Welcome

Principal’s Welcome to 2025 – New Beginnings

Wishing you a warm welcome to the start of the 2025 Tintern school year! We began with a buzz of activity on the campus prior to the students commencing and that has only increased with the arrival of our nearly 1,100 students from ELC – Year 12.

As always, the start of the year is about renewal and an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. Time over the summer break, where our lives tend to slow down a little and be less purpose-driven, is an opportunity to consider both the past and coming years. It is an opportunity to establish intentions and goals for the coming year around our relationships, our learning, sport, or music, and to truly consider who we are as a person, as a citizen, and as a contributor to our world.

Entering the new year with an intention or even a set of intentions helps us ‘steer’ our approach to our life. We know that if we can also set ourselves a small number of Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals that those intentions lead towards, we can map something of a path of purpose for our year, or for even longer. This process of providing both a ‘target’ and a ‘trajectory’ of intentions that lead to it, gives guidance, purpose, and meaning to our activities, helping us to stay on our considered and planned path.

However, doing this takes real thought and consideration, it requires planning and organisation and it is not something that necessarily comes easily. Our use of the Harvard Project Zero Cultures of Thinking is aimed at fostering thinking students, not just learners. Their ability to do more than know is critical in giving context and use for knowledge in our modern world. What we know is certainly important and useful, but what we can do with that knowledge is far more valued in the post-Tintern world our students will experience.

Linking our ability to think with a growth mindset (one where we acknowledge that we can be more capable, more knowledgeable, and more skilled in the future than we are now for example  ‘I find French really hard, but if I keep working at it, I think I’ll get better at it.’), rather than a fixed one (where we believe if we cannot do something now, we will never be able to, for example  ‘I am a bad French student’) is the path to using these intentions and goals to achieve best learning, personal growth, and overall development.

In 2025, I am producing a series of short videos in response to feedback that you would like to hear more from your Principal. Keep an eye on the portal for these regular video updates.

I wish you all a wonderful 2025, all of us working together to support the optimal development and growth of our community.

Brad Fry | Principal

ELC News

The Early Learning Centre is off to a strong start

Our year started with ‘Getting to know you’ interviews and we thank families for attending and sharing valuable information about their child. Building relationships with our families and children is in line with our ELC Philosophy, it underpins all we do. and ensures a smooth start to the year.

We believe in developing positive meaningful relationships with the children in our care, fostering a sense of belonging for the children and their families. Through these nurturing relationships, children feel safe, secure and supported in our Early Learning Centre.

This philosophy extends into the classroom, where the children have been enjoying getting to know their new classmates and teachers through a variety of games, activities and table seating arrangements. Lunch and snack times are very important as it is a time to sit, talk and get to know the teachers and each other.

The children are also enjoying getting to know the beautiful environment here at Tintern. The natural environment has led to many wonderful engaging play situations as the children dig for worms, hide in the bushes, run the path track, play with the water wheel, make sand cakes and explore.

Specialist programs are underway

The specialist program has commenced and this year we welcome back specialist teacher, Ms Brooke Mitchell.

The specialist program is an extension of the ELC program, whereby the children expand their knowledge and demonstrate their understanding through movement and music as well as exploring the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Maths (STEAM) plus our phonics program, Letterland.  

Additionally, the Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) is part of the specialist offering, it aims to assist students to acquire efficient movement to promote and improve sensory function, develop gross motor skills and a positive self-image. While it is fundamentally a motor skills program, it also has a large component of language building embedded into it.

The specialist program also comprises a library class, which is a program designed to teach the children a variety of skills through author studies. They also have the opportunity to learn about the library and get to borrow books weekly.

How to support your children during this time of transition

We know that for some children this is their first experience away from familiar family members which means they may feel upset on being left at school. Here are some tips to help you support your child.

• On arrival, remind your child about their daily routine jobs – unpacking their bag into their locker and washing their hands.
• Saying goodbye – be honest with your child and tell them that it is time for you to leave. Let them know that you will be back. Even though there may be a few tears, often when parents are out of sight, children will settle happily into activities and the tears will ease. In our experience, it is best to not drag out the goodbye as this can increase separation anxiety.
• Do your best to feel positive and happy yourself. Children sense when their parents are upset or worried and this may increase their own anxiety.
• You are welcome to call the School anytime to check on your child’s progress. Please know that our staff will always call you if your child continues to be upset and is not able to settle.

Tintern staff are committed to ensuring that your child has happy experiences at school.

Most children settle after a few weeks. If you are concerned about your child’s separation anxiety, I encourage you to speak to your teacher or myself.

Kristin De Vos | Head of ELC

Girls’ Junior School News

Bright Minds, Bold Learning: empowering girls at Tintern Grammar

In the Girls’ Junior School, we believe that when girls are given the space to be bold learners, they flourish – not just in the classroom, but in life. That’s why our 2025 theme, ‘Bright Minds, Bold Learning’, is more than just a phrase; it’s a commitment to fostering confidence, courage, and curiosity in every girl.

Research shows that girls are more likely than boys to seek external validation, shaping their self-worth around grades, appearance, and approval. In today’s social media-driven world, this pressure has only intensified, leading many to fear failure and avoid challenges. But when we shift the focus from being perfect to being real, we unlock their true potential.

Why does bold learning matter?

• Confident girls thrive – studies show that early confidence-building reduces anxiety and low self-esteem, empowering girls to take on challenges with resilience.
• Bold learning drives participation – schools that prioritise leadership, self-expression, and risk-taking see a 25-30% increase in classroom engagement among girls.
• It shapes future pathways – when girls are encouraged to think boldly, they’re 30% more likely to explore careers in STEAM and leadership roles, breaking through traditional gender barriers.

At Tintern Grammar, we are dedicated to nurturing bold learners who challenge ideas, take academic risks, and embrace new skills – whether in the classroom, on the sports field, or in leadership roles.

So how do we, as educators and families, help our girls develop bright minds and bold learning behaviours?

• Celebrate effort over perfection – encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and persistence rather than just outcomes.
• Foster self-reflection – guide girls in exploring their values and identity beyond external validation.
• Challenge limiting beliefs – help them see mistakes as stepping stones, not setbacks.
• Provide strong role models – representation matters; girls need to see women thriving in all fields.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King once said, ‘Girls are taught to be perfect, boys to be brave.’

At Tintern Grammar, we are rewriting that narrative.

In 2025, we will ignite bright minds and nurture bold learners – empowering our girls to own their voice, embrace challenges, and step into the future with confidence.

Because when girls learn boldly, they grow into fearless women who shape the world.

 Year 6 Leadership and Tintern Alumni

In the Girls’ Junior School, we love celebrating the amazing things our Alumni achieve, especially when they embody our school motto, Factis Non Verbis – Deeds Not Words. This week, our Years 3 – 6 students had the chance to explore the story of someone who shared a similar learning journey to them – Kate Jenkins AO, a Tintern graduate from 1985, who has made Australia a better place for women and girls.

Kate has always been a changemaker. From her time at Tintern to her incredible work as Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, she’s led the charge for workplace fairness, safer environments, and equal opportunities. Now, as the Chair of the Australian Sports Commission, she’s continuing her fight to make sport more inclusive for women and girls.

This inspiring message was shared at the Year 6 Leadership Induction on Tuesday, where our girls proudly received their badges and made a pledge to the Tintern community to do their best as our Junior School Leaders for 2025. The speech highlighted how Kate’s journey connects to our Tintern Compass Values – Integrity, Responsibility, Compassion, Commitment, and Independence – and encouraged our students to embrace the qualities of bold leadership.

During this Assembly our girls were challenged to:

• Ask big questions – what’s fair? What’s not? How can I change things?
• Take responsibility – even small actions can lead to big change.
• Keep going, no matter what – Kate never gave up, and neither should they!

Inspired by Kate’s journey, our Year 6 girls are setting their own leadership goals. Who knows? Maybe one of them will be the next big changemaker!

All girls in the Junior School have been asked to contemplate what Kate has shown us – real leaders don’t just talk, they take action. In the Girls’ Junior School this year, our bold girls aim to live by our school motto, Factis Non Verbis, and make a difference!

Allison Prandolini | Head of Girls’ Junior School

Boys’ Junior School News

This year is all about culture

Our one-word theme for this year is ‘culture’. In his book The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle states that culture is derived from the Latin word cultus, which means care.

With many new boys joining us this year, this is an opportunity for us to develop and reinforce what makes our Boys’ Junior School, in the Tintern Parallel model, such a unique place, and one where we have a culture that does indeed provide and promote care, support, individuality, togetherness and safety. Investigating, discussing and learning from groups who have created a successful culture is something that we will be focussing on throughout the year, complementing our focus on the Tintern Compass Values.

We will also be using the eight cultural forces, as represented in the circular outer ring of our logo, to further promote a ‘culture of thinking’, with a specific emphasis on questioning, challenging our boys to push themselves.

This theme, and how it is immersed into our Boys’ Junior School, is directly related to Cultures of Thinking, one of Tintern Grammar’s key strategic projects, premised on the idea that ‘learning is a consequence of thinking’. I am excited that culture, the Tintern Compass and Groick will complement our Boys’ Junior School staff’s expertise when it comes to providing boys with an environment where they can be ‘the best they can hope to be’.

ELC – Year 6 Foundation Service

Our ELC – Year 6 Foundation Service last week was a wonderful reminder of the history of Tintern Grammar, its 148-year journey of stability and change, and how it continues to adapt to provide the best education for our children and community.

This story of evolution from 1877 to now is unique, especially the move to Ringwood East, the formation of Southwood Boys Grammar School in 1999 to provide a ‘Tintern Education’ for boys as well as girls, and then the ‘coming together’ on the one site in 2014, is one that I hope our boys and families know and understand.

The Year 6 Induction Assembly last Monday was an opportunity for us to acknowledge our Year 6 boys as leaders of our Junior School, while also hearing from four of our Year 12 school leaders. Arya, Jack and Brayden (who have been at Tintern since Prep), and Grace (who joined Tintern in Year 7) all shared stories of their Junior School days, and gave advice regarding the fun times that lie ahead.

Adam Kenny | Head of Boys’ Junior School

Middle School News

Welcoming our new Year 7 students

In week two, we had the pleasure of welcoming new Year 7 students at our annual Foundation Service. The atmosphere was filled with excitement – and a little trepidation about walking on the stage in front of the secondary school– as students gathered to begin their secondary journey at Tintern.

I encourage the Year 7s to embrace new challenges and make the most of the opportunities ahead. Our School is built on a foundation of respect, kindness and care, and we are excited to have the Year 7s be part of this nurturing environment.

We look forward to seeing our new students flourish, form lasting friendships, and make meaningful contributions to our School community. The Year 7 camp, from which our students returned last Friday, certainly enabled many opportunities for this growth.

Welcome Year 7s, we’re so glad to have you in our community.

Catherine Murphy | Head of Middle School

Music News

Kickstart music rehearsal day

Coming up this Friday 21 February is our first intensive rehearsal day for our larger choirs, bands and orchestras.

Students will spend parts of the day rehearsing and learning new music with their peers in a lively collegial environment. After school, the musicians will have time to socialise, enjoy some afternoon tea and get to know other musicians through activities organised by the Music Leaders.

Students who stay for the Music Staff Concert that night can order pizza for dinner (or bring their own dinner) before joining the audience to enjoy a memorable performance put together by our hard-working music staff.

Join us at the Music Staff Concert

Bring your friends and family along to hear our talented Music Staff performing in the CM Wood Centre this Friday 21 February at 7.00pm.

This free, one-hour concert is open to all student musicians, friends, family members and members of the community.

The concert has something for everyone – enjoy a beautiful violin and harp solo, a Joe Satriani Rock Guitar ballad, a work for two pianos/eight hands and a scintillating Percussion Ensemble work played by ten staff members!

Meet our Starbound Tintern students

The summer holidays included plenty of rest and music-play for five Tintern students who prepared for Starbound concerts in January.

Over a two-week period, 104 young people rehearsed 8.00am – 6.00pm for 12 days in preparation for an amazing showcase of their many talents at the Starbound concerts in late January.

The Starbound production company has been producing outstanding shows for 21 years and this year at least five Tintern students and one Tintern staff member were involved in the show.

The performers included Coby Ashman, Jaymie Ashman, Sienna Hams, Katie Howell (Class of 2024), Emily Stokes (Class of 2024). Tintern staff member, Tori Wood was on the creative team.

Another round of outstanding examination results for Tintern musicians

Late last year, many of our Piano, String, Brass and Woodwind students sat Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) 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.

There are 16 students who have achieved these recent successes and awarded certificates at school assemblies.

Middle School AMEB Certificates:

 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

Senior School AMEB Certificates:

• 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

Join our friendly Friends of Music (FOM) Committee

The music staff and students are grateful for the ongoing support of the wonderful parents on our Friends of Music (FOM) committee. FOM welcome new members to join and support the activities of Tintern musicians through fundraising and providing hospitality support at concerts and our Annual Jazz Night.

The next meeting is Wednesday 2 April at 7.00pm in the CM Wood Centre Common Room.

You are welcome to come along, meet the friendly committee and consider joining this fun-loving team. Musical ability is not a pre-requisite!

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

Auditions in Term 2 for Annual (Internal) Music Scholarships

Eligible music students in Years 5–12 are invited to apply for the following Music awards:

Ilma Kelson Music Scholar Awards

• Outstanding Senior Performer (Years 7-12)
• Two Encouragement Awards for students learning ‘desirable’ instruments for the orchestral program at Tintern Grammar (Years 5-12)

Penelope Thwaites Music Awards

Performance of an Australian Composition Award (Years 5-12)

• Original Composition Award (Years 7-12)

Application forms are available from the Music Office, email cquigley@tintern.vic.edu.au.

Applications close Wednesday 2 April 2025.

Save these music dates in your diary

Upcoming musical events in Term 1

• Friday 21 February | Kickstart Rehearsal Day 
•  Wednesday 26 – Friday 29 March, 7.00pm | Drowsy Chaperone (Karralyka Theatre) 

Key musical events in Terms 2, 3 and 4

• Tuesday 29 April | Twilight Concert, CM Wood Centre, 5.00pm
• Friday 2 – Sunday 4 May | Generations in Jazz, Mt Gambier
• Tuesday 20 May | Piano Concerts, CM Wood Centre, 5.00pm (Juniors) 7.00pm (Seniors)
• Friday 23 May | Cathedral Service, St Paul’s Cathedral, 10.00am
• Tuesday 27 May | Small Ensembles Concert, CM Wood Centre, 7.00pm
• Friday 25 – Sunday 27 July | Music Camp, CM Wood Centre
• Friday 8 August | Annual Music Concert, CM Wood Centre, 7.00pm
• Tuesday 19 August | Singing Soiree, CM Wood Centre, 7.00pm
• Monday 25 August | Percussion Concert, CM Wood Centre, 7.00pm
• Monday 1 September | Brass and Woodwind Concert (Years 7-12), CM Wood Centre, 7.00pm
• Saturday 6 September | Friends of Music Jazz Night, CM Wood Centre, 7.00pm
• Wednesday 10 September | String Concert (Years 7-12), CM Wood Centre, 7.00pm
• Sunday 30 November | Friends of Music Munch with the Musos, 10.00am –12.30pm

Alison Bezaire | Director of Music

Sport News

Sport over the summer break

Congratulations to Shenghao Jin who competed in the Victorian Sprint Championships on Saturday 11- Sunday 12 January.

Shenghao placed 3^rd in the 50m backstroke and 6^th in the 50m freestyle.

House swimming success

On Tuesday, Tintern Grammar held the annual House Swimming Carnival for Years 7-12 students. The girls’ carnival was first in the morning from 8.40am – 12.00pm. Conditions were cool and perfect for swimming. There was fantastic House spirit with lots of cheering and encouragement for the competitors, and the swimming races were competitive. Scores remained close throughout the carnival, with participation in all events vital.

The boys’ carnival commenced at 12.20pm and finished at 3.30pm. The boys also demonstrated fantastic House spirit and commitment to their Houses, with the swimming also of a high standard. The scores of the boys’ carnival also remained close throughout the afternoon. There were some excellent individual and team performances with a number of records being broken.

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded year level champions for the carnival.

Year 7 Girls – Aleila Brand-Starkey

Year 7 Boys – Alexander Ooi

Year 8 Girls – Maise Xia

Year 8 Boys – Jayden Zheng

Year 9 Girls – Laura Zhang and Stella De Carolis

Year 9 Boys – Adam Dell

Year 10 Girls – Chloe Kinghorn

Year 10 Boys – Ethan Cheang

Year 11 Girls – Sienna Hams

Year 11 Boys – Harry Luo

Year 12 Girls – Laura De La Pierre

Year 12 Boys –  Shenghao Jin

Girls’ House Carnival Results                                      Boys’ House Carnival Results

1^st         Mansfield/McKie                                                  1^st         Butterss/Cross

2^nd         Gordon/Grant                                                       2^nd         Gordon/Grant

3^rd         Somner/Stewart                                                   3^rd         Mansfield/McKie

4^th         Dann/Watt                                                              4^th         Dann/Watt

5^th         Butterss/Cross                                                      5^th         Somner/Stewart

Community News

Upcoming Community Events

Saturday 1 March | Tintern Open Day 

Tuesday 3 March | Shrove Tuesday

Friday 7 March | International Women’s Day Breakfast 

Wednesday 27 March – Saturday 30 March | School Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone

Friday 4 April | TPG BBQ at the Colour Run

Bring your family and friends to the Tintern Grammar Open Day

The Tintern Grammar Open Day is on Saturday 1 March.

Open Day is the School’s premier opportunity to showcase our incredible teaching staff and stunning campus to prospective families.

We encourage you to invite your friends and family to come along, and thank you for helping us grow our caring community.

Please share news of Tintern Grammar Open Day now.

Cyber Safety and Wellbeing Parent Information Session

Join this information session to learn practical tips and support which help you, and your child stay safe online and promote positive digital wellbeing.

Monday 24 February, 7.00pm | ELC and Junior School 

Tuesday 25 February, 7.00pm | Middle School and Senior College Parents 

In the CM Wood Performance Centre

Trent Ray and Sam Macaulay Co-Founders and Lead Educators for The Cyber Safety Project will talk about:

• The Cyber Safety Project Methodology: Plan, Prevent & Protect
• Gaming and Social networking trends
• Parental controls and app privacy settings
• How to report cyber abuse (including cyberbullying) and help seeking strategies
• Screen time and developing self-regulation skills
• Establishing a safe digital environment at home

Visit the Cyber Safety Project for more information.

Tea and coffee will be available on arrival.

Please note this information session is for parents only.

Book now via the links above!

You’re invited to the International Women’s Day Breakfast 

Join us for the 2025 Tintern Grammar International Women’s Day Breakfast on Friday 7 March, 7.00am for a 7.15am start in the CM Wood Performance Centre, Tintern Grammar.

Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy breakfast with us. 

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

This year we welcome guest speaker Dr Vera Korasidis 

Dr Vera Korasidis (Class of 2010) will share her journey as an award winning early-career palaeontologist. Listen to Vera’s story as she inspires the next generation of learners through her keynote championing inclusion and empowering others to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM).

Tickets are $25 per person (includes a $5 donation to charity).  Book now. 

Book your tickets for the School Musical

This year’s musical performance, The Drowsy Chaperone is at the Karralyka Theatre, Ringwood on Wednesday 27 – Saturday 30 March.

When a die-hard theatre fan plays his favourite cast album, the characters come to life in this hilarious Tony Award-winning musical farce.

Last year’s musical was a sellout so book your spot now.

Curriculum Matters

Coaching our VCE students to optimise their achievements in 2025

We are committed to supporting all 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 focussed coaching program to maximise the growth of our VCE students, in both academic learning and the development of broader personal and social capabilities, so they could better move to their desired future pathway successfully. This program continued in 2024 and whilst our outstanding VCE results last year were the result of hard work on the part of our students, we believe that assisting the cohort to focus on their goals and then re-visit them regularly during the year supported many of those students to achieve to the best of their potential.

The Year 12 coaching program for this year’s cohort began in December, when the program was outlined for all current Year 12 students at an introductory assembly. This was followed by a goal setting survey – probing areas where students feel they need improvement in their approach to VCE studies and seeking potential ‘seeds of action’ for their planning.

Year 12s meet again this week to confirm their goals and action plans, under the guidance of their Pastoral Mentors and members of the Leadership Team, and they will tease out the details of the steps they plan to take to achieve their goals. All Year 12s will post 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 will be 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 students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will commence on Wednesday 12 March.

In 2023, new proficiency standards with four levels of achievement for each year level replaced the previous 10-band structure that covered all four 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 in all NAPLAN reports.

The numerical NAPLAN bands and the national minimum standard have been replaced by the following four levels of achievement:

• exceeding
• strong
• developing
• needs additional support.

The descriptors for each category will make it clear to parents which level their child’s literacy and numeracy skills are at the time of NAPLAN testing, and will support discussions with our teaching staff on their child’s progress. This is the third year with the new standards, and data on each student’s progress and growth will again be available to parents and schools.

Student progress meetings – dates for your diary

Secondary School Student Progress Meetings for Years 7-12:

• Wednesday 12 March (online from 4.00pm – 8.00pm)
• Monday 17 March (on-campus from 4.00pm – 8.00pm)
• Friday 28 March (online from 9.00am – 4.00pm)

Junior School Student Progress Meetings:

• Thursday 20 March (on-campus from 4.00pm – 8.00pm)
• Friday 28 March (online from 9.00am – 4.00pm)

ELC Student Progress Meetings:

• Thursday 20 March (on-campus from 3.30pm –6.30pm)
• Friday 28 March (online from 9.00am – 4.00pm)

Further information regarding bookings will be available closer to the time.

Alison Bezaire | Director of Studies

Wellbeing Matters

How to develop positive routines and habits

Did you know that positive and effective routines can help to reduce stress and improve your mental health? As we kickstart this term, here are some tips to help your child establish a positive routine through developing good habits:

• Start the day with a healthy breakfast to fuel their energy and focus. 
• Encourage your child to use a diary to keep track of their activities, assignments, and deadlines.
• Make time for things that bring them joy!
• Encourage them to reach out for support if they’re feeling overwhelmed. 

Building new habits and routines can take some time but it is an essential life skill which leads to positive self-esteem, promotes a sense of purpose and contributes to good mental health.

Ewa Oaten | Director of Student Wellbeing and Counselling

Faith Matters

Meet our Faith Captains

I am delighted to be the Acting Chaplain this year and to support the Tintern community in developing their respect and engagement in faith. As a practising Christian, I believe that faith comes in many different forms, and it is an essential part of human nature – one that gives us all hope for the future.

I would like to introduce our two Faith Captains for 2025, Kevin Wang and Yanxi Zhou.

Kevin Wang looks forward to contributing to the School community in a meaningful way: 

‘My name is Kevin Wang, and I came to Tintern Grammar in 2021. When I first arrived, I always thought that the School’s values were very admirable, and that made me want to become a part of the leadership team. It is a privilege to be Faith Captain and to have the opportunity to support and promote the values that shape our school community. I look forward to contributing to the school in a meaningful way and encouraging others to reflect on the values that unite our school.’

They have already been an invaluable help at both our Senior and Junior school Foundation Services. They demonstrated leadership in shepherding the Year 7s on stage, and bravery in navigating handing out cake to every child in the Junior Schools!

I am very much looking forward to continuing to work with Kevin and Yanxi in the year ahead.

Liz Cutter | Acting School Chaplain

Student Voice

Keeping up with the student leadership team

Having had a fortnight in the leadership ‘office’ we have had a chance to walk some of the talk. Not only have we stepped up as a team, fulfilling our roles and responsibilities, but organising events has been quite full-on – yet extremely rewarding. 

A few notable events so far in our leadership journey include organising Santa photos, shooting the traditional leaders’ welcome video, speaking at the Boys’ Junior School Induction Assembly and interviewing Alumni at the Foundation Assembly.

Our most recent event was Valentine’s Day. In the lead up to this event, the leadership team decided that the proceeds from selling roses, serenades and a chocolate raffle would be donated to charity – and what could be more fitting than the Heart Foundation? It was also a fantastic opportunity for students and teachers to show appreciation to a friend whilst supporting a good cause.

In walking the talk, we have become enlightened in the processes of bringing something from paper to reality. For example, experiences such as delegating jobs and working with purchase orders, budgets, and communicating with the finance department about the upcoming colour run has allowed us to develop our leadership skills, as well as learn the huge amount of inner workings that must occur before something even as small as a welcome video comes to fruition.

Overall, the most rewarding aspect of leadership to us has been seeing all our behind-the-scenes efforts impacting students. Whether it is as simple as hearing them reference a funny scene from the welcome video or walking by with a word of appreciation for the Valentine’s Day decorations to a friend, the feeling of fulfilment from being able to positively impact someone’s school life, is a privilege of leadership that we will continue to strive for.

Arya Yogesh Kumar | School Captain

Collection Notice for Parents and Guardians 

2025 Student residential address and other information

Collection Notice for Parents and Guardians 

Information from the Australian Government, Department of Education, regarding the purpose, use and disclosure of personal information.