From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
‘Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I remember,
Involve me and I learn’ – Benjamin Franklin
Learning through experiences
Last Friday was an exciting day for our Kindergarten girls as they went on their first exploration around the College campus. Their day involved visiting the Chapel where they explored the many aspects of our sacred space…and even had a go at forming their own Band with some enthusiastic drum and piano playing! They spent time with Mr Brown, Head of STEM K-6, as they developed mini towns and learnt how to code Beebots to navigate around their created community. The girls were given basic instructions and encouraged to use their imagination and engineering skills to see what they could create together. It was impressive to see the girls develop a simple transport haulage system using the Beebot to deliver Duplo blocks and designing and building a Duplo train pulled by a Beebot ‘engine’.
Year 3 Scientists
Year 3 have been exploring how to be curious and purposeful Scientists. Given wide parameters, the girls investigated the properties of ice and water through experiments they designed themselves. As an example of their mature investigative mindset, one group pouted water into a bag, cut the tip off and then recorded in slow motion the flow of water drops coming out from the hole. Repeating the experiment a second time, the group reflected on how the flow of water changed and questioned why there was a difference, beginning to develop their understanding of water pressure. A second group tested different fabrics with water and ultimately determined which fabric was waterproof explaining that they could classify it as waterproof because the ‘water fell off the top of the fabric, and didn’t soak in like it did with the other fabrics.’
JSPG Kindergarten Breakfast
A huge thank you to all of you who were able to come to our Kindergarten breakfast on Friday. It was wonderful to see you all and to have a chance to chat to some of you. Particularly special was the buzz as you all chatted with one another. Thank you for modelling the courage it takes to connect with one another to your daughters.
A message from Ashlee Weir – Year 2 Compass Teacher: Year 2 Visits NSW Schoolhouse Museum
In History this term, Year 2 are learning about the Past, Present and Future and have been investigating what school was like in the past. For this we had the wonderful experience of visiting the Old School House Museum in Ryde where the girls were immersed on a journey through the past exploring lots of different activities that children would have done at school in the 1900s. These included writing with ink pens, using slate boards, maypole dancing and exercising with dumbbells in the yard as well as pretending we were teachers and stamping our workbooks with our learning for the day. Here are what some of our girls had to say about their visit.
“It was fun, because we got to use the chalk boards and the ink pens.” – Anna Won
“I enjoyed stamping because I hadn’t done that before. The used to use stamps because they didn’t have printers.” – Irene Qiu
“I really liked using the slate board and the ink pens.” – Joanne Ren
“How on earth did they live like this?” – Kitty-Mae Ruiz del Portal Greene
“Visiting the School House was interesting because we got to use the ink pens and trace letters. We don’t use them now, so it was very exciting.” – Agnes Wu
A message from Josephine Laretive Junior School Librarian – Author Jacqueline Harvey visits Year 1 and Year 2
On Monday, Year 1 and 2 met the author Jacqueline Harvey. Jacqueline shared where she got her inspiration to write her picture books Kevin the Sheep, The Daring Tale Of Gloria The Great, and That Cat. She told the girls about a sheep who was a little different to the others and didn’t always follow the crowd. They learnt about a chicken was trapped under the house and how that event developed into a story about Gloria the Chicken. There were also many stories about Jacqueline’s much loved adopted cat who travelled from Sydney to Queenstown, New Zealand and ended up in her book, That Cat. Jacqueline also writes chapter books including the Willa and Woof, Alice-Miranda, Clemintine Rose, and Kensey and Max series.
A message from Shaira Musico – Junior School Service Coordinator
As part of our Junior School focus on service, we will be supporting a number of different initiatives this year. Kindergarten to Year 2 will continue to support the HARK Refugee Clinic at the Children’s Hospital Westmead. We are seeking donations of new stationery items to assist students at school. This could include pencils, pencil cases, pens, textas, glue sticks, scissors and other small stationery items. These items can be brought to school by your daughter or dropped at the Junior School office. We are looking to deliver these items to HARK Refugee Clinic on Monday 25 March.
We thank you so much for your support and look forward to making a difference together.
Cook2Care – A student led-initiative for Year 3 and 4
To support our student led initiative ‘Cook2Care’ inspired by Year 4 student Jasmine Smith, please bring in packaged food to Hedgehog House by Monday 25 March. Hampers will be made up to be donated to local community charities. Shortly, we will also be asking Year 3 and 4 families to please cook and donate meals for charity. Further details will be coming soon.
A message from Mr Stephen Robinson – Acting Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
Ride Safely to School Day
Friday 22 March is National Ride Safely to School Day. This wonderful initiative is the largest celebration of active travel and one of the best ways to start the school day. We invite students to participate in various ways:
- Ride a bike or scooter to school with a parent or family member;
- Meet Mrs Brown and other members of the Junior School at Pymble Station at 7.45am to ride (bike or scooter) to school as a group. Please complete this form to register; or
- Bring your bike or scooter along to participate in a range of activities at lunchtime.
All students participating in National Ride Safely to School Day must have a properly fitted helmet when riding.
Babysitting during Icebreaker
We are very much looking forward to seeing many of our parents at our College Icebreaker event tomorrow Friday 1 March 2024. To assist families, we are happy to announce we are providing FREE babysitting to current Junior School girls during this event.
Students will be supervised by Junior School staff in the John Reid Hall for a movie night (G Rating), with craft activities also available.
Spots are limited to the first 75 children registered. Please submit another response if you have another daughter in Junior School requiring supervision. ONLY current Junior School students may be registered.
Students may be dropped off from 6.45pm and must be collected by 8.15pm (although the Icebreaker event ends at 9.00pm). Please be aware that there is no food provided. Students must eat dinner before arrival.
International Women’s Day Video Submissions
Thank you to those mothers and grandmothers that have already submitted a video or reserved a time to record a video at school speaking about the impact of Mathematics in your life. These videos are BRILLIANT! Our compilation of testimonials will indeed celebrate Maths and Girl Power this International Women’s Day.
If you are able to assist us with this, please click this link.
JSPG Meeting STEM Presentation
On Wednesday, Mr Dan Brown, Head of STEM K-6 presented at the JSPG Meeting. To assist those who joined us online, please click here to see the slides he presented.
A message from Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academic
Across the year, girls will have opportunities to participate in various academic competitions including da Vinci Decathlon (Years 5 and 6), Write a Book in a Day (Years 5 and 6), Dorothea McKellar Poetry Competition and Pens against Poverty Writing Competition. Announcements for competitions will be made in assembly.
Notices will be placed on the portal for ICAS and Australian Mathematics Competition (AMT) which will take place before school. ICAS will take place in August.
Oz Kids in Print Competition
Calling all budding writers, poets and artists from Kindergarten to Year 6 who would like to enter their work into the Oz Kids in Print Competition, please email lbird@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and attach the artwork (in jpeg (maximum file 1MB)) or short story/poem (in Microsoft word).
Academic Series for Parents
Our first Academic Series for parents will take place on Tuesday, 26 March (Week 9) 3.30pm to 5.00pm. The focus will be on “Reading with your daughter” (3.30pm to 4.00pm) and “Being a Junior Mathematician”(4.00pm to 5.00pm). These workshops will take place in the Junior School library and John Reid Hall.
A message from Mrs Kate Giles – Head of Wellbeing K-6
Parent Wellbeing Series
This year we will be holding a number of workshops with a focus on wellbeing. The first of these is on Thursday 7 March at 8.30am in the Junior School Library. The session is aimed at parents of students from Kindergarten to Year 3 but all are welcome. Places are limited.
If you would like to attend, please click here to register.
Jumping into Action for Heart Health
This term, Pymble will be participating in Jump Rope for Heart to help our students move more, have fun and raise funds for life saving research and programs. Students will be skipping during lunch breaks and during allocated House time between Weeks 7 and 11. On Friday 12 April, we will hold our Jump Off Day to mark the completion of the program, where students in Years 3-6 will come together to showcase their new skills and participate in a House skipping competition.
This year, Pymble has the goal of raising $15,000 to help fund research to fight heart disease. To register your child, so they can participate in online fundraising, follow the link below. When you register your child online, you’ll get access to additional skipping resources to help your child improve their skipping skills and heart fitness.
Please keep an eye out for the ‘Parent and Guardian Guide’ coming home next week which includes further information on the program.
We are excited to see the students’ enthusiasm and dedication to this wonderful cause and thank you for your support and participation in this important initiative.
Junior School Digital News
A message from the Junior School Administration Office
Lost Property – please help!
Please check that all your daughter’s items are named including socks, hats, lunch boxes and drink bottles. All unnamed items are stored in the K-2 Upper Performing Arts Room and will be disposed of if not claimed.
Late arrivals, early departures from school
To ensure your daughter is marked on the roll correctly, please remind your daughters to come to the Junior School Office to sign in if your daughter is late (before going to their classroom) or sign out from school if you daughter needs to leave early (pre-approved).
Term 1 2024 Key Dates
Friday 1 March Class Photos 8.30am to 1.00pm (girls to wear full summer uniform)
Friday 1 March PPA Icebreaker
Saturday 2 March IPSHA Saturday Sport
Monday 4 March Years 1-12 Cross Country Event
Monday 4 March – Friday 15 March Duckling hatchlings visit Kindergarten
Monday 4 March International Women’s Day Assembly 3-6
Tuesday 5 March IPSHA Swim and Dive Carnival
Friday 8 March International Women’s Day
Friday 8 March House Picnic Lunch
Saturday 9 March IPSHA Saturday Sport
Monday 11 March – Wednesday 13 March Year 6 Outdoor Education Program Group 1
Wednesday 13 March – Friday 15 March Year 6 Outdoor Education Program Group 2
Wednesday 13 March Year 3 and 5 Naplan: Writing –
Thursday 14 March Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN: Reading & Grammar
Thursday 14 March Pi Day
Thursday 14 March Junior School Open Evening
Friday 15 March NAPLAN: Numeracy
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
JSPG Meeting for Term 1 – Wednesday 28 February
Junior School parents and carers are welcome to join us at the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG) Term 1 Meeting on Wednesday 28 February from 8.15am to 9.15am in the 3-6 Junior School Library.
You are welcome to either join in person or via the live Microsoft Teams link.
There will be an update on the College Master Plan, while Kate Brown and Lara Bird will provide an update on Academics. There will be time at the end of the meeting for questions. No registration required. We look forward to seeing you there!
*LAST CALL* Icebreaker – Friday 1 March
Please join us for canapes and drinks at our annual Icebreaker on Friday 1 March from 6.45pm to 9.00pm, held on Gloucester Lawn.
Tickets are $52 per person and include a cocktail style dinner and drinks. This year’s theme is (an optional) touch of florals. Banners will be set up to help group parents by year group.
Please click here to RSVP by Friday 23 February. Please note this is a parent only event and registration is essential.
Do you need child minding?
The Junior School has very generously organised a FREE babysitting service in the John Reid Hall from 6.45pm to 8.15pm (earlier than the Icebreaker finish time of 9.00pm). There will be an optional G-rated movie or craft activities. This is for enrolled Pymble Junior School students only – sorry, no siblings. Spots are limited to the first 75 children registered. Please be aware no food is provided – students are to eat dinner before they arrive.
JSPG Family Movie Night – Saturday 6 April
Please save the date for our JSPG Family Movie Night on Saturday 6 April. We are planning a BBQ dinner, followed by a G rated movie on the Main Oval. This is our only full Junior School family event together – come along and enjoy the beautiful backdrop of the College as the sun sets. We’ve moved the date forward this year while the weather is still warm. More details to come soon.
Upcoming Events
- 1R Class Play Date at JUMPd – Sunday 10 March
Please see the flyer for details and RSVP to your Class Parents by 23 February.
Year 2 Mums’ Night – Friday 22 March
Please join us from 6.00pm at 465 The Avenue, Chatswood. Welcome drink and canapes included. Please RSVP by 10 March by clicking here.
Save the Date: Year 1 Easter Egg Hunt – Sunday 24 March
Hop on over for our Year 1 Easter Egg Hunt at Bicentennial Park West Pymble. Please see the flyer for details and RSVP to your Parent Year Coordinators.
Please contact us with any questions or feedback at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School