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Penguin District School Calendar
For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar
Pedestrian and Vehicle Safety around School Zones
After contacting Tas Police last week, I was pleased that there was a clear police presence this week monitoring vehicle speed and driver attentiveness around the school zones before and after school. Some ‘near misses’ have been reported particularly near the congested areas of a morning at the Primary Campus. As our school enrolments continue to grow, so are the numbers of vehicles and pedestrians that are sharing the same area. Please take care, speak with your children about moving safely of a morning/end of the day and if an area is congested, consider if there are other options ie using the bus bay of a morning, the gravel overflow carpark, or meeting children in Dial Park.
School Association
Our School Association held a productive meeting recently, with a number of topics discussed. One topic was the public access through the council controlled loop road/boom gate behind Dial Park. Our School Association submitted a letter asking for this to be reviewed as a number of parents have spoken to SA representatives on this matter. This has been followed up by Central Coast Council and we are expecting feedback following their October meeting.
Social Media & Technology With Young People
Technology brings with it many advantages and efficiencies in how we lead our daily lives, providing that we can have the skills to recognise how to balance it safely in how we socialise, undertake our daily work and how we use it for leisure time. The rate of growth with mobile technology and social media in recent years, has meant that laws and rules around their use have taken some time to ‘catch up’, particularly as young people are increasingly exposed to social media.
One such step to balance this for young people is the ‘Off and Away All Day’ policy that applies to all Tasmanian Government Schools. This recognises that the presence of mobile phones and devices is not necessary at school, and that all schools needed some ‘rules’ to help young people to balance their use of mobile devices/social media.
How to navigate this ‘balance’ at home is one of the most common questions we receive from parents. Below is a letter that was shared with me back in 2015 on the same topics. The letter was shared by the presenter as a ‘message written by a mum’ to her son as she presented him with an iPhone for Christmas:
Dear Gregory
Merry Christmas! You are now the proud owner of an iPhone. Hot damn! You are a good and responsible 13-year-old boy and you deserve this gift. But with the acceptance of this present comes rules and regulations. Please read through the following contract. I hope that you understand it is my job to raise you into a well rounded, healthy young man that can function in the world and coexist with technology, not be ruled by it. Failure to comply with the following list will result in termination of your iPhone ownership.
I love you madly and look forward to sharing several million text messages with you in the days to come.
1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren't I the greatest?
2. I will always know the password.
3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads "Mom" or "Dad." Not ever.
4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30 p.m. every school night and every weekend night at 9:00 p.m. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30 a.m. If you would not make a call to someone's land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected.
5. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It's a life skill. *Half days, field trips and after school activities will require special consideration.
6. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs. Mow a lawn, babysit, stash some birthday money. It will happen, you should be prepared.
7. Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend first or stay the hell out of the crossfire.
8. Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.
9. Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room. Censor yourself.
10. No inappropriate sites. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person - preferably me or your father.
11. Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that.
12. Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else's private parts. Don't laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear - including a bad reputation.
13. Don't take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.
14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO (fear of missing out).
15. Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your generation has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.
16. Play a game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then.
17. Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.
18. You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You and I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.
It is my hope that you can agree to these terms. Most of the lessons listed here do not just apply to the iPhone, but to life. You are growing up in a fast and ever changing world. It is exciting and enticing. Keep it simple every chance you get. Trust your powerful mind and giant heart above any machine. I love you. I hope you enjoy your awesome new iPhone.
xoxoxo,
Mum
Mat Grining - Principal
Phone: 03 6434 2222
Email: mathew.grining@education.tas.gov.au
As part of our current inquiry into ‘places’, we have been learning about bird’s eye view. Mr Lane came to visit us with a drone. Students were excited to see parts of the school playground from a different perspective.
‘I didn’t know the school was this big!’ – Maya
‘The drone went high. We nearly saw the whole basketball court.’ - Jax
‘It’s a bird’s eye view. It’s like when birds fly, It looks different’. – Montana
‘It looks like that because it’s high up.’ - Tully
Mr Lane challenged us to make a word and he would take a photo of it with the drone. We decided to make ‘PDS’ on the oval. How do you think we went?
This week our focus on the Secondary Campus is "Responsibility".
• being dependable so people know they can count on you
• by doing what you say (actions speak louder than words)
• doing something to the best of your ability
• being accountable for your own behaviour
• accepting credit when you do things right and acknowledging mistakes
• being able to contribute in class or at school in a positive manner.
3 Way Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews
With the easing of COVID19 restrictions, we are pleased to announce that we are able to go ahead with our parent/student/teacher 3 way interviews for Prep - Year 12 students this term.
The 3 Way Interview provides a forum for teachers, students and parents to acknowledge student progress and achievement. Students play a key role by explaining their learning achievements, as well as areas for further improvement. Together as a team the family, student and teacher can identify some agreed upon goals to work towards for the remainder of the year.
We have set a target of 100% of all families attending the interviews. Please help us to achieve this by making a meeting time with your child’s teacher through the booking system below.
SECONDARY campus 3 way interviews will be held over two days
- Monday 17 August 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday 18 August 3:15 pm - 7:00 pm
PRIMARY campus 3 Way Interviews will be held over three days
- Monday 24 August 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
- Tuesday 25 August 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Wednesday 26 August 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
KINDER Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held over two days
- Tuesday 25 August 11am-4pm
- Wednesday 26 August 3pm-7pm
Parent/Teacher meetings are an important part of the reporting process at Penguin District School. We would like to invite you to attend a Parent/Teacher meeting where we will discuss your child’s progress and achievements this year and create a shared future focus for your child.
While your child spends 15 hours in Kindergarten each week, you are the one who knows them best. To help make this meeting a collaborative discussion, please complete and bring along the 2 Stars and a Wish 2020 proforma.
Families must complete the Visitor_Health_Screening_Form_School_and_CFC_Sites.pdf and BRING WITH YOU ON THE DAY. If you make an appointment but become unwell, please contact the office for your appointment to be rescheduled. We will have signage to direct families to entries and exits around the primary and secondary campus so the screening forms can be collected and to monitor safe movement.
In order to remain on time and be respectful to all, fifteen minutes have been allocated for interviews. Please note, discussion times with the teachers will be ten minutes, with the remaining five minutes to get to the next appointment. To ensure that each child has an opportunity to be the focus of the discussion, it is helpful to not bring other siblings to the appointment if possible.
Bookings will be made online at https://penguinds.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/15 and you can access this site and make your own bookings from 3:00 pm on Tuesday 11 August. A confirmation email will be sent to you. We strongly advise that you make your bookings promptly.
Please see the link below for step by step instructions for how to book appointments through Session Keeper.
https://penguinds.schoolzineplus.com/sk-booking-guide
If you do not have an email address, finding it difficult to book online or require a more suitable time, please call the office on 6434 2222 and one of our administrative staff will be more than happy to help.
Year 4-12 Student Wellbeing Survey-Term 3 2020
Students from year 4-12 should have brought home the below letter regarding the Wellbeing Survey. If you DO NOT wish for your child to participate in the survey please complete the form and return to the school office by August 21.
The wellbeing of all students at Penguin District School is important to us.
Students in our school have been invited to take part in a wellbeing survey being conducted in Term 3 2020. We are doing this as part of the Department of Education’s 2018 – 2021 Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy. This letter provides key information about the survey.
In Term 1 2020, some students participated in the Student Wellbeing Survey. At this same time, the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to affect daily lives of all people in Australia. As a result, not all students were able to participate in the survey as school lessons were disrupted and many students transitioned to learning at home.
Purpose of the survey
Young people’s sense of wellbeing is an important part of how they learn at school. The purpose of the survey is to seek students’ views about their wellbeing and their engagement with school. Students in Years 4 to 12 will be invited to participate in the Student Wellbeing Survey. The information collected will help our school, the Department of Education and our school community to support young people’s wellbeing.
What is the survey about?
The survey asks students about their social and emotional wellbeing; school relationships and engagement and learning in school; physical health and wellbeing; and after school activities. Students’ answers will be kept confidential – no one (including school staff) will use the results to identify individual students.
What is involved?
Teachers will arrange for students to undertake the survey during class time. Students will be asked if they would like to participate and are able to withdraw at any time. If you do not want your child to participate, please complete the form at the end of this letter.
Will students’ information be kept confidential?
The Department takes measures to ensure students’ personal information and their identities remain anonymous when participating in the survey. Participating schools with fewer than five (5) students undertaking the survey will not receive a school report in order to protect the confidentiality of students.
What will happen if a student is distressed during or after the survey?
Whilst the survey questions are not expected to distress students, the survey includes questions that ask about topics such as students’ happiness and experiences of being bullied. Teachers will inform students that:
- if they find the survey uncomfortable or distressing, they should leave the survey screen immediately
- that it is not compulsory to take part in the survey as a whole, and
- students may also skip individual survey questions if they wish.
Students may want to speak to an adult about concerns or issues raised and will be supported to do so.
What do I have to do?
If you agree for your child to participate in the wellbeing survey, you do not need to do anything. If you do not agree for your child to participate in the wellbeing survey, please complete the form attached and return it to the school by August 21.
STUDENT_WELLBEING_SURVEY_Form.pdf
Where can I get more information?
More information about the survey, including examples of the survey questions and Frequently Asked Questions can be found by clicking the link below. SWS_FAQs_for_parents_and_carers_Term_3_2020.pdf
If you would like further information on the Student Wellbeing Survey, this can be found at https://www.education.tas.gov.au/about-us/projects/child-student-wellbeing/student-wellbeing-survey-2/ or can be collected from the school.
For questions or concerns, or to view the questions, please email schoolsurveys@education.tas.gov.au or contact our school office on 6434 2222
Cast please remember to keep checking the Production Teams group for updates. This weekend we have rehearsals on Sunday 16th for Dance Group from 2:30pm, Leads 3:30pm, Senior Chorus 4:30pm. Please note that the Leads is an extended rehearsal that some missed the inital commiunication about and we understand that some are unable to make it until 4:30pm.
Thanks Mr Davis
Production Update - Costume Kozplay
Fantastic to have the support of Costume Kozplay as our production of Phantom of the Talent Factor is another step closer to being on stage. More details regarding performance details will be out soon.
School Holidays
13 Apr 2024 - 28 Apr 2024 |
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First Day Term 2
All day |
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Nature Kinder A
All day Recurring event |
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School Netball Begins
All day |
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Year 7 and 10 Immunisations -
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
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Nature Kinder A
All day Recurring event |