Cheltenham East Primary School Newsletter

From Mr Ridgway

Rosie Scott - She's Having Twins

It is with great delight and excitement that I inform you that Miss Scott (Year 1 Teacher) is expecting not just one, but two little bundles of joy later this year! Yes, that's right, she's having twins! Please join me in celebrating this wonderful news for Miss Scott and her husband Eli. I couldn't be happier for them both. With a due date around early December, I will be in communication with the families of 1B about Miss Scott's teaching replacement later in Term 3.

 

Congratulations to Patrick Hughes

I am writing to inform you about an upcoming change in the teaching staff for 4A during Semester 2. Mr Hughes will be taking a 12-month leave of absence from our school to take up a position with the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) commencing on Monday, 7 July. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr Hughes for his ongoing support of all 4A students to date this year, both academically and socially/emotionally. Mr Hughes has been a highly valued staff member by his students, colleagues and families for many years, and I wish him all the best as he embarks on his new role.

 

During Mr Hughes’s absence, I am excited to announce that Mrs Lauren Harris and Mrs Emma Cecil will be returning from family leave to job share as the 4A teachers during the second half of the year. They are both long-standing CEPS staff members and exceptional teachers. Welcome back Lauren and Emma!

2026 Foundation Enrolments

2026 Foundation Enrolments are now open. All information about 2025 enrolments can be accessed on our school website or by using the QR code on our enrolment real estate boards at the front of our school (Silver St and Coolac St). School tours continue to be in high demand, with many families continuing to show an interest in the high-quality academic and values-based education that our school provides. The school is also offering several 'school experience' sessions for prospective families. Information about these sessions can also be accessed through our website. For our 2026 siblings, a reminder to enrol at your earliest convenience.

Walk or Wheel to School (WOW)

 

The WOW Kingston Program is the 'Walk or Wheel' to school program for primary schools in the City of Kingston held over 6 weeks during Term 2 of the school year. WOW Kingston is a travel behaviour change program that encourages primary school students to travel to school by more active modes such as walking and cycling and decrease car dependency. 

 

Thank you to all the students and families who supported our Walk or Wheel to School initiative over the past 6 weeks. It was a tight competition across the classrooms with 1A, 1B, 2C, 4A, 4B, 4C and 5A having above 70% participation. There could only be one winner, and it came winning margin of less than 1%. Congratulations to the students of 1B for being our 2025 WOW winners!

 

Thank you to Tara for organising this event for your school.

Racism is not tolerated at Cheltenham East Primary School

Our school is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive environment where racism is not tolerated. Racism harms students’ mental health, learning and sense of belonging. We celebrate the diversity of cultures, ethnicities and faiths of all our students. It is up to all of us at Cheltenham East Primary School to make our school a place that is free of racism and where everyone feels respected and can learn in a safe and inclusive environment.

 

What are we doing to prevent racism?

 

Cheltenham East Primary School the Department of Education’s Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools Policy. We are building a culturally safe school with inclusive learning for everyone by working with staff, students, families, carers and communities. We will: 

  • Provide programs that teach about and celebrate diversity, inclusion and the impact of racism to build understanding and empathy
  • Use evidence-based teaching and wellbeing practices that support all students to thrive
  • Implement anti-racism efforts to prevent and address racism effectively, and in a timely manner
  • Ensure everyone feels safe, with clear and accessible pathways to report racism to a trusted adult at school and/or at home

What to do if your child experiences or witnesses racism at school

 

If your child experiences or witnesses racism or religious discrimination at school, please let us know. You can tell your child’s teacher or Mr Ridgway and Mr Chaplin. Please be assured that we are taking all matters of racism with the highest importance.

 

Report Racism hotline

 

If you don’t feel comfortable reporting racism to the school, or you are not happy with the school’s response, you can report racism to:

Respectful Behaviours Support Respectful Relationships

When parents, carers and school staff work together as one team, our students thrive. Everyone at school, particularly staff and parents and carers, play a role in making school a better place for learning and work.

 

Parents, carers and school staff have a relationship that can last many years. This is an opportunity to work together to create a positive relationship in the best interests of your child. When this relationship is built on respect and trust, students learn better and feel like they belong in the school. I am committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive learning environment for students staff and adults. I trust that you will continue to keep respect at the core of all interactions with school staff and students. 

 

The Department of Education’s Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy describes the positive behaviour expected from parents, carers and other adults in Victorian school communities. The policy sets clear standards of behaviour to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for students, staff and adults.

 

There are also resources to support safe and respectful relationships in our school community, including information about getting involved in the school, advice on how to raise a concern or complaint, and parenting support resources. To view the policy and these resources, refer to Building a positive relationship with your child's school.

 

For more information on how to engage positively with our school, please contact myself or Mr Chaplin.

 

Have a wonderful weekend,

 

Robert