Partnership with Australian Catholic University

We are pleased to share that Bacchus Marsh Grammar is partnering with Australian Catholic University (ACU) on a research initiative exploring how values-based education supports the development of empathy, resilience and ethical decision-making in young people.

This work will be undertaken through the Neal Institute for Character Education (NICE), which brings together ACU researchers with our staff, students and school community. The institute will focus on examining and strengthening the character education already embedded within our programs.

Named in honour of former principal Andrew Neal, the institute reflects a long-standing commitment to educating the whole person and supporting young people to learn and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Through this partnership, staff will have access to research-informed professional learning, and the school will contribute to a broader evidence base around character education in practice.
We look forward to sharing more about this work with our community over time.

Andrew Perks – Deputy Principal: Culture and Character Education

School Commemorates with Respect and Pride

Maddingley

On Friday 24 April, the BMG community came together to honour and remember the service and sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women in recognition of ANZAC Day.

The Middle School was proudly represented by its student leaders, with the Middle School Captains and Vice Captains delivering the Ode of Remembrance. This created a powerful moment of reflection.

As a Middle School Captain, it was a privilege to take part in the ceremony. Contributing to such an important occasion was both an honour and a responsibility. It was a chance to lead by example and show respect alongside the other leaders.

The ceremony was also a valuable experience for students of all ages, including those in Prep. It gave younger students the opportunity to begin understanding the sacrifices made by previous generations, while encouraging respect, gratitude and a sense of patriotism.

Standing together in remembrance served as a powerful reminder of the importance of honouring those who served and the responsibility we all share in carrying their legacy forward.

Lest we forget.

Jaithra S – Middle School Captain

Bacchus Marsh RSL ANZAC Day Dawn Service

On Saturday April 25, students from the Maddingley Campus proudly represented our school at the Bacchus Marsh RSL ANZAC Day Dawn Service. Held at first light, the service brought together veterans, community members and local organisations to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country.

As part of the ceremony, our students contributed in a meaningful way by reading two poems to the Bacchus Marsh community. They spoke with confidence and respect, helping to reflect on the significance of ANZAC Day and the importance of remembrance.

Following the Dawn Service, students were also invited to take part in the ANZAC Day parade through Bacchus Marsh, joining the wider community in this important commemorative event.

We thank the Bacchus Marsh RSL for inviting our students to be part of this special occasion and for continuing to provide opportunities for young people to engage in remembrance and community service.

Lisa Foster – Deputy Principal: Deputy Head of Maddingley Campus

Woodlea

Our school community recently came together to commemorate ANZAC Day, a time to reflect on the service and sacrifice of the Australian and New Zealand Armed Corps.

During our assembly, staff and students respectfully engaged in the ceremony by having a minute’s silence to honour the lives lost and partaking in other traditions such as hearing The Ode and The Last Post.

We were also privileged to hear a keynote speech by Major Andrew Hamilton who stood amongst the crowd speaking directly to the students, appealing especially to the young adults. His inspiring words addressed the true meaning of being an ANZAC, highlighting the importance of courage and respect along with praising and encouraging students for the way they present themselves.

We, as Woodlea school captains, were also fortunate enough to take part in the Anzac Dawn Service in Caroline Springs, joining the wider community in reflection and remembrance and taking part in the laying of The Wreath.

We were given the opportunity to understand the importance of this day through various recounts, making us appreciate the impact these soldiers had on the freedom we enjoy today.

Nilay S, Ellis N and Ashley G
Woodlea School Captains and Vice-Captain

I am very happy to announce that on April 23, Mr Joshua Armstrong received the History Teachers Association of Victoria Award for Excellence in History Teaching by an Early Career Teacher. This prestigious state-wide recognition celebrates educators in the first stages of their careers who have made an outstanding contribution to History Education in Victorian schools.

Joshua was awarded this honour in recognition of his hard work, engaging pedagogy and passion for History teaching. Both the staff and students who have seen Joshua in the classroom can attest to these inspiring personal and professional qualities which he demonstrates every day and through his broader contribution to the Humanities Faculty. His ability to bring the past to life for students, his thoughtful approach to curriculum design and his generosity as a colleague have enriched our school community immeasurably.

Please join me in congratulating Joshua on this well-deserved achievement. We are incredibly proud to have him on our team.

Lyndon Pratt – Head of Faculty: Humanities (Maddingley)

A Strong Start Across the Junior School

It has been wonderful to see that our Junior School students have made a strong and positive start to Term 2. Classrooms have quickly re-established routines and students have settled into their learning with focus and confidence. It has been pleasing to see high levels of engagement across all areas of learning, along with thoughtful collaboration and independence developing across all year levels.

At the end of Term 1, families received communication about uniform expectations. Students are required to wear the correct uniform each day, including appropriate footwear and jewellery. Maintaining consistent uniform standards supports a sense of belonging and pride within our Junior School. Full details of the School Uniform Policy can be found on Schoolbox and in your child’s diary on pages 10 -12. Teachers will be closely monitoring uniforms this term to ensure they are correct.   Please also ensure that all uniform items are clearly labelled with your child’s name. For safety reasons, jewellery (apart from one wristwatch and small plain studs or sleepers) is not permitted unless it is required for religious purposes, in which case written approval from the Principal is required.

There are many engaging events planned for this term, including curriculum experiences and school community events that will strengthen student learning. Families are encouraged to regularly check EdSmart communications and their child’s Year Level Family Engagement page for updates, key dates and important information to support participation.

Our school value of Kindness remains a key focus across the Junior School. Students are demonstrating this through inclusive play, respectful communication and supporting one another in their learning. Kindness can also be strengthened through simple daily actions such as inviting others to join activities, using encouraging language, listening attentively and showing care for shared spaces and resources. Modelling respectful interactions all contribute to a consistent and caring environment for our students.

Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.

Melanie Morton – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Maddingley)
Sally Savic – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Woodlea)

Maddingley

Prep Reception visit Ballarat Wildlife Park

Prep Reception students enjoyed an excursion to Ballarat Wildlife Park this week, with the hands-on experience bringing their current classroom learning to life. A highlight of the day was the opportunity to hand-feed the kangaroos. There was a lot of map reading and discussion about the best way to go!

Students were fascinated by the cassowary, with many comparing it to a dinosaur. We attended keeper talks on penguins and meerkats and watched the wedge-tailed eagles enjoy their lunch—prompting one Prep Reception student to note, “Look… they are carnivores!”

The diversity and size of the animals left a lasting impression on our students’ young minds. The komodo dragon, boa constrictor and crocodiles were much larger than they had expected. While the tiger and wombats were resting during our visit to the Wildlife Park, it seems the busy day caught up with a few Prep Reception students with some sleeping on the bus ride home.

The excursion was a wonderful opportunity for learning, social connection and meaningful engagement with our unique animal kingdom. We can’t wait to see what the Prep Reception curriculum brings next.

Karlisa Smy – Prep Reception Teacher (Maddingley)

Maddingley

Year 6 goes to Canberra

In Week 9 of Term 1, the Year 6 cohort embarked on an exciting 5-day camp to Canberra. The 10-hour bus journey was both chaotic and fun. A big thanks to our teachers who made activity booklets, we also played games, watched movies and listened to music which kept us entertained.

The week was filled with engaging and educational experiences where we were able to visit some of Canberra’s famous sights, all while participating in a range of engaging and educational activities.

During our visit to the Royal Australian Mint, we were lucky enough to mint our own coins! We were able to watch Parliament in action and we also met local MP Sam Rae. Questacon was another highlight where we got to enjoy interactive exhibits.

The Australian Institute of Sport inspired many, showcasing the dedication and hard work of elite athletes. The War Memorial provided a meaningful and reflective experience, helping students understand Australia’s military history.

At the National Electoral Education Centre, we participated in a mock election and learned about the voting process, while other activities such as the Film and Sound Archive and reptile encounters added variety and excitement.

Our evening activities were just as fun where we got to go bowling and relax with friends. Being away from home helped students build independence, resilience and stronger friendships.

Overall, the Canberra camp was an incredible experience filled with learning, fun and personal growth.

Orla and Dhruvan
Year 6 Literacy Captains

Woodlea

Unit 1 and 2 Psychology

At the end of Term 1, the Unit 1 and 2 Psychology students visited the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) on Tuesday 31 March to develop our understanding of visual perception, particularly Gestalt principles and pictorial depth cues. During the excursion, we explored a range of artworks from the NGV Collection and examined how artists use and manipulate these principles to influence the way we interpret visual information.

As part of the experience, we were guided through the gallery by an educator who helped us identify different visual perception principles within the artworks. One particularly memorable activity involved observing The Banquet of Cleopatra by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. After viewing the painting, we were asked to recreate it from memory, which highlighted how our brain organises and groups visual information. This activity demonstrated how we tend to focus on certain elements while overlooking others.

Overall, the excursion was both interesting and insightful, providing a valuable opportunity to see real-life applications of the concepts we studied in Unit 2 Psychology. It enhanced our understanding of visual perception and allowed us to better recognise how these principles operate not only in art, but in everyday life.

Jazzmeen S 10WE

Year 9 Career Day

On Monday March 30, the Year 9 students at Woodlea participated in their first Careers Day where they engaged with professionals from the community to build their employability skills and strengthen their financial literacy. We welcomed presenters from Youth Projects and Money Mentors to run sessions with students.

Students began the day with a presentation by William from Youth Projects, who explained how to write a resume and gave important tips on what to wear, say and do in an interview. After recess, students learnt about Tax File Numbers, Interest and Pay Slips from the team at Money Mentors. After lunch, students spent time developing their resumes and cover letters in preparation for our Mock Interviews in October. They can also use their resumes to apply for jobs or work experience opportunities.

The Year 9 Career Day was the beginning of our students’ career journey in Senior School where they will develop their employability skills and knowledge.

Katherine Jeffrey – Careers Educator (Woodlea Campus)

Media Excursion to ACMI

On Tuesday April 21, Year 10 Media students from Woodlea Campus had the opportunity to visit ACMI at Federation Square to engage in the ‘Film It’ workshop. The workshop had the students working in groups to plan, film and edit a short film, all in one day.

The work that the students did directly relates to what they’re doing in class; working through the media production process and creating a short film in groups. By engaging with industry professionals and using state-of-the-art equipment, students were also able to gain an insight into what media production looks like outside of the school environment.

I would like to thank the students and staff involved for their participation in creating such a memorable experience.

Anthony Cunsolo – Visual Arts (Woodlea)

Maddingley

Chess Team competes at Kryal Castle

On Wednesday April 22, students from Years 7 – 12 attended the Northern Star Chess Tournament at Kryal Castle Ballarat. Representing Bacchus Marsh Grammar with pride, our players took part in multiple competitive rounds against nine schools across the region.

The students demonstrated impressive critical thinking, concentration and sportsmanship throughout the day. Congratulations to Cherish V, Lachlan H and Joshua P for achieving excellent scores and securing a spot in the Secondary State Final.

All students are to be commended for their effort and teamwork.

Thank you to the event organisers at Northern Star Chess and staff members involved for supporting the students throughout the day.

Manta Ramgolam – Head of House: Pyrites (Maddingley)

Bacchus Marsh Grammar High Tea’s

Learning to Live With and Navigate Change

Change affects all of us at some stage in our lives. At Bacchus Marsh Grammar, we recognise that young people experiencing major life changes whether in their families, friendships, home or school environments, may benefit from support in coping with these transitions. We are therefore offering a program called Next Step which will commence in Term 3 2026 for eligible students in Years 3 –12 at both our Maddingley and Woodlea Campuses.

Next Step focuses on students exploring different types of change, understanding feelings that arise with change and how to navigate periods of transition. The six-session program will be facilitated in small groups during class time by a staff member from the Student Wellbeing Team. Availability of the Next Step program will depend on the level of interest at each campus. If you think your child would benefit from the Next Step program, we encourage you to talk to them about participating in the program.

To express interest in your child participating in the Next Step program, please contact a member of our Student Wellbeing Team by Thursday 14th of May.

Jamie Banks at our Maddingley Campus on 5366 4800 or banksj@bmg.vic.edu.au

Raigan Francis at our Woodlea Campus on 5366 4900 or francisr@bmg.vic.edu.au

Student Wellbeing Team

Maddingley

Individual Sporting Successes

Umpiring Netball Championships 

Well done to Year 10 student Sapphire who recently umpired at the National Men’s and Mixed Netball Championships in Perth. As the youngest member of a 31-umpire squad selected from across Australia, Sapphire demonstrated exceptional skill and composure.

She officiated across multiple divisions, including U17, U20, U23 and Men’s reserves, covering up to 9km per game in a fast-paced environment. Sapphire was selected to umpire a final, recognising her consistency and performance under pressure.

Her professionalism and confidence were praised by international mentors, and she has been invited to return for next year’s championships in Sydney, a fantastic achievement.

Australian Athletics Championships

Three of our talented athletes, Myah E, Leila S and Jye A recently represented Victoria at the Australian Athletics Championships in Brisbane during the school holidays, competing against the nation’s best in their respective events.

Myah delivered an impressive performance in the U16 Long Jump and Triple Jump finals, placing within the top 20 athletes in Australia across both events. Her commitment and consistency at such a high level are to be commended.

Jye competed in the Hammer Throw final, achieving a personal best throw of 32.82 metres. This outstanding effort saw him finish 18th in Australia, reflecting significant progress and dedication to his training.

Leila showcased her versatility across multiple events. She competed in both the 100m and 200m sprints, placing 17th in the heats for each. She then delivered an exceptional performance in the High Jump final, clearing 1.67 metres to secure an outstanding 4th place nationally.

We congratulate Myah, Jye and Leila on their achievements and commend them for representing our state with such determination and pride. Their efforts are a testament to their hard work and commitment to excellence.

National Basketball Championships

Congratulations to Year 11 student Riley D who proudly represented Victoria Country at the U18 National Basketball Championships in Brisbane.

Riley delivered a fantastic tournament, playing a key role in the team’s impressive Bronze Medal finish.

Competing at a national level is a significant achievement, and Riley’s contribution, effort and commitment throughout the tournament were outstanding. Well done, Riley!

Tenielle Brown – Head of Faculty: Physical Education and Health (Maddingley)

Woodlea

Drama

Over the past term, students in the Drama Enrichment Program immersed themselves in a vibrant and creative journey which brought Middle and Senior School students together.

Students developed spontaneity and teamwork through a fast-paced series of improvisation activities, guided by the core principles of “Make your partner look good” and “Yes, and…”. These ideas underpinned every session, encouraging active listening, bold choices and collaborative storytelling.

The course began with circle work where stories were built one word at a time to strengthen trust and creativity. Students then explored character through voice, movement and status, with many initially quiet students stepping forward to reveal impressive talent. Budding actors, writers and directors emerged as students confidently took direction, adapted scripts and added their own flair.

Weekly activities included rapid character switches, status walks, short-form scenes and mimed storytelling challenges where groups devised and performed scenes in just 10 minutes. One memorable piece featured four people trapped in a lift, only to reveal one was secretly a witch. Students also tackled object transformation tasks and partner-building exercises, learning to extend and elevate each other’s ideas.

As confidence grew, so did students’ willingness to take creative risks, with many becoming key contributors who drove scenes forward.

The term concluded with two showcase experiences: a lively performance of Ninja Red Riding Hood for a neighbouring class and one-minute live advertisements for imaginative products, including a magical healing bandage, a never-ending quantum pen, a morphing water bottle and a pen that brings drawings to life.

Each performance highlighted. not only our students’ creativity and humour, but also their ability to work together and support one another on stage. The growth in confidence, collaboration and performance skills across the term has been outstanding.

Ms Astudillo and Mr Ong – Enrichment Drama Teachers

Book Club News 

Issue 3 of the Scholastic Book Club catalogue is now available for orders.

Click here to see how to order.
Click here to place an order.

A note for our Maddingley community that orders are to be placed under Year level Coordinators and not class teachers.

Diane Dunn – Scholastic Book Club Coordinator  (Maddingley Campus)

Kids’ Lit Quiz

Bacchus Marsh Grammar fielded four teams of well-read Middle School students in the Kids’ Lit Quiz competition this year.

Kids’ Lit Quiz is a highly competitive and prestigious international competition on the ‘sport of reading’.

Teams of four battled it out with other schools around Australia in the virtual competition. The rigorous three-hour heat challenged our students on their literary knowledge.

BMG Team 3 were winners for one of the most difficult rounds and will receive prizes from the competition organisers.

Congratulations to all of the students who were part of the teams, keep up the good reading!

Mali Jorm – Head of Library Services

Late Bus Information

Maddingley

Both late bus 1 and late bus 2 will operate every TUESDAY, WEDNESAY and THURSDAY afternoon departing the bus quay at 4.40pm sharp.

2026 Timetables are available on the school website for your reference. Please note the late bus timetables have limited stops.

Students themselves are required to sign up to either late bus 1 or late bus 2 by putting their name under the stop at which they will disembark. The sign-up sheets will be in the Main Reception; students are required to sign up prior to the end of lunch on the day of travel. If no students sign up for a bus, the bus will be cancelled for that afternoon. Students require their student ID cards to travel on the late buses.

Parents are advised to monitor Roll Call for the late bus arrival time at their child’s stop.

Woodlea

The late bus will operate every TUESDAY, WEDNESAY and THURSDAY afternoon departing the bus quay at 4.40pm sharp.

2026 Timetables are available on the school website for your reference. Please note the late bus timetable has limited stops.

Students themselves are required to sign up to the late bus by putting their name under the stop at which they will disembark. The sign-up sheets will be in Reception; students are required to sign up prior to the end of lunch on the day of travel. If no students sign up for a bus, the bus will be cancelled for that afternoon. Students require their student ID cards to travel on the late buses.

Parents are advised to monitor Roll Call for the late bus arrival to their child’s stop.

ID Cards

Students MUST use their Student ID cards to tap on/off any BMG private buses.

Student ID cards are compulsory when boarding a private bus or attending any school excursions/camps etc and they must always be carried.

Students who board the bus repeatedly without their ID cards will receive a detention or further consequences.

Student Permission Cards

Students in Prep Reception – Year 6 require a green permission tag on their bags if they are to disembark from the bus to be picked up by someone other than their parent/guardian.

Students in Grades 5 and 6 can disembark from the bus on their own if they have a green permission tag on their bag for the driver to check.

Student Afternoon Bus Arrangement & Permission Notices are available on Schoolbox under School Letters. Please return Student Afternoon Bus Arrangement & Permission Notices to bus@bmg.vic.edu.au.

Leanne Robertson – School Bus Services Administrator

Conveyance Allowance Information

Conveyance Allowance
The Conveyance Allowance is a contribution towards transport costs and is not intended to cover the full cost of transporting children to and from school.
The Conveyance Allowance may be available to students attending government or non-government schools:
• travelling by private car, motorbike, bicycle or bus, and
• whose nearest school is not serviced by a free school bus provided under the School Bus Program or a free Victorian public transport service.

Eligibility Criteria:
1. Students must reside 4.8km or more from their nearest school/campus they attend.

2. Students must be of school age and reside in Victoria

3. Students must be enrolled in a school for 3 or more days per week.

A student who meets the above requirements may be eligible if they:
• attend their nearest or designated neighbourhood government school/campus appropriate to their year level, at which admission is permissible, or
• attend their nearest appropriate non-government school/campus appropriate to their year level, at which admission is permissible, and
• reside 4.8km or more by the shortest practicable route from the campus attended.

Please note that a Conveyance Allowance is not available where a free bus service is available. From 1 January 2026, people aged under 18 will be able to travel for free on all Victorian public transport services.

Eligibility will be assessed when the school completes your child’s application on the Student Conveyance Allowance System (SCAS). If approved, the allowance payable is based on the one-way distance to make the journey to and from school.

Please note that if BMG is not your nearest school but your decision to send your children to BMG was because you felt that it was the nearest appropriate school that both respected ecumenical values but did not require your child to participate in religious instruction or religious celebration; then you may be eligible for the Conveyance Allowance (subject to other Conveyance Allowance rules), however your application must include a signed supporting letter outlining the reasons above for your decision to send your child to Bacchus Marsh Grammar.

If you already have a Conveyance Allowance application in place and your circumstances have not changed (method of transport to and from school or home address) you will not be required to submit a new application, and your previously approved applications will automatically roll over. Please note that current applications for public transport will not roll over to 2026 as per the above changes. If you have additional children starting at the school and would like to apply for the Conveyance Allowance for them, you will need to submit a new application.

If you have not applied for a Conveyance Allowance previously and would like to apply for the allowance in 2026, please obtain an application form from the School’s website.

New applications can be submitted throughout the school year, however, they must be submitted to the school by no later than Friday 30 October 2026 otherwise, parents/guardians risk their claim not being accepted. Please refer to the 2026 Business Notice for further information.

Please direct any queries you may have to Catherine Coombridge or Kate Bridgett at conveyance@bmg.vic.edu.au

Kerryn Browne – Company Secretary and Risk Manager

2025 Yearbooks – Additional Copies

If your family would like an additional copy of the 2025 Yearbook, or if you did not receive one last year and would still like a copy, please let us know.

We have a limited number of Yearbooks available which will be distributed based on requests.

Please contact Jess Thorpe and Ellie Browne at marketing@bmg.vic.edu.au with your child’s name and campus if you are interested.

Marketing Department

Term Dates

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.

Please note that uniforms can also be purchased by clicking here

Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) – The Y Ballarat

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.

Email: chrissie.ashmore@yballarat.org.au
Phone: 0490 178 638
Website: https://yballarat.org.au/

Regular Contacts

General School Email: school@bmg.vic.edu.au