From the Principal
Dear Parents,
As we have ticked over half way through the term, now is a good moment to delve into the concept of routines. As motivation levels tend to wane and the excitement of the start of the year can be drifting, it’s a good reminder about the power of routine and habit.
In classrooms, we know the importance of this, and our kids are now well and truly established in patterns of learning.
James Clear wrote a very interesting book, called Atomic Habits, which is all about small 1% improvements that make a difference to ones’ life. One of the best quotes that resonated with me is that “You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems”. He uses the argument that at the start of a 100m race, each person wants to win the race, all of them have the same goal, but the most successful will be the one with the best system in place for success.
I believe the same holds true for our time spent at home with our children. Establishing consistent routines can significantly impact their development and well-being. I certainly know this to be true with my kids.
Setting consistent bedtimes, meal times, and daily rituals such as unpacking school bags can provide a sense of stability and security for children amidst the busyness of daily life. Even if the idea seems daunting, starting with just one aspect, like unpacking bags upon arriving home or having your child help with making lunch, can make a noticeable difference.
Family dinners, shared reading time, and ensuring adequate sleep are vital components of a healthy routine. It’s also crucial to set limits on screen time, especially before bedtime, to promote quality sleep.
Empowering children to take ownership of certain tasks, such as making their own lunches or organising their school materials, fosters independence and responsibility from a young age. This not only eases the burden on parents but also instills valuable life skills in children, preventing them from becoming overly dependent or entitled.
As the saying goes, “systems create behaviors, behaviors become habits, habits drive outcomes.” By implementing clear and explicit routines, both at home and at school, we provide our children with the structure they need to thrive. These routines offer clarity and predictability. That is not to say that our kids should not have a voice in the process sometimes, asking for their input into what their routines are helps to create increased intrinsic motivation. That is why sitting down as a family and working it out together is so important.
Routines offer a reassuring framework that nurtures children’s growth and overall well-being. On a practical level, consistency breeds success, as successful people do consistently what others do only occasionally.
My door is always open,
Joe Britton
Lunch Orders
Our Term 1 Lunch Orders are open! Thank you again to Georgette and her team for providing this service to our school community.
Lunch orders will take place every second Friday for Term 1, starting Friday the 9th of February 2024.
Please see below the menu and associated links for you to order lunches.
22 March: Hamburger with Tomato sauce, Lettuce and Tomato, with or without a drink (Click here)
5 April: Chicken Pasta Salad with Peas, Corn, Carrots and Mayo, with or without a drink (Click here)
A reminder our orders close on Thursdays at 11am.
If you have any questions, please email or speak with Mrs Jordaan (pa@hpcs.nsw.edu.au).
Easter Hat Parade.
We have had some great Easter Hats last year. Here are some of them to help get the creative juices flowing in preparation for our Easter Hat Parade.
There will be several categories for prizes that students in each class can win:
- Most robustly constructed
- Most creatively themed
- Most symbolic
Sugar-free Banana Bread.
15m prep
1hr 10 min cook
1 servings
11 Ingredients:
- 4 very ripe bananas
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1 tsp Cinnamon Ground
- 1 cup wholemeal flour
- 1 cup plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp Bicarbonate Soda
- Pinch salt
2 Step:
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 160C or 140C fan-force. Grease and line an 11.5cm x 22cm (base measurements) loaf pan with baking paper.Spread wrap with the hommus. Place beetroot, carrot, cheese, chicken and spinach along one edge of the wrap. Roll up to enclose filling.
Step 2:
Mash bananas in a large bowl with a fork until smooth. Add eggs, oil, milk and vanilla and stir until combined. Sift flours, cinnamon, baking powder, bicarbonate and salt over banana mixture (tip in the flour kernels). Stir until combined. Spoon into prepared pan and level top with a spatula. Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes or until a skewer inserted in centre comes out clean. Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Send us photos of you preparing your banana bread or of them in your lunch box and we will place them in next week’s newsletter.
Easter Colour-in Competition!
HPCS will have a very fun colour-in competition in celebration of Easter.
A winner from each class will be chosen and announced at Easter Hat Parade on Thursday the 28th of March. All the drawings should be submitted with your name and year to the office by Tuesday 26 March.
Those that would like to participate can get the picture from their teacher in class, or at the office.
Students of the Week
Congratulations to the following students for receiving Merit Awards this week:
Kindergarten – S
Alana C. for her joyful and positive attitude towards learning.
Elijah C. for his fantastic effort in all key learning areas!
Kindergarten – G
Ruqayah E. for participating well in class discussions.
Sarah P. d. N. for her awesome effort in Spelling.
Year 1
Harvey S. for making great connections when exploring odd and even numbers.
Victoria E. for having a courageous spirit.
Taylor P. for always being an active and engaged learner.
Year 2
Elizabeth G. for writing exceptional sentences about artefacts in our history lesson.
Nathaniel M. for being an enthusiastic learner.
Year 3
Pietro D. S. C. for using reading strategies to problem solve words.
Gabriela S. D. C. for making text to self connections when reading books.
Mia I. for being a safe and respectful learner.
Year 4
Marcus C. for his consistent and wonderful work in soundwaves!
Hudson B. S. for his engagement and insight during comprehension.
Aseel K. for being a self-motivated learner.
Year 5
Dylan L. for outstanding contributions to class discussions!
Agatha L. D. S. for consistently trying her best in all subjects!
Ellena T. for an excellent effort in Sport!
Year 6
Guilio C. for demonstrating an eager, hardworking and self- reflective attitude in writing lessons.
Lovee S. for her kind and thoughtful behaviour towards others in the playground.
Pen Licenses:
Boaz K.
Rai. B
Save the Dates: Upcoming Dates
22 March: Kindergarten G Chapel
28 March: Easter Chapel
28 March: Easter Hat parade
5 April: Year 6 Chapel
12 April: Year 5 Chapel
12 April: End of term 1