PUPIL FREE DAYS

• Monday 17th August, 2020
• Monday 2nd November, 2020

TERM DATES

• 2020 TERM 2: Tuesday 14th April - Friday 26th June (2:30pm finish)
• 2020 TERM 3: Monday 13th July - Friday 18th September (2:30pm finish)
• 2020 TERM 4: Monday 5th October - Friday 18th December (1:30pm finish)

CAMP DATES

• Year 3: Arrabri Lodge (Monday 27th July - Wednesday 29th July)
• Year 6: Coonawarra Farm Resort (Monday 10th - Friday 14th August 2020)
• Year 4: Anglesea Recreation Camp (Wednesday 19th - Friday 21 August 2020, to be confirmed)
• Year 5: Lady Northcote Recreation Camp (Tuesday 6th October - Friday 9th October 2020)

School Camps The latest advice from the Department Of Education and Training is that school camps for students may proceed from the start of Term 3. Both the Grade 4 and Grade 6 camps were rescheduled after government restrictions meant they could not proceed in Term 2, but they have been rescheduled to Term 3 whilst the bookings for the Grade 3 camp and Grade 5 camp will remain as planned. So, our camping schedule moving forward from the start of Term 3 is as follows:-

• Grade 3 Arrabri Lodge, Warburton East, July 27 to 29
• Grade 4 YMCA Anglesea, August 19 to 21 (to be confirmed)
• Grade 5 Lady Northcote Camp, Bacchus Marsh, October 6 to 9
• Grade 6 Camp Coonawarra, Bairnsdale, August 10 to August 14 (new Venue)

All camps have been approved by School Council, subject to the provision of risk assessments which is our routine practice. The timeline for payments may be shorter than normal, so we ask that parents give due diligence to the range of notices that may be coming through over the next few weeks. Given the world we live in at the moment, the opportunity to have an adventure with our classmates is one to be embraced, so we are very happy to proceed with these from term 3. The school camps themselves will have to abide by strict cleaning rules and regulations. Please be aware, we do also understand if families are hesitant to commit to camps and you will have our fullest support whichever way you proceed.

Staffing Announcements – Term 3 Onwards I would like to announce a number of different staffing changes and appointments for Term 3. Two staff members have indicated their intention to retire at the end of Term 2, and it is timely and appropriate for me to announce these and recognise their very significant contributions to our school. Maralyn Lamb, who this year has been our English As An Additional Language (EAL) teacher, will be retiring as of the end of Term 2. Maralyn commenced at Viewbank PS in 1999, and therefore this year has been her 21st year serving our school community. Maralyn has taught full time, part time, upper grades and lower grades, Art, Music, EAL and additional assistance. She has attended school camps and functions, served on School Council, provided expertise in her teaching practice, wisdom to less experienced staff, and been a ‘rock’ to the community over these 21 years. She will be sadly missed but always welcome back.

Chris Symons came to us in 2008 and spent many years in our library as the school library teacher, initially on a 0.6 time fraction, before reducing her teaching allotment these last few years. Chris came to us from Warranwood Primary School, having taught at a range of other schools prior to that and, like Maralyn, having taught in a range of different roles some of which came with leadership responsibilities. Chris’ influence and contributions have also been significant. We wish both ladies all the best in their well-earned retirements and hope to continue to stay in touch.

We farewell Rachel Richardson at the end of Term 2 from her current position. Rachel has been integral in running an excellent mathematics support and extension program as well as ‘releasing’ our Learning Specialists to enable them to mentor and coach other staff members, and we thank her for her contributions not only this year, but over many years. We will continue to see Rachel at the school as a casual relief teacher.

We welcome back Kylie Kirkwood who returns to us after 6 months leave, and her role will be a full time one, assuming the duties previously assigned to Rachel as well as other support, and release of other teachers.

We further welcome back Lisa May after 12 months leave when Term 3 commences. Lisa will be taking on the physical education role (Fridays, only) with the Foundation students, and assuming Maralyn’s EAL role – so, three days in total.

Finally, it’s great to see Sally Ruddock back at Viewbank Primary School, albeit in a part time role as she balances the duties of teaching with the joy of motherhood. In order to accommodate this return, for Semester 2 Sharon Groves will be teaching Grade 3G three days per week and Sally two days in order to maintain continuity in the grade in a somewhat unusual year.

End Of Term Arrangements Whilst there will not be a final assembly to bring Term 2 to an end, we will be dismissing all students at the same time – 2.30pm – through the gates that we have been using since the return to face to face teaching. Our normal social distancing rules will still be in force, and whilst I don’t profess to be Nostradamus, here’s hoping that there will be a further ‘relaxing’ of restrictions as Term 3 commences. As always, please monitor this newsletter and Compass for advice in these regards.

Building Works There has been an element of ‘Grand Designs’ after all!! The scheduled delivery of our buildings has been pushed back to Tuesday, July 7 – the second Tuesday of the school holidays. We are still expecting practical completion to be by the end of July with Grades in occupation as soon as practical in August, but for now there won’t be the greatest show on earth for our students in the last week of term!! Never mind!

I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend.

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Principal

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Reports As mentioned in the Viewbank Voice on the 28th May this semester’s reports will be appearing a little different than in the past. The Department of Education and Training (DET) has adjusted the expectations for Student Reports in Semester 1 in recognition of the transition to remote and flexible learning during Term 2. While our school has continued to deliver its teaching and learning program and monitor the achievement and progress of each student, there have been some unprecedented changes to our usual program.

At Viewbank Primary School, we know it is vital to involve students and their families in learning. This process includes providing reports on student learning. As required by DET, we will be providing a written report for each student enrolled at the school for Semester 1. This report will include information on student achievement for each curriculum area taught, however, there are some changes from our usual first semester reports.

Student reports for Semester 1 2020 will include a description of the areas of the Victorian Curriculum F-10 taught in the below areas:

• Personal & Social Capability
• Mathematics
• English
• Health and Physical Education
• Japanese
• Performing Arts
• Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM)
• Visual Arts
• Literacy Support (if applicable)
• Numeracy Support (if applicable)

Some comments regarding student learning achievement with remote and flexible learning referenced will also be provided.

Viewbank Primary School will not be including teacher judgements or a five-point scale due to the changes to our program in light of COVID-19. Subject to further advice about COVID-19, we will report on progress at the end of the year.

Our teachers are currently finalising reports, and these will be made available to you via Compass on Friday 26th June at approximately midday. As required by DET, Parent Teacher Interviews will be offered – likely to be early in Term 3. More information will be provided about this in next week’s Viewbank Voice.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

To be included, the adjustment/s provided must have evidence of:

• consultation and collaboration with the student and/or their parents, guardians or carers
• the assessed identified needs of the student
• adjustments provided to the student to address their identified needs
• monitoring and review of the impact of the adjustments provided.

In our context at Viewbank Primary School, students will be included in the NCCD process if they have (amongst other things) evidence of an ILP in Term 4, 2019 and/or 2020, notes from parent teacher interviews or emails that outline adjustments in the classroom, participation in Literacy and/or Numeracy support classes, had an educational assessment (cognitive, hearing, speech etc) that outlines particular strategies that need to be implemented, the school receives funding for a students under the Program For Students with Disabilities, etc.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy.

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal.

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the school.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Patrick

Out and About Work on the building site has increased this week with drainage trenches being dug and building footings marked out. We look forward to the courtyard landscaping beginning shortly as this needs to be largely completed before the building arrives on site. The rotunda is currently being converted to the ‘building site office’ and will be out of bounds until the completion of the building project.

Our students are quickly settling back in to school routines and are enjoying the opportunity to socialise and learn together. Across the week, many classes have been taking advantage of the weather and heading outside for their learning.

Student Dress Code Policy Review Below is the link to the DRAFT Student Dress Code Policy for community consultation.

Please take the time to read the policy and if you have any feedback or comments on this policy please email the school (attn. Mrs Nicholls) before the end of term. Once approved by School Council this policy will be added to our school website.

Be kind and caring

Gill Nicholls

Camps Parents will be able to give consent and make payment for camps on the one Event on Compass. Parents will have the option to pay in full or in instalments on the event. There will also be permissions and medical information to be filled in on the event page.

Any family experiencing difficulty in paying for camps please contact me to arrange an individualised payment option.

Year 6 and Year 4 Parents - If you have previously paid money towards your child’s camp and no longer wish for your child to attend please email me on the school email account or call on 9459 1512.

Late Arrivals The gates will be locked at 9.20am, if you arrive after this time please go to the top of the ramp at Gate 2 on Lascelles Ave and call the office and a staff member will meet your child at the gate.

Early Leavers If you need to collect your child early please call the office and a staff member will arrange for your child to meet you at the top of the ramp at Gate 2 on Lascelles Ave.

Thank you

Lucy Addati

Buisness Manager

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PHONE NUMBER: 0448 075 422

EMAIL: viewbank@oshclub.com.au

Uniforms can be purchased online at www.aplusschoolwear.com.au with one of three delivery options:

• Free collection in store during trading hours
• Postage to address of customer’s choosing, at $12.50 for two items or less, or $17.50 for three items or more
• Free delivery to school, to an existing student at Viewbank Primary. Please note, this option is not available if the customer does not already have a student at the school