18 Mar 2024
Principal's message
Hello all and welcome to our Term 1 week 7 newsletter. I would like to begin with a word of thanks for the active participation and genuine partership we've had from families in our IEP meetings. Teachers are now busily refining these into their final form and will have them home to families ASAP. Our IEPs are a key feature in our teaching and learning programs and supplement the significant work that goes into a teaching and learning program and allow staff to tailor learning to each of our students. Thanks again for your input.
Community Support Officer
Many of our families will know of the work we have Brigette supporting each week. Brigette is our Community Support Officer. With the support of Australian Schools Plus as a part of a cluster project, The Hills School partners with other specialist settings focussing on complex learner assessment and engagement of parents as partners in learning. The project has enabled us to engage a Community Support Officer (CSO) role that combines an understanding of education systems and community supports to provide a conduit for directly supporting families. The CSO works with teachers and leaders to facilitate connection with NDIS, respite services, therapy and resource allocation, medical professionals and response to emergent needs. As a result, multiple engagements with families and their corresponding networks have flourished. Brigette works in this role each Tuesday. You can contact her by making a note in your child's communication diary or through the school email.
Celebrating Cultural Diversity
This week we recognise the beginning of the month of Ramadan which run from Monday 11 March 2024 -Tuesday 9 April 2024 observed by many of our students and their famiies.
We celebrated with our Irish families and many Irish teachers St Patrick's Day -offically Sunday March 17 but we got in early on Friday and dressed accordinally -a great fun day for all.
This week on Thursday 21 March is Harmony Day. Harmony Day is an Australian Government program that centers on the message that 'Everyone belongs', reinforcing the importance of Inclusiveness to all Australians. Since 1999, thousands of Harmony Day events have been staged in childcare centers, schools, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies across Australia. Celebrate Harmony Day this week with us by sending your child in orange or in thier traditional cultural custome.
Mark Gosbell
Principal