From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Ramadan Mubarak to all our Muslim families who are observing Ramadan until Tuesday 9 April.
This week our courageous Year 6 girls head off on their Outdoor Education Program at Glenworth Valley. Whilst many of our girls will step outside their comfort zone during their three days away from home, all of them will create special memories from their experiences. Being outside our comfort zone is an important way for us to build resilience and grow self-awareness. I know the girls will be tired but proud of themselves when they come home… and they will have lots of stories to share!
As a parent I know I have sometimes felt outside my comfort zone as I guided my daughters through different stages of life and navigated boundaries around mobile phones, social media and different emotions they each felt at different times. As my family all live overseas, I sometimes felt alone as I tried to work out how to be the best parent I could be to my girls.
I am therefore really proud of the Parent Wellbeing Series we have introduced as part of our commitment to walk in partnership with you as we guide our girls through their Junior School journey and the social/emotional changes they will inevitably go through. These Parent Wellbeing sessions are purposefully designed to be informal shared conversations enabling us to learn together in a safe space with no judgement. Our Emotional Regulation session exploring how we teach using Kimochis led by Mrs Giles, Head of Wellbeing, Mrs Lynch, Kindergarten Co-ordinator and Mrs Reid, Year 3 Co-ordinator was very successful, and a repeat session will be held on Thursday 9 May 2024 at 8.30am.
Over the weekend I read an excellent book aimed at young people, ‘How to say no to your phone’ by Brad Marshall, The Unplugged Psychologist. Brad presented at our Wellbeing panel of experts evening last year.
This guide is a timely new release given the statistics that on average a child aged 8-12 years spends about 4.5 hours on their phone every day! What I love about the guide is its straightforward approach and the fact that it doesn’t label phones as a negative force. Rather it offers young people a chance to manage their relationship with their phone in a different way. Part of the book also focuses on emotional regulation skills for young people which are also useful for us as parents and educators to understand. The key take aways for understanding our emotions are:
- Create space – emotions happen quickly and when they do we need to try and give ourselves space to pause and breathe.
- Notice your body – physical reactions (stomach hurting) can give us clues as to what our emotions are doing or about to do.
- Name how you feel – being able to name our feelings makes it easier for us to share those feelings with others.
- Accept how you feel – treat yourself the way you would treat your close friend. Emotions are normal and we all experience lots of different emotions throughout a day.
- Practise mindfulness – try to remember to live in the moment. Practise using your senses to notice what is happening around you and engage with your environment. This helps to try and stop the negative thought patterns that happen.
A message from Mr Stephen Robinson – Acting Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
Ride Safely to School Day:
Next Friday 22 March is National Ride Safely to School Day. We are excited that we have 112 girls registered for this initiative so far, with many riding from Pymble Station, and others either riding to school with a parent or bringing a bike or scooter to ride at lunch.
If you would like your daughter to ride to school with Mrs Brown and other members of the Junior School, please complete this form to register.
All students participating in National Ride Safely to School Day must have a properly fitted helmet when riding.
5L support Mr Pryor
Last week 5L went to support Mr Pryor who was competing at the World 18ft Skiff Championships on Sydney Harbour. Our Pymble Pulse was on show, with students cheering Mr Pryor and his team as they prepared for the competition.
Mr Pryor introduced students to fellow competitive teams, including female world champions. Students were then able to assist Mr Pryor in preparing his Skiff for the competition including installing the sails and trying on harnesses. This hands on activity further enhanced their understanding of aerodynamics, an essential skill when sailing.
I enjoyed the opportunity to try standing on the skiff and experiencing the feeling of actually trying to lean to the side – Ellie He
It was great to meet Nathan and Alex, Mr Pryor’s teammates, as well as Bec, who is a champion sailor. We tried on the harnesses and sailed (on land). – Sooin Lee
We got to go on the wing of the boat with a harness and pretend we were sailing. I was so scared, but I learnt that there is nothing to be afraid of with the harness. – Katherine Kong
A message from Mrs Lara Bird – Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics
Academic Learning Discussions
Academic Learning Discussions will be held in Week 8. Kindergarten to Year 6 parents and carers have been sent information and a link to book an interview with their daughter’s Compass Teacher.
Monday 18 March and Tuesday 19 March Academic Learning Discussions will be face to face on campus.
Wednesday 20 March Academic Learning Discussions will be online via Microsoft Teams.
Academic Series for Parents
Our first Academic Series for parents will take place on Tuesday 26 March (Week 9) 3.30pm to 5.00pm. The focus will be on “Reading with your daughter” (3.30pm to 4.00pm) and “Being a Junior Mathematician” (4.00pm to 5.00pm). These workshops will take place in the Junior School library and John Reid Hall.
A message from Mrs Kate Giles – Head of Wellbeing K-6
Parent Wellbeing Workshops
Thank you to those parents who attended our Parent Workshop on Emotional Regulation. It was wonderful to see so many parents attend.
Some key take aways from the session included:
- Children and adults feel a very wide range of emotions across a day.
- Some emotions are easier to have than others, but all emotions may need to be managed at times.
- It is important for children to develop an understanding of how their emotions impact their actions and to learn how to help themselves manage how they feel.
You can help your children by:
- Remaining calm;
- Providing time and space in the day to let your child safely share their emotions and express how they feel;
- Listening and empathising with your child’s feelings;
- Sharing stories of your own and how you managed your feelings.
As this session reached capacity and some parents missed out, we will be holding the same workshop again on Thursday 9 May at 8.30am. A sign-up form will be shared closer to the event.
K-6 Wellbeing Day
On Thursday 28 March, girls from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be participating in a Wellbeing Day. Across this day, the girls will engage in activities that align with our Mind, Body, Spirit Wellbeing framework. Girls are asked to please wear their PE uniform on the day.
A message from from Miss Penny Charalambous – Junior School House Coordinator
We launched our Jump Rope for Heart skipping on Friday and the girls were exceptional in their energy and enthusiasm for skipping.
Over the coming weeks the girls will have dedicated lunchtimes to develop and hone up to 8 specific skipping skills which will then be showcased in our inaugural House Skipping Showcase on Friday 12 April.
We encourage you to support your child’s participation in this initiative and cheer them on! Look for the QR code on the Parent and Guardian Guide and keychain which the girls brought home on Friday last week.
Junior School Digital News
Term 1 2024 Key Dates
Friday 15 March NAPLAN: Numeracy
Friday 15 March Year 6 Group 2 return from OEP
Saturday 16 March IPSHA Saturday Sport
Monday 18 March Academic Learning Discussions on Campus
Tuesday 19 March Academic Learning Discussions on Campus
Wednesday 20 March Academic Learning Discussions Online
Thursday 21 March Harmony Day
Friday 22 March IGSA Swim & Dive Championships
Friday 22 March Ride Safely to School Day
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
JSPG Pedal Your Own Smoothie – Wednesday 27 March
The Years 3 to 6 girls will be promoting healthy living, exercise and sustainability by making their own healthy pedal-powered smoothies with a blender bike. Funds raised from this event will be donated to the Barbara May Foundation. This activity is always lots of fun and fits in well with our Pymble Pulse theme this year!
Please register here by Sunday 24 March 2024.
JSPG Family Movie Night – Saturday 6 April
Our Junior School families are warmly invited to the JSPG Family Movie Night on Saturday 6 April from 4.00pm to 8.00pm on Main Oval. The evening will feature a BBQ dinner, a big screen movie screening of MIgration, popcorn and an inflatable obstacle course.
This is our only full Junior School family event together – come along and enjoy the beautiful backdrop of the College as the sun sets. We’ve moved the date forward this year while the weather is still warm, and put your clocks back an hour when you go to bed for an extra hour of sleep!
Funds raised from this event will be donated to the Junior School to help purchase additional learning resources for our girls. Please register here by next Wednesday 20 March.
Upcoming Events
Year 2 Mum’s Night – Friday 22 March
Please join us from 6.00pm at 465 The Avenue, Chatswood. Welcome drink and canapes included. Please RSVP by 10 March by clicking here.
Kindergarten Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday 23 March
Join us for an Easter Egg Hunt for Kindy at Bicentennial Park West Pymble. Please see the flyer for details.
4C Play in the Park – Saturday 23 March
Let’s celebrate the start of a new year at Turramurra Memorial Park, Eastern Road Turramurra from 3pm – 5pm. BYO picnic food and drinks.
Save the Date: Year 1 Easter Egg Hunt – Sunday 24 March
Hop on over for our Year 1 Easter Egg Hunt at Bicentennial Park West Pymble. Please see the flyer for details and RSVP to your Parent Year Coordinators.
Please contact us with any questions or feedback at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School