Principal's Report

Dear HPS Community,

This week I have enjoyed seeing the learning that students are connecting with relating to change over time. As I wandered around the school Wednesday, I was able to hear about the environmental changes year 3 students were exploring and linking to understandings developed on their recent camp to Mt Evelyn Discovery Camp. I witnessed some fabulous indigenous inspired animal art, where students used leaves, sticks, rocks and soil to make some wonderful and realistic looking creations. 

A year 5 class in the library were researching and investigating people throughout the ages who have instigated and created positive change by standing up for what they believed in and were passionate about improving.

It is great to see the diverse learning opportunities that focus on building student voice, agency and leadership to engage in and develop skills, knowledge and understanding.

Keep working to learn, reflect and improve everyone :-) 

Girls Footy and Boys Netball Round Robin

Congratulations to the students who participated in the footy and netball round robin on Monday. It was a great opportunity for skill development while also strengthening teamwork and camaraderie. Thank you to Mr Ethan Griffiths and Mr Nick Voulgaris for coaching the teams, and to Mr Alexander Bakos for his assistance in the footy. Well done to everyone involved! 

Pupil Free Day -  Berry Street Education Model Training

On Monday 20th May, all HPS staff will be involved in the first day of a four day training of the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM), an educator-designed and evidence-led framework that empowers teachers to create classrooms where every student is ready to learn and able to thrive. Building our staff's capacity through BSEM aligns strongly to the strategic direction we are taking after our recent school review, to optimise learning and wellbeing growth for our students.

BSEM provides proven strategies to be implemented in the classroom and empowers and equips educators to help all students succeed. It aims to increase the engagement of students with complex, unmet learning needs and successfully improve all students’ self-regulation, relationships, wellbeing, growth and academic achievement with pedagogical strategies that incorporate trauma-informed teaching, positive education, and wellbeing practices.

Schools that have applied the Berry Street Education Model have seen:

• improved student wellbeing and engagement to bolster positive behaviour
• better supported students who experience diverse and complex learning challenges
• increased teacher wellbeing, ensuring all staff feel equipped to deal with the diversity of student needs.

Baby News

Congratulations to Mr Simon Lovett and his family on the arrival of the gorgeous Rue. We hope Rue settles in well to the family and big sisters Bobby and Goldie enjoying helping mum and dad and cuddling baby Rue.

Mother's Day

Families come in all shapes and sizes and can look different to each of us. Whilst there can be various differences within families, there are also many commonalities. Mother's Day is a way to symbolically honour and acknowledge the sacrifices they endure for their children. On Sunday 12th May, we will nationally celebrate mothers, mother-like figures and other special people in our lives that contribute to the love, support and guidance offered to children and within family structures.

At HPS, we will be celebrating Mother's Day with a special morning tea. We invite and welcome everyone to join in from 8am on Tuesday 7th May.

Upcoming Dates

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead!

Naomi Ivers

Principal

Heidelberg Primary School