Principal's Page
From Christian's desk....
Thank You and Reminders: Wednesday – Assembly (11:45am) and Student Dismissal (12:30pm)
Thank you to our school community for a wonderful year full of laughter, learning and lots of memory making! We would like to extend our gratitude to those families who have made a significant contribution to our school over the years, particularly those farewelling their youngest child, graduating Year 6, and leaving our school community altogether! Your time and dedication to making CHPS the place it is, an extraordinary community, is enormously appreciated. In particular, I’d like to thank Nikky Edwards, whose incredible 11-year service as our Champion CHAPS Parent Representative, leaves our CHPS community as her youngest graduates Year 6. She is handing her 'communications' baton to CHAPS member Sally Meyer, who will no doubt fill those boots with gusto!
A reminder, on Wednesday we will be holding our traditional End-of-Year Assembly at 11:45am on the outdoor courts. School finishes at 12:30pm on Wednesday.
On behalf of the staff, I wish you a happy and restful break and look forward to another fantastic year in 2024.
Graduation
Congratulations to our Graduating Class of Year 6 students who last night celebrated their seven years of primary schooling.
Thank you to the staff and committee that went above and beyond to set up, cater and provide a terrific evening for the students and their families.
Congratulations Jess, Matt and Andie, and Welcome (back - sort of) Ashleigh Griggs!
Congratulations to Jess Toomer-Smith, Matt and sister-to-be, Andie, on the announcement of baby number TWOmer!
As a result of their announcement, the school decided to give Jess' 2024 classroom a new teacher to ensure stability for the year.
To replace the Year 1 classroom teacher role that was originally pencilled in for Jess and Chelsea Blaha, we have welcomed back Ashleigh Griggs, who had previously planned to teach at Kew East Primary School in 2024. Our community knows Ash from her work as an Education Support staff member and Learning Enhancement (Tutor) Educator for the last two years, while studying for her teaching degree. The attraction of working closer to home was too much for Ash and we’re thrilled to have her join our teaching team! The children met Ash at the Meet the Teacher on Tuesday.
Jess Toomer-Smith and Chelsea Blaha, who were originally pencilled in for the Year 1 roles, have been reassigned. Before her Maternity Leave at the beginning of Term 2, Jess will provide teacher release for student assessments and for Shane Holloway, who will have his own Parental Leave in Term 1. Chelsea Blaha, an exceptional athlete in her own right, will join the PE team with Laura Yorke and Jarrod Butcher.
Vale Carola Bland
Those of you who have had a long association with the school may remember Carola Bland, a founding teacher here at CHPS. We were saddened to hear of her passing last week. Former colleagues and current teachers in our school Libby Browning and Sandi Smythe, who taught with Carola during her 20 years at CHPS, shared these reflections with me:
‘On Tuesday a large group of past teachers from CHPS said farewell to Carola Bland, who passed away last week. Carola was a Croydon Hills original, teaching at the school from its beginning until her retirement in 2008. Sandy Smyth remembers her for her great good humour during those first years when things were sometimes challenging. Carola began in Prep, but soon moved to Grade 4, where she, her great friend Doris Kawanishi, Elmar Lumprieks and David Moreland established the Year 4 production, which is still one of our most loved traditions. Carola loved the Performing Arts and also established and led the CHPS choir. She had a beautiful voice and often sang solos at the CHPS Carols. She was also a skilled craftswoman, and her classes made beautiful Christmas gifts which are probably still treasured in many CHPS homes. Carola was also quick to take on board new technologies, and she and David Moreland became the “go to” people for their colleagues. She was a wonderful, caring teacher and her classroom was a safe and supportive learning space. As one of her ex-students posted on social media, “We all loved you, Miss Bland.” That says it all’
Special Assembly Next Year
Please diarise 2:40pm Friday 9th February 2024 as we’d love you to join in a very special Assembly, where our elected student Captains and Junior School Council members will be presented with their badges.
As shared last week, our Captains have been elected. In the holidays families of 2024 Year 1 - 6 students may wish to talk to their children about nominating for Junior School Council. The process of electing each class’s representative happens in the first few days of school. It requires nominating children to present a short speech to their class on how they can positively influence the school and be an advocate for their class’s improvement ideas at the fortnightly Junior School Council meetings.
Mobile Phone Policy
A reminder that the Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban, that requires students who bring mobile phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours. At our school, this means handing devices to the office before heading into the school grounds.
The Department is requiring all schools to ensure this ban is in place and enforced from the start of the 2024 school year.
The ban applies equally to all government schools right across the state. This helps ensure that school is a learning environment, free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions.
By ensuring mobile phones are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile phones can cause.
We ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school.
Please note that all students who bring a mobile phone to school are required to have a current Mobile Phone Permission (forms available from the office) and these need to be renewed each year.
Further information
Exceptions: For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact the office if you would like to discuss this.
Emergencies: In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, I ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required.
School mobile phone policy: A copy of our school’s local mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available here. We also require students and their families to complete the 'Appropriate Use of Mobile Phone School Agreement' each year. This can be found on our website or hard copies can be picked up from the office.
Parent support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.
If you have further questions, please contact the Administration Office.
Christian Holdsworth - Principal