4 May 2023

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

2023

From the Principal

Welcome back to Term 2. I enjoyed seeing lots of smiling faces and happy students last week as we commenced our new term, I also heard that there was lots of chocolate eaten, some students who have managed to save them for lunchboxes. I great effort I say!

On the last day of our holidays, I was extremely proud to accompany many members of our Student Leadership group at the Devonport ANZAC march and service at the Centotaph.

Commemorating ANZAC Day is an important part of our history is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. Our students looked fantastic in full school uniform and represented our school with pride during the march along Victoria Parade and during the service.

Mackenzie and Patrick laid a wreath at the base of the cenotaph on behalf of our school. I would like to thank Mrs Peace for coordinating this event, Mr Peace for accompanying and our parents and carers for supporting our students to attend and represent our school.

Focus value of the term

This term our focus value shifts to the value of GROWTH

Growth is improving by always learning and finding better ways to do things.

Growth looks like:

• reflecting on experiences individually and with others
• learning from experiences, mistakes and challenges
• observing and learning from others
• seeking opportunities for continuous development
• approaching change as a continuous improvement and ongoing growth opportunities.

I look forward to sharing many examples of Growth at Hillcrest Primary this term!

Our Whole School Assemblies

We are pleased to see such fantastic attendance at our whole school assemblies. It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our learning, achievements and celebrate our students. At our last assembly on Wednesday 5 April, we celebrated our students achievements in the areas of English, Mathematics and Hilly Kids. Congratulations to the following students who received awards.

During this term we are trialling a change to the time of our assemblies, this term our assemblies will be held at 9:15am on:

• Friday 26 May (week 5) and Friday 7 July (week 11)

Please mark these dates in your calendar, we welcome all members of our school community to attend.

If you have been on site over the last few weeks you will have noticed a hive of activity, in our Kinder playground and around our early childhood area with the commencement of the external painting. Both projects have already made a significant improvement and update to our physical environment and we are excited to see the completion.

Stage 1 of the Kinder playground is on schedule to be completed by the end of the week. Our students have been very interested and engaged in watching the progress and the space transform. We are confident this will significantly enhance social and physical play opportunities and be highly engaging for both our Kinder and our Launching into Learning learners. Stage 2 designs have been developed and approved at school level with the tender being advertised during May with the anticipated completion being towards the end of Term 3 this year.

Kindergarten Stage 1 Design

Kindergarten Stage 2 Design

Attendance - Every school day matters

Start Term 2 right by making every school day count!

We are having a big focus on regular attendance, last week in our welcome back whole school meeting I set a challenge for our students to come to school everyday, (unless they are sick!) Two students with the highest attendance rate will be rewarded with an end of term surprise.

Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow, and connect with their mates and teachers. Its where bright futures start and where they’ll benefit the most.

When your child goes to school every day, it helps them to:

• learn better
• find interests
• make friends
• connect with teachers
• be happier
• have a brighter future.

We have lots in store for this term, including Cross Country, both at school and combined North West Primary Schools for our Year 3-6 team, excursions, Questacon visit, performances.

If you’re struggling to get your child to school, help is available. Please talk to us at school about your situation. We’ll support you, in whatever way we can.

To find out more, visit the Anything can happen website.

As I have mentioned previously, I welcome you to make contact with me at any time, either visiting, phoning (64245211) or emailing me hillcrest.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au if you would like to discuss anything related to your child/children. Families and school, working together helps to create positive and strong outcomes for our students.

In partnership,
Georgia Perry

Colder Weather

As Winter has arrived, it is important that our students are dressed appropriately. Please ensure they have a jacket or jumper to wear each day.

We encourage students to bring slippers/ugg boots to wear inside during class time as often shoes become wet or muddy during break times.

School beanies are available to purchase for students to wear during break times for $18.50, please contact the office or order on Qkr.

Mother’s Day Raffle

Hands on Learning have a lovely Mother’s Day basket to raffle. Tickets are $1 each and the prize will be drawn on Friday 12th May. Tickets are available from the office.

HOL Team

Mother’s Day Stall

Don’t forget ………………………….Our Mother’s Day stall will be on, Tuesday, 9 May. The purpose of the stall is to give each child an opportunity to buy a small gift for their mother or a special person for Mother’s 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, 8 May. Your child will place the present in the box in the classroom and tick their name on the list on the box. Every child who donates to the stall will go into the draw to win a gift for mum. PLEASE DO NOT WRAP GIFTS.

On the day of the stall, please send your child to school with $3 to purchase a gift for Mum. If you do not want your child to participate, please tell him/her beforehand and mention it to the class teacher. Donations of wrapping paper are also appreciated as the children are given paper to wrap their gifts.

Please leave your name at the school office if you can help on the stall between 9 – 10.30am on the day.

HPS Fundraising Committee

Learning in the Kelly Gang – 5-6 Kelly

The students in 5/6 Kelly have been learning about Anzac Day. They read a really informative Kids News article about what Anzac Day and how did it begin?

Their follow up task was called 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

5 pieces of information that they already knew about Anzac Day.
4 pieces of information from the article that they didn’t know before.
3 questions related to Anzac Day that they would still like to now about.
2 pieces of information related to Anzac Day that they knew, but was not in the article
1 thing they did this year to commemorate Anzac Day.

We have also been brushing up on our understanding of what the ICT User Agreement that we all signed at the beginning of year actually means.

Hands on Learning Market

HOL Market

HOL will be holding a market on Wednesday 24th of May outside of hall. There will be handmade crafts items, plants, garden labels fresh cut flowers and herbs and much more. Cash only so bring some spare change.

It’s Book Fair Time

May is National Family Reading Month!

We are excited to announce the Scholastic Book Fair will be coming to Hillcrest, arriving on Monday 15th May and will be here until Friday 19th May! It will be held in our Library between 2:45pm and 3:15pm.

Such a great opportunity to get your hands on some wonderful books to read with your family. Keep your eyes out for more information in the coming weeks!!

Hilly Kids Are Friendly Kids

Our previous Hilly Kids focus was Rights and Responsibility.

Congratulations and thank you to 1/2 Shephard for your wondering song and performance to share your learning about Rights and Responsibility.

Our school representative for Rights and Responsibility is Harper from 3/4W

This term our value focus will be on GROWTH.

Why Growth?

At Hillcrest we improve by always learning and finding better ways to do things.

A growth mindset builds resilience and abilities to overcome challenges, which are critical aspects of lifelong learning for everyone.

Growth looks like:

• reflecting on experiences individually and with others
• learning from experiences, mistakes and challenges
• observing and learning from others
• seeking opportunities for development
• approaching change with a positive attitude.

HPE Soccer Sessions

Last week we were fortunate to have had Devonport Strikers NPL players Taylor and Cody to run sessions for our classes from Prep to Year 6. Children had a great time during these sessions and enjoyed learning many new skills from the ‘professionals’

Launching into Learning News

We have had a wonderful start to the term in Launching into Learning. On Friday, we had a wonderful LIL session celebrating the story ‘We Love Country’. Our little LIL learners had fun creating shelters for koalas and kangaroos, making collages out of natural materials, making prints from shells and leaves and listening to our story ‘We Love Country’. Children were also excited to watch the builders who were hard at work in our new Kinder playground redevelopment.

Growing Up Program

The ‘Growing Up’ program for Grade 3-6 children will take place at our school from 8th-11th May. This program is run by Family Planning and is Tasmania’s leading relationships, sexuality and protective behaviours program for students. It is facilitated by an experienced educator, is age and developmentally appropriate, sequential, and evidence-based. The program aims to increase positive communication between parents/carers and their child/children. If you would like more information there will be a parent information session on Monday, May 8th from 8:30-9am in the school library. If you have any questions, please contact the office.

Hillcrest Tuckerbox Tips

Aim for two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables daily. What’s in a serve?

One serve of fruit:

• 1 piece of medium sized fruit - apple, banana, orange, or pear
• 2 pieces of smaller sized fruit - apricots, kiwis, or plums
• 1 cup of tinned fruit in fruit juice, no added sugar

One serve of vegetables:

• ½ cup cooked green or orange vegetables - broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, or spinach
• ½ cup cooked, dried or canned beans, peas, or lentils
• 1 cup leafy or raw salad vegetables
• ½ cup sweet corn
• 1 medium potato or sweet potato
• 1 medium tomato

Lyn Aherne – Canteen Supervisor

Move Well Eat Well

Fun Food Facts

Did you know:

1. Tomatoes are a fruit… and they are the most popular fruit in the world!
2. Strawberries are technically not berries – weird but true! Berries, by definition, have their seeds on the inside, whilst strawberries hold their seeds on the outside.
3. Potatoes were the first vegetable to be grown in space. In fact, the year was 1995.
4. Not all oranges are orange. In some regions the temperature doesn’t get cold enough for the skin to turn orange, so the orange could stay green or yellow, even if the fruit is ripe.
5. Cranberries can bounce. When they are ripe, they bounce!
6. Pumpkins and cucumber are also classed as a fruit, not a vegetable, not to mention olives, avocado, aubergine, and capsicum, which are also fruits.

MWEW Team

Basketball Date Change

Due to the rescheduling of the NWBU semi-final to Devonport on Wednesday 31st May there will be no grade 1/2 primary school games.

Below games set down for Wednesday 31st May will now be played on Wednesday July 5th.

Also a reminder that there are no Wednesday games scheduled in the roster for 7th June due to NWBU Pre final.

Games will be played as per the roster until Wednesday 24th May and then no games until Wednesday 14th June.

We apologise for changes and should you have any queries please contact the DBC Office on 64242440.

Devon Netball Clinic

Slip Stream Circus

Devonport Community House

Inside Out 4 Kids

Devonport Gymnastics Ninja Classes

Spreyton Scouts Group

Feenikx Counselling and Mediation