15 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

March

April

From the Principal

It was great to see so many community members attend our School Association Committee meeting on the 1st. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to put your name forward to be involved this year. Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 5th in the staffroom. Nomination forms are available from our Returning Officer, Anna Lizotte. If you have any questions regarding the committee or election process, please let us know.

Our SunSmart Policy has been updated to meet the requirements of latest research in the area of sun safety. This means that students will need to wear hats when the UV rating is 3 or above. We request that hats now stay at school throughout the year, in case the UV is high enough to wear a hat. If you would like a copy of our updated SunSmart Policy, please contact the office.

Diamonds of Devonport

I was fortunate to attend the ‘Diamonds of Devonport’ presentation last week as part of International Women’s Day. Our own Gaye Kelly was nominated as a ‘Diamond of Devonport’ for her fantastic work with our school choirs. Well done Gaye, you are a very worthy recipient.

Casual Clothes Day

Our Student Council is raising funds for the RSPCA and will be holding a causal clothes day on Wednesday, March 28th. Children are allowed to wear casual clothes to school but should NOT wear singlet/sleeveless tops, bare midriff tops, short shorts or thongs/sandals. Students are asked to please bring a donation of a gold coin or some cat/dog food or a dog/cat toy. Funds and items collected will be presented to a RSPCA representative at our assembly, later in the term.

Jerome Pape - Principal

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our HKFK focus for this week has been ‘What is Bullying?’ Our focus topics for next week will be ‘Playing Together/Taking Turns’ and the week after will be ‘Listening’.

Playing Together/Taking Turns

Playing together does not just mean playing happily with our friends, although that is important. Playing together means sharing our space and our games sensibly so everyone can enjoy their playtime. It means thinking about other people and their games and making sure we are playing sensibly so everyone can enjoy themselves.

• Do play in sensible places. For example, footy for the big children should be on the oval.
• Do look to see if other children are involved in a game or an area before you set up your game.
• Do play safe games, particularly in small spaces.
• Don’t run through other children’s games.
• Don’t interfere with other children’s games.
• Don’t take over other children’s areas.

Taking Turns

Almost every day at school we need to take our turn. Sometimes it is in the classroom and other times outside in the playground. In the class we may need to wait for our turn to see the teacher or to go on the computer. We need to take our turn at the canteen or for the drinking taps. In games we need to take our turns to bat, to bowl, to pick teams and all sorts of things.

Remember:

Do wait patiently, allow others to finish before you start and give others a chance to have their go.

Don’t push and shove, push in or always have to be first.

Listening

Listening is a very important social skill to develop. If we listen, we learn. We show we care about what others are saying and that we feel what the other person is saying is worthwhile. Listening helps develop our conversational skills.

Part of being interesting is showing interest in what others have to say. You show interest and courtesy mainly by listening and asking good questions. Good listeners ask questions that allow for an interesting answer. For example a good question might be “What did you do on the weekend?” A question like this allows for an interesting answer.

Do:

• Look at the person who is talking
• Pay attention and think about what is being said as though you were going to have a test on it.
• Show that you have really been listening by asking a really good question based on what they have said when they are finished speaking.

Don’t:

• Look at the ground or other things around you
• Fidget or let your mind wander
• Just concentrate on what you want to say next. If you do you won’t listen properly.
• Ask questions that change the topic (unless the topic has been going on for too long).

Our Hilly Kid for ‘Smile’ week was Tyler from P-1P, ‘Please/Thank You’ week was Sommer from P-1P, ‘Respect the Environment’ week was Tyson from 4-5K and ‘Speaking Nicely’ week was Maya, also from 4-5K. Our Aussie of the Month for February was Chelsea from 5-6HB.

Well done to our other class representatives:

9th March Assembly Awards

Prep/1D

Maddison B for letting go of her worries about writing and trying her very best to write beginning sounds in words.

Mackenzie S for sharing her inquisitive nature during Investigation Time and confidently talking about her discoveries in Reflection Time.

Prep /1P

Amari A for always being willing to have a go at all learning tasks with enthusiasm. Your writing is showing excellent letter/sound knowledge and I encourage you to keep up the excellent work. Well done, Amari.

Tahj W for creating some excellent pieces of writing during Investigation Time. It is pleasing to see you edit your work for punctuation and making the appropriate changes. I look forward to reading your creative pieces of writing throughout the year, Tahj.

1/2B

Lilly S for your much improved participation during our Maths and Literacy block. You are working hard and being a real Hilly Kid, showing respect for others and your own learning. Well done, Lilly.

Loralie P for taking such care and always working to the best of your ability. I have especially enjoyed learning about your family in the work you have shared during investigation time.

2/3P

Issac H: Well done on a fabulous start to the year, Issac! You have really taken on our growth mindset focus and applied it to your classroom work. I am looking forward to seeing how far you can soar in grade 3!

Lily W, thank you for being a breath of fresh air. Your joyful approach to each and every task is energising! I am looking forward to seeing you blossom throughout year 2!

3/4BT

Kai W for showing great interest and enthusiasm in his class activities, especially in mental maths as he strives to improve his weekly results.

Yazmyn G for showing great interest and enthusiasm in our History topic. She became so engrossed, that she went to the library to borrow books so she could read more about it.

4/5K

Thomas R for his excellent start to Grade 4. Thomas demonstrates a mature and conscientious approach to his time in our classroom, with just the right amount of humour to make life interesting. Thanks for being a part of the Kelly Gang in 2018.

Kailie T for her excellent start to Grade 4. Kailie is setting a positive example to her classmates in our classroom with her conscientious work ethic and being a reliable and helpful young lady. Thanks for being a part of the Kelly Gang in 2018.

5/6F

Harry P for really trying hard to improve in all areas of his English work, but especially sentence structure in letter writing, his presentation and handwriting. Keep up the great work, Harry!

Bella K has made a great start to the year. She is always cooperative and friendly, uses good work habits and always does her best. Well done, Bella.

5/6HB

Zali Q for your dedication and awesome effort when learning in maths. We're so impressed with how you use many strategies to solve problems.

Ryan B for being helpful and encouraging to his peers. We are so impressed with your positive attitude towards all learning tasks and your ability to take feedback and apply it in your learning.

NWPSSA Athletics

A number of students have been 'trying out' at lunchtime to represent Hillcrest at the NWPSSA Penguin athletics carnival on Wednesday, March 14th. Congratulations to the following runners:

Bianca B, Saxon B, Declean B, Jacob B, Ryan B, Cooper F, Mayson F, Yazmyn G, Ciarra J, Blade J, Caiden J, Bella K, Tahlia K, Gemma L, Jye L, Chloe L, Jonty L, Myha P, Noah P, Zali Q, Charlea R, Thomas R, William S, Kailie T, Kya T, Aneeka T, Zarlia W, Jackson W, Chaz W and Kai W.

David Carter – PE Teacher

Soccer News

Junior Referees

Devonport Junior Soccer is looking for grade 5/6 players to help referee games on Saturday mornings. If your child is interested, they will need to attend either one of the training sessions: March 19th or 21st 6:30-8pm at the Meercroft Clubrooms. Please be on time.

Representative & Development Teams

DJSI has indicated that they will be selecting players (U9-U12 age groups) to represent the club in various Cup competitions: Devonport June 9/10; Hobart September 8/9 and Launceston September 22/23. This selection trial and future training sessions with the Development Centre provide an opportunity for players to develop their skills and compete at a higher level. Interested players should attend an information/expression of interest day on Sunday, May 6th (time TBC) with the first training on Wednesday, May 9th @ 4pm. Players unable to attend the information day should advise the DJSI of their interest beforehand.

David Carter – PE Teacher

Coles Sports for Schools

Thank you to those who have been saving their Coles Sports for Schools vouchers for our school. So far we have counted over 8000 vouchers collected from our box in the foyer and our box in the supermarket! Great effort!

Easter Raffle

Don’t forget our fabulous Easter Raffle. Please sell tickets to family and friends and return the books with the money in a sealed bag or envelope to the school office by Wednesday, March 21st. The raffle will be drawn on Tuesday, March 27th. There are plenty of extra books available at the school office.

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

2/3 Peace

In 2/3 Peace we have been using our Investigation Time to explore the processes of STEM; Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics.

This has us involved in:

• Identifying a problem
• Asking questions about the problem
• Imagining a solution and coming up with a number of possible designs
• Planning a design first and listing materials
• Reflecting on a design by asking ‘Was my design successful?’ ‘How can I improve my design?’
• Sharing and celebrating

So far we have had bird feeders designed and created with improvements made. We have researched and tested the strength of different 3D shapes, and we have had fun exploring the loose parts to make bridges and towers.

We have seen students collaborate and demonstrate good teamwork. Other students have been seeing it through, and then there have been some wonderful celebrations as we test and improve, before sharing our designs.

It is very fair to say STEM has been a great addition to our Investigation Time.

Hillcrest Tuckerbox

Vegetables and legumes (e.g. kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils) are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. It is important that children eat a rainbow of different coloured vegetables every day.

Add vegetables to a range of different foods in your child’s lunchbox to keep it interesting. To increase vegetables in lunchboxes try these tips:

• Vegetable sticks with dip
• Vegetables added to muffins, pikelets, scones & mini pizzas
• Salad in a container –celery, carrot & cucumber sticks, cherry tomatoes, snow peas
• Pasta salad or coleslaw
• Frittata or quiche

Lyn Aherne - Coordinator

Move Well Eat Well

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

A Message from Our School Nurse

Social and Emotional Development in School-Age Children

As children enter the school-age years, they begin to show signs of independence, becoming aware of themselves as an individual.

This period of growth is also marked by the importance of new relationships, their friends at school. Parents, or primary caregivers, continue to be the most important people in their child’s life, but relationships with peers become increasingly important. In fact, the appearance of a “best friend” is considered a universal feature of the school-age years.

Other significant and often defining characteristics of this phase of development are a child’s capacity to start to control their urges and to conform to an appropriate standard of behaviour without direct supervision. Collectively, this is known as self-regulation or the ability to make “wise choices” on one’s own.

In regards to behaviours, each child is an individual, though certain characteristics seem to be common when compared in a group setting.

At the school office there are three age-group appropriate lists of what can be expected:

• Physical (P),
• Emotional (E)
• Cognitive or ability to think (C)

This is written up in a checklist format for 3 – 5 years, 5 – 8 years and 8 – 13 years. You can look at each list and see how your child is developing.

OR I am happy to go through the “Checklist” with you and discuss any concerns you might have about your child. Just leave your name and phone number at the front desk and I will return your call when I am back at the school.

Kerry Jewell – School Health Nurse

Blue Streaks for Piper

Celebrating 20 years and 1.9 million Aussies helping to beat blood cancer in 2018

Bring the kids along and take part in in our World’s Greatest Shave kids’ fun afternoon.

Piggy from Skoolbo & Bendigo Bank will be visiting us, you can meet him and join him for some fun & games or grab a lucky dip ticket and score yourself some goodies.

Come and have your hair coloured*: $10 full head of long hair, $5 full head of short hair or maybe you just want to brighten up your day with a colourful streak for $1. All money raised goes straight to the Leukaemia Foundation.

As a special offer to Hillcrest students, we are offering “Blue Streaks for Piper”. In memory of Piper Hawley, any Hillcrest Students or friends of Piper can get a blue streak in their hair free of charge.

Any Piggy Saver accounts opened on the day for ages 0-12 will receive a special surprise from Piggy himself. (Birth certificate and Medicare card are required for identification to open an account.)

*colour is temporary and should wash out with shampoo.

Bumps, Bubs & Beyond Market