Campus News
Taller and Longer
I am confident to say that our students have never been so pleased to be back at school and our staff were certainly thrilled to see them in real life. The students are taller, their hair is longer and their smiles are wider!
I want to thank our staff for their hard work, commitment to every student and brilliant remote classroom teaching. I thank our parents for their endless support, kindness and coffees for staff—we are so grateful.
I congratulate our students on staying focused on the goal of growing kind hearts and sharp minds, and for continuing to be tenacious and hardworking as we cultivate our mindset and skillset.
We will be sure to enjoy the rest of Term 4 at City campus—back together once more.
Science Talent Abounds
In 2021, Haileybury City is pleased that five students have been awarded bursaries for their Science Talent Search projects. The Science Talent Search is an annual competition open to all students from Junior School to Senior School.
Each year, it is based on a different theme and this year it was ‘Food—different by design’, which matched our STEM Week theme.
The Science Talent Search is a great competition as it allows students to share their passion for Science and they can present their work in a variety of ways—it might be creative writing, a scientific poster, a computer program or a working model.
This year, 30 students from City campus entered projects. These included a working model of a windmill, a computer program on eating choices and a creative writing piece called Climate Change and our Food Footprint.
We are pleased to congratulate the following students on being awarded a bursary:
- Micah Cheung (Year 8) was awarded a Minor Bursary for his experimental research project: Reducing food wastage through increasing the effectiveness of microbial transglutaminase in plant proteins.
- Nuha Sameer (Year 8) was awarded a Major Bursary for her scientific poster on ‘Cellular agriculture: meat that doesn’t heat’.
- Sebastian Ong (Year 8) and Maximus Trinder (Year 8) were awarded a Major Bursary for their scientific poster on ‘Food design: genetically modified crops’.
- Nathaniel Cheung (Year 1) was awarded a Minor Bursary for his experimental research project on ‘What makes the best instant jelly bubbles?’
I encourage all our budding scientists to consider entering in 2022.
Early Learning Centre
Fun with Phonics
Each and every day in ELC, there are opportunities for incidental and intentional teaching of Literacy to children. During Semester 2, children in Reception have been introduced to letter sounds through synthetic phonics. A foundation for reading, letter sounds have been explored in a fun and interactive way through songs, actions, stories and puppets.
Meanwhile, Pre-Prep children have scaffolded further learning with our Take-home Reader Program. Children’s confidence in their literary development is evident in the ways children incorporate reading and writing into interactive play with their peers.
It’s Party Time
We are mindful of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions during 2021, with many celebrations cancelled or postponed. Magical moments to celebrate provide opportunities for children to connect, share joy and make lasting memories.
So, we are very excited about our ELC Birthday Party on Thursday, 25 November. We will celebrate everyone’s birthday in the ELC with games, dancing and party bags.
In the coming weeks, children will assist us to plan and prepare for the party and we look forward to sharing lots of news about the event of the ELC year! Happy birthday to one and all…
Junior School
On-Campus Learning
Our Junior School students were thrilled to return to on-campus learning. We could see them smiling from behind their masks as they interacted with their teachers and peers. Our students demonstrated their ability to ‘Care, Learn and Play’ as our Junior School students do. Speaking to each other kindly and building respectful relationships were evident.
In the classroom, there was plenty of discussion, focus and high expectations. At break times, the children enthusiastically played with their peers and enjoyed themselves across all our play spaces.
Here’s what some of our students had to say about being back on campus:
Dimitri Macris (Year 3)
I really liked being back on campus because you’re in a totally different building and you get to transition between rooms and classes. Just walking around gives you exercise. Plus, you can’t play tag on Zoom or hide and seek! You can be active with your friends as opposed to playing online.
Alyssa Nye (Prep)
It’s great because we get to play at recess and lunch outside. I also have liked doing Maths in the classroom because sometimes you need help from your teacher and she is right there.
Holly Biasin (Prep)
I’ve enjoyed playing ‘cats’ with my friends. Also, we get to sit on the mat and learn which is fun.
Callum Winkett (Year 4)
Seeing everybody has been fun. In the classroom, we can do more things like hands-on activities together. Being able to move around a lot more has been tiring but good.
Middle School
Making the Most of Exam Time
Our Years 7 and 8 students completed their English exam. We are so proud of how they approached these exams with tenacity and diligence. Students made the most of the revision period, attending Help Desk and completing revision booklets and practice exams.
We wish students all the best for the remaining exams and are looking forward to the upcoming Head of School days.
Farewell Year 8 Leaders
As their time comes to a close, we would like to thank our Year 8 leaders for their contribution to Middle School. As we connected face-to-face and welcomed everyone back on campus, these students have continued to be fine examples for our young people in Years 5, 6 and 7.
We wish them all the best as they transition to Senior School and look forward to them visiting us and maintaining connections in the Middle School.
Our Boys and Girls Nights In are fast approaching and although they will look a little different this year, they will be a wonderful opportunity to spend some overdue time together.
Quote:
“Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” ―Ben Carson
Caroline Merrick
Head of City
Haileybury Parents & Friends City (HPF City)
After a long and extended time in lockdown, it is wonderful to see our students enjoying their return to City campus. They are relishing spending time in person catching up with their friends and teachers and getting back into the rhythm of school life.
As we head into the last part of Term 4, we wish our students preparing for their final assessments and end-of-year exams all the very best.
HPF City AGM
The HPF City AGM will be held on Tuesday, 9 November at 7.30 pm via Zoom.
Nominations are open to join the HPF City. If you would like to consider joining as a Social Representative or member of the Executive Committee, all details and forms can be found in the myHaileybury app. The HPF City provides opportunities to meet new parents and friends across the School and work in partnership.
Our much-anticipated HPF City Cocktail Party—rescheduled for the third time—has been cancelled again. We look forward to running our Cocktail Party in 2022.
Thank You
A very big ‘thank you’ to the 2021 HPF City Executive and Social Representatives for all their hard work, generosity and energy during a year where face-to-face opportunities and events were very limited. Despite this, we have worked hard and cohesively and it has been a pleasure.
To all our families at City, your support and generosity have been inspiring. Thank you. We cannot achieve our goals without you.
Nina Brooks and Nina Bissland
Co-Presidents, Haileybury Parents & Friends City
