From the Boarding School
Community days are always a fabulous celebration of our Boarding family and last weekend was no exception. Starting with our Year 7 to 9 Boarders’ Social on Friday evening through to our combined chapel service on Sunday morning, I was beyond proud of the way our Boarders engaged, included others and had fun.
Gatherings with other schools are always a favourite and it was lovely to see new friendships being forged and old friends reunited across schools including St Ignatius College, Knox Grammar School, Shore School, Abbotsleigh, Ravenswood School for Girls, Wenona School and Ascham at our first official social for the year. We were grateful to our more senior Boarders who were invaluable in directing and assisting visitors, and to our Ravenswood neighbours for hosting some of our Boarders at their Ravenswood social for Years 10, 11 and 12.
And while our Boarders are always enthusiastic about making new friends, there are no friends like ‘old’ friends, and our Just Dance night on Saturday remains the number one hit of all community gatherings.
Our Year 12s chose the theme of ‘movies’ and easily took out the title of best dressed, looking (but not acting) morose in their Addam’s Family costumes. The night was not without controversy, with the Year 10s narrowly snatching the much-coveted title of ‘Best Year Group of Just Dancers’ from the Year 12s. Despite the competition, it was heartwarming to see all the girls enjoying being with each other and dancing the night away in the company of their best friends.
On Sunday, we celebrated a beautiful chapel service with our friends from the Pymble and Gordon Uniting Church congregation. Spirit House Captains Addi, Joanna, Ella, Rose and Phoebe were an integral part of the service and it was lovely to be a part of the baptism of two beautiful little girls.
As always, our Boarders did us proud behaving with reverence during the service and making everyone feel welcome. The service was followed by a delicious brunch, and once again our Boarders ensured all our guests felt included and were well fed.
The countdown is on for Boarders’ Week!
Our most-anticipated week of the year is just around the corner and we are all set to celebrate! National Boarding Week commences on Monday 12 May with the theme of ‘Threads of Connection’. The girls will be busy decorating their houses over the weekend and getting ready for the Day Girls verses Boarders competitions, as well as the many other festivities we have planned.
Please click here to see the Boarders’ Week program.
Meet our new Boarding Liaison Officer
I am absolutely delighted to welcome Mrs Emma Thompson as our Boarding Liaison Officer (BLO). This is a key role for Boarding and essential to the success of our leave program. Emma has extensive and varied experience across a range of roles and is used to working with multiple stakeholders.
Most recently, Emma completed a Graduate Diploma in Counselling and worked in a voluntary capacity as crisis supporter at Lifeline. Emma’s hours of work are between 12.00pm and 5.00pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and 10.00am and 6.00pm on Thursday and Friday.
You can contact Emma on 9855 7469 or by email at boardingleave@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. I know she is looking forward to getting to know all our Boarding family.
It’s not too late to join us in Dubbo
Pymble will be at the Dubbo Boarding Expo on 16 and 17 May and if you are in the area we would love you to call in and say hello. We will also be celebrating with families and old and new friends on 16 May at Press in Dubbo. We would love you to join us. Please see the invitation below.
View From My Window
My name is Rachael, and I’m from Hong Kong, about a nine-hour flight away. I live in an apartment on the 53rd floor with my parents and younger brother, Trevor. What I love most about my home is how high up it is – sometimes we’re even above the clouds! We also have lots of animals at home: a rabbit, two turtles, a cat and some fish.
On the sixth floor, there’s a large shared space with a swimming pool, gym, playgrounds, a pool room and a ping pong room. In primary school, I remember going to the playground every Friday with friends I met there, all of whom lived nearby. Fridays were always something to look forward to every week, and those friendships have stayed strong – I still catch up with them every year when I go home!
Our apartment is also close to an MTR and a high-speed rail station, which makes it easy to travel anywhere in Hong Kong and even to Mainland China. There’s a shopping mall right next to the station with restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores like 7-Eleven, so everything is incredibly convenient. Overall, I feel very lucky to call Hong Kong home, and I look forward to going back each year!
Boarder of the Week
Congratulations to Goodlet Boarder Leander, our first Boarder of the Week for Term 2. Leander joined us from Bilpin in the Blue Mountains when she was in Year 7. Now in Year 10, Leander is known for her calm, considered and conscientious approach to all that she does. This is evident in the manner in which she keeps her room, her commitment to her studies and her wholehearted approach to rowing.
Leander is a friend to many, an ear to listen and quietly goes about her day without a fuss. She is kind, caring and always finds time in her busy schedule to take our younger Boarders on shopping outings. Leander’s uniform is always immaculate, she is always timely and works incredibly hard on any given task. To our resident ‘yes’ Boarder and volunteer, a well-deserved Boarder of the Week!
Save the Date
Sunday 11 May to Sunday 18 May – Boarders’ Week
Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 May – Boarding Schools Expo Dubbo
Thursday 29 May – Boarder Parent Group (BPG) online meeting 7.00pm
Sunday 1 June – Event to be confirmed 10.00am and 3.00pm*
Wednesday 4 June – Boarders’ Jersey Day
Friday 6 June – Long Weekend Boarders’ Travel Day**
Monday 9 June – Boarders return from 5.00pm
Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Griffith
Friday 20 to Saturday 21 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Wagga Wagga
Tuesday 24 June – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel Service*
Friday 27 June – End of Term 2 Boarders’ Travel Day**
* All Boarders required to be in attendance, no leave during this time.
** All Boarders to be collected by 4.00pm.
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding