WHY IT MATTERS MORE THAN EVER

Recently, two Student Executive members, Amy and Chloe, delivered a powerful address to our Penquite students on the challenges excessive mobile phone use presents in our lives. Their speech was engaging, informative, and, importantly, included proactive strategies to help achieve a healthy balance. A short excerpt from their speech is shared below:

“Here’s a quick challenge: Next time you reach for your phone, pause for a second and ask yourself, “Is this actually adding to my life, or am I just passing time?”.  If not, maybe […]

We are delighted to announce that the following staff have joined the Scotch Oakburn staffing team for the commencement of Term 2:

Cindy Chen (College Nurse – Penquite)
Scott Muller (Maintenance Manager)
Morgan Parker (College Nurse – Elphin)
Colin Peters (Percussion Teacher)
Daniel Priest (PAC Technician)
Sarah Williams (Year 1 Teacher)
MaddI Young (Year 5 Teacher)

Please join me in welcoming our new staff to the College. In addition, I wish to inform you that our College Chaplain, Cody Harwood finished up at the College at the end of Term 1 to explore new opportunities. Please join me in wishing Cody all the best for the future. We […]

As we begin the new term, Principal Ross Patterson is excited to share some initiatives that continue to strengthen the sense of connection across our community.

Community Arts Coordinator, Carmel Dilger, talks about the opening of ‘Life if what you bake it!’, an exhibition from Artist in Residence, Katie Barron and TCE art students.  In what was a fantastic collaboration between artist and students, the exhibition explores the themes of play, appreciation, and joy and is inspired by the iconic Australian Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake Book. The opening was enhanced with the inclusion of cakes baked from the recipe book by our Year 9 […]

On Monday, 28 April, all teaching staff engaged in some excellent professional learning with Dr Tom Porta, a lecturer and researcher from the University of Adelaide.  Tom’s recent PhD focuses on Inclusive Education and differentiation instruction.

The Robert Dean Senior Student Centre was a buzz with colleagues considering how we establish exactly what students need to know, understand and do and how we might be able to differentiate the learning by considering student readiness, the learning activities we provide and the assessments that we use.

From teachers of our 3 year olds through to […]

ROUND SQUARE CONFERENCE

Over the Term break,  Chloe Atkinson (Year 6), Georgina Chilcott (Year 6), Ryan Dhanaraj (Year 7), Felix Harvey (Year 7), Chloe Atkinson (Year 8) and Meg de Deuge (Year 8), along with Mr Paul McKendrick and Ms Justin Clarke, headed to Perth for the Footprints of Unity Round Square conference. Hosted by Scotch College and Bunbury Cathedral Grammar, the conference brought together delegates from Australia, the USA, India, and Bangladesh to explore Aboriginal culture and the IDEALS of Internationalism and Adventure.

Following the opening ceremony, we engaged in activities such as […]

Last week, Penquite Campus was delighted to welcome twelve students and two teachers from St Stithian’s Girls’ College, a Round Square school in Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of their Australia Study Tour. The group’s journey through Australia included stops in Melbourne, Sydney, Ballarat, and Launceston, with their time at Penquite offering an opportunity for cultural exchange and connection.

The visit was made possible through the global Round Square network, which fosters international understanding and collaboration among students. During their stay, the visiting students immersed themselves in school life by attending classes alongside their Tasmanian peers. Highlights of […]

CULTURE, CONTRASTS, AND CONNECTION

I’ve spent five weeks in Colombia and have had an amazing and truly enjoyable experience. One of the highlights was spending a week in Anapoima, a small tropical town built around a lake. Everyone gets around in golf carts, and the area is full of natural beauty—vibrant butterflies, hummingbirds, and stunning flowers and plants.

I also loved going up Monserrate and taking a tour of the flower, fruit, and vegetable markets. One of the more confronting aspects of my visit was witnessing the stark socio-economic divide. It’s visible in everyday […]