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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 38
December 12th 2025 |
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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
Term 4 December 2025
Term 1 January 2026
February 2026
Principal's Column
Thank You for a Wonderful Graduation!
We would like to express our thanks to everyone who contributed to making the 2025 Graduation a special and memorable event for our Grade 6 students and the Oak Park community. The gym looked amazing and it was a beautiful event to celebrate the graduation of our Year 6 students. Firstly, a huge thank you to the Grade 5/6 teaching team, led by Kate, for their tireless effort in organising this important event. Your dedication and countless hours of preparation are truly appreciated. To our staff, both past and present, who joined us tonight, thank you for your ongoing support of this cohort over the years. A special thank you to those who volunteered today to help set up the gym – your generosity is deeply valued. A big thank you to parents and our former students who spent the day assisting the Grade 5/6 staff with the gym setup. Your help was instrumental in creating a beautiful space. David Lu, we are so grateful for your IT support, not just today but always – thank you for being there to ensure everything runs smoothly. To the PFA, thank you for providing supper tonight and for all the incredible events you’ve supported over the years. Your contributions are invaluable, and we will deeply miss those of you leaving this year. Thank you to Melanie for coordinating the dance and song, adding joy and energy to the celebration. A special mention goes to the amazing Sheryl Hamilton for her dedication and ongoing support in helping to organise tonight’s event. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. Finally, thank you to Kate Ducie, Jordan Jayasinghe, and the Year 6 Yearbook Club for your dedication to creating a stunning keepsake. The yearbook is something the students will treasure for years to come. This event would not have been possible without each of you – thank you for helping to again make our graduation ceremony a huge success! 2025 Teaching, Learning and Wellbeing Highlights It’s been a huge year of academic and wellbeing success, I’ve done my best to provide a short wrap up of all the amazing achievements this year. In 2025, our teachers enhanced their skills through peer observations, tailoring Mathematics lessons to ensure every child was both challenged and supported. They fully embedded our Launch-Explore-Summarise lesson structure, and students enjoyed engaging in open-ended math and problem-solving tasks. The updated Problem Solving Scope & Sequence featured displays of students' strategies. Our talented students thrived in the new Mathematics extension program funded by the Victorian High-Ability Program, which parents greatly appreciated. We also streamlined our writing assessment tools to align with the new English 2.0 curriculum, fostering a unified approach across all grades. A whole-school professional learning cycle improved teacher-student conferences and feedback, laying a strong foundation for our 2026 goals. We refreshed our Reading Workshop model, providing clear examples and resources for all teachers, especially new staff, ensuring high-quality reading lessons school-wide. In the junior years, we fine-tuned our phonics program to align with the new Victorian curriculum. Foundation–Grade 2 teachers confidently delivered consistent instruction, giving every child a strong start in reading and spelling. We invested in special training for teachers and education support staff to effectively implement the MiniLit reading intervention program. Students receiving this targeted help made remarkable progress, with families regularly updated on their advancements. Thanks to MiniLit and MacqLit, many students moved out of the “needs support” category in NAPLAN Reading results and are now performing at or above expected levels. In 2025, we took significant steps to support every child's wellbeing and learning needs by increasing our Disability Inclusion Coordinator role to 0.4 and making our Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader full-time (1.0 EFT). Two additional Education Support staff joined us to work with younger neuro-diverse students, and all staff received training to confidently implement the new Disability Inclusion Model. We strengthened our Respectful Relationships and Rights & Responsibilities program with a coherent plan and valuable professional learning for teachers. Both teaching and Education Support staff participated in a four-day Berry Street Education Model training, resulting in agreed-upon key practices to launch in 2026. We’re incredibly proud of our staff and students' achievements in 2025—thank you for your support! Events Thank You to Staff and PFA What an incredible year it’s been at Oak Park Primary School – and none of it would have been possible without the dedication, energy and heart of our wonderful staff and our fantastic Parents & Friends Association. Together we celebrated and delivered so many joyful moments for our children and families: the Fun Run, Art Show, Parent Trivia Night, Carols Evening, Upcoming Grade 6 Graduation, Mother’s & Father’s Day Stalls, Interschool Sports, Swimming Program, multiple Camps & Excursions, Book Parade and Athletics Day. From early morning set-ups to late-night pack-ups, from sausage sizzles to silent auctions, from cheering on the sidelines to calming nerves before performances – you made every event special, inclusive and full of community spirit. To every teacher, ES staff member, PFA volunteer and helper: thank you for giving our kids the richest, happiest and most memorable 2025 possible. Enjoy a well-earned break – we’ve more than earned it! A late farewell, but congratulations to Alyena. Alyena Mohummadally picked up a Learning Specialist role late last week that commences in 2026. We’re excited for the opportunity this presents as a promotion for Alyena, but it does leave us with a vacancy very late in the school year. We have already advertised the position and have applicants, but roles need to advertised for minimum of two weeks to meet the DET requirements. This will mean a class in Year 5/6 won’t have their actual teacher present during the meet-the-teacher session on December 17th. We appreciate this isn’t ideal and hope to employ a suitable candidate prior to Christmas and have already had interest in the position from multiple candidates. The school also has a contingency plan utilising a well-known replacement teacher and part-time staff member until a suitable candidate is appointed. Class Placements for 2025 Students will meet their new teacher and class this upcoming Wednesday (17th) and receive a welcome letter from their teacher to bring home to parents. Class lists are completed have been provided to 2025 teachers. This process is highly complicated and considered a range of factors such as friendships, academic achievement, student behaviour and neurodivergences. Please do not seek further meeting times or changes with staff at this late stage, our school leaders and teachers are extremely busy in preparation for a successful start to 2026 and enjoyable final week of term. While we are unable to make changes at this stage, we want to reassure families that every effort has been made to create balanced and supportive learning environments for all students. Multiple Policies updated to new DET Templates Oak Park Primary School is committed to providing an environment where students are safe and feel safe. In line with this aim we have a host of new policies that have been updated to meet the new requirements. Our comprehensive child safety framework outlines our school’s strategies to support student safety and wellbeing. The framework includes the following policies, codes and procedures:
All policies are available here on our school website. Our students and their families are important partners in keeping our students safe. We value feedback and ideas on how we can continuously strengthen our child safety framework. If you have any feedback please email the school via the office contact email ([email protected]) with an appropriate subject line. Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal 🌟 PFA update: What a year!
2025 has been a huge year, with the school calendar packed with fun activities and events! From the excitement of the School Disco, the success of our inaugural Family Movie Night and the competitive spirit at our annual Trivia Night, it’s been a year to remember. Here is a quick snapshot of everything we achieved together in 2025:
Every single dollar goes directly back into improving our school and supporting our students' learning environments. A huge thank you We couldn’t do this without the village behind us. Sending a heartfelt thanks to:
WHAT'S HAPPENING @ OAK PARK
WHOLE SCHOOL
Assembly Timetable
Parents and Friends
Our PFA have booked the first meeting of the 2026 year at 7.30pm on Tuesday 3rd Feb in the staff room. This will be our AGM to determine the new PFA Committee. We would love new people to join, so please feel free to come along. We look forward to meeting new families. Library Books
The book tally has begun!! If you have an Oak Park PS library book at home, please return to school as soon as possible. We are hopeful of a 100% return rate. Head Lice
We have been advised of another case of head lice within the Year 2 area. We would ask all families to please check your childs hair thoroughly, as there have been a number of cases around this year level. If you see eggs (white) or live lice (brown) in your childs hair they will need to be treated prior to returning to school. If your child has long hair, it is important they you tie their hair back to limit the spread. Thank you for your prompt action Lost Property
There are many uniform items in the lost property cupboard outside the 5/6 area. The majority of these do not have a name or class on them, so are unable to be returned. Prior to the last day of school, we ask families to please come and check if any of these items belong to their child. Please also ensure your childs name is on their uniform, preferrable elsewhere other than just the tag. We have also been handed in a small purse containing change, which was found in the boys toilets after the Family Carols Night. If you think this is yours, please come to the office. *Below items are in the office if these belong to your child. 
Oak Park Swim Team
Our First Oak Park Primary Swim Team! We’re excited to share that Oak Park Primary now has its first ever swim team and what an awesome group they are! We’ve got 22 students who have put their hand up to be part of the team and they’ve already shown incredible enthusiasm. For the past four Thursdays these legends have been turning up to the Oak Park Pool at 7:30am for training. Yep—before school, bright and early! Their dedication has been impressive. Rain, shine or chilly mornings they’ve shown up with smiles, energy and a fantastic attitude. A huge thank you to our families for bringing swimmers to their early morning training and for kindly donating a set of new kick boards for the school. These kick boards have been a hit and have already helped the swimmers work on their strength and technique. We’re now working towards our competition in February 2026 and the team will continue training in the lead up. They’re improving every week, cheering each other on and really embracing the team spirit. Super proud of all of them—go Oak Park!
Lowes School Uniforms
LOWES AIRPORT WEST – OAK PARK PRIMARY EXCLUSIVE 3-DAY SALE! Great news! Stock has been replenished and Lowes has created a special 20% off Oak Park Primary School uniforms just for our families. Available in-store on the dates below. When: Friday 12th, Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th December Where: Lowes Airport West – Shop 134/135, 29-35 Louis Street, Airport West 3042 Phone: (03) 9330 1943 Sale terms:
Perfect timing to purchase uniforms for 2026. 
Working with Children Check
We have quite a few families whose Working with Children Check card is now expired. All visitors and helpers to the school are required to have a current working with children check, and a copy must be given to the front office. If you have recently updated your card, please ensure a copy is forwarded to the office either via email, or shown at the office. If your card has expired, you are unable to be a volunteer/helper within the school until you have re-applied. All visitors signing in, must input their Working with Children Check number on the Compass kiosk. Visitors to the School
ALL visitors to the school MUST enter via the front office and sign in via the Compass Kiosk. This is not required when dropping your children off prior to 9am or picking them up after school at 3.30pm. We are finding that we have family members/friends entering the school via the back gates just to drop in and talk to their child during school times and lunch/recess. Please do not do this unless you have entered via the front office and spoken to the staff. Thank you for your consideration. TeamKids
Get ready for a summer packed with new adventures, hands-on activities, and memories your child will talk about long after the break - all with TeamKids at Oak Park Primary! Here’s what you and your child can look forward to: • Unique adventures every single day • Value-packed programs • Screen-free FUN • Delicious and nutritious morning & afternoon snacks • CCS-approved care See what’s happening at your school → https://downloads.teamkids.com.au/oak-park-primary.pdf 
EARLY YEARS NEWS
Grade 1 Excursion
As we come to the end of a wonderful year together, we’re excited to share that we’ll be taking the students on a local walking excursion to Stevenson Reserve for a relaxed end-of-year picnic on Tuesday, 16th December, during Session 3–4 (12:15–2:00). We’ll walk together from school to the park, where students can enjoy their lunch and some outdoor play. As this is a local excursion, no additional permission is required. Please send your child with a small backpack containing their lunch and a drink bottle to use at the park. We kindly ask that lunches be as rubbish-free as possible. We would love the support of one parent helper per grade for the walk and time at the park. If you’re available and hold a current Working With Children Check, please let me know: [email protected] To make the afternoon extra special, the Grade 1 teachers have organised Quelch Fruit Juice Icy Poles for all Grade 1 students once we return to school. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s classroom teacher. We’re looking forward to celebrating the end to the year with our students! The Grade 1 Team Grade 2 Excursion
To bring the year to close, we would like to take the students for a local walking excursion to Boeing Reserve (Moonee Ponds Creek) on Tuesday 16th December during Session 3–4 (12:15-2:30). Students will walk with their teachers from school down to the park, where they will enjoy some outdoor play, games and fun. As this is a local excursion, permission consent is not required. As a team, we then thought a hot chip snack/lunch would be a wonderful surprise to finish off the excursion! This would be provided by the teaching staff in Grade 2. Please ensure your child has:
We are looking forward to a fun end-of-year celebration with the students. The Grade 2 Team MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
TAKING ACTION: Design and Technology
Students in Year 3 and 4 have been busy designing and building their very own marble runs using recycled cardboard materials as part of our Term 4 Inquiry unit. They were challenged to include at least three joining techniques —such as tabs, slots, flanges and folding. It was wonderful seeing the students cooperating with each other, trialling their runs and making adjustments as required. After constructing their creations, students proudly shared their completed marble runs with their classmates across out 3/4 cohort and even welcomed Year 2 students to explore and test their designs. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their creativity, problem-solving skills, and understanding of sustainable materials. Well done to all our budding engineers! 
COMMUNITY NEWS
Merri-bek - Summer of Fun
Penola Saints Netball
Restore + Thrive
School Contacts
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