What's Happening at CHPS
Performing Arts News
Welcome back for another joyful, jam packed year at Croydon Hills Primary School. As you are aware there is a multitude of extracurricular programs starting in week 2. The extracurricular opportunities at CHPS are a way for students to demonstrate the school value of excellence by extending their knowledge and skills in their favourite specialist areas.
The extracurricular programs on offer this term are:
Performing Arts:
Rock band: Year 3-6
Monday Lunchtime
Select entry
Contact: David Tweedie
Pop Choir: Years 3-6
Tuesday Lunchtime
Open entry
Contact: Amelie Watson
Amelie.watson@education.vic.gov.au
Dance Club: Years 3-6
Wednesday lunchtime
Open entry
Contact: Brodie Sainsbury-King
brodie.sainsbury-king@education.vic.gov.au
Musical Excellence Choir: Years 3-6
Thursday morning (8am)
Audition entry
Contact: Brodie Sainsbury-King
Croydon Hills Additional Music Program - Instrumental lessons (all levels)
By appointment
enrolled entry
Contact: David Tweedie
https://www.champlessons.com/enrolment
Visual Arts
Contact: Claudia Michielin
Claudia.michelin@education.vic.gov.au
Drawing Club: Years 3-6
Monday lunchtime
Open entry
Young Archies Competition/Art Academy Excellence Program: Year 6
Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime
Open entry (20 students capacity)
for more information please refer to the newsletter item posted by Claudia Michielin.
Library
Contact: Jessica Ward
jessica.ward@education.vic.gov.au
Library Club: All levels
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday lunchtime
Open entry
Science
Contact: Steve Crook
steve.crook@education.vic.gov.au
Garden Club: Year 2-6
Friday recess
Open entry
Physical Education
Contact: Laura Yorke
Laura.yorke@education.vic.gov.au
Running Club: All levels
Monday and Wednesday morning (8:45AM)
Open entry
LOTE
Contact: Bethany Kimber
bethany.kimber@education.vic.gov.au
Culture Club: All levels
Monday recess
Open Entry
For all open entry extracurricular programs students in the eligible year level are able to show up on the day of the first session and sign up. Select entry programs follow processes outlined in the Extra-Curricular Programs and Activities Student Selection Policy. Audition entry programs require students to go through an audition process and are selected based on meeting the criteria in their audition.
For more information about our extracurricular programs please be sure to get in touch with their designated contact person.
Brodie Sainsbury-King
PE News
Team Vic Trials (year 5 & 6 students):
Over the next couple of weeks, the PE and senior teachers will be running trials for the SSV Team Vic elite athlete pathway. This is an extension program where 3 students can be selected per sport to represent CHPS and try to make the Victorian Squad. This is a process where by the PE teachers will nominate the 3 students and the Principal is required to endorse the nomination. Further information will be discussed during Friday Sport tomorrow but if your child has represented their sport at an elite level then we would encourage them to fill out the compass survey that will be sent out to students and the PE staff will receive their survey application. If a student is successful, the PE staff will notify families of next steps.
The 5 sports that are currently open for nomination are:
Cricket (boys) – girls will be later in the year
Basketball (boys & girls)
Soccer (boys) – girls will be later in the year
Netball (girls) – boys will be later in the year
AFL (boys) – girls will be later this term
PE Lessons – Injuries & illness:
We would just like to remind families that if your child is unwell or has injured themselves and are not able to participate in their PE lesson that week, can parents please email their PE teacher so we can keep a record of this. We would also like to help guide students with what activities they can still participate in. If we don’t receive an email, we will presume students are fit to participate.
2026 District Swimming: Year 3-6
District Swimming is one of our first major sporting events in Term 1 – Monday 23rd February (week 5) so for those who may swim competitively outside of school or for anyone interested in heading to the pools, you can trial your favourite stoke!
Qualifying times are below - students are required to be able to swim 50m in their preferred stroke confidently.
Please note: if you are not far off the qualifying times (2-3 seconds) we encourage you to still get in touch!
Qualifying Times:
| Stroke | All age groups |
| 50m Freestyle | Under 55 secs |
| 50m Backstroke | Under 60 secs |
| 50m Breaststroke | Under 65 secs |
| 50m Butterfly | Under 65 secs |
If you would like to submit your time to me, please email laura.yorke@education.vic.gov.au to be considered for District Swimming.
Senior Gala Day #1: Year 5 & 6
Our Senior Summer Gala Days are coming up on Tuesday 2nd March (week 6) and Tuesday 10th March (week 7). Over the next couple of weeks, we will be trialling students for team selection of the various different sports: Basketball, Cricket, Sofcrosse, Tennis, Volley bounce & Tee ball.
If you are available to assist with trainings on a Friday (12:15-1:30pm) or help on a Gala Day (9:30 - 2:30pm), please contact Jarrod Butcher via email jarrod.butcher@education.vic.gov.au
A compass event will be sent out in the coming weeks for parent consent and payment.
Laura Yorke & Jarrod Butcher 🙂
Visual Arts News
Young Archies Competition/Year 6 Art Academy Excellence Program
Welcome back to Croydon Hills for another creative year.
Our first Art Academy session for the year is open to Year 6 students. In Term 1, Year 6 students are invited to sign up for Art Academy, 20 students in total, where we will be focussing on creating portraits for the Young Archies Award, a competition for creative arts students.
The Young Archies is a competition for young artists to submit a portrait of a person who is important in their life. The competition requirements state that the portrait is ‘painted from life’ and that the subject has a sitting for their portrait – just like the Archibald Prize.
You can create a portrait from memory or take a photograph to use for reference. Students who opt into this opportunity will be required to bring a current photograph with them during their Art Academy sessions and use it as a reference point, and create their work at school.
Students will have ‘studio’ time during Art Academy to complete their artwork. Materials will be provided for students when at school to assist them with their creative journey. Schools can only enter 10 entries. This will mean we will be required to hold an internal competition if we have more than 10 students participating in Art Academy. Once we have our final 10, then students, along with their parent/guardian will need to fill in an online form that must be mailed, with artwork, to Art Gallery NSW. Internal entries will close Friday 30th April at 5pm.
If interested, students will need to commit to attending Art Academy on the allocated days and students can take work home to develop further their ideas on the proviso it is returned for out studio days. Art Academy will be held every lunchtime on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Groups can be split over the 2 days to accommodate for any other club interests.
Here is the link so you can read more about the competition
Enter the Young Archies Information
If you feel that your child may enjoy this opportunity, have a chat to them and click on the links provided about the competition. A Google Form will be ready for Week 2 for students to sign up. Again there are a total of 20 places available for Art Academy with and internal School competition to decide the final 10 to be submitted as a school.
Thanks
Claudia Michielin - Visual Arts Teacher