It has been a buzzing time in the Infants department, with a variety of experiences that have engaged our students in faith, community, and learning.

May Pilgrimage

The month of May is dedicated to Our Lady, and to honour her, our Kindergarten and Year 1 students took part in a school-based pilgrimage. As they journeyed around the school grounds, they prayed the Rosary and visited special places that reminded them of Mary’s love and care for us all.

Responsible Pet Ownership Incursion

Our Prep students were fortunate to take part in a special incursion focused on responsible pet ownership. Gentle Finnic, our visiting canine companion, helped remind us of the care, kindness, and responsibility we owe to all of God’s creatures, especially our beloved pets. It was a heartwarming and educational experience that reinforced the importance of compassion and respect for animals.

Year 1 Mass

Tangara Girls Shining

You will read more in the Rust and Navy about the outstanding achievements of our Da Vinci Decathlon teams. These students represented Tangara with excellence and competed confidently against many other schools. We were also delighted to hear that Maria K from Year 3 was awarded Runner Up in her age division for the Harmony Day Competition. A wonderful recognition of her creativity and effort.

GIVE Friendliness

The Year 6 Captains gave four wonderful speeches about the importance of Friendliness and how we can all work on becoming a better friend. Each captain gave insights into what it means to be a good friend and encouraged us all to reflect on how we treat others in our daily lives. They shared practical ideas on how small acts of kindness, active listening and including others can make a big difference in creating a happy school community.

TOBET Begins

The virtue we have been working on in the Junior School is Friendliness.

Friendship is a relationship based on shared interests and values as well as trust and support. A good friendship means you can be honest and feel comfortable. It is based on equality where both people put in effort, treat each other with kindness and neither one pressures the other into something they don’t want to do. 

Friendship is crucial for our emotional health and development. 

I am practicing friendliness when I:

· Smile and greet people with courtesy

· Have the courage to introduce myself

· Show interest in others

· Ask people about themselves

· Show caring when a friend needs me

Synonyms:

Love

·        Forgiveness

·        Compassion

·        Empathy 

·        Charity

·        Respect

·        Friendliness

·        Courtesy

·        Kindness

·        Patience

·        Helpfulness

😊Would I want to be friends with someone like me?

😊How could I be a better friend this week?

😊Am I loyal? Think of a time when someone was loyal to you and describe how it made you feel.

On Thursday May 22nd two teams of Tangara students entered the Great Hall at Knox Grammar School, prepared to compete against the brightest primary school minds from around the state of NSW. It was quite a sight to behold – 79 year six teams and 69 year five teams in a flurry of activity as they applied their creativity, problem-solving and teamwork skills across ten dynamic categories: Engineering, Mathematics, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, Science, English, Philosophy, Creative Producers, Cartography, and Legacy. Each task was designed to foster collaboration and innovation, encouraging students to apply critical thinking skills in exciting and unexpected ways.

The students had spent many of their lunch hours preparing and building their knowledge around the theme of ‘light’. Whether deciphering intricate codes, exploring creative solutions to Ideation problems, or crafting compelling artistic interpretations, they showcased their dedication to academic excellence.

We are incredibly proud of our students for their commitment and enthusiasm in this challenge. Their willingness to embrace new ideas and push their limits reflects the true da Vinci spirit - one of curiosity, innovation, and lifelong learning.

We are thrilled that they achieved placings in the following events:

Our classroom is always bursting with enthusiasm and excitement, and it is hard to believe that we are only a few weeks away from the end of semester one. During this time the students have come together as a united, positive class group. We have enjoyed working collaboratively in small groups sharing our ideas and learning from each other. In our GIVE lessons we have had meaningful discussions, stories and tasks to enhance learning.

In Mathematics we focused on numeration and solving problems. We used different methods to calculate our answers and even used concrete materials like counters to get or check our answers. Our skills in data collection were put to the test when we investigated the different coloured cars in the school carpark. Working together gave us the opportunity to share different approaches to solving problems.

The ‘Stem’ program has given the students opportunity to work with the Sphero. Investigating the ways they can communicate with it and control it whilst solving problems as they arise.

A big congratulations to our Year 10 students who recently represented our school in the Senior Ethics Olympiad and received honorary mentions from the judges for their outstanding performance!

The Ethics Olympiad is a national and international competition where students from various schools come together to engage in thoughtful discussions about complex moral and ethical issues. Rather than debating to win, teams collaborate to present well-reasoned, respectful arguments. Judges assess their ability to listen, reason, and respond thoughtfully - key skills in both academic and real-world contexts.

Our team’s exceptional performance was recognised with certificates and badges, which were presented at our last assembly. Reflecting on the experience, the students shared:

“One of the best parts of the experience was how open and inclusive the conversations were. Everyone’s opinion mattered, and we learned how to build on each other’s ideas to develop thoughtful responses to challenging questions.”

They also noted that the Olympiad helped them gain new perspectives, build confidence in speaking, and strengthen their critical thinking and collaboration skills.

And perhaps most importantly - “we had a lot of fun!”

The last fortnight has been full of creative, hands-on learning across several year groups, with students actively applying their knowledge in imaginative and meaningful ways.

Last Wednesday, Year 10 Visual Artsstudents stepped into the darkroom for the first time, using their homemade pinhole cameras to experiment with traditional photographic techniques. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect the science of light with artistic expression, and students were both curious and excited as they developed their first images.

In Technology (Textiles), Year 8 studentshave finished their Tangara Fashion pyjama ensembles with outstanding results! The students have proudly completed their projects, with most making a matching storage bag, and one creative student even adding a scrunchie for fun! Their attention to detail and enthusiasm have been impressive throughout the unit.

2025 da Vinci Decathlon Inspires Young Minds

On Tuesday 20 May and Wednesday 21 May, Tangara School for Girls proudly participated in the 2025 da Vinci Decathlon – an academic competition that celebrates the diverse talents and creative thinking of students. Held annually, the da Vinci Decathlon challenges students in a dynamic, team-based format inspired by the multifaceted genius of Leonardo da Vinci. This year’s theme, Light, sparked imagination and inquiry across the ten disciplines: Engineering, Mathematics, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, Science, English, Philosophy, Creative Producers, Cartography, and Legacy (History). Each task was designed to encourage learning by integrating skills such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Teams were competing against between 55 and 79 different schools on each day depending on year group.

We are incredibly proud of all students who took part in this prestigious event. Their commitment to learning and willingness to challenge themselves reflects the very essence of the da Vinci spirit. Congratulations to all participants and on the following outstanding results:

Year 7 - placed 8th in Code Breaking

Year 8 - special mention for ‘Table Artwork’

In Round 2 of the Mock Trial Competition, Tangara competed against The Ponds High School in a compelling demonstration of the Australian Adversarial system. 

Representing the Defence Counsel, our Tangara team impressed the presiding magistrate from the Law Society of NSW with their calm, confident demeanour and sharp cross-examination skills. Our barristers delivered their arguments with clarity and poise, while our star witness held firm under intense questioning from the opposing Prosecution team.

In a nail-biting finish, Tangara claimed victory by just two points. It was a hard-fought and well-earned win, made possible by the outstanding teamwork on display - especially from our dedicated Solicitor, whose support and preparation were invaluable to the team’s success.

Congratulations to all involved on a fantastic Round of Mock Trial!

First Barrister: Pasquelle Downie

Second Barrister: Annabelle Vassallo

Solicitor: Arushi Weeraratna

Witness 1: Ellen An

Witness 2: Tiffany Pillai

Court Officer: Olivia McDonald

Save the Date – June 20, 2025

Our annual Music Recitals take place in two weeks!

 - Primary Event: Years 3–6 (and K-2 Singing Groups)

1:30pm–3:00pm (Periods 5 & 6)

 - Secondary Event: Years 7–12

5:00pm–6:30pm

Information letters will be distributed to families next week.

We look forward to sharing an afternoon and evening of music with you!

Below are photos of our Year 5-6 Wind and String groups, preparing for the event.

Fortunately, the weather is looking good for our rescheduled Athletics Carnival on Wednesday 11th June at Greenway Oval, Cherrybrook.

A reminder to those competing in the 1500m event, please ensure you are at the oval by 8:30am or catch the first bus from Tangara at 8:15am.

The Program of Events can be viewed here

Parents are most welcome to join us on the day. We look forward to another fantastic Tangara Carnival!

On Thursday 29th May, the following students represented HZSA at the AICES Cross Country:

Esther Bou-Samra
Sophie Setoh
Yumin Oh
Taylor Jane Haifa
Clare Tanna
Erene D Souza
Angela Chiha

Congratulations on great runs by all of our athletes and a special congratulations to Clare Tanna who will represent AICES at the CIS Cross Country on Thursday June 12.

Hills Zone - Semester 2 Sport (Expressions of Interest)

The Library marked Reconciliation Week with a quiz for Secondary students. We were impressed with the knowledge the girls have of the history of our First Nations peoples. Congratulations to Lucia Vlastelica, Ava Cauchi and Abby Mitchell, who were the first three perfect scores.

How would you go? Click the link to test your knowledge!

Reconcilation Week Quiz

Second overdue notices have been emailed to all students and their parents with books still outstanding from Term 1. Books not returned by the end of Term 2 will be assumed lost and the cost of the books plus a $5 processing fee will charged to the student's account. Is you have received an email, we would be grateful if you could assist your child in locating and returning the items ASAP.

Just yesterday, Issy and I attended the Parliament of NSW Secondary Schools Leadership Program, where we were immersed into the world of what goes on behind the scenes to keep our country running.

Our first stop was a meeting with Ministers of Local Government, who shared their journeys and insights into public service. Next, we had the privilege to sit in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council chambers during ‘Question Week’, a time when debates are at their most spirited. Sitting amongst the action, we watched as Members of Parliament engaged in lively discussions, challenging each other’s ideas and advocating for their parties. From budget allocations to community policies, we gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of running New South Wales and the importance of collaboration in leadership. It made me think about how at Tangara, every girl contributes to our school’s culture, whether she’s organising an event, supporting a peer, or sharing an idea in class. One of the most special moments of the day was reuniting with Ms. Monica Tudehope, a Tangara Old Girl and the Liberal MLA for Epping, who spoke to us at our induction.