Principal's Report 

As we near the end of Term 2, we wanted to extend a big thank you to our school community for your contributions to our classrooms and learning programs throughout the term. Our staff greatly appreciate the assistance and support our classroom helpers provide through this assistance in our classrooms, and our volunteers who have supported our many excursions and activities. Many of the opportunities we provide our children outside their classroom programs would not be possible without the generous support of our parents and carers and community members. Thank you for all you do to support these programs and experiences for our students.

ANZAC Appeal

Last week, we received a visit from Chris Newell who presented a certificate of thanks on behalf of the Lilydale RSL to the Bimbadeen community in recognition of our fundraising efforts towards their ANZAC Day Appeal. 

We were very proud to have contributed to this important fundraising event for the RSL branch. Thank you to all members of our community who donated to the ANZAC Day Appeal. 

Classroom Helpers Program Training

For our parents and carers who have not completed our Classroom Helpers Program Training, our second and final training session for the year will be held on Monday 19 June at 10am in the Library.

The Classroom Helpers Program provides an opportunity for parents/carers or grandparents to share in the educational development of students with the support and direction of teachers. 

The efforts of classroom helpers are a highly valued resource for students, as opportunities for learning are nurtured by the participation of understanding adults. The program consists of an interactive session and is linked to the classroom literacy/numeracy program.

The course will:

• develop an increased understanding of the development of literacy/numeracy skills
• demonstrate various learning situations to helpers so they can act as role models for students in the classroom
• train helpers in how to give support for small groups of students
• emphasise the importance of confidentiality as a classroom helper.

All volunteers and classroom helpers must have completed the Classroom Helpers Program, have a current Working with Children Check, and complete a Volunteer’s Induction.

If you are interested in participating in the program, please contact the office to register.

Uniform Expectations and Support

Throughout this term we have seen a decline in the standard of uniform across the school, with more and more students wearing items of clothing that are not part of the official school uniform. We seek the support of families to ensure their children attend school each day wearing full school uniform. 

We understand that families across our community may require support with uniform items through either the second-hand uniform supplies and/or State Schools Relief. Bimbadeen families who are experiencing financial difficulties may be eligible for support with uniform through State Schools Relief. Please contact Sabrina George for a confidential discussion if your family is currently experiencing financial difficulties and would like support with school uniform. 

Refugee Week

Refugee Week is a national celebration of the contributions of refugees to Australia. Now in its 37th year, the week also raises awareness about important issues currently affecting refugees. 

Refugee Week 2023 will run from Sunday 18 June to Saturday 24 June. During the final week of term, students and staff will be engaging in activities and discussions to celebrate the contributions of refugees to Australia and raise awareness about important issues currently affecting refugees.

The theme for Refugee Week 2023 is Finding Freedom. What does it mean to be free? To live without the fear of war, to have your basic human rights upheld, to live in equality and without the fear of persecution are just some of the examples of what freedom can entail. Everyday millions of people across the world embark on dangerous journeys for the sole purpose of finding safety and freedom. From Australia to nations across the globe, settling into a new environment after experiencing the perils of a refugee’s journey can also provide the opportunity to live, to love and to dream.  

The Refugee Week theme helps:

• To celebrate the ways in which people from refugee back grounds enrich our communities and culture.
• To educate the public about who refugees are and why they have come to Australia, and to understand the many challenges they face in doing so.
• To foster empathy and understanding and in doing so, encourage a safe and welcoming environment for people seeking safety in Australia.
• To enable communities and individuals to take positive action and stand in solidarity with people seeking asylum and displaced people in Australia and around the world.

Refugee Week is an important opportunity for us all to experience and celebrate the rich cultures of refugee communities through theatre, music, dance, film, food, and other kinds of events that take place all over Australia - and beyond. This participatory festival typically encompasses events hosted by a wide range of people - individuals, community, voluntary and statutory organisations, schools, student groups, faith-based organisations and more. This diversity creates an eclectic and diverse celebration appealing to all ages. 

(Information reprinted from https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/)

Semester 1 Reports and Parent-Teacher Interviews

Reporting to parents/carers about how each child’s learning is progressing supports the work of teachers and parents/carers in supporting our students to achieve their full potential. Next Thursday 22nd June from 4pm, Semester 1 academic reports will be made available via the Sentral Parent Portal. These reports provide a great overview of students’ progress based on several assessments and classroom observations over the course of Semester 1. 

The Semester 1 report also forms the basis of our Parent-Teacher Interview discussions. We encourage parents/carers to book a time to speak with their child’s teacher at our Parent-Teacher Interviews, which will be held in weeks 2 and 3 of Term 3. Bookings will open on Monday 19 June at 9:30am.

When you access and read your child’s report, it is a great opportunity to celebrate your child’s strengths and areas of growth, as well as identify the steps for future learning. The report will include a page of ‘dots’, which shows where your child is performing in relation to the Victorian Curriculum. Teachers have also written personal comments about what students have achieved and their goals for the future.

You will notice that the teacher’s written comment and specialist subject reports look slightly different to that of past years. This year, we are in the early stages of implementing 

Continuous Reporting, which has included rubrics being sent home throughout Terms 1 and 2 in relation to your child’s learning in the areas of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening and Specialist areas. Therefore, on your child’s academic report there will not be a comment for English or Specialist subjects. We ask that you refer to the comments that have been included on each rubric and discuss these with your child.

For parents/carers to access these Semester 1 reports, they will need to be registered for and be able to access the Sentral Parent Portal. If you have not yet registered or are having difficulties accessing the portal, please contact our Sentral co-ordinator Melinda Ruscitti on Melinda.Ruscitti@education.vic.gov.au or contact Shelley and Emma in the office for support.

Goodbye and Goodluck Mr Liang

It is with a heavy heart that Mr Liang has announced his departure from Bimbadeen at the end of last week. His departure comes as he has been successful in being appointed to a full-time position at another school in regional Victoria. Due to the location of his new position, Mr Liang has been unable to complete the term at Bimbadeen. 

I am sure you will join us in thanking Mr Liang for his contributions to our community throughout this first semester, and wish him all the best for the future. We are in the final stages of appointing a new teacher to the Chinese Teacher role, to begin at the start of next term. Once a teacher has been appointed, we will introduce you to them via our school newsletter next term. 

Parent Author

We were very excited to hear that one of our parents has become a published author! Peter will be visiting our students in Year 2 to share his book with the students, and we have purchased copies for the library and classroom libraries in Year 2.

The launch of the book is planned for the school holidays and will be held at the Mooroolbark Library on Thursday 29 June at 2pm. 

If you are interested in attending, please see the attached flyer and make sure you book in. Congratulations, Peter!

Inside the Notebook.

2024 Foundation Enrolments Close on 28 July!

Enrolments are open for Foundation in 2024. We encourage prospective parents to complete an online tour via the school website where you can learn about our wonderful school and meet our staff and students. Prospective families can also attend an in-person tour where we can show you our wonderful school and answer any questions you might have or discuss your child’s individual needs. 

Parents/carers of 2024 Foundation students are encouraged to submit their enrolment form as soon as possible but no later than the state-wide Foundation enrolment due date of Friday 28 July 2023. We will be notifying parents/carers of their child’s Foundation placement at Bimbadeen Heights PS by Friday 11 August 2023.

Completed enrolment forms can be returned to the school:

• directly, by dropping enrolment forms and additional documentation into the school office
• via post to Bimbadeen Heights Primary School, 118 Hayrick Lane, Mooroolbark 3138
• via email to bimbadeen.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au (please scan and send all sides of the enrolment form, including any additional documentation such as court orders and visa documents).

Adele will be on leave for the first part of Term 3, and Sabrina will be Acting Principal until July 17. 

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 10 July.

Adele Gregson and Sabrina George