Acting Principal's Report

There is such a sense of happiness and connection at our school – As I visit classrooms, students are eager to show me their work and tell me their ideas for all kinds of wonderous activities and events for our school. The initiative of our students is truly commendable and culminates in our expansive leadership program in the senior school, where our Year 6 students have the opportunity to implement new ideas and exercise autonomy over a given area. This has been recently demonstrated by our School and Vice Captains with the introduction of their ‘Nicey-Icy Pole Tuesdays’ fundraising initiative. There is so much to celebrate as we prepare for Term 3, and the below information highlights some upcoming events and recent happenings for our ever-evolving school. 

Enrichment Opportunities at Chatham 

There is a real appetite for extension opportunities and competitions in English and Mathematics within our community, and such experiences can provide great motivation for students to practise and refine their skills in specific curriculum areas. 

Below are a number of upcoming activities that students can become involved with at Chatham…

-Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee 2026

This is an opportunity I will be engaging our Years 3-6 students in next term. This particular competition allows students to compete in an online Spelling Bee under teacher supervision. Based on accuracy and time, students can progress through ‘rounds’ and even make State and National finals! With some exceptionally keen spellers at Chatham, I know this competition will spark much enthusiasm for our students. Registrations open on 20th July and I will provide more information to families when we return to school after the holidays.

-Kew ‘First Speech’ Competition 2026

This week our Year 5/6 students have all been given the opportunity to enter this public speaking competition, which is facilitated by Member for Kew and Leader of the Opposition – Jess Wilson. The competition is based on the concept of a ‘First Speech to Parliament’, with students asked to envision they are a newly elected Member of Parliament outlining their vision for the future. Within this, students are encouraged to focus on a local issue examining its causes, proposing practical solutions and reflecting both their personal values and those of our community. In the coming weeks, ten of our students will be shortlisted to deliver their speech to Ms Wilson, who will determine one winner and two runner-up places for our school. One representative from each school in the Kew electorate will then deliver their speech at Parliament House late in Term 3. Our students perform exceptionally well in such competitions, due to the ongoing focus on speech writing and public speaking at Year 5/6. 

-ICAS English and Mathematics Competitions 2026

Next term students will be given the opportunity to participate in the ICAS (International Competitions for Assessments in Schools) English and Mathematics assessments for 2026. ICAS provides globally competitive assessments for students in Years 2 to 6, which test higher-order thinking, problem-solving and critical analysis, rather than rote memorisation. Our Acting Assistant Principal, Mr Zac Barry, will be facilitating these experiences for students and communication will be sent out next week. 

-Australian Mathematics Competition 2026

Similarly, students in Years 3 to 6 will also have the opportunity to participate in this competition facilitated by the Australian Mathematics Trust. First run in 1978, the AMC (Australian Mathematics Competition) is Australia’s longest running, largest and most well-known Mathematics competition for school students. The AMC contains unique problems designed each year by leading educators and academics, to challenge and extend students’ problem-solving skills. Mr Barry will also disseminate information pertaining to participation in this competition next week. 

-Mathematical Olympiad Challenge 2026

All students in Years 5/6 will have the opportunity to refine their numeracy skills as part of their participation in regular problem-solving sessions in Mathematics. Selected students will also participate in the annual Australasian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiad (APSMO), which is a term-long endeavour offering incentives and prizes as students progress their problem-solving capabilities through the explicit teaching of strategies and concepts. 

Recent Happenings:

Division Cross-Country Competition at Ruffey Lake Park – Monday 1st June 2026

It was wonderful to attend Ruffey Lake Park to cheer on Will M, Charlie H, Harriet B and Laurence D as they represented Chatham at the Division Cross-Country competition. Our four students gave their absolute all to complete the gruelling course, with Will finishing in 13th place, Charlie in 15th place, Harriet in 34th place and Laurence in 23rd place. This was a tremendous effort and I thank Mr Walter Boulton for preparing these students through recent training sessions and also attending the event. I also thank the brilliant parents of these students for their support in accompanying our team on the day.

Year 3 Student Environmental Leadership Incursion – Friday 5th June 2026

Our Year 3 students were thoroughly engaged in their Environmental Leadership Incursion and as a result, have also become inspired to take action and lead a range of sustainable initiatives/projects for our school. I have even been told that students will be approaching me with many proposals over the next week – fantastic! This session was facilitated by a very passionate educator from CERES and funded through Boroondara Council, and I thank Mr Tim Clarke and Ms Lisa Gilbert for organising this engaging experience for our Year 3 students.

Year 3/4 Towards Zero Waste Incursion – Wednesday 10th June 2026

This week, our Year 3 and 4 students enjoyed an engaging sustainability incursion facilitated by CERES. Throughout the session, students explored the impact of landfill, waste and pollution on both people and the environment, while learning practical ways to work towards a zero-waste future. The students were enthusiastic participants and left the session with new knowledge and skills to help care for our planet. I again thank Mr Tim Clarke and Ms Lisa Gilbert for organising this engaging experience for our Year 3 and Year 4 students.

Little Learners Love Literacy Program – Milo’s Birthday Party – Friday 5thJune 2026

Our Foundation students absolutely loved coming to school dressed up as the animals from the Little Learners Love Literacy text, Milo’s Birthday Surprise, to celebrate the milestone of having learnt all the initial sounds associated with the text. The tour group of prospective families that we brought around the school on Friday were very impressed by our students’ knowledge of what they were learning and why they were celebrating, and I thank Ms Kirstie Briggs for organising this fun event for our students. I also thank our wonderful Foundation parents for supporting this initiative, and all their efforts in producing such amazing costumes and treats for our students to enjoy! 

2027 Foundation Kitchen Garden Activity – Surrey Hills Day Care – Wednesday 10th June 2026

On Wednesday it was lovely to host the children from Surrey Hills Day Care Centre to undertake a Kitchen Garden Cooking experience with our Kitchen Garden Coordinator, Ms Leda Semercioglu, and Ms Lucy Bray. This is one of many activities that have been arranged by Ms Kirstie Briggs this year to strengthen our profile in the local community and work towards increasing our enrolments for 2027. We look forward to more activities in this space and remind families to please enrol any kinder-aged children commencing school next year as soon as possible, as we have already commenced the exciting process of planning our classes for 2027.

Year 5/6 Hooptime Basketball Competition – Wednesday 10th June 2026

What a brilliant day our Year 5/6 students had at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South on Wednesday, to participate in the annual Hooptime Basketball competition. It was great to visit our students at this marvellous sporting facility, as they demonstrated tremendous team spirit, camaraderie and sportsmanship. These events are always facilitated with precision, and I thank Mr Boulton for his efforts in training our teams and organising this fantastic opportunity for our students. I also thank Ms Danielle Roberts, Ms Kim Smiley and Ms Angela Thomas for volunteering to assist with coaching and scoring on the day, and also our teachers, Ms Hannah Scantleton, Ms Hayley Collings and Ms Lisa Gilbert, for their work in coaching and supporting our students at this great event.

We look forward to more brilliant times ahead at Chatham in the coming weeks!

Georgina Kirwan

Acting Principal