From the Principal

From the Principal

The term is off to a flying start, with our Year 12 (Class of 2024) reporting that their first HSC exam, the English paper, was ‘okay’. Trust me, that stands for ‘exceptionally good’ in exam speak!

While every year seems to fly by, this one seems to be moving along exceptionally quickly, especially when you consider how much we have already packed in. Strap yourself in for another action-packed term of learning activities, Vision Valley expeditions, celebration concerts, orientation events, boarding activities, sporting awards, Christmas concerts and so much more. We have a great deal to look forward to as we pulse our way through the last term for the year.

The holiday break provided me with some excellent reflection time regarding social media and the growing concerns I, and our teaching staff, have about the impact of technology on your daughter’s wellbeing and learning. On Tuesday, I spoke with girls in Years 5 to 11 regarding new rules for technology which were introduced this week. On Wednesday, this letter was sent to parents in these year groups via the MyPymble parent portal. In case you missed it, the letter is attached again here for you to read and discuss with your daughter. Thank you in advance for your support as we work together to ensure technology is used for good at Pymble.

Now, on to exciting news to start the term.

Having worked with international university scholarship experts, I am aware of the value of our school being known and understood internationally when accessing scholarship placements for our graduates. As such, we were delighted to see Pymble is listed on the Carfax Schools Index as one of the five top Australasian schools. This list is curated by international experts, with each school recognised as notable for their individual footprint in education, including academic standards, facilities, preparation for university entry, unique ethos and how they set their pupils up for life beyond academia. 

This year, the College has been making a conscious effort to further increase the profile of Pymble internationally by developing connections with:

  • universities and academic partners in the UK and USA; and
  • international sporting clubs and associations.

Our strategy is to ensure a Pymble education is valued for excellence all over the world, and to provide more pathways to tertiary study, sport at elite level, and global careers. This is good news for all students, including our Pymble Alumni. When they say, “I’m a Pymble girl” it should mean something impressive beyond our shores.

Over the break, our team was busy securing future international partners for our students, along with visiting exceptional sites all over the world to assist in the planning for our Secondary Innovation Precinct. Below is a summary of some of the organisations and places visited. Suffice to say, we have all returned filled with energy and inspired by connections that will further enrich all we do at Pymble for your girls.

My meetings in the UK

  • Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (football); Tonbridge School and St Paul’s School (Vision Valley); and Francis Holland School (student and staff exchanges).

Mr Adam Raw (Sport) in Europe and the UK

  • Europe: Barcelona Football Club (football); Centre d’Alt Rendiment (elite training programs and diving); Walter Grunfeld Tennis Academy; Atletico de Madrid Club (football); Rafa Nadal Academy (tennis pathways); Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre (camps/sports tours); AC Milan Training Centre (sports tour); and Inter Milan Training centre (sports tour).
  • UK: Headington School (rowing); Loughborough University (sport-related subjects and pathways); University of Bath (swimming); Guildford High (athletics); Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (football); and Millfield School (swimming, diving and athletics).

Miss Skye Halliday (Sport) in the USA

  • Cornell University (hockey, rowing, athletics and swimming); University of Connecticut (basketball); Brown University (student-athlete development); Harvard University, University of Texas, Washington State University, and Oregon State University (rowing and student-athlete development); University of Oregon (tour); and Miss Porter’s School (athletics and soccer).

Mr Asaph Mross Becker (Robotics) in Canada and the USA (where he was joined by Mr Ellis in Houston)

  • Canada: 2056 OP Robotics.
  • USA: Team 6328 – Mechanical Advantage; Robotics team at Stuyvesant High School; Aviation High School New York City; NASA facility; Space Cookies; Chezy Champs; Team 2468 – Team Appreciate; Texas Torque; Team 5414 – Pearadox; Team 3847 – Spectrum; Citrus Circuits; and Taipei American School.

Ms Nicola Nelson and Mr Peter Ellis (TAS) in Europe, UK and USA

  • Milan: Istituto Marangoni (fashion, art and design); Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (fine arts); and Politecnico di Milano (fashion design).
  • Paris: Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne (French Fashion Institute); École Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode (fashion education); IFA Paris (fashion sustainability); and Paris School of Fashion.
  • London: Central St Martins (arts and design), and the London College of Fashion, both at the University of the Arts, London.
  • New York: Parsons School of Design (sustainable fashion design); The Fashion Institute of Technology; and the Culinary Institute of New York.

Perhaps the highlight of the trip for Miss Halliday, Ms Nelson and Mr Ellis was catching up with two of our Alumni who are currently in the USA, Jessica Colbran (2023), who is on a rowing scholarship at the University of Texas, and Jess Woo (2023), who is studying Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design in New York.

It is a pleasure to share Miss Halliday’s reflection after reconnecting with her former PESP student.

“It was wonderful to catch up with Jessica Colbran (2023) in Texas and witness her representing Pymble so brilliantly. The University of Texas is incredibly impressive for student-athletes. Its rowing program is considered the best in the country having won the NCAA Rowing Championship earlier this year. Having one of our Pymble athletes there is a source of great pride, not only for her achievements but also for the integral role her teachers and coaches have played in her journey to Texas. My observations confirm that Pymble excels at preparing students for life beyond its walls.” 

As a world-leading school, we will continue to explore and provide new opportunities for our students to develop into influential and compassionate women whose education will serve them equally well as students and into their future. Thank you to our staff who give up their breaks to do this groundwork as representatives of Pymble. Being on the road may appear glamorous; however, it does mean there is little down time or time for their own families during the holidays. I’m grateful to have such a wonderful team of progressive and dedicated staff who nurture and support our students and the ongoing development of our amazing school.

Wishing you all a wonderful term ahead.