• Thursday 17th December - JSC Free Dress Day (Christmas) - Gold coin donation
• Friday 18th December - Last day of Term 4 - Early 1:30pm dismissal

PUPIL FREE DAYS

• Wednesday 27th January, 2021
• Friday 5th March, 2021

TERM DATES

• 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

As the final day of the 2020 school year beckons, yet again we take a collective sigh and feel grateful for all that we have. In one of the toughest years we have faced for a long, long time, as a school community we have bonded together brilliantly and tomorrow sees us close the school doors for the Christmas and New Year break. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the students, staff and families for managing adversity and new challenges so well this year. 2021 brings renewed hope and a cautious promise of returning to some sense of normalcy.

A reminder that students will be dismissed from classrooms at 1.30pm tomorrow. The Grade 6 graduates will be dismissed from the deck of the new building, and parents have been advised of those arrangements in a separate Compass posting. As I said in my address to the graduates on Wednesday evening, I will genuinely miss all of them, am glad I have played some part in their lives and look forward to their visits over upcoming years and hearing of their successes. It is a sentiment shared by all staff.

I trust that last night’s virtual Graduation was well received. A different approach undoubtedly, but it was still an opportunity to showcase the talents of our students and to collectively acknowledge their successful completion of primary school in a special way!

To the departing staff members I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, once again we wish you well and thank you for your contributions to our school. To departing students and families our best wishes as you relocate and start afresh in sometimes distant locations.

The new school year promises a return to onsite meetings, information nights, fundraising events, family nights and more. We have booked school camps for Arrabri Lodge – Warburton East (Grade 3), Anglesea (Grade 4), Lady Northcote – Bacchus Marsh (Grade 5) and Canberra (Grade 6). The first day of the school year for all students is Thursday, January 28.

If anyone notices unusual activity near or about the school over the break please don’t hesitate to call the Heidelberg Police. We have a few ‘trades’ coming in to do work, with the school cleaners back on deck on January 14, but generally it will be a ‘quiet’ time around the school over the holidays.

Finally, please take care over the break, and enjoy time with family and loved ones. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Principal

TUTOR LEARNING INITIATIVE 2021 The Tutor Learning Initiative will begin in 2021 and has been designed to support students whose learning has been disrupted through remote and flexible learning in 2020.

The Department has developed the following advice for families about the initiative.

It outlines:

• the purpose of the initiative
• how the initiative may impact their child’s learning in 2021
• how the initiative will be implemented
• the benefits of the initiative.

Further information will be made available in term 1 next year.

MATHS GAMES AND MATHS OLYMPIAD AWARDS Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Maths Games (Grades 3&4) and Maths Olympiad (Grade 5&6) extension program this year.

A large proportion of the program was conducted online, with the students completing the tasks in addition to their remote learning classroom lessons.

All the students received a certificate today, with the top 5 students in Grades 3 and 4 receiving a key ring and the top 5 students in Grades 5 and 6 receiving a medal. Photos will be sent to families this week.

STATE SCHOOL SPECTACULAR PRESENTATION Well done to the dedicated group of Grade 5 and 6 students who overcame many obstacles during lockdown to be part of the annual State School Spectacular production. Like many events, this became a virtual experience requiring each student to be filmed individually. Mrs Davey and the students completed this filming at school (socially distanced of course) and sent the footage into the production studio. If you didn’t see the State School Spectacular 2020 on Channel 7 a couple of weeks ago, it can still be viewed on 7+, it is well worth a look.

CHESS PRESENTATION Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Chess Club in 2020. Mr Kersing presented a range of encouragement and place getter awards to the students on Thursday. The overall 2020 School Chess Champion award went to Tedric Li, with the junior Chess Champion award going to Andrey Nikitin. Thank you to Mr Jim Cannon and Ms Daniela Van Zyl Smit for arranging the medals and coordinating the chess club so successfully each year. Well done to everyone.

2020 IN REVIEW What an unpredictable, challenging and ever changing year it has been, full of ups and downs and requiring each of us to probably dig deeper than we ever have in the past.

BUT, we made it!

We made it by supporting each other, remaining strong and positive, being flexible and by having a ‘can do’ attitude.

Many of the things we were looking forward to simply could not happen but we found ways to overcome the challenges and kept moving forward. We faced lockdown and remote learning with uncertainty but were soon able to celebrate continued learning via technology. Google Classroom, Webex, Zoom and Facetime became everyday experiences, the new ‘normal’.

It has been great having our students back onsite for term 4 and trying to re-establish some sense of normality. We have been able to celebrate JSC and Green Team badge presentations, athletics ribbon presentations, Foundation Transition visits, virtual Foundation Parent Information sessions, our in school Transition morning and most recently our Grade six Graduation.

Yes, the year has been different but it has also been exciting. Thank you for your support, encouragement and trust. Remote learning asked a lot of you and you each supported your children as best as you possibly could.

Congratulations to our amazing graduating class of 2020. I hope you enjoyed celebrating your virtual graduation presentation with your families on Wednesday evening.

As 2020 wraps up, I wish you all a safe and restful holiday break and hope that you are able to be thankful and celebrate all your 2020 achievements with your family.

I look forward to seeing you in the new year, refreshed and ready for 2021.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe New Year.

Gill Nicholls

Happy Holidays

Before writing this for the final newsletter of the year, I had a look at what I wrote last year. None of us had any idea of the year we were about to endure. So many ups and downs, challenges and triumphs. And while we have not quite finished this year, so much is in place to provide the students of Viewbank Primary School as many opportunities as possible for 2021.

A special thank you to the staff who went above and beyond this year, upskilling themselves in so many areas while facing the same challenges that many of you did attempting to work from home and working within the confines of ‘housing bubbles’, not being able to visit parents/family outside metro Melbourne (or the initial 5kilomentre zone…), trying to school their own children – the list goes on.

Parents have also had to take on huge roles trying to maintain jobs and supporting learning as best as possible. In many ways, you have had an unprecedented peek into your child’s schooling and the challenges your child may have, and also the challenges teachers face daily. Thank you!

Congratulations to our Grade 6, Class of 2020, I hope you take the opportunities that are presented to you, research and explore them as much as possible - you never know where you may end up!

Don’t forget to check the dates at the top of the newsletter and get them into your diary/calendar as soon as possible. On Thursday the 28th January, we hit the ground running again!

I hope you have a happy and safe break (particularly if spending time on the roads), and you return to school refreshed and ready to go for another year!

Have a great Christmas, New Year and January everyone!

Patrick

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.

If you applied for the CSEF at your child's school in 2020, you do not need to complete an application form in 2021 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.

You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:

• new student enrolments; your child has started or changed schools in 2021 or you did not apply in 2020.
• changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing at the school in 2021.

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.

2021 Parent Payment Charges/Arrangements Viewbank Primary School is looking forward to a new year of teaching and learning and would like to advise you of the 2021 Parent Payment Charges/Arrangements.

Parent Payment Charges/Arrangements are paid on Compass from Saturday 19 December 2020. Please check 'Course Confirmation/Payment' in 'My News' on your homepage and follow the prompts. If you are having issues with Compass, have forgotten your password or have no access please contact the school office as soon as possible.

Payments are due by Monday 27 January 2021. A Compass Payment Plan Option for Essential Student Learning Items is also available on Compass: Four even payments of $75.00 to be deducted on 01Feb, 01Mar, 01Apr & 01May 2021.

Please be advised there are alternative payment options for families who may be experiencing financial hardship or who would prefer a personalised payment plan. Please contact me if you wish to discuss these arrangements.

Thank you

Lucy Addati

Business Manager

Congratulations, Merry Christmas and happy 2021

The School Council would like to recognise the efforts of all students, families, teachers and school staff throughout 2020. You have all faced unexpected challenges this year and through flexibility and resilience you have persevered to shine once again. It is possible that we may be confronted with a similar situation next year however we have learnt how to work together to overcome these challenges if they arise. Let’s hope that 2021 is a year of recovery both in Australia and worldwide.

To our wonderful teachers and school staff. We thank you and recognise the incredible efforts and care you have shown time and time again. We are convinced that you are all supposed to be educators. You have persevered and have calmly delivered the curriculum with fun and compassion. Well done. To Bill, Gill and Patrick and the team supporting them we congratulate you for you dedication and expertise. Under your sturdy leadership things have still managed to happen. And finally a big “YOU DID IT!” for our school students and families. You are the reason that the school exists and we admire your strength. To the Grade 6 students graduating – well done on completing your primary years and enjoy the leap into high school!

Bring on 2021!

Ian Sherlock

School Council President.

.

​

​

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: gabriella@the.inter.net.au
• Phone: 0413 676 733

STRINGS WITH MR CAI - Gabriella

• Email: gabriella@the.inter.net.au
• Phone: 0413 676 733

GUITAR/FLUTE/UKULELE/CLARINET - Gabriella

• Email: gabriella@the.inter.net.au
• Phone: 0413 676 733

PIANO/KEYBOARD - Ella

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

DRUMS - James

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

There are some similarities between the symptoms of hay fever or allergies and coronavirus that may make it difficult to distinguish without a test. If you are experiencing ANY of the below – no matter how mild – get tested ⤵️

🤒Fever

😰Chills or sweats

🤧Cough

🥵Sore throat

💨Shortness of breath

💧Runny nose

👃Loss of sense of smell or taste

Don’t assume your symptoms are ‘just allergies’ – get tested and know for sure. Find your nearest testing location: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/getting-tested #EveryTestCounts

More info about hay fever and coronavirus (COVID19): https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/seasonal-hayfever-and-asthma-covid-19

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).

They will be closed from Friday 18th December 2020 to 13th January 2021 for the annual Christmas break. From 13th January until the first week of February My Uniform will be open 5 days a week from 9am to 4.30pm.

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