STAUGHTON VALE

Staughton Vale Ambassadors attend Victorian Landcare Awards

On Thursday 15 October, 6 Staughton Vale Ambassadors from both Maddingley and Woodlea attended the prestigious Victorian Landcare Awards at the Edge, a renowned event venue in Melbourne’s CBD. The awards recognise, celebrate and encourage the individuals, schools, community groups, landholders and organisations working to protect and restore Australia’s natural environment.

The Staughton Vale Ambassador Program provides Year 10 students with opportunities to participate in meaningful environmental projects that positively impact all three Bacchus Marsh Grammar campuses, with a particular focus on Staughton Vale. The Ambassadors were worthy nominees in the Junior Landcare Award category, recognising their commitment to environmental sustainability, biodiversity and habitat restoration.

A highlight of the ceremony was the opportunity for 2 of our students to be interviewed by renowned television presenter and environmental advocate Costas Georgiadis. Following the ceremony, the students also had the chance to meet and speak with Costas during the networking event, sharing their enthusiasm for environmental initiatives and the work being undertaken at Staughton Vale.

Congratulations to all the students who have contributed to the success of the Staughton Vale Ambassador Program. Their enthusiasm, leadership and dedication to caring for our natural environment are making a positive difference across our school community.

David Gorton – Head of Campus (Staughton Vale)

Student Design takes Pride of Place at Staughton Vale

Congratulations to Kushpreet K of 11WB whose design has been selected as the official signage for the Native Nursery at Staughton Vale Campus.

The Native Nursery plays an important role in supporting the campus’s environmental and sustainability initiatives. It is home to the thousands of native seedlings propagated and nurtured by our Staughton Vale Ambassadors, many of which are sold through their popular pop-up plant stalls. The nursery also serves as the growing and care facility for seedlings that will be used in the lead-up to the 2027 tree planting season, helping to enhance biodiversity and habitat across the campus.

As part of the signage project, students were invited to develop a design that reflected the purpose and spirit of the nursery. Kushpreet’s winning design stood out for its creativity, visual appeal, and clear connection to the environmental values of Staughton Vale. Her work successfully captures the journey of native plants from propagation through to planting, while highlighting the important contribution students make to the campus’s revegetation efforts.

The new signage will provide a welcoming and informative feature for visitors to the nursery and recognise the outstanding work being undertaken by students involved in the Ambassador program.

We congratulate Kushpreet on this wonderful achievement and thank all students who contributed designs. We look forward to seeing the signage installed as the Native Nursery continues to prepare seedlings for the 2027 planting season and support the ongoing environmental legacy of the Staughton Vale Campus.

David Gorton – Head of Campus (Staughton Vale)

Staughton Vale Telescope

The images shown are of Omega Nebula (M17) and Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), which were captured on Thursday 22 October.

The Helix Nebula is located in the constellation Aquarius which is favourably placed for Southern Hemisphere observers. At a latitude similar to Staughton Vale (~38°S), the Helix climbs reasonably high above the horizon, making it one of the better planetary nebulae for southern observers. M17 is the Omega Nebula, also known as the Swan Nebula, Horseshoe Nebula or Checkmark Nebula. It is a large star-forming emission nebula located in the constellation Sagittarius.

Whilst the images have yet to be edited, they show the amazing work of the telescope at Staughton Vale when using the Next Astro Platform.

David Gorton – Head of Campus (Staughton Vale)

Record-Breaking Success at the Bacchus Marsh Flower and Garden Show

The Staughton Vale Campus proudly celebrated its most successful year yet at the Bacchus Marsh Flower and Garden Show, with students achieving an outstanding array of results across horticulture, agriculture, art, photography, cake decorating, and junior competition categories.

The record-breaking performance showcased the depth of talent, creativity, and practical skills being developed through the school’s environmental, agricultural, and community-focused programs. Students were recognised across numerous sections, securing an impressive collection of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards, highly commended certificates, and a coveted Best in Show title.

Students demonstrated exceptional horticultural skills in the Australian Natives and Garden Produce sections. Highlights included a 1st Place for a vase of Eucalyptus foliage, 1st and 2nd Places in the Basket of Mixed Citrus category, and strong results across vegetable classes, including broccoli, silverbeet, root vegetables, and individual vegetable exhibits.

The School’s commitment to sustainable food production was further recognised in the Jams and Preserves section, where students received 1^st Place for their chutney entry.

In the Photography Competition, students impressed judges with their artistic eye and technical ability, securing 1st Place in both the Water and Tree in Your Garden categories, as well as 2nd Place in the Flower category.

The school’s most celebrated achievement came in the Cake Decorating Section, where students claimed 1st Place in every class entered. This outstanding performance culminated in a Best in Show award for the decorated single-tier cake, highlighting the creativity, precision, and craftsmanship of our entrants.

Our younger students also shone brightly in the Junior Section, earning 1st Place for their Beautiful Bird entry, a Highly Commended award in the same category, and 3rd Place for a Fairy Garden exhibit. These results reflect the enthusiasm and imagination of our youngest learners.

Students achieved remarkable success in the Art Competition, receiving awards across every year level entered. Results included multiple 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place awards, together with numerous Highly Commended recognitions.

Particularly noteworthy were the achievements of students in Year 5 who collected a 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, and three Highly Commended awards. Strong performances were also recorded in Prep, Year 3, and across the Middle School years, reflecting the high standard of artistic talent throughout the school.

Congratulations to all students whose efforts contributed to what has become a truly record-breaking year for Bacchus Marsh Grammar at the Bacchus Marsh Flower and Garden Show. Their achievements are a testament to the school’s commitment to fostering creativity, environmental stewardship, practical learning, and community engagement.

David Gorton – Head of Campus (Staughton Vale)

Staughton Vale Ambassadors Contribute to National Bird Count

During their Period 5 Enrichment lesson on Friday 23 October, students from the Staughton Vale Ambassador Program participated in the National Bird Count, conducting their survey work across the grounds of Maddingley Campus.

The Ambassadors spent the session observing, identifying and recording bird species, contributing valuable data to one of Australia’s largest citizen science initiatives. Using bird identification guides and careful observation, students documented a range of species found within the campus environment, helping to build a clearer picture of local bird populations and biodiversity.

The activity provided an authentic learning experience, allowing students to apply their environmental knowledge while developing important scientific skills, including species identification, data collection and ecological monitoring. Conducting the survey during their Enrichment lesson highlighted how learning can extend beyond the classroom and make a meaningful contribution to real-world conservation efforts.

Maddingley Campus provides a variety of habitats that support native birdlife, giving students the opportunity to observe firsthand the diversity of species that exist within our local area. Through their participation, students gained a greater appreciation of the important role that birds play in healthy ecosystems and the value of ongoing environmental monitoring.

The National Bird Count aligns closely with the goals of the Staughton Vale Ambassador Program which encourages students to develop leadership, environmental stewardship and active citizenship. We congratulate all Ambassadors involved for their enthusiasm, teamwork and commitment throughout the activity and thank them for representing the program so positively.

David Gorton – Head of Campus (Staughton Vale)