Welcome

Managing the unmanageable (and I don’t mean COVID!), and what do we really focus on when things get difficult?

I am submitting this writing on Tuesday 27 February, and in contrast to its content, I am intensely aware of the fire challenges of today, Wednesday 28 February, shaping as an extremely dangerous day for many of our more outlying families and lots of other Victorians. Our fingers are crossed for them and our thoughts and prayers with them all as together we navigate this day of anticipated extremely high temperatures and strong winds, sadly in the context of so many fires burning in our state already.

During my second last week of leave in February, I awoke very early on a Tuesday morning in Munich to a European media report of a day of wild weather in Melbourne, presented mostly as a continuation of the equally unusual weather further north that had been a regular item since the New Year. Moving on to Australian news sites it became clear that it was a very significant weather event indeed and when I looked at my work email, there was a flurry of messages over the course of that day (it was about 4 pm in Melbourne) from the Acting Principal and various Heads of Schools to staff about ensuring student and staff safety, indoor recess, wind warnings for Secondary students, changes to sport, and much more all indicating a much more significant storm than the European media had represented.

I then had a conference call with our Acting Principal, Mr McManus, and later also with our Assistant Principal, Ms Oriana Constable, both as a briefing and also to give me an opportunity to give input to judgement and decisions around the criteria for shutting the School for the following day (or not), for re-opening the School, and for managing the inevitable clean up. It was clear we had been very affected by the storm and this would continue for at least the next 24 hours. I struggle to think of a time I have felt so powerless to help, and so distanced from the knowledge and understanding of a situation. But I was also buoyed by my confidence in the team who convened to manage this crisis.

In a situation like this, key decisions revolve around what is adjudged to be profoundly important and how to prioritise those things. From my distance, it was clear that the philosophy we had adopted early in COVID was activated almost identically. A large group of staff was convened, led by Executive and Senior staff, with staff from every section of the School. This Emergency Management Group again came together at very short notice and collaborated on the judgement and decision-making that set our weather response, as they had in 2020 and through 2021.

In the lead up to the first COVID lockdowns, we made a particular point of deciding what was going to be our strategic focus, as it was clear we could not do everything as we would have wanted to. At that point we committed to prioritising the wellbeing of our community as number one, followed just behind by the best possible online delivery of education we could manage. In listening to Mr McManus and Ms Constable, it was clear that the focus again was about what was best and safest for our community, along with how to maximise the learning and growth of students.

When it was apparent we would not have power the following day, and so there would be no light or heat, and particularly no emergency communications, the decision to close the campus was not a difficult one. If we had conducted school and had any further power event, or safety issue on campus, we would not have been able to conduct an evacuation or a lockdown, nor contact all students to inform them. So, our priority was keeping people safe by keeping them away from the campus.

From there we looked to what meaningful learning and activity we could give students who did have email access, or whose parents did. It was an opportunity for enrichment activities and variation from Australian Curriculum. Again, like during the pandemic, our staff were amazing! There was the creation of interesting and cross-curricular activities, there was the delivery (using a number of delivery modes!) of worksheets and resources as best could be managed, to keep students older and younger learning and engaged.

Families without power, or without internet must have found the one to four days of restriction incredibly frustrating, and I know both that staff empathised with them and they were front of mind for the Executive staff too. Our youngest students, similarly, would have found the ‘no school’ day very frustrating, despite the best efforts of staff.

So, what do we take out of a day like that Wednesday, and the work that parents, students, staff and Executive do to support our students? Firstly, we have an amazing team (whether it includes the Principal or not), whether it is across the academic, wellbeing, facilities, administration or leadership domains and they both prioritise and are very well versed in, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students and colleagues.

But what I would see as more important is that their priority is always our students and our community, the things that surely should be the ‘why’ of our existence. As shown by that week of weather (but hopefully not by the weather of  Wednesday 28 February) they are the values that guide our thinking and our decision-making; our priorities are always our students, our staff, and our community.

factis non verbis

Bradley Fry | Principal

Student Voice – School Captains

The leadership team is glad to have had a strong start to the year, tackling new challenges and learning a lot in the process. It’s amazing to see the progress we’ve made since stepping into our roles, not only as a school but as a team.

Late last year, our first few assemblies saw us learning the ropes and introducing ourselves to the school. Much to our embarrassment, upon entering as the official party for the first time we all sat down in our seats too early, likely due to our nerves and excitement. While at first, we were panicked and disappointed at our mistake, it ended up serving as a symbolic reminder that our journey isn’t always going to be perfect, and that’s okay. Besides, it’s doubtful that any of the audience even noticed. We later found out that the 2023 team had made the exact same slip up. From that moment and many others, we’ve learnt that there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes in the team than people realise, and that it’s completely inevitable to make minor errors. With this in mind, we’ve been able to move forward going easier on ourselves, not setting completely unrealistic standards.

Our first initiative as a team was Christmas week, where we organised Santa photos with Mr Kenny, a colouring competition, a sausage sizzle and much more to spread the Christmas spirit as the year came to a close. In the new year, the whole team returned to school during the holidays to film our highly anticipated introduction video. After hours of dedicated work and creativity, our Baywatch inspired video was produced. It was a great hit in the first assembly back (at least it was for us, enjoying ourselves perhaps more than the audience as the video played). Most recently we celebrated Valentine’s Day in the Senior College. Lovely decorations, roses and chocolates being delivered to classrooms, and high-energy serenades came together to make the day a huge success.

Through all this we’ve really enjoyed finding our groove as a team and taking on the challenge of balancing Year 12 life with our new responsibilities. While it’s been a lot to adjust to, we’re making the most of every minute. The whole team has become good friends, and we’re loving the collaborative and supportive culture we’ve built so far.

In terms of what we have coming up, we’re very much looking forward to the Colour Run at the end of this term. Christmas Week and Valentine’s Day gave us the chance to learn what works and what doesn’t when planning events, so we’re moving forward with some good experience to help things run smoothly in future. Many members of the team are also heavily involved in our upcoming musical, The Addams Family. With tickets selling fast, we’re super excited to bring the show to life on the Karralyka stage in March.

We can’t wait to see what the rest of the year holds; we’re still overwhelmed with gratitude and pride to have been appointed as the School Captains, and already we’ve both experienced heaps of learning and growth from the opportunity.

Scarlett O’Connor and Ollie Hunt | School Captains 2024

Student Voice – International Student Captain

2024 has kicked off with the Leadership team bustling with activity. In my roles as a School Leader and the International Captain, I have found myself in a position to inspire others, leading and supporting initiatives aimed at driving meaningful change.

To me, being an International Captain means that I could better cater for the needs of international students and support them in their journey at Tintern. In my own journey at Tintern, I had overcome the language barrier when I first came to Australia with the endless support of the teachers and my peers at Tintern. The warm, caring environment has also enabled me to discover new opportunities in the areas of music and mathematics, and find people who share many interests as me, creating some of the most invaluable memories which I have. Having such experience myself, I believe that it is crucial for each individual at Tintern to feel warmth and a sense of belonging at the school, and for the new students, make a smooth transit into a brand-new environment, especially for those who have a different background or culture.

One of the ways for fostering this sense of warmth was to celebrate special events from various cultures. To exemplify, this year for Lunar New Year the Senior College was filled with festive flair with decorations such as lanterns and banners, as these carry the meaning of good fortune and prosperity for the Asian cultures. Furthermore, the festive vibe was further enhanced by an assembly presentation which informed students about traditions of the event, as well as a celebration event which involved handing out food from the Chinese culture and playing music in Chinese language during a Friday lunchtime. This not only promotes cultural diversity at the School, but also holds significance for the students who belong to the Asian culture as it provides them with an opportunity to share and celebrate these traditions with their peers.

Along with the ongoing support for the international students, another aspect which I and the rest of the leadership team would like to focus on is to enrich school life for each student at Tintern by running lots of exciting events. So far events such as Christmas Week and Valentine’s Day were run with a great level of success, and we hope to make more exciting events happen in the coming weeks.

I hope to create more positive impacts to our School community with the leadership team and can’t wait for the exciting year ahead of us!

Hailun (Helen) Yang | International Student Captain 2024

Faith Matters

This year it is my great pleasure to welcome three new Faith Captains, Tony Mo, Darcy Kelly and Joanne Chang.

Having Faith Captains at Tintern is a new (2023) role and I am really impressed with the leadership and dedication of the students.

Here is a short introduction from Tony Mo:

My name is Tony Mo, I live a little over six minutes from the School with my mum, dad and two cats. I’ve been at Tintern since 2019 as a year 7. I see the position of Faith Captain not only as an avenue to gain valuable skills in public speaking but also as a way to give back to this school in my final year. Confidence is very important to the role. When the smallest group sizes you speak to are at least 300 students, it is critical to maintain composure and to speak with confidence even if one is nervous when engaging the audience in matters of faith.

I am very appreciative of these students taking up the challenge and am looking forward to the year ahead working with them.

Rev Alison Andrew | School Chaplain

Curriculum Matters

Coaching our VCE students to optimise their achievements in 2024

We are committed to supporting all of our students at Tintern Grammar to reach their potential and, in particular, our VCE students to achieve the best possible outcomes from their final years of schooling. In 2023 we implemented a more focussed coaching program to maximise the growth of our VCE students, in both academic learning and development of broader personal and social capabilities, so they could better move to their desired future pathway successfully.

The Year 12 Coaching Program continues this year with all Year 12 students gathering recently at an introductory assembly where this year’s program was outlined. This was followed up with a goal setting survey, which probed areas students felt needed improvement in their approach to their VCE studies and sought possible seeds of action planning. Just last week, Year 12s met again to confirm their goals and action plans, under the guidance of their Pastoral Mentors and members of Senior Management, who had one-on-one conversations with the students to tease out the details of the steps they plan to take to achieve their goals. All Year 12s posted their goals and action plan in their ePortfolio on the portal and there will be regular check-ins by the Pastoral Mentors to gauge how they are tracking with their plans. Parents are invited to review these goals with their children and discuss ways in which they can support their child’s studies throughout this year. We trust that this will be a motivating process that fosters independence and enables optimal growth.

For some students, the goals they set might be around developing skills for the workforce, or for application to courses requiring interview, audition, or folio presentation. For others, academic achievement in their studies to enable an ATAR entry into tertiary courses will be the focus. We aim to work with each student to make these goals a reality.

NAPLAN

 NAPLAN testing for our students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will commence on 13 March. Last year, parents and carers received earlier, simpler and clearer information about their child’s NAPLAN achievement based on new national standards.

Education ministers had agreed to change the way NAPLAN results are reported to parents and carers, now that all students are taking the tests online, and with the move to an earlier NAPLAN in March. New proficiency standards with 4 levels of achievement for each year level will replace the previous 10-band structure that covered all 4 levels tested and the old national minimum standard set in 2008 when tests were on paper.

Resetting the measurement scale and restarting the time series once all schools are online was a recommendation of the 2020 Independent Review of NAPLAN. NAPLAN continues to measure student achievement in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation. The new proficiency standard will be included on all NAPLAN reports.

The numerical NAPLAN bands and the national minimum standard will be replaced by the following 4 levels of achievement:

• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs additional

The descriptors for each category will make it clear to parents which level their child’s literacy and numeracy skills are sitting at the time of NAPLAN testing,  and will support discussions with our teaching staff on their child’s progress.

Student Progress Meetings across all schools

Dates for your diary: Student Progress Meetings for Years 7-12 will be conducted this term on Wednesday 13 March (online from 4.00 – 8.00pm), Monday 18 March (onsite from 4.00 – 8.00pm), and Thursday 28 March (online from 9.00am – 4.00pm). 

ELC and JS Student Progress Meetings will be conducted on Thursday 21 March (onsite from 3.30 – 6.00pm) and Thursday 28 March (online from 9.00am – 4.00pm). Further information regarding making bookings for these meetings will be forthcoming closer to the time.

Alison Bezaire | Director of Studies

Wellbeing

Welcome to The Resilience Project at Tintern Grammar for 2024!

In 2024, Tintern Grammar celebrates its seventh year of implementing The Resilience Project (TRP) since it started in the Middle School in 2018. The program has been gradually integrated in secondary pastoral classes, with special programs created to meet specific needs. This year marks the first time we will see students who have experienced TRP throughout their Tintern educational journey. It is wonderful to know our community prioritises care for each other and fosters resilience through our teachers, students and families embodying TRP’s core values of gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness in their daily lives.

At the end of 2023, the school reviewed student data on learning readiness and wellbeing, which has been monitored since TRP began at Tintern. Despite challenges like the Covid outbreak in 2019, there has been a noticeable improvement in students’ eagerness to learn and participation in extracurricular activities. Although increased engagement boosts confidence and strengthens relationships, more importantly it enhances learning outcomes as each students’ aptitude is expanded within these diverse environments. This has prompted a shift in our pastoral program for 2024 to better serve the evolving needs of our students, moving our focus to the Tintern Compass learner dispositions and traits.

Tintern Grammar secondary pastoral program incorporating TRP

Students in Years 8-12 will begin the year in their 2024 pastoral classes with the foundations of TRP’s strategies helping students to adapt to change and adversity, something we know can affect individual wellbeing at any age. We also know that the first year of secondary schooling is one of the biggest challenges faced by teens as they are presented with a barrage of social, emotional, physical, and intellectual changes typically in an unfamiliar setting. The upside of this otherwise perfect storm is the window of opportunity we have to lay foundations and ideas that become refined and perfected in future years. For this reason, TRP will be delivered as a unit within the Year 7 pastoral program in 2024. Information about the pastoral programs for Years 8-12 will be communicated with secondary families.

How does this help you at home?

We respect that as your child’s primary carer, you have an essential role to play in building positive mental health with your children. To support pastoral program delivery in the classroom, TRP still have a great range of parent/carer resources available through the Tintern Portal to support you when questions come out of the blue. You may like to start by expanding on content covered in earlier years or current pastoral sessions, investigating GEM themes via activities from the TRP@HOME page. Parents of students in Year 7, your child may bring home a worksheet from topics they have discussed in a pastoral class. These can be great discussion points when preparing or enjoying dinner as a family.

For all Tintern families, a great resource at your fingertips could be The IMPERFECTS podcasts – especially if you need help RIGHT NOW! These award-winning (#1 Podcast in Australia at the moment!) allow personal and parenting reflection, as well as discussing approaches where other solutions have failed. Tintern will also offer a range of face-to-face sessions over the year which may be of assistance to you and your friends. Stand-by to hear more about these in the near future.

We look forward to communicating more with you over the coming weeks about how Tintern Grammar will support your child’s development. In the meantime, learn more about TRP by exploring the ideas, activities and resources which bring Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM) to life through the TRP@HOME portal.

You can also email me at rinfanti@tintern.vic.edu.au if you have any questions about TRP and its integration at Tintern. The first point of contact if you have concerns relating to your child would be your Pastoral Mentor and/or Year Level Coordinator. I wish you a wonderful start to the academic year and a great Term 1 as we dive into all that is on offer.

Rebecca Infanti | The Resilience Project Coordinator

Wellbeing in the Junior School

In recent Junior School staff professional development sessions, we delved into the significance of setting expectations with input from our students. We believe that the emotional atmosphere within a school greatly influences the wellbeing of our learning community and the ability of our students to thrive. ‘The Class Charter’ serves as a collaborative tool to cultivate supportive and enriching learning environments. Crafted by the students themselves, it outlines our shared aspirations for how we interact with one another. Together, we define the kind of atmosphere we wish to foster, the behaviours that nurture that atmosphere, and the guidelines for addressing and resolving conflicts and negative emotions. Through this collaborative effort, we establish common goals and hold ourselves accountable for creating the positive climate we envision.

Another wonderful opportunity to amplify student voices in our Junior School is through our Student Representative Council. This provides a valuable platform for students to share their thoughts and ideas, as well as those of their peers. It’s a space that underscores the importance of active engagement within our community. Moreover, participating in the Student Representative Councils helps cultivate leadership qualities among students. Our sessions are divided into P-2 and 3-6, allowing students to collaborate in a co-ed environment. Representatives hold class meetings the week prior to an SRC meeting to discuss what’s working well and areas for improvement, bringing these insights to the SRC for further discussion. Last year’s SRC witnessed some remarkable achievements, including the implementation of a new bin system, the organisation of special events like the Ninja Warrior competition, and the introduction of the highly anticipated Gaga Pit to our playground.

Within our classrooms, we emphasise the significance of understanding and regulating our emotions. In the GJS’ and BJS’, we employ Marc Brackett’s ‘Mood Meter’ and The Zones of Regulation model, respectively, to enhance the emotional literacy of our students. Brackett’s RULER approach serves as a guiding framework for staff to prioritise the well-being of our students. RULER, which stands for Recognizing, Understanding, Labelling, Expressing, and Regulating, encapsulates the five essential skills of emotional intelligence. This approach aids students in recognising the value of emotions, honing emotional intelligence skills, and fostering a positive school climate.

‘Most of us are unaware of how important vocabulary is to emotion skills. As we’ve seen, using many different words implies valuable distinctions—that we’re not always simply angry but are sometimes annoyed, irritated, frustrated, disgusted, aggravated, and so on. If we can’t discern the difference, it suggests that we can’t understand it either. It’s the difference between a rich emotional life and an impoverished one. Your child will inherit the one you provide’   Marc Brackett, Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive

Miranda Price | Junior School Wellbeing Leader

Will Fogarty | Junior School Wellbeing Leader

Welcome, from the Tintern School Nurses ~ 2024.                                 

Health and wellbeing are of upmost importance at Tintern, and this is provided by our School Nurses Kylie MacDonald and Maree Morphett.  We are both Registered Nurses and are based at Middle School / Senior College, and we also provide support to our Junior School community.  

We wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some information about our department.  We offer all aspects of care to our students and school community from physical, emotional and medical conditions.  Across the school year we facilitate different health service and promotional days, the main one being our school immunisation program for Years 7 and 10 students through Maroondah Council. This will be conducted in May on campus – more information will be shared closer to the time.

For camps and excursions, we work closely with organisers to ensure that the health care needs of all students are catered for when they are off campus.  We would ask that all students with health care plans; Anaphylaxis, Asthma and allergies and the associated medications are kept up to date.  A friendly reminder will be sent home as these documents are due for review, please provide these in a timely manner.  It is a great idea to check your child’s medical details on the Tintern Portal occasionally to check all is up to date.

We are fortunate to work closely with our Counsellors, Natalie and Ewa, Year Level Co-ordinators and teachers, in order to provide a holistic approach for all students.

Visit the Tintern First Aid page on the portal.  Here you will find details on Anaphylaxis and Asthma, as well as our ‘Nut Awareness’ policy and what you can do help keep our students with allergies and Anaphylaxis safe while at school.  https://portal.tintern.vic.edu.au/homepage/13055

If you have any health care concerns or updates for your child this can be done so through the Tintern Portal or by getting in touch with us.  We are contactable by phone or email; 9845 7777 or via email at firstaid@tintern.vic.edu.au

Warm Regards,

Kylie & Maree

Kylie MacDonald

Maree Morphett

Tintern Grammar Counselling Team 

Student wellbeing is a whole-school priority here at Tintern Grammar.  We understand that learning and wellbeing have a correlating relationship.  Wellbeing positively influences student learning outcomes, and success in learning increases a student’s sense of wellbeing. Our focus is to create a supportive environment for every student, that enables them to achieve academic success, while also developing resilience, self-confidence and a sense of connection.

To assist with these aims, as part of our broader Wellbeing Team we have a Counselling Team which consists of Natalie Maguire and Ewa Oaten.  Natalie is a Psychologist who works with the Junior School students and Years 7, 8 and 9 female students. Natalie works two days a week (Wednesday and Thursdays).

Ewa is a Social Worker and works with the Years 7, 8 and 9 males and all of the Years 10, 11 and 12 students.  Ewa works three days a week (Monday, Tuesday and Fridays).

Natalie and Ewa provide a diverse range of activities to support the wellbeing of our School.  These include counselling and support, consultation, implementation of prevention programs, and guidance through referral processes. They provide information and psychoeducation to students, school staff, parents and carers. They work in a consultative and supportive manner with parents and carers, teachers, and external health service providers.

Students may be referred to the Counselling Team for counselling by School staff, parents, carers and other professionals (eg family doctor).  Students can also refer themselves.

If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing that you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your child’s Pastoral Mentor, Year Level Co-ordinator, or the Counselling Team counselling@tintern.vic.edu.au, nmaguire@tintern.vic.edu.au or eoaten@tintern.vic.edu.au

Ewa Oaten

Natalie Maguire

Sport Matters

Tintern Grammar House Swimming Carnival

On Tuesday 20 February, Tintern Grammar held the annual House Swimming Carnival for Years 7-12 students at the Tintern Grammar pool. On a hot and sunny day, the students participated with great enthusiasm and house spirit throughout the day. The girls’ carnival was in the morning from 8:40am -12:00pm. There was fantastic participation and house spirit from the girls and the racing was competitive for the entire day. Scores were tight throughout the carnival all day with each house changing positions throughout the carnival. The boy’s carnival commenced at 12:35pm and finished at 3:30pm. Their carnival was also very competitive throughout the day, with each house cheering on their swimmers to do their best. The participation and atmosphere were excellent throughout the carnival. The results of the carnival came down to the final event of the day, with three Houses still in contention to win the trophy. Congratulations to all the students who competed throughout the day in hot conditions.

Congratulations to the year level champions on their outstanding performances.

Year 7 Girls: Maddy Noonan

Year 7 Boys: Jayden Zheng

Year 8 Girls: Weylen Truong

Year 8 Boys: Adam Dell

Year 9 Girls: Mayah Dass

Year 9 Boys: Ethan Cheang

Year 10 Girls: Amelie Scherer

Year 10 Boys: Harry Luo

Year 11 Girls: Brooke Fennessy

Year 11 Boys: Shenghao Jin

Year 12 Girls: Zoe Leonard

Year 12 Boys: Robbie Woods

Congratulations to Mansfield/McKie who won the Girls Swimming Carnival.

1^st                        Mansfield/Mckie            1,532 Points

2^nd                       Gordon/Grant                 1,482 Points

3^rd                        Dann/Watt                       1,444 Points

4^th                        Butterss/Cross                 1,410 Points

5^th                        Somner/Stewart             1,396 Points

Congratulations to Gordon/Grant who won the Boys Swimming Carnival.

1^st                        Gordon/Grant                 1,480 Points

2^nd                       Butterss/Cross                 1,467 Points

3^rd                        Somner/Stewart             1,462 Points

4^th                        Mansfield/McKie            1,426 Points

5^th                        Dann/Watt                       1,357 Points

Overall Swimming Carnival Results:

1^st                        Gordon/Grant                 2,962 Points

2^nd                       Mansfield/McKie            2,958 Points

3^rd                        Butterss/Cross                 2,877 Points

4^th                        Somner/Stewart             2,858 Points

5^th                        Dann/Watt                       2,801 Points

Athletics 

We congratulate Year 10 student Amelie Scherer who achieved an automatic qualifying time for the 800m Athletics event for entry to the National Athletics Championships to be held in Adelaide in April.

Best of luck for the Championships!

Play Tennis in 2024 

Enrolments are open for the Tintern Grammar 2024 Tennis Program with World Class Tennis Academy Coach Simon Bantoni

To read more about the Program and enrol CLICK HERE

Snowsports

Congratulations to Matthew Wilby

We congratulate Year 11 student Matthew Wilby, who competed for Australia at the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics, recently held in Korea.  His event was Biathlon, a sport that combines the need for speed and endurance in cross-country skiing, combined with the skill of shooting a .22 rifle; after you have skied hard with an accelerated heart rate. It is considered the most physically demanding of all the winter sports. He is in the top 10% of Biathletes in Australia for shooting and only started endurance sports three years ago. Part of a small but incredibly talented Snow Sports Team at Tintern. At the Winter Youth Olympics he competed in the Men’s 12.5km Individual event, relay and Men’s 7.5 sprint.

What an amazing experience, we are proud of his grit, determination and skill. The Tintern community were cheering him on from afar.

Congratulations Jess Davis 

Another success in the snow over the school holiday break for our Tintern students. We congratulate Year 8 student Jess Davis who had been training for her three disciplines of Giant Slalom, Slalom and Super G in Northern Italy in the Dolomite Alps. Racing against girls from all over the world on 13 January, Jess won the San Giovanni, Val Di Fassa District Children’s Race in Giant Slalom (Gs) under 14 age group.  Jess had an incredible three months in Italy, the training had paid off, we recently heard the news of Jess winning a first place and second place in the beautiful town of Alpe Cermis, Cavalese Italy.  Well done Jess!

Are you a keen skier or snowboarder? Would you like to join the Tintern Snowsports Team in 2024? The Victorian Interschool Snowsports Championships is held on Mt Buller every year and being involved is a great opportunity to be part of a Tintern team in a unique sporting environment. There’s also the opportunity to create lifelong memories and friendships across the different year levels and improve fitness and co-ordination, not to mention have a lot of fun!

The dates for the Interschools in 2024 are:

Cross Country: 4 August

Ski and Snowboard: Monday 19 to 25 August, depending on age level and event

Competition experience is not necessary; the Interschools allows participants of all abilities to compete in a number of disciplines. It’s all about having fun and being part of a team. Students need to be accompanied to the Interschools by parents and there’s opportunity for parents to be involved as well. Accommodation at Mt Buller books out very early during the Interschools week, so please make sure you book your accommodation early.

Please email Kathryn Brentwood at kbrentwood@tintern.vic.edu.au for further information or to register your interest.

Congratulations to James and Laura Biggelaar

We were thrilled to hear about our students’ achievements over the school holidays. Making the most of summer, we heard about sister and brother Laura and James rising to the challenge of swimming competitions. Year 9 student Laura took on the best in open water racing in December at the Victorian Open Water Championships winning Gold! She also competed in the Portsea Classic and Victorian Age Swimming Championships.

James made the finals for Breaststroke at the Victorian Sprint Championships in January, his first State Championships.
We wish them the best of luck for their next competition the Starlight Swim. 

Equestrian

Tintern Friends of Equestrian are offering the following clinics:

Dressage will be held at Wyronga Park with Glenda Hinchcliffe on 3 April
Show Jumping will be held at Cavalli Park with Paul Brent on 3 April

Tintern FOE is paying for the cost of these clinics.
Students are requested to email Mr Viney as soon as possible if interested in attending one of the clinics.

Ash Viney | Head of Sport

Music Matters

Music Camp

Our first music camp of the year, aptly named the ‘Kickstart Music Camp’, was a great success. On Friday 23 February, students spent most of the day rehearsing and hanging out with their peers in a lively environment surrounded by music. After lunch, the musicians had a blast playing ‘Hotels’, a game that involved a lot of frantic running and laughter. The students not rehearsing following afternoon tea had the choice to watch the sitzprobe rehearsal for the Addams Family, study in the library or shoot some hoops on the basketball court. Many came to help carry the boxes of pizza over in preparation for dinner, which was surely a highlight of the camp. Once everyone was finished, the students were treated to a spectacular performance put together by the staff, which featured beautiful harmonies, frantic guitar tapping, lively solos, duets, quartets and quintets. Serving as an example of what hard work and collaboration can culminate in, the performances were greatly inspiring and entertaining.

2023 Music Camp Group Photo

On Saturday, students were once again spoilt with a delicious morning tea, a BBQ lunch and afternoon tea, as well as both a vocal workshop and an instrumental workshop focused on improvisation. Students and teachers partook in the Music Captain’s Kahoot, where they learnt fun facts about their Captains and put their musical knowledge to the test. Many groups walked away with prizes, and those who didn’t, with the motivation to win next time. The next main event of the day was the performance by the Inventi Ensemble (pictured), whose rendition of Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Scheherazade’ had the audience transfixed. The performance included narration, explaining the story behind the masterfully played music which greatly enriched the experience. The students were truly blessed to have the opportunity to watch them and, judging by the warm applause, it seemed the students enjoyed the concert a lot. All in all, the camp was a great experience and we hope that the next one will be just as good, if not better.

GW Wang | School Pianist 2024

Another round of outstanding examination results for our Tintern musicians

Late last year, we saw 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 are very proud of the effort these students have put into their preparation. Students who have achieved recent successes and received certificates at Tintern Assemblies are:

AMEB Certificates presented at Middle School Assembly

William Cheng (Year 7) Grade 1 Viola

Charlotte Robson (Year 7) Grade 2 Violin

Ryan Hoole (Year 8) Grade 2 Oboe

Shriya Suchin (Year 8) Grade 3 Violin

Senudhi Kariyawasam (Year 8) Grade 3 Cello

Audrey Leung (Year 7) Grade 3 Flute

Weylen Truong (Year 8) Grade 4 Violin

Mayah Dass (Year 9) Grade 5 Cello

AMEB Certificates presented at Secondary College Assembly

Elisabeth Ng (Year 10) Grade 3 Musical Theatre

Matilda Robson (Year 11) Grade 4 Cello

Milly Blank (Year 11) Grade 5 Piano for Leisure

Ethan Hoole (Year 11) Grade 4 Clarinet

Jacob Beard (Year 10) Grade 4 Rockschool Bass Guitar

Brayden Mallett (Year 11) Grade 5 Violin

Daniel Sun (Year 11) Grade 7 Oboe

Sebastian Humphrys (Year 10) Grade 7 Piano for Leisure

Save the Date ~ Concerto Preliminary Concert on 25 March, 7.00pm

Monday 25 March will see the culmination of many months’ work for fourteen of our most talented secondary school musicians. Commencing at 7.00pm the event will unfold with fourteen single movements from a range of concerti for clarinet, violin, viola, ‘cello, oboe and flute, all accompanied by piano. Our adjudicator then will select four works to be performed with orchestra at a showcase event on Wednesday 29 May. If you love to hear musical excellence of the highest calibre from our own student musicians, then this is one concert not to be missed. Tea, coffee and refreshments will be available on the night and the event should conclude soon by 9.00pm. Entry is free.

Richard Gill Memorial Festival of Strings and Keyboard

Our Tintern Grammar Chamber Orchestra has been invited by the Music Academy at Camberwell Grammar to participate in an exciting new festival, which celebrates the life and legacy of Richard Gill. The festival runs across three days in March and the final performance will take place on the afternoon of Sunday 24 March.

The students will be performing a grand masterpiece with a massed string orchestra. Saint-Saens’ Organ Symphony, originally scored for symphony orchestra, which is being arranged for massed strings with organ, piano, and percussion. The festival commemorates the wonderful Richard Gill OA, to whom many generations of musicians owe a debt of gratitude. He was an inspiration as a musician and educator.  

Alison Bezaire | Director of Music

Performing Arts Matters

Top Class

Top Class features high-performing students who have received outstanding grades for their VCE performance examinations. Tintern Grammar is thrilled to have five 2024 Top Class auditionees who presented their solo and monologue performances for an audition panel in late January. Selected students are invited to showcase their original and/or scripted dramatic monologues, demonstrating their imagination and originality as emerging actors and designers.

‘We continue to achieve a standard of excellence in the performing arts. It’s a great honour for Natasha, Ella, Lachlan, Alex and Emily, and for Tintern Grammar. I’m very proud of the students and would like to congratulate them for this fantastic accomplishment,’ said Head of Performing Arts, Min Quirillo.

We were so excited to have three of these five students selected for Top Class Performances. 

Congratulations to Lachlan Smith Class of 2023, who has been selected to perform at Top Class Theatre Studies. This year 95 top performing students were invited to audition for Top Class Theatre Studies, and only 25 students were selected to perform. Lachlan will be performing his 2023 Theatre Studies monologue Paradise – Philoctetes at Top Class Theatre Studies in April at the Melbourne Recital Centre. For more information and tickets visit Melbourne Recital Centre. https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/events/2024/top-class-drama-and-theatre-studies-2024/

Congratulations to Emily Stokes Class of 2024, who has been selected to perform at Top Class Theatre Studies. Emily will be performing her 2023 Theatre Studies monologue Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical – Trunchbull at Top Class Theatre Studies in April at the Melbourne Recital Centre. For more information and tickets visit Melbourne Recital Centre. https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/events/2024/top-class-drama-and-theatre-studies-2024/

Congratulations to Natasha Gillam Class of 2023, who has been selected to perform at Top Class Drama. This year 102 top performing students were invited to audition for Top Class Drama, and only 25 students were selected to perform. Natasha will be performing her 2023 Drama solo The Court Attendant at Top Class Drama in April at the Melbourne Recital Centre. For more information and tickets visit Melbourne Recital Centre: https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/events/2024/top-class-drama-and-theatre-studies-2024/

‘We’re extremely proud of Natasha’s, Lachlan’s and Emily’s achievements and excited to watch her perform at Top Class in April’,

Min Quirillo | Head of Performing Arts

ELC News

Cultures of Thinking in the ELC

When we began our Cultures of Thinking Journey a few years back, we started by looking at how we could create a culture of thinking and learning with the young learners. As an entry point, we looked at the multitude of Thinking Routines that we could use and found many Routines that we incorporated into our Group Times and discussions with the children.

Some of the Thinking Routines we used were the See Think Wonder Routine to begin our Letterland lesson, igniting conversations about what they are seeing and making connections to the letter of the week. We used the Thinking Routine, Colours, Lines and Shapes, to engage the children in dialogue about paintings to uncover how artists used different media to create images. For our Respectful Relationships Program, we unpacked emotions and regulation strategies using the Thinking Routine, Feelings and Options.

To deepen our own knowledge of thinking and learning we participated in Harvard Universities, Creating Cultures of Thinking mini course. Through this course we learnt how to engage more with Cultures of Thinking in our classrooms. This then led us into not only teaching the students how to have a cultures of thinking mindset, but the Educators too.

If we fast forward to this year, we have set ourselves a new learning lens of how Cultures of Thinking Mindsets can support our teaching and learning in the ELC. By focusing on the mindset, Learning Occurs at the point of challenge, we can dive deeper into how our teaching practices foster deep and engaged learners in the classroom. 

Claire Trappitt |Pre-Prep Teacher

Girls’ Junior School News

It was with an immense amount of pride that our students, teachers and families celebrated the Year 6 Class of 2024 at a special Leadership Induction Assembly this Term. Reflecting upon the unique journeys that brought everyone here prompted us all to consider what leadership looks like at Tintern? Here are some of our student’s thoughts on leadership:

‘Leaders aren’t defined by their skill, talent or face; it’s how much effort they put in to make the world a better place.’ (Sasha, Junior School Captain)

‘A good leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. A great leader knows that they can lead from the front, but they choose to lead and support others from the back.’ (Evelyn O, Junior School Vice-Captain)

‘Being a leader is all about taking wrong turns and making mistakes but still leading others out of the maze.’ (Ariella, Butterss Cross House Captain)

‘A true leader sparks fire; they don’t keep the flame for themselves.’ (Emma, Dann Watt House Captain)

‘A great leader doesn’t care about the badge or the title, but about making a difference and going their own way.’ (Evelyn T, Gordon Grant House Captain)

‘A true leader doesn’t care about the badge; they wear their vision and take the courage to stand alone.'(Lola, Mansfield Mckie House Captain)

‘Leadership is not an excuse to do less, it’s the responsibility to do more.’ (Lavanya, Somner Stewart House Captain)

Our girls know that, for them, this journey is only just beginning, and we are excited and proud to see how they take their leadership qualities and philosophies beyond our School and out into the world.

Clare Scobell | Year 6 Girls’ Classroom Teacher

Boys’ Junior School News

Andrew Fuller, Clinical Psychologist and great friend of Tintern, states that ‘Boys are the masters of minimalism…If they are asked to write a 50-word essay, they will count the words and if they write 51 words some of them will think they have overdone it.’ Boys rise or fall to the bar you set them.

In 2024 we will be challenging our boys to push themselves from a Cultures of Thinking point of view, through routines and practices. Our focus is not on achievement, but on endeavour … especially with regards to learning through thinking, in the classroom and beyond.

Ron Ritchhart, in Creating a Culture of Thinking, states that ‘research suggests that academic struggle is necessary for growth. Making mistakes, but more importantly learning from them, helps with brain growth and connectivity. It is the struggle that fosters deep learning and understanding.’

One of the resources we use to develop and encourage deeper thinking is our board game LADDERS, that sees boys playing a ‘snakes and ladders’ type game with factual and thinking challenge questions.

In our Assemblies, rather than just listening, our boys are given time to reflect and discuss. Our most recent Assembly saw us discuss Stephen Bradbury’s ‘last man standing’ win at the 2002 Olympics…at the end of the presentation the boys were asked ‘what do you think or wonder about this?’ while they also, in recognition of the birthday of Banjo Paterson, had to justify if they would have voted for Waltzing Matilda or Advance Australia Fair as our National Anthem at the 1977 Plebiscite…and justify why.

Our annual Pancake Morning was another very memorable event. The pancakes were delicious and proved tasty ‘brain food’ during the literacy block. Importantly, we were able to raise a substantial sum of money for Uniting Care as they continue to support and work for the many vulnerable members in our community. Our sincerest thanks to the dedicated band of parents, led by Danielle Kelberg, who assisted with the making and serving of more than 400 pancakes.

Adam Kenny | Head of Boys’ Junior School

Secondary News

It has been wonderful to see the smooth start to 2024 across all Secondary levels and to especially welcome the new families across the School. There was a terrific response to our recent Parent Information Evening, highlighted by the large crowd at Drinks with the Principal following the information session.

As highlighted at the information evening, our Class of 2023 achieved excellent results, which was testament to their commitment and endeavour, along with the connections they formed with their subject teachers and the school. The message of effort and application will continue to be a focus throughout 2024, not just for our Year 12 class, but across all year levels. We provide our students with regular (termly) feedback on the key learning behaviours: Preparation for Learning, Participation in Learning and Attitude toward Learning. These rubrics allow students to see where their effort level was and to set themselves specific goals around improving certain components. At no point do these rubrics refer to their academic ability or to their grades (reported on separately), they focus purely on key behaviours that they are in control of.  It is absolutely clear that if a student is performing highly in their learning behaviours, then their academic achievement is going to be where it needs to be. It would be great if this message was also being supported at home.

We staggered the start to the school year with our Year 7s and our Senior College (Years 10, 11 and 12) all returning on Thursday 1 February, whilst our Years 8 and 9 returned on Friday 2 February. This staggered start allowed for our Year 7s and key pastoral staff to spend the day familiarising them with the Middle School, their classrooms, their lockers, etc, as well as some significant time preparing for their upcoming Year 7 camp.

On Friday 2 February we had our Welcome Back assembly from our acting Principal Mr McManus. The assembly highlighted the key focus on the Learning Behaviours and on actively participating in school and school activities. We also had Murrundindi (leader of the Wurundjeri people) perform a Welcome to Country in his possum skin coat and using his didgeridoo. He spoke about kindness to others and the connection that we must have with each other.

On Friday 9 February was our annual Foundation Service which is a key marker for the year ahead. It provides the opportunity to reflect on where we have come from as a school, where we are currently at, and were we want to be going as individuals and as members of a great community. We introduced our Class of 2029 and wished them all the best for their journey over the next six years, encouraging them to take up as many of the opportunities available to them as possible.

Our Year 7s enjoyed their first Secondary School camp based on the Mornington Peninsula earlier this term. They were involved in activities such as surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkelling and mountain bike riding. They also participated in a two-night ‘camp out’ that helps them to develop their wilderness skills that are required for the Middle School camping program. They learnt to cook food on a Trangia stove, understanding the balance between ensuring they are eating nutritiously, whilst recognising the need to carry all of this in their backpacks and for it to be food that doesn’t require refrigeration.

Policy Updates & Notices

Parents are advised that several school policies have been reviewed, updated and approved by the Executive Leadership Group.

Policies can be viewed on the My Tintern portal:

MyTintern – Policies & Procedures

Child Safety

1. Obligation to report child abuse policy
2. Reportable conduct policy
3. Overseas Students- procedures to reduce the risk of child abuse
4. Child safety & wellbeing policy
5. Child safety code of conduct
6. Working with children policy
7. Mandatory reporting policy

School Policies

1. Duty of care policy
2. Bushfire preparedness policy for school camps, off site activities, and school excursions
3. Student code of conduct
4. Student disability management policy
5. Overseas students’ attendance & course progress policy
6. Aquatic centre & water safety policy
7. Animal welfare policy
8. Anaphylaxis management policy
9. Student mobile phone policy
10. School Dog policy
11. Supervision Policy

Other Policies

1. Privacy policy
2. Volunteers’ policy
3. Drug & alcohol management policy-transport
4. Events and fundraising policy

csef-financial-assistance-information-parents

CSEF-application-form

Community Matters

Welcome to the first edition of Community Matters for 2024. It is through this section we keep you informed of the events and achievements of the various Community Groups as well as the many and varied activities in which they participate. If you would like to be involved with any of the Community Groups, please contact the Community Relations team on 9845 7877 or email communityrelations@tintern.vic.edu.au.

If you would like to contribute to Community Matters, email your submissions to the Community Relations Office and we will incorporate your news wherever possible.

Tintern Grammar Community Groups

Our Community Groups are an incredible and invaluable part of Tintern Grammar. They enrich us through fundraising, events and activities that bring together our community; past and present, in celebration and fun. They are also a great way to meet other parents and become involved with the school community!

Everyone is welcome to attend Community Group Meetings!

Whether you are curious about joining, wish to meet other parents or just want to lend a hand with a specific event, please look out for the dates and times which are advertised in Community Matters each fortnight or on the portal.

At Tintern we have the following Community and Alumni Groups:

• Tintern Parent Group (TPG)
• TPG Presentation Ball Committee
• Friends of Music (FOM)
• Friends of Equestrian (FOE)
• Friends of Snowsports (FOS)
• Friends of Young Farmers (FOYF)
• Tintern Old Girls Association (TOGA)
• TGA (Tintern Grammar Alumni)

We are also seeking interest for the Friends of Young Farmers (FOYF) and Friends of Snowsports (FOS) Committee. If you’re interested in being a member of either of these groups, please contact us.

The Election meetings provide the committees with office bearers and a direction for the year. They are a wonderful opportunity for visitors to get a broad understanding of the wonderful contribution these groups make to our School.

The events and activities run by the various community groups represent a vital contribution to the enhancement of the school experience for our students and in fostering a community atmosphere across the school in support of parents.

For more information on how to be involved please contact Di Lacey or Derinda Whiter in the Community Relations Office on 9845 7877 or communityrelations@tintern.vic.edu.au.

Please select here to view a Tintern map of the meeting venues.

We hope to see you there!

Parent Representatives 2024

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

A special thankyou to the new appointed Parent  Representatives for 2024 whom have volunteered for these positions. There are still a few spaces available so please see below some classes we are still yet to fill.

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. 

Tintern Parents Group TPG

Welcome to all new families at Tintern in 2024 and welcome back to all returning families! The Tintern Parent Group (TPG) has a lot of great plans for the year ahead and we are always looking for new members, parents and friends to join us. 

I am delighted to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the TPG President, a role I commenced in mid-2023. I am thoroughly enjoying working with other parents, staff and students at Tintern to help host events, fundraise for projects and run activities for the benefit of our students, teachers and the wider school community. 

I joined TPG in early 2021 when my son Lucas started at Tintern in year 7, as a way to get involved and meet people (in spite of lockdowns).  It really is a fantastic group and I have been actively involved ever since. I have met many new people and made so many friends.  It is a privilege to have such a unique opportunity to be involved in a practical and meaningful way in the ‘inner life’ of the school.

In my role as President, I work closely with other core members of TPG including Josephine Di Felice (TPG Secretary) and Michelle Kuo (Vice President), Prav Ram (Treasurer) as well as other experienced members of the general committee such as Sally Robinson. 

I am also delighted to introduce Karen Dang as our new TPG Staff Representative Coordinator. Karen will act as a liaison between the TPG and the staff/student body and will be an ongoing member of our group.  Karen is both a longstanding teacher at Tintern and a parent with children at the school, so she is perfectly placed to take an active role in supporting the TPG for the benefit of the school community.  Karen will have direct access to wider networks and resources within the school than volunteer parents often do, with a focus on getting the word out and helping us in achieving our aims. We are delighted to have Karen on board! 

One of our current aims is to grow our committee membership with a return to pre-covid levels and beyond. This relies upon enthusiastic “can-do” people being willing to put their hand up to come along and volunteer.  If this sounds like you, please read on!  The following is some information about what we do, so those interested in joining TPG have a better idea of what to expect:

• TPG operates from February to November inclusive, during school terms only. We have 10 monthly meetings per calendar year, on a Thursday evening from 7pm – 8.30pm.  The last of these meetings is our TPG “End of Year Dinner” in November.
• Meeting dates are set a year in advance. Dates and locations are published on the school Portal and Calendar. Updates about meetings/events may also be posted via Notifications on the Portal/My Tintern App.
• Most meetings are “in person” at the CM Wood Common Room, but sometimes we have meetings (including during winter) online via Zoom.
• The TPG has its own page on the school portal which we will keep updated. It can be found here: https://portal.tintern.vic.edu.au/homepage/12622
• The goals of the TPG include:
  • to fundraise, support and engage the students, families and community of Tintern Grammar School;
  • to provide and assist with student enhancement activities and events, both within and beyond the classroom;
  • to assist other special interest groups such as Friends of Music (FOM) and Friends of Equestrian (FOE); and to work with Tintern Communities Limited (TCL) (the overarching body under which each of these community groups sit) so as to support the principal, staff members and other groups in furthering the interests and objectives of the School.

• TPG activities in the past have included:
  • running events such as Mother’s/Father’s day stalls, Trivia Nights, Fun Days, Movie Nights, Presentation Balls.
  • organising Fundraisers such as the annual Mango Drive in November and organising/ selling Tintern merchandise (e.g. Tintern branded Wet/Dry bags and Umbrellas) and sausage sizzles;
  • funding gifts to members of the school who are deserving of recognition, for example year 6 graduation pennants, VCE student care packages, long-term staff leaving gifts; and
  • Our annual TPG award at Celebration Night for two students who embody and reflect the can-do spirit and positive attitude of community service which underpins the TPG.

There are so many ways to get involved, with multiple events and opportunities to participate in throughout the year.   Even if you are not available on a Thursday night, many of our events are organised by subcommittees led by an experienced TPG member, which meet on other days. This enables flexibility for parents who may not always be available on a Thursday and/or want to get involved in specific events. Choose what suits you best.  No effort is too small!

All are welcome at TPG meetings and we look forward to meeting you.  If you are interested in more information, or would like a new membership form, please email us at: parentgroup@tintern.vic.edu.au

Michele Brooks | TPG President

TPG Wet Bags are back!

These are a Tintern Parent Group initiative and a great option. 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.

Uniform Shop Opening Hours – Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am to 4.15pm

Tintern Parent Group Tintern Branded umbrellas. 

We have purchased them from an Australian owned company, and constructed with high quality components, these will withstand our harsh conditions.

With a choice of a large golf-style umbrella or a compact, lightweight folding umbrella, there’s a style to suit you.

Purchase your umbrella/s online here and take the order confirmation to the Uniform Shop to collect yours – available immediately. 

https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-tintern-parent-group-umbrellas-2024

Uniform Shop Opening Hours – Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am to 4.15pm 

Friends of Music FOM – An invitation to new members

We are ever so grateful for the ongoing support of the parents on our Friends of Music committee.  We welcome new members to join and support the activities of our Tintern musicians. Our next meeting is on Wednesday 6 March and we would love any interested parents/friends to take this opportunity to meet us and consider joining our committee. 

Our Committe Members for 2024 are President : Denise Honan, Vice-President : Nicole Rosewarne, Secretary: Sally Blank, Treasurer: Joy Gao

If you would like more information or would like to join the committee please contact fom@tintern.vic.edu.au.

Friends of Equestrian FOE

Tintern Friends of Equestrian (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, currently held annually at Shirley Heights Equestrian, Gladysdale. This major event regularly attracts around 250 competitors from over 50 Victorian schools and is a National Interschools Eventing qualifier.

We are always looking for new members who share our passion for both competitive and leisure riding, helping young people participate in enriching equestrian experiences.

For more information about Friends of Equestrian, or to join us please contact foe@tintern.vic.edu.au

Tintern Old Girls Association – TOGA

TOGA has committee members across Australia, and we thank the availability and increased use of zoom that enables our meetings to be beamed into our living rooms whether in Queensland, Victoria or anywhere our committee members happen to be. We have become adroit at time difference calculations!

The connection to Tinternites has always been the aim of TOGA, keeping past students informed about the latest school happenings, inviting people to reunions and generally keeping in contact. 

TOGA often shares stories of Tinternites on our private Facebook group or our private LinkedIn group. If you have any news you would like to share, then please let us know at tinternoldgirlsassociation@gmail.com. 

We also welcome your photos and school memorabilia for the archives. There are some fascinating bits and pieces that people hang onto before passing on to Tintern archives, kindly run by Lynne Franke. 

If you would like to know more about TOGA then please contact us via email at tinternoldgirlsassociation@gmail.com 

Carol Robertson (Hogan) Class of 1980 | TOGA President

Tintern Grammar Alumni – TGA

Alumni Returning to our school in 2024

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Caitlyn Speaker (Class of 2011) and the accomplished Adam Blazevic (Class of 2017) for being our special guest speakers our Foundation Service on February 9, 2024. We express our sincere appreciation to Caitlyn Speaker and Adam Blazevic for generously sharing their experiences and accomplishments, creating an indelible mark on our school community. Their contributions have undoubtedly left an enduring impression, inspiring our students to aim high and embrace the extraordinary paths that lie ahead.

The Addams Family – Musical Comedy Production

BOOK NOW

Get ready for our spooktacular production filled with eerie charm, toe-tapping tunes, and wickedly talented performers.

Performances

Wednesday 20 March 6:30pm

Thursday 21 March 7pm 

Friday 22 March 7pm

Saturday 23 March 7pm 

At Karralyka Theatre 

Corner Mines Road and Wilson St, Ringwood East 

Don’t miss out!

International Women’s Day Breakfast

BOOK NOW 

BOOKINGS CLOSE WEDNESDAY 29 FEBRUARY

Join us for the 2024 Tintern Grammar International Women’s Day Breakfast 

#InspireInclusion

7:00am for a 7:15 start

CM Wood Performance Centre, Tintern Grammar

Enjoy a delicious breakfast with us. 

Be entertained by the Tintern Grammar Senior Girls’ Chamber Choir.

We welcome our Guest Speaker Dr Jo Newton OAM, Class of 2006

Dr Jo Newton OAM, Class of 2006, a pioneering geneticist, and STEM advocate, shares her journey as a woman in male-dominated industries and her triumph over cancer. Through her keynote, she champions inclusion and empowers others while advocating for youth in agriculture. Join Jo as she inspires resilience and success amidst adversity.

Please book a ticket for each adult and child attending.

$25 per ticket with $5 of each ticket sale donated to Bowel Cancer Australia 

(seating will not be allocated, attendees choose a table on arrival)