From the Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

Welcome back to Term 2. We extend a warm welcome to Annie Yuan (Year 3) who has joined our Junior School family. We look forward to getting to know you all as a family in the coming weeks. It’s lovely to see the girls back, wearing their Winter uniform with such pride, and so excited about their learning.  We wish a happy Eid to our families who have observed Ramadan

Our Kindergarten girls were thrilled to see the two mud kitchens which have been installed in their play area over the holiday break.

Kindness to Others

This term our focus is on Kindness to Others which aligns perfectly with our College mission to be of service this year. Whilst often kindness is seen as slightly soft or a sign of weakness, I believe it is a sign of strength of mind and character to show kindness in the choices we each make every day. Kindness is multi layered and throughout this term our girls will unpack their understanding of four Kindness to Others facts:

1. I can be of service.
2. I can be inclusive.
3. I can listen to others.
4. I can use my voice for change.

Each girl will be given a journal with ideas of possible acts of service she can undertake to make a difference, whether at home or within your local community. As the girls complete their chosen service acts, they are encouraged to complete a reflection at the back of the journal to think about how their service act made them feel. Being of service to others is a way to enhance our sense of self and to build personal joy. By working together, we can encourage our girls to empower themselves through their service acts of kindness to others.

I am very proud that our teachers continue to look for ways we can support our girls in growing through service. Our Junior School Robotics Coordinator, Mrs Alison Tedesco has fostered a partnership with St Lucy’s School, Wahroonga and a group of our Year 5 girls will visit St Lucy’s over this term to share their robotics skills with some of the children at that school. I know this will be a very special connection for our girls and the pupils at St Lucy’s and I am very proud of this learning and service partnership Mrs Tedesco has established.

Mrs Nerissa Davey, Deputy Head of Junior School Operations is also leading a service initiative by taking a group of Year 6 girls to Bowden Brae aged care facility throughout Term 2 to connect with the residents and to learn together through shared stories and creative projects. I look forward to hearing about the wisdom our girls get from these elders in our community and to the joy our girls will inevitably bring.

An invitation to have your say: An invitation to be part of a focus group

I need your help please! I feel very honoured, and deeply challenged, to be co-leading our College’s Social Intelligence strategic focus and looking at how we shape our community. We are determined to foster an inclusive community for all our families to enjoy and in which we all feel safe and valued. I openly say this is a challenge because my cultural background shapes my knowledge base and experiences and I’m trying to broaden these by learning from the stories of others.  As such, I am hoping to work with a wide range of our community, so all perspectives and members of our College family are heard. It is important that we strive for equity of voice, active engagement for all members of our community and a strong sense of our collective citizenship.

There are a number of dates and times available for focus groups to come and share your thoughts with me, so if you are interested, please select the one that suits you.

What things/events could or should we celebrate throughout the year as a community? How would you like to celebrate special events and cultural celebrations?

• Tuesday 23 May at 6.00pm

• Tuesday 30 May at 8.00am

• Monday 5 June at 5.00pm

Please click here to make a booking.

• Monday 15 May at 2.00pm – **this focus group will be hosted in Mandarin**  –

周一15/5 中文小组讨论  : 如果你想说中文 – 有老师帮您翻译.

Topic: What things/events we should and could celebrate throughout the year as a community? How would you like to celebrate special events and cultural celebrations?

话题: 我们学校应该庆祝哪些节日? 您想在学校如何庆祝特别活动和文化节日?

Please click here to make a booking for the Mandarin focus group. 预订中文小组讨论

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Amélie Rahme (Year 5) who is the Australian Aged Champion Under 11 in the 3 metre springboard competition and to Zara Ware (Year 4) who came 3rd on the 1 meter board at Nationals Diving in April.

K-2 Travel Term 2

Please email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au with your daughters full name and class if you have any travel changes for Term 2.

Uniform and Appearance

All students are expected to wear their uniform correctly and with pride. Uniforms cannot be mixed with each season.  Junior School has a strict ‘no hat no play policy’, please ensure your daughter has her bucket play hat at school every day. Please make sure that your daughter’s uniform is named.

Absent, Late Arrivals/Early Departures, Vacation

A reminder if you daughter is absent from school please enter your daughter’s absence through the MyPymble app or email Junior School Administration Office juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au . For any changes to your daughter’s travel, late/early arrivals please email the Administration Office.

Exemption from Attendance Application form can be found on the Portal, please ensure if your daughters is away for two days or more to complete the application form two weeks in advance from the start of your daughter’s absence.

Lost Property

Please ensure your daughters full name is clearly labelled on all items of clothing including socks, hats and lunch items so it can be quickly returned to your daughter if it is found.

From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)

Family Fun Day & Movie Night – Saturday 20th May

We hope all our families had a happy and healthy Easter and holiday break. We are very excited about our upcoming JSPG Family Fun Day & Movie Night on Saturday 20 May from 3.00pm to 7.00pm.

This day is traditionally the most popular and exciting event in our JSPG calendar. It is a day specially designed to catch up with our existing families in the Junior School, and just as importantly, welcome our new families. 

This year, the theme of our event is: “Old-fashioned family fun”. We are providing an opportunity for all our families to unwind and enjoy an afternoon of food and festivity, at a low cost.

The day will feature a barbecue dinner, a big screen movie, popcorn, fairy floss, an inflatable obstacle course, karaoke and dress-ups and a range of carnival games. Available for purchase at food and drink trucks will be crepes, coffee, hot chocolate and other drinks. We will also have sideshow attractions for purchase of items such as glow products and crazy hair.

To purchase your tickets, please click here. Please note tickets are only $20 (three years and under are free) and include the following attractions:

– Barbecue dinner plus one drink (please note that we will cater for dietary restrictions)

– Popcorn and fairy floss

– Family movie Ferdinand (rated G)

– 20m commando challenge obstacle course

– Old-fashioned games

– Karaoke and dress-ups

– Access to food/drink trucks and sideshow attractions.

We are looking forward to catching up with you all soon. 

Pymble Northern Beaches Parents Catch Up – this Saturday 29 April

Key Dates

Wednesday 3 May	Years 3 and 4 Maths Explorer
	Years 5 to Riverview – to build Billycarts
Thursday 4 May	Year 4 Fizzics Incursion
	Years 5 and 6 Maths Olympiad
Friday 5 May	Catch Up Photo Day
Sunday 7 May	Her Village Championship

Kate Brown

Head of Junior School