The Oaks Public School

Acknowledgment of Country

On behalf of The Oaks Public School community, we would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Gundungurra and Dharawal peoples, who have occupied these lands for over 65,000 years. The Oaks area was considered as a crossroads for both Gundungurra and Dharawal peoples, where they would share knowledge, trade materials and travel between the two nations. They will always be the traditional custodians of this land. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledge their deep spiritual connection to this land and the valuable contribution they make to this region, for they hold the knowledge and wisdom for our emerging leaders. As a community, we promise to always be honest, safe and respectful caretakers of this land we are learning on. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

School Updates

Principal Address

As we approach the end of Term 1, I would like to take a moment to reflect on our achievements and express my gratitude to our wonderful school community.

Firstly, a heartfelt thank you to all our teachers and community for your support of The Breakfast Club. Your participation ensures that our students start their day with a nutritious meal, setting them up for success in their learning. Congratulations to our student helpers from the SRC who are assisting. I am also thrilled to congratulate our students on their participation in the recent NAPLAN assessments. Your dedication and hard work have been commendable, and we are proud of how you approached this important milestone. A special mention goes to our School Promotions Officer, Miss Sapsed, whose recent engaging content on our social media pages has captured the spirit of our school. Thank you for showcasing our students’ talents and achievements, and for keeping our community connected and informed.

As we look forward to an exciting end to the term, we have some wonderful events lined up, including the Camden Show, Easter Hat Parade, and our Whole School Assembly. These events are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our students' hard work and creativity, and I encourage everyone to participate.

Thank you once again for your continued support. Together, we are making a positive impact on our students' educational journey.

Have a wonderful fortnight.

Suzanne Bowyer

Principal

Fidgets and sensory toys in the classroom

Fidgets are more than just a toy. They can be a lifeline for children who struggle with attention or sensory processing. By giving their hands something to do, these objects can channel a child’s physical energy in a positive way, keeping their minds clear and ready to absorb new information. For children with sensory processing challenges, fidgets provide essential tactile feedback. This input helps them stay grounded and present, vital for children who might otherwise feel overwhelmed by their surroundings.

At The Oaks PS, we are supportive of the use of fidgets and sensory objects if they have been recommended by a therapist. At times, teachers may trial fidgets and alternatives in their classrooms, and students may only need them for short periods (eg. start of a new year, or if a new/unfamiliar topic is being introduced). Fidgets and sensory objects have different purposes and may look different for each need and child.

If fidgets or sensory stimulation objects have been recommended for your child, we ask you to contact the class teacher, provide the school with a letter to confirm and label the item clearly to avoid it being misplaced. If the teacher identifies the fidget is causing distraction rather than regulation, they may discuss with you an alternative item or suggest different strategies.

Take a look at the flyer for further ideas.

Ms M Watling - Assistant Principal, Learning & Support Coordinator.

Whole School Assembly Roster

Learning and Growth

Spotlight - Kindergarten

This week, our spotlight is on Kindergarten, and they have been working on something special.

Our youngest learners have created a video showcasing A Day in the Life of a Kindergarten Student at The Oaks Public School. The video captures their daily routines, learning activities, and playtime, giving a glimpse into the exciting world of Kindergarten.

Short Guides for Parents

Guides for Parents

Short guides for parents to support your child in oral language, comprehension, phonics, vocab, organisational habits and social/emotional control from the NSW Centre for Effective Reading (CER) are now available

School Counselling Service

Attendance

Library

Oak PS - 1910

Our students have been diving into the rich history of The Oaks and its surrounding areas! Stage 3 is uncovering the past of The Oaks and Burragorang Valley, while Stage 2 is investigating the origins of our local street names, who or what they are named after.

A huge thank you to The Oaks Historical Society for their invaluable knowledge and resources in supporting our learning. Some students have even asked about their opening hours, so if you’d like to visit, you can find more details on their website below.

We would also love to hear from our school community! If your family has any historic photos or stories to share, please reach out, we’d love to bring history to life with real connections from our community

Let’s keep the past alive in The Oaks and celebrate the history that surrounds us!

Mrs Comerford

The Oaks Historical Residence Website

Greg Yama2You

"Yama2You" is a bush tucker nursery and educational program based in Hill Top, NSW Australia. The program is dedicated to preserving and sharing Indigenous knowledge, particularly focusing on native plants and cultural practices. Greg collaborates with local schools, daycares, preschools, and community centres in the Wollondilly area to provide engaging sessions that educate children about Indigenous tools like spears and boomerangs, native bush tucker, and traditional cooking methods."Yama2You" aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous culture among the younger generation.

Events

Calender

Coming up in Week 10

Interrelate

2nd April 6pm-8pm

Interrelate is a not-for-profit provider of relationship services that specialises in supporting parents and children.

We will be hosting an Interrelate evening for families who would like to attend entitled ‘Tricky Talks’.

Cross Country

Get ready to lace up your running shoes, TOPS Cross Country is coming up on Wednesday, 3rd April

Students will compete in their age groups. This is a fantastic day for teamwork, perseverance, and school spirit!

Students 7 years and under will run for a non-competitive fun run.

The Breakfast Club

TOPS SRC Breakfast Club will on every Tuesday morning from 8:45 to 9:15 in the hall.

Breakfast Club is run by teachers and members of the Student Representative Council.

Bring a gold coin donation to help keep breakfast club stocked and delicious.

Coming up in Week 11

Camden Show

The following students have been selected to represent The Oaks Public School at the Camden Show. Students' artwork will be on display in the Pavillion. Congratulations!

Enzo Napoleone

Laylah Howard

Angus Burke

Lucas Camilleri

Charlee Coveney

Ryder Kiviniemi-Sly

Owen Watts

Frankie Small

Ivy Johns

Aubree Mitford

Jaggar Lording

Harvey Lalor

Grayson Strudwick

Belle Hargans

Hudson Swinnerton

Madison Harvey

Noah Trevenar

Lorelei Bates

Adelynn Cook

Koa Bruce

Scarlett Henze

Aria Spano

Jack Boardman

Heather Mares

Ryan Watts

Jaylah Burg

Friday the 4th of April

All K-6 students will be attending the Camden Show for a fun and educational day. They will explore the Kids Interactive Pavilion, livestock exhibits, Arts & Craft Pavilion, animal nursery, reptile display and more.

💰 Cost: $10
🚫 No rides
❌ No money needed for purchases

🕒 Times:

Years 3-6: Depart school at 10:15 am, leave Camden Show at 1:45 pm
Years K-2: Depart school at 11:00 am, leave Camden Show at 2:30 pm

Easter Hat Parade

Get your creative hats ready! Our Easter Hat Parade is happening on Thursday, 10th April 2025 at The Oaks Public School.

📅 Schedule:

🥪 1:30pm - 2:00pm Picnic Lunch

🎩 2:10pm - 3:15pm Hat Parade

All K-6 students are encouraged to start making their own Easter hats at home to bring on the day!

The event will include a picnic lunch, P&C Easter Raffle, and the parade. Parents and families are warmly invited to attend and celebrate with us!

We can't wait to see all the egg-citing creations! 🎀✨

Anzac Service

We will be holding an ANZAC Day Service on Friday, 11th April to honour and remember the sacrifices of our servicemen and women.

Lunch Meal Deal

Our popular meal deal is back for the last day of term. For just one great price, you’ll get party pies, sausage rolls, a ham scroll, jelly, chips, and a juice. Orders must be placed by Wednesday, April 9th. You can order through the My School Connect app or pay with cash via the canteen order box.

Whole School Assembly

Join us on Friday, 11th April for our Whole School Assembly at The Oaks Public School!

SRC Book Sale

Zing is here!

Community

The Oaks Public School P & C Association

Easter Raffle Thursday 10 April

Thank you to our volunteers who have been working behind the scenes to secure prizes, sponsors, write notes, bundle raffle tickets, purchase easter eggs and create prize boxes. Your efforts are truly appreciated.

We hope the community is excited about the prizes we have been lucky to secure and are eagerly purchasing raffle tickets. A big thank you to our sponsors for providing vouchers or items to be raffled.

All tickets and money must be returned to the P&C letter box in the front office by Tuesday 8th April. Print your name, Student Name, Class and Contact Number on the ticket stub. Keep the purchase portion of the ticket. Tickets are $1.00 each / 10 Tickets per book. More tickets are available in the front office. Prizes will be drawn on Thursday 10th of April at The Hat Parade.

Money raised will contribute to the purchase of more Djembe drums for the school's drumming group.

Mother’s Day Stall – Term 2 Monday 5 May

Like the Easter Raffle, we have several volunteers working in the background securing amazing items to be sold at the stall. We are very keen to have as many volunteers as possible for the running of the stall on Monday 5 May between 9:30-2:30pm. Volunteers do not need to stay for the entire day to participate, nor be a paying P&C member. We ask that younger children do not attend this event.

Please use the following form to advise your interest. We will add you to a WhatsApp group where we will further discuss the running of the day.

Volunteer Form - Mothers Day Stall

Term 1 meeting schedule

Tuesday 8 April 2025

The Oaks PS P&C Association meet every second Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the school library and via Zoom.

If you wish to join, you need to complete an application form and make an annual payment of $2 to be recognised as a financial member which entitles you to be involved in the decision-making. Several options are available to submit the application and make payment:

Attend the next P&C meeting

School front office

Email pandctops@gmail.com  and direct deposit

Facebook

P&C Membership Form

Membership Form