Mrs Samantha Cocks - Director of Boarding

Ask any Tara boarder what Eggleton House means to her, and you’ll hear stories of laughter, late-night chats, and lessons that shaped her into who she is today.

Since 1897, boarding has been a cherished part of life at Tara. Eggleton House is lovingly named after Mrs Kaye Eggleton, who was the Senior Boarding Mistress from 1972-1986. Today, our vibrant boarding community welcomes students from local, rural, and international backgrounds, each contributing to a rich tapestry of shared experience and personal growth.

Personal growth is developed through the daily challenges and responsibilities the boarders face while living away from home. From learning how to manage their own schedules to navigating friendships and conflicts without immediate parental intervention, they build emotional maturity and self-awareness. They become more adaptable and resilient, often discovering strengths they didn’t know they had. Whether it’s standing up for themselves, supporting a peer, or simply mastering the art of waking up on time and showing up prepared, each experience contributes to a deeper sense of identity and confidence. Boarding school doesn’t just educate—it shapes character.

Click the link below to read more about Boarding at Tara!

We’re proud to announce that a remarkable number of our Year 12 Drama students have received nominations for OnSTAGE, NESA’s annual celebration of excellence in HSC Drama across Group and Individual performances. 

Our 2025 OnSTAGE Nominees
Group Performances

Keira, Nestacia, Camille, Emma, Saraya — Ghost Hunters TM
Amelia, Lara, Anna, Anika, Ella — The Dreamettes

Individual Performances

Keira — #nofilter
Nestacia — The Libertine
Camille — Servant of Two Masters
Saraya — Free Churro
Lara — Roxie
Anika — Living with the Enemy
Ella — The Day Connor Left

These nominations reflect months of rehearsal, redrafting, character development, production planning—and the resilience to keep refining after every run-through. Thank you to our Drama staff for their steady guidance and countless lunchtime and after-school rehearsals, and to families for their support throughout the HSC journey.

A heartfelt thank you to all the dads who joined us for our Father’s Day Breakfast. It was a wonderful morning, beginning with breakfast together on the main oval before our Junior School dads moved to the Chapel to share a special time with their daughters. The event was filled with warmth, laughter, and plenty of smiles as we came together to celebrate the important role dads play in the lives of their daughters and in our School community. The atmosphere was one of connection, joy, and gratitude, reminding us of all of the invaluable bond between fathers and daughters.

We are so thankful to our community for supporting this new initiative, and we look forward to making the Father’s Day Breakfast a much-loved tradition at Tara.

Check out some more photos from our fabulous morning!

We are delighted to announce that our much-loved Carols in the Colonnade will take place on Saturday, 22 November 2025, from 4:00pm – 9:00pm.

This year, we are once again bringing back our festive Christmas Markets as part of the celebrations. If you own a small business and have something special to offer for the holiday season, this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your products. Families are always on the lookout for unique and last-minute Christmas gifts, making it the perfect time to be part of the event.

If you are interested in having a stall, please contact Jodie Doyle at jdoyle@tara.nsw.edu.au.

Expressions of interest for the markets close on Friday, 26 September 2025 (end of Term 3).

Come and enjoy an evening filled with festive cheer, beautiful carols, and community spirit.

We are delighted to invite you to the 2025 Tara Dads Club Camping Trip, happening from Friday 14 November to Sunday 16 November at the stunning NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, Umina Beach.

Last year’s trip was a fantastic success, with dads and daughters enjoying a weekend full of fun, connection, and unforgettable memories. We can’t wait to do it all again this year! 

✨ Places are limited — don’t miss your chance to join in the adventure.

Bookings close Friday, 31 October 2025. 

👉 Book now: https://www.trybooking.com/DEPPR 

Applications are now invited for the 2025 Joan Waugh Scholarship, closing Monday, 20 October 2025.

The Joan Waugh Scholarship is awarded annually to a former Tara student who demonstrates:

• outstanding academic achievement
• leadership potential
• strong commitment to community life

Valued at $10,000, the scholarship supports further study, research, or the pursuit of a particular field of interest, skill, or expertise—within Australia or overseas.

How to Apply

Application forms are available via the Tara Anglican School for Girls website under:

Community - Tara Anglican School for Girls

Make a splash this summer—spots are filling fast!

With summer just around the corner, now’s the time to dive in! From toddlers taking their first splash to refining your strokes—secure your spot in our swimming lessons before they’re gone!  

Holiday Intensives for October 2025  

We will be having Holiday Intensives over the October school holidays for 2 weeks. We will be offering Private Lessons and group lessons available. Please contact swimming@tara.nsw.edu.au or contact reception on 8838 2699 to book in.  

Dates: 

29/09 - 3/10 (5 days) &
7/10 - 10/10 (4 days)

Note: Our regular Learn to Swim lessons will continue during the holiday period.    

Carnival Prep Program

Our Carnival Prep Program will be opening soon! 

With carnival season fast approaching, our coach (Peter) is here to help you get race-ready and perform at your peak. 

Dates: 

Wednesday 1st October 7.30am - 9.30am 
Friday 3rd October 7.30am - 9.30am 

It will be offered to the following levels: Dolphin, Advance & Squad students only.   

SAVE THE DATE: Another “Twilight Race Night”: 

As the last several “Twilight Race Night” was such a success we will be putting on another race night. We are excited to say we have a date: Thursday 13th November, 6.30pm - 8.30pm! 

Also, keep an eye out for a special visitor in the night!

You will need to be enrolled in the program to participate in the race night. So, get those race swimmers ready! Details for entry will be sent out closer to the event.

Squad:     

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!      

Lost Property: 

We have a collection of lost property that has been left behind at the Aquatic Center. If you or your child have misplaced any items, please come down and check out lost property area. 

Donation of swimming fins:

If you have outgrown or no longer needing your fins, we are happy to take them in and they will be put to good use!

Between 8 and 12 September our Learn to Swim families marked RUOK? Day with a simple feelings check-in.

The sign was designed to help parents start a gentle conversation if their child chose something other than “happy.” It was wonderful to see parents and friends pause at the table to chat and listen 💛💬🏊

✨Asking “Are you OK?” can make a big difference—let’s keep the conversations going, today and every day. 

(Need support? Lifeline 13 11 14 | Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800)

Melissa Bowden - Team Leader 3-6 and Talkfest Coordinator

This year’s Talkfest filled Tara Junior School with the sound of strong, thoughtful, and expressive voices. From Year 2 through to Year 6, every girl prepared and presented a speech to her class and year group, gaining not just practice in public speaking but also valuable skills in self-confidence, presence, and personal expression.

The program took a new direction in 2025, introducing a dedicated round of poetry recitation. Girls embraced the challenge of selecting a poem with teacher support, presenting poems aloud, experimenting with rhythm, tone, and phrasing to highlight meaning and emotion. For many, this was a chance to step beyond persuasive or informative speeches and explore the artistry of spoken word. Teachers and peers alike noticed how the experience deepened the students’ confidence to communicate with nuance and flair.

Read more about Talkfest and our winners by clicking the link below:

The Junior School came alive this week as ELC to Year 6 students took part in our Gymnastics Carnival. House groups rotated through movement and balance activities that built strength, coordination and confidence. Smiles were everywhere as students tried new skills, encouraged their peers and celebrated personal progress.

Alongside the carnival stations, our Tara Enrichment Centre Gymnastics students (Rhythmic and Artistic) completed targeted competition practice. This session gave them valuable time to refine routines, receive coach feedback and test their readiness in a supportive setting.

Events like this showcase the joy of movement while reinforcing safe technique and body awareness. It was wonderful to see students of all ages engaged, focused and proud of what they achieved.

A warm thank you to our gymnastics coaches for their expert guidance, and to Michelle Oakly, Enrichment Centre Coordinator, for planning and running the day’s activities. Your leadership and care made the carnival a success for every participant.

Junior School string musicians from Tara and The King’s School came together for an unforgettable day of music-making—beginning with small-group rehearsals and culminating in a full orchestra performance for families. The atmosphere was joyful and focused as students listened, rehearsed, and performed with enthusiasm.

The day strengthened friendships and built confidence. Playing alongside new peers challenged students to refine ensemble skills—watching, blending, and responding to a conductor—while experiencing the thrill of contributing to a larger sound.

Opportunities like Through the Hedge create space for our schools to learn, perform, and grow together. They also showcase the power of collaboration in developing musicality, discipline, and joy in performance.

Our thanks to the staff and music tutors from both schools for crafting a well-paced, engaging program and for the care they showed each student throughout the day. Your guidance made this a rich learning experience for all involved.

Over the past six weeks, selected Year 5 and 6 girls participated in the Tournament of Minds — an academic competition that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Pictured here is our Social Science team, guided by Miss Bonnici and Mrs Roy. Their challenge? To design a cutting-edge recreational facility that responds to Parramatta’s growing population. The girls rose to the occasion with innovative ideas and thoughtful solutions, showcasing their outstanding teamwork and problem-solving skills. Well done to all involved, your efforts and imagination truly shone!

Now in its third year, our partnership with Fulton Hogan is giving students a front-row seat to real-world engineering. What began as a casual conversation has grown into a hands-on learning program that connects classroom concepts with complex infrastructure challenges—and highlights inspiring career pathways in STEM, including insights from a female engineer on the project team.

Read more about Year 5's Fulton Hogan project, by clicking the link below:

Recently, 4 Flora embarked on a Position Provocation around the playground, a playful yet purposeful inquiry into our new unit of Position. Armed only with a list of directional clues, the girls had to interpret instructions like “face north” or “take five steps east” to uncover hidden letters at each location. Through collaboration, critical thinking, and a touch of adventure, they pieced together the clues to reveal a mystery word. Can you guess what it spelt? That’s right — Position!

Thank you to everyone who took part in Jeans and Jersey Day! Together, our community raised $2,300 for Watoto Children and helped shine a light on the importance of organ and tissue donation.

The day was full of colour and energy—from creative denim looks to favourite team jerseys—and plenty of friendly competition. A highlight was the soccer match, with students and teachers putting on a great show for supporters on the sidelines. Congratulations to the teachers on their hard-fought win and thank you to our referee for keeping the game running smoothly.

Students also tested their knowledge in a short quiz designed to build understanding about the purpose behind Jeans and Jersey Day. Well done to our top scorers:

1st — Elma (Year 8)
2nd — Claire (Year 12)
3rd — Ashwiinah (Year 9)

We are grateful for the generosity and spirit shown across the School. Your participation not only raised funds for a worthy cause but also helped spark meaningful conversations about how we can each make a difference.

At lunchtime on Thursday 11 September, the Year 10 SRC hosted our R U OK? Day activities in the Quad, creating time and space for conversations about mental health and the simple, powerful question: “Are you OK?”

Students gathered to take a break and connect, collecting a KitKat, R U OK? card, and sticker. (KitKat, a national sponsor of R U OK? Day since 2020, helped reinforce the message to pause and check in.) The cards and stickers offered practical tips and a reminder to keep the conversation going beyond the day.

The Quad was bright with yellow—symbolising optimism, joy, and friendship—highlighting the importance of positive connections and support across our community.

The event prompted thoughtful discussions about the impact of social isolation and the role each of us plays in looking out for friends and peers. Taking a moment to ask—and to listen—can make a real difference.

Thank you to the Year 10 SRC and staff for organising a meaningful, well-run event. Let’s continue to build a community of care, kindness, and support—every day of the year.

History Week was filled with students and staff diving headfirst into adventures that spanned from Ancient Egypt to Barbie, and everything in between. Each day brought a fresh opportunity for different groups to connect with the past in fun and unexpected ways!

The week kicked off on Monday with our Online History Quiz, where students tested their knowledge across centuries. From pyramids to pink convertibles, the quiz proved that history really is everywhere! Thank you to Year 9 History Elective for putting together the questions for this. Congratulations to the winners Sophia (Year 7), Elma (Year 8), Dora (Year 8), Alice (Year 9), Shirin (Year 10), Isabel (Year 10), Eden (Year 10), Laura (Year 12) and Mr Horsburgh!

Tuesday’s Assembly was a chance to celebrate our passion for the subject, with prizes from the Year 9 History Debating Grand Final Winners from the 2024 Competition. Congratulations to Isabel, Aishani, Bella, Claire and Sophia on your win! We also congratulate our Grand Final Runners Up for Year 10 – Angelique, Deborah, Teon, Mia and Danbi.

Wednesday brought the highlight of many students’ (and teachers) week…the Race Through History. Lunchtime saw the colonnade transformed into a puzzle trail, with riddles to crack, stamps to collect, and much coveted museum Smiski’s up for grabs!

On Thursday, Year 9 Elective students stepped back into history! They boarded the Titanic (thankfully with a safer ending) at the Titanic: The Human Story exhibition at Walsh Bay and unravelled ancient myths at the Chau Chak Wing Museum, blending hands on learning with awe inspiring artefacts.

Finally, Friday closed the week with a twist - Guess the Teacher’s History. Students put their detective skills to the test in a quiz, matching quirky facts to their own teacher’s histories. Who knew that some of our teachers have travelled to North Korea, or that some teacher’s parents served in World War II?

History Week reminded us that history isn’t just about dusty dates and old books. It’s alive, surprising, and when celebrated together great fun. Really, every week is History Week!

Thank you to Miss Shi, Mrs Abi-Hanna and the Year 9 History Elective Classes for 2025 for putting together a great series of events!

Jasmine, Year 10

Climbing into a Tara minivan on Tuesday, 12 August, our Tara Crew Leaders couldn’t wait to attend a ‘Bible Society Masterclass’. Along with other schools from all around Sydney, our team of Year 10 & 11 Crew Leaders were given the amazing opportunity to attend a youth masterclass, aiming to inspire, challenge, and better-equip us with new ways of thinking, practicing and leading our faith. Throughout the day, we listened to a couple of guest speakers – Dan Paterson, Max Jeganathan, and Natasha Moore – and reflected on how we could better worship God and help others understand him. We learnt about the evidence provided for the Bible’s validity, how we can listen to people with conflicting views to our own, and also about our modern idea of ‘freedom’ – is there such a thing as too much?

We also enjoyed live worship music with the other students! The musicians were tremendously talented. Max Jeganathan’s talk was a favourite, he used the movie Citizen Kane to discuss our perceptions of ‘freedom’, and about how although we all long for it, freedom can trap us through too much choice. However, I personally loved Natasha Moore’s talk about disagreement, and that how even when we’re ‘right’ about something, we aren’t justified in thinking that we’re exclusively right, or, as she phrased it, “Thou shalt not ‘squish’ others!” 

Overall, it was a super fun day! The masterclass was a fun and engaging way to practice my faith and it certainly opened my eyes to a bunch of new ideas.

Our students have achieved outstanding results in recent science competitions, reflecting their hard work, curiosity, and commitment to excellence.

ICAS Science

High Distinction

Olivia (Year 9)

Distinction

Heidi (Year 8)
Kaylee (Year 8)
Elisa (Year 8)

International Chemistry Competition

Distinction

Year 10: Saranya, Fiona
Year 11: Parto, Diba, Ellie, Iris, Daniella, Hannah, Amy, Lara, Vicky

We are so proud of our young scientists. Congratulations to all students recognised, and thank you to our Science Department for their guidance and encouragement.

Our Rhythmic Gymnastics Group recently competed in the Controlled Training Event! Read all about it in this edition's Rhythmic Gymnastics newsletter by clicking the link below:
Rhythmic Gymnastics News - 13 September

If you would like to learn more about Rhythmic Gymnastics, please contact Michelle Oakley via email - moakley@tara.nsw.edu.au

Last Friday, Tara hosted the annual Sportswomen’s Awards Evening, a highlight in our sporting calendar where we came together as a community to celebrate the achievements of our student athletes. Award recipients, their families, staff, and friends gathered to acknowledge the dedication, teamwork, and resilience shown across a fantastic year of sport.

The evening was marked not only by celebration but also by inspiration. We were delighted to welcome back Kate Weymer (née Anthonisz), Class of 2007, as our guest speaker. Kate shared her own journey in sport and beyond, encouraging our students to embrace the power of motivation and determination. She reminded the girls that the opportunities they encounter should never be taken for granted, and that perseverance often leads to unexpected success.

Her words resonated with both students and parents, underscoring the values that are deeply embedded in Tara’s sporting culture: courage, commitment, and community.

Read more about the night and our award winners by clicking the link below:

Tara Rowing is delighted to share that we have upgraded our coaching fleet with four brand new Tohatsu 9.9hp 4-stroke outboard engines, replacing older motors that had spent many kms coaching Tara rowers throughout their life.

These engines are the backbone of safe rowing operations. They allow coaches to supervise training effectively, provide immediate support when needed, and keep every on-water session running smoothly. With rowing numbers continuing to grow, ensuring that our tinny fleet is both reliable and consistent is vital for the program.

The new Tohatsu engines were chosen for their proven reliability, fuel efficiency, and low noise and vibration, which makes on-water coaching clearer and more effective. Their lightweight design also makes handling easier for staff. Importantly, standardising our fleet will reduce maintenance costs and guarantee that our safety boats are always ready when our crews are on the water.

This purchase represents a significant investment in the safety and success of Tara Rowing. We extend our thanks to all who supported this project, ensuring that our athletes and coaches have the resources they need to perform at their best.