29 August 2019

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

September

From the Principal

As you may know, we celebrated Book Week on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The theme for Book Week 2019 is ‘Reading is my Secret Power’. It was great to see so many students and staff dressed up for the Book Week Parade. Thanks go to families who organised costumes for the event, they looked fantastic! Thanks also go to staff who helped with the Book Week activities, students had a great time.

Students in grade 4-6 will be participating in a Student Wellbeing Survey later in the term. A letter has been sent home regarding this and more information is provided with this newsletter. If you have any further questions, please contact the office.

A reminder to families that our staff car park is needed for staff parking. We would ask that families park on the street. Please make sure that you do not park in the Disabled Parking designated area unless your permit is displayed. These designated parking areas are provided for families who need to drop off students that require easy access to the school. Your co-operation is appreciated.

Jerome Pape – Principal

Student Wellbeing Survey

Attention: Parents and Carers of students in Grades 4-6

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 Grades 4 – 6 will be taking part in a wellbeing survey.

The Student Wellbeing Survey is part of the Department of Education’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy.

The details for the survey are:

A letter with more information has been sent home with all Year 4-6 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 on 6424 5211.

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.

National eSmart Week 2019

Next week, Hillcrest Primary will be showing our commitment to cyber safety by highlighting in all our classes the importance of being safe online and using technology appropriately during National eSmart Week.

National eSmart Week 2019 is dedicated to building an eSmart Australia. Our aim is to create a school that is free from cyber bullying with digital citizens who know how to embrace the best that technology can offer, whilst being smart, safe and responsible online.

At Hillcrest we are working towards accreditation as an eSmart School. Please be aware of what your children are doing online, and have a conversation about being safe.

Eisteddfod Practice Assembly

Please come along to our Eisteddfod Practice Assembly on Friday, 6 September at 1.45pm. This is a really valuable opportunity for our students to practice singing in front of an audience before they perform at the Devonport Eisteddfod on the Monday, 16 and Tuesday, 17 September. Hope to see you there!

School Satisfaction Survey

Recently the Annual School Satisfaction Surveys for parents were sent home. The Surveys are being conducted during August and September 2019 across Tasmanian government schools.

The surveys provide an opportunity for parents to give important feedback on what the school does well and where we can improve. Questions cover a range of topics about our school.

All responses are secure and anonymous.

We encourage you to complete the survey to give our school a clear direction for future programs and services for students.

Please contact the office if you wish to use a school computer to complete the survey.

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our current fortnightly Hilly Kids focus is “Doing your Best”. Our focus topic for the next two weeks will be “Team Work”.

Team Work

Our Hilly Kid for “Fixing Things Up” was Issac Hutchins-Bester from 3/4BT. Congratulations, Issac and well done to our other class representatives.

Kinder Bellchambers

This term our line of inquiry was around the ways humans can impact on animal’s environments.

We explored what an environment is and created animal habitats.

We discussed what sort of habitats different animals have in the wild and really enjoyed playing in the Animal Shelter taking care of sick and injured animals.

2020 Kindergarten Enrolments

We are now taking enrolments for Kindergarten in 2020. If you would like to enrol your child, please collect an enrolment form from Miss Miller or the school office.

Lift News

Zones of Regulation

Have you heard your child talk about the four Zones of Regulation that we use at school? The Zones of Regulation uses four colours to help students identify their feelings and provides strategies to help them become more independent in controlling their emotions and impulses, manage their sensory needs and improve their ability to problem solve conflicts. To help you find out more about the zones, Mrs Jess Bellchambers from Kinder B will run an information session for families next week. A hot drink and biscuits will be available. See you there!

What: Zones of Regulation information session
When: Wednesday, 4th September at 2:15pm
Where: Kinder B classroom

Storytime in the Library

It’s been great to see families pop into the library straight after school every even week Thursday to listen to a story before heading home. Recent readers have been Miss Miller and Mr Steele, with Mrs Baker (Baker sensei) reading Too many Pears! in English and Japanese on Thursday, 12th September at 2:45pm.

Classroom Helper Survey

Please take a moment to complete the following survey:

The Big Lunch

Last week, students in 1/2N invited family members to come to school to work together to make and eat a delicious lunch. We have photos up in the classroom, if you would like to see them.

Read what Sommer had to say about the event:

Those who do not have their Working With Vulnerable People registration – Please come to the library and use our facilities to do this and I will be there to support you should you need help. Remember: if you wish to attend a class excursion or participate in parent help with your child/ren you are required to have one.

Rosemarie Baker - LIFT Coordinator

Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Next week, 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 2018. 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:

Grade 6 Reece High School Transition

Reece High School organises a transition program for Grade 6 students from our feeder primary schools during the remainder of Term 3 and Term 4; Grade 6 students are invited to take part. The transition from primary school to high school can be daunting for students, regardless of which high school they ultimately attend. To assist in this process, your child will be able to take part in a variety of transition opportunities provided by Reece High School.

2019 NWPSSA Devon Selection

Congratulations to the following students who were selected to play in the NWPSSA Devon Vs Darwin Soccer, Hockey, Football and Netball teams on Friday 31 August. Good luck everyone!

Hockey: Breanna 5/6F, Tobias 5/6F, Ryan 5/6HP
Football: Saxon 5/6HP
Netball: Kailie 5/6F, Gemma 5/6F
Soccer: Bella 5/6HP, Toby 5/6F, Jacob 5/6F

Netball

The Devon Netball Association Primary Spring Roster will commence on Wednesday, September 11th. All games are played at the Spreyton Netball Centre. Primary netball is open to any girls or boys turning 8 or older in 2019.

Roster fees for the spring roster are:

• Juniors $40
• Netta 10 & under (first roster for 2019) $70 (includes a NetSetGo pack)
• Netta 10 & under (second roster for 2019) $30

Please leave your child’s name at the school office by Friday, August 23rd if they wish to play in the spring roster.

Schools Triathlon Challenge

The STC (Schools Triathlon Challenge) for Grades 3-6 will be held on Thursday 28th November at the Devonport Bluff. Please see David Carter for more information.

5₵ Coin Challenge

Have you been collecting 5¢ coins over the holidays? We will run the 5¢ coin challenge over Term 3, so start bringing your coins in, piling them up and we’ll see which class can collect the most! Our grand total for last year was 12,180 5¢ coins!! Let’s top that this year and set a new record!

Walkathon

Our annual Walk-a-thon on Wednesday, 11 September, is a whole school walking event and one of the many ways we encourage Hilly Kids to lead active lives.

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 earlier this 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

Tuckerbox Tips

Aim for two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables daily. What’s in a serve?

One serve of fruit:

• 1 piece of medium sized fruit - apple, banana, orange or pear
• 2 pieces of smaller sized fruit - apricots, kiwis or plums
• 1 cup of tinned fruit in fruit juice, no added sugar

One serve of vegetables:

• ½ cup cooked green or orange vegetables - broccoli, carrots, pumpkin or spinach
• ½ cup cooked, dried or canned beans, peas or lentils
• 1 cup leafy or raw salad vegetables
• ½ cup sweet corn
• 1 medium potato or sweet potato
• 1 medium tomato

Lyn Aherne – Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

Handy hints to get the family eating more fruit and vegetables:

• Keep a bowl of fresh fruit handy and bite-sized vegetables, such as cherry tomatoes, baby carrots and snow peas in the fridge to grab as a quick snack
• Vegetables taste different raw and cooked. Why not let children taste vegetables raw, steamed, microwaved or stir-fried to get them to say which they like best?
• Involve children in choosing fruit and vegetables to buy and also in cutting up and peeling them.
• Try adding fruit (fresh, dried or canned) to breakfast cereals

• Make smoothies by blending soft fruit, such as strawberries or bananas, with milk and yogurt
• Add vegetables to favourite foods such as pizza toppings, pasta, sauces, pie fillings or cakes (eg grated carrot, zucchini or beetroot)
• Make vegetable pikelets or mini-pizzas using rolls or muffins and use them in school lunches the next day

Involve vegetables in soups, eg pumpkin, minestrone or potato

MWEW Team