4 March 2021

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

2021

From the Principal

Check in TAS App

Reflecting on 2020, it was a very different week 5 of term 1, last year! Much has changed and as we move into the ‘new normal’ with COVID-19, it is important that we all play our part. Our school has the facility to log your presence at school through the Check in TAS app. A QR code can be scanned and your details are recorded instantly for contact tracing purposes. If you are going to be on site for more than 15 minutes, our normal sign-in policy will also apply. Please ensure that you use hand sanitiser provided around the school and don’t forget to physically distance - 1.5 metres apart. Thanks for your continued support!

Primary Progress Report

At the end of this week, students from Prep-6 will receive a Primary Progress Report. This report details how your child has settled in for the new year and any early concerns their teacher may have. If you have any question about the report or your child’s progress, please feel free to have a chat with your child’s teacher.

Congratulations!

A BIG congratulations go to Tyla, who recently won Gold on the weekend at Judo NSW's Sydney International Tournament, the biggest tournament in that state, in the under 42-kilogram junior boys category. We are so proud of Tyla’s achievement and wish him all the best for a bright future – as well as his sister Myha, who is competing nationally in her first year in under 15s. Well done to both!

Public Holiday Monday

Just a reminder that this coming Monday, March 8th is the Eight Hours Day public holiday so enjoy the long weekend!

Jerome Pape - Principal

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Respecting People

Our current Hilly Kids focus topic is Respecting the Environment. Our next focus topic will be Respecting People.

As adults, we are our children’s best role models and it is important that we lead by example. Being respected by important people in our lives while growing up teaches us how to be respectful toward others. Respect means that you accept somebody for who they are, even when they're different from you or you don't agree with them. Respect in your relationships builds feelings of trust, safety and wellbeing.

Harmonious and respectful relationships come when we are showing respect for people. We all have equal rights and responsibilities. Neither gender is more important or better than the other. All people have the right to achieve their potential, knowing that they are supported by respectful relationships and friendships from everyone around them.

We can learn from each other. We all have different strengths and things we are good at! We don’t need to compete but can support each other and learn from each other so that we complement each other with our skills.

When we understand and accept each other for who they/you are, the world is a better place.

Everybody is unique. We all have different personalities, thoughts and backgrounds. It is important to be sincere and choose friends who are respectful and trustworthy and accept you for who you are by not making judgements about you.

Look for similarities. We all have feelings, hobbies, sports, music, things we like to do that we are interested in and can share and participate in together.

Library Opening Hours

Students have started to borrow books (including home readers) from the library. As the office is still currently operating from the library, before and after school borrowing will not start until the office has completely moved out of the library.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Ann-Maree Mulcaster

Hands on Learning

We had a fantastic response to our Hands-on Learning program this term. The program is offered to grade 3 – 6 students. Students were asked to put forward an Expression of Interest and teachers were also able to refer students. We had an incredible 54 Expressions of Interest from students. All the Expressions of Interest have been filed away and, as a student exits the program, we will take new students in.

Ann-Maree Mulcaster

Meet our Hands-on Learning team.

PAT Early Years in Prep Assessment

Please find below information about the Progressive Achievement Tests Early Years which will be of interest to families of children in Prep.

Student Banking

Student banking has started. Please remember to send your child’s banking in on Tuesday each week. After the banking is processed, the bankbooks will be returned on Thursdays. As the volunteers will mostly process the banking early on Thursdays, if your child’s bankbook is not at school by Wednesday, it may not get to the office in time to be processed.

If you are new to student banking and wish to open an account, please visit the school office for an information pack.

Please find the parent guide below or you can also find it online at school-banking-parent-guide.pdf (commbank.com.au)

HPSA Family Market

The Hillcrest Primary School Association is again organising our Family Market for 2021, to be held on Saturday, March 27th in the school GP Hall from 10am to 2pm. We will be hosting an amazing array of handcrafted and unique goods and consultant stalls. There will also be a sausage sizzle, great coffee, our Easter raffle – and face painting, glitter tattoos and lucky dips for the kids…...and so much more!

So, come along for a great day, choose a stunning gift for Mum for Mother’s Day, pick up some yummy Easter treats, have a sausage and support our fundraising event! Entry will be by gold coin donation.

HPSA Fundraising Committee

Easter Raffle

Raffle books were sent home earlier this week. Please try to sell them to family and friends and return the books, with the money, in a sealed envelope to the school office by Friday, March 26th. The raffle will be drawn on Tuesday, March 30th. Please be mindful of the laws regarding children doorknocking to sell tickets: they MUST be accompanied by an adult.

There are plenty of extra ticket books in the school office.

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

Soccer

Remember to leave your child’s name at the school office by the end of this week. This season DJSI is registering any player who turns 5 in the school year. As team nominations need in to DJSI by early March, it is important that we start to arrange our teams as soon as possible.

If any parents can assist with coaching and have a current Working with Vulnerable People card, please leave your details at the school office.

For children who qualify for TICKET TO PLAY, please see below and complete your application as soon as possible. Remember to note your Ticket to Play number.

Ticket to Play

Ticket to Play is a Tasmanian Government initiative designed to reduce the cost of participating in club sporting activities for Tasmanian children. The key objective of Ticket to Play is to increase the number of young Tasmanians playing sport and supporting the Tasmanian Government’s objective of Tasmania being the healthiest population by 2025.

Who is eligible for a voucher?

Applicants must be:

• living in Tasmania;
• aged between 5 and 18 years old at the time of application; and
• be listed on a valid Centrelink Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card (either their own or their parent’s, guardian’s or carer’s) or be in Out of Home Care.

What can I use a voucher for?

The voucher can be used at approved activity providers who meet certain eligibility criteria, such as soccer, basketball and netball clubs.

The voucher is available for use toward the cost of membership fees. Other items such as uniforms, equipment, footwear etc. are not eligible.

If you feel you might be eligible for a voucher to help with the cost of sporting club registrations for children aged 5-17, please go to Communities - Ticket to Play.

Ticket to Play voucher applications will close on Monday 31 May 2021 at 5 pm. Vouchers must be presented to an Approved Activity Provider by Monday 7 June 2021.

Contact us

If you need help with the Ticket to Play application, contact us on 1800 252 476 or at tickettoplay@communities.tas.gov.au or contact the school office and we will arrange for a staff member to help you.

Parent Help, Coaching, etc.

Please remember if you want to help in classes, help with class excursions or be a coach of a sporting team, you will need to have a Registration for Working with Vulnerable People card. Adults who do not have this card will be unable to participate in class help.

You will need to apply online at the link below and then go to Service Tasmania to have your photo taken. If you need help applying for this card, please contact the school. You will be able to come to the library and use our facilities, with support from Mrs Mulcaster or Miss Duff.

Student Banking

Student banking has started. Please remember to send your child’s banking in on Tuesday each week. After the banking is processed, the bankbooks will be returned on Thursdays. As the volunteers will mostly process the banking early on Thursdays, if your child’s bankbook is not at school by Wednesday, it may not get to the office in time to be processed.

If you are new to student banking and wish to open an account, please visit the school office for an information pack.

Please find the parent guide below or you can also find it online at school-banking-parent-guide.pdf (commbank.com.au)

P-1 Lawes

In Prep/1 Lawes we have been exploring the new nature playground that we are lucky enough to have just outside our classroom door! It is such a lovely place to play and use our imaginations. Here are some of our thoughts about it:

Rylan: I like to hide behind the rocks.
Faith: I like the (dry) riverbed with the new, smooth rocks.
Felicia: We can play on the big rocks.
Sienna-Rose: We like to play on the wooden circle seats. I can walk over them.
Kilarni: I like to play and climb in the trees.
T: We have a new gravel path that has a rope.
Harper-Lee: I can jump on the logs.

Hillcrest Tuckerbox

Packing a School Lunchbox

When children eat well, they behave better, are able to listen well and concentrate longer. Packing a healthy school lunchbox will help children to learn and play well and be happy at school.

Steps to Planning a Healthy Lunchbox

• Make time to prepare. Have fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and yoghurt, bread and crackers all bought in advance.
• Shop wisely and save money. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables in season to ensure good quality and value for money.

• Make your own snack packs, eg snack packs from fresh ingredients which you can buy in bulk.
• Look after the environment. Put sandwiches and other items in reusable containers. This uses less packaging and creates less rubbish.
• Choose a variety of foods from the 5 food groups.
• Include a bottle of water – no need for sweetened drinks such as juice, cordial or soft drink as these contain too much sugar, which is not good for teeth. Non-water drinkers usually start drinking water with the example of other children. Freeze a small quantity each night and top up with cold water in the morning for a cool summer drink.
• Keep food cool. In warm weather place a small ice pack in the lunchbox.

Remember to involve your children in preparing and packing their own lunchbox.

Lyn Aherne – Canteen

Move Well Eat Well

Healthy Lunchbox – Get your kids involved!

In the kitchen:

• Select easy lunchbox recipes to cook up on weekends
• Share simple tasks such as cracking eggs, stirring and measuring ingredients
• Set healthy lunchbox rules that include choosing a food from each food group
• Encourage children to fill their drink bottles with water.

At the Shops

• Allow children to choose their own fruit and vegetables
• Avoid the junk food aisle and set limits on highly processed foods
• Ask children to help look for products with the most stars

In the Garden

• Set up a vegetable patch or pot with some easy to grow vegetables and fruit, eg cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries
• Let children plant and pick their own vegetables for snacks
• Set gardening tasks such as weeding and watering

MWEW Committee

Allstars Gymnasts

Shimjang Taekwondo