Principal's Report

What an extraordinary school we have at Chatham! The events of the last few weeks have been considerable. There is still much for us to do to finish off the year and prepare for 2023. 

We will do our level best in the coming days to ensure that matters are communicated in a timely manner, and that despite the inordinate events and activity, there are not too many surprises for our students, staff and parents.

Please remember that school resumes at Chatham Primary School for all students on Tuesday 31st January 2023. Our final dismissal for 2022 is at 1:30pm on Tuesday 20th December 2022.

Staff and Organisational Structure for 2023

Over the last few weeks, we have been in the process of considering our organisational structure for 2023. This involves the consideration of classes and specialists based upon a range of factors, not the least, budget realities. Essentially a Principal is informed in mid-October about the total school global budget for the following year. This is based upon the predicted enrolment numbers at that time; student numbers at each level in the school; and an estimation of the number of students whose families are relocating to other parts of metropolitan Melbourne or other parts of the State. As part of this process there is enormous collaboration and consultation with staff regarding placement, leave, planned events and other personal matters. A Principal is then summoned with the complex task of ensuring the most effective, efficient and agreed outcomes are created. The following is our arrangements for 2023. Please be aware that whilst every effort is made to make this a final staff provision, teachers do have the capacity to apply for other schools at this time and in the coming weeks.

Whilst the provision for staffing at Chatham remains relatively stable, we do say farewell to a number of staff at this time. As indicated Ms Catherine Bradford will be retiring at the end of 2022 after providing valued leadership, direction and contributions to our Japanese Program. We will greatly miss the positive and enthusiastic contributions of Ms Bradford not only in the area of Japanese but also in relation to the broader fabric of our school and its community life. In the area of Japanese, we welcome Mr James Rampant who joins us from the independent school system and has enjoyed sustained experience in this area. We look forward to Mr Rampant meeting up with Ms Bradford in the coming days in a hand over capacity to enable many of our curriculum arrangements and events to be continued in this important curriculum area.

We will conduct a special farewell assembly for Ms Catherine Bradford at 3:00pm on Wednesday 14th December in our school hall. Our parents are most welcome to attend.

Furthermore, Ms Catherine Townsend will be ‘retiring’ from a regular teaching position but will provide casual relief support to our school in the times ahead. Ms Townsend has been a flexible and positive contributor to our school in recent years having performed roles across the school, but most recently in the Year 3 area.

Additionally, we convey our appreciation to Ms Shaunagh O’Connor who assisted us in a timely manner at the beginning of Term 3 in the Physical Education and Sport role at Chatham, after Ms Jessica Wilson took leave. We wish Ms O’Connor well in the times ahead and also look forward to Ms Wilson returning in the role of our Visual Arts Teacher in 2023. Ms Lisa Gilbert will also return in a 0.4 effective full-time position in the Physical Education area and will continue to work in a part time basis at Serpell Primary School during 2023.

In summary, our students in Preparatory to Year 2 will be placed in the BER Building. This will also include the new Visual Arts Centre on the southern side of the ground floor of this building.

The organisational arrangements for 2023 are extraordinarily generous with very small class sizes, in all but one class in the school. We have retained a traditional straight Year Levels with small classes for 2023. This has been achieved after some sustained dialogue with senior officers of the Finance Unit of the Department of Education and Training.

Student Placement for 2023

Over the last few weeks my teaching staff have given careful thought and attention to class placements for 2023, student preferences for friends and a plethora of other matters. The location of students to classes is a complex task and one best left with the judgment, experience and insight of the teachers who have been with them over the course of 2022. In relation to placement, I thank those parents who took the opportunity to inform me of any concerns they had for their children.  Parents have been assured that such matters will be thoughtfully considered along with other sources of information and perspectives.

Students will meet their new teachers for 2023 on Thursday 15th December 2022.

Parent Contributions for 2023

I am pleased to advise that at our November meeting of the School Council we finalised arrangements for seeking Parent Contributions for 2023. The funds provided by parents are exceptionally important and schools cannot function effectively without such contributions. Broadly, there are three areas that parents may reasonably be requested to make a payment or contribution.

1. Curriculum Contributions which parents/guardians pay the school to provide activities, stationery and materials which the school deems necessary for students to learn the Curriculum.
2. Other Contributions which parents/guardians are invited to donate to the school for non-curriculum items and activities that relate to the school’s functions and objectives.
3. Extra-Curricular Items and Activities which are offered on a user-pays basis and which parents/guardians may choose whether their child accesses or participants in (for example, excursions, camps, swimming program, extracurricular programs or activities). In 2023 families will receive requests for payment via Compass as events occur.

Please be advised that information was provided to all parents in hard copy on Friday 9th December. Again, in order to provide the quality of educational provision we have at Chatham your contributions here are not only crucial, but pivotal. We would ask that these contributions are paid by Friday 10th February 2023.

Times Tables Challenges

Over the last few weeks our Assistant Principal and I have been testing our students from Year 2-5 on their times tables. We set the students the task detailed below late last Term. The enthusiasm our students have given to the task, has been inspiring and our students have become so self-motivated to achieve. Broadly we are seeking the following by the end of 2022:

Year 2     2s, 3s, 4, 5s and 10s

Year 3     2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s and 10s

Year 4     All tables to 12

Year 5     All tables to 12

Those students who have achieved proficiency after testing by the end of 2022 will undertake a mastery test in early 2023 and awarded an appropriate certificate. Whilst this might seem very traditional the recall knowledge of tables by all students is a needed and invaluable skill as it is progressively applied across numeracy experiences throughout each level. Again, we are highly impressed by the level of dedication of our students to this task.

On Wednesday we provided a laminated tables sheet to all students in Year 2-5 to practise over the vacation. Please encourage this mastery in the times ahead.

McGrath Foundation - Pink Stumps Day – Tuesday 29th November 2022

This was a wonderful experience and together with the efforts of the Cotterell family and their fund raising at 'Aussie Disposals' we contributed $2175.10 to this worthy cause. I congratulate Hunter Cotterell in Year 5 who provided the drive, impetus and persistence to work with our staff to bring this to fruition. Well done Hunter and all our students and staff who joined together in a fun packed cricket event on the day. 

Chatham Webpage Communication

Wherever possible, we continue to update the Chatham calendar in a timely manner. Already there are many events that are detailed for 2023. We would encourage our parents to use this medium if they wish to be updated on events occurring in the school. This can be particularly challenging at the end of the school year or at the beginning of a new year. 

Preparatory to Year 3 Reading materials

Together with a number of parent volunteers we are reviewing, reorganising and re classifying all the home reading materials. This is being done in readiness for 2023 with new furniture provided by the 'Victorian School Building Authority' for this purpose. Again, important information will be provided to parents about the new arrangements in early 2023. We expect that as part of this process we will be culling some other materials but also purchasing a range of new home reading materials. I convey our appreciation for the work and leadership of our Literacy Leader, Ms Kirstie Briggs and the contributions of our parents to progress this important task.

Year 5 – Speaking with Confidence

It was wonderful to experience the burgeoning confidence of our Year 5 students over three evenings last week with their Speaking with Confidence presentations. This is part of our enduring culture of events at Chatham and has been a great foray into the emerging leadership roles our students perform at Year 6. The prospect of having to craft and deliver a speech to an audience is quite challenging for our students at this level, and for the first time. They all did an exceptional job and really rose to the occasion.

Over the last few weeks, we have also been delighted by the involvement of our Year 4 students who have capably recited several Australian poems at Assembly. This is a superb opportunity for students to develop their public speaking skills with great structure and ease.  Such experiences provide a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their growing sense of audience. We look forward to doing more of this in 2023.

Chatham Christmas Market – Saturday 28th November 2022

This was an extraordinary experience borne by a combination of opportunity with a State Election; the best sunny day for weeks and the thorough leadership and organisation by many parents and contributors who made it so special for our community. Thank you again to Kate James, Sophie Rigg and Kate Rippon, who contributed so much and to the many families who contributed with the magnificent baking of cakes and slices. The proceeds for this event will be allocated to the furthering development of our Kitchen Garden in the coming months. We look forward to an increasing number of community-based events in 2023, including our Preparatory Picnic to be held on Friday 3rd February. 

Apart from raising $11,521.32.  This wasa magnificent school community event.

Canteen

Today was the last day for us for Chatham Canteen. I would like to use this opportunity to convey our appreciation and support of the wonderful work undertaken by our Canteen Manager Ms Jo Paterson, our Canteen Working Party and the many volunteers that have made this opportunity possible for our students in 2022. Over the course of the year, we have seen extraordinary developments in this facility and the service it provides to our community. Throughout the period, there have been ongoing adjustments to our menu that provides wonderful health choices and considerable menu diversity. 

We look forward to developing the Canteen more in 2023 and hope that our many volunteers can continue the great work commenced in 2022.

Building Works and Progress

This is continuing very much on schedule despite some delays with access to steel. The Builders on the Major Project will finish on 22nd December and recommence on 2nd January 2023. We look forward to matters progressing and hope that completion remains at late April, early May.

The refurbishment of the toilets in the BER are nearing completion and I expect they will be finished at the end of next week. This has been undertaken by Coobella Group Pty Ltd and has been delayed partly because of a shortage of materials and labour but also because of the significant amount of urgent storm damage in other schools since September 2022.

Luna – Our Therapy Dog

The following information has been provided by Karen Scanlin our part time Division 1 Nurse. We are delighted with the contribution Luna continues to make to our school and our students. She adds so much to the mental wellbeing and enjoyment of many students at our school.

Brief Information about Luna

Background

Luna is an 18-month-old Siberian Husky. 

I am training her to work with me as a therapy dog within the school. Luna is here on the days I work which is Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Luna started ‘Obedience & Socialization’ training from 8 weeks old. She has been within Chatham Primary School from August 2021 learning to socialize within the school environment.

Luna started her ‘Therapy Dog Training’ when she was 9 months old. Her formal training involves being comfortable with lots of pats at one time, being pocked and prodded without reaction of any sort, unconcerned with loud noises, being gentle, no resource guarding – able to take food or toys away from her without any reaction, recall and place training.

At present she has passed 6 out of her 8 levels, and we are just working on Recall and place training. Hopefully, we will pass these over the Christmas break and be fully trained by return to school in 2023.

Current Involvement within Chatham

Throughout the year Luna has been gradually spending time in the classroom, so both her and the students can get use to each other. Currently Luna is spending some more time in the older grades for approximately 10 minutes to visit students while they do their work. Luna will calmly walk around the classroom quietly visiting students.

Over the last month Luna has started specific jobs within the school. This has included reading with students who are reluctant to read and with students who have some anxieties. We have seen a good response from this so far and will gradually extend this throughout the classrooms.

Karen Scanlin

Division 1 Registered Nurse

Christopher Cotching

Principal