From the Middle School

On Tuesday Years 7 and 8 came together for our special assembly and wow, what a special assembly it was! After much investment of time and energy over the last two terms we were excited to launch our welcome signpost which is a beautiful reflection of the cultural diversity that makes up our community.

Surveying the girls we found out that 34 different languages are spoken by students in Middle School and, to celebrate and pay tribute to this, each language has been represented on the signpost which will be prominently positioned at the entry to Middle School.

Below, I would like to share with you a selection of words from the students who spoke at assembly as they so poignantly capture who we are. Thank you to everyone who was involved in both the project and our assembly. A special thank you to Mrs Budd for all of her investment.

Assembly Theme

The phrase “Different voices, same song; in our unity, the Middle School is strong” emphasises the power of collective harmony and how we come from diverse backgrounds with unique perspectives. It is our shared commitments to common goals or values that build a cohesive community. Different voices represent the varied experiences and viewpoints of each student, while “the same song” shows a common purpose or sense of belonging as well as singing the same college values that are important to all of us. – Written by Estelle Lee and Ginny Makan

Student reflections on their culture

Paanya Khatri

Namaste, I’m Paanya from India and for those who don’t know where it is, it’s in South Asia. Namaste is ‘hello’ in Hindi which is my family’s mother tongue.

We are from Haryana, which is about an hour north of Delhi. In India, there are 22 major languages and 1599 other languages, Hindi being the most popular. Aside from languages, India has a vibrant and diverse culture in terms of festivals, foods, rituals and ethnic clothes.

Never to forget about all the gods, India has about 330 million gods with 33 major gods, having a god for absolutely everything you can think of; which is also 12 times the population in Australia.

Right now the latest festival and poojas, a way of praying is Ganesha Chaturthi, the birthday of one of our main gods, Lord Ganesha, on Saturday 7 September. And in Hindi, sunane ke lie dhanyavaad (thank you for listening).

Emma Wang

Halo, Saya Emma! Hi I’m Emma and I am of Chinese, Indonesian, English and Irish descent. Today I’m going to be talking about my Indonesian culture. My last name, Wang, isn’t just some crazy common Chinese last name, it actually has a really long history.

If you asked all the Wangs in the room what their cultural background is, they would probably say Chinese. Though I am partly Chinese, the name Wangsaputra is Indonesian. When Suharto, former president of Indonesia, came into power, he made every Chinese-Indonesian add Saputra or another Indonesian suffix to the end of their last names to make them sound more Indonesian.

When my grandparents moved to Australia because of Suharto’s problematic values, they decided to remove Saputra from their name. You could also just say that Wangsaputra was too lengthy for our liking. Though my grandparents let go of their Indonesian surname, they did not and have not let go of the culture.

I am lucky enough to have grown up, surrounded by my wonderful Indonesian family, listening to their stories of growing up in Indonesia as a Chinese-Indonesian family and connecting with them and my culture, which, lucky for me, includes eating chicken satay way too often. I’m so happy to be at a school where I can be proud of my culture and share it with my peers.

Stephanie Du

Da jia hao wo shi du li wen Jīntiān wǒ yào shuō zuòwéi Zhōngguó rén de yìyì (Hello, today I am going to talk about what being Chinese means to me. Being Chinese means being part of a proud and resilient culture that has thrived through challenges and celebrated many achievements.

I take pride in being part of the 17.3 per cent of the population that identifies as Chinese, connected to a global community known for its strength and unity. Our success, seen clearly at the Olympics with our dominance in sports like table tennis and diving, reflects the values of hard work and perseverance that define us. This identity gives me a deep sense of belonging, knowing I am part of a legacy of excellence that continues to inspire and uplift.

Ava Christofides

CIAO! Sono Ava dell’ottavo anno e sono qui per raccontarti un po’ della mia cultura. Hi! I’m Ava from Year 8 and I am here to tell you a little about my culture, and if you haven’t guessed yet I’m Italian.

I am a second-generation Italian on my mum’s side. My great-grandparents came to Australia after WW2 for work, my two grandfathers came from Italy, the first Sicily and the other Abruzzo. Sicily is the island and Abruzzo is the heel of the boot. They came to Australia alone, then around five years later their family came to Australia.

They didn’t know any English and learnt off the TV because they were too old for school. My mum grew up in Australia with some old rules from Italy that she didn’t understand, these rules are now our traditions and will be passed down for generations.

One of these traditions is tomato day. It is a day where you make tomato sauce all day. To my great grandparents it was a chore but now it is a super fun tradition. We also have a delicious traditional tomato sauce for pasta and meatballs. But the traditions don’t just shape us, they also shape our values and religion.

Jessie Leung and Athena Ng

We are from Hong Kong and we are Hongkongers, not hongkongese. You can also call us Cantonese. (We are technically Cantonese, but we like saying hongkonger more.)

We’re here to talk to you about our culture, and even though it is similar to Chinese culture it is actually quite different. We have a lot of traditional food, such as egg tarts, cha chaan teng (popular restaurants), wonton noodles etc. We also eat mooncakes at the mid autumn festival, a festival we celebrate. And we celebrate Chinese New Year where we get red pockets, traditionally filled with cash. Yay money! 有錢啊

Cantonese is Hong Kong’s primary language. Although it follows the Chinese alphabet, the pronunciation is completely different, usually having nine tones instead of the four Chinese has. The Hong Kong version of Cantonese compared to the Guangdong or Guangzhou version has slightly different pronunciations and different slangs/phrases.

For example the Hong Kong version has more slang and improper words while Guangdong/Guangzhou has more proper and words more similar to the Mandarin dialect. And unlike China, Hong Kong tends to use traditional Chinese characters instead of the simplified version, which is what we learnt when we went to school in Hong Kong. People often say Cantonese is hard to learn, and this is kind of true because the words can have a lot of different tones.

Akshara Bhattacharya

I’m Akshara and I am of Indian descent. Indian culture is a vast and diverse tapestry that weaves together ancient traditions, spiritual philosophies, and rich art forms across its many regions, rooted in a history spanning thousands of years.

From the colourful festivals like Diwali and Holi to the intricate classical dances of Bharatanatyam and Kathak, Indian culture celebrates life with vibrant expressions of art. The family unit plays a central role, with values of respect, hospitality and unity being passed down through generations. India’s linguistic diversity is reflected in its 22 official languages, each carrying their own traditions and literature.

At the heart of Indian culture lies an emphasis on spirituality and coexistence, where ancient wisdom harmonises with modernity, creating a unique blend that resonates both locally and globally. This culture, deeply philosophical yet lively, continues to evolve while holding on to its timeless essence. Thank you.

Devishi Malla

नमस्ते, मेरो नाम देवीशी हो. Hi, my name is Devishi. I’m in year 8 and here to talk about my culture. To me, Nepali culture is amazing. It’s a blend of various traditions and practices from different ethnic groups living in the Himalayas. Festivals like Dashain and Tihar are vibrant celebrations where families come together for food, music and rituals. The storytelling traditions, including religious stories, play a big role in preserving history and values. Plus, the food, like momo and dal bhat, are both delicious. Overall, Nepali culture is a beautiful mix of tradition and community spirit. Thank you!

Year 7 Head of Year

We would like to wish our Head of Year 7 (Goodlet, Ingleholme, Marden and Thomas) Ms Gina Ventura, a wonderful break of long service leave from Friday of this week. We look forward to welcoming Gina back in Week 3 of Term 4.

Throughout this time Ms Felicity Dyet will be stepping into the role and caring for our girls. Felicity has been at Pymble for two years in the capacity of a full-time geography teacher and a Year 9 Compass teacher. She is excited to be joining Middle School and getting to know the girls better throughout this time. She can be contacted at fdyet@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

Year 8 Outdoor Education Program

Reminder that Year 8 Outdoor Education Program begins on Monday 16 September until Friday 20 September. Students should present at James Kelso Field on Monday 16 September at 8.15am for roll call. Coaches will depart the College by 8.45am.

Garden Party Reminder

Thank you to our parents and students who have prepared their gift baskets and hampers for the Garden party. Reminder that Year 8 will need their baskets finalised before Friday 12 September and Year 7 will need to have their baskets completed by Wednesday 18 September.