From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Green time and Screen time
I love that our children are growing up in the dynamic age of technology as so often technology enhances the learning experience for our children. Kindergarten are using drones to understand birds-eye view, Year 3 are working with Lego Spike to understand the Earth’s rotation and Year 4 are learning how to podcast; all possible through the fabulous technological resources we have. Many of our Junior School teachers, myself included, have just completed an AI Champions course ensuring we are able to plan and guide learning opportunities for our girls for the future which are going to continue to set them up for success as learners and in life.
Yet in this fast-paced digital age it’s also incredibly important we teach our children the need for balance and outdoor play. Recently I saw this award winning short animation which represents the addiction of apps and how challenging it can be for our children to resist.
Recently I read Johnathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation. A social psychologist, Haidt has studied the impact the shift from basic phones to smartphones has had on children (12 years and under) and young people over the last 14 years and explores how an increase in digital activities is now being linked to four areas of concern; sleep deprivation, social deprivation, attention fragmentation and addiction.
Whilst I don’t want us to negate the positive impact digital technology can have in learning and life; his research resonated with me as amongst other things it cites the positive impact of outdoor play on the wellbeing of young people. Haidt’s research shares how play with loose parts is a strong protective factor against the lure of screen time and social media. Reassuringly for our Pymble girls, we prioritise this form of play for our girls with time provided in the timetable for unstructured play for Years 3 and 4.
Unstructured play provides space and time for creativity, collaboration and resilience. Students are supervised but they direct their own play, choose the loose parts they need to support their play and barter with one another for key parts. It’s also an opportunity for students to ‘play’ their learning, to develop social skills through role play and to grow their understanding of their world. Last week, Year 4 girls built houses for the Three Little Pigs (an application of their learning about fairytales), created an impromptu drama performance of a trip to the dentist and designed and made a dream catcher.
Respect and kindness to our environment
This week I am giving a huge shout out to Mya Aggarwal and Aaisha Suresh who are on a mission to lead by example and have given up their lunchtime plays this week to pick up rubbish around our Junior School campus.
This week our courageous Year 4 students (and staff) are out at Webbs Creek for their Outdoor Education Program. The girls have been enjoying bushwalking, kayaking, abseiling, and a terrific flying fox. These photos only touch on the many highlights of the outdoor program that girls will have long lasting memories of.
We wish all our amazing Dads and stepdads a happy Father’s Day this Sunday. For those in our community who are not able to be with their fathers, I hold you in my thoughts and prayers.
A message from Stephen Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
OSHC Registrations
Please note that ALL Junior School students need to be registered at OSHC (through the Kidsoft Website) in order to enrol in new or additional co-curricular offerings, including swimming and tennis. If your daughter is not registered with OSHC she will not be able to be enrolled in any co-curricular activities from Term 4 2024.
Father’s Day Breakfast and Musical Performance
We are very much looking forward to seeing many dads and special people at our Father’s Day BBQ Breakfast on Friday 6 September. There are still tickets for this K-12 event available through Community Engagement. This will be followed by a musical performance in the John Reid Hall by all Junior School year groups from 8.20am to 8.50am.
Water bottles
With the temperatures increasing, a reminder to ensure you daughter has a water bottle with her at school. Water bottle filling stations and water bubblers are available throughout the Junior School.
A message from Mrs Lara Bird – Deputy Head of Junior School – Academic
Speech and Drama
Speech and Drama girls made Pymble proud with their success at the Ryde Eisteddfod. Thank you to Mrs Victoria Clancy, Speech and Drama Instructor for preparing the girls for the competition.
Poetry Performance
Sana Iyer Year 5 1st Place
Nadya Faheem Year 4 2nd Place
Cecilia Zhang Year 6 2nd Place
Miranda Liu Year 4 3rd Place
Scarlett Qiu Year 5 Highly Commended
Sophia Wang Year 5 Highly Commended
Character monologue in Costume
Aarthi Rao Year 4 1st Place
Prose Speaking
Hailey Zhang Year 4 1st Place
Chloe Zhang Year 4 2nd Place
Sophia Wang Year 5 2nd Place
Charmaine Li Year 4 3rd Place
Sarayah Wijesuriya Year 3 Highly Commended
Anya Jolapara Year 4 Highly Commended
Talented performers
Year 4: Olivia Deng, Priscilla Fang,Eva Shi, Rose Wang,Adela Wu, Sophia Wu and Rachel Zhang
Year 5: Leah Liu and Batool Rangwala
Year 6: Olivia Guo and Katelyn Hsu
Wellbeing Weekly – Kate Giles, Head of Wellbeing K-6
Next term we will be holding our final two sessions in our Wellbeing Series for the year. The first will be a session for Years 5 and 6 parents on technology and AI in preparation for Middle School held on 17 October and the second will be for Kindergarten to Year 6 parents on supporting your daughter with anxiety and change on 31 October. Both sessions will be held in the 3-6 Library at 8.45am and a sign-up form will be shared shortly.
As we prepare for 2025, I would love some feedback regarding these sessions and any other sessions you would like to see as a part of the series. Please use this link to provide your feedback.
A message from the Intercultural Committee
The Junior School Intercultural Committee (ICC) is proud to announce our drawing competition for the 2025 Cultural Celebrations Calendar!
We are looking for entries for the following celebrations – Hannukah, Ramadan, Yoyo Day, Bastille Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, The Day of the Dead, World Indigenous Day, Diwali and Christmas.
Twelve winning entries will be chosen to be printed for each month of our Cultural Celebrations 2025 calendar.
Drawings can be submitted at Hedgehog House and each entry will earn you ten house points. You can submit as many drawings as you want! The competition closes on Friday 6 September.
Come and see Seussical – The Musical
“Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’ best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper!
I hope you are excited for the upcoming Year 6 production of Seussical – The Musical. Please note that tickets are on sale via the GMCPA Box Office. Click here to purchase your tickets.
Performance Dates: Thursday 19 and Friday 20 September commencing at 7.00pm.
Ticket Price: $22
Confirming the production will run for approximately two hours (with a 20-minute interval).
We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!
Junior School Digital News
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
Garden Party – Saturday 21 September
Years 5 & 6 Lucky Prize Stall
Year 5 and 6 Families, please assist us at the Garden Party by either donating prizes, making a donation to allow us to purchase prizes for the stall or volunteering your time on the stall. Please contact your parent Year Coordinators with any questions. Thank you in advance for your donations and support.
You can donate via our GroupTogether here and / or sign up to volunteer on the stall here.
Cake Stall
You can help in two ways by:
- Baking delicious cakes, biscuits, slices and treats for sale.
- Assisting on the stall during the day.
The cakes and baked goods can be dropped off at the stall in the foyer of the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA) on the day of the Garden Party from 7.30am.
We also need volunteers to work on the stall and sell the delicious treats throughout the day. If you can help at the stall for an hour, please register here.
Thank you as always for your support.
Please contact us with any questions at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com
Term 3 2024 Key Dates – Weeks 6 and 7
Friday 29 August – Year 4 OEP Group 2 return from Webbs Creek
Saturday 30 August – IPSHA Saturday Sport
Sunday 1 September – Father’s Day
Tuesday 3 September – Year 2 OEP
Tuesday 3 September – Year 3 Windows into Learning – 8.30am to 10.25am (parents invited to bring snack and stay for recess)
Tuesday 3 September – Year 1 Windows into Learning – 11.00am – 12.45pm (parents are invited to bring their lunch and stay for lunch)
Wednesday 4 September – Year 6 Transition (Group 2) – 12.50pm to 1.30pm
Thursday 5 September – Kindergarten Windows into Learning – 11.30am to 12.30pm (parents are invited to bring a picnic lunch and stay for lunch 12.30pm 1.00pm)
Friday 6 September – Father’s Day Breakfast – 7.00am to 8.15am (pre-registered)
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School