Thursday February 8 — Parent Information Evening, 5 — 7pm
Thursday February 8 — School Council, 7.30pm
Monday February 12 — Optional Swimming Sports
Tuesday February 13 & Thursday February 15 — Get to Know You Interviews
Tuesday February 13 — School Photo Day
Friday February 23 — Athletics Day, Years 3 — 6
Friday March 16 — Parents and Friends Movie Night
Thursday March 29 — End of Term 1, 2.30pm dismissal
NOTICE OF SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS Each year we conduct School Council Elections at our school. Our School Council is made up of eight members in the ‘Parent Category’ and four members in the ‘DET Employee Member Category’, and the intent is that each year half of the positions in both categories become vacant, as the elected members have served their two years term of office. Consequently, I would very much like to thank Sandy Farley (DET Employee Category) and Duncan Baulch, Sandra Vander Pal, Jodie Burns and Steve Pinner (Parent Category) for their contributions to our school these last two years. All Council members have contributed in a significant way to the decision making at our school, and on behalf of the community, I thank you all. Whilst these terms have finished, the aforementioned are eligible for re-election, providing they still have children at our school, or remain as a DET employee (depending on the category).
And so, I am now in the position to give notice of an election for members of Viewbank Primary School’s Council. There are 4 two year vacancies in the Parent Member category, and 1 in the DET Employee Member category. Nomination forms may be obtained from the General Office and must be lodged by 4.00pm on Monday, February 19, 2018. If a ballot is required, it will close at 4pm on Monday, March 5, 2018. Further advice about School Council elections can be found for your information and attention by accessing the link below.
SCHOOL PHOTOS Our school photo day is next Tuesday, February 13 and information has already been distributed via Compass.
SCHOOL SWIMMING SPORTS You will be aware that our Grade 3-6 swimming carnival is scheduled for next Monday, February 12 at Watermarc, Flintoff Street, Greensborough. This carnival has traditionally served as the trials for the District event held at Northcote Pool later in the term, and further on for divisional, Regional and State Championships. I am aware that there have been questions raised about the changes to how we are running the ‘carnival’ this year, and I think it is important to provide the reasons. Whilst we had a valid booking for Watermarc late last year, the time allotted to us this year was reduced by 90 minutes – effectively the time allotted to non-trial or novelty events in the past. This led to the possibility that a number of students would be asked to attend a carnival but not participate in any way, yet still be charged for pool attendance, pool guards and buses. Hence, the change to voluntary participation. There will be more than 150 students participating in the formal trials next Monday, and we are investigating how we might retain a carnival, perhaps incorporated in our Term 4 swimming program, and we will keep you informed in these regards when a decision is made.
SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING A reminder that the final School Council meeting for our current Council (yet the first for 2018!) is scheduled for this Thursday, commencing at 7.30pm. The Finance Committee will be meeting at 6.30pm in Bill’s office.
INFORMATION NIGHT I am looking forward to seeing everyone at tonight’s Parent Information Night – remember to familiarise yourself with the timetable to afford you the opportunity to visit all classrooms/presentations that are relevant to your children. The evening runs from 5pm-7pm.
LONG SERVICE LEAVE By the time next week’s newsletter comes out, I will be on a stopover in Singapore enroute to Finland. I hope to send an update or two and a few photos over these next two weeks – especially if my luck holds out with the aurora borealis!
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Principal
A REMINDER OF VIEWBANK PRIMARY SCHOOL’S VALUES AND WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN OUR SCHOOL FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
Please take some time to revisit and discuss with your child the following behavioural expectations we at Viewbank Primary School follow and promote in our community:
THE COMMUNICATION CHAIN FOR EXPRESSING ANY CONCERNS OR ISSUES ABOUT YOUR CHILD/REN FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
Procedures for parents to follow if they have concerns in relation to their child or any other community member.
1) Request an appointment time with the classroom teacher to discuss your concerns.
2) Request an appointment time to speak with the Team Leader for that area of the school.
3) Request an appointment time to speak with the Principal or Assistant Principal.
Procedures for students to follow if they have concerns in relation to how they are being treated in the playground or classroom.
1) Speak to your classroom teacher or teacher on yard duty.
2) Speak to a teacher with whom you feel comfortable.
3) Speak to the Principal or Assistant Principal.
Suzanne Kot
Assistant Principal
CURRICULUM CHANGES As the students settle into their 2018 classes you may have noticed a couple of changes to our specialist program. This year students will be attending one semester of Art and one semester of Performing Arts. Each class will have a 90 minute, weekly lesson. This approach will allow for a more focused delivery of the subject content as well as helping to eliminate some of the concerns arising from lessons missed due to timetable changes or student absence. In semester one Year 1, 2, 3 as well as 4N, 4R and 3/4F will be attending Art and Foundation, Year 5 and 6 as well as 4C, 4B will be attending Music. In semester two the grades will swap.
The second change is in relation to ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). ICT will no longer be taught as a specialist subject but will be integrated into all aspects of the classroom curriculum. Students will continue to be taught specific content and cyber safety practices as they utilise the increased number of iPads available in each classroom across the school.
LUNCH ORDERS This year we will continue to use the services of CLASSROOM CUISINE for online lunch ordering. Lunch orders can be ordered online for MONDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY each week at www.classroomcuisine.com.au. Remember you need to register your children first if you haven’t used the service before as well as update your children’s 2018 class if using the service again.
Lunches will be delivered to the school prior to 12.50pm and distributed to classrooms.
The Parents and Friends group will continue to provide a special lunch order day each term.
Thanks to our wonderful volunteer parent and student helpers, we will continue to sell icypoles over the counter from the canteen in the middle courtyard on Fridays from 1.00pm- 1.30pm for $1.00.
MATHLETICS is currently being updated with 2018 student information but in the meantime students can still access their account from 2017. As soon as this process has been finalised, classroom teachers will send home passwords and information regarding usage with your child.
INFORMATION NIGHT TIMETABLE THURSDAY 8TH FEBRUARY, 5 — 7PM
Have a great week,
Gill Nicholls
Assistant Principal
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM Welcome back to all returning music students and to new students! I hope everyone had a lovely break and a great start to the year. 2018 offers many wonderful opportunities for those students who would like to learn an instrument. Viewbank Primary School offers tuition in the following musical instruments: Flute – Guitar – Ukulele - Drum Kit – Violin – Cello – Piano - Keyboard and Vocals.
All instrumental tuition is offered to students from grades 2 to 6, except for strings, which is offered from Foundation to Grade 6.
Further information and Expression of Interest forms are available at the general office. Alternatively, forms can be downloaded via the school website.
Please return completed forms to the school office ASAP.
STRINGS There are a few places available for cello and violin. These fill quickly!
KEYBOARD - PIANO Lessons will not be commencing as yet. WATCH THIS SPACE! Parents will be contacted shortly with latest update, thank you for your patience.
DRUM KIT There are a few places remaining for those students (Grades 2-6) interested in lessons.
GUITAR / UKULELE / FLUTE Students (Grades 2-6) interested in guitar, ukulele or flute lessons can contact James directly on 0425 730 643 or email jameshmac22@yahoo.com.au
SINGING Students (Grades 2-6) interested in singing lessons can contact Gabriella directly on 0413 676 733 or email gabriella@the.inter.net.au
Gabriella Favretto, Instrumental Music Coordinator 0413 676 733
School Photos Photo Day will take place on Tuesday 13th February. Forms have been distributed to your child today by your classroom teacher. Please read the attached flyer below for ordering information.
OSHClub Enrolments and bookings are now open for the new Before and After School Care and Vacation Care Program at Viewbank PS which will be run by OSHClub. To enrol and make your bookings, go to www.oshclub.com.au and follow the prompts.
OSHClub Contact Details:
Uniform Shop The uniform shop is open every Tuesday from 9am to 10am. You can also leave orders anytime at the school office and uniform will be sent home with your child. Please note, the uniform shop has now restocked polo shirts in all sizes.
Parents and Friends Save the Date — Friday 16 March, for Viewbank Primary School's Movie night! If anyone has access to an industrial popcorn machine we can use for the movie night, please contact the Office.
Book Club Orders are due back to school by Wednesday 14 February.
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) The Government assisted ‘Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund’ provides payments for eligible students to attend camps, sports and excursions. Applications for the Governments ‘Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund’ can be accessed by filling out the form available on Compass, at the office or via the link below. To be eligible for this funding, you need to hold a current Pension or Health Care Card. Please note: as this funding is means tested, the Parent/Guardian MUST be the card holder, no Medical Health Care Cards in the student’s name will be accepted as it will be rejected by the CSEF system. Funds will be automatically allocated to the Term Expenses unless otherwise stated by the parent at the start of the year.
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program (SAKGP) This week, the Year 3 and 4 students cooked the following recipes:
Year 3 — Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls, Leafy Salad
Year 4 — Chickpea & Lentil Burgers, Tomato Sauce, Tomato & Herb Quinoa Salad
A copy of these recipes can be obtained from the Information Wall at the School Office. Happy cooking!
Banking Enhance your School Banking experience with the CommBank Youth App. With the CommBank Youth App, your child can:
- Check the balance of their Youthsaver account
- View School Banking deposits in their transaction history
- Track the number of Dollarmites tokens they collect
- Set up savings goals and monitor their progress
- Create a list of chores they can do for pocket money.
Getting Started
- Download the CommBank Youth app on any iOS 9+ device.
- Log on with your child's Netbank client number and password. If they don't already have one, you can set this up by simply visiting a branch with identification documents, like your driver licence and your child's birth certificate. Note, only one child can log on per device.
To download the app, or for more information, visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking
Hats On From 1st September until 30th April school hats must be worn outside during all outside activities.
Congratulations to the following students:
Year 2 – Callum & Emily (2B)
Year 3 – Alex (3L)
Year 4 – Faith (4C)
Year 5 – Hamish (5T)
Balancing time online, how much is too much?
There is no magic guideline for the ‘right’ amount of time for children to spend online. This is a matter for you to decide—but there are guidelines that can help you in addition to factoring in the age of your kids, their maturity level and your family dynamics.
What do the experts suggest is appropriate for entertainment?
Information taken from Office of the eSafety Commissioner, to read the full article visit: How much is too much?
School Newsletter Format We would love to hear your feedback on our school newsletter format. Please follow the link below to complete a short survey.