I would like to extend my congratulations to our Maddingley Senior School students and staff on the outstanding production of Chicago. The talent, dedication, and creativity on display were remarkable. From the impressive performances to the technical execution by our musicians, this production showcased the extraordinary skills of our students and the guidance of our staff. Thank you to everyone involved for bringing this vibrant and entertaining show to our community.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind all parents of the importance of maintaining respect and courtesy in the school car park and surrounds. We understand that the car park/ adjacent streets can become busy at drop-off and pick-up times, and we greatly appreciate your patience and understanding in ensuring the safety of all car park users.
To help maintain a safe and considerate environment for students, families, and staff, I ask all car park users to:
Drive within the posted speed limit at all times.
Follow instructions from school staff when directed.
Park only in designated car spaces and ensure you do not block other vehicles from safely exiting.
Use disabled car spaces only if you hold a valid permit.
Show courtesy and patience towards other drivers, staff, and students at all times.
Remember that smoking or vaping is prohibited anywhere on school grounds, including the car park.
If you notice any issues or concerns, please report them to the school so they can be addressed promptly. Our shared commitment to safety and respect ensures a positive and secure environment for the entire school community.
I wish you all a safe and enjoyable mid-term break.
Last Thursday, I had the privilege, along with Mrs Hunter and ten students from both the Maddingley and Woodlea campuses, to attend the Thriving Minds “Philosophy Day for Thinkers” program at La Trobe University. It was a fantastic day of mental challenge, exploring deep questions about life, morality and the importance of following logic before making decisions. The seminar was hosted by Oxford scholar and lecturer Julie Arliss, and there was also a Zoom session direct from the UK with Dr. Andrew Pinsent, Research Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at the University of Oxford.
The day’s aims were to improve thinking skills, foster intellectual creativity and encourage systematic and rigorous thinking about modern day issues. Of particular note was a topic of great consequence: virtuous behaviour, a vital element in our school’s Character Education Program. Specifically, the virtue of courage was discussed, what it is, why it is important, the criteria that embody this virtue, and how we can display it daily in our lives.
Courage, by definition, is acting with bravery in fearful situations and is often symbolised by the lion. However,
“Courage doesn’t always have to roar!”
For some, courage may simply mean showing up to school each day, raising a hand in class to answer a question, or standing on stage to perform in the school musical (which many talented students did last week in the school’s brilliant production of Chicago). In her discussion of courage, Julie Arliss went on to say, “The small things really matter; they really make a difference!” I would like all our students to recognise this. Being courageous means showing up and doing the small things, even when we feel under pressure, because these small actions add up, and before you know it, your courage has resulted in a big outcome.
Andrew Perks – Deputy Principal: Culture and Character Education
Thank you to all families who attended our Junior School Parent Teacher Interviews this week. These meetings provided an important opportunity to discuss each student’s academic progress, celebrate achievements and set goals for the remainder of the year. We trust the experience was valuable and that you now feel well-informed to support your child in both areas of growth and challenge.
If you were unable to attend or have not yet booked an interview, please contact your child’s classroom teacher to arrange an alternative time. We strongly encourage all families to participate in these valuable conversations.
It is a particularly busy time in the Junior School, and we encourage parents to regularly check their child’s Year Level Family Engagement Page for valuable learning resources, curriculum updates and information about upcoming events.
We greatly appreciate your continued support and collaboration as we work together to ensure the best learning experiences for our students.
Melanie Morton – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Maddingley) and
Sally Savic – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Woodlea)
Maddingley
100 Days of Super Learning in Prep 2025
Congratulations to our youngest BMG students who celebrated their 100 Days of Prep this week! We are now 100 days smarter, super, confident, and BRIGHTER! The students certainly looked the part, dressed in vibrant colours as we spent the day celebrating this wonderful milestone and exploring all things one hundred. In English, we wrote about our special day, and in Maths, we engaged in fun activities working with numbers to one hundred.
It has been incredible to watch our bright young learners grow and thrive in their first year of school, and we look forward to seeing all the amazing achievements they will accomplish throughout the rest of the year.
Here’s to the next 100 days of learning, laughter, and amazing adventures in Prep!
STAR Reading (Students Teachers All Reading) is a vital part of the English curriculum in the Junior School at Maddingley. Every class is engaged in purposeful reading activities designed to not only strengthen students’ reading skills, but also to inspire a lifelong love of books. From focused independent reading, paired fluency activities and small group reading sessions with the teacher, students are developing their fluency, comprehension and confidence, all while discovering the joy of getting lost in a good story.
One of the highlights of STAR Reading is the involvement of the school community. We are fortunate to have wonderful parent reading helpers who generously give their time each week to listen to students read, offer encouragement, and share in their reading journey. Adding to the excitement, our older students step into leadership roles by visiting Junior School classrooms to read with our younger learners. These moments not only give our youngest readers a chance to practise in a supportive environment, but they also build cross year level connections and a shared passion for reading.
We are so proud of the enthusiasm and progress we’re seeing in our Junior School students. We can’t wait to see our readers continue to shine!
Ashleigh Durham – Teaching and Learning Co-Ordinator P – 4
Year 3 Maddingley Staughton Vale Day Out
On Monday August 11, the Maddingley Year 3 cohort donned their gumboots and gaiters and ventured out for the day at our Staughton Vale Campus. The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, and a glint of Spring was on the horizon for a fun day together exploring the grounds of Staughton Vale together. The Year 3 students competed in an Orienteering/Geocaching style activity with their peers in a small group race around the campus to collect goodies from allocated positions on a map. They worked collaboratively in teams to communicate, read maps, navigate around the campus and complete the challenge set for them.
For their next activity, students got to complete a nature wind chime in a mindful Art task in which they collected the perfect stick, tied knots of string to the stick, threaded on a variety of colours and shapes of beads and bells and completed a personalised wind chime to take home with them as a memento of their day at the campus. As always, lunchtime was a hit as the cohort ran free in the expansive paddock space to kick a footy, jump some ropes, take part in a game of soccer, launch a frisbee, or hit a six in a cricket match. Overall, we had a fabulous day in the sun at Staughton Vale and lots of smiling faces on the bus back to school. We look forward to our next adventure to the farm!
Melissa Pearson – Teacher
Year 3 Maddingley Natural Disasters Incursion
On Thursday August 7 and Friday August 8, the Year 3 classes were lucky enough to experience a Natural Disasters Incursion with the team from Mad About Science. Each of the four classes experienced an hour long session in the dedicated Junior School Science Lab with Tracy and Mesa to learn about the atmosphere around our Earth and how this impacts the weather and produced clouds, and other more terrifying weather phenomena like blizzards, cyclones, hurricanes and floods. They made a mini tornado in a bottle, created a cloud in a jar by joining cool and warm air masses with water vapour, and played with fake snow they produced in their hands!
We then learnt how the Earth’s tectonic plates shift, producing Earthquakes, triggering Volcanic Eruptions, and played with the pressure build up simulation of a volcano with a rubber stopper bursting off a test tube. The experience was very hands-on for all students and highly interactive with the sessions’ leaders. It was a fabulous incursion that further extended their scientific learning within our Term 2 Science topic of ‘Processes that Shape the Earth’, and our current Year 3 History and Geography topic of ‘Natural Disasters’, and gave the students an opportunity to demonstrate their learning to impress the session leaders with their deep and enduring understandings.
Melissa Pearson – Teacher
Woodlea
100 Days of Prep at Woodlea
Recently at Woodlea, we celebrated our 100 days of school. The day was full of fun as our Preps dressed up as 100-year-olds and took part in activities all about the number 100.
In their first 100 days, the Preps have gone from learning the sounds and letters of the English language to applying these skills to read and write sentences. At 100 days of Prep, they are now producing some high-quality and entertaining pieces of writing that showcase what they have learnt.
As part of our celebration, the children responded to two special writing prompts:
When I am 100 years old I will…
If I had $100 I would…
Here are just some of their wonderful ideas:
When I am 100 years old I will…
“knit and go to Kmart. I will cook at home and sleep.” – Viahna, Prep WA
“do some shopping at Coles. I will go on a rollercoaster and I will get cotton candy.” – Srithik, Prep WA
“hold a lovely walking stick because I am old” – Kiaan, Prep WB
“be asleep because I had a long walk.” – Ilyana, Prep WB
“have a walking stick. I will have pretty clothes and perfume.” – Avleen, Prep WC
“have a fancy house, a fancy car, fancy clothes and fancy glasses.” – Yuvan, Prep WC
“sleep with my dog and my cat. Then I will garden every day.” – Mehar, Prep WD
“be working on my computer to get more money.” – Ivaan, Prep WD
“watch TV and roll on my wheelchair and will play a little bit of golf.” – Atharva, Prep WE
“watch TV and read books. I will sit on a chair and I will cook.” – Tegh, Prep WE
If I had $100 I would…
“buy a Barbie house, a box of lollypops and games.” – Ambryn, Prep WA
“buy a big castle, a fluffy toy and a Labubu.” – Riaan, Prep WA
“buy a shop and a school.” – Ryan, Prep WB
“buy a Barbie camper van.” – Aahira, Prep WB
“save my money for important things.” – Kristy, Prep WC
“buy Elsa and Anna dresses to wear to birthday parties.” Safa, Prep WC
“buy a Tesla and a Mercedes. Then I could go to school in any of them.” – Manreet, Prep WD
“buy lollies and a golden lollypop.” – Pari, Prep WD
“get a Zooper Dooper and I would get a burger and have a sandwich.” – Aavishi, Prep WE
“buy a toy for the kids and give a treat to my family.” – Kiyara, Prep WE
Middle School students at Maddingley embraced the colder weather this term with a cosy evening of reading and community at the Hive Library.
Students and their parents were invited to join the after-hours reading event, sharing their favourite book and a pizza dinner in the beautiful surrounds of the Hive Library.
BMG has a wonderful culture of reading, with students challenging themselves to explore new authors, genres and topics. Research shows that students who read for pleasure have improved literacy and academic outcomes- what an enjoyable way for a student to improve their vocabulary, world knowledge and comprehension skills!
Mali Jorm – Head of Library Services
Middle School Term 3
This week, the Middle School came alive with celebration as we recognised the incredible achievements of our students across academics, sports, leadership and creativity. It was a vibrant reminder of the talent, dedication and spirit that make our community so special.
From prestigious awards to thrilling competitions, here’s a snapshot of the highlights:
Compass Award Winners
This experiential learning program empowers students to grow in confidence, initiative and well-being. Congratulations to our trailblazers:
Level 1 – Adwikaa S
Level 2 – Lorelei W
Level 3 – Reyan H
ICCES Winter Tour 2025 – Coaches Awards
Our athletes shone brightly on the field and court, earning recognition for their skill, teamwork and sportsmanship:
Basketball (7–9 Girls) – Jordin F
Netball (7–8 Junior Girls) – Savannah G
Soccer (7–8 Junior Boys) – Ranit K
Soccer (7–9 Junior Girls) – Rose A
ICCES AFL Coaches Awards
Celebrating grit and game sense on the footy field:
Year 7/8 Boys – Lucas P
Year 7/8 Girls – Ayla H
Middle School House Chess Results
Strategic minds battled it out in a thrilling chess showdown. Congratulations to:
House Champion – Parwan
Year 7 Student Champion – Arav A
Da Vinci Award Winners
Honouring brilliance in Science, Technology, Literature and the Arts:
Aanav M
Anvita M
Neev A
Koen M
Palaash K
Aashi D
Navroop R
Archit Rajesh
School Colours Awards
Recognising commitment and contribution to school life:
Single School Colours (50 points):
Lorelei W (6B), Lazarus S (6C), Zahra C (6C), Wintar T (7B), Charlotte V (7C), Harvey L (8A)
Double School Colours (100 points):
Reyan H (6A)
Interhouse Quiz Competition
The battle of brains has begun! Here are the current standings:
Years 5 & 6:
Pykes and Pyrites
Kororoit
Lerderderg and Djerriwarrh
Years 7 & 8:
Toolern and Parwan
Pyrites
Kororoit and Dale
A huge congratulations to all our award recipients and participants. Your hard work, passion and perseverance continue to inspire us all. Thank you to the families, teachers and coaches who support our students every step of the way.
Let’s keep the momentum going into Term 4!
Scott Bayne – Assistant Principal: Head of Middle School (Maddingley)
Year 5 Global Studies Staughton Vale Day
On Wednesday the 6th of August, the Year 5 students from Woodlea visited Staughton Vale as part of their Global Studies classes. The focus of the excursion was to explore how Staughton Vale and its surrounding environment have changed since colonisation and to learn about current management strategies used to address these impacts.
The excursion included three main activities: a walk to the observation deck with a field sketch, tree planting, and a scavenger hunt.
In the morning, the Year 5 students hiked to the observation deck, where they took in views of the surrounding landforms, including Mount Anakie and the You Yangs. They also identified visible human alterations to the landscape, such as cleared land and fencing.
During the tree planting session with Kimone Stacey-Missen, students discovered the significance of revegetation in restoring the natural environment, and together they planted 141 native seedlings.
After lunch, students participated in a scavenger hunt. Working in teams, they used a map to navigate to key locations around Staughton Vale. At each stop, they found a treasure box containing information that helped them further understand the area’s environmental changes.
Molly Fitzgerald – Head of Faculty: Humanities (Woodlea)
Year 9 to 12 Indonesian Independence Day activities
Every 17 August, Indonesians celebrate the country’s independence with a range of activities from flag raising ceremony in the morning to a range of fun competitions for children that are run by the community members and leaders. It is the day when independence is commemorated and celebrated.
On 15 and 18 August, the Indonesian students in Senior School celebrated Indonesian Independence Day by learning about Indonesia’s path to independence and participating in collaborative activities. Students engaged in a trivia quiz on Indonesian knowledge, a chopstick challenge involving transferring plastic shells between tables, and concentration games. Throughout these activities, students actively practised Gotong Royong — a foundational Indonesian cultural principle of mutual assistance and community cooperation, where people work together voluntarily to help each other and achieve common goals for the benefit of the community. This celebration combined historical education with hands-on activities that embodied traditional Indonesian values of collective responsibility and teamwork. Below are some reflections from the years 9 to 12 students.
I learned that Indonesian Independence Day is on 17 August and was made independent in 1945. I learnt that the activities are about teamwork. I enjoyed moving the plastic shells activity because it involved the whole team and was fun but difficult. ~ Emma, Year 9
I learned that Indonesian Independence Day is on 17 August, and some of the activities played. I enjoyed the quiz game because it was very fun working with my partner to solve questions with our combined knowledge. ~ Vaani, PreVCE
I learned that the activities or games in Indonesian Independence Day are not individual games they all work together to compete. ~ Marissa, Year 11
I learned how big the celebrations are and some general knowledge in Indonesia in general. I enjoyed all the games because they were all fun to do on a Friday, and we’ve never celebrated this day at school before. ~ Tara, Year 12
Bintari Setyorini – Senior School Indonesian Teacher
Year 9 Core Science Wetlands Fieldwork Excursion
Recently, Year 9 students from Maddingley participated in an Environmental Science fieldwork excursion to Lake Wendouree in the city of Ballarat. This complimented the Woodlea students’ recent visit to the Deanside Wetlands.
The visit provided students with the opportunity to apply environmental sampling techniques learned in class to a real-world setting, focusing on the man-maintained wetlands area of the lake. Throughout the day, students engaged in a series of structured activities designed to investigate the biodiversity and environmental health of the wetlands. These activities included:
Quadrat Sampling: Using quadrats, students assessed biodiversity by recording the variety and abundance of species within defined areas.
Transect Line Comparisons: Transect lines were used to compare biodiversity across different sections of the wetlands, allowing students to observe changes in species distribution and habitat variation.
This fieldwork experience not only reinforced key curriculum concepts, but also reinforced critical thinking, data collection and analytical skills. The excursion was a valuable opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with practical scientific investigation, thus deepening their understanding of Earth’s four systems and sustainability.
Congratulations to all students who participated in the Woodlea Portrait Competition – all entries were amazing!
Please see below for the list of the 2025 winners.
By:- Woodlea Art Team
Prep- Ravleen D PWA
Prep- Renan S PWD
Year 1 – Tanishi C 1WC
Year 1 – Ishaan M 1WD
Year 2 – Mehar V 2WC
Year 2 – Aaira G 2WA
Year 3 – Jeshan J 3WC
Year 3 -Ehan Z 3WD
Year 4 – Alina C 4WA
Year 4 – Miya S 4WB
Honourable Mention-Srishti P 4WD
Honourable Mention- Sehaj V 4WD
Honourable Mention- Gauri G 4WC
Honourable Mention- Myra M 4WD
Year 5 -Ariana S 5WA
Year 5 -Niryun G 5WA
Year 6 – Alisha A 6WB
Year 6 – Ahana D 6WB
Honourable Mention – Janella J 6WC
Year 7 – Emma T 7WF
Year 7 – Eliza Z 7WB
Honourable Mention – Karaj V 7WD
Year 8 – Samaira W 8WE
Year 8 – Samarah H 8WA
Year 9 – Keira K 9WE
Year 9 – Devansh V 9WD
Year 10 – Vaishnavi P 10WB
Year 10 – Summer L 10WD
Subject and Careers Expo 2025
Our recent Subjects and Careers Expo at both Maddingley and Woodlea campuses brought together students with their families to explore subjects for subject selection and career pathways for those students in VCE. Staff, industry professionals and alumni did an incredible job of inspiring our students as they consider their futures.
A special highlight was the involvement of our alumni, who generously shared their experiences and insights across fields including Biology, Engineering, Law, Nursing and much more. Their pathways and stories provided invaluable guidance and motivation for our students.
We would like to say a big thank you to the Careers Team for orchestrating such an engaging event, as well as to all staff involved, from the admin team to teaching staff, who supported students and the event throughout the day. Our Maintenance Team also deserves a shoutout for ensuring both campuses were ready for the event and cleaned up afterwards.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the Subjects and Careers Expo 2025 a great experience for all our students.
Junior Thinkers and Senior Stretch Excursions – Expanding Minds Through Philosophy
Last week, a group of our most academically capable students had the opportunity to take part in the Junior Thinkers and Senior Stretch excursions, presented by Academy Learning. The sessions were led by esteemed presenter Julie Arliss, whose work focuses on stretching bright young minds through critical and creative thinking.
Julie is an international speaker, educator and founder of Academy Learning which supports gifted education and philosophical inquiry across the UK, Australia and New Zealand. A Farmington Scholar at Oxford and former A Level teacher, she has collaborated with leading universities and institutions including the Ian Ramsey Centre and the McDonald Centre at Oxford.
The excursions offered students a unique platform to grapple with some of life’s biggest questions through philosophical debate, moral dilemmas and thought experiments. Questions such as the value of free speech, the origins of space and time and whether money or love makes the world go around were posed. Students were encouraged to think deeply, challenge assumptions, and engage in respectful dialogue with both their peers and the presenter.
For our Junior Thinkers, the day was filled with lively discussion and engaging activities designed to spark curiosity and strengthen reasoning skills. Students participated in a Community of Inquiry, lecture sessions and a debate. The Senior Stretch participants were pushed even further, exploring complex philosophical ideas which tested their ability to form and defend reasoned arguments. They were introduced to the ideas of philosophical logic, a concept that is also explored in Specialist Mathematics.
Students came away not only inspired, but also better equipped to think critically about the world around them. Opportunities such as these highlight the importance of nurturing intellectual curiosity and providing “stretch opportunities” beyond the classroom. Congratulations to all participants from the Maddingley and Woodlea campuses. We hope the experience fosters a lifelong pursuit of philosophical thinking and aspirational behaviours.
Sarah Hunter – Deputy Principal, Deputy Head of Campus (Woodlea)
Andrew Perks – Deputy Principal, Character and Culture
Scott Faulkner – Teacher
BMG Students Shine at the 2025 Space Teams Academy
Over the July school holidays, a group of talented Year 7 and 8 students from Bacchus Marsh Grammar took part in the prestigious 2025 Space Teams Academy, held from 7 – 11 July at RMIT University’s Melbourne Campus.
The program, conducted by One Giant Leap Australia in collaboration with RMIT University and the CSIRO, brought together 32 students from across Victoria who were selected through a competitive process. Each applicant submitted a short video presentation outlining their passion for space and astronomy.
We are proud to share that an impressive nine of the participants were from BMG — representing both the Woodlea and Maddingley campuses.
Student Attendees
Aarya Bi (7WB)
Aneli P (7WF)
Summer B (7WF)
Samarjot S (7B)
Darsh S (7H)
Jaithra S (7E)
Atharv K (8B)
Soham D (8B)
Aadi M (8F)
In addition, Surya S (Year 10, Woodlea Student) attended the program as a Student Mentor, providing guidance and support to younger participants.
Throughout the week, students engaged in a range of space-related activities, building their knowledge and skills in areas such as astronomy, space technology and mission planning. The program concluded with a graduation ceremony on July 11, at which students celebrated their achievements.
Susanna Mandic – Assistant Principal: Director of STEM and Senior School Initiatives
R U OK? Day – Thursday 11 September 2025
On Thursday 11 September 2025, Bacchus Marsh Grammar will join communities across Australia in recognising R U OK? Day – a national initiative dedicated to inspiring and empowering people to meaningfully connect with those around them by asking the simple yet important question: “Are you OK?”
To support this message, we invite all students to participate by wearing yellow accessories such as hair ribbons, hats, beanies, scarves, socks, scrunchies or headbands. These items may be worn with the full school uniform, or with the PE/Sport uniform if scheduled for that day. We kindly ask students not to wear coloured hairspray or face paint.
We look forward to seeing our campuses united in a sea of yellow on this special day, as together we highlight the importance of compassion, connection and support within our school community.
Lisa Foster – Deputy Principal, Deputy Head of Maddingley Campus
ICCES Chess
On Tuesday, 5 August, Bacchus Marsh Grammar proudly hosted the ICCES Chess competition. A total of seven schools, including BMG, took part in the event, and we were delighted to place 3rd overall. A special congratulations go to our top performers: Aarav A in the Junior Division, Cherish V in the Intermediate Division, and Lachlan H in the Senior Division. Well done to all participants for their effort, determination, and wonderful display of team spirit throughout the day. A big thank you also to the staff for their support in making the event such a success.
Manta Ramgolam – Teacher
Australian Science Innovations – Big Science Competition Results
Students from both the Maddingley and Woodlea campuses have achieved outstanding results in this year’s Australian Science Innovations Big Science Competition, with 64 students participating and more than 60% earning a Credit or higher. These results are a powerful testament to the passion, curiosity, and dedication our students bring to their science learning, as they embraced the challenge of applying critical thinking and scientific reasoning to real-world problems. Their success reflects not only academic excellence but also a genuine enthusiasm for exploring the world through science, and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts and achievements.
We would like to acknowledge all of the students who participated and recognise those who performed particularly well:
Congratulations and well done to all participating students. We look forward to another successful competition in 2026.
Ben Northcott & Sarah Thomson – Heads of Science – Woodlea & Maddingley
Our talented Performing Arts students truly razzle-dazzled audiences with their production of Chicago – Teen Edition at Geelong Performing Arts Centre last week. The show was a great success, showcasing the incredible creativity and dedication of our students.
Over the past six months, both students and staff have worked tirelessly to bring this production to life, and their commitment was evident in every moment on stage. We are so proud of the talent, teamwork and passion that made this show such a highlight for our school community.
Stay tuned for all photos next week on Schoolbox!
Narelle Pritchard and Elyse Zahra – Production Directors
Bacchus Marsh Grammar presents Maddingley in Concert
Tickets on sale now!
Monday 8 September – Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the vibrant creativity and talent of our Performing Arts students. Maddingley In Concert will showcase the energy, dedication and artistry of students from both Middle and Senior School.
The program will feature a dynamic mix of vocal acts, vibrant dance performances, high-energy band sets and uplifting ensemble pieces. This event is a true celebration of music and dance excellence at Bacchus Marsh Grammar – a night not to be missed!
The ICCES Cross Country Competition was held on Tuesday, 5 August at Bundoora. After overnight showers, competitors were greeted with a sun-filled day and a course that, while challenging, remained firm underfoot and not overly muddy.
BMG students delivered strong performances across the day with some wonderful individual achievements:
Kayla S (Yr 8) – 9th, Junior Girls
Nilavan M (Yr 10) – 4th, Intermediate Boys
Sam W (Yr 12) – 10th, Senior Boys
In the Overall Aggregate, BMG secured a 5th place finish.
A sincere thank you is extended to the staff who attended and generously gave their time to support our students throughout the event.
Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championships
The Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championships first carved their tracks into history back in 1958 at Mt Buller, when just two schools, Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College lined up to compete.
From those humble beginnings, the event has snowballed into one of Victoria’s premier school sporting competitions. Today, more than 220 schools take part each year, with close to 6,500 entries across nine disciplines, all against the breathtaking backdrop of Mt Buller.
This year, Bacchus Marsh Grammar is proudly represented once again, with Tayla and Kaylee W hitting the slopes. We wish them the very best as they take on the mountain and showcase their skills at Mt Buller this week.
Victorian Schools Mountain Bike Orienteering Competition– Expression of Interest
The Victorian Schools Mountain Bike Orienteering Competition is fast approaching in mid-September, and we’re eager to see BMG students get involved!
This exciting event challenges students in Years 9–12 to navigate mountain bike trails using a map to locate checkpoints as quickly as possible. It’s the perfect mix of endurance, problem-solving and navigation skills—all while enjoying the thrill of riding outdoors.
Essential requirements: Students must have access to a mountain bike and helmet.
Bryce Durham – Head of Faculty: PE and Health
Western Metropolitan Regional Hockey Finals
On Thursday, 14 August, we proudly took 11 students to compete in the Western Metro Regional Hockey Finals at the Footscray Hockey Club. The girls faced strong opposition throughout the day, going down in two of their three matches. However, they finished the tournament on a high, producing a convincing 2–0 victory against Brookside College.
The team should be commended for their effort, teamwork and determination across all matches, showing great resilience to finish with a well-earned win.
A special thank you goes to Mr Trent Oldaker for his commitment and support in preparing the girls leading up to the event and for his guidance and encouragement on the day.
Junior Landcare Club: Mega Pumpkin Sale provides much-needed funds for local charity
A huge congratulations goes to the Year 5/6 students from the Maddingley Junior Landcare/produce Club. On Friday afternoon, they conducted the Pop-Up farm stall at the Gatehouse for members of the school community to purchase produce from the Club and from the Staughton Vale campus.
There was a range of items on sale, including sweet potato, rhubarb, lettuce and butternut pumpkins.
On the day, the students raised an impressive $250, which will be donated to Neighbour’s Place in Bacchus Marsh, with the residual produce being utilised by Food Technology. From setting up the stall, to completing transactions with customers, the students gave a positive experience to all of the families that visited the stall.
Our Book Fairs are now closed and we are currently processing orders from our Woodlea Fair.
Orders placed from the Maddingley Book Fair have been distributed. If your child has not yet received their order then please contact Mrs West at westf@bmg.vic.edu.au. Do not contact Lamont Books directly. Thank you.
Feona West: Teacher-Librarian and BMG Book Fair Coordinator
Book Club News August 2025
Issues 6 of the Scholastic Book Club catalogue is available to order from.
Country Bus Travel 2026 – Eligible and Fare Paying (Maddingley Campus)
Applications for Permission to Travel forms have been sent to families, via Edsmart Broadcast notification, to parents of children who are eligible to travel on a Country bus to Bacchus Marsh Grammar Maddingley Campus in 2026. Application forms are due back by Friday 5th September 2025. Please note that failure to submit this form to the office by the due date may result in your child/ren not being eligible to travel on a Government Country Operated Bus Service in 2026.
Year 12 Trial Exams
The Year 12 trial exams are taking place on Monday 06 October 2025; however, there will be no bus services available on this day (private, public or country). Students will have to make their own way to and from school on this day.
Private Bus Travel 2026
We have rolled over current 2025 students’ private bus travel to 2026 private bus travel.
If your child/ren’s current bus travel arrangements are going to change or require to be changed (eg moving house, no longer requiring private bus travel) for 2026, please contact the School Bus Services Administrator on 5366 4800 or email bus@bmg.vic.edu.au to inform us of this change. If your child/ren will not require a private bus service in 2026, and parents do not advise us of this change, your child/ren will be allocated to a private bus and full year bus fees will apply.
Allocated Roll Stops
If you have changed your child/ren’s stop where they board or disembark as a permanent change, and have not notified the school, please contact the School Bus Services Administrator on 5366 4800 or email bus@bmg.vic.edu.au. This information needs to be up-to-date on roll call for emergency services and will assist in the planning for 2026 routes/timetables.
Wrong Stop Alert
If you are receiving a notification of WRONG STOP in your roll call App, please contact the School Bus Services Administrator on 5366 4800 or email bus@bmg.vic.edu.au so the correct stop can be updated. This is to ensure your child is allocated to the same stop for 2026.
Leanne Robertson – School Bus Services Administrator
The following School policy has been updated and is available to view from the School Policies tile in Schoolbox:
– Bus Travel Code of Conduct – Updated to clarify boarding procedures, strengthen parent responsibilities, outline cumulative consequences for misconduct, and introduce provisions for CCTV review and incident reporting via email.
Please contact Kerryn Browne should you have any questions.
Kerryn Browne – Risk, Compliance and Policy Manager
ICAS 2025 Updates – Years 2 to 10 Maddingley & Woodlea
There is one week left of ICAS: Mathematics. For students registered to complete this assessment, the latest updates are available below:
Every student who participates is recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year. Each ICAS certificate will show a student’s results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin” for the Results Portal. Note: The school will publish via Schoolbox when ICAS certificates have arrived. We will then make arrangements to send it home with your child or post them. You can use the TAP ID and Pin from previous years to access 2025 results.
School Letters/Edsmart Notifications
Parents are encouraged to contact the school if they believe that they are not receiving school letters relating to their child’s excursions, class activities or school events.
There have been instances recently where communication via Edsmart notifications have been blocked from an inbox and considered ‘spam’, or a parent’s mailbox is full and the information is not received.
You can view Edsmart communication for your child via Schoolbox under the Quick Links / Edsmart, or via School Letters.
Please contact Administration staff via email administration@bmg.vic.edu.au or call 03 53664800 to discuss any issues with receiving communication.
Term Dates
Both the 2025 and 2026 Term Dates are published on the school’s website.
Events Calendar
All upcoming events feature on the Schoolbox Calendar for both students and parents/guardians to view.
Uniform Shop
Uniform information and shop business hours for both the Maddingley Campus Onsite Shop and Rushfords in Werribee are listed on the school’s website.
The Y Ballarat operates the Out of School Hours Care at Bacchus Marsh Grammar. Enrolments are completed online. For full information please visit the School’s website.
