Our Community

Whole School Gathering

Each week, our students and teaching staff from Kindergarten to Year 12 attend a Quaker Gathering, usually in the Meeting House. However, recently we have been able to enjoy outdoor meetings of worship throughout our school gardens. 

On Tuesday 21 March to celebrate Harmony Day, the whole school came together for a Gathering. The weather was kind and it was a wonderful opportunity for staff and students to come together as a community, sharing a silence and reflecting on big ideas that connect to the school’s Quaker values and Purpose and Concerns.

The Peter Underwood Peace and Justice Lecture

Thank you to all our community members who attended the biannual Peter Underwood Peace and Justice Lecture on Monday 27 February. This year we welcomed Uncle Rodney Dillion, who is a highly respected Elder of the Palawa Nation who has spent his life representing the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Tasmania, including advocating on constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament.  Uncle Rodney held the audience transfixed with his heartfelt, earnest and relatable story telling. While confronting, the lecture is a terrific opportunity to continue our collective understanding of the past in Tasmania and important issues for emerging adults to consider deeply. We thank Uncle Rodney for taking the time to come and speak with us.

If you were unable to attend, the event was recorded and can be viewed here. If you wish to learn even more, Uncle Rodney also featured in episode 2 of the SBS documentary Australian Wars

WN Oats Centre Reopening Collaboration

Thank you to all those who attended the Community Appreciation and WN Oats Reopening event.  You can read more about the event further in this edition.

As part of acknowledging and thanking all our donors who kindly supported the Illuminate Campaign, which helped fund the Campus Redevelopment Phase One, the School's Community Engagement team decided to design and install a timber honour board.  The process for developing and designing this honour board was a wonderful collaboration with Holly Chilman (Friends' Marketing and Communications Specialist), Studio Decade (a local design agency, featuring alumni Sam Moffat - Class of 1998 and Douglas Hagger - Class of 2008) and the School's Building and Maintenance team (featuring Scott Gray, Ian Gannon and Darrin Berry).  The exquisite design and re-use of the previous WN Oats Centre timber court floorboards is a testament to this team's care and dedication to the project, with the School's values at the forefront of their collaboration.  Thank you and well done team!

Relay for Life

By Isabel Adams (Year 10)

Relay for Life is an annual event run by the Tasmanian Cancer Council to raise money and awareness for those affected by cancer. Participants receive sponsorship and then walk laps around the Domain Athletics Centre track, with at least one member of the team walking around the track with the baton for the entirety of the 20 hour relay, except during the opening, closing and Luminary ceremonies. Survivors, carers, current patients and other people affected by cancer come together as a community to celebrate cancer survivors, carers and researchers, remember those who have been lost to cancer and to raise money and awareness to help fight back against this disease. 

The Relay is an excellent chance for people to come together to work towards a common goal. It is a chance to reflect upon our personal connections with cancer and to support the Cancer Council and the crucial work they do to research cancer and support people affected. 

Relay for Life is also an extremely enjoyable event. There is a really strong atmosphere of hope and fun, with laughs flowing all night, as well as tears. Everyone at the Relay has different experiences with and connections to cancer, but there is strong support for each other. The dedication and commitment of many participants is inspiring. Relay for Life is a wonderful time for everyone to come together to celebrate and commemorate cancer patients.

The 2023 Hobart Relay for Life took place from 1pm on Saturday the 18th March until 9am on Sunday the 19th March. This year, the Friends’ School team, the “Friendlies”, had a record 135 participants who came together to participate in the Relay for Life. Overall, the team raised $17, 438 through individual fundraising, free dress days and bake sales. Many team members stayed overnight and the positive atmosphere persisted throughout the entire 20 hour Relay. 

Planning for the 2024 Relay for Life will start near the end of the year. We strongly encourage all students to get involved in this wonderful event by attending or donating to our team. 

Mother's Day Movie - Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

All students and their families are warmly invited to our Mother's Day event to celebrate their Mum, Guardian, Grandparent or special family friend. This year our event will be held on Wednesday 3 May. We will be offering a free viewing of the new release movie, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On, along with complimentary ice cream and popcorn treats. 

Wednesday 3 May  |  4.30pm - 6pm

The Farrall Centre, Argyle Street Campus | 395 Argyle Street, North Hobart 

Seats are limited, so please CLICK HERE to book

Stories with Friends

Late March, our Library staff held the Stories with Friends event at the Primary Years Campus. Throughout the evening we welcomed storytellers to read traditional tales, our students helped with a sausage sizzle and The Farrall Centre was turned into a book fair to raise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. We would like to thank all the staff and community members who helped make this such a successful evening.

Paul Dillon Visits Friends'

For many years, Paul Dillon has provided education and training expertise around Ausralia, as well as high quality research assistance on a wide range of alcohol and other drug issues. Paul presents a high-quality and up-to-date information to help our students to develop strategies to navigate this important topic. Paul discussed with Year 11 and 12 students in late Term 1, decision making, risk taking and safe socialising with regards to alcohol and other drugs. 

National Ride2School Day 

Over the past 40 years the number of children who are physically active everyday has significantly dropped. In the 1970s, eight out of ten students rode or walked to school but today that number has dropped to just two out of ten.

Students who ride or walk to school contribute to their minimum physical activity level of 60 minutes per day. They are also more focused and ready to learn compared to those who are driven.

On Friday 24 March, we celebrated National Ride2School Day. Kindergarten to Year 6 students who participated, rode their bike, skateboard or scooter (or walked) to School and were offered a light breakfast on arrival, organised by the Clemes Stewardship Committee. The Primary Years campus was bustling with energy during the first break, as the Morris Council organised activities for Prep to Year 6 students. A fun day was had by all.

**We encourage you to follow the School’s Facebook page and/or Instagram page, where we share news, activities, upcoming events and interesting stories of our students and community.**