Our Learning
Supporting Early Learners at Friends’
In November 2019 the School announced plans for a closer alignment of Friends’ Early Learning with Friends’ Primary Years. A closer, more inclusive community in these vital early learning years will enable the School to enhance its focus on supporting children’s learning journeys from pre-Kindergarten through to Year 1.
Fiona Zinn has been appointed as Deputy Head, Early Learning to Year 1, from January 2020. Fiona will share responsibility as the Primary Years Program (PYP) coordinator with Wendy Crow who will continue as Deputy Head, Year 2 to Year 6 with oversight of the School Vacation Care and Outside School Hours Care programs.
The alignment of Friends’ Early Learning with Friends’ Primary Years will provide greater capacity to support our Early Learning community, and to develop our pre-Kindergarten curriculum to be guided by the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) from 2020. Professional development opportunities will be extended to all Friends’ Early Learning educators.
This is an exciting period of change for our School as we continue to provide exceptional care and education for our community, striving continuously to meet the School Purpose and Concerns.
VET Dinner a Delicious Success
On the evening of Friday 18 October, the five students in the VET Hospitality class hosted a four-course, sit down dinner for over 30 guests including family, friends, teachers and other special guests. The dinner was the culmination of all of the skills and knowledge we have gained over the past year, with this being the final, major assessment for the Certificate II in Kitchen Operations. The class spent most of Term 3 designing, creating and refining the perfect Italian themed dinner, with both the menu and decorations being completely designed by the students.
On the night of the big event, the VET class along with helpers from Years 9 – 12, were very excited though a little nervous. The night ran smoothly, and from the feedback received from the front of house staff, the guests thoroughly enjoyed the food.
Money raised on the evening through generous donations on the part of the guests were donated to the charity Dolly’s Dream.
- By Cameron Cooper
Clemes Service Stars
This year Clemes' students Lottie Frohmader, Michael Irwin, Zoe Knight and Ireland Rugen were the first to take part in the Future Leaders All Abilities Program attending the Southern Support School fortnightly to participate in lessons. This new and flourishing program is the brainchild of CEO Keren Franks and stemmed from the observation that her daughter Bella, who lives with severe disability, had a positive influence on her peers in terms of their personal growth and leadership. Our students engaged in programs designed to offer better accessibility to community events such as the Dark Mofo All Abilities Program.
One of the goals of this program is for students to become advocates for inclusion and they did so through presenting at assembly and discussing accessibility issues with Hobart City Council fulfilling. The year culminated in a graduation ceremony hosted by Jackie Petrusma MP.
One of the highlights of the year is the Southern Support School Social which the Friends' School has the privilege to plan and run for over fifteen years. Over 30 of our students were involved this year and the resulting Pyjama party was a joyous celebration with food, dancing and games. The Southern Support School principal Simon Ellaby stated that the opportunities for his students to engage with their peers in a genuinely social setting is really highly valued. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Southern Support School next year.
The Year 6 Exhibition
Much hard work and dedication go into the Year 6 Exhibition every year. Students research their chosen topic in groups and present their findings as part of the exhibition. A lot of work goes into the research of the topic and creating an engaging and interactive exhibition booth.
A big thank you to all the staff, parents and mentors who helped students with the Year 6 exhibition.
Friends' Takes Flight!
For several years now, The Friends' School has been offering Aviation as a Co-curricular activity for High School and Clemes students, thanks to the hard work and extensive knowledge of Foods & Textiles Teacher, Marie Burridge (who loves to fly when she isn't busy teaching).
Students get to learn all about the world of Aviation and some even go on to do solo flights and work towards their pilots' licence.
Recently, Aviation students took a trip out to Par Avion Flight Training Centre in Cambridge where they got to make their own flight plan (in groups) then go up in a plane with a pilot and see if their flight plans were accurate. Flight planning is a very technical process and our students managed to create successful flight plans to Maria Island (where they stopped for lunch) and back to Cambridge.
"Aviation has been great fun this year. I enjoyed the tif and excursions we did as a group. I especially enjoyed navigating our plane from Cambridge to Maria Island." - Elizabeth, Year 9
Jean Yeates Writing Prize Winner
Congratulations to Amelia Neylon for winning this year's Jean Yeates Writing Prize with her passionate poem "The History of Fire".
The Jean Yeates Writing Prize is named after long-serving staff member Jean Yeates, who is remembered for her passion for the English Language and her devotion to education.
Thank you to our judge, Poet Sarah Day, and to all our students who submitted some truly amazing work for consideration.
Here is Amelia's winning poem in full:
History of Burning
by Amelia Neylon
Faggot: A derogative term used against homosexuals, believed to be derived from the word ‘Fagot ‘meaning bundle of sticks’, as it is believed that accused homosexuals were historically burnt as fuel for accused witches’ pyres.
Fire changes a landscape.
It kills and continues,
and leaves reminders in black stripes, and trees regrowing from the trunk up
and we all run from it.
History changes a landscape
it kills and continues
and we leave reminders in disfigured stones, and numbers rounding down
and we all run from it,
and if fire is history…
cigarette butts into leaf litter is what happens
after we forget the danger it holds
because all we remember is how it looks
domesticated in our homes for long flickering evenings
but you can’t talk
or kiss with a mouth full of ash
if the history that burnt up my bloodline
and left embers in my lungs isn’t put out
how am I meant to choke out the words?
when you won’t see me through the smoke
and smoke can’t blind already closed eyes,
just sting noses.
heat is the warning to your spine
which saves your hand, which saves your heart,
and I’ve been pressing the back of my hand to doors and book covers
before I open them
Because I keep breathing in sentences that taste like choking
and arson is what happens
after we tell each other that we can avoid tragedies,
by starting them ourselves
But when fires burn hot and bright and fast
They say you can wait it out
in your house with a wet towel over your head
Make sure no photos even crinkle
It’s the door mat
The important thing to remember is the door mat
That’s how a house catches fire
The welcome path to sparks like kisses on cheeks
an invitation to blaze, and soon the eaves drip
houses burn down because of the invitation
the permission we forgot we give
If the fires come
I will wait in my house
with the doors open
and my door mat gone
And kisses keeping tasting like ash in the heat of other’s gazes
So, when the fire come
I will hold my door open to it
let it rage through my wooden frame
that keeps the rain out.
I will wait with the notebooks – I should burn for – held tight to my chest
I won’t let them even crinkle
in the heat of this resurrected, worn-out, mob.
there will be no doors for them to beat on
While I think, maybe there’s another way to do this.
There is a word: Budawa
which means ‘I warm my hands at the fire and take your hands in mine to warm them’
and if history is fire
there is another way to do it
that lets me open my door when the fire knocks