The Harvest

Principal's Message

Wawa, Wominjika. 

Here at Old Orchard Primary School, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we visit each day, the Wurrunguri and Woiwurrung people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge and respect the elders and leaders past and present and the elders and leaders of all of the cultures and nationalities that are part of the Old Orchard Primary School community. We express our gratitude towards the orchards that were kept in place by the peoples on this land before us. We thank the traditional owners for sharing this beautiful land that we all love, and for keeping the land, sky, waterways and animals all in great condition for thousands of years, not only for themselves but for all the generations to come.

 

Term 1

Thank-you to all members of our Old Orchard community for a very productive and exciting Term 1. Our students have worked extremely hard to make pleasing progress across all curriculum areas and we are very proud of their efforts in and beyond the classroom. Highlights throughout the term have included:

  • PFA & School Council Elections
  • Prep parents & carers information session
  • Prep Entry Assessments
  • Year 6 Camp 
  • NAPLAN Testing for Year 3 & Year 5 students
  • School Tours for 2026 Preps
  • Clean Up Old Orchard Day
  • Student Leader Badge Presentations - Year 6 Leaders, Peer Mediators & SRC
  • Year 6 Student Leader Forum
  • Peer Mediator Training
  • School Photos
  • School Production Auditions
  • Prep - Year 6 Buddies Program and Teddy Bear Picnic
  • PFA Barefoot Bowls Evening & Hot Cross Buns Drive
  • Vision Portraits Fundraiser
  • Old Orchard Cross Country Event
  • Tim the Magician Magic Show for preschoolers
  • Harmony Day

 

Staffing update

Some of you will have heard that Craig Gooding has been appointed as Acting Assistant Principal at Canterbury Primary School for the remainder of 2025. This is an outstanding opportunity for Craig and we wish him every success in his new role. We will certainly miss Craig at Old Orchard, where he has made a fantastic contribution over the past eight years as an excellent classroom teacher, a highly skilled member of the school leadership team and a wonderful staff member. Craig has been a great mentor and support to teachers commencing their careers and has also consistently demonstrated a capacity to connect with and support students who find their school experience challenging. On behalf of the Old Orchard community, I thank Craig for his significant contribution to Old Orchard and wish him well for the future. Of course, Craig will still be around wearing his ‘parent’ hat so we will still see him from time to time.

 

As a result of Craig’s departure, we have made some adjustments to the Year 4 teaching team:

 

4CG - will be taught by Laura Feltham (Monday - Thursday) and Zahn Hobson (Friday)

4RR - will continue to be taught by Ruth Reading (Monday, Wednesday - Friday), and Zahn Hobson (Tuesday)

 

School Cross Country

Our school cross country event last Friday was a huge success and all students are to be congratulated on their efforts and commitment. Huge thanks to Charlotte Read, who organised the event, as well as to other staff and volunteers who assisted throughout the day. The top 10 placegetters from each event will now progress to the District Cross Country in Term 2.

 

Congratulations

Congratulations to Year 4 teacher, Michelle Chen and her fiancée Kevin on their upcoming wedding during the holidays. It promises to be a wonderful celebration and we wish them every happiness for their special day and for many years of love and happiness together. 

 

End of Term 1 arrangements & Term 2

Term 1 finishes tomorrow (Friday April 4th). There will be a whole school assembly in the Gymnasium at 1.45pm with students dismissed from their classrooms at 2.30pm.

 

Term 2 commences on Wednesday April 23rd. 

  • Monday April 21st is Easter Monday
  • Tuesday April 22nd is a Pupil Free Day
  • Friday April 25th is ANZAC Day

My very best wishes for a safe, happy and enjoyable break over the next couple of weeks.

 

Warmest regards

 

Duncan