About Us

Principal’s Message

Welcome to Chandler Park Primary School!

We are a welcoming and inclusive school community that takes pride in providing a high-quality education in a supportive and caring environment. Our school motto, Pride in Excellence, underpins everything we do as we support every student to achieve their personal best.

At Chandler Park, our students are at the heart of every decision we make. We offer a wide range of programs designed to challenge, inspire and nurture our learners. Through engaging, purposeful teaching and strong relationships, we aim to grow children who are optimistic, knowledgeable, resilient and creative.

Our school values of Collaborate, Respect, Resilience and Innovate guide our daily interactions and expectations:

  • Collaborate – working together and supporting each other

  • Respect – for ourselves, others, our property and the environment

  • Resilience – having a go and never giving up

  • Innovate – being curious, creative and open to new ideas

Our classrooms are warm, welcoming spaces where students are supported to take ownership of their learning and feel a strong sense of belonging. With access to digital tools, a strong focus on student voice and high expectations for learning and behaviour, our environment supports every child to thrive.

School tours for prospective 2026 enrolments have now commenced, and I warmly invite you to book a visit to see our friendly school in action.

I feel incredibly proud to lead this vibrant school community. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to know more about us – we look forward to welcoming you.

Steve Gammon

Acting Principal

School Values & Vision

We are a friendly and caring school providing a quality service to families and an outstanding education for children. Our motto ‘Pride in Excellence’ supports our vision of children achieving to their potential. As children bring a variety of experiences and learning needs to school, we provide a wide range of challenging and flexible programs enabling them to develop as happy, knowledgeable, optimistic, creative and resilient learners who will always do their best and strive for excellence.

We have a safe and inclusive learning environment and we expect every student to uphold the values that underpin the management and teaching practices at our school.

They are:

  • Collaborate – being friends, caring for each other and working together.
  • Respect – For self, for others, for property and environment.
  • Resilience – trusting in ourselves, having a go and not giving up.
  • Innovate – to use initiative and imagination to create something new.

School Council

Chandler Park Primary School Council comprises parents, the principal, staff and community members.

School Council elections are held annually in February or March each year. All parents or guardians of students enrolled at the school are eligible to vote for parent members, and staff vote for staff members. School Council members are elected for a two-year term. Half the School Council retire each year but can stand for re-election.

School Council is comprised of 10 members:

  • 3 DET members
  • 6 parent members
  • 1 community member

School Profile

At Chandler Park Primary School, we foster a culture of curiosity, care and high expectations. Our learning environment is inclusive, respectful and student-centred, with a focus on developing each child academically, socially and emotionally.

We want every student to:

  • Understand and build on their strengths as a learner

  • Develop the independence and organisation to take ownership of their learning

  • Persist in the face of challenges and show resilience when learning is difficult

  • Build strong literacy and numeracy foundations

  • Learn how to ask questions, think critically and reflect on their progress

  • Feel confident and supported to set and achieve their own goals

We are proud of our broad and engaging curriculum. In addition to classroom learning, students enjoy rich specialist programs in Physical Education, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, STEAM and Mandarin. Literacy, numeracy and student wellbeing are our core priorities, with teaching informed by evidence and supported through the use of technology across all learning areas.

Our facilities include permanent and portable classrooms, a full-sized gymnasium with a modern canteen and community space, and dedicated rooms for arts, languages and STEAM learning. Our school grounds include a turf athletics track, multiple sports courts, shaded play areas and quiet garden spaces. In 2025, we will be working with students to explore how we can enhance our outdoor spaces further.

We are continuing to build a positive, connected school culture and are committed to improving learning outcomes for all. This includes implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM), the Respectful Relationships program and School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support. Student voice and wellbeing are central to our approach, and we are focused on building staff capacity through high-quality professional learning and collaboration.

Chandler Park has 54 passionate and dedicated staff, including classroom teachers, specialists, integration and multicultural aides, learning support staff and leadership. All work together to ensure that every student is known, supported and successful.

We place great value on the partnership between home and school. Families are welcomed and encouraged to be involved—whether through helping in classrooms, attending events or being part of School Council. When we work together, our children thrive.

We welcome prospective families to visit the school and see for themselves what makes Chandler Park Primary such a special place to learn.

School Houses

The school operates four house groups which came into place after the school merger in 2009 when the two communities of Maralinga and Chandler came together as one school. The four houses are:

Hutton (Red)     Luxford (Blue)     Keys (Yellow)     Blackmore (Green)

During special class events and sporting events, the children are organised into their house teams and each house has Year 6 House Leaders who have the responsibility of collecting the House points from the classrooms each week and announcing the winning team at Assemblies. There is a trophy for the winning House.

The choice of House names was decided by the School Board in 2010 in consultation with the school community and each House name has a historical significance to the Keysborough community.

Hutton

Colonel Thomas Bruce Hutton was a veteran of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. He came to Noble Park in 1873 and purchased a house named “Cumberoona” It was situated in the vicinity of Dunblane Rd oval and it consisted of 464 acres of land. This occupied most of the land bordered by Corrigan Rd, the railway line, Heatherton Rd, Chandler Rd and the Princess Highway. He ran sheep and was elected to the Dandenong Council in 1877 and remained until 1893. He died at the age of 80 in the fire that burnt Cumberoona to the ground. On his demise the estate was subdivided and sold.

Luxford

The Luxford family came to Noble Park with other families after the gold rush came to an end at Walhalla. The Luxfords cut and supplied timber to be used for support in the “Happy Go Lucky” mine located about four miles from Walhalla. Charles Luxford worked clearing his property while his sons looked elsewhere for employment. David assisted in the building of the house on the corner of Leonard Avenue and Stuart Street (now Kirk Street). George left Noble Park in 1919 and returned in 1933 to take over and develop the 11 acre block. George worked on the railway siding and was heavily involved in the local organisations and was a life governor of the Dandenong District Hospital.

Keys

Keysborough was named after the Keys family. In 1839, William Keys acquired land in Carrum and in 1841 George Keys established his family of 8 on land between Mordialloc and Dandenong. The Federal electorate takes its name from one of the sons, namely Issacs. John Keys became a member of the Legislative Assembly for Dandenong and Berwick and two of the Keys brothers were chairmen of the Roads Boards before one of them became the first Shire President in 1873. He was involved in the building and opening of our existing Town Hall, the establishment of the Dandenong Market, the Dandenong cricket club and he was responsible for building the first Post Office on Lonsdale Street as well as the Methodist Church.

Blackmore

The Blackmore family is a classic example of pioneering stock. Edward Kirkham purchased 20 acres of land on the Dandenong side of the creek in 1850 on the road that carries his name. He worked as a builder and also constructed post and rail fences in the district. His daughter Jane Alice Kirkham married William  Blackmore– and this union created Arthur (Arty) Blackmore. Arty selected 15 acres of land in 1912 on Chandler Road. The three boys Arthur, Gordon and Walter and one girl Murial all worked on the property. In 1956 the entire property was subdivided into building blocks, roads and services were supplied and the property sold. The street names all have family connections and Murial and Walter today have homes on the estate.

School Zone Information

Our school zone is available on findmyschool.vic.gov.au. Find my school hosts the most up-to-date information about Victorian school zones for 2025 onwards.

Students residing in this zone are guaranteed a place at our school, which is determined on the basis of your permanent residential address.

The Department provides guidance through the School Placement Policy to ensure that students have access to their designated neighbourhood school and the freedom to choose other schools, subject to facility limitations.

You can find more information and answers to frequently asked questions on the Department’s website under School zones.

Find My School Zone