This week I had the pleasure of being interviewed by School Captain Lakshya Chanda on my recent contract extension. It was great to reflect on the milestones we’ve achieved as a school.
This week I had the pleasure of being interviewed by School Captain Lakshya Chanda on my recent contract extension. It was great to reflect on the milestones we’ve achieved as a school.
I'm pleased to share with you, a record of my interview below.
I hear that the School Board had recently extended your contract to the end of 2027 that will mean seven years as Principal, how do you feel about that?
Thanks Lakshya. Well, yes that's true. I have had my contract extended to the end of 2027. I'm very excited about that personally as that means I now have a clear commitment to Haileybury Rendall School and my family will be staying here as well so we're all very pleased. I think it's really good for the school to have stability in leadership and it means that lots of people who are coming up with ideas, new initiatives and innovations can be confident that if I approve it now, I'll still be here in three or four years’ time to make sure that it happened. Overall, I think it's good news for me, my family and Haileybury Rendall School.
You started here in 2021, what are some of the achievements you're proud of?
Great question - I think the first thing is growing the school. When I arrived, there was about 600 students and this year for the first time, we've gone over 1000 students, so we now have 1030. The biggest thing I think I've had to do is manage growing a school enrolling new students especially getting lots of new teachers. It is Darwin and there's a lot of changing in staffing and then while all those changes are going on, we are trying to develop our own culture amongst the students and teachers that we all understand. I think we've really done that well. We've had a focus on wellbeing, not just on great academic results so that's something that we're really proud of. My biggest job is to manage the budget and make sure we're not spending more than we are earning, but we've been reasonably successful and that meant that we we've added a lot of new facilities and features around the school over that time. We're growing nicely and we hope it keeps going.
You mentioned earlier that there are 1030 students at HRS how big do you think the school will get?
That is really important! I've had a very close look at it, and I think we will grow by another 100 students so I think we're going to settle at around 1130 students. We will likely get there in the next two to three years. That's if we don't increase in size at any of our year levels. If we keep pushing students through from Middle School to Senior School then that will naturally happen. Hopefully we enrol some more boarders from remote communities, around Australia and overseas. That'll add the numbers up a little bit as well. Keeping all our current year levels as they are, we should settle at 1130. Now I guess that's the easy decision but the school board and myself, over those next three or four years at some point, we might decide we do want to get bigger and that would mean we're going to have to build more classrooms perhaps renovate the old Building 19 behind Mayoema. For now, I think when we get to 1130 students that's where we're going to settle.
What would you hope to accomplish in the coming years?
There's several really important things that we need to do. We need to grow the school to 1130 students roughly speaking and we need to set fair and reasonable school fees. I'm very conscious that we don't want to be charging families more than we absolutely have to and balancing that, we need to keep improving the facilities as well. We need to hopefully develop international boarding. At the moment we only have four international boarding students, but I hope that we can grow that to 20 or 30 in the next three or four years. Then what comes with that is the cultural piece around diversity, understanding and all of us learning to live together. Developing our staff is massively important. We've got to have the best teachers in the NT working here and anyone who does decide to teach at HRS need to be the best that they can be, so we've started staff coaching this year. Doctor Ritchie is heavily involved in that so visiting classrooms and working together to share how we can all be better teachers but that's going to be a huge part of what we do. We have to continue to bring our community together and make sure our families and friends are involved in in the journey.
What's the hardest part of your job?
Well, there is a couple of difficult things, but I think the hardest single decision I have to do every year is setting school fees. We inherited a school that was broke, we set pretty low school fees to start with and we were breaking even when the school first started which is understandable. However, now we know to be successful we have to balance how much funding we're getting against any other source of income, which is school fees. I find it really difficult knowing it's likely that school fees will go up each year and I tried to keep the percentage increase down as far as possible while thinking about all those other things; facilities, attracting great staff, making sure we have what we need. That is a very hard part of the job and I think the other hard part is helping students who have really shown in the past they don't want to be in the school and sometimes there's consequences to that. That is really difficult and gut-wrenching, but I guess in this role the buck stops with me and sometimes I have to help students find somewhere else to go to school, but I don't like that.
How does it feel to be having our very first Year 12 formal this year? Do you think it will continue as a tradition for the following years?
That's up to you Lakshya and your friends, isn't it! I'm thrilled. I think it's great because it's been driven by the student voices, and it sounds like you're very keen. It definitely sounds like it's been well organised and if everything goes well it will be a legacy that you will leave for the rest of the school. It was interesting for me once we agreed to go ahead this year, several staff voiced that it's a great sign of how far the school has come that we are now big enough, we've developed enough and the Year 12 students are confident enough to pull something like that off so that was really interesting. I think there's a big appetite in our community for this to be the first of many so I’m sure it’ll be a great night!
What is the best piece of advice you've been given and how has it shaped you?
That is another great question, and you might know what I'm going to say here because I give this advice back all the time and I think three simple things that were passed on to me by a really great mentor of mine. It was a school principal, he said ‘keep running the school nice and simple and make sure everybody knows what's expected. To set up a great positive culture, everyone feels safe and can do their best.’ So, some people might think I'm going to say learning is our core business, that's a good piece of advice but I really think that if you stick to 3 things: if you're kind to people, always try to do your best and get involved in all the amazing opportunities here, you won’t go wrong.
Now a fun question. If you had the chance to own any animal in the world which one would you choose?
To me, well that is a fun question. My favourite animal, at the moment, is a Barramundi but that's just to catch not really ideal for owning and looking after! It would be some sort of dog I've always been a dog person. My family love dogs - to the actual breed, I think if it was just me I would go for a chocolate Labrador. They are very faithful, lots of fun and someone who can look after me when I get older hopefully.
Andrew McGregor
Principal
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May Day Public Holiday
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Monday, 6 May
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Live Parent Webinar: How to Get (and Keep!) Your Child Motivated
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Wednesday, 8 May
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|
Do it For Dolly Day
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Friday, 10 May
|
|
Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival
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Friday, 10 - 12 May
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|
Mother's Day
|
Sunday, 12 May
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|
National Reconciliation Week Activities begin
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Monday, 13 May
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|
Cocktail Party
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Friday, 17 May
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|
School Tour
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Saturday, 18 May
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|
The Great Book Swap
|
Monday, 3 June
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|
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the new musical
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Friday, 13 - Saturday 14 September
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|
China Study Tour
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20 - 29 September
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Welcome back to Term 2 from Camp Australia.
The Rocketeers program over the Easter holidays was loads of fun, with some incredible feedback from parents. This was highlighted with our excursion on Friday, 12 April to Leanyer Recreation Park where the children engaged in the water park play area, the water slides, the tremendous playground, and not to mention the jumping castles that were set up for the day!
The beginning of term saw Before and After School Care support two very worthy causes. In celebration of Earth Day, the children made necklaces, and poppy flowers to support ANZAC Day 2024.
Choosing our themes each week, and the activities we do, is very important in linking these to the event/s happening within the community that we live. This aspect of our program sees the children relate to maters around us and gain a better understanding of the importance of these practices and doings.
Nathan Ratcliffe
Camp Australia
Email: nthaileyburyrendall@oshccampaustralia.com.au
Elevate works with students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series, you’ll learn how you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they’re learning at school.
Their upcoming webinar on motivation will give you some easy-to-implement strategies to help your child stay motivated as we approach the mid-point of the school year.
Here’s what Elevate will be covering on the night:
What: How to Get (and Keep!) Your Child Motivated
When: Wednesday 8th May 6:30-7:30pm (AEST)
How: Click here to register for free
Our Early Learning Centre (ELC) children recently took part in a moving ceremony to commemorate ANZAC Day, honouring the memory of those who served and lost their life in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. In preparation for this event, each class created a unique wreath to represent their group, using a variety of photos, colourful craft, and flowers.
In the days leading up to the ceremony, the children engaged in activities to learn about the history and significance of ANZAC Day. Teachers used stories, art, Anzac biscuit baking, and discussions to explain themes like courage, mate-ship, and sacrifice. This learning journey aligns with the principles of the Early Years Learning Framework, which encourages young children to engage with their community and appreciate its cultural heritage.
On the day of the ceremony, the ELC children assembled at the school's flagpole, with Principal McGregor and special guest “Mr. Greg” who served in the armed forces. Representatives from each class carried its own wreath and the children carefully laid them at the base of the flagpole, showing a sense of reverence and reflection. This moment was both touching and symbolic, demonstrating the children's understanding of the event's importance.
Following the wreath-laying, the children stood in respectful silence as "The Last Post" was played. The bugle notes filled the air, creating a solemn atmosphere that reminded everyone of the sacrifices made by so many. The minute's silence that followed was equally moving, with all the children, even the youngest, standing quietly to honour the memory of the fallen.
The respect shown by the ELC children during the ceremony reflected the values they had been learning about. It was clear they had developed an understanding of why ANZAC Day is significant and why it is important to honour those who served.
We are very proud of our ELC children for their participation in this meaningful ceremony. Their thoughtful actions and the support of our dedicated teachers and parents made this ANZAC Day commemoration a success. This event not only honoured those who served but also brought our school community together in a spirit of respect and unity.
Michelle Shaw
Head of Early Learning Centre
This term has kicked off with a whirlwind of excitement as our Junior School students eagerly dive into various activities and events. Last week, our Student Leaders in Year 5 and 6 participated in an enriching leadership workshop. During this session, they delved into the multifaceted concept of leadership, exploring different leadership styles and setting personal goals for their own leadership journey. Students came back to school full of ideas and excitement. It’s inspiring to see our young leaders taking initiatives and paving the way for positive change within our school community.
Last Week our Junior School students and staff came together for the second House Activity afternoon of the term. Held on the bottom oval, students engaged in a range of physical activities designed to foster teamwork and nurture house spirit. A big thank you to our house coordinator Mr. Hill for planning our house activities. They are thoroughly enjoyed by all!
Our Clubs and Activities have resumed during recess and lunch breaks, offering students the opportunity to explore new interests and talents. We encourage all students to get involved and try something new. Whether it's chess, Lego or puzzle club, there is something for everyone to enjoy. These clubs not only provide a platform for skill development but also serve as avenues for making new friends and fostering a sense of belonging within our school community. Please encourage your child to get involved in a club this term.
Junior School Extra Curricular Clubs T2 2024
Lisa Doyle
Head of Junior School
On Wednesday, 24 April the Senior School was privileged to attend an ANZAC day commemorative assembly. Expertly organised by Deputy Principal Pickering Tyers and ably supported by our student Cadet representatives, Peta Gibson (Year 11), Oliver Wurst (Year 11), Maddy Brennan (Year 11), Hamish Brennan (Year 10), Jacob Caden (Year 7), Alexandra Mavros-Zikos (Year 8), and Max Varley (Year 12).
In addition to the stories from Gallipoli, we were witness to an incredibly haunting and beautiful rendition of ‘Empty Chairs and Empty tables’ by Jirra Jennings (Year 6) and Rowan Unwin (Year 6). Their performance in front of the Senior School community was truly inspiring and a fitting tribute to our ANZACs past and present.
The annual House ANZAC biscuit competition was also run. The student leaders diligently taste tested the multiple entries, with the top four recipes making it into the final. Under very close scrutiny by our Year 12 Student leaders and a very thorough taste testing process, Principal McGregor, and Deputy Principal Pearson, announced the winning recipe. Congratulations to Eloise Tonkin (Year 8) representing Djarrak.
Congratulations to Ashley Parsons (Year 12) and Oliver Wurst (Year 11) who have been selected to represent Haileybury Rendall School in the Youth Round Table.
Each year students throughout the NT can apply to participate in the Youth Round table, providing a voice to the youth of the Territory. Selection for the Youth Round Table is highly competitive. Having two students from Haileybury Rendall School selected for this program is a significant achievement. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Oliver was elected to the position of Vice Chair. Congratulations to both Ashely and Oliver.
Kylie Mobilia
Head of Senior School
Year 9 superstar, Macey Sheridan competed at the 2024 Australian Age Swimming Championships in the Gold Coast during April.
Macey was the most prolific medal winner of the Championships, winning five gold medals and one silver medal.
For her age group, Macey not only won National titles in 50m Freestyle, she also set new NT records in;
Macey and her fellow HRS students, Chloe Reader (Year 11) and Ella Cox (Year 8) entered the Darwin Swimming Club in the 13-17 Years Girls 4x50m and 4x100m Medley and Sam Reader (Year 10) also swam at the Championships.
Macey is now preparing for the most prestigious domestic swimming event in the national calendar, the Australian Olympic Trials in Brisbane which will serve as the sole selection meet for the Dolphins Swimming Team to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris!
On top of Macey's remarkable performance, she went on to win the NT Junior Sportsperson of the Year 2024.
Well done Macey. A true testament to combining determination and commitment with a sport you love.
Senior School students competed in the Top End 3x3 Basketball Gala Day at Palmerston Recreational Centre on Wednesday, 24 April. 3 boys, and 2 girls teams represented Haileybury Rendall School as they competed against various Northern Territory Schools.
Each team demonstrated enthusiasm, diligence and fantastic sportsmanship, endeavouring to lift each other’s spirit in every aspect of the game.
Students successfully represented Haileybury Rendall School throughout the day, and they should be immensely proud of their efforts.
Congratulations to the students from Team 5, Cobie Lee (Year 10), Marika Carlton (Year 10) & Amelia Simms (Year 11) for placing 1st in the Girls pool, taking home the flag for the day and Team 4 students Sharelle Lalara (Year 11), Talima Tipuamantamerri (Year 11), Anna Simone (Year 11) & Vanessa Gondarra (Year 11) for coming in 2nd place.
Another congratulations to the following students who were awarded Physical Literacy Certificate on the day for:
Well done to all involved.
Simone O’Brien & Conor Bowden
Teachers/Coaches
On Friday, 22 March Haileybury Rendall School held our annual World’s Greatest Shave Event.
This is a whole school event where we all come together to support and celebrate staff and students for their fundraising efforts to shave their hair.
There was such a wonderful atmosphere with everyone having lots of fun cheering on their peers and staff that shaved their hair.
There was plenty to enjoy at the event including a BBQ, temporary tattoos, coloured hairspray, and a cake stall.
So far, our amazing team has raised an incredible $17,339.85
These donations will make a huge impact in helping the Leukemia Foundation with their ongoing support to the thousands of Australians they provide services to. These services include research, emotional support and advocacy, educational programs, and access to a home away from home accommodation for regional families that are required to relocate to the city for treatment.
Thank you to James Shaw and Quenton Brooking for cooking the BBQ, the HRS Leaders that helped on the day, the maintenance team for the set up and pack down as well as Elsie Harden and Ellie Dancis who helped Miss Lisa with the shaving of hair.
The left-over BBQ food was donated to Aunty Free Feeds.
Lisa Cadd
Teacher Assistant - Inclusion and Support
Haileybury Rendall School is very proud to congratulate Lalwa May (Year 12) on winning the ZipPrint Sports Award for her excellence in equestrian, at the Northern Territory Young Achievers Awards in April.
Our talented Junior School art students continue to be guided by inspiration and cultural contexts to create their artwork. Our new primary art room is fantastic with new refurbishing, a new sink and new large drying racks.
Haileybury Rendall School Easter Art Exhibition showcased an impressive array of creativity and talent from both Middle School and Senior School students. Held in the school's library, the exhibition served as a platform for students to display their folio artworks, offering a glimpse into their artistic ideas and expressions.
The Middle and Senior School section of the exhibition featured a diverse range of artworks, including one point perspective drawings, printmaking, and watercolour studies. From vibrant Fauvist paintings to intricate wire sculptures, students demonstrated their experimentation with various mediums and techniques. Works in progress and trials with art materials and techniques
The sophistication and maturity of their work were evident, with pieces reflecting personal and contemporary ideas.
Anne McMaster
Head of Visual Art
An exhibition called Money’s too Tight to Mention will be displaying work from Haileybury Art Students with their work being turned into stickers. The exhibition is open for all to attend on Friday, 17 May at the Darwin Visual Arts Association. More information can be found here Money’s too Tight to Mention! | AENT (arteducators.nt.edu.au)
Our Visual Art students will be exhibiting their artwork for voting at this year’s Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival. More votes mean more prizes for our students!
Our very talented musicians are also busily rehearsing for the festival. Haileybury Rendall School will be showcasing our Fireflies and Contento Choirs, Contemporary Ensemble, Animato and Chamber Strings, String Quartet and Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, 12 May from 4 pm to 5 pm on the Banyan stage.
We look forward to the HRS and wider community all enjoying the efforts and wonderful achievements of our students at the festival.
More information can be found here Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival
Marianne Foster
Visual Arts Teacher
House singing wrapped up Term 1 with impressive performances from Middle and Senior School students.
Students sang their hearts out and busted out some great dance moves. Djarrak took us for a ride on the highway, Pumarali let it go with Frozen, Baru made way for Moana, and Nganabaru had their sun rolling high, through the magenta sky in the circle of life, capturing first place for their second year in a row! Well done!
A fantastic example of the HRS spirit from all students. Congratulations.
This week I had the pleasure of being interviewed by School Captain Lakshya Chanda on my recent contract extension. It was great to reflect on the milestones we’ve achieved as a school.
I'm pleased to share with you, a record of my interview below.
I hear that the School Board had recently extended your contract to the end of 2027 that will mean seven years as Principal, how do you feel about that?
Thanks Lakshya. Well, yes that's true. I have had my contract extended to the end of 2027. I'm very excited about that personally as that means I now have a clear commitment to Haileybury Rendall School and my family will be staying here as well so we're all very pleased. I think it's really good for the school to have stability in leadership and it means that lots of people who are coming up with ideas, new initiatives and innovations can be confident that if I approve it now, I'll still be here in three or four years’ time to make sure that it happened. Overall, I think it's good news for me, my family and Haileybury Rendall School.
You started here in 2021, what are some of the achievements you're proud of?
Great question - I think the first thing is growing the school. When I arrived, there was about 600 students and this year for the first time, we've gone over 1000 students, so we now have 1030. The biggest thing I think I've had to do is manage growing a school enrolling new students especially getting lots of new teachers. It is Darwin and there's a lot of changing in staffing and then while all those changes are going on, we are trying to develop our own culture amongst the students and teachers that we all understand. I think we've really done that well. We've had a focus on wellbeing, not just on great academic results so that's something that we're really proud of. My biggest job is to manage the budget and make sure we're not spending more than we are earning, but we've been reasonably successful and that meant that we we've added a lot of new facilities and features around the school over that time. We're growing nicely and we hope it keeps going.
You mentioned earlier that there are 1030 students at HRS how big do you think the school will get?
That is really important! I've had a very close look at it, and I think we will grow by another 100 students so I think we're going to settle at around 1130 students. We will likely get there in the next two to three years. That's if we don't increase in size at any of our year levels. If we keep pushing students through from Middle School to Senior School then that will naturally happen. Hopefully we enrol some more boarders from remote communities, around Australia and overseas. That'll add the numbers up a little bit as well. Keeping all our current year levels as they are, we should settle at 1130. Now I guess that's the easy decision but the school board and myself, over those next three or four years at some point, we might decide we do want to get bigger and that would mean we're going to have to build more classrooms perhaps renovate the old Building 19 behind Mayoema. For now, I think when we get to 1130 students that's where we're going to settle.
What would you hope to accomplish in the coming years?
There's several really important things that we need to do. We need to grow the school to 1130 students roughly speaking and we need to set fair and reasonable school fees. I'm very conscious that we don't want to be charging families more than we absolutely have to and balancing that, we need to keep improving the facilities as well. We need to hopefully develop international boarding. At the moment we only have four international boarding students, but I hope that we can grow that to 20 or 30 in the next three or four years. Then what comes with that is the cultural piece around diversity, understanding and all of us learning to live together. Developing our staff is massively important. We've got to have the best teachers in the NT working here and anyone who does decide to teach at HRS need to be the best that they can be, so we've started staff coaching this year. Doctor Ritchie is heavily involved in that so visiting classrooms and working together to share how we can all be better teachers but that's going to be a huge part of what we do. We have to continue to bring our community together and make sure our families and friends are involved in in the journey.
What's the hardest part of your job?
Well, there is a couple of difficult things, but I think the hardest single decision I have to do every year is setting school fees. We inherited a school that was broke, we set pretty low school fees to start with and we were breaking even when the school first started which is understandable. However, now we know to be successful we have to balance how much funding we're getting against any other source of income, which is school fees. I find it really difficult knowing it's likely that school fees will go up each year and I tried to keep the percentage increase down as far as possible while thinking about all those other things; facilities, attracting great staff, making sure we have what we need. That is a very hard part of the job and I think the other hard part is helping students who have really shown in the past they don't want to be in the school and sometimes there's consequences to that. That is really difficult and gut-wrenching, but I guess in this role the buck stops with me and sometimes I have to help students find somewhere else to go to school, but I don't like that.
How does it feel to be having our very first Year 12 formal this year? Do you think it will continue as a tradition for the following years?
That's up to you Lakshya and your friends, isn't it! I'm thrilled. I think it's great because it's been driven by the student voices, and it sounds like you're very keen. It definitely sounds like it's been well organised and if everything goes well it will be a legacy that you will leave for the rest of the school. It was interesting for me once we agreed to go ahead this year, several staff voiced that it's a great sign of how far the school has come that we are now big enough, we've developed enough and the Year 12 students are confident enough to pull something like that off so that was really interesting. I think there's a big appetite in our community for this to be the first of many so I’m sure it’ll be a great night!
What is the best piece of advice you've been given and how has it shaped you?
That is another great question, and you might know what I'm going to say here because I give this advice back all the time and I think three simple things that were passed on to me by a really great mentor of mine. It was a school principal, he said ‘keep running the school nice and simple and make sure everybody knows what's expected. To set up a great positive culture, everyone feels safe and can do their best.’ So, some people might think I'm going to say learning is our core business, that's a good piece of advice but I really think that if you stick to 3 things: if you're kind to people, always try to do your best and get involved in all the amazing opportunities here, you won’t go wrong.
Now a fun question. If you had the chance to own any animal in the world which one would you choose?
To me, well that is a fun question. My favourite animal, at the moment, is a Barramundi but that's just to catch not really ideal for owning and looking after! It would be some sort of dog I've always been a dog person. My family love dogs - to the actual breed, I think if it was just me I would go for a chocolate Labrador. They are very faithful, lots of fun and someone who can look after me when I get older hopefully.
Andrew McGregor
Principal
|
May Day Public Holiday
|
Monday, 6 May
|
|
Live Parent Webinar: How to Get (and Keep!) Your Child Motivated
|
Wednesday, 8 May
|
|
Do it For Dolly Day
|
Friday, 10 May
|
|
Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival
|
Friday, 10 - 12 May
|
|
Mother's Day
|
Sunday, 12 May
|
|
National Reconciliation Week Activities begin
|
Monday, 13 May
|
|
Cocktail Party
|
Friday, 17 May
|
|
School Tour
|
Saturday, 18 May
|
|
The Great Book Swap
|
Monday, 3 June
|
|
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the new musical
|
Friday, 13 - Saturday 14 September
|
|
China Study Tour
|
20 - 29 September
|
Welcome back to Term 2 from Camp Australia.
The Rocketeers program over the Easter holidays was loads of fun, with some incredible feedback from parents. This was highlighted with our excursion on Friday, 12 April to Leanyer Recreation Park where the children engaged in the water park play area, the water slides, the tremendous playground, and not to mention the jumping castles that were set up for the day!
The beginning of term saw Before and After School Care support two very worthy causes. In celebration of Earth Day, the children made necklaces, and poppy flowers to support ANZAC Day 2024.
Choosing our themes each week, and the activities we do, is very important in linking these to the event/s happening within the community that we live. This aspect of our program sees the children relate to maters around us and gain a better understanding of the importance of these practices and doings.
Nathan Ratcliffe
Camp Australia
Email: nthaileyburyrendall@oshccampaustralia.com.au
Elevate works with students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series, you’ll learn how you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they’re learning at school.
Their upcoming webinar on motivation will give you some easy-to-implement strategies to help your child stay motivated as we approach the mid-point of the school year.
Here’s what Elevate will be covering on the night:
What: How to Get (and Keep!) Your Child Motivated
When: Wednesday 8th May 6:30-7:30pm (AEST)
How: Click here to register for free
Our Early Learning Centre (ELC) children recently took part in a moving ceremony to commemorate ANZAC Day, honouring the memory of those who served and lost their life in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. In preparation for this event, each class created a unique wreath to represent their group, using a variety of photos, colourful craft, and flowers.
In the days leading up to the ceremony, the children engaged in activities to learn about the history and significance of ANZAC Day. Teachers used stories, art, Anzac biscuit baking, and discussions to explain themes like courage, mate-ship, and sacrifice. This learning journey aligns with the principles of the Early Years Learning Framework, which encourages young children to engage with their community and appreciate its cultural heritage.
On the day of the ceremony, the ELC children assembled at the school's flagpole, with Principal McGregor and special guest “Mr. Greg” who served in the armed forces. Representatives from each class carried its own wreath and the children carefully laid them at the base of the flagpole, showing a sense of reverence and reflection. This moment was both touching and symbolic, demonstrating the children's understanding of the event's importance.
Following the wreath-laying, the children stood in respectful silence as "The Last Post" was played. The bugle notes filled the air, creating a solemn atmosphere that reminded everyone of the sacrifices made by so many. The minute's silence that followed was equally moving, with all the children, even the youngest, standing quietly to honour the memory of the fallen.
The respect shown by the ELC children during the ceremony reflected the values they had been learning about. It was clear they had developed an understanding of why ANZAC Day is significant and why it is important to honour those who served.
We are very proud of our ELC children for their participation in this meaningful ceremony. Their thoughtful actions and the support of our dedicated teachers and parents made this ANZAC Day commemoration a success. This event not only honoured those who served but also brought our school community together in a spirit of respect and unity.
Michelle Shaw
Head of Early Learning Centre
This term has kicked off with a whirlwind of excitement as our Junior School students eagerly dive into various activities and events. Last week, our Student Leaders in Year 5 and 6 participated in an enriching leadership workshop. During this session, they delved into the multifaceted concept of leadership, exploring different leadership styles and setting personal goals for their own leadership journey. Students came back to school full of ideas and excitement. It’s inspiring to see our young leaders taking initiatives and paving the way for positive change within our school community.
Last Week our Junior School students and staff came together for the second House Activity afternoon of the term. Held on the bottom oval, students engaged in a range of physical activities designed to foster teamwork and nurture house spirit. A big thank you to our house coordinator Mr. Hill for planning our house activities. They are thoroughly enjoyed by all!
Our Clubs and Activities have resumed during recess and lunch breaks, offering students the opportunity to explore new interests and talents. We encourage all students to get involved and try something new. Whether it's chess, Lego or puzzle club, there is something for everyone to enjoy. These clubs not only provide a platform for skill development but also serve as avenues for making new friends and fostering a sense of belonging within our school community. Please encourage your child to get involved in a club this term.
Junior School Extra Curricular Clubs T2 2024
Lisa Doyle
Head of Junior School
On Wednesday, 24 April the Senior School was privileged to attend an ANZAC day commemorative assembly. Expertly organised by Deputy Principal Pickering Tyers and ably supported by our student Cadet representatives, Peta Gibson (Year 11), Oliver Wurst (Year 11), Maddy Brennan (Year 11), Hamish Brennan (Year 10), Jacob Caden (Year 7), Alexandra Mavros-Zikos (Year 8), and Max Varley (Year 12).
In addition to the stories from Gallipoli, we were witness to an incredibly haunting and beautiful rendition of ‘Empty Chairs and Empty tables’ by Jirra Jennings (Year 6) and Rowan Unwin (Year 6). Their performance in front of the Senior School community was truly inspiring and a fitting tribute to our ANZACs past and present.
The annual House ANZAC biscuit competition was also run. The student leaders diligently taste tested the multiple entries, with the top four recipes making it into the final. Under very close scrutiny by our Year 12 Student leaders and a very thorough taste testing process, Principal McGregor, and Deputy Principal Pearson, announced the winning recipe. Congratulations to Eloise Tonkin (Year 8) representing Djarrak.
Congratulations to Ashley Parsons (Year 12) and Oliver Wurst (Year 11) who have been selected to represent Haileybury Rendall School in the Youth Round Table.
Each year students throughout the NT can apply to participate in the Youth Round table, providing a voice to the youth of the Territory. Selection for the Youth Round Table is highly competitive. Having two students from Haileybury Rendall School selected for this program is a significant achievement. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Oliver was elected to the position of Vice Chair. Congratulations to both Ashely and Oliver.
Kylie Mobilia
Head of Senior School
Year 9 superstar, Macey Sheridan competed at the 2024 Australian Age Swimming Championships in the Gold Coast during April.
Macey was the most prolific medal winner of the Championships, winning five gold medals and one silver medal.
For her age group, Macey not only won National titles in 50m Freestyle, she also set new NT records in;
Macey and her fellow HRS students, Chloe Reader (Year 11) and Ella Cox (Year 8) entered the Darwin Swimming Club in the 13-17 Years Girls 4x50m and 4x100m Medley and Sam Reader (Year 10) also swam at the Championships.
Macey is now preparing for the most prestigious domestic swimming event in the national calendar, the Australian Olympic Trials in Brisbane which will serve as the sole selection meet for the Dolphins Swimming Team to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris!
On top of Macey's remarkable performance, she went on to win the NT Junior Sportsperson of the Year 2024.
Well done Macey. A true testament to combining determination and commitment with a sport you love.
Senior School students competed in the Top End 3x3 Basketball Gala Day at Palmerston Recreational Centre on Wednesday, 24 April. 3 boys, and 2 girls teams represented Haileybury Rendall School as they competed against various Northern Territory Schools.
Each team demonstrated enthusiasm, diligence and fantastic sportsmanship, endeavouring to lift each other’s spirit in every aspect of the game.
Students successfully represented Haileybury Rendall School throughout the day, and they should be immensely proud of their efforts.
Congratulations to the students from Team 5, Cobie Lee (Year 10), Marika Carlton (Year 10) & Amelia Simms (Year 11) for placing 1st in the Girls pool, taking home the flag for the day and Team 4 students Sharelle Lalara (Year 11), Talima Tipuamantamerri (Year 11), Anna Simone (Year 11) & Vanessa Gondarra (Year 11) for coming in 2nd place.
Another congratulations to the following students who were awarded Physical Literacy Certificate on the day for:
Well done to all involved.
Simone O’Brien & Conor Bowden
Teachers/Coaches
On Friday, 22 March Haileybury Rendall School held our annual World’s Greatest Shave Event.
This is a whole school event where we all come together to support and celebrate staff and students for their fundraising efforts to shave their hair.
There was such a wonderful atmosphere with everyone having lots of fun cheering on their peers and staff that shaved their hair.
There was plenty to enjoy at the event including a BBQ, temporary tattoos, coloured hairspray, and a cake stall.
So far, our amazing team has raised an incredible $17,339.85
These donations will make a huge impact in helping the Leukemia Foundation with their ongoing support to the thousands of Australians they provide services to. These services include research, emotional support and advocacy, educational programs, and access to a home away from home accommodation for regional families that are required to relocate to the city for treatment.
Thank you to James Shaw and Quenton Brooking for cooking the BBQ, the HRS Leaders that helped on the day, the maintenance team for the set up and pack down as well as Elsie Harden and Ellie Dancis who helped Miss Lisa with the shaving of hair.
The left-over BBQ food was donated to Aunty Free Feeds.
Lisa Cadd
Teacher Assistant - Inclusion and Support
Haileybury Rendall School is very proud to congratulate Lalwa May (Year 12) on winning the ZipPrint Sports Award for her excellence in equestrian, at the Northern Territory Young Achievers Awards in April.
Our talented Junior School art students continue to be guided by inspiration and cultural contexts to create their artwork. Our new primary art room is fantastic with new refurbishing, a new sink and new large drying racks.
Haileybury Rendall School Easter Art Exhibition showcased an impressive array of creativity and talent from both Middle School and Senior School students. Held in the school's library, the exhibition served as a platform for students to display their folio artworks, offering a glimpse into their artistic ideas and expressions.
The Middle and Senior School section of the exhibition featured a diverse range of artworks, including one point perspective drawings, printmaking, and watercolour studies. From vibrant Fauvist paintings to intricate wire sculptures, students demonstrated their experimentation with various mediums and techniques. Works in progress and trials with art materials and techniques
The sophistication and maturity of their work were evident, with pieces reflecting personal and contemporary ideas.
Anne McMaster
Head of Visual Art
An exhibition called Money’s too Tight to Mention will be displaying work from Haileybury Art Students with their work being turned into stickers. The exhibition is open for all to attend on Friday, 17 May at the Darwin Visual Arts Association. More information can be found here Money’s too Tight to Mention! | AENT (arteducators.nt.edu.au)
Our Visual Art students will be exhibiting their artwork for voting at this year’s Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival. More votes mean more prizes for our students!
Our very talented musicians are also busily rehearsing for the festival. Haileybury Rendall School will be showcasing our Fireflies and Contento Choirs, Contemporary Ensemble, Animato and Chamber Strings, String Quartet and Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, 12 May from 4 pm to 5 pm on the Banyan stage.
We look forward to the HRS and wider community all enjoying the efforts and wonderful achievements of our students at the festival.
More information can be found here Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival
Marianne Foster
Visual Arts Teacher
House singing wrapped up Term 1 with impressive performances from Middle and Senior School students.
Students sang their hearts out and busted out some great dance moves. Djarrak took us for a ride on the highway, Pumarali let it go with Frozen, Baru made way for Moana, and Nganabaru had their sun rolling high, through the magenta sky in the circle of life, capturing first place for their second year in a row! Well done!
A fantastic example of the HRS spirit from all students. Congratulations.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Haileybury acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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