This Week At OOPS
An Adventure with Andy Griffiths
This week our Year 3 and 4 students were treated to an unforgettable virtual event with one of Australia's favourite authors, Andy Griffiths, as he launched his brand new book, You & Me and the Gigantic Knucklehead.
As the Australian Children's Laureate for 2026-2027, Andy took students on an hilarious journey through his latest story, sharing plenty of laughs, creative writing tips, and inspiring everyone to discover the magic of reading.
Andy reminded us that books and our imagination can take us anywhere:
"I've always loved reading. You can go anywhere in a book. Everything is possible and anything can happen."
He also shared how his love of writing began as a child, creating stories and drawings to entertain himself, his friends, and his family - a passion that has grwon into a career inspiring millions of young readers.
The session left our students buzzing wiht excitement and eager to dive into new books, write their own imaginative stories, and discover where their creativity can take them.
Reading really is an adventure ..... so what are you waiting for? Let's go!
On Wednesday our Year 5/6 Mixed Australian Football team enjoyed a fantastic day representing the school at the district division competition held at Macleay Park, North Balwyn. The team showed great teamwork, skill and sportsmanship throughout the event, competing strongly against a number of schools despite the pouring rain. We are proud to share that the team has progressed through to the Regional Division and is excited for the next stage of the competition on the 11th of August. Congratulations to Mitchell J, Tom M, Hugh J, Will C, Asher V, Ben H, Ryan J, Will D, Charlie J, Chase M, Sully G and Luke M on their outstanding achievement. A big thank you to Brendan Murphy for helping with coaching the team.
Year 5 Peace Kitchen Incursion
Our Year 5 students this week participated in an engaging Building Belonging Across Cultures workshop delivered by Peace Kitchen. Through interactive games, storytelling, music and meaningful discussions, students explored the themes of culture, identity and belonging in a safe and inclusive environment.
Students were encouraged to reflect on their own experiences while learning about the perspectives of others. Activities challenged them to think about assumptions, celebrate differences and recognise the importance of empathy, curiosity and respectful communication.
The workshop concluded with students writing thoughtful reflections about what they had learned. Some of their responses included:
- "I learned that it's okay to be different. It makes you special."
- "Something I can do to make people feel like they belong is ask them about their culture and their life."
- "I learned to not assume things about other people."
"Telling them that everyone is unique."
These reflections demonstrate the powerful impact of the workshop and the maturity with which our students' embraced conversations about inclusion and belonging. We extend our sincere thanks to the Peace Kitchen facilitators for providing such an engaging and thought-provoking learning experience that aligns so strongly with Old Orchard's commitment to respect, inclusion and wellbeing.
Old Orchard Celebrates Victorian Youth Fest 2026
From September 15th-18th-, Old Orchard Primary School will proudly celebrate Victorian Youth Fest 2026 with a week of exciting, student-led activities that recognise the leadership, creativity and contributions of our young people.
Throughout the week, our Year 6 students and Wellbeing Captains will take the lead in planning and delivering a range of engaging activities for students across the school. From interactive lunchtime experiences to wellbeing challenges and opportunities to strengthen connections, the week will celebrate student voice while promoting inclusion, belonging and positive mental health.
Victorian Youth Fest is a statewide celebration that encourages young people to lead, participate and make a positive impact in their communities. We are proud to provide our students with meaningful opportunities to develop their leadership skills, share their ideas and create experiences that bring our school community together.
We look forward to sharing the planned activities later in the term.
Old Orchard Primary School acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
Library Help
Are you a parent, grandparent or carer with the
vital skill of book covering or would like to learn?
The Old Orchard Library needs your help!
Join us on Thursday 20 August from 9.00-11am
in the Staff Room for a chat and a cuppa and
help us re-stock our shelves.
If you are interested and hold a current WWC,
please email 4715-Library@schools.vic.edu.au
for catering purposes 😊
Comedy Night
Supporting Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing at Home
At Old Orchard Primary School, we recognise that supporting children's mental health and wellbeing is a shared responsibility between school and home. As part of this commitment, we would like to share a range of free support services and resources available to families through SAFEMinds. SAFEMinds is an evidence-based initiative developed by headspace to help schools and families recognise, respond to and support children.
The Parent Support Resources guide provides access to services such as Partners in Parenting, headspace, ReachOut, Beyond Blue, eSafety, and Medicare Mental Health, offering information, advice, and support for parents, carers, and young people. These services offer practical strategies, online resources, peer support and pathways to professional help when needed.
We encourage families to explore these resources and keep them handy should support ever be needed.
To access the Parent Support Resources guide, visit:https://safeminds.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Parent-Support-Resources_SAFEMinds.pdf There are also copies of this guide up at the office outside sick bay.
If you have any concerns about your child's mental health or wellbeing, please contact your child's classroom teacher or Adam Todd via email adam.todd@education.vic.gov.au
