Tasmanian Tragedy

I know that everyone in our school community will share with me in sending our love and thoughts to those affected by yesterday’s tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School in Devenport. Tragedies involving primary school students always seem so close to home and as we celebrated the Graduation of our Year 6 students this week and bid them farewell today, I can only begin to imagine the pain and heartbreak of the families at Hillcrest, particularly those whose children will never be returning home. Words are simply not enough.

COVID

Thank-you to everyone in the Old Orchard community for your support, understanding and flexibility in what has been an interesting week. As always, our students, staff and parents just stepped up and did what was required to adapt and manage the situation following the positive COVID case.

Thankfully, the Year 6 Graduation was able to proceed as planned on Monday evening and while other Year 6 ‘fun events’ that had been planned were unable to proceed, we know that we have been incredibly fortunate as a school to avoid a positive COVID case until so late in the year.

Year 6 Graduation

Our Year 6 Graduation at Karralyka Centre in Ringwood East on Monday evening was a wonderful event. The students looked superb and we are all appreciative of the students and parents that they dress in an age-appropriate manner but still looking and feeling very special. We loved hearing from our guest speaker, from a number of student speakers, watching the presentations and parody video and of course, the Graduation Songs.

Thank-you and congratulations to everyone involved on a memorable and very special evening.

Farewell staff

You will have read our acknowledgement and farewells to departing staff in a Special Edition Newsletter earlier this week. Once again, thank-you and best wishes to those who won’t be returning to Old Orchard next year. We will introduce all new staff formally at the commencement of 2022.

Reports & Digital Portfolios

Thank-you for your patience with the delay in Semester 2 reports and Digital Portfolios. My understanding is that everyone should have access to these now - if not, please email the school at old.orchard.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Assembly

As communicated yesterday, final assembly will be via webex (refer to yesterday’s email for details.) The plan is for the Year 6 students to do a lap of the school before making their way to the asphalt area for their final dismissal.

Giving Tree

Thank-you to the many, many families who donated to this year’s Giving Tree - we handed the goodies over to New Hope Church yesterday where they will be distributed to families and children in need.

Silent Auction

A huge thank you to parents Kelly Holman and Sarah Shinkfield for their amazing work in putting together our recent Silent Auction. Kelly and Sarah gave up many hours of their time sourcing and securing gifts and donations for the Auction, as well as photographing and packaging everything. The Auction raised almost $5,000! The money will go towards our goal of resurfacing the asphalt area. Thank you to those who purchased items, and thank you again to Kelly, Sarah (and our very own Pip) for your amazing work, we are extremely grateful.

Thanks to students, staff families

Finally, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to everyone in the Old Orchard community for their support, flexibility, understanding and positivity during an incredibly difficult year.

Our students have continued to be the fantastic young people that we know they are and despite a few challenges during lockdown and remote learning, they have been committed to their learning. Most importantly, it has been wonderful to see them return to school during Term 4, reconnect with their friends and staff and re-engage with their learning. They are an awesome bunch!

Our staff (all of them!) have been absolutely incredible - as Principal I could not be any prouder of them and Rachel Barnes, Jen McCann and I know how incredibly privileged we are to lead such an amazing team. They care genuinely and deeply about your children and put in an immense amount of work to ‘make a difference’ in the lives of their students. I know that they have enthusiastically welcomed the return to onsite learning - teaching via a screen is a poor substitute for face to face teaching, where warm, genuine and positive connections can be established. If ever they have deserved a well-earned holiday, it is now, on the back of two very challenging years. In particular, I must acknowledge the team I work most closely with in Rachel Barnes, Jen McCann, Ellen Hurley, Meg McKinley as well as our sensational Admin team (and the face of our school), Fiona Kirby, Sheree Knight and Lisa Alfredini - we are all extremely fortunate to have these wonderful people at our school.

Finally, to our parent / carer and broader school community. You play an incredibly important role in the success of our school, firstly in the care and support of your children but also in the support you provide our staff, the contributions you make in many areas and also, importantly, in the respectful and constructive manner in which you communicate, even when there is a level of disagreement. I know that I am incredibly privileged, fortunate and grateful to lead such a community. To the families leaving Old Orchard for the final time, thank-you sincerely for everything you have done. I have known many of you for a very long time and I will miss our friendship and your support - seeing you all together at the front gates this morning did make me a bit emotional and highlighted the strength of our school community that is built on relationships.

To our Year 6 students, I bid a very fond farewell as you head off to secondary school. It is a huge step in your lives but I know that you are well and truly ready for the move and what lays ahead. You have been an awesome group and we will really miss you.

Finally, as we head into the holiday season, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and holiday season with your family and friends. Take care and stay safe.

Warmest wishes

Duncan xo

Return to schoolWe have now seen all of our Old Orchard students return to onsite learning across the past two weeks and we have been delighted with how smoothly they have settled back into school and class routines. It has been wonderful observing their excitement at reconnecting with their friends and playing happily in the playground. We should not underestimate (and I’m sure you don't) the significance of the past two years in their young lives and the crucial role that families (and school staff) have played in supporting our young people. As I have stated on numerous occasions, I am incredibly proud of our staff for their commitment and endeavours throughout this time. Likewise, I am proud of our Old Orchard families who have traversed the Remote Learning experience that, at times, was a very challenging one. Enjoy your renewed ‘freedom’ and be proud of yourselves and your children for your efforts during lockdown!

Events & ActivitiesThe Community Update that was sent last night mentioned the easing of restrictions in relation to many school events and activities. While our core business is and should always be student learning, the fabric and richness of a school comes from the many other elements on offer. We are excited to be able to proceed with planning for many of the students’ favourite events, albeit in a relatively short time frame.

Spring SoireeOn Tuesday evening, I had the absolute pleasure of joining the virtual audience for our Spring Soiree. Superbly organised by our Performing Arts Teacher, Rhiannon Trimby, the soiree was a huge success and highlighted the amazing musical talents of our students. We were very fortunate to have former student Edward Merlino join us and perform superbly on the flute - Edward has a great career ahead of him as a professional musician. Eunice Chew and Emily Lu did a fantastic job as MCs, having worked extremely hard preparing their presentations and introductions. Congratulations to all performers on the evening - it was a memorable event.

Warm regards & stay safe

Duncan

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