24 November 2022

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

November

December

From the Principal

As the end of year fast approaches, we are busy planning for 2023 whilst supporting our students for the remainder of 2022. I can announce that Georgia Perry will be joining the school next year as Principal from Sprent Primary School. I know Georgia is really looking forward to working with the Hillcrest community in 2023. We also have several other new teachers joining Hillcrest in 2023. Sheldon Parker and Sarah Wotherspoon will be teaching in our 3-4 space and Abbie Bonney will be joining us in a Prep- 1 classroom. I would also like to welcome both Kate and Sarah Brook to Hillcrest who will work in the Art and Digital technology areas in 2023. Adam Lane will also join in Hillcrest Primary school in an AST position. I am sure the Hillcrest community will make Georgia and our new teachers feel very welcome.

This however does mean several staff are leaving us at the end of this year, I would like to thank the following teachers for their dedication and commitment to the students at Hillcrest Primary School. Emma Sterta, Emma is going to join the Northwest Support School. Kimberley Parker is joining Forth Primary, Vina Bonner will be joining Port Sorell, Matt Hortle will be heading to Latrobe Primary, and Michelle Burke is joining Nixon Street. Again, as we look to finalise classes for 2023 can I remind you, if parents have a particular request regarding their child for 2022, 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 this week.

Please feel assured that whilst you can see planning is well underway for 2023, we are certainly preparing for the last 4 weeks of 2022. This will be a challenging time for our school; however, we are working to support students whilst recognising achievement in 2022. Our end of year concert will be an exciting event for our students on Wednesday the 7th of December, as seats are limited, we encourage families to book seats early to help us with event planning. We also have many excursions coming up over the next fortnight including our Kinder students going to Wilmot Farm School and our 5-6 students participating in a leadership day at the Burnie PCYC.

Matthew Jago – Acting Principal

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our current Hilly Kids focus topic is ‘Including Others’. Our next focus topic is ‘Reflection’.

Reflection

Reflection is a life-long skill that can be used to motivate us, and it is good to share this reflection with classmates, parents, and teachers. Reflection is a valuable skill that helps you look back on what you have achieved and think about how far you still need to go to meet personal goals or skills. Reflection helps re-focus our ideas, skills, and goals so that we can move forward in our learning. Reflection leads us to consider ways we may change to reach a personal, class, school, or community outcome.

 

Our Hilly Kid for the ‘Sharing’ topic was Yazmin from 1-2Si. Congratulations, Yazmin!

Well done to our other class representatives:

2022 Celebration Concert Tickets!

The School Celebration Concert tickets will be available to order on the QKR app next week. More information will be provided prior to their release.

2022 Library Books

As we approach the end of the school year, we are keen to gather up the missing books from our library, that may be lurking in your homes. Mrs Pardoe has a prize for the child who returns the most outstanding library books by Friday 2nd December.

When you return your ‘lost books’ please ask your teacher for a special card and the child who returns the most cards will have a surprise waiting for them.

NEW Basketball Tops

Last week we received our new school basketball tops. Our 5-6 basketball team proudly wore them to their game on Friday night.

2022 Devonport Readers Cup

Six-year 5/6 students were invited to represent our school in the Devonport Reader’s Cup last week. The team had to read six books (a mixture of novels and picture books) over several weeks, in readiness to participate in a two-part challenge. The first part was a quiz and the second part, a creative challenge. Our Hillcrest team competed against nine other schools. We are incredibly proud to share that the team came second overall. Congratulations girls! Your hard work and dedication paid off and you certainly represented our school in the best possible way.

Naomi Archer – AST

Grade 6 News

Grade 6 Orientation Day

All Grade 6 students attending Reece High School and Devonport High School in 2023 will be attending a full day of transition on Tuesday, 6 December.

Students must make their own way to Reece High by 8:45am and home again (finishing at 2:50pm).

Grade 6 Big Day Out

Students in Grade 6 will celebrate the end of their primary school years with a BIG DAY OUT on Friday, 9 December. They will be visiting several local venues. A notice with more detailed information will be sent home soon.

Grade 6 Celebration Assembly

This year our Celebration Assembly will be limited, with only Grade 6 students and their families being invited to attend this assembly. An invitation will be sent home in the coming weeks. This special assembly will be held on Tuesday 13 December at 11am.

Ann-Maree Mulcaster - AST

What have 5-6K been up to?

In 5/6 Kelly to recognise Remembrance Day, we explored our critical and creative thinking by using a process called,

I see…. I think…. I wonder.

We started by noticing all the things that we could ‘see’ in each picture. Then we used what we noticed to come to some conclusions in the ‘I think’. The last part of the process asks us to ‘wonder’ about what questions they still might have, or what they were unsure about.

Christmas Raffle

Remember to sell your raffle tickets and return the books with the money in a sealed envelope to the school office by Friday, December 9th. The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday, December 14th. There are extra books available from the school office. Please return books with money before requesting new ones.

Lyn Aherne – Fundraising

2023 Calendar

Have you ordered your calendar(s) yet? All families were sent home an order form for a 2023 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

Tuckerbox Tips

Consider the following snack ideas for your child’s end of year/Christmas school party:

• Fruit kebabs using green and red fruits (kiwi, green apples, grapes, strawberries, watermelon)
• Vegie kebabs using green and red vegies (cherry tomatoes, snow peas, cucumber, radishes)
• Yoghurt cups topped with berries
• Mini pizza muffins (on English muffins) with green and red vegies and a sprinkle of cheese
• Dips, biscuits, and sliced vegie platter – arrange these to make a snowman, Christmas tree or reindeer face!

Lyn Aherne – Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

Gardening with Kids

Through gardening children learn responsibility, self-confidence, creativity, co-operation, reasoning and discovery! It’s also a great way to get outside and active with children. Gardening doesn’t have to be expensive and, in the long run, can save you money on your shopping bills, provide wonderful, healthy fresh produce and keep you, and the kids, fit and active.

• You can create your own biodegradable pots from newspaper or cardboard tubes. Plant them straight into the earth and the ‘container’ will compost into the ground
• Make little propagation houses from clear plastic punnets with lids or plant protectors from plastic milk containers
• Use unusual or quirky containers: tea pots, old boots, wheelbarrows, etc
• Re-use the sandpit box and convert it to a garden bed if your child has grown out of it
• Old baths, packing cases and tyres of all sizes can all be used to create easy access raised beds.

MWEW Team

Student Wellbeing