Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 27
30th October, 2026
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” — Maya Angelou
This week has been a very special one for our school community. Our students competed at the Victorian State Athletics Championships, and I am delighted to share that our 11 and 12 year old boys won the gold medal in the relay! Drewin also won gold in both the 100m and 200m individual races, which is an outstanding achievement at state level. Congratulations to every student who competed and represented Oakleigh South so proudly. Thank you also to the staff who gave up so many recesses and lunchtimes to coach these students!
On Tuesday, we celebrated Matsuri Day – our Japanese Dress Up Day – with a wonderful whole school assembly, where students showed off their costumes and a best dressed winner was announced for each year level. Thank you to Lee Sensei and Shoji Sensei for organising the day, and to our parent group for arranging Sushi Day to coincide with it. Students took part in special Japanese activities throughout the week, and it was lovely to see the whole school get into the spirit of the celebration.
Students from Prep to Year 6 also took part in an incursion run by Camp Quality. This interactive cancer education program uses live puppets to help students understand cancer, dispel myths, and build awareness of the disease and its treatments. Our students listened carefully to the key messages and asked the presenters thoughtful questions. It was a valuable session that encouraged open, caring conversations about a topic that touches many families.
Last week, our Year 5 students headed off to Peninsula Outdoors Beach Camp. 130 students and 16 staff enjoyed three days of beach and aqua adventures, team building and leadership activities, and sport. The warm weather was a real highlight after a few years of cooler days. Thank you to the staff and organisers for the time and care they put into making this year’s camp such a memorable experience for our students.
Please note that next Monday 2nd November is a Curriculum Day and Tuesday 3rd November is the Melbourne Cup public holiday. We will see students back at school on Wednesday 4th November.
Wishing all families a wonderful four day weekend!
Warm regards,
Nikki Virtuoso
Acting Principal
CURRICULUM DAY AND MELBOURNE CUP PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Dear Parents & Carers,
Next Monday 2nd November and Tuesday 3rd November are student free days.
Students are not required at school, and there will not be staff on site on either day.
- Monday 2nd November: Curriculum Day
- Tuesday 3rd November: Melbourne Cup Day public holiday
Students return to school on Wednesday 4th November.
Need care on Monday?
Camp Australia is open on Monday 2nd November – click here to book now!
Thank you,
Oakleigh South Primary School
OAKLEIGH EDUCATION PRECINCT CELEBRATION
Date: Wednesday 11th November
Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm
Venue: Christine Strachan Theatre, Oakleigh South Secondary College
It’s on! The OEP Celebration at South Oakleigh College will feature a HUGE showcase of the Japanese, STEM and Design Thinking, and Transition Programs across our four schools.
Oakleigh South PS, South Oakleigh College, Huntingdale PS and Oakleigh PS warmly invite the whole community to attend. Tickets are FREE, but please register to secure your spot.
Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1662127?eid=1662127
The event will feature a warm welcome, special guest speakers, a highlights video, taiko drumming, the Huntingdale PS senior choir, Japanese speech presentations, Japanese pen pal displays, transition program showcases, digital portfolios, interactive STEM and Design Thinking demonstrations, and much more!
There’s lots to see and do in this jam-packed two-hour celebration. We can’t wait to see you all there!
SchoolTV – DEPRESSION & YOUNG PEOPLE
Depression is a serious mental health condition that can affect how children and young people think, feel and interact with the world around them. While occasional sadness and mood changes are a normal part of growing up, depression is more persistent and can significantly impact a young person’s relationships, school engagement and overall wellbeing.
Understanding the warning signs and knowing when to seek help are important steps in ensuring young people receive the support they need.
This edition of SchoolTV explores the signs and causes of depression, offering practical guidance and strategies to help recognise concerns early and provide appropriate support.
Here is the link to this topic: http://oakleighsouthps.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/depression-au
BOYS DIVISION SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS!
Last Friday our OSPS Boys Division Softball Team took on Duncan McKinnon and came away with a fantastic 27–16 victory, with powerhouse hitting and accurate pitching leading the way!
That’s back-to-back Division wins for OSPS! 🙌
Congratulations to all the boys on an outstanding effort, and for the dedication you put into improving your game at each training session. We are so proud of you!
Next stop, the Southern Metropolitan Region Event. Bring it on!
COLOUR RUN 🌈
Only 20 more sleeps until our oval becomes a rainbow!
This is a reminder that the colour run is being held next month on Thursday 19th November 2026.
KEY DATES:
- Registrations Close: Monday 16th November 2026
- Event Date: Thursday 19th November 2026
- Fundraising Closes: Friday 20th November 2026
- Slime the Teacher Raffle Draw: Thursday 5th November 2026
REGISTRATION
Any participating student must be registered with a minimum of $10 raised by 3.30pm, Monday, 16 November. For those still needing to register, this can be done through the following link Colour Run Registration or by searching ‘My Profile Page’ in Google and following the instructions.
SLIME THE TEACHER DRAW
All students that have raised $50 or more by next week, Thursday 5th November will go into the draw to ‘slime a teacher’. Names will be drawn next Friday with the winners and teachers announced at assembly. The sliming will take place on the oval after the run has concluded.
ICE CREAM DAY
The 3 classes with the highest amount raised will get an ice cream day before the end of term.
VOLUNTEERS!!
To make this a successful event we are looking for parents and carers to help on the day. If you have availability, please contact Parent Group on osparentgroup67@gmail.com
If there are any questions or concerns regarding registration, we encourage you to contact Parent Group at your earliest opportunity to ensure your child is able to participate.
Thank you,
Parent Group
SIBLINGS STARTING PREP IN 2027
We are currently preparing our Transition sessions for students commencing Prep in 2027.
If your child is due to start Prep in 2027 and you have not yet submitted an enrolment application, please do so as a matter of urgency.
Please access the Student Portal via Service Victoria to lodge your application and upload all required supporting documentation:
- Birth certificate
- Immunisation History Statement from Medicare
- 100 Points of Proof of Residence
Thank you for your prompt attention and for helping us ensure we can support your child’s enrolment and transition to school.
Kind regards,
Oakleigh South Primary School
WE’RE NOW ON INSTAGRAM!
We’re excited to expand our school’s social media presence with the launch of our official Instagram account, alongside our existing Facebook page.
Our social media channels are a great way to stay connected with what’s happening across our school community, from learning in action and student achievements to special events, programs, celebrations and everyday moments that make Oakleigh South PS such a wonderful place to learn.
Follow us on Instagram @oakleighsouthps and keep up with the latest from around our school! 💚
You can also continue to follow us on Facebook for school news, updates and community highlights.
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 2026: 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.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN PREP?
We also enjoyed our very first school excursion to the zoo, where the children loved exploring and seeing the animals up close. What an exciting adventure!
We also loved welcoming our dads and special people into the classroom for our Father’s Day Afternoon. There were lots of smiles and laughter as the children made paper planes, pretended to shave faces using shaving cream and icy pole sticks, and showed off their temporary tattoos. It was such a lovely afternoon filled with fun, creativity and special moments shared together.
It’s been a wonderful time in Prep, full of exciting firsts, happy memories and plenty of fun along the way!
LITERACY CORNER
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT:
Together, we explored the importance of empathy, teamwork, perseverance and problem-solving. Students practised listening to their partner’s ideas, taking turns and thinking about how we can support one another when things don’t go to plan. We learnt that making mistakes is a normal part of learning and that a kind word or helping hand can make a big difference.
How can you build resilience at home?
When your child finds something tricky, you might encourage them to use phrases such as:
-
“Let’s try again!”
-
“It’s okay to make mistakes.”
-
“Would you like some help?”
-
“We can work it out together.”
-
“You haven’t got it yet!”
-
“I can see you’re trying hard.”
These little phrases help children understand that they don’t have to get everything right the first time. With encouragement, practice and support from others, they can keep trying, learn from challenges and grow in confidence!
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT – GEM
Gratitude:
We are grateful for all the wonderful learning, friendships and special memories we have shared during our recent exciting events.
We show empathy by caring for our friends, helping others and celebrating each other’s achievements.
Mindfulness:
We are mindfulness by taking a moment to stop, breathe, listen and be present in our learning and play.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN YEAR ONE ART?
Henri Matisse Cut-Out Collages
Our Year 1 students have been exploring the colourful, playful work of French artist Henri Matisse. They learnt how, later in his career, Matisse used scissors, paper and colour to create bold, expressive artworks, now famous as his paper cut-outs.
Inspired by Matisse, students made their own cut-out collages, experimenting with organic shapes, colour and composition. Rather than starting with plain coloured paper, they first created their own unique papers, exploring mark making with lines, dots, patterns, textures and repeated marks. These handmade papers then became the materials for their collages.
Students carefully cut and arranged their shapes, thinking about how different colours, sizes and forms could work together. They tried overlapping shapes, placing them side by side and leaving interesting spaces between them. Each student made their own decisions about shapes and colours, resulting in a wonderful collection of individual, imaginative artworks.
Through this project, students developed their understanding of line, shape, colour, pattern, texture and composition, and learnt that artists can make their own materials and use everyday processes in imaginative ways. It also encouraged them to work independently, make creative choices and grow in confidence expressing their ideas through art.
It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm and creativity of our Year 1 artists as they embraced the joy of “drawing with scissors” and created something uniquely their own.
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.
Prep – Year 1: https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/6d22a8
Year 2 – Year 6: https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/942e9e
KEYBOARD LESSON AVAILABILITY
A small number of vacancies are now available:
- Wednesday: 4 PM
- Friday: 3:30 PM or 4 PM
Please email perryvlahos33@gmail.com to book your preferred time.
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.
