Tatachilla news

Tatachilla is delighted to welcome the new ministry team for 2026, led by Lee-Anne Munro as Ministry Team Leader, alongside Youth Chaplain Timothy (Tim) Foulkes. Together, Lee-Anne and Tim will support our students, staff and families, providing a steady and approachable presence within our college community.

Lee-Anne brings a background in psychological science, as well as experience in school and university administration and student learning support. She and her husband pastor a church in Willunga, and bring a strong commitment to community to their ministry.

Tim, a former teacher and missionary worker, shares a passion for both youth empowerment and faith that is lived out in everyday life.

Both Lee-Anne and Tim are parents of three, giving them a unique perspective on the experiences of students and families.

The ministry team provides safe, inclusive and reflective spaces across the rhythm of school life. Through chapel services, devotions, pastoral conversations and moments of quiet reflection, they encourage thoughtful discussion around faith, theology and the big questions of life — helping students and staff find language for what they believe, wonder and value.

Whether through shared chapel time, a quiet conversation or simply being present, the ministry team is committed to serving the Tatachilla community in practical and meaningful ways throughout the year.

In Week 3, a group of our Year 5 and 6 student leaders proudly represented Tatachilla at the 2026 LESNW Student Leadership Day, hosted by Our Saviour Lutheran School in Aberfoyle Park.

The day brought together student leaders from Lutheran schools across South Australia for a dynamic and interactive leadership workshop designed to equip, inspire and encourage them in their important roles.

Facilitated by Emma Graetz from Australian Lutheran College and Josie Wundersitz from Australian Lutheran World Service, students were introduced to the 4 S’s of leadership — significant others, spiritual leadership, servant leadership and support. Through engaging discussions and practical activities, they explored how these principles can be applied in real-world situations and within their own school context.

Our students embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm, contributing thoughtfully to conversations and building connections with peers from other Lutheran primary schools. The experience not only broadened their leadership networks but also strengthened their confidence and capacity to lead with integrity and purpose.

As members of our 2026 leadership group in the junior years, they returned with practical strategies and a holistic framework to guide their service. The 4 S’s have provided them with a strong foundation as they seek to lead for the good of others and make a meaningful impact within our Tatachilla community.

We congratulate Lyla Hirst (Year 5), Yana Suri (Year 5), Teio Frost-Henao (Year 6), Kallen Romano (Year 6), Cole Bradley (Year 6), Emily Horn (Year 6) and Albrecht Du Toit (Year 6) on the outstanding way they represented our college.

The college is inviting Fleurieu-based businesses to join our contact list of local employers and connect with students through a variety of career-focused events.

Opportunities include:

• Mock interviews – Year 10 students prepare and participate in face-to-face interviews with employers based on real job descriptions.
• Careers expo – Employers and companies host exhibits and answer career-based questions from students in Years 9–12.
• Spotlight sessions – lunchtime activity where employers share insights into their chosen profession.
• Work experience – Employers provide students with practical, hands-on exposure to a workplace environment.

These events are designed to give students valuable insights into the workforce, helping them explore career options and develop the skills and confidence needed for life after school.

Leading this work is Tatachilla’s new Pathways Coordinator, Kelly Baldock, who works one-on-one with senior students to guide them through post-school options and the requirements for gaining qualifications for their chosen paths. The Pathways team coordinates all of the activities described above, in addition to university information sessions and White Card training.

“At Tatachilla, every student’s journey is different,” Kelly says. “Our role is not to direct the path, but to help them walk it with confidence.”

Businesses and organisations interested in supporting Tatachilla students are encouraged to join our contact list and become part of our career education program. To express interest, please contact Kelly Baldock: kelly.baldock@tatachilla.sa.edu.au.

College families are warmly invited to host a visiting student from our sister school in Japan — a meaningful opportunity to share Australian life, experience Japanese culture firsthand and build lasting international friendships.

Students from our sister school, Toryo High School, will be visiting for one week in Term 3, from Sunday 2 August to Monday 9 August 2026. The exchange occurs biennially, with Tatachilla students having the opportunity to visit Japan in the intervening years.

The students visting from Japan will be between 15–16 years old. The college is hopeful that Tatachilla families will be able to host as many of these students as possible. The opportunity to host is open to all families from Reception to Year 12, with priority given to families with students in the middle and senior years. 

Host siblings will take part in a range of enriching activities with their visiting student during the week, including classroom activities and an excursion to Cleland Wildlife Park.

Please note that families who elect to host a student do not need to have a child studying Japanese at school. Nor do they need to cook Japanese food or provide host students with their own exclusive bedroom (i.e. host students may share a room with their host sibling).

Further information:

An information session for interested families will be held on Wednesday 11 March 2026 from 5:45pm–6:30pm in the Activity Centre. A follow-up meeting will be held once students have been allocated to host families.

Families who are keen to offer accommodation to a Japanese student, or who would like further information about becoming a host family, are asked to complete the below form by Friday 20 March.

Form for interested families

Contact details:

Edwinna Lee, LOTE (Languages other than English) Learning Leader 
Email: edwinna.lee@tatachilla.sa.edu.au
Phone: 8329 4433

On Friday 27 February, our Year 7–12 swimming team travelled to the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre to compete in the SSSA Swimming Championships.

This year, we were proud to take our largest team in many years. Students representing Tatachilla were: Evan Frenzel, Tom Ainsworth, Juno Worth, Abigail Adams, Keira Tucker, Charli Carpenter, Willow Waters, Shay Barker, Emily Reyn, Adi Overcash, Annie Hockey, Bejay Thomas, Magnus Thomson, Tommy Aldridge, Adin Minnie, Jacob Wu, Ella Conroy, Ethan Minnie, Jacobo Mejia Velez, Zara Galley, Hettie Kerr, Lola Whitfield and Peyton Michelmore.

Throughout the day, we witnessed many highly competitive races, with several of our strongest swimmers achieving personal best times. For others, it was their first experience at a swim meet, and they embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm and courage. It was wonderful to see such strong team spirit, with students supporting and encouraging one another while representing the college with pride.

A highlight of the day was filling every relay team. Several students generously stepped up to swim additional events and even compete in higher age groups to help the team earn valuable points.

The day concluded with our swimming captains — Tom Ainsworth, Evan Frenzel, Keira Tucker and Juno Worth — accepting outstanding results: fourth place overall in the Girls’ division, fifth place overall in the Boys’ division and third place overall across the competition.

Thank you to Charlotte King, Eliza Hunt and Adi Anderson for their assistance with timekeeping and to the many parents who came along to support the team. Your encouragement is always greatly appreciated.

Our Year 8 students kicked off a fantastic Standards Day on Tuesday 24 February, followed by Year 7 on Wednesday 25 February, with both days brimming with energy, House spirit, and enthusiastic participation.

Standards Day provided students with the opportunity to put their Physical Education learning into action across a range of track and field events. Students competed for House points, supported one another with great encouragement and embraced the healthy competition that makes these events so enjoyable. The results will also assist with upcoming Sports Day preparation and SSSA athletics selections.

A highlight of the two days was the leadership shown by students in our Year 10 Advanced Athlete Development Program, who guided students through each event with confidence and positivity. Their mentoring played a significant role in creating a supportive and engaging atmosphere. Thank you to our Year 12 House Leaders and staff who generously gave their time to ensure the success of both events.

On Tuesday 24 February, Tatachilla participated in the Open Boys Tennis Competition at Seacliff Tennis Club.

Our team this year consisted of Joel Foody (Year 9), Noah Ryks, Jacob Mashford and Chase Branford (Year 11) who all represented the college exceptionally well.

In our opening match against Adelaide Botanic High School, we secured the win through a series of hard-fought victories and close sets.

In the second match, we faced tough competition from Seaview High School. Although we did not come away with the win, the matches were much closer than the overall scoreline suggested.

With perfect weather conditions, it was a fantastic day of tennis. Thank you to all students who participated and represented Tatachilla with pride.

Three of our students have recently achieved outstanding success in gymnastics, athletics and swimming.

Congratulations to Noah Shaw (Year 9), pictured above, who was awarded 'Male levels athlete of the year' for trampoline gymnastics in 2025 by Gymnastics South Australia. Noah was selected for this award due to his consistent top placing at competitions in 2025. Noah has also accepted a place in the 'international stream' where he will be eligible to be selected to represent Australia in international competitions. Well done Noah!

Congratulations to Annabelle Hockey (Year 9) who has been selected to represent School Sport SA at the School Sport Australia Triathlon (13 to 19 years) championship on the Gold Coast this March. 

Congratulations also to Eli Simpson (Year 5), Isla Gordon (Year 5) and Zahlia Willis (Year 4) who have been selected to represent Onkaparinga South in the Primary School State Swimming Championships on 24 March at SA Aquatics Centre.