- Friday 11 October - P&F Student Disco
- Saturday 9 November - P&F Vision Portraits Photo Fundraiser
- Tuesday 12 November - Whole School Production (A-K Families)
- Thursday 14 November - Whole School Production (L-Z Families)
PUPIL FREE DAYS 2024
- Monday, November 4
2024 TERM DATES
- TERM 4: 7 October - 20 December
2025 TERM DATES
- TERM 1: 28 January - 4 April (Students start 29 January)
- TERM 2: 22 April - 4 July
- TERM 3: 21 July - 19 September
- TERM 4: 6 October - 19 December
2024 CAMP DATES
- Grade 3 Camp to Phillip Island - October 28 to 30
Welcome back to everyone after the Term 3 holidays. The weather wasn’t quite as warm or sunny as we might have expected or hoped, but nonetheless I trust that everyone had opportunity to rest and relax and enjoy time with families. Whilst I know I have written many times over the years that Term 4 looks action packed and promises a busy time, perhaps this year is more so than ever before. Tomorrow night promises great excitement with our annual student disco, and our Grade 5 students are currently enjoying time at their annual camp at the Lady Northcote YMCA camp in Bacchus Marsh. Grade 3s head to Phillip Island for their school camp on Monday, October 28. This is the first camp for this age group since the impact of COVID and we trust they are excitedly looking forward to it. We are also just as keenly anticipating our school production which is now less than 5 weeks away – more on that later. With our school review, and the usual transition events, grade selection processes, staffing arrangements, class excursions, graduation events and more it shapes up as a super busy Term 4.
SCHOOL REVIEW Our School Review commences next week. Schools undertake a school review every 4 years to inform the directions of the school’s 4-year School Strategic Plan (SSP).
There are 2 components of school review:
- the pre-review self-evaluation (PRSE) where schools review their data and other evidence to form a collective view of current practice and areas for improvement. Schools complete the PRSE on the Strategic Planning Online Tool (SPOT) with the support of their senior education improvement leader (SEIL)
- a review facilitated by an independent school reviewer with a panel comprising the principal, school council president, SEIL, and challenge partners. The panel considers the PRSE and undertakes additional fieldwork activities such as classroom observations, focus groups and interviews. The review concludes with a report proposing draft goals, targets and key improvement strategies for the school’s next SSP.
We successfully completed the first component of our school review just before the holidays and we have met with our independent school reviewer, Natalie Toohey, at the same time. We are grateful to our challenge partners for giving up time away from their own schools to join us in our school review and I speak of Mr Tom Boyle, Principal of Ivanhoe East PS and Ms Sarah Pollnitz, Principal of Watsonia North PS in giving these thanks. The outcomes of our school review will be shared with our school community when they become available after the final day’s deliberations on October 28.
SCHOOL COUNCIL The October meeting of School Council is set down for next Tuesday night, October 15 at 7pm in the staffroom.
INTENTIONS TO LEAVE If any families are intending to leave our school community and won’t be returning in 2025 because of relocation or other reason, could you please advise us as soon as possible. A phone call to the office, or an email to the school or my email account asap would be most appreciated.
ENROLMENTS And on the same ‘numbers’ theme, whilst we think we have nearly all of our current family enrolments for 2025, if there is anyone out there who hasn’t completed the enrolment process yet, please do so asap.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR GRADE PLACEMENTS 2025 Each year at this time, we seek input from families with regards to the placement of students into classes for the following year (if that is necessary). We do recognise that that there might be some limited circumstances initiating a parental grade request, but please think carefully about this and if you really do feel a need to inform us of these circumstances then do let us know.
At this stage, we have not assigned teachers to grade levels for next year, and this will not be completed until mid November. There are no guarantees that teachers currently teaching at certain grade levels will be teaching there next year, as leadership needs to take into consideration a range of factors including the development of our teaching staff and teacher preferences before this allocation is completed. We have also not settled on a grade structure for 2025, but we are most likely to have two composite classes in both the junior area and middle areas of the school to ensure grade sizes are not too large in each area. Having said that, if there are special circumstances that we need to know about, you are welcome to let us know of these. Such special circumstances might include but are not limited to health, emotional or learning matters, peer or sibling relationships or changes in the home situation. Selecting a particular teacher does not fit within the realm of special circumstances, and if your request includes that information it will be denied. Information requiring our consideration needs to be addressed to ‘The Principal’ and emailed to the office or myself by Monday, November 4. Please title the email “CONFIDENTIAL – GRADE REQUEST’. Please note that emails received after this date will NOT be accepted.
TIGER TURF Significant progress has been made (at time of writing) on our Tiger Turf projects. The reparation works on our existing synthetic turf were made by the end of the holidays and look terrific. So glad to finally see the temporary fences gone. The footprint of our ‘old’ Southern Classrooms is expected to be ready for use by students by the start of Cup Week.
SCHOOL WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT (SWPBS) We trust by now you have also spied the enhancements to the area surrounding our SWPBS bee hive in the covered way outside the Grade 1 classrooms. Our colourful bees are another visual enhancement to further reinforce our school values and encourage positive BEEhaviour across the school.
I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Welcome back to term 4. I hope you all had an enjoyable school holiday break.
Staffing This week we said farewell to Meredith Kearney, as she begins her family leave. We wish her and her family all the best as they get ready to welcome their new baby in a few weeks time. We are also very pleased to welcome back Heather Gulliford, our school mental health practitioner. Heather is returning from family leave and will be working on a Thursday and Friday.
Supporting and celebrating diverse learners This month is Dyslexia Awareness Month and ADHD Awareness Month and Developmental Language Disorder Day on Friday 18 October, providing a chance to celebrate diverse learners.
Diverse learners have characteristics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and learning difficulties such as dyslexia and developmental language disorder (DLD). Typically, there are diverse learners in every class. Diverse learners need targeted support and intervention to ensure they have the same opportunities to learn as their peers.
To find out more about diverse learners, please refer to the Diverse Learners Hub.
The hub has evidence-based advice, information and resources for parents and teachers.
It includes resources supporting:
- students with language difficulties, including DLD
- students with literacy learning difficulties, including dyslexia
- primary students with ADHD and secondary students with ADHD.
Have a great week.
Gill
Welcome back everyone!
Communication in Term 4 This is just a reminder that the school has two official communication channels: Viewbank Voice Newsletter and Compass. As you know, the last part of the year is full of events: sport and social group end of year presentations, Christmas parties, work functions, family gatherings… to name just a few! It can be overwhelming trying to keep on top of the amount of events in November and December! To ensure your child/ren do not miss out on events at school, we strongly encourage you to read the Viewbank Voice carefully and to check Compass and notifications regularly. Some events may require students to be at school a little earlier for a bus trip, or payment may be required to participate with their classmates and friends.
We also have two social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram) where we share some of the amazing things we do. Search for @viewbankps to follow.
Hats At School in Term 4 Even though we have not seen a lot of sun this week, students are still required to wear a school broad brimmed hat. This is to ensure we are meeting our obligations in our SunSmart Policy. http://www.viewbankps.vic.edu.au/s/SunSmart-Policy-9rp9.pdf. Hats will be required to be worn daily from 01 September 2024 until 30 April 2025. All students must wear a sun protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities.
Have a great weekend!
Patrick
Dear parents and carers
As shared with you previously, parents and carers of every child enrolled in a Victorian government school in 2025 will receive the one-off School Saving Bonus $400 support.
In the coming months, the Department of Education will send you 2 email communications for each of your children enrolled in Victorian government schools.
By Friday 18 October 2024, please ensure that your child’s 2025 enrolment is completed and that your contact information is up to date.
The 2 emails from the Department of Education will:
- Confirm your email address between mid-October and late-November.
- Provide you with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code by the end of November.
If you do not receive a confirmation email from the department by late-November, please check your spam or junk folders and contact the school office if needed.
You can read more about the School Saving Bonus on the Department of Education website, with key information now available in 14 different languages.
Kind regards,
Lucy Addati
STEM Spiney Leaf Insects A very big thank you to the Hemingway family for looking after the spiney leaf insects over the holidays.
The two older females did lay some eggs, so fingers crossed these hatch into young spiney leaf insects for us!
We will be looking for a family to care for them over the summer break, so please look out for the Compass post closer to the end of term, if you are interested.
On Sunday, October 6th, a select few of Gabriella’s singing students ventured to The Palms, Crown, to perform with Chocolate Starfish for the band’s 30th Anniversary tour. Students experienced the “behind the scenes” of a professional gig - backstage, onstage and most stayed back to enjoy the remainder of the dynamic concert. Students did a soundcheck with the band, then waited backstage until their moment came to shine on stage… and shine they did! They sang with gusto, together with another adult choir “With One Voice” and Diamond Creek East Primary School students.
This was an amazing opportunity, and all students should be very proud of themselves… proud of their performance and their conduct.
A huge thanks to our extraordinary Georgeina, who was an immense help on the day!
CHOCOLATE STARFISH CONCERT… Student Comments
- Charlotte: I loved it when Chocolate Starfish came backstage to take a group photo.
- Nicholas: I loved meeting the band Chocolate Starfish and making new friends from Diamond Creek East Primary School.
- Samuel: I loved singing with the band.
- Edwin: I enjoyed singing with the band and getting Adam Thompson’s autograph.
- Raph: I loved singing along to all the songs while I was in the audience and enjoyed meeting new friends.
- Mishka: I liked to hang out in the dressing room with my friends, Gabby and
- Georgeina. I also loved receiving our stolls which we wore around our necks.
- Henry: My favourite part of the day was singing with the band.
YEAR 5 LADY NORTHCOTE CAMP We are excited to report that the Year 5 camp at Lady Northcote Camp (YMCA) is going wonderfully! After spending the first night at camp, the students are now halfway through their adventure. They’ve been enthusiastically participating in activities like canoeing, bike riding, and yabbing, as you can see from the photos below.
Dust off those dancing shoes, the Viewbank Primary School DISCO is coming up! - FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER, 2024 - Purchase your entry ticket now via Compass Events.
- Foundation - Year Two 6.00pm-6.45pm
- Year Three- Six 7.15pm-8.15pm.
Entry into the Disco is $12.00 per child.
The entry price includes the Disco as well as a Zooper Dooper icy pole to cool down on the way out. Please email the school if you do not wish for your child to receive a Zooper Dooper icy pole.
Take the night off cooking with a sausage sizzle available outside the gym from 5.30pm.
As always, we need some help to make this night a success – please sign up via the volunteer sign up sheet https://volunteersignup.org/RTP7K
- This fundraising event is hosted and supervised by the Viewbank Primary School Parents & Friends Association.
- Only registered volunteers with a current WWCC will be able to enter the School Gym during the event.
- Parents must collect their children from the school gym at the allocated finish time – see start & finish times above.
- Once they are signed in, children can not exit the gym without their parent.
- Entry will only be via the Gym's main door.
- Exit will only be via the Gym's side door located near Gate 3.
- A Zooper Dooper icy pole will be given to each attendee at the completion of the disco. Please let the school know if you would prefer your child not to receive one.
- Children are required to supply their own bottle of water on the evening.
BOOKINGS OPEN - Vision Portraits Photo Fundraiser - Saturday 9th November, 2024 - ALL WELCOME!!
We are excited to be offering Vision Portraits $30 family photo fundraising photos again this year.
- When: Saturday 9th November 2024
- Where: Price Park, Viewbank
- Booking link: www.visionportraits.com.au/fundraise
Lower Plenty Bakehouse provide the school with fundraising Lunch Orders every Thursday. 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 17th October (Orders closing on Monday 14th October, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 24th October (Orders closing on Monday 21st October, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 31st October (Orders closing on Monday 28th October, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 7th November (Orders closing on Monday 4th November, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 14th November (Orders closing on Monday 11th November, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 21st November (Orders closing on Monday 18th November, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 28th November (Orders closing on Monday 25th November, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 5th December (Orders closing on Monday 2nd December, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 12th December (Orders closing on Monday 9th December, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 19th December (Orders closing on Monday 16th 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. All food is Halal.
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 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.
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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
GUITAR – Luca Brading
- Email: lucabrading@gmail.com
- Phone: 0422 690 842
PIANO/KEYBOARD/DRUMS - Daniel Tucceri
- Email: info@banyulemusicandtutoring.com
- Phone: 0405 667 908
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