Around the Grounds: Term 2, Let's Go.
To RSVP: End of an era, calling all Year 12 Parents. Crittenden Wines invites you to relax, catch up and reminisce.
To Watch: TEP Talk about Getting Outside, by Grace in Year 6 at Minimbah.
To Celebrate: Mothers and Special Ladies. Come one, come all — Mother's Day Out is on May 7, make sure you grab your spot.
To Know: The photo above is even better when you see the whole thing.
To Read: James Clapham's 'Learning Compassion Through Crisis'
What are they TEP TALKING about?
We’ve heard of TED Talks (Technology, Entertainment and Design — though they’ve long outgrown those beginnings), their purpose being to change the world through the power of ideas. So what are Minimbah’s TEPTalks? Teaching and Exploring Passions, and they share the same purpose.
‘On the surface, you could describe them as oral presentations. But to anyone who has seen a student step onto that stage, it’s clear they’re so much more,’ says Jonno Crouch, Year 6 teacher. ‘TEP Talks are a true challenge and not just the academic kind, but a personal one as well. We ask students to stand in front of their peers, which for many is already a leap of courage. Then we place a microphone in their hands, light up the room with spotlights, and surround them with cameras.’
After all that, they’re invited to speak about something that matters deeply to them. Something they love, something they struggle with or simply something that affects who they are. If you can remember what it feels like to be twelve, you can imagine how hard that is.
The best part, though, is that students discover more about themselves and more about each other. ‘The bonds formed on that stage ripple through the year and beyond.’ The moment a student begins, their peers lift them. They cheer, they listen, they celebrate the bravery it takes to share a piece of yourself out loud.
There is something unforgettable about watching a student walk onto that stage trembling and float off moments later, carried by pride, relief and a burst of endorphins. ‘Those quiet triumphs are what make TEP Talks worth every nerve.’
The bonds formed on that stage ripple through the year and beyond.
To Watch
TEP Talk by Grace in Year 6 at Minimbah.
Harmony Day Picnic
It was such a pleasure to see our extended Woodleigh community gathered once again. It was a cold night, but a relaxing one; chatting, sharing food, dancing, singing and enjoying being together.
'In a world where conflict and division can often dominate the headlines, it is important to return to what unites us, our shared humanity.'
Thank you to everyone who came along to support this special Harmony Day event, which was originally branded the International Day for the Elimination of Racism. A massive thank you to our performers, including all of the children, Amadou Suso, Tumbarumba, IOP and our very own Hughie R from Year 5. Your contributions made the evening truly memorable.
As students and staff arrived for school on the Friday after the Harmony Day Picnic, the warmth of the evening lingered.
To Celebrate
Mothers and Special Ladies. Come one, come all — Mother's Day Out is on May 7, make sure you grab your spot.
Taking the Title
It was a big weekend on the bay for the Woodleigh Sailing Team. They took out the Victorian School Teams Sailing Championship at St Kilda, sailing consistently across the weekend, finishing third overall to secure a spot in the finals. They knocked out Geelong Grammar in the quarter-final, cruised past Brighton Grammar in the semi-final and delivered a clean 3–0 win against Peninsula Grammar to take the title.
A huge well done to coaches Will and Digby (Y12, 2025) and to our sailors Lucy, Leigh, Sofia, Mia, Archie, Mavis, Lachie and Bibi. Special mention to Leigh (Y11), who stepped into an on‑water coaching role across the weekend — his calm direction and racing smarts made a real difference. The win now sees the team qualify for the National Championships in Hobart this July. What a result.
To Read
James Clapham's 'Learning Compassion Through Crisis'
Community Connections
We are very proud to share that, as a community, we have raised an incredible $11,555 to support flood-affected community members in Wugularr. As you know, our 17-year partnership has been built on trust, respect and friendship. We send our very best wishes to the Wugularr students and their families as they begin rebuilding after the recent flooding. At present, Wugularr School remains set up as a flood shelter for affected students and families. If you would like to contribute further to recovery efforts, please click here.
We are especially grateful to Molly in Year 5 and her family, who generously harvested a beautiful selection of flowers from their garden as part of a fundraising effort. Molly raised an additional $315, an inspiring reminder of the power of small actions to make a meaningful difference.
Andy Khoza, Head of Penbank Campus.
To RSVP
Year 12 Parent Dinner
Flying High at Penbank
Here it is, the photo in full.
...Told you.
Big Ideas Brought to Life
Years 1 and 2 Minimbah students have been exploring How the World Works, learning about the services that help communities thrive. They went on an excursion to Frankston City, spotting community services in action, before heading back to school to design their own cities in 2D and 3D.
An incursion with OG Cool Kids helped deepen their interest in and understanding of inclusive communities, and links to mathematics — through mapping, shape, and spatial reasoning — were the foundation of their city designs.
It has been wonderful to see students thinking like designers, problem‑solvers, and active citizens as they build their understanding of how the world works.
Not To Be Outdone
The senior students have been busy, too, you know.
There was Homestead Athletics at the end of last term; it was very competitive. Then it was an all-out tug-of-war.
Homestead 2 was victorious!
Uke Can Do it.
Uke can definitely do it under the steady guidance of Dave Colcott. Now well into its second decade, Dave’s Ukulele Project invites students to trust the process (and their hands), tackling a complex build that blends craftsmanship, problem‑solving and personal expression. From recycled and unexpected materials to beautifully considered designs, no two instruments are the same. What begins as timber and tools ends in something far richer: confidence, persistence and the sound of students playing something they made themselves.
In fact, Australian Wood Review has written all about it. See below!
An Argument for Joining the Debate Team
The DAV debating season kicked off at the end of last term with outstanding results. Both C-Grade teams recorded convincing wins, with Team 1 winning by a six‑point margin (this is a big deal in the debating world). Our A-Grade team narrowly went down in a close debate after a disrupted start to the year, with Maeve Chadwick and Elle Howe stepping in at the eleventh hour - and already proving invaluable.
Both D-grade teams claimed victories and were full of energy after their debates. Isaac, Xavier and Matilda were all awarded Best Speaker honours. Go Woodleigh.
And if that wasn't impressive enough, they'd all been at Athletics during the day. Talk about multi-skilled young people. A huge effort — well done to all of you. And thankyou to Ms Marney Pope, leader of the pack.
Until we go Around the Grounds again next time...
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