Embedded Files
School Updates
School Updates
Principal Address
Principal Address
Welcome to the Week 9 Newsletter. What a fabulous term of learning we have had. The success of our students in a variety of fields from sport, to music and writing does not go unnoticed. Thank you to our teachers for your support of these activities and of course to our families who make time in their day to support by getting students to and from events and watching their success.
Looking ahead we have another busy term starting on July 22nd for students. Week 2 we are excited to showcase our students at the Wollondilly Public Schools Performing Arts Festival! This event has been running for over 40 years and we are very excited to participate once again. Keep your eye out for ticketing information.
We will be sharing our School Excellence through the External Validation process mid term 3 and we are proud to share all of the amazing things occurring at TOPS. We will share components of our EV submission at the next P&C Meeting in August.
I will be on leave until Thursday next week, welcoming my first grandchild with my youngest daughter. In my absence our executive staff will support you if you have any questions or concerns.
Have a wonderful holiday and we look forward to Term 3.
Mrs Suzanne Bowyer
Principal
Wollondilly Public School Performing Arts Festival
Wollondilly Public School Performing Arts Festival
In Term 3, Week 2 all of T.O.P.S Performing Arts groups will be attending the Wollondilly Public School Performing Arts Festival!
The Wollondilly Public School Performing Arts Festival has been running for over 40 years and involves both Camden and Picton High School Entertainment Crews and Picton High Schools Concert Band. We are excited to watch our students showcase their talent at Picton High School alongside 12 other local Wollondilly schools.
Our students will attending the following;
Monday 28th July- Rehearsal (BUS LEAVING AT 9.00am)
Wednesday 30th July - Matinee performance approximately 10-1pm (Students only will be attending, BUS LEAVING AT 9.30am)
- Evening performance approximately 6-8pm
Notes will be sent home via School Bytes. The approximately cost for the buses to and from Picton High School will be $20. Parents and/or carers will be able to purchase tickets to the evening performances via TryBooking. Link will be sent via School Bytes.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Ms Levings or Ms Watling via the office for any questions or concerns.
Band Together Festival
Band Together Festival
We are incredibly proud to share that the T.O.P.S Concert Band recently took part in this year’s Band Together Festival at Riverside Theatre in Parramatta.
The Band Together Foundation exists to promote music education and enrich the lives of children through the power of music. Their mission is to create high-quality performance opportunities that support cognitive, emotional, and social development while nurturing a lifelong love of the arts. Proceeds from the festival also go toward helping families manage the costs of music tuition and instrument hire—a cause close to many of our hearts.
Our students had a truly memorable experience, performing on a professional stage and soaking up the electric atmosphere. Highlights included:
A standout concert performance in front of a live audience
Behind-the-scenes access with time spent in the green room and backstage, offering a rare glimpse into the world of professional live performance
Collaboration with other schools and ensembles, building confidence and community
Congratulations to all our talented band members for their hard work and dedication. Your passion for music and commitment to excellence truly shone through!
P & C Fundraiser for Kye
P & C Fundraiser for Kye
A huge thank you to The Oaks Public School P&C Association for all their efforts in organising a fundraiser for Kye. He is beyond grateful for the support, kind words, and encouragement from our amazing school community.
As a school, we are so proud of Kye’s achievements and wish him all the very best as he travels to France to compete in the Junior Motocross World Championships!
Open Classroom
Open Classroom
We had an amazing Open Classroom event at Oaks Public School! We were thrilled to see so many families, friends, and community members join us for a lovely picnic lunch and a tour of our classrooms.
It was heartwarming to witness the support and enthusiasm from our community as everyone engaged with our students' learning experiences. Thank you to everyone who came out to make the day so special! If you would like to see photos from the event please click the Facebook icon below.
NAIDOC Week at TOPS
NAIDOC Week at TOPS
Congratulations to our Deadly Award recipients. These awards recognise the achievement of personalized learning pathway goals and are celebrated by seeing Mrs Bowyer and sharing learning. Well done Daniel and Jack!
Learning and Support
Learning and Support
APC&I
APC&I
At TOPS, we believe that strong comprehension skills are vital for our students’ success across all subjects. This semester, we have had a focused approach to teaching comprehension.
Understanding a text goes beyond just reading the words; it involves making sense of the material and connecting it to prior knowledge. To ensure that every student in our school receives the support they need, our teachers are committed to providing explicit instruction in comprehension strategies. This means that students are not only taught how to read but also how to think critically about what they read.
Our staff have collaboratively worked alongside our APCI fortnightly, where teachers have engaged with professional learning, sourcing valuable resources, and designing teaching and learning opportunities. This collaboration has led to the development of tailored lesson plans that focus on key comprehension strategies such as predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarising.
Teachers are working closely with APCI to integrate these strategies into their daily lessons, ensuring that students are actively engaged in their learning. Through collaborative planning sessions, our teachers are gaining new insights and techniques that they can apply directly in the classroom.
In addition to explicit instruction, our teachers are creating engaging learning experiences that promote comprehension. Interactive reading sessions, group discussions, and the use of diverse texts are just a few ways we are bringing comprehension to life for our students. By encouraging students to share their thoughts and engage in dialogue about the material, we are fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for reading.
To track our students' progress, our teachers are implementing ongoing assessments that inform their instruction. This approach allows them to identify areas where students may need additional support and to celebrate their successes along the way. Our commitment is to ensure that every student feels confident and capable as they develop their comprehension skills.
As we continue to incorporate explicit teaching of comprehension skills, we are excited to see the positive impact it has on our students’ learning journeys. Our focus on comprehension is paving the way for academic success and a lifelong love of reading.
School attendance - Information for Parents
School attendance - Information for Parents
Attendance and absences
Parents of children from Kindergarten to Year 12 must ensure their children attend school every day. On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school.
Justified reasons for student absences may include:
- being sick or having an infectious disease
- having an unavoidable medical appointment
- being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
- exceptional or urgent family circumstances e.g. attending a funeral.
Unjustified reasons may include:
shopping
sleeping in
working around the house
minding siblings/other children/older relatives
minor family events (birthdays)
having a family day
hair cuts
car problems
attending swimming lessons or tutoring
airport/visitors from overseas or other states
other member of the family is sick
other members of the family have appointments
watching siblings at Gala Days, Performances etc
Parents must provide an explanation for absences to the school within 7 days from the first day of any period of absence. Where an explanation has not been received within the 7-day timeframe, the school will record the absence as unjustified on the student's record.
If you would like to read more about compulsory school attendance, or read documents in another language please follow this link: https://education.nsw.gov.au/student-wellbeing/attendance-matters-resources-for-schools/compulsory-school-attendance
Learning and Growth
Learning and Growth
Spotlight - Stage 1
Spotlight - Stage 1
Stage One recently enjoyed an exciting excursion to Sydney Zoo! Students had the chance to observe a wide range of animals and even got up close with a real blue-tongue lizard. A highlight of the day was a fascinating talk and presentation on Australian Aboriginal culture, where students learned about traditional stories, tools, and the deep connection between people and the land.
Back in the classroom, Stage One has been busy in Maths, exploring how to separate and combine groups. We’ve been solving multiplication problems by creating equal groups and using real-life materials to solve division problems by sharing them equally. Hands-on learning and fun experiences are helping us grow as curious and confident learners!
Small Group Program
Small Group Program
At The Oaks Public School, we are thrilled to share the success of our small group programs that have been running for the past few years, specifically designed to enhance our students' social skills. These engaging groups focus on fostering self-confidence and resilience, while also teaching valuable skills such as ‘how to join a group’ and navigating social dynamics like ‘my friend doesn’t want to follow MY rules.’
Our inclusion strategy primarily involves teacher identification, and it all began as a thoughtful response to support students returning to school after extended breaks due to COVID-19. We recognised that many children had missed the chance to practice social skills in larger settings during their isolation, and we are committed to addressing this need as a key focus for our support team. Some students participate in these groups for just a few weeks, while others may stay longer, gradually mastering a variety of essential skills.
We create our program plans using innovative approaches like the Skillstreaming program, Choice Theory principles, and the Department of Education's wellbeing initiatives. Each group is tailored to meet the specific needs of our students, allowing for flexibility and targeted support when it’s needed most. Currently, we offer fantastic groups focused on Friendship building, sharing and turn-taking in games, resilience, self-confidence, positive self-talk, the zones of regulation, and making positive choices for learning.
A standout moment from our Stage 3 group is the netball clinics for beginners, which three enthusiastic girls will lead weekly during recess. Their active involvement in this project instrumental in developing their leadership skills. Additionally, we have seen great progress in another group, where students have successfully transitioned back into the classroom and are now expressing their needs with calmness and patience.
Our dedicated Learning and Support staff, including Ms. Watling, Mrs. Kent, and Mrs. Arthur, are leading these wonderful initiatives, and we couldn't be more proud of the positive impact these groups are having on our students' growth and development!
Kindy Chicken Hatching
Kindy Chicken Hatching
Library
Library
As term two comes to an end I would like to thank all of those families who have searched for overdue library books. There have been lots of books returned to the shelves for others to borrow.
Students have been doing some great learning in the library, with Early Stage One creating their own versions of nursery rhymes, some with an Australian theme. Stage One have been learning about different places in Australia and have been developing their mapping skills. Stage Two and Three have both been learning about our local history and we are very excited to be able to share our learning during their different excursions next week. If you haven’t already completed the permission note for these excursions, could you please do so as soon as possible.
Sport
Sport
We are so proud of the outstanding effort, resilience, and sportsmanship shown by our students across a number of recent sporting events. Let take a look at the sporting success students have already achieved this term!
Term 2 Gala Day
Our students took to the fields for another fantastic Gala Day, competing in OzTag, netball, and soccer alongside other local schools.
The sun was shining, the smiles were wide, and the sportsmanship was top-notch! It was a great day filled with teamwork, determination, and lots of fun.
Stage 3 Girls Knockout Touch Football
Touch Footy Quarter Final Magic
Today, our incredible Girls State Knockout Touch Team laced up their boots and hit the field for their quarterfinal clash against Elderslie PS. The wind was wild, the air crisp—but nothing could cool the fire in their bellies.
The game kicked off with Elderslie coming out fast, snatching an early try to lead 1–0. But our girls weren’t backing down. They kept pressing, building confidence with every play.
Then, just when the wind felt like it might win the day The Oaks Parade arrived. Behind the carpark came the sound of stomping feet and chanting voices, as students filled the grandstand to cheer on their classmates. The energy lifted the field.
Halftime: 1–0 to Elderslie.
The girls huddled, regrouped, and as the wind began to settle, so did their nerves.
With the second half underway, Hazel hit the line hard and evened the score, 1–1. The crowd erupted! Seconds later, Indigo danced through defenders and took us to 2–1. The Oaks were in front!
But Elderslie wasn’t done. With slick pick-ups and quick dumps, they found space out wide and levelled the score again—2–2. Our crowd fell silent for just a moment.
And then… the magic happened.
The Oaks girls drew on everything they’d trained for. They passed with purpose, wrapped tightly, defended fiercely. And then, with five minutes on the clock, Sienna took her chance.
She caught a pass from Willow, stepped inside her defender, and bolted toward the try line. Weaving through the defence like a pro—she scored!
3–2. The Oaks were back in the lead.
The clock ticked down slowly. Elderslie pushed hard, but our girls held the line. The crowd chanted down from 10...
The whistle blew.
Full time: The Oaks win 3–2!
It was an unforgettable match—full of heart, hustle, and the kind of school spirit that gives you goosebumps. Thank you to everyone who came along to support the team.
Next stop: The Semi Final!
Joey at the Sydney South West Rugby
Congratulations to Joey, who proudly represented Sydney South West School Sport at the Primary 12s Rugby League Championships last week.
Joey competed against some of the best young players from across the region and showed incredible skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the event. We are so proud of his efforts and the way he represented our school on and off the field!
Well done, Joey!
Events
Events
Up Coming
Up Coming
27th June
1st July
2nd July
3rd July
16th July
21st October
Calendar
Calendar
Lunch Time Clubs
Lunch Time Clubs
Community
Community
The Oaks Public School P & C Association
The Oaks Public School P & C Association
Sport Sponsorship – Kye Sproule
Thank you to our Canteen Manager, Lisa, and her amazing team of volunteers for running a highly successful fundraising initiative on Thursday 19 June. All profits from the day—an impressive $700—were dedicated to supporting Kye to achieve his goal of competing in the 2025 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship. An additional $300 was also contributed from the P&C Sport Sponsorship Fund, bringing the total donation to $1,000 for Kye and his family.
Canteen
Uniform Shop
Term 3 meeting schedule
Tuesday 12 August 2025
Tuesday 9 September 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 and 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
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Membership Form
Scallywaggs Newsletter
Scallywaggs Newsletter
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