From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
As we celebrated International Women’s Day last week we have continued to focus on the power of technology to empower our learning and to ignite our creativity. The girls explored how technology has changed over the past few decades from the typewriter, encyclopedia, mobile phone to ChatGPT! They then imagined how they envision technology impacting their future.
I hope to become an Engineer – Ava Costa (Year 6)
Technology can help us see and learn more about the ocean to then protect it – Mirabelle Lee (Year 6)
Technology can help society communicate as well as keeping us informed – Selina Jiang (Year 6)
Technology helps us connect with one another and helps us understand things we can’t even see – Amber Chen (Year 6)
I would like to make teleportation a reality and technology will help me with this dream – Chhichi Lee (Year 4)
I want to be an astronaut and discover new animals on other planets. Technology will help me because I can invent a tool that helps me find signals of other living things – Emily Chen (Year 4)
I want to be a fashion designer and technology will help me plan and sew my designs – Kaylee Tian (Year 4)
Teamwork makes the dream work!
Technology is a wonderful enabler not only to build specific technical skills but also to foster teamwork, creative thinking, critical analysis, problem solving and tenacity. Research and commentary from the corporate world suggests that the jobs our girls will explore after school will demand these skills. Our enthusiastic Robotics girls showcase these skills as they collaborate to build, test and rebuild. I am sure that our senior girls’ success in winning the FRC Tournament in Wollongong last weekend and heading off to World Championships in April will further inspire our girls to continue to explore their Robotics passion and journey.
Our amazing Year 6 debaters also showcased their teamwork and tenacity as they debated a hotly contested topic on Friday evening – devices should be banned from primary school classrooms. I was very proud to watch our Primary A team argue the affirmative with confidence. They listened carefully to each argument and worked collaboratively under the time pressures of a debate to shape their rebuttal. It was interesting that one of the arguments put forward by our girls was that schools should offer a ‘computer room’ rather than providing 1:1 devices. I momentarily felt I had stepped back in time to the 1980s when I was at school and had a weekly lesson in our computer room!
Teamwork is always evident in our sport. As I watched a range of teams from Years 3 to 6 play their hearts out in their soccer games on Saturday there was a very strong sense of team. Whilst the girls may not have won all their matches, they encouraged one another and played with positivity and determination. Thank you to the many parents who also come and cheer the girls on each weekend, your sense of team is also very evident and it’s always lovely to stand and have a chat with so many of you on the sidelines of the pitch….#PymbleProud!
Congratulations to Emma Popli (Year 5) Arianna Ng (Year 6) and Clarisse Chan (Year 4) who have been selected to play in the Sydney Youth Orchestra.
A message from Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics
Academic Opportunities
Throughout the year there will be opportunities for our Junior School girls to participate in various opportunities and competitions. They may have an academic focus, encourage passions and interests or develop leadership skills and may involve a whole year group or a small group of students. Set out below are some of the current opportunities for the girls.
Da Vinci Decathlon – Years 5 and 6
Expression of Interest for Da Vinci Decathlon is due on Friday, 17 March by 3.00pm. There will be two teams entered into this year’s Da Vinci Decathlon. One Year 5 team and one Year 6 team. Girls have been informed of the structure of Da Vinci Decathlon and the expectation that they are to attend workshops at lunchtime in preparation for this event. Da Vinci Decathlon will be held on Thursday, 27 July at Knox Grammar School.
OzKidsinPrint – Years K-6
Calling all budding writers, poets and artists who would like to see their work published!
Girls in Kindergarten to Year 6 are invited to submit short stories, artwork or poetry as part of the OzKids in Print Competition. Student work may be chosen to be printed in the OzKids magazine throughout the year or selected as an overall winner. Entries close September 2023. For more information please visit: https://ozkids.com.au Girls are asked to submit work to Mrs Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics, who will upload work on behalf of students.
Around the Grounds K-3- Mrs Kate Giles, Lead Co-ordinator K-3
Kindergarten to Year 3 are using the Kimochis program in Compass Lessons. The research based program focuses on teaching social-emotional skills such as communication, self-management, problem solving and resilience, using different characters to introduce these concepts. The girls are reminded that we all experience a number of different emotions each day, both harder-to-have feelings and ones we enjoy having, and that this is ok. Across Kindergarten to Year 3, the girls are using the Kimochi feelings toys to create a class charter to identify how they want to feel when they are at school.
In Kindergarten this term the girls are meeting the Kimochi characters, Cloud and Cat, and exploring a variety of different emotions using the Kimochi feelings toys. The girls are naming these feelings and exploring how our bodies and faces look when expressing them.
“I like Cloud as she is fluffy. She teaches us that we can be sad or mad but we can’t be mean.” – Hannah L
“I like Lovey Dove the best as she teaches me to be friendly and kind to other people.” – Hannah X
In Year 1 this term the girls are using the Kimochi feelings toys to identify emotions in ourselves and others and discuss the difference between hard to have emotions (such as frustration) and more comfortable emotions (such as happiness). They are also reintroducing themselves to the Kimochi characters Cloud, Cat, Bug, Huggtopus, Lovey Dove and Bella Rose and exploring how they teach us to identify and manage our emotions.
“Bug has taught me about being brave and trying new things.” – Catherine
“My favourite Kimochi character is Cat because she teaches me about when you are mean you need to talk it out.” – Michelle
In Year 2 this term the girls are checking in regularly with their own emotions using the Kimochi feelings toys. The girls are encouraged to reflect on how they are feeling and explore the strategies they have to manage their emotions.
In Year 3 this term the girls are getting to know themselves better by reflecting upon their emotions and unique qualities and strengths. The girls are exploring being their best selves and using strategies such as ‘hot chocolate breathing’ to regulate and manage their emotions.
We encourage you to talk with your daughter about her emotions and the strategies she is learning to share and manage them both at home and at school. Something practical ways to do this might be:
- Use the feelings chart in the morning to choose a feeling together that you want to have more of that day and share how you might do this. For example ‘we want to have more brave’.
- At the end of the day reflect on the feeling chosen in the morning and share stories of BRAVE.
- Check in with your daughter using the feelings chart to help her name and share her emotions.
Around the Grounds 4-6- Mrs Jayne Mercer, Lead Co-ordinator 4-6
In the older years the focus for Compass lessons moves from the Kimochis program to the URSTRONG and Grow Your Mind programs. These programs continue to develop student understanding of how to regulate emotions, how to be a good friend and how to handle friendship fires or mean on purpose behaviour. In Week 3, Years 1-6 all had the opportunity to take part in a session with Dana Kerford, the founder of URSTRONG. Throughout the term, Compass lessons also focus on the topics of cybersafety, being of service, religion and unstructured play.
Year 4
The Be of Service project for Year 4 for 2023 is the Wrap With Love charity where students knit squares that can be turned into blankets for people in need. Many students learnt to knit for the first time on the Year 4 Mind Body Spirit Day. It’s wonderful to see so many students knitting at recess and lunch times too. Mrs Michie has even started a Knitting Club on Tuesday lunchtimes to keep up with demand!
Year 5
Cybersafety lessons in Year 5 in Term 1 have focused on online safety. The girls have looked at how to manage their passwords and their online identities through safe collaboration and communication. With Year 5 girls taking home their iPads for the first time they have spent time considering and discussing the responsibilities that this opportunity requires.
Year 6
The first lessons of the URSTRONG program for Year 6 have looked at the idea of being a Friendship Ninja, learning how to squash A.N.Ts (automatic negative thoughts), looking at character strengths and learning more about self-compassion. Once a fortnight the girls head out to the valley playground and spend time in unstructured play, building structures, inventing games and strengthening friendships
A Call for BUTTONS
We are seeking donations of buttons to be used for a variety of creative projects to be sold to raise money as a part of our focus on service. If you have any spare buttons at home, please send them in with your daughter to the Junior School offices.
Hark Refugee Clinic
As part of the College focus on service, we will be supporting 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 lead or coloured pencils, pencil cases, pens, textas, exercise books, scissors and other small stationery items. These items can be brought to school by your daughter or dropped at the Junior School offices. If you have any questions ,please email kgiles@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. We thank you for helping support this initiative
Sustainability Club Art Competition
Our fabulous Sustainability Club leaders Charlotte and Georgia are running an art competition to make the construction site look more natural! They will be announcing this in our assemblies this week and the captains will be promoting it in class too but they would love it if you could also please encourage the girls to enter.
The girls are invited to draw, paint, photograph a scene from nature. We are hoping to have a winner and runner/s up in each grade and the winning entries will be scanned and printed onto weather-proof material to be hung on the fencing around the site.
The competition will close on Monday week 9 with the winners announced that week.
Thank you so much for your support from the Sustainability Club leaders – Charlotte and Georgia
PJ Factor – Years 3-6 *CHANGE OF DATE*
In 2023, the annual Junior School PJ Factor will be held in Term 4 and will be in a different format. As part of the College Let’s Get Creative Day, students will have the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills for their peers. Dates and further information will be communicated to students in their Junior School PA/ Music lessons and via the College Newsletter.
Car line
Parents are reminded that parking along the LOWER Road is not permitted at any time. It is really important that we work together in our carline processes to ensure your daughters are safe. Please click on this carline safety video link.
Please be aware that girls arriving before 7.45am must attend Out of School Hours Care.
Please do not arrive before 2.30pm in the afternoon. Girls are escorted to car line after the conclusion of the school day at 2.45pm (K-2) and 3.00pm (Years 3-6). Parents are reminded to remain in their car for the safety of both girls and adults and to assist with traffic flow. If you are delayed in collecting your daughter, she will be taken to Out of School Hours Care until your arrival.
Uniform and Appearance
All students are expected to wear their uniform correctly and with pride. Uniforms cannot be mixed with each season. Junior School has a strict ‘no hat no play policy’, please ensure your daughter has her bucket play hat at school every day. Please make sure that your daughter’s uniform is named.
Absent, Late Arrivals/Early Departures, Vacation
A reminder if you daughter is absent from school please enter your daughters absence through the MyPymble App or email Junior School Administration Office juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au . For any changes to your daughter’s travel, late/early arrivals please email the Administration Office.
Exemption from Attendance Application form can found on the portal, please ensure if your daughters is away for two days or more to complete the application form two weeks in advance from the start of your daughter’s absence.
Lost Property
Please ensure your daughters full name is clearly labelled on all items of clothing including socks, hats and lunch items so it can be quickly returned to your daughter if it is found.
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
- New Parents’ High Tea – Thursday 23 March
The Pymble Parents Association warmly invites all parents and carers new to Pymble in 2023 as well as all Year 7 parents to join us for a High Tea on Thursday 23 March in the Jeanette Buckham Gymnasium at the College from 10.00am to 12.30pm.
Tickets are complimentary. To register, please click here.
- Pedal Your Own Smoothie – Wednesday 29 March
Our girls are looking forward to Pedal Your Own Smoothie on Wednesday 29 March. This is a fun and healthy event where girls ride an exercise bike to blend their chosen smoothie. There are three smoothie options for the girls: a berry smoothie, a banana smoothie a dairy-free berry option. All smoothies are $7.50. If your daughter’s dietary requirements indicate she cannot consume ingredients in the smoothie, she can still participate by choosing a bottle of Pump flavoured water.
To purchase a ticket, please click here.
- Easter Cookie Decorating – 5th April
The JSPG is pleased to hold the ‘Easter Cookie Decorating’ activity for Kindergarten to Year 2 girls. This will be held on Wednesday 5 April. Each girl will receive two Easter cookies to decorate in class during the morning. The cookies are nut-free and made from natural ingredients. Icing and sprinkles will be used to decorate each cookie. Gluten-free cookies are available on request.
If your daughter is unable to participate in the ‘Easter Cookie Decorating’ activity, she may bring a treat from home on the day.
To purchase a ticket, please click here. Please register by Thursday 30 March.
- 6S Class Dinner
Please join us for a class dinner at Urban Tadka on Friday 28 April at 7.00pm. To RSVP, please contact your class parents.
Key Dates
| Monday 6 March – Friday 17 March | Duckling Hatchlings visit Kindergarten girls |
| Wednesday 15 – Friday 17 March | NAPLAN – Years 3 and 5 |
| Monday 20 March | Year 5 Author Visit |
| Monday 20 March | K-6 Learning Discussions – on campus 4.00pm to 8.00pm |
| Tuesday 21 March – Thursday 23 March | K-6 Learning Discussions (online 4.00pm to 6.00pm) |
| Tuesday 21 March – Friday 24 March | Inquisitive Minds Mathematics Workshops Years 1 to 6 |
| Thursday 23 March | PPA New Parents High Tea 10.00am to 12.30pm |
| Friday 24 March | Year 6 Canberra Excursion |
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School