Welcome

Wawa, Wominjika. 

Here at Old Orchard Primary School, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we visit each day, the Wurrunguri and Woiwurrung people of the Kulin nation.  We acknowledge and respect the elders and leaders past and present and the elders and leaders of all of the cultures and nationalities that are part of the Old Orchard Primary School community.  We express our gratitude towards the orchards that were kept in place by the peoples on this land before us.  We thank the traditional owners for sharing this beautiful land that we all love, and for keeping the land, sky, waterways and animals all in great condition for thousands of years, not only for themselves but for all the generations to come.

What a busy time of the year it is at school!  

Year 4 Camp Rumbug

Our Year 4 campers are having a great time at Camp Rumbug. Set among the hills of South Gippsland, the camp spans 200 acres of stunning Victorian rainforest.

Over the course of the two-night camp, students will take part in a range of exciting activities, including the giant swing and canoeing. However, a firm favourite each year is the mud run. Our campers will return on Friday, and we can’t wait to hear about their adventures, particularly any stories about our intrepid staff, Jen Males, Althea Huf and Lucy McMillan. We’re also wondering whether Duncan will tackle the mud run this year! 

A special thank you to our incredible staff and parent helpers (Emma, Jordan, Deanna and Katrina) for helping to create such a memorable experience for our students. We would also like to acknowledge Sheree for the many hours she spent organising the camp and making it all possible. 

Junior Concert - When I Grow Up 

Next Tuesday, 25 August, our Junior Concert will take place at The Round in Nunawading. Our students have been working hard and are almost ready to take to the stage. During the day on Tuesday, students will spend a few hours at The Round for their final rehearsal before the evening performance. 

We can’t wait to see our Prep to Year 3 students shine! It is always a highlight of the school calendar. 

District Athletics

Next Tuesday our athletics team will represent the school at the district athletics competition.  We wish them a sunny day and lots of luck!

State School Spectacular 

The 2026 Victorian State Schools Spectacular, This Is Me, will take place at John Cain Arena on Saturday, 29 August. We are incredibly fortunate to have passionate staff at Old Orchard Primary School who give their time to support our students in participating in these opportunities. A big thank you to Rebecca Mitchell and Rhiannon Trimby, and congratulations to all the students involved.

Tickets are still available through the Ticketek website for anyone interested in watching what promises to be a truly impressive performance. 

Prep-2 Athletics

We are excited to hold our first-ever Prep-Year 2 Athletics Day on Friday, 21st August.

The day will build on the activities students have already enjoyed with their house groups earlier this year. With guidance from James Roche, our Sports Academy students have planned and organised a range of fun, tabloid-style athletics events for our junior students.

Throughout the day, students will rotate through eight different activities led by our Sports Academy students. We wonder which house will take home the win on Friday!

One More Week of Winter

With the final week of winter upon us, we’re looking forward to saying goodbye to the chilly mornings and welcoming some warmer, brighter spring days. The change of season is also an opportunity to reset routines and approach the remainder of the school year with renewed energy. Regular attendance, arriving at school on time and maintaining consistent evening routines all help students feel settled and ready to make the most of the final weeks of Term 3 and a very busy Term 4.

We have a wellbeing support team at Old Orchard, including our Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, Adam Todd. If your child is experiencing any challenges with their wellbeing, attendance or school routines, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher or Adam. Together, let’s make the most of this new season! 

Jen McCann and Clare Murray

Every Minute Counts

At Old Orchard Primary School, we know that learning begins from the moment students walk through the classroom door. Arriving on time gives children the opportunity to settle into their learning, connect with classmates and start the day feeling calm and prepared. Last week, our attendance percentage was 94.1%, which continues our Term 3 streak of maintaining over 94% attendance. Well done!

The first few minutes of each day are often when teachers share important information, explain the day's learning, establish classroom routines and help students transition into learning. Missing these opportunities, even by a few minutes, can make it harder for children to feel organised and ready for the rest of the day.

While 10 minutes may not seem like much, those minutes add up over the course of a year.

How quickly does it add up?