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The Oak Leaf |
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Address: Willett Avenue, Oak Park VIC 3046
T:(03) 9306 9182 E: [email protected] |
Issue 34
November 11th 2022 |
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
Enviro-Week Activities Just an update from the Sustainability Community of Practice. This week is ‘Enviro-Week’ – to focus on sustainability and recycling knowledge. We’ve returned to the classic ideal of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle with an activity based on each concept. Reduce – Newspaper planters and reducing food waste Reuse – T-shirt Silhouette Design (3 winning designs support a lunchtime fabric paint workshop) and re-use of clothing Recycle – Understanding how to recycle in Merri-Bek (Moreland) Students have enjoyed these activities in class, a big thanks to the team for resourcing and organising the lessons. In the coming weeks, we’ll also follow up with lunchtime activity for students to re-use a t-shirt and add a design (student made) using fabric paint. Curriculum Day Reminder – Final Day of Term Tuesday - December 20th. I hope families enjoyed the opportunity for a 4-day weekend, last Monday (31st) was a Curriculum Day to assist teachers in preparation for Semester 2 reports. We have one final Curriculum Day this year, on Tuesday December 20th, so please flag this in your calendars. Our final day of the school year will be Monday the 19th of December. Canteen Closed on Friday 11th November. Next week, due to personal reasons, unfortunately our canteen will be closed for one day on Friday 11th November. The community has been really positive about our new on-site service, so apologies for the inconvenience the one-day closure will cause. We will further promote the one-day closure via Compass next week to avoid any confusion. Class Placements for 2023 As we begin to draft our new classes for 2023, there are several factors that will be carefully considered. In each new class, teachers will aim to ensure that there is a balance of academic capabilities, social competencies, behavioural traits & special needs, so that the classes at each level have an almost identical profile. In addition to these factors, our teachers also take into account each child’s nominated peers to ensure that every child is matched to at least one friend that supports their learning (Please note that the peers/friends are not listed in any preferential order and it is explained to all students). As you can appreciate this is a very complex task, especially considering our total school enrolment of around 390 students. To this end, please be assured that all of these factors are carefully considered. Like you, we want to ensure that we establish the best learning opportunities for all of our students. Given the rigour in this process, we ask that parents refrain from requesting friendship groupings and teacher preferences, unless there are extenuating circumstances that we may not be aware of which may potentially impact on a child’s placement. If you believe that extenuating circumstances exist in regards to your child’s placement in 2023. please provide these details via email at [email protected]. Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal Dogs Connect
When Zoe first comes on site (planning for Week 9), her first job is to learn to relax. There will be new noises and sounds, new smells, and lots of people. She will spend time in her pen and crate, mostly around the office/admin area at the beginning. She will walk to the doorway of classrooms each day to familiarise herself with the school, staff and students. To help her to relax, there are 3 expectations that we need all need to adhere to. 
Rapid Antigen Tests
Supplies of RATs will continue this Term and will be handed out to all students. It is recommended that these are used by staff and students when symptomatic. With regards to 'suspected cases' or those who display symptoms, parents/guardians will be asked to collect their child from school and to keep them home until they are no longer symptomatic. Where a student has tested positive to covid, they are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved. Grade 5/6 Sports Photos
Order forms for Grade 5/6 Sports photos will be sent home with students today. Parents need to place their order online by midnight Wednesday 23rd November. If you have any questions, please contact MSP Photography on 9446 7331. Grade 6 Graduation
Grade 6 Graduation will be happening on Thursday 15th December. More details will follow in the coming weeks. Lunch Orders
Please note, on Friday 11th November there will be no canteen available for lunch orders. Uniform Swap & Sale
Next Friday 18 November from 3 to 4 pm the PFA will be holding a Second-hand Uniform Swap & Sale in the classroom in the gym building. This gives families at our school an opportunity to bring in any uniforms that are no longer used and swap them for other sizes available, as well as purchase second-hand any uniform items that they need. All funds raised from the second-hand uniform sale go to the school. All items handed in must be in good condition and clean. Items brought in will be inspected before swapping, and can only be swapped for a different size of that same item. Please aim to bring in items towards the beginning of the stall so we can have them available to others. If two or more people want the same item, the host or representative will referee a match of scissors, paper, rock or other game. The PFA are happy to accept any unwanted uniforms that do not require swapping, such as from Grade 6 students leaving the school, at any time during the meet, or in the days leading up to the stall (please feel free drop these donations at the office). Thanks and see you there, The PFA Lost Property
There have been some watches in our lost property for quite a while. If any of these belong to your child, please collect from the office. 
Carols Picnic Night
SAVE THE DATE! On the 1st of December you are invited to our annual Christmas Picnic Night. It’s been a few years since we have been able to have this event (last year we ended up filming the songs due to COVID). It’s a lovely night to bring a picnic, meet other families from our community and watch students sing some Christmas themed songs in the glorious summer sunshine. It’s always a fun night! 
Grade 3/4 News
Last week, the Grade 3/4s were set a STEM homework challenge. They were asked to design and test three different fan prototypes. Well done to all the students who put their engineering skills to the ultimate test! Here is a photo of two very different and creative designs from Adam and Cengizhan, who wowed us all. We’re looking forward to seeing what designs solutions the cohort comes up with in the next few weeks of Inquiry. 
Grade 1/2 News
This Friday is our excursion to the Oak Park Swimming Pool for a Water Safety Program. Students can wear their bathers under their uniform. Please ensure they have towel, goggles, undies and a plastic bag for wet bathers packed in a bag or backpack to carry on our walk down to the pool. It should be a very fun day!! Physical Education
This week we see the Grade 5/6 students complete up their swimming lessons. It is fair to say that the students have had some magnificent weather during their time at the pool! On Friday we will have the Grade 1/2 students participate in a Water Safety program to wrap up our swimming program at Oak Park Primary for 2022. Summer is right around the corner and with this comes a lot of fun times around water. Whether it be at the beach, local or blow up backyard pool; it is vitally important that all primary school children have the basic knowledge of how to swim. If you would like to enrol your child in further swimming lessons outside of school, please visit this website for more information https://active.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/centres/oak-park-sports. CRICKET: We have been invited to compete in a friendly local cricket tournament with some other schools in area. I am looking to create 2x teams of 8 to play on the day. Please see the attached document for more information. Document in Photos doc If your child is interested in playing, could you please let me know asap! If we have more than 16 students interested in total, the first preference will go to any student in grade 6 (sorry grade 5s!). 
JU-JITSU
I just wanted to share some exciting news from one of our Grade 6 students from the previous weekend, in case the Compass News feed was missed: Charlee competed in the 2022 Pan-Pacific Jiu-Jitsu Championships at Albert Park on Saturday where she came away with the Gold medal! She won by submission and also had 16 scoring points compared to her opponents 0. Let's be clear about this, Charlee is now the champion of the highest level of jiu-jitsu competition in the country! This is such a terrific achievement from an incredibly hardworking and humble student. If you see Charlee around the school, please give her a big congratulations! But be sure to stay on her good side if you don't like to be grappled :) In addition to this, Charlee's father Michael placed 3rd in his Open Men's Division. What a fantastic weekend for the family! Visual Arts
Over the past few weeks in Visual Arts, students in Grade 5/6 have been working on creating some artworks in a similar vein to that of Australian Artist Pro Hart. Those of you that remember or know of Kevin Charles (Pro) Hart, would know that he was one of Australia’s most prolific painters. It’s thought that he painted up to a staggering 3000 paintings a year! Below are some examples of the artworks produced by the Grade 5/6 students based on Pro Hart’s ‘Two Faces of a Miner’. The students have added their own creative twist (or choice of change) to the original, by adding different features, colours and choice of media, whilst retaining some of the attributes of the original painting by Hart. 
P.F.A News
Election Day Sausage Sizzle, Saturday 26 November On state election day, Saturday 26 November, there will be a polling booth at Oak Park Primary School, and the PFA will be running a sausage sizzle. This is a great fundraising opportunity, and the PFA need your help! We are looking for parent volunteers to do 2-hour shifts at the sausage sizzle between 7.15 am and 3.30 pm. Volunteers will need to have a current Working with Children Check. If you can help out, please email [email protected] indicating the shift you are available for. The timeframes are:
Thank you in advance for your support! The PFA |
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