Mrs Stephanie Griffiths - Director of Student Wellbeing

Recent events relating to violence and trauma both in Sydney and on a more global scale, continue to highlight the impact of a lack of personal control and sense of positive wellbeing. While such situations come to public attention through dramatic circumstances it is arguable that perhaps quite a number of members in communities around us are influenced by such pressures.

As with physical health, mental health operates on a continuum, frequently changing in response to a variety of factors, including the inevitable setbacks and disappointments that occur in life. 

When changes in emotions, moods and habits relating to self-image negatively impact one’s ability to function over extended periods of time, then guidance from health care professionals such as the local GP or counsellors is warranted.

 As should be anticipated, at Tara there is a clear focus on the wellbeing of students both in the classroom and beyond.  

A whole school approach to wellbeing, as summarised in the Tara Care Model below, delineates three distinct levels of support available to students in the Senior School.

The Prevention Level is applicable to all students and encompasses a range of learning experiences such as those taking place in Assemblies, Chapels, House Events and Mentor Activities.

 At the Intervention Level, Year Coordinators, the Diverse Learning Team, and Mentors support students with a diverse range of learning needs as well as assisting students in managing such issues as social interactions, personal organisation and navigating times of stress.

The Treatment Level is led by a Clinical and Health Team of psychologists and nurses who work withs students in managing a range of more demanding issues.

While it is appropriate to note activity at all levels of the Tara Wellbeing Model it is helpful to report some of the many highlights occurring at the Prevention Level.

Did you know that you can receive important notifications, view sports information, book events, advise the school of student absences and complete permission notes all via the Tara Parent App?

Downloading the Tara Parent App is easy! Stay connected with all the news and events of Tara.

Download on the App Store here

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The Tara Uniform Shop is open Saturday 1 June from 9am to 12pm. 

We would like to congratulate two of our Music Tutors, Jenny Beck (Singing) and Beata Stanowska (Violin). They have both ranked in the Top 10 enrollers in NSW and the ACT for AMEB exams. This is an amazing achievement. They are among the most elite group of educators across the State. We are so lucky to have them and all our other talented music tutors at Tara. Congratulations to all the students who helped these amazing teachers achieve these results with their hard work and amazing performances. Well done to all!!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us in honouring the extraordinary women in our lives at our annual Mother’s Day extravaganza! On Saturday 18 May, over 350 mothers, daughters, aunts, and grandmothers gathered for an unforgettable celebration. 

The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as guests enjoyed delicious food and beverages provided by CommBank Stadium. Entertainment was in abundance with lively singing and thrilling aerobatics that had the girls delighted.   

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the 360 photobooth where everyone had so much fun making their videos.  

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated members of the Mother’s Day sub-committee who collaborated closely with the Community office to bring this event to life: Maya Abboud Hamdan, Anastasia Chemerys, Jenny Dulimov, and Chadia Mouawad. Their tireless efforts are sincerely appreciated. We are also immensely grateful to the following individuals for their generous donations to the raffle: Maya Abboud Hamdan, Anastasia Chemerys, Tanya Davies, Brooke Fayad, Bharati Lala, Meg Le Lievre, and Chadia Mouawad.  

Thank you to all who joined us in making this Mother’s Day celebration truly special!

We are thrilled to extend an invitation to our students in Years 10, 11, and 12, along with their parents, for our Beyond the Gates event to be held on Friday 14 June, starting at 6.30pm. This event aims to foster stronger connections between our current students and Alumni, providing a valuable platform for sharing insights into prospective career paths.

The evening will begin in the Chapel with a panel discussion featuring Alumni who will delve into this year's theme: "Alumni Living out our Tara Values: Affirmation, Service, Integrity, Opportunity." 

Following the panel discussion, interactive sessions will be held in the Senior School Hall. Here, students will have the opportunity to engage in both one-on-one and group discussions exploring a variety of career paths. We encourage students to come prepared with questions for our Alumni.

To secure your tickets, please use the link below. Kindly note that bookings will close on Friday 7 June, 5.00pm. 

Book now!

We wish to advise that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the Tara Dads Club is scheduled for Wednesday 12 June, at 7.00pm in the Chapel. During this meeting, voting will take for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer along with general committee members.

Before the AGM, there will be a networking night in the Tara Chapel foyer starting at 6.00pm. Please use the button below to book your ticket to attend. 

This will be a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with fellow members and forge new connections. The Tara Dads Club aims to facilitate enjoyable social activities for member dads and their daughters. Throughout the year, they organise various events designed to strengthen the bonds between fathers and daughters, foster a sense of community within the School, and support the objectives of the Tara Hub in terms of friendship and fundraising. Our motto is to encourage, support, and actively participate. 

Following the networking evening, the AGM will take place in the Chapel Auditorium. We highly encourage your attendance and consideration for joining the TDC Committee. The Tara Dads Club are looking for new members who are dedicated to being part of a team and committed to nurturing positive relationships between dads and their daughters.

Using the link below, please download the nomination form; if you wish to join the committee, kindly complete and return to taradadsclub@tara.nsw.edu.au

Book Now 

Plans are well underway for the upcoming Gala Ball. Please stay tuned as tickets will be on sale soon for this special event.  

The annual Back to Tara Day will be held this year on Sunday 4 August at Tara and all Tara Old Girls are invited to attend. This will be a wonderful way to reconnect with the School and your peers. For further information please contact taraoldgirls@tara.nsw.edu.au 

For various events occurring at Tara throughout the School year, a nominal fee may occasionally be charged to families. This fee is primarily to ensure accurate catering arrangements. By doing so, we aim to avoid both over-catering and under-catering, thereby providing an optimal experience for our students and their families. We thank you for your understanding. Should you have any questions regarding this or any ideas to share please email the Community Engagement Manager, Jodie Doyle at community@tara.nsw.edu.au 

To help promote the importance of swimming over the winter months we are offering a 50% discount off the 2nd lesson you enrol in, during the months of June, July, and August. This special is for ALL levels except privates, semi-privates, and adults.  

Tips for Keeping warm after your Swimming Lesson:

1. Wear a swim Cap – This will help keep your hair dry and your head warm while swimming.
2. Warm clothes – Bring warm clothes to change into once dry. Also maybe a beanie to keep your head warm to change into once dry.
3. Ensure you have a nice dry towel to cover up straight after getting out of the pool.
4. Maybe wear a rashie, these are just not for sun protection but also can keep you warm in the pool.
5. Make sure you bring socks and shoes to keep your feet dry and warm when leaving the center.

We have just completed our first safety week for this year! Once again it was such a fun and exciting week had by all students and some laughs as well!  

The students learnt the skills and knowledge that they need to be safe and have fun in and around the water. It develops essential safety skills and improves children’s knowledge of how to survive in the water if they fall into a pool, off the boat, into a river, dam, or any body of water. Skills such as safety jumps, survival strokes and other skills but most importantly to know how to be safe and have fun in and around the water.

Congratulations to Chloe from our Pre-school Program, for putting her face in the water and blowing bubbles! Well Done

Please review the Tara Aquatic Centre Terms and Conditions in the Aquatic Centre parent portal as they have been updated.  

We are 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

We have recently launched a program in the Junior School called URStrong. The program is designed to empower girls with the language and self confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships. Girls will also learn how to manage conflict in a respectful way. 

There are several core principles which girls from ELC – Year 6 will learn to help them become ‘Friendship Ninjas’. They will learn what is normal in a friendship, the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships and how to put out ‘Friendship Fires’.  The program is designed to teach the social and emotional skills necessary for girls to flourish both at school and home. 

Our ELC and Kindergarten girls have started their journey by learning how to look after and care for themselves. In order to be a good friend, they have been discovering how to be a friend to themselves. Girls have used their fuzzy friends to help calm their bodies down when they feel big emotions. They have practised deep belly breathing and discussing how it makes them feel. 

Here are some of their ideas.

‘I feel happy’ (Rachel)

‘I feel calm’ (Ayami)  

‘I feel happy and relaxed’ (Erica)

‘I feel calm’ (Grace)

‘I feel calm and ready to learn’ (Sophia)

In an exciting adventure into the realm of maps and nature, Year 3 recently went on a thrilling excursion to Centennial Park's Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden as part of the Mad About Maps program. This hands-on geography program connected and put into practise our learning from our second Unit of inquiry “How we organise ourselves’ and maths position lessons. Not only did it introduce students to the art of navigation but also delved into map making, botanical inhabitants, data collection, and mapping exploration. 

The Wild Play Garden, a vibrant and interactive outdoor space, provided the perfect backdrop for this exploration. Students got to do activities like mud mapping, where they learned about different elements found on a map. 

“We learnt about Maps, Maps and More Maps!” – Hope 

“I loved using the B.O.L.T.S rap to help me build my mud map. I really enjoyed getting my hands dirty and building a map out of mud!” - Audrey Year 3 

Another highlight was the wild play treasure/scavenger hunt using paper maps. 

"It felt like we were on a real treasure hunt, discovering new things in nature. We had to work hard and to use our knowledge about maps to help us find things like plants, locations, and numbers” – Crystal 

This excursion not only enhanced their map understanding but also encouraged teamwork and problem-solving as a grade as they navigated the garden's various terrains and habitats.

“We learnt lots about nature, maps and teamwork” – Felicity 

“What a great opportunity to learn outside” – Ivy 

“I enjoyed playing, exploring and learning with my class outdoors” – Olivia 

“Our friends were kind and caring and supported each other through the challenges we faced” - Siana 

In conclusion, Year 3 are so grateful for the opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom. The trip to Centennial Park's Wild Play Garden was an exciting and educational adventure that sparked a love for nature and exploration in Year 3 students. 

Temika Grove - Years 3-6 Team Leader and Talkfest Coordinator   

Another year, another occasion for the girls to compete in Tara’s annual Festival of Public Speaking, what we know as Talkfest. The opportunities provided by Talkfest enable students to mature in confidence, fluency, effective use of voice and audience engagement.

At the end of Term 1, Years 2-6 presented their Round 1 Talkfest rehearsed speeches in front of a live audience, their peers. Years 4-6 also had the chance to present an impromptu speech before their class where they were given a topic and fifteen minutes to plan and then present. It was pleasing to see the girls take on this challenge with great determination and gusto.   

Throughout the term, students had a range of opportunities to write, edit and practise their informative, persuasive, or entertaining speeches. Some of the topics across the year groups included, 'It tantalises my tongue! ', 'Three responsibilities I think children my age should have are...’ and ‘If life was a musical’.   

Here is what some of our Talkfest participants had to say about their experiences as they completed Round 1:  

“I liked thinking of a fun dialogue to start my speech. I loved sharing my creative writing with my teacher and friends. The best thing about Talkfest so far has been using my drama skills Ms Mann taught me to present my speech”. Julianna – Year 3 

“I love listening to other speeches as it helps me generate ideas. I love hearing funny speeches that make me laugh”. - Catherina Year 5 

“I really enjoyed writing and presenting my speech about the Bahamas. I valued the feedback given from my friends and my teachers’.” - Macy Year 5 

“I absolutely love Talkfest! It is a great way to share your ideas and creativity through speeches to the class. It enhances your public speaking skills, and it will help us in the future where we will need to speak up and communicate to members of the public.” - Sophie Year 6 

“Talkfest was really fun and to be honest a little bit nerve wracking because it gets you out your comfort zone, but it prepares you for the future. It also helps you to become more confident in front of your peers.” - Amalia Year 6 

Kindergarten and Year 1 have also been practising their speaking and listening skills as they have been learning to speak in a clear and audible voice while also learning to make eye contact when speaking in front of an audience.   

The teachers have loved listening to the informative, entertaining, and persuasive speeches and look forward to composing texts with the girls in Round 2.   

Congratulations to Year 12 student Inika for being awarded the prestigious Zonta International 2024 Young Women in Public Affairs Award for District 24 - Australia! This award celebrates Inika's commitment to volunteering, leadership achievements, and dedication to empowering women worldwide, and comes with a $5,000 USD prize!

We are incredibly proud of Inika and all her hard work.

Inika shares, "Winning the Zonta International award means so much to me. It's an honour to be recognised for my efforts towards building a better world for young women. I will use this award to initiate impactful projects that push for a more inclusive society, making young girls feel empowered and believe anything is possible."

We are delighted to announce that Annabelle (Year 12) has been awarded the 2024 Sheen Family Prize Performer of the Year for her exceptional performance of "Your Daddy’s Son"! 

This year, we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Sheen Family Prize at Tara Anglican School for Girls, an event made possible by the generous support of Dr Adrian Sheen (OAM) and his family. This prize has been instrumental in fostering musical excellence within our School community, highlighting the importance of music education in developing creativity, resilience, and self expression.

Congratulations to Liz (Year 12) for securing second place, Maia (Year 10) for third place, and Mat (Year 10) for receiving a Highly Commended award. We also commend our talented finalists: Isabella, Phoebe, Ellie, Jessica, Tess, Mook, Kate, Ella, and Janice for their remarkable performances.

We extend our sincere gratitude to renowned conductor Mr George Ellis for adjudicating the event and to special guest performer, 2023 Sheen Family Prize Winner, Bernice (Year 11) for her remarkable performance!

This evening truly showcased the exceptional talent and dedication of our talented Tara students. 

The 2024 Tara Social Justice Forum on Thursday afternoon was a great success. We were lucky to hear from Jane Sanders, a children’s lawyer who works at the Shopfront Youth Legal Centre in Darlinghurst, providing free legal services to disadvantaged and homeless young people in Sydney. Jane both delivered a powerful lecture and spent time answering our questions in a Q&A.

We were inspired as Jane shared both about her incredible career in law and stories about her important work. Girls came away with a greater understanding of the importance of justice for youth and the work done by people like Jane to protect young people within the legal system.

Last week, the Tara Mooting Team consisting of Heeya P as Senior Counsel, Anika V as Junior Counsel and Joohee U as Instructing Solicitor appealed a decision of the Queensland Court of Appeal. They mooted against Rockhampton Grammar in the Bond National Mooting Competition.

Mooting is offered to all Year 11 students each year at Tara and is particularly enjoyed by those who choose to study Legal Studies.

In the recent National Bond University Mooting Competition Heeya P was mentioned by the judges as having outstanding advocacy skills. This is a great honour and we are so proud of her! 

Congratulations to our Chinese Debating Team who placed in the Top 8 of the competition! This is the first year for our students and we are so proud of them! 

Ruby D won Gold in Synchro Diving in the US at the America Cup! Congratulations Ruby.  

Bhavya B represented NSW in National Tennis in Tasmania where the NSW team came away with first place.

Zayla T - Cross Country Captain

The Tara cross country team competed at Frensham on Friday 17 May for the IGSA Cross Country. The girls showed excellent sportsmanship and Tara spirit, cheering for and supporting one another. Tara placed 26th overall and the girls did a great job competing in their races to the absolute best of their abilities. Congratulations to all the cross country athletes, and thank you to all the coaches and staff who went all the way to Frensham to support them. 

Chelsea C will be competing in Thailand in the U18 Australian Volleyball Team

Abbey V was selected in the IGSA Basketball Team which placed 2nd in the CIS Competition. At this tournament she was also selected as part of the CIS team for All Schools.

Congratulations to Evelyn S who placed 4th in the 13 girls 100m at CIS and Veronika A who won the 16 years Springboard and placed second in the Intermediate Platform. 

Skye A - Netball Captain

Round 2

The Tara senior firsts team played against St Vincent’s on the weekend, it was an epic game! The girls started off strong, moving the ball down the court quickly and effectively. April O and Taylor J worked extremely well together in the circle shooting goals. Riya T and Skye A helped feed the ball into the circle to the shooters. Caitlin I had amazing defensive skills against her player, intercepting many balls. The girls worked well together as a team and had improved on their communication and movement on the court from the previous game.

The Tara seconds team played an awesome second game against Wenona! The girls improved in their defence, especially within the goal third. The girls attacking throughout the game was especially good, with our GA and GS working well together to score 8 goals in their second half! Lydia S collected a great intercept of the ball from the first centre pass in her position as WD.

The JO3 netball team put the skills they had practiced in training in their game against Ascham. As the opponents were tall the girls utilised bounce passes to effectively move the ball down the court. The girls worked well to move into space and then run back if needed whilst also marking their players in defence. The team enjoyed their game this weekend and need to work on catching intercepts throughout the game.

The JO4 netball team used many defence strategies against St Vincents on the weekend as they were a tough team. The girls utilised the team building activity that they had practiced in training to help them communicate as they moved down the court.

The year 7 firsts enjoyed their game against St Vincents last week! Every girl learnt a new skill or improved in some way. The girls had great defence on their players and did extremely well when defending the ball in the shooting circle, intercepting heaps of passes!  In the next game, the girls want to work on chasing the ball.

The Year 7 seconds netball team played excellent as they tried their hardest to get every ball! Mia Z caught many rebounds and Cynthia X, Kyrene Z and Alysa L worked hard to get the ball down the court as their positions as centre!

Round 3

The senior seconds played against Ascham on the weekend! The girls improved on their sideline throw ins, which they particularly focused on in training. The flow of the game was strong and fast with Lydia S and Olivia A attacking in the middle of the court and Ayva H and Selina S’s shooting in the circle.

Throughout the junior’s game against St Vincents, the girls focused on effectively using bounce passes to get around their players. The girls used the pole method which they had practiced in training to use the ball from the sideline to hit the pole and shoot throughout the game! The key areas for improvement include intercepts, running quicker, moving into space, and enhancing our circle work by popping the ball back to another shooter or the centre/wing attack.

The JO4’s team played against SCEGGS on the weekend! Despite the loss, the girls demonstrated incredible resilience and determination. They never gave up, fuelled by their exceptional feedback from the coach in which they received throughout the game. The girls are motivated to come back stronger in their next game!

The year7 firsts saw a huge improvement in their ability to move around the court in their game against Danebank. Everyone maintained a positive attitude throughout the game, listening to the coach’s instructions, and encouraging each other enthusiastically. It was an amazing win for the team!  

In an exhilarating netball match this weekend against St Vincents, the girls showcased remarkable skill and technique. The game was a thrilling display of agility, precision, and teamwork. The girls played well in their attacking positions helping to move the ball down the court, with strong passes and effective communication. The girls enjoyed their game this weekend and are excited for their next one! 

Popi T - Football Captain

Round 3

Senior 1st: The senior firsts played an incredible game this weekend. The final score was 6-1 against PLC. Bella I from Year 10 scored a hattrick as striker and the defense played well to prevent many goal opportunities being conceded. Through this win, we can continue the season undefeated and work further in training to continue this winning streak.

‘Despite the loss, Saturday's game for the Junior Firsts highlighted our teamwork and resilience, with special mentions to Claire L from Year 7 and Bella S from Year 9 for their amazing play as strikers, and Navya S from Year 9 for her outstanding performance as goalie throughout the whole match. We celebrated each other's efforts, cheered on our talented new Year 7 players, and remained positive throughout!’ 

Abbey V - Basketball Captain

Round 2

In an electrifying showdown, the Junior First Team (J03) battled it out against Abbotsleigh, resulting in a nail-biting draw of 20-20. The court witnessed a display of remarkable teamwork as each player fought with unparalleled determination. Notably, Justine W emerged as a beacon of excellence, stunning the crowd with a beautiful 3-pointer that echoed through the gymnasium. The team's progress since their inaugural game was nothing short of remarkable, showcasing their unwavering commitment to improvement.

Meanwhile, the Tara 9 team delivered a resounding victory against St. Vincent's, triumphing with an impressive 40-4 scoreline. Every member of the team exhibited outstanding performance, seamlessly synchronising their efforts to secure a landslide victory. Their synergy on the court was evident as they worked tirelessly together, orchestrating a barrage of spectacular baskets that left spectators in awe.

With each team demonstrating their prowess and determination, Tara Basketball in Week 2 was a testament to the spirit of sportsmanship and excellence that permeates throughout the Tara community. As the season progresses, anticipation mounts for the exhilarating matchups yet to come.

Round 3

The Tara Senior 2nds showcased remarkable spirit and determination in their match against Roseville on Saturday. Despite facing a challenging opponent and experiencing a tough loss, the team demonstrated commendable teamwork and resilience. A standout performance came from Mehervir, who had an exceptional first game with the team. Her energy and skill on the court was truly inspiring, and she has already proven to be a valuable addition to the squad. The Senior 2nds are looking forward to building on their experiences and coming back stronger in their next game.

The Tara 14 team played an excellent game this week, displaying both skill and strategic play. Olivia K and Julie K made several impressive intercepts, turning the game in Tara's favour multiple times. Michaela L was phenomenal under the basket, securing numerous rebounds and ensuring the team maintained possession. The girls have set out a clear goal to further enhance their defensive strategies, showing their commitment to continuous improvement and teamwork. Their dedication and hard work is paying off, and the future looks bright for the Tara 14 team.

Overall, Tara Basketball continues to show great promise and enthusiasm. Each team member's contributions are driving the teams forward, and their positive attitudes are infectious. Keep up the fantastic work, Tara! 

On Friday 12 April, Tara ran the Senior School Cross Country. It was an eventful day, and the girls had lots of fun taking part in both the championship and participation race to earn points for their house. 

The champions for each age group were:
12 Years 
1st: Xingxiao C 
2nd: Kaylee L                  
3rd: Allison L              
4th: Celine T               

13 Years 
1st: Chelsea H
2nd: Pare N
3rd: Claire H
4th: Tiasha J

14 Years
1st: Reeta L
2nd: Eva H
3rd: Orla A
4th: Melody Y

15 Years 
1st: Claire M
2nd: Eden W
3rd: Caitlin L
4th: Sophie B

16 Years 
1st: Zayla T
2nd: Bernice T
3rd: Amy R
4th: Verity A

17 Years 
1st: Joy H-C
2nd: Jemima B
3rd: Hannah W
4th: Ellisa Y

18+ Years
1st: Skye A
2nd: Charlotte O
3rd: Caitlin I
4th: Suhanya J 

There are also individual results for the Junior (aged 12, 13 and 14), Intermediate (aged 15 and 16) and Senior (17-18+) champion and runner up. The Junior runner up was Reeta L from Year 9 and winner was Chelsea H from Year 7. In the Intermediate division Zayla T from Year 11 placed first and Bernice T from Year 11 was runner up. Finally, in the Senior category, Sport Captain Skye A was champion, with Joy H-C from Year 11 placing second.  

The overall house winner from the cross-country carnival was Hake with 595 points followed by Waugh (511pts), Crawford (487pts) and Walker (410pts).