Principal's Report

We continue to progress our magnificent school through a range of experiences that enrich our school curriculum. In recent times we have had the Circus Skills experience, a presentation for our Year 4 students about the importance of bees, a Preparatory excursion to Chesterfield Farm, Japanese Day and significant preparations in the Arts area for our upcoming Grand Fair. Ahead we are also looking forward to cooking experiences for Years 3-6, our Junior School Council inspired Disney Day, a Year 6 Basketball Tournament and not the least, the Year 3 and 4 Camp to Arrabri Lodge, East Warburton. Again, all these experiences enrich the experience of our students and add considerable dimensions to their burgeoning achievements across a range of areas.

Currently, the following matters are of interest:

Building Works – Near Completion

At this stage we are expecting that the scaffolding being used to repair and rejuvenate the roof of the main building will be removed on Saturday 4th November 2023. Providing the weather is accommodating, we also hope to have this removed from the school site on Sunday 5th November 2023. Again, given the extent of the works, it is important that no students are on the premises on these two days. Our gates will be secured for this purpose and the safety of all involved.

We are delighted with the massive improvement made to our school over the last two years and the considerable funding achieved to bring this to fruition. There has been considerable representations made at both the bureaucratic and political levels to bring this to fruition and I thank those involved for their diligence, persistence and insight. There continues to be some defects in places and together with the Victorian School Building Authority these matters are being repaired and dealt with in a timely manner. Again, we look forward to progressing other matters in time, including our Library area.

Important Working Bee – Sunday 12th November 2023

Whilst we tend not to have a lot of these over the course of the school year there are times when they are most needed. On this occasion we plan to conduct a working bee from 2:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday 12th November 2023. This working bee is being organised by our Buildings and Grounds Committee Convenor, Ashley Davies, and the focus is preparing the grounds for our Grand Fair on Saturday 25th November 2023. Your involvement even if only for a couple of hours, would be greatly appreciated.

Preparatory Transition Program

We have been delighted to conduct our three transition experiences for our students enrolling for 2024. These sessions have enabled our incoming students to experience the Preparatory classrooms, engage in a number of Literacy and Numeracy activities along with Specialist areas in Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts and Japanese. On Thursday 19th October these students also were able to meet up with their Year 4 'buddy' and enjoy morning tea together. Our next experience will be conducted on Thursday 7th December. On this occasion, they will meet up with their class teacher for 2024 and again familiarise themselves with the school and its events and play areas. I expect that we will announce the Preparatory teacher (s) in the coming weeks.

Please be advised that the enrolment for Preparatory for 2024 is now closed and those seeking to enrol from outside our area will be placed on a waiting list in the event a vacancy becomes available.

World Teachers’ Day – Friday 27th October 2023

At the time of writing, we are celebrating our Chatham World Teachers’ Day. Thank you again for the many parents who assisted with morning tea arrangements and for the lunch provided by our Parents' Club and the work of our President, Ms Jacquie McGowan. On this day we reflect upon the contributions teachers make to our lives and the special skills, aptitudes and knowledge they provide in inspiring students to great achievements. We were delighted that together with students, parents and our Education Support Staff we were able to celebrate this most important day.

School Grand Fair – Saturday 25th November 2023

We continue to meet with our Grand Fair organisers on a regular basis and look forward with great anticipation to an extraordinary day. Our School Fair section on our website continues to be progressively updated and I would encourage you to peruse the FAQ document, which covers much of what we are doing on this day. Currently our staff are looking forward to assisting with the Beauty Bar stall and the performances that will be conducted during the afternoon from 1:00pm on Saturday 25th November 2023. Please ensure that if your child is seeking to perform at this event, Mr Rampant is aware of their interests. 

Annual Chatham Colour Run – Friday 13th October

This was a magnificent experience due in no small part to the work of Ms Aimee MacFarlane, Ms Jo Haddock, Ms Belinda Dalton, our Assistant Principal, Ms Georgina Kirwan, and the many volunteers who assisted on the day. Our students from Preparatory to Year 6 did an extraordinary number of 2,167 laps to raise in order of $9,835.00. This was further supported by the generosity of a parent who paid approximately $1,490.00 for the coloured powder.

Apart from a day of enormous fun and camaraderie, it was wonderful to see the many parents involved and the chants involved with our House Captains and their House team members.

This day brought up many interesting statistics on the day including:

• Winning house was McEvoy who were closely followed by Corbett, then Fenton, then Nugent.
• We congratulate Ella from 3DT who raised $380.00, and this was also followed by Hamish from 2LM, Banjo from 4ME, Delilah from Prep CS and Sebastian from 3SN who each raised over $300.00. On this occasion Ella received a special prize and we look forward to our other four students getting a special treat from our school canteen.
• The winning class who raised the most with their laps and donations was 3DT, who raised $1,892. The Colour Run crew will arrange with Ms Townsend and Ms Yodgee for this class to get a marvellous pizza lunch in the coming weeks.

This was indeed a superb day and with School Council support, we look forward to using the funds raised to purchase some new playground equipment for our students.

Mathematics Resources – Preparatory to Year 2

Currently we are preparing for a project to review, update and organise the Mathematics equipment in the Junior School. We are looking for volunteers to assist us on Wednesday 8th November and possibly Thursday 9th November 2023. If you are able to assist in this regard, please email zachary.barry@education.vic.gov.au by Monday 6th November 2023. The purpose of this exercise is to establish what we have, identify appropriate resources for each section of the school, establish what needs to be replaced and/or expanded and to house the materials in appropriately sized tubs for easy classroom access. Also, we will be using the experience to ensure that we have a core group of Mathematics resources for each classroom for easy access by students and teachers.

In time we look forward to undertaking a similar exercise with the Mathematics Resources from Years 3-6.

Literacy Developments – Preparatory to Year 2

On Wednesday information was forwarded to parents about the exciting developments in Preparatory to Year 2 Literacy, led and being organised by our Literacy Leader, Ms Kirstie Briggs. In recent months our school has been researching the increased focus on phonics in Preparatory to Year 2. This initiative is being guided by the requirements of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) which in many ways reflects the new directions being led recently in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. At Chatham, after considerable research we have chosen the program, ‘Early Learners Love Literacy’. In the coming weeks, my staff will be undertaking considerable professional development to align their professional knowledge and judgement with this program for 2024.

In the meantime, we require volunteers to assist us to prepare the significant numbers of readers to commence this program. If you are available to assist at any stage between 9:00am – 3:30pm from Monday 13th November to Thursday 16th November that would be wonderful. Please email Ms Briggs at kirstie.briggs@education.vic.gov.au if you would like to assist.

Halloween Celebrations and the State Member for Kew – Ms Jessica Wilson

Surrey Hills was certainly buzzing on Tuesday evening as we witnessed scores of children and their families celebrating, or trick or treating with the euphoria of what is ‘Halloween'. Included in this newsletter are photos of three students: Eleanor, Lucy and Xavier who were winners and runners up respectively in the Member for Kew Halloween Colouring Competition. Again, it was wonderful for the Member for Kew, Ms Jessica Wilson to take the time in her busy schedule to visit the school and present the prizes to the three students involved. 

Christmas Concert – Friday 8th December 2023

We are looking forward to yet another afternoon of frivolous and festive fun as we entertain all with a Chatham Christmas Concert. This will be held from 2:00pm on the day in our School Hall and we look forward to you all attending in your festive attire and good cheer. In the coming weeks classes will be actively rehearsing for this event and gaining the needed props and materials to make the event lively and engaging.

As we consider this time our students have also been challenged by the Member for Kew to embark upon a Christmas Card Competition, which requires them to draw what Christmas means to them. Whilst there will be one winner from each school, the overall winner's entry will feature on the Member for Kew’s Christmas Card. Again, this is a wonderful activity to embark on as a family and we would encourage students to leave their entry with their class teacher by Friday 10th November 2023.

Ms Olivia Guinane

Whilst the experience of Tuesday morning was difficult and sad, it was also a time to reflect on the wonderful qualities of his person and the inspiring strength and ongoing involvement of her family. Again, I wish to convey the appreciation of the Guinane family for the magnificent and kind support of Molly and her family by our school community. It is greatly appreciated.

Christopher Cotching

Principal