Assistant Principal Report
It’s hard to believe we are already more than halfway through Term 2. The weeks have certainly flown by, and there is so much to celebrate across our school community.
With Education Week taking place last week, this edition of the newsletter is filled with highlights, reflections and moments that showcase the wonderful learning happening across Highvale. We have included a range of updates and important reminders, as well as some student voice, highlighting what students have particularly enjoyed over the past fortnight.
I hope you enjoy reading about the many positive experiences, achievements, and celebrations from around the school.
Reminder for Students Walking or Riding Home
We kindly ask families to remind children who walk or ride home independently to head straight home after the bell each afternoon. Over the past few weeks, we have noticed a number of students remaining on school grounds to play and socialise with friends after 3:30pm.
While we love seeing students enjoy each other’s company, this does pose a safety concern, as staff supervision finishes at 3:45pm when teachers head to scheduled meetings. If a child is injured or needs assistance after this time, there may not be anyone available to help.
Thank you for your support and understanding in helping us keep all students safe.
Volunteer Induction & Training – Tuesday 2nd June
A friendly reminder that our next Volunteer Induction & Training session will be held on Tuesday 2nd June at 9:30am. This session will take place online via Webex, making it easy for families to join from home or work.
We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to support learning in classrooms and assist with special events throughout the year — there are so many wonderful ways to get involved. If you are interested in volunteering at our school, please ensure you hold a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC) and have completed the volunteer training either last year or this year.
Meeting link: https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=m19cb747cd0a61e91025c1ef346fd3fc2
Meeting number: 2654 199 6816
Meeting password: hps
Join by phone: +61-3-8593-9167 TollAccess code: 26541996816
I hope to see many of you online for the session.
Run Club Off to a Flying Start!
Run Club has been a huge success so far, with over 60 students signing up and participating across the first two weeks. It has been wonderful to see so many enthusiastic runners out on the oval bright and early, building fitness, confidence and community spirit.
Run Club takes place each Tuesday and Thursday morning from 8:15am–8:45am around the school oval. All students in Years 2–6 are welcome to attend — families simply need to provide consent via the Compass event.
We would also welcome any family members who are keen runners and interested in volunteering to help support the program. Volunteers must hold a current Working With Children Check (WWCC) and have completed the HPS Volunteer Training, but there is no expectation to commit every week. Even occasional help makes a big difference.
If you are interested in getting involved or would like to know more, please contact our PE teacher Sophie Stokes on sophie.stokes@education.vic.gov.au
Student‑Led Conferences – Tuesday 23rd June
We are pleased to share that Student‑Led Conferences will take place on Tuesday 23rd June. This year’s conferences will follow a similar style to last year, with students taking an active role in sharing their learning and progress.
Each conference session will run for 20 minutes.
- For the first 10 minutes, students will showcase work they are proud of and talk through the learning goals they have set for themselves for next semester.
The remaining 10 minutes will provide time for parents and teachers to discuss the school report, clarify any information, and address any questions.
On this day, regular classes will not run. Students will only attend school at the time of their scheduled conference. It is an expectation that all students attend a conference with their classroom teacher.
Families may also book one additional conference with a specialist teacher if they would like further insight into their child’s learning in a specialist subject area. These specialist sessions will be 10 minutes in length to ensure more families have the opportunity to meet with specialist staff. Specialist bookings can be made via the Specialist Conference Booking Form on Compass.
Booking for Student-Led Conferences open on Friday 5th June at 9:00am.
Please indicate if you require an interpreter when making your booking.
We look forward to seeing our students take pride in their learning and confidently share their achievements. If you have any questions, please contact the office or your child’s classroom teacher.
Student Voice – Highlights From the Past Fortnight
One of the best parts of our newsletter is hearing directly from our students. Over the past two weeks, there has been so much happening across the school and our students have plenty to share. In this section, you’ll read some student reflections about the moments, activities and learning experiences that have been their highlights. Their voices capture the energy, curiosity and joy that make our school such a vibrant place to learn.
Leo 2M – I enjoyed dancing in front of our parents for Dance Curriculum. It was cool to show them our moves.
Benji 1GC – At the open classroom morning I had fun drawing a bunny with my mum.
Pritika 5M - I felt that Walk to School Day was a really nice way to connect with friends and teachers and promotes health and fitness. I normally get driven to school but Dad dropped me off so that I could be part of the fun experience and connect with others.
Alaistair 6D – I loved the dance curriculum because we learnt awesome moves and got to work with Omar who is best dance teacher!
Aarna 3L - I like how Omar is here to teach us new dances every year.
Aarnik Prep FY – I liked that dad came to our classroom and helped do an activity.
Janaa Prep A – I liked that the parents came for the show when we were performing the dance!
Walter 2L - I really enjoyed the dance curriculum. I felt nervous at first and then happy because I could dance and felt confident after.
Anaaya 1GC – I liked walking to school because I got a tattoo.
Akhil 5S – The dance was fun and it was nice to see the other classes dance too.
Seth 6D – During Education Week we got to play some really cool games like Scategories and Blooket. I played against my friends and they had some funny answers!
Twisha 2M – I liked Walk2School day because I could walk to school with my friends.
Fiora 1GC – I liked the dance performance because my mum came and I was a bit shy.
Sidarrth 5M - Dance curriculum was very fun, Omar is so nice to us and taught us lots of cool moves. We all tried our best and it turned out really well!
Lexie 3L – In Education Week I really enjoy exploring all different kinds of activities.
Henry Prep FY – I liked when the teachers did a dance at the concert.
Kaylee 2M – I enjoyed walking to school with my dog on Walk2School day.
Shrigna 2L - I liked the dance performance. I liked performing in front of the teachers and different families. It was super fun! I also liked watching Omar dance at the end.
Lilah 5S – I liked doing activities with our parents at the open classroom morning.
Dinson 2L - I liked the Walk2School day because I could walk to school with teachers. I liked the stickers I got in the end.
Cooper 3L – It was fun making the rocket STEAM activity.
Astera Prep A – I loved the dance moves that Omar taught us.
Oneli 5M - Open classrooms were nice because we got to play fun maths, English and STEAM games with our parents. Even students whose parents couldn't come had fun playing with other students and even other students' parents which was exciting and fun.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Kind regards,
Kelly Soccio