Welcome

As the end of the year approaches, there is a continuing sense of activity and vigour across the School, both in classrooms and outside them. As has become my habit, I offer my Celebration Evening presentation to the community, very aware that only a small proportion of our families are able to attend, and particularly Junior School families tend not to be present.

Good evening, and welcome.

I bring to the rostrum greetings and best wishes from Tintern Grammar Life Governors Garry and Loraine Coles, Bishop John Stewart and Deidre Johnston. I also bring the same from Mrs Pam Park, wife of Haydn Park, former Life Governor, and Chair of the Tintern Board. I am also very pleased that Mr Donald Speagle (son of Life Governor Henry Speagle) has been able to join us tonight.

Chair of the Tintern Grammar Board, Dr Jessica Davies, past Board Chair, Mr Andrew Hutchinson, and current and past Board members, we are grateful to have you join us tonight at this celebration of a remarkable year at Tintern Grammar. I also warmly welcome the Presidents and other representatives of the Tintern Old Girls’ Association, the Southwood Old Boys Association, the Tintern Grammar Alumni, Presidents and members of our parent support groups, and the many other special guests and School Alumni who are here tonight. I also welcome Year 7-11 students, current and past members of the Tintern Grammar Executive, current and past teaching and non-teaching staff, current and past parents and particularly our Tintern Grammar Year 12 students as they look ahead to the end of their Tintern schooling on Friday. I am grateful you have all been able to join us at this, our 2023 Celebration Evening.

Tonight is a wonderful reflection of the year that has been, and of course a peek into what is still to come, together with an accompanying sense of our School’s history and legacy. It is a night to reflect on what we celebrate, value, and stand for; a very rewarding and enjoyable process indeed! On that, I am regularly informed by Alumni who bring their children to Tintern that in their view, we have not lost sight of what was important in our past and we have carried it into our 2023 role as a contemporary and future-focused school.

What has stood out for me in 2023 has been the clear and visible striding out of students and staff moving on from the very difficult three years of 2020 to 2022. Student action and leadership, whether by formal leaders, or students acting on their passion and commitment has been vibrant and dynamic. Our School and House Leaders, Green Team and Social Justice groups and our GSA and SRC have sustained a high profile and we have seen them undertake activities that really have contributed to improving the student and community world. This year has also seen a perceptible shift in the way our Year 12 students have committed to the final weeks of classes, with the Study Hub on Wednesday and Thursday and some Saturday study group opportunities taken up with a real sense of aspiration.

As I have said several times in Secondary Assemblies, reinforced by other senior staff, an aspiration to personal best, allied to a genuine work ethic will contribute significantly to finding success in our futures, no matter what that success looks like. It has been impressive to see the way that senior students have taken this up this year.

These cultural shifts and the planning, organisation, and execution of the associated activities, along with the amazing breadth of opportunities and activities are all driven by our staff, to whom I want to express my thanks. The post pandemic world, for teachers particularly, but for all staff realistically, has not been an easy one. Our staff have not just buckled down and got on with things, but from the ELC to the VCE they have looked to broaden offerings, deepen learning, and strengthen relationships as we have moved forward from the pandemic and I thank them for their wonderful work in all these areas.

Given the degree to which we and I rely on the Tintern Grammar Executive, I also express my particular thanks to

• Jason McManus as Vice Principal overseeing the learning foundation for students and staff and the community at Tintern. His passion for teaching and learning and growth and development for us all ensures we are always looking out and up to see how we can do better or differently to improve outcomes and growth for students and staff particularly.
• Oriana Constable as Assistant Principal overseeing wellbeing has returned from her Long Service Leave to reconnect with the role that she commenced and made her own last year. Community wellbeing has been one of our biggest challenges and emphases in our post-pandemic world, and Ms Constable brings a calm assurance to her oversight of this.
• Our three Heads of School Brett Trollope, Allison Prandolini, Adam Kenny and Kristin De Vos, ELC Director, for the calm care and wisdom they exercise in their leadership of students and staff. Each of them manages to deliver the outcomes, academic and otherwise, that we seek for our students and staff, whilst also ensuring that everyone in their domain feels a valued part of something bigger than themselves. All this done while ensuring that broader School strategic outcomes are also achieved.
• Rev Alison Andrew, I want to affirm the significant and complex work done over the year by Rev Alison Andrew. This has been particularly in her leadership of our reconciliation journey as a school, and also her calm and wise spiritual leadership of the School in her role as Chaplain.
• The business of the School is not something that necessarily catches the eye of the community, but it has made wonderful strides forward under our Business Manager Damien Horman and the Director of Admissions and Marketing, Rae Byrom and the staff who work with them. As we look ahead to the new Year 12 Centre, the increased classes at Year 5, Year 6, and Year 7 in the next two years and beyond, the wonderful work they have done for the last 6 to 10 years is reaping reward for our students and staff of 2023 and beyond.
• I also want to sincerely thank all our Teaching and General staff across the School for their willingness to step forward bravely out of the pandemic. We have negotiated a new staff Enterprise Agreement with impressive collaboration, completed while simultaneously doing so much for our students and families, and for each other.

There is nothing easy in the role of a volunteer Board Chair, and Dr Jessica Davies devotes an enormous amount of her personal time and effort to progressing Tintern Grammar. Her stewardship of the Board and the School has been a major contributor to where the School is in 2023 and what the view ahead looks like. I thank her for this, but also the considerable effect she has had in amplifying the effectiveness of my leadership the School. Similarly, the Tintern Board and Nominated Independent Members volunteer significant amounts of personal time to ensure that our governance supports both the aims of the School, and the School community appropriately.

The Board, the Executive, the staff, and our families are a team that work very effectively together with outcomes for our young people foremost in our minds, and it is a wonderful team to be part of.

I will say tonight, as I did last year, how privileged it feels to know that tomorrow morning I will again walk across the car park and hear students laughing, running, and basketballs bouncing. I will swap hellos and smiles with students and staff, and I will feel, as I do every day, just how fortunate we are to be a part of all of this.

Thank you.

 

Bradley Fry | Principal

Student Voice

After an extremely rewarding year as Outdoor Ed Leaders, we are honoured and extremely grateful to have been elected as the School Captains for 2024. Since stepping into the role we’ve been in close communication with the rest of the team about our goals and aspirations for the year to come, and we’ve all agreed on our vision as leaders. We’re going to do everything we can to make 2024 a fun, memorable year in which we bring together the school as a whole and make positive impacts in the community around us.

We think it’s important to build connections between the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools, making the most of the wonderful community we have by ensuring everyone of all ages has a place to be heard and valued. More than anything we want school to be enjoyable for everyone, so we’re going to work hard to run as many community events as we can while making general changes to help better students’ every-day experiences.

Mental health is also extremely important to us, so it will be a fundamental part of our work as a team throughout the year. We hope to provide support to all members of our community and raise further awareness for the topic, making school even more of a safe and nurturing space for everyone. To assist us with this we’re also encouraging and providing opportunity for student voice, through an online platform where we can receive open and honest feedback from our peers. Through this we hope to tailor our actions as a team to the true needs of our School.

Another of our focus points will be making a difference in our local community – to go to Tintern is such a privilege, so we want to make the most of our opportunities while also doing everything we can to give back through charity events and fundraisers.

We’re super excited for the year to come, and to give back to a community that has given us so much.

Scarlett O’Connor and Oliver Hunt | 2024 School Captains

Student Voice

2023 has been an amazing year for Outdoor Education here at Tintern, with endless camps and plenty of opportunities for all students throughout the entire year.

The year started off strong with the Year 7s, alongside a group of Year 11 leaders heading off to the Mornington Peninsula! Here they were doing everything from snorkelling to an exhilarating camp out where they were able to learn plenty of new skills such as using a Trangia, campsite etiquette and how to set up tents, all while having a lot of fun. They were thrown into the deep end and came out knowing each other better with new friendships formed and memories that will last a lifetime. This was made possible by a group of volunteer Year 11 leaders as well as the amazing Outdoor Ed staff and team, who we would like to thatnk.

Moving into Term 2 our Year 8s embarked all the way to the Grampians with a team of Year 10 leaders. Once again, they were again thrown back into the wilderness where they refined the skills learnt in Year 7, throughout a week-long campout in tents. They also had the opportunity to learn some valuable new lessons for hiking, packing packs, managing weight, and getting tasty but light camp food, preparing them for what’s to come in Year 9. Once again, the Year 10 volunteers, Outdoor Ed Staff, and classroom mentors all worked hard made it an incredible experience.

As per usual the Year 9s had an action-packed year, starting off with the Great Ocean Walk. This camp is described by students as one of the most physically intense experiences of their life, but also one of the most rewarding. With the preparation from the last two years, they set off along the stunning Great Ocean Road hiking as a class, pushing each other outside of their comfort zones to reach their goals all while having fun as a class. Moving into winter they had Snow Camp, where unlike the Summer Camp of hard work and thrills they focused on a more relaxed experience. They were able to enjoy the smaller things in their lives such as the view of Mount Kosciuszko as they cross country skied, which is absolutely breath taking.

Both Scarlett and I are so thankful for the opportunity we’ve had to be the Outdoor Ed captains alongside Ms Lowing this past year, who we would like to thank her for everything she has done for us and everyone at Tintern.

Scarlett O’Connor and Oliver Hunt | 2023 Outdoor Education Student Leaders 

Student Voice

This year has been a busy year for our Young Farmers with looking after two calves, Farm Fun Day and helping on Open Days. In Term 2, we were lucky enough to help raise two dairy calves which we named Buckle and Belle. The Young Farmers who were involved in this amazing experience had to come to school early and stay back late to bottle feed Buckle and Belle. We took turns in making the milk, feeding the calves and cleaning their pen. We all loved having cows at School and being involved in caring for them. We all learnt so much about the dairy industry and how to keep Buckle and Belle happy and healthy. I know I speak for everyone when I say we were very sad to see them go but we’re so grateful for this experience.

Over the year we have had multiple events such as Open Day and the Twilight Tours where the Young Farmers volunteered to take groups of people around the farm and explain what we do in agriculture, Young Farmers and at lunch. Everyone did such a great job with this and made for a successful day.

Another one of the highlights over the year was our Farm Fun Day. This day was for the Middle School Young Farmers who had been an active part of the farm throughout the year. This day was to get to know each other better, have some fun and give back to the farm. The day was packed with fun activities such as a scavenger hunt, trivia, painting veggie boxes, helping with injured sheep and cooking our lunch on the fire. The day was so much fun for everyone involved and the activities were a huge success especially the veggie box painting. I don’t know what we were expecting with the veggie boxes but the quality of everyone’s work is absolutely amazing and we were blown away by the talent of our Young Farmer’s.

This year has been so much fun and we can’t wait for all of the exciting things to come for next year!

Ella O’Meara and Charlotte Davies | Young Farmers Student Leaders

Wellbeing Matters

Gambling and Young People

The digital era has made gambling more accessible, and certain factors are elevating the risk of problematic gambling among young people. A new grey area is emerging, with smartphones at their fingertips blurring the boundaries between gambling and entertainment, especially within the realms of video games and social media. The current generation of young people are growing up in an unprecedented time and research highlights that a significant percentage of adolescents are involved in gambling activities.

Reports of young people gambling are frequent with many experiencing adverse consequences such as diminished academic performance and strained relationships. Today’s youth are growing up in a digital age characterised by constant connectivity, and the gambling industry has evolved significantly during their formative years. Simulated gambling, such as in video games, can further increase the likelihood of teenagers transitioning to real-money gambling and developing future gambling-related problems.

It’s crucial to foster open discussions about positive media choices to help children navigate through responsible online gaming and gambling. By encouraging a balanced approach to screen time and promoting alternative activities, will help set some clear boundaries to avoid potential gambling-related issues.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to empower young people to make responsible choices in this digital age. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

Here is the link to your special report https://tintern.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-gambling-young-people-au.

If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking support services recommended in this report.

Oriana Constable | Assistant Principal

Curriculum Matters

Assessment, Reporting and end-of year classes

VCE examinations now have concluded, and our Years 9 to 11 students have commenced their examination period, from 21 to 24 November. We trust all students will do their best and take away as much learning as possible from the outcomes of this period.

Our ongoing portal-based Progressive Reporting system across the whole Secondary School has allowed parents of our Year 7-11 students to be able to access current data on the progress of their children in all of their academic studies at any time again this year. Through the School’s Portal interface our staff are able to provide gradings for tasks, and also include formative comments, giving feedback on the level of achievement, areas for improvement and strategies to achieve those improvements. These regular updates and more expansive feedback on individual assessments have kept parents of our Secondary School students better informed of their child’s progress throughout 2023 and provided occasions for more timely and useful reflections, regular conversations and opportunities for goal setting between parents, students and staff. The Secondary School end-of-semester reports will be a composite of these Progressive Reporting Assessment Tasks (PRATs), with the aforementioned gradings and comments, alongside gradings for behavioural indicators. These behavioural indicators often correlate with academic progress, such that a student who has high level behaviours often is achieving to the best of their ability in their various classes, whereas we find that students with weaker self-discipline, habits and behaviours do not always reach their full potential in class.

Monday 27 November is a non-school day for Year 7 to 11 students, allowing staff time to correct exams and tests and to write reports. Year 9 students and accompanying staff also head off on their Summer Expeditions on this day.

Tuesday 28 November is Exam Handback Day for Years 10 and 11, whilst Years 8 and 9 resume normal classes during that week. Wednesday 29 November to Friday 1 December, our current Year 10 and 11 students will be involved in their 2024 Conferences.

Monday 4 December is the commencement of our Transition period into the 2024 timetable for students currently in Years 7 to 11.

Some subjects (particularly VCE subjects) will commence a unit of 2024 work during the Transition period whilst others will consolidate units of work and prepare for next level studies. It is, therefore, imperative that students attend and continue to maintain their focus for this period immediately after the examination/testing sessions. All students in Years 7 to 11 will continue with their transition classes through to the last day of term, Monday 11 December.

I wish you all a happy and safe holiday break.

Alison Bezaire | Director of Studies

Faith Matters

As we journey towards Christmas, with so much of 2023 behind us, and uncertainty about the future before us, the question comes, how do we find peace? Make peace? Promote peace?

Our School Prayer the Prayer of St Francis speaks of us becoming ‘instruments of peace’. And the prayer goes on to speak of ‘grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand’. 

When we understand people and their actions, we come closer to them and also closer to actively promoting peace in our communities.

Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, ‘Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding’. And Marie Curie, quoted a saying, ‘Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so we may fear less.’ If the opposite of understanding is fear, this may lead people to say and do things which are negative.

By actively seeking to understand what is unfamiliar, is movement towards peace and connectedness.

Last week Diwali was celebrated by Hindu’s across the world and as part of continuing our journey of seeking understanding and respect in the RAVE program in our Junior School, we invited Laki Vasan (the Tintern morning Receptionist) to come and share her experiences of Diwali with the Junior School students. Laki engaged the students extremely well and performed a light dance for them. This provided new insights and understanding for many students and for our Hindu students, a great point of connection.

May we continue to seek to understand what people value and why, so as to move towards peace and connectedness.

The Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Rev Alison Andrew | School Chaplain 

Music Matters

Year 8 Concert

On Tuesday 14 November the students of 8A, 8C and 8D all came together to put on a fabulous and varied performance for our audience of Year 7s as part of their core curricular music course. Performance is an important part of learning music, it teaches an appreciation for the art form, resilience, courage, teamwork, responsibility, independence, and commitment. On top of this, many of the students develop an understanding of the language of music, learning how to read rhythms, and notes and the very important ‘Elements of Music’ which are the basis of all that we teach in music. This is an entirely student lead performance with students playing the role of master of ceremonies, stage manager, and of course performer. Whole class items were prepared, demonstrating what they learnt from the World Music workshops from earlier in the semester as well as renditions of Mamma Mia by ABBA from 8A and Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines from 8C.  Solos, duets, trios and quartets were all presented that were initiated and rehearsed independently by the students. We had a string trio, a bansuri solo, Taylor Swift performed on solo clarinet and a vocal duet from High School Musical with back up dances just to mention a few. Students, some seasoned performers, others performing for the first time, all worked well to present a concert that exhibits the diversity, skills and joy of music making and that it is available to all of us, we just have to be courageous enough to try it.

Lisa Clarke | Head of Music

AMEB Music Exams

Another round of outstanding examination results for our Tintern musicians

Over the past few months, we have seen many of our Piano, String, Brass and Woodwind students sit AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) examinations both here at School and at the AMEB studios in Hawthorn. We have been very proud of the effort these students have put into their preparation.

Students who have achieved recent successes are:

Lavanya Ranasinghe (Year 5) Preliminary Violin

Victoria Teh (Year 5) Preliminary Piano for Leisure

Evelyn Trollope (Year 5) Preliminary Piano for Leisure

Tiaa Poh (Year 3) Grade 1 Violin & Grade 1 Piano for Leisure

Scarlett Mackie (Year 5) Grade 1 Piano for Leisure

Henry Wang (Year 5) Grade 1 Violin

William Cheng (Year 6) Grade 1 Viola

Keagan Foo (Year 5) Grade 2 Oboe

Evelyn Jiang (Year 4) Grade 2 Piano for Leisure

Brooklyn Clarke (Year 5) Grade 2 Piano for Leisure

Charlotte Robson (Year 6) Grade 2 Violin

Ryan Hoole (Year 7) Grade 2 Oboe

Senudhi Kariyawasam (Year 7) Grade 3 Cello

Shriya Suchin (Year 7) Grade 3 Violin

Elisabeth Ng (Year 9) Grade 3 Musical Theatre (Voice)

Weylen Truong (Year 7) Grade 4 Violin

Ethan Hoole (Year 10) Grade 4 Clarinet

Matilda Robson (Year 10) Grade 4 Cello

Mayah Dass (Year 8) Grade 5 Cello

Millie Blank (Year 10) Grade 5 Piano for Leisure

Brayden Mallett (Year 10) Grade 5 Violin

Liam Rosewarne (Year 11) Grade 5 Singing for Leisure

Jayden Lee (Year 11) Grade 5 Violin

Daniel Sun (Year 10) Grade 7 Oboe

Concert Choir perform for our wonderful team in the Accounts Department

The morning of 25 October was slightly drizzly and cool, but this did not deter members of the Concert Choir from trekking up towards the rose garden at lunchtime. They gathered quietly, in readiness to surprise Damien Horman and the Finance Team with a specially re-written version of ABBA’s Money, Money, Money, to thank them for their tireless efforts for our community.

And, as luck would have it, as they burst into song the sun came out!

Money, money, money. Must be funny … In the finance world
Money, money, money. Always sunny … In the finance world!

The Finance staff greatly appreciated the efforts and lovely voices of the students, and the humour and appreciation expressed in their song.

Alison Bezaire | Director of Music

Sport Matters

Tennis

We congratulate Year 8 student Ryan Jayarathna who has been selected to play in the 2023 U16 Australian Junior Tour Masters based on his achievements on the Australian Junior Tour throughout 2023. 

This tournament will be at Melbourne Park starting on 11 December. Only 24 players throughout Australia are selected, 12 players based on their Universal Tennis Ranking (UTR) and the top 12 players based on their end of year Australian Junior Tour points. Ryan’s Australian Junior Tour points have placed him 7th allowing him the incredible opportunity to play the National Masters event.  Ryan is truly a rising star in the world of Tennis, we wish him the best of luck for the tournament.

Equestrian

Some exciting news from our Friends of Equestrian about great results at the recent Interschool National Event!
Aisha – Elementary dressage on Bertone, Placed 3rd in the National Championship with some amazing dressage scores and a 2nd in one of her tests.
Mia – Show horse on Legato who had just returned from injury and placed 8th in the National Class.
Grace – Intermediate working hunter on Gentry Park Black Label who placed 12th in the National Class.
Jess – Intermediate Show Horse on Regal Type who placed 9th in the National Class

Also some fantastic results from the Geelong Royal competition – all three Tintern students qualified for Grand Nationals at Sydney Equestrian Centre in March!
Aisha on Bertone, Champion child show hunter hack
Mia on Wynara Illusion, Reserve champion – Child’s Galloway
Jess on Regal Type, Champion Childs 

Ashley Viney | Head of Sport

Performing Arts Matters

Tintern’s production of Chicago has received more accolades, this time from the Music Theatre Guild of Victora. This is statewide recognition from the independent awards body that aims to recognise excellence in non-professional Musical Theatre all across Victoria. Receiving a nomination is prestigious and we are honoured to be recognised amongst other renowned schools and theatre companies including a nomination for Production of the year!

Congratulations also goes to the following nominations:

Karl McNamara & Vince Di Mitrio for Direction

Alison Bezaire & Lisa Clarke for Musical Direction

Heidi Howard & Karl McNamara for Creative Design of the program

Ella Jones – Velma Kelly for Lead Performer in a Female Presenting Role

Liam Rosewarne – Amos Hart for Supporting Performer in a Male Presenting Role

We also received commendations for

Choreography – Vince Di Mitrio & Talia Di Mitrio

Lead Performer in a Female Presenting Role – Natasha Gillam as Roxie Heart

Minor / Cameo Role – Isabella Di Felice as Mary Sunshine

ELC News

Developing collaborative partnerships and meaningful relationships within the wider School community enhances children’s inclusion, learning and wellbeing.

One of the special things about working within a school environment is the opportunities for the ELC children to engage with the older students.

This is something that happens naturally when we move around the School. The senior students will often look out for the ELC children as we move down to the farm, waving and stopping to say hello. As we move to and from our Specialist classes, Junior School students and staff will often wave and call out to our children.

We have siblings who will drop in to say hello or engage with their brothers, sisters, and cousins through the ELC playground fence.

This however is not the extent of the interactions we have with the children in the School. There are also planned activities throughout the year.

During Term 2 and 3 we ran our ELC/Year 5 Buddy Program where the children are informally paired with older students from Year 5. They play together, create together, draw, laugh, sing and have fun. For those children going on to Tintern Prep, this is a great way to begin building relationships with those in the Junior School.

This year we were also lucky enough to have the Science Leaders come down and run some exciting science experiments for us to watch and engage in during our Science Week. The ELC children were in awe of their knowledge and expertise.

The Fantastic Friends program in the Girls’ Junior School was extended to the ELC children. The Fantastic Friends came down to the ELC over several weeks to lend a helping hand and to play with the children.

We also have had a mini concert with a Senior School String Orchestra which was held in our beautiful foyer. The children were thrilled to listen to the wonderful sounds that came out of the instruments, listening to the songs, and joining together with the orchestra to sing some favourite Christmas songs.

And it doesn’t end there. We are still looking forward to a Senior School Choir coming down to the ELC to sing some Christmas carols with us towards the end of this year.

All these opportunities are a wonderful way for the children to engage with older students and truly feel part of the Tintern Grammar wider community.

Kristin De Vos | Director of the Early Learning Centre

Girls’ Junior School News

Wheelchair AFL

On 3 November the Years 5 and Year 6 students were lucky to attend the Wheelchair AFL National Championships. They were able to watch and support the different States teams and learn the rules of the game. Each student was also able to participate in a variety of activities which allowed them to try moving in a wheelchair, small-sided games, vision impaired football and finish with a question and answer session with the athletes. This was an incredible opportunity for them to gain knowledge of disability in sport and an appreciation of the developments of inclusion in sport.

Regional Hooptime

On 11 November, nine students qualified for the Regional Hooptime Tournament at the State Basketball Stadium. The games were extremely competitive and challenging, with fast ‘man-on-man’ plays in offense and strong defensive pressure down the court. With great ball handling, smart passing skills, accurate shooting and by sticking tight on our opposition, Tintern Turkeys qualified for the finals. A nail-biting grand final led Tintern to be victorious and now qualify for the Hooptime State Championships in early December. An enormous congratulations to all those who took part in the event and represented Tintern so fiercely.

Pyjama Days

Prep Pyjama Day

Prep girls thoroughly enjoyed their fun-filled Pyjama Day!

We began the day with the delightful story of The Very Sleepy Pig who had a LOT of trouble waking up in the morning until he discovered the joys of early rising – leading to a valuable discussion on the merits of going to bed early! Next, the girls designed a pair of truly wonderful pyjamas. The Year 6 buddies popped in to read a bedtime story they had chosen from the Library to read to each of their buddies. Preps LOVE their buddy visits!

Ten In the Bed was sung with gusto and set the scene for a ‘number words to ten’ Maths activity. Fine motor skill fun followed with making a playdough bed for a miniature teddy, complete with playdough spelling of course!

Some super fun food craft – a mix of healthy and treat foods, and a delicious afternoon tea were all greatly enjoyed before snuggling down with a pillow and soft toy for a movie about the adventures of Little Bear, about making new friends and the importance of family. A very special treat to finish a very special day before heading home at 5:00pm was without doubt the ice cream van visit!

Mary Whitcher | Prep A Teacher

Year 1 Pyjama Day

Arriving at school in our pyjamas was certainly a treat! It was such a fun way to start the day. Every year, as a special treat, the Year 1A Girls have a Pyjama Day. What a wonderful mix of colour and excitement we had in showing off our fabulous PJ Outfits. Throughout the day we had some great fun designing our own teddy bears, writing our own bedtime stories, completing a wordfind and creating our own PJ Profile.

But the highlight of course was staying after school. Once the bell went, we could change into our slippers and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. We ate some fruit, completed some crafts, watched some stories on the screen and the absolute highlight was a visit from Mr. Whippy and his ice-cream van. We could choose a vanilla ice-cream with either sprinkles or chocolate topping – yum!

With so many fun parts to our PJ Day, we didn’t get a chance to make our tea-cup biscuits. As a bonus we had a carry-over session of fun where we had time to build our teacups. They looked lovely and delicious as we stared at them as we had to wait until after school when we were allowed to eat them!

A memorable and fun day was had by all.

Miranda Price | Year 1A Class Teacher

Boys’ Junior School News

Our last few weeks in our Boys’ Junior School have seen a variety of rich and fun activities.

We have seen the culmination of our Prep-2 swimming program with a fun swimming morning, our Years 3 – 5 students enjoyed camps promoting independence, responsibility and mateship at Camp Adanac and Phillip Island respectively.

Our Year 2 Dads and Lads evening once again was a huge success and saw dads v lads at ten pin bowling and laser tag.

We were delighted to welcome our 2024 Preps into our Junior School for their first of three Orientations.

Our Hoop Time basketball team progressed to the State Finals and we were thrilled to be a part of the AFL Wheelchairs National Championships.

On Monday ten of our Year 5 boys presented their School Captain applicant speeches in Assembly; all reflected compassion, maturity and strong character.

With less than three school weeks to go, preparations are well underway for our annual Prep-2 Family Beach day, our Year 6 Celebration Dinner, Years 3-6 Speech Night and Prep-2 family Christmas Morning.

There is a strong sense of excitement as we sail ahead, yet also a touch of sadness as we prepare to farewell what has been another wonderful year in our Boys’ Junior School.

Adam Kenny | Head of Boys’ Junior School

Secondary News

It’s hard to believe that we are very much near the end of the school year for 2023. It seems only yesterday that we were welcoming our Year 7s to the School and sending them on their first camp to the Mornington Peninsula. As a year level, they have made a wonderful start to their Secondary journey and already demonstrated a high level of enthusiasm and commitment to the School and their learning journey. For many of them, the thought of Year 12 examinations may only be a dream, but when speaking to our current Year 12s and families, the time really does pass quickly.

Over the last month our Year 12 students have been completing their Unit 3 – 4 examinations with the guidance and support of their teachers and staff. These examinations are the culmination of a year’s work and range from a three-hour English written assessments to practical examinations for subjects such as Drama, Language and Music. It has been great to see the way they have approached not just these examinations, but more so the entire year, including School Assessed Coursework (SACs), subject lessons and revision/reinforcement at home. At the beginning of the year, we set up one-on-one coaching for students to help them work to achieving their goals for 2023 and it has been really positive to watch this unfold throughout the year. Their results will be made available early in December and we look forward to continuing to support our students through this phase and into the next chapter of their lives.

Our Years 10 and 11 students are currently preparing for their end of semester examinations which begin on Monday 20 November, with our Year 9 students beginning their examinations on Thursday 23 November. Having examinations for our Years 9 – 11 students is an important part of their learning journey as it allows them experiences that help them to better understand methods and techniques that are best for their own learning in preparation for when they are sitting Unit 3 – 4 examinations in the years to come. Our Years 7 and 8 students will continue to have their ongoing Progressive Reporting and Assessment Tasks (PRATs) as normal, including end of year tests in certain subjects like Mathematics.

Before the end of the school year, we will move into our Transition timetable which is where we move all students into their 2024 classes. This begins on Monday 4 December and runs until the last day of timetabled classes which is Monday 11 December. All current Years 7 – 11 students will have timetabled classes up until (and including) Monday 11 December.

There have been a number of exciting events over the last few weeks including our Year 10 Social held at the Chirnside Country Club, where as a cohort they enjoy a formal dinner and an opportunity to dance and have some fun together. It was a wonderful evening with our students displaying a high level of maturity and a sense of fun. They were a real credit to the School.

At a recent assembly we introduced our Indigenous Immersion Experience to far Northern Queensland next year in the July holidays. This trip, run by Red Earth, is an amazing opportunity for 2024, Years 9 – 12 students to be immersed into our indigenous culture and history including land use and management, food, medicine, song and dance, and so much more. It promises to be an incredible trip and experience for all participants. Click here to find out more.

Our current World Challenge students are busily preparing for their Cambodian experience later this year, which much like the Red Earth trip above, provides these students with a life-changing experience. They will immerse themselves into the country of Cambodia, be exposed to the amazing history and food, as well as connect closely with local communities and other school aged children. We look forward to hearing of their experiences when they return later this year. Photographed here are a couple of team building events that happened recently.

As we near the end of the year, I’d like to remind all families that we begin our 2024 timetable on Monday 4 December, and the last day for all students is Monday December 11.

Brett Trollope | Head of Secondary

Our feature image is the Unit 2 Geography students who have spent the last two days travelling the Great Ocean Road with Mrs Baulch and Mr O’Brien studying the sustainability of tourism. Such great weather to see the mysteries of Australia’s Shipwreck coast.  

Indigenous Immersion

As part of Tintern’s commitment to reconciliation, we’ve joined hands with Red Earth to provide our students with an unforgettable experience. The Indigenous Immersion program to Cape York and The Great Barrier Reef is open to students in Years 9-12 in 2024. This opportunity promises to be a transformative experience, allowing students to engage with Indigenous communities and gain invaluable insights into their rich culture through lived experiences.

The program is scheduled for the holiday break next year, running from the 23 June to the 1 July. Students will explore remote local communities and spend time with the families residing there. They’ll have the chance to delve into the lands, absorb the stories, and actively participate in service – a link to our motto ‘deeds, not words’. The trip ends with a day spent together at the Great Barrier Reef where students will go snorkelling. They will also learn about the Indigenous significance of this area. Many of my friends from different schools have also partnered with Red Earth, and their sentiments echo the same: it truly is a remarkable experience!

Please take a moment to review the Red Earth brochure, which provides additional information about the itinerary and program details. There’s also a recorded link for the parent information session available.

Immersion Program Outline 2024

View the Parent Information Session 

If you’re interested in attending, please contact me at wfogarty@tintern.vic.edu.au by Monday, 27 November.

Community News

Principal’s Thank You Night 2023 – Save the Date – Thursday 30 November 2023

We greatly appreciate the support of our volunteers, who have given their time and expertise to help make the many Community events held throughout the year so amazing.

We invite everyone in our community to Save the Date for our Principal’s  Volunteer Thank You night on Thursday 30 November at 7pm, where we celebrate and acknowledge our incredible volunteers over drinks and canapés.

Please register your attendance here before Friday 24 November: https://events.humanitix.com/principal-s-thank-you-night

FOM Munch with the Musos- All Tables Sold out!

Save the date, Sunday 26 November for the 2023 FOM Munch with the Musos.
Start to dust off your Christmas finery (reindeer ears, Santa hats and tinselly halos welcome) and be ready to come along to the CM Wood Centre at 10am on Sunday 26 November for the Mammoth Musically Momentous occasion aptly named the Friends of Music “Munch with the Musos”! Watch the school’s socials for further details.

Tintern Parent Group Wet Bags are back!

These are a Tintern Parent Group initiative and a great option especially with summer fast approaching. Simply roll down the top closure and close the snap lock for a waterproof seal.
Made from robust laminated nylon grid cloth, with heat-sealed waterproof seams.

Attached is a flyer regarding Wet/Dry bags now back available to be purchased on Humanitix at the following link below.

https://events.humanitix.com/wet-dry-bags

Once the bags have been purchased, they can be collected from the Uniform Shop during normal Uniform Shop open hours.

Join Our Parent and Friends Group – Building A Stronger School Community Together!

Are you passionate about enhancing your child’s educational experience while fostering a vibrant school community? Look no further! Our Parent and Friends Groups are calling all enthusiastic parents, guardians, and friends to join our mission of creating a supportive, inclusive, and inspiring environment for our children.

Tintern Parent Group (TPG) – The TPG, formerly The Tintern Association was founded in 1906 and continues to support the school in providing a positive school experience for students and families. Most recently they have organised events such as the Trivia Night and the Community Fun Day, along with fundraising activities including the Mango Drive, Frank Green and Picture Plates. There is opportunity to forge meaningful friendships, share experiences, and create lasting memories while making a real difference in the lives of our children. To join or find out more please email parentgroup@tintern.vic.edu.au

Friends of Music (FOM) – FOM provide support and encouragement to our Music students, and Music Department. FOM volunteers perform the vital role of fundraising, as well as generously devoting their time and energy to ensure the success of a variety of musical productions and events featuring Tintern Grammar music students. The group host a range of special events each year, including Jazz Nights and ‘Munch with the Musos’. No special abilities are needed, apart from a willingness to become involved and help support our young musicians with their endeavours. To join or find out more please email fom@tintern.vic.edu.au

Friends of Equestrian (FOE) – FOE is an enthusiastic, friendly and welcoming group, formed to support students and families to pursue their love of horse riding and equestrian sports. Every year, Friends of Equestrian members organise a number of activities to give young riders opportunities to develop and further their skills. These events include clinics and training days with high quality instructors.

FOE members play a vital part in organising the Tintern Grammar Victorian Interschool Horse Trials. This major event regularly attracts around 250 competitors from over 50 Victorian schools and relies heavily on volunteer support. To join or find out more please contact foe@tintern.vic.edu.au.

Friends of Young Farmers (FOYF) – Following a short break, we are now looking for new members to reinvigorate our FOYF group. FOYF was established in 2012 to support the Young Farmers in their endeavours. Over recent years the farm and its programs have seen considerable change and we are now ready to reinstate the FOYF group to establish new goals to support, not only the Young Farmers but the Tinternwood farm in general. To find out more please contact communityrelations@tintern.vic.edu.au.

Friends of Snowsports (FOS) – This small, but enthusiastic group are hoping to grow in numbers for 2024. Their current aim is to support and encourage Tintern students’ participation in Snowsports. To find out more please contact communityrelations@tintern.vic.edu.au .

Join us in making our school an even more enriching and enjoyable place for our children. Your unique skills and perspectives are invaluable. Together, we can create a brighter future for the entire school community. We can’t wait to welcome you to our Parent and Friends groups.

Parent Representatives 2024

Thank you to the many parents and guardians who have volunteered to act as the Parent Representatives for their Class or Year Level in 2023.

We are now seeking interest for 2024.

Parent Representatives are a liaison between parents/guardians and the School. Informing parents about activities planned either by Tintern, our community groups or within the class or year level, such as social gatherings, fundraisers or events. We greatly appreciate the time and commitment given by our Parent Reps. Parent Reps also organise class or year level functions to provide parents with the opportunity of meeting and socialising in a relaxed atmosphere. It is a great opportunity for class groups to connect, while supporting our local community cafes and restaurants. Year levels and classes can have one or many representatives, many hands make light work.

If you would like to continue in the role for 2024 or are interested to find out more, please contact the Community Relations Office on 9845 7893 or by email to communityrelations@tintern.vic.edu.au. 

TPG Mango Drive

Thank you to the TPG and all the volunteers for all their time organising this year’s Mango Drive.

It was a huge success once again and we all appreciate it all the hard work and effort made in getting this all arranged. 

Footy Tipping Competition – AFLW Competition

Thank you to everyone who tipped in our 2022 AFLW Footy Tipping competition! 

We will be back next year.

Alumni News

Thank you to all our past students who celebrated their Reunion with us at the Reunion Festival in November.

Spring Luncheon

We would like to thank the Tintern Community for joining us at the Tintern Spring Luncheon on 16 November.

What a wonderful event!

We were warmly welcomed at The Farm – Yarra Valley and enjoyed delicious food, great company and amazing door prizes.!

We would like to also thank our supporters:

The Farm – Yarra Valley

Rob Doolan Wines

Mary Eats Cake

Canterbury Road Flower Gallery

Willow and Jackson Cafe. 

View more photos of the event