Issue 14, Thursday 4th September 2025
From the Principal
We’ve had a wonderful week at school, highlighted by our recent school review. It was a positive experience that gave us the chance to celebrate the great work happening every day across our classrooms, while also reflecting on opportunities for growth. I’m proud of the way our staff and students engaged so thoughtfully throughout the process, and I’m excited about the journey ahead.
Don't forget it is Student Free Day tomorrow. Enjoy the video prepared by Mia and Willow below.
Leanne Witham
Principal
From the Leadership Team
At Hilliard, we believe every child deserves the right level of challenge and support to thrive.
Our dedicated teachers provide both extension and enrichment opportunities for students who are ready to stretch their learning, as well as targeted support programs to help every child reach their potential. From creative projects and coding challenges to small-group literacy and numeracy support, we’re proud to offer pathways for every learner. 
Enrolments for 2026 are now open!
We’ll be starting to form classes next term, so if you have a child starting Prep or joining us in another year level, please get your enrolment applications in soon.
Together, we can ensure every child is supported, extended, and inspired to do their best. 
Contact: admin@hilliardss.eq.edu.au
Expectation of the Week
Term 3, 2025 Event Calendar
From the Office
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Recently, there has been a confirmed case of chicken pox in the school. Please read below information from the Queensland Department of Health and take appropriate action if your child displays symptoms outlined below.
Qld Education advises that if your child is confirmed with having the chicken pox virus, they are to be excluded from school for five days from first signs of rash, and/or until blisters have dried up.
Please be aware that if your child has been immunised against the chicken pox virus, they may still be affected by it. Normally, the rash is very mild for immunised students. Booster vaccinations are available for students who have been previously vaccinated. Please refer to your doctor regarding any questions regarding the health of your child.
Thank you with your assistance in this matter.
Fact Sheet
Chickenpox Varicella
Chickenpox (varicella) is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
Signs and Symptoms:
The disease starts with cold-like symptoms such as a mild fever, headache, runny nose and cough. A day or two later a rash begins, starting as small pink blotches but rapidly progressing to itchy blisters which usually last three to four days before drying out and turning into scabs.
Treatment:
No specific treatment is recommended or required for otherwise healthy children and adults with chickenpox. It is important to try to prevent a young child from scratching the rash as this can result in permanent scarring or secondary infection. To reduce the itchiness, try adding an anti-itch solution (eg. Pinetarsol) to frequent baths. Use paracetamol to lower temperature or to reduce discomfort. Aspirin must not be given to young children and adolescents due to the risk of developing a severe condition called Reyes Syndrome. This is particularly important for children who have or who may be developing chickenpox.
Transmission: Chickenpox is spread through coughing, sneezing and direct contact with the fluid in the blisters of the rash. The dry scabs are not infectious. Since shingles blisters also contain the virus, a person who has never had chickenpox can become infected with chickenpox from someone who has shingles.
An individual with chickenpox is infectious for about one to two days before the onset of the rash and until the blisters have all scabbed, usually four to five days. The usual time between contact with the virus and developing the illness is about 14 to 16 days, although sometimes it can take longer.
Prevention: Immunisation is the best way to protect against chickenpox. However, it is also important to maintain good hygiene
practices, such as regular hand washing, particularly after contact with a sick person. A safe and effective vaccine is available in Australia to prevent chickenpox (varicella). If a person has already had chickenpox, they are immune to the disease and do not need to be vaccinated. If there is uncertainty whether a person has had chickenpox, it is still quite safe to have the vaccine. The National Immunisation Program Schedule provides a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine free of charge to all children aged 18 months. Prior chicken pox infection is not a contraindication to this vaccine, and such children should still receive MMRV vaccine.
Vaccination is also recommended (but not funded) for non-immune people in the following groups: non-immune adolescents over 14 years of age and adults (this requires two doses given at least four weeks apart to achieve adequate protection from chickenpox) high-risk occupations where exposure to chickenpox is likely (e.g. healthcare workers, teachers, childcare staff) women planning a pregnancy (chickenpox vaccine should not be given during pregnancy nor should the URL: http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/14/217/23/chickenpox-varicella
Version number: 8 Date published: 12/10/2017Date generated: 23/04/2018
Recipient become pregnant for 28 days after vaccination) women immediately after delivery of a baby parents of young children household contacts of people with lowered immunity.
Varicella vaccine has been shown to be effective in preventing chicken pox if given within three days and possibly up to five days of contact with an infected person, with earlier administration being preferable. An injection of zoster immune globulin (ZIG) given within 96 hours of exposure to chickenpox provides immediate but temporary protection against chickenpox and may be recommended if exposure has occurred for individuals at high risk of severe disease or pregnant women who are not immune to chickenpox. ZIG is not recommended for otherwise healthy children or adults.
Like all medications, vaccines may have side effects. Most side effects are minor, last a short time and do not lead to any long-term problems. There may be some swelling, redness and soreness where the injection was given and fever. A mild chickenpox-like rash may develop at the injection site or on the body. If this occurs, the rash usually appears about eight days after vaccination (but can appear any time between five to 26 days).
People with this rash should avoid contact with people with weakened immune systems. More serious side effects are extremely rare. Contact your immunisation provider if you or your child has a reaction following vaccination which you consider serious or unexpected.
Health outcome:
For the majority of children, chickenpox is a mild illness of short duration with complete recovery. While chickenpox is usually a mild disease in healthy children, life-threatening complications such as pneumonia or inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) are possible. It can be fatal in about three in 100,000 cases.
Chickenpox is more severe in adults and can cause serious and even fatal illness in immunosuppressed individuals of any age. Chickenpox can also cause shingles (herpes zoster) in later life. If a woman develops chickenpox during pregnancy, there is a very small but real chance of damage to her unborn baby. If she develops chickenpox late in pregnancy or very soon after birth, the infection can be serious and even life threatening for the newborn baby. Pregnant women and those with new born infants in their first month of life, who have had household or face to face contact with a person with chickenpox, should seek urgent medical attention.
Control
People with chickenpox should be excluded from childcare facilities, schools or work for at least five days after the rash first appears and until dry scabs have replaced all blisters. Any contacts with lowered immunity, such as those with leukaemia, should be immediately excluded and referred for specialist advice
From the Classrooms
Prep Scientists
Prep Young Scientists!
After all the fun of yesterday’s Book Week Parade, our Preppies put on their science hats to investigate the strength of different materials.
Using everyday objects, we tested which materials could bend, stretch, or stay strong under pressure. The students made predictions, worked like scientists, and shared their discoveries with big smiles!
From stories to science, it’s been an exciting week of learning and creativity in Prep.
#PrepScience #CuriousMinds #AustralianCurriculumV9 #BookWeek2025 #HandsOnLearning
Fairy Garden
Fairy Garden Fun in Prep! 
Our Preppies have been busy creating a magical fairy garden during bush play at break times. Using their imagination (and a little bit of nature’s magic), they’ve been designing tiny homes, paths, and treasures for the fairies who might come to visit. 
Bush play gives our students the chance to explore, create, and collaborate — all while connecting with the natural world around them. 
Who knows? Maybe a fairy or two has already stopped by! 
#BushPlay #FairyGarden #ImaginativePlay #PrepAdventures #LearningThroughPlay
iNNOVATE Program
“The Year 5/6 Social Entrepreneurs are about to begin making all their products to sell at their market stalls in November. They need your help! If you have any newspapers, scrap paper, or old clothes around the home; we would love to have them. All donations can be brought down to B Block and placed in the Flexi-room. Thank you for supporting our Year 5/6 iNNOVATE students.”
This week we had some of our Instrumental Music students taking part in the Level 2 and Level 3 band workshops.
On Monday and Tuesday 3 year 6 students took part in the Level 3 band workshop at Birkdale State School and on Thursday we had 8 year 5 students (pictured above) participating in the Level 2 band workshop also at Birkdale State School.
Hilliard Sport
Congratulations to 5 of our athletes who participated in the Bayside Districts for athletics last week!
Olivia came 2nd place in the 100m sprints and 1st place in the 200m sprints. She has qualified for Under 14's Australian National Championships for the 200m sprint and will go to compete at the Metropolitan East Track and Field.
Charlee came 8th in the High Jump has also progressed to the next round in high jump. What an amazing achievement!!!
#HilliardProud #hilliardheroes
District Athletics
Hilliard Dance
Amp'd Up
Arabella - Aerobics Solo
Charlee - Aerobics Solo
Country Cuties
Divine
Dream House Divas
Ericka - Aerobics Singles
Girl Gang Groovers
H2Hilliard
Halo
Hilliard Heroes
Hot Shots
Jonathon - Hip Hop Solo
Launch Time
Operation Hilliard
Pom Squad
Remix
SHOUT!
Sienna - Solos
Style and Grace
Surge
SWAG
Synchro Sisters
Tiny Tribe
Victory
From the Tuckerbox
IGA Raffle
Have you bought your Father’s Day raffle tickets yet? Please visit Dan The Hills IGA!!!
Community Notices
To join Saver Plus, you need to meet these requirements:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have a current Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
- Have a child in school, starting next year, or be studying yourself
- Get a regular income (can be you or your partner in paid work or child support/carers' payment)
- Agree to join in free online financial education workshops
What are the eligible savings goals?
Eligible savings goals are education-related products or services that:
- Assist a primary/secondary school student’s education.
