From the Principal
That’s a wrap for Term 1! In just over 10 weeks we have packed in an incredible amount of learning, achievements and growth, not to mention a renewed commitment to our College value, Respect.
Thinking about our delightful Kindy cohort for a moment, they have completed their first official term of ‘big school’, which is a huge leap forward in their development as learners. Year 7, and especially our first-time Boarders in Avonmoore Boarding House, well done! You too have grown in confidence and are no longer the ‘newbies’ you may have felt like at the beginning of the year. A huge thank you to our incredible team of teachers, staff and coaches who care so deeply about helping our girls and families navigate these important transitions smoothly.
We are also one term into our world-leading Wise Phone Initiative for Years 4 to 8 and are thrilled to see all the research confirming we are on the right track. Girls on the Wise Phone program are spending more time doing the things that help them to thrive (such as spending face-to-face time with the people they love most and getting more sleep), and less time down the rabbit hole of gaming, mindless scrolling and social media. My plea to parents is to stay committed to the program for the sake of your daughter’s childhood and wellbeing. Remember, it’s easier to make tough calls when we all make the same decision – and stand firm – together. We are actively working on ways to further improve the experience for students and their families and look forward to sharing great news with you shortly.
This week also represents the halfway mark for our Year 12s, who have just two terms to go before they sit for HSC exams in Term 4. Trust me, girls, the next two terms will fly by faster than a dodgy haircut at lunchtime, so enjoy every moment.
I am referring of course to your sensational team effort to help beat blood cancer by taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave. On Monday, approximately 60 Year 11 and 12 students fronted up for a shave, cut or colour in return for donations to the Leukaemia Foundation. We are #PymbleProud of our girls who stepped out of their comfort zones to serve others and the hundreds of students from all year groups who supported and cheered them on along the way. Special shout-out to Phoebe, Celeste and Indianna, along with our Head of Year 9, Mr Andrew Hegge, who faced the clippers with courage and good humour, as you can see from the joyful photos below!
Sadly, cancer has become an issue close to our hearts, and many of us know all too well the feeling of wishing we could do anything at all to help someone we love. A colleague from a boys’ school in Brisbane recently reached out to all Heads of independent schools in Australia asking us to share a link about a recent graduate who desperately needs assistance in finding a matching stem cell donor. Thank you for taking the time to read Rowan’s story.
As we head into the break, I want to acknowledge all our girls who have turned up each day as their best selves, thinking carefully about how to demonstrate their Respect for one another, the wider community and the College through your words, actions and behaviour.
Thank you for turning up perfectly attired in your correct uniform, and for greeting your teachers courteously before lessons. Thank you for observing our request to remove earbuds and earphones while on campus and only opening laptops when instructed by your teacher to do so. Thank you for cheering each other on as you pursue the co-curricular sports and activities that make you Come Alive in ‘25. Thank you for choosing to be kind, because you never know what people around you are dealing with behind the scenes.
Coming alive in ‘25
School may be taking a break, but co-curricular never stops – and we love that our girls take such pride in representing the College throughout the holidays as well as during term time.
As I write, news has just come in from our Cattle Team who are competing in the Cattle Parading and Judging competition at the Royal Easter Show. Huge congratulations to Hannah Weber (Year 12) who was awarded 1st in Class and Overall Reserve Champion for School Paraders today – a seriously big deal in the world of agriculture.
We also have several Junior School students at the PSSA Swimming and Diving Carnival today, where our divers claimed one gold, three silver and one bronze medal. Well done to all our Junior School competitors!
Congratulations also go to our 11 athletes who competed this week in the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Perth. Team Pymble will return home with five gold, two silver and four bronze medals, three athletes crowned as National Champions and one championship record, which is a sensational outcome.
We send our best wishes to all our students who will be representing Pymble over the break as they compete or perform at the Australian All Age Swimming Championships in Brisbane, the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, Texas, the Artistic Gymnastics State Trials at Sydney Gymnastics Centre, the IGSA Dance Performance and Show, and Musica Viva Workshops in Melbourne.
And, speaking of shows, a huge congratulations to the 300 students in Years 7 to 12 who performed at the Secondary School Ensemble Concert last night. It was such a treat to be swept away by the magic of your music; we are blessed to have such talented students and teachers at Pymble.
We look forward to seeing your daughters back at Pymble in full winter uniform when Term 2 begins on Tuesday 29 April. In the meantime, enjoy the break from routine, hopefully a bit more rest and relaxation, and some magical Easter holiday moments with your family.
