From Mr Ridgway

Welcome Back

I hope everyone had a safe, enjoyable, and restful break. As we return to school, we are excited to dive into another term filled with engaging learning and activities.

What's Ahead: Our senior students will have the opportunity to build teamwork and resilience while enjoying the great outdoors in the Year 5 and Year 6 camps, students will showcase their athletic skills and school spirit in the district cross country, we will celebrate the important people in our students' lives with a special afternoon tea on Mothers and Special Persons Day, there will be opportunities to discuss your child's progress and set goals for the term ahead during the parent/carer and teacher learning progress meetings, we will welcome prospective future students and give them a taste of school life during the 2026 Foundation School Experience sessions, engaging learning experiences outside the classroom will enrich our curriculum through various incursions and excursions, and our Year 3/4 students will develop essential swimming skills and water safety knowledge during their swimming sessions.

We look forward to a term filled with growth, discovery, and memorable experiences. Let's make Term 2 a fantastic one!

ANZAC Day 2025

Yesterday afternoon, our school community came together to honour the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country during our ANZAC Day Ceremony. 

We were privileged to have Captain Andrew Newman from the Royal Australian Navy attend and participate in the ceremony. His presence and words added profound significance to our commemoration.

Thank you to our School Captains for their leadership in hosting the ceremony. I would also like to extend my thanks to all the students, staff, and families who attended.

ANZAC Day is a time for us to reflect on the courage, resilience, and spirit of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) who landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. It is a day to remember not only those who fought and died in that campaign but also all Australians who have served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The values of bravery, mateship, and sacrifice that ANZAC Day embodies continue to inspire us and remind us of the importance of peace and unity.

Thank you once again to everyone who made this ceremony a meaningful and memorable event. 

Term 1 Parent/Carer and Teacher Learning Progress Meetings

Our Term 1 Parent/Carer and Teacher Learning Progress Meetings start next week and continue into Week 3. Parent/Carer and Teacher Conversations provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s Term 1 progress and areas for growth. These conversations are a valuable way to strengthen the partnership between home and school. Bookings have now closed on Sentral.

2026 Foundation Enrolments are now open

We are pleased to announce that Foundation enrolments for the 2026 school year are now open!

If you have a child starting Foundation in 2026, we encourage you to submit your enrolment forms early. This helps our office plan effectively for the year ahead, particularly with staffing and class sizes.

If you already have children attending Cheltenham East and have a sibling ready to begin their school journey, please ensure their enrolment is submitted as soon as possible.

Help us spread the word within the community – we are now accepting Foundation enrolments and are excited to welcome the next generation of Cheltenham East learners! 

CEPS Election BBQ Fundraiser

Our Parents Committee will be running a Fundraiser Sausage Sizzle at the school on Election Day, Saturday 3 May, to raise funds to support our school.

For this to be a success, we need volunteers to help on the day. Please click on this link to sign up. https://signup.com/go/tBPfMNd

Mothers and Special Persons Afternoon

We are delighted to invite all our wonderful mothers and special persons to join us for a special afternoon tea on Friday 9 May from 2.00-3.00pm in our school hall. This event is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, connect, and celebrate the important females in our students' lives.

Event Details:

Date: Friday 9 May

Time: 2.00-3:00pm

Location: School Hall

We look forward to seeing you there for an afternoon filled with connection whilst enjoying some delicious treats.

Call for Volunteers: We are also seeking fathers to assist with the setup, cleanup, and serving of food during the event. Your help would be greatly appreciated to ensure the afternoon runs smoothly.

If you are available to assist, please contact Robert Ridgway at robert.ridgway@education.vic.gov.au.

A reminder also about the Mother's Day Stall. See the Cheltenham East News page for more information.

Camp/Excursion/Incursion Consent 

This is a friendly reminder about our parent/guardian consent deadline for students to attend excursions, incursions and camps. 

In support of staff and the challenge of chasing up consent on the day of an event, parents/carers are required to provide consent before the indicated deadline for each event. Unfortunately, there will be no flexibility in this process.

I urge everyone to provide consent as soon as events become active on Sentral. Should you require support regarding event payment, please do not hesitate to contact the office. 

Hats are required until April 30th

As part of our commitment to keeping our students safe and healthy, we would like to remind everyone that hats are required to be worn at school until 30 April. This is in line with our Sun Protection policy to protect our students from harmful UV rays. You can access the policy here

Please ensure your child continues to bring a hat to school every day to stay sun-safe during outdoor activities. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and healthy environment for all our students.

Have a wonderful long weekend,

Robert