Haileybury students, and the School, have received considerable recognition in recent weeks for the individual and collective efforts of families, students and Haileybury’s brilliant teachers.
Aikman Hall transforms into a realm of magic, mystery and wonder as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, will be performed on August 27, 28 and 29.
But this is not the wizarding world you know from the movies — it is Hogwarts but with a Haileybury twist.
Beneath the imposing gothic arches, meticulously built by our very own Mark Gardiner and Sean Breen, the stage becomes a gateway into another realm. Our talented cast and dedicated crew maximise every moment of time travel, friendship and magic.
So, take a break from your muggle routine and join us for the next chapter in JK Rowling’s epic saga.
Whether you are a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, we encourage you to don your house colours, and even dress up as your favourite characters.
Tickets are available at Humanitix: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child High School Edition
Nicole Smith
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Haileybury in Concert – a night to remember
Last Wednesday evening, Haileybury proudly presented its fifth Haileybury in Concert in the prestigious Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Nestled in the heart of Southbank, this world-class venue, renowned for its stunning architecture and exceptional acoustics, provided the perfect stage for our young musicians to shine.
The evening was nothing short of extraordinary. Featuring 12 Senior School large ensembles, the program showcased an inspiring range of classical, jazz and contemporary repertoire. Months of tireless rehearsal, countless hours of individual practice, and the combined efforts of 316 students, 62 music staff, dedicated administration, and supportive parents culminated in a performance that was both artistically brilliant and deeply moving. The sold-out audience — 750+ strong — experienced music-making of the highest calibre, brimming with energy, precision and heart.
Special highlights included a collaborative performance between the Stage Band and String Sinfonia with solo vocalist; and, for the first time, the evening concluded with a finale from the Haileybury Pipes and Drums, a rousing and unforgettable end to a remarkable night.
Haileybury in Concert is far more than a musical performance or concert night — it is a testament to the power of music education. Research consistently shows that participation in music fosters discipline, teamwork, resilience and creativity, while also building confidence and emotional intelligence. These qualities extend far beyond the rehearsal room, enriching every aspect of a student’s life.
For those involved, the memories made on this stage will be cherished for decades. The camaraderie between students, the thrill of performing in a world-class venue, the shared sense of achievement — these moments become part of each performer’s personal story. They are the memories that alumni will recall with pride, the moments that inspire a lifelong love of music.
In a world that often moves too quickly, nights like this remind us of the value of pausing to celebrate beauty, artistry and community. Haileybury in Concert is more than just an event on the calendar — it is a celebration of our school’s commitment to excellence, the transformative role of the arts, and the boundless potential of our young people.
We congratulate every student, staff member and supporter who made this magical evening possible. You have not only performed music, you have created history.
Visual Communication Design highlights
Our VCD students have enjoyed a dynamic semester, from inspiring excursions to the Top Designs exhibition at Melbourne Museum, to hands-on learning with the team at Melbourne’s iconic brand Crumpler.
Guided by owner Dave, designer Zac and head of production Eliza, students explored the end-to-end process of professional design and manufacturing. A standout moment was the creation of a signature Crumpler bag, with congratulations to Anthony whose design was selected and brought to life on-site — an achievement that will serve him well in his portfolio and career journey.
Unit 2 VCD students from all Melbourne campuses took part in an inspiring workshop with Boonwurrung, Yorta Yorta and Erub cultural educator, artist and designer Steven Ulula Parker. Steven shared his diverse design work, including the Haileybury AFL guernsey, and guided students through the Reconciliation Plan, Indigenous Design Charter and a Deep Listening Circle. These experiences encouraged reflection on intergenerational responsibilities and informed the creation of their own meaningful personal icons as part of the Unit 2 folio requirements.
Moving into the second half of Term 3, the Visual Arts department is abuzz with activity and anticipation. The coming weeks will see the culmination of a year’s worth of creative development across Media, Visual Communication Design, and Art Making and Exhibiting, alongside exciting opportunities for our students to exhibit their work, collaborate across disciplines and engage with our wider school community.
STEM Week collaboration
In Week 4, budding photographers teamed up with their science-minded peers to capture the wonder of STEM Week — think rocket launches, fascinating experiments and the thrill of discovery through the lens.
OHA Week and creative alumni
Week 6 will see us welcome back creative alumna and recent muralist, Ashley Tonelli, who will run a hands-on painting workshop for our Pre-Senior students. It is always inspiring to see how our graduates continue to shape the creative world beyond Haileybury.
House Art Competition
Also in Week 6, Houses will respond to the Senior School play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, with their own interpretations of a key set piece. These creations will be on public display during the show’s run — a magical blend of performance and visual storytelling.
ELC Nature Exhibition
For the first time, our youngest artists in the 3- and 4-year-old ELC programs will take over the new Keysborough gallery space with their nature-themed exhibition in Week 8. The ‘young at art’ show opens Monday 8 September from 5.00–6.00 pm and will bring major cuteness, joyful colour, and creativity to the Senior School during our Units 3 and 4 trial exam period.
Graduate Exhibition – save the date
The creative calendar builds to one of our major annual highlights: the Graduate Exhibition for the 2025 Units 3 and 4 cohort on Tuesday 14 October, Term 4 Week 2, from 4.00–6.00 pm. The new Visual Arts building will come alive across the gallery, upstairs studios and Media rooms in full cinema mode. Visitors will also get a sneak peek at works from talented Year 9 and Units 1 and 2 artists, designers and media creators coming through to their Units3 and 4 studies in the next few years. Formalities commence at 5.00 pm, with refreshments and interactive activities. Keep an eye out for more information in the coming weeks.
As the term draws to a close and Term 4 begins, we look forward to celebrating the incredible talent, vision and dedication of our Senior School Visual Arts students. We warmly invite you to join us at these upcoming events and share in the creativity that continues to thrive at Haileybury.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
The Pipes & Drums have had a busy start to Term 3, beginning with our Annual Pipes & Drums Presentation Evening. The Presentation Evening celebrates the success and progression of our competition bands and students involved. The evening was a huge success, and we would like to thank all who attended.
This month, the Pipes & Drums also performed for the boys and girls Haileybury Firsts Football Teams, when the Year 12 students played their final home game of the season. The Pipes and Drums performed in a guard of honour as the teams entered the ground. It was a pleasure for them to be involved and perform on this special occasion.
In between games, the Pipes & Drums also performed at the Newlands Campus Open Day. Tour attendees were left in awe of the Pipes & Drums, which are unique to Haileybury, and we look forward to supporting more campus open days in the future.
After a busy and successful season of solo piping, our Year 4 piper, Dylan, was awarded Piper of the Year by the Victorian Piping Association. This is an amazing achievement, and the Pipes & Drums staff are extremely proud of Dylan’s solo piping success. Congratulations Dylan.
Daniel Staley
Director of Pipes & Drums
Joyful Learning
What a happy first few weeks of learning we have enjoyed at Haileybury City in Term 3. You will read below of the adventures in learning to read, write, perform, think, wonder, lead, create, debate — the list goes on. The common denominator is JOY. We love spreading joy around the campus, and on every tour that I take people, they are always wowed.
We have recently welcomed students from our China and Darwin campuses. They were wowed by our ‘campus in the clouds’ where the sky is the limit. It is always a proud moment when I see our students flourishing and full of joy. We might not be in Kansas anymore, but we love being in City.
Enterprise Skills
At our recent School tours, I shared with prospective parents the importance of enterprise skills — the skills that are transferable no matter what career a young person pursues. The research suggests our graduates will have four or more careers in their lifetime and these enterprise skills will be more important than ever. Skills such as critical thinking, creativity, confidence, project management, intercultural understanding etc are taught intentionally to all our students, from our youngest to our oldest.
I am always delighted with our Junior, Middle and Senior School students who volunteer to help on School Tour days and challenge themselves to develop their skills to be personable, positive, warm and engaging with the hundreds of people who choose to visit. The students’ big smiles and willingness to converse with confidence showcase these important skills in action. The students who attended this term were a wonderful representation of the Haileybury magenta principles in action. Indeed, a proud moment for home and School as we continue our strong partnership developing character and confidence through contribution and service.
Apply slinkys with Mrs Merrick
As part of our focus on healthy eating, ELC children have enjoyed making and eating apple slinkys with Mrs Merrick, who introduced the children to a spiral cutting machine where we used whole apples that transformed into fun, curly shapes.
The activity promoted healthy eating in a fun, engaging way, while also supporting fine motor skills and independence. Children have been actively involved in the process, sparking conversations, counting, extending their vocabulary as they questioned and hypothesised their ideas, while learning about nutrition and making healthy choices
Zooming around the running track
The Reception and Pre-Prep children have commenced the ELC Scooter program which is developed by Mr Mark Reed, Chair of Athletics and Head of Girls Athletics at Haileybury.
The Scooter program supports and extends children’s gross motor skill development, with a particular focus on balance, coordination and spatial awareness.
The children have demonstrated great enthusiasm and confidence as they navigate the obstacle course, developing a strong awareness of personal safety as they understand respect and kindness when navigating their scooters on the track.
The ELC Scooter program is a valuable addition to our curriculum, encouraging physical confidence, independence and safe risk-taking in a fun and supportive environment.
100 Days Brighter
Our Prep students always brighten the Junior School with their bubbly dispositions, but they lit up the day for their 100 Days Brighter celebration. The class were excited to wear their brightest outfits and engaged in a variety of tasks throughout the day to explore the number 100 and celebrate their 100th Day of School. Pairing with their Year 4 buddies to make 100 Fruit Loop necklaces, completing ‘I wish I had 100 ...’ writing tasks, and showing a range of number patterns on their 100 charts were some highlights. City Campus was delighted to be joined by our Prep families for a special celebration in the afternoon. We are proud of our students for sharing what they love most about Prep in front of an audience, and performing some catchy tunes as the Prep Choir.
Semester 2 Leaders Induction
We are pleased to announce our Year 4 Leaders for Semester 2, 2025 have been inducted. These students shared careful thoughts and goals for their leadership roles at the Junior School Leaders Induction Assembly. Our leaders have already supported their co-captains throughout Semester 1, and proved that leadership can be demonstrated outside of official roles, particularly when no-one is watching! We are proud of our captains for embodying the Respectful Relationship Pillars, and they have already started the term acting as excellent role models for the Junior School.
Congratulations:
STEM Week
We were delighted to celebrate Careers in STEM as part of our STEM Week 2025. Thank you to our inspiring parents, who came to speak to their child’s class about their career in STEM. We have an amazing parent community who shared with students about their work as dentists, doctors, engineers, mathematicians and more. Our motivated younger students enjoyed playing as dentists, vets and doctors during their lunch play that week, while our Years 3 and 4 students engaged in an Astronaut Training Camp at lunch play, and robotics incursion to celebrate STEM Week.
The Wizard of Oz
Our Middle School students captivated audiences with their spectacular three-night production of The Wizard of Oz at the Gasworks Theatre. Like Dorothy’s journey down the yellow brick road, our students embarked on their own adventure, stepping confidently into the professional spotlight.
The opportunity to perform in a theatre venue provided our students with an authentic glimpse into the world of professional performance. Beyond enchanting evening audiences, our dedicated cast also brought the wonder of Oz to our Junior School community through a special daytime performance.
True to the spirit of the story, each cast member contributed their distinctive talents, demonstrating that collaboration — like the enduring friendship between Dorothy and her companions — creates magic far greater than individual efforts. We celebrate our Middle School students for their teamwork and embodiment of our community values throughout this production.
Our appreciation extends to our Haileybury Parents and Friends community, whose support resulted in three consecutive sold-out performances. Special recognition goes to our exceptional staff, led by Mrs Pip Bell, including Mr England, Mrs Schmidli, Ms Marshall, Mr Hicks, Ms Southgate, Mr Schaepman, Ms Moorby and Ms Elletson for their professional expertise in bringing this production to life.
Dance excellence: Nationals in Tasmania
We proudly celebrate our exceptional Years 7 and 8 students who have secured their place at Dance Nationals in Hobart, Tasmania. These talented performers, representing our cross-campus teams, delivered outstanding performances across hip hop and jazz routines.
Congratulations to our national qualifiers: Candela , Charlize , Richa , Josephine , Eden , Maggie , Nevindie , Catherine , Adele and Chloe.
STEM Week: Careers in STEM
Our Middle School STEM Expo transformed learning into a celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This dynamic week-long festival featured the thrilling Paper Aeroplane Competition, the ingenious Design a Rube Goldberg Machine Challenge, and the competitive E-Sports Tournament.
The week culminated in an inspiring STEM Showcase centred on Careers in STEM, where students explored fascinating professional pathways including forensic science, marine biology, cybersecurity, food science, meteorology, and bioinformatics. This immersive experience broadened students’ horizons, revealing the exciting diversity of opportunities within STEM fields and connecting their current interests to promising future careers.
These innovative, hands-on experiences reflect our unwavering commitment to nurturing student exploration and excellence in the ever-evolving world of STEM education. We extend our appreciation to Holly Emslie, Louise Elletson and Caleb Street for cultivating genuine passion and enthusiasm for STEM learning throughout our Middle School community.
MS Debating
Our Middle School Debating program has gone from strength to strength this year, with students building their skills through targeted workshops on structuring arguments, crafting persuasive points and working effectively as a team. These sessions laid the groundwork for students to step into formal debates last term, tackling real-world topics such as free school breakfasts and lowering the voting age.
In Term 2, the tightly contested House Debating added an extra layer of excitement for our Years 7 and 8 students, culminating in a tiebreaking debate with Newton House finally prevailing as the champion debaters. This term, it is the Years 5 and 6 students’ turn, as they prepare for their own round of House Debating.
We are also thrilled to be expanding interschool opportunities. Years 5 and 6 students will represent our school at the upcoming Regional Debating Day — their first experience in external competition — while Year 7s will take part in a series of workshops and interschool debates with the Junior Secondary program.
A special thank you to Ms Kelsey Collins for coordinating our flourishing Debating program.
Caroline Merrick
Head of City
Middle School Family Trivia Night - Friday, 14 June
Our Middle School Family Trivia Night on Friday, 14 June was a huge success and another sell-out event. The energy was high, the competition fierce and the atmosphere electric. Families enjoyed popcorn, pizza, lollies and a variety of trivia rounds that kept everyone engaged.
Creative challenges, including constructing a map of Australia using newspaper and other bits and bobs, added to the fun. The ever-popular chocolate toss was another crowd favourite, with gold coins flying across the room in support.
Proceeds from the evening have enabled the purchase of a gaga pit, allowing Middle School students to enjoy indoor soccer and other activities during downtime throughout the day.
A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers, the Haileybury Executive team for their support on the night, and the staff who helped with setup and popcorn cleanup. A special shoutout goes to Caroline Merrick, who continues to shine as our quiz master extraordinaire.
HPF City Second-hand Uniform Pop-up Shop
Did you know that the items that can’t be sold due to being damaged or not meeting our high-quality standards are donated to Noone to be recycled? Did you know we have an oversupply of boy’s grey Junior School shorts so don’t rush out to buy new ones — this and other items will soon be discounted.
Up Day is in November — more details to come. Check your child’s uniform and what you need on the myHaileybury app and update the wardrobe at the next SHUS on11 and 12 September.
Save the date – Springtime Party
Mark your calendars! The HPF City Springtime Party will be held on Friday, 24 October. It is one of our biggest events of the year. We are now accepting silent and live auction donations — all proceeds go back to support the students through resources and activities. Drop off goodies at City Reception or contact Michelle White at hpfcity@haileybury.com.au.
HPF City Executive and Social Reps Meeting
Our HPF Executive and Social Representatives came together to enjoy connection and a meal before our official meeting for Term 3. The meeting began with a welcome from the HPF City Co-Presidents, followed by updates from the Head of Campus and the Head of Senior School, who provided key insights into current priorities and developments across the school. Our Treasurer presented the finance report, outlining the current financial position and key budget considerations. A recap of the Middle School Trivia Night was shared, highlighting its success and community engagement. The SHUS update included a discussion on managing oversupply and discounted stock, along with a call out for new donations. The meeting concluded with planning and preparation for the upcoming Springtime Party.
As always, if you have any questions or would like to be involved in HPF City please do not hesitate to contact us directly or catch us around the school. Watch the myHaileybury app for more details or email us at hpfcity@haileybury.com.au with any questions or contributions.
Melissa Fisher and Michelle White
Co-Presidents, Haileybury Parents & Friends City
Transition
As we move through to the end of the year, our transition programs are now underway throughout the campus. Numerous opportunities are available for families and students to learn more about the upcoming stage of their educational journey.
Our Pre-Prep families had the opportunity on Wednesday, 13 August to meet the Head of Junior School, Ms Jodie McInnes and visit the Prep classrooms. They were able to see the explicit model of teaching and our impressive Prep students in action. Thank you to the families who joined us.
The Middle School Heads and Deputy Heads of Year 7 are hosting our current Year 6 families on Tuesday, 26 August to discuss what the second stage of Middle School looks like for our students. Details are available via the myHaileybury app.
As part of the transition into Middle School, our Year 4 students meet with Year 5 staff and spend time in the spaces they will move into. Our Heads of Middle School have already started to make visits to our Junior School.
The ELC students will commence their orientation program for Prep in Term 4 and families will be advised of dates as they draw closer.
Our ELC Orientation Day for those students entering Reception or Pre-Prep classes in 2026 is being held on Saturday, 22 October. Parents and children are invited to spend time in their new environment with staff.
We will host a Middle School Information session on Monday, 17 November for all Middle School families to hear about practical information to survive UpDay and everything that is required for preparing for the 2026 school year.
UpDay for all students is set for Tuesday, 18 November. Students from Prep through to Year 8, 2026 spend the day in their new year level meeting new faces, spaces and teachers and in some cases, subjects.
Being an upstander
An upstander by definition from the Oxford English Dictionary is a person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being attacked or bullied. Essentially, it is someone who chooses to take positive action in the face of injustice or when someone needs assistance, rather than a bystander.
We discuss the concept of upstanding with our students. From a young age, this conversation is about being kind, understanding emotions — ours and those of others — and helping our friends. As students move through their education, the term upstander is introduced, the concept is unpacked and more in-depth discussions around how to be an upstander take place.
In order to provide support for our students in this education piece, an incursion was organised for the Year 8 cohort prior to beginning their study of the novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and for the Year 5 cohort as they navigate their first year of Middle School.
The incursion is delivered by Courage to Care, whose experienced facilitators lead students through a developmentally appropriate examination of their own beliefs and behaviours. The program aims to encourage participants to recognise their capacity to effect positive change, providing practical strategies for addressing racism, bullying and prejudice. Participants are empowered to take constructive action within school environments, workplaces and the wider community.
Literacy in Action
Young children learn about the purpose and function of literacy through meaningful play and real-life experiences.
We promote literacy learning through play, songs, stories, games and discussions every day, taking a multi-sensory and developmentally appropriate approach.
Our Haileybury Early Years Literacy program uses a combination of the Jolly Phonics and Little Learners Love Literacy programs.
Congratulations to the Pre-Preps who are sharing their literacy skills with their families by taking home readers and literacy games, and to the Reception children who are now participating in weekly explicit literacy group times.
Scientists in action
Children are natural scientists, curious, hands-on, investigative and eager to solve problems through their everyday experiences. In the ELC, children engage in scientific thinking daily, often without realising the depth of learning taking place.
Our celebration of Science and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Week provides a focused opportunity to explore these areas more intentionally. Throughout the week, children engaged in a wide range of interactive experiences designed to ignite curiosity, foster creativity and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts.
A highlight for our Pre-Prep children was the opportunity to become scientists alongside Senior School teachers and student leaders. This meaningful connection fostered a sense of community, curiosity and shared learning across age groups.
Making a difference
Hampton High Reserve is changing! Lizard habitats with rocks and logs are being created, 200 shrubs have been planted and possum boxes are being decorated, all to enhance the local reserve and promote the return of wildlife. We encourage our community to visit and see how the ELC children are making a difference to our local community.
A magical milestone
Our Preps recently celebrated their 100th Day of School with the theme ‘100 Days Brighter.’ The day began with a parade around East Quad carrying handmade poppers, followed by activities with their Year 4 buddies. Teachers and parents took a moment to reflect on all the learning that has taken place over the last hundred days, be it social, emotional or academic. Teachers particularly note the independence and lack of teeth that mark this time of the year.
When asked about their favourite memory of school this year, they answered:
Austin – learning coding in computer science
Estelle – playing soccer in PE
Tim – making poppers in science
Anna – playing with my friends in East quad
Kylan – playing tag on the oval
Anya – learning about numbers
Levi – writing maths problems
Noah – learning how to write
Stella – making friends
House Leaders
Semester 2 House Leaders have been inducted and are now helping Year 4 students run recess and lunchtime clubs, much to the joy of our Junior School children. There is something for everyone across the timetable and leaders are honing this organisation and student management skills. Leaders have also taken to the stage to run assemblies. Managing their nervousness as they speak to the cohort has been one significant area of learning for some, whilst others are working on looking up from their script whilst speaking to connect with their audience.
What is happening in East Quad?
You may notice that the coloured boards outside classrooms are changing. We are happy to announce that Indigenous artist Bayley Mifsud will be sharing her beautiful artistry in Term 4 by painting murals that depict the six indigenous seasons Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang.
Try new things, word hard and be kind
At Middle School, we encourage our students to try new things, work hard, and be kind — three simple but powerful principles that help shape confident, compassionate and capable young people. Whether it is joining a new sport, taking part in a camp, or stepping outside their comfort zone to meet someone new, these values remind students that growth comes from embracing challenges with a positive attitude. Trying something new, especially when it feels unfamiliar or daunting, builds resilience and opens doors to discovering new passions and talents. Working hard ensures they develop the skills and discipline needed to thrive, and being kind fosters inclusive, supportive environments where everyone can feel safe and valued.
These values are especially evident in our upcoming Middle School musical production of The Little Mermaid Jr. For many students, this may be their first time performing on stage, learning lines, singing, dancing, or even helping behind the scenes with props and costumes. It takes courage to try out, commitment to rehearse, and teamwork to bring the story to life. Throughout the journey, students are learning to support one another, celebrate differences, and show kindness both on and off the stage. This production is not only a showcase of talent, but a celebration of our students living out the values we hold dear every day. We cannot wait for our school community to come and support these amazing Middle School students and show their appreciation and pride in students pursuing their passions.
Connections Breakfast
The Haileybury Castlefield Middle School students were delighted to host our 2026 Connections Breakfast, welcoming students and their families who will be joining our community in 2026.
It was an incredible morning with a fantastic turnout. Guests enjoyed special performances from our upcoming musical The Little Mermaid Jr, were inspired with words and advice from our amazing Year 8 leaders, and received a warm welcome from our Head of Campus, Katrina Manson. It was a wonderful way to begin their journey at Haileybury and to experience the spirit of our Castlefield community.
Katrina Manson
Head of Castlefield (Brighton)
Father's Day Lunch
Our Father’s Day Lunch on Friday, 5 September at True South is shaping up to be a wonderful event.
We are thrilled to announce that Matthew Dwyer will be the special guest at our inaugural Father’s Day Lunch.
As Haileybury’s new Head of Sport, Matt brings a wealth of experience from grassroots to global sporting arenas, including leadership roles at Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and Tennis Australia. He has also worked with some of the world’s biggest sporting brands, including the NFL, NBA and Wilson Sporting Goods.
Now in his second year in his role as Head of Sport across all Haileybury campuses, Matt is leading the development of a bold five-year sports strategy designed to expand opportunities for every student — whether they dream of becoming elite athletes or simply want to stay active and have fun. His focus is on making sport inclusive, memorable and meaningful for students, staff and families alike.
Matt’s passion for community and his commitment to shaping positive sporting experiences make him an inspiring voice for our school and a fantastic guest for this special celebration.
Matt welcomes any questions you may have about the sports program or his experience.
Father's Day Stall
We will be putting a call out for parents to come along and volunteer to assist our students in shopping for a gift for dad. The students enjoy perusuing and purchasing at our stall and it is thanks to the brilliant support of our parents that we are able to create this experience for them, and of course the splendid gifts for dad.
Haileybury Parents & Friends Castlefield
As we approach the midpoint of Term 3 in Darwin, I want to thank each and every member of our school community for the wonderful spirit of support and togetherness that has shone through this term.
Recently, we read that we have been rated by a comprehensive analysis by the Murdoch Media Group as the #89 Independent School in Australia and, we believe, the #1 Independent School in Australia with a substantial Indigenous cohort. We celebrate this wonderful form of affirmation that all our hard-working staff are achieving for our students.
It has been incredibly exciting at HRS to welcome our first-ever Study Tour from China from 10–24 August, when 43 international students from Years 7–9 joined us at our boarding house and at school, creating memories and building friendships that will last well beyond the journey itself. The students are from the elite Guangzhou Foreign Language School and are living in boarding, attending our Middle School classes and enjoying tourist adventures like Litchfield National Park. It was quite special to host 150 boarders for dinner last night.
We have also recently enjoyed sharing stories and information about our School at the Barunga Festival and at the Katherine, Alice Springs and Darwin Shows, where our students and staff represented the school with pride.
We have also recently enjoyed our inaugural student-led Sustainability Week, reminding us of the small but powerful ways we can each contribute to a better future for our planet. It was inspiring to see our students so engaged and passionate about caring for the world around them.
Looking ahead for rest of the term, there is much to be excited about. Our school musical, The Addams Family, is progressing extremely well and in mid-September promises to be a wonderful celebration of creativity, teamwork and talent. Furthermore, in Week 6, we will come together for the traditional HRS NAIDOC Week — an important time to honour, learn from, and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
I am proud of what we have achieved together this term. Thank you to our brilliant staff, students and families for the many ways you each contribute to making our School such a warm and vibrant community. I look forward to all that Term 3 will bring.
Andrew McGregor
Principal, Haileybury Rendall School
Alice in Wonderland Production
Our Middle School students took audiences down the rabbit hole to the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland. After months of hard work and rehearsals, they brought to life a vibrant show full of creativity, humour and warmth. Congratulations to our talented cast and crew, and to the dedicated staff who supported them along the way. A special thank you goes to Georgina Buttery, Tessa Kerekes, Jillian McRoberts, Rachel Hibberd, Rose Narhi and Campbell Reither for their hours of behind-the-scenes efforts that made Alice in Wonderland possible.
100 Days of School
Our Prep students celebrated the milestone of their first 100 days of school during Week 2. To mark the occasion they came to school dressed up as 100-year-olds. Throughout the day, they performed for the Junior School and the ELC, participated in various activities to investigate the number 100 and celebrated together with a special lunch. What a wonderful achievement and occasion.
STEM Week inspires students to explore future careers
This year’s STEM Week, themed Careers in STEM, was filled with engaging activities such as Astronaut Training Camp, Inventor’s Workshop, Nature Detective Walk, and Code-a-Story, to name just a few. A highlight of the week was hearing from parents working in STEM fields, who shared their experiences. They inspired students to imagine the many exciting career possibilities that science, technology, engineering and mathematics can offer.
The Outdoor Program is an essential part of children’s daily environment and life. Both indoor and outdoor environments offer significantly different, but complementary, experiences and ‘ways of being’ to the ELC children. We aim to have them available simultaneously and experienced jointly, with each having equal status and attention because both contribute to the children’s wellbeing, health, stimulation and overall learning and development.
Children have begun to immerse themselves in experiences that strengthen their thinking, fine motor skills, social connections, spatial awareness, balance, coordination and connection with nature.
Educators aim to provide an outdoor environment that is respectful of children’s emerging skills and competencies, and provides opportunities for them to make their own decisions and act independently. A balance of experiences in the outdoor environment facilitates shared thinking, including exploration, experimentation and hypothesising, all of which support and challenge the children as they learn.
Being Brave incursion
Recently, Brainstorm Productions presented their wellbeing performance, Being Brave, to our Junior School students. Being Brave is a live educational theatre production that aims to give students an insight into positive strategies they can use to help them deal with a range of emotions and cope when faced with challenges in their lives. Our Prep to Year 4 students watched intently as various characters navigated their way through a range of problems that many children experience in their everyday lives. Following the performance, students were provided with opportunities to discuss connections they made with the characters and explore how they can both build their resilience and seek help when it is required. This engaging incursion made strong links with our Zones of Regulation and Wellbeing programs and contained important messages for our students.
Below: Mia , Agam , Sandush , Shoban and Eleanor
Thrive incursion
Our Year 5 students became budding entrepreneurs during an exciting Mini Boss incursion, where they explored product design, development and marketing skills. Working in teams, they developed creative business concepts and confidently pitched their ideas. The day was a fun and engaging way to build teamwork, creativity, problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills. They will continue to build upon their learning during Thrive lessons this term.
My progress meetings
Student Progress Meetings were a valuable opportunity for families, students and teachers to come together and discuss learning, progress and wellbeing. These conversations are an important part of strengthening the home-school partnership and ensuring each student is supported in reaching their full potential. We thank all families for their time and support — working together makes a real difference in our students’ learning journeys.
Book Week
Book Week commences this week, and it is exciting to celebrate the joy of reading together. We look forward to authors such as Joel McKerrow and Nova Weetman visiting our school to inspire our students.
On Friday, 22 August, students are invited to dress up as their favourite book characters for our special Dress Up Day. If your child chooses not to dress in character, they should wear their school uniform.
Red Nose Day
This year, our Middle School is proud to support Red Nose Day which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome research. Students will have the opportunity to take part in a wonderful event to support this worthy cause. More information will be shared soon.
Jeanette Rawlings
Head of Edrington (Berwick)
Hello Edrington and welcome to Term 3. On Monday, 1 September we will be holding our annual Father’s Day Stall. There will be goodies for the students (ELC to Year 6) to purchase ranging from $2.00 to $10.00.
Thank you to all who have volunteered to help at our stall this year. We will be sending out a reminder/confirmation to you all this week.
If you are available to help set up the stall on Friday, 29 August after the Junior School assembly, at approximately 3.30 pm, it would be much appreciated.
Every Wednesday from 8.30 am to 11.00ham you will find Jenelle and Amphil in the Second-Hand Uniform Shop (SHUS). The SHUS is always looking for an extra hand, so if you have an hour to spare on a Wednesday to assist Amphil and Jenelle, please contact them at shus-berwick@haileybury.edu.au.
Kerry Ilic
HPFE President
Haileybury Foundation Thank You event
We take great delight in inviting Haileybury Foundation donors and supporters to our Thank You event which will be held on Thursday, 21 August at the Brighton campus.
We are looking forward to the event to show our appreciation for our donors and, importantly, to show our community the true impact of a gift to Haileybury Foundation.
Attendees at the event will include:
This is our way of showing the impact of your gift and our appreciation for your support. I do hope that we can see you there. Bookings can be made via the QR code or by calling 03 9904 6141.
Write your will for free
Haileybury community members have an exclusive opportunity to create their will for free through the online platform Gathered Here. This secure, easy-to-use service allows you to prepare a legally valid will in just minutes, from the comfort of your home. Having a will ensures your wishes are clearly documented and provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones. While there is no obligation, you may also choose to leave a gift to the Haileybury Foundation in your will — helping to provide life-changing scholarships for future generations. Start today and take advantage of this valuable, no-cost service.
Write your will and leave a gift to Haileybury Foundation
Social Media
The Haileybury Foundation is now on socials. To keep updated on Foundation activities, please follow us at:
www.Facebook.com/Haileyburyfoundation
https://www.linkedin.com/company/36137842
https://www.instagram.com/haileyburyfoundation
Your Foundation Team
Book Week is coming
The Children’s Book Council of Australia has announced this year’s exciting theme: Book an Adventure.
Students from Prep to Year 8 will be treated to engaging presentations by some of their favourite Australian authors, including Adam Wallace, Mark Smith, Alice Pung and George Ivanoff. They will have the chance to hear about each author’s unique writing and illustrating processes, where their story ideas come from, and the creative journeys that led them to become published artists.
Alongside our author visits, the library will be buzzing with fun Book Week activities such as book trivia, art competitions, lunchtime cartoons and creative Makerspace sessions. We will also be hosting our much-loved Book Fair during Week 4, giving students and families a chance to browse and purchase a range of new and popular titles.
Of course, Book Week would not be complete without our Junior School Dress-up Parade. We can’t wait to see students, librarians and staff come dressed as their favourite book characters.
A huge thank you to our wonderful library staff for all the work they are doing behind the scenes to make Book Week 2025 a memorable adventure for our students. Let’s get ready to celebrate the joy of reading.
What's on in the ELC
We have had a vibrant start to Term 3 in the Newlands ELC. Child safety is at the core of everything we do, and this term we were proud to once again partner with Kids ROAR to host a second online parent information session. These online sessions are designed to support families in continuing conversations around child safety, at home. By creating a shared language between school and home environments, we help ensure that our children feel heard, supported and confident in their right to be safe.
In the spirit of inquiry and discovery, we also took part in National Science Week with this year’s theme being Decoding the Universe – Exploring the Unknown with Nature’s Hidden Language. Our Pre-Prep children welcomed parent volunteers who lead incredible science-based activities. Meanwhile, our Reception children visited Mr Scardamaglia in the Middle School science labs to learn about photosynthesis.
Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate Book Week from Monday, 18 to Friday, 23 August, embracing this year’s inspiring theme, Book an Adventure. Our children and families have been busily preparing costumes inspired by their favourite stories, ready to parade proudly for their peers. We are eagerly anticipating hosting this year’s ELC Cross Campus Art Show at Keysborough, with the theme centred around nature. We can’t wait to see how each classroom brings the concept of nature to life through their own unique and creative interpretations.
JS Cricket Clinics
Run by Cricket Victoria, these sessions offered four weeks packed with cricket skills and games. It was the perfect chance for budding cricketers to hone their batting, bowling and fielding abilities in a fun and supportive environment. Whether participants were seasoned players or just starting out, the clinics catered to all skill levels. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from experienced coaches and enjoy the thrill of cricket with friends.
Sign up now: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/51c779
100 Days Prep celebration
On Friday, 1 August, our preps reached a spectacular milestone — 100 days of school. To celebrate, our bright little stars lit up the classroom in their most colourful, sparkly, neon and sunshine-themed outfits, showing just how much they have grown, shone and sparkled through 100 days of Junior School. The day was filled with exciting literacy and numeracy activities all about the number 100 — from counting to creating and everything in between. What a joyful, jam-packed celebration it was. Congratulations to our clever preps on 100 brilliant days.
Year 3 Camp - Forest Edge
From Wednesday, 3 to Friday, 5 September, The Year 3s from Newlands and Edrington will head off for a three-day camp at Forest Edge. Forest Edge is an adventure camp located in Neerim South. Students will participate in a wide variety of activities such as indoor rock climbing, bush walking, archery and the flying fox. They will practise persistence and independence. After dinner, students will enjoy a movie night and a trivia night, and they will lodge in cabins with their peers. There have been many excited discussions in the classrooms about what to expect and the students cannot wait to experience their first school camp.
Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical Jr
This year, Newlands Middle School students bring to life Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical JR in an adaptation from the full-length musical which was based on the book by Roald Dahl, and features a book by Dennis Kelly, and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
The show opened in the West End in 2011 and made its Broadway premiere in 2013. The musical earned seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, and five Tony awards, including the Tony for Best Book of a Musical.
Please see link below to get your tickets now.
https://events.humanitix.com/roald-dahl-s-matilda-the-musical-jr-wdfd3gqd
Sovereign Hill Gold Fever for the Year 5s.
The Year 5 students will be visiting Sovereign Hill in Ballarat for an exciting day excursion. This immersive experience will help students deepen their understanding of life on the goldfields in the 1850s.
At Sovereign Hill, students will explore the outdoor museum’s recreated goldfields town, complete with shops, diggings, costumed characters and demonstrations. Highlights will include:
This excursion will support learning goals by bringing history to life in an engaging and hands-on way.
Hugo Engele
Head of Newlands (Keysborough)
Welcome back
Welcome back to Term 3. I hope everyone had a wonderful break and some escaped the cold or ventured to colder places.
Thank you to all the families who filled out our questionnaire. The feedback is excellent and assists us in learning what the community would like from the HPFK.
At the end of last term we supported the Year 8 Medieval Day with a hot chocolate and Krispy Kreme donut offering which was a serious HIT on a chilly June day. We sold over 300 combos. Even though there was no shank cooking or bone gnawing as per the theme, it was still some fun. Thanks Jonelle, Kürsti and the other parent volunteers for helping on the day.
We have a few events planned in Term 3 so please look out for correspondence including the next HPFK committee meeting date.
Amy Ching
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Keysborough
Introducing the OHA Council for 2025/26
Congratulations to Clayton Ford (OH 1991), who has been elected as OHA President. We thank Millie Hogben (OH 2013) for her outstanding leadership and extraordinary contributions as outgoing Council President and wish her every success with her next chapter.
We welcome our newest members, Kiara Borgonha (OH 2021), Thomas Gale (OH 2024), William McCue (OH 2024), Vinay Lakshman (OH 2012), Abbey Leys (OH 2018), Jenna Shepherd (OH 2010) and Billy Si (OH 2004).
2025/26 OHA Council:
PRESIDENT: Clayton Ford (OH 1991)
VICE PRESIDENT: Dr James Kemper (OH 2012)
TREASURER: Ian Clydesdale (OH 1977)
Councillors:
Pavneet Arneja (OH 2006)
Kiara Borgonha (OH 2021)
Cooper Ford (OH 2023) (Assistant Treasurer)
Thomas Gale (OH 2024)
William McCue (OH 2024)
Vinay Lakshman (OH 2012)
Abbey Leys (OH 2018)
Brenton Loughnan (OH 2012)
Simge Ozkul (OH 2015)
Brad Petry (OH 2001)
Shankar Pillai (OH 2006)
Jenna Shepherd (OH 2010)
Billy Si (OH 2004)
Thank you all for volunteering your time, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead.
We also want to thank and acknowledge our retiring Council members: Melissa Allen (OH 2009) and Zara Scammell (OH 2022). Your service has made a lasting impact.
A magnificent evening with Academy winner Adam Elliot
Over 120 alumni, guests and film enthusiasts attended an exclusive private screening of Memoir of a Snail with Academy Award® winning animation writer and director, Adam Elliot (OH 1989).
Following the screening, attendees were treated to an intimate and engaging Q&A with Adam, when he generously shared fascinating insights into the creative journey behind this remarkable film. It is a cinematic gem you won’t want to miss.
Celebrating community: HRS Melbourne Alumni and Staff Reconnect
The Haileybury Rendall School (HRS) Melbourne dinner, held at The Bank on Collins, was a memorable evening filled with warmth and connection. HRS alumni and staff, including Craig and Kerry Glass and Janeanne Lee, came together to share stories, celebrate friendships and rekindle the strong bonds that make the HRS community so special.
No matter which campus of Haileybury you attended or where in the world you live, the OHA is always here to support you.
Celebrating a decade of memories
Nearly 100 members of the Class of 2015 enjoyed a fabulous night celebrating their 10-year reunion at Valhalla. We thank them for staying connected with the OHA, and more importantly, with each other.
OHA City Generations Breakfast
We were delighted to celebrate with our City campus OHA Generational families earlier this month. Thank you for joining us at this special breakfast to honour your shared connection to Haileybury. A special thanks also to Haileybury’s incredibly talented String Quartet for providing such beautiful music.
We look forward to hosting the final OHA Generations Breakfast for 2025 at the Keysborough campus during OHA Week on Wednesday, 27 August.
The OHA Office is here for all members and we encourage you to reach out if required via stayconnected@haileybury.com.au or contact me on 03 9904 6615.
Kylie Phillips
Development Office Operations Lead
Term 3
Term 3 is always a time for hard work and consolidation of pre-existing knowledge, as students move towards the completion of the curriculum in each of their subjects. The VCE trial examinations will be in Weeks 8 and 9. All School Assessed Coursework (SACs) for Units 3 and 4 studies will be completed by Week 8. This allows teachers and students to focus on revision and examination practice throughout the September break and the early weeks of Term 4.
Pre-Senior Explore and Expeditions
Haileybury’s entire Year 9 cohort will spend the final two weeks of term engaged in a range of experiential learning activities at various locations around Australia and the world more broadly. Our students from Haileybury Girls College will complete their options which have seen groups travel to places as diverse as India, Panama and New Zealand. It provides a wonderful opportunity for them to diversify their travel experiences. Year 9 Haileybury College students will be out on expeditions which involve them completing challenging hikes and sleeping out under canvas. Our students are really building their resilience under difficult circumstances.
VCE trial examinations and revision sessions
For students studying Units 3 and 4 , Haileybury will conduct a series of trial examinations from Tuesday, 8 to Friday, 12 September in Term 3. A copy of the trial examination timetable is available to students and parents via the myHaileybury app.
Families should also be aware that Haileybury academic staff will run a series of revision workshops for Units 3 and 4 studies throughout the September school holidays. While attendance at these sessions is not compulsory, families may want to take this into account when planning holidays.
Tertiary pathways information for Years 9 and 10 students
As students move into the VCE years, both students and their families often have questions about how their academic pathways at Haileybury match up against university pre-requisites in the coming years. In the past, each Year 10 student has received a copy of a VTAC Year 10 Guide to help with this planning. VTAC has now moved all information contained within this guide to their website. This website contains information about VCE subject selection, scaling of VCE study scores and a section called prerequisite and course explorer which provides information on tertiary entry requirements for students who will enter universities or other tertiary institutions. While Haileybury will continue to provide both students and parents with information about subject selection and university entrance throughout the next three years, this guide is an effective way for Years 9 and 10 families to familiarise themselves with the jargon associated with the VCE and tertiary entrance.
Year 11 Semi-Formal
After months of planning, and mounting excitement, the Year 11 Semi-Formal was held on Thursday, 14 August. The stunning venue of Leonda by the Yarra was transformed into the perfect place for a celebration of the entire Year 11 cohort and teachers.
Memories made were marked by not only professional photos, but also a playful photo booth with seemingly endless and hilarious prop options. Students carried themselves with immense class and respect throughout the event and ensured that it was a clean and safe space for everyone. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the cohort and their dedicated teachers, whose tireless efforts in organising and chaperoning the event were key to its success.
Jemma shines at Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Wales
We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievements of Jemma, who has just returned from representing Australia at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Wales. Jemma’s dedication and hard work truly paid off, as she delivered a stellar performance on the international stage.
Throughout the competition, Jemma achieved several personal bests, showcasing her commitment to continual improvement and excellence in her sport. Her efforts not only contributed to her personal growth but also played a significant role in the team’s overall success.
Jemma’s campaign was marked by a collection of medals, both as part of the Australian team and in individual events. These impressive results are a testament to her skill, determination and team spirit. Competing against some of the best lifesavers from across the Commonwealth, Jemma demonstrated remarkable resilience and sportsmanship.
Representing Australia at this level is an incredible honour, and Jemma’s achievements have made us all extremely proud. Congratulations to Jemma on her brilliant results and for being such an inspiring ambassador for both her sport and our community.
Andi - Endeavour Scholarship recipient
In July this year, I was selected as one of 34 students from seven different countries to take part in the prestigious Endeavour Scholarship: a fully-funded cultural exchange program aimed at immersing students in American culture and opportunities to work at NASA.
The program began in the US capital of Washington D.C., where we toured iconic landmarks including the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the Pentagon and (of course) the White House. Then, we flew to Huntsville, Alabama to attend Space Camp, where we lived, trained and learnt like astronauts through a combination of theoretical lectures on flight physics and space law combined with hands-on training with flight simulators and zero gravity experiences.
I was lucky to shake hands with Charlie Duke, the youngest man to walk on the moon, who educated our group on the aerospace industry. What struck me was the sheer variety of participating cultures who all had a deep appreciation for STEM and space. Finally, we travelled to Nashville, Tennessee where we toured the city’s famous nightlife; the US is a big country, and each city we travelled to was never the same, but what they all had in common was an undercurrent of ambition and liberty. Ultimately, being awarded the Endeavour Scholarship deepened my appreciation for American exceptionalism and confirmed my goals of studying law in NYC
Impressive achievement at the Victorian Junior Chess Championship
We are delighted to share the outstanding achievement of Ryley , who recently participated in the Victorian Junior Chess Championship, organised by Chess Victoria. This prestigious event was held from 17 to 20 July at Bacchus Marsh Grammar in Aintree, Victoria.
Ryley competed in the highly competitive under 18 years category and secured an impressive third place. His dedication to the game and strong performance against some of the best young chess players in the state is truly commendable.
Congratulations to Ryley on this fantastic result. His success is a testament to his hard work and passion for chess, and we look forward to seeing even more great achievements in the future.
Dr Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy Principal, Head of Senior Schools
Aikman Hall transforms into a realm of magic, mystery and wonder as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, will be performed on August 27, 28 and 29.
But this is not the wizarding world you know from the movies — it is Hogwarts but with a Haileybury twist.
Beneath the imposing gothic arches, meticulously built by our very own Mark Gardiner and Sean Breen, the stage becomes a gateway into another realm. Our talented cast and dedicated crew maximise every moment of time travel, friendship and magic.
So, take a break from your muggle routine and join us for the next chapter in JK Rowling’s epic saga.
Whether you are a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, we encourage you to don your house colours, and even dress up as your favourite characters.
Tickets are available at Humanitix: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child High School Edition
Nicole Smith
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Haileybury in Concert – a night to remember
Last Wednesday evening, Haileybury proudly presented its fifth Haileybury in Concert in the prestigious Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Nestled in the heart of Southbank, this world-class venue, renowned for its stunning architecture and exceptional acoustics, provided the perfect stage for our young musicians to shine.
The evening was nothing short of extraordinary. Featuring 12 Senior School large ensembles, the program showcased an inspiring range of classical, jazz and contemporary repertoire. Months of tireless rehearsal, countless hours of individual practice, and the combined efforts of 316 students, 62 music staff, dedicated administration, and supportive parents culminated in a performance that was both artistically brilliant and deeply moving. The sold-out audience — 750+ strong — experienced music-making of the highest calibre, brimming with energy, precision and heart.
Special highlights included a collaborative performance between the Stage Band and String Sinfonia with solo vocalist; and, for the first time, the evening concluded with a finale from the Haileybury Pipes and Drums, a rousing and unforgettable end to a remarkable night.
Haileybury in Concert is far more than a musical performance or concert night — it is a testament to the power of music education. Research consistently shows that participation in music fosters discipline, teamwork, resilience and creativity, while also building confidence and emotional intelligence. These qualities extend far beyond the rehearsal room, enriching every aspect of a student’s life.
For those involved, the memories made on this stage will be cherished for decades. The camaraderie between students, the thrill of performing in a world-class venue, the shared sense of achievement — these moments become part of each performer’s personal story. They are the memories that alumni will recall with pride, the moments that inspire a lifelong love of music.
In a world that often moves too quickly, nights like this remind us of the value of pausing to celebrate beauty, artistry and community. Haileybury in Concert is more than just an event on the calendar — it is a celebration of our school’s commitment to excellence, the transformative role of the arts, and the boundless potential of our young people.
We congratulate every student, staff member and supporter who made this magical evening possible. You have not only performed music, you have created history.
Visual Communication Design highlights
Our VCD students have enjoyed a dynamic semester, from inspiring excursions to the Top Designs exhibition at Melbourne Museum, to hands-on learning with the team at Melbourne’s iconic brand Crumpler.
Guided by owner Dave, designer Zac and head of production Eliza, students explored the end-to-end process of professional design and manufacturing. A standout moment was the creation of a signature Crumpler bag, with congratulations to Anthony whose design was selected and brought to life on-site — an achievement that will serve him well in his portfolio and career journey.
Unit 2 VCD students from all Melbourne campuses took part in an inspiring workshop with Boonwurrung, Yorta Yorta and Erub cultural educator, artist and designer Steven Ulula Parker. Steven shared his diverse design work, including the Haileybury AFL guernsey, and guided students through the Reconciliation Plan, Indigenous Design Charter and a Deep Listening Circle. These experiences encouraged reflection on intergenerational responsibilities and informed the creation of their own meaningful personal icons as part of the Unit 2 folio requirements.
Moving into the second half of Term 3, the Visual Arts department is abuzz with activity and anticipation. The coming weeks will see the culmination of a year’s worth of creative development across Media, Visual Communication Design, and Art Making and Exhibiting, alongside exciting opportunities for our students to exhibit their work, collaborate across disciplines and engage with our wider school community.
STEM Week collaboration
In Week 4, budding photographers teamed up with their science-minded peers to capture the wonder of STEM Week — think rocket launches, fascinating experiments and the thrill of discovery through the lens.
OHA Week and creative alumni
Week 6 will see us welcome back creative alumna and recent muralist, Ashley Tonelli, who will run a hands-on painting workshop for our Pre-Senior students. It is always inspiring to see how our graduates continue to shape the creative world beyond Haileybury.
House Art Competition
Also in Week 6, Houses will respond to the Senior School play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, with their own interpretations of a key set piece. These creations will be on public display during the show’s run — a magical blend of performance and visual storytelling.
ELC Nature Exhibition
For the first time, our youngest artists in the 3- and 4-year-old ELC programs will take over the new Keysborough gallery space with their nature-themed exhibition in Week 8. The ‘young at art’ show opens Monday 8 September from 5.00–6.00 pm and will bring major cuteness, joyful colour, and creativity to the Senior School during our Units 3 and 4 trial exam period.
Graduate Exhibition – save the date
The creative calendar builds to one of our major annual highlights: the Graduate Exhibition for the 2025 Units 3 and 4 cohort on Tuesday 14 October, Term 4 Week 2, from 4.00–6.00 pm. The new Visual Arts building will come alive across the gallery, upstairs studios and Media rooms in full cinema mode. Visitors will also get a sneak peek at works from talented Year 9 and Units 1 and 2 artists, designers and media creators coming through to their Units3 and 4 studies in the next few years. Formalities commence at 5.00 pm, with refreshments and interactive activities. Keep an eye out for more information in the coming weeks.
As the term draws to a close and Term 4 begins, we look forward to celebrating the incredible talent, vision and dedication of our Senior School Visual Arts students. We warmly invite you to join us at these upcoming events and share in the creativity that continues to thrive at Haileybury.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
The Pipes & Drums have had a busy start to Term 3, beginning with our Annual Pipes & Drums Presentation Evening. The Presentation Evening celebrates the success and progression of our competition bands and students involved. The evening was a huge success, and we would like to thank all who attended.
This month, the Pipes & Drums also performed for the boys and girls Haileybury Firsts Football Teams, when the Year 12 students played their final home game of the season. The Pipes and Drums performed in a guard of honour as the teams entered the ground. It was a pleasure for them to be involved and perform on this special occasion.
In between games, the Pipes & Drums also performed at the Newlands Campus Open Day. Tour attendees were left in awe of the Pipes & Drums, which are unique to Haileybury, and we look forward to supporting more campus open days in the future.
After a busy and successful season of solo piping, our Year 4 piper, Dylan, was awarded Piper of the Year by the Victorian Piping Association. This is an amazing achievement, and the Pipes & Drums staff are extremely proud of Dylan’s solo piping success. Congratulations Dylan.
Daniel Staley
Director of Pipes & Drums
Joyful Learning
What a happy first few weeks of learning we have enjoyed at Haileybury City in Term 3. You will read below of the adventures in learning to read, write, perform, think, wonder, lead, create, debate — the list goes on. The common denominator is JOY. We love spreading joy around the campus, and on every tour that I take people, they are always wowed.
We have recently welcomed students from our China and Darwin campuses. They were wowed by our ‘campus in the clouds’ where the sky is the limit. It is always a proud moment when I see our students flourishing and full of joy. We might not be in Kansas anymore, but we love being in City.
Enterprise Skills
At our recent School tours, I shared with prospective parents the importance of enterprise skills — the skills that are transferable no matter what career a young person pursues. The research suggests our graduates will have four or more careers in their lifetime and these enterprise skills will be more important than ever. Skills such as critical thinking, creativity, confidence, project management, intercultural understanding etc are taught intentionally to all our students, from our youngest to our oldest.
I am always delighted with our Junior, Middle and Senior School students who volunteer to help on School Tour days and challenge themselves to develop their skills to be personable, positive, warm and engaging with the hundreds of people who choose to visit. The students’ big smiles and willingness to converse with confidence showcase these important skills in action. The students who attended this term were a wonderful representation of the Haileybury magenta principles in action. Indeed, a proud moment for home and School as we continue our strong partnership developing character and confidence through contribution and service.
Apply slinkys with Mrs Merrick
As part of our focus on healthy eating, ELC children have enjoyed making and eating apple slinkys with Mrs Merrick, who introduced the children to a spiral cutting machine where we used whole apples that transformed into fun, curly shapes.
The activity promoted healthy eating in a fun, engaging way, while also supporting fine motor skills and independence. Children have been actively involved in the process, sparking conversations, counting, extending their vocabulary as they questioned and hypothesised their ideas, while learning about nutrition and making healthy choices
Zooming around the running track
The Reception and Pre-Prep children have commenced the ELC Scooter program which is developed by Mr Mark Reed, Chair of Athletics and Head of Girls Athletics at Haileybury.
The Scooter program supports and extends children’s gross motor skill development, with a particular focus on balance, coordination and spatial awareness.
The children have demonstrated great enthusiasm and confidence as they navigate the obstacle course, developing a strong awareness of personal safety as they understand respect and kindness when navigating their scooters on the track.
The ELC Scooter program is a valuable addition to our curriculum, encouraging physical confidence, independence and safe risk-taking in a fun and supportive environment.
100 Days Brighter
Our Prep students always brighten the Junior School with their bubbly dispositions, but they lit up the day for their 100 Days Brighter celebration. The class were excited to wear their brightest outfits and engaged in a variety of tasks throughout the day to explore the number 100 and celebrate their 100th Day of School. Pairing with their Year 4 buddies to make 100 Fruit Loop necklaces, completing ‘I wish I had 100 ...’ writing tasks, and showing a range of number patterns on their 100 charts were some highlights. City Campus was delighted to be joined by our Prep families for a special celebration in the afternoon. We are proud of our students for sharing what they love most about Prep in front of an audience, and performing some catchy tunes as the Prep Choir.
Semester 2 Leaders Induction
We are pleased to announce our Year 4 Leaders for Semester 2, 2025 have been inducted. These students shared careful thoughts and goals for their leadership roles at the Junior School Leaders Induction Assembly. Our leaders have already supported their co-captains throughout Semester 1, and proved that leadership can be demonstrated outside of official roles, particularly when no-one is watching! We are proud of our captains for embodying the Respectful Relationship Pillars, and they have already started the term acting as excellent role models for the Junior School.
Congratulations:
STEM Week
We were delighted to celebrate Careers in STEM as part of our STEM Week 2025. Thank you to our inspiring parents, who came to speak to their child’s class about their career in STEM. We have an amazing parent community who shared with students about their work as dentists, doctors, engineers, mathematicians and more. Our motivated younger students enjoyed playing as dentists, vets and doctors during their lunch play that week, while our Years 3 and 4 students engaged in an Astronaut Training Camp at lunch play, and robotics incursion to celebrate STEM Week.
The Wizard of Oz
Our Middle School students captivated audiences with their spectacular three-night production of The Wizard of Oz at the Gasworks Theatre. Like Dorothy’s journey down the yellow brick road, our students embarked on their own adventure, stepping confidently into the professional spotlight.
The opportunity to perform in a theatre venue provided our students with an authentic glimpse into the world of professional performance. Beyond enchanting evening audiences, our dedicated cast also brought the wonder of Oz to our Junior School community through a special daytime performance.
True to the spirit of the story, each cast member contributed their distinctive talents, demonstrating that collaboration — like the enduring friendship between Dorothy and her companions — creates magic far greater than individual efforts. We celebrate our Middle School students for their teamwork and embodiment of our community values throughout this production.
Our appreciation extends to our Haileybury Parents and Friends community, whose support resulted in three consecutive sold-out performances. Special recognition goes to our exceptional staff, led by Mrs Pip Bell, including Mr England, Mrs Schmidli, Ms Marshall, Mr Hicks, Ms Southgate, Mr Schaepman, Ms Moorby and Ms Elletson for their professional expertise in bringing this production to life.
Dance excellence: Nationals in Tasmania
We proudly celebrate our exceptional Years 7 and 8 students who have secured their place at Dance Nationals in Hobart, Tasmania. These talented performers, representing our cross-campus teams, delivered outstanding performances across hip hop and jazz routines.
Congratulations to our national qualifiers: Candela , Charlize , Richa , Josephine , Eden , Maggie , Nevindie , Catherine , Adele and Chloe.
STEM Week: Careers in STEM
Our Middle School STEM Expo transformed learning into a celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This dynamic week-long festival featured the thrilling Paper Aeroplane Competition, the ingenious Design a Rube Goldberg Machine Challenge, and the competitive E-Sports Tournament.
The week culminated in an inspiring STEM Showcase centred on Careers in STEM, where students explored fascinating professional pathways including forensic science, marine biology, cybersecurity, food science, meteorology, and bioinformatics. This immersive experience broadened students’ horizons, revealing the exciting diversity of opportunities within STEM fields and connecting their current interests to promising future careers.
These innovative, hands-on experiences reflect our unwavering commitment to nurturing student exploration and excellence in the ever-evolving world of STEM education. We extend our appreciation to Holly Emslie, Louise Elletson and Caleb Street for cultivating genuine passion and enthusiasm for STEM learning throughout our Middle School community.
MS Debating
Our Middle School Debating program has gone from strength to strength this year, with students building their skills through targeted workshops on structuring arguments, crafting persuasive points and working effectively as a team. These sessions laid the groundwork for students to step into formal debates last term, tackling real-world topics such as free school breakfasts and lowering the voting age.
In Term 2, the tightly contested House Debating added an extra layer of excitement for our Years 7 and 8 students, culminating in a tiebreaking debate with Newton House finally prevailing as the champion debaters. This term, it is the Years 5 and 6 students’ turn, as they prepare for their own round of House Debating.
We are also thrilled to be expanding interschool opportunities. Years 5 and 6 students will represent our school at the upcoming Regional Debating Day — their first experience in external competition — while Year 7s will take part in a series of workshops and interschool debates with the Junior Secondary program.
A special thank you to Ms Kelsey Collins for coordinating our flourishing Debating program.
Caroline Merrick
Head of City
Middle School Family Trivia Night - Friday, 14 June
Our Middle School Family Trivia Night on Friday, 14 June was a huge success and another sell-out event. The energy was high, the competition fierce and the atmosphere electric. Families enjoyed popcorn, pizza, lollies and a variety of trivia rounds that kept everyone engaged.
Creative challenges, including constructing a map of Australia using newspaper and other bits and bobs, added to the fun. The ever-popular chocolate toss was another crowd favourite, with gold coins flying across the room in support.
Proceeds from the evening have enabled the purchase of a gaga pit, allowing Middle School students to enjoy indoor soccer and other activities during downtime throughout the day.
A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers, the Haileybury Executive team for their support on the night, and the staff who helped with setup and popcorn cleanup. A special shoutout goes to Caroline Merrick, who continues to shine as our quiz master extraordinaire.
HPF City Second-hand Uniform Pop-up Shop
Did you know that the items that can’t be sold due to being damaged or not meeting our high-quality standards are donated to Noone to be recycled? Did you know we have an oversupply of boy’s grey Junior School shorts so don’t rush out to buy new ones — this and other items will soon be discounted.
Up Day is in November — more details to come. Check your child’s uniform and what you need on the myHaileybury app and update the wardrobe at the next SHUS on11 and 12 September.
Save the date – Springtime Party
Mark your calendars! The HPF City Springtime Party will be held on Friday, 24 October. It is one of our biggest events of the year. We are now accepting silent and live auction donations — all proceeds go back to support the students through resources and activities. Drop off goodies at City Reception or contact Michelle White at hpfcity@haileybury.com.au.
HPF City Executive and Social Reps Meeting
Our HPF Executive and Social Representatives came together to enjoy connection and a meal before our official meeting for Term 3. The meeting began with a welcome from the HPF City Co-Presidents, followed by updates from the Head of Campus and the Head of Senior School, who provided key insights into current priorities and developments across the school. Our Treasurer presented the finance report, outlining the current financial position and key budget considerations. A recap of the Middle School Trivia Night was shared, highlighting its success and community engagement. The SHUS update included a discussion on managing oversupply and discounted stock, along with a call out for new donations. The meeting concluded with planning and preparation for the upcoming Springtime Party.
As always, if you have any questions or would like to be involved in HPF City please do not hesitate to contact us directly or catch us around the school. Watch the myHaileybury app for more details or email us at hpfcity@haileybury.com.au with any questions or contributions.
Melissa Fisher and Michelle White
Co-Presidents, Haileybury Parents & Friends City
Transition
As we move through to the end of the year, our transition programs are now underway throughout the campus. Numerous opportunities are available for families and students to learn more about the upcoming stage of their educational journey.
Our Pre-Prep families had the opportunity on Wednesday, 13 August to meet the Head of Junior School, Ms Jodie McInnes and visit the Prep classrooms. They were able to see the explicit model of teaching and our impressive Prep students in action. Thank you to the families who joined us.
The Middle School Heads and Deputy Heads of Year 7 are hosting our current Year 6 families on Tuesday, 26 August to discuss what the second stage of Middle School looks like for our students. Details are available via the myHaileybury app.
As part of the transition into Middle School, our Year 4 students meet with Year 5 staff and spend time in the spaces they will move into. Our Heads of Middle School have already started to make visits to our Junior School.
The ELC students will commence their orientation program for Prep in Term 4 and families will be advised of dates as they draw closer.
Our ELC Orientation Day for those students entering Reception or Pre-Prep classes in 2026 is being held on Saturday, 22 October. Parents and children are invited to spend time in their new environment with staff.
We will host a Middle School Information session on Monday, 17 November for all Middle School families to hear about practical information to survive UpDay and everything that is required for preparing for the 2026 school year.
UpDay for all students is set for Tuesday, 18 November. Students from Prep through to Year 8, 2026 spend the day in their new year level meeting new faces, spaces and teachers and in some cases, subjects.
Being an upstander
An upstander by definition from the Oxford English Dictionary is a person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being attacked or bullied. Essentially, it is someone who chooses to take positive action in the face of injustice or when someone needs assistance, rather than a bystander.
We discuss the concept of upstanding with our students. From a young age, this conversation is about being kind, understanding emotions — ours and those of others — and helping our friends. As students move through their education, the term upstander is introduced, the concept is unpacked and more in-depth discussions around how to be an upstander take place.
In order to provide support for our students in this education piece, an incursion was organised for the Year 8 cohort prior to beginning their study of the novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and for the Year 5 cohort as they navigate their first year of Middle School.
The incursion is delivered by Courage to Care, whose experienced facilitators lead students through a developmentally appropriate examination of their own beliefs and behaviours. The program aims to encourage participants to recognise their capacity to effect positive change, providing practical strategies for addressing racism, bullying and prejudice. Participants are empowered to take constructive action within school environments, workplaces and the wider community.
Literacy in Action
Young children learn about the purpose and function of literacy through meaningful play and real-life experiences.
We promote literacy learning through play, songs, stories, games and discussions every day, taking a multi-sensory and developmentally appropriate approach.
Our Haileybury Early Years Literacy program uses a combination of the Jolly Phonics and Little Learners Love Literacy programs.
Congratulations to the Pre-Preps who are sharing their literacy skills with their families by taking home readers and literacy games, and to the Reception children who are now participating in weekly explicit literacy group times.
Scientists in action
Children are natural scientists, curious, hands-on, investigative and eager to solve problems through their everyday experiences. In the ELC, children engage in scientific thinking daily, often without realising the depth of learning taking place.
Our celebration of Science and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Week provides a focused opportunity to explore these areas more intentionally. Throughout the week, children engaged in a wide range of interactive experiences designed to ignite curiosity, foster creativity and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts.
A highlight for our Pre-Prep children was the opportunity to become scientists alongside Senior School teachers and student leaders. This meaningful connection fostered a sense of community, curiosity and shared learning across age groups.
Making a difference
Hampton High Reserve is changing! Lizard habitats with rocks and logs are being created, 200 shrubs have been planted and possum boxes are being decorated, all to enhance the local reserve and promote the return of wildlife. We encourage our community to visit and see how the ELC children are making a difference to our local community.
A magical milestone
Our Preps recently celebrated their 100th Day of School with the theme ‘100 Days Brighter.’ The day began with a parade around East Quad carrying handmade poppers, followed by activities with their Year 4 buddies. Teachers and parents took a moment to reflect on all the learning that has taken place over the last hundred days, be it social, emotional or academic. Teachers particularly note the independence and lack of teeth that mark this time of the year.
When asked about their favourite memory of school this year, they answered:
Austin – learning coding in computer science
Estelle – playing soccer in PE
Tim – making poppers in science
Anna – playing with my friends in East quad
Kylan – playing tag on the oval
Anya – learning about numbers
Levi – writing maths problems
Noah – learning how to write
Stella – making friends
House Leaders
Semester 2 House Leaders have been inducted and are now helping Year 4 students run recess and lunchtime clubs, much to the joy of our Junior School children. There is something for everyone across the timetable and leaders are honing this organisation and student management skills. Leaders have also taken to the stage to run assemblies. Managing their nervousness as they speak to the cohort has been one significant area of learning for some, whilst others are working on looking up from their script whilst speaking to connect with their audience.
What is happening in East Quad?
You may notice that the coloured boards outside classrooms are changing. We are happy to announce that Indigenous artist Bayley Mifsud will be sharing her beautiful artistry in Term 4 by painting murals that depict the six indigenous seasons Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang.
Try new things, word hard and be kind
At Middle School, we encourage our students to try new things, work hard, and be kind — three simple but powerful principles that help shape confident, compassionate and capable young people. Whether it is joining a new sport, taking part in a camp, or stepping outside their comfort zone to meet someone new, these values remind students that growth comes from embracing challenges with a positive attitude. Trying something new, especially when it feels unfamiliar or daunting, builds resilience and opens doors to discovering new passions and talents. Working hard ensures they develop the skills and discipline needed to thrive, and being kind fosters inclusive, supportive environments where everyone can feel safe and valued.
These values are especially evident in our upcoming Middle School musical production of The Little Mermaid Jr. For many students, this may be their first time performing on stage, learning lines, singing, dancing, or even helping behind the scenes with props and costumes. It takes courage to try out, commitment to rehearse, and teamwork to bring the story to life. Throughout the journey, students are learning to support one another, celebrate differences, and show kindness both on and off the stage. This production is not only a showcase of talent, but a celebration of our students living out the values we hold dear every day. We cannot wait for our school community to come and support these amazing Middle School students and show their appreciation and pride in students pursuing their passions.
Connections Breakfast
The Haileybury Castlefield Middle School students were delighted to host our 2026 Connections Breakfast, welcoming students and their families who will be joining our community in 2026.
It was an incredible morning with a fantastic turnout. Guests enjoyed special performances from our upcoming musical The Little Mermaid Jr, were inspired with words and advice from our amazing Year 8 leaders, and received a warm welcome from our Head of Campus, Katrina Manson. It was a wonderful way to begin their journey at Haileybury and to experience the spirit of our Castlefield community.
Katrina Manson
Head of Castlefield (Brighton)
Father's Day Lunch
Our Father’s Day Lunch on Friday, 5 September at True South is shaping up to be a wonderful event.
We are thrilled to announce that Matthew Dwyer will be the special guest at our inaugural Father’s Day Lunch.
As Haileybury’s new Head of Sport, Matt brings a wealth of experience from grassroots to global sporting arenas, including leadership roles at Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and Tennis Australia. He has also worked with some of the world’s biggest sporting brands, including the NFL, NBA and Wilson Sporting Goods.
Now in his second year in his role as Head of Sport across all Haileybury campuses, Matt is leading the development of a bold five-year sports strategy designed to expand opportunities for every student — whether they dream of becoming elite athletes or simply want to stay active and have fun. His focus is on making sport inclusive, memorable and meaningful for students, staff and families alike.
Matt’s passion for community and his commitment to shaping positive sporting experiences make him an inspiring voice for our school and a fantastic guest for this special celebration.
Matt welcomes any questions you may have about the sports program or his experience.
Father's Day Stall
We will be putting a call out for parents to come along and volunteer to assist our students in shopping for a gift for dad. The students enjoy perusuing and purchasing at our stall and it is thanks to the brilliant support of our parents that we are able to create this experience for them, and of course the splendid gifts for dad.
Haileybury Parents & Friends Castlefield
As we approach the midpoint of Term 3 in Darwin, I want to thank each and every member of our school community for the wonderful spirit of support and togetherness that has shone through this term.
Recently, we read that we have been rated by a comprehensive analysis by the Murdoch Media Group as the #89 Independent School in Australia and, we believe, the #1 Independent School in Australia with a substantial Indigenous cohort. We celebrate this wonderful form of affirmation that all our hard-working staff are achieving for our students.
It has been incredibly exciting at HRS to welcome our first-ever Study Tour from China from 10–24 August, when 43 international students from Years 7–9 joined us at our boarding house and at school, creating memories and building friendships that will last well beyond the journey itself. The students are from the elite Guangzhou Foreign Language School and are living in boarding, attending our Middle School classes and enjoying tourist adventures like Litchfield National Park. It was quite special to host 150 boarders for dinner last night.
We have also recently enjoyed sharing stories and information about our School at the Barunga Festival and at the Katherine, Alice Springs and Darwin Shows, where our students and staff represented the school with pride.
We have also recently enjoyed our inaugural student-led Sustainability Week, reminding us of the small but powerful ways we can each contribute to a better future for our planet. It was inspiring to see our students so engaged and passionate about caring for the world around them.
Looking ahead for rest of the term, there is much to be excited about. Our school musical, The Addams Family, is progressing extremely well and in mid-September promises to be a wonderful celebration of creativity, teamwork and talent. Furthermore, in Week 6, we will come together for the traditional HRS NAIDOC Week — an important time to honour, learn from, and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
I am proud of what we have achieved together this term. Thank you to our brilliant staff, students and families for the many ways you each contribute to making our School such a warm and vibrant community. I look forward to all that Term 3 will bring.
Andrew McGregor
Principal, Haileybury Rendall School
Alice in Wonderland Production
Our Middle School students took audiences down the rabbit hole to the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland. After months of hard work and rehearsals, they brought to life a vibrant show full of creativity, humour and warmth. Congratulations to our talented cast and crew, and to the dedicated staff who supported them along the way. A special thank you goes to Georgina Buttery, Tessa Kerekes, Jillian McRoberts, Rachel Hibberd, Rose Narhi and Campbell Reither for their hours of behind-the-scenes efforts that made Alice in Wonderland possible.
100 Days of School
Our Prep students celebrated the milestone of their first 100 days of school during Week 2. To mark the occasion they came to school dressed up as 100-year-olds. Throughout the day, they performed for the Junior School and the ELC, participated in various activities to investigate the number 100 and celebrated together with a special lunch. What a wonderful achievement and occasion.
STEM Week inspires students to explore future careers
This year’s STEM Week, themed Careers in STEM, was filled with engaging activities such as Astronaut Training Camp, Inventor’s Workshop, Nature Detective Walk, and Code-a-Story, to name just a few. A highlight of the week was hearing from parents working in STEM fields, who shared their experiences. They inspired students to imagine the many exciting career possibilities that science, technology, engineering and mathematics can offer.
The Outdoor Program is an essential part of children’s daily environment and life. Both indoor and outdoor environments offer significantly different, but complementary, experiences and ‘ways of being’ to the ELC children. We aim to have them available simultaneously and experienced jointly, with each having equal status and attention because both contribute to the children’s wellbeing, health, stimulation and overall learning and development.
Children have begun to immerse themselves in experiences that strengthen their thinking, fine motor skills, social connections, spatial awareness, balance, coordination and connection with nature.
Educators aim to provide an outdoor environment that is respectful of children’s emerging skills and competencies, and provides opportunities for them to make their own decisions and act independently. A balance of experiences in the outdoor environment facilitates shared thinking, including exploration, experimentation and hypothesising, all of which support and challenge the children as they learn.
Being Brave incursion
Recently, Brainstorm Productions presented their wellbeing performance, Being Brave, to our Junior School students. Being Brave is a live educational theatre production that aims to give students an insight into positive strategies they can use to help them deal with a range of emotions and cope when faced with challenges in their lives. Our Prep to Year 4 students watched intently as various characters navigated their way through a range of problems that many children experience in their everyday lives. Following the performance, students were provided with opportunities to discuss connections they made with the characters and explore how they can both build their resilience and seek help when it is required. This engaging incursion made strong links with our Zones of Regulation and Wellbeing programs and contained important messages for our students.
Below: Mia , Agam , Sandush , Shoban and Eleanor
Thrive incursion
Our Year 5 students became budding entrepreneurs during an exciting Mini Boss incursion, where they explored product design, development and marketing skills. Working in teams, they developed creative business concepts and confidently pitched their ideas. The day was a fun and engaging way to build teamwork, creativity, problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills. They will continue to build upon their learning during Thrive lessons this term.
My progress meetings
Student Progress Meetings were a valuable opportunity for families, students and teachers to come together and discuss learning, progress and wellbeing. These conversations are an important part of strengthening the home-school partnership and ensuring each student is supported in reaching their full potential. We thank all families for their time and support — working together makes a real difference in our students’ learning journeys.
Book Week
Book Week commences this week, and it is exciting to celebrate the joy of reading together. We look forward to authors such as Joel McKerrow and Nova Weetman visiting our school to inspire our students.
On Friday, 22 August, students are invited to dress up as their favourite book characters for our special Dress Up Day. If your child chooses not to dress in character, they should wear their school uniform.
Red Nose Day
This year, our Middle School is proud to support Red Nose Day which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome research. Students will have the opportunity to take part in a wonderful event to support this worthy cause. More information will be shared soon.
Jeanette Rawlings
Head of Edrington (Berwick)
Hello Edrington and welcome to Term 3. On Monday, 1 September we will be holding our annual Father’s Day Stall. There will be goodies for the students (ELC to Year 6) to purchase ranging from $2.00 to $10.00.
Thank you to all who have volunteered to help at our stall this year. We will be sending out a reminder/confirmation to you all this week.
If you are available to help set up the stall on Friday, 29 August after the Junior School assembly, at approximately 3.30 pm, it would be much appreciated.
Every Wednesday from 8.30 am to 11.00ham you will find Jenelle and Amphil in the Second-Hand Uniform Shop (SHUS). The SHUS is always looking for an extra hand, so if you have an hour to spare on a Wednesday to assist Amphil and Jenelle, please contact them at shus-berwick@haileybury.edu.au.
Kerry Ilic
HPFE President
Haileybury Foundation Thank You event
We take great delight in inviting Haileybury Foundation donors and supporters to our Thank You event which will be held on Thursday, 21 August at the Brighton campus.
We are looking forward to the event to show our appreciation for our donors and, importantly, to show our community the true impact of a gift to Haileybury Foundation.
Attendees at the event will include:
This is our way of showing the impact of your gift and our appreciation for your support. I do hope that we can see you there. Bookings can be made via the QR code or by calling 03 9904 6141.
Write your will for free
Haileybury community members have an exclusive opportunity to create their will for free through the online platform Gathered Here. This secure, easy-to-use service allows you to prepare a legally valid will in just minutes, from the comfort of your home. Having a will ensures your wishes are clearly documented and provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones. While there is no obligation, you may also choose to leave a gift to the Haileybury Foundation in your will — helping to provide life-changing scholarships for future generations. Start today and take advantage of this valuable, no-cost service.
Write your will and leave a gift to Haileybury Foundation
Social Media
The Haileybury Foundation is now on socials. To keep updated on Foundation activities, please follow us at:
www.Facebook.com/Haileyburyfoundation
https://www.linkedin.com/company/36137842
https://www.instagram.com/haileyburyfoundation
Your Foundation Team
Book Week is coming
The Children’s Book Council of Australia has announced this year’s exciting theme: Book an Adventure.
Students from Prep to Year 8 will be treated to engaging presentations by some of their favourite Australian authors, including Adam Wallace, Mark Smith, Alice Pung and George Ivanoff. They will have the chance to hear about each author’s unique writing and illustrating processes, where their story ideas come from, and the creative journeys that led them to become published artists.
Alongside our author visits, the library will be buzzing with fun Book Week activities such as book trivia, art competitions, lunchtime cartoons and creative Makerspace sessions. We will also be hosting our much-loved Book Fair during Week 4, giving students and families a chance to browse and purchase a range of new and popular titles.
Of course, Book Week would not be complete without our Junior School Dress-up Parade. We can’t wait to see students, librarians and staff come dressed as their favourite book characters.
A huge thank you to our wonderful library staff for all the work they are doing behind the scenes to make Book Week 2025 a memorable adventure for our students. Let’s get ready to celebrate the joy of reading.
What's on in the ELC
We have had a vibrant start to Term 3 in the Newlands ELC. Child safety is at the core of everything we do, and this term we were proud to once again partner with Kids ROAR to host a second online parent information session. These online sessions are designed to support families in continuing conversations around child safety, at home. By creating a shared language between school and home environments, we help ensure that our children feel heard, supported and confident in their right to be safe.
In the spirit of inquiry and discovery, we also took part in National Science Week with this year’s theme being Decoding the Universe – Exploring the Unknown with Nature’s Hidden Language. Our Pre-Prep children welcomed parent volunteers who lead incredible science-based activities. Meanwhile, our Reception children visited Mr Scardamaglia in the Middle School science labs to learn about photosynthesis.
Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate Book Week from Monday, 18 to Friday, 23 August, embracing this year’s inspiring theme, Book an Adventure. Our children and families have been busily preparing costumes inspired by their favourite stories, ready to parade proudly for their peers. We are eagerly anticipating hosting this year’s ELC Cross Campus Art Show at Keysborough, with the theme centred around nature. We can’t wait to see how each classroom brings the concept of nature to life through their own unique and creative interpretations.
JS Cricket Clinics
Run by Cricket Victoria, these sessions offered four weeks packed with cricket skills and games. It was the perfect chance for budding cricketers to hone their batting, bowling and fielding abilities in a fun and supportive environment. Whether participants were seasoned players or just starting out, the clinics catered to all skill levels. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from experienced coaches and enjoy the thrill of cricket with friends.
Sign up now: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/51c779
100 Days Prep celebration
On Friday, 1 August, our preps reached a spectacular milestone — 100 days of school. To celebrate, our bright little stars lit up the classroom in their most colourful, sparkly, neon and sunshine-themed outfits, showing just how much they have grown, shone and sparkled through 100 days of Junior School. The day was filled with exciting literacy and numeracy activities all about the number 100 — from counting to creating and everything in between. What a joyful, jam-packed celebration it was. Congratulations to our clever preps on 100 brilliant days.
Year 3 Camp - Forest Edge
From Wednesday, 3 to Friday, 5 September, The Year 3s from Newlands and Edrington will head off for a three-day camp at Forest Edge. Forest Edge is an adventure camp located in Neerim South. Students will participate in a wide variety of activities such as indoor rock climbing, bush walking, archery and the flying fox. They will practise persistence and independence. After dinner, students will enjoy a movie night and a trivia night, and they will lodge in cabins with their peers. There have been many excited discussions in the classrooms about what to expect and the students cannot wait to experience their first school camp.
Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical Jr
This year, Newlands Middle School students bring to life Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical JR in an adaptation from the full-length musical which was based on the book by Roald Dahl, and features a book by Dennis Kelly, and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
The show opened in the West End in 2011 and made its Broadway premiere in 2013. The musical earned seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, and five Tony awards, including the Tony for Best Book of a Musical.
Please see link below to get your tickets now.
https://events.humanitix.com/roald-dahl-s-matilda-the-musical-jr-wdfd3gqd
Sovereign Hill Gold Fever for the Year 5s.
The Year 5 students will be visiting Sovereign Hill in Ballarat for an exciting day excursion. This immersive experience will help students deepen their understanding of life on the goldfields in the 1850s.
At Sovereign Hill, students will explore the outdoor museum’s recreated goldfields town, complete with shops, diggings, costumed characters and demonstrations. Highlights will include:
This excursion will support learning goals by bringing history to life in an engaging and hands-on way.
Hugo Engele
Head of Newlands (Keysborough)
Welcome back
Welcome back to Term 3. I hope everyone had a wonderful break and some escaped the cold or ventured to colder places.
Thank you to all the families who filled out our questionnaire. The feedback is excellent and assists us in learning what the community would like from the HPFK.
At the end of last term we supported the Year 8 Medieval Day with a hot chocolate and Krispy Kreme donut offering which was a serious HIT on a chilly June day. We sold over 300 combos. Even though there was no shank cooking or bone gnawing as per the theme, it was still some fun. Thanks Jonelle, Kürsti and the other parent volunteers for helping on the day.
We have a few events planned in Term 3 so please look out for correspondence including the next HPFK committee meeting date.
Amy Ching
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Keysborough
Introducing the OHA Council for 2025/26
Congratulations to Clayton Ford (OH 1991), who has been elected as OHA President. We thank Millie Hogben (OH 2013) for her outstanding leadership and extraordinary contributions as outgoing Council President and wish her every success with her next chapter.
We welcome our newest members, Kiara Borgonha (OH 2021), Thomas Gale (OH 2024), William McCue (OH 2024), Vinay Lakshman (OH 2012), Abbey Leys (OH 2018), Jenna Shepherd (OH 2010) and Billy Si (OH 2004).
2025/26 OHA Council:
PRESIDENT: Clayton Ford (OH 1991)
VICE PRESIDENT: Dr James Kemper (OH 2012)
TREASURER: Ian Clydesdale (OH 1977)
Councillors:
Pavneet Arneja (OH 2006)
Kiara Borgonha (OH 2021)
Cooper Ford (OH 2023) (Assistant Treasurer)
Thomas Gale (OH 2024)
William McCue (OH 2024)
Vinay Lakshman (OH 2012)
Abbey Leys (OH 2018)
Brenton Loughnan (OH 2012)
Simge Ozkul (OH 2015)
Brad Petry (OH 2001)
Shankar Pillai (OH 2006)
Jenna Shepherd (OH 2010)
Billy Si (OH 2004)
Thank you all for volunteering your time, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead.
We also want to thank and acknowledge our retiring Council members: Melissa Allen (OH 2009) and Zara Scammell (OH 2022). Your service has made a lasting impact.
A magnificent evening with Academy winner Adam Elliot
Over 120 alumni, guests and film enthusiasts attended an exclusive private screening of Memoir of a Snail with Academy Award® winning animation writer and director, Adam Elliot (OH 1989).
Following the screening, attendees were treated to an intimate and engaging Q&A with Adam, when he generously shared fascinating insights into the creative journey behind this remarkable film. It is a cinematic gem you won’t want to miss.
Celebrating community: HRS Melbourne Alumni and Staff Reconnect
The Haileybury Rendall School (HRS) Melbourne dinner, held at The Bank on Collins, was a memorable evening filled with warmth and connection. HRS alumni and staff, including Craig and Kerry Glass and Janeanne Lee, came together to share stories, celebrate friendships and rekindle the strong bonds that make the HRS community so special.
No matter which campus of Haileybury you attended or where in the world you live, the OHA is always here to support you.
Celebrating a decade of memories
Nearly 100 members of the Class of 2015 enjoyed a fabulous night celebrating their 10-year reunion at Valhalla. We thank them for staying connected with the OHA, and more importantly, with each other.
OHA City Generations Breakfast
We were delighted to celebrate with our City campus OHA Generational families earlier this month. Thank you for joining us at this special breakfast to honour your shared connection to Haileybury. A special thanks also to Haileybury’s incredibly talented String Quartet for providing such beautiful music.
We look forward to hosting the final OHA Generations Breakfast for 2025 at the Keysborough campus during OHA Week on Wednesday, 27 August.
The OHA Office is here for all members and we encourage you to reach out if required via stayconnected@haileybury.com.au or contact me on 03 9904 6615.
Kylie Phillips
Development Office Operations Lead
Term 3
Term 3 is always a time for hard work and consolidation of pre-existing knowledge, as students move towards the completion of the curriculum in each of their subjects. The VCE trial examinations will be in Weeks 8 and 9. All School Assessed Coursework (SACs) for Units 3 and 4 studies will be completed by Week 8. This allows teachers and students to focus on revision and examination practice throughout the September break and the early weeks of Term 4.
Pre-Senior Explore and Expeditions
Haileybury’s entire Year 9 cohort will spend the final two weeks of term engaged in a range of experiential learning activities at various locations around Australia and the world more broadly. Our students from Haileybury Girls College will complete their options which have seen groups travel to places as diverse as India, Panama and New Zealand. It provides a wonderful opportunity for them to diversify their travel experiences. Year 9 Haileybury College students will be out on expeditions which involve them completing challenging hikes and sleeping out under canvas. Our students are really building their resilience under difficult circumstances.
VCE trial examinations and revision sessions
For students studying Units 3 and 4 , Haileybury will conduct a series of trial examinations from Tuesday, 8 to Friday, 12 September in Term 3. A copy of the trial examination timetable is available to students and parents via the myHaileybury app.
Families should also be aware that Haileybury academic staff will run a series of revision workshops for Units 3 and 4 studies throughout the September school holidays. While attendance at these sessions is not compulsory, families may want to take this into account when planning holidays.
Tertiary pathways information for Years 9 and 10 students
As students move into the VCE years, both students and their families often have questions about how their academic pathways at Haileybury match up against university pre-requisites in the coming years. In the past, each Year 10 student has received a copy of a VTAC Year 10 Guide to help with this planning. VTAC has now moved all information contained within this guide to their website. This website contains information about VCE subject selection, scaling of VCE study scores and a section called prerequisite and course explorer which provides information on tertiary entry requirements for students who will enter universities or other tertiary institutions. While Haileybury will continue to provide both students and parents with information about subject selection and university entrance throughout the next three years, this guide is an effective way for Years 9 and 10 families to familiarise themselves with the jargon associated with the VCE and tertiary entrance.
Year 11 Semi-Formal
After months of planning, and mounting excitement, the Year 11 Semi-Formal was held on Thursday, 14 August. The stunning venue of Leonda by the Yarra was transformed into the perfect place for a celebration of the entire Year 11 cohort and teachers.
Memories made were marked by not only professional photos, but also a playful photo booth with seemingly endless and hilarious prop options. Students carried themselves with immense class and respect throughout the event and ensured that it was a clean and safe space for everyone. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the cohort and their dedicated teachers, whose tireless efforts in organising and chaperoning the event were key to its success.
Jemma shines at Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Wales
We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievements of Jemma, who has just returned from representing Australia at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Wales. Jemma’s dedication and hard work truly paid off, as she delivered a stellar performance on the international stage.
Throughout the competition, Jemma achieved several personal bests, showcasing her commitment to continual improvement and excellence in her sport. Her efforts not only contributed to her personal growth but also played a significant role in the team’s overall success.
Jemma’s campaign was marked by a collection of medals, both as part of the Australian team and in individual events. These impressive results are a testament to her skill, determination and team spirit. Competing against some of the best lifesavers from across the Commonwealth, Jemma demonstrated remarkable resilience and sportsmanship.
Representing Australia at this level is an incredible honour, and Jemma’s achievements have made us all extremely proud. Congratulations to Jemma on her brilliant results and for being such an inspiring ambassador for both her sport and our community.
Andi - Endeavour Scholarship recipient
In July this year, I was selected as one of 34 students from seven different countries to take part in the prestigious Endeavour Scholarship: a fully-funded cultural exchange program aimed at immersing students in American culture and opportunities to work at NASA.
The program began in the US capital of Washington D.C., where we toured iconic landmarks including the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the Pentagon and (of course) the White House. Then, we flew to Huntsville, Alabama to attend Space Camp, where we lived, trained and learnt like astronauts through a combination of theoretical lectures on flight physics and space law combined with hands-on training with flight simulators and zero gravity experiences.
I was lucky to shake hands with Charlie Duke, the youngest man to walk on the moon, who educated our group on the aerospace industry. What struck me was the sheer variety of participating cultures who all had a deep appreciation for STEM and space. Finally, we travelled to Nashville, Tennessee where we toured the city’s famous nightlife; the US is a big country, and each city we travelled to was never the same, but what they all had in common was an undercurrent of ambition and liberty. Ultimately, being awarded the Endeavour Scholarship deepened my appreciation for American exceptionalism and confirmed my goals of studying law in NYC
Impressive achievement at the Victorian Junior Chess Championship
We are delighted to share the outstanding achievement of Ryley , who recently participated in the Victorian Junior Chess Championship, organised by Chess Victoria. This prestigious event was held from 17 to 20 July at Bacchus Marsh Grammar in Aintree, Victoria.
Ryley competed in the highly competitive under 18 years category and secured an impressive third place. His dedication to the game and strong performance against some of the best young chess players in the state is truly commendable.
Congratulations to Ryley on this fantastic result. His success is a testament to his hard work and passion for chess, and we look forward to seeing even more great achievements in the future.
Dr Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy Principal, Head of Senior Schools
In the spirit of reconciliation, Haileybury acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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