Principal's News

The sun is shining on a Friday morning and we are just about to enter the final week of Term 3, it goes without saying that the last couple of weeks around our school were so much fun. Looking out last Wednesday morning and seeing a synchronised rendition of radio exercises by 300 plus students and adults was a thrill and a unique celebration of what makes our school really special.

This is the final newsletter of Term 3 with some abbreviated communication to be shared next Friday afternoon. We will hold two assemblies in our final week of school on Monday morning and Friday afternoon. Thank you for taking a moment to read over the highlights from around our school and supporting all of what was achieved during Term 3.

Around The School

There were so many awesome little events happening around the school over the last two weeks, walking around our classrooms and school grounds I was able to see brilliant pottery in our Visual Arts program, our Team Kids program were running the ‘Lunchtime Legends’ activities for our junior students. Wednesday of last week, saw a great celebration of Japanese culture and our bilingual school with our special Undokai Day. It was lovely to see so many families in attendance and to see students trying so hard at their games and activities.

We had a very special Book Fair hosted in conjunction with The Avenue Book Store and we were able to host a special Father’s Day stall with thanks to a band of PFC support and volunteers. We put a full stop to the week with a very successful working bee.

Congratulations

Congratulations to our Assembly Award winners from the last fortnight, celebrating achievements in our specialist program and participation in Team Kids.

Team Kids Making a Difference (MAD) Awards: Anna A (Prep), Henry M (Year 2), Kalina M (Year 5)
Specialist Awards: Ella N (STEM), Maya O (Visual Arts), Francisco G (Performing Arts)

School Council

Thank you to our school council for meeting last Tuesday evening for our final school council meeting of the term, sub-committee reports were tabled and discussed and the most significant decision of the evening was the acceptance of further terms to extend the contract of our Out of School Hours provider, Team Kids. Team Kids were a great addition to our school a number of years ago, it was a decision I was very pleased to make in conjunction with our school council and I am pleased that we can continue to work with them over the coming years ahead. My thanks to our sub-committee conveyors, Warwick and Joel (Buildings and Grounds), Libby (Finance), Morioka sensei (Education and Policy) and Daniel (School Engagement) for leading such terrific discussions throughout Term 3 and to our school council members and president, Sarah who have all volunteered extensive time and support to the school, our students, staff and community throughout this term.

How Good

Are our Junior School Council fundraising next week with our Dress as a Teacher Day.
How great are our CPS Dads and special people, we hope you each had a wonderful father’s day.
Are helping hands, thank you to our school community for supporting our working bee last week.
It was to host delegates from Waseda University who commented and acknowledged what a high quality bilingual program they were lucky enough to observe.
How great are teachers, I had the pleasure to work with a group of emerging leaders on Tuesday and it is safe to say that the future of teaching is in such good hands, they are energised, enthused and so passionate about their work.
Are our CPS Fete Committee, they meet on Monday evening and have put together an update in the newsletter, thank you Fete Committee.

RU OK Day

Are we all a little guilty of getting caught up in the busy nature of life, I know I am! If nothing else, RU OK Day is a great reminder to focus in on the things that matter in life and the people that surround you. We celebrated RU OK Day with plenty of yellow on show around the school. The day encouraged us to empower everyone to meaningfully connection with the people around us and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life. You don't need to be an expert to reach out - just a good friend and a great listener.

Using these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life:

Ask R U OK?
Listen
Encourage action
Check in

The really important part is to embed these layers into everyday life and make it a piece of our work each day, to support others to layer in relationships so people feel comfortable sharing and taking the opportunity to be vulnerable. Thank you to our Year 5/6 Team for organising this day for our students and ensuring it is on the agenda and a topic of discussion for each of us.

Parent Requests 2027

We will shortly invite families to put forward requests for 2027 classes, this is aimed at allowing families to have input or to encourage the school to consider requests made as we work to formulate classes for 2027. One difference that will occur this year, students will have the opportunity to make their 5 friendship requests in collaboration with you at home. This will be done via a google form and allow you to speak to your child, have those conversations and encourage an informed discussion between child and family around who their child would like to work with in their 2027 classroom.

Please look out for the Sentral post with further details around this process and keep an eye on the timelines, with all requests to be received by Friday 16th October.

State Election Work

The Victorian state election will be held on Saturday 28 November 2026. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is looking for people to staff voting centres in paid roles. Roles suit a range of skills, experience and availability. Some involve several weeks of work before or after election day. Others are just for election day.

Working at an election is a chance to:

earn extra income
gain valuable work experience
meet new people
support your community
play a role in Victoria's democracy.

The VEC provides training and support. Hear more about the experience from casual staff at youtube.com/electionsvic. Find out more and register at vec.vic.gov.au/electionwork

To help the VEC place you at a local voting centre, please take 2 extra steps when you apply:

write our school's name in the free-text section of your application
email workingatelections@vec.vic.gov.au with our school's name to confirm you've registered.

SaGE Principal Network Meeting

Our principal network meeting held yesterday was a really topical and incredibly valuable opportunity for some professional learning. Principals and Assistant Principals had the chance to work and listen to Dr Brendan Jackson. Brendan has over ten years of experience as a secondary school Science, Mathematics and STEM Teacher, and has held various Positions of Leadership in curriculum and student leadership development. Brendan has also worked as both a lecturer and tutor at the University of Melbourne, within the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Brendan was joined by Matthew Trotter (Manager – Digital Learning Policy and Practice Unit) and Leah Feigan (Senior Policy Officer – Digital Learning Policy and Practice Unit).

The central discussion was around the changing landscape of Artificial Intelligence, the possibilities of harnessing this in a positive framework in schools and the increasingly difficult relationship that society is grappling with around the use of AI and how it can be manipulated or used in ways that may impact or threaten students and families. It is an evolving space and we continue to lean on policy experts and understandings in order to support our students and school communities.

2027 Prep Transition

We are excited to lock in our 2027 Prep Transition Program with dates to be held in Term 4:

Parent Information Session ‘Preparing for Prep 2027’ - Tuesday 6th October, 5pm
Prep Transition Session 1 - Tuesday 10th November, 9.30-11am
Prep Transition Session 2 - Tuesday 17th November, 9.30-11am
Prep Transition Session 3 - Tuesday 24th November, 9.30-11am
Prep Transition Session 4 - Tuesday 1st December 9.30-11am

Further information regarding the transition will be provided in the coming months, however we ask that our 2027 families note these dates and times in your diary now. The coming few months are a really important time for you and your child, and we look forward to supporting our new and returning families to ensure that we have a smooth commencement to school in 2027.

Parent Contributions 2027

By the end of November, we will inform the school community of the Parent Payments for 2027. The Department of Education has asked schools to itemise the payments. The cost for Parent Payments is discussed and approved at our Finance and School Council meetings prior to this being announced to the school community.

Are you leaving CPS in 2027?

We ask that you let us know if you are moving or have enrolled in another school in 2027. We require this information as soon as possible to establish grade structures for the start of the new school year. If your child is currently in Prep – Year 5, and will not be at Caulfield PS in 2027, please notify the school office in writing/email as soon as possible.

Early Dismissal – Friday September 18th at 2:30pm

A reminder to families that school will be dismissed at 2:30pm on Friday September 18th. We would ask that arrangements are made to collect your child/ren by 2:45pm at the latest. If you are not able to do this, please contact Team Kids to make a booking for Out of School Hours Care.

Long Service Leave

Just a quick one to finish off with, I am taking a few days off this week, taking some long service from Friday (today) to Thursday 17th and returning on the final day of term. I last took long service leave in 2019. Morioka sensei will assume Acting Principal responsibilities in my absence. I look forward to seeing everyone to finish off the term.

Enjoy a great weekend, I look forward to seeing everyone next Friday.

Take Care,

Edward Strain

Principal