Principals' 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.
There are some traditions at Bimbadeen Heights Primary School that capture something very special about who we are as a school, and our annual Spring Market is certainly one of them.
At the heart of the Spring Market is a simple idea: by the children, for the children.
The concept was originally developed many years ago by former staff member Ray Legione, who was passionate about ensuring that everything we did at Bimbadeen was centred around our students. Ray developed the idea for what was then known as our Spring Fair, believing that rather than simply holding a traditional school fundraiser, we could create an event in which our students played a genuine role in the planning, preparation and delivery.
Over the years, the Spring Fair has evolved into our Spring Market, but Ray’s original vision remains firmly at its heart.
Our Year 6 students are central to the event, with the Spring Market providing the culmination of their Business Management unit of work. Throughout the term, students
work collaboratively to develop their own businesses and market stalls, applying their learning in a very real and meaningful way. They develop ideas, consider costs and pricing, create products and activities, design logos and branding, develop advertising and promotional materials, and ultimately operate their businesses for our school community.
It is authentic learning at its best.
Along the way, our students develop much more than an understanding of business. They learn to collaborate, communicate, problem-solve, manage challenges, make decisions and take responsibility. Most importantly, they experience genuine student voice and agency, seeing an idea move from the classroom into something enjoyed by hundreds of children and families across our school.
While our Year 6 students take centre stage, the Spring Market is an event for every Bimbadeen student. Our younger students eagerly explore the stalls and activities, our student leaders and organising teams contribute to the planning and promotion, and students across the school share in what is always an incredibly joyful day.
Of course, an event of this size does not simply happen. Behind our students is an enormous team of staff, parents and carers who help make their ideas possible. Our Year 6 teachers guide the Business Management learning throughout the term, our Specialist team leads the significant coordination required to bring the event together, and staff across the school support students before and throughout the day. Our wonderful parent and carer volunteers also generously contribute their time and energy to help everything run smoothly.
What makes the Spring Market even more special is that the benefits flow directly back to our children. All money raised through the event is used to support improvements to our school and enhance the opportunities, facilities and experiences available to our students.
The children help create it. The children enjoy it. And ultimately, the children benefit from it.
That is why by the children, for the children has become such an important catchphrase for our Spring Market. It captures the spirit of an event built around student voice, agency, authentic learning and community, while continuing a wonderful Bimbadeen tradition that began with Ray’s belief that our students should always be at the centre of what we do.
This year’s Spring Market was once again a wonderful celebration of everything this event was created to be. Our Year 6 students should be incredibly proud of the creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and entrepreneurial spirit they demonstrated, and it was wonderful to see students from across the school enjoying the stalls, activities and excitement of the day.
Most importantly, the Spring Market was another wonderful example of our students being given genuine opportunities to lead, contribute and make a difference to their school. The learning was authentic, the joy was unmistakable, and the benefits of the day will continue to flow directly back to our students.
We think Ray would have been very proud.
By the children, for the children.
Warm regards,
Adele Gregson, Sabrina George, Marty Gill, and Bree King
