Principal's Message

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.

Teaching & Learning at Old Orchard

As a staff, we have had an extremely productive and positive start to the school year. Our pupil free days focussed primarily on our Learning Launch as well as some fantastic work on further developing our approach to teaching literacy, building on the already excellent practices that are in place. At last night’s professional learning session, we were privileged to hear from Jen McCann on the teaching of handwriting. Despite a reduced focus on the formal teaching of handwriting across the years, it is very much part of our curriculum and we will continue to build our students’ skills in this area throughout 2024.

The Literacy Toolkit is a great resource that you might wish to access to learn more about the teaching of Literacy in Victorian schools - be mindful that not all elements within this site are addressed by every school, depending on their respective philosophies and priorities.

This year, Old Orchard Primary School kicked off with a Learning Launch. The launch focuses on building relationships with students, facilitating peer relationships, establishing clear classroom expectations and developing coping strategies. 

Our students have actively participated in establishing routines and co-constructing classroom norms that will set the tone for the rest of the year. From implementing morning ‘Yarning Circles’ to establishing lesson expectations, providing a sense of structure that fosters a positive and productive learning environment. Additionally, the Learning Launch is providing a platform for students to build friendships and connections with new classmates. A strong sense of belonging enhances the overall educational experience, and we are already seeing the benefits of these new connections.

One of the key highlights of the Learning Launch has been the connections that have already been built between teachers and students. Staff are using this time to get to know each student on a personal level, understanding their unique strengths, interests, and learning styles. The Learning Launch is not just about the first few weeks; it's about laying the foundation for a successful and enriching school year ahead.

Student leader badges

Our student leader badges for Year 6 Leaders will be presented tomorrow at a special assembly. As has been our practice for many years, we have invited a former student as our guest speaker and presenter and this year will see Sean Harris (Year 6 - 2017) join us for this special event. It’s always a pleasure to hear about the journey our former students have undertaken and the messages they have for our current students. We look forward to hearing from Sean and to  working closely with our Year 6 leaders throughout 2024. 

Mobile Phone Ban

Members of the school community are reminded of our school’s Mobile Phone Policy. Mobile phones brought to school must be switched off and stored securely during the school day. In addition, it is expected that smart watches, iPads or similar have the messaging and communication settings turned off.

Baby News

Special congratulations to staff member Kim Dellevergin and her partner, Chris on the arrival of Henry William Wood on January 29th. Henry tipped the scales at 2.81kg and is absolutely delightful. Kim, Chris and Henry are all doing extremely well and loving the early weeks of family life.

Day 1 Coffee Van

We are fortunate to receive wonderful support from many organisations and businesses. It was remiss of me last week not to acknowledge Rob Simpson of Noel Jones Blackburn for providing the coffee van for parents and staff on our first day of school. 

Extra Curricular Activities

We endeavour to provide a wide range of extra curricular activities and opportunities for our students at Old Orchard and are fortunate to have developed wonderful relationships with organisations including:

• Kelly Sports
• Chess Club (Kids Unlimited)
• Team Kids
• Creative Music
• Digimaker
• OOPS Netball Club
• Slamin' Tennis
• Junior Rockers

Please contact the school office for further information about any of these activities.

School Council Elections

Information relating to the 2024 School Council Elections was distributed this week - nominations are due by 4.00pm on Wednesday February 14th. Please feel free to contact me with any queries.

Privacy notice for school community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages:

Kind regards

Duncan

Staff List 2024