Parent Partnership
Starting at a new school can feel like stepping into the unknown, for students and parents alike. At Wenona, the journey towards connection begins even before the academic year commences and continues through a calendar of events designed to bring our community together.
It is a concept executed through a partnership between the Wenona Parents’ Association (WPA) and the School, providing opportunities for parents and guardians to feel comfortable from day one, rather than navigating large formal events on their own.
We begin with the Parent Meet and Greet during the week before Term 1 starts, which in 2026 was held at St Leonard’s Park on Wednesday 28 January. “It was a wonderful event, bringing together new and existing families to begin to establish the relationships that will form the foundation of their time at Wenona,” said WPA President, Ms Sharmila Soorian.
As the calendar unfolds, parents and guardians will be invited to Year Group morning teas. Families with daughters in our intake years (Years 3, 5, and 7) are encouraged to attend upcoming special lunches held in the homes of our generous parent volunteers.
This year, our first major gathering will be the Welcome Parents’ Cocktail Party on Friday 13 February. A much-loved tradition, the evening will bring parents and staff together in the Undercroft and Central Garden for conversation and canapés. As Wenona marks its 140th anniversary, it will be a chance to celebrate this milestone, reconnect with familiar faces, meet new families, and share in the community that makes this School distinctive.
According to our Executive Director, Foundation and Advancement, Ms Marie Soghomonian, these events also provide wonderful opportunities for parents to connect with Principal, Ms Linda Douglas, and other key academic staff. “It is always wonderful to witness so many organic opportunities for parents to gain a deeper understanding of our staff’s deep commitment to girls’ education,” she said.
Ms Soorian, whose daughter is in Year 12 this year, adds, “These parent opportunities would not be possible without the collaboration between the School and our hard-working parent Year Representatives. Our parents are tireless in their support, from organising venues including the homes of parent volunteers, and overseeing ticket sales for events. They are fantastic”.
A Calendar of Connection
The weeks ahead will be rich with further opportunities to come together. On Wednesday 11 March, the Women of Spirit Breakfast will celebrate International Women’s Day with distinguished Alumna, The Hon Houda Younan (1991), recently appointed Federal Court Judge. Open to parents, Alumnae and friends of the School, this much-loved community event will mark the United Nations theme, ‘Balance the Scales’, which focuses on achieving a fair, inclusive and accessible justice system for all women and girls and highlights the urgent need to address systematic discrimination, gender-based violence and structural barriers that prevent women from accessing justice under the law. Justice Younan’s career exemplifies service beyond self, from her early years at Wenona to leading legal work in some of Australia’s most significant cases. This promises to be a morning to honour the strength, leadership and impact of women at Wenona and beyond, while marking the School’s 140th anniversary. All are welcome.
On Thursday 19 March, the New Parents’ Welcome Dinner offers families beginning their Wenona journey an evening of conversation and connection with Ms Douglas, senior staff, and fellow new families. It is an opportunity to meet the people who will support your daughter’s education and start building the friendships that make School life richer for the whole family.
Wenona’s global reach will also be on display this term, with a Hong Kong Community Event on Friday 13 March at the Cordis Hotel. Ms Douglas will share her strategic vision and connect with past and current families, Alumnae, and prospective parents at this celebration of Wenona’s 140th anniversary; a reminder that the School’s community extends well beyond North Sydney.
Later in Term 1, the Alumnae Mother Daughter Breakfast on Wednesday 25 March will provide another chance for families to share a moment together within the Wenona community.
As the year progresses, further traditional parent opportunities will take place, along with café and restaurant outings, excursions and Junior School-organised events for our cherished grandparents. One of the year's most anticipated highlights will be the biennial WPA Spring Fair, the biggest community event on the Wenona calendar. A treasured tradition that brings the entire School community together, the Fair features market stalls, food, entertainment, and fundraising in support of means-tested scholarships. The Wenona Foundation Sports Lunch on Friday 22 May at the Hilton Sydney will bring together the wider Wenona community to acknowledge our sporting legacy and current achievements, while the Foundation will also host opportunities to celebrate our international families.
The Wenona Parent Education Program will continue to provide valuable insights about supporting daughters through their adolescent years. “These evenings are very useful, especially the sessions on mental health,” Ms Soorian noted.
With many further opportunities to connect, the Wenona approach ensures parents and guardians remain engaged throughout their daughters’ educational journey. It is an approach that also comes with academic benefits for the students. According to a 2022 Australian Education Department resource, when parents feel connected to their child’s school community, students demonstrate improved outcomes.