Dear Hills College Community

I hope this edition of Hills Times finds you well as we move towards the completion of another exciting term here at Hills International College. As always, it is my pleasure to keep you informed about the latest developments on our campus. Over the past two weeks, our institution has been abuzz with activity, progress, and anticipation for the exciting projects underway.

Building for the Future

I am thrilled to announce the commencement of several significant construction projects that will enhance our campus infrastructure and enrich the educational experience of our students. Firstly, construction has begun on the Primary School playground, a vibrant space where our youngest learners can engage in joyful play and exploration. Scheduled to be completed on April 11, this playground will serve as a cornerstone of our commitment to providing a nurturing environment for our primary students.

Expansion of Facilities

In addition to the playground, we have initiated the construction of the Health and Physical Education (HPE) building, which will house a full-sized multi-purpose court, and includes a stage area. This state-of-the-art facility will not only cater to our students' physical fitness needs but also serve as a hub for sporting events, tournaments, recreational activities, performances, assemblies, and formal academic events. The addition of this facility underscores our dedication to promoting health and well-being within our school community.

Furthermore, I am pleased to announce the finalisation of plans for the Music Centre of Excellence, which will be housed in the upstairs space of our Resource Centre. This purpose-built facility will provide our talented musicians with the resources and environment they need to excel in their craft. From practice rooms to teaching and learning communities, to recording studios, the Music Centre will be a testament to our commitment to fostering artistic excellence and creativity.

Infrastructure Upgrades

As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and comfortable campus environment, we are preparing to replace the recently damaged shade sails in both the Primary and Secondary campuses. These shade sails play a crucial role in providing protection from the elements, and their replacement will ensure that our students can continue to enjoy outdoor activities without compromise.

Exciting Recreational Opportunities

Last but certainly not least, I am delighted to announce the impending commencement of the construction of five beach volleyball courts near the new HPE Centre. These courts will offer our students the opportunity to engage in a dynamic and exciting sport while enjoying the scenic beauty of our campus surroundings. I am confident that these courts will become a popular destination for both recreation and competitive play.

In closing, I am immensely proud of the progress we have made over the past weeks and the continued growth and development of our beloved Hills College. I look forward to witnessing the completion of these projects and the positive impact they will have on our students and community.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our shared vision of educational excellence.

Warm regards,

Mr Kevin Lynch 

Principal, Hills College

kevin.lynch@hills.qld.edu.au

I hope this fourth edition of our Hills Times finds you all well.
NAPLAN commenced this week for our Year 3 and 5 students. Well done to all of our students who sat testing over 3 days this week. Catch-up testing will continue during Week 9, so please ensure that devices are charged and peripherals are brought in.

I had the opportunity to join our Year 5 students at St Helena Island as part of their UOI, Where we are in place and time. I congratulate our students on their engagement in this enriching experience and their approach to learning was a highlight. 

Also on this day, our Year 2 classes visited the Ipswich Railway Museum and had an equally riveting experience. I thank all our parent volunteers who were in attendance at these events. Many more of these experiences will be captured later in this edition of the Hills Times.

I also wanted to touch upon some of the great work our teachers do in creating, fostering, and nurturing positive relationships. They are amazing individuals with a vast repertoire of skills to assist in supporting emotional and social learning as well as all things academic. At times some of our students require more specific instruction or intervention to support their growth at school and we are proud of the collaborative nature in which we approach this. Not only do we have targeted time through our morning ritual (Connection Time), but we can also engage in specific social and emotional learning through role plays, circle time, and scenario building. 

A big part of our daily repertoire is to get our students to be reflective and think about their behaviour and learning. This centres on Restorative Practice, which focuses on key questions that help our students think about their behaviour and how they can correct it. With this approach, our students learn about the responsibility they had in that situation and how it affected other people. These questions include:

• What Happened?
• What were you thinking/feeling at the time?
• What have you thought about since?
• Who has been affected and in what way?
• How could things have been done differently?
• What do you think needs to happen to make it right?

Parent-teacher interviews (classroom teachers only) are scheduled for the afternoon/evening of 26 March. This will be a joyous and collaborative opportunity to share in your child’s learning and I encourage all families to book a 10-minute time with your child's teacher. Interviews can be booked via the Parent Lounge with classroom teacher interviews taking place at your child’s classroom. Please note each interview runs for strictly 10 minutes. If you wish to discuss any matter further, our staff will be only too happy to meet with you at an alternate time. A reminder that specialist teachers can be contacted throughout the year for a parent-teacher interview.

We officially opened the new Primary school toilets this week. Work has also commenced on the Primary playground and the builder has indicated that 11 April is the intended finish date. Again, we thank you for your patience with this overdue project.

A reminder for all of our community to participate in the tradition of wearing crazy socks on the last day of Term 1 (28 March). This is a great way to encourage positivity, and togetherness, and have some fun.

Best wishes,

Mr Matthew Noel
Head of Primary/Deputy Principal

matt.noel@hills.qld.edu.au

In the spotlight with Prep A

Who would have thought that our little Preppies have now been at school for 8 weeks already? From walking in on the very first day, some students were confident, some nervous, but hopefully all full of excitement for what BIG school will bring. 

This term has been all about learning new rules and routines. It is getting to know new friends and teachers and forming trusting relationships that allow us to feel safe. It is also about learning new skills, sharing ideas, taking risks, and having fun while we learn.

Each week is packed full of exciting learning opportunities within the classroom and outside. We started our year by introducing our newest students to the different areas of the school, as we chased Lenny the Lion (our class mascot) around the school. We are all looking forward to taking Lenny home and sharing our adventures with the class after the weekend.

In Chinese, Ms Z has been teaching us to say our name and count to 10. Miss West and Mr Moffet have fun games and activities set up to help us move our bodies and learn different skills. Mr Gratton has been teaching us to keep the beat in music. In Digital Technology, we have been learning about coding with the coding caterpillar and Beebots. We look forward to all of our specialist lessons, and love going to the library and borrowing our books from Mrs Hansell.

In English, we have been busy learning sounds and working on blending them together to read words. We have been practicing our letter formation and have begun to write words. In Maths, we have been looking at location and prepositional language and using this in conjunction with our school map and how we get around the school. Our UOI – How We Organise Ourselves (HWOO) has seen us looking at different places, comparing places, and how we care for these places. We have looked at some different schools and used Google Maps to see how far away they are from Hills.

As you can see, there has been a lot happening in Prep A over the last eight weeks. We have achieved so much in this short amount of time but have plenty still to learn. We are enjoying the new challenges and look forward to many more achievements throughout the rest of our first year of school.

Year 2 – The Railway Museum

On Tuesday, 5 March, Year 2 ventured off on an exciting adventure to The Queensland Rail Museum in Ipswich. The students participated in the Then & Now Yesteryear Workshop to learn about life from the past and advances in technology. The workshop explored what life was like for Queensland families in the past, as well as what life looked like for children 100 years ago.

The students explored collections of artifacts and even engaged in hands-on experiences with some of the objects. We were surprised to learn how daily tasks were much more difficult in the olden days, like washing, drying, and ironing clothes. The children were shocked to learn that toilets were external to houses, had no plumbing, and that the council was responsible for collecting waste bins to empty, wash, and return.

The Museum also had many exhibitions for us to explore in small groups. The experience at the Museum opened our eyes to how fortunate we are to have modern technology. Modern technology sure does make life easier for us in many ways. We posed many questions about the past and predicted what changes we could expect to happen in the future.

The Year 2 teachers are so proud of the behaviour and respect our students displayed off-campus. Well done Year 2!

Mrs Salmon, Mrs Farrow and Miss Dempsey

Year 2 teachers

Year 5 St Helena Excursion

In a thrilling blend of history and adventure, Year 5 students recently embarked on an excursion to the heritage-listed St Helena Island. We have been learning about colonial life in Australia during the 1800s, particularly focusing our inquiries on the convict presence in Australia. 

After about 80 minutes of bus and a cruise on the 'Cat-o-nine-tails', we arrived at the historical island. Students immersed themselves in the stories, well-preserved buildings, and dramatised tour given by the island guard and prisoner 47 who were very entertaining. 

The students learned that the island that was originally used as a prison was called Noogoon by the Aboriginal people and later renamed Saint Helena after an Aboriginal man was exiled there in 1827. 

The excursion not only broadened their historical knowledge but also provided an opportunity for personal growth; while Prisoner 47 was a funny favourite, the small bugs and occasional showers proved great character development. 

Overall, we had a fabulous day out and have been able to apply this rich history to our classroom learning.

Mrs Ingham and Miss Argent

Year 5 teachers

PYP Evaluation Success  

We are thrilled to share with you the wonderful news of our recent Primary Years Programme (PYP) Evaluation visit from the International Baccalaureate (IB). While this visit took place remotely, it was a significant milestone for our school community. Despite the challenges posed by the virtual setting, our teachers, students, and support staff demonstrated unwavering dedication and commitment to showcasing the excellence of our PYP implementation here at Hills.

Throughout the evaluation process, our evaluators had the opportunity to engage with many members of our school community. They were particularly impressed by the passion and dedication displayed by each individual they encountered. From our teachers to our students and support staff, it was evident that everyone holds a deep love and admiration for our school and is committed to ensuring the success of teaching and learning.

Over the past 12 months, our Primary school teachers have embarked on a remarkable journey of reflection, self-assessment, and forward planning. Their dedication and hard work have been truly commendable, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their contributions to our self-study process and evaluation visit. It is through their tireless efforts that we have been able to demonstrate the outstanding quality of education we provide at Hills.

As we reflect on this achievement, we are filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible teamwork and collaboration that have brought us to this point. Our success in the PYP evaluation is a testament to the collective efforts of our entire school community.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to continuous improvement and excellence in education. The feedback and insights gathered during the evaluation visit will serve as valuable guidance as we strive to further enhance our PYP implementation and enrich the learning experiences of our students.

On behalf of the entire school leadership team, I extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our teachers, students, and support staff for their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Together, we have achieved something truly remarkable, and I am excited to see where our journey takes us next.

Primary Parent-Teacher Interviews - Week 10 

We would like to inform you about our upcoming parent-teacher interviews that are scheduled for Week 10 on 26 March.

Appointments can be made via Parent Lounge to meet with your child’s teacher. Parent-teacher interviews can be booked on Tuesday 26 March from 3:30 pm-7:30 pm. The booking portal will be open between 18 - 22 March. Due to current construction work taking place in the Resource Centre, parent-teacher interviews will take place in your child’s classroom.

Please note, Specialist teachers will not be available during this time. Please email them directly if you wish to arrange a Parent Teacher Interview at a time of mutual convenience.

To accommodate a rest for our staff, there will be a scheduled break from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm. The parent-teacher interviews will run for 10 minutes each, so punctuality is essential. If, for any reason, you cannot attend a previously booked appointment, please cancel it via Parent Lounge and reschedule. Teachers will be more than happy to arrange an additional meeting in the future if more time is needed.

We look forward to your attendance at these highly informative collaborative session.

Mr Stuart Ablitt
Deputy Head of Primary & Head of IB Programs
stuart.ablitt@hills.qld.edu.au

Secondary Insights

As we move into Week 8 of Term 1, I am filled with a profound sense of pride and accomplishment at what our Secondary College community has achieved so far. Our students have shown dedication to their learning outcomes as we approach the assessment preparations, the extracurricular activities and well as their personal development, growth embodying the spirit of excellence we strive for. This newsletter aims to highlight some of our recent successes, upcoming events and important updates for our community.

What a wonderful time I had at the recent Year 7 and Year 9 Camps which I attended. While our students were involved in a program, the learning outcomes for the students were amazing. Personal growth for many students on camp was a chance to experience independence from family, which is an important step in personal development and resilience where this program at camp presented many challenges. Overcoming these challenges did boost a confidence and resilience.

Camp was also a fantastic way to meet new people in their year group and it also enabled the development of social skills in a relaxed and natural setting. Embracing the chance to make new friends and learn from others was also a highlight. A lovely young student came to me and said, 'Mrs Skelton, will you join me with the high ropes?'. I did inform this student that I was afraid of heights but with that offer, I could not refuse. 

Students are just amazing at Hills College. Spot the photos in this edition of the Year 9 camp- I met my challenge. In the next edition of Hills Times, I will focus on the outcomes from the Year 7 camp. Watch this space!

Secondary Upcoming Events:

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Scheduled for Tuesday 30 April. This is a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and how we can work together to support their learning and development. Please book your appointment through the school’s portal once the reports have been published in Parent Orbit in the second week of the Easter Holidays.

Term 1 Assessment Finalisaton: As a reminder, the end-of-term assessments are being undertaken. We encourage students to begin revising and preparing if they haven't already. 

As we look forward to the rest of the term, we will continue to support one another in our pursuits. Whether it's academically or on the sports field or through creative and service activities, every effort counts towards building a vibrant and dynamic Hills College community.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our College. Here's to another successful term! Please do not hesitate to contact me at the College if required. 

Mrs Julie-Anne Skelton

Head of Secondary

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

Teaching and Learning - History Excursion

Year 10 students visit the MacArthur Museum; a site of historic significance, as it housed the Allied headquarters in the South-West Pacific during the Second World War. Students then travelled to ANZAC Square. To conclude the day, Students had an organised guided tour of the ANZAC galleries/museums; particularly the ‘World War II Memorial Gallery’ to suit the curriculum for 10 History Topic 1.
I am certain that this experience will support 10A’s History studies for Term 1 and 10B’s upcoming History studies in Term 3.

Ms Alexandria Salmon

History Teacher

College LAWS Acknowledgement

Our Hills College LAWS are the Foundation of our College. Students who acknowledge the LAWS are recognised. The College LAWS are;

Live with Compassion
Work with Diligence
Strive for Success
Act with Integrity

Over the past couple of weeks, the following students have been recognised for demonstrating the College LAWS when they attended the Year 9 camp.

Thomas Koen

Lukyn Hytongue

Maxwell Bell

Balian Hill

Brock Withey

Jacob Soars

Please congratulate these students in demonstrating the College LAWS.

Teaching and Learning - Design and Technologies

Designing, producing, and implementing a pizza project for Year 7 students is an excellent way to engage them in a hands-on learning experience that incorporates various educational elements such as nutrition, Math, Science, Art, and teamwork. Year 7B were required to design, produce and implement their own pizza. This was challenging as there were many techniques involved, as well as different types of dough used. Students will submit their theory work around this practical as their assessment for this term.

Ms Rachel Carter and Mrs Julie-Anne Skelton

English Ambassadors

This year, seven Year 11 and 12 students were selected to become Hills’ English Ambassadors; Tea Gligor (Head Ambassador), Ella Molander, Shreya Ramdeo, Keely Moffitt, Matilda McBain, Finn Newbery, and Hollie Zavattaro.

The Ambassador Program was created in 2023 to give students the opportunity to create and lead English-based events and initiatives that create community, raise the profile of the best subject in school, promote reading and writing, and engage kids in literacy and literature. Last year, the inaugural Ambassadors brought Book Week to the Secondary school. This year, we, as a collective, will take the initiative to promote the English subject with multiple new projects. One of these will be a Wonderland-themed week culminating in a bake sale and giant picnic (date TBA!). Our other goals for the year are to create a program that gets Secondary students involved in reading sessions with lower primary, bring a literary club to the school’s club roster, and initiate a homework help program. It’s going to be a great year!

We would also like to congratulate last year’s Ambassador, Caitlin McNee, for receiving Hills’ very first perfect English External Exam mark! Her essay about the Australian Gothic classic ‘The White Earth’ earned her 25 marks out of 25 – a very rare feat!

Finn Newbery

English Ambassador

Media Report

The volleyball player, so striking, she always knows how to make a hit!

Recently a few of our students attended the South Coast Volleyball trials. One of those students was a star player from Year 10, Chelsea Knight. Chelsea has been playing the position of outside hitter or libero for four years. 

When asked about her experience of the trials, she was upbeat and positive, explaining “It was the best I’d played in a while, that’s for sure!”. Chelsea enjoys being “part of the action in the front of the court”, and her dedication to the sport signals a bright future ahead. 

She ultimately aspires to represent Australia at the Olympic games, in addition to applying for a NCAA scholarship to play in America. Hills wishes Chelsea nothing but the best for her future, both on and off the court – we are so excited to see her continued development as a diligent, passionate and skilled sportswoman.

Joshua Feeney

Hills Reporting Team Captain

Student Outcomes

These girls completed a Certificate lll in Visual Arts in 2023. Well done to Finn Newbery, Summer Mesceke and Kate O'Gorman.

Mrs Mandy Comerford

MEDALS!! Volleyball Beach Schools Cup

On March 3 and 4, 24 Hills students competed at the largest ever Volleyball Beach Schools Cup: 55 schools and 476 teams.

We won our first ever medal! Bronze in the girls Year 11 pairs, Chelsea Knight and Sam Gurney.

This is our third year at the competition and will be looking to push for more silverware next year.

Well done to all students involved. It was a great two days.

Concert Series Launch

Monday 11 March saw the first lunchtime concert in our series of five. We were excited to welcome musicians giving solo performances and see the Secondary Dance Team. The first performer was Jackson Rideout, Year 9, on acoustic guitar. The next performer was Max Garner, Year 11, on piano. Next came the Dance Team consisting of students from Years 7 to 12 expertly led by Chanel Vang, Year 12. 

The audience were very appreciative of the wonderful talent on show. Lachlan Gravolin, Year 9, was scheduled to perform on electric guitar, but unfortunately, due to technical issues and then heavy rain, he was unable to. We hope he will star in our next lunchtime concert on Thursday 2 May.

 Netball Trials - Beginnings of a Bright Future

Recently, some of our students participated in the Beaudesert zone netball trials.  They worked extremely hard to achieve what they wanted to get out of the trials. Caoimhe Stone and Evie Panther were the two students who were involved in the trials. They both played a masterful, impactful, and memorable game out there and deserve recognition for their hard work. 

Annie Parer and Tanya Waalder both deserve praise with helping with the umpiring of the day. Overall, the BZ netball trials were a great success for all who played and participated. We would like to thank the players who pushed themselves to achieve greater heights, the umpires who made the game fair and safe. Lastly thank you to the parents and teachers who organized this event and sacrificed their time just to watch their kids smile.

Lukyn Hytongue,
Hills reporting team

Positive Parenting Program

Referee training

This is information from Queensland Representative school sports.

This is your final opportunity to register as a student referee/umpire for the 2024 QRSS program.

QRSS and the Championship host Region will work with the Sporting Organisation and Student Official Managers to support referee/umpire opportunities at State Championships.

Register now - https://survey.qed.qld.gov.au/n/bDRhXZw

Closes Friday 22 March 2024.

Scenic Rim Holiday Activities

Hills Homestay Program

Local families provide a vital link in developing our students as global citizens. With this in mind, the Hills College Homestay program will strive to provide engaging, caring, and meaningful interactions and experiences for our homestay students and families. Homestay families are an important part of our students’ lives, and we seek to select families which show a keen and real interest in developing a global perspective in their own home. 

Host families commit and have a responsibility to:

• Provide a safe, supporting environment
• Interact and develop a rapport with homestay students
• Support the student in their academic or sporting activities throughout their enrolment
• Provide a clean and reasonable environment for their homestay students. 

This means:

• A single bed in their own bedroom
• A practical study area (desk, chair, lamp)
• Access to Internet facilities
• Access to sufficient quality food and three meals every day
• Linen and towels
• A house key (if required)
• Transport to and from Hills College (and extra-curricular activities)
• Adequate supervision for their homestay
• Support Hills College’s uniform, behaviour, and academic policies
• Acknowledge and cater for the cultural and social needs of the student
• Communicate with Hills College whenever a situation arises (such as illness, unrest in the homestay family, commending the student’s behaviour)

In 2024, homestay families are paid an allowance of $320 per week to cover the costs of the expectations above. There are opportunities for short-term (1 week to 10 weeks) and long term (fulltime Hills College students) homestay placements.

If you think hosting a student would be something your family would like to do, please email Mrs Newbery.

Harmony Week

Harmony Week is celebrated every year in March around Australia. It is a time to acknowledge the wonderful multiculturalism of our country and our amazing Hills community.

The Hills Culture Club would like to celebrate Harmony Week in two ways; by organising a delicious Indian lunch delivery on Thursday 21 March, and a free dress day – wear orange or traditional cultural dress! – gold coin donation – on this day. There will also be orange star weaving during every break from 18 - 22 March in C4 (near the Uniform Shop).

Below are the Indian meals to choose from. The food will be provided by local Jimboomba restaurant, Flavours Cafe and Curries. Meals are $12 each for a 500ml container. Please advise of any allergies, and we will check these can be accommodated.

   • Butter Chicken and rice (mild, nuts, GF)
   • Shahi Paneer and rice (mild, vegetarian, nuts, GF)
   • Lamb Rogan Josh and rice (mild, nuts, GF)
   • 2 vegetable samosas (large, nut free)
   • 2 lamb/chicken samosas (large, nut free)

Please use the link below to order, or email vanessa.newbery@hills.qld.edu.au. Payment can be made to Mrs Newbery in C Block, next to the Uniform Shop. Culture Club students will also be coming to classes to collect payment from 12 to 18 March. Please note, we can only accept cash payments. 

Indian lunch order

The final day for orders will be 18 March. Lunch orders will be delivered on 21 March to students in Prep – Year 4. Year 5 – 12 can collect their delicious Indian lunches from C5 on the day.

We look forward to seeing the College brilliant in orange on Thursday 21 March. The gold coin donations will support the Refugee Association of Logan and help feed, clothe and educate our newest arrivals to Australia.

Thank you for your support of this cultural celebration. The Culture Club meets every second Thursday in C4, and all students are welcome to attend. Please check the Daily Notices for the meeting days.

Mrs Vanessa Newbery

Head of International Programs

On Sunday 3 March, the Golf Academy achieved a first of every single student competing in the Tee Mates points challenge at Redland Bay Golf Club. 

This event is an age group qualifier for the prestigious end of year Greg Norman Masters played on the Gold Coast.

Yejiin Sohn, with a fine round of 4 over par, 72 won the girls 13 and under gross and has already booked her ticket to the big tournament at the end of the year.

Keeratikorn Sakdikornthanasiri shot a level par 68 and won the overall nett for the day. Unfortunately, he didn't have the best gross score in his division so missed out on Greg Norman qualifying by just one stroke.

It was fantastic to have a full engagement of all the students at this event and although not everyone played well the behavior and sportsmanship of our students was sensational representing the Hills Golf Academy with pride and happy faces.

How do we know that HPE teachers are happy?

Over the last six months, the P and F has seen a number of projects finalise. We are happy to have been a part of the installation of the secondary seating.

The committtee would like to thank the members of the executive team who attended our general meeting on Tuesday and participated in discussions. We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the staff to highlight where the P and F can have the most impact to benefit the school community.

I would also like to acknowledge that behind the scenes members of the executive team have worked with the P and F and provided a conduit for the creation of informative posters. These are now in circulation.

During a recent visit to the Year 4 class to discuss volunteering, Tamara engaged with the P and F and made a request. The P and F is working to put this request into action. Thank you, Tamara, for being involved and attending the P and F general meeting!

Over the school holidays, the P and F will be finalising arrangements for the rodeo to be held on 27 April. If you are willing to help out at the event, there will be many opportunities to get involved before and after the night. 

Please contact Brenda Healey on 0422 087 403 if you have any queries

Answer: Because they whistle while they work!

Mr Adam Healey

President