Principal's Report 

We have again had a wonderful two weeks here at Rangeview! We returned from our long weekend and launched into the whole school Photo Day with School Pix, The Resilience Project's Martin Heppel ran an incredible parents/carers Webinar for our community, our Foundation Students had a Pirate Party for Peter Penguin, students competed in District Tennis, some of our Level 1/2 and 5/6 students participated in a building language learners German event, we had a visit from the Fire Rescue Team to speak to our Foundation students, the Schultüte were given to our Foundation students by their 5/6 buddies, our Principal Team attended the Riversdale Principal Network Meeting, and all of our Level 3 and 5 students completed their NAPLAN assessments for 2023. 

Pupil Free Days

We will be having a Curriculum Day (Pupil Free Day) on Friday 31st March.  

Our teaching staff and leadership will be involved in a full day of professional learning provided by our DET Regional specialist staff on phonics, phonological awareness and the phonology and morphology of words. Our Level 1 team will be undertaking the second day of their Little Learners Love Literacy Professional Learning which will bring them into line with our Foundation team and ready to begin this evidence based model with our junior readers. 

Our ES staff will be attending a full day of Professional Learning at Vermont South Special School provided by the TESSA team on working with students with diverse support needs. 

Our OSH Club will be available for any families that need care for this day. 

Riversdale Principal Network Day

Yesterday Kate McLeod, Liam Sommers and I attended the Riversdale Principal Network meeting at Green Acres Golf Club in Kew. We joined the Principal's and Assistant Principals from all of the Primary and Secondary Schools in the network to participate in professional learning around school leadership. 

We heard from Richard Lambert our Senior Education Improvement Leader on the Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan and we were presented with a fabulous infographic on strengthening Aboriginal Self-Determination in Education which was the result of some initial campfire conversations in our Inner East schools. 

We also heard from Karen Money the Regional Director who spoke around inspiring our next generation of school leaders. 

We finished the day with a session from the Berry Street Education Model which is an evidence based trauma practice for schools.  There was a lovely resource shared - Alphabet Actions. See below. You might like to try this as a brain break with your child. 

Fire Rescue Visit

On the 10th March we welcomed three members of the Nunawading Fire Rescue Victoria team to speak to our Foundation students about Fire Education. The students were all enthralled and asked some wonderful questions about Fire safety. 

Heatherdale Reserve Pavilion

On Friday evening 17th March I was privileged to attend the opening of the new Heatherdale Reserve Pavilion. Conducted by the Mayor of Whitehorse, Cr Mark Lane together with Whitehorse CEO Simon McMillon, Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter, Michael Sukkar MP, Federal Member for Deakin and Will Fowles MP, State Member for Ringwood. 

The new state of the art facility is a testament to the tireless volunteers, from both Heatherdale Cricket Club and the Heathmont Jets Football Club and Heatherdale Football Club which will make it their home. It will also be available to the local community for special events, and Rangeview would like to thank Lloyd Lazaro the Heatherdale Cricket Club President, for including us in the launch of this fabulous facility. 

Harmony Day

Once each term we have a whole school celebration day. This term we will be celebrating Harmony Day on Monday 3rd April. There will be a focus on cultural diversity and students will be working in buddy grades on activities and lessons that educate and celebrate our community’s cultural diversity. We encourage our students to come to school in a costume that represents their cultural heritage, or in the colour orange and we will have a whole school assembly to begin the day in the gym. 

We will end the day with a whole school Bollywood dance workshop run by one of our talented parents – Palak Parikh. Parents are also welcome to come to the grassphalt to observe this celebration. 

Facilities Update

Rangeview received three grants in 2021 for the purpose of Grounds and Facilities upgrades. Any project with a total cost of over $200 000 must be project managed and overseen by the Department of Education. 

Grant 1

Rangeview received a $400 000 grant from the Department of Education for the purpose of an amenities upgrade – senior block. This project was completed in Term 4, 2022. The new toilets are in full use and are appreciated by students from Level 2 – 6. 

Grant 2

Rangeview received a $200 000 grant from the Department of Education for the construction of an Inclusive Playground constructed on the banks of the oval. This was to incorporate an open-air classroom – amphitheatre style, a Snakes and Ladders play space – with ground level curved slides, and a maze and sensory garden. Due to the extensive costs involved in a VSBA managed project, only one aspect of this space can be constructed within the $200 000 budget. The Snakes and Ladders playground is currently under construction and is due for completion before the end of Term 1. 

The excavation works have resulted in a very steep fall to the space being utilised and concerns have been raised with the architect and builder around the need for extensive retaining walls to ensure the stability of the land. 

This school will not sign off on the project if it is not fit for purpose on completion with clear structural integrity.  

Grant 3

Rangeview received a $25 000 grant from the Department of Education to construct a new shade sail over the Library deck. The plan for this space is the creation of an outdoor classroom which can be used across the school in varied weather. Franklin Gem has been contracted to design, supply and install this shade sail. Extensive delays have resulted in no work to date. 

Marika Ferguson

Principal