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The Oak Leaf |
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Address: Willett Avenue, Oak Park VIC 3046
T:(03) 9306 9182 E: oak.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au |
Issue 24
August 18th 2022 |
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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Principal's Column
Let there be light! - LED Lighting Upgrades During our Curriculum Day we also utilised a government grant to replace many lights around the school with energy efficient LED fittings in classrooms and several flood lights around the school. Electricians replaced over 50 panels and battens across the school, which now use around one quarter of the previous power consumption and provide a kinder brightness to classrooms. The company also arranged pick up and recycling of the old fittings.
Wellbeing Coordinator Role Commences
We have recently appointed Kirsty Finter is the new Wellbeing Coordinator at Oak Park Primary School. Kirsty has been a classroom teacher at OPPS since 2017. She started off in the upper school and later moved to the junior school. Some OPPS students may remember her or even had her as their teacher. Kirsty will be working predominantly on Fridays to accommodate her further educational pursuits. For now, she will be working with a range of small groups across the school to help teach students skills that can help support their social and emotional wellbeing. The skills have been developed from the evidenced based programs Bounce Back and Lego Therapy. Kirsty is also working to support teachers and students in the classroom so everyone can access the learning at their developmental level. I know Kirsty is so excited to be back working with OPPS. Make sure you give her a wave next time you see her. Upcoming Professional Practice Day - Final Day of Term – Friday September 16th You may be aware that the Victorian Government Schools Agreement has recently been approved. This agreement outlines the working conditions for staff working in government schools. The agreement states that teachers will be entitled to 2 further professional practice days in 2022, 2 professional practice days in 2023 and one professional practice day in 2024. For Semester 2, 2022 (Term 3&4) the Department of Education and Training has provided schools with the option to hold each teacher’s allocated professional practice day on the same day for all staff. Students will therefore not be required to attend school on these Professional Practice Days. This arrangement is to enable the most effective and efficient use of this day and responds to the lack of Casual Replacement Teachers (CRTs) available at present. To ensure the least disruption to learning and families our Consultative Committee has endorsed the date of Friday September 16th, the day after the final school concert. Students will not be required to attend school. This day will enable teachers to plan and further prepare for Term 4. If you need supervision support on this day, please email the school at oak.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au or call on 9306 9182. The school will collate this information and arrange an option to support families requiring supervision for their children on September 16th. 2023 Foundation Enrolments – Reminder If you have a young one in your family that is due to commence their school journey with us in 2023, we ask that you please call or visit our office to arrange a time to meet and obtain enrolment forms, as soon as possible. We are at a time in the year where we are set to commence workforce planning for 2023. With an accurate enrolment forecast, we will be able to best plan for the year ahead to support all our students and staff. Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal Winter Mask Recommendation
The Victorian Department of Health and Department of Education strongly recommends that face masks are worn in indoor settings at present. As a result, we are recommending all students aged 8 and over and all staff in all schools across Victoria to wear masks when in class (except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication) from now to the end of winter. Students won’t be required or expected to wear masks when outdoors, and this expectation won’t stop student participation in the full range of school activities, including music, sport and performances. We are asking for your support in explaining to your child or children the importance of this simple step that will help keep our schools as safe as possible. We also ask that you make sure your child (or children) takes a mask to school (and wears it if they are travelling on public transport) or collects a mask when they arrive at school. Testing Requirement Change The period of time when someone is considered a recently confirmed case and therefore exempt from testing and isolation requirements has been reduced from the previous 12 weeks to 4 weeks. This means that staff and children who are household contacts of people with COVID-19 are now required to undertake the testing and isolation requirements from 4 weeks after completing isolation with COVID-19. After the 4-week exemption period, students and staff members who are a household contact of a new COVID-19 case, must follow the rules for household contacts, including reporting this to their school. We all appreciate how important it is for students to be back at school. This action will help make sure as many students and staff as possible are protected from COVID and other winter illness. Thank for your help with this collective effort to keep our communities safe and healthy. Late Arrival Notifications
We still have students not coming in via the Office and parents are being messaged that their child is absent even though they were dropped at school: Please note below: If students are running late for school they are to be signed in by parent/guardian through the Kiosk in the administration office. (Class begins at 9am, if not in class at this time they will be marked absent and need a late pass) Please note that when students are signed in this way a late pass is printed for them to take to class and automatically updates any class rolls already marked, this will stop text messages going to you advising student not at school when in fact they arrived late. We understand at times emergencies may happen in which parents/guardians cannot come into administration or some students may travel to school without you. In these cases, students are still required to come to front office prior to going to class and where possible we request parents/guardians please contact us on 9306 9182 to advise and we can then assist in signing students in and provide them with a late pass to take to class. Thanks in advance for your assistance Book Week
Great Book Swap
The Indigenous Education CoP are excited to run the ‘Great Book Swap’ again this year to raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Students can bring in book donations during Week 5 and 6 this term. Marina and the students from 34S will be kindly collecting the books, so please leave any donations in your childs class. We will kick off Book Week with the swap during lunchtime and after school on Monday the 22nd of August (and potentially on Tuesday too depending on the amount of books we have). Students will be advised to bring in some cash on the day so they can purchase a book for a gold coin donation. Staff are also welcome to bring in and purchase books. Hopefully we get some great donations and the students have fun looking through the books! We thanks the community in advance. Lost Property
Our lost property cupboard is full of bomber jackets. We ask parents to check if their child has lost their jacket and to retrieve it from the lost property cupboard. There are also many drink bottles and lunch boxes. All these items will be discarded if they remain unclaimed at the end of term. A parent has also lost a precious ring (see photo). It was lost just outside the school grounds. It is gold with red/pink stones shaped as a flower. If anyone has found the ring can it be returned to the school office. 
Canteen - New Menu
Grade 6 Students for 2023
A representative from A PLUS SCHOOLWEAR will be at Oak Park Primary School on MONDAY the 17th of OCTOBER to size students for the GRADE 6 POLO TOPS and HOODED WINDCHEATERS. To enable the students to receive their garments by the end of 2022, order forms and payment must be received by FRIDAY the 28th of OCTOBER 2022. Attached is a 2023 Graduation Garment Order Form for your information. This form will be sent home with your child on the 17th of October listing items and sizes that have been tried on. NO LATE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE. 
Grade 3/4
Grade 3 /4 Mt Evelyn Camp Reminders – Monday 5th – 7th September A reminder that all yellow medical forms are due back to your classroom teacher ASAP. If your child has any special dietary requirements eg: (vegetarian, halal) please write them on the yellow form under the heading allergies, food. Camp payments are due prior to attending camp via the Compass app. All medication is to be bought to school on the day of the camp and given to your classroom teacher. Grade 3/4 Writing
The Grade 3/4s have been working on making good word choices in their writing piece. This includes using verbs, adjectives, precise nouns and figurative language. Here are a few samples from 3 /4 W; A Dream by Lily I woke up one day, it felt like I was in a dream but I didn’t care. I got dressed for school and started walking. People were staring and whispering about me. I heard a girl say, “It’s the famous girl!’ I didn’t know what they were talking about. “The singer, it’s her.” I heard a girl say. I smiled, “I’m a singer?” I said in my head. The Life of Wind by Aryan Woosh….Wooosh… wind, well air, whatever this part of nature keeps you and everyone alive. Just listen to it now, woosh!!! It past a tree, the wind circled a girl, the wind was calling her name. The girl said, “I hear you.’ How Oak Park won the Grand Final by Lachie One thing was you need to be strong and run for the ball. Scores were close; quarter time; 0 to 1, half time, 14 to 7, three quarter time 14 to 14, Full time 15 to 27. I got my own premiership medal. I was so happy! This is one of the moments I will never forget. We had a party to celebrate. School Concert - Costume List
Dear Families, The school is busily preparing for our school concert that will be held at the Clocktower Theatre on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th of September. For new parents to the school, you will be relieved to know that most costumes will be provided by the school. We do however require your help with basic essentials such as black shoes and plain t-shirts or pants. Please carefully read the attached file that has the list of all items required for each grade. Please pay particular attention to the “Parents to Provide” column so you know what you need to supply. Please note that if you’ve been requested to send along a t-shirt/long sleeved top, this needs to be received by FRIDAY 19th AUGUST. Black school shoes are part of our school uniform but if your child does not have black shoes K- mart have affordable pairs which are perfect for the school concert, such as black canvas lace up shoe or black canvas slip on shoe both are $3.50. Kmart also has a large variety of plain t-shirts for approx. $4 each if your child requires a plain t- shirt for the concert item. If you already know your child/ren will be absent from school on these concert dates, please email your class teacher ASAP. If you have any other questions regarding costumes, please come and talk to Sheryl Hamilton (5/6 Resource Room) or email at Sheryl.Hamilton@education.vic.gov.au Thank you and please save the concert date in your calendars! There is a copy of the complete costume list at the end of the newsletter or the Compass note provided. Performing Arts - School Concert
Tickets on sale! - Monday 22nd August 
The restricted limit of four tickets per family can be booked via the Clocktower website or you can physically visit the theatre and purchase tickets from the Box Office. No tickets can be purchased via the School Office.
https://clocktowercentre.com.au/oak-park-primary-school-the-lion-king-jr/ On the Clocktower Theatre website please go to ‘What’s On’ then “School/Community” From Monday 5th September any remaining seats will be available for families to purchase (no limit will apply), there will be an announcement via Compass if extra seats are available. Physical Education
Dear Families, It is getting to the business end of Term 3 and the students have been hard at work! I have a couple of special things I’d like to mention. Last Thursday we sent 4 teams to Broadmeadows Stadium to compete at the annual Hoop Time tournament. It was an incredible day full of drama, excitement and fun times. Out of the 4 teams, our 2 All-Star teams have qualified for the next round (date TBD) while our 2 Future-Stars teams just missed out on progressing onwards. Thank you to Jo and Izzy for helping coach on the day, the kids and I greatly appreciate your service. On another note, I was lucky enough to watch the Oak Park Under 10 Boys win their first ever Grand Final on Sunday! What a special day for the community. The boys have worked relentlessly this entire year brushing up their skills at lunchtime and improving their fitness and knowledge of the game. I am so proud of the team, this is a moment they will never forget and should be celebrated! As they say “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work”. 
Visual Arts
The school concert advertising and DVD competition finalists have been selected after much deliberation. There were ten designs selected for the teachers at OPPS to vote on for the winning entry. The voting system used was a three, two and one point system. Teachers were asked to add corresponding points to the top three designs they thought were the most inspiring, and represented this year’s concert most in their opinion. We will announce the winner of the competition shortly at an assembly and the school newsletter. The student that is selected as the winner of the competition will receive two concert tickets, a poster size replica of their winning entry and an art prize consisting of drawing tools and equipment. Please note: All students in Grades 3-6 were expected to complete the DVD/poster design for the school concert even if they did not wish to enter the competition. This artwork will be used as part of student assessment in Visual Arts for the second semester reports. Keep an eye out for the winner of this competition in the not too distant future! 
Rubbish Free Lunch
Matthew from 3/4W! Congratulations to Matthew from 34W! That lunch looks so yummy! Thanks for looking after our environment. 
PFA News
Call-out for donations for Father’s Day Stall This year the PFA’s Father’s Day Stall is scheduled for Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd September. We are looking for donations from the school community to augment the stock for the stall. Gifts are usually sold for between $1 and $5, so items such as key rings, socks or other small, simple handmade goodies are ideal. If you are able to make, or otherwise have something to donate, please email us at: 4721-PFAOPPS@schools.vic.edu.au to let us know what you would like to give and to organise drop-off details. We will need to receive items by Friday 26 August. Thank you for your support! The PFA |
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Chess Club
Term 4 Chess Club forms are attached to this weeks newsletter. If you would like your child to attend chess class during term 4 we ask that forms are completed and emailed along with proof of payment to oak.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au PRIOR TO THE START OF TERM 4. We require enrolment form and payment before your child may attend the lunchtime class. $50 is the term payment, this is not a week by week payment. 
Community News
MORELAND SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM
Bookings for the September 2022 School Holiday Program will open by 5pm, Friday 5 August 2022 and will remain open until full capacity has been reached.Glenroy Widford Street (Corpus Christi), will also be available for bookings. Please ensure to book early so as not to miss out on places. Once bookings open you will be able to make a booking via our online booking system using the casual booking option. For further information including how to log on please visit council’s website on https://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/community-health/children-and-families/primary-school-holiday-program/ The Primary School Holiday Program Activity Brochure attached is also available on Council’s website (www.moreland.vic.gov.au) 
Parent List - Concert
Please click here to download a copy of the costume list.
NOTE ABOUT T.SHIRTS THAT ARE TO BE PURCHASED BY PARENTS. These t-shirts will be having items added to them. Sewn on by hand very carefully. Decorations will be removed by us following the completion of the concert. T-shirts will be returned to students, however this may not be until the start of term 4. If you choose to donate this t-shirt to the school costume property, please place a note advising of this in with the t-shirt. We thank you for your donation. MAIN CHARACTERS- Will have their costumes tried on during their rehearsal session on FRIDAY the 12th of AUGUST. An individual notice will be sent home the following week with items that the students will need to provide to add to their costume. We are aiming to provide as much of the costume as possible. School Contacts
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