Our Community

Children Draw on Arts Skills to Save Platypus

In 2022, Prep students (now Year 1 students) were deeply moved by the death of a Hobart Rivulet platypus. For many students, they felt they needed to do more to care for the platypuses of our special rivulet and thought of ways they could raise money in support of platypuses going forward. They created these bespoke charcoal sketches of platypuses and agreed they'd like to auction their sketches off to the Friends' community, as well as any other person who is a 'friend of the platypus.'

And that they did! The children auctioned off their gorgeous platypus drawings and far surpassed their fundraising goal, with a total of $2,765 raised! 

Specifically, the funds raised will go towards a new recovery centre at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary: the Denise Morgan Seabird Treatment and Recovery Retreat (DEMSTARR). This enclosure will include a deep water dive and swim rehabilitation healing pool. It will be the facility where injured platypuses needing care will go for their rehabilitation, therefore children were keen for the money they raise from their sketches to go to this worthy cause.

The work of our Year 1 students captured the hearts of our local community. Thank you to The Mercury and ABC Radio for featuring the initiative taken by the students in their mission to do more to care for the platypuses of our special rivulet.

https://www.abc.net.au/.../hob.../hobart-breakfast/102824562

(from 1:17:20 to 1:21:06)

Well done to all involved and a special thank you to the dedicated staff who helped put this fundraising effort together to support the care and rehabilitation of injured platypus and other wildlife in our community. Thank you also to those people in our local and school community who so generously donated to this cause.

The Friends’ School Empowers National Child Protection Week with Diverse Initiatives

In alignment with the nationwide efforts to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our children, The Friends’ School conducted a series of engaging and impactful initiatives in support of National Child Protection Week, over and above their daily child safeguarding practices. The week-long campaign, which took place from 3-9 September, encompassed a range of activities and programs, reflecting the school's unwavering commitment to the wellbeing and protection of its students, staff and visitors.

​​Under the theme of "Empowering Our Future," The Friends’ School organised an array of activities that highlight the importance of child safety and wellbeing and encourage open dialogue among students, parents, and educators. These initiatives underpin the school's commitment to fostering a safe and welcoming environment for all its students.

Shaun O’Rourke, Deputy Principal of The Friends’ School, shared, "We are committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment where our students can thrive. National Child Protection Week provides an ideal platform for us to reinforce our dedication to child safety through education, awareness, and community engagement."

Some of the highlighted initiatives included The Daniel Morcombe Foundation live streaming videos, interactive workshops with guest speakers and student-led assemblies, Gatherings, Tutor Groups and classroom activities.

Deputy Principal Shaun O’Rourke stated, "Our children are our most valuable assets, and it's our responsibility to ensure their safety and growth. National Child Protection Week provides us with an excellent opportunity to collaborate with our students and the community to create a safe and nurturing environment where every child can thrive."

The Friends’ School’s initiatives during National Child Protection Week reflected its dedication to fostering a culture of awareness, protection, and empowerment. The Week put a spotlight on ways that our students and school community can reach out if there safety and/or wellbeing concerns and what to do if your child/ren discuss these matters at home.

If you wish to raise any concerns regarding safety and/or wellbeing:

STUDENTS

1. Complete this form or
2. Email safe@friends.tas.edu.au or
3. Call Strong Families Safe Kids 1800 000 123 and/or
4. See a trusted adult e.g. Staff member, Tutor, Head of Campus

PARENTS/VOLUNTEERS/STAFF

Please follow this flowchart for reporting child safety concerns, incidents and disclosures.

Find out more about Child Safeguarding at Friends' via our webpage.

Vietnamese Education Agents Visit

In mid-September, The Friends' School hosted seven Education Agents from Vietnam, to meet students, staff and see our latest facilities.  The Agents were inspired to visit Tasmania following the Premier-led Trade and Investment Mission to Vietnam that Study Tasmania coordinated and the School participated in, late in 2022.

Thank you to the wonderful and enthusiastic agents who joined us to meet and learn about life at Friends' from our current Vietnamese students.  We look forward to building on the connections we’ve made with our Vietnamese friends as they share more about our school and life in Tasmania with future students.

Campus Redevelopment Awards

Congratulations to Fairbrother Construction for receiving a number of awards at the recent Master Builders Tasmania state awards. With the architects Bence Mulcahy, these awards are testament to the success of the Campus Redevelopment Phase One.

Fairbrother Construction - Winner of the Renovation/ Fit-out $1m - $5 Million category, for the build of the new WN Oats Centre.  

Judges comments: this substantial project to convert the old Friends’ School gymnasium into new teaching and learning spaces has been sensitively and imaginatively carried out. The effort that has been expended to link the aesthetics and detailing of the new work to the original building is to be commended and contributes to the successful integration of new and old. In doing so a building of genuine character has been created and this speaks to the skill and commitment of the construction team, all while working in a busy and congested operating school environment.

Education Facility category winner, Fairbrother Construction for Friends' School Campus Redevelopment Phase One.

Judges comments: Comprising two distinct buildings, one a newbuild gymnasium and the other a refurbishment of the old gymnasium, this project is part of a larger transformation of the Friends’ School campus. In contributing to this transformation, Fairbrother Construction has carried out a complex and challenging project with great skill. In particular the new gymnasium exhibits a high quality of finish, while the WN Oats Centre demonstrates imagination and sensitivity in its conversion to a new use. Taken as a whole, and including supporting improvements to surrounding areas and buildings, Fairbrother Construction’s contribution to the school’s vision is considerable and commendable.

Fairbrother Construction - High Commendation in the Entertainment and Recreation Facility category, for the Revell Centre construction.

Designed by Bence Mulcahy

Photography by Rob Burnett

Friends' Food Festival

The School invites Friends' community members to our upcoming Friends' Food Festival, to be held 4.30pm-7pm on Saturday 25 November.

More information and details about this event will be released shortly.

Tutor Group Service Activities

One of the core components of a Quaker education is the recognition of something greater than the individual and that giving back to the community through service helps to make the world a better place.

We have seen some terrific initiatives this year for Tutor Group service activities including the C5 car wash in the Clemes car park to raise money and awareness for Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. C17's group gave up a recent Saturday night to volunteer for Danny's Bus in Rosny. Students helped prepare food and drink for the homeless. C9 is currently running a shoe donation where unwanted shoes will be sent to a recycling plant for sorting, breakdown and processing. Reusable components are recycled to make gym mats, flooring and playgrounds.

We thank all of you for your contributions.

Reconciliation Tasmania Visits Year 12 Students

As part of the School's commitment to a Reconciliation Action Plan, we consider it a priority to learn more about our First Nations People's culture, history and connection to Country. Year 12 students attended an interactive workshop ahead of the historic vote to formally recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution by establishing a permanent Indigenous Voice to Parliament. The presentation from Reconciliation Tasmania aimed to enhance students' understanding of lutrawita history, the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the constitution and referendum process.

**We encourage you to follow the School’s Facebook page and/or Instagram page, where we share news, activities, upcoming events and interesting stories of our students and community.**