What's Happening at CHPS
Sustainability
Welcome back to our Sustainability program in 2026.
Mr Crook had a great 1st Garden Club last week with our new Eco leaders Vicky Tomka and Abel Jenkins. It was awesome to see so many students coming along to sign up and learn about all the plans for this year's activities. You can see from the growth in the Grasslands at the north entrance that this project is almost complete with only a little more landscaping and mulching to be done.
This year we will be refurbishing the school Asian garden and improving some of the farm areas. Adding many more plants and flowers as well as improving the ability to handle and store rainwater runoff.
As you know at the end of last year the school was presented with its 4th RSS star, this indicates that we have joined the top sustainable schools in the state. We are aiming to achieve our 5th star this year which will launch us to the rarified air of being a 'leadership ranked' school.
Our 2025 Annual Report showed how well our students embrace our Sustainability values as well as showcase the work the School has done to reduce our resource use and carbon footprint. We also saved a stack of money which is going back into the students' education!
To help us along, please remember to utilise the CDS scheme when it comes to recycling your drink containers.
Our own numbers show we earned back $150 in Term 4 of 2025 which is almost a 100% recycling rate from canteen sales.
PE News
Team Vic Trials (year 5 & 6 students):
Over the next couple of weeks, the PE and senior teachers will be running trials for the SSV Team Vic elite athlete pathway. This is an extension program where 3 students can be selected per sport to represent CHPS and try to make the Victorian Squad. This is a process where by the PE teachers will nominate the 3 students and the Principal is required to endorse the nomination. Further information will be discussed during Friday Sport tomorrow but if your child has represented their sport at an elite level then we would encourage them to fill out the compass survey that will be sent out to students and the PE staff will receive their survey application. If a student is successful, the PE staff will notify families of next steps.
The 5 sports that are currently open for nomination are:
Cricket (boys) – girls will be later in the year
Basketball (boys & girls)
Soccer (boys) – girls will be later in the year
Netball (girls) – boys will be later in the year
AFL (boys) – girls will be later this term
PE Lessons – Injuries & illness:
We would just like to remind families that if your child is unwell or has injured themselves and are not able to participate in their PE lesson that week, can parents please email their PE teacher so we can keep a record of this. We would also like to help guide students with what activities they can still participate in. If we don’t receive an email, we will presume students are fit to participate.
2026 District Swimming: Year 3-6 FINAL CALL OUT!
District Swimming is one of our first major sporting events in Term 1 – Monday 23rd February (week 5) so for those who may swim competitively outside of school or for anyone interested in heading to the pools, you can trial your favourite stoke!
Qualifying times are below - students are required to be able to swim 50m in their preferred stroke confidently.
Please note: if you are not far off the qualifying times (2-3 seconds) we encourage you to still get in touch!
Qualifying Times:
| Stroke | All age groups |
| 50m Freestyle | Under 55 secs |
| 50m Backstroke | Under 60 secs |
| 50m Breaststroke | Under 65 secs |
| 50m Butterfly | Under 65 secs |
If you would like to submit your time to me, please email laura.yorke@education.vic.gov.au to be considered for District Swimming.
Senior Gala Day #1: Year 5 & 6
Our Senior Summer Gala Days are coming up on Tuesday 2nd March (week 6) and Tuesday 10th March (week 7). Over the next couple of weeks, we will be trialling students for team selection of the various different sports: Basketball, Cricket, Sofcrosse, Tennis, Volley bounce & Tee ball.
If you are available to assist with trainings on a Friday (12:15-1:30pm) or help on a Gala Day (9:30 - 2:30pm), please contact Jarrod Butcher via email jarrod.butcher@education.vic.gov.au
A compass event will be sent out in the coming weeks for parent consent and payment.
Laura Yorke & Jarrod Butcher 🙂