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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 39
December 12th 2019 |
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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2020
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Principal's Column
This week we held our Parent Helpers’ Afternoon Tea. We do this each year to acknowledge and thank the many parents and families who contribute so much to the daily activities of our school. We are extremely fortunate at Oak Park to have such a wonderful, hardworking group of parents who give so freely of their time to help the kids. One message I continually try to put forward is that we are all here for the children. Parents naturally want what is best for their children, they want them to be happy at school, learning and growing as people. That is what our whole staff want too! When it is recognised that our aims and goals are basically the same, it makes for a much better relationship. Parents at Oak Park Primary School show their support for the children and the school in so many ways. Whether this be as a member of School Council, listening to students read, through fundraising efforts, responding to surveys or completing a Parent Helpers Program – they are all valued ways to participate and contribute to the school. Not all parents can make it to the school to participate in the above ways. But by listening to their children read, talking about what happened at school and showing an interest in their learning, they can contribute in perhaps the most effective way. To all our parents – thank you once again for your support of the children and the school! Oak Park Primary School Grade Structure 2020 The end of the year often brings a bit of excitement and a bit of sadness. It’s great to start thinking of Christmas and the holidays and time with friends, but it’s also a time when we say goodbye to other friends and colleagues. This year is no exception. Brenda Jamieson will be leaving us at the end of the year. On behalf of the Oak Park Primary School community I would like to Brenda for her many years of hard work, dedication to the school and the connections made with everyone. Good luck for the future Brenda! We also say goodbye to two wonderful teachers in Livio Coreno and Kathy Seator, both of whom will be taking leave throughout 2020. We wish them safe travels and lots of fun and excitement! Both will return in 2021. We also welcome two teachers new to the school. Sophie Bowler is currently teaching at Monmia Primary School and was the outstanding candidate for the teaching position that was advertised late this term. Sophie will be teaching Grade 2 in 2020 at Oak Park. Lauren Heard was also recently appointed. Lauren is a graduate teacher who comes to us very highly recommended – she is well known to us following a placement at our school last year. We are really looking forward to working with both teachers and expect great things from them! We also welcome back Tess Haycox and Jodie Sperling, who many of you will remember were here not too long ago. Welcome back! The following is the staffing structure that we will commence the next school year with: Foundation Kira Hannah Foundation Lauren Heard Foundation Alex Macias 1 Amy McDonald 1 Tania Haimon 1 Marina Plesa (0.5) / Denise Anderson (0.5) 2 Kirsty Finter 2 Martha Mackenzie 2 Sophie Bowler 3 Meagan Ward 3 Jane Cardamone 4 Julia Prociw-Charalambous 4 April Tarollo 5 Carol Barty 5 Lacey-Rae Garner Giumelli (0.5) / Christine Crivelli (0.6) 6 Emily Wade (0.8) / Tess Haycox (0.2) 6 Greer Arnold (0.8) / Jodie Sperling (0.2) 6 Kate Dyer Melissa Japanese John Sustainability Liam Physical Education Dave Visual Arts Melanie Performing Arts New Grades Children will meet their new teachers and grades on Wednesday 18th December. Please note that careful consideration and planning has gone in to each placement. If your child is placed with a teacher they don’t know well, be positive and encourage them to see this as an opportunity for further development. All teachers at Oak Park are excellent practitioners and work hard to provide the best opportunities for our children. A very important part of growing up is adapting to change and developing the ability and resilience to work and play with different people. Technology Holiday Guide As holidays approach, the role that screens and devices will play becomes an increasing concern for parents. Days when kids are usually tied up with school and activities make way for many an idle hour and, as such, parents fear those hours will be spent largely engaged with a screen or gaming console. While there is certainly no harm in some well-balanced screen time and developmentally appropriate online activities, we must remember that, as parents, we have an important role in helping our kids manage and balance that screen time. Here are a few things we can do: Understand the battle It is important parents know the beast they are dealing with. It is easy to shout from another room to get off a screen or whinge to our friends that ‘kids of today’ are all addicted to their phones, but we need to recognise the pull that many of these devices have. The social networks are designed to keep us liking, commenting and sharing. The games cajole us into having ‘just one more’ turn at being the last man standing. These technologies tempt us to reach just one more level, or to scroll for just a few minutes more. Our brains experience a dopamine release and a sense of insufficiency when we use a device. There is always something else to do or something else to scroll through, or one more YouTube video to watch. So our kids are up against it when trying to control their time on a device. We need to help them with that. Get outside We can complain that kids never go outside and play anymore, but sometimes we have to physically get out there with them or offer opportunities in which being outside and active play are appealing. We have to work a little harder at this today because we are competing with a device that answers many of our kids’ perceived needs. We need them to know that their needs are greater and more varied than what their screens can offer. Have some rules Despite their apparent dislike of rules around technology, kids will (one day) appreciate having boundaries to help them manage their screen time. Rules can be established regarding time limits, devices in bedrooms, device-free meal times, etc. Whatever you decide is important, be sure that you have those discussions with your kids. And any discussion around rules or consequences should happen away from the screens so they are clear on the expectations. (Talking about their screen-time habits while they are just about to be the last man standing on Fortnite is probably not going to make for engaging conversation.) One console on one television…outside the bedroom Having only one television that is connected to a gaming console or to Netflix is a good way of ensuring that the device gets shared and one child doesn’t monopolise the screen. And leave consoles out of bedrooms where the appeal of just one more quick game can very quickly rob them of important sleep time. Role model Make sure you are showing your kids how you want them to be. Have times when the devices are put away and you give full attention to the people around you. Don’t answer calls or emails at the dinner table. Don’t fall asleep with a device landing on your forehead. Take time to get outside and do things active and in nature. Don’t ever use a phone while driving. Use the Screen Time feature on iOS products to monitor just how you are using your technology and whether you could be making some changes. Kids learn more from what we do than what we say. We know the technology isn’t going anywhere, and we know there are many wonderful benefits that screens provide. But ensure that holidays and downtime hours can be filled with many different experiences and in ways that leave your kids in control, even if you have to work a little harder to give them that. Japanese News
For those interested, here are some other local events happening that involves Japanese culture. Exhibition: "Collecting Comme" (31 Oct 2019 – 26 Jul 2020) Rei Kawakubo is one of the most famous Japanese fashion designers. When: Thursday 31 October 2019 – Sunday 26 July 2020 Times: 10:00am – 5:00pm Where: NGV International, Level 3, Contemporary Art & Design, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne Cost: Free Exhibition: “Temari” (2 Dec 2019 – 31 Jan 2020) This exhibition features handmade temari by a Japanese hobby artist, Mrs Kiyo Kamiya. Temari are colourful balls made of thread which are then embroidered with various patterns. When: 2-12- 2019 to 31- 1-2020 Times: 9:00am – 5:00pm weekdays (closed 1:00pm – 2:00pm) Where: Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne, Level 25, 570 Bourke St, Melbourne Cost: Free Exhibition: “Perseverance: Japanese Tattoo Tradition in a Modern World” (24 May 2019 – 2 Feb 2020) This photographic exhibition by Kip Fulbeck and Takahiro Kitamura explores traditional Japanese tattoo culture and its influence on modern tattoo practice. When: Friday 24 May 2019 – Sunday 2 February 2020 Times: 10:00am – 5:00pm daily Where: Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC Cost: Included with museum entry ($15 adult, free for concession, children, and members) Melissa Ly Japanese Language Teacher |
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Foundation - Pyjama Breakfast
On Friday 29th November, the Foundation students celebrate a fabulous year in Foundation with a ‘Pyjama Breakfast’ at school! Students were invited to come to school in their pyjamas and have breakfast in their classrooms. Students were served a variety of tasty breakfast foods/drinks including pancakes with maple syrup, toast with vegemite and jam, fruit and juice. The Foundation teachers would like to say a HUGE thank you to all our parent volunteers who very kindly cooked and served our breakfast on the morning. We wouldn’t have been able to have such a wonderful morning without all you support! Holiday Pet and Garden Care
The holidays are nearly upon us and as a result, I’m looking for people who would be willing to look after our school pets over the holidays. The procedures are generally very easy, but do need daily care, so would not suit those who are going away for more than a day or two. We are looking for carers for our blue tongue lizards, turtles, stick insects, fish and mealworms. If you think you would be able to help, even for a week or two, please email me to let me know of your interest. Also, it would be great to be able to keep some of our recent tree plantings alive through their first summer so they can thrive through next winter. If you think you can help by coming in and doing some watering every now and again that would also be super. Any questions, or if you’re keen to help, please email me ([email protected]). School Fees, Extras and Contributions 2020
Thanks to all our parents who’ve paid their fees for 2020. Please click here for the school fees for 2020. These fees support the school in providing resources for the students. Can you please organise payment of the fees before the 11th February, 2020. The Oak Park Primary School Parent Payment Policy is located on our website if you wish to review. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or wish to setup a payment plan. Annette D'Elia Business Manager |
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School Drop Offs and Pick Ups
IMPORTANT - The office receives a lot of feedback about observing un-safe picking up and setting down of our students. In the rush up to Christmas when we just seem to get busier each day, can we stress the importance of keeping your children / our students safe so that we all can celebrate the holiday break together. Compass Updates If you’re the parent of a Grade 6 student, it’s a good time to download Naplan and semester reports that you might require for your records. |
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Christmas Countdown and a time for giving
Our school community loves giving and we have a couple of tubs in the entrance to the office for you to give some more. Tub 1 Our school community is collecting goods via a Reverse Advent Calendar for the Ascot Vale Little Free Pantry so if you have any items that you have as surplus in your pantry or want to grab an extra item while you’re at the supermarket, please just add them to the tub. 
Tub 2
We still have out Lost Dogs Home box in the entrance so if you’re in a ‘clean out’ mood, you can drop off old towels, sheets etc too. COMMUNITY NEWS
Jacana Football Club Call for Junior Players
Like football? A Friendly Atmosphere, team spirit, and exercise? Please get in touch: Phillip Di Biase 0406042576 
School Contacts
PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL FOR OUR O.S.H.C. PROGRAM
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