Principal Report

Welcome to our Week Four newsletter of Term Four. I hope everyone has had a wonderful week. At Highvale, we’ve had a lot of fun, particularly on Tuesday when we had Crazy Hair and Churros Day. A huge thank you to Dos Amigos Catering for supplying the churros, they were a big hit! 

We remain VERY excited about the opportunities and experiences that we have planned for our students this term. Please make sure you are checking Compass and our school newsletters for detailed information about our upcoming events.      

Welcome to HPS 

We have had a number of new students who have commenced their learning journey with us at Highvale this term. Welcome to HPS: Chenxin Zhang who will be joining 5X for the remainder of this year. We are sure you will love being a member of our community. If there is anything that you would like to discuss or need assistance with, please contact the School Office on 9887 8000. We are always here to help!

Welcome back to Mr Salamouras 2S who has returned from paternity leave after the birth of his beautiful boy Lenny. A huge thank you to Mx Dutlow who was in 2S whilst Mr Salamouras was away. Mx Dutlow has now taken over 5X for Mrs X who has commenced maternity leave. We wish Mrs X all the best as her due date approaches.

Birthdays 

Happy Birthday to the following students who will celebrate their special day throughout October: Xin Xin D 2M, Khloe L 4A, Lin R 5S, Soren R 1D, Prachi R 2M, Kaylee S 2S, Hayley C 2S, Aadhya R 3J, Liliana G 2S, Michael P 5S, Michelle P 5X, Lydia Y Prep B, Aurora C 1S, Emily L 4A, Youli Z 4A, Joshua L 5S, Rhys Y Prep FY, Lexie U 2S, Sara L 4A, Daniel R 6D, Freya H 1D, Zoey X 6D, Amaya D 1S, Leila W 2S, Angela L 3CBB, Oneli S 4A, Shanaya S 4U, Yun-Hai L 2M, Kai P 4A, Samuel M 6S, Rovin S Prep FY, Diana H 3CBB, Rebecca L 6S, Charlie Z Prep B, Rihana V 1S, Phoenix J 2J, Fiora J Prep FY, Grace L 5S, Hannah Y Prep B, Kiaan D 2J and Keitarou Yin S 5S. 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 180 students who have achieved 100% attendance so far in October. Some of these students include: Mirreeha A Prep FY, Ace Y Prep FY, Alice H Prep B, Casey 

L Prep B, Aurora C 1S, Carter C 1S, Charlie D 1D, Dara F 1D, Kenzia C 2S, Cooper K 2S, Sia J 2M, Gretel L 2M, Zara L, 2J, Erica J 2J, Vinnie L 3CBB, Hannah L 3CBB, Jia Y 3B, Isaac O 3J, Isabella M 4A, Kai P 4A, Frederick P 4U, Shanaya S 4U, Faith T 5S, Julia T 5S, Lucas G 6S, Elizabeth C 6S, Renita D 6D, Louie F 6D. 

Here are some attendance figures for 2025 so far:

Remember: it is not ok to be away!

New Garden: Karinya 

We had many fabulous student entries to name our new garden space. Thank you to our 130 families who voted via the link on Compass and made KARINYA the winner with a total of 33% of votes. Karinya is an Indigenous word from the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people, whose land we learn and grow on. It means “peaceful home” which is a very fitting name considering the harmonious and serene space that has been created. Again, a huge thank you to Rob Tidd who designed and executed the works and has created a beautiful, inviting, calming space that the students are using to gather and relax. 

Stay tuned for your invitation to the grand opening in a few weeks’ time. We thank all families who took the time to vote and be part of this special moment in our school’s journey!

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.

Curriculum Day

A reminder that we have a Curriculum Day on Monday 3rd November and Melbourne Cup Day is on Tuesday 4th November. Students are not required onsite on either of these days, which means they will have a Long Weekend. We hope everyone has a restful and relaxing long weekend.

Prep Transition 

Our final Prep Transition session is today (Thursday 30th October) and Prep students will be meeting their teacher for 2026. The Prep teachers for 2026 are Megan Fegan (PFY), Natalie Yencken (PFY) and Windya Arambawela (PA). We welcome Windya who will join the Highvale team with a vast amount of Prep and Junior School experience. 

Art Exhibition

On Tuesday 11th November we will be showcasing all HPS student work in an Art Exhibition from 3:00pm – 4:30pm. A gold coin donation is required to attend our wonderful Art Exhibition. We hope to see all families in attendance. Thank you to Mrs Sinclair and Ms Fellowes for organising this wonderful event. 

World Teachers Day

"Everyone who remembers their own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system” – Sidney Hook 

World Teachers Day is TODAY Friday 31st October and HPS will be celebrating our wonderful staff. If you would like to celebrate World Teachers Day, I encourage you to send a quick email to your child’s class teacher highlighting their hard work, commitment and dedication to their students, they’d love to hear from you. Alternatively, Highvale students may like to make a card for their teacher to celebrate this special day.    

Division Athletics 

A HUGE congratulations to Stella from Year Four, who represented Highvale Primary School in the long jump event at the Regional Competition last week and finished 7th overall. This is a wonderful achievement Stella, great job!

School Captains for 2026

Next week we will conduct interviews with our aspiring school captains as the annual process for election and selection takes place. I commend everyone who applied for the position via written application. We are spoiled for choice as the quality of applicants was extremely high. The leadership team are reviewing all of the applicants and thinking very carefully about who will fulfill the role next year. We will disclose more information over the coming weeks.

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.

Financial Contributions 

Highvale Primary School sincerely thanks all parents and carers who have supported our school this year. Your generous contributions play a vital role in helping us enhance and enrich the educational experiences we offer our students. These contributions have enabled us to provide additional resources and opportunities beyond the standard curriculum. 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