Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 4
20th February, 2026

“The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.” — Swati Sharma

What a wonderful week we have had at school!

On Wednesday evening, we warmly welcomed our Prep families to our annual Welcome BBQ. The weather was absolutely perfect, creating a relaxed and happy atmosphere for everyone to connect and enjoy the evening together. Families were treated to delicious salads and plenty of sausages in bread, which were enjoyed by all. The children (and many of the adults!) were thoroughly entertained by Charlie Sillypants, who brought plenty of laughter and fun to the night.

A huge thank you to our Parent Group for their fantastic organisation of this event. Your hard work behind the scenes ensured the evening was such a success. A very special thank you also goes to our dedicated Prep team staff who cooked and served hundreds of sausages — an incredible effort! Thank you to the many other staff members who gave their time to support the evening. Events like this truly showcase the strong sense of community we are so proud of at our school.

Soon, families will receive notification via Compass about our upcoming School Photo Days. These will be held over two days: Thursday March 5th and Friday March 6th. You will be advised which day your child’s class photo will take place. Please check the newsletter for important information about how to order your photo memories.

This week also marked the beginning of our Food Bank program. This wonderful initiative is supported by the Victorian Government and delivered in partnership with Foodbank Victoria. The program provides students with a weekly supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, with milk also being supplied to year levels on various weeks. We are very excited to be able to offer this to our students. Please keep an eye on Compass for further details about this fantastic program.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Warm regards,

Nikki Virtuoso
Acting Principal

OAKLEIGH EDUCATION PRECINCT

The Oakleigh Education Plan has evolved into the Oakleigh Education Precinct!

After 4 years under an Oakleigh Education Plan, which was a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen educational opportunities and outcomes for children and young people in the Oakleigh community, the four schools involved – South Oakleigh College, Oakleigh South Primary School,  Huntingdale Primary School and the newly joined Oakleigh Primary School, are continuing this initiative under the banner of the Oakleigh Education Precinct.

Bringing together our collective knowledge and experiences, our future precinct focuses on creating seamless transitions through each stage of learning — from primary years to secondary education. By fostering innovation, inclusion, and community engagement, the Oakleigh Education Precinct aims to ensure that every learner is supported to reach their full potential in a connected, collaborative and high-quality local education network.

Watch this space for further updates to our school communities.

SCHOOL PHOTOS

School Photo Day is fast approaching. Official school photos will be taken by Elite School Photography on Thursday 5 March and Friday 6 March 2026.

All photo orders must be completed online prior to photo day via the Elite School Photography website using the school login code provided on the flyer. Please ensure all details are entered carefully, including your child’s full class information.

Students are required to wear full school uniform on their scheduled photo day. Please ensure hair is neat and tidy, and jumpers are clearly named.

If your child is absent on their allocated day, a catch-up session will be arranged.

For ordering enquiries, please contact Elite School Photography directly using the details on the flyer.

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF)

The Victorian Government provides the CSEF to help eligible families with the cost of school camps, sports and excursions.

• Eligible families hold a valid means-tested concession card (special consideration category also exists).

• Primary students receive $400, paid directly to the school to support activity costs.

• Applications are open until the end of Term 2, with payments commencing from 1 March.

• Families who were eligible in previous years may not need to reapply, unless you have a Prep student starting.

Apply here: CSEF Application Form 2026

For enquiries, contact Carlyn at carlyn.backers@education.vic.gov.au

SchoolTV @ OSPS

SchoolTV is an evidence-based wellbeing resource designed to support parents and carers with the challenges of raising children and adolescents. Our school has partnered once again with SchoolTV  to provide this resource to our families. SchoolTV offers clear, expert-led guidance on a wide range of topics affecting young people today.

It is designed to be a first point of reference for families seeking reliable information, practical strategies and reassurance when questions or concerns arise. Each topic features interviews with leading specialists, along with links to carefully curated resources from trusted organisations. The content is easy to access, can be viewed privately and is designed to build understanding, confidence and constructive conversations at home.

Written content can be translated into more than 60 languages using built-in tools, and video interviews are available to view in Hindi, Chinese and Arabic, with additional languages planned for release soon. Throughout the year, SchoolTV also offers free webinars featuring global experts who provide families with practical, evidence-informed guidance on key mental health and wellbeing concerns.

SchoolTV recognises that every family’s situation is different. By building knowledge and awareness over time, the platform supports early understanding, timely support and a more proactive approach to the wellbeing of students. SchoolTV can be accessed via our school’s website, or via this link: https://oakleighsouthps.vic.schooltv.me/ 

UNIFORM SHOP – VOLUNTEER REQUEST

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are seeking volunteers to assist in our second-hand uniform shop. The shop operates on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9.00 am to 9.15 am. Depending on volunteer numbers, each volunteer is usually rostered for 2 to 3 shifts per term.

The uniform shop will reopen on Wednesday, 4 February 2026.

Please note that all school volunteers must hold a valid Working with Children Check. Volunteer applications are free and can be completed online at https://service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-children

If you are available or would like further information, please contact the Parent Group at: osparentgroup67@gmail.com

Thank you,
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.

SENIOR VALUED STUDENT AWARDS

YEAR 6 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS

Emma – 6CM
(Resilience)
For bringing a positive attitude to all class tasks and school responsibilities.

Yi Heng – 6CM
(Excellence)
For his astute listening in every lesson, asking thoughtful questions and generating new ideas.

Forbes – 6FW
(Integrity)
For his commitment to all class work tasks and his positive outlook.

Ryder – 6MH
(Integrity)
For settling into the school year so well. You are a delight to have in 6MH!

Polina – 6MH
(Excellence)
For consistently producing excellent work in all learning activities and being a positive role model in 6MH.

Oscar – 6NM
(Respect)
For accepting a classroom job that he did not necessarily want but being respectful enough to accept it.

Arthur – 6SM
(Excellence)
For settling into Year 6 well, working hard and making wonderful contributions in class.

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

Introductory Parent Video: TRP Family Launch

Access the Parent Hub (no login required): Resilience Project Parent Hub

LITERACY CORNER

In Writing, we have been working on narratives and persuasive texts. We have covered a range of topics and students have learnt about various persuasive devices, including rhetorical questions, emotive language, and inclusive language. Students have also learnt about correctly structuring their narratives and ensuring they incorporate a clear and engaging problem and resolution into their stories. Overall, the students have made an excellent start to the year with their writing and should be proud of their attitude and effort thus far.

THE RESILIENCE PROJECT – GEM

Gratitude:

We are grateful for the vegetables that have grown in our village and for being able to be a part of the farm. It feels special to help care for the plants and then eat and enjoy the fresh vegetables we have grown. We feel proud and thankful for the sunshine, rain, and hard work that made it all possible.

Empathy:

This term we have been full of excitement for the chicks that have just hatched. We know they are tiny and fragile, and we want to be kind, patient, and gentle so they can grow healthy and strong. We love watching them explore and chirp, and it makes us feel happy to know we can help keep them safe and cared for.

Mindfulness:

This week in The Resilience Project we learnt all about mindfulness by exploring emotions and showing them with colours. Happy might be yellow, calm might be blue, and angry might be red. Using colours helps us understand our feelings and the feelings of others.

Camp Australia offers independent before- and after-school care (7:00 AM–8:45 AM and 3:30 PM–6:00 PM) in a safe, fun, and engaging environment. We recommend families register and book to ensure support in case of emergencies or last minute change-of-plans. More info and enrolment: campaustralia.com.au