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- Penguin District School Calendar
- Principal's Report
- LIL
- Lift
- Premier's Reading Challenge -Year 1-2G and 1-2T
- Year 3-6 Dance Fever
- Brixhibition
- Geography Champion
- Family Concert
- Penguin's Got Talent
- Primary Lost Property
- RYDA
- Year 10 Transition to Year 11 in 2022
- School Holidays
- Information From Our School Nurse
- Scouts
- The Fairy Godmothers Magical July
- Making Your Own Washable Nappies and Pads
- School Calendar
Penguin District School Calendar
For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar
A Lot Can Change in 12 Months!
We’ve reached an important milestone this week as 12 months ago we returned to all of our students learning on site after a period of ‘Learning From Home’. The need to adhere to the advice from Public Health has not changed since last year, if anything, it is even more important than it was previously. From the beginning of Term 3, all adults on school grounds must sign in using the Check in Tas app. There will be QR codes on external doors for all adults entering the building to access using a smartphone. This is a necessary step to support contact tracing across all of our schools and government sites. We often talk about how our school is the ‘single biggest meeting place in Penguin each day’ therefore it is critical that we can contact all of the people that may be impacted if there are potential or confirmed cases of COVID in the future. We will be providing reminders about this new process across Term 3.
As a courtesy, we ask that families advise us if they are travelling outside of Tasmania during the school term. Again, this is a helpful step as we may be able to provide advice on the appropriate information regarding periods of isolation. Whilst our school attendance has quickly returned to ‘pre-COVD19’ levels, it is important that families monitor the health of their children and that they are staying at home if they are unwell, or exhibiting cold/flu-like symptoms. Our school staff are also expected to follow these same protocols.
Staffing Updates
The end of term often brings some staffing changes in schools, and this term is no different.
Mrs Sarah Carr will be heading back to England early Term 3. Miss Hayley Marshall will be joining Ms Jenny Slater in teaching the Year 1/2 class. Miss Marshall is well known to many of our primary classes as she has been working across our literacy groups and relief teaching across Terms 1 and 2. Mrs Carr has provided some terrific insights into our school approach to literacy from her experiences in England. We hope that she can equally take back to England some of her learning from her time at Penguin and apply that to her teaching back in London. Miss Sue Hughes will be teaching Art at the secondary campus for the beginning of Term 3. We appreciate Miss Hughes’ knowledge of our school and flexibility across teaching areas. Mrs Karina Van Essen will continue to teach Years 7 and 8 Maths from the beginning of Term 3. We have some other class changes with Mr Hughes teaching Year 9 Health and Mr Smart teaching Year 7 Health.
Maree Lowrie will be joining our team of teacher assistants at the primary campus, many of our students would be familiar with Maree from her time at after school and vacation care.
Congratulations
Stepping into further education always takes courage regardless of the age or stage of the learner. We are very proud of Corinna Caberica and Sally Smith who have been completing a Diploma in Education Support through the University of Tasmania this year, excelling in their study thus far. Further to this, Jessy Jordan and Karen Helm have been accepted this week into the course as part of a competitive statewide application process. This is a great example of being a lifelong learner!
Mat Grining - Principal
Email: mathew.grining@education.tas.gov.au
Home Learning Tips from Dr Paul Swan - Think Big Count Small (Lesson 1) - Edx Education - YouTube
Dr Paul Swan is an award-winning author and mathematics educator. He is a well-known author with books published in many different countries.
In this video he shows us what it looks like to ‘count on’. This is an important skills to develop in the early years.
Teaching at Home: Support | Dr Paul Swan Maths
Check out his website to find out more.
On Tuesday 29 June, the Year 3-6 students travelled to the Ulverstone Basketball Stadium to show off their dancing skills. The Interschool Challenge was a culminating performance of dances that the students had been learning and practicing over the last term. We were joined on the day by students from Forth Primary and East Ulverstone Primary as part of our Six School Partnership.
Dances included the Samba and Waltz. Year levels danced against similar year levels. Following a dance-off and final, judges had the difficult task of awarding sashes for first, second and third places. Across the day, students displayed respectful audience behaviours and gave their personal best at all times when they had the opportunity to dance.
Students were treated to a performance by their ‘expert’ dance teachers who showed us off some of their skills and smooth moves.
The much anticipated school challenge saw our 3-6 students dance together in their Harry Potter themed, choreographed dance. All the hard work paid off with the group coming together for an outstanding final performance.
Highlights taken from student comments included: loving the music, showing off our dance at the end, seeing the other schools’ performances and ‘everything’!
Congratulations to everyone who built a model for our Brixhibition competition. What a fantastic display of creativity! Everyone’s model looked amazing.
The following Lego Masters have been chosen as our category winners (as voted by the students)
Upper Primary and Overall Winner: Avery
(category winner in 2019 and 2020 as well ?)
Avery will represent our school in the virtual Northwest Brixhibition Competition with his Swift Parrot model. Thank you to the Northwest Brixhibition Organising Committee for providing the opportunity for our students to share their creativity and love of Lego.
Congratulations to Jeremy, the Penguin District School Geography Champion, defeating all challengers at topics such as capital cities, most populous countries, oldest countries, bordering countries, landlocked countries, US States, national flags and more.
Year 10 Transition to Year 11 in 2022
By staying at school until the end of year 12 students increase their life chances considerably. The Education Act 2016 has made it a requirement for all students to continue their education until they finish Year 12, achieve a Certificate III, or they turn 18 – unless they have an exemption. Please see the attached flyer for more information about education and training after Year 10.
The extension of years 11 and 12 into all high schools in the North West coast provides students with the opportunity to choose a course of study that meets their learning needs and career goals in a place that works best for them.
Our Year 10 students have already spent time considering their options for 2022. This has included exploring study and course options across the Hellyer Regional Collective. All students have received a copy of the Hellyer College Student Information Guide 2022. College staff have also conducted information sessions outlining course options for 2022 with our students.
The remaining steps in the Transition Program are outlined below. (Please note that your child will experience opportunities for Don College as well).
- A member of Don College will be visiting our school on Tuesday 17 August as an introductory visit.
- A Taste of Hellyer Day will be held at Hellyer College on Friday 20 August. Students have already selected four classes they would like to sample on this day.
Schools will transport students to and from Hellyer College on this day and they will be required to wear their school uniform.
The Hellyer College Café will be open for morning tea, and pizza will be provided free of charge at lunch time. Students are still encouraged to bring some refreshments with them for the day.
- Due to Public Health restrictions on the number of adults who can be on school sites, Hellyer College is hosting a VIRTUAL Parent Information Sessions on their website https://www.hellyercollege.education.tas.edu.au from Wednesday 18 August. This will allow parents and students to explore all, or some of the following, from the comfort of their homes.
- Welcome videos from Hellyer College’s Principal, Judy Fahey and Nikki Clark, Principal of Smithton High School, on behalf of the Hellyer Regional Collective.
- Videos showing; a Day at Hellyer College, the Hellyer Regional Collective and Learning Area subject overviews.
- Videos outlining Student Support at Hellyer College, the TCE and ATAR requirements.
- The Hellyer Student Information Guide 2022 and individual subject flyers.
- Information about the Hellyer College Student Residence.
- Hellyer College staff will visit our school Tuesday 7 September 3:30 – 6:30pm, for personalised course counselling with your child and you.
- Don College Live – students will have an opportunity to tour the campus on Tuesday 14 September.
- Parents/carers who would like a tour of Hellyer College have the option of booking a small group tour of the College on the following dates.
- Tuesday 22 or Thursday 24 September at either 3.15pm, 3.45pm, 4.30pm, 5.00pm
- Tuesday 13 or Thursday 15 October at either 3.15pm, 3.45pm, 4.30pm, 5.00pm
These tours can be booked via the Hellyer College office on 6435 5200.
- Don College – Start Day (Orientation) will be on Tuesday 30 November.
We will be working with Hellyer College and other extension high schools to make sure that students who require additional information, or more support to make their transition, receive the personalised attention they require.
Information From Our School Nurse
Lunch Box Ideas
If your goal is just to get a healthy meal into your kids while they are away at school, you just need a few quality minutes of planning, shopping, and prep time. Of course you can get more creative if you want to, but if you don’t, we’ve got a simple, no-brainer plan for those weeks when you just don’t have enough mental energy to get into the whole creative lunch thing.
Sample shopping list:
Selection of 3-4 relatively sturdy fruits (grapes, apples, melon, strawberries, bananas)
Selection of 3-4 relatively sturdy vegetables (carrots, celery, lettuce, cherry tomatoes)
A block of cheddar cheese
Good-quality whole wheat bread/tortillas/pita bread
Eggs
Turkey, chicken, and/or ham for sandwiches
Hummus (you can buy it, even though we think homemade is better and pretty darned easy)
Selection of 2-3 healthy crunchy snacks (veggie chips, whole-wheat pretzels, popcorn, whole-grain crackers)
Yogurt - plain
Nut butter (if your school allows it) or sunflower butter
Couscous or other grains for making a hearty salad
Weekend prep jobs:
Cube fruits and cheeses. Cut carrots and celery into sticks. Cut bread/tortillas into cubes or strips. Hard-boil the eggs or cook the eggs and veggies into a frittata. Make a salad with couscous and chopped veggies.
Now you’re ready to put it all together. Keep in mind that this plan isn’t fixed in stone; the idea is to have a bunch of pre-prepped items ready to grab and pack. Hint: For each day, pick a main course, a fruit and/or veggie selection, and a crunchy snack.
Sample Menus:
Day 1: Pita squares, hummus, fruit, veggie sticks, cheese, olives
Day 2: Turkey kebab sandwich (turkey skewered on a straw or stick with squares or cubes of bread, cheese, lettuce, cherry tomato), fruit, veggie chips
Day 3: Frittata squares, fruit, whole wheat pretzels
Day 4: Confetti couscous salad, hard-boiled egg, yogurt, crackers, fruit and veggies
Day 5: PB & J (or sunflower butter and jelly) cut into cubes, fruit, veggie sticks, popcorn
School Holidays
13 Apr 2024 - 28 Apr 2024 |
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ANZAC Day
All day |
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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 |