From the Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

Connecting through conversation – our School and Family learning partnership

This week we have been delighted to share your daughters’ learning progress with you and to discuss her next steps in her learning journey. Thank you for your support and partnership around your daughter’s growth.

As we head towards the final weeks of this term, we’re focusing on keeping the girls’ positive energy going. They’ve been working and thinking so hard throughout the term and it’s perhaps more important than ever that they have lots of sleep so they can keep learning as their best selves until their holiday adventures begin!

A huge thank you!

Thank you to all our amazing parents who were able and willing to give their time to help us run our Inquisitive Minds workshops this week. We are grateful for your help in leading this exciting opportunity for our girls to explore mathematical challenges and we hope you enjoyed learning alongside the girls.

Harmony Day – Everyone belongs!

This week we celebrated Harmony Day which is such an important chance for us to stop and reflect on the amazing diversity we have in our Junior School family. The theme for this year, ‘Everyone Belongs’ is one that aligns so closely with our Junior School focus of cultural kindness. I am proud to share that one of our Year 6 leaders, Charlotte Sadler is leading an initiative inspired by her reading of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr and encouraging the girls in Years 3 to 6 to work together to create orange coloured paper cranes to represent our collaborative spirit and to celebrate this year’s Harmony theme.

Thank you to Mrs Emma de Bilde, one of our 2023 Junior School Relationship Leaders who created this fabulous poem in honour of Harmony Day. This poem is dedicated to her daughters Tabitha (Year 2) and Lucinda (Year 1) but speaks to us all.  Thank you, Emma, for modelling creativity alongside a celebration of diversity, inclusion and harmony. If we have any other parents who are keen to share their creativity with our community in any way, I would love to hear from you.

Please enjoy Emma’s poem:

I am a convict, I am of the First Fleet, I am the Durramuragal People

I am a German nurse who fell in love with an injured soldier.

I am a man who followed industry across the seas to China.

I am a little boy who sailed alone for an education, who then fell in love with a farmer’s daughter

I am a scared little girl who fled communist rule with only a small suitcase to her name.

These people are my story, these people are my culture

I am multicultural.

I am me, and I am Australian.

I am proud of our girls who began their honouring of Ramadan this week. As they fast during the day, these girls are chatting with Mrs Clair O’Connor and working on kindness projects during lunchtimes until the end of term. For this project the girls will be sewing sunflowers as part of the Junior School Kindness project and considering all the things that they are grateful for in the Junior School.

As we reflect this week on our diversity of voice, we are proud to share the second in our collection of ‘Stories in many Voices’ with this reading of Whoever You Are by Mem Fox. A huge thank you to Mrs Genia Wright, Mrs Claire Wall, Mrs Victoria Adamovich and Reverend Punam Bent for helping to bring the book’s beautiful message of inclusivity to life. An enormous thank you to our Digital Learning Leader, Mr Jake Turnbull who created the video. To enjoy this reading please click here.

Josh Langley – Artist in Residence

Another way for our girls to explore and celebrate their artistry and creativity is through their connection with our Junior School Artist in Residence, Josh Langley.  I was thrilled to be awarded the grant for this opportunity this year as Josh met with our Kindness Captains from Years 1 to 6 this week and our SRC and Sustainability Leaders for 2023 and will be working with them to lead an art project around kindness which will be displayed at our Term 4 ‘Let’s Get Creative’ festival on Thursday 16 November.

Josh is the author and illustrator of a series of books which are simple in design and powerful in their message. Books by Josh include Being Wildly Kind, Being You is Enough and Wonder Hunter.

Later in the year Josh will also be working with our Year 2 and Year 4 girls to share tips with them on creating characters and illustrations that represent a message that matters to them whether that’s kindness to others, kindness to our environment or kindness to self. These artworks will also be on display at our Let’s Get Creative Festival in Term 4.

Emily Ma (Year 2) is one of three finalists in the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Price 2023 (group 5-7).  Her painting will be displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra from Saturday 25 March to Sunday 21 May. Emily’s painting is titled ‘Me and my place’ and her inspiration was a photo of her hugging Jubi on her mum’s bed.

Emily explains that her pets are beloved family members, so Jubi was allowed to stay in her bed like Emily! Emily was very happy to see Jubi after her Mandarin class. Learning Mandarin is very important to Emily as it helps her to talk to her grandparents and other relatives in China. Emily feels that her mum’s bed is the most special place in the whole wide world. It’s her indoor playground, napping place, story time corner and meditation space. She also believe it has magic. Whatever she is feeling, she can calm down quickly by hiding under mum’s blanket. Emily’s art reflects her love of her mum, Australia and China.

A message from Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics

This week girls across Years 1 to 6 participated in the Inquisitive Minds Mathematics Workshops where the focus of these workshops was not only to apply mathematical knowledge, but also to continue to develop skills in working mathematically by communicating, reasoning and problem-solving. The focus was also working collaboratively to find solutions, listening to the ideas and contributions of peers and applying strategies to break down problems. It was wonderful to see the girls all having a go even on the more challenging tasks and persevering until they were able to find a solution. We encourage the girls to use the new skills and knowledge they have acquired during these workshops to their mathematics lesson and continue to build upon them.

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 – Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who kindly donated stationery items for the HARK Refugee Clinic at Westmead Hospital. The Kindness Club wrote cards of welcome to be included in each pack and the items have been packaged and are ready to be delivered shortly.

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 or 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 next week Friday 31 March (Week 9) with the winners announced in assembly.

Thank you so much for your support, from the Sustainability Club leaders – Charlotte and Georgia.

Student Photo and Class Photos

Junior School individual and class photos are now available to order through Melba Studios via the following link: www.melbastudios.com.au

Please select the ‘Schools’ button on the home page and enter the password ‘plc’. You will then need to enter your daughter’s Student ID number (refer to email from College Services) and her year group.

Please note your daughter’s Student ID number is privacy protected so only you can see her portrait.

If you would like your order sent to Pymble Ladies’ College for collection, please ensure your order is in by the last day of Term 1 (Wednesday 5 April 2023) and select “Deliver to School” and no postage will be charged. Photos will be distributed at the College in Term 2. Alternatively, you can have the photos shipped to your home address for a small charge. Please complete one order per student.

If you have any issues with ordering, please contact Melba Studios directly on +61 2 9438 4566.

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.

Please be aware that next term the girls will need to be in their Winter uniform.

Absent, Late Arrivals/Early Departures, Vacation

A reminder if you daughter is absent from school please enter your daughter’s 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 be 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.

Around the Grounds

From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)

Upcoming Events

• Pedal Your Smoothie – 29 March

Our girls are looking forward to Pedal Your 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 two smoothie options for the girls: a dairy-free berry option and a banana option. Both smoothies are $7.50. There is also Pump flavoured water also available.

To purchase a ticket, please click here.

• Easter Cookie Decorating – 5 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.

• Save the Date – JSPG Family Fun Day & Movie Night – Saturday 20 May

Please save the date for the JSPG Family Fun Day and Movie Night! We are very excited to be holding this very successful event again this year, in a more casual format with a family picnic and movie. It will be a great chance for everyone to catch up early in Term 2 (end of the second week). More details to come shortly.

• 6S Class Dinner – 28 April

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

Friday 24 March	Year 6 Canberra Incursion
Tuesday 28 March	Year 6 Author visit
Wednesday 29 March	JSPG Pedal your own Smoothie
Friday 31 March	Year 4 Windows into Learning
Wednesday 5 April	JSPG Decorate a Biscuit Years K-2
	K-2 Windows into Learning 11.00am – 1.00pm
	K-2 Easter Hat Parade 1.15pm – 2.15pm
Wednesday 5 April	Last day Term 1 2023
Wednesday 26 April	First day Term 2 2023
	ANZAC Day Assembly
Wednesday 3 May	Years 5 and 6 Maths Olympiad
Wednesday 3 May	Years 3 and 4 Maths Explorer
	Years 5 to Riverview – to build Billycarts
Friday 5 May	Catch up Photo Day

Kate Brown

Head of Junior School