From the Principal
Welcome!
Nothing is more exciting than the start of a new academic year. This was evident last Monday as current and new students arrived beaming with enthusiasm. A special welcome to all our new students and their families to Tangara. It was so lovely having the opportunity to meet our new parents at the New Parent’s Seminar last Saturday and our new students throughout the last couple of weeks. We also warmly welcome our new members of staff to the Infants, Primary and Secondary Campus. Parents will have the opportunity to meet our staff at our Term 1 KPF.
A few days ago I was greeted by Kindergarten Silver outside our Library. I asked the children if they were enjoying their first week at Tangara. One little boy exclaimed “I love it! Everyone here is sooo kind”. I hope this kindness and sense of belonging continues to be the experience for all members of our school community.
i4Give Day
We commenced the first day back at school commemorating a very special day, i4Give Day. This day holds very special significance to me and my family as it was a year ago that we learned of the tragic news that our beautiful niece and cousin Veronique Sakr, along with her cousins, Antony, Angelina and Sienna Abdallah were killed in a very tragic car crash at Oatlands. For both the Sakr and the Abdallah families their lives changed forever. Nothing would ever be the same. This event shocked and saddened all of us and communities around the world.
Yet many around Australia and the world were stunned by the grieving parents immediately speaking of forgiveness for the driver whose actions took their children from them. That faith and inspiration continues as the families have worked with both the state and federal government to launch i4Give Day as a national day of forgiveness to be celebrated on the 1 Feb each year.
Forgiveness is a core Christian value and we are reminded on this day that each one of us is called to forgive just as our Heavenly Father forgives us. How can we expect God to forgive us if we don’t forgive others? The families hope that this day will urge each of us to stop, reflect and search deep within our hearts and forgive any person who has hurt us, and also a day to ask for forgiveness from any person whom we have wronged. I am inspired by the manner in which these two families have turned a very tragic circumstance to reach millions of people in our country and around the world with a message of hope, love and forgiveness. Let each of us try to imitate their courage and ability to forgive, in own our lives.
Congratulations to the Class of 2020
Last Tuesday we welcomed back to Tangara the graduating Class of 2020 for our traditional congratulatory assembly, recognising the outstanding academic achievements of individual students and their overall commendable efforts. Some students shared with us the “secrets'' to their success. Ultimately it came down to good study habits, a good work ethic, maintaining motivation levels and having a balanced lifestyle. They also emphasised the importance of listening to the advice of their teachers and mentors, and working closely with them in helping them achieve their personal best. We wish them all the best as they soon commence their tertiary studies, and we look forward to them continuing to have an active role in our school community sharing their experiences, challenges and successes.
Happy 39th Birthday Tangara
Well what’s a birthday without a celebration? Yesterday we marked the 39th Birthday of our beautiful school, with balloons, cake, and of course ice blocks for everyone. We remembered and celebrated the vision, commitment and sacrifices made by the founders of our school - past and present parents, staff and students who have helped to shape and forge our school into a place where through a committed partnership, young people are educated and formed into well rounded individuals. Thank you to all our parents, staff and students for continuing to help make Tangara such a unique and special community.
Key Parent Function
I invite you to our first KPF for 2021 which will provide us with the opportunity to outline Tangara’s Vision and Strategic Plan for the year, and for your child’s teacher to outline the academic and pastoral procedures for their class. Unfortunately due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to accommodate all parents on our school campus, except for Year 12 and year 7. All sessions will be recorded in case you have more than one child so that you can catch up on all relevant sessions at a later time.
Please take note of the following details:
YEAR 12
The Term 1 KPF for Year 12 parents will take place at Tangara on Friday 12 February 2021 at 7.30pm-9pm in the Yarra Hall (MPH).
YEAR 7
The Term 1 KPF for Year 7 parents will take place at Tangara on Friday 26 February 2021 at 7.30pm-9pm in the Yarra Hall (MPH).
PREP - YEAR 11
The Term 1 KPF for Prep to Year 11 parents will take place on Friday 26 February 2021 online via Microsoft TEAMS at 7.30pm-8.30pm
Please refer to the letter emailed to your last week for further details.
From the Chaplain
St Joseph
In 2021 we are going to increase the devotion to St Joseph at Tangara! That's what Pope Francis is encouraging to everyone, when he proclaimed: "a special Year of Saint Joseph will be celebrated, in which all faithful, after his example, may daily reinforce their own life of faith in complete fulfillment of God’s will. All the faithful will thus have the opportunity to commit themselves, with prayer and good works, to obtain, with the help of St Joseph, head of the heavenly Family of Nazareth, comfort and relief from the serious human and social tribulations that besiege the contemporary world today.”
The Spirit of Lent
When I was young I used to give up something for Lent: chocolate, ice cream, soft drinks, etc. I appreciate the value of this but now that I am an adult I think I should be doing other things. What would you suggest?
It is important to situate what we are going to do for Lent within the context of the meaning of this important season. Lent is the long season of preparation for the greatest feast in the liturgical year: Easter, the Resurrection of Our Lord. Easter in turn ends the Paschal Triduum, three days in which we commemorate the suffering and death of Christ, which brought about our Redemption. It is only fitting to precede such a great feast by a time of spiritual preparation, as we do in the Advent preparation for Christmas. In Lent we accompany Our Lord along the way of the Cross to his Resurrection. In so doing we live out his invitation, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24).
Pope St Leo the Great in the fifth century recommends that during Lent we follow Christ by struggling to overcome our defects. He says that “for us all it remains necessary to struggle every day against the rust of our earthly nature. Whatever steps forward we make, there is not one of us who is not always bound to do better. All of us must strive hard and so on Easter day no one should remain bound by the vices of his former nature. And so, dearly beloved, what every Christian should always be doing must now be performed more earnestly and more devoutly. These forty days, instituted by the apostles, should be given over to fasting which means, not simply a reduction in our food, but the elimination of our evil habits” (Sermon 6 on Lent, 1-2). Among the habits to be overcome might be impatience, laziness, disorder, pride, impurity, self-indulgence, etc.
In addition, as I explained in an earlier column (cf. J. Flader, Question Time I, q. 144), the Church urges us to live penance through a greater effort in the three areas of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. They are mentioned by Our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount (cf. Mt 6:1-18), and the Church reminds us of them in the Gospel for Ash Wednesday.
Prayer includes all aspects of our spiritual life: constancy and devotion in our daily prayers, attending Mass more often during the week, doing the Stations of the Cross, reading some Scripture everyday, meditating on the Passion, saying the Rosary, etc.
Fasting can be taken in its broadest sense of self-denial in any area. This may include not eating between meals, giving up something we especially like, not listening to the radio in the car or while working, watching less television, etc.
And almsgiving should be understood as the practice of charity and the works of mercy: being more patient and kind, visiting sick or elderly relatives and friends, giving money to charities, encouraging someone to return to the sacrament of Penance and to Mass, being more cheerful and pleasant, etc.
St Peter Chrysologus, in a Lenten sermon in the fifth century, shows how prayer, fasting and almsgiving are related to each other: “There are three things, brethren, three, through which faith stands firm, devotion abides, and virtue endures: prayer, fasting and mercy. What prayer knocks for upon a door, fasting successfully begs and mercy receives. Prayer, fasting and mercy: these three are a unit. They give life to one another. For fasting is the soul of prayer; and mercy is the life of fasting” (Sermon 43). Thus it is recommended to do something in Lent from each of these three areas. St Peter especially emphasises mercy: “But to make those gifts acceptable, follow them up with mercy. When mercy dries up, fasting suffers drought, for mercy is to fasting what rain is to the earth” (ibid.).
Lent then is more about what we are going to do than about what we are going to give up. And if we live it well, we don’t have to wait for Easter to experience joy. In a real sense, every day is a spiritual resurrection, like Easter, when we draw closer to Christ through our self-denial, prayer and works of mercy.
From the Infants School
Tangara Infants News
A warm welcome to all our Tangara Infants families in 2021. A very special welcome to all our new students and parents who have joined the PARED community this year. It was wonderful to be able to welcome everybody on site for the first day of term and to see the children back in such high spirits, eager to commence the new school year.
Our school continues to grow with a 4th stream being added to Year 1 and, due to increased demand for the excellent school readiness program, an additional 5-Day Prep class which supplements the existing 2 and 3 day programs has been introduced.
This strength in numbers in the foundational years reflects the confidence in the PARED schools philosophy and ethos, and mirrors the values that families are looking for when choosing a school for their children. As our children develop as students they will learn day by day to work diligently and joyfully. In this year of Saint Joseph we can model ourselves off his example; a father who taught the value, dignity and joy of work. Let us remember Saint Joseph as we offer up our work to God, so that we may be role models for our children to do the same.
A very warm welcome to our new staff members who have joined us. Mrs. Angela Jeong joins the Year 1 team and Mrs. Melanie Hatcher and Mrs. Jacyln James join the Kindergarten team. Our new teacher’s aides assisting in Prep White/Silver is Mrs Kirrily Rooney and Mrs Michelle Beyers in Prep Rust. Welcome back to our trusty Infants staff. A comprehensive list of 2021 Infants staff can be found later in this edition. Your children are certainly in excellent hands!
We have many stimulating initiatives planned for 2021. Your child’s Class Teacher will pass on information about the year’s activities, as well as your child’s class details, during the first Key Parent Function (KPF) via Microsoft Teams on Friday 26 February.
The staff and I thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to what promises to be an exciting and productive year at Tangara Infants.
Important Infants Dates - Term 1
17 February: Ash Wednesday service for K-2 students @2pm
22 February: 1N assembly
26 February: KPF @ 7:30pm via Microsoft Teams
8 March: 1R assembly
12 March: K-Yr2 Professor Maths Incursion
17 March: Saint Patrick’s Feast Day
19 March: Saint Joseph’s Feast Day: Harmony Day
22 March: 1W assembly
23 March: Parent/teacher interviews P-Yr1
24 March: Parent/teacher interviews P-Yr1
25 March: Parent/teacher interview P-Yr 1
(Note: Parent/teacher interviews replace mentor meeting in T1.)
30 March: Easter Hat Parade PR,PS,PW K, Yr 1
31 March: Last day of Term: PR,PS
1 March: Easter Hat Parade PN
1 March: Final day of term.
(School concludes at the usual time)
2021 Infants Staff
Prep White(PW/S) | Ms. Virginia Breen |
Prep Rust (PR) | Mrs. Jennifer Suters |
Prep Navy (PN) | Mrs. Hannah Leslie |
Teachers Aide (PW/S) | Mrs. Kirrily Rooney |
Teachers Aide (PR) | Ms. Michelle Meyers |
Teachers Aide (PN) | Mrs. Lisa Carrington |
Kindergarten Rust (KR) | Ms. Jacinta Harb |
Kindergarten Navy (KN) | Mrs. Melanie Hatcher |
Kindergarten White (KW) | Mrs. Maryanne Bourke |
Kindergarten Silver (KS) | Mrs. Jacyln James |
Year One Rust (1R) | Mrs. Anna Haines |
Year One Navy (1N) | Mrs. Sue Yeo |
Year One White (1W) | Mrs. Natalie Pigram |
Infants Coordinator | Mrs. Miranda De Andrade |
Infants Assistant and Learning Support | Mrs. Marianne Oakley |
Teaching and Learning Coordinator | Mrs. Sue Yeo |
Religion | Mrs. Miranda De Andrade and Mrs. Lisa Rossi, Mrs .Stephanie Jaucian |
Music | Ms. Alexandra Quinn |
From the Junior School
Junior School Monitors
Our School Vision and Mission Statement says:
Our vision is a happy and vibrant School, highly regarded as a centre of excellence, where every child is encouraged to be the very best person she can be. Parents, staff and students work as a united team for the pursuit of character and academic success, with a commitment to service and a life of faith.”
One way in which we hope to promote this vision and mission statement is through our leadership program in the Primary School. Girls from Year 3 through to Year 6 are given leadership roles. Each role has a particular task that needs to be responsibly undertaken by the students. The girls hold this role for 2 terms. At the end of the semester, the monitors are awarded a certificate to say they have been a Monitor for Semester One.
They girls take these roles very seriously and are proud to be leaders. The staff find the girls grow in the virtue of responsibility. They are a great help in the Primary School, doing jobs such as raising the flag through to preparing for the Friday Assembly.
Monitor Structure for 2021
Year 6 | Class Monitors | 2 Navy - Charlize N 6R |
2 Rust - Keira M 6N | ||
3 Navy - Ava D 6R | ||
3 Rust - Scarlett S 6N | ||
4 Navy - Ella Z 6R | ||
4 Rust - Gabrielle K 6N | ||
5 Navy - Ruby S 6R | ||
5 Rust - Amelia T 6N | ||
6 Navy - Alannah A 6R | ||
6 Rust - Grace Z 6N | ||
Sports Captains | Sienna Amelie A 6R | |
Atlantis Elisabeth W 6N | ||
La Mancha Mary Jaclyn G 6R | ||
Tintagel Grace M 6N | ||
Assembly Monitors | Ella-Louise S 6N | |
Renee P 6N | ||
Tiffany P 6R | ||
Reya F 6R | ||
Paper Pick Up Monitors | Ruby H 6N | |
Avnita N 6N | ||
Library Monitors | Gabrielle J 6N | |
Josephine L 6N | ||
Taylor T 6R | ||
Merryn O 6R | ||
COMPUTER MONITORS | Alicia R 6R | |
Mary C 6R | ||
INFANTS FLAG MONITORS | Avni S 6R | |
Anna D 6R | ||
Year 5 | MICROPHONE MONITOR | Anna B |
LIBRARY MONITORS | Jaena M 5N | |
Lucy F 5N | ||
Carmel Z 5R | ||
Abigail M 5R | ||
CHOIR MONITORS | Ava B 5N | |
Layla S 5N | ||
Madeline H 5R | ||
Sophia H 5R | ||
PRIMARY FLAG MONITORS | Olivia D 5N | |
Yumin O 5R | ||
Year 4 | ASSISTANT TO STAFF | Emily K |
Olivia K | ||
CHOIR MONITORS | Amelia T | |
Sarah J 4N | ||
Gabrielle K 4N | ||
Georgette L 4N | ||
Year 3 | SPORTS BOX MONITORS | Elise C |
Ava C | ||
LOST PROPERTY MONITORS | Eloise W | |
Emily E |
The GIVE Program
I am practicing teamwork when I:
- Get along with others and compromise
- Respect everyone’s opinions
- Offer support to others
- Use soft voices
- Participate actively
- Stay focused on the task
From the Secondary School
Welcome to 2021! We hope that you and your families had a restful break.
A special welcome to all the new students and their families and we hope that your daughter has had a smooth transition into the Secondary School.
It is nice to see the girls back at school and eager to participate in various school activities.
Sport, music, debating and Da Vinci training sessions have all now resumed.
We wish the girls the best of luck in the upcoming competitions.
It is good to see the girls taking pride in their school uniform and we would like to thank you in advance for your ongoing support with this.
We will also be celebrating Tangara’s 39th Birthday this week by having treats at recess on Wednesday followed by the Wacky Olympics on Friday organised by the Class of 2021.
We look forward to working in partnership with you to ensure that your daughter strives to achieve her personal best in 2021.
Captains Corner
Welcome back to school everyone! You have all been missed over the summer break and it is great to see everyone settling in.
The 10 February marks an important day for everyone in the Tangara community. In 1982 Tangara opened in Fox Valley, Wahroonga. 2 teachers, 17 students and 12 families joined together to form Tangara School for Girls.
Tangaras emblem symbolises the values on which Tangara was founded. The image of a gum tree standing tall represents Tangaras mission to form upright women of virtue and character. Creating women who stay grounded, grow in virtue, connect with their roots and share the fruits of their faith with individuals around them. Our emblem also depicts the Southern Cross, representing the school communities love for the beautiful land of Australia. The Southern Cross acts as a symbol of hope, similar to the Cross carried by Jesus. This guide helps light the way to find true good in darkness.
‘Ad summam virtutem’ meaning ‘Towards the Fullness of Virtue’ captures Tangaras goal in developing the character of each girl. Tangara provides both an academic and spiritual foundation for every student in the community. What differs Tangara from the rest is the community's ability to create students who can find holiness in standard life.
With the opportunities that Tangara provides, every student can be prepared in the mind and soul for what the real world brings. This is done by creating an awareness that every student needs to take control of their lives and reach their full potential.
In appreciation of Tangara we say, Happy 39th Birthday!
- Written by Jemma Keel (Siena House Captain)
National Computer Science School
During the Summer Holidays, I had the privilege of attending the National Computer Science School at Sydney University. The 8-day camp gave me insight into living and studying at a university. Along with around 70 other year 11 and 12 students from around NSW, we stayed on campus at the Women’s College.
Arriving to the camp I quickly realised I was the only attendee who had never done any computer science before. However, despite this I had a lot of fun learning and getting to know what a computer science degree in university would involve.
Each day we participated in lectures, workshops and tutorials as well as fun activities included a Scavenger Hunt around the Sydney Uni campus, trivia and games night and even a mock job interview with the sponsors of the camp. We were split into groups where together as a group we worked on a project. My group programmed an Entertainment bot, something like a google home or Alexa, which could give someone books, movies, YouTube videos, songs, jokes and other recommendations.
At the end of the camp, we attended a formal dinner as well as an awards ceremony
Overall I think this was an amazing opportunity for me to learn new things and meet so many people who are interested in similar subjects. I truly enjoyed the experience and recommend the program to anyone who may be interested.
Stephanie P Year 12
Sports
The Duke of Edinburgh Award
Attention Years 9 and Year 10 of 2021! Are you looking for a challenge and the opportunity to try something new?
Students who are in Years 9 or 10 in 2021 may join the Duke of Edinburgh Program. The award is a youth self-development program for young people aged 14 to 25 years. The award is non-competitive and encourages young people to set and achieve goals at a level appropriate to their needs.
There are four compulsory sections that must be completed to qualify for the Award, indicated below:
- Service: Participants volunteer in their communities, make a positive contribution to society and demonstrate social responsibility.
- Physical Recreation: Encourages young people to improve their fitness and performance and enjoy healthy lifestyles for good mental and physical well-being.
- Skills: Enables participants to develop their talents, broaden their abilities, increase their self-confidence and improve employability.
- Adventurous Journey: Young people discover a spirit of adventure and gain a deeper understanding of the environment and the great outdoors.
To complete your Bronze Award, you are required to be organised, 100% committed, but mostly wanting to have fun and challenge yourself!
You will need to not only complete your hours, but attend 2 outdoor expeditions, as well as consistently maintaining your Online Record Book to enable yourself (and me) to keep track of your progress with the award.
You will need to be punctual to any scheduled meetings and get all of the required paperwork back by the due dates. If this is not adhered to, you will not be able to partake in some of the activities with the other girls.
Please see Miss Miljak by Friday 12 February to express your interest and to find out more information. You will be given a Parent Information Letter, which will include all of the relevant details. Discuss it with your family and think through some ideas of the activities that you may be able to do. See if you can find an ‘assessor’ for those activities. If you then decide that you want to go ahead, return your permission form along with the registration payment, by the due date in Term 1 2021. The first camp will be held in March 2021.
Parents, please feel free to contact me at the school if you have any queries / questions about The Duke of Edinburgh Award at Tangara.
Miss Ana Miljak
Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator
Redfield Rugby
Welcome back to our wonderful family and friends of Redfield Rugby and a warm welcome to new parents and children who would like to join our club.
Registrations are now open for the 2021 Rugby Season.
Please remember to have your Active Kids Voucher on hand.
You can also purchase merchandise online as well.
Our registrations process is through are Team App portal.
Instruction flyer attached on how to join.
We offer:
Reception to Grade 1 – the opportunity to join the REDs Skills Program which is held Saturdays mornings – this is not competition.
U6-U9 is competition based and played in the Eastwood District Junior Rugby Union Competition
U10-U12 – IPSHA competition
U13-XV – ISA Competition.
Redfield Rugby awards 100 points towards the co-curricular program as discussed in the Co-Curricular letter from the Sports master for participating in the 2021 season.
Please feel free to contact the Redfield Rugby President Natasha Khoury on 0432226990 if you have any questions about the upcoming season.
From the Library
Welcome back from the Library Staff! We have some exciting things planned in the Library for 2021, and look forward to helping your children discover the joys of reading!
Just a few gentle reminders at the start of the year :
INFANTS AND PRIMARY:
All Prep, Infants and Primary students must have a Tangara (or Redfield) library bag in order to borrow. Borrowing happens for Prep and Infants only on their designated Library Day, which you will be advised by your Class Teacher.
Years 2-6 may also borrow at lunchtime, or before and after school.
Borrowing limits are:
Prep and Kindy – 1 book
Year 1 – 2 books
Year 2 – 3 books
Years 2-6 – 5 books
Please note, Primary and Infants students are not permitted in the Library after school other than to borrow a book, unless they are waiting to attend extra curricular activities held at the school. The Library is open after school only as a secondary study space.
SECONDARY
All secondary students may borrow up to 5 books.
Years 7-10 can access the library
• at lunchtime
• from 8am before school
• after school until 5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
• after school until 4pm on Monday and Friday
Years 11 and 12 can also access the library during study periods
OVERDUES
The Library does not charge overdue fees. However, we will issue reminders to both students and parents about books outstanding from the previous term. Books which remain outstanding by the end of the following term will be regarded as lost and the cost added to school fees.
Looking forward to a great year and lots of happy borrowers!
THE LIBRARY STAFF
General Notices
Extend - Before & After School Care
My name is Maryam. I started working with Extend in 2017, it’s like my second family now.
I love working with children and enjoy planning lots of exciting activities and experiences to keep them engaged and interested at OSHC
I find working with children a rewarding career that challenges me in many different ways and there are many skills and lessons to learn each day. I love getting to know children and helping them as individuals while having lots of fun along the way.
I’m a mother of 2 children so I am able to relate to lots of your stories.
Maryam
Service Coordinator
Extend is the place for your children to thrive, learn and play, so what are you waiting for? Book and enrol at www.extend.com.au
Other
Introducing the 2021 REAL Teachers!
Introducing the 2021 REAL teachers!
Mrs Kroeger 9N
Miss Touma 7N
Miss Miljak 8N
Miss Tropea 7R
Mrs Rasmussen 10-1
Mrs Sahni 9R
Mrs Woodthorpe 10-2
Miss Alvir 8R.
What is REAL?
It is Tangara's Science of Character Education Program (Years 7-10)
REAL stands for Real Excellence and Attitude to Life.
REAL lessons are every Tuesday Week B.
Gifted and Talented Secondary News
Engaging our High Potential Learners
Giftedness is accepted and celebrated at Tangara. Our learners must work at a pace and level that is consistent with their abilities and all students need to feel supported and encouraged to achieve excellence in their learning. Tangara’s outstanding HSC results are a testament to the realisation of potential. High potential students are identified to track their learning and teachers are supported to differentiate the curriculum to provide optimum challenge. I meet regularly with the girls to discuss their unique learning needs and provide opportunities for connection with other like-minded learners. There are several extension programs and activities open to the girls that are advertised in the Rust and Navy and daily notices.
For students to be identified as gifted, a range of measures such as testing results, teacher, parent, mentor and self-nominations are attained. As students develop at different times and different rates, identification is ongoing. Should you consider that your daughter is distinctly above the average (within the top 10% of the cohort) in one or more of the following areas- intellectual, creative, social or physical, please complete the 2021 Secondary Parent Gifted and Talented Nomination Form by clicking on the link below. If you have already submitted a form, there is no need to complete it again unless there is additional information to include.
2021 Secondary Parent Gifted and Talented Nomination Form
da Vinci is open to deep-thinking students in Years 5 to 11. Training begins in Week 3 and will be held each Thursday at lunch in the Technology rooms for Years 7-11. A team of 8 students in each year group will be selected from the training teams to attend the competition at Knox Grammar in term 2. Students need to sign up on the list outside the Technology rooms for inclusion in the training teams.
The Tangara Beyond Award - an extension program for nurturing talent, continues this year for our most able learners. We congratulate and encourage Stella Yu and her advisor Mrs Woodthorpe and Grace Zeng and her advisor Mrs Hallman who have started the Tangara Beyond Award.
Students in Years 7 to 10 are invited to participate in an academic extension program to take them beyond the classroom and nurture their unique talent. The program is designed to be rigorous and is suited to a small number of highly capable students only.
There are three components to the award-
- A personal interest project with the equivalent to a 1500 word essay or performance piece. Students are to devise a thesis, complete a referenced written or performance piece on a chosen topic or issue that takes them beyond the classroom learning. The student will be matched with an advisor with expertise in the chosen field of study.
- Bibliotherapy- working with the Tangara Teacher Librarians, read 20 extension reading books/scripts and review a selection, which will be shared on the library database. The aim is to go beyond the student’s usual genre choice.
- Service learning - 20 hours of documented voluntary service in the school or community. Write a newsletter article on the benefits of going beyond in service learning.
The Tangara Beyond Award will take no less than 12 months to complete and can extend beyond the calendar year. If students complete classwork early they can choose to work on their personal interest project with their class teacher’s permission. The aim is to extend students and to give them control over their learning. Students need to email me to access the link for the application form.
Congratulations to Stephanie P Year 12, who was selected to attend the 8 day residential National Science Summer School held at Sydney University.
Stephanie writes
I was actually the only person who went and had never done any coding or computer science in my life so I was so nervous at first because when we had the very first lecture, the lecturer would ask questions everyone seemed to know all about it. But they had introductory talks so it ended up being not as scary as I thought.
At the camp we were split up into 5 groups and each group had to do a group project. Our group did an Entertainment bot which was basically programing something like a google home or Alexa but specifically just for asking entertainment things. And in the end at the closing ceremony I got an Outstanding Achievement award. The tutors said that they were very impressed at how enthusiastic I was and how I jumped into every problem even if I didn't know how to solve it.
Should parents or students have any questions about the Tangara Beyond Award or any other questions about Tangara’s gifted program please email Mrs Dirckze.
Best wishes to you for an engaging and safe 2021.
Mrs Liz Dirckze
Head of TAS
Gifted and Talented Coordinator
elizabeth.dirckze@tangara.nsw.edu.au
TAS News
Welcome to the 2021 academic year. Our Technology students are in for a year of exciting learning where they will grow as sustainable designers and users of technology. With plenty of practical tasks, the students will experience a systematic approach to experimentation, problem-solving, prototyping and evaluation. We aim to challenge and stretch our learners, resulting in crunchy eyebrow and aha moments. Parents and families are invited to get behind the design briefs and engage in evaluating student learning.
We have a strong and experienced team ready to encourage our learners. Our faculty has grown, and we are excited to have the talents of Mrs Engesser and Mrs Kroeger teaching some stage 4 Technology classes. A warm welcome and introduction to our wonderful TAS assistant Mrs Kirsten Carroll who started with Tangara late last year.
Year 12 Food Technology students continue their HSC studies with units on Food Manufacture, Food Product Development and Contemporary Nutrition Issues. The girls have had a restful yet productive break and are ready for the challenge ahead. Year 11 Food Technology students are geared up to start their Preliminary course where they will study units on Food Selection and Availability, Food Quality and Nutrition. Year 9 and 10 Textiles Technology students will kick the year off with class workshops on colouration and dyeing and theatre arts costume design using sustainable materials. In Year 7 the girls will study three units, Paddock to Plate, Engineer It and Robotics. Whilst in Year 8 students work on Tangara Fashion, Fusion Restaurant and Digital Design.
Please be aware of the safety requirements for girls to wear leather shoes in the Technology workshops. All other personal protective equipment required will be supplied by Tangara. Girls are required to follow our Covid safe Technology plan. Our Technology team is excited about the year ahead and look forward to sharing the girls’ progress with the school community. Should you have any questions about TAS feel free to email me on elizabeth.dirckze@tangara.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Liz Dirckze
Head of TAS