Principal Team Updates

Welcome back!

Welcome back to the 2026 school year! A special welcome to our Prep students, new students and new staff. We hope you have an enjoyable Croydon Hills Primary School experience!

I would like to acknowledge our OSHC team for delivering an outstanding Vacation Care program over the holidays. Thank you also to our teaching staff, education support staff, and administration team, who have given up time during the break to ensure everything is ready for the start of the year. Tuesday's and Wednesday’s professional learning and planning days have also been invaluable in supporting our start-up preparations.

I would also like to recognise our grounds and maintenance team for their hard work preparing the school site so beautifully for our students’ return today.

Over the holidays, our planned facilities improvements have progressed well. These include significant progress on the replacement and automation of 30 doors, as well as the installation of new access ramps. Unfortunately, due to Tuesday's extreme heat, one or two of the school’s main egress points are not yet 100% complete; however, these will be finalised in the coming days. Once complete, works will then move on to other areas such as the Stadium, Library and PAC, which have multiple access points and are expected to cause minimal disruption.

We are very much looking forward to a positive and successful year. I must congratulate all students, particularly the Preps, on how settled each of the classes are. Well done!

As for me, I am looking forward to commencing some Long Service Leave this term. I will be at school tomorrow and Friday before taking two weeks of leave. I will then return for a short period mid-term before continuing my leave in the final four weeks of the term. During this time, Assistant Principal Julie Reid will be Acting Principal, supported by Assistant Principals Bree Jennings (Teaching and Learning) and Jordan Tate (Wellbeing and Inclusion).

Call for School Council Nominations

Each year, Victorian Government schools are required to formally call for nominations for members of the School Council. Croydon Hills Primary School’s School Council consists of eight elected parents, four elected staff positions, the Department Nominee (the Principal), and the option of two co-opted positions.

Elected members stand for two-year terms with the option of then nominating for further terms.

This year we have:

• Four vacancies in the Parent Member Category (and one-off cycle, one-year term)
• Two vacancies in the Staff Employee Category

An additional two co-opted members will be determined at the School Council Public meeting on Wednesday 18th February. In the past, one of these positions has been filled by a representative from the parent community, Croydon Hills Parents Association (CHAPS). This year, the School Council is excited to offer a place to a parent who has children enrolled at both Croydon Hills Primary School and Croydon Hills Kindergarten. 

Nomination forms are attached to yesterday's Compass Post. Hard copies can be obtained from the office. All nomination forms must be lodged by 4.00 pm on Wednesday 4th February. Forms can be submitted in person to the school office or via email to croydon.hills.ps@education.vic.gov.au

If the number of nominations exceeds the number of positions, a ballot will be conducted, closing on Wednesday 11th February at 4pm.

If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect will be distributed calling for further nominations.

For more information, please:

• View the Department’s Information for parents
• Connect with Principal, Christian Holdsworth, or Vice President Jessica Kaaden

Please head to Compass to find the:

Notice of Election form

Parent Self Nomination form

Parent Nomination form

School Employee Self Nomination form

School Employee Nomination form

Christian Holdsworth, Jordan Tate, Bree Jennings & Julie Reid