The end of Term 1 provides an opportunity to acknowledge the energy, commitment and strong sense of community that have characterised the start of the year.
It has been a busy and productive term across the College, and one filled with countless examples of our young people demonstrating care, respect, curiosity and courage. Seeing these qualities in action fills me not only with great pride, but also with genuine hope for the future.
Students have engaged deeply in their learning, embraced new opportunities and contributed positively to the life of the school. I thank our staff for their ongoing dedication, and our families for the support they provide to our students.
With the term break now upon us, I wish all members of our community a safe and restful Easter, along with time to relax and connect with family and friends.
We look forward to welcoming students back for Term 2, refreshed and ready for the term ahead.
The Year 9–12 Musical for 2026 is’ Les Misérables – School Edition’. This musical holds a special place in many people’s hearts and is sure to attract a large audience. We will provide information regarding ticketing next term and anticipate a sold-out season.
As a College we are both proud and excited to announce the students from the cast, orchestra and production team.
Please join me in congratulating the following 43 cast members, 11 orchestra members and 8 members of the production team https://me.eltham.edu.au/homepage/15015/
Having completed some wonderful auditions with some Year 5/6 students this week, we will announce our junior roles of Cosette, Eponine and Gavroche next term.
We are also looking for some more backstage crew and student helpers from Years 7–12 and encourage interested students to reach out Nicole Howard nhoward @elthamcollege.vic.edu.au if they would like to learn more about the opportunities and time commitment.
Nicole Howard Music and Performing Arts
Explore the Night Sky at ELTHAM Astronomy Night
ELTHAM College invites our community to explore the night sky through our state-of-the-art telescopes and engage with experts in the field of astronomy on Thursday 30 April 2026.
This immersive evening is designed for all - whether you are a seasoned astronomy enthusiast or simply curious about the cosmos. Guests will hear from expert speakers, observe celestial objects through our telescopes, and capture and colourise their own images using the ELTHAM Observatory.
Tickets have gone on sale today for ELTHAM’s very first Spotlight on Drama performance.
A cast of fifteen Year 10 – 12 students will present a night of dramatic scenes exploring the dreams we chase, the illusions we live, and the realities we can’t escape.
Spotlight on Drama - DREAMS is a one-night-only performance on Friday 8 May, 7.30pm in the Clarke Auditorium.
We encourage all our ELTHAM families to come along and support these talented students and the work they have been doing to present an exciting selection of scenes. We would also love to see our ELTHAM students take advantage of their $10 tickets and consider coming with a group of friends. Make it a social catch up while supporting their peers and the Performing Arts program.
ELTHAM College and the ELTHAM College Community Association (ECCA) warmly invite our community to join us for our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast.
This special event is an opportunity to thank the parents, carers and significant people in our students’ lives, and to come together as a community in celebration.
The morning will include a light breakfast, a student music performance, and opportunities for photos to mark the occasion.
Date: Thursday 7 May 2026
Time: 7.30am – 8.30am
Location: Amplify Common Space, ELTHAM College Research Campus
(1660 Main Road, Research)
Dietary requirements including gluten free and vegetarian options will be catered for. Please indicate any additional requirements when booking.
ELC and Junior School families are also welcome at more celebrations on Monday 4 May and Thursday 7 May (details above, no RSVP required).
Good Friday Appeal
From the Archives 2 April 2026
Staff on Stage
Performance has long been a vibrant part of life at ELTHAM College - not only for our students, but for our staff as well.
This archival flyer from a 1981 staff production of Harlequinade reflects a long-standing tradition of creativity, courage and community, where staff stepped beyond the classroom and onto the stage. These moments speak to a culture where the arts are lived and shared, and where connection is built through participation as much as performance.
It is a reminder that the spirit of ELTHAM has always been shaped by those willing to contribute their talents in unexpected and generous ways; modelling the very curiosity and creative expression we continue to foster in our students today.
Esmae Boutros Archivist
ELC and Junior School News
Orff Marimba Ensemble – Open Day Performance
Congratulations to the Orff Marimba Ensemble for their wonderful performance at the recent College Open Day. The group performed a selection of pieces, both new and familiar, bringing fun, energy and plenty of smiles to audiences throughout the day. While entertaining visitors, the students also demonstrated impressive focus, maintaining three independent musical parts with strong rhythm and musicality. Their ability to memorise an entire folio of pieces for a roving-style performance is particularly commendable. Their teacher, Vincent Bradley, is very impressed with the ensemble’s teamwork and looks forward to more dancing and roving musical antics from these talented mallet players.
New members welcome. Sessions: Thursday Lunchtimes
Year 4 Digital Technologies
Last Thursday, our Year 4 students took part in an exciting incursion as part of their Inquiry unit on Digital Technologies, and it is safe to say they had a fantastic time! Students worked with Chris, our engaging host from PrimeSCI and Swinburne University, to program Edison robots and complete a series of fun and challenging tasks. They began by developing an understanding of how Scratch coding works, before seeing their code come to life as they tested it on their robots. Starting with simple coding, such as 'follow the line' or 'bouncing borders', they progressed to seeing if their robots could make it through a maze or battle each other in the arena! Throughout the session, students worked collaboratively in small groups to test different codes and try to complete the tasks. This hands-on experience helped students deepen their understanding of coding and digital systems in a highly engaging and meaningful way. We are very proud of the enthusiasm, teamwork and creativity shown by all students during this memorable learning experience.
Peter Blackford Year 4 Classroom Teacher
Senior School News
Student Achievement: Tanay Joshi Selected for National Youth Parliament
We are delighted to share that Year 11 student Tanay Joshi has been selected to represent the Jagajaga electorate in the National Youth Parliament this August.
Tanay is one of just 150 students nationwide chosen for this prestigious program, following a highly competitive selection process involving more than 2,200 applicants. Participants were selected for their demonstrated interest in civic participation, leadership and community engagement.
As part of the program, Tanay will travel to Canberra for a week, where he will take part in simulated parliamentary debates, workshops with political leaders, and discussions exploring real-world policy and decision-making.
This is a significant achievement and a wonderful opportunity for Tanay to deepen his understanding of leadership, governance and the role young people can play in shaping the future.
We congratulate Tanay on this outstanding accomplishment.
Year 10 and 11 Formal
Students in Years 10 and 11 are invited to attend the 2026 Formal, an opportunity to come together and celebrate in a formal setting.
We’re excited to share that Year 12 student Josh Smith has been selected to perform stand-up comedy at the Arts Centre Melbourne as part of the ‘Up Next’ program these school holidays.
This opportunity follows their involvement in the Class Clowns program, where he has been supported and mentored by Evan Watts over recent years. ‘Up Next’ represents the next stage in that journey, showcasing emerging young performers on a professional stage.
We look forward to seeing Josh take this exciting step and wish him all the best for the performance.
Photo (left to right): Nathan New (teacher), Bailey Stewart, Austin Iredale, Oscar Wijnen, Oliver Brown, Arden Cooperwaite, Ethan Kent, William Liu
Towards the end of last year, students in the Year 10 Engineering class took part in the UNSW Coding Challenge. Working individually or in small groups, students were tasked with creating their own “disaster-themed” computer game.
Entries were judged on key game design elements, including code optimisation, player interaction, game flow, storytelling and creative polish. The competition attracted students from across Australia.
When results were released earlier this year, we were delighted to learn that ELTHAM College students achieved a clean sweep, taking out Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. Congratulations to all the students involved on this outstanding achievement!
World's Greatest Shave
James, Sam and Hunter (Year 7) recently shaved their heads for the World's Greatest Shave. As a team they raised $2,600 to go towards blood cancer research and patient treatment and support. We’re so proud of them!
Penny van Gelderen Year 7 and 8 Coordinator
Students Shine in Legally Blonde Jr
Congratulations to Hayley O’Donnell and Lisa Xu on their involvement in the Diamond Valley Singers production of Legally Blonde Jr.
Both students successfully auditioned for this production outside of school and committed to a demanding schedule of rehearsals and performances alongside other passionate performing arts students from across the region. Performed over two weekends in March, this vibrant and entertaining show brought great joy and laughter to audiences, while providing both students with a wonderful opportunity to shine.
Hayley was cast in the lead role of Elle Woods, showcasing her exceptional vocal ability through a number of solos and duets throughout the production.
Lisa was a valued member of the ensemble, bringing strong character and presence to her performances.
Both students will soon begin preparations for their roles in Les Misérables at ELTHAM in August. The skills and experience they have developed will no doubt be reflected in their upcoming performances.
Congratulations again to Hayley and Lisa on this fantastic achievement.
Nicole Howard Music
Learning in the Field: VCE Geography
One of the great strengths of Geography at ELTHAM is the opportunity for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom and into the real world.
This term, our Year 12 students explored the impacts of land use change within Melbourne’s North Growth Corridor, visiting Stockland estates at Katalia (Donnybrook) and Cloverton (Kalkallo). These visits provided a firsthand view of the rapid pace of development, driven by population growth and increasing housing demand.
Our Year 11 students travelled to the Kinglake region to deepen their understanding of the devastating impact of the Black Saturday bushfires, as well as the remarkable recovery of both the natural environment and local community.
Through this experience, they also gained insight into how disaster response and recovery approaches have evolved over time.
These field trips are a valuable part of the VCE Geography program, supporting students to connect theory with lived experience and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Anya Greenhill Geography teacher
STEM Wrap Up: Emerging Science and Technology
Osmotic energy, also known as ‘blue energy’, is a renewable form of electricity generation, utilising nanopore membranes to capture voltage from the natural movement of ions from saltwater to freshwater. In a recently published article in Nature Energy, scientists from the Laboratory for Nanoscale Biology reported significant developments addressing structural durability issues in this experimental technology.
In addition to the nanofluidic membrane, the team incorporated lipid bubbles (substances that are naturally hydrophobic) that form thin bilayers in the appropriate environment. These reduce friction for passing ions, allowing electricity generation to occur at a greater, more realistic rate. With this development, alongside improvements to both polymer membrane structures and semiconductor nanopore devices, the system achieved a power density of roughly 15 watts per square metre - approximately two to three times greater than current polymer membrane technologies. As research continues, osmotic energy could provide a highly efficient and modular renewable energy source in the future.
Following the first full connectome (a complete wiring diagram of neurons and synaptic connections) of a fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, mapped by the FlyWire consortium in 2024 - comprising over 140,000 neurons and more than 50 million synapses - Eon Systems, a new firm focused on brain emulation technology, has revealed a simulation of a fly capable of performing basic sensorimotor functions such as feeding and grooming.
Paired with manually simulated vision and olfactory inputs into the connectome model, the network outputs low-dimensional motor signals that are sent to a precise 3D mesh created using X-ray microtomography: NeuroMechFly (Wang-Chen et al., 2024), representing the virtual fly’s body. This process runs every 15 milliseconds, with simulated responses occurring at the same rate - still too slow to be fully realistic, but highly impressive. While the system remains reliant on manual inputs and targeted neural stimulation to encourage specific behaviours, this research represents a significant step forward in synaptic simulation and the exploration of sensorimotor control.
The rapid development of artificial intelligence has had, and continues to have, a profound impact on the STEM industry, reshaping approaches to data analysis. Despite ongoing ethical concerns - including those relating to agentic AI, data collection, potential unregulated use in military or political contexts, and environmental impacts such as the large freshwater consumption of data centres - its influence will continue to shape academic, business and personal fields in the near future. For this reason, STEM News aims to include an AI-focused section in every second article.
Physics-based simulations and machine learning also have significant practical applications in materials science and biomedical fields. In a recent article, MIT Associate Professor Rafael Gómez-Bombarelli highlighted the design of new materials for batteries, catalysts, polymers and organic light-emitting diodes, guided by AI-driven models. Gómez-Bombarelli supports the advancement of computational scientific research, noting its potential to improve accessibility within scientific academia and increase the efficiency of developing materials that benefit society.
Isaac, Thomas and Oscar STEM Student Team 2026
Teng, Y., Chen, TH., Cai, N. et al. "Charge and slip-length optimization in lipid-bilayer-coated nanofluidics for enhanced osmotic energy harvesting." Nat Energy (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-026-01976-0
In this science lesson our class made creative models of lungs, made out of cups, balloons and straws. They were Incredibly useful to demonstrate how lungs work. Students made the models by tying a knot in the neck of a balloon and discarding the other rubber band. They would follow up with putting the straw through a hole in the cup and tying a balloon to it. After putting the other balloon on top, students would blow through and the balloon tied to the straw would inflate demonstrating how breathing in the lungs work. It was a very good experiment and fun to make!
Shaunak Pandurangi and Martin Akdeniz Year 8 Science
Wellbeing
Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to deepen our understanding and strengthen a sense of inclusion across our community. It invites us to recognise and celebrate the strengths, perspectives and experiences of autistic people, and to continue creating environments where every individual feels understood, supported and able to thrive.
2 April is also recognised by the United Nations as World Autism Awareness Day, highlighting the importance of awareness, acceptance and the rights of the autism community worldwide.
Understanding Autism
Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference that can be identified from early childhood and is part of a person’s lifelong way of experiencing and engaging with the world. While the exact causes are not fully understood, autism is typically identified through patterns in communication and interaction, alongside focused interests, preferences for routine, and repetitive behaviours or speech.
Autism is understood as a spectrum, reflecting the diversity of experiences and support needs among autistic people. Diagnostic terminology has evolved over time, with previous categories such as Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder now included within the broader autism spectrum.
With understanding, appropriate supports and early intervention, young people can develop greater self-awareness and confidence in navigating their world. A strengths-based approach supports individuals to recognise what works for them and to build the skills and strategies that enable them to thrive.
A free government-funded autism workshop for parents and carers will be held in Kew East on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 May, commencing at 9.30am each day. Topics include understanding autism, sensory processing, behaviour, and strengthening home–school partnerships.
For more information and to register, please visit the Positive Partnerships website.
Following strong interest in the recent SchoolTV webinar, Anxiety and Depression to Foster Resilience, families can now access the recording until Monday 4 May.
Presented by Dr Emma Woodward and Dr Joe Stammeijer, the session offers practical, evidence-based insights into how anxiety and depression present in young people, early warning signs to look out for, and strategies to support children and adolescents.
Families can view the webinar via the link below or through the Webinar Series tile on the SchoolTV homepage. We also encourage families to download the accompanying KEYpoints flyer, available in over 60 languages, to support ongoing conversations at home.
This session forms Part I of the series, with Part II to be shared in Term 2.
We congratulate Declan Zheng (Year 8) on an outstanding performance at the recent Track National Championships in Brisbane.
Representing Victoria at the Anna Meares Velodrome, Declan competed with determination and pride, achieving a bronze medal in the scratch race, placing fourth in the points race, and recording personal bests in both the 500m time trial and flying 200.
This is a significant accomplishment at a national level and reflects Declan’s commitment to both his training and his academic progress. We are proud to support students as they pursue excellence across multiple pathways, and commend Declan for the way he continues to balance these demands.
Congratulations to Declan on this fantastic achievement.
Junior School Regional Swimmers
On Thursday 19 March, ten swimmers from the Junior School represented ELTHAM College at the SSV Regional Swimming Carnival at Watermarc. Congratulations to Sophie Shephard and Noah Morgan who won their races and will represent ELTHAM College at the SSV State Swimming Championships in April swimming breaststroke. Well done to Felix Turney for placing third in his breaststroke race. All of our swimmers raced very well and should be very proud reaching the Regional level of competition. It was a very high standard of competition.
Regional Swimmers Flynn Cole-Sinclair Sophie Shephard Felix Turney Oscar Bourne Jake Jordan Noah Morgan Jonty Buys Jamie Gunn Jack Shawyer Justin Yan
Junior School House Cross Country
On Friday, our Junior School students from Prep to Year 6 took part in the annual House Cross Country Carnival at the ELTHAM College Sporting Fields. Students competed in age group races including Prep Boys and Girls, 7/8 Year Old Boys and Girls, 6/7/8 Year Old Girls, 9/10 Year Old Boys and Girls, 11 Year Old Boys and Girls, and 12/13 Year Old Boys and Girls.
In the lead-up to the carnival, students had been preparing during their Physical Education lessons, building their endurance and confidence for the event. It was fantastic to see so many students participate with enthusiasm and determination. Congratulations to all students who took part in the carnival and gave their personal best efforts.
Thank you to the many parents who attended and supported the runners throughout the morning. It was also wonderful to see so many families stay for the post-race picnic, creating a great community atmosphere.
A special thank you to our wonderful staff for helping the event run smoothly. In particular, we would like to acknowledge Sandra vander Pal for her organisation and leadership in delivering such a successful event, along with all staff and volunteers who assisted throughout the day.
Top 3 Place Getters – Race Results
Prep Girls 1st – Eleanor Miller 2nd – Abigail Bell 3rd – Joy Yang Prep Boys 1st – Miller Ziatas 2nd –Lucius Bakri 3rd – Jimmy Ge 7/8 Year Old Boys 1st – Morgan Miller 2nd – Harry Gorman 3rd – Will Read 6/7/8 Year Old Girls 1st – Audrey Gillard 2nd – Lily Buys 3rd – Aalia O’Neill 9/10 Year Old Boys 1st – Flynn Cole-Sinclair 2nd – Darcy Gillard 3rd – Archie Hawley 9/10 Year Old Girls 1st – Katelyn Vogl 2nd – Skye Sampson 3rd – Annabel Buys 11 Year Old Boys 1st – Jake Jordan 2nd – Ned Leeson 3rd – Felix Turney 11 Year Old Girls 1st – Natasha Davies 2nd – Isabella Halaliku 3rd – Arianna Chen 12/13 Year Old Boys 1st – Justin Yan 2nd – Jonty Buys 3rd – Cisco Mendola 12/13 Year Old Girls 1st – Olive Maurer 2nd – Sophia Guyett 3rd – Eadie Baxter
** Please note that on the day students received place ribbons for each individual age group. The results above are the overall combined age group winners for each race.
Blake Edwards PE Teacher, Junior School
Outstanding Junior School Results in Senior Cross Country
The Senior School Cross Country Carnival was held on Tuesday 24 March during Lessons 1 and 2, in warm and sunny conditions. The course took in the Main Ovals, Swipers Gully fields, and finished at the Pavilion, providing a challenging and enjoyable experience for all participants.
A major highlight of this year’s event was the inclusion of our Grade 5 and 6 students, who joined the Under 13 race for the first time. Their involvement brought a huge amount of excitement and enthusiasm to the day, adding great energy and spirit to the carnival.
Despite having already competed in the Junior School House Cross Country the Friday prior, many of these students delivered tremendous performances, with several finishing among the top 10 placegetters in their race (combined with Year 7) —an outstanding achievement.
Boys (Under 13) Justin Yan - 5th Jake Jordan - 7th Felix Turney - 8th
Brent Wallace Head of Sport
Senior School House Cross Country 2026
The Senior School House Cross Country Carnival was held on Tuesday 24 March during Lessons 1 and 2, in warm and sunny conditions. The course incorporated the Main Ovals and Swipers Gully fields, finishing at the Pavilion.
Evelyn House performed strongly across the boys’ events, finishing first in that category, while Ross House dominated the girls’ competition and were crowned overall House Cross Country champions. Congratulations to Ross House on an outstanding result.
A highlight of this year’s event was the inclusion of our Grade 5 and 6 students, who joined the Under 13 races and brought great energy to the day. Congratulations to the following students who achieved top 10 results in the Under 13 race: Natasha Davies (1st), Isabella Halaliku (4th), Justin Yan (5th), Olive Maurer (7th), Jake Jordan (7th) and Felix Turney (8th).
Age Group Champions
Under 12 Girls: Natasha Davies
Under 12 Boys: Justin Yan
Under 13 Girls: Mavis Lee
Under 13 Boys: Luke Oldfield
Under 14 Girls: Lyra Koopman
Under 14 Boys: Declan Zheng
Under 15 Girls: Bonnie Leeson
Under 15 Boys: Oden Samara
Under 16 Girls: Keira Knight
Under 16 Boys: Henry Cunningham
Open Girls: Maddy Meagher
Open Boys: Nic Salerno
House Results
Bell
Girls 539 / Boys 545 / Total 1084
Overall Place 3rd
Evelyn
Girls 545 / Boys 708 / Total 1253
Overall Place 2nd
Nillumbik
Girls 459 / Boys 584 / Total 1043
Overall Place 4th
Ross
Girls 684 / Boys 626 / Total 1310
Overall Place 1st
Brent Wallace and Phil Mullet Sport
Sport Updates on mE
For all information regarding the Sport program including Carnivals, EISM Fixtures, Team Lists, Training Sessions and Seasonal Sporting events please visit the ELTHAM College Sports page on mE link below.
2025 sees us move to our new improved newsletter, which is now available fortnightly.
Key Dates and more timely information will be shared via the mE app. If you have not already installed the mE app on your phone and enabled notifications, we ask our families to do so.
All staff at ELTHAM College are responsible for providing a safe environment and the protection of children and young people within our care, including promoting physical, emotional and cultural safety. All staff are responsible for reporting information about suspected child abuse. All staff share in the responsibility for the prevention and detection of child abuse and promptly raise any issues or concerns about a child’s safety. All staff are required to follow the School’s Child Safe policies and Child Safety Code of Conduct.
ELTHAM College takes a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and is fully committed to ensuring that its strategies, policies, procedures, and practices meet all Child Safe Standards as specified in Ministerial Order No. 1359 (2022). All applicants should refer to our Child Safety Policy and Code of Conduct found at Policies - Eltham College.
