From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
It was fabulous to welcome so many of our special elders to our Junior School on Friday to celebrate our grandparents. Having grown up with my maternal grandmother living with us, I know the positive and special impact of growing up with a grandparent in your daily life. As my own daughters have grown up with my beloved mum on the other side of the world, I also know the challenge of being so far away from loved family members so we do our best to support all our girls and create magical moments for them and all our families in any way we can throughout the year. Thank you for supporting all our Junior School events.
Kindness in action
I was very proud to be advised of several moments noticed by members of our College community last week where our Junior School girls shone with kindness and demonstrated how they live our College values in all they say and do.
Kate Johnson, Operations Manager Aquatic Centre, was on pool deck and witnessed four of our girls showing care and compassion towards a swimmer who was swimming 50m for the first time. Anne Lai, Jianing Li, Afra Sarchami and Cara McCarthy all stood along the side of the pool to encourage this nervous swimmer and Jianing shared her experience of when she first swam in the big pool, and how nervous she was which really helped the girl.
Mrs Fiona Crawford, Company Secretary wrote to me this week to advise as follows:
Just wanted to let you know that during last week, I was heading up the stairs from OSHC and slightly caught my foot. One of the young Junior School girls that was passing me with her friends at the time said, ‘Oh…. Are you OK?’ in such a compassionate and caring way.
How lovely she took that moment to check-in with me. I appreciated her kindness and wanted to let you know.
In our busy world, it’s important we pause to notice these little moments and celebrate the power of kindness. Our Junior School girls excel in leading the way and they are determined to change the world through kindness.
A message from Lara Bird – Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics
Congratulations to Kimberly Zhao (Year 4) and Aarthi Rao (Year 4) who have been recognised in The Young Australian Arts and Writer’s Award through the OzKids in Print Competition. Both their entries won an award and the girls, together with their parents will be attending the awards ceremony in Melbourne at the end of November.
We are very Pymble proud of the following students who have been recognised in the Pens against Poverty Competition. The girls will be attending the award ceremony at Government House, Canberra hosted by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor General of Australia.
Years 3 and 4 Stories
Winner: Sarah Kitzing for her story The mirror that divided us
Years 3 and 4 Poetry
Winner: Rayna Zhou for her poem A place for everyone
Years 5 and 6 Poetry
Highly Commended: Leia Ripley for her poem Wishing
The Junior School was awarded The John Foulcher Award as part of this year’s Pens against Poverty Competition. This award was conferred for high quality writing reflected across all student entries. Congratulations girls!
We have also received outstanding results in ICAS across Years 3 to 6. This is a voluntary academic assessment with approximately 30 girls in each year participating in assessments in Maths, English, Spelling, Science and Writing. Mrs Christine Kenny, Deputy Principal – Academic (K-12) and Mrs Kate Brown, Head of Junior School presented the girls their certificates. Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Distinction and/or High Distinction and congratulations to all girls who had a go participating in ICAS, we are Pymble proud of you!
Congratulations to the following students who have been awarded Distinction or High Distinction in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) across Years 3 to 6. This is also a voluntary academic assessment with approximately 20 girls in each year participating. Mrs Christine Kenny, Deputy Principal – Academic (K-12) and Mrs Kate Brown, Head of Junior School presented the girls their certificates. Congratulations to Amelié Berg (Year 5) who was recognised as Best in School for AMC. Well done and congratulations to all girls who had a go participating in AMC, we are Pymble proud of you!
A message from Mr Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
OSHC Registrations
It is with thanks to parents and carers that we have now surpassed 92 per cent of students (Kindergarten to Year 5) being registered with OSHC. This important step not only provides a backup plan for when pickup may not go as planned but will allow students to be eligible to select co-curricular activities for 2025 (including tennis, co-curricular music and swimming).
Separate instructions will be shared via MyPymble notices that demonstrate where to find your OSHC registration number within Kidsoft, as this number will be a mandatory field when registering for 2025 co-curricular activities on 20 November 2024.
End of Term Afternoon Supervision
A reminder to parents that from Week 5, some co-curricular activities will be finishing prior to the end of term. If this impacts your daughter, please ensure you have arranged alternative supervision.
Parents who have recently registered their children for OSHC but have yet to try this service may be eligible for the complimentary ‘Welcome Afternoon’.
Wellbeing Weekly – A message from Mrs Kate Giles – Head of Wellbeing K-6
As a part of our Compass Program, the girls take part in Unstructured Play sessions. These sessions build the girls’ problem solving, collaboration and creativity skills by allowing them the freedom to explore, create and discover using a variety of materials such as cardboard boxes, ropes, sheets, plastic tubs, tyres and other loose parts.
The Year 3 and 4 girls have asked me to share the following request with you:
Dear Parents
Unstructured Play is our favourite part of Compass as we get to play together outside. We love making things using the different things.
You may see a rope, but we see a swing. What I would really like to see is a zipline or flying fox! – Freya (Year 4)
You may see just things you don’t need any more, but we see opportunities to make things like this sled to help clean the playground. – Emma (Year 4)
We would really like some big tyres, pipes and plastic tubs to make things we can race each other with in the valley. – Harley (Year 3)
We really need your help. We would like some more things to make Unstructured Play even more fun and we want to be kind to the environment so if you have any of these things you do not need anymore, please tell Mrs Giles.
Some things we thought of were:
- Tyres
- Ropes
- Large cardboard boxes (for example boxes that would fit whitegoods such as fridges)
- Large plastic tubs/drums
- Pipes (plastic, PVC or cardboard)
- Hammocks (or sheets that can be used to make hammocks)
- Plastic crates
- Cones
- Barrels
Thank you for your help!
From the Year 3 and 4 Unstructured Play fans- Freya, Caia, Emma, Davina, Kimberly, Victoria, Kaylie, Maisie, Olivia J, Tabitha, Harley, Isabel C, Chloe Y, Anna H and Isla.
Please let me know if you have any of these items that you may be able to provide. Please understand that we may not be able to accept all items due to space.
A message from Mr Kurt Schweinberger – Head of Creative and Performing Arts K-6
Year 3 Big Band Blow
On Wednesday, our Year 3 students attended the Band Blow demonstration morning. Featuring the talents of our Year 4 Training Band, from trombone to percussion, French horn to oboe, our Year 3 students had the opportunity to try out all the instruments that make up the concert band. The excitement was contagious as students explored the sounds and techniques of each instrument, guided by our talented music staff.
Adding to the excitement, the Year 4 Training Band performed a series of special pieces, giving our Year 3 students a glimpse of what they could achieve with practice and dedication.
For those Year 3 students interested in joining the 2025 Year 4 Training Band, please refer to the information on the Parent Portal. For any questions or enquiries, please contact our music department at musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Junior School Digital News
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
Year 6 Parents Cocktail Party
You are warmly invited to attend the Year 6 Parent Cocktail Party on Friday 29 November from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Marden Lawn. This is a parent-only event (no siblings) held during the Year 6 Silent Disco. While the girls enjoy their final Junior School function, parents will have the opportunity to celebrate their journey through the Junior School and look forward to the new adventures to come in Year 7 in 2025.
The cost of the event is $28.00 per person, which includes beer, Prosecco and Aperol spritz as well as soft drinks and water. Guests are invited to bring a plate to share. If you would like to bring a plate, please sign up here to indicate what you will be bringing.
Please click here to purchase a ticket by Thursday 21 November. We look forward to seeing you there!
Year 1 Families Christmas Party
Date: Sunday 24 November
Time: 1.00pm
Location: Bicentennial Park, West Pymble.
Thank you as always for your support.
Please contact us with any questions at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com
Key Dates – Week 4 and
Friday 8 November – Dance Showcase Rehearsals
Saturday 9 November – ISPHA Saturday Sport
Tuesday 12 November – K-12 Jacaranda Day Assembly – all girls in summer uniform please (not PE uniform)
Wednesday 13 November – Dance Showcase 1 (Years 3-6 4.00pm)
Wednesday 13 November – Dance Showcase 2 (Years 3-6 7.00pm)
Friday 15 November – Dance Showcase 5 (Performance Stream 6.30pm)
Saturday 16 November – IPSHA Saturday Sport
Saturday 16 November – Dance Showcase 6 (Kindergarten to Year 2 3.00pm)
Saturday 16 November – Dance Showcase 7 (Performance Stream and awards 6.30pm)
Speech Day and Celebration of Learning Dates
Tuesday 3 December – Years 3-6 Speech Day (9.00am to 11.00am)
Tuesday 3 December – Kindergarten Nativity and Celebration of Learning (11.30am to 1.00pm)
Tuesday 3 December – Years 1 and 2 Celebration of Learning (2.00pm to 3.00pm)
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School