Principal's Report
The end of Term 2 is here....
Farewell and Thank you
Mrs Katie Borczuch has been successful in gaining a classroom teacher position at Montmorency South PS and will be leaving Bimbadeen Heights PS at the end of the term. Mrs Borczuch has secured a position at a school closer to home that will enable her to support her family as her children enter primary school. As a long-standing member of the Bimbadeen community, as both a teacher and a student, Mrs Borczuch will always enjoy a strong connection to our school and will be greatly missed. I am sure you will join us in congratulating Mrs Borczuch and wish her all the best for her new role and thank her for her dedication to the Bimbadeen community.
We would like to express a huge thank you to Mrs Kylie Lowe for jumping into the Art role this term. Mrs Lowe is a regular replacement teacher at Bimbadeen and has done an incredible job, replacing Ms Smith, who went on Family Leave at the end of Term 2. We appreciate Mrs Lowe’s ongoing contributions to the Bimbadeen community and would like to express a heartfelt thanks for her work throughout this term.
Welcome Back
After enjoying the beginning of the year on Long Service Leave, Mr Malcolm Rosendale is returning to Bimbadeen at the start of Term 3. Mr Rosendale will be taking on the Art teaching role for the first 3 days of the week and will be working in 2BT with Mrs Kate Troschke on Thursdays and Fridays (replacing Mrs Borczuch). We are excited to welcome Mr Rosendale back to Bimbadeen.
Other Staffing Changes
Next semester, Mrs Natalie Lowe will be working in the Art room on Thursdays, instead of Tuesdays, and will be working as an additional tutor in our Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) program throughout Semester 2.
Help After the Storm – Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources for Children and Young People
Emergencies and disasters are extremely stressful, and it is normal to feel overwhelmed. The mental health and wellbeing of the whole community, including young people, children, and even infants, can be affected. The following resources provide a starting point for you to help children and young people in your life navigate the mental health and wellbeing impacts of the recent storm.
Local Resources and Organisations Please note: Due to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, many local organisations will have a waitlist for appointments. | ||
| ConnectUs Service Directory | Service directory of private and public mental health and wellbeing resources for 10-25yo in Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah Council Areas. | Website: https://connectus.serviceseeker.com.au/ |
| Head to Help | Support and coordination of support for anyone experiencing emotional distress, mental ill-health and/or addiction along with their families and carers. Able to facilitate referral to local resources and supports. Open to all ages. | Times: 8.30 – 5pm Mon – Friday Website: https://headtohelp.org.au/Phone: 1800 595 212 |
| Oonah | Individual support and engagement activities Provides alcohol & drug and social & emotional well-being support services for Indigenous young people and adults. All ages | Healesville Location Website: https://oonah.org.au/Phone. 03 5962 2940 Email: Administration Coordinator: admin@hicsa.org.au Clinical services Manager: Samantha.broadbent@oonah.org.au |
| Eastern Health Community Health | Youth and Family counselling - All ages | Healesville and Yarra Junction locations Website: https://www.easternhealth.org.au/services/item/200-community-healthPhone: 1300 380 381 |
| Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) | (up to age 24, for those living within Yarra Ranges Shire Council, Knox City Council or Maroondah City Council) | https://www.easternhealth.org.au/services/item/182-child-youth-mental-health-service-cymhs 1300 721 927 |
| Early in Life Mental Health Service (ELMHS) | (up to age 24, for those living with Cardinia Shire Council) | https://monashchildrenshospital.org/mental-health/ 1300 369 012 |
| Headspace | Online support for young people 12 – 25yo, including counselling, group chats and information. Resources/Information available on line | Knox location with Lilydale location to open soon. All resources available online Website: http://www.headspace.org.au/headspaceeHeadspace Website: https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/Phone: 9801 6088 |
| EHeadspace | Offering online counselling for young people | https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/ |
| Inspiro | Community health organisation providing youth counselling (12yo and over) and range of other services. | Belgrave and Lilydale locations Times: 8.30 – 5pm Mon – Friday Website:https://www.inspiro.org.au/our-services/browse-by-service/counselling Phone: 9738 8801 |
| Eastern Domestic Violence Outreach Service (EDVOS) | 9259 4200 | |
| Yarra Ranges Council | https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ 9294 6905 | |
| Knox Council | http://www.knox.vic.gov.au/ 9298 8000 | |
| Maroondah Council | https://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/ 9298 4598
| |
| Cardinia Council | https://www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/ 1300 787 624 | |
| 24 hour/ online services – Victoria/ Australia wide | ||
| Kids helpline | Free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25 | Phone: 1800 55 1800
Website: https://kidshelpline.com.au/ |
| Headspace | Online support for young people, including counselling, group chats and information. This is not an emergency service. If you're in an emergency situation or need emergency assistance, contact mental health services, go to your local emergency department or call emergency services on 000. | Website: http://www.headspace.org.au/headspace |
| Youth Beyond Blue | 24-hour crisis support and information line dedicated to supporting young people with depression and anxiety and their friends and family. | Phone: 1300 224 636 Website: http://www.youthbeyondblue.org.au Chat online available on website 3pm - 12am |
| Embrace Mental Health Resource Hub | Mental health and suicide prevention resources, services and information for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. | Website: www.embracementalhealth.org.au
|
| Lifeline | All ages. Offering phone and online counselling for young people and adults experiencing mental health crises | https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 13 43 57 |
| Parentline | Offering support and counselling for parents of children and young people | https://parentline.com.au/ 1300 301 300 |
| Self-guided resources and learning material | ||
| Emerging Minds – Community Trauma Toolkit | Emerging Minds have brought together a resource list designed for parents and caregivers to use to support young people and children after being affected by natural disaster or community trauma.
Including a short video on some of the behaviours you may see in children after events such as the recent storm. | Toolkit: https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/toolkits/community-trauma-toolkit/parents-and-caregivers/
Video: https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/the-impact-of-natural-disasters-on-babies-and-young-children/ |
| Building Better Brains Australia | Free downloadable resource guides and workbooks to support parents discuss mental health and wellbeing with children and young people. |
|
| Australian Red Cross | The Australian Red Cross have brought together a number of informed and trusted resources available to support families during the recovery after a trauma or disaster. | Booklet: Helping Children and Young People Deal with Crisis:
Australian Red Cross resources for parents and care givers: https://www.redcross.org.au/get-help/emergencies/resources-about-disasters/resources-for-parents |
Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and Bimbadeen Heights Primary School is excited to be participating. The PRC application offers a range of exciting features including:
- access to a library catalogue (including book images and blurbs)
- a modern user-friendly interface
- rewarding students with badges as challenge milestones are achieved
- the option for students to mark books as a favourite, give them a star rating or complete a book review.
The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 17 September 2021.
Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.
All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.
To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit: www.education.vic.gov.au/prc
Free Minus18 Webinar for Educators, Parents and Carers
Date / Time: Thursday 8th July, 5pm - 6.30pm
Cost: Free
Where: Online via Zoom – tickets at https://www.trybooking.com/BSFTU
Presented by: Minus18 on behalf of Yarra Ranges Council Youth Team
Suitable for: While this session is aimed at educators, parents and carers, anyone interested in learning more about LGBTQIA+ inclusion is encouraged to join!
Join the Yarra Ranges Youth Team and Minus18 for an online, live-streamed session - Introduction to Gender and Sexuality.
The session will see the brilliant presenters from Minus18 chat about LGBTQIA+ identities, lived experiences from the community and how adults can support LGBTQIA+ young people in their lives. The webinar will use interactive elements such as online chat, polls and Q&A features to answer audience questions. This event is open to anyone who lives, works or plays in the Yarra Ranges.
Hurry places are limited so register for your ticket asap - https://www.trybooking.com/BSFTU
We hope you all enjoy a safe and happy school holiday period, and we look forward to seeing you all back for the first day of Term 3 on Monday 12 July.
Kind regards,
Adele Gregson and Sabrina George