Oak Park Primary School
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The Oak Leaf

Address: Willett Avenue, Oak Park VIC 3046
T:(03) 9306 9182 E: oak.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au
Issue 08
March 23rd 2023
Oak Park Primary School will work collaboratively to provide a stimulating, safe and challenging learning environment that promotes resilient, innovative thinkers.
Calendar of Events​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • March 24th - Ride to School Day
  • March 28th - Grade 6 Excursion - GRIP Leadership Conference
  • April 6th - Last Day of Term 1
  • April 24th - Term 2 Starts
  • April 25th - Anzac Day - Public Holiday
  • May 15th - School Photos - Students to wear correct uniform
Principal's Column
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Thanks to all the staff and students that dressed in orange and supported Harmony Day. Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​
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Our collective efforts can be seen in the included picture – that shows all our students working together in harmony. Special thanks to Melanie, David Lu and all the teachers for coordinating on the day and thanks to Emma in Year 2 and Before and After School care for the personalised orange necklace. 
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Ride to School Day - Friday 24th March
In more ride related news, this Friday (24th) is Ride to School Day. A great event to kick off our association with the Ride and Stride Program.
 
National Ride2School Day is Australia’s biggest celebration of active travel and one of the best days on the school calendar. It is a day full of fun and colour where students, teachers and parents discover the joy of riding and kick-start healthy habits for the future. If possible we’d like as many students as possible to ride, walk, scoot or skate their way to school next Friday!
 
Stickers for every participating student and a representative from the Bicycle Network will attend in the morning.
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Welcome Amy McLeish to Year 3/4C
I'm happy to announce we have made an appointment for a teacher for 3/4C - Amy McLeish. Amy will join us permanently at the beginning of Term 2 and is an experienced teacher working in both government and independent schools. Amy will replace Jane Cardamone as she takes some long service leave and moves toward more voluntary work. Amy will also visit in the coming weeks to meet the class and spend time planning with the 3/4 team and have some hand-over time with Jane. 
 
Before and After School Care – Position Available
We are seeking a Before and After School Care Assistant to work in our program commencing in the beginning of Term 2. The role offers around 30 hours of work and requires a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent diploma. The job number is 1337959 and further information can be accessed via the Recruitment Online website. (Link for external applicants)
If you have any questions or interest, please feel free to the call the office on 9306 9182 to speak with Michael or Naomi. 

​Kind regards,
Michael Gill
Principal
Interschool Sports
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Assembly Schedule - Term 1
  • Friday Feb 3rd – Whole school (not Foundation)
  • Friday Feb 10th – Senior
  • Friday Feb 17th – Junior (Cancelled due to hot weather)
  • Friday Feb 24th – Whole School
  • Friday March 3rd – Junior
  • Friday March 10th – Senior
  • Friday March 17th – Junior
  • Friday March 24th – Senior
  • Friday Mark 31st – Junior
  • Friday April 7th – Whole school
2024 Enrolments
Thanks to those families who have sent in enrolment forms for their child for next year.
 
A reminder:  If you are enrolling your child next year at Oak Park Primary School, or you know of someone wanting to enrol their child, please email Fran at frances.macdonough@education.vic.gov.au to request an enrolment form.  You may also collect one from the Office for completion.
If you have a child already attending our school, and will be enrolling a sibling in 2024, please also complete an enrolment form.
We would request that enrolment forms are handed in by July 1st, so we may have an understanding of what our numbers will be for 2024.
OSHC Program
If your child is booked into our After Care Program, please ensure you advise the program (9300 3412) if your child is picked up at 3.30pm and will not be attending.  We have had numerous instances where children are picked up at 3.30pm from school with no notification to After Care when they have been booked in. 
This means staff are searching the school for your missing child unaware they have been collected already by a parent or carer. 

​Thank you
Parent Helper Course
Parent helpers in our school are valued by our teachers and students. If you would like to be a parent helper on a regular basis or occasionally for school events, it is mandatory that you attend one of our parent helper courses. We will be hosting two parent helper courses on Monday 3rd April between 9:00-10:00am and 5:00-6:00pm. If you have previously completed a parent helper course, you do not need to attend again. If you plan on attending one of the sessions, please RSVP to Amy Devlin amy.devlin@education.vic.gov.au by Thursday 30th March.

Amy Devlin
Rubbish Free Lunch
Rubbish free lunch award goes to Emmerson from FM. 😊 
​Emmerson said her favourite item was her peanut butter sandwich. 
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Grade 2 News
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Specialist
Performing Arts
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Not many parents know that Dance Club is held on Friday’s second half of lunch. Last week we had about 60 students of all different ages attend! It is a fun way to spend lunch time and it’s so easy! Dance Club is where students of OPPS get together and dance to the music. It’s like an easy dance class as it teaches students new dance moves. All it takes is remembering and the Performing Arts Captains are always there to jog your memory. We hope this attracts more students to come and join the Dance Club community. This year we will be giving out dance club shoutouts to students who show the three R’s. Respect is helping the other students with the dance moves. Responsibility is listening to the Performing Arts captains and being kind to their peers. Resilience is not getting upset when you get a dance move wrong because practice makes perfect. So keep you heads high.
We hope to see everyone at Dance Club this week!     
                                                                                                    
Written by Rahael and Helena
(Performing Arts Captains)
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Physical Education
This week in the PE classroom we are wrapping up our Striking and Fielding unit with a portfolio piece for students in grades 3-6. Some of the main skills we covered this term include 2-hand striking, throwing, catching, bowling, batting team roles and fielding team roles. It has been an excellent start to 2023 with all students putting in tremendous effort during class time. In the pictures provided you can see some of the works in progress- Ryder is practicing his baseball swing and we see Kieran showing us how to catch a ball with a softball glove.
 
If you are interested in trying our either softball/baseball or cricket, below are some of the local clubs in the area:
  • Oak Park Cricket Club 
    ​http://oakparkcc.vic.cricket.com.au/
  • Essendon Baseball Club
    ​​https://www.essendonbaseball.com/​
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Science
Our junior scientists are continuing their hard work in the science room and working on their main projects for the term – all about animals and their habitats. Hopefully they are sharing some stories and details of their learning with you at home. A lovely way to encourage your child’s interest and explore the world of science with them, is through some of the amazing experiences and activities available around our area and within our larger community.

After School Activities
Hume libraries offer some great science related after school activities.
Creation Station (Ages 5+)
Join in for art and craft, science, engineering activities and more.
Broadmeadows Library Wednesdays, 4pm–5pm
Craigieburn Library Mondays, 4pm–5pm
Gladstone Park Community Library Tuesdays, 4pm–5pm
Tullamarine Library Thursdays, 4pm–6pm
Tech Thursdays (Ages 5+)
Explore coding, robotics, and problem solving with the Osmo system, Ozobots and Spheros.
Craigieburn Library Thursdays, 4pm–5pm

Holiday Programs
There are also some very engaging holiday programs being offered over the April break.
Fizz Kids – Essendon
Fizz Kidz offer holiday programs and after-school programs - colour, science, glam and fun. https://fizzkidz.com.au/holiday-programs/
 
SciencePlay Kids - Altona North
SciencePlay Kids makes science accessible and approachable through creativity, play, tactile and sensory rich experiences.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/scienceplay-kids-holiday-classes-4-11yo-april-2023-tickets-594388159987?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
 
Code Camp – various locations
Code Camp allows students to design, code, problem solve and become storytellers and creators of technology, by creating games, websites, music and videos in just 2-3 days.
https://www.codecamp.com.au/

Happy exploring!
Stephanie
Japanese News
In Japanese we have been learning lots of greetings and phrases we can use everyday and in the classroom. Students have been learning which greetings to use throughout the day as well as which greetings to use with friends and which greetings are more formal. A great way for students to practice these is at home with their family. Please encourage your children to share the greetings they have been practising in class and ask them if they would use them with friends or teachers and what time of the day would they say them.
Students have also really enjoyed making origami. There are so many wonderful things you can make and an abundance of instructions on the internet. This is a wonderful activity to do together at home. You can even ask your children to teach you how to make Hinamatsuri dolls!  

Natalie
Visual Arts
In Visual Arts classes students often show and practise the school’s core values of Respect, Resilience and Responsibility. This week’s newsletter item will focus on how resilience is fostered and shown during your child’s weekly art session.

OPPS School Value – Resilience
As we know, resilience is an essential life skill that helps us navigate through the ups and downs of life. It is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep moving forward. One way to cultivate resilience is through the Visual Arts.
At OPPS, Visual Arts classes provide students with a safe and supportive environment to explore their creativity, take risks, and learn from mistakes. Through art making, students develop the confidence to experiment with different materials, techniques, and ideas. They learn to persevere when faced with challenges, and they build resilience by accepting constructive feedback and incorporating it into their work.
 
Art teachers play a crucial role in fostering resilience in their students. They create a positive and inclusive learning environment where students feel valued and supported. They encourage students to take risks and embrace failure or setbacks as an opportunity for growth. They provide constructive feedback that helps students develop their skills and build confidence in their abilities.
 
Visual arts classes also offer opportunities for students to develop emotional resilience. Art making can be a powerful tool for self expression and processing emotions. Students learn to use art as a means of communication, by sharing their thoughts and feelings with others.
 
Art classes also provide a platform for students to develop social resilience. Collaborative projects and group critiques teach students how to work together, communicate effectively, and respect each other's ideas and opinions. They learn to give and receive feedback, accept criticism, and collaborate with others to achieve a common goal.
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David Flint
Visual Arts Teacher
Parent Hacks
REMINDER: We’d love to get your parent hacks to share with our community.  Please forward to Fran at frances.macdonough@education.vic.gov.au
​Year 6-7 Transition
Local Secondary Colleges are now advertising their Open Days, Information Nights and School Tours.  We suggest that families make the most of these availabilities.
 
Please go to www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au to check if you are within their school zone. 
 
Information regarding the Application for Year 7 will be sent to all Year 6 families during Term 2, along with FAQ’s and Application timeline. 
Should you require any information once this is received, please don’t hesitate to contact Fran at frances.macdonough@education.vic.gov.au
AITKEN COLLEGE will be holding a Secondary Admissions Information session for families on 22nd March via Zoom. This will be open for students who are now in Grades 3-5, as enrolments at Private and Catholic Colleges are open for the years 2025, 2026 and ahead.
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COBURG HIGH SCHOOL have an Open Day on the 26th April for prospective Year 7/2024 families. 
​Please see attached flyer
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​ESSENDON KEILOR COLLEGE have an Open Day on 28th March for prospective Year 7/2024 families.
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ROSEHILL SECONDARY COLLEGE have an Open Day on Thursday 4th May from 9.15am – 2.15pm.
Open Evening Tuesday 9th May. Tours 4-6pm, Principals address 6.45pm. Guided Tours are available on Tuesdays at 9.30am.  Bookings are essential.  

Rosehill Secondary College have a STEP Program, which is a Selective Talent Enrichment Program.  The STEP 2024 Information Evening is Tuesday 28th March from 6.30-7.30pm in the Library.
There are information booklets about Rosehill on the table outside our Office.
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PENOLA CATHOLIC COLLEGE:  Applications for Year 5 students starting Year 7 in 2025 are now open.  Applications for Year 7 in 2025 will close on the 18th August.  Offers will be posted to prospective Year 7 applicants on October 20th
Limited places are available for Year 7 in 2024.  Visit penola.vic.edu.au to book a Principals tour or to complete an enrolment form.​
Community News
AIRPORT WEST SWIMMING ACADEMY…. Saving Lives, LEARN TO SWIN
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ST.MARKS CALISTHENICS FREE TRIAL
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School Contacts
​Principal
Michael Gill
Michael.Gill@education.vic.gov.au​​
Office Manager
Fran MacDonough
Frances.Macdonough@education.vic.gov.au ​
Business Manager
Naomi Di Pasquale
Naomi.DiPasquale@education.vic.gov.au
​​PFA President
​Eugenie Baulch
​​4721-PFAOPPS@schools.vic.edu.au
​School Council President ​​
Lola Grech​​
​​Lola.Grech@education.vic.gov.au
​​​OSHC Coordinator
​Julie Andrews
​​oshc.oak.park.ps@education.vic.gov.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
    • Science
    • 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