Ms Ruth Adams

As we step into a new year, the familiar greeting of “Happy New Year!” still lingers in the air —often well into March! But when exactly does it become “too late” to wish someone a happy new year? At Tara, we seem to stretch this tradition a little longer, and why not? This is a unique place where the spirit of renewal, fresh starts, and new beginnings doesn’t have an expiration date.

For teachers and girls alike, each new year in Junior School brings with it endless opportunities for growth, learning, and transformation. As educators and students, we have the privilege of embarking on a journey of discovery together, setting goals, and working towards them with a shared sense of purpose. At the start of the year, it’s exciting to refresh routines, establish new expectations, and embrace both familiar faces and new girls and staff. Whether it's welcoming new Tara girls into the key intake years of ELC, Kindergarten and Year 5, getting to know fresh faces new to the educational team, or just adjusting to idea of Ms Poletto teaching PE (!), the energy of change is palpable.

This ongoing renewal at Tara is definitely a perk of my job—there’s always something new to learn, try, and explore. As I shared at the Learning Information evening, in 2025 the Junior School is building on our previous work in research-informed literacy instruction, and in light of new NESA syllabus directions, to have a year long focus on what we are calling our ‘Grammar Project’. This will support girls in demystifying the essence of a well-constructed simple or complex sentence, paragraph and text, to set them up for personal success in communicating well.

This is just one demonstration of how the Junior School is constantly innovating, finding what works and what doesn’t, tweaking our approach, and making sure that each year brings with it a fresh wave of enthusiasm. And, as anyone who has ever been a part of a school year knows, plans on paper often look different once they are put into action. The “match play” of the year begins as we navigate unexpected turns, but that’s where the true magic happens.

New opportunities, new challenges, and new beginnings are always around the corner. And isn’t that the essence of the new year? The chance to start fresh, to look forward, and to embrace the joy of what’s yet to come.

Tara Hub Committee warmly invites the Tara Community to the first meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, 4 March. We welcome all parents to attend. We are pleased to have Mr Scott Baker, Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School, who will share insights into the HSC results of the Class of 2024.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, 4 March 2025
• Dinner and Drinks: From 6:00pm
• Presentation: Starts at 7:00pm
• Venue: Bowern Room, Senior School

We hope you can join us for an insightful and engaging evening.

To book your spot, please use the link below.

https://www.trybooking.com/CZDYS

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Welcome Drinks – Twilight at Tara! With over 200 parents, carers, and staff in attendance, it was a fantastic evening filled with connection and community.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, catch up with old friends, and warmly welcome new families to the Tara community. It was especially inspiring to see our Community Groups come together, encouraging participation in the many fantastic programs our School offers.

A special thank you to Sport, Badminton, Friends of Rowing, IT, Tara Snowsports, the Aquatic Centre, and the Tara Dads Club for their involvement, and to Tara Hub for hosting such a memorable evening. We truly appreciate your presence and support in making this event so special.

Time is running out. There is just one day left to register for this year’s International Women’s Day celebration. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from two inspiring speakers and enjoy special performances by our talented students.

Meet Our Speakers by clicking the button below!

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, 6 March 2025
• Time: 7:00am – Light Breakfast, 7:30am – Speakers and Student Performances
• Venue: Tara Chapel

All families, students, and staff are welcome. Secure your spot by using the link below. Bookings close Tuesday, 4 March 2025.

We look forward to celebrating with you.

Booking form https://www.trybooking.com/CYTIN

The Tara Dads Club would like to invite you to their next Annual General Meeting (AGM), taking place on Wednesday, 26 March, at 7:00pm in the Chapel. Elections will be held for key committee roles, including President, Vice President, Secretary, and year group representatives.

Join Us for a Networking Event Before the AGM:

Before the AGM, we warmly invite you to a networking evening in the Chapel foyer from 6:00pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with fellow members and welcome new faces.

To assist with catering, please RSVP by Tuesday, 25 March 2025, using the link below:

Tara Dads Club - Networking and Annual General Meeting

Get Involved – Join the TDC Committee

We encourage all members to attend and consider joining the TDC Committee. If you are passionate about strengthening the bond between fathers and their daughters, we would love to have you on board.

To nominate yourself for a position, please complete the attached nomination form and email it to taradadsclub@tara.nsw.edu.au

Once again, the Tara School Community is proud to participate in the Mother’s Day Classic at Parramatta Park. Join us on Sunday, 11 May, as we walk 5km together in support of this incredible cause. 

We will meet at 8:30am to take part in this inspiring event, now in its 28th year, raising vital funds for breast and ovarian cancer research. We look forward to walking together for a meaningful cause.  

To register, please join the Tara Tigers team via this link. 

Mother's Day Classic Foundation: Tickets 

We are delighted to invite you to an insightful talk by Australia’s leading expert in Cyber safety Susan McLean. This essential session will provide valuable guidance on keeping our children safe in the digital world, and we strongly encourage all parents to attend.

Susan McLean is not only a national leader in online safety but also a globally recognised expert.

This event is free of charge as we recognise the critical importance of this topic. However, places are limited, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible to secure your spot.

Please see the details below and use the link below to RSVP by Wednesday, 12 March 2025.

Susan McLean – Cyber Safety Talk

We are now certainly back into full swing with the afternoon swimming program and squads. If you have been away and would like to re-enrol it is now the perfect time to do so or if you would like to join our program, please contact our reception on 8838 2699 or email: swimming@tara.nsw.edu.au

Learn to Swim run: Monday to Friday Afternoon: 3.30pm - 6.30pm  

Another “Twilight Race Night”: As the last “Twilight Race Night” was such a success we will be putting on another race night. Please stay tuned for the details and date! Get those race swimmers ready! 

Price Increase for 2025: It’s a privilege to support your child’s swimming journey, and we remain committed to providing high quality coaching in a fun, safe, and supportive environment.

To continue delivering exceptional lessons, investing in our expert instructors, and maintaining top tier facilities, we will be making a small adjustment to our lesson and squad pricing from April 1 2025:

Learn to Swim – $25.56 per lesson (Tara Students: $23.00)

• Mini Squads – $177.78 per month (Tara Students: $160.00)
• Junior/Senior Squads – $188.89 per month (Tara Students: $170.00)
• Power Hour (1 session/week) – $88.89 per month (Tara Students: $80.00)
• Power Hour (2-3 sessions/week) – $177.78 per month (Tara Students: $160.00)

We know that any change requires adjustment, and we want to thank you for your ongoing trust and support. This update allows us to keep delivering outstanding programs that help your child grow, improve, and thrive in the water.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re excited for another fantastic season of swimming and can’t wait to see your child continue to shine in the pool. 

Active Kids: We are now accepting Active Kids and First Lap vouchers. To use them in our program, please forward the details to swimming@tara.nsw.edu.au with your child’s details.      

Squads: If you have a child or know someone who is at squad level, and are wanting to join Swimming@Tara squads, please email swimming@tara.nsw.edu.au so we can get them in for an assessment!     

The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge has opened for 2025. 

“The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is open to all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 10, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools.” 

If you have retained your daughter’s unique username and password from previous years you can now login and start entering completed books into their personal reading log.  If your daughter has participated before at a previous school and would like to join in at Tara please email Mrs Paul spaul@tara.nsw.edu.au and let her know the name of the previous school as well as her wish to participate. If your daughter hasn’t participated before, please also email Mrs Paul to be registered. 

All reading they have done over the Christmas break can be included in this year’s challenge. To complete the challenge Kindergarten to year 2 must read or share 30 books and years 3-10 must read 20 books independently.  There are special provisions available. The Junior School Library has a vast quantity of Premier’s Reading Challenge books available to support your daughter complete the challenge. The challenge closes on Friday 22nd August 2025. 

For more information check out the PRC website https://online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/home.html or email Mrs Paul.

Happy reading!

Wednesday, March 26, saw Tara's first IB Diploma Programme information evening. With well over 100 people attending, interest in the programme was high, and families were keen to hear about its benefits and how it compares to the HSC. 

"I am excited that Tara is offering its Year 11 and 12 students an additional pathway to University. The IB DP is fantastic preparation for University. With the inclusion of the Extended Essay and the unique Theory of Knowledge course, it develops critical thinkers with a global mindset." said Natalie Fairfax, the IB Diploma Programme Coordinator at Tara.

Recently, our Year 7 girls set off on an unforgettable adventure at camp, stepping beyond their comfort zones, forming new friendships, and embracing every challenge with enthusiasm and determination.

Through a mix of exciting outdoor activities, team-building exercises, and personal challenges, the girls developed important life skills, from problem-solving and resilience to communication and teamwork. Whether conquering high ropes, navigating bushwalks, or working together in group challenges, each experience helped them grow in confidence and strengthen their bond as a year group!

A main focus of the Year 10 pastoral program this year is on service to others, building community relationships as we STEP UP and STEP OUT.

Last Friday, our Year 10 girls participated in the launch of Walk the Talk with Enlighten Education, a program raising awareness of domestic violence and women’s homelessness while equipping them with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful impact in their community.

The girls valued the opportunity to deepen their understanding of consent and how to navigate real-life situations. Reflecting on the experience, Sophia shared, "Domestic violence is a really broad term, and until Friday, I didn't understand the extent of women it affects in so many different ways. Our presenter, Joy, expanded my knowledge in an engaging manner, which I am able to carry on throughout my life. I think I am speaking for everyone when I say that the session opened our eyes to the real-world struggles so many people face daily when it comes to bodily autonomy."

Enlighten Education's workshop encouraged our girls to find their voice, build connection with their cohort and their school, build agency for themselves and develop positive personal wellbeing behaviours.

As part of this initiative, our girls pledged to support local women and children in need by ‘adopting’ the Parramatta Women’s Shelter. Through this partnership, they will have opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways, providing practical assistance and raising awareness for this important cause.

"The day began with an informative talk about relationship abuse and writing affirmations for our friends. We then joined forces with Parramatta's Women Shelter to brainstorm ideas on what we as students could do to support the women at the shelter. Most of our grade signed up to help plan these activities. We had a sausage sizzle and ice blocks before ending the day with a self-defence class hosted by Taekwondo World. Our day was action-packed and taught us a number of valuable life lessons." - Aditi

A powerful and engaging day that was fully embraced and supported by this strong and empathetic year group. We are incredibly proud of our Year 10 girls. 

Gloria Ahn - Head of Performing Arts

We are excited to announce our first Music Concert of the year, taking place on Monday 7 April, the final week of the term. This event will feature performances from our music ensembles and our Year 9 and 10 Elective Music students. Unlike previous years, we are giving opportunities for the Elective Music students to perform so that we are providing them with a valuable learning opportunity to further develop their solo performance skills. All students enrolled in the Music elective classes will be performing a solo piece.

Thank you for your continued support of our Elective Music students. We look forward to sharing this special event with you!

This past weekend, Tara Rowing celebrated the official addition of our newest coxed four to the fleet! 

The boat is proudly named in honour of Principal Mrs Adele Ramsay, symbolising the hard work, passion and dedication that drive our rowing community.

A big thank you to our incredible supporters for making moments like this possible. We can’t wait to continue seeing this boat on the water! 

This past weekend was another great step forward for Tara Rowing. The Twilight evening, pasta night and double regatta weekend showcased the dedication and passion to grow and nurture community spirit as we push toward the final two weeks of the rowing season. Our crews gained valuable experience competing against top-level competition, with some strong performances and important lessons learned along the way. Thank you to all athletes for their efforts and commitment, and to parents for your continued support.

This weekend was one of the biggest on the summer rowing calendar with Tara proudly lining up across 29 events against a vast field of 2,450 athletes in what was a hot and challenging two days of racing.

Despite several rowers returning from illness and hot conditions, our crews showed resilience, earning three bronze and one silver.

With Head of the River approaching, we continue to push forward, building on what we’ve learned and fine-tuning for the final stretch of the season.

Verity A - Swimming Captain

The Tara Interhouse Swimming Carnival was an exciting and vibrant way to start the year! Many girls achieved excellent results and participated in various events, all driven by a spirit of sisterhood and friendly competition.

The success of the day wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Ms Musto and Mr Bickersteth, who ensured everything ran smoothly throughout the carnival. A big thank you also goes to the coaches and teacher, whose guidance and encouragement helped the swimmers perform at their best. Our house captains were instrumental in creating an energetic atmosphere, leading their teams with enthusiasm and boosting school spirit throughout the event. 

Read about the swimming carnival result's by clicking the button below. 

Ellie H - Touch Football Captain 

The 4 touch football teams played very well during the second round, especially with a focus on the 2 Junior teams. In particular, Cleo F (Year 9) and Summer M (Year 7) were outstanding in creating successful scoring opportunities, using their speed to run through the players and building a strong attacking midfield.

TAR04 won their game against Frensham. Week 2 of the season saw an early try after some great link-wing play through the Frensham defence. There was a lot of teamwork and contributions from all players, especially Linlin W (Year 7) and Maddie R (Year 7) who had a strong attack, and Juliette C (Year 7) was also a very strong player in passing and scoring. 

The Tara touch football teams are using trainings well, working together as a team. Thank you to the coaches who are running drills and plays during trainings, which were prevalent in the games this week.

TAR02 is beginning to form plays and perform them during the game. Their attacking and defending on the line are improving massively, as well as their accurate passing and playing the ball. Sophie B (Year 8) and Tara M (Year 8) had a great game, where their attacking and defending skills was excellent.

Also, the TAR04 team had another great win this week, despite being the youngest team, they have some great skills, and it is so fun and interesting to watch their games and see them in action. This week's highlights were from Zoe M (Year 9) and Maddie R (Year 7), who worked hard throughout the whole game. They pressured the other team, and ran some plays such as wraps and quick dummy halves, to help their team win.

Well done girls! 

Laura W - Badminton Captain

In Round 2, Tara 7, with Sughra A, Elisha K, Alisha L, and Samara T from Year 12, won their game this weekend with a 3-2 score! Throughout the game, they all gave their best effort until the very end and clinched the final round. All the girls from the team attended their usual training sessions and did an excellent job balancing their schoolwork with their commitment to badminton. As a result, they applied several strategies from their training, such as quick passes and strong defense, leading to their impressive finish.

Tara 18 also secured a 3-2 victory, with standout performances from Alice S, Sarine W, and Livia Z from Year 9. Every team member stepped up and contributed whenever needed, and their collective effort resulted in a well-deserved win!

Both teams showed great determination and coordination, clearly demonstrating how each girl plays an important role in the team, capable of executing various strategies and supporting their teammates along the way.

Round 3 brought intense competition for the girls playing in the first division, pushing them to their limits. Tara 1 fought hard through their game, narrowly missing out with a final score of 2-3. Despite the loss, Elise F and Lucy Z from Year 11 put up an incredible fight against a full team. Their determination and teamwork kept them in the game until the very end. While the result wasn’t what we had hoped for, there is still plenty of room for growth, and we are confident they will continue to push themselves further in the coming rounds!

Meanwhile, Tara 8 also faced a challenging game against the top-ranked team. Knowing this would be one of their toughest matches yet, Cindy S, Mat B, and Laura W from Year 11 stepped up and gave it their all. In spite of being outnumbered against five opposing players, their strategic play and agility paid off, securing a 5-0 victory and taking the top spot on the leaderboard!

Both teams maintained strong footwork, balance, and controlled force, while sustaining their best performance in high-intensity games. With continued effort and dedication, we look forward to even stronger performances in the next rounds!

Bernice T and Grace T - Water Polo Captains 

Our Senior 1sts team faced a tough challenge in their first game against Meriden, putting up a strong fight from start to finish. Camille H stepped up as goalkeeper, making impressive saves to keep the team in the game. Lucy T delivered two amazing long-range goals and displayed secure ball control. And Lia N played some tough defence by drawing multiple opponents. Orla A also contributed a well-placed shot past the opponent's skilled goalkeeper. Grace T and Abbey B were strong team players showing coordination in moving the ball around the field. Although the game ultimately resulted in a loss, our performance was full of promise. The pressure we applied kept the game very tight in the first few quarters showing great potential for the season to come and allowing us to continue warming up the team spirit.

Our Junior 1sts team delivered an outstanding performance against a strong opponent in their division. From the outset, the players demonstrated incredible passion and dedication. Frankie B showcased her talent with impressive offensive and defensive plays, while our skilled shooters, Julia W, Adelaide P, and Carissa C, each scored remarkable goals. The team's defensive line worked tirelessly, displaying great teamwork and resilience. Despite facing tough competition, the players maintained a positive spirit throughout the match, bolstered by enthusiastic support from family and friends on the sidelines. Their hard work and determination resulted in a well-deserved victory, boosting the team's confidence as they look forward to future challenges. Overall, it was a thrilling display that highlighted the growth and commitment of the Junior 1sts.

Our Year 7 team played their 2nd water polo game against Lorento Normanhurst. Playing at the Tara Aquatic Centre, this was our first game that was highly successful with a big win. Without our wonderous players, this game wouldn’t have been in the same situation as it was. Although this was a massive win, we still have many skills that we have discovered and will work on in the coming weeks. Some girls from our team did exceptionally well, with Sophia J, who skilfully weaved through the water to grab the ball, Bella L and Scarlett H, who took multiple successful shots in the game, and Chloe T, who blocked many shots from the other team and an amazing goalkeeper. We are all so proud of our Year 7 team, which will continue to improve and extend together as a team, and we can’t wait to see us improve together! 

Ellie H - Softball Captain

The senior softball team had a tough game with several players absent, which tested their resilience, perseverance and strength. It ended up being a really close game!

Sophie B (Year 10) played an excellent game, pitching the whole time and catching a girl out from a foul. She helped keep the game running fast, throwing so many strikes and pressuring the other team. Claire D (Year 10) was also great in catching these as her role on catcher, where she caught many people out after three strikes.

For the Junior softball team, they were successful in another great win against another strong team. Riya N (Year 7) first base well and caught many people out, as well as getting home during the batting half of the innings. Aura G (Year 7) also played second base and catcher brilliantly! She caught each ball with precision and helped to throw the ball to first base and then back to home to get a double out, communicating well with her teammates.

TAR01 softball had a good win over the weekend against Abbotsleigh, where we are warming up as a team and improving every week! In particular, Bella S (Year 10) had a great batting game, getting a home run and also 3 other girls' home in the same innings! On the fielding side, Anika V (Year 12) caught three balls and also threw to first and second base to get a triple out! It was a very interesting and skillful game, well done girls!

TAR02 played a very hard team yet still managed to do some great plays and work together well as a team. Riya N (Year 7) was a good team player, communicating well, and also Ashleigh F (Year 9) tagged a girl out on second base, putting pressure on the other team! 

Round 2

S02 Tara 1 vs Meriden 3, Loss, 2-6

S08 Tara 2 vs Frensham 3, Loss, 0-8

S12 Tara 3 vs Kambala 6, Loss, 1.5-6.5

S15 Tara 4 vs Wenona 7, Loss, 0.5-7.5

S17 Tara 5 vs Abbotsleigh 6, Loss, 1-7

S18 Tara 6 vs St Scholastic’s 3, Loss, 1-7

S20 Tara 7 vs Meriden 9, Loss, 0-8

J04 Tara 8 vs Monte 10, Win, 6-2

J12 Tara 9 vs St Scholastica’s 6, Win, 8-0

J14 Tara 10 vs Pymble 19, Win, 8-0

J15 Tara 11 vs Abbotsleigh 17, Win, 5.5-2.5

J16 Tara 12 vs Frensham 11, Loss, 1-7

J18 Tara 13 vs Ravenswood 14, Loss, 2.5-5.5

J19 Tara 14 vs Wenona 20, Loss, 2-6

Y704 Tara 15 vs Santa Sabina 8, Win, 5-3

Y706 Tara 16 vs Monte 19, Loss, 1-7

Y709 Tara 17 vs Loreto Kirribilli 27, Loss, 1.5-6.5

Y711 Tara 18 vs Brigidine 14, Loss, 1.5-6.5

Round 3

S02 Tara 1 vs Roseville 1, WET

S08 Tara 2 vs St Scholastica’s 1, WET

S12 Tara 3 vs Danebank 2, Loss, 0-8

S15 Tara 4 vs BYE

S17 Tara 5 vs Mt St Benedict’s 2, Loss, 0.5-7.5

S18 Tara 6 vs Loreto Normanhurst 6, Draw, 4-4

S20 Tara 7 vs Loreto Kirribilli 9, Loss, 0-8

J04 Tara 8 vs St Catherine’s 7, Win, 5.5-2.5

J12 Tara 9 vs Loreto Normanhurst 16, Win, 6.5-1.5

J14 Tara 10 vs Meriden 16, Win, 7-1

J15 Tara 11 vs Loreto Normanhurst 20, Win, 5.5-2.5

J16 Tara 12 vs Meriden 17, Win, 5.5-2.5

J18 Tara 13 vs Roseville 23, Win, 5-3

J19 Tara 14 vs Pymble 21, Loss, 3.5-4.5

Y704 Tara 15 vs MLC 16, Loss, 3-5

Y706 Tara 16 vs Loreto Normanhurst 27, Loss, 2.5-5.5

Y709 Tara 17 vs Abbotsleigh 22, Draw, 0-0

Y711 Tara 18 vs Pymble 29, Loss, 1-7

What an incredible achievement from our Tara swimmers! At our Swimming Carnival earlier this term, 15 school short course records were broken!  

A huge congratulations to these athletes for their outstanding performances: 

• Joanna 12 yrs – 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly 
• Pare 14 yrs – 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly 
• Sarah 16yrs – 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly 
• Olivia 17 yrs – 50m Freestyle 
• Bernice 17 yrs – 50m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly 

Your hard work, determination, and speed in the pool are inspiring! Well done, girls!

Each week we send Year 10 to Year 12 a listing of the relevant events and ideas and programs to them to help with their Career planning.  

There are some great events and opportunities coming up! Learn more about them via the links below. 

Careers Newsletter - 28 February 2025 

For more information please contact Mr David Berridge via email - dberridge@tara.nsw.edu.au