Academic excellence and breadth of experience through broad co-curricular programs are at the heart of Haileybury’s exceptional education. Last week and the week ahead see students engaged in all elements of this great program.
Academic excellence and breadth of experience through broad co-curricular programs are at the heart of Haileybury’s exceptional education. Last week and the week ahead see students engaged in all elements of this great program.
National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing started last Wednesday and has been successfully completed for most of Haileybury’s 1,500 students across Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. The students were assessed across five domains: reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.
As always, Haileybury teachers will use the extensive data received to continue the School's improvement plans. The collaboration and debriefing on results identifies best practice, which is shared. All of this contributes to Haileybury students being amongst the strongest in Australia for development of core skills in literacy and numeracy.
The strong literacy and numeracy base of Haileybury students is the foundation from which analytical thinking, problem solving and communication skills can be further developed as they move through the School.
This development is further enhanced by the extensive co-curricular program on offer. A core component of that is the sport program. Next Saturday is the second last weekend of what has been a highly successful summer sports season with more than 3,500 students from Years 7 to 12 representing the School in more than 20 sports across the APS/AGSV girls and APS boys competitions. We have tracked results closely across all year levels and teams to make sure that the season has been a good experience for all and to provide additional coaching and support where it is required.
As we head into the final rounds, we wish our badminton girls and boys, table tennis (mixed boys and girls teams), girls softball and girls cricket all the best as they remain in the running to win their respective first team titles. We also wish our girls and boys swimming and diving teams good luck with their big championship event on Thursday, 27 March.
On Friday evening, 28 February, members of the Haileybury community joined each other under beautiful, warm skies to celebrate Haileybury’s Founders Day. It was with joy and gratitude that we gathered to celebrate a momentous occasion — the 133rd founding anniversary of our great School. For over a century, Haileybury has stood as a beacon of learning, shaping generations of students with knowledge, character, and purpose. On Friday, 28 February we honored that legacy while looking forward to the bright future ahead.
We were thrilled to have the company of Council Chair, Professor Greg Whitwell, (pictured below), a great Haileyburian and a generous custodian. Greg officially opened the new Visual Arts Centre. We dedicated the new buildings to the purpose of knowledge and activity, as a place where talent will flourish. It is our hope that the Visual Arts building will be a sanctuary for imagination, a stage for self-expression, and a home for developing artists who will carry forward our tradition of excellence.
Derek Scott
CEO | Principal
Autumn in Melbourne is a fabulous time for the Performing Arts and Haileybury thrives with plays, performances, concerts and showings.
The City’s thought-provoking production The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime entertained audiences at Chapel Off Chapel last week. As director, Jane Marshall observed, “The very core of this play is about being different and finding your own place in the world.”
VCE Drama student Frankie led an outstanding ensemble of 24 actors as they explored the story of Christopher: an extraordinary thinker and young mathematician who sees the world a little differently.
The collective maturity and focus were clear from the outset as the cast was on stage the whole show. They imaginatively employed black boxes to create a range of different locations and concepts. Under Ms Marshall’s innovative direction, the group employed physical theatre to portray the bustling world of the London Tube or the surreal serenity of space. In one standout moment, Frankie was effortlessly flown through the air by the careful support of the ensemble, guiding her throughout the space. Kai’s live drawing framed the performance, echoing the key words and images that compete in Christopher’s mind.
Watching the care each member took during rehearsals and performances, The Curious Incident cast did not just perform the message of acceptance and connection — they epitomised it. On and off stage.
Nicole Smith
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Following on from last fortnight’s announcement of Abigail King (OHA 2024), Tyler Goodbody (OHA 2024), Kai Louis (OHA 2024) and Cooper Newman (OHA 2024) being recognized in the upcoming VCAA Top Class concert series, I am thrilled to announce three more students/groups have been selected for this most prestigious acknowledgement.
Congratulations to Jason (2024, Yr 11) for his outstanding work in VCE Music: Composition. Working alongside his teacher Michael England, with guidance from music tutor Anthony Spicer, Jason’s work was identified as being amongst the very best produced in the state.
Congratulations also to Santrix Redston (OHA 2024) for their outstanding work in the highly competitive classical voice, Music: Repertoire space. To be selected to perform at Top Class for classical voice is a most impressive acknowledgment for Santrix, their piano accompanist Hoang Pham, and the various voice tutors who have contributed to Santrix’s development.
Finally, congratulations to Harley (Year 11 2024), Jack Harrop (OHA 2024) and Louis (Year 11 2024) for their invitation to perform in recognition of their outstanding ensemble presentation in VCE Music: Contemporary. With recognition of this ensemble, Haileybury can boost a student or ensemble being selected for Top Class from each of the four key practical studies offered by the VCAA. A truly remarkable achievement, congratulations to all involved.
The VCAA Top Class concert series will be held at the Melbourne Recital Centre towards the end of this month.
The Music Department’s first major concert of the year, Twilight Concert, is set to take place on the afternoon of 20 March in the Senior School Quadrangle at Keysborough.
Twilight Concert purposefully showcases an accessible program of pop/film inspired repertoire. With everything from The Man from Snowy River through ‘The Mandalorian’ theme from Star Wars, and a medley of the Bond theme, ‘Miserlou’ and Game Of Thrones, there is something for everyone.
I hope families, including those with no direct connection to the Music Department, will take the opportunity to attend a relaxed outdoor concert of outstanding Senior School music.
The concert is free — no bookings are required. Wine, beer and snacks will be provided from 4.40 pm. The concert will run from 5.00pm to 6.30 pm.
Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music
The Founders Day Cocktail Party evening marked a significant milestone with the official opening of the new Visual Arts building at Keysborough. It was an inspiring night when Vice Principal Mr Scott Doran and Chairman Gregory Whitwell and I discussed the importance of creative education in fostering holistic development, lifelong wellbeing and cultural awareness. The event showcased the power of art in shaping empathetic global citizens. Highlights included an exquisite edible garden dessert table and a captivating interactive workshop led by First Nations artist in residence, Bronwyn David. Attendees engaged in crafting custom leather pieces, adorned with symbolic designs echoing Haileybury’s Reconciliation Action Plan, that were collectively woven together to create a tapestry of Haileybury’s past, present and future.
International Women’s Day ignited meaningful discussions throughout the school, providing a platform to honour pioneering women in the Arts. The Thursday quad party was a vibrant celebration, featuring a unique science-art collaborative workshop in the gallery. Senior students were mesmerized as they witnessed peers using air-dry clay to create intricate models of the brain, symbolizing the fusion of art and science. This initiative coincided with Brain Awareness Week with the Arts inspiring students to explore the limitless possibilities of creativity and innovation.
We are thrilled to announce the creative components of the upcoming Term 1 events, House Arts and Languages Week. For those studying French, Year 9 students will immerse themselves in an Impressionism workshop. This exciting opportunity will allow them to explore the innovative techniques and paradigm-shifting artistry of the Impressionist era. Additionally, keep an eye out for the forthcoming LEAP and STEM weeks, both promising a plethora of creative opportunities for students to engage in. These events are set to inspire and nurture creativity across the school community, ever reminding us that art echoes its context.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
This month the Pipes & Drums C Band were invited to perform at the annual Patterson River Coast Guard Fun Run, an event that was the first public performance for several of our junior musicians. Our performances kept the runners and spectators entertained throughout the race. We can’t wait to be involved again next year.
The Pipes & Drums kicked off the Founders Day Cocktail Party in style wearing our full Scottish traditional uniform. Thank you to the friends of P&D for their assistance in getting the students dressed for the performance.
Ballarat Twilight Competition. The Ballarat competition saw our three competition bands back in action and welcomed several students competing for the very first time. This is a huge milestone for these students in their Pipes & Drums journey and we could not be prouder of their performances. It was also lovely to have our Patron, Mrs Jane Gibbs in attendance supporting the bands as well as previous Patrons, Dr Ross Sundberg and Mrs Pam Chamberlain.
Congratulations to our A Band on four very consistent and enjoyable performances, achieving 2nd place in Novice A, including a 1st in the Medley ensemble.
Congratulations to our B Band for their 3rd place in the Novice B medley competition.
On Sunday, 30 March, Haileybury is hosting its very own Pipe Band Competition at the Keysborough Campus. It is a free event and we would love to see you there supporting the Haileybury Pipes & Drums.
Daniel Staley
Director of Pipes & Drums
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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)
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
At City campus, we love to celebrate International Women’s Day over a week. Every day new activities have been enjoyed by all. It was wonderful to see our City girls from Middle and Senior School entertain everyone on the terrace with their beautiful singing, finishing up with a band of girls and boys for the finale. Much fun and joy occurred as we celebrated the amazing young women in our School.
Our Heads of Middle School reflected at the Middle School Assembly on what it means for young men and women to be upstanders together by living our respectful relationship pillars. Words have power and our students can uplift others to be stronger. Together, we thrive, and our parallel education model celebrates this notion. I encourage all families to enjoy some conversations around the dinner table about what your young person is learning, as they become their best self.
I was delighted to be invited to the Senior School Flagstaff House Breakfast where our invited guest, Kavinya Dissanyake (OH 2020), spoke about her experience post school, attending ACU. She encouraged the girls to embrace difference and follow their passions. It was an inspiring message of hope and wisdom, especially about the future opportunities our young people can pursue. It is a privilege to see our young people flourish as they journey through Haileybury City and out into the world.
With a wonderful sense of belonging established within the ELC, children have thrived with the start of our Term 1 program. Counting has been an interest of many children in Reception who have been busy building on these skills.
A clear love of counting with blocks has been combined at group time and children have been presented with a numeral before carefully collecting and counting small items to represent this number.
Meanwhile, Pre-Prep have been busy focusing on their collaborative learning skills through numeracy experiences demonstrating recognition of one- and two-digit numbers.
Outside the classroom, mathematical language continues to drive our play-based learning program. Children have been enjoying the warmer weather and engaging with water in the outdoor environment.
The use of buckets as we water and care for our terrace garden has introduced words such as heavier, full, half-full and lighter. We look forward to many more numeracy opportunities throughout the year that help foster a love of learning in this important area for our ELC children.
We are thrilled to have officially inducted the Year 4 Junior School Leaders for Semester 1, 2025, as they begin their journey as student leaders and role models within our School community. Congratulations to the following students on their new roles. The appointment process was highly competitive, and the Junior School Leadership Team was incredibly impressed by how each student prepared their speeches, spoke confidently about their goals and embodied the school’s Respectful Relationship Pillars. We also look forward to seeing how the Semester 2 Captains will support and collaborate with them throughout their leadership journey.
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Flag Bearer
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Isabella L
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Newton House Captain
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Austin H
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Main House Captain
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Mira W
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Na House Captain
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Anthea S
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Elliot House Captain
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Ian L
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Arts Captain
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Avelyn H
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Sports Captain
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Mattea F
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Environment Captains
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Holly B & Aaron H
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Library Captains
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Jessie L & Alyssa N
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Social Justice Captain
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Elliott M
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Throughout the final weeks of Term 1, City parents are encouraged to attend the following events, as listed in the Key Dates, to observe their child’s learning:
Please take some time to explore the informational flyers provided to parents via the myHaileybury parent app. We eagerly anticipate welcoming parents into our classrooms where you will see your child learning.
As part of their Drama Assessment Task, Year 8 Haileybury City students teamed up to bring their own original Children’s Theatre performances to life, drawing inspiration from two exciting themes: Magic Beach and Pirate School.
Before diving into rehearsals, they got to know their audience — our energetic Year 1 and Prep students — to make sure their shows would be fun, interactive and totally captivating.
Congratulations to all our Year 8 students who were formally inducted as Middle School Leaders during the assembly on Thursday, 20 February. These students have consistently demonstrated excellence in character and contribution throughout their Middle School journey.
Our students had the privilege of hearing from the Head of Senior Schools, Ms Lucy Cumming, who shared her reflections on leadership. Most poignantly, her message about leadership being a force for the greater good resonated deeply with our community.
We extend our gratitude to all our Year 8 leaders for their commitment to shaping our Middle School community and fostering the vibrant cultures that exist within GMS and BMS.
This year, for International Women’s Day, our students demonstrated their commitment to social justice through the Blessing Bags initiative. They generously donated muesli bars, tissues, and deodorant to support those in need and participated in an insightful workshop led by the organisation Blessing Bags, where they learnt more about homelessness and ways to make a difference.
Beyond these acts of kindness, IWD provided an opportunity for important conversations about gender equality and the power of collective action. Education plays a crucial role in challenging biases, amplifying women’s voices, and fostering a more inclusive world, and our students embraced this through discussion and reflection.
On Friday, our students enjoyed ‘Shine’ on the terrace during a glitter-filled, music-infused lunchtime celebration. Students enjoyed sweet treats and the opportunity to come together as a community in recognition of the day.
Our Year 8 students also took an active role by selling badges and stickers featuring the BMS and GMS themes, Lift Others to Grow Stronger and Together, We Thrive. All proceeds from these sales were donated to Blessing Bags, further supporting their important work. Through both action and awareness, our students honoured the spirit of International Women’s Day.
Our Year 6 students engaged in important learning around civics and citizenship during their visit to the nation’s capital, Canberra. Students visited Parliament House, directly aligning with their current learning in Humanities. The Year 6 excursion to Canberra plays an imperative role in shaping students’ understanding of democracy and how laws are made in our country. They also explored the Australian War Memorial and Questacon, gaining valuable insights into history, science and innovation.
The time away from home is an exceptional opportunity for students to build their independence and foster connections with their peers. Thank you to all the staff and students for making the 2025 Canberra trip such a memorable and enriching experience.
Caroline Merrick
Head of City
The Haileybury Parents & Friends City would like to extend a warm welcome to both new and returning families at Haileybury City for 2025.
We truly appreciate the efforts of everyone in welcoming our new families to Haileybury City. Whether through friendly greetings, introductions, organising playdates and picnics and attending our HPF City events, every gesture of kindness and connection contributes to strengthening our wonderful Haileybury community.
It was fantastic to see so many parents and friends engaging during the recent Parent Information Sessions and at the Welcome Morning event at the popular Inside Out Court. The event was a lovely opportunity to connect with others, enjoy a drink, cupcake and/or chocolate and have a relaxed conversation. We also had the opportunity to meet and hear directly from the Haileybury City Executive team including Lucy Cumming who has recently joined Haileybury City as Head of Senior School, before diving back into our busy schedules. We appreciate the time you take to join us.
As we write, we are busy finalising preparations for the highly anticipated HPF City Rooftop Party, scheduled for Friday, 14 March, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The event sold out quickly once again; a testament to the enthusiasm of our families to strengthen our Haileybury community and the reputation of our well-run events. Thank you to all who bought a ticket, donated a giveaway and helped run the night. Look out for the wonderful photos of the HPF community and the school choir in the upcoming issue of Insight.
A heartfelt thanks also goes out to the parent volunteers who run our popular Second-hand Uniform Shop. After a very successful 2024, the shop will be back for another round on Thursday, 27 March and Friday, 28 March. Save the dates in your calendar. The shop has many uniform items in great condition. You will find the link to the form and more information on the myHaileybury app. Together, we are helping families save money, reduce waste, and raise funds for the School.
We hope you had a wonderful summer, and that the Year of the Snake brings prosperity and joy to us all.
Melissa Fisher & Michelle White
Co-Presidents, Haileybury Parents & Friends City
We recently had the pleasure of welcoming Mr John Twist, Edrington’s founding Head of Campus, back to our school. Mr Twist’s legacy is woven into the fabric of our campus, and it was a wonderful opportunity to thank him for the care, vision and leadership he brought during his time here. The strong foundation he built has enabled Edrington to grow into the thriving, successful and beautiful campus it is today.
We recently had the pleasure of hosting the OHA Generations’ Breakfast, an event celebrating families with a deep connection to Haileybury. With parents — and even some grandparents — who were once students themselves, the morning was a wonderful opportunity to come together, share stories and reflect on the rich history of our campus. This is an annual event, and I always enjoy seeing the next generation of Haileyburians developing a deeper connection to the school and their place within its legacy. An enjoyable morning for all.
In all ELC classrooms the start of the year programs focus on building connections with each other and their Haileybury community. Warm and respectful relationships with children and their families form the foundation for effective early childhood education programs. Strong connections with and between educators help to generate a sense of belonging and nurture learning and development for children.
The beginning of a new year also promotes opportunity for the children to make new connections with peers or build on current friendships. Staff use intentional teaching strategies within their curriculum to support children to make friends, self-regulate and build confidence to speak up in a group situation. This occurs both within and outside of the classroom as children attend multiple specialist classes each week promoting opportunity to develop and refine learning and skills in a variety of contexts.
We look forward to watching friendships and connections grow through the year.
The Junior School will be celebrating for a full week in Week 8 from Monday, 17 to Friday, 21 March. Harmony Week is a celebration of our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. On Friday, 21 March — Harmony Day — students are asked to dress in casual clothes with a touch of orange to represent the diversity of our nation.
Our Junior School Family Community Event this year will take place on Friday, 28 March from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm. We invite families to bring a blanket or chairs and purchase food from the various food trucks: Mr Whippy, Baked Twister, OMG Donuts, Boost Juice and a coffee van.
There will be a variety of games set up around the main oval (near the pavilion) which we invite parents to participate in with their children. We suggest comfortable shoes and lots of family engagement.
We will be raising money for the Monash Children’s Hospital during this event by selling cans of drink ($2) and would also like to thank the Dhaliwal family (Boost Juice) for donating all proceeds of their sales to Haileybury and our charity.
Both the Year 6 boys and girls have now returned from their camps to Canberra. The students were kept busy with visits to Parliament House, the National Dinosaur Museum, the Australian Institute of Sport, the Deep Space Communication Complex and more. The highlight, however, was their visit to Questacon, a facility that explores science, technology and innovation in interactive and engaging ways.
On Tuesday, 18 February, our Year 8 Captains across Boys and Girls Schools participated in a leadership workshop run by Tripod. This gave our captains an opportunity to explore and develop their ideas, whilst building leadership skills like public speaking and building relationships. We look forward to seeing some of the ideas they came up with actioned — we have such an impressive group of leaders this year who have already demonstrated their enthusiasm and passion for their respective roles.
We wish our Years 7 and 8 students all the best as they head out to their respective camps over the next couple of weeks. With mild weather, this is a great time of year for camps, and an opportune time to further develop new friendships through shared experiences and challenges. The camping program is a valuable learning experience for all students to challenge themselves to step outside of their comfort zones and try something new and challenging with the support of teachers and peers, whilst starting to form their own identity away from the comforts of home.
Finally, we look forward to our Middle School Athletics carnival on Tuesday, 1 April. Students are reminded to wear their House tops, bring a water bottle and hat, and cheer on all those involved regardless of House.
Jeanette Rawlings
Head of Edrington (Berwick)
Hello Edrington. Thank you to everyone who helped make our Pancake Day such a huge success. We raised $1,400 for Uniting Care and that is a lot of pancakes. The students brought their smiling faces and ‘A-game’ manners. Thank you to all our volunteers who came to help shake and flip. We really could not do this without you. Teamwork makes the dream work.
We have our Cross Campus Cross Country coming up in May and we will have over 2,000 sausages to cook. Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help cook and hand out sausages to the students. We could really use some more volunteers though. If you are available to help on Tuesday, 20 May from 8.30 am, please register here.
Every Wednesday you will find Jenelle and Amphil at the Second-hand Uniform Shop (SHUS) from 8.30 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 give Amphil and Jenelle a hand in the shop please contact them at shus-berwick@haileybury.vic.edu.au.
shusberwick@haileybury.vic.edu.au
Kind Regards,
Kerry Ilic
HPFE President
The first half of Term One has been fantastic, filled with many wonderful memories. It has been a pleasure meeting so many new students and families around campus, and our new students have settled in well. On Wednesday, 12 March, our NAPLAN testing began Best of luck to our Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 students—I am confident they will give their best effort in these important assessments.
The Junior School is buzzing with excitement as very important guests are set to visit for Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Wednesday, 26 March.
Gathering for morning tea before heading to Berthon Hall to witness the Year Level Choirs perform a variety of songs they will have been learning in class.
The VIP guests will then proceed to classrooms, engaging in various activities with students.
Newlands and the HPFK are excited to announce the annual Easter Egg raffle with all proceeds going to the Good Friday Appeal.
This year, we invite all our families to contribute to this amazing cause and help us raise as much money as possible.
What to Donate: Easter eggs, bunnies, bilbies and all fun Easter goodies
Where to Donate: Newlands Reception
Donation Deadline: Monday, 31 March.
Ticket Sales: Monday, 3 March to Thursday, 3 April. Tickets will be available from your child’s classroom teacher.
Ticket Prices: $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.
Families are warmly invited to attend our ‘KidsROAR’ Parent Information Session on Wednesday, 26 March at 7.30 pm. During this session, families will be hearing more information on the program being delivered to all children in the ELC. The KidsROAR program provides tools and strategies that empower children to help reduce their vulnerability to abuse and unsafe situations. We encourage all families to partner with the ELC and attend this session to be equipped to carry on these important conversations at home, and throughout your child’s life.
Children in the ELC are excited to soon begin a collaborative art project. Working within their year level, our Reception and Pre-Prep classes will connect through the arts as they come together to plan ideas, design prototypes and begin the creation of a shared art project. The arts within the early years promotes not only fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination, it also allows for fostering of expression and creativity. We are excited to showcase these creations in the ELC later this year.
Year 4 students will be gearing up for an exciting camp in Week 8 of this term, from Monday, 17 March to Wednesday, 19 March.
This year, we are thrilled to announce that Haileybury has selected a new venue for their Year 4 camp: The Peninsula Outdoors Camp, located in Merricks on the stunning Mornington Peninsula.
At Peninsula Outdoors, students will have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of exciting activities on the stunning Mornington Peninsula. They will be able to challenge themselves with a selection of land activities such as high ropes and archery, as well as enjoy water-based adventures like snorkelling, and kayaking—there will be something for everyone to enjoy!
Looking ahead, the Junior School eagerly anticipates the annual Easter Hat Parade, to be followed by an exciting JS Easter Egg Hunt. The JS will be joining the ELC and combining their Easter Hat Parades. This new endeavour is a thrilling change for the JS Easter Hat Parade and the JS students are looking forward to sharing this time with the ELC.
Excitement will fill the air as students adorn themselves in an array of festive headwear, from elegant bonnets to whimsical bunny ears and quirky glasses. Against the backdrop of the ELC, the parade will commence, with students joyfully bopping and dancing to the beat of lively tunes.
Year 8 BMS students will depart for their camp at Marysville on Monday, 17 to Friday, 21 March with the GMS attending Monday, 24 to Friday, 28 March. This five-day outdoor experience will focus on camp craft, problem solving and teamwork skills. Activities include rock climbing, hiking, cycling and camping out in the region. Nights will be spent in tents and in cabins and students will prepare and cook all meals for themselves under the supervision of OEG and Haileybury staff.
Year 7 BMS students will depart for Camp Jungai on Tuesday, 18 March to Friday, 21 March with GMS attending Tuesday, 25 to Friday, 28 March. While in Camp Jungai students will sleep in cabin accommodation and undertake a number of outdoor activities on site. In the second half of the expedition, students will journey through the Rubicon Valley. Students will spend their nights in tents and will be introduced to a multitude of camp craft skills aimed at preparing students for their Outdoor Experiences in Year 8 and Pre-Senior.
Hugo Engele
Head of Newlands (Keysborough)
Our first committee meeting went off with a bang and a line-up of great speakers to talk all things Haileybury. Parents get a deeper understanding of our School and community, with over 50 new and existing parents who came and enjoyed connecting with others. Stay tuned for next terms meeting, we are working on a “untouched” part of the School to host the night which we the committee are excited for. If you would like a copy of the minutes, please feel free to email: hpfk@haileybury.com.au.
Another year another huge HPFK EASTER RAFLLE is coming up, every year for as long as I can remember we have all donated so generously for this raffle, the Good Friday appeal is one that we can all resonate with. Our own VP Jonelle loves nothing more than taking the reins in creating all those Fabolous baskets of goodies. If anyone has amazing hamper making skills we would love to hear from you #wink #wink.
I think we “snagged” a recorded this year with servicing over 350 sausages in under 20 minutes!!! It certainly was a great lunchtime for Middle School and there was lots of fun had by our huge tribe of volunteers.
Amy Ching
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Keysborough
The Classes of 1980 and 1985 recently celebrated their 45-year and 40-year reunions, respectively. Both evenings were filled with laughter, nostalgia and heartfelt connections as classmates reminisced about their school days and caught up on life’s latest adventures.
Here’s to many more years of friendship and shared memories.
The annual Former Cricketers afternoon was again a massive hit as our former cricket players immersed themselves in an afternoon of cricket, watching the Haileybury first XI take on Melbourne Grammar at Haileybury’s iconic Rendall Oval.
The former players inspected the pitch, reminisced on their glory days and chatted with the Vice-Captain, Ben Hollow about the state of the game and the current Haileybury cricket program.
We were delighted to celebrate the first OHA Generations Breakfast for the year at the Berwick campus. It was wonderful to see grandparents, parents, students and staff come together and honour their history at Haileybury. We even had one family of three generations of Haileyburians.
Families enjoyed a delicious breakfast, family magnet portraits, fun games and the beautiful music of Haileybury’s incredibly talented String Quartet.
We look forward to the next OHA Generations Breakfast at the Brighton campus on Thursday, 3 April 2025.
Once a Haileyburian, always a Haileyburian.
We are delighted to release the OHA Events Schedule for 2025.
The OHA office is here for all members, and we encourage you all to reach out if required via stayconnected@haileybury.com.au or contact me on 9904 6615.
Kylie Phillips
Development Office Operations Lead
We are delighted to announce the confirmation of our Student Year Level Representatives for 2025. These students will serve as the voice of their peers, working closely with staff and leadership to foster a positive and inclusive school environment.
These students are already hard at work preparing for the upcoming SRC Assembly and Tutor Games. We look forward to their contributions as they help shape student initiatives, events and school spirit throughout the year. Congratulations to all our newly appointed representatives.
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Year 5
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Albert
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Year 6
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Henry
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Year 7
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Felix
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Year 8
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Zebulon
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Year 9
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Mia & Jeehoon
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Year 10
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Ishan & Gracienne
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Year 11
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Hubi & Gregory
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Year 12
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Mithara
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Earlier this term, we proudly celebrated the exceptional achievements of the Class of 2024 at our virtual Honours Assembly. The event highlighted the academic excellence, leadership and personal growth demonstrated by our graduating students. Awards were presented to students who achieved outstanding academic results in their VCE and ATAR. Students also had the privilege of hearing from graduates Lillia Fittler and Hannah Maddern, who reflected on their time at Haileybury and gave advice to students embarking on their VCE journey. As the Class of 2024 begins their next chapter, we commend their contributions to Haileybury Pangea and wish them every success in the future.
Joanna Baker
Head of Campus
Senior School has marked the occasion of International Women’s Day this year with a number of special events.
On Friday, 7 March, our Keysborough Campus was filled with joy, reflection and purpose as we welcomed our Years 9–12 students and the special women in their lives to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025.
Together, we embraced the power of connection, progress and possibility — honouring the incredible contributions of women in our community and beyond. But it was not just about celebration — it was also a call to accelerate action.
As we look to the future, let us commit to breaking barriers, amplifying voices and driving real change — because equality is not just an idea; it is something we must actively create. The time for action is now.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in making this event a heartfelt celebration of strength, resilience and momentum.
On Tuesday, 11 March, our whole school assembly was held in Aikman Hall. Our guest speaker, Lucinda Price spoke of her experiences. Our Haileybury Girls College Captains also addressed the audience with enthusiastic articulations on the challenges that face the girls as young women growing up in a society still striving for equality.
The Senior girls at Berwick celebrated International Woman’s Day with a variety of activities throughout the week. On Monday, the girls created an IWD Noticeboard in the Senior School and then on Wednesday they decorated it with a word cloud filled with Post-it notes on what equality/equity meant to them. Thursday, they ran a Kahoot during Homeroom and on Friday all Years 9–12 girls and female staff gathered in our SS Quad at recess for a catered morning tea, where everyone received a cupcake with purple frosting — the cupcakes were provided by Hasareli Dassanayeke (OH 2024). To finish the week off, the Year 12 girls ran a fund-raising BBQ at lunchtime, where they raised over $500 for the Malala Fund.
This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, resonated deeply with our diverse audience. Over 400 attendees — including students, staff, parents, special guests and members of Haileybury College — joined in meaningful conversations about creating a world where everyone feels safe, valued and celebrated for their contributions.
Girls Middle School Captain Arianna (Year 8) and School Vice-Captain Kayla (Year 12) delivered heartfelt speeches highlighting the importance of accelerating the road to gender equality. They also shared their personal aspirations, inspiring all in attendance.
The event was further enriched by outstanding musical performances. Cameron (Year 4) delivered a powerful rendition of Miley Cyrus’s ‘The Climb,’ while Lila (Year 8) captivated the audience with a passionate performance of ‘A Million Dreams.’
In addition, there were two initiatives running on the day.
Aspiration Station and Parent Partnerships where Haileybury Girls College students reflected upon their aspirations and posted them on the day. Our guests viewed these aspirations and offered support where possible to make their aspirations a reality.
Dress for Success Clothing Drive which provides disadvantaged women with professional workwear via Dress for Success Victoria. Students may ask if you have any items to donate, which can be brought on a hanger this week to Mrs Gardam / Ms Allaf or delivered on Friday. Further details are in the attachment.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to this meaningful event. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate unity, empowerment and progress within our community.
Haileybury Senior School (Dickinson House) students took part in Clean Up Australia Day, helping to clear rubbish from the beaches around Sandringham.
It was an eye-opening experience for our students to see how much waste ends up along the coastline, and a great reminder of how important it is to look after our local environment.
By working together to help make the beaches cleaner and safer, our students gained an awareness about how everyday choices can impact the community. The opportunity to clean up the beaches was a great way to give back, build teamwork and most importantly enjoy quality time with friends to make a positive difference in the community.
Music, desserts and speed dating excitement filled the Valentines Day quad party on Thursday, 13 February. As a group, we laughed as we organised the dedications and chocolates that would be handed to students the following day. Dedications were purchased to make friends’ days, and all proceeds were given to charity.
In Term 2 students wear winter uniform; however, we will have two weeks at the beginning of the term when students may continue to wear summer uniform if they choose. Term 2 classes resume on Wednesday, 23 April 2025.
Dr
Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy
Principal, Head of Senior Schools
At the start of March, we were asked to put forward our nominations for the 2025 APS vs AGSV Summer Representative Matches. This is the opportunity to celebrate those outstanding Haileybury athletes who have competed at the highest school level and now potentially earnt the honor of representing the APS in their chosen sport.
As I travelled around the fields and courts and paid particularly close attention to our competing First teams, I was taken back to my university days when my mates and I would try our hand at any range of different sports (not dissimilar to Piggy, Spud and Gazey and their Yesterdays Heroes segment on the long-running Sunday night show Bounce). We would challenge each other at different sports, no doubt somehow convincing ourselves that we could still one day make it to an Olympic Games or a World Championship. What is now plainly clear, almost thirty years later, is just how delusional we were.
As I watched these real athletes compete in their chosen sport, the skill and competitiveness required at APS / AGSV First school level is a wonder to behold. The reality is that my mates and I would barely get a racket on the shuttlecock in a match against the Haileybury First team, where all seven of our APS nominated players across boys and girls are yet to lose a match all season (Kaitlyn, Shawn, Evan, Mike, Erik, Rehan and Yunzhi). We would have struggled to get a rally going against a volleyball team that includes Zavier, Ryan, Ishan and Jonathan (all Year 12), who have each been nominated for representative honors. And on the table tennis tables, Navik (Year 10), Joshua (Year 9) and Esme (Year 9) would barely raise a sweat against us, despite the interesting fact that you can’t have air conditioning or fans operating in a table tennis hall as they could impact the flight of the ball. Even in those days when we might have been a little more agile than today, I am certain we would not have been able to get a hand on players like Emily from the touch team — a Year 11 student who also plays state U/16s and U/20s. There is also Georgia, the captain of our First softball team, who not only played in the APS softball representative team last year but also represents Haileybury in First soccer.
So, to those selectors who have the unenviable task of selecting the teams, I wish you all the best. And to my old mates, all I can say is that there might still be hope for us in lawn bowls, but to be honest, I can’t help but feel that the Haileybury team would give us a run for our money.
The APS representative fixtures take place at St Kevin’s College on Tuesday 1 April. This year we also welcome the introduction of a combined APS / AGSV Girls Cricket representative team that will compete against the Rowville Sports Academy, coached by Haileybury’s own Stef Lidstrom. The game is also happening on 1 April, at Wesley College, Glen Waverley from 10.00 am.
Yee from Year 6 at Newlands (coach Sarah Scott, Haileybury Swim Club) dominated the U11 category at the 2025 Victorian Metropolitan State Swimming Championship, winning three gold medals (50m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 200m medley), one silver (200m freestyle), and one bronze (100m breaststroke). This marks Yee’s second consecutive state champion title. Well done Yee!
The Beach Volleyball Schools Cup was also held over the long weekend, with Mackenzie and Jack (both Year 10) winning the boys Year 11 Pairs.
In the Girls Fours, Brianna (Year 10), Georgia (Year 9), Jasmine (Year 9) and Lily (Year 9) won the Silver medal in the Year 11 Girls. Fantastic to see both teams so successful in higher age group sections.
Matthew Dwyer
Head of Sport (One Haileybury)
Academic excellence and breadth of experience through broad co-curricular programs are at the heart of Haileybury’s exceptional education. Last week and the week ahead see students engaged in all elements of this great program.
National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing started last Wednesday and has been successfully completed for most of Haileybury’s 1,500 students across Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. The students were assessed across five domains: reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.
As always, Haileybury teachers will use the extensive data received to continue the School's improvement plans. The collaboration and debriefing on results identifies best practice, which is shared. All of this contributes to Haileybury students being amongst the strongest in Australia for development of core skills in literacy and numeracy.
The strong literacy and numeracy base of Haileybury students is the foundation from which analytical thinking, problem solving and communication skills can be further developed as they move through the School.
This development is further enhanced by the extensive co-curricular program on offer. A core component of that is the sport program. Next Saturday is the second last weekend of what has been a highly successful summer sports season with more than 3,500 students from Years 7 to 12 representing the School in more than 20 sports across the APS/AGSV girls and APS boys competitions. We have tracked results closely across all year levels and teams to make sure that the season has been a good experience for all and to provide additional coaching and support where it is required.
As we head into the final rounds, we wish our badminton girls and boys, table tennis (mixed boys and girls teams), girls softball and girls cricket all the best as they remain in the running to win their respective first team titles. We also wish our girls and boys swimming and diving teams good luck with their big championship event on Thursday, 27 March.
On Friday evening, 28 February, members of the Haileybury community joined each other under beautiful, warm skies to celebrate Haileybury’s Founders Day. It was with joy and gratitude that we gathered to celebrate a momentous occasion — the 133rd founding anniversary of our great School. For over a century, Haileybury has stood as a beacon of learning, shaping generations of students with knowledge, character, and purpose. On Friday, 28 February we honored that legacy while looking forward to the bright future ahead.
We were thrilled to have the company of Council Chair, Professor Greg Whitwell, (pictured below), a great Haileyburian and a generous custodian. Greg officially opened the new Visual Arts Centre. We dedicated the new buildings to the purpose of knowledge and activity, as a place where talent will flourish. It is our hope that the Visual Arts building will be a sanctuary for imagination, a stage for self-expression, and a home for developing artists who will carry forward our tradition of excellence.
Derek Scott
CEO | Principal
Autumn in Melbourne is a fabulous time for the Performing Arts and Haileybury thrives with plays, performances, concerts and showings.
The City’s thought-provoking production The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime entertained audiences at Chapel Off Chapel last week. As director, Jane Marshall observed, “The very core of this play is about being different and finding your own place in the world.”
VCE Drama student Frankie led an outstanding ensemble of 24 actors as they explored the story of Christopher: an extraordinary thinker and young mathematician who sees the world a little differently.
The collective maturity and focus were clear from the outset as the cast was on stage the whole show. They imaginatively employed black boxes to create a range of different locations and concepts. Under Ms Marshall’s innovative direction, the group employed physical theatre to portray the bustling world of the London Tube or the surreal serenity of space. In one standout moment, Frankie was effortlessly flown through the air by the careful support of the ensemble, guiding her throughout the space. Kai’s live drawing framed the performance, echoing the key words and images that compete in Christopher’s mind.
Watching the care each member took during rehearsals and performances, The Curious Incident cast did not just perform the message of acceptance and connection — they epitomised it. On and off stage.
Nicole Smith
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Following on from last fortnight’s announcement of Abigail King (OHA 2024), Tyler Goodbody (OHA 2024), Kai Louis (OHA 2024) and Cooper Newman (OHA 2024) being recognized in the upcoming VCAA Top Class concert series, I am thrilled to announce three more students/groups have been selected for this most prestigious acknowledgement.
Congratulations to Jason (2024, Yr 11) for his outstanding work in VCE Music: Composition. Working alongside his teacher Michael England, with guidance from music tutor Anthony Spicer, Jason’s work was identified as being amongst the very best produced in the state.
Congratulations also to Santrix Redston (OHA 2024) for their outstanding work in the highly competitive classical voice, Music: Repertoire space. To be selected to perform at Top Class for classical voice is a most impressive acknowledgment for Santrix, their piano accompanist Hoang Pham, and the various voice tutors who have contributed to Santrix’s development.
Finally, congratulations to Harley (Year 11 2024), Jack Harrop (OHA 2024) and Louis (Year 11 2024) for their invitation to perform in recognition of their outstanding ensemble presentation in VCE Music: Contemporary. With recognition of this ensemble, Haileybury can boost a student or ensemble being selected for Top Class from each of the four key practical studies offered by the VCAA. A truly remarkable achievement, congratulations to all involved.
The VCAA Top Class concert series will be held at the Melbourne Recital Centre towards the end of this month.
The Music Department’s first major concert of the year, Twilight Concert, is set to take place on the afternoon of 20 March in the Senior School Quadrangle at Keysborough.
Twilight Concert purposefully showcases an accessible program of pop/film inspired repertoire. With everything from The Man from Snowy River through ‘The Mandalorian’ theme from Star Wars, and a medley of the Bond theme, ‘Miserlou’ and Game Of Thrones, there is something for everyone.
I hope families, including those with no direct connection to the Music Department, will take the opportunity to attend a relaxed outdoor concert of outstanding Senior School music.
The concert is free — no bookings are required. Wine, beer and snacks will be provided from 4.40 pm. The concert will run from 5.00pm to 6.30 pm.
Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music
The Founders Day Cocktail Party evening marked a significant milestone with the official opening of the new Visual Arts building at Keysborough. It was an inspiring night when Vice Principal Mr Scott Doran and Chairman Gregory Whitwell and I discussed the importance of creative education in fostering holistic development, lifelong wellbeing and cultural awareness. The event showcased the power of art in shaping empathetic global citizens. Highlights included an exquisite edible garden dessert table and a captivating interactive workshop led by First Nations artist in residence, Bronwyn David. Attendees engaged in crafting custom leather pieces, adorned with symbolic designs echoing Haileybury’s Reconciliation Action Plan, that were collectively woven together to create a tapestry of Haileybury’s past, present and future.
International Women’s Day ignited meaningful discussions throughout the school, providing a platform to honour pioneering women in the Arts. The Thursday quad party was a vibrant celebration, featuring a unique science-art collaborative workshop in the gallery. Senior students were mesmerized as they witnessed peers using air-dry clay to create intricate models of the brain, symbolizing the fusion of art and science. This initiative coincided with Brain Awareness Week with the Arts inspiring students to explore the limitless possibilities of creativity and innovation.
We are thrilled to announce the creative components of the upcoming Term 1 events, House Arts and Languages Week. For those studying French, Year 9 students will immerse themselves in an Impressionism workshop. This exciting opportunity will allow them to explore the innovative techniques and paradigm-shifting artistry of the Impressionist era. Additionally, keep an eye out for the forthcoming LEAP and STEM weeks, both promising a plethora of creative opportunities for students to engage in. These events are set to inspire and nurture creativity across the school community, ever reminding us that art echoes its context.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
This month the Pipes & Drums C Band were invited to perform at the annual Patterson River Coast Guard Fun Run, an event that was the first public performance for several of our junior musicians. Our performances kept the runners and spectators entertained throughout the race. We can’t wait to be involved again next year.
The Pipes & Drums kicked off the Founders Day Cocktail Party in style wearing our full Scottish traditional uniform. Thank you to the friends of P&D for their assistance in getting the students dressed for the performance.
Ballarat Twilight Competition. The Ballarat competition saw our three competition bands back in action and welcomed several students competing for the very first time. This is a huge milestone for these students in their Pipes & Drums journey and we could not be prouder of their performances. It was also lovely to have our Patron, Mrs Jane Gibbs in attendance supporting the bands as well as previous Patrons, Dr Ross Sundberg and Mrs Pam Chamberlain.
Congratulations to our A Band on four very consistent and enjoyable performances, achieving 2nd place in Novice A, including a 1st in the Medley ensemble.
Congratulations to our B Band for their 3rd place in the Novice B medley competition.
On Sunday, 30 March, Haileybury is hosting its very own Pipe Band Competition at the Keysborough Campus. It is a free event and we would love to see you there supporting the Haileybury Pipes & Drums.
Daniel Staley
Director of Pipes & Drums
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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)
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
At City campus, we love to celebrate International Women’s Day over a week. Every day new activities have been enjoyed by all. It was wonderful to see our City girls from Middle and Senior School entertain everyone on the terrace with their beautiful singing, finishing up with a band of girls and boys for the finale. Much fun and joy occurred as we celebrated the amazing young women in our School.
Our Heads of Middle School reflected at the Middle School Assembly on what it means for young men and women to be upstanders together by living our respectful relationship pillars. Words have power and our students can uplift others to be stronger. Together, we thrive, and our parallel education model celebrates this notion. I encourage all families to enjoy some conversations around the dinner table about what your young person is learning, as they become their best self.
I was delighted to be invited to the Senior School Flagstaff House Breakfast where our invited guest, Kavinya Dissanyake (OH 2020), spoke about her experience post school, attending ACU. She encouraged the girls to embrace difference and follow their passions. It was an inspiring message of hope and wisdom, especially about the future opportunities our young people can pursue. It is a privilege to see our young people flourish as they journey through Haileybury City and out into the world.
With a wonderful sense of belonging established within the ELC, children have thrived with the start of our Term 1 program. Counting has been an interest of many children in Reception who have been busy building on these skills.
A clear love of counting with blocks has been combined at group time and children have been presented with a numeral before carefully collecting and counting small items to represent this number.
Meanwhile, Pre-Prep have been busy focusing on their collaborative learning skills through numeracy experiences demonstrating recognition of one- and two-digit numbers.
Outside the classroom, mathematical language continues to drive our play-based learning program. Children have been enjoying the warmer weather and engaging with water in the outdoor environment.
The use of buckets as we water and care for our terrace garden has introduced words such as heavier, full, half-full and lighter. We look forward to many more numeracy opportunities throughout the year that help foster a love of learning in this important area for our ELC children.
We are thrilled to have officially inducted the Year 4 Junior School Leaders for Semester 1, 2025, as they begin their journey as student leaders and role models within our School community. Congratulations to the following students on their new roles. The appointment process was highly competitive, and the Junior School Leadership Team was incredibly impressed by how each student prepared their speeches, spoke confidently about their goals and embodied the school’s Respectful Relationship Pillars. We also look forward to seeing how the Semester 2 Captains will support and collaborate with them throughout their leadership journey.
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Flag Bearer
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Isabella L
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Newton House Captain
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Austin H
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Main House Captain
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Mira W
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Na House Captain
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Anthea S
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Elliot House Captain
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Ian L
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Arts Captain
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Avelyn H
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Sports Captain
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Mattea F
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Environment Captains
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Holly B & Aaron H
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Library Captains
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Jessie L & Alyssa N
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Social Justice Captain
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Elliott M
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Throughout the final weeks of Term 1, City parents are encouraged to attend the following events, as listed in the Key Dates, to observe their child’s learning:
Please take some time to explore the informational flyers provided to parents via the myHaileybury parent app. We eagerly anticipate welcoming parents into our classrooms where you will see your child learning.
As part of their Drama Assessment Task, Year 8 Haileybury City students teamed up to bring their own original Children’s Theatre performances to life, drawing inspiration from two exciting themes: Magic Beach and Pirate School.
Before diving into rehearsals, they got to know their audience — our energetic Year 1 and Prep students — to make sure their shows would be fun, interactive and totally captivating.
Congratulations to all our Year 8 students who were formally inducted as Middle School Leaders during the assembly on Thursday, 20 February. These students have consistently demonstrated excellence in character and contribution throughout their Middle School journey.
Our students had the privilege of hearing from the Head of Senior Schools, Ms Lucy Cumming, who shared her reflections on leadership. Most poignantly, her message about leadership being a force for the greater good resonated deeply with our community.
We extend our gratitude to all our Year 8 leaders for their commitment to shaping our Middle School community and fostering the vibrant cultures that exist within GMS and BMS.
This year, for International Women’s Day, our students demonstrated their commitment to social justice through the Blessing Bags initiative. They generously donated muesli bars, tissues, and deodorant to support those in need and participated in an insightful workshop led by the organisation Blessing Bags, where they learnt more about homelessness and ways to make a difference.
Beyond these acts of kindness, IWD provided an opportunity for important conversations about gender equality and the power of collective action. Education plays a crucial role in challenging biases, amplifying women’s voices, and fostering a more inclusive world, and our students embraced this through discussion and reflection.
On Friday, our students enjoyed ‘Shine’ on the terrace during a glitter-filled, music-infused lunchtime celebration. Students enjoyed sweet treats and the opportunity to come together as a community in recognition of the day.
Our Year 8 students also took an active role by selling badges and stickers featuring the BMS and GMS themes, Lift Others to Grow Stronger and Together, We Thrive. All proceeds from these sales were donated to Blessing Bags, further supporting their important work. Through both action and awareness, our students honoured the spirit of International Women’s Day.
Our Year 6 students engaged in important learning around civics and citizenship during their visit to the nation’s capital, Canberra. Students visited Parliament House, directly aligning with their current learning in Humanities. The Year 6 excursion to Canberra plays an imperative role in shaping students’ understanding of democracy and how laws are made in our country. They also explored the Australian War Memorial and Questacon, gaining valuable insights into history, science and innovation.
The time away from home is an exceptional opportunity for students to build their independence and foster connections with their peers. Thank you to all the staff and students for making the 2025 Canberra trip such a memorable and enriching experience.
Caroline Merrick
Head of City
The Haileybury Parents & Friends City would like to extend a warm welcome to both new and returning families at Haileybury City for 2025.
We truly appreciate the efforts of everyone in welcoming our new families to Haileybury City. Whether through friendly greetings, introductions, organising playdates and picnics and attending our HPF City events, every gesture of kindness and connection contributes to strengthening our wonderful Haileybury community.
It was fantastic to see so many parents and friends engaging during the recent Parent Information Sessions and at the Welcome Morning event at the popular Inside Out Court. The event was a lovely opportunity to connect with others, enjoy a drink, cupcake and/or chocolate and have a relaxed conversation. We also had the opportunity to meet and hear directly from the Haileybury City Executive team including Lucy Cumming who has recently joined Haileybury City as Head of Senior School, before diving back into our busy schedules. We appreciate the time you take to join us.
As we write, we are busy finalising preparations for the highly anticipated HPF City Rooftop Party, scheduled for Friday, 14 March, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The event sold out quickly once again; a testament to the enthusiasm of our families to strengthen our Haileybury community and the reputation of our well-run events. Thank you to all who bought a ticket, donated a giveaway and helped run the night. Look out for the wonderful photos of the HPF community and the school choir in the upcoming issue of Insight.
A heartfelt thanks also goes out to the parent volunteers who run our popular Second-hand Uniform Shop. After a very successful 2024, the shop will be back for another round on Thursday, 27 March and Friday, 28 March. Save the dates in your calendar. The shop has many uniform items in great condition. You will find the link to the form and more information on the myHaileybury app. Together, we are helping families save money, reduce waste, and raise funds for the School.
We hope you had a wonderful summer, and that the Year of the Snake brings prosperity and joy to us all.
Melissa Fisher & Michelle White
Co-Presidents, Haileybury Parents & Friends City
We recently had the pleasure of welcoming Mr John Twist, Edrington’s founding Head of Campus, back to our school. Mr Twist’s legacy is woven into the fabric of our campus, and it was a wonderful opportunity to thank him for the care, vision and leadership he brought during his time here. The strong foundation he built has enabled Edrington to grow into the thriving, successful and beautiful campus it is today.
We recently had the pleasure of hosting the OHA Generations’ Breakfast, an event celebrating families with a deep connection to Haileybury. With parents — and even some grandparents — who were once students themselves, the morning was a wonderful opportunity to come together, share stories and reflect on the rich history of our campus. This is an annual event, and I always enjoy seeing the next generation of Haileyburians developing a deeper connection to the school and their place within its legacy. An enjoyable morning for all.
In all ELC classrooms the start of the year programs focus on building connections with each other and their Haileybury community. Warm and respectful relationships with children and their families form the foundation for effective early childhood education programs. Strong connections with and between educators help to generate a sense of belonging and nurture learning and development for children.
The beginning of a new year also promotes opportunity for the children to make new connections with peers or build on current friendships. Staff use intentional teaching strategies within their curriculum to support children to make friends, self-regulate and build confidence to speak up in a group situation. This occurs both within and outside of the classroom as children attend multiple specialist classes each week promoting opportunity to develop and refine learning and skills in a variety of contexts.
We look forward to watching friendships and connections grow through the year.
The Junior School will be celebrating for a full week in Week 8 from Monday, 17 to Friday, 21 March. Harmony Week is a celebration of our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. On Friday, 21 March — Harmony Day — students are asked to dress in casual clothes with a touch of orange to represent the diversity of our nation.
Our Junior School Family Community Event this year will take place on Friday, 28 March from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm. We invite families to bring a blanket or chairs and purchase food from the various food trucks: Mr Whippy, Baked Twister, OMG Donuts, Boost Juice and a coffee van.
There will be a variety of games set up around the main oval (near the pavilion) which we invite parents to participate in with their children. We suggest comfortable shoes and lots of family engagement.
We will be raising money for the Monash Children’s Hospital during this event by selling cans of drink ($2) and would also like to thank the Dhaliwal family (Boost Juice) for donating all proceeds of their sales to Haileybury and our charity.
Both the Year 6 boys and girls have now returned from their camps to Canberra. The students were kept busy with visits to Parliament House, the National Dinosaur Museum, the Australian Institute of Sport, the Deep Space Communication Complex and more. The highlight, however, was their visit to Questacon, a facility that explores science, technology and innovation in interactive and engaging ways.
On Tuesday, 18 February, our Year 8 Captains across Boys and Girls Schools participated in a leadership workshop run by Tripod. This gave our captains an opportunity to explore and develop their ideas, whilst building leadership skills like public speaking and building relationships. We look forward to seeing some of the ideas they came up with actioned — we have such an impressive group of leaders this year who have already demonstrated their enthusiasm and passion for their respective roles.
We wish our Years 7 and 8 students all the best as they head out to their respective camps over the next couple of weeks. With mild weather, this is a great time of year for camps, and an opportune time to further develop new friendships through shared experiences and challenges. The camping program is a valuable learning experience for all students to challenge themselves to step outside of their comfort zones and try something new and challenging with the support of teachers and peers, whilst starting to form their own identity away from the comforts of home.
Finally, we look forward to our Middle School Athletics carnival on Tuesday, 1 April. Students are reminded to wear their House tops, bring a water bottle and hat, and cheer on all those involved regardless of House.
Jeanette Rawlings
Head of Edrington (Berwick)
Hello Edrington. Thank you to everyone who helped make our Pancake Day such a huge success. We raised $1,400 for Uniting Care and that is a lot of pancakes. The students brought their smiling faces and ‘A-game’ manners. Thank you to all our volunteers who came to help shake and flip. We really could not do this without you. Teamwork makes the dream work.
We have our Cross Campus Cross Country coming up in May and we will have over 2,000 sausages to cook. Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help cook and hand out sausages to the students. We could really use some more volunteers though. If you are available to help on Tuesday, 20 May from 8.30 am, please register here.
Every Wednesday you will find Jenelle and Amphil at the Second-hand Uniform Shop (SHUS) from 8.30 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 give Amphil and Jenelle a hand in the shop please contact them at shus-berwick@haileybury.vic.edu.au.
shusberwick@haileybury.vic.edu.au
Kind Regards,
Kerry Ilic
HPFE President
The first half of Term One has been fantastic, filled with many wonderful memories. It has been a pleasure meeting so many new students and families around campus, and our new students have settled in well. On Wednesday, 12 March, our NAPLAN testing began Best of luck to our Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 students—I am confident they will give their best effort in these important assessments.
The Junior School is buzzing with excitement as very important guests are set to visit for Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Wednesday, 26 March.
Gathering for morning tea before heading to Berthon Hall to witness the Year Level Choirs perform a variety of songs they will have been learning in class.
The VIP guests will then proceed to classrooms, engaging in various activities with students.
Newlands and the HPFK are excited to announce the annual Easter Egg raffle with all proceeds going to the Good Friday Appeal.
This year, we invite all our families to contribute to this amazing cause and help us raise as much money as possible.
What to Donate: Easter eggs, bunnies, bilbies and all fun Easter goodies
Where to Donate: Newlands Reception
Donation Deadline: Monday, 31 March.
Ticket Sales: Monday, 3 March to Thursday, 3 April. Tickets will be available from your child’s classroom teacher.
Ticket Prices: $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.
Families are warmly invited to attend our ‘KidsROAR’ Parent Information Session on Wednesday, 26 March at 7.30 pm. During this session, families will be hearing more information on the program being delivered to all children in the ELC. The KidsROAR program provides tools and strategies that empower children to help reduce their vulnerability to abuse and unsafe situations. We encourage all families to partner with the ELC and attend this session to be equipped to carry on these important conversations at home, and throughout your child’s life.
Children in the ELC are excited to soon begin a collaborative art project. Working within their year level, our Reception and Pre-Prep classes will connect through the arts as they come together to plan ideas, design prototypes and begin the creation of a shared art project. The arts within the early years promotes not only fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination, it also allows for fostering of expression and creativity. We are excited to showcase these creations in the ELC later this year.
Year 4 students will be gearing up for an exciting camp in Week 8 of this term, from Monday, 17 March to Wednesday, 19 March.
This year, we are thrilled to announce that Haileybury has selected a new venue for their Year 4 camp: The Peninsula Outdoors Camp, located in Merricks on the stunning Mornington Peninsula.
At Peninsula Outdoors, students will have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of exciting activities on the stunning Mornington Peninsula. They will be able to challenge themselves with a selection of land activities such as high ropes and archery, as well as enjoy water-based adventures like snorkelling, and kayaking—there will be something for everyone to enjoy!
Looking ahead, the Junior School eagerly anticipates the annual Easter Hat Parade, to be followed by an exciting JS Easter Egg Hunt. The JS will be joining the ELC and combining their Easter Hat Parades. This new endeavour is a thrilling change for the JS Easter Hat Parade and the JS students are looking forward to sharing this time with the ELC.
Excitement will fill the air as students adorn themselves in an array of festive headwear, from elegant bonnets to whimsical bunny ears and quirky glasses. Against the backdrop of the ELC, the parade will commence, with students joyfully bopping and dancing to the beat of lively tunes.
Year 8 BMS students will depart for their camp at Marysville on Monday, 17 to Friday, 21 March with the GMS attending Monday, 24 to Friday, 28 March. This five-day outdoor experience will focus on camp craft, problem solving and teamwork skills. Activities include rock climbing, hiking, cycling and camping out in the region. Nights will be spent in tents and in cabins and students will prepare and cook all meals for themselves under the supervision of OEG and Haileybury staff.
Year 7 BMS students will depart for Camp Jungai on Tuesday, 18 March to Friday, 21 March with GMS attending Tuesday, 25 to Friday, 28 March. While in Camp Jungai students will sleep in cabin accommodation and undertake a number of outdoor activities on site. In the second half of the expedition, students will journey through the Rubicon Valley. Students will spend their nights in tents and will be introduced to a multitude of camp craft skills aimed at preparing students for their Outdoor Experiences in Year 8 and Pre-Senior.
Hugo Engele
Head of Newlands (Keysborough)
Our first committee meeting went off with a bang and a line-up of great speakers to talk all things Haileybury. Parents get a deeper understanding of our School and community, with over 50 new and existing parents who came and enjoyed connecting with others. Stay tuned for next terms meeting, we are working on a “untouched” part of the School to host the night which we the committee are excited for. If you would like a copy of the minutes, please feel free to email: hpfk@haileybury.com.au.
Another year another huge HPFK EASTER RAFLLE is coming up, every year for as long as I can remember we have all donated so generously for this raffle, the Good Friday appeal is one that we can all resonate with. Our own VP Jonelle loves nothing more than taking the reins in creating all those Fabolous baskets of goodies. If anyone has amazing hamper making skills we would love to hear from you #wink #wink.
I think we “snagged” a recorded this year with servicing over 350 sausages in under 20 minutes!!! It certainly was a great lunchtime for Middle School and there was lots of fun had by our huge tribe of volunteers.
Amy Ching
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Keysborough
The Classes of 1980 and 1985 recently celebrated their 45-year and 40-year reunions, respectively. Both evenings were filled with laughter, nostalgia and heartfelt connections as classmates reminisced about their school days and caught up on life’s latest adventures.
Here’s to many more years of friendship and shared memories.
The annual Former Cricketers afternoon was again a massive hit as our former cricket players immersed themselves in an afternoon of cricket, watching the Haileybury first XI take on Melbourne Grammar at Haileybury’s iconic Rendall Oval.
The former players inspected the pitch, reminisced on their glory days and chatted with the Vice-Captain, Ben Hollow about the state of the game and the current Haileybury cricket program.
We were delighted to celebrate the first OHA Generations Breakfast for the year at the Berwick campus. It was wonderful to see grandparents, parents, students and staff come together and honour their history at Haileybury. We even had one family of three generations of Haileyburians.
Families enjoyed a delicious breakfast, family magnet portraits, fun games and the beautiful music of Haileybury’s incredibly talented String Quartet.
We look forward to the next OHA Generations Breakfast at the Brighton campus on Thursday, 3 April 2025.
Once a Haileyburian, always a Haileyburian.
We are delighted to release the OHA Events Schedule for 2025.
The OHA office is here for all members, and we encourage you all to reach out if required via stayconnected@haileybury.com.au or contact me on 9904 6615.
Kylie Phillips
Development Office Operations Lead
We are delighted to announce the confirmation of our Student Year Level Representatives for 2025. These students will serve as the voice of their peers, working closely with staff and leadership to foster a positive and inclusive school environment.
These students are already hard at work preparing for the upcoming SRC Assembly and Tutor Games. We look forward to their contributions as they help shape student initiatives, events and school spirit throughout the year. Congratulations to all our newly appointed representatives.
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Year 5
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Albert
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Year 6
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Henry
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Year 7
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Felix
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Year 8
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Zebulon
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Year 9
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Mia & Jeehoon
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Year 10
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Ishan & Gracienne
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Year 11
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Hubi & Gregory
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Year 12
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Mithara
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Earlier this term, we proudly celebrated the exceptional achievements of the Class of 2024 at our virtual Honours Assembly. The event highlighted the academic excellence, leadership and personal growth demonstrated by our graduating students. Awards were presented to students who achieved outstanding academic results in their VCE and ATAR. Students also had the privilege of hearing from graduates Lillia Fittler and Hannah Maddern, who reflected on their time at Haileybury and gave advice to students embarking on their VCE journey. As the Class of 2024 begins their next chapter, we commend their contributions to Haileybury Pangea and wish them every success in the future.
Joanna Baker
Head of Campus
Senior School has marked the occasion of International Women’s Day this year with a number of special events.
On Friday, 7 March, our Keysborough Campus was filled with joy, reflection and purpose as we welcomed our Years 9–12 students and the special women in their lives to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025.
Together, we embraced the power of connection, progress and possibility — honouring the incredible contributions of women in our community and beyond. But it was not just about celebration — it was also a call to accelerate action.
As we look to the future, let us commit to breaking barriers, amplifying voices and driving real change — because equality is not just an idea; it is something we must actively create. The time for action is now.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in making this event a heartfelt celebration of strength, resilience and momentum.
On Tuesday, 11 March, our whole school assembly was held in Aikman Hall. Our guest speaker, Lucinda Price spoke of her experiences. Our Haileybury Girls College Captains also addressed the audience with enthusiastic articulations on the challenges that face the girls as young women growing up in a society still striving for equality.
The Senior girls at Berwick celebrated International Woman’s Day with a variety of activities throughout the week. On Monday, the girls created an IWD Noticeboard in the Senior School and then on Wednesday they decorated it with a word cloud filled with Post-it notes on what equality/equity meant to them. Thursday, they ran a Kahoot during Homeroom and on Friday all Years 9–12 girls and female staff gathered in our SS Quad at recess for a catered morning tea, where everyone received a cupcake with purple frosting — the cupcakes were provided by Hasareli Dassanayeke (OH 2024). To finish the week off, the Year 12 girls ran a fund-raising BBQ at lunchtime, where they raised over $500 for the Malala Fund.
This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, resonated deeply with our diverse audience. Over 400 attendees — including students, staff, parents, special guests and members of Haileybury College — joined in meaningful conversations about creating a world where everyone feels safe, valued and celebrated for their contributions.
Girls Middle School Captain Arianna (Year 8) and School Vice-Captain Kayla (Year 12) delivered heartfelt speeches highlighting the importance of accelerating the road to gender equality. They also shared their personal aspirations, inspiring all in attendance.
The event was further enriched by outstanding musical performances. Cameron (Year 4) delivered a powerful rendition of Miley Cyrus’s ‘The Climb,’ while Lila (Year 8) captivated the audience with a passionate performance of ‘A Million Dreams.’
In addition, there were two initiatives running on the day.
Aspiration Station and Parent Partnerships where Haileybury Girls College students reflected upon their aspirations and posted them on the day. Our guests viewed these aspirations and offered support where possible to make their aspirations a reality.
Dress for Success Clothing Drive which provides disadvantaged women with professional workwear via Dress for Success Victoria. Students may ask if you have any items to donate, which can be brought on a hanger this week to Mrs Gardam / Ms Allaf or delivered on Friday. Further details are in the attachment.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to this meaningful event. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate unity, empowerment and progress within our community.
Haileybury Senior School (Dickinson House) students took part in Clean Up Australia Day, helping to clear rubbish from the beaches around Sandringham.
It was an eye-opening experience for our students to see how much waste ends up along the coastline, and a great reminder of how important it is to look after our local environment.
By working together to help make the beaches cleaner and safer, our students gained an awareness about how everyday choices can impact the community. The opportunity to clean up the beaches was a great way to give back, build teamwork and most importantly enjoy quality time with friends to make a positive difference in the community.
Music, desserts and speed dating excitement filled the Valentines Day quad party on Thursday, 13 February. As a group, we laughed as we organised the dedications and chocolates that would be handed to students the following day. Dedications were purchased to make friends’ days, and all proceeds were given to charity.
In Term 2 students wear winter uniform; however, we will have two weeks at the beginning of the term when students may continue to wear summer uniform if they choose. Term 2 classes resume on Wednesday, 23 April 2025.
Dr
Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy
Principal, Head of Senior Schools
At the start of March, we were asked to put forward our nominations for the 2025 APS vs AGSV Summer Representative Matches. This is the opportunity to celebrate those outstanding Haileybury athletes who have competed at the highest school level and now potentially earnt the honor of representing the APS in their chosen sport.
As I travelled around the fields and courts and paid particularly close attention to our competing First teams, I was taken back to my university days when my mates and I would try our hand at any range of different sports (not dissimilar to Piggy, Spud and Gazey and their Yesterdays Heroes segment on the long-running Sunday night show Bounce). We would challenge each other at different sports, no doubt somehow convincing ourselves that we could still one day make it to an Olympic Games or a World Championship. What is now plainly clear, almost thirty years later, is just how delusional we were.
As I watched these real athletes compete in their chosen sport, the skill and competitiveness required at APS / AGSV First school level is a wonder to behold. The reality is that my mates and I would barely get a racket on the shuttlecock in a match against the Haileybury First team, where all seven of our APS nominated players across boys and girls are yet to lose a match all season (Kaitlyn, Shawn, Evan, Mike, Erik, Rehan and Yunzhi). We would have struggled to get a rally going against a volleyball team that includes Zavier, Ryan, Ishan and Jonathan (all Year 12), who have each been nominated for representative honors. And on the table tennis tables, Navik (Year 10), Joshua (Year 9) and Esme (Year 9) would barely raise a sweat against us, despite the interesting fact that you can’t have air conditioning or fans operating in a table tennis hall as they could impact the flight of the ball. Even in those days when we might have been a little more agile than today, I am certain we would not have been able to get a hand on players like Emily from the touch team — a Year 11 student who also plays state U/16s and U/20s. There is also Georgia, the captain of our First softball team, who not only played in the APS softball representative team last year but also represents Haileybury in First soccer.
So, to those selectors who have the unenviable task of selecting the teams, I wish you all the best. And to my old mates, all I can say is that there might still be hope for us in lawn bowls, but to be honest, I can’t help but feel that the Haileybury team would give us a run for our money.
The APS representative fixtures take place at St Kevin’s College on Tuesday 1 April. This year we also welcome the introduction of a combined APS / AGSV Girls Cricket representative team that will compete against the Rowville Sports Academy, coached by Haileybury’s own Stef Lidstrom. The game is also happening on 1 April, at Wesley College, Glen Waverley from 10.00 am.
Yee from Year 6 at Newlands (coach Sarah Scott, Haileybury Swim Club) dominated the U11 category at the 2025 Victorian Metropolitan State Swimming Championship, winning three gold medals (50m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 200m medley), one silver (200m freestyle), and one bronze (100m breaststroke). This marks Yee’s second consecutive state champion title. Well done Yee!
The Beach Volleyball Schools Cup was also held over the long weekend, with Mackenzie and Jack (both Year 10) winning the boys Year 11 Pairs.
In the Girls Fours, Brianna (Year 10), Georgia (Year 9), Jasmine (Year 9) and Lily (Year 9) won the Silver medal in the Year 11 Girls. Fantastic to see both teams so successful in higher age group sections.
Matthew Dwyer
Head of Sport (One Haileybury)
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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