Welcome Back to School

I would like to extend a warm welcome back to school for our College community particularly those who have joined us in 2023.  

It has been great to see so many smiling faces on the crossing each morning as students and families arrive for the busy day ahead.

In addition to our enrolled students Term 1 sees 14 Japanese students joining our Language College and Year 10 classes.  It is wonderful to see our international visitors returning after a few years of disruption.  Please make them feel welcome as you see them around the College. 

Term 1 is busy with many events and meetings so please stay informed via our primary source of communication, the Hills College App.

I'm proud to lead a team of dedicated and caring staff, please do not hesitate to approach any of us with any questions you may have about your child's education at Hills College.

Kevin Lynch
Principal & CEO

kevin.lynch@hills.qld.edu.au

A huge welcome back to our 2023 school year. I hope all our College families had a restful break and you are looking forward to an amazing year at Hills International College. I must say our students have commenced their new school year with warmth, curiosity and kindness and it has been wonderful reconnecting with them all.  This year we welcomed just over 95 new students (including Prep) and 3 new staff members; Year 1 teacher, Mrs. Kimberly Black, Year 2 teacher, Miss Jodi Byron and Inclusive Education Aide, Miss Tilli Coulter to the Hills Primary School family. Our staff and students have ensured a smooth transition and it has been so pleasing seeing our new students settle in so well. I must pay a special mention to our 2023 Prep students. We have such resilient, confident and curious students and the way they settled into ‘big school’ displays what amazing individuals we will be working with and the success we have experienced via a transition model. They truly are a credit to our families, and I know our Prep Team are incredibly proud of their start to school.

I have been so proud to walk around the College grounds, pop into our learning spaces, and see positivity at play. Our classroom teachers worked hard in the student-free week to ensure that the moment your child walked into the classroom they felt welcomed, supported and had a strong sense of belonging. Routines and expectations have been established and more importantly, rapport has been built. This is what we do so very well here at Hills. We build connections through positive relationships where everyone feels valued and supported. We endeavour to establish learning environments where students are challenged to take risks and are supported and guided by goal-setting and feedback. Hills is a place where curiosity rules and shame is ‘kicked to the kerb’! This growth mindset underpins our philosophy as we encourage all our students to strive for success.
 
We are a positive school and I discussed at great lengths the power of this thought process at our students' welcome-back assembly in Week 1. Our Hills Primary Behaviours reflect this practice and as a staff, we are committed to rewarding our students who exhibit positivity. Our token boxes are already brimming with evidence of compassion, diligence, integrity and success. I have been overjoyed to see the students bring families down to share in the joy of placing a token in the token boxes and when quizzed about “Why did you receive this” or “What do the tokens mean?”, our students can articulately answer and do so with pride and delight. 

I will be releasing our assembly schedule shortly. Please use this to see when your child’s class will showcase, so you can share in this learning experience. Also at our College assemblies, students will be acknowledged for positive behaviour in many ways. Classroom and specialist teachers promote positive behaviour in the classroom via our L.A.W.S. awards. Primary Captains recognise positive behaviour in the playground with a Captains' Award. I also acknowledge students who have excelled and achieved great success by issuing them a Head of Primary Award.

We are of the firm belief that by focusing on positive behaviours, rather than punitive measures, we can achieve great success for our students.

Primarily these positive behaviours are used to;

- Create a safe, caring environment

- Create a sense of belonging and inclusiveness

- Achieve one's personal best

- Enhance social and emotional resilience

 
We have so many wonderful events coming up, so please keep up to date with all College happenings via the College App. On this note, please direct any College App queries to the staff indicated in the notification. This may include swimming carnival material or cocurricular activities, for example. These types of notifications contain the organising staff member's contact details, and they would be happy to help with any questions you may have. Moving forward we ask you to avoid contacting the front office or student services for these queries and thank you for your cooperation and attention to this process.

Meet the Teacher Evening was another big success. I always talk with great joy about our wonderful staff. They are amazing, highly dedicated professionals who take great pride in getting to know each and every individual in their care. This evening was a wonderful opportunity to hear about the learning taking place and the strategies and programmes they utilise to support your child to achieve their highest possible success. This year we have introduced active parent engagement within our curriculum planning, through Primary Learning Maps. This map includes relatable activities to further enhance the education journey and provide our families with that vital connection between learning at school and at home. We love collaboration, and our families' knowledge of their children will ensure a solid partnership that aspires to enhance our students' outcomes further.

Congratulations to our Primary Captains, Vice Captains and Sports Captains who were selected to represent the College as part of the Leadership Team in 2023. These wonderful students have been chosen on their merits to do what is right and to model support to others within our community with their positive influence. I had the joy of holding our first Captains' meeting this week where we brainstormed activities that encouraged inclusivity with a focus on our College values. I look forward to them sharing their initiatives with the broader community in upcoming Hills Primary Hills Times editions as well as at our fortnightly assemblies. We look forward to seeing them in action at the first Primary assembly on 24 February.

May I take this opportunity to extend my appreciation for entrusting Hills with the education of your child. Please know that my door is always open and I deeply value you and your child so please let us know if you have any concerns. It is by working together, not against, that we can achieve so much.

Thank you all for an amazing start to our 2023 school year and I look forward to working so positively with you all.

Matt Noel
Head of Primary

matt.noel@hills.qld.edu.au

Student Success

A huge congratulations to Zachary Cunington, Uluru House captain and member of 6E who attended the State Relay Championships for Athletics in December after qualifying at the Regional Relay Championships. It was a combined team effort so their collective score equalled the total overall result. Zachary’s team placed second and walked away with the silver medal for Long Jump where he jumped 3.82m. Zachary also qualified to attend the State Relay Championships for discus. Well done Zachary for an amazing effort and for sharing this with our community. 

Essential Agreements 

As we start the new academic year, we would like to bring to your attention the importance of Essential Agreements in an IB PYP classroom. Our classroom teachers at Hills have been busy forming relationships with their classes and establishing their classroom Essential Agreements. 

Essential Agreements are agreements made between students, teachers, and parents to establish a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment. These agreements help to create a positive classroom culture where everyone is aware of the expectations and responsibilities in the classroom.

Here are some of the benefits of having Essential Agreements in place:

• Clear expectations - Essential Agreements clearly state the expectations for behaviour and work in the classroom, helping to reduce misunderstandings and conflicts.
• Encourage responsibility - Essential Agreements help students take ownership of their learning and behaviour, promoting a sense of responsibility and accountability.
• Support positive relationships - Essential Agreements encourage positive relationships between students, teachers, and parents by promoting respect, empathy, and understanding.
• Foster a safe and inclusive environment - Essential Agreements help to create a safe and inclusive environment where all students feel valued and respected.

In conclusion, Essential Agreements play a vital role in supporting student learning and creating a positive classroom culture. We encourage you to take an active role in supporting these agreements and promoting a positive learning environment for your child.

Primary Learning Maps 

Our Primary Learning Map is a comprehensive and informative document that outlines the curriculum, goals, and objectives for each year level’s upcoming Unit of Inquiry. It is designed to provide a clear understanding of what your child will be learning and the skills they will be developing. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential and succeed academically. Your child’s Learning Map for their first Unit of Inquiry will be sent out via email during Week 3.

Parent engagement is an essential component of your child's education. Studies have shown that when parents are actively involved in their child's education, it leads to better academic outcomes and a stronger sense of community. We encourage you to stay informed about what your child is learning, communicate with teachers, and participate in school events and activities. Embedded within the Primary Learning map are suggested parent engagement activities to further enhance the learning journey and strengthen the connection between home and school.

We understand that parenting can be challenging and time-consuming, but we assure you that even small efforts can have a significant impact on your child's education. Whether it's attending parent-teacher conferences, volunteering in the classroom, or simply checking in on your child's progress, your involvement is valued and appreciated.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, or your child’s classroom teacher. We are committed to working together to ensure that your child receives the best education possible.

Stuart Ablitt
Deputy Head of Primary & Head of IB Programs

stuart.ablitt@hills.qld.edu.au

Secondary Insights

What a great start to the Secondary College year. Both students and staff have enjoyed a rather 'normal' start to the year. 

We look forward to sharing another year with you and your child. Our core business is to provide your child with wonderful opportunities within the teaching and learning environments, as well as opportunities to extend this through various events, excursions, and activities.

Our College Captains led the Secondary assembly this week. We look forward to having them lead all of the assemblies this year. 

Hills College is a very caring and supportive community and we provide many opportunities for you to be an active part of the College. Our teachers are always looking for opportunities to invite you to our College to engage in areas which reflect your experiences. If you are keen to be a part of this journey, please do not hesitate to email your child's teachers to inform them of this experience. 

The following are the Secondary Teaching Staff and their roles for 2023:

Heads of Faculty

English                                             Ms Jacinta Goyne

Mathematics                                    Mrs Sharon Rummins

Science                                            Mr Chris Schultz

Humanities and Languages                Mr Scott Whaley

Health and Physical Education          Mrs Leah Stone

Arts and Technologies                       Dr Julia Pope

 

Year Level Coordinators

Years 7 – 8           Mrs Rachel Wilson (for Grace Ogoti - maternity leave)

Years 9-10           Mrs Amy-Lee Perkins

Year 11-12           Mrs Joelle Parer

Executive Members

Head of Secondary                             Mrs Julie-Anne Skelton

Head of Wellbeing / Deputy Principal  Mr Ben Pope

Head of International Programs           Mrs Vanessa Newbery

 

Youth Support/Counselling/Careers

Years 7 – 12                                      Mrs Mandy Comerford


Secondary Staff

English Jacinta Goyne, Melanie Clifton, Alexandria Salmon, Ben Pope, Julia
             Pope, Biance Tyne

Mathematics Sharon Rummins, Ljiljana Stojanovic, Michael Heeney, Rachael                   Wilson, Valerie Spall

Science Chris Schultz, Valerie Spall, Trent Newcomb (for John                                         Hallermann), Sharon Rummins 

Humanities Scott Whaley, Jarrah Newton, Jacinta Goyne, Alexandria Salmon,                 Joelle Parer

HPE Leah Stone, Julie-Anne Skelton, Mark Robinson, Tomoki Kanaya

Languages Scott Whaley, Tomoki Kanaya, Yuhua Li

The Arts Julia Pope, Caroline Barnard, Melanie Clifton, Paul Clarke

Technologies Amy Lee Perkins (Design), Paul Clarke (Digital and Media)

Inclusive Education Lisa Elvish, Caragh Rosevear, Rhonda Hawley, Jess Panther, Charmaine Witt
                                                      
Across both Primary and Secondary

Visual Arts Caroline Barnard                                     

Music Lawrence Gratton                                  

Sport Mark Robinson                                      

Our new teaching staff have settled in well. Enjoy these short paragraphs outlining a little bit about each of them.

Paul Clarke

I am a passionate teacher of students in grades 7 through 12, with a range of experiences. I establish a lively, supportive, and flexible learning environment that caters to pupils’ various requirements. I uphold professional practice, ethics, and young children’s welfare and education.  I have spent two years as a Secondary teacher, four years as a Learning Support Officer, and two years as a Sports Coach.

Bianca Tyne

The first few weeks at Hills have been incredible; not only are the staff welcoming and professional, but the students are wonderfully patient with me while I get to know their names and faces. I look forward to becoming part of the furniture!

Rachael Wilson

I am a mother of two teenage boys who has a keen interest in the environment and animals. I have three dogs, a horse, a cat and a bearded dragon at home.  I became a teacher after working as an engineer for twenty years and enjoy passing on how Mathematics can be useful in future life. I have been impressed by how helpful and kind everyone has been since I arrived.

Mr Trent Newcomb

Since returning from overseas, where I taught in Macau and China, I have taken up several contracts in various places in Queensland and the Northern Territory.  My interests are now in Positive Psychology and Residential Care.  I continue to study various aspects of Mental Health and Wholebeing and am currently completing certificates through the Mental Health Academy.  My passions outside school include Service (I have been a Rotarian since 2006) as well as involvement with my church.  Reading is also a passion of mine and I usually have at least four books on the go at once. 

If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me at the College or email me - julie-anne.skelton@hills.qld.edu.au

Mrs Julie-Anne Skelton

Head of Secondary

Teaching and Learning

English Faculty

The English Faculty team has been hard at work in the first weeks of Term 1, with teachers getting to know students, developing engaging lessons, and easing students back into familiar school routines. The Faculty has welcomed the very experienced Ms Bianca Tyne to the team; she will be teaching Year 12 General English, Years 7 and 10 English, Year 8/9 English Extension and Years 8 and 9 Humanities.

Students throughout the year levels are exploring a wide range of classroom experiences, text types, and narrative worlds; 

* Year 7s are loving their first novel study of Louis Sachar’s ‘Holes’ under the tutelage of Ms Tyne and Mr Ben Pope, and are studying the story elements of the story to develop their own creative writing skills. 

* Mrs Melanie Clifton and Mrs Leah Stone are guiding the Year 8 cohort into the dystopian world of ‘The Hunger Games’- this unit of study is a particular favourite for Hills students. 

* Year 9 students are engaging in the skills-based unit ‘Wordplay’, which aims to develop students’ abilities in the areas of argumentative text analysis and development, as well as speech and presentation skills. Mrs Clifton and I will be introducing students to various youth issues that are currently being discussed in the media, challenging them to consider their own positions on issues that affect them. 

* Ms Tyne and Mrs Clifton are navigating Year 10 students through their first close study of Shakespeare by teaching students how to analyse the playtext ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. Later in the term, students will be introduced to the concept of intertextuality when they study how a modern adaptation of the play, the film ’10 Things I Hate About You’, re-interprets and challenges the themes of the original text.

* Senior students are hard at work; the Year 11 General English class is examining the real-world relevance of issues explored in dystopian texts, whilst Essential English students are undertaking a tourism unit that aims to develop their presentation skills. Students in Year 11 Literature – a new subject offering in 2023 – are studying the art of film language in the Australian Gothic classic ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’. Lastly, Year 12 General and Essential English are getting passionate about current affairs, creating fiery calls-to-action about a range of social, economic, political, and cultural issues.

Ms Jacinta Goyne
Secondary Teacher – Head of Faculty for English

English Ambassadors Report

The English Faculty would also like to extend a congratulations and a hearty welcome to our inaugural English Ambassadors: Isabella Carter, Amber Davidson, and Caitlin McNee. 

The students are hard at work devising a vision and action plan for the new Hills English Club, which is open to all secondary students and convenes every Wednesday at 3:20pm in K3. These student leaders hope to initiate causes that will become annual legacies for future Ambassadors, such as bringing the celebration of Book Week to the secondary school this August. Stay tuned for more from this team of literary legends!

Ms Jacinta Goyne

Head of Faculty - English

STEM Ambassadors Report - Secondary Assembly

The STEM ambassadors for 2023 are Caitlin McNee, Ava Parnell Jones, Fiona Feng, Isabella Carter, Amber Davidson, Simran Sandhar, Hollie Zavattaro, Alexandria Rose, Connor McLachlan, Joshua Chan, Ben Tattersall, and myself, Caitlin Rideout. There are also many Year 10 students who will be announced at a later date.

This year the STEM ambassadors will be tutoring in the Maths Zone on Tuesday during mornings and lunch time, and everyone is welcome.

We also plan to host events for:

·        E- day – 7 February 

·        Pi Day (International Day of Mathematics) – 14 March

·        Earth Hour – Saturday 25 March 

·        World Environment Day - 5 June 

·        Science Week – 12-20 August 

·        Mole Day – 23 October (6:02am-6:02pm) 

Please look out for notices of special days during the year.
 
I would also like to announce that for International Maths Day in Week 8, we will be organising a school Maths team challenge. We will need one team of 3-4 students for Years 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12. Please contact Mrs Rummins if you are interested.

Caitlin Rideout

Year 12 STEM Ambassador

Health and Physical Education

2023 has commenced strongly for students at Hills in the sporting domain. Senior Sport and Recreation classes and Senior Physical Education students have begun the year learning all things touch football. Students are learning to focus on producing set plays and exploiting tactical awareness knowledge to produce manoeuvres that lead to successful scoring opportunities. 

Students in Years 7-10 are back at the pool. Years 7 and 9 are focusing on stroke correction, FINA rules and fitness. Year 8 students are working towards achieving their Royal Australian Life Saving Bronze Star qualifications, while Year 10 students work towards completing their recreational Royal Australian Bronze Medallion qualification. 

Mrs Leah Stone

Health and Physical Education Head of Faculty

HIA Swimming Carnival

A great day was had at our HIA Swimming Carnival with our champions being Jourdain Lanoux and Maddyson Lansky. Many of our Secondary students participated.

Arts Ambassador Report - Secondary Assembly

Welcome to the new school year. My name is Kynan Clark and I am the 2023 College Arts Captain.

Students across Secondary are settling into their Arts subjects. We are excited to be able to offer Media Arts this year in Years 7 to 10. Mr Paul Clarke is the new Media Arts teacher as well as teaching Digital Solutions and ICT. Please give Mr Clarke a warm welcome.

Rehearsals for the College Production have started. Being involved in the Production is a great experience whether as an actor, a technician, or a backstage helper. We wish the Production team a great year as they prepare for the performances in October.

The Music rooms at the top of the Resource Centre are open every lunchtime except Wednesdays. Come and practice guitar, keyboard or drumkit.
 
Kynan Clarke

Year 12 Arts Ambassador

Student Acknowledgement

Leah Henley

Leah has made it through to the South Coast Schools Regional 10 - 12 year girls Cricket Trials next Thursday, which is exciting news. 

Congratulations Leah.

Upcoming History Competition 

We are excited to announce the Australian History Competition! Everyone in Year 7-10 has the option to compete in the Australian History competition next term for FREE! You just have to email Ms Salmon ASAP, with the College covering the cost for you! The competition is a 45 minute exam that is multiple choice. You will receive a printout of historical sources, and have about 50 multiple choice questions to answer.

There are prizes that range up to $250. If you participate in the competition you will receive either a Participation Award, Merit Award, Credit Award, Distinction or High Distinction, depending on the accuracy of your answers. This is the College’s third year entering the competition. I myself entered it when I was in Year 10, and it helped me demonstrate my historical skills and prepared me for success in Modern History.

It is based on source analysis, and comprehension, NOT PRIOR KNOWLEDGE.
There is more information in your emails and on the app. Hopefully you take advantage of this opportunity and enter the competition.
 

Caitlin McNee

Year 12 Student

Mathematics Competition Outcomes

Mangahigh is a games-based learning platform for mathematics to help students develop a conceptual understanding and building their confidence.

The Hills College competitors and winners were Riley Brand, Alexandria Rose and Jasleen Sandhar.

Thank you to Mrs Rummins and Mr Pitt for organising this competition.

Road Safety

Please can I remind all families to be very careful on our College Roads.

This does not just mean while driving in the carpark.

Pedestrians:

We have had several families walking children directly across the main driveway areas, through built up and moving traffic.  Visibility in larger vehicles can be quite restricted, and we must ask that all families use pedestrian crossings wherever possible, even if it takes a few seconds longer.

Kangaroos:

We have also had several near misses reported with kangaroos - particularly with the several young joeys that are currently on campus.  Please exercise caution all the way along the driveway, especially if you are using the roads during quiet times of the day, and at dawn and dusk.

HIA Swimming Carnival

On 1 February, self-nominated high school students participated in the HIA swimming carnival at the Beaudesert swimming pool. This carnival was the first one of the year, so spirits were high. Aside from Hills College, the two other competing schools were Tamborine Mountain College and Kooralbyn College. 

Throughout the day, there were multiple events, including the butterfly, breaststroke and freestyle races of different distances. The events happened in the junior and senior categories, and the last event of the day was a mixed relay race, which was a great challenge after a long day of swimming for the students. 

The winner of this round was Tamborine Mountain College. We thank the schools for their attendance which made it a great, competitive day. Special thanks go to Mr Robinson and Mrs Stone for their organisation of the event, and well done Maddy Lansky, our swimming captain, for her encouragement of our team. We look forward to the next opportunity to compete in this HIA event.

Joshua Feeney
Hills Reporting Team Captain

Volleyball Activity

With the new school year comes new opportunities and chances to support students’ learning, development, and fitness. One of the Wednesday afternoon activities is volleyball. 

We are very pleased to introduce Mrs Angela Gaviglio, a certified volleyball assistant coach previously with the Australian VolleyRoos Women’s Team and the Juniors of Queensland. Mrs G is now our Clovers Volleyball Club coach and attends the College on Wednesday afternoons to help train those interested in volleyball. 

Mrs G says she feels welcomed by the friendly staff and students. She is surprised and excited by how keen our students are for volleyball. 

Mrs G was just like everybody else when she started, as she struggled to reach her goals as a player and as a coach, but she enjoyed the challenge and continued to strive for success. Students state that volleyball and the Clovers Club is a positive opportunity to build fitness, skill, and connections. The school and Mrs G hope that more students will engage in the marvelous opportunity offered by our volleyball program.
 

Alexandria Rose and Caitlyn Underdown
Hills Reporting Team

School Uniform - Shoes

We have recently had several queries regarding sports shoe colour, particularly in the Primary school.  

Sports shoes or gym shoes must not be worn with the formal uniform at any time. The College has become aware in recent years that it is becoming increasingly more difficult to source predominantly white sport shoes as per the College requirements. Further, the fit of the available white sport shoes may not be the best choice for growing feet. The correct shoe can not only help performance but also reduce the risk of injury. We are also aware that every child’s feet are different and that their feet continue to develop and change until they are 18. Therefore, students are permitted to wear sports shoes that are not only suitable for the activity in which they are wearing the shoes, but also appropriate for their growing feet, regardless of whether the shoe is white or not.

We do, however, require that no fully fluorescent shoes are worn, and that all black sports shoes are also not worn.

Billion Stars project

The 'Billion Stars to end violence project' involves individuals in many countries weaving 1 billion stars ready for the 2032 Olympics. The project was started by Maryann Talia Pau in 2012 when a murder was committed in Melbourne. In response to the anguish in her community, she started weaving the same 8-pointed star her mother wove while growing up in Samoa. Maryann and her husband set a goal of collecting 1 million stars by the 2018 Commonwealth Games. They collected over 2.4 million woven stars from over 15 countries and displayed them in King George Square.

Maryann extended her goal to weave 1 billion stars by the 2032 Olympics and has vowed to have violence-free communities. Studies show that star weaving is great for mental health, and it may even hold communities together and raise awareness of issues involving violence. In 2021, Maryann visited our school and did a presentation on the Billion Stars project. Soon after, she hosted a star-weaving workshop at our school for students. She left everyone inspired, especially Ms Barnard, who wanted our whole community to get involved. Recently, Maryann has registered as a project leader to manage the star weaving community in Jimboomba and Beaudesert that has formed. As a community, we will commit to making 10,000 to 1,000,000 stars by the 2032 Olympics to add to the 1 billion stars that countries across the globe are working towards.

Ms Barnard’s Wednesday afternoon activity involves making the stars and is supported by an amazingly unwavering and passionate group of students.
According to Ms Barnard, “Weave a star. Start a conversation” are the words Maryann would like us to focus on as we gather as a community to weave the eight-pointed stars. Hills College is proud to be a part of this global project in which the stars are seen as symbols of hope, courage, and solidarity to end all forms of violence.

Harnoor-Kaur Anand and Breeya Peterson
Hills Reporting Team 

FA Cup Star - Children's Mental Health Opportunity

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity for your school!

We are pleased to announce that we have signed Hills up for a FREE mental health session from a soccer star.  Hills families have the opportunity to join Fábio Carvalho, Liverpool FC Midfielder, on Monday 6 February at 7:30pm AEST for a FREE Children's Mental Health Week special session for school children, in partnership with Virtual Soccer Schools. 

Fábio is passionate about supporting young people's mental health and will hold a live Q&A session where he will discuss how he uses character strengths such as humility, adaptability and enthusiasm to support his mental health on and off the pitch. 

We will email out a link once it is provided to the College by the organisers.

Local Services

Macquarie University Study

Welcome back to a vibrant and diverse Hills College community. This term, we welcome international students from China, South Africa, Japan, Indonesia and Poland. These students join us for their secondary schooling, and we warmly welcome them to the Hills community.

We also have some visiting students here for Term 1. Honan High school is a Japanese school which sends a class for intensive English every year (excluding COVID times). It is fantastic to welcome them back in 2023! We also have two Japanese boys joining us in Year 10, coming for the term to experience school life in Australia. They have settled in well, and are enjoying homestay and school life, despite the heat!

Boarding News

Personalised plus!

Our residents have returned to the dormitory after a well-earned Christmas holiday. Our community resonates with American, Australian, Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese accents. Our students hail from Hong Kong, Mainland China, northern NSW, UAE, Indonesia, Japan, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Northern Queensland, and the Northern Territory.

For much of the school year the dormitory is home to our students, and they are encouraged to personalize their rooms to make their space a little more homely. Riley Brown, a Year 11 student, has 'raised the bar' this year with this Memento Mori inspired, repurposed skateboard 'canvas'; part spray painted, part brushed creation. Riley informs us that a memento mori emblem, when worn or displayed is intended to remind us of our mortality, a thought-provoking subject for such a young man!

Riley revealed that he used an App to digitally sketch what he had in mind, teasing out the detail of his creation, before transferring the design to the skateboard.

Who needs a sketch pad anymore!

Homestay News

This year we have seen unprecedented need for homestay families, as we accommodate the increasing number of long- and short-term students. If you would like to join the Hills Homestay Program, please let me know!

Mrs Vanessa Newbery

Head of International Programs

vanessa.newbery@hills.qld.edu.au