Harmony Week
Harmony Day is celebrated annually in March and is also known as the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It’s a day to recognise Australia’s cultural diversity and the benefits it brings to the community!
What a wonderful week we had recognising and celebrating Harmony Day. Many classes began Harmony Week with fun activities and starting conversations around the meaning of Harmony Day.
Thursday was a highlight, with Junior School students wearing orange or traditional dress and supporting the cause by purchasing all of our wonderful orange goodies!
In our High School we wore orange ribbons and had meaningful conversations in Pastoral Care about our range of diverse backgrounds at HCS and how it improves school culture.
Also, a huge thank you to the incredible Global Guru international students for visiting our Junior School Japanese on Harmony Day also. Our students were thrilled to participate in engaging intercultural activities, including creating beautiful origami figures, learning from insightful presentations about Japan, and enjoying the opportunity to chat with the Japanese students.
School Clubs
In Week 9 we had our annual Clubs Expo! With so many clubs to choose from in 2025 our students are bound to find something they’ll love! They can share their skills with others or learn something completely new!
Check out the posters around school or get in touch with the club teacher for more information!
Year 9 Drama
Also in Week 9 the Year 9 Drama Class performed a series of short plays acted and designed by the students with students supporting each other with lighting and sound in additional tech roles.
Performers brought to life their scripts from page to stage with dramatic action and simple but effective set designs. They enjoyed working with costumes and using effective props to tell their stories. The audience of student peers enjoyed the half hour of well-rehearsed dramatic performance.
We’re looking forward to more drama performances in our upcoming Arts Showcase in June!
Child Studies Nature Play
Year 12 Child Studies students put their learning into action teaming up with Ms Saffin’s Year 1 class for a fun filled nature play session.
The Year 12 students have been exploring the many benefits of outdoor play and designed all the activities themselves. There were magic wands, mud pies, potions and bug hotels made but more importantly there were smiles and hands-on learning all round!
Year 7 Art
Ms d’Lima’s Year 7 Creative Arts class have been busy making split portraits using acrylic on canvas as an exploration of personal identity. Students had fun experimenting with colours, shapes and texture. Some of these artworks may appear in our exhibitions later in the year. We look forward to seeing more to come.
Kindness Club
At the end of last term we launched the Kindness Club, the brain child of our 2025 Student Captains, Karli and Jedd.
Kindness Club is open to everyone and Karli and Jedd have tonnes of activities planned to help spread kindness! In Week 9 students started off by drawing beautiful self portraits an in Week 10 they completed them by writing down their kindness goals for 2025.
The big goal of the club in 2025 is to create a flower garden to grow beautiful flowers to be picked and given to people who might need a spot of extra kindness in their day. They also painted rocks to decorate the flower garden they are planning on creating to spread a little kindness across campus.
Please get in touch with our Head of Junior School Liz vandenBrink if you would like to support the Kindness Garden in 2025.
Kev and Quinn
Quinn the Quokka and Kev the Koala have made their official debut! Teaching our Year 6 students about the art of Rap was a great introduction the dynamic duo and the students loved trying something new and getting out of their comfort zone! Watch the video here
Little Big Kids
Our Little Big Kids Playgroup runs every week with a variety of fun activities following different themes.
A recent theme was “Dinosaurs” and the children had a great time playing with our dinosaur sensory tray, making dino tails, counting out spinosaurus spikes and getting messy in the dinoscape!!
Canapes
In the last week of term staff were treated to canapés by the Year 11 Food and Hospitality students as part of their assignment.
What a yummy selection and fantastic presentation there was indeed!
Staff Vs Students
Well…the results are in and in the first Staff vs Students of 2025… the STUDENTS came out victorious!!
Students can enjoy the win for now, but the staff are a little salty about destroying their winning streak so the students better watch out next term, they’ll be bringing fighting spirit!!
Staff PD
Usually on Tuesdays, our staff use the extra time after the students leave early for professional development but the last Tuesday of the term is always saved for a little bit of educational fun!
Mr Wall started the afternoon with an education session on how to throw a boomerang. Some of us managed to get it to come back… some of us need a little more practice!
In the second half of the afternoon we got a little bit competitive seeing which team could build the longest bridge and tallest tower using only fettuccini and masking tape! Some groups took it very seriously indeed!
Anzac Day
At the end of the term we were visited Captain Matthew Zovi from the Australian Defence Force to talk to our students about the history of Anzac Day and why we remember it. Students loved hearing the stories of the soldiers, answering questions and sharing their own stories.
On Anzac Day, School Captains Jedd and Karli represented the school community at the Cove ANZAC Dawn Service. They proudly read the poem In Flanders Fields, before respectfully laying a wreath on behalf of Hallett Cove School R-12.
Heidi in Japan
Over the April school holidays, our Year 10 student Heidi embarked on an incredible journey to Japan as part of the prestigious Mishima Scholarship Program! She joined six other students from local schools, and together they headed on the adventure of a life time!
The adventure began with lunch in bustling Tokyo before they hopped on a scenic train ride to Mishima Station. Upon arrival, each student was greeted by their local buddy and homestay family, ready to immerse themselves in Japanese culture.
Heidi attended classes at the school, helped her host family cook traditional Japanese food at home, visited Mt Fuji, Disneyland and a whole host of other amazing places and sites across Japan. What an experience!
Pupil Free Day
On the Pupil Free Day at the start of Term 2 a group of SSO’s headed down to the Edwardstown Foodbank SA & Central Australia warehouses to volunteer their time and helping the Foodbank team to pack meal packs, sort through donations and tidy the warehouse.
Foodbank SA and NT not only support the 282,000 households in SA and NT who struggle to put food on their table but also school breakfast clubs across SA and NT, including our own.
We wanted to thank them for all their hard work in making sure our students always have full tummies in the morning as well as support them in their vision to end hunger in SA and NT.
Mid-Year Receptions
In Week 1 this term our mid-year receptions joined us for their first transition day! The children (and parents!) were very brave on their first day of big school jumping straight into learning and play in our Early Years Centre.
They even had a quick spy on a current Reception class, a good example of what’s to come in July!
Year 9 Tech
Mr Sellar and Mr Beaglehole’s Year 9 Materials Solutions class prepared early for Mother’s Day all while getting to know the laser and vinyl cutters.
Learning how to make things for other people is a key part of learning and the class sold these at the Junior School Mother’s Day stall!
Year 7 Camp
What an amazing time our Year 7 campers had in Port Hughes!
The activities were so much fun and the weather spectacular! So many students got to try things for the first time and have made some amazing memories and friendships!
Child Studies Year 1 Picnic
In Week 2 Ms Fletchers Year 11 Child Studies put their chefs hats on and their knowledge of child nutrition into action designed and preparing healthy and delicious snack for Ms Saffin’s Year 1 class!
From colourful fruit kebabs and strawberry smoothies to cheesy pizza pinwheels, the Year 11’s served up a fun and tasty learning experience for their younger peers.
Learning has never looked (and tasted) so yummy!
Friday Footy
Last Friday morning everyone was getting excited for the weekends big game with our Showdown Kickaround! The High School Coffee Club provided the caffeine for parents while the students enjoyed practicing their shots and arguing about who was going to take the glory!
P.A.R.T.Y Program
The Prevent Alcohol & Risk-related Trauma in Youth Program (P.A.R.T.Y.) is an innovative program that draws on the experiences of trauma professionals and trauma survivors to educate young people, by showing them what can happen when they make a risky decision.
Last week a group of Year 11 and 12 students visited Flinders Medical Centre to take part in the P.A.R.T.Y Program and to learn about experiences of trauma and what can be done to reduce incidences in young people.
They had hands on experiences in what it’s like being a trauma doctor, nurse, physio and OT, as well as learning about organ donation and hearing personal stories.
It was a confronting day, but all students came away saying what a valuable experience it was.
Try-a-Trade
A group of Year 10 students have spent the last two Monday’s participating in the onsite PEER Try-a-Trade program.
They dove head first into learning about what is required to become an electrician and a plumber and learned valuable information about entering the trade industry.
Puzzle Competition
A few weeks ago, a team of 4 students represented our school at the inaugural Interschool Jigsaw Competition…. And we won!
The students completed their puzzle in record time and have since been invited to participate in the national competition later in the year! Well done team!
Careers Day Dress Up
How wonderful it was to see our students dressed for success last week!
We had zoo keepers and neurosurgeons, dancers and singers, soccer players, footy players and even superheroes! It seems we’re quite inspiring as we had plenty of teachers! Some quite specific in our High School with Year 12 students Mary, Mimi and Tahlia coming dressed as the two Ms Fletchers and Ms Bone. One of our littlest teachers of the day even brought her own roll to mark attendance!
It was amazing to see the creativity and ambition in our students and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!
IDAHOBIT
Last week we celebrated IDAHOBIT!
Our High School students showed their support, raising nearly $200 for the Minus 18 Foundation, with music, bracelet making, a jumble sale, a glorious bake sale and yummy hot chocolates!
National Walk Safely to School
On Friday our Junior School students joined in with National Walk Safely to School Day!
Meeting at Pavana Reserve, they shared a pancake breakfast and ran wild on the playground before heading to school all together.
HCS Cove Cup
Last Friday we held our second annual interschool Cove Cup! Our year 5/6 students were joined by students from Hallett Cove East, Hallett Cove South and Sheidow Park Primary for a full day of soccer!
The students played 7-a-side games and only got a little wet throughout the day! Mr Vanstone’s class blessed the airwaves all day with their radio show commentating on the action and there were the classic HCS dance parties so there was something for everyone! After a full day of action ‘The Premiers’ from Hallett Cove East won the boys competition and the HCS ‘Cheetahs’ brought home a win for the girls!
Biggest Morning Tea
On Friday staff at HCS celebrated the Biggest Morning Tea.
Most of us at one point or another have been affected by cancer, whether it be family friends or even ourselves, so we wanted to give a little back. Those who participated, all donated a plate to share and bought raffle tickets for some amazing prizes donated by staff and some of our amazing suppliers. Students even got in on the action by donating their amazing looking cupcakes to the cause!
1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with some form of cancer before the age of 85 and the Cancer Council want to change that. The Biggest Morning tea is a great way for communities to get involved and raise funds to help support a cancer free future. Money raised for the Cancer Council goes directly into research, support for the 150,000 Australians diagnosed every year and world-leading prevention campaigns.
For more information or to donate to the Cancer Council visit: https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/impact
International
It has been a busy few week for our international students! They have celebrated formals, been on camps and excursions, said goodbye to some and welcomed others.
In Week 9 last term, we welcomed a study tour from Japan. The students and their teacher, experienced homestays in our local community (a big thank you to our hosts) and their visit included ESL lessons, excursions, Aussie sports, and unique experiences with Indigenous and Australian food.
The new Global Gurus program continued to make an impact, with presentations in Ms. Portlock’s primary school classroom. At lunchtime, these international students teamed up with junior students in the schoolyard to enjoy activities like origami and chats.
They have also had the opportunity to swim with dolphins, play futsal, join the Outdoor Ed kayaking adventure and explore the beautiful south east of our state.
On a recent 4 day camp, they had a quick stop at Tailem Bend to watch the Porsches on the track and then into Naracoorte to participate in two workshops – one about the local megafauna & the other focused on the caves. Later in the day the bats took off and students were amazed by this little animal’s habitat and survival!
They also got to the breathtaking Umpherston Sinkhole, and a quick snapshot at the Blue Lake and no road trip is complete without a classic fish ‘n chips lunch. They got to explore various Naracoorte caves and sinkholes with the highlight being a fossil bed made of Australia’s ancient megafauna and the final stop was the enchanting 160 year old, 36 stand, Glencoe Woolshed that was able to shear 2,000 sheep per day by hand!
Most recently, most of our Senior School international students had an inspiring day at South Australia’s largest Careers & Employment Expo at the Adelaide Showgrounds. After soaking in valuable insights and networking with industry professionals, the students continued their adventure with a well-earned lunch and exploration at the Central Markets and a busy Rundle Mall a perfect way to experience Adelaide’s diverse food scene and culture.
We’re so proud of the vibrant, multicultural environment at our school and the incredible opportunities it brings for all our students!
Sport
National Beach Volleyball
In March two Hallett Cove School students Malika Steytler and Harry Quilliam represented South Australia at the U14 and U16 (respectively) National Beach Volleyball Competition, held in Coolangatta, Queensland.
Malika, current Year 8 Volleyball Focus Class student, participated in a four’s competition in the U14 age group. This is her second state representation, being selected for the U14 Indoor 6-a-side team last year. Her team played a good brand of volleyball ended up unfortunately going down 17-15 to a Victoria team.
Malika is quite proud of herself and her team for achieving their silver medal and their quality of volleyball. Currently playing for South, she enjoys her volleyball very much and wishes to pursue it in the American College system after her time at HCS comes to its conclusion.
Harry, current Year 9 Volleyball Focus Class student, participated in a pair’s competition – and was 1 of 4 pairs to represent the state. This was Harry’s second time representing SA at Beach Volleyball. Harry and his team-mate were the highest placing SA team for his age group and went undefeated up until the Semi-Final. Whilst feeling a little disappointed initially, Harry came away feeling very positive about the overall experience and his performance in the tournament.
To add to his achievement, Harry has recently been selected to represent South Australia again, in the U16 State Schoolboys competition which will be held in Adelaide later in the year. Like Malika, he also plays his club volleyball for South and thoroughly enjoys participating in the sport whenever he gets the opportunity.
Congratulations to you both, you should be pleased with your achievements! You are fantastic ambassadors of the HCS Volleyball Program and should know that the school and the program are incredibly proud of you. We wish you all the very best of success with your current and future pursuits in the sport.
– Mr Kenny, on behalf of the whole HCS Volleyball Program
Basketball
In Week 9 last term, two Year 10-12 boys 3v3 basketball teams were entered in the School Sport SA Day Carnival held at the State Basketball Centre in Wayville. The players had a great day improving their skills against some tough competition.
Volleyball Carnival
On the last day of Term 1 our Year 7 & 8 volleyballers took part in a HCS challenge day.
This is a great day for students to put the skills they have been practicing throughout the term into action and to have a little bit of fun to finish off a long term.
News
Luke at HCS
Luke has been embracing new opportunities and growth. Earlier in the year Luke moved from supported employment at Envirocare to open employment at Hallett Cove School.
Luke gained valuable skills at Envirocare, receiving role-specific on the job training while also completing both the Certificate II and III in Horticulture through the.
As Luke embraces this exciting new chapter, he looks forward to the opportunities ahead, knowing the skills he’s gained will help him achieve even greater success.
You can read more about Luke’s experience here.
Stronger Together – Wellbeing Tips
At Hallett Cove School, we remain committed to supporting the wellbeing of all members of our community. As part of this commitment, we are pleased to introduce a new initiative: a Stronger Together – Wellbeing Tips for families.
Each week, we will share a short wellbeing suggestion or resource, linked to expert sources and evidence-based practices. These tips are designed to provide a helpful starting point for families seeking to support their child’s emotional, social and mental wellbeing at home. Topics may include managing stress, building positive relationships, promoting healthy sleep routines, supporting online safety, and more.
Cookie Dough Funfrasier!
This term, we are running a Billy G’s Gourmet Cookie Dough fundraiser! Parent, carer and family contributions constantly make a lasting impact on student life and all money raised will through this fundraiser will be reinvested into enriching student experiences and opportunities around the school.
Billy G’s Gourmet Cookie Dough is an exciting fundraiser, made by an Australian, family owned and operated business. There are ten dough-licious flavours to choose from, including the most popular Choc Chunk and the new Cinnamon Donut Cookie Dough!
Simply head to cookiedough.com.au, create a profile, share the link with family and friends and watch the orders roll in! The more you sell, the more prizes you get!
Phone Policy and Yondr Pouches
Thank you to all of our students and families for their support with implementing the South Australian Government ban on mobile phones in schools in 2023.
The use of Yondr pouches at Hallett Cove School made an immediate impact on phone use and students are happily engaging in learning, during class and at break times.
Your ongoing support with encouraging your child to follow our phone policy is appreciated.
Hallett Cove School aims to take advantage of the reach and instantaneous nature of social media to communicate with our families.
Social Media
We have long had a regularly updated Facebook page and last year we added Instagram to our media presence. Links to all our pages are included at the bottom of this page.
Along with our main page, we have also created two additional Facebook pages for particular audience members of our community:
- Hallett Cove Career Pathways: To keep parents and students informed of career information and opportunities through Hallett Cove School.
- Hallett Cove School Community Announcements: To keep parents, students and the wider community informed about education sessions and educational opportunities, to raise public awareness around the current trends in society and provide information about upcoming events and opportunities.
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Kiss and Drop Areas
When dropping off/picking up your child(ren), please remember that the middle lane (Gledsdale Road Kiss and Drop) and right lane (Sanderson Road Kiss and Drop) should not be used as a waiting/parking lane.
Local councils are often out and about at schools ensuring the community use these spaces safely.
Parents and Friends
Hallett Cove School values the contribution of our community and we encourage any of our parents and friend to consider joining the Parents and Friends Group (P&F) in 2024.
The P&F support key functions in the school. Recently, our P&F have held a Sports Day stall, Harmony Day stall, Fun Run and parents are assisting in managing our Street Libraries (outside the Vegetable Garden and Early Years Centre).
Please email info@hcs.sa.edu.au if you are interested in joining P&F and the school will put you in contact with our P&F representative and our Volunteer Coordinator.
SchoolTV
Hallett Cove School is pleased to provide SchoolTV to our community. SchoolTV is an all-in-one resource for the community aimed to offer parents a fresh approach to the concerns and pressures faced by Australian children.
SchoolTV is a unique online resource delivering powerful and credible information to empower parents with the skills to address these concerns and raise happy, well and resilient children.
You can access the bank of SchoolTV resources via our website
Feedback and Suggestions
As always, should you have any feedback or suggestions on how we can continue to further the quality of experience we offer our community, I welcome your contact via email, phone or in person.
Yours Sincerely,
Tony Hall
Principal
