Each morning and afternoon, one of the highlights of my day is standing at the crossing to greet students and families. It is an opportunity to check in, share a smile, and feel the sense of community that makes Hills so special. Whether it is a quick chat about a student’s day or a conversation with a parent, these moments at the crossing are a reminder of the pride our community takes in our College.

I am continually impressed by the energy and enthusiasm that our students and families show each day. There’s a sense of connection as students arrive ready to take on the challenges and joys of learning, and as families engage in a myriad of conversations. These connections are a vital part of what makes Hills a nurturing and welcoming environment, and I want to thank everyone for the spirit you bring to our school.

Community is a cornerstone at Hills, fostering a sense of belonging, connection, and mutual support essential to every student's growth. Last Thursday's Hills Halloween event was a testament to this, as families, students, and staff came together in a safe and vibrant environment, celebrating with creativity and shared joy. The evening was filled with outstanding costumes, laughter, and lasting memories that showcased the unity and enthusiasm of our Hills community. We were especially grateful for the positive communication from families, whose collaboration and commitment helped ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for all. Events like these highlight the strength of our community, where respect, safety, and support for one another allow everyone to thrive.

I wholeheartedly congratulate our Year 12 students on their journey at Hills. Next Friday officially marks 13 years of dedication, resilience, and countless memories made along the way. The students have each left a unique mark on our community, inspiring those around them and paving the way for future students. Congratulations to our class of 2024! The Hills family will always be cheering them on, and we sincerely wish them all the very best for their future endeavours.

I am pleased to officially welcome back Mr Kevin Lynch and extend my heartfelt thanks for the outstanding leadership he brings to our College. It has been an honour to serve as Acting Principal during his absence and I thank our community for their support. As we recognise the exceptional work Mr Lynch has done in guiding Hills through his tenure, we also prepare to honour him in these final weeks of 2024 as he leads us into his well-deserved retirement.

Wishing you a safe and joyous weekend!

Mr Matthew Noel
Acting Principal

Welcome Back! 

We are delighted to welcome back Mr Lynch to his role as Principal following his well-deserved long service leave overseas. As he returns, Mr Lynch is determined to focus on celebrating the end of the year with a spotlight on student success and achievement. Additionally, he is preparing for a smooth transition and handover in light of his upcoming retirement, ensuring a lasting legacy for our community.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to Mr Noel, who has provided outstanding leadership as Acting Principal during Mr Lynch’s absence. His dedication to maintaining our College’s high standards and fostering a positive environment for students and staff alike has been remarkable. We are grateful for his guidance and are pleased to welcome him back to his role as Head of Primary.

Forming Connections - Year 7 2025 Transition Day

Last week, Hills proudly welcomed all Year 7 students for 2025 to our campus for a Transition Day, as part of the Forming Connections program. This annual event unites our current Year 6 students with new students joining the College, offering them an early experience of high school life.

Throughout the day, our students engaged in a range of activities and received valuable insights from Secondary staff, who shared guidance about what to expect in Year 7. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to connect, make new friends, and begin their journey together as the incoming cohort of 2025.

A big thank you goes out to the staff who worked behind the scenes to make this day a success! From organising activities to providing support and guidance, your efforts created a welcoming environment that set the tone for a smooth and positive transition. We’re excited to see how this new group of Year 7 students will grow and succeed as they move forward!

Building Foundation - Prep 2025

Over the last two weeks, we’ve been thrilled to welcome our new Prep 2025 students to Hills through our Building Foundations Program. This carefully designed program allows our newest learners to spend time in their new environment, where they begin to feel comfortable, connect with their surroundings, and meet the friendly faces they’ll be on this educational journey with in 2025.

Throughout these sessions, Mr Noel and I have enjoyed meeting with our new Prep parents, sharing key information about the coming year, and introducing them to our welcoming Hills community. These gatherings provide a fantastic opportunity for parents to connect, build friendships, and start forming their own supportive network within our school.

A special thank you goes to our Prep 2025 teachers, who have expertly facilitated each session, ensuring our new students feel at home from the start. We’re also grateful to our wonderful P & F volunteers, who have generously attended each gathering to showcase the fantastic work they do and provide delicious snacks and refreshments for parents.

We look forward to our final Building Foundations session next Wednesday, where we’ll continue building connections and celebrating the beginning of our Prep 2025 journey. Welcome to the Hills family, Prep 2025!

Mr Stuart Ablitt

Deputy Head of Primary 

In the Spotlight with 1C

In 1C, we've been busy learning about the fascinating world of animals and habitats. Our recent project has focused on researching animal facts and writing information reports, where we’re learning to gather, organise, and present information in an engaging way. We’re discovering amazing things about various animals, from the fastest land creatures to deep-sea dwellers and their unique adaptations for survival.

An exciting part of our study has been exploring how different animals are connected to their habitats. We’ve learned that every habitat, whether it’s a rainforest, desert, ocean, or grassland, provides specific resources that animals need to survive. For example, polar bears rely on icy habitats to hunt seals, while camels have adaptations that help them thrive in hot, dry deserts. To support our learning, we have two incursions planned, one with Gekos that we had last week and one with Ocean Life this week. The students loved learning about the different animals from Gekos!

Alongside our animal studies, we’ve been working on identifying, repeating, and growing patterns. From spotting patterns in nature, like animal stripes or seasonal migrations, to creating our own number and colour patterns, we’re developing a strong foundation in recognising order and prediction. Learning about patterns helps us see how things are organised in nature and prepares us for more complex math skills.

We’ve also been focusing on collecting and analysing data. We have been gathering information on various topics, such as class preferences. We’ve then created graphs and charts to display our findings, learning to look for trends and draw conclusions. Analysing data helps us make sense of information and develop critical thinking skills that are useful across many subjects.

It’s been an exciting term filled with discoveries, and we’re eager to share our knowledge about animals, habitats, patterns, and data with our families and friends.

Mrs Jasmine Boehm

Year 1C Teacher

Secondary Insights

As we approach the final stretch of Term 4, I want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable achievements and events that have marked this period. Teaching staff this term continue to plan teaching and learning experiences for our students to finalise this year. Further to this, our Year 12 students worked so diligently with their Year 12 examinations.

We are eagerly anticipating the official opening of our new Health and Physical Education Centre in early November. This state-of-the-art facility will not only enhance our HPE curriculum but will also support the beach volleyball courts and add an exciting new dimension to our sports offerings, enabling students to engage in unique athletic opportunities that promote both teamwork and skill development.

Thank you to all parents who attended our Parent-Teacher Interviews earlier this term. These conversations are invaluable as they provide insights into student progress, growth, and areas for future development. Your continued support and engagement play a vital role in helping our students excel and I encourage parents to reach out for further discussions if needed as we finalise this academic year.

We recently returned from a wonderful trip to Japan, where nine students, along with staff members Mr Whaley and Mrs Skelton, experienced an enriching cultural exchange with our sister schools, Seibudai High School in Chiba and Kaisai International School in Kobe. The homestays fostered meaningful connections and a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity and I know that the memories and friendships created will last a lifetime.

We now look forward to our upcoming trip to China April 2025, for which more details will be provided shortly.

As we prepare for the conclusion of the term, I encourage students to continue their diligent efforts and maintain focus across all learning experiences. The remaining weeks are a valuable time to consolidate learning and finish the year strongly.

Thank you all for your continued commitment and collaboration. I look forward to celebrating a successful conclusion to the school year with you.

Mrs Julie-Anne Skelton

Head of Secondary

Teaching and Learning - The Arts - Media Arts

Our Year 7 Media Arts students have been exploring the world of photography and digital imaging. They have extended their skills in using the College's new DSLR cameras and editing their images in Photoshop.

Students have been challenged to create a portfolio of images representing their interpretation of the theme 'People, Places and Things'. This has provided scope for the students to experiment with landscape and nature photography, portraiture and action photography, or using our new light tents to take product or object photography. 

The students are also asked to consider the real-world applications for their photographs, and to propose how they plan to present and share their work with an audience.

Mr Christopher Borg

Head of Faculty- Technologies

Teacher Media Arts

Teaching and Learning- The Arts- Visual Art

It is wonderful to see the Art room continue to be a vibrant and busy creative space with many students making use of their lunch time to drop in and work on their art.

Year 7 Visual Art students are creating their own three-dimensional Mexican inspired Alebrijes using papier mâché and paint. They gained a broad understanding of traditional and contemporary Mexican art forms as well as an increased knowledge of different materials and techniques within the classroom.

Year 8 and 9 students are making their own three-dimensional puppet. They are learning how to create different joining techniques to enable the puppet to move and are performing in front of an audience to present operational skills.

Year 10 Visual Art students are exploring a Unit called ‘Symbolism in Art’ with a focus on the human skull. They were introduced to a range of traditional and contemporary artists who have focused on this theme. They need to demonstrate a variety of different applications and techniques to create a final artwork.

Following on from their recent incursion by the artist Tamara Armstrong, Year 11 students continue to work on their experimental artworks for IA1.

Ms Caroline Barnard

Visual Art Teacher

Teaching and Learning- The Arts - Music

In Year 7 Music, students are studying a unit on Popular Music. During the unit, they explore the elements of music in the context of a wide range of repertoire.

In Year 8 and Year 9 Music, students are studying a unit on “Music and Place”. ‘Music and Place’ focuses on Australian music, exploring traditional Aboriginal music and modern pop, and its links to Australian culture and heritage. Students explore the elements of music in the context of a range of musical styles, as well as developing their performance and composition skills.

In Year 10 Music, students are studying a unit called ‘Musical Horizons’. ‘Musical Horizons’ focused on playing Indonesian Gamelan music and creating a composition using Soundtrap software.

In Year 11 Music, students have been studying a unit entitled, ‘Designs', which explores the following question; 'How does the treatment and combination of different music elements enable musicians to design music that communicates meaning through performance and composition?'

Dr Julia Pope

Head of The Arts

Teaching and Learning- Health and Physical Education

In this week's Health and Physical Education (HPE) lessons, students participated in activities designed to improve physical fitness and develop an understanding of the different components that contribute to overall health. They explored how fitness is made of various elements such as flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance. 

Through a range of exercises, students discovered how these components work together to keep the body fit and strong, while also reflecting on how to set personal fitness goals for everyday life.

Mrs Leah Stone

Head of Faculty - HPE

Teaching and Learning - Year 7 Excursion to the Mathema Gallery

On Thursday 31 October, the Year 7 students took a trip to Ocean View, Queensland, to visit the Mathema Gallery. During this visit, students were able to explore the binary system of numbers that is the mathematics for computers, search Pascal’s triangle to find connections to binary, follow the development of the abacus from Greece to Rome to Asia, learn calculating methods such as Napier’s rods, Lattice multiplication and logarithms using a slide rule and study the connection of weaving looms to computers.

They also explored the origins of the method we use to write numbers and learned about the mathematics used in our modern GPS.

The gallery showcases the mathematics from early human civilisations including the Ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and from the Indus Valley and shows who were the first to use negative numbers and who had possibly the earliest zero.

They also explored the mathematics from Early Chinese dynasties, as well as mathematical mysteries from the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilisations.

Mrs Sharon Rummins

Head of Faculty - Mathematics

Operations in October

We have had an amazing month with Operations in Mathematics and how this applies to all of our Teaching and Learning. Our amazing Head of Faculty for Mathematics has led the way. Being an effective teacher is one that comes with being current. Thank you Mrs Rummins!

Arts Production Update

The 2025 College Production preparation is well underway. The performances will be in mid-October at the Centre Beaudesert. Auditions have taken place. The talent this time round is outstanding! We have had students from Year 4 through to Year 11 show us their theatrical best. Heroic heroes, evil villains and very helpful sidekicks!

Secondary Pick-up Area Notice

We are really pleased that parents and students are finding the Secondary pick-up area so convenient.

Unfortunately, we have recently received reports that students are waiting for parents on areas of grass and garden that are the property of the Jimboomba House Restaurant.  This has led to damage to several white border posts installed at the restaurant to aid with parking and safety.

Please do not direct your children to wait for you to pick them up in areas that are outside the restaurant. This includes the mown lawns, steps, gardens and borders beyond the swamp tea tree copse just past the concrete waiting area.

I would also like to remind parents that the waiting area is not a pick-up point in itself.  Students must be collected from the other (shed) side of the carpark, so as not to block entrance to other traffic, which causes congestion and safety hazards.

We appreciate your support in this matter.

Uniform - Hats

I'd like to remind all families about the importance of sun protection, particularly given Australia’s uniquely strong UV exposure. Here at the College, we are dedicated to ensuring our students’ safety while on campus, and wearing a hat outdoors is a key part of this protection.

Please note that, in response to the risks posed by prolonged UV exposure, Secondary students who are found outside classrooms without a hat will no longer receive warnings. Instead, we will be implementing a system of immediate consequences to reinforce this essential habit. Detentions are being assigned at this time, and we encourage your support in helping your child remember to bring and wear their hat every day.  This includes ensuring that your child has both sports and formal hats, and that their hats are labelled in such a way that the name is clearly visible.  We do not recommend writing names on the labels, as these fade, fray, and are easily ripped off.

This approach is part of our commitment to instilling responsibility and safeguarding student health, and we appreciate your partnership in this important matter. Please feel free to reach out with any questions to ben.pope@hills.qld.edu.au 

Mr Ben Pope

Head of Wellbeing

Social Sensory Area for Lower Primary Students

The social sensory area is designed specifically for our lower primary students to provide them with a quieter, more structured place at lunch break. This special space provides a calm, structured environment where students can engage in fun, skill-building activities with the support of a nearby adult.

This area was created to give our youngest learners a chance to practice and develop their social skills in a friendly, supportive setting. With a variety of activities available—including classic games like Twister, hands-on construction projects, drawing stations, and a selection of board games—students are encouraged to explore, connect, and collaborate with their peers in a meaningful way.

Each activity in the social sensory area has been chosen to promote essential social skills such as sharing, taking turns, communication, and teamwork. An adult supervisor is always present to guide interactions and provide gentle support, ensuring that students feel comfortable and confident as they engage with others.

The students who attend enjoy having a variety of games and activities to choose from in a welcoming space, whether they’re building a tower, working on a group drawing, or playing a board game, students are learning how to interact respectfully and build positive relationships.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the social sensory area, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your support in making our school a welcoming, inclusive environment for all! 

Mrs Tracy Ashbridge

Head of Inclusive Education

EAL/D Student Support - Primary

I have had the pleasure of working with some of our EAL/D Primary students this term, working with a Year 1-2 group, and then a 3-5 group. These incredible students are working hard in class, and are learning in their second or even third language! Together we have been playing with language, looking at sentence patterns, parts of speech, and practicing conversational English. They have also been working with Mrs Hall in Inclusive Education as well, and Mrs Hall and I have seen some wonderful improvement in these children.

This week, I invited the Year 1-2 students into our High School Preparation class. Together with Japanese intern Kazuaki, the students participated in a conversation train! Changing 'stations' (partners) every few minutes, students were able to speak to new people on a variety of topics. How wonderful to see students from India, Japan, China and Korea sharing their thoughts while having fun!

Homestay in 2025

I will be looking for more homestay families in 2025. If you have a room available and would love to share your home with an international or interstate visitor, please reach out to me. I will have short-term and long-term homestay students arriving, and I am predicting a busy 2025! Homestay is a culturally enriching experience for your family.

Year 12 Congratulations

I would like to say a personal congratulations and thank you to our departing Year 12 international and homestay students. They have been incredible young people to work with. I admire their diligence and resilience as they have completed their studies away from their own support networks. I wish all the best to;

• CJ Steyn - South Africa
• Joshua Chan - Hong Kong
• Chester Tang - Hong Kong
• Saxxon Ford - Regional NSW
• Simon Doroshenko-Smith - Central QLD
• India Carroll - Far North QLD
• Georgia Theron - NT

Similarly, I would also like to thank their homestay families for their support and care of these students;

• Sharp family
• McLachlan family
• Tate family
• Peters family
• Clark family
• Ogoti family
• Lee family

Thank you!

Mrs Vanessa Newbery

Head of International Programs

vanessa.newbery@hills.qld.edu.au

As the golfing year draws to an end, it is both remarkable and rewarding to see many of our students producing personal best performances with their scores.

Our youngest and smallest student Sarang Kim has been shooting personal bests with regularity since breaking 100 for the first time on 1 August.

Two months later 2 October she broke through the 90-barrier, carding an 89 then recording two more personal bests before going around in this week’s Wednesday game in yet another PB of 85.

Other students have been producing their best rounds recently; Keeratikorn Sakdikornthanasiri 67 -4, Danny Lin 68 -3, Bryan Heng 69 -2, Taj Khinda 82, Hyunjong Lee 99, and Sosuke Teraya 104. It is rewarding and satisfying to see their improvement unfold and the confidence benefits to them are unmeasurable. It is highly motivating for them to keep striving to improve.

Congratulations to Hills Golf Alumni Mirabel Ting and Ashley Lau who both recently competed in the LPGA Maybank Championship. Playing together in one of the later groups on the final day, they both carded -2 under par rounds of 70, with Mirabel finishing -12 and T12th and Ashley finishing -11 T18th place. 

This is a truly remarkable performance by both in a world class professional event on the richest and most competitive ladies golf tour in the world. Congratulations to the pair of you, fantastically well played.

Q: Why did the tomato turn red in the hot weather?

Upcoming General Meeting – November 12

Don’t miss our final meeting of the year! We’d love to see as many of you there as possible. It’s a perfect opportunity to find out what’s happening in the new year, to stay connected and involved with our community.

If you have any questions you’d like to raise that might need a bit of consultation or input from staff, please send them ahead of time to Mr Lynch or email secretary@hillspf.com so we can add them to the agenda and cover them in the meeting. 

Of course, feel free to bring up any other thoughts or questions on the night, too.

All discussions and outcomes from the meeting will be shared with the community via our Facebook Page and on Parent Orbit.

Halloween Success

A big thank you to Mrs Joelle Parer and the Year 11 students for their incredible effort in organising a spectacular Halloween night! Their hard work brought together an unforgettable event for staff, students and parents alike.

A special shout-out to Hayley Neal for capturing amazing photos from the night, preserving the fun memories of this "fang-tastic" evening!

Awards Ceremony

Congratulations to all students who have been nominated for awards on Friday 15 November! Being recognised for outstanding achievements, whether academic, athletic, or community-focused, is a testament to the hard work, dedication and community spirit of each nominee.

We’re incredibly proud of the integrity, compassion and diligence displayed by these students, and this awards ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments.

We’re especially excited to announce at the ceremony, the recipient of the Hills College P & F Award, recognising an outstanding student for their amazing contributions in our community, so watch this space!

Last Day for Year 12

Next Friday is also especially meaningful for our Year 12 students, as it marks their final official day of school. To honour this significant milestone, we invite Year 12 parents to join in a cherished tradition: the tunnel of support.

Following the awards ceremonies, family members, friends, teachers, and fellow students will line up to form a 'tunnel' through which our graduating students will walk. It’s a symbolic and heartfelt
gesture, representing the collective pride and encouragement of the entire school community as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

The tunnel ceremony has become one of the most memorable moments of the school year, as it encapsulates our school spirit, unity, and the deep connections that have been fostered over the years. We encourage Year 12 parents and community members to attend, celebrate, and help create a truly unforgettable send-off for our Year 12 students. Let’s show our graduating class that they leave behind a legacy and a school that will always support them.

Christmas Raffle

Starting at the end of next week, our Year 11 students, with the support of the P & F, are launching one of their final fundraisers of the year – the Christmas Raffle!

A big shoutout to the family businesses who have generously donated prizes to make it all happen – we couldn't do it without you!

The raffle is packed with a fantastic selection of prizes for all ages, so be sure to grab a ticket or ten if you’d like to be in the running. You’ll be helping our amazing future Year 12 students with their fundraising efforts towards their formal next year.

Fidget Sale Extravaganza

We’ll be hosting one more fidget sale on Friday 22 November, bringing you a special edition of fidgets that are Christmas-themed.

Whether you're a seasoned fidget fan or just in the mood for something new and exciting, there's a perfect find waiting for you. So don't miss out on this awesome selection of stress-busting toys and gadgets!

A Special Thanks to our Community

We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Subway for their generous support during our Prep orientation mornings. The cookies went down a treat and were a great ice-breaker as we welcomed our new families and students to our wonderful community.

We appreciate Subway's commitment to our school community and their thoughtful contributions to our students’ experience.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank YOU, our incredible community for all your support and generosity! Your contributions, enthusiasm, and involvement make everything we do possible.

From the students and families to the local businesses and volunteers, each one of you plays a vital role in making our events and initiatives such a success. We’re so grateful to be part of such a warm and caring community. Thank you for making a difference!

A: Because it saw the salad dressing!