Principal Message
Dear Families,
Just when some people think school is winding down for the year…
Swimming sports: Today students ventured over to Drysdale Swimming Pool for the swimming sports. Thanks to Mr Horbury for organising the event, staff for officiating and supervising and to the kids for being amazing athletes, swimmers, supporters, and encouragers of teammates. We also loved seeing families spectating too.
Junior Aths: So many talented youngsters jumped, ran, threw, and had a great time at the Junior Sports day last Friday. Mr Horbury and the Year 5 student leaders did an amazing job setting up, marshalling, explaining, managing, and providing an experience for our junior school students. A huge congrats to the Year 5’s who helped – your calmness and organisation was greatly appreciated! We hope you learnt from this experience, and we hope the athletes had a fun experience. Perhaps some future Olympians out there??? We will have to wait and see.
Shark Tank: We know the teachers at OGPS do a great job imparting knowledge and skills on to the students… Then when we see the students apply this in a ‘real life’ (as close to as we can provide) Shark Tank (just like the show), their communication skills, oral presentations, convincing language and ideas all culminating into an idea, we truly see the growth of each individual. The entrepreneurs among the Year 5 cohort are amazing. We had guest ‘sharks’ put the kids through their paces, ask some hard-hitting questions and then some invested in the ideas!!! Thanks to all Sharks for generously engaging with the experience and we hope more families take this opportunity next year or when your child is in Year 5.
Year 6 Bellarine Secondary College visit: Great to be involved with the local State secondary school in Bellarine. Showcasing their campuses and what is on offer helps our students transition and become familiar with their new surroundings before the end of the year. Thanks to the staff at Bellarine SC for enabling the experience for all our students.
OGPS Summer Splash Colour Run: Our OGPS ‘Summer Splash Colour Run’ will be taking place this Friday 5th December on the school oval with fundraising Monday also due back on Friday. For more information, please see the Colour Run page further on in the newsletter.
Surfing: Year 6’s unfortunately had to postpone this week’s surfing program and are looking for alternate dates. Stay tuned Year 6 parents for another date to come.
Spelling Bee: Congrats to all participants in the 2025 Spelling Bee tournament. Some amazing spellers out there and some tough competition too. I would also like to commend the students in the audience for their cooperation and the families who attended for their support too. Well done and thanks to Ms McKeon for her work and making this event happen.
Reports: We are nearing completion of report writing and achievements and opportunities I have read about make me so proud as Principal of this school. The work that happens in planning sessions by staff, the delivery of curriculum to students at a variety of ability levels, the care shown to students, the extracurricular opportunities planned and organised and so much more, should be celebrated. I hope you will join with me and show your gratitude to teachers before the end of the year.
Riding to school: It is so pleasing to see the bike racks full - at each end of the school – each day! We do have a policy on ‘Bike Riding to School’ that stipulates students need to be in Year 4 to ride to school unattended. If your child is under Year 4, please accompany them on their ride to school. We appreciate your cooperation.
Year 5 Leader’s Speeches: Last week I watched and listed to prospective School Leader’s for 2026. Speeches were made in front of Year 4’s & 5’s and various staff that could attend. The culmination of so many skills taught from Foundation were on show and voting was no doubt a challenge. I am looking forward to seeing the elected Captains and other leadership roles for 2026 very soon. These will be announced at the final assembly. Congrats to all who applied and delivered their speech recently.
Year 1 Day Camp: Thanks to the Year 1 team for organising an exciting day camp at school for the kids. From Billy Cart making to pizzas, playing in the park and science activities, and so much more, it gave students a small taste of what camps provide later in school life. So much fun for all. Well done Year 1 team.
Snowy Hydro 2.0: Earlier this year the Year 5 & 6’s learnt about renewable energy and some students investigate hydro power. In turn, they discovered the Snowy Hydro 2.0 that is currently under construction. Hearing how interested the kids were in the Snowy Hydro, I reached out to my friend around the corner who is the boss, literally the main boss, of the Snowy Hydro 2.0 and asked him if he could answer some questions for the students. Not only did he answer the questions, but Dave also made an 8-minute video production that incorporated the student’s questions and addressed them with great videos of the project. We watched the video last week with Dave Evans, the boss and then the students had a chance to ask more questions in person. A huge thanks to Dave and his team for the video and visiting us in person.
Assembly in the Park: Next Friday 12th December, weather permitting, we will be in the park from 9:15am (or in the gym if too hot/too wet/too windy) for our final assembly of the year. I can’t believe how fast this year has gone. Bring your chairs, rugs, snacks, a coffee and enjoy the final assembly where we celebrate the 2025 school year, achievements, awards, and there may be even a few specials performances and a guest or two!
As we race towards the end of 2025, we have a lot to squeeze in still, including the announcements of various aspects for next year. Please take the time to prepare your children for room changes, shifts in friendships, new teachers and more. Hunt for the good in your conversations.
Enjoy the glorious sun!
Scott McCumber
Principal
HELP NEEDED
We are having our bulk classroom supplies delivered on Monday 15th December and need to assist in unpacking the truck of supplies into the gym. We’re looking for parent volunteers to help out. We won’t know the time the truck is coming until the morning, so if you think you’d be available on the day we’d give you a call once the truck arrives.
Please email into the school at ocean.grove.ps@education.vic.gov.au with your name, mobile no and availability time if you think you can help out.