Middle School
Safe on Socials Parent Presentation
Kirra Pendergast is an expert in online safety education, and we were fortunate to welcome her via Zoom to a parent info evening on Tuesday 1 April.
Kirra’s frank and honest demeanour certainly made this presentation engaging, eye-opening and highly informative. Her key focus on keeping young people safe online and how to set the necessary boundaries around social media use and online gaming, both at school and at home, commenced a meaningful conversation for our school community. For all parents who are interested in watching or re-watching Kirra’s presentation, the recording can be accessed here.
We will continue to engage our students in this discussion next Term and support them in building healthy habits regarding their access and engagement with social media and online communication.
House Cross Country Carnival
Wednesday 30 April
The Years 7-12 Cross Country Carnival will be held on Wednesday 30 April. All students are strongly encouraged to participate in the upcoming Cross Country event.
Students may wear Sports uniform to School and will also need to come prepared for all weather conditions.
Periods 1 to 3 are normal classes, including a recess break at 10:30am. Students will leave the School at 12:00pm to walk to the Bell Street sports grounds.
Students must follow the correct paths and instructions from staff when walking to the event. Staff are stationed at each crossing for your safety. Some novelty events will also be held on the top Bell Street oval.
All runners must wear House Colours (bibs will also be available on the day)
3km races (2 x 1.5km loop)
U14 Girls 3km 1:05 (finish chute lane 1)
U14 Boys 3km 1:15 (finish chute lane 3)
U13 Girls 3km 1:25 (finish chute lane 5)
U13 Boys 3km 1:35 (finish chute lane 1)
Students are to make their own arrangements to travel home at the conclusion of the cross country presentation at 3.30pm.
Students needing to link up with buses to outlying areas can either catch our commuter buses back to school at 3.20pm or make their own arrangements. Students need to advise the Middle School or Senior School Office if they need to travel on the School commuter by Tuesday 29 April 4pm.
Metro services will not be operating. Students will need to walk to the bus stop on New Town Road to catch city buses.
Middle School Term 2 Donation Drive
Launching in Week 1 until Week 3, the Student Voice Council are launching their first donation drive for the year, supporting the Hobart Womens’ Shelter. The Hobart Womens’ Shelter house and support Tasmania’s most vulnerable women, and the Council has researched a list of their most needed items for donation: long life milk, canned foods, pasta and pasta sauces, instant noodles, biscuits, muesli bars, cereal, oil, jam, juice pop tops, new single sheet sets or donna covers. Vouchers are also welcomed. Can we beat our record of over 600 items donated from 2024? Which House will collect the most items? Donations can be brought to the House tubs in the Library, or to the Middle School Office.
Matilda the Musical JR: Years 5-8 - Holiday Homework
Rehearsals have been wonderfully successful so far and students have been working hard to learn songs, choreography and blocking. All cast need to ensure they are practising over the break so they don’t forget all of their progress. All music and choreography for rehearsal are uploaded to our Google Classroom, and named characters should be learning their lines. We will begin allocating costumes over the holidays, so please ensure any other costume items (e.g. white shirt, singlets, bike shorts) are purchased over the holiday break so we can hit the ground running after the break. We can’t wait for you to see all of our hard work as we bring this amazing musical to life!
Any questions? Email Essie Hoggart or Nicola Collins. We will see all cast on Sunday 27April!
Year 8 Camps in Term 2
Operoo permission forms have been sent out today for the Year 8 camps that will be held at either Bay of Fires or Freycinet National Park. Camps will be held in Weeks 2 and 3 of Term 2.
Equipment lists are at the end of the Operoo form and there is also a separate Preparation Day list for the Monday of the Camp Week.
Contact details for queries are also listed on the Operoo form.
Year 7 Excursion - Grote Reber and TMAG
As part of our Year 7 Science unit on the sun, Earth and moon, students will participate in an excursion to the Grote Reber Museum and radio telescope at Cambridge. As part of our Deep Time unit in Humanities students will participate in an excursion to TMAG. Students will leave and be returned to The Friends’ School by bus.
Grote Reber
Mott and Penn - Thursday 8 May (1.00 - 3.30pm)
Walker and Fry - Thursday 15 May (10.30 - 1.00pm)
Backhouse and Oats - Thursday 15 May (1.00 - 3.30pm)
TMAG
Fry and Walker - Thursday 8 May (11.00 - 1.00pm)
Backhouse and Oats - Thursday 8 May (1.30 - 3.30pm)
Mott and Penn - Thursday 15 May (1.30 - 3.30pm)
Students will need to bring personal medication. If you have any questions, please email your child’s Key Teacher.
Year 8 Connections Days
Friday 9 May - Classes Knight, Bracey & Tuke
Friday 16 May - Classes Preston, Stowe & Rustin
Classes will participate in a Field Trip to the Tasmanian Royal Botanical Gardens. This excursion will support the Science curriculum as students consolidate their understanding of plant structure, classification, and scientific drawing. Students will also participate in an iPad Photography Competition as part of this trip.
Students will walk from school to the Royal Botanical Gardens, leaving at the end of first break, and they will return to school by the end of the school day. They will need to bring their iPad, pencil case, recess and lunch, water bottle, hat, raincoat, warm clothing and appropriate footwear.
For any student who moves off the Middle School campus, this is a reminder that personal medication for any medical condition, including asthma and allergies, will be required for them to participate in the excursion.
An Operoo permission form will be sent out shortly.
If you have any queries please contact Kylie McKinnon (kmckinnon@friends.tas.edu.au) and/or your child’s Key Class Teacher.
Save the Date - Matilda the Musical JR.
Join us for a magical time as our talented Years 5-8 students bring Matilda the Musical JR. to life on stage! Based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl, this inspiring story follows the extraordinary Matilda as she discovers her inner strength, courage and determination.
- Dates: Thursday 19 - Saturday 21 June 2025
- Location: The Farrall Centre, Argyle Street Campus
Performance times will be released shortly.
Tickets coming soon.
Follow our Facebook Event to keep updated.
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:
Friday 11 April - Last Day of Term 1
Monday 28 April - First Day of Term 2
Monday 5 May - Rustin, Stowe & Preston - Bell Street Camp Prep
6 to 9 May - Rustin, Stowe & Preston Y8 Camps
Monday 12 May - Bracey, Knight & Tuke - Bell Street Camp Prep
Friday 16 May - Year 7 Immunisations
13 to 16 May - Bracey, Knight & Tuke Y8 Camps
2 June - Rustin & Bracey River and Coasteering Day
4 June - Knight & Stowe River and Coasteering Day
5 June - Preston & Tuke River and Coasteering Day
Wednesday 25 June - Sibling Photos