From the Middle School
We are now officially at the midway point of Term 2 and this week has been an especially busy week for our Middle School students. On Thursday, David Smith from ySafe spoke to Year 7 and Year 8 students. ySafe is one of Australia’s leading online safety providers, educating and empowering our students to use the internet and social media in safe and positive ways. Below, Yenyu and Abigail share their thoughts on the presentation.
“I found the ySafe talk informative as we talked about problems that we could face online. This was good as we learnt how to react in these situations, such as if someone is sending us threats or inappropriate messages. Also, learning about age laws for things like different social media platforms and why they are used helped me learn why they don’t let younger people on them.” – Abigail Martin (Year 8)
“As technology improves, more and more people are beginning to use it more often, using platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. And more often than not, people are starting to get upset and insecure about it. So what can you really do?
Last week, David Smith, the State Education Manager for NSW, came to talk to us about it. We learnt about toxic online behaviour, how it can damage our self-esteem drastically, and how to deal with it. All of this information helps us live in a world where AI technology is all around us. With this information, we are provided with the knowledge of developing a healthy digital wellbeing and footprint.
Students learnt about how reporting an issue, whether involving yourself or not, can help your peers and yourself. This maintains your digital feed and helps you be constantly aware of the numerous trolls lurking around out there. The scenarios provided explained social exclusion and bystander behaviour and how to prevent it. Overall, the program delivered ways to maintain our screen time and digital wellbeing, thus informing us on how to have a healthy and optimistic online experience.” – Yenyu Chan (Year 7)
Congratulations to Estelle Lee (Year 8) who participated in the Rostrum Voice of Youth Public speaking competition last month. Estelle has shared her experience with us below:
“The Rostrum Voice of Youth is a national public speaking competition which provides an opportunity for Secondary students to have a go expressing their views and opinions on a specific topic. l chose the topic ‘The End of an Era’, and decided to talk about the biases within AI and how although AI may represent the end of an era for many aspects of our world and something that moves us forward, AI only works through looking backwards, learning from the data we have collected in the past.
So, unfortunately, this means that AI cannot bring about the end of an era for the biases that have ingrained themselves in our world. After being successful in the first two rounds of knock out auditions, it was a privilege to represent Pymble in the Regional Finals at Ravenswood.” – Estelle Lee (Year 8)
As you may have read in last week’s College Compass, our Middle School leaders have been embarking on a new project to design new welcome signage for the Middle School. Below is an update on their progress.
“The 2024 Middle School Leadership Team is very excited to launch a project that we will be working on over this term. With your help, we are going to design, build, acknowledge, learn and celebrate a ‘Welcome Sign’ for the Middle School Office using all the different languages we speak and cultures we belong to.
The Middle School is a diverse group of cultures and nationalities. The ‘Welcome Sign’ strives to embrace, appreciate, recognise and, of course, celebrate cultural diversity of our students and staff here in the Middle School.
Last week, a survey was launched to all Year 7 and 8 students so we could capture the languages we speak. All of the greetings in language will be compiled to create a signpost that will sit outside the Middle School office.
The results of the survey were compiled early this week, and it turns out that 29 different languages are spoken in the Middle School!
This signpost will look almost like a street sign with laser-cut wording. We will work in collaboration with the TAS Department to construct it. An unveiling assembly will be held, to officially launch the new sign and celebrate the diverse and rich culture in the Middle School.
We hope everyone is excited about this idea, and we want you to get involved as much as possible and support the Middle School by showing your spirit! We are also looking forward to sharing updates each week.” Written by Arden Liceralde (Year 7) and Ginny Makan (Year 8)
Finally, our Gloucester Gatherings continue for Term 2. This week, the girls created bouquets of paper flowers and played Jenga in the sunshine on the cobblestones. Remember, anyone can join Gloucester Gatherings which take place each Tuesday and Thursday at lunchtime. The schedule can be found below.
The Pymble Family Book Club
We are writing to announce a very exciting opportunity for Pymble families with the launch of The Pymble Family Book Club.
With this initiative, we are offering families the chance to read great stories together, share ideas, and attend events to connect with authors and fellow readers.
The first author we will be showcasing is Maryam Master. Her books Exit Through The Gift Shop and No Words have been celebrated by critics and readers alike. We are very pleased to announce she will be joining us for the first ever Pymble Family Book Club on Wednesday 28 August at 5.00pm.
We invite you to come along to spend time with your family and friends, discuss Maryam Master’s books, led by the author herself, and connect over literature. You can see Maryam talking with Pymble students earlier in the year about her books in this video.
How the Pymble Family Book Club works:
- Check out Maryam Master’s books and discuss with your carer/student if there is one (or both) you wish to read, and if you’d like to attend the Family Book Club together. You could even get a reading group together. Reach out to other carers and students in the year and organise to make it a social event!
- RSVP to attend the Family Book Club on Wednesday 28 August. Please RSVP via this form. There is no cost to attend the event.
- You are welcome to obtain a copy of Maryam’s book/s through a library or borrow from a friend. For those who wish to purchase the books, we have organised an easy way for you to source Maryam’s books through a supplier. Please see the order form attached or click on this link to order one or both of Maryam’s books. These will be available for collection at the College in the last week of Term 2.
- Both carer and student read the book/s prior to the event on Wednesday 28 August.
- Put the event in your calendar and come along on Wednesday 28 August to the Conde Library at the College to have a great time.
If you can’t make the event but still want to read some Maryam Master, you are still welcome to order the books through us and please email us at library@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au for some ideas about what we will discuss on the night.
We look forward to you joining us for this special opportunity to connect over some incredible stories and ideas. If you have any questions, please reach out to library@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Kind regards and happy reading!
Key Dates
Monday 10 June – King’s Birthday public holiday
Friday 28 June – Last day of Term
From the Middle School Parent Groups
Year 7
Dear Parents and Carers
We are really looking forward to the two events coming up this term:
Mother and Daughter Day at Vision Valley
This event is for those mothers and daughters who have registered via the portal. This is being held on Sunday 16th June from 9.00am to 3.00pm.
Vision Valley is organising a wonderful day for us full of activities, including a delicious morning tea and lunch.
PPA Trivia Night
Please come join us on the night and/or donate items for prizes. Join other Year 7 parents at one of the best events in the parent calendar!
Date: Saturday 22nd June 6.30pm to 10.30pm
Please do not worry if you do not know other Year 7 parents, as this is the perfect opportunity to meet new faces in Year 7 and across the whole school.
This year is being held at exclusive function centre Miramare Gardens, so it will be an amazing function to be a part of. Optional dress-up theme: Pop Rock Stars!
Click here for tickets. It’s guaranteed to be a sensational night!
Please note we are also looking for donations to the Trivia Night which can be given as prizes.
Years 7 and 8 are putting together hampers ‘for the mums’.
There is a basket in the Middle School office for which to donate prizes. The Middle School office is located on the other side of the Chapel towards the Junior School office (where the old Uniform Shop used to be).
Products ‘for the mums’ might include: body lotion, body wash, spa vouchers; basically anything that could pamper our mums and make them feel special.
We are incredibly grateful for anything, however big or small, you are able to donate. Our Trivia Night Committee has been working tirelessly for months to make sure this event is beyond special for everyone.
We look forward to seeing you on the night!
Year 8
Year 8 Coffee Morning
We are holding the next Year 8 coffee morning this Friday 7 June at Brick Lane Expresso in West Pymble from 8.00am. See you there.
PPA Trivia Night – Donations
The Trivia Night is one of the PPA’s biggest fundraisers of the year. To make it a successful evening, we rely on the kind support of our community for donations for the live and silent auctions, year group baskets, and raffles. If you have anything that you would like to donate, please get in touch.
We are seeking all kinds of donations such as vouchers for experiences, activities, vouchers/products from local businesses (restaurants, gyms, PTs, food & beverage etc), holiday stays, and bottles of wine/champagne to go towards a “Wine/Champagne Lovers” basket (please contact Kenneth Kok at kenneth@kok.family – alcohol cannot be dropped off at school).
Kindest regards,
Ms Cindy Tian 0400 980 181 and cindy.tian@gmail.com
Ms Kai Jones 0431 725 948 and kai_look@yahoo.com
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School