Celebrating International Women’s Day
On Friday, 7 March the Brighton Senior School and Castlefield Middle School community united in a vibrant celebration for International Women’s Day. The morning began with breakfast and was followed by incredible music and inspiring speeches from members of Haileybury Girls College.
The 2025 campaign theme, Accelerate Action, resonated deeply with our diverse audience. Over 400 attendees, including brothers, fathers, staff and members of Haileybury College, joined the girls and women of our community. Together, we explored the importance of taking decisive steps to achieve gender equality and momentum was made with the support for two student-led initiatives:
- Aspiration Station and Parent Partnerships in which the call to our community to support the aspirations of our students through work experience, mentorship, guest speaking, internship or coaching was met with enthusiasm and gusto.
- Dress for Success Clothing Drive — an initiative that provides disadvantaged women with professional workwear via Dress for Success Victoria.
April (Year 8) and Maia (Year 12) welcomed our guests followed by Arianna (Year 8) and Kayla (Year 12) who took to the stage together to deliver a heartfelt speech emphasising the need for a gender equal world.
This was followed by exceptional musical performances from Cameron (Year 4) and Lila (Year 8). Cameron presented a delightful version of Miley Cyrus’s 'The Climb,’, while Lila’s heartfelt rendition of ‘A Million Dreams’ provided an outstanding conclusion to the morning’s event.
Thank you to all who attended this community event to celebrate and reinforce the importance of diversity, equity, empowerment and progress.
Visiting the Head of Campus
The Prep students continue to explore the campus and a visit to the Head of Campus was on the agenda for one excited group of Preps. Ms McInnes and five Prep students spent time with Mrs Manson, asking questions, discovering the space that is the Head of Campus office and sharing all the amazing things they have been learning in Prep this year.
Early Learning Centre
Parent Partnerships
It has been wonderful getting to know new families and reconnecting with old ones. Reception parents were invited to small group lunches in their child’s classroom, and Pre-Prep parents were invited to an open afternoon in their child’s indoor and outdoor learning environment.
We have enjoyed hearing from families in relation to individual learning aims for their children, and their family background and interests. The recent myProgress Meetings were a great opportunity for parents and teachers to connect and discuss children’s aspirations, learning, development and wellbeing.
Magical Moments
The children have settled well into the new school year, getting to know their teachers and peers, exploring their ELC learning spaces, and venturing into the wider school community. We hope parents have been enjoying the magical moments shared on our Haileybury ELC app — a wonderful way to keep up to date with the joy and learning that happens each week.
Cleaning Up Australia
The children participated in Clean Up Australia Day, being passionate warriors for Mother Earth, sharing their message of looking after the environment and cleaning up Australia with teachers and students around the School. Once the children returned to the ELC, they sorted the rubbish into the correct bins and discussed where it may have come from and the environmental effects.
Junior School
Assembly
Junior School assemblies are held fortnightly on Friday afternoons in Dickinson Hall. Year 4 leaders run the show under the guidance of Miss Serena Merry. They hone their public speaking and crowd control skills whilst the audience listen with interest. Parents are always welcome to join us and enjoy the varied performances from our Junior School children. Most recently we have had solo singers, piano players and an acrobatic dance troupe take to the stage. The announcement that brings the most excitement is who claims the victory of the House Cup with the most House points.
Social Justice
Our community BBQ was well supported and lots of money was raised for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. At the end of the term, we will host our annual coin trail morning. Students are asked to dress up in their House colours and bring along coins to lay end to end on coloured chalk lines drawn throughout the School. Start saving your change now.
Open Classrooms
We would love to have you join your child in class so they can share their classroom space with you. You might even get to do a locker check and tidy. If you can, please pop in from 3.15 pm – 3.30 pm on the dates listed below.
Prep classrooms: Tuesday, 18 March
Year 1 classrooms: Wednesday, 26 March
Year 2 classrooms: Tuesday, 1 April
Year 3 classrooms: Wednesday, 2 April
Year 4 classrooms: Wednesday, 2 April
Middle School
Middle School Sporting Achievements
We were so proud of the outstanding swimmers who competed in the APS Primary Division Swimming Competition held at Caulfield Grammar. Serena won 1st place in butterfly and 2nd place in freestyle. Harmony won 2nd place in backstroke. Andy won 1st place in both breaststroke and freestyle. Congratulations to all students who competed and put themselves outside their comfort zone by trying their best and improving every day.
Year 5 twins, Bowen and Aaron, competed in the Victoria State Fencing Competition. Bowen was awarded Gold Medals in both U11 Mixed Epee and U11 Boy’s Foil for Victoria. Aaron was awarded a Silver Medal in the U11 Mixed Epee for Victoria. Both are amazing results and efforts that they should be extremely proud of.
Castlefield Year 8 Student Leadership Parent Breakfast
Year 8 student leaders hosted their parents for a special breakfast, sparking insightful conversations about leadership. A lively ‘speed dating’ activity gave students and parents 60 seconds to exchange questions, showcasing the students’ confidence and communication skills.
Parents were amazed by how well the students spoke, while the young leaders valued the advice they received. It was an inspiring event, highlighting the incredible potential of Castlefield’s future leaders.
Year 6 Camp - Canberra
Our Year 6 students embarked on their camps to Canberra, as they flew out of Melbourne Airport ready for all that Canberra had in store for them. Students had the opportunities to explore, learn and enjoy time outside the classroom with their peers. They visited many places such as the AIS, Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, Questacon and the Deep Space Communication Complex. Currently, our Year 6 students are studying Australian Democracy and were able to observe and be part of real-life learning with a connection to the curriculum.
Katrina Manson
Head of Castlefield (Brighton)
Haileybury Parents & Friends Castlefield (HPFC)
Class Representatives
Our HPFC Executive along with Head of Campus, Katrina Manson and Senior Deputy Head of Campus, Felicity Gardam, will be hosting all the wonderful parents who have raised their hand to support the community and help with planning and organisation or take on positions of year level representatives.
If you are interested in being part of the team and the exciting events that will be taking place across the year, please join us to find out more:
Thursday, 20 March
7.00 pm
Project Space, Senior School Building (opposite library)
Food and beverages provided.
Haileybury Parents & Friends Castlefield
