Acting Principal's Report

It is my absolute joy to communicate the wonderful advances happening in our College. Our school landscape is certainly alive, and it is wonderful to witness the completion, or imminent completion, of building projects that will enhance our students' learning. Whether it is creating modern spaces equipped with the latest technology or building outdoor areas that inspire curiosity and exploration, each project is driven by a desire to provide students with the tools and resources they need to succeed. As these new spaces come to life, we see firsthand the joy and excitement they bring to our students' faces, igniting a passion for learning that will stay with them long after they leave our halls.

After much suspense, the Primary Playground is open for our students to enjoy. Our students have been eager adventurers at the entrance of a hidden treasure cave, buzzing with excitement and anticipation, ready to dive into a world of fun and exploration for over a term now. To witness their excitement and joy has been invigorating. This new space was officially opened by our Primary Captains and College Board Chair, Dr Grant Watson. During this opening, the captains paid homage to the current Year 2 students who provided the inspiration behind the design. We look forward to our playground nurturing physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and sensory skills essential for success in years to come.

The construction of the Music Centre is now complete. We are now awaiting the finalisation of the fire mains installation before the certifier can issue the Certificate of Compliance (CofC). We anticipate this being a usable space at the beginning of Term 3.

I recently conducted a site visit to the HPE Precinct and Beach Volleyball courts. I am pleasantly surprised with the developments and look forward to sharing how this project transforms over the coming months. At this point, the Beach Volleyball courts will be ready for use on 22 July. The Health and Physical Education Precinct is scheduled for completion on 9 September.

I extend my sincere appreciation to our dedicated staff, contractors, and the broader school community for their unwavering support and patience throughout these transformative building projects. Together, we are shaping a learning environment that inspires excellence, creativity, and holistic wellbeing.

I am hugely excited to join our Year 6 students next week on their annual excursion to Sydney and Canberra. These experiences are hugely enriching and offer our students an opportunity to grow and achieve personal success. They also empower our students to become informed, engaged, and responsible citizens of the world. All the best, Year 6 students!

Before I conclude, I wish to extend a very warm welcome to our new families who have joined our amazing school. I sincerely hope you are moving to the rhythm and beat of your new school life and are genuinely feeling that special sense of belonging.


Mr Matthew Noel
Head of Primary/Acting Principal

Year 6 Canberra Trip

We're excited to remind you that our Year 6 students are embarking on their highly anticipated excursion to Sydney and Canberra, starting this Monday! This educational journey promises to be an enriching experience as students delve into the heart of our nation's history and culture.

During this time, Mrs Kellie Smith will step into the role of Acting Head of Primary, as Mr Noel and I accompany our Year 6 students on their excursion to the nation's capital. We're thrilled to provide this opportunity for our students to connect with their heritage, broaden their horizons, and forge lasting memories.

The College presented each of our students with a College beanie as a memento for this valuable field trip. We wish our Year 6 students a wonderfully enriching time away.

Primary Playground Update

We're thrilled to unveil our brand-new Primary playground, a vibrant space filled with fun and adventure for our little ones. However, we want to ensure everyone's safety and enjoyment.

Please note that the Primary playground is out of bounds before school hours, as there are no staff available for supervision during this time. Safety first! Please refer to Mr Noel’s previous correspondence regarding this.

But don't worry, parents! You're welcome to supervise your own children during pick-up time from 3:10 to 3:30pm. It's a great opportunity to watch them play and have some quality family time.

After 3:30pm, though, we kindly ask that families vacate the area as it's reserved for our friends at the PCYC to use. Let's make sure everyone has their turn to enjoy the space!

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Let's make our new playground a place of joy, laughter, and safety for all our little adventurers!

Mr Stuart Ablitt
Acting Head of Primary
stuart.ablitt@hills.qld.edu.au

Year 4 - Where We Are in Place and Time Excursion

At the start of the term, Year 4 visited the wonderful Ngutana-Lui Aboriginal and Torres Strait Cultural Studies Centre in Inala as part of our Where We Are in Place and Time Unit of Inquiry.

The students participated in a wide range of activities and experiences. Students were given the opportunity to learn about and practice boomerang and spear-throwing, led by our knowledgeable Indigenous guide. The students tried throwing these ancient hunting tools, gaining insight into the skill and precision required by their ancestors for survival in the Australian bush.

They learned about the traditional Torres Strait art of leaf weaving, and, upon returning to school, gave it a go themselves. They were also able to express their creative side when they explored Aboriginal dot art. We explored bush medicine and artifacts before embarking on a mini bush walk. Finally, they learned a little about the history of the didgeridoo and listened to our guide play it, making sounds that resembled the fauna found in the Australian landscape before learning the dance of the rainbow serpent.

It was a wonderfully informative and interactive day that was enjoyed by teachers and students alike. Students returned home with greater understanding and respect for the enduring cultural heritage of Australia's First Nations peoples.

Year 4 Teachers

Prep Excursion to Lone Pine

On Tuesday 30 April, our Preppies ventured to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary as part of their first line of inquiry within the Sharing The Planet unit. Their focus was to explore living vs non-living things around them, and then delve deeper into the needs of these living things. By looking at, touching, and feeding animals, and listening to rangers deliver presentations, the students were able to solidify the fact that living things need food, water, air, care, and habitats to survive. 

In their small groups, students traversed around the sanctuary to locate koalas, kangaroos, birds, reptiles, barn animals, and more! Hand-feeding the kangaroos was a sure highlight, with many students asking if they could stay there all day! It was a wonderful excursion filled with incredible memories, ones which we are sure will last a lifetime. The Prep Team wishes to extend a huge thank you to the wonderful volunteers who provided such rich assistance and support on this excursion.

Prep Team

Student Success

On Monday 6 May, Elliott and Oliver Neal, together with Roni Musgrave, competed as a team at the Line Dancing State Championships.

They placed second overall in their division. Congratulations Elliott, Oliver, and Roni on this amazing success!

Year 4 Street Science Excursion

Year 4 recently had an exciting incursion with Street Science. Linked to our Unit of Inquiry, How the World Works, the students got to experience the fun of science with hands-on activities and a mesmerising science show.

To explore the properties of materials, they crafted “fish eggs”, “worms” and “eyeballs” out of sodium alginate plus food colouring, experimenting with how materials change in different conditions.

The students decorated an individual rocket and sent their creations soaring into the sky, of course staying at a safe distance while seeing forces in action. The flying and falling rockets led to students ducking for cover, before eagerly requesting another turn.

The highlight of the afternoon was the science show, during which the students were enthralled by the chemical reactions leading to smoke, fire, and loud noises.

The incursion was a highly enjoyed lesson that sparked curiosity and deepened the students’ understanding of scientific principles in the everyday world.

Year 4 Teachers

Mother’s Day Stall

A huge congratulations to P & F volunteers, and to Kristy Marcus for her outstanding coordination of the Mother's Day Stall. With the assistance of our many parent volunteers, this event was another great hit. Thank you, families, for your support and your words of gratitude and of course the many of you who volunteer.

The role of Explicit Instruction in Inquiry Learning

Here at Hills, we are committed to providing a holistic education that empowers our students to become lifelong learners and critical thinkers. By combining the principles of guided inquiry with the structure of Explicit Direct Instruction, we create a dynamic learning environment where curiosity thrives, knowledge flourishes, and students are inspired to reach their full potential.

While guided inquiry forms the backbone of our teaching philosophy, Explicit Direct Instruction is a key instructional strategy employed by our teachers to support and enhance this process. This structured, systematic approach provides clarity, precision and intentionality in our learning environment to promote a deep understanding. Regular reviews are another key component of our instructional model to support long-term retention and mastery of concepts. This approach is especially valuable in primary education where our students are building their foundational knowledge and skills. Regular reviews of previously learned concepts reinforce prior knowledge and ensure that it is not forgotten over time.

Many parents ask what they can do to help their child at home. As partners in your child’s education, we encourage you to join us on this journey of discovery and exploration. Together, we can nurture a love for learning that extends far beyond the walls of our classrooms. To support you in this, the Learning Maps published at the start of each term provide suggestions for parent engagement. In addition to this, Hills International College, utilises Essential Assessment to maximise learning in Mathematics. This online assessment platform not only allows teachers to target and differentiate their teaching in the classroom, but the My Numeracy feature provides a differentiated and personalised online learning platform that students can access at home. My Numeracy has interactive teaching and learning that enables students to progress through mathematical concepts at their level and at their own pace to consolidate their classroom learning. We would encourage you to talk to your child about what they are learning in maths and have a look at the how they are progressing through My Numeracy. This will also provide you with an overview of the concepts they are currently working on.

Mrs Kellie Smith
Head of Curriculum (P-6)
kellie.smith@hills.qld.edu.au 

Teaching and Learning - English Faculty Newsletter Update - Term Two Highlights

Welcome back to a vibrant Term Two at Hills! The English Faculty is thrilled to dive into a term packed with dynamic and enriching learning experiences for our students. This term, we're excited to introduce and refine new units aligned with the recent updates to the ACARA 9.0 English curriculum for Years 7 – 10, each of which has been designed to engage and challenge our learners in their explorations of diverse themes, text types, and narrative worlds.

Faculty News

We warmly welcome Mrs Kalpana Lal to our team. Mrs Lal brings her expertise to Year 7 English and Year 7 and 8 Humanities classes, enriching our faculty's diverse teaching ensemble.

Current English Competitions

1. The Literary Competition

This prestigious competition offers Year 5 -12 students the opportunity to win prizes and to showcase their short story, non-fiction prose, and poetry writing talents. Submit carefully proofread Microsoft Word document with title to jacinta.goyne@hills.qld.edu.au by 9am Friday 7 June.

Poetry: Years 7-12 - no word limit
Short story: Year 5 - 6: 400 – 800 words; Year 7-8: 500-1200 words; Year 9-10: 500-1500 words; Year 11-12: 600-1500 words; Staff: 800-2500 words
Non-fiction prose: Years 11-12 - 600-1500 words

2. The Best Australian Yarn

Submit your best short story for your chance to win a life-changing $50,000 major prize! Your story deserves to be told. Submit carefully proofread Microsoft Word document with title to: jacinta.goyne@hills.qld.edu.au by 9am Monday 12 August.

Entries: 12 years+ – any type of story (including comics!) up to 2500 words.


Exciting Learning Units Across Year Levels

Year 7

"Traditional Tales" Mrs Lal, Mrs Stone, and Mrs Clifton are guiding students through a creative exploration of myths, fables, and fairy tales from various cultures. This unit encourages students to delve into the storytelling traditions of different communities and culminates in a project where students craft their own stories inspired by traditional narratives.

Year 8

"Cinematic Perspectives - Rabbit-Proof Fence" Under the guidance of Ms Tyne and Mrs Stone, Year 8 students are immersed in studying film techniques through the lens of the seminal Australian film Rabbit-Proof Fence. This unit focuses on critical viewing and analysis, with students preparing to articulate their insights through an analytical essay on the film’s portrayal of Australian identities.

Year 9 

"Rhythm and Poetry"
Building on their prior poetry studies, Year 9 students are embarking on a journey into the expressive world of slam poetry with Mrs Clifton and Ms Goyne. This engaging unit involves scripting and performing slam poetry, providing an exciting opportunity for students to participate in the annual Australian Poetry Slam’s youth competition.

Year 10

"Voices of Persuasion - Podcasting" Ms Tyne and Ms Goyne are spearheading a persuasive communications course in which students create and produce their own podcast episodes. This project-based unit enhances students' skills in research, argumentation, and public speaking, preparing them to host informed, live discussions on current issues. Photograph: 10B students engaged in ‘Speed Dating’ discussions on controversial issues last week; they were tasked with expressing their views, and dissecting their partners’ views for their application of reasoning. Bonus points were given for pointing out use of logical fallacies!

Year 11

In-Depth Textual Studies and Creative Expressions
Ms Goyne's General English class has recently concluded an in-depth study of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and is now transitioning into assessment, crafting online feature articles that explore the text's timeless themes.

Ms Dwyer’s Literature class is creatively reimagining Edgar Allen Poe’s The Picture of Dorian Gray through original spoken texts that echo or contest the novel’s foundational ideas.

Dr Pope’s Essential English students are drawing inspiration from the novel Lion to develop imaginative short stories that probe into profound human experiences related to concepts such as identity, poverty, and familial connections.

Year 12 

Advanced Studies and Analytical Insights

Ms Salmon is leading her General English students through an intriguing comparative study of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and the film adaptation of Twilight, exploring intertextuality and thematic resonance across two distinct cultural contexts.

Ms Goyne’s Literature students are nearing completion of their imaginative responses to poems by renowned poets such as Maya Angelou, Seamus Heeney, and T.S. Eliot, transforming selected works into spoken digital stories and monologues.

Dr Pope’s Essential English students are gearing up for their CIA exam, demonstrating their analytical acumen through short responses to both familiar and new stimuli.

This term promises to be a thrilling journey of literary discovery and intellectual growth for our students. Stay tuned for more updates and showcases of student work from these engaging learning experiences. Thank you for your continued support of the Hills English Faculty!


Ms Jacinta Goyne

Secondary Teacher / Head of Faculty - English

Year 10 student Steven Rose is a rising star in literature, writing an exceptional article titled ‘Bringing the alternate male universe closer to humanity: Galaxy Quest and Elysium.’ The article discusses gender equality in the sci-fi film, Galaxy Quest. The young writer points out the director’s comments on masculinity through the use of characters, especially the characters Min and Captain Jason Nesmith. Rose points out that Nesmith seems to mock masculinity in a “cringy way.”

‘At the start of the film, Captain Nesmith is – or acts – very stoic and boisterous. True to the prevailing zeitgeist, he is masculine, serves in the position as leader, enjoys fame, and is a bit of a womaniser. But the degree to which his character exerts his masculinity and almost rubs it in our face – before the finalization of his character arc – is catastrophically cringy. This is intentional. His unattractive and eyeroll-worthy actions push male audiences to effectively reject this behavior.’

Steven said that it took him a while to decide what to write about and there were many ideas he could write about. However, he decided to focus on the film's representation of masculinity throughout the film. Steven displays a through and clear understanding of both male representation and insights to the director’s choice to represent things a certain way. Well done, Steven, the English ambassadors truly admire your work and hope you continue to flourish in English.

Teaching and Learning - Health and Physical Education

This term students of HPE are learning about athletics. It is a wonderful opportunity for students across campuses to interact with each other and forge the bonds that make our Hills Community great. Students are able to work together to improve technique, feedback and developing of sophisticated movement strategies.

Senior students are studying golf and the application of Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics principles to improve performance outcomes.

Mrs Leah Stone

Head of Faculty - Health and Physical Education

Autism Awareness Week 

Last week, Hills College celebrated Autism Awareness Week. The Hills Inclusive Education Team wishes to take a moment to express our gratitude and to thank you for your incredible support and participation throughout this important event. Your enthusiasm, kindness, and dedication have truly made a difference and helped to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in our school community. This compassion continues to build Hills College truly as a Place to Belong for all students.

Thank you to Mrs Julie Santon for her generous donation of T-shirts, which helped to unify us as we walked together each day to show our support for autism awareness.

We also want to acknowledge and commend Rose McManus (Year 2) for her outstanding fundraising efforts. Thanks to her hard work and the generosity of our school community, she was able to raise an incredible $1140 towards autism awareness initiatives. This incredible achievement is a testament to her compassion and commitment to this cause. Overall, the Walk for Autism raised close to $2000. The webpage is still open for those who would still like to donate. The Colourful Dress Day also raised $525.05 which was an amazing effort.

https://www.walkforautism.org.au/fundraisers/hillsinternationalcollege

Throughout the week, our students and staff engaged in various activities and discussions to learn more about autism and neurodiversity. These educational opportunities not only fostered greater understanding and empathy but also highlighted the importance of embracing and celebrating the unique strengths and abilities of individuals with ASD.

From our Colorful Dress Day to our daily walks for autism, each moment shared and each step taken together has helped to spread awareness, promote acceptance, and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all members of our school community.

Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to making Autism Awareness Week a meaningful and impactful experience for all. Together, we can continue to make a difference and create a more inclusive world for individuals with autism and their families starting at Hills College: A Place to Belong.

Mrs Tracy Ashbridge
Head of Inclusive Education
tracy.ashbridge@hills.qld.edu.au

A Flourishing Community: Highlights from Our Recent Wellbeing Community Meeting

Last week, we were thrilled to host the second Wellbeing Community Meeting at Hills College, a vibrant gathering that underscored our collective commitment to fostering a nurturing and supportive environment for our students. We extend a warm thank you to the nine dedicated parents who joined us, bringing with them enthusiasm and invaluable insights that enriched our discussions.

The meeting was a wonderful opportunity to delve into a broad array of school programs focused on enhancing student wellbeing and behaviour. These discussions are pivotal as they help us align our strategies with the needs of our students, ensuring that we are supporting not only their academic growth but also their emotional and social development.

A significant part of the evening was the introduction of the Hills College Community Code of Conduct. This new initiative is set to become a mandatory element of enrolment, reflecting our commitment to maintaining a respectful and inclusive school culture. The Code of Conduct is designed to uphold our school values and provide clear guidelines to ensure that every member of our community contributes positively to our collective wellbeing.

We are excited about the positive changes that these initiatives will bring to our school and how they will help us continue to create a safe and supportive environment where every student can thrive. Your involvement and support are crucial to our success, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.

Thank you again to the parents who participated and to everyone who supports our efforts to enhance student wellbeing at Hills College. Let's continue to work together to ensure our school remains a beacon of positive growth and well-being.

Stay tuned for more updates and information on how you can get involved in upcoming meetings and initiatives!

District Cross Country Selection

Please congratulate the following students for making the Pacific District Cross Country Team.

Jessie McMillan
Brock Gill
Gursakhi Kaur
Kaylem Perrin
Grayson Fuller

Wellio Wellbeing - Free Parent Webinar

Wellio Parent Webinar: Tuesday 14 May 6:30pm
Registration Link (so that they can be sent the recording): https://www.wellioeducation.co...
Join Wellio for a free webinar to learn practical strategies that will help your children manage phone addiction and social media.

Reality vs Social Media: we discuss how students compare their lives with what they see on social media and the impact this has on their self-esteem. We'll share 3 simple strategies to keep them on track.

Technology and Sleep: 73% of teenagers aren't getting enough sleep and their devices are a primary cause. We explain how you can limit the impact.
Techniques to manage anxiety: A toolkit of strategies that you can use to help your child manage and prevent anxiety developing as a result of social media and phone use..

Please see below for the dates for our other free parent webinars running across the year:

Thursday 29 August 6:30pm - Building Healthy Relationships
Thursday 31 October 6:30pm - Resilience & Setbacks

Parents can register to attend any or all of these sessions here.

JDW Modern Manners Program

JDW are offering an etiquette program for young people.  This is a paid course, and not associated with the College.  The Junior Moden Manners (8 to 12 years of age) and Modern Manners Program (13 to 18 years of age) take place over the upcoming holidays.

The programs take place during the first week of the school holidays at June Dally-Watkins in Brisbane City. The images below for both programs include descriptions of course content and investment. There's also an enrolment form to complete, to secure a spot. These programs also run during the September and December school holiday period.

Please see below for more information

NEAS Conference 2024

This week, I had the honour of attending the 2024 NEAS Conference. The theme of the conference was 'Quality Revolution: Rethinking, Reshaping, and Redefining Excellence in ELT', looking at local and global connections and changes in English language teaching. The brilliant opening plenary by futurist Louka Parry set the tone for the conference, and it was fantastic to reconnect with this community of language teachers and academics. A highlight for me was the incredibly engaging talk given by Maths superstar Eddie Woo. If you have time, looking him up on YouTube!

Every person I connected with is experiencing the same thing in international education that we are seeing at Hills now; there is great interest and many enquiries, but families are understandably hesitant to commit to sending their children overseas. The future is in the hands of these young learners; we looked at sustainability in ELT and the future of AI in learning. 

Things are positive for the future of international education, and our continued new international arrivals are a testament to this. I am truly looking forward to more students arriving, so we can share our Hills community with them.

Mrs Vanessa Newbery
Head of International Programs
vanessa.newbery@hills.qld.edu.au

International visitors 

Next term, we will be welcoming many visitors to Hills, including;

• two French exchange students
• a German Rotary exchange student
• Chinese short stay children coming with their parent/s
• Japanese visitors coming to our High School Prep program

More details will be available soon, but I call on our warm and welcoming community to make these visitors feel at home. 

Homestay at Hills

Homestay is a rewarding experience, for both our international students and the homestay family. Please contact me for more information!

What did the mama light bulb say to its glowing child on Mother’s Day?

The past fortnight has been an unusually busy one for the P and F.

The rodeo came to the school and tickets sold out before the day. The P and F ran the bar, and we are very grateful to the committee for their work leading up to the event, and to the parents and staff who volunteered in a number of positions over the course of the event. The bar was a success and the P and F members have taken pleasure in starting to give back to our school community, with a donation of gazebos to the HPE department and a little extra into the Year 6 'containers for change' program.

We would also like to acknowledge that the extended community supported this event. Town and Country Landscape Supplies came through with a delivery of soil to patch some of the worst muddy areas. Beaudesert Hotel assisted with the stock for the bar. The Exchange Shed collected and counted more than 4000 cans for recycling, and the local police ensured that everyone had a good night.

When this newsletter is published the P and F would have just wrapped our Mother's Day Stall. This has been a work of love by Kristy over the last few months, and her dedication is evident in the variety of items available at different price points. We are appreciative of the help offered to us by the parents and the students at the stall. 

The P and F would also like to extend our thanks to local small, student-led enterprises The Classy Cowgirl and Finnickey, who have displayed and sold their products at the Mother's Day Stall.

To all the caregivers who support the Hills Community throughout the year we would like to express our gratitude.

If you have a suggestion where the P and F can make a positive impact at school, we would love to hear from you. Please email secretary@hillspf.com.

Answer: “You light up my life!”

Adam Healey
P and F President