Principal Report
Term 3 continues to be filled with wonderful energy and positivity across Oatlands. It has been terrific to see our students approaching their learning with enthusiasm, enjoying the many opportunities available to them and contributing so positively to school life. Our classrooms, playgrounds and shared spaces have been full of activity, connection and plenty of memorable moments.
One of the recent highlights was our fantastic Book Week celebration. Throughout the week, students participated in a range of creative activities designed to promote a love of books, reading and storytelling.
Our Battle of the Books saw students vote for their favourite books in a series of head-to-head contests, with the winner of each battle progressing to the next round. The Book Trail took students on an adventure around the school, following clues to discover a new location where the next page of the story was revealed. The original story, The Sports Storeroom, was written by a talented group of Grade 6 students with the assistance and hard work of Tania Nicholas and Mark Dinnie, an outstanding example of student creativity and collaboration.
The Great Buddy Booknic was another special event, with students meeting with their buddies to share a favourite book while enjoying a picnic lunch together. We also welcomed Perform Education to Oatlands for their engaging performance of Something Special.
Book Week concluded with our spectacular Book Showcase. Every year level brought a favourite picture storybook to life through a performance in front of the whole school. It was wonderful to see the confidence, creativity and enthusiasm of our students as they took to the stage. A sincere thank you to all the students and staff who contributed to making Book Week such an enjoyable and memorable celebration.
We were also delighted to welcome many special visitors to Oatlands for our Grandparents Afternoon. Grandparents and special friends joined their grandchildren in classrooms during the afternoon session and enjoyed spending time together while participating in a range of fun activities. They were also treated to a performance from our school choir, who shared a couple of new songs, as well as an encore from our Book Showcase, with our Grade 6 students once again performing The Day the Crayons Quit—Again! Thank you to our staff for organising the afternoon and to all the grandparents who visited. Your presence helped make it a very special occasion for our students.
Over the past couple of weeks, we had a visit from the Kids ROAR team. Every class participated in an age-appropriate session focused on empowering children and developing their understanding of personal safety and abuse prevention. The sessions supported students to learn about boundaries, feelings and protective behaviours, equipping them with important knowledge and strategies to help keep themselves safe.
As we move into the final few weeks of Term 3, there is still plenty of valuable learning ahead. We encourage every student to continue approaching each day with effort, curiosity and a positive attitude. By remaining focused and making the most of every learning opportunity, we can ensure that Term 3 finishes just as strongly as it began.
Matthew Kenny
Acting Principal | Oatlands Primary School