Thursday 14th February - Getting To Know You Interviews

Friday 15th February - Foundation BBQ 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Tuesday 19th February - Parents and Friends meeting, 7pm

Thursday 28th February - District Swimming

Monday 11th March - Labor Day Public Holiday (No School)

Wednesday 13th March - Athletics Day, Year 3 to 6

Saturday 4th May - Parent Fundraising Event - Disco Bingo (Save the date).

TERM DATES

• 2019 TERM 1: Tuesday 29th January (All students start on Thursday 31st January) - Friday 5th April (2:30pm finish)
• 2019 TERM 2: Tuesday 23rd April - Friday 28th June (2:30pm finish)
• 2019 Term 3: Monday 15th July - Friday 20th September (2:30pm finish)
• 2019 Term 4: Monday 7th October - Thursday 20th December (1:30pm finish)

CAMP DATES

• Year 3: Arrabri Lodge Camp (Mon 05Aug to Wed 07Aug)
• Year 4: Anglesea Recreation Camp (Mon 03Jun to Wed 05Jun)
• Year 5: Lady Northcote Recreation Camp (Tue 08Oct to Fri 11Oct)
• Year 6: Canberra Camp (Mon 27May to Fri 31May)

FOUNDATION PICNIC AND BBQ A reminder that the Communication Committee have planned a welcome BBQ for our Foundation families on Friday, February 15 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm (tomorrow night). I hope to meet up with many of our new and existing families there!

SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS A reminder that nominations for vacancies on our School Council close soon. There are five two-year vacancies in the Parent Member category, and two 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 18, 2019. If a ballot is required, it will close at 4pm on Monday, March 4, 2019.

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING The first School Council meeting for 2019, but the final one for our current School Council, is scheduled for next Thursday, February 21, commencing at 7pm. The Finance committee will meet prior to this meeting at 6pm.

SWIMMING TRIALS Many thanks to everyone involved in our Swimming Trials held at Water Marc on Monday. Having witnessed Blair Morton and Patrick Walsh spending an inordinate amount of time coordinating and collating all information in various electronic formats these last few weeks, I would like to firstly acknowledge their efforts in making these trials run efficiently and smoothly. In addition, to all starters, marshalls, timers, crowd controllers, motivators and supporters – thank you! A job well done!! We are, of course, very proud of the efforts of all of our students who will now compete at District level on February 28.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU INTERVIEWS It was good to see so many families taking advantage of the opportunity to ‘touch base’ with their child’s 2019 teacher on Tuesday afternoon and evening. If there is ever the need to chat for other reasons, by all means contact your child’s teacher to make an appointment at a mutually convenient time.

HOUSE CAPTAIN BADGE PRESENTATIONS The 2019 House Captains will be presented with their badges at Assembly on Monday, March 4. We are thrilled that one of our ‘dads’, Neville Jetta, who proudly plays for the Melbourne Football Club, will be our guest of honour for the presentation.

Another mild week…hoping this continues!

Bill Kersing

Principal

Mathletics Mathletics has now been updated for 2019.

Classroom teachers will be sending home passwords shortly so that children can access Mathletics at home. When accessing Mathletics at home you may experience better results through the web based platform rather than using the app. If your child has any problems with accessing Mathletics please see the classroom teacher. Continuing Viewbank students will retain the same password as last year. If your child’s password contains a hyphen you must include this.

In addition to being used during maths lessons at school, Mathletics is used by many year levels for homework and so each week there will be set tasks that will reflect the mathematics content being covered in class. Students cannot access other tasks on Mathletics until the set tasks have been completed, so try to establish a regular weekly homework routine.

Mathletics has additional activities that your child can use at any time. By clicking on the PLAY tab at the top of the Mathletics home page and using the arrows, your child can access -

• Play Paws – games that use tens frames and place value blocks to develop addition and subtraction strategies for younger students.
• Rainforest Maths- all mathematical concepts covered. Students can access the content at any year level so it is perfect for revision and extension. Tasks can be repeated to develop confidence and concepts are presented using different materials to embed understanding.
• Multiverse – an immersive multiplication game that develops times tables fluency.
• Live Maths – students from around the world challenge each other at levelled tasks to test their speed and accuracy and improve fluency in number and algebra problems.

Tabloid Sport Session A huge thank you to our wonderful student leaders who coordinated the tabloid sport session on Monday for the Year 3 to 6 students who did not attend the swimming trials.

Zoe, Gretel, Charlotte, Ilyas, Elise, Zara, Ella, Abdul, Liam, Callan, Zach, Kiran, Reyna, Mia and Korey collected all the equipment, set up and supervised the activities and made sure everything ran smoothly for the two sessions. They demonstrated excellent leadership skills in working together as a team, problem solving, showing initiative and being positive role models for their peers. Well done, you have made a fantastic start as our 2019 student leaders.

Have a great week

Gill Nicholls

Viewbank Primary School has a number of Student Wellbeing Policies that support the health of the students while at school. We are also required by law to abide by the Child Safe Standards, that is the compulsory minimum standards for all organisations that provide services to children including Victorian schools. The aim of the Standards is to ensure we are well prepared to protect children from abuse and neglect.

The Standards are:

• Standard 1: Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements
• Standard 2: A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety
• Standard 3: A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
• Standard 4: Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel
• Standard 5: Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
• Standard 6: Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
• Standard 7: Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.

In this newsletter, and over the coming weeks, there will be some information regarding each of the 7 Standards.

Standard 1

Organisations must have strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements.

What is the intent of this standard? The organisation governing authority has the responsibility to embed a culture of child safety and ensure that policies and procedures demonstrate zero tolerance of child abuse in the organisation.

For schools: Ministerial Order No. 870 requirements

Minimum child safety standard: Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety in accordance with clause 7 (below).

Clause 7

1. The school governing authority must:

• develop strategies to embed a culture of child safety at the school;
• allocate roles and responsibilities for achieving the strategies;
• inform the school community about the strategies, and allocated roles and responsibilities;
• put the strategies into practice, and inform the school community about these practices; and
• periodically review the effectiveness of the strategies put into practice and, if considered appropriate, revise those strategies.

To compliment this, Viewbank Primary School has a Child Safety Officer – currently our Principal Mr Kersing. If this changes in the future, you will be informed via the newsletter.

Information about the role of Child Safety Officer can be found here https://vps.page.link/ChildSafeOfficer.

Have a great week everyone!

​

CSEF (Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund) is a government assisted fund which provides payments for eligible students to attend camps, sports and excursions ($125 per child). Applications for the Governments ‘CSEF Fund’ can be accessed by filling in the attached form and return to the office with a current Health Care card. To be eligible for this funding, you need to hold a current Centrelink Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card or Veteran Affairs 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 are paid to the school and will be automatically allocated to the Term Expenses unless otherwise stated by the parent at the start of the year.

COMPASS If you are requiring any assistance with Compass (logging-in, attendance, installing the App etc) please contact the office.

TERM 1 EXPENSES AND 2019 SCHOOL CHARGES Payments can be made via Compass. Please be advised there are alternative payment options for families who may be experiencing financial hardship or who would prefer a regular payment plan. Please contact me if you wish to discuss these arrangements.

Kind regards,

Lucy Addati

​

The Parents and Friends Committee has operated in various formats for a long time at Viewbank Primary School raising a significant amount of money over the years. The first Parents and Friends meeting for the year is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19 at 7.00pm in the staff room. Our ‘meetings’ are very informal, and we would love to see you there. Everyone is welcome!

ICY POLE FRIDAY Students are able to buy icy poles over the counter at lunchtime. All icy poles cost $1.00 each. We are asking for parent helpers to assist with the sale of these icy poles on Fridays from 1pm to 1:30pm.

Welcome back to all returning instrumental music students and to new students! The Instrumental Music Program has commenced this week. Singing lessons with Gabriella commences next Tuesday, 12th February.

We had a display of wonderful talent in 2018. The end of year performances were both entertaining and very impressive. 2019 offers many wonderful opportunities for those students who would like to learn an instrument.

Viewbank Primary School offers tuition in a variety of musical instruments.

Further information and “Expression of Interest” forms are available at the general office. Alternatively, you may contact Gabriella on 0413 676 733 or gabriella@the.inter.net.au

STRINGS There are a few places available for cello and violin. These fill quickly!

DRUM KIT There are a few places remaining for those students 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

KEYBOARD/PIANO Ella can be contacted directly on 0410 938 840 or email ellac.blackburn@gmail.com

Here’s to another great year of Instrumental Music!

Gabriella Favretto

Instrumental Music Coordinator

School Council plays a key role in all Victorian government schools, and being a member of the School Council is a rewarding and challenging experience. Acting as a team, the School Council supports the Principal to provide the best possible educational outcomes for students.

One of the key functions of Councils is to contribute to the establishment of the broad vision and direction for the school. As such, there are additional sub-committees available to assist Council in setting the strategic plans. Next Meeting: 21st February 7.00pm in the Staff Room

Subcommittees

• Finance Assist in guiding financial decision making for the school. Meetings are in line with School Council meetings, once a month during school terms (total of 8 meetings a year). Next Meeting: 21st February 6.00pm in the Principal's Office
• Buildings and Grounds Assist in projects to better the school environment for our students. Meeting once per term.
• Education Assist in policy development and revision for all aspects of the school curricula and council requirements. Meeting once per term.
• Parents and Friends’ Club Assist in planning and development of fundraising activities. Meeting once or twice per term dependent on planned activities.
• Communications Assist in planning communications strategies for better flow of information between school administration and the school community. Meeting once per term. Next Meeting: 19th March 7.30pm in the Staff Room

If you are not sure whether you are able to commit to one of these committees you are always welcome to attend a meeting as an observer, and then make your decision after this.

Swimming Trials On Monday 11th February students from Grades 3-6 competed in the Viewbank PS Swimming Trials. Held at WaterMarc in Greensborough, competitors gave their all in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Regardless of their final placing, all girls and boys can be proud of their efforts in completing a competitive swimming race over 50m. Congratulations to those students moving on to represent our school at District Swimming, to be held on Thursday 28th February at Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre. I would like to thank the staff and parents who helped out with recording times for each event, as well as the other spectators who came to cheer on the students.

Blair Morton (PE Coordinator)

SSV State Team Trials The following is taken from the School Sport Victoria (SSV) website:

Each year, talented Victorian school students have the opportunity to trial for a place in the School Sport Victoria (SSV) Team Vic state team and participate in annual School Sport Australia (SSA) Championships including the Pacific School Games (PSG) held every second year. Forty-six teams will be selected across twenty-one sports, involving over one thousand primary and secondary school students representing 'Team Vic'.

The sports include Australian Football, Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Cross Country, Diving, Football (Soccer), Golf, Hockey, Netball, Orienteering, Rugby League, Softball, Surfing, Swimming, Tennis, Touch Football, Track and Field, Triathlon, Volleyball and any sport approved for Pacific School Games.

The SSA Championships offer gifted and talented students the opportunity to participate in higher levels of sporting competition against students from other Australian states and territories. This opportunity may be the highest level that students may achieve in their lifetime or may just be the stepping stone to higher state or international representation.

Students who nominate for trials obviously need to be playing competitively at a very high standard in their chosen sport. As a guide, they would be the type of player who is dominant in their age group and regularly winning ‘Best and fairest’/’Most Valuable Player’ awards. The purpose of these trials is NOT to provide an opportunity for students to gain experience or ‘have a go’; it is about identifying elite talent for a Victorian State Team.

If your child is suitable and interested, please check the SSV website for further details:

Nepal School Build During the April school holidays 2019, I (Miss Boness) will be travelling to Nepal with 15 others and volunteering with the charity This World Exists. Whilst there, we will be hiking and rebuilding an earthquake damaged school. In order to fundraise to pay for building materials a Go Fund Me Page has been set up. Please note the trip is self-funded and all money raised will go towards the community in Nepal. If you would like to donate please see the link below. Your support is very much appreciated.

Wanted: Families to help care for our chickens during the weekends. If you are able to help us can you please email the school. viewbank.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

HATS ON From 1st September until 30th April school hats must be worn outside during all outside activities.

Facility Hire Viewbank Primary School provides a venue for hire with kitchen facilities. Please submit a written application to the office, outlining the details of intended use via email at viewbank.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Please note that conditions do apply. At the discretion of the school, venue costs may also be waived in some instances. All applications will be considered on a case by case basis