From the Principal Class

Dear Viewbank Community,

In the last two weeks we have had so many wonderful opportunities for student engagement.  After two years of interruption, we have been able to run a range of excursions and incursions, sporting competitions, production rehearsals and our Winter Nights music evening. 

All of this takes a lot of energy and organisation and I want to thank staff for their willingness to contribute, given the ongoing impacts of Covid on staffing and general fatigue.

Our whole school Professional Practice Day on Friday 27th May saw staff complete CPR training, Emergency Management training and receive flu injections.  A well trained and healthy workforce will be critical in getting through winter with Covid and the expected flu season.  I encourage all community members to take advantage of the free flu injections that will be rolled out through pharmacies.

Emergency management is a critical part of staff training, and we are currently updating our processes and procedures.  We will be holding a lockdown drill in the next couple of weeks to test our systems, so do not be surprised if you hear about it at home!

As we get towards the end of term, senior students will be completing SACs and exams. Encourage your students to maintain healthy routines, including eating well, sleeping at least 8 hours a night and getting some exercise.  Routines are important in enabling students to study well and perform successfully.  Please keep in contact with your students House Leader or Head of House if you need support or have concerns about your student.

We are also currently organising the 2023 subject selection and transition process.

There is very important information below about the new Senior Certificate, which will be implemented in 2023 and will offer more pathways to our current Year 9 and 10 students as they begin their senior years. Please read carefully and attend the information and expo evenings which will enable you and your student to make informed choices about their future pathways.

VET, Pathways and Transitions Information Evening - Tuesday 7th June at 7pm

We welcome all families to the Viewbank College Library next Tuesday, 7th June at 7pm to hear about the different VET offerings and also to hear about the new VCE program that will commence at the College next year – the Vocational Major (VM).

Part of the evening will be explaining this new offering and how it is an option for our Year 10, 11 and 12 students from 2023 and the context for the VM at Viewbank College. 

Victoria’s senior secondary education is changing. 

From 2023, the new VCE Vocational Major will replace Intermediate and Senior VCAL. This means the VCE will recognise different students equally. 

Students will have more education choices, a higher-quality curriculum and better workplace experiences – preparing them for further study, training at TAFE or work. 

From 2023, more students will study the VCE. That is because the VCE will include the Vocational Major, a 2-year program that sits within the VCE. 

There will also be the Victorian Pathways Certificate.

The changes are a result of the Review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Senior Secondary Schooling (the Firth review). 

The review found we needed to improve vocational learning in schools. 

Schools currently offering VCAL will switch to the VCE Vocational Major from 2023.

Some schools that do not offer VCAL will expand their options to include the VCE Vocational Major. 

Teachers and careers counsellors are available to answer questions and to support students as they make decisions about their final years at school. 

Now students will have greater access to high-quality, relevant vocational education and applied learning opportunities. For more information, go to vic.gov.au/oneVCE

Friends of Music - Winter Festival

Our Winter Festival was held last night.

A huge thanks and congratulations to the whole music team lead by Katrina Wellins.

The Winter Nights festival was a huge success and it was wonderful to have our students performing to large audiences. 

Thanks also to Friends of Music who sold an enormous amount of food and worked tirelessly through the night and also for organising the Winter Festival raffle and prizes (see prize winners below). 

Thanks to everyone who assisted in the set-up in the afternoon and a huge thank you to our staff who attended and supported on the night.

Congratulations to our Raffle Winners:

We will be making contact and getting prizes to winners shortly.

Appiah - Rhthyms of West Africa

Thank you to Ms Lentini for organising Appiah Annan from Rhythm of West Africa to perform a live cultural performance on Tuesday in the Gym.

This was a great opportunity for us to celebrate the cultural diversity of our wider community as well as supporting the work that will be happening in the upcoming weeks in Launch.

Tuning in to Teens TM: Emotionally  Intelligent Parenting

Tuning in to Teens teaches you how to help your teen develop emotional intelligence and keep the lines of communication open as your teen navigates the sometimes bumpy ride of early adolescence. Greater emotional intelligence helps them to be more assertive in situations of peer pressure and have greater success with making friends and managing conflict with peers. Teens with high emotional intelligence are more able to cope when upset or angry, have fewer mental health difficulties and more stable, satisfying relationships. Emotional Intelligence is said to be a better predictor of academic and career success than IQ. 

This evidence-based program is practical, informative and gives you the opportunity to learn more about enhancing your adolescent’s emotional health and connect with other parents through discussion. It is suitable for parents of children from approx. 10 to 16 yrs. of age.

 ‘With my changes (controlling my anger, sharing his feelings, listening with empathy), my son has changed a lot. He’s very calm, very understanding, and very helpful. I feel the relationship with my son has become stronger and he trusts me more.’ 

‘It was also good to hear that the types of emotional reactions of my child are being experienced by the children of all the parents attending — that was a comfort — it’s not just us/me!’ 

 ‘It has given me strategies to deal with major meltdowns to minor incidences.

 “I am in awe at how much this program has helped me as an adult, a mother and us as a family”

‘I would really like to thank you for your warmth, support, consideration and empathy for our journey”

The program runs for 6 weeks on Wednesday evenings starting 18th May 7.30-9pm live online in small group settings. 

The cost is $220 or $320 per couple*

Kate Culy and Jodie Harris have been facilitators of the Tuning in to Kids and Tuning in to Teens programs since 2010 Kate's background is in Speech Therapy, Coaching and counselling. She is particularly passionate about supporting parents and helping families to communicate effectively. Jodie is trained in Gestalt Therapy and brings her background in counselling and her love for working with parents to the groups.  

Kate and Jodie also work with teens in a youth in school mentoring program.

For all enquiries or bookings please contact Kate Culy on 0404 042 789 or kateculy@gmail.com

*please make contact if this cost is a barrier to your attendance 

Sharon Grimes, Principal

Emma Ford, Assistant Principal

Rachael Smith, Assistant Principal

Anna Crosswhite, Acting Assistant Principal