26 May 2022

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

June

July

From the Principal

Grade 3 and 5 students have now completed NAPLAN testing, with the final tests being completed on Friday. I wish to thank everyone involved in delivering NAPLAN at Hillcrest this year, it went very smoothly. Students in grades 3 and 5 will receive NAPLAN reports, at a later stage in the year.

It has been great to see so many students wearing their uniform with pride around the school. We have been having a focus on students being in correct uniform. We appreciate your support in ensuring that your child arrives each day in uniform, ready to learn. A copy of the uniform policy is attached to today’s newsletter.

Thanks to those families who have been following Department of Health guidelines regarding their child staying home when sick. We appreciate you letting us know via phone or text if your child is unwell. It is important that if your child is not sick, that they attend school every day. Missing just one day per week adds up to 8 weeks of school missed, each year - that’s nearly a whole term of learning! Let’s all work together to keep our students in school and learning. More information regarding being covid safe can be found in the newsletter

Jerome Pape – Principal

Managing Covid-19 in Schools

Our school will continue to work closely with Public Health to safely manage any COVID-19 cases, with a focus on testing students and staff who have symptoms.

The number of students and staff with COVID-19 will be closely monitored, and we will work with Public Health to respond as needed. If there’s an increase in cases, Public Health will tell us what we need to do and what actions families will need to take.

Parents and carers will no longer receive a message every time there is an individual case in a class or grade – unless students or staff are medically vulnerable.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school office.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website or contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline  on 1800 671 738, or Department of Education COVID-19 Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.

If you need support translating or interpreting this information, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

The ZONES of Regulation

Our Whole School Approach to Emotional Regulation

You may have heard your child talking about the ‘Zone’ they were in when discussing their emotions. As a school the Zones of Regulation supports our whole school approach to developing our student’s emotional regulation tools and strategies to support their access, participation, and engagement in their learning at school. Below is a visual to help you understanding how the ‘Zone’ colours work. It will be helpful if our children are hearing the same messages at home as they are at school. We know that consistency is key! If you ask your child what they know about The Zones of Regulation, we think you will be surprised in what they can explain to you about our approach at Hillcrest.

Hands on Learning News!

Look What’s Happening in Kinder S

KINDER CAFE NOW TAKING ORDERS!

Our little learners in Kinder S have been busy this term with the recent opening of our Kinder Cafe!

Our class has come to life with pretend play as our kinder practice social skills, following instructions, trial, and error, and re-enact the actions of adults. From preparing cupcakes to making hot chocolates our little ones have fully engrossed themselves in their new favourite learning environment.

We have extended our cafe theme into the classroom through small and whole-group cooking experiences where we have followed recipes and measured ingredients to make salt dough and playdough. We have made many different colours of playdough which has enabled us to engage in many rich activities - even having playdough in our outdoor kitchen! It has been wonderful to see our learners grow everyday as they build on prior knowledge and transfer new and old ideas through play and explicit teaching.

PATTERNS

Patterns have been another large focus in Kinder S this month. We have focussed on recognising patterns all around us, re-creating patterns and even making our own patterns through body percussion.

AUTUMN

You may have also seen Kinder S wandering around the school on one of our Autumn leaf hunts. We have spent a lot of time learning about autumn this term, with a particular focus around leaves changing colour. We have walked around the school in hunt for deciduous and evergreen trees, keeping an eye out for the beautiful autumn colours. We have gathered leaves to use in the classroom to provoke discussions and wonderings, pattern recognition and counting.

Student Council Updates – Term 2

The Student Council members meet on Wednesdays at lunchtime in our school Meeting Room. The leaders have been learning how to facilitate these meetings with setting agendas, being chairperson and taking the minutes.

Our work so far this term has been capturing our school communities voice about leadership opportunities at Hillcrest Primary. The student leaders have been working alongside their classmates and developing questions to survey our community. We aim to have updated our Leadership Policy by the end of the term.

The student leaders have also been planning events for this term aligning with our school value ‘Growth’. Tahj created the poster below to share with classes our first activity for the term.

PJ & Read to A Buddy Day

When: PJ Day will be held in Week 5 on Friday, 3rd of June.

How: For students to participate they will need to come to school in their pjs and bring their favourite picture book to read in the afternoon with a buddy.

What: GROWTH-Aligning the Book Fair and Simultaneous Story Time we are also having an afternoon story time with a friend.

Time: Story time will be at 1.30pm in the afternoon block.

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our Hilly Kid for the last topic, ‘Goal Setting’ was Cooper in 3-4B. Congratulations, Cooper!

Well done to our other class representatives:

Our current Hilly Kids focus topic is Negotiating. Our next focus topic for Term 2 will be Teamwork.

Teamwork

Teamwork is very important at our school and used in many ways. Teamwork is all about working with others to produce a team result. It is about communicating well, actively listening and being responsible and honest. It is about using your talents and interests with others to achieve something together. It’s important to encourage everyone in the group to do their best. Everyone contributes to a team’s success!

Students practice their teamwork skills in many ways. Some play sport, others are a member of a group such as the school choir and some simply work with others in the classroom. Sport is a great way to develop a child’s understanding about the importance of working and playing together as a member of a team. Whether you win, lose or draw, the important part of being in a team is doing your best for the other players and coaches while trying to achieve team goals. It is a great feeling to know you’ve done your best in whatever you do!

School Jumpers

We now have some size 4 and 6 school jumpers available to purchase at a cost of $20.50 each. These are not our regular style of jumper and are a temporary solution until our original jumper order can be filled.

Devonport Junior Soccer Club

THANK YOU! Devonport Junior Soccer Club for donating 10 brand new soccer balls to our school this week.

5¢ Coin Challenge – Extended!

Have you been collecting your 5c coins? We will be running the challenge for a few more weeks, so keep bringing your coins in, piling them up and we’ll see which class can collect the most!

Let’s set a new record!

Fundraising Committee

Sunrise Bakery Pie Drive

Pie order forms will be sent home with students next week. We have a great selection to choose from, so take this opportunity to stock up for the school holidays! Please get orders from family and friends and return the form WITH the money to the school office in a sealed envelope by Friday, 24 June.

More forms are available at the school office if you need them. The delivery date will be Wednesday, 6 July.

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

Tuckerbox Tips

Snacks should be thought of as a ‘mini-meal’ and made from everyday foods. Try these snacks for after school:

• Fresh or stewed fruit topped with yoghurt or custard
• Fruit smoothie: blend soft fruit (eg kiwi, banana, strawberries) with milk and yoghurt
• Breakfast cereal and milk
• English muffin, crumpet or toast with spread
• Fruit toast

• Small serve baked beans or spaghetti on toast
• Weetbix or Vitabrits with sliced banana, honey or peanut butter
• Celery sticks filled with peanut butter, cheese or sultanas.

Lyn Aherne – Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

Family Food Swaps

There are plenty of ways to introduce lots of simple family food swaps. Try these:

SWAP white bread for wholegrain varieties.
SWAP big bowls for small bowls when eating occasional treats like ice cream.
SWAP high-sugar, low fibre breakfast cereals for one that is high in grains and fibre.
SWAP a fruit bar for fresh fruit.
SWAP butter for low-fat margarine.
SWAP frying foods for steaming & grilling.
SWAP sweetened fizzy drink for plain soda water or a glass of water.
SWAP high-salt canned food, stock, sauces & biscuits for lower-salt varieties.

MWEW Team