Welcome to Term 2!

It’s been an unusual but energising start to the term, beginning with two pupil-free days, followed by one school day and then the ANZAC Day public holiday. It almost felt like we had an extended break—so it’s no surprise our students, families, and staff have returned feeling refreshed and enthusiastic for the term ahead.

Welcome to New Staff and Families

This term, we are excited to welcome new families and staff members to our school community.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG) We warmly welcome Helen Kinross, who joined us as our garden specialist at the end of last term. Helen brings a wealth of experience from her years as the lead gardener at a private girls’ college. Already, she has made a noticeable impact on our vegetable gardens and has received glowing praise from Year 3 and 4 students and teachers alike.

Year 3 Intervention Support

We send our best wishes to Mrs Shanlan McGregor, who is on maternity leave and expecting her baby at the end of May. We’re delighted to welcome Ms Caroline Clarke to the intervention support role. Ms Clarke is a highly experienced educator who has worked across different states and internationally. Her recent work with the Department of Education’s Koorie Outcomes Division and Career Start Unit adds further strength to her role in supporting our students.

Mathematics Support and Enrichment

We also welcome Ms Sue Kappa, who will be supporting Year 4 students with their mathematical understanding and providing enrichment sessions. With many years of experience in private education, Ms Kappa brings strong expertise in maths intervention. She will also be offering morning enrichment sessions—details to come soon.

Fundraising News: Easter Raffle

On the final day of Term 1, nearly 100 lucky students went home with Easter raffle prizes. A heartfelt thank you to our families for donating items and supporting ticket sales. Together, we raised an impressive $4,637.20 — a fantastic result that supports ongoing school initiatives!

Mothers' Day Stall – Wednesday 7 May

Our wonderful School Council Social & Fundraising team has organised the annual Mothers' Day Stall for Wednesday 7 May. Parent volunteers will transform the school library into a pop-up shop where students can purchase a special gift. Please send students with a bag to help keep their purchase safe—and hidden from Mum! Further details about a special Mothers' Day celebration for our school’s mother figures can be found later in this newsletter.

ANZAC Day Assembly

Although students attended only one day last week, Thursday 24 April was a meaningful opportunity to learn about the significance of ANZAC Day. We thank Major Frances Dignam for being our special guest speaker. His insights captivated students and deepened their understanding of the day’s importance.

Device Management – Years 3 to 6

Students in Years 3–6 bring personal devices to support their learning in class. These are used alongside traditional handwriting and bookwork to create, collaborate, research, and engage with work including through Google Classroom. Please ensure devices are fully charged at home each night. We also appreciate families supporting responsible digital use. If a home-imposed ban on devices is necessary due to behaviour, we ask that it not extend to school hours unless discussed with your child’s teacher.

Mobile Phone & Communication Devices Policy

In line with the Victorian Department of Education policy, students are not permitted to use mobile phones or communication-enabled devices (including smartwatches) during the school day. Parents and students must not message or call each other during this time. Notifications should be switched off. If your child has a medical need that requires communication during the day, please speak with the principal for approval. To contact your child during school hours, please call the school office directly.

Lost Property

Labelled items make it much easier for lost belongings to be returned to their owner. We've noticed more students borrowing hats from lost property — even those clearly labelled with another student’s name. Please check your child’s uniform and return any items that may have come home by mistake. Students are encouraged to carefully check names before collecting items.

SunSmart Hats

The previous policy of "hats in Term 1 and 4 only" no longer applies. Students are now required to wear a hat whenever the UV index is 3.0 or higher. To keep things simple, we recommend students bring and wear their hat every day.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Our school proudly hosts a range of before, during, and after-school activities including:

Chess Club (lunchtime)
Individual music lessons through Kids on Key (during school hours)
Soccerwise, Digi Maker, Future Tennis, Let’s Write, Kelly Sports
New this term: Sports Aerobics!This exciting program, led by Ella Wells (Coached by Ella Wells), combines dance and gymnastics. Students from Years 2–6 enjoyed a fantastic trial session and many expressed interest. To learn more about Sports Aerobics or express your interest, visit our school website under the Students tab.

Note: All extracurricular programs are subject to sufficient enrolment numbers and are offered on a ‘user pays’ basis.

TheirCare & After School Activities

If your child attends TheirCare and is also participating in an extracurricular activity, TheirCare staff can collect your child after the activity and supervise them until you arrive.

Chellee Plumb

Community Notices

MURRUMBEENA AUSKICK

GLEN EIRA COLLEGE

OAKLEIGH SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL