From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Tomorrow, we celebrate Harmony Day with touches of orange ribbons (and full school uniform please). This is an important day for us all as we have such an amazing array of cultures within our Pymble community and it’s wonderful to have the chance to pause and reflect on the richness of diversity this brings to our girls and their learning.
This year’s Australian Harmony Day theme is We all have a role to play and I feel very grateful and proud of our community where we show such respect to one another’s culture, beliefs and traditions and model this respect and understanding to our girls. Through the inclusive culture we are fostering, the girls will grow up with a strong sense of their unique identity and their identity as a global citizen.
As our world faces ongoing turmoil in many countries, it’s critical our girls grow up with the understanding of the power of an open mind, the power of respecting diversity and the power of inclusion. Over the summer, I read the book Respect Trumps Harmony by Rachael Robertson, an author and Antarctic expedition leader who states that ‘diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance’.
I still remember occasions where I was invited to parties and then felt out of place and uncomfortable as I realised I wasn’t really ‘in’ the key group. We discussed that quote with our Year 6 leaders in their leadership training session earlier this term and the girls shared their thinking and feelings with mature honesty and understood the power in collaborating with people with diversity of perspectives to lead to more innovative ideas and decisions.
Thank you to all our teachers and our librarians who read such an array of texts to our girls to broaden their perspective and understanding of culture. Some of these amazing picture books include:
- All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold & Suzanne Kaufman
- Welcome to our World by Moira Butterfield & Harriet Lynas
- Welcome to our table by Laura Mucha & Ed Smith
- My culture and Me by Gregg Dreise
- I am Lupe by Sela Ahosivi-Atiola & Yani Agustina
- The Proudest Blue – A story of Hijab & Family by Hatem Aly & Ibtihaj Muhammad
- I’m Australian Too by Mem Fox
- Whoever you are by Mem Fox
- I am We – A story of Community by Susan Verde & Peter Reynolds
This week we asked some of the girls to share what they are proud of about their culture and here are some of their thoughts:
I am proud to celebrate Diwali because it is colourful, happy and you get to wear special dresses. It represents my culture. – Dinulya (Year 4)
I am proud that in my culture we fast to think about people who are not as fortunate and lucky as we are. – Nadya (Year 5)
I really love celebrating Chinese New Year because it scares away our fears and celebrates who we are. – Connie (Year 4)
I am proud to celebrate Christmas and Easter in my culture and I also love new experiences celebrating other cultures like Chinese New Year. – Olivia (Year 2)
I am really proud of my culture because Chinese people have survived through a lot of things. – Nichola (Year 4)
I am proud of my culture as we celebrate Holi which is a celebration about forgiving which is really special. – Riyana (Year 2)
I am grateful for my culture as an Australian that we can express ourselves and who we are freely. – Davina (Year 5)
I am proud of my Irish culture and particularly Irish dancing which is so beautiful and fun. – Gloria (Year 5)
As many of you already know Heidi the Hedgehog, our Junior School kindness ambassador, represents, amongst other things, my culture. As a hedgehog, she is native to the UK and therefore my ‘little piece of home’. By being a hedgehog, she helps our girls to understand that each of us come to Pymble with our family heritage, traditions and beliefs and then we share those to create the rich tapestry of culture within our school and College.
A message from Mrs Kate Giles – Head of Wellbeing K-6
There is considerable research that emphasises the benefits of explicitly teaching children social and emotional skills to equip them with the ability to manage emotions, build relationships, set goals, and make responsible decisions. (Dix et al,. 2020). This research further indicates that the development of these skills not only enhances academic performance but also impacts long term health and wellbeing (Cipriano et al,. 2023).
As a part of our Compass program in the Junior School, the girls are explicitly taught skills and strategies to support them to manage and regulate their emotions. Earlier this term, a parent session of the Academic and Wellbeing Series was held that was focused on supporting your daughter with her emotions. Some key messages from that session included:
- Everyone feels a variety of emotions on any given day. Some of these are easier to have than others, but all emotions may need to be managed at times
- It is important for children to develop an understanding of how their emotions impact their actions and learn strategies to help themselves manage their emotions
- You can support your daughter with her emotions by:
- Checking your own emotions and remaining calm
- Providing time and space for her to safely share her emotions and express how she feels
- Listening and empathising with her without judgment
- Empowering her to find solutions and strategies to manage her emotions and the situations that caused them
- Seeking support from school or other professionals if necessary to assist her with her emotions
As your daughter become tired towards the end of term, she may find it more challenging to manage her emotions. It is important to acknowledge this and to assist her by ensuring she gets adequate sleep and down time so she has the energy to approach any emotional ups and downs.
The next session of the Parent Academic and Wellbeing Series will be held on Thursday 27 March at 8.30am in the Junior School Library. This session will be focused on supporting your daughter with her friendships.
A message from Mrs Victoria Aikman – Kindergarten Coordinator
Kindergarten visit Calmsley Hill City Farm
Our Kindergarten girls had a fantastic time on their first excursion to Calmsley Hill City Farm, where they experienced a unique and interactive farm adventure. The girls had the opportunity to get up close to a variety of native and farmyard animals. They met animals like koalas, kangaroos and wombats, and even participated in activities such as milking cows and whip cracking. It was wonderful to see the girls so engaged, trying new experiences, and fully participating with excitement and joy. The day was filled with laughter, learning and unforgettable experiences. What a fantastic adventure it was!
Quotes from the Kindergarten girls include:
I loved patting the soft rabbit. – Scarlett Liu
I liked seeing the ten little piglets running around. – Larisa Ji
I really enjoyed milking the cow. – Lena Ma
I liked patting Dixie the cow because she was so soft. – Zoe Wang
A message from Mr Stephen Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
Morning Drop-Off
A reminder that students being dropped off at the K-2 carline in the morning should be done so between 7.45am and 8.15am each day. Only students who have a before school activity can arrive before this time.
Harmony Day
The Junior School looks forward to celebrating Harmony Day tomorrow Friday 21 March. On this day we will be selling orange ribbons for students to wear in their hair. Ribbons will be provided for a gold coin donation with money going to charity.
Please note that regular school uniform is to be worn on the day (it is not a mufti day).
Ride Safely to School Day
The Junior School will again participate in Ride Safely to School Day on Friday 28 March 2025. Students can ride their bike or scooter to school from their home to school or they can meet our Junior School teachers at Pymble Station (Grandview Street side) from 7.40am. Mrs Brown and staff will then be riding and walking to the Junior School with staff and students.
To ensure safety:
- All riders must be wearing a well-fitted helmet.
- A College mini-bus will be parked at Grandview Street to transport student bags to school.
- All students must wear a helmet when riding.
- Additional staff will be located along the route.
- A lane of the internal road leading to the K-2 drop-off zone will be closed to facilitate riders entering the Junior School.
Students will also be able to ride their bike or scooter at lunch on Friday 28 March, with the internal road closed to traffic.
If your daughter in planning to ride to school, please register her using this link.
Student ID Cards
This week we will provide student ID Cards to the following students:
- All students in Year 3 and Year 5
- New students in Year 4 and Year 6
These cards can be used for:
- Year 3 and Year 4 to sign in late at Hedgehog House and tapping on/off the Pymble bus.
- Year 5 and Year 6 to sign in late at Hedgehog House, tapping on/off the Pymble bus and make purchases at Archie’s Café. (Money needs to be pre-loaded onto the card, once it is linked to your Flexi-Schools account).
Students are advised to store cards carefully. Cards are systematically issued in Years 3/5/7/11. Replacement cards within this time frame incur a $15.00 fee. A safe way of storing the card is within a ‘Bag Tag’ that can be detached when visiting Archies. These are available for $6.00 from the Uniform Shop.
Scholastic Book Club
Please ensure your order is placed before next Monday 24 March. Junior School earns ‘Scholastic Dollars’ (reward money) for any orders placed, which means that we can support a school/organisation in need and resources for our own Junior School library.
Junior School Digital News
Term 1 Key Dates (Week 9)
Friday 21 March – Harmony Day
Tuesday 25 March – Year 3 Author Visit (Period 2)
Tuesday 25 March – Pedal Your Smoothie (Years 3, 4 and 5)
Wednesday 26 March – Pedal Your Smoothie (Years 2 and 6)
Thursday 27 March – Year 5 Author Visit
Thursday 27 March – Wellbeing Series K-6 (8.30am to 9.30am)
Friday 28 March – Ride Safely to School Day
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
Year 2 EPIC Playdate!
📅 Date: Sunday 16 March
⏰ Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm
📍 Location: Wahroonga Park (Coonanbarra Rd, Wahroonga)
All Year 2 families are invited to a fun and casual playdate where kids can play, and parents can connect.
🧺 Bring: A picnic rug and some snacks to share.
A great opportunity to meet and enjoy the afternoon together!
Year 3 Mums’ Night Out!
📅 Date: Friday 21 March
⏰ Time: 6.30pm
📍 Location: Jacaranda Restaurant & Bar, 480 Pacific Hwy, Killara NSW 2071
📢 RSVP via QR code by midday Friday 14 March
Cheers to an amazing group of mums! 🍸
Save the Date: Kindy Easter Egg Hunt
Hop on over for some Easter fun!
📅 Sunday 23 March
📍 Bicentennial Park, West Pymble
Please see the flyer for details and RSVP to your Year Co-ordinators.
Pedal Your Own Smoothie – Day 1
📅 Date: Tuesday 25 March
⏰ Time: 12.30pm to 1.30pm
📍 Location: John Reid Hall
📝 Details:
• Hosted by the JSPG
• Years 3 to 5 will participate in making pedal-powered smoothies to promote healthy living and sustainability.
🔗 [Register Here] | [Parent Helper Sign-Up]
Pedal Your Own Smoothie – Day 2
📅 Date: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
⏰ Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
📍 Location: John Reid Hall
📝 Details:
• Hosted by the JSPG
• Years 2 and 6 will participate in making pedal-powered smoothies to promote healthy living and sustainability.
• 💚 Funds raised will support the Formula Goblin racing team in preparation for upcoming competitions.
🔗 [Register Here] | [Parent Helper Sign-Up]
🥤 Smoothie Options:
1. Dairy-free berry smoothie (apple juice, banana, strawberries, ice)
2. Banana smoothie (milk, banana, honey, ice)💰 Cost: $8.00
📌 Register by: Sunday 23 March
📩 Contact:
• Selina Kadeer – selina_kadeer@hotmail.com
• Archana Singh – archana@eca.edu.au
Year 3 Easter Playdate – Save the Date!
Come join us for a fun Easter playdate!
📅 Date: Sunday, 30 March
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Bicentennial Park, Prince of Wales Drive, West Pymble
It’ll be a great chance for the Year 3 girls to play, and siblings are more than welcome to join! Feel free to bring your own food and enjoy a relaxed morning together.
Plus, there’s a little Easter surprise for everyone on the day—just keep it a secret from the kids!
Hope to see you there!
Easter Cookie Decorating (Kindergarten to Year 2)
📅 Date: Friday 11 April
📍 Location: In-class activity (Kindy to Year 2)
📝 Details:
• Easter Cookie Decorating activity for students.
• Each student will receive two nut-free cookies with icing, sprinkles, and a small selection of lollies to decorate in class.
• Gluten-free and vegan options available on request.
• If a student cannot participate, they may bring a treat from home.
💰 Cost: $10
📌 RSVP by: Friday, 4 April 2025
📩 Enquiries: Dee Mathur – deeviya.mathur@gmail.com
🔗 [Click Here to Register] | [Parent Helper Signup]
Easter Cookie Decorating (Year 3 to 6)
📅 Date: Friday, 11 April 2025 (Final day of Term 1)
📍 Collection Location: Hedgehog House
📝 Details:
• A Take-Away Easter Cookie Decorating activity for Years 3 to 6.
• Each student receives two nut-free cookies with icing and sprinkles for decoration at home.
• Gluten-free and vegan options available on request.
💰 Cost: $10
📌 Register by: Thursday, 3 April 2025
📩 Enquiries: Dee Mathur – deeviya.mathur@gmail.com
Year 4 Parents Sip and Supper – Save the Date
📅 Date: Saturday, 17th May 2025
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Greengate Hotel, Cnr Pacific Hwy & Greengate Rd, Killara
Please join us for a relaxed evening to connect and make new friends. Please reach out to your class parents for any questions.
Autumn Family Festival
At this week’s assembly, students were reminded of the opportunity host a market stall at the start of Term 2. This event, which was originally planned for Term 1, will now provide students with more time to prepare.
The stall theme is linked to a world culture that the student identifies with or is interested in. Students can participate individually or in small groups (up to 5).
To participate, students need parent permission, as the cost to produce items will be at their own expense. All proceeds from the sales (items priced at $1 or $2) will be donated to the Junior School charity, The Dish.
If your child is interested, please complete the permission form. Registrations close this Friday.
This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their cultural identity and entrepreneurial skills.
Please contact us with any questions at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School