• 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 - Monday 4th August to Wednesday 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

THE PATH FORWARD Undoubtedly, most of us tuned in to the Premier’s press conference last Sunday, which plotted the path forward for Victoria as we continue to try to live with Covid-19. At this stage, it would appear that the plan is for Foundation to Grade 2 students to return to onsite schooling on October 12 – Week 2 of Term 4, and if the rolling average of Covid cases falls below critical thresholds, remaining students from October 26 (Week 4).

As has been the case throughout the year, the moment we get information from the Department Of Education and Training, we will pass it on directly. I anticipate that many of the measures undertaken during Term 2 with regards staggered arrivals, departures and play times with physical distancing at all times will continue to be our modus operandi, but this will all be communicated in a timely fashion when guidelines have been released.

For now, we will continue remote learning into the holiday break. I would like to again thank all members of our school community for the amazing efforts undertaken so far this year, for the respectful approach taken in managing our response to this pandemic, and for the sense of optimism and getting on with the job approach displayed generally.

I trust that everyone is looking forward to the school holidays like I am, albeit holidays of a different nature!

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE DAY Next Wednesday, September 16, has been earmarked as a Professional Practice Day for our staff and a wellbeing day for our students. Our teachers will be undertaking a range of activities including planning for Term 4, undertaking professional development, and activities to support their own health and wellbeing. As was the case last week, students are free to choose from grids of activities for that day which will be advised well in advance and the intention is to have a stress free and relaxed approach to remote learning on that day. Feedback for the students on that day will be provided, if sought.

That’s it from me this week. Looks like a dampish weekend!

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Principal

R U OK? DAY? We often comment on the wonderfully supportive Viewbank community we are so lucky to be a part of.

Today is R U OK? Day. It’s our national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” if someone in your world is struggling with life’s ups and downs.

Please take the time to ask family, friends, neighbours and colleagues, ‘Are you ok?’ and make a difference by having regular, meaningful conversations about life’s ups and downs. Remember, you don’t have to be an expert to have a caring, meaningful conversation. It’s a way for us to reach out and demonstrate that we genuinely care.

Take time to listen, encourage support and check in regularly with those around you.

Further information can be found at the R U OK? website

https://www.ruok.org.au/join-r-u-ok-day and in the 'Guide to supporting R U OK? Day'. Download guide

It has tips, ideas and resources to help you share the message and encourage everyone in our community to learn what to say after R U OK?.

The guide also contains useful contacts for anyone who is not OK.

Take care

Gill

Remote Learning We have had a number of timely reminders regarding social media and the internet this week. Due to the current restrictions, schools have been using more technology to support learning from home, leading to a massive at-home increase in screen time. Like many schools, we were initially cautious in regards to ‘live’ online lessons and linking to external sites. YouTube, in particular, has been problematic due to pre-rolled/embedded advertisements, suggested videos, auto-play and potentially inappropriate comment sections. Trying to find work-arounds for this has taken time, sometimes what appears suitable for use is not so, regardless of the research that goes into finding appropriate services.

As time has progressed during RL 2.0, our teams have been exploring more and developing their skills using technology. There are many more pre-recorded videos being created by staff as well as ‘live’ teaching. We are incredibly proud of the level of commitment made by our staff to improve their skill base. This is not just the technology side, but also re-imagining how lessons are presented via technology and how students present their work.

For those of you who are working from home, or are coming home after a night shift, managing multiple children on devices, looking after babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers, we understand how difficult it is to monitor your child’s device every second that they are on it while completing tasks set by the teacher. Even at school, from time-to-time, a website link or image search for an Inquiry project may present something that is inappropriate for the context or age group of the students. Thankfully, this happens much less than when technology use increased in the years around 2010.

When links to external sites are posted by teachers, these will be correct at the time of sourcing. We would never intentionally post something that could be harmful. If you are unsure about the appropriateness of the link once viewed, please let your child’s teacher know via their email (***@viewbankps.vic.edu.au) that something may be amiss. They will re-check the link, change if necessary or explain with some more detail why it was posted. It is also a good idea to refresh the Google Classroom page where the link was posted as the teacher may have already changed/removed the link, but the original may still be shown on your child’s device. The old ‘Have you tried turning it off and on again?’ works wonders – if only we could do it for 2020…

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: Be You
• Website: https://beyou.edu.au/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeYouPrimary/
• Twitter: @BeYouPrimary
• Instagram: @beyondblueofficial

Beyond Blue was appointed to lead ‘Be You’ by the Australian Government in June 2017.

The National Mental Health Commission Review of Mental Health Programs and Services Report of 2014 found that there were multiple initiatives promoting social and emotional health and wellbeing for children and young people across education settings. These Australian Government funded programs included:

• Response Ability
• KidsMatter Early Childhood
• KidsMatter Primary
• MindMatters
• headspace School Support

Read more here: https://beyou.edu.au/history

Have a great weekend everyone!

Patrick

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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.

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