Principal's Report 

From Christian's desk....

Clean Up Croydon Hills Day – Monday 14th December

Our school is having a Clean Up Croydon Hills Day on Monday. Thank you to Mia (SKG) for organising this day. If you’d like to watch her promo video, it is available HERE.

Colour Run

Tomorrow afternoon from 2:30 – 3:30pm, CHAPS will host its annual Colour Run. Thank you to the parent helpers who came in on Monday to fill the powder bottles!

Under COVIDSafe restrictions the school is permitted 30 parent helpers onsite for the event. Thank you to those of you that have already put your hand up to volunteer (and get covered in coloured powder)! As far as I understand there may be one or two spots available to assist.  Please nominate yourself via the CHAPS Facebook page.

Reminders:

  • It is suggested that students bring some old clothes to change into at lunch-time and an old towel, as we will have the sprinklers on!
  • If you are arriving at school early to pick your children up from school and are onsite for longer than 15 minutes, we ask you to record your casual attendance on school grounds using the contact tracing visitor FORM.

Year Six Graduation

Year Six community members are asked to carefully read the dedicated post on Compass for instructions and processes for Tuesday evening. These include how parents/carers can book in for the Year Six Certificate Viewing.

Congratulations Ben and the sustainability team

Congratulations to Ben Burch, who nominated our school for a 2020 Victorian Schools Garden Award.  As a part of our successful nomination the school gained a $350 voucher to further enhance our environment.

 

Farewells and welcomes!

At this time of year we begin to say thank you and farewell to departing staff and welcome new and returning staff. On behalf of the school community I would like to:

  • Congratulate Kristy Sotiropoulos on her appointment as Learning Specialist at Mullum Primary School. This is a significant achievement and career progression for Kristy, who has been an invaluable member of staff over the past six years.
  • Welcome back:
    • Classroom teacher David Bouris, as he returns from one year at Regency Park Primary School.
    • Visual Arts teacher Claudia Michielin, as she returns from one year at Parkdale Primary School.
    • Jacinta McKenzie, Sian Jose (Yallop), Katherine Tapscott and Ashley Bau (Gray) from parental leave.
    • Pass on our best to:
      • Gen Stephens, as she has a year of leave to travel with her family.
      • Caitlin Fernando, who has secured a position at Eastwood Primary School next year. Caitlin has been a member of our community since she arrived as a fourth year pre-service teacher in 2018. Caitlin taught in the Junior School for two years.
      • Nikki McInerney, who will leave Croydon Hills after one year in the Senior School and take up a position at Warrandyte Primary School.
      • Cindy Fletcher, who has secured a position at Chirnside Park Primary School next year. Cindy has been a valuable member of our community this year with highlights of the Principal team being her willingness to extend her students academically and the care and compassion she has for the students in her care.
      • Visual Arts teacher Tina Fiorentino, as she returns to her base school of Wantirna College.
    • Welcome new teachers:
      • Maddison Wilson, who is known to the school community as Kali Fraser’s pre-service teacher in 2018 and has been a regular contributor to camps and school life since. Maddison will teach Year One in the Junior School next year.
      • Jessica Lewis, who is completing her third-year teaching at Hazel Glen College.  Jessica is excited to join the Prep team and met our community on Monday evening at the Prep Information Evening and on Tuesday at Prep Meet the Teacher.
      • Sarah Pirrie, who will join the Performing Arts team as a one day a week teacher alongside Brodie Douma-King.

2021 School Organisation

Over the course of the term our School Improvement Team have been putting in place plans and prioritising resources to continue to provide the best opportunities we can to optimise student achievement, engagement and wellbeing. 

I am proud to share the school’s organisational profile for 2021.

2021 Meet the Teacher

On Tuesday, 2021 Prep students attended their Meet the Teacher session. Tomorrow students in Year P – 5 will have their final in-school Transition Session as they ‘step-up’ and meet their 2021 teacher.  During this time the school will welcome 15 new students to the school across Years 1 – 6. 

Next week we will celebrate and acknowledge our families that are concluding their CHPS journey.

School Uniform Survey Update

Last night School Council met to discuss the results of the School Uniform Survey. Council discussions supported the community’s perspectives:

  • Navy leggings will be added as an alternative to tracksuit pants.
  • Shoe colour will remain open, not being limited to majority black or majority white.
  • Sock colour will remain the majority black or majority white, not being limited.
  • The school will not phase out cargo shorts.

These changes will be ratified in the School Uniform Policy in February next year.

Christian Holdsworth  -  Principal