From Mr Ridgway

Semester 2 Student Reports

Semester 2 student reports will be published to families via Sentral next Friday, 12 December, one week before the school year concludes. As some of you will remember, we experienced technical issues with Sentral in Semester 1, and I apologise in advance should any similar issues arise this time. We are confident that the distribution of reports will proceed as planned. This will be our final reporting cycle using Sentral, as we will transition to Compass in 2026.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our teaching staff for preparing such thoughtful and comprehensive reports. Each one reflects students’ strengths, achievements, and areas for future growth. Mr Chaplin and I have personally read through every report and have been genuinely impressed by the level of personalisation in each teacher’s comments. We are very fortunate to have such highly skilled and dedicated staff.

End of Year Community Celebration Concert

It was wonderful to see every year level take the stage and share their songs with families and friends. The end-of-year concert is always a special chance to come together as a community before the year draws to a close, and this year was no exception.

A big shout-out to Mrs Digby and Mrs Spain for their outstanding musical preparation of the students, and thank you to all staff who supported students with extra rehearsals. Your efforts helped our students shine as brightly as they did.

Salvation Army Drive -Thank You For Your Generosity

A huge thank you to our school community for your generous donations of non-perishable goods. Your support has enabled us to provide meaningful assistance to the Salvation Army as they work to help individuals and families doing it tough at this time of year.

Your contributions make a real difference, and I am grateful to be part of such a thoughtful and caring community.

2026 Foundation Transition

We have now completed our 2026 Foundation Transition program. Buddy connections have been formed and are already blossoming, students have been placed into their 2026 classes, and they enjoyed their final transition session alongside their future classmates.

A huge shout-out to Samantha Waugh, Amy Gridley, Renee King, Samantha Collins, Steph Stuart, Tara Shimmin and Jared Chaplin for their incredible effort and dedication in making these sessions such a success. We received very positive feedback from parents, who were highly complimentary about how smoothly and thoughtfully the program was delivered.

Thank you also to our wonderful Parents Committee for running the Second-Hand Uniform Sale on Wednesday morning. It was a great success, raising just under $1000. Our Parents Committee continues to be an invaluable asset to our school community.

TAR Asia Qualifiers Soccer Tournament

Congratulations to one of our Year 4 boys, Fadel H who h been scouted to play in the TAR Asia Qualifiers Soccer Tournament in Thailand from 12-14 December 2025. TAR Asia Qualifiers Champion will earn a spot in the TAR U11 Tournament in Spain, competing against top teams, including LaLiga’s best! Fadel is a highly talented and passionate soccer player and we wish all the best throughout the tournament

Walking and Riding Safely to School

As we head into the busy end-of-year period, we are asking all families to be extra mindful of safety around our school. In the past fortnight, we have received two reports from members of the public regarding near misses involving students travelling to and from school. Combined with the rushed driver behaviour that often appears in the lead up to Christmas, it is a timely reminder that student safety is a shared responsibility.

At Cheltenham East Primary School, we encourage walking or riding to school as a healthy and environmentally friendly way to start the day. To help keep everyone safe, please take a moment to revisit the following reminders with your children.

For Students Walking

Always use designated crossings and wait until traffic has fully stopped.
Make eye contact with drivers before stepping onto the road.
Walk scooters and bikes across roads and intersections.
Stay alert and avoid distractions such as headphones or mobile devices.

For Students Riding

Wear a fitted, Australian Standard-approved helmet.
Stick to footpaths or designated bike lanes whenever possible.
Slow down and signal when passing pedestrians.
Dismount when entering the school grounds.

For Parents and Carers Driving

Please slow down and remain patient, especially during peak drop off and pick up times.
Do not park in no stopping zones, on nature strips, or across driveways.
Use the school’s designated drop off areas safely and avoid U turns, double parking or stopping in the middle of the road.
Remain alert for children who may step out between cars unexpectedly.

A Community Effort

With the festive season approaching, roads are busier, routines shift and distractions are higher than usual. By taking a little extra care, we can ensure all CEPS students arrive at school and return home calm, safe and ready for learning.

Thank you for working with us to keep our school community safe.

Curriculum Day - Monday 15 December

A friendly reminder that our final Curriculum Day of the year will be on Monday, 15 December. On this day, the staff will be busy planning the teaching and learning for 2026.

I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

Robert Ridgway

Principal