Acknowledgement of Country

Christmas Hills Primary School would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nations as the traditional custodians of the land.

We would like to pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

We acknowledge the richness of spirit of culture that continues in this country. From the desert lands to the sea, from the mountains to the rivers and to the sky and beyond.

We would like to thank the ancestors for their presence and guidance.

Message from the Principal

Welcome you to our school website. My name is Maria Parks and I am the principal of Christmas Hills Primary School. I am a teaching principal and teach our Bunjil class (years 3-6).

Here at Christmas Hills Primary School, we embrace the charm and character of rural life while providing a dynamic and enriching educational experience for our students.

Our school has a history spanning over 140 years and is more than just a place of learning; it is a close-knit community where every student is known, valued, and supported on their educational journey. We foster a positive and inclusive learning environment to enable students to excel both academically and personally.

We are situated in picturesque Christmas Hills which is located in the north-east of Melbourne. The school is close to Yarra Glen, Kangaroo Ground, Wonga Park, Eltham and Research.

Our dedicated team of educators is committed to nurturing the potential within each student, helping them discover their passions, develop critical skills, and grow into responsible and compassionate citizens. Together, we create an atmosphere where every child feels supported and empowered to reach their full potential.

Our small class sizes allow for a tailored approach to learning where teachers provide personalised attention to each student catering for students’ specific needs and learning styles. Teachers foster and build strong relationships with students creating a sense of belonging and school connectedness.

Our school’s idyllic rural setting provides a backdrop for a unique learning experiences, one that encourages a deep connection with nature and a strong sense of community. We pride ourselves as the only state-school in Victoria to have a bush school program embedded into our curriculum.

Our aim at Christmas Hills Primary School is to foster your child’s curiosity about the world and provide an educational journey that prioritises individual growth, community, and a well-rounded education. We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for a students’ success and we encourage open communication and active involvement from parents and carers.

I invite you to visit our school and experience our vibrant and inclusive learning environment where we are committed to a holistic approach to education where every child’s potential can flourish.

For a personalised tour, please contact the school on 9730 1238 to make a time.

Maria Parks

Principal

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Principal's message

Quip Quip classroom: Prep-2

Bunjil classroom: 3-6

Quip Quip classroom

Foundation to Year 2 learning space

Research tells us that the most important footing for children’s learning is that they feel positive about their capacity to learn. This positive disposition to learn is key to successful education outcomes once children reach the age of about seven, when their capacity for cognitive learning enhances.

In Quip Quip, we explicitly build positive experiences to enhance how children feel about themselves as learners. There is no ‘one way’ for children to learn. We develop individualised learning models for each child so that they learn in ways that best suit them, which in turn enhances their learning self-esteem.

Quip Quip and Bunjil students come together for our enriching program of specialist subjects and bush school program. Our specialist subjects are designed to inspire creativity, curiosity and physical activity; appreciation of our natural environment; and a sense of connectedness to Aboriginal Australia and world cultures.

You can visit our Facebook page for regular updates on our learning adventures.

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Bunjil classroom

Years 3 to 6 – self-directed learning

Self-directed learning is a process where students are explicitly supported in developing skills to recognise their own learning needs, set their own agendas and monitor the achievement of their goals. Research tells us that this method of learning engenders self-efficacy, persistence, and collaborative problem-solving skills. This is certainly proving to be the case in our exciting Bunjil classroom where we see tremendous growth in our students personal and interpersonal skills.

We want our children to be confident in their learning and to have an outstanding awareness of the content and curriculum. Our Bunjil students collaborate with teachers on developing an individual work program each fortnight that is specifically tailored to their learning needs and goals. The children work through a mixture of teacher-led and independent tasks to develop their literacy and numeracy skills as well as exploring additional curriculum areas. Whilst teacher-led group sessions and one-to-one conferencing are timetabled for the children throughout the week, they are encouraged to plan their own schedule at other times.

Bunjil students are the owners and authors of their learning and peer cooperation and support is a key feature of our learning space. It is exciting to see students self-starting projects whether it be deciding to explore fungi through our bush school program and incorporating our fungi adventures into art, or using measurement and geometry skills to design and make jackets for each other.

Our educators

Our educators

Our point of difference

Small & child-centred

We are a purposefully small school because we deliver a child-centred education program.

We have outstanding leadership and teaching staff that are committed to child-centred learning and providing joyful experiences for our children every day.

Research-based & progressive

We provide an outstanding learning environment and an innovative learning program, based on the latest research on how children learn best.

Our weekly bush school program is unique to our school and incorporates all areas of the curriculum, e.g. science, design and technology as well as interpersonal skills.

Diverse with tailored
support

We are a highly inclusive school and value diversity. Many families travel to our school from other municipalities because they are confident in the tailored nature of support their child receives at CHPS.

Focused on connection and care

Our children are valued for who they are and feel emotionally safe with their peers and teachers. We do not employ traditional behaviour-based strategies to realise a harmonious school environment. Rather, we focus on connecting with our children and working together to develop their personal strengths and interpersonal skills with an ethos of collaboration, kindness and safety.