Principal's Desk

Good afternoon OPS families, 

What an amazing 2025 we have had a community, we are getting to the time of year where we reflect on all of our achievements as a school and community. I have personally had many highlights throughout 2025, which have included getting to know all the students, staff and community members of Officer Primary School, ensuring that we have provided the OPS students with many engaging and fun-filled events including, excursions and camps, sports clinics, involvement in the Cardinia Writing Project, OPS Has Got Talent, an author visit from Adam Wallace and the Victorian State School Spectacular. 

As a community, we have continued to work together to make OPS a great place to learn and grow. I would like to thank our School Council and PFA for all their contributions throughout 2025. The fundraising from 2025 has been a huge community effort raising over $16K. This has enabled us to have our sandpit has been upgraded this is a space that all of our students love to use and be in. 

I am very excited to announce that after a few extra prep enrolments that have come in over the last 3 weeks we will be running a second Prep class in 2026. The two prep classes will be in Learning Neighbourhood 2, our current prep room will remain where it is and our new class will be in the room directly opposite (where the computer lab was). 

Farewell Miss Augustus, Mr DeZilva, Mr Waldron

As the end of the year draws to a close, I would like to farewell Miss Augustus, Mr DeZilva, Mrs Waldron as they move to their new roles at Kulap Primary School. The dedication, enthusiasm and passion that these three staff members have shown in their time at OPS has helped shape our community into a wonderful place. All three will be missed at OPS but they have assured me that they will not be strangers and will come back to visit.  I would like to wish them all the very best on their new adventures at Kulap Primary School. 

Step Into Success (SIS)

The OPS transition program began on Tuesday with Step Into Success, it was a very was a success day for students and staff. Students spent the day with their 2026 teachers and classmates in their 2026 classrooms. All of our 2026 teachers were here to meet the students and start creating connections and positive relationships. SIS will continue for the first two weeks (seven days) of school in 2026. The program will focus on developing/revising a shared understanding of the OPS Values, creating a classroom community and developing a team approach. The program will conclude with the OPS community picnic on Thursday, 5th February (TBC). This will be an opportunity for the community to come together a celebrate the start of 2026.  

Welcome to OPS 

We were able to complete our staffing recruitment for 2026 last week. We have a Performing Arts teacher starting with us in 2026, Ms Davina Ashworth. Ms Ashworth has been a teacher for many years and is very excited to be creating the OPS Performing Arts programs for our students. 

Specialist Programs 2026 

Our specialist program in 2026 will be PE, STEAM and Performing Arts. We have not been able to recruit an AUSLAN teacher at this point but we are continuing to advertise. while we continue to look for a AUSLAN teacher we have found an online program that class teachers will be able to use in their classrooms to ensure that the students are practising the previously taught skills and learning new skills. 

Staff In 2026 

Prep TK- Ms Tricia Kennedy & Noah Keppel

Prep JD- Ms Jen Dyt & Sam Davy

1MK- Mrs Mandeep Kaur & Jacqui Dall

2CO- Miss Charlotte Oxley

3/4BD- Miss Bella D'Atri & Carol Major 

3/4EH- Miss Erin Hocking & Braden Venning

5AM- Miss Alicia McKenzie

6HM- Mr Hilton Melder

STEAM - Miss Nicole Peachey

Physical Education - Mr Jesse Shaw

Performing Arts- Ms Davina Ashworth

Assistant Principal- Mrs Renata Palmer (M, T & Th)

Business Manager and Wellbeing Support- Julie Barrow 

Welcome to 2026 Family Meetings

We will be hosting welcome back meetings for teachers, students and families on Wednesday 28th January. These meeting will be an opportunity for students and parents to meet with their 2026 class teacher, see their classroom, and chat about their holidays, interests etc. During the holidays the kids will receive a letter from school with a form to fill in about themselves so they can share with their teacher (this will also go up on compass) for families that are away.

STOMP Dance Program 2026

In Term 1 as a part of our community focus we will be running STOMP Dance program. This is a fun, engaging 5 week Hip Hop dance program that will conclude with a whole school performance in the week beginning 16th March. This will be a picnic dinner and we will invite Gary (food van) to come for the night performance. 

State School Spectacular 2026

We are thrilled to announce that OPS has been accepted to participate in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular in 2026 in the mass dance. We will be taking expressions of interest for students in grades 4 - 6 in 2026 who are interested in participating.

January Staff Birthdays

10th - Nicole Peachey

January Student Birthdays

Prep- Thomas

Grade 1- Ben

Grade 3- Indi

Grade 3-Hunter 

Grade 4- Sophie

Grade 4-Akiro

Grade 6- Sophie

Grade 6- Alethia

Grade 6- Si