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.

Test Link

Comedy Night

We are all looking forward to the annual Old Orchard Comedy Night on Saturday August 15th. We have another fantastic line-up this year and it promises to be a night full of laughs and entertainment. We are keen to finalise ticket sales as soon as possible, so please get together with some of your friends and book in for a fun-filled evening.

ICAS Testing

Each year, many of our students participate in the ICAS Assessments across a range of subject areas including Digital Technologies, Writing, English, Science, Spelling and Mathematics. It’s wonderful to see our students embrace opportunities such as these to challenge themselves in a competitive environment. Thanks to Monique Rollins for coordinating the program at the school level.

Science Week

This week is Science Week at Old Orchard. On Tuesday, all students attended the Mad Science Show incursion. The ‘Mad Scientist’ amazed the students with a variety of science tricks and experiments across the topics of chemistry, electricity and fire. He demonstrated an air bazooka that shot vortexes of air and used a smoke machine to enabble the students to see the vortexes.

Throughout this week there will also be an Egg Drop competition. Every class has been challenged to create a package that will protect an egg from breaking after being dropped from two metres.

Girls’ AFL 9’s & Boys’ Netball Gala Day

On Thursday approximately 40 of our Year 5 & 6 students took part in the Girls’ AFL 9’s and the Boys’ Netball Gala days at Macleay Park. Events such as these provide students with opportunities to experience different sports in modified format, with a focus on maximum participation.

Planning for 2027 - School Tours

Our indicative Prep enrolments for 2027 are looking very promising and at this stage we are extremely confident of having three Prep classes. We continue to offer school tours and these have been very well attended.

If you have an eligible child but have yet to enrol for 2027, please do so as soon as possible. Additionally, please help to spread the message and encourage prospective families to visit Old Orchard.

Year 3 Camp Gundiwindi

Our Year 3 students are very excited ahead of their 3 day camp at Gundiwindi Lodge in Silvan. School camps are an important element of the primary school journey, where students engage in a variety of adventurous activities in a safe and supportive environment. Best wishes to all students and thans to the accompanying staff and parent helpers.

Every Day Counts

At Old Orchard Primary School, we know that every day at school matters. Regular attendance helps children build strong friendships, develop confidence and stay connected with their learning. Even missing one day every fortnight adds up over time and can have a significant impact on a child's academic progress and wellbeing.

It has been wonderful to see such a positive start to Term 3. Last week, our whole-school attendance rate was an outstanding 94.32%, reflecting the commitment of our students and families to prioritising school attendance.

Thank you to all of our families for your ongoing support in getting children to school each day. We understand that there are times when students need to be absent due to illness or other important circumstances. Where possible, we encourage families to arrange holidays, appointments and other planned absences outside of school time to minimise interruptions to learning.

Together, we can ensure every child has the best opportunity to learn, grow and thrive because every day counts.

5 Tips to Support Your Child's School Attendance

Talk positively about school every day. Ask your child about their day, celebrate their successes and encourage them to share any worries early.
Establish consistent routines. A regular bedtime, preparing school bags the night before and having breakfast each morning can make getting to school easier.
Encourage connections at school. Friendships, lunchtime clubs, sports and lunchtime activities help children feel a sense of belonging and increase their motivation to attend.
Schedule appointments and holidays outside school time where possible. Even missing one day each fortnight adds up to around four weeks of lost learning across a year.
Reach out early if your child is finding attendance difficult. Working together with the school can help identify barriers and put supports in place before attendance becomes a bigger concern.

If your child is having difficulty attending school, please don't hesitate to reach out by contacting Adam at adam.todd@education.vic.gov.au Our staff are here to work alongside families to understand any barriers and develop strategies that support regular attendance.

Warm regards

Duncan

The Harvest

2026/23 · 06 Aug 2026

In this issue