Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day for last Sunday to the wonderful mothers and special friends in our

Bimbadeen community. On behalf of the students and staff at BHPS, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks for everything you do to support your children to be the best they can be, to strive to reach their goals and to fulfil their potential. Thank you for your contributions to our school and to the wider community and thank you for being you!

While Mother’s Day is traditionally a day of celebration, it can also be a challenging time for some of our community members. We want you to know that you have been especially in our thoughts at this time, and we are sending you a giant virtual hug as we acknowledge the mothers who are no longer with us and those with whom we are unable to celebrate.

We hope you all enjoyed a lovely day on Sunday including some special time with the important people in your lives.

Mother’s Day Stall – thank you!

A huge thank you to Sarah Huxley and all of the parent/carer helpers who came along last Thursday to make our Mother’s Day stall such a success. Not only is this a great event for our students to carefully choose a gift for Mum or another special person, it is also a great learning opportunity for a ‘real’ shopping experience for children, handing over real money and getting something in return.

The teachers and the volunteer parent helpers on the stall assist the children with change and help them work out the sort of gifts they can afford with the money they have. It is always a great joy to see the focused looks on the children’s faces as they choose what to buy.

Many of our parent/carer helpers expressed how impressed they were with the excellent manners of the children and how patient and considerate they were while waiting for their turn. Well done Bimbadeen children!

2022 Foundation Enrolments

Enrolments are now open for Foundation in 2022. 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 2022 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 25th June 2021. We will be notifying parents/carers of their child’s Foundation placement at Bimbadeen Heights PS by 23rd July 2021.

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 additional documentation).

ANZAC Appeal

We are very happy to announce that our school ANZAC Appeal raised $515.90 for the RSL through the sale of ANZAC Day commemorative merchandise.

Thank you to all community members who contributed to this worthwhile cause.

Open Night

We warmly invite our Bimbadeen families and prospective families along to the school for Open Night on Wednesday 26th May. Classrooms will be open from 5pm to 7pm, with fun maths activities to complete in classrooms across the school. The evening will conclude with a screening of the Steve Biddolph’s film, Raising Boys (adults only, no children please). Please see the Open Night flyer in this newsletter and the advertisement board at the front of the school for further information. We would love to see all Bimbadeen families attend our Open Night. We hope to see you there!

Attitude to School Survey 2021

Over the next few week’s students in Years 4, 5 and 6 will participate in the 2021 Attitude to School Survey. As in previous years children will complete the 20 minute survey online during school hours using a purpose built secure online survey tool. The confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times.

It is important to note that we are not in any way ‘testing’ the children. We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting the survey to find out what your child thinks of our school.

The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist schools in gaining an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. We will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience.

The survey results will be reported back to the school at the end of term 2. All survey data that is made available in reports are for groups of students only so that no individual student can be identified.

The use of face masks on public transport

Face masks continue to be one of the most important ways we can help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community. To ensure public health directions are being followed, students aged 12 years and over must wear a face mask when on public transport, school buses and when in taxis or ride share vehicles – unless they have a lawful exemption.

Face masks continue to be recommended for visitors when physical distancing cannot be maintained at school. Children aged 12 and over who are attending primary school do not need to wear a face mask at school.

Education and Training Reform Amendment (Protection of School Communities) Bill 2021

Victorian school communities are overwhelmingly positive and safe places for teaching and learning where we all play a role in supporting students in their achievements, engagement and wellbeing needs.

It is likely that you have heard the recent media announcements that the Victorian Government has introduced the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Protection of School Communities) Bill 2021. If passed through parliament, the proposed Bill would come into effect in May 2022.

The Bill aims to protect and keep school communities safe by preventing and deterring violent and aggressive behaviours from adult members of the school community and ensure that schools are positive, safe and inclusive places to work and learn. This Bill will apply to the small minority of adult members of the Victorian school community who engage in this behaviour, after early conflict resolution measures through non-legislative avenues have failed.

The proposed law will empower principals and other authorised persons to issue School Community Safety Orders in response to parents, carers and other adult members of the school community who engage in harmful, threatening, abusive or disruptive behaviours on school grounds or places where school activities take place, or inappropriate and harmful communication through emails and social media.

This Bill will apply to the small minority of the school community who engage in this behaviour when all other reasonable interventions have failed. The changes would ensure that all members of the school community are kept safe and to minimise any harm to their safety and wellbeing. There will be internal and external review mechanisms in place if a person who is subject to a School Community Safety Order wishes to appeal an Order.

Arrangements will be available to ensure parents can still remain engaged in their child’s learning to and to minimise any disruption to the student.

This Bill would not replace the existing avenues to raise any complaints, issues or suggestions with schools. By continuing to engage with these communication channels in a respectful and collaborative manner, we can continue to work together to support our students.

Further information about the details of the Bill will be communicated to you if the Bill is passed by parliament.

We hope you enjoy a fantastic weekend.

Adele Gregson and Sabrina George

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