May Newsletter 

Dear Families, Caregivers and Friends

                                                                                                                                                                                                                It is hard to believe we are halfway through Term 2!

Starstruck

We love Starstruck time! This year we are excited to once again be a part of the wonderful extravaganza that is Starstruck 2025! The theme of this year’s performance is Remixed Volume 33, and students and staff cannot wait to bring the retro music to life!

Our performance troupe this year includes Victor, Macca, Cache, Ashton, Levi H and Owen, with Harry joining the Starstruck choir. They have enjoyed rehearsals and are confident that they have their routines perfected!

In exciting news, there has been a significant uptake in students from Inclusion and Support classes expressing interest joining the Starstruck Team. To accommodate the increase in performers, HRCS are in Cast B and will perform Friday night and Saturday Matinee. Harry will be in all four performances.

Thank you to our school coordinator Tash, and her team of volunteers, for their work in supporting our performers!

We cannot wait to see you on stage! Tickets can be purchased through Ticketek!

P&C Meeting

Our Week 5 P&C meeting has been moved to June 11 @ 10:30am to support those dealing with the recent floods.

We hope that you can join us on June 11 to network with others, have a chat, and learn about upcoming P&C initiatives.

Hope to see you there! 

Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week provides a focus for working towards our goal of a reconciled Australia. National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates of National Reconciliation Week hold great significance, commemorating the 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision, respectively. On 27 May 1967, 90.77% of Australians voted 'Yes' to change the constitution, the highest 'Yes' vote ever recorded in a Federal Referendum.

This year's theme 'Bridging Now to Next' and the ongoing connection between past, present and future, is reflected in these banners, and I thank all those who have shown their support of reconciliation through this initiative.

Throughout the week students have been engaged in daily lessons focusing on different themes.

Class activities for the week include:

Monday – Sorry Day

Tuesday – Beginning of National Reconciliation Week

Wednesday – NAIDOC

Thursday – What is the Dreaming?

Friday – Bush Tucker

Thank you to Petra for her coordination of this last week’s activities. Great work everyone!

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 25th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

The theme for National Simultaneous Storytime 2025 is "The Truck Cat" " by Deborah Frenkel, illustrated by Danny Snell. The story follows a cat named Tinka who travels with his human, Yacoub, exploring themes of home, immigration, identity and belonging. 

Students across the school enjoyed reading and listening to this wonderful piece of literature.

Thank you to Tash B for her coordination and providing a range of platforms for students to engage with the text. Fabulous reading everyone! 

Devastating Floods

Isn’t it wonderful to see the sun! Our thoughts are with everyone who suffered property loss throughout the recent weather event. In particular, we are thinking of everyone on the mid north coast, who have been significantly impacted.

It is always wonderful when community pulls together, and it has been comforting to know that our local community is there to lend a helping hand and aid.

We would also like to publicly thank the amazing effort of the SES volunteers who have worked tirelessly to not only rescue those stranded but also repair damage and get our community back on track.

For us at HRCS, the management of increased transport times continues to impact students. Unfortunately, until all roads are back to preflood condition, students may be experiencing significantly longer trips in the ASTP vehicles.

We are working with drivers and ASTP to try and find alternative routes to the gridlock of central Maitland, however this is not always possible.

Hopefully, things will get back to a regular routine soon.

P&C 100 Club

Our fabulous P&C still has some squares available in their 100 club ‘guessing competition ‘

Squares are $10 each with the winner taking $500!

Payment can be made via School bytes or the external link below!

Good luck everyone!

https://online.schoolbytes.education/published_forms/10416/ba58612b-622f-4f43-b1f1-f2c7dd9908f4 

Vale John Partridge

Last week I attended the memorial service for a wonderful Maitland identity Mr John Partridge. John Partridge was a beloved figure in Maitland, New South Wales, known for his long-standing ownership of the McDonalds Booksellers and Stationers. He passed away on Monday, May 12th, at 7:45am, the same time he would normally leave for work. 

John Partridge's contributions to the Maitland community were extensive. He was a source of books and stationery for decades, supplied schools, and encouraged local authors and artists. He was known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of books and his friendly, helpful demeanour. Many people fondly remember visiting his shop for a chat, to buy a book, or to have him help them find a specific textbook. His store was a cherished part of the city's history and a source of community connection. 

John was a friend and advocate of many schools in the Maitland area and supplied stationary, textbooks, books for Book Fairs and generously donated to schools for many decades. His contribution to education has been significant and has been greatly appreciated by teachers and leaders across the region.

We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to John’s family at this difficult time. He will be greatly missed!

We hope everyone has a great fortnight!