We are thrilled to present our latest edition of the Ravenswood Alumni Newsletter.

The school year is nearly finished! Term 3 represented a truly significant milestone for Year 12 students as they advance towards the conclusion of their schooling and prepare for their HSC and IB examinations in October. We are so proud of their achievements, and we look forward to seeing them pursuing their passions and taking on the world as Ravenswood Alumni in the coming months and years. 

The School’s new commemorative book, written to celebrate our 120th birthday in 2021 and the history of Ravenswood, will be launched early 2023.  The remainder of the year is filled with a range of exciting community events including the Ravenswood Carnival and Carols in November, Ravenswood Community Forums and reunions. 

Please remember, wherever you are in the world, you are a treasured part of the Ravenswood community, and we hope you remain safe and well. As always, if you need anything, please do not hesitate to contact the Ravenswood Alumni Community Engagement team.

Multi-Award Winning

Ravenswood has been awarded four Excellence Awards in the 2022 Australian Education Awards. Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone has received an Excellence Award for Principal of the Year for her continual innovation and application of Positive Education benefits to improve student and staff wellbeing, lift academic performance and create a warm, connected, and collegial culture at Ravenswood.

Junior School Year 5 and Year 6 Mathematics teacher Mrs Kerrie Besgrove has also achieved an Excellence Award for Primary School Teacher of the Year for her commitment to igniting the potential of every student while innovating tirelessly to improve her teaching. Mrs Besgrove also mentors individual girls and organises exciting competitions and cross-cohort activities such as da Vinci Decathlon and the Ethics Olympiad for hundreds of students annually.

Ravenswood was also awarded an Excellence Award for Boarding School of the Year and Best Student Wellbeing Program in 2022. You can read more about the awards here. 

Alumni Jordyn Christensen (2012) announced in Forbes 30 Under 30

Congratulations to Alumni Jordyn Christensen (2012) who recently made the Forbes 30 under 30 List for 2022! Jordyn is a journalist, podcast host and co-founder of Centennial Beauty— an award-winning independent publisher that covers topics related to internet culture, viral news and the creator economy. Centennial Beauty reaches 2-3 million Gen Zs across its network each month and has been cited by international titles including The New York Times, Vice, Teen Vogue and more. Launching the business in 2019, Jordyn explains, “So much sacrifice goes into building a start-up, especially doing so throughout a pandemic,” adding that she and business partner Lauren Meisner couldn’t be prouder and can't wait to see what the future brings.

12 November 2022 - RPA Ravenswood Carnival and Christmas Carols sponsored by Luschwitz Real Estate

This year the Carnival offers a wonderful mix of food, rides, sideshows and market stalls together with an exciting showcase of musical talent and Christmas Carols performed by the school choirs. The Carnival will be held 11am to 4pm, with Carols taking place between 3pm and 4pm. The RPA are calling on Ravenswood Alumni for support. 

How you can assist:

• Bake goods. The Alumni Committee will again be the hosting the traditional Alumni Homemade Cake Stall and we need your support.  This is a great time to catch up with previous Alumni and see the vision Alumni is providing our Old Girls. Bake cakes, biscuits, slices or make your favourite homemade chutney, relish or jam.  Please wrap and clearly label your goods and provide a list of every single ingredient.  Baked goods can be dropped at school (Gate 1) from Friday 11 November. 
• Volunteer on the day to assist on the bake stall. Sign up via our Alumni Volunteer Signup or email Rachel Fife (Newton 1997) at rachel.fife@fifecapital.com.au
• Volunteer to serve alcoholic drinks at the Carnival Bar (RSA Required). Sign up via our Alumni Volunteer Signup or email Rachel Fife (Newton 1997) at rachel.fife@fifecapital.com.au
• Silent Auction donations. If you are a local business or have an item you can donate, please contact Melissa Munn (1988) at msmunn@gmail.com . Examples can be professional consultations, holiday accommodation, food and beverage items for hampers, gift vouchers, sports coaching sessions, work experience opportunities for senior girls, professional photography sessions, music or sports tickets, makeovers or beauty products, discounted driving lessons and so on.
• Sponsorship opportunities. If you are a local business and interested in sponsoring our Carnival to connect with thousands of local community members, please contact Melissa Munn (1988) at msmunn@gmail.com . Sponsorship packages include Bronze ($1,000), Silver ($2,500) and Gold ($5,000).
• Market Stall opportunities. We are seeking expressions of interest from anyone who might like to run a market stall, specifically with artisanal eg homewares, clothing, accessories, crafts.  We would obviously love to support our Alumni in this area. Please contact Anne-Katrine Goulston (Sundell 1990) on 0419491595. 
• Showcase of books by Alumni Authors. Queries: Anne-Katrine Goulston (Sundell 1990) on 0419491595

RESCHEDULED – 17 November 2022 - Commemorative Paver Reveal Afternoon Tea

Commemorative pavers ordered over the past two years will be unveiled at a special afternoon tea in the Old Girls’ Courtyard. Invitations have been sent to Alumni who have purchased personalised pavers.

Engaging with our London Alumni

Principal Anne Johnstone was thrilled to welcome 15 Ravenswood Alumni living in Europe to a special reunion at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, London in June. She relished the opportunity to connect with Alumni from the Class of 1958 through to recent generations from the Class of 2014. Mrs Johnstone also met with the Hon Catherine West (1984), Labour Party Minister for Hornsey and Wood Green, Shadow Minister for Asia and Pacific, during her stay in London. 

Morning tea with previous School Leaders

Principal Anne Johnstone had the pleasure to meet with new Alumni, 2021 School leaders Captain Lauren Robinson, Vice-Captain Michelle Bulin and Vice-Captain Imogen Ryan for morning tea in August. It was a nice opportunity to catch up and find out how they are enjoying their new student life. 

Class of 1992 30 Year Reunion

The Class of 1992 held their 30 Year Reunion during September. We were delighted to welcome a group of these ladies back to the school for a tour, so they could visit familiar places and see how the campus has changed over the years.  They then joined 45 of their classmates for dinner, sharing a wonderful evening of reconnection and reminiscing.

 13 October 2022 - Ravenswood Generations Breakfast

We warmly welcome all our Alumni mothers, grandmothers and their daughters and/or granddaughters currently at the School to gather over breakfast and share memories. All tickets for the previously scheduled date are still valid for 13 October. If you haven’t yet, book your tickets here. Alternatively, if you have purchased tickets and can no longer attend, please email alumni@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au

10 November 2022 - Golden Girls’ Luncheon

Alumni who left the School 50 or more years ago are invited to the 2022 Golden Girls’ Luncheon. Book here on our Alumni reunions webpage.

USA Alumni Reunion in November

Our Principal, Mrs Anne Johnstone and Ravenswood Alumni warmly invite you to our New York Ravenswood Alumni Dinner to reminisce, reconnect and share the past, present and future together over a four-course meal and drinks. 

Hosted by Mrs Johnstone, this will be held at The Penn Club of New York, New York on Friday 4 November, from 6.30-8.30pm 

This invitation is open to all Ravenswood Alumni residing in the United States of America. Please share with other Ravenswood Alumni living in the USA, or who may be visiting the USA at the time. Find more details and book here.

Contact Ravenswood Alumni at alumni@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au

Have you checked our latest news on social media? Follow Ravenswood School for Girls on our channels:

Ravenswood Facebook: /ravenswoodschool

Ravenswood Twitter: @Ravenswood_News

Ravenswood Instagram: @Ravenswood_School

Ravenswood LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/ravenswood-school-for-girls

The Alumni Committee is keen to encourage connections and potential mentoring relationships between all Alumni members, so we are encouraging you to share your details on LinkedIn by joining the official and private Ravenswood Alumni LinkedIn group. 

Ravenswood Alumni LinkedIn:  To join, please use the following link Ravenswood School for Girls Alumni.  

Ravenswood Alumni Committee

Lisa Boyce (Clancy, 1990) President

Georgia Vanos (2001) Vice President

Soriah MacLean (2013) Treasurer

Vivienne Yang (2020) Secretary

Anne-Katrine Goulston (Sundell, 1990)

Rachel Fife (Newton, 1997)

Sarah Robinson (Newton, 1992)

Melissa Munn (1988)

Ravenswood Alumni Committee Priorities

The Ravenswood Alumni Committee is currently focused on four key priorities:

• Financial literacy and education
• Support for recent school leavers
• Careers support
• Governance

In April, the Alumni Committee kindly donated around 40 financial education books to the Ravenswood Learning Resources Centre, to provide students with a range of financial literacy resources to assist them make informed judgments and effective decisions regarding the use and management of money. Topics include applying for your first part-time job, saving and investing while at school, and financial considerations when moving out of home.

‘The Committee is passionate about empowering Ravenswood girls’ financial literacy and committed to growing their understanding of how money and investing work to provide them with the best foundation for their futures,’ said President of Ravenswood Alumni Lisa Boyce. ‘The Committee is also exploring how to complement these resources with access to financial experts via forums including presentations and podcasts.’

In addition to the financial literacy initiative, a key priority for the Committee is to enable wellbeing support for recent school leavers. The Committee is working with a potential partner to provide this and hopes to be able to share news of this important initiative shortly.

Providing career support and ensuring the Alumni Committee operates under the optimal governance structure also remain areas of focus. Committee membership has increased over recent months.