Campus News
Graduation celebrations
The Haileybury College class of 2025 has officially graduated.
It is always an exciting and very emotional time of the year for our Year 12s as they gather for a series of formal and informal events to celebrate the culmination of their schooling.
Friday, 17 October was the last time the entire cohort were together as they attended their final senior school assembly. Afterwards, they enjoyed something to eat from the food trucks provided by the Old Haileyburians Association and then returned to Aikman Hall to present their own Year 12 Review which was a wonderful combination of onstage performances and amusing video anecdotes and farewells.
On Monday, 20 October (Haileybury College) and Tuesday, 21 October (Haileybury Girls College) were fondly farewelled by their Houses, led by their Heads of House, in gatherings that are always very moving.
The Haileybury College assembly, after the awarding of the House shields, was an opportunity for their outstanding school captain, Timothy Dang, to deliver his final speech to Years 10–12, with the Haileybury Girls College school captain, Nia , reducing her peers to tears in her emotional speech to the senior school. The event ended with the ceremonial furling of the flag, a symbol of the end of the Year 12 cohort’s time at the school, ready to be unfurled by the incoming 2026 student leaders.
A highly enjoyable lunch followed while the students heard from nominated peers and staff, which concluded the more informal part of the day.
The evening saw the students officially graduate, proudly walking across the stage to the applause of their teachers and loved ones who have been such a pivotal part of their academic journey. The Valedictory Dinner held at Crown Palladium was a fitting farewell to this outstanding group of students.
For the next few weeks, the students will be undertaking their final exams. We wish them all the best and thank the class of 2025 for their service to the School.
Support during examinations
All students in Senior School have been engaging in examinations and our Units 3 and 4 students will continue to sit exams in the coming weeks, so I encourage every family to do all they can to support their children during this time.
While examinations will be a normal part of our students’ lives for the foreseeable future, VCE examinations can become all-consuming for the young people in our care. A degree of encouragement from parents is always useful in helping students prepare for examinations; however, it is always important to balance this with the message that we will support them if things do not go as planned.
If you have any concerns about your child either during or post-examination period, please make sure that you contact their relevant Head of Pre-Senior or Head of House to discuss the support that Haileybury can offer.
Pre-Senior 2025
The Pre-Senior year continues to be one of extraordinary growth, adventure and self-discovery for our Year 9 students. The recent Explore and Expeditions program was once again a highlight of the year, offering unforgettable experiences that challenged and inspired in equal measure. From the mountains of Tasmania to the waterways of the Whitsundays, and from community service in Vietnam to learning resilience on the Larapinta Trail, our students returned with countless stories of friendship, courage and personal growth.
A whole-hearted thank you to everyone for your planning, support, encouragement, professionalism and care. Watching all of this in action has been inspiring to see. There are many reasons that could be put forward not to provide such a wide range of experiences, but we must. The growth, the cultural understanding and the extraordinary experiences that the students have are essential to their development.
Among the many wonderful stories from this year’s programs was one group who left a handwritten note of thanks for their cleaner, recognising her kindness and effort. It was a small act, but one that beautifully captured the heart of what Explore and Expeditions is about: gratitude, empathy and a genuine connection to others.
As we look ahead, the Pre-Senior calendar remains full of opportunity and . The Annual Colour Run, held at Berwick, will raise funds for The Smith Family. A fun-filled day will be had by all, complete with colour, music, a BBQ sausage and a drink.
Soon after, the Pre-Senior Examinations will take place, allowing students to demonstrate the academic growth and maturity they have developed throughout the year. Then students will take part in City CHASE 2025, an exciting hands-on learning experience designed to help them build independence, teamwork and confidence as they navigate Melbourne.
The year concludes with the Years 9 and 10 Transition Day on 14 November, a proud milestone marking the beginning of their Senior School journey.
Pre-Senior remains one of Haileybury’s most defining years, when students step forward with curiosity, courage and a growing sense of who they are and what they can achieve.
Dr Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy Principal and Head of Senior Schools
