Best wishes to all of our families for a safe and enjoyable holiday break. Thank you for your connection and support of our school during the 2021 school year  We have a brief newsletter going out to families today with staffing updates, key dates for next year and end of year speeches. We look forward to working with you all again in 2022. 

I am pleased to announce that the we have been able to finalise our staffing profile for 2022. Whilst I publicly acknowledged the contributions of long standing staff members Adam Conkie, Phil Hawley, Mathew Smart, Gill Pratt, Jenna Langham, Steven Jones, Belinda Jones, Denise Thorp, Trevor Ward, Teegan Townsend, Stacey Riley and Sue Hughes in our assemblies, I’d like to also thank and celebrate the contributions of all of our staff across 2021.

School COVID Vaccination Clinic

Penguin District School has been appointed as a vaccination clinic on Thursday 13 January 2022. This will operate from the Community Learning Centre at the primary campus and be managed by Public Health.

• Bookings are now open for children aged 5 to 11 to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Special vaccine clinics will run exclusively for children aged 5 to 11 across Tasmania from 10 January 2022.
• Clinics will be held at community locations across the state to give every primary school aged child the opportunity to get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before they return to school in February.
• Vaccinations are not mandatory to attend school, but we would encourage parents to get their children vaccinated to protect their children, their families, and our school community.
• Last week a smaller paediatric dose of the Pfizer vaccine was approved as safe and effective for children aged 5 to 11 by Australia’s top medical experts.
• Children will get two doses, eight weeks apart – but they will only be available in special children’s clinics and GPs.
• Bookings are essential for children’s clinics and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• To find out more, including how to book, visit the Tasmanian Government’s coronavirus website

Vaccination for Staff, Volunteers, Visitors and Contractors         

We have been advised this week that all Department of Education staff and contractors must have provided evidence of their COVID vaccination prior to 8 February 2022. This will also apply for visitors and volunteers whether entering the school building, or joining classes on excursions. This applies for school pick up and drop off to the classroom, assemblies, classroom help etc.  Protocols for providing and checking vaccination information is being developed by the Department of Education and Public Health and we will provide our community with further information as it becomes available in the new year.

Staffing

Congratulations to Matthew Perry who has been appointed to the permanent position as Assistant Principal (Primary) from the commencement of next year and to Chris Bugeja and Loretta Wilson, who have both been appointed to permanent Education Facility Attendant positions as well.

Capital Works Update

As exciting as it has been moving in to the new music rooms and café area in the past fortnight, we have been advised this week of a delay for our move for our years 7-10 classes next year. This means that for the first 4 weeks of 2022, that grade 7, 8 and 9 will remain in the current areas before we move out in to the new classrooms in between the primary and secondary campuses, so demolition and refurbishment of the years 7-12 space can be completed. Whilst disappointing, it is the result of resourcing issues that we have no control over and we know that the finished redevelopment will be something that can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Please know that the dry, flagged grassed area in between the carpark and art area is part of the central contract, and hasn’t been taken over by the school. We’ve received some queries from families about how thirsty that the grass is looking, and we can share that it is being managed by the central contactor.

School Association Update

Following our recent AGM, the School Association committee for 2022 is Paul Kenny (Chairperson), Elisha Franks (Deputy Chair), Carol Bracken (Treasurer), Julie McKenna (Secretary), Brandan Ivory, Melika Kelly, Melanie Grey, Sheila Steele, Kathryn Smith, Matt Perry, Lennice Wilson and Mat Grining. I’d like to thank and acknowledge retiring member Nicky Green who has served on the School Association for the past two years.

2022 Teacher Staffing

Our school leadership team will include, Mr Mat Grining (Principal), Mr Matt Perry (Assistant Principal Primary), Mr Geoff Davis (Assistant Principal Secondary), Mr Adrian Beard (Quality Teaching Coach), Mrs Sarah Cappelli (Quality Teaching Coach), Mr Adam Lane, Mrs Jessie Eberhardt, Mrs Karina Van Essen, Ms Jodie Murphy, Mr Jade Hughes, Mr Robert Maywald, (Advanced Skills Teachers)

Kinder – Mrs Deb Haberle

Kinder - Mrs Olivia Bracken

Kinder - Ms Megan Maney

Prep – Mrs Carla Hubbard & Mrs Wendy Radcliff

Prep – Mrs Pietta Nicholls

Grade 1/2 – Mrs Elisse Gardam

Grade 1/2 – Mrs Lynne Taylor

Grade 1/2 – Miss Maddison McCormack

Grade 1/2 – Ms Nicky Green

Grade 1/2 – Ms Moira Paterson

Grade 3/4 – Miss Hayley Marshall

Grade 3/4 – Miss Paige Blackett

Grade 3/4 – Mr Justin Rattray

Grade 3/4 – Mrs Kylie Mudford

Grade 3/4 – Dr Janet Mackenzie

Grade 5/6 – Mr Damien Rabe

Grade 5/6 – Miss Maddison Hayward

Grade 5/6 – Mrs Bronwyn Enright

Grade 5/6 – Mrs Lyn Brown

Literacy Support – Mrs Cheryl Wells, Ms Jenny Slater & Miss Bronwyn Gibson

Music – Mrs Christine Lusted/Mr Nick Turner

PE – Mr Chris de Ruyter/Miss Abby Goninon

Digital Technology – Mr Adam Lane

Visual Arts - Ms Jenny Slater

Secondary Campus Teachers

Jodie Murphy, Nick Owen, Tash Turner, Angela Fitzallen, Geoff Davis, Nick Turner, Narelle Butler, Amie Dunlop, Ashley King, Rebecca Van Essen, Jade Hughes, Robert Maywald, Beth King, Abby Goninon, Jordan Taylor, Sarah Mott, Sarah Cappelli, Mat Grining, Darcy Schake & Noah Johnstone

Principal’s Address

The final week of school, as busy as it is, would have to be the most rewarding time of the year for those that work in schools. As our school has continued to grow, we have moved to holding four assemblies across the two days of the final week of the school year. This year I have included the speech that was used in the grade 10 assembly, as it highlights the opportunities that we can harness as a District School.

2021 Grade 10 Principal’s Address

Social research has shown the connections between gratitude and someone’s ability to be resilient. Whilst it can be as simple as the act of reflecting and being grateful for what we have, or a random act of kindness, one of your teachers said to you on Monday morning – ‘Many people will be dedicating considerable time and energy in celebrating ‘you’ this week, so let’s consider how you can give something back.’ I know that gratitude, empathy and mindfulness has been front of mind for many of the adults in our school this year and with this, the grade 10’s were inspired to handwrite anonymous letters to our current grade 6 students.

So putting yourself in the shoes of the grade 6’s this week (who would be trying to make sense of their own mix of emotions) what advice or messages would they provide?

This task surfaced all of the big issues with some serious year ten wisdom and humour as you might expect. Make sure you secure your leavers date early, or you’ll regret it! Get a top locker, get ready for some long speeches from some of the staff etc,

After we collated the letters, I shared these with the grade 6’s on Monday night and to be honest, we felt that instead of exchanging just one letter, that the letters were so reflective and meaningful, that we would collate all of the letters into a book for the year 6’s.

So for your final assembly as students at Penguin District School, instead of having an adult on stage giving you advice and well wishes, I’m going to ask you to listen to 10 of your own pieces of advice that I have drawn directly from those letters to the grade 6’s.

• Yes, grades are important to maintain but your mental health is a priority. Reach out if you need help, don’t put unrealistic expectations on yourself and don’t change yourself to fit in
• Take every opportunity that is thrown at you, and try your best
• There is so much that life can offer you, but you’ve got to get up and put the effort in
• Don’t get involved in drama (I’m not talking about the subject!), it’s not worth it.
• If you’re really worried about something or someone, let someone know – they can help
• Have an open mind, and treat everyone with respect
• Have fun
• You’ll have setbacks, but surrounding yourselves with positive people can turn a setback in to a step up
• You don’t have to be perfect, just be proud to be yourself.
• Be organised, be on time and if you say that you are going to do something – get it done!

So, in reflecting on your own pearls of wisdom, it’s clear to us that you don’t need to look far for good advice. We hope that you recognise that you already have the internal strength, skills, understandings and support networks around you to tackle any challenge that will come your way in the near future. Congratulations and best wishes year 10’s of 2021.

The staff at Penguin District School wish you all the very best for the

festive season and we look forward to seeing you in 2022. 

Students return to school on Wednesday 9 February 2022.

Year 7’s will be at school from 1.00pm Tuesday 8 February 2022.

2022 Book Sales

Community Learning Centre

Thursday 27 January, 10:00am—6:00pm

Primary and Secondary offices will re-open 24 January 2022