TERM 1 2020

It has been a most eventful start to 2020. Bush fires across Australia have impacted on families, fire fighters and emergency workers, communities, businesses and our environment and wildlife on scale not seen before. Our thoughts are with those communities and I know our students and families will be keen to fundraise for related causes.

Emails have been sent home to families regarding the updates from the Department of Education and Training (DET) in relation to the coronavirus. As stated in the emails, many families have taken the precautionary action of staying at home for up to 14 days if they have travelled to China or relatives staying with them from China. I will continue to inform families of the updates through Sentral.

It was great to see students and families return to start the 2020 school year. This year we welcome 111 new Foundation students and 13 students from Level 1-6 to the school.

Staff returned to work on Tuesday, 28th January. 2019 was a highly productive year and 2020 is looking to be an equally exciting and productive school year. We warmly welcome returning staff and new staff starting at Rangeview. We are currently updating the Meet the Teachers page with our 2020 teams on our school website.

PUPIL FREE DAYS

This year we have 1 more pupil free day in term 1 on Wednesday, 12th February. We will be working with our literacy consultant Danny Hyndman on aspects of the writing workshop and using a writer’s notebook to develop ideas. Pupil free days are spread throughout the year, targeting different aspects of professional learning. The leadership team returned on Thursday 25th January to look at the 2020 directions in teaching and learning reflected in the School Strategic Plan and the draft AIP (Annual Implementation Plan).

The first pupil free day was Tuesday, 28 January which allowed for AIP time, student wellbeing, start up processes in schools and team meetings, and classroom preparation for the start of the term. It was an invaluable learning time together and also allowed a smooth transition for new and returning students over Wednesday and Thursday.

JANUARY WORKS

The school was a busy place in January with a number of projects undertaken. The massive clean-up of the grounds and veggie patches and oval and grass areas mowed- all needed to done in readiness for the start of the year. The installation of the new level 3 and 4 portable was completed and then made ready for the first day. The hall floor was resurfaced. New carpet laid in 6 classrooms and the new vinyl in the STEM room which used to be the computer lab. Maintenance painting has freshened areas around the school and the senior boys and girls toilets have been re-painted. The breezeway areas have also been repainted.

The staff car park boom gate is operational and information was sent home through an email to all families.

School Council has approved the installation of evaporative cooling in the hall. OSHClub and the Bendigo Bank grant contribution has been combined with successful fundraising for the necessary addition to our facilities used by the community. It is anticipated that the cooling should installed by the end of February.

STEM ROOM

The final touches to our new STEM room are finished and students are enjoying this great new space. Mr Evans will be teaching grades 4-6 digitech & robotics.

SAVE OUR CROSSINGS CAMPAIGN

Whitehorse City Council have voted to retain the crossings for Rangeview PS. Well done to our families and students and School Council who continue to support this invaluable service to ensure safe pedestrian travel. My message- park away, walk to school and keep using our crossings. It is a great way to start and finish the day!

STUDENT LEADERS

At the first Monday assembly, the 2020 School Captains, Max and Elodie led their first school assembly. The 2020 student leaders were also presented with their badges. These students will meet as a team regularly to develop a greater understanding of the role and set their own personal goals. There will be further opportunities for other students to lead, such as the eagerly awaited Foundation Buddies or on the sporting field as we look at educating the whole child.

FOUNDATION 2020

We hosted ‘Cheers & Tears’ morning tea for Foundation parents and grandparents on the first day of their school year. This important milestone was celebrated by parents and gave them the opportunity to introduce themselves to other new families and ask any questions they may have had. There certainly were more cheers than tears to celebrate the start of the year and the years ahead as members of our school community.

Reminder: Due to individual testing, Foundation students don’t attend school on the following dates: Wednesday 12th, 19th & 26th February & Wednesday 4th, 11th & 18th March.

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS:

The ‘Getting to Know You Interviews’ will be held on Tuesday, 11th February from 3.40 to 5.00pm and Thursday, 13th February from 3.40 to 8.00pm (final interview time 7.50pm) with a 30 minute dinner break.

Families are required to book interviews online through the schools’ online system, Sentral. Information will be sent home with times and access information. New families to Rangeview will receive their unique access number to log onto the Sentral Parent Portal. ‘Getting to Know You Interviews’ are valued by parents, students and teachers. If you do not have Internet access at home, please ring the school office on 9874 6381 for alternative arrangements to be made.

Foundation Families - Please note: there will be no Foundation interviews due to the interviews undertaken earlier in the year but an ‘Open Rooms’ will be held in the 5 Foundation rooms on Thursday 13th February between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm at which time you are most welcome to attend.

CAR PARKING

Please be aware of the various parking restrictions and drop off zones around the school. The local council do enforce restrictions with infringement notices. The 5 minute drop off zone does not allow you to walk your child into the school please do not leave your car parked in this zone, it can cause traffic congestion.

The school car park off Churinga Ave, is for staff only, except for OSHClub usage before 8am and after 4pm. The boom gate has been installed for traffic management and as a safety measure as children and cars don’t mix.

CLASS AMBASSADORS

If you are interested in supporting your child’s classroom teacher, please complete the online form in the Parents & Friends page of this newsletter by Friday, 21st February 2020. The first class ambassadors meeting will be held on Tuesday, 25th February in the staff room.

COMMUNITY PIANO

The new community piano is a hit! Students enjoying playing a tune or two on the new community piano located in the breezeway at the end of the main building.

NUDE FOOD

There has been a collective effort to reduce the litter in our school yard and it is working because students are eating inside and only permitted to take nude food outside. There are grey plastic food bins for lunch boxes near classroom doors for the students who need more time to eat. How do we use our big rubbish bins if we don't need them for litter.

School Council Elections - Notice of Elections and Call for Nomination

School Photo Day

Student order forms will be sent home over the next few days