Lux Mea Summer 2020/2021

OUR COMMUNITY

Spotlight on

Claudette Siroky

Claudette Siroky is the Vice President of the Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School Parents’ Association (IGGSPA). Claudette has enjoyed being an active member and becoming part of the Ivanhoe Girls’ community.

Claudette first started volunteering at Ivanhoe Girls’ on the annual Alpine Snowsports Camp and Interschools Championships when her daughter Scarlett was in Year 5. Being involved with school Alpine Skiing turned out to be a lot of fun.

“It became a beautiful community thing to do, with a pre competition dinner in Melbourne and then getting together with some of the parents at the snow, having dinner, the kids making friends and playing card games at the table” she says.

Since then, Claudette has been a regular fixture at IGGSPA, and has helped out at everything from Jam Making, the Second Life Uniform Shop (SLU), Hot Cross Bun Drive and Year 6 Class Event Coordinator.

More recently IGGSPA has had to adapt to a virtual world and Claudette has helped with the Virtual Mother’s Day lunch and Virtual Movie Nights to keep community connections going.

“I’m a firm believer in doing whatever we can do to make the world a better place,” explains Claudette. “Everything we do as individuals contributes to the greater good and this is one way that I can contribute.”

“Whether it’s bringing people together, or helping people out… or just a feeling that you want to do something good, that's where it all comes from,” she says.

a great way to meet other families.

“It’s not the same as it used to be, when parents would drop kids off and you'd meet people that way,” explains Claudette. “A lot of parents work and as the kids get older you are not going to be walking them into school.”

Instead, Claudette has found those friendly connections volunteering through IGGSPA. “The School has a nice amount of social activities,” explains Claudette, “and it keeps you connected with the School and the people that are part of the School and I think that's a really lovely community spirit to have,” she says. “I really like that.”

As Vice President, Claudette would love to see more parents joining IGGSPA. “It doesn’t have to be a big commitment,” she says.

“Even if you helped at SLU three times a year, or volunteered to help on Open Day, many hands make light work.”

In particular she would love to see more parents coming along to social events, for example the Father’s Day Breakfast or the Christmas Lunch. “Even if you come to one or two events in a year it's a nice way to connect to the community,” she says.

“They end up being a lot of fun.”

Claudette works full time as an Art Director, and when her daughter first started at Ivanhoe Girls’, being involved became

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All About IGGSPA The Ivanhoe Girls’ Parents Association (IGGSPA) was formed in 2018 after the amalgamation of the Mothers’ Association and the Parents’ and Friends Association.

It’s a vibrant organisation and a warm and welcoming community of like-minded parents.

“I’ve made lots of nice friends who will probably now be lifelong friends,” says IGGSPA President, Lynne Pike-Overall. “It's nice to get together with a group of people that have a common goal and a common understanding of being part of a community and working together to achieve things.”

IGGSPA offers a variety of sub-committees for parents to join, and contribute as little or as much as they like. Attending monthly meetings can pose a challenge to many busy parents, but with activities ranging from organising events, to coordinating parent seminars and helping out in the Second Life Uniform Shop, there is something for everyone.

“We are all there because we are interested in our children’s lives, and we want to be a part of what they are a part of,” says Lynne.

“I just wanted to be more involved, and to help out where I could.”

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“It’s a way of becoming part of the School community and contributing and giving back to the School that personally has done a lot for my child and my family. We’ve loved every minute.”

If you would like to find out more about joining IGGSPA, contact: parentsassociation@ivanhoegirls.vic.edu.au

Jam Committee Claudette Fisher, PaolaDrSquires and Fiona[2] Kline [1] Year 12 Leaders pictured with Principal[1] DrL-R: Deborah Priest and members Deputy Principal andSiroky, Head Linda of Senior School, Matthew Bach.

L-R: [2]Hannah Claudette enjoys a VirtualMartin Mother's Luncheon Kerrie Haynes, Georgia Martin, Heather Low, Price.

[3] Georgia andDay Hannah Price.

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