Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 32
18th October, 2025

“The expert in anything was once a beginner.” — Helen Hayes

IMPORTANT DATES

Issue 32 – 18th October 2025

WEEK 3

Mon 20 Oct
• Adam Wallace Author Presentations – Yr 4-6
Tue 21 Oct
• Peter Combe Junior Music Incursion
• Senior School Assembly – 2:45 PM in the Hall
Wed 22 Oct 
• Year 5 Camp Peninsula Outdoors (Day 1/3)
• Region Athletics Competition
Thu 23 Oct 
• Year 5 Camp Peninsula Outdoors (Day 2/3)
• Senior Choir – 3:45 PM in the Hall
Fri 24 Oct 
• Year 5 Camp Peninsula Outdoors (Day 3/3)
• Prep Transition (Group B) – 1:30PM

WEEK 4

Tue 28 Oct
• Junior School Assembly – 2:45 PM in the Hall
Thu 30 Oct 
• Senior Choir – 3:45 PM in the Hall
Fri 31 Oct 
• Colour Run 

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

It has been another busy and exciting week at OSPS, filled with fantastic achievements, vibrant celebrations, and many opportunities for our students to shine.

Firstly, a huge congratulations to our RoboCup team who travelled to Canberra last weekend to compete. The 17 students represented OSPS with excellence, enthusiasm, and great teamwork. We were incredibly proud of everyone’s efforts, coming away with first and third placings in RoboSoccer – an outstanding achievement! Thank you to Mr Eykman, Mr Wintersea, and Mrs Meyer for their support and care of the students on both the drive up and the plane trip home. Your dedication made this experience possible.

On Tuesday, we celebrated Matsuri Day, a wonderful opportunity to immerse ourselves in Japanese culture. The school came alive with colour and energy, and it was fantastic to see both students and teachers dressed in attire representing Japan. We concluded the day with a whole school assembly, where we announced the winners of the best dressed students and the colouring competition.

Today marked our first Prep Transition session for our 2026 Prep students. It was lovely to welcome these excited young children into our school community. While the children enjoyed their classroom experience, our Parent Group hosted a welcoming afternoon tea for parents before their information session. Thank you to everyone who helped make the afternoon so warm and inclusive. We look forward to meeting the second group of children next Friday.

Next week brings even more excitement! We are thrilled to be welcoming author Adam Wallace for a visit, followed by a fun and interactive Peter Combe incursion. These experiences promise to inspire and entertain our students. On Wednesday, our Year 5 students head off on their Beach Camp for three days. We wish them a safe, fun-filled adventure and know they’ll make lasting memories together. Finally, good luck to all the students competing in the Regional Athletics Carnival on Wednesday and those heading to the Division Softball Final on Friday. We know you’ll give it your best and represent OSPS with pride.

As we continue to build strong learning habits, a friendly reminder that students should arrive at school just before 8.45am so they can make the most of our morning reading sessions in every classroom from 8.45am to 9.00am. This quiet reading time is an important part of the OSPS curriculum and helps set a calm, focused tone for the day ahead.

Please also ensure your child is picked up promptly at 3.30pm, or leaves the school grounds soon after if walking or riding home. Recently, there have been too many students unsupervised beyond 3.45pm, when after-school yard duty finishes. For safety reasons, students remaining after this time must be supervised by a parent or adult carer. Families are welcome to stay and enjoy some extra playtime together in the yard after school, provided children are supervised. For working parents, the Camp Australia Aftercare Program offers a great option to ensure your child is cared for in a safe, structured environment.

Have a safe and relaxing weekend everyone!

Warm regards,

Nikki Virtuoso
Acting Principal

SCHOOL MATTERS

THE COLOUR RUN IS COMING!

Get ready for a day full of colour, fun, and fundraising! This year, we’re raising money to build new sheltered bike racks for both our junior and senior areas (includes concreting, landscaping and moving some existing fencing) – and we need your help to make it happen.

Sign up and start raising funds today!

In addition to the prizes provided by Colour Run, everyone who raises over $50 will go into two awesome prize draws:

  • The chance to SLIME a teacher
  • The chance to WIN a Lenovo tablet

Let’s make this our most colourful event yet – and support a great cause for our school community!

AUTHOR VISIT – ADAM WALLACE

Dear Students, Parents, Teachers and Puppies,

We’re excited to announce that bestselling author and illustrator Adam Wallace is coming back to Oakleigh South PS on Monday 20th October!

Adam loved his 2024 visit so much that he’s chosen OSPS as one of only 15 schools in Australia where he’s launching his brand-new book, Hatman!

This is a special opportunity because Hatman won’t even be available in bookstores. During his visit, Adam will:

  • Share Hatman and the story behind it

  • Guide students in creating their own stories

  • Do a live drawing session with the kids

You can also order signed copies of Hatman, delivered to school, and for every copy you order, you’ll receive another one of Adam’s books for free!

To order, simply scan the QR code on the flyer or visit www.hatman.com.au/octlaunch before Monday 20th October.

Don’t miss out on this exciting event!

STAFF CARPARK

The staff car park is for staff only. Parents and carers must not park, drop off, pick up, or drive through this area during school hours.

Families with a valid disability parking permit or a school-approved exemption (for extenuating circumstances only) are the only exceptions.

Having students in the staff car park is unsafe and increases the risk of accidents.

This also ensures access for the admin team, visiting support staff, deliveries, and emergency vehicles, who may need to come and go during the day. If vehicles are blocked or parked incorrectly, staff are unable to leave their duties, as their priority is student safety.

Please use the oval parent car park or signed street parking for all drop-offs and pick-ups.

SUN SMART AT OSPS

From mid-August to April, Oakleigh South Primary School follows SunSmart and DET guidelines to keep students safe.

  • Hats are compulsory. Students must wear a bottle-green broad-brimmed, legionnaire, or bucket hat outdoors during high UV periods (mid-August to April). No Hat, No Play applies. 
  • Hats are available from the second-hand uniform shop or PSW Cheltenham.

  • Sunscreen is recommended by SunSmart and DET when UV is 3+. Students may bring their own labelled sunscreen if suitable.

  • Students should wear their OSPS uniform (which is SunSmart-compliant) and manageable layers they can put on or take off independently, to avoid overheating.

  • A water bottle is recommended every day.

Daily UV levels are displayed on the TV screens in the Admin Building and via the SunSmart app.

Hats can be purchased from PSW Cheltenham or the OSPS second-hand uniform shop, open Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:45–9:15am, run by our wonmderful parent volunteers.

You can view our OSPS Sun Protection Policy for full details.

PARENT GROUP

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.

THE RESILIENCE PROJECT

THE RESILIENCE PROJECT

Since 2022, OSPS has partnered with The Resilience Project to support student wellbeing from Foundation to Year 6 through the Inspire Program. The curriculum, designed by teachers for teachers, aligns with Victorian and Australian Curriculum standards in Personal and Social Capabilities and Health and Physical Education.

The program focuses on four key strategies to build resilience and happiness:

    • Gratitude: The act of being thankful and appreciating what you have in life.
    • Empathy: The capacity to understand and feel what another person is feeling.
    • Mindfulness: The practice of attention regulation.
    • Emotional Literacy: The ability to understand and express our feelings.

Each week, students participate in formal lessons and complete entries in their Resilience Student Journals. Activities include gratitude posters, mindfulness colouring, and emotion-matching exercises. As a Partnership School, OSPS integrates The Resilience Project’s wellbeing curriculum across the whole school community.

There are many ways to support your child’s mental health at home.

For more information, visit: The Resilience Project – At Home

Access the Parent Hub (no login required): Resilience Project Parent Hub

GEM AWARDS 

Alex K. – 0AL – Mindfulness: For trying his best to be mindful of other people and their feelings, and for being diligent in tidying up after himself. Keep it up, Alex!

Pia K – 1SC – Empathy: For displaying empathy and kindness towards her peers, supporting and comforting them when they’re feeling down.

Arjun R – 2AB – Mindfulness: For his amazing manners and for always including everyone in his lunchtime games.

Rishon S – 3FT – Mindfulness: For being mindful of his classmates and his teacher during independent working time. Keep shining like the star that you are, Rishon!

Shreeya S – 4LD – Empathy: For always treating others with respect and care. You are a fantastic role model for 4LD.

Boyd L – 5MJ – Empathy: For always showing fairness and giving others a chance to shine. Boyd, you consistently go above and beyond to look out for your peers, teachers, and younger students. Keep being awesome!

Emma L – 6CM – Empathy: For the teamwork she displayed throughout our Year 6 Matilda Production.

GEM CHATS

As part of The Resilience Project, GEM Chats are short activities designed to build habits of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy. These quick conversations are a simple way to strengthen connections and practise wellbeing strategies as a family.

SPORT REPORT

TERM 4 SPORTS REPORT

Term 4 is always a busy one in the PE and Sport Department, with all students participating in assessment during the first five weeks of the term.

It’s also an exciting time for our Grade 5 students, who are currently trialling a range of sports before selecting their preferred options for the 2026 Summer and Winter Interschool Sport seasons.

Last Friday, 10 October, 40 students proudly represented Oakleigh South Primary School at the Beachside Division Athletics Championships. Sixty-three schools competed, including many private schools, making for a highly competitive event. Despite very windy conditions, our students performed exceptionally well, with several placing first or second in their events and progressing to the Southern Metro Athletics Championships on Wednesday 22 October.

Congratulations to our outstanding athletes:

  • Alwyn – 1st, Long Jump

  • Taylani – 1st, Shot Put

  • Koby – 2nd, 1500m

  • Anav – 1st, 200m

  • Drewin – 1st, 100m and 200m

  • Kosta – 1st, 100m and 200m

Relay Results:

  • 12 Boys Relay – 2nd (Sasha, Anav, Oliver, Oliver)

  • 11 Boys Relay – 1st (Koby, Drewin, Jack, Boyd)

  • 10 Boys Relay – 2nd (Liam, Kosta, Liam, Hugo)

A big thank you to Miss Gunning and Miss S for their coaching, organisation and support on the day. We are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated and professional staff leading our sports program!

PARENT CORNER

HALLOWEEN SCAVENGER FUNDRAISER – WITH A TWIST

Calling all local kids, teens and families! Add Oakleigh South Netball Club’s Trick ‘n’ Treat Scavenger App-venture to your traditional Halloween hunt this school holidays.

Solve riddles, crack clues & take on silly challenges with our Playtour browser app while trick or treating (no download required). Race against other crews to win the Halloween Treasure!

Cost: $13 per family/team (up to 5)

Location: Play anywhere.

How to Book:

Save the event: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BQxqPsBg9/?

Funds raised will support Oakleigh South Netball Club’s new hardship programme.

We love Oakleigh South, thank you for your support!

Oakleigh South Netball Club

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.

PEPS FITNESS ACADEMY – AFTER SCHOOL FITNESS PROGRAM

Dear Parents,

Peps Fitness Academy is excited to launch a new after-school fitness program at Oakleigh South Primary School, starting Term 4!

Designed for Prep to Grade 4 students, this program provides a fun and engaging environment for children to stay active while learning the importance of physical fitness. Led by certified instructors, sessions will include a variety of exercises and activities suitable for all fitness levels.

Program Focus Areas:

  • Speed

  • Agility

  • Endurance

  • Sports Skills

  • Reflexes

Program Details:

  • Start Date: Tuesday 8th October

  • Time: 3.45pm – 4.30pm

  • Where: School Oval (every Wednesday)

  • Cost: $165 for Term 4 (11 sessions)

To enrol your child, please contact Coach Nick on 0403 676 866. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot early!

Peps Fitness Academy

TERM 4 JAPANESE TAIKO DRUMMING CLASSES

WALAKADO will be running Japanese Taiko Drumming Classes on-site at Oakleigh South Primary School in Term 4! 

You can sign up to experience the joyful beat of Japan while learning traditional Taiko drumming in a fun and energetic environment.

Classes will be held every Thursday in the school hall, and enrolments are now open. To secure a place, please scan the QR code on the flyer.

For enquiries, contact Ayako at ayako@walakado.com

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.

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