Principal's Report

The last couple of weeks have been an extraordinary experience for our students, staff and parents as we immerse ourselves in the dynamism and vibrancy that is our community. Given my involvement in the Year 5 camp for three days, the following newsletter will be brief.

Please be advised that because of changes to the entitlements of teachers in Victoria, School Camps are becoming increasingly difficult to implement and many schools are increasingly removing them from their provision. 

Year 5 Camp - Sovereign Hill 

This was a truly magnificent experience for our Year 5 students. Apart from the emotional and social experience of being at a different place and away from families, the curriculum enrichment that this camp provided was exceptional. Aside from the exceptional facility of Sovereign Hill, our students were accommodated comfortably and provided with sufficient and appropriate food. Over the course of the camp, our students were involved in a candle dipping demonstration; a detailed and expansive educational session regarding First Nations People; an utterly magnificent Aura and Light Show; a presentation on the diggings with gold panning; a gold mine tour and a session amongst other matters, regarding gold rush immigration. I am pleased to advise that all students coped admirably with the challenges and showed high levels of organisation, self-care and immersion into the experience. The questions raised by our students to educational providers reflected insight and considerable knowledge of this period in Australian history. 

Again, I applaud the contributions of Mrs Scantleton, Ms Twigg and Ms Kirwan who gave of their time freely to enable this camp to occur. 

Staffing Matters for Term 2

Please be advised that there is now a chronic shortage of teachers across Victoria. Fortunately, a number of our ‘retired’ teachers continue to support our school, its culture and make themselves available from time to time. It is my expectation that I will be able to confirm arrangements prior to the end of Term 1 for Term 2 and beyond. In short, the following matters are of interest and this has been communicated through various Compass notifications over the past week.

Please understand that there are strict protocols which I follow in relation to the dissemination of such changes. Some times, given Department of Education and Training requirements, the timing can seem awkward. This is unavoidable and I would ask for your understanding.

Please be advised that despite the significant shortages of teachers in Victorian schools, all teachers who work at Chatham Primary School are fully registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and fully qualified for their role. This of course will continue.

• Ms Corinne Slade is currently on leave until the end of Term 1. We are delighted that Ms Slade has recently married and is currently enjoying her honeymoon. We have been pleased to have Ms Adele Sylvester, who is well known to our staff and students, assuming responsibilities for Prep CS.
• Mr Tim Clarke is currently on Long Service Leave for the remainder of this Term and for all of Term 2. I am pleased to advise that Ms Sue Minshull will increase her time fraction to full-time for the duration. Please be advised that we are considering our options in relation to staffing the tutoring program whilst Ms Minshull assumes this roll.
• Ms Tanya Dolence will assume a Music position at Fitzroy North Primary School from the beginning of Term 2. Mr James Rampant will assume responsibility for our Music provision on Monday and Tuesday, and our Japanese provision on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 
• Ms Viv Twigg will cease her role in Year 3DT at the end of this Term. Currently we are in the process of selecting staff for this role for the remainder of the school year. Parents of Year 3DT will be advised as soon as it is possible and allowable to do so.
• Ms Viv Twigg will continue in Year 5ST for the remainder of the year. Once Ms Scantleton takes maternity leave in late May or thereabouts, Ms Twigg will assume the role full-time for the remainder of the school year.

Again, I am pleased that we are able to progress matters ensuring that we keep the continuity and integrity of programs across the school, when many schools are now being forced to dispense with specialist programs.

Individual Education Plans

By the end of this Term, teachers will have identified a number of students at risk to undertake an Individual Education Plan. Teachers at all levels will be familiar with student outcome data and will therefore make a judgement as to which students most require such arrangements. In many cases, teachers use student achievement data to nuance and refine their approaches to individuals and associated teaching and learning approaches. In some cases, these Individual Education Plans may involve liaisoning with private tutors where in fact they have been employed. Again this will be at the professional discretion of the teacher involved.

Building and Grounds Committee 

I am pleased to report that our first working bee for the year has been scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 1st April. We look forward with great excitement to progressing the works around the Kitchen Garden and spreading the gravel in preparation to establishing garden beds. This will commence from 9.00am and proceed to 12.00pm. If you have any queries in relation to this working bee, please contact Ashley Davies at ashleydavies@gmail.com

Tuned-In Kids

This was formally known as Uke4Kids and involves instrumental Ukulele sessions provided by Mr Yunai Morris. I am pleased to advise that on Thursday students in Prep to Year 2 were involved in a 30-minute demonstration session with a class set of Ukuleles. We currently have 11 students learning the Ukulele. We hope to be able to expand this in order to provide and develop Ukulele ensembles with up to 30 students involved. These students will then have the opportunity to perform at school assemblies.  We look forward to having an engaging and focussed week next week as we proceed to the end of the School Term. Please be advised that school finishes at 2:30pm next Friday 7th April and resumes for Term 2 on Monday 24th April.

School Crossing – Weybridge Street

It was fabulous to see the return of Ms Helen Reilly as our Crossing Supervisor in Weybridge Street. Unfortunately, one of the posts was recently damaged. Helen has kindly arranged for this to be replaced.

Canteen Reminder

Please remember it is crucial that if your child is away on a Canteen Day that you advise the School Office by 9:30am on the day. This ensures that an unnecessary lunch order is not created. It is so positive to see our parent volunteers – and grandparents too on occasions volunteering in our School Canteen.

Christopher Cotching

Principal