From the Junior School
A Message from Mrs Kate Brown, Head of Junior School, with our 2025 Kindness Leaders: Sooin Lee, Nouvelle Nicholson, Christina Yang and Isabelle Yue
Today we celebrate World Kindness Day, a day where we celebrate the incredible power of kindness and its impact on the world around us. As the Junior School Kindness Leaders for 2025, we wanted to share our thoughts on the impact of Kindness in our Junior School.
Kindness is something that has an enormous impact. When we show kindness, it not only helps others but also makes us feel good inside. It creates a release of oxytocin which is also called the ‘warm fuzzies’. It’s that feeling you get when you help a friend who’s upset, include someone new or give a compliment that brightens someone’s day. Through our role as Kindness Leaders, we’ve seen how even tiny actions like a smile, a thank you, or a helping hand can change the mood of a whole classroom. It reminds us that kindness has the power to make or break someone’s day, and it’s something we can all give freely.
As 2025 Kindness Leaders, we want to leave a legacy that encourages others to keep spreading kindness long after we’ve moved on. We have tried to model kindness through our everyday actions by being inclusive, thoughtful and positive role models. We hope that we have inspired others not to be afraid to speak in front of others at assembly, even when you are feeling nervous, and to give things a go and be kind to yourselves when you make mistakes.
Today, on World Kindness Day, we enjoyed being able to share message of kindness across the Junior School and see everyone engaging in activities focused on showing kindness to ourselves, others and the environment. Kindergarten and Year 2 have cleaned up the playground together to be kind to our environment; Year 1 has completed positive affirmations and Year 3 has enjoyed mindful meditation and yoga focusing on being kind to self. Year 4 and Year 5 have written poems and cards of kindness to others. Year 6 focused on kindness to others and participated in activities that included knitting for others, learning sign language for inclusivity and learning lifesaving skills. We also loved helping create our Junior School collaborative artwork- a rainbow of kindness and respect.
What we have learnt as Kindness Leaders this year is that kindness is in the small choices we make. It is joy, happiness and wellbeing and we love that we could share this in Kindness Club each week. Kindness is the heart of our school and the foundation for everything else we do. We hope the chain of kindness we’ve helped to create keeps growing, because when one person chooses kindness, it inspires others to do the same.
Congratulations to Candice Li
Candice Li in Year 6 was a finalist for the Fred Hollows Humanitarian Awards, an award that recognises Year 6 students across Australia who follow in the footsteps of Dr Fred Hollows, seeking to make a positive difference in their community. Candice was nominated for her passion for advocacy and service, and specifically for her creation of the character, Chocolatey Sprinkles, a soft toy she designed, had made and donated to raise funds for various community charities, including The Smith Family and Hornsby Kuring-Gai Women’s Shelter. Congratulations on this amazing nomination Candice and for inspiring others with your kindness and compassion!
Good luck to all our dancers
Today our 2025 Dance Showcase commences and we wish lots of luck to all our dancers. It’s sure to be a spectacular showcase.
Congratulations to two of our artists: Isla and Anna honoured by Operation Art.
Earlier this year, we submitted two artworks to the NSW Arts Unit Operation Art competition – Isla Morrison’s collage and Anna Won’s still life. The results were announced last week, and we are thrilled to share that Anna Won’s beautiful still life, “Still Life with Soy Sauce,” has been selected as a finalist for the main collection, the Hospital 50!
To give some context, there were around 800 entries last year, so this is a really impressive achievement. As part of the selection, a few exciting things will now happen:
- Anna’s artwork will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW early next year, before travelling to several regional galleries.
- Her artwork will then be displayed at the Children’s Hospital in Randwick before becoming part of the permanent collection at Westmead Children’s Hospital – a real honour, as their collection is curated and highly regarded.
In other good news, Isla’s collage will be showcased at the Chatswood Concourse Art Gallery early next year, which is fantastic.
Congratulations to both Isla and Anna, we are extremely Pymble proud of you both.
Message from Lara Bird – Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics
Congratulations to Ellie He (Year 6) and Emma Deere (Year 6) who have each been awarded an ICAS Medal. Ellie was awarded the ICAS Medal for writing and Emma was awarded the ICAS Medal for spelling.
Congratulations to Violet Li (Year 4), who was awarded best in school at the Australian Maths Trust (AMT) State Awards.
We are very Pymble proud of you all.
Stationery
Please refer to the portal notice for 2026 stationery orders. Please place your order before Sunday 14 December to ensure that your daughter receives all stationery items before the start of the school year. Girls are required to have all items on the stationery list, however if you have items that are of the same quality and in good condition, you may use those items rather than purchasing new. Students are to bring in all stationery on the first day of Term 1.
Message from Kate Giles – Head of Wellbeing K-6
Exodus Foundation Christmas Appeal
As a part of our Jacaranda Day and Christmas celebrations, the College is supporting the Exodus Foundation Christmas Initiative. Thank you to all our Junior School families who have already donated items to the appeal. Should you still wish to donate, we are seeking gifts for children from students in K-2 (including items like puzzles, board games and Lego) and school supplies from students in 3-6 (including stationery, colouring sets, books or lunchboxes). These items can be brought to Hedgehog House where they will be boxed before sending to Exodus.
Deputy of Head of Junior School – Operations: Mr Stephen Robinson
School and Co-curricular Attendance
A reminder to families that regular full attendance at school is essential for all students. When a child is sick and unable to attend school, they are precluded from attending after school co-curricular activities. Should students have appointments during the school day, please ensure they are at school by 11.45am in order to attend co-curricular activities.
Message from Junior School Administration Office
A reminder to email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au when your daughter is late or needs to leave early. Please continue to use the MyPymble app to mark your daughter absent. For any absence of two days or more, please complete the Exemption from Exemption from Attendance at School form, which you can download from MyPymble, or email through a medical certificate for illness.
Important Dates for your diary Week 5 and Week 6
| Tomorrow | Dance showcase Years 3-12 6.00pm – 9.00pm |
| Saturday 15 November | Dance showcase K-2 11.00am – 12.00pm |
| Sunday 16 November | Dance showcase 12.00pm – 2.00pm, 4.30pm – 6.30pm |
| Wednesday 19 November | PJ Factor Concert 11.00am Gymnasium |
| Wednesday 19 November- 21 November | Year 5 Milingimbi exchange to Canberra |
| Thursday 20 November | K-2 Swimming Carnival 8.30am – 12.45pm |
| Monday 24 November | Windows into Learning Year 4 and Year 5 9.45-11.15am |
| Monday 24 November | Launch of DREAM Diploma 12.00pm-1.00pm John Reid Hall |
| Wednesday 26 November | Sokratis Jr Showcase 3.30pm-4.30pm Hedgehog House |
| Wednesday 26 November | Year 3 Excursion to Maritime Museum |
End of Year Junior School Celebration dates
| Thursday 27 November | Year 6 Chapel, Celebration of Learning and Morning Tea |
| Tuesday 2 December | Years 3-6 Speech Day 9.00am – 11.00am Kindergarten Celebration of Learning and Nativity 11.30am – 1.00pm Years 1 and Year 2 Celebration of Learning 2.00pm – 3.00pm |
| Wednesday 3 December | Last day of Term 4 |