Welcome

The three horizons of our future at Tintern Grammar

I once had described to me a perspective on the future that has stayed with me over the course of my life since. The way this was explained to me was that the future can be considered like the view across a mountain range in the Alps. The mountains close to us are like our view of the immediate and near future; we can not only see the shape of each hill or ridgeline, but we can also see the minor ridges and gullies and we can even pick out the texture and shading of the vegetation. This ‘first horizon view’ is like our view of our coming weeks or months and perhaps a year. In our personal or professional lives this perspective is most often shaped by decisions that we take and factors over which we have some or much control.

If we look to the second horizon of the next farthest line of hills and ridges, we have lost sharpness of the edges and the texture and colour variation of the vegetation. But we still have quite a clear outline of shape, and the way that peaks and ridges meet and blend, so still quite a clear overall picture. This ‘second horizon view’ might be likened to our personal or professional 12 month to 3- or 5-year view. This view can be altered in minor or major ways by factors both within and outside our control but is definitely affected by the ways we consciously or inadvertently change our first horizon view over time.

Then we have a ‘third horizon view’ which is the most distant hills and ridges we can still see. The general shape is still discernible, but the edges are blurred, the vegetation has no texture or clear colour variation, and it is not possible to see how one ridgeline runs into another. This is the equivalent of our long-term view – 5 to 10 years into the future. This is a view that can be difficult to reconcile with our first horizon decisions and actions due to the difference in the timespan of the two (although they are very clearly related). But this third horizon is clearly influenced by our first and second horizon decisions and the changes we make there.

So why bring this up now?

Tintern is currently facing and making some decisions and experiencing forces that will shift our first and second horizon views. Our Forward Strategy was generated acknowledging the possibility of these and was set to anticipate possible decisions or changes we may need to make if they came to be. So now that some have come about, Tintern is in the fortunate position that we do not expect them to significantly influence our third horizon (our strategy) because their possibility has been anticipated in the strategy, and mitigation was prepared before they emerged.

Firstly, the School growth that has come to us as an opportunity in 2022 (2 girls’ Year 7 classes -> 3 girls’ Year 7 classes), 2024 (2 boys’ Year 7 classes -> 3 boys’ Year 7 classes) and 2025 (projected 1 Year 5 class of each gender -> 2 Year 5 classes of both genders). Our numbers (pandemic effects aside) have been growing slowly but steadily for the last 8 years (first horizon on a year by year basis), and we knew that the moment to create new classes at Year 7 and Year 5 would come, but we were not going to commit to that until doing so also protected us from not-anticipated, but always possible, external forces over which we had no control, such as government funding or social/financial (e.g. GFC-style) forces (these being very first horizon issues if they appear, but a second or third horizon view needs to be taken before they do).

In our Forward Strategy we wanted to generate more student opportunities over time that would facilitate the development of our four Graduate Profile Attributes (knowledgeable caring thinkers, open-minded inquirers, balanced risk takers, and principled and reflective communicators), a combination of both first and second horizon views. This was going to require a greater number of students to support the establishment cost, so the increases would take place incrementally and progressively (a second horizon view). We also recognised that the benefits of small cohorts where every student is truly known also has as its counterpoint a smaller number of social groups and opportunities, which some of our students find difficult when there are social disputes or friendship tensions (a first horizon issue). To counter this, anticipating a second horizon view of more students at Year 5 and 7 will help address what is a first horizon tension.

Lastly, the Victorian government payroll tax, COVID levy and Mental Health and Wellbeing surcharge recently came to us without any notice as very first horizon forces. For some schools, these are challenges of Mt Everest proportions, given where their current enrolments, enrolment trajectory, and/or their financial performance currently sit. We are fortunate that our second and third horizon views, largely taken to support first and second horizon challenges and opportunities, will enable us to weather these as they are implemented from July 2024 with greater assurance than many schools.

Our two steps of increased classes will take place next year (an additional boys’ Year 7) and in 2025 (another year of additional Year 7 boys and planned additional Year 5 class in both boys and girls). They will coincide with the two years of progressive application of these taxes. Through the class increases, we will attract some increased government funding along with fee income that will enable to us to fund these taxes without having to resort to the reactive and very significant fee increases that I believe will be required at some schools.

I am not wishing to suggest that the Board or Executive knew these were coming, nor that we believe we have some form of crystal ball about the future. However, our Board’s approach to our third horizon (our Forward Strategy and planning) and a very sound approach to managing and planning for first and second horizon opportunities and risks, by both the Executive and the Board, has meant we look ahead to a positive, healthy, and bold future for our students and our community!

Factis non verbis

Brad Fry | Principal

Student Voice

During our time as Junior School Captains, we have developed our leadership skills. When looking at the Tintern Compass, we see how this role has helped us grow through these values. It has boosted our confidence, especially when speaking in front of large audiences. In addition, it has developed a sense of responsibility, as we are relied upon for certain tasks and trusted to represent the Junior School and guide younger students to be the best they can. We always try to lead by example.

Qualities like commitment, compassion, and independence were also needed during our time as Captains. There are several great aspects of being a Junior School Captain, and one of them is the feeling of the School’s belief in our capabilities. We also get to attend Student Representative Council meetings where we discuss issues affecting students. This aims to improve our School’s environment to make it more comfortable for everyone. It’s an opportunity to use our voice and improve our confidence in speaking out about our issues. The process involved writing a speech, delivering it in front of Year 3 to 6 students, and undergoing an interview with our Head of School. We also studied various leaders from around the world and talked about the traits we admired in them.

To the Year 5 girls and boys considering their own leadership, we have one main piece of advice – GO FOR IT! This is your time to shine, and being a leader allows you to grow in many ways. Despite facing challenges, it offers a lot of opportunities for personal development. It also serves as excellent practice for future leadership positions in the Senior School and beyond Tintern. Sometimes we will miss out – and this is also a part of the lesson in leadership. Don’t give up and still demonstrate these qualities even if you’re not a Junior School Captain. We wish you good luck in your leadership journey ahead, and always remember to be proud, no matter what happens!

Eryn Lee & Felix Meddings | Junior School Captains

Eryn Lee

Felix Meddings

Student Voice

Last Term, Tintern hosted our first Battle of the Bands in four years. Battle of the Bands is a great event the gives students the opportunity to form, rehearse and perform in bands together, while also competing against their peers. Every year that it has been done, this has been the highlight. As Choral Captains, it was our job to host the event this year. This was a really fun and different experience for us, as neither of us had ever done anything quite like it before. It was amazing to see so many new bands being formed, especially in the younger year levels. There was so much talent and creativity on display, and all the bands performed really well. The whole school was also extremely encouraging and made our job so much easier.

Hosting was very interesting experience, as it is a job that requires you to go with the flow. You have to adapt to the audience depending on how they react to you. Since we didn’t necessarily have a script, a lot of the time we had to guess how the audience would react to us, and hope that it would go over in the way we expected. We also helped to ensure that everything ran on time and that the bands didn’t stay on too long after they finished performing, so that everything ran smoothly. As well as having the bands perform, we led activities in between such as kahoot’s and air guitar competitions to keep the audience entertained. This also allowed for the audience to feel more included in the event, allowing them the opportunity to win prizes. Ultimately, we had two winners of the day – the best middle school band, and overall band. Our two winners were The Spice Boys (Middle school), who sang ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Journey, and Blackout (Senior school) who sang a rock medley. Overall, the event went smoothly and there were a lot of great reports from our peers and teachers. We’re looking forward to next year’s Battle of the Bands!!

Liam Rosewarne and Emily Stokes | Choral Captains

Blackout – Senior School winners

The Spice Boys – Middle School winners

Reconciliation Journey

The Last Daughter

Over this term, 89 of our staff, 52 members of the wider community and over 540 of our students will view the highly acclaimed film documentary, The Last Daughter at Tintern Grammar. Last week we opened our doors for a free viewing of the film for our community and it was great to see people share in this journey with us, including Alumni, current parents and people from the surrounding suburbs.

Why show this film? The Last Daughter is a powerful documentary about the story of Brenda Matthews and her journey for healing and reconciliation. Although ‘stolen’ from her parents, she did not qualify as a stolen child as the Act was repealed the year before she was born and yet the action of her and her six siblings being taken away still occurred. This story, her story, is an attempt to reconcile her identity and the past.

As part of our continued commitment to respect, Indigenous culture, understanding and moving forward on our Reconciliation journey, we decided this documentary was worth sharing with as many from our School community as possible. It is beautifully crafted, easily accessible and truth telling. Through listening, hearing and understanding we are empowered to recognise the past and build a better future as brothers and sisters living in this land, we call home, Australia.

Year 6 Girls Explore themes of The Last Daughter

Our Year 6 Girls class who recently watched The Last Daughter engaged in thought-provoking discussions where students shared their insights and reflections on the film’s themes. Using a ‘Circle of Viewpoints’ thinking routine to explore the messages of the film engaging in Cultures of Thinking.  Read the report

Curriculum Matters

NAPLAN Results

We recently have received our NAPLAN results for our current Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 cohorts and individual results have been mailed out to all families of these students.

Our students’ results again are excellent, although comparison with previous years’ results has been impacted somewhat by the move from a 10-band range of achievement levels to four proficiency standards (Needs Additional Support, Developing, Strong, Exceeding). No comparative growth data for schools has been provided, but we will be able to measure our student achievements against State and National Standards when that data is released on 23 August. The majority of our students fall into the Strong and Exceeding levels across most or all of the domains. A full report on these results will be forthcoming for our community but, in the meantime, we are celebrating the fact that fifty (50) of our Year 9 students were awarded Certificates of Achievement by VCAA this year. These acknowledge students who have excelled into the “Exceeding” Band for either Reading or Numeracy (or both) in the recent NAPLAN tests. This is a testament to both their learning in our Junior Schools, in many instances, and the fine teaching and learning taking place in our English, Maths and broader classes in Middle School.

I would remind all families that your child’s NAPLAN results are a snapshot of your child’s progress at a given point in time and all individual NAPLAN test results should be considered alongside broader school-based assessments, which provide a more detailed picture of the whole child and their progress across many streams.

Update on Secondary Semester Reporting

Secondary Semester Reports were distributed during the holidays through the Tintern portal and these gave our students the opportunity to reflect on the feedback received from teachers and to gain insights to help them rise to the challenges of their upcoming coursework and end-of-year assessments.

Subject Selection Showcase, 18 July

Our Subject Showcase Evening for Years 9 and 10 took place on Tuesday 18 July. As in previous years, subject selection for our Year 7-11 students has been administrated as an online process.

Parents are reminded that it is not possible to meet all student preferences during the subject allocation process, due to the constraints of timetabling and blocking based on an overview of all students’ choices.

Secondary Student Progress Meetings

At this stage, we plan to run a full day of Secondary Student Progress Meetings online on Tuesday 22 August from 9.00am to 4.00pm. Secondary students will not attend school on this day but will, instead, be expected to complete non-contact asynchronous work at home left for them on the portal by their subject teachers that day. Students are expected to take a break from their work and log in to these Teams meetings with their parents.

We will run an afternoon Student Progress Meeting session onsite at school between 4.00 – 8.00pm on Wednesday 23 August and then a final online session from 4.00pm – 8.00pm on Monday 28 August.

Further information regarding the booking arrangements for these events will be forthcoming in the near future and bookings for progress meetings will open on Wednesday 16 August. The teachers look forward to meeting with both students and parents to discuss your child’s progress.

Alison Bezaire | Director of Studies

Music Matters

Annual Music Concert Rehearsal Weekend

Over the weekend of 21-23 July, our annual Music Camp was held at School for over 120 of our musicians. The goal of this Music Camp was to prepare for our upcoming Annual Music Concert, which will be held on 4 August (this Friday!). We all enjoyed a weekend of rehearsals with our fellow musicians, as well as a few activities organised by the music captains. The students all had fun with a bit of friendly competition in the trivia and Kahoot, and a big activity that involved groups of students performing part of the School anthem in different genres, such as rap, pop and hip hop.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the preparation of the massed finale item. This year will be the first year since 2019 we have been able to run the massed finale item, which is traditionally performed at the end of the Annual Concert and involves every student who is part of an ensemble. Most of the students will be singing, with a small handful of students playing in the orchestra. This year, the massed singing item will be Adiemus, a beautiful song written by Karl Jenkins as part of a larger suite. Needless to say, we are all very excited about performing this item, and are sure everyone in the audience will enjoy it.

A massive thanks to all the music staff at Tintern and the parents from Friends of Music who have put in a lot of work to make this weekend become a reality, we are so grateful for their never-ending support. We hope to see everyone at the Annual Music Concert on Friday 4 August, 7.00pm in the CM Wood Centre to witness the amazing performances that our musicians have worked so hard to put together!

Joanne Chang | Instrumental Co-captain 2023

Three Tintern students shine in High School Musical 2

 Three of our budding thespians at Tintern spent a good portion of their recent holidays rehearsing High School Music 2 with local amateur theatre company, Fab Nobs Theatre Inc.

Emily Stokes (Year 11, currently studying VCE Solo Music Performance, Drama and Theatre Studies) landed the lead role of Sharpay Evans in the production and gave an amazingly convincing performance of this stuck-up, self-centred character (which is not at all like the real Emily!). The lead characters were ably supported by a small and strong chorus in the show and two chorus members were our very own Jaymie Ashman and Summer Cooke. Congratulations to all three students on developing their stage craft and acting, singing and dancing skills during their winter break.

Emily Stokes

Jaymie Ashman

Summer Cooke

Friends of Music Jazz Night

Tintern’s Friends of Music Jazz Night always is a much-anticipated event on the Tintern musical and social calendar. Our Friends of Music Committee are celebrating their 20^th Jazz Night by using The Roaring 20s as their theme this year. They will decorate the CM Wood Centre and the students will dig out their finery for a great night of music-making and dancing! We are welcoming back to Tintern Ross Irwin (of The Cat Empire fame) and his Dance Band, who promise to have us up on the floor dancing the night away.

Book Now: Friends of Music Jazz Night 2023 – The Roaring Twenties | Humanitix

Alison Bezaire | Director of Music 

Arts Matters

Pierre Bonnard NGV Exhibition

On Monday 24 July, Year 12 VCE Art Creative Practice students attended the Pierre Bonnard Winter Masterpieces exhibition at the NGV. Pierre Bonnard is celebrated for his use of colour to convey a sense of emotion. The images were shimmering with light and colour that cannot be seen in the pages of a book or on a screen, but experienced in person. The entire exhibition was a visual feast that featured the immersive experience of the exhibition design by Paris-based designer India Mahdavi. Students were able to reflect on the practice of the artist as part of their investigation into traditional art, in readiness for comparison to more contemporary works with a lecture at the gallery followed by a viewing of the exhibition.

Rachel Waud | Head of Visual Art & Design

Sport Matters

Volleyball Schools Cup

Last week Tintern entered ten teams into the Volleyball Victoria Schools Cup. It is a multi-day event with teams from across Victoria. We were thrilled with our students’ performances with many teams winning medals. Two of our students Ethan Luo and Abbey Stansfield received MVP for their division. This is voted on by the players of other teams throughout the competition.

Results at the completion of the event: 

Year 7 G – Silver

Year 7 B – 6th

Year 8 G- Gold

Year 8 B – Bronze

Year 10 G – silver

Year 10 B – 4th

Div 1

Year 9G – silver

Year 9 B – 5th

Year 11G – 8th

Year 11B – 7th

Cross Country

We congratulate Year 9 student Amelie for her strong performance at the XC Championships recently that has placed her in the Victorian State Cross Country Team, and she has also been invited to compete at the Nationals in Canberra on Saturday 26th August. Tintern Grammar is proud of her, and we wish her the best of luck as she competes for our State. 🏅

House Cross Country

On Friday 14 July, Tintern Grammar held the annual House Cross Country Carnival. The weather was perfect for the event and the ground conditions, although wet, were good for cross country running. The course took the students around the Tintern Grammar campus, starting on the oval and making its way down to the back of the farm, before finishing back on the oval. The students participated well and ran to the best of their ability. There were some close races, and the overall points were close throughout the afternoon. Thank you to all staff who performed jobs on the day. The overall results were:

1^st          Mansfield/McKie             355 Points

2^nd         Gordan/Grant                  346 Points

3^rd          Butterss/Cross                 305 Points

4^th          Somner/Stewart              295 Points

5^th          Dann/Watt                       237 Points

Congratulations to Mansfield/McKie on winning the 2023 House Cross Country Carnival.

Congratulations to the following students who won their year level races:

Year 7 Boys: Tom Robson

Year 7 Girls: Jamie Linaker

Year 8 Boys: James Svigos

Year 8 Girls: Avie Lee

Year 9 Boys: Dash Clarke

Year 9 Girls: Amelie Scherer

Year 10 Boys: Tom Hutcheon

Year 10 Girls: Millie Blank

Year 11 Boys: Barathan Mahadeva

Year 11 Girls: Ava Cantor

Year 12 Boys: Jake Pearce

Year 12 Girls: Asha Pongho

ELC News

Toddler Time at Tintern Grammar is a structured playgroup which runs on Thursday mornings at the ELC 9.00am-10.30 am for parents or guardians to attend with their toddlers 18 months to 3 years of age (baby siblings welcome).

Toddler Time provides a great opportunity to connect with other families to share in fun activities with their children, as well as familiarise their family with the Tintern Grammar Early Learning Centre. It is a positive way for children who are enrolled in our Early Learner or Pre-Prep program to also meet our Early Learning educators, making transition easier when it comes to starting.

The routine for the day consists of indoor and outside activities. Where age-appropriate activities alongside art and craft are provided, a short group time where we sing songs and then a play outside. Currently a popular activity is play dough, particularly making cakes and then using matchsticks for the candles so we can sing happy birthday. Our craft table and easel are also an exciting place to be, as quite often the activities offered here can be very different to what is on offer at home.

On the mat we come together (adults and children) to sing our favourite songs. The children are encouraged to choose a song for us (if they want to) to sing as a group with our current favourites being animal related, 5 little ducks and Old McDonald had a farm.

Feedback from parents is that their children look forward to our snack time platters for free choice of different fruits, crackers, sultanas, and cheese. I have been told that the bar has now been set high as a single piece of fruit at home is just not as exciting. Throughout the year we also visit our wonderful Junior School library, music room and a highlight is visiting the farm.

Thursday mornings in the ELC are filled with excited Toddlers who have a fun packed morning.

If you would like to attend or know more, please contact admissions@tintern.vic.edu.au 

Hayley Warner | Toddler Time Co-ordinator and ELC Co Educator

Girls’ Junior School News

The Wizard of Oz

Thank you….. from Jacquie Casey

Theatre is about connection, teamwork,  resilience and support, and there has been so much of that shown in our Tintern Girls Junior School as we prepared for our production of The Wizard of Oz in Semester 1 this year. Last week we finally performed The Wizard of Oz on stage in CMWood.  The girls shone so beautifully, demonstrating confidence and resilience on stage in both the Matinee and Evening shows.

The Girls in the Junior School  have risen wonderfully and successfully to the challenges of this musical. To the staff of the Girls’ Junior School, LE support Staff, Parent Volunteers and our generous donors of costumes and props – thank you so very much for your generous time and efforts.

The performances last week was the product of hours and hours of hard work, commitment, love, generosity and sacrifice on the part of so many people in our Tintern community. It’s been quite a journey, and it’s always with a certain degree of sadness that we bring the curtain down on another show.  I’m going to miss the healthy mix of laughter and anxiety that filled our rehearsals. I’m going to miss the creative energy of the cast, the enthusiasm of our youngest performers, and the collaborative spirit of the entire production team. Thank you everyone for your support, helping to cheer us all on, during our rehearsals both at home and at school.

Here are some reflections from our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 girls about our Wizard of Oz Production and some photos for you to enjoy.  

Year 1A

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when the Doorman said “state your Business!” – Isabelle

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when The Ozians sang and when Glinda came to Munchkin Land. – Charlie, Quentin and Kyla

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when Dorothy met the Wizard of Oz

I loved seeing Professor Marval’s Crystal Ball.- Milani

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was the Tornado! – Ava

I loved seeing the Lion acting scared! – Julia

I loved seeing the characters all backstage – Sophie

I loved Dancing so much – Zoe

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was the Merry Old land of Oz, singing “Ha Ha Ha” – Ira

I loved coming out of the Flowerpot! – Ariel

My favorite part of the Wizard of Oz was when I was in the flowerpot! – Emily

I loved the Jitterbugs and all of Dorothys acting and singing! – Esther.

Prep

I laughed a lot when the Scarecrow fell down! – Evelyn

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when I was a Blue bird – Vikki, Ellie and Noah

I loved dressing in green and singing “The Merry Old Land of Oz” – Hannah

I loved the Finale because I liked the bows – Zoe

I loved it when I was on stage with my wonderful buddy, Sarah, who was the Scarecrow – Emerson.

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when we held the green balloons on stage and the Wizard collected them from us and pretended to float up in the air.

I loved seeing my Buddy dressed as Dorothy on the stage – Aubrey.

I loved the Tin Man scene because Indianna is my Buddy – Charlotte

I liked the Bows – Jasmine

I liked it when thew Wicked Witch sent the message to Dorothy – Leah

I loved being dressed as corn because I love to eat corn! – Arnika

I loved being an Ozian in my green tutu!  – Eva

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was being the corn in the Scarecrow dance – Eleanor and Thea

I loved the show because Charlotte and I sang a duet in the Scarecrow Song – Vachi

I loved the Jitterbugs because my buddy Nina is such an amazing dancer – Ruby

I loved seeing my buddy Linna on stage because she was the Wizard!

I really loved the Jitterbug dance – Evelyn D

Year 2 

I loved the Lions’ songs and the duet that Dorothy and Aunt Em sang. – Sarah

I loved the Wizard on the back screen and also the Lion – Stasia

I loved the Tinman song because I think Indianna has a beautiful voice – Hannah

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when the Wicked Witch was talking and acting so well.

I loved the end when Aunt Em sang with Dorothy – Jessie

I liked Dorothy’s hair so much! – Mackenzie

I loved the Jitterbug dance – Lily

I loved the Bows because I felt so proud – Helen

I loved it when Glinda came and sang and I really loved her dress. – Sana

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was the Tin man song – Abigail

My favourite character in the Wizard of Oz was the Lion – Olivia

My favourite part was when Glinda said “the wonderful Wizard of Oz “ – Milly

I really loved Dorothy’s red sparkly shoes – Lena

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when Dorothy sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Kira

My favourite parts of the Wizard of Oz was when the rabbits danced and the Bows. – Daisy

My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when the Lion said “I’d like to roar them down, but I think I lost my roarer!” – Beatrice

I really loved the Rainbow dancers – Luna

I loved all of Dorothy’s songs – Aleyah

I loved it when the Wizard bowed and took his hat off! – Zoe

Allison Prandolini | Head of Girls’ Junior School

Exploring ‘The Last Daughter’ in Year 6

Last week, our students had the opportunity to attend an on-campus screening of the film The Last Daughter, complementing their studies on Indigenous History. This powerful documentary follows Brenda, an Aboriginal woman, on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and resilience, offering a compelling insight into the experiences of Indigenous communities. Brenda’s story focuses particularly on the Stolen Generation and its enduring impact on that generations that follow.

After the screening, the class engaged in thought-provoking discussions where students shared their insights and reflections on the film’s themes. To promote our School’s value of developing a ‘Culture of Thinking’, we employed the ‘Circle of Viewpoints’ thinking routine.

This routine prompted the students to step into the shoes of different people in the film, including Brenda, her foster family ‘The Ockers,’ and her Aboriginal family. By encouraging them to see the world through these diverse viewpoints, it fostered empathy and open-mindedness and enabled the students to gain a deeper understanding of these complex issues.

The girls were reassured that we learn about these issues not to feel guilty, but to understand – and the best way to understand something is to listen to someone’s story.  Watching and reflecting on the film was a great educational experience and broadened our students’ thinking and understanding, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexities of cultural heritage and its influence on our identities.

Will Fogarty | Year 6 Teacher

Boys’ Junior School News

It was a wonderful pleasure to welcome back to Tintern Scotty and Sean James last Friday morning. It is 20 years since both boys commenced at our Southwood Campus, Scott in Year 2 and Sean in Year 5, and they return each year, having achieved so much, yet maintaining the same smiles, boyish grins, and characters that reflect our Compass.

We never take for granted Scotty’s visits…he is training hard for his ultimate goal of an Olympic Gold Medal, maintains his status as World Number 1 snowboarder, is now part owner of the X-games, recently married, and commutes between his homes in London and Monaco. Yet as we stood chatting in the car park at the end of his visit, he said ‘I love coming back to visit…it keeps me grounded and provides for great memories!’

Scotty spoke to us all about resilience, commitment and humility and participated in a number of interactive and fun activities. He was, as always, selfless with his time, caring and kind and reflected our Compass…traits that we continue to reinforce amongst our boys and hope that they will take with them as they journey through life. He has promised he will return around the same time next year!

I believe there are a number of key aspects that have made Scotty successful;

• A willingness to have a go – Scotty embraced any opportunity, academic, co-curricular and sporting that was on offer
• Maintaining a Balance – Scotty still found time to do his study, go out with friends, play other sports…his whole life wasn’t swamped by his training
• A caring family – who gave him unconditional love, support.  They never put Scotty on a metaphoric pedestal….and modelled and taught him kindness and humility. When he and Sean arrived at the Southwood Centre Friday morning, they held the door open, stood back and said good morning to those going in.

We can’t all be world champions at our passion, and many of us won’t achieve some of our goals, but we DO all have the capacity to be kind, caring, selfless and give of our best…and this is what I hope our boys have had reinforced on Friday (as well as having fun!…seeing Scotty and Seano ‘dance off’ against the Preps on Friday morning was a magical moment!)

Adam Kenny | Head of Boys’ Junior School

Secondary News

Following the three-week break at the end of Term 2, the beginning to Term 3 quickly returned to the busyness that earlier two first two terms provided. The new semester has brought with it the change in timetable for our Year 7 – 10 students with new rotating core subjects coming into their weekly routine, and also new electives designed to engage and inspire our Year 8 – 10 students.

The new timetable ties in with our current 2024 subject selection process that is currently underway. Students and families have been busy in the last week choosing subjects they are interested in studying next year including our current Year 7 students selecting their first set of electives, through to our Year 10 students finalising their suite of subjects for their VCE journey. In Week 1 of this term, we held our VCE Subject Showcase which enabled all current Year 10 and interested Year 9 families, the opportunity to hear information on available VCE/VET subjects from Heads of Department or subject teachers. Our Head of English and Head of Mathematics presented to all families around subject pathways, before providing time for all guests to visit the classrooms of their subjects of interest and ask questions.

Subject selections closed this week, with all preferences now in the hands of our Timetabler challenged with the task of constructing the 2024 school timetable. This is a tough task. Trying to accommodate the wishes of all students in terms of subject preferences; however, inevitably some students may not receive their first preferences for next year despite our best intention and students will need to be understanding of this.

Over the last holidays Semester 1 reports were made available to students and families and at a recent Principal’s assembly the importance of reflection and goal setting at the beginning of a Semester was highlighted. A key component of the development of our learners is our Learning Behaviours rubric that accompanies all class reports. This rubric highlights the key components that all students should be developing as they grow as learners including themes of:

• Preparation for Learning.
• Participation in Learning.
• Attitude toward Learning.

In each subject, students are graded from 1 to 5 across 7 key areas coming from the above themes. It is from this area that students should be setting their goals. Whether it is to be more organised at home, be more active in class or ensure that they are displaying a positive attitude to their learning in all subjects, not just their more favoured ones. When developed well, these behaviours will set students up for success not just in their VCE years, but in life beyond school as well.

2023 NAPLAN

Results have recently been mailed out to all families with our students displaying strong results across all areas. One key statistic worth mentioning is that over 55% of our Year 9 students received a Certificate of Achievement from the VCAA. This is a recognition of them either well-exceeding standard or moving more than two bands in growth. A testament to their hard work and also to the wonderful teaching being provided by our Middle School teachers.

Volleyball

Throughout the third week of term our school volleyball teams were involved in the Victorian Schools Cup competition held at the State Volleyball Centre in Dandenong. Our teams from Year 7 to Seniors competed over the week with the school achieving some amazing results. Read the Sports report for full results.  This tournament is a culmination of a huge amount of work that has gone into the volleyball program this year. From tryouts at the beginning of the year, to regular training over the course of the year, there has been a very large commitment made by these students and also by the staff involved. The staff was headed up by Mrs Jessie Petchell who has done an incredible job in building our Volleyball program, as well as Mr Viney, Ms Crundell and other members of our sports department. A huge congratulations to all teams for such a successful week.

Debating

Tintern Grammar has a vibrant debating community. With seven Secondary teams, Tintern Grammar is also a host school to the five-round DAV competition with surrounding schools.

Round 5, the final round, was held recently, the results were: 

A grade had a bye

B grade (secret topic – That extreme sports should be banned from the Olympics, Negative) lost by 3 points

C grade (That medical professionals should not be allowed to strike) won by 2 points 

D grade (That we regret the use of participation awards) Tintern 1 won by 2 points, Tintern 2 won by 3 points, Tintern 3 lost by 1 point and Tintern 4 lost by 3 points

We had three best speakers: Elisha Sze (C grade: Yr 10), Amelie Yeoman (D grade: Yr 9), and Himandee Jayaratne (D grade: Yr 8)

 

We are thrilled to announce that two of our teams, D Grade Tintern 2 and C grade finished undefeated and will progress to the ‘Play Offs’. All students have put in a tremendous effort, individually and collaboratively, while developing their communication skills. Many debates only missing out by a narrow margin.

We thank Mrs Derry for her dedicated work, supporting our students to master the valuable communication skill that is debating. Pictured below is Debaters from our seven teams, recently celebrated at our Secondary Assembly.

Write a Book in a Day

Earlier this Term our Middle School students participated in ‘Write a book in a day’. This whole day event was a fundraiser for Kids with Cancer and was a lot of fun. The students formed teams and collaborated to create a plot for their original book. As a team, they then wrote the story and created illustrations and promotions. It was a busy and creative day, as they learnt the power of working together as a team to succeed in writing a book in one school day!

Brett Trollope | Head of Secondary

Social Media Influencers

Social media influencers have become powerful individuals who often shape the opinions and beliefs of others due to strong connections with their audiences. In today’s fast-paced digital world, attention has become a valuable commodity.

However, the impact of social media influencers on youth mental health is a growing concern, most recently, the controversial actions and statements of Andrew Tate. His rise to fame has made him a polarising figure, amassing a significant following of mostly young males. Educators and families have raised urgent concerns about the damaging nature of Tate’s content, worried that his messages may radicalise students and create a generation of young men with regressive and harmful beliefs.

Young people often compare themselves to the idealised lives presented by influencers, leading to feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth and dissatisfaction. Social media algorithms may also expose them to inappropriate or harmful content such as explicit material, promotion of harmful behaviours, or distorted perceptions of body image or mental health.

It is important to guide a young person’s social media use and promote open communication. Be curious to comprehend why they might be drawn to radical influencers, like Andrew Tate, and actively seek understanding as part of the solution. While not all influencers have a negative impact, parents play a vital role in ensuring a balanced approach to social media. By actively modelling kindness, respect and positive values, parents can help tackle the sway of radical influencers and be part of the solution to countering unhealthy masculinity.

SchoolTV has released a Special Report which provides guidance on how to respond to misinformation and disinformation, instead encouraging critical thinking and emphasising the value of real-life connections. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.

Click on this link to view the Special Report https://tintern.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-social-media-influencers-au

Oriana Constable | Assistant Principal

Scholarships

At Tintern, we prepare students to be collaborative confident and creative – capable of navigating complexity in a rapidly changing world.
 
Success for our students begins with the twin goals of personal growth and wellbeing. Our world-leading Parallel Learning model supports the growth of our students through a crafted combination of single-gender and co-educational classroom experiences.
 
We are proud to offer 2025 Scholarships to young people who might otherwise not be able to attend Tintern. A Scholarship to Tintern opens diverse and challenging opportunities for the holder, providing breadth and depth to their education and develops leadership within the Tintern community.
 
Throughout the years, Tintern Scholarships have attracted outstanding applicants who have enriched our community in areas such as academic leadership, social justice, service, music, and the performing arts. Their role modelling of strong character, appetite for learning and improvement, respect, care and kindness towards others, exemplify Tintern’s values and culture.
 
We welcome 2025 scholarship applications from young women and
men to join the Tintern learning community.
 
Applications close: 4pm, 12 September 2023.
 
For more information on the broad range of scholarships and to
apply, click here.

Attend our upcoming Scholarship Information Evening to learn from the IDAT team about the Tintern Grammar 2025 Scholarship test, the technology requirements for the test and what your child can do to optimise results and preparation time. https://events.humanitix.com/scholarship-information-evening-2023-in-association-with-idat

Yours sincerely

Bradley Fry
Principal

Community Matters

We have had a very exciting start to Term 3, with many more wonderful Community Events still to come for 2023:

• Father’s Day Stall for Junior Schools and ELC – Wednesday 30 August
• Jazz Night – Saturday 2 September 2023 at 7pm 
• Presentation Ball – Saturday 9 September at 7.30pm – Guest Tickets close today – Book yours online here
• TPG Spring Garden Tour – Friday 20 October – 9am to 3.15pm
• Munch with the Musos – Sunday 26 November at 10am
• Principal’s thank You Evening – Thursday 30 November 

Book Now for Tintern Grammar Jazz Night 

Father’s Day Stall

ELC and Junior School students can enjoy the TPG Father’s Day Stall on Wednesday 30 August from 8.30am to 1.30pm, in the Southwood Centre.

Gifts range in price from $3 – $15 and please send a bag on the day for your child to put their goodies in!

If you are able to assist with the stall please nominate a day and time on the form available here and return to Junior Reception. Please note we will only contact you if we need to arrange an alternative time for you.

If you have any further questions please contact Danielle.

TPG Presentation Ball 

We are very excited for our upcoming Annual Presentation Ball on Saturday 9 September at The Centre, Ivanhoe. 

Our Year 11 Presentees and their partners have been hard at work learning their dances and preparing for this enchanted evening.

Guest tickets close today, Tuesday 3 August, and can be purchased online here.

Thank you to the incredible Volunteers, led by Josie Ryan, who have made this wonderful night possible.

We are seeking additional helpers in the afternoon and evening, if you can assist please contact Josie by email.

On Thursday evening, 13 July, dance classes commenced for all students participating in this year’s Presentation Ball to be held on Saturday, 9 September 2023 at The Ivanhoe Centre.  Presided over by Cathy Saisi, a professional dance teacher who has taught several of our presentees for past balls and is currently a staff member in the Junior School, the first class was a tremendous success and the successive classes are sure to be just as much fun as this one was.

TPG Trivia Night 2023

Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets for the TPG Trivia Night last Saturday. It was an incredible evening, led by Adam Kenny, Quiz Master extraordinaire, and managed by an amazing team of Volunteers from the Tintern Parent Group. It was a festive atmosphere, with so many amazing costumes shown in the images below.

The winner of the best table theme was the Boys’ Junior School Teachers Table and their Barbie theme. The overall Triva winner was Danielle Clarks “Google is our Friend But Not Tonight” Table.

A special thank you on behalf of the school to the hardworking members of the TPG who made this night possible; Sally Robinson, Josephine Di Felice and Trina Meddings, whose time and dedication were integral to the success of this special annual event.

A final thank you to the Green Team and Social Justice Group, who organised a fantastic Silent Auction.

Thank you also to Adam Kenny, who once again led an incredible 5 rounds of Trivia and many wonderful special activities and games, including Tintern’s Got Talent (and there was some amazing talent!).

A special thank you to the companies and Tintern families who donated to the Trivia Night Raffle:

• Additional Anonymous Donations received from the parent community.

We look forward to another wonderful Trivia Night in 2024!

 

Shedding Light 

At Tintern we are proud of our 145+ year history and our foundations with the Anglican Church. In our early days in Hawthorn our parish church was St Columb’s. The beauty and history of this church has been celebrated in a book by Rev Malcolm Woolrich titled ‘Shedding Light’. With more than 150 illustrations it celebrates the artistry of some of Melbourne’s most gifted stained-glass creators, the symbols and stories contained. It examines the history of the church and reflections with Tintern Grammar. Read the full Tintern News story https://www.tintern.vic.edu.au/the-beauty-and-history-of-st-columbs-tinterns-parish-church/ The Tintern community and those interested in local history, the artistry of stain glass windows and their storytelling are invited to a book launch held on Saturday 12 August 2pm at St Columb’s. The Trybooking link is https://www.trybooking.com/CJDVM

Tintern Parent Group are pleased to offer you high quality, custom Tintern umbrellas, limited quantity available now for collection from the Uniform Shop!

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. 

Uniform Shop Opening Hours – Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am to 4.30pm

Strictly limited quantities available. On Sale until Sold Out!

Orders your online here: https://events.humanitix.com/tintern-parent-group-umbrellas-2023 

Parent Representatives 2023

We are still seeking a Year Level Parent Representative for Year 11. If you are interested, please get in touch with Di Lacey on 9845 7893 or by email to communityrelations@tintern.vic.edu.au. 

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 still recovering from the lockdowns.

If you would like to volunteer to be your Year Level’s Parent Representative or would like further information, contact us by email communityrelations@tintern.vic.edu.au or by phone 03 9845 7877.

Community Committee Dates 

Community Group Meetings are now back onsite. Please check the information below carefully for details:

• Tintern Parent Group (TPG) –Next meeting AGM: Thursday 10 August at 7pm President: Michele Brooks Location: Online via Zoom Select here, Password: TPG 
• Friends of Music (FOM) – Next Meeting AGM: Tuesday 15 August 2023 at 7pm President: Denise Honan Location: CM Wood Common Room
• Friends of Equestrian (FOE) – Next Meeting: TBC

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

2023 Census Privacy Collection Notice

Download 2023 Census Privacy Collection Notice 

Connected Parenting Seminar

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