Good morning everyone. At the very beginning of the year, Nikitha and I stood before you (virtually) on behalf of the Prefect Board to deliver our pledge to you. 

We pledged to create an inclusive environment and new opportunities; to celebrate individuality and diversity; to promote learning for life; to build relationships; and to make your voice heard. 

We've faced many obstacles to realise these goals, but the payoffs have been well worth it. 

Throughout the year, we attended a range of leadership forums to develop our ideas and teamwork skills. We started with the GRIP Conference in Term 1, which gave us initiative and ideas to make an impact; the Tasmanian Youth Forum in Term 2 opened our eyes to a range of issues affecting young people, including mental health learning. In Term 3, we were able to communicate messaging to the school around sun safety after the Cancer Council SunSmart workshop.  

Volunteering our time for a range of community initiatives and school events helped us to further develop our leadership skills. We delivered phone books on behalf of the council, participated in the ANZAC Day Parade and Remembrance Day Service; protested against elder abuse; coordinated a team for the very memorable Relay For Life; and ran the Bunnings BBQ for a day. 

Within the school, we hosted a morning tea to build connections and celebrate our teaching staff. We assisted at parent-teacher nights; helped run science week activities; held house challenges at the recent Athletics Carnival; and of course, we frequently donned our high vis vests for car parking duties. 

All of these experiences helped inform our own initiatives and activities, allowing us to make a greater impact within our roles. We started the year by raising awareness and funds for our sponsor child, Nitin, and are proud to have been supporting his community for over five years now. Then, Harmony Week celebrated the diversity that enriches our school and Relay for Life brought the community together.  

In Term 2, Arts Week and drama competitions celebrated the wide array of talent we have at Riverside. Pride Week and karaoke brought our community closer even as COVID restrictions remained tight. Term 3 started with the Can Drive, where every morning we were staggering under the weight of your generous donations. We participated in the 40-Hour Famine to walk in the shoes of refugees; and launched the Student Voice podcast, creating over 10 episodes to promote belonging and raise awareness. Term 3 also brought our biggest event of the year; the Big Freeze was a highlight of 2022 and brought the whole Riverside community together.  

Finally, in Term 4, we held our highly successful silent auction and finished planning for our outdoor stage. We finished by holding Christmas events in Week 8 for some final fun to round off the year. 

For many of these events, we were not just able to bring the school together and make memories, but also raise awareness and funds for a wide range of charities. 

It's been a huge year. Thank you everyone for your support of our initiatives and for making your ideas known. It's been our absolute privilege to serve the community throughout this year. We wish you a safe and happy holidays. Thank you. 

Erin C