Principal's Report

I am pleased to report that our school continues to move from strength to strength as we once again reinstate and enhance our Chatham traditions and experiences. Whilst the following details may appear a bit heavy, I think it is timely for me to comment on the following. In recent weeks, I have found that parents have become increasingly interested in our curriculum provision and the approaches we take in relation to student assessment. 

NAPLAN Testing Years 3 & 5

I am delighted to advise that NAPLAN testing has occurred without incident with our students on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This has involved assessment tasks in relation to Writing, Reading and Language Conventions. Next Wednesday 22nd March, our students will undertake assessment tasks in relation to Numeracy. At this stage I believe the results will be made available in July. I convey our appreciation for the positive preparation and organisation undertaken by Mr Tim Clarke as Co-ordinator and our Year 3 and 5 teachers Mr Sam Norris, Ms Tanya Dolence, Ms Viv Twigg and Mrs Hannah Scantleton.

Curriculum Development and enhancement at Chatham Primary School

The focus of our Curriculum and Assessment provision at Chatham Primary School is of paramount priority.

The provision of our curriculum program at Chatham Primary School is based upon the stated Victorian Curriculum. This curriculum is further enhanced and nuanced by the important interpretation made of the relevant documents together with the traditional approaches taken and refined over a number of years. Teachers then produce comprehensive planning documents for their Year Level. This is done collaboratively with teaching staff and informed further by collective cohort, small group and individual student achievement data. Similarly, we also utilise a highly detailed Chatham Assessment Schedule at each Year Level which employs testing and assessment instruments over a cycle each Term. These continue to be refined and are provided to the Victorian Regulations and Qualifications Authority. All Government, Independent and Catholic schools are required to demonstrate that they meet the minimum standards for registration and importantly maintain such standards between the periods of School Review. It is expected that our next School Review will be conducted in late Term 4, 2023 or early Term 1 in 2023.

 Additionally, in completing the Annual Report every year, the Principal is required to attest that the school meets the required minimum standards of the Victorian Regulations and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) in accordance with the Department of Education and Training Reform (ETR) Act 2006. Also required is an attestation that the school is compliant with the Child Safe Standards prescribed in Ministerial Order No.870 – Child Safe Standards, Managing Risk of Child Abuse in School. Further, there is a requirement for the Principal to affirm that all teachers at the school meet the ongoing requirements set by the Victorian Institute of Teaching for registration and thereby complete the minimum hours of professional learning on an annual basis. The Annual Report for 2022 is presented and endorsed by the School Council and submitted to the Department of Education and Training by 30th April each year. Once the Annual Report has been approved by the Department of Education and Training it is placed on our school website for perusal. I very much look forward to making this document available to our school community.

Whilst there is a considerable amount of data presented in this document, the following summary is of interest:

Please be aware that the data provides three interesting comparisons: 

School average:                               Results specific to our school cohort

Similar Schools average:              Results comparative to other Boroondara schools

State average:                                  Results comparative to other primary schools statewide

English Preparatory to Year 6

95.7% of Chatham students were at or above age expected standards. This compares to 94.9% for Similar Schools and 87% of the State average.

Mathematics Preparatory to Year 6 

93.4% of Chatham students were at or above age expected standards. This compares to 94.8% for Similar Schools and 85.9% of the State average.

Year 5 NAPLAN Reading

89.7% of Chatham students were at or above age expected standards. This compares to 86.4% for Similar Schools and 70.2% of the State average.

Year 5 NAPLAN Numeracy

89.5% of Chatham students were at or above age expected standards. This compares to 71.2% for Similar Schools and 54.2% of the State average. This is an exceptional result.

Sense of Connectedness – Year 4-6

79.4% of Chatham students indicated either an agree or strongly agreed positive response about this area. This compares to 75.4% for Similar Schools and 78.1% of the State average. Again, it is extraordinary to think that we have Similar Schools to Chatham that are below the State average.

Management of Bullying – Years 4-6

80.8% of Chatham students indicated either agree or strongly agreed positive responses as to how school manages alleged bullying. This compares to 73.4% for Similar Schools and 75.8% of the State average. Again, it is extraordinary to think that we have Similar Schools to Chatham that are below the State average.

These results are a significant reason for celebration and an affirmation of approach in relation to teaching and learning, and the management of student matters. 

Boroondara Literacy Awards – Years 5 & 6

We are pleased to advise that we have been successful in being involved in the Boroondara Writers in Schools Program. The program will involve the services of a professional writer to present a workshop for students in Years 5 & 6 in Term 2. We look forward to the knowledge, experience and opportunities that this will provide for our students. 

Cyber Safety – Think You Know – Years 5 & 6

Yesterday we were pleased to enable our students to access a national program concerning Cyber Safety – entitled Think You Know. This opportunity is   provided in partnership between the Federal Police, Commonwealth Bank and Microsoft. This session for our Year 5 & 6 students provided a valuable insight for students and staff on the challenges and considerations needed when using online technologies, despite a recognition more broadly, of the value of new and emerging technologies for students. Whilst the themes of this session are provided by our teaching staff through our own approaches to Cyber Safety based on Department of Education and Training guidance, it was valuable to have these ideas and themes further developed. This program is also made available to students in secondary schools and represents themes that need to be regularly reiterated in these times.

Despite these undertakings, I would urge parents to take parental responsibility for the use of devices by their children. Whilst the Principal and teaching staff are not responsible for what occurs in online chat forums or on social media outside of school hours, we take an extremely dim view of any Chatham students who engage in such nonsense. My teaching staff need to be informed if and when such events occur. Students at Chatham who break these mores or expectations will be required to restore our trust in them and we will carefully consider access, if at all, to any extra-curricular programs. In short, any child who continues with such behaviour will not access any school program beyond the school gate until we are confident they have learnt from such occurrences and can be trusted not to do so in the future.

Mobile phones and smart watches

The Department of Education and Training has clear policy expectations regarding the use of mobile phones. I am delighted that almost without exception, our students observe our rules in this regard. The issue of smart watches is somewhat problematic. We understand that these can be placed in ‘school mode’ and therefore access to cameras, recording, text messaging and mobile phone usage is inaccessible throughout the school day and while the student is engaged with school programs. At this stage, we manage this extremely well. However, if students are found not observing this expectation, then watches will be removed and placed in school bags for the day. Parents will also be contacted to advise that we believe their child does not possess the level of maturity and/or self-regulation to manage these technologies.

Harmony Day Tuesday 21st March

Amid the implementation of an extraordinary, engaging and exciting curriculum and testing regime at Chatham, we are taking some time away to celebrate Harmony Day. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect and celebrate the diversity of our cultures, traditions and backgrounds as a school community. It brings of course a superb opportunity to cite our school motto of Being Safe, Fair and Kind and to acknowledge that almost without exception, that we are immigrants to our eclectic, diverse and culturally rich nation. Please check your Compass newsfeeds for further information as this has been communicated in the last few days.

Parent Information Sessions – Preparatory to Year 6

It is fabulous to see the continuing participation and involvement of our parents in the Year Level Information sessions that have been held in recent days. This has been a timely and valuable opportunity for parents to gain greater insight into the teaching and learning that occurs at each level, the curriculum provision, the priorities of focus for the Year Level, the behavioural and social expectations involved, the extracurricular events planned for the year, the schedule of assessment, and amongst other matters, the expectations and requirements for homework. On Monday 20th March we will conduct Parents Information sessions for Preparatory and Year 1. Again, we encourage those parents with students at that level to attend.

Preparatory and Year 5 Buddy Picnic – Saturday 18th March 2023

We look forward to this occurring tomorrow from 4.00pm – 6.00pm on the grassed area at the northern end of the school. Given the warmer weather planned for Saturday this will be a lovely place to meet, with ample shade and protected areas away from the sun. This has been a Chatham tradition for many years with families attending with picnic rugs, beverages, games to play and a plate of food to share. Again, we are delighted that our Class Representatives for Preparatory and Year 5 have taken the initiative to bring this to fruition and provide the attractive flyers to promote the event. We look forward to seeing you there.

Parent Helpers' Course – Tuesday 4th April 2023

At Chatham we strongly value the involvement and assistance of parents in classrooms to support teachers in providing high quality teaching and learning programs. It is a compulsory requirement for those parents who wish to volunteer and participate in Preparatory to Year 2 classrooms, that they attend this valuable one-hour course to be held from 9:30am on Tuesday 4th April in the school library. Please email the school at chathamps@education.vic.gov.au to advise us if you wish to attend. Again, we very much look forward to our parents being involved.

Volunteers at Chatham

Please be aware that we greatly value the work of volunteers within our school. Consistent with Victorian legislation and Department of Education and Training policy, all parents and visitors who in engage in school programs during school time and/or have access to the facilities must have a current Working With Children Check. Additionally, to meet new Occupational Health and Safety requirements, all volunteers must read an induction document provided to them prior to volunteering. This document will be made available to you in hard copy upon providing a copy of your current Working With Children Check. Please understand these are not merely Chatham rules, but legislative requirements. 

Preparatory Tours for 2024 enrolments

We are now encouraging parents to enrol for 2024. We will be conducting School Tours on Wednesdays from 9.30am this Term. Parents seeking a comprehensive tour of the school are asked to make a booking by emailing the school at chathamps@education.vic.gov.au

In the coming weeks we will be providing details regarding the Preparatory Transition Program for 2024. This usually commences with a Parent Information Session for interested parents and a number of on-site transitional experiences for students that engages them in the curriculum provision including involvement in Specialist classes in Physical Education, Music, Japanese and Visual Arts.

Thank you again,

Christopher Cotching

Principal