Campus News
Graduation celebrations
Haileybury class of 2026 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, 16 October was the last time the entire cohort was together as they attended their final senior school assembly. Afterwards, they enjoyed 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, 19 October (Haileybury Girls College) and Tuesday, 20 October (Haileybury 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, George, to deliver his final speech to Years 10–12, with the Haileybury Girls College School Captain, Isabelle, reducing her peers to tears in her emotional speech to the Senior School. The event ended with the ceremonial laying of the School Colour, a symbol of the end of the Year 12 cohort’s time at the School, ready to be unfurled by the incoming 2027 student leaders.
A highly enjoyable lunch, followed by the students hearing from nominated peers and staff, 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 2026 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 families 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 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.
City Poetry
Congratulations to Year 10 student Mehak , who has been named a finalist in the 2026 Student Poetry Competition. Mehak has been invited to attend Independent Schools Victoria’s Celebration of Student Poetry, an evening dedicated to recognising the talent, creativity and achievements of this year’s entrants, culminating in the announcement of the competition winners.
Victorian Volunteer Award
Congratulations to our incredible Year 10 student Lochie who was recently recognised through the Victorian Volunteer Awards. A finalist, Lochie was recognised for his significant contribution to SYN Media which he joined in 2024 at the age of 14 as a volunteer presenter, co-presenting The Hoist before becoming the Executive Producer of Amplify, SYN’s dedicated under-18's show. Lochie’s commitment to service reflects the generosity, initiative and community-minded spirit we value so highly at City. Well done, Lochie.
Practice Exams - Saturdays at City
‘Saturdays at City’ has a certain ring to it. We have been impressed by the students undertaking Units 3 and 4 studies who attended a full or half day of practice examinations on Saturday, 17 October. We will host two further Saturday sessions, complete with invigilators, to provide students with valuable practice under timed examination conditions. We continue to be inspired by their diligence and commitment to their studies.
City debaters
It has been an exciting end to the Debating season at Haileybury City, with three teams progressing through to the finals. Under the indefatigable coaching of Mr John Mavridis, our D Grade team of Year 9 students remained undefeated all season, progressing through the playoffs and into the octo finals. At the end of their first season, their future as debaters is certainly bright.
Our C Grade team of Aasha, Mehak, Tani, Alana and Amy, also undefeated, progressed through to the quarter finals where, in a close debate, they narrowly lost in split decision by the adjudicators. This places them in the top eight teams out of 500 across the state.
Our B Grade team of Ashwyn, Edward, Justin, Ruhaan and Krish have progressed through to the semi-finals, positioning them amongst four teams in the state. We wish them well as they continue their debating crusade.
Haileybury crowned interschool state chess champions
Congratulations to Haileybury’s chess teams on an exceptional performance at the Interschool State Chess Finals.
Team 1 secured first place, earning the opportunity to represent Haileybury at the Australian Schools Teams Chess Championships in Canberra this December. Team 1 comprised Ryley, Kenny, Justin, Tiger and Jayden, while Team 2 was represented by Emily, Gautam, Alan, Evan and Damian.
A special congratulations to Year 7 student Justin, who competed on Board 1 and received the board prize as the tournament’s best-performing player.
This outstanding achievement reflects the skill, focus and teamwork demonstrated by all students involved. We congratulate both teams on their success and wish Team 1 the very best as they prepare to compete on the national stage.
Australian Defence Force 2026 Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Awards
The ADF Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Awards honour Years 10 and 12 students who demonstrate leadership, teamwork, community involvement, and values such as respect, doing one’s best and mateship. Established in 2006, they are coordinated by the Australian Defence Force and delivered through participating schools.
Congratulations to Lila, Year 12 and Tyson, Year 10 on receiving this award for 2026.
Global Essay Prize Finalists
We are delighted to congratulate Anay, Anjan, Wisdom and Aaiyan on being named finalists in the John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize. The international competition challenges young people to think independently, develop their knowledge and present clear, persuasive arguments on demanding questions beyond the school curriculum. Entries are assessed by senior academics from leading universities, making finalist recognition an outstanding achievement. Special congratulations go to Anay, who received a Very High Commendation in Science and Technology, and Anjan , who received a High Commendation in Politics. These distinctions recognise the strength of their critical analysis, reasoning and written expression. We commend Anay, Anjan, Wisdom and Aaiyan for their intellectual curiosity, dedication and willingness to engage deeply with complex ideas. Their success is a wonderful achievement, and the School community is extremely proud of them.
Australian Mathematics Competition
It is with great pride that we recognise and celebrate the exceptional achievements of our Senior School students in the Australian Mathematics Competition, held in Term 3.
We especially acknowledge the outstanding success of the following students, who were awarded the prestigious Peter O’Halloran Award for achieving a perfect score, in addition to receiving a Prize:
Year 8
Anya
Year 10
Albert
Both students have thrived in learning environments that reflect their strengths, and we are delighted to celebrate their outstanding achievements.
We also recognise the outstanding achievements of the following students, whose results placed them among the top 0.3% and top 3% of competitors:
Prize Winner (top 0.3%)
Year 9
Aarin
Advait
Joshua
Kyle
Year 10
Jessica
Year 11
Xiyuan (Cici)
High Distinction (top 3%)
Year 9
Akein
Desal
Kenny Tran
Leon
Manuga
Nam
Ryan
Seyon
Xiaoshi
Year 10
Austen
Daksh
Jack
Jayden
Nathan
Sanjar
Year 11
Aadi
Adhyaan
William
Year 12
Muhammad
Pre-Senior 2026
The 2026 Pre-Senior year has been filled with growth, adventure and self-discovery. Explore and Expeditions took Year 9 students from India and the Whitsundays to Vietnam and the Larapinta Trail, building courage, independence, cultural understanding and lasting friendships.
Thank you to the staff whose careful planning, professionalism and support made these opportunities possible.
The year concludes with the Annual Colour Run supporting The Smith Family, Pre-Senior Examinations, City CHASE 2026 and the Year 9 to Year 10 Transition Day on Friday, 13 November, which is an exciting milestone as students begin their Senior School journey.
Dr Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy Principal and Head of Senior Schools
