Principal's Report 

Welcome to Issue 11 of The View. It has been a busy two weeks at Rangeview - and a cold and wet time as well. Our students have embraced the Melbourne winter and it is lovely to see so many beanies out in the playground as they play and learn. 

Open Afternoon

Our Open Afternoon was a huge success and we were so pleased with the numbers of families that came to see our school in action! I spoke to many of our current families who were visiting classrooms and taking part in learning activities with the children. I also met many prospective future families - some for 2025! 

Thank you to all of the teachers who opened their rooms to the community and showcased the learning and engagement that we facilitate every day. All of our specialist programs were on show and the Authors Chair in the Library was a fabulous display of our student's writing. Thank you to Ms Campbell, Mr Anderson, Mr Evans, and Mr Bunston for leading the fabulous music performances of our String Orchestra, Band, Rock Band and all three Choirs. Thank you also to our OSH Club team for providing the coffee cart. It was so wonderful to have the community at an event onsite after so many years of covid restrictions. 

Disco Bingo

The wonderful Parents and Friends Committee put on a hugely successful parents evening - Disco Bingo - in our school gymnasium. This sold out event was fantastic and the parents and staff who attended embraced the night with music bingo, dancing and lots of laughter. It was great to see that our students are not the only ones who like a dress up event! A huge thank you to the main organisers - Laura Warren and Hayley Garrard - and to the P & F leaders - Saskia Desilla and Emma Rankin. 

In an embarrassing turn of events, Mr Liles won the major hamper prize and due to his family connection to the Principal, this was distributed among all the tables at the event. In a lovely gesture - the table that was given the $100 Rise and Grind voucher returned this to the school the following day and asked that it be used for coffee's for the staff. We have arranged this with vouchers for the whole staff - with the school covering the difference in cost. Thanks to Tammy Beylin and her table for initiating this positive outcome. It is a privilege it is to be part of this community. 

Senior Toilets

The rebuild of our senior toilets is progressing to schedule and the builder has assured us this project will be complete for Term 4. The interior of the toilets has been removed and new framing and plumbing is in place. Much of the noisy work was completed during our 'pupil free' Professional Practice Day last week. We look forward to seeing the finished result in the near future. 

Naidoc Week

Our students have been building their cultural understandings of the First Australian's through Naidoc Week. NAIDOC Week isa time to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We have been creating a Sea of Hands which is a symbol of solidarity with First Nations People in Australia and a way for communities all around the country to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander issues and events. 

Come and see as this display goes up in our main corridor to the left of the Front Office. Thank you to Kirilee Bell and Chloe Tomkins for leading this initiative. 

Covid Update

As you are aware we have had slightly higher covid numbers at school in the past few weeks. Thankfully we have not had any students or staff report severe symptoms. We thank families for testing when any family member has symptoms and for alerting the school if there is a positive case in the family. 

Staff are wearing masks again inside at school - unless they need to remove them for students to understand instruction. We ask that students over 8 years also wear masks inside at school where possible. Please send your child to school with a mask each day. 

Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 (VGSA)

On Monday 25th the new Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA) 2022 came into effect. The VGSA is the legal document that outlines the working conditions and pay structures that all Department of Education staff work under – Education Support, Teachers and Principal class. 

There are a number of changes in this new agreement that will effect workload, pay scales, face to face teaching time and recognition of work in excess of normal hours of attendance through Time in Lieu. 

All schools are currently working on the implementation of this new agreement and we are meeting regularly with our local network of schools - including Antonio Park Primary School and Mitcham Primary School - to ensure we have consistency across our area. 

As changes come into effect we will communicate these with the Rangeview Community. 

Marika Ferguson

Principal