Around the Grounds: Celebrations

To Read: 'The number one issue facing young Victorians is...' Three Year 12 students, in their own words. 
To Celebrate: Last tickets! Mothers and Special Ladies. Come one, come all — Mother's Day Out is on May 7, make sure you grab your spot. 
To Know: Archibald Packing Room Prize winner Sean Lahy's portrait is of 2009 Woodleigh Graduate Jacob Collins.
To Keep Track: City Bound comes to an end today for our Year 9 students, but Hattah has only just begun for our Year 10s (at 4 am this morning, btw)

City Bound: The Wrap Up.

Word on the street: 'It's been low-key interesting'



It's a raving testimonial. They are fifteen. 



A Mosque, The Magistrates' Court, The Big Issue HQ, a refugee and an ex-gambler's incredible life stories and more - Year 9 have spent seven full days in the city, some tight schedules and some free range wandering.  They've seen corners of their own city that they may not otherwise set foot in. A shared city contains multitudes. And a giant city intersection can be more death-defying than dangling from Arapiles when you grow up on the Peninsula.

Understanding the realities of other people's lives is essential work for young people in the middle of forming who they are and figuring out what they're for. You can't build a sense of purpose in a bubble.
Understanding people and life is low-key interesting. They're right.

To Celebrate
Last tickets — Mother's Day Out is on May 7, make sure you grab your spot. 

Maxine Beneba Clarke

Maxine Beneba Clarke is an acclaimed Australian author, poet and illustrator whose work explores marginalisation, identity and race. This week, she visited our Year 12s, speaking with them about her life, her writing and the significance of understanding our own personal histories when crafting stories. You could hear a pin drop.

As part of our Year 12 study of the VCE English Framework, Country, students had the invaluable opportunity to engage directly with the author of The Hate Race, a mentor text they are currently studying. Maxine offered practical, generous advice on writing with intention, sharing clear strategies for planning, drafting and editing in preparation for their upcoming assessment. Her warmth, honesty and extraordinary talent left a lasting impression, inspiring students to see writing not just as an academic task but as a meaningful act of personal expression.

Maxine’s work features regularly in the English curriculum, and we were fortunate to welcome her to Woodleigh.

Belonging to Something Bigger: Art at Penbank

This one is a little late to appear here, but only because we needed the right photos - because, look. 

Foundation to Year 6 students at Penbank created a collaborative clay installation celebrating identity and belonging. Inspired by ceramic artist Vicki Comrie Moore, each student made a 'mini‑me' figure to represent themselves and they are something to behold. While every figure stands as a unique expression, together they form a connected community.

The installation highlights how individual choices contribute to a shared outcome — a visual reminder that our differences matter and our connection brings us together.

Thanks to Kiri for making this happen. More from the Penbank artroom next week (and it's just as glorious).

Archibald Packing Room prize 2026 - a portrait of one of our own!

The Archibald Packing Room Prize 2026 has been awarded to Sean Layh for his portrait of Woodleigh alumnus Jacob Collins.

Jacob graduated in 2009, and in his post-Woodleigh life, he is known for television roles including The White Princess, Young Wallander, The Witcher: Blood Origin, and True History of the Kelly Gang. Layh first met Jacob after seeing him perform Hamlet in Melbourne in 2024.

Layh’s prize‑winning portrait depicts 'Jacob in his craft, portraying one of Western literature and theatre’s most mercurial characters in Hamlet.'

Anzac Day

Congratulations, Ella!

To Read
'The number one issue facing young Victorians is...' In their own words. 

Until we go Around the Grounds again...