Thursday 26 May

Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

Thank you to the one hundred plus parents who visited our school on Tuesday to celebrate Education Week and join in Open Day. Our students and teachers were excited to have so many visitors and were proud to show off their great work. Thank you to everyone for your very positive feedback, especially regarding the opportunity to see the teaching and learning in progress on a ‘normal’ school day. After two years it has been a very long wait and it was great to have our parents and carers visit our classrooms.

Staff Shortages

As you may be aware, schools across Victoria are experiencing significant staff shortages due to illness, especially COVID and influenza and an ongoing severe shortage of qualified teachers. We are fortunate that we have several quality, experienced Class Replacement Teachers (CRTs) who work regularly at our school. As well, many of our part time staff have extended their hours at very short notice to provide coverage and assistance.

However, these resources only stretch so far and we are also having to access the assistance of pre-service teachers, where possible, who have been provided ‘early registration’ by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) to help cover staff absences. As a last resort, when we cannot access any replacement staff, our teachers are forced to split classes or collapse specialist lessons and are regularly doubling up on other duties.

Highvale P.S teachers and Education Support staff continue to do their absolute best in this extremely challenging state-wide situation. We thank you for your understanding and support.

Reconciliation Week

You may have heard through the media that today is National Sorry Day. The day is held on May 26 each year and marks the day that the landmark ‘Bringing them Home’ report was tabled in federal parliament in 1997. It is a time to remember the past policies of forced child removal and reflect on the sad and painful stories of the Stolen Generations. It is a time to recognise the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the power of saying Sorry.

National Reconciliation Week, starts tomorrow, Friday 27 May 2022. The week provides an opportunity for all schools to reflect on and learn about our shared histories in Australia. This year’s theme is Be Brave. Make Change. The theme challenges us all to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation for the benefit of all Australians.

To support this years’ theme, all HPS students and staff will be invited to wear a combination of red, yellow and black at school next Thursday 2nd June. Students and staff are also invited to donate a gold coin. We will collect and donate the gold coins to support Aboriginal literacy.

Dogs on School Grounds and Safety

Recently, with the return to onsite learning, we have also seen a return of our four legged friends in school grounds at drop off and pick up time. Whilst cute and cuddly and adored by many, including me, dogs who students are not familiar with can sometimes cause alarm. It is therefore timely to remind everyone of the safety requirements concerning dogs on school grounds. Please note the following:

Highvale P.S. is not a public place, and our principal has the authority to permit or decline entry to school grounds and impose conditions of entry for a range of situations including dogs onsite. This is at the principal’s discretion.
Staff can require that dog owners do not bring their dog onto school grounds or are required to remove their dog from the school grounds at any time.
Student and staff wellbeing is our number one priority. On occasions, dogs may help support wellbeing, however certain conditions must be adhered to at all times.
Dogs are not permitted on school grounds between 9.00am -3.30pm unless through prior arrangement and written agreement with the school. For example trained therapy or assistance dogs who attend our school to assist with student wellbeing from time to time.
The owner of each dog retains legal responsibility for their dog’s behaviour at all times. Dog owners must be familiar with their legal responsibilities and be aware that the school takes no responsibility for the behaviour or actions of their dogs.
Dogs on school grounds at drop off and pick up times must be on a short leash (not an extendable lead) and must be under the direct control of the adult (not students) at all times. This includes small, cuddly puppies.
Dogs brought into the grounds, including during holidays, weekends and after hours, must be kept on a short lead (not an extendable lead) at all times.
Dog owners must remove and dispose of dog excrement off site.

Semester One Student Reports

A reminder that the Semester One Student Report will be emailed to parents after 3.00pm on Monday 20th June. Please ensure our school office has your current email address.

The Semester One Report provides an up to date overview of progress of both the Victorian Curriculum Capabilities (Personal & Social, Critical & Creative, Cultural, Ethical) and Learning Areas (subjects).

The Report includes:

A comment stating your child’s Personal Capability progress and Social Capability progress.
5 point progress scale showing progress for each of the four capabilities.
5 point Level scale for English (Reading & Viewing, Writing, Speaking & Listening) and Mathematics (Number & Algebra, Measurement & Geometry, Statistics & Probability).
5 point Rating scale for all other Learning Areas.

Parent and Teacher Interviews will be held early in Term 3. Arrangements will be communicated later this term.

Assembly Restarting next Monday

After a number of staff illnesses, we are aiming to recommence Assembly next Monday at 2.40pm in the MPC. Parents are most welcome but will be asked to sit just outside the MPC adjacent to the open café doors.

Term 2 Student Free Days

A reminder, that our School Council approved student free day is scheduled for Friday 3rd June (next week). The day will be used for whole school Assessment and Reporting purposes.

In addition, as per Department of Education (DET) requirements, our school will hold a student free, professional practice day on Wednesday 22nd June. This is during the final week of Term 2 and will be used as a planning day for Term 3. Please note that students will not attend school on this day.

To assist families, Academy for Kids Out of School Hours care program will operate on both days. Please contact AFK directly to make bookings.

Anzac Day

Please see our Student News section for an uplifting story about our past student Lachlan deHaan and ANZAC Day.

School Tours and 2022 Enrolments

School Tours for Prep 2023 and new Year 1-6 students are provided on Wednesday mornings between 9.30-10.45am. Due to demand, tours must be booked through the school office (9887 8000). If you have friends, family or neighbours with school age children, especially those commencing Prep in 2023 please encourage them to book a tour to find out more about our wonderful school and community.

The virtual tour is available at https://highvaleps.vic.edu.au/

Please note we do accept enrolments from outside our school zone until places are full. These are limited.

Parents with children already at our school with a sibling commencing Prep in 2023 are most welcome to attend a tour. We request that siblings for 2023 be enrolled as soon as possible to enable us to identify the number of places remaining for new families.

Warm regards,

Steve Richardson | Principal

School Policies & Documents