From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
The Autumn Family Festival will be one of the highlights of my year. It was an exceptional evening of entertainment and entrepreneurship and all the girls involved should be extremely proud of themselves. The effort and commitment they each showed to their performance and their market stalls showed their strength of character, care, responsibility and respect.
Together we raised just over $10,000 which will have a significant impact on local families who are struggling with the cost of groceries and often going hungry. I am very proud of the way our girls go above and beyond expectations when given a challenge. They are remarkable in their determination to be kind, caring citizens and do whatever they can to bring comfort and hope to others who are doing it tough.
Many of our girls and parents then backed up their service at the markets by running/walking in the Lindfield Fun Run on Sunday. Thank you all for your community spirit.
Mrs Bird recently introduced me to a picture book I hadn’t read before, Wilder Child by Nicolette Sowder, which contains a poem which aligns closely with our vision for our girls:
May we raise children
Who love the unloved things –
The dandelion, the worms, the spiderlings.
Children who sense that the rose needs the thorn,
And run into rainswept days
The same way they turn towards the sun…
And when they’re grown
And someone has to speak for those
Who have no voice
May they draw upon that wilder bond,
Those days of tending tender things
And be the ones.
Our Junior School girls continue to impress with their capacity to notice the little things and their commitment to being a voice for those who need to be heard. There is lots of hope for a brighter future for all to share given our Junior School girls will one day be leading change just by being who they are.
Congratulations to our debating teams
Our debating teams have worked together exceptionally well throughout their 2025 season and achieved great results in their many debates. Congratulations to all these girls who have represented our Junior School in our Primary A and Primary B teams this year:
Primary A team
Aurora Lin
Angelina Kim
Sarah Lu
Alicia Miao
Naomi Shi
Primary B team
Hayley Du
Yuanya Miao
Ellie He
Vivian Li
Josephine Tamas
Good luck to our Primary B team who are progressing to the first finals rounds with a debate against Redlands on Friday 16 May.
I wish all our mums, grandmothers and special women in our lives a very happy Mother’s Day on Sunday. Whilst for many people this is a happy family day it can also be a sad or challenging day for those not able to be with their mother or daughter, I am thinking of all of you and sending love and strength.
A message from Mrs Kate Giles, Head of Wellbeing K-6
The 2025 World Happiness Report has shown that social connections are vital for the wellbeing of children and young people and research also shows that healthy friendships are a strong protective factor for mental health, particularly for girls. In our Junior School Compass lessons, the girls are explicitly taught the qualities of a healthy friendship and how to make and be a friend using the URSTRONG program. An important aspect of this are the four friendship facts:
- No friendship or relationship is perfect.
- Every friendship is different.
- Trust and respect are the two most important qualities of a friendship.
- Friendships change, and that’s ok.
Through the exploration of these four friendship facts, the girls develop resilience in their friendships and are empowered to manage the natural ups and downs of relationships now and into the future. The girls learn that disagreements (friendship fires), misunderstandings and hurt feelings can be a normal part of friendship and how to manage and move on from these.
With the College focus on our value of Respect this year, there is a particular focus on respect within friendships. We are working with the girls to understand that respect is what makes friendships feel safe and supportive, and is shown by:
- listening when others speak;
- accepting and embracing differences;
- setting healthy boundaries and understanding the boundaries of others; and
- treating others with kindness, even when you disagree.
At home, you can support your daughter with this by:
- encouraging her to consider others’ feelings;
- helping her practise polite, inclusive and thoughtful behaviour; and
- modelling respectful interactions in everyday life.
The first Wellbeing Session of the Parent Academic and Wellbeing Series will be held on Thursday 15 May at 8.30am in the Junior School 3-6 Library. This session will be focused on how parents can support their daughters in Years 5 and 6 with her emotions and friendships. I will be joined in this session by Mrs Heidi Lynch, Year 6 Co-ordinator and Ms Lyn Wynne, Year 5 Co-ordinator. If you would like to attend this session, please sign up here.
A message from Mr Stephen Robinson (Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations)
Mother’s Day Event
Our whole-school Mother’s Day event is taking place on Friday 9 May, with a breakfast for mothers/special people taking place in the Junior School from 7.00am. At 8.15am, students will head to their classrooms, and guests of Junior School students are invited to move to the John Reid Hall for a special performance featuring all grades. It is anticipated the event will conclude at 9.00am.
Please be aware of increased traffic and congestion on this day. It is highly recommended to carpool, use public transport or walk. Car line locations will operate as normal and must remain clear of parked vehicles.
Leave From School
If you are planning to have your daughter take leave during the school term for two days or more, you must complete the Exemption from Attendance Application form in advance of the absence.
Please do not enter ‘holiday’ into the free-form response on the MyPymble App.
Uniform and Appearance
Thank you for showing respect to the College uniform policy with your daughter arriving to school in her full winter uniform for this term and Term 3. 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 all your daughter’s uniform clothing items are named including socks and shoes. We recommend white markers to be used to label dark clothing items.
Junior School Canteen Helpers
The Junior School Canteen will continue for Term 2 on Wednesday and Friday. Junior School allows students to purchase (through Flexischools) cold drinks and frozen desserts. Once your order is placed your daughter will have a brown paper bag, where she will go to the Junior School Canteen (lunch tub room) to collect her cold treat.
Please click here if you can volunteer your time. For the care and safety of your daughters, all volunteers must have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC). If we do not already have your WWCC on file, please email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au your WWCC number and date of birth so your WWCC can be verified.
Term 2 After-School Arrangements
Girls in Years 3 to 6 are responsible for remembering where they need to go after school each day. Please update your daughter’s diary with her Term 2 after-school arrangements to assist her to remember where to go each afternoon.
For girls in Kindergarten to Year 2, please email any changes for Term 2 to the Junior School office at juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and advise if this is a permanent or casual change to your daughter’s arrangements. Please note that it is important that any changes to travel arrangements are received prior to 2.00pm.
Girls with older sisters – Girls wait at the Junior School Library until their sister collects them by 3.30pm or at OSHC if they have a sister in the Senior School (bookings need to be made with OSHC for supervision purposes only, no charges will occur).
Visit to Uniting Bowden Brae Gardens
Junior School Digital News
Important Dates
Tomorrow – Mother’s Day Event, 7.00am to 9.00am
Tomorrow – Year 6 author visit (Periods 3 and 4)
Tomorrow – Junior School House Event (Periods 5 and 6) Students to wear house shirts
Wednesday 21 May – JSPG Term 2 Meeting
Thursday 5 June – Year 3 to 6 Athletics Carnival
Wednesday 11 June – Kindergarten to Year 2 Athletics Carnival
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
6L Play Date – Save the Date
📅 Date: Sunday 11 May
⏰ Time: 2.00pm to 5.00pm
📍 Location: Treetops Adventure, the Hills – 95 Castlehill Road, West Pennant Hills 2125
💰 Cost: $51 per child & $60 per adult
📌 RSVP by: Friday, 25 April 2025, Wendy 0403691999
Join us for a thrilling outdoor adventure as we navigate tree-top courses, zip lines, and rope challenge. This is a fantastic opportunity for our girls to build confidence, teamwork, and unforgettable memories!
Year 4 Parents Sip and Supper – Save the Date
📅 Date: Saturday, 17 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.
Year 5 Family Picnic
📅 Date: Sunday 18 May
⏰ Time: 11.00am to 2.00pm
📍 Location: Bobbin Head National Park
📌 RSVP: Fatima or Liz
Join us for lunch by the creek. BYO picnic, drinks and chairs.
This event is subject to weather conditions.
Please contact us with any questions at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School