Pitch Perfect
A huge congratulations to Saanvi (Year 9), who proudly placed third in this year’s Pitch Perfect Competition!
Saavi’s journey has been truly inspiring — every time she faced a challenge, she met it with courage, humility, and a genuine passion to grow. Her achievement is not only a testament to her musical talent but also to the strength of character she has developed along the way. This experience has been about more than just singing; it’s been about resilience, self-belief, and discovering the confidence to shine from within.
A huge round of applause also goes to all of our incredible HRS candidates who participated in the competition: Elijza (Year 10), Elissa (Year 10), Maya (Year 12) and Sawana (Year 12). Your hard work, dedication, and heartfelt performances left a lasting impression — you lit up the stage and moved us all.
With that strength, each of you is capable of becoming anything you set your heart on — and that is the true magic of music. We are so proud of every one of you.
A special thanks and acknowledgement goes to Weike Li, our Head of Vocal Studies at HRS, and all the families who were there to support and cheer on our fantastic students.
Ilona Martin
Head of Music
HRS Drama - Engaging with First Nations Themes and Strengthening Curriculum
Classes Working on First Nations Content
At Haileybury Rendall School, our Drama Department is deeply committed to integrating First Nations themes into our curriculum. This term, our classes have embarked on a meaningful journey to explore and celebrate Indigenous Australian culture:
- Transition: Students are taking a journey across the Northern Territory, learning about the rich cultural heritage of the region.
- Year 1: Exploring the Larrakia seasons and The Dreaming, students are gaining insights into the traditional stories and seasonal changes of the Larrakia people.
- Year 3: Engaging with Indigenous Australia through storybooks such as The Rabbits by John Marsden & Shaun Tan, Albert Namatjirra by Vincent Namatjirra, and Our Game by Bianca Hunt.
- Year 5: Creating performances for National Reconciliation Week (NRW) and discovering how movement can be used to convey stories.
- Year 6: Creating their own creation stories about landmarks, embodying different animals, and focusing on script and character development.
- Year 8: Investigating contemporary Indigenous theatre through the Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company and the play Sunshine Super Girl, which tells the inspiring story of famous Australian tennis player Evonne Goolagong.
National Reconciliation Week 2025
National Reconciliation Week was a vibrant celebration at HRS, filled with activities that fostered understanding and respect for First Nations cultures:
- Year 5 Performance: A heartfelt thank you to Year 5 and Ms McDonald for their outstanding performance during NRW. Your dedication and creativity were truly inspiring!
- Live Indigenous Storytime: Thank you to all students who participated in the lunchtime Live Indigenous Storytime at the library. Your engagement and enthusiasm made the sessions memorable.
- Bangarra Dance Theatre Screening: We appreciate the students who attended the screening of Bangarra Dance Theatre works in the auditorium. Your support for Indigenous arts is commendable.
Collaborative Efforts in Drama Curriculum Development
On May 26, the Drama departments from Haileybury Melbourne and Darwin Campuses came together to discuss and share insights on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective side of the curriculum. This collaboration provided valuable insights that will assist in the further development of our Drama curriculum at HRS.
A big thank you to all Drama teachers for your participation and dedication to enhancing our educational programs.
Together, we are making strides in creating a more inclusive and culturally rich learning environment while paving the way for understanding and reconciliation.
Nick Karakottas
Head of Drama
