2026 IMPORTANT DIARY DATES
- Tuesday 21st July - Parents & Friends meeting, 7:30pm
- 8th and 10th September - School Production
PUPIL FREE DAYS (TheirCare School Holiday Program will be available on pupil-free days)
- Friday 5th June
- Wednesday 15th July
- Monday 2nd November
2026 CAMP DATES
- Year 5 Lady Northcote Discovery Camp: 07 October to 09 October
- Year 3 Phillip Island Adventure Camp: 26 October to 28 October
2026 TERM DATES
- TERM 2: 20 April - 26 June
- TERM 3: 13 July - 18 September
- TERM 4: 5 October- 18 December
PUPIL FREE DAY As the King’s birthday weekend approaches a final reminder that tomorrow is a pupil free day. Whilst TheirCare is offering all day care, there are no classes scheduled on the day to allow for staff to take part in professional learning relating to the implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/victorian-teaching-learning-model/policy With the Monday public holiday, we look forward to seeing everyone back on deck on Tuesday, June 9 at 9am. There will NOT be an assembly on that day. DIVISIONAL CROSS COUNTRY In typical cross country running conditions (wet, cold, windy, sloppy ground!!) 11 of our students took part in the Divisional Cross Country at Banyule Flats on Wednesday morning. Congratulations to all students for their fabulous efforts in making this level of interschool sporting competition. Regardless of placing, we are so very proud of each and every student who got to compete on the day!! SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING A reminder to all councillors that the June meeting of School Council is scheduled for next Tuesday, June 9 commencing at 7pm. The meeting will be held in the conference room in the staffroom. EX-STUDENT NEWS Congratulations to Patrick Carr, son of STEM teacher Nat Carr, who this week was drafted by the Richmond Football Club as a Category-B rookie. At 217 cm tall, or 7 Feet 1 ½ inches in the old parlance, Paddy will become the tallest player in VFL/AFL history if he manages to be selected to debut for Richmond. Paddy attended all of his primary education here, graduating in 2017. We will watch his career with interest. CURRENT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS I’m happy to report on the musical successes of one of our students. Mikael Huang (3W) recently participated in the Boroondara Eisteddfod String Competition. He was selected as one of only 12 finalists from 66 competitors to compete in the final in mid-June. Among the finalists, there are only two cellists, and Mikael is one of them. In addition, he recently performed at the 100th Bendigo Eisteddfod on Sunday, 24 May 2026. Mikael performed in 5 sections with 5 different pieces and achieved 4 first places and 1 second place. The categories ranged from AMEB Grade 7–8 sections to age-groups, from 10 Years and Under to Open Age categories. Great work, Mikael!! SCHOOL HISTORY This week I have reproduced a Herald story about our school and how it was located on the ‘ideal’ site!! I’m presuming that the students in the classroom picture didn’t all co-exist in the one class, although grade sizes were a tad larger ‘back in the day’!!
LONG SERVICE LEAVE With the now fortnightly newsletter, and therefore just one more edition to go out before the term holidays (June 18) it occurred to me that this is my last newsletter for the term. Why may you ask? I’m availing myself the opportunity to take a few weeks of long service leave (commencing June 16) and travelling to New York and Hawaii to see some of what USA has to offer. I will absolutely be back on deck at the start of Term 3, and in my absence Gill Nicholls has agreed to step up to the plate (yes, going to see a Yankees baseball game so why not use the parlance associated with that!!) and act as Principal. I trust everyone has a lovely long weekend. Kind regards, Bill Kersing Principal
Smile Squad FINAL REMINDER The Smile Squad team from Holstep Health are coming to our school. Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program. This means ALL students can get a free dental check-up, preventive services, and treatment at school. How to access free dental care We need your consent before we can provide services. Consent is usually provided by a parent or guardian. Please complete and submit the consent form by Friday June 5th . The electronic consent form can be translated into more than 100 languages. Sign up to Smile Squad at: https://bit.ly/smilesquadvic OR use the below QR code:
Term 2 SWPBS Small Reward Our students have earned an SWPBS small reward due to their outstanding behaviour at school and will be watching a movie in class time on Tuesday, 23rd June (yes - that's the same day as the Pyjama Day fundraiser) Can the students bring movie snacks? If they would like to, students have the option to bring one additional individual snack for their own consumption; however, students should not bring sharing-sized portions or food intended for sharing to this event. Do students have to wear their pyjamas or bring a donation in order to participate? Pyjama Day is an enjoyable fundraiser that is being run separately from the class movie reward. Students do not need to be wearing pyjamas or bring a donation to watch the movie. What if my child prefers not to watch movies or feels anxious about watching movies? Please get in contact with your classroom teacher. They will support your child to participate or arrange an alternative, enjoyable activity for your child to participate in during the movie. We are very proud of our students for their hard work and wonderful behaviour and we hope they can all enjoy this reward! Lost Property We continue to have a large volume of unnamed jumpers in the purple lost property chest located outside the music room. Please come along to see if you can locate any jumpers that may belong to your family. It would be greatly appreciated if you could take the time to label all jumpers belonging to your child/ren so that they can be returned. Regards Gill
PLANNING WEEK As mentioned in a previous Viewbank Voice, our termly Planning Week is scheduled for Week 9 of this term 15 – 19 June. For an overview of what happens during Planning Week, please read the summary provided in the Viewbank Voice dated 19 March 2026. In Term 2, the timetable will be as follows:
3-WAY CONFERENCES These are scheduled for Wednesday 15 July. There will be no classes running on this day. Interviews will be offered from 10am until 6pm. More information about this will be shared next week through Compass. INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY As the weather becomes cooler and wetter, there will be times when students are required to remain indoors during recess and lunchtime in line with our Inclement Weather Policy. For the purposes of this policy, inclement weather includes conditions such as extreme heat, rain, lightning, dust, strong wind, cold, or any other circumstance deemed unsuitable for outdoor activity by the Principal or Assistant Principals. As we move into more typical winter conditions with colder temperatures, rain and wind, it is important to note that cold weather alone does not usually require students to stay indoors. We encourage families to ensure children come to school with appropriate warm clothing, or at the very least have a jumper in their bag. We also know that for some families, encouraging children to wear anything beyond a polo shirt and shorts can be a challenge, regardless of the temperature! For rain, we always check the Australian Bureau of Meteorology radar https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/rain-radar-and-weather-maps (new BOM site) or https://reg.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.loop.shtml (previous BOM site) to see what rain is coming, or not! You can find our Inclement Weather Policy on our website here: http://www.viewbankps.vic.edu.au/forms-policies Have a great weekend, Patrick
Enrolments For Foundation/Prep 2027 is Now Open Enrolments for the 2027 intake of Foundation/Prep students is now open. In line with the Department of Education’s Placement Policy and timeline, we will contact you in early August to advise the outcome of your child’s Foundation/Prep enrolment application. Please refer to Factsheet for more information.
Kind regards, Lucy Addati
The Orange Door Our school cares about the safety and wellbeing of our students and their families. Sometimes things at home or in a relationship are not OK or families can be worried about the wellbeing of their children or young people. The Orange Door can help you to get the support you need, quickly and easily. It’s free and you don’t need a referral.
The Orange Door can help families. They provide support for concerns with parenting, relationships, and family violence. The Orange Door is a free intake and assessment service for:
- families requiring support for their child or young person’s wellbeing or development
- families needing parenting support
- young, isolated, or unsupported families
- individuals and families experiencing family violence
- adults using family violence
- young people using violence in the home.
If you contact The Orange Door, they can help by:
- working with you to identify the help and support you need
- supporting you with the wellbeing and development of your child or young person
- helping you make a safety plan if someone is making you feel unsafe
- connecting you to services that can help like counselling, accommodation, mental health and drug and alcohol services, parenting support groups, services for children, financial help, or legal assistance
- supporting you to access funding for basic living expenses and some other costs
- supporting you to change abusive or controlling behaviour.
Each Orange Door location across Victoria has their own phone number and email. Students and their families can also visit their local Orange Door in person for support, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm for support. No appointment is needed. To find your local service, see: The Orange Door – Support near you. The closest service to Viewbank Primary School is located at 56 Burgundy St, Heidelberg Vic 3084 Phone: 1800 319 355 Email: nema@orangedoor.vic.gov.au
How schools connect with The Orange Door
Our school might talk to a student and/or their family about The Orange Door. We might encourage them to contact their local Orange Door to get advice and help if needed. Ideally, a student and/or their family will get in touch with The Orange Door to seek advice and support. Sometimes, schools might make a referral to The Orange Door without the student or their family’s knowledge or consent. Schools will do this if:
- informing a student and/or family increases the risk to their safety or wellbeing
- not linking a student to support increases the risk of their safety and wellbeing.
You can learn more about:
- The Orange Door and how they can help you and your family here.
- how our school keeps our students safe by reading our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and our Child Safety Code of Conduct.
Jamie Ruddock Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader
Foundation D Reconciliation Activity The Foundation D class came together to complete a special Reconciliation activity, creating a beautiful wreath from their painted handprints. The students worked collaboratively and enjoyed taking part in the activity, making it a fun and meaningful shared experience. The finished wreath has turned out to be a wonderful display, showcasing both the students’ creativity and their teamwork. It is a lovely reflection of the class’s effort and engagement in recognising Reconciliation in a hands-on and memorable way.
Scholastic Book Club - Issue 4 - ORDERS DUE BY WEDNESDAY 10th JUNE It’s the perfect chance to pick up great-value reads for your child, with something for every age and interest. Plus, when you place an order on this Issue, you’ll unlock another $5 to use next time*. To make it easy, we’ve highlighted 4 must-read books below—perfect for building reading confidence and keeping kids engaged. Win a dino-mite prize ✨ There are also 15 Jurassic World prize packs up for grabs (each with two action figures!), adding even more excitement to this issue. Scroll down for more details. Scholastic Rewards ✨ The best reason to shop through Book Club? Giving back. Every order returns 15% to your school, earning valuable rewards that teachers can use to bring new books and resources into the classroom. ORDERS DUE BY WEDNESDAY 10th JUNE https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx Happy reading! ✨
2026 Student Attitudes to School Survey We are pleased to invite our students in Years 4 to 6 to participate in the annual Student Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS). This voluntary survey provides valuable insights into student experiences, including their thoughts on school life, learning, and wellbeing. The survey will be conducted at our school from 25 May to 12 June. Please find a link to the detailed parent information which outlines the survey process, how privacy is protected, and instructions on how to opt out if you prefer your child not to participate.
Lower Plenty Bakehouse proudly partners with our school to provide fundraising lunch orders every Thursday. This initiative, organised by our Parents and Friends Committee, serves as one of our school’s major fundraising efforts. All proceeds will go towards our significant school upgrade project. Term 2 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates: Thursday 11th June (Orders close: Monday 8th June, 3:00 PM) Thursday 18th June (Orders close: Monday 15th June, 3:00 PM) Thursday 25th June (Orders close: Monday 22nd June, 3:00 PM) Ordering Instructions: Orders must be placed in advance via Compass Canteen. Ordering will close at 3:00 PM on the Monday before each lunch date. You can now place orders for all Term 2 lunch dates in advance if preferred. All food is Halal. A Parent User Guide on how to order through Compass Canteen is below for your convenience. Please note, a $0.35 transaction fee will apply at checkout. Thank you for supporting our school community!
ICY POLE FRIDAY Students can purchase icy poles over the counter every Friday at lunchtime for $1.00 each. We offer an assortment of different icy poles each week, but always have Zooper Doopers available.This serves as a school fundraiser.
If you're interested in volunteering as a parent helper to sell icy poles, please contact the school's general office.
Entertainment Book 20% of the membership goes directly to support our fundraising at Viewbank Primary School. https://www.entertainment.com.au/current-promotion
Lunches must be ordered online using the CLASSROOM CUISINE website.
WEEKLY SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE - Every Friday 3:00pm to 3:30pm, next to the music room. Jumpers with the school logo, long and short sleeve school polo tops and school dresses will be $2.00. We are currently asking for donations of any unwanted reusable school uniform items to sell at our stall.
SINGING WITH GABRIELLA - Gabriella
- Email: favrettogab@gmail.com
- Phone: 0413 676 733
STRINGS – Jack Cai
- Email: jack3bld@gmail.com
- Phone: 0426 665 044
STRINGS - MR CAI
- Email: cai66@optusnet.com.au
- Phone: 0403 490 078
PIANO/KEYBOARD/DRUMS - Daniel Tucceri
- Email: info@banyulemusicandtutoring.com
- Phone: 0405 667 908
GUITAR - Dimi Holborow
- Email: mastermusic606@outlook.com
- Phone: 0409 629 612
Our school has partnered with an independent provider called TheirCare to provide exceptional Outside School Hours Care services for our school community.
The program is available for all children at Viewbank Primary School from 6:30am until 9:00am in the morning and from 3:30pm until 6:15pm each school day.
During School Holidays & Pupil Free Days the service will operate from 6:30am until 6:15pm.
Families wishing to use this service can visit the TheirCare website: www.theircare.com.au
Families are eligible for a Government Rebate called the Child Care Subsidy which can reduce the cost per session by up to 85%.
More information can be obtained by contacting the school or ringing TheirCare Support Team on 1300 072 410.
TheirCare provides a stimulating and safe environment for all children. During sessions, children develop life-skills, friendships, confidence and creativity through play-based programs.
Lowes Northland Uniform Store – Lowes Northland store has relocated to a new space within the Northland Shopping Centre.
- New location (from 14 March): Tenancy K004, near Rebel and JB Hi-Fi, Northland Shopping Centre
Families can also shop online via the Lowes website. https://www.lowes.com.au/schools-online/viewbank-primary-school Thank you for your understanding while the store completes its move.