From the Boarding School
It has been another busy week in Boarding and it doesn’t get much more exciting than the announcement of our new Boarding Leaders for the 2025 – 26 year. I look forward to sharing more details of these exceptional young women in the future but for now, please join me in me in congratulating the following Boarders:
Head Boarders: Rose Kirkby and Phoebe Roberts
Avonmoore Prefect: Summer Phillips
House Liaison Prefect: Chloe Browning
Community Spirit Prefect and Captain of Hockey: Elke Payne
Community Prefect (Day School Executive): Joanna Au
Outdoor Education Prefect (Day School) and Captain of Theatre (Technical): Livia Armstrong
Captain of Athletics (Field): Jocelyn Blair
A celebration of our generous donors
On Tuesday we came together in the Lang House lounge to give thanks to some of the people who so generously support our First Nations program. It was an excellent opportunity for our scholars to share their journey and we couldn’t have been prouder of Year 12 First Nations scholar, Latiah who shared her story since arriving at Pymble when she was in Year 8. I hope you enjoy sharing in Latiah’s words which I have included below:
As a proud Gamilaraay Woman I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today. The Duramurragal peoples and also to the land, water and skies that watched me grow into the person I am today, Wiradjuri Country and pay those respects forward and to all Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islanders peoples here today.
Good morning I am Latiah
I am from Dubbo NSW and my journey at Pymble started in 2021. I was in Year 8. My path here at Pymble hasn’t been a straight road to say the least but in saying that I wouldn’t change it for the world, and that’s the thing about moving away from everything and everyone you know, it gets tough and you learn how to navigate things on your own, gaining that independence and through those situations you learn new things about yourself and you learn that you’re a lot stronger than what you thought you were. Boarding has been one of the best things to happen to me as I got to meet the girls who were so quick to support me through anything that was thrown my way, big or small. My mum was the woman that pushed me to apply to be here, to do well here and to stick it out even when I wanted to come home and for that I’m so beyond grateful. My mother is the strongest woman I know. She’s a single mum and has been for all of my life but she made sure that didn’t make my little brother or me feel any different one bit. As Rebekah loves to say: “without education you have nothing”. Education is the thing that will break the cycle and that’s why I’m here today. To break that cycle.
During my time at Pymble I have nearly tried everything from the early 4.00am rowing starts, learning how to hit a tennis ball that eventually made it over the net, to rugby, But music is something that will always be my passion and through my private music lessons here at the College, it has helped me to open up and allow me to give the gift of music to the others around me. From a young age music has been something that has connected me to not just the people listening but to myself, it’s something that reminds me of home when I’m away. To be able to share my story through the thing I love is something so powerful and to me more than just lyrics. It gave me a voice.
Pymble not only gave me these incredible opportunities in school but also carried this out of our grounds all the way up to the NT twice. The immersion to the Homelands was an eye opening experience I will forever hold with me. While up there we had the chance to connect – really connected with the land, people and culture that surrounded us. I got the time to learn. Learn about our culture that had such massive gaps of unknowing, But having that one on one time with the most knowledgeable Elder gave me that hope back. Using just words to describe this immersion doesn’t do it enough justice. It was a once in a lifetime trip and I can’t wait for the younger girls to be able to experience it.
In Year 11 I was given the chance to go to The Garma Festival, and it was genuinely one of the most fun experiences I’ve had. I got to spend the week with my close friends including my tent buddy Dezi who had to deal with the question of going on adventures and for her gum. This festival had a way of bringing everyone around us closer through your shared experiences of being somewhere new, even in times of playing uno with Sahara, Dezi and Mia in the dark with our phones as flashlights. We were also able to meet the most incredible people, including Dr Ngaree Blow, a strong Indigenous woman who had an amazing story behind her about her journey through medical school and the chance to be interviewed by news channels which was pretty cool. But by far the best times of it all was laying on the hammocks with the kids who I don’t think ran out of energy ever but also became like little best friends, they were genuinely the sweetest kids I’ve met. I know that the girls to come will have the best time up there and take those memories with them beyond Pymble.
So not only has Pymble given me the opportunity to further my education in classrooms but has given me the tools to become more interested and curious in the answers I’m given, the chance to make something out of myself, to make my family proud, to be exposed to the most incredible people, To make those memories I truly do cherish and to have the sisters I never got. So, for that I thank you.
Boarders Get Giving
Another wonderful initiative of our current Head Boarders, Sophie and Celeste is Boarders Get Giving. I hope you enjoy reading Celeste’s recount of a special afternoon in which our Boarders came together to support others who are less fortunate.
On Friday 13th May, the Food Tech room in the TAS Block was abuzz once again for our second “Boarders Get Giving” afternoon. On the menu this time: breakfast muffins, both blueberry and spinach, corn and fetta.
With a strong turnout of roughly 20 people, we broke into groups of 2-3. It was especially lovely to see some of the older Boarders pairing up with the younger girls – cross-year connections are what makes these things so special!
The food tech room was split into two stations; one side sweet and one side savoury. With the tunes playing and our sleeves rolled up, we jumped straight into it. The game plan was to bake six batches of each flavour and be ready for delivery by 5:15pm to the Dish of St John’s delivery man.
Each group got to work, measuring, sifting, stirring, and then spooning the mixture into lined trays. Meanwhile, others manned the milkshake station on the other side of the room, whipping up drinks to share while we worked.
The atmosphere was light-hearted but focused. As the trays filled the ovens, others jumped onto labelling bags, cutting up recipe cards, and washing up. The smell of blueberries filled the rooms as we wiped down every surface, leaving the kitchen as spotless as we found it. When we took them out of the oven, we were proud of our results. They smelled and looked delicious, with crispy brown tops.
We packed up the 150-odd muffins into red bread crates, wrapped them in cling wrap, and headed to the loading dock. There we waited outside the loading dock at 5:15 when Dan the Man with his Van from the Dish drove in and we were waiting with the three big red trays of muffins, all wrapped up and most importantly, made with love, to give to him.
We’d like to thank Mrs Wiedemann whose supreme organisational efforts came in clutch once again, enabling this all to happen. It was most rewarding seeing just simple ingredients, 90% of which were already in stock, turn into a warm, fresh treat to be given out to those who needed and appreciated it most. We later heard back from the Dish that afternoon who shared their thanks, saying that they “shared them as a special weekend treat”.
Boarders, it was so inspiring and humbling to see so many of you give up your Friday afternoon, especially when you didn’t even get to eat one muffin yourselves! Usually, Boarders Get Baking ends with us stuffing our faces (I plan to do so next time Mars Bar slice is on the agenda…) – thank you to every one of you who showed up and got involved. We hope this initiative lives on after we’re gone!
Looking back to the Athletics Carnival
Yes, it was last week but we are still basking in the glory of victory in the Boarders’ verses Day girls relay! It was great to see our Boarders demonstrating their trademark teamwork and making the most of this memorable occasion.
Love it, Ms Theresa Mimmo
We’ve had a busy weekend which started with Year 9 enjoying a pizza night and movie in Goodlet House. On Saturday, the excitement was on display as a large group of Boarders headed to Flip Out. There was a lot of jumping, flipping and laughing during the session. We attended our first NRL trip of the year by heading out to Accor Stadium to watch the Rabbitohs play the Bulldogs. An eventful afternoon was had, which included a 30-minute play suspension due to a lightning storm; however, once the football started again, no one was disappointed by the game.
This is our final weekend of Love It for the term. We have Year 7 having a pizza night on Friday and Years 10-12 heading to the Knox Senior Social. Saturday, there is a planned trip to the Rocks Market and a game of Netball on Sunday to watch the Swifts.
View from my Window
My name is Grace, and I am in Year 12, I started at Pymble in Year 7, and joined Boarding in Year 10. I live in Freshwater with my sister Claudia, travelling between Sydney and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to visit my parents Kate and Danny. My Dad moved to Saudi for work in 2023, getting to travel all around the world, whilst my Mum travels between my Dad and Sydney.
I live on Queenscliff headland, looking over Freshwater and Curl Curl, my favourite thing about living at the beach is when the sun comes up in the morning and fills my home with orange light. Travelling to Saudi Arabia is a big change from the life I live by the beach, instead of kilometres of water, I look out my window and see sand all around. The architectural development occurring in Riyadh is vast, with buildings being constructed in only a matter of months, returning to Saudi after months away is always different, with new buildings and shops constantly emerging.
Growing up I lived predominantly in the northern hemisphere, moving to Australia gave me the ability to compete in year-round sport, competing predominantly in Track and Field. My weeks at home are filled with running along Manly promenade and walking my dog Champ down to the beach. When in Saudi Arabia with my parents, we explore the city, my favourite part of Saudi is Old Riyadh, where the traditional architecture marks where the original city was developed.
Whilst leaving Riyadh always means saying goodbye to my Dad, coming home to Sydney has always been something I have cherished since growing up overseas.
Boarder of the Week
Congratulations to Alethea (Lethy) our fabulous Year 12 Boarder of the Week. Lethy hit the ground running when she joined us in Year 9 from Lake Albert in the Riverina district of New South Wales. A national football player, Lethy manages her heavy training schedule and academic responsibilities with apparent ease. She is a delightful member of Lang House, known for her friendly nature, beaming smile and positive disposition. She has the deep respect of her peers and goes out of her way to make our younger Boarders feel valued and included. She keeps an immaculate room and can always be relied on to help out around the house. We love having her here with us at Pymble and can’t wait to see her continue to shine beyond the College gates.
Save the Date
18-20 June Boarding Schools Expo, Griffith
20-21 June Boarding Schools Expo, Wagga Wagga
Wednesday 25 June Boarders’ End of Term Chapel Service – note adjusted dated
Friday 27 June End of Term 2 Boarders’ Travel Day**
Monday 21 July Boarders return from 2.00pm for the start of Term 3
** All Boarders to be collected by 4.00pm
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding