Principal's Report

As we come to the end of yet another busy term, there is so much to celebrate and acknowledge at this time. We have had the usual events of Term 3. Yesterday we had our final swimming session at Bialik College. This has presented as a superb opportunity for our students and a magnificent venue with complete privacy and safety.

Chatham Education Support Staff Week Monday 16th September to Friday 20th September 2024

The contributions of our Education Support Staff to the life and cohesion of our school is significant. The following represents our Education Support Staff cohort in 2024. A number of these people are on central Department of Education payroll, whilst others are employed on a casual basis. This week is an opportunity for us to acknowledge, celebrate and appreciate the crucial contribution of these people.

Whilst their roles are prescribed, the actual work they do and cheerfully contribute to is extremely broad. In essence, whilst our Office Staff have a plethora of Department of Education imperatives they need to address on a daily basis, they also do many tasks that strictly they are not required to do. This helpfulness eases the stress and burden on students, parents and other staff, and is greatly appreciated.

Curriculum Provision and Planning for the remainder of 2024 and 2025

Our staff continue to work collaboratively and are engaged in a Chatham Curriculum Provision from Foundation to Year 6 based on changes to the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. This involves teaching staff developing comprehensive Yearly and Term Planners and Assessment approaches, which are thoroughly detailed. Over the period, our teachers are immersed in the adoption of the Chatham Instructional Model based upon the directions and scope of the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model. In order to assist with this development, we are supported with these initiatives by our Education Improvement Leaders Ms Emma Thompson and Ms Lisa Cuthbert. Generally, the sessions provided by these peoples are conducted after school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The work being undertaken in this area is significant, as we align our approach to the new Curriculum.

Significantly, since the development of the new Victorian Curriculum 2.0, there has been a marked increase in the focus of explicit teaching based upon student achievement data and very clear learning intentions, which are differentiated based upon student point of need. In the coming twelve months I believe this will create significant challenges for our school and all schools as we ensure that all students receive the nominated hours of English and Mathematics per week. In my view, events that take a student away from such a focus will be reassessed in terms of relative importance. The current Minister for Education and the supporting bureaucracy have been sending such messages for some time and we do not see this changing.

For the coming Term 4 the teaching staff will be involved in high level professional learning on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. This will include a focus on assessment and moderation; the implementation of the Chatham Primary School Instructional Model; a focus upon learning intentions and related strategies, and a range of specific wellbeing strategies.

$400 School Saving Bonus for every student

Previously you will have received a communication from me concerning the $400 School Saving Bonus. All parents of Government School students are able to access this initiative. I would urge you to read the communications provided by the Minister for Education and the Information Sheet and refer to the web links provided. Importantly, it is crucial that your contact details at the school are up to date. The Department of Education will use the email you have provided previously to update you directly with further information. It is crucial that you advise the School Office by Friday 18th October of any changes to your contact details.

Enrolments for 2025

At this stage we are not entirely confirmed about our enrolments for 2025. Please advise us as soon as possible if you are relocating to another area of metropolitan Melbourne.

More specifically, there are many elements to our curriculum provision that have really generated some exceptional opportunities for our students. The following are merely some of such experiences:

State Schools' Spectacular – John Cain Arena - Thursday 12th, Friday 13th and Saturday 14th September 2024

This was an utterly exceptional performance, and nothing comes close to what the State system of schools produces in such a public place. What a privilege for our students to be chosen to participate in such an event! Whilst our students and their parents got so much out of this experience it was utterly exhausting for Georgie and myself with constant changes of costumes, movement of students through inclement weather and places and a constant sense of urgency to be at the right spot at the right time through seven dances and scene performances.

The performance of our students was magnificent, and they demonstrated unerringly keen focus, high levels of self-regulation and wonderful implementation of the seven dances.

This superb opportunity occurred because of the sheer commitment, adept skills and experience of our Assistant Principal. Thankyou Georgie! 

Aero Schools Aerobics Competition – Year 5 – Sunday 15th September, Nazareth College, Noble Park.

On Sunday morning Ms Twigg, Ms Kirwan and I attended the Aero Aerobics Spring Challenge Competition at Nazareth College, Noble Park. We are delighted with the performance of the five teams, with one team gaining 3rd Place. What we achieve with meagre resources is truly outstanding. Significantly, we note that this same team will attend the National Aero Aerobics Championships scheduled for Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th October 2024 on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Ms Kirwan has kindly offered to accompany the girls and their parents for this wonderful experience.

Thanks again to Georgie for her relentless organisation, commitment and capacities to bring this to fruition.

Aveo visit by our students - Balwyn

On Thursday 5th September we were delighted to take twenty of our Year 5 & 6 students to visit Aveo Care at 46 Banool Road, Balwyn. Previously we had been approached by the Events Organiser at Aveo, Ms Julie Martyn, to visit the facility. Expressions of interest were then made to our students and staff as to whether there was any interest in attending. The experience provided an opportunity for us to develop the social capabilities of our students along with meeting other objectives. After meeting with Ms Martyn, we devised an approach which subsequently worked magnificently. A number of students were then able to provide the speeches they had prepared for the Rotary Speech Competition to the residents, and subsequently took questions on their topic. They then mixed capably with the residents and shared an afternoon tea of some specialty. This was followed by more impromptu speeches made by a number of students. Our students performed wonderfully and the feedback from the residents and Aveo was so positive. Again, we may involve a different cohort in Years 5 & 6 with another visit in Term 4.

Kooyong District Athletics – Monday 9th September 

This was conducted on Monday 9th September at Bill Sewart Reserve, Nunawading, with schools in the Kooyong District Primary School Sports Association. This followed from our somewhat extended House Athletics competition which Mr Boulton implemented over a number of weeks. Unfortunately given the inclement weather at Hagenauer Reserve, Box Hill on 25th July, we needed to return to school. This left many events unfinished and Mr Boulton together with our staff arranged for events to be continued at school over many weeks. Regardless we made the following announcement with some jubilation at our School Assembly on Tuesday 10th September:

• Nugent                  504
• Corbett                  478
• McEvoy                 458
• Fenton                   420

We were delighted that 63 of our students qualified for the Kooyong District Athletics Competition. On this occasion we were sixth above Deepdene Primary School and closely behind a number of others. We are also pleased that eleven (ten boys and one girl) of our students will progress to the Divisional final on Monday 14th October at Tom Kelly Athletic Track, Doncaster. We are delighted that both Mr Barry and Mr Boulton continue to coach and support these students in preparation for this event.

Again, I convey our appreciation to Mr Walter Boulton who inspired our students and enabled this to occur with a high level of organisation and enthusiasm.

Hoop Time Basketball – Years 3-6

This is a traditional Chatham events with fifty students in Years 3 & 4 involved in five teams in a Round Robin Competition at the Nunawading Basketball Centre on 14th August Additionally, forty students and four teams in Years 5 & 6 participated in a similar competition at the State Basketball Centre, Wantirna South, on 26th August. Our students relished the experience and were competitive in the experience. This situation involves schools from across the eastern region of Victoria.

School Production

As indicated, this event is scheduled to be held on Thursday 14th November 2024 at Doncaster Secondary College. Mr James Rampant is progressing matters and we continue to seek support personnel to assist with the event. More information will be provided in the coming weeks.

Again, I hope you are able to enjoy a couple of weeks away from your normal school routines in peace and safety. We have a great deal to extend and challenge us in the wonderful fourth term ahead. 

Christopher Cotching

Principal

Please help us by reminding parents that parking illegally and ignoring crossing supervisor instructions can endanger the safety of everyone.

Our crossing supervisors work hard to keep these areas safe and are supported by parking officers who patrol our school zones and issue fines to motorists who are not following these rules.  

Key points you are invited to share in your next school newsletter:

1. Respect crossing supervisors – they’re crucial for student safety.
2. Stop walking when they whistle once. Wait away from the curb.
3. Cross when they whistle twice. When instructed, walk promptly and directly across.

Adhere to parking and road rules: 

1. Kiss and Ride zones at schools are for quick drop-offs or pickups only – you have a two-minute limit, it is not a parking spot. 
2. Illegal parking compromises safety and risks a fine. 
3. Don’t double-park, stop in bus zones or park too close to the school crossing (within 20 metres before or 10 metres after it). 

Consider alternative transport: Walking or riding to school with your child is a healthy and enjoyable way to avoid congestion at drop-off or pick-up time. 

School Crossing Supervisors are only there to help your children to safely cross the road. They do not enforce parking restrictions. 

For more information, reply to this email or call the School Crossings Program team on 9278 4774.