30 August 2018

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

August

September

From the Principal

It is always a pleasure to acknowledge great work. Recently the Devonport Collective Middle Tier Leader Planning Group were named as finalists in the 2018 Together We Inspire Awards. Naomi Archer is part of this group and I wish to congratulate her on being recognised for the contribution she makes to supporting learners and education in Tasmania. Well done Naomi, and good luck!

Our School Association Committee met last Thursday and spent some time refining our Respectful School Volunteer and Visitor Behaviour Policy. Once finalised, this will be provided to the community. The committee also discussed the 5 year Master plan for the grounds and some great ideas were presented that had been provided by the students. We will keep you informed of the progress of this exciting project.

Choirs are busy getting ready for the upcoming Devonport Eisteddfod. Gaye Kelly has been working hard with the choir, preparing them to sing their best on the day. If you have any questions about the choirs, please contact the school office or Mrs Kelly.

Below is some information regarding an upcoming wellbeing survey that will be undertaken by students in grade 1-3. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact the office.

Child and Student Wellbeing Survey

Attention: Families of students in Year 1-3

The wellbeing of our students is important to us. To get an understanding of how students across Tasmania feel about their own wellbeing, students in Years 1-3 at Hillcrest Primary School will be taking part in a wellbeing survey.

The survey is one of four surveys being trialled across 29 schools, as part of the Department of Education’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy.

The details for the survey in our school are:

Name of survey: Rumble’s Quest
When: Tuesday, 25th September 2018
Who: Students in Years 1, 2 and 3
What do I need to do: You and your child don’t need to do anything. The survey will be done in class time and will not require your child to prepare in any way.

A letter with more information will be sent home with all Year1-3 students, including Frequently Asked Questions and a form to sign and return to the school if you do not want your child to participate in the survey. If you would like further information, please contact Jerome Pape.

Thank you for supporting us to ensure that all our learners are safe, feel supported and are able to flourish, so they can engage in learning.

School Satisfaction Surveys

If you haven’t done your survey, it is not too late! The survey deadline has been extended to Friday, September 7th, so please go online and fill it out. A computer is available at school to use, if you need access. Contact the office if you need further support or have any questions.

Jerome Pape - Principal

Planning for 2019

During the next few weeks, we will begin planning for 2019. If your circumstances have changed and your children won’t be at Hillcrest next year, please advise the office as soon as possible. Similarly, if you know of possible Kinder enrolments or people moving to our area, please let us know. This information will gain an accurate picture of our enrolments for 2019. Student numbers influence the number of classes we have and the number of staff we employ. Thank you for your support.

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our HKFK focus for this week has been ‘Including Others’. Our focus topics for the next two weeks will be ‘Saying No’ and ‘Being Resilient/Who Can Help Me?’

Saying No

Sometimes people find it hard to resist pressure from others to do things they really don’t want to do or things which they know are mean, wrong or dangerous. We all need to practice saying ‘no’ confidently and calmly, but still remaining friendly and firm.

Do:

• Look in their eyes
• Tell them calmly you don’t want to do it
• Briefly say why (for example, “No thanks, I want to do something else after school.”)
• Or, if it is mean, against the rules or dangerous, point out the consequences (for example, “No. That’s mean.”
• Sometimes you may want to thank them for including you (for example: “Thanks anyway.”
• Keep the tone of your voice friendly and calm and try not to get angry

Don’t:

• Look away or down at the ground
• Say yes just so they will like you
• Say yes because you are scared that they will say bad things about you
• Lecture them if what they asked you to do was mean or dangerous
• Get angry or upset

Resilience/Who Can Help Me?

Resilience is the ability to cope with changes and challenges and to bounce back during difficult times. It is about coping and still holding your head up; giving things a go and trying your best, being strong on the inside and standing up for yourself.

Resilience is important because we cannot control everything that happens to us in life; therefore, we need to teach our children skills to become resilient, to, bounce back from the challenges and hard times that might happen. The more resilient our children are, the easier it will be for them to get back on track.

We can help our children learn to be more resilient by listening and talking with our children when they have challenges. We can help them put things into perspective, break the challenges down into manageable parts and then set realistic goals to get back on track. We should always support them in positive ways.

From time to time we all need some help. Sometimes we can deal with a problem ourselves, but, at other times it is good to have some help. At school you might choose to ask your teacher or, perhaps, one of your friends for help. At home your mum, dad, brother or sister might be able to help you. There are many people who can help us and remember, no matter what, there is no problem so big that you can’t talk about it with someone.

Our Hilly Kid of the Week for ‘Being Assertive’ was Myha from 3-4BT and for ‘Teamwork’ was Holly from 1-2B. Congratulations, Myha and Holly ! Well done to our other class representatives.

Gr 5/6 Netball Team

Congratulations to our awesome Hillcrest 5/6 netball team who finished on top of the Devon Netball winter roster for the second year in a row. The girls played 13 games during the season, with 11 wins, 1 loss and a draw. Many thanks to Tina Hawley for coaching this roster, Imogen Hawley, Kirsty Nielson, Andrea & Ebony Collins for umpiring, and all parents who helped during the roster in the canteen and scoring.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

On Saturday, August 18th, Hillcrest Primary School was represented at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial commemoration, where Gemma and Matilda laid a wreath.

NWPSSA Representatives

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent the Devonport area in the annual NWPSSA Darwin vs Devon challenge sports day: Lily, Aneeka and Sarita (Netball), Noah, Tobias, Ryan and Harry (Hockey) and Jonty, Jye, Chaz, Caiden and Bella (Soccer).

David Carter – PE Teacher

Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Next week, Friday, Sept 7th, Ruth Cannon from Operation Christmas Child will be in to talk to us at assembly about our shoe boxes for this year and to present us with a certificate of appreciation for our participation in 2017. We will be participating again this year, with classes participating in this project in September. Ruth will leave a display in the school library to give the children some ideas on what they can put in their class boxes.

As well as the immediate joy of receiving new toys, clothing and school supplies, often the shoebox gift is just the start of much bigger things, too. The shoebox gifts also enable our national partners to build relationships with local authorities, which lead to projects such as building new schools, installing wells and water filters, establishing health clinics and setting up vocational programs that empower communities and help break the cycle of poverty.

As a lead up, if you would like to knit or sew toys and clothes or collect gift items to donate to our boxes, they would be greatly appreciated.

The following gift ideas are recommended to help you choose:

• Something to wear: T shirt, shorts, underwear, a cap, beanie, sandals, etc
• Something to love: teddy bear, doll, soft toy, etc
• Something for school: exercise book, pencil case, pens, pencils, colouring pencils, sharpener, eraser, chalk, etc
• Something to play with: tennis ball, cars, skipping rope, marbles, musical instrument, yoyo, slinky, finger puppets, etc (no battery operated items please)
• Something for personal hygiene: soap, facewasher, toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, hairclips, scrunchies, etc.
• Something special: carry bag, sunglasses, necklace, craft kits, stickers, etc.

It is very important that you NOT include: any food or lollies, toothpaste, shampoo, glass, bubbles, plasticine, batteries, playdough, damaged or used items, mirrors, china, war-related toys including anything with camouflage print, anything that will leak or melt, any gambling related items including cards, dice, play money and dominoes, or anything of a religious, racial or political nature.

If you would like to find out more about Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child please check out their website:

Lyn Aherne & Alison Hillier - Coordinators

Lift News

Last week I visited the Devonport Community House at 10 Morris Ave. What an amazing place we have right on our doorstep! If you haven’t been there before I urge you to do so. They run workshops on a variety of topics. The gardening group meets every Thursday to maintain the large vegie patch and beautiful grassed area. There’s a Fairy Garden, too! The Community Food Shed, selling cheap fresh fruit and vegetables and much more, is open every day from 2 – 3pm. ‘Hug in a Mug Café’ is new and offers coffee/tea & light snacks at very cheap prices. What a great place to meet up with others in our area for a chat! The full August/September program is attached to this newsletter. Please ask me if there is something you aren’t sure about and I will do my best to help you.

Remember these upcoming events:

Thursday, 30th August: An Introduction to Japanese, 2:00-2:45pm for those who have already sent their RSVP. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be there to help calm the nerves!

Wednesday, 5th September: Let’s eat! Cooking this term will have a Japanese theme. You are invited to join us as we cook and eat a simple yet delicious Japanese meal …. eating with chopsticks of course! Don’t worry if you don’t know how to use them, demonstrations and help will be available! This session will run from 5:30 -7:30pm in the school hall. Please RSVP by today, 30th August.

Monday, 17th September: A special day for grandparents, aunt or uncles within our school community. The third Monday of September in Japan is a public holiday that acknowledges and celebrates the mature members of society. This year, we will celebrate this day at school during Japanese classes. More information to come, just book the day!

Please remember …. The library is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday both before and after school for home reader borrowing.

For family members who do not have their Working With Vulnerable People card – Please come to the library and use our facilities to do this and I will be there to support you. Remember if you wish to attend class excursions with your child/ren, you are required to have one. The library is open to parents on a Wednesday morning from 8:30 until 9:30, or a time before or after school on a different day can be easily arranged.

Rosemarie Baker - LIFT Coordinator

Hillcrest Soccer

Six-a-Side Competition

The new date for the DJSI six-a-side event is Saturday, September 8th. This is the weekend after the roster season finishes. Good luck to those individuals and teams involved!

Soccer Top Returns and Refunds

Now that the soccer season has almost finished, we would appreciate it if the clean soccer tops could come back to the school office as soon as possible after the last game. Those students who will be playing in the six-a-side competition can return their clean tops after the competition weekend.

Upon return of the top in good, clean condition we will refund the $5 bond. Please note that if your child returns the top, we will be giving him/her the $5 in a sealed envelope so remember to ask for it when they get home!

HPSA Family Market

The Hillcrest Primary School Association is organising a Family Market to be held on Saturday, September 15th. The market will be held in our GP Hall from 10am til 2pm. We will be hosting an amazing array of handcrafted and unique goods and consultant stalls. There will also be a sausage sizzle, coffee/tea & cake and face painting, glitter tattoos and lucky dips for the kids.

So, come along for a great day, start some early Christmas shopping and support our fundraising event! Entry will be by gold coin donation.

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

eSmart

Hillcrest Tuckerbox

Check your ingredients!

Need some help working out if a food product is a good choice? Look at the ingredient list. The ingredient list can tell you if a food is high in a nutrient, e.g. sugar or fat. Ingredients are listed from most to least in quantity. If you are trying to limit your intake of fat, sugar or salt, look for the other names or descriptions of these ingredients as listed in the table below.

Lyn Aherne – Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

Drink Water, Not Sugar

Water contains no sugar and plain milk has only a small amount; therefore, they are the best choices for children. Compare the sugar content in a glass (250ml) of each of the drinks below! (1tsp = 4 grams of sugar).

MWEW Team

Festival of Learning Expo - August 31st

Interactive Community Expo - Sept 12th