We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our entire school community for making Winterfest 2026 such a wonderful and memorable event. It was an extraordinary afternoon and evening that truly showcased the spirit, generosity and energy of Tara.

From the moment the gates opened, the school came alive with colour, excitement and community connection. None of this would have been possible without the incredible efforts of our students, families, staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring the event to life. Each year group brought their creativity and enthusiasm to life through a range of uniquely designed stalls, offering everything from games and treats to activities that delighted guests of all ages. Your imagination, teamwork and dedication helped create a vibrant festival atmosphere that was enjoyed by everyone who attended.

We are deeply grateful to our many parent and carer volunteers who gave their time so generously before, during and after the event. Whether setting up stalls, assisting on the night, or helping with pack-down, your support ensured everything ran smoothly and safely. Your contribution is at the heart of what makes Winterfest such a success each year.

A sincere thank you also goes to our sponsors and donors. Your support helps us continue to deliver events that strengthen our community and provide meaningful opportunities for connection and celebration.

Finally, thank you to everyone who attended, participated and supported the evening. Winterfest is more than just an event, it reflects the strong, connected and caring community we are proud to be part of.

We are grateful for your continued support and look forward to seeing you at future school events.

It was a pleasure to welcome Tara alumna Kahlie Sleiman (née Taouk), from the Class of 2011, back to the School as the guest speaker at our recent Awards Assembly.

A former Walker House Captain who joined Tara in Year 5, Kahlie reflected on the many opportunities she embraced during her time at Tara, including rowing, musicals, Saturday sport and Tara Skiing. She encouraged our students to think beyond titles and achievements, reminding them that success is measured through lifelong learning, service to others, living with integrity and empowering those around them.

Kahlie also spoke of the teachers and mentors who supported and challenged her throughout her Tara journey, inspiring our students to make the most of every opportunity and believe in their own potential.

We sincerely thank Kahlie for returning to Tara to share her experiences and inspire the next generation of Tara girls.

The Junior School Library recently came alive with creativity as students showcased their work as part of Illuminate – Tara's Festival for Writers and Illustrators .

Throughout the term, students from Years 2–6 participated in a range of writing and illustrating opportunities, including WriteOn , the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards , and Tara's own Picture This! competition. Inspired by the theme Little People, Big Adventures , students produced an impressive collection of stories, poems and illustrated book covers.

The festival celebrated the creativity, imagination and communication skills of our students, while providing them with an authentic audience for their work. A highlight was the exhibition in the Junior School Library, where students shared their creations with peers, staff and families, and participated in Tara's People's Choice Awards.

Congratulations to all students who contributed to Illuminate. The quality of work on display was exceptional and reflected the enthusiasm and talent of Tara's young writers and illustrators.

As part of their Who We Are Inquiry Unit, Year 5 welcomed Tara parent Dr Grover, who shared his expertise as a cardiologist. Students learnt about the important role the heart plays in pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout the body and explored how healthy habits, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, help keep our hearts strong.

Dr Grover also gave students an insight into a day in the life of a doctor, explaining how teams of interns, registrars, medical students and senior doctors work together to care for patients. The visit provided a valuable real-world connection to the unit's exploration of how our body's systems work together to support our overall wellbeing.

Thank you, Dr Grover, for sharing your time and expertise with Year 5.

Year 2 recently enjoyed an exciting day at Taronga Zoo as part of their Sharing the Planet Unit of Inquiry. Through their learning, students have been exploring the Central Idea: Growth and change can be measured .

The excursion gave students the opportunity to observe a wide range of animals and learn about how living things grow, change and move through different stages of their life cycles. Students investigated different habitats, identified features shared by animals and discussed how species adapt to their environments.

Throughout the day, students practised their observation skills and gathered information about animals through discussions, photographs and note-taking. They also learned about conservation and explored how scientists use evidence to understand animals, habitats and changes in the natural world over time.

The visit helped bring classroom learning to life and encouraged students to ask questions, make connections and deepen their understanding of the living world around them.

Leah Virtue
Head of Sport Junior School

Congratulations to Chelsea, Stefeni, Mia and Emilie who competed at the NSWPSSA Swimming Championships on 28 April. Competing against all school sectors across NSW, they made history as Tara’s first relay team to qualify, placing 3rd and breaking the previous record with a time of 2:16.19. Chelsea also placed 4th in the 8–10 years 50m Butterfly and will progress to SSA in November. We are incredibly proud of this outstanding achievement!

Well done to all girls and staff on a successful Junior School Athletics carnival. A special mention to Mia Zheng, who broke the 30 year old 8–9 years 100m record from 1996, running 16.79 seconds (previously 16.95). An incredible achievement!

Eight Junior School teams competed in Netball and Minkey/Hockey this term. We proudly hosted an Indigenous Round during Reconciliation Week, where students acknowledged the Burramattagal people of the Dharug nation. Girls played with netballs decorated in Indigenous artworks and many girls also wore shoelaces featuring Indigenous designs.

Special mentions:

I have been incredibly proud of the teamwork and sportsmanship shown throughout the term! Go Tara!

On 21 June, Tara Anglican School for Girls competed in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) at Wenona School. Students represented their assigned nation through debate, negotiation, and resolution writing, tackling a range of global issues.

Although the teams did not place, students performed strongly throughout the competition. Their thoughtful contributions, confident speaking, and collaborative spirit made a positive impression on delegates and adjudicators, representing Tara with pride and professionalism. Well done!

Anika S, Year 8

This term in Year 8 Geography, we have been studying the unit Water in the World. Throughout the term, we have participated in a range of engaging and immersive activities that have helped us understand why Geography matters.

Throughout our learning, we discovered that Geography is not just a subject studied in the classroom, but it is all around us, shaping the way we live and interact with the natural world we live in. We explored the importance of water, its impact on people through natural disasters and "Why Geography MATTERS" as a whole.

To celebrate the end of the unit, our class held a Geography themed party with a creative twist. Rather than just bringing snacks to share, as a class we created the idea of “Geography on a Plate”. In which we crafted and created an impressive array of food creations inspired by animals and key geographical themes. Some creations included watermelon sharks, kiwi turtles, penguin biomes and many more imaginative designs.

The activity was a great way to wrap up the unit, allowing us to showcase both our creativity and our learning. We have thoroughly enjoyed Geography with our teachers and are grateful for the engaging experiences that have made learning both meaningful and memorable.

On Thursday 18 June, Year 10 students came together for a Movie Night in support of Parramatta Women's Shelter, raising over $600 for the organisation.

The evening provided a wonderful opportunity for students to connect with one another while supporting an important cause. Throughout the night, students enjoyed making friendship bracelets, sharing pizza and watching the film Bring It On .

The event was organised as part of Year 10's ongoing commitment to supporting Parramatta Women's Shelter, a longstanding partner of Tara that provides safe accommodation, support services and pathways to independence for women and children experiencing homelessness and domestic violence.

Thanks to the generosity of students and families, the Movie Night raised over $600, helping to support the vital work of the shelter within the local community.

Congratulations to all Year 10 students who attended and contributed to the success of the evening. The event was a wonderful example of compassion, community spirit and service in action.

A number of students in Years 7 to 10 recently participated in the Big Science Competition, demonstrating their enthusiasm and talent in science. The competition challenged students to apply their scientific knowledge and problem-solving skills to a range of thought-provoking questions. We congratulate all participants for their effort and commitment, with the following students achieving especially outstanding results.

Distinction

Alice - Year 10
Sheivon- Year 10
Dora - Year 9
Kaylee - Year 9
Jenny - Year 9
Kriyaa- Year 7

High Distinction

Caitlin - Year 10
Amber - Year 10
Olivia - Year 10
Heidi - Year 10
Janiece - Year 7

Year 7-9 High Achievers

Year 11-12 High Achievers

Congratulations to ReRe (Year 7), for her invitation to participate in the NSW Athletics LEAP (Leadership, Excellence and Performance) Program  – an exciting and exclusive initiative designed to support the development of emerging young athletes in track and field.

Selection for the program recognises talented young athletes with the potential to excel in athletics at a higher level. The program provides specialised coaching, education and development opportunities through NSW Athletics.

We are so proud of ReRe for this achievement and wish her all the best.

Congratulations to Sophia T (Year 11) on being selected as one of the Western Region finalists in the 2026 Plain English Speaking Award.

Sophia represented our school with confidence, poise and outstanding public speaking skills, earning her place among the region’s leading young speakers. We are incredibly proud of her achievement and commend her on this excellent result.

Diba and Selassie
Year 12 Biology

On Friday, 19 June, our Year 12 Biology classes had the exciting opportunity to participate in a STEM Reactor incursion, where we genetically modified E. coli bacteria to make them glow. During the session, we learned about gene expression and how the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), originally derived from jellyfish, can be inserted into E. coli using a small piece of DNA called a plasmid. In the lab, we were introduced to the “heat shock” process, which involved rapidly cooling and heating our samples to allow the bacteria to absorb the surrounding genetic material. This was an exciting and valuable incursion that taught the Biology students more about genetic engineering and its real world applications.

Congratulations to two of our talented Tara artists on their outstanding achievements in this year's Mosman Art Prize.

Alysa (Year 9) has been selected as a finalist in the Middle Years Division of the Mosman Art Prize, while Eleanor (Year 8) has been named a finalist in the Young Mosman Art Prize.

Being selected as finalists is a wonderful recognition of their creativity, technical skill and artistic expression. We are incredibly proud of Alysa and Eleanor for representing Tara with such distinction and wish them every success in the exhibition.

Congratulations on this fantastic achievement!

Artwork by Eleanor, Young Mosman Art Prize Finalist

Artwork by Alysa, Mosman Art Prize Middle Years Division Finalist

Mrs Gupta
Social Science Teacher

Year 10 Geography students concluded the unit on Human Wellbeing with a group task where each group represented a country. Each country's 'nationals' researched the wellbeing of their nation and created props whilst sharing the typical cuisine. Class presentations enriched the knowledge about the variations in human wellbeing with a comparison to Australia. What a great way to end the term and the topic!

Congratulations to all girls who have been involved in sport this term, your commitment and passion have not only driven success on the field but has also embodied the very best of what Tara and our sporting community stand for. A very special and sincere thank you to all of our exceptional coaches. Their tireless effort and genuine care for each student athlete are what elevate Tara sport to something truly special. Together, you have all created a term to be proud of, not one defined just by results, but also character and friendship.

Full round up of results below:

Netball

TAR01 - 2nd place
TAR02 - 3rd place
TAR03 - 7th place
TAR04 - 6th place
TAR05 - 7th place
TAR06 - 6th place
TAR07 - 8th place
TAR08 - 5th place
TAR09 - 1st place and UNDEFEATED
TAR10 - 7th place
TAR11 - 4th place

Basketball

TAR01 - 3rd place
TAR02 - 4th place
TAR03 - 7th place
TAR04 - 7th place
TAR05 - 1st place and UNDEFEATED
TAR06 - 1st place
TAR07 - 6th place
TAR08 - 5th place

Football

TAR01 - 5th place
TAR02 - 4th place
TAR03 - 4th place
TAR04 - 2nd place