Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 05
27th February, 2025
“We rise by lifting others.” — Robert Ingersoll
IMPORTANT DATES
Issue 05 – 27th February 2025
Thursday 27th February
– Senior Choir
Thursday 6th March
– School Photos: Prep-Year 5
– Senior Choir
Friday 7th March
– School Photos: Prep-Year 5
Thursday 13th March
– Senior Choir
Friday 14th March
– School Photos: Year 6
Monday 17th March
– Year 1 & 2 Swimming begins
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
On Tuesday, our swim squad represented our school at the Bentleigh District Swimming Carnival. Our team did an excellent job, and OSPS won the day. Congratulations to everyone who participated, and a big thank you to the teachers who have been training the team before school for the past few weeks. The successful swimmers will next compete at the Beachside Division Swimming Carnival at Oakleigh Recreation Centre on Friday 7th March.
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years 3 and 5 students will be held in March this year, commencing on Wednesday 12th March. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. The results provide valuable information for students, parents, teachers, and principals, and will be used to improve student achievement.
This Friday night, the Outdoor Cinema will feature Moana 2 on the school oval. We can’t wait to see the excitement as children and families enjoy a twilight evening together under the stars. The gates open at 5:30pm, and the movie starts at dusk.
Please bring along your picnic rugs, chairs, pillows, and blankets to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable evening. Light refreshments and glow products will be available for purchase in the hall before the movie. Sales on the night will be cash only, but pre-orders can be made online. To purchase tickets and glow products, please follow the links in Compass.
Finally, a reminder that our annual school photos will take place on Thursday 6th March and Friday 7th March for all year levels except Year 6. Due to approximately 25 of our Year 6 students attending Somers Camp, Year 6 photos have been rescheduled to Friday 14th March from 1:00pm to 3:30pm. Please refer to the newsletter for further details on how to order your photos.
Have a great weekend.
Ron Cantlon
Principal
SCHOOL MATTERS
MOVIE NIGHT – CINEMA UNDER THE STARS
The Parent Group is excited to announce that Cinema Under the Stars is back for 2025!
We will be screening Moana 2 on the front oval on Friday, 28th February – a great way to celebrate the last night of summer.
- Gates open at 5:30pm
- Movie starts at dusk
Please bring along your picnic rugs, chairs, pillows, and blankets to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable evening.
Light refreshments and glow products will be available for purchase in the hall before the movie.
Sales on the night will be cash only, but pre-orders can be made online.
To purchase tickets and glow products, please follow the links in Compass.
- Discounted tickets are available online until 12 noon, Friday, 28th February.
- Glow products will be distributed to students on Friday, 28th February.
To help keep the event tidy, we kindly ask all attendees to bring a rubbish bag and take their rubbish home at the end of the night.
If you have any questions or would like to assist in the canteen before the movie, please contact the Parent Group at osparentgroup67@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you there for a fantastic night under the stars!
SCHOOL PHOTOS
Our school photos will take place next week on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th March, for all year levels except Year 6.
Due to approximately 25 Year 6 students attending Somers Camp, Year 6 photos have been rescheduled to Friday 14th March.
Elite School Photography offers:
• Class and individual portrait photos for all year levels;
• Family photos;
• Captains’ photos (taken on 14 March).
All orders are to be placed online, via the Elite School Photography website.
SCHOOL GATE OPENING TIMES
From Monday 10th February, all four school gates will open at 8:35am. This allows plenty of time for students to make their way to their classrooms before the doors open at 8:45am.
On rare occasions, a gate may not be opened due to unforeseen circumstances. If this happens, please call the school office on 9570 1016, and a staff member will assist you.
Thank you for your cooperation.
SCHOOL CROSSING SUPERVISORS – NOW HIRING!
Monash Council is looking for reliable and friendly individuals to help keep our children safe on the roads. If you have great communication skills and enjoy giving back to the community, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!
WHAT’S ON OFFER?
- Contract positions with competitive hourly rates
- Part-time roles with annual and sick/carer’s leave
- Flexible morning and afternoon shifts across various locations
- A Working with Children Check (WWCC) is required
If your family and friends describe you as dependable and approachable, our students need you! This is your chance to make a difference while earning extra income.
For more information, contact Sinead on 8561 8888.
To apply, scan the QR code or email your resume to clayton@chandlermacleod.com.
HOUSE T-SHIRTS – AVAILABLE AT PSW
The new OSPS house t-shirts for Gould, Cuthbert, Fraser, and Landy are now available at Primary School Wear (PSW) Cheltenham for $50.95. These are an optional uniform item for all students from Prep to Year 6 and are not compulsory. Students may wear their house t-shirt on their PE class day or for any special sports activity.
Classroom teachers will provide information about PE days and other special sporting events throughout the year. House t-shirts can also be worn by Year 3–6 students (and some selected Year 2 students) for house athletics, house swimming, and house cross-country events.
We strongly encourage Year 5 and Year 6 students to purchase a house t-shirt, as this will support Year 5 and Year 6 PE lessons and the OSPS sport program. The regular Year 6 interschool sport uniforms for various teams will remain in place, and further details will be provided to Year 6 families next year.
Looking forward to seeing our new house tops in action!
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT
Since 2022, OSPS has partnered with The Resilience Project to support student wellbeing from Foundation to Year 6 through the Inspire Program. The curriculum, designed by teachers for teachers, aligns with Victorian and Australian Curriculum standards in Personal and Social Capabilities and Health and Physical Education.
The program focuses on four key strategies to build resilience and happiness:
- Gratitude: The act of being thankful and appreciating what you have in life.
- Empathy: The capacity to understand and feel what another person is feeling.
- Mindfulness: The practice of attention regulation.
- Emotional Literacy: The ability to understand and express our feelings.
Each week, students participate in formal lessons and complete entries in their Resilience Student Journals. Activities include gratitude posters, mindfulness colouring, and emotion-matching exercises. As a Partnership School, OSPS integrates The Resilience Project’s wellbeing curriculum across the whole school community.
There are many ways to support your child’s mental health at home.
For more information, visit: The Resilience Project – At Home
Access the Parent Hub (no login required): Resilience Project Parent Hub
GEM AWARDS
Samuel A. 0SJ – Mindfulness: For showing care, respect, and awareness in our learning space. Your kindness and thoughtfulness make our environment a better place for everyone!
Maya H. 1MB – Empathy: For always being so kind and inclusive with others! You have a heart of gold and 1MB is lucky to have you!
Harry M. 2GL – Empathy: For showing kindness and compassion by comforting a classmate who was crying, demonstrating true empathy and making a positive difference.
Pranav P. 3FT – Empathy: For consistently demonstrating empathy towards his peers and teacher in and outside the classroom. Keep shining, Pranav!
Erina L. 4CG – Empathy: For always including others in her games when they can’t find a friend to play with. You rock Erina!
Drewin D. 5LG – Empathy: For displaying empathy and consistently checking in with people, regarding how they are feeling.
Anav S. 6NM – Empathy: For checking in on his friends and looking to assist those around him.
GEM CHATS
GEM Chats are daily conversation starters provided by TRP that encourage reflection on the GEM values: being grateful, empathetic, and mindful. We encourage parents to ask their child the prompt and engage in a discussion about these values. By making GEM Chats a part of your routine, you can help reinforce these positive habits and support your child’s ongoing wellbeing and emotional literacy.
STUDENT SHOWCASE
YEAR 5 SHOWCASE
We’ve had an exciting start to the year in Year 5! It’s been wonderful meeting our teachers, making new friends, and getting a feel for what life in Year 5 is all about.
This term, we’ve begun by exploring our school values, getting to know each other, and setting both short-term and long-term goals. In Writing, we’ve focused on persuasive and narrative texts. In Maths, we’ve explored a range of topics and have delved into mathematical modelling to help us solve more complex problems. We’ve also recently begun researching natural disasters in our Integrated Studies unit, and we are eagerly anticipating our excursion to iMax later in the term.
MEET THE YEAR 5 TEAM
Mrs Goudie teaches 5LG and is the Year 5 team leader. She loves reading, and her favourite book is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. She adores it not just because of its incredibly engaging story, but also because of the distinctive writing style and the fascinating choice of narrator. A few years ago, her husband surprised her on her birthday with a signed first edition copy of The Book Thief—it remains one of her most treasured possessions.
Mr Wintersea teaches 5EW. He enjoys spending his free time at bands and concerts. He also loves being in nature; every year, he takes a holiday in remote North Queensland. In addition, he enjoys taking photos and creating art inspired by the places he visits. His favourite movie is The Castle, mostly because of its unique vibe.
Ms Judge teaches 5MJ. She loves reading and watching movies—she even studied film and literature at university! Her favourite genres are fantasy and dystopian fiction, and her top books include The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and 1984 by George Orwell. She tries to watch every movie nominated for a Best Picture Oscar each year; this year, her favourite was Wicked.
Ms Di Siervi teaches 5JD. She loves travelling and playing sport, and she even lived in the USA for a year to play college softball! It’s no surprise that her favourite movies are the Major League series—she watched them on repeat as a kid. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, Darcie, and her cavoodle, Harvey.
Top Row (L-R): Mrs Mallett, Mr Wintersea, Ms Peluso, Ms Mulloy, Ms Judge
Bottom Row (L-R): Ms Paroukas, Ms Di Siervi, Mrs Goudie
Ms Paroukas supports Mrs Goudie in the team leader role and is the Wellbeing and Inclusion Learning Specialist at OSPS. She loves to travel; her favourite holiday destinations are Paris and the Greek Islands. In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, and spending time with her beloved dog, Gypsy.
Ms Molloy teaches 5KM. She loves to bake in her spare time, experimenting with new recipes and sharing them with her friends. One of her favourite memories is a trip to Ireland with her son last year—they had an amazing time exploring the sights and even swimming at the beach! Ms Molloy also loves reading; her favourite books are The Magic Faraway Tree series because of the quirky characters and magical lands they explore.
Mrs Mallett teaches 5MP. When she’s not teaching, she loves spending time with her husband and children, Gracie and Billy. Her favourite trip so far has been a girls’ trip to Bali with her friends for her birthday. Mrs Mallett also enjoys reading, and her favourite book is Wonder by R.J. Palacino, which she admires for its beautiful message of kindness and the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
Ms Peluso teaches 5MP. In her free time, she enjoys being at the beach, playing sports, weight training, and spending time with her family and her dog, Apache. She loves AFL and passionately supports Hawthorn. Ms Peluso’s favourite children’s book is Paper Planes, as it tells a story of resilience and serves as a reminder that anything is possible.
LITERACY CORNER
We have been working on crafting engaging openings for our narratives, with a focus on creating sizzling starts and effectively using backfill to enrich our stories. Our students have been experimenting with different techniques to capture their readers’ attention right from the first sentence and to build a strong narrative foundation.
Throughout this process, they’ve developed unique voices and imaginative approaches to storytelling. Below, we proudly present three exemplary writing pieces that showcase their creativity, dedication, and growing mastery of narrative techniques.
YEAR 5 GEM
The Year 5s are excited to be back with our Resilience Project Journals for another year. We have spent the last few weeks discussing what it means to be grateful, empathetic and mindful, and we have watched a few videos to start a discussion on why GEM is so important to us.
Last week, we completed our first Journal lesson, which focused on identifying emotions in ourselves and others. There was lots of beautiful work created by the Year 5s during the week.
Here is a small sample from Gwen, Cathy, Yi Heng, and Aaron Z:
PARENT GROUP
LUNCH ORDER PROVIDERS
We are pleased to confirm the following lunch order options for our school community in 2025: TK Tuckshop and Classroom Cuisine will be available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while Subway will be available on Tuesday and Thursday.
Classroom Cuisine: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Register and order at www.classroomcuisine.com.au
All orders must be placed by 8:30am the morning of delivery.
TK Tuckshop: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Register at https://app.spriggyschools.com.au/login
Download the Spriggy Schools app from your app store.
All orders need to be placed by 7pm for the full menu or 8:00am the morning of delivery for a restricted menu.
Subway: Tuesday and Thursday
Register and place your order at https://app.canteenhub.com.au
All orders need to be placed by 8.00am the day of delivery.
PARENT CORNER
OSPS FETE SPONSORS
COMMUNITY NEWS
Disclaimer: The organisations advertised in this newsletter are not affiliated with and have no relationship to Oakleigh South Primary School. The publishing of these advertisements does not imply endorsement or recommendation of these products or services by the school. They are provided as a community service.
