Leadership Report
Orchard Park Primary School
Parent Focus Group | School Review
Every four years, our school undertakes a School Review. This is an important opportunity to reflect on our progress, celebrate our achievements, evaluate our improvement efforts and establish priorities for the next four years.
As part of our upcoming review, commencing Tuesday 10th November, our School Reviewer, Bob Stephens, is keen to hear the perspectives and experiences of our parent community through a dedicated parent focus group.
The session will take place on Tuesday 10 November, from 2:30–3:00pm.
We would love to have a small group of parents and carers involved and welcome anyone who is available and interested in contributing. If you are able to attend, please contact the school via phone or email to register your interest.
Your voice and perspective are valued, and we appreciate your support in helping shape the next chapter of Orchard Park Primary School.
Specialist Showcase
What an incredible display of student learning and creativity we had at our Specialist Showcase!
From vibrant artwork and impressive STEM innovations to sporting achievements and Performing Arts highlights, our students certainly had plenty to be proud of!
The showcase was a wonderful celebration of the creativity, skills and learning experiences our students have developed throughout the year across our Specialist Programs.
A huge thank you to all of our families who took the time to visit the gallery and celebrate the work on display. We hope you enjoyed exploring the incredible range of student achievements as much as we enjoyed sharing them with you!
We would also like to acknowledge our wonderful Specialist teachers for their ongoing dedication to providing such engaging and enriching learning opportunities for our students.
Colour Run – What a Fantastic Celebration!
What an absolutely spectacular afternoon we had at our Colour Explosion Fun Run!
Our school oval was transformed into a sea of colour as students raced through the course, tackled obstacles and enjoyed being showered in colourful powder. The energy, excitement and laughter throughout the afternoon made it a truly memorable event for our students!
Once again, we have been overwhelmed by the incredible generosity and support of our school community. Every contribution, big or small, has helped us move closer to bringing our student-requested vegetable garden to life. We cannot wait to begin planning this exciting addition to our school!
Of course, the fun doesn't stop with the Colour Run itself! Our highest fundraisers are eagerly awaiting their well-earned rewards, with extra play breaks and lunchtime discos being organised and scheduled. Our highest fundraising classes are also looking forward to celebrating their efforts with a delicious hot chip lunch!
A massive thank you must go to our wonderful Parents and Friends Group, whose countless hours of planning, preparation and organisation made this fantastic event possible. We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated group of volunteers who continue to create these memorable experiences for our students.
We would also like to thank the Officer Fire Brigade for once again supporting our event and adding an extra element of excitement to the afternoon.
To every family who donated, fundraised, volunteered or cheered our students on, thank you! Events like these are a wonderful reminder of the strength and generosity of our OPPS community.
Year 5 Camp – Adventures at Waratah Bay!
Our Year 5 students have returned from an absolutely sensational camp at Waratah Bay, and what an adventure they had!
Spending two nights away from home is a significant milestone, and we were incredibly proud of the resilience, independence and positive attitudes demonstrated by our students throughout the experience. From learning about beach safety to getting out into the water and having a go at surfing the waves, our students embraced the opportunities presented to them and gave every activity their best crack!
There was certainly no shortage of laughter, excitement and memorable moments along the way. It was wonderful to see students encouraging one another, stepping outside their comfort zones, strengthening friendships and forming new connections with their peers.
Camp experiences provide such valuable opportunities for students to develop confidence, independence and teamwork in ways that extend beyond the classroom. A huge thank you to our dedicated staff who attended camp and worked tirelessly to ensure our students had a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience.
We are so proud of our Year 5 students for the way they represented OPPS and embraced every part of their camp adventure!
Regional Girls Cricket – Congratulations!
A huge congratulations to our talented group of Year 5/6 girls who proudly represented Orchard Park Primary School at the Southern Metropolitan Regional Cricket Finals on Wednesday 4 November! After an outstanding performance at the Division level, our girls earned their place at the Regional Finals, held at Casey Fields in Cranbourne. Progressing to this level of competition is a fantastic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of the teamwork, determination and sportsmanship demonstrated by our students.
A big thank you also to Mr Scanlon for accompanying and supporting the team throughout their cricket journey. Well done, girls! What a wonderful achievement and a fantastic opportunity to represent OPPS!
2027 Transition – Preparing for Another Exciting Year!
Our 2027 transition program is well underway, and there is plenty of excitement building across the school as we begin preparing our students for their next chapter! Our future Prep students have already completed two transition sessions, with another two sessions scheduled before our whole-school Statewide Transition Day on Tuesday 8 December. It has been wonderful to see our newest students beginning to develop their confidence, make connections and become familiar with our school environment.
At Orchard Park Primary School, we recognise that successful transitions don't happen in just one day. They are carefully planned and supported to ensure students feel confident, connected and ready for the changes ahead.
Throughout our transition program, we place a strong emphasis on frontloading our students for success. This means explicitly preparing students for what to expect, introducing them to new environments and routines, and reinforcing the familiar expectations and approaches that make up the OPPS Way. By creating these opportunities, we aim to reduce uncertainty, build excitement and ensure every student feels supported as they move into 2027.
- Tuesday 8 December – Statewide Transition Day
- This is an exciting milestone for our students, as they will discover their 2027 class placements, meet their new teachers and spend time in their new learning communities.
- Students will begin the morning in their current 2026 classrooms before transitioning into their new 2027 classes and learning spaces. They will spend the majority of the school day with their new teacher(s) and classmates, getting to know one another and becoming familiar with their new routines and environments.
- At 1:15pm, students will return to their current 2026 classrooms for eating time, providing an opportunity to share their transition experiences with their current class and teacher before heading out for lunch play.
- At the end of the day, all students will bring home an information sheet confirming their 2027 class teacher(s), ensuring families have this information to support conversations and preparations at home.
- Thursday 10 December – Second Transition Session
- We are also excited to provide students with a second opportunity to spend time in their 2027 classes on Thursday 10 December. Students will spend the morning learning block with their new teacher(s) and classmates, further strengthening those important early connections and building familiarity with their new learning environment.
- Following this session, students will return to their current 2026 classes for their end-of-year class parties, providing a lovely opportunity to celebrate the year they have shared together and begin closing off their 2026 chapter.
- We are looking forward to seeing our students embrace these opportunities and begin their next school year feeling confident, connected and excited for what lies ahead!
2027 School Production – Aladdin JR.!
The excitement is already building for our 2027 whole-school production of Aladdin JR.!
While the curtain may not rise until next year, there has already been an enormous amount of work happening behind the scenes. From securing the performance rights and organising scripts to beginning the early stages of planning, preparations are well underway for what promises to be another spectacular OPPS production!
Today marked another exciting milestone, with auditions officially commencing for our lead roles. With over 130 auditions for these roles, our Performing Arts team certainly has a huge and challenging task ahead of them! It is wonderful to see so many students putting themselves forward, demonstrating their enthusiasm and having the courage to audition. The selection process is incredibly competitive, and our Performing Arts team will be carefully considering auditions over the coming weeks before finalising and announcing our lead cast.
We are incredibly proud of every student who has taken the opportunity to audition. Putting yourself forward takes confidence and courage, and we look forward to celebrating the many talents of our students throughout the production journey.
We will continue to keep families updated as we progress through these initial preparation stages and will share the exciting announcement of our lead cast as soon as the process is finalised.
We cannot wait to see the magic of Agrabah come to life at OPPS in 2027!
Christmas Concert – Save the Date!
It's almost time to get into the Christmas spirit! We warmly invite all of our families to join us for our 2026 OPPS Christmas Concert on Wednesday 9 December.
We are looking forward to bringing our school community together for a wonderful evening of festive fun, student performances and end-of-year celebrations.
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday 9 December
- 5:00pm: Families are invited to join us on the school oval for a picnic dinner.
- 5:30pm: Student performances will commence.
Pack your picnic blankets, dress in your favourite Christmas colours and get ready for an evening filled with festive cheer! We can't wait to see our students take to the stage and share some Christmas magic with our school community. We look forward to celebrating with you all!
Reminder – Upcoming Curriculum Day
A friendly reminder to all families that Friday 27 November is a scheduled Curriculum Day (student-free day). Students will not be required to attend school on this day.
Full-day care will be available through Kelly Club for families requiring care arrangements. We kindly ask families planning to utilise this service to make their bookings as early as possible. This will assist Kelly Club in confirming staffing arrangements and ensuring they are appropriately prepared for the number of students attending.