From the Middle School
Thank you to our wonderful Year 8 tour guides who have been so proactive in their leadership responsibility as ambassadors for the College. Our prospective families are always full of praise for you.
The Year 7 Leadership process has moved into the interview stage and over the next few days we will be finalising positions for the girls to take up their role in Term 2. I am so impressed with the calibre of the applications and the confidence demonstrated at interviews so far. Some excellent initiatives are being shared across the portfolios and I know that Year 7 Leaders will make a positive impact when they meet with the other leaders across Years 7 to 12.
This Thursday the girls had the opportunity to listen to a presentation by an external provider engaged by the college: YSafe. This was a very informative and practical exploration of safe use of digital devices that spoke to the girls directly covering topics such as: Cyber Bullying and online Content, Online Wellbeing and Sexting and the Law.
During Year assembly on Tuesday next week, we have organised for Year 7 to hear from our local Police Liaison Officer Lynda Hart. She will be focusing on delivering a clear message about zero tolerance for bullying on campus and beyond. Lynda will be reinforcing the importance of living out our College values of Respect, Responsibility, Courage, Care and Integrity.
Year 8 will also hear have the chance to hear from Lynda on Tuesday but the focus for them will be on “Vaping and the Law”. Prior to Lynda’s delivery we have asked our School Nurse Lauren Green to present on the dangers and health risks associated with vaping.
Last Friday, during our Middle School Chapel Service, Haniya Abdul-Aziz, Fatima Muhammad, Tala Gubara and Saja Abdel-Megeed shared their knowledge of the Holy Month of Ramadan, why they fast and how they celebrate.
Fatima Muhammad, Anjali Shah and Fleur Houston also used this space to showcase their Year 8 PDHPE presentation on culture at the college in honor of Harmony Day.
Coming together and sharing our diverse stories, cultures and experiences has become an important part of Middle School Chapel. Thank you for sharing girls.
On Monday night we had 8 students from the Middle School represent the college at the IFTAR Dinner in Strathfield. This was an absolutely wonderful occasion, and I would like to thank the girls for their enthusiastic attendance. Below I have included some student reflections
On Monday night, we were excited to attend the Iftar dinner hosted at the Australian International Academy in Strathfield. We were able to experience and learn about the Islamic culture, specifically based on the holy month of Ramadan. The students (from Years 7 to 10) shared with us aspects of their culture and what it is like to fast. We had the opportunity to eat Iftar dinner with these girls, after breaking the fast with dates and water. We participated in fun activities such as trivia and listening to traditional sayings and prayers related to this holy month, while exchanging stories and learning more about their Islamic religion. One thing we learnt from the girls’ presentation was that during Ramadan, you’re not allowed to listen to music as it is considered a sin. After a lovely evening, we were able to reflect on our newfound knowledge of the month of Ramadan. We are very grateful for the opportunity to attend this special dinner.
Written by Serena Cummings and Isabelle Port (Year 8)
On Monday 27 March, a few girls from Years 8 to 10 attended a Iftar event in Strathfield. We arrived at the Australian International Academy at around 6.00pm. We met a lot of incredibly lovely girls and elderly women. We learnt all about Ramadan and how the Muslim community celebrates it during this holy month. We saw the girls break their fast and played a trivia to test our knowledge. We were then presented with a feast of food. And finished with a table full of desert. Everything was absolutely delicious! We finished the night with photos, where some girls tried on some cultural clothing or held cultural items. Overall, the evening was extremely fun, and we hope this opportunity comes again.
Written by Anjali Shah (Year 8)
Congratulations to our Term 1 Jacaranda Award recipients. The Jacaranda Award is a prestigious award that recognises one student per Compass Group who has demonstrated consistent commitment to their college values.
| Year 7 | Year 8 | |
| Bennett A | Isla Polites | Layla Abdel-Megeed |
| Bennett B | Emma Scott | Charlotte King |
| Goodlet A | Oliva Pragassen | Xyla White |
| Goodlet B | Emma Yates | Sophia Vajedsamiei |
| Hammond A | Holly Watson | Alessia Calvani |
| Hammond B | Hannah Murphy | Annabelle Taylor |
| Ingleholme A | Autumn Adler | Eden Orena Barlin |
| Ingleholme B | Aaleyah Bookless | Veronica Deng |
| Lang A | Savannah Lorimer | Chloe Wang |
| Lang B | Jane Zhang | Ruby Watson |
| Marden A | Willa Pearson | Grace McSweeney |
| Marden B | Isabella Eum | Amelia Lee |
| Thomas A | Miesha Gal | Sitan Chen |
| Thomas B | Harriet Gregory | Sophia Kok |
| Wylie A | Matipa Matebwe | Mia Davies |
| Wylie B | Hargun Dhaliwal | Meg Fulford |
Thank you to our outgoing Term 1 Compass Captains. You have done a great job in building connections across your Compass groups. Your leadership is most appreciated.
| Year 7 Compass Captains | Year 8 Compass Captains | |
| Bennett A | 1. Ariana Azizmohammad 2. Anabella Bayfield | 1. Angela Tao 2. Brielle McDonald |
| Bennett B | 1. Emma Scott 2. Sierra Borean | 1.Emily Englund 2. Gabriella Nutman |
| Goodlet A | 1. Isabelle Thomson 2. Martina Dall’asta Comin | 1. Xyla White 2. Annabelle Johnston |
| Goodlet B | 1. Ella Gungor 2. Anne Liu | 1. Isabelle Port 2. Lucinda Martin |
| Hammond A | 1. Claudia Sherlock 2. Malaika Rasheed | 1. Evie Farr 2. Mie Naito |
| Hammond B | 1. Gemma Dixon 2. Allison Wang | 1. Karen Kim 2. Leura Sayers |
| Ingleholme A | 1. Rosie Rew 2. Eloise Rumble | 1. Grace Murphy 2. Eden Orena Barlin |
| Ingleholme B | 1. Aalyeah Bookless 2. Sanduli Bandara | 1. Veronica Deng 2. Chloe Lam |
| Lang A | 1. Akshara Bhattacharya 2. Madison Landgrebe | 1. Cindy Wang 2. Emily Bartrop |
| Lang B | 1. Kate Rogers 2. Alana Wang | 1. Annika Maslin 2. Ruby Watson |
| Marden A | 1. Paanya Khatri 2. Isabella Du | 1. Mia Sherry 2. Grace McSweeney |
| Marden B | 1. Emma Wang 2. Selina Kerin | 1. Amelia Lee 2. Alanhah Tang |
| Thomas A | 1. Eva Saunders 2. Willow Toll | 1. Sitian Chen 2. Maya Clements |
| Thomas B | 1. Nicole Ho 2. Harriet Gregory | 1. Amelie Clements 2. Emily Raaff |
| Wylie A | 1. Chloe Ribeira 2. Matipa Matebwe | 1. Sanaa Kapoor 2. Jacklyn Chen |
| Wylie B | 1. Anisha Chabra 2. Annika Sethuram | 1. Arin Yoon 2. Lillian Wang |
Lastly, I wanted to mention that Monday is scheduled to be our Year 8 Mind/ Body/Spirit Day at Long Reef. This is our second attempt due to weather constraints. Unfortunately Monday’s weather is not looking great at this point but we will make a call by Friday afternoon and keep everyone in the loop.
From the Middle School Parent Group
Year 7 End of Term Coffee Catch Up
A Year 7 coffee catch up with be held in the morning of Tuesday 4 April at Brick Lane Expresso, a favourite local West Pymble café. A table has been booked from 8.00am in the name of ‘PLC Year 7’. Feel free to pop in after drop off before you head off for your day. The café is open early in case any parent whose daughter may have an earlier start to the day. We look forward to seeing you.
Kai Jones (kai_look@yahoo.com) and May Tai (yeemaytai@gmail.com)
PPA Year 7 Co-ordinators
Term 1 Key Dates
Monday 3 April – Year 8 Mind Body Spirit Day
Wednesday 5 April – Learning Discussions
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School