Whole School

Board of Governors’ Update

The Board of Governors wishes to advise that, at a Board meeting held on Friday 20 February 2026, Craig Stephens was reappointed as Presiding Member, with Jen Newton and Sarah Sealy also being reappointed as Deputy Presiding Members, for 2026. The Board expresses their gratitude to Craig, Sarah and Jen for their continuing commitment to Board leadership. 

Back row - Sarah Sealy, Emily Chapman-Searle, Tom Dundas, Lindsay May, Sam Ibbott, Julia Jago, Shaun Sargent and Duncan Frewin.

Front row - Tracy Bourne, Esther Hill, Natalia Urosevic, Jen Newton and Michael Ashby.

Absent - Craig Stephens.

Call for Donations and Specific Volunteers for the School Fair

School Fair - Saturday 21 March 2026

Due to a VFL match in North Hobart on the same day, the Fair will run from 11am to 2pm to help facilitate better access to and from our event.

Donations

The Fair Organising Committee is seeking assistance/donations with the following:

• Do you have soft toys that are ready for a new home? 

  Year 3 will be holding an adopt-a-toy stall at the upcoming school Fair. We are looking to the school community to donate toys. If you have a single toy or a bag of toys that can be donated, please contact Kate Wright 0426 883 099. Thank you.

• Books in good condition - suitable for children & adults
• Friends' School uniform - in good condition

Books and uniform donations can be dropped off at The Friends' School Main Reception at our Commercial Road Campus (enter at 23 Commercial Road, North Hobart) between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

We now have sufficient items for the Pantry Stall (which is going to be amazing) - thank you!

Volunteers

Next week, we will send out the SignUp online form seeking assistance on specific stalls and activities. Some groups that are organising volunteers already can add these details to the master SignUp portal.

Currently, we are seeking people to specifically assist in the following areas:

• *Mystery Wine Stall Coordinator - help coordinate wine donations and this stall on the day.  (*Stall concept - purchase a surprise bottle of wine in a covered bag, with the value often exceeding the purchase price).
• Waste and Recycling Coordinator - help us set-up marked and labelled waste bins into relevant categories and coordinate a crew on the day to help with recycling items.

Please advise our Events & Marketing Coordinator, Emma Gilligan - egilligan@friends.tas.edu.au - or Director of Community Engagement, Bill Avery - bavery@friends.tas.edu.au - if you have any queries.

What it means to be a Quaker School - Friends' Information and Discussion Session

9am to 10am, Wednesday 11 March - The Meeting House, Argyle Street Campus (tea/coffee from 8.45am)

We warmly invite all parents and guardians to join us for a discussion and information session exploring Quaker beliefs, practices and values, and how they are central to The Friends’ School.

These interactive and reflective sessions are a wonderful opportunity to deepen your understanding of what it means to be a Quaker school, how students engage with Quaker values, and how spiritual practices such as silence and Gatherings support the wellbeing and development of young people.

Led by members of our staff, including Quaker Gathering Advisor Jess Dundas and Quaker Advisor Mark Macleod, the session will include: 

• What makes The Friends’ School a Quaker school?
• Insights into the origins of Quakerism and its relevance in today’s world
• An introduction to SPICEE – our core values: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Earthcare.
• An overview of Gatherings – a unique and deeply meaningful part of school life

Please BOOK HERE

Quaker Meetings for Worship

All members of The Friends’ School community are welcome to attend our Meeting for Worship any Sunday from 10.00am, closing about 11.00am, with morning tea available afterwards.

Children are always welcome and there is a Children’s Meeting held concurrently with the Meeting for Worship. They learn about Quaker values through a range of interesting and fun activities. Around 10.50am the children join the Meeting for Worship, settling into the gathered Meeting for the last 10 minutes, usually sitting with their parents.

If you have any enquiries about the Children’s meeting please email the Clerk, Margaret Bywater, rmtasclerk@quakersaustralia.info

Thursday Morning Meeting for Worship

Members of The Friends' School community are welcome to attend a short Meeting for Worship held each Thursday morning during term time, starting at 7.40am. Just come quietly in when you can and join us until 8.20am in the Hobart Quaker Meeting House, which is located just below the Middle School Office on Boa Vista Road.

Community Yoga

Every Wednesday during Term time - 7.45am in Hodgkin Hall

An inspiring way to start your day with energising movement, focused breathing and a moment for relaxation and stillness.  All members of the school community are welcome to attend and no prior yoga experience is necessary. 

Community Yoga is held in Hodgkin Hall and Julia will meet you outside the door on the Carr Street side of the school at 7.40am. If you would like more information contact our school Yoga teacher Julia Gibson.