17 December 2020

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

December

2021

Term Dates - 2021

From the Principal

To all our children, families and staff – I wish each and every one a wonderful Christmas – stay safe and take care of each other during the holiday break. 2021 is fast approaching and the Hillcrest team is really looking forward to the many new challenges of starting the new school year together. I thank all families, staff and particularly the students for helping to make us such a strong, successful and supportive ‘positive school community.’ A huge “thank you” to all volunteers who give of their time to support all children to have access to the many programs and extracurricular activities.

On the topic of holidays, there has been a decision by the Minister to support schools making some minor adjustments to the previously publicised end of Term 1 and beginning of Term 2 dates for 2021.

The end date for Term 1, 2021, has been brought forward to allow the school holiday period to commence immediately following Easter Tuesday. This means that students will not have to return to school for three days between the Easter break and Term 1 school holidays, which was previously the case.

The overarching reason behind this decision is to allow for greater learning continuity for students.  

Along with informing us of our Term dates, the Minister has also approved the following Professional Learning Days & K-10 Moderation Day for 2021, as follows:

Moderation Day – K-10 - Thursday, 1 April 2021 (day before Good Friday)

Professional Learning Days

Day 1: Tuesday, 2 February 2021 (day before students commence, Term 1)
Day 2: Monday, 19 July 2021 (first day, Term 3)
Day 3: Friday, 29 October 2021 (Friday before Recreation Day)

Grade 6 End of Year Presentation Assembly

On Wednesday this week we celebrated our Grade 6 Leavers at our Celebration Assembly – a wonderful show of support from our parents and school community for all our finishing year 6 students! Hillcrest Primary School is a great school focused on quality teaching and learning with elements of fun and enjoyment. I am sure that our Grade 6 Leavers will treasure their wealth of memories from primary school and be able to look back and see how great it was to be a Hilly Kid.

Congratulations to all our award recipients (listed below). It has personally been an absolute privilege to share in their last year at primary school. Parents and families should be very proud!

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognise all staff for their dedication and skill, your hard work, sense of collaboration and commitment to making our school the amazing place it is.

Thank you to our school association for their commitment throughout 2020. The important work they do helps our school achieve shared outcomes for all our learners for the benefit of our whole school community.

My thanks and appreciation are also extended to all members of our support team (Social Worker, Speech and Language Pathologist, Psychologist and School Health Nurse) for their high level of service to schools.

And finally, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you that I will be finishing with HPS on the final day of term. I have been appointed as the Principal of Sassafras Primary School. I have loved meeting each and every one of you and I will certainly take with me many beautiful memories. I wish you all well as you continue your journey with HPS.  There is an amazing staff team here who will continue to provide quality learning opportunities for all children. I am pleased to announce that Jerome Pape will be returning in 2021 to lead our important work.  

Susan Barnard – Principal

Teacher Assistant Farewells

At the end of each year we often have to say goodbye to staff members who have become such a part of our Hillcrest Community, taking care of our students and staff. This year we are saying farewell to Shannon Kirkpatrick, Richard Steele, Samantha Guyatt and Michele Bradshaw. Shannon and Richard joined the team in 2019. Samantha and Michele have been working in our early years space this term.

We thank them so much for their dedication and commitment and wish them well for 2021.

Ann-Maree Mulcaster - AST

Hilly Kids are Friendly Kids.

We have had a great year and now it is time to celebrate and look forward to next year. The last weeks of school have presented us with many opportunities to celebrate. There have been class parties, excursions, fun, games, the concert, the parade and the end of year assembly. Thanks for joining in on all the celebrations. We hope you enjoyed yourselves! Well done to all.

Our final Hilly Kid for 2019 for “Good Winners/Good Losers” was Patrick from 2-3P and our Aussie of the Month for November was Hudson from P-1P. Congratulations, Patrick and Hudson, and well done to our other class representatives.

Well done to our other class representatives:

Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to the Banksia Team!!

Many thanks to the RHS student helpers, who always contribute in a way that makes our Athletics Carnivals run smoothly. Congratulations to Banksia for winning this year’s event. The score at the end of the day were; Banksia 850 Blue Gum 679 Wattle 718.

David Carter – PE Teacher

2-3Peace News

2/3 Peace’s celebration of learning and creating in HASS

This term’s class inquiry has had us exploring the First Nation’s Peoples connection to Country, and their sharing of history.

In class we unpacked this year’s NAIDOC Week theme ‘Always was, Always will be’, and the design of the poster. We then began researching together through the development of our ‘class reading circle’, where we gathered to share non-fiction books about specific topics including the importance of land, water, bush, totems, tribes, and more.

When we visited the Makers Workshop in Burnie, we had the opportunity to view some wonderful art pieces created by school students from across Tasmania. These pieces expressed empathy and compassion and communicated the importance of rights and respect to all people with a focus on our First Nation’s People.

We also signed up for the “First Nations Bedtime Stories Challenge!” that was created by Common Ground First Nations as a unique way for all people to learn from and celebrate First Nations cultures. These are a number of Dreaming stories told by First Nations elders and knowledge custodians from Central Australia.

As a conclusion to our English focus of Poetry, we have created poems celebrating our new understandings, with a particular focus on word choice and the structures of Cinquain, Haiku and Acrostic poems.

The use of our new vocabulary has been very impressive!

Bentley’s Acrostic Poem about ‘Mobs’

Many mobs there are
Opportunities to have a gathering
Big and little mobs
Small families and big families are always together

Chiquita’s Acrostic Poem about ‘Country’

Culture is respected
Obey the country’s laws
Understanding the culture
Nation of the first people
Tribes of the first peoples
Recognise Aboriginal land
Years of knowledge

Amelia’s Acrostic Poem about ‘Dreaming’

Dreaming is sharing stories and the passing on of history
Respecting the culture to live on
Elders have heard the stories, so the elders pass the stories on
Always was, always will be Aboriginal land
Mobs taking care of each other
Indigenous are different colours of people
Nations of first people
Generations of stories

Zoey’s Cinquain

Aboriginals
Storytellers, colourful
Hunting, building, fishing
I feel good learning about them
People

Laylah’s Cinquain

First people
Important, caring
Hunting, catching, feeding
Thank you for caring for the land
Aboriginals

Grace’s Acrostic Poem about ‘Dreamtime’

Dreamtime stories are affective
Respect all of the land
Elders, culture
Aboriginal’s land
Mobs of elders and First Nation’s People
Traditional traits
Important to people of the past
Messages of the Dreamtime people
Educational stories to pass on in the future

Hayley’s Acrostic Poem about ‘Country’

Culture means a lot to the Aboriginals
Obeying the land
Unprotected lands
Nation’s First People
Traditional stories
Respecting the elders
Youth of the land

Christmas Window

This year there is no Devonport Christmas Parade, but to do our bit to spread some Christmas cheer, Mrs Kelly and Mrs Aherne, with the help of the students of 5/6K, have decorated a window in a vacant shop in the Hub Arcade (Stewart Street entrance). If you are downtown, pop in and have a read of what the Magic of Christmas is for some of our students. While you are down there, our panel at the base of the big Christmas tree is also worth a look.

Christmas Raffle Winners

Thank you to all the families that participated in our raffle and the wonderful supporters who donated the prizes. We raised over $1000! What a fantastic effort! Congratulations to the lucky winners:

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

Early Years End of Year Report

Our last day Launching into Learning Christmas Party was enjoyed by all and it was lovely to have so many of us together, with a 2020 record breaking 20 children!

Miss Butcher did a brilliant job with the face painting, not too many lollies were eaten at our biscuit decorating station and a big thank you to everyone who helped set up the amazing party food table!

We look forward to seeing you all back in 2021. Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for times and programmes that will be running next year. Remember, you don’t need to be zoned to Hillcrest Primary School to attend the Launching into Learning sessions, so why not invite some friends along!

Have a safe and happy summer, from the Launching into Learning Team.

Jess Bellchambers – LiL Coordinator

Mathletics

This year there have been some great achievements in Mathletics at Hillcrest Primary School. Learners have been awarded 736 certificates throughout the year. The following students have been an inspiration to their peers and earned the most certificates for their class. Congratulations to: Declyn, Benji, Jackson, Hayley, Brody, Josh, Ashton and Seth!

Hayley: “I like doing the telling the time and competing against my friends.”
Benji: “I like doing the time because I’m really good at doing the time.”
Josh: “It helped me with Maths and trying to get a lot of points, so I can go into Utopia and build cool stuff.”
Brodie: “I do it at home and it helps with my Maths.”

Naomi Archer – AST

HPSA Fundraising Report

The Hillcrest Primary School Association has had another great year of fundraising. The fundraising enables us to provide valuable resources for classrooms, fund programs for students and upgrade the playgrounds and equipment. Along the way we get our families and school community together, organise, participate, share, communicate and, most of all, have fun!

A big thankyou to everyone who took time to help with our various fundraising events and pack orders on Pie Drive delivery day.

A big thankyou to everyone who donated items for our fundraising, bought and sold raffle tickets, took orders for the Pie Drive and ordered calendars.

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

Reminders

Newsletter 2021

If you no longer wish to receive newsletters from us in 2021, please let the school office staff know either by phoning 6424 5211 or emailing hillcrest.primary@education.tas.gov.au. If you subscribe to the Schoolzine emailed newsletter, you can unsubscribe online.

If you would like to see all the photos etc in our newsletter in lovely colour in 2021, please subscribe at the link below. You will be emailed a link every fortnight at 10am on a Thursday.

Those who cannot access the internet to view the digital newsletter may get a printed copy from the office; however, it will be in black and white, the pdfs will not print as they are links and you will not be able to scroll through any photos, which will be thumbnails. If you would like a paper copy please notify the school office.

Book Collection 2021

The school office will close at 4pm on Friday, December 18th and re-open on Tuesday, January 19th. Please do not come in to collect books or buy uniforms, etc until January 27/28. Book collection/levy payments and uniform sales will take place January 27th & 28th strictly from 9am -2pm in the school library. Please remember to bring your yellow levy sheet, which was in your child’s report, with you on the day. Allow enough time to check and update your validation forms which will be handed out on the day. You can pay your levies and uniform by cash, cheque or eftpos. Some secondhand uniform may be cash only.

Secondhand Uniform

If you have any secondhand uniform items in good shape that you won’t be needing, please consider either donating it to the school or bringing it in for us to sell on your behalf. We always have families looking for secondhand uniform!

Lost and Found

There are a number of items in our lost and found basket in the office. At the end of the year any school uniform left in the basket will be washed and put into our secondhand uniform cupboard for sale. Any other items will be donated to an op shop if not claimed by 4pm tomorrow.

School Car Parks

Please remember that families are not to use the staff car parks for dropping off and collecting children. Please park in Lawrence Drive. Please DO NOT park in the layby as that is a ‘No Standing’ zone.

RWVP

Remember, you must have a current Registration for Working with Vulnerable People card to do any parent help at all at the school. The holiday break could be just the time to register via the link below. Remember to add ‘Department of Education’ as an employer (even though you are only getting a volunteer card) and choose Hillcrest Primary School from the drop-down list.

Remember: if you wish to attend a class excursion with your child/ren or help in the class in any way, you are required to have this card.

Enjoy your holidays and see you in 2021!

Admin Staff

Grade 6 Major Awards

These awards are a recognition of excellence for the 2020 year. However, through their primary years, these students have consistently displayed persistence, hard work, respect, responsibility, and resilience. It is because of these attributes that they have received the highest accolades in our school.

• Personal Growth Award: Zarlia
• Improvement Award: Mylee
• Hilly Kids Award: Ciarra
• Sports Awards: Zarlia and Mayson
• Arts Achievement Award: David
• Mathematics Achievement Award: Seth
• English Achievement Award: Luke
• The Minister’s Respectful Student Award: Kailie
• Principal’s Award for Contribution to the School: Londe
• Exemplary Academic Achievement Award: Londe

Outstanding Achievement Class Awards

Certificates of Appreciation 2020

The following students have been reliable helpers in our school for the 2020 school year and have received Certificates of Appreciation:

Student Councillors

Sports Leaders

Reading Ambassadors

Flag Monitors

Student Council 2021

Students from grades 3-6, and staff recently participated in the election of the 2021 HPS Student Council. Each student participated in a process involving nominations and speeches to their peers. I congratulate, on behalf of the school community, the following students who make up the 2021 HPS Student Council: Lucas, Inika, Brody, Melanie, Veronica, Jehanne, Milana, Alicia, Catherine and Aaliyrah.

Jaime-Lea Duff - Coordinator

Sports Leaders 2021

Congratulations to the Hillcrest Sports Leaders for 2021 who, I am sure, will do a fantastic job next year leading us all through the Daily PE programs! They are Bianca, Veronica, Ava, Declean, Lily, Kade, Mataya, Michael, Jada, Jehanne, Chloe, Beau, Peter, Layla, Myha, Miranda, Alexis, Jye, William, Milana, Kai and Oliver.

David Carter – PE

Chaplain’s Chat

As we approach Christmas, I am sure most of us are ready to celebrate not only Christmas, but also surviving a year that none of us could have ever imagined.

Christmas is a time of celebration for most of us, but I know for some in our community it isn’t always, for one reason or another, a happy time. As we move towards the end of 2020. I would really like to encourage everyone to reflect upon “the reason for the season” and the hope that can be found in faith.

I recently attended a Parliamentary prayer breakfast for all our Tasmanian politicians, where my husband shared his journey with Loaves and Fishes, addressing the increased needs in our community over the past year. I know Loaves and Fishes has pushed forward, as has Devonport Chaplaincy, with an attitude of making a difference to those in great need in our Tasmanian community. The desired outcome is to not only to meet needs, but to provide hope for the future. The Premier also shared how he valued the prayers of local Tasmanians and how he had seen the way in which the Tasmanian community had supported each other in a time of great need. Our Premier declared that he saw this working together in a crisis to be source of great hope for our state.

May we continue to support one another as members of our school community. Our school staff have worked incredibly hard through a difficult year to support your beautiful children. A big thanks to Susan Barnard, who has led the school through a challenging year, one that she could never imagined. Thank you, Susan, for your contribution. Wishing you every success in your new position.

Next year I will be working on Tuesday and Wednesday each week. I will be looking forward to hearing all about your holidays and reconnecting with everyone in the new year. In the meantime, if anyone has a particular need, please free to contact me via the office.

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas and new year.

Alison Hillier - Chaplain

World of Magic Festival Online in 2020

This year, because of covid-19 restrictions, the City of Devonport Lions Club’s International World of Magic Festival will be available online on December 18th, 19th and 20thand everyone is invited to watch this fantastic show! Please see the flyer for details.

Password: MAGIC2020 (all upper case)

Basketball Tasmania Basketball Camps

Dev/Ulv Library Holiday Activities

Crescendo Vocal Ensemble Program

Crescendo Music Hub offers a vocal ensemble program run by the Department of Education that provides students with tuition in vocal technique and ensemble singing. Please find the flyer below.

Win A Bike

Because our school participated in a Ride Nation schools program, our grade 5 students are eligible to access this competition to win a bike through the link below.