Hallett Cove East Primary School

We would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we gather on. We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of the Kaurna people to country and we respect and value their past, present and ongoing connection to the land and cultural beliefs. 

• Thursday 2nd April: Autism Acceptance Day
• Friday 3rd April: Good Friday
• Monday 6th April: Easter Monday 
• Friday 10th April: Last day of term 1 - Early Dismissal 2:05pm
• Monday 27th April: Term 2 Begins

Dear families,

What a fantastic start to the year it has been! Throughout term one, our students have settled into their classrooms, made new friendships and embraced new learning opportunities. From engaging literacy and numeracy lessons to creative learning tasks, buddy classes and hands-on activities, it has been wonderful to see such enthusiasm and curiosity across all year levels. Highlights of the term have included our Acquaintance Night, R-4 swimming week, Student leadership appointments, Year 3 & 5 NAPLAN, Learning discussions, District Athletics Day, cross country training and the special visit of the AFL premiership cups. On a daily basis, I see students demonstrating effective learning and our school values in action. We are incredibly proud of the effort and positive attitude our students have shown in term one. Whether it has been trying something new, working collaboratively, or showing kindness to others, these achievements—big and small—have helped create a supportive and thriving school community.

Farewell Nola

This week, we say farewell to our much-loved front office staff member; Nola Chalakas-Stopp. Nola is taking leave for the remainder of the year, which coincides with her career achievement of 40 years of service to public education in country and metropolitan schools. Nola has been part of the HCEPS school staff for just over 30 years with the majority of that time spent on the front desk where she has warmly welcomed visitors, greeted students and their families and offered a kind, listening ear to many in our community. Speaking with Nola over the past couple of weeks, it is really apparent just how much our school community means to her. I can only imagine the number of students, families and staff members that Nola has formed a special connection with over her years of service. Whilst Nola is taking some time to contemplate her next move, which will no doubt involve grandparent duties and catch ups with friends, we wish her all the very best and know she will take many cherished memories of our school community with her. Our school has been truly fortunate that Nola has been part of our story.

End of Term Reflection

The end of term offers an opportunity to reflect on the school year so far with your child. You might like to speak with your child and reflect on:

• What is working well?
• What is something you are most proud of?
• Something that you thought was going to be difficult, but you actually managed okay. Celebrate the resilience!
• An area that you might need to pay attention to and try hard to achieve in term two.

Building self-reflection is an important aspect of effective learning, acknowledging the successes and thinking about the areas for growth and next steps in your child’s learning journey.

As we head into the holidays, we encourage everyone to take time to rest, recharge, and enjoy time with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming students back for another exciting term of learning in Term 2.

With regards

Matthew Chapman

Principal

Dear HCEPS Community

R–4 Swimming Program Success

Last week, our Reception to Year 4 students have thoroughly enjoyed participating in their swimming program at the Marion Leisure & Fitness Centre. It has been wonderful to see our students building confidence, developing essential water safety skills, and embracing new challenges in a supportive and engaging environment.

Swimming is a vital life skill, particularly here in Australia, and this program plays an important role in helping our students become safe and capable around water. Across the week, students have worked with qualified instructors to develop their skills in water entry and exit, floating, kicking, stroke technique, and basic survival skills.

A big thank you to our teaching staff and support officers who attended each session, ensuring students were supported and encouraged throughout the program. We also appreciate the organisation and coordination that goes into making experiences like this possible.

Finally, thank you to our families for your support in preparing students each day. Opportunities like this are invaluable in promoting health, wellbeing, and lifelong skills.

Edu Marking: Transforming spaces to spark curiosity for learning

You may have noticed some exciting changes appearing across our school grounds recently! We are thrilled to be introducing a range of vibrant new educational playground markings designed to support learning through movement, play, and exploration.

Our new additions include a colourful car mat, a classic snakes and ladders game, an engaging sensory path, a striking number dragon, and detailed maps of Australia and the world. These markings are more than just bright and inviting features—they are purposeful tools that help bring learning outdoors and make it accessible for all students.

These interactive spaces are already being used to reinforce key skills such as numeracy, coordination, turn-taking, spatial awareness, and global understanding. They also provide valuable opportunities for students to regulate their bodies, build social connections, and engage in structured play during breaks.

Importantly, these markings support a wide range of learners by offering visual, physical, and sensory ways to access concepts that are often taught inside the classroom. Whether it’s jumping along the sensory path, counting along the number dragon, or exploring geography through our maps, students are learning in ways that are active, meaningful, and fun.

This is just the beginning—there is more to come! We are continuing to develop our outdoor spaces to ensure they are inclusive, engaging, and supportive of every child’s learning journey.

We encourage families to ask their children about the new markings and how they are using them during the school day. It’s wonderful to see our yard becoming an extension of the classroom.

Wishing everyone a safe Easter break, and we will see you on Tuesday next week to finish off the term!

Kind regards,

Robyn Physick

Deputy Principal

HCEPS School Values Mascot Competition 

We are excited to launch our HCEPS School Values Mascot Competition, inviting all students to help bring our school values to life in a fun and creative way!

Students are encouraged to design a mascot (character) that represents one of our school values — Respect, Excellence, Fairness or Responsibility — using a native Australian animal.

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to show what our values look like, feel like and sound like in our school community through creativity and imagination.

How to Enter

• Create your design on white A4 paper
• Submit entries in the Mascot Competition Box in the Front Office
• Make sure your entry includes your name, class, and chosen value

Students can choose to hand draw their design or create it digitally and print it.

Design Guidelines

• Design one mascot per A4 page
• Students can enter multiple designs (one for each value if they wish)
• Mascots must be a native Australian animal
• Designs should clearly represent the chosen value

Students are encouraged to think about:

• Facial expressions
• Body language
• Colours
• Simple symbols or details

There is also an option to include a short explanation of the design.

Important Dates

• Entries open: Monday Week 11
• Entries close: End of Day Friday Week 1, Term 2

Information sheets are available from the Front Office.

What Happens Next?

Student Wellbeing Leaders and Mrs L will shortlist the top designs, and classes will vote to select the winning mascot for each value.

The winning designs will then be professionally recreated by a graphic designer and used across our school - with mascot naming to follow in a whole-school activity! 

Parent Tip Corner

Each newsletter, we share simple, practical ways to support children’s friendships, worries, and big emotions.

Helping Your Child with Friendships Talk with your child about repairing friendships, not just making them. You might say, “What could you say or do to make things right?” Learning how to repair after a disagreement is one of the most important friendship skills.

Supporting Your Child with Anxiety Give your child a sense of control by offering choices. For example: “Would you like to try this on your own or with me?” Having choice helps reduce anxiety and builds independence.

Supporting Big Feelings Help your child notice what’s happening in their body. You might say, “Is your body feeling fast, tight or heavy?” This builds interoception and helps children recognise when they might need a regulation strategy.

Warmest wishes,

Katrina Leucuta

STUDENT WELLBEING LEADER  (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday)

Volunteers are important to our school community. Our canteen relies on help from volunteers to deliver a meal service to our pupils.

To enable us to provide a varied recess and lunch menu offer to our pupils we really do need your help.   

If you have a spare hour or more we would welcome your support.

Not registered with the school as a volunteer?  Volunteer application packs are available from the front office containing all the information you need to submit your registration as a volunteer...... WE NEED YOU

The shop is stocked with a variety of second hand uniform items. The money raised is given back to the school and utilised in fundraising projects.

Remember that if you have any unused uniform items in good clean condition, we'd love to receive them.  They can be left at the office anytime. Thank you.

Qkr App (pronounced quicker) is Hallett Cove East Primary School and Out of School Hours/Vacation Care preferred form of payment. 

Please click for more details Qkr App

Download on the App Store or Get it on Google Play