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
One Week Down … I trust that everyone feels settled after the first week of school this year. Naturally, we were greeted with heat on Monday and Tuesday and students spent a good deal of the recess and lunch breaks inside in the air conditioning. We are being very vigilant on hat wearing at the start of the year, so please support your children in this regard by checking with them daily to ensure their hat is available for play breaks.
School Council Elections Each year we conduct School Council Elections at our school. Our School Council is made up of NINE members in the ‘Parent Category’ and FOUR members in the ‘School Employee Category’. The intent is that each year half of the positions in both categories become vacant, as the elected members have served their two years term of office.
I would very much like to thank Lucy Addati and Gill Nicholls (School Employee Category) and Michael Parrent, Jason Hemingway, Ben Bailey, Kate Cullen and David Filcoff (Parent Category) for their contributions to our school these last two years as their current term on School Council is now complete. On behalf of the school community, I thank you all. Being a School Council member requires a commitment to attend nine meetings per year and a determination to make decisions with the rest of the Council in an impartial, non-biased fashion always with the best interests of the students at heart. Whilst these terms have finished, the aforementioned are eligible for re-election, providing they still have children at our school, or remain as a School Employee (depending on the category).
Therefore, I am now in the position to give notice of an election for members of Viewbank Primary School’s Council. 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 or sent home with your child) and must be lodged by 4.00pm on Monday, February 17, 2025. If a ballot is required, it will close at 4pm on Monday, March 3, 2025. For further information please read the included advice on School Councils later in this newsletter. You are also very welcome to speak with me about the role, if you require further information.
Swimming Trials Our first sporting event of Term 1 takes place at Water Marc Pool on next Monday, February 10 with the Grades 3 to 6 Swimming Trials. These trials form the basis for the school team to represent us at the district event later in the term (March 3). Good luck to all participants and a huge thank you to Darren Peters and Patrick Walsh for undertaking a huge amount of work to make these happen.
Getting To Know You Interviews Patrick Walsh has done his usual stellar job in setting these up for 2025 and you will have seen an invitation via Compass to families to make a booking for either Tuesday, February 18 or Thursday, February 20. Please DO avail yourself of the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher as the more information shared, and the clearer the expectations, the better the results!
School Council The first School Council meeting for 2025, and the last for the current School Council is scheduled for Tuesday, February 11 at 7.00pm in the staff room.
I hope you have a lovely weekend. Don’t forget the school picnic next Tuesday evening!!
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Annual privacy reminder for our school community Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice.
Our updated Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy, (on the school website) describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. Please note, that from 2025, consent for photographing, filming and recording students will only be collected on enrolment or during term 1 of 2025 for students currently enrolled.
Further information and the updated consent for the photographing, filming and recording students will be communicated via Compass in the coming weeks.
We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.
For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ privacy policy: information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages:
- Amharic
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Dari
- Gujarati
- Mandarin
- Somali
- Sudanese
- Turkish
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
Volunteering at School - Child Safety Standards Induction Please read the Volunteer Induction Notice 2025 that was posted on Compass this week if you plan to be a volunteer at school this year. Volunteer Induction sessions will be held at school on Monday 17 February from 9.30-10.15am and Thursday 27th February from 2.30-3.15pm in the Staff Conference Room. Both sessions will cover the same content. 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. If you are unable to attend the Induction sessions, all the required documents and presentations are available on the school website for you to access.
All adults volunteering at a school must have a current Working With Children Check and have completed the Child Safety Standards Induction Checklist 2025. Both these documents must be sighted at the school office prior to volunteering.
Naming School Uniforms If you haven’t already done so, please remember to name your child/ren’s school uniform items so that they can be promptly returned. With over 640 students at our school, lost property is a constant issue.
From time to time our wonderful ES staff will also be checking and naming any un-named jumpers. They will write the family name onto the jumper using a permanent laundry marker.
You can also assist us by teaching your child to tie their jumper around their waist if they take it off during playtime or when attending a specialist room.
I look forward to seeing you at our School Picnic on Tuesday evening.
Enjoy your week.
Gill
Car Parking Before And After School Parking before and after school continues to be a frustration. We ask you to please continue to obey all parking signs and respect our neighbours by not parking across or in their driveways. From https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-rules/a-to-z-of-road-rules/parking as a reminder,
There appears to be some confusion with the ‘Kiss and Go’ area along the school side of Nevin Parade. On school days, between the hours of 8am – 9:30am AND 2:30pm – 4pm, there is no parking allowed. Drivers can stop for no more than 2 minutes to drop off or pick up others. Drivers are to remain with their vehicle at all times. Banyule Council monitors this and issues fines in accordance with local laws and legislation. While frustrating, they are there to give our students – your children – the best possible chance to get to and from school safely each day.
Get To Know You Interviews These are now available for you to book via Compass. These 10-minute meetings are an excellent opportunity for you to share important information regarding your child, information that will help the classroom teacher best support them to ensure that they can succeed in 2025. As it is very early in the year, the teacher will be able to provide information on how your child has settled into their 2025 class. A comprehensive written report and interview regarding academic and social progress will be offered mid-year.
Times will also be available with our Specialist teachers (see last week’s Viewbank Voice); however, these are only available on the days that they work, and the number of slots that they have are limited. We strongly recommend that you only book a time during these sessions if there is an important reason to do so (e.g. explaining to Mr Peters, that your child has a condition that may prevent full participation in PE classes).
For those of you with children in 2SR, Ms Rielly is holding interviews on Tuesday and Mrs Stepowski on Thursday. In 5EH, Mrs Hamwi is holding interviews on Tuesday and Mrs Ellis on Thursday. The above teachers have excellent communication systems in place, and anything communicated to one teacher will be shared with the other.
The booking system will close to further bookings on Thursday 13th February at 12pm. If you have any difficulties booking a time, feel free to contact the office (9459 1512 or viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au).
National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy Our Year 3 and Year 5 students will be completing the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) in the second half of March. The schedule has not been finalised yet; however, the tests will be conducted in the following order from left to right:
Families of students in Year 5 have been sent information regarding NAPLAN as well as a link to download the Locked Down Browser (to be completed by Wednesday 19 February). School owned devices have had this completed already.
Further dates and times for the last three assessments will be communicated as soon as confirmed.
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
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.
Dear Parents & Carers,
Viewbank Primary School is excited to embark on another year of excellent teaching and learning and would like to share information about the Parent Payment Arrangements for 2025.
The arrangements for Curriculum and Other Contributions will be accessible on Compass. You will receive an email notification as soon as they are published.
Financial contributions from our families are essential in helping us provide the highest quality education and resources for our students. The learning environment and facilities we enjoy today are the result of the generosity and commitment of our parent community over many years. We value all forms of support, including financial contributions, participation in fundraising, and volunteering your time. Thank you in advance for your commitment to our school community.
For your convenience, all classroom supplies will be provided in bulk directly to classrooms, where teachers will distribute stationery and other items as needed.
Please refer to the attached 2025 Parent Payment Arrangements document for more detailed information.
Lucy Addati
BOOK CLUB Issue 1 catalogues have been sent home this week. All orders are due by Wednesday 12th of February. Every dollar you spend earns points to buy more books for the Library. Thank you for your support.
Grade 3 had their first experience in the program. Unfortunately, due to the extreme heat on Monday we stayed indoors and discussed what to expect in garden class and went for a quick walk around garden.
In the kitchen students made Vietnamese rice paper rolls and did an amazing job using the equipment like knives, peelers and graters.
Well done to all grade 3 students.
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 13th February (Orders close: Monday 10th February, 3:00 PM)
- 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!
.
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.
.
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