Principal's News

We have hit the final week of August and when we return on Monday morning, we are right on the verge of spring ideally finding ourselves with some warmer days and some beautiful spring weather. I am most impressed with the way in which our students have switched over to our Sun Smart policy wearing their hats at recess and lunchtime. As we hit spring, we face some warmer temperatures and the UV factor will increase. 

I am certain, like many of you the last 30 hours have seen you look on in horror as the circumstances and events that have impacted on Nepal. The images alone were terribly confronting and a reminder of just how powerful mother nature can be. My thoughts are with the many thousands of families impacted, it appears at this stage that many tourists and Australians were caught up in the incident and I think about how significant that would be for those families that are impacted. 

On a brighter note, I thank you for taking a moment to engage in our newsletter and work through some of the highlights from around our school. 

Book Week

Book Week has been a lot of fun so far and it all began on Monday with our book character parade. Our students really got into the spirit of things and looked amazing, with such a huge variety of characters. Book Week is all about celebrating reading and throughout the week our students have had many opportunities to do so. 

Congratulations to Bella (Kinder), Freddie (Prep), Oliver H (Year 1), Louis L (Year 2), Finn (Year 3), Jude (Year 4), Owen (Year 5) and Ada (Year 6) who were awareded our best dressed winners from our Book Parade. 

It has been wonderful to see the enjoyment and excitement of our students as they have embraced the week. A reminder though, reading is critical to ensure good life outcomes. That’s why we ask that our students read every night, but also hopefully for enjoyment. A love of literature can be developed early but then carry through to our adult years. The difference between reading daily and not all is estimated to be around 4 million words per year for primary school students. That matters. 

Our Book Week extends into next week with our Book Fair hosted by Avenue Book Store available for students to purchase books, sales from this opportunity directly benefit our school and our literacy budget. 

School Enrolments 2027

Throughout the last fortnight, we have worked to support prospective families and offer 2027 enrolment opportunities. We have another large cohort of students entering the school as preps for next year and interest in the school is really exciting. I have ran three separate school tours this week alone with families already planning for 2028 and beyond. This says a lot about the school, the teaching and learning programs and the work that our teaching staff and leadership team have undertaken to build the school. As we move into Term 4, we begin welcoming our prep families with our school readiness and transitions sessions planned and our Prep Information evening to be held early in Term 4. 

How Good

• Are our CPS Fete committee and the parents that took the time to meet on Monday evening for our CPS Fete Meeting. Thank You!
• Are our families who supported our Book Week, spending considerable time making costumes and celebrating literature
• Is a Grill'd Burger (in particular an Elsternwick Grill'd burger), we are on the jars down there, come down and lend your support. 
• Is positive feedback, our Life Education educator made a point of coming to me and commenting on how respectful and well behaved our students were in our Life Education sessions. 
• Is the sun rising a little earlier in the morning, we now have light prior to 7am! 
• Is a contextual school celebration, we have our Japanese Undokai day on Wednesday, how much fun will this be! A unique CPS celebration! 

Well Done

Congratulations to Iris S, Olivia B-P and Nuvee S who were our Team Kids MAD (Making A Difference) Award winners for this fortnight. Further to that, congratulations to Owen (PE), Luka G (STEM), Marco (Visual Arts) and Gigi (Performing Arts) that achieved our Specialist Awards at our last assembly. 

School Council

Our School Council meet on Tuesday evening for the final meeting of Term 3, over the last fortnight we have engaged in some terrific sub-committee meetings and discussions held focusing in on buildings and grounds, school engagement, finance and education and policy. Our school council members continue to give up their time to voluntarily support the school and their input and support continues to support some of the exciting aspects to life at Caulfield Primary School. 

Working Bee

Spring is here and our school grounds and classrooms could use a little TLC. Have you got half an hour or a little more time up your sleeve next Friday? Either way, we would love your help!

• What: Spring Working Bee 
• When: Friday 4th September
• Time: 3 - 5pm
•  

Staff, School Council and the Parents and Friends Club (PFC) members have put together an action list, including everything from some quick fixes to bigger tasks. There is something for everyone!

Check out the action list at the following link - Working Bee Jobs. Pop your name next to any job that takes your fancy.

Got any handy skills, a trade background, or just something you're good at? Add it to the skills log tab. And if you've got tools or equipment that you don't mind bringing along, add them to the tools log tab too. Hope to see lots of the school community next Friday after school at 3:00pm, please sign in out the front of the Common Room where you can view and sight OHS and volunteer induction documents. 

Special Visitors

We have had some special visitors around the school over the last few weeks, it was lovely to see Miss Ryan and baby Louis join us for our Book Parade on Monday morning and we recently welcomed Kato sensei and baby Mia and Mrs Guzman and baby Eva to the school. There were lots of hugs and no shortage of staff wanting to offer their assistance. All three bubs and their mums are doing well and their smiles and energy was a great highlight for each of us. 

First Aid

A shout out to our staff who have spent a considerable amount of time upskilling their knowledge around first aid culminating in our practical session on Wednesday afternoon where we undertook CPR training and our face to face assessment. I appreciate the level of care and professionalism that our staff apply to their duty of care and their application and attention to detail on Wednesday afternoon is a great credit to them. 

I didn't think I would be saying this a few months ago, but I am looking forward to watching some footy this weekend and hoping to see the Blues get over the Demons on Saturday evening. Enjoy the weekend, whatever you have planned. I look forward to seeing you around the school next week. 

Take Care, 

Edward Strain

Principal