Around the Grounds: Let's Hear It For Cake

To Register: Threads of Belonging 2027, Artist Registrations and Bursary Applications are NOW OPEN! 
To RSVP: Woodleigh Arts Festival Opening and Showcase Monday 12 October at 6pm
To Put In The Diary: Threads of Belonging Opening Night: Friday 12 February 2027 at 7pm
Did You Know: Threads of Belonging is the first exhibition of its kind in an Australian school, and every A5 artwork sells for the same $150, so you choose the piece, not the name.

To RegisterThreads of Belonging 2027

And Then There Was Cake.

Happy 170th birthday, Minimbah, you old thing.

Since 1856, when we began as a small primary school in the fishing village of Frankston, we’ve welcomed generations of families, watched them grow and we’ve seen them send their own children here. Families move through together, and our community’s strength shows.

To celebrate, every child from Foundation to Year 6 took part in our whole-school production, Dare to Dream, and family and friends clapped and cheered.

And then there was cake!

Look closely. The biggest numbers, 1, 7 and 0, baked and iced on the biggest tray, to the biggest cheer, for the biggest celebration and the biggest Minimbah love.

Father's Day at Penbank

An early morning, a hot breakfast, strong coffee and a concert. All the dads, grandads and special men in our lives came together at Penbank for a catch-up, followed by an assembly just for them.

A handful of students wrote messages to their dads and shared with the whole school what makes them special, to them. Some are the ones who help when you fall. Some are the best cook ever. Some treat friends like royalty and some are just so, gloriously nice. One dad, we suspect, would probably let his child have a trampoline in his bedroom.

Music performances revved up the room and everyone went off into their day full and happy. 

Soiree at Penbank

This Penbank event isn't a new one, but this year there was something new to enjoy.

Penbank has a history and a culture of music. It's not just for the kids who play an instrument or have lessons; music is part of how we teach and learn. It fires creativity because it makes us feel something and inspires us. All the kids are part of it, and enjoy it from their first day, so those who love footy or maths or other things, get to love music too.

From here, many Penbank students go on to Woodleigh Senior Campus to pursue that love of music, and this year a group of them came back to perform at the Soirée. Four Year 10s sang Coldplay’s Fix You and VCE student Ruby played Jeff Buckley’s Grace on guitar.

When the younger kids can see what it looks and feels like to still be doing this when they’re bigger, it’s magical.

To RSVP: Woodleigh Arts Festival Opening

Don't You Love It When Things Make Sense

1 + 1 = 2
Footy + Pies = precisely

It’s spring; no further explanation required. Footy colours and pies; it just makes sense.

Minimbah Disco

While we’re working with maths, we can deduce that Minimbah kids will dress up.

Further evidence: the Disco. After a full day at school, grinding the books, the kids went home to change into their next party fit. The theme was Movie Magic, and it was.
The door charge will be donated to a charity chosen by the Year 4 class. Who will it be?

Pyjama Day at Minimbah

As if we required any further evidence: Pyjama Day. Do Minimbah parents ever sleep with all this preparation required? Wait, maybe that’s why it's Pyjama Day. Dear Parents, just get yourselves here; we know you’re tired. Skip the dressing and eating part of the morning? We’ve got you.

Debating Champs

This critical-thinking malarkey really pays off.

Our Senior Campus debating team has had an outstanding season. At the end of Term 3, the team won the SIS title, and this week Isaac, Rufus, El, Sam and Jodie competed in their final debate of the year, an octofinal against Wesley College on 'That the Census should be Abolished.' 

The adjudicator called it an exceptionally high-quality debate, and it was decided by a single point. The team is truly disappointed to miss the DAV title, but they have set the bar very high, and we couldn’t be more proud. 

Thank you to Marney, whose quiet confidence and unconditional support have built a team that argues with clarity, authenticity and humility. We can’t wait for next season.

Rock Quiz

Rock Quiz was a fantastic night for everyone. The school community kicked back in the 90s. There was more denim and scrunchies than you could poke a stick at, but everyone's love of the 90s is varied - far and wide - as you can see. Thank you to the many generous folk who donated to the event. Special thanks to our PFG, the admin team and Pete and Katherine for helping make the evening such a good time. 

Are there things you would like to know more about, less about, tell us about, remind us of or reminisce about? 
Tell us here.

Until we go Around the Grounds again next time...