Principal's Report
& School News
From the Principal...
Term One is certainly flying by and as I visit classrooms, I can see how well students have settled in to the school year. The staff have commented on how quickly the children have transitioned to their new levels and how well they are progressing with their learning. Tutoring and additional support have benefited identified students after the challenges of 2020. There have been a number of special events and excursions happening at different levels and as we move towards the final weeks of the term, we have casual clothes day (March 26th) to support the P&F Easter Raffle and the whole school picnic is taking place next Friday evening (March 12th). The staff and students are all looking forward to these special events and we thank the community for their organization and preparation.
AGM – Parents and Friends
On Tuesday evening, I enjoyed attending the Parent and Friends AGM where the new office bearers for 2021 were voted in. The school truly appreciates the strong partnership we have with parent representatives and we certainly loved meeting some of these reps at the morning tea yesterday. We are delighted to learn that Heather Hosken will be continuing on as the Parent and Friends President. The next AGM will be the School Council elections on Wednesday March 17th. There were a number of positions that came up for re-election or required filling with new committee members.
Camp News
I am incredibly excited to be attending the Year 5 camp next week. This is the first time I have been to this particular site but the staff attending have had multiple meetings about expectations, activities and processes. We have the full ratio of adults in attendance, as well as camp supervisors who will lead certain activities. It is important that we encourage students to attend camp particularly after many camps were cancelled in 2020. The learning and educational benefits are truly significant.
Safety Online
We encourage parents to co-view, co-play, ask questions about the games and apps they are using, and let them know you are there to support them if they are upset or uncomfortable about anything they see online.
Five top tips to help limit your child’s exposure to harmful content online:
1. Engage in your child’s online activities – ask what apps, sites and games they are using and make sure they are age-appropriate
2. Use parental controls on devices to help limit what your child is exposed to
3. Let them know not everything they see online is real or true.
4. Help them report and block upsetting content they see on social media sites or apps.
5. Let them know they can come to you about anything upsetting they see online, and contact Kids Helpline if they need further support.
Home Learning
Please keep encouraging your children to read at home. It is extremely important to listen to your children read aloud at various times, so you can hear whether they are reading for meaning or just reading for reading’s sake.
Ensuring they use correct phrasing, punctuation, pronounce words correctly and predict what might happen in a book are just a few of the strategies you as a parent can look out for.
Modelling good reading habits to your children is also a must as they can clearly hear and see how a book should be read. Take the time to read to them, make it a routine and see the results!
Student Voice and Agency
I would like to thank a number of students who have come to me to present ideas and improvements for the school. This is very timely after our challenging 2020 and we look forward to hearing more from the SRC, as well as seeing them more present and visible across the school. The voice of the students is paramount to ensure we all continue to make Ormond PS the best it can be. I am a very big advocate for student voice and agency!
2021 Student Leaders
Congratulations to our student leaders for 2021 who were presented with their badges by Nick Staikos MP earlier this week.
STEAM Building Opening
Our STEAM room and completed building works were officially opened last week with our Member for Bentleigh Nick Staikos MP along with our architect's from 1:1 and the School Building Authority who were involved in the project from inception. Finally seeing their vision come to life gave them much joy along with seeing the excitement amongst the students eager to learn and use the brand new facilities.
School Tours - 2022 Enrolments
Several School Tours have now been scheduled for families intending to enrol for 2022. A full list of dates and times are available on the website or in this newsletter (pg3). Bookings are essential, and are limited to 5 adults per tour. Please contact the office to book your tour on 03 9578 1327.
Kerri McLeod
Principal
Out of School Care
Curriculum Day
The program will be open on Monday 22nd March for students requiring care for the planned curriculum day
- Hours: 8.00am to 6.00pm.,
- Cost $60.00 per child
- Children must be enrolled in the program for 2021.
- Children need to bring lunch, morning tea &a drink bottle.
- Children are not required to wear their school uniform.
Please text your booking 0439 111 026 or call the program on 03 9578 5826 during session times. Bookings close Wednesday 17th March.
New families are welcome to book into the program on completion of OSHC enrolment forms. Families who have not used the service previously must also provide copies of your child's immunisation records at the same time as the enrolment forms. For further information Ph: 9578 5826
Lost Property
We have clothing items left behind during the January school holiday program. Please check the lost property box located outside the hall during program hours.
After School Care Activities
Tuesday 9th March Self Portrait.
Wednesday 10th March Weaving
Thursday 11th March Peg Heads
Friday 12th March Children’s Choice
Monday 15th March Bag Tags
Tuesday 16th March Space Mobile
Wednesday 17th March Charm Bracelets
Thursday 18th March Painting
Friday 19th March Children’s Choice
April Kopitz
Out of School Hours Coordinator
Second Hand Uniform Sale
There will be a long awaited Second Hand Uniform Sale next week.
Friday 12th March 3:15pm to 4:00pm in the 3rd portable (aka Rm17/Ms Bell's or 3A's classroom).
People attending the stall will need to check in to the QR code at the site (Services Victoria App) and social distance at all times.
Cash only - please only bring coins or small denominations as limited change will be available.
Harmony Day
On Tuesday the 23rd of March, Ormond Primary School will be celebrating Harmony Day. Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Students have the option to come to school dressed in a cultural outfit reflecting their heritage. Students also have the option to dress in orange or wear their uniform with a splash of orange (e.g. scrunchie, scarf, socks), as this represents Harmony Day.
Lunch Time Activities
Multimedia coding competition: 10th of March for Yr 4- 6
Students will be using the coding program called ‘SCRATCH’ to come up with the best animation. No sign up necessary and all will be provided. Outside the Hall on the first half of lunch. All students are welcome to come and watch.
Basketball competition: Yr 4 & 5 starting Tuesday 16th March -Friday 19th of March
Tuesday will be MacKillop vs Flynn
Wednesday will be Hollows vs Chisholm.
On Thursday, teams who lost will play each other for 3rd place.
Finals will be held on Friday.
No sign up necessary and all will be provided. Students can meet the captains on the basketball court at the start of lunch. All students are welcome to come and watch.
Library News
Book Club catalogues will be sent home this week. All orders must be completed online, directly with Schoolastic. Orders required to be delivered to the school must be ordered no later than Friday 12th March.
PE/Sports News
District Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to the 22 students from Year 3 to 6 that competed at the District Swimming competition at GESAC on Tuesday 2nd of March. It was a cold day and our students displayed fantastic determination, effort and teamwork. Ormond PS finished in 5th position overall!
Well done to the following students that placed from 1st to 3rd.
- Noam C - 1st in backstroke, 47.04
- Justin C - 1st in backstroke and 2nd in freestyle, 38.75
- Tessa M - 1st in breaststroke, 48.64 and 2nd in butterfly, 45.58
- Michelle C - 2nd in breaststroke, 55.62
- Adelaide B - 3rd in freestyle, 38.61
- Kynan E - 2nd in freestyle, 40.12
- Clea C - 3rd in backstroke, 47.49
- U11 Boys freestyle relay (Noam, Kynan, Morgan, Ben) - 3rd
- U12 Boys freestyle relay (Justin, Morgan, Sebastian, Hamish) - 2nd
- Boys Open Medley relay (Noam, Morgan, Justin, Kynan) - 2nd
Cross Country Training
All students in Year 3 to 5 are welcome to come along to the following Cross Country running trainings this Term.
Training is held in the morning from 8:15am- 8:45am.
- Tuesday 16th March
- Wednesday 17th March
- Tuesday 23rd March
- Wednesday 24th March
- Tuesday 30th March
- Tuesday 31st March
Visual Arts News
The Visual Artists of Ormond have been working hard completing their artworks this Term. Please have a look at the photos to see what great work has been going on so far in the Art Room and what is up on display around the school.
Keep up the wonderful creativity OPS artists!
Foundation News
The Foundation students had a wonderful time meeting their Grade 5 buddies last week. We were able to go out and enjoy the sunshine while eating our lunch together. The Foundation students have loved having their buddies to play with at recess and lunch time!
Year 1 News
On Tuesday the 23rd of February, the Year 1 cohort was lucky enough to receive visit from the Values for Life organization, within which, students learnt all about ‘Bouncing Back’ and building resilience. The session leader, Tim, was able to help the students work through a variety of different social and emotional situations, and support their learning in developing community values, making wise choices and fulfilling their potential.
The students had an excellent time completing a variety of physical and role-play activities, in an energized, healthy school environment. Ormond Primary would like to offer a big thank you to the Values for Life team, and is looking forward to our next ‘Bounce Back’ incursion experience.
Year 2 News
Year 2 are exploring Mixtures in our science unit, 'All Mixed Up'. We are investigating the following questions:
What is a mixture?
Where are mixtures found?
What are mixtures used for?
Can we separate mixtures?
Students are also learning to record their observations using annotated drawings.
In the photographs, the children are mixing together some ingredients and then testing which mixtures can be separated again through a sieve.
Year 3 News
The Year 3 students have been using their thinking skills to help them to solve problems. Through discussion they have been making connections with positive and negative emotions inside and outside of the classroom. They put their collective thoughts together to create visuals on situations that can trigger emotions and how to respond appropriately.
Addition and subtraction are the next units in Mathematics. The children have been choosing thinking strategies such as, Try All Possibilities, and Look for a Pattern, to solve addition problems requiring multiple answers.
Year 4 News
Year 4 Ascending and Descending!
As the year 4 students begin their journey up the stairs to their classrooms, cries of “ASCENDING” can be heard echoing along the line. After an intensive learning session, when they are ready to run and play outside, how do they travel down the stairs? “WE ARE DESCENDING!” comes the cry.
As part of our number focus over the past 4 weeks, students have been using their knowledge of place value to recognise and demonstrate ascending and descending order. These photos are of one of the many games we have been playing to consolidate students’ skills in generating, renaming and ordering numbers up to 10,000.
Year 5 News
Camp
Year 5 camp to Camp Kookaburra is fast approaching! Just a reminder to make sure all items on the equipment list are packed and named. Naming of clothing and other items is very important as we always have left over items with no claimant! Please have lunch and play lunch packed in a labelled lunch bag and a drink bottle for the first day. On arrival on the Tuesday morning, please take any medications to Mrs. Kah who will be set up near the front office area.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with your child’s teacher.
Classroom News
All year 5 classes have created some wonderful castles in their studies of 3d shapes in mathematics.
Monday Sport
Students are enjoying the inter-house competitions of a Monday afternoon. We have competed in Hotshots (tennis),Rrounders, T10 cricket and T-ball. The competition has been hotly contested with teams very even at this stage.
Year 6 News
Year Six students participated in an online incursion to Victorian Parliament House. The focus of the incursion was on ‘How laws are made in Australia’. Students were given a scenario about banning plastic straws in Australia and had to debate in order to get the law passed.
The Year Six focus for Performing Arts this term is Dance. Students look at the different elements and expressive skills required to choreograph a dance. This lesson highlighted dances by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. They learnt traditional dance moves and performed a dance in teams for their peers.
