From the Senior School
From the Head of Senior School
The 2025 school year is off to an exciting start, with our Year 11 and 12 students embracing the opportunities and challenges ahead with enthusiasm. A highlight of the past week was the vibrant celebration of Lunar New Year, which brought the College community together in a wonderful display of culture and tradition.
The energy and excitement were palpable as the Lion Dance wound its way through the grounds on Friday, filling the campus with colour, movement and joy. It was a fantastic way to mark the beginning of the year, reminding us of the rich diversity within our community and the shared experiences that bring us together.
Year 11 Wellbeing Connections Days
Year 11 students also enjoyed two highly successful Wellbeing Connections Days, designed to equip them with valuable insights and practical strategies for the years ahead. They heard from a range of expert speakers, including Paul Dillon, who provided essential guidance on drug and alcohol awareness, Brent Sanders, who spoke about personal safety and consent, and Sally Dwyer, who shared important advice on managing a strong digital footprint.
Students were also presented with the opportunity to up-skill themselves by participating in a car maintenance course, and engaging with free micro-skills courses, such as Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Introduction to Cyber Security, being offered through the Institute of Applied Technology.
Beyond these thought-provoking sessions, the girls spent time with their Compass teachers, engaging in meaningful conversations about growth and resilience. The day also provided opportunities for students to strengthen friendships through interactive activities, fostering a strong sense of connection and support. I would also like to thank our Year 12 students Kexin, Sonya, Gina, Claire, Abbey, Josie and Kiera, who took part in a student-led panel discussion, offering advice and tips to navigate Year 11.
I was immensely proud of the maturity and great sense of ‘having a go’ displayed by the girls, who engaged wholeheartedly in all aspects of the program. Friday concluded with a beautiful outdoor movie night, where students gathered under a balmy evening sky to enjoy Wonka.
A special thank you to the staff who worked tirelessly to bring this event together – the Senior School administration team, the Year 11 Compass teachers and Heads of Year, and our Deputy Head of Senior School, Ms Patricia Gallardo. It has been a fine way to begin the Senior School journey.
Year 11 Pymble – Knox Connections
This week we were delighted to launch of our annual Pymble – Knox Connections group. Interested students will participate in a range of social activities, after an initial getting-to-know-you session with students from Knox Grammar School.
This group aims to foster healthy connections between Year 11 students of the two schools. Through this, we hope those involved further develop social skills and empathy, form new friendships and understand different perspectives. Meeting new people fosters social confidence, respectful relationships and builds skills in communicating and networking. Each school is inviting up to 50 students from each school to be involved this year.
Students who elect to participate need to commit to attending and contributing to regular meetings. As the students involved are also ambassadors for the College, we also expect those involved to model our school values, including wearing the uniform with pride.
Further information will be sent directly to students in the coming days.
Year 12 Paul Dillion presentations
Year 12 students also had the opportunity to hear from Paul Dillion, with his session carefully constructed for a Year 12 audience, which addresses the specific concerns and issues of this age group. As always, the girls reported a high level of engagement and gratitude for his wisdom and care.
Sony Camp
Over the summer break, a number of Year 12 students participated in our annual Sony Camp. I have included a report from Alice below:
Sony Camp was amazing! Sony Camp is a three-day camp run by staff and students from Pymble and Shore in the December holidays. It is intended to be a week of fun and activities for children with a disability, while also providing their families with respite. Not only is Sony Camp beneficial for the camper and their families but it was also extremely beneficial to me. Through my experience, and speaking to other companions, I gained an insight into the lives of other families who have a child that has a disability.
During the camp I didn’t realise the impact the campers were having on me. I’m a Boarder, so it was when my mum came to drive me home that I realised the lasting impact the camp had on me. Not only did I see the development of the campers during their time at Sony Camp, but I also witnessed the personal growth in my friends. I watched my peers do remarkable things that a seventeen-year-old student typically wouldn’t have experienced, and the experience has completely altered my perspective on so many interactions with other individuals I have had and will have.
The staff organised so many fun activities for the campers to participate in, such as reptile shows, carnival rides, magic shows and many more. Although three days is a short period of time I could see the change in the campers’ behaviour from the start to the end. On the first day some of the campers didn’t want to get involved with the gymnastics but by the last day they were dancing in the disco and having the time of their lives.
I am so proud to say that I was a part of Sony Camp, and I highly recommend everyone to participate if they can. Sony Camp will definitely be the highlight of my time at Pymble. I know it has made me a more compassionate and kind person, and I am so grateful for that.
Hague Model United Nations
Over the summer break I, alongside 14 other girls, had the privilege of attending the prestigious annual Hague Model United Nations (THIMUN) in which Pymble is one of the pioneering schools of the Southern Hemisphere invited to attend. It brought together 3,500 students from across the world in a five-day simulation of the United Nations, held in the same city as the International Court of Justice and sponsored by the UN itself.
The trip, organised by Mrs Hubbard, began in London as we immersed ourselves in the rich political and historical fabric of the city. A highlight for many of the Language Arts students was meeting up with Pymble alumni at Oxford, the very girls who ensured us this opportunity from their time at the College in their Language Arts initiatives. From London, we boarded the Eurostar to Belgium, making our way from Brussels to Bruges, where we stayed for a few nights before taking an hour bus ride to Amsterdam.
From museums to walking tours, the itinerary allowed us to get a comprehensive familiarity with the cities and local towns we visited and an unforgettable exposure to different ways of living. The final six days of the trip were spent in the Hague, as we were allocated commissions and delegations tasked to discuss a range of critical issues under the overarching theme of ‘The Impact of AI on Humanity’.
It was a truly enlightening experience, one that enforced the value of diplomacy and the process of conflict resolution in a parliamentary, international forum. We were able to network and form long-lasting friendships with aspirational students from across the world, learning from their diverse goals and interests. As the representative for UN – Water, we were able to approach this conference from the unique perspective of the UN itself, speaking on behalf of an agency concerned with SDG6; the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation.
Our role was to inform on the policy making of other delegations, supporting those who aligned with the accelerated effort to relieve strain on water resources in a goal to uplift millions from preventable diseases caused by unsafe water.
We are truly grateful for Mrs Hubbard for organising the trip, and for Ms Blake and Mr Dunk who assisted in making it a memorable and safe experience.
Written by Angela
Key Dates – Term 1
Friday 21 February – PPA Icebreaker
Friday 28 February – Year 12 Social (academic half day)
6 March – Year 12 GPs In Schools
6 March – Year 12 Food for Thought
6 March – Year 11 Immersion Day
14 March – Year 11 Formal (academic half day)
10 April – End of Term 1
From the Year 11 Parent Co-ordinators
A friendly reminder about the upcoming PPA Icebreaker on Friday 21 February at 6.45pm to 9.00pm. This is a lovely opportunity to socialise with other Year 11 parents and the wider school community on the beautiful Gloucester Lawn.
Please remember to RSVP by today if you haven’t already. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please contact your Parent Coordinators Kate Hart 0438987825 or Julie Xie 0404197139 via text if you would like to be added to the PymbleLC Parents Class of 2026 on WhatsApp or WeChat.
If you would like to be added to the Facebook group please search the group name (PymbleLC Parents Class of 2026) and ask to join ensuring you answer the questions. These pages are used to share social event information and connect with other parents in the year group.
We hope you were able to make it to the Year 11 information night, but if not, it was recorded so you will be able to watch a replay.
Julie (0404 197 139)
Kate (0438 987 825)
From the Year 12 Parent Co-ordinators
A big welcome back to Year 12 parents! We’re looking forward to seeing all Year 12 parents at the 2025 Icebreaker on Friday 21 February. It’s the last one for us, so let’s go out with a bang!
Also, if you are looking to join our Year 12 parent groups, please contact Jemma on 0426868643.
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School