Principal's Report

We are indeed experiencing an extraordinary time of growth, development and engagement with our school and its dynamic community. 

Since the beginning of this Term we have created extraordinary opportunities for our students, staff and community. At the time of writing we are enjoying our Annual Footy Day with hot dogs being prepared for lunch and our usual celebration of each AFL team in the School Hall. Again, it was wonderful to see the efforts made by students and staff and the many parents who attended this morning to join in the excitement. We are also grateful for the brilliant response by Ms Leda Semercioglu and a number of willing parents who ensured the hot dogs and icy poles were made available in a timely manner.

There is so much to share and celebrate as we see our students grow, embrace our values and excel at all levels - and in all areas of the curriculum. The following matters are purely some of the highlights of recent times.

House Athletics – Tuesday 8th August

This was an exceptional event for our students at Hagenauer Reserve, Box Hill and we are grateful for the wonderful support of our parents and volunteers who made this all possible. We convey our appreciation for the wonderful leadership and organisation of Ms Edwina Aikman and Ms Georgina Kirwan who together made this an experience like no other. The day despite being rather wet and cold from the beginning, soon turned into marvellous sunshine and the organisation and camaraderie created was second to none. We were delighted when Ms Kirwan enthused our four Houses with their newly developed Team Chants.  We look forward to musical accompaniment in time. Again, this was a magnificent day for our students. The chants and camaraderie created by this experience was exceptional. We congratulate Corbett House on their win of the competition, but also applaud our students for their wonderful support and sportsperson ship throughout the course of the day.

We look forward to another Chatham Athletics experience later this year with a focus also on our Preparatory to Year 2 students. We will have more to share about this in the coming weeks.

Open Night – Wednesday 9th August

It was extraordinary to experience the joy and energy of our Open evening and the showcasing of the new facilities including the four new classroom areas. The Musical performances of our Year 6 students, with their ukuleles, xylophones, drums and marimbas was truly sensational, as they performed the new school song. Additionally, the performances of our Year 3 and Year 5 bands was amazing. The experience was further enhanced by a comprehensive tour of the facilities; a pizza meal for those students performing and a movie for those involved with supervision by Team Kids. A number of our parents also used the opportunity to enjoy refreshments upstairs with an over view of the northern lights and some wonderful camaraderie. Thankyou again to the wonderful work and inspiration of Mr Rampant, Ms Kirwan, Ms Leda Semercioglu, Ms Caroline Kennon and our parents from the Fundraising Committee and Teamkids. It was a superb experience topped off also with a recital of the new Team chants led by Ms Georgina Kirwan.

Music Week – 7th – 11th August 2023

This was a Chatham first and was enjoyable, affirming of our students, celebratory and crucial to the culture we embrace in regard to our passion for the Arts. The busking before and after school by our students at the front of the school, outside the Hall foyer and on the asphalt was really uplifting, extraordinary and inspiring for those involved and all watching. The entire experience generates a creative energy in us all and a sense of belonging to carnival and festival. We look forward to this event being conducted with increasing capacity and involvement of students. We expect to make it yet another Chatham cultural tradition in the pandora’s box of our community life. I convey our appreciation for the wonderful leadership, inspiration and ‘can do’ attitude of Mr James Rampant in bringing this to fruition and our music instructors from Tuned In Kids and Creative Music who added to the richness, scope and awe of the week. 

Science Week 21st – 25th August

Whilst it is National Science Week this week, we are celebrating our Chatham Science Week next week commencing Monday 21st August. Over the last two terms Mr Rafael Fernandez together with our Science Captains have planned for the Chatham Steam Fair. Over sixty students have submitted ideas for this experience and will be demonstrating their relevant concept of STEAM. This refers to the interconnected concepts relating to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. This will involve them creating a poster to demonstrate the concept, creating a model and/or conducting an experiment. Parents are most welcome to visit the experience between 12 noon and 1:00pm on Wednesday 23rd August. 

On Thursday 24th August we look forward to a whole-school incursion provided by Mad On Science. The focus for the students in Preparatory – Year 2 will the Mad Science Show involving experiments relating to air, electricity and fire. The Years 3-6 students will focus upon the Liquid Nitrogen Show. This involves exploration of different states of matter and a range of demonstrations involving liquid nitrogen.

Boroondara Public Speaking Competition – Rotary Club of Surrey Hills and Mont Albert

On Tuesday 8th August we were delighted to have two of our Year 6 students Hunter Cotterell and Edward Newman, perform in the finals of this competition. We were utterly overwhelmed by the skill, poise, confidence and engagement of these two speakers on the night. This year we hosted the event in our School Hall and it was marvellous to see so many of our Year 6 students in attendance to support their classmates. On this occasion we were delighted that Eddie Newman gained the second prize overall for his speech, ‘The Ocean’. This involved a brilliant story whilst Hunter’s speech, ‘The best things about my House’ moved us all to think about what is truly important in this life. 

As a Principal who has been in both primary, secondary and specialist schools I am well positioned to reflect on just how well our students at Year 6 perform in relation to public speaking, presentation and their wonderful sense of working, commanding and inspiring audience. For students at Chatham we encourage student voice from the early years and from Year 5 in Term 3, focus increasingly on this important area. The experience of our Year 5 students with the ‘Day of the Notables’ and ‘Speaking with Confidence’ prepares our students for the important leadership roles they have in Year 6. Let us keep this thriving and celebrate the giant steps we will make for each and every one of our students. 

Year 6 Eco Friendly Houses

We have been inspired and impressed by the wonderful efforts of our students to create their own eco-friendly house. The models on display in our Year 6 room have been marvellous to view. Again, this is a Chatham traditional experience at Year 6. Each student was required to create a house with eight sustainable featurs. This included such considerations as solar panels, water tanks, vegetable gardens, compost bins, chickens, double-glazed windows, underfloor heating and insulation, LED lights, batteries, wind turbines, green houses and so on. The thinking and reasoning created was exceptional by our students and we look forward to making these available for parent viewing in due course.

Curriculum Day – Mathematics – Friday 25th August

Please be advised that we have a scheduled Curriculum Day for Friday 25th August 2023. Students do not attend on this day. Over the last eighteen months we have had an increasing focus upon Mathematics and the significant work and research of Professor Di Siemon and Professor Peter Sullivan. Significantly, there will be changes to the Victorian Curriculum in relation to Mathematics that will be increasingly implemented from 2024. I am delighted that a number of staff are already preparing for this eventuality with Mr Zac Barry working closely with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority to review appropriate digital resources.

Capital Works Program

We are now at the sharp end of negotiations as we work with the Victorian School Building Authority, the architects from Williamsboag and the Directors from Prime Build Pty Ltd. The topic and discussion are the nature and scope of the building variations and their inherent claims and costs. This is continuing and we are heavily focussed upon some matters including the scope of building codes and finalisation of such matters as the new toilets. Once that is done, we will be able to get the portable toilets removed and amongst other matters, turn our attention to the area of the former Music room. Rest assured we are going flat out and using all sorts of leverage to get these matters addressed in a timely manner and well ahead of the slow cogs of incessant bureaucracy.

Unfortunately, we had a power outage from 8.55am on Wednesday 16th August. This occurred because at this stage the ampere rating at the front pillar box in Weybridge Street is rated only at 100 amperes. This is about to be upgraded to 160 amperes by Power Corp in the coming days. However, the coldness of Wednesday morning resulted in an over reliance on our heaters and the circuit tripped at the front. We do not have access to this box and needed to be very resourceful and adept at getting a few willing disciples to ensure all was well again by 11.00am. This was an exercise in the significant cutting of red tape together with some compelling imagery of students and staff going hungry. It seemed to work in assuaging the urgency of matters in the minds of those in charge.

Apart from the cold this was particularly difficult given the provision of Canteen services on Wednesday and a Staff Lunch prepared and cooked for celebration of Chatham Education Support Staff Day. Miraculously we were soon on course, no one went hungry; the staff celebration proceeded and the warmth of the ensuing day ensured all basic physiological needs were satisfied. All went home warmer than when they arrived. Thank goodness!

Chatham Roofing of the Main Building – Commencing 21st August 2023

It seems surreal that we gained more success with the VSBA and have in order of $300,000 worth of works being undertaken from Monday 21st August. These works and funds will be totally at the discretion of the VSBA and we will have Power Partners engaged to complete the works to the roof. This will involve significant scaffolding of the main building in two stages. The first stage will involve works at the front of the school. The second stage will be undertaken on the northern side of the building. We expect that all works will be completed by Tuesday 9th October 2023.

I expect that these works will have no impact upon teaching and learning and /or will not be disruptive to student, staff and parents. Typically, I will be liaising with thew Site Manager from Power Partners every day from 7.00am in order to ensure there is no disruption to the good order of the school and that safety and wellbeing is not compromised anywhere. I am confident that all matters will be capably addressed as fascia is replaced, gutters replaced; broken tiles removed and roof flashings addressed. 

Please be advised however that entry through the main doorway will not happen next week. Entry will need to be through the new door alongside the new toilets.

Chatham Solar Panels – Victorian School Building Authority – Starting today!

We are delighted that whilst this is occurring, we have also arranged for the existing Solar Panels to be replaced. These are currently located on the northern side of the roof on the main building. The existing units are no longer effective. I am pleased to advise that these will be replaced at no cost to the school. We expect that the new units will assist in ameliorating our energy costs into the future. Currently we have a large boom in the grounds in order to proceed with this work in the coming days.

Another Chatham First – Aero Stars at Chatham (Aerobics)

Over the last few months our Assistant Principal, Ms Georgina Kirwan has been highly involved in preparing seventeen students in Year 4 to perform at the Aero Schools Spring Challenge on Sunday 27th August. Apart from the considerable time engaged in preparing our Year 4 students, Ms Kirwan has also been able to source some brilliant leotards for our students to wear at the performance. The enthusiasm for this event is palpable with me overhearing one of the girls declaring ‘that they will remember this experience forever.’ The students have been working hard to master their moves. We wish our students the very best for their performance and we are delighted that they will also perform at our School Assembly on Monday 28th August 2023.

Australian Girls' Choir at Chatham

Please be advised that the Australian Girls Choir are available from 3.30pm to run a workshop and conduct try-out sessions for girls on Friday 8th September. Please email Mr James Rampant if you would like your child to be involved at james.rampant@education.vic.gov.au

Access to the School between 9:00am – 3:30pm - for next week please

Please be advised that access to the school through the main door will not be possible next week. This is because the scaffolding will be put in place for Stage 1 of the Roofing works. Access for next week will be via the new door entry opposite our library. This will necessitate parents and visitors walking around the external northern side of the hall and passing by the external staircase. Parents do not need to go through the Hall. I thank you for your understanding here.

2023 Parent Caregiver Guardian Opinion Survey

Please be advised a random selection of 55 parents were invited to participate in this year’s Parent Opinion Survey. This random sample is generated by DET software. Please be assured that your responses remain confidential at all times. This important survey is open until Friday 8th September and provides useful insights into the thoughts and perspectives of our parents and carers. I urge you to be involved if you have been given opportunity.

Christopher Cotching

Principal