From the Middle School
Welcome back to Term 3 in Middle School. I trust that the girls have enjoyed the break from school routines and taken time to recalibrate. I would like to warmly acknowledge four new students in Years 7 and 8 and their families who are joining us at this point in the year. Welcome to Ella Dong (Year 7), Lilly Bart, Holly Lindsay and Margaux Marcet (Year 8).
A couple of highlights to look out for this term will include:
- The Goodooga Indigenous Games in Central Western NSW at which seven Middle School students will represent the College in Week 3.
- The Year 8 National Exchange Program in Week 5 where 25 students will have the opportunity to travel to either Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane or Toowoomba and experience school life in a new environment.
- Year 8 students enjoying the Outdoor Education program with Somerset on the Colo River in Week 9.
- Year 7 will have the opportunity to be involved in the transition program activities, which will involve mentoring our current Year 6 students in their transition to Secondary School.
These are just a few of the opportunities ahead for our Middle School girls to look forward to!
This term, students from Year 6 to 12 will be invited to complete the MMG Wellbeing Survey. This survey goes into greater depth than the tracking survey which was given to Year 8 students last term. Students will receive an email from MMG Education just before their scheduled survey time in Week 2. Students will be supervised in Compass time to complete their survey, and whilst we encourage all students to participate, the surveys are voluntary. The MMG email will provide a link to your daughter’s own questionnaire.
Congratulations to all our Middle School girls who have achieved amazing things over the holiday break. Below are some of the highlights that have been shared with me.
2024 Asia Pacific Junior Debate Championships
Attracting participants from diverse countries such as Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, among others, the event typically sees representation from over 150 students. Our Year 7 Debaters have excelled in this prestigious competition.
Athena Wu: 2nd Best Speaker, 12-and-Under Category, 1st Best Speaker of Australia, Oceania
Jing Yuan Liu and Selina Jiang: Tied 7th Best Speaker, 12-and-Under Category, Tied 2nd Best Speaker of Australia, Oceania
Yenyu Chan: 9th Best Speaker of Australia, Oceania
Angela Mao: 10th Best Speaker of Australia, Oceania
The European Girls Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI)
Alexa Wu (Year 8) is currently overseas participating in the European Girls Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI). The European Girls Olympiad in Informatics is an international competition promoting young women in computer science, and, similar to maths olympiads, is a prestigious competition in which top high school students from different countries compete against each other to solve informatics tasks, which are part mathematical problem solving and part computer programming. Lex is currently ranked first in Australia, 29th in the world and the youngest member of the national team.
2024 Water Cube Cup Chinese Songs Contest
Mia Zhu (Year 7) is also currently overseas competing in the 2024 Water Cube Cup Chinese Songs Contest in Beijing. She has been selected as a finalist and we look forward to her sharing her experience when she returns.
New South Wales All Schools Swimming Team
Congratulations and good luck to Emma Ng (Year 8) who has been selected to join the New South Wales All Schools Swimming Team. They will be competing at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships next week in Queensland.
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!
From the Middle School Parent Groups
Year 7 Update
Welcome back to all our families, we hope you had a lovely break!
Our first event this term is our ladies’ night on Friday 2 August at 7.30pm at The Greengate Hotel.
Similarly to last time, we have booked the alcove section so we have our own space for everyone to catch up. It’s the perfect opportunity to get to know other Year 7 mums, so please come along!
RSVP is in the WhatsApp group and we will order dinner and drinks at the bar on the night so it should be a very easy and fun event!
We are also looking forward to Pymble’s Garden Party, one of the biggest and best days of the year! Please put Saturday 21 September in your diary to make sure you join in on the fun.
If you are able to help, Years 7 and 8 are running the Sweet Sensations lolly stall which is super popular with all our families, so please sign up to help in the WhatsApp group!
Wishing everyone a fantastic Term 3.
Kind regards
Stephanie, Leigh and Briar
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School