“You will either step forward into growth, or you will step backward into safety.” Abraham Maslow

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

This morning the OSPS Running Club was in full swing with a large group of enthusiastic children going through their training drills preparing for House Cross Country on Thursday 7th April. Training is held on Wednesday mornings and Monday lunchtimes. Thank you to the staff who are training these children twice a week.

Last Friday, our school supported the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. Each year level decorated a love heart with words of kindness. This was to support the theme for this year of KINDNESS CULTURE. The children’s very colourful contributions are displayed in the corridor near the library.

Yesterday we recognised the many cultures that make up our wonderful school community by celebrating Harmony Day. Thank you to everyone who either wore the colour orange or their country’s traditional outfit. The highlight was the whole school photo that Mr Hooley took with his drone. All classes gathered on the front oval and waved to the drone as it took a great shot of everyone together.

Enjoy your week ahead.

Ron
Principal

TERM DATES / QR CODE

SCHOOL MATTERS

CURRICULUM DAY

There will be a whole school curriculum day, Monday April 4th.

No students are required to attend school on this day.

WORLD MATHS DAY

World Maths Day is one of the world’s largest global educational events and this year it kicks off today, Wednesday 23rd March! This day aims to get primary and secondary school students excited and enthusiastic about learning maths. We are constantly using maths in our everyday lives, from the telling the time, counting and adding, to measuring and using money – maths is everywhere!

At Oakleigh South Primary School, we love to provide engaging and challenging maths lessons at every level. We also use Mathletics to help complement our learning. This year the “World’s Largest Online Maths Competition” is back! You can join millions of students across the globe as they celebrate World Maths Day and compete in Live Mathletics challenges. There will be 20 x one-minute challenges available.

The goal is simple: get as many questions correct as you can within one minute and be crowned the winning mathlete! You can earn 1 point for each correct answer that goes towards your score. Winners will progress through to the global finals, which will take place two weeks after World Maths Day. They’ll go head to head with three peers from around the world in a live-streamed knockout tournament, with prizes for the champions. You might make it onto the World Maths Day Hall of Fame just like Alexander Z did last year, achieving 3rd place in the world! Go Alexander!

This event runs for 48 hours to cover all time zones. Your child will automatically be able to take part using their school subscription- just log in on the day and let the games begin! We encourage all students to take part, try their best and most importantly have fun. May the best Mathlete win!

The Victorian Government offer a Sports, Camps and Excursions Fund for families who hold a valid means-tested concession card are eligible to apply. A special consideration category also exists.

A payment of $125 for eligible primary school students and $225 for eligible secondary school students will be paid directly to the school to be used toward camps, sports and excursion costs for the student’s benefit.

CSEF payments to schools will commence from 1 March onwards. Schools are able to continue processing applications until the end of Term 2.

Click here for further information CSEF Website

Please click here to apply – https://www.education.vic.gov.au/PAL/csef-application-form.pdf

STUDENT SHOWCASE

STEM – DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

It’s a new year and Mr Eykman and Ms Sakellaris are excited to deliver a fun and engaging year of STEM activities, aimed at fostering all students’ sense of WONDER! In the first week of 2022, all year levels in STEM Science and Digi Tech, had the opportunity to begin to develop the capability in critical and creative thinking. They drew or wrote what they are thankful for in each of the 4 sections of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths.  They watched two short videos on ‘Why is STEM important?’ and the ‘Introduction of Critical and Creative Thinking.

Preps – During this term the Prep students have been exploring the unit Staying Alive and had the opportunity to investigate the basic needs for survival of animals and humans. Also, they are investigating and exploring the understandings of the basic needs and their importance in their lives. Through investigations at school and home, the students have explored the needs of pets and compared them to their own needs as humans.

Year 2 – During this term, the students participated in a series of experiments, which focussed on the characteristics of living things, such as recognising common features of animals and plants. For example, having a pet mealworm and describing their body parts and the features of a bean plant which is the student’s plant pet. They also had the opportunity to investigate the lifecycles of a mealworm and a bean plant. The student’s demonstrated the science inquiry skills through, responding to and posing questions and making predictions about the mealworms and the bean seeds. They also participated in guided investigations, including making observations using their senses, to explore and answer questions. The students used a range of methods, comprising of drawings to sort information to compare their observations and predictions with others through group discussions.

Year 5 – Students in year 5 have used a variety of different software and hardware this term in their STEM lessons. We started the term by using the Lego Spike hardware learning about all of the sensors and motors and even conducting a ‘Hopper Race’ where students modified their robot prototypes to be as fast and accurate as possible. We also explored different applied mathematics concepts such as measurement and graphing through the use of Spheros and Microsoft Excel. All activities involved collaboration, where students are encouraged to think critically and apply problem solving skills.

Year 6 – During this term, the students have been exploring chemical sciences and have been investigating solids, liquids and gases through a “Mess Crime Scene” They have explored and investigated how different substance behave in different ways and have observable properties that help to classify them. They explored the way solids, liquids and gases change under different situations, for example, heating, cooling and looking at whether it is a physical change or chemical.  They also, observed that gases have mass and take up space, this was demonstrated by using balloons or bubbles.  The students recognised that not all substances can be easily classified as solids, liquids or gases on the basis of their observable properties. As part of their assessment the Year 6 students are working in a group and presenting a report of the crime scene, to find out what materials and substances are involved in the scene.

VALUED STUDENT AWARDS

VALUED STUDENT AWARDS Year 2 & 3

Junior Specialists Awards

OSPS SPORT

YEAR 6 INTERSCHOOL SPORT RESULTS

Cricket & Flag Rugby teams (white) played away against St. Peters.

CAMP AUSTRALIA

COMMUNITY NEWS

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