Middle School

Uniform

Students have begun the year looking immaculately outfitted and presenting for school photos so smartly - we are grateful for the care and work taken to meet expectations to such a high standard.

Key Teachers will be working with their classes to clarify which days are Formal Uniform days and which days students may wear their PE uniform. This varies between classes, as it depends on individual timetables.

Students may wear PE uniform on days they have Connections, HPE, Dance, or Drama. If this coincides with a day where students also have a double Design Technology lesson, students are required to bring their formal leather school shoes to change into for workshop classes, as this is a safety requirement.

Other Safety Considerations

• Hoop earrings must be small enough that a little finger cannot fit through the hoop to reduce the risk of injury if caught in anything.
• Chewing gum is not permitted at school.

Thank you for your ongoing support in helping students meet uniform and safety expectations.

Road Safety

Morning and afternoons are a busy time at Middle School Campus.  There is limited parking in Boa Vista Road and it is important that families do not park in the ‘stop and drop’ areas or double park and cause traffic to be held up.  

Drivers are asked to exercise patience, obey the road rules, act with respect for others and follow the parking restrictions that are in place to ensure good order and safety at busy times. 

Please do not allow children to jump out of the car onto the road, rather please wait until you can access a ‘stop and drop’ space.

The Friends’ School takes road safety very seriously and during busy times attempt to have staff checking for any issues that may occur.

House Athletics - 17 February - Optional long-distance events

The optional long-distance House Athletics events for the 800m and 3000m will be on Tuesday 17 February at the Domain Athletics Centre. A bus will pick up students who have signed up at the following time. 

Years 7/8 students meet at the Argyle Street bus stop (near the Argyle Street tennis courts / Friends' Early Learning) at 1.00pm.

(Fry and Penn will be on OE camp. On the Carnival date of 24 February, an 800m event will be available to run for Fry and Penn students - please still sign up so we know how many want to run on the day).

Sports Uniform may be worn on the day.

Students competing in just the 800m will return at approx 2:15pm (dependent on numbers). All other students competing in the 3000m will return to school after the event by 3.20pm. 

To enter one or both events, students need to click on the link below and fill in their details. This must be completed by 4:00pm Friday 13 February. 

Students will need to use their Google login details to access the Term 1 Sign-up form on Clipboard using the following link: https://portal.clipboard.app/the-friends-school/ 

Make sure once you have selected your activity, you go to Cart - click check out now.

The Years 7-12 Athletics Carnival will be on Tuesday 24 February. More details to follow. The program may be viewed here. Carnival information can be viewed here

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 7 Camps

Year 7 students are heading to camp at Rivers Edge on the above dates. They will attend with Key Teachers and Outdoor Education staff. The focus for the programs will be on promoting community, connection and allowing students to get to know each other.  

Information has been sent through Paperly and if you require assistance completing, please use the IS Support Portal to generate a request. Included in Paperly is a list of equipment needed for camp.

Please note that on the day of camp, students need to be at Bell Street by 8.30am and will also need to be collected from Bell Street at the end of camp.  

Year 8 Beach Days

Year 8 students will be heading to Kingston Beach as part of their Connections Day.

Thursday 19 February  -  8 Rustin & 8 Bracey

Thursday 26 February  -  8 Stowe & 8 Knight  

Thursday 5 March  -  8 Tuke & 8 Preston  

A Paperly permission form will be sent out later this week with details of what students need to pack.  A reminder that personal medication for any medical condition, including asthma and allergies, will be required to participate in the excursion.

Shine Your Light Evening 2026

Monday 23 February - Celebration 5.30pm to 6.30pm & Family BBQ 3.15pm to 5pm

Parents are warmly invited to join us for the Shine Your Light Evening, our annual Middle School celebration, on Monday 23 February 2026 from 5.30pm – 6.30pm in The Farrall Centre. This special event is exclusively for our 2026 Year 7 and Year 8 students and their families, welcoming them into the Middle School and acknowledging our Year 8s as the student leaders. 

Families will gather in The Farrall Centre while our students take part in a lantern procession, carrying lanterns that hold the goals, hopes and aspirations of the Middle School, handwritten by the students themselves. We will reflect on and celebrate our values of inclusion, connection, belonging and community, and share the collective light of our students, families and staff.

The Shine Your Light Evening is a free ticketed event, with an initial allocation of two tickets per student available via Trybooking and an option to join a waitlist for additional tickets should more become available. 

Year 7 students will be required to collect their lantern from the foyer at 5.10pm and assemble with their Key Class outside The Farrall Centre.  

Year 8 students are to go straight to the laneway at 5.10pm and meet their Key Teacher.

If students are unable to attend, parents should email Lindy Gannon as soon as possible via middleschooloffice@friends.tas.edu.au. 

Students should wear full formal uniform, including their blazer and tie.

We look forward to gathering together to let our lives speak, honouring our shared values and celebrating the collective light of our Middle School community.

Please book your tickets via here.

Argyle Street Campus Family BBQ

Monday 23 February 3.15pm - 5.30pm

All students and families from Years 7 and 8 2026 are invited to attend the Argyle Street Campus Family BBQ, directly before the Shine Your Light Evening, from 3.15pm to 5pm. This is a free event, and an opportunity to celebrate the start of the new school year, while meeting staff and fellow Friends' families. The Family BBQ will be located in the Walpole Courtyard and Barkchip area, next to The Farrall Centre.

We will be welcoming The Rotary Club of Lindisfarne to run a sausage sizzle and both gluten free and vegan options will be available. This is a free event, however we require RSVPs for catering purposes.

You can book your tickets here.

Term 1 Co-curricular Information

An online co-curricular handbook containing all the activities available for students to participate in during Term 1 was emailed to students and parents this week.

Please note, sign-ups for Term 1 sport are due next Thursday 12 February by parents. For information on how to sign up, view this email.

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 Middle School Office (phone: 6210 2235, or email: middleschooloffice@friends.tas.edu.au). We appreciate your support in this process.

Important Dates in Middle School

Monday 9 February - Regatta Day Public Holiday

Wednesday 11 February - Friday 13 February - Year 7 Camp Backhouse & Oats

Monday 16 February - Wednesday 18 February - Year 7 Camp Fry & Penn

Wednesday 18 February - Friday 20 February - Year 7 Camp Mott & Walker

Tuesday 17 February - Years 7-12 House Athletics Long Distance Events (Optional Sign-up)

Thursday 19 February - Year 8 Beach Days Rustin & Bracey

Monday 23 February - Argyle Street Family BBQ

Monday 23 February - Shine Your Light Evening

Tuesday 24 February - Years 7-12 House Athletics (All Students)

Thursday 26 February Year 8 Beach Days Stowe & Knight

Wednesday 4 March - Meet the Key Teacher Night (6 PM-7:30 PM)

Thursday 5 March - Year 8 Beach Days Tuke & Preston