Principal Message

Dear Families,

End of Term: Students will be dismissed at 2.30pm from their classrooms. No assembly. We are nearly there! Holidays are coming at us fast! It has been a busy term with lots of learning and opportunities for growth and various experiences.

Thanks: Thanks to all families who have supported the school and students in their learning. From camps, excursions and in classrooms, to making lunches, helping children regulate emotions and get plenty of rest – thanks. We look forward to a productive second half of the year after a well-deserved break.

Reports: Please log in to Sentral to see your child’s mid-year report. As communicated throughout the term, the reports will be significantly impacted (comments and overviews) due to the industrial action taken this term. There will be the overall assessment indicated and we will still have the parent teacher meetings with some being held now (as staff may be away on leave) and the majority into term 3. 

Industrial Action: We will all read and hear from various media outlets reporting teacher strikes and ongoing issues between the AEU and the Department/Government. Please know that we will communicate with updates when we are instructed by the Department of Education and have clarity, not speculation, around any issues that arise as part of the EBA negotiations.

Year 4 Camp: We wish all the Year 4’s a safe and happy camp as they headed off today for Cave Hill Creek. Thanks to the staff who have again, diligently planned and organise the camp. To the families who are helping, we can’t run these camps without you! Thanks. See you all Friday.

Important Dates for Term 3: Please see the Term 3 Calendar prepared for families to print off and put on the fridge or wall at home. We have tried to capture the various excursions and events that are planned as of this week, but we know some things change and other events pop in too! The newsletter calendar will have the most UP TO DATE information, and I hope the term calendar helps families plan, and shows a range of opportunities the school provides alongside the high-quality teaching and learning program.

Cubbies: You may have noticed we have a few new additions to the playground, courtesy of the Gordon Institute. We hope to have them open for the kids to play in next term and I have heard that Lyn (Art teacher) is super keen to have the kids paint them when the weather is a bit more conducive. 

NAPLAN: Recently we received the indicative writing results from NAPLAN testing. They are amazing! This shows high level planning, teaching and ultimately, learning by the students. Congratulations to all involved in Year 3 & 5 NAPLAN and we look forward to sending the results home when they are all compiled and sent to us by the VCAA. 

Garden: We have a new garden area just landscaped this week along Asbury St. Hoping we can assist the plants to establish themselves by staying off this area for a few months. If your children are on this area before or after school, could you please ask them to hop off and look after the plants, please.

Spelling Bee: Yesterday Ms McKeon hosted the Spelling Bee across the school. The 8 students representing the cohort did a fantastic job and were challenged with some tricky words. I think the visiting audience may have felt the pressure with some of the words too, but it is a truly commendable that the OGPS kids give this experience a go, from in their classrooms to competing in front of their peers and families. Thanks to Ms McKeon for organising once again and to the wonderful Kath Wade for making the prestigious crowns.

World Cup: 12pm The Australian Socceroos are back on the big screen, and we are encouraging staff to broadcast the game from 12pm in their classrooms. Feel free to wear a touch of Green and Gold again on Friday and celebrate Australia on the world stage. 

Enjoy the last week of the term everyone and have a safe, relaxing holiday.

Scott McCumber

Principal