14 March 2024

From the Principal

Did you see our Prep, 1, 2 teachers explaining our new approach to reading at home ‘Reading is Everywhere’?

We know the importance of regular reading to help develop and enhance a student’s ability to be a capable and competent reader for their future success. Check out the video here for how to help your child with their reading at home:

Reading every day is crucial for children’s brain development. It helps them learn new words, understand new ideas, and think more effectively, it also makes them feel happier and more engaged with their learning. So when you read with your child each day, you're helping them develop a love of reading!

North West Primary School Athletics

Congratulations to our representative athletics team for their excellent performances last week in Penguin at the North West Primary Schools Athletics Carnival. Our students demonstrated great determination, and sportsmanship, making us all proud. A special mention to Kyiesha, Stella and Mia who will compete in the Twilight Athletics event on Thursday, based on their placings, to compete for a place in the North West Athletics Team. A big thank you to Mr Forward, Mr Parker, Tenille Bolton and Miss Guyatt for their attendance on the day and with the organisation in the lead up.

NWPSSA

Upcoming Events/Dates

As we progress through the term, please remember to keep an eye out for upcoming events and important dates, these are listed and updated in each newsletter.

‘Catch Up’ Water Awareness

This week, our ‘catch up’ early childhood water awareness program has commenced. This was a catch up program for students in Prep-2 in 2023 who due to a double booking at the pool last year, missed their swimming. Swimming and water awareness is a life skill for our children living so close to the ocean, but also an excellent form of exercise and recreation. Our instructors are committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants. Our whole school 2024 Swimming and Water Safety Program will take place in May and we look forward to our students in Years 1-3 build on their skills developed in this program. 

Water Awareness

Term 1 Reporting Learning Progress to Families

At the end of week 8, Thursday 28 March, students Prep-6 will receive an ‘Application to Learning’ report. This is a brief overview with tick boxes related to a range of personal and social indicators as below. If you have any queries about this report, teachers will be available for any conversations during week 9 and 10 (after the Easter break).

Reports will be sent home with students to ‘parent 1’ on their file, with parent 2 reports being sent in the mail. If you have a shared parenting arrangement and wish to collect your report from the office, please call or visit to let us know.

As always, I encourage open communication and collaboration between parents, students, and staff members. Together we can create a nurturing environment where every child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community.

In partnership,
Georgia

Dates to Remember

2024

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Respecting People is our Current fortnightly Focus

Hilly Kids That Shine

Baylin has been doing swim lessons since she was around 6 months old. She goes weekly during school terms. Doing this has enabled Baylin to gain water awareness and safety as second nature. As a baby she was taught through songs with actions in the water, working her way up to now being in the pool without me, with her swim teacher, and following instructions, continually improving her ability and skills in the water.

Kilarni does her horse riding lessons once a fortnight, and boot camps with groups through the school holidays. She is in her 'happy place' during these times. Kilarni does not like the usual types of physical activity, so this is a great way for her to do some, through something she enjoys. Riding is great for boosting confidence, coordination, teaches responsibility and life skills. Her lessons also help her mental health and emotional regulation. The rhythm of rocking back and forth in the saddle is calming, helping to relieve anxiety and stress, and sends endorphins through your body that make you feel good and happy

What’s been happening in 1-2 Sims

What a busy 5 weeks of school we have had. Students have settled into daily routines and are enjoying an engaging literacy block. Interactive writing has been a highlight of our reading and writing learning. Students work with small whiteboards daily to practice skills such as handwriting, high frequency words, using known spelling patterns and reading fluency. The end result is a completed text to publish and share with our families, Another highlight of our literacy has been learning about nouns. Students have been learning a short song and have created a large collaborative college of ‘Noun Town’.    

1-2 Sims

Chess

Last week 1/2 – 5/6 classes had the opportunity to learn chess from the reigning Tasmania Chess Champion, Carl from ‘Black Square Chess’. All classes showed great perseverance whilst learning the moves of their pieces. Students developed their chess strategies in games of queens vs pawns. We hope to see students continuing to develop their chess skills throughout lunch time activities.

Jordan Lynd
AST

School Health Nurse

Hi Hillcrest community.

I would like to introduce myself as the School Health Nurse at Hillcrest Primary School.  I am looking forward to meeting many of you throughout the year and working together with you to grow our knowledge around all things healthy. 

This year I will be doing Kinder Health Checks, with the plan to have them all completed by the end of Term 2.  Consent forms have gone home with the Kinder students, if you are a Kinder parent/carer and haven’t received a form, please let your child’s teacher know. 

During lunch times this term I will be in the library running some Mindfulness activities to help students reset for the afternoon lessons.  An announcement will be made at lunchtime to remind the students of this option if they would like to attend.

To introduce myself to all the students I will be popping into all the classes this term and doing some basic hand hygiene education.  I also have many other activities / education planned for throughout the year and look forward to telling you about them as they happen. 

If you have any questions relating to your children’s health and wellbeing, please feel free to contact the office and they will leave a message for me to return your call.  I only work Thursdays, so it may take a couple of days to return your call. 

Have a great week,

Allison 
Nurse Alli

Nurse Alli

Basketball Information

Remember the Winter Primary School Basketball Roster commences this Friday 15 March for Years 3-6 and on Wednesday 20 March for Years 1-2.

Further information will be sent home with registered players. To be allocated a Basketball top, children are required to pay a $10 deposit ($5 refundable on return) before they receive their top. Please place $10 into a named envelope and the office will provide the top to your child on Friday and Wednesday respectively.

Please find the Basketball Roster via this QR Code here

Hillcrest Tuckerbox

Packing a School Lunchbox

When children eat well, they behave better, are able to listen well and concentrate longer.  Packing a healthy school lunchbox will help children to learn and play well and be happy at school.

Steps to Planning a Healthy Lunchbox

• Make time to prepare. Have fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and yoghurt, bread and crackers all bought in advance.
• Shop wisely and save money. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables in season to ensure good quality and value for money.
• Make your own snack packs, eg snack packs from fresh ingredients which you can buy in bulk.
• Look after the environment. Put sandwiches and other items in reusable containers.  This uses less packaging and creates less rubbish.
• Choose a variety of foods from the 5 food groups.
• Include a bottle of water – no need for sweetened drinks such as juice, cordial or soft drink as these contain too much sugar, which is not good for teeth. Non-water drinkers usually start drinking water with the example of other children. Freeze a small quantity each night and top up with cold water in the morning for a cool summer drink.
• Keep food cool. In warm weather place a small ice pack in the lunchbox.

Remember to involve your children in preparing and packing their own lunchbox.

Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

Healthy Lunchbox – Get your kids involved!

In the kitchen:

• Select easy lunchbox recipes to cook up on weekends
• Share simple tasks such as cracking eggs, stirring and measuring ingredients
• Set healthy lunchbox rules that include choosing a food from each food group
• Encourage children to fill their drink bottles with water.

At the Shops

• Allow children to choose their own fruit and vegetables
• Avoid the junk food aisle and set limits on highly processed foods
• Ask children to help look for products with the most stars

In the Garden

• Set up a vegetable patch or pot with some easy to grow vegetables and fruit, eg cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries
• Let children plant and pick their own vegetables for snacks
• Set gardening tasks such as weeding and watering

MWEW Team

Easter Eggstravaganza

Kids Night In – Devonport Gymnastics

Grief Support Living with Loss

Camp Clayton Holiday Camp

Ecofest 2024