Liz Brockliss - Director of Technology

I am thrilled to announce we are working on a new School Portal for Tara. The Portal will become our main platform for communication with parents, staff, and students, and bring together the School's information into a centralised location.

The initial rollout will include access to the School Calendar, timetables for Senior School students, notices, and dedicated areas for Sport, Boarding, Cocurricular Activities, House and Year groups. There will also be links to other platforms commonly used by parents to make it easier to locate what you are looking for.

The new Portal is mobile friendly and will also integrate into the Parent App. This will help enhance the way parents receive communication from the School.

To make this Portal truly ours, we are inviting students to participate in naming our new Portal. We are looking for a word that embodies communication, Tara, and technology. This platform will become the one-stop shop for everything you need, so when you are looking for something, we will refer to the name of the platform. For example: "Have you checked inTARAnet?"

Please encourage your daughters to get involved and become a part of Tara history!

We would like to introduce Ride the Wave – Acing Anxiety, a new program designed to support students in Years 7-10 who experience mild to moderate anxiety. This school based group program, offered by Breakthrough Psychology, provides essential, evidence based tools to help students understand and manage their anxiety. Through engaging activities, students will learn to identify stress triggers, break free from avoidance cycles, and develop practical strategies for building resilience and confidence. It’s a great opportunity for students to gain skills that will help them thrive both in school and beyond!

Click here for more information

The Tara Uniform Shop will be closed from 4 December 2024 and will reopen in 2025 on the following dates:

• 16 January
• 17 January
• 22 January
• 23 January
• 24 January

The shop will be open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on these days.

Regular trading hours will resume on 28 January 2025.

Barbara and Hana from the Tara Uniform Shop wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

Tara Hub and Dads Club warmly invite you to join us for Carols in the Colonnade. Embrace the festive spirit as we celebrate the Christmas season together. This year, the carols are free for everyone, so bring along your family and friends for an evening filled with holiday cheer!

Market Stalls: 

Alongside the carols, we are thrilled to showcase a selection of festive market stalls, featuring:

• Nouchi Dessert Bar: Indulge in organic açai bowls, yogurt sundaes, and freshly baked stuffed cookies.
• CLK Creative Designs: Discover personalised Christmas apparel and thoughtful gifts.
• Bells of Beirut: Savor delicious pizzas, kaak, and refreshing homemade lemonade.
• Priceline: Take home goodie bags packed with amazing products, perfect for the holiday season.
• Sam Mac Photography: Explore beautiful prints and a variety of photoshoot packages.
• Smile Team Orthodontics: Capture memories with photobooth fun for all ages.
• Coffee and Snow Cone to Go: Treat yourself to fairy floss, snow cones, bubble toys, and coffee for the grown-ups.

Craving some sizzling BBQ delights during the Carols? We have got you covered! Use the link below to place your order. Bookings close Monday 18 November. 

Book Now!

Date: Tuesday, 12 November 
Time: 7.00pm 
Location: Bowern Room

We will be introducing the newly elected committee members at the AGM. All parents and carers are invited to attend the AGM to meet the committee and hear about the exciting plans for 2025. Light refreshments will be available. 

A special thank you to this year's committee members for their tireless efforts and commitment to Tara Hub.

If you have any questions about Community please email the Community Engagement Manager, Mrs Jodie Doyle at community@tara.nsw.edu.au

The Tara Old Girls' Association are pleased to announce the winner of the Joan Waugh Scholarship for 2024 - Lauren Baikie, Tara Alumnae 2016.

Lauren is studying a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Sydney; in 2025 she will be commencing her final year which includes clinical and industry placements. These voluntary placements are full-time and completely student funded with monthly "tours of duty" at several veterinary clinics located throughout NSW. She has also secured a placement with Broome Cattle Vets as part of the Northern Australia Biosecurity Strategy which is a unique opportunity for Lauren as Australia's Northern regions are known to have a shortage of veterinarians on call. To enable her to undertake these placements outside of Sydney, Lauren will be using the Award funds to fund her living and travelling expenses. Lauren is a wonderful Ambassador and example of a Tara Alumnae with incredible perseverance and tenacity. We wish her all the best for 2025 in her continuing formal studies, self-education and future endeavours. 

Congratulations Lauren! 

Summer is just around the corner and it's the perfect time to dive into swimming lessons! Whether your child is a beginner or looking to refine their strokes, our qualified instructors are ready to help them shine! Secure your spot today and enjoy a season full of fun, safety, and skill building! To get started please either email or call us to secure your child into one of our afternoon swimming lessons. Tara students receive a 10% discount. 

For more information about our state of the art facility, please visit The Tara Aquatic Centre Website 

We will be having Holiday Intensives over the January school holidays for 3 weeks. We will be offering Private Lessons and group lessons. Please contact swimming@tara.nsw.edu.au or contact reception on 8838 2699 to book in. 

Dates: 

• 6 – 10 January
• 13 – 17 January 
• 20 – 24 January

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

Hello Tara Aquatic swimmers! We are your North Pole elves, sent by Santa to keep an eye on your swimming skills! 🎅🏊‍♀️

We may not talk or make a splash, but we are here watching and swimming back to the North Pole to report your progress! So, remember to focus on your push-glide-kick and bubbles—Santa (and we!) can’t wait to see you shine! 🌟

We will be around over the next few weeks, so let’s spread kindness and enjoy our lessons! 💙

With love,

Paddles and Flipper🎄

Our Carnival Prep Program is now open!

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

Dates:

• Wednesday 22 January - 7.30am - 9.30am
• Friday 24 January - 7.30am - 9.30am

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

Safety week is coming up in November. The dates are 18 – 24 November in line with the National Swim Safer Week. This year water safety awareness is emphasising the essential skill of floating – a technique that can mean the difference between life and death in a water emergency.  “Float to Survive”

We will be conducting our Safety Week lessons in the 25m pool. 

Our theme for this Safety Week is Beach Party! 

We will be finishing up on Friday 13 December and recommencing on Monday 6 January 2025!

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

Please ensure your Direct Debt is up to date for payment on the 1st of every month.      

Last Tuesday, Year 6 travelled down to Tudor House in Moss Vale for an exciting day of challenges. As part of our transition to Senior School experiences, Tara Girls joined forces with Tudor House and The King's School students to participate in some challenging activities utilising the great resources and space at Tudor House. 

The challenges included building stretchers to carry a person out of sticks, a low ropes course, building a fire, a giant seesaw and logic problems. Throughout the day the students were encouraged to reflect on leadership qualities they have developed throughout 2024 as well as key Learner Profile Attributes such as being courageous, reflective, inquirers and thinkers. It was a full day of great experiences. Our Year 6 girls are all set to embark on their Year 7 adventures in 2025! 

Jaline X - Social Justice Prefect  

We are excited to announce the upcoming World Vision Christmas Markets, happening on 4 December at Tara this year! This annual event brings together students from all years to set up stalls, selling everything from crafts and baked goods to festive decorations. All funds raised from the markets will goes directly to World Vision, supporting communities in need across the world.

This year, we are approaching this event from a more 'awareness-building' perspective to help students develop a long lasting understanding of World Vision's work. To build awareness and excitement, we’ve lined up some fun weekly events leading up to the market day! Each week, a different event will be hosted to not only remind us of the upcoming markets but also allow everyone to learn more about World Vision’s impact. Here’s the lineup:

Week 1: Trivia Challenge – Test your knowledge on World Vision’s global initiatives!

Week 2: Art Competition – Create a visual piece representing the spirit of giving.

Week 3: Acrostic Poetry Contest – Write a creative acrostic poem for “WORLDVISION” to show what the organization means to you.

Stay tuned for updates, last year we raised over $8000, and hope to make an even bigger impact this year! We can't wait to see the students come together on 4 December this year to make a difference for those in need.

Jessica K and Anika V - Year 12 Leadership Team

We are thrilled to share the memorable moments from the recent Year 7 Orientation Days, held on the 7 and 8 November! This event was all about welcoming our incoming Year 7's and helping them create strong connections and friendships before they start their high school journey. 

The first day started off with a welcome from the Head Girl, Deputy Head Girl and House Prefects, before they sat through AAS testing. Afterwards, students split into individual house groups for a rotation of fun activities run by teachers and House Prefects.

Over the course of the two days, girls participated in the activities, which included exhibiting their creativity while painting customised bag tags in the art rooms, exciting drama games in the theatre, showing their competitive spirit in the get-to-know you sports games in the gym and getting accustomed to Tara with burning questions and personality surveys. It was wonderful to see girls step out of their comfort zones to interact and make new friends, all while being open minded and ‘Jumping Right In’!

On the second day, while the girls continued their rotations, they were visited by our very own school mascot, the Tara Tiger! The girls were thrilled to see our beloved mascot, who gave out special hi-5s, spreading the special Tara pride and enthusiasm.

Overall, the Year 7 Orientation was an exciting two days, filled with a fun day of firsts, lots of candy and new friendships!

Elisha K - Academic Prefect 

The World Vision textbook sale is being held on 14 November, giving students the opportunity to donate and purchase secondhand books for 2025.

Students will be able to bring in their textbooks on 11 November, and these will be collected and sold to raise money for World Vision. Run by SRC, this is an opportunity for the girls to contribute to an amazing cause as well as save money in buying their books for next year. Not only this, but it promotes reusability to make the most of our learning materials.

Through this new initiative, we encourage the School community to actively support Tara’s fundraising efforts and donate as many books as possible!

Nestacia - Christian Faith Prefect

Community Prayer Breakfast 

On Tuesday the fifth, the Tara Community gathered in the Chapel over breakfast to pray for the School and the wider world. It was such a blessed morning connecting with those from different parts of the community including staff, students, board members and more. The dates for next year’s Community Prayer Breakfasts are below, hope to see you there!

Term 1 – Thursday 13 Feb (Week 3)

Term 2 – Thursday 1 May (Week 1)

Term 3 – Thursday 24 July (Week 1)

Term 4 – Thursday 16 October (Week 1)

Deep Dive

On Thursday afternoons from weeks four to six, Tara students can meet with Dr Isaacs and Jaena in the chapel foyer to ask any questions they have on Christianity and Jesus. We are kicking off the program by discussing Science and Religion in week four. Deep Dives are insightful sessions allowing girls to explore their faith from a different perspective.

Crew’s Student Takeover!

All Senior School students have the exciting opportunity to demonstrate leadership by taking over a Friday lunch at Crew. This involves girls meeting over lunch planning talks, games and discussion group questions. Under the guidance of their Crew leader, girls are able to take more ownership of their faith as they are encouraged to read the Bible regularly and ask questions on anything they are unsure of, creating a beautiful message to share with other grades.

Isabella C - Year 12 Student 

On 5 November, I represented Tara as part of 96 delegates at the 30th NSW Schools Constitutional Convention in the NSW Parliament House. This is one of the major components of the Australian Government Civics and Citizenship Education (CCE) program, aiming to promote understanding and informed discussion amongst young Australians about the Australian Constitution and system of government. The topic for this year is “Limits on freedom of political expression”. 

Beginning the day in the Legislative Council Chamber, I received a warm welcome by The President, The Hon. Benjamin Franklin MLC, hearing about the 200 year celebration of the Legislative Council. I then listened to a lecture by keynote speaker Professor Emerita Anne Twomey AO, of the University of Sydney, speak on the rights and limitations of political expression on three levels: common law, statute law and constitutional law. We engaged in group discussions answering important questions including “What limitations should be in place regarding protest laws?”, “Should we limit the content of political expression, and/or the time and place of political expression?”, “Should we have a campaign expenditure cap for elections?”, “How do we tackle misinformation and push for truth in media?” and most importantly, a plebiscite survey answering “Should we have some degree of limitations to political expression?”. 

Based on the performance of the delegates, students were to vote for 30 of them to attend the National Schools Constitutional Convention (NSCC) in Canberra. I was successfully selected out of the 96 delegates at the convention. I will attend this trip in 2025, meeting key Federal MPs including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Education Minister Jason Clare, and Governor-General Sam Mostyn. The NSCC is an annual peak event exploring the Australian Constitution for senior school students in Years 11 and 12.

Congratulations to our incredible Year 10 students, Mat and Sanvi, who placed second in the Western Sydney University Blueprint Competition! This competition empowers students through real world business education, providing them with hands on experience in entrepreneurship.

Their innovative app, BlueLock, is a practical and economical home security solution designed to make home security accessible and convenient for all. This user friendly smart lock app allows homeowners to effortlessly monitor and control their locks remotely, eliminating the hassle of manually securing multiple doors and windows.

Mat and Sanvi pitched their groundbreaking idea to a panel of judges last Friday night and received a $2,000 JB HI-FI Gift Voucher for placing second.

Go Mat and Sanvi! 

Lara W and Ellie H - 2025 FPS Captains 

Earlier this term, 19 girls competed at the Future Problem Solving National Finals in Melbourne, a 3 day competition involving teams or individuals to address problems and generate solutions relating to the topic of Autonomous Vehicles.

Future Problem Solving is a research based academic program that involves teams or individuals to solve extensive challenges through problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration and creative thinking. Students work through a six step booklet with specific steps on addressing the major problems, generating solutions to one major problem, generating criteria for the best solution and creating an action plan for this solution. Accompanying the booklet in the National Finals is a presentation of action plan, a dramatic skit highlighting how the final solution will be implemented.

Congratulations to the following girls on outstanding results:

• 2nd Place in Action Plan Presentation Middle Division – Claire H, Dora H, Heidi J, Xingxiao C & Ellie H
• 2nd Place in Action Plan Presentation Senior Division – Jalina X, Lydia S, Orchid Y, Selina S, Eden W & Nicole W
• 3rd Place in Individual Global Issues Problem Solving Competition Senior Division – Isabella C
• 7th Place in Team Global Issues Problem Solving Competition Senior Division – Angelique L, Lara W, Mia C & Yezka H

Thank you to Mr Swainson, Mrs Gupta, Ms Irvine, coach Siya P and 2024 FPS captain Anika V, for your hard work throughout the program all year. We appreciate all the time, effort and dedication that goes towards running and organising the program!

Popi T - 2025 Environmental Prefect

Throughout this year, the Environment Committee has been running a Return and Earn initiative at School, donating funds to Committee initiatives and World Vision. In Semester 1, Tara returned over 1000 bottles and cans, raising $50 for World’s Vision’s Basdeth project and preventing over 15kg of plastic going to landfill. The Environment Committee will continue to run this initiative in Semester 2 and will donate the funds to Share the Dignity, an organisation providing women's hygiene products to those in need. 

Furthermore, in Term 3, the Committee ran Ration the Fashion, which raised awareness surrounding the overwhelming amounts of clothing and textiles that go to landfill every year and how to recycle used garments properly. This initiative allowed all students to dress up in thrifted clothes or swap clothes with their friends or family. They could also donate clothes to the organisation Upparel who recycles clothes completely without any parts going to landfill. Through this initiative, 20kg of unwanted clothing was collected and recycled! We look forward to continuing this in 2025.

Our amazing Level 3 and Level 4 Gymnasts who qualified for State Championships earlier in the year all performed beautifully at State. Juliana H, Olivia K and Evelyn N all achieved some amazing results at Level 3. Gabriella M and Jana V competed Level 4 and achieved some outstanding scores. We are so proud of the girls and their efforts at this tough competition.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GYMNASTS!!

Congratulations to Rebecca in Year 3 on her outstanding performance at the Swimming Metro North West Championships! Rebecca demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, securing an impressive collection of medals – 4 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze. In addition to her success in individual events, Rebecca earned the Age Championship title! 

Well done Rebecca!

Veronika A - Gymnastics Captain

On Friday 1 November, Tara's gymnastics team had the opportunity to compete in the 53rd Annual IGSA gymnastics competition, held at Rooty Hill, Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic centre. These girls have been training for months; to practice their routines and feel confident in their skills. The gymnasts were incredibly supportive towards one another, cheering each other on in their routines. Tara achieved some amazing results- 6th place overall in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics and 8th place in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Individual Achievements:

Artistic Gymnastics:

• Sofia C (Level 3) – 6th Bars
• Vellesca M (Level 3) – 2nd Beam, Tied 9th Bars
• Lara W (Level 3) – Tied 9th Beam
• Celine T (Level 3) – Tied 6th Floor
• Bella S (Level 3) – Tied 7th Vault
• Antonia S (Level 4) – 4th Vault
• Nestacia K (Level 4) – Tied 8th Vault
• Mirna I (Level 4) – Tied 6th Bars, Tied 9th Floor
• Orla A (Level 4) – 10th Bars, 5th Beam
• Tiana G (Level 4) – Tied 8th Beam
• Ruti S (Level 5) – 9th Bars
• Amarlie S (Level 5) - 7th Beam, Tied 8th Floor
• Bethany S (Level 5) – Tied 3rd Floor
• Olivia F (Level 6) – 6th Bars
• Veronika A (Level 6) – 4th Vault, 3rd Bars, 3rd Beam, Tied 6th Floor

Rhythmic Gymnastics:

• Olivia W (Level 4) – 3rd Freehand
• Cindy C (Level 5) – 5th Hoop, 6th Clubs, 5th Freehand
• Zimo Z (Level 6) – 1st Ball, 1st Freehand, 1st Ribbon
• Zoe W (Level 6) – 6th Ball, 3rd Freehand, 4th Ribbon
• Sharon W (Pre- Junior) – 3rd Hoop, 2nd Ball, 3rd Freehand

Huge Congratulations to everyone who competed! 

Leila O - Rowing Captain

On Saturday 2 November, the Tara Rowing Squad took to the Drummoyne river for the annual Sister's Bay cup. With 10 head on races against the PLC Sydney squad, the day was filled with intense competition, high energy, camaraderie, and a shared passion for excellence on the water.

The day started out with the most senior and challenging race of the day; the Tara VIII. In the case of a draw in championship races with PLC Sydney, the winner of the 8 would claim the cup. After a fierce, 3.5km race against the PLC VIII, the Tara crew came home victorious and several boat lengths ahead.

A huge congratulations to all crews especially our Year 8's with this being their first ever regatta! The squad's success was the result of early morning and afternoon trainings, gym sessions, and Saturday mornings on the water. We are eternally grateful to our exceptional coaches and dedicated parents who are the grassroots to our performance.

The day's results are as follows:

• SG 8+ - 1st (Olivia B, Hannah R, Amy R, Gemma W, Mareya K, Ruby O, Hannah W, Malaika H, Leila O)
• Yr 10-1 4x+ - 1st (Reeta L, Nicole J, Kelly L, Isabel D, Charlotte G)
• Yr 10-2 4x+ - 2nd (Victoria E, Sydney M, Piper W, Caitlin L, Avery N)
• Yr 10-3 4x+ - 2nd (Shirin A,  Adele T, Navya S, Naomi C, Faith Y)
• Yr 9-1 4x+ - 2nd (Catherine S, Ruby O, Rose M, Adrina M, Yasarnee S)
• Yr 9-2 4x+ - 2nd (Charlie W, Dora H, Sarita W, Mili S, Charlotte G)
• Yr 8-1 4x+ - 2nd (Charlie W, Amelia D, Chelsea H, Dora H, Trinity T)
• Yr 8-2 4x+ - 1st (Faith Y, Olivia P, Tamika T, Seona M, Charlotte G)
• Yr 8-3 4x+ - 1st (Kitty Y, Avery N, Yasarnee S, Michaela L, Audrey S)
• Yr 10 1x - (Leila O)

Our squad was able to take home the cup after a 4-4 draw from the 8 championship races (and 2 invitational races). On behalf of the Tara boatshed, we extend our congratulations to PLC Sydney and thank them for an incredible regatta; we are looking forward to challenging PLC and defending the trophy next year!

Ellie H - Touch Football Captain

Round 2
Despite only two weeks of training, all touch football teams have significantly improved from learning new skills at training and working together as a team. TAR01 played a tight game resulting in a draw, with boxing sets for substitution done well, and the team worked together to pass the ball down the line. Emily S (Year 11) and Popi T (Year 11) communicated well in the midfield and even scored a try. Team 4 had a great win, with tries from Riya T (Year 8), Leah S (Year 8) and Lauren A (Year 7). For TAR05, despite a hard game resulting in a loss, Saanvi B (Year 9) and Jada H (Year 7) used teamwork on the field, making good plays, passing and being supportive to the other team players.

Round 3
The Senior Seconds played Ascham in Round 3 and unfortunately lost. Despite being down a player and having to play on a muddy field in the rain, the girls gave a good effort. They incorporated many strategies which they practised in training like boxing and three-man drives. Pennie M did an excellent job defending, stopping many try’s.

TAR01 played an excellent game resulting in a win, with two tries from Angelina H (Year 11) and one each from Popi T (Year 11), Zayla T (Year 11) and Alanna D (Year 10). TAR01 was successful in passing the ball down the line and running team plays. TAR04 was also very successful in their 9-1 win! Excellent plays were done by Anika C (Year 9) and Shradha S (Year 9). TAR05 played another hard game. Despite a loss, Tara M (Year 7) made good runs down the field, and Saanvi B (Year 9) was close to a try, dodging many players. 

Grace T and Bernice T - Water Polo Captains

Round 2 
In Round 2, the Senior 1sts secured another amazing win versing Queenwood. The score became quite close at times, however with the support from one another and Ms Mirabito, we were able to pull ahead of the other team. The team worked on maintaining a good body position in the water and focusing on looking out to aid each other. 

Orla A was an outstanding player with many impressive drives, fouls and assists. Lucy T showed strong defence skills and made a very challenging shot. Additionally, Lia N played a fantastic game in both defence and offense scoring with multiple opponents behind her. As the team continues working on our team strategies and refining our skills, we hope to keep up the Tara spirit and bring it to all future games. 

The Tara Seconds played the first game of their season with a challenging match against SCEGGS over the weekend. The competition proved tough, but there were impressive moments, particularly from Olivia H, who scored some amazing goals with assists from Claire D.

Despite facing a tough defeat, resulting in the mercy rule being enforced, the team gained valuable experience. Over the course of the game, the players began to develop better team spirit and coordination, especially in the last quarter, where they improved their defensive coordination and anticipation of each other's movements. Overall, the Tara Seconds showed promise in their first outing together. This game established a solid foundation for growth as they continue to develop as a team.

Exhibiting endurance, strength and commitment, the Tara Junior Water polo Team came together and won a heated match against SCEGGS, 14-8! The team played an impressive game with some notable players; Pare N who swam swiftly up the pool, taking several shots; Julia W showcased excellent ball control with precise passing and receiving; Olivia W exhibited strong defensive skills by blocking shots from the opposing team; and Sophie L maintained consistent communication from her position in the water. Additionally, Adelaide L and Adelaide P contributed as strong shooters and key players.

At the match, the girls showed excellent teamwork, communicating their whereabouts in the water, making eye contact with their fellow teammates, watching and passing the ball efficiently throughout the entire game. 

Round 3
The Tara 2nds faced a challenging game against Kincoppal over the weekend. Despite the tough competition, the team showed notable improvement in teamwork, movement, and strength compared to the previous week. Claire D (Year 9) scored a goal during the match, while Zoe H (Year 11) and Jarah R (Year 9) demonstrated outstanding passing and skills throughout the game. Although the score didn’t reflect the team’s effort, the team is starting to come together as a team. 

Bhavya B - Tennis Captain

Round 2
In Round 2, our tennis teams faced some tough competition, with four teams securing wins. Each match provided valuable lessons and highlighted the resilience and determination of our players. Every win was well earned, and even in the losses, the teams showed commendable effort and sportsmanship. With each match, we're building our skills, strengthening our team bonds, and gaining experience that will fuel us for the challenges ahead. 

Round 3 
In Round 3, our tennis teams faced mixed results, with two wins. Despite the challenges, the teams displayed incredible resilience and team spirit. One of the players shared, 'This week was a great learning experience for all of us. We’re working hard to support each other and keep improving.' Each match brings new insights, and our commitment to refining our skills and teamwork is growing stronger every week. We’re excited to bring this energy into our next matches! 

Laura W - Badminton Captain

Round 2 
In round 2, each girl has demonstrated their individual and collaborative skills through winning their singles and doubles. It’s great to hear all the positive feedback from their teammates!

Our game was a friendly rally of sorts with TARA01, but it was a valuable experience because we could use this opportunity to practice our skills and make new friends. A highlight from that game was when I played against the other team in my singles game - I really enjoyed using the skills I learned from training and putting it to use during an actual game experience. - Lucy Z (Year 10)

Round 2 was a close match, the very last game was the decider for which school won and it was really suspenseful for the players and the spectators. We collectively knew that we had to focus, collect ourselves, communicate and come out on top. The entire team worked extremely hard to adjust to the weaknesses of the other team and to improve our skills in games in general. This match was what pushed us into working harder and made us more optimistic for future Saturday games. – Sienna L (Year 9)

This game was quite close. Both teams played well, and everyone were focused on winning but also having fun. As each of us played, we cheered each other on and discussed strategy. Coach Bo guided us along the game, reassuring us and providing feedback. Overall, we are all proud of each other and had lots of fun. - Fiona B (Year 9)

Our game was a fun but close game as there was a 5 point difference. Despite one of our players being absent, we were still able to win our game through uplifting and helping each other with tips and tricks. Angelique performed exceptionally well, winning all 3 of her games! Overall, our team performed collaboratively well through our constant uplifting comments and cheering. – Ying L (Year 10)

Round 3
The badminton teams showed overall improvement for the third round, enhancing their games along with skills in teamwork and communication. Tara 3 played a friendly match against Tara 1 and achieved an impressive 5-0 result! Raelene W (Year 10) and Manisha G (Year 10) won both their singles through consecutive rallies and powerful smashes on high serves from the other team.

While maintaining a strong offensive strategy, the team has also prioritised defence. Their quick transitions between formations allowed them to cover gaps effectively and move across the court smoothly.

For Tara 11, the team also scored an outstanding 5-0! Nicole C (Year 9), Christina H (Year 9), Ella J (Year 9), and Zissie W (Year 9) scored countless points using well planned strategies and communication practiced in pre game discussions. By keeping a steady training schedule, they were able to strengthen both their teamwork and coordination skills for their game.

Lastly, the final highlight of this round came from Tara 17 as they fought hard to keep the score close and secured a narrow 3-2 victory. Just as it seemed they might tie with their opponent; Tara 17 was able to push forward and finish strong!

We look forward to seeing more badminton teams pushing through intense matches and believing in themselves, even when facing tough challenges!