From the Junior School
A Message from Mrs Kate Brown, Head of Junior School
As we come close to the end of the year, I want to honour the determination and commitment each of our girls have shown to their learning. Whilst Speech Day honours some of our students, each girl should feel proud as her progress has been achieved through hard work, courage in taking risks, a growth mindset and determination.
Congratulations to all our dancers who performed in the Showcase last week and weekend. The poise of each girl on stage reflected their dedication to rehearsals and their confidence in each other as they performed as teams.
This week, I have had the privilege of being in Shanghai to watch two of our Year 4 students, Olivia and Nichola, compete in the Drone Soccer World Championships. Both girls demonstrated skill and tenacity as they worked with their teammates in matches against other international teams, most of whom had been training far longer than our team. Congratulations to both Olivia and Nichola – we are extremely Pymble proud!
Congratulations to our Year 6 students who have achieved significant honours in the Newton Mathematics (Australian Mathematics Trust) Enrichment Competition. Over a 12-week period, selected students worked on activities focusing on Fibonacci numbers, divisibility, polyhedra, arithmetic and applying specific problem-solving techniques to find solutions.
High Distinction
Sarah Lu
Genevieve Wong
Christina Yang
Stephanie Zhao
Amy Zong
Distinction
Dorthy Ban
Amélie Berg
Kate Bi
Pipi Chen
Jennifer Chen
Emma Deere
Annabelle Kim
Angelina Kim
Naomi Shi
Anthea Yang
Ellie Zhang
Loriah Zhang
Credit
Claire Cheng
Julie Kang
Hannah Lee
Vivian Li
Ella Li
Lucy Ma
Alicia Miao
Isabella Wang
Sophia Wang
Congratulations to our International Debating teams who have progressed to the quarter finals. In an intensively competitive field; this is a phenomenal achievement! Good luck to all these girls:
Ellie He
Sarah Lu
Naomi Shi
Alicia Miao
Angelina Kim
Lucy Ma
Vivian Li
Josephine Tamas
Yuanya Miao
Hayley Du
Aurora Lin
Next week, I look forward to watching the drama showcase, gymnastics showcase and the Year 6 showcase of learning – more opportunities to celebrate many of our girls and their learning accomplishments this year.
A message from Lachlan Pryor, Year 6 Compass Teacher
On Tuesday our Year 6 students experienced an incredible Aquadrive workshop led by renewable-energy specialists Michael Richards and Grace Anderson from the University of NSW School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE). This was part of the new Future Transport program where students are actively thinking about and designing solutions to make transport more sustainable.
Michael and Grace began by taking the girls through a deep dive into how renewable energy works, exploring the different types of clean energy used around the world and why they are essential for a sustainable future. Students learnt how solar energy is captured from the sun, how photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity and how engineers design real-world systems to make these technologies efficient and reliable.
After building this solid scientific foundation, Michael and Grace guided the girls through a hands-on design challenge: creating their own solar-powered boats. Working in small teams, the students explored how to orient panels for maximum energy capture, experimented with wiring and motor connections, and made engineering decisions to optimise buoyancy, stability and speed.
The energy in the room was electric (pun intended) as the girls tested, refined and raced their designs. This incursion brought together science, engineering, creativity and sustainability in a meaningful and memorable way. A huge thank you to Michael and Grace for inspiring the next generation of innovators!
PJ Factor Showcase
The PJ Factor Showcase was a vibrant celebration of student talent, featuring energetic House Singing, engaging public speaking presentations and expressive dance and music performances. Each performance reflected the girl’s creativity, collaboration and confidence on stage. It was wonderful to see House pride and spirit from all girls in the Junior School. This finale brought students together in a joyful and unifying moment that captured the true spirit of celebration and community.
Congratulations to our 2026 Junior School leaders
SRC Leaders: Annie Chen, Charlotte Free, Sienna Yeung, Rayna Zhou
Sustainability Leaders: Janet Lee, Chloe Ma, Arya Raman, Scarlett Xiong
STEM Leaders: Jing Huang, Isabella Li, Madeleine Martin, Olivia Yu
Library Leaders: Alice Deutscher, Emerald Liu, Leah Liu, Tiffany Ma
Kindness Leaders: Alana Hilton, Kelsie Huang, Arin Sadananda, Jasmine Smith
Chapel Leaders: Zara Jacob, Laura Li, Samiya Sanghera, Adela Wu
OSHC Leaders: Zoe Ababio, Zara Anand, Allegra Blackman, Gisele Whitehead
House Leaders:
- Bennett- Freya Holland, Caia McCarthy, Ellie Rose Ruiz del Portal Greene, Shelley Xie
- Goodlet- Charlotte Allen, Olivia Birch, Scarlett Docherty, Emma Ware
- Hammond- Zoe Hindmarsh, Davina Excell, Sofiyah Khanche, Emma Jiang
- Ingleholme– Olivia Jin, Natasha Woods, Lia Sloane, Anya Jolapara
- Lang– Grace Edwards, Mikayla Kiang, Kate Li, Charmaine Li
- Marden– Gloria Duffy, Rose Bayliss, Isabelle Lawry, Queenie Sun
- Thomas– Olivia Hegetschweiler, Alex Xiao, Aubrey Zhang, Hailey Zhang (5R)
- Wylie– Maisie Borg, Chloe Huang, Angela Lu, Irene Zhao
Message from Lara Bird – Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics
Stationery
Please refer to the portal notice for 2026 stationery orders. Please place your order before 14 December to ensure that your daughter receives all stationery items before the start of the school year. Girls are 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 items 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.
Messages from Mr Stephen Robinson – Deputy of Head of Junior School – Operations
End of Year Events
The school year is fast coming to an end and as it does, there will be lots of opportunities to celebrate:
- Year 4 and Year 5 Windows into Learning: Monday 24 November at 9.45am. Students are to be in their full summer uniform.
- Year 6 Chapel, Showcase of Learning and Morning Tea: Thursday 27 November at 8.30am. Students are to be in their full summer uniform.
- K-6 Colour Run, Thursday 27 November after lunch. Students are to wear their regular uniform to school on this day, but at lunch will get changed into old (preferably white) clothes to wear during the activity. Students will not be changing after the event before carline, so families are encouraged to have a towel in the car to travel home!
- Year 6 Disco and Parent Cocktail Party, Friday 28 November from 6.30pm. Please ensure students wear enclosed shoes to this event.
- Year 6 Water Fight, Monday 1 December from 2.30pm. Year 6 students will be wearing their regular school uniform as part of our end of year traditions. They can travel home wet or get changed.
- Years 3-6 Speech Day, Tuesday 2 December at 9.00am. All students are to wear their full summer uniform.
- At the end of this event, students must sign out with their teachers or remain at school until 3.00pm
- Kindergarten Celebration of Learning and Nativity, Tuesday 2 December 11.30am. Students are to wear their full summer uniform to wear under their costumes.
- At the end of this event, students must sign out with their teachers or remain at school until 2.45pm
- Year 1 and Year 2 Celebration of Learning, Tuesday 2 December 2.00pm. Students are to wear their full summer uniform.
- Students will depart from Gloucester Lawn with parents. There will be no carline operating for Year 1 and Year 2.
Wednesday 3 December is an optional attendance day. If at school, students will:
- K-2 students will be involved in wellbeing and STEM activities until lunch
- 3-6 students will engage in a ‘day of service’ to the Junior School, supporting teachers with their move ahead of our relocation into the Grey House Precinct building and subsequent changes taking place.
- Following lunch, all students have class celebrations with their 2025 Compass Teachers before a final farewell before the summer break.
- If your daughter is absent from school on this day, please mark your daughter absent in MyPymble.
Please be aware that all co-curricular activities end in Week 7. There are no activities in Week 8.
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
| 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 for Year 4 and 5 girls and families. |
| Wednesday 26 November | Sokratis Jr Showcase 3.30pm-4.30pm Hedgehog House |
| Wednesday 26 November | Year 3 Excursion to Maritime Museum |
| Thursday 27 November | Year 6 Chapel, Showcase of Learning and Morning Tea K-6 Colour Run |
| Friday 28 November | Year 6 Disco and Parent Cocktail Party, Kindergarten Create a Memory Box |
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 |