For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar

We have hit the halfway point of the final quarter of the year but there is still so much more to fit in before the end of the school year. 

It was fantastic to see so many of our secondary students up at the track running, jumping and throwing in the amazing weather over the last two days for the Secondary Athletics Carnival.  A massive congratulations to all for such a successful carnival.  A special thanks to Miss Goninon and the HPE team for their organisation and all of the secondary staff for running the events and supporting our students to give their best at the track. 

This week the Leadership Team has been collating data for our School Improvement Plan review.  It has been pleasing to see that we have already achieved some of our two year targets in the first year of the plan. As a Leadership Team we continue to work collaboratively with all of the school community to strive to achieve all of the targets by the end of 2024.

Speaking of 2024, it is exciting to see many of our new Kinder students at school once again for Pre-Kinder. We have also had an increase in the number of students intending to enrol at PDS for Year 11 and 12 in 2024 – but let’s not wish away the next 5 weeks too early.

I would encourage all staff, students and community members to keep up to date with all of the events of the last half of the last quarter and to finish well.

Yours in Partnership,

Geoff Davis

This term we have investigated Math problem solving strategies across the 5/6 classes. Students have been asked to solve mathematical problems in mixed groupings using vertical workspaces. It has been fantastic to see students engaging in sharing their strategies, working collaboratively and solving a range of challenging open-ended problems.

On Friday 10^th November, 2023 Gavin Pearce MP visited our grade 5/6 students to speak about his role in parliament and as our elected representative in the electorate of Braddon. Mr Pearce presented our Canberra students with a copy of his quarterly newsletter which featured them on the front cover following their private tour of his offices at Parliament House. The session was very informative and students were given the opportunity to ask questions about his life as a politician.

A reminder to families that end of year reports will be distributed on Monday 18 December.

The report will show your child’s learning achievement on a 9-point visual scale for students in Years Prep to 10. The 9-point scale shows where your child’s learning achievement is against the expected standard for their year level.

• School Reports FAQs
• Understanding the 9-point scale
• Visit the Department’s website at: School reports - Department for Education, Children and Young People (decyp.tas.gov.au)

Our combined choirs (Girls, Boys and Vivace) will be performing at the Penguin Carols at Hiscutt Park on Sunday 10 December. Students will need to wear school uniform including PDS polo shirts - and a red Santa hat - and meet staff at 6.45 pm. 

Interested secondary students are invited to join us - rehearsals for secondary students will be held on Wednesday lunchtimes in the drama room. 

Christine Lusted

Music Teacher

On Tuesday 14th November, the 9/10 Outdoor Education class travelled to Narawntapu National Park to complete the Archers Knob walk. What a solid effort from a great team! 

The secondary athletics carnival was held on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 November. We were blessed with beautiful sunshine and smiling faces on both days with many personal best efforts and shows of sportsmanship. Congratulations to all students who participated and to the following students for breaking records:

Year 7 - Willow McDonald - Shot put & 800m

Year 9 - Tahlia Van Essen - Shot put 

Year 10 - Karmichael Peters Chapman - 400m

7/8 Girls Relay - Sharks

9/10 Boys Relay - Blythe