Primary School
Assembly
Monday 15 September
Our next Primary School Assembly will take place in The Farrall Centre on Monday 15 September at 2.15pm. We welcome members of our community to attend. Please remember that due to privacy concerns and to respect the photo permission choices of other families we ask you to refrain from taking photos and videos during assemblies.
Term 3 Vacation Care Program
Please find our upcoming Vacation Care Program here, running from Monday 29 September until Friday 10 October. Instructions on how to make bookings have been sent to all families. Please note that bookings close at 6:00pm on Friday 19 September. If you have any queries, please contact the Friends’ Early Learning administration team on feladmin@friends.tas.edu.au or call 6210 2276 for assistance.
Year 1 Outdoor Education Excursion - Bush Day, Queens Domain
Tuesday 16 September
On Tuesday 16 September, Year 1 will be embarking on a bush day to The Queens Domain. Class teachers, learning assistants and Emily Ardas, our Outdoor Education teacher, will accompany the students on the excursion. We will be departing school at 11.00am and returning by 3.00pm. The aim of the day is to explore the local bushlands while developing relationships with peers. Students are required to wear their Physical Education uniform and sturdy shoes to walk in. They are also to bring a backpack with lunch and a snack, rain jacket, water bottle, a warm jumper, beanie, sun hat. Please ensure your child’s Operoo details are up to date.
Year 4 Outdoor Education Excursion - Seven Mile Beach
Friday 19 September
On Friday 19 September Year 4 students will be attending an Outdoor Education day with their class teachers and Outdoor Education Teacher, Emily Ardas. The day's focus will be exploring Seven Mile beach as an example of a coastal biome. Students need to come dressed in their sports uniform, including a warm jacket, beanie, waterproof raincoat and comfortable walking shoes. As we will be away from school for most of the day, students will need to bring a large packed lunch (no lunch orders), snacks and drink from home packed in their school backpack. Please ensure your child’s Operoo details are up to date.
We will be returning to school at the end of the school day.
Empowering our Children: A Child Safeguarding Information Session
Friday 19 September - 9am to 10am
We invite all parents and guardians of Friends’ Early Learning and Primary School children to join Morgan Norris, our Primary School Psychologist, and other members of staff for our upcoming information session. The discussion will focus on how to empower and upskill children in protective behaviours, as well as providing an overview of child safeguarding practices at The Friends’ School.
Date: Friday 19 September, 9.00-10.00am
Location: The Farrall Centre, Green Room (downstairs)
The VET Coffee Shop will be open from 8.30am for attendees to order a hot drink prior to the session commencing.
Please note: This information session aims to provide general information regarding protective behaviours. We will not be able to provide individual advice or recommendations for your child, however we can advise you of the next steps to take if you are seeking support or further information.
Please RSVP here to secure your spot, places are limited.
Year 2 Excursion - Hobart Zoo and Aquarium
Tuesday 23 September
As part of our inquiry into how living things adapt to survive, Year 2 will visit the Hobart Zoo and Aquarium on Tuesday 23 September. We will depart school by bus at 9.00am for a guided learning experience to consolidate the learning around creature features and how they assist animals in adapting to their environment. As part of the tour, students will also experience feeding some of the animals. Parent volunteers are very welcome to meet us at the Hobart Zoo and Aquarium at approximately 10.00am. There is a charge of $25 per parent at the zoo reception desk. Students need to come dressed in their sports uniform, including a warm jacket, beanie, and waterproof raincoat. Gumboots are recommended if students own a pair, but are not essential. Students need to bring a big lunch and lots of snacks, and a full water bottle. No canteen orders for Year 2 on this day. We will return to school by 2.45pm. Please update student Operoo profiles before the excursion.
IB PYP Year 6 Exhibition Opening
Tuesday 23 September - 5.45pm to 7.15pm
The PYP Exhibition is a significant event in an IB school. As a culminating experience for primary students, it is an opportunity for each student to independently and collaboratively exhibit the attributes of the learner profile and to identify, inquire into and share messages about issues and opportunities of personal significance. Students demonstrate the essential elements of the IB Primary Years Program: knowledge, concepts, skills, action and agency.
The big idea for 2025 is “Scientific understanding prompts and enables active hope.” Each student has inquired into an area of interest and responded to their learning through an inquiry into 'How the world works.' Within the exhibition, each student will share their knowledge, and express their conceptual understanding of their new learning. They have each created an exhibit designed to provoke conversation and inspire hope. Visitors are invited to view the exhibit and use it as a stimulus for deep and rich conversations with the students.
Families and other community members are invited to attend the Exhibition on Tuesday 23 September, from 5.45pm to 7.15pm in The Farrall Centre. School groups will visit throughout Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Rowing – Year 6 Sculling Skills Program
Monday 29 September – Thursday 2 October
Our Year 6 ‘Ray Trousselot Sculling Skills’ program will again be held during the first week of the Term 3 school holidays. This is a free program which is open to all Year 6 students who will be attending Friends' in Year 7 in 2026. Rowing is great exercise and a fantastic team sport which can enhance an individual in their personal development (eg teamwork, confidence, self-esteem, facing challenges). Rowing is a great way to make new friends, learn new skills and being part of the rowing community gives students a wonderful sense of connection and community. Please register for the program by Thursday 18 September.
When: Term 3 Holidays - Monday 29 September to Thursday 2 October
Time: 8.30am – 11.00am daily
Where: The Friends’ School Boatshed in New Town Bay, Lutana
Website: https://www.friends.tas.edu.au/rowing/
For more information please contact : Anthony Edwards (Head of Rowing)
Kindergarten Earthcare Excursion - Lenah Valley
Thursday 18 September
Next week, on Thursday 18 September, the Kindergarten children will have their final Earthcare Excursion for Term 3 to Linear Park. We will leave at 11.50am and will return by 2.45pm. Collection time for all children will be at 3.00pm from the Kindergarten area, at the end of the Kindergarten day as per usual. Please ensure that your child has a rubbish free packed lunch at Kindergarten. The children need to wear their sports uniform, to ensure they are ready for active, hands-on, nature play learning. Your child will need warm clothing, appropriate for the forecasted weather, and spare clothing packed for the excursions, as we will be playing outdoors, even if it is raining. The school has special wet weather jackets and overpants that the children will wear, as necessary, depending on the forecasted weather. Please contact the Kindergarten team if you have any questions.
Absentees
If your child will be absent from school for the day please advise the Primary School Office (phone: 6210 2228, or email: primaryschooloffice@friends.tas.edu.au ) and the classroom teacher before 8.45am. We appreciate your support in this process.
Important Dates
Term 3 Tuesday 22 July to Friday 26 September
Friday 12 September – Wellbeing Day, as part of Wellbeing Weekend (no K-12 classes)
Monday 22 to Thursday 25 September - Year 6 Exhibition
Term 4 Monday 13 October to Thursday 11 December
Thursday 23 and Friday 24 October - Show Day holiday