Farewells.

Victor Hugo once said, ‘Life is ever a series of partings’ and today that is very true for our school community. One of Bimbadeen’s finest educators, Garry Fowler, has ended his long and illustrious career today. Garry has been an important part of Bimbadeen for 32 years, much of that time as the school’s PE and Sport teacher but ending his career as Assistant Principal where his leadership, care and concern for children was at the core of every decision made. To teach is to touch a life forever and Garry has certainly done that over his 37 years of teaching in Government schools. (He spent his first few years teaching at Mooroolbark Primary School.) He has started teaching the second generation of children and there are even some teachers on staff who he taught. We are all going to miss him however his influence and his legacy will live on for a very long time. His replacement Mrs Sabrina George, spent Tuesday here with him and we are looking forward to her joining our high performing team.

We also farewell Mrs Brenda Michael, our Business Manager, who has been with us for the past seven years. Bren has been a most diligent and careful steward of the school’s finances and business operations. Her integrity and compassion have been a great asset to our school and have benefitted many. Mrs Adele Gates will be stepping into the Business Manager’s role and Mrs Shelley Canning will be taking over Del’s spot at the front desk.

We wish both Garry and Brenda a very long, happy and healthy retirements.

We will also be farewelling, although only temporarily we expect, two of our teachers at the end of this term.

Mrs Kate Troschke, who has been working part-time teaching Year 6 Music and providing support with Maths Intervention in the Year 3/4 classes, will be leaving to have a baby. Kate will be replaced by two teachers, Mrs Katie Borczuck and Mrs Lauren Dovaston for the second half of the year.

Mrs Melissa Simpson, our Art teacher, is also leaving to have a baby. We have appointed two teachers to replace Melissa with, Lauren Dovaston teaching the Year F – 2 art classes and Amelia Gonzalez teaching the Year 3 – 6 art classes from the start of next term.

We wish both Melissa and Kate all the very best with the pending arrival of new babies.

We have missed Pam on our School Crossing outside the school on Hayrick Lane for the past couple of weeks. I was informed this week that she is unwell and on sick leave and is also unlikely to return at the start of next term. Pam has been one of our Crossing Supervisors for around 20 years so is well known and loved by many. We have sent her some flowers and have wished her a speedy recovery.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Teachers have enjoyed meeting with parents this week for the mid-year interviews. Teachers have all reported that it was great to speak with parents about the children’s learning successes and to meet some of the parents who they have not had the chance to meet with very often this year. Thank you to everyone who braved the cold and sometimes dark to come here. If you did not manage to get here for an interview this week please contact your child’s teacher early next term so that a suitable time can be arranged. We know that the children who do better at school are those whose parents are working well with the teacher and have a good relationship with them.

Work experience Students

This week we have had some Year 10 Secondary School students here on work experience. James Basford, Emma DiPaolo, Amy Wahrenberger, Molly Barnewall and Sam Horne have come from a number of different Secondary Schools to experience what it is like to work in a Primary School. These fine young people have carried themselves well in our school and showed great maturity.

Emma and Molly are past Bimbadeen students and it was lovely to welcome them back. I’m sure they have all gained some insights into what working in a Primary School is like and I wish them all the best with the rest of their secondary schooling and hope that they consider a career in primary teaching. We will always need great teachers, especially males.

Move into the New Building

The new building is almost complete and will be ready for us to move into from the start of next term. It is hard to believe that this building journey we commenced over four years ago is almost over! 1/2E and 1/2D will be the first classes to move into the new building on Tuesday of the first week back. On Wednesday of that week 1/2A and 1/2R will move into the new building and 3/4F will move up into the room vacated by 1/2D. On Thursday the Art and Chinese rooms will move and on Friday the Music room will move.

If you have any spare time on those days and are happy to come and help us move please come along. Mr Ray Legione will be co-ordinating the move and we will love to have as much help as we can get.

Canteen Next Term

We hope to be able to start running our canteen out of the new building by week 2 next term. School Council have approved Katri’s Catering to continue to operate our canteen for us and they have committed to operating it on two days a week, Wednesdays and Fridays. We will let the community know when the canteen will be operating on Fridays as well as Wednesdays.

Final-Leigh:

Thank you Mr Fowler and Auntie Bren for your amazing careers and for the difference you made in the lives of so many. We hope that the next chapter of your lives is just as interesting and rewarding, (perhaps a little more relaxing), as the chapter that is just closing. We know you will always be friends of Bimbadeen and we wish you good health and happiness.

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School Holiday Program