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
SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS You will know by now that there will be significant traffic disruptions on Lower Plenty Road near the school for up to five months. Lower Plenty Rd traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions, and there will be no right turn into Graham Rd - a major traffic thoroughfare for parents of both VPS & Viewbank College. This will mean more traffic will be diverted through Martin's Lane turning right, into back streets. North East Link planners have estimated there may be up to 15 minutes of delays for motorists, but that will probably be longer. Whilst we recommend leaving earlier each day to drop your children off, we understand that there will be times where getting to school right on time may cause difficulties and/or stress so we will definitely show a little more leniency to all concerned.
SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS As announced in last week’s newsletter, I have called for nominations for the vacant positions on School Council for 2025. There are five two-year vacancies in the Parent Member category, and two two-year vacancies in the School Employee Member category. Nomination forms may be obtained from the General Office (by email, in person or sent home with your child) and must be lodged by 4.00pm next Monday, February 17, 2025.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU INTERVIEWS As you will be aware by now, these take place next Tuesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 20. A ‘must-do’ each year and an excellent way to share pertinent information, to meet your child’s teacher (sometimes for the first time) and to just get to know each other!
SCHOOL CAPTAINCY – BADGE PRESENTATIONS We have confirmed three of our guest presenters for 2025. Melina Sarris, an award winning reporter for Channel 7 News as well as a weekend weather presenter, will present the communication captain badges at assembly on Monday, February 17. Anthony Carbines, the member for Ivanhoe as well as a Minister in three separate portfolios, will present the school captain badges on Monday, February 24 also at assembly. Our third presenter who will be presenting house captaincy badges at a special assembly on Tuesday, February 25 is Georgia Nanscawen. Georgia is an Australian Olympian who has represented Australia at the Olympic Games in hockey, as well as being a current AFLW player for Essendon. We are honoured to have all of these people attending our school to make the honour and privilege of being a student leader even more special.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE Looking for a way to make a significant contribution to the school? The Buildings and Grounds Committee is a group dedicated to making our schoolground safe, functional and visually appealing. We meet just once a term (the first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25 at 7pm in the staffroom), and discuss short- and long-term plans to further develop our school buildings and grounds. We have just one working bee per term, and it's a fun group to be a part of. Hopefully we might see you at our first meeting in a couple of Tuesdays.
Have a lovely weekend.
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
School Policy Information School policies are developed in line with Department guidelines and the community’s educational aspirations for its children. Policies are statements of purpose, which are implemented on School Council’s behalf to achieve many of the objectives stated in our School Strategic Plan as well as areas, which need to be addressed to ensure our programs and practices are followed in accordance with the needs of the community in mind.
A range of Child Safety, operational, curriculum and health and wellbeing policies are available on our school website, providing detailed information about how the policy topic is implemented at our school. All policies are reviewed and updated on a cyclical basis.
Our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy communicates to our school community how we create and maintain a safe, supportive and inclusive school environment consistent with our school’s values.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all students and members of our school community understand:
- our commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students
- expectations for positive student behaviour
- support available to students and families
- our school’s policies and procedures for responding to inappropriate student behaviour.
Viewbank Primary School is committed to providing a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment for all students. We understand that students reach their full potential only when they are happy, healthy and safe, and that a positive school culture, where student participation is encouraged and valued, helps to engage students and support them in their learning. Our school acknowledges that student wellbeing and student learning outcomes are closely linked.
I strongly encourage you to have a read of this policy.
Volunteering at School - Child Safety Standards Induction Please read the Volunteer Induction Notice 2025, posted on Compass last week, if you plan to be a volunteer at a school this year. Volunteer Induction sessions will be held at school on Monday 17 February from 9.30-10.15am and Thursday 27 February from 2.30-3.15pm. Both Induction Sessions will be the same and you only need to attend one of the sessions.
During these sessions we will present a Volunteer Induction PowerPoint and take you through the Viewbank Child Safety Policies. At the conclusion of the session you will be invited to sign and return the VPS Child Safety Standards Induction Checklist 2025.
All adults volunteering at a school must have a current Working With Children Check and have completed the Child Safety Standards Induction Checklist. Both these documents must be sighted at the school office prior to volunteering.
School Transition Tips Back to school is an exciting time for students and families. It can be a big step – particularly for those starting Foundation or moving to secondary school.
For advice in multiple languages on how parents can help their child have a positive start to school, refer to Tips for starting school.
It was great to catchup with so many parents at the school picnic on Tuesday evening. It was certainly a warm evening, but perfect for the icecreams on offer. Thanks to the P&F Committee for organising.
Have a wonderful week.
Gill
Staff And Student Absences We strongly encourage any staff members or students who are unwell, to remain at home and not come to school. Our recent experience, since 2021, is that when school returns after a term or year break, we have an increase in illness. Sometimes the illness passes quickly, sometimes it lingers. I am sure you know of someone who has been ill and thought they would only be sick for a day or 2. Over a week later, they are still sick! When staff are absent, we try and get the same Casual Relief Teacher (CRT) to take the class to ensure a level of continuity. This can be difficult to achieve if illness extends beyond what was initially thought. Also, many CRTs only work on certain days that fit into their lifestyle and home requirements. If a staff member ends up being absent due to illness for a number of days, it is never our intention to have a different CRT each day in that class, but it cannot always be helped.
Like every other job, staff at Viewbank Primary School who have met eligibility requirements are able to access Long Service Leave. We try and book the same CRT for the duration of the staff member’s leave (once again, not always possible). As Long Service Leave is booked for a defined period, the period of leave and who the replacement is, is normally communicated to you by the class teacher.
Get To Know You interviews Just a reminder to please book these by 5pm Thursday 13 February (slight extension to the time from Week 1s Viewbank Voice). Please note that Mr Peters will be conducting Interviews in Room 16 (Mrs Taylors Year 5 classroom) and Mr Betson is conducting Interviews in the Year 5 Withdrawal room. All other GTKY Interviews will occur face-to-face in your child’s classroom. A map of the school is available in the first edition of the 2025 Viewbank Voice. Please make sure you check your day and times that you have selected before coming.
Parents and Friends Annual General Meeting A Department of Education requirement for schools who have Parents and Friends Committees (P&F) for the purpose of fundraising, must hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year. All ‘official’ positions are to be declared vacant, and nominees will be sought for the 2025 President and Secretary. Previous holders of these position are more than welcome to nominate. The AGM will be held in the staffroom on Tuesday 25th February at 7:30pm. After the AGM, the P&F Committee will meet as normal. A huge amount of work has gone into 2025 events already so I am sure there will be a few updates provided.
We are so grateful to our school community for the support they regularly show. The 2024 committee started planning events for 2025 such as: Mother’s Day Stall, Father’s Day Stall and Disco, as well as a few others. We need to keep these a secret at the moment until details and dates are locked in. That said, if you would like to know what they are, coming along to our P&F Meetings is a great way to stay informed. All fundraising events must be approved by School Council, with the School Council having the final say on where these funds are spent.
The P&F committee has grown substantially in the past few years and event organisation is shared, not being left to only a handful of parents. We hope you can come along!
P&F Office Bearer Roles
P&F President
- Be the main representative/spokesperson for the P&F
- Liaise with P&F members and set the agenda for meetings, in conjunction with the Secretary
- Be the point of contact for event working parties
- Be the main contact for agenda items
- Open the meetings punctually and ensure the agenda is followed
- Work towards a collaborative approach with other members of school community
- Be mindful of timelines, keep discussions on track and keep meetings moving
P&F Secretary
- Planning the P&F meeting schedule throughout the year
- Maintaining P&F membership WhatsApp group
- Distributing minutes to P&F members along with agenda prior to the next meeting
- Taking minutes at P&F meetings
- Keeping an up-to-date calendar of events
It is important to note that the President and Secretary work closely together as roles are often intertwined.
Have a great weekend!
Patrick
Reminder for Parents: Official School Communication We kindly remind all parents that Compass is the school's official communication portal. For any school-related questions, please contact the office directly via email or phone.
Please note that the WhatsApp group is a parent-run social chat and is not an official channel for school inquiries.
Thank you for your cooperation
School Photos Tuesday 25th February 2025 - Online Ordering Now Open. Please note that School Saving Bonus funds are not eligible for use toward school photos.
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 be visible on Compass, as they are recorded in your family accounts within 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 are unable to automatically allocate your funds to Term 1 school incursions, excursions, and activities unless you first select this option through the portal. Once you designate the funds to our school, they will be automatically applied to your child/ren's upcoming activities unless you advise us in advance.
If your child/ren will be away on holidays during the school term, please email the school (Viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au) and record the absence on Compass to ensure funds are not allocated to an activity while your child/ren is away.
Please note: the School Saving Bonus cannot be allocated towards the Curriculum and Other Contributions (Parent Payments Arrangements)
To learn more about the SSB online system, download the step-by-step System guide for parents and carers (DOCX, 945KB) or watch this School Saving Bonus video. System guide translations are also available in 14 languages.
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.
CAMPS, SPORTS AND EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF) The Government assisted Fund provides payments for eligible students to attend camps, sports, incursions and excursions ($150 per child). Applications for the Governments ‘CSEF Fund’ can be accessed by filling in the application form and returning it to the office with a copy of your current Health Care Card. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply) i.e. a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card or Veteran Affairs Gold Card.
If you applied for the CSEF at your child's school in 2024, you do not need to complete an application form in 2025 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:
- new student enrolments; your child has started or changed schools in 2025 or you did not apply in 2024.
- changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing at the school in 2025.
- Funds are paid to the school and will be automatically allocated to the Extra-Curricular Items and Activities unless otherwise stated by the parent at the start of the year.
Lucy Addati
Grade 4's This week in the grade the grade 4's did an amazing job cleaning up the garden. That included weeding, filling up the wicking beds, emptying out old crop from bays, turning over empty bays and watering.
They got to see the fruits of their labor from the previous year with the finished product (drying time) of the garlic and onions.
In the kitchen they made ;
- Chickpea and lentil burgers
- Tomato and herb quinoa salad
- Tomato sauce
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 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!
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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.
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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
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