From the Principal

Traffic Safety Around the School

With the recent tragic events at Auburn South Primary School and Riddell’s Creek, it is a timely reminder about how precious life is and for drivers to be mindful of following road rules to protect the safety of all our Oakleigh Primary School and Kindergarten community.

In the recent weeks, I have had several calls and emails from families concerned about driver behaviour around the school and requesting an increase in safety barriers around the school fences. Community members have reached out to the Monash Council about their concerns as well. The Council have responded saying that they have created the drop of zone, clearly marked the area with ‘No U-Turn Signs’ and have the reduced speed around the school. They have informed us that drivers can be fined $1000 for performing a U-Turn on Logie Street (this includes using driveways to do this) and that police have been informed about monitoring the area.

I understand that family life is busy in the mornings and there can be pressures. This can cause people to ‘rush’ and make illegal and dangerous driving decisions to arrive at places on time. I ask everyone to reflect on how they can contribute to making the surrounding areas safe for the community:

Following the road rules around the school. It is only an extra minute or so to perform a left turn on Warrigal Road and to go around the block!
Getting up early and walking to school instead of driving
Parking along Drummond Street
Setting the alarm earlier allowing for more time in the morning routine for school drop offs
Preparing the night before to allow a smoother morning routine - lunches prepared, uniform out, no television in the morning as a distraction

Safety around the school is everyone’s responsibility and I ask that we all do our part.

Instrumental Music Concert

Last week, Performing Arts Teacher Lucy Greco organised our yearly instrumental music concert. It was a successful night showcasing the musical talents of our students playing instruments such as the violin, piano, guitar, drums and woodwind instruments. Well done to all of our performers, to Lucy and Adele for hosting the evening and our parents for supporting their children. Learning an instrument is a wonderful skill to have as a means of creativity, expression and enjoyment.

Kindergarten-Foundation Transition

We have had several of our K-F transition sessions with our 2025 Foundation students. Students have successfully completed activities with our current foundation teachers and learnt about school routines. Michelle has led two online parent sessions in literacy and numeracy learning as well as meeting our new parents 1:1 to introduce them to the school. We are excited to have our new students start in 2025.

Attitudes to School Survey Results

Earlier in the year students from Year’s 4-6 completed the Attitudes to School Survey online.

Overall, our results are better than state, similar and like schools in most areas. This indicates, in the opinions of the students, that Oakleigh Primary School is a safe and engaging for their education. In my short time here, I have noticed how settled classes are and how committed the teachers are to developing the students cognitive, social and emotional needs.

The school community should feel proud of these results.

150 Birthday Committee

Just a reminder if you would like to join the 150th birthday committee to email Principal Ruth Biddle at the school to register your interest. It is a momentous occasion for the school!

School Saving Bonus - Parent and Carer School Saving Bonus code distribution 

The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus – a one-off $400 support for government school students from Foundation to Year 12 in 2025.

From Tuesday 26 November 2024, you will receive an email from the Department of Education with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code.

The School Saving Bonus will help families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions, activities and more.

If you have multiple children enrolled in Victorian government schools for 2025, you will receive one School Saving Bonus code email per child. These emails might arrive on different days. Please make sure to check your spam/junk email folder.

Parents and carers can use the School Saving Bonus code in store at school-nominated suppliers. Parents and carers can also choose to access the School Saving Bonus online system, where they can allocate part or all the $400 bonus to use at school nominated-online suppliers or for school activities. To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, visit www.vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus. A step-by-step user guide will be available on the webpage on 26 November.  

If you have not received your School Saving Bonus code via email by Friday 29 November, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au

Ruth Biddle

Principal