From the Middle School
Last Friday’s Green and Gold Day was enthusiastically received with girls partaking in an assortment of Olympic activities. It was wonderful to see individuals trying new things and building skills. The afternoon also fostered opportunities for the girls to mix with students across Upper and Senior School, in turn building community.
Skateboards in Middle School
When 14-year-old Arisa Trew, won gold on Tuesday night for Australia at the Paris Olympics, Middle School embraced the celebration by inviting Year 7 and 8 students to give skateboarding a go during lunchtime on Wednesday.
As part of our Gloucester Gathering program, we are excited to be able to trial this new initiative in line with the Middle School’s celebration of Olympic sports. The girls now have the opportunity to test out and enjoy our newly acquired skateboards and associated protective gear. We have roped off an appropriate area and provide extra staff supervision for the girls to build and share their skateboarding skills.
If you would prefer your daughter not partake in this activity, please notify the Middle School Office. Depending on the interest generated, we will consider making this a regular highlight during lunchtimes.
Message from the Heads of Year 7
We would like to ask our Year 7 parents to check in with their daughters about password sharing. It has come to our attention that some students are sharing their passwords with other students. It seems the girls think sharing passwords indicates trust in relationships.
This worries us deeply as it poses significant risks such as identity theft, misuse of information and cyberbullying. Please ask your daughter to change any passwords if she has shared these, even with close friends; she may need to do this at the Hub depending on the extent of the sharing.
In our Compass Curriculum, we teach about respectful relationships and encourage the girls to demonstrate trust and support by respecting each other’s privacy. We would also like you to talk with your daughters about the content they may be sharing with others. If mental health and safety related issues arise in online chat, your daughter needs to reach out to a trusted adult and not attempt to solve any problems on their own with their peers. You are welcome to contact us to chat further about this concern.
Mr Howells and Ms Ventura
Winter Shoe and Sock Drive
We are very excited to announce that on Monday 19 August in Week 5 this term, Pymble will be running a Winter Shoe and Sock Drive, which will include all types of shoes (except for open toe shoes such as high heels and thongs/sandals). We are beyond grateful for all the Pymble families who participated in our last drive.
Pymble donated an incredible total of almost 600 pairs of shoes, which is the largest single donation the NFP charity “Shoes for Planet Earth” had ever received. Your generous donations made an enormous impact to the community. The winter footwear and socks we collect will be distributed across Australia and the globe, to homeless shelters, youth and female crisis centres, indigenous community sporting groups, orphanages, churches, and disaster-affected communities.
The importance of warm footwear during the winter months cannot be overstated. Our donations will reach those who are often forgotten or overlooked. If each Pymble family contributes one pair of shoes or socks, together we can make a tangible difference in the lives of those of in need. We ask that all donated shoes and socks are in good condition – no holes, with sturdy soles, and cleaned if necessary.
Please make sure all shoes are tied together in matching pairs. Please bring your donations to our collection points, where we will have clear signage to guide you. A reminder that this will take place on Monday 19 August in Week 5. And for one individual there will be a very exciting prize of a special $50 gift voucher for Archie’s Café!
Thank you so much for your continued support.
Written by Anais Rodwell-Burnicle (Year 11)
Geography Excursion
Year 8 Geography students ventured into the Blue Mountains to collect geographic data on the impacts of tourism, the importance of interconnections and the management of landscapes. Highlights included taking the Zig Zag Railway down to the valley floor, where they explored diverse and fragile ecosystems.
At Echo Point, students sketched the iconic Three Sisters and considered the Aboriginal significance of the site, enhancing their understanding of natural landmarks. The adventure continued with a thrilling ride on the Skyway cable car, offering panoramic views across the valley. This hands-on experience allowed students to directly observe and analyse the effects of tourism, deepening their appreciation for geographical studies and the region’s environmental and social dynamics.
Alicia has shared her reflection from the day:
On Friday, Year 8 Pymble girls went on an unforgettable excursion to the Blue Mountains to explore the theme of interconnections. As we arrived, we were immediately surrounded by breathtaking views and many other tourists from all around the world. The sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling added to the excitement in the atmosphere.
We started our journey at Scenic World where we had the chance to ride on the Scenic Cableway. We could see the Jamieson Valley, Mount Solitary, and many more mountains completely covered in trees. Our group then walked through lush greenery on the boardwalk. We took breaks to take pictures and admire the exquisite flora and fauna. As we made our way to the Scenic Railway, we learned about the coal mine that was established in the 1880s and later became a tourist attraction in 1945.
The railway inclines 52°, making it the steepest train in the world! It seemed never-ending, as it just kept going up. I sat next to Ms Ventura, and we talked about how the workers from the coal mine used to go up and down there every day. After the railway finally finished, we went across the Katoomba Falls on the Scenic Skyway. The ride is 270 metres above the valley floor. We were all amazed by the height and beauty of the cascading waterfall.
Our final destination was Echo Point. As we started coming off the bus, we all gasped at the amazing view. The Three Sisters was clearly in sight, next to the valley. The vibrant colours of the landscape, with deep greens and shades of blue, created a mesmerizing backdrop as we took photos and soaked in the beauty of our surroundings.
On the bus ride back to school, we reflected on the incredible experiences and unforgettable memories created during our Blue Mountains excursion.
Written by Alicia (Year 8)
Congratulations to two Year 7 students Emma Ouyang and Meii You who were celebrated at assembly this week for their outstanding performance in the Junior Science Olympiad Exam:
Congratulations to the following Middle School students who were singled out by Dr Hadwen for their heartfelt reflections on the importance of College Values:
Care: Thazin Naidoo (Year 7)
Courage: Xingyu Chen (Year 7)
Respect: Grace Jacobs (Year 7)
Below are some examples of their reflections:
“In PE there was a girl who was uncomfortable changing in the open due to her religion. I offered her the bathroom stall, even though I was there first.”
“On the first day of school I got lost. I was late for one of my classes when an older girl came up to me and said, “Are you good?” Those words meant the world to me and helped me get through the day.”
“Putting myself out of my comfort zone is really challenging but when I did try and push myself to talk to people, I didn’t know I was finally able to make some lifelong friends.”
Congratulations also to the following girls who were awarded a Silver Medallion for their commitment and achievement across a range of sports.
Amalia Bond: Swimming
Gemma Dixon: Swimming
Eliza Lawton: Swimming
Megan Chia: Swimming
Emma NG: Swimming
Willa Pearson: Football
The Pymble Family Book Club
We are writing to announce a very exciting opportunity for Pymble families with the launch of The Pymble Family Book Club.
With this initiative, we are offering families the chance to read great stories together, share ideas, and attend events to connect with authors and fellow readers.
The first author we will be showcasing is Maryam Master. Her books Exit Through The Gift Shop and No Words have been celebrated by critics and readers alike. We are very pleased to announce she will be joining us for the first ever Pymble Family Book Club on Wednesday 28 August at 5.00pm.
We invite you to come along to spend time with your family and friends, discuss Maryam Master’s books, led by the author herself, and connect over literature. You can see Maryam talking with Pymble students earlier in the year about her books in this video.
How the Pymble Family Book Club works:
- Check out Maryam Master’s books and discuss with your carer/student if there is one (or both) you wish to read, and if you’d like to attend the Family Book Club together. You could even get a reading group together. Reach out to other carers and students in the year and organise to make it a social event!
- RSVP to attend the Family Book Club on Wednesday 28 August. Please RSVP via this form. There is no cost to attend the event.
- You are welcome to obtain a copy of Maryam’s book/s through a library or borrow from a friend. For those who wish to purchase the books, we have organised an easy way for you to source Maryam’s books through a supplier. Please see the order form attached or click on this link to order one or both of Maryam’s books. These will be available for collection at the College in the last week of Term 2.
- Both carer and student read the book/s prior to the event on Wednesday 28 August.
- Put the event in your calendar and come along on Wednesday 28 August to the Conde Library at the College to have a great time.
If you can’t make the event but still want to read some Maryam Master, you are still welcome to order the books through us and email us at library@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au for some ideas about what we will discuss on the night.
We look forward to you joining us for this special opportunity to connect over some incredible stories and ideas. If you have any questions, please reach out to library@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Kind regards and happy reading!
From the Middle School Parent Groups
Middle School Sweet Sensations Stall 2024
We are currently working behind the scenes in preparation for our “Sweet Sensations” lolly stall at the Garden Party on Saturday 21st September.
The Garden Party is the biggest and most exciting event at Pymble and we really hope to see you there on the day. Our stall is one of the most popular so we are expecting huge crowds. Please help us out by either volunteering your time or donating money to help us buy lollies. See links below for both options.
To join us on the day, please click here.
To donate money to help buy lollies, please click here.
We thank you in advance for your generous support.
Year 8 Coffee Morning
We look forward to our Term 3 coffee morning! Please come along and join us on Friday 23 August at a favourite local café, Brick Lane Expresso, in West Pymble from 8.30 am onwards.
We will confirm numbers via WhatsApp poll closer to the date.
Thank you!
Year 7 Co-ordinators
Stephanie, Leigh, Briar and Jenny
Year 8 Co-ordinator
Ms Kai Jones – 0431 725 948 and kai_look@yahoo.com
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School