The Board met yesterday evening, with Lisa presenting to the team on Community, Leadership and Use of Resources. It was fascinating for the Board to hear what happens behind the scenes to ensure the school runs so smoothly:
The school has several community partnerships. This includes third party providers like OSH Club, Marshalls Tennis, Football West and Bricks 4 Kids. If you’d like to see other before or after school activities offered, please encourage providers to submit a proposal.
Richmond is part of the Riverside Network of Schools. All staff meet with their peers in that network to share knowledge and support each other. We also collaborate with local high schools – Melville, John Curtin and the Leeming Education Support Centre – and maintain relationships with key local organisations like the Town of East Fremantle.
Lisa explained where the school’s funding comes from, where it is expended and how it is acquitted. The school receives student centred funding depending on the number and demographics of our students. The bulk goes to wages for our wonderful staff. Elaine Van Den Elzen, Manager Corporate Services (MCS), works diligently to deploy what remains and any additional funds (e.g. from voluntary contributions) to manage physical resources, including utilities, paint, carpets, cleaning and computer leases. Elaine does a marvellous job seeking supplementary grants and we can all be grateful for her legendary budgeting skills.
The school’s leadership structure assigns the five strategic plan areas to the Principal, Deputies and MCS. The teaching staff form four year-based teams, each with a team leader.
Student leadership is also important at Richmond, with several opportunities to experience what it’s like to lead in the Arts, Environment, Technology and Peer Support teams as well as the head student, student councillor and house captain roles. Well done to all who have put their hands up to lead, it’s a joy to see the spirit of volunteering among our students.
We also discussed parent requests for additional uniform items and we’re delighted that Uniform Concepts can offer a one-off special order of gold short sleeve cotton polos and blue broad brimmed hats. They are also seeking a gold long sleeve polo option. We’ll let you know when they are available for order. Please also note, they have in stock fourteen original gold long sleeve polos (sizes 10 to 14) should parents wish to buy them now.
On behalf of past and present Board members and the parent body, we say farewell and thank you to Lisa Dentith for her outstanding leadership at Richmond for the past 17 years. She has led the school with grace and kindness, and it has been our honour to work alongside her. You will be missed, Lisa.
Our next meeting is Tuesday 26 October. As always, please get in touch with any queries.
Lacey Filipich (Chair)
On behalf of the School Board