Dear HPS Community,

Something I love the most about my job is getting to see the pride and excitement in children who have either just learned something, or made a connection with from their prior knowledge to new knowledge or succeed at a goal they have been working hard to achieve.

This week I had Year 3 students come and share their poetry pieces they'd written about a favourite character and had some Year 2 students present me with their writing to try to persuade me to have arcade games at school!

The spark and engagement they project during these moments are what makes my job so enjoyable and motivates me to continue to focus on positively impacting and influencing student learning and wellbeing.

World Teacher's Day

Thank you to the students and families who took the opportunity to celebrate and thank our dedicated teachers on World Teacher's Day Friday. It was heart warming to see the appreciation from teachers as students presented them with flowers, cards, drawings and even some chocolates or home made baked treats.

Every day, our teachers invest countless hours in lesson planning, fostering relationships, and creating a supportive learning environment. They adapt to each student’s individual needs, ensuring that every child feels valued and understood. Their commitment is not just to teach, but to nurture curious minds and inspire lifelong learners.

The School of Play FunShop- Whole School Celebration Day

HPS is in for a real treat on Tuesday 26th November when we welcome Dale Sidebottom and Paul Campbell who will conduct a FunShop with each year level.

Helen, Monique and I were involved in a FunShop with Dale and Paul at the Principal Conference last term and I immediately knew that this was the event I wanted our students to experience for our whole school celebration day.

The FunShop can provide numerous benefits to individuals of all ages. Improved mental health, increased physical activity, enhanced social connections, boosted creativity and innovation, and improved self esteem and confidence.

Their Mission: Empowering Through Play, is bold yet simple: to build robust, autonomous health and well-being skills in children, adults, and families. We recognise that life is full of unexpected twists and turns. That's why we are committed to equipping individuals with the tools they need to thrive in any situation, through innovative play-based interventions and research.

This is a school funded event as a result of an increased respect and responsibility taken by students to show care and consideration to our school facilities.

www.theschoolofplay.co

Upcoming Pupil Free Day and Public Holiday- Melbourne Cup

Please remember that students do not attend school on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th November.

SAC will provide a full day program for up to 45 HPS students, if the minimum 20 bookings is reached, between 8am and 6pm on Monday 4th November. Please book now if you will be utilising this service so that planning and staffing can be finalised.

2025 Class Placements

Each student will today bring home a form, to complete with their parents, to nominate three friends who they'd be happy to have in their class with them next year.

Classes will be formed to ensure that every student gets at least one of their nominated friends.

Creating balanced classes that cater to the many needs of students is complex with multifaceted considerations. Classroom teachers, specialist teachers and leadership all look over the proposed class lists to ensure that the best decisions for each child is taken into account before the class lists are finalised.

2025 Year 1- 6 classes will be involved in a transition to the next year level, culminating in a day with their next year class and teacher on Tuesday 10th December. This is the same day as the state-wide government secondary school transition day that many of our current HPS year 6 students will participate in.

A newsfeed with a copy of the friendship form will be posted next week for families who may require an additional copy.

Diwali : The Festival of Lights

The vibrant festival of Diwali, also known as Deepavali, lights up communities across India and around the world. Celebrated by millions, this five-day festival symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

Diwali typically involves a range of joyous activities. Homes are adorned with colourful rangoli designs, and diyas (small oil lamps) are lit to illuminate pathways and bring good fortune. Families gather for prayers, exchange gifts, and indulge in delicious sweets and snacks. Fireworks light up the night sky, adding to the festive spirit.

Each day of Diwali has its own significance. The third day, known as Lakshmi Puja, honours the goddess of wealth and prosperity. This year, Diwali falls on Thursday 31st October, making it a perfect time to reflect on the themes of hope, renewal, and community.

As you celebrate, remember to share the light with those around you—whether through acts of kindness, sharing meals, or simply spreading joy. Wishing everyone a bright and prosperous Diwali!

Happy Diwali! 🪔✨

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

Tuesday 29th October

Thursday 31st October

Friday 1st November

School Council meeting 7pm

Deepavali/ Diwali

2025 Foundation Transition - Session 2

Monday 4th November

Teacher Professional Practice Day - no students

Tuesday 5th November

Tuesday 26th November

Friday 20th December

Melbourne Cup Public Holiday (Student Free Day)

'The School of Play' Whole School Celebration Day

End of year - 1.30pm finish

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead!

Naomi Ivers

Principal

Heidelberg Primary School

Wellbeing