‘The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.’ – H.Jackson Brown Jr.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Although we are not out of total lockdown just yet, it was welcome news to us all that the children returned to school last Friday. I know that our staff were happy to return, but judging by the children’s smiles, I think they were just a little happier than the teachers. It’s wonderful that we can spend the last two weeks of Term 2 together, tying up the loose ends, in preparation for a big Term 3.

Hopefully there will be a further easing of restrictions this week and that we may see our parents onsite very soon. Stay tuned!

It’s that time of the year when all families have an opportunity to meet with their child’s classroom teacher to discuss the first half of the year. As you would have been advised, our parent / teacher meetings have gone from face to face to Zoom meetings due to the current restrictions and uncertainty. Year 4 meetings are taking place today and the Prep to Year 3 meetings will be next Monday 21st and the Year 5 and 6 meetings on Tuesday 22nd.

Finally, look out for the Smile Squad consent form in your child’s bag this week. If you would like to participate in this fantastic opportunity, please fill out the form carefully and return it to your classroom teacher as soon as possible. You will receive follow up information in due course.

Have a great week.

Ron

Principal

TERM DATES / QR CODE

SCHOOL MATTERS

OAKLEIGH SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Oakleigh South Primary School would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the Kulin nation whose land we are gathered on, and we promise to respect and take care of the land we learn and play on. The students, staff and school community would like to pay our respects to the elders both past, present and emerging.

Did you know that the aboriginal map has over 250 countries and more than 500 different dialects? A few weeks ago, we, your school captains, Tricia, Cuba, Maya and Mason, met the Koori Engagement Support Officer, Alice Young from the Department of Education and Training. She taught us about Aboriginal customs and traditions and helped us write a new Acknowledgement of Country specifically for our school.  The four of us learnt the difference between an Acknowledgement of Country and a Welcome to Country. An Acknowledgement of Country is able to be delivered by anyone and is thanking the custodians of the land. A Welcome to Country is only able to be delivered by an elder of that particular land and welcomes visitors into their area. It used to be used whenever an Aboriginal person travelled into another tribes land. The Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country are both symbols of respect and are used before any event.

We also learnt about the Kulin nation and that the Bunurong and Wurundjeri countries make up the area surrounding our school. However, our school has no recognised custodian as of yet. Meeting up with Alice boosted our knowledge of Aboriginal culture and we learnt so many new things about the traditions. We tried our best to reflect the school and the community into the Acknowledgement as much as we could. You may have seen one of us presenting it at assembly. We’re really happy with how it turned out and we hope you like it just as much as we do. Please see the new Acknowledgement of Country below.

Your School Captains,

Tricia, Cuba, Maya, Mason

CURRICULUM DAY POSTPONED

A reminder that the Curriculum Day planned for Friday 25th June has been postponed until a later date, new date will be advised next term.

The last day of term will see students finishing at 2:30pm on Friday 25th June.

ENROLMENTS FOR 2022

Enrolments for Prep 2022 are now open and places are filling very fast.

The school has begun filling places so we encourage parents of students starting in 2022 to complete forms as soon as possible and email to enrolments@oakleighsouthps.vic.edu.au

Forms can found here – 2022 enrolments.

REMINDER SMILE SQUAD

Please return the forms by the school holidays if you wish for your child to participate.

Smile Squad is on the way to our school!

All children deserve a healthy smile and the Smile Squad are coming to Oakleigh South Primary School to help make sure this happens.

Smile Squad is a $321.9 million Victorian Government program that provides free dental care to all Victorian public primary and secondary school students.

The friendly Smile Squad dental team will visit Oakleigh South Primary School soon to conduct a free annual dental health examination for every student and provide free follow up treatment as needed.

What do parents need to do?

We just need you to provide consent forms to your child’s classroom teacher.

The Smile Squad team will then check your child’s teeth and mouth and show them how to keep their teeth healthy and strong. They will also provide any preventive services you have consented for. If your child needs more treatment, the Smile Squad will contact you.

Who is Smile Squad?

The bright orange Smile Squad vans are staffed by experienced oral health therapists, dental therapists, dental assistants and dentists. They all have lots of experience treating children and a passion for improving their oral health – for life.

Learn more about the Smile Squad by visiting www.smilesquad.vic.gov.au or contact the team at smilesquad@dhsv.org.au

PARENT PAYMENTS

YEAR 6 CAMP
– Year 6 Camp Instalment – closes 23.06.21 at 4.30pm

YEAR 4 CAMP
– Year 4 Camp – closes 23.06.21 at 4:30pm

YEAR 4-6 FORENSIC INCURSION
– Payments close 23.06.21 at 4:30pm

SCHOOL FEES – PLEASE PAY ASAP

LIBRARY & STEM TRUST

CSEF REMINDER

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund is available for families who have received a Health Care Card from the Australian Government. Please bring the paperwork to the office or email the form and your Health Care card by the 13th of August to carlyn.backers@education.vic.gov.au

Please access the link below to access the Camps, Sports and Excursions form (CSEF).
CSEF Link
Thank you.

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Parent Teacher Interviews are fast approaching with the Year 4 team conducting their interviews via Zoom today from 2pm-7pm. Those Year 4 parents booked in were sent Zoom details last Friday 11th of June, contact your child’s teacher should you not have your zoom link.

Prep – Year 3 interviews will be conducted on Monday the 21st of June from 2pm-7pm and Years 5 & 6 on Tuesday 22nd of June from 2pm-7pm also. Please look out for a Zoom invitation from your child’s classroom teacher this coming Friday the 18th of June.

All students will remain at school and normal pickup procedure will apply from 3:30pm.

Please read the helpful tips and expectations provided below to ensure a smooth and professional Zoom session takes place.

When joining a Zoom session please ensure you:

• Click on the Zoom link sent to you and join the session slightly before your allocated time.
• Have you full name present on your profile and activate audio and video for the session.
• You will be placed in the waiting room until the teacher is ready to admit you.
• Please adhere to the time frame for approx. 8 minutes for each interview.

Should you have any issues joining the Zoom session please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

PREP SHOWCASE

PREP REPTILE ENCOUNTERS INCURSION

Over two action packed days Tia, from Reptile Encounters, amazed the Prep students and teachers with a wonderful array of creatures, ranging from Goliath Stick Insects and Kermit the Green Tree Frog to Charlie the Saltwater Crocodile and Vicky the Victorian Carpet Python! The Prep children were full of excitement as they learnt many wonderful facts about reptiles.

Bob the Shingleback Lizard can confuse predators because his tail looks like his head and Boof the Frilled Neck Lizard can run on his two back legs as fast as 30km per hour! The highlight for many of us was meeting ‘Tiny’, the not so tiny Olive Python at 4 metres long and being in awe of Charlie the Saltwater Crocodile…one day he will grow to be over 7 metres long, weigh 1000 kg and live for over 100 years! WOW!

All the children and teachers had a fantastic time and were even given the opportunity to pat and hold some of Tia’s awesome creatures. Check out some of our photos to see how much fun we had.

Jiyana – PJF

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.