Issue 02 2018

Term 1 Week 3

February 14 2018

www.hccs.sa.edu.au

PO BOX 120 VERDUN SA 5245 Email: enquiries@hccs.sa.edu.au Phone: (08) 8388 7811 Fax: (08) 8388 1308

Playgroup ~ Early Learning Centre ~ Primary ~ Secondary

'A Christian school community, helping children learn and grow to achieve their potential'.

And so it is with very mixed emotions that I write this; as proud as I and the staff are of their achievements and of the young adults we have watched them turn into, there is also a degree of sadness in that this will be the last time these individuals with such a wide range of personalities, gifts and interests are discussed as a group of HCCS students. We look forward to seeing the next phase of their lives unfold as HCCS alumni; as we do the next phase of the School as an ELC—Year 12 institution. We trust that God’s plan for each of their lives will be revealed to them, with His love lighting the way:

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

And we pray that these students continue to be beacons of your love as they go forth into the ‘real’ world:

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to the success of the students over their schooling careers at HCCS. We wish them God’s richest blessings in all that they do into the future.

In His Service,

Donovan Shaw (Head of Secondary)

2017 Year 12 Graduates

Dear parents and caregivers,

For those of you who haven’t yet heard, HCCS Secondary has grown up! We now have our first group of alumni, and overall they have made us very proud. Their Year 12 results were fantastic:

30% achieved an ATAR in the TOP 10% NATIONALLY (above 90)

50% of students in the TOP 15% NATIONALLY

percentage of all grades that were A+ (6%), and in A and B bands were above state averages; percentage in C band below state average

100% SACE completion

First Dux of the School – Chloe Gillespie achieved an ATAR of 92.1, followed closely by Alice Hannaford and Ella Havriluk

For our first lot of Year 12 results at HCCS to be at this level is a testament to the commitment of the students, their amazingly committed teachers and support staff, and of course their parents. Without downplaying these results at all, they are just numbers. More important to us as HCCS Educators is the career pathway that each HCCS student will take, and the kind of person they will become; in the image of God. Another advantage of a ‘boutique school’ is that I can tell you what each student will be doing, rather than just giving the ‘average.’

It’s also worth mentioning that 5 of the 8 students who applied to University in 2018 were offered their first preference of courses. Perhaps just as pleasing, and representative of the Christian Community culture at HCCS is that several of the students will attend a ‘Commencement Camp’ next week, run by a Chapter of the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical (University) Students.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR OUR 2017 YEAR 12 GRADUATES! Turn to Page 4 to find out what they are doing now.

2018 Parent Information Evenings

Wednesday, February 14

6.30pm - 7.15pm Year 3 (Grant, Shepherd)

Year 4 (Wishart, Shepherd)

7.15pm - 7.30pm meet the Staff in Beaumont

7.30pm - 8.15pm Year 5 (Boucaut, March)

Year 6 (Karczewski, Hammat)

Thursday, February 15

6.30pm - 7.15pm ELC

Please support your child’s learning in 2018 by attending these important sessions.

Page 2 Fa i th ~ Nur tur e ~ Commun i ty ~ Learn ing

Prayer & Praise Points praise God for a fun shrove Tuesday

praise God for the success of our Year 12 Graduates

pray for the Parent Information Evenings

pray for the Community Conversations with Tony Fielke

pray for the Harvey and Inkster family and their parents/grandparents

TODAY, we had members of the ADELAIDE CROWS

‘Growing with Gratitude’ team visit HCCS. The children

were very excited about the event and our special

visitors. Each of the children also received a sticker, a

poster, a flyer and a poster for their classroom. They

learnt about:

1. An Attitude of Gratitude — Kids are shown to think

about, discuss and record the things they are grateful

for in their lives and environment.

2. Random Acts of Kindness — The kids are shown to

plan for and regularly complete small acts of kindness.

3. Positive reflection — The kids are guided to reflect

on and record the things that they are grateful for

and any positive experiences they have.

4. Wellbeing warriors —The kids choose to complete a

minimum of 15 minutes of exercise, read five pages of

a book, make healthy food choices, or complete a

mindfulness activity each day.

5. Operation home service — Students are guided to

plan ways they can regularly help out at home e.g.

doing the dishes or cooking dinner.

We look forward to meeting some CROWS PLAYERS

when they visit us at HCCS on Monday, February 26 for

a kicking and autograph session. GO THE CROWS!!!!

All HCCS families are invited

When

THIS SUNDAY, February 18 Coffee at 10.30am

Service begins at 11am

Where

C3 Church, Hahndorf

HCCS Staff Dedication Service

Page 3 Fa i th ~ Nur tur e ~ Commun i ty ~ Learn ing

SCHOOL BILLING We have unforeseen delays in our billing process. We now anticipate that your accounts will be distributed early next week. Please contact the school office finance department should you wish to clarify your position.

Kiss and Drop

SAFETY REQUEST!!! If traffic is congested, PLEASE park your car near the Verdun Hall and walk to School via the School Crossing and pick up your child/ren.

PANCAKES! PANCAKES! PANCAKES!

THANK YOU to the Year 8 helpers, the students who arrived early to set up and to Mr Bull who set up and cleaned up afterwards. THANK YOU to everyone who purchased pancakes. The proceeds are going to the ORPHANAGE in FIJI.

PANCAKES! PANCAKES! PANCAKES! THANK YOU Mr Wishart, Mrs Shepherd, Year 4 students and parents for making Pancake Day so deliciously successful! THANK YOU to everyone who purchased pancakes. The proceeds are going towards our 3 SPONSOR CHILDREN from COMPASSION. Over 1200 pancakes were cooked … and that was just at the Primary School!

Please bring your tokens into the Front Office via your child’s class baskets. THANK YOU for your support!

Page 4 Fa i th ~ Nur tur e ~ Commun i ty ~ Learn ing

Adam Brown will be doing a Certificate IV in Education and Care, as well as a 6 month foundation course at Flinders University, which acts as a pathway into a Bachelor of Education (Primary). Some of you may have seen him in ELC and Junior Primary classes last year while completing his Certificate III course, and if so would know that he is born to work with younger kids.

Ethan Fleming will begin a Bachelor in Mathematical and Computer Sciences course at the University of Adelaide, and will later look to transfer into Mechanical (Aerospace) Engineering. Those who know Ethan will know how courageous he has been to get to this point despite a physical disability that he has never let define him.

Chloe Gillespie will begin a Bachelor of Interior Architecture at UniSA in 2019 after taking a ‘gap year’ in 2018 to work, travel and build her online business. Those who heard her Dux speech in Monday’s Opening Worship and Induction service would agree that she gave an excellent representation of the mature young woman she has become, and the role her HCCS education has had in her development from Reception through to Year 12.

Isabell Grellet is applying for PE Teacher Assistant positions during a gap year this year, before most likely beginning a Certificate IV in Fitness in 2019. Although she isn’t 100% certain of her chosen career path as yet, her two years at HCCS have helped provide a broader foundation, and greater confidence in whatever her next phase will bring.

Alice Hannaford will begin a Bachelor of Food Sciences and Nutrition at UniSA in 2019 after a gap year this year, although she hasn’t completely let go of her passion for graphic design, and depending on how things go this year may change direction. Alice achieved better results than she would have dreamt of even two years ago, and told me she realised that more important than the subjects chosen is how hard you work. Alice is living testament to this fact.

Ella Havriluk was ecstatic to be offered entry to the Bachelor of Sciences (Advanced) at the University of Adelaide: “No feeling can match the feeling of accomplishment!” This is an exciting course yours truly would have liked to have done, and she cannot wait to get started in a few weeks. True to form, she has offered to come back and help with our Student Leadership retreat next week.

Blake Kelley is working solidly at the moment while considering his options, including pursuing a career in film editing and 3D visual effects. He has ample creative talent in this area and won an award for his animation during the inaugural 3D Animation VET course at HCCS in 2016.

Isabella Shillabeer will soon begin a double degree combination of Bachelor of Human Movement and Bachelor of Food Science and Nutrition at UniSA. After initially wanting to take a gap year, she decided to start this course now after getting in somewhat unexpectedly, and will see where it takes her. Her experience as School Captain will stand her in good stead whichever way she goes.

Jordana Shillabeer will begin a Bachelor of International Development at the University of Adelaide later this year. Her experience during her exchange trip to Germany late last year strengthened her interest in both travel and international issues and she is looking forward to the options this course will open up.

Deborah Symons will soon begin a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in creative writing at the University of Adelaide. She is pleased with this outcome and being able to take a broad range of courses that will help her develop her skills as a naturally gifted creative writer.

Andrew Miroslawski is taking a working gap year whilst pursuing a career in music. He will be playing in a band he helped create, including writing and eventually production. Although he enjoyed his time as part of the HCCS community, his schoolwork was often second fiddle to his passion and appreciation for music, to which he is now looking forward to fully applying his natural creativity.

Peter Willsmore will begin a Bachelor of Architectural Design at the University of Adelaide, and was the recipient of the Principal’s Scholarship, after the Principal Chris Riemann nominated 2 candidates of ‘high academic merit, who have also made a significant contribution to their school and to the wider community,’ and Peter, along with Isabella and the two Vice-Captains certainly fit this criteria.

“More important to us as HCCS Educators, is the career pathway that each HCCS student will take, and the kind of person they will become; in the image of God.” Donovan Shaw

One advantage of a ‘boutique school’ is that I can tell you what each student will be doing, rather than just giving the ‘average.” Donovan Shaw

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR OUR 2017 YEAR 12 GRADUATES!

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POSITIONS VACANT

The Hills Christian Community School is seeking enthusiastic Christian Educators for the following positions commencing in January 2018:

Early Learning After School Care Coordinator Assistant Director of our Out of School Care Service

Please refer to www.hccs.sa.edu.au/contact-us/employment/ for details.

The applications for the positions close Wednesday 21st February 2018.

Fa i th ~ Nur tur e ~ Commun i ty ~ Learn ing

At The Early Learning Centre, the children have two

BUSH KINDY sessions each week, this is our

‘Wild Work’. It gives the children time to connect to nature and practice skills and develop interests in a very real and purposeful manner.

They have been observing the changes in the

blackberry bushes during the past year and were very excited to discover that the berries are now ripe and ready to eat. They spent two mornings:

collecting the fruit

learning about safe harvesting

learning how to get the ripest fruit

how to avoid the thorns on the brambles.

All the children decided that tasting was better than picking. Once they had their fruit the children wanted to make muffins. Unfortunately due to the hot weather the chickens did not have any eggs for them.

Back at ELC the children:

researched a recipe for muffins using the internet

printed the recipe out

collected the ingredients

measured, weighed and mixed ingredients.

Once ready, the mix was put in the oven and the timer set. The children took their baking home to share with their family.

The next day their learning focus for ‘Wild Work’

involved apples. The children:

climbed trees

picked apples

cored apples

twisted apples

sliced apples

baked apple turnovers

We made so many we took 2 home to share.

These Bibles stay with the students throughout their primary schooling and are used regularly during Christian Education lessons and class devotions.

At HCCS, students are taught how to read the Bible and how the many stories fit together to form the narrative of God’s great love for each one of us. It is always really exciting when students discover a personal understanding of God’s love for themselves. Mark Grant

Mr Grant’s and Mr Shepherd’s Year 3 students were presented with their very own Bibles during Devotions on Monday.

Fa i th ~ Nur tur e ~ Commun i ty ~ Learn ing

2018 DATES TO REMEMBER FEBRUARY

Wed 14th PRIMARY Parent Information Evening

6.30pm - 7.15pm Year 3 (Grant, Shepherd)

Year 4 (Wishart, Shepherd)

7.15pm - 7.30pm meet the Staff

7.30pm - 8.15pm Year 5 (Boucaut, March)

Year 6 (Karczewski, Hammat)

Thurs 15th ELC Community Conversations with Tony Fielke

9am—10am in the Staff Room

Secondary Leadership Retreat

ELC Kindy photos

PRIMARY Parent Information Evening

6.30pm - 7.15pm ELC

Fri 16th Mr Carter’s Welcome Assembly with Year 7

Mon 19th Devotions — Year 2 N & Geoff Hurst

Wed 21st SRC Meeting 12.15pm

Year 8/ 9 Immunisations

Fri 23rd Mrs Kelly’s Welcome Assembly with Year 6K

Mon 26th Second Hand Uniform Shop Open 8:30am – 9:00am

Devotions — Year 5 M & Renee Saldanha

Crows Players REC—7 11.30am-12.30pm

MARCH

Thurs 1st REC—Year 3 Community Conversations with

Tony Fielke, 9am—10am in the Staff Room

Fri 2nd Assembly—Year 1 Team 2.45pm

Mon 5th Devotions — Year 7

Thurs 8th Year 11 Retreat

Fri 9th Sports Day

Year 11 Retreat

Mon 12th Adelaide Cup Public Holiday

Wed 14th Second Hand Uniform Shop Open 8:30am – 9:00am

Thurs 15th Year 4—7 Community Conversations with

Tony Fielke, 9am—10am in the Staff Room

Fri 16th Assembly—Year 3 Team

Mon 19th Devotions — Year 6 K & Bruce Williams

Tues 20th Combined OAS/HCCS Sportsday

Fri 23rd Assembly—Year 7

Mon 26th Easter Week Re-enactments

Wed 28th Easter Worship Service ELC —Year 12

Thurs 29th Secondary Community Conversations with

Tony Fielke, 9am—10am at Oakbank

Year 7 Sustainability Excursion

Fri 30th GOOD FRIDAY

APRIL

Mon 2nd EASTER MONDAY

Tues 3rd Principal's Tour PRIMARY 9.30am—11am

Parent/Teacher Interviews (Primary)

Wed 4th Parent/Teacher Interviews (Primary)

Fri 6th SAPSASA Athletics

Assembly—Year 6 Team

Mon 9th Devotions — Year 4 W

Second Hand Uniform Shop Open 3:00pm – 3:30pm

Thurs 5th Principal's Tour SECONDARY 9.30am—11am

Fri 13th Last day of Term 1

Non Uniform Day

Assembly—Year 2 Team

We hope all these people enjoy their birthdays THIS WEEK: Claire Johnson and Angas Provis.

Page 6

STUDENT ABSENCE

Email: enquiries@hccs.sa.edu.au

SMS: 0400 738 405 Primary

SMS: 0477 006 500 Secondary

Student Absentees is also available via the HCCS Website

HCCS Winter Basketball Registration forms have been sent home to boys and girls who are interested in playing basketball in Terms 2 and 3.

Please return your forms to the Front Office by Friday, February 23. For more information contact Belinda by phone on 0407609664 or by email: triggy1@adam.com.au

Running Club With Mrs Harvey

Wednesday Mornings

7.45am — 8.15am

Year 3 —Year 7 students

Meet at the Verdun Hall

Under 10 Girls Basketball Now Recruiting. HCCS/ Piranha U/10 Girls are looking for new players to come and join our team! The competition is open to those in Year 1 to Year 4 who do not turn 10 within the season. Trainings are Thursday mornings at HCCS from 8am—8:30am and games are Tuesday nights at the Mt Barker Recreational Centre. For more information or if you would like to come and take a look please contact Renee McCallum (Team Manager) on 0421356473.

Year 5-7 Debating Information Session Any Year 5 — 7 students interested in finding out more about the Debating competition our School is involved in are invited to an Information Workshop on Thursday, 15th February, in Room 20, at lunchtime from 1:15pm to 1:45pm.

This session will give students information about debating so they can make up their minds if it is something they want to be involved in this year. It will also outline the commitment involved in being a member of one of the Debating Teams. Mrs Boucaut (Debating Coordinator/Coach)

From the Counsellor Hello! my name is Bek Brown and I am the new School Counsellor. I am thrilled to be at Hills Christian Community School and I look forward to getting to know as many of you as possible in the coming weeks and months.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to chat – either by calling the School or emailing me at: rbrown@hccs.sa.edu.au or just pop into my office and say “Hi.” I am located next to the Reception classes and I am at school (Verdun campus) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.