From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Seussical is here!
This week is a huge week for our Year 6 girls, and our Year 6 and Performing Arts teaching teams. After many months of dedicated rehearsals, Seussical the Musical is here! It will be a wonderful showcase of the girls’ talents and teamwork and I am proud that this year Mr Schweinberger and his team have led a full Broadway musical performance over two acts which enables each girl to have more time on stage and each Compass class to work as a performance team together. I am watching both evening performances and can’t wait!
I am also excited and proud that some of our elders from Northaven Uniting Care Centre and Kari Court also came to watch the matinee performance on Wednesday. I know how deeply they feel the kindness and care extended to them by our Year 5 and Year 6 girls who visit regularly, and they were thrilled to be able to come and watch the performance. We also have ten students from a Macquarie University-run primary school for students with special learning needs coming to watch the performance, as we are now connecting with that school and looking forward to ways in which we can support them and share learning opportunities with them.
Hooray for the Garden Party!
I am really looking forward to Garden Party on Saturday as it’s such a wonderful way for us to come together as a community and enjoy fun, conversation and some delicious food throughout the day.
A huge thank you to all our parents who have been busy planning and organising our Junior School stalls and to those of you who will help to run these stalls on Saturday. Mrs Bird and I are excited to be on the Year 4 Butterfly Balloon Stall (from 12.00pm to 1.00pm) and the barbecue stall (from 1.00pm to 2.00pm) so please come and say hello to us as we work on these stalls.
Opportunity for our Junior School Artists and Designers
Pymble’s values of care, courage, responsibility, respect and integrity, reflect who we are as people, inform our behaviour and show the world what we, as individuals and as a College, know are important.
These five values also inform our statement of intent, Watch us Change the World, defining our goal to make the world a better place for all.
To celebrate the launch of our behaviour statements related to each of our values, I am delighted to announce a very special Pymble competition to design the cover of the Pymble 2025 Junior School Student Diary.
The competition for Junior School is open to girls from Year 1 to Year 6 and entries will be accepted until Friday 27 September at 8.00am. If your daughter is interested in having a go at this competition please talk through these requirements with her:
- An original artwork, either hand drawn or digital, that represents the five College values and their relevant behaviour statements.
- This is an opportunity to explore your creativity, using visual elements to express your ideas. Please keep text and words to a minimum.
- Your artwork must measure 180mm width x 170mm height.
- Digital submissions must be made in high resolution, in JPEG or PDF format.
- Each student must submit an artist statement (minimum 100 words) explaining their idea, rationale, inspiration and/or intentions. This statement, and your school photo, will be printed in the school diary.
- Artworks will be judged by Dr Hadwen, Mrs Bird, Mr Robinson, Ms Rockwell, Mrs Kenny, Mr Raymond and me, and the winner will be decided on the demonstration of age-appropriate technical skill and how effectively the College values are conveyed.
- The winner will also receive a $100 gift voucher to Event Cinemas
- Artwork must be clearly labelled with the student’s name, year and Compass Class
- Entries are to be submitted to Hedgehog House or to me at kbrown@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
I am also planning to have a gallery of entries which are highly commended by the judging panel which will be on display at the start of the new school year.
Amazing results in the Asia Schools Open Debate
Congratulations to Alice Jiang and Lakshi Rajeev who both competed in the recent Asia Schools Open – British Parliamentary Debate and achieved exceptional results in this fiercely contested debate competition.
Alice – 7th best speaker in 12 and under category and quarterfinalist in the 13 and under category
Lakshi – 10th best speaker in 12 and under category and quarterfinalist in the 13 and under category
An important message from Mr Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
Friday Canteen
Due to the overwhelming response and the warmer weather, cold drinks/frozen treat will now be available to order from Term 4. We are seeking help from parents across the Junior School to assist on a Wednesday and Friday sorting lunch orders and handing out cold drinks/frozen treats that have been pre-ordered. Should you be willing to assist, please click here (we are initially limiting the form to only accept one submission per person, to share this opportunity with all members of the community).
Note: There will be no cash or card purchases of a Friday. Items are only available for pre-purchase via the Junior School Flexischools app. Years 5 and 6 may use this facility, or access Archie’s Cafe as normal.
OSHC Registrations
Please note that there are 62 days left to register at OSHC. ALL Junior School students need to be registered at OSHC (through the Kidsoft website) in order to enrol in new or additional co-curricular offerings, including swimming and tennis. If your daughter is not registered with OSHC she will not be able to be enrolled in new activities from Term 4 2024 or be eligible to select new activities for 2025.
Water bottles
With the temperature increasing, a reminder to ensure you daughter has a named water bottle with her at school. Water bottle filling stations and water bubblers are available throughout the Junior School.
A message from Kurt Schweinberger – Head of Creative and Performing Arts K-6
Seussical – The Musical opens tonight! Get your tickets
“Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’ best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper!
I hope you are excited for the upcoming Year 6 production of Seussical – The Musical. Please note that tickets are on sale via the GMCPA Box Office. Click here to purchase your tickets.
Performance Dates: Thursday 19 and Friday 20 September commencing at 7.00pm.
Ticket Price: $22
Confirming the production will run for approximately two hours (with a 20-minute interval).
We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!
Bravo to the Grainger Concert Band!
Congratulations to the Grainger Band on their stellar performance at the NSSWE Spring Band Festival in Chatswood last Friday night! Under the skilled baton of Mrs. Patrice Goodman, the band delivered captivating renditions of Flutopia and Arabian Dances, impressing the audience with their musicality and energy. The girls’ dedication and talent truly shone through, making the night a memorable celebration of their hard work. We are so proud of the Grainger Band for their exceptional achievements!
One week to register for PJ Factor 2024
2024 Junior School PJ Factor is back, and we are looking forward to seeing students in Years 3 to 6 create exciting and entertaining performances.
Students may only enter ONCE as either a soloist or as part of a small group. All students that participate will receive House Points.
Heats will commence Wednesday 16 October (Term 4 Week 1). All heats will be held at lunch in the John Reid Hall and students will be allocated to one of the following times:
- Heat 1: Wednesday 16 October
- Heat 2: Thursday 17 October
- Heat 3: Friday 18 October
- Heat 4: Monday 21 October
- Heat 5: Tuesday 22 October
- Heat 6: Thursday 24 October
Following the heats, a selection of solo and group performances will be chosen to perform at the finals in the GMCPA Theatre on Friday 22 November.
When preparing their performance, students need to consider the following points:
- My performance does not exceed two minutes
- My performance is appropriate for my age (parents need to work with their daughter to create a performance that is indicative of their respective age)
Please see the student sign-up links below.
Registrations close Tuesday 24 September (Week 10). Students will be informed of their performance date on Thursday 26 September.
If you have any questions, please speak with Mr Schweinberger.
Junior School Digital News
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
JSPG Movie Night – Saturday 19 October
Tickets are now available here for the JSPG Movie Night, coming up at the end of Week 1 next term.
Date: Saturday 19 October
Time: 4.30pm to 8.30pm
Location: Main Oval
The evening will feature food stalls, a big screen movie screening of Migration, popcorn and an inflatable obstacle course. BYO seating including cushions, rugs or low chairs.
Your $20.00 ticket includes:
– A barbecue dinner plus one drink
– Family movie
– Inflatable obstacle course
Other Events
Year 3 Mums Lunch
Year 4 Sip and Supper
Thank you as always for your support.
Please contact us with any questions at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com
Term 3 2024 Key Dates – Weeks 9 and 10
Friday 20 September Year 6 Musical Performance 2
Saturday 21 September Garden Party
Monday 23 September Year 3 OEP Group 1 Vision Valley
Tuesday 24 September Year 3 OEP Group 1 return from Vision Valley
Tuesday 24 September Year 3 OEP Group 2 Vision Valley
Wednesday 25 September Year 3 OEP Group 2 return from Vision Valley
Wednesday 25 September Year 5 Riverview Excursion
Thursday 26 September Year 1 OEP Vision Valley
Friday 27 September Kindness/Service House Day
Friday 27 September Last Day of Term 3
Tuesday 15 October First Day of Term 4
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School