
Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 2
8th February 2023
“If people did not do silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein
IMPORTANT DATES
Issue 2 – 8th February 2023
Wednesday 8th February
– Parent Group Introductory Meeting
Thursday 9th February
– Year 6 Summer Interschool Sport begins
(Oakleigh South – Bye)
– Senior Choir (Hall)
Friday 10th February
– OSPS Swim Squad Training
Tuesday 14th February
– Junior Choir (Junior Music Room)
2023 TERM DATES
Term 1
27th January – 6th April
(Students begin 30th January)
Term 2
24th April – 23rd June
Term 3
10th July – 15th September
Term 4
2nd October – 20th December
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
This week we held our annual Parent Information Nights for every year level. Thank you to the parents who were able to attend. As always, these nights are a great opportunity for you to be made aware of what will be happening in your child’s year level for the year. If you couldn’t attend, please read the information booklet that was sent to you last Friday via Compass and as usual, if you have any questions or concerns, please email your classroom teacher.
The Prep children are settling very well into their classroom routines with their individual assessments taking place each Wednesday until the first week in March. These assessments are vital so the teachers can understand the needs and capabilities of each child. It’s also an opportunity for the parents to have a quick chat face to face about their child.
This year, our Year 1 students will be involved in mandatory English Online Testing. This is an extension of the testing the children did at the start of Preps. This data will be very helpful for each classroom teacher as well as the Education Department to assess the needs of this cohort of children across Victoria.
The OSPS Swim Squad has begun their training at Oakleigh Recreation Centre. A big thank you to the staff who give up their time to train the squad before school. The children come back to school to enjoy a yummy breakfast, ready to start their day.
Yesterday we had our first whole school assembly for the year. Next week, there will be a senior assembly where our year 6 leaders will be receiving their badges. Parents are welcome to attend this assembly.
Enjoy the week ahead.
Ron
Principal
SCHOOL MATTERS
SAFETY AT OAKLEIGH SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL
A reminder to parents and carers that the Staff Car Park is strictly for Staff. Under no circumstances are parents to use the Staff Car Park, the disabled parks, or park in the driveway regardless of the time of day. It is NOT to be used as a quick drop off or collection point.
Please park in the oval car park or on Riley Street if you are dropping off or collecting your child throughout the day.
We also ask that parents do not walk up the driveway before school. The school gates are unlocked at 8:45am for everyone’s safety, even if it is an inconvenience for parents to wait until this time, it is for the safety of the whole school community. We have had many parents walking in early during the last couple of weeks and it is extremely dangerous.
Parents and carers with valid disability permit may use the allocated disability carparks if they need to visit the Office or accompany students in junior grades to their classroom. We ask that, where possible, older siblings be encouraged to walk younger students to class where appropriate.
We also urge parents to please remember to be patient and polite when using the Oval Car Park, and be good role models for all the children witnessing their behaviour. With over 900 families, drop off and collection times will be busy and you will need to plan your time accordingly.
Please remember that no child is to walk into the Oval Car Park without a parent or carer.
To support the safety of students, staff and families at OSPS here are some friendly reminders to speak to your children about.
- Students who ride their bikes to school are to place their bike racks in the designated bike racks please. We want to avoid bikes blocking pathways and toilets and eliminating trip hazards around the school.
- Please ensure students walk their bike in and out of school and are not riding it on the oval and pathways around school buildings.
- A reminder that parents are not to use the staff car park or walk up the driveway. The side gate near the Robotics lab is open for families to use everyday.
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Please avoid driving up Windsor Avenue toward Gate 4 near the builder’s compound (and parking) for drop off in the morning, or pick up afterschool, or afterschool activities. Please remember to park in the Parent Carpark Area (Cnr Riley St & Windsor Ave), Riley St or nearby streets where signposted.
- When parking in the family car park, please walk across to the oval and pick your child up. No child is to walk through the car park on their own.
Thank you for your understanding.

ANNUAL PRIVACY REMINDER FOR SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.
Please take time to read our school’s collection notice, found in our privacy policy on our website https://oakleighsouthps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Privacy-Policy.pdf
We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.
For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages:
- Amharic
- Arabic
- Dari
- Gujarati
- Mandarin
- Somali
- Sudanese
- Turkish
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
Should you have any questions regarding our privacy policies and procedures please contact a member of the school leadership team.

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF)
The Victorian Government offer a Sports, Camps and Excursions Fund for families who hold a valid means-tested concession card are eligible to apply. A special consideration category also exists.
A payment of $125 for eligible primary school students and $225 for eligible secondary school students will be paid directly to the school to be used toward camps, sports and excursion costs for the student’s benefit.
CSEF payments to schools will commence from 1 March onwards. Schools are able to continue processing applications until the end of Term 2.
Please click here to apply – CSEF Application Form.
Those families that were eligible in 2022 will be rolled over, you do not need to reapply.
If you have any issues please contact Carlyn carlyn.backers@education.vic.gov.au

2nd Hand Uniform Shop
We are looking for volunteers to help in the 2nd hand uniform shop which will be re-opening next week. Any time you can spare to help is appreciated, whether it’s 15 mins a term or 30 mins a week.
The uniform shop is open twice a week, Wednesday & Friday from 8.45am – 9am. If you have availability or would like further information please send an email to osparentgroup67@gmail.com and the Uniform Shop co – ordinator will be in touch.
YEAR 3 (ART ROOM GATE) OPEN
Gate 3 (Art Room gate) will be open and available for children in Year 3 to arrive in the morning and exit after school if that is the most convenient gate.
All other year levels are to continue to use Gate 1, 2 and 4 please.
Here is a new map.
LITERACY CORNER

LIBRARY NEWS
The library is open for all Year 3 – 6 students to borrow AR books. Students can borrow between 8:45am – 9am and after school until 3:45pm.
We also have a number of students who have not returned books they borrowed from 2022. Please check at home if you have any OSPS library books and remind your children to return them to the library. Thank you.
OSPS SPORT

YEAR 6 INTER SCHOOL SPORT TRAINING
The Year 6 students have begun their sport training for the upcoming Bentleigh District summer fixture. Students and coaches have learning about thier respecitive games, learning skills, rules and enjoying game simulations.
Next Thursday (9th February) Oakleigh South has the bye. Our first round will begin on the 16th of February against St. Peters.
Please click on the link here for the summer fixture. All parents are welcome to attend.
A reminder that all our games will be held away this year.
STATE TEAM TRIALS 2023
School Sport Victoria conducts State Team Trials for the sports listed (below) along with other sports that can be found on their website; Cricket, Basketball, AFL, Netball and Soccer nominations are due to open on December 1st, 2022 and close on various dates depending on the sport. There will not be District trials, instead elite and outstanding performers in each specific sport only can apply via the School Sport Victoria website if they have been approved by their school. The expectation is that students nominating would have won at least a Best & Fairest or MVP in their chosen sport at the highest level of competition offered at their club, preferably finished high in League voting, along with being very fit, most likely in Cross Country and Athletics teams as well as being outstanding players in our Inter-school Sport Program. Any parent considering nominating should consult Marcus Mooney – email: Marcus.mooney@education.vic.gov.au prior to paying the nomination fee to assess the student’s suitability.
Should your child ultimately be successful, there may be multiple days of trials and camps requiring parents to transport / attend with their child in order to be involved. There are also significant monies required if selected. Parents must be committed to the entire process and understand this is not a come and try activity. Sending students without the necessary skills / talent could not only undermine their confidence but will also increase numbers at the trial making the selectors job a lot more difficult. If there are more than 3 students nominated in a chosen sport a school-based trial may be required. Generally, these trials are for Year 6 students or exceptional Year 5’s. (Top 3 in League B&F standard)
After consideration and consultation, if you think your child is ready for State Team selection trials, parents can then Google School Sport Victoria or go to:
http://www.ssv.vic.edu.au/team-vic
For more information and should monitor this website for closing dates and relevant information as it is updated. There is also a link to the SSV home page on our Bentleigh District web page.
12 Years and Under Sports Sports include but not limited to:
Australian Football (Boys / Mixed & Girls), Softball, Basketball, Football (Soccer), Hockey, Golf, Netball, Rugby League, Touch Football and Cricket (see SSV site for more details).
Check the website for all other sports noting some years State Swimming, Cross Country and Athletic Teams can be chosen via external competitions rather than through school-based District / Division/ Region/State Competitions, When nominating your child for more than one sport you should also note that trials for AFL, Soccer, Netball and Basketball may be on the same day eliminating the possibility of going through for more than one mainstream sport.
CAMP AUSTRALIA

CAMP AUSTRALIA
Camp Australia use the OSPS facilities to deliver before and after school care to families. They also offer care on curriculum days and school holidays.
The building is situated adjacent to the staff car park and they have access to our junior school playground and junior oval for outside play.
Check out their flyer for information and head to their website to register.


PARENT GROUP

PREP WELCOME BBQ
Parent Group along with the Prep teachers are pleased to announce the Welcome BBQ for the 2023 Prep students and their immediate families.
This will be held on Thursday, 2 March from 5 – 7pm. This has always been a great event for our families to meet in a casual environment while the kids can enjoy the playground and entertainment.
We ask that you RSVP via the TryBooking link sent to families in Compass so we can ensure there is adequate catering.
It is great to see the Prep Welcome BBQ come back in 2023 after several years unable to hold the valued event. Thank you to Parent Group!
PARENT CORNER


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.







