Campus News
The Berwick campus recently hosted an incredibly successful Cross-Country Gala Day. More than 1,600 Years 5–8 students participated with enthusiasm, and showcased their athletic abilities and team spirit.
There was a carnival atmosphere as students and spectators cheered on the runners and enjoyed music, a sausage sizzle, medals and trophies. It was a wonderful opportunity for all Haileybury Middle School students to come together and demonstrate their dedication to physical activity and healthy competition.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Haileybury Parents & Friends Edrington (HPFE) for cooking 2,000 sausages on the day. Their hard work played a significant role in making the event even more enjoyable for our students.
Early Learning Centre
Literacy in the ELC
“Reading is the gateway for children that makes all other learning possible.” Barack Obama
The ELC literacy program began on day one of Term 1 and is in full swing. In Reception, the current focus is on books, comprehension, learning and recalling simple songs and rhymes. Reading stories daily promotes a love of literacy, develops language skills and increases vocabulary, grammar and punctuation. Seeing text in books and in signs around the school develops knowledge of letters and their formations.
Comprehension is integral in developing children’s understanding of text and meaning. Simple questions using What? How? Who? When? direct children’s thinking and help them interpret what they are reading. Children will also be looking at letters from the alphabet and staff will be working with them to assess their existing knowledge of letters and sounds.
Pre-Prep students are learning letter names and sounds through our phonics program. Many children come into the ELC with existing letter recognition and commence learning letters and sounds within the Reception program.
However, it is important for children to refresh their knowledge and help cement this learning into long term memory. Two sounds are introduced each week and revised regularly. Interactive play-based experiences are also implemented to allow children uninterrupted opportunities to use their imaginations, negotiation skills and social interactions to practice and develop linguistic ability.
Junior School
All things reading parent session
As parents and educators, we want our children to develop a love of reading from an early age and to get a head start on expanding their vocabulary and building independence and self-confidence. Reading helps children make sense of the world around them and develop social skills and their imagination.
Sometimes, it can be challenging to help a child develop this love and parents are invited to attend one of two sessions with our Teacher Librarian, Jessica Gallagher, who is passionate about encouraging students to develop their love of reading. She will highlight simple ways in which parents can support their children’s engagement in reading at home.
Middle School
Anzac Day march
It was fantastic to witness the participation of our students in the Anzac Day Memorial Service in Berwick. Anzac Day is an important event on the Australian calendar and we are fortunate to have an involvement in this event. Thank you to all the students who participated and represented the School so admirably.
Examination time
Years 7 and 8 students will complete their End of Semester 1 Examinations on Thursday, 18 and Friday, 19 May. The exam timetable has been sent home and we wish our students well as they prepare and revise.
It has been a pleasure to see the commitment and initiative of the Year 8 students as they work towards their exams. Year 7 students will sit their first examinations to complete studies in Geography and semester-based subjects. Staff are working hard to teach students about the most efficient and effective ways to prepare for, and sit, examinations.
Dancing to the State Finals
Congratulations to all our Edrington Dance and Aerobics girls who proudly represented Haileybury in the regional finals. The performances of all Haileybury teams were of a high calibre and are a testament to their hard work. Every one of Haileybury’s 14 Dance teams progressed to the State Finals.
Jeanette Rawlings
Head of Edrington (Berwick)
Haileybury Parents & Friends Edrington (HPFE)
What a HUGE couple of weeks it has been for the HPFE and Edrington community! Firstly, thank you to all our volunteers who helped us cook 2,000 sausages, sell thousands of gifts to spoil the mothers for Mother’s Day, and for catering and volunteering at the staff appreciation morning. We could not do any of this without you all — we are lucky to have such an inclusive community that is so generous with their time.
Di and Kelly will continue to open the Second-hand Uniform Shop in Term 2 on Wednesdays from 8.15 am – 10.45 am. The SHUS is always looking for an extra hand, so if you have an hour to spare on a Wednesday morning to assist Di and Kelly, please contact them via email. Stay warm!
Kerry Ilic & Tracy Day
HPFE Presidents
Hpfe@haileybury.vic.edu.au
