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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 3
February 14th 2025 |
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 1 Events: February 2025
March 2025
April 2025
May 2025
July 2025
August 2025
Principal's Column
School Savings Bonus and Compass Excursion/Payment Options Update
We are aware of the issues around the School Savings Bonus (SSB) and not being able to view the balance in Compass. Compass has confirmed there are no current plans to update the payment system to allow families to view or use SSB Credit directly, and only CSEF credits and standard payment methods will be visible (as before). We’ve consulted with the Department of Education and other schools to develop a simple option to use this credit efficiently. If you have allocated SSB Credit to activities in the parent portal, the school will automatically use this credit until the balance reaches $0. However, consent for each activity/excursion must still be provided by parents/guardians. If you decline an event, the allocated funds will remain as a credit to your account. The total excursion cost will still be displayed for transparency. If a payment amount appears, it means your SSB Credit has been fully used, and payments will revert to CSEF or Credit/Card options. Parents can request their balance or family statement at any time from the school office. This process applies only to SSB Credit—CSEF and Credit Card payments remain unchanged. From Monday 17th February the school begin to apply this new process for any new event or current live events on Compass. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Foundation Students Settling In Well! 
A big thank you to our families for supporting your child in entering the Foundation building independently this week. All three classes have settled in beautifully and are engaged in their learning.
Next week, we’ll continue to support with additional staff and older students, including our amazing Year 6 buddies, will be at the door each morning to assist and support our youngest learners as they settle into school life. We are so proud of how well our Foundation students are adjusting to their first year at Oak Park Primary and grateful to our Year 6 buddies for being such fantastic role models! Oak Park Primary School – 2025 Annual Implementation Plan Summary The 2025 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) has been developed with staff and the leadership team. It focuses on enhancing student learning outcomes, fostering resilience, and strengthening community engagement. Key goals include: 1. Maximising Learning Growth in Literacy & Numeracy
Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal WHAT'S HAPPENING @ OAK PARK
WHOLE SCHOOL
Assembly Timetable
Late Arrivals/Early Departures
If you are dropping your child off late to school, we ask that parents/guardians bring them in via the office to sign in on the ipad to the right of the office window. You are required to bring your child into school when late, as it is unsafe to just drop them at the gate or drive through once the bell has rung. This also allows the exact time of arrival to be input. The receipt then given will need to be passed to your childs teacher. If you need to pick up your child early from school for an appointment or if ill, please do not go straight to the classroom. Once again, you are required to come into the office and sign your child out. You then take that slip to the classroom to pick up your child. Your child cannot be sent to the office to wait for a parent to pick them up early. Please do not sign in late, or complete an early departure from home via Compass. This is done from school at the time you are actually arriving or departing the school ABSENCES: Compass allows parents/guardians to notify the school of your childs absence. We would ask that you please attend to this each day your child will be absent, as this stops you from receiving a notification that your child is not at school and has an unexplained absence. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the office for further information. Thank you for your assistance regarding any absences. Visitor Sign in
We ask that all visitors to the school please sign in via the Office. If you are a parent helper, or dropping something off to your child, or visiting the school during school hours, you MUST enter the school via the office and sign in as a visitor. Please do not enter during the day via the back gates or through the school playgrounds. Should you wish to speak to your childs teacher, we also ask that you email the teacher to request a meeting. In the morning prior to classes starting, teachers are busy preparing for the day. At the end of the day, they often have to attend after school meetings and may have no time to meet. Thank you for your assistance with regards this Zooper Doopers
Working with Children Checks
Just a reminder for parents/guardians etc who will be wanting to assist in the classroom or on excursions, you will require a valid Working with Children Check. Please ensure if your WWC has expired, that you renew if you wish to continue assisting at school events. Student Mobile Phones
If your child is bringing a mobile phone to school, please remind them that they must be handed in to the office at the start of the school day. Students can then pick them up at the end of the day. Breakfast Club
At Oak Park Primary School, we offer a Breakfast Club to students on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays. Breakfast club starts at 8.30am on these days, and students leave to return to class at the first bell at 8.50am. This club is open to all students. Healthy Eating
At Oak Park Primary School, we have a Healthy Eating policy, and we have implemented a “No Food Sharing” Practice. This includes no food sharing for birthday celebrations as we have many students who either have anaphylaxis or food allergies and it is dangerous for some students to eat certain foods. We are happy for parents to bring in small items for the class to share, such as pencils, stationary etc and non-food items, to celebrate a birthday. We thank you for your assistance in regard to this. School Dental Van
Provisional date of Dental School Van is Monday 5th May. This date will be confirmed a week or two prior. Say goodbye to the hassle of making dental appointments, taking time off work, and disrupting your schedule just to ensure your child receives dental care. Smile Patrol is coming to OAK PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL so your child will benefit from dental care during school hours, so easy! Smile Patrol provides free dental health education to all students. If your child is eligible under the Childcare Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) treatments can be done for free depending on the remaining benefits. If your child is not eligible, we will send you an email with an option for a private checkup. But to do this we need your consent. CONSENT DUE DATE IS 7TH MARCH To sign up you can visit : https://smilepatrol.com.au/consent-form/ It’s very easy and takes less than 5 mins to complete. OR use the QR code: 
We have also asked for hard copies of the consent form, and will update families via Compass once these arrive at the office.
Lunch Orders
Lunch orders started this week. Please find attached lunch order form and information for ordering lunch orders via the QKR app. To our new Oak Park families: Lunch orders are supplied every Friday and are ordered via the QKR app. Lunch orders must be placed online via the app prior to 11am on the Thursday. No late orders can be accepted via the app or via the school office Thank you 
P.F.A
We are always super excited to welcome new members and new ideas. 
CSEF Application
Families who have a Health Care Card or Pension Card, may complete the application to receive CSEF. CSEF is an annual payment to the school to be used towards Camps, Sports and Excursion expenses for the benefit of the eligible student. The Primary School rate is $150 per year To be eligible for the fund, families must be a holder of a Health Care Card or Pension Card. Recipients of a Carers Card are not entitled. Forms are to be completed and given to the Office along with a copy of the appropriate card. 
EARLY SCHOOL NEWS
Exciting First Day for Foundation Students
This week marked a significant milestone for our youngest learners as they embarked on their first week at school! With wide eyes and eager smiles, they explored new classrooms, met new friends, and began their exciting educational journey. One of the highlights of the week was meeting their Grade 6 buddies. The older students met with the Foundation students for lunch and helped them navigate their way outside in the playground at lunchtime, playing a key role in helping them settle in and feel comfortable in their new school environment. Our Foundation students have successfully survived the heat, learned new routines and made new friends. It has been a joy to see their eager and smiling faces each morning. Congratulations on a wonderful start to the year.
A big thank you also to all families for supporting your child in entering the Foundation building by themselves! All three grades are settled and students are currently engaged in their reading lesson on phonics.
We encourage families to take the time to discuss the new routine with your child and let them know who will be picking them up at the end of the day. We will have staff and older students available at the door to support those students in need. Please ensure all students are dropped at the main Foundation doors not the entry near 2HM. We are very proud of how well our Foundation students have settled into their first year at Oak Park Primary School! Kind regards, Amy Devlin SPECIALISTS
Physical Education
Dear Families, Welcome back to another exciting year of sport and physical activity at Oak Park! I’m looking forward to a fantastic year filled with plenty of action, teamwork, and fun. This year, students will enjoy a variety of sports, including cricket, basketball, athletics, volleyball, and swimming. There will be plenty of opportunities to develop skills, build confidence, and stay active! This term, our focus is on cricket, with an emphasis on throwing, catching, and striking. Students will be learning key skills to improve their technique and game play while having a great time with their classmates. I can’t wait to see our students grow and challenge themselves throughout the year. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, feel free to reach out. Let’s have a fantastic 2025! Visual Arts
Hello everyone, my name is David Flint and I am the Visual Arts teacher at Oak Park Primary School. I hope you are well and ready for an exciting year ahead. As we embark on this new year, I look forward to fostering creativity and nurturing the imaginations for your wonderful children attending this fantastic school. Visual Arts is an essential component of our holistic education approach. It goes beyond mere drawing and painting; it is a dynamic form of expression that encourages students to think critically, observe keenly, and communicate effectively. At Oak Park Primary, we believe that fostering creativity is as important as academic excellence, and Visual Arts plays a pivotal role in achieving this balance. Students will delve into a world of colours, shapes, and textures, where they will learn to express their thoughts and emotions through various artistic mediums. The Victorian Visual Arts curriculum covers a range of exciting activities, including drawing, painting, collage and the use of digital and mixed media to create inspiring artworks. Some of the benefits of Visual Arts Education Research has shown that exposure to Visual Arts has numerous benefits for young minds, including: Enhanced Creativity: Visual Arts nurtures creative thinking, allowing students to approach problems with innovative solutions. Improved Motor Skills: Activities like drawing and painting enhance fine motor skills, promoting coordination and control. Increased Self-Expression: Art provides a non-verbal outlet for emotions and thoughts, helping students express themselves more freely. Boosted Confidence: Successfully completing an art project provides a sense of accomplishment, boosting self-esteem and confidence. If you have any questions or would like more information about our Visual Arts program, please feel free to reach out via email [email protected] or visit the school’s website Visual Arts page. Warm regards, David Flint Visual Arts Teacher COMMUNITY NEWS
Glenroy Festival 2025 – Expressions of Interest are now open!
Glenroy Festival will be taking over Glenroy Community Hub and Bridget Shortell Reserve, Glenroy on Sunday 4 May from 11am to 3pm with a celebration of performance, community, food, art and music. Expressions of Interest are now open for community groups, schools, artists and performers, creative people and local businesses keen to be involved. We are looking for:
Submit an online Expression of Interest form or email [email protected] for more information before Sunday 23 February to be considered for the Glenroy Festival program. To learn more about Glenroy Festival visit our webpage Glenroy Festival (merri-bek.vic.gov.au) Kelly Sports
School Contacts
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