26 September 2019

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

September

October

From the Principal

Well done to all who participated in the choirs for the Devonport Eisteddfod. A big thanks goes to all who helped, and especially Gaye Kelly for again organising choirs for the Eisteddfod. Hillcrest was awarded the Renae Singers Choral Encouragement Award, as every choir gave their best and we are so proud of you!

As a SunSmart school, students are required to wear hats when the UV rating is 3 or above. We have had a few days of UV 3 or above, so students have been asked to wear their hats outside between the hours of 10.00 – 2.00 pm. As always, term 4 will be a hat term – remember – no hat no play.

As we move into term 4, there will be minimal staff changes. Naomi Archer will be taking Long Service Leave in the first week back. I will also be taking a week of Long Service Leave, so Gaye Kelly will be undertaking a senior staff role for week 1 of term 4.

I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. I look forward to catching up with you all on my return to school.

Jerome Pape – Principal

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our current fortnightly Hilly Kids focus is “Negotiating”. Our focus topic for the first two weeks of term 4 will be “Saying No”.

Sometimes people find it hard to resist pressure from others to do things that they do not really want to do or things which 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’s mean, against the rules or dangerous, point out the consequences (for example, “No, it’s too risky” or “No, that’s mean”)
• Sometimes you may want to thank them for including you (for example, “Thanks anyway”)
• Keep the tone of your voice and expression 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’re scared that they’ll say bad things about you
• Lecture them if what they asked you to do was mean, dangerous or against the rules.
• Get angry or upset.

Our Hilly Kid for “Teamwork” was Kai from 4-5K. Congratulations, Kai and well done to our other class representatives.

School Fair

Plans for the School Fair are well underway! We have some great things planned for the event on Saturday, October 26.

We still need donations for our craft stall so get busy and finish those UFOs (UnFinished Objects) and, if you find yourself tidying closets over the holidays, we can use kids’ puzzles, books and games in good condition.

If you have a green thumb, we hope you have been potting up some plants for our plant stall. All donations of established plants will be greatly appreciated!

HPSA Fair Committee

Raffle Books

Raffle ticket books for our major raffle were sent home with students yesterday. Please sell them to family and friends and return the books with the money in a sealed envelope or bag to the school office by Wednesday, October 23rd. The raffle that will be drawn at the school fair on Saturday, October 26th. If you would like extra books to sell over the school holidays, please make sure to collect them from the office by this Friday, Sept 27th.

Please be mindful of the laws regarding children door-knocking to sell raffle tickets: they MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Eisteddfod Report

Eisteddfod 2019

Well, Eisteddfod 2019 is finished, and I am immensely proud of all the students who performed at the 91st City of Devonport Eisteddfod. It still blows my mind that about 75% of our School population get to experience this!!!! Thank you to all my colleagues and to the parents and extended families of our students for their support. The students and I can’t do what we do (and do it so well!) without your support.

Our Learning Intentions were about persistence, confidence and performance skills, but it is a competition and our results were: Gr 4/5/6 Choir – 2nd Place, Gr 1/2 Choir – 2nd Place, Gr 3/4 Choir – Highly Commended and our Prep/1 Choir – 2nd Place. The adjudicator enjoyed our performances and commented on how focussed our students were, and how much enjoyment they shared with the audience.

I am also thrilled to let you know that I was invited to the Showcase of Talent Concert that is the finale of the Eisteddfod and, on behalf of all the Hillcrest Primary Choirs, I was honoured to accept the Renae Singers Choral Award – for encouragement for the future development of any choir.

Mrs Kelly - Choir Teacher

5-6 Fenn

Grade 6 Transition Day at Reece High

A couple of weeks ago Grade 6 students went to Reece High School to participate in a Transition Day. We got split into groups and did different subjects such as Music, Drama, PE, Cooking, MTD and Visual Art. We also got to play outside at lunchtime and see all our old Grade 7 friends from last year.

It was a good opportunity to see what high school was really like and get to know all the teachers and Grade 6 kids from other schools that we will be going to high school with next year.

Here are some of the things we thought about the day:

Zali – I enjoyed getting to know what high school was like. I did Drama and PE and it was a bit different to primary school.
Maya – I enjoyed exploring the school a bit more and I got to see some of the subjects I would be doing next year
Oliver – I enjoyed seeing all my friends from last year and seeing the inside of the school and meeting the new teachers
Jacob – It was good because I met kids from other schools and there were lots of new teachers.
Breanna – It was fun and we got to experience some new things we don’t get to do at primary school and also to meet the teachers for next year.
Spencer – It was good to learn about high school and to meet some of the kids I might be in class with next year.
Taygan – I thought it was well organised and fun to learn about the high school.
Logan – I thought it was a good day because you got to do different things and learn about high school and meet different kids.
Lillian – It was fun because I got to meet new people
Klovi – I enjoyed when I got to play the drum in Music and also getting to see some of my old friends.

By Oliver, Gemma and Logan

Grade 6 Camp Banksia Orientation Day

A couple of weeks ago Grade 6 students also went to Camp Banksia. We got split into groups and did a few games to get to know the students and their names. We played a few games in the basketball stadium such as Golden Child, Dodgeball and more. They were a lot of fun. It was good to also get to know some prefects and Grade 7 students from Reece High School and see what they think of the school.

By Oliver, Gemma and Logan

Grade 5 Learn to Swim

In weeks five and six the Grade 5 students and some Grade 6 students did swimming at the Ulverstone Pool.

Every day for two weeks at 12:00 we got on the bus and went to the pool. As soon as we got to the pool we took our shoes off and went inside the pool area. When we got to the area we sat on the seats outside the pool and waited for Mr Carter to come over and talk to us. When he talked to us he told us to get changed and then we got into the water and he put us into groups.

We started off playing in the pool, restricted to the shallow end. We played for about 5 to 10 minutes. After we got into our groups we did the attendance and started swimming. We started off by showing our swimming teacher the things we could do, then she taught us things that were important like new strokes, floating on our back and feeling safe in the water.

Over the next nine days of swimming we practiced more skills such as survival skills and diving safely. Some things we did during swimming were practices of strokes, dives, survival tests and swimming up and down the length of the pool using a delayed camera on a stand to see what we needed to improve on our strokes.

On the last two days we did the safety day. On the 2nd last day we had to bring pyjamas and wear them in the water and try and float and do survival strokes. We did this so if we fell in the water we would know what to do.

On the last day there were two small boats in the pool. Each group took turns in getting into the boat with a lifejacket and seeing what would happen if it rocked. After that we got off the boat.

By Londe, Toby L and Kailie

Tuckerbox Tips

Fresh fruit and vegetables are better than juice drinks. Too much juice can provide too many natural sugars, which can lead to a range of problems such as tooth decay, weight gain or a poor appetite for food. If you do offer your child fruit juice, use 100% juice and dilute it with water and limit it to one small glass a day. Soft drinks, cordial, sports drinks and fruit juice drinks are not needed as they are full of sugar and offer little else in terms of nutrition.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are better options to:

• Help with skill development, such as peeling and chewing
• Teach about different food textures, colours and tastes
• Add variety to the overall diet
• Provide an easy, healthy and filling snack
• Supply fibre

Lyn Aherne – Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

Nature Play

So much to explore! Take up the “Spring Challenge” with your family during the school holidays!

• Plant herbs or vegetables
• Pick a bunch of flowers
• Build a cubby or fort
• Dig for worms
• Ride your bike in a bush area
• Go on a bug hunt
• Create a fairy or mini creatures garden
• Identify at least 3 birds outdoors

MWEW Team

Bus Services Changes Feedback

Public consultation has commenced for the proposed new North West and Intercity Bus network. This consultation process will continue through until 27 October 2019. It is very important that you take the time to visit the below link and have a look at what is proposed for the North West Bus network which will be in place for the next 10 years.

If there are any questions as to possible impacts of these changes, please don’t hesitate to comment in the link provided.

The Department of State Growth, passenger transport can be contacted on 61 663 343 or Merseylink on 64 277 626.

The link to leave your valuable feedback is below.

Recreational Maths – Grades 4-6

Hockey Clinics – Oct 3rd & 10th

Devonport Duathlon – Nov 17th

The 2019 Devonport Duathlon (run, ride, run) is being held Nov 17th and includes a fun event for kids aged 7-13 years. All they will need is a bike, helmet and running shoes. Visit the link below for more details.