13 August 2020

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

August

September

From the Principal

Hello, welcome to our Hillcrest Primary Schoolzine newsletter. We have had a positive start to Term 3. Staff, students and families are certainly enjoying the return of some of our normal school practices. A special welcome to new students: Katrina (Year 2), Millie (Year 1) and Miranda (Year 5). Our enrolment total sits at 209 and is consistent, with some families leaving and new families arriving.

Staffing Update

Leadership Team

Susan Barnard – Principal
Naomi Archer - Literacy Coach, AST
Jaime- Lea Duff - A/AST, Support Teacher
Ann-Maree Mulcaster – A/AST, Support Teacher

Teaching Staff

Carol Miller – Kindergarten (T, W, Th) and Pre-Kinder (M)
Jessica Bellchambers - Launching into Learning
Shannon Fraser – Prep/1 F
Kimberley Parker – Prep/1 P
Alissa Nutting – 1/2 N
Janmaree Peace – 2/3 P
Vina Bonner – 3/4 B
Matt Hortle – 4/5 HB (M, T, W)
Julie Baker – 4/5 HB (Th, F), Support Staff, Values Curriculum,
Karen Thompson – Support Staff (M)
Stephen Fenn – 5/6 F
Gaye Kelly – 5/6 K

Specialist

David Carter – Health and Physical Education (Th, F)
Jodianne Smallbon - The Arts (W, Th, F)
Rosemarie Baker - Japanese (Primary)
Kelly Smith – Intervention
Carolyn Ollington – Intervention

Teacher Assistants

Lyn Aherne, Brearne Banks, Charmaine Bound, Rachel Butcher, Alana Burke, Shannon Kirkpatrick, Carolyn Ollington, Clayton Peace, Narelle Penton, Lisa Shepherd, Kelly Smith, Richard Steele, Lisa Willet, Leah Woodberry

Administration

Anna Lizotte - School Business Manager
Catherine Roell - Administration Clerk

EFAs

Justin Woods, Tameka Mundy, Dianne Fraser

Support Staff

Mark Rayner – IT Support
Tim Smith – IT Support
Heather Percey – School Psychologist
Kerrie Lee – School Social Worker
Karen Langley - Speech and Language Pathologist
Leah Furley – School Health Nurse

Chaplaincy Program

Alison Hiller – School Chaplain

eSmart

Hillcrest Primary is working towards eSmart accreditation. eSmart is a long-term change program designed to address and prevent cyber bullying. Over the past few weeks, teachers have noticed that many grade 4, 5 and 6 students have had difficulty tuning into learning because of their social media choices outside of school hours. This is having a negative impact on learning with many children arriving at school worried and frightened because of something that has been said over social media. I ask that you please closely monitor your child’s social media usage for their safety and the impact that this may have on their learning and relationships.

For more information about eSafety for parents please visit the link below:

Ned’s Mindset Mission

‘Ned’s Mindset Mission!’ will be a special live streamed event for Prep to 5/6 on Monday 17 August @ 9:30am in our classrooms

NED’s Mindset Mission is an interactive, 45-minute all-school performance. “We use storytelling, puppetry, illusions and yoyo tricks to take your students on an entertaining journey with our character NED. He follows clues, meets memorable characters and learns valuable lessons. Students will learn:

• The Power of Yet – If you’re not good at something, it just means you’re not good at it yet
• How to spark courage in others
• How to keep learning and growing, even when they think they already know something”

NED’s Mindset Mission reinforces the ‘Doing Your Best’ high expectations/approach for all at Hillcrest.

Our student leaders will be following up NED’s online performance by selling yo-yos for the following week. A sales and order information sheet will be sent home this week to give families early notice of this ‘optional’ extra opportunity.

External School Review

Dear Parents,

As part of our continuous school improvement, we will be involved in an External School Review with a Review Team. The purpose of External School Reviews is to support schools to raise achievement, sustain high performance and provide quality assurance to build public confidence in government schools.

All Tasmanian Government Schools will be externally reviewed every four years. The focus of the review is to evaluate school performance. The Review Team consists of a Review Chair and at least one trained Review Principal. The review will occur on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th of September 2020.

We will find out the aspects of the school’s improvement that have been verified through the review processes, as well as the improvements that we need to make in the future.

During the External School Review, some students, parents, School Association members and staff will be asked to provide information to the Review Team in a number of ways. These include:

• individual interviews
• group discussions (with students or staff or parents)
• meetings (usually School Association, staff meeting)
• visits into classrooms.

We appreciate your support and time in helping us with this External School Review process.

Please call in to the school office to fill in a form if you do not want your child to participate in the External School Review process.

If you would like more information, please contact Susan on 64245211

Susan Barnard – Principal

Hilly Kids are Friendly Kids

Our current fortnightly Hilly Kids focus topic is “Fixing Things Up”. Our topic for weeks 5 & 6 will be “Doing Your Best”.

Doing Your Best

It is important to do your best in everything that you do! It involves developing personal qualities of never giving up, having another go and being persistent if you don't achieve it the first time.

By always doing your best you can feel proud, knowing that there was nothing more that you could have done to achieve your goal. It doesn't matter whether you come first or last, it’s more important to know that you did your very best in whatever you are doing!

Our Hilly Kid for the ‘Rights & Responsibilities’ topic from weeks 1 & 2 was Kade from 4-5HB and our Aussie of the Month for July was Zarlia from 5-6K. Congratulations, Kade and Zarlia!

Well done to our other class representatives:

Swimming and Water Safety

Swimming for Grades 3-6 starts THIS Monday, August 17th. Please ensure that the Aquatic Consent and Major Excursion forms are returned to the office by TOMORROW, Friday, August 14th. If consent forms are not returned, your child will not be able to participate.

The Swimming and Water Safety Program runs for two weeks for grades 3, 4 &5. Your child will need to bring along the following items every day throughout their program.

• Swimming gear – including swimming cap (provided) and bathers.
• Towel and plastic bag to put wet clothes in.
• Any medication (e.g. asthma medication) that may be needed at the poolside.

Due to COVID-19, the Department of Education has stipulated in its guidelines that parents and family members are NOT able to attend the pool during the Swimming and Water Safety Program. We apologise for the incorrect information that was in the initial swimming note that was sent home.

David Carter – HPE Teacher

NWPSSA Cross Country

The NWPSSA Cross Country event, to be held in Ulverstone, will be on Thursday, September 10th. We are currently organising a team to represent our school at this event.

David Carter –HPE Teacher

School Photos

School photos are on Tuesday morning, August 25th.

• Please ensure that you have returned your photo envelopes to the school, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ORDERING PHOTOS.
• DO NOT LOSE the envelopes as each one has that child’s unique barcode on it which is needed on photo day!

Kinder Children

Kinder children will have their photos taken in the FIRST time slot so they should come in the morning at 8:55am sharp. If you are late, you may not make the class group photo. Please ask Miss Miller if you have any questions about this arrangement.

Sibling Photos

Sibling photos can also be ordered online, using the unique shoot key on the order envelope. Please collect an envelope from the school office. All children in the sibling photo must attend this school. Sibling photos will be taken between 8.30 – 9.05am and 10.40am – 11.10am.

Late Fee

There is a late fee for all orders received after photo day. Photos will not be printed for any orders received without payment until payment is received. The school does not deal with any late orders. They must be directed to MSP Photography.

General Information

• Complete the information on all envelopes and return it to school ASAP with payment before photo day. Please return the envelopes even if you are not ordering photos.
• Please ask at the office if you require a duplicate envelope for the second parent or a sibling photo envelope.
• Do not seal envelopes inside each other - you can pay for all your children in one envelope or by online ordering; however, each child needs to have their own separate envelope on photo day. If you wish to order photos, tick the required box on each child’s envelope, even if the payment is in another envelope.
• Please enclose correct money as NO change will be given. The school office will NOT make change. Only cash is accepted in the envelopes. Credit cards can only be used for online order payments. Make sure you tear the order form at the perforation and then seal the envelope if enclosing money.
• All children will have their photo taken on the day, whether parents intend to purchase any or not, so all students need to wear full school uniform, including a school jumper. Teachers will encourage students to comb their hair and ensure their clothing is neat.
• There is a very generous discount on all orders placed online that total over $100. This discount is ONLY available for online orders and cannot be claimed AFTER photo day.
• Students will still need to return their envelope even if you place your order online.

REMEMBER: ALL ENVELOPES MUST BE RETURNED TO SCHOOL BEFORE PHOTO DAY, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ORDERING PHOTOS!

Kindergarten News

In Kindergarten we have been exploring Owls. We sketched them, touched them and talked about them.

Fathers’ Day Stall

The Fathers’ Day Stall will be held on Wednesday, September 2nd. The purpose of the stall is to give each child an opportunity to buy a small gift for Fathers’ Day. It is also a School Association fundraising event.

Parents are asked to buy or make a small gift to the value of $3 and send it to school by Monday, August 31st. Please do not wrap gifts. Your child will put the present in a box in the classroom and tick their name on the list on the box. Every child who donates to the stall will go into a draw to win a gift for Fathers’ Day.

On the day of the stall please send your child to school with $3 to purchase a gift. If you do not want your child to participate, please tell him/her beforehand.

Donations of wrapping paper are also needed. Offers of assistance to help run the stall on the Wednesday from 9-10:30am would be most welcome. Please leave your name at the school office if you can help on the day.

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising Coordinator

Toast for Kids Donation

Recently Steve Martin, President of the Toast for Kids Charity, Inc (T4Ks) presented our school Breakfast Club program with a donation of a commercial toaster. Money for this charity is wholly sourced through their annual charity gala – Toast for Kids Charity Gala – which is scheduled for Saturday, March 27, 2021. Please consider supporting their great work by getting a group together to attend the Gala when it comes around!

Toast for Kids Charity, Inc. - Aims

Break the cycle of poverty, poor health, social exclusion, and helplessness, through and by supporting education.

By providing our children the opportunity to enjoy, experience and benefit from a good education, it will improve their knowledge, ability to make informed decisions, their reasoning and social skills, ensure a life of meaningful employment, health, social and cultural well-being, in gaining economic independence.

Education is one of the most important factors in breaking the vicious cycle of intergenerational transmission of poverty.

To improve health, the social determinants of health must be effectively addressed. Education is the most fundamental element, except for poverty, and education offers a path out of poverty.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Books for Babies

By the age of three, a baby’s brain has reached approximately 80% of its adult size and the quality of experiences during those first 1000 days of life establishes either a strong or fragile foundation for everything that follows.

Aims

To provide a strong foundation, helping children reach their full potential, enriching their brains, increasing capacity, improving cognitive development, igniting imagination and curiosity.

To make available a free picture story book for newborn babies

To encourage parents, family, carers and friends to read out loud to their child from day one and continue that, every day from there on.

To not only invest in newborns, but to also invest in improving literacy skills, indirectly, of those who read out loud to newborns.

School Breakfast Clubs

Studies show that students who start the school day with a healthy breakfast generally have quicker memory recall, make less errors and are more likely to regularly attend school, annually advancing their education. Students who eat breakfast largely make better decisions, have better vitamin/nutrient intake, enjoy overall healthier diets and are less prone to obesity or being overweight.

Over the past decade, it has been discovered there are children in our communities, for a variety reasons, who are attending school without having breakfast, with some also without the means for lunch.

When students miss a healthy morning meal, they go to class hungry. Hunger is associated with lower physical activity, stomach aches, headaches, depression, anxiety and a decreased ability to focus.

Aims

To assist in children in getting the food they need to focus, excel in the classroom, and reach their full potential.

To support schools and relief agencies in providing a nutritious breakfast to “nutritionally needy” children and to those who do not have time to eat at home before school.

To assist in providing educational capacity, opportunity, and equity

L-R Steve Martin (President T4Ks), Clayton Peace (TA), Susan Barnard (Principal), Janet Edmunds (Bendigo Bank, Vice President T4Ks)

Tuckerbox Tips

What about muesli bars?

Most muesli, breakfast or cereal bars provide a small amount of fibre from oats and dried fruit, but many are high in fat and sugar and are best eaten occasionally. Try some of the following alternatives to muesli bars in your child’s lunchbox:

• Fruit or vegetable scones, pikelets or muffins
• Fruit bread or fruit buns
• Weetbix or Vitabrits spread with vegemite and topped with cheese.

What about dried fruit?

Dried fruit is included as part of the fruit food group and is a good source of vitamins and fibre. It is very high in natural sugar (energy) and is more likely to stick to teeth than fresh fruit. For these reasons, only eat small amounts of dried fruit and combine it with tooth-friendly foods such as cheese and vegetables or cereal and milk.

Lyn Aherne - Coordinator

Move Well Eat Well

Encouraging walking and bike riding to school

Walking, bike riding and scooting are cheap and healthy activities which are fun. They have many physical, social and environmental benefits. Walking and bike riding can help:

• Build strong bones & muscles
• Teach road and pedestrian rules
• Learn to use crossings, traffic lights & footpaths
• Improve confidence & self esteem
• Achieve & maintain a healthy weight.

MWEW Team