A Note from Nelson

Dear Friends,

Even though the past several weeks have not felt much like summer, the holiday period is nearly upon us. It is my deepest hope that everyone will be able to spend significant time with those you love and appreciate the most.

Tasmania was not as fortunate with COVID-19 this year as we were in the first couple of years of the pandemic. While wide vaccination rates prevented serious illness in most cases, COVID-19 still had a considerable impact upon our learning program. Significant numbers of students and staff stayed at home at various points in the year to get well as to protect others in our community. Despite the strains COVID-19 placed on our community from time to time, we managed to support and deliver the same sort of learning experiences that have come to be anticipated. Thank you to everyone for your support during this year.

Learning @ Friends’ 24 Plus Program design and engagement phases are continuing for the Year Group re-alignment slated for February 2024. As a reminder, the Commercial Road campus will house the 9-12 Year groups and the Argyle Street Campus will be home for students from Early Learning through to Year 8. I would like to thank all the staff, students and parents/guardians who have provided feedback and/or become involved with the planning for this important change.

This year, Christmas will be celebrated on a Sunday. Many Christian congregations across the world will offer midnight services on Christmas Eve. Quakers, as many of you know, do not necessarily recognise one day as being more sacred or important than another. And so it is with Christmas too. For Quakers around the world, Meeting for Worship will be held as usual on Sunday morning (25 December) with no special religious connotations attached.

Quakerism is deeply rooted in Christianity. Early Quakers had deep understandings of and connections to the Bible. They were pretty much guided exclusively by the teachings of Jesus. 

Quakers, as most of you know, believe that there is ‘that of God’ in everyone - Jesus included. However, Quakerism continues to evolve through continuing revelation by re-examining ‘Truths’ and as such has expanded far beyond its Christian centered origins. While Christmas helps remind Quakers of the teachings of Jesus, it takes on no additional sacred connotations. I should add that nearly every Quaker I know celebrates Christmas as the cultural holiday that it has evolved into. Afterall, who doesn’t love giving and getting presents - especially children?

Before I close this note, I would just like to thank all of our staff for another year of providing rich educational opportunities for students in order to put the Purpose and Concerns into action each day. I would also like to wish all the students and families who are leaving Friends’ this year nothing but the best into the future. I look forward to welcoming returning and new students in February 2023.

Again, I hope everyone has a healthy, happy and safe summer holiday.

Warm regards,

Nelson