Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 24
8th August, 2025
“Being a student is easy. Learning requires actual work.” — William Crawford
IMPORTANT DATES
Issue 24 – 8th August 2025
Week 4
• Tamba Higashi PS Cultural Exchange Program
• National Week of Action Against Bullying and Violence
• Bookfair @ OSPS Library
Tuesday 12th August
• House Athletics Carnival
• Prep to Year 3 Assembly – 2:45 PM in the Hall
Wednesday 13th August
• VSSS Mass Choir – Town Hall Rehearsal 2
• VSSS Choir – Town Hall Rehearsal 2
• Years 4–6 – Tamba Higashi PS Students Farewell Assembly – 2:45 PM in the Hall
Thursday 14th August
• Senior Choir – 3:45 PM in the Hall
Friday 15th August
• Robocup – Outer Eastern Regional Event
• Book Week Author Talk: Judith Rossell
• VSSS – Mass Dance Excursion 2025
Week 5
Tuesday 19th August
• Whole School Assembly – 2:45 PM in the Hall
• School Council Meeting – 6:00 PM
Thursday 21st August
• Senior Choir – 3:45 PM in the Hall
Friday 22nd August
• Book Week Celebration
Week 6
Monday 25th August
• Year 2 Legoland Excursion
Tuesday 26th August
• Year 4 to 6 Assembly – 2:45 PM in the Hall
Thursday 28th August
• Bentleigh District Athletics
• Senior Choir – 3:45 PM in the Hall
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
On Tuesday, we welcomed the students and teachers from Tamba Higashi Primary School in Japan. The students have been attending classes and yesterday enjoyed a fantastic excursion to the city. We hope they enjoy their time in Australia, make wonderful connections, and have a memorable homestay experience with our school community.
Looking ahead, next Tuesday we will be holding our House Athletics Carnival right here at school. This is always a fantastic day filled with energy, school spirit, and healthy competition. Students are encouraged to wear their house colours and t-shirts and give their best effort. Parents are welcome to come along and support our athletes!
Next Friday, several of our students will be representing OSPS at the Outer Eastern Regional competition at Ramlegh Park Primary School, Clyde North. We wish the students every success on the day and thank Mr. Eykman, Mr Davey, Miss Philipsen, Mr Wintersea, Mr Mason-Parker and Mr Louey who have worked tirelessly to prepare for this. We are proud of their innovation, teamwork, and enthusiasm for STEM.
Also coming up is our annual Book Fair, which will run from Monday to Thursday next week in the school library. The students will have the chance to browse the selection and create a wish list to take home. Please check the Compass notification for further details on how to make purchases and support our school’s love of reading.
It’s shaping up to be a very exciting and busy week ahead. Thank you for your continued support of all the wonderful programs and opportunities offered at OSPS.
Enjoy the weekend!
Warm regards,
Nikki Virtuoso
Acting Principal
SCHOOL MATTERS
BULLYING – SCHOOLTV
Bullying is an ongoing or repeated misuse of power in relationships, with the intention to cause deliberate psychological harm. Bullying behaviours can be verbal, physical or social. It can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious or hidden. Bullying in any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.
Despite the efforts made to reduce bullying behaviours, the research tells us that one in four students still report being bullied every few weeks. However, not all negative behaviour should be considered bullying. The key difference is that bullying does not stop on its own. It’s important young people learn how to identify behaviours that are rude, behaviours that are mean, and behaviours that are related to bullying.
Often the reasons for bullying can be complex. Some young people do it to get approval from others, some do it to regain control, whilst others may do it because it makes them feel safe. Supporting young people as they work through their emotions will help them unpack the motivation and reason behind the behaviour.
In this edition of SchoolTV, caregivers can better understand why some young people engage in bullying behaviours and what to do to support a child experiencing it.
Here is the link to the Bullying edition of SchoolTV: https://oakleighsouthps.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/bullying
UPDATED SCHOOL POLICIES
We’ve recently updated three key school policies to reflect our ongoing commitment to student safety, wellbeing and inclusion.
We encourage all families to read the updated documents linked below:
To explore all current school policies, visit our OSPS Parents Page (scroll to the Policies section).
These policies guide our everyday practice and help ensure that all students feel safe, supported and respected at school.
YEAR 5 HOT FOOD DAY
Dear Parents and Carers,
Parent Group will be hosting a Hot Food Day for all Year 5 classes on Friday 22nd August.
Available items include:
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Bucket of chips
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Potato cakes
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Lunch packs with chips and 5 nuggets or spring rolls
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Juice boxes and a limited number of soft drinks
Please see the Compass Newsfeed post to place your order.
Orders close at 5.00 pm on Tuesday 19th August. Late orders cannot be accepted as supplies must be finalised in advance.
If you’re available to help on the day or have any questions, please contact Parent Group at osparentgroup67@gmail.com.
Thank you,
Parent Group
FREE STUDENT EYECARE PROGRAM
Oakleigh South Primary School is pleased to offer the Student Eyecare Program onsite during Term 3 and Term 4, 2025.
A qualified optometrist will be visiting the school during school hours to provide free, comprehensive eye examinations for students. These checks are fully covered by Medicare Australia and come at no cost to families.
Did you know that 1 in 6 students have undetected vision issues? With the growing use of books, laptops, tablets and smartphones, regular eye checks are more important than ever.
Each participating student will receive:
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A detailed report on their eye health
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A prescription, if glasses are needed (which can be taken to any optical store)
This is a fantastic opportunity to support your child’s learning and wellbeing through early detection and care.
To book your child’s eye test, please refer to the Compass post sent on Thursday afternoon and follow the link provided.
VICTORIAN STATE SCHOOL SPECTACULAR TICKETS
This year 41 of our Year 5 students are performing in the 2025 Victorian State Schools Spectacular show ‘On Air’. These students have been working hard throughout the year in both dance and choir and are looking forward to their performances in September. If you would like to come along and see the incredible performances, tickets will go on sale Thursday 31st July at 11am via Ticketek or search “2025 Victorian State Schools Spectacular tickets” on the Ticketek website.
Performance Date: Saturday 13th September
Performance Times: Matinee at 1:00pm & Evening at 6:30pm
Performance Venue: John Cain Arena
Ticket Prices: Adult – $40 Concession – $30 Child (U15) – $20
Best seating sections to see our OSPS choir: 9, 10, 31, 32, 33, 56, 57 & 58
OSPS BOOK FAIR 2025
The OSPS Book Fair is back next week, from Monday 11th August – Thursday 14th August, in the School Library.
Students will visit the library with their class to explore the display and create a wish list of books they may like to purchase. Photos of the books will also be available on our school Facebook page.
How to purchase:
- Once you have decided which books to buy, go to scholastic.com.au/payment or scan the QR code on the pamphlet your child brings home.
- Complete the Payment Form on the pamphlet, including:
- Receipt number
- Amount paid
- Your child’s name and class
- Book title(s)
- Return the completed form to school. Books will then be supplied from the library display and delivered to your child’s classroom.
If a title is out of stock, we can reorder it online and deliver it to your child once it arrives.
Important:
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Proof of payment must be returned by Thursday 14th August.
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Ensure all details on the ‘Pre-Payment’ form are correct.
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This is Book Fair, not Book Club.
The Book Fair is always a highlight for our students, and we appreciate your support in fostering their love of reading!
BOOK WEEK AT OSPS: BOOK AN ADVENTURE!
We’re excited to celebrate Book Week at Oakleigh South Primary School with two fantastic events. This year’s theme is: ‘Book an Adventure!’
Judith Rossell Author Visit – Friday 15th August
We’re excited to welcome award-winning author Judith Rossell to our school! Students will enjoy an engaging author talk, learning more about storytelling and the writing process.
Students have the opportunity to pre-purchase books for signing on the day! To order Judith’s books, please click here Buy Authors Book – Lamont Authors. All orders must be completed by Friday 1st August to receive the signed books on the day of Judith’s visit.
Book Week Dress-Up & Parade – Friday 22nd August
To celebrate the magic of books, students are invited to come to school dressed up as their favourite book character or in a costume inspired by the ‘Book an Adventure!’ theme.
Parade times in the school hall:
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Prep – Year 2: 9:00am
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Year 3 – Year 6: 9:50am
Parents are invited to join us in the hall for the parade.
A gold coin donation on the day would be greatly appreciated to support literacy initiatives. For more details, please refer to the flyer.
We can’t wait to see the amazing costumes and enjoy the adventures that books bring to life!
PARKING AND TRAFFIC SAFETY REMINDER
Student safety is our highest priority. With over 1000 students, 800 families, and 100 staff, our community relies on everyone driving and parking safely — especially during busy drop-off and pick-up times.
Staff Car Park Use
The staff car park is for staff use only during school hours.
Parents and carers are not permitted to enter, park, or drive through the car park for school drop-off, pick-up, or daytime access.
The only exceptions are:
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Before and After School Care drop-off and pick-up
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Families with a valid disability parking permit or a school-approved exemption
If a vehicle is parked or blocked in, staff cannot assist. Our legal responsibility is to supervise students — we cannot leave children unattended to manage avoidable issues caused by misuse of the staff car park.
Road Safety Expectations
We remind all families that the following behaviours are unsafe and breach Victorian road laws:
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All students riding bikes or scooters must wear a helmet, as required by law.
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U-turns near the school are often illegal and extremely dangerous, especially in high-traffic or low-visibility areas
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The speed limit is 40km/h during school hours and is enforceable by law
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Drivers must stop at pedestrian crossings and obey all road signage
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Parking across driveways, footpaths or crossings is prohibited and reduces visibility
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Using a mobile phone while driving is illegal and significantly increases risk near children
Seemingly minor choices can have major safety and legal consequences. We ask all families to model safe, calm, and respectful behaviour around the school.
The school is not authorised to enforce traffic or parking violations. To report concerns, please contact Monash Council or Victoria Police.
Thank you for supporting the safety of our school community.
SHARE THE DIGNITY
The Oakleigh South Parent Group is proud to support Share the Dignity this August, a campaign helping to provide essential sanitary items to women and girls in need, including those experiencing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence.
A collection bin will be placed at Reception from August 1st, and we welcome donations of:
- Pads & tampons
- Period underwear
- Incontinence pads
- Menstrual cups
Donations will be accepted throughout August. Let’s work together to help restore dignity to those who need it most.
Thank you for your support!
OSPS Parent Group
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – SOUTH OAKLEIGH COLLEGE PRODUCTION
South Oakleigh College invites families to attend their 2025 production of Beauty and the Beast — a classic story of love, courage and transformation.
The tale follows Belle, a curious and compassionate young woman, and the Beast, a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved in return, the curse will be broken. But time is running out. If he fails, he and his household will be doomed forever.
With timeless songs including “Belle”, “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast”, this much-loved musical will be a delight for all ages.
Dates: Wednesday 27th August to Friday 29th August 2025
Time: 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm
Location: Christine Strachan Theatre, Oakleigh South Secondary College
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1397356
Families are warmly encouraged to attend and support the talented students of South Oakleigh College.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD VOTE FOR OAKLEIGH SOUTH NETBALL CLUB
From Woolies cart to the school court – Oakleigh South Netball Club and Oakleigh South Primary School are proud Woolworths Round 2 Winners with $2K in the bag, yippee! This grant will go towards continuing to grow grassroots netball with the school for 25 years+, thank you!
But now WE NEED YOU, the school community, to vote for us in the People’s Choice Award and help us score $20K for better facilities.
It’s SUPER easy, FREE, takes a FEW SECONDS and no subscription – just two simple clicks. Click the Oakleigh South Netball Club link below and tap the ❤️ “Vote Now” button to vote. Back the green club and green school to win gold!
Voting closes Friday 29th August.
Vote here now: https://woolworthsnetballgrants.com.au/grant-application/oakleigh-south-netball-club/
VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
JUNIOR VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
YEAR 4 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Keyon – 4ML
(Resilience)
For persevering with his SRA tasks to gain good results. Good work Keyon!
Aaliya – 4ML
(Integrity)
For taking pride in her work and having beautiful writing format and book presentation.
Sofia – 4ML
(Resilience)
For her great determination and courage displayed during our year 4 production rehearsals. Well done Sofia!
Saahir – 4CR
(Excellence)
For consistently displaying excellent penmanship which has earnt him his Pen Licence. Keep up the great work!
Lenny – 4CR
(Working Together)
For working well in group situations and respecting the views of others. You’re a great team player, Lenny!
Siddhika – 4CG
(Excellence)
For showing great reading and inferencing abilities to create valuable insights in our Year 4 book study!
Aahana – 4CG
(Excellence)
For creating exciting and engaging sizzling starts when introducing her narrative writing pieces. Amazing job!
Amelia – 4CG
(Excellence)
For always giving 100% in every activity and presenting her work to the highest standard! Great work Amelia!
Shaurya – 4AS
(Excellence)
For demonstrating dedication and perseverance in his learning and achieving excellent results in Mathematics.
Isha – 4AS
(Excellence)
For starting the term with focus and determination and achieving excellent AR results. Well done, Isha!
Nithya – 4AS
(Respect)
For being a caring and kind classmate who treats all teachers and students with respect.
Samuel – 4WW
(Excellence)
For starting Term 3 with a bang! We are so impressed with his perseverance towards reaching his AR goal!
Chelsea – 4WW
(Resilience)
For showing increased confidence with her reading and persevering with challenges in the classroom. Keep up the awesome work, Chelsea!
YEAR 5 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Yi Heng – 5LG
(Respect)
For consistently showing respect both in the way he speaks to others and the way he works. Well done, Yi Heng!
Maddie – 5LG
(Resilience)
For approaching all challenges with a smile on her face and a ‘can-do’ attitude. You’re amazing, Maddie!
Lucas – 5LG
(Excellence)
For consistently achieving excellence in all subjects (even with a broken arm)! Great work, Lucas!
Lucas – 5JD
(Excellence)
For his dedication to learning and constant drive to improve. Keep it up!
Ivy – 5JD
(Resilience)
For showing resilience and determination alongside her peers to produce an impressive model for their project.
Henry – 5MJ
(Integrity)
For setting S.M.A.R.T goals for Term 3 that have set you up for success. Well done, Henry!
Elly – 5MJ
(Excellence)
For her outstanding efforts and impressive attention to detail in her Integrated Studies project. Well done!
Atticus – 5MJ
(Excellence)
For his excellent behaviour and positive attitude in class and during our swimming program. Great job!
Kenit – 5KM
(Working Together)
For showing excellent collaboration skills and supporting his peers in their Integrated project.
Wanyi – 5KM
(Excellence)
For striving to achieve her personal best in everything she does! Keep up the awesome work Wanyi!
Aiden – 5KM
(Excellence)
For being highly organised, taking initiative, and approaching every task with focus and responsibility.
YEAR 6 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Ayrton – 6MH
(Excellence)
For his outstanding effort and determination during last terms assessments, which truly stood out!
Radha – 6MH
(Respect)
For your thoughtful listening, kindness, and support of the production team and friends—thank you, Radha!
Madeleine – 6MH
(Working Together)
For being a helpful and productive team member of Peace & Paws for the Year 6 Business Expo.
Deetya – 6NM
(Working Together)
For putting in a huge amount of effort with her group ‘Stick n Style’ for our Business Expo.
Amelie – 6NM
(Working Together)
For her incredibly creative work with her Business Expo group ‘Silly Billie Badges’.
Mickey – 6NM
(Integrity)
For the leadership he has shown while working in a variety of group tasks. Keep up the great work Mickey!
Aarna – 6SM
(Working Together)
For her increased confidence when working groups and sharing ideas. We value you Aarna!
Jenson – 6SM
(Resilience)
For maintaining a positive attitude despite breaking their arm. Best wishes on your recovery Jenson!
Reyansh – 6SM
(Excellence)
For consistently handing in his homework and being 6SM’s Mathlete of the Week. Keep it up, Reyansh!
SENIOR SPECIALIST AWARDS
Mickey – 4ML
Performing Arts
(Integrity)
For always working with effort and persistence, and expanding your Performing Arts experiences.
4WW
Visual Arts
(Excellence)
For creating wonderful one-line drawings!
Ryan – 5EW
Performing Arts
(Excellence)
For always striving to be your best and showing great leadership in Band.
5EW
Visual Arts
(Respect)
For working well in the Art Room!
Krishiv – 6FW
Performing Arts
(Integrity)
For giving your best effort in production rehearsals.
6SS
Visual Arts
(Working Together)
For working in a conscientious manner, and cleaning up as a team!
STUDENT SHOWCASE
PREP SHOWCASE
Hooray! – our Prep students officially reached 100 days of school on Tuesday 29th July! What a journey it’s been, filled with learning new things, growing in confidence, making new friends, and having loads of fun along the way.
From singing in Music to getting crafty in Art, moving in PE, digging for worms in Science and learning new words in Japanese – our specialist classes have been a blast! To top it all off, we celebrated with a big 100 Days of School party full of giggles, games and good times. What a fabulous way to celebrate being 100 days smarter!
LITERACY CORNER
YEAR 4 GEM
Gratitude
Gratitude helps us remember all the good we already have.
Empathy
Kindness and understanding can brighten someone’s day.
Mindfulness
Being present helps us appreciate life’s little moments.
SPORT REPORT
HOUSE ATHLETICS
On Tuesday 12th August, students in Years 4–6 will participate in the OSPS Annual House Athletics Day.
Over the past six weeks, students have been developing their technique in a range of athletic events during PE sessions, including Discus, Shot Put, Hurdles, High Jump, Triple Jump, and Long Jump. Each student will compete in 6–7 events, with results contributing to the selection of our 2025 School Athletics Team.
Families are warmly invited to come along and cheer — especially for the 100m finals at 2:15pm!
PARENT GROUP
PARENT GROUP UPDATE
It’s only August, but 2025 has already been a huge year for the OSPS Parent Group!
From fun food days to big fundraising goals, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes – all thanks to the incredible support from our school community.
So far this year, the funds raised have helped make some exciting improvements around the school, including:
- Repair of the Green Playground on the Senior Oval
- Creation of an Outdoor Classroom near the Robotics Lab
- Repairs to Friendship Square
And we’re not done yet! Semester 2 is shaping up to be just as busy, with even more fun (and fundraising) on the way. Keep an eye out for upcoming events like the Father’s Day Stall, the Colour Run, Disco and more food days!
We’re always looking for extra helping hands and fresh ideas – we’d love to have you involved. Every little bit makes a big difference! Please email ospsparentgroup67@gmail.com for more information.
Thank you for your continued support – together we’re making OSPS even better for our kids!
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 coordinated by the Department of Education (DET).
Families received the Year 6 to Year 7 Placement Information Pack in April, with completed applications due by Friday 9th May 2025. Thank you to all families who submitted their forms on time.
On Tuesday 1st July, families were notified of their Year 7 Placement Offer. These letters included:
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The placement offer
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An Acceptance Slip
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An Appeal Form (if applicable)
Upcoming Dates:
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Tuesday 12th August: Final date to return Placement Acceptance Slips to Oakleigh South Primary
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Tuesday 19th August: Final date to submit an appeal to the Regional Director (if initial appeal was unsuccessful)
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Friday 10th October: Regional Directors notify families of final appeal outcomes
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Tuesday 9th December: Statewide Orientation Day for Year 6 students
Please note: Placement details cannot be provided prior to official notification dates.
Useful links:
For any questions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher or email enrolments@oakleighsouthps.vic.edu.au.
CAMP AUSTRALIA
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.
