Principal's Report

We now come to one of the most engaging and absorbing terms in our wonderful experience at Chatham Primary School. This has been an extraordinary term as we have had fifty days of orchestrated, diverse and enlightening activity with highly-focussed teaching and learning. What has been achieved for each and every one of our students is remarkable.

In the coming fortnight there will be continuing tasks undertaken to complete the Capital Works Program at our school. In summary the following are of interest:

Year 3 & 4 School Camp to Arrabri Lodge, East Warburton

We are currently in the considerable process of organising the Year 3 & 4 Camp to Arrabri Lodge in East Warburton for Monday 20th November to Wednesday 22nd November 2023. Currently Mr Clarke together with Ms Kirwan is organising this event. We expect that we will have in order of 85 plus students attending this superb experience. Information about this experience was provided to all students in Year 3 & 4 yesterday. Many of you will be aware of the inordinate complexities attached to conducting School Camps, as reported in the media in recent times. I am highly grateful for the flexibility and dexterity of my staff in enabling this experience to happen with all sorts of creative responses.

The planning for school camps is considerable and sadly many schools are no longer providing this opportunity for 2024. The approval process for a School Camp is quite detailed and as such must be approved formally by the School Council and the Department of Education and Training. We will finalise matters for our School Camp with our School Council on Monday 16th October 2023. Nevertheless, we are proceeding with great energy and focus.

We would ask that the forms provided yesterday are returned as early as possible in the first week of Term 4.

Year 6 Camp to Lakewood Park, Forge Creek, East Gippsland

The planning for this event is also of interest at this time. We are currently in the process of liaising with the camp managers and owners for a Year 6 Camp to be held from 5th – 9th February 2024. This is an exceptional Camp experience for Year 6 and offers a range of water activities and experiences like no other camp in our experience. Importantly, whilst there are less and less schools continuing with camps, this particular camp is highly sought and particularly the week in question. We are keen to keep this booking and time slot for 2024 and beyond. This camp includes tubing, sailing, paddle boarding, rafting, rope courses, hut building and archery, along with hut building and a wide scope of other activities. I expect that information about this Camp will be provided to parents very early in Term 4. A deposit will be sought early next Term. We would encourage all students in Year 6 to attend.

New Student Toilets 

At the time of writing, the final alterations to this area are being undertaken by Prime Build Pty Ltd. The changes to the flooring are to be completed shortly and from Term 4 we expect our students will access the new toilets. This will also involve the portable toilets being removed. We can then look forward to the asphalt being prepared thereafter. I continue to be in daily contact with senior officers from the Victorian School Building Authority to get this done as efficiently as possible.

Roofing and Painting of the Front Facade

This is expected to be completed by Tuesday 10th October and with tiles being replaced, new gutters, downpipes, flashing and fascia. This is on schedule for completion. Whilst this is occurring, we are also using the opportunity to re-paint the façade of the school and make some improvements here whilst the scaffolding is in place. The painting of this area commenced yesterday and will continue on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 18th September. We look forward to this being completed by Furlong Painting Pty Ltd with support and liaison with the roofing contractors Power Partners and ourselves. Given the scaffolding is already in place, this is a superb outcome and I convey our appreciation for the assistance of all parties involved in this regard.

Swimming Program - Friday 8th September to 14th September inclusive

At the time of writing, we continue to enjoy the benefits of our Swimming Program. The provision of a five-day program is realistic for us given the considerable demands on the school curriculum and the continuing balancing task of ensuring less disruption to high order teaching and learning experiences, particularly in English and Mathematics. At this stage we anticipate providing a Swimming Program in the last week of Term 3 in 2024. Additionally, we are also considering the timing of our House Swimming Carnival, which will be held in February 2024.

Divisional Athletics – 10th October 2023

We are delighted that the following students will be involved at the Divisional Athletics event at Tom Kelly Athletics Track, Doncaster, after progressing from their House Athletics competition to the District Athletics competition.

We wish them all the best and encourage them to practice where practicable during the vacation.

There is so much to celebrate and recognise in the daily achievements of students in our school. It has been a term of immense achievements with high levels of collaboration, cooperation and understanding between students, staff and parents. It augurs well for a magnificent Term 4 and an extraordinary Grand Fair scheduled for Saturday 25th November 2023.

Enjoy some time away from it and let us hope the weather continues to brighten our days.

Christopher Cotching

Principal