PARENTS OF RUYTON

PARENTS OF RUYTON (POR)

Adaptability and resourcefulness were key elements the POR needed to support the Ruyton community as we navigated distance learning, social restrictions, and quarantine in 2021. Year level gatherings moved online with events such as movie nights and cooking classes. A Community Resource Hub was established with essential provisions promoted such as dog walking provided by the MLC Community Care Group. The strong community spirit that exists at Ruyton prevailedthroughout. In recognition of the extraordinary contribution of the Ruyton teachers and staff, morning tea treats were organised by the POR and Ruyton Care Group in Terms 2 and 4. The Ruyton Care Group, led by Phoebe Juebner, worked tirelessly throughout the year to support our community with home cooked meals. For Teacher Appreciation Day the Ruyton community uploaded texts, videos and drawings with messages of gratitude and thanks onto virtual Kudoboards which were then distributed to the Early Learning, Junior School and Senior School teachers and staff. These delightful andheartfelt messages were simply an absolute joy to view. In the final weeks of Term 4, a Christmas Stall was held for the Junior School students supported by Rhiannon Broomfield, Elli Beggs, Nicole Bidmead, Annabel Dundas, Bridget Langley and Year 5 volunteers. Withtheir shopping lists in hand the girls were able to select gifts for their mothers, fathers andsiblings. One of the key highlights of 2021 was our inaugural Ruyton Christmas Market. Online purchases of the Ruyton knitted dolls, each one unique and handmade by a dedicated team of knitters led by Kathryn Brown and including Susan Cook, Mariagrazia De Luca, Nicola Nagy and Felicity Whitworth, and the Ruyton rabbits, utilising upcycled winter shirts and summer dresses and handmade by Annabel Dundas and Bridget Langley sold out quickly. Raffle tickets were sold for the chance to win a dream Dolls House. This three bedroom mansion was painstakingly restored by ElliBeggs and simply stunning with intricate interior details and furniture. Included were several bespoke Ruyton touches, such as a miniature Ruyton Community cookbook in the kitchen and the house was festively decorated for Christmas.

Ruyton picnic blankets were also made availableto the community to purchase andthesale of these has enabled the POR todonate blankets to the Junior School for thegirls to use outdoors. The online market orders and wooden Christmas trees and reindeers, provided by Andrea Fyfe, were collected from Wardynski’s House at a stand staffed by POR volunteers Andrea Fyfe, Elli Beggs, Annabel Dundas and Bridget Langley. The event was the POR’s main fundraiser for the year. In recognition of their vision, the proceeds set aside for Questers willbe directed towards the beautification ofthe School.

The POR extends a sincere thank you to all the Ruyton volunteers for their remarkable contribution and support throughout 2021 and are extremely grateful for the ongoing support provided by Linda Douglas, Sally de Guingand, Jenni Musgrove, Ann Sciberras, EdenPhillips and Brigid Steele at Ruyton. Annabel Dundas and Bridget Langley POR Co-Presidents