Sports Day 2024
Sports Day 2024 was a day full of epic teamwork, athleticism and iconic dance moves and we couldn’t be prouder of every single participant! From heart-pounding races to jaw-dropping displays of skill, the day was a celebration of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and sheer determination!
This year was finally COOPERS year after a 12 year slump! Go Blues!!
Final scores were:
Cooper: 478
Howchin: 458
Sandison: 449
Tate: 389
Massive shout out to all the incredible students who gave it their all and showcased their talents on the field! Whether you sprinted like lightning, jumped like a pro, or cheered your classmates on with unrivalled spirit, you made the day unforgettable!
A massive thank you to all our amazing staff who make days like this possible! Thank you to Mr Sellar, Mr Kenny and Mr Pillay for bringing the energy all day and our industrious HPE Leaders Ms Robertson and Mr Kelly and their team for their creativity and ingenuity of creating a truly inclusive day. Thank you to everyone else who helped before, during and after to put on a stunning day.
To every participant, supporter, and organiser: THANK YOU for making our Sports Day an absolute triumph! Let’s carry this spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork with us as we continue to strive for greatness in everything we do!
The Twilight Show
Last week was the inaugural Hallett Cove School Twilight Show, a truly wonderful evening celebrating all aspects of the arts at HCS.
Huge congratulations to our phenomenal performers who poured their hearts and souls into every moment, captivating the audience and leaving us all wanting more! Your dedication, passion, and sheer talent shone brightly and we couldn’t be prouder!
A round of applause to our amazing staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event a resounding success! Your hard work and dedication truly paid off, creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved!
To our supportive community and enthusiastic audience, thank you for joining us in celebrating the arts and cheering on our talented students!
As we reflect on this incredible evening, let’s continue to celebrate the power of creativity, expression, and talent within our school community!
Pupil Free Day
Friday 8 March was our first Pupil Free Day of the year and while the students are away, the teachers will play!
We started the day down by the beautiful Hallett Cove Beach to explore our unique patch of coastline. It was a great way to centre ourselves after the energy of Sports Day and enjoy a morning treat reconnecting with colleagues after a busy few weeks. A big shout to The Boat Shed for providing the icy beverages to cool us all down!
We spent the rest of the day brainstorming our new school values. The workshop, lead by Deidre Fischer of Education Services, had us evaluating our personal values and slowly working up to what we would like to see our school values become. The day was just day one on a pathway to figuring out who we are as a school and what we stand for but we made some amazing progress and we are looking forward to the rest of the journey.
A big thank you to Deidre who kept us motivated and engaged through the heat and didn’t judge our artwork! We can’t all be art teachers!
School Purpose and Values Review
Throughout 2024, Hallett Cove School will be reviewing our school Purpose and Values.
With our existing values being created many years ago, and a new Department for Education strategy for South Australia, now is the perfect opportunity to engage in this work.
Our staff have commenced the process on our recent Pupil Free Day, and we will soon be engaging all students in surveys and seeking their feedbackon our shared Purpose and Values. Further, feedback from our families and Governing Council will also be sought in the coming weeks.
Collating the Purpose and Values after receiveing all of the input from our community will take some time and will be a major piece of work in the immediate future.
Class of 2024 Formal
What a night to remember! Our Year 12 Formal was an absolute triumph, filled with glitz, glamour, and unforgettable memories! From stunning outfits to infectious laughter and heartfelt moments, it was a celebration of friendship, achievement, and the journey we’ve all shared together!
Huge congratulations to our incredible Year 12 students who shone brightly on the dance floor, radiating elegance and charm throughout the evening! Your smiles, laughter, and camaraderie made the night truly magical, and we couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of you!
Massive thanks to our dedicated organisers, teachers, and staff who worked tirelessly to create an enchanting atmosphere and ensure every detail was perfect!
Student Leadership
The start of the school year has seen the 2024 School Captains, Elysia and Rhys, embark on their leadership journey. They have already led their first Tuesday Travels in the Junior School, along with their first Student Representative Council meeting, and the team have some interesting projects in the works, including an upcoming Staff v Student challenge.
In building on from last year’s idea, the Junior School and Year 12 cohort will be working together to help facilitate each other’s Holiday Egg Hunt! Students will trial their finding skills and earn some chocolate goodies in return.
Stay on the lookout for a new display being installed in the Learning Hub, members of the SRC and Junior School Student Leadership team have voiced the need to recognise kindness more at school, and student accomplishment. They are planning the installation of a permanent ‘Kindness Tree’.
Working Bee Success
HCS would love to say a huge thank you to all our amazing staff and volunteers who helped us at our working bee on Saturday 2 March.
Despite the rising temperatures throughout the day our amazing team achieved:
- The reinvigoration of our Japanese Zen Garden with new plants and gravel
- Pruning all our Resource Centre rose bushes
- Painting all our benches
- Pressure cleaning much of our outdoor spaces
- Weeding the Sandison Road grass verge
- General tidying up of our grounds
The results look amazing and your hard work, dedication, and unwavering support made a world of difference, and we’re immensely grateful for your contributions!
Together, we transformed our campus into an even more vibrant and welcoming environment for our students, teachers, and community!
To everyone who participated, whether it was lending a helping hand, sharing resources, or simply showing up with a smile, THANK YOU for making our working bee such a resounding success! Your kindness and generosity make our school community stronger and more vibrant than ever!
Coffee Club
Every Wednesday morning HCS students volunteer their time for the coffee club business enterprise. Baristas (students) will take the orders and payment from staff and students, make the beverage and serve to the customer. Learning these skills will not only set them up for eventually finding their first job but will no doubt keep the staff well caffeinated.
Thank you to Ms Robertson and Ms Fletcher for their expertise so far and Mr Gregory starting the initiative.
International Program
From surfing to koalas.
Over the past few weeks our International students have traded Chromebooks for surfboards, chefs utensils and snorkelling gear. The excitement continues this week when tents get pitched and the BBQ fires up at Port Elliott where the students again get to hit the waves at Middleton. Next week, it’s Yankalilla Area School’s turn with an opportunity to make new friendships and share cultural stories.
Not to be forgotten, the South Korean study tour has come and gone with language exchanges, city escapades, and koala cuddles! Along with ESL lessons with Aussie mates, Hahndorf village explorations, and that unforgettable kangaroo patting. A big thank-you to our incredible homestay families, teachers and student buddies for supporting these adventures!
Industry Visit
One of the core missions of our school is to not only provide excellent academic education but also to equip our students with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in the real world. It is with great pleasure that I share with you an inspiring experience that a group of our students had recently.
In Week 7, a cohort of our students embarked on a journey to Advance Sheet Metal Lonsdale, an esteemed industry leader in sheet metal fabrication. This excursion provided our students with a firsthand look into the world of metal fabrication and the promising career paths it offers. They were warmly welcomed into the workshop, where they had the opportunity to witness the intricate processes involved in sheet metal fabrication and gain invaluable insights into what an apprenticeship in this field entails.
I am delighted to announce that Hallett Cove School already boasts three current apprentices who are thriving at Advance Sheet Metal. These students serve as shining examples of the incredible opportunities available to our young people when they pursue apprenticeships. Moreover, with the expansion plans of Advance Sheet Metal, even more opportunities are on the horizon for our students to embark on rewarding apprenticeship journeys.
I encourage any student who is interested in exploring apprenticeship opportunities in metal fabrication to reach out to Mr. Gregory, who will be more than happy to provide further information and guidance. At Hallett Cove School, we are committed to supporting our students in their pursuit of fulfilling and successful careers, and apprenticeships represent a fantastic avenue for achieving these goals.
As we continue to nurture the talents and aspirations of our students, let us celebrate their achievements and the promising futures that await them.
Sporting News
Cricket
A group of Year 8, 9 and 10 girls entered the School Sports SA Super 8’s Cricket Day Carnival for the first time in a number of years.
With some tight bowling, big hitting and outstanding fieldingthe girls came home triumphant as overall winners of the day and bringing home the shield.
The most impressive part was how the girls worked together being respectful and inclusive, making sure everyone felt part of the team. Super Effort! Well done girls!
Volleyball
HCS recently took 7 teams from the Volleyball Program to participate in the Southern Schools Beach Volleyball tournament down in Victor Harbour. It was a perfect day with the still conditions making it ideal for good volleyball.
A huge congratulations to our Year 10 Girls who went undefeated through the day and claimed the gold medal and to our Year 9 and 10 Boys who finished in 4th and 3rd.
All the students behaviour was exemplary and plenty of fun was had by all!
NAPLAN
Our students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are busy completing the final NAPLANtests for 2024.
Please remember that these tests are only an indication of progress at a point in time, can are not a reflection of a student’s overall ability or learning.
Results will be distributed to families once they become available, usually around August each year.
R-12 Open Night 2024
HCS is holding its annual Open Night on Wednesday 27 March!
If you know anyone who is interested in joining our amazing school community this year or next, please share the details with them!
Junior School: Principal’s addresses at 4:30pm and 5:30pm with guided tours leaving at 4:45pm and 5:45pm from the Resource Centre. Self-guided tours are available from 4:30pm – 6:30pm.
High School: Principal’s addresses at 5:00pm and 6:00pm with guided tours leaving at 5:20pm and 6:20pm from the Resource Centre. Self-guided tours are available from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.
2024 Holiday Raffle
It’s time for our Holiday Raffle again!
Tickets are available to purchase via the Qkr! app at $3 each or 4 for $10.
Family members not directly part of our community are still able to purchase through the Qkr! app, by creating a guest account. They must select Hallett Cove School once signed into the app and when adding a profile, select ‘Guest’ for ‘Year’ and ‘Room’.
All money raised will be used to fund education improvement projects at the school.
2023 HCS Yearbook
The 2023 yearbook is coming!
The yearbook, a cherished keepsake for students and families alike, serves as a visual journey through the adventures, accomplishments and camaraderie that make each school year unique. Our dedicated team has been hard at work to ensure the 2023 edition is a true reflection of special moments that define the Hallett Cove School experience.
More information will be sent to families with payment options and a delivery timeline shortly.
Fruit, Veg and Bread
Hallett Cove School will be continuing with Fruit, Veg and Bread next year. We are fortunate to receive donations of fruit, vegetables and bread from local businesses and charities.
Each even week of term, we will have fruit and vegetables available on Tuesday, and every Thursday we have bread available outside the staffroom for families to collect.
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.
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. In 2023, our P&F have held a Sports Day stall, Harmony Day stall, Quiz Night and parents are assisting in managing our Street Libraries (outside the Vegetable Garden and Early Years Centre) and organising our inaugural Quiz Night.
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.
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.
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
A little bit more…
In the Community
