Parents & Friends Association

Introducing our new President

Hello All,

My name is Pip Smith – 2023 P&F President and looking forward to the challenge.

Married to Norm, we live between Wellington and Mudgee on a sheep farm – Norm is the sheep farmer, and I am the captain of the ship.

We have 5 children – all have been to Kinross Wolaroi and loved it. Chloe (25), Amber (24), Maggie + William (23) and our beautiful Daisy a year 10 boarder in Miller house.

Thank you to the outgoing committee for all the time and effort they have given over several years to the school students and community, your time has been very much appreciated. 

Welcome to the new Committee, here is to 2023, it is going to be fantastic!

Understandably many peoples time to volunteer is limited and it comes at different stages in our lives, some are able to and some cannot. 

Volunteers do lots of things from cooking food for sporting events – canteen - reading – bus duty – time in the classroom – running a stall at the fete – speaking at the KWS Open Day – etc. etc., so thank you to all those volunteers who have given their time so far this year.

Dates for the P&F meetings are on the school calendar & are available on the school's website at https://www.kws.nsw.edu.au/community/parents-and-friends-association

Meetings are only Twice a term – week 3 and Week 7 (tick and tick for Term 1).

So, when you ponder this there are only six left this year!

Next meeting is Term 2 (Wk. 3) – 7pm Wednesday 10 May 2023.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend in person (or via zoom). 

If you have anything you would like on the meeting agenda for attention of the P&F or that we can take to the school on your behalf just let me know at pandfpresident@kws.nsw.edu.au or 0447 453 665. Sometimes it is best to text me or leave a message as I do not always have my phone with me.

My thoughts for today given this will be a new challenge for myself (and Norm!) something I read recently by Roger Crawford - 

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” 

I look forward to see you around Kinross and a P & F meeting (even via zoom)

happy days,

Love 

Pip x

P.S. We need a secretary – so if there is anyone out there that wants to ride shot gun with me come on it will be fun xx

Current P&F Committee March 2023 

Thank you to the previous executive from August 2021 – March 2023

2023 P&F AGM – President’s Report

In the past 12 months including the previous AGM on 16 March 2022 the P&F can report the following:

The P&F endorsed a fee rise for each family from $35 to $45 per year for the voluntary contribution.

The fundraising target towards improvements to the Performance Theatre and other items was approved at $30000.

EGM was held 11 May 2022 where the Financial Report was endorsed

A roster of P&F contributors to the School's Family Bulletin was established providing a fortnightly communication with the School Community. 

Meetings were held each Term Week 3 and Week 7 where practical. Guest speakers were invited to meetings to give parents and carers an understanding of different parts of the School. Dr Parry and Denise Hayward gave regular updates on the Senior and Junior Schools, Hannah Whittemore gave updates on boarding and Trent Chapman on the Senior School.

Year Group Representatives were re-established for each year group and resulted in over 14 get-togethers for families across Pre-Kinder to Year 12. These events ranged from parent dinners, coffee catch-ups and full family picnics. The fortnightly Family Newsletter was a good avenue for sharing photos and news from these events. I would like to express my gratitude to all the volunteers who generously gave their time to organise each of these functions. It made a very real difference to a lot of families who had missed the opportunity to meet others throughout 2020 and 2021 due to COVID restrictions.

P&F representatives were invited to present at a Kinross Wolaroi School Council Meeting 31 May 2022 – This was a great opportunity to clarify and share the purpose of the Kinross Wolaroi P&F as a strong, positive parent support group for the school.

The P&F supported the Junior School Performing Arts Evening at the start of June by assisting with TREE catering on the evening with Orion Jandera, Leanne Lett and Jacqueline Russell helping the students out.

And on 9 June the Senior School Music festival was supported by P&F volunteers assisting with raffle ticket sales on the evening. This raffle raised money for orchestra chairs for the Performing Arts Department. Thanks to Meredith Knight, Orion Jandera, Giselle Van Wyk and Catherine Bligh for their assistance on the night. 

In response to a popular vote by poll, a Trivia Night was organised on 5 August on the Friday before the home rugby game against St Stanislaus' School. The Trivia Fundraiser was held involving many volunteers across the School Community. This community-raising fundraiser was a huge success raising a net amount of $29249.83.

Concurrently, throughout Terms 2 and 3 a Junior School Reading Fundraiser was held to celebrate literacy in the Junior School. This raised $ 4855.75 and many books were read by participating students. At its conclusion on 26 August Class pizza was awarded to the class that raised the greatest amount and Collins Book Vouchers were awarded to the students who read the greatest number of books.

This brought our 2022 total fundraising to $34105.58 - exceeding our fundraising target for the year and having the added benefit of bringing a large part of our School community together for a common cause.

On 31 August Dr Parry invited the P&F committee for a walk through of the newly refurbished PT space. The P&F were gratified to see this wonderfully improved space. 

The Junior School Drama Performances on 15 and 16 September were a good opportunity to thank the Junior School families for their support of the Reading Fundraiser. Supper was provided by P&F volunteers. Thanks go to all our wonderful volunteer cooks – Orion Jandera, Leanne Lett, Ami Zielinski and Jo Balcomb.

A year Group Huddle was held to thank all our volunteers who had worked so hard on the Trivia evening and other P&F initiatives. 

Friday 28 October - World Teachers Day - was a joyous celebration of our staff. The P&F happily hosted a morning tea and coffee cart to convey the gratitude of the parents and carers. This was a heartfelt initiative and one enjoyed by everyone involved. The P&F committee and Junior School parents were particularly generous in their support of the morning tea by dropping off mountains of delicious baked goods.

The P&F were given an opportunity to present to new parents at the School's Orientation Day on Friday 25 November. An invitation was extended to the attendees to get involved with your School no matter what that looks like. Whether volunteering for the rugby BBQ, baking for a school Fair or coordinating a fundraiser, everything you do counts towards developing the culture of your school.

In lieu of the 2022 Icebreaker event, which was not possible due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the P&F contributed to the cost of catering at the 2022 Spring Soiree held at Ross Hill Cellar door on Friday 25 November.

Recognition was given at the 2022 Speech Day to the P&F volunteers for all their efforts across 2022. Dr Parry extended his sincere gratitude to the committee and associates for the positive cultural change.

This year the New year got off to a fantastic start with a Welcome Back Morning Tea for Parents held overlooking the main oval. Over 160 parents enjoyed a coffee and delicious morning tea after dropping their children to school for the start of Term 1. 

The Junior School Information Evening was another chance for the P&F to invite parents aboard and explain a bit about what we do.

The 2023 Icebreaker Events were held as separate Senior School Icebreaker and Junior School Icebreaker this year. The aim of Icebreakers being an opportunity to meet other families from your child(ren)’s year group(s), the separate events were trialled to enable slightly smaller groups to mingle for this purpose. The Senior School Icebreaker on Friday 17 February at the Canobolas Hotel Ballroom was well attended with over 270 attendees. The more intimate Junior School Icebreaker on Friday 24 February had over 70 attendees.

A Fundraiser Huddle was held 22 February with the P&F Committee and Year Group Reps to discuss fundraising targets and purpose. Funds to support the refurbishment of the school gym area was approved in principle by the 12 attendees as the purpose and a fundraising target of $35000 was approved in principle to put towards it. These ‘in principle’ targets will be recommended to the new P&F committee.

By popular vote in the fundraising poll conducted early 2022 the Kinross Wolaroi Fair has been set in the School calendar for Saturday 9 March 2024. 

On a personal note I’d like to thank the P&F committee and the Year Group Representatives and all the P&F volunteers for their time and energy. It has been a pleasure working with you for our School community. And thank you to the School for generously supporting the P&F initiatives. The P&F activities have truly been a team effort.

I wish the new committee great success in building an even stronger parent support base for our wonderful School. 

I am honoured to have had the opportunity to be a part of this important group.

Sarah Glover, President

Year Group Gatherings

Year 11 Parents and Carers are warmly invited to attend the Year 11 P&F Parent Night.

WHERE | Ross Hill Wines

WHEN | 6.30pm on Saturday 20 May 2023

TICKETS | $50 per person includes all-you-can-eat gourmet pizzas from Arancia, including dessert pizza and a soft drink, wine or beer on arrival. Additional drinks available for purchase.

RSVP | Friday 12 May 2023

BOOK NOW

For more information contact your Year 11 P&F Representatives - Rachel Goodsir and Lisa Pengilly