The Lions' Roar 16/05/2025

FREE family event - Everyone welcome!

Join us for the celebration of the year! Our Tamborine Mountain College 30 Year Anniversary Community Celebration next Saturday, 24 May.

Get ready for:

Open Day & ArtsFest & Memorabilia

Live Music & Performances

Free Rides & Pony Rides

Food Trucks

Baby Farm Animals

Student-led Tours

And so much more!

Check out our timetable below!

80 Beacon Road, Tamborine

10am – 2pm

May

Wednesday, 21 May - HIA Cross Country

Saturday, 24 May - TMC 30 Year Celebration

Wednesday, 28 May - Prep to Year 2 Sports Day

June

Thursday, 5 June - Years 5 & 6 Transition to Year 7 Information Night

Friday, 6 June - Years 3 to 6 Athletics Carnival

Wednesday, 11 June - Primary HIA Soccer

Thursday, 12 June - Year 12 ATAR Info Night

Friday, 13 June - Beginners Music Concert

Friday, 20 June - Last Day of Term 2

Friday, 20 June - Student Free Day

Please note - dates for events may be subject to change

Have you ever thought about volunteering at TMC?  We need you! Come along and help at various events, meet other TMC parents and have a great time! Come for the day or a couple of hours or 30mins, whatever you can spare is greatly appreciated!
Our next two upcoming opportunities are the HIA Sports at TMSA Long RD 21st May and the TMC Open day 24th May.

Anoushka Den Elzen, Primary Teacher

What inspired you to become a teacher?
The wonderful teachers in my life. 

If you weren’t a teacher, what career would you have pursued?
I wanted to be an archaeologist! 

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Learning from my students and seeing them grow and learn. 

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
I did Irish dancing for over a decade and taught dance classes while I was at high school. 

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
Maybe Anastasia Romanov? I was fascinated with the history of the Romanovs growing up and always wondered what the true story of Anastasia was. 

What’s your favourite book or movie, and why do you love it?
The Princess Bride. Comedy, adventure, it’s just a classic. 

What’s a memorable moment from your time at Tamborine Mountain College?
2024 Year 2 Art Show! 

Share with us some of your greatest achievements in life?
My 3 kids :) 

What’s a piece of advice you wish you could give your younger self?
You’re stronger than you know and more capable than you think. Everything will work out! 

What are your hobbies outside of school?
Camping.

If you could learn a new skill instantly, what would it be?
Languages! Maybe Japanese? Or French? Or maybe an instrument. I can play the guitar but not well. I’d love to be a skilled musician too! 

What’s one thing your students have taught you?
Goodness. So many things! Probably most memorably that learning moments can be found anywhere and often the most important lessons are not the ones that are planned! 

If you had to describe your teaching style in three words, what would they be?
Curious, kind and fun.

What’s your favourite thing about the Tamborine Mountain College community?
Honest and supportive. 

What’s one song that always puts you in a good mood and why?
Send Me on My Way, by Rusted Root. It reminds me of special times in my life. 

Parent webinar - Tuesday 20 May, 7.00 - 8.30pm.

Your child’s success at school isn’t just about what happens in the classroom — it’s also about the relationships that surround them.

Brought to you by the QIS Parents Network, this engaging and practical webinar titled 'Helping Your Child to Thrive at School' featuring clinical and school psychologist Dr Matt O’Connor shares simple but powerful ways parents can build strong, respectful partnerships with teachers and schools — setting the foundation for better communication, fewer misunderstandings, and stronger support for your child.

Whether you're new to school life or navigating a few challenges, this session will give you the confidence and clarity to:

• Connect on the right foot with your child’s teacher
• Communicate your child’s needs in a way that builds trust and collaboration
• Handle concerns or tricky moments without things becoming tense or emotional
• Support the work and culture of school, at home (and vice versa)
• Understand the difference between being an involved vs. an engaged parent — and how to do both well

REGISTRATION LINK

Who should attend?

This session is ideal for parents and carers of primary or early secondary-aged children who want to:

• Feel more confident communicating with teachers
• Learn practical ways to support their child’s learning and wellbeing
• Build stronger connections with their child’s school
• Avoid common misunderstandings or communication breakdowns

You’ll walk away with fresh insights, practical strategies, and the tools to become an empowered partner in your child’s education.

This isn’t just about solving problems — it’s about creating the kind of home-school connection that helps your child feel safe, supported and ready to learn.

Our Year 9 students recently returned from an unforgettable camp experience at Emu Gully Adventure Education, and what a journey it was! Nestled in the beautiful surrounds of Helidon, Emu Gully is more than just tents and team games—it’s a place where young people are challenged to dig deep, step up, and grow in character.

Throughout the camp, students participated in a wide range of physical and team-based activities, each designed to develop resilience, courage, leadership and mateship. From navigating muddy trenches dragging a prop cannon to problem-solving under pressure to get each other under nets and into the safety of craters, each challenge tested their ability to work together and persevere. It was inspiring to see so many of our students support each other, step outside their comfort zones, and show grit in the face of difficulty.

The camp is built around the stories and values of Australian service men and women, and these stories formed a powerful backdrop for reflection and growth. Whether it was crawling through trenches, hauling stretchers, or dodging flying balls of flour in the dark, the students were constantly encouraged to consider what it means to lead with integrity and serve others. I am truly proud of each and every one of them.

Thank you to the staff who gave their time and energy to make this experience possible, and to the students for the spirit, humour and heart they brought to the adventure. We hope this camp has planted seeds of confidence and character that will continue to grow in the years ahead.

Mr Aaron McClane - Year 9 Coordinator

This week saw five of TMC's senior students compete in the Yrs 10-11 AB Paterson Public Speaking competition. Representing Year 10 was Annabel V and Archie A, Year 11 was Jorga S and Eloise A and Year 12 was represented by Finley G. Each of these students displayed true courage in putting themselves in the spotlight and delivering thoughtful, complex and considered speeches across a wide variety of subjects. The competition was spread across a number of heats with 2 students from each heat progressing to the final. Annabel, Jorga, Eloise and Finley all spoke with eloquence, passion and conviction and represented themselves and the College with pride. Archie was successful in making it through to the Year 10 final where he presented an engaging and inspiring speech that examined the importance of embracing adversity as a means to achieve personal growth. Whilst Archie did not place in the final, just making it to these rare heights was an achievement in itself. 

Term 3 will see the year 4-6 competition and Years 7-10 will occur in Term 4, so keep an eye out for more news of student success in public speaking at TMC. 

Mr David Haskins

On Wednesday this week the year 10 students were lucky enough to attend the Gold Coast Careers Fair at Carrara Indoor Stadium.  Students were able to talk to employers, training providers, universities and more from across the Gold Coast about work and training opportunities for the future.  

Archie A and Sophia S were also invited to be involved in a mocktail mixing competition on the stage and won a jumper each for their amazing effort!  

Mrs Peita Parker-Browne

Two weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to take part in an Army Familiarisation Work Experience. It was one of the most eye-opening and challenging three days I’ve ever had. Over the course of the program, we got to visit several different regiments/battalions and see how each one contributes uniquely to the defence force.

From the moment we arrived, we were immersed in army life, not just the physical side, but the structure, teamwork, and discipline that make it all run. We visited infantry units, combat support roles, and even the engineering corps. But the highlight for me was the 2nd Health Battalion and the infectious disease unit.

These units stood out because of their deep focus on care, recovery, and resilience. Watching trained army medics prepare for both field and emergency scenarios was so fascinating. I got to take their knowledge and put it into practice by inserting breathing tubes in the nose and throat, to react, triage and then treat emergency injuries. For example, we needed to apply a tourniquet to a severed leg or arm and stop the bleeding. They had fake blood pumping through to make the scenario as real as possible. The number of opportunities that branched out of the one battalion was endless. I would love to go into the physiotherapy /veteran recovery side of health. 

Another exciting part was learning about the artillery units. Seeing the sheer scale and precision of the weapons systems they operate was incredible. The way they train in a room called the dome, which is a place where they go through missions in VR, was something I never expected. We were able to hold some blank weapons, and I discovered that they were, for the most part, all extremely heavy. The amount of training, teamwork, and coordination that goes into every movement left a big impression on me. It wasn’t just the equipment that was impressive, it was the people behind it.

Every soldier we spoke to was proud of their role, whether they were repairing vehicles, setting up communications, or leading operations. Their dedication made it clear that the Army is more than just a job; it’s a lifestyle built on service, teamwork, and purpose.

This experience gave me a real insight into military life and made me genuinely consider this pathway. 

Mikayla L, Year 11

At Tamborine Mountain College, we are always looking for exciting and meaningful ways to support our students’ learning. This term, our Year 2 students have been exploring the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to bring their writing to life—especially when it comes to developing rich, imaginative character and setting descriptions.

In line with the Australian Curriculum, and with a strong focus on English and Digital Technologies, our students have been using age-appropriate AI tools as part of their writing lessons. With teacher guidance, they are learning how to use AI safely and responsibly while boosting their literacy skills in fun and creative ways.

What’s been truly inspiring is the way AI has sparked their imaginations. When writing stories, students are using AI to help them brainstorm unique characters and vivid settings —like “a rainbow, soda-wielding, princess badger ” or “a large grand castle with red and yellow flags that is filled with only the sounds of birds chirping as everyone is having an afternoon nap.” (Check out the images below!)

Through this process, students are seeing the impact of word choice more clearly than ever. Following on from ‘Show Don’t Tell’ writing lessons, our students have developed a deeper understanding of the importance of adverbs, adjectives and providing the reader with more information to develop rich texts.

This integration of digital technology supports core literacy outcomes while also building critical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy—skills that are essential for the future. It’s been a joy to watch our young writers grow in confidence and enthusiasm as they discover new ways to express themselves.

Mrs Anoushka den Elzen & Mrs Beth McLeod

This week, the Year 3 students explored the science behind bubbles – but not just any bubbles! We used a special mixture of water, dish soap and sugar, to create something called “glass bubbles” – super-strong bubbles designed to resist popping. Of course we first had to study the science behind it: Normally, bubbles are delicate because the water film surrounded by soap dries out or breaks easily. But when sugar is added to the mix, it strengthens the soap film by slowing down the evaporation of water. This creates thicker, more elastic bubbles that can last much longer. Unfortunately, the wind made off with our precious bubbles and we never actually got to test the un-poppable quality of our soap mixture. Even though the science didn’t go exactly as planned, we still had an amazing afternoon!

Mrs Julie Sands, Mrs Martine Kramer & Mrs Siobhain Porter

House Points 

1st: Kyle - 391

2nd: Walton - 367

3rd: Nicholls - 234