Dear College Families,

At Hills Adventist College, we believe that every student is uniquely created in the image of God, with gifts and talents designed to reflect His glory. As it says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This truth is at the heart of our mission—to nurture for today, equip for tomorrow, and shape for eternity.

Within these last few weeks, we have seen this mission come to life in powerful ways. Our students have embraced opportunities to grow and shine, both in and out of the classroom. From the determination and teamwork displayed at the AICES Secondary Athletics and CIS Primary Athletics, to the creativity and collaboration showcased at our Creative Collective Evening, our community has been enriched by the gifts of our young people.

One of the key pillars of chaplaincy here at Hills is developing our leaders to use all the gifts God has given them. This is inspired by Scripture, where an older leader, Paul, wrote to someone he was mentoring, Timothy:

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”
— 1 Timothy 4:12

Even though our students are young, this doesn’t hold them back from being great leaders in our community. We’ve seen so many wonderful examples of this just in the past term.

Our Kindy students had the opportunity to lead worship at Senior Chapel, and they did an outstanding job. The senior school loved it—and probably sang louder than they have all year. That’s leadership.

September was a huge month for our athletes, with both Primary and Secondary students proudly representing the college at the CIS Athletics Championships.

Primary Athletics
Seven students competed: Indie A, Cade B, Ria N, Advika P, Saanvi S, Kairaa S, and Anna W.

A highlight of the day was the Girls 11–13 Relay, where the team of Kairaa S, Anna W, Indie A, and Saanvi S placed 10th overall. Saanvi S had an especially strong performance, placing 4th in discus and winning silver in shot put (10.81m). Her impressive throw has also qualified her for the NSW PSSA State Athletics Championships in October.

Despite the rain, our annual Creative Collective shone brighter than ever, transforming the school into a celebration of creativity, talent, and community spirit. The evening was alive with colour and innovation as students proudly showcased their work from Visual Arts, Textiles, Design & Technology, and STEM, turning classrooms into galleries of imagination. The atmosphere was lifted even higher by delicious catering from our talented Year 9 and 10 Food Technology students, while the stage came alive with inspiring performances from our Music, Dance, and Drama students. It truly was an unforgettable night of artistry and performance—a showcase of the incredible gifts within our school community and a highlight of the year that simply can’t be missed!

Chances are, you or someone you know has experienced anxiety. Whether it’s mild worry or a full-blown panic attack, anxiety can disrupt daily life.

Anxiety disorders are common, affecting one in four people at some stage in their life. The sooner support is sought, the better the outcome—but only a third of those affected get help.

SchoolTV has compiled the best apps and resources for managing anxiety, providing practical support for young people and families.

📖 Further resources on SchoolTV: Click Here

Engines were revving and hearts were racing as Junior School came together for our annual Week of Worship, held last week at the Kellyville Campus. The theme F1 – Faith in the One set the stage for a week filled with joy, reflection, and a powerful focus on trusting God completely.

This year, the spotlight shone on our Year 4 students, who took the driver’s seat in leading the entire program. From uplifting songs and creative dramas to thoughtful messages, they guided the school community with confidence and enthusiasm. Their leadership inspired younger students and reminded us all of the importance of stepping out in faith and using our gifts for God.

On Wednesday 24th of September, Kindergarten had a visit from the mobile Taronga Zoo at the Castle Hill Campus. It was a great morning with two sessions in which both classes enjoyed learning more about reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Students were able to feel the skin of a lizard and a snake compared with the fur of a ringtail possum. They were not allowed to touch the very sensitive green tree frog; however, they did get to see it up close. We had great questions about what these animals eat, where they live and what makes them unique and special! Some students were hoping that the keeper had brought a giraffe, but she explained that it didn’t fit in her van and would not have been very happy! Maybe that is something they can see if they visit the zoo in the holidays!  I am sure they went home super excited and enjoyed the day!

On Tuesday 16th September, Year Five and Six boys from both Kellyville and Castle Hill campus took part in the Hills Zone Basketball Gala Day held at Fred Caterson Reserve. Despite facing tough competition, our students demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship and determination. The boys ended up finishing a respectable 4th place in the competition. Congratulations to all participants for representing our school with grace and skill!

Last week, Year 8 went on their three-day camp. The aim was to give these city kids safe challenges that pushed their limits, showing them what they can achieve with a harness and a lot of courage. AGH Camp, located in the secluded Nepean Valley, provided the perfect setting.

The students were able to canoe on a protected tributary of the river, wander beneath long wattle blossoms, listen to the clever calls of the lyrebirds, and experience the thrill of the giant swing over the valley. The kitchen staff provided generous meals for all, and we were grateful to the Year 8s for cleaning up after themselves before moving on to the next activity.

A big thank you to all the staff for their smiles, encouragement, and support through late nights. Special thanks to Pr Jess, who spoke to the Year 8s about wisdom and integrity around the campfire, and for celebrating our students during the annual “Great Eights” awards on the final night of camp.

Our Year 8 students embarked on a captivating journey back in time during an immersive incursion hosted by Living Histories Australia. The day was filled with hands-on learning as students explored the customs and daily life of Medieval Europe. They had the opportunity to don authentic costumes and armour and enthusiastically took part in a range of medieval activities—including traditional games, dancing, sword fighting, and even archery. It was a memorable experience that brought history to life in a fun and engaging way.

Earlier this year, students from Years 8 and 10 had the opportunity to participate in the Australian History Competition, a national contest designed to test analytical and interpretive skills using a range of historical sources. The competition encourages engagement with history, supports curriculum learning, and rewards students’ interest and effort in the subject.

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students:

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all Year 12 graduates on reaching this incredible milestone. This year, our Genesis Award recipients — who have been with us from Kindergarten (and for some, even earlier in Prep!) — posed for photos with their Kindy teacher, Mrs Patti Blanch, celebrating the full circle of their journey.

Our 2025 Genesis Award recipients are:

- Marco B.
- Seth B.
- Matthew C.
- Elysha H.
- Caleb L.
- Charlotte M.
- Jordan M.
- Dante M.

We congratulate all of our Year 12 graduates, and especially our Genesis Award recipients, on this incredible achievement. We look forward to sharing more photos from graduation day soon!

The Voice Competition is a public speaking competition that involves problem-solving for students to tackle issues that affect their community, country and world. Students must pitch a solution to a problem and defend the feasibility of this proposed solution.

Students are split into junior (years 7-8) and senior (years 9-10) divisions. Those successful from preliminary rounds will continue to semi-finals and finals rounds. Hills Adventist College is hosting a preliminary round in late October. Please DM or see Mrs Logiudice if you're interested.   Website: https://unyouth.org.au/program/the-voice-competition/

We are excited to share the range of extra-curricular opportunities available to Hills Adventist College students in Term 4. These programs are offered during and outside of school hours and are facilitated by private providers. Please note that all activities are at an additional cost to parents.

If you haven’t already, please submit enrolment applications for siblings starting school in 2026 as soon as possible. Applications submitted after March 2025 may result in your child being placed on a waitlist.

As a general reminder, we encourage all families to submit enrolment applications as early as possible to assist with planning and to secure a place.

We would like to remind families that, in line with the College’s Enrolment Policy, a minimum of one full term’s notice is required for any student withdrawal. If your child will not be returning to Hills Adventist College in 2026, please complete the Notice of Withdrawal form (linked below) and submit it to the College Registrar by the end of Term 3.

👉 Notice of Withdrawal

No action is required if your child is:

- continuing enrolment in 2026,
- already confirmed as leaving, or
- completing Year 12 in 2025.

Further details are available in the College’s Enrolment Policy:

👉 2026 Enrolment Conditions

Thank you for your continued partnership with Hills Adventist College. We look forward to supporting your child’s learning journey in the year ahead.

Spring Vacation Care – Book Now with Extend! 🌸

Looking for fun and engaging activities these school holidays? Our OOSH provider, Extend, is running an exciting Spring Holiday Program for K–6 students, packed with themed days, excursions, creative experiences, and active play – there’s something for every child!

📅 Monday 29 September – Friday 10 October
⏰ 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
💰 Pay from just $8.33 after CCS *
Full session fee: $83.31

*With Child Care Subsidy applied
**Without Child Care Subsidy applied

Book early to secure your spot and lock in the Early Bird Rate!

Please take note of the uniform shop holiday trading hours (see banner image). Additionally, there will be a price increase for items at the uniform shop. The new prices will take effect from 15th September.

Click here for the new prices

We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

As with most schools in our area, we would like to reduce traffic build-up and minimise the impact on our neighbours and parents.

To keep traffic flowing smoothly and to allow everyone the opportunity to pick up their children in a timely manner, we kindly ask that you follow the guidelines below:

Childhood & Family Specialist • Balloon Man • International Speaker • Father & Grandfather

DARON PRATT, B.A., M.A.
Presents wholistic insights into parenting from the latest research and over 30 years of experience.

October 18
2:00pm – Parenting on the Spectrum: The Challenge of Neurodiversity
3:30pm – Mental Health & Wellbeing

October 25
2:00pm – The Rewiring of Children’s Brains
3:30pm – Growing Resilience

Venue: Community Hall, 2 George St, Epping
All Welcome | Free Event | Refreshments Included

Flyer & More Information: Click Here

RoboThink Robotics & Coding Workshop

🔹 Theme: Soccer – kids will build robots for a soccer match!
🔹 Learn problem solving, tech concepts, creativity, and teamwork while having fun.
🔹 Suitable for students from Kindergarten to Year 8 – no prior knowledge required.

📍 Castle Hill RSL
🗓 8 October, 10:30am
💲 $40 for 2 hours

👉 Limited spots! Enrol now by scanning the QR code on the flyer Click Here or visiting futurelabz.io

☎️ Info: 02 9136 2308 | ✉️ [email protected]

Let your kids discover the exciting world of robotics these holidays! 🚀

As a heads-up for planning, the Term 1 dates for 2026 have been confirmed. Please note the important start dates:

Wednesday, 28 January : Year 7, Year 12 students, and Year 11 Peer Support Leaders only start
Thursday, 29 January : Year 1–6 and Year 8–11 students start (Castle Hill & Kellyville Campuses)
Monday, 2 February : Kindergarten students start (Castle Hill & Kellyville Campuses)
Thursday, 2 April : Term 1 ends ✅

If you have any questions, please contact the College Reception. We look forward to sharing the full 2026 term dates with families soon.

We are pleased to invite you to the Home & School Cyber-Safety Seminar taking place at 7:00pm on Monday 20 October at the Kellyville Campus. This will be presented by Officer Glenn Clark, a Youth Engagement Officer from the NSW Police Force.

Officer Clark will share the "Think U Know” Cyber-Safety presentation which has been developed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and delivered nationally by Youth Engagement Officers in every State and Territory. The presentation provides vital insights into the online world our young people navigate daily.

We’re thrilled to share that Home and School has donated $20,000 🎁💰 towards Mechanical Curtains for the MPC ! Each year, we aim to make meaningful contributions – and sometimes a little magic ✨.

Psst… we’re also saving for an exciting building project. Come to a meeting to stay in the loop – it’s fun and low-pressure!

2026 Treasurer Role
Jo is stepping down as Treasurer next year. No accounting experience? No problem! Jo will guide you, and you’ll be supported by a great team.