Mary Street, NORTHMEAD, 2152

Phone: 9639 8448 email: thehills-s.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.thehills-s.school.nsw.edu.au

Principal and Deputy Principal’s Report

TUESDAY 10 April

PLUS Meeting

FRIDAY 13 April

LAST DAY OF TERM 1

WEDNESDAY 25 April

ANZAC DAY

TUESDAY 1st May

FIRST DAY OF TERM 2 (for students)

THURSDAY 17 May

VACCINATION CLINIC

MONDAY 28 May

P&C MEETING

TUESDAY 29 May

PRINCIPAL’S AWARD ASSEMBLY

Newsletter No.3

6 April 2018

The AGM for our school P&C was held recently. Congratulations to the following people, Michelle Gough (President), Jenny

Harris (Treasurer), Marjie Capple (Secretary) and Joanne O’Gorman (Canteen and Uniform Shop Manager) and Monique

Fenech (Parent Representative) on their appointment to their P&C roles. The P&C plays an incredibly important role in the

life of our school. Many significant events and initiatives throughout the year take place as a direct result of the

organisation and vision of the P&C. In addition to this, the P&C run a number of school buses as part of the Assisted School

Travel Program and generously allow students and staff to use the buses during the school day. Further, the P&C assist in

building and supporting community here at The Hills School. Thanks to everyone who is involved in the P&C. We greatly

appreciate your time, expertise, enthusiasm and your contribution.

Classes from around the school have been celebrating with special Easter Activities. Bura and Gura classes enjoyed great

weather while they rotated through an assortment of activities. Some of the hands-on activities students enjoyed included

an egg hunt, an egg and spoon race, biscuit decorating and marbling. Nura and Yura classes enjoyed a wonderful, sun-

drenched day at the Royal Easter Show, enjoying all the fantastic sights, colour and excitement that the show has to offer.

Congratulations to all the students on your exemplary manners, cooperation and enthusiastic participation in all of our

various Easter activities.

All students were able to enjoy and participate in African inspired drumming for Harmony Day. This is always a fantastic

occasion in our school year, with a high degree of both student and staff participation. There was plenty of opportunity for

students to use the drums, dance and to move to the unique rhythm created by the drums. Teachers used the opportunity

of Harmony Day and the occasion of The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence to help remind and teach

students how to get along with and how to work with others. Staff use the principles of Friendship, Safety and Learning,

which are taught through our PBL framework, to help students develop their understanding.

As this is the final newsletter of the term, we would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday break. The teachers,

SLSOs and office staff thank you for your support this term as we work together to assist students to learn and grow.

Peter Gurrier-Jones Neale Rudland Principal Deputy Principal

Gura WC Wanda Chan (Teacher) Alex Armstrong (SLSO)

It has been a productive term for students of Gura WC in all Key Learning Areas. Our class focus is on self-management; to

be well, feel great, be motivated and to take responsibility. I would like to congratulate all the students for trying very hard to

achieve their personal best and for being happy learners.

• Netra is making progress with her mobility around the school,

• Siara is enjoying food at mealtimes,

• Brady is a star in singing the Australian Anthem,

• Max assists with watering at the school farm,

• Matthew is a canteen helper, delivering lunch to all classes

After a busy day, relaxation is important and we all enjoy our turn on the rolling ball and in the hammock.

Gura DT Dean Triffitt (Teacher) Leanne Armstrong & Eunice Yap (SLSOs)

Gura DT has transitioned well into 2018. Zach, Riley, Kelly, Farzad, Katelyn and Nathan make up this beautiful class, where we

have so much fun and get ourselves into mischief. We enjoy making a big mess when we cook and create art. We really

enjoy making and creating things. People have let us know that they love our famous thickshakes and marvel at our artistic

creations. We apologise to neighbouring classrooms for making loud noises while having fun reading and making music.

Gura DT have been enjoying using our new multi-touch, interactive panels. Students have been engaging in a variety of

activities using this great technology including cause-and-effect activities that support the development of our fine motor

skills. Leanne, Eunice and I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful class of students.

Nura AP Andrew Petersen (Teacher) Glenn Hall (SLSO)

Zane, Aayan, Connor, Joshua and Sahan have settled into the new year and are enjoying participating in all our regular

programs. Our class this year has a strong focus on environmental education, including taking plastic bottles and aluminium

cans to be recycled at the Return and Earn depot at Norwest. We are also collecting compost and cardboard boxes from

Dinner on the Table at Baulkham Hills. The boys are also responsible for looking after the paper and cardboard recycling

within the school.

Nura PD Peter Dawson (Teacher) Daniel Van Kruyssen & Matt Aguirre (SLSOs)

It has been a positive start to the year. We would like to welcome our new student Paul to The Hills School. The other

students in Nura PD are Rhun, Stephen and Aaron. This year has been filled with many different engaging activities, which

include, cooking, reading, bike riding, painting, craft and exploratory play. We celebrated Stephens’ birthday at the start of

March. In Term 2, we will be starting work enterprises and there are many other exciting learning opportunities planned for

the future.

Nura DK David Thomas & Katie Groth (Teachers) Merryn White & Coral Boyle (SLSOs)

Our class had a fabulous day at Sydney Royal Easter Show along with several other senior classes from The Hills School. We

visited several exhibitions, which offered demonstrations and hands-on activities for our students to learn about agriculture

and the importance it plays in society. The highlights for us were watching sheep dogs help farmers with sheep, collecting

products in a ‘Paddock to Market’ exhibition and feeding baby animals.

Nura PH Paul Hughes (Teacher) Melissa O’Brien (SLSO)

The students in Nura PH have begun the year with great enthusiasm and focus. On the 19th March, Angela, Sarah, Maya,

Kyle, Matthew, Daniel and Lee celebrated the 86th Anniversary of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge by walking

across the bridge and negotiating the 400 steps to climb and descend the bridge pylon. Students were fortunate to have

perfect weather to enjoy the 360° city and harbour views.

As a school community, we are thrilled to see that Peter was recently named as a ‘Teaching Fellow’ in the 2018 Schools Plus -

Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards. This is an extremely prestigious award that is presented to just 12 educators,

nation-wide, following a very rigorous selection process. This award is a significant achievement and helps to highlight and

recognise the many wonderful things taking place at The Hills School under Peter’s leadership. A big congratulations to Peter,

to the students, the staff and to all our families for the important role you all play in contributing to learning and to the life of

our school. Our school banner statement is ‘We Love Learning’. We all truly embody this statement each and every day.

Peter’s award also provides a wonderful opportunity to share with many others, right across the country about our wonderful

students, their learning and the brilliant contribution they make. Please find an insert in the newsletter of the press release

that announced Peter as a 2018 Teaching Fellow. Congratulations to Peter and to the wider Hills School community.

Neale Rudland

P&C News

to the following students from all your friends at

The Hills School: Kelly, Netra, Luke, Aidan,

Ciara, Olivia & Katelyn

Thank you to everyone who supported The Comedy

for a Cause Fundraiser. There were many laughs

and the end result was fantastic – approx. $5600

raised for the Kitchen Garden Project.

Special thanks to Andrew Petersen for all his

preparations that made the night run so smoothly.

It was also a wonderful opportunity for the Hills

School Work Enterprises to showcase their goods.

Thank you to The Hills School Staff for their

support.

A huge thank you to those businesses who donated

prizes for the raffle - Fitness Embassy, Natural

Balance, Mumma Julz and Hair by Rebecca Lawson.

A note about Mother's Day gift bags and morning

tea will be sent home soon and the next Bunning's

BBQ is at North Parramatta on June 11th.

The AGM was held on March 26th, Marjie, Jenny, Jo,

Monique and myself look forward to working

together again to support the school community.

We hope everyone had a peaceful Easter break.

Michelle Gough Jenny Harris Marjie Capple

President Treasurer Secretary

Soon… Due to the large numbers of students at The Hills School at

risk of severe complications from influenza and influenza like

illnesses, we ask for the co-operation of parents and carers

as we head into winter. Students with a slight runny nose are

often well enough to attend, unless other symptoms are

present such as fever, sore throat, cough, rash or headache.

Symptoms of influenza include sudden onset fever, runny

nose, sore throat, cough, muscle aches and headaches.

Students need to be kept home from school until well. We ask

that parents and carers please consider other student’s

wellbeing and staff when deciding whether to send your child

to school.

SEASONAL INFLUENZA (FLU)

VACCINATION CLINIC

Please remember to return your Vaccination Clinic permission

forms by Wednesday 9 May 2018.

We will be sending out some information soon about additional

Year 7 & Year 11 vaccinations.

We’re excited to announce that Peter Gurrier-Jones was one of 12 inspiring teachers and principals named as a Teaching Fellow in the 2018 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards. The Federal Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, presented Peter with their Award in Sydney on Friday 23 March, at a ceremony attended by guests from the education, business and philanthropy sectors including David Gonski AC. The Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards are co-presented by the Commonwealth Bank and Schools Plus. They were created to recognise and reward great teachers and principals, especially those working in challenging and socially diverse communities. This is the second year of the Awards, Australia’s largest award of its kind for educators. Each Fellowship is valued at $45,000, which includes funding for professional development, a significant project in the Fellow’s school, and an overseas study tour to a high-performing education system. Congratulations Peter! You can read more about the Awards here: www.teachingawards.com.au