Principal's Report 

& School News

From the Principal...

Welcome back to all students, teachers and families for the 2021 school year. It has been a very calm start and I thank the staff for their wonderful contributions over the holidays. I would like to welcome new families who have joined us this year and I am sure they will enjoy being a part of the OPS school community. We welcomed the Foundation children this week, who started their first day at school. The teachers have created a lovely work area for our two Foundation classes. I again thank the Foundation team – Amy Jones and Laura Cecil for their preparation over the past couple of weeks. I would like to officially welcome our new staff members to the school. Mr Angus Dickason is teaching in Year 1, Ms Delia Robey in Year 4 and Nicole Lichoudaris in Year 5 and Ms Anna Bui in STEAM. These teachers are wonderful additions to the OPS staff. We also have staff returning after a period of absence – Mrs Carrie Tunnock and Ms. Margot Hudson. 

At Ormond Primary School through the delivery of quality programs, children excel and recognise their potential in a safe, caring and supportive environment which encourages a positive attitude to learning. Ormond Primary recognises the importance of the partnership between children, staff, parents and the wider community.

2021 Student Leaders

Congratulations to our Year 6 students chosen by their peers and staff to represent OPS as Student Leaders for 2021. They will gain valuable leadership skills and already show many great qualities needed to be a leader. We look forward to hearing from them throughout the year. 

School Captains                                                

• Hamish M
• Clea C

Vice Captains  

• Ruby J-A
• Morgan N

SRC Captains

• Clementine H
• Luca Lopez

Environment Captains

• Thanvi G
• Leo T

STEAM Captains

• Justin C
• Kora B
• Utkarsh S

House Captains

       Chisholm            

• Georgia W
• Evie H

      Flynn

• Tessa Mac
• Adam A

      Hollows 

• Kynan E
• Ashwyn B

      MacKillop 

• Matilda J
• Sammy M

Multimedia Captains

• Yoon L
• Lily W
• Ethan W
• Sophie A

Cultural Captains

• James D
• Evelyn N

Performing Arts

• Johnathon D
• Zoe X

Visual Arts

• Joy S
• Sophie L

Our Key Improvement Strategies for 2021

• To improve student achievement in Literacy and Numeracy
• To enhance the learning growth, engagement and achievement of every student
• To increase levels of student cognitive and social engagement, through student voice and agency in their learning
• To develop students who are motivated, resilient and willing to contribute as global citizens

To achieve these goals we need to focus on curriculum planning and assessment, empowering students and building school pride and promoting student health and wellbeing.

School Uniform 

Our students look amazing in their school uniform. School uniform is compulsory for all students. Please ensure that uniform is clearly marked with your child’s name, particularly hats and jumpers. Thank you so much to our many families who had their children in full school uniform for the start of our school year.  We are a Sun Smart school and as such children are required to wear a wide brimmed hat from September through April every time they go outside, we recommend all year round. They are also required to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated during the day. On extreme hot weather days the school will be running a Sweat day timetable where children stay inside. This will be at the discretion of the Principal. 

Parent Participation at OPS

A feature of an effective school can be measured in part by parent participation and input. At OPS we welcome and encourage community participation as it supports everything we do. As the year progresses, parents will be given many opportunities to be involved in the school and I encourage all parents to offer their assistance where and when possible. 

Please consider your involvement in the following: 

• Class Representative Program
• Working Bees
• Parents and Friend’s Association
• School Council
• Excursions
• Sporting Events
• Classroom Programs (as negotiated with classroom teachers)
• School Events (Concerts / Theme Days / Family Nights etc.)

Child Safety

Ormond Primary School is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision making. Ormond Primary School is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability. Every person involved in OPS has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she plays individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.

In addition, the Statement of Commitment may describe the school’s principles for child safety. For example:

In its planning, decision-making and operations Ormond Primary will:

1. Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;
2. Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;
3. Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children
4. Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;
5. Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;
6. Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;
7. Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues;
8. Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;
9. Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and
10. Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers

Please visit our school website for more information all school policies including updated policies attached below.

Student Learning and Effort 

When we talk about student achievement, we talk about what the teacher does that is most effective and also what students can do that increases their learning. Things like maintaining effort, concentrating, giving attention to focusing, persevering and completing the work or task. Ormond PS students and teachers use learning goals and intentions for each lesson to help students know what to do and what to focus on. Focus is about making things clearer, doing those things like identifying similarities and differences that make learning explicit and building connections to other things students know or know how to do. 

Students in class can do many things to help improve their learning like taking notes while the teacher is talking, drawing an image to represent what they have learned, asking the teacher for help or feedback. These things keep our students on track, paying attention and focused. Through their planning, our teachers help students to improve motivation and risk taking. Through their use of prompts, visual images, short video clips, humour, making things engaging and fun, making it challenging, making the learning interesting, students will be more focused. This means students will do more, write more, read more, be connected more, be able to apply more, be involved more in class, be learning more. As a staff we are aiming for at least 12 months’ learning progress in a calendar year for all of our children.

Parent Information Sessions (Covid Guidelines Permitting)

At this stage, session times are scheduled as follows and will run for approximately 45 minutes. 

Monday 8th February

• 6:00pm - Year 1 & 2
• 7:00pm - Year 3

Tuesday 9th February

• 3:45pm - Foundation
• 6:00pm - Year 4
• 7:00pm - Year 5 & 6

In light of recent changes to the state-wide Covid-19 Restrictions, we are waiting confirmation around density numbers for visitors on-site to determine where each Information Session will be held, or if we can still hold them. As soon as we have this information we will inform the school community with the details. It is the school's preference that only one parent/carer from each household  attends these sessions to assist us in the limited number of  visitors we are able to have on site. Children are also included in density limits, therefore where possible we ask that they remain at home.  

You Tell Us Sessions (change to format from previous years)

Sessions are scheduled to take place during week 4 (15th to 19th Feb). During next weeks Parent Information Sessions parents can complete a brief "Getting to Know You" Questionnaire about their child for their new teachers. Teachers will then reach out to particular parents they would like to see to arrange a time to meet with you. Alternatively, if there are any concerns or issues your child's teacher should be made aware of please email them directly via compass. 

Welcome Night – Friday March 12th (Covid guidelines permitting) 

Parents and Friends will be hosting the 2021 Welcome Night on Friday 12th March from 5pm-8pm. This is a great opportunity for all the new and existing families within the school community to get together for some family fun and food within the school grounds. This year there will be food trucks on site. There will also be an outdoor disco and icy poles. You are also encouraged to bring you own picnic to ensure we are social distancing at all times. I look forward to meeting you there. The majority of staff will be there to mingle and introduce themselves as well!

Traffic Safety at OPS 

Please be aware of all parking signs around the school, as parking inspectors will take your license plate and follow up by possibly booking you. Please do not stop across the school gates, driveways or crossings. There are 2 minute kiss and go areas and one clearly labelled disabled park. The two manned crossings for Ormond Primary are the safest places to cross our neighbouring roads. We would like you to lead by example! Bikes and scooters should always be walked across the crossings to keep everyone safe. Stay behind the white line till you hear 2 whistles which indicates you are free to cross. The school works closely with our crossing supervisors to ensure the safety of all of our students.

Covid-Safe Procedures

As we are all too familiar with, Covid-19 restrictions & guidelines are continually changing. We ask that our school community make themselves aware of all DHHS updates as well as any updated guidelines and procedures that the school sends out as they happen. 

• Masks must be worn by all persons 12 years old and older (OPS students exempt) when inside the school building/front office.
• Parents/Carers are permitted in the school yard for drop off/pick up times.
• Parents/Carers are permitted into the front office to conduct school business or drop off/pick up their child through the school day.
• Parents/Carers are not permitted inside the school buildings/classrooms unless they are attending a pre arranged meeting with a staff member, in which they must enter/exit via the front office and adhere to all covid safe guidelines in place.
• All visitors must sign in/out at the school office for contact tracing purposes.

Kerri McLeod

Principal

Out of School Care

Out of School Hours Enrolment 2021

Families requiring Before & After School Care this year must submit a 2021 enrolment form to the program or the school office before we can accept your bookings for care. If you are new to the service an immunisation certificate must be attached to the enrolment form.

Cancelations 

Parents please remember to cancel your children’s Before & After School Care bookings by texting your cancellation to the program mobile Text 0439111026.

Child Care Subsidy

If you are new to the program please update your children’s enrolment with Ormond Primary, Out of School Hours Program on the myGov app or website to ensure you receive your Child Care Subsidy.

April Kopitz

Out of School Hours Coordinator

School Photo Orders Now Open on Compass

School Photo Day will be held on Thursday 25th February. 

Orders can now be placed with MSP Photography via their link on your Compass home page (full browser mode).

All payment/phot o pack enquiries should be made directly to MSP Photography.   

Visual Arts 

Welcome to Visual Arts in 2021!

It’s been an exciting start to the year as we get to know each other in our new grades and what Art will look like in 2021.  The Foundation and Grade 1 students have been listening to the story ‘The Dot’ and creating their own ‘dot’ pictures to decorate, whilst Grade 2 have been learning about what ‘Sky Colour’ looks like. Grade 3 -6 have been creating front covers for their Visual Art Diaries/ Sketchbooks before we begin our whole school, ‘Year of The Ox’ activities as part of the 2021 Lunar New Year Celebrations.

Art Smocks

Please make sure your child brings a labelled Art Smock to school to help protect their uniform from our wonderful, messy art room shenanigans!

Visual Arts Captains

Congratulations to Sophie and Joy for being selected to be our Visual Arts Captains for 2021.  They have already demonstrated wonderful enthusiasm and commitment to their role and have many exciting activities planned ahead, including an Art Club, Competition and Mural project. Stay tuned to hear directly from our Captains at assemblies and via the Newsletter.

Creative Art Competition

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function are running a Creative Art competition where you could win a brain-related prize pack as well as a prize pack for your school. The aim of the competition is to encourage students of all ages to learn about the brain by creating an artwork inspired by the theme ‘My brain helps me to...’

Students can use pens, pencils, crayons, textas or paint and their entry must fit on A4-size paper. The competition is judged in three categories: • Category 1: Foundation Year (Prep) and Year 1 • Category 2: Years 2, 3 and 4 • Category 3: Years 5 and 6.

How to enter 

Post hard copies of artworks to: 

Brain Function CoE Art Competition Monash Biomedical Imaging

 770 Blackburn Road Clayton, VIC 3800 

Or email high-resolution scans (not photos) to: administrator@cibf.edu.au 

The following must be included on the back of each artwork in clear writing: 

• Student’s name            • Student’s age

 • Student’s class             • Name of school             

• School contact (name and email address of teacher or Principal) 

The closing date is COB 16 April 2021. 

For more details and full terms and conditions visit www.brainfunction.edu.au