As the year draws to its close, our gaze turns toward Advent, that quiet and luminous time in which the Church walks in the company of the Mother of the Lord. In her, waiting becomes a place of hope. Looking at her serene attentiveness, we learn that the human heart flourishes only when it is welcomed without conditions, when it discovers that it is received simply for what it is. Mary’s heart is this school of welcome: she receives the eternal Son with a purity of love unburdened by fear, resentment or haste.

Each one of us desires such a welcome. Every student, every teacher, every parent carries within a longing to be accepted with patience and affection. Yet this can only happen when the heart itself is purified. Impatience closes the door; resentment shadows the light; anger wounds the bonds that sustain community. Advent invites us to allow the Lord to enter these hidden places, so that He may soften what has grown rigid and renew what has grown weary.

When we come to Mass on Sunday and receive the Lord in communion, let us do so with a heart that pauses. Let us grant Him a few moments of silence in which we remain before Him without noise or preoccupation. In that silent encounter, heart speaks to heart: He receives us, and in receiving us, He teaches us how to receive others.

In these last weeks of the school year and during Christmas, let us offer this same welcome to those closest to us. Let us give our parents a listening ear, our siblings a patient presence, our friends the assurance that they have a place in our lives. A simple moment of attention can become for them a sign that the door of our heart remains open.

May this Advent, guided by Mary, form in us the gentle strength of those who know how to welcome.

And from the Tangara chaplaincy, merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Fr Paul Muller
Chaplain

Our Teddy Bears’ Picnic began with a celebration of our children, who each day strive to be the best person they can be. Mrs Sakr and Mrs Vukovic joined in the festivities, adding to the excitement of the morning.

Each of the Christmas concerts was performed with a beautiful, peaceful spirit, reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas. All children showed remarkable patience and hard work throughout the Christmas concert preparations. At times, it took a lot of waiting and self‑control, but they persevered beautifully. Their efforts remind us that good things take time, and the result was a performance filled with joy, and the true spirit of Christmas.

As the term drew to a close, our mischievous elves appeared in classrooms, creating a little havoc but, most importantly, bringing a little magic and fun to the classroom.

Fr Paul’s visit with Baby Jesus invited the children to hold Him gently, imagining themselves as Mary or St Joseph. It was a beautiful opportunity for the children to cradle Jesus, take a quiet moment to reflect, and say a little prayer of thanks that He came into this world as our Saviour.

To conclude the term, we packed our bags and “boarded flights” to experience Christmas Around the World.

- Prep travelled around Australia with Possum Magic by Mem Fox.

- Kindergarten journeyed to Sweden, Italy, France, and Mexico.

- Year 1 visited Ethiopia, Germany, England, and Spain.

All Kindergarten and Year 1 students also travelled to the North Pole where they got to make Reindeer Food, as well as visiting Bethlehem. It was here, in our very own chapel, that the children visualised what the first Christmas was like. Using our senses, we imagined ourselves as one of the humble animals near the stable on that very special night, when the world went quiet and trembled with excitement at the birth of Jesus.

Last week, the Primary and Secondary Chapel Choirs sang Christmas carols in McArthur, supported by the Concert Band. Students performed a range of well-known carols, creating a wonderfully festive start to the morning.

Later that day, the Secondary Assembly enjoyed a special encore performance, giving the choirs another chance to share the Christmas spirit with the school community.

Thank you to all students, staff, and especially Mrs Roh for her musical direction and support in preparing the choirs for these performances.

Recently, our Kindergarten and Year 1 students took to the stage for the Infant Christmas Concert in Yarra Hall. The students performed with great enthusiasm, sharing songs and moments they had been practicing over many months. It was a wonderful way to mark the Christmas season.

A big thank you to Mrs Goldsworthy and Mrs Crosbie for their musical direction and the time they put into preparing the concert, and congratulations to the K–1 staff, under the direction of Mrs McAuliffe, for their work in ensuring the event ran smoothly. It was a lovely way to end the year for our youngest students.

A reminder that information about next year’s Piano Showcase has already been emailed to families. Full details, including categories, repertoire guidelines and marking criteria, can be found in the Piano Showcase Handbook here: Piano Showcase 2026 Handbook.

Please note that video submissions are due to be uploaded by Wednesday 4 February 2026, 8:00am.

I would like to thank all students who performed so beautifully across our end-of-year events, including the Infants Christmas Concert, Primary Presentation and Secondary Presentation. Each performance reflected the hard work, enthusiasm and growth of our musicians throughout the year.

A huge thank you to our music staff, Mrs Crosbie, Mrs Goldsworthy and Mrs Roh, for their preparation, guidance and dedication in bringing these events together. Their work has provided wonderful opportunities for our students to shine.

Mr Joel Richardson, Head of Music

It is with great excitement that we begin the process for Expressions of Interest in Sport for 2026. At Tangara, it is compulsory for students to undertake a minimum of two terms (one semester) of sport.

There is no denying the immense benefits physical activity has for young women, including but not limited to, mental health benefits, overall fitness, stress reduction and management. More so, the valuable lessons learnt through teamwork, communication, negotiation, perseverance, and goal setting allow our girls to grow in their virtues.

It is important to note that most activities have capped numbers so it is advised to make your selections in a timely manner to avoid disappointment.

We endeavour to give as much opportunity for diverse physical activity pursuits to our students and encourage them to step out of their comfort zones in 2026.

Please look out for an email with further details.

I look forward to seeing lots of jumping, skipping, throwing, hopping, running and smiling faces around the school soon.

What is the Duke of Edinburgh?

Tangara is proud to contribute to developing our next generation of leaders by delivering the Duke of Edinburgh.

We know the classroom is not the only place for learning, which is why The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is dedicated to helping young people realise their passions and develop important life skills through a broad range of activities. Through its non-formal learning opportunities and Framework, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award provides a foundation for young people to thrive – now and in the future.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (the ‘Duke of Ed’) is the world’s leading accreditation Framework used by schools and other organisations to support young people to achieve their non-formal education goals. It aims to provide every young Australian with the opportunity for a positive and rewarding journey of self-discovery. The Duke of Ed is open to all young people aged 14 – 24 and is offered in more than 130 countries worldwide.

Through the process of extending or learning new skills, becoming more physically active, volunteering in the community and undertaking a team adventure/challenge, the Duke of Ed equips and empowers young people to achieve their personal best. It also offers the opportunity to work with others while focusing on individual abilities.

What are the Age Requirements?

At Bronze Level, if a person is aged 13 but is part of a school year/peer cohort where the majority are 14 years or older, then they may start with the group (with approval from the Duke of Ed Leader).

The minimum age to be a direct entrant at Silver Level is 15. However, a young person may commence Silver Level before this age if they have completed Bronze Level (with approval from the Duke of Ed Leader).

The minimum age to be a direct entrant at Gold Level is 16. However, a young person may commence Gold Level before this age if they have completed their Silver Level (with approval from the Duke of Ed Leader).

Key Improvements to the Bronze Level

One of the most significant updates in the Duke of Ed history is now available to all new participants - a re-imagined Bronze Level that makes the Duke of Ed more accessible, inclusive and scalable than ever before.

The refreshed Bronze Level reflects this feedback and introduces the most significant changes in decades.

Shorter timeframe: Minimum duration reduced from 6 months to 3 months by removing the requirement for one Section to be a Major Section.

Larger Adventurous Journey groups: Maximum group size increased from 7 to 10, allowing more young people to take part together. Minimum group size of 4 Registered Users remains the same.

Practice Journey optional: Now at the discretion of the Leader, Assessor and/or young person.

Urban Journey options encouraged: Enabling team challenges beyond traditional bushwalks to suit diverse interests.

Greater accessibility and retention: An introductory entry point for first-time Registered Users and an achievable pathway to complete all 3 Levels by end of Year 11.

Ready to register or have some questions? Please email sport@tangara.nsw.edu.au

Final overdue notices have been emailed to all students and their parents with books outstanding from last term. Books not returned by the end of term will be assumed lost and charged to your account together with a $5 processing fee per book. If you have received an email, please assist your child in locating and returning wandering items.

Congratulations to our 2025 Primary Libray Superstars! The following students have borrowed the most books in their class over the whole year!

KN: Clara               KR: Isabella                KS: Lucia                 KW: Grace

1N Mia                    1R: James                   1S: Keegan              1W: Ananya

2N: Estelle             2R: Nanayaa

3N: Olivia S            3R: Emma

4N: Emilia              4R: Natalie

5N: Angelique       5R: Monica

6N: Evelyn              6R: Theresa

While students under 16 years of age are eligible for half fare as a "child", once aged 16, students are required to obtain a concession card in order to continue to access concession fares. The NSW Senior Secondary Student Concession Card enables students to access concession fares at all times. Students must be Australian citizens, permanent residents or in receipt of a DET approved international scholarship or exchange place, and be currently residing in NSW.

If your child is aged 16 and above and would like a Senior Secondary Student Concession Card, please ask them to contact Ms Mimi Tam by email, mimi.tam@tangara.nsw.edu.au .

When your child's Concession card is available to collect, Ms Tam will notify the student via their school email address asking them to collect it from her office.

After-School Public Speaking & Debating Programs at Tangara

Term 1, 2026 (8 weeks)

Program Timetable

Mondays, 3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Public Speaking for Years 3–5

Wednesdays, 3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Public Speaking for Years 3–4
Public Speaking and Debating for Years 5–6

Program Focus for Term 1

Public Speaking: Structuring Speeches
Students will develop mastery of diverse speech structures and learn how to adapt them effectively to different contexts and topics. This skill ensures clarity, confidence, and audience engagement in any speaking situation.

Debating: Policy Cases
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of policy debate principles, including case development and strategic argumentation. They will learn how these elements connect to the burdens of proof required for success, equipping them to construct compelling, well-reasoned cases that win debates.

Expression of Interest (EOI)
Seats are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Submit your EOI here - https://forms.gle/AQGmN8cG6CuoSzb36

Contact Details
For further information, please contact:
Marianne Parackal
Cornerstone Creative Academy
#0411 678 854
email - cornerstoneacademysydney@gmail.com

Programs are run in collaboration with Speaking Schools Australasia.