From the Acting Principal
Awareness weeks are an important part of school life for many reasons. They provide entry points for students to engage in relatable and relevant content, encourage creativity and a deeper exploration of topics and issues, and promote empathy and respect for diversity and different ways of thinking. Importantly, these events also provide a sense of unity, community and belonging, which contributes to a positive learning environment for all.
It’s been a joy to see so many students (and staff!) engaging in our awareness weeks in Term 3. Last week it was Science, this week is Book Week, and next week our Language Captains are hosting five days of Languages-based fun and games for students at lunchtime. In amongst all the Book Week activities across K-12 this week, our Wellbeing Prefects, Georgia Lyster and Meredith Reynolds in Year 12, hosted an open mic karaoke session on Marden Lawn to encourage connections across the College. Staff in attendance noted the courage of our students, especially our Junior School girls, for having a go, and the obvious respect and care shown by the audience as they supported each performer enthusiastically.
Courage: I am open to new experiences to learn and grow
The topic of courage and having a go was explored in Combined Assembly this week when we welcomed back our Head Coach – Diving, Mr Kurtis Mathews, who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Two of our Pymble divers, Angela Xenofontos and Méa Shires in Year 10, did a great job interviewing Kurtis about his journey as an Olympic Springboard Diver. This journey started when he was scouted on a ‘try diving day’ and put into a development squad as a young boy. He then went on to train for 25 hours a week for 15 years and even retired for a period before qualifying for Paris.
When asked what would be his advice to his 15-year-old self, Kurtis replied: “Never give up. A journey to the Olympic games is never straight forward; it’s very difficult, there are so many challenges you have to overcome, and unforeseen circumstances…you just have to keep going, keep moving forwards. Don’t let yourself stop because, if you lose momentum, it’s very hard to push it back up.”
Kurtis finished in 10th place, which is a great achievement, and we are so proud to have him on Team Pymble. Congratulations, Kurtis!
The Olympics certainly provided a relevant and relatable context to discuss the concept of courage with students this term. However, as we all know, courage looks different for everyone, depending on their own personal journey.
For me, and possibly many others in our community, a great deal of courage is required before we can stand up and speak in front of an assembly of people.
I am a Mathematics teacher who was not born in Australia. From a very young age, I learnt Arabic and French simultaneously at home in Lebanon, and it was an enormous challenge for me to come to school in Australia at 15 years of age without being able to speak a word of English.
I remember sitting on a bench in the playground on my own every single recess and lunchtime for a year and going home each day in tears. My dear Mum would give me a big hug, take me out for a walk, and say to me, “It’s okay, it’s not your day today. Tomorrow will be a better day.” I will never forget that. Those days were tough, but they have helped me arrive at where I am today. Today, I can stand up in front of any number of people and tell my story, in English, the third language that I thought I would never be able to learn. (My fourth language is Mathematics!)
I shared this story with students at assembly, and with you today, to illustrate the College definition of courage as being open to new experiences to learn and grow, even in the face of tough times and seemingly insurmountable challenges.
My Mum’s words helped me find the courage to keep turning up to school and trying my hardest to learn a foreign language, and I hope they might resonate with others, too. They are reflected beautifully in this video of British diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix being comforted by her Dad after she narrowly missed out on a podium finish by ranking sixth place in the women’s 10m platform at the Paris Olympics.
As the video shows, courage is accepting that it’s not your day today, but still turning up to try again tomorrow. This is an important lesson for life, especially for our girls.
Windows into Learning
This week’s Windows into Learning continue our theme for Week 5 by highlighting Science Week in the Secondary School and having a go at sport in the Junior School. Enjoy!
Having a go at Saturday Sport
Our Kindergarten to Year 2 students have started their Have a Go @ Saturday Sport program. This term the girls are learning how to play Touch Football, and we have 62 girls enrolled in the program, our largest number yet. Run by our experienced coaches, the session builds Touch Football skills and drills and finishes with a mini game, meaning the girls are game ready in Year 3 when they can play IPSHA Saturday Sport.
Have a Go @ Saturday Sport introduces our youngest students to a new team sport every term. This gives them the opportunity to know what playing Saturday sport for Pymble feels like, and also enhances their physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
- Physically, team sports promote a healthy active lifestyle, strength, and co-ordination.
- 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.
It’s been great to see how engaged the girls have been in these sessions and the sense of community they have created.
Mr Matt Tyson
Head of Sport K-6
Science Week in the Secondary School
Science Week was a whirlwind of exciting and educational activities, kicking off with Science Stations on Monday. Giant bubbles delighted everyone, demonstrating the wonders of surface tension. Rocket racing followed, where we competed to see who had the best force to angle ratio, blending fun with principles of aerodynamics. Singing tubes captivated our attention as we explored sound waves and musical tones. Our scientists were rewarded with an electron or nucleus cupcake.
Tuesday’s toad dissection provided a hands-on experience in anatomy and biology of an introduced species that threatens the survival of our native species. On Wednesday, guest speaker Vithyaa Thavapalan shared fascinating insights into crime scene investigation, sparking interest in the field of forensic science. Thursday’s Kahoot Science Trivia Quiz tested our knowledge in a lively, competitive format, and Friday’s Science Fair gave students a chance to present their own, engaging experiments or favourite scientific concepts. It was fantastic to see so many students get involved, have fun and learn new things.
Mrs Kylie Cooley
Head of Learning Area – Science
