PARENTS OF RUYTON (POR) 2020 was a year like no other and one that definitely challenged us to think differently and be more inventive in our approach to events and community building! Despite the challenges, there were many positive outcomes which came from those hurdles and our need to think differently. As Melbourne went into lockdown we needed to move the POR and Year Level Representative meetings online. This actually allowed for record numbers to attend, as previously many working parents juggled to attend meetings with work. Such positive feedback has come from these Zoom calls that moving forward we are going to look at having a balance between physical and virtual meetings, to ensure more members of our community can be involved. Clearly 2020 threw us some curve balls and despite not being able to hold any events, the POR still found a way to ensure people connected. Community is so central to the POR that last year we launched a cookbook called exactly that Community. The book is a culmination of months of work by a dedicated team and contributions from the far reaching community of past and present students, teachers and family that Ruyton has built over many decades. The cookbook features treasured, tried and true family recipes, many of which have been brought to life by the beautiful food styling and photography of Claudia Anton. Samantha Robertson did a phenomenal job designing the book alongside the help of Sharron Maher, Jenny Woollard and the Community Relations team. Proofreaders played an integral role in producing the final product. Thanks to Amanda Aitkin, Jen Alexander, Kylie Harrison, Domenica Lamont, Sue McLeish, Helen Moss, Kate Robertson, Karina Woolrich, Melinda Gray and Melissa Haberfield. 28
2021 has started well with many committee members and Parent Representatives assisting the School at the Senior School Parent Welcome Function held at the start of Term 1. The night was a great success with many new and familiar parents in attendance. It was so lovely to see so many people finally back together and the evening was a buzz of excitement as parents reconnected after what felt like a period of hibernation. The POR is excited about the number of new parents expressing an interest to get involved and lend a hand across the broad range of groups which fall under the umbrella of the POR. We have some new team members in the second hand uniform store (SHUS), who have been working hard to organise and grade the abundance of uniforms delivered by the community to put back into circulation. Alongside SHUS there are lots of other opportunities to get involved through the POR, with something for everyone including Year Level Representatives, FORPA (Performing Arts), Questers who organise the Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stalls and sewing of smocks, the Care Group which provides meals to families at the School in need, Henty Rowing and Ruyton Velo. Like many things in life, you get out of it what you put in, and we warmly encourage all of the families at Ruyton to be involved as we know you will end up gaining so much from the experience, it is also a great way to support your daughter(s). Equally we would like to thank everyone for their continued support and for making the POR such a rewarding group to be involved in. Melissa Haberfield and Annabel Dundas POR Co-Presidents
the ruyton reporter
