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 hope all the wonderful mothers and special friends in our Bimbadeen community had a very Happy Mother’s Day last Sunday. On behalf of the students and staff at BHPS, we want to express our heartfelt thanks for everything you do to support your children in being the best they can be. Your encouragement as they strive to reach their goals and fulfill their potential is deeply appreciated. Thank you for being you!
While Mother’s Day is traditionally a day of celebration, we also recognize that it can be a challenging time for some in our community. Please know that you’ve been especially in our thoughts. We are sending a giant hug as we acknowledge those who are no longer with us and those with whom we couldn’t celebrate.
A special thank you to Sarah Huxley, Liz Nicholson, Kate Wood, and all the parent/carer helpers who contributed to making our Mother’s Day stall such a success. The teachers and parent/carer volunteers who assisted the children with their purchases and helped them manage their money made the experience memorable for all. It’s always a joy to see the focused and excited looks on the children’s faces as they choose their gifts.
We received wonderful feedback from many of our parent/carer helpers about the excellent manners and patience displayed by our students while they waited their turn. Well done, Bimbadeen kids!
We warmly invite all of our Bimbadeen families, as well as prospective families, to join us for Open Night on Wednesday, 21st May. Come and celebrate our Annual Art Show, where our students’ incredible artworks will be on display, all tied to this year’s special theme.
In addition to the Art Show, classrooms will be open from 5:15pm to 6:30pm, offering a fun family activity trail through our classrooms and specialist areas. It's a great opportunity to explore the school and engage in hands-on activities together.
For more details, please refer to the Open Night flyer in this newsletter and the advertisement board at the front of the school.
We would love to see all Bimbadeen families there to share in the celebration of our students’ creativity and to enjoy the evening together. We hope to see you at Open Night!
We kindly ask that all members of our community continue to be ultra-cautious and safe around the school during drop-off and pick-up times. It’s important to remember to be courteous and respectful to others.
Unfortunately, we’ve received several reports from neighbours and school community members about dangerous driving and illegal parking, especially on the grassed nature strip area at the rear of the school. Please be mindful of these concerns and ensure you're following all parking and traffic regulations.
To help ease congestion and avoid the stress of traffic, consider active travel options! Walking with your children, encouraging them to walk with friends, or parking a few blocks away and walking the rest of the way to school are great alternatives. These options offer numerous benefits:
· Your children will get some exercise and fresh air before school.
· They’ll have the opportunity to socialise, setting a positive tone for the day.
· You can avoid potential traffic infringement notices and reduce risks associated with dropping off at the front gate.
We appreciate your ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our students and families. Thank you for your cooperation!
According to the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic), all children and young people aged 6 to 17 years are required to attend school, unless an exemption has been granted. As parents and carers, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child attends school when it is open for instruction. Students are expected to be at school every day during normal school hours, unless they are unwell.
It’s important to note that even small amounts of absence add up over time. For example, a student who misses just one day per week is absent for 40 days per year. Over the course of their time at Bimbadeen, this pattern would result in 280 days missed by the time they finish Foundation to Year 6 – equivalent to an entire year of schooling!
To give your child the best chance to reach their full potential and to prepare them for the learning opportunities ahead in secondary school, we ask that you ensure your child attends school every day, unless they are genuinely unwell.
Thank you for your support in helping our students succeed.
We are excited to announce that enrolments for Foundation in 2026 are now open!
We warmly invite prospective parents to explore our school through an online tour via our website. This is a great opportunity to learn about our school’s values and programs, and to meet our dedicated staff and students.
For those who would prefer a more personal touch, we also offer in-person tours where we can show you around our wonderful school, answer any questions, and discuss your child’s individual needs.
This year, we are using the VicStudents online system for 2026 Foundation enrolments. VicStudents is designed for students enrolling in a Victorian Government School for the first time, including Foundation (Prep) enrolments for 2026.
For detailed information on how to enrol your child in a Victorian government primary school, please visit the Enrolling in Foundation (Prep) page on our website.
If you have any questions or need assistance with your child’s enrolment application, please don’t hesitate to contact our school office at 9726 9989 or via email at Bimbadeen.Heights.PS@education.vic.gov.au.
We look forward to welcoming your child to our Bimbadeen community!
Our Child Safety Code of Conduct sets out the expected behaviour of adults with children and young people in our school.
All Bimbadeen Heights Primary School staff, volunteers, contractors, service providers, school council members and any other adult involved in child-connected work must follow the Child Safety Code of Conduct.
The Child Safety Code of Conduct applies to all physical and online environments used by students. It also applies during or outside of school hours and in other locations provided by the school for student use (for example, a school camp).
Acceptable behaviours
As Bimbadeen Heights Primary School, staff, volunteers, contractors, and any other member of our school community involved in child-connected work, we are responsible for supporting and promoting the safety of children by:
● upholding our Bimbadeen Heights Primary School commitment to child safety at all times and adhering to our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
● treating students and families in our school community with respect in our school environment and outside our school environment as part of normal social and community activities
● listening and responding to the views and concerns of students, particularly if they disclose that they or another child or student has been abused or are worried about their safety or the safety of another child or student
● promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, students with a disability, international students, students who are unable to live at home and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTIQ+) students
● ensuring, as far as practicable, that adults are not alone with a student – one-to-one interactions between an adult and a student are to be in an open space or in line of sight of another adult.
● reporting any allegations of child abuse or other child safety concerns to the Principal or Assistant Principal on 9726-9989
● understanding and complying with all reporting and disclosure obligations (including mandatory reporting) in line with our Child Safety Responding and Reporting Policy and Procedures, accessible in the School Policies section of our website https://www.bimbadeenheightsps.vic.edu.au and the PROTECT Four Critical Actions.
● if child abuse is suspected, ensuring as quickly as possible that the student(s) are safe and protected from harm.
Unacceptable behaviours
As Bimbadeen Heights Primary School staff, volunteers, contractors, and member of our
school community involved in child-connected work we must not:
● ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse or harm
● develop a relationship with any student that could be seen as favouritism or amount to ‘grooming’ behaviour (for example, by offering gifts)
● display behaviours or engage with students in ways that are not justified by the educational or professional context
● ignore an adult’s overly familiar or inappropriate behaviour towards a student
● discuss intimate topics or use sexualised language, except when needed to deliver the school curriculum or professional guidance
● treat a child or student unfavourably because of their disability, age, gender, race, culture, vulnerability, sexuality, or ethnicity
● communicate directly with a student through personal or private contact channels (including by social media, email, instant messaging, texting etc) except where that communication is reasonable in all the circumstances, related to schoolwork or extra-curricular activities or where there is a safety concern or other urgent matter
● photograph or video a child or student in a school environment except in accordance with the Photographing, Filming and Recording Students policy or where required for duty of care purposes
● consume alcohol against school policy or take illicit drugs in the school environment or at school events where students are present
● have contact with any student outside of school hours except when needed to deliver the school curriculum or professional guidance and parental permission has been sought.
Breaches to the Child Safety Code of Conduct
All Bimbadeen Heights Primary School staff, volunteers, contractors, and any other member of the school community involved in child-connected work who breach this Child Safety Code of Conduct may be subject to disciplinary procedures in accordance with their employment agreement or relevant industrial instrument, professional code, or terms of engagement.
In instances where a reportable allegation has been made, the matter will be managed in accordance with the Department of Education and Training Reportable Conduct Scheme Policy and may be subject to referral to Victoria Police.
All breaches and suspected breaches of the Bimbadeen Heights Primary School Child Safety Code of Conduct must be reported to the Principal and Assistant Principal on 9726-9989.
If the breach or suspected breach relates to the Principal, contact North-Eastern Victoria Region Office, Level 2, 295 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley 3150, Phone: 1300 333 231, email: nevr@education.vic.gov.au
If you have any questions or concerns about Child Safety at Bimbadeen, please contact Adele Gregson, Principal, or Amanda Bailey, Child Safety Officer.
We hope you enjoy a fantastic weekend.
Kind regards,
Adele Gregson, Sabrina George and Marty Gill
