Wawa, Wominjika.

Here at Old Orchard Primary School, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we visit each day, the Wurrunguri and Woiwurrung people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge and respect the elders and leaders past and present and the elders and leaders of all of the cultures and nationalities that are part of the Old Orchard Primary School community. We express our gratitude towards the orchards that were kept in place by the peoples on this land before us. We thank the traditional owners for sharing this beautiful land that we all love, and for keeping the land, sky, waterways and animals all in great condition for thousands of years, not only for themselves but for all the generations to come.

FINAL WEEKS

As we head into the final weeks of Term 2, there is still much to look forward to. Our calendar is packed with excursions and incursions, a wellbeing day, and our final assembly. This term our final whole school assembly will take place on the last day of term—Friday, July 4th—at 9:15am in the Gym. We’re looking forward to performances by the Kelly Sports dancers as well as the opportunity to celebrate a fantastic term of learning.

Please be advised that on the last day of term (Friday 4th July), students will be dismissed at 2:30.

Our teachers have been busy finalising student reports. They are working collaboratively analysing student data to ensure each report provides an accurate and well-rounded overview of individual achievement and development.

Semester One reports will be available through Sentral on July 2nd after 4:00pm.

LATE ARRIVALS

As the winter mornings grow colder and darker, we understand it can be more challenging to get your child ready and out the door. We’ve noticed a significant increase in students arriving after 9:00am over the past few weeks. Classroom doors open at 8:50am to allow students time to settle in, prepare for the day ahead and connect with their classroom teacher and peers in a relaxed/informal classroom environment.

At 9:00am, students are already seated in their yarning circle—a valuable time where we set the tone for the day and support students to feel calm, connected and ready to learn. Even arriving just 10 minutes late can mean missing this important start to the day. We appreciate your efforts in helping your child arrive on time so they can begin each day feeling settled and prepared.

IVAN’S PIES FUNDRAISER

Thank you to all our families who purchased pies as part of our Term 2 fundraiser. We hope they have been a welcome addition during the recent cold evenings. The funds raised will go towards upgrading our playgrounds.

REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY

Four students competed in the Regional Cross Country at the Yarra Glen Racecourse last Thursday. Congratulations to Essie, Thomas, Bonnie, and Genevieve for representing Old Orchard Primary School. They all ran incredible races and demonstrated great grit and determination. Reaching this level is an outstanding achievement, and we’re all proud of their dedication and sportsmanship.

NETBALL-DISTRICT FINALS

On Friday 13th and Monday 16th, our Year 5 and 6 students proudly represented Old Orchard Primary in the Netball B and Netball A grand finals — and what fantastic games they were! After weeks of dedicated training and preparation, our students took to the court with energy, determination, and terrific team spirit.

While both teams finished as runners-up, they demonstrated resilience, strategic thinking, and played some exceptionally strong quarters. A wonderful achievement and a great reflection of their hard work.

Thank you to our coach, Ellen, as well as to the parent volunteers.

FIREFIGHTERS, AMBULANCE AND POLICE VISIT OUR PREPS

This term, our Prep students have been exploring the local community and learning about the various people who help within it. As part of this unit, they have met several community members, including a visit on Monday from the local fire brigade and police, who arrived at Old Orchard with sirens and lights. On Wednesday we had a visit from Sarah the paramedic (and parent - thank you!) who came in to talk about the ambulance. We are not sure who had more fun at the incursions— our Prep students or Prep teachers!

DOGS AT SCHOOL

We kindly remind all families and visitors that dogs are not permitted inside the school building. The presence of other dogs can be confusing and unsettling for Ginger (our school therapy dog), who plays an important role in supporting the wellbeing of our students. As this is Ginger's working environment, we ask for your cooperation in ensuring a calm and consistent space for her to carry out her duties. Thank you for your understanding and support.

2026 STUDENT ENROLMENTS

As of last year, the enrolment process for Prep has moved online. If you have a child starting school in 2026 and have any questions or need assistance with enrolling, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.

For new enrolments:

Visit https://students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/s/ to create an account and complete the online application form by Friday 25th July 2025.

Jen McCann and Clare Murray

The Harvest

2025/19 · 19 Jun 2025

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