Whole School

School Closure - Friday 13 December 2024

In last week's edition of What's On, we advertised that the whole school will be closing at 12.30pm on Friday 13 December. We would like to inform all students and families that the whole school will be closed all day on Friday 13 December (*except for Friends' Early Learning and Friends Health & Fitness). Main Reception will be open from 8.30am on Monday 16 December.

A reminder of the following school finish dates:

• Thursday 12 December – Last day of Term 4
• Friday 13 December – whole school closed (*except for Friends' Early Learning and Friends Health & Fitness)
• Friday 20 December - Last day the School will be open, with the Main Reception and the School closing at 4:30pm. 

The School will be open for staff and contractors from Thursday 2 January 2025 and re-open fully for visitors and families from Monday 6 January 2025.

Metro Buses 2025

The Department of State Growth has contacted the School with an update to their services for 2025. 

All Metro school services will commence on Thursday 6 February. At this stage, Metro Tasmania is unable to provide additional charter services for schools returning prior to this, meaning that you may need to arrange alternate charter services with one of Tasmania’s other bus operators, or students may need to utilise alternate transport options, including one of Metro’s general access public services, where available.

For more information please email: contact@metrotas.com.au

Student Withdrawal

As we approach the end of the school year, we wish to remind families that the process to withdraw a student from the school is to email details regarding this to principal@friends.tas.edu.au. We recognise that family circumstances may change quite suddenly and outside of their control. If you are unclear about your plans for 2025 and feel you may be needing to withdraw your child, please contact the Enrolments Office on enrol.office@friends.tas.edu.au to discuss your situation.

Updates to Friends' Enrolment Contract and Associated Documents

As a progressive educational institution, it is important that we continue to reflect on, review and update our policies and processes to provide an optimum teaching and learning and pastoral environment for our students.Recently the School completed a review of some of our enrolment policies and associated documentation.  As a result the following document, which forms part of the School’s Enrolment Contract, has been amended:

Directions for Students to Stay at Home, Suspension, or Termination of Enrolment Policy

Meanwhile, the following new documents, which provide an overview of the School’s approach to child safeguarding, have been adopted and are available on the School’s website:

Community Overview to Safeguarding Children Policy

Community Overview to Mandatory Reporting Policy

Please take the time to review these documents and, should you have any queries regarding them, contact our Enrolments Manager, Jen Scharkie. 

Aerosol Deodorants Not Permitted

We are reminded by the School's Risk and Compliance Manager that aerosol deodorants are a known trigger of asthma symptoms and thus are not permitted to be used on the school campuses. Students and staff can use roll on deodorants. You can learn more about Asthma causes and triggers on the Asthma Australia website

2025 Music Ensemble Schedule

The final 2025 Music Ensembles Rehearsal Schedule is now available here.

For any questions, please contact Paul Kershna - Head of Music.

Uniform Shop Summer Holidays Opening Hours

The School Shop will be closed from 5pm, Thursday 12 December 2024 and will re-open Monday 13 January 2025 at 9am for general sales and appointments. Fitting appointments are highly recommended and will be prioritised. You can book your appointments here.

Normal trading hours will resume on Tuesday 4 February 2025.  Open 8am to 5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.

Community Yoga

Wednesdays 7.45am - 8.15am | 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. 

Julia will meet you outside the door on the Carr Street side of the Senior School at 7.40am. If you would like more information, contact our school Yoga teacher Julia Gibson.

Quaker Meetings for Worship

All members of The Friends’ School community are welcome to attend our Meeting for Worship any Sunday from 10am, closing about 11am, 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 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 7.45am. 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.