidarrth G 4U, Meera T 3CBB, Chloe C  5X, Kezia C 2S, Ivin P 2S, Vimal A 3J, 

Andrea L 3CBB, Faith C 5X, Jasper R 6D, Sukhin D 2J and Lionell X 2J. We hope you all have a terrific birthday.

Attendance

At Highvale Primary School we firmly believe that attending school every day plays a crucial role in shaping a child's educational journey. Regular attendance allows students to fully engage in classroom activities, discussions, and hands-on learning experiences. It provides them with the opportunity to grasp new concepts, ask questions, and collaborate with their peers. Consistent attendance helps build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, enabling children to excel academically. This term, we will be reinforcing the importance of attending school every day. 

Congratulations to the 288 students who have achieved 100% attendance so far in November. Some of these students include: Yingluo W Prep FY, Anaaya M Prep FY, Lucas L Prep B, Eli H Prep B,  Vrunshank M 1S, Omar N 1S, Leanne L 1D,  Peter X 1D, Aadyant S 2S,  Kaylee S 2S, Cici S 2M, Jasper S 2M, Lionell X 2J, Nathan Y 2J, Ethan X 3CBB, Sheldon X 3CBB,  Caspian R 3J, Isaac O 3J, Lily M 4U, Mirabelle L 4U, Joshua L 5S, Jayden L 5S, Aaron L 5X, Claire C 5X, Zachary C 6S, Livia F 6S, Vaibhavi D 6D and Maya E 5X. 

Here are some attendance figures for 2025 so far:

Remember: it is not ok to be away!

Safe Parking Around the School Crossing

We have recently received feedback from our School Crossing Supervisor regarding parking around the crossing on Grantley Drive. Families are reminded not to park in the designated No Standing zones, as this impacts visibility and the safe crossing of students and families. Please ensure you are following all parking signs and road rules when dropping off or picking up your child. Your cooperation helps keep our school community safe and is very much appreciated. 

Opportunity to provide parent feedback

At Highvale we have high standards of ourselves, our students and our community. In order to continuously improve, we would appreciate your feedback on our Stop, Start, Keep document (there's a link on Compass). Our hope is that you will let us know the things you love, don’t love and think we should bring to Highvale in the future. Please be honest, we really appreciate the feedback (positive or negative). If you need assistance filling this in, please call the school office on 9887 8000. We’re happy to help you!

Remembrance Day Ceremony

On Thursday 11th November, our whole school celebrated Remembrance Day with great respect and gratitude to honour the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. The Year Four students led the ceremony which began with students presenting information and short stories about peace, courage, and the importance of remembering those who served in wars. We acknowledged the fallen heroes by having a moment of silence and all classes laid a wreath. The event helped us understand the true meaning of bravery, sacrifice, and peace. A huge thank you to Aleesa Altube, Mark Usai and the Year Four students who led the ceremony. Thank you to all students who supported Remembrance Day Appeal by purchasing poppies and other memorabilia throughout the week.

Upcoming Community Events

Christmas Carols:  Thursday 11th of December 4:30pm-6:00pm

Our students have been rehearsing and are almost ready to bring you an evening full of music, joy, and holiday cheer. Bring your friends, family, picnic rug and best singing voice so you can sing along and soak up the festive spirit. Food will be available to purchase on the evening, using cash ONLY. This includes a sausage sizzle, soft drink, chocolates and icy poles. More information will be provided on Compass closer to the event. 

Thank you Morning Tea: Friday 5th of December 9:00am-10:00am

We’d like to invite parents who have helped in our classrooms, joined excursions, assisted at events or contributed through the HPCG or School Council to a morning tea. This is our way of showing heartfelt appreciation for all the support you’ve given to our school across 2025. 

Year 6 Graduation Evening: Wednesday 3rd of December 5:00pm- 8:00pm

We’re excited to celebrate our Year 6 students as they complete their primary school journey. It’s a time to reflect on their growth and achievements over the past seven years. We look forward to celebrating this special milestone with all Year Six students and families. 

Leadership Roles for 2026

As you know, the process of selecting our school leaders for 2026 is currently underway, and we are fortunate to have an exceptionally strong field of applicants. In 2026, we will continue with the existing model of two female and two male School Captains, 2 x House Captains for each house, 2 x Performing Arts Captains, 2 x Art Captains, 2 x STEAM Captains, 2 x ICT Captains and 2 x Wellbeing Captains. As part of the selection process, all aspiring captains have participated in some or all of the following: group interviews, individual interviews and written applications. 

I would like to commend all students who applied, for demonstrating initiative, confidence, and a genuine commitment to leadership within our school community. Mrs Soccio and I are carefully considering each application to determine the students who will best represent our school in these important roles next year. 

Our School Captains for 2026 will be announced at a whole school Assembly on Friday 5th December. All other captains will be announced at a whole school Assembly on Friday 12th December. We are very excited to make these announcements and share the information with our school community.  

Enrolments for 2026

If you are planning to move house or will be leaving Highvale Primary School at the end of this year, we kindly request that you inform our office staff. This information is essential for us to accurately forecast student numbers and effectively plan the grade structures for the upcoming year. If your child is currently in Grades Prep to 5 and will not be attending Highvale in 2026, please notify the school office in writing at your earliest convenience.

Plans for 2026

In exciting news, our total student enrolment at Highvale Primary School continues to grow, with projections indicating approximately 385 students attending in 2026. Throughout this year, we have welcomed a number of new families to our school community, contributing to steady growth across all year levels. As a result, our class structure for 2026 will look slightly different to accommodate the increasing enrolments and ensure that class sizes remain balanced to support the best possible learning outcomes for all students.

Our anticipated 2026 class structure is: 

Prep - 2 classes

One - 2 classes

Two - 2 classes

Three - 3 classes

Four - 3 classes

Five - 3 classes

Six - 3 classes

This means that we will go from 15 classes in 2025 to 18 classes in 2026. Some spaces within the school will need to be transformed into classrooms over the Christmas break to accommodate this. We are very excited to welcome new students and families to our lovely school community.  

HPCG Annual General Meeting

For many years, the Highvale Primary Community Group (HPCG) has been led by a dedicated team of parents who have worked tirelessly to support our school community through organising events and fundraising initiatives. As we look ahead, it’s time to welcome new members and elect a new committee for 2026, including the roles of President, Secretary, and Treasurer. We invite all families to attend our Annual General Meeting online on Wednesday 19th November 2025 at 6:30pm. For more information, please contact the school office on 9887 8000 or email highvalepcg@gmail.com.

Compass

We have a number of upcoming events that require parent permission and sometimes a payment. It is essential to regularly check Compass for upcoming events to stay informed and organised within the HPS community. Compass provides timely updates on important activities, assessments, excursions, and key dates, allowing students and parents to plan effectively and avoid last-minute surprises. Maintaining this habit supports effective time management, ensures preparedness, and fosters clear communication between students, families, and staff.

Curriculum Day

On Monday 3rd December, we had a Curriculum Day and staff used this day to moderate student data and prepare for the upcoming reporting cycle. Students Semester Two reports will go live on Compass on Friday 12th December. We hope all families enjoyed Melbourne Cup Day and the long weekend.

Financial Contributions 

I sincerely thank all parents and carers who have supported our school this year through financial contributions. Your generous contributions play a vital role in helping us enhance and enrich the educational experiences that we offer our students. These contributions have enabled us to provide additional resources and opportunities beyond the standard curriculum. This year we used financial contributions in many ways, however, some of these include:  

• Painting our student line up areas and breeze ways
• Landscaping and installing a new sensory garden (Karinya)
• Purchasing 150 brand new laptops for classroom use
• Purchasing new books for classroom libraries

If you are yet to make contributions and would like to, please see Compass or come and visit us at the school office. You are helping to make Highvale a very special place for our students to learn and grow. 

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS 

Kids Help - kidshelpline.com.au phone 1800 55 1800 

Parent Line - betterhealth.vic.gov.au phone 13 22 89 

Headspace - headspace.org.au phone 1800 650 890 

eSafety Commissioner - esafety.gov.au - 

Advice for parents and carers to help children have safe experiences online 

Have a great week ahead HPS families,

Carly Epskamp

Principal

Carly.Epskamp@education.vic.gov.au