Principal's Report

Oval Update

In the 2018/19 State Budget Huntingdale Primary School received $400,000 to upgrade the oval. Since then, the school has been working with the Victorian School Building Authority and Katz Architecture to plan and design the oval with input from School Council, teachers and taking into account our students sporting interests and needs. Before the State Election last year, the school received a further grant of $120,000 for access and amenities. The school has worked with the Minister for Education and the Victorian School Building Authority to have this grant redirected to the oval project, which was approved recently. We are now working on the final design of the oval to put the project out to tender. Our new school oval will be multi- purpose, which will allow children to enjoy sports including soccer, AFL, cricket, hot shots tennis and four-square. In addition, it will have a four-lane running track and long jump pit, which will help students practise for athletics events.

The proposed oval design is below.

Capital Works Update

In the 2019/20 State Budget Huntingdale Primary School received $5.033 million as part of the Permanent Modular Building Program. The junior building (Main Classroom Block) will be replaced in this program. The School Leadership Team and School Council is working with the Victorian School Building Authority, Sensum (Project Managers) and Brand Architects to create a design for the new building. We are in the early phases of this project and we will update you as we progress.

Review of School Dress Code

The School Dress Code Policy is currently under review by the School Council. As part of this review School Council need to consult with parents, teachers and students. In the upcoming months I will advertise ways you can give feedback to the policy.

In previous newsletters I have alerted families that the 'sky blue' tops will no longer be a part of our uniform in 2020.

Visitors, visitors, visitors!

Over the past month we have had a number of visitors to the school, to view or participate in our bilingual program. Mrs Nishiyama and two teachers from the Mie Prefecture in Japan, visited our school and taught poetry and mathematics lessons to several grades. The mathematics sessions included the use of the traditional Japanese abacus, which is different from our traditional abacus. I even learnt how to use it!

The students from Minato Ku Primary School have now returned home. They had such a lovely time and it was wonderful to hear what their favourite activities were.

The Shioya Junior High students arrived yesterday at Huntingdale. They visited South Oakleigh College on Wednesday and were looking forward to participating in activities with our students for the rest of this week.

On Friday, the Bilingual Principal’s Network will come to our school for a meeting. This is an important meeting as the network supports each school and provides advocacy to DET about the needs of Bilingual schools.

A lot of work is involved when we have visitors to our school. It involves not only our students, but their wonderful teachers, parents who are willing to provide home stay experiences for our visitors and organisation from Assistant Principal Naomi Mori-Hanazono and ES staff members Gill Penfold and Wakana Karchnak. Thank you to you all!

K-F Transition and 2020 Foundation Enrolments

Last week we had our first Kindergarten to Foundation transition for the year. It was wonderful to see over 40 of our new enrolments participate in activities with Mr Thomas and Hatigan sensei.

We are currently taking enrolments for our 2020 Foundation classes. Our current families who have siblings starting in 2020 are encouraged to enrol as soon as possible. Do you know of any neighbours, relatives or friends who are looking to enrol for 2020? Please let them know about our fabulous school! We offer tours at 9.30 on most Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Please encourage potential enrolments to call the school for a tour!

ES Week

This week is ES Week (Education Support) across the state. ES Week aims to celebrate the hard work and dedication of Education Support Staff and the contributions they make to our schools.

We have a highly skilled and dedicated Education Support Staff at Huntingdale:

Dr Rosella Dossi (Business Manager)
Gill Penfold (Office Manager)
Wakana Karchnak (Teaching Assistant Leader and Integration Aide)
Mayumi Cake, Honami Ando, Mayu Harada (Teaching Assistants)
Jenny Celle (SWB and Chaplain)

Staff organised a morning tea to celebrate the achievements of our support staff and students from several grades made cards to thank them for their work.

Thank you to our wonderful support staff! You assist in keeping our school running smoothly and helping students to achieve!

Principal’s Day

On 2 August, it was Principal’s Day. Naomi and I received some lovely cards and letters from students and the staff put on a delicious morning tea for us. Naomi and I are both very proud to be leading Huntingdale Primary School. We have a wonderful community of students, parents and teachers and it is exciting times ahead for the whole school community!

Parent Opinion Survey

This is a friendly reminder from DET that the 2019 Parent Opinion Survey the survey will remain open until Sunday 18 August 2019. If you received an email to do the survey you still have time to complete it!

SLC Daffodil Day Fundraiser

On Friday 23 August it is Daffodil Day. The SLC are encouraging all children to wear yellow on the day and bring a gold coin donation to go towards cancer research. Many families have been touched by cancer and it is a worthwhile cause. Thank you to the SLC for organising this.

I am taking two weeks long service leave to travel to Colorado. Naomi Mori-Hanazono will be Acting Principal during this time and Keiko Harada Acting Assistant Principal.

See you in two weeks!

Ruth Biddle

Assistant Principal's Report

We are already half way through Term 3!!!

Japan Trip

31 students are participating in the upcoming Japan Trip as part of our international learning program from 9th October to 18th October. These students are attending pre-departure sessions during lunch time to prepare for the trip.

On 31st July, Deputy Consul General of Japan visited our school and spoke to our students and emphasised the importance of this opportunity and how it” will open their eyes” in the future. While we enjoyed sushi, students shared their excitement of the trip with Mr Saito.

Minato ku Primary School visits

20 Grade 6 students came from Minato ku in Tokyo, Japan from 23rd to 29th July. All of our children enjoyed spending time with our visitors in their classrooms. Foundation students read the story book of Australian animals and made an animal using a stone. Grade 1 students enjoyed the incursion “The Chocolate Shop”. Grade 2 students made boomerangs. Grade 3/4 students participated in a Footy Clinic run by Richmond players. Grade 5/6 students made Anzac biscuits. All students participated in Michael Salmon’s visit. Many students met Michael in the library to get his autograph. Minato ku students did their performance at our special assembly and shared their skills. Our children really enjoyed their quiz. Thank you so much to our Host Families. Without your support, we could not run this great exchange program.

Shioya Machi Junior High School’s Visit

10 Year 8 students from Shioya machi arrived safely yesterday and will be visiting us until 17th August. We had a welcome ceremony with our host family’s students. We will also be having a special farewell assembly this Friday from 2:35pm. You are all very welcome to join in.

School Uniform

It has been very cold and windy recently. Please make sure that your child/ren come to school with warm clothes in school colours.

Lost Property

Lost property is mounting up again…Please check the tubs in office to see if anything belongs to your child. Please remember, that if you put your child’s name on their lunch box, jacket, hat, etc., there is a better chance of them finding their owner. At the end of each term items not claimed are disposed of responsibly.

Naomi Mori-Hanazono

Assistant Principal