- Mothers Day Stall - Thursday 8 May
2025 TERM DATES
- 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
FEDERAL ELECTION For the first time in many years, our school is NOT a polling booth for the Federal Election this Saturday. Please refer to the AEC website for details on where to vote in your local area https://www.aec.gov.au/election/voting.htm#start
FOUNDATION 2026 INFORMATION EVENING A reminder that our Foundation 2026 Information Evening will be held TONIGHT in the school gymnasium You are encouraged to share this information with anyone you know who is contemplating enrolling their child at our school next year.
YEAR 3 TO 6 SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY The school cross country is an annual highlight and is set to take place next Tuesday, May 6 at Price Park. Students complete two or three laps of the park, dependent on their age group, and the event serves as the team selection for the District Cross Country to be held at Banyule Flats on May 20. In recent years we have had competitors reach the State level, which is an amazing achievement. We hope you can make it next Tuesday to cheer on your children and/or to act as a course ‘marshall’, as these events require parental as well as teacher support to ensure their success.
GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT TEAM GET TOGETHER There will be a get together of community members interested in continuing to improve and enhance our schoolgrounds in the staffroom next Monday night at 7pm. We will discuss a range of ideas and practical approaches to maintaining and improving our schoolgrounds, including the indigenous mural, ‘tidying’ up around our newer tiger turf, a staff car park and circulation ‘road’ up at Jilinga, better paths, replacement of retaining walls near playgrounds and more. Some may think that the title of ‘Grounds Improvement Get Together’ is just a smokescreen to disguise the fact that this is really a building and grounds subcommittee meeting, and in some ways that is true. However, it is also a way of drawing attention to the fact that the group meeting always needs new members, always needs new ideas and really is not bound by the rigid rules, routines and record keeping of a ‘committee’. We have the prime motivation of making our grounds safe and inviting for all, and especially our students. Looking forward to seeing you there!!
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Welcome back to Term 2. It is great to be back after my recent trip to catch up with family. I can wholeheartedly endorse the joys of being a grandparent to a toddler. I spent many happy hours reading stories, singing songs, having cuddles and following a curious little person as they joyously explore their world.
Accessing Uniform Items Last week, we communicated via Compass that our uniform supplier A Plus Schoolwear is currently experiencing supply difficulties resulting in delays on some uniform items. We understand that this maybe frustrating but the delays are unavoidable.
As an alternative, I would like to remind families that we have a large amount of second- hand school uniform available for sale on a Friday from 3.00-3.30pm, from the second hand uniform shop, located next to the music room. If you have donations of any unwanted reusable school uniform items to sell, please drop them at the school office or into the uniform shop on a Friday afternoon.
There is also a huge amount of unnamed lost property in the purple tub near the music room so please come and check this as well.
Mother’s Day Stall Our wonderful Parents and Friends group will be holding a Mother’s Day stall next Thursday, 8th May in the gym foyer. This is always a very popular event and students are invited to bring up to $10.00 to purchase items for their special ‘someone’. Items will be priced between $2.00 and $8.00. Students will visit the stall with their grade across the day.
Have a great week,
Gill
INQUIRY Inquiry Learning is an approach to teaching and learning, where students explore big ideas from within the curriculum, as well as the world around them. While students bring their own curiosities to each inquiry, teachers guide and support them using their knowledge of interests and learning needs. It’s hands-on, meaningful, and encourages deep thinking.
At Viewbank Primary School, we aim to develop independent learners who are curious, critical and creative thinkers, organised, cooperative, effective communicators, responsible, aspirational and have positive self-belief. They will be informed and active citizens who are resilient, respectful, responsible and kind, and demonstrate these values within the context of their inquiries. This Inquiry approach promotes student voice and agency and all inquiries are developmentally appropriate for the students.
Units increase in complexity from Foundation to Year 6 and are:
- authentic/purposeful
- student-centred
- driven by questions and goals
- integrated in various curriculum areas
- concept driven • explicit and structured
- open ended • based on prior knowledge
- flexible with use of spaces, time, groups, content
We aim to develop transferable skills and dispositions in our students, particularly:
- curiosity
- resilience
- risk-taking
- reflection
- creativity
- critical thinking
- organisation
- cooperation
- communication
- responsibility
- positive self-belief
- high aspirations
The following table represents the stages of Inquiry. As you will see, the ‘Finding Out’ stage encourages our students to collect information from a range of primary sources. This is where you or someone you know may come in!
Are you interested in becoming involved in Inquiry Learning at VPS?
Community involvement plays an essential role in Inquiry Learning at Viewbank Primary School. As a result, there are many ways you can join in and help inspire and educate our students. All classes from Foundation to Year 6 have now well and truly started their inquiries for 2025 and are beginning to reach out to the community to invite you in to share your knowledge and expertise as well as direct experiences with our students.
Involvement can take various forms including, but not limited to; volunteering to speak with a small group of students in the classroom and responding to their questions, setting up a table at an ‘expo’ for displaying or demonstrating and having small groups of students move around to view, discuss and ask questions, assisting with hands-on activities in the classrooms or school yard, offering to be a ‘direct line’ for students to contact you with questions (with teacher supervision) or bringing in artefacts such as models/examples, photos, video footage or even demonstrations to promote curiosity. We welcome your suggestions!
How can you keep up to date with opportunities to become involved?
- Check Compass regularly for invitations from our teachers. You are more than welcome to offer to join in with any year level, not necessarily the level your child is in this year.
- Have a discussion with your child about what they are currently learning about in Inquiry. If you are able to share expertise in this area, reach out and let us know. Offers may be sent through to the school email address (viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au) and will be forwarded appropriately. Simply state which year level the offer is being extended to and a brief description of how you would like to assist.
- Look out for notifications from your Class Representative surrounding opportunities to join in. This can be a great way to gauge who is getting involved, especially if you would prefer to work with others when sharing or presenting. We understand that it’s often much more comfortable to join in when you are part of a group.
*Please note that all guests will be required to provide a current Working With Children’s Check as well as a completed ‘Child Safety Standards Induction Checklist 2025’ to participate.
If you do not already hold a Working With Children Check, you can apply for one online at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au
All policies and documents relating to the ‘Child Safety Standards Induction Checklist 2025’ can be found on the Viewbank Primary School website (http://www.viewbankps.vic.edu.au/forms-policies) along with the Child Safety Standards Induction Checklist 2025, which must be completed, signed and returned to the school office once all of the documentation has been read.
Looking forward to seeing you up at the school soon!
Jamie Ruddock (Learning Specialist – Teaching and Learning) - Acting Assistant Principal
Enrolments For Foundation/Prep 2026 is Now Open Enrolments for the 2026 intake of Foundation/Prep students is now open. In line with the Department of Education’s Placement Policy and timeline, we will contact you in early August to advise the outcome of your child’s Foundation/Prep enrolment application.
Lucy Addati
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.
Foundation Fire Safety Education Visit On Wednesday morning Foundation students were visited by three Firemen: Sam, David and John from Fire Station 15. Students asked questions, discussed the difference between what a good and what a bad fire is and the many different ways that the fire service can help us.
After the firemen left, our Foundation students reflected on what they found most interesting about their visit:
- When there is a fire we need to ‘Crawl Down Low and Go Go Go!’
- Discussing what a safe meeting place is and looking forward to finding a safe meeting place with their families
- How lucky we were that at school our safe meeting place is the oval and how it ticked all criteria that the firemen suggested
- There are many different people in our community who help us every day, such as the school crossing supervisor, doctors, nurses, paramedics, police officers, and postal workers
We cannot wait for our next visit when we get to see the fire truck.
BOOK CLUB Issue 3 catalogues have sent home this week. All orders are due by Wednesday 7th of May. Every dollar you spend earns points to buy more books for the Library. Thank you for your support.
Great start to Term 2 in the kitchen and garden for the grade 3s.
In garden, each class watered, harvested, planted roughly 300 cloves of garlic and made a water gauge. The students will check their grade's water gauge each time they come into the garden and take measurements over the next 2 terms.
In the kitchen they cooked chickpea and lentil burgers, Indian flatbread, salad of the imagination and basil pesto.
2025 Mother’s Day Stall – Parent Helpers Needed! - Thursday 8 May
We’d love your help to make this year’s Mother’s Day Stall a huge success. Friendly volunteers are needed to:
- set up the stall
- sell gifts to students
- pack up afterwards
Even a short shift makes a big difference—come and join the fun!
If you’re available to help—and you’ve registered your Working With Children Check with the school and completed the 2025 Child Safety Induction Checklist—please sign up below.
Thank you for supporting this much‑loved event!
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 2 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates:
- Thursday 8th May (Orders close: Monday 5th May, 3:00 PM)
- Thursday 15th May (Orders close: Monday 12th May, 3:00 PM) - Year 4 Camp
- Thursday 22nd May (Orders close: Monday 19th May, 3:00 PM)
- Thursday 29th May (Orders close: Monday 26th May, 3:00 PM)
- Thursday 5th June (Orders close: Monday 2nd June, 3:00 PM)
- Thursday 12th June (Orders close: Monday 9th June, 3:00 PM)
- Thursday 19th June (Orders close: Monday 16th June, 3:00 PM)
- Thursday 26th June (Orders close: Monday 23rd June, 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 2 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
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