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- Penguin District School Calendar
- Assistant Principal's Report
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- Inter-High Cross Country
- Year 7-8 Poetry
- Japanese
- LIFT Library New Book
- Book Club - Issue 4
- Penguin District School Bake Sale
- PDS Beanies
- Production Orders
- Burnie Musical Society Cast Opportunity
- Come and Play Junior Pickleball
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Penguin District School Calendar
For all upcoming events please see the Penguin District School Calendar
Berry Street Education Model (BSEM)
As part of moderation day, our teachers came together as part of the Central Coast Cluster to continue our journey of implementing the Berry Street Education Model BSEM). So, what is the Berry Street Education Model? Berry Street is an evidence based, Trauma-Informed Positive Education Model that supports teachers to develop positive relationships with students, whilst fostering a positive mind set. The model focusses on supporting students in understanding their physical, psychological, social and emotional capabilities and provides our staff with strategies to respond to student’s needs, flexibly and responsively. Ultimately, the aim of implementing this model, and associated strategies, is to empower our students to regulate their wellbeing, identify/manage their emotions, cultivate resilience and identify and use the personal strengths.
The Model encompasses five domains (Body, Relationship, Stamina, Engagement, and Character.) Within these domains there are focus areas that are taught systematically and purposefully. Today we focussed on the “Character” domain. We further unpacked this by breaking the domain down into the following:
- Values
- Character Strengths
- Community Strengths
- Hope
- Gratitude
Through the systematic and explicit teaching of these domains, our students will be encouraged to develop acceptance and respect for one another.
From a personal perspective, I was walked away with a greater sense of the strengths of those that I work with and an awareness of how important it is to recognise our own and others strengths. I also left the session with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the students I get to support every day, the staff I work with and support, the support our community provides our school with and affirmation of just how lucky I am to work in an environment such as PDS.
My long weekend challenge is to pose the question to your child/children. When you go to school, what are grateful for and why?
Primary Evidence of Learning/Communicating with Families meetings.
Yesterday, primary families will have received an envelope that included an English and Maths evidence of learning. These were shared with you prior to parent meetings this week so you have some time to digest and talk to your child about their learning. Keep in mind these are just one evidence of learning and are part of a bigger picture that is considered come report time.
With close to 300 bookings already in place, we are really excited about this opportunity to celebrate your child’s learning progress.
Please note that mid-year school reports will be sent home on Friday of week 10.
IMPORTANT – “Communicating Learning with Families” bookings close tonight (Friday, June 7) at midnight.
https://penguinds.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/35
Thankyou
Last Friday we had nearly 30 families join us for a special presentation from our local speech pathologist (and School Association President) Sheila Steele. The presentation centred around the current research on how we, as parents, can best support our children with their reading at home. Whilst I won’t share every aspect of the presentation, I will share Sheila’s top 10 tips and tricks. We certainly appreciate the time and effort Sheila put into preparing and delivering this session. Thankyou.
1 – Read everyday!
2- Audio Books are a great way to engage our children (Also great for long car trips)
3 – DON’T GUESS – Always come back to the letter sounds and don’t “read” the picture
4 – Talk to your teacher (Two way communication is vital)
5 – Play “I Spy” in the car (It’s a great way to expose children to sounds/words etc)
6 – If there are “rogue” words that your children can’t decode yet, read them to them
7 – If your child gets stuck, help them out
8 – PRAISE! This releases endorphins and will encourage your child to want to continue reading
9 – Use the School and Penguin Library
10 – Remember that decoding is just one part of the Big Six of Reading.
Have a fantastic long weekend and we look forward to welcoming everyone back next Tuesday.
Yours in partnership
Adrian Beard
Assistant Primary Principal
In Prep A we have been talking about ‘our place’. Lots of us have a special place in Penguin or close by in Sulphur Creek.
Read about why our places feel special to us.
I wonder why your place is special to you.
We have officially hit mid term 2 and have been very busy in Prep B!
One of our big focuses this term has been routines and expectations in literacy groups. Our students from both Prep classes have enjoyed working in small groups with a mix of peers.
We have been learning a couple of new sounds every week and applying them in beginning reading and writing skills. Many of our groups have been learning to blend and segment 3 and 4 letter words using known letters.
We are very proud of the focus and learning that has been happening from all students and can’t wait to see future progress!
If any parents/guardians would like help finding our borrowing library with games, books and decodable home readers then please see any of the Prep team.
On Wednesday 5 June, our selected high school students competed in the Inter-High Cross Country competition in Penguin. All students are to be congratulated on the way they conducted themselves throughout the event, participating with both effort and good sportsmanship. Well done to the Year 7 Girls and Year 8 Boys teams who each came second in their year/gender event, and Miller for taking out first place in the Year 8 Boys race. To all competitors, a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS - Penguin District School, B Division CHAMPIONS.
In Year 8 Japanese, we have been learning about different festivals. This week our focus festival was Tanabata which is a festival that celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi, a weaver and cowherder. People of Japan create wishes on colourful paper – this is called tanzaku. These colourful pieces of paper are placed on bamboo trees and displayed around cities. Our class created three wishes of our own using new grammar points this week. Next lesson we will be learning about Japanese New Year and sampling some mochi.
Year 7 Japanese students have started their Map Task – they are translating cities into the hiragana script and locating their chosen cities on the Japanese map. They are also locating famous Japanese landmarks. Next steps in their language learning journey will be moving into their ‘Self Introduction’ unit soon.
Welcoming a new book to our LiFT Library – Wings of Change by (our very own Year 1 teacher) Maddi Penton
Wings of Change
Join Ember, a curious caterpillar, on a journey of growth and transformation. Through the guidance of Jack the Butterfly, Ember learns that change is not something to fear but a beautiful journey of self-discovery. With vibrant illustrations and heartfelt storytelling, this picture book inspires young readers to embrace the ever-changing world around them.
Congratulations Maddi, I’m sure lots of families will take the chance to borrow this book and children will see that they can become an author just like Miss Penton.
Dream big!
We are excited about presenting our production ‘Beauty and the Beast – A Bloomin’ Good Tale’ at the Ulverstone theatre in Term 4 2024.
Our next order for production t-shirts and hoodies for staff and students will be placed when we have recieved at least 30 orders. The shirts will be black and hoodies will be black or blue with the production logo on the front and the option of first name, surname or character name on the back. The cost of the t-shirt is $27. The cost of the hoodies is $60 or $65 with name.
T-shirts and hoodies can be worn to rehearsals, casual clothes days and outside of school.
Band members, backstage crew and ushers are encouraged, where possible, to wear the production t-shirt as part of their outfit for shows (plain black clothing is required if this t-shirt is not purchased).
Orders can be made via the Qkr.