A message from Mr Steed
Hurstville Public School - 150th anniversary celebrations commerce next week!
We are excited to announce that our school’s 150th anniversary celebrations are just around the corner! From 1876 to 2026, our school has grown and thrived, and we can’t wait to mark this special milestone. The main events will take place during Education Week 2026, from Monday, 3rd August to Friday, 7th August.
During this week, we have planned a variety of activities that celebrate our school’s proud history, achievements, and strong community spirit. These events will showcase both our past and present with pride.
The highlight of our celebrations will be the 150th anniversary Community Fair on Saturday, 8th August, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, here on the school grounds. It will be a fun-filled day with lots of activities, great entertainment, and wonderful chances to connect and celebrate together. This special event will bring together students, staff, families, alumni, and community members to share in our school’s incredible legacy.
Please be sure to join us for what promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. The fair is a chance to honour our school’s achievements and traditions, and to show our ongoing commitment to providing quality education for many years to come.
This milestone celebration will help strengthen the sense of community that makes our school a fantastic place to learn and grow. We look forward to making new memories and embracing an exciting future together.
For our Hurstville PS alumni, we have two upcoming events in Term 4 that we would love you to be a part of. On Thursday 29 October from 4:30pm – 7:00pm, the school will host an Alumni High Tea on the tiered deck area in the main playground. More information and registration information will follow shortly about the Alumni High Tea.
The wonderful Hurstville P&C will also be hosting an alumni evening at an Georges River Sailing Club on the 21 November from 6pm. Canapes and a drink will be provided. The cost for this event is $70 per person. Please register your interest in attending this event by emailing the Hurstville P&C: pchurstville@hotmail.com
Both alumni events will continue to be advertised via the school’s communication and social media platforms in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your overwhelming support and enthusiasm as we prepare for this historic event. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Our events for Education Week include:
Past and Present Mufti Day on Monday 3 August 2026.
As part of our celebrations marking 150 years of Hurstville Public School, we are excited to invite all students to participate in our Past and Present Mufti Day on:
Students are encouraged to come dressed in costumes that reflect the theme of "Past and Present". Some ideas include:
- Students, teachers or community workers from Hurstville's past
- Historical occupations or professions
- Clothing styles from previous decades
- Any outfit that creatively represents the theme of Past and Present
More inspirations can be found from the poster and a PDF shared in newsletter
This special day provides students with an opportunity to celebrate the rich history of our school and community while reflecting on how life has changed over the past 150 years.
Please note that no gold coin donation is required for this mufti day.
Education Week Performance Assembly, Family Picnic on the Playground and Open Classrooms - Wednesday 5 August.
We will commence our Education Week celebration with a performance assembly in the main playground. Please note that the performance times outlined below are a rough guide only:
Performances:
9:10 – Training Band
9:15 – Performing Band
9:25 – Year 2 Choir
9:30 – String Ensemble
9:35 – Primary Choir
9:40 - Arabic Drumming / Dance
9:50 – Spanish Dance
9:55 – Chinese Dance
10:00 – Support Unit
10:00 – Dance Sport
10:10 – Yr 2 Mixed Dance
10:15 - Yr 4 Girls’ Dance
10:20 – Yr 3/4/6 Boys’ Dance
10:25 – Yr 5 Mixed Dance
10:30 – Kindy Mixed Dance
10:35 – Yr 3 Girls’ Dance
10:40 – Yr 1 Mixed Dance
10:45 – Yr 6 Girls’ Dance
10:50 – Students return to class to collect recess.
11:00 – 11:45 – Family picnic in the playground
Extended recess with families invited to join students in the playground for a picnic.
11:45 – 12:15 - Open Classrooms
Parents, Carers, Grandparents and friends can visit students in their classroom and explore all of the wonderful learning our students are currently undertaking.
HPS 150 Year Community Fair – Sat August 8
The Hurstville PS Community Fair will definitely be an event to remember!
Join us on Saturday 8 August from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm for a huge celebration of our school and 150 years of educating the Hurstville community.
Entry is free, and everyone is welcome.
Enjoy rides, market and food stalls, two stages of performances, pony rides, emergency vehicles, muscle cars, a history museum, student art gallery, raffle prizes and much more.
Purchase unlimited ride wristbands here:https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketebo.com.au%2Fplanet-entertainment%2Fhurstville-public-school-150-year-community-festival(Wristbands apply only to Planet Entertainment rides on the oval. They do not include pony rides, the photobooth, face painting or stall purchases.)
Please share the event with family, friends, and members of the wider community.
Extended Leave – Travel: Important Information for Families
Since the beginning of Term 1, the school has received a high number of Applications for Extended Leave – Travel. I’d like to take this opportunity to remind families of some key considerations when planning travel during the school term.
Regular school attendance is a critical factor in maintaining student progress and achievement. All NSW public schools are working towards specific attendance targets, and we are required to have systems in place to closely monitor and support student attendance.
With international travel now more accessible, I understand many families are looking to travel more extensively throughout the year. However, I ask that families carefully consider the impact extended travel can have on their child’s education.
Over recent weeks, I have received a significant number of extended leave applications. While each application is thoughtfully reviewed and individual circumstances are taken into account, it is important for families to know that a student’s current and previous attendance rates are also key factors in the decision-making process.
NSW public schools are required to take action when a student’s attendance falls below 90%. This includes implementing strategies to support the student in returning to regular attendance. A number of the applications we have received involve students who are already at or below this 90% threshold. Approving further leave in these cases would result in attendance falling even further below expectations, which is not something the school can support.
For this reason, I am currently in the process of notifying some families that their application for extended travel leave has not been approved. This also applies to applications where the proposed travel duration would significantly reduce a student’s overall attendance percentage to below the acceptable threshold.
I urge all families to carefully consider the timing of travel and, where possible, to schedule any extended trips during school holiday periods. Doing so helps minimise disruption to student learning and supports their ongoing academic and social development.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.