Beyond the Bell

Extend Your Thinking These School Holidays

The September school holidays are a wonderful opportunity for students to explore their interests, try something new and continue challenging their thinking outside the classroom.

There are a number of programs happening across Melbourne these holidays that may be of particular interest to students who enjoy problem-solving, creativity, STEM, writing, design and hands-on learning.

Some opportunities include:

• Prototype to Product: 3D Design Challenge – National Communication Museum, Hawthorn 

  Designed specifically for high-achieving students aged 10-12, this free Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series program allows students to use Tinkercad and 3D printing as they work through the design process from idea to prototype. Find out more

• National Communication Museum School Holiday Program – Hawthorn 

  A range of technology and creative activities including 3D printing, coding, game design and Woven Code. View the program

• NGV School Holiday Programs 

  The NGV is offering a range of creative workshops including character design, zine making and future-city design. These programs provide opportunities for students to experiment with visual art, storytelling, architecture and creative thinking. Explore NGV school holiday activities

• 100 Story Building – Footscray 

  Creative writing workshops for children aged 8–12 include The Funny Pages, Paper Town and Picture This!. These workshops encourage imagination, storytelling, collaboration and world-building. View upcoming workshops

• Scienceworks – Spotswood 

  Scienceworks offers plenty for curious minds, with interactive science exhibitions, the Planetarium, Think Ahead, Sportsworks and special school holiday activities. Explore Scienceworks school holiday activities

• Code Camp – Various Melbourne Locations 

  Programs include coding, robotics, Minecraft engineering, game creation and other technology-based challenges for students who enjoy designing and problem-solving. Explore Code Camp programs

Families may also like to explore the broader range of activities listed through the City of Melbourne's school holiday program: Melbourne School Holiday Activities.

We encourage students to use the holidays to follow their curiosity. Whether they are designing, building, writing, experimenting, coding or simply investigating a question that interests them, enrichment can happen anywhere!

Celebrating Our Maths Talent Quest Mathematicians

This year, 10 ENPS students from Years Two to Six participated in the Mathematical Association of Victoria's Maths Talent Quest (MTQ). 

The Maths Talent Quest is an open-ended mathematical investigation that gives students the opportunity to explore a topic that interests them and discover the mathematics within it. Rather than completing a set of traditional maths questions, students develop an investigation, select and apply mathematical strategies, analyse their findings and communicate their mathematical thinking. The program is designed to encourage curiosity, real-world application and deeper mathematical thinking.

Our 2026 Maths Talent Quest participants were:

• Inaaya – Year 2

• Ediz – Year 2

• Elisha – Year 3

• Ziana – Year 3

• Ruby – Year 3

• Austin – Year 4

• Noah – Year 6

• Nivaan – Year 6

• Nathaniel – Year 6

• Rohan – Year 6

The thinking demonstrated across these investigations was remarkable. Students were required to persevere with challenging ideas, make decisions about how best to investigate their questions, apply mathematics in meaningful contexts and explain the reasoning behind their conclusions. We are incredibly proud of all 10 students for taking on such a significant mathematical challenge.

We are also thrilled to congratulate Elisha from Year Three, whose investigation received a High Distinction in this year's Maths Talent Quest.

This is an outstanding achievement. Elisha has also been invited to attend the Maths Talent Quest Awards Ceremony at the University of Melbourne, where High Distinction recipients are recognised for their achievements. 

Congratulations to Elisha and to all our ENPS Maths Talent Quest participants. Their curiosity, persistence and willingness to think deeply are certainly worth celebrating!

Kind regards,

Carole Upton

Learning Enrichment Leader