It has been another busy and positive few weeks at Viewbank, with plenty to celebrate and a number of important reminders as we move further into Term 3.

A great response to our uniform expectations

I would like to begin by congratulating our students on the way they have responded to the recent reinforcement of our no hoodies expectation. The improvement has been very noticeable, and I appreciate the cooperation students have shown. Our uniform is an important part of our school identity, and it has been pleasing to see students responding so positively and respectfully.

A related reminder for students and families is that mobile phones and AirPods are not permitted during school hours. Phones should be stored in lockers between 9.00 am and 3.15 pm. AirPods may only be used by students who have a documented exemption in place. Students should therefore leave AirPods at home unless they have an approved exemption. Thank you to families for reinforcing these expectations at home and helping us maintain classrooms that are focused on learning and free from unnecessary distractions.

Heathers the Musical – an extraordinary achievement

A huge congratulations must go to the students and staff involved in our recent production of Heathers the Musical. The quality of the production was simply outstanding and a testament to the talent, commitment and sheer hard work of everyone involved.

Productions of this scale do not happen by accident. They require months of rehearsals, preparation, technical work, organisation and problem-solving, much of it happening behind the scenes and outside normal school hours. Our performers were exceptional, but so too were the musicians, backstage and technical crews, production team and the many staff, students and parents who contributed in countless ways.

Everyone involved should feel enormously proud of what they achieved. It was a wonderful showcase of the creativity and talent within the Viewbank community.

STEAM Conference and Pupil-Free Day – Friday

A reminder to families that this Friday (21st August) is a pupil-free day, as Viewbank hosts a major STEAM Conference focusing on the use of Artificial Intelligence in schools.

This is an exciting opportunity for Viewbank to demonstrate its leadership in STEAM education and to contribute to one of the most important conversations currently taking place in education: how we use AI thoughtfully, ethically and effectively to enhance teaching and learning.

An enormous amount of work has gone into preparing for the conference. I would particularly like to acknowledge the students, parents and staff who have contributed their time, expertise and energy to bringing the event together. Hosting an event of this scale requires a tremendous collective effort, and I am very grateful to everyone involved.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming educators and students to Viewbank on Friday, sharing some of the excellent work happening here and learning from others. It promises to be a terrific day.

Frankie and Ash make themselves at home

Frankie and Ash have continued to have a fabulous time at Viewbank and, I suspect, are now beginning to believe that they are permanent members of staff!

They have received invitations to an extraordinary number of classrooms and have been thoroughly spoilt wherever they go.

I have particularly enjoyed taking them into classes and using their visits as an opportunity to talk with students about the many valuable roles that dogs play in our society.

From assistance and guide dogs to therapy, wellbeing, detection and other working roles, dogs make an extraordinary contribution to people's lives.

We have also talked about why Labradors are particularly well suited to many support and assistance roles. Their temperament, intelligence, trainability, strong desire to work with people and generally calm and sociable nature make them excellent candidates for this work.

Frankie and Ash have certainly enjoyed the attention, although I am not entirely convinced that being cuddled and admired by hundreds of teenagers constitutes particularly strenuous employment!

Looking towards the future

A couple of weeks ago, students participated in the Subject Expo, giving them the opportunity to explore their options for the years ahead. It was wonderful to see students engaging in conversations about subjects, pathways and future careers and beginning to think about where their interests and strengths might take them.

Subject selection can feel like a significant decision, particularly for our older students, but it is also an exciting opportunity. I encourage students to continue talking with their families, teachers and careers staff as they make their choices.

The Principal selection process is also continuing as expected. Hopefully, the process will be finalised and there will be an announcement regarding Viewbank's next Principal within the next couple of weeks. I know the school community will be keenly awaiting the outcome.

Winter illnesses are still with us

Finally, there are still plenty of winter lurgies circulating in the community, including COVID-19, RSV and influenza, along with the usual collection of coughs, colds and respiratory viruses.

While these illnesses are mild for many people, they can cause significant illness for some and, in some cases, longer-term effects. We also have students, staff and family members within our broader community who may be particularly vulnerable to respiratory illness.

If your child is experiencing respiratory symptoms and is unwell, please keep them at home until they are well enough to return to school. Apart from the fact that students who are sick are generally miserable and gain very little from struggling through a school day, attending while unwell increases the likelihood of spreading illness to classmates and staff.

Thank you, as always, to our students, staff and families for the many ways you contribute to making Viewbank such a vibrant and supportive school community. I am looking forward to another busy few weeks ahead.

Karen Terry Acting Principal

Rachael Smith, AssistantPrincipal

Anna Crosswhite, Assistant Principal

Penelope Cleghorn, Assistant Principal

Emma Ford, Assistant Principal

NAPLAN