Maddingley

Literacy Week – A Symphony of Stories

The Bacchus Marsh Grammar Literacy Week was a vibrant celebration of reading, storytelling and the many ways literature can enrich our lives. Throughout the week, students across the Maddingley Campus had the opportunity to engage with books, authors, and stories in a variety of exciting and meaningful ways. This year’s theme, “Symphony of Stories,” highlighted how, as a symphony is made up of many different sounds, so literature brings together countless voices, perspectives and stories.

One of the major highlights of Literacy Week was the series of author guest speaker sessions, giving students from Prep to Year 8 the opportunity to meet and engage with published authors and literary professionals. These visits generated considerable enthusiasm among students, allowing them to hear directly from authors who had transformed their ideas and imaginations into stories. The sessions will encourage students to embrace literacy, develop their creativity, and discover the enjoyment that can come from reading and storytelling.

Students across the different year levels had, and will have, the opportunity to hear from Ben Sanders, Lucinda Gifford, Mark Carthew, Claire Saxby, Joel McKerrow, Stuart Wilson and Tristan Bancks, with some author visits having taken place during Literacy Week, and others occurring in the weeks that will follow. Year 6 students will experience ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ performed by Bell Shakespeare, providing them with an opportunity to engage with the work of one of the world’s most renowned playwrights and experience literature in a different form. These sessions expose students to different styles of writing and provide insights into the creative process behind the stories they read, while supporting their study of the current class text, ‘Once.’

Another highly anticipated event was the Literacy Dress Up Day on Friday 4 September. With the theme Symphony of Stories, students were encouraged to celebrate their favourite books and characters by dressing as someone from a story that had inspired or entertained them. From childhood characters to heroes, villains and imaginative figures from fictional literature, the campus was transformed into a vibrant collection of stories brought to life.

The dress-up day also provided an opportunity for students and teachers across the school to share their enthusiasm for literature with one another. Seeing students and staff embrace characters from such a diverse range of stories highlighted the incredible variety within the world of books. More importantly, the day demonstrated that literacy extends far beyond the classroom, showcasing how it can inspire creativity, encourage curiosity, and allow readers to explore experiences and perspectives beyond their own.

Ultimately, Literacy Week was a celebration of the power of stories. Through meeting authors and stepping into the shoes of favourite literary characters, students were given numerous opportunities to engage with literacy in meaningful and memorable ways, while also developing a deeper understanding and exploring their class texts in greater detail. With its Symphony of Stories theme, this year’s Literacy Week successfully brought the Maddingley Campus together through a shared appreciation of reading, imagination and the stories that connect us all.

Please visit Schoolbox to see more photos from the day. 

Ranit K – Middle School House Captain

Woodlea

Literacy Week – The Week That Was!

What an adventure Literacy Week 2026 was! Across the week, students and staff came together to celebrate reading, writing, storytelling and creativity through a range of fun and engaging activities. The enthusiasm and participation across the school was wonderful! Most importantly, Literacy Week provided opportunities for students of all ages to connect, have fun and share their love of literacy as a community.

Monday: Dress Up Day

Literacy Week kicked off with a colourful and creative Dress Up Day that had the entire school awash with famous fictional characters! From classic characters to modern favourites, every corner of the school offered something new to discover.

We were excited to welcome Independent Schools Victoria film crew onsite. Their footage of the day can be seen here.

To view photos from the day, please visit Schoolbox.

Tuesday: Autograph Hunt

Staff members dressed as famous people from autobiographical and biographical texts, and students set off around the school to track them down and collect their autographs. The hunt encouraged curiosity, conversation and plenty of movement as students worked together to identify each mystery character.

Wednesday: Butterbeer

Wednesday was filled with wizarding wonder as the Harry Potter Enrichment Club transformed literacy into a magical experience. Students successfully brewed Butterbeer for teachers, showcasing their teamwork, creativity and attention to detail as they perfected the sweet, frothy drink.

Ingredients: Vanilla ice-cream, creamy soda, cream, caramel sauce and butterscotch candies.

Thursday: Quidditch

The magic continued on Thursday with the Year 12 Quidditch Tournament, where students represented the four Hogwarts Houses in fast-paced matches. Spectators gathered with handmade flags to cheer on their teams, and the event was filled with laughter, energy and participation. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to connect, have fun and celebrate together.

Friday: Disney Dance and Sing-Along Party

Literacy Week concluded on a high note with a joyful Disney Dance and Sing-Along Party. Students and staff came together to perform favourite Disney songs, creating a wonderful atmosphere filled with music, laughter and school spirit. Student performances showcased confidence, enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved, while audience members sang along. The Junior School dance party added even more excitement, with students embracing the opportunity to celebrate the end of a fantastic week.

It was a fitting finale that brought the school community together and left everyone smiling, singing and already looking forward to Literacy Week in 2027.

In addition to the variety of activities for Junior, Middle and Senior School students, there was also some Literacy Week competitions. The classroom display competition saw students in each of the Tutor Groups transform their rooms into vibrant, themed showcases inspired by their assigned year level author or genre.

Some classes brought the mischievous magic of Roald Dahl to life, filling their classrooms with larger-than-life characters, whimsical settings and playful visual details. Others leaned into childhood classics, creating warm, nostalgic displays that celebrated the stories many students grew up reading. Meanwhile, other Tutor Groups embraced the intrigue of the mystery genre, suspenseful spaces filled with clues, codes and hidden surprises.

We are pleased to announce the winning display for each of the sub-schools.

Junior School – the entire Year 4 cohort

Middle School – 5WC

Senior School – 12WB

Honourable mentions to 1WA, 8WC, 8WD and the entire Year 5 cohort.

Students were also provided with the opportunity to participate in a colouring competition or a front cover design. Congratulations to the following students:

Prep – Avraj Singh G (PWE) Sabar K (PWB)

Year 1 – Grace P (1WA) Mehraab S (1WE)

Year 2 – Scarlett-Rose M (2WC) & Zaina K (2WD)

Year 3 – Shannon G (3WA) Dheera K (3WA)

Year 4 – Rameen A (4WA) Viara S (4WB)

Year 5 – Alina C (5WC)

Year 6 – Jasmine J (6WC)

Year 12 – Harnoor K (12WB)

Sarah Hunter – Deputy Principal: Deputy Head of Woodlea Campus & Head of Middle School Education

Melissa Dunat – Deputy Head of Middle School (Woodlea)