28 September 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principals’ Report

Best wishes to all of our families for a safe and enjoyable holiday break. There have been a number of exciting moments and achievements from this term highlighted by the Celebration Of Learning Day. Next term we have an exciting start, 13 new students that will join us at the beginning of next term across both campuses. We look forward to working with all of our new and returning students, families and staff in term 4.

STAFFING

The winter illnesses not only affects student's attendance but also takes a toll on our staff, and even relief staff! We have spoken with our students about the fact that even though the adults you’re working with may change, the expectations and school values don’t. Thank you to our student groups and our teachers for their flexibility and ability to remain focused on their learning during term 3. There have been a number of occasions where sourcing relief has been impossible across all schools along the North West. We will always make relief decisions with the best interests of our students in mind with consistency of the relationships and routine our priority.

Next term Mrs Karina Van Essen will return from long service leave. Thank you to Mrs Sue Hughes for your work across both campuses during term 3. Early term 4, Miss Bronwyn Gibson and Mrs Michelle Coward will commence teaching on 6A. Thank you also to Andrew Lucadou-Wells who recently took on some continuous employment in the disability care sector. We have greatly appreciated his work with our students across both campuses. Leanne Ray will return to the secondary campus next term and we’d like to thank Matilda Lutwyche for her work during term 3.

ILLNESS/HEALTH REMINDERS

As the wet and windy weather continues, please ensure that children are well enough to engage in a full day of learning. We all understand how easily illness can spread through young people. We appreciate your support with this.

Grade 7

In Grade 7, students have been looking at simple machines as part of their physics work. One of the tasks required students to create a Rube Goldberg Machine. These machines are complex, multi-step ways to complete a simple task. Students were given the guidelines to create a machine that fit within a 1m2 area and were challenged to include as many stages or types of simple machines that they could. At the end of the machine students needed to set off a “trap” (a cardboard box) to catch their prey.

SCAP 2017

The 2017 SCAP program has been successful with students enjoying activities in a range of classes. A full orientation day will be held in Term 4 with the students then ready to start Grade 7 in 2018.

Grade 7 Commonwealth Games

These were held in Term 3 with all of the Grade 7 students being involved in a range of activities and sports. Students were placed into team groups and participated to win medals for their team. The activities were based on Jack’s physiotherapy exercises and included seated volleyball, table tennis, indoor bowls, straw soccer, flag making and will finish in Term 4 with a session of wheelchair basketball. All students participated with enthusiasm and excellent sportsmanship.

Student Achievements:

Emily with medals from State cross country running and Diamond with a medal from the state basketball championships. Well done to both girls.

Life Skills Program

A small group of Grade 7&8 students have been working on a life skills program each Wednesday and Thursday. As part of this they have been cooking and preparing menus and food dishes. The group have been cooperative and successful in their sessions and it has been extremely enjoyable.

From The Montgomery Room – Cooking

9/10 SHORT COURSE - FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD…..

Indian dishes, created by Isabelle, Madison , Jayden and Darius

Mexican dishes, created by Shkirah, Brailee and Paige

Italian dishes, created by Hector, Alleah, Tom and Kamilla

Grade 8 Sewing

Students are working on machines, samples and funky chicken pincushions.

James, Jannah, Tara, Phoebe and Chelsea Short

Grade 7 Cooking Competition

Two of our Grade 7 students, Ella and Makayla were committed to participating in the Devonport Trade Challenge Cooking Competition this term. Unfortunately the comp never went ahead, so the girls put their ingredients to the test and plated up their ideas here at school. They looked and tasted amazing. Both used Tasmanian produce and would be more than ready to enter again if the competition runs next year

Marinated Chicken Skewers and Salad Entrée and Apple Teacake with Caramel Sauce and cream

CATERING

Our Grade 9/10 caterers provided alongside Kylie Briggs for the schools ‘Expo’ new to the secondary campus this year.

Here’s a sample of their work

Penguin District School Rocks!

On Monday the 11th of September, eleven Penguin District School students performed at the Rock Challenge Tasmania North West heat in front of over a hundred people at Tapas bar in Devonport.

Ebony and Sam both performed in the acoustic section, Sam playing two original pieces and Ebony coupling an original with My Immortal by Evanescence.

The Grade 9 rock band Mainstream Hipsters, featuring Tate on vocals, Aaron on lead guitar, Matt on rhythm guitar, Bailey on drums and Aaron on bass performed an original piece and Wolfmother’s Joker and the Thief.

The Grade 10 rock band Eleventy Six, which included Jett on vocals, Kayla on guitar, Ffion on drums and Hector on bass, played an original piece and Lonely Boy by the Black Keys.

Devonport Eisteddfod

Penguin District School choirs recently performed at the Devonport Eisteddfod. All choirs worked very hard to be ready to perform at the eisteddfod. Congratulations to the Primary Boys Choir, Primary Girls Choir and Vivace for your exceptional singing, teamwork and behaviour at the eisteddfod.

The Boys Choir were awarded first place in the Primary School Boys Choir section and received the Robert Tucker Perpetual Shield. They sang Lanterns and Hall of Fame which featured a solo verse by Leo. The adjudicator applauded the boys for their discipline, clear words and blended voices. Well done, boys.

The Girls’ Choir were second in the Primary Choir section with their performance of Someone’s Watching Over Me and Sing in Harmony. The adjudicator was impressed by their uniform vowels, dynamic contrasts and competent two part singing. Great effort, girls.

Vivace won the Sacred Choir (under 18), the Secondary School Choir and the Junior Choir (under 15). They also received the Meg Titmus award for the most outstanding choral group 18 years and under. Congratulations Vivace.

Thank you to our accompanist, Jodie Murphy, Senior Staff from the primary campus and all the parents who provided support during the eisteddfod.

Christine Lusted

Todd Rodgers Carnival

Penguin District School was represented by 2 teams in the Todd Rodgers Carnival on Sunday 24th September.

Grade 3/4 girls combined with 3 students from Riana Primary School showed great sportsmanship and improvement in every game despite the weather conditions. They also provided a terrific cheer squad for our Grade 5/6 team.

Our Grade 5/6 girls finished 3rd in their division on the day in a great team effort.

Production 2018

We are very close to being able to announce our production for 2018. So stay tuned for further details.

Recently we unveiled a photo collage of ‘Popstars, the 90’s Musical’ and are on the lookout for programs and or posters of previous productions to add to this display. If you have a program or poster for the following productions that you would be willing to lend to the school for copying, please contact the office:

Bats (1987), Man of Steel (2000), Back to the 80’s (2006 & 2012), Disco Inferno (2008), Grease (2010). We are also interested in any similar material for Rock Eisteddfod performances from 1991 – 1998.

Office 365 Free for Penguin District School Students.

Did you know that all Penguin District Students have an Office 365 account?

The Department of Education provides an Office 365 account to all public school students. If you were to purchase a yearly personal OFFICE 365 subscription it would normally cost you over $100 but this is provided for free by the Education Department for educational purposes.

So what does this actually mean?

Well what it means is that all PDS students can access the Microsoft Office package of software on their own devices, as well as on all school devices. So if you have a computer, iPad or Android tablet you can download Word, Excel, PowerPoint applications to your device for free! Students can also access their school email account and all of the web app versions via the Office 365 webpage and have been provided with One Drive cloud storage. This means students can save their school work in One Drive and then access this work on almost any device that can access the internet.

So how does my child set up their Office 365 account?

It’s quite an easy process that should only take a few minutes to get started. If you are wanting to download the full Office package to your device or computer it is recommended that you do this via a Wi-Fi connection. The video attached to this article explains how you can do it. If your child has questions they can request assistance through the school ICT services.

(Please note that the DoE does not cover any costs involved in the download and upload of files on private networks. Additional data charges may apply when using private networks. Please note limited support is available for personal devices)

On Friday 29th of September, the school is participating in Footy Colours Day across both the primary and secondary campuses.

Students are able to wear AFL, soccer, NRL or local club gear.

It is a gold coin donation with all funds going towards the Fight Cancer Foundation to help support families and ongoing research.

The secondary student board members will also be running some novelty events in the theme of the day for the younger students.

We hope to see everyone supporting their favourite club!

Tino to Open Sensory Kitchen Garden

ABC Gardening Australia personality Tino Carnevale will be at the primary campus on Wednesday 18th October to open our Sensory Kitchen Garden at 2:00pm. The garden began in 2009 as an idea and has since grown into a useful and beautiful area where students, teachers and school community can gather for fun, reflection and relaxation. Over the past 8 years primary campus students, with help and guidance from Mrs Patricia Perry, Mrs Sharine Johnstone and Mr Gerry Howard, have gradually changed a rarely used play area into an oasis full of life and beauty. The students acquired many skills including how to create a garden, raising seedlings, how and when to plant for optimum results, garden and garden equipment maintenance and composting.

Tasmanian born Tino developed a lifelong interest in plants and gardening at a very young age when he lived on his parents’ vineyard/olive grove property. After studying horticulture in Victoria, he moved back to Tasmania and works as a presenter for the ABC Gardening Australia TV programme.

Tino also teaches gardening skills to both adults and children, is part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Program at Moonah Primary School, is involved in the Feeding the Future Coalition, conducts accredited training at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Garden, as well as working with the local Aboriginal Cultural Centre and various other community groups.

Tino is a patron of the Tasmanian Weed Society, an organization that raises awareness of environmental weeds and their impact, he is active in community programs and events and gives regular talks to local garden groups. His website (link below) is full of interesting facts and information on plants.

Lost Property

ULVERSTONE DISTRICT CRICKET CLUB

MILO IN2CRICKET PROGRAMME:

The Ulverstone District Cricket Club will once again be running a Milo In2Cricket program for children from ages 5-8, at the River Road ground on Tuesday evenings, from 4.00 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. The program will run from Tuesday, 24th October to Tuesday 12th December inclusive, at a cost of approx. $75.00 per child, which includes the program sessions and a Milo give-away pack (bat, ball, tshirt, milo hat etc.). REGISTRATIONS, together with payment, may be completed online at the link below.

MILO T20 BLAST:

For children age 8-12 years, to be played at the Ulverstone Cricket Club, River Road on Wednesday nights. To commence 25th October at 5.30pm. Cost will be approx. $99 per child which includes eight sessions and a give-away pack. REGISTRATIONS, together with payment, may be done online at the link below.

PRIMARY SCHOOL CRICKET ROSTER:

Roster will re-commence on Friday 20th October. A new roster will be distributed to student participants in the first week back after the school holidays.

ULVERSTONE CRICKET UNDER 13/15/17 TEAMS:

Ulverstone Cricket Club is calling for all interested players in these age groups (must be Under 13/15/17 as at 31 August) to play in the Cricket North West coastal roster on a Sunday morning. Rosters runs from 12th November to February/March. Training nights: Tuesdays (U15 and U17), Wednesdays (U13), from 4pm-6pm. commencing 3/4 October. REGISTRATIONS: Tuesday 3 October (U15/U17) and Wednesday 4 October (U13) - prior to training, at the Ulverstone Cricket Clubs. For further enquiries, please contact Jason Pearce on 0407 371 996

Ulverstone Show

The Ulverstone Show is happening again this year with sections for primary and secondary students to enter. These include creative craft, photography, art work and Christmas craft. Get busy in the holidays and prepare some work to be entered in the show. Entry forms will be put together in the first week of term 4. Posters will be displayed in the school this term.

Ulverstone History Museum

For information regarding the proposed redevelopment of the Ulverstone History Museum precinct, please view the link below.

Upcoming Events