23 May 2024

From the Principal

Congratulations to all students who have nearly completed their 2024 Swimming and Water Safety Program. I have been excited to hear of the improvement and growth our students have shown during their 1 or 2 week programs. It has been pleasing to hear positive feedback from the swimming teachers about students trying their best and following instructions well, being respectful of each other and adults in the pool environment. Thank you to families who have assisted in the organisation and washing and drying overnight through our program.

Our 2024 Cross Country is happening in two weeks’ time, Thursday 6 June, please make sure you read the section in the newsletter below to ensure you are aware of the details for this event. If you are able to attend, I encourage you to come along to support your child/children as a spectator.

Thank you to everyone who supported our Fundraising Committee with the Mother’s Day Stall, either on the day or by sending a gift suitable for selling. Your support is much appreciated. A special thank you to Helen Stonehouse who helped coordinate the fundraiser.

External School Review – next week

We are looking forward to hosting our External School Review team next week, Tuesday 28 to Friday 31 May. Brett Manion is our review leader and Paula Pearce, principal of Somerset Primary School is our peer reviewer.
I am interested in hearing from parents and carers in our school who would be available for a short phone call or face to face interview (maximum of 15 minutes) with Brett or Paula. The purpose of these conversations are to hear from a wide variety of people who are involved with our school. If you are available for a face to face or phone conversation at any of the times below, please let me know. It will be a ‘first’ in basis.

• Thursday 30 May:
  • 9-9:30am
  • 10-10:30am
  • 2-2:30PM
• Friday 31 May:
  • 9-9:30am

If you are happy to be contacted for a conversation, please contact the office or email me directly georgia.perry@decyp.tas.gov.au. Please let us know if you prefer a call or in person visit and your time preference.

Attendance  - everyday matters

We continue to focus on attendance, every student attending school every day if they are well. Staff have been working together to identify and develop strategies to increase and support students who are ‘at risk’ for attendance, this means that their current attendance rate is below 85%. 

Some of the measures we are implementing to support families and students with attendance are: 

• Notifying parents/carers via a phone call and letter when a student has unexplained or unauthorised days of absence that reach 5 days, 10 days and 15 days.  
• When a student reaches 15 days, I will make contact with you to organise a meeting to work together to implement some strategies and a plan to support regular attendance.  
• Continuing our process with sending text messages to parents/carers at 9:30am each morning and following up directly with a phone call if no response is received. 
• Asking that students sign in at the kiosk if arrival is past 9am. 

A reminder that if your child has an appointment during the school day – please bring them into class before, after or both. The less time they miss, the less interrupted their learning will be!

This term there will be an incentive for students who have improved their attendance – the top two MOST improved students will be rewarded with an end of term treat!

Help make sure your child goes to school, every day: 

Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow, and connect with their mates and teachers. It’s where bright futures start and where they’ll benefit the most. 

Tips to help get your child to school: 

• Create a routine.
  So everyone knows their tasks in the morning. 
  
• Give yourself enough time.
  Having a bit of time around morning tasks can make a big difference to your child’s feelings towards school. 
  
• Be on time, every day. Monday to Friday.
  They say it takes two months for our brains to create a new habit. So just take it a day at a time. 
  
• Schedule appointments and trips outside of school hours.
  This way your child will stay engaged in their learning, and won’t miss out on important learning time. 
  
• Get a good night’s sleep.
  It’s amazing what a good sleep can do to help your child learn and stay engaged with school. 
  
• Set some technology boundaries.
  We are all familiar with scrolling on a device, only to feel exhausted and unmotivated! Maybe try a family tech agreement to help limit screen time. 
  

Mid-term Assembly

We look forward to hosting our mid-term assembly, next Friday 31 May at 9:10am. Class sharing will be P/1 Lawes and 5/6 Peace. We hope you will join us!

In partnership,
Georgia 

Hillcrest Cross Country

We look forward to seeing our families join us at our Cross Country event being held on our school oval Thursday 6 June 2024.  Our back up day is the following week, Thursday 13 June.

ORDER OF EVENTS  

CLOTHING                         

Students are encouraged to wear their house colour, school house colour polos are available for purchase at the front office or via the QKR app. If you are unsure of your child’s house colour, contact their teacher or the office.
Please make sure students have a warm jacket and wear running shoes.

SPECTATORS                    

Families are welcome to attend and watch from the designated spectator area on the bank area above the oval.

There will not be any seating will be available so please feel free to bring your own camp chair or picnic rug to sit on.

SUPERVISION  

To ensure the safety of everyone competing, students will be sitting in supervised class groups in an area with their class teachers.

PARTICIPATION  

Our Cross Country is all about having a go and trying our personal best. All students are expected to participate unless there is a medical reason or injury. Students who are unable to participate are requested to bring a note so they can be included in the cross country in the most suitable way.

FOOD & DRINK 

The canteen will be operating as normal. Otherwise, students are to bring their usual packed lunch. Please ensure your child brings a water bottle.  

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Parents are welcome to take photos of their own children, but we request you DO NOT post photos of other people’s children on social media platforms. 

Please keep an eye on Seesaw and Facebook for updates closer to the event. We will notify you via text message on the day of the cross country if it will be postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Dates to Remember

May

June

July

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our Hilly Kid Winner for What is Responsibility? in week 1 & 2

Michael from 1-2 Sims

Doing Your Best is our current fortnightly focus

This term our Hilly Kids are Friendly Kids fortnightly focus links to responsibility.

Active School Commuting – Join the Study

What’s been happening in 3-4 Wotherspoon

Hydro Tasmania Visit to Hillcrest

3/4W thoroughly enjoyed our time with Sue from Hydro Tasmania. She explained how a hydro power station works and did an experiment involving water. We also rotated around different activities involving electricity and magnets.

These are some of the things that we learnt and enjoyed from the session:

Ava: I liked the things that light up. When you make a circle, sometimes they work.

Lilli: I learnt that the hydro power station pipes are bigger than a person.

Oliver: I liked it when we connected the battery, wire, nail and magnets.

Faith: I learnt how the water goes through the power station.

Ezra: I learnt that copper and magnets can make electricity.

Stella: I liked learning about why we need electricity.

Dakota: I learnt that water and magnets can make power.

Shakiyah: I liked the one where we turned the handle and made the light work.

Henry: I liked using the magnets to move the iron filings inside the plastic box.

Sarah Wotherspoon
3/4W class teacher

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Hilly Staff

Kate Brooke

My Role – DigiTech Teacher
What do you like most about our school – How friendly everyone is and that I get to work with every single one of our students
Pets – 2 cats – Franklin & Gracie
Hobby in my spare time – Bake, read, and learn how to make things
Fun Fact about me – I am a self-taught sewist. I make some of my clothes, & would love to one day have a wardrobe full of things that I have made
Favourite Meal or type of food – Pasta, crusty bread and chocolate cake

Would you rather…………….
Beach OR Pool - Pool
Tea OR Coffee – Coffee
Books OR Movies – Both
Summer OR Winter – Winter
Morning Person OR Night Owl – Night Owl
Cats OR Dogs – Cats
Theme Park OR Museum – Theme Park

Tamieka Naylor

My Role – Teacher Assistant
Worked at Hillcrest – This is my 1^st Year
What do you like most about our school – Everyone is friendly and welcoming
Pets – 1 dog
Sporting Team I follow – Sydney Swans
Hobby in my spare time – I love to cook
Favourite Meal or type of food – Thai Food

Would you rather…………….
Beach OR Pool – Beach
Tea OR Coffee – Coffee
Books OR Movies – Both
Summer OR Winter – Both
Morning Person OR Night Owl – Morning Person
Cats OR Dogs – Both
Theme Park OR Museum – Theme Park