Term 1, Week 9, 2020
From the Dean of Junior School
Wellbeing in the Junior School
Mr James Harrison
A number of years ago, we began an inquiry in the Junior School into the way we build positive relationships and manage conflict. Since 2018, we have used a Circle Solutions framework to promote positive relationships by giving everyone a voice. Alongside this, we have used a Restorative Practices approach for those times when things go wrong.
Circle Solutions provides the vehicle for each class to raise and discuss issues as well as explicitly teaching social emotional learning (SEL). During online learning, each year group has been focusing on a wide range of important SEL skills. ELC girls have engaged with their teachers and peers in extended morning meetings learning how to communicate and share ideas. Kindergarten girls have been learning about ways to be kind to others, even when we don’t see them face to face. In Year 1, kindness has also been a real spotlight. Year 2’s focus has been on “Emotional Literacy”, teaching our girls to recognise their emotions and how to label them. Year 3 have been looking at coping skills for when you are worried, as well as ways to stay positive. Similarly, Year 4 has been using strengths jars as a way to help the girls concentrate on uplifting themselves and others. Year 5 has inquired into the physiological reasons behind happiness while Year 6’s focus has been on making space for emotions as they navigate a challenging part of their social emotional development. There has never been a more important time for our girls to develop these SEL skills.
Despite our best efforts, we know that sometimes things don’t go as smoothly as we hope. When that happens, Tara Junior School uses Restorative Practices (RP) to navigate these often complex relationship issues. As the name suggests, RP is about restoration. Restoring relationships when they have been damaged. Restoring trust when it has been broken. And restoring faith in one another when it has been lost.
Just like all school subjects, behavioural choices need to be “taught”. If someone can’t spell, we teach them to spell. If they don’t know how to read, we teach them to read. What happens if a child can’t behave? Should we simply punish them? At Tara we don’t believe in simply punishing them, which may result in short term compliance but rarely leads to long term change. Instead, we teach students how to make better choices.
Every teacher has been equipped with the skills and knowledge to run restorative meetings with students in conflict with one another and we have developed resources to assist teachers with this process.
One of the key elements is to “reduce the trigger” and allow each child the chance to recover before trying to discuss the problem. After we ran some parent sessions in 2019, a parent wrote to me to say that this one simple idea had helped her relationship with her daughter at home and succeeded in providing the space for any breakdown in the relationship to be restored.
As one of the pilot schools involved with the Association of Independent School’s Compass Wellbeing Project, one of our next steps in the journey is considering how best to implement CASEL’s social emotional learning model in our specific context. We look forward to sharing more information with you as we continue this important work across the School.
Tara Community News
Tara Old Girls' Association - Joan Waugh Scholarship
Joan Waugh Scholarship applications are now open!
Miss Mary Elizabeth (Joan) Waugh was the headmistress of Tara Anglican School for Girls from 1887 to 1845.
In recognition of her long career which spanned two centuries, Miss Waugh received strong appreciative respect amongst her peers and students. The Tara Old Girls' Association decided to honour her work and memory through the naming of the first Old Girls' Scholarship to the value of $5,000.
The Joan Waugh Scholarship is reserved for the candidates who demonstrate excellent endeavours in different aspects of community life and a potential for leadership in addition to their academic abilities. The Award aims to assist the former student in the undertaking of further studies, research or development in a particular field of interest, skill or expertise, either in Australia or overseas.
Applications close 30 September, 2021. To apply please download the application form from the Tara Anglican School website at https://www.tara.nsw.edu.au/community/.
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Junior School News
Before and After School Care and Vacation Care News
Recently we extended our cultural wall. As a part of our project, we engaged with listening to the Dreamtime Stories and dot painting on our hands and feet. The hand and footprints remind us of our rich heritage.
This year we celebrated Father’s Day by making a pretty collage. This was our way of showing our love and respect for all the sacrifices dads make for us from when we are born. We started out by brainstorming with the idea of the motifs we wanted. Some of our girls decided to make a frame and finally decided on creating a collage.
With our small number of girls attending the Centre at the moment we are enjoying the chance to use the obstacle course alongside our usual free play time and enjoy a range of activities centred on working with their peers. These include sharkies, spinner, an Amazing Race, and hide and seek.
Applications for Vacation Care are now available please email us for more information at asc@tara.nsw.edu.au
We send our thoughts to all our families, and hope you are all keeping well during this difficult time – we miss you. We are looking forward to seeing you when lessons begin again at Tara.
Senior School News
Debating and Public Speaking News
Charlotte S - 2020/2021 Debating Prefect
Despite facing many challenges, re-organisations and postponements, Tara's Debating and Public Speaking Department has had great success recently with Alisha G and Alisha V in the Evatt competition. Similar to that of Model UN, our two amazing Year 10 girls, affectionately known as "the Alishas" breezed through the preliminary rounds - in which they represented the United Kingdom against 280 other teams. Having smashed the preliminary rounds, they took on the State Semi-Finals and represented Norway against 30 other teams. On Thursday August 26, they represented the United Kingdom once again in the Grand Final. While they did not make the State Finals, this is an amazing achievement and a first for Tara!
The 2021 Archdale Debating Competition preliminary rounds also concluded on Tuesday August 31 in an entirely virtual format. The Finals series will be held in November and the final results will be determined shortly.
Mosman Youth Art Prize
Levya S - Art Captain
On 27 April, several girls from Years 7-12 chose to enter their artworks for the Mosman Youth Art Prize 2021. The Mosman Youth Art Prize is an annual competition hosted by the Mosman Art Gallery that offers aspiring, young artists the opportunity to exhibit their work in the Mosman Art Gallery.
The Tara Visual Arts department received an astounding number of entries which featured the diverse and creative talents of Tara girls. The girls submitted artworks in a variety of media including: painting, drawing, printmaking and photography.
This year, six of our Tara girls have been selected to be exhibit their artworks in the Mosman Art Gallery. This is a massive achievement! Congratulations to the selected finalists: Melanie W (Year 8), Chelsea K(Year 9), Sydney P (Year 11), Savalia X (Year 11), Amelie A (Year 12) and Kathy G (Year 12).
The Visual Arts department is very proud of every girl who entered their works for the competition and we hope to see more of the girls' creative talent with future art competitions.
National History Challenge
Written by Teon O, Leila O and Isabella I - Year 7
The National History Challenge is a yearly competition across all states in Australia encouraging students to explore their love and interest for History. This year’s theme was ‘Significance: History Matters.’ There were options to submit essays, websites, a model or other formats. We spent some time adjusting our ideas and thought of how we should present our research. After some time considering what we wanted to do, we thought of how our society has changed from the past all the way to our present world. Our group wanted to discover and investigate the significant events of the past that have changed society forever towards a brighter future. These events were the Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, and Medical Revolution. These significant chapters of history affected the way the world works and communicates to further evolve and grow.
The National History Challenge allowed us as students to add depth to our knowledge on any area of the past we wanted to investigate. It provides a creative way for us to learn and present what interests us. Taking part of the National History Challenge was a fantastic opportunity to explore and research with your friends too! You can research anything that relates to the theme of the year. Why don’t you take part in the National History Challenge next year?
This is what we worked on for the competition this year: https://significance-history-matters.webnode.com
Making History @ Tara - Student Achievements Celebrated at First Online Awards Assembly
On Tuesday 31 August, Senior School celebrated the achievements of students via an online Awards Assembly.
Students from Years 7-12 were acknowledged via an online presentation from each of the Year Coordinators after a message from Principal, Mrs Middlebrook.
"I would personally like to give an award to every student for Term 3 given the ways they have adapted to online learning and the resilience they have shown during this time."
Awards given during the presentation included academic, sport, music, performance and cocurricular.
The Tara Tiger Awards for Years 8 and 9 were also announced. The Tara Tiger Award is awarded to students that have shown practical application of the Tara Values of Affirmation, Service, Opportunity and Integrity.
In addition to the Tara Tiger Awards, The Tara Pride Award was introduced as a new initiative for students from Years 7-10 during the period of online learning.
Tara Pride Awards are given to students in Years 7-10 during this time of online learning. Recipients of this award are nominated by their peers with supporting recommendations.
Year 7 Awards
Imaan K, Tara Pride Award
Rebekah K, Tara Pride Award
Ruby L, Tara Pride Award
Hannah L, Pocket - Friday Evening Debating Finalist
Claire P, Tara Pride Award
Yashica P, Tara Pride Award
Abigail R, Tara Pride Award
Hannah R, Pocket - Friday Evening Debating Finalist
Deborah S, Tara Pride Award
Ruti S, Pocket - Friday Evening Debating Finalist, Tara Pride Award
Anna W, Pocket - Friday Evening Debating Finalist
Sienna W, Tara Pride Award
Year 8 Awards
Samantha B, Tara Pride Award
Vaani B, Tara Pride Award
Isabella C, Blue - Rostrum Public Speaking State Finalist
Zoe H, Tara Pride Award
Janavika H, Tara Tiger Award
Holly M, Tara Pride Award
Priscilla M, Tara Pride Award
Sally P, Tara Pride Award
Emma S, Tara Pride Award
Selina S, Pocket - Silver Excellent Academic Achievement
Zara S, Tara Pride Award
Bernice T, Pocket - IGSA Cross Country, Blue - NSWCIS Cross Country
Joohee U, Tara Pride Award
Ella W, Tara Pride Award
Ally Z, Honour Badge - National Table Tennis
Year 9 Awards
Skye A, Blue - NSWCIS Swimming
Mihira B, Pocket - Silver Excellent Academic Achievement
Maleeha B, Pocket - Basketball
Annabelle D, Pocket – Singing For Leisure Vocal, Tara Pride Award
Selina F, Pocket - Snowsports
Elizabeth G, Pocket – Singing for Leisure Vocal, Pocket - Rock School Vocal, Tara Pride Award
Charlie H, Pocket - Basketball
Stephanie H, Pocket - Silver Excellent Academic Achievement, Blue - Gold Outstanding Academic Achievement
Caitlin I, Pocket - Snowsports
Suhanya J, Pocket – Basketball, Tara Pride Award
Jaskirit K, Tara Pride Award
Jasleen K, Tara Tiger Award
Gabrielle M, Tara Pride Award
Tess M, Pocket - Rock School Vocal
Eliza M, Pocket - Snowsports
Pearl P, Pocket - Silver Excellent Academic Achievement
Sophia S, Tara Pride Award
Marisa S, Pocket - Basketball
Kate W, Tara Pride Award
Ella W, Pocket – Football, Pocket Rock School Vocal, Tara Pride Award
Jessie W, Pocket - Basketball
Year 10 Awards
Xin An, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Imogen B, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Elinor B, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Celeste B, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Rhema C, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket - Basketball
Caitlyn C, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket – Basketball, Pocket - Snowsports
Rui Qi C, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Isabella C, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket – Singing for Leisure Vocal, Pocket - Rock School Vocal
Victoria C, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Blue - Rock School Vocal, Blue - Singing for Leisure Vocal
Evelyn D, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket – Snowsports
Mylan D, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Lara E, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Charlotte G, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Tavishi G, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Nikhita G, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Tara Pride Award
Carmen G, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Blue - Gold Outstanding Academic Achievement
Jina G, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Aisha G, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Blue - Friday Evening Debating First Place
Mahima G, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Kate H, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Jet H, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Aarushi H, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Olivia H, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Tahlia H, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Elianna H, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Angelique H, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Sarah J, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Jovana K, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket - Silver Excellent Academic Achievement
Cameron K, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket - IGSA Touch Football, Blue - NSWCIS
Aileen K, Blue - Touch Football
Ashley K, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket - IB Middle Years Programme, Singing for Leisure Vocal
Lena K, Blue - Tara Pride Award
Isabella K, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, IB Middle Years Programme
Suzie K, Blue - Tara Pride Award
Hettiarachchige Lewis R, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket - IB Middle Years Programme
Brianna L, Blue - Basketball
Henrietta M, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Arnvi M, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Ashiqca M, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket - IB Middle Years Programme
Catherine M, Blue – Football, Pocket - IB Middle Years Programme
Imogen M, Blue - Basketball
Sophia M, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Toi K, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Siya P, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Blue - Friday Evening Debating First Place, Tara Pride Award
Anika P, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket - Basketball
Gemma Q, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Zuhanah R, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Tara Pride Award
Charlotte R, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Enya R, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Ella R, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Leyva S, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Tavneet Kaur S, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Sanjula S, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Seungyeon S, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Mandy S, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket - AMEB Musical Theatre, Pocket – Singing for Leisure Vocal, Pocket - Rock School Vocal
Jessica Sherry, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Pocket - Football
Mabel S, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Tara Pride Award
Katherine S, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Bree T, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Mena T, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Alisha V, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Blue - Friday Evening Debating First Place
Hannah W, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Tara Pride Award
Krystal W, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Tiantian W, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Chiquita W, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Faith W, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme, Blue – Singing for Leisure Vocal, Blue - Friday Evening Debating First Place
Hing Yee W, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Junjian X, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Nina X, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Jiayi X, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Jessica Y, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Ranran Z, Blue - IB Middle Years Programme
Year 11 Awards
Natasha A, Pocket - AMEB Mucial Theatre, Blue - Rock School Vocal
Hannah C, Blue - Snowsports
Ericka C, Pocket - Basketball
Amandini D, Blue - Friday Evening Debating First Place
Erika D, Blue - Basketball
Sienna E, Pocket - Football
Jiaer F, Blue - Snowsports
Canhe F, Pocket - Silver Excellent Academic Achievement
Georgia G, Pocket - Basketball
Kate H, Blue - Rock School Vocal, Blue – Singing for Leisure Vocal
Hana L, Pocket - Silver Excellent Academic Achievement, Blue - Gold Outstanding Academic Achievement
Charlotte M, Blue - Basketball
Emma M, Blue - Basketball
Alison M, Blue - Basketball
Alicia P, Blue - Rostrum Public Speaking State Finalist
Yifan S, Blue - Snowsports
Hannah T, Pocket - Singing for Leisure Vocal, Blue - Rock School Vocal
Ashleigh Y, Pocket - Rock School Vocal
Year 12 Awards
Yara A, Honour Badge - Football
Isabella B, Blue - AMEB Musical Theatre
Jiayi C, Pocket - Silver Excellent Academic Achievement
Mackenzie C, Honour Badge - Football
Sarah F, Honour Badge - Football
Annabel F, Merit - Basketball
Sophie G, Pocket - Football
Jordan H, Honour Badge - Chapel Band
Piper H, Pocket - Basketball
Macayla H, Pocket - Chapel Band, Honour Badge – Football, Blue - Head of the River Rowing
Caroline H, Honour Badge - Chapel Band, Honour Badge – Handbells
Jaz H, Blue - Basketball
Sophia K, Honour Badge - Concert Band, Honour Badge - Stage Band, Pocket – Football, Blue – Singing for Leisure Vocal, Blue - Rock School Vocal
Joanne K, Honour Badge - Concert Band
Tanisha K, Honour Badge - Axis Ensemble, Honour Badge - Concert Band, Honour Badge - Senior Choir, Blue - Tara Singers, Honour Badge – TarAcappella
Siena L, Honour Badge - Senior Choir, Blue - Tara Singers, Honour Badge – TarAcappella, Pocket – Football, Honour Badge – Singing for Leisure Certificate of Performance
Alexandra L, Honour Badge - Chamber Orchestra, Blue - Chapel Band, Pocket – Football, Blue – Singing for Leisure Vocal, Blue - Rock School Vocal
Olivia L, Honour Badge - Chamber Orchestra
Evelyn M, Honour Badge - Concert Band
Hemiao O, Honour Badge - Chapel Band
Shara P, Pocket - Service to Term 2 Sport
Grace R, Honour Badge - Football
Aneesa S, Honour Badge - Concert Band
Gabrielle S, Pocket - Football
Manasa S, Honour Badge - Concert Band
Amanda T, Honour Badge - Axis Ensemble, Honour Badge - Concert Band, Honour Badge - Stage Band
Zoe T, Blue - Chapel Band
Emelie W, Blue - Football
Caitlin W, Honour Badge - Concert Band
Nikki Z, Blue - Basketball
Yishun Z, Pocket - Concert Band
Yaxuan Z, Pocket - Silver Excellent Academic Achievement
Careers News
Careers Newsletters
Mrs Michelle Williams - Careers Coordinator
Girls are encouraged to keep checking details on the Careers Newsletters as many institutions are reviewing details such as closing dates for early entry schemes.
Careers Newsletter - 26 August 2021
Careers Newsletter - 2 September 2021
For more information please contact Mrs Michelle Williams via email.