Oak Park Primary School
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The Oak Leaf

Address: Willett Avenue, Oak Park VIC 3046
T:(03) 9306 9182 E: nolan.william.b@edumail.vic.gov.au
Issue 29
September 19th 2019
Oak Park Primary School will work collaboratively to provide a stimulating, safe and challenging learning environment that promotes resilient, innovative thinkers.
Calendar of Events​​​​
  • September 18-19 - School Concert​
  • October 19 - Comedy Night
  • October 30 - Fete Discussion Meeting
Uniform Award
This week’s 
Uniform Wearer of the Week Award
goes to JAMES BARWICK 5/6G

Congratulations James for setting such a great example to the rest of the school!
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Principal's Column
Questions
As parents, we sometimes get tired of our children asking those incessant questions. But really, deep down we know it’s great when kids are thinking and asking questions. It displays a natural curiosity that we should always encourage.

It was the stated aim of the old northern region (of the education department) for our students to be ‘Literate, Numerate and Curious’ and having them ask questions of themselves and of others was a good start. Being curious was seen as just as important as being able to read or add up.

Teachers often talk to their class about the difference between good questions and not so good questions. They sometimes use the terms, ‘fat questions’ and ‘skinny questions’ – one set requires deeper answers, while the other can be answered with a simple yes or no.

Do you know the game, ‘Celebrity Heads’ - where the players are trying to guess the famous person? They can ask questions, but the others can only answer with a yes or a no. Sometimes kids will fall into the trap of just guessing – ‘Is it Albert Einstein?’ - rather than thinking of good questions that will narrow the field much more quickly.

As teachers, and as parents we also have to be curious. If our child, or a student is not understanding, we have to ask questions. ‘Why?’ is usually a good place to start, or ‘What am I doing that is not helping?’

My dad used to tell a story about an old man who had lost his ring somewhere in his house. His wife saw him looking for the ring in the garden. “You lost the ring inside the house, so why are you looking for it in the garden?” she asked.
“Because the light is better out here,” he said.
 
You can ask a million questions, but if they are not focussed or relevant, we can be wasting a lot of time, just like in ‘Celebrity Heads’.
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Or just like the old man looking in the garden for the ring he lost in the house.
2020 Classes – Parent Input
Often during this time of year the school begins to get questions about how class lists for the next school year are developed. Basically, we begin working on this early in Term 4. The following criteria are considered as the staff creates a recommendation to the principal for class composition that includes: 
  • students with special  learning styles and needs
  • high achieving students
  • balanced male/female ratios where possible
  • known interpersonal relationships that will maintain a positive class climate
  • teacher recommendation
  • learning & teaching style balance
  • parent concerns
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Please note that parent requests are considered when the request is based on the learning style of the student or other known factors that may have a positive or negative influence on the child. We do not place children based on simple choice. As noted above many factors are taken into consideration.
 
Here are the steps to the process:
  1. In the newsletter, parents will be notified to send a written letter to the principal if they want to give input to the process of class placement for their child.
  2. The letter must be received by the school no later than 25thOctober in order to be considered. This is an important deadline as letters received after that date will be too late to be considered.
  3. The letter must state the criteria and learning environment best suited for the student as per the parent opinion (this is a piece of the input to the process along with the teacher input). We ask that you do NOT request a teacher specifically by name.
  4. In Term 4, the principal will direct the teaching staff to prepare class lists for 2020 based on the criteria listed above including both teacher and parent input.
  5. Upon completion of the draft class lists the principal will meet with each grade level team of teachers to review the lists and discuss the criteria for how they were developed.
  6. Parents are informed of their child’s class placement prior to the end of the school year.
Last Day of Term 3
A reminder that school will finish on Friday 20th September at 2pm. There will be a final assembly at 1.30pm
 
The PFA will be selling cinnamon donuts on Friday the 20th September
Lost Property
Parents, we still have an unbelievable amount of uniforms in our lost property area. There are also many drink bottles, lunch boxes etc. If your child has lost an item of uniform, please come and check if it’s in lost property.
Fete Discussion Meeting
30th October at 7pm.
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The purpose of this meeting is to simply talk about how people feel about a fete for 2020, how many volunteers we may have and how keen people are to go ahead.  If not enough volunteers we will discuss what would people be prepared to do in place of a fete all ideas will be welcome.  So please considering attending, even if you do not want to assist with a Fete, bring along your ideas for a new plan.
Comedy Night
Don't forget to put the schools Annual Comedy Night into your diaries!! Get a group of friends together for a table or just come along on the night and meet some new friends!
BYO snacks and drinks. Tickets are now available from office  for $25 or can be purchased for $30 at the door on the night.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
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School Contacts
​Principal
​Bryan Nolan
​nolan.william.b@edumail.vic.gov.au
​Business Manager
Annette D’Elia
delia.annette.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
Office Manager
Fran MacDonough
macdonough.frances.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
​PFA President
Jessica Sermeliotis
jessica.sermeliotis@gmail.com
​School Council President 
​Joanne Roolker
joanne.roolker@live.com.au
​OSHC Coordinator
​Julie Andrews
​aftercare@oakparkps.vic.edu.au
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Copyright ©2023 Oak Park Primary School - Creating The Future together
  • Home
  • About Us
    • School Profile
    • Principals Welcome
    • Enrolment
    • School Values
    • OPPS Staff
    • Before & After School Care
    • Annual Implementation Plan & Strategic Plan
    • Annual Report
  • Curriculum
    • Literacy
    • Mathematics
    • Inquiry
    • Performing Arts
    • Physical Education
    • Japanese
    • Visual Arts
    • Technology
  • Students
    • Foundation Transition
    • Foundation
    • Junior School
    • Middle School
    • Senior School
    • International Students Program
    • Report Bullying
  • Parent Information
    • General Information
    • BYO 1-1 iPad Program
    • OPPS Policies
    • OPPS Forms
    • Child Safe
    • School Council
    • School Uniform
    • Lunch Orders
    • Parent Friends Association
    • Helpful Links
    • Music Program
    • Facilities Plan
    • Respectful Relationships
    • School Wide Positive Behaviours
    • TeamKids
  • School Virtual Tours
  • Compass
  • Newsletter
  • Contact