Assistant Principal Report
Dear Highvale families,
I hope you have all had a wonderful couple of weeks. It is hard to believe we are already nearing the end of Term 1. Our students have been engaged in so much wonderful learning and there are many exciting events still to come in the second half of the term. Please continue to check Compass regularly for permissions and reminders about upcoming activities.
Whole‑School Swimming Programs
One of our major curriculum programs this term is our whole‑school swimming program. Last year, we undertook a full review and restructure of our swimming curriculum to ensure it best supports student safety and learning. Developing knowledge and skills in survival swimming and basic water safety significantly reduces drowning risk and strengthens overall community safety.
The Department of Education (DET) contributes funding to support schools to deliver swimming and water‑safety programs aligned with the Victorian Curriculum. DET’s Swimming and Water Safety Program aims to ensure that by the end of Year 6, every student can swim 50 metres, answer water‑safety questions, and perform simple rescues—earning the Victorian Water Safety Certificate.
It is an expectation that all students participate in the Highvale Primary School swimming programs.
Prep – Year 3 Swimming Program
Monday 23rd March – Friday 27th March Students in Prep to Year 3 will participate in a 5‑day program at Surrey Park Swim School (Blackburn Aquatic Centre). The pool will be closed to the public during these sessions.
Students will take part in five 45‑minute lessons focusing on:
- Water confidence
- Essential swimming stroke techniques
- Water safety and survival skills
Aqua fitness activities
Qualified coaching staff will group students according to ability to ensure success, challenge, and continual improvement.
Year 5 Intensive Program
Wednesday 18th & Thursday 19th March Year 5 students will complete a two‑day intensive program at Aqualink Box Hill. All NAPLAN assessments will be completed prior to these dates.
Students will participate in two 75‑minute sessions focusing on:
- Stroke development
- Water safety and survival skills
- Revival and rescue techniques
Aqua fitness activities
Years 4 & 6 Open‑Water Program
Friday 20th March 2026 – Hampton Beach Years 4 and 6 will participate in Life Saving Victoria’s Lifesaving Education Program, an open‑water experience designed to help students understand natural water environments, identify risks, and respond safely in emergencies.
Students will apply their pool‑based swimming skills and classroom learning to a real‑world setting, building confidence and essential water‑safety knowledge for beaches, rivers, and lakes.
Online Safety at HPS
Just as we prioritise keeping children safe in the community, it is equally important that they remain safe in the online world. This year, HPS has once again partnered with Inform & Empower to support positive and safe online experiences for every student.
Through interactive online incursions and structured follow‑up lessons—designed by experts—students will learn about cyber safety and digital wellbeing. Participation in this program is expected for all students, as it aligns with the Digital Technologies curriculum.
Across the year, students will engage in live‑streamed incursions exploring topics such as:
- Digital literacy
- Healthy digital habits
- Critical thinking
- Cyberbullying
- Online security
- Upstanders and help‑seeking
- Consent
Artificial intelligence
Please note: This year’s incursions cover new topics not taught last year.
Each term, families will receive resources to help support conversations at home based on the themes explored at school.
Parent Opportunity – ThinkUKnow Online Session
Families interested in learning more about online safety are invited to attend the ThinkUKnow Parent and Community Session on:
Wednesday 4th March, 7:00pm–9:00pm (online) Hosted by our colleagues at EACH Youth and Family Counselling Team, this free session—delivered by the Australian Federal Police—supports adults to keep children safe online.
Please see the flyer and registration link below for further details.
Wishing all families a wonderful week ahead.
Kind regards,
Kelly Soccio
Assistant Principal
