Leadership Report

INTRODUCING OUR WHOLE-SCHOOL AUSLAN IMMERSION PROGRAM

We’re excited to share that beginning Week 2 of Term 2, our school will be launching a whole-school Auslan Immersion Program as part of our commitment to embedding a Languages Program across the curriculum.

As many families may be aware, securing a qualified language teacher can be incredibly challenging. Rather than delay the opportunity for our students to engage in language learning, we have opted for an innovative and inclusive immersion approach using Auslan (Australian Sign Language).

Each week, students across the school will participate in an Auslan lesson, delivered via video every Friday afternoon before Assembly. These engaging lessons will focus on a different topic or theme each week – from greetings and colours to emotions and everyday communication.

We’re thrilled that this program will be designed and led by two of our Education Support staff, Charli and Danni, who are both currently studying teaching. 

We look forward to watching our students (and staff!) grow in their understanding of Auslan and embrace this new way to connect, communicate and celebrate inclusive language learning.

Stay tuned – we’ll share some highlights throughout the term!

LEARNING ABOUT LITERACY – PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

As shared in today’s Compass post, we are excited to invite our families to a series of Parent Information Sessions in Term 2, focusing on Literacy at Orchard Park!

These sessions are a fantastic opportunity to gain insights into how literacy is taught at school, explore evidence-based approaches, and pick up practical strategies to support your child’s reading development at home.

Session Details: 

📘 'The Reading Code' – Wednesday 23rd April 

📖 'Reading Fluency' – Wednesday 14th May 

📚 'Reading Comprehension' – Wednesday 4th June 

🕓 All sessions run from 8:45am–9:45am

Don't miss this chance to connect with our educators and deepen your understanding of how we foster literacy learning across the school. We look forward to seeing you there!

KELLY CLUB IS HERE!

We’re thrilled to officially welcome Kelly Club as our brand-new Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) provider at Orchard Park Primary School! Their program will launch on Tuesday, 22nd April, the first day of Term 2.

This afternoon, Kelly Club joined us at the front of the school to greet families, share information about their program, and even shout everyone a coffee from the van! It was a fantastic way to kick off this new partnership and connect with our school community.

To allow Camp Australia time to wrap up their program and support a smooth transition, there will be no holiday program onsite during the upcoming term break. However, families can still access nearby Camp Australia holiday programs, including those at Bridgewood PS, St Clare’s PS, and St Patrick's PS.

Information about enrolling with Kelly Club has already been sent to all families. If you’re ready to register, simply scan the QR code provided. If you have any questions or need help, our friendly admin team is here to assist.

We can’t wait to see Kelly Club in action next term!

EASTER RAFFLE

We wrapped up Term 1 with a joyful celebration and the exciting draw of our annual Easter Raffle!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our families, we were able to create a whopping 74 Easter prizes this year. A huge congratulations to Claire from Prep A, who took home our biggest Easter hamper!

This year’s raffle raised over $4000—a phenomenal effort and a true reflection of our wonderful school community.

A massive thank you to our dedicated Parents and Friends team for their work behind the scenes in coordinating donations, assembling prizes, and running the fundraiser. Your efforts make a real difference!

GRADE 3 EXCURSION - CRANBOURNE GARDENS

On Thursday 3rd April, Year 3 students headed out on an exciting excursion to the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens to celebrate a fantastic term of learning.

The day began with a fascinating talk from Bec, a member of the gardens team, who shared insights into the heritage of the area and how Aboriginal Australian Peoples have traditionally used—and continue to use—the land and its resources.

Students explored the gardens and discovered how different plants have been used for food, tools, and cultural practices. A highlight of the day was using ochre to create paint and drawing traditional symbols on the ground—a truly hands-on experience that brought their learning to life.

Following the garden tour, students enjoyed lunch and playtime at the Woodlands Playground. They were engaged and respectful throughout the day and had a wonderful time exploring both the cultural and natural beauty of the gardens.

A big thank you to the Year 3 teaching team for organising such a memorable experience for these curious and enthusiastic learners!