From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

As we approach the middle of the year, there are a number of significant rites of passage that unfold within our community. I know that the Year 6 students were incredibly excited to receive their Year 6 Leavers’ Shirts – celebrating that cohort’s final year in Primary schooling. The sentiment was similar for our Year 12s, who gleefully donned their Leavers’ jackets for the first time, with both groups wearing them proudly around campus.

For our Year 11 students, the Heads of House and a range of Secondary staff, the 2026 Year 11 Dinner Dance at Araluen last Friday night was another such occasion. The students showed great collegiality and had a wonderful time celebrating through, food, conversation and dance. They are a fabulous group of young people, who are becoming excellent leaders within our community.

For students from Pre-Primary to Year 3, it has been great to see the energy and enthusiasm that they (and their teachers) have brought to the Interm Swimming Lessons.

The focus for our Year 9 students this term rests around the Pastoral Care and Encounter programs. These programs explore how our young people can aspire to be connected, engaged and resilient members of any community to which they belong, building a sense of agency, responsibility and belonging.

Alongside these joyful occasions we have been very proud of the way our Year 11 and 12 students have engaged in the less enjoyable rites of completing their Externally Set Tasks and preparation for the examination period that begins next week. We wish all students well in their endeavours.

Parents and Friends Contributions

I would like to take a moment to thank the P&F for all that they contribute to our school. At their last meeting the P&F generously committed to making contributions to the following areas of the JWACS community:

• Primary and Secondary Clubs, which will be appropriately divided across our school to assist staff to provide materials for club activities
• Additional storage options for our School Archives
• The cost of the new BDISC stage
• Media walls and banners for Community Engagement and Marketing
• Additions to ELC play equipment
• The purchase of seating for Secondary School break areas
• The cost of 200 new Inter-School sport singlets
• Covering the cost of blazer embroidery for our Head Prefects
• The running and funding of the P&F led service opportunity Cook & Care
• Mature trees for our grounds
• Swim coaching for the School Swim Squad
• Contributions to:
  • Refreshment of the Year 7 Building
  • Wollaston Care
  • Our Praise and Thanks celebrations at the end of the year
  • Books for the ELC Santa Books program
  • The Year 6 Dinner Dance
  • Year 12 Valedictory celebrations

I encourage any who are interested in contributing to the fabulous work that our P&F does building connection and community, to be in touch with them and get involved.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Wollaston’s Wrap.

With best wishes

Tim Russell

Principal