Pemberton District High School

03/09/2026

🔴⚪🔵 Go Southerners! 🔵⚪🔴

PDHS was awash with red, white and blue today as students and staff showed their support for our Year 6/7 students who will take to the field in their footy Grand Final this Saturday!

We are incredibly proud of our students and wish them and their Southerners teammates the very best of luck for Saturday. Play hard, enjoy the occasion and know that all of PDHS is cheering you on!

01/09/2026

31/08/2026

Principal’s Update – Week 6 of Term 3

Week 6 was another busy and productive week at PDHS, with swimming lessons featuring prominently for our Year 3–6 students alongside a wide range of engaging learning experiences across the school.

In K/PP, Ms Thoo’s students continued developing their confidence and independence as learners. Kindy students strengthened their problem-solving skills through puzzles and creative construction with blocks, while Pre-Primary students brought together the literacy skills they have been developing to complete a range of English activities.

In Mrs Barnsby’s Year 1/2 class, students welcomed School Captains, Ethan and Noah, into their Maths lesson for a special peer-learning opportunity. After discussing different approaches to solving addition problems, Ethan and Noah demonstrated a mental Maths strategy that Noah had developed when he was in Year 2. The boys then worked one-to-one with students to help them apply the strategy. It was wonderful to see our School Captains developing their leadership skills while supporting younger students with their learning.

For Ms Dowson’s Year 3/4 class, much of the week was spent at the Manjimup Regional Aqua Centre completing their Interm Swimming Lessons. Students had the opportunity to develop their swimming and water safety skills across the week. They are to be commended for the resilience and effort they demonstrated throughout the program, particularly as they challenged themselves to improve their skills and confidence in the water.

Mrs Schmidt’s Year 5/6 class also completed their week of Interm Swimming Lessons, demonstrating our school values while improving their skills and confidence in the pool. Back at school, excitement continued to build around the upcoming VEX Robotics competition. Students participated in trials to determine who would represent PDHS, testing the two robot designs by racing around a track and collecting objects against the clock.

In Drama with Mrs Brooks, Year 9/10 students were challenged by a cup percussion activity that required concentration, coordination and persistence. The routine certainly tested students’ resilience, and it was great to see them persevere and rise to the challenge.

Year 9/10 Outdoor Education students continued developing their mountain bike handling skills, demonstrating some impressive balance and control. A game of basketball played while riding bikes provided a particularly challenging and entertaining way to put these skills into practice.

Year 9/10 Agriculture students had another productive session in the hothouse, replanting vegetable beds and completing the clean-out of one of the ponds.

In Science with Mr Harger, Year 8 students investigated transpiration in plants using celery and dye to make the process visible, while Year 9/10 students concluded their learning about pathogens and the body’s immune system.

In Mrs Radomiljac’s Year 9/10 Design and Technology class, students continued developing their woodworking skills as they created automata – mechanical wooden toys that use movement and simple mechanisms. Students learned about different timber joints and practised constructing lap joints in pine, while also developing their skills in safely chiselling and shaping timber. The project provided a great opportunity to appreciate the importance of precision, patience and careful workmanship.

Looking ahead to Week 7, we will celebrate Southerners Colours Day on Thursday, showing our support for our Year 6/7 students who will play in their football grand final on Saturday. On Friday, our Year 3–6 students will head to the Pemberton Sports Club for the Winter Carnival, where they will participate in netball, hockey and soccer, supported by our Year 9/10 Specialised Sport students who have been developing their coaching skills throughout the term.

Finally, on Tuesday 8 September 2026 (Week 8) we will hold our Book Week Parade at 8:50am, so start pulling together costumes!

I hope you all enjoyed the weekend’s sunshine,
Lee

25/08/2026

What better way to comfort eat in the coming poor weather than with a cheesy broccoli bake made with fresh broccoli grown by our Year 9/10 Ag students?

Grab some from the produce stall at the front of the school and pop a donation in the box to help support this great program and our Pemby Ag students.

23/08/2026

Principal’s Update – Weeks 4 and 5 of Term 3

The past two weeks have been busy and productive at PDHS, with students engaging in a wide range of academic, creative, sporting and practical learning experiences. Week 5 also saw many of our students participate in Interm Swimming Lessons, while preparations continued for several exciting events later in the term.

In K/PP, Ms Thoo’s students continued developing their literacy and numeracy skills through hands-on activities. Kindergarten students explored syllables through another round of “Syllable Smash” and developed their understanding of partitioning numbers by building animal enclosures and distributing animals between them. Pre-Primary students investigated three-dimensional objects by sorting them and using them to construct towers. Kindergarten students also enjoyed a special Science lesson with Mrs Barnsby, heading outdoors for a Nature Walk and Bug Hunt. Students counted the creatures they discovered, identified the number of legs on insects and spiders, and practised sounding out their names and identifying beginning sounds.

In Mrs Barnsby’s Year 1/2 class, students enjoyed plenty of sport and movement, including an energetic game of Monsterball, fitness activities and practising chest passes in preparation for Passball. During Week 5, students travelled to Manjimup for their Interm Swimming Lessons. Throughout the week, they demonstrated increasing independence in preparing for lessons and organising their belongings, while challenging themselves to improve their swimming techniques. Mrs Barnsby was particularly pleased with the resilience, respect and independence students demonstrated throughout the week.

Ms Dowson’s Year 3/4 class continued researching animals using resources from the Library before publishing their completed information using Book Creator. In Mathematics, Year 3 students explored inverse operations, while Year 4 students learned to recognise and identify different types of angles. Students also moved from planning to construction in Design and Technology as they began building their individually designed mailboxes. In Science with Mrs Tysoe, Year 3/4 students investigated the properties of solids and liquids through practical testing and classification activities.

In Mrs Schmidt’s Year 5/6 class, students learned to play Mahjong as part of their study of the novel “May Tang” by Katrina Beikoff, linking their English and HASS learning about migration. They also began building robots in preparation for the upcoming VEX Robotics competition. During Week 5, students worked with their Year 9/10 Specialised Sport coaches to prepare for the Winter Sports Carnival. Despite challenging weather, the coaches adapted their sessions to provide opportunities for students to develop their hockey skills and participate in games.

Across Primary Physical Education, Mr Brooks’ students continued developing their skills in netball, soccer and hockey in preparation for the upcoming Winter Sports Carnival.

In HASS with Mrs Tysoe, Year 5/6 students explored the difference between refugees and migrants and investigated the push and pull factors that influence migration. In Science, they developed their understanding of particle theory and how particles behave in different states of matter. Their “Operation Pollination” project also progressed, with students documenting designs for garden beds and special pollinator features in preparation for construction.

In Mr Cervoj’s Year 7 Science class, students investigated forces, with a particular focus on measuring and overcoming friction through practical activities.

In Drama, Mrs Brooks’ Year 9/10 students explored a new improvisation activity, “Scene Reconstruction”, while also constructing set pieces designed to transform the Drama room into different worlds for younger students to enjoy. Year 8 Drama students continued developing their YOHFest piece, “Mirrors of the Mind”, demonstrating excellent ensemble work and collaboration as they brought their ideas to life.

Mr Harger’s secondary classes were also busy across a range of learning areas. In Year 9/10 Health, students concluded their use of virtual reality technology to explore alcohol and other drugs, with a particular focus on risks to brain development in teenagers and young adults. Agriculture students continued planting vegetables and tackled the less glamorous task of cleaning a fish pond in preparation for a new pump. Outdoor Education students returned to mountain biking, developing specific bike-handling skills before returning to the trails.

In Science, Mr Harger’s Year 9/10 students investigated the effectiveness of different handwashing methods by collecting samples on agar plates, incubating them and comparing the number of colonies that developed. Year 8 students began studying the circulatory system by measuring their resting heart rates and investigating how heart rate changes with activity.

In Mrs Radomiljac’s Year 7 Visual Arts class, students explored portraiture through the lens of Pop Art. After examining the work of artists including Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, students investigated how popular culture and celebrity influenced the movement before creating their own self-portraits inspired by Lichtenstein’s distinctive comic-book style.

Congratulations to our students recognised at Friday’s Primary Assembly:
• Pen Licence recipients: Owen, Hattie and Hazel
• Resilience Award, recognised for clarifying misunderstandings: Kaleb, Estelle, Zac and Ayla

Week 6 will see our students from Years 3-6 attending their week of Swimming Lessons – we wish those students a fantastic week in the pool!

Have a wonderful weekend,
Lee

17/08/2026

2026 YOH Fest- Tickets on sale now
https://www.bunburyentertainment.com/whats-on/yoh-fest/

14/08/2026

Winners are grinners! Congratulations to our Year 6 team for taking out the Small School Shield at the Interschool Science Competition!

14/08/2026

Wishing our Year 6 Science Superstars the best of luck at today’s Interschool Science Competition!

12/08/2026

🎓 YEARS 7-10 IN 2027?
Come and discover Secondary School at PDHS

If your child is entering Year 7 in 2027, or you are considering secondary schooling options for your family, I would love the opportunity to show you what Pemberton District High School has to offer.

Our Secondary School combines a diverse range of academic, practical and real-world learning opportunities with the benefits of a smaller school environment, where students are known, supported and encouraged to achieve their best.

⭐ WHY CONSIDER SECONDARY SCHOOL AT PDHS?

👩‍🏫 Specialist curriculum teachers delivering strong academic programs across the full breadth of the secondary curriculum

👥 Small class sizes, allowing teachers to know their students well and provide individual attention

📚 Extension opportunities to challenge and extend students in their learning

🎯 Small-group literacy and numeracy support for students who benefit from targeted assistance

🌱 Esteemed Agriculture, Outdoor Education and Drama programs, alongside learning in Science, Technologies, the Arts, Physical Education and other curriculum areas

🏕️ Extra-curricular opportunities including camps, excursions, leadership, community partnerships, workplace learning and experiences extending well beyond the classroom

⭐ A positive student culture, with good behaviour, respectful relationships and focused classrooms that support quality teaching and learning

📈 OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS

We are incredibly proud of the academic success of our Secondary School.

Our 2026 NAPLAN results demonstrate exceptional achievement by our secondary students in Reading, Writing and Numeracy when compared with schools across the region and state.

Just as importantly, we are proud of the individual progress our students make. Our results show particularly strong growth through the middle and secondary years – demonstrating that our students aren't just achieving strong results, they are continuing to grow and improve during their time at PDHS.

🌟 COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!

The best way to find out whether PDHS is the right fit for your child is to come and experience our school.

I warmly invite interested families to arrange a personal tour of our Secondary School. I welcome the opportunity to:

• show you through our school and facilities
• discuss our secondary programs and opportunities
• talk about your child's individual needs, interests and aspirations
• answer any questions you may have
• discuss options for your child to spend some time trialling our school before making a decision.

Whether PDHS is already on your list or you simply want to explore your options for 2027, please get in touch.

Come and see what Years 7–10 at PDHS can offer your child.

Lee Illingworth | Principal
📞 (08) 9776 5800
✉️ [email protected]