Forging strong connections with each other allows for a safe and supportive environment at school.

Our Year 7 & 8 students start each morning in their Home Group circle. Sharing special announcements, having honest conversations and enjoying each others company ensures everyone, including the staff, feel connected, safe and ready to learn. It is honestly the best part of my day as a Home Group teacher of 8A! From peaches and cream lollies to Rhys being able to fit in a cupboard, I am learning amazing information from these 13 and 14 year olds!

During an assembly this afternoon, all Year 7 and 8’s and staff, were discussing friendships. Students were reminded of a Peppa Pig episode entitled ‘Best Friends’ (that many watched in Years 3 or 4) showing that friendships can be hard work. Like Peppa and Suzy, most friendship issues occur due to a lack of information, or a misinterpretation of events. We spoke about finding the positive intent and ensuing honesty guides the solution. As Suzy and Peppa beautifully illustrate to us, talking it out, not just saying sorry, is the way to understand how each other is feeling. We are all different and can interpret things in our own special ways. At the end of the day, we all just want to be liked and have friends - so be kind to one another and your friendships will grow!

In the words of a year 8 student I spoke with this afternoon, ‘I don’t hold grudges. It would take up all the space I have to enjoy the people around me’.

With our current attendance of 91%, the Year 7 & 8 students are above the state average! We are tracking above our annual school attendance goal of 90% for all students, even with the large amount of illness in the past few weeks. Congratulations to our students for ensuring they are attending school each and every day that they can!

2026 YEAR 7 INFORMATION EVENING

Thank you to all of the families who attended last night. There were just over 140 people in the Year 7 classrooms, beginning the transition process into the secondary space.

For those families who were unable to attend, please collect an information pack from the school office when you can. This provides important information for the transition process and how Year 7 operates.

All Year 6 students intending on enrolling in Year 7 in 2026 at Penguin District School will be invited to a Taster Session on October 24 and then the full-day Orientation Day on December 3.

More information will be sent to families in the coming weeks.

Lastly, thank you to our amazing staff and student volunteers who supported families in their tours last night. To hear the positive and honest way in which our students described their experiences at Penguin District School was heartwarming. I know that this is an amazing community to support the development of our students, but it was amazing to hear my thoughts being voiced by our Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 students last night.

As always, I welcome families to contact me via email or Seesaw when necessary (karina.van.essen@decyp.tas.gov.au)

Enjoy the weekend, Karina Van Essen