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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 6
March 7th 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
March 2025
April 2025
May 2025
June 2025
July 2025
August 2025
October 2025
November 2025
December 2025
Principal's Column
SRC - Kick Off the Year with Big Ideas
Our Student Representative Council (SRC) recently held their first meeting of the year, joined by our School Captains, to brainstorm ways to make Oak Park Primary School even better.
This lively session marked the start of their journey to develop exciting ideas and projects that will enhance our school community. From lunchtime clubs to practical improvements, our student leaders are eager to leave their mark. Stay tuned for updates as their plans take shape! Staff Updates: Welcoming Leah to 3/4A in Term 2
We’re thrilled to announce that Leah Townsend will be joining us to cover Fabia’s upcoming maternity leave. With 6 years of teaching experience, Leah will start in Week 1 of Term 2, working alongside Fabia for a smooth handover. We can’t wait to welcome her to the Oak Park team! We’ve also re-advertised a maternity leave position to support Maree’s upcoming leave and are seeking support from recruitment agencies. If you know anyone passionate about teaching who might be interested, please encourage them to apply via Recruitment Online. I’d be happy to chat with potential candidates – they’re welcome to reach out via email or phone. The ongoing teacher shortage in Victoria has been a significant challenge for schools across the state, and we are feeling the effects here as well. This shortage has made it increasingly difficult to secure permanent teaching staff, even after extensive efforts to recruit. We appreciate your understanding as we work through these challenges and remain committed to providing consistent and high-quality learning experiences for our students. Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal WHAT'S HAPPENING @ OAK PARK
WHOLE SCHOOL
Labour Day - Monday 10th March
Football Fun at Oak Park!
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, Oak Park Football Club hosted an exciting Girls’ Football Clinic to inspire and encourage young women to get involved in sport! A huge thank you to Dave and Heath for their support and to our amazing role models Hannah, Zoe, and Gemma for sharing their skills and drills with our young players. The energy, enthusiasm, and teamwork on display were fantastic! Keep kicking goals, girls! Oak Park Football Club are welcoming all players of all abilities to their club, contact Heath or Cindy below if you are interested in your child joining up! 
Assembly Timetable
Harmony Day
Harmony Day is a day to celebrate Australia's cultural diversity and respect for all people. It's held annually in March and coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Our Grade 6 Student Wellbeing Leaders will be sharing information about Harmony Day at our school assemblies leading up to this important day. Celebrate Harmony Day by wearing something orange with your school uniform on Friday 21st March! Ideas: orange top, socks or head band! Visitor Sign In & Out
It is a requirement that ALL visitors to the school MUST sign in at the Compass kiosk near the front office. A valid working with Children Check number is also required on signing in, and this must be included.
School Tours
Oak Park Primary School school tours will be happening on the following dates: Thursday 20th March @ 9.30am Thursday 3rd April @ 9.30am Please email Fran at [email protected] to book in for your school tour. 2026 Enrolments
We are accepting enrolments for 2026. To find out your school zone, please check www.findmyschool.vic.govv.au Please email Fran at [email protected] for an enrolment form. If you are enrolling a sibling of a student already here, feel free to call via the office to pick up an enrolment form. If you reside outside our school zone, you are welcome to complete an Application for enrolment, which will place you on our waitlist P.F.A
We are always super excited to welcome new members and new ideas. PFA meeting schedule 2025 as follows:
Feel free to reach out to PFA at [email protected] 
School Dental Van
Provisional date of Dental School Van is Monday 5th May. This date will be confirmed a week or two prior. Say goodbye to the hassle of making dental appointments, taking time off work, and disrupting your schedule just to ensure your child receives dental care. Smile Patrol is coming to OAK PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL so your child will benefit from dental care during school hours, so easy! Smile Patrol provides free dental health education to all students. If your child is eligible under the Childcare Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) treatments can be done for free depending on the remaining benefits. If your child is not eligible, we will send you an email with an option for a private checkup. But to do this we need your consent. CONSENT DUE DATE IS 7TH MARCH To sign up you can visit : https://smilepatrol.com.au/consent-form/ It’s very easy and takes less than 5 mins to complete. OR use the QR code: 
We also now have hard copies of the consent form in our office.
EARLY SCHOOL YEARS
Teddy Bear Picnic
If you go down to Oak Park Primary School today, you're sure of a big surprise If you go down to the school today, you'd better go in disguise For every bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain because Wednesday was the day the teddy bears had their picnic! And what a wonderful day we had! It was so exciting to see everyone with their beloved teddy bears. The Grade 6 Buddies joined in on the fun and we started the day with making birth certificates, build a bears and decorating teddy bear biscuits. Our expert crew of face painters transformed our Foundation students into life size teddy bears, and outside, the students enjoyed an obstacle course put on for them by the Sports Captains. A highlight of the day was sitting down after lunch and enjoying a deliciously sweet and colourful teddy bear biscuit. A massive shout out to Ali German, Steph Theodoulis and Kristen Ellis for the award-winning face painting. Such a wonderful day enjoyed by all. 
Grade 1 & 2 Team Building
As part of the Grade 1 and 2 Inquiry unit this term, ‘Setting up for Success’ students attended a Team Building Incursion at school on Friday 28th February. Students worked on fundamental social skills such as getting along, listening to others and understanding that others may see things differently. Effective communication, support, and encouragement was explored. Students rotated through four foundational activities that fostered these skills including: 1. Hook and hoop: Students tested their communication and fine motor skills by working together to collect a variety of objects using only a hula hoop with a hook attached. 2. Balance Boards: Students worked in small groups to get from point A to B while balancing objects. 3. Tower building: Working in pairs, students built the tallest tower out of blocks, but they were only allowed to use one hand. Discussion around the design, strategy and honesty was explored when completing this task. 4. Obstacle course: In pairs, students made their way around an obstacle course. Students learnt to wait their turn and provided support to one another to be successful. Have a look at some of our amazing Grade 1 and 2 students working collaboratively at our incursion! 
SENIOR SCHOOL YEARS
Year 6 GRIP Conference
On Tuesday our Year 6s attended the GRIP Leadership Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre. We leant all about what it means to be a leader in Year 6 and how to make the most out of the year by prioritising goals and working collaboratively to achieve them. We had such a fun day learning alongside over 3000 other Melbourne students. 
SPECIALISTS
Science
It’s been so exciting to welcome our incredible junior students into the science room for Term 1! Over the past few weeks we have a chemical sciences focus across the junior years and all our smallest scientists have been hard at work completing amazing investigations and experiments. In Grades 1 and 2 we are learning about mixtures! In the ‘All Mixed Up’ unit students are learning about materials that do and don’t mix well, and mixtures that are easy or difficult to separate. Through some exciting hands-on investigations, students have created many exciting and messy mixtures and have worked beautifully together in teams. 
In Foundation we have been learning about different materials. We have been asking big questions like “What materials would keep you dry on a wet day?’ and “Why wouldn’t I want a hat made of bubble wrap on a very sunny day?”. Through practical investigations students have been sorting and testing the observable properties of a variety of different materials. Soon they will begin their design project and make their very own party hat - taking into account the weather it might be worn in.
Performing Arts
Grade 3/4 Drama- Book Focus – Fox by Margaret Wild This term Grade 3/4’s have been using the book Fox by Margaret Wild as a focus for our drama lessons. This week, as part of their learning, students examined the illustrations of the characters, Magpie and Fox and used them as inspiration to create their own creatures. Working in small groups, they collaborated to develop ideas, combining different animal characteristics to create something new. Each group then shared their work with their peers, encouraging discussion and interpretation. Can you guess the animals that inspired their designs? 
Year 6-7 Transition
On Thursday 24th April 2025, Oak Park Primary School will distribute the Year 6-7 Placement Information Pack 2025-2026, which includes the Application form, to Parents of Year 6 students. Any information regarding Secondary Colleges open days and Information sessions will be included in our newsletters. It is advisable that families attend school tours and information sessions so they may have an idea of which school their child will be attending in 2026. Please be aware that some Secondary Colleges are very strictly zoned, and you will not receive a placement unless you reside within their school zone. It is always advisable to submit 3 preferences on your Year 7 Application for this reason Catholic Colleges and Private Schools are already accepting enrolments for Year 7, 2027 
YEAR 6-7 TRANSITION TIMELINE:
Thursday 24th April 2025: Oak Park Primary School will distribute the Year 6-7 Placement Information Pack 2025-2026, including the Application form for 2026, to Parents of Year 6 students. Friday 9th May: Parents/Carers submit the Application for Year 7 placement to Oak Park Primary School Tuesday 1st July: Oak Park Primary School will inform parents/carers of their childs Year 7 placement offer for the 2026 school year. Friday 25th July: Closing date for parents/carers to lodge a written appeal with their preferred Secondary School Tuesday 9th December: Secondary Schools host an Orientation Day for Year 6 students Open Days/School Tours for 2026 Year 7 enrolments
GLENROY SECONDARY COLLEGE Glenroy College holds small guided tours for prospective students and families every Friday at 9.30am during Term One and Term Two. The tours give you a chance to meet some of our staff and students, view our College facilities and see our classes in action. Bookings are essential and are made online via the link https://glenroycollege.vic.edu.au/enrolment/school-tours/ College tours can also be arranged at other times. If your child is currently enrolled in Grade 6, and you have a specific query regarding school programs or Year 7 Transition, please contact the College office, 9304 0400. ROSEHILL SECONDARY COLLEGE Whole School Open Day – Tuesday 29th April. Classes begin 9.15am. Dismissed 2.15pm Click the link to register https://www.rosehillsc.vic.edu.au/event/open-day COBURG HIGH SCHOOL We will be hosting a whole school Open Day and School Tours for Year 6 students on Wednesday 23 April 2025. Bookings can be made here, please make one booking per family. You may view a virtual tour here: https://www.coburg.vic.edu.au/open/ BUCKLEY PARK SECONDARY COLLEGE School Tour bookings are now open for prospective students and their carers/parents. These tours will be conducted by a member of the College leadership team and will provide an opportunity to see our school. To enable you to get the most out of a school tour and conversation, it would be helpful if you and your child attend, ready to ask the questions you're most interested to explore with us. Please arrive at our Reception Lobby, 10 mins prior to tour start time as visitors are required to sign in. Tour dates are available at www.buckleyparkco.vic.edu.au STRATHMORE SECONDARY COLLEGE Each year tours of the College are conducted to coincide with the Year 7 Transition program. Parents/Guardians of prospective students in Grade 6 are invited to attend. Tours in 2025 for Year 7 2026 enrolments commence in April and run through May. College Tour booking forms are available at https://www.strathmore.vic.edu.au/enrolment/collegetours/ ESSENDON KEILOR COLLEGE 
GLADSTONE PARK SECONDARY COLLEGE
School Tours are now open for 2025 and will run in March. You are invited to attend a tour of Gladstone Park Secondary College to view our superb facilities and to note, for yourself, our strong values, high expectations and strong supports at the college. Our students will greet you in the Administration Office. Tours run on Tuesdays at 8:55am and run for approximately one hour. Tour dates
Our Parent Information Evening is on Tuesday 1st April 2025 at 6:00pm. The College Open Day is on Wednesday 30th April 2025. School Tours will run from 9:15am – 10:00am. UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL https://unihigh.vic.edu.au/enrol/tours-information-sessions/ TEAM KIDS
We’re celebrating the AWESOMENESS of diversity this Harmony Week! 🥳 Get ready to paint the town ORANGE as we embrace and learn all about inclusivity, kindness and respect. We’ll enjoy lots of special activities to highlight the joy of belonging! 🧡 ✨ Book NOW to join the FUN – www.teamkids.com.au/venues 
Community News
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2026
The registration for Ballkid trials for Aus Open 2026 is open. https://ballkids.tennis.com.au/Register.aspx WHAT DOES A BALLKID DO? Ballkids play an integral role in ensuring that tennis tournaments run smoothly. Throughout the Australian Open series, each ballkid is a focal part of every game, be it at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne or at other events in other states. WHO CAN BE A BALLKID? We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply as we want our ballkids to represent the diversity of our communities. AO26 ballkids must be 12 to 15 as of 31st December 2025 to be eligible for selection. School Contacts
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