Principal's Report

As we progress our school over the coming term, we sense a level of excitement and immersion in school community life like no other year. We have our usual range of events and traditional happenings, but also a myriad of our experiences to bring further life, opportunity and awe to our wonderful school. The following are merely some of the matters that occupy our attention presently.

Visit from the Federal Member for Kooyong – Dr Monique Ryan

It was uplifting and exciting to be visited by the Federal Member for Kooyong on Monday at our School Assembly. Apart from giving out Student Awards, Dr Ryan was also able to use the opportunity to present us with some replacement flags and to make a significant presentation to Mr David Winter, owner of Bread Street, Mont Albert. Mr Winter was presented with the first Chatham Community Appreciation Certificate at our school. This lovely, framed certificate recognised the inordinate work David has provided over many years to Chatham Primary School. In our considerable efforts to raise funds, David has most generously provided foodstuffs free or at a greatly reduced cost in order to support our school. Additionally, David’s generosity to other schools is noted along with his many generous and philanthropic undertakings as part of the broader community.

Later in the morning Dr Ryan met with our Years 5 & 6 students and gave an open and insightful commentary to the nature of her work. Our students relished the opportunity to ask questions including the following:

• Who do you look up to?
• What are the best things in your job that you have accomplished?
• What is your life goal?
• What do you like to do in your free time?
• What quote do you live by?
• What hope and vision do you see for future generations?

Dr Ryan was particularly chuffed and impressed by the interest and focus of our students and was highly immersed in the nature of our student voice at Chatham Primary School. We hope to see more of Dr Ryan in the times ahead.

Year 5 & 6 Incursion Parliamentary Process and Powers

The visit by Dr Ryan was timely given the valuable and informative experience undertaken over two sessions concerning Government. Our students have learnt about the three levels of Government; the notion of democracy in the Westminster system, preferential voting and how laws are developed and enacted. Our students have also learnt about the Australian Constitution, the voting procedures in referendums and the role of the Senate, amongst a variety of other matters. Significantly our students particularly at Year 6 grasped insightful experiences regarding the political concepts of authority, conflict and democracy. It is a magnificent opportunity for all involved.

School Production – Thursday 14th November 2024

Please be advised that tickets for our upcoming production, Chatham in Wonderland, went on sale at 5:00pm on Thursday the 31st of October. Tickets can be purchased through the website Compass tix (https://compasstix.com/event/6d254903-2fe1-4364-97e5-240c57ce4a89). There will be two sessions on the day: a matinee at 1:00pm and an evening performance at 7:00pm. For the matinee performance, students will be transported to and from the venue by bus with their class teacher as part of their regular school day. For the evening performance, all students will be required to be brought to the Doncaster Secondary College Theatre between 6:20pm to 6:30pm and collected from the Theatre at 8:15pm.

More information will be provided soon.

Please note that Compass tix does not connect to your regular Compass account. 

Colour Run – Friday 25th October 2024

This was a most enjoyable day for our students, staff and parents with a large number of parent volunteers all keen to assist us to bring colour and opportunities to our students. Thank you again for the magnificent leadership and organisation provided by Aimee Macfarlane and Jo Haddock, and the many parents who assisted in distributing the colour powder, flying the parachute and completing the counting. At the end of their run our students thoroughly relished their colourful icy-pole. Again, this was a wonderful fundraiser for our school, and we hope to make some announcements regarding the winning house at our next assembly.

New Play Equipment – February 2025

We are delighted that on Monday 21st October 2024 our School Council approved the replacement of the aging play equipment at the front of the school. Given the limited space available the planned replacement will be a marvellous addition to the play options for our students. Again, this was an important undertaking not the least because we advised our students last year that we expected the funds from our 2023 Colour Run would go to this important and needed initiative. The new playground will be installed in February 2025.

STEAM Fair – Friday 1st November 2024

There has been enormous excitement and anticipation provided by this wonderful event for our students at Chatham. Ms Hannah Scantleton together with our Years 6 STEAM Leaders, Gregory and Jeremy, have planned and driven this wonderful experience. Thank you again for the drive and commitment of Ms Hannah Scantleton and support of staff to bring this opportunity to fruition.

Library Developments at Chatham

The drive and work in our library has been inspiring. Several of our Year 5 students constructed a highly informative survey which covered all manner of options for our library. We look forward to using some of their ideas about preferred authors and titles as we continue to add to this facility. Additionally, Ms Andrea Macleod has put a power of inspiration into this space with ongoing and new displays and reference to new books purchased or other themes. Not the least of course is the current focus upon Halloween in our texts and displays.

Foundation Transition Session – Thursday 31st October 2024

We were delighted to enjoy our third experience for our new Foundation students for 2025. On this occasion our new students were able to enjoy a Foundation Classroom Routine with Ms Kirstie Briggs; a Japanese experience with Rampant Sensei; a Visual Arts experience with Ms Jess Wilson; a Physical Education experience with Mr Walter Boulton and a Performing Arts experience with Mr James Rampant. It was also a marvellous opportunity for these students to meet with their Year 4 buddies and share their snack time. Through these experiences, students enjoy enormous diversity of experience and gain increased confidence in preparation for commencing Foundation in 2025.

Tragic events at Auburn South Primary School

This terrible event has not been lost on our students, staff and parents. Our Parents Club sent a message of condolence and likewise our school and staff. Our students will also be sending messages next week. Auburn South Primary School is involved in our Kooyong District Sports Association and some of our students will know families in this school. On Friday 1st November Ms Kirstie Briggs joined other teachers from other schools to assist with arrangements.

No Assembly on Monday 4th November 2024

We anticipate that a significant number of families will be using the coming weekend as a long weekend. Whilst we do not condone this practice, we do understand that families do make other priorities from time to time. As a result, we will not conduct a School Assembly on Monday 4th November 2024.

Please be aware that Monday 4th November is not a holiday for teachers, and all are expected to be in attendance.

Christopher Cotching

Principal