Viewbank Voice 30.01.2025 Term 1 2025, Week 1

IMPORTANT UPCOMINIG DATES

• Tuesday 18th and Thursday 20th February – Getting To Know You Interviews

PUPIL FREE DAYS

• Friday 07 March

2025 TERM DATES

• TERM 1: 28 January - 4 April (Students start: Year 1 to 6 - 29 January, Foundation - 30 January)
• TERM 2: 22 April - 4 July
• TERM 3: 21 July - 19 September
• TERM 4: 6 October - 19 December

2025 CAMP DATES

• Year 3 Phillip Island Camp - 27 October - 29 October 
• Year 4 Anglesea Camp - 14 May to 16 May
• Year 5 Lady Northcote Camp - 08 October to 10 October
• Year 6 Urban Camp - 15 September to 17 September

I would like to take this opportunity to say ‘welcome back’ to all of our ‘continuing’ and ‘current’ families and welcome for the first time the new members of the Viewbank school community. 2025 sees 84 new Prep/Foundation students commence their lifelong education journey at Viewbank PS today, with more than 25 students and their families commencing at different grade levels across the school. We trust your stay with us will be a long and productive one.

A warm welcome to Zoe Sakellaris (1S) who commences her employment with us, along with an equally warm welcome back to Sally Stepowski from ‘baby #2 leave’, and Jess Ellis and Summer Hamwi back on central payroll. We have two grade shares in 2025, Sally Stepowski and Jackie Reilly (Grade 2) along with Jess Ellis and Summer Hamwi (Grade 5) but they will have the benefit/bonus of a funded crossover day in 2025 where both teachers will be in the classroom on the same day. This will undoubtedly be of great benefit. Judy Course will be on leave throughout Term 1 but she will be ably replaced by Alyce Elmore stepping into her role.

On behalf of the school community, I would also like to wish Kelsey Mentiplay all the very best as she finishes work with us on Friday (for now!). Kelsey, husband Ben and son Leo are all eagerly awaiting the birth of a new addition to the Mentiplay family, and Kelsey commences maternity leave next week. We all hope for a safe and speedy arrival sometime in March!

As always, Term 1 offers a number of highlights with ‘Getting To Know You’ interviews, Information Nights (virtual), School Swimming Trials, a Foundation and whole school picnic night, Junior School Council Elections, School Council Elections, House Athletics and more. Our newly appointed school captains will receive their badges at assemblies in the first few weeks of the year.

After a busy few years project wise, it was a relatively quiet summer break although the gymnasium floors were resurfaced and a new retaining wall built adjacent to the gym on the administration building side. We hope to address the provision of a few car parks during 2025, along with a mural wall on the eastern end of the new Tiger Turf, completion of some minor asphalting and the ‘crossover’ near that same space and then the myriad of general maintenance items that need doing on a regular basis.

Like always, we encourage the community to keep informed by reading Compass, the newsletter religiously each week, bookmarking and visiting the school’s website frequently www.viewbankps.vic.edu.au, checking out our Facebook site and asking questions. Please note that whilst there are WhatsApp groups in operation that filter school information the first/primary source should always be Compass or the newsletter. If in doubt, please ring the General Office. We further encourage you to ‘get involved’ in any way you can, which may include membership of some of our sub-committees (e.g. Parents and Friends, Buildings and Grounds,), membership of School Council (I will be calling for nominations in next week’s newsletter!), submitting an expression of interest to attend camps as a parent helper, attending working bees, being a ‘reading’ parent, assisting with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program and more ... the list goes on!!

PUPIL FREE DAYS The first of our five pupil free days for 2025 was on Tuesday of this week, enabling staff to complete various inductions, to discuss plans for 2025 and to prepare for the school year. Friday, March 7 has been approved by School Council as our next pupil free day for this year, enabling staff to attend professional learning in relation to the new Maths curriculum. Further dates will be advised as soon as possible once they have been confirmed and approved by School Council.

SCHOOL SWIMMING TRIALS The Annual Swimming Trials for students in Grades 3 to 6 is set down for Monday, February 10 at the Water Marc pool in Greensborough. Please mark the date in your diary and come along and support your children!!

NOTICES FOR APPROVAL Each year we distribute a form seeking blanket permission for students to undertake a range of activities – for example, permission to undertake local excursions within walking distance of the school, permission to publish photographs in the newsletter and so on. Thank you to all the families who have already submitted their consents. If you haven't completed it yet, please find the consent event on Compass and do so as soon as possible.

SCHOOL COUNCIL The first School Council meeting for the year, and the last for this current School Council, will be held at school on Tuesday, February 11 from 7.00pm in the staffroom.

I hope the start of the school year was a good one for everyone! It was nice to have reasonable temperatures although undoubtedly we will be challenged by hot weather in February. As you will recall, I will primarily be working Mondays to Wednesdays this year, with Gill Nicholls ably filling the Principal role on Thursdays and Fridays.

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Welcome to all of our new and returning students and families. I hope you all had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday break.

It was great to see our Grade 1-6 students happily returning to school on Wednesday morning, catching up with friends and settling quickly into their new grades.

Congratulations to all our new Foundation students who started their Viewbank learning journey today. They certainly looked the part in their school uniforms and seem to be confidently settling in. I’m sure we will hear more about their time at school throughout the term.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s wellbeing, mental health or progress please speak with your child’s teacher in the first instant (personally or via email) and/or contact the Leadership Team. There are many avenues for support if we know there is a concern.

The Department of Education provides many relevant Parent and Carer resources to assist with student mental health and well-being which you can access online, and I often share in the newsletter.

Tips to support your child’s health and wellbeing Tips and resources available for parents and carers to support their child’s mental and physical health and wellbeing.

• Looking after your child’s wellbeing
• Looking after your child’s mental health
• Wellbeing activities for parents of primary school students
• Wellbeing activities for parents of secondary students

Wearing Hats at School Just a reminder ALL students must wear a school approved hat at school each day.

As outlined in our school Sunsmart Policy (available on the school website)

• From mid-August to 30 April, all students must wear a sun protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities. Hats may also be worn for all outdoor activities outside of the August to April time period, by parent or student choice.
• A ‘No Hat, No Play’ rule will be enforced from mid August to the end of April. Students without hats will be restricted to playing in designated shaded areas during scheduled recess breaks. During PE and sport lessons or during excursions a hat may be provided by the school for the duration of the activity if your child does not have their own.

I very much look forward to catching up with you as the term progresses.

Enjoy the week.

Gill

Welcome Back Welcome to the start of another exciting school year! I hope you all had a wonderful summer. I am incredibly grateful to be an assistant principal at Viewbank Primary School. Our school is filled with dedicated teachers, supportive staff, and eager students who are ready to learn and grow together. I have no doubt that this year will be filled with opportunities for personal and academic growth, as well as fun.

Get To Know You Interviews You will be able to access Compass to book your child’s 2025 ‘Get To Know You Interview’ time from 4:30pm on Tuesday 04 February. These will be held ‘in-person’ on Tuesday 18 February and Thursday 20 February.

These 10-minute meetings are an excellent opportunity for you to share important information regarding your child, information that will help the classroom teacher best support them to ensure that they can succeed in 2025. As it is very early in the year, the teacher will be able to provide information on how your child has settled into their 2025 class. A comprehensive written report and interview regarding academic and social progress will be offered mid-year.

If you are not sure where your child’s classroom is, please see this map:

Times will also be available with our Specialist teachers (see information below); however, these are only available on the days that they work, and the number of slots that they have are limited. We strongly recommend that you only book a time during these sessions if there is an important reason to do so (e.g. explaining to one of our PE teachers, Mr Peters or Mr Betson, that your child has a condition that may prevent full participation in PE classes).

The booking system will close to further bookings on Thursday 13 February at 12pm. If you have any difficulties booking a time, feel free to contact the office (9459 1512 or viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au).

I would like to thank the staff for giving up their evenings with their families and other commitments on these nights. Our staff do this because they recognise the importance of a strong school-home relationship, and that they value your input. We are fortunate to have such committed teachers and support staff at Viewbank PS!

Specialist Classes Our specialist teachers this year are:

As of Wednesday 29 January, classes have the following specialist teachers (initials from names):

Additional Assistance / Support Staff Our Additional Assistance / Support Staff in Term 1 are:

Their role will evolve this year based on the needs of the students.

Parents and Friends Please see the information further below in the Viewbank Voice regarding our first event of the year – the Welcome Back Picnic on Tuesday 11th February 5pm – 7pm on the Tiger Turf and Year 2 Courtyard.

Student accident insurance, ambulance cover arrangements and private property brought to school Please be aware, the Department does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents/carers of students, who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport as well as any other transport costs.

Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage. This can include mobile phones, ‘wearables’, calculators, toys, sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises. As the Department does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property, students and staff are discouraged from bringing any unnecessary or particularly valuable items to school.

Parents/carers can purchase insurance policies from commercial insurers.

Have a great weekend!

Patrick

Action required before Monday 03 February - School Saving Bonus (SSB)

School Saving Bonus We encourage families who have not yet accessed their SSB on the Department portal to log in as soon as possible and allocate how you would like to use your $400 School Saving Bonus for 2025. The funds will not show on Compass as they appear in your family accounts on our school based computer system.

At Viewbank Primary School, you have the flexibility to allocate your bonus in one of two ways:

• In-store/online purchases of uniforms at A Plus Schoolwear (AGS Prints Pty Ltd)
• School activities, such as camps, excursions, incursions, and activities.

Please note once you make your selection, it cannot be changed, so ensure you are confident in your decision.

We cannot automatically allocate your funds to the the Term 1 school incursions, excursions and activities unless you firstly action the choice through the portal before Monday 3 February. Once you nominate the funds to our school, they will be automatically allocated to your child's upcoming incursions, excursions and activities unless otherwise advised.

Please note: the School Saving Bonus cannot be allocated towards the Curriculum and Other Contributions (Parent Payments Arrangements)

If you have only recently completed your enrolment into the Victorian government school system you can expect to receive your SSB code(s) in the coming weeks.

If you have transferred to our school from another Victorian government school, any remaining funds on your SSB code(s) will soon be available to use at our approved school suppliers. We request your patience as this change is processed.

The Department of Education has established a dedicated contact centre to support the SSB. The contact centre can be reached by:

• completing the School Saving Bonus enquiry form
• calling 1800 338 663, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm on weekdays.

Thank you to families that have already processed their SSB funds on the portal.

Dear Parents & Carers,

Viewbank Primary School is excited to embark on another year of excellent teaching and learning and would like to share information about the Parent Payment Arrangements for 2025.

The arrangements for Curriculum and Other Contributions will be accessible on Compass. You will receive an email notification as soon as they are published.

Financial contributions from our families are essential in helping us provide the highest quality education and resources for our students. The learning environment and facilities we enjoy today are the result of the generosity and commitment of our parent community over many years. We value all forms of support, including financial contributions, participation in fundraising, and volunteering your time. Thank you in advance for your commitment to our school community.

For your convenience, all classroom supplies will be provided in bulk directly to classrooms, where teachers will distribute stationery and other items as needed.

Please refer to the attached 2025 Parent Payment Arrangements document for more detailed information.

Lucy Addati

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 1 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates:

• Thursday 6th February (Orders close: Monday 3rd February, 3:00 PM)
• Thursday 13th February (Orders close: Monday 10th February, 3:00 PM)
• Thursday 20th February (Orders close: Monday 17th February, 3:00 PM)
• Thursday 27th February (Orders close: Monday 24th February, 3:00 PM)
• Thursday 6th March (Orders close: Monday 3rd March, 3:00 PM)
• Thursday 13th March (Orders close: Monday 10th March, 3:00 PM)
• Thursday 20th March (Orders close: Monday 17th March, 3:00 PM)
• Thursday 27th March (Orders close: Monday 24th March, 3:00 PM)
• Thursday 3rd April (Orders close: Monday 31st March, 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 1 lunch dates in advance if preferred.

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.

All food is Halal.

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

Help Reduce Waste and Support Our School! - Purchase Your Name Labels Now Are you tired of losing lunch boxes and clothing? Please remember to always label your items so they can be returned to you, helping to reduce landfill. You can easily order labels via this link: https://www.mynamelabel.com.au/discount/VPS0515

This is a fundraising activity, and all funds raised will contribute to making our school more sustainable. You can order labels at any time throughout the year!

Our fundraising code is VPS0515.

Thank you for supporting sustainability at Viewbank Primary School!

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: dimiholborow@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.

A PLUS SCHOOLWEAR

Shop Details:

• Unit 3/30 Heaths Court, Mill Park
• T: 9436 4005
• E: info@northernregionaluniforms.com.au

Opening Hours:

• Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm
• Friday 9am to 3pm

Online Ordering Please Visit:  www.aplusschoolwear.com.au