Principal's Report

As we come to the end of the term we continue to be engrossed in the myriads of events and opportunities that make our school the engaging and fabulous place it is for all.

Student Reporting 2025

Yesterday all parents were able to access their child’s Semester 1 Report for 2025. I am delighted that our staff have become proficient and knowledgeable of the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, ahead of the schedule determined by the Department of Education. This has involved considerable collaboration over several months and some redesigning of the Curriculum in order to meet the content descriptors for each curriculum domain. Of greatest significance is the direction provided by the Department of Education in relation to Mathematics reporting. Previously teachers at all levels reported on three areas of Mathematics: Number and Algebra, Statistics and Probability, and Measurement and Space. For July 2025 the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment authority has decreed that schools will only report on one progression point for Mathematics as opposed to three. Additionally, for July 2025, growth lines which show progression will not appear. These will be reported in December 2025.

The challenge created here for teachers and schools is significant, as it requires teachers in each school to weight each area of the six areas of Mathematics to form a single progression. At some levels, for example, the concentration of statistics and probability is higher and therefore this would be considered with a higher weighting in forming the overall single progression point. Such realities raise the matter of the comparative value of teacher judgment between schools when in fact each school has needed to moderate with their own weightings for each of the six areas. Suffice to add, I am confident that our grasp of Mathematics at Chatham is at a high level and the veracity of our final assessment has been thoughtfully considered by each level of teachers. In contrast, the English 2.0 of the Victorian Curriculum remains as it did previously for reporting purposes.

Parent Teacher Discussions – Wednesday 30th July 2025

I am pleased to report that once again we have provided a full day to enable all parents to meet with their child’s class teachers and specialist personnel. These discussions will be scheduled between 8.30am and 4.30pm with a break for lunch. Today this opportunity was placed live on Compass. I am encouraging every parent to make a time to meet with their child’s class or specialist teacher so that they can discuss their child’s semester 1 Report and where applicable at Year 3 & 5, receive and discuss their child’s Individual NAPLAN result.

Boys and Girls District Basketball Competition and Hoop Time Basketball

On Wednesday 2nd July nine boys and ten girls participated in the Kooyong District Basketball Competition at Bialik College in East Hawthorn. Again, this was a wonderful experience for those involved. This proved to be a highly competitive experience for the teams involved. Thankyou also to our parents who transported them to and from the venue.

At the time of writing our students at Year 5 & 6 have enjoyed a magnificent opportunity at the Hooptime Basketball Round Robin Competition at the State Basketball Centre, Wantirna South. Students have had the opportunity to try out and have been placed into an All-Stars Girl’s Team, an All-Stars Boy's Team and a Future Stars Mixed Team. Rookie teams are also available for players who have not played before or for those who have had limited playing time. This is a long tradition at our school and I convey our appreciation to Mr Boulton for his drive, organisation and leadership in bringing this to fruition.

Student Contributions for 2025

Again, I convey our appreciation for those parents who have already made these crucial contributions to the operation of our school and the specific programs implemented at each level. Without these funds it is impossible to provide what our community often perceives as normal to our long-established traditions and events. At each level the provision of each  student's books and stationary, additional resources, personnel and added sporting and cultural opportunities can only occur if we have these resources. Recently, I wrote to parents indicating just how crucial such resources are to the highly effective functioning of a high performing school. If you require a financial plan to make these contributions, please contact our Business Manager at dimitra.ouliaris@education.vic.gov.au

Library Development and Excitement for All

We are just so inspired by the transformation that is our school library and the contributions of Ms Andrea McLeod, our regular volunteers and others, to enhance opportunities for all students. Currently our students are able to visit the school library with their class teacher for one hour per week, but many use the opportunity to visit on any day at lunchtime. The interest generated is infectious and the following was an account written by our Year 6 English Captains, James and Lyla, that captures the wonderment of this facility.

The library. It has changed so much in the past 3 years. We have had a new carpet with bursts of colour put in to replace the old, plain and boring carpet, hundreds of fresh new books and bookshelves and the walls repainted to make the whole room pop. We also get a new fresh set of books every month and we recently got another book adding on to the community favourite, the Red Back series. Still to this day we are still adding new artworks to the library. Just outside the library we had a competition where you had to guess what the rabbits were reading and the author. Next term we are adding even more colored couches to the two we already have!

Quotes about the library from our students & teachers: 

Maya Henry - Everything! 

Matthew Oswin - A quiet and comfortable place for our students. 

Conor O’Brien - A place where students can let their minds go free. 

Ms Spivak - To learn to read is to light a fire. 

Janet - The Prep students love drawing in the new library! 

Mrs Scantleton - It’s a beautiful large space with gorgeous displays. We are very lucky!

Poppy Ebacioni - it’s time to light up your life with the library.

English Captains: The library is the most comfortable place in the school!

From your English captains, James and Lyla😊

National NAIDOC week

This week actually occurs during the student break for the period 6th July to 13th July 2025 and provides the opportunity to learn more about and to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year which is the 50th year of NAIDOC week and the theme is very apt for us who work in education: ‘The next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy’. I expect that together with our Marrung Lead, Ms Hannah Spivak, we will be exploring these themes more fully in Term 3

Broader Student Behaviour Beyond the Confines of the School

In recent times you might have become aware through the media that from Monday 21st July 2025, under Ministerial Order 1125 Procedures for Suspension and Expulsion in Government Schools, Principals will have the power, in certain circumstances, to suspend or expel students where incidents occur outside of school that significantly impact the health, safety and wellbeing of students or staff at school. This includes matters pertaining to social media platforms. Whilst I do not relish being the local ‘sheriff or boundary rider’, I do completely support the direction and intent here. At the outset, I am pleased to report that the conduct and behaviour of our students, from reports of behaviour outside the school, are generally of a high order. Let it remain so.

However, I take a very dim view of behaviours, sometimes instigated by older secondary school siblings, that are of a cyber bullying nature. If this ever occurs to your child, regardless of when and where, please inform me accordingly. Together with my staff and Assistant Principal, we will always take action in this regard, and those involved will be held accountable and together with their parents, as we resolve matters and get an acceptable outcome for all involved.

Staffing Matters for Term 3

Please be advised that Mrs Jessica Wilson will be taking approved leave for Term 3, 2025 in her role as the Visual Arts teacher at Chatham Primary School. We wish Mrs Wilson well for her time away. I am pleased to advise that Ms Marina Floreancig will replace Mrs Wilson for the duration. Ms Floreancig is well known to our staff and students. Please welcome her to our school for the duration.

We have completed the term a week later than usual and this explains the considerable amount of activity we have immersed our students in at all levels. Students return to Chatham on Monday 21st July 2025. I am hopeful that all families enjoy a different pace over the break and arrive refreshed and enthused about the wonderful opportunities and experiences ahead, as we embark upon Term 3 with unbridled excitement and anticipation.

Christopher Cotching

Principal