Principal's Report

We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which Bimbadeen Heights Primary School lies, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We would like to pay our respects to their elders past, present, and emerging. We would also like to extend our respects to other First Nations people in our community.

We’re Back!

We were very excited to have our Foundation and Year 1 and 2 students return to on-site learning on Monday 18 October and Thursday 21 October, respectfully. Students are returning to on-site learning as per the Roadmap announced by the Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, and will continue to learn from home on the days they are not onsite.

Information about the safety protocols that are in place to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and maximise the safety of students, staff, and the Bimbadeen community has been sent to families via Sentral. These protocols will inevitably change throughout the term, and we will update the list and provide communication via Sentral when any relevant changes occur.

The Yarra Ranges Council have recommenced school crossing operations in-line with foundation students returning to face-to-face learning on-site from 18 October.

We are aware that many of you will have been impacted greatly by the lockdowns that have been in place. This can have a massive impact financially, physically, and mentally. As parents/carers, we aim to shield our children from these issues, but we are aware that stress and anxiety within a family almost inevitably has an impact on our children.

At school, we will be focusing on creating a positive and safe environment for our students to learn, play and connect with their peers. Our teachers are open to listening to our students, acknowledging the challenges that may be there and supporting them throughout this time.

Working in partnership with families, to support the wellbeing of all our students is fundamental to what we do every day. If you have specific wellbeing concerns about your child, we encourage you to reach out to their teacher and discuss these. Working together, we can support our students to experience a positive end to a very challenging year.

Fantastic Resource

Dr Anthea Rhodes, Paediatrician at the Royal Children Hospital, held a fantastic presentation last week regarding primary school aged children returning to school. It was recorded so parents can watch it in their own time. Our parents and carers who have watched the presentation said it was very reassuring and they were able to gain tips around mask wearing and helping children reintegrate back into school, as well as managing their own anxieties around it.

It might be a helpful resource for our parents and carers to watch. The presentation is available via this link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5c7M7xawWxo

If you are concerned about the children’s transition to school, please reach out to their classroom teacher to ensure strategies are in place to support their return.

Sunsmart – Hats Compulsory This Term

Just a reminder that Bimbadeen is a SunSmart school and school hats are compulsory in Terms 1 and 4. Children will not be allowed to play out in the sun without their hats this term or in Term 1 next year and will be asked to remain under the veranda in front of the hall at recess and lunch times.

If you child has misplaced their hat or requires a new one, new hats can be purchased from our uniform shop via the link on our school website.

World Teachers Day

Friday 29 October is when we in Victoria celebrate World Teachers Day. This is the community’s chance to thank our teachers and acknowledge the wonderful work that they do each and every day to support the learning and development of our students. Everyone, no matter how old, can remember a great teacher who made a difference in their lives.

It would be wonderful if our community could take the time on Friday 29 October to say thank you to your child’s teacher as I can assure you it will be greatly appreciated and will make their day.

2022 Planning

While our students have returned to school for the final term of 2021, we are well under way with our planning for next year. We would like to devote a few paragraphs on the topic of 2021 class structures, teacher placements and allocating students to classes. It is a complex and exhaustive process that we diligently work through so that we have a school structure that best meets the needs of all students. To do this we consider several factors that impact on each child’s learning and success at school.

The people who know your child/ren best in the school environment are the teachers. It is also these people who will be working with our students most closely in the school environment next year, so they are given the main responsibility of developing class lists. Our teachers always strive to create classes that are balanced in terms of gender, academic achievement, behaviour, special needs, and friendships.

Nobody knows your child emotionally better than you do and we are most interested in your insights as to what you think will help your children achieve their best next year. To this end parents are invited to write to us outlining what you think are important factors that we need to take into consideration when placing your child in a class for next year. We will be accepting these requests until the end of this month, Thursday, October 29.

Please pass this information in written form directly to a member of our Administration Team who will maintain its confidentiality and pass it on to us. Please note that information received after this date may not be able to be considered as the process will be advanced and late changes have a ‘domino effect’ that can impact on other students’ class placement. Do not wait until the class structure is published before you send me your considerations.

We encourage you to write to us even if you have spoken to your child’s teacher earlier in the year or have provided information to the school in past years. Do not assume that ‘the school will know’. It is worth considering that issues that may have been a concern at an earlier time in your child’s schooling may not always continue to be so as the children grow up and mature. Keep this in mind as you provide information for consideration. We suggest that if it is important to you, make sure you put it in writing so we can be certain we are considering your input.

Please note that it is not appropriate to include requests relating to particular teachers. Your requests will be shared with our teachers to assist them to develop the class lists. If you do have particular, confidential, concerns that you do not wish to be shared with the teachers, please make an appointment to speak to either of us, Adele Gregson, Principal, or Sabrina George, Assistant Principal.

You will understand that with so many factors to consider and the complexities of the process, it is impossible to accommodate all information and suggestions from parents. Multiple requests and multi-layered requests are even more difficult to accommodate. For example; ‘Could my child be separated from this child and this child and be with this child and this child and be in a class with a shared teacher please’. Be assured however that each factor in our decision making for next year, including your insights, are given our utmost attention.

One important part of this process is that our students are given the opportunity to identify up to five peers who they would like to be with next year. It is explained to them that the teachers will work hard to ensure that every student has at least one of these individuals in their class next year. We go to great lengths to explain to students to think very carefully about the names that they write down, so they don’t just write the names of the person they played with that day or just the name of the person who invited them to their birthday party recently. Sometimes students write down the name or names of peers they would like to be in class with even though they may not play with them. This can be because they consider this individual would be a good influence or someone they would like to get to know. This is not a bad thing and can be a sign of maturity and growing independence as they may be trying to be less reliant on one or two particular peers. (One of the most common complaints we receive is that a student is separated from all their friends. We can assure you that this is extremely rare and if it does happen, we consult with the student’s parents to ensure we are making the best placement for their child). We encourage you to speak to your children about this process to reinforce the importance of the names of the children they write down.

This term teachers spend a lot of time preparing our students for their transition to the next level of schooling and talk to them about this to reassure and help them understand the process. For example, teachers explain that having all of their friends in class together is not as important as they may think and is sometimes even detrimental to their learning success and what they may have heard about a particular teacher from an older brother or sister may not be the case for them. Teachers also remind them of past successful transitions and how this is part of growing up and that we have confidence that they are ready to manage this next transition just as successfully as they have managed transitions in the past.

It is anticipated that the final school structure will be in place and published by the end of November, with students having the opportunity of meeting their teacher for next year before the end of the school year. Thank you in anticipation of working with us and for your understanding as we set our school up for more high-quality teaching and learning next year.

Primary and Secondary School Scholarships

Scholarships are available for Year 4-11 students, Year 12 students planning to undertake tertiary studies in 2022, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students planning on completing Years 11 and 12.

Year 4-12 student scholarships

The Department of Education and Training manages a number of scholarships which are available to students who are currently enrolled in Years 4-12.

Applicants for these scholarships are evaluated on their:

participation in school activities
community involvement
academic record for the current year.

Scholarships are either one-off payments or for the duration of the student’s course/study annually.

Applications for these scholarships, number of which have specific eligibility criteria, will open on 1 October 2021 and close on 28 February 2022.

For more information and a list of available scholarships visit the 2021 Student Scholarships for Years 4-12 Factsheet.

How to apply

For information on how to apply visit the student scholarships web page.

Wellbeing Supports and Services for Students and their Families

It can be challenging to process and manage changes to routines and the uncertainty that comes with COVID-19 and related restrictions. To support our school community during this time, resources and support are available for parents, carers, and families. These resources will help to support the mental health and wellbeing of our students and the young people in our care during this time. We encourage everyone in our community to access these resources and take care of themselves during this time.

A Quick Guide to Student Mental Health and Wellbeing resources is available for students, parents and carers looking to access expert guidance and resources to support wellbeing.

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students remains our priority this year, especially during the continued COVID-19 pandemic and while students are learning from home during the current circuit breaker restrictions.

For students, the guide includes resources to support their own mental health and wellbeing.

Advice and resources for students about ways to adapt their learning during COVID-19, to look after themselves and where to get help.
Wellbeing activities featuring AFL and AFLW players with tips on managing stress, staying active and gratitude.
Smiling Mind mindfulness activities for senior secondary school students, including short videos, online tip sheets and meditations.

The guide also includes resources and supports for parents and carers to help them build their child’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. This includes:

resources to support children’s physical, mental health and wellbeing
wellbeing activities and conversation starters for parents of parents of primary school-aged children and parents of secondary school-aged children
Raising Learners podcast series
how to talk to your child about COVID-19
headspace is running webinars for parents and carers about offering support when they are concerned about a young person’s mental health.

Wellbeing guidance for parents and carers is also available:

on the Department’s website
headspace has created a video providing tips to support parents and carers during lockdown
through the confidential parent support hotline, Parentline, available 8am to midnight, seven days a week, Phone: 13 22 89.

Supporting your child to start school in 2022 online information session for parents/carers in the Outer East

Starting school at any time can be exciting but also challenging for children and parents. Some children may have experienced disruptions to their kindergarten attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as restrictions to normal life. As a result, parents/carers may be feeling concerned about whether your child is ready for school. This webinar seeks to support parents and carers to understand what is involved in a positive transition to school and how this can be supported at home, as well as through strong links with children’s kindergarten and school.

It will provide information and answers to the following questions:

What is a positive transition to school?
What does school readiness mean?
What can I do to support my child prepare for school?
What if my child has missed a lot of kindergarten?
What if my child is feeling anxious about going to school?
Where can I find more information?

Presented by: Louise Dorrat and Debbie Cole, who have extensive experience in early childhood education, including supporting parents and advising teachers about the transition to school.

When: Wednesday 10 November, 7pm – 8pm

Supporting your child to start school in 2022 - Outer East Tickets, Wed 10/11/2021 at 7:00 pm | Eventbrite

School Council Update

Bimbadeen Heights PS School Council is committed to sharing our work with the Bimbadeen community. To strengthen communication between council and our parents/carers, each newsletter we will be sharing information about School Council, including general information about the functions and operations of council and the specific work of our own council at Bimbadeen.

This newsletter, we would like to share with you, the work of the Council’s Student Wellbeing Sub-Committee:

Student Wellbeing Sub-Committee

Purpose:

The Student Wellbeing Sub-Committee is responsible for overseeing school Student Wellbeing, which includes but is not limited to the School Wide Positive Behaviour Framework and the Respectful Relationships Program.

When we meet:

The Student Wellbeing Sub-Committee meet eight times per year (in line with School Council Meetings) and report back at the next School Council meeting on each occasion.

What we do:

Support the Student Wellbeing programs and activities undertaken at the school
Make recommendations to School Council based on analysis of data i.e. parent and student surveys, attendance data and behaviour data
Make recommendations on policy in areas that are related to Student Wellbeing and communicate these to the School Council
Encourage the participation of the school community in acknowledging special events such as National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week, Cultural Diversity Week, the Day for Daniel, and the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence
Where relevant, ensure parents/guardians are aware of developments and initiatives related to the sub-committee’s role, via the newsletter and school website.

How you can help:

The Student Wellbeing Sub-Committee is a ‘thinktank’ for the work around Student Wellbeing. Parents and carers within our school community are invited to share their range of expertise to help inform and support School council decision making
All parents and carers are welcome to join the sub-committee. Your ideas, opinions, and contributions ensure that Bimbadeen Heights PS continues to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment where all members of our school feel valued and respected, would be appreciated.

The focus of our meetings in 2021.

Providing an overview of Student Wellbeing at BHPS:

The Bimbadeen Way – encompasses the range of structures and approaches included around Student Wellbeing
Re-establish School Values – Respect, Compassion, Resilience, and Integrity
Valued Beginning (set expectations and agreements and routines to support the development of positive classroom communities)
School Wide Positive Behaviour Support
Values tokens
Respectful Relationships
House system
STARS
Restorative Practice
Additional Programs for inclusive education.

The Wellbeing Team at Bimbadeen:

Staff roles and responsibilities
School Chaplain
Monash Master of Counselling students appointed supervisor
‘Psychologist in Schools’ Program.

Additional supports:

Library/Kindness room
Breakfast Club
Active Club
Junior School Council
Student Leadership Forums.

Discussion about Student Wellbeing related Policies:

Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy
Bullying Prevention Policy
Inclusion and Diversity Policy.

School focused Youth Service – Project Proposal Learning on Country:

The project is focused on the creation of a Yarning Circle and Bush Tucker Garden at the front of our school
A group of Years 5 and 6 students are included in this project with the aim to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Indigenous perspectives and to have authentic voice and agency in activities and action across the school.