From the Junior School
A Message from Mrs Kate Brown, Head of Junior School
Welcome to Term 4, and a warm welcome to our new students and their families joining Junior School this term – Mabel (Year 2) and Primrose (Year 4) Osborne, and Chloe Huang (Year 2). We are so excited that your families have joined our Pymble family and are delighted to see that they are already so settled.
Already this week we’ve had girls exploring magnets, soil erosion, the properties of gravity, learning to swim, working on stroke development, learning gymnastic fundamentals, exploring the properties of poetry, and informative writing. They are also analysing visual literacy, and exploring the themes of environmental protection, connection to Country, and sustainability within imaginative and persuasive texts. The girls are designing jewellery, exploring animation and working on their environmental creature sculptures, made with papier mâche.
Diwali
We wish a happy Diwali to all our families who celebrate this special festival of light. This week, a group of Year 5s who attended the 2025 Be Kinder summit introduced their new initiative of an exploration of different cultures across the term to deepen our knowledge of the many cultures within our community. This week we explored Diwali, its meaning, and the decorations, games and food that help celebrate this important festival, honouring the way good conquers evil. Today, the Junior School had the opportunity to create rangoli and paper diyas as part of our celebration of Diwali.
Respect in the community
This week, a small, courageous, and compassionate group of Year 5s who have been leading their Bead4Love service initiative over the last two terms began visiting some of the elders at Killara Gardens Aged Care Centre. It was special to see how joyful the girls were when they returned from their visit and how they spoke of the new friendships they had formed with the elders.
A recent article by Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, in collaboration with Professor Robert Waldinger, reviews the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which began in 1938, and represents the longest investigation into adult life ever conducted. This Harvard report states that ‘the people who were more connected to others stayed healthier and were happier throughout their lives. And it wasn’t simply about seeing more people each week. It was about having warmer, more meaningful connections….by nurturing the development of social and emotional skills…we will be equipping children with the capacity to love and be loved.’
Respecting and supporting one another
It’s that exciting time of year where some of our girls in Years 3-6 showcase their talents as they audition for our annual PJ Factor showcase. Watching these auditions is a reminder of how courageous and multi-talented our girls are, and how kind they are as they turn out to support one another. It’s a very tough job for the judges as each performer deserves to be in the final showcase!
A Message from Mrs Hilary Alo-Emile – Year 1 Co-ordinator
Year 1 went on a Science Incursion called “Get Growing’ learning about the environment around us. First, we went on a nature walk and saw some beautiful plants and flowers. We learnt all about the important parts of plants and how they grow. The second investigation we did was to visit the farm. Farmer Dave showed us all the amazing animals, and we even got to feed the chickens and collect the eggs from the coops. After that, we went on a scavenger hunt to find all the different types of leaves and flowers identified by their shape. We found an oval leaf and spike flower. Finally, we had a nature talk with Sarah. She told us all about how plants grow fruit. We also played a Cassowary game where we learnt about why we shouldn’t cut down trees and hurt the environments where animals live. It was a fantastic day, and we had lots of fun!
Written by Megan Song, Harin Pyun and Juliette Benson
A Message from Mrs Kate Giles- Head of Wellbeing K-6
Why teaching social and emotional skills in primary school is essential
Research shows that how children learn to manage their emotions, build friendships, set goals, and make decisions is just as important as academic learning. Further, Durak et al (2018) found that programs targeting social and emotional learning, not only enhance student’s social and emotional skills but also lead to improved academic performance. These skills are explicitly taught through our Compass programs using evidence- based programs, including URSTRONG and Kimochis.
The College is using the CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) Framework to underpin this teaching of social and emotional skills. The CASEL Framework identifies five core areas of social and emotional competence that are vital for children to thrive in school and later in life:
- Self- Awareness– understanding your own feelings, strengths and values and how these impact your actions
- Self- Management– regulating and managing emotions, thoughts and behaviours in different situations
- Social Awareness– understanding different perspectives, showing empathy and respecting others
- Relationship skills– establishing and maintaining healthy and supportive relationships, including communicating, cooperating and resolving conflicts
- Responsible Decision-making– making kind and ethical choices
The framework also highlights the importance of the partnership between home and school and the importance of community. It really does take a village!
How can you help your daughter at home?
- Talk about feelings openly and how feelings impact behaviour
- Model calm problem solving and empathy
- Praise effort and kindness, not just results
- Ask your daughter how she solved a problem or helped a friend
To learn more about CASEL and the explicit teaching of social and emotional skills, please come along to the JSPG Term 4 meeting and AGM next week – all are welcome!
Deputy of Head of Junior School – Operations: Mr Stephen Robinson
School and Co-curricular Attendance
A reminder to families that regular full attendance at school is essential for all students. When a child is sick and unable to attend school, they are precluded from attending after school co-curricular activities. Should students have appointments during the school day, please ensure they are at school by 11.45am in order to attend co-curricular activities.
Summer Uniform Matters
Many of our students have grown significantly since they last wore their summer uniform at the beginning of the year. A reminder that the summer uniform must be within 5cm of the knee. Please visit the uniform shop in person or online to order a replacement if your daughter has grown.
Junior School Canteen Helpers
Thank you to the parents who gave up their time to volunteer last term. Term 4 dates are now available on the Google Form. Please click the link if you can volunteer your time. For the care and safety of your daughters, all volunteers must have a current Working with Children Check (WWC). If we do not already have your WWC on file, please email to juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au your WWC number and date of birth so your WWC can be verified.
Birthdays
There is no expectation that you supply treats for your daughter’s class. We will make every girl feel special on their birthday. If you would like to provide treats for the class on your daughter’s birthday, she may come to school with a small cupcake for each student in the class or an ice block, if the weather is warm. Please only supply for your daughter’s class not for her friends she may have in the grade. Birthday Zooper Dooper buckets are available to order via Flexischools each Wednesday and Friday. Please do not bring in gift bags.
Message from Junior School Administration Office
A reminder to email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au when your daughter is late or needs to leave early. Please continue to use the MyPymble application to mark your daughter absent. For any absence of two days or more, please complete the Exemption from Attendance at School form, which you can download from MyPymble, or email through a medical certificate for illness.
Term 4 After-School Arrangements
For girls in K-2, please email any changes for Term 4 to the Junior School office juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and advise if this is a permanent or casual change to your daughter’s arrangements . Please note that it is important that any changes to travel arrangements are received prior to 2.00pm.
Girls in Years 3-6 are responsible to remember where they need to go after school each day, please update your daughter’s diary with her Term 4 after school arrangements to assist her to remember where to go each afternoon.
Important Dates Term 4 Weeks 2-3
| Tomorrow | Year 7 2026 Links Day, Junior School Links Day 2026 |
| Saturday 25 October | IPSHA Saturday Sport |
| Tuesday 28 October | JSPG Term 4 meeting and AGM |
| Friday 31 October | Grandparents Event 12.30pm-2.00pm |
| Saturday 1 November | IPSHA Saturday Sport |
| Monday 3 November | Year 6 Surf Education |
| Wednesday 5 November | Year 3 Big Band Blow P1-P2, Year 2 Strings Sample P5-P6, Year 5 Riverview STEM Excursion |
End of Year Junior School Celebration dates
| Thursday 27 November | Year 6 Chapel, Celebration of Learning and Morning Tea |
| Tuesday 2 December | Years 3-6 Speech Day 9.00am – 11.00am Kindergarten Celebration of Learning and Nativity 11.30am – 1.00pm Years 1 and Year 2 Celebration of Learning 2.00pm – 3.00pm |
| Wednesday 3 December | Last day of Term 4 |
Message from JSPG
JSPG Meeting
📅 Date: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
📍 Location: Junior School Boardroom
Join us for our final JSPG meeting of 2025!
All class parents and coordinators welcome — we’ll review the year’s highlights and discuss early planning for 2026.
— — —
2025 EOY Year 4 Drinks
📅 Date: Saturday, 1 November 2025
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: (TBC – see flyer)
We warmly invite all Year 4 parents to join a relaxed evening of fun, conversations, and celebration.
🍷 BYO drinks & a plate to share
📩 RSVP: Archana 0403 594 851 or Lynn 0411 393 794