From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Congratulations to all our girls who performed in the 2024 Dance Showcase. It was a spectacular series of performances which brought together our dancers, singers and musicians.
Thank you all for the support you give to your daughters with their co-curricular activities and for the calm and efficient way you follow College process and procedures around showcases to ensure they run smoothly and with the joy our girls deserve. Your presence and your endless support behind the scenes empowers your daughters to create special memories and pride in their performance.
Windows into Learning
This week our Year 4 and 5 girls shared their learning with their families. It was wonderful to see so many of you here to support your daughter’s learning as we know it’s a very busy time of year.
Kindness Shoutout
On Monday, Ella Birch and Kitty Mae Ruiz del Portal Greene led their old-fashioned lemonade stall to raise funds for young people who find themselves homeless in the Sydney area. Incredibly, they raised $317.60 for Taldumande Youth Services! We are so proud of these two young girls who had an idea, made a plan, advocated for others to support the plan, worked hard with their families to make their product and then led their stall. This is a wonderful example of how our children can change the world for others with simple acts of kindness.
A message from Lara Bird – Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics
On Monday, 18 November, Sarah Kitzing and Leia Ripley attended the Pens against Poverty award ceremony at Government House, Canberra, hosted by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor General of Australia. Thank you to Ms Anna To for representing the Junior School and accepting the John Foulcher School Award presented to the Junior School for high quality writing reflected in all student entries. Congratulations to the girls and Rayna Zhou, also a winning recipient, on their fabulous achievement.
Encouraging students to pursue their interests and passions, whether in sport, music, drama, dance, robotics, writing or Mathematics, fosters creativity and confidence and a love for learning. In the Junior School, our girls are strongly encouraged and empowered to voice their ideas and lead initiatives. Violet Li, Isabella Hu and Camilla Yan took on the initiative to create a Maths Club that meets on Friday lunchtime with Mrs Tracy Reid, Year 3 Co-ordinator, where the girls learn together and build their passion for Mathematics. Such initiatives build a community in the Junior School where students can thrive, be challenged and share their passions.
Year 3 Maths Club by Violet Li, Isabella Hu and Camilla Yan (Year 3)
Earlier in the year, a few girls in 3R created Maths Club, which is a fun and enjoyable initiative that holds many opportunities for Year 3 students to challenge themselves and think out of the box. Each week there was a different topic where participants not only learnt different methods to solve questions but explored how Maths is not all about calculations but also involves critical thinking and understanding the question. As well as that, girls were able to “dig” deeper, as 3R girls say, and learn that there are no boundaries in the mathematical world and any problem can be solved!
A message from Mr Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
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’.
End-of-Term events
Invitations for our Celebration of Learning (K/1/2) and Speech Day (3-6) have this week been sent to families. Please complete this survey regarding departure times and attendance in the final days.
Wellbeing Weekly – A message from Mrs Kate Giles – Head of Wellbeing K-6
Unstructured Play
Thank you to those families who have already offered some items for our Unstructured play sessions. We would still love donations of any of the following items:
- 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
Please let me know if you have any of these items that you may be able to provide.
204 for 2024 Service Initiative – A message from Kindness Club
This term Kindness Club are leading a final Kindness Challenge for the year – 204 for 2024!
We are asking all girls in Kindergarten to Year 6 to bring in either a new picture/board book for Westmead Children’s Hospital OR a Christmas gift or food item for the Rev Bill Crews Foundation to Hedgehog House by the end of Week 7 and it will be then delivered in time for Christmas.
Please help us with the 204 for 2024 challenge this year and let’s support these two great initiatives. Should you have any questions, please email kgiles@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.
Year 5 Christmas Drinks
Thank you as always for your support.
Please contact us with any questions at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com
Key Dates – Week 6, 7 and 8
Friday 22 November – Best of PJ Factor Years 3 to 6, 10.45am to 12.45pm
Thursday 28 November – Year 6 Chapel, Showcase & Morning Tea
Thursday 28 November – Year 4 Band Graduation, 3.20pm to 4.00pm
Friday 29 November – RAD Ballet Exams
Friday 29 November – Year 6 Disco and parent cocktail party
Friday 29 November – New class picnics, 1.30pm to 2.30pm
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