The Harvest

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.

 

YEAR 3&4 CAMP

Our Year 3/4 students have enjoyed a wonderful week at Gundiwindi Lodge and Camp Rumbug. At Old Orchard, we see our camps program as an essential part of a well-rounded education, offering students opportunities to develop resilience, build independence, and strengthen friendships. While our students, teachers, and parent volunteers may return on Friday a little weary, we know they’ll come back with amazing stories and memories. 

A huge thank you to Sheree and Jen McCann for all their hard work in the lead-up to this week. Running two camps in one week was no small feat, and their efforts made it a great success! A big thank you also goes to our Year 3/4 teachers, as well as Lauren, Duncan, and our parent volunteers, for supporting our students throughout the three days.

 

YEAR 5 6 AUSBIKE INCURSION

You may notice an influx of bikes at school on Friday. That is because our Year 5&6 students will be taking part in an AusBike incursion. Through games, drills and practical exercises, students will: 

  • Build confidence on two wheels. 
  • Develop key bike handling skills. 
  • Learn essential bike safety skills. 

A big thank you to James for providing such a fantastic experience for our students. While the weekend forecast looks a little chilly, it still could be the perfect chance to put those newly learnt skills into practice and head out for a family bike ride.

 

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!

There’s a real buzz in the corridors this week, with only a few sleeps to go until Shrek the Musical! Rhiannon has been busy adding the final touches, and from all reports the production is shaping up to be fantastic. On Tuesday, our Year 3–6 students will head to Karralyka for a full and final rehearsal, ready to bring the magic to life. We will thank Rhiannon more formally on the two performance nights, but we are so grateful for the time, energy, and creativity she has poured into creating another truly momentous experience for our students.

 

SOMERS CAMP 2025

We are again very excited to be offered the chance to send some of our Year 5 & 6 students to Somers Camp. Somers School Camp is a Victorian Department of Education facility that has been running programs for over 50 years. Situated in the coastal town of Somers, it offers a 9-day program for students from across the state. The program includes a variety of activities such as high and low ropes, bike education, environmental education, and night programs, aiming to develop students' personal and social capabilities through physical activity and environmental knowledge.

Each year, Somers Camp allocates a limited number of places to schools, and students are invited to apply for a position. We have 16 students attending the camp, which will run from Tuesday 19th August to Wednesday 27th August. Have a great time campers and thank you to Armann who will be supporting our students throughout their time away.

 

GINGER UPDATE

Ginger (with a little help from Lauren!) has been working her paws off this past year to become a certified wellbeing dog. In just a few weeks, she’ll be sitting a very special exam to see if she’s ready to graduate. Ginger has been undertaking some last minute cramming but we think she is ready. We all have our paws crossed!

 

LUNCHTIME CLUBS

Our lunchtime clubs are a fantastic way for students to unwind and have fun in a structured environment. This term, we’re offering a variety of options, including basketball club, Save the Animals, LEGO, dancing, drawing, and, of course, the ever-popular Friday disco! 

 

Our Year 4 students continue to monitor the Inside/Outside Room, which is filled with a wide array of equipment, from sandpit diggers to chess pieces. Our gym stables are also a big hit with students, offering a range of sporting equipment that can be borrowed each recess and lunchtime. We definitely have a lot of play options for our students at Old Orchard.

 

HATS ARE BACK

Students are required to wear hats again starting this Monday. We’ll allow a few days of grace before fully implementing our “no hat, no play” policy.

 

Clare Murray