Campus News
Farewell Year 12
Haileybury Year 12 students completed their final week at our School with activities including the Year 12 Final Assembly and their final House meetings. Each of the Houses prepared special gifts, student performances and speeches by key staff to thank students for their time at Haileybury.
The Heads of Houses also spoke about the growth they have seen in students over the past three years and asked them to embrace their lives outside of school with passion and to never forget their Haileybury roots.
The Year 12 Final Assembly was hosted by our Head of Senior School, Cathy Qi, and brought our students and staff together in the theatre for the last time. After the senior leaders, student leaders and staff formally processed into the theatre, the whole Senior School enjoyed the reading of a special poem, the presentation of the Shields for the House Championships, and awards for individual subjects and general excellence.
As is tradition at Haileybury, our School Captains gave an address summarising their year and then ceremoniously handed over the student leadership to the newly-appointed prefects. The ceremony ended with the passing of the School flag by the graduating class and a rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne.
Final examinations and VCE Graduation
Our Year 12 students also completed their final examinations and enjoyed a few days of farewell activities including the Year 12 Graduation Ball and the VCE Graduation Ceremony. The Year 12 Graduation Ball brought students and staff together in the Nicholas Dwyer Courtyard to celebrate and exchange memories. The red carpet was in place, everyone was dressed beautifully and there were plenty of photos and dancing.
The next morning the 2023 Graduation Ceremony and Valedictory Lunch took place. The graduate students, Senior School staff and School leaders were joined by parents of the graduates on campus. The occasion was also shared more widely via live video stream.
With confidence and smiles, the students now embark on a new journey in a bigger world. Executive Principal, Peter Rogerson congratulated all graduates and spoke about how the students would enter a larger community — the global Haileybury community.
All Haileybury graduates hold some core values, such as striving for excellence, social justice and having an international outlook. Mr Rogerson encouraged them not to forget that, as graduates from China, they hold an extra special mission which is to contribute their Chinese wisdom to share in building a better world.
Haileybury CEO|Principal, Derek Scott, sent a special video message that recognised the achievements of each graduate and of the teaching staff. Russell Davidson, President of the Old Haileyburians’ Association (OHA), also sent a video message of congratulations and welcomed each graduate into the OHA.
Many staff caught up with graduates and parents at the valedictory lunch and encouraged them to find inspiration in everything they encounter as they start the next chapter of their life.
Congratulations to all our Haileybury 2023 graduates!
Yanni Galanis
International Principal, Haileybury International School, Tianjin
