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.
As our school continues to grow, so does our commitment to providing the best educational experience for our students. With an expanding enrolment, we are excited to introduce several changes to our staffing profile that will support our evolving needs. These changes reflect our dedication to maintaining a high standard of excellence in teaching, leadership, and support services. Below are introductions to our new positions and new additions to our team:
Introducing Our New Assistant Principal: Mr Marty Gill
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Marty Gill will be joining our Principal Class Team as the school’s second Assistant Principal, starting in 2025. As our school continues to grow, we are excited to appoint an exceptional educator with a strong passion for supporting both students and staff in achieving excellence in learning outcomes.
Mr. Gill brings a wealth of experience, having a proven track record in leading teaching and learning improvement. Over the past three years, he has made significant contributions in his role within the disability inclusion program, establishing a strong foundation for the program’s future at our school. We are incredibly grateful for his leadership in this area, and we look forward to seeing the continued positive impact of his work.
In his new role as Assistant Principal, Mr. Gill will work closely with teachers to drive excellence in teaching and learning, ensuring that teaching practices are tailored to have the greatest impact on student achievement. He will also collaborate with the school leadership team to support professional growth and maintain a focus on improving outcomes for all students.
Mr. Gill is excited for this new challenge and is committed to fostering a learning environment where all students can succeed. Please join us in congratulating him on his new appointment, and we look forward to the continued success of our school under his leadership.
Introducing Our New Disability Inclusion Leader: Mrs Bree King
We are excited to announce the appointment of Mrs. Bree King as our new Disability Inclusion Leader, starting in 2025. Mrs. King is an exceptional educator with a deep passion for inclusion, and we are thrilled to have her join our leadership team.
As Disability Inclusion Leader, Mrs. King will play a pivotal role in ensuring that students with additional needs are fully engaged in their education and meeting their learning goals. She will work closely with our school leadership, wellbeing staff, allied health team, and external services to coordinate support for students, ensuring a smooth and seamless approach to meeting their individual needs.
Mrs. King will also lead our school’s Disability Inclusion program, advocating for students with disabilities and additional needs, promoting high expectations and aspirations for their learning. She will work with teachers to develop and implement Individual Education Plans (IEPs) that provide tailored support, ensuring that students have a voice in setting their own learning targets. Additionally, she will help build staff capacity in differentiating teaching strategies and support teachers in creating inclusive learning environments for all students.
Her leadership will focus on promoting a culture of inclusion and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed. Mrs. King is committed to fostering collaboration and professional growth, both for herself and the staff she supports, to ensure ongoing improvements in student outcomes.
We look forward to the positive impact that Mrs. King’s leadership will have on our school community, and we are excited to work with her to continue building an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Bree King to our team!
Introducing Our New Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader: Amanda Bailey
We are thrilled to welcome Amanda Bailey as Bimbadeen Heights Primary School’s new Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader. Amanda joins Bimbadeen from Wandin North Primary School, and she brings a wealth of experience in mental health and education, and we are confident her leadership will enhance our focus on wellbeing for students, staff, and families.
This new role is part of the Victorian Government's Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative, which aims to ensure every primary school has a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader by 2026. The initiative focuses on prevention, early intervention, and clear referral pathways for support.
Amanda will help build our school’s capacity to identify and address mental health challenges, guiding staff in supporting students and connecting families with the right services. While not a clinical role, Amanda will lead professional development, integrate mental health strategies into teaching, and foster a proactive approach across the school.
Her leadership will strengthen our school’s ability to promote mental wellbeing, creating a supportive environment where students feel safe, valued, and able to thrive. We look forward to the positive impact Amanda will bring to our school community.
Meet Our New Learning Specialists for 2025
We are thrilled to introduce three new Learning Specialists at our school for the 2025 school year: Beth Dean, Emily Way, and Kristine Borys. These highly skilled classroom practitioners are passionate about supporting both student learning outcomes and the ongoing development of our teaching practices.
As Learning Specialists, Ms Dean, Mrs Way and Mrs Borys will continue to spend much of their time in the classroom, delivering high-quality lessons and ensuring that every student thrives. They bring a wealth of expertise and will play a key role in helping to enhance achievement, engagement, and wellbeing for all students.
Their responsibilities will include modelling excellent teaching through demonstration lessons, observing other teachers, providing valuable feedback, and facilitating school-based professional learning opportunities. By mentoring and coaching their colleagues, they will help improve the skills, knowledge, and effectiveness of our entire teaching team.
We are excited about the positive impact these new roles will have on our school community. Ms Dean, Mrs Way and Mrs Borys are eager to get started and continue building a culture of excellence in teaching and learning at our school. Please join us in welcoming them to their new roles as they embark on this important work in 2025!
Thank you and Farewell
Ms Vanessa Saffin and Mr Jarrod Wait will be leaving Bimbadeen at the end of the year as they take up new opportunities in their careers. We would like to express a sincere thank you to each of them for their work, service, and contributions to our community through their roles as classroom and specialist teachers, respectfully, and wish them every success for their futures.
See you soon!
Ms Hayley Cook will be taking 12 months leave from her role at Bimbadeen Heights PS in 2025. Mrs Virginia Gardner (Classroom Teacher), and Jenna Fowler (Integration Aide), have extended their period of leave for a further 12 months. We wish Ms Cook, Mrs Gardner and Jenna all the best for next year and look forward to welcoming them back to Bimbadeen in 2026.
Welcome to Bimbadeen
We are excited to be welcoming 5 new staff members to our community in 2025, in either Classroom Teacher, Specialist Teacher or Education Support staff roles. We are pleased to share the following introductions to our new members of staff:
Amanda Bailey
Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader
Hello, my name is Amanda Bailey, and I’m thrilled to be part of this vibrant and welcoming school community. With a deep passion for supporting students' well-being and helping them reach their full potential, I’m always inspired to create a learning environment where every child feels empowered and excited to learn. I believe in the power of teamwork and love collaborating with my colleagues to create engaging and meaningful experiences for our students.
Outside of school, I’m a proud mother of four and enjoy going on adventures with my husband and kids. I’m always planning our next family holiday! I’m also a big fan of AFL—especially the Hawthorn Hawks—and in my downtime, you’ll find me at the beach swimming and fossicking in rockpools, painting, designing, and spending time with friends.
I’m excited to be part of this new chapter at Bimbadeen Heights and can’t wait to get to know everyone in this amazing community.
Melissa Murray
Foundation Classroom Teacher
I am feeling very grateful to be joining the Bimbadeen Heights Community in 2025. I look forward to meeting all the new families and seeing all the familiar faces I have gotten to know while being a CRT over the last year! I will be working alongside a wonderful team in Foundation, planning and creating an inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable learning program for all Foundation students. I have at my previous school, worked in a Foundation Classroom for 2 years as team leader and then supporting my team leader in the classroom 4 years prior. It has been a wonderful journey already in my teaching career and I look forward to extending my own learning and the students’.
Before entering the school sector, I worked as a Kinder Teacher and an Early Childhood Educator for many years. I believe in a continuity of learning and working hard to bridge the gaps that can occur between transitions to new places. In my year as a CRT at Bimbadeen I have learned so much about their rich culture and had many opportunities to have travelled to many places with friends, family and even solo! In just one year I got to see places like Bali, Singapore, London, Europe, New Zealand and drove along the Great Ocean Road. I cannot wait to continue travelling and seeing even more of the world we live in. When I am not travelling, I am spending time with friends and family, going to live music events, going for walks/exercising, eating delicious foods and going on road trips especially to different beaches and forests.
I look forward to getting to know everyone throughout 2025!
Meg Elkin
Year 2 Classroom Teacher
Hello, Bimbadeen Heights families!
My name is Meg Elkin, and I am super excited to be joining your wonderful school for 2025. I have heard so many great things about Bimbadeen Heights PS and I am really looking forward to joining the Level 2 team.
I am coming to Bimbadeen Heights PS after a year of teaching Grade 1 at another local school. I have loved building relationships with each of my students and their families this year and cannot wait to do the same at BHPS next year!
My aim is to create a positive learning environment for all students, so they feel excited about coming to school each day to learn new things. I love teaching so much that I have also worked as a swimming instructor at Aquahub and Aquanation. I may recognise some of your faces around the school!
When I am not teaching, I love to spend time with my family and friends, play basketball and go to the beach. I also love to play with my cheeky Cavoodle puppy named Ollie, who keeps me on my toes!
I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday with your loved ones and I looking forward to seeing you next year.
Thomas Munnecke
Physical Education (PE)
My name is Thomas Munnecke, and I’m excited to be joining the Bimbadeen Heights community in 2025 as the new Physical Education teacher.
I’m passionate about fitness and sport, and I can’t wait to inspire students to push their limits, try new things, and build resilience. I believe that there’s a sport or physical activity out there for everyone, and my goal is to empower students to discover activities they love while developing lifelong healthy habits.
Outside of school, I’m a big fan of kickboxing! I especially enjoy traveling to Thailand during the summer holidays to train in Thai boxing, learn the language, and (of course) indulge in all the amazing food before heading home.
When I’m not training, you’ll often find me playing tennis, biking, trying new restaurants, camping around Victoria, or spending quality time with my family and my two pugs.
I’m really looking forward to meeting you all and becoming part of this wonderful community. Here’s to a fun and active year ahead!
Trish Garcia
Education Support Staff - Integration Aide
I feel privileged to be joining the amazing Bimbadeen Community, a vibrant learning space where everyone is welcomed and valued, and their ethics are deeply aligned with my own.
In my role as Education Support, I build meaningful relationships with students, focusing on their strengths and interests. I create a safe space for them to be able to express themselves, whilst encouraging curiosity about the world around them and a sense of fun in connection to learning.
Student wellbeing is important to me, and I am passionate about building a student’s confidence and belief in themselves.
Outside of school, I love spending time with my children, friends and my dog, Ghost. He is just like the dog in the movie “Oddball”, a cheeky, cuddly white bear and a wonderful companion. I enjoy meditation, exploring new places, painting, photography, dance and nature.
After thorough workforce planning, we are very pleased to announce our Leadership and Staffing Structure for 2025 (repeat information sent home on Tuesday 10 December):
Leadership Structure
Principal: Adele Gregson
Assistant Principal – Wellbeing and School Operations: Sabrina George
Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning: Marty Gill
Leading Teacher – Disability Inclusion: Bree King
Leading Teacher – Mental Health and Wellbeing: Amanda Bailey (Tues, Wed, Fri)
Learning Specialist – Teaching and Learning: Beth Dean (Thurs)
Learning Specialist – Teaching and Learning: Emily Way (Wed)
Learning Specialist – Teaching and Learning: Kristine Borys
Administration Structure
Business Manager: Adele Gates
Accounts Payable: Shelley Canning
Administration: Emma Chandler
Classroom Teaching Structure
0JG Jemima Gange (Team Leader)
0MG Matthew Gates
0AJ Ashleigh Janssen
0MM Melissa Murray
1WD Emily Way (Mon, Tues) (Team Leader) / Ashleigh Danes (Wed, Thurs, Fri)
1MT Melissa Thomas
1MR Miranda Read
1TJ Tracey Johansen
2BD Beth Dean (Team Leader) (Mon, Tues, Wed) / Annikka Hay (Thurs, Fri)
2ME Meg Elkin
2NW Liz Nicholson (Mon, Tues, Wed fortnightly) / Kate Wood (Wed fortnightly, Thurs, Fri)
2SE Sharon Egan
3MR Melinda Ruscitti (Team Leader)
3MF Michelle Franks
3DM Dominic McKay
4JG Joshua Gray (Team Leader)
4AM Alycia Marx (Kennington)
4ST Samantha Tallentyre
5MB Tania Maniscalchi (Mon, Tues) / Kate Buzaglo (Wed, Thurs, Fri) (Team Leader)
5LH Lizzie Henderson
5TW Tayla White
6EM Erin Murphy (Team Leader)
6BB Lauren Barbour (Mon, Tues, Fri fortnightly) / Blair Blackburn (Wed, Thurs, Fri fortnightly)
Specialist Structure
Visual Art: Amelia Laird (Team Leader)
Chinese: Candice Xue
Physical Education: Thomas Munnecke
Performing Arts: Kate Schie (Wed, Thurs, Fri)
Natalie Lowe (Mon, Tues)
Extra Specialist Classes: Natalie Lowe (Wed, Thurs)
Early Intervention: Kristine Borys (Wed, Thurs, Fri)
TLI / Equity Tutor: Michaela Gray
EAL Tutor/Graduate Release: Laura Simkin (Mon, Tues)
Team Leader/Graduate Release: Stacy Brookes (Wed, Thurs)
Graduate Mentoring: Beth Dean
Education Support Staff Structure
Student Counsellor: Liam Bransgrove (Tues, Wed, Thurs) (Student Wellbeing Coordinator)
Student Counsellor: Natalie Robertson (Mon, Tues, Wed)
First Aid: Cyndi Grant
Maintenance: Tim Lake (Tues, Wed)
Intervention/Library: Karin Sansom (Mon, Tues, Wed)
Integration Aides: Tracey Price-O’Reilly, Gerry Ladiges, Sam Lam, Sarah Hawker, Jo Palmer, Emma Beer, Tristan Stafford, Harry Brzozek, Lisa Vanderwerf, Anu Velamakanni, Alahna Musgrove, Jennifer Cawood, Lily Redmond, Trish Garcia
ICT: Ken Worth (Wed PM, Fri)
Our Whole School Transition Meet the Teacher and the Class session was held on Tuesday this week. During this session, students including all current and new students attending Bimbadeen Heights PS in 2025 met their teacher and spent some time with their new class for next year. There is always much excitement, and some nerves, around meeting your new teacher and classmates for the upcoming year. It was very pleasing to see the high level of resilience our students showed throughout the session and how much they enjoyed meeting their new teacher and peers. On the same day, our Year 6 students moving onto government secondary schools had their Year 7 Transition Orientation where they spent the day preparing to begin their secondary schooling in 2025.
We are thrilled to share that our Grade 6 Graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening was a truly memorable occasion and a fitting way to celebrate our graduating class of 2024.
Several awards were presented as part of the ceremony. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients:
Helen Nissner Citizenship Awards:
Proudly presented by Helen Nissner, the former Assistant Principal of Bimbadeen Heights Primary School. This award has been presented since 2001 and is named in her honour.
The Helen Nissner Citizenship Award is given to the students who have demonstrated, to the highest standard, the school values in their time at our school and within the community.
Academic Endeavour Awards:
Awarded to students who show a drive and continual focus on achieving academic excellence in the classroom. They embrace a growth mindset and continually strive to achieve their personal best.
Student Voice Awards:
Proudly presented for the first time by the Year Six teachers on behalf of the Class of 2024. These Student Voice Award Recipients have been carefully chosen by their peers who have noticed their efforts and achievements. The Year Six students nominated their classmates that have demonstrated our school values of Respect, Integrity, Compassion and Resilience:
Specialist Awards:
2024 Student Leadership Team:
A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Year 6 Team, and our incredible parent and carer helpers who formed the organising committee and assisted with supervising the disco. Your support made the event extra special and a huge success (our students voted the ice cream truck a winner)!
To our Grade 6 students, we wish you the very best of luck in all your future endeavours. Remember, you will always have a home here at Bimbadeen, and we will be cheering you on every step of the way!
As the school year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for our wonderful parent and carer helpers. Your unwavering support, enthusiasm, and involvement in our school community have been nothing short of extraordinary. We simply couldn’t have provided the level of care, support, and enriching learning opportunities for our students without your invaluable contributions.
From assisting in the classroom to supporting excursions and incursions, volunteering at events, and offering your expertise in countless ways, you’ve played a vital role in the success of this year. Your dedication, generosity, and time have helped create a warm and vibrant environment that benefits every student at Bimbadeen Heights Primary School, and for that, we are deeply grateful.
The saying, "It takes a village to raise a child," rings true more than ever when we see our parents and carers so actively engaged in their children’s education. Your involvement strengthens the fabric of our school community and makes Bimbadeen Heights Primary School a truly special place. The bonds we share with you—our committed, caring parents and carers—are an integral part of the positive and thriving atmosphere we cherish here.
We want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to every parent, grandparent and carer who has generously given their time and energy to support our school. Your partnership with our teachers, your dedication to our students' growth, and your belief in the power of community are deeply appreciated. We are so grateful for everything you do, and we look forward to continuing this incredible partnership in the years to come!
A new school year is an exciting time for students and families, but it can be a big step – particularly for those starting Prep or moving to secondary school.
The Department of Education has published a webpage with resources and information to help you prepare for the new school year.
During the school holidays, please consider reading through the resources, which include:
Please refer to the New year of learning webpage.
As we prepare for the start of Term 1 2025, we want to remind you about the upcoming 'Get to Know You' Interviews which will take place during Week 2 and Week 3 of Term 1, from 3rd February to 14th February 2025.
These interviews are a valuable opportunity for us to learn more about your child/ren and family, and to establish strong, supportive relationships right from the start of the year. By sharing insights into your child’s strengths, interests, and needs, we can work together to ensure they have a successful and fulfilling year ahead. Building strong relationships between home and school is essential to your child’s success. By taking the time to book an interview, we can better understand how to support your child’s learning and development throughout 2025.
Look out for further communication with instructions on how to book your interview time early in 2025. We encourage you to secure your spot as soon as possible! Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to working closely with you to make 2025 a valuable learning and development year for your child/ren.
VICSWIM is a 5-day intensive learn to swim and water safety program for children aged 4 to 12 years.
The Victorian Government subsidises the program. Aquatics and Recreation Victoria runs it. If you are interested in accessing the program for your children, please see the information below:
Program details
Dates: Monday 6 January to Friday 10 January, Monday 13 January to Friday 17 January, Monday 20 January to Friday 24 January
Time: 5 lessons, 30 minutes each
Location: more than 170 pools, beaches and waterways across the state. To find your nearest location, refer to VICSWIM 2025 venues
Cost: $35 per child for the week.
For more information and to book, refer to the VICSWIM website. You will need to create an account to book.
Swim City – Water Safety Resources
Life Saving Victoria’s Swim City resource is a fun way to support your children stay safe in and around the water. Swim City is a free online game-based experience where children can learn about water safety from animated characters, Fin, Pod and Splash. Swim City is designed to complement swimming lessons. It now includes a module about water safety at farms. You can access the Swim City resources and promotional material via the embedded link.
6 tips for parents, carers and families to support your child to settle into a new class By Sharon Baker.
Starting a new school year is an exciting time for many, but for some students (and their parents) it can also be quite challenging. The return to school can be tricky for parents and carers to navigate to ensure their child is happy and settled in the classroom. Your child may be upset about changing classes or be worried that they might not be in the same class as their friends. Many students experience these anxieties as a new school year begins.
Questions such as ‘is this a great opportunity for my child to build resilience and expand their social circles?’ and ‘my child might be miserable, should I talk to the school about changing classes?’ are common dilemmas faced by families.
While there’s no one size fits all approach, here are 6 tips from Sharon Baker, Principal in Residence at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, informed by Australian research and the general principles of child psychology.
1. Acknowledge their feelings
2. Focus on positives and familiarity
3. Encourage problem-solving and independence
4. Set and maintain predictable routine
5. Encourage open communication with teachers
6. Promote friendships and social skills
Supporting a child through a class transition takes time and patience. You can make the adjustment more manageable by recognising their feelings, setting positive expectations, and helping them prepare for the change.
Teachers and school leaders have generally seen it all and will be well-placed to support and provide advice. Contacting your child’s school to understand what supports are available, and how other students who may have experienced similar concerns in the past have gone on to excel is often a great way to draw on the experience and expertise from those who are also committed to seeing your child flourish in the new year.
For more information, resources like Beyond Blue and the Australian Institute of Family Studies provide helpful guidance on fostering resilience and managing transitions for children. The Department of Education also provides some helpful Tips for Starting School and a Starting School Guide, which has hints for changing schools and supporting children with additional needs.
Sharon Baker is a Principal in Residence at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. Sharon has nearly thirty-five years' experience as a teacher and school leader.
Bimbadeen Heights Primary School is committed to child safety and upholding the Child Safe Standards. To do so, we continually review and update our processes and procedures to strengthen a culture of Child Safety to create and maintain a child safe organisation.
The School Community will be informed about the strategies and allocated roles and responsibilities through the school newsletter and information via the school website. School Council reviews and ratifies the Child Safety related policies throughout each year, to reflect the requirements of Ministerial Order 870 and outlines the school’s approach to Child Safety.
The Child Safe standards information including policy and associated documents as well as other resources can be accessed on our school website at https://www.bimbadeenheightsps.vic.edu.au/child-safe-standards/
Bimbadeen Heights Primary School has zero tolerance for child abuse. We are committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Our child safe policies, procedures, strategies, and practices will be inclusive of the needs of all children, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, LGBTIQA students and children who are vulnerable including students who are in out of home care.
Every person involved in Bimbadeen Heights Primary School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.
The role and responsibility for implementing and monitoring the Child Safe strategies at Bimbadeen is Assistant Principal, Mrs Sabrina George. Mrs George can be contacted on 03 9726 9989.
As 2024 comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks for your continued support throughout the year at Bimbadeen.
Your involvement has been instrumental in making this year a success. From assisting in the classroom, supporting fundraising initiatives, and contributing to our Open Night, school events and excursions, your efforts have played a crucial role in strengthening both our programs and our community.
We are incredibly proud of our students and deeply grateful for the sense of connection we share with you all. As we approach the festive season, we wish you a safe and joyful holiday. We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year and continuing the journey of growth and learning together.
During the school break, we hope you enjoy some well-deserved time with your children, friends, and family. Please stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you on the first day of school in 2025 on 30 January for students in Years 1-6 and 3 February for students in Foundation (Foundation individual student testing dates: 30-31 January, 5 February, 12 February, 19 February).
Warm regards, Adele Gregson, Sabrina George & Marty Gill
