ELTHAM College Family News August 21 2026
Key Dates
Key Dates 21 August 2026
College Connections
Beyond the Classroom Awards
Les Misérables – Wrap Up
This week we celebrated a truly remarkable season of Les Misérables – School Edition.
With four sell-out shows, the packed audiences were treated to an incredible array of talent by our students both on and off stage. The story of Les Misérables was brought to life with some remarkable singing, acting and dancing by the lead characters and the ensemble. The on-stage performances were brilliantly supported by the talented orchestra, the audio visual and backstage crew.
The feedback has been so positive for the students and staff and speaks volumes of ELTHAM’s performing arts program that continues to deliver challenging and rewarding opportunities for the students. The sense of company was at the core and the outcome something that everyone at ELTHAM can be proud of.
A tremendous amount of thanks must go to the production team and the students who dedicated their time to make this musical such a memorable one.
Thanks to all those who joined the revolution and attended one or more of the performances.
A special thank you also to Pat Murphy, Connor Murphy, Michelle Hall, Cassie Robolas, Caitlin Marnell and Dannielle Malee for their work in bringing together the Les Misérables Gala evening event.
The evening provided a wonderful opportunity for students and their families to come together and celebrate the enormous amount of time, energy and commitment that went into bringing the production to the stage. Thank you to everyone involved in creating such a warm and memorable occasion for our Les Misérables community.
Nicole Howard
Performing Arts Coordinator
Book Week: Symphony of Stories
Book Week comes to ELTHAM College from Saturday 22 to Friday 28 August, with this year’s theme, ‘Symphony of Stories’, celebrating the many ways stories bring us together, spark our imaginations and inspire a lifelong love of reading.
Across the College, students and staff will have opportunities to share their love of books, reading and storytelling throughout the week.
In the Junior School, celebrations begin with a special Book Week Assembly on Monday 24 August at 9.00am in the Clarke Auditorium. Students and staff are encouraged to come dressed as a favourite book character or in a costume inspired by the Symphony of Stories theme. Families are warmly invited to join the fun and are welcome to come along in costume too.
In the Senior School, mentors will share a favourite book, poem or non-fiction text with their mentor groups, encouraging conversations about reading and the stories and ideas that stay with us. The initiative also highlights the importance of modelling a lifelong love of reading across our College community.
The week will culminate in the Ultimate ELTHAM College Book Week Trivia House Competition on Friday 28 August at lunchtime. Students from Years 7–12 will put their knowledge of texts studied throughout the year to the test, with Houses encouraged to field students from each year level.
We look forward to a wonderful week celebrating the power of stories, the pleasure of a good book and the joy of reading together.
Artist Spotlight Series: STING & The Police
Service Learning in Action: Colour Run & Obstacle Course
ELC and Junior School News
Adventure and Challenge at Cave Hill Creek
Year 5 and 6 students enjoyed five action-packed days at Cave Hill Creek near Beaufort, embracing adventure, challenge, independence and plenty of time together.
The camp began with a visit to Sovereign Hill, where students explored the Victorian goldfields, toured the Red Hill Mine, watched a gold pour and tried their hand at gold panning. Education sessions exploring life and society during the gold rush also provided a valuable connection to classroom learning.
At Cave Hill Creek, students took on a wide range of outdoor activities, including canoeing, bike riding, abseiling, Giant’s Ladder, low ropes, bouldering, archery, bush cooking, bushwalking, map reading, hut building and Frisbee golf. Despite some typically unpredictable Victorian winter weather, they embraced the conditions and made the most of every opportunity.
Throughout the week, students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, solve problems, work together and support one another through new challenges.
A highlight for Year 6 was the overnight camp-out, with students carrying their equipment to the campsite, setting up tents and preparing dinner using Trangia stoves. Year 10 student leaders also played an important role throughout the camp, supporting younger students during activities and the camp-out, as well as leading evening activities.
Beyond the adventure, five days away from familiar routines provided valuable opportunities for students to build independence, strengthen friendships and take greater ownership of themselves and their belongings.
The experience reflects the key aims of ELTHAM’s Outdoor Education program, building community, independence, resilience, leadership and a willingness to embrace challenge and adventure.
Congratulations to our Year 5 and 6 students for embracing the experience, and thank you to the staff, Outdoor Education team and Year 10 leaders who helped make the camp such a memorable one.
Nick Cheadle
Junior School Teacher
Senior School News
Back-to-Back Carson Trophy Win for Ruby Harris
Congratulations to Year 12 student Ruby Harris has won the Carson Trophy for the second consecutive year, following her winning performance as a Year 11 student in 2025. This year, Ruby impressed with her speech on the topic, “Women’s rights become negotiable when they are politically inconvenient.”
Ruby’s 2025 winning speech, “The justice system punishes poverty more than crime,” explored inequity within the justice system and argued for meaningful reform.
Bonjour tout le monde!
On Tuesday 11 August, the Year 10 French class had the opportunity to visit Swipers Gully and make clafoutis aux pruneaux in the restaurant with Patrick Murphy.
Clafoutis is a traditional French flan-like dessert made with fruit. We experimented with a range of different fruits to create our own versions.
During this unit, we have been exploring some of the cultural differences between France and Australia. It was great fun to experience French cuisine first-hand, learn from an expert cook and expand our cultural horizons through a practical activity.
"Making the dessert wasn't without its challenges but, in the end, we were left with a very palatable – some would even say delicious – treat that we could all enjoy!"
Ashleigh Barton
Year 10
“Lucy, Yuhan and I were privileged to taste the scrumptious pear and nectarine clafoutis made by the very talented Year 10 French students, with the help of Antoine and Patrick. Highly recommend!”
Lauren Kean, French Teacher
Wellbeing
Wear It Purple Day: Colours of Courage
On Friday 28 August, our College community will come together for Wear It Purple Day, celebrating inclusion, belonging and the right of every young person to feel safe, supported and proud to be themselves.
This year’s theme, Colours of Courage, recognises the many different ways courage can show up in our everyday lives.
Courage can be loud. It can mean speaking up, challenging something that isn’t right or standing proudly for what you believe in. But courage can also be quiet. It can be asking for support, being yourself when that doesn’t always feel easy, standing beside a friend or simply choosing kindness and understanding.
For LGBTQIA+SB young people, these everyday acts of courage can carry particular significance. Wear It Purple Day is an opportunity to celebrate these young people and recognise the role we can all play in creating a community where everyone feels they belong.
The colours within this year’s theme reflect the diversity of identities, experiences and stories within LGBTQIA+SB communities. Like light passing through a prism, each colour is different, but together they create something powerful.
Wear a touch of purple
On Friday 28 August, students and staff are encouraged to wear a touch of purple such as a ribbon, headband, scarf, as a visible expression of support and allyship.
More than what we wear, however, the day invites us to think about the small choices we make every day: how we speak to and about others, when we choose to stand beside someone, when we challenge exclusion and how we make space for people to be themselves.
Because courage takes many colours, and belonging takes all of us.
SchoolTV - Smartphone Readiness Quiz
Deciding when a child is ready for their first smartphone can be a challenging parenting decision. Readiness is not just about age. It also depends on a child’s maturity, self-regulation, judgement and ability to manage the responsibilities of being connected online.
The Smartphone Readiness Quiz is designed for parents and adult carers to complete with their child, encouraging important conversations while exploring the key skills that support safe and responsible smartphone use.
Rather than providing a simple yes or no answer, the results highlight areas of strength and where further development may be helpful. Families are also guided through suggested next steps, including a Family Smartphone Agreement and practical guidance on setting up parental controls before introducing a smartphone.
We encourage you to complete the quiz together and use the results as a starting point for ongoing conversations about safe, responsible and healthy smartphone use.
Here is the link to this topic http://elthamcollege.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-smartphone-readiness-quiz-au
Wellbeing Together - SchoolTV Webinar
R U Ok? Day at ELTHAM College
On Thursday 10 September, ELTHAM College will recognise R U OK? Day, a national day of action that reminds us of the importance of staying connected and checking in with those around us.
To mark the day, students and staff are invited to wear a touch of yellow with their usual College uniform. Students will also have opportunities across the College to take part in age-appropriate activities encouraging connection, help-seeking and looking out for others.
R U OK? Day is an important reminder for young people that they don't need to be an expert to notice when someone may be struggling. Regular, genuine conversations with trusted adults can help children and young people feel connected and supported, while making it easier to speak up when something isn't going well.
Parents and carers can support these conversations at home by:
- choosing relaxed, everyday moments to check in, rather than waiting until there is a problem;
- asking open questions such as “How are things going with your friends?” or “What's been the best and hardest part of your week?”;
- listening without immediately trying to solve the problem;
- acknowledging what your child tells you; and
- checking in again later, as sometimes the first conversation is only the beginning.
R U OK? encourages four simple steps when someone may be struggling: Ask R U OK? → Listen → Encourage action → Check in.
Families can visit the R U OK? website for further information and practical advice about starting meaningful conversations with children and young people.
We look forward to seeing plenty of yellow across ELTHAM on Thursday 10 September!
Sports Report
Sport Updates on mE
Family Reminders
Last Chance to RSVP for Father's Day Breakfast
Final reminder to celebrate Father's Day with the ELTHAM College community at our annual Father's Day Breakfast, proudly hosted in partnership with the ELTHAM College Community Association (ECCA).
Celebrate the fathers, carers and special people who play an important role in the lives of our students. Enjoy a delicious breakfast, a special performance by our student musicians and fun photo opportunities to capture the morning.
📅 Thursday 3 September 2026
⏰ 7.30am – 8.30am
📍 Amplify Common Space, ELTHAM College Research Campus
1660 Main Road, Research
The morning's celebrations will continue with the Junior School Father's Day Celebration from 8.45am - 10.30am. Our ELC Father's Day Celebration will take place on Monday August 31 from 8.45am - 10.15am. No RSVP is required for either celebration.
GF and vegetarian options will be available. Please advise of any additional dietary requirements when completing your RSVP.
Bookings for the Father's Day Breakfast are open via Humanitix.
One Week Until Colour Run Tickets Open!
Excitement is building for the inaugural ELTHAM College Colour Run, with tickets opening in just one week!
On Wednesday 7 October, students from Prep to Year 12 will come together for an afternoon of colour, House spirit and community connection. The event will launch the College’s new House Service Learning Program, with each House supporting a nominated charity through fundraising and community engagement.
The Colour Run will be a fun, non-competitive whole-school event, with all students expected to participate. Students who are unable to take part will participate in a supervised alternative activity on campus.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday 7 October 2026
Time: 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Location: ELTHAM Sports Pavilion Oval
Tickets will open via Humanitix at 4.00pm on Thursday 27 August 2026. Further information about what to wear, frequently asked questions and our House charities will be shared alongside the booking information.
Our ELC students will also take part in their own age-appropriate Colour Run activities within the Junior School precinct, joining in the celebrations alongside the College event.
Keep an eye out for the booking information next week. We look forward to bringing our College community together for an afternoon of colour, House spirit and supporting important causes!
Family News and the mE App
ECCA
One Week to Go: ELTHAM College Comedy Night
The final countdown is on! With ELTHAM College’s Comedy Night happening next week, this is your last chance to secure tickets for what promises to be a fantastic evening of stand-up comedy, entertainment and community spirit.
Proudly presented by ECCA and ELTHAM College, the evening will see Josh Smith (Class of 2026), Joseph Green and Luke Kidgell take to the Clarke Auditorium stage on Saturday 29 August.
With more than 2.8 million TikTok followers and 750,000 Instagram followers, Luke Kidgell has built a reputation for his engaging and unpredictable comedy, and we are excited to welcome him to ELTHAM College for this special event.
Tickets are $40 per person and include generous canapés on arrival, with beer, wine, cider and soft drinks available to purchase throughout the evening.
Your ticket also contributes to the College's Service Learning Program and House charities, including FightMND, Team Kill Cancer, The Smith Family and WWF.
Date: Saturday 29 August 2026
Venue: HMPAC – Clarke Auditorium, ELTHAM College
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm (Show commences at 7.30pm)
This is a 16+ event. No BYO food or drinks.
Don't miss your final opportunity to join us for a night of laughs while supporting meaningful causes across our College community.
Secure your tickets now via Humanitix.
A Novel Bunch Travels to Europe
A Novel Bunch is travelling around the world in 2026, and the next stop on our tour is Europe. Join us in the Senior Library on Monday, 7 September, as we explore Ukraine in our current novel, “Endling,” by Maria Reva.
New members are welcome to join us as we journey across all seven continents this year. To RSVP or if you have any questions, please email ecca@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au.
Jacqui, Heather, Laura and Donna
A Novel Bunch coordinators
Community Notices
Community Notices and Events 21 August 2026
Melbourne Cheer Academy at ELTHAM
Melbourne Cheer Academy (MCA) is now offering out-of-school-hours cheerleading and tumbling classes at ELTHAM College, providing a convenient local training location for interested students and families.
Cheerleading is a dynamic team sport combining elements of gymnastics and dance with aerial stunts and lifts. With a focus on teamwork alongside individual skill development, the program caters to a range of experience and abilities.
MCA’s Wednesday classes commence next week, with additional Come and Try sessions on Thursday after school for anyone interested in giving cheerleading a go.
Classes are delivered by Melbourne Cheer Academy and held on the ELTHAM College campus outside school hours.
Learn more about the program and book directly through Melbourne Cheer Academy.
Yarra Plenty Waves: Future Waves Swim Meet
