From the Boarding School

Spirit House Circles are an important part of our Boarding week and provide a fun and functional way to build bonds across the various year groups. While our day school students have membership to eight ‘houses’, our Boarders are members of one of four of these Houses – Goodlet, Marden, Hammond or Lang, also known as ‘Spirit Houses’. Within each Spirit House there are vertical groups that come together throughout the year with the aim of promoting friendship and fun.

Each Spirit House has two Spirit House Captains and they are charged with organising our fortnightly Chapel services and the various activities for each Tuesday night. With the warmer weather, our Spirit House Captains have been organising activities that make the most of our beautiful grounds. This week it was a new one for me, ’44 homes’ and an old fashioned favourite, bull rush. Whatever the activity, it is lovely to see the girls enjoying being together.

2025 here we come – please note our special dates

The new year is approaching at a rapid rate and we are well underway with our planning to make 2025 another bumper year for our Boarding family. There are many events that we would like you to join in and other events that are essential for our Boarders. To assist you with your planning, please click here to view the Important Boarding Dates for 2025.

These are in draft form at this stage but it is unlikely that there will be any changes so please do mark the dates on your calendar.

Please note the dates highlighted in pink. These include Community Days and important safety sessions that all Boarders are required to attend. If you have already have made arrangements for any of these dates, please make it a priority to submit special leave through Orah to request an exemption from attendance. Otherwise, please ensure you keep these days free so your girls can join our Boarding family for these important occasions.

Live It, Love It, Learn It – Ms Theresa Mimmo, Deputy Director of Boarding

The pool has been a big hit with our Boarders over the last couple of weeks, even a couple of our HSC Boarders took a break from study to enjoy. They were lucky enough to be able to jump off the diving platforms under the supervision of the Diving Coach which they loved. Year 7 thoroughly enjoyed their Balmoral Beach picnic on Friday night with their poke bowls and our Senior Boarders headed to Abbotsleigh for a Halloween Social.

This week, our new Year 12 Boarders will enjoy a Balmoral Beach picnic. On Saturday, there is opportunity for Boarders to be taken to South Curl Curl for a walk and swim. Completing our activities this weekend Kirribilli Markets is open on Sunday to wander the stalls and pick up an item or two.

Boarders are encouraged to continue to utilise academic staff during Learn It. As the year winds down they may have less homework but it is always a good time to revisit those concepts that they struggled with throughout the year and seek assistance.

View From My Window

Hey everyone, my name is Grace, and I live in central west Dubbo, or Dubvegas. I live in town with my brother Nick, mum Karen, dad Denzil and dog Sandy.

When I look out my window, I do see my neighbour’s fence, however, I also see the memories my backyard holds including many happy family barbecues, birthdays, fires and playing out the back with the other kids in the street. This is what I truly love seeing when I’m back home.

During COVID my brother and I, along with many of the other kids around our area, would go on bike rides to and from the IGA, around the back of our houses to the empty paddocks making bike jumps, fire pits, and just enjoying being outside. However, now that we are older and there are houses where they once were, we still enjoy seeing each other at Christmas street parties or regular catch ups.

During the summer, me and my friends go down to the river and attempt to catch fish or head out to Burrendong Dam to ski, biscuit and spend time on the water and in the cabins. On New Year’s Eve, the dam is where you will find almost everyone from the town out celebrating.

I love coming back to Boarding after the holidays, to see everyone again. I especially love that it feels like the best of both words in the city and rural, getting to experience the differences and similarities. Boarding has given me amazing opportunities and I am so grateful that I am able to be here.

Boarder of the Week

This week’s Boarder of the Week goes to Year 11 Boarder, Sophie (Soph). Sophie hails from Rylstone in the Mudgee region of NSW and came to Pymble Boarding in Year 7. She has been an integral part of the boarding sisterhood since day one.

Over the past year, Soph has demonstrated a growth and maturity that has been a joy to witness for those who know her best. She has taken Year 11 (now Year 12) in her stride, showing dedication to her studies and showing our younger Boarders that it is never too late to develop solid study habits and routines. Soph is a kind and loyal friend, and she will bend over backwards for those she cares about.

She offers to assist Marden staff around the House and is always willing to have a chat and a laugh. She keeps her room tidy and keeps a solid weekly routine. With support, love and encouragement, Sophie has continued to grow into a delightful young woman of whom we are all so proud.

Friday 15 November – Lang House Housewarming – Year 12 2025 and their families

Tuesday 26 November – Boarders’ Christmas Chapel and Christmas Dinner, 5.00pm (all Boarders required to be in attendance)

Wednesday 4 December – Year 7 to 11 Speech Day, followed by Boarders’ Travel Day

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Carolyn Burgess

Head of Boarding