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- Penguin District School Calendar
- Principal's Report
- Clever Penguins
- A kind thing - Year 2 Paterson
- Kinmen Exchange Students
- UTAS Futures in Engineering
- Gnom0n Magazine Cover Competition
- Launching into Learning - Birth to 4
- Student Board - Green Day
- Canberra Excursion - Parent Information Evening - 6:00 pm -7:00 pm
- Year 3 to 12 Presentation Assembly
- School Calendar
- Ulverstone Pool
- MakerXBurnie
Penguin District School Calendar
For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar
2019 has been set by the United Nations as the ‘International Year of Indigenous Languages’ to raise awareness of the crucial role languages play in people’s daily lives. In Australia, of the estimated original 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, only around 120 are still spoken. Of these approximately 90 per cent are endangered.
There are no living speakers of the original Tasmanian languages and spoken records of the original sounds are limited to a few sounds (that can only just be heard) which were spoken by Fanny Cochrane Smith on the 1899 record on which she sang traditional songs.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre have deliberately and arduously restored the language to its spoken life. After two decades, Aboriginal people of all ages can now speak palawa kani, the language of Tasmanian Aborigines, and children learn it from an early age. palawa kani means ‘Tasmanian Aborigines speak’; it is the only Aboriginal language in lutruwita (Tasmania) today.
In a fitting finale tomorrow for our visitors, our Kinmen students and their year 9 buddies will work with Dave Gough, aboriginal educator to learn and understand some key elements of Tasmanian Aboriginal language, culture and traditions.
Kinmen Exchange
Our Kinmen students have enjoyed a range of experiences during their time in Tasmania. We have been immensely proud of how our students have welcomed them in to our community. Upon leaving his school visit to Penguin, the Director of Education in Kinmen commented on the how pleased he was for his students to be in a community that was so safe, supportive and welcoming. This is directly a result of how our students have embraced this experience and the positivity they have shown.
Year 7 Information Night
Last night we held our information night for year 7 students in 2020. This year the information was presented in a different forum based on feedback from previous years. Thank you to the staff, student leaders and musicians who attended and participated in what was an informative and successful event. If you were unable to join us for the session, or if you would like further information – please don’t hesitate to contact our year 7 coordinator Jodie Murphy on jodie.murphy@education.tas.gov.au
Congratulations for Emily A who has been selected to represent Tasmania in the U16 State Secondary Schools Cross Country Team, competing in the SSA National Cross Country Championships in Wollongong from 23-26 August, 2019.
A kind thing - Year 2 Paterson
‘We shine when we are kind.’ Pippa and Alycia
During our class ‘Weekly Wonder Walks’ around Penguin, we have noticed many ‘lost things’ in the shared spaces in our community. We have been curious about where these things have come from, what they are made from, why they had been left behind and what would happen to them if they weren’t picked up.
We explored the idea of a ‘thing’ as being ‘a non-living object’ (Arahni, Shemaiah, Amaya) ‘something you don’t know the name of’ (Gabby, Solomon) or a concept ‘a thought in our head’ (Ruby) or as an area ‘a cool place’ (Erin, Pippa). We collectively decided that things are ‘something that we use at school and at home. It can be a tool or something to play with. Everything in the whole wide world is a thing. A thing can also be a thought or a feeling or a space – anything can be a thing’.
We have found many physical ‘things’ on our walks made from a variety of different materials including: metal, paper, plastic, wood, fabric, rubber, brick and glass. Many of the ‘things’ that we have found have been made out of more than one material. All of the ‘things’ that we have found were once useful ‘things’ and many of them could still be used if they were cleaned, fixed or repurposed. Sadly, they had now become ‘lost things’ – things that are no longer cared for, used or even thought about.
But how did these ‘things’ become lost? We thought that ‘lost things’ had been forgotten, left behind, thrown away, dropped, or had fallen out of people’s pockets or bags as they were playing or travelling. The ‘things’ had become ‘old and rusty’ (Arahni), ‘crushed’ (Ryan), ‘ripped’ (Tyler) and ‘broken down’ (Nixon). They were no longer needed or wanted or considered useful.
We decided that we should pick up the ‘lost things’ that we had seen and reuse them if possible or put them into the bin so that ‘animals don’t eat them and choke on them’ (Noah). We also shared our thinking about how we could reuse ‘old things’ so that they didn’t end up as ‘trash’ in the garbage or in people’s gardens, the ocean or at op shops like Vinnies.
Inspired by the story ‘The Lost Thing’ by Shaun Tan we decided to create our own ‘thing’. Our families generously donated many ‘metal things’ that they no longer needed so that we had a collection of loose metal parts to use. Many parts had come from machines, tools or structures that had been stored in sheds, draws or tubs; hidden and forgotten, just like the things that we had found during our walks.
This year after inquiring into who we are in Term 1, we have had a whole class focus on being ‘kind people’ who ‘collaborate and explore’.
‘We collaborate so that we can share our thinking. We collaborate to learn and play. We think that collaborating is important and fun.’ Nixon, Bradley and Callum
‘We collaborate because it makes it easier to work and learn. We are kind when we collaborate. It is easier to talk and share ideas when we are together.’ Ruby and Amaya
We shared our thinking about what we could create and how we could combine our ‘things’. After much discussion, we decided that we could choose to work by ourselves or in small groups to create ‘something’ but whatever we made, we would focus on being ‘kind collaborators’ who would respectfully listen and contribute – even if it was something small.
We enjoyed exploring how to connect the pieces. As we tried different strategies and modified our plans, we created music and patterns, we told stories and solved problems, we became characters, we developed our thinking skills and celebrated our strengths while learning with our friends.
Our ‘things’ took many forms as they changed and evolved as our imaginations transformed the pieces into the extraordinary.
We attached our ‘things’ to a screen that we had created from combining two upcycled picture frames, mesh and wire. Each piece was connected to another to show that ‘together we are better’.
Collectively, all of our ‘small somethings’, have become ‘something big’ - a visual representation of who we are - kind people who can work together to make a difference; people who can collaborate to make our world a better and brighter place.
Our Kinmen friends recently finished their woodwork projects - ably assisted by their buddies. Working with wood was a new concept for each student, as their school program does not offer subjects like woodwork, metalwork or MDT type subjects. They learnt about our wonderful Tasmanian timbers and had a go at some basic processes - like joining timber, sanding to prepare for oiling and using the pyrographic pens. Everyone had fun together making this project.
With the assistance of their buddies, our Kinmen students participated in some cooking activities making White Chocolate and Raspberry French Toast.
On Thursday 1 August, 9 PDS students attended the UTAS Futures in Engineering program in Burnie.
Located at the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council - TMMEC - Building in South Burnie, the students learnt about the endless possibilities available in the world of engineering from TMMEC, University of Tasmania, Engineering Australia, Engineers from different companies, Caterpillar and Australian Defence Force personnel.
Students toured the Caterpillar facility nearby and learnt firsthand from engineers how they conceptualise, research and develop heavy mining equipment. A 'speed dating' style interview process enabled small groups of students to have discussions with 5 engineers about how they entered the world of engineering and what they do in their work.
Australian Defence Force representatives provided a challenging engineering activity in the afternoon and discussed the different paid pathways to study tertiary subjects with guaranteed employment after graduation.
Our staff and students were grateful for the opportunities provided to them through this program.
Gnom0n Magazine Cover Competition
Open to all Penguin District Students. If you would like to enter a piece of artwork for the cover of the 2019 Gnomon Magazine, please hand your art work into the primary or secondary office by the end of Week 6. Please make sure your artwork is named.
Canberra Excursion - Parent Information Evening - 6:00 pm -7:00 pm
8
Thu
08 Aug 2019
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
8
Thu
08 Aug 2019
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: Mrs Brown's year 6 Classroom
On Thursday 8 August we will be running an information session for parents and students about the Canberra trip. This meeting will be held in Mrs Brown’s Year 6 classroom between 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm and will be an opportunity for us to share some general information and for any questions to be asked.
As a part of this meeting, parents will have an opportunity to check and update the Major Excursion Consent Form and Aquatic Activity Consent Form and complete any other paperwork that is required. These forms were completed at the start of the year as part of the enrolment process and are required by the Department in order for us to be able to travel to Canberra.
8
Thu
08 Aug 2019
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: Mrs Brown's year 6 Classroom
Matt Perry
Email: matthew.perry@education.tas.gov.au
Year 3 to 12 Presentation Assembly
18
Wed
18 Dec 2019
9:15 AM to 10:30 AM
18
Wed
18 Dec 2019
9:15 AM to 10:30 AM
Location: Community Learning Centre, Primary Campus
This assembly will be held in the Community Learning Centre and is an opportunity to recognise mid year academic excellence for students in Year 3 -10.
18
Wed
18 Dec 2019
9:15 AM to 10:30 AM
Location: Community Learning Centre, Primary Campus
Good Friday
All day |
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Easter Sunday
All day |
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Easter Monday
All day |
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Easter Tuesday
All day |
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Nature Kinder A
All day Recurring event |
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Launching into Learning Playgym
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Recurring event |
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Launching into Learning Playgroup
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
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Year 1 Inquiry Excursion
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM |
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Year 1 Inquiry Excursion - Back up day
9:00 AM - 2:50 PM |
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Launching into Learning Music
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM Recurring event |
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School Photos Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 April
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM |
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School Association AGM
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM |
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Launching into Learning Playgym
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Recurring event |
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Primary Assembly Featuring - 5B French/Brown, 3-4C Rattray and 2B Taylor
1:30 PM - 2:50 PM |
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Last Day Term 1
All day |
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Launching into Learning Playgroup
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
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Prep - Year 10 Progress Reports sent home
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
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School Holidays
13 Apr 2024 - 28 Apr 2024 |
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ANZAC Day
All day |