Dear HPS Community,

What a week we've had at HPS! It has been full of activities and opportunities galore.

Monday evening there was a wonderful vibe around the school as many family and friends gathered to hear the delightful sounds of our students who learn guitar, keyboard, recorder and drums. It was such a musical fiesta. Congratulations to all who performed and thank you to the audience who came along to cheer on the kids and support them.

We would like to thank our wonderfully dedicated music teachers who engage and inspire our students to take risks, continue to learn and perform confidently. We are very lucky to have Fiona, Rachael, Jordan, Gunar and Noel as part of our team, helping to spotlight the talents of our young people. Great job everyone!

On Tuesday, we welcomed Dale and Paul from the School of Play to Heidelberg. Each year level participated in an action- packed experience that focused on teaching us the importance and benefits of play that encouraged us to find more joy and happiness daily.

We were introduced to the daily PEGG, a framework consisting of Play, Exercise, Gratitude and Giving, to ground your mindset and profoundly impact your life and the lives of those around you.

Thank you to the parents of 2025 students who attended the Foundation Information Night on Wednesday evening. It was wonderful to be able to share some tips and information that will help children and their families settle in to their school journey well. Thank you to Julie from our school uniform shop and Charity, James and Eric from Learn to Swim for coming along to chat with our families about the services and advice they provide and how they support HPS students. A big thanks also goes to the 2025 Foundation teachers and Helen Thomas for their preparation and contribution to ensuring a valuable and beneficial presentation.

The Year 1 students were treated to an eventful Twilight Night yesterday where they participated in a rotation of activities and team building exercises. Students worked up quite the appetite and got to enjoy a lovely dinner together before heading home. Thank you to the Year 1 teachers and Monique Rankin for supporting the event and ensuring that everyone had a tremendous experience.

Today, the Year 5 students who are keen to take on a position of School or House Captain

leadership, presented speeches to Year 3-5 classes and teachers. What a stellar job they all did! All of the students who presented showed just why each of them would be worthy of accepting the roles. They were brilliant in bravely and confidently sharing the qualities and reasons why they would make an effective HPS captain in 2025.

Congratulations to all of you who put yourselves forward. I wish you well throughout the rest of the process.

This afternoon was another opportunity for students in Foundation to Year 5 to step up and experience a transition session in their next year level. It was lovely to see and hear the excitement in classrooms as they engaged in the tasks and activities.

Summer Nights & Christmas Lights

There is now less than a week until our community event is upon us - only 6 more sleeps (not counting my Sunday afternoon nap!)

The stage is set for a fabulous night of fun and festivities. Thank you to all those who have volunteered to help make it a successful night already! Please see the Compass newsfeed sent yesterday for the link to sign up.

Families are invited to bring picnic rugs, chairs and a picnic from 4.30pm on Thursday 5th November.

The sausage sizzle and bake stall will be open from 5pm, with class performances starting at 6pm.

Looking forward to seeing you all there

School Council

This week we held our final school council meeting of the year. This council group will meet for the first meeting of 2025 before elections are held for the positions where the two year time is ending.

I would like to sincerely thank the school council for all their work and commitment this year. It has been a privilege to work with such a passionate and positive group of people who have worked well together to ensure that our students remain the centre of decision making and the reason that we always look at bettering what and how we do things at HPS.

A very big thank you to...

Emma-Jane Stabb- President

Louisa Tobin- Vice President

Enaksha Garde- Treasurer

Belinda Keeffe- Secretary

Lavanya Thirumalaisami

Liusha Zahir

Chris Chan

Helen Thomas

Monique Rankin

Sam Thornton

Simon Lovett

Scholarships to Support Students

Scholarships are available for students who complete Grade 4 to Year 11 in 2024, and for students enrolled in Year 12 in 2024 who plan to do tertiary studies in 2025.

Student scholarships

The Department of Education administers a number of scholarships available to eligible students who are enrolled in Grade 4 to Year 12 in 2024.

Applicants for these scholarships will be evaluated on their:

participation in school activities
community involvement
academic achievement.

Scholarships are either one-off payments or cover the duration of the student’s course or annual study.

Many of these scholarships have specific eligibility criteria, so please refer to individual applications for more information. Applications are now open, and close on Saturday 1 February 2025. For information on how to apply, refer to Student scholarships.

Upcoming Dates

Friday 29th November

Monday 2nd December

Monday 2nd December

Thursday 5th December

Monday 9th December

Tuesday 10th December

Thursday 12th December

Thursday 19th December

Friday 20th December

2025 Foundation Transition session

Year 3 Museum excursion

State Hooptime Final - Year 3/4 Girls team

Summer Nights & Christmas Lights event

Year 6 Graduation Rehearsal

2025 Transition Day

Year 6 Graduation evening

Year 6 Big Day Out

End of year - 1.30pm finish

2025 DATES

TERM 1

28 January- Staff return - Pupil free day

29 January- Year 1-6 students begin

30 January- Foundation students begin

11 March- Pupil free day

4 April- End term 2.30pm finish

TERM 2

22 April- Term begins

23 June- Pupil free day

4 July- End term 2.30pm finish

TERM 3

21 July- Term begins

19 September- End term 2.30pm finish

TERM 4

6 October- Term begins

19 December- End year 1.30pm finish

I wish you all a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead! How are we at December already??!!

Naomi Ivers

Principal

Heidelberg Primary School

Wellbeing