Friday 29th March - Easter raffle tickets due back at school
Saturday 30th March - Working Bee, 9am until 12 noon
Monday 1st April - Easter raffle and How Many Eggs in the jar winners to be announced at assembly
Monday 1st April - Parents Social Catch Up Coffee, Gym Foyer 9.30am after assembly
Tuesday 2nd April - JSC PJ and Onesie day (Gold coin donation)
Tuesday 2nd April - Special fundraising icy pole day - Live for Lily Foundation
Thursday 4th April - Viewbank Primary Parents & Friends end of Term 1 parents social dinner - Everyone welcome!! , 7:30pm
Friday 5th April - End of Term 1 - 2:30pm dismissal
Tuesday 23rd April - Term 2 commences
Saturday 25th May - Dolly's Disco Bingo, 7pm. Tickets will be on sale soon via Compass.
TERM DATES
- 2019 TERM 1: Tuesday 29th January (All students start on Thursday 31st January) - Friday 5th April (2:30pm finish)
- 2019 TERM 2: Tuesday 23rd April - Friday 28th June (2:30pm finish)
- 2019 Term 3: Monday 15th July - Friday 20th September (2:30pm finish)
- 2019 Term 4: Monday 7th October - Thursday 20th December (1:30pm finish)
CAMP DATES
- Year 3: Arrabri Lodge Camp (Mon 05Aug to Wed 07Aug)
- Year 4: Anglesea Recreation Camp (Mon 03Jun to Wed 05Jun)
- Year 5: Lady Northcote Recreation Camp (Tue 08Oct to Fri 11Oct)
- Year 6: Canberra Camp (Mon 27May to Fri 31May)
SCHOOL COUNCIL 2019 The first meeting of our new School Council was held last Thursday night, March 21, where the Annual Report was presented and endorsed as well. In addition, we conducted a meeting to elect office bearers for this year. I am pleased to announce the following office bearers for 2019:-
- President - Ian Sherlock
- Vice President - Kate Ryan
- Secretary - Dale Armstrong
- Treasurer - Anu Chikarsal
School Council also coopted Rebecca Deighton on to School Council for 2019 to serve the last year of a two year term previously held by Sandra Vander Pal.
DISTRICT ATHLETICS Good luck to our District Athletics team who compete on Friday, March 29 at Willinda Park. All things being equal, Blair Morton will be on deck to coordinate his band of helpers (thank you) and the 77 students taking part. Good luck to everyone.
GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY The highlight of our Foundation students first term is scheduled for next Wednesday, April 3, with the Grandparents and Special Friends day. Each student will show their grandparent/s or special friends around their school, join with them to take part in some special activities and share in a morning tea. It is always a very special, and lovely event.
END OF TERM ARRANGEMENTS For those new to our school, the end of term arrangements are these. School ends for term one on Friday, April 5 at 2.30pm. We dismiss from the school gymnasium after a special assembly commencing at 2.05pm – all welcome.
WORKING BEE Please don’t forget the Term 1 working bee is scheduled for this Saturday, March 30 commencing at 9am and concluding around 12 noon. All welcome!!
That’s it from me this week.
Kind regards,
Bill Kersing
Principal
NATIONAL YOUNG LEADERS DAY It was a privilege to attend the National Young Leaders Conference with our twenty four school and house captains last week. I know they were inspired after listening to the engaging speakers throughout the day and will approach their role with a clearer picture of what it takes to be a leader, the importance of setting goals, the value of working together as a team and how to overcome obstacles and challenges. I look forward to supporting each of them on their journey.
SCHOOL EXPERIENCES During the week, I visited Foundation R and Foundation Y to ask the students about their first term at school. I was told that they have been at school 35 days so far and are going to keep counting until they reach 100 days. They all agreed that they love coming to school and there is nothing they would change. I was curious to find out what they have enjoyed about school and what they have learnt. Here’s what they had to say.
I have enjoyed: learning about patterns, counting, playing outside, having Buddy sessions, Investigations, reading with the parents, writing about the weekend in their journal, completing maths assessment, drawing, reading stories together, going to the library to borrow books, learning the letter names and sounds, making friends, going to PE, music, art, Japanese and STEM, playing on the playground and making things.
They have certainly covered a lot this term and continue to be enthusiastic learners, full of curiosity. I’m sure they will have lots to share with their visitors next week at Grandparents and special friends’ day.
Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you all at the working bee on Saturday morning. There will be a lot of different jobs to assist with so please come along for whatever amount of time you can spare.
You know the saying: MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK!
See you there,
Gill Nicholls
School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) On Friday the 22nd March, the PBS team (Mrs Elliott, Mr Ruddock, Mrs Collins, Mrs Taylor, Mrs Wright and myself) attended a training day at Hazel Glen College - if you think Viewbank PS is big, Hazel Glen College has 3000 students!
The expectations for the program are as follows:
- Student behaviour/wellbeing is identified as one of the school’s priorities
- The principal (or assistant principal) actively participates in the implementation of SWPBS
- The school identifies and resources a PBS coordinator who attends training and guides the school team in the implementation of PBS. It may be appropriate to consider the professional practice days to support the work of the coordinator
- The school establishes an implementation team to implement PBS
- The principal (or designee) and PBS implementation team members attend team training
- The school collects data to assist with decision making
- The school facilitates ongoing coaching of the PBS coordinator, which will be provided by the area coaches and the central unit
- The principal (and leadership team) provide ongoing leadership and signalling to support the work of the PBS implementation team
- The school commits to PBS implementation with fidelity using the self-assessment survey (SAS) and the tiered fidelity inventory (TFI) which can take 3 to 5 years.
In 2019, one of Viewbank Primary School’s goals is:
To provide a safe, inclusive and consistent approach to support positive relationships and behaviour at Viewbank Primary School. Some of the strategies stated relating to the successful implementation of this goal are:
- Implementation of School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) including forming a PBS team and complete DET training, revisiting School Values, Mission Statement
- Development of school matrix with staff, student and community voice
- Professional Learning and regular updates for staff, as required (staff meetings, PD, team meetings)
- Establish relationship with a mentor school
Throughout Term 2, I will be giving an explanation of 7 areas of the Tiered Fidelity Inventory, as well as updating you on our progress. If you would like to ‘read ahead’, you can find information about School Wide Positive Behaviour Support at: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/management/improvement/Pages/swpbs.aspx
Child Safety Standards This week we are going to look at Child Safety Standard 7: Organisations must have strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.
Standard 7 Organisations must have strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.
What is the intent of this standard? Organisations must ensure that children feel safe to report abuse and have processes in place to ensure that students are empowered to raise any child safety concerns. Organisations must support students to develop appropriate knowledge and skills so that children can identify and communicate when they don’t feel safe.
For schools: Ministerial Order No. 870 requirements
Minimum child safety standard: Strategies to promote child participation and empowerment in accordance with clause 13.
Facebook We are regularly looking for ways to communicate with you, to share some of the great things we do - Facebook is one of those ways. There is only one ‘official’ Viewbank Primary School page and this is updated by staff. If you have not done so yet, go to Facebook, type @viewbankps into the Facebook search bar, and give the page a like – over 600 likes and followers - and rising!
Poster Competition The Department of Education and Training is currently running a competition to design a poster to promote ‘upstander’ behaviour. The following is from Poster Competition https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/bullystoppers/Pages/ihaveyourbackposter.aspx
#ihaveyourback poster competition Do you want to help other students to be upstanders? Are you a student at a Victorian school? Enter the Bully Stoppers state-wide poster competition! While it can be hard to see someone being bullied, it’s even harder to be the person being bullied.
There are lots of ways you can be an upstander. You can distract the bully or ask the person being bullied if they want to sit with you. You can ask them if they are ok and if there’s anything you can do to help; like talking to a teacher or another adult at school that you trust. You can decide not to laugh or smile when you see someone being bullied. If you feel safe, tell the person doing the bullying that their behaviour isn’t okay.
Parent Tips
How to talk to your children about troubling events. ‘Troubling events’ can mean different things to people – what is day-to-day for some, can cause sleepless nights and anxiety attacks for others. Therefore, there is not one way that works for all. It can be increasingly difficult to monitor what our children are viewing and being exposed to. Watching YouTube with parental controls activated may not stop an advertisement of questionable nature, a walk through a shopping centre and passing a newsagent with bolded headlines can spark thoughts, to children overhearing a conversation between parents or other children in the playground – many times with misinformation being provided. Shielding your children completely at home may be counterproductive and may make things worse.
The following links are provided to help you decide how best to help your children:
ABC Australia How to help children cope with shocking news coverage
Trauma and Grief Network Disasters, the media and your child
http://tgn.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Disasters-the-media-and-your-child.pdf
Have a great weekend everyone!
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FEES AND 2019 SCHOOL CHARGES ARE NOW OVERDUE Payments can be made via Compass. Please be advised there are alternative payment options for families who may be experiencing financial hardship or who would prefer a regular payment plan. Please contact me if you wish to discuss these arrangements.
TERM 2 EXPENSES Term 2 Expenses will be published on Compass at the end of this term.
COMPASS If you have any questions about Compass, please do not hesitate to contact the office or refer to the Compass Parent Guide on your Compass Newsfeed. We will also be running a parent Compass workshop early in Term 2.
CSEF (Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund) is a government assisted fund which provides payments for eligible students to attend camps, sports and excursions ($125 per child). Applications for the Governments ‘CSEF Fund’ can be accessed by filling in the attached form and return to the office with a current Health Care card. To be eligible for this funding, you need to hold a current Centrelink Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card or Veteran Affairs Card. Please note: as this funding is means tested, the Parent/Guardian MUST be the card holder, no Medical Health Care Cards in the student’s name will be accepted as it will be rejected by the CSEF system. 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.
Kind regards,
Lucy Addati
Business Manger
SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE Friday 22nd - Second Hand Uniform Sale, 8:30am -9am (Next to the music room). Jumpers with the school logo 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.
2019 VIEWBANK PRIMARY SCHOOL EASTER RAFFLE $1.00 per raffle ticket, lots of great prizes to be won!! Please return all sold tickets to school by Friday 29th March, 2019. Raffle to be drawn on Monday 1st April, 2019. Please ensure name and phone number are clearly written onto all sold tickets.
A guess how many eggs are in the jar competition is currently located in the General Office for $1 per guess. Competition closes at 8:45am on Monday 1st April. The winner will be notified at assembly that morning.
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.
Viewbank Primary Parents & Friends end of Term 1 parents social dinner - Everyone welcome!!
All parents & friends of Viewbank Primary School are invited to an end of Term 1 celebration dinner at Sir Henry Barkly Hotel in Heidelberg. Thursday 4th April, 7:30pm. Please see the webpage for food and pricing options.
This is a great opportunity to get together to finish off Term 1. Everyone welcome!
For restaurant booking purposes can you please indicate via Trybooking your intention to attend the dinner before the 29th March. CLICK HERE TO BOOK
Monday 1st April - Parents Social Catch Up Coffee
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.
BRIGHT STAR KIDS PERSONALISED NAME PRODUCTS We've teamed up with Bright Star Kids to help us raise funds and to decrease the amount of lost property. When you buy anything from their range of personalised name labels and school supplies (or anything else in their store) 20% of it will come back to our group.
Please remember to link up our group "VIEWBANK PRIMARY SCHOOL" in the Nominate a Fundraiser checkout section. Thanks for your support!
Visit their website: https://www.brightstarkids.com.au where you can buy directly from them and get it sent directly to your home.
STRINGS, DRUM KIT, GUITAR, UKULELE, FLUTE, SINGING, KEYBOARD AND PIANO
Information and “Expression of Interest” forms are available at the general office. Alternatively, you may contact Gabriella on 0413 676 733 or gabriella@the.inter.net.au
ENVIRONMENTAL AND MUSIC CAPTAINS BADGE PRESENTATION Jim Mead from Banyule Council and Jade Ingvarson attended our whole school assembly on Monday morning to present these badges to our 2019 captains.
Sustainability Fun Fact Did you know that there is about 5.4 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean? 24 year old Boyan Slat has invented a 600m long device with a 3m deep screen that traps and collects in the Pacific Ocean up campaign. His aim is to remove 50% of the Great Pacific garbage in the patch. He says the ocean needs all the help it can get. But collecting plastic from the ocean is not easy and the machine is now broken. The best option is not to throw the plastic in the sea in the first place.
Robert Deane
PJ and Onesie day !!! The JSC would like to let everyone know about an important fundraiser we are holding on Tuesday 2nd April. We are holding an out of uniform day where we are encouraging students to come to school in their PJs or onesie in support of all the sick children who are in hospital and not well. We are asking that students also bring along a gold coin donation.
We are raising money to support the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal and the Live for Lily Foundation. These are both very worthy charities and you can look at their websites for more information about where the funds go or to make further donations.
SPECIAL ICY POLE FUNDRAISER – TUESDAY APRIL 2ND In the first week of the Term 1 school holidays, Kiara Spinks (3/4L) parents Janelle and Martin are completing a 1,000km bike ride through the hills of Tasmania from Launceston to Hobart. They are completing this ride to raise vital funds for the Live for Lily Foundation helping to put an end to childhood cancer. Sadly, still 3 children each week in Australia are diagnosed with cancer.
On Tuesday April 2nd during lunchtime, we will be selling icy poles to help with their fundraising efforts. Every dollar will be used to help raise awareness and funds that will go directly towards research that is dedicated to finding a cure for childhood cancers.
Alternatively, if you would like to make your own contribution, please follow the link below.
https://liveforlily.org.au/product/donate-in-support-of-janelle-spinks-for-ride-for-lily-2019/
Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and Viewbank Primary School is excited to be participating. The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 6 September 2019. Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books. All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers. To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklists and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit: www.education.vic.gov.au/prc If you would like your child to participate in this years Challenge, please complete the consent form and return to school. On receipt of the signed consent form, Usernames and Passwords will be issued to enable access to your online account. Forms are available via Compass, the Front Office or the Library.
HATS ON From 1st September until 30th April school hats must be worn outside during all outside activities.
SCHOOL BANKING Don’t forget to hand your bankbooks into your class teacher every Tuesday for banking.
RUNNING GROUP Every Thursday from 8:15am on the oval, for any students in years 4-6. All abilities welcome. Pack a spare pair of socks/shoes in case the oval is damp. Hope to see you there!
SCHOOL CHOIR Every Wednesdays, 8.30, in the Music room. Everyone Welcome!
Family wanted to care for chickens in their home over the school holidays. If you are able to help us can you please send an email to the school. viewbank.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Facility Hire Viewbank Primary School provides a venue for hire with kitchen facilities. Please submit a written application to the office, outlining the details of intended use via email at viewbank.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Please note that conditions do apply. At the discretion of the school, venue costs may also be waived in some instances. All applications will be considered on a case by case basis
ANZAC Appeal items are currently available for purchase from the General Office at Viewbank Primary School