The Gathering
On Monday June 22, Maddingley Prep Reception, Woodlea Early Learning Centre and Preps from both campuses joined together for a special day of connection, culture and learning during “The Gathering”. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to come together as one school community to celebrate and deepen their understanding of First Nations cultures through a range of engaging hands-on experiences.
Throughout the day, students participated in a yarning circle, created a collaborative art piece, played traditional Indigenous games, explored rock art and enjoyed a walk through our kitchen garden.
A special highlight for our Prep students was planting their cohort tree. It was a meaningful moment as students worked together to plant something that represents their journey at BMG. It will be exciting to watch this tree grow and flourish alongside our students over the years to come.
Our Prep Reception students also created a beautiful collaborative artwork, designing an impressive Bunjil wedge-tailed eagle before completing an amazing mosaic piece that showcased their creativity, teamwork and connection to culture.
Students were thrilled to spend time with our special guest, Ganga Giri, who captivated students through his music, didgeridoo playing, storytelling and the opportunity to learn the traditional art of ochre painting. Students were inspired by his stories and the way he shared culture through sound, movement and art.
The Gathering was a memorable day filled with learning, creativity and connection, leaving our students with a deeper understanding and appreciation of First Nations cultures, community, and the importance of coming together to learn from one another.
Kylie McKerrow – Early Years Coordinator (Prep Reception – Year 2) (Maddingley)
Maddingley
Staughton Vale Grows A Champion
Sebastian S of 8A has achieved outstanding success in the annual University of Queensland Sunflower Growing Competition, taking out a prize for his impressive sunflower entry.
Propagated and grown at Staughton Vale under the expert guidance of Farmer Joel, Sebastian’s sunflower produced a seed yield of almost 100 grams, outperforming entries from competitors in Victoria, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
Congratulations Sebastian on this fantastic achievement and for representing Staughton Vale so well.
Students will have their own opportunity to test their green thumbs later this year when they participate in the annual Bacchus Marsh Grammar Tallest Sunflower Competition. We look forward to seeing another crop of towering sunflowers emerge across the campus.
David Gorton – Head of Campus (Staughton Vale)
Astronomy Evening
As part of their Astronomy studies, students have been developing their understanding of the universe and, by using different telescopes, how to observe celestial objects. Recently, the Astronomy class was invited to attend the Staughton Vale campus for an evening excursion to be able to share their skills with their families and enjoy some time observing the night sky.
Students worked with a range of telescopes, practising how to set up and use the equipment to locate objects in the night sky. Despite the somewhat cloudy conditions, students were able to share what they had learned with their families, guiding them through using the telescopes and explaining how they work. There was also the opportunity to see the observatory at Staughton Vale and learn how to take photos with this from home.
It was fantastic to see students demonstrate their developing astronomy skills and families equally as engaged with the learning as the students. Thank you to all students, families and staff who attended and contributed to the evening.
Karl Wild – Teacher
