From the Principal
Dear Parents,
As I mentioned last week, I’m pleased to share some key updates for 2025. Below, you’ll find details about staffing adjustments, new teacher appointments and some other initiatives. Please see below:
Staffing Updates:
- Mrs. Davila will be job-sharing next year to continue to focus on her role as Deputy Principal and to ensure that quality teaching remains a core priority across the school.
- Miss Testa has been appointed permanently as the 3-6 team leader.
- Mrs. Schofield will lead learning support across the school, in addition to her classroom responsibilities.
- Mrs. Stevens has requested a move to part-time; she has done an incredible job in Kindergarten over the last three years and is ready for a new season.
- Miss Lunardi: has submitted her resignation. She has been a dedicated and talented teacher over the past two years, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors. Though it’s always hard to see great staff move on, we trust in God’s plan and blessing for her. We will have more of a chance to farewell her before the end of the year!
- We have added a second year 4 class for next year. There was an opportunity for us to add this class in the lead up to becoming fully double stream over the next 5 years and we decided to do this with our largest class. We think this will benefit the students greatly.
- As previously communicated our Year 5 and Year 6 classes will be two stage based classes.
New Teachers:
We’re excited to welcome three new teachers to our school in 2025:
- Miss Thomas: joins us from New Zealand with five years’ experience in a composite (stage-based) environment at one of the top-performing academic schools in the South Island; Halswell School.
- Mr. Missikos brings experience from Carinya Christian School in Tamworth, where he’s taught K-2 for the last three years, as well as experience with gifted and talented classes in Sydney prior to that.
- Mrs. Robson comes to us from Panania Public School, with extensive experience across K-6 in Sydney and international teaching experience in Finland.
I can say with the utmost confidence that I am delighted with the quality of teachers that we have been able to attract at our school. 18 months ago, it was nearly impossible to find a Christian Teacher, we are blessed that we have three excellent committed Christian teachers joining our school for 2025. I know you will welcome them to our community
Class Naming and Structure:
To simplify, we’re using colors to name classes rather than letters, especially helpful for classes with job-sharing teachers:
- K Green: Miss Kinnear
- K Blue: Miss Gunamie (3 days) / Mrs. Davila (2 days)
- 1 Green: Mr. Missikos
- 1 Blue: Mrs. Schofield
- 2: Miss Gomez
- 3: Miss Testa
- 4 Green: Mrs. Robson
- 4 Blue: Mrs. Stevens (3 days) / Mrs. Warda (2 days)
- 5/6 Green: Miss Thomas
- 5/6 Blue: Mr. Coronado
Music: Mrs Britton
Science: Mrs Burgess
Bible: Ps Ethan
Library: Mrs Auckett
Please know that every year when allocating classes to teachers, finding the balance of how everything will fit is not an easy task. I have full confidence in every teacher that they will deliver high quality teaching and learning, wellbeing and spiritual nurturing for every child.
I will put a disclaimer, the same way I do every year and say; that many schools won’t release this until school returns. I am happy to communicate this earlier to provide confidence to the school community. However, things can sometimes happen from a staffing perspective between now and January (not that I am anticipating that to happen).
Building Plans:
Board Chair Ps. Beca Tobar will send out an update on our long term building plans before year-end. We have enough classroom spaces for next year and are currently refurbishing the library and former uniform shop to create an additional classroom.
OOSH:
As previously announced, OOSH will be available at the school from next year. Please see the below for more details.
Orientation Day:
On Monday, 25th November, we’ll hold our first ever 2025 whole school orientation day. Students will spend the day with their 2025 teacher and classmates doing some activities and exciting lessons in class. Students should come in regular uniforms and bring their usual lunch. We felt that this was important with some of the class changes, in providing this opportunity for our students to adjust to 2025. All of our new teachers will also be there, one is flying from overseas and one flying in from country NSW to be there!
Thank you for your continued partnership and trust.
My door is always open,
Joe Britton
Lunch Orders
Our Term 4 Lunch Orders are open! Thank you again to Georgette and her team for providing this service to our school community.
Lunch orders will take place every Friday for Term 4, starting Friday the 18 October 2024.
If you would like to volunteer and help out with the lunch order preparations, please be so kind as to email Mrs. Jordaan.
Please see below the menu and associated link for you to order the lunch orders for the term.
Week 6, 22 Nov: Meatballs and potatoes with rice in sauce with or without a drink (click here)
Week 7, 29 Nov: Chicken burger with or without a drink (click here)
Week 8, 06 Dec: Sausage sizzle and ice cream with or without a drink (click here)
A reminder our orders close on Thursdays at 11am.
If you have any questions, please email or speak with Mrs. Jordaan (pa@hpcs.nsw.edu.au).
Christmas Colour-in.
We are very excited to be nearing Christmas. We are starting to feel the joy in this season. In celebration of the real reason behind Christmas we are doing a colour-in activity.
OOSH
Basketball Gala Day.
Congratulations to our Year 5 and 6 students who participated in the Senior Basketball Gala Day on Monday. We are very proud of each one of you.
Good luck to the Year 3 and 4 students who will compete on Monday the 18th of November. A kind reminder to be at school at 7am.
Students of the Week
Congratulations to the following students for receiving Merit Awards this week:
Kindergarten – S
Amari P. for her thoughtful answers during class discussions!
Alilia T. for her kind and gentle heart.
Sarah S. for her beautiful singing voice during Devotions.
Emilia H. for treating others with a Christ-like attitude.
Estée F. for her positive attitude towards learning!
Kindergarten – G
Joshua H. for being a kind and caring friend.
Jael F. for taking pride in her work.
Miguel I. for sharing his ideas confidently.
Annabella J. for her efforts in working more independently.
Amilia C. for being more enthusiastic about her learning.
Ella W. for consistently showing kindness and respect towards others.
Year 1
Arabella B. for displaying kindness to others.
Israel I. for fantastic class participation.
Joao L. for consistently working hard.
Roman L. for excellent skills in Basketball.
Elysse M. for increased confidence when working independently.
Amaris N. for great effort in Mathematics.
Benjamin R. for improved skills and understanding in Writing.
Makaylla T. working well with others.
Ezekiel W. improved phonic knowledge when spelling.
Year 2
Emma W. for brilliant expressions in reading.
Louise C. for being a wonderful role model to her peers.
Ulzii T. for excellent knowledge of 3D shapes.
Emily P. for excellent dribbling skills in Basketball.
Xavier G. for asking inquisitive questions during our incursion.
Lis F. for always trying her best in everything.
Helena T. for a strong work ethic.
Serenity L. for showing confidence in her Maths skills.
Year 3
Vika T. for using a range of adverbs in her narrative.
Henrique B. for using action verbs in his narrative to engage the reader.
Emanuelle D. for her focus and effort in reading groups.
Mia A. for using action verbs in her narrative to engage the reader.
Hannah G. for her focus and dedication in reading groups.
Riley I. for collaborating with her peers in dance lessons.
Valeti T. for taking on teacher feedback positively to improve her learning.
Dioven B. for being positive and encouraging in group projects.
Valentina C. for treating others with a Christ-like attitude.
Year 4
Boaz K. for his determination in Sport and PDH.
Jackson E. for his use of alliteration in his poems.
Aseel K. for her quick thinking when dividing.
Guilherme M. for his wonderful independent reading.
Aya K. for being a organised and attentive student.
Isabella G. for her consistent joyfulness.
Estevao R. for working collaboratively in Literacy.
Marcus C. for his engagement in Reading Groups.
Micaiah N. for his enthusiastic participation in PDH.
Year 5
Lucy W. for an impressive effort in Writing!
Toakase M. for a brilliant effort at the Basketball Gala Day.
Jonathan G. for positively applying feedback in Basketball lessons.
Agatha L. for an outstanding effort in Reading!
Patrick O’Brien for an excellent effort in Maths.
Mason M. for creating an interesting shadow puppet show for Creative Arts!
Year 6
Nomuna T. for crafting an original and exceptional Free verse poem.
Jonathan K. for actively considering feedback and applying it.
Giulio C. for a well thought out business plan.
Ezekiel G. for applying great mathematical strategies to calculate the costs in his Business plan.
Gabriel H. for his willingness to lend others a hand.
Hannah K.for composing a creative Free verse poem.
Patrick M. for his enthusiastic contributions to class discussions.
Mia S. for her dedication to creating an amazing Business plan.
Save the Dates: Upcoming Dates
18 November: Year 3 +4 Basketball Gala Day
19 November: 2025 School Captains Speeches
20 November: Kindergarten Swimming Lessons
22 November: Pet Safety Incursion – Kindy, Year 1+2
22 November: Kindergarten Graduation Chapel
27 November: Year 6 Fun day
28 November: Year 6 @ Jamberoo
29 November: Christmas Chapel
4 December: Year 6 Graduation Dinner
5 December: Presentation Night
6 December: Graduation Ceremony
6 December: End of Term 4