Message from the Principal 

CLASS OF 2024 RE-UNION

Last Wednesday our Graduating Class of 2024 returned to our school for their re-union. I know the students really enjoyed catching up with old friends and sharing stories about their journey into high school. 

This event is just one small part of our very organised and extensive Transition program. Just like we set up our Experience Greenhills sessions for our future prep students (which have started this week!), we also work hard right through all the primary school years and beyond to ensure Greenhills students are connected with their peers, teachers and the school community. Many thanks to for organising the event. 

YEAR 5 & 6 ACTION TEAMS

Our Year 5 & 6 Community action teams continue to move from strength to strength. This program focuses on our students developing their leadership skills with a particular emphasis on helping others and making a real difference. Through our Community Action Team, students take on meaningful roles to create positive change. They take responsibility, work collaboratively, demonstrate initiative and teamwork.

A G.R.E.A.T. example of this in action was our “Community” teams visit to a local nursing home at Leith Park. During the visit students sang, danced, played games, read books, gave handmade gifts, and engaged in heartfelt conversations with the elderly residents. These interactions not only brought joy to the residents but also gave students the opportunity to practise compassion, respect, and active citizenship.

This experience allows primary school–aged children to step into leadership roles while making a meaningful contribution to their community. It empowers them to recognise their capacity to make a difference — building confidence, communication skills, and a sense of social responsibility.

2025 NAPLAN RESULTS

Year 3 Reading

We are again pleased with our 2025 NAPLAN Reading results. In both Year 3 and Year 5 we have a very high percentage of students who achieved results in the “Exceeding” or “Strong” bands. This was 85% in Year 3 and an incredible 92% of students in Year 5.  This is 3% higher than the similar schools we are compared against in Year 3 and 6% higher in Year 5. (*these measures include size of school and socio-economic, family education index). 

These reading results indicate that what we are doing is working. Our focus on developing a love of reading is relentless, but we still have more work to do. This includes ensuring that our literacy program is planned and delivered around the “Big 6 Plus 1” (Oral Language, Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, Comprehension and Writing). In fact, even just yesterday, our teaching staff spent an hour after school exploring more about the oral language component of the Big 6 + 1 and how this can be embedded in our planning each week. We also need to keep raising the bar and ensuring our weekly planning challenges all students. This will enable us to provide that stretch which will see more students move into the exceeding range. 

BULLYING NO WAY

As part of Bullying No Way Week, our school is having an increased focus and deeper dive in to bullying. The best place to start with this is to help our students and families to have a clear understanding of exactly what bullying is and isn’t.

Bullying is defined as an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening. Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records). Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

At Greenhills, talking and teaching about the impacts of bullying through everyday opportunities is the best way to make it clear that bullying is never ok. Talking about bullying means it can't be hidden or overlooked in our busy school environment. Conversations provide opportunities for students to raise issues that adults may not have noticed, and to discuss concerns before they become long-term and entrenched.

Bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence are all interpersonal behaviours that can create or contribute to negative social situations and school environments. Identifying whether a situation is bullying or something else helps us to determine the most appropriate response.

On Thursday this week, we are holding a short whole school assembly (just for our students) to help reinforce the message that bullying is not tolerated or accepted at Greenhills. Our students will also be given time in their classrooms discussing bullying including if they have seen it at our school, where bullying might occur and to share any other things that they would like to talk about. This data will then be used by our principal team to inform future actions so that we can continue to be proactive, bold and of course ensure that kindness remains a central part of our school culture.

HELPING TO KEEP YOU INFORMED

In the newsletter this week we have included a Term 3 Community Calendar. This has a list of different dates and activities for the remainder of this term.

MEET WITH THE PRINCIPAL TEAM 

Our next Mid-Term Meet with the Principal Team is set for Wednesday 27th August at 7.30pm via Webex. The meetings are held at the mid-point of each term with the aim of helping to keep you in the loop with things that are happening across our school. They are also another forum to ask questions, provide feedback and suggestions and continue our strong home school partnership. 

Here is the link:

Meeting link:

https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=m574fc8eaff8c70b578f67e2878caf288

Meeting number:

2650 387 4239

Password:

37dbXWwPRb3

James Penson,

Principal.