From the Boarding School
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is always a special time in our Boarding calendar. With students joining us from around the world, we take every opportunity to celebrate such occasions. On Tuesday night the Boarders enjoyed a delicious Chinese banquet beautifully prepared by our Chartwells team.
They were thrilled with all that was on offer from spring rolls all the way through to fried ice cream and fortune cookies. Another highlight of the evening was a delivery of giant fuji apples, etched with good wishes, for our Boarders to enjoy. In Chinese culture, the word for apple, “ping guo”, is a homophone for the word “ping”, meaning peace or tranquillity, so an apple symbolises a wish for peace.
This special gift of apples has become a much-loved tradition for our Boarders and we are very grateful to the beautiful day school family who, year after year, take the time to bring much joy to our Boarding family.
Speaking of food, I am delighted to share the Term 1 menu with you. This menu has been through numerous critiques including our Boarders Representative Council, Heads of Houses, and the Chartwells team including their dietician before appearing in its final version that you can view by clicking here.
Furthermore, we have a process where we provide daily feedback and tweaks are made along the way so we can ensure a delicious and nutritious menu for all. If you have any feedback on the menu, I would love to have your input too.
Pymble comes to you
One of my favourite aspects of my job is to be out and about visiting families in their home towns. In the coming weeks we will be visiting Scone and if you live in the vicinity and are free on Friday 21 March, we would love you to join us. The invitation can be accessed by clicking here.
We also have other plans to visit in the months to come. Please make a note of the dates when we will be ‘on the road’ or let us know if you would like a visit.
Year 12 Learning Discussions
Year 12 Learning Discussions are back on site at Pymble on Wednesday 5 March. We understand that it may be difficult for some of our Year 12 parents to be here in person and for this reason we have arranged the opportunity for online appointments between 3.30pm and 5.00pm on the same day. Boarding parents will be prioritised to book interview times and will have early access to the booking system. An email will be sent with the details of how to book later this week.
Our Boarders Shine in the Pool
The swimming carnival is always a super fun day for the girls and the competitive streak really comes into play in the day girls verses Boarders event. Yesterday, the Year 7 to 9 race was a real nail biter with our Boarders narrowly triumphant in the pool. Not so lucky today, with our Year 10 to 12 team missing out by just 30 seconds. Congratulations to all our swimmers who did us all proud in the pool!
Live It, Love It, Learn It – Ms Theresa Mimmo, Deputy Director of Boarding
Boarders got baking on Friday afternoon with the making of brownies and milkshakes. Mrs Wiedemann was happy for all Boarders to be back and welcomed all of our new Boarders. On Saturday afternoon, the trip to Hornsby shopping centre proved beneficial to collect all required school equipment for the new year.
The weather played a part in the successful adventure to Watson’s Bay on Sunday. Poké bowls were on the menu for a picnic lunch in the park and a quick dip in one of the harbour beaches. The group were lucky enough to see the yachts racing in the SailGP final on Sydney Harbour.
Our academic tutors also returned this week. Boarders are able to book time with tutors to assist with their academic studies.
A View From My Window
Hi, my name is Daysie, and I joined Pymble last year in Year 7. I live four hours’ drive from Sydney in a town called Cootamundra, on a 4,000 acre mixed-farm property; we also own two other farms an hour and a half away near West Wyalong which are both 2,000 acres. On our farm in Cootamundra, we have Hereford cattle and sheep, as well as some crops including canola, oats, wheat and lupins.
I live with my mum, dad and my six siblings – Rogan, Digby, Felix, Macey, Evie and Wylie – some of whom now live in Sydney. I am the youngest! We also have a dog called Bernie who is an old English sheep dog and cat called Fuzzy who is a rag doll, as well as five working dogs which are kelpies.
When I look out my window, I see Bernie playing around and my siblings kicking a footy around (usually with Bernie chasing after them). My favourite things to do when I get home are ride my motorbike, go chaser binning for my dad when it’s harvest time, and go fishing for carp out on the tinny in the swamp, even though I don’t usually catch much! When I come home in the spring holidays I help my family with lamb marking.
I love spending time at home because I get to see all my siblings and relax by doing things like swimming in the dam on a hot summer’s day or when we go water skiing in the summer and getting to have my mum’s pasta when I get home. When I drive through the countryside, I see acres and acres of bright yellow canola; they blossom bright yellow for a couple of weeks in the spring, and then they fall, starting to get ready for harvest. I also love seeing paddocks of wheat, getting to smell the fresh air and the views from our other farms in West Wyalong because they have the best sunsets and are peaceful and quiet.
I love my time at Pymble, and love playing all sorts of sports throughout the year. My favourite time so far has been rugby season and getting to row in Terms 1 and 4. My older sisters, Macey and Evie, have both boarded before me – and I love that Evie is still here because she has helped me settle into my home away from home.
Boarder of the Week
Congratulations to Boarder of the Week, Margaux. A dedicated Year 9 student, Margaux joined us from Hong Kong in 2024. Margaux is enthusiastic about everything especially baking and she is a capable and dedicated participant in Boarders Get Baking.
Margaux always looks out for others and she has been especially kind to our new Boarders – showing them around, making sure they feel welcome and generally being a lovely Boarding sister. A talented writer who works hard at her studies, Margaux is a wonderful role model for all our Boarders.
Save the Date
Friday 21 February – PPA Icebreaker and Boarding parent “afters” at Pymble Pub
Friday 28 February – Year 12 Formal
Sunday 2 March – Mother and Daughter Lunch event – venue TBA
Friday 14 March – Year 11 Formal
Friday 21 and Saturday 22 March – Year 12 Boarder and Day Girl Parents’ regional weekend
Saturday 8 April – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel Service and Dinner
Monday 10 April – Face-to-Face Learning Discussions for Boarding Families
Tuesday 11 April – Boarders’ Travel Day
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding