• Thursday 6th May - Year 3 to 6 Cross Country (Price Park)
• Thursday 6th May - Foundation 2022 Information Night 6:30pm to 7:30pm
• Friday 7th May - Mother's Day Stall

TERM DATES

• 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 - Wednesday 19th May to Friday 21st May
• Year 5: Lady Northcote Recreation Camp - Tuesday 5th October to Friday 8th October
• Year 6: Coonawarra Farm Resort Camp - Monday 17th May to Friday 21th May

TERM 2 PARENT AND FRIENDS BAKERY LUNCH DAYS - All Term 2 dates are now open for ordering via Compass Canteen

• Thursday 13th May (Orders closing on 10th May, 3:00pm)
• Thursday 27th May (Orders closing on 24th May, 3:00pm)
• Thursday 10th June (Orders closing on 7th June, 3:00pm)
• Thursday 24th June (Orders closing on 21st June, 3:00pm)

ANZAC DAY SERVICE We had a lovely Anzac service last Friday, supported by a wonderful rendition of the Last Anzac by our school choir singers and Gabbie’s singers. It is always so gratifying to see the universal respect afforded the Anzac commemoration by all students from Foundation to Grade 6, and the staff and parents in attendance at the ceremony.

READING SUPPORT IN CLASSROOMS We have decided to resume parent helpers for the reading program in classrooms to a maximum of two helpers at any one time. We are always grateful for such support, but naturally conscious of the restrictions created by adherence to Covid-safe practices. Teachers will have sought such support via a Compass newsfeed, so if you have missed the notification, please check your news feed.

ASSEMBLIES And on the same wave length, we would like to announce a change to school assemblies from now until the start of Term 4, or until such time as covid restrictions are eased even further. Because of the density restrictions imposed upon us, we can not hold whole school assemblies in the gymnasium. With colder and potentially wetter weather ahead of us, arrangements for assemblies moving forward are as follows – Grades 3 to 6 in the gymnasium weekly from 9.05am on Mondays and Foundation to Grade 2 in the gymnasium weekly from 9.05am on Fridays. Parents are encouraged to attend if your child will be receiving an award, and you will be advised of that with prior notice.

ATTITUDES TO SCHOOL SURVEY The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist schools in gaining an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Our school will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience.

Students from Year 4 to 6 at our school will participate in the survey. Your child will complete the survey online during school hours using a purpose built secure online survey tool. It is important to note that we are not in any way ‘testing’ your child. Your child has the right to refuse or withdraw from the survey at any point before, during, or after completion of the survey.

Your child will be provided with a unique login to complete the survey. The student login is an assigned identifier that may be used to link data for statistical and research purposes only. All responses to the survey are kept anonymous in the response file. Personal identification data will not be recorded in the survey response file. This ensures that the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times.

This year the Attitudes to School survey will be conducted at our school over the period TBA. The survey only takes 20 minutes to complete and occurs during your child's class time.

The survey results will be reported back to the school before the end of term 2. All survey data that is made available in reports are for groups of students only so that no individual student can be identified.

The school will communicate the survey results to parents and carers through its annual Report to the School Community.

SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY Our Grade 3 to 6 School Country will take place next Thursday, May 6 at Price Park. This annual event also serves as the trials for the District event later in the term. All are welcome to attend and support the students as they compete in either a 2 or 3 km course (dependent on their age).

FOUNDATION INFORMATION NIGHT We will be holding the 2022 Foundation Information Night in the school gymnasium on Thursday, May 6 from 6.30pm. We encourage you to share this news with neighbours or friends contemplating enrolling in our school for next year.

That’s it for this week from me. Have a lovely weekend.

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Principal

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Looking After Your Child’s Wellbeing Last week I wrote about the importance of having open conversations with your child in order develop good relationships and in turn promote wellbeing. We can also build positive wellbeing by being physically, mentally and emotionally strong. When children have a positive wellbeing they are more likely to engage positively in their learning, build positive relationships and display positive behaviour.

The following article from the Department provide strategies that you can use at home to promote positive wellbeing. We continue to promote student wellbeing at school through our social and emotional learning curriculum, the reinforcement of our school values of RESPECT, RESILIENCE, RESPONSIBILITY and KINDNESS, having clear and achievable expectations across the school, celebrating successes and building authentic relationships between staff and students.

Have a great week

Gill

Cyber safety Technology is continually changing and we find ourselves utilising ICT more every day. Some parents may have questions around how to ensure they are using their best judgement around cyber safety. I have attached the Australian Government eSafety page to assist with questions https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents. The eSafey website also has opportunities for parents or carers to join free webinars, so please view this link to sign up to any session https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars. Of course the school is always happy to answer any queries you might have related to staying safe online.

Spectacular Science! This week students in Year 5 and 6 had an opportunity to participate in an incursion to learn more about circuits, electricity and energy. All students became part of a human circuit recognising the importance of a switch. Students were able to experiment with different electrical circuits to learn more about how electricity is used. Further to this, students were able to experiment with playdough that was able to conduct electricity. Great work Year 5 and 6’s for all the exceptional work in STEM.

NAPLAN As stated in the last newsletter, students will complete NAPLAN assessments in the areas of reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy. NAPLAN will be conducted from May 11th -14th by students in Year 3 and 5 at Viewbank. Exemptions may be granted to students with significant intellectual disability and to students who have been learning English for less than one year. Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the Assistant Principal/Principal. Please contact Karen Butler if you feel your child may need to be exempt/withdrawn from participating.

Have a great week!

Karen Butler

Collection of student contact details on excursions for contact-tracing

Excursion venues are responsible for managing record keeping for contact tracing in line with current public health directives.

Most venues are required to use electronic record keeping that connects with an Application Programming Interface (API) linked provider or a digital system provided by Services Victoria.

An electronic or hard copy list of student names and contact numbers should be provided to the venue at the time of the excursion. Students are not required to individually check-in at the venue on the day.

The Department of Health has strongly recommended that a contact number for each individual student (as per the student’s school file) is provided to venues for recording purposes. If providing a private contact number for a student poses a serious privacy risk, or the number is unknown, the school’s 24-hr contact number may be used, but this should be the exception.

OSHClub (Outside School Hours Care) Please be aware that if your child is not registered with OSHClub they will be unable to access the program in an emergency. Therefore it is highly recommend that you register your child/ren for OSHClub in case you may need it one day.

School Tours School Tours have recommenced every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 9.30am. Please call the office on 9459 1512 or email viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au to make a booking.

Enrolments We are currently accepting enrolments for 2022 and are happy to assist with any queries.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) The Government assisted Fund provides payments for eligible students to attend camps, sports, incursions and excursions ($125 per child). Applications for the Governments ‘CSEF Fund’ can be accessed by filling in the application form and returning it to the office with a copy of your current Health Care Card. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply i.e. a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card or Veteran Affairs Gold Card.

Funds are paid to the school and will be automatically allocated to the Term Expenses unless otherwise stated by the parent at the start of the year.

Thank you

Lucy Addati

Business Manager

​Mother’s Day Stall - Friday 7th May, 2021 This year’s Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Friday 7th of May, 2021. Children are asked to bring no more than $10.00 to purchase some quality goodies for their Mums, Grandparent, Aunties or Special person. Please remember to bring your money and a carry bag with you on the day. For this to run smoothly Parent helpers are required to assist with the setup, selling of gifts and packing up the stall which will run throughout the entire day…. so if you are available please contact Carol Seneca via email cazstar@optusnet.com.au (Mob: 0410 039 554)

PLEASE NOTE IF CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE MONEY WITH THEM ON THE DAY THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A PURCHASE AS WE WILL NOT BE HAVING AN "I OWE YOU" SYSTEM THIS YEAR.

Bakery Lunch Orders - Every 2nd Thursday during Term 2, 2021

Lower Plenty Bakehouse will be to providing the school with fundraising Lunch Orders every second Thursday during Term 2. These lunches will be implemented via our Parents and Friends Committee and all money raised will be used towards our major school oval upgrade.

Our Term 2 Fundraising Lunch Order Dates are:

• Thursday 13th May (Orders closing on 10th May, 3:00pm)
• Thursday 27th May (Orders closing on 24th May, 3:00pm)
• Thursday 10th June (Orders closing on 7th June, 3:00pm)
• Thursday 24th June (Orders closing on 21st June, 3:00pm)

Orders need to be placed in advance via Compass Canteen. Ordering will close the Monday before the lunch date at 3pm. All of Term 2 Lunch dates are now open and ordering is able to be placed in advance for the whole term if you choose to do so.

Please see attached a Parent User Guide on how to order via Compass Canteen. Please note a 35 cents order fee will be charged at check out.

​​ICY POLE FRIDAY Students are able to purchase icy poles over the counter at lunchtime every Friday. All icy poles cost $1.00 each.

BOOK CLUB Issue 3 catalogues have been sent home this week. All orders are due by Wednesday 5th of May. Every dollar you spend earns points to buy more books for the Library. Thank you for your support.

CLASSROOM CUISINE provides lunch orders to our school on a MONDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAYS.

Lunches must be ordered online using the CLASSROOM CUISINE website.

Extra Curricula Clubs We have a range of weekly extra curricula activities that students are invited to participate in. Some are free and others require parent payment. If your child wishes to join please encourage them to go along on the scheduled day or you may like to contact the school office or the classroom teacher to discuss participation.

Library Lunch Open Times 1:30pm to 2pm (See timetable below)

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SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE - Every Friday 8:45am to 9:15am, next to the music room. Jumpers with the school logo, long and short sleeve school polo tops and school dresses will be $5.00 and all other items $2.00. We are currently asking for donations of any unwanted reusable school uniform items to sell at our stall.

Instrumental Music Enrolments 2021 Can all students who would like to join or continue to participate in our school instrumental music programs in 2021 please inform the relevant teacher below of your expression of interest.

SINGING WITH GABRIELLA - Gabriella

• Email: favrettogab@gmail.com
• Phone: 0413 676 733

STRINGS WITH MR CAI - Gabriella

• Email: favrettogab@gmail.com
• Phone: 0413 676 733

GUITAR/BASS GUITAR - Alec

• Email: alec.stalder@gmail.com
• Phone: 0422 690 842

PIANO/KEYBOARD - Ella

• Email: ellac.blackburn@gmail.com
• Phone: 0410 938 840

DRUMS - James

• Email: orangejimmy@gmail.com
• Phone: 0405 845 628

PHONE NUMBER: 0448 075 422

EMAIL: viewbank@oshclub.com.au

A PLUS SCHOOLWEAR Our uniform supplier is A Plus Schoolwear which is located at 41-43 Northern Road Heidelberg West. Open hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s from 9am to 4.30pm (closed on weekend and public holidays).

You can also purchase your uniform online at www.aplusschoolwear.com.au