Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 03
14th February, 2025
“Inclusion is not bringing people into what exists already; it is making a new space, a better space for everyone.” – George Dei
IMPORTANT DATES
Issue 03 – 14th February 2025
Monday 17th February
– School Council Nominations close
Tuesday 18th February
– Prep Welcome BBQ
Wednesday 19th February
– School Council candidates announced
Thursday 20th February
– Senior Choir
Thursday 27th February
– Senior Choir
Monday 3rd March
– School Council Ballot closes
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 begin
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
On Tuesday, the 2025 student leaders were presented with their leadership badges and certificates at the senior assembly. Congratulations to our new school leaders—I wish them all the best for the year ahead. Throughout the year, these students will take on various teacher-led roles. It was wonderful to see so many parents attending the assembly.
Our upcoming School Council elections are fast approaching. Information has been sent to all families via COMPASS. Please take note of these key dates in the election process:
- Monday 10th February – Nominations open at 5pm
- Monday 17th February – Nominations close at 4pm
- Wednesday 19th February – List of candidates and nominators posted
- Monday 24th February – If required, ballot papers will be prepared and distributed
- Monday 3rd March – Ballot closes at 4pm
Next Tuesday, 18th February, the parent group will be hosting the annual Prep Welcome BBQ. This evening is a fantastic opportunity for new and existing families to connect in a relaxed environment. While parents mingle, children can enjoy a BBQ, play together, and be entertained by Charlie Sillypants. We look forward to seeing many prep families at this wonderful social event.
As advised last year, Assistant Principal Anthony Rowe has accepted an Acting Principal position at Huntingdale Primary School for 2025. Congratulations to Evert Eykman and Nigel Hooley, who have been appointed as part-time Acting Assistant Principals at OSPS for 2025.
Wishing everyone a great weekend!
Nikki Virtuoso
Acting Principal
SCHOOL COUNCIL
SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2025
Dear Parents, Carers and Staff,
Membership of School Council is rewarding and ensures parents contribute to and have a close understanding of the direction and strategic planning of the school.
The 2025-2026 Oakleigh South Primary School Council will meet throughout the year to discuss important school matters, make key decisions, and support the continued growth and success of our school community.
The dates for our Council election process are now set, and we encourage parents and staff to consider nominating for a position. Serving on the council is a great way to be actively involved in shaping the future of our school.
Each member of the council serves for a two-year term, with some positions becoming vacant annually. There are separate electorates for Parent Members and DET (Department of Education & Training) Employee Members.
Nominations are now open! Interested candidates can self-nominate or be nominated by an eligible person. Nomination forms and further details can be requested from Nikki Virtuoso at nikki.virtuoso@education.vic.gov.au. Completed forms must be submitted by 4pm, Monday 17th February.
We look forward to welcoming new and returning members to the School Council for 2025.
SCHOOL MATTERS
SILLY SOCKS DAY IN PREP!
The Preps have settled into school swimmingly and have been learning all about the letter S and the sound it makes.
To wrap up our sound of the week, the Preps celebrated their first special day of the year – Silly Socks Day!
The Preps arrived with smiles on their faces, sporting spectacularly silly socks of all types!
They designed and created their very own silly socks, covered in stickers, stripes, spots, sparkles, and more!
What a superb way to start the year with our skilled, smart, superstar Preps!
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, and a staff member will assist you.
Thank you for your cooperation.
SCHOOL PHOTO DATES
Our Whole School Photos will take place on Thursday 6th March and Friday 7th March 2025 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, from 1:00pm to 3:30pm.
Elite Photography offers:
📸 Class and individual portrait photos for all year levels
📸 Family photos
📸 Captains’ photos (taken on 14th March)
Please pencil this important date into your calendar.
ENHANCING SAFETY AROUND SCHOOL CROSSINGS
The safety of our students is paramount. Please remember to use designated school crossings and follow all traffic rules to ensure a safe environment for everyone. Let’s work together to keep our school community safe.
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!
SUPPORTING STUDENT WELLBEING WITH SCHOOLTV
We are excited to announce that our school will continue to partner with SchoolTV in 2025 to provide mental health and overall wellness support for our students and their families.
SchoolTV is designed to equip parents and caregivers with the tools, strategies, and community connections they need to foster their child’s social-emotional development and address any mental health concerns at home. Through educational workshops, access to mental health professionals, and connections to local resources, we aim to empower our families with proactive approaches to student wellbeing and preventative measures.
Because parenting doesn’t come with instructions, SchoolTV is a valuable resource implemented at our school to support you in navigating the challenges of modern-day parenting. It provides credible information from trusted sources, along with practical strategies to help alleviate some of the challenges faced by young people today.
Watch video interviews with leading wellbeing specialists and explore a library of resources. Each topic is accompanied by factsheets, podcasts, books, articles, apps, and other videos.
This award-winning resource helps families build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding, and break down barriers to support better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It will assist you in starting conversations on topics that can sometimes be awkward or difficult to tackle.
Parents and caregivers are the greatest influence on a young person’s life, and SchoolTV focuses on empowering confident parenting.
Explore SchoolTV today! Click on the link below:
https://oakleighsouthps.vic.schooltv.me/
KEYBOARD & GUITAR LESSONS
Dear Parents & Carers,
The Music School is again pleased to offer guitar (Friday) and keyboard (Wednesday) lessons after school hours at Oakleigh South Primary School for students in Years 1–6.
Keyboard lessons may also be offered on Fridays if Wednesday sessions are fully booked.
Key Details:
- Guitar lessons: Friday
- Keyboard lessons: Wednesday (or Friday if Wednesday books out)
- Group lessons lasting 30 minutes after school.
- Cost: $19.80 per lesson.
Please see the attached:
- OSPS Guitar and Keyboard Information 2025
- OSPS Music School Flyer & Sign Up Form 2025
For any questions, please contact Perry Vlahos directly at perryvlahos33@gmail.com.
Thank you.
BOOK CLUB
VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
SENIOR VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
YEAR 4 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Thea – 4AS (Working Together)
For making a fantastic start to Year 4 & showing kindness and initiative as a helpful class member.
Marcus – 4AS (Working Together)
For making a wonderful start to Year 4 and being a caring and responsible helper in the classroom.
Johaan – 4ML (Respect)
For being a very polite student and taking great pride in his work.
Ria – 4ML (Excellence)
For writing a wonderfully descriptive recount about her holiday.
Ryan – 4CG (Excellence)
For creating a great recount that detailed the intense atmosphere he experienced at the cricket!
Aadhiyan – 4CR (Excellence)
For making a great start to Year 4 and completing all work to a high standard. Well done, Aadhiyan!
Edward – 4WW (Excellence)
For making a wonderful start to reaching your AR goal. You are a super reader!
YEAR 5 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Safaa – 5LG (Respect)
For active listening and always being willing to help, whenever she possibly can. Keep it up, Safaa!
Ross – 5LG (Excellence)
For making a flying start with his AR goal. Great work, Ross!
Chloe – 5LG (Excellence)
For making a flying start with her AR Goal. Great work, Chloe!
Luka – 5MP (Working Together)
For being a responsible and reliable member of 5MP. Luka, you are a wonderful role model to your peers!
Polina – 5MP (Respect)
For her polite and helpful approach to everything she does, what an important member of our 5MP class.
YEAR 6 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Omar – 6SS (Excellence)
For demonstrating enthusiasm and dedication in his work at the start of Year 6.
Lara – 6SM (Respect)
For offering valuable contributions in the classroom and being a kind and enthusiastic class member.
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT
Since 2022, OSPS has been working with The Resilience Project across the whole school, from Foundation to Year 6, as part of their Inspire Program. The Resilience Project curriculum was designed by teachers for teachers and aligns with Victorian and Australian Curriculum standards and frameworks in the areas of Personal and Social Capabilities and Health and Physical Education.
The program is based on the philosophy that, in order to live a happier, more fulfilling life, we need to regularly practise Gratitude, Empathy (kindness), and Mindfulness. Emotional literacy – having self-awareness and recognition of one’s own feelings and knowing how to manage them – is also an integral part of the program. Each week, we conduct a formal lesson based on one of these practices, and the students complete an entry in their Resilience Student Journals. The lessons also engage students in activities such as creating gratitude posters, mindfulness colouring, and matching appropriate emotions to different events.
The Resilience Project delivers evidence-based practical strategies to build resilience and happiness by focusing on four key strategies:
- Gratitude: The act of being thankful and appreciating what you have in life.
- Empathy (Kindness): 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.
As a Partnership School, we experience all that the GEM (Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness) journey has to offer by embedding The Resilience Project’s wellbeing curriculum across the whole school community.
To support long-term change and embed mental health strategies, all students participate in a weekly Resilience Project lesson, which has been mapped to the Victorian Curriculum. Click here for more information.
There are many things you can do at home to support the mental health and wellbeing of your child.
For more information, please visit The Resilience Project – At Home.
Accessing The Resilience Project Parent Hub
The Parent Hub can be accessed via the secure link below, with no account setup or login required: Resilience Project Parent Hub
STUDENT SHOWCASE
YEAR 2 SHOWCASE
Hello from Year 2! We have all had a great start to the year, meeting the teachers, making new friends, and learning all about life in Year 2.
This term, we have begun by learning all about ‘Getting Along’ – how to be good listeners, be a great friend, and ways that we can make sure that everyone feels happy and safe at school. Very soon, we will begin our ‘Hear Them Roar’ integrated studies unit, where we will learn all about living and non-living things. Look out for some dinosaurs and palaeontologists roaming the school grounds in the last week of term for our Dinosaur Day!
MEET THE YEAR 2 TEACHING TEAM FOR 2025!
The school bells ring, the doors swing wide,
Year 2 teachers beam with pride!
A brand-new year, so much to do,
With laughter, learning, and fun times too!
Miss Philipsen, likes purple bright,
Plans her lessons just right.
Exciting stories, learn and play,
She can’t wait to start the day!
Miss Rayment and Miss Lema cheer,
Wearing pink, their colour’s clear!
With kindness, warmth, and smiles so wide,
They’ll help their students grow with pride.
Ms O’Connor, fresh and keen,
Loves the shade of vibrant green.
Outdoor fun and nature’s art,
She’ll teach with passion, heart to heart!
Mrs Van Delft, likes pink so sweet,
Welcomes all with a friendly greet.
Helping hands and words so wise,
She lifts her class to touch the skies!
Mr Louey, oh what a sight,
Loves every colour, bold and bright!
Rainbows fill his world with cheer,
Bringing joy to all he’s near.
Ms Buccieri, full of spark,
Loves purple, burgundy, deep and dark.
With creativity, flair, and fun,
She’ll make this year a special one!
Miss McArtney’s smile, so bright and clear,
Excited for the new school year.
In lilac tones, so calm, so sweet,
Where learning and laughter always meet.
So here they stand, all set to go,
With love for learning sure to grow!
Year 2 kids, get ready fast,
This school year’s going to be a blast!
LITERACY CORNER
The students are developing their recount writing skills by learning how to include sizzling starts, more detail, and time adverbials to make their writing more engaging and structured.
They begin with an opening, such as a question, sound, or action, to hook the reader. Adding descriptive details helps bring their experiences to life, making events clearer and more interesting. Using time adverbials like “First”, “Next”, and “Afterwards” ensures their recounts flow smoothly and events are sequenced logically.
GEM
G – We are grateful to start the year with lovely new teachers and friends.
E – Thinking about the new staff and students finding their feet in our OSPS community.
M – Go for a walk after dinner to enjoy daylight savings.
Our TRP lessons started with building GEM habits – particularly gratitude and discussing emotions around the transition to Year 2. Students also participated in an emotion hunt, searching for emotions within picture books. We are looking forward to further developing our emotional literacy throughout the term!
PARENT GROUP
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 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! 🌟🎥
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.
Kind regards,
Oakleigh South Parent Group
PARENT CORNER
CAMP AUSTRALIA
OSHC VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSIONS & TERM 1 UPDATES
We’re excited to help families start the school year with confidence! Join one of our Virtual Information Sessions to learn about our OSHC programs, activities, and how we prioritise your child’s safety and wellbeing.
Session Details:
What’s on in Term 1:
- Kindness Week (17th–21st February): Activities to foster compassion and community.
- The Big Art Competition (28th February–28th March): A chance for young artists to showcase their creativity.
- Building Children’s Resilience Webinar (4th March): A free session with Maggie Dent for parents.
To find out more information about what’s happening this term, click here.
For more details, check out the flyer or contact Philippa Younger at philippa.younger@campaustralia.com.au or 0427 570 219.
We look forward to welcoming you!
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.
