Principal Report & School News
From the Principal...
It’s been a joyous two weeks since our last newsletter, as our students have returned to face-to-face schooling. Congratulations to all our students for the way they have returned to school routine and relished the opportunity to work together, finally in person! CONNECTION has continued to be our priority in the classrooms this past two weeks as we have welcomed all our students back to school. With our continued focus on wellbeing, teachers have been facilitating regular mindfulness sessions within the classroom that support our students to be present, take a moment, and to tune into things around them.
Mary Thanos is now officially on leave, expecting the arrival of her first child. When I say on leave, I did see her on the big screen on Wednesday when the year Sixes shared their ‘Shark Tank’ presentations. She was negotiating percentages of profit with the other ‘sharks’, Rae Galvin and Gregg Workman. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the exciting new products on offer and was impressed with how the students had to come up with a creative idea and then apply their knowledge of economics to attract interest and potential investors. They all looked the part, with plenty of corporate wear on display.
2022 Class Placements
Should you have a genuine request for your child's class placement next year, please provide a written statement to the principal. Requests must have an educational basis with a reference to your child’s academic, social and emotional needs. Written requests (email here) must be received by Friday November 26th to be considered. This is the very final day we can consider placement options for your child/children. Our teachers are well tuned into friendships, productive learning partnerships, and student combinations that work well. So please trust them to make informed decisions, in relation to 2022 classes. Requests for teaching staff cannot be accommodated, as our teachers are trained to work anywhere from Foundation to Year 6.
At the end of each year, the school may decide to create different teaching teams to ensure newer staff are well supported and mentored. At this stage, the school has announced that Laura Cecil and Jess Dijanesic (currently in Year 3) will be teaching Foundation and they both will be present during all transition activities. Both these teachers have had experience in teaching and working with Foundation students either at OPS or other educational settings.
Families Not Returning to OPS in 2022
As we start building the class profiles for 2022, we ask that if you have plans to relocate from our area and/or enrol your children at another school and have not yet let us know to please email the office as soon as possible.
**This is not required for departing Year 6 students **
Remembrance Day
On Thursday, the entire school gathered in front of our new flagpole to pay our respects for Remembrance Day. Our Grade Six Captains and Vice-Captains lowered the flag and our SRC Captains (Luca and Clementine) shared why we acknowledge this special day, as well as reading out the poem ‘In Flanders Field’. The entire school was silent, before listening to the sounds of the bugle and saying together ‘Lest We Forget’. The students have been talking in class about Remembrance Day and currently there are several informative displays in our Library Area.
Updating our Website
OPS is freshening up its’ website with more current information, policies and the launch of a new virtual tour. Over the next few weeks, students, staff and members of the wider community will be involved in various stages of the filming process. There will potentially be some general filming of classes and groups of students at work. If you do not wish your child to appear at all, please email the office as soon as possible.
We are really looking forward to the final product and sharing it with you all! To create this top-notch virtual tour, we have been very fortunate to tap into the skills and expertise of one of our very own OPS families.
Upcoming Events
Just a friendly reminder that the 80’s school disco is happening on the Thursday 18th November. All students are encouraged to attend. The evening will be lots of fun and a great opportunity for students to connect, dance, sing and enjoy each other’s company. There is likely to be some guest appearances from staff as well! The Friday following the disco will be a Curriculum Day. The staff will be engaging in professional development connected to our new ‘Professional Learning Communities’ (PLC) initiative and Assessment and Reporting Moderation.
On Monday, I will be joining the Foundation classes and parent helpers on their zoo excursion. As a principal, this type of opportunity allows me to connect with each child in a different type of setting. It also allows me to share my passion for science, particularly biological sciences and the study of living things. I am truly looking forward to spending time with FA and FB at the Melbourne Zoo. Hopefully the weather will be kind!
Kerri McLeod
Principal
Curriculum Day - Friday 19th November
Friday 19th November - this is a student free day.
Year 6 students are required for Interschool Sport in the morning (weather permitting)
2022 Curriculum Contributions & Stationary Orders
One of the major changes for 2022 is that the schools can no longer purchase books on behalf of the parents. Whilst Maxim is the school’s preferred supplier of student stationary, families may purchase this from elsewhere if they wish.
The full booklist and how to order can be found on Appendix B of the Parent Payment attachment found on your Compass News Feed.
If parents wish to purchase books from Maxim, orders must be placed by Monday 13th December 2021 to ensure delivery in time for students first day at school.
Family invoices for the 2022 Curriculum Contributions will be open for payment via Compass in January 2022.
Please find the full fee schedule, breakdown of student charges and family contributions and further information on the Department of Education's Parent Payments Policy.
Out of School Hours Care
Curriculum Day - Friday 19th November
If you require care for the upcoming Curriculum day, please contact the program to book. if you have not used the program before please submit the attached enrolment form.
January School Holiday Program and 2022 OSHC Enrolments
All families requiring Before & After School Care or Vacation Care for 2022 must submit an enrolment form to the school office by Wednesday 8th December 2021.
All new families to the program must include their child's immunisation certificate with their enrolment form.
Printed forms are also available directly from the front office or OSHC
January School Holiday Program 2022
The January School Holiday Program schedule is available on compass or below.
Program Bookings must be received with a 2022 enrolment form and submitted to the school office by Wednesday 8th December 2021.
Printed forms are also available directly from the front office or OSHC
Remembrance Day Appeal
The Remembrance Poppy
The Remembrance Poppy should be worn on the left side over your heart.
The red represents the blood of all those who gave their lives, the black represents the mourning of all those who didn’t have their loved ones return home, and the green leaf represents the grass and crops growing and future prosperity after the war destroyed so much.
The leaf should be positioned at 11 o’clock to represent the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the time that World War One formally ended.
Our poppy was made with all the staff and students thumbprints, parents, l apologise for the coloured thumbs this week!
Around the library we have the Ode and numerous photos. The display of remembrance day books are out for the students to read and to help with explaining the 11am service that will be held Thursday.
Scholastic Book Club
Thank you to all the families who have ordered books from Book club Issue 7.
Ordering for this issue will close today, Friday 12th November. Issue 8 is already out and you can check this out online.
Again thank you for ordering and supporting the school.
Susan Rimmer
Library & ES Superstar
Year 1 & 2 News
Exploring Mass
Year 2 are learning about Mass. This week, students investigated balance scales and played with balancing different objects and different weights on a ruler. We discovered that we can alter the length of the ruler to balance unequal weights. We also investigated the difference between weight and mass through the positioning of dissimilar paper clips at various positions on their balance beam. Students also enjoyed experimenting with pulleys. They constructed pulleys and used them to lift various object in the classroom.
Year 3 News
During Mathematics, this week the Year 3's focused on learning and developing their knowledge of capacity and volume. For capacity, students were put into small groups and picked from a range of different containers to estimate and measure how much water each container could hold. Moving onto volume, the Year 3's were able to compare blocks and build different cuboids to determine the amount of space take up by each object.
Year 6 News
Over Wednesday and Thursday this week, Year 6 students delivered their entrepreneurial pitches for the 'Shark Tank' economics project. Each group has worked hard over a ten week period devising a new product or service to seek investment from the Sharks. They applied all they have learned about scarcity, needs and wants, supply and demand, targeting to specific audiences, marketing and advertising , production and manufacturing, and of course, pitching for investment.
Students did not disappoint with an impressive array of business ideas from, Zodiac theme pencil cases, scented animal bandages and brain chips to cure dementia. Mary Thanos, Rae Galvin and Gregg workman were the formidable Sharks and they did not hold back in testing the students’ knowledge against dodgy financials, likely factors affecting supply chains and questionable marketing campaigns. There was a spattering of ambitious TV commercials which whilst not always economically sound provided some comedic relief away from the sink or swim interrogations (refer images included) Lots learnt and fun had by all.
PE/Sport News
Year 6 Basketball Division Finals
On Monday we set off to Springers Leisure Centre to play divisions for Basketball. Both the girls and boys team had won their district finals so we assumed we were prepared. The boys team played first against Carnegie Primary. At halftime Carnegie was in the lead and making a promising arrival. Unfortunately we ended up losing the first game, but we still had another chance. The next game was against Black Rock Primary. They were a tough team and by halftime they were in front. In the end they ended up winning, but the Ormond boys played really well. Now it was the girls turn.
For the first game the girls competed against Lloyd St Primary. By halftime they also had a promising start, leading them to victory. But Ormond played really well.
For the second game Ormond played against Black Rock Primary. By halftime Ormond was in the lead by 2 points giving the girls a challenge. Unfortunately they ended up losing by a very small amount but giving it their best shot.
The star players were Sam H and Clea C
Thank you to Ms. Milliken and Mrs. Thanos for coaching us and GO ORMOND!
Written by
Luckshya and Clea
Visual Arts News
Here are some examples of the spectacular spooky artworks year prep - 3 completed over the last 2 weeks. Have a look at their fabulous cotton bud skeletons and Jan Pienkowski inspired haunted house silhouettes. Happy Halloween for last week! Year 3 and 4 students have been working hard to complete amazing Treehouse Designs inspired by the Illustrator Terry Denton, who together with Andy Griffiths, wrote the Treehouse series. It has been great to see all the different storeys and themes their treehouses have!
Keep up the wonderful creative energy, fabulous Ormond PS artists!
Ms Kupfer