From the Principal

Another year at Pymble has come to a remarkable, celebratory, roaring finale.

This week’s Speech Day events and Celebrations of Learning were fabulous showcases of the depth and breadth of learning across the College in 2024, not to mention the profound difference a year at Pymble makes to the growth of our young people. Whether this was your daughter’s first or final year, my hope is that she was inspired to find her metaphorical ‘roar in 2024’ and will look back on the last four terms with genuine pride in her achievements as a learner and a much-loved member of our Pymble family.

It is a privilege to be leading this remarkable school and to bear witness to the development of each student – academically, emotionally, socially, and technologically. Congratulations, girls, on a fabulous year of having a go, pushing the boundaries, and leaning into our values to support each other and be of service to the broader community. A special thank you to all the students who hosted, performed, sang, dance, or played a role in any of our celebrations, including our adorable Kindy Nativity cast (above) and the 15 Prefects who ably assisted me at yesterday’s Secondary School Speech Day. Now it’s time for you all to enjoy a well-deserved summer break – woohoo!

To our parents and family members, a heartfelt thank you for the many ways you have contributed to College life this year. Your daughter’s educational experience is deeper and more meaningful when we are partners in her learning and connected as a community, and we thank you for this gift you give so freely.

To our amazing, dedicated staff, thank you for another year of roaring success in 2024.You have inspired and navigated our girls along their individual pathways of growth and learning, unlocking potential, empowering them with essential skills, fostering resilience and adaptability, and ultimately, helping to prepare them for a successful life beyond the College. It is with the deepest gratitude I thank our Deputy Principals and Senior Executive, Executive, Heads of Schools, Heads of Learning Areas, Head of Boarding and boarding staff, Vision Valley staff, teaching, co-curricular, and professional services staff for the integral role they fulfil in the education of our girls.

While most of our College staff will be enjoying some time to rest, I’d like to give a shout-out to our professional services staff, in particular our Master Plan and facilities teams, who will make the most of the empty campus to power through restorations, renovations and preparations for the first day of school in 2025. Thank you, team!

Finally, to our College Board and Foundation Board members, words cannot convey my appreciation and respect for the important work you do, all on a volunteer basis, to support our leadership team as we take every opportunity to provide outstanding educational opportunities and facilities for our students. This work, of course, is in addition to your considerable day jobs, which makes you even more remarkable humans.

The lyrics of one of the most loved songs from The Lion King movie, the Circle of Life, remind us that “There’s more to see than can ever be seen, More to do than can ever be done”. I’m deeply grateful for our Board Chair Chris Fydler, OAM, who manages to see all perspectives, and do more than is humanly possible for most of us to get done. Thank you for a wonderful year of supporting all of us as we find our way through the circle of life at Pymble, Chris. We are grateful for your wisdom, availability, commitment and good humour. 

Thank you to all the remarkable humans in our community for bringing your unique gifts, talents and passions to make Pymble and our Vision Valley site the world-leading places of teaching and learning that we know and love.

Thank you for bringing the roar – and so much more – to 2024.

Windows into Learning – the student edit

Hopefully, you have enjoyed the Windows into Learning our academic staff have shared in this column throughout the year to highlight some of the many ways they engage and inspire student learning. In this final column for the year, in a week that was dedicated to celebrating our girls, it feels only fitting to dedicate our last two “windows” to student reflections and introspections.

With the permission of Emma in the Junior School, and Kathie in the Senior School, please enjoy…

‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ 
by Emma L Feng (5N)

Like a seed we grow, a group of living beings 
So many ideas as to who we will grow to be, 
But somehow people always ask the same question 
‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ 

A sapling now, we reach for the sun, 
An urge of hope firm in our hearts 
And even if there’s a tsunami, a hurricane 
We are prepared, holding hand in hand 
‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’

We’re shaped as a fresh raindrop, 
Each folded petal, a talent waiting to be discovered 
Ready to take on what waits ahead, ready to shine 
‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ 

We open up gently, to see what the world truly is, 
And the sun shines even more than before 
Sometimes the clouds cover the sky, and we feel nervous 
But we won’t hide away, we’ll take the next step 
‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ 

I still wonder about that question sometimes, 
And I haven’t got a sturdy answer yet, 
But, if the world turns out to be a blanket of grey clouds, 
I want to be the sun. 

Introspection 
by Kathie Ong, Captain of Co-curricular Filmmaking (Year 11)

I’ve been part of the Co-curricular Filmmaking program since it started in 2017, and it has been such a rewarding experience watching it grow and growing with it.

Film is such a versatile medium, sitting at the interface of art and technology to evoke emotion and give voice to untold truths.

The act of composition is profoundly personal and individual, influenced by the composer’s interiority, the essence of Who They Are. I know that there is a symbiotic relationship between artists, their art, and the audience. Art must be released to be seen or heard, and then no longer belongs solely to the artist but is interpreted and given new life by the responders, essentially changing the fabric of the originally created piece.

Through your viewing, you will have contributed to this artwork through your interiority.

To my Pymble Family, thank you for your love, kindness and support.