It has been another busy and productive term of learning at HEPS.

Book Week, Colour Fun Run, Crazy Hair Day Fundraiser, the End of Year Concert and Graduation were a few of the Term 4 highlights, along with ongoing and challenging learning opportunities for our students, facilitated by our dedicated staff.

Farewells

This year we are farewelling a number of staff.

Sadly Cherie Love, our Pastoral Care Worker has decided to retire and take up her time pursuing other passions. Cherie will be greatly missed by our students, staff, parents and the wider community. We thank her for her ongoing and endless support over the past 5 years.

Stephen Di Girolamo who has taught our Arts Program over the past 3 years will be working elsewhere in 2021, however we may see him to return to do some relief days if we are lucky. Stephen has supported a number of our students to participate in Arts competitions this year and he will be missed by students and staff. We wish you the best Stephen.

Mrs Gossink will be continuing her maternity leave with her young son, and Mr Baker and Ms Wiggan who have been with us this year will be seeking teaching positions with the department. We wish them all the very best in 2021.

We are also farewelling a number of School Support Officers.

Carlee Hay, who has worked with us over the past 2 years has won a permanent position as SSO at Happy Valley Primary School. We are very sad to see her go but very excited for her new opportunity. Demi Ross and Bianca Iannone have worked with our staff and students this year – thank you for all of your hard work.

Class Placements and Reports

Staff take great consideration in placing students in classes each year and every endeavour is taken to ensure the needs of all children are considered in placing them in classes.

All students who are continuing at Hackham East Primary Sschool participated in Step Up days last Friday and Monday, where they visited their new class and teacher. Letters regarding your child’s class placement and Reports were sent home last Friday.

Parents of new Reception students in 2021, can call Lee in the front office to find out your child’s class teacher.

Canteen

Thank you to A & A’s Marvellous Eats for taking up the contract to supply the canteen menu this year as well as providing other delicious offerings on special event days, when you could.

Hackham Has Talent and Guard of Honour – End of Term Dismissal

Each year we host Hackham has Talent on the last day of term. This is a showcase of students who choose to perform an act; this year we have singing, dancing and songs and even ‘mystery’ performances by some of our staff!

Due to COVID restrictions parents are unable to attend this year. We will live stream it on the school Facebook page from 11.15am on Friday 11/12.

The Guard of Honour will start at 1.50pm with our wonderful tradition of forming a ‘Guard of Honour’ to farewell our HEPS graduates and staff. Parents/Families are asked to stay at the front of the school, please do not come past the gates near the office entrance as this is where the Guard of Honour will finish this year.

School then concludes at 2:00pm on the final school day of the year.

Thank You for 2020

As the year draws to a close I would like to take the opportunity to personally thank the staff, students and school community for your support in this challenging and unprecedented year, which meant changes to a number of procedures and events in order to keep our school community safe. Our staff have responded to the ever changing times throughout the year with calm and utmost professionalism.

Our school could not function without the amazing efforts of our Governing Council members and numerous volunteers. Thank you to all.

Year 7 and Year 6 Graduating Students

We are farewelling a number of Year 7, and Year 6 students and wish them the best in their future schooling and hope that they look back on their time at Hackham East Primary School with positivity and fondness.

We look forward to working alongside you in the New Year but in the meantime wish you a safe, happy and wonderful break with your family and friends.

School resumes on Wednesday 27 January 2021 at 8:40am.

Sally Slattery, Principal