Newsletter #14 September 6 2024
GHPS IS COMMITTED TO CHILD SAFETY
Learning Today. Leading Tomorrow.
$400 School Saving Bonus for Families
Great news that the School Saving Bonus that has been mentioned throughout the media, will be distributed to schools after the 18th of November 2024. Once funds are available at our school, parents and carers will receive an email directly from the Department of Education with their $400 School Saving Bonus – remembering that this is a once-off payment for the support of families and students.
Accessing the $400 School Saving Bonus
Parents and Carers do not need to apply for the School Saving Bonus. The Department of Education will email parents and carer in November 2024 with your $400 School Saving Bonus. You will be able to access it via an online system.
Our school is contacting parents and carers to ensure we have your email address on file – if you have an updated email address from the start of your child’s enrolment, please contact our school so we can update our file.
What can the $400 Bonus be spent on?
Parents and Carers decide how to best use the School Saving Bonus for your family’s needs. You can choose how to allocate the $400 in the online system. The bonus can be used towards 2025 school costs, which may include:
- book list and school items for 2025
- camps, excursions, and incursions
- swimming and sporting events
- School uniforms, graduation events.
Any amount that you choose to allocate to textbooks and uniforms will be valid until 30 June 2025. It will then transfer to your child’s school account for future activities.
The School Saving Bonus is not available for full-fee international students, home schooled students, TAFE students and students attending kindergarten in 2025.
More than one Child?
Families who have more than one child at the same school can combine their School Saving Bonus payments to use on one child, or for a specific activity. So, for example, a family with 3 children who are all government school students would receive support to the value of $1,200 and choose how they spend those funds. The School Saving Bonus cannot be combined across different schools.
To learn more about the School Saving Bonus visit vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus. A letter is also being sent home today with your child.
So much has been happening at GHPS and there is more to look forward too.
The Showcase
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for making our school concert such a tremendous success. Your support, enthusiasm, and dedication truly made the event a memorable experience for everyone involved. I feel very proud and honoured to be the principal of this school.
Our brave and talented students were incredible. Their hard work and passion shone brightly on stage. The grade 6 presenters were confident and entertaining and reflect all the qualities we value in our students.
Our staff were crucial in bringing this concert to life. This extends from our office staff who coordinated the ticket sales and advertising, our ES staff for the extra support given to our students, Mr White, Mrs Oldham, and Laura for their planning of whole school practices, costume distribution and backstage coordination. I thank our teachers for their dedication and for the many practices with our STOMP teacher Mikal. This gave our students the opportunity to really perform to their best.
And finally, thank you to our parents and families, for your attendance and cheering. This created an encouraging and vibrant atmosphere that inspired our performers.
Events like these highlight the strength and spirit of our school community, and it’s your collective effort that turns these occasions into something truly special. Thank you for your unwavering support and for helping to create such a wonderful and memorable evening.
Father’s Day and Special Persons breakfast
What an amazing morning of Father’s Day activities we had last Friday!
The event was well supported by a large contingent of GHPS dads, mums, grandparents, and special friends.
A special thank you to all who were able to come and visit and enjoy breakfast and a game of soccer. A very big thank you as well to our staff for providing breakfast and to Sarah and Jen who organised and ran our Father’s Day stall at school, with their team of helpers- our students looked forward to it and absolutely loved selecting a little gift for their loved one.
Leadership Youth Forum
Yesterday Mr McDermid took two of your grade 6 students, Alexis and Tengi, to the leadership Youth Forum at Parliament House.
They actively involved themselves in the workshops and tour and were excellent ambassadors for our school.
Grand Parents and Special Friends Morning
Next Thursday our school is inviting all Grandparents and special friends to come along and visit our school from 9 to 11.
Please go to your grandchild’s class from 9am to see 21st their education in action. Your grandchild will also take grandparents on a tour before a performance by the choir and band in the gymnasium at 10.
Later, the GPA will provide morning tea. The morning will conclude at 11.
Footy and Sports Colours Day
On the last day of Term 3 it will be Sports Colours Day! Students are invited to wear colours from their favourite footy, netball, basketball, soccer, rugby team (whatever team you support!) Order forms for a “pie” lunch will be going home today.
2025 Prep enrolments
Enrolments are still open. If you are aware of any families that are seeking a school for next year, please direct them to our website for information and the enrolment process.
If you haven’t yet enrolled a sibling for Prep in 2025, please reach out to our administration team as soon as possible.
Intentions for 2025- What are your plans?
If you are intending on leaving our school community in 2024 or 2025 due to relocation or any other reason could please advise us as soon as possible via the front office. For future planning purposes, we will be submitting an enrolment projection for 2025 to the Department of Education and Training this week, so such advice would be really helpful!
Last Day Term Three
Friday 20th September is the last day of Term Three. Students will be dismissed at 2.30pm.
TheirCare will provide care from 2.30pm.
Term Four
Term Four commences on Monday 7th October.
Pupil Free Day Term Four
The next pupil free day is on Monday 4th November (Day before Melbourne Cup Day).
“All our dreams can come true…if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney.
Enjoy your weekend and take care.
Nerida Burns Principal Cameron White Assistant Principal
Congratulations to the following students who received a ‘Student of the Week’ award.
Aniket 0A – For his patience and turn taking skills when playing a numeracy game with a partner. Great work Aniket!
Eshan 0B – For your incredible efforts at our musical showcase this week, Eshan! You put in the hard work, mastered the dance moves in no time, and brought amazing energy to the performance. Way to go, Dancing Dude!
Shivaay 0C – For showing enthusiasm during our musical showcase performance. It was fantastic to see you up on stage doing the dance moves and having fun with your classmates. Well done!
Ryan 1A – For your incredible dance moves and dazzling the crowd at our GHPS Stomp Showcase! You rocked it, Ryan!
Lia 2B – For writing an awesome short story about a magical dinosaur who lived in the woods, including a clear problem and solution, as well as showing her ability to self-edit for spelling and punctuation. Well done!
Robin 3A – For being an extraordinary student who demonstrates outstanding listening skills, cooperates wonderfully with her peers and always completes her work to a high standard. Her dedication and positive attitude makes her a role model for others. Keep up the amazing work!
Jaina 3C – for her outstanding data representations using Google Sheets and her remarkable maturity, curiosity, and focus during our Marvellous Melbourne excursion. Jaina consistently pushes herself to achieve excellence and maintains a high standard in everything she does. Congratulations, Jaina! Keep up the fantastic work!
Amudariya 4C – For slotting back beautifully to the classroom routine after her travels, always showing pride in her work and showing kindness!
Advik 4B – For his extraordinary persistence and unwavering dedication to achieve his pen license! Congratulations on now being able to write in PEN! Woohoo!
Jonah 5A – For your enthusiastic performance and infectious smile at the GHPS Showcase. You are a superstar!
Aarya 5C – Trying to do your very best in everything that you do, having an enormous heart and always thinking of others before yourself. Well Done!
Kartik 6A – For taking responsibility for your learning by seeking out help when you need it. Keep it up Kartik.
Family Life Education
This week marks the beginning of our Family Life Education sessions for students in Grades 4-6. Over the next three weeks, our students will engage in a thoughtfully designed program aimed at equipping them with essential knowledge and skills related to personal development, including understanding puberty, body awareness, and emotional wellbeing.
Our sessions are being expertly delivered by Cath McCallig from Sex Ed 4 Schools. Cath is a highly regarded Sexuality and Protective Behaviours Educator with extensive experience working with primary school children. Her engaging and age-appropriate approach ensures that students receive accurate information in a supportive and comfortable environment.
There is a different program for students in each grade level from Grade 4 to Grade 6.
What the Students Will Learn:
- Understanding Puberty: Students will explore the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty. This includes discussing the changes in their bodies and what to expect as they grow older.
- Body Awareness: The sessions will emphasize the importance of body autonomy and self-care, helping students to understand and respect their own bodies and the bodies of others.
- Emotional Wellbeing: Cath will also address the emotional aspects of growing up, including managing feelings and building positive self-esteem.
- Safety and Respect: The program includes important lessons on personal safety and the concept of consent, fostering a respectful and safe environment for all students.
Parental Involvement:
We believe that education on these topics is most effective when it is supported by open communication at home. To facilitate this, we will be providing parents with resources and discussion guides to help continue these important conversations with your children. We encourage you to engage with your child about what they are learning and to reach out with any questions or concerns.
We are confident that these sessions will be both informative and empowering for our students. Cath McCallig’s expertise and compassionate approach make her an invaluable part of this educational journey.
BREAKFAST CLUB/ COMMUNITY PANTRY
A massive shoutout to Glen Huntly Woolworths for donating half of the supplies for our wonderful Father’s Day Breakfast.
We are truly grateful for their ongoing support of our Breakfast Club and its related events.
We are still looking for donations for our community pantry and if you are able to help out, we would appreciate the support.
If you are not sure about what we need, have a chat with Ruth.
TheirCare News
GHPS Facebook
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Calendar
TERM 3
September
Tue 10 Family Life Education Yr 4-6
Thu 12 Grandparent/Special Friend Morning tea
Tue 17 Family Life Education Yr 4-6
Thu 19 Prep & 1 House Athletics
Fri 20 End of Term 3 (Early Dismissal 2.30pm)
TERM 4
October
Mon 7 Term 4 Commences
Thu 17 2025 Prep Transition #1
Thu 31 2025 Prep Transition #2
November
Mon 4 Curriculum Day
Tue 5 Melbourne Cup Day
Thu 14 2025 Prep Transition #3
Wed 20 Year 3/4 Camp
Thu 28 2025 Prep Transition #4
December
Wed 11 Year 6 Graduation
Fee payments and Excursion Permissions and Payments.
All Communication notices regarding excursions will be sent through COMPASS.
Permissions are to be given through COMPASS.
Preferred payment method for Fee payments and Excursions is through COMPASS.
This will allow us to always keep all the correct information available to staff whilst on an excursion.
If you have any questions, please contact the office or see Guide below.
CLICK HERE for Parent’s Guide to Compass
Thank you.