Principal's Report

What an extraordinary school we are all part of and all contribute to at this wonderful time. As I write this newsletter, we are enjoying a magnificent Fathers’ Day Breakfast courtesy of a number of parents this morning and the marvellous leadership and organisation by Rebecca Henry, Jacquie McGowan and Clare Thomas. Now on Friday we also have the Fathers’ Day Stall occurring with the wonderful drive and organisation by Lisa Almond and Pam Nasiakos. Let us hope that all our fathers have a magnificent day on Sunday 3rd September.

School Assemblies

We are delighted with the involvement by our parents and extended families in our School Assemblies on a weekly basis. It is so wonderful for our students to enjoy this sense of audience and purpose as we engage and celebrate so much in the life of our school community. Wherever possible we try to conduct a School Assembly every Monday morning shortly after 9.00am.

Unfortunately, because of the intensity of our school programs for the remaining ten days of this Term, it is not possible to conduct a school assembly for next Monday 4th September or for Monday 11th September. We have 46 of our students attending the District Athletics from 9.00am Monday 4th September and a number of staff including myself will be involved. Additionally, on Monday 11th September we will be immersed in our School Swimming Program from 9.00am at Bialik College.

Nevertheless we will have a grand assembly at 1.30pm on Friday 15th September. This is the final day of the School Term and what a fitting way to finish such a splendid time.

District Athletics – Monday 4th September 

It is with a sense of great excitement that we lead into the District Athletics to be held on 4th September at Bill Sewart Reserve, Nunawading. We have been delighted with the leadership and commitment of Ms Edwina Aikman to prepare our students for this wonderful experience, with many extra practices occurring for students at recess and lunchtimes. We have 46 students attending on this occasion and wish them all the very best as they compete against other schools in our area. Parents are encouraged to attend and cheer our students on.

Wellbeing Wednesday – 6th September 2023

We are inspired by the magnificent work of Ms Lorraine McLean and our Year 6 Leaders Tilly Martland and Halle Oldham who together with the Wellbeing School Improvement Team have planned a wealth of engaging activities for Wednesday 6th September 2023. The focus of these activities will be on creating a greater sense of gratitude, empathy, mindfulness and emotional literacy in the presence and thinking of all involved. The day will begin with a whole-school dance and movement activity in the hall with guided dance moves. The day of course is all about fun and feeling good. Our students are encouraged to wear a dress code that is bright and colourful. Jo Paterson our Canteen Manager has also added some special additions to our Canteen Menu for the day. Please be advised however that the cut-off time for our Canteen orders is strictly 9:00am on Tuesday 5th September. 

Another Chatham First – Aero Stars at Chatham (Aerobics)

The achievements of our seventeen students last Sunday 27th August was truly remarkable. Apart from the brilliance of their leotards and presentation, the execution of their routine was exceptional. These students together with Ms Kirwan have been hard and compelling at the task. This is a Chatham first and to think our students received a second placing is just marvellous. We look forward to developing more teams and interest in the coming twelve months. We do not underestimate the benefits of such experiences: the development of confidence and resilience, the taking of responsibility to self and others, the partnership and connectivity with parents and your team, and the sheer exhilaration of achieving at something beyond where you began.

Chatham Science Week 21st – 25th August

Our Science Week at Chatham was an exceptional experience. We commend our Year 6 Science Captains Kane Ye and Alexandro Jaime, who together with Mr Rafael Fernandez led, orchestrated and created a wonderful experience for our students, staff and community. The video presentation created by our leaders, the interview with two practising scientists and the inspiration created by our STEAM Fair was remarkable. I urge you to watch the video created with this newsletter and recognise that once again this was a highly collaborative and engaging learning experience for our students that was possible because of brilliant leadership, organisation and standard setting, and the immersion and involvement of all staff and parents who supported and championed the efforts of our students.

Curriculum Day – Mathematics – Friday 25th August

There are four of such days in a school year for staff and we relish the opportunities created. Our school is heavily focussed and forensic in its achievements and approaches to Mathematics. The experience of last Friday enabled staff to review the current research and practical opportunities created through the work of Professor Di Siemon and Professor Peter Sullivan, both of whom I have worked with for a number of years as a teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal. The focus is on the Big Ideas in Mathematics and our approaches at Chatham, particularly in relation to numeration and trusting the count, together with place value are utterly spot on and I so look forward to what we will continue to achieve. The focus on Friday was on Multiplicative Thinking and my staff worked with well accredited and highly capable DET personnel in the form of Ms Lisa Cuthbert and Ms Trish Fahy to progress our plans and strategies. This was incredibly exciting just as we led into Mathematics Week.

Mathematics and English Week 28th August – 1st September 2023

Again we are highly chuffed about the wonderful work and experiences that are going on in our school in relation to Mathematics. Mr Zac Barry together with our Year 6 Mathematics Captains Lucy Fitzpatrick and Eleanor Dowling, and Mathematics School Improvement Team have planned a myriad of opportunities for our students. Included this week has been a Mini Maths Talent Quest, which has involved students in three topics to research: Tessellation Artwork, Pattern Discovery and Shapes in Everyday life. Also occurring have been mathematics games at each level and a Trimathlon. The latter involves a kahoot quiz in groups of 4 or 5 students. Each year level has been engaged with a different quiz with the exception of the Preparatory and Year 1 students doing the same quiz. All quizzes will have three parts with ranging mathematical problems. I applaud the work of our Year 6 Mathematics Captains and the efforts of all involved.

In the English area, Ms Kirstie Briggs together with our Year 6 English Captains and English School Improvement Team has evoked great enthusiasm for a range of challenges and opportunities. This has included the extraordinary book parade on Tuesday, Challenge activities in our Library, the redesigning of our book cover and a Haiku exploration on Friday, which have all contributed to the joy, achievement and experiences of the week. We thank these people and also Ms Sue Minshull (the White Witch from Narnia) who together with Ms Briggs led this experience. We were enthralled by the efforts of all students and staff and it was wonderful to dress up as Bert the Chimney Sweep from Mary Poppins along with Mary Poppins herself (Ms Kirwan).

School Nurse and Luna, our Therapy Dog

Currently we have Ms Karen Scanlin, our School Nurse here two days per week. On days when Karen is not here, we have a number of Education Support Staff who assist students with their First Aid needs. Importantly also however, is the support Karen provides to students through the emotional support provided with Luna our Therapy Dog. The benefits of Therapy dogs in schools are well established and Luna is no exception. Many of our students will visit Karen from time to time at recess and lunch times to visit Luna and speak with Karen. This is such a valuable and important provision for our students and we greatly value Karen’s work in this area.

In recent times Luna has provided reading assistance to support some of our anxious readers with their confidence. She continues to be increasingly involved in providing emotional support to students requiring assistance in this area.

Mr Fernandez will be providing opportunities for Luna to attend his class where students will be informed around Luna’s role and the best ways for students to interact with her. This will then be inculcated into our Year 6 leaders so they can role model this behaviour to our younger students.

Requests for Psychological Assessments and/or other Questionnaires to be completed by Teaching staff.

Please be advised that in recent times there has been an increase in requests by parents for teachers to undertake all manner of tasks regarding surveys, questionnaires, or behavioural observations for third parties. These often are forwarded to teachers to complete. Please be advised that there is no discretionary time in the thirty-eight working hours of a teacher for matters other than teaching and learning and associated tasks as directed by the Principal and the Department of Education and Training.

Where this is requested, there will be a cost of $68.20 per hour to cover the cost of a casual relief teacher to enable the teacher involved to be released from teaching duties to perform this task. This will be forwarded by our business manager to those involved.

Capital Works Program

We are so looking forward to some flooring adjustments to be made to the new toilets so we can access these and remove the portable toilets. This is still being sorted out with the VSBA, the architects from Williamsboag and Prime Build Pty Ltd. I will keep you informed.

I will advise you further as soon as we get progress on the area of the former old Music Room. Together with our School Council President, we continue to make the appropriate representations.

Chatham Roofing of the Main Building 

The works are continuing on schedule and we are working closely with the contractors, Power Partners, to ensure that there is no noise or other disruption to teaching and learning, particularly to those classes at the top of the main building. At this stage works at the front of the school will proceed until the end of the school term. Significant works continue to occur during weekends with guttering, fascia, downpipes and flashing being replaced. We look forward to these works being completed.

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

We are delighted that this is still planned, but will occur at a time that can be better coordinated with our current works on the school roof. These panels will be now replaced towards the end of the project in early October. We would hope that these are placed in a position that enables easier access for maintenance and cleaning.

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 - Now through the front door only

Please be advised that access to the school for all parents and visitors is now to be through the main door from the Weybridge Street gate. Consistent with our strong adherence to Child Safe Standards, no parent or visitor is to proceed to any classroom or learning space in the school without proceeding to the main office. Please be advised that the scaffolding at the front of the school is no barrier to entry to the main building. 

2023 Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey

On Wednesday parents will have received a reminder from our School Council President, Mr Daniel Heath to partake in the Annual Parent Survey if they had been given the opportunity. 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 and no participant can be identified. This important survey is open until Friday 8th September and provides useful insights into the thoughts and perspectives of our parents and carers. The information provided will be important in the conduct of the Chatham School Review, which will be occurring from Term 1, 2024.

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

Please be advised that we are getting a number of requests from parents to indicate that their children will be away for part of the Swimming Program for the period Friday 8th September to the 14th September inclusive. Please be advised that we expect that students will participate for the full program.

There are a number of reasons for this reality. Significantly the logistics, cost and staffing arrangements with varying numbers each day participating is unworkable, if it is expected that students obtain refunds for the days they are not attending.

The costing of this program is managed forensically and we endeavour to ensure that it remains accessible to everyone. The program, staffing and buses are costed on a confirmed number of students attending.

If parents are intending for their children to miss part of the program because they are on vacation, then they can still attend providing parents understand and accept that there is no refund possible for days missed.

Again we have extraordinary developments occurring at our school every day.

Christopher Cotching

Principal