From the Boarding School
We are fortunate in Boarding to enjoy the company of girls from around the world. Celebrating the various cultural traditions is a real treat and the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of our favourites! Also known as the Moon Festival, the celebration is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, with a history dating back over 3,000 years.
This year was extra special with our Boarding fairy godmother, Mrs Sophia Fang, treating the Boarders to a stunning array of delicious mooncakes. For many of our international girls the taste of home brought tears to their eyes and we are all very grateful for the thoughtfulness and generosity of Mrs Fang.
Our catering team also went all out to ensure it was a special night and the delicious Asian style banquet was enjoyed by all.
ATAR Update with Mrs Stanfield
We are very grateful to have a team of day school staff who support our Boarders so generously. Mrs Stanfield, Director of Studies, is a regular visitor and, as Charlotte shares below, her visits are always very welcome.
Last week, Mrs Stanfield visited Lang House to meet with some of the Year 12 Boarders for individual meetings focused on our ATAR estimates and strategies to enhance our performance leading up to the HSC exams.
During the meetings, she offered advice and shared practical tips and strategies that motivated us to push forward and commit to our studies. She further worked with us to set clear goals and craft detailed study plans, helping us organise our time more effectively and efficiently.
This provided a much-needed boost of confidence, encouraging us to stay focused and disciplined as we approach the final stretch before the HSC. We really appreciate and are so grateful for Mrs Stanfield’s dedication and expertise and the rest of the day school staff who provide endless support towards our studies and assisting us during these stressful times.
Our new Spirit House Captains
On Tuesday night, I was delighted to announce our Spirit House Captains for the 2024-2025 school year. While the day school has membership to eight ‘Houses’ our Boarders are members of one of four of these Houses, known as ‘Spirit Houses’ – Goodlet, Marden, Hammond and Lang.
There are up to two Spirit House Captains for each Spirit House and these girls are charged with engaging the entire Boarding community in the various events and activities that take place throughout the year in addition to promoting and fostering school spirit and the College values – Care, Courage, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility.
Please join me in congratulating the following leaders:
Marden House – Rose Kirkby and Ella Mitchell
Lang House – Joanna Au and Addison Seeto
Goodlet House – Jocelyn Blair and Matilda Ord
Hammond House – Katelyn Chan and Phoebe Roberts
Our Pink Ladies
Pink Ladies are special people in the lives of our Boarders who go out of their way to make our time in Boarding easier, happier and much more connected.
This term there were multiple Pink Lady awards for our students with our Year 12 Boarders bestowing this honour our entire Year 12 cohort. As Head Boarders, Aspen and Skye said, “We are so grateful to our day school friends who, over the last six years, have shown us immeasurable kindness – picking us up, driving us around, feeding us and providing a lovely home environment for us to stay. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you!”
It was also a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge Mrs Katie White, who leaves us at the end of the term after four fabulous years as Deputy Director of Boarding. As Skye and Aspen share below, it was a very well deserved honour:
Our final Pink Lady award goes to probably the pinkest of all pink ladies – Mrs White. Mrs White has been our Deputy Director of Boarding for the last four years and for our year group, before that she was our Head of Year in Year 7 and 8.
She has been a staff member at the College for 20 years and has had an incredible impact on all of us. We want to recognise her as a Pink Lady today because she has consistently gone over and above to make our time in Boarding easier, happier and much more connected.
Whether it be organising amazing community weekends and love-it adventures, or ensuring we are booked in with the right teacher to help us with our studies or just being a mentor who supports us with practical advice and kind words, she really has enhanced the lives of us Boarders and we are very grateful.
Love It – Katie White, Deputy Director of Boarding
Last weekend was a special weekend for Love It with our first musical experience – Sister Act! Twenty-four Boarders were joined by Mardi and Dan at the Capitol Theatre and had a delightful experience. We also ventured out to C3 Gelato on Saturday evening in Wahroonga. The Boarders were delighted with the variety of flavours and exciting combinations. We also had a fantastic Trivia evening on Friday with the boarders from Newington.
The final week of Love It is upon us, and what a cracker it is! We have the community event on Friday night at the Warrawee Club, Garden Party on Saturday and then we have snagged 20 tickets to the AFLW Swans vs Giants on Sunday afternoon.
Eat Like a Boarder
I hope you can join us for dinner on Monday 14 October at 6.00pm, when you return your girls from the Term 3 break. This will be the ‘real’ experience, with you being able to enjoy the regular dinner service, just as the girls do each evening. If you would like to join us please RSVP to boarding@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au no later than Friday 27 September.
View From My Window
Hi everyone, for those of you that don’t know me, my name is Phoebe and I’m in Year 7.
I live in between Coonabarabran and Mulley. I live with my mum, dad and my two sisters, Millie and Emma, who were both Boarders at Pymble. Emma graduated last year and Millie in 2022.
Home for me is a 3000-acre farm with angus cattle and we also have two dogs, Loki and Sylvie, and I have one cat called Trixie. The farm has been in the family for two generations as my dad grew up on the farm with his family. My Nan and Pop still live in the same house that dad grew up in and we see them often as they are on the farm too.
My dad works on the farm while my mum is a speech pathologist managing her own business in Gunnedah. I love being at home with Mum and Dad as there is so much space with wonderful views. I especially love the views of the sun setting through the clouds over the landscape. The sunny days are lovely as our lake sparkles in the sunshine while the cows wander through the paddocks eating grass. Sometimes the view is noisy with the dogs fighting over bones in the backyard.
One thing that I love is the drive around the farm in the ute, helping my dad check the cattle and the paddocks. Although a little different, when I’m at school, I love my time in Cattle Team as it feels familiar being around the cattle and doing the jobs involved. Starting boarding was a little hard for me as I really missed Mum and Dad, home and the farm. Meeting friends in other years through Cattle Team was great, and I really enjoyed my time at the Easter Show earlier in the year. Over the last three terms, I’ve become more familiar with things at Boarding and feel comfortable in Avonmoore.
Boarder of the Week
Sally joined Pymble Boarding from Tomalla NSW in Year 10 last year and has been a lively presence within our community. Throughout Year 11 exams, Sally was a support to her Boarding sisters, writing daily affirmations of inspiration for Year 11 as they headed to exams.
She is known for her friendly banter, and teatime chats of an evening with staff and peers and is a go-to big sister for many of our younger Boarders. Sally is always thoughtful of others and has dedicated her time knitting squares for the ‘Wrap with Love’ initiative.
She leads by example in every task she does and is always the last to leave the Boarders’ Dining Room after assisting with clearing tables. Congratulations to Sally on being our very well deserved, Boarder of the Week!
Save the Date
20 September – Boarders and their Families event (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
21 September – Garden Party
24 September – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel and Farewell to Year 12 Boarders (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
26 September – Year 12 Boarder and Parents’ celebration event (Year 12 Boarders and parents only)
27 September – Year 11 and 12 Speech Day, followed by Boarders’ Travel Day
Term 4
14 October – Boarders return from 2.00pm
18 October – Boarding lockdown and evacuation drill (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
Term 4 TBA – Mother Daughter Lunch
4 December – Year 7 to 10 Speech Day, followed by Boarders’ Travel Day
Boarder Parent Group Meetings
20 September – 2.30pm onsite
24 October – 7.00pm TEAMS meeting
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding