Hill Street News

 A Connected, Creative, Caring Learning Community. 

Term 4 Week 10 

Acknowledgement of Country 

We would like to pay respect and acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay respect to Elders both past and present and emerging.

As we come to the close of another fantastic year, I would like to acknowledge that 2024 has been filled with growth, achievement, and a sense of togetherness which truly reflects the spirit of our MHPS community. I am incredibly proud of the perseverance, hard work, and compassion demonstrated by our students, staff, and families. In times of change, we have stood by each other creating a supportive and uplifting environment where every child can thrive. It is heart warming to see how we all come together to cheer on our students, staff and community when there has been progress and achievement. Thank you to our families for being such an essential part of our school’s success. Your involvement, encouragement, and belief in our shared vision does make a difference. 

On Tuesday 17 December, we held our Presentation Day assembly in the hall. Many thanks to the Director of the Beverly Hills Network, Mr White; Principal of Kingsgrove North High School, Mr Stasos; Clr Mr Karl Saleh OAM-Deputy Mayor and our P&C President Mrs Orfanos for their attendance and support of our school.  Thank you also to Mrs Sklavounos for her organisation of Presentation Day. Congratulations to all award winners. A huge congratulations goes to Shreyaa who was awarded Dux of the school!

At MHPS we are lucky to have such dedicated and compassionate parents who give up their own time every Thursday to help the school and our students. Every child that has participated in these programs has told me that they love Thursdays! It is the true partnership between the school and community that enriches the lives of our students. Thank you mentors!! I would also like to thank Mrs Currie and Mrs Sklavounos for their coordination and involvement in these programs that have taken place every Thursday this year.  

Congratulations to our Leadership Team for 2025! 

• Captains: George and Laila
• Vice Captains:  Abbass and Corina
• Prefects: Stephanie, Vera, Sophia, Fatima, Amir, Layth, Raymond and Hussein

 A huge thank you to our School Leaders from 2024 for all their hard work and dedication during this year. We will miss you all!  

MHPS had a fantastic end of year concert with many thanks to  the organisation of Mrs Pippett, Miss Durnin and Miss Navalle. We had so many creative class performances which were thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Our end of term picnic was another wonderful event that despite the heat, was enjoyed by all. Our MHPS community sure do know how to make sure no one is hungry after lunch. 

On Wednesday 18 December, we farewelled our Year 6 students. They gracefully accepted their graduation certificate and enjoyed seeing the clip from their time at MHPS. I would like to thank the students K-5 and their teachers for ensuring our students had wonderful messages of support and congratulations as they made their way through the arches. They had lots of mixed emotions as they made their way through the arches to their parents. Many thanks to Mrs El-Esh, Ms Witts and Mr Clarke for their organisation of such a beautiful ceremony. Wishing our 2024 graduates all the very best in High School and in the many years to come!

A huge congratulations to our students who received a Principal's award this semester!! This semester we saw a definite increase in the number of students who received an award and we look forward to many more students achieving Principal's awards next year.

A huge congratulations to Haadiya on attaining a PBL trophy! 

MHPS certainly has got talent! A wonderful morning was had by all and we were all treated to so many different acts and performances. Well done everyone!

The winner of the Term 4 attendance award prize bike is Bakr. Congratulations Bakr!

On 11 December, we launched our first event - Pizza and Paper Planes as part of our Fathering Project. Thank you to Mrs Gardner for organising this wonderful event for our community and a huge thanks to our volunteers who helped serve the pizza. It was wonderful to see so many fathers and father figures join our students and complete some impressive paper planes and we look forward to many more events next year. 

To assist you in planning holidays, please find listed the school terms for next year:

First to last days for students

• Term 1: Thursday 6 February to Friday 11 April
• Term 2: Wednesday 30 April to Friday 4 July
• Term 3: Tuesday 22 July to Friday 26 September
• Term 4: Tuesday 14 October to Friday 19 December

School development days (for staff)

• Term 1: Friday 31 January to Wednesday 5 February
• Term 2: Monday 28 April and Tuesday 29 April
• Term 3: Monday 21 July
• Term 4: Monday 13 October

School holidays

• Summer 2024 -25: Monday 23 December 2024 to Thursday 30 January 2025
• Autumn: Monday 14 April to Thursday 24 April
• Winter: Monday 7 July to Friday 18 July
• Spring: Monday 29 September to Friday 10 October
• Summer 2025 - 26: Monday 22 December 2025 to Monday 26 January 2026

Please help keep our school safe.  If you see anything unusual happening in the school grounds over the holidays, please call School Security on 1300 880 021.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every MHPS staff member for their dedication and commitment this year. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our students remain at the centre of all that we do.  I would also like to thank Mrs Drury for all her contributions to the library over the past 11 years as well as to the students, staff and MHPS community.  We wish Mrs Drury all the very best as she embarks on new beginnings at her new school.  Mrs Tickner will also be leaving MHPS to work closer to home.  Thank you Mrs Tickner for all your contributions to the students, staff, families of our support classes and MHPS. Thank you also to our temporary staff who have contributed to MHPS and our students learning journey. 

Congratulations and a huge thanks to the P&C for their many events and initiatives this year and a huge thank you to those parents and carers who volunteered their time to ensure all school events went well this year.

I am extremely grateful for the unwavering support throughout the year from our parents and carers. Your partnership is invaluable, and together, we have created an environment where our students can flourish and grow.

As we bid farewell to the current academic year, we also eagerly anticipate the opportunities and challenges that the next one will bring. With the lessons learned and achievements celebrated, we are equipped to continue our journey to excellence. 

Wishing everyone a restful and rejuvenating summer break and for those families who are celebrating, a very Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a wonderful and safe new year!!

Looking forward to the exciting adventures that await us in the upcoming school year. 

Kindest regards,

Elizabeth Markovski

The P&C executive team and I, would like  to express our heartfelt gratitude for the generosity and support of our volunteer parents and extended community throughout 2024.
Your contributions helped make our fundraising events wonderfully successful and we're so thankful for your involvement. Your kindness, ongoing support and dedication to our school are truly appreciated and our goals could not have been met without you.

From our commencement as a P&C in August, until the end of the school year, we have raised - through fund raising; $14,485.72 and with grants; $29,485.72. Please see below:

Mothers day stall - $3197.60
Election Day BBQ - $2370.55
Fathers Day stall - $4780.80
Colour Run - $3,125.92
Coin challenge - $1010.85
Grant - $15,000

The P&C worked with the school to secure a $15,000 grant from the Premiers Department - The Special Minister of State.. $13,000 of this grant went to the purchase of new air conditioning for the school hall and $2000.00 will be used in 2025 to supplement excursion costs, equipment and uniforms for students in need.

Once again we thank our wonderful McCallum’s Hill community for making 2024 a successful year for our school. Wishing you all a lovely holiday break and a healthy and happy new year.

Kind regards
Georgia Orfanos
P&C President 2024

TERM 4 WEEK 10 CALENDAR 2024

Our final weeks of kindergarten have been full of fun activities, these include, end of year concert, picnic lunch, presentation day, the talent show and lots of hands-on learning revising our sentence writing and various maths concepts. It was a lovely end to an amazing first year of school!

The Kindergarten teachers wish all their students a happy and safe holiday and wish them all the best for 2025.

Year 1 and Year 2 students have had a busy two weeks filled with exciting and engaging activities. They rehearsed and worked diligently to deliver an entertaining end-of-year concert for all parents and carers. Stage 1 students have put in great effort throughout the year, and it was with pleasure that McCallum's Hill welcomed parents and carers to our Presentation Day. We were thrilled to celebrate the successes of all students this year.

Congratulations to 2O and 1/2J for raising the highest amount of money in the P&C coin competition. 

The Stage 1 staff wish you a wonderful and safe holiday, and we look forward to seeing you in 2025.

1N -

1MC -

1/2J

2T -

As the year draws to a close, we celebrate the remarkable journey of our Stage 2 students. Throughout the year, they have demonstrated curiosity, resilience, and a passion for learning across all Key Learning Areas. 

In Literacy, students explored a variety of texts, enhancing their reading, writing, and communication skills. They honed their creativity and critical thinking, crafting thoughtful narratives, reports, and persuasive pieces. In Mathematics, they developed problem-solving skills, deepened their understanding of key concepts, and tackled challenges with perseverance and confidence.

Our exploration of the world in Science and Technology sparked excitement as students engaged in hands-on investigations and interesting projects. In History and Geography, they built a greater understanding of communities, cultures, and the environment, fostering a sense of empathy and global citizenship. The year also saw students express themselves through Creative Arts and grow stronger in Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education (PDHPE), showing teamwork, sportsmanship, and a commitment to wellbeing.

Additionally, we would like to inform parents and carers of Year 3 students that applications for 2026 entry into an Opportunity Class (OC) are now open and will close on 21 February 2025.

The Stage 2 staff would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the students, parents, and carers for an incredible year. Your support has been invaluable, and we are so grateful for the partnership in fostering a positive and enriching learning environment. We wish you all a very safe and happy holiday break, and we look forward to another year of growth and discovery in 2025!

Our students have been busy preparing for their end-of-year class performance items, and they have been learning different dance routines to showcase their talents. They have worked hard to practice their moves, build confidence, and work together as a team.

We want to congratulate all Year 5 and Year 6 students for their hard work and commitment this year. Each student has tried their best, and we are proud of all their achievements. To our Year 6 students, we wish you all the best as you move on to high school. We know you will continue to succeed in your studies and beyond. Good luck, and we will always remember you!

As the school year comes to a close, we want to wish all of our students and their families a safe and happy summer holiday break. We hope you enjoy this time to relax and recharge. Take care, have fun, and we look forward to seeing you again in the new school year!

Stage 3 Teachers.

 4-6M 

Stage 3 students are wrapping up a fantastic year and would like to extend their best wishes to our Year 6 students as they head off to high school. To celebrate their journey, Year 6 students attended the Year 6 Farewell Dinner, where they dazzled everyone with their impressive dancing skills. Additionally, our Stage 3 students had the honour of hosting the final 3-6 assembly of 2024, showcasing their talents on the interactive xylophone. It was a joy to see so many parents in attendance, and we couldn’t be prouder of how confidently our Stage 3 students took the microphone. What a wonderful way to close out the year! 

3-5R 

Students in 3-5R have been putting in a lot of effort in Geography and enjoyed working together in groups to learn about Madagascar. They also had a blast preparing for the End of Year Concert, where they truly shone as superstars on stage!

3-4SB 

3-4SB have had an incredible year of learning and growth! This year, students explored a variety of topics, from the wonders of the ‘Deep Sea’ and ‘Dreamtime stories’ to exciting excursions and incursions that have helped develop both their skills as young learners and their understanding of the world around them. What a fantastic year it has been!

K-2C 

K-2C enjoyed dressing up in their festive clothes and they danced and sang along to their favourite songs, filling the classroom with happiness. It was a fun, lively moment that brought lots of smiles to everyone!

As this is my last newsletter contribution at McCallums Hill it has led me to some reminiscing about my last 11 years here.

The library has always been my happy place and the happy place of lots of students at our school too. We have seen many changes occur in the library over this time. We were lucky that Ms Markovski organised for it to be painted white throughout which led to the much brighter space that it is now. We were also given new carpet and furniture. It is a very modern looking space now and is enjoyed by many groups both inside and outside our school.

We partnered with the local Lantern Club and Dymock’s Children’s Charities which resulted in a donation of books to our library to the value of $15000 as part of the library regeneration program.

We were part of the Shadow judging pilot conducted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia and were given a copy of each of the shortlisted books to enable student judging to take place.

We were part of a pilot program with the DET, Dymocks Children’s Charities and Wriveted using the book bot for the students to use to select books that they were interested in borrowing. This also included filming interviews with students that was then used state wide. As part of this program we were able to select 300 books for the students to borrow.

The list of visiting authors is a long one with all of them enjoying visiting our school. They have all contributed to encouraging the love of reading and writing in our students. 

We had 2 students publish 5 books over a 3 year period. As a result we were featured in the local newspaper and Tim Harris along with the DEL, John Selby launched their final books. The girls then had a book signing with all the books they sold to the students at our school. Previous book launches were done by authors Jacqueline Harvey, Yvette Poshoglian and Matt Cosgrove. These were all very exciting events for our students and school.

It was very exciting when Yvette Poshoglian visited our school and later dedicated a her latest Ella and Olivia book to two of our students because they were her biggest fans and even dressed up as Ella and Olivia for the book week parade.

Each year we participate in National Simultaneous Storytime. A big highlight for everyone was the year that we had a llama in the library to celebrate the reading of Alpacas with Maracas. The library is certainly never dull. 

Book week is always a highlight at McCallums Hill. We hold a book fair and the week culminates with a parade that staff and students participate in by getting dressed up as their favourite book character. The commission earned at the book fair is used to purchase new books for our library each year. One year we had Bulldogs players Darcy Maroske and Chase Stanley visit our school and read the winning books to our students at lunch time.

We built an igloo in the library with used milk containers. We had an exercise bike in the library and students were able to cycle as they read.

I have loved my time at McCallums School and it has opened many doors for me in the literary community. I have been a member of the Children’s Book Council of Australia committee and enjoy visiting libraries or attending author talks whenever I get the opportunity. It is sad to be saying goodbye but also exciting as I move closer to my home.

During the holidays don’t forget you can access Storybox library. https://storyboxhub.com/ The username is McCallums and the password is books.

The local library at Lakemba is also a great place to visit during the holidays.

If you still have books at home please bring them back to school after the holidays.

Cathy Drury

It is a requirement that students attend school, and all non-attendance days must be explained. If your child is away from school, please make sure that you communicate with the office about the reason for this. Some of the reasons may include:

• sickness – with identification of what type of sickness not just ‘sick’ 
• medical appointment 
• travel  
• attendance at urgent or exceptional family circumstances. 

It is also important that all children are at school by 9am. The diagrams below show the lost time and its cumulative effect on missing out on school.

Our preferred method of payment is online, this can be accessed through our school app or website. Feel free to contact the front office if you require any help with this.

If you are unable to make payment online and wish to pay cash, please ensure you have placed all money in an envelope or zip lock bag clearly marked with your child's name and class and what the payment is for.

school bytes instructions.pdf

family fun day.pdf

 Spriggy_Schools_Flyer_DL_Bleed.pdf

Spriggy Schools Canteen Guide_ Adding Menu Items & Options (1) (1).pdf

Spriggy_Schools_Posters_A4_Bleed.pdf

 A checklist for parents -

App checklist for parents.pdf

The lost property has recently been organised in different sections. Parents are encouraged to check lost property regularly to ensure students have their belongings. Any non-uniform items will be sent to charity. This will be done at end of each Term. Please ensure that all belongings are clearly labelled so that they can be returned to the student. 

Please see images below of driving offences in school zones.

Please remember there is only a 10-minute park from 8.00am-9.30am and 2.30-4.00pm on school days. Please note the signs and make sure you keep to the 10-minute limit. 

Please help keep our school safe.  If you see anything unusual happening in the school grounds at any time, please call School Security on 1300 880 021.

Arabic - McCallums Hill Public.pdf

02 9759 4396
mccallumhi-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
McCallum Street, Roselands NSW 2196
mccallumhi-p.schools.nsw.gov.au