Hills Times - 2025 - Term 2 - Edition 7

We are now getting into the swing of the term; with long weekends behind us it is the chance to build some academic routines that will help our students to navigate the rest of Term 2. There have been so many events recently and so many coming up, and it has been enjoyable to watch the positive interactions between older and younger students at many of these events.

Congratulations to Mr Noel

We received the wonderful news that Mr Matthew Noel, Head of Primary, has been nominated for Primary Principal of the Year for 2024. This nomination sees Matt now attend the final of the Australian Education Awards in Sydney in June. This is a great achievement for Mr Noel and Hills, and is a testimony to the wonderful work that he is doing in the Primary School.

Staffing Update

A warm welcome to Mrs Bev Atkinson who has joined us as a teacher aide in the Primary School. This is a new appointment to support the staff and students in the Primary. Mrs Atkinson is experienced in working with Primary aged students and we hope that she enjoys her time at Hills.

Mrs Chantelle Thompson will be going on Parental Leave in August. We wish Mrs Thompson a happy and healthy pregnancy. We will be advertising for a contract teacher to replace her.

Mrs Nardine Roberts will be taking some well-deserved Long Service Leave from Term 3, and we wish her safe travels. We have advertised for Mrs Roberts’ replacement.

Mrs Grace Ogoti will be on Long Service Leave in Term 3. and we will advertise internally for an acting Head of Year.

STEAM Centre Stage 1

The project has not progressed very far over the last few weeks with incessant rain, issues with rock slowing down excavation and public holidays pushing our schedule back. I was hoping to be able to share some photos of real progress, but it is not to be. Hopefully we can be officially out of the ground by the time I write the next edition.

Prep Interviews 2026

We have been overwhelmed by the interest in Hills and are busily conducting Prep interviews for 2026 enrolments.

It has been delightful to take a few minutes to meet each child and parents at the conclusion of their interview.

P and F Mother’s Day Stall

A huge thank you to Kristy Marcus and her team of volunteers who did such a brilliant job running the Mother’s Day stall this week. The stall was a huge success, and it was lovely to see so many of our students purchasing gifts for their Mums.

Thank you also to the P and F for their successful Mother’s Day raffle which was drawn at Primary assembly last Friday.

P and F Executive Meeting

The P and F Executive Committee meeting was held last Tuesday, and the P and F are looking forward to their major fundraising event which is coming up in June. The rodeo is an enormous undertaking for the P and F and they are always looking for volunteers who can donate some time to assist with the fundraising events that they have planned.

Day For Dolly/Kindness Day

Last Friday saw a very successful Kindness Day. Activities ranged from a giant butterfly chalk drawing to kindness quotes and affirmations being displayed. The Year 12 students and Mrs Parer are to be congratulated for such a wonderful initiative. It was an uplifting day to see so many students wearing blue to support Dolly’s Dream.

I am always so humbled when I see our students modelling kindness to one another, not because they want to achieve awards, but because they are in a safe and secure environment where kindness is valued and respected.

Upcoming Athletics Carnivals

Excitement is building as our Athletics carnivals are now under 3 weeks away. They promise to be wonderful days of competition and skill development.

Year 10 Subject Information Session

Our Year 10 students commenced their subject information sessions this week. Heads of Faculty will be presenting subject-specific information to assist our Year 10 students with their SET planning and subject selection process.

This is a very worthwhile exercise as it gives our Year 10 students information about all the Year 11 subjects on offer. Thanks to the Heads of Faculty for their presentations and to Mrs Comerford for her organisation.

Upcoming Year 6 Canberra Trip

The Canberra trip is now under two weeks away and I am confident that our Year 6 students will have an amazing time visiting our national capital. There is so much curriculum in context learning to be gained from a visit to Canberra.

Prep Mother’s Day Activities

I enjoyed my visit to Prep on Friday morning where our Prep staff and students welcomed a huge number of Mums to the school. There were all sorts of wonderful activities designed to make Mums feel that little bit special. The morning was a great success!

I also want to congratulate our Year 11 students who did an absolutely brilliant job in assisting with the activities. Their connection to the younger students and parents was brilliant to see and they demonstrated our College’s values in action.

English Ambassadors Spelling Bee

The Hills inaugural Spelling Bee commences on Friday with Year 7 and Year 8 students battling it out to see who our champion speller will be. This is a wonderful student-driven initiative by the English Ambassadors.

The rich fabric of life@Hills has certainly been evident recently with so many great cultural, leadership, sporting and service activities available for our students to be involved with.

Upcoming Calendar Events

Term 2 Week 5

Tuesday 20 May - Year 6 Canberra Excursion until Friday 23 May

Rivers District Basketball - Years 10 and 11

Wednesday 21 May - HIA secondary Cross Country-Mt Tamborine

Friday 23 May - Hills Spelling Bee

Term 2 Week 6

Wednesday 28 May - Prep and Year 1 Athletics Carnival - Rotunda Oval

Thursday 29 May - Life Education; Yrs 2, 3 and Yr 4 9 Yrs Athletics Carnival at Jimboomba Little Athletics

Friday 30 May - 10 Years + Athletics Carnival at Jimboomba Little Athletics; Life Education; Hills Spelling Bee

Welcome to your next edition of the Hills Times.

In this edition, I want to share the joy in meeting our new and existing families during the Prep 2026 interviews. I commend the work of Mrs Mandy Comerford and Jodie Giliam throughout the interview process. In total 80 students and families were interviewed, with 55% existing families and 6% past students. What amazing figures!

I also want to extend a warm welcome to our new students and families for Term 2, Evanthyia in 1C and Zeeshan in 4 B. We warmly welcome you, and it is great to hear that you are settling in so beautifully.

Also in this edition, I want to focus on kindness and the importance this act plays in developing emotionally intelligent and resilient students.

At Hills, one of our core values is Live with compassion—a guiding principle that helps shape not only the culture of our classrooms but also the character of our students. Compassion is more than empathy; it’s kindness in action. Each day, we are privileged to witness countless moments, both big and small, that reflect the caring spirit of our students and the vibrant, respectful community we strive to cultivate.

Kindness often shows itself in the simplest of gestures—like when Clarke recently noticed Mr Noel trip on the stairs and didn’t hesitate to check in with concern, asking, “Can I get Ms Schreurs for you?” A moment like this may seem brief, but it speaks volumes about the values Clarke, a Hills kid, holds and the environment that fosters such consideration.

These actions reflect something powerful—when students choose to be kind, they experience the intrinsic rewards of compassion. Kindness fosters connection, boosts self-worth, and builds emotional intelligence. Students often feel a sense of joy and purpose simply by making someone else's day a little brighter. It’s an internal reward that nurtures self-confidence and emotional wellbeing—outcomes we value just as highly as academic growth.

Parents play a vital role in cultivating kindness. By modelling empathy, speaking positively about others, and encouraging thoughtful actions, families reinforce the message that compassion is both valued and expected. Conversations around the dinner table about “What kind of thing did you do today?” or “How did you help someone?” invite children to reflect and grow.

Celebrating the little moments—whether it’s a shared toy, a helping hand, or a kind word—helps children internalise the joy of giving. Recognising and affirming kind behaviour with praise, such as “That was thoughtful of you” or “I’m proud of how you looked after your friend,” makes a lasting impact. When kindness becomes part of the family culture, children are more likely to carry these values with them into the world.

The reward? A child who not only contributes to a kinder community but also grows into a confident, emotionally intelligent, and resilient individual.

As the old saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” At Hills, we believe that the partnership between families and the College is key to nurturing students who are not only capable learners but also compassionate citizens. When we model kindness and celebrate it together—at school, at home, and in the wider community—our children flourish.

I hope you found this insightful!

I will be off campus during Week 5, accompanying our Year 6 students on their annual excursion to Canberra. This experience is a valuable opportunity for them to grow socially and emotionally while deepening their understanding of civics and citizenship. I’m confident they will embrace the challenge and make the most of every moment. Best of luck, Year 6 – we’re proud of you!

Mr Matthew Noel
Head of Primary

matt.noel@hills.qld.edu.au

Student Action Scrap it for Skye

It is with great pride that I share a wonderful example of student initiative and compassion, demonstrated by Matita Schroeder from 5A. Matita recently shared with me the inspiration behind her thoughtful action and the positive change she hopes to see in our College community.

What inspired you to take action?

“The thing that inspired me to take action was when I heard that Skye was sick from some rubbish at school. When I heard that news, I was very upset and realised that Skye was the only therapy dog that didn’t have a poster yet. So I thought, why not make a poster for Skye?”

What do you hope to achieve from this action?

“I hope that this encourages more students to pick up their rubbish—and any other rubbish they see around them.”

Well done, Matita! Your actions reflect the heart of our College values. By showing compassion, taking initiative, and caring for the wellbeing of others (including our much-loved therapy dogs), your initiative reminds us all of the power of student agency in creating a more thoughtful and responsible school environment.

Thank you for reminding us all that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference to the people—and animals—around us.

In the spotlight with Prep A

We’re off to a fantastic start in our Unit of Inquiry this term as we explore our new Central Idea: Plants and animals have special features.

To kick off our learning, we’ve been closely observing a variety of living things—talking about what makes them unique and why those features might be important. From spiky cactus leaves to the webbed feet of ducks, we’re already uncovering how nature equips living things to thrive in their environments!

One of the highlights so far has been our veterinary surgery play corner. The students have loved stepping into the roles of vets and pet owners—checking temperatures, applying bandages, and using toy stethoscopes to care for our animal patients. It’s been a fun and meaningful way to connect imaginative play to our growing understanding of living things.
We’ve also started sorting and classifying animals and plants based on their features, and asking big questions like: “Why do some animals look alike?” and “How do certain features help living things survive?”

If you happen to have any fascinating finds at home—like insect specimens, feathers, seed pods, or even snake skins—we’d love for you to send them in to enrich our learning.
We’re excited to keep exploring the incredible diversity of life around us. Stay tuned as we continue to discover how every creature is specially designed to live and grow in its world!

Mrs Johnson, Mrs Elvish and Prep A

Premiers Reading Challenge

Premier’s Reading Challenge is Underway!

We are thrilled to have kicked off the Premier’s Reading Challenge in our Primary School last week! Each student received a Reading Record form to take home, encouraging them to track the wonderful books they read throughout the challenge. It’s been heartening to see such enthusiasm for reading across all year levels.

During the week, students attended Skye’s Book Club in the library, where we read the much-loved story Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems. The persuasive antics of the pigeon had everyone in stitches, sparking lots of laughter and discussion about persuasion and storytelling.

We also celebrated the first submissions for our Got Caught Reading wall. Students have begun sharing photos and moments when they’ve been caught deeply engaged in a book, helping to promote a joyful and vibrant reading culture throughout our school.

To round off the week, our amazing Year 5 volunteers tallied the results of the Class Reading Challenge. It was a tight race, but 6B came out on top, having read a total of 15 chapters! Their efforts were rewarded with icy Zooper Doopers delivered just in time for lunch by Mr Noel and Mr Ablitt. Congratulations, 6B!

We are so proud of the reading culture growing within our school and look forward to seeing even more students and classes engage with the challenge in the weeks ahead.

Important Dates to Remember:

Tuesdays and Thursdays – Skye’s Book Club
Students in Years 1–3 are invited to visit the library at morning tea for shared stories and reading fun with Skye.

Wednesday 15 May – Reading Check-In (Years 1–6)
Students can bring their Reading Record forms to the library during break time to check in with Mrs Hansell and receive a special reward for their efforts.

Sunday 19 May – Prep Reading Checkpoint

Mrs Rosevear and Skye will visit the Prep students to check their Reading Record form and deliver a small reward to celebrate their reading progress.

Mrs Rosevear

Inclusive Education

Why Every Day Counts: The Importance of School Attendance

At Hills International College, we know you want the best for your children – both academically and emotionally. One of the most powerful ways to support your child’s success at school and in life is something quite simple: regular school attendance.

While occasional absences are sometimes unavoidable, patterns of frequent or prolonged time away from school – even when well-intentioned – can have lasting effects on a child’s development. This includes mental health-related absences, which have understandably increased in recent years. However, the evidence is clear: consistent school attendance is a protective factor, not a risk factor.

What the Research Tells Us
According to the Australian Government’s Department of Education, students who miss more than 10% of school – that’s just one day every two weeks – are at risk of falling behind academically and socially. That equates to four weeks of lost learning each year.

In fact:

Students with poor attendance are up to 20% less likely to meet national benchmarks in reading and numeracy (ACARA, 2022).
Children who attend school regularly are more likely to complete Year 12, enter post-school education or employment, and report higher wellbeing in adulthood (Productivity Commission, 2023).
Regular school attendance is linked to better mental health outcomes, as school provides structure, social connection, and a sense of purpose.

Mental Health and the School Environment
We acknowledge that for some students, anxiety or other mental health challenges make school attendance difficult. However, staying home regularly can unintentionally reinforce avoidance behaviours, making it harder for students to build the resilience and independence they’ll need throughout life.

Psychologist Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg notes:
“School is often the best place for anxious children. With the right support, being in the classroom helps them face their fears, gain confidence, and develop coping strategies. Avoidance only prolongs the problem.”

At Hills, we are committed to working closely with you to provide tailored support for students facing challenges – whether through our wellbeing team, school counsellor, or flexible learning strategies. The goal is always to keep students connected and learning in a safe and supportive environment.

The Social and Emotional Impact
Friendships, routines, and the ability to work through challenges with peers and teachers are built through day-to-day attendance. When students are frequently absent, they can feel isolated or left behind socially – and that can quickly lead to further disengagement.

Attending school daily helps children:

Strengthen resilience through daily routines and overcoming obstacles
Build independence and confidence
Stay socially and emotionally connected with their peers
Develop life-long learning habits that prepare them for success beyond the classroom

Let’s Work Together!

We encourage parents and carers to:

Prioritise attendance as much as possible – even on “low energy” days
Communicate early with the school if your child is struggling
Avoid unnecessary absences (like days off for birthdays, shopping, or minor illnesses)
Collaborate with us to create return-to-school plans if attendance is becoming a concern

Your child’s future is built one school day at a time. Let’s make every day count.

Mobile Phone and Keys: Reminder

A reminder to all students and families that mobile phones must be signed in each morning outside Mr Pope's office before the start of the school day.

Students who do not follow this procedure will have their phones confiscated:

First offence: Phone held for one school day.
Second offence (and any further breaches): Phone held for five school days.

Please note: Most students do not require a mobile phone at school for any educational or practical purpose during the day. All essential communication with families can be made through the school office.

Students who drive must have a signed 'permission to drive' form, and must also hand in their keys in the same place. Students found to not have done so may have their on-campus driving privilege revoked.

Gem Show

The Mt Gravatt Lapidary Society is all about rock/crystal hunting, cutting, and jewellery-making, and have a show every year where they open their clubhouse to demonstrate what they do and sell some of their work.

This year, they will also have 30-40 third-party vendors selling rocks/crystals specimens and jewellery for MUCH cheaper than any branded shop.

It's worth coming along just to see the specimens. There will be pieces that you wouldn't think were possible for nature to create. There's some pretty crazy stuff!

Mr Pope (the younger) will be on site until midday on Saturday 24 May if you would like a little tour or a chat.

You can put Mt Gravatt Lapidary Society into your maps and it will take you straight there. The space is sheltered from most the hustle and bustle of the surrounds, with easy parking there or at Hibiscus Sports Stadium. There's also tons of food options nearby.

🌟 Get Involved! Hills Student Activities – Something for Everyone!

At Hills, there's no shortage of exciting ways to get involved, make new friends, and grow your passions! Whether you're a budding musician, future leader, creative writer, sports enthusiast, tech whiz, or just keen to try something new – we've got something for you. Here's a sneak peek at what’s on offer across the College:

🎓 Leadership & Student Voice

Step up and make a difference! Join the Student Voice, Prefect and Captain roles, House Captains, English Ambassadors, or STEM Ambassadors to lead and inspire. Primary leaders also shine through Primary Captains and student representation.

🎶 The Arts Are Alive!

From Drum Circles and Gamelan to Choirs, Bands, and Instrumental Music, there’s music in the air every week. Love to dance? Our Early, Upper Primary, Development, and Elite Dance Teams bring rhythm and fun, with something for every experience level.

🎨 Or try your hand at Star Weaving, join the Art Production Crew, or get behind the scenes in the Art Band.

💡 Tech & Creativity

Build, code, imagine! Explore lunchtime fun in the Design Hub (P-6) or join the Wednesday Robotics sessions. Dive into Creative Writing, Adventure Role-Playing Games, or even E-Sports!

🧠 Study & Support

Need a little extra help or want to extend your learning? Visit Careers Corner, get ahead in the Maths or English Zones, or try International Study Help. Senior students can also join SAT Prep or Cert. II Cookery.

⚽ Get Active with Sport!

Get moving with Soccer, NetSetGo, Volleyball, Martial Arts, and even Golf @ Hills. Don’t miss Ultimate Disc or in-school Netball and Dance on Wednesdays. There's a sport for every style and energy level!

📚 Wednesday Wonders

Our Wednesday afternoon program is bursting with variety: from Primary Reading & Service, to Hills Times Reporting, DEAR, Volleyball, and Art Production, it's your chance to dive deep into what you love.

🤝 Community, Connection & Culture

Help lead change with the Compassion Crew, support peers in the Gender Sexuality Alliance, or celebrate diversity in the Culture Club. It’s all about inclusion, support, and student-led passion projects.

🎉 Ready to Join In?

With activities across all year levels (P-12), many at no cost, there’s never been a better time to get involved. Check the full schedule on the student portal, and bring your friends along for the journey!

Be brave. Be curious. Be involved. 💫

Handball Tournament

The Term 2 Gold Coast Handball Tournament is on Sunday 8 June, at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, 296 Nerang Broadbeach Road, Carrara 4211 from 2:30pm - 4:00pm.

Gold Coast School Handball Competition

Sunday 8 June

50+ Schools invited

50+ Trophies, medals, hats and balls

$25 +GST

www.handballaustralia.com.au

Welcome Mrs Atkinson

We are delighted to introduce and warmly welcome Mrs Beverley Atkinson to the Hills community as our new Teacher Aide: Student Support.

Mrs Atkinson joins us from another Independent School and brings with her a wealth of experience and a strong passion for supporting student learning and wellbeing. With many years of working closely with students across a variety of settings, she is already making a positive impact in classrooms and small group environments.

Please say hello and introduce yourself if you see Mrs Atkinson around the College. We know you will join us in making her feel welcome as she begins her journey with us here at Hills.

Supporting Our EAL/D Learners at Hills

At Hills, we are proud of our diverse community and are committed to supporting every student to thrive. Among our learners are students for whom English is an additional language or dialect (EAL/D), and we have systems in place to ensure they are given every opportunity to succeed both academically and socially.

How We Track Progress
This term, our Primary EAL/D students are being assessed using the Bandscales for EAL/D Learners—a specialised tool that helps teachers identify a student’s English language proficiency across four key areas:

- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading and Viewing
- Writing

These assessments are observational rather than formal tests, based on classroom work, student conversations, and teacher insight. This approach gives us a rich picture of how each student is progressing and where support may be needed.

Why It Matters
The information gathered through the Bandscales allows teachers to:

- Identify students who may benefit from additional language support
- Monitor each learner’s growth over time
- Inform planning and differentiated instruction
- Report to families with accuracy and clarity

How We Provide Support
Students identified as needing extra assistance may receive:

- In-class support from our EAL/D teachers or aides
- Targeted small-group instruction
- Differentiated learning experiences tailored to their needs
- Support with academic vocabulary and language structures across subjects

Our EAL/D team works closely with classroom teachers to ensure that strategies are integrated into daily teaching and learning. At Hills, we also celebrate the cultural and linguistic richness our EAL/D learners bring, recognising their strengths as part of our vibrant school community.

If you have any questions about your child’s English language development or the EAL/D program at Hills, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

Kind regards,

Mrs Tracy Ashbridge

Head of Inclusive Education

Challenges of an international student...

In this edition of the Hills Times, I would like to highlight our amazing international students. When you are a young person in a new school, in a new country, immersed in a new culture, learning in your second or third language, life can be difficult at first!

In the first month or so, life as an international student can be overwhelming. All classroom talk can be heard as white noise; it takes some time to discern the key messages and to 'tune in' to English. However, with patience, effort and the support of those around them, our international students are able to face these challenges head on. I would like to highlight some of our amazing international students (more students will be featured in following Hills Times!)

Year 12 international students

This year, we have two international students; Bryan Heng and Danny Lin. Danny started at Hills in Year 9, and Bryan joined us in Year 10. Both boys' English was assessed prior to enrolment, and they were able to join mainstream classes on arrival.

Bryan comes from Singapore, and is a member of our Golf@Hills program. He is able to balance his senior studies with golf, and has successfully passed his assessment to date. Bryan is also a very talented musician, receiving an A in both Music and Music Extension.

Danny's home is Indonesia. He is also one of our top golfing students, training at Beaudesert Golf Club as part of the Golf@Hills program. Danny is a great all-round student, and was elected a prefect for 2025.

Watch this space for news about these boys representing Hills at the upcoming Jakarta World Junior Golf Championships, along with Year 10 golfer Keeratikorn Sakdikornthanasiri.

Student Success!

Year 11 international student Pan Pan was congratulated on our Facebook and Instagram pages this week...have a look! Well done, Pan Pan!