Whole School
Strategic Planning Invitation
Over the next nine months, we will embark on an engagement and planning process to develop a new Strategic Plan for the School. The objective of this Strategic Plan is to establish clear and shared goals that are understood and embraced by all members of our school community. Our plan will be developed through a collaborative process of Appreciative Inquirythat allows us to reflect on the School's past and current strengths and build upon them to benefit our students, staff and families. Together, we will explore the opportunities and aspirations that we collectively identify.
With Quaker values at the heart of what we do, our process will involve reflection, discernment and collaboration. We will be seeking participation and engagement from everyone in our school community. Your unique insights and knowledge will ensure Friends’ continues to be a leading values-driven school that empowers young people to develop the best in themselves and each other.
Parents/guardians are invited to attend and participate in the first strategic engagement session:
6pm -7:30pm, Thursday 31 October 2024 - at the Middle School Library (Argyle St Campus)
or
11am -12:30pm, Monday 4 November 2024 - at The Farrall Centre (Argyle St Campus)
To book your attendance for one of these sessions, please click here.
For those unable to attend, you will be able to provide your feedback through a Google form that will be shared in the coming weeks.
At this first session, we look forward to outlining the strategic planning process and engaging in the process of Appreciative Inquiry which involves four key stages: SOAR; Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact Principal Esther Hill or Director of Community Engagement Bill Avery.
Fee Statements
A reminder that the School Fee Statements were emailed to the nominated parent/guardian email account last week. Please check your spam or junk email folders to ensure you have received these statements.
If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact Financial Services at fees@friends.tas.edu.au
End of Year Gathering
The Friends' School warmly invites you and your family to attend our annual End of Year Gathering.
End of Year Gathering
Wednesday 4 December from 6.00pm
The Farrall Centre | 395 Argyle Street, North Hobart
This year the theme for the End of Year Gathering is 'Community and Belonging'. This is an opportunity for The Friends’ School community to come together to listen, reflect, centre and share. The End of Year Gathering includes contributions from all sections of the School and staff. During the event we will welcome our Quaker Advisors to say a few words. We will have a variety of music to enjoy, while also allowing some time for reflection.
All guests, including students in the audience, wishing to attend are requested to book via this link. Please note students who are participating or presenting are not required to book. There is a maximum of four people per booking.
We look forward to you joining us for this meaningful and reflective event.
The TCE & IB Art Exhibition 2024
Monday 18 November to Thursday 21 November - The Farrall Centre
This is a fantastic showcase of work from our TCE and IB art students. The exhibition is open during school hours (9am - 3.30pm, Monday to Thursday) from 18 - 21 November for general public viewing in The Farrall Centre at 395 Argyle Street, North Hobart.
Please note you do not need a ticket but we ask that you check in at the or Primary School Office prior to making your way to The Farrall Centre if you are not a staff member.
Working with Vulnerable People Registration Update
As a School that places child safety as paramount, we continue to have the requirement for all volunteers directly involved or mentoring students in School activities to have a Working with Vulnerable People (WwVP) volunteer registration. As we continue to maintain and implement best-practice frameworks and processes for child safety at Friends’, we are encouraging more and more parents/guardians and senior students to obtain their WwVP. The legislation, requirements and need for this to occur throughout school environments is growing.
Often our parents have asked, what can they do to help make Friends’ the safest environment it can be. One way to do this is to obtain your WwVP and then register as a volunteer with The Friends’ School. Information can be found:
The Friends’ School volunteer registration
Examples of situations where WwVP registration is also encouraged and may include students other than the parents’ own:
- Hosting students from Walker House
- Attending excursions
- Transporting to and from co-curricular activities
- Attending any overnight events such as sleepovers at School or co-curricular activities
- Students 16 years and older supervising or mentoring younger student activities or groups
The School is happy to reimburse parents and senior students who obtain their WwVP registration for school purposes. Information can be found on the School’s website.
The Friends’ School wants to proactively promote child safety and positive wellbeing in our community. So we encourage you to help us build and grow the number of parents/guardians with WwVP, by completing a new registration or by checking that your WwVP is up-to-date.
Shaun O'Rourke
Deputy Principal | The Friends' School
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.