From the Senior School

From the Head of Senior School

As we reach the halfway point of the term, we’d like to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support in reinforcing our focus on wearing the school uniform with pride.

Looking ahead, the girls are continuing with their assessment program for the term with quite a number of tasks scheduled for the next few weeks. These provide important opportunities for your daughter to reflect on her learning and further develop her skills. We encourage students to approach their assessments with a mindset of growth – using them as a way to gain a clearer understanding of their strengths and areas that may need more focus.

As we enter this busy time, we’d like to remind students of the importance of maintaining a healthy balance. Getting plenty of rest, staying on top of regular revision, and reaching out for help when needed are key strategies for success.

Year 12 Wellbeing Day

Last Thursday, the Year 12 students enjoyed their Wellbeing Day. It began with a presentation from Alex Richter. Alex shared his deeply personal journey, recounting a tragic accident that occurred during his Year 12 year. This life-altering experience, while unimaginably challenging, became a catalyst for finding new purpose and meaning in his life.

Through his story, Alex highlighted the resilience and strength he developed, ultimately turning adversity into opportunity. His speech was both heartfelt and inspiring, as he reflected on how setting clear goals and surrounding himself with positive influences helped him rebuild and redefine his path.

Alex’s message resonated strongly, reminding our Year 12s of the power of purpose, perseverance and the importance of the people who support us along the way.

GPs in Schools

The second session of Wellbeing Day involved the girls participating in a workshop through the GPs in Schools program, where they had the unique opportunity to engage with a medical professional in an open and supportive setting.

In small friendship groups, they were encouraged to ask any questions they had about health, wellbeing, or anything on their minds. This interactive session provided a safe space for the girls to seek advice and gain valuable insights from an expert.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with the girls reporting a high degree of engagement and satisfaction, feeling more informed and confident about their health and well-being. I would like to extend my gratitude to all the health professionals who volunteer their time and expertise for this very important program.

Food for Thought

The day concluded with our annual Food for Thought luncheon, where we were delighted to welcome back Vanessa Gray (ESU 2016), the founder and head designer of Amiss. Vanessa leads a team of talented designers, guiding the creation of innovative and marketable fashion collections that blend modern technology with traditional craftsmanship.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Fashion/Apparel Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2021, Vanessa worked as a soft good fashion designer at ResMed, contributing to the development of wearable and smart textiles aimed at improving the quality of life.

Passionate about combining artistry with cutting-edge design, Vanessa is committed to creating fashion that is both beautiful and functional, with a focus on sustainability and innovation. Her story was an inspiring reminder of the power of creativity and entrepreneurship in the fashion industry.

Vanessa spoke to the girls about the importance of following their passions and having the confidence to back themselves in pursuing their dreams. She encouraged them to always remain open to the opportunities that come their way, as they often lead to unexpected and rewarding paths.

Vanessa also emphasised the value of collaborating with others in related industries, highlighting how building a strong network is essential for personal and professional growth. She reminded the girls that this journey starts now, with their peers, and that the connections they make today could shape their futures in meaningful ways.

The Year 12 girls also had the opportunity to engage with a recent school leaver, who shared valuable insights on managing Year 12 and navigating the transition into the first year after school.

This informal and relaxed lunch provided a chance for the girls to ask questions, gain advice, and feel more prepared for the year ahead. A big thank you to all the staff and alumni who attended, offering their guidance, support and encouragement to our Year 12s as they embark on this important stage of their journey.

International Women’s Day

A number of Senior School students attended a special luncheon to observe International Women’s Day last Friday. Olivia has provided a report of that event:

On Friday 7 March, my fellow student leaders and I had the honour of attending the International Women’s Day Lunch, hosted by UN Women Australia under this year’s theme, March Forward: For All Women and Girls.

The event was hosted by 7 News reporter Mel McLaughlin, and opened with an address from Councillor Yvonne Weldon AM. The Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC then celebrated recent successes this past year, including Cricket Australia’s implementation of equal pay, the Rebuilding Smiles initiative supporting victims of domestic abuse and the groundbreaking scientific work of Young Australian of the Year, Dr Katrina Wruck. She ultimately emphasised the importance of translating promises into tangible progress and the impact of acting with compassion.

Simone Clarke, the CEO of UN Women Australia, outlined the harsh reality: at our current rate, 100 to 300 years is estimated until gender equality is achieved in the world. She also raised the failure to enforce the 12 commitments declared in the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, reminding us of the urgent need for accountability and sustained effort.

The first guest speaker, Senator Katy Gallagher, discussed the actions undertaken by the Australian Government this past year for gender equality. While acknowledging recent successes, she stressed the ongoing need for further systemic change.

Mary Robinson, the former and first female President of Ireland followed, an inspiring advocate for contraception and reproductive rights. She reiterated the fragile nature of progress, noting the overturning of Roe v. Wade the United States as a stark reminder of how easily hard-fought rights can be eroded. She urged us to always cultivate a sense of hope whilst taking intentional action to address societal issues and drive meaningful change.

The final guest speaker was the incomparable Celeste Barber, a renowned actor, comedian, author and influencer. She offered a candid and compelling discussion on gender bias in the entertainment industry. She shared her personal experience at being dismissed for her content that catered to women, and being advised to conform in order to succeed in the industry, which she defiantly refused to do.

Having been diagnosed with ADHD in the 90s when it was highly stigmatised, she vocalised how societal standards can inflict lingering insecurity, especially the double standards of female beauty and ageing, and her active choice to not let social norms define her identity. Above all, she attributed her remarkable success to being unapologetically herself and advised us to do the same.

The IWD Fundraiser Lunch was an incredibly enlightening experience, serving as both a celebration of progress and an inspiring call to action. Ultimately, it reinforced our power as individuals to undertake purposeful action and advance our progress toward gender equality.

Year 11 University Immersion Day

Last week, Year 11 students visited a range of universities across Sydney, to have an immersive experience of being on a university campus. The girls had the opportunity to engage in a series workshops, presentations and university tours.

My grateful thanks to the universities who opened their doors to the Pymble students; these included Macquarie University, University of Sydney, University of NSW, Torrens University, Notre Dame and Australian Catholic University. Sincere thanks also to our Futures Team of Mrs Maksimovic, Mrs O’Kelly and Ms D’Souza, as well as the accompanying Compass teachers, for the work in organising and facilitating this wonderful experience.

Please find a report from Year 11 student, Tessa:

Yesterday, a group of us had the amazing opportunity to attend a university immersion day at the University of Sydney, where we focused on allied health. We explored the health faculty buildings and took part in hands-on workshops in the radiology department. We were able to use the practice CT and X-ray machines, see how they work up close and even try on the heavy lead vests used for radiation protection. It was fascinating to get a real feel for the technology and the kind of work done in the field.

Beyond the workshops, we had the chance to tour the beautiful campus, with its mix of historic architecture and modern facilities. We were able to explore, walk around and find a great place for lunch, giving us a small taste of university life. We also had the opportunity to talk to current and past USyd students who gave an overview of their life at the university and us information about pathways into the university and the wide range of courses that are available there, as well as social clubs and sports.

This was an amazing way to gain insight on what it might be like for us to attend the University of Sydney.

Head of the River

It was an absolute joy to spend the day at Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith for the Head of the River. The atmosphere was fantastic, and I was incredibly proud to see the girls race with such evident teamwork, skill and power. Hours of intense coaching and preparation truly paid off as they gave their all in each race. Watching their hard work come to fruition was inspiring. Congratulations to the entire team of students and coaches for their dedication and effort.

Year 11 Geography Excursion

Last week, the Year 11 Geography students got the amazing opportunity to travel to Wollongong for one night to collect primary data for their upcoming assessment. We embarked on our journey from Pymble and started the jam packed excursion with a trip to the Minnamurra Rainforest.

Here, we met with experts to learn about primary fieldwork techniques, such as vegetation sampling along a transect using a quadrant. Afterwards, we travelled to Wollongong to observe how the city is undergoing change from a manufacturing to service based economy. We collected more primary data, such as land use surveys, environmental quality surveys and field sketches.

Some groups got the time to ask members of the public questions about their lives to help us gather our knowledge on the history of Wollongong. On the second day, we took a fascinating tour around the BlueScope steelworks factory located in Port Kembla.

Here we learnt the process of how steel is made and the history of the biggest steel manufacturers in Australia. Overall the experience was unforgettable and the students learnt a lot of useful data for their upcoming assessment!

Written by Addison Seeto (Year 11 Geography Captain)

Key Dates – Term 1

Friday 14 March – Year 11 Formal (academic half-day)

Thursday 10 April – End of Term 1

Nikki Wyse

Head of Senior School