CHANGE OF CURRICULUM DAY

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the presenter for our scheduled Curriculum Day on Thursday, 24th April is now unavailable. As a result, we will be shifting our Curriculum Day to Friday, 16th May to ensure this valuable learning can still take place.

We apologise for any inconvenience this change may cause and appreciate your understanding. We wanted to provide as much notice as possible to help families make arrangements.

We will be in contact with Kelly Club, our new OSHC provider, to ensure care can be provided on the day.

MOBILE PHONES AND OTHER COMMUNICATION TOOLS

We’d like to remind our school community about our mobile phone policy, which aligns with the Department of Education's guidelines. To support student learning and reduce distractions, mobile phones must be signed in at the office at the start of the school day and collected at the end if students choose to bring them to school.

This policy helps:

✅ Minimise distractions and keep students engaged in learning

✅ Promote positive social interactions during break times

✅ Ensure a safe and focused school environment

Smartwatches and other smart communication devices are also considered a form of communication. If your child wears one to school, we kindly ask that you remind them to sign it in at the office as well.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations with your child. Together, we can maintain a productive and distraction-free learning environment for all students.

EASTER FREE DRESS DAY

On Monday, 24th March, we will be holding a Free Dress Day for all students.

Instead of a gold coin donation, we ask students to bring an Easter item such as an egg, bunny, or Easter craft to contribute to the hampers being prepared by our OPPS Parents and Friends group. These hampers will be raffled off at our final assembly of the term.

Raffle ticket books will be sent home with students in the coming week, with the draw taking place at the final assembly on Friday, 4th April.

We hope this initiative adds some extra excitement to our Free Dress Day while also supporting our school community’s fundraising efforts. Let’s spread some Easter cheer and have a fantastic day!

HARMONY DAY

On Thursday, 20th March, we celebrated Harmony Day with our school community — one of the most highly anticipated events of Term 1!

It was a fantastic day filled with vibrant celebrations of our school's cultural diversity. We are incredibly proud of our inclusive community, and it was heartwarming to see students teaching each other about their cultures, sharing cultural dress, and embracing each individual's background with pride and acceptance.

A special thank you to the brave individuals who shared cultural performances with our school community. These included cultural dances, presentations, and other wonderful contributions that enriched the day.

KELLY CLUB – OUR NEW OSHC PROVIDER

We are excited to welcome Kelly Club as our new OSHC provider, starting at the beginning of Term 2. Their program will officially launch on the first day of term, Tuesday, 22nd April.

To allow Camp Australia time to conclude their program and to support a smooth transition for Kelly Club, there will be no holiday program operating at Orchard Park Primary School this term break.

Families can still access nearby Camp Australia holiday programs, including those at Bridgewood Primary School, St Clare’s Primary School and St Patrick's Primary School.

Information has been sent out to all families introducing Kelly Club and how to commence your enrolment process. For those looking to enrol, simply follow this QR code. If you require further support, please don’t hesitate to contact our admin team.

COMING SOON…DISCOVER HOW WE TEACH AND LEARN LITERACY AT ORCHARD PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL

We are absolutely thrilled to be running our Learning About Literacy sessions in Term 2, where you'll gain valuable insights into how literacy is taught at Orchard Park Primary School and how you can support your child’s learning at home.

What to Expect:

✔ Experience Literacy in Action – Observe our engaging teaching and learning approaches in the Learning Communities.

✔ Understand the Why – Learn about the evidence-based frameworks behind our literacy instruction.

✔ Support Your Child at Home – Discover practical strategies to help your child develop strong literacy skills.

✔ Explore Being a Parent Helper – Find out how you can get involved in supporting literacy learning at school.

Dates and times of these sessions will be confirmed soon. A link to register your participation will be shared shortly as well. Keep your eyes open for more information on these exciting opportunities for families.

EXCITING UPGRADES TO OUR SCHOOL

Our school oval has undergone significant upgrades to ensure it remains a fantastic space for our students. Extensive work—including coring, spraying, seeding, top dressing, and fertilising—has resulted in a lush and inviting area for outdoor activities. A special highlight has been the installation of new soccer goals, generously funded by Parents & Friends. A huge thank you to Aaron, John and Jake Ryan for volunteering their time to install the goals—our students are absolutely loving them!

Meanwhile, our learning spaces have also received a refresh! The auditoriums have been transformed with the removal of tiered seating, creating a more flexible and engaging learning environment. We’ve also installed new carpeting in several areas, enhancing comfort and focus. These improvements are already making a positive impact, and we’re excited to continue enhancing our school facilities for our students.

Orchard Park News

Going Further Together

Issue 4 · 21 Mar 2025

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