FUNDRAISING BAKERY LUNCH ORDER DATES - Lower Plenty Bakehouse
- Thursday 8th December (Orders closing on 5th December, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 15th December (Orders closing on 12th December, 3:00pm)
2022 TERM DATES
- Term 4: 3rd October - 20th December (1:30pm finish)
2023 TERM DATES
- Term 1: 27th January (students start 30 January) - 6th April (2:30pm finish)
- Term 2: 24th April - 23rd June (2:30pm finish)
- Term 3: 10th July - 15th September (2:30pm finish)
- Term 4: 2nd October - 20th December (1:30pm finish)
We say the same each year, but nonetheless I struggle to come to terms with the fact that it is December and we have just 13 school days left. We have a range of events to see the year out including various activities (Scienceworks, Fitnessworx and Funfields) for different grade levels, discos for Grades 5 and 6, Strings and Singing concerts, Graduation and more. Lots to keep everyone busy.
STAFFING 2023 I am in a position to announce most of our staffing profile for 2023. We have one further teacher to recruit for a Grade 5 position for next year but that aside, our teaching profile for next year looks as follows:-
Classroom Teachers
- Grade 6 - Sharon Groves 6G (Team Leader), Sandy Farley 6F, Kirsten Yates 6Y, Rhys Tegg 6T
- Grade 5 - Narelle Taylor 5T (Team Leader), Bonnie Boness 5B, Kara Lane 5L, TBA
- Grade 4 - Claire Kielty 4K (Team Leader), Sophie Noakes 4N, Jamie Ruddock 4R, Michael Betson 4B
- Grade 3 - Kylie Kirkwood 3K (Team Leader), Phil Byrne 3B, Karina Dudderidge 3D, Kelsey Mentiplay 3M
- Grade 2 - Kim Moucha 2M (Team Leader), Nicola Triantafillis 2T, Tara Sawyer 2S
- Grade 1/2 - Ashleigh Walker 1/2W, Sally Ruddock 1/2R
- Grade 1 - Suzie Doumas 1D (Team Leader), Renee Deeth 1R
- Foundation - Amanda Elliott FE (Team Leader), Ellen Maxwell FM, Bessie Grant FG, Annabell Dransfield FD
Specialist And Support Teachers
- Art - Lisa May and Jen Hall
- Music - Renee Davey and Meredith Kearney
- P.E. - Lucas Prell and Kori Stuckey
- Japanese - Angela Roccasalva
- STEM - Nat Carr and Pete Walker
- Literacy Support - Judy Course and Bec Andrew
- EAL - Andrea Cleeve
- Numeracy Support/Extension - Bec Andrew
- Tutor Learning - Marina Gourzelas and Emma Sargeant
- Other Support - Andrea Cleeve
Non-Teaching Staff
- Lucy Addati - Business Manager
- Sue Wright - General Office
- Georgeina Fisher - General Office/Defence School Mentor
- Thelma Rigoni - Education Support
- Sarina Sherlock - Education Support
- Bree Buszard - Education Support
- Kelli Walker - Education Support
- Louise Buissink - Education Support/Library Technician
- Fiona Crowe - First Aid (10am-3pm)
Principal Class
- Bill Kersing - Principal
- Gill Nicholls - Assistant Principal
- Patrick Walsh - Assistant Principal
All students in our school will receive a weekly lesson in Art, Music, P.E., Japanese and STEM throughout the year in 2023, with other support programs at varying time fractions.
You will note some new names in our staffing list above. We warmly welcome Nicola Triantafillis, Karina Dudderidge and Annabell Dransfield to our teaching staff and hope your association with Viewbank PS is a long and successful one. We also welcome back Bonnie Boness after a year teaching in Alyangula Area School in Groote Eylandt, and look forward to hearing lots of stories of her adventures.
You will also note some names not in the above list. As mentioned in previous newsletters, whilst Jane McLeod is transitioning to her new role as Assistant Principal at Gaayip-Yagila PS in Mickleham, she assumes that role in full as of the start of 2023. Blair Morton, Dana Cohen and Tayla Mason are all taking up opportunities in different forms of employment , Bec Dimer and Jess Ellis are stepping away from the more permanent classroom roles and will be seen in casual relief teaching modes and Rachel Richardson has been successful in gaining a transfer to Diamond Creek East PS on a part time basis. We wish all staff members all the very best in their new career changes.
CLASSES FOR 2023 The classes for 2023 will be advised on Tuesday, December 13, as has been common practice for the last few years. Our Grade 6 students will be attending their secondary colleges on that day for a full day of transition. Each other class in our school will get to meet their 2023 teacher in their 2023 classroom for the morning session, most importantly to meet their classmates, discuss expectations with their teacher and to prepare for a smooth transition into next year.
SCHOOL CAMPS You will remember I have outlined in previous newsletters the limitations moving forward due to time in lieu provisions in the new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, especially with regards our school camping program. In 2022 we have had a five day Grade 6 camp, a four day Grade 5 camp and three day camps for both Grade 4 and Grade 3. You will realise that this covers a school wide fifteen day camping program, and I have written in previous newsletter that we would only be able to run the Grade 6 and 5 camps in 2023 under the current arrangements (nine days).
After consulting with staff, we have made a decision to manage the camping program for 2023 by running three day camps for each of Grades 4, 5 and 6 (nine days). Grade 4 will continue to attend Camp Anglesea, Grade 5s will journey to Lady Northcote Camp in Bacchus Marsh and we are hoping to attend the State Urban Camp in Parkville with our Grade 6s (this is yet to be confirmed). We are also considering a Grade 3 sleepover, potentially on a Thursday night in Term 2, but the finer details of this have not yet been fleshed out. More to come in future newsletters.
SCHOOL COUNCIL The final School Council meeting for 2022 is set down for Tuesday, December 13 and details will be emailed to all councillors in due course.
ELECTION DAY BBQ AND LOLLY SALE Many thanks to our loyal volunteers who ‘manned’ both ‘food outlets’ on Saturday in their endeavours to raise further funds for our school. This is always greatly appreciated.
FINAL DAY DISMISSAL An early reminder that the final day dismissal time will be 1.30pm. If the weather is fine, we shall conclude the school year with a whole school assembly on the Tiger Turf from 1.10pm.
That’s it from me this week.
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Principal
This week saw the beginning of our lunchtime Viewbank Talent Quest event.
Organised by our amazing preforming Arts Captains, Tilly and Lily and assisted by Mrs Davey, the Foundation to Year 2 students put their nerves aside to perform a variety of acts for their peer group and guest judges. We have been amazed by the talent on display and have been treated to gymnastic displays, singing, jokes, reading, drawing demonstrations, instrumental recitals, dance routines and more. There were even video performances to enjoy.
Well done to all involved and we certainly look forward to the Grade 3-6 student performances in the coming weeks.
Have a great week.
Gill
Change As Mr Kersing has shared above, we have a number of staffing changes for 2023. For those of you with children who may be anxious about the year ending and a new one starting, now is an excellent time to start talking about change at school.
Change is generally a good thing as it makes us adaptable and stronger as people. As adults, we have all had to experience change – mostly for the good, sometimes not. In many cases, change cannot be avoided, but there are things we can do to manage our (and to co-manage children’s) emotions and thoughts about it.
Below are a couple of links to websites that may be of use. Some suggestions in the articles will resonate more with you than others, and that is ok. Pick what works best for you and your child as it is more about having a number of ‘tools in the toolbox’ to use. While we can use a big screwdriver to hammer a nail in (been there!), it is not the most efficient way of doing it as there is a better tool.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus said about 2500 years ago: ‘The only constant in life is change’. For a more contemporary quote on the same subject: Melissa Etheridge (singer songwriter most active in the 80s and 90s) said: ‘Change is the only thing that stays the same’.
External links – information to be used as a guide only.
https://au.reachout.com/articles/7-tips-for-dealing-with-change
https://theconversation.com/coping-with-change-teaching-adaptability-will-help-kids-grow-19726
https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/help-kids-cope-big-life-changes
Have a great week!
Patrick
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CAMPS, SPORTS AND EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF) The Government assisted Fund provides payments for eligible students to attend camps, sports, incursions and excursions ($125 per child). Applications for the Governments ‘CSEF Fund’ can be accessed by filling in the application form and returning it to the office with a copy of your current Health Care Card. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply) i.e. a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card or Veteran Affairs Gold Card.
If you applied for the CSEF at your child's school in 2022, you do not need to complete an application form in 2023 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:
- new student enrolments; your child has started or changed schools in 2023 or you did not apply in 2022.
- changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing at the school in 2023.
Funds are paid to the school and will be automatically allocated to the Extra-Curricular Items and Activities unless otherwise stated by the parent at the start of the year.
2023 PARENT PAYMENTS Viewbank Primary School is looking forward to another great year of teaching and learning and would like to advise you of Viewbank Primary School’s Parent Payment Arrangements for 2023.
We continue to value and thank you for your contributions in supporting our school’s programs and resources. These contributions assist us to broaden the educational experience for our students.
All classroom supplies will be provided directly to the classrooms in bulk. Teachers (including specialist teachers) will distribute stationery and other supplies to the students as required.
Payments can only be made on Compass from Monday the 9th of January 2023.
Further detailed information about Parent Payments can be found on your Compass newsfeed.
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
SWPBS FUN FRIDAY CELEBRATIONS
We will be holding our final ‘Big’ School Wide Reward for SWPBS on Friday the 9th of December. This will be a water and non-water themed fun games session and school wide picnic lunch on the tiger turf with a free ZOOPER DOOPER.
You may have seen recently in the newsletter that the students have collected over 30,000 behaviour points this year, meaning that collectively our students have displayed an astounding amount of respect, resilience, responsibility and kindness. We are so proud of their efforts and look forward to seeing if we can break these records next year.
Our FUN FRIDAY will consist of fun water and non-water games and relays for the kids on the oval such as fill the bucket, three legged race, parachute games, throw the wet sponge, egg and spoon race, Super Soaker relays, footy handball, tug of war. We may even be able to turn on the oval sprinklers for a short time during each session. Activities will be adjusted to suit age groups. Each year level will only be involved in the activities for approx 45 minutes.
This is an out of uniform day and children may wear boardshorts but no swim wear. All children must have their shoulders covered (no strappy tops) and be wearing covered toe shoes. School hats will be essential.
We ask that you also send your child with a spare change of clothes and towel on this day, just in case!
If you do not wish for your child to receive a ZOOPER DOOPER on this day, please email their classroom teacher directly to notify them of this.
The ‘water’ options will be weather dependent. If it is too cool the activities will continue without water. Fingers crossed for good weather!
If the day is unsuitable for out door activities each class will organise indoor FUN FRIDAY activities or a movie.
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JSC Fundraiser: ‘Guess How Many Pieces of Lego in the Jar!’ We are fundraising for a group called Container of Dreams. This group builds shelter accommodation for disadvantaged people and is currently working to provide crisis accommodation for flood-affected people in NSW.
JSCs will be coming around classrooms before and after lunch.
Bring $1, have a guess and you could be the winner of THE WHOLE JAR!!
Lower Plenty Bakehouse will be providing the school with fundraising Lunch Orders every Thursday during Term 4. These lunches have been implemented via our Parents and Friends Committee. All money raised will be used towards our major school upgrade.
Our Term 4 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates are:
- Thursday 8th December (Orders closing on 5th December, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 15th December (Orders closing on 12th December, 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 4 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.
Entertainment Book Upgrade Get a Free membership Upgrade (Validity 4th October - 24th November 2022) for a limited time only. You get all your usual vouchers plus more. Purchase any Single City Entertainment Membership and receive a bonus, Multi City upgrade*, unlocking access to 20 cities and thousands of offers across Australia and New Zealand. And of course 20% of the membership goes directly to support our fundraising at Viewbank Primary School. https://www.entertainment.com.au/current-promotion
People who purchase this book often get the entire value back through savings within the first few uses.
Lunches must be ordered online using the CLASSROOM CUISINE website.
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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/UKULELE - 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