- 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: 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 - TBA
- 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
SCHOOL PRODUCTION Our School Production, ‘Where In The World Is Eddie The Teddy?’, is now less than two weeks away with rehearsals gearing up and final touches being added. With a matinee and evening session on both November 12 and 14, there are plenty of opportunities to watch the shows but a warning that tickets are selling quickly. If you want to ‘prepare’ for the shows and have a bit of information to enjoy it even more, try searching You Tube for any reference to the television show Get Smart which aired from 1965-1970, and to the computer program ‘Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?’ which was first released in 1985. Or just sit back, and admire the costuming, sets, and student performances which will fill you with pride!!
SCHOOL REVIEW We concluded our School Review last Monday with the panel forming for the last time to determine a draft of our next Strategic Plan. The findings of the review team, chaired by Natalie Toohey, will be shared with our School Council on November 19, and our ratified Strategic Plan (2024-2028) will be shared via the newsletter shortly thereafter.
PHILLIP ISLAND CAMP Happy to report that the Phillip Island Camp was a great success. This was our first Grade 3 camp for 4 years, so pleased to say that it went well as the photos will attest. Many thanks to the Grade 3 team for their planning and implementation of a fun-filled three days of activities, and to all of our volunteers. The facilities, grounds, food and location were absolutely first rate and we did not hesitate in re-booking for next year’s Grade 3 cohort.
PUPIL FREE DAY A final reminder that Monday, November 4 is a pupil free day with no classes on offer that day, although the services of TheirCare will be available if you require child care on that day.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR GRADE PLACEMENTS 2025 – FINAL CALL!! 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.
Have a very pleasant long weekend. No idea what will win the Cup so if in doubt resort to your old footy numbers - #4 and #23 !!
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Friendships At this time of the year, with preparations beginning for 2025 class placements, parents often have questions and concerns about the friendships that exist amongst their child’s peer group.
Parents frequently worry about which friendships should be encouraged into next year and which friendships may need a break, if their child has enough friends or what to do if their child doesn't always get along with friends.
The Raising Children Network has some great information about these questions and more. Learning how to make and keep friends is an important part of growing up for school-age children. Having friends is good for children’s confidence, wellbeing and ability to get along with others.
If you would like to find out more and put your mind at ease, you may like to read the information on Supporting your school-age child’s friendships.
Friendships help children develop important life skills like getting along with other people and sorting out conflicts and problems. Children with these skills are less likely to have social and emotional difficulties later in life.
Here are answers to 10 frequently asked questions about children’s friendships.
If you have further questions about your child’s friendships please organise an appointment with their teacher.
Thanks to our amazing Student Leadership Team, under the direction of Ms Boness, for their contributions to our school. On Friday, two of our student leaders, Naomi and Inaya delivered a heartfelt speech to all our permanent and casual staff recognising and celebrating World Teacher’s Day. The student leaders were also busy promoting and organising our Day for Daniel activities where students were able to learn about personal safety and who in their family and community is there to help keep them safe.
Enjoy your week.
Gill
TRAFFIC SAFETY Our thoughts are with the Auburn South Primary School community after the shocking accident that occurred on Tuesday afternoon. There has been a lot of reporting of this in every media outlet, and much speculation about what happened. Regardless of what will be found in the coming days, weeks and months, many, many families’ lives have changed forever.
For avid readers of the Viewbank Voice, you will know that we have requested parents to be respectful and kind when on the roads – particularly around drop-off and pick-up times. We have had reports given to us of ‘close-calls’ where students have almost been hit by a car, sometimes this is due to a lack of road awareness of students, but many times it is due to drivers not being careful. Of course, this is not always our families, but other members of the public who use the roads around the school.
As we head into a long weekend, and into the busiest 8-week period of the year before Christmas, we once again ask you to be safe on the roads at all times, none of us wish to be dealing with a tragedy of this magnitude.
PARENTS AND FRIENDS This is just a reminder to please consider joining the Parents and Friends Committee in 2025, and potentially taking on the Presidency role. This is a School Governance requirement. All things regarding Parent Clubs (or Parents and Friends Committee in our context) can be found here https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/parent-clubs/policy
If you and your family are on the roads this weekend, please be safe.
Have a great long weekend - see you on Wednesday!
Patrick
Tickets Now On Sale - 2025 Viewbank Primary School Production - "Where in the World is Eddie the Teddy?"
Venue: Empower 365 (Planetshakers), 360 Main Road, Lower Plenty
Cost: Evening Performances: $25.00 / Matinee Performances: $20.00 *Please be advised that there is a 50 cent Trybooking fee per seat
Dates:
- Tuesday 12th November, 2024 - 11.00am (A - K)
- Tuesday 12th November, 2024 - 7.00pm (A - K)
- Thursday 14th November, 2024 - 11.00am (L - Z)
- Thursday 14th November, 2024 - 7:00pm (L - Z)
For all ticketing enquiries, please contact the school office on 9459 1512
Tickets are limited to 2 per family for the evening performances. Matinee tickets are unlimited.
All remaining unsold tickets will go on sale on Friday 1st November (unlimited)
All performances will go for approximately 3 hours
https://www.trybooking.com/1308123
JSC Update – Christmas Food Appeal Due to personal circumstances, the organiser of the Macleod Pantry is no longer able to keep the pantry open and it will close in the next few weeks. This is a great loss to our community.
Instead, JSC will continue to ask for donations but will redirect these to another local and valuable support network, the Rosanna Fire Station Community House.
Please keep your donations coming throughout the month of November!
Viewbank Primary School Parents and Friends Production Raffle.
The prizes include three assorted hampers.
Raffle to be drawn Monday 18th November at the whole school assembly.
Last tickets sale date Thursday 14th November.
- 1 ticket x $2
- 6 tickets x $10
- 15 tickets x $20
Purchase your tickets via Compasstix: https://compasstix.com/e/l0ok1owsoo
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 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