This week it is with great pride that I showcase the many events that have taken place within our community and share with you our wonderful agentic learners, students whose actions are motivated by the heart and with clear purpose.
Please enjoy!
Matthew Noel
Head of Primary/Deputy Principal
matt.noel@hills.qld.edu.au
Afternoon pick-up procedures
Commencing on Monday 5 August, we kindly ask that families of Year 5-12 students not wait in the Primary Pickup area for their children, even if they are picking up children from Years P-4. This is to reduce the congestion and traffic in the primary pickup area, which is causing safety and efficiency issues for the school community.
Parents may have their children from P-4 walk over to the area in front of C Block and await collection by an older sibling. From here, the children can walk down to the Year 5-12 pickup area together. Currently, this is the fastest option and will encourage independence in younger children in a safe setting.
Alternatively, parents of Year 5-12 students who have already picked up from primary are asked to move and park in the Year 5-12 area, which is located on the opposite side of the school. There is more parking space available in this area, and it is easier to access from the main road. There will be no noticeable delay in getting to this carpark from the primary pickup area.
Parents who arrive at the Primary Pickup zone after the final bell (3:25 pm) will be able to pick up any students from this space. The intent of this change is to prevent parents from waiting in the Primary pick-up zone for unduly long periods of time.
We understand that this may cause some inconvenience for some families, especially those who have children in both primary and secondary years. However, we believe that this policy will benefit the whole school community by improving the safety, order, and flow of the pickup process. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this matter, and we hope that you will support us in implementing this change.
Finally, I send an important plea for our families, who park in the parent park zone, to use the pedestrian crossing. Your safety is paramount, and I cannot underestimate the importance of this role modelling to your child about road safety.
Doing the L.A.W.S.
One of the areas that makes Hills great is a deep understanding of the College values, which act like pillars to solidify expected norms and expectations. All of the students are bound by a Code of Conduct, and central to this is our College L.A.W.S.
Our L.A.W.S, Living with Compassion, Acting with Integrity, Working with Diligence, and Striving for Success now form part of the common language staff use to guide expected behaviour. The simple phrase, 'Are you doing the L.A.W.S?', can encourage our students to reflect on their actions and redirect them in upholding the expected values.
I was hugely proud to have Abigail Vang and Isla Loveridge recently visit my office during a Captain's Meeting. Both the girls were awarded L.A.W.S bands for exceptional conduct. Both girls articulated why they had received a band, using examples like I received a diligence band as I tried hard and did not give up, or I received an Integrity band for keeping my area tidy and not being asked to.
Well done girls and congratulations to all of our students who uphold the expectations to Do the L.A.W.S.
Student Action
My name is Kiahna Manning, and I am researching “Elephant Existence” as my Year 6, PYP Exhibition topic.
Did you know that elephants are a keystone species and play an extremely important role in ensuring a rich biodiversity exists within their habitats?
Unfortunately, Earth’s extraordinary elephants are threatened every day by the actions of humans. Poached for their skin or tusks, forced to live in smaller and smaller habitats, due to deforestation, and being exploited for human entertainment, are just some of the terrible threats these magnificent creatures are exposed to every day.
Education is key, and I am hoping to educate our Hills College community by bringing awareness to ‘World Elephant Day’ on 12 August 2024. In Week 5, I will be displaying my posters around the Primary area of Hills to bring the plight of our world’s elephants into the spotlight.
These ancient creatures have existed on our planet for over 55 million years. We must all be aware of our actions and support conservation projects and sanctuaries, that create safe havens for our elephants. Without elephants, our planet would not be complete.
To the parents of Hills College, next time you are enjoying your morning cup of tea or coffee, please make sure it is sourced from sustainable plantations and is ‘Elephant Friendly!’
Kiahna Manning
Year 6 Student
In The Spotlight with 4A
Well, to say that Term 3 has started with a bang in 4A, would be an understatement. It's hard to believe that we are only four weeks in when I think of all the amazing things that we have got up to in Year 4 already!
We have consolidated our learning of The First Fleet and the European's arrival in Australia by creating interactive timelines. We have swiftly moved into our 4th Unit of Inquiry (and Miss Clark's all-time favourite) for the year, ‘Sharing the Planet’, where we will be inquiring into life cycles, food webs, and the interdependence of organisms in nature. We are very excited to be attending an excursion to the wonderful Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to support our learning in this unit.
With the Olympics kicking off this week we were fortunate enough to have an Olympian Triathlete, Kira Hedgeland, visit us here at Hills and talk to our class along with the rest of the Year 4 to 6 students. It was a fascinating insight into the focus and discipline it requires to become an Olympian and has inspired many of the class to strive for success to reach their goals!
Beyond the learning we are doing in the classroom, one of our most memorable events from these last few weeks, has been our Year 4 camp to PGL Kindilan in Redland Bay. With it being many of our friends’ first overnight experiences, it was wonderful to see this amazing group of students support and encourage each other and made me realise just how lucky I am to be able to spend this year with them!
Ms Clark
4A Teacher
Year 3 Camp
It gives us great pleasure to share the highlights from our fantastic Year 3 Camp Day, held last Friday! The students had a remarkable time immersing themselves in nature, learning new skills, and building lasting friendships. Here’s a glimpse into their adventure:
1. Climbing: Our young explorers kicked off the day with a thrilling rock wall climb. Armed with harnesses and enthusiasm, they ventured up the steep wall, discovering newfound courage and strength.
2. Sensory Walk: Next up were the team-building exercises. The children participated in a challenge that required cooperation, communication, and problem-solving. Children had to place goggles on that were blacked out. The group then had to manoeuvre through an obstacle course without using their sense of sight. They demonstrated incredible teamwork skills and perseverance.
3. Bush Craft: In the afternoon, students expressed their creativity by creating a safe structure to shelter from an upcoming storm. We learned that we could survive three weeks without food, three days without water, three hours without shelter, and three minutes without oxygen. They designed their own shelters using natural materials, and their creativity was truly impressive. After completion of their shelters, a natural disaster occurred disguised as a hose, to test how waterproof their construction. Quite a few screams could be heard as some water trickled through!
The Year 3 Camp was awesome!
Mrs Kristie Macpherson and Mrs Paula McKenzie
Year 3 Teachers
Year 4 Camp
Early this term, the Year 4 students had their first overnight school camp experience. We journeyed by bus to PGL Kindilan Adventure Camp in Redland Bay to take part in a variety of activities to develop teamwork, resilience, and to challenge their comfort zones.
The students took to the heights in both the Leap of Faith and Crate Stack activities, where they pushed themselves to climb higher and be reliable teammates. By the end of both activities, we were all pros at working the harnesses and shouting “Ready to climb!”
Everyone’s competitive sides came out in canoeing – in trying to catch as many (toy) ducks as possible and tagging other teams with our paddles. There were are few canoes going in not quite the right direction and many smiles, despite being tired and very cold on the water!
The night activity, ‘Passports of the World’, definitely challenged the students’ teamwork and resilience. Each group was given a map and a country’s flag to find. This was far more difficult than it sounded – with the dark, having to work by torchlight, and disagreements about which way to go all making the task more challenging.
Students also had the opportunity to take part in various activities that worked to develop their listening and respectful communication skills in ‘Team Challenges’. Each task was designed to challenge their cooperation in different ways. It was wonderful to see so many varying ideas to tackle each challenge whilst also working together to reach a shared goal.
The food was a clear winner with pancakes for breakfast being the front runner for best meal, closely followed by the burgers and the impressive salad bar.
The students showed impressive willingness to push themselves and enthusiasm for all the camp activities. They came home tired and definitely ready for a good sleep. Well done, Year 4!
Miss Tomlin and Ms Clark
Year 4 Teachers
Captains Captions
The Primary Captains pay our respect to the wonderful work of students who are “doing the L.AW.S.” This week we were able to present our Captains Award to Scarlett Macklin in Prep A. Scarlett embodies the Hills values by being caring, inclusive, and using sharing skills. Well done, Scarlett.
We send a big shout-out to Abigail, Isla, Elsie, and Tarik for their achievement of the L.A.W.S bands. These students excel in doing the LAWS!
We have loved drumming up support for the Slime challenge and cannot wait for our teachers to get slimed on Monday in the quad. Mr Robinson, Mrs Clark, Ms Henry, Miss Parer, Mrs Elvish, Miss Coulter, Miss Dempsey and Mrs Newbery, thank you for being our first round and being amazing sports to support our school.
The Primary Captains