Heaton Hotline Week 9 Term 1: 2025

As we near the end of Term 1, it is with great pride that I reflect on the many accomplishments of our students and staff. It’s been a busy and productive term, and I want to take this opportunity to share some key updates with you.

NAPLAN

A big congratulations to our Year 3 and Year 5 students who recently sat their NAPLAN exams. We are proud of their hard work and efforts. NAPLAN provides us with valuable data, which helps us identify areas where our students are excelling and areas where we can focus our attention to support their growth. Parents will receive a comprehensive report on their child’s results, and this data, which is also comparable to the state of NSW, is a useful tool for us in assessing the progress of our students. However, please remember that NAPLAN is just one test on one day, and does not tell the whole story. We will be triangulating this data with other assessments to ensure we have a well-rounded picture of each child’s learning needs and achievements.

Busy Term 1 – Events & Celebrations

Although this will be the final newsletter for Term 1, we still have much to look forward to before the holiday break. Many of our families will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr at the end of this month, a time of joy and celebration for our community. Others will be gearing up for Easter celebrations. We are especially excited about the egg-citing Easter Raffle, organised by our Parents Group, taking place on April 10. Thank you to all the families who have generously donated eggs and/or purchased raffle tickets – your support helps raise much-needed funds for our school.

In addition to these celebrations, we have some important events coming up in the next few weeks. Parent-teacher interviews will be held during Week 11, giving us an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress. On the very last day of Term 1, Friday, April 11, we’ll also be hosting our Cross Country Carnival, which is always a highlight for our students.

Teacher Professional Development

We are committed to continually improving the educational experience we provide to our students. As part of our School Excellence Plan, Heaton Public School is entering its third year of a four-year plan. In 2025, our staff will focus on enhancing High Potential and Gifted Education, as well as refining explicit teaching strategies to ensure that every lesson is clear, engaging, and purposeful. We are also embarking on professional learning to establish a consistent, school-wide approach to teaching foundational skills in reading and spelling.

To support this, we have organised five days of professional development in Week 1 of Term 2. While the school will remain open, please note that your child will have a different teacher during this time. Our wonderful staff, including Miss Russell, Mr. Laird, Mrs. Westerly, Mrs. Banks, Miss Powell, Miss Griffiths, and myself, will be here to support your children as usual.

Afternoon Pick-Up – Child Safety Reminders

We take your child’s safety very seriously at pick-up time, so I’d like to remind everyone of a few key points:

1. School finishes at 3pm. Please encourage your child to wait until the teacher excuses them, even if they are already waiting in the COLA.
2. The back gate will not be opened until the duty teacher walks the children down. If you arrive before 3pm and need to enter the grounds, please enter through the front office.
3. Please do not park in the Kiss and Drop zone; the aim is for cars to load children and move on quickly.
4. Do not call your child across the road unless they are crossing at a designated pedestrian crossing.

By following these guidelines, we can ensure the safety and well-being of all our children.

Harmony Week

Last week, we celebrated Harmony Week, a time to reflect on the values of respect, inclusion, and anti-discrimination. Our students engaged in meaningful discussions on these topics in class and at assembly. We are looking forward to Heaton’s Harmony Day Celebration, which will take place on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. I am excited to be part of this special day, where we celebrate our community and the rich cultural diversity that makes Heaton Public School such a unique place.

Wishing You a Safe and Happy Break!

As we approach the end of Term 1, I want to wish all our families a safe and relaxing holiday break. I hope you enjoy quality time with your loved ones, and I look forward to returning in Term 2 with more exciting events, celebrations, and, of course, plenty of learning!

Warm regards,
Holly Foot

As a school we are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe, respected and included within our school community. This means actively addressing racism and promoting a culture of respect and equity.

As part of the department’s Anti-Racism Implementation Plan, we want all parents and carers to become familiar with the resources, reporting pathways and educational tools available. These initiatives are designed to not only combat racism but to also promote a culture of respect, equity and inclusion throughout our school.

We encourage you to engage in meaningful conversations with your child about the importance of standing up against racism and embracing inclusive attitudes. By working together, we can empower our students to be positive role models who contribute to a stronger school community.

Some resources for parents and carers:

• Reports of racism

• Making a complaint about NSW public schools – guide for parents & carers

• Anti-Racism Policy – Information for parents and carers - translated

• Support with making a complaint

If you would like further information or have any questions, please reach out to us through the front office (ask to speak to the ARCO or attention emails to ARCO heaton-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au)

Thankyou for your ongoing support in making our school a better place for all.

ICW are having a wonderful start to the year, where we are embarking on an exciting journey of learning and growth together! From day one, we have worked hard to create a safe and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and supported. We kicked off the year by setting clear expectations, fostering respect and teamwork among our young learners.

The wellbeing of our students is extremely important to us. One way we protect the wellbeing of your child is by fulfilling our responsibilities as both parents/carers and school staff by reporting and monitoring student absences.

Please remember to contact us on 49 52 6022. This is best done early in the morning if your child is going to be away or late for school so your child’s absence can be recorded correctly and we can provide appropriate support for you and your family.

If you speak a language other than English and need help talking with our staff, please telephone the interpreter service on 131 450. This service is free. Listen in your language or see How to contact the Telephone Interpreter Service.

For further information on the processes we use to record, monitor and follow-up student attendance and absences please read our School Attendance Policy.

This year parent teacher interviews will be scheduled on the following days:

• 7 April (Year 5 and 6)
• 8 April (Year 3 and 4)
• 9 April (Year 1 and 2)
• 10 April (Kindergarten)

You will be able to book a time slot using the Sentral App. The booking system will open on March 17th. If you do not have access to Sentral please email the office ASAP.

Lunch Orders are back - EVERY FRIDAY (order with cash at the front of the hall from 8:30-9am)

Next whole school assembly - 21 March 2025 at 9:15am

Parent Teacher Interviews 7-10 April - book in asap.

Yarn Up Performance and PLP afternoon (by invitation only) April 2

Easter raffles April 10

Cross Country April 11

Last day of Term 1 for students April 11

See the Sentral calendar for dates.

Just a reminder to please use the parent app and make sure your notifications are switched on. I've checked into the issue some people were having with notifications, but the company assures me it's not a problem for any other school. If you have any problems, please see the office. All notes and finance will now go through this system, and you can address your absences and permissions during this time.

Please click the document below for support around using the app for accepting activities and for paying for excursions. Sentral Finance Parent FAQs

Our parent group has established a parent Facebook page. Please click the link to join if you want to be updated with events or volunteer at school community events as a parent. These include events such as the Mother's Day Stall and the athletics carnival.

We nurture and inspire every child to dream big.

Email: heaton-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: https://heaton-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/
Location: Janet St, Jesmond NSW, Australia
Phone: 02 49526022
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatonPublicSchool/?rf=193922817306711