PUPIL FREE DAYS

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

TERM DATES

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

REMOTE LEARNING As we approach the end of the second week of Remote Learning (the second time around!) I just wish to acknowledge the efforts of many. We all know that if we had our ‘drathers’, we’d rather be onsite attending lessons with our classmates, and experiencing the additional joys of camps, excursions and playtimes. Nevertheless, the greater use of WebEx and more frequent check-ins has been noted and acknowledged. Thank you to our students for knuckling down and making the most of these unique arrangements, to our parents for supporting the remote learning model and to the tireless school staff for their efforts at school and off-site to enhance the ‘experience’.

BUILDING WORKS We were hoping handover was tomorrow, but a few last minute ‘refinements’ have pushed the big day back until mid next-week. Nevertheless, we can’t wait!!! The buildings are looking sensational, as well as the surrounding paths, landscaping and decks. Modscape, in association with the Victorian Schools Building Authority and Sensum, have worked closely with us all the way, and we are very grateful for the strong working partnerships that have been forged, and the flexibility and willingness to take on board suggestions and ideas. We can’t wait to show you the final results, either remotely, or down the track, in person (shoes off!!). The Grade 5 and 6 teams have been pivotal in choosing furniture to suit flexible seating and learning options, and this furniture is due to arrive in the next few weeks. Many thanks to Gill and Patrick for their support, wisdom and input along the way. Can’t believe that the project started just 4 months ago!!

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING An early reminder to all School Councillors that our August meeting will again be held remotely via WebEx commencing at 7pm on Tuesday, August 11. Please keep an eye open for the invite hitting your electronic inbox soon!

CONDOLENCES On behalf of the Viewbank Primary School community, I wish to express our condolences to Gillian Nicholls and family on the passing of her father on Monday, July 27 in his home town of Forbes, NSW. Always a sad and difficult time, and made more so by the restrictions of lockdowns, and the remoteness of funerals as a result. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Gill.

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Principal

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Feedback As we come to the end of the second week of Remote and Flexible Learning 2.0, there has been a resettling of routines. This is for you and for us. One of the biggest changes that we have made this term is to increase the number of Webex meetings, videos of lessons and contact with teachers and with your child’s/children’s peers.

We are still learning and, from time to time, misjudge what a child or a group can do on their own at home. At school we can make adjustments on the run, adapt our language, provide different examples, and generally address learning issues before too much frustration sets in.

At school, we do not have to work around parent and other siblings schedules. We know that this has been challenging for some parents who may require 4, 5 or even 6 (!) conference meetings occurring at the same time. We do understand and are also affected by this - I worked from home on Tuesday, at one point 1 was on a Webex meeting, my eldest 2 children were attending separate university lectures (live online) and my youngest was engaged in a Microsoft Teams online lesson for Year 7 Mathematics. 4 video conferences at the same time puts most people’s internet connection under strain – particularly at 9:45am in the morning when the business world is also connecting into the online meeting servers.

Please, if you have any feedback about how things are running in your child’s grade level, your first point of call is always to contact your child’s teacher to explain your situation. ‘Venting’ online (publicly or in private group chats) is not appropriate or helpful.

Have a great week everyone!

Patrick

ICAS University of NSW Assessments Viewbank PS will not be registering for the English and Mathematics assessments this year.

Each week seems to bring different challenges and lately, not much good news but please rest assured we appreciate all that you are doing to provide a stable and positive foundation for your family. We understand that not every day of remote learning will go to plan and some days may be a complete disaster so if this happens, be kind to yourself and your children and take a break. Go for a walk, suggest some quiet reading time, do some cooking or craft or just pack things away for the day. Tomorrow is a new day!

Take care

Gill

Remote Learning: Limited Access Access to school grounds is limited to:

• school staff
• students attending on-site learning
• contractors, including cleaners and maintenance workers
• outside-school-hours-care (OHSC) staff, enrolled children and their families.

If you need to collect anything from the school please call the office and a staff member will meet you at the gate at the top of the ramp on Lascelles Avenue.

Thank you

Lucy Addati

Buisness Manager

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Unfortunately, our Transition event for Foundation 2021 students “Storyland" has been postponed due to current restrictions. This event was scheduled to run on Tuesday, 11th August.

We thought we would begin the Transition process online as we couldn’t wait to share a fun story with you. We hope you enjoy this video.

We are still accepting enrolment forms during Term 3, please call the office once you have arrived and a member of staff will greet you and accept your enrolment form.

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