Haileybury’s vibrant and extensive Performing Arts program has been in full swing in recent weeks and the School announces two new Executive appointments.
The Performing Arts plays an important role in the development of students. This week Castlefield Middle School students perform Disney’s Moana Jr which is the final of the campus-based Middle School musicals. Newlands has already performed Disney’s High School Musical Jr, Edrington has performed The Wizard of Oz and City brought Oliver Jr! to life.
While these performances have been underway, more than 250 music students from Senior School and Middle School came together for an outstanding Haileybury in Concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
The event took place for the first time since COVID-19 lockdowns and highlighted the great foundational music skills that are built as students come through the Junior and Middle Schools. It also showcased the extraordinary performance quality that can be achieved when students come together from all Haileybury Melbourne sites.
The great breadth of music genres was on display with the Wind Symphony, Classical Guitar Ensemble, Stage Band, Chamber Brass, Haileybury Singers and the Contemporary Singers, Percussion Ensemble, String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra all performing superbly.
The teamwork, collaboration and effort required to participate in the more than 60 Performing Arts events each year support the growth and development of Haileybury students. Thank you to the committed and dedicated Haileybury Performing Arts staff across all campuses.
Stanley was Dux of Haileybury College in 2006 and was Head of Languages from 2015 to 2017. Prior to becoming Head of Languages, Stanley joined the teaching profession through the Teach for Australia program and worked for three years in the government sector. In the last six years, Stanley has held roles as Chief Executive Officer of Teach for Taiwan and as Principal of Abbotsford Primary School — Australia’s oldest bi-lingual primary school.
Stanley is an ambassador for language learning and intercultural capability. He speaks English, Chinese and Japanese to a high level of proficiency, speaks Korean and French conversationally, and in 2023, his language project is Russian.
Stanley was the Education Category Winner for the 40 under 40: Most Influential Asian-Australian Awards in 2021 and was one of the winners of the NEiTA Founders’ Principals Award for Leadership and the Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence in 2022.
Hugo is the Director of Co-curricular and a member of the School Executive at St Aloysius College in Kirribilli, Sydney, a highly academic Catholic school. He chaired the Pastoral Leadership committee at the school. Hugo has worked in several other leading independent schools in New South Wales in academic and pastoral care leadership roles and will move to Melbourne with his family to become Head of Newlands.
Hugo has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney and a Master of Educational Leadership from the University of New South Wales. He has completed the Senior Executive Program at the Association of Independent Schools — the national flagship program from the Association of Independent School’s Leadership Centre. Hugo is also a panellist for the centre. His expertise in the co-curricular, wellbeing and pastoral care spaces will serve the Newlands community and Haileybury well.
I extend my appreciation to Mark Harrop who has done an outstanding job as Acting Head of Newlands this year following the 10 years of excellent service as Head of Newlands by Jane Gibbs. Jane has been Acting Deputy Principal of Haileybury this year and we farewell her at the end of the year as she retires.
Derek Scott
CEO | Principal
Our thrilling Castlefield Middle School production of Moana JR. will transport the audience to the enchanting islands of the Pacific. This beloved musical is based on the Disney animated film Moana, and the young cast and crew have worked tirelessly to bring this vibrant tale to life, so we are thrilled to share their talents with you.
Moana JR follows a spirited and determined young girl, Moana, who sets out on a daring voyage to save her people and discover her true destiny. Guided by her own instincts and the spirit of her grandmother, Moana braves the open ocean to find the demigod Maui and restore the heart of Te Fiti, a powerful goddess, to its rightful place. Throughout her adventure, Moana learns about her heritage, the importance of preserving her culture, and the value of following her heart.
At its core, Moana JR explores identity, courage and the connection between humans and the environment. The story celebrates the strength that comes from embracing one’s heritage, the significance of staying true to oneself, and the impact of kindness and empathy.
Our young performers have embraced their roles with enthusiasm, bringing the characters of Moana, Maui, Gramma Tala and other island inhabitants to life. The colourful costumes have been designed by our amazing Art Department, energetic choreography is brought to life by Middle School student choreographers, Elise and Ruby, and the catchy musical numbers have been guided by our brilliant Music Department.
The production promises to be a visual and auditory delight for audiences of all ages. From the mesmerising How Far I’ll Go to the hilarious You’re Welcome, the show’s songs will have you tapping your toes and singing along — and we encourage you to do so!
This production of Moana JR is a collaborative effort that showcases the talents of our Castlefield Middle School students, both on stage and behind the scenes. Our cast, crew, directors, choreographers, set designers and costume team have worked diligently to create a memorable experience that captures the magic of the original story while also offering a unique interpretation.
We have diverted from the Disney film’s adoption of specific Islander peoples and have instead embraced the history and culture of a mythological island group to portray the diverse peoples within the Oceanic community. You won’t see Maui’s tattoos, tiki torches or Hawaii-inspired motifs.
We have also focused on reusable, recycled and ‘found’ items to costume and dress our sets. Sensitive to the huge ecological impacts of modern cultures on our oceans, many of the characters are dressed in recycled fabrics and plastic and discarded materials to deliver a message about the dire state of our oceans.
We hope you’ll join us on September 6, 7 or 8 at Dickinson Hall, Castlefield and be inspired by Moana’s journey and her unwavering determination to make a positive change in her world.
You can purchase your tickets here.
Nick Waxman
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
There were broad smiles on the faces of over 1,000 members of the Haileybury community at the Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC) on the evening of Thursday, 24 August.
Haileybury in Concert was a truly outstanding and inspiring concert experience with many proclaiming it to be ‘the best ever’. For the music staff backstage, it was the students’ enthusiasm, attention to detail, joy, artistic purpose and ownership that was humbling and most rewarding.
Students took the music way beyond the notes on the page and connected to their repertoire in a deeply artistic and meaningful way.
Haileybury in Concert provided more than 250 students with a momentary taste of the thrill for the heart, mind and body when performing at your best with other like-minded musicians around you and in a great venue to a packed house. These are the experiences that us ‘older’ musicians chase all our lives.
For a young student, the opportunity to perform in a world class venue like Melbourne Recital Centre will be an experience they can proudly relive for the rest of their life. In decades to come, when these graduate students drive past MRC with friends or family, they will always be able to say, “I performed on stage there to a full house and we sounded awesome.”
Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music
As we bask in the glow of mesmerising Middle School productions that you’ve already enjoyed or that are just around the corner, let’s take a moment to celebrate the true stars behind the scenes — our extraordinary creative students.
These young talents have poured their time, dedication and imagination into building, sewing, drawing and painting, helping these productions truly come to life. It is their combined efforts that transport our actors and audiences into the rich worlds they inhabit on stage.
As the final curtain prepares to close on this season’s performances, let’s unite in applause for our creative crew. Together, they have turned dreams into reality and made the impossible possible with their boundless creativity and unwavering commitment. Their contributions have elevated the value of each production and fostered an environment where collaboration and artistic expression flourish.
Drawing from the tale of The Colour Monster by Anna Lenas, and the insightful teachings of The Zones of Regulation by Leah Kuypers, our Castlefield Prep students embarked on an exploration of colours and the artistic element of shape. They delved into the world of symbolism and wielded crayons, oil pastels, watercolour and paper to craft individual motifs that embody the essence of each hue.
Cutting their own imaginative monsters, students collaborated to assemble vibrant murals and the combination of their artistic and literacy skills culminated in artworks that transcend the art room.
Meanwhile, our Year 3 students drew inspiration from the true story, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba. In a unit centred around change and how challenges propel us to rise and shape society, students created mixed-media artworks with an added kinetic dimension.
As they explored the science behind windmill design as a vehicle for converting wind into electricity, students’ art also reflected the very elements they learned — movement, texture, line and shape. Through their creations, they express newfound knowledge and the resilience that comes from facing adversity. These projects remind us that learning extends far beyond the palette.
ANZ Adobe Education Summit – Sparking Creativity
Haileybury City campus is thrilled to host the 2023 ANZ Adobe Education Summit on Wednesday, 27 September. This professional learning event is tailor-made for teachers and will take place during the September school holiday, bringing together an expected virtual audience of 4,000 teachers.
Adobe software is an important tool for our Middle School students. They know the power of Adobe software and of using tools like Fresco and Photoshop from Adobe Creative Cloud to create presentations, portfolios, logos and to edit photos.
If you are an educator and are curious to learn more, you can find additional details here.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
It may have taken 24 hours of travel, rehearsing seven days a week and overcoming food poisoning in the band three days before the championship, but we did it! Haileybury has won the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland.
I am so proud of the band and the phenomenal group of tutors for all their hard work and dedication in preparing for this epic competition. After months of focus, we decided to push ourselves and compete in Grade 3 at the North Berwick Highland Games, in Grade 2 at the Perth Highland Games, and Grade 3B at the World Championships.
These are the highest grades ever attempted by any school band in Australia.
For those who are new to the pipe band grading lingo, the grades from lowest/beginner to highest/expert rank: Novice Juvenile B, Novice Juvenile A, Grade 4B, Grade 4A, Juvenile, Grade 3B, Grade 3A, Grade 2 and, finally, Grade 1 which is the premier league.
Being from the other side of the world in Australia, we had no idea what the competition would be like, and we placed:
2nd – Grade 3 – North Berwick Highland Games
3rd – Grade 2 – Perth Highland Games
This was a monumental achievement for the band that was in Grade 4A only a few months ago. Having beaten many of the Grade 3A bands at North Berwick and Perth, we were in good stead for the Grade 3B World Championship the following weekend.
However, after long days in Glasgow practicing, competing and visiting the greens of Scotland, a bout of food poisoning paid us a visit. Well, life is full of wee interruptions, isn’t it? Nae bother.
In true Scottish fashion, a ‘dreich’ (dull and damp) day rolled in on the morning of the Worlds but being from Melbourne and having four seasons a day, we were ready! We had our work cut out for us as we were competing against 14 other bands from six countries: Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Belgium, Canada and France — three of which won the recent majors. To become World Champions, we had to beat the UK Champions, the European Champions and the Scottish Champions.
At the stroke of 11.00 am, routines that were timed down to a minute began and before we knew it, we were on the green and competing. Most championship performances are heavily affected by nerves and excitement, but this was the best performance of our trip.
The judges thought so too. Our performance earned 1st place in Grade 3B and made history as Haileybury Pipes & Drums became one of the few select Australian bands to win a World Championship title. The last band to lift the Grade 3B world title in 2022 was the world-famous Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
Grade 3B Results (medley, 14 competed)
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1st
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Haileybury (Australia – 2023 World Champions!!!)
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2nd
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Cullybackey (Northern Ireland – 2023 UK Champions)
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3rd
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Macanta (England – 2023 Scottish Champions)
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4th
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Ross & Cromarty (Scotland – 2023 European Champions)
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5th
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Methil & District (Scotland)
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6th
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Lower Clyde (Scotland)
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7th
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Aven & District (France)
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8th
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Ayr Society (Scotland)
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9th
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Mid-Argyll (Scotland)
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10th
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Arbroath (Scotland)
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11th
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Niagara Regional Police (Canada)
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12th
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Belgian Blend (Belgium)
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13th
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Tweedvale (Scotland)
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14th
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Scottish Borders (Scotland)
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Judges: Barry Donaldson, Alvis Kerr (piping); Mark Wilson (drumming); Peter Snaddon (ensemble).
Lincoln Hilton
Director, Pipes & Drums
As we move towards the end of the year, our transition programs are starting across the campus.
The Middle School Heads and Deputy Heads of Year 7 are hosting our current Year 6 families on Tuesday, 12 September to discuss what the second stage of Middle School looks like for students.
Families in Years 7 and 8 have been invited to visit the Senior School on Wednesday, 13 September at 4.30 pm to tour the buildings and learn about the journey from Pre-Senior to the end of Year 12.
Details for these two events can be located on the myHaileybury app.
As part of the transition to Middle School, Year 4 students have the opportunity to meet with staff in Year 5 and see the spaces they will move to.
The ELC students will participate in their orientation program from Pre-Prep into Prep with opportunities to visit our Junior School on Thursday, 26 October, and Thursday, 2 and 9 November.
UpDay for all students is on Tuesday, 21 November. Students from Prep to Year 7 spend the day in their 2024 year level and discover new faces, spaces, subjects and, in some cases, teachers.
On Friday, 25 August, six outstanding Senior School students, Elliot (Year 12), Archie (Year 12), Charlie (Year 12), Thomas (Year 12), Joshua (Year 12) and Oscar (Year 12) spoke to our Year 6 boys about the journey from Years 7 to 12 and the opportunities across the School.
Each of these students were part of winning premiership sporting teams and have been involved in the broad co-curricular program on offer. They are also strong academic achievers. The Year 6 boys left the session buzzing with excitement about what is on offer in Year 7 and beyond!
South Road is the preferred pick up and drop off location for students in Junior and Middle School, with the roundabout being an efficient way to collect your child. Staff are on duty before and after school to help children remain safe within our school gates.
For Senior School students, South Road is the only drop off and pick up area for parents who drive their child to school. We encourage our older students to walk, ride or take public transport as an alternative to being driven to school.
There are so many opportunities for children to discover a love of reading.
During Book Week, the children enjoyed their favourite story being read to them, dressed as their favourite book character, learned about authors and illustrators, joined the big book swap, visited the library and took part in book-related art and crafts. The children also sat under a tree where the Tawny Frogmouths live and listened to one of Vicki Edwards favourite stories, Larry Leadbeater by Jo Watson. So much fun!
Jumping in puddles is a simple yet exhilarating activity that captures the pure joy of being a child. Puddles are not just water on the pavement, they are portals to a world of unbridled delight. With rain boots on and a sense of adventure, the joy that accompanies these leaps is infectious. This is a great reminder for us all that the simplest things can bring immense happiness.
Term 3 has always been busy with STEM week, Book Week, Footy Colours Day, Cyber Safety Project and Year 3 camp, just to name a few. During STEM Week, students were treated to lunchtime and assembly experiments. Rupert’s Drop was the explosion of molten glass and students saw glass explode into thousands of pieces.
Adrian Lam visited the Learn Assembly and blew up a bottle with liquid nitrogen, while some brave students came on stage to feel the effect of freezing a piece of kale! Years 3 and 4 students participated in a Mini Boss incursion and Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students visited the Science Dome to explore the galaxy.
In class, there was a focus on Biology and Physics with children exploring the world of mini beasts and jet propulsion. Book Week was lots of fun with guest readers, visiting authors and illustrators, colouring competitions and of course the annual book character Dress-up Parade. There were fabulous costumes and lots of children in character for the day.
Our Year 3 students are excited about heading off on their camp to Forest Edge on Wednesday. We are sure they will have a fabulous time.
Across the course of the week, Junior School students attend Computer Science, Music, Art, Drama, Library, Chinese language lessons and PE classes with specialist teachers. They love to move about the school with some facilities spread across the Boys Middle School, Girls Middle School and the Senior School.
During recent Drama lessons, Lexy Milne harnessed the power of ChatGPT to create scripts based on the answers of each small group. Students loved creating characters, rehearsing lines and then presenting their short plays.
During STEM Week our talented Science teachers ran experiments, activities and a thrilling Assembly, and students were delighted to see live experiments take place. From liquid nitrogen ice cream to exploding water bottles, drones and code-breaking, our students were fortunate to have an array of activities to inspire their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Book Week has been a fantastic opportunity for students to engage with author talks and visits from the likes of Will Kostakis, Tristan Bancks and Jack Heath. The library staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the students have great access to discover what it takes to be an author and the power of words!
The countdown is on! Prepare to set sail on the high seas and go on the journey that is Moana JR. Our skilled and excited students and Performing Arts team cannot wait to bring the show to life. Don’t forget to buy your tickets!
You can purchase tickets here.
Katrina Manson
Head of Castlefield (Brighton)
We are past mid-term and hasn’t it flown by? Look out for the HPFC food and confectionery stand at the Castlefield Musical, Disney’s Moana JR on Wednesday, 6 September, Thursday, 7 September and Friday, 8 September. We will be selling hotdogs, popcorn and choc tops.
If you haven’t had a chance to volunteer with the HPFC yet, we would love your help. These events cannot run without your support.
Sign up here.
A reminder also of the Second-Hand Uniform Shop for your uniform needs.
OPENING HOURS
During Term time only:
Wednesdays 8.15 am to 10.15 am
Thursdays 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Monique Chapman
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Castlefield
After a refreshing two-month summer break, we joyfully welcomed our returning students. Our School’s security team efficiently helped parents with parking and student drop-off and guided them to the registration points.
Upon entering the School, the students were warmly welcomed by their Heads of School, welfare staff and life teachers. Later that day, familiar faces and new additions gathered in their Homerooms. They familiarised themselves with their new welfare teachers and attended a presentation outlining the comprehensive measures in place to ensure their wellbeing throughout their academic journey.
The beginning of the Haileybury school year was celebrated with students and staff gathering on the sports oval to usher in hopes for the new academic year. The opening ceremony began with the Chinese national anthem and the raising of the national flag.
The ceremony was hosted by Junior School Head of Teaching and Learning, Ethan Jia, and Iris (Year 10) and there were also student representatives from Primary, Middle, Senior and Gao Kao schools holding up various sub-school flags.
Another highlight was poem recitations from students, teachers and parents and their eloquent delivery added depth and beauty to the ceremony. Peter Rogerson, Executive Principal of Haileybury Tianjin, addressed the students and staff, warmly welcomed the new students and shared his hopes that they set themselves clear goals, study hard and become confident teenagers.
All Haileybury staff took part in an in-depth professional learning and development program before students returned to school. The program began with staff gathering in the theatre where our Executive Principal, Peter Rogerson, outlined the current position of the School and the results of our Year 12 students.
It was also an opportunity for the new Executive Principal, Andrew McAree, to introduce himself and to discuss his vision for the future of Haileybury Tianjin. This was followed by the HR Department and the two Executive Principals presenting whole school role model awards to staff. The four-day program also consisted of key presentations and workshops with each sub-school presenting its key goals to staff and conducting welfare and curriculum training.
Yanni Galanis
International Principal, Haileybury International School, Tianjin
City campus was a fabulous host for our cross-campus Senior School STEM Conference for students and staff. We love hosting events that challenge people to think, question, wonder and have fun learning.
Our Junior School and Middle School students enjoyed many different STEM activities, and you will have heard some of the highlights from your children and young people. The Junior School Science Fair was exceptional, and the children loved sharing their science discoveries.
A personal favourite was the Middle School paper plane competition, where my magenta plane placed a notable eighth! One of the paper engineers managed to fly his plane across the entire length of the Indoor Running Track. This extraordinary feat indicates the passion our young people have about everything STEM.
We know the world is in good hands when the next generation have a broad set of transferrable skills, combined with a knowledge and passion for science. Special thanks to Caleb Street and Louise Elletson for their leadership of inspiration in STEM Week.
We love reading at Haileybury and each School did something special to celebrate Book Week, as you will read below. I thank Allie Kuhne for her leadership of a great week of activities that were enjoyed by all. Hosting visiting authors, illustrators and book lovers has become a highlight of the event.
It was wonderful to see so many Junior and Middle School families in the audience enjoying our Haileybury in Concert at the Recital Hall recently. Seeing our young people perform on a professional stage was a highlight for all.
I encourage families to attend events such as these. Watching so many of our City students play and sing so beautifully was a highlight for all. A huge thanks to Mike England and our entire Music Department.
Community is an integral part of our philosophy and is something we value highly at Haileybury City. Joining together for School events has been wonderful and has aided in building a sense of belonging within the School community. Our Book Week Parade was a time for celebration and to foster a strong sense of community with our ELC and Junior School students. It was wonderful to see so many families celebrating Book Week and to see the children in their amazing costumes.
Thank you for joining us at our ELC Learning Journal Morning Tea. The ELC children enjoyed sharing their Learning Journal and having morning tea with you. It was a time to reflect, build connections and celebrate our learning and growth throughout this year. We look forward to a busy time ahead, with lots of opportunities to celebrate with families and to continue to grow our community connections.
Haileybury City hosted its annual Junior School Science Fair on Wednesday, 16 August. The day saw young minds embracing the role of budding scientists. Students, with the support of their families, crafted project submissions at home that reflected this year’s theme of Innovation: Powering Future Industries. The event inspired innovation and ignited the students’ passion for scientific exploration. It was a memorable and enriching experience for all.
Kudos to Haileybury City’s Junior School students for their remarkable efforts in this year’s International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) competitions. Their efforts in spelling, Science, English, writing and Mathematics showcased their true dedication to learning and problem-solving and demonstrated their exceptional higher-order thinking.
The 2023 Book Week Parade set the stage for a week filled with literary delight. Under the theme Read, Grow, Inspire, students stepped into the shoes of their cherished fictional and non-fictional characters, showcasing their creativity and imagination. The event not only sparked the joy of reading but also echoed the School’s commitment to nurturing young minds
Book Week was a delight for Middle School with our young people being encouraged to read, grow and be inspired. Every morning, the library buzzed with excitement as students solved puzzles before the start of the school day.
On Tuesday, Years 5 and 6 students were treated to a visit by R. A. Spratt who shared her creative journey, discussing the origins of her beloved characters and the secrets behind her storytelling.
On Wednesday, Year 7 GMS students were captivated by an interactive experience with Anna Ciddor who engaged our young historians with her stories of Ancient Rome and how she has infused this passion in her own writing. Meanwhile, the Year 7 BMS students were inspired by Will Kostakis’ beginnings as a young writer and learned how he overcame setbacks, like rejection letters, to share his stories.
Book Week concluded with a day where students dressed as the characters that inspire them. Years 4 and 5 were filled with Harry Potters, green sheep and even characters from the Year 7 novel, The Invisible Hero.
We enjoyed a morning of lawn bowls and fun on Thursday, 31 August, as we recognised our Middle School fathers and special men. Our event was held at Flagstaff Gardens Bowls Club, and everyone enjoyed the festivities and the opportunity to recognise the important role fathers and significant men play in our Middle School students’ lives.
Caroline Merrick
Head of City
This term feels like it is flying! It certainly has been a busy time, with the students enjoying all the wonderful opportunities that Haileybury provides.
Best of luck to the Year 9 students who are about to head off on their Options and Expeditions Camps. Lots of fabulous times ahead for all these lucky students.
As we quickly approach the end of term, it is that time to check which items of uniform fit and which do not. To help with this, the pop-up shop will be open at two different times this term. We are trialling opening the shop at an afternoon time and an early morning time, based on feedback from the second-hand uniform shop survey.
Thank you to all those parents who contributed to the survey. It really does help the HPF with future planning. The donation bins will be out at the end of August for parents to drop off second-hand uniform items. The form and all the details, including opening times, will be provided through the myHaileybury app.
Have a great fortnight.
Melissa Fisher
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends City
What a wonderful recognition of all we do — from ELC to Year 12, in and out of the classroom. This award was presented in Sydney at the Australian Education Awards on Friday, 11 August.
We qualified as ‘regional’ because we are not located in a major capital city and our application to reach the final list of nine schools recognised the key aspects of HRS that set us apart including:
We also congratulate Haileybury Melbourne for winning Secondary School of the Year – Non-Government.
Andrew McGregor
Principal, Haileybury Rendall School
Thank you to the Haileybury Parents & Friends Edrington (HPFE).
We have a strong and thriving community at Edrington with students, staff and families at the centre of all we do. The HPFE is a valuable, active group where parents contribute to our School and support our many endeavours.
This term the HPFE sold showbags before each Wizard of Oz show, opened the second-hand uniform shop each week, and held a very successful Father’s Day stall.
A great deal of work goes on behind the scenes and this is coordinated by our wonderful Co-Presidents, Tracy Day and Kerry Illic. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Diane Mercuri for her tireless efforts over many years as Finance Officer. Her work has been exceptional. Also, Di, along with Kelly McAllister, open the second-hand uniform shop every week, providing a valuable service to our families. The work of Tracy, Kerry, Di and Kelly epitomises a desire to contribute and the value we place on our community. Thank you to them all.
We believe children should have access to the outdoor environment all year round. The fresh air, vitamin D, exploring nature’s elements and gross motor opportunities all outweigh the disadvantages of staying inside because of inclement weather.
The outdoor environment is an extension of the classroom and is a place where children learn new skills, strengthen and challenge existing skills, and develop confidence in their social interactions.
As educators, we strive to develop children’s love of the outdoors and encourage them to find joy and curiosity in nature.
Playing in wet, colder weather promotes children’s sense of wonder and freedom, and benefits their development and learning. It has been heartening to see the children embrace Melbourne’s unpredictable weather by using their waterproof coats, beanies and gumboots to keep warm and dry while engaging in the outdoor program. In fact, this kind of wet and cold weather can fire up your child’s imagination and creativity.
Many fabulous learning opportunities have arisen from ventures around the School on these cold and dreary days and it is often opportunities like these that your child will value and remember the most.
Once again, Book Week was a wonderful mix of activities and fun for our Junior School students. They had a wonderful week and LOVED the Book Week Dress-Up Day!
Our students will be involved in a Junior School House Sport afternoon on Tuesday, 12 September on the undercover tennis courts. Students can wear their sports uniform with coloured House top and other House colour accessories to show their House spirit.
Our House Captains will lead the afternoon and parents are invited to come and watch.
The ELC and JS students will have a Sport Dress-Up Day on the last day of term on Friday, 15 September. Students may come to school dressed in their own sporting team uniform or dressed as a sporting team they love. We ask that students donate a gold coin for the Monash Children’s Hospital.
Year 7 student, Jessica, has completed all four levels of the Compass Award, a Junior version of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. To achieve this, Jessica has had to excel in four areas — physical activity, hobbies, volunteering and exploration.
Jessica reflected on her experience, commenting that, “It has been an excellent adventure and a very rewarding experience. Throughout my journey there were many opportunities that without the Compass Award, I would never have done in my everyday life. To be able to have the chance to do things like explore the Grampians and help the Great Barrier Reef really showed me how much there is to the world.”
Congratulations to Jessica on her perseverance, courage and determination.
Thank you to the library staff for organising such fantastic author talks for our Middle School students. There was certainly a buzz in the air throughout the week, culminating in a dress-up day on the Friday which the teachers happily embraced as well!
Last Friday, our Year 7 students went on an excursion to the Salvation Army headquarters in the City. Students were taken on a tour to learn about homelessness and those in need and they then helped the Salvation Army with a donation drive. It was a fascinating excursion that tied in with our Social Justice initiatives at Edrington.
On Friday, we will host our Middle School Semester 1 Sports Awards Assembly. This will begin at 9.35 am in JT Hall and parents are welcome.
Jeanette Rawlings
Head of Edrington (Berwick)
Hello Edrington!
Firstly, thank you to everyone who volunteered to help sell show bags over the three nights of The Wizard of Oz. It was such a fun three nights. Congratulations to Candice Naude, Head of Co-curriculum Drama, and all the staff and students involved who worked so hard for months to put such a wonderful production together.
We would also like to thank all our amazing volunteers who assisted students selecting Father’s Day gifts at the Father’s Day stall.
Every Wednesday you will find Di and Kelly at the SHUS from 8.15 am to 10.45 am. The SHUS is always looking for an extra hand, so if you have an hour to spare on a Wednesday to help Di and Kelly, please email them.
Kerry Ilic & Tracy Day
HPFE Presidents
Hpfe@haileybury.vic.edu.au
Across Victoria, Very Special Kids provides holistic palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions. This includes emotional, clinical and practical support to improve quality of life and to create positive, lasting memories for the children and their families.
Haileybury has several families who have been, and continue to be, supported by VSK. The VSK Piggy Bank Appeal is a wonderful way to give back and provide our support and Newlands is very excited, once again, to support the Very Special Kids Foundation by hosting a Carnival Day on Monday, 11 September. The day will include:
Junior School families are invited to bring money in early from Wednesday, 6 September and Homeroom Teachers will keep a record of this. We are hoping this will be our biggest VSK Carnival yet! We look forward to seeing smiling faces and raising as much money as we can to support this very important cause.
Year 8 student Zachary has made Hockey Victoria’s U13 State squad and will represent Victoria at the Australian National U13 Hockey Carnival in Newcastle from 23–29 September.
In July, Zachary played in the Eastern Metro Hotshots team at the Junior State Championships. He was then selected for the Hockey Victoria high performance academy and has been training there for the past two months. We wish him every success in September.
Our Year 12 Senior School students are eagerly waiting for their opportunity to visit the Junior School to help with English and Mathematics lessons in the Prep, 1 and 2 classrooms.
This initiative is driven by the Year 12 students and highlights their commitment to building strong connections across the school community. As well as academic support, it reflects their strong sense of social justice and community engagement. By giving back and generously offering their time, these Senior students set a remarkable example for their younger peers by illustrating collaboration and empathy.
Recently, the Pre-Prep children, educators and parents worked with City of Greater Dandenong horticulturalists and environmental officers as part of the Adopt-a-Park program. The children learned about the importance of creating habitats and nurturing local ecosystems. They also learned about different native animals who live in the neighbouring bush and wetlands.
Children in Pre-Prep will continue to visit the park over the coming months to observe the progress of the plants and continue their care. As the Pre-Prep children transition to Prep, they will pass the responsibility to the current Reception children to ensure continuous care of the garden.
Angus: “I liked going on the bus because it was so big! I liked stepping on the Hamilton digger because it was so wobbly and I needed someone to hold my hand. A Hamilton digger makes a hole in the ground for the plants to grow.”
Jack: “Caring for the environment is good for the animals. Today I planted trees for the habitat for magpies and possums and snakes.”
Bella: “I liked planting the trees because you get to put the plant inside the little holes, and they will grow with water and sunlight.”
For two days, children in Reception and Pre-Prep were excited to welcome Senior School students to the ELC. To support their studies of Health and Human Development and to focus on different stages of life, our Senior School students spent time with children in the ELC each morning.
These visits were a rich reciprocal learning opportunity as students from the Senior School modelled exceptional leadership, communication and social skills while children in the ELC shared their creativity, openness and sense of wonder. Our youngest and oldest students talked, built towers and sandcastles, drew pictures and spent time outside.
It was also wonderful to see some of our Senior School students who attended the ELC return to where their learning journey began.
“While I enjoyed pretending to drink tea with the younger students, I cherished the innocent conversations that the older students were able to uphold. I left impressed with the immense amount of social skill development the children gain over one year where they build confidence and social awareness. The opportunity to obtain a few high fives and share a laugh with the ELC students at the Keysborough campus was definitely a highlight of the Health and Human Development Unit 2 curriculum.” Norah (Year 11)
Recently at Newlands, our Junior School students participated in the Cross-Country challenge. This event is about promoting health, teamwork and determination and we were thrilled to see our young athletes showcase endurance and perseverance on the track.
Prep, Year 1, and Year 2 students conquered a 1km course, while Years 3 and 4 students raced a 2km route.
This was an opportunity for students to embrace an active lifestyle, build camaraderie with their classmates, and learn the value of setting and achieving goals.
On Monday, 4 September, Year 3 students from Newlands, along with Edrington students, headed off for a three-day camp at Forrest Edge.
Forrest Edge is an adventure camp located in Neerim South. Students participate in a variety of activities such as indoor rock climbing, bush walking, archery and the flying fox. The camp promotes persistence and independence. After dinner, students enjoyed a movie night and a trivia night, and lodged in cabins with their peers.
There were many excited discussions about what to expect and the students couldn’t wait to experience their first School camp.
On Thursday, 14 September Newlands Junior School will host their annual JS Sporting Colours Day.
Following on from the fantastic form of the Australian Matildas during the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Juventus Academy Melbourne will run soccer clinics for each year level throughout the day.
These clinics will involve interactive sessions conducted by professional coaches who will focus on technical skills, tactical awareness and physical conditioning. The Juventus Academy is an international project and part of the prestigious Italian football club, Juventus FC, that aims to develop young talent and promote the values of sport.
The Academy in Melbourne provides a platform for young Australian players aged between 5 and 18 to hone their skills and passion for football.
At the start of Term 4, our Year 7 students will explore ancient societies and the history of art during a joint cross-disciplinary History and Art excursion.
The students will explore various aspects of ancient history through a workshop on ancient board games at the Hellenic Museum. At NGV International, they will investigate changing artistic representations through time.
As our Year 7 students take part in some lively discussions, hands-on activities and thought-provoking reflections, their insights will shape their understanding of history and the creation of art.
All Year 8 Boys Middle School students will take part in an all-day incursion from The Man Cave on Friday, 8 September. This sits within our broader Wellbeing curriculum and is delivered onsite within homeroom groups at Newlands campus.
Workshop 2 is all about building respectful relationships and guides boys on how to build healthy relationships across all domains of their life. It explores how to support others, empathy, conflict resolution, expressing needs, power and privilege, and integrity.
In this workshop, boys will:
Please visit here for ideas on how you can support your son during this time.
Mark Harrop
Acting Head of Newlands (Keysborough)
We are open every Friday during term from 12.00 pm to 2.00 pm. Please note that Saturday, 9 September is our last Saturday for the term.
Our volunteers are amazing — in Terms 1 and 2 they volunteered for 250 hours. We would love to train more volunteers if you are available!
Please join us on Thursday, 7 September at 7.00 pm in the Barney Allen Room at the Senior School for the Annual General Meeting.
Please join us on Monday, 11 September to raise funds for the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal.
Lenice Norris
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Keysborough
We had a brilliant week celebrating all things Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — with the centrepiece being a fantastic STEM Week Assembly led by Dayna Schinz, Haileybury’s first girls School Captain who is a Science and Education graduate of Monash University.
Students heard from Haileybury’s STEM Captains, learnt about the potential of AI with Michelle Dennis, and participated in a construction challenge using spaghetti and marshmallows. Congratulations to Tiarni (Year 9) and Jeehoon (Year 7) for taking out this challenge!
We thank Damien Meunier and all our brilliant STEM teachers at Haileybury for an engaging week.
Haileybury Pangea’s Head of House, Natasha Eshuis, launched an exciting new initiative for all students and staff to get involved: the 24-Hour Challenge. Linking with World Vision to raise funds and awareness for global hunger and famine, participants pledged to ‘go without’ something for 24 hours — this could be social media (a popular choice), coffee, Netflix, even furniture! Students also learned about the extent and impact of famine across different parts of the world through a guest presentation from World Vision.
We congratulate all students and staff who took part or contributed to fundraising efforts, and we thank Natasha Eshuis for organising this fantastic opportunity.
Joanna Baker
Head of Campus
Sixty years ago this month, Dr Martin Luther King Junior delivered his iconic speech, a plea for equality, tolerance, jobs and freedom. His rallying cry for tolerance and hope is as relevant today as it was then, and the speech remains inspirational to this day as a tool for the teaching of effective rhetoric and persuasive communication. It serves as a model for students the world over who are learning about the power of words and the art of persuasion.
On Thursday, 17 August, 14 of our Senior School executive student leaders took time away from their busy schedules and leadership portfolios to meet at City campus to share experiences of their own leadership journeys and to prepare for future leadership roles and responsibilities post-school.
School leadership teams have a responsibility to develop their student leaders for the future – this is a critical endeavour. Sharing wisdom is crucial to empower creative young people to champion appropriate change and social justice; it also ensures that the most capable young people can challenge and promote positive leadership in a turbulent and disrupted world.
City campus is an excellent environment for creativity, thinking, discussion and the broader exploration of ideas. The overarching theme for the day considered how school-based student leaders can continue to grow and develop as role models and leaders into wider society and workplaces beyond school.
What took place was a wide range of spirited discussion on
relevant topics about school life, the quest for constant improvement and about
personal and collective responsibilities of the future generations of leaders.
In all, the day was a wonderful survey of leadership education and training, mentorship and role modelling, leadership opportunities, community service and volunteering, empowering student decision-making, encouraging self-reflection, promoting diversity and inclusion, challenging comfort zones, conflict resolution skills, feedback and evaluation and about promoting ethical leadership and strategies for long-term vision.
A resolution at the end of the meeting was for the current student leadership team to return next year to share their initial experiences of post-school life, work and education, alongside mentoring the next and successive generations of Haileybury’s senior student leaders.
On Monday, 21 August, four Year 10 Brighton students (Lucy Poole, Kayla Johnstone, Harrison Roberts and Kennedy Jacoby) attended the Goldstein Youth Forum in the Legislative Assembly Chamber of the Parliament of Victoria.
The event was hosted by Federal MP, Zoe Daniel, who listened to groups of local students present on a range of issues that impact teenagers in the Goldstein electorate. These four students spoke wonderfully, and the messages presented will hopefully inform future decisions and policy that lead to positive change in our community for young people.
Haileybury’s entire Year 9 cohort will spend the final two weeks of term engaged in experiential learning activities around Australia and the world more broadly. Our students will complete their options which have seen groups travel to places as diverse as Uluru, Cairns and the Barrier Reef. It provides a wonderful opportunity for them to diversify their travel experiences.
The Year 9 Haileybury Girls 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.
Haileybury will conduct a series of trial examinations for students undertaking Units 3 and 4 VCE. These will begin on Tuesday, 5 September and finish on Monday, 11 September in Term 3. A copy of the trial examination timetable is available to students and parents via myHaileybury.
Haileybury academic staff will run revision workshops for Units 3 and 4 studies throughout the September school holidays. Attendance is not compulsory, but families may want to take this into account when planning holidays.
As students move into the VCE years, they and their families often have questions about how their academic pathways at Haileybury match university pre-requisites.
Previously, each Year 10 student received a copy of a VTAC Year 10 Guide to help with this planning. VTAC has now moved all information within this guide to its website. It 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 entering universities or other tertiary institutions.
While Haileybury will continue to provide students and parents with information about subject selection and university entrance throughout the next three years, this guide is an effective way for Year 9 and 10 families to familiarise themselves with the VCE and tertiary entrance.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is available to all students aged 14 years or older. It is voluntary and students can start at any time.
Currently, we have over 150 students registered and actively completing the award. Information about our Duke of Edinburgh program is available on the myHaileybury app.
Next year we have some amazing trips on offer to all Senior School students and DOE participants. If your child is interested in participating in any of the trips listed below, or they are interested in commencing the award, please email Tamsin Visick or head to myHaileybury for details:
Dr Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy Principal
Head of Senior Schools
Haileybury attained some outstanding results at the Federation of International Sport Aerobics & Fitness State Championships. The entire senior squad will represent the School on the Gold Coast in September at the FISAF Australia National Championships. We look forward to hearing of more outstanding results then. Well done.
Six Haileybury students competed at the 2023 Australian National Table Tennis Championships in Sydney. It was a real Haileybury affair as the coach of the State team was David Powell, Olympian and Haileybury staff member. The students and team performed well in a high standard field. Congratulations to Joshua (Year 7), Foebe (Year 10), Boswen (Year 10), Izac (Year 12), Esme (Year 8) and Darlene (Year 11).
Kevin (Year 11) has been selected to join the Victorian U18 Volleyball team. He was fortunate enough to play in the Australian Junior Volleyball Championship in Sydney during Term 3 school holidays where he showed his ability to state selectors. Kevin has also been invited to attend the U19 National Development Program in Canberra for a week at the conclusion of the National Championships. We wish Kevin all the best.
Haileybury’s Equestrian team is going from strength to strength. Students will represent Victoria in this year’s Australian Interschool Championships at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre from Friday, 29 September to Tuesday, 3 October.
We wish the following students all the best:
Avril (Year 9), Pearl (Year 8) and Madeleine (Year 8).
Sean Allcock
Director of Haileybury Sport
The Performing Arts plays an important role in the development of students. This week Castlefield Middle School students perform Disney’s Moana Jr which is the final of the campus-based Middle School musicals. Newlands has already performed Disney’s High School Musical Jr, Edrington has performed The Wizard of Oz and City brought Oliver Jr! to life.
While these performances have been underway, more than 250 music students from Senior School and Middle School came together for an outstanding Haileybury in Concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
The event took place for the first time since COVID-19 lockdowns and highlighted the great foundational music skills that are built as students come through the Junior and Middle Schools. It also showcased the extraordinary performance quality that can be achieved when students come together from all Haileybury Melbourne sites.
The great breadth of music genres was on display with the Wind Symphony, Classical Guitar Ensemble, Stage Band, Chamber Brass, Haileybury Singers and the Contemporary Singers, Percussion Ensemble, String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra all performing superbly.
The teamwork, collaboration and effort required to participate in the more than 60 Performing Arts events each year support the growth and development of Haileybury students. Thank you to the committed and dedicated Haileybury Performing Arts staff across all campuses.
Stanley was Dux of Haileybury College in 2006 and was Head of Languages from 2015 to 2017. Prior to becoming Head of Languages, Stanley joined the teaching profession through the Teach for Australia program and worked for three years in the government sector. In the last six years, Stanley has held roles as Chief Executive Officer of Teach for Taiwan and as Principal of Abbotsford Primary School — Australia’s oldest bi-lingual primary school.
Stanley is an ambassador for language learning and intercultural capability. He speaks English, Chinese and Japanese to a high level of proficiency, speaks Korean and French conversationally, and in 2023, his language project is Russian.
Stanley was the Education Category Winner for the 40 under 40: Most Influential Asian-Australian Awards in 2021 and was one of the winners of the NEiTA Founders’ Principals Award for Leadership and the Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence in 2022.
Hugo is the Director of Co-curricular and a member of the School Executive at St Aloysius College in Kirribilli, Sydney, a highly academic Catholic school. He chaired the Pastoral Leadership committee at the school. Hugo has worked in several other leading independent schools in New South Wales in academic and pastoral care leadership roles and will move to Melbourne with his family to become Head of Newlands.
Hugo has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney and a Master of Educational Leadership from the University of New South Wales. He has completed the Senior Executive Program at the Association of Independent Schools — the national flagship program from the Association of Independent School’s Leadership Centre. Hugo is also a panellist for the centre. His expertise in the co-curricular, wellbeing and pastoral care spaces will serve the Newlands community and Haileybury well.
I extend my appreciation to Mark Harrop who has done an outstanding job as Acting Head of Newlands this year following the 10 years of excellent service as Head of Newlands by Jane Gibbs. Jane has been Acting Deputy Principal of Haileybury this year and we farewell her at the end of the year as she retires.
Derek Scott
CEO | Principal
Our thrilling Castlefield Middle School production of Moana JR. will transport the audience to the enchanting islands of the Pacific. This beloved musical is based on the Disney animated film Moana, and the young cast and crew have worked tirelessly to bring this vibrant tale to life, so we are thrilled to share their talents with you.
Moana JR follows a spirited and determined young girl, Moana, who sets out on a daring voyage to save her people and discover her true destiny. Guided by her own instincts and the spirit of her grandmother, Moana braves the open ocean to find the demigod Maui and restore the heart of Te Fiti, a powerful goddess, to its rightful place. Throughout her adventure, Moana learns about her heritage, the importance of preserving her culture, and the value of following her heart.
At its core, Moana JR explores identity, courage and the connection between humans and the environment. The story celebrates the strength that comes from embracing one’s heritage, the significance of staying true to oneself, and the impact of kindness and empathy.
Our young performers have embraced their roles with enthusiasm, bringing the characters of Moana, Maui, Gramma Tala and other island inhabitants to life. The colourful costumes have been designed by our amazing Art Department, energetic choreography is brought to life by Middle School student choreographers, Elise and Ruby, and the catchy musical numbers have been guided by our brilliant Music Department.
The production promises to be a visual and auditory delight for audiences of all ages. From the mesmerising How Far I’ll Go to the hilarious You’re Welcome, the show’s songs will have you tapping your toes and singing along — and we encourage you to do so!
This production of Moana JR is a collaborative effort that showcases the talents of our Castlefield Middle School students, both on stage and behind the scenes. Our cast, crew, directors, choreographers, set designers and costume team have worked diligently to create a memorable experience that captures the magic of the original story while also offering a unique interpretation.
We have diverted from the Disney film’s adoption of specific Islander peoples and have instead embraced the history and culture of a mythological island group to portray the diverse peoples within the Oceanic community. You won’t see Maui’s tattoos, tiki torches or Hawaii-inspired motifs.
We have also focused on reusable, recycled and ‘found’ items to costume and dress our sets. Sensitive to the huge ecological impacts of modern cultures on our oceans, many of the characters are dressed in recycled fabrics and plastic and discarded materials to deliver a message about the dire state of our oceans.
We hope you’ll join us on September 6, 7 or 8 at Dickinson Hall, Castlefield and be inspired by Moana’s journey and her unwavering determination to make a positive change in her world.
You can purchase your tickets here.
Nick Waxman
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
There were broad smiles on the faces of over 1,000 members of the Haileybury community at the Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC) on the evening of Thursday, 24 August.
Haileybury in Concert was a truly outstanding and inspiring concert experience with many proclaiming it to be ‘the best ever’. For the music staff backstage, it was the students’ enthusiasm, attention to detail, joy, artistic purpose and ownership that was humbling and most rewarding.
Students took the music way beyond the notes on the page and connected to their repertoire in a deeply artistic and meaningful way.
Haileybury in Concert provided more than 250 students with a momentary taste of the thrill for the heart, mind and body when performing at your best with other like-minded musicians around you and in a great venue to a packed house. These are the experiences that us ‘older’ musicians chase all our lives.
For a young student, the opportunity to perform in a world class venue like Melbourne Recital Centre will be an experience they can proudly relive for the rest of their life. In decades to come, when these graduate students drive past MRC with friends or family, they will always be able to say, “I performed on stage there to a full house and we sounded awesome.”
Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music
As we bask in the glow of mesmerising Middle School productions that you’ve already enjoyed or that are just around the corner, let’s take a moment to celebrate the true stars behind the scenes — our extraordinary creative students.
These young talents have poured their time, dedication and imagination into building, sewing, drawing and painting, helping these productions truly come to life. It is their combined efforts that transport our actors and audiences into the rich worlds they inhabit on stage.
As the final curtain prepares to close on this season’s performances, let’s unite in applause for our creative crew. Together, they have turned dreams into reality and made the impossible possible with their boundless creativity and unwavering commitment. Their contributions have elevated the value of each production and fostered an environment where collaboration and artistic expression flourish.
Drawing from the tale of The Colour Monster by Anna Lenas, and the insightful teachings of The Zones of Regulation by Leah Kuypers, our Castlefield Prep students embarked on an exploration of colours and the artistic element of shape. They delved into the world of symbolism and wielded crayons, oil pastels, watercolour and paper to craft individual motifs that embody the essence of each hue.
Cutting their own imaginative monsters, students collaborated to assemble vibrant murals and the combination of their artistic and literacy skills culminated in artworks that transcend the art room.
Meanwhile, our Year 3 students drew inspiration from the true story, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba. In a unit centred around change and how challenges propel us to rise and shape society, students created mixed-media artworks with an added kinetic dimension.
As they explored the science behind windmill design as a vehicle for converting wind into electricity, students’ art also reflected the very elements they learned — movement, texture, line and shape. Through their creations, they express newfound knowledge and the resilience that comes from facing adversity. These projects remind us that learning extends far beyond the palette.
ANZ Adobe Education Summit – Sparking Creativity
Haileybury City campus is thrilled to host the 2023 ANZ Adobe Education Summit on Wednesday, 27 September. This professional learning event is tailor-made for teachers and will take place during the September school holiday, bringing together an expected virtual audience of 4,000 teachers.
Adobe software is an important tool for our Middle School students. They know the power of Adobe software and of using tools like Fresco and Photoshop from Adobe Creative Cloud to create presentations, portfolios, logos and to edit photos.
If you are an educator and are curious to learn more, you can find additional details here.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
It may have taken 24 hours of travel, rehearsing seven days a week and overcoming food poisoning in the band three days before the championship, but we did it! Haileybury has won the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland.
I am so proud of the band and the phenomenal group of tutors for all their hard work and dedication in preparing for this epic competition. After months of focus, we decided to push ourselves and compete in Grade 3 at the North Berwick Highland Games, in Grade 2 at the Perth Highland Games, and Grade 3B at the World Championships.
These are the highest grades ever attempted by any school band in Australia.
For those who are new to the pipe band grading lingo, the grades from lowest/beginner to highest/expert rank: Novice Juvenile B, Novice Juvenile A, Grade 4B, Grade 4A, Juvenile, Grade 3B, Grade 3A, Grade 2 and, finally, Grade 1 which is the premier league.
Being from the other side of the world in Australia, we had no idea what the competition would be like, and we placed:
2nd – Grade 3 – North Berwick Highland Games
3rd – Grade 2 – Perth Highland Games
This was a monumental achievement for the band that was in Grade 4A only a few months ago. Having beaten many of the Grade 3A bands at North Berwick and Perth, we were in good stead for the Grade 3B World Championship the following weekend.
However, after long days in Glasgow practicing, competing and visiting the greens of Scotland, a bout of food poisoning paid us a visit. Well, life is full of wee interruptions, isn’t it? Nae bother.
In true Scottish fashion, a ‘dreich’ (dull and damp) day rolled in on the morning of the Worlds but being from Melbourne and having four seasons a day, we were ready! We had our work cut out for us as we were competing against 14 other bands from six countries: Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Belgium, Canada and France — three of which won the recent majors. To become World Champions, we had to beat the UK Champions, the European Champions and the Scottish Champions.
At the stroke of 11.00 am, routines that were timed down to a minute began and before we knew it, we were on the green and competing. Most championship performances are heavily affected by nerves and excitement, but this was the best performance of our trip.
The judges thought so too. Our performance earned 1st place in Grade 3B and made history as Haileybury Pipes & Drums became one of the few select Australian bands to win a World Championship title. The last band to lift the Grade 3B world title in 2022 was the world-famous Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
Grade 3B Results (medley, 14 competed)
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1st
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Haileybury (Australia – 2023 World Champions!!!)
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2nd
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Cullybackey (Northern Ireland – 2023 UK Champions)
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3rd
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Macanta (England – 2023 Scottish Champions)
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4th
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Ross & Cromarty (Scotland – 2023 European Champions)
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5th
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Methil & District (Scotland)
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6th
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Lower Clyde (Scotland)
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7th
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Aven & District (France)
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8th
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Ayr Society (Scotland)
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9th
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Mid-Argyll (Scotland)
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10th
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Arbroath (Scotland)
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11th
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Niagara Regional Police (Canada)
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12th
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Belgian Blend (Belgium)
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13th
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Tweedvale (Scotland)
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14th
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Scottish Borders (Scotland)
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Judges: Barry Donaldson, Alvis Kerr (piping); Mark Wilson (drumming); Peter Snaddon (ensemble).
Lincoln Hilton
Director, Pipes & Drums
As we move towards the end of the year, our transition programs are starting across the campus.
The Middle School Heads and Deputy Heads of Year 7 are hosting our current Year 6 families on Tuesday, 12 September to discuss what the second stage of Middle School looks like for students.
Families in Years 7 and 8 have been invited to visit the Senior School on Wednesday, 13 September at 4.30 pm to tour the buildings and learn about the journey from Pre-Senior to the end of Year 12.
Details for these two events can be located on the myHaileybury app.
As part of the transition to Middle School, Year 4 students have the opportunity to meet with staff in Year 5 and see the spaces they will move to.
The ELC students will participate in their orientation program from Pre-Prep into Prep with opportunities to visit our Junior School on Thursday, 26 October, and Thursday, 2 and 9 November.
UpDay for all students is on Tuesday, 21 November. Students from Prep to Year 7 spend the day in their 2024 year level and discover new faces, spaces, subjects and, in some cases, teachers.
On Friday, 25 August, six outstanding Senior School students, Elliot (Year 12), Archie (Year 12), Charlie (Year 12), Thomas (Year 12), Joshua (Year 12) and Oscar (Year 12) spoke to our Year 6 boys about the journey from Years 7 to 12 and the opportunities across the School.
Each of these students were part of winning premiership sporting teams and have been involved in the broad co-curricular program on offer. They are also strong academic achievers. The Year 6 boys left the session buzzing with excitement about what is on offer in Year 7 and beyond!
South Road is the preferred pick up and drop off location for students in Junior and Middle School, with the roundabout being an efficient way to collect your child. Staff are on duty before and after school to help children remain safe within our school gates.
For Senior School students, South Road is the only drop off and pick up area for parents who drive their child to school. We encourage our older students to walk, ride or take public transport as an alternative to being driven to school.
There are so many opportunities for children to discover a love of reading.
During Book Week, the children enjoyed their favourite story being read to them, dressed as their favourite book character, learned about authors and illustrators, joined the big book swap, visited the library and took part in book-related art and crafts. The children also sat under a tree where the Tawny Frogmouths live and listened to one of Vicki Edwards favourite stories, Larry Leadbeater by Jo Watson. So much fun!
Jumping in puddles is a simple yet exhilarating activity that captures the pure joy of being a child. Puddles are not just water on the pavement, they are portals to a world of unbridled delight. With rain boots on and a sense of adventure, the joy that accompanies these leaps is infectious. This is a great reminder for us all that the simplest things can bring immense happiness.
Term 3 has always been busy with STEM week, Book Week, Footy Colours Day, Cyber Safety Project and Year 3 camp, just to name a few. During STEM Week, students were treated to lunchtime and assembly experiments. Rupert’s Drop was the explosion of molten glass and students saw glass explode into thousands of pieces.
Adrian Lam visited the Learn Assembly and blew up a bottle with liquid nitrogen, while some brave students came on stage to feel the effect of freezing a piece of kale! Years 3 and 4 students participated in a Mini Boss incursion and Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students visited the Science Dome to explore the galaxy.
In class, there was a focus on Biology and Physics with children exploring the world of mini beasts and jet propulsion. Book Week was lots of fun with guest readers, visiting authors and illustrators, colouring competitions and of course the annual book character Dress-up Parade. There were fabulous costumes and lots of children in character for the day.
Our Year 3 students are excited about heading off on their camp to Forest Edge on Wednesday. We are sure they will have a fabulous time.
Across the course of the week, Junior School students attend Computer Science, Music, Art, Drama, Library, Chinese language lessons and PE classes with specialist teachers. They love to move about the school with some facilities spread across the Boys Middle School, Girls Middle School and the Senior School.
During recent Drama lessons, Lexy Milne harnessed the power of ChatGPT to create scripts based on the answers of each small group. Students loved creating characters, rehearsing lines and then presenting their short plays.
During STEM Week our talented Science teachers ran experiments, activities and a thrilling Assembly, and students were delighted to see live experiments take place. From liquid nitrogen ice cream to exploding water bottles, drones and code-breaking, our students were fortunate to have an array of activities to inspire their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Book Week has been a fantastic opportunity for students to engage with author talks and visits from the likes of Will Kostakis, Tristan Bancks and Jack Heath. The library staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the students have great access to discover what it takes to be an author and the power of words!
The countdown is on! Prepare to set sail on the high seas and go on the journey that is Moana JR. Our skilled and excited students and Performing Arts team cannot wait to bring the show to life. Don’t forget to buy your tickets!
You can purchase tickets here.
Katrina Manson
Head of Castlefield (Brighton)
We are past mid-term and hasn’t it flown by? Look out for the HPFC food and confectionery stand at the Castlefield Musical, Disney’s Moana JR on Wednesday, 6 September, Thursday, 7 September and Friday, 8 September. We will be selling hotdogs, popcorn and choc tops.
If you haven’t had a chance to volunteer with the HPFC yet, we would love your help. These events cannot run without your support.
Sign up here.
A reminder also of the Second-Hand Uniform Shop for your uniform needs.
OPENING HOURS
During Term time only:
Wednesdays 8.15 am to 10.15 am
Thursdays 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Monique Chapman
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Castlefield
After a refreshing two-month summer break, we joyfully welcomed our returning students. Our School’s security team efficiently helped parents with parking and student drop-off and guided them to the registration points.
Upon entering the School, the students were warmly welcomed by their Heads of School, welfare staff and life teachers. Later that day, familiar faces and new additions gathered in their Homerooms. They familiarised themselves with their new welfare teachers and attended a presentation outlining the comprehensive measures in place to ensure their wellbeing throughout their academic journey.
The beginning of the Haileybury school year was celebrated with students and staff gathering on the sports oval to usher in hopes for the new academic year. The opening ceremony began with the Chinese national anthem and the raising of the national flag.
The ceremony was hosted by Junior School Head of Teaching and Learning, Ethan Jia, and Iris (Year 10) and there were also student representatives from Primary, Middle, Senior and Gao Kao schools holding up various sub-school flags.
Another highlight was poem recitations from students, teachers and parents and their eloquent delivery added depth and beauty to the ceremony. Peter Rogerson, Executive Principal of Haileybury Tianjin, addressed the students and staff, warmly welcomed the new students and shared his hopes that they set themselves clear goals, study hard and become confident teenagers.
All Haileybury staff took part in an in-depth professional learning and development program before students returned to school. The program began with staff gathering in the theatre where our Executive Principal, Peter Rogerson, outlined the current position of the School and the results of our Year 12 students.
It was also an opportunity for the new Executive Principal, Andrew McAree, to introduce himself and to discuss his vision for the future of Haileybury Tianjin. This was followed by the HR Department and the two Executive Principals presenting whole school role model awards to staff. The four-day program also consisted of key presentations and workshops with each sub-school presenting its key goals to staff and conducting welfare and curriculum training.
Yanni Galanis
International Principal, Haileybury International School, Tianjin
City campus was a fabulous host for our cross-campus Senior School STEM Conference for students and staff. We love hosting events that challenge people to think, question, wonder and have fun learning.
Our Junior School and Middle School students enjoyed many different STEM activities, and you will have heard some of the highlights from your children and young people. The Junior School Science Fair was exceptional, and the children loved sharing their science discoveries.
A personal favourite was the Middle School paper plane competition, where my magenta plane placed a notable eighth! One of the paper engineers managed to fly his plane across the entire length of the Indoor Running Track. This extraordinary feat indicates the passion our young people have about everything STEM.
We know the world is in good hands when the next generation have a broad set of transferrable skills, combined with a knowledge and passion for science. Special thanks to Caleb Street and Louise Elletson for their leadership of inspiration in STEM Week.
We love reading at Haileybury and each School did something special to celebrate Book Week, as you will read below. I thank Allie Kuhne for her leadership of a great week of activities that were enjoyed by all. Hosting visiting authors, illustrators and book lovers has become a highlight of the event.
It was wonderful to see so many Junior and Middle School families in the audience enjoying our Haileybury in Concert at the Recital Hall recently. Seeing our young people perform on a professional stage was a highlight for all.
I encourage families to attend events such as these. Watching so many of our City students play and sing so beautifully was a highlight for all. A huge thanks to Mike England and our entire Music Department.
Community is an integral part of our philosophy and is something we value highly at Haileybury City. Joining together for School events has been wonderful and has aided in building a sense of belonging within the School community. Our Book Week Parade was a time for celebration and to foster a strong sense of community with our ELC and Junior School students. It was wonderful to see so many families celebrating Book Week and to see the children in their amazing costumes.
Thank you for joining us at our ELC Learning Journal Morning Tea. The ELC children enjoyed sharing their Learning Journal and having morning tea with you. It was a time to reflect, build connections and celebrate our learning and growth throughout this year. We look forward to a busy time ahead, with lots of opportunities to celebrate with families and to continue to grow our community connections.
Haileybury City hosted its annual Junior School Science Fair on Wednesday, 16 August. The day saw young minds embracing the role of budding scientists. Students, with the support of their families, crafted project submissions at home that reflected this year’s theme of Innovation: Powering Future Industries. The event inspired innovation and ignited the students’ passion for scientific exploration. It was a memorable and enriching experience for all.
Kudos to Haileybury City’s Junior School students for their remarkable efforts in this year’s International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) competitions. Their efforts in spelling, Science, English, writing and Mathematics showcased their true dedication to learning and problem-solving and demonstrated their exceptional higher-order thinking.
The 2023 Book Week Parade set the stage for a week filled with literary delight. Under the theme Read, Grow, Inspire, students stepped into the shoes of their cherished fictional and non-fictional characters, showcasing their creativity and imagination. The event not only sparked the joy of reading but also echoed the School’s commitment to nurturing young minds
Book Week was a delight for Middle School with our young people being encouraged to read, grow and be inspired. Every morning, the library buzzed with excitement as students solved puzzles before the start of the school day.
On Tuesday, Years 5 and 6 students were treated to a visit by R. A. Spratt who shared her creative journey, discussing the origins of her beloved characters and the secrets behind her storytelling.
On Wednesday, Year 7 GMS students were captivated by an interactive experience with Anna Ciddor who engaged our young historians with her stories of Ancient Rome and how she has infused this passion in her own writing. Meanwhile, the Year 7 BMS students were inspired by Will Kostakis’ beginnings as a young writer and learned how he overcame setbacks, like rejection letters, to share his stories.
Book Week concluded with a day where students dressed as the characters that inspire them. Years 4 and 5 were filled with Harry Potters, green sheep and even characters from the Year 7 novel, The Invisible Hero.
We enjoyed a morning of lawn bowls and fun on Thursday, 31 August, as we recognised our Middle School fathers and special men. Our event was held at Flagstaff Gardens Bowls Club, and everyone enjoyed the festivities and the opportunity to recognise the important role fathers and significant men play in our Middle School students’ lives.
Caroline Merrick
Head of City
This term feels like it is flying! It certainly has been a busy time, with the students enjoying all the wonderful opportunities that Haileybury provides.
Best of luck to the Year 9 students who are about to head off on their Options and Expeditions Camps. Lots of fabulous times ahead for all these lucky students.
As we quickly approach the end of term, it is that time to check which items of uniform fit and which do not. To help with this, the pop-up shop will be open at two different times this term. We are trialling opening the shop at an afternoon time and an early morning time, based on feedback from the second-hand uniform shop survey.
Thank you to all those parents who contributed to the survey. It really does help the HPF with future planning. The donation bins will be out at the end of August for parents to drop off second-hand uniform items. The form and all the details, including opening times, will be provided through the myHaileybury app.
Have a great fortnight.
Melissa Fisher
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends City
What a wonderful recognition of all we do — from ELC to Year 12, in and out of the classroom. This award was presented in Sydney at the Australian Education Awards on Friday, 11 August.
We qualified as ‘regional’ because we are not located in a major capital city and our application to reach the final list of nine schools recognised the key aspects of HRS that set us apart including:
We also congratulate Haileybury Melbourne for winning Secondary School of the Year – Non-Government.
Andrew McGregor
Principal, Haileybury Rendall School
Thank you to the Haileybury Parents & Friends Edrington (HPFE).
We have a strong and thriving community at Edrington with students, staff and families at the centre of all we do. The HPFE is a valuable, active group where parents contribute to our School and support our many endeavours.
This term the HPFE sold showbags before each Wizard of Oz show, opened the second-hand uniform shop each week, and held a very successful Father’s Day stall.
A great deal of work goes on behind the scenes and this is coordinated by our wonderful Co-Presidents, Tracy Day and Kerry Illic. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Diane Mercuri for her tireless efforts over many years as Finance Officer. Her work has been exceptional. Also, Di, along with Kelly McAllister, open the second-hand uniform shop every week, providing a valuable service to our families. The work of Tracy, Kerry, Di and Kelly epitomises a desire to contribute and the value we place on our community. Thank you to them all.
We believe children should have access to the outdoor environment all year round. The fresh air, vitamin D, exploring nature’s elements and gross motor opportunities all outweigh the disadvantages of staying inside because of inclement weather.
The outdoor environment is an extension of the classroom and is a place where children learn new skills, strengthen and challenge existing skills, and develop confidence in their social interactions.
As educators, we strive to develop children’s love of the outdoors and encourage them to find joy and curiosity in nature.
Playing in wet, colder weather promotes children’s sense of wonder and freedom, and benefits their development and learning. It has been heartening to see the children embrace Melbourne’s unpredictable weather by using their waterproof coats, beanies and gumboots to keep warm and dry while engaging in the outdoor program. In fact, this kind of wet and cold weather can fire up your child’s imagination and creativity.
Many fabulous learning opportunities have arisen from ventures around the School on these cold and dreary days and it is often opportunities like these that your child will value and remember the most.
Once again, Book Week was a wonderful mix of activities and fun for our Junior School students. They had a wonderful week and LOVED the Book Week Dress-Up Day!
Our students will be involved in a Junior School House Sport afternoon on Tuesday, 12 September on the undercover tennis courts. Students can wear their sports uniform with coloured House top and other House colour accessories to show their House spirit.
Our House Captains will lead the afternoon and parents are invited to come and watch.
The ELC and JS students will have a Sport Dress-Up Day on the last day of term on Friday, 15 September. Students may come to school dressed in their own sporting team uniform or dressed as a sporting team they love. We ask that students donate a gold coin for the Monash Children’s Hospital.
Year 7 student, Jessica, has completed all four levels of the Compass Award, a Junior version of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. To achieve this, Jessica has had to excel in four areas — physical activity, hobbies, volunteering and exploration.
Jessica reflected on her experience, commenting that, “It has been an excellent adventure and a very rewarding experience. Throughout my journey there were many opportunities that without the Compass Award, I would never have done in my everyday life. To be able to have the chance to do things like explore the Grampians and help the Great Barrier Reef really showed me how much there is to the world.”
Congratulations to Jessica on her perseverance, courage and determination.
Thank you to the library staff for organising such fantastic author talks for our Middle School students. There was certainly a buzz in the air throughout the week, culminating in a dress-up day on the Friday which the teachers happily embraced as well!
Last Friday, our Year 7 students went on an excursion to the Salvation Army headquarters in the City. Students were taken on a tour to learn about homelessness and those in need and they then helped the Salvation Army with a donation drive. It was a fascinating excursion that tied in with our Social Justice initiatives at Edrington.
On Friday, we will host our Middle School Semester 1 Sports Awards Assembly. This will begin at 9.35 am in JT Hall and parents are welcome.
Jeanette Rawlings
Head of Edrington (Berwick)
Hello Edrington!
Firstly, thank you to everyone who volunteered to help sell show bags over the three nights of The Wizard of Oz. It was such a fun three nights. Congratulations to Candice Naude, Head of Co-curriculum Drama, and all the staff and students involved who worked so hard for months to put such a wonderful production together.
We would also like to thank all our amazing volunteers who assisted students selecting Father’s Day gifts at the Father’s Day stall.
Every Wednesday you will find Di and Kelly at the SHUS from 8.15 am to 10.45 am. The SHUS is always looking for an extra hand, so if you have an hour to spare on a Wednesday to help Di and Kelly, please email them.
Kerry Ilic & Tracy Day
HPFE Presidents
Hpfe@haileybury.vic.edu.au
Across Victoria, Very Special Kids provides holistic palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions. This includes emotional, clinical and practical support to improve quality of life and to create positive, lasting memories for the children and their families.
Haileybury has several families who have been, and continue to be, supported by VSK. The VSK Piggy Bank Appeal is a wonderful way to give back and provide our support and Newlands is very excited, once again, to support the Very Special Kids Foundation by hosting a Carnival Day on Monday, 11 September. The day will include:
Junior School families are invited to bring money in early from Wednesday, 6 September and Homeroom Teachers will keep a record of this. We are hoping this will be our biggest VSK Carnival yet! We look forward to seeing smiling faces and raising as much money as we can to support this very important cause.
Year 8 student Zachary has made Hockey Victoria’s U13 State squad and will represent Victoria at the Australian National U13 Hockey Carnival in Newcastle from 23–29 September.
In July, Zachary played in the Eastern Metro Hotshots team at the Junior State Championships. He was then selected for the Hockey Victoria high performance academy and has been training there for the past two months. We wish him every success in September.
Our Year 12 Senior School students are eagerly waiting for their opportunity to visit the Junior School to help with English and Mathematics lessons in the Prep, 1 and 2 classrooms.
This initiative is driven by the Year 12 students and highlights their commitment to building strong connections across the school community. As well as academic support, it reflects their strong sense of social justice and community engagement. By giving back and generously offering their time, these Senior students set a remarkable example for their younger peers by illustrating collaboration and empathy.
Recently, the Pre-Prep children, educators and parents worked with City of Greater Dandenong horticulturalists and environmental officers as part of the Adopt-a-Park program. The children learned about the importance of creating habitats and nurturing local ecosystems. They also learned about different native animals who live in the neighbouring bush and wetlands.
Children in Pre-Prep will continue to visit the park over the coming months to observe the progress of the plants and continue their care. As the Pre-Prep children transition to Prep, they will pass the responsibility to the current Reception children to ensure continuous care of the garden.
Angus: “I liked going on the bus because it was so big! I liked stepping on the Hamilton digger because it was so wobbly and I needed someone to hold my hand. A Hamilton digger makes a hole in the ground for the plants to grow.”
Jack: “Caring for the environment is good for the animals. Today I planted trees for the habitat for magpies and possums and snakes.”
Bella: “I liked planting the trees because you get to put the plant inside the little holes, and they will grow with water and sunlight.”
For two days, children in Reception and Pre-Prep were excited to welcome Senior School students to the ELC. To support their studies of Health and Human Development and to focus on different stages of life, our Senior School students spent time with children in the ELC each morning.
These visits were a rich reciprocal learning opportunity as students from the Senior School modelled exceptional leadership, communication and social skills while children in the ELC shared their creativity, openness and sense of wonder. Our youngest and oldest students talked, built towers and sandcastles, drew pictures and spent time outside.
It was also wonderful to see some of our Senior School students who attended the ELC return to where their learning journey began.
“While I enjoyed pretending to drink tea with the younger students, I cherished the innocent conversations that the older students were able to uphold. I left impressed with the immense amount of social skill development the children gain over one year where they build confidence and social awareness. The opportunity to obtain a few high fives and share a laugh with the ELC students at the Keysborough campus was definitely a highlight of the Health and Human Development Unit 2 curriculum.” Norah (Year 11)
Recently at Newlands, our Junior School students participated in the Cross-Country challenge. This event is about promoting health, teamwork and determination and we were thrilled to see our young athletes showcase endurance and perseverance on the track.
Prep, Year 1, and Year 2 students conquered a 1km course, while Years 3 and 4 students raced a 2km route.
This was an opportunity for students to embrace an active lifestyle, build camaraderie with their classmates, and learn the value of setting and achieving goals.
On Monday, 4 September, Year 3 students from Newlands, along with Edrington students, headed off for a three-day camp at Forrest Edge.
Forrest Edge is an adventure camp located in Neerim South. Students participate in a variety of activities such as indoor rock climbing, bush walking, archery and the flying fox. The camp promotes persistence and independence. After dinner, students enjoyed a movie night and a trivia night, and lodged in cabins with their peers.
There were many excited discussions about what to expect and the students couldn’t wait to experience their first School camp.
On Thursday, 14 September Newlands Junior School will host their annual JS Sporting Colours Day.
Following on from the fantastic form of the Australian Matildas during the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Juventus Academy Melbourne will run soccer clinics for each year level throughout the day.
These clinics will involve interactive sessions conducted by professional coaches who will focus on technical skills, tactical awareness and physical conditioning. The Juventus Academy is an international project and part of the prestigious Italian football club, Juventus FC, that aims to develop young talent and promote the values of sport.
The Academy in Melbourne provides a platform for young Australian players aged between 5 and 18 to hone their skills and passion for football.
At the start of Term 4, our Year 7 students will explore ancient societies and the history of art during a joint cross-disciplinary History and Art excursion.
The students will explore various aspects of ancient history through a workshop on ancient board games at the Hellenic Museum. At NGV International, they will investigate changing artistic representations through time.
As our Year 7 students take part in some lively discussions, hands-on activities and thought-provoking reflections, their insights will shape their understanding of history and the creation of art.
All Year 8 Boys Middle School students will take part in an all-day incursion from The Man Cave on Friday, 8 September. This sits within our broader Wellbeing curriculum and is delivered onsite within homeroom groups at Newlands campus.
Workshop 2 is all about building respectful relationships and guides boys on how to build healthy relationships across all domains of their life. It explores how to support others, empathy, conflict resolution, expressing needs, power and privilege, and integrity.
In this workshop, boys will:
Please visit here for ideas on how you can support your son during this time.
Mark Harrop
Acting Head of Newlands (Keysborough)
We are open every Friday during term from 12.00 pm to 2.00 pm. Please note that Saturday, 9 September is our last Saturday for the term.
Our volunteers are amazing — in Terms 1 and 2 they volunteered for 250 hours. We would love to train more volunteers if you are available!
Please join us on Thursday, 7 September at 7.00 pm in the Barney Allen Room at the Senior School for the Annual General Meeting.
Please join us on Monday, 11 September to raise funds for the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal.
Lenice Norris
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Keysborough
We had a brilliant week celebrating all things Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — with the centrepiece being a fantastic STEM Week Assembly led by Dayna Schinz, Haileybury’s first girls School Captain who is a Science and Education graduate of Monash University.
Students heard from Haileybury’s STEM Captains, learnt about the potential of AI with Michelle Dennis, and participated in a construction challenge using spaghetti and marshmallows. Congratulations to Tiarni (Year 9) and Jeehoon (Year 7) for taking out this challenge!
We thank Damien Meunier and all our brilliant STEM teachers at Haileybury for an engaging week.
Haileybury Pangea’s Head of House, Natasha Eshuis, launched an exciting new initiative for all students and staff to get involved: the 24-Hour Challenge. Linking with World Vision to raise funds and awareness for global hunger and famine, participants pledged to ‘go without’ something for 24 hours — this could be social media (a popular choice), coffee, Netflix, even furniture! Students also learned about the extent and impact of famine across different parts of the world through a guest presentation from World Vision.
We congratulate all students and staff who took part or contributed to fundraising efforts, and we thank Natasha Eshuis for organising this fantastic opportunity.
Joanna Baker
Head of Campus
Sixty years ago this month, Dr Martin Luther King Junior delivered his iconic speech, a plea for equality, tolerance, jobs and freedom. His rallying cry for tolerance and hope is as relevant today as it was then, and the speech remains inspirational to this day as a tool for the teaching of effective rhetoric and persuasive communication. It serves as a model for students the world over who are learning about the power of words and the art of persuasion.
On Thursday, 17 August, 14 of our Senior School executive student leaders took time away from their busy schedules and leadership portfolios to meet at City campus to share experiences of their own leadership journeys and to prepare for future leadership roles and responsibilities post-school.
School leadership teams have a responsibility to develop their student leaders for the future – this is a critical endeavour. Sharing wisdom is crucial to empower creative young people to champion appropriate change and social justice; it also ensures that the most capable young people can challenge and promote positive leadership in a turbulent and disrupted world.
City campus is an excellent environment for creativity, thinking, discussion and the broader exploration of ideas. The overarching theme for the day considered how school-based student leaders can continue to grow and develop as role models and leaders into wider society and workplaces beyond school.
What took place was a wide range of spirited discussion on
relevant topics about school life, the quest for constant improvement and about
personal and collective responsibilities of the future generations of leaders.
In all, the day was a wonderful survey of leadership education and training, mentorship and role modelling, leadership opportunities, community service and volunteering, empowering student decision-making, encouraging self-reflection, promoting diversity and inclusion, challenging comfort zones, conflict resolution skills, feedback and evaluation and about promoting ethical leadership and strategies for long-term vision.
A resolution at the end of the meeting was for the current student leadership team to return next year to share their initial experiences of post-school life, work and education, alongside mentoring the next and successive generations of Haileybury’s senior student leaders.
On Monday, 21 August, four Year 10 Brighton students (Lucy Poole, Kayla Johnstone, Harrison Roberts and Kennedy Jacoby) attended the Goldstein Youth Forum in the Legislative Assembly Chamber of the Parliament of Victoria.
The event was hosted by Federal MP, Zoe Daniel, who listened to groups of local students present on a range of issues that impact teenagers in the Goldstein electorate. These four students spoke wonderfully, and the messages presented will hopefully inform future decisions and policy that lead to positive change in our community for young people.
Haileybury’s entire Year 9 cohort will spend the final two weeks of term engaged in experiential learning activities around Australia and the world more broadly. Our students will complete their options which have seen groups travel to places as diverse as Uluru, Cairns and the Barrier Reef. It provides a wonderful opportunity for them to diversify their travel experiences.
The Year 9 Haileybury Girls 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.
Haileybury will conduct a series of trial examinations for students undertaking Units 3 and 4 VCE. These will begin on Tuesday, 5 September and finish on Monday, 11 September in Term 3. A copy of the trial examination timetable is available to students and parents via myHaileybury.
Haileybury academic staff will run revision workshops for Units 3 and 4 studies throughout the September school holidays. Attendance is not compulsory, but families may want to take this into account when planning holidays.
As students move into the VCE years, they and their families often have questions about how their academic pathways at Haileybury match university pre-requisites.
Previously, each Year 10 student received a copy of a VTAC Year 10 Guide to help with this planning. VTAC has now moved all information within this guide to its website. It 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 entering universities or other tertiary institutions.
While Haileybury will continue to provide students and parents with information about subject selection and university entrance throughout the next three years, this guide is an effective way for Year 9 and 10 families to familiarise themselves with the VCE and tertiary entrance.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is available to all students aged 14 years or older. It is voluntary and students can start at any time.
Currently, we have over 150 students registered and actively completing the award. Information about our Duke of Edinburgh program is available on the myHaileybury app.
Next year we have some amazing trips on offer to all Senior School students and DOE participants. If your child is interested in participating in any of the trips listed below, or they are interested in commencing the award, please email Tamsin Visick or head to myHaileybury for details:
Dr Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy Principal
Head of Senior Schools
Haileybury attained some outstanding results at the Federation of International Sport Aerobics & Fitness State Championships. The entire senior squad will represent the School on the Gold Coast in September at the FISAF Australia National Championships. We look forward to hearing of more outstanding results then. Well done.
Six Haileybury students competed at the 2023 Australian National Table Tennis Championships in Sydney. It was a real Haileybury affair as the coach of the State team was David Powell, Olympian and Haileybury staff member. The students and team performed well in a high standard field. Congratulations to Joshua (Year 7), Foebe (Year 10), Boswen (Year 10), Izac (Year 12), Esme (Year 8) and Darlene (Year 11).
Kevin (Year 11) has been selected to join the Victorian U18 Volleyball team. He was fortunate enough to play in the Australian Junior Volleyball Championship in Sydney during Term 3 school holidays where he showed his ability to state selectors. Kevin has also been invited to attend the U19 National Development Program in Canberra for a week at the conclusion of the National Championships. We wish Kevin all the best.
Haileybury’s Equestrian team is going from strength to strength. Students will represent Victoria in this year’s Australian Interschool Championships at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre from Friday, 29 September to Tuesday, 3 October.
We wish the following students all the best:
Avril (Year 9), Pearl (Year 8) and Madeleine (Year 8).
Sean Allcock
Director of Haileybury Sport
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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