From the Senior School
From the Head of Senior School, Mrs Nikki Wyse
Finding confidence in challenge
This time of year brings a busy assessment period for our new Year 12 students, with many juggling demanding workloads alongside their co-curricular commitments and social lives. It’s understandable that this can feel challenging, as our girls strive to balance all this in their lives.
Recently, I’ve been reading about the power of leaning into discomfort and wanted to share some insights with you; reminding us all that challenge, while difficult, can be one of the most valuable experiences for building confidence and real growth.
Growth does not happen in comfort. Research shows that stepping beyond what feels easy is one of the most powerful ways young people can build confidence, resilience and satisfaction. When we reframe discomfort as a sign of learning rather than failure, we help your daughters see challenge not as something to avoid, but as the very space where growth occurs.
Psychologists call this the “optimal stretch zone”. This is the point just beyond comfort where effort is required, but is not overwhelming. Learning, creativity and motivation all thrive there. Neuroscience supports this too: when we face challenge, our brains release dopamine, the chemical linked to motivation and reward. In fact, it’s not effortless success but the process of persisting through difficulty that rewires the brain for resilience and adaptability.
Discomfort is also what sharpens creativity and builds grit. Whether it’s learning a new skill, handling a tough conversation or trying something unfamiliar, manageable stressors strengthen emotional endurance. Over time, young people who face and recover from small challenges become better equipped to handle life’s larger ones. This practice develops what psychologists call “stress inoculation”, or the ability to stay steady and resourceful when things are uncertain.
Parents and teachers can nurture this growth by encouraging small but meaningful risks: joining a new team, speaking up in class, tackling a tough subject or taking on a responsibility that stretches confidence. By celebrating the effort, not just the outcome, we can remind your daughter that the uneasy feeling of challenge is evidence that she’s learning.
Congratulations to the following students who have been recognised for Outstanding Effort in Year 11:
| Isabella | BERBERIAN |
| Melody | CHEN |
| Annalise | CHOW |
| Sara | JOUNG-NGUYEN |
| Elise | LIN |
| Grace | SANTOSO |
| Dasha | STUSENKO |
| Mahika | SWAMY |
| Clare | VINCENT |
| Bonnie | XU |
| Jessica | XU |
| Natalie | YANG |
| Jenny | XU |
| Angela | ZHANG |
| Alice | MAO |
| Annabel | MORRIS |
| Johanna | RICKETTS |
| Olivia | AYTON |
| Grace | BECK |
| Caitlyn | BILNEY |
| Emelia | CAULFIELD |
| Soraya | CATCHPOLE |
| Harriet | HARDING |
| Matilda | HAWKINS |
| Annabelle | JONES |
| Emily | KIM |
| Isabella | LANSDELL |
| Iris | LI |
| Yuyin | LUO |
| Laura | MAKEHAM |
| Teagan | NING |
| Scarlet | OLESEN |
| Layne | PHILLIPS |
| Zoe | POLITES |
| Isabella | RUMBLE |
| Rosa | KIM |
| Scarlett | CAMPBELL |
| Charlotte | RUSCIO |
| Katherine | LEE |
| Katherine | HART |
| Anais | MCDONALD |
| Olivia | SONG |
| Selina | HUANG |
| Anna | LE |
| Cindy | ZHOU |
| Natalie | DONG |
| Oldina | XIA |
| Ruth | SHEN |
| Samantha | FAHY |
| Elysia | SUN |
| Kitty | HE |
| Mary | STACIWA |
| Chloe | LAU |
| Aria | WALLBANK |
| Macy | SUN |
| Rithika | RAVI |
| Delaney | BURKE |
| Fiona | TSANG |
| Stella | BOYLE |
| Claire | MURPHY |
| Isabella | ATTARD |
| Amber | LI |
| Hayley | CHEUNG |
| Joanna | GU |
| Cynthia | SHI |
| Chloe | XUE |
| Kiki | CHEN |
| Amber | WANG |
| Jessica | SHI |
| Olivia | CHOI |
| Ann | KYLE |
| Sasha | CHAN |
| Karzan | ONG |
| Annie | LIEBMANN |
| Nina | UEHARA |
| Jasmine | TRAN |
| Rosalie | EGGINS |
| Syna | GANDHI |
Tree of Knowledge
The graduating Year 12 students recently took time to share their wisdom with the new Year 12 cohort through our Tree of Knowledge. Each graduate wrote a “leaf” of advice, offering words of encouragement, insight and perspective for the year ahead. The thoughtful messages, drawn from real experience, captured what it truly means to lead with balance, resilience and heart, providing guidance from those who have walked the path before.
World Kindness Day
To mark World Kindness Day, students wrote heartfelt messages of thanks to staff members across the College. These notes of appreciation have touched and uplifted our staff community, serving as a powerful reminder of the connection and gratitude that underpin school life. The simple act of kindness has brought smiles, inspiration and a sense of shared joy throughout the week.
House Dance Off
The House Dance Off filled the gym with both joy and spirited competition as students showcased their creativity and teamwork in dynamic performances. The energy only grew when the whole of Secondary School joined together for a rousing session of Just Dance. With music, laughter, and movement filling every corner, it was a true celebration of community, spirit, and fun.
Congratulations AJ
MP Sophie Scamps presented AJ Gillespie, a paraswimmer, with a special recognition award for sporting excellence, celebrating AJ’s achievements and contributions to the community as an elite para-athlete. We are all so proud of AJ’s amazing results in the pool!
Congratulations to our dancers
What an incredible Dance Showcase! Every performance reflected weeks of dedication, creativity and teamwork. The energy, joy and artistry on stage were inspiring to watch and a true celebration of talent across all groups. Congratulations to every dancer and choreographer for bringing such passion and spirit to the stage, you made it a night to remember.
Young Entrepreneur Society
YES Market Day 2025 aimed to give students practical experience in entrepreneurship while supporting charitable causes through socially conscious business initiatives. Centred on creativity, collaboration and enterprise, the event encouraged students from Years 7 to 11 to turn ideas into viable products and services. Behind the scenes, students developed their products, refined marketing strategies, and tackled real-world business challenges. For many first-time participants, this involved budgeting, cost analysis, understanding customer needs, and working as a team. The YES organisers and Year 11 mentors provided valuable guidance during weekly Wednesday meetings, offering authentic insight into business development and the importance of creativity, resilience, and problem-solving.
On the day, the Colonnade Corridor was filled with a lively atmosphere as students and staff supported a diverse range of stalls. Crowds gathered quickly, many stalls sold out, and the enthusiasm created a strong sense of community. The event highlighted the creativity, teamwork, and initiative of Pymble’s young entrepreneurs. Overall, YES Market Day 2025 was a tremendous success and a testament to the hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm of all participants.
Oldina Xia and Jocelyn Ying
A message from the Parent Coordinators
Please join us for a relaxed end-of-year catch-up.
Details
Date: Wednesday 26 November
Time: 7.00pm
Location: Greengate Hotel
RSVP is not required – simply come along if you can.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Julie, Malini and Araz