GPA Newsletter Term 1 2026
Contents
GPA Annual General Meeting
2nd Hand Uniform Shop
All the Fun of Term 1
Looking Forward to Term 2
GPA Annual General Meeting
A great turn out for our GPA AGM on Friday 13th February to review and celebrate the achievements of 2025.
All Office Bearers roles were filled, in addition to the return of several Committee members and welcoming some new faces.
President: Claire Valentine (Freddy, 2)
Secretary: Gayle Davey (Alice, 3)
Treasurer: Hayley Clift (Adam, 5)
Read on to the President’s Report at the end, for a review of 2025 from Fiona Davey, our out-going President who “graduated” from GPA last year after 13 years of service. But don’t worry, Fiona will still be contributing to GHPS, back in Term 2 for the popular Cooking Class.
Uniform Shop
Donations of outgrown uniform items in excellent condition (for resale) can be left with the Office. Dresses, navy shorts & skorts and new logo shirts and jackets all gratefully accepted.
Our one 2nd Hand Uniform Sale Day in Term 1 quickly sold out of all our new logo stock. There will be a sale day in Term 2, providing we have stock to sell.
All the Fun of Term 1
The GPA had a food-centred Term 1 (nothing wrong with that!)
- Icy poles, ice creams, and drinks for the Welcome Picnic
- More icy poles for Friday lunchtimes
- Enthusiastic cake bakers for the raffle
- Samosa lunch for Harmony Day – continuing our great partnership with Quality Groceries, Glen Huntly
- Hot Cross Bun Sale – supported by the Bread Roll Shop, Ormond
And still to come the Easter Raffle on Thursday, along with the Easter Hat Parade. THANK YOU FOR THE GENEROUS DONATIONS – the hampers will be fabulous.
A HUGE Thanks to our enthusiastic Term 1 volunteers
(a number of whom participated in more than 1 activity)
A Special Thanks to our Event Coordinators for their extra-effort
- Hayley (Adam, 5) Icy Pole & Cake Raffle and Welcome Picnic
- Brindha (MIla, P) Samosa Lunch
- Claire H (Lily, P) Hot Cross Buns
- Claire V (Freddie, 2) Easter Raffle
Tara (Indi 3, Skyla 2, Blaise 0)
Bec (Eden 2)
CC (Olympia 4, Coco 2)
Michelle (Ruby 5, Mimi 3, Izzy 1)
Jennifer (Peter 2, Penelope 0)
Hayley (Adam 5)
Kanchen (Paris 1)
Pooja (Pranika 5)
Sarah (Rose 2)
Sacha (Leo P)
Sakiko (Asaha 3, Hatsuki P)
Kevin (Isabella 1)
Claire V (Freddie 2)
Brindha (Mila P)
Gayle (Alice 3)
Claire H (Lily P)
Mary (Aela 5, Cara 3)
Abbi (Lewis 6, Eden 5)
Claire V (Freddie 2)
Shelley (Roman P)
Looking Forward to Term 2
Friday 8th May Mother’s Day Stall
Kavitha (Nabila, 3), Claire (Freddy, 2), and Sarah (Rachel, 5) have been busy purchasing interesting and affordable gifts for the much loved Mother’s Day Stall.
Friday 19th June Japanese Celebration Day
The GPA plans to offer a special lunch.
State School Relief Lunch – date TBA
The last few years it has been pizza but maybe it will be something different this year!
All these events provide opportunities to volunteer
Specific SignUp links will be present, closer to the time of each event.
2025 GPA President’s Report
What a year!
I knew we were busy, but it is only in looking back that I see how busy. Thank you to everyone who made 2025 another very successful year for the Glen Huntly Parents Association.
Your hard work produces great results which enables Glen Huntly Primary School to offer our children a welcoming environment and community in which to grow and learn. In 2025, we played a small part in the funding of the new and very popular playground on the east site. I assure you, we know our profits are always put to good use but it is always extra special to see our contribution in a tangible form and see the kids enjoying it.
As is tradition we began 2025 with the Prep Parents Welcome Morning Tea. Then after all of the sales, stalls, lunches, and events, we finished off with the welcome return of the Mango Drive.
Looking at our list of activities, I am reminded why we chose to end the year with no jobs for the End of Year Celebration Night. The relaxed vibe then continued with not one but two of our own GPA year end celebrations – a coffee shop catch up and a Thai dinner out.
To meet our fundraising and community building goals in 2025 we organised:
Sales:
- Friday snacks – Icy poles / Hot Chocolates (weekly, all year)
- Uniform shop (ad hoc, all year)
- Welcome Family Picnic (a.k.a. Family Fun Night) – drinks and frozen yoghurt
- Hot Cross Bun drive
- Science Night – hot chocolates and donuts
- Art Show – ice creams
- Mango drive
Stalls:
- Mothers’ Day
- Fathers’ Day
- Federal Election Day BBQ
Raffles:
- Cake raffle (weekly, all year)
- Easter raffle
Special Lunches:
- Harmony Day rice paper rolls
- Japanese Children’s Day sushi
- State School Relief pizza
- Footy Day pies
Community Building Events:
- Prep Parent Welcome Morning Tea
- Grandparent’s and Special Persons’ Morning Tea
- Trivia Night (the long-awaited return)
- Kids Disco
- World Teachers’ Day gifting
From my point of view, there were two highlights:
The first being the long-awaited return of the GHPS Trivia Night. It was a fun night out with friends which also supports our wonderful school. Past trivia nights have showcased a pretty unique feature of Glen Huntly Primary School, the support and participation of teachers and staff, and this event was no exception.
The second, was the GPA presentation to parents during Prep Transition. While I did my bit to enthuse our newcomers about the opportunities and benefits of getting involved, it was CC who stole the show with her passion and polish in extolling the virtues of volunteering to support our children’s primary school journey. I left that day knowing that the GPA of the future is in good hands – that passion and commitment runs deep in this committee, even though we don’t all portray it in the same exuberant manner as CC did that day.
If CC inspired you to be here today, welcome, and if you are a returning member, your continued support is appreciated.
I am very proud of what we were able to achieve together in 2025. To end the year with $20,000 profit in a non-fete year is outstanding.
The success of the GPA committee and the activities we organise would not be possible without the support of the leadership team, teaching staff and our amazing office staff, Pip and Laura, as well as the broader school community in the form of their volunteering efforts, contributions towards and attendance at GPA run events throughout the year.
Gayle and Hayley, I think we’ve made a pretty good team. Thank you for taking on the Secretary, Treasurer and School Council Liaison roles in 2025.
Thank you to Hayley, Gayle, Abbi, Lauren, Sarah, Claire, and Kavitha for running events and activities this year. It has been great to work with all of you to achieve our fundraising and community building goals once again.
Thanks also to Tara Vos for volunteering to coordinate the 2026 fete and to Gayle for stepping up to offer her first level support. Due to the prework and communication efforts of Tara and Nerida, we ended the year with all required area coordinator roles filled. A fantastic situation to be in as the fete year begins. Clearly, a huge amount of work is involved in running an event of this scale, however the benefits of fundraising, community building and showcasing GHPS to the wider community, always make it worthwhile. Best wishes to the fete committee for the 2026 event. I know you have hit the ground running, and I am sure it will be a great success. Your commitment is noticed and appreciated.
Finally … I have loved my 13 years of participation in the Glen Huntly Parents Association. I have enjoyed the work, the results, the community, and the friendship …not necessarily in that order. I hope your GPA journey is just as fruitful and memorable.
All the best for 2026 and beyond.
Fiona Davey
GPA President 2025