11 May 2017

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

May

June

From the Principal

It has been a settled start to the term and I have enjoyed catching up with students, staff and families. I trust that everyone had a safe break and enjoyed the unusually warm weather!

Students in grade 3 and 5 have been busy undertaking NAPLAN testing this week. These tests provide valuable information regarding student progress in reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy. Thanks go to students and staff for their efforts in ensuring testing ran as smoothly as possible. NAPLAN reports will be sent home later this year, for students in grade 3 and 5.

As you are no doubt aware, our School Association AGM had to be postponed until this week. The meeting is now scheduled for 7pm, tonight in the staffroom. If you want to come along and find out what it is all about, please feel free to attend. I hope to see you there!

As we move into the cooler weather, it is timely to remind families to ensure that their child is dressed warmly for the colder mornings. We have a range of new and second-hand uniform items for sale at the office, so if you require anything, please contact the office. A reminder also, that term 2 and 3 are hat free terms.

Jerome Pape - Principal

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our HKFK focus for this week has been “Body Language”. Next week’s focus topic will be “Respecting Our School” and the week after will be “Respecting the Opposite Gender”.

Respecting Our School

We all enjoy our school. School means different things to different people, but everyone has their favourite place to be. For some people this may be reading a book in a quiet corner of their classroom or working on the computer in the library. For others it may be sitting with friends under the old trees, playing footy on the oval or climbing on the equipment. Whatever you like to do it is important that we look after our school, both inside and outside, so that it is a pleasant place to be.

Respecting our school means making sure we work together as a team to keep it clean and free from litter. It means making sure no-one damages the buildings, furniture or school equipment. The trees and gardens need to be respected too, as they not only make the schoolyard look better, but they also provide shade and shelter. In the coming months we hope to make a big change to the grounds of the school and we will need support from all of the students to ensure these changes are sustainable and benefit us all.

Respecting each other’s play areas will mean everyone can play happily in the yard. We need to remember our school rules, they are there to help keep our school a safe, happy place.

This is our school. We should be proud of it and work hard to ensure it is a clean, safe and happy environment for everyone.

Respecting the Opposite Gender

There are so many things we have in common and so many interests we share, that often we assume that everyone thinks and behaves the same as we do. Certainly there are many things that all, or nearly all kids like – playtime, PE, Music, winning a prize, playing with our friends; there is a huge list. But sometimes we need to consider that there are people who have different interests to us and that their interests are just as worthwhile. And sometimes the difference is between boys and girls.

While many girls and boys share the same interests, sometimes they do not. Sometimes they like to play different games, or watch different TV shows, or listen to different music. All of that is OK! It does not make one better than the other. We need to respect both males and females and the choices that they make, and be happy that there are at times differences.

Our Hilly Kid of the Week for “Being Helpful” was Aisha Sims from 3-4D and for “Appropriate Language” was Bradley Farley from P-1BE. Congratulations, Aisha and Bradley!

Well done to our other class representatives:

Anzac Day 2017

Every year our school participates In the Anzac Day parade and this year was no different.

Mrs Kelly and the 2017 Student Councillors marched in the ANZAC Parade along Victoria Parade at 11.00am.

We were there to show respect to the soldiers who fought in the wars many years ago. If it wasn’t for them we would not be the country we are today.

In the middle of the ceremony people from many different schools, levels of government and local supporters gathered to lay their wreaths. At the end of the ceremony the Last Post was played and every one who was there stood there for a minute's silence. Songs were played and the people in the audience were asked to sing along with them.

The last song was the National Anthem. Once the National Anthem was over we all gathered around and started marching back to the start, which was at the 60 and Over Club.

LEST WE FORGET

By Zoe and Kiara on behalf of 2017 Student Council

My Golf

We have been lucky enough to receive a grant from Sporting Schools Australia to run an after school program for students interested in learning about golf.

The program will run for 4 more weeks this term. Twenty students can attend each session. The session times will be 3pm—4pm. Included in this time will be afternoon tea and all golfing equipment. A coach from My Golf Tasmania, Dean Bramich, will be running the sessions and a staff member (Ann-Maree Mulcaster) from Hillcrest will be supervising each session.

There are still spots available for Grade 4, 5 and 6 students for Thursday, May 4, 11, 18 and 25. If your child would like to participate please let Mrs Mulcaster know and a permission letter can be sent home so we can include them.

Ann-Maree Mulcaster - Acting AST

Lift

Hillcrest Primary School students have free access to an App called “Skoolbo”. You may have heard your children talk about Skoolbo.

The app has been developed to help improve maths and reading skills in a fun interactive way. The app can also be accessed on a computer, as well as tablet/IPad.

In addition to Skoolbo, because we subscribe to Mathletics, thanks to our School Association, your children have access to another free App called Zippy Shine. Zippy Shine is an app that aims to improve reading.

The following is information provided by the developers for families to access these apps. This information has been sent home in your children’s communication folders.

All classes are now using the Seesaw app to share what is happening at school with families. If you are unable to access this, or are having difficulty, please see your child’s teacher or Mrs Mulcaster in the Library.

Ann-Maree Mulcaster - LIFT Co-ordinator

4-5Kelly

In 4/5 K we have been learning about persuasive writing. Persuasive writing is being able to convince others to share your point of view. We have learnt how to plan our writing and some language that can help persuade the reader. What do you think……..are computer games a waste of time? Aneeka, Klovi, Charlea and Jordan have shared their thoughts:

Computer games are a waste of time

In my own opinion I think that computer games are a waste of time. I think that it is a waste of time because kids won't be able to learn much from a computer game.

My reasons for thinking computer games are a waste of time:

First, because when kids start to play they won't be able to stop and will become addicted very quickly.

Second, they won't get out because they will be too busy laying around and playing computer games.

Third, they will become very lazy and won't be bothered attending family gatherings or BBQs.

So, I think that kids should not be able to play computer games 24/7. They should just play them occasionally. By Aneeka

Are computer games a waste of time?

I think computer games are a waste of time.

Firstly, you can have fun in the sunshine. If you have fun in the sunshine you can swim in summer and then play some sports like soccer and football in winter.

Secondly, you will have a good imagination if you go to play. People will ask you to play because you have a good imagination. Also, if you have a good imagination you can pretend that you are a pirate or something.

Lastly, you can play with your family members. You could run and get better at running faster. Also, you could throw balls back and forth.

So, I believe that computer games are a waste of time. By Charlea

Are computer games a waste of time?

Argument: Video games are not a waste of time.

Reason 1: Video games are not a waste of time because they get the creative part of the mind flowing with certain games. Little Big Planet, Minecraft and Lego Worlds are all very creative games.

Reason 2: Video games do not stop you from going outside. If you have a time limit you can still go outside and not sit inside leaving a butt print on the couch. The only person stopping you from going outside is yourself.

Reason 3: They are fun to play with and you can challenge yourself with games that are cheap because at EB games you can buy second hand games and you don't have to spend $50 on a game.

Conclusion: I think video games are good for the reasons above. By Jordan

Computer Games-Are They a Waste of Time?

I think computer games are not a waste of time because of these reasons:

Firstly, I have to say you can learn more like in Mathletics and Skoolbo .

Secondly, what if it is raining and you have nothing to do and you’re as bored as a rock?

And lastly, you can play games with family and friends on Juice Jam or Candy Crush.

For all those reasons I know computer games are not a waste of time. By Klovi

1-2 Bellchambers

Tuckerbox Tips

To make sandwiches more interesting, vary the breads and fillings. Try some of the following ideas:

• Use different types of breads. Try wholemeal, high fibre white, pita, bagels, sourdough or wraps
• Try crackers and crispbreads for a change
• Add different vegetables in different ways. Grated carrot, finely sliced cucumber, celery and different types of lettuce
• Use different protein fillings instead of ham and chicken. Try roast beef, sliced turkey and sliced egg
• Add different flavours. Try mustard, small amounts of vegemite, mayonnaise, chutney and hummus. You can also add herbs and spices such as chopped parsley, chives, or curry powder. Don’t add salt!

Lyn Aherne - Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

The time children spend sitting and watching television or playing electronic games (known as ‘screen time’) is time children could spend being active.

Tips for parents to reduce children’s ‘small screen’ time:

• Set limits on your child’s TV watching and time spent playing electronic/computer games. Monitor how much ‘screen time’ your child engages in – you may be surprised at how many hours it actually is!
• Designate certain days of the week as ‘screen free’ days – it’s good for children to have one or more days during the week when no TV or computer games are allowed

• Leave the TV off – only have the TV on when it’s actually being watched; otherwise, turn it off and use music for background noise
• Eat at the table and leave the TV off – try to eat at the table as a family, not in front of the TV
• Be selective about what your child watches – most children will happily sit and watch whatever is on the screen for hours on end if allowed to do so. Be selective and use your child’s allocated screen time to watch quality children’s programs they enjoy
• Keep TVs and computers out of your child’s bedroom – keep these in a common area of the house so that you can monitor use.

MWEW Team

Soccer Roster

Parents, players and coaches are reminded about the setting up and packing up procedure. Teams playing the first game on their pitch are responsible to set up the pitch. Teams playing the final game on the pitch are responsible for packing up the pitch.

Parents and Coaches are also reminded that they are NOT to approach the referees. Most of the referees are young players who are still learning and they will make mistakes. If there are any issues, please go to the canteen or seek out a committee member. They will be the ones in the fluoro orange vests with ‘Committee’ on the back.

Soccer Girls Only Fun Games

We will be running some girls only fun games every Saturday for our female players, to give them the opportunity to play against each other. This will happen on pitch 13, 11am to 12 noon. Girls can just turn up (don't have to be there the whole time).