We were reminded about the hope of eternity, and invited to use our imagination about the beauty and glory of heaven.

I can only imagine what it will be like

When I walk by Your side

I can only imagine what my eyes would see

When Your face is before me, I can only imagine

 

Surrounded by Your glory What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You Jesus Or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in Your presence Or to my knees, will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine

Bart Millard © 2001, 2002 Simpleville Music

I invite you to share in some of the words from the prayer that day:

“…Today, we remember our friends, and we grieve for them.  We grieve that their lives were cut way too short, and we have a sense of helplessness and probably a lot of other feelings about that. It is way beyond our control.  So today, again we cry, and our hearts hurt as we remember.   

But today, we also attempt to consider life, which is short for all of us. And we attempt to consider life from an eternal perspective.

We are so happy that our friends are in heaven, and that for them, this is indeed not the end. We thank you for eternal life and the gift that Jesus brings. We thank you that they knew you, and right now, know you and are living their very best life. This is a comfort to our hearts… 

Thank you, Jesus that you are the source of hope, and life in all of its fullness. Thank you that a plaque or a grave on this earth is not the end. We rejoice in eternity today.” 

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Chapel Open for i4Give Week

Staff and students were given the opportunity to ‘do some business of the heart’ regarding forgiveness. 

“Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.”

Desmond Tutu

“Forgiveness doesn’t excuse their behaviour. Forgiveness prevents their behaviour from destroying your heart.”

Hemant Smarty

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3: 13-14

The Chapel foyer was beautifully arranged with connection opportunities of inner attitude with outer symbolic kinesthetic action.   

We, at Tara, support the i4Give Foundation wholeheartedly, and are proud of what they have established through unimaginable tragedy and heartbreak. We stand with them, joining in prayer for the attitude and action of forgiveness in our community and nation.

Mrs Michelle Kay-Browning, Chaplain/Director of Christian Faith and Values

We began with Miss Joan Waugh operating morning classes from St Ronan’s - a church in George Street, Parramatta in 1897 that no longer exists. We have had various homes over the years, including the School operating from the Waugh family home in George Street, Parramatta for a time. Their home was known as Tara and the school has continued with this name over time.

We had boys in the School up to Grade Three until the mid 1960’s. I have met some of these old boys and they tell wonderful tales of their times in the School. Everyone I have met who knew Miss Waugh, speak of her kindness and good humour. She seems to have been a wonderful person. Miss Waugh served as Principal of the School for 50 years, until just before her death in 1946.

I often think about her and wonder about all the changes and trials she led through. There was the Federation of Australia, two World Wars, the Great Depression and the worldwide flu pandemic in the 1920’s. She led the School through that particular time when there was no thought of vaccines and I often think while it is unpleasant for us now, we are so much more fortunate than people who lived through those times.

Over the years Tara has had a few more homes, always in Parramatta and the Senior School moved to this site in North Parramatta in 1958. Where we are now was a hospital at the time for children who had rheumatic fever. Before antibiotics were in general use, children who had rheumatic fever had to lie quietly for several weeks and be cared for. The main staff room in the Senior School was a ward, as was the wing where Mrs Griffiths and the Year Coordinators work from.

Since then we have built classrooms and facilities, sometimes rebuilt them, moved the Junior School to their new buildings in 1970, bought more land, including Mouleric and all that side of the School was once a farm we have since purchased. 

Anyway… 125 years later here we are. Much has changed. We are now one of Sydney’s leading schools for girls with strong academic programs, fantastic facilities, brilliant teachers and amazing girls. Some things have not changed. We are still a school with strong Christian foundations that inform all we do. We focus on our students' learning and wellbeing supporting their journey as the women they are going to be. What a wonderful legacy we have as we stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us. I feel it is a great privilege to lead this School and I hope you feel the same way as you grow and take part in all there is on offer here.

Talking about fabulous, let's talk about the HSC results. They were late this year because of the delays to the exams in 2021 so we are still feeling the excitement of great outcomes for Tara girls.

• Five girls listed as All Rounders - Emma Kent, Olivia Lim, Dhara Narsey, Aneesa Saadat and Amanda Tao
• Two students as Top Achievers in Course - Nikki Zhang, 2nd Hospitality Examination and Vivian Zheng, 4th Chinese and Literature
• 52 students from a cohort of 81 on the Distinguished Achievers list
• ATARS - two over 99
• 22% over 95, 43% over 90, 69% over 80
• 91% with early entry
• Amelie Abboud was nominated for ARTEXPRESS
• Isabelle Brown and Amanda Tao were nominated for ENCORE
• Jordan Elliot was nominated for OnSTAGE
• SMH ranking 34

To view comprehensive details of the HSC Results for the Class of 2021 please click here.

The Year Ahead

We are beginning the year differently than we had hoped, but at least we are back and there is no more talk of lock downs. 

Keeping Safe

Thank you to parents who were able to get to School to collect RAHT kits prior to the start of Term. It was quite an operation to make it all happen for you and thank you to the staff who gave up their day on Thursday to have them all packed for you. We will supply you with more kits when they arrive.

It is important you test twice a week. We are suggesting Monday and Wednesday although Tuesday and Thursday would be ok as well. If you test positive you need to stay home for seven days and the same if you become a household contact. If either of these things happen you need to notify the School as well as NSW Health.

If Senior School students are at home and feeling ok, they can access their learning on CANVAS so they can keep up to date as much as possible.

At School, we need to wear masks inside. Wash hands often, wipe down desks and computers. Although the rules on social distancing for schools have changed, it makes sense to spread out where we can. Masks must be worn on public transport.

We can do a lot of activities this year that we were not allowed to do even at the end of last year, and we are working through processes to keep you as safe as possible.

I have been told, we will most likely need to do this until the end of February, then the government will make decisions after that.

The past week was a special week in that it was i4Give Week. Please see the article from our Chaplain, Mrs Michelle Kay-Browning with more information from the week.

Aquatic Centre Update

The Aquatic Centre is taking shape and will be finished by the end of Term 3!

125 Celebrations

There are several events planned through the year to celebrate the School’s 125th birthday. More detail will be forthcoming as we get closer to them. 

New Staff

We welcome new staff to Tara for 2022. 

• Mary Dorahy - Head of Visual Arts
• Marion Malouf - Registrar
• Albert Bandola - Cafeteria Manager
• Renee Carr - English teacher
• Jennie Young - Science and astronomy program
• Alex Pottie - Head of Diverse Learning
• Lauren Chen - English teacher
• Nerida Patten - Head of Christian Studies

I hope you have a wonderful term. It is so good that we are all back together learning with all the extras that come with School life on campus. Look out and look after each other at School and online. Be kind and thoughtful as you focus on the woman you are going to be. Tara is a wonderful place for you to explore all sorts of options. A school which has traditions and values that will serve you well as you grow. 

Information on this vital aspect of laptop use has been discussed during the Tara ICT Orientation program for Year 7. In addition, the girls are working during their orientation to raise awareness within their Mentor Groups, reminding young people to take care of their digital footprint (such as engaging in the appropriate use of social media) and being fair to all online. 

Resources and links for both Junior and Senior School parents to access in order to support their children to engage in safe and appropriate internet use are available from the eSafety Commissioner via the link HERE. 

This Safer Internet Day 2022, the eSafety Commissioner will also be running free webinars that will look at “how parents and carers can support young people to have safe and respectful online relationships - what to do if things go wrong.

 The aim of the webinars is to provide information regarding:

• Helping children to ‘thrive’ online
• Starting conversations with your child about their online friendships and positive ways to deal with changing relationships
• Parental controls
• Where to seek help if your child is involved in a cyberbullying incident.

The webinars will include case studies, research and targeted advice so you can support the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences.

Celebrated in 150 countries, Safer Internet Day is coordinated by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission. In Australia, the eSafety Commissioner is responsible for managing and promoting Safer Internet Day. 

We look forward to continuing to support Tara girls in their online journey – as safely and as fairly as possible!

The results were excellent, and Tara was placed well above the Australian schools’ average in all year groups. This competition assists the faculty and the students to identify their strengths in English and areas for development.

Congratulations to everyone who chose to participate in the enriching competition.

Special mention goes to Elisha K (Year 8) who received an ICAS Medal and Certificate for receiving the highest score in the competition in her year group.

Amazing result!

High Distinctions: (top 1% of participants)

• Elisha K (Year 8) 
• Jemma S (Year 9) 
• Nina X (Year 10)

Distinctions: (top 10 % of participants) 

• Year 7: Mia C, Chelsea H, Lara W, Vicky Y
• Year 8: Alison S
• Year 9: Sharon D, Grace M
• Year 10: Hannah W

Other achievements were 18 Credits (top 25% of all participants). 

All students who competed will receive their certificates during year meetings this term. All participants will receive a results notification sheet and information, where they can login to view a detailed analysis of their competition responses.

Well done, girls!