20 October 2016

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

October

November

From the Principal

I have been very impressed with the positive start after the holidays. As I walk around the school it is a pleasure to see students engaged and happy. I am looking forward to an excellent term. Keep up the great work!

I always enjoy sharing student success with the community. Bridie Pointon recently competed in the singing section of the Burnie Eisteddfod. Organisers were so impressed that they invited her to perform solo last Thursday at the ‘Burnie Shines 2016’ event. I have seen a video of Bridie’s performance and she should be very proud of her efforts. Well done, Bridie!

A reminder to the community that this Friday, October 21st, is a Professional Learning Day. Students do not attend on this day. Teachers will be planning together, focused on numeracy and writing. They will also be participating in online learning, about the Disability Standards for Education.

If families are aware of any children in our area who will be turning 4 by the 1st of January 2017, please encourage them to enquire about enrolling in our Kinder for next year. Your support is appreciated!

If parents have a particular request regarding their child for 2017, please contact the office to make an appointment. We try and meet requests where possible, but a range of factors contribute to how classes are structured. We will soon be making decisions regarding classes so, if you have a request, please make an appointment to see me prior to Friday, November 18th.

A big welcome to Meg Graham, who is working with David Carter for the next few weeks. Meg is a fourth year student who is training to be a HPE teacher. I hope you enjoy your time at Hillcrest, Meg.

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our Hilly Kids focus topic for this week was Being Positive. The topics for Weeks 3 & 4 will be Give Way and ‘Being Assertive’.

Give Way

With our school getting bigger and busier we really must practise the skill to give way. Give way at school is very much like give way on the roads. We wait first and then allow others to pass before we go. We need to give way to people coming out of doorways. Step back, perhaps even hold the door open for them. Be sensible though, if someone is carrying something heavy, then let them pass. In the playground giving way might mean letting some children continue their game, or retrieve their ball before you move into an area or play your game.

Being assertive

The best way is:

• Tell them to stop annoying you or firmly ignore their behaviour and walk away from them
• Speak in a firm, not angry voice
• Stand tall
• Look in their eyes firmly (but not in a threatening way)
• Stay in control of yourself

The weak way is to:

• Give in to others when you don’t want to
• Let other people continue to do bad things to you
• Talk quietly, mumble or speak hesitantly
• Cry, sulk or sob without trying to deal with the problem yourself first
• Look down at the ground when you are speaking
• Stand small as if you are trying to hide

Our HKFK student of the week in week 10 for Seeing it Through was Macy Deegan from 2-3MA and in week 1 of this term for Leadership was Callum Bishop from 4-5KB. Our Aussie of the Month for September was Chelsea Brooks. Congratulations, Macy, Callum and Chelsea!

Well done to our other class representatives for Seeing it Through!

Well done to our other class representatives for Leadership!

No Hat No Play

We would like to remind you that in Term 4 all students and staff MUST wear a sun-safe hat when outside at recess and lunchtime. Students who do not have a school hat will be restricted to staying in a designated shade area at these times. Cap style hats are not acceptable; it must be a hat with a brim all the way around. New hats are available in the school office for $7.

2017 Kinder Enrolment

Kindergarten enrolments are being accepted for children who will be turning 5 years of age in 2017. Those of you who are attending our pre-kinder should have your forms in already. Enrolment forms are available in the school office or from our pre-kinder teacher.

If your child will be enrolling for Kinder next year why not attend our pre-kinder sessions? This will support your child’s transition from home to school and help familiarise your child with the teacher, the room and the routines of Kinder. Families will meet and get to know each other and our school community and you can start developing support networks and friendships. The sessions are run on Wednesdays in the Kinder building from 1:30-2:45pm.

Important Pre-Kinder dates:

Wednesday October 26th - Student Banking Information Session
Wednesday December 7th - 2017 Kinder Orientation Afternoon

2017 Class Placements

If you have important educational concerns or requests regarding classes for your child in 2017, please make an appointment to speak with the Principal before Nov 18th. Our teaching staff and class compositions will not be confirmed until later in the year and, whilst your input will be considered, we cannot make any guarantees that we will be able to meet your requests.

Also, if you know your child will not be attending Hillcrest next year please let us know as soon as possible.

Walk-a-thon

Our annual Walk-a-thon on Monday, October 24th, is a whole school walking event and one of the many ways we encourage Hilly Kids to lead active lives.

“Walktober” is Australia’s walking month and walking is a great habit to develop for exercise!

Parents are invited to enjoy the walk with their child’s class and join us in promoting the idea of having fun through being active. If you are planning to join the walkathon please let your child’s teacher know.

A sponsorship form was sent home last week. It is not our intention that children door knock for sponsorship but, instead, should seek sponsorship from family and friends.

Grades 3-6 will start at 10am, Prep-2 at 11:10am and Kinder at 11:10am. On the day students will need to wear their school uniform, hat and shoes suitable for walking. Remember to send your child with a water bottle, too!

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

Book Club Due Date

Scholastic Book Club catalogues have been distributed to students. Orders are due back in the office with the money or the receipt by Tuesday, October 25th.

Day for Daniel

On October 28th our students will participate in ‘Day for Daniel’. This day is about educating children to keep safe. It empowers children to ‘Recognise, React and Report’ if they feel something is not right. On October 28th our students are invited to wear red and asked to make a donation to support ‘Day for Daniel’.

Prue Bezemer - AST

The objectives for this day are:

• To raise awareness about child safety and protection and to promote a safer community for children
• To educate children regarding their personal safety and empower them to Recognise, React and Report
• To provide FREE safety and educational material
• To honour the memory of Daniel Morcombe
• To have over 1 million people Australia-wide to participate in ‘Day for Daniel’

Hillcrest Tuckerbox Halloween Treats

Monday, October 31st is Halloween, but Hillcrest tuckerbox will be celebrating early! Next Friday, October 28th we will be selling spooky, scary inspired treats! Just for fun we will have Little Cakes of Horror and Spooky Jelly for 60¢ each. These special treats will be available at recess and after lunch. The lunch order menu will be as usual.

Lift

We have lots of activities for families to participate in this term.

Many of our classes have started to use an app called ‘Seesaw’. If you would like to find out more about ‘Seesaw’ or just need some support to install it on your device then come along to one of the sessions in the Library this week. I will also offer technical support for subscribing to the school newsletter.

Would you like to become a reading tutor? Or find out what happens in our TAG Reading program? I will be running session in the near future on a Thursday or Friday. If you are interested, please email me at ann-maree.mulcaster@education.tas.gov.au or pop in and see me in the library.

Ann-Maree Mulcaster – Lift Coordinator

Cake Stall Fundraiser

Yesterday, October 19th, we had our annual fundraiser for the grade 6 celebration tops. We managed to sell all of our tasty treats that so many kind people had baked for us. Students in the two grade 5/6 classes showed great perseverance, leadership and team work to make the event a huge success. Thank you to everyone who, baked, bought and sold cakes and treats, helping us to earn enough money for our brand new Grade 6 Celebration Tops.

End of Term 3 Awards

Working with Vulnerable People Check

Remember that people who wish to volunteer in schools as well as contractors who come to the school for work MUST now have their Working with Vulnerable People card. If you have not done so already and wish to volunteer at any school, please apply as soon as possible. Bear in mind that it may take up to 8-12 weeks for your application to be approved.

Once you receive your card, please bring it to the office so we can update our records.

Devon Netta Tournament

Well done to our 3/4 Netta team that competed in a recent Devon netball tournament at Spreyton. All the girls and their parents showed great team spirit in very unfavourable weather! Our school spray jackets came in very handy as we played matches against Burnie, Meander Valley & Miandetta.

Unfortunately, after our third game of the day, the rain became too much and we all decided a hot shower at home would be more enjoyable!

Andrea Collins

Back: Hannah, Jasmine, Sarita, Lily Front: Londe, Maya, Amber & Tahlia

P-1 MB Footy Colours Day

5-6 Hortle

Soccer Gala Day with Michelle Heyman

On a beautifully sunny Wednesday October 12th, all girls from grade 3-6 attended a Soccer Gala Day with Matilda’s star Michelle Heyman. Let’s find out what some of the girls thoughts about the day and what it was like meeting a star soccer player:

“It was really fantastic. I learnt how to play soccer more and met new friends.” – Adele

“It was really fun to play soccer and meet Michelle Heyman!” – Bridie

“Michelle is really nice and she told us a lot about herself, including how she has been playing soccer for 18 years. She even gave away Adidas equipment if we got a quiz question right and someone in our school got one!” – Imogen

“It was a really amazing day and we got to get our new pink soccer tops signed. I enjoyed getting to meet new friends as well.” – Anita.

“It was awesome to play a different sport and to meet Michelle.” – Monique

“It was a lot of fun, and I got to have a photo with Michelle.” – Jazlyn

“It was an enjoyable day playing soccer with other girls, and I was excited to be the first person to get my pink soccer top signed.” – Sophie

“I thought it was extraordinary, and at the end we got our tops signed and had a photo with Michelle.” – Lily

Reece High School Uniform Winners

Congratulations to the following students who attended the Reece High School Information Night and had their enrolment forms in by the due date. They have won a free RHS uniform for 2017.

East Devonport – Tiffany Clarke
Hillcrest – Imogen Hawley
Miandetta – Georgia Smith
Spreyton – Riley Porsbro

All winners have been notified.

Loritz Circus

Mini Roos for Girls