7 November 2019

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

November

December

From the Principal

It was great to see so many people at the Fair! Although the weather was a little challenging, we had a very good turnout. Thanks go to everyone who helped make the fair a success. A special thanks go to our Fair Committee who worked tirelessly to make it a fun day for everyone. Congratulations also go to our raffle winners. Well done, everyone!

Staff worked together on the Professional Learning Day Friday, to undertake our Annual Review and plan for 2020. Teacher Assistants also had the opportunity to work with the Australian Childhood Foundation, learning about supporting children with trauma. Staff also had the opportunity to update individual student learning plans. It was a very productive day!

If parents have a particular request regarding their child for 2020, can you 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 Wednesday, 27th November.

If families are aware of any children in our area who will be turning 4 by the 1st of January 2020, can you please encourage them to enquire about enrolling in our Kinder for next year. Your support is appreciated!

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our current fortnightly Hilly Kids focus is “Respecting Property & Our School”. Our next focus topic will be “Respecting the Opposite Gender”.

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 for “Saying No” was Andrew from 1-2N. Congratulations, Andrew, and well done to our other class representatives.

Grade 1-2 Swimming Program

The Grade 1-2 Swimming Program, to be held at the Nixon St Primary School pool, is only a few weeks away. Please make sure you return your aquatic consent and major excursion/medical forms to the office as soon as possible, please. Please note that there was a clerical error in the first set of green and gold consent forms that went out so please discard those and fill out and return the set of blue forms that went home with students on Tuesday.

David Carter – PE Teacher

Hillcrest Athletics Carnival

Our school’s Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday, December 6th – weather permitting. All parents and community members are welcome to attend to view the day’s running and novelty events. There will be a sausage sizzle for lunch on the day. An order form will be sent home at a later date.

David Carter – PE Teacher

P-1 Fraser

Spring

In class we have been learning about Spring and what changes occur during this time. After engaging in group discussions, we were able to recognise that the temperature begins to rise, the days get longer, many animals have babies and flowers bloom throughout the season of Spring. We were particularly interested in how trees and plants change during each season. Students were asked to create a cherry blossom tree and needed to show what the tree would look like during this time of year. Here are some of our interpretations.

2020 Calendar

Have you ordered your calendar(s) yet? All families were sent home an order form for a 2020 calendar featuring your child’s artwork. They would make great Christmas gifts for family members! To order, please fill out the form and return it to the school office ASAP. Calendars will not be printed until they are paid for.

Fundraising Committee

Christmas Raffle

Ticket books for our Christmas Raffle were sent home with students earlier this week. Please sell them to family and friends and return the stubs, with the money, in a sealed envelope to the school office by Friday, December 6th.

The raffle will be drawn on Thursday, December 12th. There are extra books available from the school office. Please return books before requesting new ones.

Lyn Aherne - Fundraising

School Fair

The weather let us down for our School Fair, but we switched to our wet weather plan and pushed on! Hopefully everybody had a great time, despite the weather, and made a selection from the cake stall, got your face painted, sampled at least two yummy treats, tasted some fairy floss, ‘Picked Your Nose’, ‘Plucked a Duck’, got a scare in the Haunted Room and checked out a baby chick…all with the amazing musical talent of Ben Blake, Channel IV and our own school choir entertaining us, kept warm and dry in the Don River Yurt Co yurt!

A big thank you to all our staff, families and volunteers who helped set up and run the stalls. A big thank you also to our community and local businesses that generously donated to the school to make our Fair so successful.

Below are the lucky number and raffle winners, who have all been notified:

HPSA Fair Committee

Tuckerbox Tips

The early and middle primary years are ones of slow and steady physical growth. Very low fat or restricted diets are not recommended – a healthy balanced approach to eating and activity is suggested for all children.

During these years children move to a more traditional eating pattern of three main meals each day. For busy, active children a ‘top up’ in between main meals is still important to keep them alert and on the go. A healthy snack at recess and after school is usually needed.

Packed lunches from home are a great way for your child to learn about healthy food and help with preparation. Packaging can sometimes be tricky for little fingers – make sure your child is able to unwrap or open the food in their lunchbox by him/herself.

Lyn Aherne – Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

Get Your Family Outside!

Here are some simple ways to become a more active family:

• Be active together. Quality time isn’t time in front of the TV or eating takeaway food in the car. Plan some trips. Picnics are great or a day at the footy or cricket. Being active together will improve personal relationships and get your family communicating better.
• Go for free family fun. Not all family activities cost you money. There are many free activities like a family walk or a game in the backyard or in the local park.
• Explore ways to be an active family. Explore a national park, go bushwalking, bike ride together, go beachcombing!
• Take part in community events. Help organise fun events in your community, volunteer for a litter clean-up or a working bee.

MWEW Team

Student Banking