Wellbeing News
The Resilience Project
The Resilience Project
Senior Students Shine Like G E M S as they Engage in The Resilience Project
In 2026
The Resilience Project (TRP)
was introduced in the Senior School.
At a time when statistics reveal increasingly alarming levels of poor student wellbeing and mental health, it has arguably never been more important to engage in programs that offer a proactively preventative and evidence based approach to address this trend.
With this in mind, Senior School students have engaged in a variety of learning experiences designed to equip them with strategies and habits to promote healthy wellbeing. This experience is based on the principles of Gratitude , Empathy and Mindfulness ( G E M ). In addition, a focus on Emotional Literacy ( EL ) is designed to promote a greater understanding and management of oneself and others.
Wellbeing Staff promoting GEM at the Athletics Carnival
Congratulations
Future Problem Solving World Champions
Future Problem Solving World Champions
Over the past week, our Future Problem Solving students travelled to America to compete in the Future Problem Solving World Cup.
This year’s competition centered around the theme of forestry, with students analysing a scenario of complex biodiversity management in Slovenia. While our Senior team developed a solution that focused on using nanotechnology in the mycorrhizal network, our middle team posited using CRISPR to genetically modify goats. Other students competed as individuals and as part of MAGIC, where groups, who have never met each other and come from different countries, are formed on the day.
Tara achieved exceptional results.
This is not only a testament to the hard work and brilliance of our students, the growing strength of our FPS program with its exceptional coaches, but it also reflects all the advantages of an IB education, with its explicit focus on creativity, collaboration and global understanding.
Congratulations on these incredible results!
Isabel, Agatha, Eden, Ella, Nicole -
World Champions
in Senior Action Plan Presentation
Sienna -
3rd place
in Senior Multi-Affiliate Global Issues Competition
Agatha, Eden, Nicole and Ella -
5th
place
in Global Issues Problem Solving
Tara Community News
Tara Dads Club – State of Origin Social Night
Tara Dads Club – State of Origin Social Night
The Tara Dads Club invites all Tara dads to join them on Wednesday 17 June to watch Game 2 of the State of Origin.
They will be gathering at The Winston from 6.00pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow Tara dads, enjoy the game, and strengthen the friendships that make our School community so special.
Please book your place now 🔗 Tara Dads Club – State of Origin Social Night
We look forward to seeing you there.
Winterfest
Winterfest
Winterfest 2026 is almost here, and we are thrilled to bring you an exciting afternoon and evening filled with fun, food, entertainment and community spirit.
Join us on Saturday 20 June from 2:00pm to 7:00pm as our students, families and volunteers transform Tara into a vibrant Winterfest celebration. Every year group has worked hard to create a unique stall, making this year's event a wonderful showcase of creativity, teamwork and school spirit.
Explore the Stalls:
Winterfest Raffle
Winterfest Raffle
The Winterfest Raffle is bigger and better than ever, with an incredible range of prizes generously donated by our year groups and stallholders.
By now, all students should have received their raffle ticket booklet, with each student asked to take home one booklet to sell. We kindly ask that all ticket stubs and payment be returned to the School this week.
The generosity of our community has been truly remarkable, with families, year groups and supporters contributing an outstanding collection of prizes to help make this year’s raffle one of the highlights of Winterfest.
We are delighted to share the fantastic prizes on offer:
Junior School News
International Day of Play
International Day of Play
Ruth Adams
Deputy Principal | Head of Junior School
I could not be more delighted to acknowledge the International Day of Play on 11 June .
At Tara, we know that play is not simply recreation - it is essential to children’s learning and wellbeing. As Maria Montessori observed, “play is the work of the child.” Through play, children of all ages explore ideas, test boundaries, develop language, and make sense of their world.
Why Play Matters at Tara
At Tara, this belief underpins our approach to home learning. While some families may wish to extend the formal school day with structured academic tasks, our policy recognises that unstructured play is equally valuable - particularly for:
- Cognitive development
- Emotional self-regulation
- Creative expression and growth
A Gentle Challenge: Less Screen Time
Now here’s the challenge: move away from screens for downtime play!
Non-screen play supports:
- Sustained concentration
- Curiosity and intrinsic motivation
- Stronger executive functioning skills (memory, attention, flexible thinking)
Open-ended experiences—such as building, creating, and imaginative play—encourage children to:
- Plan and problem-solve
- Negotiate rules
- Adapt when things don’t go as expected
These experiences build the neural pathways that underpin literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking.
The Power of Construction Play
Construction play holds particular importance for girls. Research suggests girls are often less encouraged toward spatial and building activities, yet these experiences are key to:
- Developing spatial reasoning
- Building confidence in problem-solving
- Inspiring interest in STEM pathways
Providing equal opportunities in this space helps challenge stereotypes and supports long-term academic and career confidence.
Let Them Be Bored
Can I encourage you to allow your daughter to embrace boredom ?
Resist the urge to step in too quickly. When children are not constantly entertained, they:
- Think creatively
- Generate their own ideas
- Develop independence
Boredom fosters persistence, imagination, and the ability to self-direct learning.
A Final Thought
As we mark this day, we encourage families to prioritise rich, screen-free play at home.
In doing so, you are not stepping away from learning—you are strengthening it in meaningful, lasting ways.
Ski Cross Olympian Inspires Junior School
Ski Cross Olympian Inspires Junior School
Students in Years 3–6 recently had the exciting opportunity to hear from Australian Olympian Kyra Wheatley, who visited Tara to share her journey as an elite athlete and the lessons she has learned through sport.
Kyra is an Australian Ski Cross athlete who represented Australia at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games. Competing in one of the most physically demanding and high-speed winter sports, she has dedicated years to training, overcoming challenges and continually pushing herself to perform at the highest level. Her journey from aspiring athlete to Olympian provided students with a powerful example of what can be achieved through commitment and perseverance.
During her presentation, Kyra spoke openly about the determination and resilience required to pursue ambitious goals. She shared stories from her sporting career, highlighting the setbacks, hard work and sacrifices that often accompany success. One of her key messages was that achieving big dreams begins with setting small, achievable goals and consistently working towards them.
Students were encouraged to think about their own aspirations and consider how small actions taken every day can lead to significant achievements over time. Kyra emphasised the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, embracing challenges and learning from mistakes rather than being discouraged by them.
The session was both engaging and inspiring, with students gaining valuable insight into the life of an Olympian and the mindset required to compete on the world stage.
We thank Kyra for sharing her time and experiences with our students. Her message was a powerful reminder that success is built through persistence, courage and a willingness to take the next step towards a goal, no matter how small.
Year 2 Visit Year 12 Hospitality
Year 2 Visit Year 12 Hospitality
As part of their Food & Beverage assessment task for Hospitality, Mrs Cropper’s Year 12 class hosted 2 Ming & Ms MacAskill from Junior School in the Food Tech & Hospitality kitchens last Friday (known for the day as the “Little Chef’s Café).
Together, the girls enjoyed making pizzas, decorating cupcakes and sharing ice cream spiders while engaging in lots of laughter and conversation…. even the washing up!
It was a great experience for the Year 12’s to host these “future Master Chefs of Tara”, and we hope they had fun.
Senior School News
Social Justice Committee Bake Sale
Social Justice Committee Bake Sale
On Wednesday Week 8, the Social Justice Committee hosted a bake sale to raise money for Days for Girls, an organisation that works to combat period poverty by providing menstrual health education and reusable period products, with the aim that menstruation does not become a barrier to education.
The initiative formed part of the committee’s broader focus this year on female empowerment and overlooked forms of discrimination that women still face today. Throughout the year, girls from all grades have been meeting once a fortnight to learn about and discuss contemporary social justice issues. Last term, the committee focused on period poverty and the stigma surrounding menstruation - an issue that continues to affect girls and women around the world.
The UN defines period poverty as the inability to afford and access menstrual products, sanitation and hygiene facilities, education, and awareness to manage menstrual health. Globally, 500 million people who menstruate do not have suitable access to menstrual products or hygiene facilities.
At Tara, we are fortunate to have access to education about our bodies, clean bathrooms, menstrual products, and a safe environment where conversations about periods are not treated as taboo. However, for many girls around the world, menstruation can become a barrier to education, dignity, and opportunity.
To help address this issue, the Social Justice Committee organised the bake sale, with all funds raised going towards Days for Girls. With students across all grades bringing in baked goods and supporting the stall, Tara girls demonstrated initiative, service, and a willingness to take action on an issue that affects many beyond our own school community, reflecting the committee’s purpose of starting small in the hope of creating greater impact in the future.
Chinese Debating Competition
Chinese Debating Competition
This year, the Chinese Debating team welcomed two new members, making the competition a significant challenge, especially as they had no prior debating experience. However, the girls adapted exceptionally well and showed impressive growth throughout the season.
During the group stage, Tara achieved an unprecedented perfect record, defeating Kings, St Catherine’s and GRC. The team then progressed to the quarter-final, where they defeated Abbotsleigh to secure a place in the semi-final. In a thrilling rematch against St Catherine’s, Tara won by just one point to qualify for the grand final.
Although we narrowly missed out on the championship, this remains the most outstanding result in Tara’s three-year history in the Chinese Debating Competition. Alisa was awarded Best Speaker twice during the tournament, and Cairn received Best Speaker in the Grand Final.
Friday Evening Debates
Friday Evening Debates
Ruti, Debating Prefect
On Friday 29 May, three of our debating teams reached the Friday Evening Debating (FED) Grand Final at Sydney Girls High School. Competing against schools from across Sydney, including co–educational, independent and selective, the girls showed great teamwork, proving how much time, commitment and dedication they put in during the season.
The FED competition is incredibly competitive as teams must debate on a wide range of demanding topics. Reaching the grand final was a huge achievement which reflected the strong skills and great team spirit these girls have. We are very proud of our debaters for their hard work and for representing Tara so well!
Congratulations to:
Year 10: Caitlin J, Amber W, Livia Z, Olivia W and Shievon T
Year 8B: Luna J, Simren W, Eva G and Karissa L
Year 7B: Kriyaa K, Chloe Z, Srinika S and Janiece G
Year 9 Commerce Market Day
Year 9 Commerce Market Day
Year 9 Commerce students recently put their learning into action through the annual Commerce Market Day, developing and operating a range of stalls while gaining valuable real-world business experience.
As part of the project, students explored concepts such as consumer behaviour, marketing and entrepreneurship, applying the skills they have been learning in the classroom to a practical and meaningful experience. The event also provided students with the opportunity to work collaboratively, engage with customers and experience the challenges and rewards of running a small business.
Thanks to the incredible support of the Tara community, this year's Commerce Market Day raised an outstanding $6,165 for the Children's Cancer Foundation . This remarkable result is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our Year 9 students, as well as the generosity of students, staff, families and visitors who supported the stalls.
Year 9 students would like to extend their sincere thanks to everyone who attended, participated and donated. Every contribution helped make a real difference and contributed to the success of the event.
A special thank you also goes to Ms Losco, Ms Grekas and Ms Twemeboa for their guidance and support throughout the project, as well as to our parents and sponsors who helped make the day possible.
Congratulations to all Year 9 Commerce students on their outstanding achievement and contribution to such a worthwhile cause. We look forward to seeing what next year's Commerce students create.
Year 12 Kickstart Chemistry Program
Year 12 Kickstart Chemistry Program
Audrey and Ellie, Year 12 Chemistry
On Tuesday Week 7, Year 12 Chemistry students visited the University of Sydney School of Chemistry to participate in the Kickstart Chemistry Program. This excursion supported our Module 8 content, allowing us to explore spectroscopy in greater depth. Spectroscopy refers to the techniques used to identify the chemical composition and structure of compounds by analysing wavelengths, energies and frequencies. In particular, we focused on identifying organic substances using techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
Throughout the day, we identified chemicals based on their molar mass, functional groups and wavelengths using the university’s online applications and database platforms. We all enjoyed the experience, as it allowed us to use and learn from specialised equipment and instruments that we do not have at School, while also expanding our understanding of real-life applications of chemistry.
Year 12 Biology Excursion
Year 12 Biology Excursion
Amy and Mareya, Year 12 Biology Students
On Thursday, 11 June, Year 12 Biology students got hands-on experience in genetics (Module 6) at Macquarie University. We undertook a practical investigation that involved applying biological knowledge from class to explore the real-world conservation and management of sharks. Shark tissue was previously extracted from nets used on Sydney beaches, and the aim of the investigation was to identify the shark species the tissue originated from.
Before we arrived, the biologists at Macquarie University prepared the samples by breaking down the tissue to allow easier DNA extraction. We extracted the DNA by adding salt to remove proteins, followed by ethanol to precipitate the DNA. To test whether the extraction worked, the DNA samples were run through gel electrophoresis. The results were successful, so we amplified the DNA through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). We ran the amplified strands through another gel electrophoresis to confirm the amplification worked. Our DNA samples were sent to a laboratory for sequencing using Sanger Sequencing, which we also learned about. Once we receive the results, they will be aligned, and the shark species can be identified by comparing the sequences to those in online software such as Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA).
During the day, we had the opportunity to ask three scientists about their research and studying or working in Biology. We all thoroughly enjoyed the excursion and opportunity to apply and solidify our genetic knowledge.
