ARTICLE PAGE

Principal’s Report 2

Primary School’s

“Big Day Out”

excursion.

Woodside

Christmas Pageant.

Girls Footy &

Cricket Holiday

Program.

Alpaca fleece -

FREE - GIVE AWAY.

3

The Night Before

Christmas - in Australia.

The Australian 12

Days of Christmas.

4

Activity Week

Photos

5

Australian Jingle

Bells

6

Family Movie

Fundraiser -

Emerikus Land

Foundation

7

Inside this issue:

We Wish You A Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

OAS Newsletter

13 December 2018 Volume: 35 Folio: 22

2018 has been another eventful year packed full of

learning and achievements.

Thank you to the students, staff, volunteers and parents

for all your efforts in sustaining and developing a vibrant

learning community.

The variety of accomplishments have been highlighted

in the past fortnight at a number of functions including

the very successful Presentation Night, Year 12

Breakfast, Year 6 Graduation Dinner and final

assemblies for each of the sub-schools.

Awards have been presented in the sub-school

assemblies for students that have accomplished

Academic Excellence or Consistent Application and

Effort. It has been heartening to see the variety of

students that have received these awards.

End of Year Activities

The Primary School “Big Days Out” were enjoyed by all

the Reception to Year 6 students last week.

The Ice Arena was a perfect venue for a 39 degree

day last Thursday and everyone seemed to have fun at

the excursion to Latitude on Friday.

I believe there was even some sleeping done during

the Thursday night Sleepover held in the Gym!

Thank you to Alexis Mardell for her organisation of this

Primary School event.

The Middle School has been involved in an activity

program during this final week of school.

Congratulations to Kristen Bence who developed a

program with a variety of activities. Photos from this

weeks events are on page 5 of this newsletter.

There was a mix of sport, art, board games, excursions

and community service.

The students have had great fun and there has been a

considerable amount of informal learning.

Governing Council

The new year will be here sooner than we think so I

encourage you to consider joining the Governing

Council at our AGM in early February.

This is a great way to have input into the strategic

direction of the school and work on projects where you

have a particular interest or skill.

Please contact Andrew Sinnott, the Chair of Council or

myself if you have any questions.

Caption describing picture or graphic.

Staff Changes Let me take time to acknowledge the work of our staff.

The non-teaching staff who support students in-class,

prepare resources and maintain our beautiful grounds

and buildings.

The teachers who take time to develop engaging

programs to support the students.

I want to particularly acknowledge the work of the staff

who were based with us for 2018. Julia Bartram, Jeanie

Browning, Dillon Cotton, Alexis Mardell, Mikayla Nichol-

son, Sam Nicholson, Krista Playford and Clarissa Whiting.

We hope that some of these staff will return to us in 2019

and wish others well in their new endeavours.

We have had some long-term staff illness at the end of

the year but Jo Clements and Ruth Morris, who are

normally Temporary Relieving Teachers, have stepped in

and provided great service to keep the learning

programs running. Thank you.

This year we have 3 staff retire:

Annie Bainger has been a senior English and

humanities teacher at the school for ten years. Annie

has been the driving force for promoting student

voice through the student leadership group and she

was instrumental in organising and participating in

Operation Flinders.

Our Science Technician, Leon Driessen has been with

the school for thirteen years. He has managed the

supplies and equipment in the science area and

overseen the making of the school wine. And finally,

Ezat Loghmani who for five years has kept the school

ICT systems working.

They are each valued members of the school community

and they will be missed.

Looking Forward

2018 saw less staff changes than the previous year and

allowed for some consolidation of relationships between

staff and students.

I’m excited about the new teachers coming into the

school next year who will bring further experience and

energy.

Developing self-directed learners and valuing student

leadership will continue to be the focus at Oakbank in the

New Year.

The move of the Middle School into the Whimpress

building in 2019 will provide more stability and ownership

for the students and we hope a better learning

environment with the renovations.

There is also a changed curriculum pattern to provide a

broader curriculum and cross-curricular opportunities.

It will be another exciting year.

Finally for 2018, I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday

season.

Bruce Oerman Principal

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Primary Big Days Out/Sleepover

This year the primary students went to the Ice Arena

and Latitude for their big days out.

The students had a great time and showed excellent

persistence, falling over hundreds of times but always

getting up and trying again.

All students were supportive of each other, picking

each other up and giving words of encouragement.

Even though it was hot, they had a great time sleeping

in the gym and participating in games organized by the

Year 5/6 class.

Woodside Christmas Pageant

After the positive experience at the Stirling pageant, we

will be entering our float in the Woodside Christmas

parade.

The parade is on Thursday 20

December at 6:30 pm.

We are still looking for more kids to come and walk with

us, so if you would like to come, please contact me at

school or via email: Nikki.Kearton894@schools.sa.edu

Alpaca Fleece - FREE - Give Away!

Sally the alpaca (pictured below) has just recently been

shorn and would be delighted to give away a bag of her

fleece to anyone who is interested in using it.

Please contact the school om 8398 7200 if you would like

to organise a time and date to come and collect it.

First in, best dressed!

Kerensa Greenfield Agriculture Coordinator

ACTIVITIES WEEK PHOTOS The Middle School students have been involved in an activity

program during this final week, organised by Middle School

Coordinator Ms Kristen Bence.

Students have participated in a variety of activities - some of

which are featured on this page.

Aussie Jingle Bells By Colin Buchanan

Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden ute,

Kicking up the dust, esky in the boot

Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs,

It’s summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs.

Oh!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,

Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer’s day, hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut,

Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.

Engine’s getting hot, we dodge the kangaroos,

The swaggie climbs aboard, he is welcome too!

All the family is there, sitting by the pool,

Christmas day the Aussie way, by the Barbecue.

Oh!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,

Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer’s day, hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut,

Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.

Come the afternoon, grandpa has a doze,

The kids and Uncle Bruce, are swimming in their clothes.

The time comes round to go, we take a family snap,

And pack the car and all shoot through before the washing up.

Oh!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,

Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer’s day, hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut,

Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS INFORMATION FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS

154 Onkaparinga Valley Road

OAKBANK SA 5243

Phone: 8398 7200

Fax: 8388 4718

E: dl.0762.info@schools.sa.edu.au

W: www.oakbankas.sa.edu.au

OAKBANK AREA

SCHOOL

www.facebook.com/oakbankas