The classroom buzzes with curiosity, little hands are exploring and wide eyes light up with wonder. Next week we welcome the youngest learners to Penguin District School. It’s time for Pre-Kinder!

This program is designed to give our young people a strong, confident start to their educational journey. Pre-Kinder provides a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can develop early literacy and numeracy skills, build social confidence, and learn how to navigate the routines of school life in a supportive, play-based setting.

Research shows that high-quality early childhood education lays the foundation for future success. Through intentional play, guided exploration, and meaningful relationships with educators and peers, children in Pre-Kinder gain essential skills in communication, self-regulation, and problem-solving. These early experiences shape their approach to learning and set the tone for a lifelong love of school.

Supporting Your Child’s School Readiness

Families play a vital role in preparing children for their first steps into school life. Simple everyday activities can build school readiness. Reading stories together, encouraging independence with tasks like packing a bag or putting on shoes, and establishing consistent routines at home help children feel more confident in a school setting. Talking positively about school, visiting the school grounds together, and encouraging curiosity and questions all build emotional readiness and enthusiasm for learning.

Visit the Great Start website below to get some great tips on being ready for Kinder.

Great Start - Getting ready for school

We look forward to welcoming our newest learners and families to our Pre-Kinder sessions that begin August 22^nd. Children will get to meet Mrs Bracken and Mrs Atkins (current Kinder teachers) and slowly develop relationships with teachers, assistants, the environment and each other.

If you’d like to learn more about enrolment or the program structure, please contact our school office on 6434 2222 or Jessie Eberhardt via email or Seesaw.

Shout Outs:

• To all the year 5 and 6 students who worked tirelessly on creating their science boards and showcasing their learning to the judges and community on Wednesday. Shout out to teachers in that area who have also shown dedication in that area.
• To Secondary teachers and students in the work they have put into their Science Fair.
• Congratulations to all PDS students who came to see the NED show ‘Ned’s Resiliency Ride’. We proudly represent our community when we have external visitors, and we appreciate the respect shown to those who come and perform for us. We can’t wait to hear all about the new Yo-Yo tricks practised. Thanks to Katrina Blair for organising this for us.
• Lincoln W for showing courage and bravery.
• To the Sensory Garden team who are lifting the space between our buildings so beautifully. There is a definite buzz of chatter about the changes as students wander past.
• To the 80+ students who have signed up for netball this term and to Karina Van Essen for the mountain of work that she takes on to make sure our students continue to keep active
• To the large number of Secondary students who are showing interest in the different activities happening like write a book in a day, viewing the Burnie High production, Big Science Fair, Badminton Gala Day.

Reminder

Next week starts the all-important, BOOK WEEK! The hype is real, and I know there are students who have been planning their book character costumes for what seems like months.
There are a few different things happening across the week so remember to check the calendar of events (in your Seesaw and here in the newsletter). A small reminder that we strongly discourage the use of weapons with costumes (even if your plastic sword really enhances your Aragorn costume).
We can’t wait to see all the creativity across PDS, it’s truly a magical time in schools.

Yours in partnership

Jessie Eberhardt -  K-2 AST (Mon - Thurs) Assistant Principal (Friday)