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 Assistant Principal

Hi, everyone.

Miss Ogilvie here. Miss Harry is away at present, so I get to take a turn at contributing to the newsletter; rather an exciting prospect!

It is wonderful to see all our students back into the swing of school. The teaching staff are working hard to ensure that social interactions and collaboration activities are being woven into the English and Maths activities we are doing in this final term of 2020. We are all amazed at how well we have all settled back into the school routine and the way in which all students are settling back into learning within a classroom. Today is World Teachers' Day, and I am sure that you will all join me in acknowledging the great work that the teachers at OGPS do, and have done over this very different year.

School photos are being taken on Wednesday 18th November, but due to time constraints, they will only be taking individual student portraits. Ordering will be available online through Compass. Further information will be provided next week.

The school will be taking the class photos and you will be able to order these as well.

I thought that, along with the general reminders, I would take the opportunity to write about two of our ex-students who have made headlines for their sporting feats over the last few weeks.

The first one (only because he plays for my team!) is Jordan Ridley. Jordan plays in the AFL for the Essendon Football Club. He was drafted in 2016, played his first game in 2018, and this year won the club's best and fairest, the Crichton Medal. In 2010 he was a Killara house captain and, according to Mrs Costaras, not only was he great at sports but he also took his learning seriously and strove to represent the Orchard Grove Way whenever he could.

Then there is Kate Eddy. Kate plays for the Melbourne Vixens in the Super Netball Competition, the winning team of 2020. Not only was she part of the winning team, but she was also a joint runner-up in their best and fairest, the Sharelle McMahon Medal. It seems that Kate always wanted to play netball: "(At) my Year Six graduation, I said what I wanted to do when I was older was to play netball for Australia." In her final year at OGPS, Kate was a house captain for Mirrabooka.

It is wonderful to see our ex-students fulfilling their dreams; I wonder who will be next!

I very much enjoy being on the red gate each morning and afternoon! Being able to greet the students as they enter and exit has been a wonderful addition to my day. The manners of all our students are amazing and the smiles they bring at either end of the day are so rewarding to see. What I have noticed is there are some students who have a few little discrepancies to their uniforms and it would be great if we could set these right. I understand that this could be because of growth spurts over lockdown, and the lack of open shops made this a challenge to redress. Now that we are able to shop once more I have included the uniform requirements below so that everyone can make sure that they are in the required uniform over the next week or so.

Just before I sign off, a reminder that parent requests for classes will close on November 5 (next Thursday). Please remember, these need to be on educational grounds and sent to the Orchard Grove email at orchard.grove.ps@education.vic.gov.au. Late requests will not be considered due to the complexities of the task at hand and the time frame for completion.

Michelle Ogilvie

Assistant Principal

OGPS Uniform Requirements

The school logoed bomber jacket, hoodie or winter jacket can be worn with all uniform combinations.

SUMMER

BOYS

Shorts - navy

Polo shirt - navy or jade

GIRLS

Dress - blue and white check

Navy blue shorts/skorts

Polo shirt - navy or jade

Please note: Leggings are not part of the school uniform. Bike shorts can only be worn under the summer dress. No tights or skivvies are to be worn with the summer dress.

WINTER

BOYS

Tracksuit pants - navy

Polo shirt (short/long sleeve) - navy or jade

GIRLS

Tracksuit pants - navy

Polo shirt (short/long sleeve) - navy or jade

Tunic - navy (navy tights can be worn with tunic)

SHOES AND SOCKS

Shoe options are: black school shoes; black, white, or navy runners (or variations of - eg white runner with navy stripe, black runner with white stripes)

Socks must only be navy or white

No open-toed shoes are permitted

Key Dates

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER