• Wednesday 16th September - Staff Professional Practice Day and a wellbeing day for all of our students
• Friday 18th September - Last day of Term 3 (2:30pm finish)
• Monday 5th October - Term 4 commences for all students via remote learning
• Monday 12th October - Foundation to Grade 2 students to return to onsite schooling
• Monday 26th October - Remaining students return to onsite schooling (if the rolling average of Covid cases falls below critical thresholds)
• Friday 18th December - Last day of Term 4 (1:30pm finish)

PUPIL FREE DAYS

• 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)
• 2021 TERM 1: Wednesday 27th January Teachers start (All students start Thursday 28th January) - Thursday 1st April (2:30pm finish)
• 2021 TERM 2: Monday 19th April - Friday 25th June (2:30pm finish)
• 2021 TERM 3: Monday 12th July - Friday 17th September (2:30pm finish)
• 2021 TERM 4: Monday 4th October - Friday 17th December (1:30pm finish)

2021 CAMP DATES

• Year 3: Arrabri Lodge Camp - Wednesday 4th August to Friday 6th August
• Year 4: Anglesea Recreation Camp - Monday 17th May to Wednesday 19th May
• Year 5: Lady Northcote Recreation Camp - Tuesday 5th October to Friday 8th October
• Year 6: Canberra Camp - Monday 24th May to Friday 28th May

We’ve made it ! Tomorrow marks the end of Term 3, with the prospect of beautiful weather ahead over the Spring break and light at the end of the tunnel as we hopefully all get back on site sooner rather than later in Term 4. Once again, a huge pat on the back to students, staff and parents for the way everyone has knuckled down and accepted the situation in Metropolitan Victoria and made the most of the opportunities afforded with ‘different’ learning throughout this term.

Our Leadership team will spend most of tomorrow (Friday) and time over the holidays putting together contingency plans for Term 4 which will be discussed and fine tuned with staff before sharing with the community. You will know that at this stage, week 1 of Term 4 will continue to be remote and flexible learning, with Foundation to Grade 2 students resuming onsite from Week 2 (October 12) and Grade 3 to 6 students resuming from Week 4 (October 26). I say contingency plans because whilst we are absolutely planning for these eventualities, what the health advice is surrounding staggered drop offs, onsite programs (e.g. dance lessons, Japanese Day) and events such as end of year excursions, graduation, swimming and the like is still being considered and subject to either reduced restrictions, the same or more dependent (contingent) on those all important case numbers and rolling 14 day averages.

Our focuses will be the health and well being of students and staff, transitions (Kinder to Foundation, Grade 6 to Year7), and fundamental Literacy and Numeracy skills and ‘catch-ups’ if necessary. We intend to extend the amount of additional assistance staff in Term 4 to support all of our students, to assist with assessments of progress and to generally ensure the transition back to school is as fluid and stress free as possible. More on that early next term, or indeed in Compass posts later in the holidays.

Remote onsite attendance for Week 1 Term 4 will continue with the same processes operational during Term 3. I will distribute the application forms during the holiday break via Compass, so please check in over the break.

The school site is looking a treat. The new building has been fitted with heating/cooling and staff have been in at different (rostered!) times to set up their rooms. The Grade 1 classes have moved out of the music room and library and into the rooms 1-4 (top level above the Foundation Rooms). STEM is back in the gym, and Japanese returns to the room adjacent to the Art Room. Don’t worry – I’ll put out a map with the first newsletter of Term 4.

Term 4 is always a super busy term, and this year will be no different with next year’s grades, staffing selection, budgets, transition, graduation and more to keep us fully occupied. Our fervent wish, like yours, is that these things will all happen with all staff and students back at school.

It’s funny to think that in a pre-covid world, last night would have seen the last of our school community dance nights at la Trobe University, and we would have also been projecting forward to time down the beach next week, a personal best score at Gardiner’s Run golf course, a Collingwood victory over Richmond in Saturday night’s preliminary final or horse riding, cycling, coffee catch ups or any of the other highlights we commonly associate with holidays. Perspective is a wonderful thing, and perhaps we do take those things for granted. It’s great we have our health and I hope that the financial struggles endured by many will ease with a turn around in case numbers, restrictions and the economy, and I pray and wish that those struggling with their mental health and wellbeing see the cause for optimism and the aforementioned light at the end of the tunnel that I, and many, do.

Have a great break everyone, and I keenly anticipate good times in Term 4.

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Principal

Yes, we have made it to the end of Term 3 and what a huge ten weeks it has been!

My congratulations go to -

• our amazing students who have tried their best every week to complete and submit their learning tasks, attend WebEx sessions and stay motivated
• our wonderful Viewbank parents and families who have supported the students each day, tried to remain positive and probably had to deal with their child demonstrating every possible emotion during remote learning
• our innovative staff who have had to learn so many new skills, demonstrate resourcefulness, flexibility and creativity and work out how to best meet the needs of each student remotely

Enjoy the holidays and the simple pleasures of slowing down, slipping out of set routines and sharing time together. You have certainly earned the time.

I look forward to seeing you again in Term 4.

Stay safe,

Gill

Term 3 We would like to applaud the efforts made by all in the Viewbank Primary School community over the past term. From a learning point of view, this has been undoubtedly harder than in Term 2 where the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ was brighter much earlier. I hope that you get some time to spend with each other and to enjoy some of the sunshine that is now on its way.

Thank you for everything you have done during Term 3!

I would like to remind you of this article https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-17/will-missing-school-due-to-covid-19-matter-for-school-students/12154266 from earlier in the year. One of the key points was “Education expert Professor John Hattie says Australian students could lose a whole term out of the school year without falling significantly behind international counterparts”. What we need to remember is that 99%+ of our students have not ‘lost’ a whole term of learning. Learning has continued, just in a different way and in a different place (i.e. your home). We know that your child’s interest and motivation in school work has dropped off a bit as the term progressed. We also recognise the increasing pressure on you from employers, or to keep your own businesses going, while also trying to keep school aged children motivated and off streaming services and gaming…

As mentioned by Mr Kersing above, health and wellbeing is going to be a major focus. As part of this, we will help support your child as they reconnect with their peers as we move into Term 4. We are looking at transitions in our school community closely - INTO the school (Kinder and other levels), OUT of the school (Grade 6 to Year 7), as just as importantly, THROUGH the school (Foundation to Grade 1, Grade 1 to Grade 2, Grade 2 to Grade 3 etc).

We are really looking forward to seeing our F-2 students in Week 2, and our Grade 3-6 students in the following weeks. Have a great holiday everyone!

Patrick

Social Media Site Of The Week Each week, for the next little while, I am going to share a social media / website of an organisation that may be of use to you (parents/guardians). Many of you will know these already, but it never hurts to have a reminder! Please note, as these will be external to Viewbank Primary School, we are not responsible for the content on their sites. Please use your discretion when viewing their information and advice.

• This Week: Vic Emergency
• Website: https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicemergency
• Twitter: @vicemergency

From https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/about-this-site/introduction:

VicEmergency is a centralised website for Victorians to find emergency information and warnings. You can also access preparedness and recovery information related to emergencies.

The website has a real-time map display with incidents across the state including floods, storms, fires, earthquakes, tsunami, beach closures, shark sightings and more.

Remember, always access more than one source for emergency information and warnings. You can get information by tuning in to ABC local radio, or other emergency broadcasters including radio or SKY News, by downloading the VicEmergency app or following VicEmergency on Facebook or Twitter.

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Look how beautiful our Year 1 Pocket Park Garden is..

2021 TRANSITION PROGRAM Unfortunately, our second Transition event for Foundation 2021 students ‘Mathsland' has been cancelled due to the current restrictions.

We have recorded a virtual Mathsland so we can still share a great story and fun activities with you - please follow the link. We hope you enjoy the video! Incase you haven’t seen our first Transition event ‘Storyland’ this can be found on our school website.

We are still accepting enrolment forms during Term 3. Please email your enrolment form or drop it to us by calling the office (9459 1512) once you have arrived and a member of staff will greet you and accept your enrolment form.

The Vacation Care program for the upcoming school holidays are only for children who are currently permitted onsite. The current permitted eligibility requirements are required for attendance at the Vacation Care program.

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