ELTHAM College Family News 7 February 2025

Tuesday 28 January 
Term 1 Commences  

Prep Parent Morning Tea   

Flagpole Assembly  

Welcome Morning Tea  

Friday 7 February 

ELC – 6 Welcome Sausage Sizzle  3.30pm – 5.00pm 

Monday 10 February 

Junior School Assembly  

Prep – 6 Information night  6.00pm – 7.00pm 

Tuesday 11 February

Parent Information Nights

Year 10
7.30pm – 8.30pm
Library Auditorium

Year 11
7.30pm – 8.30pm
Clarke Auditorium

Year 12
7.30pm – 8.30pm
Clarke Auditorium

Wednesday 12 February 

Year 3/4 Camp Parent Information Session 3.30pm – 4.00pm

Thursday 13 February 

Junior School Photo Day 

Parent Information Night
Year 8
7.30pm – 8.30pm
Clarke Auditorium

Monday 17 February 

Junior School Assembly 

Friday 21 February 

Years 3 – 6 District Swimming  

Friday 28 February

Open Day & Twilight Market 

Monday 3 March

Junior School Assembly 

Wednesday 5 March

Division Swimming @ Northcote Pool

Wednesday 5 March – Friday 7 March

Year 3/4 Camp

Monday 10 March

LABOUR DAY Public Holiday

Wednesday 12 – 14 March

NAPLAN

Monday 17 March

Junior School Assembly 

Thursday 20 March

Regional Swimming @ Watermarc

Friday 21 March

Harmony Day

Monday 24 March

Junior School Assembly 

House Music Rehearsals 

House Music Performance 

Friday 28 March

Junior School House Cross Country & Picnic

Friday 4 April

Term 1 Concludes

Friday 18 April 

Good Friday 

Monday 21 April 

Easter Monday 

For a complete list of College activities take a look at the calendar on mE.

Events and dates may be subject to change.

Monday 10 February – Friday 14 February 

Year 7 Camp 1 Bell and Ross

Monday 17 February – Friday 21 February

Year 7 Camp 2 Nillumbik and Evelyn

Thursday 20 February – Monday 24 March 

House Music Rehearsals 7 – 12

Tuesday 25 February 

House Athletics

Thursday 27 February 

RYDA – Year 11 & 12 Rotary Young Drivers Awareness program

Year 9 – 12 College Musical Production Dance Auditions

Friday 28 February 

Open Day & Twilight Market

Thursday 6 March

Year 9 – 12 College Musical Production Read Through/Rehearsal

Year 5 – 12 Assembly

Friday 7 March

Year 12 Physics Excursion – Luna Park

Monday 10 March 

LABOUR DAY Public Holiday

Tuesday 11 March – Thursday 13 March

NAPLAN

Friday 14 March

Year 11 Geography Field Trip

Monday 17 March – Tuesday 18 March

NAPLAN make up

Tuesday 18 March 

Year 10 Morrisby Careers Testing 

Friday 21 March 

Year 7 Immunisation Session 2025

Tuesday 25 March 

Whole Year 9 Cohort in the City

Wednesday 26 March – Friday 28 March

Year 10 Retreat

Wednesday 26 March

ELTHAM In Action school tours

Thursday 27 March

Year 5 – 12 Assembly (House Music Announcement)

Thursday 3 April 

Year 12 Dinner #1 Social/Pizza Night

Friday 4 April 

Last Day of Term 1 

Friday 4 April – Sunday 6 April 

Year 9 –12 College Musical Production – Retreat Rehearsal

Tuesday 8 April – Thursday 17 April 

Overland Hike 

Friday 18 April

Good Friday 

Monday 21 April 

Easter Monday 

For a complete list of College activities take a look at the calendar on mE.

Events and dates may be subject to change.

The Principal's speech at the Flagpole Assembly highlighted the importance of unity, respect, and fostering a strong sense of belonging within our community. 

This message encourages us to support one another, celebrate our differences, and work together as a community for the start of 2025.

Hear more from Richard and the College Captains in the full video on ELTHAM College’s social media.

We are delighted to welcome new staff to ELTHAM College, bringing fresh ideas, expertise, and a commitment to nurturing each student’s potential in a supportive and engaging environment. We know that strong relationships are at the heart of our College community, and our newest staff members will contribute to the warm, inclusive culture that makes ELTHAM College so special. We look forward to parents and families getting to know them and sharing in the exciting year ahead.

Stewart Lucy, Year 9 Humanities Teacher and Musical Director

• Jodie Potter, Year 9 Humanities Teacher
• Colin Lio, Commerce Teacher
• Nathan Auld, Maths Teacher
• Erin Cavanagh, French Teacher
• Christopher Payne, Head of Teaching Learning and Student Progress
• Celeste Watts, Year 3 Teacher
• Kira Green, Year 2 Teacher
• Peter Blackford, Year 4 Teacher
• Katie Sutherland, Food Technology Teacher
• Caitlin Gardiner, Health and Food Technology Teacher
• Halley Metcalfe, Drama Teacher
• Gordon Choureemootoo, Maintenance Officer
• Hannah Reid, English Teacher

Rebecca Millar
Director, People and Culture

Every year, ELTHAM College celebrates the Lunar New Year with the school community gathering to recognise one of the largest festivals in the world. As part of Melbourne’s famously multicultural society, we would be remiss not to join the 2 billion people around the word who gather with loved ones to share good wishes and hopes for a happy and safe year. Our international students throw themselves into the celebration. Due to the term dates, the students are in Australia instead of with their friends and family in China, Vietnam or Thailand for New Year. This, however, gives them the opportunity to share their culture with their local friends and they enthusiastically decorate the school and run activities such as Chinese calligraphy and the Wishing Tree. The Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne’s Lion Dance performance is the party’s highlight. It’s a wonderful way to start the school year.

Nick Grant
Student Services & International Mentor

Our Prep students have had a fantastic start to their school journey! With lots of smiles, growing independence, and new friendships forming, the classroom has been filled with laughter and excitement. They have settled beautifully into new routines and transitioned well into different subjects, embracing different rooms, environments and teachers.

A key focus so far has been on creating a sense of belonging, building relationships, and feeling comfortable in our new learning space. Next week, we’re excited to add swimming into the mix – another great opportunity for fun and learning!

We’re so proud of how well the students have embraced school life and can’t wait for all the adventures ahead!

Kelly Colson
Prep Teacher and Prep – 6 Team Leader

Issue 1 of Book Club has been handed out to students in Prep – Year 6. Orders are due by Thursday 13 February via the following link below.

Patrick Herrod
Library Teacher

The February Book Recommendations are available below. They are also on the pinboard as you enter the Junior School Library. The March Book Recommendations will have recommendations for students in Year 5 and Year 6. Please feel free to submit some of your own suggestions to me and to review the stories in the February Book Recommendations. Also, if you would like to submit other book reviews, you are more than welcome.

Patrick Herrod
Library Teacher

Interested in playing Winter Netball for the ELTHAM Turtles this season? Fill out the Google form to express your interest. Multiple teams are being created. 

Nick Milne
Year 11 Coordinator

The LifeWork Career Tools website is a rich resource offered to ELTHAM College students and families. 

Our aim is to provide you with all the latest information that will help you make decisions about your future career and your life beyond school.

You can use this site to locate University, TAFE and any other type of course across Australia, get information about the VCE, search for job vacancies and much more. 

The Calendar resource is regularly updated with careers and graduate pathways events, take a look!

Feel free to drop into the Careers Office if you have any questions.

Margie Jordan​​​​
Lifework Centre Coordinator

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up a year level or embarking on a journey through secondary school, any school transition is an exciting time for children and families. It is a period where children and teens must adapt to new circumstances, expectations, people, and routines. Whether big or small, transitions are a significant part in young people’s lives. Stressors may appear as anxiety and frustration and result in negative or disruptive behaviours. Such behaviours can become problematic, making the transition more difficult for children and families. A few suggestions to help through this transition time include:

• Encourage good sleep patterns, including earlier to bed than normal
• Provide extra assistance with planning for each day
• Discuss homework and ensure due dates are noted
• Talk to your child about your own experiences at times of major change
• Make a time to check in weekly to help with forward planning
• Discuss any subjects that are causing particular concern.

Other practical strategies provided by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and schoolTV can be accessed link below.

Stacey Morris and Alicia Lands
Student Services

Welcome back to a big year in PE and Sport in the Junior School. It was great to see 32 students participating in our District Swim Squad training. Our swimmers were back in the College pool this week in readiness for the Eltham District Swimming Carnival, which will be held on Friday 21 February at WaterMarc. 

District Swimming team members are requested to attend compulsory training sessions to further develop their skills. District Swimming training sessions will be held on Tuesday mornings starting at 7.30am – 8.15am and Thursday lunchtimes starting at 12.50pm – 1.35pm in our ELTHAM College pool. 

Three Leaves Café will be open for our swimming students during the morning training sessions. Students can pre-purchase their breakfast by placing their orders and money with the Junior School Office on Fridays by 12.00pm. Three Leaves Café will have students breakfast orders ready for them to eat after the early Tuesday morning training sessions. 

A final team will be selected after training on Thursday 14 February. Please note that there will be emergencies named for the District Carnival and a confirmation of your child’s swimming events will be confirmed, if successful in making the final team.

Anthony Panou 
Junior School PE & Sport Coordinator

Tuesday 11 February

Year 10
7.30pm – 8.30pm
Library Auditorium

Year 11
7.30pm – 8.30pm
Clarke Auditorium

Year 12
7.30pm – 8.30pm
Clarke Auditorium

Thursday 13 February

Year 8
7.30pm – 8.30pm
Clarke Auditorium

Senior School Office 

The session covers everything important to know about preparing and protecting yourself and your property from the threat of bushfire should it occur in your area. The session will be held in person at the Research Fire station, or if you would prefer, you can register to watch online by emailing nwr-commeng@cfa.vic.gov.au.

The session lasts for about an hour. One of the major threats often overlooked is that a bushfire usually generates embers which can get carried on the wind and cause spot fires some distance from the fire front. This is one of the reasons property preparation is an important topic in these sessions to minimise the risk of spot fires taking hold near or around your home. 

Emma Perry
Stakeholder Engagement and Philanthropy Coordinator

ELTHAM College at Open Day & Twilight Market!

We are thrilled to invite families to ELTHAM College’s Open Day on Friday 28 February, 4.00pm to 6.30pm. If you know someone considering an ELTHAM education, this is a fantastic opportunity for them to explore our vibrant community, meet our passionate educators, and discover the unique opportunities we offer.

In true ELTHAM spirit, guests can design their own adventure!

• Meeting Principal, Richard Lisle, at his scheduled presentations
• Roaming the campus and visiting interactive classrooms
• Engaging in teacher and student-led activities

Following Open Day, the excitement continues with our Twilight Market, 5.00pm to 8.30pm. A family-friendly event open to all! Bring a picnic rug, relax on the lawn, and enjoy entertainment on the main stage.

 Family Fun for Everyone!

• Giant games, roving entertainment, and kids' activities including Scouts and Cricket
• Food stalls, local market vendors, and community connections
• Live music and performances to cap off a wonderful evening

Come along and experience the warmth and energy of our ELTHAM College community!

Book club is back in 2025 with the first meeting of A Novel Bunch coming up on Monday 10 February at 7.30pm in the Senior School Library. If you've been thinking about joining us, now's the time. New members are always welcome. We will be discussing "Small Things Like These" by Claire Keegan. If you've read the book or seen the movie, come along and share your thoughts ... or share with us what you were reading over the summer. A Novel Bunch is the ELTHAM community book club open to parents, carers and staff from every year level. If you have any questions, please get in touch and RSVP to ecca@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au.

Monday 10 February
Monday 24 March
Monday 12 May
Monday 28 July
Monday 1 September
Monday 20 October
Monday 1 December

Felicia Pellegrino and Jacqui Ward
A Novel Bunch Coordinators