Filter Content
- Penguin District School Calendar
- Principal's Report
- Update for Schools and Families - Novel coronavirus
- Clever Penguins
- Student Board 2020
- Hot Reads - LIFT
- Launching into Learning 2020
- Health in Grade 3 - 6
- Library Times
- Book Club
- Lids 4 Kids
- NWPSSA Athletic Carnival
- NW Primary SSA Twilight Athletics Finals
- Interhigh Swimming Carnival
- Winter Camp
- Basketball Holiday Camps
- Ulverstone Golf - Girls Come and Try Day
- Tasmanian Echidna's Volleyball Weekend
- School Calendar
Penguin District School Calendar
For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar
COVID 19/Corona Virus
As a school, we frequently remind and ask that our staff, students and families are always vigilant with good hygiene practices. Whilst there has been increased media attention around COVID 19, good hygiene practices are just as important as they have ever been to prevent the spread of any virus/illness that can find their way in to school communities ie chickenpox, hand foot & mouth and gastroenteritis. I have spoken with the Director of School Health Nurse Programs today and she confirmed that there have been no cases on the North West Coast of Tasmania and schools are asked to undertake their normal activities as they would expect to.
Please know that if this situation changes, that we will use our normal communication methods to inform our school community.
We are receiving regular advice from the Tasmanian Department of Health about the coronavirus and implications for our sites (schools, libraries, child and family centres and other offices).
In accordance with current national advice, the following people should self-isolate and remain their homes for 14 days:
- Those who have been told by Public Health to stay in home isolation;
- Those who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus;
- Those have left or transited through mainland China (not including Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan) or Iran in the last 14 days;
- Those who have left any other country in the past 14 days for which the Australian Government recommends home isolation (this list of countries may change – check the Department of Health website for latest advice)
The Australian Department of Health has advised that the virus does still NOT pose a threat to the Australian community. Evidence also suggests that most people infected get better over a week or two, and it seems children usually only get mild illness, like a bad cold.
More information about coronavirus is available on the Tasmanian Public Health website.
Reporting
In the coming weeks, teachers will be providing an opportunity for parents to receive an update on their child’s progress. Prep to grade 6 students will receive a ‘Primary Progress Report’. Parents of grade 7-12 students will receive a 'Secondary Progress Report' and be invited to come in for 3 way conferences (parent/student/teacher interviews). We have been trialling different structures to connect with parents earlier in the year. This year Prep-6 teachers won’t be making phone calls, and have instead opened their classrooms up today for an extended period for parents and guardians. Whilst these are just two of the formal structures we have in place, we encourage families to continue to engage with us throughout the school year.
Health & PE – what a busy start!
I’d like to acknowledge the time, effort and energy that has gone in to a number of events over the first 5 weeks. Often many of us are unaware of the depth of planning, preparation and risk assessments that go in to providing exciting and engaging events for our students. Early childhood swimming, primary athletics, secondary surf carnivals x 2, North West Primary School Sports Association Athletics, North West High School Sports Association swimming, inducting new students for our Cert II in Sport & Recreation and a new group of Athlete Development students, as well as trying to establish school teams for cricket, netta and netball. I feel fortunate to have a passionate and innovative HPE team with a diverse range of skills that aren’t satisfied ‘just doing things the way they’ve always been done’.
Staff Leave
I will be taking 5 days of Long Service Leave from Tuesday of next week. During this time, Mr Davis and Mr Perry will share the acting principalship responsibilities.
Mr Robert Maywald is currently on some scheduled leave and is looking forward to returning soon. I’d like to thank Mr Phil Bloomfield for continuing Mr Maywald’s classes and programs in his absence.
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.
Introducing our Primary and Secondary Student Board
“It is the talk about the book, not the reading itself that is important. “Perfect” reading is not the point — rather the interaction around the book and the level of involvement by the child during the reading that makes a difference.”
The introduction of specialist health classes has seen the seven classes begin to look at what being healthy means to them.
In Grades 4/5F and the three 5/6 classes, the initial collection of health-related data highlighted that most students did not feel they experienced enough sleep. After watching the following YouTube clip (https://youtu.be/pwNMvUXTgDY), students recorded questions they had about sleep. Over the coming weeks, students will inquire into areas of interest and communicate findings with their peers.
In the 3/4 classes, the initial discussions around health highlighted the spreading of germs as an interest area. Students viewed the following cartoon https://youtu.be/O5PwLAZNnKc and an Operation Ouch clip focussed on washing hands https://youtu.be/TajAxofnW8w to prompt students ‘wonderings’. The grade 3 and 4 students will begin exploring connections between germs and our human body over the coming weeks, sharing their findings with each other.
The findings of the upcoming Tasmanian Student Wellbeing survey will provide vital data for our Health and Wellbeing Collaborative Teaching Team to plan future initiatives for our students. This survey will be conducted during Health classes during week 8. Please return the form if you DO NOT give permission for your child to take part.
Karina Van Essen
Phone: 03 6434 2222
Email: karina.van.essen@education.tas.gov.au
Book Club – Issue 2
Issue 2 went home this week.
Method to order and pay in 2020 is LOOP (Linked Online Ordering & Payment) closing date for orders is Tuesday 24th March.
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.
Well done to all the Primary students who were selected to participate in the North West Primary Schools Athletic Carnival held on Wednesday. It was great to see so many students giving their personal best and showing amazing support and sportsmanship to each other.
NW Primary SSA Twilight Athletics Finals
Tuesday 17 March, 4pm Penguin Athletic Centre
Congratulations to the following primary students who qualified to run the in the Twilight Athletics Finals:
- Year 6 - Kaitlee, Eliza, Manni,
- Year 5 - Katie, Lincon, Ashley, Mia
- Year 4 - Willow, Daniel
- Year 3 - Alycia, River, Pippa,
There is no entry fee for spectators, so please feel free to come along and support the Penguin District School team!
In the event of wet weather that results in the cancellation of the event, all parents will be notified by the school office and a notification will be posted on our Facebook page and Schoolzine app. The Twilight finals will be rescheduled for Tuesday 24 March with the same arrangements.
Karina Van Essen
Phone: 03 6434 2222
Email: karina.van.essen@education.tas.gov.au
A very enthusiastic group of 21 swimmers represented the school with pride yesterday at the NW Interhigh Swimming Carnival in Devonport. So many young people stepped up swimming in multiple races and some swimming in higher age divisions.
After successfully winning B Division last year and moving up into A Division, it was a big step up.
Final Results:
1st Ulverstone
2nd Burnie & Latrobe
4th Devonport
5th PENGUIN
6th Parklands
7th Reece