COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Parents’ & Friends’ Association

The St Hilda’s Parents’ & Friends’ Association (P&F) continues to facilitate engagement and a sense of community between parents, the School and students, to enhance the St Hilda’s experience for our daughters. They are a group of passionate parents who work with our dedicated parent representatives to provide information and support to families in our community. All parents are encouraged to get involved and contribute to the life of our wonderful school.

Whilst COVID caused the cancellation or restructuring of some events, we were still able to offer some superb events such as Dusty Boots & City Suits and the Combined Soiree with CCGS. It was wonderful to see these events were well supported by our parents. Where possible the P&F seeks to contribute to the St Hilda’s school experience. This is achievable through membership dues and committee fundraising drives. Mango Madness and Lobster Lunacy are popular fundraising events that are eagerly anticipated in the School calendar. In 2021 the P&F funded a beautiful mural in the Year 7 area on the Senior School campus by artist Brenton See. It was in honour of the 125th celebrations and recognised the House flowers, rivers and local birdlife.

It has also committed $125,000 to the Heritage Centre which will be a beautiful space to celebrate the history and traditions of our great school. In November a new committee was voted in for 2022. This group of parents are very excited to connect and engage with all St Hilda’s families. We welcome the following members: President Caroline Houghton

Senior School Vice President

Anthea Cooke

Junior School Vice President

Ashlee Harrison

Secretary Treasurer

General Committee - Ian Lynass En Khong Katya Lakshmi Julia Shadlow-Bath Emma Wood Annette Della Vedova Tracey Vu

As a committee we have repurposed the P&F mission statement to reflect the future of our organisation. With all families we are seeking to: Connect and Engage Include and Share Improve and Invest

Whilst 2022 will bring uncertainty to many social activities, we look forward to finding fresh and creative ways to engage with and support the St Hilda’s community.

Parent Survey

St Hilda’s is committed to listening to the views and expectations of key stakeholders and commissions independent surveys to provide performance feedback on a wide range of related education topics. The feedback from these surveys greatly assists the School with both its operational and strategic planning and its determination to continually improve the educational experience offered to the students.

In the 2021 survey: • 86% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to the quality of teaching; • 92% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to a balanced education; • 87% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to the focus on student wellbeing, providing a safe and caring environment; • 93% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to facilities and resources, and • 95% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to the academic standards. “(I value the) relationships with individual teachers who care about my daughter and her educational experience. St Hilda’s provides students with sound values, and in addition to academic opportunities, great friendships that will last a life-time.”

2021 was a particularly special year, as the St Hilda’s Community celebrated 125 years since Miss Ross opened her house to students in Claremont in 1886. Many events were organised throughout the year for us all to come together to celebrate St Hilda’s as one of the oldest girls’ schools in Western Australia and for shaping the future of over 10,000 students. Even though the year had COVID lingering in the background, we were very fortunate to live in Western Australia and to be able to live relatively normally. Compared to last year when many of our OSA events were cancelled, we have enjoyed re-connecting with many Old Scholar members at many events throughout the year.

Year 7 Pin Presentation

In early March the Year 7 Pin Presentation was held during assembly in the Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre. The Year 7 students, who are daughters and/ or granddaughters of Old Scholars were presented with an Ammonite pin to wear on their blazer. These pins were introduced to recognise students who have connections with Old Scholars and to acknowledge the traditions and values of the Association. It was wonderful to welcome the students’ families and Old Scholar relations back to the School for this special occasion.

OSA Year Reps

On Wednesday 10 March we were delighted to welcome back nearly 50 OSA Year Representatives for drinks in the Gallery of Hope Nicholas House. It was a wonderful opportunity to touch base and to thank each Year Representative for being an essential link in the connections between the OSA, St Hilda’s and between each Old Scholar of each peer group. Whilst every year we celebrate the big round numbered reunions, it is still important to connect in between those years and to meet and to keep the community of Old Scholars as intact as possible. Kellie Hasluck, Director of School Development, also gave a short presentation on the planned events for St Hilda’s 125th anniversary celebrations and for the current fundraising campaign to raise money to transform Hope Nicholas House into a Heritage Centre that will house and display St Hilda’s collection of archives, artifacts, digital images and recordings. It will allow future families to better understand St Hilda’s rich history and the place that St Hilda’s has held for 125 years in being a leading educator of young women. It will also provide a modern, flexible meeting and learning space for the whole community to use and for Old Scholars to reminisce and record their own St Hilda’s journey.

OSA Bridge and Mahjong Day

On Wednesday March 24, perfect weather and a wonderful turnout helped make the 2021 OSA Bridge and Mahjong Day a great success. Having missed the opportunity last year, due to COVID, the Bridge and Mahjong players came out in force with 22 tables set up through Hope Nicholas House. It was a great opportunity for Old Scholars to get together, and to bring their non-Old Scholar friends, and the event is also a valuable fundraiser for the OSA Scholarship funds. What a fantastic day it was at the 2021 OSA Bazaar held the day before Mother’s Day on Saturday May 8. We were incredibly lucky with the sun shining and the COVID restrictions being lifted only the day before. The Bazaar was a record-breaking success with more than $32,000 raised for the OSA Scholarship Program. The Bazaar would not have been so successful without all the wonderful organisation from the OSA Bazaar Committee of all the wonderful supporters of the OSA. This year the Bazaar was held in conjunction with the Senior School Open Day which also allowed us to show St Hilda’s off to potential parents and the wider community.

OSA Mentoring

As the Year 12 students at St Hilda’s prepare for their future once they have left school, there is a growing importance on mentors in their lives. This starts at School with the OSA Mentoring Program where we welcome back Old Scholars to share career experiences with current students. Over two weeks in June, ‘Mentor & Muesli’ sessions were held before school, covering a wide range of career options. The events provided students to have lengthy conversations with Old Scholars about their chosen field of study and career paths. Thank you to all the Old Scholars who participated in these breakfast sessions. The OSA is extremely grateful to them for the time they have taken out of their busy schedule for these events.

OSA 70+ Morning Tea

The OSA welcomed back to St Hilda’s many of our elder members at the 70+ Morning Tea in August. The School Hall was bustling with more than 130 Old Scholars reminiscing about the good old days as students of St Hilda’s. It was an extra special occasion as we celebrated the 125th Anniversary of the School with a cake made especially for the morning.

School’s 125th Birthday Celebrations

Over the week from the 12 – 17 September the St Hilda’s Community came together to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the School. Many Old Scholars returned to the School to attend many of the events such as a Twilight Chapel Service, Choral Concert, School Assembly and a Fun Run. The highlight of the week was seeing one of our eldest Old Scholars, Vivienne Jackson (Johnston 1942), on the stage cutting the School’s birthday cake at the 125th Anniversary Assembly.

OSA Art Exhibition

The OSA Art Exhibition opened with a wonderful party held on Thursday 28 October in the stunning Forrest Foyer of the Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre. The very talented artists participating in this year’s event proudly displayed their work and mingled with the many guests attending. The exhibition was open over the weekend drawing many people both from within and outside of the School community to enjoy the display of incredible artwork. The funds raised help provide scholarships for future generations of St Hilda’s girls.