From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Olympic fever has come to the College and the Junior School girls are loving the focus on sport this week. Led by our amazing Head of Sport, Mr Matt Tyson, the girls have been following some of the Olympic highlights, learning more about some of the key sportswomen they have asked to highlight, and having a go at some of the Olympic sports.
Tomorrow all girls (and staff) are encouraged to show our support for our Australian team by wearing green and gold to school. As it’s also Jeans for Genes Day, girls are invited to wear jeans and green and gold. As we have a number of alumni and teaching staff competing in Paris this year, it’ll be a great way to show our Pymble pride. We will be enjoying lots of Olympic sporting activities during lunchtime so please ensure your daughter comes wearing appropriate clothing and shoes for active play.
Sign up for Saturday Sport!
As we focus on sport during this Olympic period, I want to encourage participation in Saturday sport in Term 4. Term 4 sports include IPSHA Basketball, IPSHA Tennis (for experienced Tennis players), or Hotshots Tennis (for beginner-level Tennis).
Whilst never an elite athlete, I have been passionate about team sport (hockey) and running my whole life and know how much sport has shaped me as a person and a leader. As a mum, I had two very dedicated and skilled dancers, and I also encouraged both my daughters to participate in other team sports including cricket and hockey. It was evident they each gained many positive experiences and learned dispositions through their engagement in sport.
Participation in team sports offers numerous benefits that enhance physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Physically, they promote cardiovascular health, strength, and co-ordination through regular exercise. Mentally, participating in team sports fosters discipline, improves focus, and boosts self-esteem as players work towards common goals. Socially, these activities enhance communication skills, encourage collaboration and build lasting friendships.
Additionally, team sports instil values such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience, which are essential for personal development and success both on and off the field. Overall, engaging in team sports contributes to a well-rounded lifestyle and a sense of community.
Next week we have a presentation by some of our phenomenal fencing sportswomen – Ivy Li, Aimee Qiu, Shelley Xie and Rosalie Leung – who are talking in assembly about their sport and the skills they have developed over their years of training.
Kindness to the Environment – Our Term 3 focus
This term, our kindness focus is on being kind to the environment. First and foremost, I have challenged the girls to take more care and responsibility with their recess and lunchtime rubbish/recycling and ensuring it isn’t left around the playground. I am hoping that together we can improve the state of our campus and look after our native birds by living our College values and taking more care, being more responsible, showing more respect for our campus and having the integrity to do the right thing and put our own rubbish in the bin despite the excitement of rushing off to play!
Please encourage your daughter to think about ways she can show kindness to the environment and make one small change to help our planet; perhaps a shorter shower or turning the lights off when she leaves a room. Every small positive action we take will have a positive impact.
100 Days of Kindergarten – Heidi Lynch, Kindergarten Co-ordinator
Kindergarten had a very special reason to celebrate this week, as Monday marked their 100th day of Kindergarten. Over our first 100 days, we have explored and mapped the College, visited Farmer Dave and learnt our farm animals, helped to raise ducklings, led bug hunts in the riverbed during nature play sessions, cheered on Heidi Hedgehog and Mrs Brown in a billy cart and participated in our first Athletics Carnival… and that’s just to name a few! It certainly has been action packed!
The girls were buzzing with energy during our celebration day! They had the opportunity to perform two songs, singing proudly and beautifully for their special guests. The girls then invited their families into the Kindergarten learning space where they completed a variety of 100-themed challenges. Early engineering and design skills were on display, with many amazing structures created with 100 stackable cups.
The day concluded with a picnic lunch enjoyed by all. It was wonderful to see the Kindergarten courtyard alive with chatter and celebration. We would like to thank our Kindergarten families for all their support in reaching and celebrating this very special milestone.
A message from Kurt Schweinberger – Head of Creative and Performing Arts K-6
Get your tickets for the Year 1 and 2 Showcase!
All members of the College community are warmly welcomed to attend the Year 1 and 2 musical, Porridge!
Porridge tells the story of when a crime wave hits Happy Valley and there is a caseload of mysteries to be solved! Who’s stolen Ma Hubbard’s recipe book? Who’s kidnapped Marigold the cow? And what dirty secret is Papa Bear hiding behind his Porridge empire? It’s down to Private Detective Jack Spratt to uncover the terrifying truth in this tale of mystery, mayhem and breakfast cereal!
Please visit the GMCPA Box Office to secure your tickets.
Performance Date: Friday 16 August (2.00pm and 5.00pm).
Ticket Price: $10.00
A message from Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics
Academic Discussions – Monday 5 to Wednesday 7 August
A portal notice has been sent to parents with information about Term 3 Academic Discussions. A link has also been sent to parents to book a time through Edval Interviews. If you have any problems booking an interview via Edval Interviews, please contact me, lbird@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. The booking system closes on Friday 2 August at 3.00pm.
On campus discussions will take place in the following locations in the Junior School:
Kindergarten – Compass classroom
Year 1 – Compass classroom
Year 2 – Compass classroom
Year 3 – Junior School Library (3-6)
Year 4 – Junior School Library (3-6)
Year 5 – Year 5 building upstairs
Year 6 – Year 5 building downstairs
Please note that discussions taking place on Wednesday 7 August are online.
OzKids in Print – Writing and Art Competition
If your daughter would like to enter a short story, poem or artwork into the OzKids in Print Competition, please contact Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academic, lbird@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. Entries will be closed for submission on Friday 30 August (Week 6). Please include a title with any short story or poem submitted. For any artwork submitted, please include a title and a brief description of the artwork. For more information, please click here.
Wellbeing Weekly – Kate Giles, Head of Wellbeing K-6
Thank you to those parents who attended the Parent Wellbeing Series session today. It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss and share strategies to support the girls with their friendships in this increasingly digital world. For those who were unable to attend this session, some key take aways from the session included:
- The same ‘rules’ apply online:
- Kindness online is just as important as in person
- Trust and respect are needed for a healthy friendship
- If you would not say it in real life, you should not say it online
- Mean-on-purpose behaviour is always mean-on-purpose behaviour even if said online
- Discourage your daughter from entering into friendship fires online or continuing any school disagreements online.
- Know what your daughter is doing online and who she is communicating with.
- Have regular conversations with your daughter around online safety and behaviour.
If you are interested in learning more, some useful additional resources include:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
The Tech Diet for your child & teen by Brad Marshall
How to say no to your phone by Brad Marshall
The next session of the Parent Wellbeing Series will be held on 22 August at 8.45am. The session will be focused on helping to support your daughter to build self-confidence and healthy body and self-image. To register for this event, please use this link.
A message from Mr Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
Lunch Orders
We are excited to see changes to the Junior School lunchtime menu, with the launch of a Junior School specific Flexischool site from Term 3. This new offering includes cold drinks and frozen treats available for all students in Kindergarten to Year 6 each Friday. We are also seeking the support of family members to support sorting lunch orders and serve cold food items throughout Term 3. If you are able to assist, please sign up via this link.
Term 3 2024 Key Dates – Week 1 and 2
Tomorrow Friday 2 August – Jeans for Genes and Green and Gold – Years 3 to 6 sausage sizzle (prepaid)
Saturday 3 August – IPSHA Saturday Sport and Creative Writing Club with Mrs Brown and Mrs Bird 10am – 4pm (selected students)
Sunday 4 August – Creative Writing Club, 1.00pm to 4.00pm with Mrs Brown and Mrs Bird (selected students)
Sunday 4 August – Dance Eisteddfod – Opera House
Monday 5 August – ICAS Writing 3-6 (pre-purchased), 7.00am to 8.00am
Tuesday 6 August – Australian Mathematics Competition (pre-purchased), 7.00am to 8.00am
Thursday 8 August – Year 6 Police Liaison visit, 1.30pm
Friday 9 August – IPSHA Debating (SCEGGS)
Saturday 10 August – IPSHA Saturday Sport
Saturday 10 August – Sydney Drama Eisteddfod U12, 8.00am to 9.30am
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School