PUPIL FREE DAY (OSHClub available)
- Monday 29th August 2022 (Staff Professional Practice Day)
- Monday 31st October 2022
FUNDRAISING BAKERY LUNCH ORDER DATES - Lower Plenty Bakehouse
- Thursday 18th August (Orders closing on 15th August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 25th August (Orders closing on 22nd August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 1st September (Orders closing on 29th August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 8th September (Orders closing on 5th September, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 15th September (Orders closing on 12th September, 3:00pm)
2022 TERM DATES
- Term 3: 11th July - 16th September (2:30pm finish)
- Term 4: 3rd October - 20th December (1:30pm finish)
2022 SCHOOL CAMP DATES
- Year 5: Lady Northcote Recreation Camp - Tuesday 4th October to Friday 7th October
Grade 3 Camp Our students arrived back yesterday tired but exhilarated after their wonderful camping experience at Camp Arrabri in Warburton East. Many thanks again to all our staff and parent volunteers who collectively ensured the children had a wonderful time and a safe one at that. The final school camp of the year will be the grade 5 camp to Bacchus Marsh starting on the first Tuesday of term 4.
Story Land The first of our 2023 foundation transition events took place on Tuesday in the school library. Many of the kindergarten children who attended will be attending Viewbank Primary School next year. Currently we have 70 students enrolled for 2023 and once again we ask if there are any sibling enrolments out there that have not yet been handed in to the general office would you mind doing that at your earliest convenience.
Working Bee A further reminder that the first of our term three working bees will be held at school on Sunday August the 21st commencing at 9:00 AM. If you can manage a spare hour or two in the morning your help would be greatly appreciated as always.
Professional Practice Day One of the conditions within the newest Enterprise Bargaining Agreements is that all teaching staff are entitled to one day each term in 2022 to be released from teaching duties to attend to professional tasks such as assessment. Like last term, and due to the ongoing difficulties faced by schools in finding replacement staff, the Department Of Education has decreed that schools can call for a common ‘professional practice day’ for all staff. And so, on Monday, August 29, there will be NO classes for students to enable staff to undertake the tasks associated with their professional practice day. OSHClub is facilitating a full day care program for any parents unable to make arrangements on that day. Please note that there will NOT be a common professional practice day in Term 4, but rather individual days with the hope that staffing issues are less prevalent then.
Parent Opinion Survey Next week I will invite our school community to participate in the 2022 Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey. The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour and student engagement. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.
All parents will be invited to participate in this year’s survey. All responses to the survey are anonymous. This year the Parent Opinion Survey will be conducted from Monday 15 August and Friday 16 September. The survey will be conducted online, only takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the fieldwork period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in a range of languages other than English. These include: Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Chin (hakha), Hindi, Japanese, Greek, Turkish, Somali and Punjabi.
The survey results will be reported back to the school at the end of September and will be shared with School Council and the school community.
Have a pleasant weekend.
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Principal
YEAR 3 ARRABRI CAMP A huge shout out to all our amazing Year 3 campers, parent volunteers and Viewbank staff that attended camp earlier this week. We experienced sunny weather during the day and cool, crisp evenings and mornings. Everyone enjoyed the fun and challenges of the giant swing, initiatives course, rock wall, flying fox, mini golf, archery and orienteering. Gold panning, bush dancing and the native wildlife show were also highlights.
The food was yummy and plentiful and received the ‘thumbs up’ from most campers.
A huge thank you to the Year 3 team – Kylie, Rhys and Dana for organising the camp, Viewbank staff Pete and Louise and our brilliant parent helpers Trinity, Flora and Hayden for supporting our camping program. We simply could not do it without your help.
PRINCIPALS’ DAY THANK YOU Thank you so much to the Viewbank staff and community for the messages of support and appreciation received for Principals’ Day. Viewbank is an amazing school to be a part of and it's a privilege to work alongside Bill and Patrick leading Viewbank Primary School.
Have a great week,
Gill
Child Safety Standards At our School Council meeting on Tuesday evening, a presentation was made to your councillors on Victoria’s Child Safety Standards. This included an overview of:
- the Child Safe Standards;
- each Child Safe Standard and the role of the school council;
- our child safety policies and procedures.
The Child Safety Standards are very important.
- They recognise that all children are vulnerable;
- They require schools to take steps to prevent child abuse and build a culture of child safety;
- Schools cannot assume that child abuse does not and cannot happen within their school or school community.
Child Safe Standards aim to:
- promote the safety of children;
- prevent child abuse (physical child abuse, child sexual abuse, grooming, experiencing family, violence, emotional child abuse, neglect, sexual behaviour in children under 10 years);
- ensure effective processes are in place to respond to and report all allegations of child abuse.
Child Safe Standards work by:
- driving changes in culture – embedding child safety in everyday thinking and practice;
- providing a minimum standard of child safety;
- highlighting we all have a role in keeping children safe from abuse.
Victoria’s Child Safety Standards are:
- Child Safe Standard 1 – Establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
- Child Safe Standard 2 – Ensure that child safety and wellbeing are embedded in school leadership, governance and culture.
- Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
- Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
- Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.
- Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
- Child Safe Standard 7 – Ensure that processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
- Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
- Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
- Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
- Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures that document how schools are safe for children, young people and students.
Ministerial Order 1359 provides the framework for child safety in schools.
You can find out more information about Victoria’s Child Safety Standards here: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy
SunSmart Policy - Hats Each year in August, we make a decision regarding hat wearing that is in line with our SunSmart Policy. http://www.viewbankps.vic.edu.au/s/SunSmart-Policy-9rp9.pdf. Hats will be required to be worn daily from Monday 29 August until 30 April. All students must wear a sun protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities.
Have a great weekend.
Patrick
HELP NEEDED – SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALES We are seeking a parent volunteer to man the second-hand uniform sales at the school every Friday for half an hour at 8.45am to 9.15am. Please contact the office if you are able to help. Unfortunately, the Second Hand Uniform shop will be unable to open until we have a helper. Thank you
LATE ARRIVALS Please ensure children who arrive late go straight to the office to be marked as present. If the child does not come to the office for a late pass a text message will be sent to the parent/carer notifying that the child is absent. Late arrivals can only be time stamped at the office. When Parents/carers record the late arrival in Compass it provides us with the explanation but does not mark your child as present. When your child presents at the office, staff will record your child’s actual arrival time which updates the class roll.
EMAILING TEACHERS DIRECTLY A reminder that you can now email your child/ren’s teachers directly, if you do not have their email address, please email the school account viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au to request the teachers’ email.
WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK (WWCC) A ‘Working with Children Check’ is just one part of creating and maintaining a child-safe environment. It is a requirement that all parents/careers who wish to volunteer or participate in school activities have a current WWCC. https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
Kind regards,
Lucy Addati
Business Manager
Part-time cleaner wanted for Viewbank Primary School ISS Facilities Services are seeking motivated and enthusiastic part-time cleaner to join the team at this wonderful school. Please call Bikram Tiwari on 0427 882 052 for further information.
SWPBS Whole School Reward Day Our first ‘BIG’ school wide reward will be happening on Tuesday the 30th of August. We are having a movie day! The day includes allowing students to come in free dress, watching a G rated movie as well as being provided with an individualised box of popcorn to enjoy, thanks to Hoyts Northland. Please email the school if you do not wish for your child to receive popcorn.
The sessions will be 9:15 – 11 for the F – 2 students and 11:30 – 1:15 for the Year 3 – 6 students. We also ask that each student brings a pillow to school to sit on as well as a drink bottle. We look forward to sharing pictures and reflections on how the day went!
NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK: 13th- 24th August, 2022. The National Science Week theme is ‘Glass, More than Meets the Eye’.
“Each year, ASTA (Australian Science Teachers Association) considers the United Nations “International Year Of…” when exploring potential themes, and 2022 provides us with the International Year of Glass, offering a rich thematic opportunity for National Science Week. Glass: More Than Meets the Eye will celebrate the many roles that glass plays in our lives – from phone screens to optical fibre to glassware in labs – plus investigating glass as a part of our sustainable future.”
Students may like to get involved at home by doing one or more of the following activities to learn more about this wonderful material that is so often used in our everyday lives. You will find the activities at the office (ready for your child to grab from the notice holders on the pinboard).
- Watch this video about how glass is made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOwk2QIfDqY
- Glass wordsearch (all year levels)
- Make a glass chatterbox (and try to answer the questions years 3-6)
- Make a magnifying glass with some everyday materials by using the instructions (all year levels, with support)
Enjoy the activities.
Kind regards,
Nat Carr
STEM teacher
Book Week 2022 Book Week will be celebrated in the week beginning Monday 22nd August this year and VBPS has two events to celebrate, with the theme being ‘Dreaming with Your Eyes Open’. On Tuesday 23rd August, students are invited to come to school dressed as a character from their favourite book. A whole school costume parade will be held on the Tiger Turf (weather permitting) from 9:00-9:45am which the school community is welcome to attend. As it is winter, please ensure students are wearing appropriate clothing and footwear. Whilst Wally was successfully located last year, it appears he has gone missing again and we will be asking the students to join us on a Where’s Wally Hunt around the school during Book Week.
Our second event is a visit from Dale Baker (author/illustrator), who will be speaking to the Foundation to Year 6 students on Thursday 25th August over 6 separate sessions. Each session will run for about 45 minutes. No payment is necessary as the cost has been included in the Term 3 expenses.
We look forward to celebrating Book Week onsite this year!
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School disco helpers needed. We are in search for some helpers to set up the bbq area from 3.30 to 4.30 the day of the disco. Kids can be there and have a play on the playground while the adults get it set up.
We are also in need for some BBQ helpers between 4.30-7.30 if anyone is free. They are in hour blocks or feel free to do a couple of hours, we will appreciate anything that you can do.
Parent helpers at the disco are required as well. The tasks include supervising all doors (so no students can leave), supervising the toilets and drink tap area, signing the students in and out when parents arrive to collect them as well as monitoring student behaviour. And just general looking out for students that may have a question or need some help with their dance moves!!!!
We have a few names down and we thank you for that but we still need more. Jump on the compass site and book in for a time that suits you.
Please note all parents must have a working with children check prior to the event and they need to be registered at the school office prior to the night.
Lower Plenty Bakehouse will be providing the school with fundraising Lunch Orders every Thursday during Term 3. These lunches have been implemented via our Parents and Friends Committee. All money raised will be used towards our major school upgrade.
Our Term 3 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates are:
- Thursday 18th August (Orders closing on 15th August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 25th August (Orders closing on 22nd August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 1st September (Orders closing on 29th August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 8th September (Orders closing on 5th September, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 15th September (Orders closing on 12th September, 3:00pm)
Orders need to be placed in advance via Compass Canteen. Ordering will close the Monday before the lunch date at 3pm. All of Term 3 lunch dates are now open for orders, and can be placed in advance for the whole term if you choose to do so.
Please see attached a Parent User Guide on how to order via Compass Canteen. Please note a 35 cents order fee will be charged at check out.
Parent assistance is required on Lunch Days from 10:30am to 12:30pm to assist with the packing of our orders. If you are available to assist in anyway can you please email the school at viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au so your name can be added to our roster.
Thank you for your support.
ICY POLE FRIDAY Students are able to purchase icy poles over the counter at lunchtime every Friday. All icy poles cost $1.00 each.
Lunches must be ordered online using the CLASSROOM CUISINE website.
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Unfortunately, the Second Hand Uniform shop will be unable to open until we have a parent helper.
WEEKLY SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE - Every Friday 8:45am to 9:15am, next to the music room. Jumpers with the school logo, long and short sleeve school polo tops and school dresses will be $5.00 and all other items $2.00. We are currently asking for donations of any unwanted reusable school uniform items to sell at our stall.
Instrumental Music Enrolments Can all students who would like to join our school instrumental music programs please inform the relevant teacher below of your expression of interest.
SINGING WITH GABRIELLA - Gabriella
- Email: favrettogab@gmail.com
- Phone: 0413 676 733
SINGING WITH JADE - Jade
- Email: jadefaving@gmail.com
- Phone: 0413 834 933
STRINGS - MR CAI
- Email: cai66@optusnet.com.au
- Phone: 0403 490 078
GUITAR/BASS GUITAR - Alec
- Email: alec.stalder@gmail.com
PIANO/KEYBOARD - Ella
- Email: ellac.blackburn@gmail.com
- Phone: 0410 938 840
DRUMS - Michael
- Email: michaelfindlaymcnab@gmail.com
- Phone: 0451 394 540
PHONE NUMBER: 0448 075 422
EMAIL: viewbank@oshclub.com.au
A PLUS SCHOOLWEAR Our uniform supplier is A Plus Schoolwear which is located at 41-43 Northern Road Heidelberg West. Open hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s from 9am to 4.30pm (closed on weekend and public holidays).
You can also purchase your uniform online at www.aplusschoolwear.com.au