ELC – Wrapping up the year

Celebrating Community, Connection and Belonging

As we reach the end of another wonderful year, it’s a perfect time to pause and reflect on the rich tapestry of experiences that have helped build a strong sense of belonging within our ELC community. Each event, big or small, has contributed to creating meaningful connections for our children, families, and educators. These shared moments are the heartbeat of our centre, weaving together memories that will stay with the children long after the year ends.

One of our earliest adventures was our nature walk, where the children eagerly explored the school grounds with curiosity and confidence. As they ran freely, discovering new spaces and becoming increasingly comfortable across the wider campus they collected “treasures” to keep. These explorations fostered independence, wonder, and a growing pride in being part of the school community.

Our Easter Concert marked a special milestone—the children’s very first performance on stage. With bright smiles and brave hearts, they sang, danced, and beamed with pride as families filled the room with warmth and encouragement. It was a celebration of courage, teamwork, and joy.

In May, we honoured the wonderful women in our children’s lives with our Mother’s Day “Songs and Scones” afternoon tea. The children sang from the heart, and the shared scones created such a gentle, loving atmosphere. It was a beautiful way to recognise the mothers and significant females who nurture, guide, and support our children every day.

Soon after, our Father’s Day PJ and Pizza night brought families together once again—this time with pizza, laughter, and plenty of hands-on fun. Celebrating the special males in our children’s lives allowed us to acknowledge the important role they play in shaping these early years.

Our Big Breakfast event was another highlight, as families gathered bright and early to share a meal and raise funds for a meaningful cause. The sense of community spirit was unmistakable, with everyone contributing, connecting, and enjoying the simple pleasure of starting the day together.

And now, as we look ahead to December, all roads lead to our Christmas Concert—a joyful culmination of the year’s learning, creativity, and togetherness. It promises to be a heart-warming celebration of the children’s growth and the community that surrounds them.

As we wrap up the year, we sincerely thank all our families for their ongoing support, enthusiasm, and involvement. These events matter deeply—they strengthen relationships, build confidence, and create memories that enrich every child’s journey.

Kristin De Vos

Head of early Learning Centre

GJS Year 5 camp

In Week 4 of this term, the year 5s went to Sovereign Hill Camp in Ballart. We learnt about the Australian Gold Rush and how the Eureka Stockade changed Australian democracy. Our top activities were gold panning where some of us it rich and found gold. We considered we were incredibly lucky! We also visited the mines underground, where we heard very realistic sounds in the tunnels. The raspberry drops were a highlight: eating them was so delicious as they exploded in your mouth. Overall Sovereign Hill was amazing. Thank you to the staff for making it happen! 

Wellbeing

The summer holidays are a great time for students and families to relax, recharge and prepare for the year ahead. After a busy term, the break offers a chance to focus on our wellbeing. Catching up on sleep is important, with 8–10 hours helping to restore energy and improve focus. Staying active also boosts mood, whether through walking, bike riding, shooting hoops or dancing. Connecting with family and friends supports emotional wellbeing and strengthens relationships. The holidays are also perfect for trying new hobbies, exploring new places as well as simply enjoying downtime.

Have a wonderful break and a Merry Christmas from the Wellbeing Team.

Ewa Oaten
Director of Student Wellbeing and Counselling

Celebrating generosity and community

On Friday 21 November, our Principal, Mr Brad Fry, hosted a warm and relaxed Cocktail Reception at Monash University ahead of our Celebration Evening, bringing together a small group of community members who quietly and consistently go above and beyond for Tintern.

In the room were valued donors, legacy supporters and business partners, members of our Board and Executive, award namesakes and scholarship benefactors, along with generous volunteers from our current and past parent, staff and wider alumni communities. It was a chance to pause, say thank you, and recognise just some of the many ways our community gives, through financial contributions, time, or expertise.

In his remarks, Brad shared stories of real impact and learning that simply would not happen without this support. What came through most strongly was a shared belief in our young people and a deep commitment to strengthening Tintern, through scholarship support, enriched programs, and support to grow and improve our facilities.

To those who joined us on the night, and to all who support Tintern in ways seen and unseen, thank you. Your generosity at every level strengthens our community and makes a genuine difference.

Di Lacey
Development Manager

Chaplain

A Christmas Carol

In 1872, English poet Christina Rossetti penned her timeless poem In the Bleak Midwinter, later set to music and known as A Christmas Carol. Her words paint a vivid picture of a cold and quiet world awaiting the warmth of divine love:

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign
In the bleak midwinter, a stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him — give my heart.

Rossetti’s simple yet profound words remind us that Christmas is not only about celebrating the gift of Christ, but also about what we offer in return. In a world that can sometimes feel “bleak,” our greatest gift is not found in what we own or achieve, but in the love, kindness, and care we give from the heart.

May this Christmas be a time when each of us pauses to offer that gift,  to God, to one another, and to our world.

Wishing you a joyful and hope-filled Christmas,

Rev Kate Vergers
School Chaplain

Music

Munch with the Musos was a mammoth musical feast!

The CM Wood Centre was filled to capacity on the morning of Sunday 30 November as the Friends of Music mounted one of our annual favourites on the Tintern musical calendar, “Munch with the Musos”! This wonderful event, which brings together our Junior School and Secondary School performers, with a Christmas theme being the order of the day. Somewhere in the vicinity of 440 people, including students and their family members and staff enjoyed the musical items performed by choirs, orchestras and bands.

As well as festive music, the event provided time for socialising, munching on tasty morsels, reflecting on the past year, and a friendly atmosphere that wouldn’t be possible without the incredible organisational efforts of our Friends of Music committee. Thank you to the hard-working parents, who set up the hall on Friday afternoon and then arrived at 8.30am on Sunday to prepare the food and put the finishing touches on the hall decorations! Their efforts are greatly appreciated by the Music Department and the wider school community. Please email fom@tintern.vic.edu.au if you would like to join this merry band of parents of musical children in 2026!

Music lessons for 2026

 A reminder to all families with students who currently learn Instrumental Music or Speech and Drama that your child will automatically be enrolled for lessons in 2026 unless you advise the music office (music@tintern.vic.edu.au) that you wish to discontinue lessons in the new year. New Music Lesson enrolments for 2026 also are welcome at this stage. Please call Chris Quigley in the Music Office (Ph: 9845 7837) if you have any questions regarding these matters or if you would like to receive an enrolment form for Music lessons in 2026.

Merry Christmas to all Tintern families from the music staff and

all of the Merry Musos in the Tintern Music Department!

Sport news

Baseball

Congratulations to Declan Marshall and Takuto Kawase on being selected for the Victorian U/18 development squad

Artistic swimming

It was a fierce competition, that brought together the best and most talented athletes aged 13-15 years old from 38 countries around the world. 
Adnana competed as part of a team of 10 young athletes from different Australian clubs in the Mixed Combination routine, placing 18th on the world stage.

Adnana also participated in the figures event, where she placed in the second half of 328 international competitors.

Cycling

Leroy Bartlett – As of this weekend, I have competed in

round 1 of the 3 rounds of the Australian junior track series in Sydney and have gone extremely well finishing 3^rd in the overall standings which is a massive achievement for me. I won two of my 8 events, while being at least in the top 4 for all of my other events. I will be attending the next round in Perth and will also competing in another national 4 race event when I’m there. I will keep you updated.

Javelin

It was in athletics at Lakeside Stadium – U/15 girls

I got 5^th for discus and 2^nd for javelin at all schools, so I’m onto nationals for javelin.

Nationals is the 6^th of December for my event and is at Lakeside athletics track. I was u15s for states and will be as well for nationals. States was Sunday the 2^nd of November. I also qualified for the Athletics Australia national championships which is in April next year, which I will be u16s for.

Welcome

As we head towards the end of the school year, Christmas, and our summer break, it is an opportune time to reflect on 2025 at Tintern. It has been a wonderful year of achievement, activity, growth and partnership across the School and our community, and I would like to touch on a few highlights.

We began the year reflecting on what we believe were Tintern’s strongest results since the advent of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). These outcomes arose from the committed and consistent work of a wonderful group of young people, who were brilliantly mentored and taught by our dedicated staff, and supported at home by caring and committed families. We were very proud of our 2024 leavers and are similarly admiring of our 2025 Valedictorians, who will receive their results on 12 December.

Our new VCE Centre is well advanced and remains on time and on budget for use by our most senior students in our 150th year, 2027. This will be a truly state-of-the-art facility, supporting not only academic achievement but also broader student growth through our developing coaching program for Year 12 students.

Our Celebration Evenings across both the Junior and Secondary Schools have been vibrant and powerful presentations of the breadth and richness of life at Tintern. Music, drama and other co-curricular performances sat alongside academic achievement and leadership recognition to make these evenings memorable and meaningful. Speech Nights are no longer the lengthy events they once were, characterised by long speeches and limited student presence (thank heavens), and ours have been engaging, enjoyable and of an appropriate length.

Student leadership in 2025 has been remarkable, particularly across our Year 6, Year 9 and Year 12 cohorts. Strong and visible leadership, alongside student voice and agency, are clear signs of a healthy and open community where all members are valued, respected and believed in — foundations of our Tintern Compass and community culture. Equally evident has been the leadership shown by students who do not hold formal roles. This initiative, visible across the School, is a reassuring indicator of student confidence and a willingness to live our factis non verbis (by deeds, not words) motto, which urges action and contribution in the world beyond words alone.

As is always the case at the end of the year, we farewell a number of staff who are retiring or moving on to new roles. We thank all staff for their contributions to Tintern throughout 2025. In particular, we farewell Mrs Allison Prandolini, who has served as Head of the Girls’ Junior School for the past seven years. When she joined Tintern, Mrs Prandolini brought with her a strong commitment to courage and strength in girls’ education, fostering impressive self-belief, autonomy and confidence among our Junior School girls. Her focus on curriculum and teaching and learning has driven important development across the Junior School, work that has been expertly enacted by the outstanding team of teachers she has recruited and developed during her time here. We wish her every success in her new role as Head of Junior School at Wesley College, St Kilda Road.

Looking ahead to 2026, I am excited about the forthcoming communication regarding our new Year 9 program, to be shared in mid-2026 for implementation from 2027. While not yet complete, our review of Year 9 and the redesign of key elements will ensure students are engaged, challenged and well prepared to move into Senior College as thoughtful, educated citizens, ready to launch into their final years of schooling.

Our community is now well aware of our changes to device use across the School, designed to further strengthen student wellbeing and online safety. While I am confident this shift is in the best interests of our students, I also acknowledge it will present challenges. With the government’s age-based social media ban, there is significant change underway for our young women and men, and both School and families will need to support them through this transition, which they will feel keenly.

I wish all families a wonderful and celebratory end to the school year, a happy and holy Christmas, and a restful and enjoyable summer.

Factis non verbis