From the Principal Class
Dear Viewbank College community,
A new term, and a new challenge.
The return to flexible and remote learning, in response to the re-emergence of Covid 19, presents new and somewhat greater challenges. It is our response to the difficulties that this pandemic brings that will define us. I believe the strength of this community and the way that we support each other will enable us continue to grow and learn from the experience.
Our students are showing great resilience. With the level of global upheaval, I believe that the routine and stability that school brings, both onsite and remotely, provides a compass. The strong, supportive relationships with teachers and peers underpins that stability. It is at times like this that I genuinely believe that our young people need to be creative, critical thinkers, globally aware and empathetic to the challenges of others. These are the genuine learning opportunities through this time.
Our students have been brilliant this week, with onsite attendance very high. The senior students have overwhelmingly accepted the need to wear masks. The challenges of working a full day in a mask should not be understated! Well done to staff and students.
We can all still be more vigilant and educated about the appropriate wearing of masks.
Please see the following link for advice:
We continue to focus on the wellbeing of every child. Please make contact with your level leader or our Wellbeing team if you have any have any concerns.
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
We will hold Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences across Thursday August 20 and Friday August 21. These conferences will be held via Microsoft Teams or phone call.
Soon there will be a Newsfeed item that Compass bookings will be open to schedule your bookings.
These two days will be student free days, to ensure that more parents have access to feedback from your child’s teachers.
Student Action Team
Congratulations again to our Student Action Team of the Year for the award they received from Sustainability Victoria. Thanks again to John Patterson, Veena Nair and Finn Mulhall for their support of these students. They received their award last week.
New staff
We would like to welcome a few new staff to the College:
- Alison Wilbraham (Science)
- Marita Grafe-Tschur (German)
- Connor O’Leary (English)
- Adriana Pavlidis (Humanities)
Being well
Facilities
Over the last holidays we have had some landscaping completed and there are some works still underway.
Some areas at the front of the College were identified as needing work, with erosion of slopes and bare tree roots. We commissioned ‘extendahand property services’ to reconstruct two garden beds at the north entry and construct tiered seating with garden beds in the J-block courtyard. Thanks to Friends of Viewbank (FOV) and our sustainability groups for their support of these projects.
During the next holidays, ‘extendahand’ will complete stadium style seating (similar to that on our front oval) on the AFL oval.
The Victorian Schools Building Authority is currently building a ramp to improve accessibility from our Year 7 area to our back basketball courts. They are also upgrading our First Aid toilets in the Admin block to improve accessibility.
Welcome back!
Last but not least, we welcome back our Assistant Principal Emma Ford.
Emma has been on Family Leave, but has re-joined us during this turbulent time!
She and Darren Murray will continue to support students and families in the Middle School.
Sharon Grimes, Principal
John Munro, Assistant Principal
Emma Ford, Assistant Principal
Rachael Smith, Assistant Principal
Darren Murray, Assistant Principal