From the Upper School
A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
Service continues to be central to all that we do in the Upper School, with students in Years 9 and 10 volunteering this week as ushers at the Careers Expo, acting as Big Sisters in the Junior School during lunchtimes and leading Year 7 peer support sessions. Earlier this week, we were also very proud to see one of our Heads of Year 9, Mr Andrew Heggie, shave his hair in support of the World’s Greatest Shave.
Thank you to all of the students who have brought in donations for our annual undie drive. All donations support the work of Days for Girls, which helps provide sustainable menstrual health solutions to girls around the world. We will be continuing to accept contributions until the end of Term 2 and look forward to further building on our existing donations.
A big congratulations to our wonderful performers who shone last week in the Senior Drama Co-Curricular production of You’re Just Too Good To Be Shrew. We also celebrate the fantastic talent of our musicians who performed last night at the Secondary School Ensemble Concert. It is always wonderful to see the creative talent within the Upper School.
As Term 1 comes to an end, I take this opportunity to wish all our girls and families a restful and enjoyable Easter break. We look forward to welcoming back our girls on Tuesday 29 April in their winter uniforms.
Term 2 Staff Changes
During our combined assembly earlier this week, students were informed of an important staff change for our Year 9 girls. Mr Andrew Heggie (Head of Year 9) will be stepping into the role of Acting Deputy Head of Senior School in Term 2.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Andrew, as he supports our senior students. During his absence from the Upper School, Mrs Kelly Crowley will be Acting Head of Year 9 and will be looking after Bennett, Goodlet, Hammond and Ingleholme houses. Kelly is an experienced educator who joined our Pymble family in 2024, after relocating from Perth.
She brings decades of experience as a mathematics teacher, K-12 deputy principal and wellbeing leader. Kelly enjoys camping with her family and is looking forward to supporting the Year 9 students both at Vision Valley and at the Pymble campus.
Compass Curriculum
The Compass curriculum, taught every Wednesday during Mind-Body-Spirt time, is an important part of our girls’ social and emotional learning. This term our Year 9 and 10 girls have engaged in a range of wellbeing activities in Compass sessions, aimed at fostering personal growth, mutual respect and stronger connections.
Through discussions and interactive sessions, our Year 9 students have explored important topics such as overcoming procrastination, the College value of respect, identifying fake news and seizing opportunities for personal and academic development. These activities encouraged students to reflect independently, while also strengthening their connections within their Compass groups and the wider school community. By participating in these sessions, Year 9 students have developed skills that will support them in their future learning and relationships.
Looking ahead, there will be more opportunities for Year 9 students to build on these foundations through interactive activities focused on resilience, respectful relationships and digital wellbeing. We are committed to equipping our students with the skills and mindset they need to thrive, both in school and beyond.
For our Year 10 girls, Term 1 has seen students plan and reflect on the Urban Challenge, take part in a seminar and follow-up discussion with Paul Dillon on drug education and engage in a range of topics aimed at developing their social and emotional literacy.
These include exploring the value of respect, investigating individual strengths, and participating in mindful group activities based on the “Five Ways to Wellbeing” framework. Each activity has provided students with explicit information, opportunities for group discussion and time to explore different scenarios and share perspectives.
Through these shared experiences, we hope our students continue to develop a deeper appreciation for one another and carry this respect into their future relationships and broader interactions.
Key Dates – Term 1
Thursday 10 (evening) and Friday 11 (day) April – Year 8 to 10 Learning Discussions
Friday 11 April – Boarders’ Travel Day
Friday 11 April – Pupil-Free Day
Key Dates – Term 2
Monday 28 April – Boarders’ Travel Day
Monday 28 April – Year 9 Residential Program Parent Workshop with Dr Rubinstein
Tuesday 29 April – First Day of Term 2
From the Year 9 Parent Co-ordinators
It was great to meet some parents last week at the end-of-term catch up. We look forward to meeting more parents over the course of the year.
For any enquiries, please feel free to contact us – Ira (0415 112 575) or Jenny 0422716808.
Victoria Harrison
Head of Upper School