Principal's Message

School Philosophy

Orchard Grove Primary School is committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment that engages curiosity, promotes learning, personal growth and wellbeing for all students. We strive to develop adaptability and resilience so students can become valued members of the local and global communities and be prepared for future life experiences.

From the Principal

Well, we are certainly racing to the end of term with lots to fit in before we wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and break with the family.  This Friday is the first of three transition days, with the second one on the 10th of December and the final session on the 16th.  As you know, I am passionate about a having a thorough transition program, as I believe it is so important for the children to have an opportunity to spend time with their new teacher and class before they go off on the summer holidays. I believe this reduces anxiety and makes the start of the new year much smoother. I hope you agree.  

School Helpers Morning Tea

We would like to thank the parents and grandparents who came today for our Special Helpers Morning Tea.  It is only a small way to say a huge thank you to all in our community who help us every week at OGPS. The staff provide the morning tea as their way of giving back, so it was lovely to see the familiar faces attend and have an opportunity for us all to stop and enjoy some time together.  For those who weren't able to attend, thank you so very much for all the time you give here at school.  You play such a valuable role and we love having you here and we know the kids do too.  We hope that you will be able to be involved again in 2020.

Swimming Program

Another area I feel passionate about is our end-of-year swimming program.  Swimming is a vital skill for all young Australians to have and we must never be complacent about children around water.  We are very lucky, as a school, to be able to continue to lock in this time slot at the end of the year to help reorientate our students with water safety before they go on holidays.  Many schools are envious of us having our program in December and often try and take this time.  Although the numbers have been confirmed, if you have not enrolled your child in the program, please reconsider.  A swimming skills and familiarity around water refresher at this time of year can never be under estimated.  Good insurance, I think.

Uniform 2020

It's hard to believe that the two years have passed since we introduced the new school uniform. We are really pleased with how this has gone and now, in 2020, we transition fully to the new blue and jade uniform.  No old uniform pieces can be worn and full compliance with the new uniform,  including hat, shoes and socks, must be followed.  If you have any of the yellow and blue uniforms in good condition, they can still be donated. Please bring any garments that you believe are in this condition to the office.

Carols at the Grove

I hope you have all saved the date for our annual Carols at the Grove celebration.  The children are practising away and excited to perform their Christmas items. It is a great opportunity to connect with our community as we celebrate this important time of Christmas. As usual, we will have a sausage sizzle, drinks, a coffee cart etc. Come along with your chairs and picnic blankets and dressed in Christmas cheer, and enjoy the festivities with us on Thursday 5th December.  More details to come.

Woolworths at the Brickworks

We have been contacted by the new Woolworths at the Brickworks about partnering with the school and, of course, this is a great opportunity for us. They are happy to support our fundraisers and be a support to our programs at the school, which is wonderful. Their Grand Opening is on 6th December and our Year Six students have been invited to sing the national anthem, which is very exciting. You should go online and check out the Brickworks Project; it is amazing. Here is an excerpt from the website as it describes the project as being one of the "world's most sustainable retail centres".

Burwood Brickworks’ masterplan aims to deliver 700 new homes, shops and entertainment (including a Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s and Reading Cinema), an urban plaza, 2.5 hectares of open space and parklands, interconnected walkways and an eco-conscious restaurant which will source its produce from a 2000 square metre urban rooftop farm.

Sustainable practices include: mulching excess organic material for compost, closed loop technology for recycling wastewater, eliminating produce transportation by growing on site, rooftop solar panels and offsite renewable energy sources, avoiding the use of worst-in-class chemicals to reduce air pollution and a 6 Star Green Star Community rating has already been obtained.

“The new Burwood Brickworks Woolworths store will draw power from the solar panels installed in the centre and be fitted out with LED lights to reduce power usage. The store’s refrigeration and air-conditioning will generate a reduced carbon footprint and use natural refrigerants, and we will also have an area in-store where customers can bring in their soft plastics to be recycled.” 

- Brad Karge, Woolworths Senior Property Manager.

It is a very exciting project and, being so close to OGPS, is a terrific opportunity for our students to see a viable  real-life example of sustainable practices. 

On another note, we had a lovely surprise for Ruby from the staff at the new Woolworths, who banded together and donated a fabulous hamper for our much loved pooch!  Oh my goodness, they have had a special lead embroidered with Orchard Grove Primary and her name, a bed for her to relax in at school, new dog bowls, special hand made treats made by the staff at Woolies and toys etc. Check out the attached photo. WOW what a lucky pooch. 

Salvation Army Christmas Appeal

We will be having a sausage sizzle on Wednesday 18th December to raise money for the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. All the food is going to be donated by Woolworths at the Brickworks, which is just fantastic and it means that all the funds will go to this great cause.  One of our fantastic parents and our School Council Vice President, Trevor Hookey, has once again offered to cook on the day, but he does need some helpers.  If you are free on that day and able to help, we would really appreciate it. Just let the girls in the  office know.  We won't be taking orders before the day, students, staff and parents, can just come along and buy a sausage in bread and drink.  There will be more information to come as we get closer to the date.

Well, that’s all from me for this week. Hopefully by the time I write the next newsletter, I will be a grandma again. So exciting!!  Have a great weekend with your family.

Talk soon.

Glenda Harry

Principal