Middle School

Shine Your Light Festival

Thursday 6 February

The Shine Your Light Festival is a Middle School Campus community event, held in the Farrall Centre on Thursday 6th February (Week 2, Term 1). The event will welcome students and their families into the Middle School, and celebrate the Year 8s as the student leaders of our Campus. As such, attendance will be compulsory for students in Years 7 and 8.

The evening will begin with a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, by Trisha Hodge and Craig Everett from NITA Education, on the top green of the Argyle Street Campus at 5pm. Following on, parents will make their way into the Farrall Centre, whilst the Year 7 and 8 students begin their lantern procession into the venue. The lanterns will carry the goals, hopes and aspirations of the whole Middle School, handwritten by Year 7 and 8 students together. From 6-7:30pm, we will reflect on and celebrate our Middle School values of inclusion and connection, belonging and community, and share the collective light of our students, families and staff. 

The Shine Your Light Festival will be a free ticketed. Due to limited seating capacity, we will be releasing tickets at an initial cap of two tickets per student. There will be a space to indicate whether you would like to be on a waitlist for additional tickets, should they become available in the second release. 

At The Friends’ School, we encourage our community to let their lives speak, allowing their Light to shine through living their beliefs and being true to themselves. We look forward to celebrating our shared values and our Middle School community with you. 

Book your tickets here.

Middle School Photos

Tuesday 4 February

Students in Years 7-12 are required to be in Formal School Uniform including blazer and tie. Students who have PE scheduled on this day are required to wear Formal Uniform to school and should bring their PE uniform to change into when required. Students not wearing the correct Formal Uniform are not able to be included in group photographs. You can view uniform requirements in the Uniform Handbook.

Year 8 Connections Activity Day

Year 8 students will be heading to Kingston Beach as part of their Connections Beach Day. They will have the opportunity to participate in Beach Volleyball, Stand Up Paddleboarding, and Swimming.

Classes will rotate through this Connections Day on the following dates:

Further information, including a permission form, will be shared in Operoo soon.

If you have any queries please contact Kylie McKinnon and/or your child’s Key Teacher.

Year 7 Mountain River Sea Camps

Year 7 students will soon be heading out on camp at Rivers Edge with Key Teachers and Outdoor Education staff. The focus for the programs will be on promoting community, connection and allowing students to get to know each other. Information will be sent out to families via Operoo in the very near future.

Dates:

• 12-14 Feb Backhouse and Oats 
• 17-19 Feb Fry and Walker
• 19-21 Feb Mott and Penn

Music Tuition for 2025

If you would like to register your child for music tuition in 2025, we kindly ask you to complete the Instrumental and Vocal Tuition application form. Tuition arrangements from 2024 do not automatically transfer into 2025. A new registration form will need to be completed.  

This is contained at the end of the Music Tuition Guidelines, which may be found here. 

The registration process for tuition in 2025 can commence from now, and this will need to be submitted by Friday 7 February. You will be then notified of a lesson time and contacted by your allocated Tutor in mid February.

For more information please contact Hilary Morgan

Middle School Co-Curricular Sport Term 1

The following sports are on offer for Term 1, All Year 7 & 8 students will be emailed the link to sign up. Students are asked to sign up by Thursday 6 Feb so that further information can be sent out to parents via Operoo. We ask that students and parents either Accept or Decline the commitment form sent via Operoo by the due date of Wednesday 12 February so that teams can be entered.

• Basketball Boys Years 7/8
• Soccer Girls Years 7/8
• Cricket Girls 7-10
• Mountain Bike Club
• Sailing 7-12
• Orienteering 7-12

Further information can be viewed via this link. Sign ups are also available on Clipboard for selection in SSATIS and SATIS athletics teams. The Co-Curricular Sport web site can be  viewed via this link.

Matilda The Musical Jr.

We are excited to be undertaking a Years 5-8 Musical this year, Matilda the Musical Jr. Auditions will be held for Named Characters on Saturday 15 February, and for students wishing to be a part of the Ensemble on Sunday 16 February. Please find detailed information about the auditions, including audition materials and sign up form in the link below.

Matilda the Musical Jr. Information

Absentees

If your child will be absent from school for the day please advise the Middle School Office (phone: 6210 2235, or email: middleschooloffice@friends.tas.edu.au ). We appreciate your support in this process.

Important Dates 

Term 1 Friday 31 January to Friday 11 April

Thursday 6 February - Shine Your Light Festival

Monday 10 February – Regatta Day holiday

Monday 10 March – Eight Hour Day holiday