Principal Report
Dear Oatlands Families,
As we reach the halfway point of the 2026 school year, it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what has been a highly successful and productive first semester at Oatlands Primary School. Throughout the term, our students have embraced a wide range of learning opportunities, extracurricular activities, camps, excursions and sporting events with enthusiasm and positivity.
I would like to thank our students, families and staff for their ongoing support and partnership. The strong sense of community that exists at Oatlands continues to be one of our greatest strengths and plays a significant role in creating the positive learning environment that our students enjoy each day.
School Improvements
We are pleased to share several recent and upcoming improvements to our school environment:
New basketball backboards and rings have recently been installed.
New safety padding has been installed to enhance student safety.
A new CCTV system will be installed during the upcoming school holidays. This project has been made possible through the support of our school community and the fundraising efforts of our Parents and Friends Association.
Semester 1 Student Reports
Due to ongoing industrial action across the education sector, Semester 1 Student Reports will not include written comments. All other reporting requirements, including curriculum achievement levels and teacher judgements, will be completed as normal.
Swimming and Water Safety Program
Our annual Swimming and Water Safety Program was recently held at the Haileybury College pool. After many years at Casey ARC, we were pleased to trial a new venue and received overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding the facilities, organisation and overall experience. The program was a great success, and we will be exploring the possibility of returning to Haileybury in 2027.
Grade 5 Camp – CYC Phillip Island Adventure Camp
Our Grade 5 students recently enjoyed an exciting camp experience at CYC Phillip Island Adventure Camp. Students challenged themselves through activities such as the giant swing, flying fox, high ropes course and a variety of team-building experiences. The camp provided many opportunities for students to develop resilience, confidence and teamwork, while creating lasting memories with their peers. Thank you to our staff for their organisation and support throughout the camp.
Grade 3 Excursion – Old Gippstown
Grade 3 students travelled to Old Gippstown over two days, where they explored historical buildings, learned about life in the past and participated in a range of engaging educational activities. The excursion provided valuable connections to classroom learning and was thoroughly enjoyed by students. Thank you to the Grade 3 team for their organisation and support.
National Simultaneous Storytime
Students participated in a week of activities celebrating literature and literacy as part of National Simultaneous Storytime. This year's featured book, Luna Roo, inspired a range of engaging classroom activities, culminating in a highly anticipated Staff vs Students soccer match. A big thank you to Tania Nicholas (English Leader), Tim Werner and Sarah James (PE Team) for coordinating these enjoyable learning experiences.
National Reconciliation Week
During National Reconciliation Week, students participated in a variety of learning experiences that explored Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions. These activities supported students to deepen their understanding of reconciliation and the importance of building respectful relationships and communities.
Grade 6 Interschool Sport
Our Grade 6 students continue to represent Oatlands Primary School with pride each Friday through Interschool Sport. Students have demonstrated excellent sportsmanship, teamwork and effort while competing against schools in our district.
Grade 4 Scienceworks Excursion
Grade 4 students recently visited Scienceworks, where they participated in a range of interactive exhibits and hands-on learning experiences linked to their classroom studies. The excursion provided students with opportunities to explore scientific concepts in an engaging and practical environment, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.
Regional Cross Country
Congratulations to Emmanuel, Sia, Sebastian, Jordan and Dario for representing Oatlands at the Regional Cross Country Championships. Reaching this level of competition is a significant achievement and reflects their dedication, perseverance and effort throughout the cross-country season. We are incredibly proud of the way they represented our school.
School Disco
Our School Disco was a fantastic evening filled with music, dancing and plenty of fun. Students enjoyed spending time with friends in a positive and exciting atmosphere. Thank you to our staff, volunteers and our PFA for their support in making this fundraising event such a success.
Athletics Carnival
Students participated in our annual Athletics Carnival this Monday, enjoying a day of competition, participation and house spirit. Students demonstrated outstanding effort across a range of track and field events while supporting and encouraging one another throughout the day. Again, thank you to Tim and Sarah (PE Team) for organising a fantastic day, and all our staff for helping to run everything so smoothly.
As we look ahead to Semester 2, we remain committed to providing engaging learning experiences, supporting every student's growth and wellbeing, and continuing to build on the many successes we have achieved together so far this year. We look forward to another exciting and rewarding semester at Oatlands Primary School.
Kind regards,
Matthew Kenny
Acting Principal | Oatlands Primary School