From the Principal
What a pleasure it was to see students in full flow as they took to the stage during lunchtime for PAC Week. An annual tradition run by our Performing Arts Prefects, PAC Week offers an open stage and an appreciative audience for any student in Years 7 to 12 who wishes to sing, dance, recite poetry or perform in any manner they so choose, with all proceeds of the gold coin entry fee going towards the Australian Children’s Music Foundation.
Congratulations to our courageous students who performed, whether they took to the stage with breathtaking confidence or knee-shaking vulnerability. And thank you to the girls who come along to support them all. There is something incredibly rare and special about the way our girls in the audience cheer on every student who has a go at PAC Week – from the flawless performers to those who are testing the waters or still finding their feet in their craft. Our Performing Arts Prefects, Lily Hearne and Grace Perrignon, have done a wonderful job in planning and managing this inclusive and popular event. PAC is one of those Pymble traditions that truly makes all our hearts sing, pardon the pun! #PymbleProud.
Celebrating our academic rigour
Back in the classrooms, this week was cause for quiet celebration following the release of preliminary NAPLAN results for Reading, Numeracy, Grammar, and Punctuation and Spelling for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. While the Writing test is manually marked and the results not yet available, we are delighted with the performance of Pymble students across all four year-groups and acknowledge the following achievements:
- 95% or more of students in Years 3 and 5 are categorised as ‘strong’ or ‘exceeding’ in each of the four tests released.
- 90% or more of students in Years 7 and 9 are categorised as ‘strong’ or ‘exceeding’ in each of the four tests released.
We look forward to the release of more data over the coming months and acknowledge the excellent work of our wonderful students and teachers. This work includes the development of our Learning Philosophy Statement to share with our community. It is my pleasure to handover to the leader of this important work, our Deputy Principal – Academic, Mrs Christine Kenny, to tell you more.
Introducing Pymble’s Learning Philosophy Statement
If you have read a newspaper lately or watched the news, you’ll be aware of the debate around teaching methods. Is explicit teaching best or should we be focused more on inquiry? While these and similar questions have dominated media debate, the reality is that teachers in the classroom employ a range of research-based, high-impact teaching strategies to help students learn. Depending on the goals for the lesson, teachers may use worked examples to demonstrate concepts; they may ask open-ended questions, give feedback, provide multiple explanations, or encourage reflection.
This year, Pymble teachers across the whole College have been collaborating to identify the many strategies that they use to facilitate student learning. Their insights, together with our Strategic Vision, have been distilled into a one-page document that captures essential beliefs about the nature of teaching and learning at Pymble. We have called this document our Learning Philosophy Statement and it forms the first step in the development of our teaching and learning framework.
An important consideration in composing the statement has been the skills our students will need in the future. For some time, researchers have identified critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication as important skills for every graduate. Our reading suggests that students need to be equipped with skills and knowledge that will assist them in making sound judgements. They need certain character traits that are connected to our values; care, courage, integrity, respect and responsibility, and they need to retain curious minds that can think independently. Additionally, students need a deep understanding of concepts so that they can transfer their learning to new situations.
We look forward to sharing with you more of our thinking throughout the year as we journey towards Pymble’s teaching and learning framework.
Mrs Christine Kenny
Deputy Principal – Academics
Windows into Learning
Continuing with this week’s theme of academic excellence, the teaching staff and I are #PymbleProud to resume our Windows into Learning stories in Term 2 to give you a sneak peek into magic moments of teaching and learning at Pymble.
Amber (Year 10) takes on the world in Mathematics!
The European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) is the premier European mathematics competition, designed exclusively for female high school students who enjoy mathematics beyond the regular school curriculum. Started by the United Kingdom in April 2012, EGMO has grown since then and now includes over fifty countries, welcoming participants from beyond Europe.
EGMO aims to inspire girls to take part in national and international mathematics competitions, providing more opportunities for mathematical development. It serves as a platform to amplify the presence of young female mathematicians on the global stage with the possibility to find associates and make remarkable connections while fostering cultural exchange among teenagers worldwide. It encourages young females to become scientists and boosts the number of girls in International Mathematics O teams.
From April 11 to 17 of this year, Amber Li in Year 10 was chosen as one of a team of four girls to travel to Tskaltubo in Georgia to represent Australia in this prestigious competition. Over the course of the Olympiad, the girls completed six questions, each worth a total of 7 marks. Amber and her team members all scored 33 marks or over in total, resulting in them all being awarded gold medals. Individually, Amber scored full marks on all but one of the questions, placing sixth overall and second in Australia.
This is a significant achievement, and our heartfelt congratulations go to Amber and her teammates.
Mrs Catrina Kerr
Head of Learning Area – Mathematics
Memories come alive in Performing Arts for Year 5
In the heart of our Junior School Performing Arts classroom, amidst the flutter of creativity and the buzz of anticipation, a magical production unfolds. As the theme of this year’s Year 5 showcase suggests, ‘What do you call your grandma?’ sets the stage for a celebration of heritage and tradition, where every voice and every step reflect the rich cultural tapestry of our community.
Year 5 eagerly divide themselves into groups, each one dedicated to bringing their unique vision to life, and all students working tirelessly to support and encourage one another every step of the way. Amidst the inevitable hiccups and setbacks, there’s a spirit of resilience that carries us through, reminding us that it’s okay to stumble and to laugh.
Like running a marathon, each phase of this production is marked by trials and triumphs. Initial excitement gives way to the chaotic middle stage, where it seems as though nothing will ever come together. Nevertheless, we find our second wind, pushing forward with renewed determination until we reach the finish line.
I know that when the lights dim, the curtain rises, and the stage comes to life with the magic of our collective imagination, all the trials and tribulations will become just a prelude to this moment. Ultimately, it is not just about the showcase itself but the journey we have taken together – the bonds we have forged, the memories we have created, and the countless magical moments that will stay with us long after the final curtain falls.
Ms Maria Lee
K-6 Performing Arts Teacher
Hot off the press: Volume 4 of our student research journal
Welcome to the latest edition of Perspective, our annual student research journal. Volume 4 contains the work of students from Years 3 to 12 in 2023 across subjects including Society and Culture, History, Science, Geography and English, as well as student submissions in the National History Challenge and Pens Against Poverty competition, and Sokratis and passion projects. In addition to the joy of seeing their work in print, all our authors also have an opportunity to present their work at our annual Student Research Conference, the next of which will be hosted at the College on Monday 20 May – all welcome!
Congratulations to all contributors, including our amazing Perspective editorial team and the designer of the cover (and matching cake for the launch), Sophia Chang in Year 11. Under the careful guidance of Lead Editor, Julie Sheng in Year 12, the team of students from Years 7 to 12 are to be commended for working collaboratively to establish a professional process – from establishing a submission box, to distributing papers to edit, and establishing editing guidelines, it’s fair to say all students who contribute to this journal as authors or editors learn and hone many important skills along the way.
We hope readers enjoy their journey through these young researchers’ investigations and find much benefit in learning about the myriad of perspectives which are important to students at Pymble.
Dr Sarah Loch
Director – Pymble Institute
