For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar

The end of year is fast approaching with a range of emotions filling the air at PDS. As our prekinder orientation programs prepare to begin, we have a number of existing and new families joining us for the very first time which can understandably be an exciting and daunting experience for children (and parents!). Hopefully the experience is a positive one for all. We look forward to you joining us to share the journey ahead, working in partnership, to support and educate ‘our’ children together.

Our Year 11/12 children who are finalising assignments and completing exams will no doubt be experiencing similar emotions as they consider what comes next for them, whether it is joining the workforce or continuing with their education.

Amazingly, at the other end of our school, we have over 30 Year 9 and 10 students currently undertaking work experience. This is a fantastic learning experience and opportunity to get a taste for the ‘real world’.

For the year groups in between it’s business as usual. Teachers continue to offer as many rich and engaging opportunities across the many curriculum areas as possible, with a goal of having them ‘ready’ for the next year’s teacher. Students will be busily completing assignments and striving to do their personal best to contribute towards their end of year results.

As a school we are continually aspiring to grow and improve. On Tuesday night our whole teaching staff gathered to explore this year’s staff and family satisfaction surveys. In some ways this is like our staff receiving their end of year report! Our performance is measured both by our colleagues and our families that have completed the survey. 

The responses were interrogated thoroughly as staff looked for patterns, wins and areas for growth and improvement both in the short term and long term.  It was pleasing to see positive family responses highlighting staff expecting students to do their best, teachers encouraging children to think to think and parents feeling able to talk with teachers about concerns relating to their children. One of the more obvious areas identified for improvement was making sure we have as many families as possible complete the survey to ensure we are getting the big picture. 

This year only 29 families completed the survey. Whilst this information was still valuable and certainly not dismissed, we were all in agreeance that we would like to hear form more parents. 

When we are unsure about anything it’s human nature to come up with our own justifications as to why something has happened – teachers are no different. We know from experience these are simply guesses, based on our own experiences and may be completely off the mark. Was it: the majority of families are happy and didn’t feel the need to complete the survey; families don’t feel that anything will come from their response; only those with a bug to bear give feedback or jump on Facebook; did we not advertise it enough; people are too busy; we didn’t offer a reward or a chance of winning something by completing the survey (certainly has enticed me at times to complete a survey to win a new pair of shoes or a holiday to the Maldives); people come in and speak to us if they have any worries; we should have put it on Seesaw; or was it that the survey was too long? 

Unfortunately, we have no control over the length of the survey as it is a system based one. However, we do have the opportunity to increase the number of participants we have next year. Your opinion matters to us and we would love to hear from you. Stay tuned for a short survey to help us understand why you did or didn’t complete the survey as we would certainly aim to have significantly more responses in 2024.

As a school we continue to promote and celebrate our focus value for the term, respect. To support the age-old sayings that you have to give respect to get respect and that respect is something you earn, earlier this week Mr Hughes provided secondary students the opportunity to identify and share evidence of how our staff have shown respect to them and these insights were shared during our secondary assembly. It certainly put a smile on many faces to hear :

• Respecting everyone’s ideas and making everyone feel like they have a say. (Ms Lutwyche)
• Moving around each market store encouraging and being enthusiastic about each year 8 group products (Mrs Popowski)
• Listening to a student who was wrong, but she still listened and suggested a different way to do it. (Mrs Maclachlan)
• Acknowledging your hard work. (Multiple)
• Encouraging. Asking for ideas/thoughts. Helping. (Mr Owen, Miss Schake, Ms Murphy, Mrs Redman)
• Listening And Asking questions about our weekend. (Mr Owen)

Earlier this week our renovated and transforming secondary courtyard space turned into a buzzing market courtesy of our Year 8 and 9 students. The space resembled a smaller version of the well-known Salamanca Market. The place was buzzing as students from across our school participated in a variety of activities and games and had the opportunity to purchase a variety of inexpensive homemade wares including scented lip balm, photo booth bookmarks, t’shirts and pet rocks just to name a few.

I would like to thank and congratulate our Arts Department who launched the inaugural PDS Arts Festival during the week.Without our innovative, commited and dedicated staff, events such as this would not take place.This showcase of our talented artists took place after school hours, offering families the opportunity to enjoy a visual and musical treat. 

This afternoon our Year 5/6 students had the opportunity to meet with Braddon’s Federal member, Gavin Pearce. On their recent visit to Canberra, and Parliament House, our Year 6 students delivered a collaborative art piece they had created as part of the ‘Art in Parliament House Program.’ This piece now hangs proudly in Gavin’s office in Canberra. Students shared their Canberra experience and a Powerpoint presentation with Gavin and the Year 5/6 classes. As a sign of gratitude, Gavin presented all contributing artists with a certificate of appreciation.

Yours in partnership,

Matthew Perry

Maths Relay

Science Fair

The Primary Athletics carnival will be held on Thursday 7th December. Prep to Year 6 have been lucky enough to master their athletics skills at the Penguin Athletics Track during PE, as well as the Kinders having a run on the track. We have been working on running in lanes, long jump, relays and shotput. 

All five year 3/4 classes are participating in phase 1 of the PCYC Operation Resilience Program. The program consists of four weekly sessions focusing on the key qualities of effective communication, collaboration, teamwork and leadership. The co-ordinator Geoff also links the key qualities as life-long skills required for the students’ future and career choices.

We meet with Geoff who explains the course and instructions for the week. Classes are divided into two teams and each week four new team leaders are selected. Teams meet to plan strategies on how to successfully get all their team members through each challenge. Students need to work together to problem solve as they move around the course.

If certain rules are broken either the whole team need to re-start the challenge or the student who wasn’t successful has to re-start with the support of their teammates. The learning behind the obstacles and the rules is to develop resilience by not giving up, persisting with challenges and using the key qualities to achieve goals.

At the end of the session team leaders come out the front of the assembled classes to report back on what worked well for their group, what could be improved on next time and an overall rating out of five on how they thought their group went. Attending adults provide similar feedback.

Pictured are students in engaged in The River, Cargo Net, Tyre Swing, Isle of Burke and Tyre Wall challenges.

The 9/10 Animal Studies class had a great day out at Tas Zoo. We got to see a wide variety of native and exotic animals and enjoyed learning about the cheetah breeding program.

The secondary athletics carnival is happening next week on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th November. The carnival takes place at the Penguin Athletics Track from 9am to 2:45pm. Students have been working hard in PE this term in preparation for the carnival and have developed their skills in the track and field events. 

Families are encouraged to come and support on both days, but we ask that you sit in the undercover grandstand at the western end. If you have any questions, please contact Abby Goninon on 6434 2222 or Abby.Goninon@decyp.tas.gov.au 

It was fantastic to see the number of people who came out to celebrate the ARTS at the inaugural PDS Arts Festival.  About 250 parents and friends were able to treat their eyes to art works from some of early childhood students right through to our Year 10 students, as well as, treat their ears to a number of choirs.  These included our boy's choir, girl's choir, Vivace, and our special guest choir Segway.  It's always great to hear our choirs combine and sing with such talented adults as Segway. The PDS Arts team would like to thanks all who participated and supported this event.  A special thank to Jodie Murphy and the Segway choir.  

The PDS Arts team

Geoff Davis, Christine Lusted, Beth King, Jennifer Slater and Emily Rieper

On Friday 10th November, a Year 8 team and a Year 9/10 team represented PDS at the state netball championships in Ulverstone and Devonport. Both teams competed against one team from the north and one team from the south. We would like to congratulate all players for demonstrating their personal best effort and excellent sportsmanship qualities. 

The Year 8 boys netball team played three challenging games in the State Finals today at Devonport. Huge efforts from the team saw an overtime win against Marist Regional College....again. 

Congratulations to the boys and well done for demonstrating respectful interactions with officials, players and teammates. 

Thank you to the cheer squad parents for their support! 

In line with government policy, the Department of State Growth has advised that student bus fares are increasing on 1 January 2024. 

Your assistance in providing information to families would be appreciated. To assist you to do this, the Department of State Growth has provided (attached):

• template newsletter article you can publish on your school website, parent portal, app, and back to school/enrolment guides
• template text for a social media post
• poster for any bus stops on campus.

More information: Further detail about student fares and ticketing is available at Student fares and ticketing – Transport Services

Contact: Transport Services, Department of State Growth  – 03 6166 3343 or fleet@decyp.tas.gov.au

Sunday November 19 from 10.00 am - West Park Oval

Last chance to enter for the best kids run of the year.

Great giveaways and lucky draw for a bike for each age group. Featuring Have a Go run, Lap for Littlies (4yos) and 6 age group runs from 1km to 3km.

Registrations are now open via the website www.321go.com.au .

The best Primary School participation gets a $500 sports voucher.

TEN lucky youngsters will win a full term of free coaching at The Advocate Burnie Tennis Club Open Day on Sunday November 12.

The  Open Day forms part of a Gala Weekend of tennis at Burnie TC with the North West versus North intrastate challenge matches on Saturday November 11

The free coaching giveaway at the Open Day is valued at over $1000 and is the initiative of a Burnie couple wishing to remain anomalous but keen to provide the opportunity for locals to participate in tennis

"The Open Day is a welcome mat out for everyone, members and non-members, to come and have a hit at the Burnie Tennis Club," club captain Shaun Summers said

"Racquets and balls will be provided, everything is free including a sausage sizzle at the end."

The Open Day starts with registration at 10.30 a.m. and hitting from 11am-12.30pm with a bbq to finish

"All local junior players who register on the day will go into a random draw for 10 prizes of a full eight week  term of coaching under club coach Grant O'Callaghan," Summer said

"The draws will be done for different categories, with four terms of  red ball (aged 7-10), four green ball (10-12) and two yellow ball (teenage) coaching available.

"The club is indebted to the couple who approached us with the offer of providing free coaching for young people.

"They want to give juniors the opportunity to participate in sport, learn skills and engage with other young athletes.

"It is in line with our club values and is a wonderful gesture on their part."

In addition to the giveaways coach Grant O'Callaghan  will conduct a free 45 minute clinic for junior beginners at the start of the Open Day