Principal's 

Report

Dear Parents, Carers, Students and Community,

Harmony Day

It was lovely to see our student come to school dressed in orange or traditional cultural dress to celebrate Australia’s rich cultural diversity and promote inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all.

Throughout the day, our classes joined with their buddy class and engaged in a variety of activities that encouraged unity and understanding among different cultures, backgrounds and traditions.

Communicating with our school

At Oak Flats Public School, fostering a strong partnership between the school community is paramount. To support this partnership, please consider the following points so we can work together effectively:

• Parents and carers are encouraged to email us at oakflats-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au. Please include your child's name and class in the subject line, as well as a brief outline of the matter. This means it can be triaged to the right person.
• If you would like to meet with your child’s teacher, we encourage scheduling an appointment to ensure they have sufficient time for you.
• Information regarding school activities, permission notes, and updates can be found on School Bytes, our Facebook page, and the school website.
• At OFPS, we prioritise creating a safe and respectful environment for all. Any form of aggressive behaviour or disrespect is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We acknowledge that this is not a common occurrence within our community and appreciate the many respectful relationships we share.
• It is important to note that it is never acceptable to approach another child to resolve a concern. The school works to resolve all issues within its plans, procedures and departmental policies. This ensures that students, staff, and families are best supported in a safe and productive environment.

School Jumpers

Students in K-6 are expected to wear our school uniform at all times, as this promotes our school values and a sense of belonging. We have noticed a number of other items being worn to school, with this creating a ‘contagion effect’. We ask all parents to support us in maintaining these standards. Uniforms can be bought from the school office, or if you are seeking a second hand uniform or require some assistance, please contact our office.

In addition, if your children have outgrown their uniforms, please consider donating to our school so we can support other families.

Dental Van

We have received such wonderful feedback from our dental team, with our school return rate one of the highest they have experienced and reports of our students showing such manners, respect, courage and resilience. Congratulations to all students who have visited our dental team.

The dental van is only here for a short time more, however there are still appointments available if you would like your child to take advantage of this free service. More permission forms can be collected from the office.

Easter Hat Parade

As you would be aware, the much-anticipated Easter Hat parade will take place next Thursday, 28 March, the day before our Easter long weekend. It's always a delight to see our students showcasing their creativity and sharing special moments with their loved ones. This year will see all students participating in the parade, with Years 3-6 supporting their buddy classes. They are not expected to parade with a hat but are encouraged to do so if they wish.

Thank you to our P&C also, who, as always, ensure we have great prizes to raffle off, to add that extra egg-citement!

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held on Monday, 8 April 2024 from 3.10pm until 6.30pm. The interviews are an opportunity for teachers to discuss your child’s academic and social progress. Interviews are strictly 10 minutes each. If you require more time with your child’s teacher, please contact the school to arrange a separate meeting.

Information for booking an appointment went out through School Bytes on Wednesday. If you do not have access to the internet, you can make a booking via the school office.

NAPLAN

Over the last 2 weeks, our Years 3 and 5 students participated in NAPLAN. There were some nerves and excitement but overall the students just took it in their stride to complete these assessments for literacy and numeracy.

In time, parents will receive a printout of their child’s performance in relation to National benchmarks, while the school will also receive data summaries which will be used to analyse the performance of the school cohort. This information is then used to assist us in reviewing teaching and learning strategies to further improve student outcomes.

Upcoming Public Holidays

Just a reminder, the Easter long weekend will take place from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April. Students return to school on Tuesday 2 April.

School Holidays

Term 1 comes to an end on Friday 12 April. All students return to school on Tuesday 30 April.

Kind regards

Jodi Niedermayer

Principal

21 March 2024