Principal Report & School News

From the Principal...

What wild weather we have experienced over the last 24 hours. The humid and warm weather of the previous days was replaced by strong winds and rain. The yard was covered in branches and debris but our wonderful Year 6 students with the help of staff, cleared away most of it! I thank them for ensuring the yard was safe and accessible at recess and lunchtime today.

As we edge nearer to the whole school returning on Monday, I would like to thank students, staff and families for trusting the school with COVID-safe practices. The children are abiding by mask wearing regulations and they are sanitising, social distancing and looking out for each other. Due to the easing of restrictions, we can now lock in many exciting and engaging events for Term 4. This includes excursions, sport, transition sessions, our school disco and graduation ceremony. The students are thrilled that life is gradually returning to normal at school and there is a definite buzz in the classrooms and schoolyard. Our Year 5 students are preparing their expressions of interest for leadership positions, our Foundation team are preparing a trip to the zoo, Year 6 are practicing graduation skits and the teachers are reconnecting with their classes through explicit face-to-face teaching. I am delighted to now show prospective parents through the school and to also work with the Community Engagement school council subcommittee on a virtual school tour, that will be added to our updated website. With applications closed for new shade sails, new Astro turf and the support received from Bunnings – we are crossing our fingers that the start of 2022, will see a new look for the outside environment at OPS. A huge thank you to all community members and school council for their involvement.

Lock- In (previously known as a ‘Lockdown’)

Today, the school conducted a ‘lockdown’ scenario. This is an emergency drill which practises what the school would do in any emergency involving dangers outdoors, such as gas leaks, unfriendly animals, fire hazards nearby or an intruder in the yard. The alarm sounds and all staff, students and visitors in the school secure doors and move to any enclosed room where they move away from windows etc and crouch low. After the drill today, I sought feedback from teachers and students about how the drill went and that was when we agreed the work ‘lockdown’ should no longer be referenced. The drill was completed in record time, with all staff sending a text to the front office stating that everyone was accounted for and safe. The final emergency drill we will conduct this term is an evacuation offsite where the entire school travels calmly to Wattle Grove to assemble. This is for fire emergencies in the school or again, if there is a possibility of hazardous gas or chemical leaks indoors. All these drills are part of our whole school OH&S requirements.

Curriculum Day - Friday 19th November (Yr 6 Interschool Sport will continue)

Staff will be undertaking Professional Development sessions on Friday 19th November, to enhance their upcoming report writing data. Students are not required at school, and the Out of School Hours Program will be available for those families who require care. Please contact April to book. 

With so many activities previously cancelled due to Covid and with Interschool Sport only just being confirmed to continue, we felt it best the Year 6 students still have the opportunity to compete. Therefore, Year 6 students will be required to come to school for Interschool sport ONLY. Students will come to school in the morning as per normal and then can be collected from school on their return (approximately around 11:00am). Please provide a written note/email to the office, if you give your child permission to walk or ride home from school once they have returned. 

Reading at Home

Reading is an extremely important part of a child’s gathering of skills for access to education.  In our modern world it is more important than ever. Children learn about the importance of reading as they watch family members use reading and writing for everyday purposes. Reading with your child at home will help your child in all learning areas of school. Children see you reading and writing in everyday life – reading for pleasure, sharing a story with your child, using a recipe, making a shopping list, writing a birthday card or reading street signs. This teaches them that reading and writing are useful skills in today’s world.  During the last months, conditions in the home saw many routines change and it is now that we ask you re-establish new patterns, which will assist in your child’s schooling. Listening to your child read at home daily is very important. It is a good way of supporting your child’s education and connecting to what they know and believe.   

Borrowed School Devices

The devices borrowed from school for remote learning are required to be returned to the office no later than Friday 5th November please as they need to now be made available for class use. 

New Enrolments - 2022

We are looking at grade structures and staffing for next year and it is vital that we are as accurate as possible. If you know of anyone who is yet to enrol at our school for 2022, please ask them to finalise enrolment procedures.

Departures

If you know your child will not be returning to us next year (this does not include Year 6 students), please inform the office in writing (email) as soon as possible so we can finalise planning for next year. Please include the name of the new school your child will be attending so appropriate transfers can be completed.

Hats, Hand Sanitiser & Drink Bottles  

Hats are required during Term 4 and should be the school approved uniform variety. Students can bring sunscreen to school however roll on is preferred. Hand sanitiser will be provided by the school. Please ensure that your child has a drink bottle to limit the drinking from the school taps. Please ensure all belongings are labelled with your child's name.

Child Safe Matter - Squid Game - Netflix Series 

Squid Game is a newly released Netflix series with a rating of MA15+. This series includes visual content with high levels of gore, death, violence and physical assault. It also has graphic depictions of suicide, murder and sexual assault. Children and young people are likely to be attracted to the show through word of mouth and because of its popularity on social media. They may be unaware of the extent of gore, death, and violence the show contains. It also focuses on adult themes that are not appropriate for younger children. Young people living with mental health issues may find some of the content triggering. The aesthetic of Squid Game, especially in promotional images and material, appears innocent and childlike, further drawing in young viewers. Parents should be aware that whilst the Squid Game series is streamed on Netflix, which your child may not have access to, content from the series may still be accessible on other social media platforms. For example, there are video snippets of the Squid Game series on TikTok which younger people (including Primary School students) may be inadvertently exposed to which could pique their interest in watching the series. Our advice is for staff and parents is to be vigilant and informed about what their young people are watching and to consider its suitability for their age, sensitivities and circumstances.

All staff are encouraged to avoid references to the games portrayed in this mini series whilst it remains such enticing viewing it is most definitely NOT suitable for our students at all.

I am sure given time – the novelty of this series will die down but for now please keep an eye on students referencing it.

Finally, on World Teacher’s Day – I would like to thank all staff for their hard work and dedication. This includes those who support classroom teachers in a variety of ways! A successful school and one with a positive reputation, is a result of effective partnerships between teachers, students and families. Ormond PS continues to shine in the local community! Happy World Teacher’s Day to my wonderful staff!

Kerri McLeod

Principal

Out of School Hours Care – BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Before and After School care is now open for all children now school has returned to normal. Bookings are essential.

Please contact April or Sharelle to discuss your regular or casual bookings

If you have not used the program before, you will be required to complete the enrolment form attached below.

Please text April on 0439 111 026 to book. Please include your child's

• Name
• Date & Session time (Before or After Care) required

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 Expressions of Interest

We are trying to gauge numbers for the January School Holiday Program. Could parents please email April if they intend to send your child/children to the program by Friday 5th November

General Procedures from Monday 1st November

• Students may enter the school grounds from any of the  3 gates (Murray Rd,  Wheatley Rd or Ruby St) and make their way to their classroom from 8:45am.
• Hats are compulsory for all students in Term 4.
• Parents/Carers are able to enter the school grounds, but not school buildings (with exception of the front office) therefore are unable to accompany their child to their classrooms.
• Please use the gates as ‘Kiss and Go’ areas.
• Please do not congregate and remember to social distance at all times.
• Face masks must be worn at all times indoor.
• Parents/Carers are welcome to enter the front office to conduct school business and sign their child in/out on compass if late or leaving early, however they must check in on the provided QR code.

Visitors on site & Meetings with Staff members

All non-essential visitors are still strongly discouraged to attend on-site where possible. Parents/Carers, requiring a meeting with school staff are encouraged to remain having these by phone or virtually (e.g. WebEx) and by appointment only. Please email your class teacher to arrange a time directly. Please contact the front office to arrange a time with Principal staff.

Vaccination Requirements for visitors to schools

Any visitor or volunteers performing work in schools (including parent helpers, NDIS providers, and other operators such as incursion providers and private music teachers) are required to either have had their first dose by the 18 October or, have a booking to receive a first dose by 25 October or, are fully vaccinated by 29 November (unless a medical exemption applies) to attend on site. This does not include parents who come onto school grounds for drop off or pick up.

Managing unwell children

If a child is unwell in any way, even with the mildest of symptoms, they must stay at home. If a child becomes unwell during the day, parents/carers will be called, and they must be collected from school as soon as possible. 

Please see the attached poster for further information regarding illness in school.

Remembrance Day Appeal

Remembrance Day Appeal Poppies is on again. Prices $5 and under and are available for purchase from the front office. All proceeds 

2021 Ormond Oak Leaf Yearbook - ORDERS CLOSING SOON!

The Ormond Oak Leaf Yearbook is a wonderful memento which highlights your child, their class and their participation in a variety of events and programs throughout the school year. The teachers, students and school community leaders are busy collating and putting together a collection of photos and memories to capture these occasions. Families that wish to purchase a yearbook can do so now via Course Confirmation/Payments on your Compass portal, as we need to confirm publication numbers.

Yearbooks are $15.00 per copy.  

How to order:

Order via the Course Confirmation/School Payments area of Compass. this will appear as a link on you portal home screen. Please state in the question area how many yearbooks you wish to purchase. Please ensure you amend the final payment amount to reflect the total number of yearbooks you wish to order. 

e.g.   3  x  Yearbooks  = $45.00         

          2  x  Yearbooks  = $30.00 

         1  x   Yearbook = $15.00

Yearbooks will be distributed at the end of Term 4. 

Please note, any photos submitted by parents to teachers/Brodie during remote learning activities for the newsletter may also be included in the yearbook. We ask you to be mindful when taking the photos that only OPS students are in the photos and that there are no undesirables or personal items/situations visible in the backgrounds (e.g alcohol/cigarettes on tables, identifiable addresses etc) to help protect the privacy of others.

Please only send photos in that you approve of being published.

Helen Kupfer & Kim Stewart

Yearbook Coordinators

Year 3 News

The children just couldn’t stop smiling on their return to school. They enjoyed catching up with their friends, playing games in the sunshine and using the measurement skills they learnt in online learning to make some chocolate spiders. The slides show the results and as you can tell, many students changed their mind about making spiders. We ended up with caterpillars, baskets, faces and flowers. A fun time was had by all. 

Year 5 News

Throughout Term 3, Year 5 students were learning about the physiological, structural and behavioural adaptations of Australian native animals in Science. They researched an animal’s adaptations to its environment and presented their Google Slides via Zoom to the class.

Part of the project was to take an ACTION to support their chosen animal or improve the environment to help native animals survive climate change, pollution and predators.

Student ACTIONS included:

• Placing a bird bath in the garden to provide water for birds and insects.
• Building nesting boxes for native birds.
• Planting a native flowering bush in their garden for birds and bees.
• Collecting plastic from the beaches.
• Buying only environmentally friendly household products to protect the waterways.
• Joining the Glen Eira Council’s ‘Love our Streets 3204’ community group.
• Eating vegetarian twice a week to minimise the environmental impacts of eating meat.
• Sewing a catbib to protect birdlife in Ormond.
• Separating soft plastics and taking them back to supermarkets collection points.
• Composting food scraps.
• Baking using flour made from crickets, as a protein replacement.

PE/Sport News

Interschool Sport 

Congratulations to the Year 6 boys and girls basketball teams who will be competing in the Division finals on Monday 8th of November. Parents please remember to complete the Compass Event consent.

Both teams were outstanding in Term 2 winning all of their matches against schools in the Moorabbin District.

Good luck in your Division finals and go Ormond!

Term 4 Interschool Sport

We are pleased to confirm that we will be able to run a few rounds of Term 4 Interschool Sport. This is carrying over from the Term 1 Summer teams. Please see Compass for more details and to complete the payment/consent. 

Visual Arts News

To begin Term 4 in Visual Arts, the Foundation and Year 1 and 2 students completed some fabulous ‘Faces In Nature’ where they created head shapes and searched their gardens, to give their faces leafy and flowery ‘hairstyles’ in Nature. Then in Week 2 students explored the art of Brazilian artist Romero Britto, which inspired them to create bright, colourful and patterned compositions of their own. 

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! 

Year 5 have started the term learning about Space Artist Chesley Bonestell and analyzing one of his paintings. They have also begun to research information on a planet of their choice, as they prepare to create planet landscapes.

Year 6’s are exploring photography and enjoyed learning about Rudy Willingham's work which inspired their own paper cut-out creations. They have also begun to explore the photography technique of ‘Forced Perspective’ which enabled them to create interesting compositions that alter the viewer’s perception of space and distance.  

Keep up the wonderful creative energy, fabulous Ormond PS artists! 

Ms Kupfer