Principal's Report

Student Achievements

Recently we received the 2025 NAPLAN Writing results for Years 3 & 5. These were fabulous and reflect the enormous growth for students at Years 3 & 5. Previously during April we received results for Numeracy, Grammar and Punctuation, Reading and Spelling. Again, these results reflected very positive progress for our students and our school. In recent weeks our teaching staff have been reviewing the specific progress of each student across these areas and considering the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead.

Later in July 2025 we will receive the Individual NAPLAN results for each student in a format that can be distributed to parents. We will use the Parent Teacher Discussion day on Wednesday 30th July 2025 to share these with the parents involved. Again, I would strongly encourage all parents to make a time to meet with their child’s class teacher when these times become available on Compass.

Recently the Department of Education approved our 2024 Annual Report to be made public. This details the achievements of our students well above similar school and state means in many areas. When it becomes available on our Chatham website, I would encourage you to peruse it. Our achievements, particularly in Mathematics are extraordinary not only against state means but more poignantly against similar schools with corresponding socio economic profiles.

Student Care and Safety before School

Please be advised that students do not enter the school grounds before 8.45am on any school day. This is to ensure their safety and supervision at all times and a high level of duty of care. Teachers and other staff are not on duty to supervise students and will be involved in preparing for the classroom and specialist programs of the day. At Chatham we are delighted to have a highly effective Before School Care Program that operates from 6.30am every day and conducted by Theircare Please use this service if you require your child to be at school earlier than prescribed so that they are safe and can be effectively supervised.

School Assembly and Student Awards

Our School Assemblies are marvellous experiences for our students and from Monday 23rd June we will be adding an additional award program to our proceedings. We will be recognising those students at Years 1 & 2 who have mastered their phonemic knowledge through our Little Learners Love Literacy Program. From the beginning of Term Three we will also we recognising students from Year 4 and above who have achieved their pen licences. 

Whilst I recognise that these assemblies do take some time, we are considering the format and how we might make some changes for the future.

On Monday 23rd June we can look forward to our Foundation students being involved in a performance about Milo Monkey and their phonetic achievements.

Hosting of Students from Japan – 6th – 12th August 2025

Recently you will have received a communication from Mr Rampant regarding this exciting initiative.

We are excited to announce that our school will be hosting a group of visiting students from Jonan Primary School in Osaka, Japan, as part of a cultural exchange program offered through Palaygo, a language and exchange provider, facilitated by Mr Frank Noda.

The visiting students, ranging from Year 4 to Year 8, will be joining us for one week from the 6th of August to the 12th of August (some students until the 13th of August) to experience Australian school life, improve their English, and share their own culture with our students. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to build global connections and develop intercultural understanding.

We are currently looking for families who would be willing to host one or more students during their stay. Hosting a student involves providing them with a place to sleep, meals, and a welcoming home environment for the week. It’s a rewarding experience for everyone involved, offering your family a unique window into Japanese culture.

If you are interested in hosting, or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact James Rampant at james.rampant@education.vic.gov.au

We appreciate your support in making this exchange a success and look forward to creating memorable experiences for both our students and our guests from Japan.

Library Development and Excitement for all

We are just so inspired by the transformation that is our school library and the contributions of Ms Andrea McLeod, our regular volunteers and others, to enhanced opportunities for all students.

Very popular at the moment with some of our Year 3/4 students is our collection of Redback books. These non-fiction books have interesting topics and engaging layouts and imagery. They include a dedicated STEM series, an inclusively written Australian History series, Remarkable Wildlife, Global Geography, Environmental Issues, Natural Disasters and Sport. The students were loving them so much they were seeking them out from their spots on the shelves, according to the Dewey Decimal system, and arranging them all together! Instead of reshelving them, in consultation with the students, we have now decided on a special location where these books can be kept together. It’s so good to see these students enthusiastically reading, borrowing and talking about these books as well as taking pride in arranging them on the shelf.

The following is a reflection by a number of students at Years 3 & 4 about these books. Their enthusiasm is infectious.

RED BACK BOOKS

When it all started Louis and Christopher found the Redback books about nature, cyber safety and countries. Then Christopher and Louis invited Hugo, Ben, Jude and Sam to help find the books.

Firstly, Christopher borrowed a Redback book and the next week he gave it to Jude to borrow. Then Jude gave it to Louis and it went on and on until everyone borrowed it. Ms Gilbert helped us with the process and Andrea helped too!

We sorted out the books every time we visited the library. Yesterday Ben and Sam wrote a list of all the books we need to complete the collection. Some of the books that we need is on sport, places and AI. We hope we can get some more Redback books for our library.

By Christopher, Louis, Hugo, Jude, Sam and Ben. 3/4G

Preparing for House and District Athletics

We are delighted to advise that our House Athletics Carnival is scheduled for Thursday 7th August 2025. This is a fabulous event for our students, staff and families and we really encourage involvement by our parents on the day both to encourage and cheer our students, but also to assist Mr Boulton, our Physical Education and Sport Teacher with the considerable arrangements on the day. Currently our students are preparing for this event and as of Wednesday had been involved in the finer points of sprinting and hurdles. It is so positive to witness the level of preparation undertaken by our students and staff in readiness for this experience. At this stage we believe the District Athletics Carnival will be held on 8th September. 

If you are able to assist us with the House Athletics Carnival, to be held on Hagenaur Reserve, Box Hill on Thursday 7th August 2025, please email your interest to Mr Boulton at walter.boulton@education.vic.gov.au as soon as you are able.

As a further update, well done to Joel Pham, Charlie Hughes and William Hughes who did exceptionally well at the Regional Cross Country held at Yarra Glen Racecourse recently.

Saturday Night Trivia Night Parents Club and Fundraising Committee

This was a fun filled evening due in no small part to the hard work and organisation of Caroline Kennon, Bree Knight and others. Together with our Assistant Principal Georgina Kirwan, I joined a table with Anthony and Susie Nicholls and Ben and Chaya Cox and we all had a fantastic time of laughter and camaraderie. We look forward to another experience like this and hope we can get a few more along next year. As an aside, we even made some money for our students from this opportunity.

School Camp – Year 3 & 4 – Arrabri Lodge, East Warburton

At this stage we are considering the Year 3 & 4 Camp at Arrabri Lodge for 18th – 20th August. To ameliorate the costs the Principal and Assistant Principal are now required to attend. We are hopeful that prior to the end of the Term parents at this level will receive particulars of the camp and the inordinate opportunity it will provide for our students. Currently I am in the process of confirming staff preparedness to attend and the finer details of the Camp Program. Mr Tim Clarke will coordinate this School Camp in 2025.

Christopher Cotching

Principal