From the Middle School
Despite all of the rain across the first two weeks of term, the girls have continued to step up and embrace opportunities to grow and learn. I am very pleased to be able to report that Middle School uniforms are looking impressive and that the girls are taking pride in representing the College. Can I please remind families that we very much appreciate you letting the Middle School office know the details of scheduled appointments outside of the College, and ask that you notify us prior to 9.00am if you need to collect your daughter before the end of the day. It is the student’s responsibility to sign in and out of the Middle School Office if they arrive late or leave early from school.
Congratulations to the Year 8 students who have volunteered to be a tour guide for our prospective Pymble families. This leadership opportunity is a wonderful way to represent the College and share insights into individual experiences. I have been impressed by the parent feedback I have received praising the girls. Well done and thank you Year 8.
Our Middle School Leaders held their first meeting this week. It was a great opportunity for our new Year 7 Leaders to meet with their respective Year 8 Leaders.
Year 8 parents and carers would have received an invitation to complete a survey from MMG Education. MMG Education has been commissioned to conduct a review seeking the views of Years 3, 5, 8, 10 & 12 parents. The information gathered will be used by the College to assist in its continual improvement.
To maximise the benefit of this research:
- Please make every effort to complete the questionnaire. The higher the response rate, the more useful the information. Your contribution is most important to this study.
- Please be open and frank in your responses. To encourage you in this regard, strict measures are in place to guarantee the confidentiality of your responses and ensure your anonymity. The College will not be able to identify any individual respondent.
The questionnaire is accessible until Friday 24 May 2024.
We are well into our Gloucester Gathering events across lunchtime on Tuesday and it is great to see so many girls getting involved and making new connections. Please encourage your daughter to come along.
YSafe will be delivering to our Year 7 and 8 Students on Thursday 30 May, with a Parent Information Session following that evening. Below is an outline of the age appropriate topics to be covered. This is a very timely opportunity for the girls to reflect on their digital footprint and to ensure their use of technology reflects responsible and healthy choices.
“Prepare for online safety education delivered differently. This groundbreaking session goes beyond the standard discussions most online safety educators deliver, and delves deeply into the intricate behaviours and complexities faced by teens in online environments. Utilising compelling case studies and thought-provoking scenarios, we navigate the world of online conflicts, address social exclusion, and help students understand the power of bystander behaviour. Students will gain unique insights and practical strategies to address these challenges head-on, but that’s not all—this session tackles ,the all important social and emotional considerations in the way ySafe is known and loved for!
This session targets:
1. Managing Toxic Online Behaviours & Online Conflict: By delving into real-world scenarios, we empower students with the tools to combat cyberbullying and navigate online conflicts effectively. They will learn strategies to promote empathy, build resilience, and foster positive relationships within their digital communities.
2. Sexting & the Law: We will engage in open and honest discussions about the sensitive topic of sexting. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal implications, explore the importance of consent, and learn how to protect themselves and others online and off.
3. Developing Digital Wellbeing: We will explore techniques to optimise online wellbeing, helping students strike a healthy balance between their digital lives and offline experiences.
This is a dynamic and transformative experience that challenges the norms and delivers impactful insights tailored to the unique needs of today’s digital generation.”
A reminder that on Monday night, those students- and their parents- who have been offered a place on the 2024 National Exchange Program, have been invited to attend an Information Evening from 5.00-6.00pm in the Science lecture Theatre. This will be an opportunity to better understand the details and to ask questions prior to accepting the offer.
Next week, we look forward to celebrating Boarder’s Week in Middle School. We have developed a bespoke program of events to ensure our Boarders know how much we value their contributions to our community.
Key Dates
Tuesday 14 May – Year 8 History Excursion
Monday 20 May – Sydney Writers’ Festival (select students)
Wednesday 29 May – Year 7 to 12 Athletics Carnival
Thursday 30 May – ySafe Parent Webinar
Thursday 6 June – Year 7 Zoo Excursion
Friday 28 June – Last day of Term
From the Middle School Parent Groups
Year 7
Year 7 Ladies’ Dinner and Drinks – Friday 17th May
This is being held next Friday 17 May from 7.30pm at The Greengate Hotel in The Alcove area (between the front bar and The Terrace).
Thank you to those who have indicated that can make it. We are just confirming numbers in our WhatsApp group. Please let us know if you can no longer make it so we can open this up to others.
Please note that we are having another drinks and dinner night early Term 2 (Friday 2nd August).
2. Vision Valley Mother-Daughter Day – Sunday 16th June
We are planning a day at Vision Valley which will include an action-packed itinerary (including activities such as kayaking and archery) as well as a group luncheon.
We will provide more details shortly and conduct a poll in our WhatsApp group with mothers.
3. Trivia Night – Saturday night 22nd June
This is an exciting night not to be missed! The Trivia Night is definitely one of the most exciting and fun parent events in the school calendar.
This year’s trivia night is being held at function centre “Miramare Gardens” and promises to be a beautiful night of entertainment, food, drinks, dancing and festivity.
The night’s theme is “Pop & Rock Stars” and dress up is encouraged but optional. Click here to purchase your tickets.
We are currently creating a few Year 7 tables so please reach out if you would like to join us!
Year 7 Contact Details
- Year 7 Parent Community – This group is only used communicate important messages, announcements and reminders. Only the administrators can post messages in this group. The WhatsApp group link is here.
- Year 7 Pymble 2029 – Questions – This general chat used by parents to ask questions. The WhatsApp group link is here.
Click here to access our Facebook group.
Kind regards
Stephanie, Leigh and Briar
Year 8
Senior School Mother’s Day Breakfast
We have a wonderful event coming up for Mother’s Day the morning of Monday 13th May. The College has kindly moved the time to a breakfast to accommodate those with jobs, and it would be wonderful if mothers and carers could support this move by attending. Come along and catch up with the mums from our year over a cup of your favourite beverage.
Please register for this event as soon as possible by clicking here.
PPA Trivia Night
Planning is well underway for this year’s Trivia Night and it’s going to be a fun filled evening! This year we have a new location in the gorgeous Miramar Gardens, Terrey Hills. The theme for the night is “Pop & Rock Stars”, so come dressed as your favourite pop or rock icon and join us for an unforgettable evening of trivia, prizes, and fun! Don’t worry if costumes aren’t your thing – your presence is what matters most. We encourage dressing up to add to the festive atmosphere, but it’s entirely optional.
We would love Year 8 parents to join in the fun. Create your own table of 10 or come solo and meet fellow parents from Year 8. Please get in touch if you would like to join a Year 8 table (kai_look@yahoo.com). Tickets are $90 per person or $900 for a table of 10. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
PPA Trivia Night Donations
The Trivia Night is one of the PPA’s biggest fundraisers of the year, with funds going towards:
1. The Teachers’ Luncheon on World Teachers’ Day to express our appreciation
2. The College’s professional development program for our dedicated educators
3. Equipment at the soon-to-be-established Pymble Wellbeing Space to support our students
To make it a successful evening, we rely on the kind support of our community for donations for the live and silent auctions, year group baskets, and raffles. If you have anything that you would like to donate, please get in touch. We are seeking all kinds of donations such as vouchers for experiences, activities, vouchers / products from local businesses (restaurants, gyms, PTs, food & beverage etc), holiday stays, and bottles of wine/champagne to go towards a “Wine/Champagne Lovers” basket (please contact Kenneth Kok at kenneth@kok.family – alcohol cannot be dropped off at school).
We’re also doing something a little bit different this year and collecting donations for “year group baskets”. Years 7 and 8 are collecting items to fill a luxurious basket ”for the Mums”. Examples of items ’for mum’ could be a candle, hand lotion, a voucher for a facial, etc. A basket for the collection items will be placed in the Middle School Office.
Ms Cindy Tian 0400 980 181 and cindy.tian@gmail.com
Ms Kai Jones 0431 725 948 and kai_look@yahoo.com
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School