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The Oak Leaf |
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Address: Willett Avenue, Oak Park VIC 3046
T:(03) 9306 9182 E: William.Nolan@education.vic.gov.au |
Issue 2
February 11th 2021 |
Oak Park Primary School will work collaboratively to provide a stimulating, safe and challenging learning environment that promotes resilient, innovative thinkers.
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Calendar of Events
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Principal's Column
Holidays are a great way to re-energize and reward yourself for great effort and hard work, but it doesn’t take long for them to become a distant memory! Having said that, it is always good to get back into routine and to be productive and useful again. I would once again like to warmly welcome all our new families to Oak Park Primary School. We have a great school community. I always say to prospective parents on school tours that they will know instinctively if this is the school climate that suits them and their child/children. I am sure that you will be more than happy with your choice. The staff at Oak Park are hard-working and extremely dedicated and our parent community is exceptionally supportive. I am very pleased with the way our students have settled into school. It is great to walk into classrooms and see the very positive classroom tones that exist in every room. I have also been very happy with how clean our children are currently keeping the yard – well done everyone! Please remember that all students must wear a school hat this term. Any child not wearing a hat must stay in the designated under cover areas. All children are also encouraged to bring along a water bottle to drink from during the day. We want to encourage all the children to be well hydrated and fresh! Free, fresh and nutritious fruit will continue to be provided each week, commencing this Friday 12th March. Enough fruit will be provided for all students and will be distributed into classes as part of our ‘Brain Breaks’ and encouraging students to eat fruit and vegetables in class. Maria Giordano Assistant Principal Special Assembly: Welcome to Country
This Friday, 12th February, we will be having assembly at a different time of 9:15am on the tiger turf. This is to accommodate a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony performed by Wurundjeri woman Kellie Hunter and Wurundjeri man Uncle Ian Goolagong. To recent knowledge, this is the first-time traditional owners are performing the ceremony on the land where Oak Park Primary School resides. Traditionally, Welcome to Country’s are performed to welcome visitors and Smoking Ceremonies are done to cleanse and rest the spirits of elder’s past and present. Oak Park Primary School acknowledges that we are on the land of the Wurundjeri people. As a sign of respect, we encourage families to attend and if they so wish, contribute a gold coin to the organisation ‘Pay the Rent’. The organisation works to distribute money to the local indigenous people to strengthen culture, belonging and sovereignty. Gold coin donations will be collected by students from classrooms during the day. We are very excited to learn and grow from our traditional owners and we hope you can join us in the celebration of unity and togetherness. From Week 3, assemblies will be held on Friday at 3pm. COVID-19 – Updated Restrictions
Family Evening Sessions
Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, the Family Evening Sessions and Parent Information scheduled for Tuesday 23rd February has been postponed and re-scheduled for Term 2. This includes:-
There are currently no restrictions in place for the Interrelate classroom program for year 5 and 6 students. More information will be provided about this program on Compass next week. Breakfast Club
A reminder: Our breakfast club is a great way to spend a half hour with other students. Come and join in - Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:30am 
Arrival to School
We still have many students arriving late to school, and being dropped off at the drive through or at the back end of the school. This is very unsafe as it means students are walking through school grounds that are deserted. If your child is late to school, for safety’s sake, parents must bring them to the Admin area front door to ensure they get into school safely, and are signed in. It has been reported by our school crossing supervisor that some of the Grade 6 boys who are riding their bikes to school, are not using the school crossing, even when asked to. This gives a bad example to our students who are crossing where they should be, as well as being very dangerous. There are also some older boys who are not using the path to enter school, but making their way through the staff car park. At this time of day, it is not safe to do this, as we have staff and construction workers entering and exiting. Please advise your children to be safe when arriving or departing school onPsych is now available at our school!
Do you find that your child is having emotional or behavioural issues? Are they struggling socially, academically? Oak Park Primary School now has a registered clinical psychologist to support your child. Angelica Gomez is a registered clinical psychologist who specialises in child and adolescent mental health. Her services are provided at the school at NO OUT OF POCKET COST through Medicare bulk billing. She will work collaboratively with you, your child, and the teachers to maximise opportunities for positive growth. If you believe that this might benefit your child, please contact Maria Giordano, Assistant Principal at Oak Park and request a Parent Pack for further information. You can also follow us and share our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/onPsychaustralia/ to stay updated with news our onPsych community. Grade 4 news
In Grade 4, we have been learning about how we use mentor texts to help us as writers. We read ‘The Best Part of Me’ by Wendy Ewald and worked through the Writing Process to write a piece capturing the things we love most about ourselves Meet The Teacher
Bookings can now be made for our 'Meet the Teacher' evening on Wednesday 17th February (Week 4) via the COMPASS app. This is different to a regular parent/teacher interview as the discussion will centre around exchanging information concerning your child in relation to such aspects as medical, social or emotional issues. It is also a window of opportunity for you to get to know the teacher better. Please be aware that the time allocation for these meetings is only 10 minutes. Specialist teachers will be available in the Library if you would like to meet with them. They are not part of the booking system. Please note: If your child has had the classroom teacher before and you do not feel an interview is necessary, there is no need to book a time. Foundation parents do not need to book a time as they are able to meet the classroom teacher during the EOI interview. |
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Grade 6 Uniforms
GRADE 6 T.SHIRTS AND WINDCHEATERS: An order form has been placed on COMPASS regarding the re ordering of these garments. There will be specific ordering details and costs, please read carefully. SPORTS TOPS for GRADE 5 & 6 are also available at A Plus Sportswear, our uniform supplier 
Book Club
Oak Park’s Got Talent
Oak Park’s Got Talent is back for 2021 and boy is there talent at this school! This term, we’re excited to introduce some different categories. We can’t wait to discover the new talent these categories will uncover. Week 3: Dance: Have you got natural rhythm? Show us your best moves. Week 4: Comedy: Are you a joker? Can you do excellent impressions of the teachers? Come and have us in stitches. Week 5: Lip Sync: Have you ever pretended to be a popstar in your bedroom? Come along and show us your most realistic lip syncing. Week 6: First Timers: If you’ve always wanted to give Oak Park’s Got Talent a go, but you’ve felt a bit nervous, this is your week! The audience will be extra supportive to see your first performance. Week 7: 3-word story: Show your improvisation skills by making up a story on the spot from 3 words, provided by the audience. The funnier or sillier your story, the better! Week 8: Hidden Talent: Can you play the spoons? Can you do a headstand? Maybe you’ve got creepy double jointed arms… Come along and show us your hidden talents. Week 9: 5-6 Rap: Perform your own rap or a rap from a song of your choice. Come along and sign up for the week of your choice with April and Martha on Thursday lunchtimes, in the Multi Purpose room. Sustainability
SOFT PLASTICS COLLECTION At school we attempt to recycle soft plastics (chip packets, cling wrap, zip lock bags, plastic bags etc.) to reduce landfill and litter. Each class has a collection in their room and you may find your child is asked to take this home and help deliver it for recycling. Most Coles and Woolworths stores have collection bins for soft plastics so if your child brings it home we would ask you to drop off the contents at Coles or Woolworths and return the collection bag to school. We thank you in advance for your help in this, keeping our school cleaner and helping to divert waste from landfill. CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY/WEEK From Monday 1st to Friday 5th March we will be taking part in Clean Up Australia Day – the only difference being that we will be taking part over the course of the whole week to allow classes a bit more flexibility. This fits in with areas of the curriculum such as Civics and Citizenship, Science and Ethical Capability. We will tie in aspects of Mathematics and Literacy into these lessons to make further connections with the curriculum. Classes will be provided with tongs to pick up rubbish and gloves will be available. Students will be involved in cleaning up areas of the school or adjacent to the school, within the bounds of the local excursions permission document. The aim will be to prevent litter from entering our waterways, whilst discovering the sources of rubbish and the most common types of litter in and around our school. This is closely connected with our continuing commitments to Resource Smart Schools and achieving our third star on their rankings system, this star being related to ‘Waste’. You can help by making sure your child brings a rubbish free lunch to school and that they are aware of how to separate waste at home into recycling and landfill bins (your local council website will specify what can be collected in your recycling kerbside collections). School Council Elections
An election is to be conducted for members of the school council of Oak Park Primary School. Nomination forms may be obtained from the office (or email Bryan and he'll send you a copy) and must be lodged by 4.00 pm on Monday 15th February 2021. The ballot will close at 4.00 pm on Tuesday 2nd March 2021. 
Taekwondo
Olympic Taekwondo Centre run classes here at Oak Park Primary School each Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 6.00pm- 7.30pm, in the school gymnasium. Claudio is the Head Instructor at Oak Park PS and has been affiliated with the club for 30 years. He has vast knowledge in the martial arts and has trained many athletes in achieving positive results in their training and fighting careers. Below is a link with a short clip of students involved in Taekwondo here at Oak Park PS. https://www.oakparkps.vic.edu.au/taekwondo.html For further information contact Claude on 0405 534 980 or otc-oakpark@hotmail.com Oak Park PS Instrumental Music Program
Enrolments have now been finalised for the Oak Park Instrumental music program and 90% of students have participated in at least their first lesson. If your child is meant to be enrolled in the program but has not had their first lesson as yet can you please contact the music director Amy by email or phone (below) to confirm your child’s enrolment. If your child has had their first lesson Amy will be in touch to finalise enrolment details and set up accounts by the end of the week. Amy Di Giambattista p. 0414 932 643 e. hello@songbirds-studio.com 
Essendon Bowls Club
Wayne from Essendon Bowls Club has been running a bowls program at school, which the students have been thoroughly enjoying. Please check out the brochure below regarding a great social bowling for juniors program.
Kelly Sports
Year 6-7 Transition
ATTENTION GRADE 5 PARENTS: The Process for Applications to Secondary College for 2022/Year 7 students start approximately April 2021. Information will be added to the newsletter as it comes in, and will be forwarded to all families of Grade 5 students at this time. Penola Catholic College Families of Grade 5 students who are looking at enrolling their children at Penola Catholic College in 2023, will need to take not of the following information. Enrolments for Year 7-2023 are now open at Penola Catholic College. Applications close on the 20th August 2021. 
Community News
Community News
MORELAND SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM Bookings for the April 2021 School Holiday Program will open by 5pm, Friday 12 February 2021 and will remain open until full capacity has been reached Once bookings open you will be able to make a booking via our online booking system using the casual booking option For further information including how to log on please visit council’s website on https://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/community-health/children-and-families/primary-school-holiday-program/ 
School Contacts
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