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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 01
February 2nd 2024 |
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
Smooth Start to 2024! Welcome back to a new school year! It was great to see students start the year positively. Our new Foundation students were really resilient on their first official day of school, I only witnessed tears from a several parents and students during the staggered start on Thursday. Thank you to the Parents and Friends Association for the ‘Tea and Tears’ welcome event and the Foundation team for their preparedness for Day 1. Our Year 1 to Year 6 students have also had a brilliant first week settling into their new classrooms, it’s been great to see familiar faces and hear the student enthusiasm for the new school year and some great adventures during the break. Technology Acceptable Use Agreements – Please read, discuss and return. Shortly our Technology Acceptable Use Agreements will be printed and sent home for every student. Once they are returned to classrooms teachers will begin to introduce technology into their lesson planning. We complete this process every year to ensure students and parents understand the importance of using technology safely and purposely at home and school. Please ensure you read the agreement closely with your child to ensure they understand what apps should and shouldn’t be on their iPad and monitor the contents of camera rolls and messages. We appreciate your support to ensure student iPads come to school charged, in sturdy cases and with appropriate content, ready to support learning in the classroom. Team Newsletters to arrive shortly Our Team Leaders will send term newsletters to families shortly via Compass. These newsletter outline important dates, contact details and the curriculum to expect this term. Teams are using the same template this term to further consistency and keep the newsletter to a friendly two-page document. Team Kids Team Kids have commenced as the school's before and after school care provider. Their services also will extend to holiday care and curriculum days during the year. We’ve received plenty of positive feedback around the new equipment and the friendly and approachable leaders of the service. Thomas (Director of Service) and Michael (Second in Command) are both ex-Oak Park students and are really enjoying the opportunity to work with our awesome students. Registering with the service is free, if you're requiring care at any point this year, please sign up via the link below. https://www.teamkids.com.au/venues/oak-park-primary-osha-5/ Annual Implementation Plan Our Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) will continue to follow the strategic plan priorities focussing on Mathematics, Wellbeing and elements of Writing curriculum and assessment. We have fantastic professional learning planned for staff to continue our focus on Mathematical problem solving and further embedding Wellbeing practices and enhanced support in classrooms with additional Wellbeing Leaders (more detail later in the newsletter) and more Education Support Staff members working in classrooms than ever before. Our final AIP has been developed and will be endorsed shortly and then added to our website for anyone interested in further details. |
Volunteers for Open Streets
After some engaging and successful Open Street events in 2023, 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.
We need 6 volunteers from the community to make these potential events a reality, with only a short training course required and provided at the school. If you’re interested in supporting Open Streets as a volunteer, please email the school office to register your interest. Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal Meet the new Teachers
We asked the Wellbeing Captains of 2024 to interview the new teachers at Oak Park Primary School. This week Pippa interviewed Bec and Jo, next week Caitlin and Chris will be asked some hard hitting questions! 
Wellbeing
Oak Park’s New Wellbeing Team 
Does your child ever refuse to go to school?
After reading an article on the ABC ‘I help kids who refuse to go to school. This is what I've learnt’ by Rebecca Plunkett, as told to Kellie Scott, it made me reflect on some of the families at Oak Park Primary School. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been anecdotal and statistical increases in reports of school avoidance (see link). According to Headspace (see link), school refusal/avoidance is defined as “High levels of distress and a reluctance to go to school.” I have decided to share this with the school community because it is relevant for everyone. I liked the essence of the article. I liked the understanding of the challenge it is for parents, the distress it causes in students and the impact it has on learning. So, if you are a family that works with us to manage school avoidance, keep fighting the good fight, we are here for you. And if you are a family that reads this article and the early warning signs of school avoidance resonate with you, please reach out to one of our lovely wellbeing team and we can come up with a collaborate plan. 
Written by Kirsty Finter - Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader
School Assembly
Dear Families, We are welcoming the New Year with our first School Assembly tomorrow at 3pm. All welcome. The assembly will be for Grades 1-6. Foundation students will attend their first assembly in two weeks. School Leaders will be receiving their badges next week at the first senior assembly. Please see the attachment for the schedule of senior and junior assemblies this term. See you today in the School Gym at 3pm! 
Grade 6 Uniforms
Grade 6 polo tops and windcheaters will be here the week commencing the 12th February. The windcheaters are currently at the embroiderers, hence the slight delay No Dogs Allowed
Oak Park Primary School has a wellbeing dog on site, our beautiful Westie, Zoe. As Zoe is being trained, we request that anyone coming on to the school grounds, does not bring a dog onsite. Even if your dog is on a leash and under your control, your dog unfortunately is not as welcome as you are! 
School Crossing
We ask all families and children to ensure they cross the road at the designated School Crossing. The crossings are supervised, and before and after school is a very busy time for traffic. With regards parking, please do not park on or near the school crossing as this is dangerous and causes a blind spot for anyone crossing. There are also parking inspectors around the school at varying times, and you will be fined. School Crossing
We ask all families and children to ensure they cross the road at the designated School Crossing. The crossings are supervised, and before and after school is a very busy time for traffic. With regards parking, please do not park on or near the school crossing as this is dangerous and causes a blind spot for anyone crossing. There are also parking inspectors around the school at varying times, and you will be fined. Drive Through
In Summit Ave, there is a school drive through for drop off & pick up. This is one way only and we ask all families to observe the council signs. Please do not park in this area waiting for your child as it causes much frustration and hold up of traffic. If your child is not there when you drive through, you will have to exit and drive back around to enter again. This area is supervised after school by staff. Upon exiting, you may only turn left onto Summit Ave. For safety reasons, we would ask you to not allow your children to run through this area either. Thank you Specialist
Japanese I am excited to be able to be part of the Japanese Language Program at OPPS again this year. The Japanese Language program will focus on both language and culture. The aim will be for students to develop knowledge and skills in communicating in Japanese, as well as understanding the links between culture and language. This semester I am happy to be teaching the senior school students! I am looking forward to building on students’ current skills and knowledge. We will continue to focus on language used for everyday communication including greetings, family, food and counting and expressing likes and dislikes in a range of categories. Students will be given lots of opportunities for verbal practice and interactions with peers. We will explore Japanese culture and learn language associated with the students interests in these areas such as traditions, sport and art. Students will also be introduced to the 3 writing systems, hiragana, katakana and kanji and begin to practice writing numbers and common characters/words. If you have any questions regarding the Japanese Language Program please don’t hesitate to contact me. Natalie Smith Performing Arts As the curtains rise on a brand-new school year, I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome to all our returning and new members of our vibrant school community! This year promises to be an exciting journey filled with creativity, self-discovery, and the boundless joy that the performing arts bring. Every student possesses unique talents waiting to be discovered and nurtured. The performing arts, encompassing theatre, music, and dance, provide a dynamic platform for self-expression, teamwork, and personal growth. It's not just about learning lines, mastering choreography, or hitting the right note – it's about discovering one's voice and building confidence to share it with the world. This year, our performing arts program will feature a dynamic curriculum designed to inspire and challenge students. From exploring classic stories and plays to creating original scripts and improvisation, every student will have the opportunity to shine and grow. The highlight of the year is our school concert! This will be held at the ClockTower Theatre on September 16th and 17th. Our last school concert was Disney Lion King Jnr and I can’t wait to share this year’s concert theme later in the year! When the concert approaches I will be asking for help from the school community so if you would like to help in any way or if you have experience in performance please contact me. I am excited to embark on this journey with each and every one of you. Let's make this school year a symphony of creativity, a dance of self-discovery, and a thrilling theatrical experience!Here's to a year filled with applause-worthy moments! Melanie Ojczyk Performing Arts Teacher Physical Education Hi everybody, my name is Liam Sutawan and I am the PE teacher at Oak Park Primary School. I would like to welcome all students and families back to school and hope you are looking forward to another fantastic year at school. I look forward to seeing you challenge yourselves, develop your skills and most of all have fun in 2024! Physical Education is critical to our health, well-being, and overall development. It is concerned with the holistic development of skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to be physically active and healthy throughout life. Additionally, studies suggest that when a substantial amount of school time is dedicated to physical activity and health education, academic performance meets and even exceeds that of students not receiving additional physical activity. Students should expect to cover a diverse range of sports, sporting skills, teamwork and strategic thinking in developmentally appropriate scenarios. The main topics covered in a year will include: striking and fielding games, invasion games, athletics, net & wall games, as well as lots of fun minor games. Some benefits of Physical Education:
Kind regards Liam PE Teacher Visual Arts Hello everyone, my name is David Flint and I am the Visual Arts teacher at Oak Park Primary School. I hope you are well and ready for an exciting year ahead. As we embark on this new year, I look forward to fostering creativity and nurturing the imaginations for your wonderful children attending this fantastic school. Visual Arts is an essential component of our holistic education approach. It goes beyond mere drawing and painting; it is a dynamic form of expression that encourages students to think critically, observe keenly, and communicate effectively. At Oak Park Primary, we believe that fostering creativity is as important as academic excellence, and Visual Arts plays a pivotal role in achieving this balance. Students will delve into a world of colours, shapes, and textures, where they will learn to express their thoughts and emotions through various artistic mediums. The Victorian Visual Arts curriculum covers a range of exciting activities, including drawing, painting, collage and the use of digital and mixed media to create inspiring artworks. Some of the benefits of Visual Arts Education Research has shown that exposure to Visual Arts has numerous benefits for young minds, including: Enhanced Creativity: Visual Arts nurtures creative thinking, allowing students to approach problems with innovative solutions. Improved Motor Skills: Activities like drawing and painting enhance fine motor skills, promoting coordination and control. Increased Self-Expression: Art provides a non-verbal outlet for emotions and thoughts, helping students express themselves more freely. Boosted Confidence: Successfully completing an art project provides a sense of accomplishment, boosting self-esteem and confidence. If you have any questions or would like more information about our Visual Arts program, please feel free to reach out via email [email protected] Warm regards, David Flint Visual Arts Teacher Lunch Orders
Lunch orders will be starting next Friday 9th February. For our new parents, Gabby at Sweet Karma supply fresh, nutritious food every Friday. Lunch orders are placed each week via an app called QKR, that can be downloaded from the App store. Instructions are attached. Lunch Orders MUST be placed online by 11am on the Thursday for the Friday. Any orders placed after 11am will be held over until the next week. **Families who may have already placed an order this week (for Friday 2nd Feb), lunch orders will be held over and supplied next week. Please remember to send lunch with your child to school this week. A new lunch order list will be updated and placed in the newsletter, as well as forms located outside the office Thank you 
Visitors to the School
Visitors to the school must sign in on the Compass ipad in the Administration foyer outside the office. You may then collect a Visitors lanyard which must be worn whilst you are on the school grounds. Please also ensure you signb out once you leave the school. All visitors to classrooms or assisting with activities held on the school grounds must also have a current Working with Children Check. If the Office doesn’t yet have an updated copy of your WWC please call by and pass along the details and Fran, Naomi or Ally will copy for you. 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] 
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Kelly Sports
Once again Kelly Sports will be offering a great program at Oak Park Primary School each Friday from 9th Feb to the 22nd March 3.30pm to 4pm. During Term 1, the focus will be on Soccer, Basketball and Cricket. Please see attached flyer for further information
Community News
Penola Saints Basketball 
Vic Soccer
Glenroy Festival Program
Glenroy Festival will be taking over Glenroy Community Hub and Bridget Shortell Reserve, Glenroy on Sunday 5 May from 11am to 3pm with a celebration of performance, community, food, art and music. Expressions of Interest are now open for community groups, schools, artists and performers, creative people and local businesses keen to be involved. We are looking for:
School Contacts
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