Principal's Report 

From the Principal...

Survey Results

Thank you so much to the parents, staff and students who completed our school survey. The information collected will provide additional feedback for our school review, aside from the official parent, staff and student surveys.  There were many positive comments around our wonderful staff and the small community feel to our school. All feedback is highly valued and carefully considered in future planning.

Capital Works Update

Today, Lorrie Dell and I met with the architect and VSBA representative to view schematic designs of our new learning spaces. Discussions were around fittings and furnishings which may suit both the new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) block and the more modernized classrooms. The school asked the Victorian Building Authority to consider commencing parts of the capital works earlier to ensure we have enough teaching spaces to commence the new year. The school has prepared plans for next year based on either 19 or 20 classes as we continue to receive a number of later enrolments.

Staffing Update

As many of you are aware, Sandra Johnson (Year 6) had a fall at school and badly broke her wrist. She is recovering at home and the school community sends her our best wishes. She will return to Ormond PS next week and she is looking forward to rejoining the Year 6 team and seeing her students.

We have currently advertised 3 teaching positions for 2019 and we will be interviewing successful candidates early next week. I was incredibly pleased with the quality and number of applicants which strongly indicates that our school is a place of choice for many teachers seeking a change or to commence their career in teaching. We make every effort to employ staff with a range of experience and skills to complement our current teachers across the school.

2019 - Planning and Preparation

Ormond PS has much to look forward to in the near future. New facilities, new teaching teams and a school review to guide ongoing planning and whole school improvement. As we prepare to place children in classes for next year, we are making careful observations around the social and academic needs of each child. This includes friendship groups and considerations around well balanced home groups including assessment and wellbeing information. There will be a number of whole school transition activities in the next few months to ensure students are well prepared for a change to a new level. These sessions will outline the highlights of each grade level and what the students look forward to, that is unique and special to that level.

This may include camps, special events, working towards a pen license or possible leadership opportunities. Each year level is different and the school hopes to generate excitement and enthusiasm amongst all our students.

Speaking of excitement, it is with great pleasure that I can announce that Ormond PS will have a Performing Arts/ Music program in 2019. This specialist area will include singing, instrumental activities and drama. The program will cover all components of the Performing Arts curriculum and it will provide students with opportunities to rehearse and then perform a range of musical and theatrical items on stage.

Facilities & Grounds

I just want to let the community know that we are working towards beautifying our school grounds. This includes replacing damaged and weathered outdoor seating with furniture that is more modern and bright. The facilities group have been sourcing table sets and chairs and obtaining quotes.

Our Working Bee is on November 17th and part of the day will be allocated to reviewing the new seating possibilities. I encourage as many people as possible to join us on the day so that we can knock over many tasks including gardening, sweeping and painting. Please bring along any named tools that will assist with tasks and the facilities team will have a clear list of priority areas on display that you can sign up for. Children are more than welcome and we will have a sausage sizzle available to help keep our energy levels up. I look forward to seeing you all there!

Special Events

On Thursday, our school will participate in two significant events. These events will be thoroughly engaging and they will help to promote learning in different settings and different curriculum focus areas. I look forward to sharing some of the photos of these events in my next newsletter.

The first event is ‘Outdoor Classroom Day’.

What's it all about?  When teachers take learning outdoors they report some powerful impacts: Children’s behaviour improves, whole classes are excited to learn, and individuals who feel inhibited by the curriculum often thrive in an outdoor environment.  When adults think back to their own happiest memories of childhood, they frequently recall the joy of playing outdoors. Play is not only central to children’s enjoyment of childhood, but teaches critical life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and creativity.   Building on the success of the 2017 campaign, the aim was to get as many children as possible playing and learning outside on Thursday 1 November.

For some schools, this will be an opportunity to try learning outside the classroom for the first time. For teachers who regularly take students outdoors, the day will be a celebration of what they are doing already and a chance to inspire other schools to get involved. For everyone, Outdoor Classroom Day will act as a catalyst for more time outdoors every day. 

The second significant event is ‘Music Count Us In’.

Music: Count Us In – How does it help?

MCUI plays a vital role in fostering music education in schools, with a presence in every state and territory in the country.  It is internationally recognized as the world’s largest school music initiative, and an important part of the Australian school calendar.  It offers students music participation and skill development, delivers much needed resources and training to teachers, accesses and supports regional and remote locations and special needs areas and provides a whole-of-school engagement activity. The program culminates in the National Celebration Day when more than half a million students sing the same song, on the same day, at the same time – the annual Program Song. It is a song written by students, for students. There are so many ways to bring more music into student’s lives. Music: Count Us In is just the beginning!

Once again, I ask if you know that your child will not be returning to Ormond Primary School in 2019 to please inform the school via email as soon as possible so the appropriate transfers can be arranged. 

Kerri McLeod

Principal

Out of School Hours

Lost Property

We have a bag full of clothing lost during the September School Holiday Program.

Please request to check the bag, for your child’s clothing.

January School Holiday Program 2019

School Holiday Program Dates Monday 14th January to Tuesday 29th January. The Holiday Program Schedule will be available  from Monday 19th November.

After School Care Activities

Thursday 1st Nov                               Paper Marbling

Friday 2nd Nov                                     Fun Friday

Monday 5th Nov                                 Paper Horses

Tuesday 6th Nov                                 Melbourne Cup Holiday

Wednesday 7th Nov                         Cup Maracas

Thursday 8th Nov                               Bakers Dough

Friday  9th Nov                                     Fun Friday

Monday 12th Nov                               Spiral Marble Track

Tuesday 13th Nov                               Friendship Bands

Wednesday 14th Nov                       Dice Bracelets

April Kopitz

Out of School Hours Coordinator