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 Assistant Principal

A warm welcome back to everyone; hopefully you all managed to enjoy a lovely holiday with your family.

We have all settled back into school life. The excitement of new year levels, classrooms, and teachers is still present, but not with the same levels of anticipation of the first few days. That anticipation and excitement are now with our new Foundation students who completed their first day this week and are settling in very well to school life.

Every class has been busy with our in@OGPS program over the first week and a bit, looking at what part we need to play as an individual to ensure that classrooms, cohorts, and our school as a whole function as a team, with everyone working towards a common goal of working harmoniously and collaboratively as a continuous learner. 

One of the focus areas our teachers have been working on is the Zones of Regulation; this will be a consistent strategy used across the school to help students identify and regulate their emotions. There are four zones: Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red. If you need a conversation starter, maybe ask your child(ren) to explain them to you!

Our students in Years Three to Six have also had cybersafety sessions this week, delivered by Sergeant Garrison. This will give us a good start to our year as we work with our students to further develop their understanding of how to stay safe and be aware of their online identity. We really encourage you to continue this conversation at home and monitor online activities as needed.

Each team is also contributing to the newsletter this year, so please take the time to read those appropriate to your family. This will be a newsletter feature as we continue to strengthen our home-school links, keeping you informed as to what the learning focus is within the classrooms. 

We have also had our 2021 school leaders presented with their badges at assembly this week. I am sure that they will be brilliant leaders this year; whilst we were very sad that parents could not join us, the leaders were keen to share the moment with the school community.

Athletics is on the radar for the next two Wednesdays. Years Three to Six will have their event held at the Bill Sewart Athletics Track on March 17, then Foundation to Year Two will have theirs here at school on March 24. As these events will be held outside, parents are welcome to attend, but we ask that you socially distance as needed whilst in attendance. Stay tuned for more information from Mr Liston in the next few days.

Michelle Ogilvie

Assistant Principal