A Wonderful Term of Learning
We have had a wonderful term of learning, with students showing the values of ambition, discipline, confidence, kindness, respect and knowledge as they strived to do their best and achieve new goals, whether social, academic, sporting or creative.
Our Values Program, which teachers implement weekly, supports these qualities through class discussions, often linked to mentor texts and knowledge-rich units, helping students make meaningful connections. We encourage all families to continue conversations about the school values at home, as together, we help our students grow into well-rounded individuals.
We also ask families to continue reading with their children over the school break, as regular reading builds confidence, strengthens skills and fosters a lifelong love of learning.
We wish all our students and families a safe and enjoyable holiday break.
Sally Savic – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Woodlea)
Melanie Morton – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Maddingley)
Maddingley
Junior Art at Maddingley
During Term 3, students at the Maddingley campus have continued to explore the Elements of Art, with a greater focus on form and texture through a variety of different sculpture and construction activities. They have experimented with a variety of materials to create some impressive three-dimensional works of art.
In Prep, students enjoyed learning about artist Claude Monet and exploring his various artworks. They have been introduced to sculpture techniques such as pinch, pull and coil making by creating snails.
The Year 1 students have enjoyed experimenting with air clay, where they demonstrated their knowledge of techniques such as pinch, pull and coil making to create a mouse pinch pot.
Year 2 students have been introduced to clay and the process that happens when the clay is fired in the kiln. They created their own fish pinch pot sculpture, demonstrating different ways of manipulating and adhering clay such as pinch, pull and scratch and attach.
In Year 3, students have created a clay castle. They have demonstrated how to roll a slab and have used various tools to add texture to their sculptures.
The Year 4 students linked their prior knowledge of Ancient Chinese history to create terracotta warriors. They were able to further develop their skills in attaching the terracotta using the scratch and attach method to ensure all the parts were thoroughly secured. They also experimented with adding texture to their sculptures.
Junior School Art Team – Maddingley
Year 2 Maddingley
During Term 3, our students were immersed in a variety of memorable experiences and enriching activities that sparked both learning and curiosity.
In English, students explored the text Wandi, a powerful story about an alpine dingo’s journey. This study came to life when students were thrilled to welcome Ooti, a real-life dingo from the Dingo Sanctuary. His visit captivated the students and offered a rare opportunity to learn about wildlife up close. They discovered fascinating facts, including that dingos are incredibly flexible, capable of rotating their heads 180 degrees, and possess supersonic hearing—so acute they can hear a human heartbeat from 25 metres away.
Literacy Week was another highlight, filled with engaging activities designed to nurture a love of reading. The week concluded with a vibrant dress-up day where students brought their favourite literary characters to life with imaginative and creative costumes inspired by texts of their choice.
To celebrate Father’s Day, students invited their dads for a heart warming afternoon filled with connection and creativity. The event featured shared games, hands-on craft activities and a literacy session where students read a fluency passage from Wandi, showcasing their reading expression and understanding of sentence structure. The celebration also included an exciting STEM challenge, where students and their dads worked together to design and build a boat using limited materials. This hands-on activity encouraged teamwork, innovation and problem-solving as they tested how well their boats could float and carry weight.
Each of these events contributed to a dynamic and enjoyable Term 3 — rich with learning, creativity, and strong community spirit.
Maddingley Year 2 Team
Click here for all the photos from Maddingley Fathers Day
Click here for all the photos from Literacy Week
Woodlea
Literacy Week at Woodlea: Book an Adventure!
During Week 7, Woodlea came alive with colour, laughter and the magic of stories as we celebrated Literacy Week with the theme Book an Adventure! The entire campus was buzzing with excitement as students and staff immersed themselves in a range of activities designed to inspire a love of reading and celebrate the joy of books.
The week offered a wonderful blend of experiences for all year levels. Students were captivated by visiting authors who shared their creative journeys and inspired our budding writers to dream big. Quizzes tested our book smarts and challenged students to recall favourite titles, characters and stories, while scavenger and treasure hunts encouraged collaboration and curiosity as students explored the school grounds in search of literary surprises.
Literacy Week also provided opportunities for meaningful connections across sub-schools, with buddy reading sessions allowing younger and older students to share stories together. Our “Meet and Greet” with characters from the Little People, Big Dreams series brought history and biography to life, and classrooms transformed into spaces that celebrated creativity and imagination.
One of the standout days was Harry Potter Day, where Marauder’s Maps led students on magical adventures, and the school was filled with witches, wizards and Hogwarts-inspired fun. Staff and students alike embraced the spirit of the day, proving that reading truly is an adventure.
Thank you to our incredible staff for their creativity and enthusiasm, to our students for their boundless energy and love of learning, and to our families for supporting a week filled with laughter and imagination. Literacy Week reminded us all that books open doors to adventure, and here at Bacchus Marsh Grammar, every day is a chance to turn the page and see where the story leads!
Courtney Williams – Deputy Head of Junior School (Woodlea)
Click here to see all photos from this event
Term 3 – Year 3 Woodlea
Our Year 3 students at Woodlea recently took part in an engaging incursion focused on threatened and endangered species. Through interactive discussions and close-up experiences, students explored the reasons why species become endangered such as habitat loss, climate change and pollution. They also considered the importance of conservation and reflected on actions we can take to protect wildlife, both locally and globally.
The incursion closely supported our classroom learning focus on palm oil farming and its negative impacts on animals at risk of extinction. It encouraged students to develop curiosity, compassion and a sense of responsibility towards the natural world. Many left inspired to think about how small changes in our everyday lives can make a positive difference for animals and their environments.
Zara Vaaulu-Andrews – Head of Year 3 (Woodlea)
A Double Triumph for Year 4 at the MAV Games
On Wednesday 10 September, eight of our mathematically talented Year 4 students from the Junior Co-curricular Programme proudly represented Bacchus Marsh Grammar at the MAV Games, held at St. Anne’s. The Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV) Games is an inspiring event designed to challenge young mathematicians. Students are encouraged to apply their mathematical knowledge and skills to solve complex problems that require them to think critically, reason effectively and work collaboratively.
For many of our students, this was their very first time participating. Understandably, there was a mixture of excitement and nerves as they prepared to take on the challenge. What was most impressive was their ambition to succeed and the maturity shown in the way they conducted themselves alongside other participating students – approaching both wins and challenges with grace and humility. They demonstrated determination, teamwork and resilience, always carrying themselves with wisdom, knowledge, kindness and respect – the core values of Bacchus Marsh Grammar.
We are delighted to announce that their efforts were well-rewarded with outstanding results. Both of the Year 4 teams placed 1st and 2nd. Their success was underpinned by the discipline and commitment they have shown each week in attending the Mathematics Co-curricular Programme, where they honed their skills and developed a love of problem solving. This is an incredible achievement and a true reflection of their hard work, perseverance and positive spirit.
Congratulations to all eight students for their brilliant performance and for representing our school with such pride. This remarkable achievement not only celebrates the talent and dedication of our current participants, but also serves as an inspiration for future students to embrace the joy of problem solving and critical mathematical thinking through our Mathematics Co-curricular Programme.
Sze Foo – Head of House: Pyrites (Woodlea)
Woodlea JS Father’s Day Afternoon
Our Father’s Day afternoon was a wonderful celebration, with our male role models joining students for a range of engaging activities including kite building, roller coaster design, bridge construction and puzzles and games. The afternoon was enjoyed by all, and we extend our thanks to the dads, uncles and grandfathers who came along to support our Junior School students. We hope all families had a very special Father’s Day.
Sally Savic – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Woodlea)
Click here to see all the photos from this event
Woodlea JS House Day
Our recent Junior School House Day was a wonderful opportunity for students to come together, enjoy the sunshine, and take part in a range of fun activities. The day encouraged teamwork, school spirit, and the display of our core values as students proudly represented their Houses.
Sally Savic – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Woodlea)
