For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar

As the days grow shorter and the crisp air settles in, we find ourselves at the doorstep of Winter—a season often associated with stillness and rest. While nature slows down, it also quietly prepares for new beginnings. At our school, we see Winter not just as the ‘wet lunch season’, but as a reminder of the deep, quiet growth—especially the kind that happens beneath the surface.

Just as trees conserve their energy and roots reach deeper into the earth during these colder months, our students, staff, and families have been quietly laying the groundwork for meaningful development. Whether it’s mastering a new skill during UFLI in Prep, working through a challenging Word Origins lesson in Year 5, or simply becoming more confident in their subjects in Year 10. Growth continues—sometimes unseen, but always important.

In the classroom, we’ve watched students dig into projects with curiosity, support one another with kindness, and show resilience through changing routines. These are powerful signs of learning that go beyond academic scores. They reflect personal growth—each child becoming more prepared, more self-aware, and more connected to their classmates and learning.

Today, teaching staff participated in their yearly Moderation Day. While students enjoyed a well-earned rest, teachers were grouped with like grade teachers from our cluster, to discuss learning and create collaborative assessment judgements. Teaching moderation days aren’t just administrative; they’re critical moments for quality assurance, teacher growth, and student fairness. They help maintain the integrity of the educational process and support a culture of reflective, collaborative practice. We’ll all have earned a rest for the Public Holiday Monday 9 June.

Next week our Communicating Learning with Families meetings will take place and we’ll begin to discuss individual learning. Please take time to share and reflect on not only the big growth in terms of achievement, but also the growth that’s under the surface; What have we accomplished so far this year? What are we proud of? And what do we want to nurture in ourselves as we head into the second half of this year?

As a school, we are grateful for the partnerships we have with families and the broader community. Your support and encouragement help create a warm, nurturing environment where students can thrive—even in the chilliest of seasons.

If you have not booked an appointment to discuss learning with your child’s teacher, please do so by following the link below.

https://penguinds.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/62

Parent_Booking_Guide.pdf

Shout Outs:

• To our Education Facility Attendants (EFAs) who work so hard to keep our school sparkling. The Winter months can be tough for them too, please remember to remove your shoes when coming inside so they don’t have to spend extra time cleaning the carpets.
• To the Breakfast Club crew. There are so many students who look forward to this every week and we know how important it is to have a full belly when learning. This is a volunteer role and we are so grateful
• To the Teachers! Creating, delivering, assessing and packing Evidence of Learning is no small feat and they’ve been passionately working away to make sure that families get a quality snapshot of learning before the Communicating Learning with Families meetings next week.
• To the ‘Unreal 13yo’ who inspired unlikely triumph. Tyrese has returned to Penguin as National Touch Football Champion with the Tassie Thunder; the first ever all abilities team.
  
  

So, as we embrace the Winter months ahead, let’s remember that growth doesn’t always look like certificates, accolades, movement or speed. Sometimes it’s quiet, internal, and slow. And sometimes, that’s when the most meaningful development takes place.

Yours in Partnership, Jessie Eberhardt AST and Assistant Principal

Since our last committee meeting we met with Education Minister Jo Palmer on site to ask that we retain the old school. We have also been working closely with Central Coast Council to retain the use of the Kinder rooms for Out of Hours School Care. Mayor Cheryl Fuller and CEO Vicky Brereton were at the meeting, and were very supportive of our proposal. We don't have any answers yet, but we do feel like have a worthy case. 

We are excited that PDS will be a part of the Penguin 150 celebrations this year. Students are invited to be part of a competition over the next week to name our celebratory community event in November. We will have more details about this event in the coming weeks and months. Please keep an eye out for ways that parents can be involved. 

Since our last meeting we have had the good news that we have been awarded the Ulverstone Apex grant towards our sensory garden. This will means that all classes will have easy access to sensory swings, for students to use as needed. 

We had our second meeting for the term this week, and we also discussed these topics:

- Feedback around communities of school’s concept

- Reviewing safeguarding policy

- Communication and use of Seesaw

Our next meeting is scheduled for 5:15pm on the 4th August. Everyone is welcome!

Enjoy the long weekend and stay warm,

Sheila Steele

Chairperson

Our Home Group circles each morning continue to provide opportunities for student connections. Wednesday morning meetings promote connections within the Year 7 & 8 team.

Some highlights this term have been:

• Amazing attendance at the Cross Country by our Year 7 & 8 students.
• Paper plane designing in Year 7 Science.
• Exploring Roman History – especially designing Roman soldiers.
• Analysing Inside Out 2 in Year 8 English.
• Introduction of Cheesy Garlic Bread in the Canteen.
• Doing push ups in Maths.
• Monday mornings outside with my Home Group.
• The Footy Gala Day with my mates.
• Using Senan’s pencils and things from Japan.

Currently three classes are challenging their physical health to support mental health. They are completing the Push Up Challenge as class groups, some also as individual participants.

The Year 8 classes have been sharing positive reflections about their classmates in Home Group circles – building each other up.

The Year 7 classes are enjoying their four last weeks in their existing classrooms. Each class will move their Home Group classroom on the last day of this term.

As we conclude the first half of Year 7 & 8, the focus on being a good human continues to be our focus.

Calling out behaviour, surrounding ourselves with positive influences and teaching others how to treat us being the messages that we are practicing daily.

As always, communication is welcome via phone call, Seesaw or email.

 Karina Van Essen

Year 7 & 8 coordinator

Year 7 students have been exploring Ancient Rome. They have researched a Roman god of their choice, tried to build their own aqueducts and reenacted plays about famous Roman Emperors to highlight the contributions and criticisms of their ruling. We will be unpacking their military, gladiators and the fall of the empire in the remaining weeks of the unit. We will be moving into our Civics and Citizenship unit, where those who attended the Canberra trip can share what they remember!

This term, our Year 8 students are traveling back in time to feudal Japan, where powerful shoguns ruled the land, samurai lived by a strict code, and society was shaped by tradition and duty. Fun Fact: Samurai didn't just fight—many were skilled in poetry, calligraphy, and tea ceremonies!

Our Year 9 History students are investigating one of Australia’s most significant turning points, Federation, and how it shaped the nation’s identity. Students have explored why the six colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia and how key figures influenced the process. They’re also analysing the social and political climate of the time, including how Federation led to the introduction of the White Australia Policy—a series of laws designed to restrict non-European immigration.

This term, our Year 10 students are learning about World War II and the Holocaust. Students have explored the Nuremberg Laws, which stripped Jewish citizens of their rights in Nazi Germany, and the devastating events of Kristallnacht, also known as the "Night of Broken Glass." They are developing a deeper understanding of the systematic persecution of Jewish people and other targeted groups during the Holocaust.

Year 7 & 8 students have been exploring triangles whilst the Year 9 & 10’s have been exploring quadratics.

Under each year level below, please click the link and challenge someone to complete a level with you.

7 – Angles in a Triangle – about to classify and calculate angles

Angles in a Triangle

8 – Congruency of Triangles – about to explore Quadrilaterals

Congruent Triangles

9 - Expanding and Factorising Quadratics – about to start Probability

Factorising

10 - Quadratic Graphing – about to start Networks

Plotting Graphs

Year 9/10 Algebra

If a maths problem has an unknown part, it falls under the heading of algebra.

1. 3 + 2 =
2. 3 + ? = 10
3. a + 5 = 17

In question 1, there is a blank space where the unknown number is.

In question 2, there is a ? when the unknown number is.

In question 3, there is an ‘a’ where the unknown number is.

When students reach the secondary campus, we introduce using pronumerals (letters) to sit in where the unknown number is, like in question 3.

In Year 9 Maths, Students have been extending their understanding of Algebra. They have been learning to expand and factorise expressions and solve equations using these techniques.

In Year 10 Maths, Students have been modelling quadratic functions in the real world. They have been finding the turning points, x-intercepts, and y-intercepts using tables, graphs, and rules.

On Wednesday, our Year 7 to 10 students laced up their runners and hit the athletics track for the NWHSSA Inter High Cross Country. The day was full of determined efforts, proud finishes, and plenty of school spirit. Our students gave it their all, tackling the course with grit and perseverance. Against some tough competition, they pushed through every step, and their dedication paid off, we took first place in B Division.

A huge shoutout to all our runners for their incredible efforts and to everyone who supported them along the way. It was a fantastic day filled with teamwork and determination, looking forward to seeing what we can achieve next year!

Selected Preps were invited to join Mrs Eberhardt and some trusty TAs at the Variety Kids Sports Day last week. This inclusive event allows students of all ages and abilities, to explore the world of sport in a safe and supportive way. They experienced wheelchair basketball, cricket, AFL, athletics, pickle ball and many more. Thanks to Variety for holding this event yearly and for making space for our young people to try new skills.

The upcoming Primary Communicating with Families meetings will take place in Week 7. These meetings are a great opportunity to support your child to reflect on their learning across the first part of the year, celebrate successes, and set goals for future growth.
We encourage all families to book an appointment and bring their child along to meetings with teachers.
Please see below for booking link.

https://penguinds.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/62

Parent_Booking_Guide.pdf

For more information and to register, please visit https://www.positivepartnerships.com.au/workshop/?eventtemplate=137-1-day-parent-carer-workshop-tas&event=2055