Leadership Report
Whole School Concert
It was lovely to come together as a whole school community last Thursday evening to celebrate our students performing their Christmas items on stage. The weather was perfect and it was incredible to see so many of our families in attendance. Seeing our students take to the stage with such enthusiasm, confidence, and talent was a proud moment for our entire community.
From the youngest performers to our senior students, each performance showcased the creativity, hard work, and dedication that went into preparing for this special event.
A huge thank you goes out to our amazing Performing Arts team, Mrs. Downie and Mrs. Banfield, whose vision and leadership made the concert such a memorable success. Your passion for the arts and commitment to our students shines through in every note and every dance move.
To our staff, thank you for supporting and encouraging our students throughout rehearsals and on the big night. Your efforts behind the scenes ensure events like these run smoothly and remain unforgettable.
Our End of Year Major Raffle was also incredibly supported by our families and wider community. Thank you to our Parents and Friends Group again for their efforts in organising all of the prizes and finer details. Thank you also to all of our local businesses for their very generous donations for prizes. Congratulations to all of our prize winners too!!
Andy Lee visits Orchard Park PS!!!!
Our Year 1 students were so fortunate to have a very special guest come and visit them this past Tuesday. As the winners of a special competition, the students had Andy Lee come and visit to read his newest published book, 'Do Not Open This Book, It Stinks!'
Andy spent nearly an hour with the students, reading his book, signing autographs answering their questions and having a really fun time with all. A big thank you to Ms Wallace for entering the competition on behalf of the Year 1's. What a special and memorable experience for our students!!
Student Leaders 2025
It was such an exciting assembly last Friday as we announced our Student Leaders for 2025. It was an incredibly challenging selection process, with many of our current Year 5 students presenting exceptional speeches. Whilst we can only have a certain number of official leaders, we know this cohort will be brilliant leaders and role models throughout the 2025 school year. We are so proud to announce the following Student Leaders for next year.
School Captains: Mackenzie Sleep and Tom Shadbolt
Cultural and Community Engagement Leaders: Alyssa Dean and Kobii Cuskelly
Marrum House Captains: Hannah Patel and Alek Tomic
Bunjil House Captains: Alex Jones and Nicholas Lazar
Wallert House Captains: Gurnaaz Kaur and Zach Pipo
Dulai Wurrung House Captains: Hemish Ravalji and Sophie Phillips
Teaching Excellence Program 2024
Our school values the learning and development of our staff, and the positive impacts this has on student outcomes and school improvement.
We are proud to share that Jo McEachern, Kathy Barley and Cassie Mather recently successfully graduated from the Teaching Excellence Program at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.
This program enables skilled teachers to advance their capabilities and excellence in teaching.
Through the program, Jo, Kathy and Cassie grew their knowledge of teaching practice using the latest, evidence-informed research by inquiring into 2 areas of their practice, using the evidence of how students learn, generative AI, explicit teaching methods, student engagement tools and discipline-specific focused learning. They were also inspired by national and international experts in the field of education through 2 dedicated conferences.
As in previous years with other teachers that have graduated from the TEP, we look forward to working with our teachers to implement their knowledge and skills from the program to continue to support student outcomes and wellbeing at our school.
2024 reflections
As we reach the end of another remarkable year at Orchard Park Primary School, I want to take a moment to reflect on our collective achievements and express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to making this year so special.
Together, we have celebrated milestones, embraced challenges, and continued to grow as a school community. From our exciting learning programs to the community events that have brought us all together, this year has been a testament to the strength and spirit of our Orchard Park family. I am continually inspired by the enthusiasm and commitment of our students, staff, and families, who all work tirelessly to make our school the thriving place it is today.
A special mention goes to our wonderful Year 6 students, who are preparing to take their next big steps into secondary school. We are so proud of your growth, achievements, and resilience throughout your time at Orchard Park. As you move forward, remember to carry with you the values, friendships, and memories you’ve built here. On behalf of the entire school, we wish you every success and happiness in the exciting adventures ahead. Whilst we farewell our Year 6 students, at the beginning of next year, it will also be an exciting moment for our new Prep students as they officially begin school life with us.
To our families and staff, thank you for your unwavering support, partnership, and dedication. It is because of your efforts that our students can flourish and our community can thrive.
As we head into the holidays, I encourage everyone to take this time to relax, recharge, and create special memories with loved ones. I look forward to welcoming you all back in the new year, ready for another chapter of learning and growth. We have already developed our in depth improvement plans for 2025 and are very excited about our continuous improvement journey. But for now, I wish you all a safe and connected break with families and friends.