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
SCHOOL PRODUCTION 2024 After a hiatus of more than five years, we are once again putting on a whole school production in November of this year. More specifically, please mark these dates on your calendars (whichever format they take!) – Tuesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 14. On each of these two days, students will be performing in both a matinee and evening event in order to cater for the expected large numbers of family members wanting to come along and see them in action. Half of the students will be performing on each day, with the delineation based on the first letter of their surname with A-K surnames starring on the Tuesday and L-Z surnames the Thursday. Whilst the finer details haven’t been finalised just yet, we can hint that the production theme will have a spy element to it, and that the matinee session will run from around 11am – 2pm, and the evening session from 7pm – 10pm. Watch this space for further updates over the next four months but if you were planning some time-in-lieu or rostered days off and wanted to catch a matinee session, we have given you plenty of advance notice!! The event will be held at Empower 365, 360 Main Road, Lower Plenty, so a reasonably local venue, with seating for around 450 people at each session. It is expected that there will be high demand for the evening sessions so the more cagey of you will do the necessary planning to attend the matinees (with ticket prices slightly cheaper!).
ENROLMENTS FOR 2025 I’m pretty sure there have been plenty of reminders already, but just in case you missed it if there are any families out there with siblings set to start school in 2025 and you still haven’t completed and lodged an enrolment form, please do so at your earliest convenience. It is extremely helpful to us in planning for next year, as knowing our guaranteed enrolments can assist in possibly offering places to other families who have applied for a position.
FINAL WEEK OF TERM ARRANGEMENTS As is our practice, the final week of term concludes on Friday, June 28 at the earlier time of 2.30pm. Students will be dismissed from the gymnasium at the conclusion of the end of term assembly which will commence around 2.10pm.
REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY In a truly regional approach, the North West Victoria Region cross country was held yesterday in Kilmore near the Kilmore racetrack. Congratulations to Riley Cadusch, Melinda Tan, Sam Watkins, Ethan Woo and Harvey Woo for making it to such a high level of competition. We are all very proud of each and every one of you.
Enjoy your weekend. By Sunday, the days are starting to get longer as we will have passed the Winter Solstice!!
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Principal
The following information is from the Raising Children Australian Parenting website. This is a great one stop shop for many parenting issues and questions relating to children from 0-18+. It contains articles, videos, apps all backed by Australian experts.
This article looks at - Praise, Encouragement and Rewards
Praise: what it is and how it works
Praise is when you tell your child that they’ve done something well or behaved in positive ways. For example, ‘Great job, Riley’, ‘Well done, Jo’ or ‘That’s awesome, AB’.
Praise nurtures your child’s confidence and sense of self.
By using praise, you’re showing your child how to think and talk positively about themselves. You’re helping your child learn how to recognise when they do well and feel proud of themselves.
You can praise children of different ages for different things. You might praise a younger child for sharing or for leaving the park when asked. You can praise a teenage child for coming home at an agreed time or for starting homework without being reminded.
Descriptive praise is when you tell your child exactly what it is that they’ve done well. For example, ‘I like the way you’ve found a spot for everything in your room’. This helps your child learn to behave in positive ways in the future. It’s also more genuine than non-specific praise like ‘You’re a good boy’.
Encouragement: praise for effort
Encouragement is praise for effort. For example, ‘You worked hard on that maths homework – well done’. Praising effort can motivate your child and encourage them to try hard in the future.
You can also use encouragement before your child does something. For example, ‘Show me how well you can put your toys away’ or ‘I know you’re nervous about the test, but you’ve studied hard. No matter how it turns out, you’ve done your best’.
Some children, especially those who are less confident than others, need more encouragement than others. When praise is focused on effort, children are more likely to see trying hard as good in itself. They’re also more likely to keep trying and to be optimistic when they face challenges.
Rewards: consequences of positive behaviour
A reward is a consequence of positive behaviour. It’s a way of saying ‘Well done’ after your child has done something well or behaved in positive ways.
A reward could be a treat, a surprise, time playing with you, a special family activity or an extra privilege. For example, as a reward for keeping their room tidy, you might let your child choose what’s for dinner or what game to play with you after dinner.
Using praise, encouragement and rewards to encourage positive behaviour
Children are more likely to repeat behaviour that earns praise or encouragement. This means you can use praise and encouragement to handle challenging behaviour and encourage positive behaviour.
If your child behaves in challenging ways, the first step is to identify the positive behaviour that you want to encourage instead. For example, if your child is taking toys from other children, you might want to encourage your child to take turns with toys instead.
The next step is to watch for and praise the positive behaviour – for example, times when your child takes turns. When you see the behaviour, immediately get your child’s attention and tell your child exactly what they’ve done well. For example, ‘Noor, I liked how you waited your turn to play with that toy. Well done.’
At first, you can praise your child every time you see the positive behaviour. When the behaviour happens more often, you can praise or encourage it less. This can give you the chance to praise your child for other positive behaviour.
Rewards can make praise and encouragement work better. So when you praise or encourage your child’s behaviour and then reward it, the behaviour is more likely to happen again.
But it’s best not to overuse rewards like treats or surprises. If you need to use them a lot, it might be a sign that the behaviour is too hard for your child right now. Or you might need to look at other strategies to encourage positive behaviour in children or encourage positive behaviour in teenagers.
Many things influence children’s behaviour. It’s always worth trying to work out why your child is behaving in a particular way. When you understand the reasons for your child’s behaviour, you’re better able to choose an appropriate response.
Tips for using praise, encouragement and rewards
Help your child recognise when they’ve done well and encourage positive behaviour with these tips.
What to praise, encourage and reward
- Look for little changes and successes. Praise any effort or improvement, rather than waiting until your child has done something perfectly.
- Praise your child for their strengths and encourage your child to feel excited about their own interests. This will help your child develop a sense of pride and self-confidence.
When to praise, encourage and reward
- Try to praise your child much more frequently than you correct them.
- When you feel good about your child’s behaviour, say so. Make sure to give your child some praise and encouragement every day.
- Surprise your child with rewards for good behaviour. For example, ‘Thanks for picking up the toys – let’s go to the park to celebrate’.
How to praise, encourage and reward
- Look for nonverbal ways to praise or encourage your child. A thumbs up, smile or high five can be powerful ways to show your child you’re impressed by their behaviour or efforts.
- Try to make your praise appropriate to the behaviour – sincere and enthusiastic, but not over the top. Children can tell when your praise is genuine.
- Try to mix up rewards. Rewards work best when your child doesn’t expect the same reward each time.
- Use praise and rewards in age-appropriate ways. For example, teenagers might not want to be praised publicly for their efforts, whereas toddlers might love being singled out for praise.
Stay warm and have a great week,
Gill
CONGRATULATIONS SASHA AND DIMA! The sporting achievements of our students continue to be a highlight! Sasha (Year 6) and Dima (Year 3) along with their older brother, Bohdan (Viewbank College), have been selected to represent Australian Shotokan at the JKA World Championship 2024 in Japan later this year. We wish them every success!
3-WAY CONFERENCES By now you would have received a notification that these are available for you to book a time. Please note that the booking system will be open until Thursday 27 June at 4:30pm.
Classroom teacher 3-Way Conferences are 15 minutes each, and Specialist and Additional Support timeslots are 5 minutes each. Interviews will be available between 10:30am and 6:30pm on Monday 15 July.
REPORTS There are a number of changes to student reports this semester, primarily to the Specialist component of the reports. The structure of the report will remain the same with the ‘dot’ page to indicate student progress against ‘expected’ year levels, and showing progress since the last time this subject was reported. This is indicated by a number inside a hollow circle. In the example below, the first 3 areas were last reported on in December 2023, and the last area was reported on 12 months ago (June 2023).
For the Specialist teachers, they have provided an overview of what was taught throughout Semester 1 in the ‘Teacher Comment’ box. Effort and Behaviour remains unchanged.
The ‘Assessment of Achievement’ box is new in this report cycle. The Specialist teachers have recorded 3 to 5 key areas / skills of what was taught and have indicated your child’s achievement towards these areas under the headings: Working Towards, Working At, Working Beyond.
The below is an example for a Year 4 student in Music.
Reports will be available on Wednesday 26th June at approximately 4:30pm. I would like to thank the teachers for the huge amount of thought and work that has gone into providing these reports. For those of you who do not know, reports are generally completed after hours and on weekends. From time to time, errors can slip through into the published document. If this is the case, please speak to the staff member who wrote that comment for clarification.
Have a great weekend!
Patrick
SICK BAY Sometimes it can be tricky to discern whether your child is fit to attend school. If your child is feeling unwell with cold/flu like symptoms, have been vomiting or had diarrhoea in the last 24 hours please keep them at home until they are well again. Sick bay tends to be a busy hub so if we call for your child to be picked up and you are unavailable, please make other arrangements as it not acceptable or practical to accommodate a sick child at school for the whole day.
FOUNDATION ENROLMENTS 2025 Applications are now taking place for new Foundation students for 2025. If any of our existing families have children that need to be enrolled for next year, we encourage you to download the enrolment form from our webpage and email to viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au or return signed form to the office with a copy of the birth certificate, immunisation certificate and proof of address documents. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office.
TERM 3 EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY CHARGES AND PERMISSIONS I would like to inform you that the charges for Term 3 extra-curricular activities will be uploaded on Compass next week. Please note that all permissions and payments are required by Tuesday, 16th July. These activities have been designed to enrich and diversify the educational experience of our students. Kindly note that these activities are offered on a user-pays basis.
For families facing financial challenges, we can arrange a flexible payment plan for extra-curricular activities to suit your needs. Please reach out to me directly for a confidential discussion, and we will work together to explore alternative arrangements.
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
Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant Viewbank Primary School is grateful for the generous Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant of $1,000. This money will to go towards an exciting new project which will see the addition of much needed equipment, as well as an array of plants and fruit trees to add to our ever growing Kitchen Garden.
The students are looking forward to being ‘hands on’ during this project. We invite the community to join us during our Year 3 and Year 4 Kitchen Garden lessons and at upcoming Working Bees.
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 27th June (Orders closing on Monday 24th June, 3:00pm)
Our Term 3 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates are:
- Thursday 18th July (Orders closing on Monday 15th July, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 25th July (Orders closing on Monday 22nd July, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 1st August (Orders closing on Monday 29th July, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 8th August (Orders closing on Monday 5th August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 15th August (Orders closing on Monday 12th August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 22nd August (Orders closing on Monday 19th August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 29th August (Orders closing on Monday 26th August, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 5th September (Orders closing on Monday 2nd September, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 12th September (Orders closing on Monday 9th September, 3:00pm)
- Thursday 19th September (Orders closing on Monday 16th September, 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 – 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