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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 27
September 5th 2025 |
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
Term 3 September 2025
Term 4 October 2025
November 2025
December 2025
WHAT'S HAPPENING @ OAK PARK
WHOLE SCHOOL
Principal's Column
Working Bee – Thanks to all the volunteers! We want to extend our thanks to the parents who gave their time and energy to support our recent working bee in the Sustainability Orchard. Your hard work made a huge difference and with another working bee planned for Term 4, we can re-open this space to students shortly. A big thank you to Megan Wilson, Adam Loriggio, Amy Roebuck, Deepthi and Suraj Varma, Paddy Brophy, Brendan Aked, and Susan Greenshields. An especially large thank you to Chris Burke and Trevor German for their organisation of the event. A Big Thank You to the Parents and Friends Association! Thanks to the Parents and Friends Association for their incredible work in organising the recent Father’s Day and Special Persons Store. Your dedication provided great value for money while ensuring every student had the chance to purchase a thoughtful gift to thank that special person in their life. The smiles on our students’ faces were a testament to your efforts. We wish everyone a Happy Father’s Day for this Sunday! Open Streets – Next Thursday! 
Next Thursday, September 11th is our third event for the year! It’s a perfect chance to get involved, enjoy the buzz, and promote active travel together. We’ll own Summit Avenue both before and after school with Thanks A Latte coffee van also in attendance.
Welcome to Nadia in 3/4H and Joanne, Education Support Keryn Tuck who teaches Year 3/4H on Thursdays and Fridays, will be taking some unexpected leave to support her family. We’re grateful for her dedication and send our best wishes during this time. We’re pleased to announce that we’ve secured the services of an experienced teacher, Nadia Shilston, who will step in to teach the class on Thursdays and Fridays for the remainder of the year. Nadia brings a wealth of experience as a Leading Teacher of Literacy and is eager to meet the grade and collaborate with Nicola. She will officially begin with the class next Thursday, September 11th. We’re confident this transition will be smooth, and we look forward to a positive year ahead. We also welcome an additional Education Support team member for the remainder of the year, Joanne Tata. Joanne has been working casually with the school this term and we’re pleased to have her onboard for the remainder of the year. Joanne has made great connections with students working in Foundation and a Year 3/4 classroom. Term 4 Reminder: Swimming Program Returns to BlueFit at Windy Hill Just a reminder that our swimming program is back at BlueFit at Windy Hill, offering a fun-filled week for all students from Year 1 to Year 6. Thanks to school subsidies, we’ve kept the cost as low as possible down to $52 for the five-lesson program. Ensuring every child can develop a safe and confident swimming ability, a vital skill in Australia. The event is now live on Compass. To make the experience even better please complete the survey this term. This supports students starting their program in group that matches their skillset. Mark your calendars with these dates: Term 4 Swimming Program: Week 2: Year 1/2 – Starting October 13th Week 3: Year 3/4 – Starting October 20th Week 4: Year 5/6 – Starting October 27th Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal Assembly Timetable
Oak Park Primary School Art Show
Our whole school Art Show is fast approaching, and the excitement is building across every classroom! Students from all year levels have been working hard in Art lessons, preparing creative pieces to share with our community. This will be our first Art Show in many years, and we are excited to make it a true celebration of creativity, community, and connection. Families are warmly invited to join us on: Date- Thursday 23rd October Time- 5:00- 8:00pm Venue- Oak Park Primary School (Gym) The evening promises not only a creative display of student artwork but also plenty of fun for the whole family, including:
Silent Auction Highlight We are honoured to announce that world-famous Australian artist Ken Done has generously donated two signed artworks to help fundraise for our school. These incredible pieces will be on display during the Art Show, and the highest bidders in the Silent Auction will take them home. Tickets Tickets will go on sale on the first day of next term – Monday 6th October.
All friends and extended family are welcome – the more, the merrier! Full details will also be available in our weekly newsletter and on the school billboard. We can’t wait to see you there! 
Wear It Purple Day – Friday 29th August 2025
It was wonderful to see students and staff wearing a splash of purple as part of our ‘Wear It Purple Day’ on Friday the 29th of August. Wear It Purple Day is a great opportunity to teach students about the importance of respect, kindness, equality and inclusion.
Trivia Night
On Friday 5th September, the PFA will be hosting a Trivia Night at the Oak Park Community Sports Club. Please see the flyer for further information. This will be a fun night, so get together with your friends and organise a table. 
EARLY YEARS NEWS
Save the Date: Grade 1/2
Grade 1 Fun Night and Grade 2 Fun Night/Sleepover We are excited to announce the upcoming Grade 1 Fun Night and Grade 2 Fun Night/ Sleepover, taking place on Friday, November 28th, 2025! We are looking for one parent helper per class to assist with the Fun Night. Grade 1 parents will finish at 7:30pm, and Grade 2 parents will finish at 9:30pm. Additionally for the Grade 2 sleepover, we need two Grade 2 parent helpers to stay overnight, with a preference for dads to help with student ratios. Grade 2 parents that help with the fun night can also volunteer to stay overnight. We also need at least 10 Grade 2 parent helpers to assist with setting up for breakfast on the Saturday morning. These parent helpers will need to arrive at school at around 6am. All parents helpers that volunteer need to have a current Working With Children's Check (WWCC). Parents that have completed the parent helper course will be given first preference. If you are interested in volunteering, please email your child’s classroom teacher. More detailed information will be sent out early Term 4, but for now, please mark your calendars for this exciting event! The Grade 1/2 Team. MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
Year 3/4
Deb Abela Author Visit: On Friday 29th August 2025, the 3/4 cohort had a chance to work with the author Deb Abela. Deb led a writing session in each class and students were thoroughly engaged. After the workshops she shared that she was impressed with the energy and writing stamina our 3/4s showed. Students across our classrooms were keen to engage with her and she provided individual feedback to many students as well. Students loved the idea that Deb said that writers need to MAKE TROUBLE (create and cause problems in a text which is essential for narrative writing), because many students were able to then take this concept and start to think about what problems could take place for their characters. Deb also asked our students about revising work and was pleased to see that students understood and shared how they can change a sentence by focusing on words to change – to make the sentence better. Students shared with Deb they know it is important as writers can ‘show, not tell’ so that the writer can reveal details by selecting the best words possible. This creates an image (picture) in the reader’s mind, or can arouse emotion in the reader with the words chosen. Deb also shared what we as teachers say to our students, our first draft of writing, is not our final writing, as we go through the writing process to get to publishing. It was a wonderful day and we know by bringing Deb to our cohort, she has inspired many students to start writing more and to read some of her excellent books. Below are photos from 3/4H’s session
SPECIALISTS
Physical Education
Dear families, Next term we will begin swimming lessons at school. In addition to this, I am looking to see if there any students who are interested in doing some extra swimming sessions in the mornings at Oak Park leisure centre in term 4 to help prepare for interschool swimming competitions in term 1 2026. If you are interested in signing up for our swim team, please get in touch with me. This is an expression of interest to gauge the numbers. COMMUNITY NEWS
TeamKids
Spring into fun with TeamKids these school holidays! There’s something for everyone:
Oak Park Saints
School Contacts
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