From Mr Chaplin

Remembrance Day

On Tuesday 11 November, the Cheltenham East Primary School community gathered in solemn reflection for our annual Remembrance Day Assembly. This important occasion gave us the opportunity to honour and remember all Australians who have lost their lives in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions.

Led by our school captains, the assembly was a respectful and moving tribute. The service began with an Acknowledgement of Country delivered by Mr Ridgway, followed by a thoughtful introduction that reminded us of the significance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Unfortunately the weather did not permits us to hold the assembly outdoors, students were silent in their classrooms as the powerful World War I poem In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was read aloud, the Last Post played, followed by a minute’s silence to reflect on the sacrifices made. The ceremony concluded with the playing of The Rouse, in line with national protocol.

We are proud of the respect and maturity shown by all students during this service. Thank you to our staff and school captains for helping to ensure this commemoration was meaningful for all.

Lest we forget.

2025 Colour Run

We are excited to host our 2025 CEPS Colour Explosion School Fun Run next Friday, 21 November, from 2.00–3.30pm. This vibrant whole-school event is one of the highlights of the year and helps us raise funds for ongoing improvements to our school grounds. Our next major student-led project is to rejuvenate our playgrounds with a fresh coat of paint.

Students are encouraged to come dressed for fun, wearing a white t-shirt (no singlet tops, please) and optional free-dress shorts or pants. All students must wear a SunSmart hat during the run, as they will be covered from head to toe in non-toxic, biodegradable colour powder. Protective sunglasses will be provided on the day.

Every student will take part in the run at no cost and will enjoy making their way through the course with obstacles and six different colour stations. Families are welcome to come along and cheer from the sidelines.

Fundraising is now open through QKR, where families can deposit donations collected from friends and relatives. All money raised will go directly toward improving the school for our students.

We are also seeking parent helpers to act as colour throwers or course supervisors (Please take it easy on Mr Ridgway as he leads out the students on the first lap!). Ensure you have a valid WWCC if volunteering.

We look forward to an afternoon full of colour, fun, and community spirit! 

Standing up to Racism

On Wednesday Mr Ridgway and Mr Chaplin attended the Bayside Peninsula Principal's conference. We are committed to providing a learning environment where every student feels safe, respected and included. In line with the Department of Education Victoria’s Anti-Racism Policy, we want to make our stance absolutely clear: Racism in any form is unacceptable. We have zero tolerance for racist behaviour.

Racism, whether spoken, written, online, or through actions, causes harm and has no place in our school community. Every student has the right to feel proud of their identity and culture, and every member of our community shares the responsibility to uphold these values.

See it, hear it, or feel it? Report it.

We strongly encourage students, parents and carers to report any incidents of racism so that the school can respond quickly and appropriately. When concerns are raised, we take them seriously, investigate thoroughly, and work with students and families to ensure everyone feels supported.

Reports can be made to:

• Classroom teachers
• Year level leaders
• Assistant Principals
• The Principal
• Via the school office

Our Commitment

As a school, we continue to:

• Promote respectful relationships and cultural understanding
• Teach students how to recognise and call out racism safely
• Ensure all incidents are followed up in line with Department of Education procedures

• Build an inclusive environment where diversity is valued and celebrated

   

Creating a safe, inclusive school is a shared responsibility, and together, we can ensure everyone at CEPS feels respected, valued and protected.

If you have any questions about our anti-racism processes or need support, please contact the school at any time.

2026 Foundation Transition

On Wednesday, we were thrilled to welcome the newest members of the Cheltenham East Primary School community – our 2026 Foundation students – for their very first formal transition session!

This special morning marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in each child's learning journey, and it was a joy to see so many smiling faces arrive with a sense of wonder and curiosity.

During the session, our future students were immersed in a Story Time and Craft activity, designed to gently introduce them to our nurturing school environment. Guided by our caring Foundation team, children listened attentively to a story, explored their creativity through a hands-on craft, and began to build confidence and connections in a calm, play-based setting.

It was a wonderful opportunity for children to get a taste of school life at CEPS, and for families to begin developing their own connections with our school community.

We look forward to many more positive experiences together as we continue the transition program in the weeks ahead. Welcome to CEPS, Foundation 2026 – we are so excited to have you on this journey with us!

School Uniform 

I would like to extend a big thank you to our school community for your ongoing support with our school uniform. There has been a noticeable improvement across the school, with a significant increase in students proudly wearing our uniform and school colours.

Our uniform is an important part of our identity and a reflection of our school pride. Your continued support in ensuring students wear the correct uniform helps strengthen our sense of belonging and community spirit. If you require financial support with school uniforms, please reach out to the school office.

End of Year Community Concert and Salvation Army Food Drive - Friday 5 December

Our end-of-year Community Concert and Picnic has been scheduled for Friday, 5 December from 2.00-3.30pm. On this day, students will come dressed in their concert costumes (More information to come). Also on this day, we are asking families to contribute a food item towards our annual Salvation Army Food Drive.

The following is a list of suggested items that will help support people in need during the festive season.

Head Lice

They're back....

Head lice have been detected at school again. There is no need for concern, but we kindly ask all families to check their child’s hair regularly over the coming days.

If lice or eggs are found, please begin treatment promptly and notify the school.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us manage this common issue.

Curriculum Day - Monday 15 December

A friendly reminder that our final Curriculum Day of the year will be on Monday 15 December. On this day, the staff will be busy planning the teaching and learning for 2026.

Jared Chaplin