25 October 2018

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

October

November

December

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. I had the honour of attending the Awards Ceremony last week and was very proud to see Naomi Archer and the group on stage, being recognised for their fantastic work. A video detailing their efforts is available on the Department Facebook page:

Well done to you all!

On Thursday, November 8th, Camp Quality will be visiting the school to talk to students about children with cancer. They will present an informative session, using puppets to get their message across. Information has been provided with today’s newsletter. If you have any questions regarding the upcoming presentation, please contact the office.

A reminder that the Department are currently reviewing Intake Areas for schools. Families are asked to have a look at the new intake area maps and share your views by completing a survey at the link below. Closing date is October 26th.

Our School Association Committee will be meeting tonight at 7pm, in the staffroom. We will be discussing the Student Behaviour and Uniform Policies as per the new Education Act. Community members are most welcome to attend.

A reminder to the community that next Friday, November 2nd is a Professional Learning Day. Students do not attend on this day. Teachers will be working on a review of what has been achieved this year, as well as school planning for 2019, including the Hillcrest Instructional Framework and a focus on Reading.

If families are aware of any children in our area who will be turning 4 by January 1st, 2019, 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 2019, 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 16th.

Attached to today’s newsletter is some information regarding an upcoming wellbeing survey that will be undertaken by students in grades 1-3. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact the office.

Professional Learning Day

A reminder to the community that next Friday, November 2nd is a Professional Learning Day. Students do not attend on this day. Teachers will be working on a review of what has been achieved this year, as well as school planning for 2019, including the Hillcrest Instructional Framework and a focus on Reading.

Attention: Families of students in Years 1-3

Child and Student Wellbeing Survey

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, November 6th, 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 today, 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. As the letters have already been printed, please note that the date above is the correct date. We had to change the day of the survey due to technical difficulties.

If you would like further information, please contact me.

Jerome Pape - Principal

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our HKFK focus for this week has been ‘Body Language’. Our focus topics for the next two weeks will be ‘Respecting Our School’ and ‘Respecting the Opposite Gender’.

Respecting Our School

The words we choose to say are often determined by the environment we are in and the people to whom we are talking. Good communicators understand that we need to choose language that is appropriate to various situations. If you are speaking to your elderly aunt you will probably choose language different from that chosen to speak to your friend. If you met the Prime Minister it might be different from meeting your cousin. Similarly, the language we would choose at a football match is likely to be different to that used in a church. Being able to work out what language is appropriate in a range of circumstances is important. We need to be aware of the needs of those around us and communicate in the best possible way.

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 ‘Good Winners/Good Losers’ was Cooper from 2-3P and for ‘Appropriate Language’ was Ella from 2-3P. Our Aussie of the Month for September was Spencer from 5-6F. Congratulations, Cooper, Ella & Spencer! Well done to our other class representatives.

Grade 5/6 Cake Stall – Tuesday Oct. 30

Next Tuesday, October 30th, the Grade 5/6 students will be hosting a Cake Stall to raise money to help pay for their celebration tops. The students will be cooking a cake, slice or something else yummy to sell at the Cake Stall in 5/6HB. Any members of the school community who would like to also bake a cake, slice or something delicious to sell next Tuesday are most welcome to and we thank you in advance.

Of course, to make money for the celebration tops, the Grade 6 students require everyone in the school community to come along and buy one of the many delicious items that will be on sale. Most items will cost either $1 or $2, so bringing along loose change will be a good idea. The grade 6 students look forward to a great day next Tuesday, see you at the Cake Stall!

Grade 5/6 Teaching Team

Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Operation Christmas Child was a great success again this year. Thank you to everyone who took the time to donate items for the boxes. We also had a generous donation of knitted beanies and toys which allowed each class to make a selection for their boxes. Students and teachers did a wonderful job of packing their boxes, which were delivered to the drop off point earlier this week.

Lyn Aherne & Alison Hillier - Coordinators

Toy Catalogue Fundraiser

Don’t forget to return your order form for our toy catalogue fundraiser by tomorrow, Friday, October 26th.

Simply follow the instructions on the order form and return it, along with the payment, to the school office. If you prefer, place your order online. Make an early start on your Christmas shopping!

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

Walkathon

Our annual Walk-a-thon on Wednesday, October 31st, 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 11:15am and Kinder at 11:15am. 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!

MWEW Team

Lift News

LIFT News

Welcome back for what promises to be another busy term!

It’s great to see so many students changing their home readers after the holiday break.

We started the term with a tour of the new Devonport Library yesterday. Thanks to those who were able to join the tour, I think we all learnt a lot. We certainly are lucky to have such an amazing facility freely available to us. If you haven’t been there yet, I urge you to go with your child/ren and have a look. There seems to be something for everyone!

At the end of term 4 students will receive their end of year school reports. The following link might be of interest as it helps explain the literacy and numeracy progressions.

Upcoming events for Term 4:

Thursday, 8th November: a visit to the Devonport Community House in Morris Avenue, includes morning tea! A note will be sent home soon with more information.

Tuesday, 20th November: Students and their fathers/grandfathers/uncles/other significant males or family members are invited to find out a little more about STEM (Science Technology Engineering Maths) by joining in and doing some fun STEM challenges and enjoying a barbecue together. A note will be sent home closer to the day.

Please remember ….

The library is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, both before and after school, for home reader borrowing. Don’t forget to borrow a game to play together, too!

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

5-6HB

Stanley History Excursion

On Thursday, September 27, we left Hillcrest very early to see the Colonial History Museum in Burnie and Highfield House and the Nut in Stanley. The excursion gave us a chance to see for ourselves what it would have been like to live and work in the mid-1800s. We had a brilliant day and here are some of our thoughts, comments and highlights of our day.

Climbing the Nut was hard, but we made it up, looked around and took some pictures. – Matilda

Climbing the Nut was challenging, but I enjoyed learning about Stanley’s history through Highfield house and the Burnie Museum. – Chelsea

In Stanley I liked climbing the Nut because it was a nice view at the top. – Aneeka

I learned that the Nut used to be a volcano. – Noah & Lukas

I really liked climbing the Nut. It was really beautiful to see the water and the houses. – Kya

As we were on the Nut, we had the most extraordinary view. I highly recommend climbing it; it’s really good for your fitness. – Amber

It was exciting exploring such an old house like Highfield and finding out about the Curr family and their living conditions. – Aisha

I enjoyed when we went inside the Curr family’s house and when we got to see Juliana’s grave. – Anonymous

Tuckerbox Halloween Treats

Wednesday, October 31st, is Halloween, but we’ll be far too busy completing the Walkathon to think about it! So, Hillcrest Tuckerbox will celebrate the next day, Thursday, November 1st. We will be selling spooky, scary inspired treats! Just for fun we will have Little Cakes of Horror & Spooky Jelly for 60¢ each. These special treats will be available at recess and after lunch. The lunch order menu will be as usual.

Lyn Aherne – Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

Get Your Family Outside!

Now that spring is here and the weather is warming up, get the family outside and into the backyard!

• Get out into the garden. Everyone can pitch in weeding, trimming and planting. Plant a flower bed and let the kids select the seedlings you put in.
• Plant out a vegetable patch. Kids love to pick and eat food they have grown themselves and tending the beds is a great pastime.

• Build a cubbyhouse or renovate the old one.
• Play hide and seek or chasing games.
• Have a picnic lunch or afternoon tea.
• Wash the dog together.
• Play on the playground equipment with them instead of just watching.

MWEW Team

Christmas Raffle

The School Association will soon be launching a Christmas Raffle to be drawn on Thursday, December 13th. First prize in the raffle is a grocery hamper. We are asking for donations towards filling the hamper and would appreciate non-perishable goods to make up a fabulous prize for the winner to enjoy over the Christmas period. All donations can be left at the school office. Can you help?

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

Chaz n Kai: Shave for a Cure Reminder

Two of our students, Chaz and Kai, are fundraising for Camp Quality in honour of their friend, Piper, who was taken by a brain tumour early this year. They would like to raise as much money as they can to make a positive difference to other children and families going through some tough times.

Chaz and Kai have been growing their hair since very early this year and will have it shaved off here at school on Monday, December 3rd at 3pm. All monies raised by their fundraising efforts will be donated to Camp Quality. There’s still time to donate at the link below! They have already smashed their original target so let’s get in there and help them crack the $5000 mark!

For more information check out their Facebook page:

Netball

On Sunday, September 23rd, our 5/6 netball team played in the Todd Rogers School Tournament in Burnie. Although the weather was a bit cold and windy with a few showers, the girls had a great day and played some good games against Table Cape, Burnie, Circular Head and St Brigid’s. Thanks to all the parents for their scoring and support on the day.

Touch Footy

Our first ever touch footy team after their first game!

School Social & Buy a Bale

Last term we held a “Back to the Farm” themed school social with the proceeds going to the Rural Aid “Buy a Bale” campaign. Thankyou to everyone who came, had a dance, enjoyed themselves and helped us raise $295! What a great effort!

Dyslexia Seminar – November 1st

After School Art Classes

Create and Make – Curious Creatures of the Sea

(Ages 5-13) - A series of six art workshops responding to artworks in the Exhibition: Tidal.18

• Tuesdays or Wednesdays 4-5pm
• Tuesday November 6, 13, 20, 27 and December 4, 11
• Wednesday November 7, 14, 21, 28 and December 5, 12

1,2,3...Create! (for children under school age)

1,2,3...Create uses music, art and sensory play to create a fun, educational program for children aged 1–4 years with their carers and parents. The program provides a stimulating environment in the gallery setting for young children to socialise and connect with art objects and ideas through music, movement, play and art making.

Next session: Wednesday, 28 November 10–11 am @ paranaple Arts Centre