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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 38
December 8th 2022 |
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
Dear Parents and Carers, Please find below our Grade structure for 2023: 
Our grade structure for 2023 is a combination of both straight classes and composites, with a focus on ensuring teachers work in professional learning communities and never in isolation. Smaller schools require the consideration of composite classes to ensure we can meet appropriate class sizes. I know there can be some concern from parents regarding composite classes, but please be assured research suggests the quality of teaching and collaboration is more important than the structure itself.
Composite classes enable:
Flexible Groupings – Terms 1 and 2, 2023 – Year 3/4 and 5/6
Our current intervention and extension program plans to ensure that the 3/4 and 5/6 cohorts receive flexible groupings to focus on Numeracy in Terms 1 and 2. This means these teams will receive three sessions per week with the additional assistance of our Learning Specialist teachers. Students complete pre-tests, and this data informs the focus for the flexible group cycle. This support ensures that every student in the cohort is working at their point of need with smaller group sizes for cycles of around 5 weeks. Student then complete a post-test to track their learning growth. This strategy is supported by our whole school learning data and the learning focus (reading, writing, mathematics) and targeted cohorts may change for Terms 3 and 4. We’ve used this approach in 2022, students have enjoyed the opportunity to work with different teachers and have provided positive feedback around the support and challenge within each group. We’re also continuing with reading intervention programs in 2023 within the Junior school, ensuring that all students receive the valuable support to develop their key reading and writing skills. Final Teacher Placement The end of the year often brings staff changes to schools, and Oak Park is no exception. The shortage of teachers across Victoria is a real challenge facing all schools at present. I’d like to announce a full roster of class placements, but at present we’re still working to fulfill a classroom role at Oak Park. We’re interviewing for this final teacher placement shortly, next week we’ll be able to announce teaching teams on Wednesday 14th December when students meet their new teacher for 2023. Curriculum Day Reminder – Final Day of Term Tuesday - December 20th. Early Finish 1:30 – December 19th. We have one final Curriculum Day this year, on Tuesday December 20th, so please flag this in your calendars. Our final day of the school year will be Monday the 19th of December with an early finish at 1:30pm. Our end of year assembly will take place on the last Friday, December 16th at 3:00pm. Kind regards, Michael Gill Principal Dogs Connect
She’s finally made it! Zoe had her first day at OPPS on Wednesday 7th December. Walking into the school, she was overwhelmed with the amount of people and had trouble understanding why everyone was ignoring her. Being a cute puppy, she’s used to people stopping to pat her and tell her how lovely she is. This encourages bad habits like jumping and over-excitement. Zoe can even give a little bark or noise if she’s ignored, so not getting all the attention was all new to her. Students did an amazing job following the 3 expectations and it certainly helped Zoe understand that she wasn’t going to get attention unless she was calm. As Zoe learns to be relaxed at school, her interaction with the students increases. For a first day, we were really impressed with the students and with Zoe. Below is Zoe’s schedule. It will remain like this until the end of the year but look quite different next year when she’s more grown up and school is familiar to her. 9:00-10:00am – Michael’s office (helping him catch up on emails) 10:00-11:00am – School tour with Michael and Sally Lunch time: Playtime with teachers 12:10-1:00pm – Library time with Sally 1:00-2:00pm – Library time with Sally Recess time: Playtime with teachers 2:30-3:30pm – Library time with Kirsty When at home, Zoe sleeps for a lot of the day. She has short bursts of play and 3 short walks in her day. Being awake for most of the school day was a challenge and she was totally exhausted by the end of the day. She managed some power naps while she was in the library, but they didn’t compare to her sleep time at home. Zoe will be back on Friday 8th and again next Wednesday 14th and Friday 16th Dec. 
Staff Car Park
We again remind parents to please not park in the staff car park. Each day this week we have noted numerous families parking in here to drop off or pick up their child, causing staff to have difficulty entering the car park. While we understand the difficulties finding a car park around any school zone, it is frustrating to staff not to be able to park when arriving to school due to this issue. Please do not park in the Disability car park unless you are entitled to do so. Working with Children Check (WWCC)
Our Compass visitor sign in has been updated and now requires your WWC details to be input when visiting the school. Please ensure you have your card on you so you may sign in. We ask parents to also forward a copy of their card to our school email [email protected] so we may have on file. Grade 6 Graduation
The Grade 6 Graduation will be held on Thursday 15 December, and the PFA is organising a supper for Grade 6 parents that will be served after the graduation ceremony. We are looking for Grade 5 parent volunteers to help prepare and serve the supper from about 6:30 to 8.30 pm. Volunteers will need to have a current Working with Children Check. If you can help out, please email [email protected] with your WWCC details. Thank you in advance for your support! Grade 5/6 Camp
TUESDAY UPDATE: Hi families, after a long, sugar fuelled bus trip, we’ve safely arrived in Portsea. There are blue skies and we’re off to the beach for lunch. 
WEDNESDAY UPDATE
Day 1 done and what a great start to camp we’ve had! Highlights so far include:
Let’s see what Day 2 brings… 
THURSDAY UPDATE
Day 2 gave us glorious sunshine and more beach fun.Highlights include:
We’ll be rugging up today, the weather isn’t so fine, but there is still plenty of fun to have! See you tomorrow x 
Family Carols Night
Thank you to all families who attended our Family Picnic Night! It is such a fun night and wonderful to see many families turn up. There was a great atmosphere and truly special as it has been a few years since this event could take place. The sun was shining, and the kids sang loud and proud! Santa on the Fire Truck was a real highlight!
Thank you to Pascoe Vale Fire Brigade for organising Santa’s Ride the kids were so happy to see our tradition continue! 
Also thank you to Cassie and Melanie (parents of the school) for organising the Christmas photo booth, there were many happy snaps taken over the event. Cassie and Melanie run a small business, Green Gala Events which specialises in sustainable party needs. Please read their fly at the end of the newsletter for more information.
Book Club
Book Club orders have been delivered to classrooms. If you have not received your order, please see me ASAP. If your child is in 5/6, they will receive their orders when they return from camp, or you can drop by the library and collect them. Thank you to everyone who has supported Book Club/ Book Fair this year. As a result, the school has been able to purchase around $4000 worth of books to add to the library collection for all students to enjoy. Your support is appreciated. Library
All Library books should have been returned to school. If you still have books at home, please send them to school ASAP. There will be no more Library sessions for students this year. Online Lunch Orders
Lunch Orders can now be ordered online via an app called QKR, which can be downloaded from the App store (details below). QKR is all set up now for Oak Park Primary School and ready to go with online canteen ordering as of Thursday 1st December. Until the end of the year parents will still be able to order with paper bag as well as online but as of 2023 it will be online only. 
Team Kids Holiday Program
Team Kids have another amazing SUMMER Holiday program planned!
Head to teamkids.com.au to secure your spot! 
Community News
Green Gala 
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School Contacts
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