Campus News
Celebrating Ten@City
It has been an exciting term for each School, as we celebrate ten years at City. ELC have enjoyed their Adventure Afternoon in Flagstaff Gardens, Junior School had a ball at the Boardgame Bonanza, Middle School have their Trivia Night coming up and Senior School enjoyed their inaugural City Meet.
Each Head of School designed an experience that was age and stage appropriate, with the focus on connection and belonging, learning and celebration. I thank them all for their creativity, commitment and sense of fun. Each experience has been truly memorable for all those who have attended.
Senior School City Meet
Lucy Cumming, Head of Senior School at City and her wonderful team of Senior School colleagues planned the ‘City Meet’; two hours after school of networking, upskilling and capacity building. The focus was on the students being ‘future ready’ with the transferable skills that will be required in all careers and industries. We invited 14 alumni from our Old Haileyburians Association (OHA), including some City graduates from 2020–2025. Russell Davidson, OHA Director, hosted three panels where our students learnt how to stand out in person and in their CV, what makes a great colleague, and the importance of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities in your life.
The vital skill of networking was taught and then practised by our students, who engaged with growing confidence and active listening as the night unfolded. Finally, we celebrated our City’s tenth birthday with a trip down memory lane and a magenta birthday cake. So successful was the evening that half an hour after it had finished, we had to politely ask everyone to leave, such was the interest in networking with the amazing Old Haileyburians.
Our students are fortunate to attend a school where enterprise and entrepreneurship flourish, where our focus is always on character and contribution. Our OHA alumni commented on how exceptional our students were in engaging with them on the night. They are indeed ready for the future, no matter which road they travel. I thank our Old Haileyburians who gave up their time to pay it forward and assist the next generation of Old Haileyburians. Once a Haileyburian, always a Haileyburian.
Early Learning Centre
Exploring life cycles
In Reception, the children have been learning about life cycles and how living things grow and change over time. Through engaging stories, discussions, observations and intentional teaching moments, the children explored the life cycles of butterflies, chickens and frogs.
The children were fascinated to discover the different stages of growth and eagerly shared their ideas and questions. They enjoyed observing the changes, making predictions and talking about what they noticed. These experiences helped to develop their curiosity about the natural world while building early scientific skills such as observing, comparing and communicating their findings.
We encourage you to continue these discussions at home by looking for signs of growth in plants or insects, and together discussing the changes you see.
Grandparents and Special Friends Morning
Our Grandparents and Special Friends Morning was a wonderful celebration of the loving relationships that enrich our children’s lives. Families joined us to share in a range of engaging experiences, creating meaningful memories alongside the children. It was heartwarming to see the joy, laughter and connections between generations as they explored, played and learnt together. Thank you to all the grandparents and special friends who attended and helped make the morning such a memorable occasion.
ELC Adventure and Games
As part of our ten-year ELC celebrations at City, the ELC children and families enjoyed a wonderful Adventure and Games afternoon at Flagstaff Gardens. Surrounded by friends, laughter and excitement, the children engaged in a petting zoo, met two police officers, created balloon animals and played a variety of games including the parachute with their families. The event was a wonderful way to celebrate our community and the meaningful relationships that make our ELC such a caring and special place for children and families.
Junior School
Junior School Family Board Game Bonanza
To commemorate a decade of growth and community at City campus, each school organised a unique event designed to unite families and reflect on the remarkable journey since the campus first opened its doors. The Junior School hosted the vibrant Family Board Game Bonanza, where, thanks to the generous support of the HPF City community, a wide array of engaging board games, card games and outdoor activities were purchased and unboxed for the very first time. Junior School students and siblings from across the Early Learning Centre, Middle School and Senior School, along with their parents, came together to revel in the joyous atmosphere. The spirit of friendly rivalry was alive, with intense matches of giant Jenga and fiercely competitive rounds of Snakes and Ladders, creating memorable moments of laughter and connection. To add a festive touch to the occasion, everyone enjoyed delicious Ten@City cupcakes, spiralled apples, savoury rolls and board-game bites, ensuring the tenth-birthday celebration was as delightful as it was memorable. One lucky family even won an unbeatable gaming hamper full of goodies to continue the fun at home. It was truly a wonderful occasion.
Junior School String Recital
On Friday 29 May, the City Campus proudly hosted its annual Junior School String Recital, transforming the Ground Floor Assembly area into a vibrant hub of musical storytelling. Students from Years 2–4 showcased their talents on violas, violins, cellos and double basses, captivating the audience with a unique rendition of Little Red Riding Hood – Not Quite! This imaginative twist on the classic tale featured live backing music, expertly performed by the students to complement the story’s surprising new ending. The event was made even more special by the presence of many parents, whose attendance contributed to the celebratory atmosphere and provided well-deserved recognition for the students’ dedication, practice and outstanding performances.
Middle School
Dance and Aerobics Display Night
Our City students truly shone on stage at this year’s Display Night. Our Years 5–6 students delivered an outstanding performance of We Built This City, which was quite apt. Students from Years 5–8 took part in City Aerobics, and our Years 7–8 students featured in the cross-campus pieces. Dance and Aerobics are an important part of the fabric of life at City for many of our students, and it was wonderful to see the commitment, energy and teamwork our students brought to the evening. A huge thank you to Molly Back for her dedication as both Aerobics coach and coordinator, and Ms McNamara as Dance coordinator.
Cross Country
Our students experienced a quintessentially Melbourne day out at Berwick for the cross-campus Cross Country. City students performed exceptionally well across the board, with Deeya taking out first place in the Year 8 girls’ event, and Hudson and Lucia also earning medals in their first Middle School cross country race. It was special to see our City House spirit on full display throughout the day.
Curious Minds Week
Students had the wonderful opportunity to hear from City parents and industry experts about the role of AI across a diverse range of fields, including technology, education, business, engineering, data science and innovation. The week culminated in a memorable evening with a talk from astronaut Eric Philips, which was a highlight for both students and families who attended the event.
A continued focus on reading
The school holidays are the perfect opportunity to pick up a great book. Some of our most popular recent borrowings from the library include:
- Years 5 and 6 Boys – The Academy Series by T.Z. Layton (great for soccer lovers)
- Years 5 and 6 Girls – Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens and One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
- Years 7 and 8 Girls – anything by Ann Liang, Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody, or The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
- Years 7 and 8 Boys – Scythe by Neal Shusterman, The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, or The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
We love reading at City.
Caroline Merrick
Head of City
Haileybury Parents & Friends City (HPF City)
HPF City was well represented with over 14 tables at the recent Haileybury Gala Ball held Saturday 23 May at the Crown Palladium. The ball brought together Haileybury parents, staff and alumni for an evening of dining, dancing and fundraising. And dance we did! The food, company, entertainment and dancing moves saw top marks awarded all round. Special thanks to Elena Shovelton from Haileybury City for donating a $1,500 furniture voucher from MCM House to support fundraising for the Haileybury Foundation.
HPF City supported many of the 10@City birthday celebrations held across the City campus by providing a sweet treat at each event.
The JS Board Games Bonanza event was held on Friday 22 May. Over 100 Junior School students and families attended Level 3 for a board game or two. Along with some snacks to keep the energy levels high, a whiz fizz and special Haileybury designed cupcake were part of HPF City’s sweet treat contribution.
Other celebratory activities included the ELC petting zoo accompanied by the balloon maker extraordinaire, and a HPF City lolly and treats bag.
Our Middle School Trivia event was also a huge success, and a further update will be provided in the next edition.
The Senior School City Meet was fabulous, and HPF City provided the birthday cakes that were shared and enjoyed by all.
Save the date and call out for support
Our Winter Warmer Party is set for Friday, 21 August. Save the date now because it will be a sell-out.
We also need your help to ensure our fundraising efforts for HPF City can be a reality, supporting our students and our HPF City goals. We are now taking donations for a product, service, experience, or something that we can auction on the night. Our parents love bidding for items such as a weekend away, a spa voucher or a gourmet hamper. Have you received a gift that you won’t use, or would you like to donate a case of wine, a bottle of bubbles, or money to buy a prize; these can all be added to our great hampers. One of the most popular silent auction items remains our family chocolate and game hamper, so feel free to donate anything for this one. Please be in touch with us at hpf@haileyburycity.com.au or drop off your items at City Reception, marked attention HPF City.
Michelle White & Andrea Livingston
HPF City Co-Presidents
