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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 9
June 4th 2020 |
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
Interesting times we live in. As we continue to grapple with a once in a lifetime (we hope) pandemic, we are seeing massive social and racial unrest across the United States, Europe and to a lesser extent, Australia. And I am wondering if our students are watching, taking note and wondering themselves about what our TV screens and social media are telling us. What do they make of the protests? If and when your children ask you questions about these events, what do you say? I think it is important that we listen to what our kids do have to say as they are forming their understandings. It would be great to think that we are raising people who develop considered and thoughtful positions on things and are not afraid to speak up when something is wrong. It’s not an easy thing to do. In this context, I acknowledge that today (3rd June) is Mabo Day. The day commemorates Eddie Mabo, a Torres Strait Islander who campaigned for Indigenous land rights. Mabo started his campaign nearly forty years ago and whilst ultimately successful, in many respects the battles continue. You can’t help but admire people like Eddie Mabo who do stand up for what they believe and are prepared to speak out. I know several people who marched in the anti Vietnam War demonstrations in the early 1970s. There were tens of thousands who they walked with in the demonstrations. They were generally peaceful rallies, but not always. One friend regularly tells me that she marched for her kids – even though they hadn’t even been born yet. She often talks about the effect that the demonstrations had on those who were there. People felt a strength and a belief that they could influence things for the good. That’s a powerful feeling to have and one we are lucky to share in our community. But not everyone feels that way and part of what we are seeing in the US right now has come about because of feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Positive Education teaches that what we need to instil in our kids is a sense of hope, gratitude for all the good things and an understanding that we can actually have some influence over some of the things that happen in our lives. Return to School Arrangements for Grades 3-6
We are currently preparing for the return to school of our Grades 3 – 6 students and there are several arrangements that parents and families need to be aware of. The arrangements are designed to cause minimum disruption while helping to maintain social distancing among adults. The staggered start to school has worked well and will continue. I want to thank parents for their efforts during the past few weeks in adhering to the protocols we have implemented. Starting times from next week will be as follows: 8.50am Grade 2, 4 and 6 9.00am Grade 1, 3 and 5 9.15am Foundation Families who have students in different grades can choose the time that suits them best. There will also be (slightly) staggered finishing times at the end of the school day. Grade 3-6 will be dismissed at 3.25pm while Our Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 classes will finish at the usual time of 3.30pm. Picking up and dropping off of children via the drive through area can still continue. We continue to rely on parent cooperation and ask that adults not enter the school buildings. If you need to speak with someone, please arrange this via phone or email. We also remind you that we are aiming to minimise the number of adults in the playground at any time and so we ask adults not to come into the grounds at all if it can be avoided. School Camps
The current advice from the Department of Education about school camps is that they must be postponed or rescheduled, or, if there is no other option, cancelled. It is not possible at this stage to predict how long the ban on camps and excursions will continue to be applied and may be in place for some time. As such, we will not be organising any camps for the remainder of this year but look forward to 2021 when we can continue with this very important part of our school program. Foundation 2021
Enrolments at Oak Park Primary School are open for 2021. If your child is due to start school next year, please pick up an enrolment from the Office, or request to have one emailed [email protected] We have families on our waitlist and are hopeful that all confirmed enrolments are in place by the end of June Book Club
Book Club orders need to be submitted online by tomorrow. Thank you to those families who have done so already. Japanese News
International Comic Art Contest! 9th Annual Manga Kingdom Tottori International Comic Art Contest (1 Apr – 31 Aug 2020) Tottori Prefecture is the home of many manga artists who are well known in Japan and abroad. The prefecture correspondingly organises its own annual manga competition, with the following three categories: 1-frame manga, 4-frame manga, and 4 to 24 page manga story. Any manga creators – amateur or professional, both Japanese and foreign nationals – are eligible to enter this contest. Submissions of works can be completed online, and the topic for this year’s competition is ‘wind’. If you’ve got a great idea, why not put your skills to test at this year’s competition? When: Wednesday 1 April – Monday 31 August Cost: Free To find out more, click on the website below: https://www.pref.tottori.lg.jp/mangacontest/eng/ Welcome Back! Quotes from 1H about being back at School “It’s awesome to be back at school because when I am not at school, I feel lonely. When I’m at school I’m happy because I can learn more”. Mulan 1H “I’m happy to be at school because it is more learning then at home. I like doing free play!” Eleni 1H “I’m happy to be back at school because I don’t need to sit in my room all day!” Leo – 1H “I’m happy because I had some trouble with the internet and being back at school I get to do yoga and be with my friends.” Mac 1H “I happy to be back at school because we can have activities and home was getting boring”. Kiran – 1H
Wellbeing
Lunch Order
Community News
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School Contacts - Please take note of new email address
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