Assistant Principal Report
Dear Highvale Families,
Term 1 has flown by in the blink of an eye, and what a fantastic start to the year it has been! Students have settled into their learning routines, embraced new challenges, and engaged in a range of exciting activities. We are so proud of their efforts and look forward to building on this great momentum in Term 2!
Sports Carnival Success!
Last week’s Sports Carnival was a huge success, with perfect weather and a fantastic turnout of families who came to support and cheer on their children. Students across the school enthusiastically participated in a range of fun sporting activities that not only developed their skills but also fostered teamwork, communication, and social connections. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making the day so memorable! Be sure to check out the Sports Carnival Newsletter page to read all about it.
Recording Absences on Compass – Important Reminder for Parents
To ensure accurate attendance records, we kindly remind you to log your child's absence in Compass under the correct category. Please use the appropriate reason when recording an absence:
- Medical/Illness – If your child is unwell
- Medical Appointment – For doctor, dentist, paediatrician, or other medical visits
- Bereavement – Time off due to the passing of a loved one
- Truancy – When a child is absent without parental knowledge or permission
- Parent Choice – If you decide to keep your child home (e.g., extreme weather or special family event)
- Family Holiday – Any time off for travel, even if it’s just one day
- Religious/Cultural Observance – If your child is absent for religious or cultural reasons
Accurate reporting helps us support your child’s education and wellbeing. Thank you for your cooperation!
Did you know that you can check your child’s attendance data on the Compass App? Simply click onto your child’s profile and below their image your will see an attendance percentage for the year.
Swimming Program Reminder
A reminder that our school’s swimming programs are coming up early in Term 2! The Year 5 Swimming Program will take place in Week 1, followed by the Prep to Year 3 Swimming Program in Week 2. Further details about each event can be found on Compass, and we encourage families to respond as soon as possible so we can provide the swim school with accurate attendance numbers for lesson planning. Please note that the Year 4 and Year 6 Beach Day Swimming Program will be held early in Term 4. We look forward to another great season of swimming!
The Department of Education’s mandated 'Swimming and Water Safety Program' is designed to increase opportunities for all students to learn how to swim and ensure they develop lifelong swimming and water-safety skills. Their goal is that by the end of Year Six, each student will be able to swim 50m, answer water safety-based questions and perform simple rescues, rewarding students with the Victorian Water Safety Certificate.
Bell Times for Term 2
We appreciate the positive feedback from our school community regarding the changes to bell times and the structure of the school day. As we move into Term 2, we confirm that the current bell times will remain the same:
🔹 8:55am – Music plays for students to enter classrooms, unpack, and get ready for learning.
🔹8:58am – Learning bell rings.
🔹9:00 – 10:00am – Session 1 Learning Block.
🔹10:00 – 11:00am – Session 2 Learning Block.
🔹11:00 – 11:10am – Eating time in class.
🔹11:10 – 12:00pm – Long play break outside.
🔹11:58am – 12:00pm – Music plays & bell rings for students to move to line-up areas.
🔹12:00 – 1:00pm – Session 3 Learning Block.
🔹1:00 – 2:00pm – Session 4 Learning Block (includes 10 minutes of eating time).
🔹2:00 – 2:28pm – Short play break outside.
🔹2:28 – 2:30pm – Music plays & bell rings for students to move to line-up areas.
🔹2:30 – 3:30pm – Session 5 Learning Block.
🔹3:30pm – Home time dismissal.
A reminder that during Sessions 2 and 4, all students are provided with at least ten minutes of eating time in class. Additionally, around 12:30pm, students are encouraged to have a small brain food snack. Students may eat any portion of their lunchbox during these designated eating times.
Easter Celebrations at Highvale Primary!
At Highvale Primary School, we take pride in recognising and celebrating a range of cultural events that reflect the diversity of our school community. Today, we embraced all things Easter with a whole-school Easter Hunt and a Prep-4 Easter Bonnet Parade. It was wonderful to see so many families join us for the parade, where students proudly showcased their creative bonnets to their peers.
During the Easter Hunt, students searched the school grounds for hidden laminated bunny pictures, with the class that found the most winning a chocolate egg prize. Unsurprisingly, all classes were winners, and every student received a well-deserved chocolate treat! A big thank you to our Student Representative Council (SRC) for organising such a fun-filled event. Happy Easter to all! 🐰🌸🍫
A huge thank you to all our students and families for a fantastic Term 1 at Highvale Primary School! I hope everyone enjoys a well-earned break over the holidays and returns refreshed, ready for an exciting Term 2 of learning and growth.
Kind regards,
Kelly Soccio
Assistant Principal