Welcome Back – 12th February 2020

Welcome to the 2020 school year at Penguin District School! A special welcome to those students, families and staff who are new to our school community. This year we have 638 enrolled students from Kinder to Year 12, with 57 children beginning their formal schooling journey with us in Kindergarten.

As you know, our teachers returned to school last Monday and used this time to ensure that everything was ready to welcome students back for an exciting start to their 2020 learning program. Our teachers have put a lot of time into preparing classrooms and making sure that our children have an exciting and engaging learning program – thank you to our teachers for this. Thank you to our school attendants who worked hard to make our school and grounds clean and looking beautiful. Our office and support staff did a tremendous job during book sales and thank you for the support that you provided to ensure this is a smooth process. A final thank you to the parents for sending children to school looking so smart in their uniforms and for covering and naming books, pencils etc. —the kids look terrific!

With a growing student population, I’d like to also welcome a number of new staff: Mrs Kylie Mudford (Grade 3-4), Mrs Jenna Langham, (Grade 3-4), Miss Sarah Mott (Grades 7-10), Mr Matthew Smart Grade 7-10 & AST) & Mr Jordan Taylor (Grade 7-12). Our support team will extend to include Belinda French, Marsha Lynd and Jacqueline Gallagher joining our team of teacher assistants, Lyndsay Norton as School Health Nurse during Term 1 and Esther Humpries & Rebekah Cook as Speech Pathologists. Next newsletter we will publish our full staff list and contact details.

Changes to Bus Services

The Department of State Growth are responsible for managing bus contracts for all Tasmanian schools. There have been changes to some services that service our school, particularly the Heybridge/Sulphur Creek services and the bus the southern end of Ironcliffe Road/Hardy’s Road. The School Association will be collating any feedback they families may have across the first few weeks – if you have some observations/recommendations to share, please email them through to our school administration penguin.district.school@education.tas.gov.au

Communication Regarding Excursions

During book sales, all parents are required to update their children’s contact information and permissions for a range of school activities. One of the permissions that parents are able to grant is for their child to participate in local excursions. We have defined local excursions as being of low-risk activity, in the school intake area that is serviced by our local buses, or to other Department of Education sites outside of our bus route, and that would be for no longer than a school day in duration. The bus area incorporates, Ulverstone through to Heybridge and southwards to South Riana. For any other excursions, parents/guardians will be asked to complete a permission form and return to school for their children to be able to participate.

Capital Works Update

This week the Project Working Group had its first meeting for the year to discuss the planning and tendering timelines for the next 12 months. The project working group is inclusive of parent representatives, Paul Kenny and Allison Kable, staff representatives Geoff Davis & Karina Van Essen along with Department of Education staff and the successful tender, 6ty Architecture Surveying & Engineering.

Grade 7 & 8 Camp

Our Grade 7’s are participating in a two day camp at Camp Banksia at Port Sorell this week, Thursday 13th and Friday 14th February with our Grade 8’s at Paton Park in North Motton for the same dates. All families have received correspondence previously about this camp. Thank you to our staff that will be accompanying the students and for their planning and organisation of the two days. I’m sure that it will be an engaging and rewarding few days for students and staff.

School Uniform and Hats

Our uniforms are very distinctive and many new families to the school commented on how wonderful our students looked in full school uniform on the first day.  Please ensure that children also have appropriate footwear as per our uniform policy that has been approved by our School Association.

Penguin District School is a ‘sun-safe’ school and hats are required in Terms 1 and 4 for playing outside during recess and lunch breaks and during PE.  ‘Sun-safe’ hats are available for purchase from both primary and secondary campus office for $10-$15.

Internet & Technology Usage Agreement 2020

All students have been given an Internet & Technology Usage Agreement – 2020 form and students in Grades 5 to 6 were also given an iPad Acceptable Usage Agreement – 2020. These agreements must be reviewed and signed each year by parents and students. It must be returned to the class teachers or your child will not be able to use any ICT.

Outstanding Achievement

We were rapt to hear about the achievement of students and staff over the summer break. Fletcher in grade 8, Alex and Noah G in grade 9 represented Tasmania at the Surf Life Saving Youth Pathways Cup on the Sunshine Coast Chad, Will in grade 7 and Ava in grade 8 represented the state in the country cup basketball tournament in Albury Wodonga.

If there are student milestones or achievements that we can celebrate, we’d love to know! Please make contact with penguin.district.school@education.tas.gov.au

Brekky Club

Rotary Ulverstone West are again supporting our Breakfast Club on Wednesdays. All students are welcome to come along and get a great start to the day. This commenced Wednesday 12February at the canteen window at the Community Learning Centre.

Mat Grining

Principal