Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 16
31st May, 2025
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” — Christian D. Larson
IMPORTANT DATES
Issue 16 – 31st May 2025
Tuesday 3rd June
• Prep–Year 3 Assembly (2:45PM)
Thursday 5th June
• Interschool Winter Sport
• Senior Choir – Hall (3:45PM)
Monday 9th June
• King’s Birthday Public Holiday – No School
Tuesday 10th June
• Whole School Assembly (2:45PM)
Thursday 12th June
• Interschool Winter Sport
• Senior Choir – Hall (3:45PM)
Tuesday 17th June
• Year 4–6 Assembly (2:45PM)
Wednesday 18th June
• Region Cross Country Championships
Thursday 19th June
• VSSS Dance Rehearsal – Hall
• Senior Choir – Hall (3:45PM)
Tuesday 24th June
• Prep to Year 3 Assembly (2:45PM)
Thursday 26th June
• Bentleigh District Winter Sport Finals
• Senior Choir – Hall (3:45PM)
Friday 27th June
• Prep Portraits For Sale – OSPS Prep Art Show
Wednesday 2nd July
• VSSS Mass Choir Hub Rehearsal – Hall
• Year 4 Production – The Jungle Book Kids (Cast 1) – (6:30PM)
Thursday 3rd July
• Senior Choir – Hall (3:45PM)
• Year 4 Production – The Jungle Book Kids (Cast 2) – (6:30PM)
Friday 4th July
• Whole School Assembly (1:50PM)
• End Term 2 Early Dismissal (2:30PM)
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
On Tuesday, 15 OSPS students proudly represented our school at the Beachside Division Cross Country. Despite the weather taking a turn for the worse throughout the morning, our students showed great determination and performed exceptionally well. A huge congratulations to Jack and Koby, who have qualified for the Regional Cross Country Championships! The whole school community is behind them, and we wish them both the very best of luck as they prepare to compete at the next level.
Year 4 students are now in full rehearsal mode for their upcoming production of The Jungle Book, which will be performed in the final week of term. The energy and enthusiasm coming from rehearsals is fantastic, and it’s shaping up to be a wonderful show. Ticket sales will open soon, so please keep an eye on Compass for further details and booking links.
As the days grow cooler, we begin the season where colds, viruses, and the flu become more common. A friendly reminder to please keep your child at home if they are feeling unwell in the morning. This helps us keep our classrooms healthy and reduces the spread of illness across the school.
Have a safe and restful weekend!
Warm regards,
Nikki Virtuoso
Acting Principal
SCHOOL MATTERS
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT: THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF OUR WELLBEING PROGRAM
An inspiring story we recommend watching!
We’re excited to share a powerful article and video highlighting the long-term impact of our school’s Wellbeing Program, delivered through The Resilience Project.
Featured in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and the Brisbane Times, this piece shares findings from an independent evaluation by Monash University — and the results are incredible.
Students who participated in the program for six years or more showed:
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- 💙 a 47% decrease in the odds of depression
- 💚 a 34% decrease in the odds of anxiety
…compared to students in schools not running the program.
This research reinforces what we’ve seen in our own classrooms — that a consistent, whole-school approach to wellbeing makes a lasting difference in the lives of young people.
A big thank you to Monash University, Dr Rohsini Balasooriya, Resilient Youth Australia, and the 1,150+ schools who made this evaluation possible — and of course, to our school community for embracing the program every day.
ICAS COMPETITIONS ARE BACK AT OSPS!
We’re excited to announce that Oakleigh South Primary School will once again be participating in the ICAS academic competitions in 2025!
ICAS is an optional online competition that challenges students in English, Maths, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies, focusing on higher-order thinking and problem-solving. All participants receive a certificate and detailed results report—top performers may even earn a medal!
Key ICAS Assessment Dates:
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Digital Technologies & Writing (Yrs 3–6): 4–8 August
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English: 11–15 August
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Science & Spelling Bee: 18–22 August
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Mathematics: 25–29 August
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Registrations close 11:59pm, Monday 28 July 2025.
👉 How to Register:
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- Visit the Parent Portal
- Use our school’s access code: QWY044
- Select your child’s assessments and complete payment
All payments go directly to ICAS, not the school. You’ll receive confirmation emails—please keep them as proof of purchase.
✨ For pricing and more info visit the ICAS website.
FREE PARENT WEBINAR: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part II)
Dear Parents and Carers,
As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing, and in partnership with SchoolTV, we are pleased to invite you to a free, exclusive webinar designed for families of both primary and secondary students.
📅 Date: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
🕢 Time: 7:30pm
🎥 Webinar: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part II)
Join two of Australia’s leading voices in youth wellbeing and online safety — Susan McLean and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg — for an informative and practical session to help parents navigate the complex digital landscape.
Topics covered include:
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Artificial Intelligence
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Misinformation & Algorithms
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Online Grooming
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This is a one-off live event and registration is essential prior to the webinar.
👉 Register here: http://oakleighsouthps.vic.schooltv.me/webinar/east-coast-digital-media-literacy-safety-part-2
We encourage all families to take advantage of this valuable opportunity.
VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
SENIOR VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
YEAR 4 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Harvey – 4ML
(Excellence)
For persevering with SRA tasks, displaying great determination. Keep up the good work Harvey!
Tali – 4ML
(Excellence)
For writing then typing her excellent animal adaption information report. Keep up the awesome efforts, Tali.
Ziggy – 4ML
(Integrity)
For his improved handwriting and determined approach towards tasks. Well done, Ziggy!
Gabriel – 4AS
(Excellence)
For showing great improvement in his writing skills by demonstrating confidence in expressing his ideas.
Shaima – 4AS
(Excellence)
For always completing her class work to a high standard. Well done, Shaima!
Izaan – 4AS
(Excellence)
For eagerly contributing to class discussions, showing thoughtfulness and adding value to every lesson.
Alisha – 4LD
(Respect)
For always being polite and respectful towards her peers and staff at OSPS.
Jack – 4LD
(Resilience)
For working diligently to learn his lines and song for our production. Fantastic effort!
Sam – 4WW
(Working Together)
For always making sure others are included in and out of the classroom. Your infectious personality brings everyone together!
Andrew – 4WW
(Excellence)
For working extremely hard this term, achieving amazing results in AR. Keep up the great work, Andrew!
YEAR 5 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Gwen – 5LG
(Respect)
For consistently behaving and speaking with respect, to all students and teachers – such a role model!
Winston – 5LG
(Working Together)
For putting the needs and wants of others ahead of himself. Winston you are simply terrific!
Steven – 5LG
(Respect)
For speaking respectfully and always using his manners. You are a delight, Steven!
Natalie – 5MP
(Excellence)
For taking on extra responsibilities and improving her organisational skills. Keep aiming high Nat!
Shane – 5MP
(Excellence)
For being a responsible and reliable member of 5MP. Shane, you are a wonderful role model to your peers!
Hanoch – 5EW
(Excellence)
For putting in the effort to make great improvements in all areas of maths.
Katherine – 5MJ
(Excellence)
For her excellent persuasive writing pieces that include strong reasons and compelling evidence. Great job!
Ryan – 5MJ
(Integrity)
For consistently being honest and showing integrity in their words and actions. Keep it up, Ryan!
Nathan – 5MJ
(Excellence)
For always completing his work to a very high standard and consistently following class norms. Well done!
Jacob – 5JD
(Respect)
For consistently demonstrating respect toward his teachers and peers while always putting in his best effort.
Clover – 5JD
(Excellence)
For continually striving to do her best and setting a great example for those around her.
Eiji – 5KM
(Respect)
For always being a good role model and showing respect to his peers and teachers. Well done Eiji!
Nadia – 5KM
(Excellence)
For consistently producing quality pieces of work and always trying her best!
Amy – 5KM
(Respect)
For always being a respectful, polite, and kind student to her teachers and peers. You’re amazing Amy!
YEAR 6 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Ethan – 6NM
(Excellence)
For a really impressive letter from the perspective of somebody involved in WW1 during our Integrated unit.
Rheanne – 6NM
(Integrity)
For putting herself forward and giving her all during the Matilda production auditions.
Sushant – 6SM
(Respect)
For always displaying respect to teachers and fellow student and being a valued member of 6SM.
Lily – 6SM
(Working Together)
For being a fantastic team player in the classroom and on the netball court. You’re a star, Lily!
Tilda – 6SM
(Excellence)
For always giving 100% effort to everything she does in 6SM & specialist classes. Great commitment, Tilda!
Thomas – 6CM
(Integrity)
For being a consistently responsible, hardworking and honest member of 6CM. You are awesome, Thomas!
Danielle – 6MH
(Respect)
For consistently showing heartfelt respect to teachers and peers, and fostering a kind, inclusive classroom where all feel valued.
Benja – 6MH
(Excellence)
For showing exceptional dedication and tenacity across all learning areas, Benja approaches every challenge with perseverance and a never-give-up attitude.
SPECIALIST VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Nora – 4ML
Visual Arts
(Excellence)
For her wonderful pen rendering of a bear study.
Leonardo – 4CG
Japanese
(Excellence)
For remembering all the Hiragana characters and working diligently in class to learn Japanese!
Renee – 5LG
Visual Arts
(Excellence)
For creating a wonderful pencil sketch relating to our tiger studies.
Peter – 5KM
Japanese
(Excellence)
For completing all the work in Japanese, even the extra tasks. Well done!
Niall – 6CM
Visual Arts
(Excellence)
For his wonderful composition of his Jungle Book character study.
Olivia – 6CM
Japanese
(Excellence)
For not giving up and passing the Hiragana test. Congratulations!
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:
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- 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
CONNECTED PARENTING WEBINAR RECORDING
We hope you enjoyed the Connected Parenting Webinar with Lael Stone on Tuesday, May 12th. We were thrilled that so many could join us!
Click here to view the webinar recording.
Please note: This link will expire on 12th June.
STUDENT SHOWCASE
YEAR 6 SHOWCASE
PRODUCTION – MATILDA JR.
Our Year 6 students are thrilled to be performing Matilda Jr. in Term 3 this year. The Performing Arts staff, Michael Mietzcke and Claire Stevenson, along with the Year 6 Production team, are well underway in bringing the show to life. Auditions have been completed, the cast has been finalised, and rehearsals are in full swing. The students are enthusiastically embracing their roles and learning the fun songs and dances that will feature in the production.
We are seeking support from our school community! If you have time or expertise in set building, set painting and/or costumes, we would greatly appreciate your help. Some weekend sessions will be available for set painting if that suits your schedule.
If you are able to assist, please contact:
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- 🎭 Fiona Wells (set assistance) – fiona.well@education.vic.gov.au
- 👗 Carissa Martinez (costumes) – carissa.martinez@education.vic.gov.au
Thank you for your support,
Year 6 Production Team
HISTORY
The first half of this term has been dedicated to exploring World War I, with students learning about the key events that shaped the war, as well as the impact and cost of global conflict. A particular focus has been on the role the ANZACs played in the Gallipoli campaign.
Students examined enlistment posters from 1914 and analysed the persuasive devices used to encourage citizens to enlist. They then designed their own posters, drawing inspiration from the language and visual styles of the time.
Through their studies, students gained insight into the harsh living conditions and immense hardships faced by those who served. This has fostered a greater sense of gratitude for the lives we live today and an awareness that many people around the world continue to endure similar challenges.
LITERACY CORNER
This term, the Year 6 Writing program has been closely integrated with our history unit on World War I. Students were challenged to demonstrate a deep understanding of the events and emotions surrounding the war — whether before, during, or after — by crafting heartfelt journal entries and letters from a first-person perspective.
Here are some powerful examples of our WWI writing:
Dear Mother,
Dear Mother,
I hope things are okay back home. I am writing this letter to you from a small tent in Gallipoli. I am currently on evening duty caring for about 325 patients. I somehow convinced the head nurse to let me take a break. Here in Gallipoli the days get hotter and when night falls I find myself shivering silently in the darkness, silhouettes’ of Turkish soldiers haunting me as I stare through the silk tent walls. I’m not sure if I’m hallucinating but I can sometimes hear faint mumbling coming from the distant hills. I know I over think a lot but I have a terrifying feeling that the Turks are planning to attack when we are least expecting it.
I feel like I am constantly starving since most of the nurse’s food goes to malnourished and wounded soldiers. At night I try to fall asleep but disturbing pictures of dead, bloody soldiers fill my traumatised mind. I’m not sure how long I can keep this up. I want to do my family proud but the blood-curdling screams, threatening explosions and non-stop gun fire overwhelms me with pure terror.
YEAR 6 GEM
G – We are GRATEFUL to students who stay home when they are sick so they do not pass on illnesses.
E – We are EMPATHETIC towards people who don’t have a warm place to sleep now the weather is getting colder.
M – We are MINDFUL to not judge people harshly. You never know what someone else is going through.
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.
SECONDARY SCHOOL & TRANSITION INFO
YEAR 6 TO YEAR 7: SECONDARY SCHOOL TRANSITION
All Year 6 students in Victoria must complete a Year 7 placement form to enrol in a government secondary school for 2026. This process is managed by the Department of Education.
Families received the Application for Year 7 Placement form early in Term 2, and all completed forms were due back by Friday 9 May 2025. Thank you to all families who submitted forms on time.
Placement offers will be sent to families by Oakleigh South Primary School on Tuesday 1 July 2025. This notice will include your child’s placement offer, an Acceptance Slip, and, if relevant, an Appeal Form.
Please note that no information will be provided before this date.
STATEWIDE GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS TIMELINE – YEAR 7 IN 2026
• Early Term 2 – Placement forms sent home ✅
• Friday 9 May – Forms due back to school ✅
• Tuesday 1 July – Placement offers sent to families
• Tuesday 9 December – Year 6 Orientation Day at government secondary schools
Useful links:
🔗 findmyschool.vic.gov.au
🔗 DET Enrolment Policy
🔗 Moving from primary to secondary school
🔗 Year 6 to 7 Placement Information Pack for Parents and Carers
For any questions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher or email enrolments@oakleighsouthps.vic.edu.au.
PARENT CORNER
OSPS FACILITY USERS
We host a range of after-school programs and activities run by external providers here at OSPS. These programs operate independently from the school and are offered directly to families by the providers. All advertisements for these activities can be found in the OSPS Facility User Group section of our notice board and newsletters.
For any enquiries or to enrol, please contact the program providers directly.
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.
