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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 7
March 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
March 2025
April 2025
May 2025
June 2025
July 2025
August 2025
October 2025
November 2025
December 2025
Principal's Column
Open Streets Active Travel Kicks Off 2025 – Join Us March 27th!
Our Open Streets active travel initiative is back for 2025, and we’re thrilled to keep the momentum going after a fantastic 2024! This program encourages students, families, and staff to walk, cycle, and scoot to school—fun, sustainable alternatives to driving, made possible with Merri-Bek Council’s support. Mark your calendars for our first event of the year: Thursday, March 27th! It’s a perfect chance to get involved, enjoy the buzz, and promote active travel together. We’ve got three more dates lined up—June 26th, September 11th, and November 27th—so there’s plenty more to come. A massive shout-out to Prateek, Melanie, and Gautam for their amazing work in 2024—your dedication made this initiative shine! On March 27th, Merri-Bek Council will also host a training session for new volunteers right during and after the event (8:00am-10:00am). We’ve already got four new helpers booked in, but if you’d like to get trained and join the team, please reach out to me via email. We’d love to have you on board! Staff Set to Explore the Berry St Education Model Our teachers are getting ready to boost their skills with the Berry St Education Model (BSEM) in 2025! This exciting training will happen over four curriculum days—April 24th, July 4th, August 14th, and 15th. BSEM is all about making classrooms positive and supportive, especially for kids who need a little extra help. It focuses on five big ideas: helping students feel calm (body), building strong connections (relationship), staying strong through tough times (stamina), keeping lessons fun (engagement), and growing good character. You might notice things like morning check-ins to start the day together or quick brain breaks to keep everyone focused. We’re kicking off on April 24th, the first week of Term 2. That week’s a bit of a juggle with Anzac Day on April 25th and another public holiday, so it’ll be a short one for our students. These spread-out training days will let our staff bring BSEM ideas into classrooms step-by-step. Keep an eye out for updates on how this shapes our school—it’s all about creating an even happier, stronger place for our students to learn and grow. Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal WHAT'S HAPPENING @ OAK PARK
WHOLE SCHOOL
Assembly Timetable
Harmony Day
Harmony Day is a day to celebrate Australia's cultural diversity and respect for all people. It's held annually in March and coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Our Grade 6 Student Wellbeing Leaders will be sharing information about Harmony Day at our school assemblies leading up to this important day. Celebrate Harmony Day by wearing something orange with your school uniform on Friday 21st March! Ideas: orange top, socks or head band! Unexplained Absences
It is a requirement that parents/guardians advise via Compass, your childs absence. Please note the absence and reason in the morning if your child will not be at school. We have many unexplained absences on our system, and are asking parents to please login and update these at your earliest convenience. School Tours
Oak Park Primary School school tours will be happening on the following dates: Thursday 20th March @ 9.30am Thursday 3rd April @ 9.30am Please email Fran at [email protected] to book in for your school tour. 2026 Enrolments
We are accepting enrolments for 2026. To find out your school zone, please check www.findmyschool.vic.govv.au Please email Fran at [email protected] for an enrolment form. If you are enrolling a sibling of a student already here, feel free to call via the office to pick up an enrolment form. If you reside outside our school zone, you are welcome to complete an Application for enrolment, which will place you on our waitlist. P.F.A
We are always super excited to welcome new members and new ideas. PFA meeting schedule 2025 as follows:
Feel free to reach out to PFA at [email protected] 
School Dental Van
Provisional date of Dental School Van is Monday 5th May. This date will be confirmed a week or two prior. To sign up you can visit : https://smilepatrol.com.au/consent-form/ It’s very easy and takes less than 5 mins to complete. 
EARLY SCHOOL YEARS
Grade 2 News
In Year 2, we have been working on moving through the Writing Process. This includes coming up with an idea, drafting, revising, editing and publishing a narrative. It was wonderful to see students’ creativity come to life and use their Writer’s Notebooks to generate interesting ideas for their writing. The Grade 2s were really proud of their writing and had the great opportunity to showcase their fantastic published pieces!
Harmony Day
Next Friday on Harmony Day the Year 2 students will be experiencing a range of activities celebrating the different cultures of the Year 2 teachers - this will include learning the Zorba with Demi and making Sri Lankan paper crafts with Jordan. We will also be making and eating damper. The ingredients include:
Thank you, Lauren, Demi, Jordan & Alex Grade 3 NAPLAN
This week NAPLAN began. For our Grade 3s it was the first time they had done it! All their teachers were so impressed with their resilience, respect and responsibility. Well done to all our Grade 3 students. NAPLAN will continue next week. 
Grade 3/4 News
Celebrating our Traditions 
SENIOR SCHOOL YEARS
Year 6-7 Transition
On Thursday 24th April 2025, Oak Park Primary School will distribute the Year 6-7 Placement Information Pack 2025-2026, which includes the Application form, to Parents of Year 6 students. Any information regarding Secondary Colleges open days and Information sessions will be included in our newsletters. It is advisable that families attend school tours and information sessions so they may have an idea of which school their child will be attending in 2026. Please be aware that some Secondary Colleges are very strictly zoned, and you will not receive a placement unless you reside within their school zone. It is always advisable to submit 3 preferences on your Year 7 Application for this reason Catholic Colleges and Private Schools are already accepting enrolments for Year 7, 2027 
YEAR 6-7 TRANSITION TIMELINE:
Thursday 24th April 2025: Oak Park Primary School will distribute the Year 6-7 Placement Information Pack 2025-2026, including the Application form for 2026, to Parents of Year 6 students. Friday 9th May: Parents/Carers submit the Application for Year 7 placement to Oak Park Primary School Tuesday 1st July: Oak Park Primary School will inform parents/carers of their childs Year 7 placement offer for the 2026 school year. Friday 25th July: Closing date for parents/carers to lodge a written appeal with their preferred Secondary School Tuesday 9th December: Secondary Schools host an Orientation Day for Year 6 students SPECIALISTS
Japanese
Our Grade 5/6 students have been exploring the unique and meaningful gift-giving traditions of Japan. They’ve learned that in Japanese culture, gifts are not just about the item itself but also about the thought and care behind them. From the importance of presentation to the way gifts are given and received with both hands, students have gained insight into the deep respect and appreciation that comes with okurimono (gift giving) in Japan. As part of this exploration students have been learning about furoshiki, the traditional Japanese art of fabric wrapping. Instead of using plastic bags or wrapping paper, they’ve been practicing how to fold and tie beautiful fabric wraps to carry books, gifts, and more! This hands-on activity not only encouraged creativity but also helped students think about sustainability and reducing waste. Ask your child to show you their new wrapping skills at home—you might be inspired to try furoshiki yourself! 
Physical Education
Dear Families, We have had a hectic start to the term in 2025 at Oak Park. In our PE classrooms, we are beginning to wrap up our Cricket unit with full match simulation games amongst our peers taking place, we have even been keeping scores! It has been a delight watching all year levels refine their cricket knowledge and skillset. In inter-school sport news, we have been enjoying competing on Friday mornings. Please see the table below for the current standings of each team: Cricket: 1st position
Bat Tennis (Mixed): Tied 1st position Bat Tennis (Girls): 4th position Softball (Mixed): Tied 1st position Softball (Girls): 3rd position There is one round remaining this week before finals start. Good luck to all teams!
In other news, I would like to congratulate some of our young athletes on some achievements this week: Archer (Grade 4), Oguzhan (grade 3) and Cengizhan (grade 6) for being selected for the 2025 Football Victoria (FV) Skill Acquisition Phase (SAP) Centres. The FV SAP Centres involve weekly sessions in a block format throughout the season; training and playing matches with players in their respective zones. Each training block will include fixtured matches and Gala Days where players will play with and against other metropolitan and regional SAP players. And also a special shout out to Leo (grade 6) for winning his Breaststroke event at the Inner North Moreland Division swimming this week. He will race next at the Regional finals later this term. 
Visual Arts
The Importance of Visual Arts for Primary School Children and Possible Career Pathways Art plays a crucial role in the development of primary school aged children, fostering creativity, self expression and problem solving skills. Engaging in artistic activities allows young learners to explore their emotions, develop fine motor skills, and build confidence in their abilities. Through painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media, children refine their hand eye coordination and dexterity, which supports their overall learning across subjects. Beyond the technical skills, art nurtures critical thinking and resilience. When children experiment with different materials and techniques, they learn that mistakes can lead to new discoveries rather than failures. Art also encourages perseverance, as students work through challenges to bring their ideas to life. Additionally, it enhances communication skills, allowing children to visually express their thoughts and emotions in ways that words sometimes cannot. Art also fosters cultural awareness and appreciation. By studying different artistic styles and traditions, students develop an understanding of diverse perspectives and histories. This helps them to become more empathetic and open minded individuals, qualities that are valuable in any field of study or career. Career Pathways for Students Who Pursue Art For students who continue studying art in high school and university, a wide range of career opportunities becomes available. The creative industries are vast, offering roles that blend artistic skills with technology, business, and problem solving. Some potential career paths include:
Art is more than just a fun subject students do at school. It is a foundation for critical thinking, innovation, and communication. Whether children pursue artistic careers or apply creative skills in other fields, art equips them with the ability to think differently, solve problems, and appreciate the beauty of the world around them. Open Days/School Tours for 2026 Year 7 enrolments
GLENROY SECONDARY COLLEGE Glenroy College holds small guided tours for prospective students and families every Friday at 9.30am during Term One and Term Two. The tours give you a chance to meet some of our staff and students, view our College facilities and see our classes in action. Bookings are essential and are made online via the link https://glenroycollege.vic.edu.au/enrolment/school-tours/ College tours can also be arranged at other times. If your child is currently enrolled in Grade 6, and you have a specific query regarding school programs or Year 7 Transition, please contact the College office, 9304 0400. ROSEHILL SECONDARY COLLEGE Whole School Open Day – Tuesday 29th April. Classes begin 9.15am. Dismissed 2.15pm Click the link to register https://www.rosehillsc.vic.edu.au/event/open-day COBURG HIGH SCHOOL We will be hosting a whole school Open Day and School Tours for Year 6 students on Wednesday 23 April 2025. Bookings can be made here, please make one booking per family. You may view a virtual tour here: https://www.coburg.vic.edu.au/open/ BUCKLEY PARK SECONDARY COLLEGE School Tour bookings are now open for prospective students and their carers/parents. These tours will be conducted by a member of the College leadership team and will provide an opportunity to see our school. To enable you to get the most out of a school tour and conversation, it would be helpful if you and your child attend, ready to ask the questions you're most interested to explore with us. Please arrive at our Reception Lobby, 10 mins prior to tour start time as visitors are required to sign in. Tour dates are available at www.buckleyparkco.vic.edu.au STRATHMORE SECONDARY COLLEGE Each year tours of the College are conducted to coincide with the Year 7 Transition program. Parents/Guardians of prospective students in Grade 6 are invited to attend. Tours in 2025 for Year 7 2026 enrolments commence in April and run through May. College Tour booking forms are available at https://www.strathmore.vic.edu.au/enrolment/collegetours/ ESSENDON KEILOR COLLEGE 
GLADSTONE PARK SECONDARY COLLEGE
School Tours are now open for 2025 and will run in March. You are invited to attend a tour of Gladstone Park Secondary College to view our superb facilities and to note, for yourself, our strong values, high expectations and strong supports at the college. Our students will greet you in the Administration Office. Tours run on Tuesdays at 8:55am and run for approximately one hour. Tour dates
Our Parent Information Evening is on Tuesday 1st April 2025 at 6:00pm. The College Open Day is on Wednesday 30th April 2025. School Tours will run from 9:15am – 10:00am. UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL https://unihigh.vic.edu.au/enrol/tours-information-sessions/ Community News
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2026
The registration for Ballkid trials for Aus Open 2026 is open. https://ballkids.tennis.com.au/Register.aspx WHAT DOES A BALLKID DO? Ballkids play an integral role in ensuring that tennis tournaments run smoothly. Throughout the Australian Open series, each ballkid is a focal part of every game, be it at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne or at other events in other states. WHO CAN BE A BALLKID? We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply as we want our ballkids to represent the diversity of our communities. AO26 ballkids must be 12 to 15 as of 31st December 2025 to be eligible for selection. School Contacts
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