The Importance of Respect in Our School Community

Respect is a cornerstone of our school community. It is the foundation upon which we build positive relationships, foster a supportive environment, and create a culture of kindness and understanding. But what does respect truly mean, and why is it so important? 

Understanding Respect

Respect involves recognising the worth of every individual. It means treating others with kindness, listening to their perspectives, and valuing their contributions. Respect is not just about following rules; it's about creating an atmosphere where everyone feels safe, valued and heard.

Why Respect Matters

Builds Trust and Safety: When we show respect to one another, we build trust and create a safe environment. Students and staff feel more comfortable expressing themselves and taking risks in their learning and teaching.

Promotes Positive Relationships: Respectful interactions lead to stronger, more positive relationships. Whether it's between students, teachers, or parents, respect helps us connect and collaborate more effectively.

Encourages Inclusivity: Respecting others' differences, whether cultural, personal, or intellectual, fosters an inclusive community. It helps us appreciate the diverse backgrounds and perspectives that enrich our school.

Enhances Learning: A respectful environment is conducive to learning. When students feel respected, they are more engaged, motivated, and willing to participate in class activities.

How We Can Practice Respect

1 Listen Actively: Pay attention when others are speaking. Show that you value their opinions by listening without interrupting.

2. Show Kindness: Simple acts of kindness, like saying "please" and "thank you," go a long way in showing respect.
3. Acknowledge Differences: Embrace and celebrate the diversity within our school. Learn about different cultures and perspectives.

4 Be Considerate: Think about how your actions affect others. Be mindful of your words and behaviours.

Respect is more than just a word; it is a way of life. By practicing respect daily, we contribute to a positive school environment. Let's all commit to showing respect in our interactions and making our school a place where everyone feels valued and respected.

Retirement

Mr Brad Jordan as you embark on this new chapter of your life, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your 32 years of unwavering dedication and hard work as our Educational Facility Attendant (EFA). Your commitment to maintaining our school grounds has not only provided a safe environment for our students and staff but has also left a lasting impact on our community.

You are more than just a grounds person; you have been a valued member of our school community. We will miss your expertise and your kindness. As you move forward, we wish you all the best in yo

ur future endeavours. May your retirement be filled with joy, relaxation, and all the things you love.  

We want to extend a heartfelt shout out to Al Viney for sharing her inspiring journey with disability. Al's uplifting message that disabilities do not stop you has resonated deeply with our community. Her bravery, resilience, and positive outlook serve as a powerful reminder that challenges can be overcome with determination and a positive mindset.

Thank you, Al, for being a beacon of hope and motivation. Your story encourages us all to embrace our unique strengths and to never let obstacles define our potential. You truly embody the spirit of perseverance and empowerment.

Shout Out to Our School Community

We are thrilled to announce that our school has achieved an impressive 91.6% attendance rate so far this term!

A huge thank you to our dedicated students, parents, teachers, and staff for prioritising attendance and understanding its importance in fostering a successful learning environment. Your efforts in ensuring that students are present and engaged every day make a significant difference in their academic and personal growth.

Let's continue to work together to maintain and even improve this fantastic attendance rate. Every day counts, and your ongoing support is invaluable.

A shoutout to Headspace for offering such valuable resources through their informative sessions for students and families this week. You have really made a difference in raising awareness about mental health and providing accessible tools for wellbeing. Thank you for supporting our school community in such a positive way!

Yours in partnership

Angela McAuliffe

Congratulations to the following students who received Aussie of the Month Awards in Term 1.

Florence 3-4B

Florence is a hardworking student and loyal friend who demonstrates exceptional kindness, positivity and dedication in our classroom. Her smile and infectious laugh light up the room, creating a welcoming atmosphere wherever she goes. Florence is a shining example of compassion, always attuned to the feelings of others and offering support. Whether it is through her encouraging words, sense of humour or willingness to help out, she makes everyone around her feel valued and included. She approaches learning with enthusiasm and willingness to accept feedback. A true team player, Florence is not only polite and respectful, but also takes time to connect with others, greeting them with a warm ‘hello’ and asking about their day. Congratulations Florence, these are just some of your many qualities that make you a well-deserved Aussie of the month. 

 George 3-4D

George is a dedicated and hardworking student. He consistently shows perseverance on his classroom tasks and a willingness to act upon feedback to ensure that he achieves his personal best. George demonstrates respect for both staff and students and is always eager to lend a hand to others in need. He has a keen sense of justice and is a loyal friend to his peers. George’s friendly nature, his sense of humour and his constant smile are greatly appreciated in our classroom. These attributes are just some of the many qualities that make George a well-deserved Aussie of the month recipient. Congratulations, George.

 Gray 

Gray has been chosen as our Aussie of the Month for always showing respect to your classmates, teachers and learning environment. He builds strong connections with those around him through kindness, friendship, and ability to problem solving with others making our school a better place. Gray takes responsibility for his learning and his actions and is a positive role model for his peers. His courage and persistence when trying new things enable him to make the most of every opportunity. Gray's commitment to learning and personal growth is inspiring, and we are so proud of his efforts. Keep up the fantastic work!

Finn 1/2A

Finn has truly been a standout in 1/2A, shining brightly with his unwavering determination and positive attitude. No matter what challenge comes his way, he tackles them head-on with remarkable courage and resilience, never allowing anything to hold him back. His compassion is evident as he regularly checks in with his peers, showing a genuine concern for their wellbeing.

Finn always gives his personal best, proving that no ask is too big for him. His respect for others is shown through his polite manners and the way he speaks kindly to everyone. Whether it's sharing or inviting others into his games, Finn ensures that no one is left out, making everyone feel included and valued. Above all, he treats everyone with equal respect, embodying fairness and inclusivity in everything he does.

Finn is a true example of what it means to be a kind, respectful, and generous friend to all.

Congratulations Finn for this well-deserved recognition and the positive impact you bring to 1/2A. Keep being you!

This term Year 7's have been learning about safety in the kitchen and making a variety of foods including apple crumble and mini frittatas.

Year8 students have all been busy sewing, learning a variety of skills. They all made a beanie and there was a lot of success in learning how to hand sew, use a sewing machine, follow a pattern and some even made pompoms to add to their beanie.

The Year 9/10 Foods class have been making lots of delicious food, some sweet and some savoury. A major task was to design, and then cook, a healthy stir-fry and the results were commendable.

Year 9/10 Hospitality have been focusing on baking cookies to sell along with hot drinks for the staff. They have all learnt how to use a barista style coffee machine and have made a variety of hot drinks including, hot chocolates, Chai Lattes, Cappuccinos and even Macchiatos. Students needed to cost the ingredients needed for the cookies and then as a group decided how much to sell the cookies for in order for a profit to be made.

Students from Years 7 to 10 are continuing to enjoy their MDT classes.

Year 7’s have mastered the marking out and making of a rebate butt joint on timber and have used their skills to begin assembling a sliding lidded container.

Year 8’s have completed their first project where they designed a Wood word and then used the workshop hand tools and machines to complete their design.

The Year 9 Woodwork class are making a shark shelf project out of Radiata Pine, incorporating their own individual design and three different types of wood joints. Year 10 Woodwork students are putting together a Macrocarpa small stool that also has three different joint styles in its sub frame. They first drew up the project, using technical drawing skills.

In Year 9 Metalwork, the students have been busy using the milling machine and hand tools to fabricate their model acrylic and aluminium plane. The year 10 students continue to design and fabricate their own design of a rocket stove.

This week our Year 7-10 students participated in a 50min workshop with Marlyce from Headspace. The sessions focused on helping our young people better understand what mental health is, and how to develop strategies to recognise and manage their own wellbeing during the teenage years. Students were introduced the Headspace website which has a large number of resources for students and families to access, including trained people to seek advice from. If you are seeking support for your child, the Headspace website is a great place to start.

https://headspace.org.au/

Laptops and/or Wi-Fi dongles are available from the library to borrow to assis Year 7-10 students complete educational work at home.

Loan agreement forms are available from the library also attched below, filled out by parent/guardian before borrowing. Loan agrrements lasts current year.

Student_Device_Temporary_Loan.pdf

The Year 11 and 12 program has been progressing well. The students are studying TASC Level 2 English and Maths subjects, Career and Life Planning and a Virtual Learning Tasmania subject – Basic Road Safety. The first of the four reporting periods for the year has occurred and student have received their reports. We continue to blend our enrolments with Hellyer Regional College – with 50% of our students being dual enrolled across both campuses -  and also incorporate Work based Learning programs into our schedule.

Mr King has again been taking a TASC Level 3 Mathematics Foundation class with some students in Year 10. This is traditionally a Year 11 course. He is really pleased with the consistency of results with his class this year, remarking that they are preforming really well.

We wish all the students studying TASC subjects well as they continue the year, recognising that the workloads can be challenging. Being well organised and consistent application are two suggestions for success.

We are lucky to have the opportunity for some of our Year 9 students to be publishing articles in the Central Coast Voice, a newsletter for What’s Happening on the NW coast.

This is the PDS submitted article from the most recent issue, written by Year 9 students Nitro and Dylan, about the recent Secondary Surf Carnival. Next month’s article will be written by Mikayla and Tempi. They have interviewed Mitchell Stretton (Year 10) and Dalton Stretton (TA) about their recent interstate Cycling competition. They will explore how the brothers work together in a coach/athlete dynamic and how exciting it is to experience this together, especially with their Mum as team manager.

If you are wanting to check out the full CCV newsletter then follow this link: https://tccv.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/TCCV-2025-04.pdf

PLEASE NOTE - PREP A NOW TUESDAY AND YEAR 8 ON WEDNESDAY

Two AFL Holiday Programs Coming to the North West Coast!

Get ready for an unforgettable experience with TWO exciting events coming to our community! Whether you're a first-timer or an AFL pro, there's something for everyone. 

1️⃣ All-Girls AFL Holiday Program (April 14th)

• A fun-filled day just for primary girls!
• Ulverstone Football Club | ? 9am - 3pm
• Team banners, friendship bracelets, Easter fun, and more!
• Female coaches guiding the action!

2️⃣ Club VS Club Mini Series (April 15th)
Ready to compete with your club?

• Ulverstone Football Club | ? 9am - 3pm
• Split by age/skill level
• Mini interclub matches
• AFL Draft Testing, AFL Tas expert coaching!
• Grades 2-6

? Don’t miss out on these amazing opportunities to play, connect, and grow your AFL skills.

All Girls Program Registration: https://www.playhq.com/afl/org/north-west-coast-all-girls-holiday-program/faf5d729/register

Club VS Club Program Registration: https://www.playhq.com/afl/org/north-west-coast-holiday-program/525a1350/register

Karen is a nationally renowned psychologist, acclaimed author and founder of Hey Sigmund, and delivers practical and insightful talks on helping children and teens navigate big emotions and tricky behaviours. Karen will also be hosting a separate Q&A session.

For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar