Principal's Report
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, learn and play. We pay respect to Wurundjeri elders past, present and emerging and extend our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families of Bimbadeen Heights Primary School.
We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible success of Finn, who recently represented School Sport Victoria at the School Sport Australia National Netball Games in Ballarat at the end of October.
Over the course of an action-packed week, Finn and his team delivered an outstanding performance, going undefeated across 10 matches and proudly being crowned the 2025 12U Boys National Champions!
Finn’s performance throughout the tournament was nothing short of exceptional. His skill, determination, and teamwork were on full display in every game, earning admiration from players, coaches, and spectators alike. Not only did Finn demonstrate impressive athletic ability, but he also embodied the values of fair play and respect, so much so that he was awarded Player of the Game by the South Australian team, a special recognition of both his talent and his positive attitude on and off the court.
This remarkable achievement is a testament to Finn’s dedication to his sport and the countless hours of training and practice he has invested. We couldn’t be prouder of the way he represented our school and his state with such passion and humility.
And Finn’s sporting journey doesn’t stop there! He’s already preparing for his next exciting challenge, representing Victoria once again as part of the 12U Indoor Netball Team, competing at the National Championships in Ipswich, Queensland, this coming February.
Congratulations, Finn, on your outstanding success! We can’t wait to see where your netball journey takes you next. Go Finn, the Bimbadeen community is cheering you on every step of the way!
Remembrance Day in Australia honours the sacrifices made by both armed forces and civilians during times of war. Observed at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, a one-minute silence marks the end of hostilities on the Western Front in World War I.
On Tuesday, 11th November, our School Captains Evie and Alex, read the poem In Flanders Fields and led the school in the minute’s silence at 11am, paying tribute to those who have served and sacrificed to protect the values we cherish as Australians.
In addition, we proudly supported the Lilydale RSL’s Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal by selling poppy merchandise through the office in the weeks leading up to the day. A heartfelt thank you to all our community members who contributed to this important cause.
What an incredible day it was for our 2025 Spring Market! The school came alive with energy, colour, and creativity as students showcased their talents, ideas, and entrepreneurial flair. From the moment the stalls opened, the air was filled with excitement, laughter, and the buzz of students proudly sharing their creations.
Behind the scenes, the event was made possible by the dedication and teamwork of Ms. Laird and the Spring Market Team. Their careful planning and enthusiasm ensured everything ran seamlessly, giving our students the chance to shine. We are also deeply grateful to the many parents and carers who lent their time and expertise, whether it was helping to prepare, set up, or support on the day itself. Your involvement truly helped make the event a success.
Our Year 6 students were the driving force of the market, turning their creative ideas into thriving mini businesses. Many sold out of their products in record time, a true testament to their innovation and hard work. From concept and design to marketing and customer service, they embraced every part of the entrepreneurial journey and impressed everyone who visited their stalls.
The funds raised from previous Spring Markets have already left a legacy, supporting the graduating classes of 2023 and 2024 in creating two GaGa pits now enjoyed daily by our students. This year, the class of 2025 is working toward an exciting new goal, raising funds to help replace our existing playgrounds. Once completed, a commemorative plaque will celebrate their contribution and ensure future generations remember the positive impact of our graduating students.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Spring Market such a success!
At Bimbadeen Heights Primary School, we know that dogs are an important part of many families’ lives and are often a much-loved presence on the way to and from school. However, to ensure the safety and comfort of all students, staff, and visitors, we ask all families to please follow our Dogs at School Policy when bringing pets onto school grounds.
Pet dogs are welcome at Bimbadeen Heights as long as they are kept on a leash and under the full control of a responsible adult at all times. Owners are also responsible for cleaning up after their dogs and ensuring that their pets remain calm and well-behaved while on school property. Please note that dogs must not be tied up or left unattended anywhere on the grounds.
We also ask that families carefully consider whether their dog is comfortable around large crowds, children, or other animals. If your dog is anxious, excitable, or sensitive to busy environments, we kindly request that you refrain from bringing them into the school grounds during drop-off and pick-up times when the area is particularly crowded. This helps keep everyone, including our students, parents, staff, and pets, safe and happy.
As always, our priority is to maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for everyone in our school community. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us uphold this standard.
The last day of TheirCare’s Out of School Hours Care program is Friday 19 December – the final day of term. Vacation care is closed over the Christmas period.
TeamKids will commence Vacation Care on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, followed by Before and After School Care starting on Thursday, 29 January 2026, when students return for the new school year.
What Families Need to Do:
All families will be required to register with TeamKids.
If you are new to TeamKids:
If you have used TeamKids previously:
Customer Support TeamKids’ Australian-based Customer Service team is here to help.
TeamKids are excited to join the Bimbadeen Heights Primary School community as your new Outside School Hours Care provider from the 6 January 2026 and we look forward to welcoming you when we open for Vacation Care on that day.
To ensure you have all the information you need, you are invited to join our Family Information Webinar. In this session, we’ll provide information about TeamKids – who we are and what makes our services different, we’ll talk about the programs on offer, how to Register and Book as well addressing any questions you may have.
Our Foundation students were filled with excitement last week as they welcomed their grandparents and special friends to school for our annual Grandparents’ and Special Person’s Afternoon. The classrooms were alive with conversation, laughter, and pride as students shared their learning, classroom activities, and the wonderful work they’ve been doing this term.
This event is always a highlight of the year, and a chance for students to celebrate their achievements and for families to experience the joy of learning at our school. We hope our visiting grandparents and special friends enjoyed their time with us and will continue to be part of our school community through future visits and our parent and carer helper program.
Thank you for helping make this afternoon so memorable and for supporting our students as they continue to “reach for the heights.”
We are well underway with planning for our 2026 school year and the formation of classes. To do this effectively, we need to know which students will be continuing with us next year. This information is essential to ensure that our classes are balanced in all areas, including academic needs, wellbeing, and friendships. Even one student moving can impact the make-up of a class and the connections within it.
If you know that your child will not be attending Bimbadeen Heights Primary School next year, please email us at bimbadeen.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au with details of the new school they will be attending.
Thank you for helping us plan and create the best possible learning environment for all our students in 2026.
School Council has approved our pupil free days for 2026. On these days, our staff participate in a range of activities designed to support the priorities outlined in our School’s Annual Improvement Plan.
These include professional learning sessions, collaborative planning, report writing, and a common teacher professional practice day, as required under the Victorian Government Schools Agreement (our enterprise bargaining agreement).
The confirmed pupil free dates for 2026 are as follows:
Term 1 Tuesday 27 January 2026 (State-wide Pupil Free Day)
Wednesday 28 January 2026
Term 2 Wednesday 3 June 2026
Term 3 Monday 13 July 2026
Term 4 Wednesday 11 November 2026.
We are now halfway through our transition program for our 2026 Foundation students, and the excitement has been wonderful to see! Our 2026 Founders have attended their first two transition sessions, the beginning of four sessions designed to help them become familiar with our school environment, meet new friends, and feel confident about starting primary school next year.
It has been a joy to see their smiling faces and hear their enthusiasm as they proudly took part in their first experiences as ‘school kids’. These early opportunities to explore classrooms, meet teachers, and engage in fun learning activities help make the start of school a positive and smooth transition for everyone.
We look forward to welcoming our new families to our community at the 2026 Foundation Welcome BBQ later this term and to continuing our remaining onsite sessions in the coming weeks.
Information about the program has been sent directly to families of enrolled children, including details about the remaining sessions, which will be held on:
Back to school is an exciting time for students and families. It can be a big step - particularly for those starting prep or moving to secondary school.
The Department of Education has a dedicated website containing information to support your children enjoy a successful transition to primary or secondary school.
The tips below outline how you can help your child have a positive start to school and can be helpful for all families of children beginning school or moving on to a new year level.
The year before school
During the summer holidays
The first day of school
The first year of school
Further information about starting school for students beginning Primary School as well as Secondary School can be located at https://www.vic.gov.au/tips-starting-school#children-starting-primary-school
We hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend with your families, and we are looking forward to another fantastic week of learning at Bimbadeen.
Adele Gregson, Sabrina George, Marty Gill and Bree King
