From the Senior School
As we move through Week 6, it continues to be a busy and exciting term for our Year 12 girls. There’s so much happening across a variety of areas, and we are proud of the way our students are balancing their academic commitments with co-curricular activities.
Students have been shining in the Dance Showcase, participating in various sports programs, and engaging in service activities as part of their community involvement. Preparations are also well underway for Sony Camp, which promises to be an enriching experience, and the planning for our Christmas celebrations is beginning to take shape.
In addition to these exciting events, we are also recognising the ongoing achievement and effort of our students in both academic and personal growth. And of course, it’s a busy period with a full schedule of assessment tasks as the end of the year draws closer.
The girls have been reminded about the importance of keeping good routines around diet, sleep, exercise and study and have also been encouraged to seek support or advice if they need some support.
Getting into the Christmas Spirit!
This week, our Year 12 girls have been busy spreading some festive cheer as they prepare for the Christmas celebrations. The Atrium is being transformed with beautiful decorations, and our stunning Christmas tree is taking pride of place, ready to bring joy to everyone who passes by.
In addition to decorating, the girls are also looking forward to a special Christmas party with their Year 5 mentor buddies. This annual tradition is a wonderful way to connect with the younger students and share in the holiday spirit. A huge thank you to Abby, Josie, Alice and Lily, who have worked hard behind the scenes to plan a fun and memorable party for everyone.
Congratulations to Year 12 Students on completing IAT Micro Skills courses
I would like to extend my congratulations to the 110 Year 12 students who have successfully completed one of the IAT (Institute of Applied Technology) Micro Skills courses this term. This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to their commitment to gaining practical, industry-relevant skills.
What are TAFE IAT Micro Skills Courses?
TAFE IAT Micro Skills courses are short, specialised programs that teach specific, in-demand skills in areas such as information technology, digital media, and engineering. These hands-on courses help students build real-world expertise and improve their employability. This term, we have offered the students time to complete a unit during their MBS time, as part of their academic development.
By far the most popular course was ‘Generative AI and its Business Applications’, but many students also opted to complete ‘Introduction to Cybersecurity’ or ‘Introduction to Data Analytics’. The students are encouraged to work through as many of the free online units as they would like. Once complete, the girls receive a digital certificate to upload into their resume alongside valuable knowledge and skills.
Outstanding Effort Awards – Year 11
We would like to congratulate the Year 11 students who have earned the Outstanding Effort Award for their exceptional commitment to their studies. These students have demonstrated Consistent Effort across all academic subjects in both Semester 1 and Semester 2 reports, showing a strong work ethic, dedication and a positive attitude towards learning. Their persistence and focus are truly commendable.
| Abadee | Emily |
| Atkinson | Maya |
| Black | Tully |
| Bookless | Chloe |
| Borean | Amelie |
| Bucknell | Phoebe |
| Cottrell | Mary |
| Craig | Charlotte |
| Croll | Jessica |
| Cullen | Jessica |
| Davison | Lisa |
| Dias | Maya |
| Erfanian | Jasmine |
| Ford | Charlotte |
| Geng | Lumeng |
| Gu | Jiayuan |
| Hartin | Genevieve |
| Hastings | Iris |
| He | Samantha |
| Hennessy | Ellie |
| Hick | Isabel |
| Hu | Chanette |
| Jones | Lily |
| Korenblyum | Lauren |
| Laing | Sophie |
| Lim | Sophia |
| Liu | Ella |
| Mironova | Kiera |
| Mouton | Juliette |
| Muthukuda | Ollisha |
| Nguyen | Isabella |
| Ong | Kathie |
| Paleologos | Phoebe |
| Payne | Sally |
| Porter | Erin |
| Soo | Christiana |
| Stansall | Alexandra |
| Tang | Elizabeth |
| Taylor | Madeline |
| Wang | Allison |
| Wang | Jessica |
| Warton | Sybella |
| Watson | Anika |
| Wong | Josephine |
| Woo | Gemma |
| Worrell | Jessica |
| Xie | Cynthia |
| Xu | Isabella |
| Xu | Olivia |
| Zhu | Evelyn |
Jacaranda Awards – Term 4
I would also like to congratulate the recipients of the Term 4 Jacaranda Awards, which are given out once a term, to students who demonstrate a commitment to and role modelling of the College values.
| Rebecca Ryan |
| Victoria Lee |
| Ellie Hennessy |
| Christine Leung |
| Zoe Le Hoang |
| Claire McPherson |
| Tessa Newitt |
| Izabella Ziolkowski |
| Annabel Charnock |
| Charlotte Moorhouse |
| Erin Porter |
| Sophia Slater |
| Accalia Robinson |
| Chanette Hu |
| Vicky Hu |
| Lily Jones |
Science of Wellbeing
Congratulations to Anais, Freya, Lara and Celeste who completed the Science of Wellbeing Course for Teens which is a popular online Yale course for teens. The girls explored what the field of psychology teaches us about how to be happier, how to feel less stressed, and how to thrive in high school and beyond. They completed short weekly ‘happiness homework’ tasks and have developed an understanding of what psychological science has to say about living the good life.
World Kindness Day
Our Wellbeing Prefects, Emily and Alexandra organised a wonderful surprise for their teachers, on ‘World Kindness Day’ (13 November). The girls asked their peers to express words of kindness, care and gratitude to our amazing staff at Pymble, especially around this busy time of the year with HSC and exam marking / reports. These were posted on the walls in the KM building and called ‘Staff Shoutouts’. This was such a thoughtful and heartfelt way for the students to express their gratitude and the staff have been overwhelmed in reading their messages. Many thanks to Emily and Alexandra for leading this and to all the girls for their lovely words.
Jacaranda Day – The Bill Crews Foundation
All families still have the opportunity to contribute to our Jacaranda Day Christmas Appeal in support of The Bill Crews Foundation, helping to spread kindness and make a positive impact on our community during the festive season. Together, we can make a difference.
Key Dates
4 December – Years 7 to 11 (2024) Speech Day
4 December – Last day of Term 4
18 December – HSC 2024 results released
19 December – Gradu-bration! For Year 12 2024 students
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School