Today I was reminded of the beauty that lies within our school facility and grounds. Hosting Launching into Learning playgroups is such a privilege as I get to meet so many families (some who are visiting our school for the very first time). While the children were playing this morning, a Mother said to me “wow, you have a very beautiful school! It looks so natural and feels calming.” And she’s right, we do. We are very lucky to have these new buildings and play spaces for our learners to grow and thrive and we rely on a strong culture of respect to maintain this.

In our Green Penguin meeting this week we discussed how we can show respect for our grounds and classrooms and how chipping in and doing little things everyday can be really helpful in maintaining our beautiful school. It’s been great to see students volunteering to picking up rubbish at lunch time or helping their teachers to tidy their classrooms. I wonder if the DECYP and PDS value of Respect the environment is seeping into student’s home life too?

Congratulations to Jacob S, Logan W, Bradley W, Solomon C who have won the Tasmania’s first place for their innovative redesign of the Australian Open facility in Minecraft. It is great to see challenges like this where student’s can think outside the box and compete in an interest based task.  Congratulations on taking out a State Title.

Speaking of thinking outside the box, there’ll be lots of students undertaking the Children’s University challenge this year.  They will be using all of their extra-curricular and lunch/recess activities to clock up hours, and eventually graduate at the end of the year. Children can write reflections about their sporting, musical, theatre and many more experiences that they have in their lives. Participating in initiatives like this allows students to develop their time management skills, their self-confidence, expands their interests and social connections. We currently have 47 students enrolled already.  Thanks to Dr Mac for leading this for our students.

Swimming for our young learners starts next week. This is an exciting (and exhausting) time for the students who get to practise their swimming skills or maybe even test them out for the very first time. Don’t forget to pack swimmers, towel, dry bag, change of underwear and name all items children bring along. Over the weekend, let the children practise getting dressed on their own or folding their clothes and popping them into a neat pile. I promise that the Early Years teachers will appreciate their independence.
Families are allowed to come and watch (at the East Ulverstone Swimming Pool) at their child’s designated swimming time but are unable to enter the changerooms to protect the safety of all students participating.
A big shoutout to the Primary students that will be assisting the young learners in the pool and Mr de Ruyter for facilitating the learning they’ll undertake.

Another big shoutout to Mr Baldock, Mr Woodard and our PDS Athletics Team that will be attending the NWPSSA Carnival next week. (Yr.3/4 on Wed and Yr 5/6 on Thurs).  We wish them all the best of luck.

One of my favourite things to witness, is a student receiving a Gold Card for the very first time, and I was lucky enough to sign Atley’s “Golden Ticket” this week (as he affectionately called it). And maybe it does feel like receiving a Golden Ticket in your chocolate bar like Charlie did! He had produced some writing to accompany a picture he’d drawn and is beginning to use letters and sounds that he’s learning in Literacy. Prep is such a big year full of new connections being made and student’s seeing themselves as readers and writers with a purpose.

Mrs Hubbard also received her very first Gold Card this week, her Prep students seeing that even adults are learning new things every day.

Yours in partnership,

Jessie Eberhardt AST (Acting Assistant Principal Friday)