As we round out the term, we continue to enjoy the last few days.  

Carparking

Please note that information will soon be provided via the Hills app regarding changes to our carparks and drop-off routine.  This will include welcome repairs to the Primary School drop-off area and surrounding entryways, and a major change in the routine for drop-off locations for Year 5-12.  Please check the app for more information.

Please can I also remind parents and families that the northern carpark is for the exclusive use of the Hills Early Learning Centre, and parking in that area is outside the jurisdiction of the College.

Teachers vs Students Challenge - Touch Football

This coming Wednesday, the senior students will once again attempt to topple the long-standing winning record of the staff.  I hope to attend (and even participate) in this event, especially as the staff were defeated so narrowly in last term's volleyball match.

Hills Concert Series

This week, our College Vice-Captain organised an al-fresco concert, featuring a range of student vocal and instrumental performances.  This was very well attended, and was a really impressive testament to the abilities and diligence of our students.

Hills Primary Disco

Tonight we welcome back the Hills Primary Disco, thoughtfully provided by Mrs Parer and the Year 12 cohort.  Tonight's theme is 70s and 80s, so I expect flares, afros, fluoro and hairspray will be much in evidence.

On a personal note, I'd like to thank all the staff, families, and students for making my first week as Acting Principal such an enjoyable and successful one.

Mr Ben Pope

Principal (Acting)

Welcome to your next edition of the Primary Happenings. A place to share, as a community, the many wonderful experiences going on in the Primary School.

Student Action

We have amazing students at our school, and I wanted to communicate with our community the self-advocated initiatives conjured up by our learners. Although these students are from different year levels, both their ideas focus on ensuring the College community is rubbish free. The students stated that they love their school, but felt sad at seeing rubbish lying around, especially with so many bins available. Being in a nature reserve they were also concerned about the impact litter may have on fauna and flora. 

The students approached me with the following groups: Clean-up Crew (Year 1 students) and Environmental Working Group (Year 2 students). A big shout out to the following environmental champions; Callie Tomlinson, Naomi Booker, Gabriella Kavanagh, Elizabeth Brown, Elsie Pidgeon, Amelia Schroeder, Finn Winslett, and the many other students who are now involved with this project. To these students, a huge thank you for your action!

Reporting

Your child’s Semester One report will be available in the mid-year holiday break, via Parent Lounge. The purpose of our Semester Reports is to inform you about your child’s progress in Maths, English, Units of Inquiry, and specialist subjects. This information demonstrates your child’s achievement, focusing on what they know, understand and can do, appropriate to their year level. 

It is an absolute joy to share with you the myriad of experiences we afford our students here at Hills International College. Our wonderful Primary school is a very busy place indeed and I hope you enjoy the many experiences that are included within this Primary Edition.

Kindest regards,

Mr. Matthew Noel
Head of Primary

matt.noel@hills.qld.edu.au

Prep PJ Day

Prep celebrated the first day of Winter by hosting a Prep PJ Day.
They explored the change of season through stories and calendars. They also engaged in a variety of digital and written activities, and best of all they made their very own fresh gingerbread cookies and warm milk to enjoy for a group morning tea.

From the Prep Team 

Dance Curriculum - Ezra

We were fortunate to have Ezra from Dance Curriculum engage with our P-6 students last Wednesday. The session included a variety of interactive curriculum-focused technical skills. The students had a blast!

Captains Captions

The Primary Captains wanted to share with you the initiatives we undertook through Reconciliation Week 2023. Reconciliation means a chance for all of us to respectfully unify and understand culture, beliefs and achievements. We contacted Waylene Currie of WRLC Arts Mununjali to check our Acknowledgement of Country, an important part of commencing our assemblies. It was so wonderful to share her knowledge and strengthen this important process of connection and respect with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends. We also created a Reconciliation chalk sign on the walkway leading from the pedestrian crossing.

From the Primary Captains

In the Spotlight - Music

The Music department has been very busy this term! Preps have been learning all about the sea, singing lots of songs such as “The Big Ship Sails” and “Suki over the ocean” as well as creating our own musical sound effects for the ocean!

Years 1 and 2 have been learning all about Space, making sound effects for a rocket going to the moon and learning how to play the 'Star Wars' theme tune. Music lessons have been out of this world!

Our students in Years 3 and 4 have been creating music inspired by the Romans, using words to create patterns and sequences. Using their new Musical Mosaics, students then added notes to create and brand new Roman Melody that Caesar himself would be proud of!

Years 5 and 6 have been learning about rhythm and rhyme. Our students have loved playing the bucket drums, learning fun rhythms and playing as part of a class ensemble. In the second half of term, students learned how to use words and lyrics to create music through Rapping – we had great fun with the “Shabooya Roll Call”!

Mr Lawrence Gratton

Music Teacher

In the spotlight - Chinese

In a successful endeavour to deepen their understanding of the unit of inquiry "How we organise ourselves," students from Years 1 to 6 have enthusiastically embraced Chinese language learning this term. Focusing on the exploration of community places, the students have been engaged through a variety of interactive games, including songs, Kahoot quizzes, and word puzzles. The positive response from students has underscored their enjoyment and active participation in the Chinese language learning experience.

Under the guidance of dedicated language teachers, students have eagerly delved into the intricacies of the Chinese language and culture. With a specific emphasis on community places, they have been able to apply their newfound language skills to real-life contexts, fostering a deeper comprehension of how language organises and connects communities.

As the term progresses, students at Hills International College are well-positioned to become more culturally aware global citizens. Through their enjoyment of Chinese language learning, students have developed valuable linguistic skills that will undoubtedly benefit them in an increasingly interconnected world.

Dr Li and Miss Chen

Chinese Teachers

Illegal Parking and pick up and drop off expectations

I wish to draw our families' attention to the specified areas in which to park. Please use the main car park or area across from the drop and go. These areas will require you to walk your child to and across the pedestrian crossing. I have been made aware of some cars parked along the curb leading to our Prep Carpark (see attached image). This is not a space to park and is illegal. For the safety of our students and College families, please use the spaces indicated, should you wish to walk your child to class. 

Again, we are seeing families arrive and park in the drop and go before 3pm. For safety and effective traffic flow, should you need to arrive early please park in the areas indicated above. It is imperative that our Prep families access the Prep area and your cooperation with these matters is greatly appreciated.

Year 6 Exhibition Information Evening 

On Tuesday evening this week, we held our Year 6 Exhibition Information Evening. The event was a resounding triumph, thanks to the outstanding support and participation from parents of our wonderful Year 6 students. It truly showcased the strong partnership we have between the school and our dedicated parents.

The evening began with an air of excitement as families gathered in the Resource Centre. The turnout was truly exceptional, with a remarkable number of parents joining us to learn about the upcoming Year 6 Exhibition.

We would like to extend a heartfelt appreciation to two remarkable individuals who played an instrumental role in the success of the event; our exceptional Year 6 teachers, Mrs Angie Henry and Mrs Jenn Espinosa-Lear. Their tireless efforts and dedication to our students was evident throughout the evening. They worked hard to ensure the event was informative, engaging, and enjoyable for all attendees.

Mrs Henry and Mrs Espinosa-Lear prepared an insightful presentation that provided a comprehensive overview of the Year 6 Exhibition, highlighting its significance and the tremendous growth opportunities it offers to our students. They shared valuable information about the exhibition's purpose, the research process, and the collaborative nature of the project. Parents were given a glimpse into the rich learning experiences that their children will embark on during this important journey.

The teachers also took the time to address any concerns or queries raised by parents, offering reassurance and guidance. Their professionalism and expertise left no doubt in the minds of parents that their children are in excellent hands as they approach this milestone in their academic journey. 

We are incredibly grateful to our amazing Year 6 parents for their active participation and unwavering support. Your presence at the Information Evening is a testament to your commitment to your child's education and development. We firmly believe that strong parental involvement is the key to success, and your dedication reinforces our shared mission of nurturing well-rounded, confident individuals.

We eagerly anticipate the remarkable journey ahead and look forward to witnessing the growth, creativity, and personal achievements of each and every Year 6 student. With the continued support and collaboration between parents and the school, we are confident that the Year 6 Exhibition will be a resounding success.

Secondary Insights

Welcome to the last Hills Times for Term 2. I hope that you have enjoyed the journey with Secondary over the course of the term and the details reflected in the past Hills Times editions.

As we near the end of Term 2, the past weeks have been filled with teaching and learning experiences where students are able to demonstrate their success criteria noted out of these learning experiences provided by our wonderful Secondary College staff.

Many students need to be congratulated on their hard work and achievements throughout Term 2. We have seen outstanding drafts at various checkpoints in a variety of subjects and we commend students for their dedication and commitment to their studies. I hope this continues to the end point and before the reports are published in the third week of the upcoming June / July holidays, commencing Thursday 15 June. Students will return to the College Tuesday 11 July, ready to commence Term 3.

A reminder that all devices need to be charged overnight and that students should not be requiring a ‘top up charge’ to occur during the afternoon session of learning. The device, and if used with its intent, will last for the entire day. If students are using the internet for other purposes such as streaming, they will be notified and this could result in them having little or no access to the service.
 
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our College community. We wish all students and parents a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Mrs Julie-Anne Skelton

Head of Secondary

julie-anne.skelton@hills.qld.edu.au

College LAWS Awardees

Striving for Success and Diligence

Sophia Davidson won the coding challenge for her team at the Science and Engineering Challenge, showing Diligence and Striving for Success.

Lexie Rose in Year 11 is always displaying Diligence in Psychology.

Emily Levi and Isabella Carter in Year 12 also show Diligence and solid engagement with their Biology learning experiences.

Dr Valerie Spall

Science Teacher

Compassion

Olivia Hollaway and Charlie Francis

A student in the Language College has struggled to meet new people due to her language challenges.  These two young ladies have engaged with the student and are forming fantastic friendships.  

Mrs Vanessa Newbery

Head of International Programs

Teaching and Learning - The Arts 

The feature for this week’s Hills Times edition is The Arts which includes Music, Drama, Visual Art and Media Arts, all on offer to our students in Secondary. To undertake well-rounded educational experiences, including music, drama, and visual arts in the curriculum ensures a well-rounded education. These subjects complement academic subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Language Arts to note a couple of subject disciplines and these provide a balanced educational experience that caters to students' diverse talents, interests and learning styles.

Some of the valuable areas where students form their understanding and insights into The Arts reflect the following learnings;

• Emotional and Cognitive Development: Engaging in music, drama, and visual arts helps students develop emotional intelligence, empathy, and critical thinking skills. Through these subjects, students learn to analyse and interpret artistic works, understand different perspectives, and express their own emotions and ideas effectively.

• Communication and Collaboration: Music, drama, and visual arts encourage communication and collaboration skills. Students involved in group performances, art exhibitions, or media projects learn to work together, listen to others' ideas, negotiate and resolve conflicts, and develop effective teamwork skills.

•  Personal Growth and Confidence: Participating in artistic activities helps students build self-confidence and self-esteem. As they learn and master new skills, tackle creative challenges, and receive constructive feedback, they develop a sense of achievement and pride in their artistic ability

• Creative Expression: These subjects provide opportunities for students to express their creativity and individuality. They allow students to explore different forms of self-expression, experiment with various artistic techniques and develop their unique artistic voices.

• Cultural Appreciation: Music, drama, and visual arts often reflect the cultural heritage and diversity of a society. By studying and creating art, students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures, traditions and historical contexts. It broadens their worldview and fosters respect for diverse artistic traditions.

• Transferable Skills: Studying music, drama, and visual arts develops skills that are valuable beyond the artistic realm. Skills like creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and collaboration are transferable to various areas of life, including future careers.

• Therapeutic Benefits: Engaging in artistic activities can have therapeutic benefits, promoting emotional well-being, stress relief, and self-expression. Music, drama, and visual arts can serve as outlets for students to process and cope with their emotions, promoting mental health and overall well-being.

In summary, these subjects contribute to the holistic development of students and provide them with valuable skills for their personal and professional lives.

Teaching and Learning - Visual Art

As Term 2 ends, it is heart-warming to see the creativity that has once again emerged from the Art room.

Year 7 investigated the theme of ‘Food in Art’ by looking at the work of a wide range of different artists. They created a three-dimensional cake as well as other food-inspired artworks through drawing, painting, and mixed media. 

Year 8 and 9 students were introduced to the printmaker Lynette Weir. They created lino prints based on their own drawings of animals, birds, or insects. Watercolour paint was added to one of their black and white prints.

Year 10 students completed their Transitional paintings on canvas. This was achieved in the form of a mandala. They created an inner self-portrait by reflecting on their past and contemplating their future. Their painting communicated their visual self-expression symbolically through their chosen images.

Year 11 students completed Unit 1: 'Art as Lens'. Through Responding and Making they investigated the inquiry question 'How do artists use and manipulate found objects in artworks to express personal viewpoints?' as an extended response task. Through the criteria of Developing, Researching, Reflecting and Resolving, they produced an Experimental Folio of their chosen object by exploring a range of different techniques and processes.

Year 12 students completed Unit 3: 'Art as Knowledge'. Through a written response, they developed an open-ended inquiry question for their initial stage in the self-directed body of work. Following on from this, through the criteria of Developing, Researching, Reflecting and Resolving they completed their Project for Inquiry Phase 2.


Ms Caroline Barnard  

Visual Arts Teacher 

Teaching and Learning - Music

This term, Music students in Year 7 have been practicing their musical performance skills. Working in bands of 2 or 3 people, they created their own arrangement and performance of 'Blinding Lights' using keyboards, xylophones, guitars, and percussion. With so much talent in this group, our Year 7s rocked the house!

Year 8 and 9 students have been learning to compose, record and produce their very own podcasts. Based on a topic of their choice, students wrote and recorded a script and created a theme tune. Some students even included their very own 'sponsored content' by creating an advert for a product relevant to their topic. With a high level of creativity and skill, the next generation of content creators are ready to show off their production prowess.

Mr Lawrence Gratton

Music Teacher

Further to this, on 8 June, Hills College hosted the first ever lunchtime concert in their Concert Series. A very talent group of students including Isabella Carter, Lachlan Gravolin, Jackson Rideout, Max Garner, Hanfei (Fiona) Feng, and myself performed in front of the library. Thank you to everyone who came to watch the performance and bought lunch from the barbeque run by the Year 12s. I look forward to seeing everyone at our next concert. 

Caitlin Rideout

Year 12 Music Performer

Teaching and Learning - Mathematics Zone

Here at Maths Zone we are delighted to be able to help not only our students but also their carers who are passionate about continuing to support our learners at home.  If you would like to support your learners at home and have any questions about Maths content, we would be very happy to answer your questions by whichever method of communication suits you best.

Please send your response to the questions for parents noted in the photo upload from Maths Zone. Mrs Rummins is waiting to reward you with a prize; albeit something mathematical, I assume?

Mrs Sharon Rummins

Head of Faculty - Mathematics

Teaching and Learning - The Arts Captain Report

Students in Years 8, 9, and 10 have recently been emailed about choosing their Arts Elective for Semester 2.  Students in Years 8 and 9 must choose a different subject to that which they studied in Semester 1. Students in Year 10 can choose the same subject as they studied in Semester 1, or they can choose a different subject. Students should complete the Microsoft Form via the link in the email to express their preferences for Semester 2. Thank you to those students who have already submitted the form. If students have any questions or concerns, please email Dr Pope.

The Independent Education Union (IEU) Art Competition is currently running. It is open to all age groups of students and staff too. The theme is ‘Colours of Life’ and entries are due on 21 July. Details are on the College app or please ask Ms Barnard.

The Star Weaving Project is coming along well. Our star count is going up every week. The next step is reaching out to local community groups in the area to involve them in making stars and reaching our goal of 10,000.

The College Production is coming along well with weekly cast rehearsals and weekly Production Band rehearsals. The costumes, props and sets are being created ready for our performances in October.

Kynan Clark

Arts Captain - under the direction of 

Dr Julia Pope

Teaching and Learning - History 

Last week, a number of students from Years 7-10 volunteered to compete in the Australian History Competition! It was a 50 question test in response to historical sources undertaken in a quick 45 minute timeframe. Well done to all the students who elected to compete; they have certainly demonstrated their ability to ‘strive for success.’ The response papers have been sent to the headquarters in Tasmania, and we await the results later on in the year! This term, my Year 10, 11 and 12 classes have been analysing and evaluating a range of historical sources and time periods. 

Year 12 Modern History students have recently completed a research assignment (independent source investigation) focused on the historicity of the Cultural Revolution in China. Students were required to independently devise a key inquiry question based on their background research and use their time to locate four to six key pieces of evidence. They constructed a critical summary of evidence that identified any historiographical issues and compared elements of their sources.  Students now move on to Unit 4: International Experiences in the Modern World!  

Year 11 Modern History students recently completed a study of the Australian Frontier Wars which culminated in a short response to seen historical sources examination.  Year 11s have now commenced study of Unit 2: Movements in the Modern World and have so far examined the growth of Environmental Movements in the 20th Century. 

Year 10 History students have been completing a depth study on the Ancient World as a precursor to the Senior Ancient History subject with a study of the Persian Wars. They have been undertaking independent research on a self-selected topic culminating in a historical essay. I look forward to reading their findings. 

Ms Alexandria Salmon

Humanities Teacher

Teaching and Learning - STEM Report

This week, the STEM group of Hills College students has been continuing to facilitate the Hills Chess Tournament. Congratulations to everyone who has won their matches. The quarter finals will be held next Thursday, the draw is as follows:

Lachlan v Dylan
Balian v Levi
Steven v Jaxson
Connor v Max
 

Caitlin Rideout

STEM Ambassador 

Student Outcomes

Lexie Rose has been accepted into the 2023 SPARQ-ed Senior Research Immersion Program occurring from 3 – 7 July 2023. Her application was one of about one hundred applications to go before the review panel before she was offered a place in her preferred program.

In addition, Lexie has also been successful in her application to be awarded a Lions Medical Research Foundation (LMRF) scholarship. Based on her application, she has been awarded a LMRF Beryl Phippard Memorial Scholarship of $200.00. The LMRF supports the SPARQ-ed project and its commitment to inspire the next generation of medical researchers through its scholarships to assist families from regional and remote Queensland with travel and accommodation costs to attend the Senior Research Immersion program. 
 
Congratulations Lexie!

Loki Nardello to join the Australian Trampoline Team

Recently, Loki Nardello, a Hills year 10 student, attained the huge achievement of being selected to represent Australia in the National Trampoline Team. Four people were selected for the different age groups and with Loki’s dedication, skill, and diligence over the years, he was one of those selected. Loki was originally a reserve for the team but due to a recent withdrawal, Loki received his call up. 

The team will leave Australia and fly out to New Zealand at the beginning of July. Loki and the team will have a practice day on 3 July in preparation for the great event. The College would like to congratulate Loki on his great achievement, and we wish him and the Australian Team all the very best in the upcoming tournament.

Joshua Feeney

Hills Reporting Team Captain

Volleyball - Aloha Summer Classic

Four Hills International College students competed in the tournament Aloha Summer Classic Tournament and College Combine that was held the day before the tournament, as part of two Clovers Volleyball Club Teams in attendance.

Congratulations to:

Josh Condon – College Combine attendee

Summer Mesecke – Tournament
Simran Sandhar – Tournament

Tiarna Mollard – College Combine and Tournament attendee

The College Combine is an opportunity to attend a College Recruiting tryout. The Combine videos the tryout and the footage is sent to all colleges in the USA. 

Summer Mesecke and Simran Sandhar competed in the 18 and under division of the tournament; Summer as a passer hitter and Simran as a middle blocker.  Summer really developed her court skills as a passer hitter during the tournament. She unquestionably added to her team's success and it was exciting to see her smashing the volleyball away for winners. Simran showed a tremendous amount of effort in her playing abilities. She was always open to advice and put that advice into point winning rallies; a joy to coach. It was great to see them develop as athletes and upskill themselves in an international volleyball tournament.

The team played 7 matches in total and had a few closely contested sets.

Tiarna Mollard competed in the 16 and under division as the team Libero. Tiarna worked hard in the back court to help her teammates and learnt new defensive strategies and skills against the Hawaiians. It was a massive learning curve for Tiarna to which she stepped up and helped her teammates in tight hard fought matches.  The 16s even came away with a win vs a Hawaiian club team.

Clovers Volleyball Club and Hills could not be more proud of the 18 athletes who travelled to Hawaii for the tournament and are excited to announce that two athletes have already been given official offers in American colleges. (Only two were of age to receive official offers)

Ms Angela Gaviglio

Hills/Clovers Head Coach

Testimonials

The Aloha Summer Classic was an amazing experience! Next level intense competition...the athletes were all individually announced onto court before each game!

Both teams grew a lot and have had the most incredible experience!

Tiarna Mollard and Josh Condon took part in the College Combine the night before the competition.  Both said it was a great experience and came out happy. Reportedly, they are the first Australian athletes to take part in a recruiting combine.  

Watching all the athletes over the course of the tour has been an honour. The Clovers Club was the first ever club team to enter an American competition! It was definitely an experience to remember for all involved. 

Intermediate Schools Cup

I just wanted to write to you to say how proud you should be of the Year 9 and Year 10 boys from Hills who competed in the Volleyball competition over the weekend.  Their behaviour, their ethics, really everything about the way they presented themselves and interacted with each other and members of the general public was exemplary.  The level of sportsmanship and camraderie that they showed was above anything I've seen in a really long time.  They supported each other and were so kind to each other on and off the court.  I don't know if there is some special mention or something that you can do, but these boys thoroughly deserve the recognition.  Their game improved as the weekend progressed and to watch this growth was incredible.  This particular group of boys seemed to bond really well  

It was such a wonderful event to attend... it was such a positive vibe.  

Thank you for giving these boys this opportunity.  Please commend them as it was a truly incredible experience to watch them grow.

Josh Condon - Volleyball USA Offer!

Earlier this month, several Hills students competed as part of the Clovers Volleyball Club teams in the Aloha Summer Regional Combine.  All of the students were amazing, and the experience was a once-in-a-lifetime one.  Within four days, Joshua Condon had secured his first ever offer to study and play volleyball in America at the Central Christian College of Kansas. This is a great result for Joshua, and the volleyball program at Hills and Clovers.  Well done, Joshua!

Rubbish around school

As everyone should be aware by now the school has numerous service dogs placed in teachers’ care for the students' benefit.

Unfortunately there has been rubbish left around the school by a few students which can cause great harm to the dogs. Please treat the College campus like any other place and clean up rubbish left around the school, regardless of whether the rubbish was placed there by you.

Joshua Feeney
Hills reporting team captain

Bring back your books!

One of the many hassles that Mrs Hansell must deal with is unreturned books.  Hundreds of books are borrowed every year and it's hard to keep on top and organise all those books, so think about the books that she must deal with that don’t come back. 

If you do not bring back a book you have to pay for the book at its original price and if you bring back the book damaged, you also must pay to have the book replaced, so bring back your books. 

On behalf of the Hills reporting team, we would like to thank Mrs Hansell for organising and keeping our library as perfect as it is now.

Lukyn Hytongue 

Hills Reporting Team

Ultimate frisbee

Our school hosts an amazing group of players who want to play an exhilarating game of frisbee. In the game, they play many different versions but one of the games I got to watch was frisbee dodge ball. The way the game is played is when there are two teams of 15 against each other throwing frisbees at each other. Most Wednesday afternoons are spent training by passing from different distances and practicing new ways to throw the frisbee from one person to another. This is a fantastic way to get outside and strengthen your hand-eye coordination and your core muscles. On behalf of the Hills reporting team I would like to thank Mr K for supervising this exhilarating group.
 
Lukyn Hytongue 

Hills Reporting Team

Hills Band

An event coming up very quickly within the College is the Hills Production which will take place later on in Term 4. Several of our senior students have formed a band to perform in the production.  Performing in front of a massive audience takes a lot of time and dedication so well done to all the students being willing to do this for the College. 

All the best for the band and we look forward to the production and the music in Term 4.
 
Joshua Feeney
Hills reporting team captain

TEEProject Survey: Newsletter Text Example

Researchers from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the University of Queensland, are running a survey to understand how teens (12-25 years) feel about environmental issues. One in every 10 young people who take the survey will be randomly chosen to win a $50 gift card. Parental consent is required for young people aged 12-15 years.
 
Visit the website to learn more: https://bit.ly/TEEProject

Beaudesert Tennis

Boarding Student in the Spotlight - Simon

Simon Doroshenko-Smith, one of our residential students, was awarded the 2023 Hills Athletics 17+ Age Champion accolade recently. He performed well at the recent Athletics Carnival, despite a stumble in the 100 metres and a false start in the 200 metres. Simon secured the top spot with an impressive performance across the board, winning the 800, 400, 200, and 100 metre races and performing well in the long jump, shot put, discus and javelin.    

Simon has come to Hills from central Queensland. Since arriving at the College, Simon has put his hand up to help with Compassion Crew, joined in College events such as the Vinnies Sleepout, and regularly volunteers his time. After school, Simon plays footy with Jimboomba Thunder.

Well done, Simon!

Visiting student - Janina

This week we welcome visiting Swiss student Janina to Hills College. Janina joins us for a short 6-week program of English in Hills Language College, where her focus is fluency and vocabulary development. Janina also has a keen interest in science, and will join our senior Biology classes at Hills. Please make Janina feel welcome while she is at Hills College!

Seven students were accompanied by coach Ian Peters who travelled to Jakarta, Indonesia, to compete in the Ciputra World Junior Championship last week. It was the first international tournament for all of these students who have been restricted over the past few years due to travel rules made by the Australian Government regarding the Covid Pandemic. It was great for them to be able to compete at this level and we had good results in both the boys and girls events.

Hayato Abe fired rounds of 77,71,71 for a 54 hole total of 219 (+3) to finish in a tie for 6th place in the Boys tournament. Fiona Feng had 74,75,80 to finish 10th in the Girls event. Played at the tough Damai Indah Golf Club in Jakarta, our students competed against 20 different countries, with Thailand being the best country in this year's event.

This week saw the finals of the Boys' and Girls' Match Play Championship being played at Beaudesert Golf Course. In the girls' match, defending champion Fiona Feng was matched up against her old rival, Jennifer Cho. After a sudden death playoff last year to get a result, the thinking was that another tight match might occur. However, Fiona played beautifully and put Jennifer to the sword winning 7&5.

In the Boys' final, the top two seeds were meeting with Hayato Abe up against Tiger Xie. This match was a tight tussle all the way with Tiger having a chance to win on the final hole if he made a 4 metre putt. However the putt just slid by causing a sudden death playoff. After squaring the first two holes, darkness made it impossible to split the two and so they will continue the sudden death format next Wednesday to see who will get their name on the honour board.

It was nice to see the repair to the bunkers on the practice area. Students have been patiently waiting for that to be done and now they are back working on that part of their games as per usual.

Until next time, Good golfing.

Mr Tom Berndt 

Director of Golf

tom.berndt@hills.qld.edu.au

And just like that the holidays are upon us again from next week. Hope everyone has had an enjoyable term and are looking forward to some downtime during the holidays. 

There is still a lot happening behind the scenes with the P & F, so here is the latest news.

MOTHER'S DAY STALL

The numbers have come in and the 2023 Mother's Day Stall raised a profit of $1,684. We would like to thank everyone that helped put this together, and of course our families and students for participating in the stall to help us raise funds for the school.

WORKING BEE

After the generous donation of new shelving we recently received from Mitre 10, some parents will be meeting on Friday 16 June at 9am to take down the old shelving, put up the new shelving and stock our assets on them, as well as sorting through stock items we have in various spaces to be consolidated in one area and easy to access. If anyone is able to help on the day to help this job as quickly and easy as possible, please let us know, we'd greatly appreciate it. Many hands make light work they say!

FATHER'S DAY STALL

Before we know it, Father's Day will be upon us to please keep an eye out in Term 3 for updates on being involved in the Father's Day Stall

RODEO

There was a recent meeting with the Rodeo organisers and it is looking more and more likely that a Rodeo will be happening in 2023, either in September or November. The P & F will run the bar at the Rodeo which has always been an amazing fundraiser for us, but we cannot do it without your help. We generally need 25-30 helpers to make this event successful. Help can come in many forms. You could be part of the sub-committee that is planning the hire of equipment, planning and purchasing of products etc, or you can help in the preparation and on the night. We try to keep these to approximately 4 hours and can be either on the register or just getting the drinks from the fridge, there is a job for everyone. Please let us know if you would be keen to help with this event so we can start planning.

HAVE YOU JOINED THE FACEBOOK GROUP?

To keep up to date with all the P & F news and information, please join The Hills P&F Community Facebook group or email any queries or feedback to president@hillspf.com.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the holidays!

Lacey Easter

President

0414 702 495