Primary School
Assembly - Monday 16 February
Our next Primary School Assembly will take place on Monday 16 February in The Farrall Centre and will commence at 2.15pm. We welcome members of our community to attend. Please remember that due to privacy concerns and to respect the photo permission choices of other families we ask you to refrain from taking photos and videos during assemblies.
Primary School Co-curricular
Music and Sport - Sign up for Term 1 sporting activities closes this Friday 6 February
Parents and Guardians can view the available activity selections in Clipboard, which can be accessed by logging into SEQTA Engage and clicking on the Clipboard link or directly at https://portal.clipboard.app/the-friends-school. Activities require parents and guardians to complete the selection to give permission for their child to participate. The first activities available for selection include Years 3-6 Music Ensembles and Years 2-6 Sport.
Sport Choices
To assist families with planning, please see this link for information about the various sports available at the Primary School this year. Sign up for co-curricular teams will be in Clipboard. Note that Term 1 sports for Years 2 - 6 are currently available, but will close on Friday 6 February.
Music Ensembles
All Primary School music groups will commence rehearsals in Week 3 (Monday 16 February) with the exception of Year 5 Band. Information about Year 5 Band will be sent directly to Year 5 parents. Available groups include choirs, concert bands, string and marimba ensembles. Please use this link for ensemble details along with rehearsal times and locations. Sign up will be in Clipboard. Please be aware that the expectation for ensemble membership is year long. We ask that parents discuss with children the importance of commitment, when deciding to join an ensemble. Please contact Estelle Levy, Christine Akerman or Suzi Gillespie for further information.
For assistance with logging in to your school account, contact the Information Services team via the Support Portal. If you use the "forgot username" option in the portal, you will get an automated response with account activation instructions.
Uniforms - Term 1 Hats
A reminder that children are required to be in the correct uniform for each day. For children in Kindergarten to Year 4, this is the Sports Uniform, students in Years 5 and 6 should wear their formal uniform, unless it is their timetabled PE or co-curricular sports day. Details of uniform requirements can be found in the Uniform Handbook. During Term 1 we require all children to wear their hats whilst outdoors, so could you please ensure that these are packed for Day 1.
Paperly - Updating Medical Details and Permissions
We thank parents / guardians for the rapid uptake of Paperly - we have received updates and forms for over 1100 students so far.
A reminder email for start of year forms will be sent on Friday 6 February. It is important to action this to ensure we have up to date details for your child. To check if you have any outstanding events or forms, either use the link on the home page of SEQTA Engage or go directly to Paperly and check the "Tasks and Notifications" on the right hand side.
If you require assistance with logging on to your parent account, including a reminder of your account username, please use the IT Support Portal to generate a request.
Year 5 “Eat and Greet” - Tuesday 10 February
Year 5 classes will join together next Tuesday 10 February from 9.15am for activities on the Top Green/Tennis Courts followed by a joint lunch from 10.30am in the Bark Chip area. Students will need to bring their own lunch to enjoy with their peers and teachers.
It will be a morning of exploration as we begin delving into activities around collaboration, building connections, friendship, self-discovery and communication. This is a great opportunity to connect with new classmates and staff as we start the year together, a crucial aspect in fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment that helps to build strong relationships within the new year group.
The “Eat and Greet” finishes with a structured session in the Bark Chip area where we will sit with our lunches, (brought from home) to participate in meaningful conversation, designed to create a positive learning team and environment, where both new and returning students can thrive both academically and socially.
Pool Sessions and Mini Swim Carnivals - Years 3 - 6 | Wednesday 11 - Friday 13 February
Mini Swim Carnivals will be held at Friends’ Health & Fitness pool during the school day on the following dates:
Wednesday 11 February: Year 3
Thursday 12 February: Year 5 and Year 4
Friday 13 February: Year 6
Students will be walked to and from school by class teachers and will be required to bring bathers, cap, towel and goggles (if required). All students are required to attend.
The JSSATIS selection carnival will run on the following dates/times for children who have swum in 50 events in the mini carnivals and wish to be considered:
Wednesday 18 February - Year 5 (9.00am-10.30am), Year 6 (11.00am-12.30pm)
Thursday 19 February - Year 4 (9.00am-10.30pm), Year 3 (11.00am-12.30pm)
Please contact Lisa Di Venuto ldivenuto@friends.tas.edu.au if you require any further information.
Meet the Teacher - 17, 18, 19, 24 and 26 February
Parents are invited to attend a “Meet the Teacher” session during February with Primary School classroom teachers. These sessions are designed to give you an overview of the learning program and classroom organisation for the year. Please note that child care will not be provided. All sessions will be held in classrooms at 5.00pm on the following dates:
Tuesday 17 February - Year 3/Year 4
Wednesday 18 February - Year 2
Thursday 19 February - Year 5/Year 6
Tuesday 24 February - Kinder/Prep
Thursday 26 February - Year 1
Friends’ Welcome Family BBQ - Monday 23 February 3.15pm - 5.30pm
A reminder to RSVP for the upcoming Argyle Street Campus Family BBQ. Although this is a free event we require RSVPs for catering purposes. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the start of the new school year, while meeting staff and fellow Friends' families. This event will be held at 395 Argyle Street Hobart - Walpole Courtyard and Bark Chip play area next to The Farrall Centre. We will be welcoming The Rotary Club of Lindisfarne to run a sausage sizzle, both gluten free and vegan options will be available. Please BOOK HERE.
NAPLAN - Years 3 and 5 students
For those families with students in Years 3 and 5 NAPLAN assessments will be held in March between Wednesday 11 March and Tuesday 17 March. The NAPLAN assessments will be conducted online (with the exception of Year 3 Writing, which remains paper-based).
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 Wendy Crow wcrow@friends.tas.edu.au if you have any queries.
Music Tuition, Instrument Hire and Cocurricular Music
We are excited to welcome students from Years 3-12 to the 2026 Cocurricular Music Program! Whether for private lessons or in ensembles, there is a place for every student in Music. Here is how to register:
Individual Lessons: Enrol Here. Students can choose from a variety of instruments to learn with expert music educators. Please read the linked guidelines carefully, as there are changes for 2026.
Instrument Hire: Register Here. String, brass, and woodwind instruments are available for hire. Please note that all families must complete this form annually, even if you are retaining an instrument from 2025, as some of the terms and conditions have changed.
- Co-curricular Ensembles: View the rehearsal schedule here for our extensive cocurricular music program. Register your child via Clipboard under the Activity Selection (also available through SEQTA Engage). Access the Co-curricular Handbook on Clipboard for details about each ensemble.
For further information, or to discuss how we can support your child’s musical pathway, please contact Michael Power (Head of Music) and Tam Bloomfield (Music Administrator) via the Music Admin.
Canteen Menus
The new Primary and Middle School Canteen Menus are available here - offering sandwiches, wraps, hot items, cold drinks, treats and grab 'n' go items.
The new Primary and Middle School Canteen Weekly Specials Menu is available here - offering lunch and vegetarian specials, muffins and burgers and pizzas of the day.
All menu items are available to order through the Flexischools app. To download Flexischools, find the app in your phone’s App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android), search Flexischools, and install the app. Once you have registered with your email, add your child’s details and ensure your child’s Year Level/Class is up-to-date to ensure that orders are placed correctly and search ‘Friends’ to begin ordering.
If you have any questions regarding the new catering provider, please do not hesitate to contact our Facilities and Services Manager, Richard Apted.
Absentees
If your child will be absent from school for the day please advise the Primary School Office (phone: 6210 2228, or email: primaryschooloffice@friends.tas.edu.au ) and the classroom teacher before 9.00am. We appreciate your support in this process.
Important Dates
Term 1 Monday 2 February to Friday 17 April
Monday 9 February – Regatta Day holiday
Monday 23 February - Friends’ Welcome Family BBQ
Monday 9 March – Eight Hour Day holiday
Friday 3 - Tuesday 7 April - Easter holiday