As we wrap up Term 3, I want to reflect on what has been an action-packed and incredibly rewarding term at Chelsea Primary School. It has been a term full of rich learning, special events, and countless moments of growth, connection and pride.

We began the term celebrating a big milestone for our youngest learners — 100 Days of Prep, a joyful reminder of how far our newest students have come already. Our middle and senior students have been out and about exploring the world beyond the classroom, with major highlights including the Year 4 Camp to Portsea and the Year 3 Day Camp at Portsea. These experiences saw students challenge themselves, build teamwork, develop resilience and create lasting memories together. We also saw Year 2 immerse themselves at the Melbourne Museum, Year 6 engage deeply at the Holocaust Museum, and Year 5 enjoy a day of discovery at the State Library and Monopoly Dreams. These rich opportunities build our students’ confidence, curiosity and independence.

In classrooms, learning has been alive and buzzing. Science Week – Decoding the Universe had students exploring nature’s hidden language, while Book Week filled the school with colour and excitement during our whole-school Book Parade and Book Swap. We were lucky to host author Felice Arena, who inspired our students to see themselves as readers, writers and creators.

This term also marked the release of our Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN results, and we are incredibly proud to share that Chelsea Primary School is among the top of the table for student growth compared to similar schools across the state. The strong progress shown by our students — particularly from Year 3 to Year 5 — reflects the impact of our evidence-based explicit teaching approach and the dedication of our teachers. It is wonderful to see our students not only achieving strong results but showing exceptional growth over time.

Beyond academics, our focus on wellbeing and connection has remained strong. As a school, we came together to recognise R U OK? Day, reminding students of the importance of kindness and checking in on others. Our senior students participated in the Kingston Council Grade 6 Transition Program, helping them prepare for secondary school, and our older students continued their buddy reading visits to local kinders, strengthening our connections with the wider Chelsea community and our future Preps.

On the sporting field, our students shone with their teamwork and determination during Interschool Sport, and many achieved personal bests at the District Athletics at Ballam Park. Their sportsmanship and pride in representing CPS has been wonderful to see.

I want to sincerely thank our staff for their dedication and professionalism, and our families for the unwavering support you give our students and our school. This partnership is what helps Chelsea Primary School continue to thrive.

I hope everyone enjoys a safe, happy and restful holiday break. We can’t wait to see all our students back for an exciting Term 4 filled with STOMP Dance, Step Into Prep, the Colour Fun Run, Year 6 Graduation, and our end-of-year celebrations.

Kind regards,
Taylor Irish
Principal

---

Important dates to remember in Term 4:

Monday 6th October
Term 4 begins!

Friday 10th October
District Hot Shots

Tuesday 21st October
School Council

Tuesday 28th October
Foundation 2026 Information Night 5:45pm

Wednesday 29th October
Foundation Excursion - The Big Goose

Friday 31st October
World Teachers Day

Monday 3rd November
CURRICULUM DAY - No students at school

Tuesday 4th November
PUBLIC HOLIDAY - Melbourne Cup

Friday 7th November
Grade 5/6 Swimming - Aquastar Keysborough

Monday 10th November
Grade 5/6 Swimming - Aquastar Keysborough

Tuesday 11th November
STOMP Dance Grade 6

Wednesday 12th November
Grade 5/6 Swimming - Aquastar Keysborough

Thursday 13th November
Grade 5/6 Swimming - Aquastar Keysborough

Friday 14th November
Step Into Prep - Session 1
Grade 5/6 Swimming - Aquastar Keysborough

Tuesday 18th November
STOMP Dance Grade 6
School Council

Thursday 20th November
Korean Day

Friday 21st November
Colour Fun Run 3:30-4:30pm

Tuesday 25th November
STOMP Dance Grade 6

Friday 28th November
Step Into Prep - Session 2

Monday 1st December
Grade 6 Parliament House Excursion

Tuesday 2nd December
STOMP Dance Grade 6

Wednesday 3rd December
Grade 1-3 STEM Incursion: Cosmodome

Thursday 4th December
iSea iCare Dolphin Swim

Friday 5th December
Step Into Prep - Session 3

Tuesday 9th December
Statewide Government Transition Day
Step Into Prep Meet the Teacher

Thursday 11th December
CPS Christmas Carols

Tuesday 16th December
STOMP Dance Grade 6
Grade 6 Graduation - Patterson River Golf Club

Wednesday 17th December
Grade 6 Big Day Out - Luna Park

Thursday 18th December
Grade 6 Picnic 11:30-12:30
Grade 6 Final Assembly/Farewell 12:30-1:15
School Dismissed 1:30pm

Friday 19th December
CURRICULUM DAY - No students at school

---

We are busy getting ready for important transition times and communications have been sent out to our families of Foundation students for next year.  

The beginning of school is a truly precious time, filled with excitement, wonder, and sometimes a few nerves too — for both children and parents. Please know that all emotions are completely normal, and we are here to support you and your child every step of the way.

We have some important dates coming up as we prepare for Foundation 2026:

• Information Night for 2026 Foundation Families: Tuesday 28th October | 5:45pm – 6:30pm (approx.)

Step into Prep – Session 1
Friday 14th November | 9:30am – 10:40am

Step into Prep – Session 2
Friday 28th November | 9:30am – 10:40am

Step into Prep – Session 3
Friday 5th December | 9:30am – 10:40am

Statewide Meet the Teacher
Tuesday 9th December | 9:30am – 10:40am

For our Step into Prep sessions, our Foundation team will meet you and your child out the front of the school. We kindly ask that parents say a quick “kiss and go” goodbye out the front, rather than coming inside. While your child is enjoying some fun activities in the classroom, you might like to grab a coffee, head home for a little break, or catch up with other parents.

 

---

STEM UPDATE

This term, our students have shown remarkable curiosity and enthusiasm during STEM, especially during our Earth and Space Science investigations.

Grades 1 & 2

Our youngest scientists developed their inquiry skills by exploring the Sun’s journey across the sky. They investigated shadows, observed clouds, discovered the moon’s phases, identified star constellations, and even created their own! To wrap up the term, students began learning about planets, creating their own models to better understand the scale of our solar system.

Grade 3

Grade 3 students deepened their scientific thinking by exploring the properties of rocks and minerals. They examined how natural forces and human activities shape our Earth’s surface, and conducted a hands-on experiment growing sugar crystals. Through water cycle experiments, they learned about evaporation, condensation, cloud formation, and precipitation, while understanding the vital importance of conserving our planet’s limited water resources.

Grade 4

This term, Grade 4 students sharpened their planning, design, and teamwork skills through a STEM challenge. Collaborating to build marble roller coasters, they explored shapes, forces, and structural strength — applying science and engineering concepts to create their tracks.

Grades 5 & 6

Our senior students tackled a big question: “Can something become nothing?” Students researched the entire life cycle of an everyday product—from creation to disposal—developing a deeper understanding of materials, manufacturing, sustainability and waste. They discovered that scientifically, nothing truly disappears; materials may be reused, recycled, become landfill, or change state as solids, liquids, or gases.

Science Week

We had a fantastic time celebrating Science Week under the theme Decoding the Universe. Students and teachers joined in online escape rooms, daily trivia, story time, and lunchtime clubs exploring animal tracks, light communication, and plants. A huge thank you to our Grade 6 helpers who ensured the week ran smoothly — we hope everyone enjoyed the fun as much as we did!

            

iSea iCare Ambassadors

Last week, our iSea iCare team participated in a coastal workshop where they removed invasive weeds, planted native grasses and shrubs, and learned about beach litter and its impact. They also took part in a cultural session led by Living Culture, gaining insight into how Indigenous custodians respect land and the environment. Our ambassadors have represented CPS with pride, respect, enthusiasm, and commitment — amazing work, team!

---

What an incredible term it has been in Foundation! We are so proud of everything our students have achieved and especially the growing independence they are showing each day—coming into the classroom ready to learn, organising their belongings, and taking on new challenges with confidence.

A big highlight this term was celebrating 100 Days of Foundation! We loved seeing our students dress up as 100-year-olds and share in such a special milestone together. We also had so much fun during Book Week, celebrating our love of reading and dressing up as favourite book characters.

In literacy, we explored the magical world of fairy tales, enjoyed a special fairy-tale incursion, and began our Dare to Write sessions where students write their own narratives using picture prompts. We’ve also been learning about compound words and trigraphs, while building confidence as young writers. In maths, we’ve been exploring numbers beyond 20, diving into place value, and practising subitising through games and hands-on activities.

This term we also introduced Friendology, where students are learning how to build, strengthen, and celebrate friendships. These skills have been wonderful to see in action in the classroom and playground.

Looking ahead to Term 4, we are very excited for our Big Goose excursion and the Colour Fun Run! Both will be such exciting experiences to finish off what has already been a fantastic year of learning and growth in Foundation.

---

We’ve had such a wonderful Term 3, packed with exciting events and learning opportunities. It’s been a great time to connect with our students and help them connect with each other through learning. Highlights included our amazing Book Week activities, R U OK? Day, Pyjama Day, Science Week, and a very special Father’s Day afternoon where we welcomed our Chelsea Dads. The Junior School also enjoyed a range of hands-on activities, including making telephone cups and playing classic board games, with an extra special photo booth.

Book Week was a standout for everyone! The creativity of the dress-ups was incredible, and the children loved sharing their favourite stories with their peers through costumes and reading. The book swap was another success, giving students the chance to discover new second-hand books to enjoy. As always, our parade was a hit students proudly showcased their costumes, ending the event with smiles, laughter, and a little boogie.

In the classrooms, Year One students focused on Indigenous Australians, exploring their rich history and culture. Year Two students continued their English unit on Australia, learning about our geography, states, and history. Both cohorts found their topics fascinating. In Mathematics, the Year Ones explored money, regrouping, and arrays, and are now excited to apply their knowledge in mini projects using arrays and repeated addition.

The Year One and Two Teaching Team.

---

Book Week

Book Week was full of creativity, imagination, and fun! Our annual Book Week parade was a highlight. Students dressed up as their favourite characters, and the variety of amazing costumes made the day very exciting. From demon hunters to the array of book characters, everyone looked fantastic and enjoyed showing off their outfits.

We were also lucky to welcome Felice Arena, the author of the Specky Magee books, for a special visit. Students were thrilled to hear him talk about his writing, how he creates characters, and what inspired his stories. Many students asked questions, and it was wonderful to see their curiosity and excitement about books and writing. Book Week reminded us all how reading can be fun and inspiring.

Father’s Day Afternoon

To celebrate Father’s Day, we invited dads and special people to join us for an outdoor obstacle course. Students and their dads worked together to complete the challenges, laughing and supporting each other along the way. It was a lovely chance for students to spend time with their dads, and for dads to be part of the fun school activities. Everyone enjoyed the teamwork, the friendly competition, and the opportunity to share in some memorable moments.

Portsea Day Camp

Our Grade 3 and 4 students had a fantastic day at Portsea Camp! Everyone showed amazing bravery and resilience as they challenged themselves on the giant swing and flying fox. It was so wonderful to see students encouraging each other and cheering their friends on. Many students tried something new for the first time and felt proud of themselves for giving it a go.

After all the exciting activities, we enjoyed a delicious lunch together. This was a great chance for students to relax, chat with friends, and share stories about the morning’s adventures. The smiles, laughter, and sense of achievement made the day truly special. Portsea Day Camp was not only fun but also a great opportunity for students to build confidence, teamwork, and resilience.

Year 4’s recount about The Portsea Camp by Rylee, Liv, Mia, Mason, Nate, Lenny W, Ayla and Charlize:

We left for camp on Wednesday morning. The bus ride took around an hour. When we first arrived at camp, we ate our snack together. After eating we all went to the Nautilus Centre, where Damo, AKA Dorito, told us all about the camp and rules.  

We all had to help each other find our luggage and then we got shown to our cabins. The cabins were very nice, tidy and clean. There were two bunk-beds in each cabin and one heater and air conditioner. There was a shared bathroom between rooms, which meant we could see friends from another cabin and we didn’t have to walk out in the cold.  

We got to eat lots of yummy food and try the food to see what we liked. Some of our favourite foods were the lemon and poppy-seed cake, toast for breakfast with a choice of what we wanted on it, and the taco dinner we had with lots of corn chips, meat, sour cream, lettuce and cheese. The best part was we got to choose which parts we wanted and didn’t.  

On camp we got to do lots of fun activities. One of our favourites was the flying fox. It was a fun activity that we all got to take part in and we got 2 turns each. The flying fox is a long zipline that has a harness attached to it. You have to jump off a high place and go flying down it. There were a lot of safety steps to it. Going on it showed a lot of bravery and resilience. If you made it to the tires at the very end of the zipline, and grabbed the tire, there was a mini-token in there and if you got it you could get a prize.  

Another fun activity we got to do was orienteering. In orienteering we were handed a map that had locations marked. We had to search around the camp for little signs with letters on them. After we found all the letters, we had to make words with all of them. We got points for each word we made, and there was a special bonus word that used all the letters and scored you 10 points.   

We thought our camp was really cool because it had been used in World War II and we even got to see some of its origins. Some of us got to go inside a World War II bunker, which was used as a dentist. There were old fashioned dentistry drills and expired medicine. We even saw an old typewriter and glasses lenses – I got to put one near my eye. Another fun thing about the camp was it was right near the beach. At the beach I got to build a crab house out of shells. Other things we could do were collect shells, build sandcastles, splash in the water, play ball games and skim rocks. My favourite part of the beach was collecting shells – I even got a certificate for being an awesome shell collector.  

We really enjoyed the free-time and night time activities we got to do. One free-time activity some of us did was play gaga ball. You play gaga ball inside the gaga pit. The aim is to push the ball and make it hit an opponent below their waist. But you can only hit the ball once. Other free time activities we did were chilling out, playing games, watching the sunset, and colouring.  

We also got to do two nighttime activities. The first night we had a disco. Emerson was our DJ and she played lots of great music. There was a game of limbo, we made a train of humans and we also did the macarena. We got to see Huddy’s awesome moon-walking.   

On the second night we watched a movie. We watched The Road to El Dorado, because in class we’ve been learning about ancient civilisations. Most people watched the whole movie but some people fell asleep and some people did colouring. We even got to watch it with our sleeping bags and pillows!  

We all had an amazing time on camp and were sad to leave. We really recommend visiting Portsea Camp.  

 

---

? Wrapping Up a Wild and Wonderful Term 3

As Term 3 comes to an end, we’ve been reflecting on all the exciting learning, challenges and adventures we’ve had together. It’s been a busy term full of curiosity, creativity and connection — here are just some of the highlights from our senior students!

? Discoveries at the State Library

Our Grade 5 and 6 students ended the term with a city adventure, visiting the State Library of Victoria.
In the beautiful La Trobe Reading Room, a favourite fun fact we learnt was hearing about the Library’s legendary “Chief Shusher” — an informal title for the staff member who once sat in the centre of the reading room to make sure everyone stayed quiet!

We then explored artworks to see and hear who was given a voice during early European settlement in Australia and who was left out. From there we began learning about Treaty.

? Monopoly Money Madness

After the Library, students headed to Monopoly Dreams at Melbourne Central, where learning about financial management and budgeting came to life in the most imaginative way!
Through a laser challenge, a 4D movie, code-cracking to escape jail, and catching flying money, students practised the financial skills they’ve been studying in class — while having an absolute blast.

? Learning About Our Past

In the classroom, Grade 5s have been exploring Colonisation and 1800s England through English and Humanities (History).
Meanwhile, Grade 6s have been learning about the Holocaust and writing information reports on Poland.

A moving highlight was their excursion to the Holocaust Museum, where they heard the powerful stories of six survivors through an interactive experience, including seeing the places where people once hid during raids.

➗ Maths on the Move

In maths, Grade 5s have been strengthening their understanding of fractions, decimals and percentages, and how these connect to one another — supported by daily reviews and multiplication chants.

Grade 6s have been diving into circumference, radius and diameter of circles while also reviewing other key maths skills across the curriculum.

? Life Skills and Skating Thrills

This term, Jackie from Metro Trains visited for an incursion with all Grade 5 and 6 students — perfectly timed ahead of our city excursions.

Another standout moment was our Curbside Coaching incursion, where students learnt to skate! There were wobbles, laughter and big smiles as everyone practised skating under a limbo pole, rolling down ramps, and (most importantly) how to fall over safely.

⚽ Sports Spirit

As always, interschool sports were a highlight of our weeks. While we are sad to farewell our winter sports, we are excited to start the new season of Kickball, Basketball, Cricket and Volleyball next term!

? Thank You and Happy Holidays

What an incredible term it has been. From the whole Grade 5/6 teacher and ES team —
thank you for your support, and we wish all our students and families a safe and happy Term 3 holiday.

We can’t wait to see you all back for another wild and wonderful Term 4 in just two weeks!

 

---

---