From the Principal ...

Dear students, families and staff of Cheltenham Primary School,

As the year draws to a close we thank the members of the PTFA committee for the calendar of social and fundraising events that they have led over the course of this year.  They have developed a calendar of events that is community building and also supports our 170 year old school with much needed extra funds to enhance the environment and learning for all students from Foundation to Year 6.  

Next week will be a very busy one for our school with our traditional community Carols on Thursday 11 December on our new synthi. The PTFA has funded for extra sound equipment to improve the quality of sound for the student performances which are always a highlight.  Gates open at 4.30pm and we expect to finish just before 6pm. Thank you to Nicola Lane, Performing Arts teacher who will be concluding a great year in Performing Arts with the Carols!

Colour Explosion 

We are looking forward to our vibrant Colour Explosion Fun Run next Friday, and we invite all families to help support this exciting fundraiser. Students are encouraged to seek sponsorship in the lead-up to the event, with fantastic prizes on offer – including the very desired Pizza Parties for the top three fundraising classes! 

To celebrate everyone’s effort on the day, the PTFA will be providing icy poles for all students after the run. Thank you for your support in making this a colourful and fun community event.

Parent Payments 2026

A reminder that the Parent Payment Schedule for each year level was published on Compass four weeks ago. 

School Council outlined the requested parent payments for Curriculum Contributions, Other Contributions, Extra-Curricular items/activities  and the timeline for payments. Information was also provided regarding Student Book Packs, which are ordered directly through our supplier, KaKa Kids, via their website. 2026 preorders close next Monday, 8 December, and any orders placed after this date will incur a late fee. We appreciate families taking the time to complete their orders promptly.  

This year the State Government provided families with a School Saving Bonus to direct to purchase uniforms and put towards extra curricular activities.  There is no School Saving Bonus in 2026. 

Student Excellence

Congratulations to our Girls Cricket Team, coached by Shaun Penny, who placed 6th in the State Finals—a tremendous achievement and a proud moment for our school. The team displayed outstandingsportsmanship, consistently representing our values on and off the field. Their strong teamwork, commitment to training, and determination throughout the season were key to their success and to earning their place among the top teams in Victoria. We are incredibly proud of the way they supported one another, rose to each challenge, and played with such skill and enthusiasm. Well done, girls!

Cudos to Amelia R and her Cheer team, who achieved an outstanding 2nd place out of 10 teams at the Nationals and Milla K's Cheer team that achieved a 5th place out of 28 teams! This is an incredible accomplishment by both girls. We are very proud of their dedication, skill, and the courage it takes to perform on such a big stage. Their commitment to training and positive team spirit are wonderful examples of the values we celebrate at our school. Well done, Amelia and Milla —we look forward to seeing what you achieve next!

Over the course of this term 33 pf our Year 5 and 6 students of high ability have been nominated by the Department to participate in the Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP) in English and Mathematics.  We commend their exceptional focus, curiosity, and commitment throughout the program, as well as the impressive stamina they demonstrated when engaging with challenging and extended learning tasks. We are proud of their achievements and the way they represented our school with enthusiasm and excellence. Thank you to Daniel Rogers, acting Assistant Principal who has facilitated this intensive schedule of online sessions on a weekly basis throughout the term. 

In today's newsletter Mr Chronopoulos has also provided a report about the Junior Maths Olympiad and Maths Olympiad. Students have loved these weekly sessions with Mr Chronopoulos which focus on problem solving and strategic thinking. We congratulate all students that participated on their high achievement.  All were acknowledged at our last school assembly (see Mathematics Olympiad in this issue of the newsletter). 

Semester 2 Student Reports

As we conclude Semester 2, our students should be proud of the growth and progress they have made across all areas of learning. Semester 2 Student Reports for Years 1-6 will uploaded to Compass on Wednesday 17 December by 4pm.  Foundation Student Reports will be sent home in hard copy.  I would like to acknowledge and thank our dedicated teachers for the expertise, care and countless hours they put into planning, assessing and writing these reports. Their professionalism ensures families receive a clear and meaningful picture of each child’s learning. Thank you also to our families for your ongoing support and partnership.

Curriculum Days 2026

The full schedule of Curriculum Dates for 2026 is still to be confirmed. Staff return to duty on January 27, 2026, January 28th is a designated Curriculum Day. Students in Years 1-6 will return to school on January 29th. 

Kind Regards,

Bronwyn