Welcome back, Senior School!
As the summer break comes to an end, I hope this newsletter finds all our families well and looking forward to the resumption of school on Monday, 29 January. Our academic year is already well underway, thanks to Term 1A, making for a considerably smoother commencement in January 2024. Welcome especially to our new families, students and staff who are joining us this year. We trust that your time at Haileybury is happy and filled with success.
Monday, 29 January 2024 begins with tutor groups which are held prior to classes. This is where Heads of Houses and tutors will get an opportunity to remind our young Haileyburians about our expectations of them. Sometimes, it takes a few gentle reminders about hair and uniform expectations and personal presentation before everyone is back into the swing of things, ready for successful living and learning at school.
I ask all our parents and guardians to assist us in ensuring that our students are immaculate and well-presented, ready for school on day one. We are justifiably proud of our Haileybury uniform, and we trust that all our students will wear it with evident pride. If you have any queries about our expectations, please feel free to contact our Head of Senior Girls, Ms Anna Wassell or our Head of Senior Boys, Mr Graham Leys.
Tips for a successful VCE
- Create a study routine - Sit down and plan your workload - consider when exams or assignments are due. Work back from those dates and draw up a work and study plan that breaks tasks into manageable chunks.
- Sleep well - Many young people aren't getting enough sleep, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies. A 2019 report found that half of 16—17 year olds don't get enough sleep on school nights. Government health guidelines recommend that children up to age 13 should have 9—11 hours of sleep, and students aged 14 and upwards have 8—10 hours each night.
- Eat well - The London School of Economics recommends that students look at what they eat as they prepare for exams. Some foods are known to improve alertness, memory and energy levels—all important during busy study times. Aim to drink around 1.2 litres of water a day to help brain function. Avoid high-sugar foods as after a sugar rush, blood sugar levels can suddenly drop and cause tiredness. Eat plenty of protein-rich foods such as nuts, oats, eggs, dried fruits and yoghurt and avoid too much caffeine, which can lead to headaches. Green tea is believed to help concentration and is a healthier beverage choice.
- Make time for friends and relaxation - Keeping up activities beyond school study is important. Maintaining an involvement in sport or other recreational activities is important to wellbeing and helps to maintain a sense of balance.
- Focus on what you can control - Dr Chelsea Hyde, Educational Psychologist at Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne, says it’s important to help students reduce stress by encouraging them to focus on what they can do and what they can control, such as keeping up with schoolwork and setting goals for the future.
- Ask for help when you need it - Remember you are surrounded by people who want the best for you and want to see you succeed - your family, friends, and teachers. If you need help or guidance throughout this time, it's important to speak to someone you trust and work through a solution together.
Absentees
All absences must be promptly recorded using the myHaileybury app. We understand the challenges parents face when their child is unable to attend school, and we appreciate your cooperation in swiftly submitting your child's absence through the app, taking less than 10 seconds. Your prompt action is crucial for effective record-keeping and communication.
Senior School sport expectations
Sport at Haileybury is an enjoyable and integral component in developing a well-rounded Haileyburian. Training and competition are so much more than winning — they not only improve our students’ mental and physical health and fitness, but enable them to develop their leadership and communication skills, ability to work in a team and respect for themselves and others.
Building a culture based on these core skills will ultimately result in success on the sporting field and in the classroom.
Team success is, of course, dependent on all students attending Tuesday training and Saturday competition. Should your son or daughter need to leave school for an appointment and miss Tuesday sport training, a medical certificate will need to be emailed to the Heads of Boys and Girls Sport the following day.
Haileybury strongly discourages students and parents from making regular appointments on Tuesday afternoon during sport training.
If you have any queries about our sport program, please contact either:
- John Headlam (Head of Boys Sport)
- Kylie Leys (Head of Girls Sport)
Dr Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy Principal
Head of Senior Schools
