At the close of a successful and dynamic year, I am delighted to announce the launch of our 2026 Classroom Culture Wheel, a fresh, practical model designed to bring together our teaching, learning, and wellbeing priorities under the umbrella of our triangular partnership approach. This initiative represents a significant step forward for our College as we continue to strengthen our commitment to clarity and consistency of practice. In 2026, vibrant posters will be displayed in every classroom, serving as daily reminders of our shared dedication to best practice.

Grounded in familiar principles such as clear learning intentions, responsive teaching, and the “I do, we do, you do” approach, the Classroom Culture Wheel promotes gradual release of responsibility, timely and positive feedback, and supportive environments where every student feels valued. By emphasising inclusivity and differentiation, we strengthen relationships and uphold high expectations, balanced with the care that remains central to our philosophy.

Crucially, the Wheel aligns closely with our wellbeing strategy. We know self-regulated learners thrive when engagement and flow are prioritised. This model encourages explicit instruction and celebrates learner attributes, reinforcing our belief that wellbeing and academic achievement go hand in hand.

This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to nurturing both the minds and wellbeing of our students. As the Classroom Culture Wheel becomes a familiar presence in every learning space, I am confident it will inspire staff and students alike to aim high, embrace diversity, and foster a culture where everyone can flourish.

We will share further updates as the 2026 school year unfolds. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy a well-earned break over the holidays.

Thank you for your ongoing support, take care and stay safe.

Ross Patterson
Principal

Our recent Walk to School event was a wonderful way to start the festive season! Students added a splash of Christmas cheer to their uniforms with festive accessories, creating a colourful and joyful atmosphere.

We were thrilled to see 72 student walkers take part, along with many parents and staff members who joined in the fun. The morning was filled with laughter, singing, bright colours, and community spirit. It was a perfect way to celebrate the season together.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event such a success!

Laura Beaumont and Lauren Bunker
Teachers

Congratulations to TCE students Georgina Wilson, Claudia Beaumont, Ava Boyle and Jack Duncan for having work selected for ArtRage 2025. ArtRage is an exhibition held at the QVMAG that showcases artwork from TCE Art students across the state. These works have been selected from the folios students created as part of their Visual Art 3 course. This is a wonderful achievement for Georgina, Claudia, Ava and Jack and their works are fabulous examples of the technical skill and creative thinking that has gone into each folio.

ArtRage opens at the QVMAG in January 2026.

Carmel Dilger
Teacher

As the final lesson in their financial literacy elective, Mrs Russell’s Year 9 Enterprise class took their learning beyond the Penquite Campus and into the Junior School. Their mission? To share practical money skills with Year 4 Jones students in a way that was fun, interactive, and easy to understand.

The older students introduced concepts like compound interest, budgeting, and saving tips, but they didn’t stop at explanations. Many designed colourful presentations and creative games to make the session engaging for younger learners. The Year 4 students were enthusiastic participants, asking questions and enjoying the chance to learn from older peers. One Year 4 student reflected, “The activities were challenging but our Year 9 buddies helped us learn new things like compound interest.” Another added, “I would LOVE to learn with the Year 9s again!”
This experience followed the Year 4s trip earlier in the year where they investigated inflation as part of their inquiry into James Cook’s expedition.

For the Year 9s, the experience was just as valuable. Teaching financial ideas in simple terms challenged them to think differently and reinforced their own understanding. One student shared, “I loved the session, it was so fun interacting with the younger students.” Another commented, “That was the best excursion, I got to be in my same Year 4 class again.” It was a genuine exchange of learning, one that left both groups smiling.

The visit wrapped up with a lively game of Gaga Ball before the Year 9s headed back to Penquite, ending the semester on a positive and memorable note.

Joy Russell and Riley Jones
Teachers

Example artwork: Frankie Twine

ArtStart is an exhibition program designed to encourage and celebrate children’s participation in the Visual Arts. This year’s theme is ‘Our world, seen in a different way’. Opening Sunday 14 December at QVMAG – Inveresk, the exhibition will show throughout the summer months.

Congratulations to the following Year 4 students who have prints of their Batik art included in this exhibition:

Evan Paul, Otto Maxwell McGinn, Lewi McQueen, Oliver Bailey, Jack Spring, Freya Keane, Adelaide White, Eva Wood, Hamish Gee, Naaz Kaur, Frankie McFadzean, Mia Tan, Frankie Twine.

Suzanne Creese
Visual Arts Teacher

Image source: Tas Walking Company Blog

As a part of her Year 10 Work Experience, Mackenzie Long experienced the world of a tour guide, trekking the Overland Track with Tas Walking Company.  As a part of her experience an article was published on the Tas Walking Company’s website.  Read the full article on this link.

Mackenzie said,”My personal highlight of the trip was the quiet moments at camp in the evenings, sitting with my group, sharing food, resting sore legs, and feeling completely disconnected from everyday life. Those moments made the whole experience feel special.”

Judy Poynter
Project Officer – Futures Centre

On Thursday 4 December, members of the 2025 winning Parliamentary Plate team, Meg Kilby, Calan Young, Georgette Wilks and Makaela Fulton, visited Parliament House in Hobart.

This was at the invitation of Speaker of the House, Jacquie Petrusma and Michael Ferguson. Students were invited to watch the House of Assembly in session, to visit the Reception Room and museum and to have lunch in the Parliamentary Dining Room with The Speaker and Mr Ferguson. It was a valuable opportunity to watch the workings of parliament and to hear expert speakers presenting their arguments, and to chat informally with working members of the Tasmanian government.

Congratulations to this year’s Plate winners for their contributions to the College debating program in 2025.

Sharon Beattie
Person-in-Charge of Debating

Image source: Tasmanian Institute of Sport (facebook)

We are delighted to share some exciting news about two members of our community. Director of Rowing, Brendan Long, and current parent and Collegian Marcos Ambrose (’94) have both been inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame.

Amongst their achievements, Marcos won back-to-back V8 Supercars titles in 2003 and 2004 before racing NASCAR in the United States, winning races at the highest level in 2011 and 2012, and Brendan, who began rowing with the Tamar Rowing Club, became an eight-time Australian champion and competed at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

This is an incredible achievement, as only 146 Tasmanians, including some of the states most celebrated athlets, have received this honour. We congratulate Marcos and Brendan on the recognition of their success.

Ali Foot
Head of Sport – Penquite  

In the final weeks of Term, our four Year 7 French classes have visited Manubread in Invermay as a part of the SOC2City program.

As part of the unit on French cuisine, students enjoyed the ambience of a traditional café but also took part in a croissant-making workshop. It was a fun day discovering the delicate art on how to make the perfect croissant and then tasting the beautiful pastries. Some students also purchased bread or beautiful cakes, and enjoyed the sun on the terrasse in pure French style.

Thank you to Manubread for hosting us and making it a very memorable French class.

Fabrice Dauchez and Stephanie Morris
Teachers

Year 9 students, Olive Kwan and Amelia Carter, participated in The Tasmania Branch of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Stepping Up Program at Parliament House, Tasmania.

The CWP is a non-partisan network of women parliamentarians within Australia who are committed to the advancement of women in Australian politics and this event is part of the strategic vision to encourage young women to consider a career in politics.

The Stepping Up Program aims to give young women an insight into the work of Members of Parliament and the opportunity to meet and speak with them on important issues. It also aims to introduce young women to some of the skills required to be an effective Member of Parliament or community advocate. These skills will also be useful in student leadership positions and the workplace in general.

Students were fortunate to have a diverse and passionate group of women from across the political spectrum and from both Houses of Parliament joining them for the session. The discussion was a brilliant opportunity for the students to learn from, and ask questions of, our local female members of parliament.

Jane Gregg
Deputy Head of Senior School

I was honoured to attend the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Gold Ceremony at Government House on Friday, 28 November 2025. The event was graciously hosted by Her Excellency, the Honourable Barbara Baker AC.

This year, five of our College students achieved the prestigious Gold Award: Ella Fischer (2024), Lily Ayre, Saskia Boden, Mollie Gray, and Sophie Marshall. While Ella was unable to attend as she is currently studying in the USA, her achievement is equally celebrated.

It was a truly memorable occasion, with our students surrounded by the support of family and friends. Their dedication and perseverance in completing the Gold Award is commendable and reflects the values we strive to uphold at the College.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all our Awardees and their families and wish everyone a joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Jamie Breden
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Coordinator

For the past two months, I have had the privilege of spending my Round Square exchange at Colegio Anglo Colombiano in Bogotá—an experience that has truly been unforgettable. Two highlights defined my time abroad: the incredible people I met and a remarkable week spent in the Amazon.

From the moment I arrived, the warmth and kindness of students and staff made Bogotá feel less like a city 14,000 kilometres away and more like a second home. Friendships formed quickly, and I found myself surrounded by people who were always eager to talk, laugh, and welcome us into their routines. That sense of connection is what I will remember most, and I now have bonds that stretch across the world.

My second major highlight was joining the school’s trip to the Amazon, where Colombia meets Brazil and Peru. For a week, we slept in hammocks, trekked through jungle trails, swam in winding rivers, and learned from local communities. Despite limited economic resources, everyone we met radiated joy—especially the children, who greeted us with endless enthusiasm. We played football with village residents, shared traditional meals of fish, rice, and patacón, and even tried pirarucu, a giant Amazonian fish.

Living in a city as vast and complex as Bogotá was eye-opening. Each commute revealed the challenges many people face, prompting deep reflection on the comforts and opportunities we often take for granted at home.

If I could bring anything back from Colegio Anglo, it would be the people—and perhaps their timetable and amazing school food. Short, engaging classes and a vibrant cafeteria made every day lively and communal. Even daily greetings, which involved handshakes or hugs for everyone, created a warm atmosphere I hope to carry forward.

Bogotá and Tasmania may be worlds apart, but each holds qualities I love. Combining the warmth, diversity, and energy of Colombia with the safety, nature, and ease of Tasmania would create the perfect blend—one I’m grateful to have experienced from both sides.

Samuel Fischer
Year 10

Our inaugural Singing Soirée was held recently and what an unforgettable evening it was! From Year 2 all the way through to Year 12, our singers took to the Horton Auditorium stage with courage, joy, and an incredible amount of heart.

The night was put together by our wonderful College singing tutor, Jimmy Harrison, to celebrate the hard work our vocal students have put in throughout the year, and they absolutely shone.

A huge thank you to all the parents, carers, grandparents, siblings, and staff who came along to support our performers. Your encouragement means the world and helps create moments like these where students can hear, support, and celebrate each other.

Congratulations to every singer who shared their talent, and to those who came along to cheer their peers on. What a beautiful way to wrap up the year of music.

Here’s to many more soirées to come!

Andy Prideaux
Head of Performing Arts

Highlights from a pre-conference weekend

Before heading to Whanganui for the Round Square Conference, seven Scotch Oakburn students enjoyed three days exploring Wellington and Kāpiti Island. Their reflections capture the excitement, challenge and learning that shaped the start of their New Zealand adventure.

Ned Tatchell loved visiting Wētā Workshop and seeing how movie props are made. He also enjoyed learning about “Maori indigenous culture” at the Te Papa museum. Sunday’s climb on Kāpiti Island was a standout as he learnt “a lot about its history and the birds that live there.”

Edie Kwan arrived excited for “this long-awaited adventure.” She enjoyed navigating airports with Izzy and spotting “mountain ranges and random port seaside towns” from the plane. She loved how much Māori culture is present everywhere and found Wētā Workshop “insightful.” The boat ride to Kāpiti felt like “a mini roller coaster,” and she valued conversations with others.

Izzy Adams found Friday a great chance to build friendships and independence while travelling. She was fascinated by how Wētā creates prosthetics and animatronics and loved hearing Māori creation stories at Te Papa. Seeing endangered birds thrive on Kāpiti Island was “very inspiring.”

Grayson Edwards felt both nervous and excited for his “first overseas trip in seven years.” He especially enjoyed operating an animatronic at Wētā Workshop and was moved by the Gallipoli exhibition at Te Papa Museum. Reaching the summit on Kāpiti Island gave him “a great sense of accomplishment.”

George Lowe enjoyed getting to know the group better on Friday and loved the views from the plane. At Wētā Workshop she was fascinated by the models and animatronics, and at Te Papa she enjoyed the artworks and strong Māori influence. The climb on Kāpiti left her with “a feeling of achievement”

Oliver Brown said he was “in awe of the beautiful landscape.” As someone interested in film, Wētā Workshop was a major highlight. Kāpiti Island became “one of the best experiences in my life,” especially reaching the summit. He was also fascinated by learning about Māori culture.

Grace Watters spent Friday enjoying duty-free shopping and card games at Melbourne Airport. She loved learning about the origins of Wētā Workshop and was impressed by the Gallipoli exhibition. On Kāpiti she enjoyed seeing rare birds and climbing to the top for “stunning views.”

Maddi Gofton said their time in Aotearoa was full of “laughing and learning” She enjoyed getting to know everyone on the first day and exploring Cuba Street for dinner. Seeing the behind-the-scenes work at Wētā Workshop was a highlight, and climbing to the summit on Kāpiti—something she “didn’t believe I would accomplish”—rewarded her with a view that “felt like you were staring off the face of the earth.”

Together, these reflections show a group who embraced every moment of their pre-conference journey—learning, connecting and exploring as they prepared for their Round Square Conference experience in Whanganui, which will be reflected upon in a separate article.

Stuart Walls
Director of Round Square

Whanganui Collegiate Round Square Conference, New Zealand

Eight Scotch Oakburn students travelled to New Zealand last week for the Whanganui Collegiate Round Square Conference—an experience they each described as transformative, confidence-building and unforgettable. Through adventure, cultural immersion and new friendships, every student found moments that pushed them outside their comfort zones and expanded their perspectives.

For Edie Kwan, the week was defined by independence and growth. “Majority of the time I was the only person from Scotch Oakburn in my group,” she explained, “and this forced me to be the one to introduce myself and start conversations.” She credits these groupings with helping her form strong connections she might not have made otherwise. Her standout moment was white-water rafting: “The weather was beautiful, I got to see the flora on the cliffs and mountains, and we had lovely conversations about our homes… It showed me that it didn’t matter where you’re from to create strong connections with others.”

Izzy Adams echoed the sense of adventure and cultural understanding. “This week… has been an amazing time,” she said. “I made so many new friends and had the privilege to learn more about Māori culture.” The conference encouraged her to take chances and build confidence. “It pushed me to be more courageous… and form long-lasting bonds with people from all around the world.”

For Grayson Edwards, attending his first Round Square conference was “absolutely incredible.” He spoke vividly of each day, from exploring Wellington and visiting Wētā Workshop—where he loved the animatronics—to rafting “that felt like a movie,” surrounded by sandstone walls and green canyon scenery. High ropes, service projects, and new friendships made the week “filled with adventure, excitement, opportunities and a sense of belonging.” He reflects, “Over this trip I feel I have learnt and grown so much.”

Oliver Brown also arrived uncertain but left transformed. “Little did I know the next week would be one of the best of my life,” he said. Learning about Māori culture “helped me connect to this conference in a deeper way,” and challenging himself socially made a significant impact. “I told myself I would be more confident… and over the week I’ve improved a lot.”

For Grace Watters, the high ropes and rafting were highlights because “they really pushed me outside of my comfort zone.” She valued the baraza groups most of all: “It gave me the opportunity to talk to people from all over the world and share our perspectives.”

George Lowe focused on independence and teamwork. “I had to take the initiative to walk up to someone and introduce myself,” she reflected. She loved the high ropes and orienteering—especially the blindfolded challenge where she had to trust her teammates. Service work on the farm was rewarding too.

Finally, Ned Tatchell summed up the spirit of the trip: “The skills I have learnt and the friendships I have made will stay with me for the rest of my life.” Although unsure at first, he is now “so glad” he took the opportunity.

Across the week, each student discovered new strengths, new friends and new perspectives—core memories they will carry with them long after returning home.

Stuart Walls
Director of Round Square