Principal's Report

We have an extraordinary level of anticipation, excitement and immersion promised for the term ahead. Not the least will be the opportunities and excitement created by our Grand Fair on Saturday 22nd November 2025. At the time of writing, I am looking forward to meeting up with our Fair Committee members and progressing this wonderful experience for our burgeoning community. There will be much to follow in the coming weeks.

Staffing Matters

We welcome back Ms Kirstie Briggs and Ms Jess Wilson who have resumed after long service leave in Term 3. We convey our appreciation for the positive contributions of Ms Hannah Scantleton and Ms Cathy Townsend who provided great flexibility and assistance during this period along with Ms Marina Floreancig who continued with our Visual Arts program throughout Term 3.

Currently Ms Lorraine Mclean has been absent this week and has been replaced by Ms Debra Grant in Year 3/4L. Ms Grant is a highly experienced teacher who is well known to our students, staff and parents, and continues to provide important relief work in our school. Additionally, Ms Lisa Gilbert will remain on leave until Friday 17th October 2025. We are delighted that she is being replaced by Ms Clare Kirwan from County Louth, Ireland. Again, it has been wonderful to have teachers of such calibre and experience in our school. Currently we are very aware that a number of primary teachers from Ireland and Canada are making their way to Victorian Schools and are providing enormous impetus, enthusiasm and capacities. We expect this will continue into 2026 and 2027. In the meantime, we can enjoy some of Clare’s reflections: Ms Kirwan has travelled all the way from County Louth, (Loud) – just thirty minutes from Dublin city, to join us here in Melbourne. She arrived one month ago and is very excited to experience Australian life firsthand. She is looking forward to embracing our schools’ vibrant ethos and connecting with the school community, learning about the lovely similarities and differences between schools in Australia and Ireland.

National Aerobics Competition – Gold Coast – Thursday 18th and Friday 19th September 2025

Again, this was a positive and most successful experience for the students involved and their families. Thank you again to our Assistant Principal, Ms Georgie Kirwan for her drive, inspiration and skills in making this possible. One of our teams achieved the silver medal, whilst the other team achieved a seventh placing. This was exceptional with teams from across the nation competing.

Whilst I was on long service leave, I did make myself available to assist at the event as a volunteer. It is a requirement that two personnel attend such interstate events, and this was the only cost-effective solution for our school at this time. Nevertheless we hope to enable such opportunities to be resourced so they can be sustained into the future.

Again, I thank Mr Zac Barry for his thorough care and stewardship of our school during these important times.

SunSmart and Hat Policy

At the commencement of Term 4, all students are required to wear a hat for protection. Whilst it is customary for us to commence in Term 4 and continue until the end of Term 1 the following year, I would like us to rethink this a little in 2026. Whilst the heat from the sun may not be necessarily apparent outside these times the ultraviolet damage is potentially there at other times. In the meantime, I would ask that parents encourage all students to wear their hats to and from the school, in addition to their time at school.

Literacy Support and First Aid

Please be advised that Ms Shaina Webb continues to operate in the First Aid area each day at our school. This is possible as a result of contributions from our families through their yearly contributions.

Nevertheless, through some review of resources Ms Webb in addition to First Aid duties is providing literacy support to a number of students in Year 2 at this stage, and is involved with these students for eight hours per week. Together with our Literacy Leader Ms Kirstie Briggs, and our class teachers Ms Lucy Bray and Ms Sue Minshull, Ms Webb is following an important support program for these students in reading, writing and spelling. In the coming days parents of these students will be advised of their child’s involvement in the program.    `

Child Safe and Their Care 

Early yesterday morning Ms Georgie Kirwan and I met with Mr Michael Abela and others from Their Care. Their Care is our Out of School Hours Care provider. Together with Principals and Assistant Principals from other schools, we are highly assured by the level of child safety practices occurring in the implementation of their programs and their diligence and clear expectations. This of course is partly in response to the new legislative requirements for Child Care centres in view of some tragic circumstances reported earlier this year. Again, I encourage our parents to make use of this wonderful Before School and After School program. Please email chatham@theircare.com.au if you would like to learn more about the program or seek enrolment.

Christopher Cotching

Principal