ELTHAM College Family News March 20
Key Dates
Key Dates – ELC and Junior School – 20 March 2026
Key Dates – Senior School – 20 March 2026
College Connections
Golden Hour: A Fantastic Open Day and Twilight Market
Last Friday's Open Day and Twilight Market was a beautiful event - the gorgeous weather, friendly atmosphere, smiling students and visitors contributed to the fantastic atmosphere.
All parts of our wonderful school community made the event special - our marketing and events staff, education staff, student and parent volunteers, families and friends.
Our visiting families who are considering ELTHAM College for their children experienced the authentic 'us'.
We will share a complete photo gallery with our community before the end of term, but here's a selection of photos of our talented Twilight Market student performers.
Sara Brocklesby
Head of Community Engagement and Experience
House Music 2026 Results
Congratulations to Bell, our 2026 House Music winners!
INSTRUMENTAL
Winning House: Bell
Second Place: Ross
CHAMBER
Winning House: Bell
Second Place: Nillumbik
CHOIR
Winning House: Ross
Second Place: Nillumbik
DANCE
Winning House: Evelyn
Second Place: Bell
OVERALL RESULTS
1st Bell
2nd Ross
3rd Evelyn
4th Nillumbik
Get Involved in Co-Curricular!
Pictured: The Creative Writing Club visits the Melbourne CBD, 2025.
Student experiences: A co-curriculum that support success in all facets
At ELTHAM, students are encouraged to explore and uncover new passions through a variety of co-curricular activities. The student experiences provided here are designed to broaden horizons, allow young people to dig deeper into already established interests, and make meaningful social connections with likeminded students and staff.
Our co-curricular program - facilitated under 8 key themes - is the cornerstone of our authentic learning approach and holistic education of the whole person.
The full 2026 Co-curricular Timetable is available here.
Student Sign Up Process
- Visit the Co-Curricular section of myELTHAM (mE): https://me.eltham.edu.au/homepage/14732
- Use the staff contact photo to access the link to the staff member's email - students and/or families should send a short email stating which group you are looking to join and your full name and year level. There is no need to sign-up with anyone else, ie. Junior or Senior School Office, classroom/mentor teacher, Music Office etc.
Alumni Win at the AACTA Film and Television Awards
Congratulations to alumni Amy Raffe (Class of 2014), who earlier this year won the AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy Series.
Amy self-funded the production of the series, where hopeless romantic Emily navigates the absurd and cringe-worthy world of modern dating, enduring a series of hilariously disastrous encounters while desperately searching for love in all the wrong places.
The AACTA Awards (formerly the AFI Awards) have honoured screen excellence in Australia since the first AFI Awards were held in 1958.
A Series of Unfortunate Dates is available on Instagram and TikTok.
Congratulations Amy!
Easter Uniform Shop Trading Hours
The ELTHAM College Uniform Shop Easter Holiday and Term 2 trading hours are as follows:
The Uniform Shop will be OPEN on:
Thursday 2 April 8.15am – 2.00pm (Term 1 Last Day of Trade)
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
The Uniform Shop will be OPEN during the holidays on:
Thursday 16 April 9.00am – 12.00pm
Monday 20 April 9.00am – 12.00pm (STUDENT FREE DAY)
TERM 2 TRADING HOURS
Normal during term trading hours resume on Tuesday 21 April:
Tuesday 11.30am – 4.30pm
Thursday 8.15am – 2.00pm
Monday 8.15am – 1.15pm
ELC and Junior School News
Bookings Open: School Holiday Care Program
New Online Safety Game Available From E-Safety Commissioner
Introducing our brand new online safety game
We’re excited to share our brand new Mighty Heroes adventure, a fun, interactive web-based game created to help primary school-aged children learn to stay safer online.
🎮 About the game:
- Designed for interactive whiteboards, tablets, desktops and laptops
- No logins required – easy access for educators and students
- Flexible – pause anytime to discuss key online safety messages
- Trusted learning – aligned to V9 Australian Curriculum and eSafety’s Best Practice Framework for Online Safety Education
- Co-designed – developed with educators, parents, and children to meet real classroom needs
- Educator support – includes 60+ classroom activity ideas, answer keys, and student worksheets
With 9,000+ game players in the first week, early feedback shows why it’s landing so well. 🙌
Students say it’s fun, worth playing again, and something they’d recommend – captured perfectly by comments like ‘fun but you still get to learn stuff’. Educators are equally enthusiastic, calling it ‘an Australian product that fills a gap in our curriculum resources.’
Senior School News
Year 10 Leadership for Year 7 Outdoor Education
From the 23rd to the 27th of February, we were fortunate enough to attend the Year 7 camp as Year 10 leaders with Nillumbik and Evelyn Houses. It was a great opportunity for us to build connections with the younger students in our houses and gain a new perspective on the Anglesea Surf Camp, known and loved from our own Year 7 experience. It also gave us a greater appreciation and understanding of what goes into organizing and leading these camps (massive thanks to Guy Mitchel, Stephen Bell, and the Year 7 mentors: Brad Stelfox, Elise Desira, Oliver Ashkar, and Kylie Price).
Prior to going on the camp, we ran several get-to-know-each-other sessions with our Year 7 house groups, which was a fantastic way to break the ice and learn more about the students before the week began.
One of our favourite activities on camp was the House Challenge, which was a great way to build house spirit, especially with the house captains and coordinators coming down for the day. Although Evelyn took the victory, both houses competed passionately and displayed great sportsmanship and enthusiasm throughout the competition. Another highlight was the dawn surf which, despite delays caused by a thunderstorm, was one of the most memorable activities of the week, providing an opportunity for students to build inter-house connections, and finish the camp together as one big group.
The friendships these Year 7 students formed on camp will stay with them throughout their time at ELTHAM College, and beyond. Overall, it was an incredible experience with many great opportunities for both students and leaders.
Ryan Harding & Aedan Wood
Year 10 Nillumbik and Evelyn House Leaders
Student Work Featured in Creative Minds Exhibition
Pictured: Tortoise headed figure in a formal portrait by Charlotte Welsh.
Creative Minds, an annual exhibition celebrating the work of Nillumbik’s emerging young artists from local VCE Art and Studio Arts programs, is currently on show and features work by:
Kit Hanson
Abbey Luttick
Charlotte Welsh
More information: https://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Council/News-and-publications/Latest-news/Creative-Minds-showcases-the-next-generation-of-artists
Tomorrow: Victorian Careers & Employment Expo
Victorian Careers & Employment Expo will showcase over 130 organisations and employers with career opportunities for all ages.
This free event is for school students, parents, teachers, graduates, job seekers, people looking for courses and workers seeking new training and career options.
The Expo is packed with Free advice, and attendees can -
- Talk with over 130 Training Organisations & Employers
- Gain Free Career Advice
- Discover Jobs of the Future
- Talk with Leading Organisations about Training & Apprenticeships
- Experience the Free Career Seminars
- Enjoy the Try’a Skill Zones
Dates:
Saturday 21 March, 9.00am to 4.00pm
Venue:
Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale
Free, but register here.
EducationUSA Australia Webinar
EducationUSA Australia will hold a webinar on Tuesday, March 24 for any students, parents, guardians, or career advisors interested in learning about researching options for pathways to studying in the United States. Please see below for details.
DATE: Tuesday, 24 March
TIME: 6.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. AEDT
TOPIC: Research Your Options
This interactive session will support participants through the essential steps of exploring higher education opportunities in the United States. Attendees will learn how to identify programs that match their academic interests, understand admission requirements, and make informed decisions about their educational future.
Whether you are just beginning your search or narrowing down your choices, this webinar will provide practical tools and reliable resources to help you navigate the process with confidence. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to get your questions answered and take the next step toward studying in the U.S.
Register with the below QR code or via this link: bit.ly/EdUSAWebinarMarch24
RMIT Trades Experience
Wellbeing
Celebrating Harmony Week
Harmony Week is celebrated annually during March to highlight our diverse cultures and help us better understand each other’s experiences and backgrounds. During this week, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is also acknowledged on the 21 March. Harmony Week is an opportunity to recognise Australia's multiculturalism, which embraces people from all over the world, especially indigenous Australians. As a nation, we are encouraged to promote respect, understanding and appreciation for all cultures.
Australia's multicultural background has been shaped by migration since 1945, which at times has culminated into situations that have been challenging and sometimes leading to conflict due to a lack of understanding. Harmony Week reminds us to appreciate everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Families can join in the celebrations of Harmony Week, and view it as an opportunity to join in the activities that unite cultures demonstrating that everyone belongs. There is no set way to celebrate the week, but participating in international food fairs, attending street parades, wearing orange or even just having a meaningful conversation, can all help show your support.
Sports Report
ELTHAM College Success at 3x Cup Qualifiers
ELTHAM College was proudly represented at the 2026 3x Cup Qualifiers held at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre, with two age groups competing across the event. Our eight Junior teams (Year 7 & 8 – Under 15s) competed on Friday 6 March, while six Intermediate teams (Year 9 & 10 – Under 17s) took to the court on Tuesday 10 March.
The Junior competition saw a strong showing from ELTHAM, with all teams progressing to the Round of 16. Our Girls Division 2 team had an impressive day, led by Clara Hawkins, eventually going down to the tournament winners. In the Boys competition, ELTHAM 2 and ELTHAM 3 both reached the Round of 16, with ELTHAM 3 advancing to the Quarter Finals behind a dominant performance from Peyton Hawley. Our Boys Division 1 team, led by Oren Duckworth, progressed to the Semi Finals before narrowly losing in overtime to the eventual champions. The team of Oren Duckworth, Tommy Watt, Ryder Haynes and Conor Gleeson finished third overall and are awaiting confirmation of an invitation to the State Finals in Term 2.
The Intermediate group also performed strongly, with all teams winning their opening matches except one that faced another ELTHAM team. ELTHAM 1, 2, 3 and 5 reached the Quarter Finals, with ELTHAM 1 progressing to the Grand Final. In a thrilling overtime finish, Cooper Kay scored the game-winning basket under heavy pressure to secure the qualifying title. Cooper Kay, Aksel Hansen, Hamish Freiberg and Harry Fleming now advance to the State Finals as a top-four seed.
Congratulations to all students who represented ELTHAM College.
Brent Wallace
Head of Sport
Heading to Nationals this April
Congratulations to Jacob Guyett, who has qualified for both Juniors and Seniors Athletics Championships. A fantastic achievement, your whole College community is behind you.
Not only did Jacob make the Australian Athletics National Championships in Brisbane (Seniors Athletics) for the 100m and 200m, but he has also qualified for the Australian Little Athletics National Championships for the 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m state relay team, and the 4 x Swedish state relay team (200m runner in this relay).
We're barracking for you Jacob!
Year 11 Student Takes Women's Open
Congratulations to Year 11 student Alexandria Kogtevs for her brilliant performance in the recent Moomba Madness Scooter Women's Open!
Scootering closed out the long weekend with the Moomba Madness Scooter event on Monday, bringing another wave of young riders to Riverslide. Junior and Open divisions took to the park for run-based competition and best trick attempts, with athletes feeding off the energy of the festival atmosphere.
Alex won the Women’s Open for the third year in a row! Fantastic effort.
Could your child be the next Jakara, Scotty or Indra?
Australia just had its greatest Winter Olympics ever and some of the athletes who competed just happen to have learned to ski and ride on the same mountain your child could compete on this winter.
Jakara Anthony honed her moguls technique at Mt Buller before becoming Australia's most decorated Winter Olympian. Scotty James - one of Australia's most recognisable winter sports stars, has built a career spanning five Winter Olympics in the snowboard halfpipe. And 16-year-old Indra Brown - a Melbourne girl, just like many of our own students, made her Olympic debut as the youngest member of the Australian team and the current world number one in freeski halfpipe.
Every one of them started somewhere and this winter, your child has the chance to take their own first competitive step on the very same mountain.
ELTHAM College is participating in the Victorian Interschool Snow Sports Championships at Mt Buller, and we'd love your child to be part of it. The event is open to all students (Prep-Year 12) and covers a fantastic range of disciplines - snowboarding, alpine racing, moguls, cross-country skiing, and slopestyle. Whether your child is an experienced skier, rider or just developing their skills, there's a place for them.
We are currently collecting expressions of interest, with a deadline of 31 March. There's no commitment at this stage, just let us know if you'd like to find out more and we'll be in touch with more details.
Please email Brent Wallace at bwallace @elthamcollege.vic.edu.au before 31 March, to register your interest.
The mountain is calling!
We'd love to see a strong ELTHAM College team at the start gate this winter.
Sport Updates on mE
Family Reminders
Family News and the mE App
ECCA
Avid Readers Welcome at A Novel Bunch
After kicking off 2026 with a visit to Asia courtesy of The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, our next selection, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, transports us to Africa. New members are welcome to join us at any time 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
Year Level Family Catch Ups
Parents can access their Year Level Group pages, with information about events and year level chat, on mE.
Community Notices
Community Notices and Events 20 March 2026
