Dear CHPS Community,

It’s hard to believe we have less than a week left of Term 1, and what a busy term it has been. As we near the end of this term, a reminder that we finish on Thursday, 28th March at 2:30pm.

NAPLAN 2024

The annual National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy for students in Years 3 and 5 has now been completed. Two weeks ago students completed their Writing assessment. Last week students completed the Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy assessments. Catch up sessions were undertaken for students who were absent from any particular test.

During such times, students can display some increased anxiety. To support students, our approach at Clifton Hill Primary School is to ensure students are aware of all their great attributes that make them who they are. Many of these attributes cannot be measured in a NAPLAN test, so ensuring students view NAPLAN as just a small part of what they do at school is important.

Year 6 Camp

Recently, our Year 6 students spent three days on camp in Halls Gap. Attending the camp, I saw how the camp provided the students with a daily routine that involved waking up early, getting lots of physical activity, connecting to nature and spending extended periods of time outdoors without the need of having their heads buried in a device. It allowed time for the children to play in non-virtual worlds and interact with friends face to face rather than through a device.

One of the key benefits of the camp was the way students were encouraged to go outside their comfort zone through activities such as completing the high ropes courses, abseiling down a rock face, raft making and for many students…doing dishes. By allowing children to take risks and face challenges, the camp helped children build their independence, resiliency, and self-esteem in a safe, supervised and supportive environment.

Social functioning is central to a camp experience. As such, another benefit of the camp was the social skills that developed, especially around interacting with other people in a positive way, developing conflict-resolution skills and getting to know and appreciate others in a new way. Friendships are tested and affirmed in new environments and experiences. This includes a student’s relationship with a teacher. These connections can have a positive impact on learning when returning to the classroom.

Attending a school camp is a 24-hour commitment that teachers make which includes a huge personal and emotional responsibility in looking after the children of others. A big thank you to our dedicated Year 6 team who worked tirelessly in their preparations for the camp and during the three days away to ensure our year 6 students had a safe and enriching experience. A shout out also for Tom, a support staff member, and nine parents who also attended our camp to help with supervision. Without this support we would not be unable to run a camp program.

Parent Teacher Meetings

Thank you to all the community members who were able to make bookings and attend our Parent Teacher Meetings a few weeks ago. From the teacher’s perspective this was a very positive experience to discuss matters and issues raised by parents as well as teachers giving a snapshot on how children have settled into the new academic year. Our teachers at CHPS are committed to the improvement of your children’s wellbeing and learning success. If there is something you need to raise with your child’s teacher in between reporting cycles, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with them.

Harmony Week

Last Thursday, CHPS celebrated Harmony Day, which forms part of Harmony Week. Harmony Week, which ran from the 18th to the 24th of March is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background. It is a time to celebrate Australia’s multiculturalism. To celebrate Harmony Week, we invited all students to wear a touch of orange, as orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversation, and it also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. By wearing something orange people can show support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia.

This cultural diversity will be evident in our school community over the next few weeks by the way different festivities and occasions will be celebrated. Ramadan has begun and it is a special month which involves fasting from first light (pre-dawn) to last light (post sunset). We have a number of students and staff at CHPS that observe Ramadan, and as such offer a prayer space for our senior students in the senior campus. Anyone wishing to use a celebratory greeting throughout Ramadan can say, “Ramadan Mubarak” which means ‘have a blessed Ramadan’.

Easter is almost here! That means that many people within our school community are getting ready to feast on chocolate Easter eggs, hot cross buns and enjoy an extra-long weekend with family. For others, it is also a time to reflect on the date’s spiritual significance as one the most significant occasions on their religious calendar. Anyone wishing to use a celebratory greeting throughout Easter can say, “Happy Easter”.

Clean Up CHPS Day

Lastly, in the spirit of Clean Up Australia Day, we will be running our own Clean Up CHPS Day on Thursday. Students will be invited to pick up rubbish in an allocated area of the school or Darling Gardens. They also may wish to dress up in green and bring a gold coin to go towards new plants for our gardens as well as a donation to a sustainability initiative.

Have a safe and happy break,

Gareth Buck

Assistant Principal

Clifton Hill Primary School acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we come together to learn, and we pay our respects to Elders of the Kulin Nation past and present.

Year 4 visit Scienceworks

By Felicity Opray, 4VG