SEPTEMBER Newsletter 

Dear Families, Caregivers and Friends

It is hard to believe that the end of Term 3 is here! For our Year 12 leavers, they will enter their final term of school after the break!

It has been a super busy last month of the term, with lots of exciting learning opportunities for everyone!

School Recognition Week

We recognise that schools simply could not function without the unwavering dedication and hard work of all School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS). SASS Week 2025 in NSW, celebrated from September 1 to 5, is a special opportunity to honour the invaluable contributions of support staff across our schools. This includes administrative teams, school learning support officers, maintenance staff and many others who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

This annual event acknowledges the professionalism, commitment and essential role SASS personnel play in ensuring schools operate smoothly, supporting both students and educators and fostering a positive and productive learning environment. Their efforts are fundamental to the success of our education system and SASS Week is a time to celebrate and express our gratitude for all they do.

Our SASS team are the heart and soul of our school, and we are in awe of the work they undertake each day!

SASS Certificate of Excellence

During School Recognition Week, our wonderful Administration Team was awarded a SASS Certificate of Excellence. This prestigious award to our team was presented by Director of Educational Leadership Team, Mr Ben Higginbottom and recognised the tremendous commitment and critical work undertaken by the team each day. Congratulations team – we think you are amazing!

PRIDE DAY 

Our Term 3 PRIDE Day was held on Tuesday 2 September and provided an opportunity for students to engage with their class enterprise project. There are some fabulous new products being worked on and students have enjoyed displaying their products. In Term 4, the full range of PRIDE items will be available! You can view the available merchandise on our School Facebook Page – there are some fabulous items that would make wonderful Christmas gifts. Keep up the great work everyone and happy shopping!

P&C Meeting 

Earlier in September, the Term 3 P&C meeting was held. The agenda included upcoming fundraising efforts, proposed expenditure applications and a summary of school-based programs and initiatives. There was also a review of the extremely successful Bunnings BBQ and successful grant application. Plans are well underway for the proposed Cake stall at Bunnings during the holidays!

Thank you to our dedicated P&C executive for their continued work, advocacy and support. Their efforts are greatly appreciated! 

Thank you Glencore 

We were excited to learn that our Glencore grant application was successful! The application aimed to source funding for new bikes, and we are happy to announce that $2,500 will be used to restock our adaptive bikes! Thank you, Glencore, for your continued sponsorship and partnership of our students, school and programs.

Father’s Day Activities

On Friday September 5, we warmly welcomed dads, uncles, granddads, friends and other important people in our lives, to our annual Fathers’ Day breakfast!

There were delicious bacon and egg rolls and pancakes and ice cream on the menu! 

Thank you to Lynda and her team of 'elves' who came in early to cook and set up for this morning's festivities. 

A special thank you to our wonderful P&C who kindly donated two lucky door prizes. Congratulations to Tilly, Cache and Ashton's dads who were the lucky winners. We hope you enjoyed your mystery gift! 

We hope that everyone enjoyed their breakfast! 

R U Ok Day 

On Thursday 11 September, our school turned yellow to raise awareness of “R U Ok Day”. This important day promotes that A CONVERSATION CAN CHANGE A LIFE! The R U OK message aims to inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life.

You don't need to be an expert to reach out - just a good friend and a great listener. 

Here are four easy steps to help a conversation that could change a life:

1. Ask R U OK?

2. Listen

3. Encourage action

4. Check in

Thank you to Jo and her team for their work in coordinating a great day of colour and fun! 

PBL Milestone Assembly

On Monday 15 September, we proudly held our Term 3 Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Milestone Assembly! This special event celebrates the fantastic efforts and achievements of our students as they demonstrate positive behaviour and move up through our PBL milestone levels.

 It was truly inspiring to see so many students advance by one or more milestone levels this term. Each level represents consistent demonstration of our school values of “We learn, We care, and We are Safe”. Congratulations to every student for your hard work and commitment to creating a positive school environment!

 We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the families and friends who joined us to celebrate these achievements. Your support means so much to the students and encourages them to keep striving for excellence both inside and outside the classroom.

 A special shoutout to our dedicated PBL Team, led by Helen, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organise this memorable event. From coordinating awards to creating a welcoming atmosphere, their efforts ensured the assembly was a wonderful celebration of our school community’s success.

 Well done to everyone involved, students, families and staff! 

We think you are truly pawesome and cannot wait to see what you achieve next term. Keep up the great work!

Welcome

It is always exciting to welcome new students to our amazing school! This term we warmly welcomed Cordell to HRCS. Cordell has joined the team in Rooms 3 & 4 and has settled into HRCS life. We hope that Cordell and his family enjoy their journey at HRCS. 

Mitch Revs Experience

Recently we were super excited to host a X Decked Out incursion! 

The Decked-Out Workshops are an initiative of local artist Mitch Revs and are a series of engaging and educational art workshops designed specifically for students.  These are designed to provide aspiring young artists with the opportunity to explore their creativity and learn new techniques. 

Our budding artists spend an enjoyable session learning techniques, designing their board and creating masterpieces!

A huge thank you to the Decked Out team for their wonderful collaboration!

A special thank you to Amy who coordinated this amazing, rich opportunity for our students and school!

Well done everyone! 

Sports Carnival

Our annual World Games Championships Carnival was an extraordinary celebration of sport, inclusivity and community spirit. This year, we proudly welcomed a large number of visiting schools from across the region, making the event one of the most well-attended in recent years. With dozens of schools participating, the carnival became a vibrant meeting place where students of all abilities came together to compete, collaborate and celebrate.

The day began with a stirring opening ceremony that set the tone for the entire event. After an Acknowledgement of Country and Statement of Inclusivity, our school leaders had the honour of lighting the symbolic Olympic flame, a powerful moment that embodied the spirit of unity, perseverance and respect. This ceremonial flame served as a beacon of inspiration throughout the carnival, reminding all participants of the Olympic values and the importance of inclusivity in sport.

At the conclusion of the competitive events, medal presentations were held to honour the outstanding efforts of all participants. Medals were awarded not only for first, second and third places, with every attending athlete taking home a medal to symbolise their participation and effort! Well done everyone! This inclusive approach ensured that all student’s achievements were recognised and celebrated, reinforcing the message that every effort counts.

The carnival concluded on a high-energy note with an exhilarating staff versus student volunteer relay race. This fun and spirited showdown brought out cheers and laughter from the crowd, highlighting the strong sense of community and teamwork that defines the nature of the event. The relay was a fitting finale, highlighting the joy of participation and the close bonds between students and staff alike.

Beyond the competition, the carnival was a powerful celebration of friendship and community. Students from different schools cheered each other on, shared stories, and made new friends. The inclusive World Games theme encouraged all participants to focus on personal bests and collective achievement rather than just medals and trophies.

Teachers, support staff and volunteers played a crucial role in creating a safe and supportive environment, ensuring that every student felt encouraged and valued. The spirit of camaraderie was evident in every race and event, shining a light on the true meaning of sport.

At the heart of the day was a celebration of ability in all its forms. The carnival provided an important platform for students with disabilities to showcase their talents and challenge perceptions about what athletes can achieve. For many participants, this was a confidence-building experience that empowered them to set new personal goals and take pride in their accomplishments.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the visiting schools for joining us and contributing to the spirit of the day. A special thank you goes to the dedicated staff, volunteers and families whose enthusiasm and support made the carnival run smoothly and safely.

Maitland Grossmann and Maitland Christian Schools once again demonstrated their strong commitment to community spirit by generously offering the support of some outstanding student volunteers. Their dedication and willingness to assist on the day were truly remarkable, reflecting the values and pride of their schools. Importantly, their commitment to supporting students living with disabilities and enabling them to have experiences comparable to their mainstream peers was clearly evident. We sincerely thank all the students and staff involved for helping to make this event such a memorable and inclusive occasion.

The day would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors. We extend our sincere gratitude to our Gold Sponsor, PRD Real Estate, who once again generously supported our event. We also thank Barrington Bakery for their continued support, Shipley’s Meats for their generous contributions and the Lions Club East Maitland for expertly cooking the BBQ that kept everyone fuelled throughout the day. Our appreciation also goes to the Maitland District Hockey Centre for providing the amazing facilities that made hosting this event comfortable and accessible for all participants.

We would also like to acknowledge the incredible efforts of our team who made this event possible. A special thank you to John, for expertly leading the event and serving as the Master of Ceremonies, guiding us through an engaging and smoothly run day. Our outstanding administration team deserves heartfelt appreciation for their meticulous coordination, preparation of certificates and programs and for keeping the day on track.

We are grateful to the marshals who walked countless kilometres throughout the day to ensure events ran safely and efficiently. Additionally, our P&C members deserve special recognition for staffing the food stall and providing delicious refreshments to participants and spectators alike.

A big thank you goes to the HRCS staff who arrived early and stayed late to set up and pack up equipment, transported students and ensured that everyone in attendance maximised their day. Their dedication and hard work were vital to the day’s succuss, a truly fabulous team effort!

As we reflect on this successful event, we are excited to continue growing our inclusive sports program and look forward to welcoming even more schools and participants next year. Together, we will keep fostering a culture where sporting excellence and inclusivity go hand in hand, celebrating every student’s unique ability and playing sports a joyful experience for all.

Bring on 2026!

Grandparents Day

There is something special about the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. On Thursday we warmly welcomed grandparents, families and friends to our Grandparents Day 2025. 

After delicious light refreshments, our special visitors participated in a range of collaborative activities with their young person. There was certainly a feeling of love in the air, as everyone worked together to complete the celebration mementos.

A special thank you to everyone who came along and to Amy, Tash H and their team, for coordinating such a joyful event. 

Communication Books

Thank you to everyone who have used the student communication books this term to engage in highly valuable communication with class teachers. We appreciate the honest communication, and it certainly provides staff with tools to support students throughout the day.

Term 3 communication books will be collected and archived at the school. If you would like a copy, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s class teacher.

A new book will be issued when students return after the holiday break. 

Thank you everyone!

Good Luck

It is always bittersweet to say ‘farewell for now’ to staff who have made wonderful contributions to our school. During the week we thanked the following staff:

Emmason: Who has been with us through her pre-service internship and casual and temporary work, was successful in gaining a long term contracted position at Maitland Grossmann High School. Whilst we are sad to have lost such a positive, bubbly and energetic teacher, we are so pleased that she will be working in our area and gaining further experiences. We work closely with MGHS and we look forward to continuing the partnership with Emmason. All the best!

Shania: Another of our beginning teachers, Shania, who was permanently placed at HRCS in a part time role, is also leaving us today. Shania has been successful in gaining a full time position at a non -government school in the Newcastle area. We would like to sincerely thank the lovely Shania for all that she has contributed during her time at our school. Her commitment, dedication and professional curiosity has been tremendous and it has been a pleasure to be a part of her early career development. All the best Shania, you will be amazing!

Brooke: This week we also said thank you and farewell to Brooke, a highly valued member of our administration team. Brooke was successful in gaining a fulltime position at Kurri High School. During Brooke’s time at HRCS, she has not only contributed significantly to the school’s administration processes, but welcomed families, students and visitors with warmth, understanding and compassion. We would like to thank Brooke for all that she has done and wish her all the best for the future!

Morgyn: Today is our lovely Morgyn’s final day before she commences her block of parental leave. We are extremely excited to welcome another member into our HRCS family and wish Morgyn and Jake all the very best for the safe arrival of their little bundle of joy! Exciting times ahead!

We hope that everyone has a fabulous break from school routine and enjoys the holiday period! We look forward to welcoming staff back to school on Monday 13 October and students on Tuesday 14 October.