Lead the way and give your daughter a promising future - she belongs at Tara.

• Does your daughter demonstrate academic excellence?
• Does she excel in music?
• Is she from a rural or regional location?
• Does she display leadership?
• Does she serve the community?

Applications for 2025 Tara Anglican School for Girls Scholarships are now open. 

Scholarships are for entry in 2025 for Years 7 and 9 Academic/All Rounder, Years 7 to 11 Boarding (for rural students), and Year 7 Music. Current families are welcome to apply.

To find out more and to apply visit the scholarships page here. 

The Tara Uniform Shop will be open on Saturday 4 November: 9am - 12pm

Term Time Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 7:30am-12:00pm
(closed between 12pm and 1pm)
1:00pm-5:00pm
First Saturday of each month (Term time only) between 9:00am-12:00pm. 

For more information or to book an appointment please call 02 8838 2646.

Reminder: The uniform shop is now accepting ONLY credit card payments (MasterCard/Visa). 

The P&F warmly invite all our families to join us for our cherished tradition of Carols in the Colonnade. Get ready for a heartwarming evening filled with beautiful music, joyful songs, and the warm company of family and friends.

Stay tuned for more details as we finalise the program and activities for this festive occasion. We can't wait to come together as a community to celebrate the holiday season.

The P&F are also excited to announce that for the first time ever, a Carols Christmas T-shirt will be available to purchase and wear on the night. Make sure to keep an eye on your email this week for when sales open so that you don't miss out on the opportunity to purchase one

The Tara Dads Club invites all dads to join them at the next meeting which will be held on Wednesday 15 November in the Chapel Foyer at 7pm.

It is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the club and how to get involved. Come meet the current Executive team and discover the exciting events planned for 2025. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you wish to become a member of the Tara Dads Club please complete registration form via the link below. 

Tara Dads Club Registration Form

Class parents are an invaluable resource within the School and play a vital role in welcoming new families; organising social events for their year group/class and volunteering to assist and help rally troops to organise and staff community events.

The next meeting for the Class parents will take place on Thursday 26 October, 8.30am in the Glass Room. If you are thinking about becoming a Class Parent, please join us for tea or coffee. 

Thank you to all those that submitted an application for the Joan Waugh Scholarship. The committee are reviewing all applications and the successful applicant will be contacted shortly. 

The next meeting for the Tara Old Girls' Association will take place on Wednesday 8 November at 7.00pm. This will be an online online meeting. If you wish to contact the Old Girls Association please email taraoldgirls@tara.nsw.edu.au

We completed our first safety week last term. It was such a fun and exciting week had by all students and some laughs as well! 

We are now looking forward to our next one this Term!  

We are excited to say we have just opened more time slots for lessons on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Plus, we are now offering Adult Learn to Swim classes on a Monday evening at this stage. 

We have had many trainees in the water which is great to see and thank you to all the parents for your support as well! 

We have our first 'Swimmer of the Month'!

Congratulations to Emma for your dedication to your swimming lessons! WELL DONE!

Please keep in mind that you cannot take photos or videos during lesson time and there is no eating in the grandstands. 

The anticipation is over! We have now opened our squad sessions!

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 for more information. 

All students must complete an assessment at the Tara Aquatic Centre prior to joining a squad group. 

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

Wednesday 30 August was a inspiring day for ten religious Tara girls from Years Five and Six. Christian Service Leaders (CSL), Celine and Sofia, were among those who left Tara at 11:30am and arrived at Roseville College for two hours of CRU “FiT”. 

Here’s their take on the day:

“FiT” stands for ”followers in training” and is a training program to learn more about God. It is run by CRU, an organisation designed to support Christian learning in Christian schools.  

Leading up to it, I was expecting to just learn about God but we learnt a lot for example we learnt about different ways to pray one of them even included skittles. When I imagined what the day would be like, I felt excited and ready to go because on this day you get to know all about God and the amazing things he has done.

As Christian Service Leaders we have the responsibility of telling all of you about God and how powerful he is. Cru FiT was helpful for this because it was a day where we built lots of new skills like how to pray and how to lead an amazing chapel about God's love. 

When we arrived at Roseville College, we were full of excitement, ready to learn more about God, and we went up to Anna, got our name tag and ate our lunch. As other schools began arriving, we began to enter the theatre and sit down.

Once we were inside the Roseville Theatre, we learnt that the topic was 'prayer' which made us think about all the different ways to prayer. What happened next included: making chatterboxes and praying for different countries.

All the girls on the excursion help with CREW on Mondays at lunch. It is a group that was very committed to learning about God. One thing we love about CREW is the games and all the different memory verses. 

One thing that is a challenge for us at CREW right now is not having a lot of Year 5 students. Cru FiT gave us some ideas to take back to our CREW group, including game ideas and different ways to pray.

Everyone who attended the excursion thought it was a fun experiment and that there were lots of new people to meet. 

Cru Fit was a memorable day. We will never forget the wonderful experience. 

Kirit and Jasmine - 2023/2024 Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl 

As we step into Term 4, there is a buzz of excitement in the air. For some of us, it is a return to School being in the same year whilst for others it’s the beginning of a new chapter. As the new Seniors of the School, the Year 12 cohort and the Leadership Team are so excited to lead the School, building on Tara Spirit and connecting with the girls, creating stronger bonds of sisterhood. One of the most significant reasons for this excitement is the chance for the Seniors to lead. It is such a great opportunity to make a greater impact on our School community. Every student, teacher and staff member contribute to the atmosphere of our School. Let’s altogether foster an environment where joy is not just a fleeting moment but an integral part of our daily School life. As we walk into this new school term, let’s remember to support and lift each other up. Whether it is lending a helping hand to a girl or simply words of encouragement, these acts of kindness will enhance all the joy we experience. 

When we step into Term 4 let’s remember that each one of you have a significant role in shaping the atmosphere of our Shool, through our goals of sisterhood and spirit. 

We are beyond excited for this term’s theme of Joy, with a focus on two main questions, “What brings you joy?” and “How can you bring joy to others?”. On the first day of Term 4, 10 October, the Leadership Team greeted the warm, vibrant, and bright smiles of returning girls and staff, welcoming them into this new term of Joy. The red, pink, and yellow balloon arch created at the receiving Tara entrance and fluttering J, O, Y letters seemed to mimic our hearts as the team excitedly anticipate this new beginning. It was truly a joyful morning witnessing the rush of girls and loving embraces after a restful two-week break.

We hope this theme of 'Joy' only furthers the Tara community's united strength, joining in celebration of happiness, gratuity, and spirit as we approach the end to 2023. As we step into this term, let’s consider the various ways in which we can infuse joy into our everyday lives at School or out. Joy is so special- it can be found in the simplest of moments, this vibrant energy can drive our passion and positive spirit for our School community making the best end to this school year.

Wishing everyone a productive, joyful, and inspiring Term 4!

During the term break, 23 Year 10 and 11 students and 3 teachers, travelled to Japan to immerse themselves in both the local culture and language of Japan for two weeks. On the tour, while visiting many culturally and historically significant sites in Tokyo, Osaka, Hakone and Kyoto, the girls had the opportunity to also use their Japanese skills as they navigated daily travel, shopping and eating.

Some of the highlights of the trip were eating Japanese street food in Osaka, shopping in the famous Harajuku district, going to hot springs in Hakone, seeing Mt Fuji from the bullet train, going to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios, playing traditional games with a Japanese maiko in Kyoto, visiting the famous Fushimi Inari Temple and doing a homestay with our sister school, Tosajuku. 

Our sister school is located on the bottom island of Japan, Shikoku and we travelled across the longest bridge connecting two islands in the world by train. Our girls were each hosted by a Japanese family and experienced amazing hospitality and generosity. They were also able to attend Tosajuku School for two days and participate in lessons, after school cleaning and club activities. A highlight at the school was going on Youtube live and making a speech in Japanese to the whole school who listened in their home rooms.

A special thank you to Mrs Cocks, Mrs Peterie and Mrs Morris for leading this tour and to all the girls who were delightful to travel with. The girls woke each day with curiosity and took every opportunity to immerse themselves in Japanese language and culture. We are very proud of you all!!

Annabelle D - Performing Arts Prefect

On 20 October, Years 7 and 8 girls were able to show off their incredible talent performing two plays. The Year 11 directors of Liz G, Su J, Ella W and Annabelle D spent months working with two wonderful casts to produce the spectacular performances. 

The first play was Mmmbeth, a hilarious modern take on the Scottish play in which almost everything goes wrong! The Witches take over the storytelling, Queen Duncan would rather open a donut franchise than die, Lady M's a bloodthirsty June Cleaver, and the murderers are preoccupied with creating a commercial for their services. The comedic timing and incredible acting skills of the cast made the audience continuously laugh! We are incredibly proud of the cast, directors, and costume/set/prop team for creating a hilarious performance. 

The second performance was Law and Order: Fairytale Unit. In the fairytale criminal justice system, the characters from fairytales and nursery rhymes are represented by two separate yet equally ridiculous groups: the fairytale police who investigate fairytale crime, and the fairytale district attorneys who prosecute the fairytale offenders. This play followed Detective H.D. and Detective Cindy interrogating different characters from fairytales and nursery rhymes to solve a mystery case. The true guilty culprit was not who you expect... 

The Year 7 and 8 students wowed the audience with their amazing talent and enthusiasm! We are exceptionally proud of the cast, directors, and costume/set/prop team for creating a nostalgic, fun performance! These performances were an amazing opportunity for Junior girls to delve into Drama in Senior School. I encourage all girls to participate in Drama at Tara, as it not only a fun activity to do with friends, but it helps improve confidence, communication and creates lasting memories. Congratulations to all the Years 7-8 production casts! It was a fantastic performance!!

Read below to hear from some members of the cast:

On Wednesday 13 September, a pizza fundraiser, run by Year 10, was held for the Parramatta Women's Shelter. Throughout the year, Year 10 have organised care packages, and several fundraisers for the Women's shelter, with all proceeds donated.

This term, a group of Year 10 girls formed a committee who organised, prepared, and ran the fundraiser held for Year 9 and 10 students through promotion emails and posters. With the generous donations from students, and the hard work of Year 10 Students,  $920 was raised for Parramatta Women's Shelter, which will help many women gain independence, strength and hope through their struggles. 

Year 10 have had a blast working together for the Parramatta Women's Shelter through the organisation of care packages, and pizza lunches, for the end result of bringing light to all the amazing women in our community. Sali, a Youth Worker from Parramatta Women’s Shelter visited us last week and accepted our gift.

This week the Science Extension course officially begins, but students have already taken up opportunities to be involved in programs offered by Macquarie and Sydney University to get a head start on the course. 

In the last week of Term 3, students who had expressed an interest in taking up Science Extension were invited to attend the Explore Conference at Macquarie University. The day began with a keynote from Australia’s chief scientist Dr Cathy Foley, who outlines some of the current priorities for scientific research in Australia. Students from various schools then presented their Science Extension Research Project. In the breaks, Year 12 students were running poster sessions and the Year 11 students were able to view the posters and ask questions about the methodology and other aspects of the research projects. We were able to bring back lots of project ideas for the 2024 cohort. 

More recently, on Friday 13 October, the Science Extension class of 2024 attended a workshop at Sydney University. The day included presentations on a range of topics, including how to start your research project and carrying out a literature review. Students heard from past Science Extension students currently enrolled at Sydney University who spoke about their research project and the transferability of the skills they developed in the Science Extension course. Most importantly we heard about other Sydney University initiatives to support Science Extension students, including opportunities for mentoring by university scientists, and lectures relating to data analysis that we will be able to access online in 2024. 

The Science Extension course is only in its fourth year in NSW, but it is exciting to see a number of universities stepping up to support high school students and their teachers as they take their first step towards undertaking scientific research. 

Georgia - 2023/2024 Debating Prefect 

Friday 27 October is World Teachers Day! It is the day when we get to appreciate all the hard work and care our teachers put in to helping us grow, learn, and thrive. It is a time to say thank you to the teachers who have inspired us, challenged us, and pushed us to be the best versions of ourselves. Year 7 SRC has decided to honour our teachers on this day by writing personalised, handwritten cards dedicated to each teacher to tell them how they have helped, taught, or inspired their students. Each card includes a complimentary coffee or tea voucher as a well-deserved treat for our teachers. It is their way of reminding our educators that their impact is immeasurable, and we are incredibly grateful for all they do.

So, here's to our incredible teachers on World Teachers' Day – thank you for everything.

Aoling - Year 11 

In building leadership and community at Tara, Year 11 girls complete a service of their choice to give back to their community, initiated, designed, led, acted, and completed by the student body. In consideration of the national community and Tara’s position as an educational institute, our service group has initiated a Tara Book Drive with a focus on sustainable and service mindsets, in collaboration with the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF). The ALNF is a national charity that assists and educates individuals in marginalised communities in vital literacy, numeracy, and communication skills—a value of education, integrity, and service-mindedness, which are highly respected at Tara.

Our group’s service requests the collaboration of this National Institute, as well as the wider student body, to provide book donations for our juniors, allowing them to give back to our broader society. In the process of planning the service times, organising emails for approval, making calls to the foundation, designing and putting up posters, creating book drop-off points for the students and staff, announcing the initiation, sorting, and counting every single book donated, and sending them off, our group has gained a new appreciation and insight into the processes that go into each school-led activity.

Over the span of two weeks, we collected nearly a thousand books from Tara, ranging from textbooks to young adult novellas to picture books. By the end of another few weeks, we sorted and counted a total of 447 books that met the given criteria, which were donated to the foundation’s cause. The remaining books, which are not accounted for, will be sold at our yearly Tara Christmas Markets, with the proceeds going to World Vision—an international charity that creates opportunities for vulnerable communities in development, relief, and advocacy work around the world. Furthermore, any unsold books at the markets will be donated to Lifeline, an organisation vital to national wellbeing and suicide prevention.

We would like to express our gratitude to our mentor, Mrs George, who has supervised us throughout this process and made this service a reality through her constant reminders, advice, and encouragement. We also want to thank both the students and staff for their contributions to this service.

Hruthika - Year 11 

This term, Year 11 Tara students embraced a meaningful chance to engage in service learning. Among them, 31 girls enthusiastically volunteered to assemble care packs for the children in the liver failure ward at Westmead Children’s Hospital. These care packs and handwritten letters created by the girls aimed to bring smiles and comfort to children battling serious health issues. 

The inspiration of helping children with liver concerns stemmed from challenging experiences in my personal life. Last October, I lost my mother to liver failure. It was a very challenging time for me and my family, not just during her death, but extended to the painful journey of watching her continuously suffering as she struggled to do basic tasks. As someone who understands the hardships that the families of the patients, and the patients undergo, I was driven to instil hope in the younger children and understand that they are not alone in this journey, and she was remembered in every step of this project.  

Every step of the process involved a collective endeavour where all the girls united to select and arrange the kits, ensuring that each kit was significant and unique. The kits consisted of age-appropriate items such as soft toys, journals, highlighters and many more. The handwritten letters were a direct line of connection between the Tara Year 11 students and the children in the Liver Failure Ward. Their commitment to crafting these care packs demonstrated the power of compassion and the willingness to make a positive impact in the lives of others. These care packs extend far beyond their tangible contents; they carry with them the warmth and encouragement of the Year 11 Tara students, reminding us all that even a small gesture can make a lasting impact

This journey of creating care packs for the children helped us to convey a message of support, understanding and hope as we aimed to make their days a little brighter and let them know they are not alone. This project has taught all the girls the power of compassion and the impact of simple gestures.  

Inika N - Year 11

Our Year 11 Business Studies classes embarked on a journey to North Rocks shopping centre to listen to knowledgeable business owners. We dined at Rashay's and actively engaged in Q and A style conversation with four experienced business owners, gaining incredible insights on their entrepreneurial journey.

The day was filled with questions, learning, and a lot of fun. Nairi Malek, owner of Beaumaris St and Trinity, provided such valuable information on the importance of a healthy work life balance, shedding light on flexibility gained from owning a small business. We also heard from Norm Doumit, owner of Doumit Homes, hearing about outsourcing and the competitive advantage of his small business. Further, Sanjeev Loura who owns AHMI Vocational College enlightened us by explaining his international scale business, and management approaches implemented globally. Finally, Allison Grasso, owner of Atlantic Plumbing, told us about the importance of Human Resources and business culture within her small business.

From learning about establishing a business, to how to manage staff, this opportunity to hear from the best was truly fascinating! It was a great day to take in such great and authentic personal stories, allowing real life businesses to expand our knowledge. 

Congratulations to our Future Problem Solving Teams for their performance at the National Finals! 

Both teams had a wonderful time competing, and learnt so much. They are determined to enter again in 2024 with more experience under their belt.

Congratulations to Year 11 students Hruthika and An for all their recent success in Business Studies Competitions! 

They received a place in the finals of the Plan Your Own Enterprise Competition and won the State Final Competition! They will now present their business idea at the National Competition.

The Plan Your Own Enterprise Competition focuses on students gaining business skills, promoting innovation, and encouraging teamwork. It is an opportunity for students to explore the intricate world of business operations.

They also received a place in the finals of the Newcastle University Business Studies Challenge 2023! They will pitch their innovative business idea at the finals in November.

Their business concept, 'SOOTHLES,' delivers personalised and technologically advanced soft toys for children aged 5-14, offering emotional support and anxiety relief.

What an incredible achievement to reach the finals in two separate Business Studies competitions! Their hard work and dedication are truly paying off.

Congratulations to Lucinda P for her performances at the Australia Nationals Clubs Carnival held over Sunday 17 – Thursday 21 September at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, Queensland. This prestigious event brought gymnasts from all around Australia to compete with an exceptionally high level of athletes competing.

Lucinda P (Level 5 Senior): Highest ranking: 28/42 in Clubs

Lucinda also placed 6th overall in the Level 5 Team placings with her teammates from Club PERO.

Congratulations to Celine Z and Sophia M (Year 3), Chloe H and Isabella P (Year 4) Jessica R (Year 5), and Cindy C (Year 8) for their participation at the Voski Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics Event held on 8 October.

The gymnasts performed outstandingly with improvements across all routines! Highlights include:

• Sophia M (Foundation 1) – Received judges award for most expressive routines in Foundation 1
• Celine Z (Foundation 2) – Gold-banding overall for FX and Hoop routines
• Cindy C (Level 4) – 1st place for Freehand

Head Coach Rachel and the Rhythmic Gymnastics coaching team are thrilled with all of the gymnasts’ confidence and artistry performing on the floor!

Congratulations to Celine Z and Hannah X (Year 3), Chloe H and Isabella P (Year 4), Lin Lin W and Jessica R (Year 5), Lily J (Year 7) and Cindy C (Year 8) for their participation at the Ascham Friendly Rhythmic Gymnastics Event held on 27 August at Ascham School, Edgecliff.

The gymnasts received positive feedback from the judging panels, with the highest achievements for the day being the following;

• Hannah X (Foundation 2) – 1st place for Freehand
• Lily J (Level 4) – 1st place for Freehand
• Cindy C (Level 4) – 5th place for Hoop

Head Coach Rachel and the Rhythmic Gymnastics coaching team are thrilled with all of the gymnasts’ confidence and perseverance performing on the floor!

Skye A - Water Polo Captain

Round 1
S05 Tara 1 vs Loreto Kirribilli 2, Win, 7-4
S07 Tara 2 vs BYE
J05 Tara 3 vs Loreto Kirribilli 5, Loss, 4-16
Y703 Tara 4 vs Loreto Kirribilli 8, Draw, 10-10

Angelina H - Touch Football Captain

Round 1
S03 Tara 1 vs Brigidine 2, Draw, 1-1
S07 Tara 2 vs Abbotsleigh 5, Loss, 2-4
S12 Tara 3 vs Pymble 12, Win, 5-0
J04 Tara 4 vs Ascham 11,Loss, 3-6
J10 Tara 5 vs Wenona 16, Loss, 2-5

Aoling Z - Badminton Captain

Round 1
S01 Tara 1 vs Meriden 3, Draw, 2.5-2.5
S02 Tara 2 vs Meriden 6, Loss, 0-5
S04 Tara 3 vs MLC 4, Win, 5-0
S05 Tara 4 vs Monte 2, Win, 3-2
J01 Tara 5 vs Meriden 10, Win, 3-2
J02 Tara 6 vs Kincoppal Rose Bay 3, Win, 3-2
J03 Tara 7 vs Tara 8, Win, 3-2
J03 Tara 8 vs Tara 7, Loss, 2-3
J04 Tara 9 vs St Scholastica’s 2, Win, 5-0
J05 Tara 10 vs Tara 11, Win, 3-2
J05 Tara 11 vs Tara 10, Loss, 2-3
Y701 Tara 12 vs Meriden 20, Loss, 1-4
Y702 Tara 13 vs Meriden 24, Win, 5-0
Y703 Tara 14 vs Meriden 28, Loss, 1-4
Y703 Tara 15 vs MLC 9, Forfeit loss

Diya H - Tennis Captain

Round 1
S12 Tara 1 vs Pymble 7, Win, 7-1
J09 Tara 2 vs MLC 9, Loss, 2.5-5.5
J12 Tara 3 vs St Vincent’s 6, Loss, 2.5-5.5
Y703 Tara 4 vs Pymble 20, Win, 8-0
Y705 Tara 5 vs Pymble 22, Loss, 3.5-4.5
Y706 Tara 6 vs St Catherine’s, Win, 4.5-3.5

Zoe M recently competed in the Australian National Junior Road Championships held in Shepparton over the school holidays. With over 25 competitors in her U15 cohort, Zoe’s results as follows:
Time Trial 10km - 5th
Road Race 36km - 7th
Criterium 15km - 11th

Her mind and training now turn to track season and she is also very much looking forward to Tara’s CAP Program starting shortly.

Victoria L (Year 7) recently competed in the NSW Youth Sailing Championships on Lake Macquarie. Competitors from all over Australia competed even though it was a NSW event. Victoria raced over three days in the Optimist class. Day 2 was particularly challenging with the winds being a very strong 30 knots. She did exceptionally well, placing 3rd in the female category. An amazing achievement! 

Catherine S (Year 7) participated in the Volker Hrovat Epee cup on September 3 and won a U-14 Women's Epee Silver medal and U-14 mix Epee 4th.

Catherine has also been selected to the Australian Fencing Squad and is looking forward to the challenge.

Skye A - Netball Captain

S09 Tara 2 vs Meridan 3, Loss, 17-37
S14 Tara 3 vs Frensham 5, Loss, 9-24
J12 Tara 6 vs St Vincents 13, Loss, 11-18

The Tara 2 team played their semi final against Meriden 3 and despite the loss the girls played their best game of the entire season. Jovana K had outstanding shooting throughout the game! The girls enjoyed their season and loved working together as a team! 

The Tara 6 team played exceptionally well in their semi final. The girls managed to turn the ball over from the other teams shooting circle. Emma K and Ayva H showed amazing shots in the circle and the execution of their shooting skills. The girls had great interceptions and strong passes helping the ball travel down the court. They have definitely enjoyed their season! 

Abbey V - Basketball Captain

Basketball Semi Finals
S04 Tara 2 vs Kincoppal Rose Bay 4, Loss, 16-20
J05 Tara 5 vs Ascham 8, Win, 14-13
Y702 Tara 6 vs Kincoppal Rose Bay 12, Win, 31-21
Y703 Tara 8 vs Kambala 8, Loss, 12-36

Basketball Finals
J05 Tara 5 vs St Catherine’s 6, Loss, 11-28
Y702 Tara 6 vs St Scholastica’s, Loss, 16-17

The seconds team were fortunate enough to make the semi-final after a great season, losing only one game. However, they were unfortunately taken down in a close game losing only by 4 points, this was an outstanding effort for our girls. 

The fifths team also made the semi-final. They played a great game and took home the win in an extremely exciting close game. They progressed to the grand final where they unfortunately lost, however they played a well and had an amazing season only losing one game. 

Our first Year 7 team made it to the semi-final without losing a game the entire season. They came out with an easy win also progressing to the grand final. Although they played their hearts out they unfortunately lost by one point in an extremely close game.

Lastly, our third Year 7 team made it to the semi-final after a really good first season at Tara. They did not come away with the win, however they had an extremely good season and just making the semi-final is something to be very proud of. 

Congratulations to these teams who worked hard all term to make the finals, it was well deserved, and the final results of all Tara teams is very impressive.