Principals' Page

Class Structure for 2026

In 2026, HEPS will have 24 classes, with weekly specialist programs of PE (Michael Hodgson), Art (Jacinta Mountford, Sarah Hunting), Performing Arts (Emma Austin), Sustainability (Ruby Smart), STEAM (Tanya Dennis) and, on a fortnightly basis, Japanese (Lisa Pond). All teachers are current HEPS staff and well known to our community.

4 X Foundation - Sarah Moran (Ow), Terri McClare (Ash Bolitho), Emily Blakis (Jackson), Michelle Wridgway

4 X Year 1 - Rhandi Henwood (Ash Bolitho), Meg Yates, Melani Nolan, Felicity Cameron

3 X Year 2 - Yasi Shayesteh, Beth Seymour, Kim Holmes (Amy Oakes)

3 X Year 3 - Courtney Regan, Belinda Appleby, Ailina Kumar

4 X Year 4 - Kat Reid, Ange Perryman, Carolyn Brickwell, Christine Andrews

3 X Year 5 - Brianna Golsworthy (Jenn Ross), Kate Latu, Jason Mulder (Lily Luu)

3 X Year 6 - Gen Edgell, John Exton, Sarah Kennedy.

For our part time staff, Rhandi and Brianna, classes will be supported one day per week with the experienced teachers identified in brackets. Learning Specialists will be released to undertake their leadership roles by the teachers indicated in the brackets. 

Armela Gashi, has secured a promotion at another school. We wish her well in her new position for 2026.  Sally Blain, has made the decision to travel for the 2026 year. She will, at times, be here in 2026 on a casual basis. We look forward to her returning full time in 2027.

2026 Important Dates

At our last School Council meeting, we approved the student-free days for 2026. Please note that two curriculum days will be held at the beginning of the school year, meaning students will commence school on Thursday, 29 January 2026. Also, 2026 Foundation students are not required to attend school on Wednesdays during February.

See below for some important dates for 2026.

Term Dates & Curriculum Days:

Victorian school term dates:

• Term 1: Tuesday 27th January (Students start 29th) to Thursday 2nd April 
• Term 2: Monday 20th April to Friday 26th June
• Term 3: Monday 13th July to Friday 18th September

• Term 4: Monday 5th October to Friday 18th December

   

Curriculum Days 

Tuesday 27th January (Student Free)

Wednesday 28th January (Student Free)

Thursday 21st May (Student Free)

Friday 22nd May (Student Free-Professional Practice Day- Report Writing)

Monday 2nd November (Student Free)

Production Dates

June 15th to June 16th

2026 Camps

• Level 3- Ferngully Lodge Healesville Wednesday 4th November - Friday 6th November
• Level 4- Camp Weekaway Benloch Wednesday 13th May - Friday 15th May
• Level 5- Sovereign Hill Monday 4th May - Wednesday 6th May 
• Level 6- Don Bosco Camp Wednesday 11th - Friday 13th November

Space Rover 'Roo-ver' Visits HEPS

We were incredibly fortunate to welcome David Scott, one of our HEPS parents, who visited the school to share the amazing space rover Roo-ver. Students in Grades 4–6 were captivated as they learned about real-world space exploration, the engineering challenges behind building a rover, and the fascinating journey that led to Roo-ver’s creation. It was an inspiring, hands-on experience that sparked curiosity, big questions, and plenty of excitement about the possibilities of science and technology.

Level 6 Camp - Don Bosco

Our Level 6 students were recently at the Don Bosco beach camp and had an incredible time. They enjoyed perfect weather, great food, and fantastic activities. The students spent a lot of time at the beach (only 200 metres from where they were staying), swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Many of the students said it was the best camp they had been on.  Dive into the Level 6 page for a more in depth summary of the camp.

HEPS Christmas Concert - Monday 15th December 6.00-7.30PM

Mark your calendars! Our HEPS Christmas concert is one of the highlights of the year, and we would love for you to join us on the oval for an evening of fun, festivity, and music as we celebrate another amazing year at HEPS. See you all on Monday 15th December, between 4.30-7.30 PM.

HEPS 2026 Transition

We've had three fantastic Foundation Transition sessions so far, each one a great success! Our new students adapted wonderfully, enjoying the chance to meet future friends, connect with some of our teachers, and explore the school buildings and playground. Last week, our Foundation students met all our specialist teachers, engaging in Art, PE, STEAM and Music. During the first two sessions, we also hosted a morning tea for parents, giving them a lovely opportunity to begin building connections with one another.

Looking Ahead to 2026: Whole School Transition Sessions

As we approach the end of the term, excitement is building for what lies ahead in 2026! This week marked the start of our Whole School Transition sessions, where students from each year level came together to connect, play engaging games, and collaborate with peers beyond their usual classroom groups. Our final transition session will take place on Thursday 18th December, when students will discover their new classroom teacher and classmates for the upcoming year. We look forward to supporting everyone as they take this exciting next step in their learning journey!

Thank You Morning Tea - Wednesday 10th December 8.30-9.30AM

Please join us for our Thank You Morning Tea on Wednesday, 10 December from 8:30–9:30 am in the staffroom. This event is a small way to acknowledge the wonderful parents and carers who have supported our school this year through the working bee, classroom reading, the Parent Association, excursions, or simply lending a hand when needed. We truly appreciate your time, energy, and commitment, and we look forward to celebrating with you.

ICAS Achievement Recognition

Last week at assembly, we proudly recognised our students who participated in the ICAS assessments. A special congratulations to those who achieved a Distinction or High Distinction. All participants were presented with their certificate at the assembly and celebrated for their outstanding academic achievement. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence.

Social Media - New Social Media Age Restrictions

How to Support Your Child Under 16 with the New Social Media Age Restrictions

From 10 December 2025, new national laws will require social media companies to:

• prevent children under 16 from creating a social media account
• deactivate or freeze any existing accounts belonging to people under 16.

These changes are designed to protect young people’s wellbeing and give them more time to develop real-world friendships and strong digital literacy skills.

Importantly, the responsibility for enforcing these rules sits with the social media platforms—not with parents, carers, children or schools.

Most major social media platforms will now have a minimum age of 16, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (Twitter), Reddit and YouTube. Messaging services, online games, and apps used for learning or health will still be available.

How parents and carers can help

Parents and carers play an important role in helping children navigate online changes safely. To support your child:

• Visit the eSafety website to learn more about the new minimum age requirements.
• Access practical tips on how to talk with young people about social media expectations and preparing for these changes.

Working together, we can help ensure our children stay safe and confident online.