- Tuesday 10 September - P&F Sushi Day
- Friday 11 October - P&F Student Disco
- 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 3: 15th July - 20th September
- TERM 4: 7th October - 20th December
2024 CAMP DATES
- Grade 5 Camp to Bacchus Marsh - October 9 to 11
- Grade 3 Camp to Phillip Island - October 28 to 30
Foundation To Grade 2 Cross Country The annual Foundation to Grade 2 Cross Country took place on the oval yesterday and was lots of fun! Many thanks to the ‘organising committee’ for enabling this event – I know the students really got into the spirit of the event.
SunSmart Policy A reminder that our SunSmart policy means that hats must be worn outside from the start of Spring and we will be enforcing this from now on.
Transition Program The third of our Term 3 Transition events took place on Tuesday with a ‘Movement Land’ focus. Term 4 will see the finalisation of our Foundation 2025 grades, with these being announced at our Information Night on Thursday, November 7. Two further transition sessions will then take place with the children meeting their 2025 teachers in their 2025 classrooms. I would hope that all sibling enrolments have been submitted by now, but if perchance there is still an enrolment or two out there, please let us know asap by completing the enrolment process. Please contact the General Office if this is you.
School Council The September meeting of School Council is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10 commencing at 7pm. Correspondence and agendas will be distributed later this week.
Divisional Athletics The Divisional Athletics Championships are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 11 at Meadowglen International Athletics Stadium, Epping. Good luck to our 21 representatives as they take on students from other schools for the right to compete at Regional and potentially State level later on in Term 4.
Tiger Turf Project I have been advised that our new synthetic Tiger Turf project will commence at the start of the holidays, with the project being completed by the end of Cup Week (November 8). Whilst this project has been delayed through no fault of our own, its eventual completion will most definitely further enhance what are already beautiful grounds and wide open play spaces. It will also be great to finally see all temporary fences removed!
I hope everyone has a lovely spring weekend. Hoping for calmer winds and keen to watch the footy finals as they get under way.
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
TRANSITIONING TO SECONDARY SCHOOL Parents of Year 5 and 6 students are invited to join a free online webinar designed to support young neurodiverse people as they prepare to transition from primary to secondary school in 2025. Click here to register free.
- WHEN: Tuesday September 10th
- TIME: 6:00pm - 6:30pm
- WHO: A panel of autistic adults will join our host I CAN CEO Chris Varney (who have all been there before!)
The panel will discuss such topics as: School transitioning successes, setbacks, insights, tips and strategies for a positive high school transitioning experience. Please find the downloadable (.pdf) flyer below to forward on.
REGULATING EMOTIONS Understanding our feelings and emotions and being able to regulate our emotions are important skills that develop throughout childhood. The following article is from the Raising Children Network.
Understanding and managing emotions: why it’s important
Understanding and managing emotions is important for development and wellbeing during childhood and adolescence.
Children and teenagers who can understand and manage their emotions are more likely to:
- express emotions by speaking calmly or in appropriate ways
- bounce back after feeling strong emotions like disappointment, frustration or excitement
- control impulses
- behave appropriately – that is, in ways that don’t hurt other people, things or themselves.
And this is good for children because it helps them learn, make friends, become independent and more.
Your child’s ability to understand and manage emotions develops over time. When your child is young, they’ll need help with understanding emotions. This mostly involves recognising and naming emotions, which lays the groundwork for managing emotions as your child gets older.
As your child grows, they’ll learn more strategies to manage their emotions without your help.
Understanding and managing emotions is also called emotional regulation. It’s an important part of your child’s self-regulation.
Children 3-8 years: learning to understand and manage emotions
Children develop their ability to recognise and name emotions through plenty of practice. It’s easier for children to practise through play, when they’re relaxed, or before their emotions get too intense.
Here are ways you can help your child practise recognising and naming emotions:
- Talk about the emotions that characters in books, TV shows or movies might be experiencing. For example, ‘Look at Bluey’s face. She looks sad’.
- Read books about emotions with your child. To start with, you could try The way I feel by Janan Cain, All about feelings from Usborne, or F is for feelings by Goldie Millar and Lisa A. Berger.
- Show your child how you recognise your emotions and help them to recognise theirs. For example, ‘When I broke that glass, I yelled really loudly. Does that happen to you when you make a mistake and feel angry?’
- Help your child work out how their body feels when they’re experiencing an emotion. For example, ‘You look nervous. Have you got butterflies in your tummy?’
- Give your child opportunities to explore emotions through play. Play ideas to develop preschooler emotions and play ideas to develop school-age emotions include messy play, drawing or painting, puppet play, dancing and music play.
- Do an emotions activity with your child. You choose an emotion like ‘excited’ and act it out with your child. You can turn this activity into a simple guessing game.
You can also start helping your child learn simple strategies to manage their emotions. For example:
- Teach your child ways to calm down from strong emotions like counting to 10 or taking 5 deep breaths.
- Suggest ways to react to strong emotions – for example, clap your hands when you’re excited, ask for a hug when you’re sad, or squeeze your cushion really hard when you’re angry.
Pre-teens and teenagers: strengthening emotional skills
Pre-teens and teenagers often feel strong and sometimes overwhelming emotions like shame and humiliation. They might know the words for these emotions but still have trouble recognising them when they’re upset. Also, because of teenage brain development, teenagers don’t always have the skills to express and manage emotions in an adult way.
That’s why pre-teens and teenagers still need help with understanding and managing emotions. With practice, your child will be able to manage their emotions without you.
Here are ideas to strengthen your child’s ability to understand and manage emotions in the teenage years:
- Step in when you can see emotions building up. The sooner your child can spot their emotional changes, the easier it will be for them to stay in control of their behaviour.
- Help your child notice early physical signs of strong emotions. For example, ‘When I was stuck in traffic yesterday, my heart was racing and I felt really hot. Does that happen to you when you’re frustrated?’
- Help your child notice early behaviour signs of strong emotions. For example, ‘You’re starting to hit that keyboard a bit hard. Do you need to stop for a minute and get some fresh air?’
- Talk with your child about what you do when you notice the signs that strong emotions are building up. For example, ‘When I start to feel really angry with myself, I focus on something I’m really proud of instead. Would that work for you?’
- Work with your child on a list of things they could do when they notice strong emotions building up, like going for a run, listening to loud music on their headphones, or meditating. Try to include plenty of options so your child can choose ones that feel right in different situations.
Remember that talking with teenagers about emotions won’t be as effective when they’re struggling with the strong emotion. You need to step in early or wait until the emotion has passed.
Signs your child might need help to manage their emotions
All children need help and support to manage strong emotions sometimes, especially younger children or children dealing with extra challenges like a death in the family or other traumatic event.
Children might need help to manage strong emotions if they:
- feel upset or miserable about how overwhelming their emotions are
- feel very strong emotions that are out of proportion to the problem or situation
- still feel strong emotions for a long time after whatever sparked the emotions
- often go from being calm to feeling an intense emotion like anger very quickly
- express emotions inappropriately – for example, laughing in response to bad news
- go very quiet, hide or push people away when they’re overwhelmed.
Also, pre-teen and teenage children might need help if they:
- seem to make poor decisions because they feel strong emotions like frustration
- find it hard to relax enough to enjoy their hobbies or be with family and friends.
Have a great week,
Gill
PLANNING WEEK Our Term 3 Planning Week is scheduled to occur in Week 9 of this term (next week). This is from Monday 09 September to Friday 13 September (heads up – the last day of Term 3 is Friday 20 September, and we finish at 2:30pm!).
Planning Week is where your child/ren’s specialist classes are compressed into one day and they do not have specialist classes at any other time throughout the week. All classroom teachers in a year level (e.g. Foundation) have the same day together to plan.
This day is to reflect on the past term, and to plan for Term 4. A question we sometimes have from parents is ‘Will my child have the same Specialist Teacher? e.g. Mr Prell for PE’. The answer is (like all good questions) ‘it depends’. The reason for this is that we have a number of part time staff in specialist roles, and they may not be available on the allocated days. Our Specialist Teachers also receive time to reflect on the term and to plan for next term.
The timetable for next week (Term 3, Week 9) is:
- Monday 09 September: Year 5
- Tuesday 10 September: Year 2
- Wednesday 11 September: Year 1 and Year 3
- Thursday 12 September: Year 4 and Year 6
- Friday 13 September: Foundation
These weeks are always tricky to plan with so many considerations e.g. Year 6 Sport, Year 3/4 Hooptime, Division Athletics, Production rehearsals, Year 4 Garden, a Bunnings visit onsite for Foundation etc.
Have a great weekend!
Patrick
FOR SALE We have two second-hand air-conditioner split systems available for $50 each, located in the Auslan room. You're welcome to inspect them after school hours. Additionally, there's a gas hot water system for sale for $50, situated in the fenced-off area beside the gym. If you wish to take a look, please collect the key from the office.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Lucy Addati
The Premiers Reading Challenge finishes this Friday!
Remember to mark books as finished so they can be verified and added to your tally. You must have all your books entered into your online account by this Friday the 6th September. All accounts are locked after this date and you will not be able to access them.
A whopping 125 students have completed the Challenge this year, including all the students in 1W. Good job everyone! You have read over 4 and a half thousand books! That's awesome!
We now have to wait for the Premier's office to send the official certificates to the school. They should arrive in late November. We will make an announcement when they arrive.
Dust off those dancing shoes, the Viewbank Primary School DISCO is coming up! - FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER, 2024 - Purchase you entry ticket now via Compass Events.
- Foundation - Year Two 6.00pm-6.45pm
- Year Three- Six 7.15pm-8.15pm.
Entry into the Disco is $12.00 per child.
The entry price includes the Disco as well as a Zooper Dooper icy pole to cool down on the way out. Please email the school if you do not wish for your child to receive a Zooper Dooper icy pole.
Take the night off cooking with a sausage sizzle available outside the gym from 5.30pm.
As always, we need some help to make this night a success – please sign up via the volunteer sign up sheet https://volunteersignup.org/RTP7K
- This fundraising event is hosted and supervised by the Viewbank Primary School Parents & Friends Association.
- Only registered volunteers with a current WCCC will be able to enter the School Gym during the event.
- Parents must collect their children from the school gym at the allocated finish time – see start & finish times above.
- Once they are signed in, children can not exit the gym without their parent.
- Entry will only be via the Gym's main door.
- Exit will only be via the Gym's side door located near Gate 3.
- A Zooper Dooper icy pole will be given to each attendee at the completion of the disco. Please let the school know if you would prefer your child not to receive one.
- Children are required to supply their own bottle of water on the evening.
Viewbank Primary School Sushi Day! - Order Now - Tuesday 10th September
On Tuesday, 10th September, we're hosting a special Sushi Day with options like Teriyaki Chicken, Crispy Chicken, Tuna, and Avocado handrolls. Choose from single packs for $4.60 or twin packs for $8.50
Your order MUST be placed before 10am Monday 9th September. Sorry no late orders will be accepted.
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 3 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates are:
- Thursday 12th September (Orders closing on Monday 9th September, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 19th September (Orders closing on Monday 16th September, 3:00pm)
Our Term 4 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates are:
- Thursday 10th October (Orders closing on Monday 7th October, 3:00pm) - Year 5 Camp
- Thursday 17th October (Orders closing on Monday 14th October, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 24th October (Orders closing on Monday 21st October, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 31st October (Orders closing on Monday 28th October, 3:00pm)
- 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
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.
Guitar Lessons at Viewbank Primary School! Does your child dream of playing the guitar? Enrol them in our vibrant guitar lessons at Viewbank Primary School, where they can embark on an exciting musical journey! Our dedicated teacher, Luca, is passionate about music and committed to nurturing each student's unique talent.
Why Our Guitar Lessons?
- Expert Teacher: Learn from Luca, a professional musician with years of performance and teaching experience.
- Fun & Engaging: Our lessons are designed to be enjoyable and inspiring, sparking a lifelong love of music.
- All Skill Levels Welcome: Whether your child is just starting or looking to hone their skills, our program is tailored for everyone.
- Convenient Location: Lessons held right at Viewbank Primary School for your convenience.
Program Highlights:
- Individual & Duo Lessons: Choose the format that best suits your child’s learning style.
- Flexible Scheduling: We offer various times to fit around students’ busy schedules.
Enrol Today!
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to give your child the gift of music. For more information and to sign up, please contact Luca at lucabrading@gmail.com.
Let’s make some music!
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