Welcome to the next edition of the Hills Times, Primary Edition.
I had the absolute joy of spending a week with four other dedicated staff and 53 students at our Sydney and Canberra excursion for 2024. The week was a mixture of excitement, energy, goal setting, knowledge demonstration, social development, and new learning. Our students are truly exceptional, and as the Head of Primary, to receive such frequent and heartfelt positive messages from venue operators, tour guides, and members of the broader community about our students' conduct and character fills me with pride.
For many of our students, being away from loved ones for such an extended time was a challenge. The way our students set goals, strategised steps, and immersed themselves in the itinerary was impressive. Equally, it took a fabulous support team, consisting of our Year 6 teachers, Deputy Head of Primary, and Head of Administration, to assist our students in having such an enriching and memorable experience. Our staff always go above and beyond and this was demonstrated to support our students' learning and personal development in this experience. We know such growth has occurred when students commented that the week is going too fast! Well done to Year 6 students and well done to our staff, Angie Henry, Juliet Waud, Jodie Gilliam, and Stuart Ablitt.
In this edition, I am proud to showcase the wonderful learning undertaken by our students as they engage with specialist subjects. I hope you enjoy it.
Mr Matthew Noel
Head of Primary/Deputy Principal
matt.noel@hills.qld.edu.au
In the Spotlight with Primary Dance
As we move forward into an exciting phase of our Arts curriculum, we are thrilled to share with you the enriching dance experiences that the Year 1, Year 3, and Year 5 students have been engaging with this semester under the transdisciplinary theme, How We Express Ourselves.
Expression: Dance is not only a form of artistic expression but also a medium through which we can explore and understand cultural traditions and personal emotions. This semester, our young dancers have delved into the Elements of Dance (Space, Time, Dynamics, and Relationship) whilst challenging their fundamental movement skills. Revising these concepts through interactive activities and games has enhanced our understanding and application in various dance forms.
Cultural Traditions and Communication: Our guided inquiry into the exploration of how different cultures use dance as a form of communication and celebration has allowed us to learn about specific dances from around the world, discovering the stories and traditions embedded in each style. This global perspective aims to broaden our appreciation of dance as a universal language of expression.
Student-Driven Choreography: Recently this term, students have had the opportunity to plan, create and perform their own choreography. Using the natural stimuli of seasons, animals, and the elements (fire, water, earth, air), students have crafted dance pieces and movement phrases that reflect their interpretations and emotional responses to these themes. This creative process is pivotal in nurturing our ability to express ideas and emotions confidently and creatively through movement.
The Arts as a Form of Communication: We believe in the power of the arts to convey messages and emotions that words alone cannot. Through dance, we are able to explore how movement can be structured to communicate effectively, enabling us to appreciate and utilise the arts as a powerful tool for expression.
We are eager to see the creativity and insight that our students will bring to their upcoming classroom performances. We believe that these experiences will not only enhance their skills as dancers but also enrich their understanding of themselves and the world around them.
The images showcase the following:
Finding Out: Dance- This semester we explored the dance element of “Dynamics”, the force or energy applied to each movement. We experimented with slow and fluid movements and challenged our bodies by holding a 'sustained' movement for a short length of time. We found out how important balance is when dancing and moving.
Sorting Out: Dance -This semester we explored the element of 'relationships' and enjoyed experimenting with ‘contrast and complementary’ movements. We created a 16-count movement sequence demonstrating 'contrast' movements with a partner. We were very proud of our mini-performance.
We look forward to an exciting term full of movement, expression, and creativity!
Miss Landers
Dance Teacher
In the Spotlight with Health and Physical Education
This term has been an exciting one for H/PE land! In preparation for our Week 6 athletics carnivals, all primary students have been working hard to practice and refine the skills needed to participate in each event. It has provided us with an exciting opportunity to work hand-in-hand with secondary classes, who have helped guide our smaller school friends through the steps needed to be successful with our throwing and jumping skills. While students have been collaborating with a variety of age groups, it has been wonderful to see them embrace each other’s diverse skill levels, and foster mentorship, teamwork, and resilience.
Along with the practical skills, our year prep-two students have been exploring how regular physical activity keeps us healthy and well. Investigations into what ‘physical activity’ means and different ways to move our bodies have been fun. It has been wonderful to watch the students recognise what happens in and out of their bodies after physical activity, and how this makes them feel.
Year 1 students have been lucky enough to be back in the pool at Splash Flagstone this term, learning about safety in and around the water, correct swim strokes, and being provided with the confidence needed to spend time in the water. I cannot wait to see what other exciting things lie ahead in the world of Primary HPE!
Miss West, Mr. K, Mr. Moffett
HPE Teachers
Life Education
It was a pleasure to have Life Education and Healthy Harold work with our Prep-6 students during Week 6. These sessions are a valuable part of our Primary student's Health and Personal Development and we thank facilitator Sara and of course Harold for providing our students with invaluable learning.
In the Spotlight with Primary Digital Technology
Here are some images of the exciting activities that have happened across the Primary school in Digital Technologies.
Our wonderful Year 1 students were proficient at building a timeline of computer models. The students required no teacher assistance with the task!
Year 2 students have been investigating how to conserve resources. We used the Lego We Do programmable kits to build a recycling truck. The students followed a step-by-step guide to create their build. The students programmed their vehicles so that the tipper tray could be lifted.
Year 3 has just embarked on the task of programming robots to move around a physical map of the school. We look forward to sharing photos in the next edition of the newsletter.
One activity, undertaken by Year 6, involved looking at how preferential voting works. The candidates in our mock election were a selection of Arnott’s biscuits.
Ms Rachel Carter
Primary Digital Technologies Teacher
In the Spotlight with Primary Music
Our Prep students have been learning about making music and practicing their best singing voices. Year 2 students have been learning all about music from different countries; our Year 4 students had a lot of fun learning to play the Blues on Ukulele, whilst our Year 6s have been learning about Samba Drumming. Between focused musical listening, learning to perform, and creating our own music, students have had a wonderful time expressing themselves through sound!
Mr Lawrence Gratton
Primary Music Teacher
The Year 6 Sydney-Canberra Tour 2024
This year, our Year 6 cohort embarked on an unforgettable journey to Sydney and Canberra, with their teachers, Mr Noel, Mr Ablitt and Ms Gilliam. This educational tour wasn’t just about sightseeing; it was a deep dive into civics and citizenship, where students learned valuable lessons that will shape their understanding of governance and their roles as responsible citizens.
Our students are to be applauded for the exemplary behaviour displayed on tour. From the moment they stepped on the plane, they embodied the values of respect, responsibility, and cooperation. Their conduct not only impressed our teachers but also garnered praise from other tourists and guides.
Being away from home for an extended period can be a challenge for young students, but our Year 6 cohort rose to the occasion with remarkable resilience and independence. They embraced new experiences with enthusiasm, whether it was navigating the halls of Parliament House or engaging in interactive workshops on democracy and decision-making. The real magic of this tour was witnessing our students apply theoretical knowledge gained from the classroom to real-life situations.
Beyond academic learning, this tour fostered personal growth. Many students, away from the comforts of home, discovered newfound independence and confidence. They learned to manage their time, navigate unfamiliar environments, and collaborate with peers to solve challenges. Our Year 6 students returned not just with memories of iconic landmarks but with a deeper understanding of their roles as active participants in society. They are now equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully to their communities and uphold the values of our College.
We thank our families for entrusting us to provide their children with such an enriching experience. The Australian Government also recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards some of those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school by mid-term 3.
We commend our Year 6 students for their outstanding behaviour, resilience, and eagerness to learn and we hope that the Canberra Tour was a transformative experience that will resonate with our students for years to come.
Mrs Angie Henry and Ms Juliet Waud
Year 6 Teachers
In the spotlight with Primary Art
This term it is the Year 1 and Year 3 students’ turn to be creative in the Art room. By following the Unit of Inquiry: ‘How We Express Ourselves’, they explore a wide variety of different materials and techniques.
Under the Central Idea of ‘The Arts help us to Communicate’, The Year 1 students learnt about the Erub Arts Centre in the Torres Strait and the beautiful artworks created by local artists. Made from abandoned fishing nets, the Torres Strait Islanders’ artworks draw attention to pollution and climate change in and around Erub Island. The students understood that abandoned fishing nets are called ‘ghost nets’, and these cause damage to marine life. Through their own artworks they were able to make this connection by applying ink washes and salt for the sea and adding drawings of turtles and fish using coloured pencils. Fragments of netting were added to their artworks to communicate the environmental issue. For the remainder of the term, they will be creating large colourful fish using collage techniques and oil pastels.
The Year 3 students’ Central Idea is to ‘explore cultural expression through the Arts’. They viewed examples of different masks from around the world and increased their knowledge by responding to questions. Using three-dimensional masks with combined headdresses, they learnt how to apply specific techniques for building up the surface texture before adding paint and detail. We are looking forward to seeing their final creations and hope to present them at a future Primary school assembly.
Ms Caroline Barnard
Art Teacher
Hills Early Learning Centre Parking request
We kindly request that families refrain from parking in the Hills Early Learning Centre (HELC) car park. This area is reserved exclusively for HELC users who need space for dropping off and picking up their children.
Families with students attending the College are asked not to park in this area for extended periods. The HELC car park is intended for short-term use only, to facilitate smooth and efficient pick-up and drop-off for HELC families.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.