Students Parents Staff
School Tours Apply Now

Maddingley Campus

South Maddingley Road,
Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340
03 5366 4800

Woodlea Campus

111 Frontier Avenue,
Aintree (Rockbank) VIC 3336
03 5366 4900

Early Learning Centre

111 Frontier Avenue,
Aintree (Rockbank) VIC 3336
03 5366 4999

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Maddingley

Middle School Assembly Highlights Student Success

This week’s Middle School Assembly was a vibrant celebration of student achievement, with a special focus on the recent ICCES Tour and other notable accomplishments.

ICCES Tour – Coaches Awards

We proudly recognised the following students for their outstanding performances and sportsmanship:

ICCES Shields – Team Champions

Congratulations to our students who contributed to BMG’s success in the following events:

ICCES Trophy

We are thrilled to announce that Bacchus Marsh Grammar was awarded the ICCES Trophy, recognising our overall excellence across the competition.

Compass Award – Level 1

We also celebrated students who have demonstrated commitment and growth through the Compass Award program:

These achievements are a testament to the dedication, talent and spirit of our Middle School students. Whether on the field, court or in the classroom, they continue to inspire us with their enthusiasm and determination. We are incredibly proud of the young people who represent our school with such pride and integrity. What a wonderful group of students we have at BMG!

Scott Bayne – Assistant Principal: Head of Middle School (Maddingley)

Year 8 Indigenous Day at Staughton Vale

Year 8 students had a great couple of days at Staughton Vale recently, learning about Australian Indigenous culture. They participated in a range of activities from bush medicine to bush foods, traditional textile dyeing, Indigenous games, and landscape painting. In a thought-provoking history lesson, they also reflected on the impacts of colonisation.

Each day commenced with an Acknowledgement of Country before breaking out into morning and afternoon activities. Students were excited to select activities that reflected their interests.

“I went to Staughton Vale on Friday and it was really fun! We chose two activities for the day and did them in groups. I picked bush foods and textiles which I really enjoyed. We baked scones with wattle seeds, something I haven’t tried before and they tasted delicious. I also learnt the indigenous ways of dyeing fabric and made a silk scarf.” – Jia P 8H

Bush medicine students went on a walk to see medicinal plants on the property, learning about traditional and modern uses for these plants. In the science room, they saw how some medicinal preparations are made and prepared a poultice.

Bush foods was a very popular choice, students tasted native honey, herbs and spices used in sweet and savoury cookery, explored the Indigenous kitchen garden, made wattle seed scones with honey and cream, and a lemon myrtle beverage.

Students interested in the History and Geography of Western Victoria, explored how it was shaped by Indigenous people and changed through colonisation. On a walk to the Observation Deck, they reflected on early paintings of the region, the impact of pastoral leases and freehold land, introduced species and disease, and the loss of cultural practices.

Indigenous games got students active and having fun as they learning about games played by Indigenous people. Students played Marn-grook, Kai-wed, Mill-im baey-eetch, Parn-do and Wog-gab-a-lir-i.

Textiles, also a very popular choice, saw students learn how to apply traditional bush dye techniques to colour textiles. They collected flowers and foliage from around the

property for their creations and stepped through the process of dyeing their silk scarves in a natural gum leaf dye. The results were amazing!

Landscape painting students explored the work of indigenous artists, the art of painting from a ‘bird’s eye perspective’ and created landscape paintings inspired by the beauty of Country and their own connection to it.

Lots of new skills and fun for everyone, including the teachers!

Kimone Stacey-Missen – Project Officer/Science Assistant

Woodlea

Future Problem Solving Program

Future Problem Solving Program Australia teaches students problem solving strategies, collaboration, critical and creative thinking, and effective communication. This year the following Year 5 Woodlea students entered into the Community Problem Solving category with their Bush Tucker Project: Vedant S, Addison C, Sophie M, Jai D, Joydeep H, Kara G, Jasmine S, Nicola P and Aarav N. The students focused on raising awareness about bush tucker and Aboriginal herbs in the school community. Their aim was to introduce people to Aboriginal cuisine and to raise an understanding of bush tucker, which is readily available to people in Australia, resulting in awareness and protection of products such as Bunya nut, dessert lime, finger lime, Ruby saltbush and lemon myrtle.

After being chosen as a national finalist for Victoria, Vedant, Addison, Sophie and Jai (together with their coach Ms Ann Adams) were able to present their project to fellow finalists and their families at the 2025 Future Problem Solving National Finals held on 17th to 19th October in Sydney. We are extremely proud to announce that the students secured 3rd place, receiving a bronze medallion in the Junior Division and accepted a trophy on behalf of the team and school. Congratulations to Ms Adams and the Year 5 students on their remarkable achievements and their meaningful contribution to raising awareness of Indigenous culture.

Melissa Dunat – Deputy Head of Middle School (Woodlea)

I had the privilege of representing our school at the Future Problem Solvers competition which was hosted in Sydney this year. Through the community service co-curricular, we worked on our Bush Tucker project. It was this project that we got to enter in the Team Community Problem Solving Junior Division of the competition.

On the Saturday, we got to set up our project display and then got to speak to the public about our project. I really enjoyed this experience of being able to talk to people because it got me out of my comfort zone and I got to teach people all about bush tucker. That afternoon, we got to present to the judges. I was really nervous, but they were really lovely. On the Sunday, we got our results and we came third which was a great feeling! I am really proud of our team and a big thank you to Mrs Adams and Mr Bram for their support!

Sophie M – 5WD

Skip to content