Oakleigh South Primary School
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 38
28th November, 2025
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” — Thomas Edison
IMPORTANT DATES
Issue 38 – 28th November 2025
WEEK 9
Tue 2 Dec
• Whole School Assembly – 2:45PM in the Hall
Wed 3 Dec
• ‘Wacky Wednesday’ Dress Up Day
Thu 4 Dec
• Year 1 Indigenous Studies Incursion
• Senior Choir – 3:45PM in the Hall
Fri 5 Dec
• First Aid in Schools – Year 2
• 2026 Prep Meet the Teacher – 9:30AM
WEEK 10
Tue 9 Dec
• House Swimming Carnival – 9:00AM
• Year 4 CraftPower Incursion 2025 – 9:00AM
• Year 4 to 6 Assembly – 2:45PM in the Hall
Wed 10 Dec
• Year 4 CraftPower Incursion – Hall Foyer – 9:00AM
Thu 11 Dec
• Parent Group Christmas Stall – 9:00AM
• Year 4 CraftPower Incursion – Hall Foyer – 9:00AM
• Senior Choir – 3:45PM in the Hall
Fri 12 Dec
• Parent Group Christmas Stall – 9:00AM
• FUSE Cup 2025 – 1:00PM
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
What a wonderful week our Year 6 students have had! They returned safely from an amazing five days at camp in the Grampians. They tackled challenges, tried new activities, and created memories they’ll carry with them forever. A huge thank you to the incredible staff who planned, organised, and attended the camp. Without your hard work and dedication, our students wouldn’t have these opportunities—so thank you for helping make such special memories.
A very big congratulations to our Year 2 students for their fantastic performances throughout the week of Rock Bottom. It was a fun, lively, and entertaining show that our audiences absolutely loved. A huge thank you to the staff and parents whose hard work, creativity, and support made this wonderful production possible.
Meanwhile, our Prep students have been having their own big adventure, attending their five-day swimming program at GESAC. Not only are they learning important water-safety and swimming skills, but they’re also growing their independence—travelling together on the bus, getting changed, and taking responsibility for their belongings. We are so proud of how well they’ve handled this busy and exciting week.
Next Wednesday, December 3rd, we invite all students and teachers to come dressed in their wackiest outfits for Student Voice’s “Wacky Wednesday”! Think odd shoes, mismatched socks, clothes inside out or back to front, crazy hair, bright colours—whatever fun and quirky combination you can dream up.
On the day, students will receive a WACKY Ticket for every dollar they bring along, putting them in the running for an amazing prize. All funds raised will go towards State Schools’ Relief, a fantastic not-for-profit organisation supporting tens of thousands of disadvantaged Victorian students and their families. A big thank you to our Student Voice team for organising such a fun and meaningful event.
Looking ahead, our Year 1 students will enjoy their Indigenous incursion, Deadly Yultja, on Thursday, and our Year 2 students will be learning some simple but important First Aid skills on Friday. Maybe the Year 2 parents can ask their child what important skills they learnt during this very worthwhile incursion from St. Johns Ambulance.
Wishing all families a wonderful week ahead!
Warm regards,
Nikki Virtuoso
Acting Principal
SCHOOL MATTERS
WACKY WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, 3 December, students and teachers are invited to come dressed in their wackiest outfits for Student Voice – Wacky Wednesday. Let your imagination run wild!
Every dollar students bring in earns a WACKY ticket for the chance to win amazing prizes. There will be three WACKY draws and special prizes for the wackiest dress-ups.
All money raised will go to State Schools’ Relief (SSR), a not-for-profit supporting Victorian students in need. SSR provides uniforms, footwear, and learning resources, helping students attend school with confidence, comfort, and a sense of belonging. Many families face challenges such as poverty, illness, or homelessness, and SSR works with schools to make sure every student has what they need to succeed.
Please see Compass for more information.
REMEMBRANCE DAY POPPY APPEAL
Oakleigh South Primary School is proud to recognise the incredible work of our Student Voice leaders, who led this year’s Poppy Appeal. They visited classrooms, spoke with students about the significance of Remembrance Day, and sold poppies with genuine commitment.
Thanks to their efforts, and the generosity of our school community, we raised $684.60 to support veterans and their families, building on last year’s total of $423.65.
All funds raised through poppy sales go directly towards welfare support for veterans and their families, which is especially important as many younger veterans now seek assistance.
We are grateful to our Student Voice team for the way they represented our school and for their thoughtful leadership throughout the appeal. Thank you to all students, staff and families who supported their work and contributed to this meaningful cause.
SENIOR CHOIR SOIREE
We are opening up our final Senior Choir Thursday this year as a soiree performance of our repertoire. We would love parents and family to come along and watch the results of all their hard work this year.
We are also excited to share that some OSPS School Band members will be playing alongside the choir, adding extra musical magic to the performance!
Thank you for your support of choir this year — it has been a great joy to hear the students singing every week.
Please note that Senior Choir will be CANCELLED on Thursday 27th November, as no teachers are available that day.
Regards,
Senior Choir Team
NEW JUNIOR BIKE STORAGE AREA TAKING SHAPE
We’re excited to share that the junior bike storage area is really coming to life! The concrete has been poured and levelled, and the roof is now in place, ready for the next steps — adding fencing and the bike and scooter stands.
This project has been in the planning for many years, and now that the main building’s external renovations are complete, it’s wonderful to see it finally taking shape.
GET READY TO DANCE – THE OSPS DISCO IS BACK!
Get your dancing shoes on because the OSPS Disco is back!
Date: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Location: School Hall
Tickets: $5 each
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Purchase online via TryBooking, see the Compass newsfeed for the link
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Or purchase at the door, cash only
Disco Sessions:
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Junior Disco (Prep to Year 2): 5.00pm to 6.00pm
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Senior Disco (Year 3 to Year 6): 6.30pm to 8.00pm
Please note: Only current OSPS students may attend.
GLOW PRODUCTS
Glow products will be available for purchase online only via TryBooking. See the Compass newsfeed for the link.
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Online sales close Tuesday, 16 December at 4.00pm
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Wristbands and glow items will be delivered to classrooms on the day
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No glow products will be sold at the disco
VOLUNTEERS
As this is a parent and carer free event, we are seeking volunteers to help on the night.
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Volunteers must hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC)
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To assist, email osparentgroup67@gmail.com with your preferred session and a copy of your WWCC
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Don’t have a WWCC? Apply for free as a volunteer here: WWCC Application
THANK YOU – KEEP THE DONATIONS COMING
A wonderful community member recently visited the Keysborough Depot and returned 119 cans and bottles, requesting that the funds go to OSPS! We often receive notifications about deposits made to our school, so keep them coming.
There are three ways you can recycle your cans, bottles, and containers to help us fundraise. OSPS receives 10c per item, with all funds going towards sustainability projects at the school:
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Oakleigh South Primary School – Purple Bins at the Year 3 Village
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Oakleigh Depot – 37–41 Oxford St, Oakleigh, in the OSPS bin onsite
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Any Return-It Depot or Kiosk – donate to OSPS by scanning the barcode (see image)
Thank you for helping us make a difference while caring for the environment!
BIKE SAFETY – GEAR UP AND STAY SAFE!
Riding to and from school is fun, but safety comes first. In Victoria, all riders must wear an approved helmet. Make sure it is the correct size and fitted properly — a helmet that is too loose will not protect your child. Helmets should carry the Australian Standards Mark TM (AS/NZS 2063:2020).
Children under 12 may ride on footpaths, with a supervising adult. Riders must give way to pedestrians and wheel their bikes over crossings. Children 12 and older must ride on the road, and younger children may need adult supervision.
IMPORTANT: Bikes and scooters cannot be ridden on school grounds. Students must walk their bike or scooter when entering or leaving school.
Just like helmets, seat belts are mandatory. By law, everyone must wear a seat belt while travelling in a vehicle in Australia.
Following these rules keeps everyone safe on the way to and from school!
ATTENDANCE NOTES & SIGN-IN/OUT PROCEDURE
All absences, late arrivals, and early departures must be entered in Compass. This lets staff know where your child is, ensures they are accounted for, and helps the school respond quickly in case of emergencies or changes during the day.
ATTENDANCE REASONS
Select the reason that best reflects your child/ren’s absence. “Sorry Business” is for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students attending legitimate cultural ceremonies or obligations only — please do not use this for any other reason. If you’re unsure, use “Parent Choice” or contact the office.
ENTERING ATTENDANCE NOTES INTO COMPASS
If possible, please enter your attendance note in Compass before 9.00am. This makes it visible during morning roll marking and ensures all staff are aware, even if your child’s teacher is away or your child is on an alternate program.
If you enter a note after 9.00am, please add it in Compass and call the office. Teachers cannot check Compass while teaching, so a phone call ensures staff are informed and can have your child ready, avoiding delays or missed notes.
IMPORTANT: You may email your child’s teacher to advise them of an upcoming absence or late arrival/early departure, but this does not replace an official Compass note. Accurate records are required for safety, emergency situations, and evacuation procedures.
Please see images attached for how to add attendance notes and select the correct attendance reason on Compass. Please call the office if you are unsure or having issues.
LATE ARRIVALS AND EARLY DEPARTURES
Enter a Compass note with accurate start and end times. Sign your child/ren in or out at the office. If your child is not in the classroom by the 9:00am bell, they must be signed in by a parent/guardian. When doing early pick-up or late drop-off, please do not park in the staff carpark; please use oval or street parking.
COLLECTION BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN PARENT/GUARDIAN
If someone other than a listed parent/carer is collecting your child/ren, include their full name and relationship in the Compass note. Staff cannot release children without this information. Collectors must be at least 16 years old, including siblings, grandparents, or other relatives.
Thank you for helping us keep attendance accurate and your children safe.
SCHOOL SUPERVISION HOURS
Please note that our school grounds are supervised by staff at the following times:
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Before school: 8:35am – 8:50am
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Recess and lunch: throughout
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After school: 3:30pm – 3:45pm
We’ve noticed some students arriving early or staying late and playing without supervision, which can pose a safety risk. Parents and guardians must stay with their children outside of supervised times, as staff are not available to oversee students before or after these hours.
Students arriving before 8:35am must be enrolled in Before School Care, hosted on-site by Camp Australia.
Similarly, students remaining on school grounds after 3:45pm must be collected promptly or booked into After School Care.
If you need care outside supervision times, we recommend enrolling with Camp Australia. Same-day bookings are possible, though having an account set up in advance makes the process quicker and easier.
Thank you for helping us keep all students safe.
OSPS ALUMNI PAUL KASPARIDIS STARS
OSPS CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE
This festive season, our school community has the wonderful opportunity to bring joy and comfort to children spending Christmas in hospital at Monash Children’s Hospital. For many of these children, the holidays can feel a little lonely or uncertain, but with a gift from our community, we can light up their day and sprinkle a little festive magic.
We’re inviting all families, students, and staff to join in this special effort. Every gift, big or small, is a spark of kindness that can brighten a child’s Christmas and remind them they are thought of and cared for.
By giving together, we show the incredible power of a community united in generosity and joy.
HOW TO HELP:
Simply drop your gifts in the collection tubs in the school office by 15th December. Your generosity will go directly to the children, and hospital staff will lovingly wrap each gift so that every child receives a touch of Christmas wonder.
Let’s come together to share laughter, joy, and the spirit of giving. By contributing, we can help make this festive season a little brighter, a little warmer, and a lot more magical for the children at Monash Children’s Hospital.
PARENT GROUP
SECOND-HAND UNIFORM SHOP CLOSURE
Please note that the uniform shop will be closed on Friday, 5th December. It will reopen the following week during its normal hours: Wednesdays and Fridays from 8.45am – 9.15am.
The uniform shop relies on parent volunteers to keep it running smoothly. Even half an hour a term can make a big difference in supporting our school community.
If you are able to help, or would like more information about volunteering, please get in touch with the Parent Group at: osparentgroup67@gmail.com
Thank you to all the parents and carers who generously give their time — your support makes the uniform shop possible!
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.
VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
JUNIOR VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
PREP VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Alvin T – Prep CD
(Excellence)
For bringing a positive attitude to school and for showing a strong eagerness for learning.
An An N – Prep CD
(Excellence)
For being a positive role model for outstanding behaviour. Keep it up An An!
Sophie G – Prep FB
(Excellence)
For trying her best and taking great pride in the presentation of her work. Well done, Sophie!
Ayaan S – Prep FB
(Working Together)
For sharing his wonderful ideas during class discussions and always supporting his classmates.
Zayn Z – Prep FB
(Excellence)
For his incredible effort during Literacy Groups. Great work, Zayn!
Lauren L – Prep LM
(Excellence)
For always supporting and taking care of all of her friends in PLM. Well done Lauren!
Eleni B – Prep LM
(Excellence)
For being a caring and compassionate student who demonstrates a positive attitude to her learning.
Zara L – Prep LM
(Excellence)
For always trying her best and taking great pride in her work. Keep it up Zara!
Leo K – Prep LM
(Excellence)
For having a happy and enthusiastic attitude towards all aspects of his learning. Keep it up Leo!
Linor C – Prep KL
(Resilience)
For her determination and commitment to improving her sentence writing. Keep up the hard work Linor!
Ryan H – Prep KL
(Excellence)
For thoughtfully contributing clever mathematical strategies in class conversations!
Sirjan K – Prep KL
(Excellence)
For working hard on improving her handwriting. Great work Sirjan!
Saatvika A – Prep KL
(Excellence)
For always giving her best effort in all she does. You’re a super star Saatvika!
Gigi L – Prep AM
(Excellence)
For her terrific ideas when writing narratives. Fantastic Gigi!
Anson L – Prep AM
(Respect)
For his beautiful manners in the classroom. What a star!!!
Teagan J – Prep AL
(Respect)
For always using her manners and treating everyone in Prep AL with kindness. Great job, Teagan!
Maggie K – Prep AL
(Respect)
For always coming into school with a positive attitude and being respectful to everyone. Well done!
Eli T – Prep AM
(Excellence)
For his wonderful growth in his reading this Semester. Woo Hoo Eli!!
Cayden R – Prep AL
(Excellence)
For striving to achieve his personal best in Literacy and Numeracy. Well done, Cayden!
Liana L – Prep SJ
(Working Together)
For always being kind and helpful to others.
Molly C – Prep SJ
(Excellence)
For her outstanding work in maths.
YEAR 1 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Delilah B – 1SC
(Resilience)
For her improved courage and resilience, stepping into the classroom with a more positive attitude.
Anna O – 1SC
(Excellence)
For working on her ability to stay attentive and focused in class. Keep at it, Anna!
Leo D – 1LC
(Working Together)
For always willing to work collaboratively with your peers and assist others with a smile! Go Leo!
Mahalakshmi P – 1NM
(Excellence)
For working hard in vertical addition and subtraction and writing an impressive colour poem!
Abir V – 1NM
(Excellence)
For working hard in Reading Groups and having great self-editing skills in his writing. Well done!
Aaron L – 1MB
(Excellence)
For always trying his best and contributing to discussions. Your comments are so thoughtful, Aaron!
Angela Sofia S – 1MB
(Excellence)
For always trying her best and for giving great reasons in persuasive writing. Keep it up!
Miki M – 1JG
(Integrity)
For always striving to be your very best self and for modelling each one of our school values daily!
Jasper L – 1JG
(Excellence)
For becoming super speedy on Maths Invaders & sharing his strategies in Number Talks. Go Jasper!
Ava W – 1NC
(Excellence)
For always showing remarkable focus, maturity and enthusiasm. You are so impressive Ava!
YEAR 2 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Enaali R – 2GL
(Excellence)
For being a fantastic classroom helper. Enaali is always willing to lend a helping hand!
Evelyn P – 2GL
(Excellence)
For an amazing effort in maths this term. Your problem-solving skills have truly impressed us!
Akusha J – 2GL
(Excellence)
For the fantastic effort you have been putting into your reading. Well done Aku!
Archie C – 2VO
(Excellence)
For always showing great enthusiasm when working during Math class. I adore your passion! Well done!
Sophia R – 2VO
(Excellence)
For writing such magnificent stories and always presenting her work beautifully. You rock, Sophia!
Christian A – 2RV
(Resilience)
For committing to learning your Production lines and willingness to step outside your comfort zone!
Summer L – 2RV
(Excellence)
For writing engaging, vivid and compelling narratives and persuasive pieces!
Aariv G – 2RV
(Working Together)
For always being willing to assist your peers and teachers when the opportunity arises! Thank you.
Dionysia T – 2ML
(Excellence)
For always displaying her best work in all classroom activities! Keep it up, Dionysia!
Nyra W – 2ML
(Integrity)
For being a relied upon peer who always follows classroom expectations. Way to go, Nyra!
Meera G – 2AB
(Excellence)
For the fantastic effort you have been putting into your reading. Well done Meera!
Mya M – 2AB
(Excellence)
For her incredible efforts during production rehearsals. Keep up the great work Mya!
Leon N – 2AB
(Respect)
For showing impeccable manners and kindness to all members of 2AB. You are so kind!
Yuvaan S – 2AB
(Resilience)
For working hard to include more detail in his writing. Keep it up, Yuvaan!
YEAR 2 VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Tom C – 3AN
(Excellence)
For always challenging himself to achieve his best and demonstrating excellence by never giving up.
Ellie E – 3AN
(Resilience)
For always trying your best, working hard on every task, and never giving up. Well done Ellie!
Pranavi P – 3AN
(Respect)
For always working hard, showing kindness, and using excellent manners in everything you do!
Mila H – 3MW
(Working Together)
For being a wonderful class member who always supports others.
Prathyush P – 3WC
(Working Together)
For showing kindness and being a great helper in the classroom.
Amariah S – 3WC
(Resilience)
For approaching learning challenges in maths with a positive attitude.
Nathan E – 3MW
(Excellence)
For an excellent reading record throughout the year.
Ashan G – 3MW
(Resilience)
For always applying himself fully when tackling tasks.
Oliver M – 3WC
(Resilience)
For working diligently and to the best of his ability in maths.
Janice Y – 3WC
(Working Together)
For being a kind and supportive classmate to her peers.
Sia T – 3FT
(Resilience)
For persisting to learn new difficult maths concepts during maths groups. Very proud of you Sia!
Dora Y – 3FT
(Respect)
For consistently demonstrating respect towards her class mates and teacher. Well done, Dora!
Henry D – 3FT
(Respect)
For always showing respect towards his teacher and peers during learning time! Great work, Henry!
Dylan G – 3FT
(Resilience)
For showing resilience in all aspects of his work. So proud of you, Dylan!
SPECIALIST VALUED STUDENT AWARDS
Sam Z – 2ML
Japanese
(Excellence)
For your exceptional effort in Japanese this year. Your love for learning Japanese is inspiring!
Tommy P – PFB
Japanese
(Excellence)
For always being a role model in Japanese. You always try your best to do 5 star work in Japanese.
Finn S – 1NC
Visual Arts
(Resilience)
For completing his work at a wonderful standard, even though he was absent at previous classes.
Prep SJ – PSJ
Visual Arts
(Working Together)
For working together so well during our Art class this week! Well done
STUDENT SHOWCASE
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN YEAR 1?
This term, we have turned into a group of mini world travellers! Each week, we pack our bags, grab our passports, and zoom off to a new continent to discover what makes our big, beautiful world so exciting.
We’ve drummed to African rhythms, danced through South American Carnival in our sparkly masks, painted delicate Asian cherry blossoms, and tested chilly Antarctic blubber (brrr!). We’ve woven colourful Ojo de Dios from North America, tasted delicious European pizza, and explored so many amazing places – without even leaving the school!
Every activity has been an adventure filled with colour, music, creativity and curiosity. We can’t wait to see where our learning plane lands next!
LITERACY CORNER
This term, our Year 1 writers have been exploring two exciting text types: cinquain poems and persuasive writing. We learnt how cinquains use just five lines to create vivid images with strong describing words, action words and feelings. Students loved choosing fun topics and turning them into short, powerful poems.
Our classroom has been buzzing with creativity, imagination and big ideas as we continue growing into confident young writers!
YEAR 1 GEM
GRATITUDE
EMPATHY
We are learning to understand how people around the world live, and imagining what their lives might be like.
MINDFULNESS
SPECIALIST SPOTLIGHT
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN JUNIOR STEM?
PREP SCIENTISTS EXPLORE MIXING AND MAKING
GRADE 3: JOURNEY FROM GARDEN TO PLATE
CAMP AUSTRALIA
PARENT CORNER
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.
