From the Junior School

From the Junior School

A Message from Mrs Kate Brown, Head of Junior School

Happy Christmas and happy holidays to you all! 

Thank you for a wonderful year. It’s been a dynamic year full of so many wondrous opportunities and achievements by your daughters. We are ridiculously proud of each and every one of them! 

As a Junior School, amongst our many achievements this year, we have: 

  • Won MANSW Mathematics this year – congratulations Year 3! 
  • Won the IPSHA Debating competition 
  • Won NSW Interschools Snow Sports Championships 
  • Placed second in Australian Nationals Snowsport Championships 
  • Won two medals in ICAS for writing and spelling 
  • Won the Lindfield Fun run team event and won the prize as largest fundraisers- supporting key local charities for women and young people. 
  • Won all Dance Eisteddfods 
  • Won more High Distinctions and Distinctions in ICAS than in previous years 
  • Won an international Formula Goblin race competition – in our first year as an EV race team! 
  • Achieved some perfect scores in Maths Olympiad – an enrichment mathematics competition 
  • Won three prizes in the Pens Against Poverty writing competition advocating for social change. 

And we are always winning in the way our girls lead with kindness and respect. Mrs Bird is speaking a little more about some of the academic triumphs we have had this year below. 

I wish you all a safe, happy and healthy summer holiday. I look forward to welcoming you back to the Junior School in 2026. For those of you who are graduating from the Junior School into Year 7, I sincerely thank you for your friendship over the years, your trust and sense of community. Whilst your daughters are moving into Year 7, rest assured that we always cheer on our Junior School girls as they travel through the College. For those of you who are leaving the College, we wish you all the very best in your new adventures. 

Take care and thank you for the care you show me as Head of this phenomenal Junior School. 

With love to you all,
Mrs Brown 

Message from Lara Bird – Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics 

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending an awards ceremony in Canberra, where three of our Junior School girls were recognised in the Pens Against Poverty Competition – two of our girls won their category and a third student was awarded highly commended for her exceptional work. This celebration of literary excellence crowns an already extraordinary week of academic achievement.  

Our Junior School girls have also delivered outstanding results in both ICAS Assessments and the AMT Mathematics Competition, with many achieving Distinction (Top 10%) and High Distinction (Top 1%) results. These competitions are optional competitions. We also had 2 medallists this year, Ellie He, winning an ICAS medal for writing and Emma Deere, winning an ICAS medal for spelling. 

Complementing these academic triumphs, our debating team claimed victory in the grand final of the International Debating Competition, exemplifying impressive critical thinking and collaborative skill.   

We are so Pymble proud of all our Junior School girls – their accomplishments, their passion for learning and the academic growth they have demonstrated throughout the year. Well done, girls – your remarkable achievements exemplify dedication, talent and the very best of Pymble spirit.

Enjoy your summer holiday and see you in 2026! 

Stationery 

Please refer to the portal notice for 2026 stationery orders. Please place your order before 14 December to ensure that your daughter receives all stationery items before the start of the school year.  

Girls are to have all items on the stationery list, however if you have items that are of the same quality and in good condition, you may use those items rather than purchasing new. Students are to bring in all stationery items on the first day of Term 1. 

Message from Martha Itzcovitz, Junior School Librarian  

International Debating Competition 

Last Friday was a big night for one of our Year 6 debating teams.  After qualifying the week before in the quarter finals of the International Debating Competition (IDC), Hayley Du, Alicia Miao and Yuanya Miao won their semi-final debate against Cranbrook and went straight into the Grand Final where they won against Sydney Debating College, becoming IDC Junior Division Grand Final Winners.  

I’d like to congratulate all of our Year 6 IDC Debaters for qualifying for the quarter finals. Well done Aurora Lin, Alicia Miaio, Sarah Lu, Angelina Kim, Naomi Shi, Hayley Du, Ellie He, Josephine Tamas, Yuanya Miao and Vivian Li for a fabulous season! 

Messages from Mr Stephen Robinson – Deputy of Head of Junior School – Operations 

Start of Term 1 2026

Arrangements: 

  • New students Years 1-6: 9.00am-10.30am Thursday 29 January 
  • All students Years 1-6: 8.15am-2:45pm/3.00pm Friday 30 January 
  • Kindergarten: 9.00am-12.00pm Friday 30 January 
  • All Years: Full days, commencing 8.15am from Monday 2 February 2026 

Canteen Volunteers: 

Parent support is essential for our Junior School canteen to serve cold and frozen items of a Wednesday and Friday. If you are able to volunteer an hour on either of these days throughout Term 1, please register here. 

Please note, a current Working With Children’s Check is required for all volunteers and must be provided to the office prior the day of support.