Chatham Happenings

Science Week

I am thrilled to share with you the incredible journey we embarked upon during last week's Science Week 2023. It was a whirlwind of exploration, experimentation and inspiration that left us all in awe of the wonders of science. Let's take a moment to reflect on some of the key events that made this week so special.

A Glimpse into the Minds of Scientists

One of the highlights of the week was the privilege of interviewing two remarkable scientists, Dr. Dean and Dr. Matt. Dr. Dean, a distinguished biologist, and Dr. Matt an accomplished physicist, graced our school with their insights. They shared their captivating experiences and shed light on the fascinating worlds of biology and physics. Their passion for their respective fields was truly infectious as they spoke about their work, the places their journeys have taken them, and most importantly, why science is a cornerstone of our modern world. Their stories ignited a spark of curiosity within our students, encouraging them to dream big and pursue their interests in the realm of science.

STEAM Fair Extravaganza

Our School Hall was transformed into a hub of innovation during the STEAM Fair, a showcase of Year 3 - 6 students' STEAM projects. The energy in the air was palpable as students proudly presented their projects to an eager audience. From intricate engineering marvels to creative artistic displays, the variety of projects on display was a testament to the limitless possibilities that arise when science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics intertwine. The entire school community, including families and staff, took the opportunity to witness our students' hard work and dedication.

Unveiling the Magic of Science

The 'Mad About Science' incursions brought a touch of wonder and magic to our Science Week. Two captivating shows, tailored for both junior and senior school students, showcased mind-blowing experiments that left everyone awestruck. The joy and amazement in the eyes of our young learners were truly heart-warming. These incursions reminded us of all that the world of science is not only about facts and figures, but also about the sheer joy of discovery and the beauty of unravelling the mysteries that surround us.

To view a video recap of Science Week 2023, please visit the following link (and using the access code):

Password: safefairkind

Link: Additional Content (chathamps.vic.edu.au)

I would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to our special guests, Dr. Dean, Dr. Matt, and Amanda for their generosity in sharing their insights and inspiring our students. Additionally, a big thank you goes to our Chatham Science Captains, Kane and Alessandro, whose dedication and hard work in organising the week's events played an integral role in its success.

Mr Rafael Fernandez

Year 6 Teacher

Mad About Science

Our Prep - Year 2 students were privileged to have a ‘Mad About Science’ Incursion come to Chatham Primary School. We all learned about the force of gravity and electricity. The students embraced the details of Science (Physics and Chemistry), building understanding that we need force to push objects up against gravity, such as a leaf blower or hair dryer. The students also learned that atoms contain electrons and they have negative charges. Negative and positive charges attract and we saw these examples provided through static electricity. It was very interesting and the students were definitely 'mad about the science!.

Ms Anita Buccieri

Year 1 Teacher

Book Week

It was an amazingly fun day on Tuesday 29th August, the day of the Book Week Parade. Everyone had come dressed in bright and colourful costumes. Ms Kirwan and Mr Cotching had made us all laugh by striding in dressed as the magical and strict Mary Poppins and free-spirited Bert. Ms Minshull awed and intimidated the school by coming dressed as the fiercesome Snow Queen from The Chronicles of Narnia. Mr Fernandez and Mr Barry made everybody laugh when they saw Thing 1 and Thing 2! There were also some other fabulous costumes such as: Spiderman, Harry Potter, assorted veg and fruit, and even Prince Harry! Thank you for your gold coin donations on the day for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Everyone at Chatham had a wonderful time celebrating the CBCA Book Week for 2023 and we can’t wait for our celebrations again next year.

Arya Prabhu and Hari Patel

English Captains

Victorian Interschool Snowsports Championship

Chatham Primary School had five student representatives compete at the recent Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championship, held at Mt Buller on 21-22 August.

Brittany, Samuel, Stella, Matthew and Grace all headed up to the mountain with their families to compete in a number of skiing races.

Although the weather was not as kind as in previous years, the Chatham Students were absolute champions in the way they competed in the conditions and represented Chatham Primary School wonderfully.

Chatham was one of 220 Primary and Secondary Schools to compete in the competition, with close to 6,500 participants. It was a lot of fun to be involved and the kids thoroughly enjoyed the Opening Ceremony and Fireworks display on the Monday night.

Well Done to the Chatham team and we cannot wait to go again in 2024 with hopefully even more families!

Year 2 Cultural Incursion

On Thursday 24th August, the Year 2 students had a visit from Koorie Education Support Officer, Mark Lumley. The Year 2 students have been learning about Geography and Intercultural Relationships as their Inquiry concept for Term 3. The incursion was a wonderful way for students to learn more about this and consolidate their learning from a First Nations person through a hands-on experience. During his visit, Mark taught the students about his personal connection to country through images, videos and sounds that remind him of his nation. Mark also presented many maps of Australia and the local area. He showed the students what the land looked like in the past where Chatham Primary School sits today. The session finished off with students creating their own songlines and maps, and drawing their journey from home to school through travel lines and using Aboriginal symbols. The students enjoyed creating these and learning more about the Wurundjeri Country they are living on.

Ms Lorraine Mclean and Ms Sophie Semerdjian

Year 2 Teachers

Preparatory Wild Action Incursion

On Thursday 24th August, the Preparatory students participated in a Wild Action Incursion workshop. At the workshop, the Preparatory students were introduced to the amazing world of Australian Animals. Australia certainly has some unique, weird and wonderful creatures. We discussed the important role that each species plays in our ecosystems and the impact humankind has had on their populations. Our Preparatory students and teachers had lots of fun!

Mrs Corinne Robinson

Preparatory Teacher

Aero Schools Aerobics Competition

Last Sunday was an amazing day for 17 of our Year 4 students who represented Chatham at the ‘Aero Schools Spring Challenge’ competition held at Nazareth College. This was a first-time experience for our school, with excitement and anticipation running high amongst team members during the lead up to the event.

‘Aero Schools’ is an initiative developed by Gymnastics Australia, combining aerobics, dance and gymnastics. As part of the team, our students learnt a routine to fast, high-energy music, whilst developing their fitness, coordination and team-building skills.

Students trained and rehearsed during lunch times, working hard to perfect their routine in preparation for the competition. It was just fantastic to work with a team of such dedicated, high-spirited students, and it was also very impressive to observe their skill development over this time.

When the big day arrived, our students relished the opportunity to both perform and observe the routines of other schools, and I am very proud to announce that our team finished in second place for their category, which was a brilliant effort!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Ms Vivianne Twigg for her assistance with our training sessions and of course all of our wonderful parents who supported this event and were also fantastic cheerleaders for our students at the competition.

We look forward to being involved in more Aero Schools events next year!

Please see some anecdotes from our talented ‘Aero Stars’ team below:

“It was really fun and I loved the costume!”– Maddy C

“I really liked how we achieved second place!”– Molly

“I liked being able to do the competition with my friends”– Angelina

“I liked being with a group if kids who understand dancing and love dancing with each other”– Maddy M

“I really liked being on stage!”– Ella

“I liked having so much fun with my friends practising for the aerobics competition”– Amelia

“I liked doing something different to schoolwork”– Leah

“I really liked the costume and doing practice during lunch times”– Amelie

“I liked the costumes and I really liked getting to perform!”– Charlotte

“I really enjoyed rehearsing at school, the costume and doing the competition”– Georgia