Principal's Report

As I write this final newsletter for 2023, we are still greatly immersed in the life of our school over these remaining few days. We have our Year 6 Graduation celebrations tonight, the Year 6 final excursion tomorrow, class parties from 1:00pm tomorrow, students visiting their 2024 classes on Monday, and the distribution of end of year Student Reports this week. These are currently being reviewed in readiness for distribution.

We also have our final day breakfast for Year 6 students and the rituals and events leading up to our final assembly. Whilst we are preparing for these events, we are also ensuring that matters are in place for early 2024 with key events on the calendar and staffing and resource matters secured for 2024. The following continue to be of abiding interest.

We will endeavour to continue to use Compass to keep you informed of developments in the few remaining days.

Staff and Organisational Arrangements for 2024

By this stage, all parents will be very aware of the structural arrangements in place for 2024. Over the last few weeks, we have been involved in the process of confirming arrangements with staffing as positions are advertised and appointments are made. Whilst the provision for staffing at Chatham remains relatively stable, we do say farewell to a number of staff at this time. Mr Rafeal Fernandez has achieved a leadership role in a school in the northern suburbs with the Catholic Education Office. This is a significant achievement for Mr Fernandez and we wish him well in his marvellous appointment from 2024. Mr Fernandez has been a positive and enduring contributor to our school since arriving in 2019 and his capacities as a highly capable educator and contributor to so much in our school will be missed. We also say goodbye to Ms Sophie Semerdjian from Year 2. Sophie has elected to leave the teaching profession and we wish her well in her new pathways and choices ahead. Additionally, we say farewell to Ms Edwina Aikman who will be appointed as Assistant Principal in a school in South East Victoria Region from the beginning of 2024. We have been very grateful for the energy, drive and skills Ms Aikman has provided in her implementation of the Physical Education and Sport Program in Terms 3 & 4. Additionally, Ms Lisa Gilbert will be continuing in her teaching role at Serpell Primary School and will not be returning to Chatham in 2024. We wish Ms Gilbert well in the times ahead as she continues her role at Serpell Primary School.

Arrangements for 2024 are as follows:

We are currently in the process of engaging in a selection process for a teacher for the Physical Education and Sport role for 2024.

We also have a 0.2 position in Year 1/2M to be confirmed.

We will advise you when we are able to determine and announce the relevant appointments.

In summary, our students in Preparatory to Year 2 will be placed on the upper level of the Junior Building. The Performing Arts/Music area will now be located opposite the Visual Arts Centre on the lower level of the Junior Building.

On Friday Mr Rampant and I were delighted to meet up with Yanai Morris and Dassana to discuss some exciting plans for Instrumental Music and Performing Arts in 2024. Our instrumental music provision will be located in the area currently occupied by our Year 4 classes.

Student Placement for 2024

Over the last few weeks my teaching staff have given careful thought and attention in relation to class placements for 2024, student preferences for friends and a plethora of other matters. The location of students to classes is a complex task and one best left with the judgment, experience and insight of the teachers who have been with our students over the course of 2023. In relation to placement, I thank those parents who took the opportunity to inform me of any concerns they had for their children and I have assured that such matters will be thoughtfully considered along with other sources of information and perspectives.

Students will meet their new teachers for 2024 on Monday 18th December 2023.

School Council – December 2023

We were delighted to experience our final School Council meeting on Monday 11th December. Again, this was an engaging and enjoyable experience with Councillors giving their thoughts to the benefits of our class and organisational structure, parent contributions, facilities, policy matters, the Year 5 & 6 Camp, a new initiative entitled, ‘Chatham Gives’ and amongst other matters, planning for 2024. These School Council meetings occur about ten times per year and are further supported by the involvement by School Councillors in the areas of six Committees of School Council. These comprise Buildings and Grounds, Communication and School Development, Education, Finance, Fundraising and Services. Again, I convey our appreciation of the time given by these people to contribute to the benefit of our school. These people comprise:

Year 5 – Speaking with Confidence Evening

It was wonderful to experience the burgeoning confidence of our Year 5 students on Wednesday 29th November 2023 with their Speaking with Confidence presentations. This is part of our enduring culture of events at Chatham and has been a great foray into the leadership roles our students perform at Year 6. The prospect of having to craft and deliver a speech to an audience is quite challenging for our students at this level, and for the first time. They all did an exceptional job and really rose to the occasion. We look forward to their further development in 2024.

Parent Contributions for 2024

I am pleased to advise that at our December meeting of the School Council we finalised arrangements for seeking Parent Contributions for 2024. The funds provided by parents are exceptionally important and schools cannot function effectively without such contributions. This year we have provided even more information to parents regarding the use of these funds for all levels.

Broadly, there are three areas that parents may reasonably be requested to make a payment or contributions:

1. Curriculum Contributions which parents/guardians pay the school to provide activities, stationery and materials which the school deems necessary for students to learn the Curriculum.
2. Other Contributions which parents/guardians are invited to donate to the school for non-curriculum items and activities that relate to the school’s functions and objectives.
3. Extra-Curricular Items and Activities which are offered on a user-pays basis and which parents/guardians may choose whether their child accesses or participants in (for example, excursions, camps, swimming program, extracurricular programs or activities). In 2023 families will receive requests for payment via Compass as events occur.

This year we have gone to considerable lengths to explain in detail how these funds will be expended over the course of the year. The Finance Committee of the School Council has an important role in overseeing all payments and there is considerable diligence in ensuring our spending is consistent with our approved budget, and the communications and intent provided to parents.

Please be advised that information was provided to all parents in hard copy on Wednesday 13th December. Again, in order to provide the quality of educational provision we have at Chatham your contributions here are not only crucial, but pivotal. We would ask that these contributions are paid by Friday 16th February 2024.

Myriad of Building Matters

Whilst we have been leading and managing this school in the core areas of curriculum, human resources and finance, a disproportionate amount of my waking hours are spent on facilities both during school hours and after hours, and usually weekends. What is always required in these projects is unrelenting time by a Principal to persist and follow up all manner of matters, most of which ironically, they do not have the skills and knowledge to entirely undertake. There has been a veritable downpour of works which are now progressing in a more manageable manner. The following are of interest:

Capital Works Program

Whilst the works have been completed, they are yet to be fully signed off. Once this has been done there is a defect period of twelve months which applies. Already we have had builders from Prime Build Pty Ltd out with their sub - contractors to complete defects in relation to doors, electrics and plumbing. On Thursday 7th December and Friday 8th December a number of contractors were attending to matters and addressing a number of defects and / or with some negotiation, some related and important variations. On Friday 15th December some minor concreting tasks were completed. We continue to liaise closely with Mr Trevor Power from the Victorian School Building Authority regarding the quantum of funds available and are having discussions about needed works that are consistent with VSBA priorities and policies. Included in this array of possibilities could be the repainting of the Junior Building externally. Whilst one quote for approximately $34,880.00 has been obtained from Furlong Painting Pty Ltd, the VSBA will seek other quotes for this work. There could be a possibility of these works being done in the Term 1 vacation. Again, these allocations do not derive from school funds.

Roofing Matters

We are delighted that the works completed by Power Partners through the direction of the VSBA has been marvellous. This has occurred over the period from early August to November. We have worked closely with senior officers from Power Partners and have been able to negotiate and have approved some additional works outside the contract provided. The works involved re-pointing the roof, cleaning the terracotta tiles and replacing many that were cracked or broken, replacing and painting of gutters and downpipes, replacing and/or painting fascia and related timberwork and repairing internal leaks. Again, the close relationship with the Site Manager and daily monitoring of events was significant in ensuring the integrity of the works and the safety of students, parents and staff. This attention to detail and follow up has been unrelenting.

Solar Panels

The inclement weather of recent times has resulted in delays to the new panels being erected. We negotiated with the contractor, as directed by the VSBA to replace the panels and complete the relevant connections on Sunday 10th December. These works have now been completed. The new solar panels have been placed on the northern side of the Junior Building, which we hope is easier to access for maintenance and cleaning purposes. Again, we look forward to the contribution this will make to our electricity usage and account.

Watering System – Grassed area to the North of the Buildings

The destruction of the watering system as a result of the removal of the old Music Room is now being rectified and enhanced. At this stage after consultation with Mr Trevor Power from the VSBA, I have been able to engage Mr Jon Eager, our electrician, to ensure a power supply with an appropriate box to the northern wall of the Junior Building. This is now in place and the RainBird unit, which controls the watering system, will be securely placed and locked. Mr Graham Board from Irritech Pty Ltd made himself available at short notice to do investigative works on Friday 8th December and complete what is required on Saturday 16th December. I am hopeful that between Mr Graham Board and Mr Jon Eager we can resolve the outstanding matters. Mr Trevor Power has advised that I can expect that the Project residual will cover the cost of this calamity. On a positive note, the arrangements to be put in place will be a far greater improvement on the previous set up.

As we come to a close to what has been an exceptional year I hope and trust that all families have a relaxed and joyous Christmas and festive arrangements with loved ones, and all remain safe to resume with great anticipation in 2024. 

At Chatham, our students from Preparatory to Year 6 all resume school from 9:00am on Wednesday 31st January 2024.

Christopher Cotching

Principal