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Senior School

The latest edition of the Friends’ Careers and Pathways Newsletter is out now!

Take a look at the full edition HERE

Features include:

  • Job Spotlight - General Practitioner

  • Careers in STEM

  • Year 12 and beyond with ADHD

  • Marine Careers Day UTAS

  • University of Melbourne - Hansen Scholarship

  • ‘Pathway Pitstop’ - Bond University visit to Friends’ 14/3

  • Understanding University Lingo

  • AgCareer Start

  • Discover Monash University

  • Paid Webinar - Get into Medicine 

Sewing for Service 

Commences on Tuesday 25 February

Need service hours and love sewing? Want to make a variety of useful reusable fabric bags? 'Sewing for service' will run this year on Tuesday, Terms 1, 2 and 3 from 3.45pm - 5pm. Numbers are limited, so if you are interested in joining, please email Jane Smith.

 

Location: Senior School Textiles room (T103)

Information Evening for Exchange Trip to Germany in April 2025

Parents and students of the exchange trip group to Germany are invited to an information evening next Tuesday 25 February at 7pm in the Senior School library. For more information please contact Christine Wittlinger.

TCE and IB Diploma Reasonable Adjustments

Reasonable adjustments applications for TCE and IB Diploma students are now underway. The cut off dates for applications are at the beginning of May. To support students it is very important that these are done early and correctly.

 

If your child is in Year 11 this year, and they have had a diagnosis, then we will be in contact shortly to discuss and arrange applications for adjustments. 

 

If your child is new to the School, and has a diagnosis, or believes that they are requiring adjustments for exams and tests, please contact: Joe Cairns (TCE), Steve Barratt (IB Diploma), Catherine Gray (Access and Inclusion) or Annabelle Black (School Psychologist).

Subject Changes

We understand that on occasion, student needs and interests may change and this may necessitate a change of subject. 

  • For TCE students, subject change requests have closed.
  • For students in Years 9 and 10, changes may be requested from the 13 - 28th of February. 

Please be aware that changes may not be possible for reasons including clashes with core classes, subjects not being run or classes being full. 

 

All change requests must be made using the official forms available from the Senior School office and students are required to discuss the change with their teacher, tutor and Senior Staff member as required. Parents are also required to sign the Subject Change Request form before the change is approved. As these generally take a day or two to complete we recommend students start the process earlier rather than later. 

 

Contact Kate Baldry if you have any questions.

Year 11 and 12 SASS Presentation

As part of our Respectful Relationships and Pastoral Care program, Years 11 and 12 students will hear from a speaker from Sexual Assault Support Service  on Wednesday 26 March. The presentation will largely focus on the idea of consent and healthy, ethical sexual decision making. Previous workshops and Assemblies run by SASS at Friends' have been highly valued by students and staff and form part of our ongoing focus on respectful relationships. Students will be notified of the presentation and are able to opt out by talking to their tutor or Amy Harris. 

 

There will be follow up pastoral care discussions in Long Tutor as part of the SEL program and support will be available for any student experiencing issues as a result. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s tutor, House Leader or Amy Harris.

Register for Elevate’s Parent Webinar Series

 This Term Elevate Education delivers high-impact workshops to our students that help to develop their study skills, motivation, and exam preparation. Over the next term, you're invited to join their parent webinar series, where you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they're learning at school. 

 

Upcoming Webinars: 

  • How You Can Help Your Child Manage Their Time – Wednesday 26 Feb 6:30pm
  • How You Can Make Technology an Ally (& Not the Enemy!) - Wednesday 12 March 6:30pm
  • How You Can Help Improve Your Child’s Memory - Wednesday 26 March 6:30pm

Register for the series by clicking the link and learn some great practical strategies to help support your child this year. Book here.

The Friends’ School uniform 

At The Friends’ School we believe that the wearing of the School uniform by students is a fundamental part of students’ and their parents’ commitment to the School Community. Wearing the School uniform is a visible way of establishing a student’s identity as part of The Friends’ School community.

 

Students may wear sports uniform for the day if they have two or more sporting commitments in any one day or if they ride a bicycle to School over a substantial distance. Further information on the uniform is available here. 

 

We appreciate the support of families in ensuring the correct items, including official school shorts for PE and sports, are worn by students at all times. Please be aware that plain navy or black shorts and bike pants are not part of The Friends’ School uniform. 

 

If a student is unable to wear the correct uniform for any reason please contact your child’s tutor in advance. 

IB and Art Studio Practice Melbourne Trip

From Friday 21 to Sunday 23 February 2025, IB Visual Art and Studio Practice students are travelling to Melbourne for a learning opportunity. Highlights include visits to major exhibitions such as Yayoi Kusama at NGV International, ACCA, and The Future and Other Fictions at ACMI.

 

On Sunday, students will attend the Victorian Visual Art Exhibition and Seminar, featuring workshops with IB examiners, guest artists, and graduating students sharing their experiences.

 

This optional trip is a great opportunity to explore inspiring art, connect with peers, and gain valuable insights into creative practice.

 

Please contact Hamish Hall for more information.

NAPLAN - Years 3, 5, 7 and 9

For those families with students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, NAPLAN assessments will be held in March . The NAPLAN assessments will be conducted on-line (with the exception of Year 3 Writing, which remains paper-based). The NAPLAN assessments in Primary, Middle and Senior Secondary School will take place between Wednesday 12 March and Monday 24 March. 

 

Further information and specifics on the tests and timing will be provided to families with students in these year levels soon. In the meantime, more information for parents regarding Naplan Online can be found here  Please contact Kate Baldry or Aaron Davey for Year 9 questions.

Absentees

If your child will be absent from school for the day please advise the Senior School Office (phone: 6210 2255, or email: seniorschooloffice@friends.tas.edu.au). We appreciate your support in this process.

Important Dates 

Term 1 Friday 31 January to Friday 11 April

Monday 10 March – Eight Hour Day holiday