From the Heads of Junior School
As we complete the school year, we extend our best wishes for a safe and enjoyable holiday break.
Throughout the year, our Junior School students have taken part in a wide range of learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. Alongside academic progress, we value activities that build confidence, responsibility and teamwork, and we are proud of the way students have represented themselves and our school.
Congratulations to all students on their efforts and achievements in 2025. Their commitment and positive approach have been evident across all areas of school life.
For students moving on from Bacchus Marsh Grammar, we wish you well in the next stage of your schooling and we hope your time here remains a positive part of your educational experience.
Semester Two reports will be available shortly. Please take the time to read the accompanying information pages and discuss with your child their progress and goals for the year ahead.
We look forward to welcoming back our Year 1 to Year 4 students on Friday 30 January 2026, and our Prep students on Monday 2 February 2026.
We wish all families a safe and restful holiday period and thank you for your ongoing support throughout the year.
Melanie Morton – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Maddingley)
Sally Savic – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Woodlea)
Maddingley
Christmas Concert
The Junior School Christmas concert was a cheerful end of year celebration. The John Leaver Gymnasium was brought to life with lots of Christmas colour, cheer and music. Students had worked hard to learn and rehearse their performances, and the audience enjoyed the blend of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs.
Our Violinists encouraged everyone in the audience to sing along with their mix of traditional and new KPOP tunes. The Preps stole our hearts with their big smiles and groovy dance moves and the special surprise appearance of Santa added to this fun occasion. Throughout the concert, students showed our School Values in meaningful ways. Respect was evident in how they worked together and sat respectfully watching their peers. Discipline in their focused during rehearsals and Kindness in the way they encouraged one another on stage. Their Ambition and Confidence were clear as they learnt new musical instruments and choreography. Their determination and commitment were clear on stage as they shone brightly in front of their families and peers.
Congratulations to all Junior School students and teachers on their wonderful performance.
Events of this scale rely on the work of many teams behind the scenes. I would like to extend our thanks to:
Our Music/Sound Tech, Events, Maintenance, and ICT Teams, for the set-up, pack-down, and the countless jobs in between that ensure our space and ready for our families to enjoy another memorable and magical Christmas concert.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the end of the year!
Photos will be available on Schoolbox next week.
Melanie Morton – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Maddingley)
Prep–Year 2 Fun Run & Tabloid Sports
What an incredible day we had for our Prep to Year 2 Fun Run and Tabloid Sports! The sunshine turned on its very best for us, providing the perfect backdrop for a morning filled with laughter, teamwork and active fun.
Our students showed amazing enthusiasm as they rotated through a range of classic events including the egg and spoon race, tug of war, sack race and the always-entertaining three-legged race. During the Fun Run, every student demonstrated wonderful stamina and perseverance, pushing themselves to keep going and celebrating each small victory along the way. Smiles were everywhere as students encouraged one another, tried their best and celebrated each other’s efforts.
A huge thank you to all the parents who came along to cheer, help and join in the fun. Your energy and involvement made the day even more special for our youngest learners.
To cap off a brilliant day, the teachers lined up for the much-anticipated staff sack race. With impressive speed and skill, Mrs. Smith took out the win convincingly, leaving the crowd buzzing and the teachers laughing.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to such a memorable and joy-filled event. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!
Junior School Physical Education Team
Year 3 Camp
Year 3 students went on a camping adventure to Lady Northcote. The activities were a highlight, from canoeing on the dam (with a few surprise dips into the water) to patiently waiting on the dock while yabbying. Although only a few yabbies were caught, everyone agreed that sitting in the sunshine, chatting and watching the canoes glide by was wonderfully relaxing.
The giant swing was another standout activity, giving students a chance to test their bravery while relying on their classmates for encouragement and teamwork as they were harnessed in and lifted high into the air. Archery tested the students’ aim and concentration, with games to make it even more challenging.
Bike riding was another exciting adventure, with some students trying this skill for the very first time and proudly gaining confidence as they rode around the camp. Adding to the adventure, students loved making their own pizzas in the woodfire ovens, chopping their own ingredients, kneading the dough and creating a delicious snack.
Evenings at camp were just as special as the days. A night walk on the first night gave students the chance to experience the bush after dark, listening carefully to the sounds of nature and spotting what they could under the glow of their torches. On the second night, students gathered for a movie, relaxing with friends and winding down after action-packed days of activities.
On the final day, students took part in a lively scavenger hunt, racing around the campgrounds with maps in hand to complete challenges and earn points for their teams. It was the perfect way to wrap up such a fun and adventurous camp. The Year 3 teachers were incredibly proud of the confidence, resilience and positivity that students demonstrated on camp.
Bethan White – Head of Year 3 (Maddingley)
Year 4 Graduation
Our Year 4 Graduation was held on Wednesday following the final Junior School Assembly for the year. During the assembly, the Year 4 Leaders and House Leaders formally handed over the reins to the newly selected Year 3 Leaders and House Leaders, marking an important moment of continuity and student leadership within the Junior School.
The Graduation ceremony celebrated the students’ achievements as they concluded their time in Junior School and prepared to move into Middle School. Selected students delivered heartfelt speeches, reflecting on their early memories of Bacchus Marsh Grammar and their final year in Junior School. They also shared their hopes and aspirations for their transition to Year 5 and the years ahead.
The whole Year 4 cohort confidently performed This Is Me, showcasing their unity, enthusiasm and pride. At the conclusion of the ceremony, parents were invited to join their children for a morning tea, providing a warm and joyful finish to this special milestone.
Click here to see all the photos from this event.
Year 4 Team, Maddingley
Woodlea
Junior School Christmas Celebration
On Thursday 11 December, our Junior School community gathered to celebrate the end of the academic year. The Christmas Celebration was a great way to conclude the year, with students performing confidently and singing a range of songs themed around an Australian Bush Christmas.
Students shared their music, singing and festive spirit as they presented their Christmas items. The final item, where all year levels came together to sing in the Junior School quadrangle, was a beautiful way to finish the event.
We are very proud of all the students for their wonderful performances and grateful to their teachers for the time and effort that went into preparing them. We also extend our thanks to our parent community for attending and supporting the students on this special day.
Photos will be available on Schoolbox next week.
Sally Savic – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Woodlea)
Junior School Assembly
During our final Junior School assembly, we honoured our current cohort of Year 4 students to mark the end of their Junior School journey. During the assembly, the Year 4 cohort performed a song called Sunflowers, written by Alison Thompson, one of our music teachers. The song beautifully encapsulates the tremendous growth the students have made during their time in Junior School, drawing on the metaphor of our students being like sunflowers who turn towards the sun.
Later in the day, the cohort came together for a smaller assembly where each student was presented with a certificate along with a novel as a keepsake of their time in Junior School.
It was a lovely celebration of their achievements, and we are incredibly proud of each student as they take this exciting next step into Middle School.
Aimee La Franchi – Head of Year 4 (Woodlea) /Teaching and Learning Coordinator Prep – 4 (Woodlea)
Year 3 Camp
Our Year 3 students recently completed their three-day camp at Lady Northcote, coming away with new skills, memorable stories and a strong sense of pride in their achievements. The experience offered a valuable opportunity to build confidence, strengthen friendships and enjoy outdoor learning that encouraged cooperation and curiosity.
Across the camp, students took part in a wide range of activities, including the giant swing, canoeing, archery, yabbying, pizza making, bike riding and a variety of team challenges. Evenings were spent enjoying shared experiences such as a bushwalk through the native landscape and a relaxed movie night. Each activity encouraged students to support one another, think through problems and recognise the efforts of their peers.
Throughout the camp, children consistently demonstrated the school values. They showed respect for the environment and for one another, kindness through their encouragement and support of peers, and ambition by approaching new challenges with confidence. Many stepped outside their comfort zones, whether by trying something new, managing their belongings independently, or spending nights away from home for the first time.
It was a memorable experience for all involved, and we are excited to see how these moments continue to shape their learning and growth as they move into Year 4.
Year 3 Woodlea Teachers
Year 4 Camp
The Year 4 cohort enjoyed a three-day camp at Lake Dewar Recreation Camp. Over the three days, students participated in eight different activities that were thrilling, challenging and fulfilling.
The camp offered students the opportunity to challenge themselves and step outside of their comfort zones with the support of their peers and teachers. It was wonderful to see how students came together during activities such as the giant flying fox, offering encouragement to those who were feeling less confident.
Camp was a truly rewarding experience that strengthened friendships, built resilience and created memories the students will carry with them for many years to come.
Aimee LaFranchi – Head of Year 4 (Woodlea) /Teaching and Learning Coordinator Prep – 4 (Woodlea)
