From Mr Chaplin

Celebrating International Day of People with Disabilities at Cheltenham East Primary School

On 3 December, Cheltenham East Primary School proudly joins communities across Australia and the world to celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPwD) — a United Nations-recognised day that promotes awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

Since its declaration by the UN General Assembly in 1992, IDPwD has encouraged nations to remove physical, technological and attitudinal barriers so that people of all abilities can participate fully and meaningfully in society. In Australia, this day is supported through a national program funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and involves schools, governments, organisations, community groups and individuals working together to create a more inclusive future.

2025 Theme: Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress

This year’s UN theme highlights our collective responsibility to build a fairer society that respects and protects the rights of people with disability. It reinforces global commitments, including the Doha Political Declaration, to:

Remove barriers that prevent people with disability from participating fully
Ensure equal opportunities
Improve access to education, healthcare and community life
Increase representation and leadership of people with disability
Address challenges such as discrimination, unemployment and inequity

How CEPS champions inclusion every day

At Cheltenham East Primary School, inclusion is not just a value — it is embedded in our daily practices, our planning and our relationships. Our commitment to supporting students with disability aligns strongly with Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 and the vision of IDPwD.

Across the school, we continue to:

Use the Disability Inclusion Profile (DIP) to identify individual strengths and needs and provide targeted, evidence-based supports
Develop individualised learning plans (IEPs) that ensure every student can access the curriculum meaningfully
Provide high-quality adjustments, including visual supports, sensory tools, structured routines, assistive technology and personalised teaching strategies
Work alongside allied health professionals (OT, speech pathology, psychology) to guide interventions and support student success
Promote student voice and agency, ensuring that students are active participants in their wellbeing and learning
Invest in staff capability, including professional learning in inclusive practices, Zones of Regulation, trauma-informed approaches and high-impact teaching strategies
Build a culture of care, where all students are welcomed, valued and supported to thrive academically, socially and emotionally

Our commitment is ongoing and strengthened through collaboration with families, the Department of Education, and community organisations.

A community effort

IDPwD is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to create environments where all people — including the 5.5 million Australians living with disability — can participate fully, feel respected and experience belonging.

At CEPS, we are proud of the inclusive culture we continue to grow together. Thank you to our staff, students and families for their continued dedication to making our school a place where every child is seen, supported and celebrated.

Together, we can continue to foster a more inclusive society and lead the way in advancing social progress for all.

Craft sand contamination update

You may be aware of a recent alert about craft sand products that may contain asbestos. For current information about the recall, including a list of products, visit the ACCC website.

At our school, we are taking the steps set out by the Department of Education to collect and dispose of the products. Current advice from national and Victorian health authorities is that there is a low risk to human health from these products.

If you have the product at home, however, the advice from the health authorities is that you should stop using it and follow the safety advice published here: Safe disposal and health information for consumers with recalled sand products | ACCC Product

Foundation Transition

We were thrilled to welcome our 2026 Foundation students for their Meet Your Buddy session on Wednesday. Despite Melbourne’s wild spring weather, the excitement and happiness on display made the morning a truly heart-warming start to their CEPS journey.

Our soon-to-be Foundation students spent time connecting with their Year 5 buddies, engaging in supportive conversations, simple games and early relationship-building activities. This session is an important first step in ensuring our new students feel confident, known and welcomed before they begin school next year. The smiles, curiosity and calm engagement from the children showed just how valuable these early transition experiences are.

A special thank you goes to Team Kids, who generously provided a coffee van for families and staff. Their willingness to brave the rain, wind and unpredictable spring conditions added a warm and welcoming touch to the morning. We are incredibly grateful for their continued partnership and support of our school community.

We look forward to the next Foundation Transition session and to continuing to build a strong, positive start for all our 2026 students.

End of Year Community Concert and Salvation Army Food Drive - Friday 5 December

Our end-of-year Community Concert and Picnic has been scheduled for Friday, 5 December from 2.00 - 3.30pm. On this day, students will come dressed in their concert costumes (More information to come). Also on this day, we are asking families to contribute a food item towards our annual Salvation Army Food Drive.

Curriculum Day - Monday 15 December

A friendly reminder that our final Curriculum Day of the year will be on Monday, 15 December. On this day, the staff will be busy planning the teaching and learning for 2026.

I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

Jared Chaplin

Assistant Principal