CURRICULUM DAY

Next Friday, April 26th, is a Curriculum Day dedicated to professional development in Reading and Writing for our staff. As a result, there will be no school for students on this day. Families in need of urgent care during school hours on this day should refer to the message sent through Compass for further instructions.

DOGS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

While we appreciate our furry friends, we kindly ask that no dogs be brought onto the school premises. This includes dogs on a leash or being carried. We would greatly appreciate your help in spreading this message, especially if you see dogs on school grounds outside of school hours. We've had several near-miss incidents and have had to clean up dog waste from the oval and grassy areas to maintain a clean environment for our students to play.

In the coming weeks, we will be installing "no dog" signs around the premises to reinforce this policy. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the safety and cleanliness of our school grounds.

MORNING ROUTINES

At Orchard Park, we encourage and support our students in lining up and entering the Learning Communities independently. This independence helps ensure a positive, calm, and consistent start to the day. Please say your goodbyes before the music starts at 8:33 am. At that time, students should line up with their class. If your child arrives after the class has entered the Learning Community, they should enter independently, put their bag away, and join their class promptly.

We would also like to remind families of our starting times:

Music: 8:33 am - Students are expected to line up independently, ready for their teacher.
Bell: 8:35 am - Students enter the Learning Communities with their teacher.
Morning Meetings: 8:35 am to 8:45 am - During this time, students participate in morning meetings with their teacher. They receive their daily schedules and important announcements, such as birthdays, lunch clubs, canteen information, and activities to foster student connection and reinforce school values and expectations.

Morning meetings are crucial for students and set them up for success. Please ensure your child arrives by 8:30 am so they can fully participate in these sessions. Students arriving after 8:45 am miss critical information and initial instruction, which can hamper their learning.

MOVING INTO THE TEEN YEARS (MITTY)

Our "Moving into the Teen Years" program will soon begin for our Year 5 and 6 students. As part of our Health Curriculum, Interrelate, an external provider, will lead the program in three one-hour sessions on May 7th, 14th, and 21st. These sessions will provide students with information about the physical and emotional changes of puberty and offer them the opportunity to discuss their experiences. Classroom teachers will also be present during these sessions.

There will be a parent information session at the school on Monday, April 22nd, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. This session will help parents and caregivers understand the content their children will learn and provide a chance to ask questions and support their children through adolescence.

We hope this program, including both student and parent sessions, will foster family discussions and support your child's growth and understanding during this important and sometimes challenging phase of life.

LOST PROPERTY

We are noticing an increasing number of unlabelled items accumulating in our lost property. As school uniforms can be costly, please label all your child's belongings with their name. This will help ensure that any lost items can be easily returned to your child. Double-check all uniform items to make sure they are properly marked with your child's name.

Important dates to remember