Student Development

Excel's First Ever "Big Day In"

On Monday 29th April, our Excel (Year 11 and 12) students engaged with HP’s first ever “Big Day In”.  This is an important series of days for our Senior School students where they have the opportunity to focus on learning to learn, as well as develop their strengths in skills to aid study.

Big Day In saw both our Year 11 and Year 12 students engage with sessions run by Elevate Education to:

• Understand why motivation and having a growth mindset is so important to their final year of secondary schooling;
• Learn how to set learning and personal goals; and 
• Get some study techniques that they can apply to their own VCAL/VCE subjects

These sessions ran for 2 periods of the day, then it was some time for fun!

For our Year 11s, their Mentor session had a focus on getting active and representing your Mentor group and house through tabloid sports.  After some tough competition, Ms Podsytnik’s Mentor group finished on top, taking out the competition for Red house!  This was finished off with a massive Easter egg hunt, and even a pizza lunch to keep students fuelled.

For Year 12s, their Big Day In extended into the evening with a pizza dinner, massive Easter egg hunt (with over 500 eggs to find!) and a movie night where students watched “Men In Black” whilst enjoying popcorn and fairy floss freshly made by staff.

We want to take this opportunity to challenge all Excel students to focus on applying some of their learning from their sessions in the first few weeks of Term 2.  In addition, the Senior Sub School want to say a big thank you to staff for their support of students on the day in the various activities.  

Finally, please note that Excel students will have further Big Day In and Out activities throughout the year.  Students who have not yet paid or got consent must pay and give consent for these now if they haven’t already.  These dates are published below.

KEY DATES:

• Tuesday 8th June: Big Day Out in Melbourne CBD
• Wednesday 9th June: All students studying a Year 12 VCAL/VCE subject complete the GAT
• Thursday 10th June: Big Day In #2 at HPSC
• Tuesday 26th October: Big Day Out #2 at a mystery location (Year 12 students only)

Eloise Haynes

Assistant Principal

Victoria Police Incursion

Our junior school students had a presentation from Victoria Police this term. The talk focused on the importance of making the right choices and not giving in to peer pressure in the new environment of high school.

Students also got some insights into cyber safety and what to do if your friends are doing the wrong thing.