PUPIL FREE DAYS 2024
- Monday, July 15
- Monday, November 4
2024 TERM DATES
- 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 5 Camp to Bacchus Marsh October 9 to 11
OPEN DAY SATURDAY After a slow start on Saturday (18 May) morning with virtually no visitors, things picked up for the final 2 hours with approximately 20 tours. Our Year 6 Student Leaders, who were in attendance, did a fantastic job! One or two students needed to leave early so missed out – there will be opportunities in the coming weeks.
WORKING BEE SUNDAY We had a small but hardworking group for our Working Bee last Sunday. Thank you to our passionate Buildings and Grounds committee members who organised and kept us on track! A gate and fence behind the Year 2 rooms and Lascelles Avenue was installed; plans are afoot for that area. We added 2 cubic metres of sand to the sandpit, 3 cubic metres of tanbark spread under playgrounds, and 5 cubic metres of soil was wheel barrowed to behind the Art and LOTE rooms. A new compost bed has been constructed and, in the future, compost cones will be purchased – new technology for composting! You can find more information about Green Cones at this Banyule Council website https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Waste-environment/Waste-recycling/Green-cone-user-guide
STUDENT VOICE AND AGENCY We continue to increase the opportunities for students to make meaningful contributions to their school, and to have a say in how we go about things. Recently our student leaders have been contributing to a number of school policies, adding student friendly language so that all can understand. These policies are the Student Engagement and Wellbeing Policy, Concerns and Complaints Policy, and Bullying Prevention Policy. You can find all our school policies on our website here: https://www.viewbankps.vic.edu.au/forms-policies. Policies are sorted by alphabetical order under the following topics: Child Safe Policies, General Policies, Medical Policies, Curriculum Policies (including Homework), Wellbeing Policies, Extracurricular Policies, and Office Policies.
Other Student Voice and Agency activities (individual, JSC or Student Leaders) have included: organising Harmony Day. A House Chant competition, Termly News Reports, writing and sharing Sport Rules, Guess the amount of Mentos in a jar, and making and selling origami. Students at Viewbank PS are a busy bunch!
DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY Congratulations to our 50+ runners on Wednesday at the District Cross Country. 10 runners have made it through to the Division Cross Country next week.
Have a great weekend!
Patrick
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL SUPERVISION PARENT NOTIFICATION Student safety at Viewbank Primary School is our highest priority and the safe and appropriate supervision of students is an important element of our duty of care to students. Part of this duty is ensuring parents and students are aware of our student supervision arrangements before and after school.
Before school: School grounds are supervised by school staff from 8.50am until 9.00am. The Tiger Turf, Winston Road gate, middle courtyard and Junior playground areas are supervised.
After school: School grounds are supervised by school staff from 3.30pm until 3.40pm. The Nevin Parade gate and nearby areas as well as the Winston Rd gate and Tiger Turf area are supervised.
Please Note: the oval is not supervised before or after school.
Students on school grounds outside these times will not be supervised (unless they are attending a before or after school care program or supervised extracurricular activity).
Parents/carers are requested to ensure that students do not attend school outside of these supervised times unless they are attending before or after school care, or a pre-arranged supervised activity (i.e. sports practice).
Families are encouraged to contact the direct mobile number for our Outside School Hours Care provider: TheirCare on 0408 100 117 or visit their website at www.theircare.com.au for more information about the before and after school care facilities available to our school community or if you would like any further information about our student supervision arrangements.
A full copy of our school’s Yard Duty and Supervision Policy is available on the school website, via this link or from the school office. This policy includes Viewbank Primary School’s student supervision arrangements across the school day, including before and after school.
Policy News At the School Council meeting held on Tuesday 14th May, School Council endorsed the following policies:
- Child Safety Code of Conduct
- Statement of Values and School Philosophy
School Policies for Review A range of 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.
We are currently in the process of reviewing a number of our policies and we are inviting community consultation. Please take the time to read any or all of the policies below and if you have any feedback or comments please email Gill Nicholls (gillian.nicholls@education.vic.gov.au) by Friday 31 May.
All our policies are developed using the Department templates and are tailored to our school setting.
Following the consultation period, the policies will be finalised and endorsed and then updated on our school website.
Week 4 (9 May)
Week 5 (16 May)
Week 6 (23 May)
Just a reminder that if you have not already registered online for your child to visit the Smile Squad free school dental program, please do so by the 27th May.
Smile Squad need your consent before they can provide services. Consent is usually provided by a parent or guardian. Please complete and submit the online consent form by 27/05/2023. Forms are also available from the school office.
Have a great week,
Gill
TheirCare (Outside of School Hours Care) Please be aware that if your child is not registered with TheirCare they will be unable to access the program in an emergency. Therefore, it is highly recommend that you register your child/ren with TheirCare in case you may need it one day as child/ren cannot be supervised by staff beyond 3.45pm.
SCHOOL TOURS We will be running school tours on a Tue, Wed, Thu at 9.30am for prospective families. Please call the office to make a booking.
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
Inquiry Learning The Year 4 students would like to thank Mayor Tom Melican and Councillor Fiona Mitsinikos for visiting us as part of our Civics and Citizenship Inquiry sessions.
It was a most valuable session which provided us with an insight into how the Banyule City Council operates. We thank the council for providing extra information to support our inquiry.
The students have been learning about:
- The three levels of government
- Rules and laws
- Democracy
- Active citizenship
We look forward to seeing how our students use their Student Voice and Agency to explore ways of helping the local community… stay tuned!
The Year 4 Team
District Cross Country On Wednesday 22nd may, 55 students attended District Cross Country at Banyule flats. The weather was picture perfect and the conditions were amazing!
Everyone should be so proud of their efforts. We had wins in three races. A huge congratulations to Riley, Harvey and Inaya who won and to Melinda who came second.
A big thanks to Mr Peters and Mr Byrne who attended and to the parents who came and supported the children.
Apart from the resilience shown by all students, my highlight was watching the children roll down the hill giggling and laughing. Brought me much joy!
We have 10 awesome students going through to the Divisional Cross Country which will be held next Wednesday at Banyule Flats. All the best!
Mrs Taylor
For the 3rd week in a row, the grade 3's were busy in the garden and kitchen.
In the garden - They watered, weeded and prepped garden beds, harvested for kitchen session, prepped and planted over 100 garlic cloves and dressed and put together 2 scarecrows.
Harvested from our garden - Celery, mint, basil, spinach and tomatoes which we froze from our summer crop.
In the kitchen they prepared and cooked;
- Tomato and garlic pasta sauce
- Made linguine
- Tomato and basil pizza
- Salad of the imagination
- Made pizza and pasta dough for the next class.
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 upgrad
Our Term 2 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates are:
- Thursday 30th May (Orders closing on Monday 27th May, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 6th June (Orders closing on Monday 3rd June, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 13th June (Orders closing on Monday 10th June, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 20th June (Orders closing on Monday 17th June, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 27th June (Orders closing on Monday 24th June, 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 2 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.
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/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
- Saturday 9am to 12pm
Online Ordering Please Visit: www.aplusschoolwear.com.au