From the Principal Class

Dear College Community 

The term is fast closing! So much has happened and there is still much to do in these last weeks of term. 

• Parent/student/teacher conferences on Monday, September 9th 
• Bass guitar soiree 
• Parent group meetings – Friends of STEAM, ASPA 
• Grade 5 tours 
• Jazz Night at the Brunswick Ballroom 
• Year 9 Holocaust excursions 
• LEAD Year 9 information evening 
• Japanese Study Tour 

Parent/Student/Teacher conferences 

We will be holding the conferences online on Monday, September 9th. It is an important part of our communication with families and a way to hear of your student’s learning growth and academic achievement.  

Bookings for appointments are open on Compass now. 

NAPLAN and VCE Performance 

There has been a lot of media interest in the NAPLAN performance of students across Australia and in Victoria. Much of the narrative has been negative, despite Victoria leading the way in many measures of NAPLAN. 

I have attached an information sheet outlining our very strong data in both NAPLAN and VCE results. 

We continue to focus on growing students from their point of need, so we have initiatives in place to support students who need additional support, as well as those who need enhancement. 

We also know that students need to feel safe, and be mentally and physically healthy to learn well, so we continue to focus on student’s wellbeing, relationships and feelings of connection to the College. 

It is a privileged place to start and as a college, we feel a strong sense of responsibility to continue to grow our students. We thank families for the support and guidance of your students. Please use the upcoming Conferences to hear students demonstrate self-efficacy in discussing how and where they can continue to grow. 

Facilities 

We have been busy with minor upgrades and refurbishments. 

Administration block painting, toilets, entrance all looking fresh. Progress being made on reinstating a conference room and moving our middle school team have moved to their new location. 

Toilet and locker bays painted and upgraded (J block), with G Block to be completed next holidays. 

Current projects: 

• Carpet in the administration building 
• More painting in locker bays 
• Blinds in VCE building and G block science 
• New front fences 
• Upgrading to electrical switch boards (deal with power outages) 
• Company hired to manage pigeon problem 
• Updating signage around the College 

School Saving Bonus

In Term 4, 2024, families with a child enrolled in a government school from Prep to Year 12 in 2025 will receive the one-off $400 School Saving Bonus.

The $400 School Saving Bonus provides families with support for education-related costs, such as school activities and/or school uniforms and textbooks.

The School Saving Bonus is not available for full-fee international students, home schooled students, TAFE students and students attending kindergarten in 2025.   

Actions for parents and carers

Before 18 October 2024, the Department of Education is asking parents and carers to:

• Complete enrolment: If your child, or children are changing government school for Term 1 2025, or starting Prep or Year 7 in 2025. For more information, read about Enrolling in School.   If you are a current parent/carer at Viewbank College and have another child transitioning to Year 7 in 2025, please be advised that they will automatically be added to your Compass profile prior to the 18th October, 2024.
• Check your contact information: Ensure your email address and phone number is up to date by logging into Compass through the web browser (not the app on your phone) Home | Compass. 
  • Go to Tools - Update My Details.
  • Make changes as necessary. 
  • Click Update Details at the bottom of the screen.

We need to ensure your contact information is up to date as the Department of Education will email you twice:

• in October, to verify your email address
• in November, with your $400 School Saving Bonus and access to an online system.

Please check your junk mail regularly to make sure you do not miss an important email.

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, download School Saving Bonus Information sheet for government school parents and carers or visit vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus.

 Sharon Grimes, Principal

Emma Ford, Assistant Principal

Rachael Smith, Assistant Principal

Anna Crosswhite, Assistant Principal

Penelope Cleghorn, Assistant Principal