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

GROUNDHOG DAY It does seem a little like Groundhog Day at the moment, which as fate would have it, is a bit of a favourite movie for me. Our days are spent working, walking, dealing with remote learning, watching a bit of tv, and then repeat, but there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel and growing optimism with the lengthening and warming days.

Wellbeing Wednesday was well accepted by all – tiring staff, students and parents hopefully took the opportunity to refresh a little and reboot with just over two weeks left to the end of term and holidays. Hopefully, we will all be back on deck for a complete Term 4 at school, albeit with the potential of staggered arrival and departure times, and recess and lunch breaks and the probability of physical distancing and mask rules continuing.

School life ‘at school’ continues to feel a little strange and more so with the trades people off site now. It can be eerily quiet. We are steadily moving furniture into the new building and reconfiguring classrooms around the school. It will look a lot different next term, especially for those who haven’t been on site for a while.

The Foundation Team continue to produce online Transition events for our 2021 students – this week saw them filming for PMP Land. It promises to be a ‘hoot’. Graduation for our Grade 6 students may be unlike anything we have done in the past. Everything is contingent on the restrictions in place as December draws near, but we will make it meaningful and special regardless of these.

For anyone hankering for a parent or student opinion survey, these have been put on hold because of the validity of data deemed to be compromised in these times. We do intend to put our own Viewbank surveys out in Term 4 as our School Review is imminent. The Review was previously scheduled for Term 4 this year but most likely will be conducted in Term 1 next year and will set the path for the next four years of school operations.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY And finally, very best wishes to all of our Viewbank Community Dads as we celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday. I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Let’s hope the Premier’s Sunday Press Conference gives us plenty more hope and optimism!!

Have a great weekend.

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Principal

Remote Learning Wellbeing Please don’t forget our Remote learning Wellbeing page on the school website http://www.viewbankps.vic.edu.au/wellbeing. There are a number of resources and links that may be of use to you.

Managing The Coronacoaster Webinar – New Session! Due to overwhelming support and interest, renowned child psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is back by popular demand to repeat his Coronacoaster webinar.

On 15 September, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg will again present Managing the Coronacoaster – Tips for building resilient families in the coronavirus era. His first webinar in August booked out in three days, with more than 12,000 registrations. As of the 3rd September at 8am, registration was still available.

In this webinar, Dr Carr-Gregg provides tools and strategies for parents and carers to help manage the lockdown period and remote learning. Topics include:

• your supportive role
• setting the emotional tone
• focusing on what you can control
• how to deal with disappointment
• more resources and where to get help.

Webinar details

• When: 7.30pm, Tuesday 15 September
• Duration: 45-minute presentation, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer session
• Format: online via live stream
• Cost: free

Register for the Managing the Coronacoaster webinar via Eventbrite or https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/managing-the-coronacoaster-tips-for-building-resilient-families-registration-117927100131

Raising Learners Podcast The Department of Education and Training has funded a 10-episode podcast series through the Raising Children Network called ‘Raising Learners’. It features parenting experts from organisations including the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Career Education Association Victoria, as well as the Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant.

Raising Learners provides parents with practical advice, tips and ideas for supporting children’s health, wellbeing and engagement at school and at home. Topics include how to connect with your child’s school and community, how to best support your child’s learning, what to expect for VCE and VCAL students and how to keep your child safe online.

These topics were drawn from common questions that parents raised with the Department’s coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline and Parentline.

The first three episodes are available from 1 September, and the rest throughout Terms 3 and 4. Raising Learners can be accessed via podcast apps and Raising Children Network website or https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/podcasts-and-webinars/podcasts

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: Yarra Plenty Library Service
• Website: https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YarraPlentyRegionalLibrary
• Twitter: @yarraplentylib
• Instagram: @yprlibrary

Have a great weekend everyone!

Patrick

.

Well we are almost at the end of week 8 in term 3. Spring has arrived and we are seeing warmer, sunnier days.

It has certainly been a ‘term to remember’ and one that has challenged us all in so many ways. Traditionally, we would be heading towards our whole school dance and all the excitement it brings as well as looking forward to the school holidays. We don't have a school dance to look forward to but we still have lots to celebrate, with many special activities continuing during remote learning. Many of our students have participated in the virtual zoo excursions this term and regularly tuned into GEM TV, produced by The Resilience Project. The students involved in the State School Spectacular have continued to practise their dance routines remotely and earlier this week their filming took place for the streamed version of the show. In the newsletter last week, you probably saw the parliamentary videos some of the 6W students put together for a competition they have entered, we certainly wish them well. The JSC successfully provided a range of activities on Wednesday to celebrate Daffodil Day and we can’t forget the efforts of our school captains throughout term 2 and 3 providing the wellbeing activities each week in the newsletter.

Our fabulous Foundation team have excelled themselves, producing the entire term 3 transition program online. Our new families have been able to experience Storyland, Mathsland and PMP land online allowing them to have fun, engage with the teachers and become more familiar with the school.

There is still a lot happening across the school and lots to be proud of. Our students continue to have a variety of engaging learning opportunities open to them. Our teachers have been creative, resourceful and willing to embrace change.

We can still celebrate and come together as a school community – it just looks different!

Happy Father's Day to all, I hope you have a special day.

Be kind

Gill

Remote Learning Office Hours: The Remote Learning Office hours are from 9am to 3.30pm. To contact the school outside of these hours you may send an email to viewbank.ps@education.vic.gov.au or leave a message on the answering machine.

Attendance On Compass: Parents need to continue to mark any school absences on Compass as normal.

Thank you and take care

Lucy Addati

Business Manager

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Daffodil Day is a special day dedicated to give hope to cancer patients and to also help find a cure for cancer. Daffodil Day was created in 1957 and at our school we celebrate it every year by wearing yellow and doing some fun Daffodil Day activities. Due to Covid-19 we had to make some changes and this year we celebrated this day online by wearing yellow and drawing daffodils. On Daffodil Day, Wednesday the 28th we had a rest day in which all students were assigned an activity grid and no actual tasks to be handed in.

By Ivy (on behalf of the Viewbank Primary Junior School Council).

MATHS GAMES & MATHS OLYMPIAD There has been a change of date for the final Australian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO) contest. The contest was suppose to be held on Wednesday 16th September, however will now be on Thursday 17th September (online).

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