From the Junior School

From the Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

Let’s Get Creative Festival

Our Let’s Get Creative Festival was a sensational day of creativity and house spirit. I was so proud of our girls and particularly our Year 6 House Captains who continue to lead by example and bring their full House Spirit to every house activity. I loved the way our Captains looked after the youngest girls in their House to ensure all girls enjoyed their House performance.

I want to celebrate our phenomenal specialist Art teachers, Emily Clutterham and Bella Garson who curated our inaugural Junior School art gallery. Thank you to our K-2 teachers who lead Art for our youngest girls. It was a magical display and as I stood and looked at the array of artworks and the depth of skill involved, it was hard to remember how young our girls are.

I know last week was a big, busy week for our Junior School, so I am very grateful to those parents who were able to come to the Festival to support our girls.

Our girls embraced so many different elements of creativity throughout the day with their House singing, poetry recitals, dance performances, magic and musical performances.

There were so many highlights during the day, but perhaps my greatest joy came from seeing and feeling the bustle and energy led by our Junior School entrepreneurs who had worked hard at home to make and bake goods to sell for our College charities. I am so proud that through the marketplace we have, as a community, raised $5,577. This is an outstanding effort given all goods were homemade and sold for a maximum price of $2. Congratulations girls and a heartfelt thank you to our parents who helped their daughters with their entrepreneurial/service project.

Our Year 6 girls are set to change the world

Mrs Bird and I had the privilege of listening to a group of Year 6 deliver speeches to their peers last week. Our girls are so articulate about things that really matter to them, and Mrs Bird and I were very proud of the way they spoke so passionately and with such poise. Here are some snippets from some of these exceptional speeches:

‘Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and equally, no matter how they look. By being accepting of others, everyone will feel included…By sharing all our different cultures we begin to appreciate and understand different perspectives, ways of living and experiences…..embracing everyone’s differences ..creates a more loving and peaceful society to live in.’ – Faith Hedley

‘Our biggest failure is also our biggest gift. Successful people look into their future, look for a lesson to learn….If you want your dreams to come true…if you want to reach for the stars, watch and learn not only from others, but also from your mistakes. Then take a risk and take ACTION!’  – Arianna Ng

‘When you challenge yourself and take a risk, you grow through the process, you become more confident, more resilient and more likely to achieve your goals. So to grow and be successful, you have to make friends with being uncomfortable.’ – Lilian Ahlenstiel

‘Plastic in the ocean kills over 100,000 marine animals every year…Did you know that over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year, and 14 million tonnes then end up in the ocean every year…Picking up litter, using containers or beeswax wraps instead of one time use plastic, is such an easy way to prevent plastic on the earth, and in the water’ – Olivia Hicks Duncombe

Congratulations to Iyla Jolapara in Kindergarten who has raised money for Children’s cancer research by cutting her long hair. What a wonderful and generous act of service to others!

A message from Lara Bird, Deputy Head Junior School Academics – Year 6 Farewell Chapel and showcase

As the final chapter in the Junior School approaches the end for our Year 6 girls, I want to acknowledge the wonderful Year 6 Chapel service and exceptional Showcase of Learning presented by the girls as part of their end of year celebrations. Through their presentations, the girls displayed depth of knowledge, creativity and an increased understanding of the wider world. They presented research based on their learning across the year focusing on sustainability, renewable energy, migration patterns, the plight of refugees and the homeless and democracy. The girls thoughtfully, creatively, and empathetically presented solutions to a wide range of issues, demonstrating their entrepreneurial thinking and the importance of voice.

The Junior School teachers are proud of each student’s progress, determination when faced with challenge and strengths they bring to their learning. As Mrs Brown noted in her speech, as the girls commence their next journey to Year 7, it is important to remember to be present, to look closely, to ask questions, to make connection, to be kind and most importantly, to be you!  Well done Year 6 you have made us very proud. Keep shining!

Congratulations to our new Year 6 Captains for 2024

This week in assembly we thanked our Year 6 2023 Captains and introduced our Year 6 Captains for 2024. Each girl in Year 6 will be a leader and grow her leadership skills through our mentoring program and through opportunities to step into specific responsibilities throughout the year. Some girls are elected as specific Captains to help guide our Junior School through the year and these girls were understandably excited to step into these roles and the responsibility that comes with their Captaincy.

Congratulations to: 

Bennett House LeaderLang House Leader
Amelie RahmeLydia Chen
Carolyn DouOlivia Beaumont
Audrey QuanMadison Burns
Abigail WuChloe Pedersen
  
Goodlet House LeaderMarden House Leader
Bethany TuckerAnna Smart
Anna WangSueann Deng
Angela ChiangAlexandra Qiu
Deanne FernandoMelody Hai Chen
  
Hammond House LeaderThomas House Leader
Greta CampbellEmma Popli
Alice LiuSophia Sayegh
Savannah SherlockLeia Ripley
Cecilia ZhangTaylor Green
  
Ingleholme House LeaderWylie House Leader
Zoe LiangEleanor Zalewski
Trisha ViswanathanIzabella Prokop
Marla KazaglisZoey Wen
Florence ChengOlivia Dinnie
 
Student Representative Council LeaderLibrary Leader
Bianca NgCharlotte Xue
Zoe ChongIsabelle Yeh
Chelsea WangEmma Campbell
Alice HockleyImogen Martin
  
Sustainability LeaderKindness Leader
Sarah TewMelody Chen
Katelyn GuSafina Burgess
Oliana ZeccolaRia Iyer
Sophie AhnChloe Morrison
  
STEM LeaderChapel Leader
Michelle XingEmily Deutscher
Adeline WuLakshi Rajeev
Charlotte WuTanvi Raniga
Lily ZhangOlivia Guo

Windows into Learning Photos

A message from Mrs Josephine Laretive, K-2 Teacher Librarian and Mrs Martha Itzcovitz, 3-6 Teacher Librarian 

Last date for borrowing and date need to be returned

Please note that all library books are due back by Friday 1 December.  

  • Final day for Years 3-6 borrowing is Friday 17 November
  • Final day for K-2 borrowing is Friday 24 November
  • All books due back by Friday 1 December

 If you have any concerns regarding book loans, please contact: 

 Thank you for your support!

Reminder for your daughter’s end of year Celebration of Learning/Speech Day events

Kindergarten Celebration of Learning and nativity – Tuesday 5 December

Please refer to notice here.

Year 1 and Year 2 Celebration of Learning – Tuesday 5 December

Please refer to notice here.

Years 3 – 6 Speech Day – Wednesday 6 December

Please refer to notice here.

Messages from Junior School Administration Office 

Late Arrivals and Early Departures

When your daughter is late to school could you please assist us by remining your daughter to sign in at the Junior School Administration Hub (Hedgehog House). When your daughter needs to leave early for an appointment please send an email to juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and sign your daughter out from the Junior School Administration Hub.

All absences for must be emailed to juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or preferably submitted through MyPymble. 

Important Dates for Term 4

Tuesday 5 DecemberKindergarten Celebration of Learning 9.00am-10.30am Year 1 and Year 2 Celebration of Learning 11.30am-12.30pm Students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2 will be able to go home with parents at the end of the events, or they can remain at school until the end of the day. A form to advise of family preference will be sent to families.
Wednesday 6 DecemberYears 3-6 Speech Day Supervision for students in K-2 is available. Last Day of Term 4 2023

Kate Brown

Head of Junior School