Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 17
5th June, 2026
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” — Maya Angelou
Term 2, Week 8
Monday 8th June
- King’s Birthday Public Holiday – No School
Tuesday 9th June
- Whole School Assembly @ 2:45PM in the Hall
Thursday 11th June
- Year 6 Winter Interschool Sport 2026
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Senior Choir @ 3:45PM in the Hall
Friday 12th June
- Basketball Victoria Hoop Time Competition
Term 2, Week 9
Monday 15th June
- Toys Over Time Incursion – Year 2
Tuesday 16th June
- School Tour @ 9:30AM
- Year 4 to 6 Assembly @ 2:45PM in the Hall
Wednesday 17th June
- Regional Cross Country Carnival
- Grade 4 Production Dress Rehersal
Thursday 18th June
- Year 6 Winter Interschool Sport Finals 2026
- Grade 4 Production Dress Rehersal
-
Senior Choir @ 3:45PM in the Hall
As we move through another busy and productive term, it has been wonderful to see our students engaging so enthusiastically in their learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.
This week, our Year 3 students enjoyed a fantastic excursion to Myuna Farm, where they participated in a range of hands-on learning experiences that supported their classroom studies and deepened their understanding of sustainability and the environment.
Students explored the extensive vegetable gardens and learned about gardening for sustainability, visited the animal nursery, visited the Wetland Biodiversity area, and students explored the farm’s waste and recycling processes, gaining important insights into responsible environmental practices.
Wow, what an informative excursion! We thank everyone at Myuna Farm for providing such an engaging and meaningful learning experience for our Year 3 students.
Our Year 4 students are deep into rehearsals for Finding Nemo Kids, and we are excited to invite families to attend this wonderful production. Tickets for Year 4 parents opened on Monday and this will extend to the whole school community on Wednesday 10th June at 10am. Further information about tickets will be shared closer to the release date.
Cast 1 will perform on Wednesday 24 June, 6:30 pm and Cast 2 will perform on Thursday 25 June, 6:30 pm
We look forward to seeing you at the show and celebrating the hard work and talent of our Year 4 students.
Lastly, you have been notified of the carpark works next week from Wednesday 10 June to Friday 12 June. Please read the Compass notification that has been sent for full details. Thank you.
A reminder to families that Monday is the King’s Birthday public holiday. There will be no school for staff or students. We look forward to welcoming all students back to school at 8:45am on Tuesday, 9 June.
I wish all families a safe and enjoyable long weekend!
Warm regards,
Nikki Virtuoso
Acting Principal
IMPORTANT NOTICE: WINDSOR AVE WORKS
- There will be no vehicle access to the unsealed area from Riley St or from the school parent car park.
- The three access points will be blocked off.
- Machinery will be operating within the work area.
FREE PARENT WEBINAR
Understanding Anxiety and Depression to Foster Resilience (Part II)
Date: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Time: 7:30 pm
This presentation forms part of a broader webinar series designed to strengthen mental health literacy across school communities.
Join international experts Dr Emma Woodward and Dr Joe Stammeijer as they share valuable insights into recognising early signs of concern and practical approaches to supporting the wellbeing of young people.
Topics in this session will include:
- Staying Calm and Connected
- Building Daily Routines
- Meeting the Needs of Neurodivergent Learners
Participants can register by scanning the QR code on the attached flyer, or click this link.
ICAS COMPETITION
We are pleased to advise that Oakleigh South Primary School will once again be participating in the ICAS competitions this year. ICAS is an optional online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills across several areas, including English, Mathematics, Science, Writing (Years 3–6 only), Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies. Every participating student will receive a printed certificate and an online results report, with top performers eligible for medals.
Entry and payment must be completed through the ICAS Parent Pay System by 11:59pm AEST on Monday 20 July. To participate, parents should visit the Parent Portal, enter the school’s access code QWY044, input their child’s details, select all the desired assessments, and proceed with payment. All payments are made directly to ICAS, not the school, and parents will receive a confirmation email which should be kept for their records.
The ICAS assessments will be held at school on the following dates: Digital Technologies and Writing (Years 3–6) from 3–7 August, English from 10–14 August, Science and Spelling Bee from 17–21 August, and Mathematics from 24–28 August. These dates are fixed by ICAS and cannot be changed.
For additional information please see the Compass News Feed post.
TK TUCKSHOP – DESIGN AND WIN COMPETITION
Hi everyone,
Our Design & Win competition is back for 2026 – and this year’s prizes are bigger than ever!
We’re giving students the chance to design our brand-new TK Tuckshop lunch bags, with the winning designer choosing between:
- a $500 TK Tuckshop voucher, or
- a Nintendo Switch 2!
Students can draw their design on the TK Tuckshop Template or on a blank sheet of paper. Once finished, simply take a clear photo and email it to support@tktuckshop.com.au.
A few important details:
- Entries close Thursday 19th June
- Students can enter as many times as they like
- Designs can only use 2 colours
- Bonus points for including the TK Tuckshop logo!
We’ve also included a photo below of last year’s winning design for some inspiration 🙂
CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF)
The Victorian Government provides the CSEF to help eligible families with the cost of school camps, sports and excursions.
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Eligible families hold a valid means-tested concession card (special consideration category also exists).
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Primary students receive $400, paid directly to the school to support activity costs.
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Applications are open until the end of Term 2, with payments commencing from 1 March.
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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
SMILE SQUAD IS COMING BACK!
We are very excited to share with you that the SMILE SQUAD is returning to our school on the 15th June.
For new families, Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program.This means all students can get a free dental check-up, preventive services, and treatment at school.
All you have to do is scan the QR code on the attached notice and fill in the necessary details, or follow this link.
The Link Health and Community Smile Squad team look forward to seeing your child/children soon.
SCHOOL CROSSING, PARKING & ROAD SAFETY REMINDERS
The City of Monash has asked us to share the attached information about safety around school crossings.
Council parking officers regularly attend schools in the area to help ensure vehicles are parking safely and legally. Families are reminded to please follow all traffic and parking signage near the school, and to take extra care around crossings during drop-off and pick-up times.
Thank you for supporting safe travel to and from school for all members of our community.
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
PREP VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Ryan – Prep AL
(Working Together)
For always being helpful around the classroom and to his classmates. Great job, Ryan!
Fatima – Prep AL
(Excellence)
For always trying her best in class and being respectful towards everyone. Keep it up, Fatima!
Chun Ho – Prep BG
(Excellence)
For always trying his best in the classroom and being a great friend to others. Keep it up, Chun Ho!
Nova – Prep BG
(Excellence)
For always trying her best and taking great pride in the presentation of her work. Well done, Nova!
Mirvaan – Prep CD
(Respect)
For working hard to improve his listening skills and for using his manners. Great work, Mirvaan!
Praniti – Prep CD
(Excellence)
For always bringing a positive attitude to school and for always being ready to learn. Keep it up!
Bella – Prep KL
(Excellence)
For challenging herself with her writing and always having a go. Amazing effort, Bella!
Charlie – Prep KL
(Excellence)
For her effort and determination to practise and read unknown words. Wonderful work, Charlie!
Chloe – Prep LM
(Excellence)
For being a polite and responsible member of our school, who is a role model to others!
Olympia – Prep LM
(Excellence)
For being a caring and compassionate student, who demonstrates a positive attitude to learning.
Abeer – Prep NM
(Respect)
For always using his manners to show respect to his teachers and friends. You’re a star, Abeer!
Annabel – Prep NM
(Working Together)
For always coming into class with a cheerful attitude. You’re a great friend in Prep NM!
YEAR 1 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Anson – 1AN
(Excellence)
For making excellent choices in the classroom and following the school values! Keep it up.
Kiana – 1AN
(Working Together)
For being such a joyful classmate. Your happiness is infectious and brightens our classroom!
Surabhi – 1JG
(Excellence)
For the spectacular effort she puts in each day, ensuring her handwriting and drawings are beautiful!
Tommy – 1JG
(Respect)
For being confident and friendly and happily chatting to the residents at Oakleigh Manor aged care!
Rosie – 1LB
(Excellence)
For always coming into class with a smile on her face and looking out for her peers! What a star!
Olivia – 1LB
(Resilience)
For trying her best and not giving up when something is tricky! You’re a star, Olivia!
Titan – 1LB
(Excellence)
For giving great reasons in persuasive writing. Perhaps I should get the class a pet cat!
Kalia – 1LC
(Excellence)
For writing awesome persuasive pieces with detailed reasons and emotive language. Go Kalia!
Alex – 1LC
(Working Together)
For working hard and being a great friend and helper to his peers. You make 1LC a happy place to be!
Zara – 1SD
(Excellence)
For performing her best in class and completing high quality work.
Tiara – 1SD
(Resilience)
For giving things a go even when it seems really hard. Keep on going! You’ve got this!
YEAR 2 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Lucas – 2BB
(Excellence)
For producing excellent persuasive writing! Well done, Lucas!
Prisha – 2BB
(Excellence)
For always producing wonderful writing pieces in class! Fantastic work, Prisha!
Kosta – 2GL
(Excellence)
For the fantastic effort you have been putting into your reading. Well done, Kosta!
Olivia – 2GL
(Excellence)
For listening beautifully to her teachers and putting 100% effort into her classwork.
Eddie – 2LD
(Resilience)
For working hard in your first term of AR, and supporting the other students who have joined.
Delilah – 2LD
(Resilience)
For working hard this term to show her best ability in our writing lessons.
Lee – 2ML
(Excellence)
For his amazing reading comprehension and progressing to the AR reading program!
Ava – 2ML
(Working Together)
For always being a relied upon classmate to work together respectfully with all of her peers!
Eric – 2ML
(Respect)
For always using his manners and treating school property with care!
Leah – 2MV
(Resilience)
For showing incredible determination and growth in Writing and Maths. You have come so far!
Maya – 2MV
(Resilience)
For being an enthusiastic learner who gives 100% to every challenge. Your effort is inspiring!
Ava – 2OC
(Resilience)
For showing great resilience each day and for cheering others up with her bright personality!
Liam – 2OC
(Excellence)
For his great efforts in all areas of the curriculum. Keep it up, Liam!
Allegra – 2VF
(Working Together)
For working together with her peers and being a kind and helpful friend. We love having you in 2VF!
Aiden – 2VF
(Excellence)
For showing excellence in his persuasive writing by using strong reasons and persuasive language.
YEAR 3 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Elsa – 3AP
(Excellence)
For her wonderful approach to writing, taking on feedback to improve her work. Keep it up, Elsa!
Sam – 3AP
(Excellence)
For his consistent hard work and positive approach to all school tasks. You’re amazing, Sam!
Mia – 3DH
(Respect)
For being a wonderful classmate and role model. You show respect and kindness in everything you do.
Tessa – 3DH
(Excellence)
For always striving to achieve your best in everything you do. You’re an inspiration to everyone!
Angela – 3JM
(Working Together)
For collaborating respectfully with peers to complete shared tasks and learning activities.
Callum – 3JM
(Resilience)
For showing perseverance during challenging work tasks.
Ved – 3LM
(Resilience)
For showing resilience and perseverance during swimming week. Well done, Ved 🙂
Elise – 3LM
(Respect)
For being a kind and caring friend and an excellent role model for her peers. Well done, Elise!
Myra – 3MW
(Excellence)
For having a great work ethic and producing wonderful results.
Vivaan – 3MW
(Resilience)
For always trying your hardest when tackling work tasks.
Poppy – 3WC
(Excellence)
For consistently working to the best of your abilities in all areas of your learning!
Chris – 3WC
(Working Together)
For your increased willingness to participate and contribute to group discussions. Well done!
SPECIALIST VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Prep NM
Performing Arts
(Respect)
For working well together and showing respectful behaviour during your Performing Arts lessons.
Antonio – PNM
Japanese
(Excellence)
For how curious and excited you are to learn new things in Japanese. You are inspiring!
Aaron – 1JG
Japanese
(Respect)
For being a role model who always tries his best and treats everyone with respect. Well done, Aaron!
Angela Sofia – 2OC
Japanese
(Resilience)
For your amazing improvement in Japanese this year. Love that you are always challenging yourself!
George – 3MW
Performing Arts
(Excellence)
For showing excellence during your Performing Arts lessons.
Louie – 3AP
Japanese
(Respect)
For always supporting a respectful and clean class in the Japanese room.
Sam – 3AP
Performing Arts
(Excellence)
For your excellent participation during Performing Arts classes.
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
Introductory Parent Video: TRP Family Launch
Access the Parent Hub (no login required): Resilience Project Parent Hub
BE A GEM AT HOME
Practising mindfulness helps us slow down, focus on the present moment and become more aware of our thoughts, feelings and surroundings in a calm and balanced way. Rather than getting caught up in worries about the past or future, mindfulness encourages us to pause and pay attention to what is happening right now.
Research shows that regularly practising mindfulness can help strengthen emotional regulation, focus and overall wellbeing. Even a few mindful moments each day can make a positive difference. Taking time to practise mindfulness can:
- improve focus and concentration
- support emotional regulation
- reduce stress and feelings of overwhelm
- promote calmness and relaxation
- encourage self-awareness and empathy
- support positive mental health and wellbeing.
Encouraging children to practise mindfulness at home is a simple and meaningful way to help build resilience, confidence and emotional wellbeing.
Below is a wonderful mindfulness activity and a GEM Chats conversation prompt that you may like to try together at home.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN YEAR 2?
This term in Year 2, students have been exploring the topic of Past and Present through a range of engaging lessons and discussions. We have been learning about how life has changed over time, particularly focusing on technology, communication, transport, homes, schools, and everyday life.
Students have enjoyed comparing the past to the present and sharing their ideas about how inventions and advancements have made life different today. Through class activities, videos, discussions, and hands-on tasks, students have developed a greater understanding of how the world has evolved and continues to change over time.
LITERACY CORNER
In Literacy this term, the Grade 2 students have been exploring persuasive writing and learning how to convince their audience using strong arguments and persuasive language. Students have been developing their skills by stating their opinion, providing reasons to support their thinking and using persuasive vocabulary to make their writing more convincing.
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT – LESSON OF THE WEEK:
This term, Year 2 students have been building their understanding of emotional literacy and empathy, learning that emotions are important messengers and that seeing things from another person’s perspective helps us better understand and support one another.
In emotional literacy lessons, students explored how feelings such as joy, sadness, anger, and fear can give us helpful information about what we need or what is happening around us. Through discussion, video clips, and reflective activities, students practised identifying emotions and considering how they can respond in calm and thoughtful ways. A key focus has been developing self-talk strategies, such as asking, “What is this feeling trying to tell me?” and “How can I respond in a helpful way?”
In empathy learning, students have been exploring what it means to “walk in someone else’s shoes.” Through activities such as examining different perspectives, discussing real-life scenarios, and role-playing situations, students have been developing their ability to recognise how others might feel and how they can respond with kindness and care. These experiences have encouraged students to understand that different perspectives are normal and valuable, and that empathy helps us build stronger relationships within our classroom community.
Together, these lessons are helping students strengthen their emotional awareness, perspective-taking skills, and ability to interact with others in respectful and supportive ways.
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT – GEM
Gratitude:
We are grateful for the wonderful support from our families and school community in making the school fete such a fun and successful event!
Mindfulness:
We are being mindful by keeping our playground clean by packing up when the bell goes, helping to look after our school environment, and enjoying a calm and tidy space to learn and play in.
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
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.
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.
