Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 25
16th August, 2024
“If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely!” – Roald Dahl
IMPORTANT DATES
Issue 25 – 16th August 2024
Wednesday 21st August
– Wanyara Incursion Year 5
Friday 23rd August
– Book Week Dress Up Day
Thursday 29th August
– Father’s Day Stall
Friday 30th August
– Father’s Day Stall
– Prep Father’s Day Afternoon 2:30pm
Monday 2nd September
– Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 3rd September
– Book Fair
Wednesday 4th September
– Book Fair
Thursday 5th September
– Bentleigh District Athletics
– Book Fair
Monday 9th September
– Year 1 Scienceworks Excursion
Thursday 12th September
– R U OK? Day
Monday 16th September
– Year 6 Production Week Begins
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Wednesday was Superhero Dress up Day to support Bullying No Way: National Week of Action. Students and teachers dressed up as their favourite superhero and we saw Superman, Wonder Woman, doctors, nurses, mums, dads, teachers, scientists and so many more superheroes. Bully Zero came to OSPS and provided an incursion to all the students. The students were taught a variety of strategies to help them assess and respond to a bullying situation, whilst also identifying and understanding the role of bystanders.
On Thursday we hosted a local network literacy improvement group with staff from Pinewood, Amsleigh Park, Kerrimuir, Wheelers Hill and Huntingdale Primary Schools. They meet once a term to collaborate and share what each school does in their literacy space. On the school tour they were able to see our Year 3 groups program in action for a writing lesson. We shared our fabulous Accelerated Reader Program, SRA comprehension programs, SMART spelling, writing and reading instructional models, including the explicit teaching of phonics.
The Year 5’s continue to venture to South Oakleigh Secondary College every Friday afternoon for science rotations with the college students. They have been gaining invaluable experiences in a high school science lab.
The Year 6’s have been practising for their upcoming production of Frozen. It is going to be a fabulous show with amazing singing, special effects, dancing and acting. Ticket sales for the whole school community will go on sale Monday 26th August 10am so keep an eye out for information on Compass that will come out next week.
Next week Friday 23rd August is Book Week dress up day with two magnificent parades being held for the junior and senior school- further information below. This year’s theme is Reading Magic. We can’t wait to see the wonderful creations.
Nikki Virtuoso
Acting Principal
SCHOOL MATTERS
SCHOOLTV@OSPS
We are excited to announce that our school has invested in a new wellbeing resource to support the mental health and overall wellness of our students and their families. SchoolTV is designed to provide our parents and caregivers with the tools, strategies and community connections they need to foster their child’s social-emotional development and address any mental health concerns at home. Through educational workshops, access to mental health professional and connections to local resources, we aim to empower our families and equip them with proactive approaches to supporting student wellbeing and preventative measures.
Because parenting doesn’t come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting relating to youth mental health and wellbeing. Parenting is a learning journey and SchoolTV supports families by providing credible information from trusted sources with practical strategies to help alleviate some of the challenges being faced by young people today.
Watch video interviews with leading wellbeing specialists and browse a library of resources. Each topic is accompanied by factsheets, podcasts, books, articles, apps and other videos.
This award-winning resource helps families build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It will assist you in starting those conversations on topics that can sometimes be awkward or difficult to tackle.
Parents and caregivers are the greatest influence on a young person’s life and SchoolTV focuses on empowering confident parenting.
Explore SchoolTV today! Click on the link below:
https://oakleighsouthps.vic.schooltv.me/
BULLYING – IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR CHILD
Oakleigh South Primary school participated in the Bullying No Way: National Week of Action – 12 to 16 August 2024. All Year Levels took part in a free incursion by Bully Zero where they learnt the importance of being an OSPS Upstander!
By working collaboratively within our community, we can collectively help reduce bullying.
Parents and carers play an important role in helping your child understand bullying, and know how to respond to it.
If your child tells you about things at school, or you observe something in public that involves conflict or bullying, take the opportunity to talk about what bullying is. You can learn more about what defines bullying at bullyingnoway.gov.au.
Questions you could ask:
- What do you think bullying is?
- Have you seen it? How did you feel?
- Have you ever felt scared at school because of bullying?
- As well as me, who are the other adults you would talk to when it comes to things like bullying?
- Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?
- Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you do if it happens again?
Remind your child that bullying is never okay and discuss how they can respond safely if they experience or witness it.
Encourage them to seek help from a trusted adult and keep seeking support if needed.
By promoting open communication, we empower children to stand up against bullying and create a safer environment where everyone can feel that they belong.
For more information, visit bullyingnoway.gov.au.
PREP 2025 ENROLMENT OFFERS RELEASED
We are pleased to announce that Prep Offers for the 2025 school year have been sent out to families. If you have applied for your child to join us next year, please be sure to check your email for your offer letter.
The email will include all the necessary information about the next steps, including how to accept your offer and details on upcoming orientation events. Please keep an eye on your inbox and follow the instructions provided to secure your child’s place for 2025.
We look forward to welcoming our new Preps to the school community!
BOOK WEEK 2024: CELEBRATE WITH US!
We are excited to announce that our annual whole school Dress Up Day for Book Week will be held on Friday, 23rd August. This year’s theme is ‘Reading is Magic’, and we encourage all students to embrace the magic of reading by dressing up as characters that embody this theme or as their favourite characters from any book.
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to express their creativity and celebrate their love for reading. We kindly ask that students bring a gold coin donation on the day. The funds raised will go towards supporting our author guest speaker and purchasing new books for the library.
As in previous years, we will be holding two parades:
- Junior Parade (Prep – 2): 9:00 AM in the hall
- Senior Parade (Years 3 – 6): 9:50 AM in the hall
Parents are warmly invited to attend and enjoy these parades.
We’re also running a Book Cover Design Competition as part of our Book Week celebrations. Students are encouraged to design a cover for their favorite book or even create their own imaginary book cover. Entries must be submitted by Tuesday, 21st August. Each class will shortlist their top designs, which will then be judged by our team. Winners and runners-up from each year level will be announced soon after.
Throughout the week, there will be a variety of book-related activities for students to enjoy.
We can’t wait to see the magical and imaginative costumes our students come up with. Thank you for your support in making Book Week 2024 a memorable event for everyone!
BOOK WEEK AUTHOR VISITS
We are excited to announce that Book Week 2024 will feature visits from talented authors! These visits provide a wonderful opportunity for students to engage with professional writers, learn about their creative processes, and discover what it takes to craft the stories they enjoy.
Students will have the chance to ask questions, gain insights into the world of writing, and be inspired by the authors’ experiences. We can’t wait for our students to meet these incredible storytellers and enhance their love for reading!
ADAM WALLACE
We are thrilled to announce that on 26th August, renowned children’s author Adam Wallace will be visiting our school to engage with our students about the joys of reading and writing. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn more about the practices of a professional author and discover how he creates the interesting and engaging stories that captivate readers.
During his visit, Adam will share insights into his writing process and inspire students to explore their creativity. Students also have the chance to pre-purchase Adam’s books! To order, please visit Lamont Authors and select “Buy our Author’s Books.”
Please note that all orders must be completed by 12th August to ensure the books are signed during Adam’s visit. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to meet a beloved author and bring home a signed copy of his work!
ELLE LIKOPOULOS
We are thrilled to welcome author Elle Likopoulos to our school on Friday, 23rd August. Elle will be sharing her new book, I Want to Be Me When I Grow Up, with our Prep – 2 students.
I Want to Be Me When I Grow Up is a heartwarming children’s book that encourages young readers to embrace their unique selves. Through vibrant illustrations and an engaging narrative, the story celebrates individuality, self-confidence, and the importance of being true to oneself. It inspires children to dream big and understand that they can achieve anything by being themselves.
They will have the opportunity to participate in a special session with her during sessions 3 and 4. It’s a fantastic chance for our young readers to meet an author and explore the joys of storytelling!
THANK YOU – OSPS CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME
Thank you to our families and friends who continue to visit the Return It centres to deposit their containers and donate to OSPS. We can see the donations come in and doesn’t matter how small a contribution, it is always appreciated!
You can return containers the following 3 ways!
@ Oakleigh South Primary School Purple Bins at the Year 3 Village
@ Oakleigh Depot (37-41 Oxford St, Oakleigh) in the OSPS bin onsite
@ Any Return-It Depot or Kiosk and Donate to OSPS by using the Bar Code attached
All students who bring in containers to school receive house points! Bring in your 10c recyclable containers!
VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
PREP VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
| Kriti – Prep MC Excellence For continuously trying her best and working like a Super Star!!! |
| Rafael – Prep MC Integrity For displaying great learning choices and always seeking to do the right thing! Wow Raphael!! |
| Arnavi – Prep AL Respect For always coming into school with a positive attitude and being respectful to everyone. Well done! |
| Sehej – Prep AL Excellence For always trying his best in the classroom and being a great friend to others. Keep it up, Sehej! |
| Eunice – Prep FG Working Together For always being understanding, kind and considerate towards others. Well done Eunice! |
| Matteo – Prep FG Excellence For consistently completing work to a high standard. Well done Matteo! |
| Tilda – Prep LM Integrity For being a thoughtful and caring class member who also shows a great attitude towards her learning. |
| Lee – Prep LM Excellence For being confident and capable, Lee willingly takes on the role of leader when needed. |
| Mahalakshmi – Prep BB Excellence For completing six word lists in two weeks! You’re a superstar! |
| Jinlin – Prep BB Excellence For always taking risks in his learning, especially in Mathematics! Awesome work! |
| Inaaya – Prep NC Resilience For all the effort you have been putting in when faced with challenging learning experiences. |
| Vasistha – Prep NC Excellence For always striving to achieve his personal best! |
| Ayaan – Prep HM Excellence For always coming to school with a positive attitude. Ayaan, we adore your bubbly personality! |
| Reeva – Prep HM Respect For showing kindness in every interaction. You are a delightful student Reeva! |
YEAR 1 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
| Steven – 1SC Excellence For being a gentle and kind classmate, always listening to instructions and giving tasks a go. |
| Xander – 1SC Integrity For his positive attitude and warm smile, thank you for coming to school each day ready to learn. |
| Summer – 1SC Respect For always showing beautiful manners when asking questions. Thank you, Summer! |
| Henry – 1NM Excellence For including many details and placing his punctuations correctly in his journal writing. Awesome! |
| Scarlett – 1NM Excellence For doing a terrific job in her recent journal writing, including many details and the 5Ws. |
| Enaali – 1MT Excellence For describing a bog as ‘slimy’ in her sizzling start. |
| Aston – 1MT Excellence For working hard on sizzling starts and using speech to start a story. |
| Venus – 1MT Excellence For working hard on your reading and comprehension. |
| Christian – 1KS Excellence For always following the school values and being kind to others. |
| Navika – 1KS Excellence For always working well and completing her tasks with colour. |
| Kabir – 1KS Working Together For always putting lots of effort into his work and working well with others. |
| Elle – 1LD Excellence For producing amazing work and always trying her best. Well done superstar! |
| Sophia – 1LD Resilience For always having a ‘never give up’ attitude and persevering with her reading. Way to go Sophia! |
| Steven – 1LD Excellence For blowing Miss Di Maio away with a superb narrative that had a sizzling start and amazing detail. |
| Agasthya – 1LB Excellence For focusing well during classroom activities and completing all set tasks. Keep it up, Agasthya! |
| Samantha – 1LB Excellence For including detail in her writing and using different punctuation. We love your writing, Samantha! |
| Rana – 1JG Excellence For the stellar effort he puts in each day, making sure his work pieces always look amazing! |
| Sophia – 1JG Excellence For expressing her ideas with wonderful enthusiasm during our ‘sizzling start’ narrative lessons. |
| Akusha – 1JG Respect For being a cool, calm learner who tries his best, is mindful of others and cooperates fairly. |
YEAR 2 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
| Jash – 2GL Excellence For the fantastic effort you have been putting into your reading. Well done Jash! |
| Jojo – 2GL Excellence For amazing writing this term. Your recounts have truly impressed us! Well done Jojo! |
| Amariah – 2VO Excellence For writing fantastic stories and displaying beautiful school values. I adore you, Amariah! |
| Zephan – 2VO Excellence For excelling in all areas of the curriculum and always coming to school ready to learn. You ROCK! |
| Nethraa – 2SR Integrity For always excelling in your learning tasks with a smile and helping your classmates, you rock! |
| Ashan – 2SR Working Together For working well with others during our GEM activities, always listening to others. You’re amazing! |
| Shannon – 2AP Excellence For her consistent hard work and for being an incredible helper in the classroom. You’re a star! |
| Arush – 2AP Excellence For his incredible effort towards all work and being a wonderful friend to all. You’re a star! |
| Rishon – 2TM Excellence For using fabulous persuasive language and detail in his writing! Well done Rishon! |
| Sia – 2TM Excellence For reading with outstanding expression and fluency and moving on to Brown dot! |
| Tom – 2MJ Excellence For his efforts to read with superb fluency and contribute thoughtfully in Guided Reading lessons. |
| Zatanna – 2MJ Working Together For always working well with others and showcasing excellent teamwork skills. Well done, Zatanna! |
| Mira – 2CD Excellence For working hard to improve your writing skills. Keep it up Mira! |
| Heyan – 2CD Excellence For always putting in a high amount of effort into all your work. Well done! |
YEAR 3 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
| Maggie – 3AN Excellence For working extremely hard on her reading and moving up in her AR range! What a superstar! |
| Hunter – 3AN Excellence For making a brilliant start to his Term 3 AR goal, achieving 30 points in the first week! |
| Dunja – 3DP Integrity For having an awesome attitude towards her learning. Keep up the great work Dunja! |
| Rachel – 3DP Excellence For trying really hard to reach her AR target in term 2. Good effort Rachel! |
| Alina – 3JD Respect For always being respectful to her classmates and peers. |
| Troy – 3JD Excellence For always striving to achieve his personal best. |
| Hugo – 3JD Excellence For persevering through challenges and never giving up. |
| Krysha – 3NM Excellence For always using excellent manners and working hard in all lessons. Well Done! |
| Thomas – 3NM Respect For showing respect to others by being thoughtful and hard working with excellent manners. |
| Sehaj – 3NM Excellence For working hard to reach her learning goals. Keep up the awesome effort. |
JUNIOR SPECIALIST VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
| Zoe – 3MW Performing Arts Excellence For showing excellent behaviour and participation during your Performing Arts class. |
STUDENT SHOWCASE
YEAR 2 SHOWCASE
The Year 2 students have had a sensational start to Term 3 with so much learning and excitement around the Olympics. As part of our Integrated Studies unit ‘Go For Gold’ the Prep-2 students partook in the OSPS Potato Olympics.
Students used their creative minds to pick and create their Potato Olympians, considering the events they were to compete in and the country they represented. During the day students utilised various mathematical skills to measure, compare and order results in the events.
Year 2 students will soon be starting a new Integrated Studies topic ‘Make It, Move It, where we will be focusing on forces, gravity and design thinking. We’ll also be holding a special open afternoon for Year 2 parents and carers on the last Tuesday of term to view the amazing Design Thinking projects. We can’t wait!
YEAR 2 LITERACY
Year 2 students have been working diligently with their classroom teachers and Writing Groups’ teachers to craft persuasive texts. They eagerly brainstormed ideas, organise their thoughts, and used convincing language to make their arguments compelling.
This focused effort helps them build strong writing skills and learn how to express their opinions effectively. Their enthusiasm and hard work during these sessions are evident in the thoughtful and creative pieces they have produced. Some great topics we have written about are, should students wear school uniform? Are books better than movies? Should you watch Minions or pets?
This term, Year 2 students are diving back into narrative writing with a focus on creating captivating ‘Sizzling Starts’ for their stories. We’ll explore how to craft engaging beginnings that grab the reader’s attention right from the first sentence. Additionally, we’ll use adjectives to paint vivid pictures and bring their stories to life, helping them express their ideas more clearly and creatively. It’s all about making their narratives sparkle and shine!
YEAR 2 GEM & RESILIENCE PROJECT
The Year 2 students have been learning about working together and cooperation. They loved designing new playgrounds and rules to ensure that everyone stayed safe and happy!
Gratitude: The lovely sunny weather we have been experiencing!
Empathy: For anyone who is experiencing illnesses.
Mindfulness: Take some time to enjoy the slightly warmer weather…Spring is coming!
JUNIOR PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE
This term in Junior Performing Arts, we’ve been busy performing, playing instruments, dancing, and learning about Australian Indigenous Performing Artists.
In Prep, Grade One, and Grade Three, students have been exploring the music of Indigenous artists such as Emily Wurrumura, Baker Boy, Mitch Tambo, and King Stingray. They’ve learned about traditional Australian instruments like the Didgeridoo (Yidarki), bull roarers, rasp, and clapping sticks. The children have also enjoyed learning traditional dances and songs.
Grade Two have shown great enthusiasm for production practices, while Grade Three studentshave begun learning to play the ukulele.
I would like to commend our talented performers—both musicians and singers—who have showcased their skills in the classroom and in competitions. Congratulations to Masha W. for receiving an Honourable Mention for her singing at the Mordialloc Eisteddfod!
On another note, the Junior Choir is now open to students in Grades One, Two, and Three. Choir rehearsals take place every Tuesday lunchtime at 1pm in the Junior Music Room. We warmly welcome new members to join!
PARENT GROUP
DJ BINGO PARENT NIGHT – A HIT!
OSPS welcomed back live events with a fun night of tunes and prizes with “DJ Bingo” – a music bingo product where instead of numbers, songs are played and if you hear your artist, you cross it off your game card. The event went off without a hitch, and there was lots of people grooving in their chairs or singing along to the tunes.
The night consisted of 2 x rounds of DJ Bingo featuring Aussie artists for round 1, and then a fantastic “Diva’s” mix for round 2. Never a dull moment, a parent yelled “DJ Bingo” thinking they had won, but when their ticket was checked, they had misheard a song and we continued to find a winner. An epic “bottle toss” game was a great fundraiser for the school! However, controversary as the coin closest was knocked out of contention by another player, leading to heartbreak for one parent, but glory to another. A guess the lollies game and lots of winners in round 2 as there were heaps of prizes to give away. 100% of all funds raised on the night were returned to the school.
A massive thanks to the school for the use of the staff room for the event (it was nice and warm) and a big thanks to Parent Group for organising such a fun night! Several parents stayed afterwards for a dance and everyone that attended said they had a great night out.
Keep an eye out for the next exciting parent event and thanks again to all that attended this fun, social night out!
FATHER’S DAY & SPECIAL PERSONS STALL
On Thursday 29th August and Friday 30th August, Parent Group will be hosting our annual Father’s Day & Special Person stall.
A roster will be issued closer to the event so parents and carers know what day their child’s class will be attending.
We would also like to ask that on their allocated day, all children are sent to school with a shopping bag for their purchases.
As with all of our events, they would not be possible without volunteers.
Therefore, we ask if you have availability to help on either day that you, please add your name to the roster via the link below.
Volunteer Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E9GKk6We-81UsfbfDNwROHobDrsKPYX0KW6EeNoc314/edit?usp=sharing
If you have any questions, please direct them to Parent Group at osparentgroup67@gmail.com
OSPS SCARVES AND BEANIES
The remaining OSPS branded scarves and beanies are again available for purchase online.
Please note these will no longer be available for purchase in the uniform shop. The scarves are $24, and the beanies are $18.50. We ask if you do order, you please clearly label your items.
Please see Compass for the link to order
Please contact Parent Group on osparentgroup67@gmail.com if you have any questions.
PARENT CORNER
ARLIAM ALLIED HEALTH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Arliam Allied Health have 3 new Occupational Therapists starting in the coming weeks, who will be ready to take on new clients! If you have any participants or families looking for OT, we can help!
Our service area is as follows: Bayside, South, South-East or Eastern Metro Melbourne areas. We also have limited availability for Speech Pathology services, for school aged participants!
WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?
Occupational Therapy (OT) helps children develop the skills they need for everyday activities, both at school and at home. OT may be the perfect option if your child requires support with:
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- Fine Motor Skills: Like writing or using scissors.
- Gross Motor Skills: Such as balance and coordination.
- Sensory Processing: Managing sensory input and reactions.
- Self-Care: Learning tasks like dressing and eating.
- Social Skills: Building positive interactions with peers.
- Academic Skills: Assisting with classroom tasks.
GET STARTED
To begin, please complete the online referral form: Arliam Allied Health Referral Form
The Arliam Allied Health Team
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.
