From the Principal
Welcome Back
A warm welcome back to all our staff, students and families for 2023, and a particularly warm welcome to our new Foundation students and families.
I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable time with friends and family over the Summer break. The students have settled in exceptionally well and Mrs Ward and I have enjoyed visiting classrooms this week, always being greeted with friendly smiling faces. There is certainly a sense of excitement around the school, that comes with the start of each new school year.
About Me
I thought it would be nice to share a little bit about me. I started my career in education in 2004 at Dingley Primary School where I worked as classroom teacher, PE teacher and Performing Arts teacher over a period of 14 years. In 2018 I moved to Kingston Heath PS for six months as the Acting AP and Acting Prin. Half way through 2018 I obtained a substantive Assistant Principal position where I have worked for the last four and a half years. Now I am very excited to have joined CEPS as your Acting Principal this term.
Open Mornings
This term we will be offering two opening mornings on Monday 6 February and Friday 10 February. Both sessions will be run from 8.50-9.30am. These open mornings will provide parents and caregivers the opportunity to visit their child's 2023 classroom, and meet their classroom teacher. On both mornings, our Team Kids program coordinator Eric Zhao, will be manning an information booth for families who might be interested in accessing the program, or to answer any questions you might have. Team Kids will also be providing a complimentary Coffee Van on both mornings from 8.15-9.30am.
Getting to Know You Meetings
Also this term, we be conducting 'Getting to Know You' parent/teacher meetings. This is as an opportunity for parents to provide teachers with the necessary information to best support their child, and to also develop connection with their child's teacher.
These meetings will be offered on the following dates:
Tuesday 21 February - 3.40-4.40pm
Thursday 23 February - 3.40-4.40pm
Tuesday 28 February - 3.40-4.40pm
Thursday 2 March - 3.40-4.40pm
Communication on how to book will be provided in the coming weeks. The meetings will be offered both face-to-face onsite at school and virtually in Webex for those who cannot make it in person.
Team Kids
An official 2023 welcome to Team Kids who who have joined us as our Out of School Hours Care provider. The Team Kids staff have worked hard over the break to create a warm, inviting and safe space, and a program that will provide engagement for all students attending. Below is information to access the Team Kids program.
Staffing Update
As shared through Class Dojo earlier this week, Josh Bourke has been successful in obtaining an Acting Assistant Principal position for Term 1 at Southmoor Primary School. This presents as an exciting opportunity for Josh, and I know you will join me in wishing him every success in this new role. Josh will take with him the strong curriculum and wellbeing expertise that he has developed and implemented here at Cheltenham East. In the absence of Josh this term, his current roles and responsibilities will be backfilled by our existing staff.
Building Works
- Toilet Block Upgrade
The student toilet block update is progressing well. Framing and plastering have been completed this week, and we have been advised that completion is expected by early March. In the meantime, the students are accessing the portable toilet blocks located adjacent to the OHSC building. Please see some progress pictures of the toilet block works below.
- Digital Signage
We are getting closer to the installation of our new Digital Sign. We are awaiting confirmation for the commencement of works which could be as early as next week. How exciting!
- Cricket Pitch Resurfacing
We have received confirmation today that the cricket pitch will be undergoing its resurfacing next Monday and Tuesday. Given the weather forecast, we do expect that this will proceed as planned.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,
Robert Ridgway
Acting Principal
19/12/2022
Dear Cheltenham East Primary Families,
As we continue to refine and enhance the programs and opportunities we provide for our students and families, we have just concluded conducting a thorough Tender process to review the Outside of School Hours Care Program at our school.
As a result of this process we are pleased to announce that School Council have made the decision to appoint TeamKids as our new OSHC provider to now provide Before, After and Vacation Care at our school.
TeamKids will be commencing with the Before and After Care Service when students return on Monday 30th January. Their Vacation Care program at our school will start in Autumn on Tuesday 11th April, 2023.
We are confident that the partnership that we now have with TeamKids will benefit all students and families at our school.
Service, Parent Fees & Times
Please note, through discussions with School Council, TeamKids will be offering lower parent fees for Before and After Care and providing a holiday program (Vacation Care) at our school over each school holiday period. They will also offer Curriculum Day care for every pupil-free day held throughout the year.
SESSION | TIMES | COST TO PARENTS | AFTER MAX CCS |
Before School Care | 7:00am – 8:45am | $25.50 ^ | $8.91 |
After School Care | 3:30pm – 6:00pm | $33.80 ^ | $10.11 |
Curriculum Days | 7:00am – 6:00pm | $65.00 ^ | $9.75 |
Vacation Care | 7:00am – 6:00pm | $65.00 ^ | $9.75 |
^These fees will be significantly reduced when the family’s eligibility for Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is applied to the total cost of the day. Families will only be charged the “Gap” after their CCS is applied. Individual family circumstances will affect the CCS rebate. Further information can be found at www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/child-care-subsidy.
ABOUT TEAMKIDS
TeamKids are proud to be independently owned and run by teachers.
Unique to the industry, TeamKids will employ a qualified full-time co-ordinator, known as a Director of Service, at our school.
The Director of Service has two overarching responsibilities, and that is to:
- Implement age-appropriate experiences that are engaging and fun, but also create learning environments that are warm, unique and stimulating, a place where children don’t have to go, they want to go.
- Ensure consistency of staff, provide an exemplary level of communication with the children and parents and build a strong, genuine relationship with the school and the broader community.
In addition to this, TeamKids have set a new standard in the OSHC space in their offerings that:
- Build parental and student confidence through the quality of outstanding programs and communication.
- Create child–led programs that enrich and extend the children in meaningful ways as their TeamKids Clubs.
- Establish long-lasting relationships with our school by having complete community engagement, enhancing what already makes our school special.
- Provide industry-leading educator-to-student ratios of 1:10.
Further information will be supplied in the coming weeks with information events to be announced and family handbooks supplied to all members of the community.
All families will need to register for free with TeamKids.
If you have not used TeamKids before then you will need to register your child and add your bookings.
Please go to the website www.teamkids.com.au and select the program and follow the enrolment instructions.
If you have used TeamKids before, please contact their Customer Service Team and they will link your account. You will then just need to add your desired bookings.
TeamKids’ local Customer Service team is always there to help. Please contact their Customer Service team via email info@teamkids.com.au or phone 1300 035 000, press #1 if you have any questions.