Year 6 City Camp – A Core Memory Experience

Our Year 6 students enjoyed an action-packed three days and two nights exploring the very best of our great city, creating memories that will stay with them long after their final year of primary school. From the exhibits at the Melbourne Museum, to the excitement of a twilight visit to Melbourne Zoo, the wonders of SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, and wandering the laneways and stalls of the Queen Victoria Market, our students embraced every experience with enthusiasm and curiosity.

I (Mr Jagoe) had the pleasure of attending the camp alongside Miss McConnell, Miss Jones and Mrs Chambers. A huge thank you to these staff members for committing to the entirety of the camp and helping make this such a special and meaningful experience for all of our Year 6 students as they approach the end of their primary school journey.

I was incredibly proud of how our students represented our school throughout the entire camp. Their respect, responsibility and consideration for others were exemplary and did not go unnoticed. In fact, camp staff specifically commented on how polite, organised and tidy our students were — including how well their cabins were kept. And yes… even the boys impressed us, with no socks, jocks or mystery items left scattered around!

Well done Year 6, a wonderful camp and a fitting celebration as you embark on your final year of primary school.

Swimming Program Underway

Our swimming program has officially commenced this week, and it has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm and confidence our students have brought to the pool. From the very first sessions, students have embraced the immersion experience, demonstrating courage, focus and a willingness to challenge themselves as they develop their skills in the water.

As part of this expanded program, our Year 1 and Year 2 students are participating in an intensive five-lesson swimming program at the Haileybury Berwick Swimming Pools during Term 1. This program provides a valuable opportunity for students to build essential water safety knowledge and swimming skills, supporting them to become more confident and capable in aquatic environments.

Lessons are delivered by highly qualified instructors, with students supported and extended according to their individual entry skill levels. This ensures every child is both challenged and encouraged appropriately, allowing them to make strong progress across the program.

The first week has been a fantastic start, and we look forward to seeing students continue to grow in confidence and ability as the program continues into next week.

Thank You to Our Departing School Council Members

As we look ahead, we would like to take a moment to sincerely thank and acknowledge several School Council members who are stepping aside after making a significant contribution to Orchard Park Primary School.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Simone Hoath, who is concluding her time on School Council after being a strong, passionate, and committed member of our inaugural Council. Simone has been a key community contributor since the very beginning of Orchard Park PS, including her involvement in the Regional Advisory Group during the school’s design phase—supporting the naming of the school and the appointment of myself as our founding principal. Simone also played an instrumental role in establishing our Parents and Friends group and continues to demonstrate a deep and genuine commitment to our school community. Her advocacy and dedication have helped shape the strong foundations we benefit from today.

We also farewell and thank Hannah Milburn, who has been an active and highly valued member of School Council, initially as a community representative and more recently as our School Council President for the past two years. Throughout her time in this leadership role, Hannah has consistently advocated for ongoing improvement and has helped guide the school through an important period of growth and development. Her leadership, clarity, and commitment to the best outcomes for students and families have been greatly appreciated.

Finally, we thank Yuliia Litvinova for her two years of service on School Council. Yuliia has been a consistently positive and thoughtful contributor, offering valuable perspectives and insights that have supported our ongoing improvement work. Her considered input and collaborative approach have been a real asset to the Council.

We thank Simone, Hannah, and Yuliia for the time, energy, and care they have given to Orchard Park Primary School and wish them all the very best moving forward.

Please stay tuned for more information in upcoming newsletters as we introduce our 2026 School Council.

Orchard Park News

Going Further Together

Issue 3 · 27 Feb 2026

In this issue