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- Penguin District School Calendar
- Principal's Report
- Clever Penguins
- What to do if your child is sick
- Department of Education - Coronavirus fact sheet
- If Maths was an animal ....... by 5/6M
- Library Times
- Book Club - Issue 1
- Primary School Cricket
- Launching into Learning 2020
- Study Hour
- Breakfast Club
- Primary Athletic Carnvial
- 1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching
- Year 10, 11 & 12 Health Careers Evening
- Junior Hockey
- Colour Run Devonport
- Burnie Concert Band
- Makers' Space - Sun, Surf and Sand
- School Calendar
Penguin District School Calendar
For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar
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
Mat Grining
Email: mathew.grining@education.tas.gov.au
Penguin District School values the contribution that students make within the community, please keep us informed of significant student achievements by emailing penguin.district.school@education.tas.gov.au or send a message via the Penguin District School Facebook page.
What to do if your child is sick
Did you know?
If your child suffers from an illness that is infectious, contagious or harmful to others at the school, you should keep your child at home until they are better.
It is in the best interests of your child and the other children in the school whose health could also be affected. Children attending school should not return until at least 48 hours after the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea have stopped.
In these situations, you may be asked you to temporarily remove your child from school.
If there is an outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases such as rubella, measles, mumps or whooping cough in the community and your child has not been vaccinated against it, you will be asked to keep your child home from school until the outbreak is over to ensure they are not put at unnecessary risk of being infected.
You may also seek medical advice as to how to prevent your child from becoming infected.
Where to start
- If your child is too sick to go to school, it is important to tell the school and provide the reason for your child’s absence. You can:
- send a note or email penguin.district.school@education.tas.gov.au
- text message, child's name, date and reason to 0427 016 460
- telephone the school office 6434 2222
- visit the school office.
- You may be asked for a medical certificate to explain an extended absence for illness.
- You should tell the school if your child has an illness that may be passed on to other students so that the absence can be recorded and the health of other children monitored.
If your child becomes unwell at school
If your child becomes ill or is injured at school, your school will contact you and seek the necessary medical attention.
The best place for students to be if they are unwell is at home.
In the event of an emergency, your child may be moved to a safe place for appropriate care or treatment without prior permission. This may be by ambulance or other forms of transportation.
It is therefore very important for you to keep the school updated about any medical conditions or allergies that your child may have, and that you keep the school informed of correct contact numbers for yourself and your child’s doctor.
Schools keep records of accidents and follow guidelines for dealing with them and for removing any dangers.
How is it prevented?
Good hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of illness. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 10 seconds and dry them with a clean towel.
Covering your mouth and/or nose while coughing or sneezing stops you from dispersing respiratory secretions, that may contain germs, into the air.
Where can I get more information?
- Talk to your child’s teacher or principal.
- Public Health Hotline – Tasmania 1800 671 738
- You can find information about infectious diseases on the Department of Health website
Issue 1 went home Friday 7th Feb.
Method to order and pay in 2020 is LOOP (Linked Online Ordering & Payment) closing date for orders is Friday 21st Feb.
Any orders that are presents (e.g. birthday, Christmas) please tick the GIFT box on LOOP order.
If you have any queries please see Sonya at the Primary Campus Library on Tuesdays and Fridays.
It is planned to start the Primary School cricket roster on Friday 6th March 2020. There will be three games in the first term (March 6th, 13th and 20th), which includes the long weekend,and a further seven games in the last term, commencing on Friday 23rd October, to be confirmed later in Term 3. All games will be played on a Friday night. Registration (including insurance) will be $15.00 for all seven games.
Interested students, both boys and girls, can collect information from Mrs Van Essen.
We will require parent/adult assistance for a team to be entered. Please contact the school office if you can offer your time.