From the Middle School
Once a term we gather together with all of our Year 7 and 8 students for a celebratory Middle School Assembly in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA). This term’s theme was One School Many Stories. Our assembly on Tuesday of this week was outstanding in every way. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the newly appointed Year 7 Leaders who planned and delivered such an engaging showcase of all that is happening in Middle School. Thank you to: Martina Dall’Asta Comin, Hargun Dhaliwal, Jasmine Jung, Abi Martin, Emma Yates, Francesca Chan, Leahara Wijesuriya, Heidi Ferreira, Isabelle Martin, Rosie Rew, Ellie Jenkins and Sarah Quan for your poise and professionalism.
Congratulations also to our incredible performers for confidently sharing their many talents: Hargun Dhaliwal -a traditional Indian dancer, Grace Louw (Y8) and Saskia Nicholson (Y8)-a duo of violin and voice, Joy Yin-on piano. Joy is now heading to Austria to compete in a piano competition – we wish her every success.
A highlight of the assembly was a panel discussion centred around the theme for this week’s Refugee Week: Finding Freedom. We were so fortunate to have Kseniia Vereshchak (a Year 11 Ukranian student) and her mother, alongside, Lauren Korenblyum (a Year 11 student and refugee advocate and activist) and Mrs Shaw (Deputy Principal: Head of Social Impact) join the conversation. Sharing insights into our global community and the challenges faced by many on a daily basis in other parts of the world, is an important part of our learning. The audience demonstrated great maturity and interest and I was so proud of everyone’s willingness to listen and consider our responsibility moving forward. Thank you to all involved.
Year 8 National Exchange Program
This week we are holding final interviews for this term 3 opportunity. Hopefully we will be ready to share the list of students selected next week.
Happy Box Project Update
This Service initiative is absolutely taking off in Middle School! It is wonderful to see the girls crafting and spending their time together to create gifts for others to enjoy. A highlight of this week’s sessions were the felt animals. We will certainly make a difference in a remote community when our goodies are delivered.
MS Picnic and Hot Chocolate Day Wednesday
We had a wonderful gathering on the oval to mark the end of term. It is always great to see the girls outside enjoying the sunshine and joining in various physical activities. The traditional hot chocolate and marshmallows also went down a treat.
Congratulations to our Term 2 Jacaranda and Award Winners and Compass Captains:
| Year 7 | Compass Captains | Jacaranda Award |
| Bennett A | 1. Matilda Bentley 2. Shereen Jawaad | Chloe Tian-Cheong |
| Bennett B | 1.Emily Basak 2.Isabel Cooke | Isabel Cooke |
| Goodlet A | 1. Harriett Lisle 2. Annika Sriram | Abigail Martin |
| Goodlet B | 1. Isabelle Martin 2. Devishi Malla | Sasha Paris |
| Hammond A | 1. Emma Roberts 2. Poppy Fox-Ashwin | Isabelle Quessy |
| Hammond B | 1. Emily Liu 2. Hannah Murphy | Emily Liu |
| Ingleholme A | 1. Yuna Shin 2. Autumn Adler | Rosanna Rew |
| Ingleholme B | 1. Elena Duan 2. Irisa Han | Irisa Han |
| Lang A | 1. Lia Lin 2. Rebecca Mak | Elaine Zhang |
| Lang B | 1. Ginny Makan 2. Mia Micallef | Stacy Sharp |
| Marden A | 1. Lucy Gao 2. Feifei Wang | Megan Chia |
| Marden B | 1. Savannah Masya 2.Isabella Eum | Savannah Masya |
| Thomas A | 1. Zara Sandham 2.Michelle Song | Silka Czyniewski |
| Thomas B | 1. Charlotte Lin 2. Celine Cai | Leahara Wijesuriya |
| Wylie A | 1. Cecilia Zhou 2. Jasmine Jung | Olivia Randle |
| Wylie B | 1. Maya Burgess 2. Hargun Dhaliwal | Anisha Chabra |
| Year 8 | Compass Captains | Jacaranda Award |
| Bennett A | 1. Sanaya Lakhani | Leila Rich |
| 2. Catherine Li | ||
| Bennett B | 1. Kyraa Vig | Chloe Wei |
| 2. Chloe Wei | ||
| Goodlet A | 1. Xyla White | Sophie Rigg |
| 2. Annabelle Johnston | ||
| Goodlet B | 1. Isabelle Port | Leander McLaughlin |
| 2. Jisoo Yeou | ||
| Hammond A | 1. Evie Farr | Elizabeth Lien |
| 2. Mie Naito | ||
| Hammond B | 1. Karen Kim | Haniya Abdul Aziz |
| 2. Leura Sayers | ||
| Ingleholme A | 1. Syrena Lin | Chloe Ayton |
| 2. Eliza-Rose Griffiths | ||
| Ingleholme B | 1. Veronica Deng | Rieza Khan |
| 2. Chloe Lam | ||
| Lang A | 1. Chloe Wang | Jemma Hung |
| 2. Manulya Gunasekera | ||
| Lang B | 1. Audrey Lin | Sophie Ngai |
| 2. Sophie Ngai | ||
| Marden A | 1. Isabella Zhang | Miranda Chen |
| 2. Eloise Fisher | ||
| Marden B | 1. Amelia Lee | Thiloksha Perera |
| 2. Alannah Tang | ||
| Thomas A | 1. Sitian Chen | Olivia Norton |
| 2. Caitlin Xi | ||
| Thomas B | 1. Claudia Stretton | Jessica Bao |
| 2. Rachael Mutema | ||
| Wylie A | 1. Milly Xu | Nina Wang |
| 2. Isabel Neal | ||
| Wylie B | 1. Arin Yoon | Celine Liu |
| 2. Jolie Glas |
Attendance Matters
Education for your child is important and regular attendance at school is essential for your child to achieve their educational best.
The Importance of arriving on time
Arriving at school and class on time:
- Ensures that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day
- Helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine
- Give students time to greet their friends before class ظ
- Reduces classroom disruption
Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained by parents.
A reminder regarding Leave Applications
Leave is only granted for illness, bereavement, elite sport or work experience. Vacations should be restricted to the prescribed holiday periods. Where possible, leave to attend medical appointments should be minimised. Students are expected to participate in whole-school activities and should avoid making appointments on these occasions.
Applications for special leave should be completed on the ‘Exemption from Attendance’ form found on MyPymble via the College website and signed by a parent or carer. Forms are to be sent to the respective school office as soon as possible or at least fourteen days in advance of the intended period of leave.
From the Year 7 Parent Group Leaders
Year 7 Dinner – This Saturday 17th June
The first Year 7 Dinner for the year will be held this Saturday night. All parents and carers are welcome. The dinner will be held in the beautiful surrounds of the Rooftop at The Governor Hotel, Macquarie Park. This popular venue is just down the road and will give all Year 7 parents a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends and meet new people from across our Year 7 community in a relaxed environment.
Venue: The Rooftop at the Governor Hotel, 9 Waterloo Rd, Macquarie Park
Date: Saturday 17 June
Time: From 6.00pm
Dinner & drinks: To be ordered and paid for at the bar
RSVP: by Thursday 15 June (via WhatsApp poll)
Numbers for the event need to be confirmed with the venue today (Thursday 15 June). If you are attending the dinner, please complete the “Year 7 Dinner at the Rooftop” poll circulated in the “Year 7 Class of 2028” WhatsApp group. This is an event for parents only.
Please do not hesitate to contact me (Kai) if you have any further queries. A HUGE thank you to Sarah Martin and Sally Soo for getting involved in organising this event.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Pymble Parents Tennis Clinic
Due to the popularity of the adult tennis lessons on Thursday mornings, the Pymble parent tennis lessons are now being expanded to Tuesday mornings.
Come and join in the fun of the Parents Tennis Clinic.
When: Tuesday and Thursday Mornings 8.30 am to 10 am (term time)
Where: Secondary School Tennis Courts (enter through Gate 3)
Cost: $35 per session
Level: All levels of players from beginners to advanced players are catered for.
Coaches: Pymble Academy Coaches – Tennis Australia Certified
Who: For all Pymble community families and friends are welcome
Fun: Get to meet new people and learn the great game of tennis.
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School