The Altera Terra. Inside
NEWS BOARDING
Heart and Home finds its place
Leading the way
THE
ARTS
Bet your bottom dollar Annie was a hit!
October 2021
2
CONTENTS
PRODUCED BY HAILEYBURY RENDALL SCHOOL 6057 Berrimah Rd Berrimah NT 0828 Australia
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES marketing@haileybury.vic.edu.au For more information about Haileybury Rendall School visit haileyburyrendall.com.au
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CONTENTS
Contents 04
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
05
FROM THE CAPTAINS
06
NEWS > > >
09
IN THE CLASSROOM >
10
Heart and Home finds its place An inspiration for students The call to heal country
Golden days for first graders
BOARDING >
Leading the way
11
OUTDOOR EDUCATION >
12
THE ARTS >
14
Bet your bottom dollar Annie was a hit!
SOCIAL JUSTICE > > >
18
Courage outside the classroom
Art for a furry cause Cutting school for Greatest Shave Camp inspires carers and campers alike
OHA NEWS
3
4
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
More than just an
education H
aileybury Rendall School is a colourful and vibrant place in which to live and learn. Anyone who reads the fortnightly newsletters that we proudly publish all year knows this. In the pages of this magazine you will find a snapshot into our multifaceted learning environment. In the short term we aim to be the best school in northern Australia and, once we cement that footing, the sky is the limit for the ambition we have for the students who pass through our doors. We firmly believe that every student matters every day and we know that a safe and supportive place to learn is a non-negotiable starting point. From there we always strive for academic excellence, which is truly realised when our students become the best possible version of themselves. We actively care about wellbeing and the whole person. In 2021, we have made giant steps outside the classroom with a new world of extracurricular offerings being delivered by all our dedicated teaching staff to the potential benefit of all our students. Whether playing chess in the Junior School Club-Hub, hiking in Litchfield National Park, learning to be a Young Entrepreneur, building rockets and solar cars, representing the School in one of our many basketball teams, starring in the
School Musical or performing on stage at Opera Australia’s Carmen—who knows what our students might be doing next? An education at Haileybury Rendall School is a privilege and our students understand that social justice opportunities are a great way of giving back. Some of the stories within will show you part of this commitment that our whole community makes to fight leukaemia via the World’s Greatest Shave or care for others in our community at Sony Camp. All our students involved in these ventures learn about themselves as well and emerge as better-rounded citizens. Our School is an emerging Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Education. At last count, we had 15% of our cohort with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage. We have over 80 boarders from across 30 remote communities living with us onsite. We all learn to be more culturally aware together as we develop our Reconciliation Action Plan and celebrate everybody’s strengths and knowledge. Great role models like Mrs Jye Strugnell help us lead the way. Please read on and enjoy this little window into our very big and amazing school.
Andrew McGregor Principal
FROM THE CAPTAINS
Rewarding
experiences Megan Ho
Captain, Haileybury Rendall School To me, being a leader at Haileybury Rendall School means having an opportunity to work with my peers across a wide range of rewarding areas. This includes creating opportunities and an environment for students, teachers, and the wider school community to feel included and welcomed. We have
to broaden their knowledge on the Indigenous culture here in Australia. The event consisted of different activities such as an assembly, yarning and art, sport, a ‘bush tucker’ lunch, fashion parade and traditional music. It also featured a Heal Country Walk, where students could walk or run around the
implemented this throughout Semester 1 through events such as lunchtime sports, a debating competition, Reconciliation Week and many more.
oval during lunchtime and write down commitments to Heal Country.
Recently, we participated in NAIDOC Week, a week of events that I took a lot of pride in. These kind of events are an important opportunity for individuals
Although the time is flying this year, I look forward to continuing to hold activities that benefit our School community, collaborating with my fellow leadership team on exciting events, and to end my final year with a memorable Semester 2.
Elijah Martins
Captain, Haileybury Rendall School As cliché as it may sound, I believe— with my consecutive seven years of experience—leadership is about servitude, leading by example, teamwork and enacting plausible yet innovative ideas and events. Being a leader within Haileybury Rendall School has heavily emphasised these traits—especially as it’s still a relatively new school guided by the experience of Haileybury, yet, slightly rooted in the previous school.
art competition, social justice/charitable event and one major competition each term. With the tremendous help of Mr McGregor, we were also able to establish connections with another major school to start having friendly interschool competitions. We have also started practising for the first annual House Singing Competition and nearly finished preparations for renewing a House Activities Day.
One thing I've learned over the years, is that adaptability, planning, and teamwork are fundamentals in being able to sustain old events and create new lasting traditions. From the very start of the year, Megan, the rest of the leadership team and I, have strived to build School spirit, implement a variety of events, and close the divide between day students and boarders.
I'm very thankful for having such a motivated leadership team where everyone is on the same wavelength and helps each other unconditionally. It's easy to forget specific roles as everyone works tirelessly for every event to make sure it's a success. On that note, I'm also very thankful to Megan—our other School Captain—as we support each other through navigating these exciting challenges.
Some highlights of Semester 1 are having at least one sporting tournament, music/
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NEWS
Heart and Home
finds its place A
rt students have captured all of the colour and wonder of the Top End with their stunning new artwork, Heart And Home. The painting, which recently won the Curators Award at the Seabreeze Jetty Artspace, is divided into two large boards and shows a vibrant beach scene with the sun in the distance. The work brilliantly conveys the feel and landscape of the Northern Territory. The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) students have proudly presented the painting to Haileybury Rendall School, where it will be prominently displayed in the Student Services building. Completing the work took a lot of care and time. Students did initial sketches of the painting before inspecting the Darwin Street Art Festival entries. Up to 18 students participated in the work with eight students painting the majority of it. Some students helped for one or two lessons before returning to their vocational education and training (VET) courses while others stayed longer. “I think the fact that anyone could pick up a brush and get involved really helped students overcome both the fear of failure and of being singled out. Several students were able to display excellent leadership skills in organising others and helping those students who hadn’t had the same amount of time to improve.” —Nathan Poulter, Visual Arts Teacher The designs of Heart And Home are intended to draw on the feelings of home, of going home and of making a
new home. Year 11 student, Tyson Ryan’s design links directly to family, while others like Year 10 student Braithan Baker’s highlight travel and the coast. Designed originally to be a mural, Heart And Home links several disparate designs through common background elements. Bright and vibrant colours are intended to catch the attention of passers-by and be easy to pick up for new students to put their mark on the work. Heart And Home combines both modern representations of place with elements of traditional design to communicate the ideas of place and the symbols of home.
The activity also helped students to bond with others and gain more confidence with their art skills. The VCAL Art class will also hold an exhibition and auction in September for some of their work. The class also is developing its own individual designs for printing, photography and painting. Congratulations to all involved in creating this inspirational and timeless work of art, particularly Braithan Baker (Year 10) Tyson Ryan (Year 11) Jesse Orchard (Year 11) Tahlia Tipungwuti (Year 11) Susan Jones (Year 12) and Hailey Vigona (Year 11).
NEWS
J
ye Roe Banks is on the move. As a teacher, long-distance runner and proud Aboriginal woman, Jye is a treasured member of our Haileybury Rendall School teaching community. Originally from the Nykinya Yaruwu region near Broome, Jye exclusively teaches Aboriginal female boarding students at Haileybury Rendall School. This is her third year at the School and she is enjoying every moment of it. “I am in the Ochre Program teaching a class of eight girls in Years 7 and 8 from all across the Northern Territory,” Jye said.
An inspiration for students “We have an intensive Literacy and Numeracy program to support students in areas that may have been missed in learning. I really love my job, working with the girls and seeing the results they gain so quickly.”
Marathon Foundation (IMF) which is founded and organised by former Victorian Olympic marathon runner Rob de Castella (Deeks).
Jye moved from Hobart with her husband and pet rabbit after graduating from university in 2018.
“Deeks is really involved in the squad. When we first arrived in Canberra he was there at our group discussions and greeted everyone with a big hug. He is a really genuine guy,” Jye said.
“I started teaching Year 6 and this is my second year in the Ochre Program. I love seeing the girls grow in their passion and growth in learning.”
She was told about the program by her mother, who finished many marathons and 100 km events.
Jye lived on Country for three years when young and grew up all around Australia. She has strong family connections back in the Kimberley and the majority of her mother’s family is based in Darwin. Her dad’s family is in Hobart.
This year will be Jye’s fourth try-out for the IMF out of 150 applicants.
Jye is a passionate runner and has become heavily involved with the Indigenous
She already has done the Gold Coast Half Marathon and looks forward to the final marathon under the stars later this year. She is very excited about the feeling of achievement, completing an amazing physical and mental test and graduating in the IMF.
Jye enjoys being with passionate people who have the same ideas and goals that she has. She wants to encourage girls to jump out of their comfort zone and embrace a holistic vision of health. “I want to promote community running in Darwin and change the culture of girls towards fitness and sport. I love seeing the girls really grow in their love of learning and get excited about classwork,” Jye said. “I also want to be more involved in the HRS Running Club and support all students across the school in fitness and exercising.” It’s clear that Jye has a sound plan and knows where she’s heading. She also has wise words of advice for all of us. “You can do it; anything you set your mind to. There are so many people in your corner who want you to achieve all your goals and dreams. “Ask for help; whether it be with school work, mental health or just needing a yarn. People are here to help and support everyone.” The School will be behind you, Jye, in all that you do.
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The call to heal country T
his year’s NAIDOC theme, Heal
Country! reinforced the call from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to continue to seek greater protections for land, water, sacred sites and cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction. Traditionally celebrated during the term break, we recognised NAIDOC after returning for Term 3 with a robust series of events embraced by the entire Haileybury Rendall School community. Through curriculum, library sessions, and activities during breaks, we recognised our rich history, the diversity of cultures that make up our School, as well as the many achievements of our students and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Two assemblies kicked off the week with a powerful and challenging Welcome to Country presented by our Cultural Adviser, Aunty Bilawara Lee. Our younger students were welcomed by Larrakia students Lalwa May and Ebanie Wauchope and listened to our Aboriginal Liaison and Larrakia woman, Kristy Hayes, reflect on the importance of NAIDOC to her community. To conclude both assemblies, a cleansing and healing Smoking Ceremony was conducted by Trent Lee. In the ELC, a broad range of activities was explored. The experiences for our youngest cohort were varied and rich and
included both physical and Arts-based collaborations with older students from across the School, including a visit from Year 5 to share their amazing digital creations of Dreaming stories. A NAIDOC Heal Country Walk involved students running and walking enthusiastically and as far as they could manage, all while proudly wearing their personal commitments with Heal Country bibs. Year 8 students enjoyed a presentation from two senior Larrakia men, Mr Richard Fejo and Mr John Rawnsley. They presented on a range of issues including First Nations kinship systems and the history of the struggle for land rights in Australia. In Senior School the achievements of Australian Boomers Captain Patty Mills, and how he uses his voice and profile to advocate healing and unity between all Australians, were examined. A highlight of our assembly was the performance by
the VCAL band whose members always bring energy to every event they play at. To conclude the week, an Upcycled Fashion Parade coordinated by the Stars Foundation Team was also well supported by Senior School students—as models, support crew and audience members. Shania Tipungwuti-Edwards, Social Justice Prefect, commented that "It’s not necessary to always choose new. Upcycle your clothing, wear secondhand and share clothing with friends and family. We can 'heal country' by choosing the environment over consumerism." Ian Smith, Head of Aboriginal Community Relations, noted how pleasing it was “to witness the growth in the scope of activities that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, identities and cultures since Haileybury Rendall School began. As a school, we have an obligation to inform our young cohort of the lives, histories and achievements of the First Australians.”
IN THE SECTION CLASSROOM TITLE
Golden days
for first graders T
he warmth of Darwin’s sun on Tuesday morning is not lost on the Year 1 students at Haileybury Rendall School. They relish it—and most of the students can’t wait to go outside. But first there are some exciting lessons to focus on. Classroom Teacher Ms Jane Whetters welcomes her students in the morning and then sends them for the first period of the day. And it will be a fun period too—specialist Drama. The children can’t wait to participate in some acting games as part of Drama and Movement. Students Ashton and Emily love Drama. They sit next to each other in class and take in every word the drama teacher says. She is bursting with ideas and excitement as she encourages her students to develop as creators, makers, producers, performers and presenters. The students ask questions, invent and explore alternatives. Ashton already has dreams of one day being on stage.
The young students have different specialist classes each day. For this day they are focused on Art, Language and Drama.
The second period is Chinese Mandarin. New language helps our students develop and use different parts of their brain. The children are young and are never put off by a challenge. Ashton and Emily try to repeat some new words and then laugh a bit when they get it wrong. But that is not a problem as they have plenty of time to improve their skills. Our Year 1 students then move into Spelling. Like in a sporting event they will do a quick spelling warm-up and then try to master the words of the week. Emily is eager to get every word correct and works hard at her ‘look, cover, write, check’ exercise. The morning is going quickly but there is still time for Art. The students are discovering their primary and secondary colours and become fascinated with the different colour combinations. As morning recess arrives, the children eat in the classroom—usually quite quickly—and then head outside. Today, some of the children have organised a game of handball and others are in the playground spinning Beyblades. There is a lot of happy noise in the Darwin sunshine and laughter carries throughout the yard. Next up is a double period of Writing. The class has an animal of the week, and this week it is the sloth. The children
will learn how to write an introduction, a description of the sloth and closing paragraphs. By the end of the week the children will have written a complete report. Suddenly, it’s lunchtime! Straight after lunch, the children focus on Maths. The teachers use explicit teaching in this instance. The aim is to move student learning from shortterm to long-term memory, so students are more likely to retain what they are being taught. Ashton and Emily love the traffic light system which allows them to choose to solve problems at a level that is comfortable but challenging for them. After Maths, the students move into Inquiry. The children are learning about healthy eating this term and enjoy every moment of it. By the end of the day, our Year 1 students have completed a full day of learning, playing and connecting. Ashton, Emily and their classmates have been exemplary students and Ms Whetters encouragingly lets them pick a fun game to play until the bell. There will be many more golden days like this as our young students grow to become outstanding senior students and community leaders. Just you wait.
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BOARDING
Leading the way T
he concept of leadership is a widely debated and contentious field. Are leaders born or do they grow into the position? It is a hotly debated question.
number of boys and girls. This group meets regularly and provides us with insights, feedback and ideas on how to make improvements for our boarding students.
Leadership is crucially important at Haileybury Rendall School. Developing leadership skills and processes in our students is vital and can lead to strong personal and professional success. We are very proud that we also push solid leadership lessons at our Boarding School.
However, our strong belief at Haileybury Rendall School Boarding is that leadership is not merely about a few individuals expressing views on behalf of a larger student body. Our aim is to see all of our students as leaders in their own right and provide leadership development and opportunities for all of our boarders.
“At Haileybury Rendall School, we run a diverse boarding operation with a large number of students from different backgrounds. Indeed, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boarders come from over 26 different community groups, each with different languages and cultural perspectives. The importance of hearing an articulated student voice from our boarders is of particular significance.”—Dennis Nowak, Head of Boarding School Like many other boarding schools across Australia, the central figures of our student leadership body and representatives of our student voices are our Boarding Prefects and our formal Boarding Student Representative Council. This group is made up of students across Years 9 to 12 and includes an equal
effective at meeting its core outcomes— namely, engaged, happy and safe students. A regular practice for us is creating ‘yarning circles’, where all students have input into student and staff Codes of Conduct, or ‘creeds’. Another function of yarning circles is that they serve as a platform for students to share ideas for new initiatives. One such initiative was our Boarding Disco event, which occurred at the end of last term. Students had direct input into what the event would look like, what they would eat, games to be played on the night, and even a student music playlist that the children could dance to (though staff did ensure that ‘the Nutbush’ made that playlist). Ultimately, the primary aim of a collectivist approach to student leadership is to develop leadership capacity in all of our students. That is our goal.
This sort of democratic and collective style of leadership is not only more representative. It also provides more learning opportunities for all students in our care and leads to a Boarding Program that is more
When they finish their learning journeys at the School, students will be ready to lead with family, community and any professional fields they choose to pursue. We believe that this is a worthwhile endeavour for all and will provide our students with a very promising future.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
W
hen we think about education our first instinct usually is to visualise a classroom with a whiteboard, computer, chairs and desks. But that is not the complete picture. The importance of Outdoor Education is vital to our students’ growth and is something we take very seriously.
Outdoor Education provides a link to confidence that can’t always be found in a classroom. A recent trip to Hayes Creek for rock climbing and abseiling demonstrated this for one VCE student. A student who in previous years feared heights approached abseiling with all his courage and composure, leaps and bounds ahead of his old self.
Year 7—Eastern Litchfield An introduction to expedition-style outdoor journeys, students move campsite each day with the longest walk being about 5 km. All personal equipment and some group equipment is carried by students in a hiking pack.
Year 8—Western Litchfield With some of the world's most exciting experiences in our own backyard, Head of Outdoor Education Mr Constantin Gerasimon has developed some inspiring activities for students to broaden their appreciation of the environment, nature and personal development. Everyone is different, we all have different backgrounds, interests, skillsets and personalities. Outdoor Education provides students with the opportunities to apply themselves in a space that isn’t like the classroom. “Students and teachers get to know a lot more about each other in Outdoor Education. Students might find something they really excel at or learn something about others that they wouldn’t have known or thought about in the classroom. Mr Gerasimon continues “We operate on a basis of challenge by choice. Students are encouraged to give everything a go even if they do not believe that they can. We also don’t present challenges that we don’t think students can succeed at.”
“It is the honesty of knowing where his fears lie that has helped him confront and address them on his own terms”. Specialist programs throughout May to August have been designed to cater for all our students from Years 5 to 9.
A step up from the Year 7 program—the longest distance is close to 10 km a day. This program fosters student leadership, group work and requires students to navigate and work together to arrive at their destinations.
Year 9—Lake Argyle A six-day expedition, with a day of student travel on each end to reach the majestic Lake Argyle in Western Australia’s East Kimberley region. Excellent fishing, swimming, rock jumping and some exciting side trips make this an amazing journey and something that is regularly identified by students as the best trip of their lives.
Year 5—Riyala Camp An introduction to camping with environmentally focused activities, group work, bushcraft and camp skills and an opportunity for students to become comfortable with multi-night camps.
The VCE Outdoor Education students also undertook a four-day expedition last term that linked practical experience with their curricular studies. There was a focus on risk assessment, personal determination and self-reflection.
Year 6—Adventure Bound A challenge base camp, students partake in abseiling, rock climbing, zip-lining and other activities. Students get to take on new and exciting tasks.
Courage outside the classroom
Well done to all students who undertook this program! It was a resounding success due to their keenness to be in the great outdoors.
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THE ARTS
Bet your bottom dollar Annie was a hit!
T
here are very few theatrical shows as popular or uplifting as Annie The Musical. The story of Annie, Oliver Warbucks and many other unforgettable characters has been gracing stages around the world for nearly 50 years. So it was an exciting time for the Performing Arts students when they threw themselves into the production of the show earlier this year. From the early rehearsals to the opening night, the students embraced their roles as Annie came to life. The whole experience allowed our performers and backstage crew to express themselves and grow as people in ways they never had before. “Paolo Cercarelli (Year 12) and Trinity Coleman (Year 9) are two names that come to mind when I think about prime examples of growth and confidence. In the classroom, both of these students can be quiet and reserved but they were different people in rehearsals and the performances,” says Kate Dyer, Head of Drama.
“As Paolo and Trinity learned their lines and developed their characters, they grew enormously in confidence on stage. “I already knew about Trinity’s amazing gifts as he was in my Drama class in semester 1. His passion, motivation and work ethic are infectious. I didn’t know Paolo until he auditioned, and he too is an incredibly accomplished performer. We are very fortunate to have two such outstanding talents.”
The backstage crew of about five students worked tirelessly during the performances. They ensured props were in the designated areas before the show, during intermission and after the show, as well as rotating the elaborate set during the production. Adrenalin was high and the crew thrived on the challenge. These gifted students are quick learners and they made sure the transitions were smooth and efficient throughout each performance. Two band members also excelled in their performances. Matilda Waugh (Grade 6) and Abigail Tonkin (Year 8) both displayed a high level of professionalism throughout the performance and played beautifully. Many other cast members pitched in as well by helping with makeup and hair, and some very quick costume changes backstage. It was very rewarding to see all students helping out in some way. Many of them consider the cast of Annie like a family and they keep in contact regularly with group chats. Prior to each performance, Kate Dyer handed out awards based on students’ efforts in the previous show. Each student received an award in one of two categories, the Blooper Award and the Star-of-the-Show Award. This was a way to celebrate the students’ achievements and have a laugh at things that may not have gone to plan. We are confident this spirit of optimism and fun will continue at Haileybury Rendall School over the next year, and we can all eagerly look forward to future theatre productions which will be just as amazing as this year’s spectacular show.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE
Art for a furry cause K
oalas are adored around the world and, when their habitat was devastated during the 2020 bushfires, we knew we had to do something to help. The Koala Project was born and has resulted in the creation of 23 large-scale Koala Sculptures decorated by Haileybury students and leading Australian artists. With varying designs and colours, the lifesize Koala Sculptures are stunning pieces of art. The Project will be celebrated in August with a live auction of the unique items with funds raised going to the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF). Last year, artists and LEAP students from our Early Learning Centres, Junior School and Middle School across Haileybury Rendall School and Haileybury’s four Melbourne campuses, began working on an immersive parallel collaboration between the art industry and our Haileybury Art community. While koalas aren’t native to the NT it was a wonderful opportunity for Haileybury Rendall School to work closely with Haileybury Melbourne on such a creative project, for a worthy cause. This good news event is sure to be one of the most inspiring and joyful celebrations of the year. Artists involved include Pamela Irving, whose imagery across painting, drawing and sculpture evokes humour, storytelling and irony. Her art is held in private and public collections internationally.
Students from the Ochre Art elective class created their design based on motifs from their natural world and homelands. Boab trees from the Kimberley region, water lilies from Kakadu wetlands, dragonflies evident of the dry season, stingrays from Saltwater locations and interweaving designs of circles, lines and dots that are part of the aesthetic of Indigenous art. The AKF is the principal non-profit, nongovernment organisation dedicated to the effective management and conservation of koalas and their habitat. Its main goals are to refine and update the Koala Habitat Atlas mapping of all wild koala habitats and to get the Koala Protection Act enacted to ensure koalas and their habitat are protected. The ethos of the Koala Project is to foster our students’ connection with the Creative Arts industry. Through the parallel participation with seven established and leading Australian artists, the project is a rare and amazing out-of-classroom opportunity for our students. An online auction will be held later in the year. The Haileybury Rendall School community will be contacted closer to the date to register to bid. So stay tuned and get those bidding panels ready … we already know which Koala we want for ourselves!
IMAGE NEEDS UPDATING
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SOCIAL JUSTICE
Cutting school for
Greatest Shave S
ome colourful and exciting haircuts have been on display at Haileybury Rendall School—and it’s all for a
very good cause. Earlier in the year we were proud to host the World’s Greatest Shave fundraising event to support the Leukaemia Foundation. The whole school came together to supporting the students and staff that so bravely shaved or coloured their hair. Thirteen students and staff member Mr Mark McDermott opted to take the plunge and shave their hair, while four others committed to a brilliant display of coloured hair. Principal McGregor also donated towards the cause and enthusiastically shaved his head. We are very proud of Junior School students Ariana Tsirbas (Year 3), Alice Herraman (Year 4), and Adele Brennan (Year 5) who were brave enough to shave their beautiful hair for this wonderful cause.
Fundraiser organizer Lisa Cadd said, “I know how much courage it takes for these young people to do this in front of their peers and I really admire them for that.” This important event educates our School that as a community we can come together to make a difference to the lives of people who have leukaemia or a bloodrelated disease. The day was a free-dress day with the theme A Spot of Blue. A barbeque lunch was available and the HRS Student Leadership Team ran the event stations, supervised by HRS staff. Early Learning Centre students donated a gold coin to have their hair sprayed and they also received a temporary tattoo. It was a remarkable day as the students and staff were cheered on by their peers. The day was plenty of fun, and the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. Overall, Haileybury Rendall School raised an astonishing $22,964.13.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Camp inspires carers and campers alike
I
t is said that a true indicator of society’s compassion is how it treats each one of its citizens. By that measure, Haileybury Rendall School’s social justice priorities are performing very well as it supports children with disabilities and hosts the Sony Foundation’s Children’s Camp. Held at the end of Term 2, the Camp was located at Gumimba House in the School’s boarding facilities. The Senior Student volunteers and Camp Co-ordinator Lisa Cadd once again organised an inspiring event for all. “It was such an honour for us that the parents and carers allowed us this very special privilege of caring for and entertaining their most precious children. We had such a wonderful time spending quality time with the children, and we will all cherish the memories that were created" Lisa Cadd, Camp Co-ordinator. The three day camp provided valuable respite time to families of children with disabilities, knowing that their precious children were in safe hands. Activities included an excursion to Lake Leanyer water park followed by a barbeque picnic lunch, a visit to the science labs for some experiments combining science with art, as well as lots of fun making slime. After dinner, everyone got comfortable in their bean bags to enjoy a movie, while the smell of freshly made popcorn filled the room. This year’s theme was fairy tales. The art and craft consisted of making wands and fairy wings, castles and art featuring dragons while bubbles floated in the air. The atmosphere was enchanting
Elijah Martins, School Captain, said that “Sony Camp has been one of the biggest highlights this year. It was truly an amazing experience which is hard to put in words unless you're actually there. The memories you make with both the kids and your friends are unforgettable.”
Although it can be tiring, the enjoyment of spending time with the children is exceptionally rewarding. Bonds created at this camp are incredibly heart-warming and all the HRS students were appreciative of the opportunity to get to know these amazing children. By the end of the program, the families were so excited to be reunited with their young ones and see that the children had a wonderful time. Unfortunately, the final day was cut short by a lockdown announcement and Family Lunch had to be cancelled. The food had already been prepared for the event and families were given some before going home. What was left was provided to the homeless. School Captain Megan Ho summarized the program in one sentence “Sony Camp is a very special opportunity for both the carers and the campers to spend time and learn from each other, I’m so grateful to have participated”.
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OHA NEWS
From the Executive Director
OHA
Alumni will get the opportunity to work with students from ELC to Year 12 in a small but growing school. They also will have the adventure of working and living in the Top End of Australia in Darwin’s newest and best teaching site. During our recent visit to HRS, we also had the pleasure of meeting Clare Mullins (OH 2020) and Connor Gall (OH 2019) who are two of our first alumni to volunteer with the Haileybury Rendall School GAP Year Program.
Contacts
During our chat, they shared their thoughts on the program, and we hope their comments inspire the next graduating year to take part.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Russell Davidson (OH ’86) russell.davidson@haileybury.vic.edu.au +61 3 9904 6140
DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI MANAGER Hayley Denny hayley.denny@haileybury.vic.edu.au +61 3 9904 6015
DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI CO-ORDINATOR Kylie Phillips stayconnected@haileybury.vic.edu.au +61 3 9904 6146
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR Cristina Zannoni cristina.zannoni@haileybury.vic.edu.au +61 3 9904 6141
WEBSITE oha.org.au
OHA SOCIALS @oldhaileyburians @oldhaileyburians @haileyburyschool
Reaching Out to Our Alumni Members We are so fortunate that Haileybury has so many outstanding schools and alumni members throughout the nation. Recently I took great pleasure in visiting Haileybury Rendall School in Darwin with my colleague, Hayley Denny. It was my third trip to the School and left me just as proud as my two previous visits. I felt a sense of excitement which I will take with me as we deliver on a set of activities and services to support all our graduates and promote the OHA. From community events to boarding house activities, work experience opportunities to tertiary support for graduates, the OHA is an alumni organisation for all Haileyburians. Once a Haileyburian, always a Haileyburian and we greatly encourage all alumni to reach out to us at stayconnected@haileybury.vic.edu.au Haileybury alumni will be delighted to know there are exciting opportunities at Haileybury Rendall School. The GAP Program involves either a six or 12-month placement at the School, beginning either in January or July each year.
“My time in Darwin has gifted me with many long-lasting memories that will continue to shape me in the future,” Clare said. “This opportunity has taught me copious amounts regarding Indigenous culture and traditions and to also value the amazing experiences life offers.” Connor said Haileybury Rendall School has provided him with the opportunity to explore new experiences, surrounded by both friendly staff and students. “Volunteering among an Indigenous boarding cohort has been enormously rewarding. The kids I have met have greeted me only with kindness and taught me so much about their own cultures and stories. I am extremely grateful for this experience.” We hope to invite Clare and Connor back to Haileybury Melbourne to share their stories in person. We thank them for giving back and being a part of this important program. If you would like more information on the GAP Program, please contact the OHA Office via email at stayconnected@ haileybury.vic.edu.au or call +61 3 9904 6015.
OHA News
into place and hiked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu,” he said. “The changing of currencies took me straight back to maths classes also and, of course, my Spanish skills made communication so much easier.”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW Lucy Thompson (OH 2019) Lucy commenced a Bachelor of Primary and Secondary Education at Monash University. After a semester, Lucy deferred as she was unsure it was what she wanted to do. This break saw Lucy join Haileybury Rendall School’s six-month GAP Year Program. What a fantastic decision this turned out to be. It was “the best experience of my life, exactly what I needed”. Lucy returned to Melbourne for Christmas last year but missed Darwin terribly. Being the proactive young lady she is, Lucy successfully applied for a job in the Haileybury Rendall School Boarding House as a House Parent, which involves looking after the boarding students. She is also studying a Bachelor of Secondary Education at Charles Darwin University, majoring in Indigenous Knowledges. Well done Lucy and all the best.
Jack Haritos (OH 2019) Jack was fortunate after graduating to travel prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Using his Spanish skills from school, Jack ventured through South America for four weeks across five countries. “I thoroughly enjoyed travelling to new places and eating various types of food. In Peru, I put years of school camp practice
Jack is studying for a Liberal Arts and Sciences degree at the University of Sydney. He says HRS always teaches you to look to the bigger picture and he has found that most helpful. So too are the tips of secondary school teachers, which he relies upon for university essay writing. Jack is still figuring out what he wants to do next but is ever confident he’ll be able to do it.
Share a Story If you have some great stories of what the Haileybury Rendall School alumni are up to, please submit them through the new OHA website: https://oha.org.au/share-a-story/.
OHA EVENTS Haileybury Rendall School graduates become Chapter Members upon graduation. The Darwin Chapter is still in development, and we look forward to hosting more events in the future. Our Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Mr Russell Davidson, and Development and Alumni Manager Ms Hayley Denny enjoyed a casual dinner with some of the members during their trip to Darwin. Hosted at the Curve Restaurant and Bar in Darwin City, the Melbourne
STAY CONNECTED When our members Stay Connected, they unlock the power of their OHA membership. There are two ways to connect with both your fellow alumni and the School: Stay Connected through Facebook For those wishing to stay in touch with their friends from school, please join the OHA Haileybury Rendall School Facebook page https://www. facebook.com/OHA-HaileyburyRendall-School-105781791307476.
Stay Connected through Alumni Connect For those attending university or ready to take their first steps into employment, we encourage you to take a look at Alumni Connect. Watch the ‘how to’ videos and setup a LinkedIn profile today. Visit Alumni Connect: https://oha.org.au/alumni-connect/.
Update your Details It is so important that the School has your up-to-date emails for event invitations, competitions, awards and more. Set up a member profile on the OHA website to
staff enjoyed a lovely dinner with stories shared and a great night was had by all.
keep your details up-to-date or contact the Office and we will look after it for you.
If you are interested in becoming a Darwin Chapter Ambassador, please contact us via the OHA website: https://oha.org.au/ambassadors/.
The OHA Office loves Staying Connected and hearing from our members. Contact details: https://oha.org.au/contact-us/
