Campus News
Welcome back
It was wonderful to welcome students back for Term 2 on Tuesday, 21 April. I hope everyone had a great break and the chance to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. A reminder that students may wear either the summer uniform or full school uniform (winter) for the first two weeks of term. From Monday, 4 May, all students are required to wear the full school uniform (winter), which includes a blazer.
Haileybury Ball
Join us for a night to remember at The Haileybury Ball on Saturday, 23 May at Crown Palladium. The Haileybury Ball is a chance for our wonderful community to come together, celebrate and enjoy an evening filled with laughter, dancing and great company. Book your tickets here.
If you have any prizes to donate for the raffle please contact your Head of Campus.
SOAR – Safe Online Actions and Relationships
After a successful launch late last year, the Parent Toolkit, alongside Live Events and micro-credentials, is now live and available for families via the myHaileybury app.
In Term 1, Dr Judith Locke joined our campus to discuss how to raise capable and resilient young people. Her humour and practical ideas were brilliant, and I know everyone walked away with something they wanted to implement at home. Live Events for Term 2 include Brad Marshall at our Berwick campus and Maggie Dent at Keysborough. In Term 3, Kirra Pendergast will join us at Brighton. Parents are welcome to attend all sessions, and further information will be communicated.
We also hosted a Family Agreement session for our Year 5 families on how to create a shared set of guidelines for technology use at home. Information and resources are available on the SOAR site so all families can set up their own Family Agreements at home.
If you have not already had a look at the SOAR icon on the myHaileybury app, now is the time to explore the expert videos, practical advice and age-appropriate guidance to help you navigate your child’s online world with confidence.
Early Learning Centre
A hopping good time: ELC Bilby Hunt
To celebrate the end of a fantastic term, ELC children took part in an exciting Bilby Hunt around the School grounds. With clues to follow and questions to answer, the children explored familiar areas of the School in search of the elusive Easter Bilby.
This interactive adventure encouraged problem-solving, teamwork and a sense of community as the children eagerly pieced together each clue. It was a delightful way to bring families together and create joyful memories before the term break.
Routines and rituals
For young children, who are still developing their understanding of time and transitions, routines provide a framework that anchors their day. When children know what comes next, they feel confident, calm and ready to engage.
Rituals create a sense of belonging and community, promoting positive relationships among children and educators. One ELC ritual to mark the beginning of the day is when the children gather on the mat for their morning meeting to connect with their peers and share a promise to our land.
Over time, rituals become cherished moments that children carry with them, reinforcing the culture of learning and values.
We encourage families to maintain clear and predictable routines at home, particularly in the mornings. We know a consistent start to the day will help children settle back into Term 2 and be ready for playful learning.
Junior School
Peninsula Outdoor Camp
Our Year 4 students ventured down the peninsula for their two-night camp and it was a great experience. Time spent at the beach was definitely the favourite, whether it was digging holes, body surfing or doing handstands. For many students, the challenges of camp continue to be putting on a fitted sheet and trying new foods. Teachers were impressed with the manners of our children and the attitude towards trying activities that were a little outside their comfort zone. Well done to everyone who made camp so great.
House Spirit
We love a dress-up day in the Junior School, and being decked out in House colours was a great way to end the term. The day started with the annual Coin Trail fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal and ended with House Music. Children had been collecting their coins across the term to run along lines throughout the School, and then Senior School students ran activities on the oval. In the afternoon, the Junior School competed for the House Music Cup, with Prep–Year 2 and Years 3–4 choirs on stage singing their hearts out.
Middle School
Reflecting on camps
Term 1 has been filled with unforgettable outdoor experiences for our Middle School students, and what a joy it has been to see them thrive beyond the classroom. Each year level embraced unique opportunities on camp: our Year 5 students explored Phillip Island, Year 6 ventured to Canberra, Year 7 tackled the challenges of Rubicon Valley, and Year 8 enjoyed the beauty of Marysville. Across these experiences, students stepped outside their comfort zones, challenged themselves and discovered new strengths. They formed new friendships, strengthened existing ones and learnt the true value of teamwork and resilience. Whether hiking, exploring, or sharing stories together, they created lasting memories that will stay with them for years to come.
Play, sport and the joy of childhood
Back on campus, sport at Castlefield is well and truly alive. Our ovals, courts, table tennis tables, basketball and netball rings, and four-square courts are constantly buzzing with energy. It is wonderful to see skills developing, friendships growing and being nurtured, and problem-solving happening naturally through play.
Most importantly, it is a reminder of the simple joy of childhood; students being active, engaged and truly enjoying being kids. As our wonderful guest speaker Dr Judith Locke says, “Children need a childhood. It’s not a training program for adulthood; it’s a time to play, explore and learn through experience.” What a fantastic start it has been to the year.
Katrina Manson
Head of Castlefield (Brighton)
Haileybury Parents & Friends Castlefield (HPFC)
Term 1 - Easter Event
Our term ended with an explosion of fun and community celebration at our HPFC Easter event. The campus was filled with students on the hunt for the missing bunnies that our Senior School students were carefully hiding and protecting. Our parent volunteers provided wonderful support with their exceptional BBQ skills, assisting with yard games and handing out prize Easter eggs for completing the bunny hunt. There were sightings of the Easter Bunny dancing, and the obstacle course and ice cream truck were firm favourites. A big thank you to all families who came along and contributed; HPFC and Castlefield are richer for your support.
Mother's Day Lunch and raffle
We are looking forward to another wonderful occasion when we host our annual HPFC Mother’s Day Lunch on Friday, 8 May. To support our 2026 fundraising goal of $30,000, HPFC is hosting a special community raffle with an incredible collection of prizes generously donated by local businesses.
We are selling tickets for $30 each, and funds raised will go directly towards the HPFC Scholarship Fund, new sports equipment selected by our student leaders, and milestone keepsakes for Years 6 and 12 students.
This raffle offers great chances to win, all while supporting our students and school community. For full details of the prizes on offer, and to purchase your tickets, please visit: https://events.humanitix.com/hpfc-mother-s-day-raffle-tickets.
Second-hand Uniform Shop (SHUS)
The Second-hand Uniform Shop (SHUS) has an extensive collection of excellent quality second-hand items available, and a wonderful team of parent volunteers to support you in selecting your items. Conveniently located on campus in the Rouen Building, SHUS also accepts donations throughout the year. It is open:
- every Wednesday afternoon, 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
- every Thursday morning, 8.15 am – 10.15 am
Casey Harris
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Castlefield
Parking
Parking around the property can, at times, be difficult. Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our Haileybury community. Could families leaving via the South Road exit, please take care when turning onto South Road, particularly as the pedestrian crossing is so close to the exit.
Remember that all exits from the School to Villeroy and Rouen Streets close at 6.00 pm nightly. If you are attending an evening function, we encourage you to park on South Road and enter through the front gate.
There is no drop-off/pick-up zone in Rouen Street, with parking restrictions in place along one side at busy school start and end times.
There are clearly signed two-minute parking spaces outside our Villeroy Street gate. These should be used as a ‘kiss-and-go’ zone rather than for disembarking from your car. Cars should not be left unattended.
Families are encouraged to use the roundabout via the South Road entrance as the preferred drop-off and pick-up location.
Please be considerate of the residents in the streets surrounding our School.
