Principal Report, Year Level & OSHC News
From the Principal...
What a fabulous STEAM showcase we held this week! Staff, students and parents all enjoyed participating in a range of activities. It was such a buzz seeing so many community members entering the buildings and engaging with the wide array of activities on offer. It has been a very long time since OPS has been able to connect with you all in this manner. I thank the staff and students for their efforts in making this showcase happen and I also thank those parents who assisted me to tidy up the Harry Potter stations at the end of the evening. The kids are keen to have a follow-up, so stay tuned!
We want our Parents, Caregivers & Guardians to tell us what they think!
The department is conducting a survey to find out what parents/caregivers/guardians think of our school. The Parent Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education and Training that is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement.
We encourage families to participate in this survey (which will take around 20 minutes). Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.
The Opinion Survey will be conducted from Monday 15 August to Friday 16 September. On Monday, a newsfeed will be posted to provide families with a PIN and the website to access the survey. Even though life is busy, we value your time in providing your feedback to our school.
New Victorian Government Schools Agreement
A new industrial agreement is now in place for all staff of Victorian Government Schools.
There are two main differences between our past agreement and the current one:
1. Professional Practice Days – during 2022, there will now be a total of 3 ‘pupil free’ days for teachers to undertake professional learning/training to improve their practice. In 2023, there will be two professional practice days (one day in each semester) and one day for 2024 and 2025.
These professional practice days are in addition to the four curriculum days per year.
The work undertaken by teachers on professional practice days must be consistent with Departmental and school priorities and selected from the following areas:
• planning
• preparation
• assessment of student learning
• collaboration
• curriculum development
• relevant professional development
• peer observation including feedback and reflection.
The difference between a ‘Professional Practice Day’ PPD and a ‘Curriculum Day (both being pupil free) is that the PPD agenda is driven by the teachers as they identify specific areas to refine their practice, whereas the Curriculum Day agenda is derived from the school’s Annual Implementation Plan to address areas as identified from student achievement data.
School Council has approved the following pupil free days for the remainder of 2022:
• Tuesday 6th September – Professional Practice Day plus student led conferences
• Monday 31 October (day before Melbourne Cup) – Whole school curriculum day
• Tuesday 20th December – Curriculum Day (whole school review preparation)
2. Time in Lieu - We all know that teachers work many hours over and above their scheduled working week, but over time - we have held an increasing number of school events after hours for the convenience of our working parents. For example, parent information nights, parent-teacher interviews, STEAM showcase, student- led conferences etc.
With the new Agreement, schools now have two options when planning extra-curricular events: they either re-arrange the events to occur within the teachers’ working hours (between 8:45 and 4:45pm) or the teacher must be given ‘time in lieu’.
We are all endeavouring to maintain a better work-life balance, so for our teachers, this agreement is timely.
Covid Safety
When it comes to coronavirus health and safety, advice is often changing. You can find up to date information on our school website. The most pertinent thing to remember at this stage is to:
• Contact the school if your child is a close contact and follow the mask wearing and RA testing requirements. Please contact the school if your child tests positive.
• Please encourage your children to wear a mask when indoors. All students have access to masks when required. The school has a large supply of children's masks.
Enrolments for 2023 - Enrolments are due by Wednesday 17th August!
2023 Foundation enrolments are open. Enrolment forms can be collected at the Office or found on our website. If you have a child turning 5 by April 30, 2023, please complete an enrolment form and bring in a copy of your child’s birth certificate and immunisation record and proof of residence in the school zone and we will process the enrolment. It helps us enormously with planning, if we have a clear indication of enrolments as early as possible.
Families/Students not returning to OPS in 2023 (Foundation to Year 5)
If you know that your child/children will not be continuing at Ormond Primary School in 2023, please email ormond.ps@education.vic.gov.au as soon as possible.
Please include your child's final day at OPS, the name of the new school they will be attending and a forwarding address if applicable.
If your child is currently in Year 6 - this does not apply to you.
Pupil Free Day - Tuesday 6th September
Our professional practice day is scheduled and approved by school council for Tuesday September 6th which will be a pupil free day.This is also the date set for student led conferences.
Kerri McLeod
Principal
2023 Enrolments & School Tours
Do you have a child at kinder due to start school in 2023? Its time to enrol for Foundation now!! Please spread the word at your kindergartens.
We provide regular tours to showcase our wonderful school – 2022 school tour dates are:
- Tuesday 16th August – 1130am
- Thursday 25th August – 930am
- Friday 2nd September – 230pm
- Wednesday 14th September – 930am
To book a school tour, please contact the office on 03 9578 1327. Please notify the school if you need to cancel or reschedule your tour booking. Tours are subject to change depending on Government Health Advice at any time. Enrolment packs available on tour days. Alternatively they can be collected at anytime from the front office.
2023 Foundation 'Get to Know You' and Formal Transition Sessions are in the process of being finalised. Please ensure you have returned your enrolment forms by Friday 15th July to secure to child's attendance in the sessions.
Please check your email for the upcoming 'Get to Know You' sessions and booking information.
Out of School Hours Care
Curriculum Day
The Out of School Hours Program will be providing care on the Curriculum day, scheduled for Tuesday 6th September. For bookings please see the program booking sheet on the parent table outside the hall, during session times or text your booking to the program mobile 0439 111 026.
July School Holidays Program Photos
Photos from the Tim the Incredible performance during the July School Holidays. With plenty of cheeky jokes, the children roared with laughter at the mischievous alligator. The children were amazed by Tim’s magic tricks and especially the bubble art which included all the children being put in, an individual life size bubble. See photos of some of the children in the bubble.
Next School Holiday Program Schedule will be available on compass from Monday 5th September
April Kopitz
Out of School Hours Coordinator
Ph: 03 9578 5826.
Term 3 Working Bee Sunday 21 August
Term 3's Working Bee will be held on Sunday 21st August 9:30am to 12:00noon.
Please come along for all or some of the morning if you can. It will be great to see people together on site. We also welcome new families joining us in 2023 to come along and get to know their new school community. If you know your neighbours or kinder friends are starting at OPS next year, please extend our invitation to them.
A sausage sizzle will be provided, please bring any garden tools that will assist on the day.
Term 3 Cyber Safety
The students have really enjoyed attending their Cyber Safety incursions for Term 3 and are gaining a lot of knowledge as they navigate their way through a digital world. I know in the junior classes both the students and teachers are finding it very hard to stop singing the song we learnt about staying safe online! And how exciting to hear Ormond PS mentioned during the incursion, with Henry of 1B’s suggested username for Ollie (Legomaster75) being selected as Ollie’s favourite!
Topics for Foundation to Year 2 students included how to keep information private, what is a digital footprint and 'username/ password' best practise. Year 3 to 6 students explored and unpacked topics such as cyber bullying, the power of the upstander and how to navigate uncomfortable situations.
Keep an eye out for the ‘Parent & Carer Tip Sheet’ that should have come home with your child and is available on compass.
The Term 3 parent online session is just 3 weeks away!
This webinar will focus on Practical ideas and strategies for reducing the chaos and increasing the calm vibes for everyone in your household.
This term the details are as follows:
Reducing Chaos and Increasing Calm
Presenter: Carley McGauran
Date: Thursday 18 August Time: 7.30pm (60 min)
Here is the link for you to register for the webinar:
Once you register (with an email address and name), you will be emailed a link to the session, a reminder email on the day of the webinar as well as 15min before start time. The following day, you will receive a link to access the replay. Therefore even if you are unable to attend the live webinar, please register to ensure you can access the replay.
Book Week - Dress Up August 24th
Book week is August 20th-26th August.
Ormond Primary will celebrate its love of books with a dress up day on Wednesday 24th August.
Everyone is encouraged to come dressed as their favourite book character or they can bring along one of the props mentioned in the book. Students will hear this year’s short-listed books and complete activities on the day.
Below is a link of dress-up ideas for inspiration.
Happy reading everyone!
MS Read-a-thon
This August, Ormond Primary School will be participating in the MS Readathon!
The MS Readathon inspires kids to read as much as they can, all for one incredible cause. The rules are simple. Read whatever you like, as much as you can, throughout the month of August. Best of all, by joining our quest, not only will you awaken a love of reading, you will also be helping kids who have a parent with multiple sclerosis.
But we need YOUR support. Will you please sponsor your child to read for the MS Readathon?
You can donate or register your child by clicking on this link: https://www.msreadathon.org.au/fundraisers/ormond-primary-school-3204
If you register asap, you could receive an MS Readathon t-shirt. There are lots of resources on the website including sponsorship forms. When registered, you can access an email template so you can contact relatives who may want to encourage your child to read and sponsor them.
We would love to raise as much money as possible for this wonderful cause. So let’s all get reading!
Your donation will fund vital support services for people living with MS and other neurological conditions, like the amazing Family Camps where kids can spend time with other kids who understand what it's like to have a parent with MS. These camps help families living with MS to spend quality time together and learn more about multiple sclerosis.
Thank you so much for your support!
Foundation News
Foundation A and B celebrated a very special milestone, 100 days of school! We enjoyed a fun filled day that included making bright and colourful crowns, showing off these fabulous crowns whilst on a tour to many classrooms, dancing, having lunch with our Year 5 buddies, creating thoughtful bucket lists, and indulging in some sweets. Not to mention admiring all the funny, vibrant, and imaginative T-shirts that all the Foundation students (and parents) made. What a wonderful day it was!
Year 4 News
After learning all about fractions, the Year 4 students have moved on to decimals. In this activity they had to generate a 2 digit number that had one decimal place (eg. 4.7) and place it on the chart in the correct order. Students worked with a partner to discuss the value of the tenths column and, once this was mastered, added another decimal place to work with hundredths. 3 dice!
Elsternwick Eco Park Excursion
Students will be heading out on a fun and exciting excursion in a few weeks to the Elsternwick Eco Park.
Please ensure you complete the consent and payment on compass by the due date.
Students will be provided with a sausage sizzle lunch. If your child has any dietary/allergy requirements please be sure to inform your class teacher as soon as possible.
Year 5 News
Thanks to everyone who popped into Year 5 for the STEAM showcase on Tuesday evening. It was wonderful to see students teaching their parents and peers how to make a stop motion movie
Here’s some information written by Kingsley and Lily.
Good morning parents, students and friends! On Tuesday night we had a wonderful evening where parents visited and we had fun during the STEAM night! It was a special event where parents got a chance to look around the school and dive into a world of science! In every classroom there was an activity arranged such as stop motion, looking at mealworms and other amazing activities you could interact with.
The Year 5 students taught their parents and siblings how to make a stop motion video using an app called Stop Motion Studio. On each table, there were various supplies you could use to make a stop motion video. Our favourite was showing off my mystifying stop motion! Our second favourite was the Harry Potter themed room. We hope you enjoyed the STEAM night as much as we did!
