It’s hard to believe we’re already in Week 6 and time is certainly flying by. Our Year 6 Fun Day was an absolute highlight of the week. Watching our teachers including myself brave the dunk tank created moments that truly capture what we value most at Oakdale: fun, connection, and shared experiences that stay with our students for years to come.

A special mention must go to our Year 6 students, who were outstanding on the day. They were respectful, patient, and fully committed from set-up to pack-up. Thank you to the community members who volunteered on the day, and the very generous donation of the slushie machine the day before, which we look forward to using again for future fundraising.

It has also been wonderful to see our students wearing their hats and uniforms with pride. Thank you to our families for your continued support. With Black Friday sales underway, this may be a good opportunity to purchase school shoes for 2026. As a reminder, black shoes are worn Monday to Thursday, and sports shoes (any colour) on Fridays. If obtaining uniform items is ever a challenge, please contact the school office we are here to help.

Another highlight was the establishment of our first Junior AECG, led by Ms Sylwestrzak. This is a significant milestone in our ongoing reconciliation journey. I had the pleasure of speaking with our Junior Executive members, Emilijia, Mahli, Ella and Lilly and was truly impressed by their maturity, their stories, and their enthusiasm for the important work ahead. Our future is in capable hands.

I am also pleased to share that I will be continuing as your Relieving Principal for Term 1, 2026. I will keep you updated as we move into the new year, and I sincerely thank our staff and community for the warm wishes and support.

At this time of year, we know the transition into the holidays can feel unsettling for some students. Please rest assured that we are maintaining predictable routines and consistent structures to support all children through these final weeks. Our staff continue to make thoughtful adjustments and accommodations, so students finish the year feeling calm, confident, and ready for the break ahead.

Many families are already looking toward 2026 and are eager to know class placements and teachers. While planning is underway, we cannot finalise classes until we return in January/February, as enrolment numbers often change right up to the start of Term 1. Teacher allocations will be communicated as soon as our numbers are confirmed. To support smooth planning, it is essential that families inform us if their child will not be returning next year or will be on extended leave. Likewise, if you know families with

school-aged children who are considering enrolling at Oakdale, please encourage them to contact the school office as soon as possible.

This term, our Monday morning muster has been a fantastic way to start the week on a positive note. We celebrate achievements, draw our PBL awards, and come together as a whole school. Our PBL system continues to strengthen, and we look forward to sharing our updated award structure for 2026.

A quick note: earlier this week, I shared information regarding upcoming social media age restrictions and a reminder about e-bike and e-scooter safety. More detailed information can be found later in this newsletter.

As we move into the final stretch of the year, I want to emphasise the importance of taking care of the little things—our routines, expectations, daily habits, and the small acts of responsibility and kindness we encourage in every child. These little things build confidence, character, and stability. When we take care of them, we set our students up not only for a smooth end to the year but for a strong, successful future.

#LoveWhereYouLearn

Warm regards,

Nathan Vanderwey

Relieving Principal

Gardening Club

Garden Club has been bursting with excitement and growth this term! Our students have thoroughly enjoyed potting their very own tomato and zucchini seedlings to take home and nurture, the students love finding me in the playground to tell me how much their seedlings have grown. We recently harvested our first zucchini and are eagerly anticipating lots of cucumbers and tomatoes. Each week, we have been enjoying fresh lettuce from the garden, alongside the ongoing tasks of weeding and mulching the beds. It has been wonderful to watch our pak choy, capsicums, beans, zucchinis, and tomatoes thrive since replacing our winter vegetables.

I am very impressed by the enthusiasm and initiative of Stage 2 students who have applied for next year’s Environmental Leadership positions. They have been paired with our current leaders to learn the daily responsibilities, and I want to congratulate this year’s leaders for their outstanding commitment and leadership. What a fantastic growing season, both in the garden and in our student community!

Mrs Smith

Games Day

Wednesday's Games Day was a great success, with Year 6 students running a wide range of stalls and activities for the rest of the school. Students moved around with their tickets, choosing which games to try and enjoying the variety of options on offer.

Emily’s Snatch the Wig and Heath’s Corn Hole drew steady crowds throughout the day, while Addie provided face painting using stencils. Isaac’s Guess How Many Jelly Beans competition kept students thinking, and Brooks’ Photo Booth produced plenty of memorable snapshots. Lexie managed a busy hairspray station, and Charli offered temporary tattoos for arms and legs.

Several high-energy activities were also popular, including Lincoln’s Laser Tag, Noah’s Ping Pong Game, and Tayson’s Kick a Footy into the Targets. Matilda’s balloon animals, Bethany’s nail polish station, and the hair-braiding stalls run by Abi and Emerson were favourites for students wanting something more creative. Claire challenged students with her cup-stack beanbag throw, Hayden kept things moving with a disco, Willow ran the Pick a Bear stall, and Koby organised a paddle-pop-stick treasure hunt. Noah’s Hit the Target and Harry’s Dunk Tank added extra excitement—the dunk tank especially, with teachers ending up thoroughly soaked.

A highlight of the day was the announcement of the winner of Isaac’s Jelly Bean guessing jar, with Jacksen taking out the prize.

Overall, it was a smooth and enjoyable day, and Year 6 students are to be commended for their effort, organisation, and teamwork.

Mrs Tincknell

Aboriginal Education Consultative Group

Over the past couple of weeks, our Aboriginal students have experienced an exciting and meaningful period of growth and connection. We are proud to announce the establishment of our very first Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), marking an important milestone in strengthening leadership and voice within the Aboriginal community at our school. This new group will play a vital role in guiding and supporting our Aboriginal students and initiatives. Congratulations to Emilija, Lilly, Mahli and Ella in accepting Aboriginal leadership roles in 2026.

We were also honoured to welcome Aunt Lesley, who visited us to share her wisdom and stories about the importance of Country, deepening our students’ understanding and appreciation of their cultural heritage. In addition, Greg Smith joined us to teach our students about traditional practices such as using boomerangs and exploring bush tucker, offering hands-on learning about Indigenous culture and survival skills.

A special highlight was our visit to The Oaks Public School for a Connecting to Culture experience. During this visit, the girls had the opportunity to learn traditional weaving, while the boys explored playing the didgeridoo. We feel very fortunate to have been invited to participate in this enriching opportunity that fostered a strong sense of connectedness and cultural pride among our students.

It has truly been a busy and enriching time for our Aboriginal students, filled with leadership, learning, and deepening cultural connections.

E-bikes and E-scooters

As we head into the holiday season, some families may be considering gifting an e-bike or e-scooter. While these can be a fun way for students to travel, safety must always remain our top priority.

Please take a moment to review the NSW rules and safety requirements:

E-bikes

Ensure the e-bike is road-legal in NSW.
Check that the battery and charger meet NSW safety standards.
Attached is a guide from Transport for NSW to help you choose a safe e-bike.

E-scooters

Currently, e-scooters are not legal on public roads or footpaths in NSW (except in designated trial areas).

We are currently reviewing how e-bikes and e-scooters will be managed at Oakdale Public School in 2026. If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me or another member of the executive team.

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe as we prapre for the holoday period.

Social Media Safety

Dear Oakdale Families,

As a parent myself, I know how important it is to stay informed and feel confident about keeping our children safe online. As you may be aware, from 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms will no longer allow Australian children under 16 to create or keep an account.

To help parents and carers understand how these changes might affect our children, the eSafety Commissioner is offering a series of free, 30-minute webinars. These sessions will cover:

What the new age restrictions mean
Which platforms will be affected
How to support children through this transition
Where to find trusted resources for online safety

I know navigating these changes can be challenging, so I strongly encourage you to join these webinars. They’re a great opportunity to learn more and feel confident in how we can best support our kids. You can register using the link below:

Webinar registration and session times available here:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/webinars

Thank you for all you do to help keep our children safe online. If you have any questions feel free to speak to an executive member or your child's teacher.

Warm regards,

Nathan Vanderwey

Relieving Principal

2026 Planning

As we plan for the upcoming 2026 school year, we kindly ask that you inform the school as soon as possible if your child will not be returning in 2026.

Additionally if your child is having an extended holiday and will be returning later than February 2 please advise the office.

This information is important to help us with our enrolment planning and ensure a smooth start to the new school year for all students.

Please notify the school office by email including details of your child’s last day or expected return date.

2026 Planning - Uniforms

As we prepare for the new school year, we kindly remind families to place uniform orders early to ensure your child is ready for the first day of term. Ordering in advance helps avoid delays and guarantees your child has the correct uniform from day one.

Please email the school office to place your order. To allow ample time for processing and delivery, we recommend submitting orders by November 25.

We also wish to inform you of a current supply issue affecting the availability of the girls' summer dress uniform. We are working closely with a new supplier who is sourcing the Oakdale pattern and material. If your child requires a new dress, please place your order promptly so it can be included in the initial production run. Rest assured, there is no change to the design or appearance of the dress.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we collaborate with our suppliers to resolve this matter.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

School Bytes App

We will continue to share important updates and information with parents and carers through the School Bytes platform. To stay informed about all the latest news at our school, please download the School Bytes app. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school office. Stay connected with us!

Upcoming Events

Dates to Remember

Christmas Performace Showcase Raffle

🎄 Calling on the wonderful Oakdale PS community! 🎄

Oakdale Public School is thrilled to announce our upcoming Christmas Raffle, and we need your help to make it a joyful success! We're inviting families and local businesses to contribute prizes or donations. If you know a local business willing to support, please get in touch — all contributing businesses will be acknowledged and promoted on our Facebook page and newsletter. It’s a fantastic way to spread festive cheer while supporting our school community!

We’re also putting together Christmas hampers filled with gifts and goodies for our lucky winners. To help fill these hampers, we kindly ask each family to donate one item from the following suggested categories:

• Christmas treats: fruit cakes, puddings, gingerbread house kits, chocolates, biscuits, lollies, shortbread (please ensure all items are within their expiry date).
• Christmas holiday fun: art kits, stationery, colouring or reading books, bon bons, beach or backyard toys, board or card games, Christmas serviettes, decorations.

Every donation, big or small, is greatly appreciated and will help us raise funds for our end-of-year PBL Big Day Out — a special celebration creating lasting memories for all our students!

Thank you for your generosity and festive spirit!

Event Flyers

Sports News

Community Services

Cobbity Village Markets

Cobbitty Village Markets

December 6 at Cobbitty Markets

Time: 8am - 1pm

Location: Cobbitty Public School

314 Cobbitty Rd, Cobbitty

You will find a variety high quality handmade art, craft, and the best local fresh produce and flowers. There are plenty of delicious food stalls and handmade cakes to try. Grab a coffee and wander through the market enjoying a live performance from local bands.

Our new Cobbitty Markets bags will be available for $10, designed by our very own Lucie Mammone.

We are looking forward to a great day out with everyone. See you all soon!

Inspire Program Australia - Before and After School Care

Our Inspire Oakdale centre is our very first onsite centre, and is located within Oakdale Public School. The centre’s program is run from a versatile hall with a large garage door that opens up, extending the space to include the school’s playground area. We also have access to the sports shed, field, basketball court and the COLA area – where we enjoy playing tons of outdoor sports and games!

"I Strive"

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