Principal's Report

As the term draws to a close I write to you briefly whilst engaged with our Year 5 & 6 students and staff at Waratah Beach Camp in south east Gippsland. It is an extraordinary experience with 74 students and nine adult personnel immersed in the challenges, activities, and rewards of such a wonderful time. After arriving here on Tuesday morning and settling into bunk rooms and viewing the vast facilities, the students were soon engaged in four activity rotations involving the giant swing, beach volleyball, a complex rope and challenge course, an aerodome involving trampolines, and various adventure and problem solving initiatives. This was later followed by a superb meal and campfire cooking with marshmallows, along with an informative night walk. All students slept well and certainly by our second night, all were very tired and looking forward to sleep. These experiences have continued over the last two days. At the time of writing we have just returned from the beach and our explorations involving rockpools.

Staffing Matters

It is with mixed emotions that we say goodbye to Ms Callie Macdonald from Chatham Primary School. Ms Macdonald joined us in 2025 with responsibilities as a teacher of Year 5/6C. Ms Macdonald will commence at Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School in Essendon at the beginning of Term 2, 2025. Whilst we are saddened to lose Callie Macdonald, we understand that this was a difficult decision for her at this time, and we wish her the very best. Currently, we are in the process of considering the staffing replacement for Ms Macdonald and will keep parents informed of developments in this area. Ms Macdonald has undertaken to leave comprehensive student achievement data for her replacement in Term 2.

We also say goodbye to Mrs Siobhan Moore who will be on maternity leave from Chatham Primary School at the beginning of Term 2. Mrs Moore has assumed responsibility for Year 1/2A, along with Mrs Lucy Bray in Term 1. From the beginning of Term 2, Mrs Moore will be replaced by Ms Sarah Medland. Ms Medland has previously been on family leave and is well known to our students, staff and parents. From the beginning of Term 2, Mrs Lucy Bray will assume responsibility for Year 1/2A on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, whilst Ms Medland will do similarly on Thursdays and Fridays. We wish Mrs Moore great happiness and fulfilment in the times ahead and welcome back Ms Medland to our school and its community.

Again, it has been an extremely engaging and successful school term with so much to recognise and celebrate. Given the demands on my time at present, I will keep this communication brief. We are all about to embark upon some wonderful kite making and kite flying experiences this afternoon.

Importantly, we look forward to our students, families and staff enjoying a relaxed break and following that, enjoying the sense of collective euphoria that awaits them when they return on Tuesday 22nd April.

Christopher Cotching

Principal