From the Boarding School
Leadership is a common thread that weaves its way through our Boarding family. From our youngest girls through to our Year 12s, our Boarders consistently demonstrate qualities of self-awareness, compassion, respect, integrity and courage. Last Friday we celebrated our most senior leaders at the Student Leader Assembly. It was wonderful see so many of our Boarder parents celebrating these special young people and I am delighted by the calibre of Boarders who will be leading our community throughout 2025. I have no doubt we are in good hands!
Our Year 9s Head Off to the Valley
Most of our Year 9 Boarders headed off to Vision Valley over the weekend to start their four week residential stay. During this time, students live and learn away from home with their peers in a less frantic, technology-free environment, giving them time and space to connect with themselves, their peers and the environment. The residential program offers a carefully curated range of challenges and experiences and the chance to develop and learn in a unique environment. I have no doubt that our Boarders will thrive in this environment and look forward to hearing of their adventures.
Food, Glorious Food!
Food is such an important part of all of our lives and we especially appreciate the significance of ‘getting it right’ for our girls who live on site with us at Pymble. There is a lengthy process to ensure the menu not only meets important nutritional requirements but is also appealing to our Boarders.
This includes a review of the draft menu by staff and Boarders, changes are then made ready for a dietician to review. We continue to review the menu throughout the term and are grateful to the Chartwells team who are as keen as us to get it right for the girls. You can review the Term 4 menu by clicking here.
Live It, Love It, Learn It – Ms Theresa Mimmo, Deputy Director of Boarding
Year 8 took advantage of a window of sunny weather and headed off to Balmoral Beach for a picnic on Friday night. To say they enjoyed themselves is an understatement! The weather didn’t assist with our other activities planned over the weekend which was unfortunate.
This weekend promises to be busy and full of activity. Year 7 will head to Balmoral for a picnic on Friday night and the Year 7 and 8 Knox Boarders will be joining us for Trick for Treat activities and a barbecue dinner on Saturday. Plus, on Sunday we have the option of attending a Sydney Kings game or supporting the Her Village Football Championships on campus.
Our academic staff have been in Learn It this week, assisting the Boarders with their studies. This has been timely given Year 8 and 10 examination blocks in Week 3. The girls have been busy revising their subjects and seeking assistance from staff. It was great to see Year 7 Boarders using flash cards they had made to test each other.
View From My Window
My name is Mia, I’ve been a Boarder at Pymble since Year 7. I am now in Year 12 and will complete my HSC in 2025. I enjoy living in Goodlet House and look forward to moving to Lang House at the end of the term.
My mum was also a Pymble Boarder and her side of the family come from Wye, about two hours up the Central Coast, where we usually spend about two weeks per year with my Nan and Pa. My dad’s side of the family come from Logan Village in Queensland, where we also usually spend a few weeks per year.
Otherwise, the other ten to 11 months of the year, my family – which includes Mum, Dad, Braxton (13) and Nash (4) – travel around Australia as Showmen. We are sixth or seventh generation Showmen, and part of the Showman’s Guild of Australia – as are many other people in my extended family.
Each week, we work one or two shows in various locations around Australia. My family own amusement park rides including the Freak Out, Triple XL, Two Speeds and the Wipeout; as well as classic games such as clowns, darts and balloons. We help out at major events in every capital city in Australia, such as the Easter Show in Sydney and Ekka in Brisbane. The longest event we do each year is the Christmas Carnival in Foster, which usually runs from the start of December until Australia Day.
Before I came to Pymble, I was part of NSTSC – the National School for Travelling Show Children – which educates roughly 100 children at various times throughout the year. There were two semi-trailers and two vans that travelled around with the show circuit, which had teachers for us. They used to educate through to Year 12, but since around 2017 they decided to stop at Year 6. Our school work used to be sent from Dubbo Distance Education.
I love travelling around the country because I get to have fun, not just with my immediate family, but also my extended family. We’re always in a different place which is always fun and exciting. My favourite place to travel is either Cairns or Mildura, because the showgrounds there are so fun and everyone is always in a good mood when we get there. There are also great things to do in town when we aren’t focused on show business.
When you turn 18 you’re allowed to be voted into the Showman’s Guild. When I finish at Pymble I plan to become a Showman and continue my family’s legacy!
Boarder of the Week
Year 8 Boarder Alice was an easy choice for our Boarder of the Week. Alice joined us in Year 7 all the way from Moree in northern New South Wales. Now in Year 8, Alice is a much-loved resident of Goodlet House. Alice consistently demonstrates the Boarder spirit, she is kind, humble and good fun with an excellent sense of humour.
She is well organised and her room is always sparkling. We all appreciate her caring yet pragmatic approach to life and she can be relied on to embrace challenges and turn them into positives for everyone. Alice is always ready to welcome visitors to Boarding and makes sure everyone feels included and valued.
She definitely brings a major sprinkling of magic to our Boarding lives and we feel very lucky to have Alice in our Boarding home and hearts.
Important Dates
Tuesday 26 November – Boarders’ Christmas Chapel and Christmas Dinner, 5.00pm (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
Wednesday 4 December – Year 7 to 10 Speech Day, followed by Boarders’ Travel Day
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding