Contents
- Important dates
- WOMAD
- OES Wilsons Promontory
- VCE Art
- Motion Media
- Japanese student homestays
- Sports report
- Careers news
- Easter egg hunt
- Community notices
Important dates
- Term Two: 29th April - 27th June
- Term Three: 21st of July - 18th September
- Term Four: 7th October - 12th December
WOMAD
It was a long 9 hours of… fun actually, as we stopped every so often, a tense feeling of anticipation coiled in our stomachs. We passed the time with olden day devices such as UNO and books, materials unfamiliar to most. When we finally reached our destination we were first off the bus, ready to embrace the fresh air. We were put to work while everyone else was still huddled on the bus. We unloaded the suitcases in a human chain. As we lugged our bags up the never ending stairs (really it was only two levels) we all wished for different circumstances, aka a lift. Finally, we found our designated rooms, sighing in triumph as we claimed our respective bunks, lockers, and ground space before we dragged our tired feet to the common room. We waited in hungry silence for the pizza, the teacher’s ambient chatter drowning out the sound of our grumbling stomachs. The next morning I woke up and checked the clock. It was 6:30 am. Before we even reached the markets my feet hurt, but as we shopped for our lunch my feet were soon forgotten. We danced and skipped around finding cheaper prices to compare, taking snapshots of time with my camera, the storage filling up quickly. Before even getting to the festival, we had to walk to the picnic spot and OP shop, then finally the actual destination. The acknowledgement is seemingly a welcome to not just the country, but to us for the next four days of music, dance, and food. In groups we scouted for food from new continents, not yet explored by our tastebuds. That day we were circling around to new places, exploring every inch of the energetic festival. Between that and laying low at home base, we walked ourselves to the bone, even more than on any of our hiking camps. Around the festival, we were surrounded by friendly faces, and each day we saw a variety of performances. On Saturday we got to see unknown, but still amazing performers like BARKAA, to massive acts like Grace Jones that bring in a massive crowd, almost as big as when Florence and the Machine came! As well as compulsory acts that ranged from amazing, energy mixing DJs to slow instrumentals. One of the other aspects that was so amazing about those days was the amazing food and drink on offer, such as fresh coconuts and watermelon slurpees. With food from every continent, it made the festival feel welcoming and explorative through all the senses. The market was also somewhere that all of us went. If it was for henna or bracelets, it was again another place that was like a completely different mini world inside of one. We also kept seeing more and more amazing acts. Sunday’s headliner was Baker Boy. We had the most amazing experience of getting to not only see him, but be almost front row for his incredible performance. Also, afterwards everyone got to get something signed by him plus photos! One of the days was a test to manage our time, as two of the acts we wanted to see were at the same time, Bad Bad Not Good and Arrested Development. As we were sitting in wait for Bad Bad Not Good, in preparation people were playing UNO and touching up makeup. When it started we stood only to have our whole view blocked by tall strangers, as we tried to vibe to the music, those factors made it hard. We left soon after to go to Arrested Development to secure a spot. We thought there would be heaps of space. However, there were people lined up waiting, sitting on rugs and chairs brought from home. Earlier that day we also saw musicians like Cuban jazz artist Roberto Fonseca and the Samoan artist Blinky Bill. The night before we prepped to pack and stayed up late, but the morning of our leave still felt rushed and frenzied compared to the rhythm of WOMAD that we had gotten used to. On the bus we slept awaiting our arrival home to sleep in our own beds. On this trip we looked at collections on cameras, digital evidence of the weekend, good and bad. Crazy and lazy. All of it was stored on these ancient devices so our minds could drift into a light daze until we reached our destination. By Miwa Katsuragi and Seraphina Ferguson, Year 9.
Slideshow by Xanthe Berger, Freya Trikojus, Maggie Falloon and Hope Warlow, Year 9.
OES Wilsons Promontory
For our second last OES trip of our Alice Miller schooling career, the 3/4 OES class was fortunate enough to spend a week down in Wilsons Promontory (about 3 hours away). Home to iconic landmarks such as Squeaky Beach, the Wilsons Prom lighthouse and the Tidal River Campground, the Prom offers many popular tourist attractions that reel in hundreds of thousands of tourists per year. The main aim of the ‘field trip’ (as Andy called it) was to study the various relationships between different populations over progressive time periods, and also the different characteristics of the Prom that made it a unique, biological sanctuary within Victoria.
Luckily, we had pretty good weather throughout the 5-day stretch which let us cruise through the walking trails as we looked out from the mountains and into the pristine beaches and waters that surrounded us. The beaches were soooo pristine, but unfortunately we weren’t really permitted to have a proper swim. Despite that, we still managed to enjoy going on strolls along the coastline in the evening and treating ourselves to some cheeky night time smores (courtesy of none other than Matias). On the last day, we were lucky enough to undergo a 2-hour surf lesson taught by Andy’s old friend, Ash, during the sunset. Finally being able to go in the water after 3 days of ~17km hikes definitely ended the trip on a highlight. Later that night, we clashed with a rogue wombat that tried to take our dinner and rummage through our tents, trying to find any food it could get its claws on. We want to give a huge shoutout to Andy and Ari for taking us on such an amazing field trip, and enduring the number of times we said ‘bro’ throughout.
By Li Sugimoto, Year 12.
VCE Art
A Window into the World of Art
This term, VCE Art students indulged in an enriching gallery excursion. The visit complemented their current study, offering students firsthand exposure to a diverse range of exhibitions and artistic voices. Moving through several major exhibition spaces, at both NGV Australia and International, students observed works spanning installation, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and mixed media — encountering the full breadth of art-making in a single day. A particularly useful component of the visit was the opportunity to view the folios of former students whose works have been selected for this year's prestigious Top Arts exhibition. These folios, which document the full creative journey from initial concept to finished artwork, gave students an invaluable behind-the-scenes look at the sustained investigation process required at the highest levels of VCE study. The Top Arts exhibition was an enriching experience as well. Seeing how last year's top-performing students developed their ideas — navigating dead ends, experimenting boldly, and refining their visual language across months of sustained work — was both inspiring and instructive. "The folios and the Top Arts exhibition were very inspiring. This has certainly given me new ideas to explore and motivated me to expand my creative practice." – Audrey, Year 11. Across the various other exhibitions, students engaged deeply with how social, historical, and cultural contexts are constructed and conveyed through artistic practice. From works that questioned contemporary identity to pieces rooted in historical memory and cultural heritage, the exhibitions showed the remarkable power of art to communicate ideas that transcend language and time. Students were encouraged to consider not just what artworks depict, but how meaning is built - through the manipulation of materials and media. "It was fascinating to see how a similar subject can be used so differently by different artists and how that changes the ideas and issues being presented through their art." – Amber, Year 12. It was good to see a high level of student engagement, with students filling their worksheets with notes, and reflections that will feed directly into their own studio investigations this semester.
By Manan Walia, Art.
Motion Media
In Motion Media this term, Cindy has learned how to operate an SLR or mirrorless camera with manual focus and exposure settings. She has been focusing on photographing plants and has been influenced by botanical illustrations. Many of Cindy's photographs require prolonged exposures. She has been working with a Lumix G9 Camera, a Leica 60-120mm Lens, a tripod and a cable release.
By Dave Vertigan, Motion Media.
Photos by Cindy Qu, Year 9.
Japanese student homestays
The Japanese students spent eight nights with their Australian host families, who did an outstanding job of sharing their homes, lives, and a few special adventures with their visitors. It was awesome to see the range and diversity of activities that were offered throughout the week; from fairy bread and Tims Tams for afternoon tea at Alice Miller, to Chicken Parma at the Macedon Hotel, to juicy melons and grapes and berries, to coleslaw, pavlova, and chocolate sponge cake at a celebratory BBQ. From spotting boxing kangaroos in a farm paddock, to chasing them in farm vehicles, to tasting them at a BBQ by the beach. Chocolate factories, surf shops, and surfing lessons. Cricket in Macedon. Footy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A League soccer. Dance classes and music lessons. Karate demonstrations. Flying foxes at Yarra Bend. Penguins at St Kilda. Healesville Sanctuary. Luna Park. Hosier Lane. The Eureka Tower. The perfectly timed arrival of an Ambulance Victoria helicopter at an Aireys Inlet park, and the opportunity to sit in the cockpit. The Yarra River. The Goulburn River. Packed lunches. Whip cracking. Ultimate frisbee with Candlebark kids, followed by a walk along the creek, holding hands with the Preps. An afternoon visit to the Camels Hump. A heart-warming farewell feast in Kyneton. The Japanese students had an absolute ball in Australia, and many are keen to return again. A highlight of the week was the Thursday evening farewell feast at Susie, Chris, and Alice's lovely home in Kyneton. It filled us with pride to see families from our school and local community taking such great care of their guests, and in doing so, returning the same kindness and generosity that Japanese families have extended to Alice Miller Big Trip students over the past couple of years. This gathering captured the joy of this special relationship brilliantly, and it was a delightful end to a fun and rewarding week of adventures. A massive thanks to the Alice Miller families who hosted a student (or two) in 2026. We think you are all outstanding ambassadors for our school and local community. By Sam Ford, Outdoor Education Coordinator.
Sports report
In the words of the late, great Australian icon Dennis Cometti, the Term 1 sports program at Alice Miller was centre-metre-perfect. It all started with more cricket than you could swing a bat at, with teams representing Years 7 and 8, Years 9 and 10, and Years 11 and 12 plying their trade with the willow and cork against some of the finest young athletes the Macedon Ranges has to offer. Anthony, now a veteran of Alice Miller, put on a dazzling display for the senior team, reaching eighty not out in half as many balls, with a swashbuckling style reminiscent of the game’s greats: Tendulkar, Lara, Sharples—those names that reverberate eternally amongst the annals of history. Meanwhile, the junior team, led by the heir apparent to the Bradman Empire, Coach Will, faced bouncers, doosras, and controversy on their road to victory. With Alice Miller chasing twenty remaining runs with almost a full slate of wickets in hand, the opposition team made the now-infamous decision to lay down their whites and board their bus back to school, leaving the handful of people in attendance with one question: Who won? Much like Trevor Chappell’s underarm incident in 1981, public outrage in the weeks that followed prompted a rule change that will alter the format forever. From here on out, we will rely on the Maths Department to implement the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method to ensure fair play. The team's Co-Captains, Max and Ishaan, issued a public statement thanking Bettina for her service (and asking Adrian where he keeps his sandpaper). Keeping with the theme of the Australian sporting summer, our students made their way from the pitch to the pool, competing in the annual interschool swimming event at Melton Waves. Maddie, Eliza, and Jethro sliced through the water on their path to the podium. Year 12s, Felix and Bailey, stalwarts of the Candlebark to Alice Miller sporting pipeline, and fledglings of the Cam Kerr coaching tree, made a splash on the competition that I can only describe as unexpected. With limited experience and a complete misunderstanding of the event (they heard “pool” and thought they were partaking in a snooker tournament), the boys both emerged from the water with ribbons in hand. Bailey placed third in backstroke, and Felix pipped the silver in freestyle. When questioned by the media about their key to success, they noted that he had watched Finding Nemo the night before the competition and adopted the mantra, “Just keep swimming.” Next, our Year 9 and 10 students took to the synthetic turf, tennis racquets and backward caps in tow, inspired by the Pickleball and ping pong pandemonium that has taken the school by storm during lunchtimes. While they didn’t take the chocolates at the Sunbury Open, they did take the chocolates from the Alice Miller snack cupboard—all of them. Days later, the same cohorts set, dug, and spiked their way into the hearts and minds of those present at Cobblebank Stadium for the volleyball tournament, as did their Year 11 and 12 compatriots. Leo, Captain of the senior girls’ team, was a puppet master with the polyester, applying her prowess to place her peers in prime scoring positions. Legend has it that one of her signature skyballs is still making its way down into the Earth’s atmosphere, with local scientists Matt and Conan closely observing the flying object for impact and potential damage. As I write this, our orienteers from Years 8 to 11 are preparing for the Victorian Urban Orienteering Sprint Championships at RMIT, Bundoora, in the last week of term, led by Victorian orienteering state-representative and champion, Charles, in Year 11. On the note of outstanding individual sporting achievements, it would be remiss of me not to mention the amazing work of Lewis in Year 9, who is currently in Spain training with SD Huesca, a professional Spanish football club. Que bueno! Lewis was selected not only for his impressive soccer skills but also for his exemplary leadership qualities, resilience and determination, and affable demeanour. From all of us at Alice Miller, congratulations, Lewis—it shouldn’t be understated what a mammoth accomplishment this is. Thank you to everyone—parents, staff, and most importantly, students—who were involved in making the sports program what it was for Term 1. I say this each time I write these reports, but it’s true: We couldn’t do it without all of you. The Term 2 sports program is right around the corner. To finish with another great Cometti one-liner, it is sneaking up behind us like a librarian! I look forward to reporting on all the mischief and mayhem.
By Conor Dimasi, Sports Coordinator.
Careers news
Tern One has flown by, and our young people continue to grow and amaze us. Looking to the future has been in focus, especially for our Year 10s and 12s this term, with Terms 2 and 3 being more focused on the Year 11s. Year 10s have been planning for Work Experience and starting to think about VCE subject selection. There are some exciting work placement applications underway, and we very much look forward to corresponding with students during their placements in Term 3. In the meantime, students are completing workplace safety training and online surveys about their course interests, in preparation for individual subject selection meetings scheduled for Term 2. Many Year 12s are starting to think about direct entry early tertiary applications, and have this week been provided with information about the process and key dates. They no doubt will be mulling over the details during the Autumn break, and come back with questions and requests for further information.
On the 1st of May, we look forward to accompanying all Year 10, 11 and 12 students in attending the VCE and Careers Expo 2026 at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
If you haven't seen our careers website, I encourage you to have a look; there are many excellent resources for all year levels, including free careers and employment skills online short courses, careers survey tools, articles, and tertiary pathways information.
For further information and career queries, please contact our careers coordinator, Jinari Mountain.
Easter egg hunt
Community notices
Free events for teens in holidays at SIGNAL - City of Melbourne
SIGNAL is a creative studio for young people 14 to 25 years providing a space for exploration, creation and presentation. It offers young people the opportunity to work alongside professional artists through multi-artform workshops and mentoring. Click on the links below to see some of the free workshops available these holidays.