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

Info@champslessons.com

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

Young Archies FAQ

Young Archies Past Winners

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

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