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Penguin District School Calendar
For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar
Welcome to the 2021 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 667 enrolled students from Kinder to Grade 12, with 47 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 2021 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 Elisse Gardam (Prep), Mrs Sarah Carr (Grade 1-2), Miss Maddison Hayward (Grades 5-6), Mr Damien Rabe (Grade 5-6), Miss Darcy Schake (Grade 7-10) & Mr Noah Johnstone (Grade 7-10). Our support team will extend to include Lillie McPherson joining our team of teacher assistants and Denise Thorp as our canteen manager. 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. With our school numbers growing, we are closely monitoring the provision of bus services for our local families. If you have some observations/recommendations to share, please email them through to our school administration penguin.district.school@education.tas.gov.au
Notifiable Illnesses
We are aware of reports of a number of young people affected by viruses/illnesses across the north west coast. A reminder that if you child is ill for any reason, that it is a requirement that the school administration team is notified as soon as possible.
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
Our school redevelopment is taking shape with the first areas to be handed over to the school in the next few weeks. Our Food & Fibre Technology areas will be the first areas that we will be able to enjoy that have undergone a significant change.
Canteen
Please note that our school canteen will commence from week 3 of this term.
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 the secondary campus office for $14-$17.
https://penguindistrict.education.tas.edu.au/forms-documents/uniform
Mat Grining - Principal
Email: mathew.grining@education.tas.gov.au
Dear Penguin District School families and friends
My name is Kerry Jewell and I am writing to introduce myself as the new school nurse at PDS. Some of you already know me from having worked in our school since October 2020. At this time, I was very busy in completing the Kinder Health Assessments… with a wonderful thank you to the kindergarten teachers and the kids, we managed to get them all completed.
A few things about myself: I am married and have two children who are both now living in Hobart and going to university – as such I am right there beside you when it comes to concerns for our children’s health in school. I absolutely love being a school nurse and working here at PDS. I approach my nursing practice with the attitude of “what would I do if this were my child?” and I want to assure you that your children’s health and safety is my top priority.
As far as my nursing background and education: I am a registered nurse with many years’ experience. I began my nursing career at Albury Base Hospital in N.S.W. and have since held positions in Emergency Department, Speciality Intensive Care, Medical Surgical Nursing, Oncology, Paediatrics, and Rural Remote nursing in Alice Springs (NT) & Kununurra (WA). Since 2017 I have been working as a School Health Nurse with a short break in 2020 returning in October of the same year.
My school year starts off with:
- Getting to know the Kindergarten children, then begin the Kinder Health Assessments (KHA), this will be on Wednesdays.
- After the KHA I will work within the primary campus with teachers & students on any concerns or issues identified.
- On Mondays and alternate Fridays, I will be working within the secondary campus with the teachers & students on any concern or issues.
You are welcome to discuss any concerns or just say hello and introduce yourself. Feel free to call me via the school (Ph: 6434 2222) and make an appointment.
I am looking forward to a great school year.
Sincerely,
Kerry Jewell, R.N
Penguin District School
Issue 1 has been delivered into classes, all orders must be made by Friday 19 February.
Preferred method to order and pay is LOOP (Linked Online Ordering & Payment) see LOOP - How to Order attachment.
Any orders that are presents (e.g. Birthday, Christmas) please tick ‘GIFT’ on LOOP order (see Gift Function attachment).
If you have any queries please see me in the Primary Campus Library.
Regards
Sonya Browning
Book Club Coordinator
Click links below to find out more!
Whilst at school, your child has the opportunity to bank at school through the Commonwealth Bank.
Accounts can be established online https://www.commbank.com.au/digital/EverydayBanking/n?flow=npncys or by visiting the Commonwealth Bank.
Students will have the opportunity to bank each Wednesday (Kinder students fortnightly).
Due to the privacy and security of your child’s banking information money collected through the School Banking program must be processed on the same day it is received.
Student Assistance Scheme for 2021 (STAS)
The Department of Education recently announced that we would be expanding the Student Assistance Scheme for 2021.
Parents who have a current concession card as listed below can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS:
* Services Australia – Centrelink Health Care Card
* Service Australia – Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
* Services Australia – Pensioner Concession Card or
* Department of Veteran Affairs – Pensioner Concession Card.
Please note that if you are already receiving student assistance you do not need to complete a form.
For 2021 a new on-line form has been developed to assist with processing applications for new applicants. The online form can be completed here: https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au/
Once a validated form is completed the Department of Education will confirm the outcome of your application in writing, this process takes approximately 14 days.
We understand this online option may not be possible for all families, so if you require a hard copy form please contact your school or the Financial Assistance Unit on stas@education.tas.gov.au or1800 827 077.
Good Friday
All day |
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Easter Sunday
All day |
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Easter Monday
All day |
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Easter Tuesday
All day |
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Nature Kinder A
All day Recurring event |
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Launching into Learning Playgym
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Recurring event |
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Launching into Learning Playgroup
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
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Year 1 Inquiry Excursion
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM |
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Year 1 Inquiry Excursion - Back up day
9:00 AM - 2:50 PM |
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Launching into Learning Music
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM Recurring event |
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School Photos Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 April
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM |
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School Association AGM
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM |
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Launching into Learning Playgym
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Recurring event |
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Primary Assembly Featuring - 5B French/Brown, 3-4C Rattray and 2B Taylor
1:30 PM - 2:50 PM |
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Last Day Term 1
All day |
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Launching into Learning Playgroup
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
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Prep - Year 10 Progress Reports sent home
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
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School Holidays
13 Apr 2024 - 28 Apr 2024 |
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ANZAC Day
All day |