Apple Fair 2023

2023 Apple Fair - A new look and feel

This exact month next year OGPS will be buzzing with Apple Fair excitement! 

We think this is a good time to try something new after what will be a three-year break (thanks Covid!). So we are simplifying the Fair. This is based on survey feedback, anecdotal evidence from parents, teachers and other fair-organisers from Wallington and OG schools.

The Apple Fair will be stripped back to its roots, making it a smaller, friendly, community-focused event. The aim of the Apple Fair is to bring together the school community and raise a big chunk of money, but without burdening hundreds of volunteers and families in the process.

So, what’s new about this fair?

• Change of date – Trialling a Sunday event rather than a twilight fair that clashes with a long weekend. Put it in your diary now – Sunday 15th October 2023, 10am-3pm.
• Sunday market stall holders – Local makers and growers will showcase their wares, building a community connection and encouraging attendees from the wider OG community.
• Food trucks instead of food stalls – Think dumplings, baked potatoes, burgers, pastries – all the yummy stuff they do so well! In the past OGPS parents ran the food stalls, spending hundreds of hours purchasing and preparing food, cooking and serving on the night, doing dishes and cleaning up afterwards. We are now outsourcing a lot of the food but will still host the much-loved BBQ.
• Parent lead committee - Previously the Apple Fair committee was run by teachers with the support of parent volunteers. From now on it’s the other way around, the committee will only involve school parents with the support of the school management/office staff.

What won’t be at this fair?

• Carnival rides. Huge cost to set up for little return. Feedback included long queues and chaotic atmosphere. We are looking to replace the rides with lots of exciting activities and amusements such as a rock wall, inflatable zorbs, parent/student dunking etc.
• Teacher involvement. In the past teachers have spent endless hours planning, preparing, setting and packing up, sleeping overnight at the school, paying for CRT coverage for their class while they’re off doing Apple Fair tasks. Moving forward, it's over to us parents to commit to running the Apple Fair - many other schools operate their fair/fete in this way, reducing the burden on our educators and letting them do what they do best!

There is much more to uncover, but these are some of the ideas to make the Apple Fair a fun and stress-free occasion.

Can you help us? 

Planning for the 2023 event is taking shape so we are putting the call out for more people to join the brains trust. 

Please let us know if you can help in any capacity by emailing your availability to - applefair.ogps@gmail.com

Name:

Contact details:

Child/ren year levels:

I will help with:

Next Apple Fair Committee Meeting: Wednesday 9th November, 7pm-8:30pm in the OGPS Staffroom