Principal's Message 

Welcome back for Term 2

Hi everyone, and welcome back for Term 2. I hope all families had a lovely Easter and a relaxing break. 

I am very excited to be back at Ceres PS for another term. I do apologise that there is still no certainty or long-term plans around the Principal position. I honestly only find out just before the end of each term when that I will continue into the next term. As soon as I know more I will, of course, communicate this to the school community.

A big Term 2 awaits. It is 11 weeks in total which sounds huge but when you throw in a couple of public holidays and lots of special events, it will tick by very quickly. 

This term we have the Colour Run, 3/4 camp, excursions, athletics events, Education Week, school class photos, Walk to School morning,  a visiting author chat, and our always exciting 'Big Freeze' event just to name a few things to look forward to. 

Please keep up to date with the calendar as we seem to have something on each week. 

Education Week - Parents and Friends Open morning

On Tuesday, May 14th, in week 5 (during Education Week), we will be hosting a Parents and Friends Open Morning. From 8:45am-9:30am, visitors are welcome to come and take part in a STEM themed literacy activity.  We look forward to seeing as many visitors as possible.

For more information about our planned Education Week activities please visit our Curriculum Updates page.

Yard updates

• Exciting developments over the recent school holidays with our old checkboard area finally having the well issue rectified. It was a long 13 months with a few sleepless nights and many conversations with the Education Department but it is all sorted and the area looks fantastic. I have engaged a company, Edumarking, to come in and paint a movement/activity track later this term, possibly next, like the photo below for classes to use for brain breaks and during recess and lunch breaks. This will be paid for using the kind donation given to us by the Waurn Ponds Hotel at the end of last term. We are very grateful for their donation as it will finish the new concrete area beautifully. It will be so nice to have assemblies in this location again too.

• Our new playground is also coming along nicely and is only days from completion. See the photo gallery below for current progress. 

• Flexi Schools, our canteen company, kindly donated $280 last term also and this kind gesture will be shared with Mr Beaton to use towards our chicken coop project.
• Our admin area has also had a nice facelift during the holidays with some much needed pinboards and whiteboards installed. It has made our space far more professional and is now ready for some incredible displays to be added. Pop in and have a squiz.
• On Friday, May 3rd, we will be visited by local State MP, Darren Cheeseman. It will be a wonderful opportunity to show him the progress we have made in the past 12 months and, outline the future direction of our school yard while asking for his support with the carparking situation and rallying CoGG for assistance.

So as you can see, lots has been happening with plenty of other yard improvement and maintenance items to be completed this term and throughout 2024.  Busy, yet exciting times!

Get to know our newest member of staff- Abbey Cone

Hi everyone, I’m Abbey a new ES!

I will be mostly in the 5/6 classroom.

I’m in my second year of studying primary teaching at ACU in Ballarat. I am loving working at Ceres and very keen to get to know more students and parents.

Outside of Ceres and uni, I play social netball a couple of times a week and love snow skiing in winter.

Looking forward to getting to know you all! 

Prep Enrolments and Tours

Expressions of interest and tours for 2025 Foundation students have been popular lately with many more booked this term. 

If you have a sibling of a current student needing enrolment next year we ask that this is submitted as soon as possible to give us a clear indication of potential numbers. 

If you know anyone looking to enroll at Ceres, please ask them to book a tour or pick up an expression of interest pack.

*Last chance- closing next week* 

Highlights and Challenges of the previous four years @Ceres 

We value our community's voice and as part of our upcoming strategic review process in early Term 3, where we set new school learning and wellbeing goals for the next four years, we need to look back at the previous four year period and identify highlights and challenges from this time, particularly in the areas of learning and wellbeing. 

Reflection such as this provides an opportunity to celebrate our successes and growth as a school while also identifying areas of development that could form goals in our next Strategic Plan. 

If you wouldn't mind contributing your ideas to the questions in this survey, that would be greatly appreciated. There is the option for your child to enter their thoughts also if they wish.

The survey will remain open until early Term 2.

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

Our newsletter is private to our school community and is not shared on our website or on social media.  However, you may want to have a grandparent or other family member be able to receive our newsletter.  If you do, you can subscribe to our newsletter with the link below and then when the newsletter is published it will go to them.  You can also subscribe if you would like to receive the newsletter directly into your email instead of via Compass.

Subscribe here

Reminder: Our student led Assembly is on today at 2:30 pm back in its original location (old checkerboard area)  for the first time in loooong time. 

Our assembly is an important part of our school. It is an opportunity to proactively reinforce our school culture and expectations through the acknowledgement and celebration of our students and school. 

Have a great fortnight.

Tim Callaghan

Acting Principal