About our school

Nestled in the heart of Penola, our high school stands as a beacon of academic excellence and community cohesion. With a dedication to nurturing each student’s potential, we boast a medium-sized campus adorned with top-notch facilities and a vibrant network of engaged parents and community members.

At our institution, we don’t just educate; we inspire. Our commitment to fostering supportive relationships empowers students to reach for the stars and achieve their loftiest aspirations.

Here’s what sets us apart:

  1. Personalized Academic Guidance: Our esteemed faculty provides tailored support to each student, ensuring no one falls through the cracks on their journey to success.
  2. Promotion of Healthy Living: Through dynamic physical education programs and initiatives promoting healthy eating habits, we cultivate not just sharp minds, but also strong bodies.
  3. Diverse Arts and Language Opportunities: From captivating performances to immersive language studies, our school offers a rich tapestry of cultural experiences that broaden horizons.
  4. Premier Facilities: With expansive grounds including a sprawling oval, two vibrant playgrounds, and a fully-equipped gym hall, our campus provides the perfect backdrop for holistic development.
  5. Cutting-edge Digital Resources: Embracing the future of education, we integrate state-of-the-art technology into our teaching methods, ensuring students are equipped with the skills needed for the digital age.
  6. Commitment to Sustainability: We take pride in our environmental stewardship, instilling in students a deep appreciation for sustainability and ecological responsibility.

Welcome to our school, where every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference.

Current enrolments

Our School currently has 111 enrolled students

Digital Learning

Penola High School has a vision to be a leading school in the implementation of digital technologies and the utilisation of information technologies. Penola High School believes technology underpins the learning with digital devices being a staple requirement for 21st Century Learning skills. As such, the school supplies a device for each student during their time of study to enhance their learning.​

In keeping with the National Educational – Australian Curriculum, we aim to promote and lead in best practice for curriculum delivery and assessment and improve the educational outcomes for all students.

Digital Learning provides a vehicle for a personalised learning program – the essence of our school motto with differentiation central to our approach to creating curriculum. This includes blended classrooms, where the focus is on providing access to class content anywhere, anytime to personalise learning for students and make class time a place for deep, active learning.

Learning Technologies

The digital learning vision is enacted through all Learning Areas with innovative use of the latest technologies.

This includes:

  • all teaching staff have access to a school supplied laptop to prepare and deliver lessons.

  • NBN internet link.

  • Sentral Learner Management System.

  • a mix of projectors and Smarboard interactive boards within the school.

  • STEM lab with a focus on media, 3D printers and other associated technologies.

Our values

  • Friendship – being kind, caring and friendly to others.
  • Respect – actively listening, using good manners and considering others’ needs.
  • Integrity – honesty, trustworthiness and taking responsibility for our actions.
  • Support – encouraging and helping others to achieve their best.
  • Determination – always trying our best and never giving up.

Our facilities

Hall

Our school hall is a large heritage building with state-of-the-art facilities. These include rooms equipped with portable devices for students to use, including tablets and iPads.  

Oval

Our oval is fully fenced and equipped with toilets, a playground, BBQ facilities, soccer goals, football goals, netball court and 2 shelters. 

Gymnasium

Inside our gym is a full basketball court, kitchen, toilets and a stage. The gym has heating and cooling so it can be safely used across all seasons. 

Playground and gardens

We have 2 nature-based playgrounds that provide a fun outdoor learning environment. Surrounding each playground is a nature garden where students can plant, nurture and learn. 

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“The learning experience at Department School is fantastic. There’s full support from the teachers, who encourage and challenge my children to always do their best.”

Jo Black

Parent of Department School Student