Contents
- Important Dates
- Year 7 Trip
- VCE OES Snow Trip
- Year 7/8 Woodwork
- Year 10 Work Experience
- VCE Visit to French Impressionism at the NGV
- VCE OES Tree Planting at Hanging Rock
- Year 12 French Immersion
- Year 12 Chemistry
- Music at Alice Miller
- Sports Report
- The Morning Meeting
- John's Memorial Video
- Community Notices
2025 Term Dates
- Term Four: 7th October - 12th December
2026 Dates
- Term One: 29th January - 1st April
- Term Two: 21st April - 26th June
- Term Three: 20th July - 24th September
- Term Four: 13th October - 17th December
Year 7 Trip
This year’s Year 7 Trip took students on a journey from Macedon to Mildura, Dimboola, Robe, Port Fairy, and back home again. Along the way, they explored Lake Mungo National Park, Budj Bim Indigenous Aqua Culture Park, whale watching, tested their skills at mini golf and the pinball parlour, and let off steam on the dodge 'em cars. As they travelled, students were asked to reflect on their experiences through daily writing, with a special focus on poetry. The following poems offer a glimpse into their adventures, the places they visited, the moments they shared, and the impressions that stayed with them.
Madeline Mather, Year 7 Coordinator.
In late August, our VCE Units 1 & 2 Outdoor and Environmental Studies class headed to the stunning Bogong High Plains for a week of cross-country skiing. We embraced alpine life with energy and enthusiasm, kicking off the trip under glorious sunshine and clear skies, perfect conditions for exploring the snow-covered landscape, practising ski techniques, and soaking in panoramic views.
Our group was fortunate to stay at the historic Rover Chalet, nestled deep in the alpine wilderness. With its rustic charm and warm communal spaces, the chalet provided an ideal base for backcountry adventures and reflective learning. As part of our ski tours, we visited Cope Hut and Wallace Hut, two iconic alpine shelters that offered a glimpse into the region’s history and a welcome break from the elements. We also enjoyed finding some slopes to practice our newfound skiing skills.
Later in the week, conditions became more challenging, prompting an early departure from the chalet. Gusty winds, fresh falling snow, and graupel, an icy type of fine hail, tested our resilience and teamwork on the ski back to the bus. Students rose to the occasion with grit and good humour, supporting one another through the changing weather.
To round out the experience, we spent time in Mount Beauty, enjoying some truly amazing accommodation that offered comfort, hot showers, and well-earned rest after our time on the high plains. A heartfelt thank you to the Rover Chalet; to Arby for hosting us in Mount Beauty at the last minute; and to Emily Moore for her invaluable expertise throughout the trip.
Andy Ellis, Outdoor Education.
Year 10 Work Experience
In week two of term 3, the Year 10 students went on work experience, where each student finds a placement in the workforce. I was fortunate enough to secure a placement at The World Bank in Sydney, where I spent the week. The World Bank is an international organisation established after WWII to provide low or no-interest loans to developing countries. While I was there, I was shown the Pacific portfolio, which involves countries such as Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The World Bank operates under five main broad categories: People, Planet, Prosperity, Infrastructure, and Digital Transformation, each encompassing more specific areas. During my time there, I had the chance to meet various specialists who explained their roles within the World Bank and the different career paths available. I also saw projects that often go unnoticed or are underestimated because we tend to take them for granted here in Australia. Working at the World Bank taught me a lot about the positive organisations in the world that are dedicated to helping improve society and how development works globally.
Leo Crawshaw, Year 10.
VCE visit to French Impressionism at the NGV
VCE French and Art students recently had the opportunity to immerse themselves in French culture and history during an excursion to the Impressionism exhibition at the NGV. The visit was designed to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences of art, language, and culture, offering students a deeper understanding of France’s cultural heritage.
A highlight of the visit for the French language students was the focus on the often-overlooked contributions of women artists within the Impressionist movement. Students learned about figures such as Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt, who challenged the limitations of their era and carved a place for themselves in the male-dominated art world. Their works not only demonstrated technical brilliance but also offered new perspectives on themes such as domestic life, motherhood, and the social roles of women.
The experience encouraged students to reflect on how Impressionism captured the changing values of French society, from shifts in urban life to evolving roles for women.
For the Art students, the excursion was an invaluable opportunity to see firsthand how Impressionism broke away from tradition and forever changed the course of modern art. They learnt that Impressionism, which began in France in the late 19th century, was revolutionary because it challenged the academic conventions of the time. Artists sought to represent the world as they experienced it, often painting outdoors to directly capture changes in light and weather. This departure from rigid academic styles opened the door to new ways of seeing and representing reality, inspiring later movements such as Post-Impressionism and Expressionism.
The visit was both educational and inspiring. It deepened students’ understanding of Impressionism’s role in shaping modern art and helped them see why the movement remains so influential today.
Manan Walia, Art.
VCE OES Tree Planting at Hanging Rock
As part of VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies, students planted native species at Hanging Rock, restoring habitat, deepening ecological understanding, and contributing to long-term conservation in a culturally significant landscape.
Year 12 French Immersion
The Year 12 French students spent four days in language immersion in week 8 of the term. They were fabulous and very comfortable with the language. The students immersed themselves in French conversation. Our camp study topic in 2025 centred on Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun, the celebrated painter of Marie-Antoinette, the history of the art in France, and the history of women artists in this history of art. The camp was a great follow up to our excursion to the NGV and to the French Impressionism exposition.
Christine Mathieu, Humanities and Languages.
Year 12 Chemistry
This term, Year 12 Chemistry students completed their student investigations. This involved designing and conducting an experiment and presenting the results as a scientific poster. Our students investigated interesting topics, including the extraction and processing of aspirin precursor chemicals from willow and birch, the effect of pH on the extraction of caffeine from Red Bull, and the denaturation of peroxidase enzymes with acids and bases.
Conan O'Brien, Maths and Science.
Music at Alice Miller
On Tuesday the 16th of September we were fortunate to have a group of ten musicians from Preshil (a school in Melbourne) come to Alice Miller to play music with ten musicians from our school.
This was an exceptional day of music-making and laughter. The linked videos say it all!
Taran Carter, Music Coordinator.
Sports Report
The ever-bustling Alice Miller sports calendar saw no relief for Term 3, jam-packed with enough balls, bats, and body mechanics to bring a tear to the eye of any hardened PE veteran—or the parents of the competitors, tasked with accommodating early rises, late finishes, and a dynamism likened only to Victoria’s weather forecast.
Of particular note this term was the Regional Table Tennis Finals, held on a dreary Wednesday in August on the Surf Coast, or as the locals refer to it, the Ping Pong Peninsula. Our team, comprised of Year 12 veterans Rook, Scarlett, Issy, Cosi, and Tristan, and the raucous rookies from Year 11, Zavier and Cadel, breezed past their opponents during the divisional round of competition. Some may equate this to the fact that the boys’ team only had to face one other adversary, and the girls’ team one less than that. However, keen observers of the school-sporting landscape of the Macedon Ranges will recognise the impact of the newly constructed outdoor table tennis tables at Alice Miller, a burning beacon for those who pray to the paddle, like moths to a flame. While our team entered the day wide-eyed and wondrous, they left weary but wiser, learning many lessons on the day, foremost being that table tennis is much like a skyscraper—there are levels to it. Just ask Cadel and Zavier, who came up against a top-ranked national player, who cut through the competition like a fearless musketeer, despite being at least five years younger than all other competitors. He could barely see over the table, but stood taller than all in the Geelong Table Tennis Centre that day.
Speaking of David vs. Goliath escapades, the Alice Miller athletics team plied their trade against schools from the Western Ranges Secondary Division, comprised of athletes who had taken the chocolates at their various school carnivals—the best of the best. Comparatively, our participants earned their way onto the team through a half-scribbled name on a piece of paper (often done by a friend of theirs). While our selection process may not be as rigorous or conventional, the results speak for themselves. On the day, we had close to forty competitors, almost twenty first, second, or third place-getters, and more fun than the rest of the schools put together. Some broke records; others made memories to last a lifetime. Lachie is unlikely to forget his last interschool athletics carnival, thanks to Chae, Albert, and Henry in Year 9, who joined forces to participate in the 20-year men’s 4 x 100m relay… in long dresses and wigs. Other standouts on the day include Essie, who won the high jump, triple jump, and 1500m, while also coming second in the 3000m; Ethan, who won the 3000m and 1500m; Eva and Hyguo, who both won javelin; and Mia, who left the competition in a spin, winning her discus event. These young athletes have secured their spot in the Regional Finals and will face off at the Moonee Valley Athletics Centre in Term 4 for a chance to compete at the state level.
Additionally, our Year 9/10 and Year 11/12 netballers fought tooth and nail on the hallowed hardwoods of Cobblebank Stadium, narrowly missing out on finals appearances—a remarkable effort considering many of them learned the rules while playing for the first time. On that note, I would be remiss not to thank Gigi and Issy, veteran netballers who have shared their love and knowledge of the game with their younger contemporaries for years now, leading from the front like a Goal Attack finding open space. I’m sure the competition will not be the same without them in 2026. Our Year 9/10 soccer and basketball teams took to their respective round ball sports like fish to water—or Alice Miller students to new experiences. That is to say, they tried their hearts out, profusely thanked those involved afterwards, and gorged their way through Cheds, muesli bars, and whatever other carbohydrates they could locate. Our younger students followed suit. The Year 8 girls’ volleyball team set, dug, and spiked their way to victory (or at least to a good time). Meanwhile, the Year 7 boys’ basketball team overcame all odds to etch a line in the win column. A massive shoutout to our Coach of the Year, Bailey, and his Candlebark recruits, Ryder and Rainer, who left their comfort zones to join Alice Miller for a day and play alongside their future peers—we’ll have you any day.
Finally, I’d like to give a massive congratulations (and a minor “Are you okay?”) to Essie, who competed in the Surf Coast Century this term, running 100km in fifteen hours and forty minutes—a remarkable effort, and one hell of a way to spend a Saturday. For reference, you could watch all three director's editions of The Lord of the Rings movies, and still have space for most of the Hobbit films in this time. I can’t overstate what an impressive feat this is, and how perfectly it encapsulates Essie as a person: equal parts courageous, resilient, determined, and above all else, amazing. What a treat it is to be able to watch such breathtaking endeavours from our students.
Thank you to everyone who had a part in delivering the sports program this term. Whether you competed, coached, cooked meals, or couriered students, it wouldn’t have been possible without you.
Conor Dimasi, Sports Coordinator.
The Morning Meeting
The morning meetings this term have been dominated by students, ranging from the heartfelt to the ridiculous. There was fundraising, there was awareness raising, there was eyebrow raising. There were student films, musical performances and twister with a twist. Students braved the morning meeting stage to present their English oral presentations, their astronomy presentations, their French presentations, or their road-trip poetry. Beyond sharing their talents and ideas, students also took the lead in making meaningful decisions about giving.
Alice Miller and Candlebark fetes don't raise money for the school; they raise money that students allocate to charities of their choice. Throughout the year, students will present at a morning meeting to advocate for a charity, often one that they have a personal connection with. This term, students allocated the funds by placing a "magic bean" into a bucket for their chosen charity. The fete funds will be allocated pro rata to these charities.
As always, the creativity and compassion on display set the tone for what’s to come. Calling all students with interesting hobbies, hidden passions or noble causes to present at the Morning Meeting in Term 4!
Conan O'Brien, Maths & Science.
John's Memorial Video
John's celebration at the Melbourne Town Hall, filmed by the Alice Miller Media students and edited by Daisy McCrum Canny of Year 9, is now available on YouTube. If you were there on the day, we hope you enjoy watching the speeches and performances once again. Please feel free to share this with those who weren't able to be there. Thank you to Dave Vertigan for his guidance of the Media students in this important project.
Once again, thank you to the wonderful people who made this day possible, with particular mention to John's family and our MC, Sammy J. It was everything we hoped it would be.
Community Notices
Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, is a fast-paced, hilarious play that reimagines the story of a famous boy wizard���from the perspective of the overlooked and underdog students in the 'Puffs' house. Across seven chaotic years, this heartwarming comedy follows Wayne and his misfit friends as they navigate spells, dangers, and growing up, proving that being third place isn't so bad after all. Perfect for wizards and non-wizards alike, Puffs is a magical and charming celebration of friendship, bravery, and finding where you belong.
Friday night performances start at 7.30 pm
Saturday and Sunday performances start at 2 pm.
(There is NO Saturday night performance for this production.)
Opening Night Friday, November 7th, 9 performances over 3 weekends,
closes Sunday, November 23rd.
PUFFS CAST (in no particular order):
Wayne Winzar - Narrator
Kevin McGeechan - Oliver
Nathanial Calleja - Wayne
Maggie Falloon - Megan
Eve Cannon - Hannah
Benjamin Cudmore - Cedric, Mr. Voldy
Tahli McGregor - Harry
Banjo Ford - J Finch, Uncle Dave
Leni O’Sullivan-Snow - Leanne, Ginny
Martha Bobetic - Sally Perks
Molly Hindson - Susie Bones
Aiden Holder - Goyle, Fat Friar, Clumsy Longbottom, Mr. Bagman, Colin
Jemima Spring - Frenchy, Mermaid, Professor McG, Xavia Jones
Xanthe Berger - Sal, 1st Headmaster, Real Mr. Moody, Anthony Goldstein, Professor Turban, Hermoone #3
Zara Wright - Ernie Mac, Hermoone #2, Ric Gryff, Scorpy
Darcy Baird - Seamus, A Certain Potions Teacher, 2nd Headmaster
Hayley Elliott - Hermoone #1, Blondo Malfoy, Bibby, Rowena, Rita Scooter
Cohen Constable - Death Buddy #1, A Very Tall Man, Professor Locky, Mr Nick, Viktor, Zach Smith
Caity Richards - Professor Lanny, Runes Teacher, Ms Babble, Professor Sprouty, Mrytle, Ghost History Teacher, Helga, Dragon