"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28
Dear Parents/Carers
Firstly, may I take this opportunity to wish all mums a very special and happy Mother’s Day for this Sunday. In these unusual times, we appreciate that mothers are working harder than ever to keep families organised and running through each day. So at this time we want to applaud and thank each one of you and pray God’s richest blessings upon you and your families.
All necessary measures are in place for the return to school next Monday for Prep and Years 1, 11 and 12. We are confident that we have arrangements in place to deliver an outstanding educational program, whilst ensuring the health and safety of our community in the current COVID-19 season. Our cleaning team have been tremendous in ensuring that rooms and high touch areas are regularly cleaned.
I would like to ask parents to talk with their children about the following considerations prior to them returning on Monday;
- Students in Years 11 and 12 will be physically meeting some of their friends for the first time in a number of weeks. The temptation will be to greet their friends without consideration of social distancing. The staff will be asking students to refrain from hugging etc. Please reinforce to your children that this is not acceptable for their safety and the safety of others
- Secondly, I would ask that you especially remind your children in Years 11 and 12 of the need to follow teacher instructions. We are not trying to ruin their first day back, but we are very clear on how students can return and this is different to when they left. Following teachers instructions will help us establish the best conditions for everyone to remain safe and secure in this COVID-19 season
- We all know that there is little we can do to control the spontaneity of our Prep and Grade 1 students. We will have measures in place to remind them about good hygiene and ask parents to positively reinforce the need to follow teachers instructions and give each other a little extra space
- If families could consider dropping off or collecting students a little early or a little later we will be able to provide more adequate distancing in the drop off and collection areas. Please inform your children of any changes to your normal arrangements so they don’t stress.
We are arranging some new social distance strategies for social distancing while dropping off and collecting students in Prep and Year 1. To our surprise Bunnings has sold out of bollards so we are making our own plans to ensure parents are adequately socially distancing at both drop off and collection as per Queensland Government and Health authority advice. Please abide by these strategies to ensure everyone’s safety. The JLC update yesterday outlined procedures.
A reminder that students in Years 2-10 will continue learning in the same way as they have done for the last 2 weeks. This has worked very well so far and we believe will continue for the next two weeks until all students finally return to the College.
Finally I would like to truly thank all families for their support in this season. We are continuing to do all that is possible to ensure that students, staff and the broader College community remain safe while providing the very best possible educational experience for all students. As we begin the journey back to regular schooling, I would ask that you join with us in praying for the safety of all members of our community as students return to the College for formal classes. We have made every provision possible aligned to the Queensland Government and Health authority recommendations and now are asking for God’s continued protection over our community at this time.
I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Blessings
Jeff Davis
Executive Head of College
Mother’s Day
A Mother’s Love
by Michael O. Adesanya
There are times only when a Mother’s love
Can understand our tears,
Can soothe our disappointments
And calm all our fears.
There are times when only a Mother’s Love
Can share the joy we feel
When something we’ve dreamed about
Quite suddenly is real.
There are times when only a Mother’s faith
Can help on life’s way
And inspire in us the confidence
We need from day to day.
For a Mother’s heart and a Mother’s faith
And a Mother’s steadfast love
Were fashioned by the Angels
And sent from God above…
This Sunday 10 May is Mother’s Day……a day where we can spoil mum with homemade cards, lots of cuddles, a special breakfast but most of all, to say thank you for everything she does each and every day. Thank you for the dinners cooked or the take away collected, for the bedtime stories, for the sequences stitched onto dance costumes, for the early morning sports, for kissing away the tears, for cheering on the sidelines, most of all….Thank you for being Mum!
Make something special for mum that she will absolutely love and treasure forever, or why not spoil Mum with breakfast in bed with these delicious Blueberry Pancakes. Whatever you get up to this Mother’s Day, be sure to tell mum you love her and how appreciated she truly is.
We wish all of our amazing Mum’s here at Hillcrest a very happy Mother’s Day.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups White Wings self-raising flour
- 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 1/3 cup caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, extra
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
METHOD
Step 1
Whisk milk, egg and vanilla together in a jug. Sift flour and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Stir in sugar. Make a well in centre. Add milk mixture. Whisk until just combined. Stir in extra vanilla and blueberries.
Step 2
Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Brush pan with butter. Using 1/4 cup mixture per pancake, cook 2 pancakes for 3 to 4 minutes or until bubbles appear on surface. Turn and cook for 3 minutes or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining mixture, brushing pan with butter between batches. Serve.
*This recipe can easily be made Gluten free by substituting with Gluten free flour
* recipe can be found on Taste.com.au
Make a personalised gift for Mum to cherish
Welcome to returning students
With restrictions starting to lift we look forward to welcoming all students from Prep-Year 1 and Year 11-12’s back at the College next week. While there has been a steady increase in students attending in-class teaching and learning, it will be great to welcome all students from these year levels back to the College.
We look forward to all students returning in time and will continue the focus on providing the safest environment possible for all students. The active cleaning approach will still be operational including additional cleaning of College Buses.
Some of our Students on campus share some tips to ensure we remain safe and healthy.
Hillcrest Hearts
There have been many examples of care to our community and we thank all those who have supported and cared for others in their community. Here are a couple of examples.
At the end of last term as a way of thanking our Health Care Workers, students in Life Groups Flynn C, Taylor A and Year 7 Taylor wrote letters of thanks and encouragement to the staff at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and the Gold Coast University Hospital.
We hope the Hillcrest Hearts and personal messages from students warmed the hearts and blessed our local community Health Care Workers during this challenging time.
To all Health Care and support services workers we thank you for your tireless efforts during this pandemic. Our thoughts, prayers and love to you all.
As a school, we’ve been talking a lot about giving back to our friends, families and communities in this time of isolation. Thinking about different ways we can bless people. Our Food Tech Teacher Mrs Enriquez shares how she was blessed and how others have been blessed through student actions.
” In our Food Tech class for Year 8 and 9, my darlings were asked to make up a ‘Bless you’ basket to share with someone in need or isolated, or just someone they cared for. I wanted to take a moment to share a photo of a basket that one of my students actually ended up giving to me.
The beautiful thing about this particular ‘Bless you’ basket is it had multiple incarnations of blessings. Firstly, it blessed the socks off me (even shedding a little tear) upon receiving it. I then took it to my own mum who we had planned on visiting that night as she has been in isolation and it doubly blessed her. We then as a family shared it with my husband as it was his birthday. So this stunning ‘Bless you’ basket was shared three times over. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving.
I’m so thankful that our students, despite their own personal fears and uncertainties are still finding in their hearts to pause and take a moment to extend care to others. That’s the love of Christ and it warms my heart. Thank you Year 8’s and 9’s for always rising to the occasion.
Mrs Megan Enriquez
SLC Food Tech teacher
We would also like to thank our cleaning staff for their tireless efforts in making sure our College is thoroughly cleaned and hygienic enabling us to support families off essential workers. Their work has ensured the health and safety of students for parents to continue to go to their works. Their efforts are truly appreciated.
