Geoff Marsh, Head of Frensham Schools
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, Frensham Schools hosted the annual Parent Welcome Drinks at the heart of our main campus. Over 400 parents gathered around the Deer Pond to spend a fabulous evening together on our beautiful campus. A great time was had by all.
Highlighting the strong sense of community that is integral to our School culture, this type of gathering is particularly significant given the geographically diverse make-up of our parent body.
Parental involvement and support are key in creating a high-functioning school. At Frensham and Frensham Junior School, we are fortunate to have parents who are willing and able to contribute through various channels. These contributions not only enrich our school life, they also foster a sense of belonging for all our students and allow our parents to connect and reconnect socially, often forming lifelong friendships.
Research consistently shows that when parents are actively engaged in their children’s education, student achievement lifts, and perhaps more importantly, students’ social and emotional development is enhanced. This engagement becomes even more critical in a boarding school setting, where some of our families aren’t located in the same town, city or even state.
The adage “it takes a village to raise a child” resonates deeply at Frensham Schools. We recognise that education is a collaborative effort between the school, parents, and the wider community.
While we understand that parents may not always completely agree with every school policy, we believe that an alignment of values between home and school is essential. This alignment creates a consistent and supportive environment that better allows students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Winifred West in an address to the school in 1932 described it this way, “We live in a series of concentric circles, our personalities at the centre, then our immediate contacts, our families and school – the circles ever widening” with our shared values in all and through all.
Our Term 1 welcome event is just one example of how we widen our ‘concentric circles’ and foster parent-school partnership. By providing opportunities for parents to connect with each other and with staff, we strengthen the fabric of our school community. These connections help parents stay informed about their children’s experiences and allow them to actively participate in school life, even from a distance.
Year Weekends also play a vital role in establishing a cohesive community. These weekends foster parent-school engagement and provide opportunities for parents to connect with their daughters’ friends and their families.
In our future planning, we remain committed to nurturing these relationships. We encourage all parents to stay involved, whether through attending events, participating in committees, or simply maintaining open lines of communication with our staff. Your engagement not only supports your child’s individual growth but also contributes to the overall success of our schools.