Recently, our Year 7 parent community came together for a wonderful evening of connection and conversation. Parents enjoyed a night out alongside Mrs Adele Ramsay, sharing a delicious meal and getting to know one another in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

The dinner provided a valuable opportunity for families to connect, build new friendships, and discuss how their daughters are settling into life in Year 7. It was encouraging to hear about the positive experiences and exciting opportunities our students are embracing as they begin their secondary school journey.

A special thank you to Jaimy McGilvray and the Year 7 Parent Representatives for organising the dinner, and to all those who attended and contributed to making the evening such a warm and successful event.

There is still time to become a sponsor of Winterfest!

We are delighted to welcome Mad Toppings International Pty Ltd and Ideal Office Furniture Pty Ltd as sponsors of this year's event. Their support is greatly appreciated, and we invite other businesses to join them in supporting our school community.

A range of sponsorship packages is available for businesses wishing to be involved.

Winterfest is a major fundraising event for Tara Hub, and this year we are proud to be supporting an exciting outdoor furniture project. Our vision is to create welcoming and functional outdoor spaces where students can gather, connect and learn. These areas will provide comfortable seating and versatile spaces for everyday student use, outdoor learning opportunities, lunchtime activities, long lunches and year-level breakfasts.

Funds raised will also contribute to enhancements within the Junior School, helping to create shared community spaces that can be enjoyed by all members of the Tara community.

By becoming a Winterfest sponsor, your business will play a valuable role in helping us create inspiring new facilities for our students while gaining exposure within our vibrant school community.

If you are interested in supporting Tara through a Winterfest sponsorship, please contact Jodie Doyle at jdoyle@tara.nsw.edu.au.

Find out more on our different sponsorship packages by clicking the link below:

We have had an amazing response to Winterfest, with many families already securing their food orders for the evening. Thank you to everyone who has booked so far — it’s shaping up to be a fantastic community celebration!

There is still time to book, with food orders closing this Wednesday, 3 June. Book Now: https://www.trybooking.com/DMBAY

We are delighted to welcome Ben Neil, one of our ELC dads, who will be serving up delicious smoked brisket and other mouth-watering favourites on the night.

We are also excited to have Priceline joining us with a range of products available for purchase, alongside the beautiful Ruby and Rose jewellery collection.

Our wonderful SRC group have been hard at work preparing a Yo-Chi style ice cream bar, complete with lots of delicious toppings for everyone to enjoy.

In addition, our incredible parent groups have been busy organising a fantastic range of stalls and activities. We are so grateful for the time, energy and financial support that has gone into making Winterfest such a special event for our community.

There will be something for everyone to enjoy, including:

The evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display, providing a memorable finale to a wonderful night shared with family and friends.

What makes the through the hedge program so important?

The Through the Hedge program with TKS is important because it builds on the strong connection between Tara and The King’s School. Many families already have links across both schools, and as IB World Schools, we share similar values and approaches to learning. The program gives our girls a chance to experience different types of learning beyond the classroom. While we know girls learn really well in a girls’ school, it is also important for them to learn how to work with boys as this reflects the real world. Through the Hedge helps them build the skills of respectful relationships in a supportive and structured way.

What skills have the girls gained from this program?

The girls have developed key IB Approaches to Learning (ATL), especially social and communication skills. They are learning to work with new people, listen to others’ ideas, and share their own thoughts clearly and confidently. They are also becoming more adaptable and resilient by working in new environments and stepping outside their comfort zones. These experiences help them grow in confidence, build independence, and learn how to work well in a variety of situations.

What is something you enjoy about this program?

I really enjoy seeing friendships over time. Because the girls and boys work together each year of their Junior School journey, they become more and more comfortable with each other each year. It is lovely to see how this makes working together feel more natural and relaxed as they get older. The students become more confident, open, and willing to collaborate, which makes creates a really positive learning experience.

If you could change one thing about this program, what would it be?

At the moment, the program includes some fantastic experiences outside the classroom, such as NIDA in Year 3, Write a Book in a Day in Year 5, Maths Inquiry in Year 3, and Infants Active in Kindergarten and Year 1. In future, it would be great to connect these experiences more closely to what students are learning in their Units of Inquiry. Creating shared experiences that link directly to classroom learning would make the program even more meaningful and help students see stronger connections in their learning.

I am grateful to Ms Boardman for her insights and I hope it helps all our families see what a valuable and purposeful program Through the Hedge is.

Junior School has had so much fun so far in Term 2 and I can’t wait to see what else happens! Stay tuned!

Despite the rain, our Junior School was full of smiles and cuddles as we welcomed grandparents and grandfriends through the gates for Grandparents Day.

Students from ELC to Year 6 got to share their school day with some of their favourite people, starting with a picnic lunch together before heading into classrooms to show off their learning. Watching little ones proudly walk their grandparents around and share what they've been working on was a true highlight of the week in the Junior School.

Thank you to all the grandparents and grandfriends who joined us. It meant the world to our students.

During Week 5, the ELC girls had the joy of attending an incursion with Leanne from Wingaru, where they explored plant use on Dharug Country. We went for a walk through the bush together, using our senses to observe the natural environment. We discovered that one of the plants we had been observing on our weekly bushwalks was native passionfruit. Leanne explained how different plants are used for medicine, food and textiles, providing a rich and engaging learning experience for all.

Following are some of the girls’ reflections:

I liked when the teachers tried native sarsaparilla and salt bush – Eleanor

I liked tasting the finger limes. They were nice and sour. I also liked scrunching and smelling the tea tree – Saisha

I liked going on a bushwalk – Elle

I liked eating the finger limes. It tasted like lemon. It looked like pink and red bubbles – Valentina H

I liked sitting on the rock and learning about the plants that were medicine – Iris

I liked to hear the story about Leanne building her house – Emma X

I liked going for a walk in the bush with Leanne – Hailey M

I liked watching Leanne when she made a bracelet from Lomandra leaves - Aanya

As part of Reconciliation Week, Tara was proud to host the IPSHA Indigenous Round on 30 May, a day that brought together sport, culture and community in a really meaningful way.

Before play began, our girls joined their opposition in reciting an Acknowledgement of Country, recognising the Burramattagal people of the Dharug Nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which Tara stands. It was a grounding and important moment to share together.

The day also celebrated Indigenous art in a beautiful way. Our Years 4 to 6 students played with Gilbert netballs decorated with "Buubumur Gaawal" (Platypus Lagoon), a work created by renowned Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri artist Sean Kinchela. Our Year 3 students played with Hart netballs designed by Emma Bamblett, a proud Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist. Seeing our girls take to the court with these beautifully decorated balls was a lovely reminder of the stories and culture woven into the game.

Many students also wore shoelaces featuring Indigenous designs, including "Generations" by Dharug artist Hayley Cruickshanks and "Healing Journey" by Biripi artist Brittany Cochrane - small but considered details that added to the spirit of the day.

We are grateful for the opportunity to come together in this way and to honour the rich culture and history of Australia's First Nations peoples, not just during Reconciliation Week, but as an ongoing part of life at Tara.

Congratulations to Sophie (Year 10), whose violin performance of Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns earned her the title of Performer of the Year 2026. It was a performance of real maturity and musicianship. Congratulations also to Jasmine (Year 11), who placed second, and Ella (Year 11), who placed third. Both delivered performances of the highest calibre on the night.

We would also like to congratulate to all the girls who not only made it into the final 12, but also to every student who prepared and auditioned. Musicians and performers continuously put themselves out there to be chosen, and through this process we grow, improve, and refine our craft. This takes an enormous amount of courage, preparation, resilience, and vulnerability. Every audition is an opportunity to learn and develop as a performer, and everyone who auditioned should all be incredibly proud of the effort, commitment, and bravery they have shown throughout the process.

Events like the Sheen Family Prize offer our students something genuinely valuable: the opportunity to perform serious repertoire at a high level before industry professionals and a community that deeply values the arts. The experience of being seen, heard, and assessed by people working at the top of their craft is one our students carry with them well beyond the evening itself.

We extend our sincere gratitude to guest adjudicators DJ Ha and Kayoko Nishiwaki for generously sharing their expertise with our students, and to DJ Ha for his special performance, which was a highlight for the entire audience.

Our deepest thanks go to Dr Sheen for his extraordinary generosity in sponsoring this event year after year. His commitment to the arts at Tara makes evenings like this possible, and his ongoing investment in our students as performers and as young women is something our whole community is grateful for.

Aswiinah, Year 10 Student

We all know that anyone can apply to attend Tara, because of its open enrolment policy. This sounds fair to most of us, as everyone has the same opportunity. This is equality. However, what many of us don’t realise is that not every family can afford the tuition fees, uniforms, or transport. We see two students, who receive the same opportunity, but not everyone starts at the same point. This is equality vs equity.

Equality means that everyone is treated the same, while equality is when we realise that different people may need different types of support to succeed. A school can give everyone equal access, but what does ‘true’ fairness mean? Is it understanding that there are a lot of barriers that students might face outside of the classroom.

This is an idea that applies to Indigenous Australians. Indigenous peoples have experienced many forms of disadvantages caused by colonisation, discrimination and even the loss of land and culture. Now, many of our ‘modern’ laws state that ‘everyone is equal’, many Indigenous communities still face this unequal access to healthcare, education, employment and housing. Just because we state that ‘everyone is treated the same’, the lasting effects of history can never be erased.

Equity should be seen as genuine opportunities by giving support where it is needed the most. At the same time, we should all recognise that Indigenous people have the rights to project their language, or culture or traditions which have existed for thousands and thousands of years. Many of us don’t realise what a fair society is, a place more than equal treatment, but it truly is a real chance to succeed. This is the purpose of equity.

Jasmine, Year 11 Student

On Thursday, 21 May, the Year 11 English Extension 1 cohort took a trip to the Sydney Writer’s Festival. Upon arrival, each student chose which seminars they were to attend throughout the day, before eagerly running off to our first session. I had the pleasure of listening to A.C. Grayling’s ‘The Future of Democracy: Fighting Authoritarianism’ as my first seminar of the day, with a group of my friends. Grayling discussed the rise of authoritarianism globally today through the lens of his latest book, For the People: Fighting Authoritarianism, Saving Democracy, and I enjoyed it so much that I ended up purchasing it, and getting it signed! Between seminars, our cohort nibbled on lunches from the food trucks, visited the book shop, or participated in the range of smaller activities that the festival was running. I, personally, quite enjoyed the gelato that was on offer. Many also participated in a scavenger hunt, run by Booktopia, in which the prizes were hidden in the pages of books! To conclude the day, most of the cohort visited a free seminar called, ‘Your Next Favourite Book’, and learnt about the debut novels of some up-and-coming authors. Visiting the Sydney Writer’s Festival was an incredibly enriching experience for the Year 11 English Extension 1 cohort, and we all feel so blessed to have learnt so much from it!

The Tara community came together to support the Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea, and our students made it one to remember.

Our Year 9 SRC organised a school-wide morning tea and did a brilliant job bringing everyone together for such an important cause. And if that wasn't enough, our Year 12 Hospitality students set up a full cafe-style experience for staff, serving freshly baked pastries, barista coffee and fresh juices. Safe to say the staff were very well looked after.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported Tara’s Greatest Morning Tea this year! Thanks to all of your generosity, we are so excited to share that we raised an incredible $1617.40 for the Cancer Council Australia! This includes the generous donation from staff led by the Hospitality department.

Thank you to everyone who donated money, brought baked goods and treats or helped organise the event. We were so happy to see how many people got involved and contributed to such an important cause.

All money raised will go towards cancer research, prevention and support services for people and families affected by cancer, so your contributions will truly make a difference.

Year 8 had quite the adventure this fortnight, taking on the Urban Challenge and navigating the city pretty much on their own.

The program had students working in teams to solve clues and tackle challenges across Sydney, with no teacher holding their hand through it. It pushed them to think on their feet, back themselves and figure things out together when the unexpected happened. And from what we saw, they handled it really well.

It's always great to watch our students step outside their comfort zones and discover just how capable they are. Year 8, you smashed it.

One of the things we love most about an IB education is that learning doesn't stay neatly inside subject boundaries. Year 8 showed exactly what that looks like in practice.

As part of their Interdisciplinary Unit, students worked in groups to explore real-world ideas through both STEM and creative inquiry. Some students developed technology concepts focused on health and wellbeing, thinking through actual problems and coming up with genuine solutions. Others dove into Ancient Greece, studying the roots of theatre and then creating their own satirical performances with connections to modern events.

What stood out was how confidently students moved between different ways of thinking. One minute analytical, the next creative. Collaborating, questioning, making connections across subjects. As an IB Continuum School, this kind of learning is central to developing students' different Learner Profiles and becoming critical thinkers. We want our students to engage with the world around them, not just the textbook.

Year 10 recently organised a cake stall fundraiser in support of Parramatta Women's Shelter, which provides vital help for women and children experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and crisis situations.

It's part of our ongoing partnership with the Shelter and a really lovely example of students using their initiative to do something meaningful for the local community. Thank you to everyone who came along and donated. It all adds up and it really does make a difference.

Congratulations to Justine and Claire (Year 10), who won the 2026 Secondary Schoolgirls’ Challenge Cup Table Tennis Championships last Friday!

We are astounded by their skills, humility and the way they carried themselves at the competition. Well done!

It was wonderful to see such determination, teamwork, sportsmanship and TARA spirit throughout the event. There were many exciting and hard-fought matches, and every one of you represented the school with pride.

We are proud of the outstanding achievements of our teams:
One Gold medal, three silver medals and two teams achieved Third Place.

A special congratulations goes to Team 1, our division 1 team, for winning the silver medal in a very competitive division, a historic breakthrough for our school.

Special thanks to Lucy and Elise in Year 12, who still made time to compete despite heavy academic workload. You two demonstrated outstanding leadership and set a wonderful example for the younger ladies.

For 23 students, this was their first time attending an interschool badminton tournament, and they showed great courage, enthusiasm, and resilience. Whether winning medals or gaining valuable experience, every participant should feel proud of their effort and improvement.

With the tremendous support from the school Sports Department, the professional guidance of our outstanding coaching team, and the incredible logistical support from our parents, we believe even greater achievements await us in the future.