Penguin District School eNewsletter

For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar

March, March, March – this cry can be heard across the state as the Tassie Jack Jumpers once again march into the Championship Series for the NBL for the second time in their short three year history in the NBL. The Jack Jumpers have arguably been one of the most successful expansion teams in professional sport in Australia. The Tassie AFL team planning committee has been getting insights from how the Jack Jumpers have managed to create this success both on and off the court. “Scott Roth has built such a healthy, sustainable program in Tasmania. They should be the model for any expansion franchise, in any sport” (Basketball reporter Olgun Uluc).

Coach Roth speaks passionately about defending the island and his love of his team and the state, however it wasn’t always this way. After more than a year away from his family, burned out Tasmania Jack Jumpers’ coach Scott Roth was ready to throw in the towel. After a preseason game in 2022 Roth drove back from Launceston to Hobart and was basically done. He was ready to pack up and go back to his family in the US who he hadn’t been able to see for 14months. When recalling this time Roth states that “I just mentally spent myself and probably wasn’t great to be around, in general. - I was just crashing and burning.” Thankfully, Roth had some good conversations with some key people and held on. He demonstrated immense courage to accept the challenges in front of him. This culture of being courageous has been something he speaks with his team about.

Our Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students have had to demonstrate courage as they have started undertaking NAPLAN. This important series of tests are an annual challenge presented to our students. Students can be reassured that NAPLAN tests are just one part of their school program. It has been great to see PDS students giving their personal best as they courageously undertake these tests.

NAPLAN measures fundamental literacy and numeracy skills needed for ongoing success in school and life. There is, however, much that NAPLAN doesn’t measure. These tests are unable to measure all of what it is that makes you the valued person who you are. It doesn’t measure if you are a great singer and dancer or that you can play a musical instrument really well. It doesn’t measure how well you can draw beautiful pictures or your sense of humour - which can bring a smile to your friend’s faces and make them laugh. It doesn’t measure the types of different sports or interesting and enjoyable hobbies you do. So while our Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students ‘march, march, march’ into courageously completing their NAPLAN tests, rest assured that we know that while they are very important, these tests are simply a snapshot and are not the complete picture of they are as learners.

Yours in partnership

Geoff Davis

Assistant Principal

Congratulations to the following students for being elected for the 2024 Student Board and House Captains.

Student Board:

Year 3/4: Sophie, Aisha, Zander, Patrick and James

Year 5: Heidi, April and Eleanor

Year 6: Will, Liam, Macie and Grace

House Captains

Dial Thunder:

Vice: Kirra

Captain: Jaimie

Montgomery Blaze:

Vice: Elijah

Captain: Nate

Duncan Sharks:

Vice: Summer

Captain: Ruby

Blythe Tigers:

Vice: Rayff

Captain: Toree

All families will be receiving a $10 book of tickets to buy or sell if you choose. Prizes will be given to 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places and will be a hamper of eggs. Tickets and money need to be returned to the school by Wednesday March 27 for the draw on Thursday March 28. All money raised will go to the Student Board who are raising money for a new mural, blinds and cushions in the theatre, recycling bins and some more shaded areas around the school or other improvements within the school.

We would appreciate any donations for this raffle, donations can be dropped into the office before Tuesday March 19.

The NWPSSA Athletics Carnival was held on Wednesday (3/4’s) and Thursday (5/6’s) last week up at the athletics track. Penguin District School was well represented on both days, with all team members giving their personal best and achieving some fantastic results: Congratulations to Kirra (2^nd), Davis(3^rd) and Ash (3^rd) for placing in their 800m finals, our year 4 mixed (2^nd), year 5 boys (3^rd), year 5 girls (2^nd) and year 6 girls (2^nd) relay teams and Estella (1^st Long Jump and 2^nd Shot Put) and Rory (3^rd Shot Put) who all achieved some great results after strong performances during the day. PDS managed to finish second in Division A, only 18 points behind Burnie Primary, a fantastic achievement.

On Thursday night, students selected from the NWPSSA Athletics last week represented Penguin District School in the Twilight event held at the Penguin Athletics Track. All PDS students showed great courage to race in front of hundreds of people. Congratulations and well done to all involved and good luck to the students selected to attend the State event later in Term 1.

This term, Year 5 classes have had a focus on collaboration and developing partnerships across the three learning spaces. Students have worked with others from building 7 in a range of different ways including learning sessions that have been based around current events and BTN, Friday Quiz time, Bio poem writing and creating a collective art piece to be on display in our shared walkway.

This term’s focus value is ‘Courage’ and in 6B we have been looking closely at what courage actually means. Courage is accepting challenges and embracing opportunities. We can be courageous by:-

growing our friendship group
giving new things a try
not giving up when things are hard
being brave
accepting that everyone is different and unique
reaching out or seeking help
trying new opportunities and believing in ourselves even if you want to give up.

Our class read a book called ‘Girl on Wire’. In this book there is a girl who shows a lot of courage and faces her fear. We were challenged to write a Haiku poem. This is a 3 lined poem. It has 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line and 5 syllables in the third line.

Bonnie & Grace

Here’s the link to ‘Girl on Wire’

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=d20ab216d57f1a16&rlz=1C1GCEU_enAU1081AU1081&sxsrf=ACQVn09mnXm_QfteUEVH1bIK4j8UM3AR4g:1710306962032&q=girl+on+wire&tbm=vid&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiy47b3vfCEAxWuwzgGHYKHBncQ0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=1280&bih=719&dpr=2.25#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:83c83540,vid:GTzssTlfyWM,st:0

Year 7 students have been unpacking liveability factors in Penguin and the wider world. They have built their knowledge and understanding of what makes places liveable and what the push and pull factors for these places are. Students will continue their learning for the duration of the term by looking at the distribution of services, cultural connections to land and doing their final summative task.

Pictured: brochures created by students about the liveability factors of Penguin and the Central Coast.

Grade 8 HASS students are learning about the landscapes and landforms that make up our world. They are learning about the geomorphological processes that impact and alter landscapes over time. Students will understand both the natural and human impact on landscapes and discuss how natural disasters can be managed. A strong focus will also be placed on the indigenous connection to the land and significant Australian landscapes.

9/10 HASS looks a little difference this year. In addition to their history units, 9/10 students have the opportunity to select a term-based HASS option. Some students have chosen to learn about big events that have impacted the world. We have learnt about the Bali Bombings, 9/11 and Chernobyl – all events that occurred before students were born! Other students are looking at the cost of living crisis. This hands-on option has given students insight into the cost of a meal compared to buying a meal.

Pictured: posters created through comparing supermarket prices.

A group of year 9/10 girls attended the Girls on Track Program at Symmons Plains today. This program is designed to inspire girls to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and other industries, using motorsport as a tool to achieve their dreams.

The mission of FIA Girls on Track is to: