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 4: Anglesea Recreation Camp (Wednesday 5th - Friday 7th August 2020)
• Year 6: Coonawarra Farm Resort (Monday 10th - Friday 14th August 2020)
• Year 5: Lady Northcote Recreation Camp (Tuesday 6th October - Friday 9th October 2020)

Tomorrow marks the final day of Term 2 – a term like no other! It has been a roller coaster, and even remains so as I write. It is very important for us all to have a well-earned rest, recharge and reset over these next two weeks.

With the latest ‘spike’ in Covid-19 cases, we continue to rely on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and by association the Minister for Education. At this stage, arrangements with regards drop off and pick-ups will continue into Term 3, unless you are advised otherwise via compass.

Whilst we will be running a dance program in Term 3, it is highly unlikely we will be able to hold our ‘traditional’ school dance at La Trobe University Union Hall in the last week of Term 3. School Council will make that final decision at the August 11 School Council Meeting again subject to the Chief Health Officer’s advice.

We are continuing to plan for school camps with three scheduled in quick succession during Term 3. Please take note of the details that have been distributed via Compass as the ‘turn-around’ for payment and permissions is quite quick. As always, if families are facing any difficulties with payment, but would like their child/ren to attend, a payment plan can be set up. Please contact our Business Manager, Lucy Addati, at your earliest convenience.

Dismissal at the end of Terms 1, 2 and 3 is traditionally an hour earlier, so 2.30pm. We have changed our thinking from last week’s newsletter and ask that FOUNDATION TO 2 STUDENTS be collected at 2.15pm for the last day of term, with GRADES 3 TO 6 being dismissed at 2.30pm.

It is still anticipated that the big delivery of our classrooms will be on Tuesday, July 7. Nevin Parade will be completely blocked off on that day with the delivery of each of the 12 modules being facilitated by the temporary opening of the Northern end of Nevin Parade. It will be some sort of spectacle and we will have drone and time lapse footage made available on our website shortly thereafter.

I finish with a big thank you to the Viewbank School community. It has been a challenging term, but the resilience, cooperation and stoicism of students, parents and staff has been admirable. It is why it is always a pleasure to come to work, and why as a community we continue to march together to achieve great things.

I wish everyone a safe and happy vacation break.

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Principal

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A couple of weeks ago I wrote in the newsletter that this term has felt like we have been completing a jig saw puzzle, carefully piecing together the parts to create a fully functioning school. As we break for the holidays, I think our puzzle will need to be put on hold. We have made a fabulous attempt at assembling all the parts but the last few pieces are proving to be very challenging. We will just have to keep working on it in term 3.

I wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday. I hope you get to spend time enjoying each others’ company and doing the things you love.

Be kind and caring

Gill Nicholls

Semester 1 Reports Our reports go ‘Live’ on Friday around 12pm. For our new families to Viewbank Primary School, printed reports are not sent home, you will need to access this from Compass. As directed by the Department of Education and Training (DET), our Semester 1 Reports will be different. Some reference will be made to the beginning of the year, and some to Remote Learning. Please keep in mind that the staff were directed to focus their attention on your child’s wellbeing and reconnecting with their peers and the broader school community.

If you have any difficulties accessing your child’s report, please contact the Office of 9459 1512 or send an email to viewbank.ps@education.vic.edu.au.

Parent Teacher Interviews Parent Teacher Interviews will be offered in Week 2 of Term 3. These too will be somewhat different than done in the past, most likely these will done by phone. We are currently finalising these details, however, you will be able to book these through Compass in the first week of Term 3. Please keep an eye out for a future Compass notification which will contain all information required.

Contacting Teachers As Remote Learning has come to an end, many tools and resources that have been useful will not be utilised as much, now that we are ‘face-to-face’ teaching again. Most teachers will not be monitoring their school Gmail accounts (name@viewbankps.vic.edu.au) in the future. If you need to contact a staff member, you can do so by a) sending an email to the school account viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au with the name of the staff member you would like to contact in the subject line, or b) phone the Office on 9459 1512 and asking for the staff member to call you back at a mutually convenient time. This may change in the future depending on any further developments with COVID-19.

Have a great holiday everyone!

*For those of you with Facebook, keep your eye out for the occasional Facebook Live event over the holidays!

Patrick

Too Sick For School! Guidelines for current COVID-19 Pandemic Please be aware that the Pandemic situation means that the threshold of systems which indicate need to be excluded from school are currently lower than our usual.

It can be difficult to discern if your child is unwell. Currently we ask that anyone with avert cold or flu systems such as:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Shortness of breath (breathing difficulty)
• Headache

remain away from school until completely well and displaying none of the above symptoms, regardless of if they have received a NOT DETECTED result for their COVID-19 swab, as other virus and infections can be passed to others.

Please be understanding when we request a student be sent home if displaying any of the above symptoms. Even when a child has no symptoms, but tells us that they are unwell, we may request they be collected.

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