Welcome Back to Term 3

Welcome back to all our students, families and staff! We hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing and well-deserved break and had the opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends.

Term 3 is always an exciting time of the year, we look forward to seeing students reconnect with their friends, build new friendships and embrace the many experiences that lie ahead.

A very warm welcome is extended to the new students and families joining the Cheltenham East Primary School community this term. We are delighted to have you with us and hope you quickly feel at home. Our students, staff and families take great pride in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone belongs.

As we begin the new term, we encourage all students to continue demonstrating our school values of Courtesy, Respect, Co-operation and Responsibility in everything they do. These values underpin our positive school culture and help ensure our school remains a safe, supportive and inclusive place where every child can learn and thrive.

Ramp Upgrade Update

Our ramp upgrade works are now underway as part of our ongoing commitment to improving the accessibility and safety of our school. Clear weather has enabled good progress, we hope this continues and the works can be completed by the middle of Term 3.

We thank our students, families and visitors for their patience, understanding and cooperation while these important improvements are being completed

Breakfast Club at CEPS

We are excited to announce that Cheltenham East Primary School has partnered with Foodbank Victoria to establish a Breakfast Club for our students.

Home Food Packs

As part of our partnership with Foodbank Victoria, we also have access to Home Food Packs for families who may benefit from additional food support.

These packs contain a range of pantry staples, such as cereal, long-life milk, soups, baked beans, canned spaghetti and other nutritious items, designed to provide breakfast and snacks for a student over approximately two weeks.

If your family would benefit from this support, or you would like to discuss the program confidentially, please contact Mr Chaplin via the school email at cheltenham.east.ps@education.vic.gov.au.

All enquiries will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality. Our aim is to ensure every student has access to the food they need to thrive both at school and at home

About the School Breakfast Clubs program

The School Breakfast Clubs program seeks to address the impact disadvantage can have on education outcomes by offering free and healthy food for students in all Victorian government schools that opt in.

Research shows a child's ability to concentrate in class, self-regulate and learn is negatively impacted if they are hungry.

It has been reported that the rising cost of living makes it increasingly difficult, particularly for families experiencing disadvantage, to provide enough healthy food for the family each week.

The Victorian Government committed a further $13.7 million in the 2026-2027 Victorian Budget to continue the School Breakfast Clubs program for all Victorian government schools that opt in.

This brings the total investment in the program to $176 million since 2016 with $69.5 million provided in the 2023-2024 Budget to continue the program and $21.1 million in the 2024-2025 Budget to expand the program to all Victorian government schools that opt in.

Since 2016, the program has delivered more than 65 million healthy and nutritious meals to students in participating schools across the state.

The Victorian Government’s delivery partner is Foodbank Victoria, the Victorian branch of Australia's largest food welfare agency.

The program provides:

healthy breakfasts to students in participating Victorian government schools
nutritious lunches, snacks and take-home packs for students in need
cooking classes for families at 180 participating schools.

Nude Food

This term, we have noticed a significant increase in litter around our school grounds. Keeping our school clean and looking its best is a shared responsibility, and we appreciate the support of our families in helping us reduce waste.

We encourage all students to bring a nude food lunch wherever possible. Packing food in reusable containers rather than disposable wrappers helps reduce rubbish, is better for the environment and teaches our students sustainable habits.

Simple changes such as using reusable lunchboxes, containers, drink bottles and snack tubs can make a big difference.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to keep Cheltenham East Primary School clean, tidy and environmentally friendly.

Foundation (Prep) Enrolments for 2027 – Due Friday 31 July

A reminder to families that Foundation (Prep) enrolment applications for children commencing school in 2027 are due by Friday 31 July 2026.

The Victorian Department of Education has a statewide Foundation enrolment timeline, and families are encouraged to submit their enrolment application by the due date to assist schools with planning classes, staffing and transition programs.

If you have a child starting Foundation in 2027 and have not yet submitted an enrolment application, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

If you know friends, neighbours or family members with a child ready to start school next year, please encourage them to enrol by the due date.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend,

Warm regards,

Jared Chaplin

Assistant Principal

Cheltenham East Primary School

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