Dear students, families and staff of Cheltenham Primary School,

I hope all of the fathers, grandfathers, carers and important men in our Cheltenham Primary School community enjoyed a very happy Father’s Day last Sunday. I trust you were able to spend special time with your families and enjoy being thoroughly celebrated by the children in your lives.

Thank you to our Student Representative Leaders: Isla VT who set up the items for selection; spoke to the classes and was quite brilliant. Raff B. and Bennett D-S were also great support and helped our younger students carefully select items. Three of the Year 5s then helped after recess: Micah, Ruby and Gwennie. It was a wonderful example of communmity spirit and teamwork by our senior students!

It has certainly been another busy and exciting fortnight at Cheltenham Primary School, with students participating in a wide range of learning experiences, sporting events and whole‑school celebrations...

House Athletics

Our Years 3–6 students enjoyed a terrific day at our annual House Athletics Carnival. It was wonderful to see students participating enthusiastically across the different events, supporting their houses and encouraging one another throughout the day. House Athletics is always such a positive community occasion, combining participation, competition, teamwork and plenty of house spirit.

A special thank you to Shaun Penny, who generously returned to assist Sarah Rhyle on the day. All our students and staff were delighted to see him again. Thank you also to the many staff and volunteers whose support helped the day run so smoothly.

Students who achieved qualifying results are now progressing to the District Athletics Carnival at Duncan McKinnon Reserve on Monday 14 September. We wish all competitors the very best and know they will represent Cheltenham Primary School with pride.

Staffing update

After 2 rounds of employment selection we have finally been successful in sourcing a suitably qualified Physical Education and Sport replacement for Shaun Penny. I am pleased to announce that Hamish Burrill who has returned from 16 months overseas will be starting with us, Monday September 14. Originally from the Box Hill area of Melbourne, is an accredited AFL coach and A grade cricketer. He taught for a few years as PE and Sport Specialist at Nunawading Primary School before travelling overseas and is now a Cheltenham local. Welcome, Hamish!

Year 1 and 2 Intensive Swimming

Our Year 1 and 2 students have been busy participating in their intensive swimming program. Swimming is an important component of the Victorian Curriculum, providing children not only with essential swimming skills but also with vital water‑safety knowledge and confidence.

The program continues into next week, with students completing their final sessions before the end of term. Thank you to families for ensuring children arrive each day with all of the many swimming essentials required.

Book Week Celebrations

Book Week was once again a wonderful celebration of reading, imagination and creativity across the school. Our Book Week Parade was a particular highlight, with the synthetic oval filled with an extraordinary collection of characters and costumes. It was fantastic to see so many families join us, and the creativity and enthusiasm shown by our students were outstanding.

Thank you to our PTFA for providing book prizes for our costume winners and to everyone who supported our Scholastic Book Fair. Approximately $4,000 in sales were generated, providing valuable resources for our school library and classroom mentor texts.

Students also enjoyed visits from a wonderful collection of authors and illustrators, including Adrian Beck, Jake Minton and Amelia Mellor. These experiences give children a unique opportunity to hear directly from professional writers and illustrators about the creative process, helping bring the world of books and storytelling to life.

A special thank you to Holly Smith for her outstanding organisation of the Book Fair and Book Week activities, and to Andrew Park for his support. Most importantly, thank you to our students for making Book Week such a joyful celebration of books, imagination and reading. Your enthusiasm made this year's celebrations a true 'Symphony of Stories!'

Bullying No Way Week

Facilitated by Holly Smith, our Mental Health Initiative Officer, Bullying No Way Week, reinforced our shared commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for all students. Across the week, children engaged in activities that highlighted kindness, friendship, inclusion and the importance of speaking up. From Crazy Socks Day to chalk‑kindness messages and our purple‑themed finale, students embraced the message that small acts of care can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Please read Holly's full report of the week in today's edition of the newsletter.

Foundation Information Evening

Our Transition Information Evening, held online via Webex on Tuesday, was a great success. Ilana Arndtheim, Eileen Banal and Catie Mytton led a highly informative and well‑structured presentation, providing families with valuable insights into the transition process and the supports in place for students. Thank you to all families who attended and to our staff for delivering such a clear and engaging session.

R U OK? Day

R U OK? Day is an important national initiative reminding us that a simple conversation can make a real difference. It encourages us to notice when someone may not seem themselves, to take the time to ask, “Are you OK?”, and most importantly, to genuinely listen and continue the conversation.

Today our Student Representative Council facilitated by Matt Littlechild organised a whole school R U OK? picnic at lunchtime. With yellow being the colour associated with the day, it was lovely to see a preponderance of yellow across the oval as students, staff and families came together to share lunch.

Thank you to our SRC students, it was a meaningful way to reinforce the message of connection, kindness and looking out for one another, while also bringing our wider school community together.

Parent Opinion Survey

Thank you to families who have already completed this year’s Parent Opinion Survey. The survey provides valuable feedback about families’ experiences of our school and assists us in identifying both areas of strength and opportunities for continued improvement.

Each family has received one survey PIN via Compass. We appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.

Looking Ahead to the Final Week of Term

It is hard to believe that next week is already the final week of Term 3.

The term will finish with one of our traditional favourites: our Footy Colours Parade on the final day of term. Students are encouraged to come dressed in the colours of their favourite AFL football team or other football code. The parade will take place during the first session of the morning and is always a colourful and lively way to finish the term.

A reminder also that our School Disco has been rescheduled to Thursday 15 October, early in Term 4. Children are encouraged to come to school in their Disco finery on this day.

As we approach the end of another incredibly busy term, thank you to our students, staff and families for the energy, support and enthusiasm you continue to bring to our school. I hope everyone enjoys the final week of Term 3 and is then able to enjoy a well‑earned and refreshing school holiday break! School dismisses at 2.30pm next Friday.

Kind Regards,

Bronwyn

Kingston Short Story Competition