From the Upper School
A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
Last Friday, it was my turn to step into the courage zone when I had the privilege of joining the VV04 students for a canyoning and abseiling day in the Blue Mountains. The last time I took on the challenge of abseiling was back in Year 10, so it certainly required a little more courage than a usual day at work!
It was an incredible day, and I am so grateful to have shared the experience with a group of Year 9 adventurers who embraced each challenge with good humour and great spirit. This is a wonderful component of the residential program during the warmer months and an excellent way for the girls to be stretched physically and mentally in a truly beautiful environment.
The Vision Valley students are now either midway through their final expedition or preparing for their solo experience next week, marking the final stages of their Vision Valley journey.
Well done to Year 10 students who have now completed their exams and are taking on feedback while looking ahead to the exciting opportunities that mark their final weeks of the year. It was wonderful to see the girls celebrating the end of exam week with energy and enthusiasm, enjoying the pool inflatable setup, Just Dance, volleyball, badminton, and the gymnastics area.
Police Liaison Presentation – Domestic and Family Violence
Students recently took part in a NSW Police presentation as part of Operation Amarok, which focuses on preventing domestic and family violence, and raising awareness about coercive control. The session helped students recognise early signs of controlling behaviour, understand healthy relationships, and learn how to seek help or support others. Talks like these empower young people to make safe, respectful choices, and foster a culture of care within our community. Students were reminded about the appropriate support lines such as 1800 Respect and the Empower You app which a useful tool to report domestic violence or coercive control behaviours.
A reminder to all that next week is the Jacaranda Assembly, a special event in the school calendar. All students, including Boarders, are expected to wear their summer hat and take pride in their uniform, as they should every day.
Student Shoutouts
Alexa Kong – Equestrian
Last weekend I competed at the Stonewall Oaks Sport Horse Young Horse show Road to Brisbane. I was in the Junior division competing at 95cms on my horse Wizard. In a highly competitive field with numerous riders from all over the country I placed 1st overall champion. This competition has been a huge goal for me to attend as its significant to being a pathway for the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics.
Sydney FC Debutant – Willa Pearson
Last weekend, Willa Pearson made her debut for Sydney FC in the Ninja A-League Football competition. Willa is the youngest debutant for the club, impressively playing the full 90 minutes in her first match. Sydney FC was captained by Sarah Hunter, a Pymble alumni. It is wonderful to see Willa achieving her dreams and connecting with other talented students. Both Sarah and Willa have benefited from the Pymble Elite Sportswomen’s Program (PESP), which supports student athletes in balancing elite sport and academic studies, providing mentoring and specialist support. We look forward to supporting Willa throughout the season as she pursues both her football ambitions and her representative cricket commitments. The entire community shares immense pride in her achievements.
ASX Ringing of the Bell Ceremony
On Friday, I had the privilege of attending the ASX Ringing of the Bell Ceremony in Sydney, an event dedicated to celebrating financial literacy. The ceremony recognised students who had participated in the ASX Sharemarket Game, which is a program that simulates real-world trading using virtual cash.
The event offered valuable insight into Australia’s financial markets and allowed me to witness the official opening of the trading day at ASX. Listening to industry experts share their perspectives helped to deepen my understanding of how financial markets operate, the growing influence of artificial intelligence on the industry, and what a future career in finance may entail.
A highlight of the day was meeting with other students who share similar interests to me. I was inspired by their passion, dedication, and incredible knowledge of investments and brokerage (a term I learnt on the day).
Overall, the ASX Ringing of the Bell Ceremony was an enjoyable and interesting experience that strengthened my appreciation for financial literacy, and encouraged me to continue developing my knowledge in the field. I am honoured to have had such a wonderful opportunity!
Sydney Science Park STEM Challenge
Stage 5 Geography and Future Problem Solving students participated in the Sydney Science Park STEM Challenge Day in October. The SSP STEM Schools Challenge was established as an initiative to engage schools in real-world, project-based learning. Through collaborative efforts between students, teachers, and industry experts, the ‘Challenge’ encourages participants to develop innovative ideas aimed at improving urban living environments. Many different schools from various areas of Sydney participated in the event. Unlike most events of this style, we didn’t compete as schools – we were randomly assigned into groups with people who we had never met before. We were given a ‘Persona’ to be the base of our solution to concerns about the Sydney Science Park, which culminated in a 2-minute pitch to industry experts at the end of the day. Teams with Pymble students received 1st and 3rd places, which was a great achievement. Throughout the day, students engaged with new people, while applying their critical thinking and decision-making skills, and developing their interpersonal skills. Katherine Xu (Year 9)
