Tuesday 24th July - Parents & Friends Committee meeting 7:30pm
Thursday 26th July - Communications sub-committee meeting 7pm
Tuesday 31st July - Building & Grounds Committee meeting 7pm
Annual Working Bees — Saturday August 18 (Term 3), Saturday November 3 (Term 4)
PUPIL FREE DAYS — Monday December 17
TERM DATES — TERM 3: Monday 16 July - Friday 21 September, TERM 4: Monday 8 October - Friday 21 December
CAMP DATES — Year 5 Lady Northcote Camp 9 - 12 October, Year 3 Arrabri Lodge Camp 29 - 31 October.
Welcome back to everyone in our school community for what promises to be a busy, and productive term. As always, it was a hive of activity around the school over the break, with the OSHClub holiday program in full swing, various painting, electrical and plumbing works and repairs undertaken, a visit from our Grounds maintenance crew and our new cleaning company getting themselves familiarised with our school and their cleaning routines. The term is ten weeks in length, and crammed into those ten weeks will be our dance program culminating in our school dance (run over three nights – more on that later!), a Family Science Night, a parent CyberSafety Info Night, State Schools Spectacular performances, excursions, incursions, Uni of NSW Maths and English competitions, a possible performance on the Channel 10 weather segment and much, much more.
STAFFING Welcome back to Gillian Nicholls who had a wonderful six week overseas trip at the end of last term. I’m sure she will fill you in on some of the highlights in her newsletter contribution!! We wish Maralyn Lamb a pleasant period of long service leave in Term 3 and welcome Kirsten Yeats to the ‘fold’. Kirsten will be filling Maralyn’s EAL (English As An Additional Language) role throughout the term. Also a big welcome back to Ruth Panaccio who spent Semester 1 in various places around the world and at home! We have just advertised an Assistant Principal vacancy at Viewbank Primary School, created as a result of Suzanne Kot’s departure to Warranwood PS at the end of Term 1. Hopefully, the process will be completed by Week 5, with plenty of time for a smooth transition into the role for the start of Term 4. Watch this space!!
STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES Parents/carers have an obligation to notify the school of their child’s absence. As our Business Manager, Lucy Addati, has mentioned on more than one occasion in this newsletter, it is now a legal requirement that government schools must contact parents/carers as soon as practicable on the day of an unexplained student absence. We will message you as soon as practicable on the day if a student is not at school and you haven’t notified the school as to why. If you are notified by the school that your child is away without a reason, please contact us as soon as possible to let us know where your child is. If we cannot reach you because we don’t have your correct contact details (i.e.: message notification fail, disconnected number), then we will make contact with any emergency contact/s nominated on your child’s file held by the school, where possible, on the same day of the unexplained absence. Please remember it is your responsibility to contact us to provide an explanation for your child's absence from school, and where possible, please inform us in advance of upcoming absences.
UPCOMING MEETINGS The term three meetings for both Parents and Friends Committee and Buildings and Grounds Committee are scheduled to occur in the first few weeks of term. The Parents and Friends is July 24 at 7.30pm and the Buildings and Grounds is July 31 at 7pm.
I hope everyone has had a good start to term 3.
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Principal
Welcome back to term 3. I hope everyone had a relaxing break and you were able to stay warm and avoid the winter colds that seem to be still circulating. It’s great to be back after my overseas holiday and I’m certainly feeling refreshed and ready for the busy term ahead. Our winter temperatures and this cold wind is challenging after being in the northern hemisphere summer and enjoying temperatures above thirty degrees in recent weeks. This week we have welcomed back specialist Mathematics consultant, Michael Ymer to our school. Last term, Michael led a whole school Curriculum Day with our staff and has returned to spend time with each teaching team discussing quality teaching practice, differentiation of content and answering teacher questions as well as sharing quality teaching resources and reviewing our mathematics planning documents. The 'Ymer' approach to teaching mathematics is being consistently applied throughout the school. It gives greater flexibility and scope for student performance using differentiated, rich learning tasks that link and apply mathematical concepts and skills to develop numeracy understandings. Michael has assisted our teachers in expanding their understanding of mathematical learning as students move through their primary school years as well as helping teachers to develop their teaching repertoire. These days have provided rich and rewarding professional development for our teachers and reminded us all of the importance of nurturing curious and inquisitive minds.
Have a great week
Gill Nicholls
ROAD SAFETY An email was sent this week in relation to road safety and parents accessing the staff car park. I would like to stress the importance to parents to obey the road rules and also not use the staff car park when dropping off or picking up their children as it is putting children at risk.
SCHOOL ABSENCES We have commenced sending text messages for unexplained absences. Could parents please record your child/ren’s absence on Compass to avoid being contacted by the school. This process is very time consuming for the office staff and we would appreciate your cooperation with this new requirement by the Department of Education.
TERM EXPENSES Term 3 expenses have been posted on Compass and are due by Fri 20Jul. Please note that some year levels will have an extra inquiry activity which will involve an additional cost from the term expenses.
Kind regards
Lucy Addati
Business Manager
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING The Parents and Friends Committee has operated in various formats for a long time at Viewbank Primary School and has raised significant amounts of money over the years. The first Parents and Friends meeting for Term 3 is scheduled for Tuesday, July 24 at 7:30pm in the school staff room. Our ‘meetings’ are very informal, and we would love to see you there. New people are always welcome!
ENTERTAINMENT BOOK AND DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP Purchase your Entertainment Membership NOW to help Viewbank Primary School raise much needed funds! Viewbank Primary School are again fundraising with the very popular Entertainment Book or Digital Membership. You'll receive hundreds of valuable offers for everything you love to do, and help our fundraising at the same time. Hurry, Entertainment Memberships sell out quickly.
ICY POLE FRIDAY Students are able to buy icy poles over the counter at lunchtime. All icy poles cost $1.00 each. We are asking for parent helpers to assist with the sale of these icy poles on Fridays from 1pm to 1:30pm.
BAT TENNIS BATS There is an opportunity for students to purchase a bat tennis bat. In the past students have used them at recess/lunch time and inter school sports. All bats are the same size, shape, design (they are all natural pine). The cost is $11 per bat. Please email expressions of interest and number of bats required to the school by next Wednesday 25th July. Payment options and delivery dates will be advised once numbers are finalised. viewbank.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
TRANSITION DATES Please download the below timeline for your future reference.
HATS ON From 1st September until 30th April school hats must be worn outside during all outside activities.
SEMESTER 2 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Students are invited to join the Instrumental Music Program in Term 3. Lessons (limited places) are available for the following instruments:
- Violin and Cello – Prep to 6
- Drum Kit – Years 2 to 6
- Flute – Years 2 to 6
- Singing – Some places available Years 2 to 6
SCHOOL CHOIR Every Wednesdays, 8.30, in the Music room. Everyone Welcome!
Interested in communication and marketing? Then come and join the **BRAND NEW** Communications sub-committee once a term to assist in planning communications strategies for better flow of information between school administration and the school community.
First meeting: Thursday 26th July at 7pm.
Venue: School staff room (opposite the school office).
Chair: Kate Ryan (Parent) for first meeting
If you are unable to attend but would like to register your interest to attend the next meeting, please email ryan.kate.k@edumail.vic.gov.au
Kind Regards
Kate
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser for Viewbank Primary School Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
Bunnings Eltham - Saturday 21st July 8.30am - 4.00pm
Come down to Bunnings for a sausage sizzle and support our school with all proceeds going towards the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.
All Big Group Hug donations can be left in the Grade 3/4F classroom.