Principal Report 

Oatlands from My Point of View

Matthew Kenny – Principal

Term 3 at Oatlands Primary School has been another busy and rewarding one. Throughout the term, our students have enjoyed a wide variety of experiences including dress-up days, 100 Days of School celebrations, Book Week activities (including a book trail, The Great Booknic, mystery readers and a Book Showcase), year level excursions, swimming lessons, Grade 6 cooking competitions, district and division athletics, Hoop Time, Father’s Day Breakfast, Grandparents Afternoon and, of course, the school disco. Student participation across these events was outstanding and it was wonderful to see how much enjoyment they brought to our school community. A sincere thank you to our dedicated staff, the PFA and the many parent volunteers who give their time to make these opportunities possible, it truly makes a difference.

While special events add a lot of fun to school life, what stands out most at Oatlands is the way our students balance enjoyment with commitment to their learning. Each time I visit classrooms, I see students who are highly engaged and focused. Even when our timetable is filled with exciting activities, our staff and students consistently show their ability to adjust, regulate and make the most of learning opportunities. This balance is something we are very proud of.

Father’s Day Breakfast 

This term we were thrilled to host our annual Father’s Day Breakfast. Once again, the gym was filled with more than 500 dads, uncles, grandparents and special father figures. Our guest speaker, Mark ‘Squiz’ Squirrell, shared inspiring stories from his career in the Australian Defence Force, his time as a Commando in the Special Forces, his humanitarian work with the World Food Programme, and his remarkable climb to the summit of Mount Everest. Following the presentation, visitors joined students in classrooms for a range of hands-on activities before returning to the gym for a well-earned egg and bacon muffin and a cuppa. A big thank you to our staff for the effort they put into organising the morning, and to our families for once again showing such strong support for this much-loved tradition.

As we wrap up Term 3, I’d like to thank our students, staff and families for your ongoing support and commitment to our school community. We look forward to an exciting and successful Term 4 ahead!