Principal's Report

We have had an extraordinary term of engagement and achievements. At the time of writing we have just completed our Kooyong District Athletics Carnival on Monday 8th September 2025 at the Bill Sewart Reserve, Burwood. It was a brilliant day and our school achieved an exceptional result coming third overall in the competition and being slightly beaten by the much larger schools of Auburn South PS and Camberwell PS. Our students conducted themselves with great sportspersonship and achievement and it was inspiring to see our students so committed and determined to do their best. Again, I convey our appreciation of the efforts and determination of our Physical Education and Sports teacher, Mr Walter Boulton, who gave considerable thought and time to preparing our students, so they were highly competitive.

What is also wonderful about such days is the strong sense of community that builds when parents come along and champion our students to do their best. We look forward to 18 of our students from Year 4-6 now participating in the Division Athletics Carnival to be held on Tuesday 14th October 2025. In the meantime, we look forward to preparing our students for each of their events in Hurdles, 100m, 200m, 800m, 1500m, Relay, High Jump, Triple Jump, Discuss and Shot Put.

Mr Boulton and others will be running an after-school practice session next Monday 15th September and we look forward to parents joining with us to support and encourage our students.

Aero Aerobics Competition – Tuesday 2nd September 2025

On Tuesday 2nd September our nine Aerobics Teams competed at the Victorian Aero Challenge facilitated by Melbourne Gym Sports at Diamond Valley Sports Complex in Greensborough. This was a highly successful experience led by our Assistant Principal, Ms Georgina Kirwan, and supported by myself at the venue. It was great to see some parents and grandparents spectating at this event too. Again our students were successful in achieving a first placing in the multiples category (Zara and Madeleine) and a fifth placing in the team’s category (Sadie, Maya, Olive andJasmine).

We also wait in great anticipation of our two teams (Madeleine and Zara) and (Amelie and Lyla) participating in the National Championships on the Gold Coast next week.

State School Spectacular – Thursday 11th, Friday 12th and Saturday 13th September 2025

Earlier this term we were delighted to announce that Chatham has been given the opportunity to once again participate in the Mass Dance Ensemble of the 2025 State Schools Spectacular. This is a very popular event with many schools applying for the chance to be part of this each year. Chatham’s involvement occurred because of a successful application process in late 2024.

Together with our Assistant Principal, Ms Georgina Kirwan, I will be joining our sixteen students from Year 6 at the John Cain Arena for Thursday 11th, Friday 12th and Saturday 13th September 2025. This is an exceptional privilege for our school and its students and we look forward to them honing their dance routines and costume changes in the critical schedule of the event. It is a magnificent opportunity and this is our second year of participating. Mr Zac Barry will oversee matters whilst I am away at the event. These are particularly long days for our students with those involved catching a bus at 8:20am on the Thursday and 7:20am on the Friday. Nevertheless, this will be such a wonderful and memorable event for our students and their families. We are so proud of what our students are doing in this burgeoning area of interest.

On Wednesday afternoon it was fabulous to see our sixteen students providing an example of their dances to a Special Assembly at 3:00pm for this purpose.

Intensive Swimming – Bialik College – Hawthorn East

We are delighted that we will be having our first session this Friday 15th September 2025. This is a marvellous venue for our students and we look forward to them progressing their skills. The program aims to provide our students with a comprehensive and engaging swimming experience, helping them to develop essential water safety skills and improve their confidence in the water. We understand the importance of ensuring our students are comfortable and capable in aquatic environments, and we believe this program will greatly contribute to their overall physical wellbeing. Please note the timetable for the five-day program is:

• 10:30am - 11:15am                 Foundation

• 11:15am - 12:00pm                 Year 1/2A and 1/2M

• 12:30pm - 1:15pm                  Year 3/4G and Year 3/4L

• 1:15pm - 2:00pm                    Year 3/4C and 5/6S

• 2:00pm - 2:45pm                    Year 5/6C and 5/6B

   

Please be advised that all students will need to wear a swimming cap and goggles. Swim caps can be bought on site for $10.00.

Year 3 & 4 Camp – Lyrebird Park, Yellingbo- May 20th – 22nd May 2026

Recently, Mr Tim Clarke has taken the initiative to consider the planning and organisational arrangements for a Year 3 & 4 Camp to be held from Wednesday 20th May to Friday 22nd May 2026. This will be considered for ‘in principle’ support by the School Council on Monday night at our next meeting. This Camp is well known to our staff having used the venue in 2024 for students in Years 3 & 4.

The provision of camps is now only possible if we have the Principal and Assistant Principal attending and others who volunteer wholly or in part for some of the time. Basically we are required to have one adult for every ten students on such experiences and/or in the case of water sports ratios of one adult to five students.

Library Developments at Chatham

We are all inspired and motivated by the sheer transformation that is our library at Chatham Primary School. Ms Andrea McLeod, our Library Education Support Officer continues to transform this space and flourish it with books that support curriculum initiatives and themes. Our Father’s Day books have been front and centre and now Andrea along with some of our helpers are preparing books of interest for Halloween leading up to 31st October 2025. Additionally, the new divider sets are here for the Picture Fiction, Non-Fiction and Fiction sections and they are on the shelves. We also have thirty new display stands which are a marvellous addition, not to mention those colourful couches that are highly sought after and enjoyed by our students.

Please remember the strength and scope of our library development is a direct result of parent tax deductible contributions. Please continue to contribute to this fund so we can keep these developments happening. If you have any queries in this regard please email our Business Manager dimitra.ouliaris@education.vic.gov.au or myself at christopher.cotching@education.vic.gov.au

SunSmart and Changing Times

Over many years, most schools have had a policy of ensuring that students wear hats in Term 1 and Term 4. This has been a long-standing practice, partly, because it is believed it provided sufficient protection for students from UV rays at times when we believed they were most prevalent. This of course is certainly out of date given what science can verify currently. It was also implemented, perhaps, because it was easier for families to clearly remember and enact, and gave greater definition to uniform requirements. 

As a school we will review this practice in 2026. In the meantime, we will encourage our students to wear hats from next week, given the increased likelihood of UV concerns at this time.

Early Dismissal – End of Term 3

Please be advised that school finishes at 2:30pm on Friday 19th September for the Term 3 vacation. We all look forward to resuming on Monday 6th October for an exciting term, not the least the Grand Chatham Fair scheduled for Saturday 22nd November 2025.

Christopher Cotching

Principal