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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 15th 2023 |
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
Principal's Column
Disability Inclusion Leaders and Wellbeing Leader The new system for supporting inclusion, Disability Inclusion Model is coming to our school and network in 2025. As part of this change we’ve received a portion of Tier 2 funding (small group support and staffing) to enhance how we support students within classrooms. In 2024, this funding will enable two Disability Inclusion Coordinators (Lauren and Fabia) to be appointed and work one day per week to support the wellbeing of students and prepare for applications under the new system in 2025. Kirsty Finter will continue to work as a Mental Health Wellbeing Leader for two days per week. We are also having more Education Support staff working in classrooms to support Tier 2 groups – small groups of students with similar needs, working within their classroom with assist students according to their curriculum or wellbeing needs. If you’re interested in finding out more regarding the upcoming changes within schools, please follow this link. Staffing Updates We farewell two staff this year with as Lacey-Rae Giumelli has made a move to Geelong to be closer to family, she has decided to take leave due to the length commute. Amy McLeish, working in our Year 3/4 team for 2023, has picked up a teaching role at another school which is supportive of her family and work schedule. We also welcome three new staff members to our school, working in the Junior School teams. Chris Kloester and Caitlin Williams will share a classroom in Year 1, both as experienced teachers and previous engagement with Oak Park as replacement teachers. We also welcome Rebecca Whitby into our Foundation team, with many years working in Brunswick West as a Foundation teacher, Rebecca rounds out a wonderfully talented Foundation team with Lauren and Kate Dyer. We welcome back Sophie Bowler from family leave working alongside Keryn Tuck in Year 1. Jo Toman is also returning from family leave to work a day per week in Year 5/6 with Kate Ducie and another day to provide release to team leaders. The current teacher shortage is a legitimate challenge for schools in securing staff for both casual and permanent employment. We are fortunate to attract such experienced and quality teachers to support our students. Teaching Teams and Locations 2024 To accommodate 18 classrooms in 2024 we will once again utilise our gym classroom to support a large cohort at Year 5/6. Our Tutor Learning Initiative will continue to operate, but move into the Foundation building, as David Lu relocates to the Library office for Tech Support. A full list of teaching teams and classrooms below: Foundation D Kate Dyer Room 7 Foundation H Lauren Heard Room 6 Foundation W Rebecca Whitby Room 5 1W Caitlin Williams & Chris Kloester Room 12 1H Kira Hannah Room 8 1T Keryn Tuck & Sophie Room 11 2A Denise Anderson Room 28 2H Tess Haycox Room 9 2M Alyena Mohummadally Room 10 3/4J Jordan Jayasinghe Room 16 3/4S Jasmyn Willits-Steele Room 13 3/4T Anu Tillekeratne Room 15 3/4P Marina Plesa Saffar Room 14 5/6C Jane Cheng Gym classroom 5/6A Fabia Andronos Room 3 5/6T Rachel Turner Room 2 5/6M Maree Mussara Room 4 5/6D Kate Ducie & Jo Toman Room 1 |
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Volunteers for Open Streets
After some engaging and successful Open Street events, we’re hoping to continue this process using parent volunteers and some training provided by Merri-Bek Council. Open Streets compliments our other Ride & Stride initiatives, like Tag On, which we will be participating in this year to address other barriers to active travel.
If you’re interested in supporting Open Streets as a volunteer, please email the school office to register your interest. Upcoming changes to the staff car park gate Please note in the final week of school, our staff car park gate will undergo some upgrades to be automated and assessed by staff and closed by default. Despite numerous requests and reminders to not walk through the car park, families have continued to enter and exit through the car park in the busyness of school drop off, posing an ongoing safety risk. School Council considered and approved these works to further enhance the safety of our students and community. Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal Class of 2023- Graduation Night
Congratulations to the students of 2023. We wish you all the best for your future education. Just remember- ‘Don’t worry it’s a TRUSTFALL.’ Covid Cases
I am writing to bring to your attention an important matter related to COVID-19, particularly in light of the recent increase in cases within the school community in the Year 5/6 area. We would like to remind you that if your child tests positive for COVID-19, recommendations are that: Students should stay home and isolate for 5 days Students should not attend after 5 days if still symptomatic It is important that if your child has tested positive for COVID-19, you inform the school as soon as possible. This will enable us to take appropriate measures, such as informing classroom teachers to ensure their safety as well as that of other students in the school. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter and urge you to continue to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols recommended by the relevant health authorities. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. 2024 Information
All students in Years 1-6 will return to school on Tuesday 30th January. Foundation students will start school on Thursday 1st February. The Foundation students will receive letters at the final Transition session giving their staggered start times on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd February. They will also be notified then of the date and time of their assessments. Foundation students do not attend school on a Wednesday for the first 4 weeks of school so these assessments may be completed. Book Packs, including Stationery items will be delivered to school and placed into your child’s classroom in time for their first day. Information will be placed on Compass with regards to the stationery supplies and Curriculum Contributions. We ask that families ensure they have access to Compass for all information. Should you need your password reset or are unable to logon please contact the office. Students Leaving
If your child will be leaving Oak Park Primary School at the end of 2023 and not returning next year, we ask that you advise your teacher, as well as Fran in the office. [email protected] School Gates
On Monday 18th December, there will be works being done on the school car park gate. The car park entrance and the pedestrian gate entrance area will be closed off, so other entrances around the school will need to be utilised. Chicken Duty Heroes
This term Eleni, Leo, Raul, Ryder, William, Wei Hao, Stephanie, Jamie, Duru and Hania from 3/ 4C have been diligently looking after the school chickens. Each day, the chickens are let out of their chicken coop to roam free around the sustainability garden. Students undertaking chicken duty ensure that the chickens have enough food and collect any fresh eggs that have been laid. At the end of the day, students return to muster the chickens back into their coop and refill the food and water supplies for the night. Students from the entire Grade 3/4 cohort have had an opportunity to look after the chickens at different times of the year. A huge thank you goes out to all these students! 
2024 CSEF Application
2024 Application forms for 2024 are now available. All families who hold a current Centrelink Concession card i.e. health care Card, Pension card, Veterans gold card etc are eligible to apply. These funds can be used for payment for school Camps, Sport & Excursions. Your concession card must be validated by Centrelink as at 29th Jan 2024, or 15th April 2024. Application forms may be collected from the school office, or are located on the table in the Administration foyer. Should you wish a copy to be emailed, please email [email protected] Chess 2024
Each Wednesday we have Grant Szuveges, FIDE Master at Chess, come in to teach students Chess at lunchtime. If you would like your child to learn chess, please complete the attached form. Once payment is made, please return the form and a copy of the payment to [email protected] 
Lost iPad
One of our students in Grade 3/4 has misplaced his iPad last Friday and it has yet to be found. The iPad is in a navy blue cover with a stripe of light blue. If anyone has seen this please bring to the office and we will return it to the student. Lost Property
If this belongs to anyone, please come to the Office and collect. This toy is constantly returning to different classrooms and needs it’s real home 😊 
Pevan & Sarah Excursion
Taylor Swift? Who? Pevan and Sarah (Educational entertainers) are the hottest gig in town! Our Foundation students enjoyed front row seats at their end of tour concert at the Clocktower this week. We had photos in front of the promo board, posted our carefully drafted letters to them in their dedicated post box, then couldn’t believe our eyes when we discovered they were actually really real! We grooved and sang our hearts out to our favourite songs. Months of the Year, Pencil Grip and I Like it Loud were very popular, and Finn even had the birthday song sung to him by Sarah! What an amazing experience for the Foundation students (and their teachers!) 
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Specialist
Science Science at Home! Making Fluffy Slime. In science this week we made the fluffiest slime ever and some of the senior scientists asked if I could share the experiment here so that they could recreate it at home. Materials
Procedure 1. Add your white glue to a bowl. 2. Add you water and baking soda and then mix. 3. Add your shaving cream and mix. 4. Add your food colouring until you are satisfied with the colour. Mix. 5. Now slowly add in your contact solution, stirring as you go until you have a good, firm consistency. How is this Science? Slime is all about polymers! A polymer is made up of very large chains of molecules. The glue used in slime is made from long chains of polyvinyl acetate molecules (that’s why we recommend PVA glue). These chains slide past one another quite easily, that keeps the glue flowing. Chemical bonds are formed when you mix the PVA glue and slime activator together. Slime activators (borax, saline solution, or liquid starch) change the position of the molecules in the glue in a process called cross-linking! A chemical reaction occurs between the glue and the borate ions, and slime forms the new substance. Instead of flowing freely as before, the molecules in the slime have become tangled and create what is slime. Think wet, freshly cooked spaghetti versus leftover cooked spaghetti! Cross-linking changes the viscosity or flow of the new substance. Team Kids
Information regarding the Team Kids School Holiday Program or how to register for team Kids before & After School Care at Oak Park Primary School for 2024, is available on the table in the Administration foyer. Information is also attached here 
Kelly Sports Holiday Program
2025 Foundation Enrolments
Community News
The Big Summer Read is taking place at Merri-Bek Libraries these summer holidays. The Big Summer Read aims to arrest the ‘summer slide’ by engaging children and their families in a fun and dynamic campaign through public libraries, supported with resources such as a user-friendly website, posters, reading logs and milestone incentives. A competitive element with a statewide prize provides added incentive for participation. At Merri-bek Libraries, we are also offering some fantastic LEGO® sets as prizes for randomly drawn participants. Distinctive state-wide branding encourages participation in the program, whether children are at home or on holidays elsewhere in Victoria. The Big Summer Read runs from 1 December 2023 until 31 January 2024. To register and for terms and conditions please see https://www.plv.org.au/projects/big-summer-read/ 
Oak Park Football Club
Oak Park Football Club is now recruiting for 2024: Under 8s, Under 10s, Under 12s Open training and BBQ December 12th 5pm – 6pm If you are interested, please complete the form - https://forms.gle/XwbjQDZkYF8xS3dC8 
Kelly Sports Holiday Program
Active Merri-Bek
School Contacts
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