2023 TERM DATES
- Term 4: 2nd October - 20th December (1:30pm finish)
2024 TERM DATES
- TERM 1: 29th January - 28th March (students start 30 January)
- TERM 2: 15th April - 28th June
- TERM 3: 15th July - 20th September
- TERM 4: 7th October - 20th December
2024 CAMP DATES
- Grade 3 Camp to Phillip Island - October 28 to 30
- Grade 4 Camp to Anglesea - May 15 to 17
- Grade 5 Camp to Bacchus Marsh October 9 to 11
- Grade 6 Camp - April 29 to 1 May
As always, the final newsletter of the year is one of reflection on yet another significant year for our school community. I had the privilege of attending the Grade 6 Graduation ceremony last evening and couldn’t help but wonder how quickly the last seven years have flown by, let alone this year. The Grade 6 cohort have been exceptional in their attitude, behaviour and involvement in school and it will be very much a ‘mixed emotions’ day next Wednesday when they leave us for the last time. Next year dawns with the promise of a ‘back to normal’ sort of year, with the bulk of the construction project complete. The building company, Stokes-Rousseau are due to vacate the site next Tuesday with the handover of the Administration building to the school, and their builders’ compound moving on to their next construction site. There are still a few matters that need to be addressed, with temporary fences guarding the old administration building ‘footprint’ as the school manages a not insignificant synthetic turf project there. This is expected to be completed by the end of Term 1. Unfortunately, car parking has not been addressed appropriately, and we will continue to agitate for this to be completed in a satisfactory fashion. Nonetheless, all gates will be operational for the start of 2024, and whilst we will attempt to move into the new administration building over the final few school days of 2023, this will only be open to our school community in 2024. Thank you to everyone for your unified efforts and support over the course of the year, and whilst we will have plenty of opportunities over these next four days to share our wishes, I just want to take this opportunity in the final newsletter of the year to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and a wonderful 2024.
FINAL ASSEMBLY The final assembly of the year will take place on Wednesday, December 20 commencing at 1.10pm. We will determine whether this will be in the gymnasium or outside dependent on the weather. All students will be dismissed at 1.30pm from assembly.
SCHOOL CAPTAINS BADGE PRESENTATION We were very grateful for the Hon. Anthony Carbines attendance at assembly on Monday where he presented our 2024 School Captains with their badges. Always a significant event and enhanced by his attendance.
STAFFING To all teaching and non-teaching staff, thank you so much for all of your collective efforts throughout the year. There were many disruptions to our normal routines due to the building works but they were all handled well and enable us to enjoy the benefits of new spaces and facilities for years to come. As we bid farewell to the school year, I wish to acknowledge Nicole Baillargeon’s contributions over Semester 2. Nicole has worked more than capably in the Art Room during that time replacing Jen Hall on leave and I wish to thank her for all of her efforts. I’m pretty sure we will see Nicole back next year in one capacity or another but nonetheless thank her for the positive impacts she has had in the art room this second half of the year. Unlike many schools across the state we are blessed with a full staffing complement and hope it stays that way into the future!!
CHRISTMAS BREAK As always we seek community support over January. Sometimes idle hands get up to mischief, and whilst we will have staff on site intermittently over the break, if you do observe something that doesn’t seem quite right at school (vandalism, unwelcome visitors, trespassers), please call it in to the Heidelberg Police Station.
Well that’s it for me for the final newsletter of 2023. Assembly on Wednesday, December 20 at 1.10pm and then staff back on deck on Monday, January 29. School resumes for all students on Tuesday, January 30.
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Principal
Reports Your child’s 2023, Semester 2 Reports will be available from 4:30pm tomorrow, Friday 15th December. Our staff have spent many hours throughout November and early December completing student reports. As I have mentioned previously, this is not an easy or quick process – most reports are written after hours or on weekends. While we have a robust process for ensuring the accuracy of reports we are human and an error may slip through, or a comment may not be as clear as it could be. If this is the case, please contact the teacher who has written that report (classroom or specialist) to respectfully ask for clarification or to point out the error.
Save the Date After a huge success earlier this year, we have pencilled in Tuesday 13th February 5:30pm – 7pm for our Welcome Back Picnic. More information will come about this early next year.
Holidays Another year has passed by unbelievably quickly. And while we have still not quite finished this year, so much is in place to provide the 2024 students of Viewbank Primary School as many opportunities as possible.
Congratulations to our Year 6 Class of 2023, I hope you take the opportunities that are presented to you, and you explore them as much as possible - you never know where you may end up!
I hope everyone has a great Christmas break. If you are travelling, please stay safe!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Patrick
Supporting Students Through Transitions We’re nearing the end of the school year, a period of change for most students.
Many children take these transitions in their stride but for others it is a time of uncertainty and growing anxiety.
The following resource from The Student Wellbeing Hub may help you as a parent to support your child/children through key transition points in their schooling.
2023 Reflections As the 2023 school year draws to a close, it is pleasing to be able to look back and celebrate so many achievements across the year. As a whole school, we have enjoy many experiences such as the school disco, STOMP dance performances, excursions, the colour run, sporting events, visits by the fire brigade, camps, SWPBS reward days, Book Week celebrations, special event days and buddy activities to name a few. Individual students have also celebrated personal achievements such as representing the school at elite levels in athletics, swimming, cross country, being a top performer in mathematics and music competitions, completing the Premiers Reading Challenge, making it to finals in chosen sports and completing all their SWPBS values cards.
2023 has been dominated by our building project. Everyone has been extremely patient as we’ve navigated each stage; relocating classes, moving fences, closing playgrounds, altering access gates and pathways to classrooms. The end is in sight and I’m sure we will all benefit from and appreciate the updated facilities to our school environment in the years to come.
Thank you for your ongoing support and trust throughout the year, your commitment to your child’s education and for your contributions to our school community.
A huge thankyou to all our amazing staff at Viewbank. We are incredibly privileged to have such a dedicated, caring, talented and passionate team working together to make our school the best it can be for our students.
It was satisfying to see the confidence and excitement our students demonstrated as they trialled their 2024 grades on Tuesday morning. I know there were quite a few nerves but there were also many smiles and lots of excited chatter as everyone got to know each other.
A special congratulations to our amazing graduating class of 2023, they have certainly had a fabulous year. It was a pleasure to be part of their graduation celebrations on Wednesday afternoon and evening. I wish them all the best as they head towards secondary school.
Finally, take care over the school holidays and stay safe. I hope you each have a relaxing holiday season and manage to find some time to reflect, recharge and be grateful.
I look forward to seeing you in the new year, refreshed and ready for 2024.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe New Year.
All the very best,
Gill
The office has relocated to the gym foyer/STEM room.
2024 PARENT PAYMENTS Viewbank Primary School is looking forward to another great year of teaching and learning and would like to advise you of Viewbank Primary School’s Parent Payment Arrangements for 2024.
We continue to value and thank you for your financial contributions in supporting our school’s programs and resources. These contributions assist us to broaden the educational experience for our students.
All classroom supplies will be provided directly to the classrooms in bulk. Teachers will distribute stationery and other supplies to the students as required.
Payments can only be made on Compass from Monday the 22nd of January 2024.
Further detailed information about Parent Payments can be found on Compass and our website.
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 2023, you do not need to complete an application form in 2024 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 2024 or you did not apply in 2023.
- changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing at the school in 2024.
- 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.
Kind regards,
Lucy Addati
Year 4's in the kitchen
USED APPLE LAPTOPS FOR SALE $350 MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) 128GB
The school is selling four laptops that have now been rotated out of staff use. These Apple MacBook Airs come with a fresh install of MacOS Monterrey and a charging cable only. To secure one of these laptops, please come into the office and pay.
If you miss out this time, we expect there to be more available in the new year.
Congratulations to Bob Zhu from 2S for his outstanding results!
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.
Orders need to be placed in advance via Compass Canteen. Ordering will close the Monday before the lunch date at 3pm.
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.
Parent assistance is required on Lunch Days from 10:30am to 12:30pm to assist with the packing of our orders. If you are available to assist in anyway can you please email the school at viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au so your name can be added to our roster.
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
Lunches must be ordered online using the CLASSROOM CUISINE website.
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WEEKLY SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE - Every Friday 8:45am to 9:15am, 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.
Instrumental Music Enrolments Can all students who would like to join our school instrumental music programs please inform the relevant teacher below of your expression of interest.
SINGING WITH GABRIELLA - Gabriella
- Email: favrettogab@gmail.com
- Phone: 0413 676 733
STRINGS - MR CAI
- Email: cai66@optusnet.com.au
- Phone: 0403 490 078
GUITAR/BASS GUITAR - Alec
- Email: alec.stalder@gmail.com
PIANO/KEYBOARD – Tiaryn Griggs
- Email: tiaryngriggs@gmail.com
PIANO/KEYBOARD/DRUMS - Daniel Tucceri
- Email: info@banyulemusicandtutoring.com
- Phone: 0405 667 907
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
- Saturday 9am to 12pm
Online Ordering Please Visit: www.aplusschoolwear.com.au