What a wonderful start to the year it has been! I love settling back into the rhythm of school life and seeing so many happy faces each day.
I know the start of the school year brings its own challenges for families—organising uniforms, packing lunches and adjusting to new routines. Many students have also resumed their extracurricular activities, adding to the busyness but also the joy of the season.
It has been lovely to see so many parents in the yard, and I sincerely appreciate your patience with the changed traffic conditions as we continue developing the car park. While it’s a temporary challenge, the long-term benefits will be well worth it.
Welcoming New Staff
We are truly blessed to have a full complement of teaching staff for 2025, which is no small achievement in the current national teacher shortage. I’d like to introduce you to some of the wonderful new staff joining our community:
Andrew Kyprian – Years 3-6 PE Teacher
Ebony Combridge – Year 5 Teacher
Prisca Golla – Year 1 Teacher
Agnes Low – Year 4 Teacher
Nikki Sega – Not new to HCC, but has stepped into the role of Years 3-4 Head of Learning Module
Additionally, we are delighted to welcome our new school nurse, Hannah Viado-Vega, who brings a wealth of experience in school nursing. If you have any medical concerns regarding your child, please feel free to reach out to her.
Starting a new school can be just as daunting for staff as it is for students, so I encourage you to warmly welcome them. We are incredibly grateful to have such dedicated teachers join us this year.
Setting Up for Success
Before students returned, our staff spent a week on campus engaging in professional development. This time together allowed us to grow in faith, refine our planning and ensure that every teacher was equipped for a strong start to the year.
By now, you should be well aware of your child’s homeroom teacher, your first point of contact should you have any questions or concerns. Strong communication between home and school is key to ensuring a smooth and successful year for each child.
Looking Ahead in Term 1
Term 1 always seems to fly by! With just nine weeks, a public holiday for Labour Day and NAPLAN assessments for Years 3 and 5 towards the end, the weeks will move quickly. Children may begin to feel the fatigue of new routines, so now is a great time to establish strong habits that will set the tone for the rest of the year.
A Heartwarming Moment
This week, I received a beautiful email from a parent, and I wanted to share a snippet that truly encapsulates why we do what we do:
"I attended the inter-school swim tryouts this morning to watch my son and his friends. I was so impressed by the students—they were brilliantly well-behaved, cheering for each other, offering words of encouragement to those feeling overwhelmed and showing genuine care for one another. There was no need for reminders about behaviour, and even in the changing rooms, there was just the sound of happy chatter. The pupils are a real credit to the school, and that without doubt comes from the safe, respectful and nurturing environment fostered at Heathdale.
The moment that summed it up for me was on the drive home. I reminded the boys that there was no need to worry about others laughing at them, as everyone was too busy cheering them on. My son’s friend responded, ‘Yeah, we go to school with some really great kids. I don’t know why I worried about that—I really love my school.’”
This is the heart of our school: a place where students feel safe, supported and encouraged. I pray that every child is settling in well and experiencing that same sense of belonging.