From the Upper School

A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School

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Futures Week 

Earlier this week, our Year 10 students took part in the Future You program, a wonderful opportunity for the girls to pause, reflect and imagine the pathways that lie ahead as they move toward Senior School. The program invited them to explore their strengths and interests through hands-on workshops, industry conversations and career discovery sessions that sparked curiosity and confidence. It was inspiring to see the girls engaging so thoughtfully with their futures. Thank you to Emily Chiang and Eloise Stewart for sharing their reflections on the experience: 

This week, Year 10 had the opportunity to take part in the much-anticipated Future You Festival! As we prepare to enter the Senior School, it was exciting and useful to have speakers present to us about their career journeys and have meaningful conversations with experts in varying fields.  We started off the festival by listening to an inspiring presentation by Pymble alumni Sam D’Souza, who spoke about her journey after graduating from Pymble. Sam taught us about how paths into the future are not always linear and the importance of having a ’support network’ around you, as well as recognising the changing nature of work with AI. After this, the Year Group split up into different self-selected workshops. I learnt about the role of Occupational Therapists, aspects of Visual Communication, and the different branches of Civil Engineering. We ended the insightful day with an energising Zumba session, which everyone enjoyed and participated in!  On the second day, we listened to Kathryn Taylor’s presentation about the ‘Balcony and Basement’ of our various Clifton Strengths. We also learnt more about how to conduct ourselves and reply to common interview questions! We then had the amazing opportunity to have conversations with a rotating group of experts in diverse fields. This was by far my favourite part of the festival. From cardiologists to judges, I was so engaged and excited to learn more about the ups and downs of all the experts’ careers and educational journeys. The Future You Festival was an unforgettable experience for the whole year group, as we learnt about the importance of knowing our strengths and recognising our weaknesses to advance in our future careers. We are so grateful to the Futures team for organising this outstanding festival for us, and we look forward to more opportunities like this in the future! 

Emily Chiang (Year 10) 

I had a great experience on Monday and Tuesday as a part of our Futures Week. We had the chance to explore different workshops on our career interests and explore our personal skills and weaknesses to improve our transition into the workforce. On the first day we heard from a guest speaker before moving into our chosen career electives. I started with a law workshop where we ran a moot which is like a mock trial, then attended a commerce session about job opportunities in business and finished with a talk from a Notre Dame business professor. The best part about our electives is that we could choose from a wide range of job opportunities from construction to nursing to see if we see a career in that field. The next day we completed workshops focused on identifying our personal strengths, areas for growth, and how to present ourselves confidently in interviews. We ended Futures Week with a session on transitioning into the Senior School, which helped tie everything together and made the whole experience highly informative and valuable. 

Eloise Stewart (Year 10) 

A year of Vision Valley residential programs completed! 

This week marked the return of our final Vision Valley adventurers. We are so proud of our girls for the courage and resilience they have shown this year. It was wonderful to celebrate the return of our Term 4 adventurers in an Honouring Ceremony on Tuesday and to see our Year 9s take the lead on preparing their Year 8 peers for the adventure ahead during a Year 8 into 9 Compass session.  

Whether your daughter attended recently or earlier in the year, families play an important role in helping students carry the confidence, resilience and personal growth from the program into their everyday lives. Below are five simple ways you can continue to support your daughter as she applies her learning beyond Vision Valley. 

1. Encourage reflection and conversation 
Ask your daughter about her favourite moments, challenges and what she learned about herself. Gentle, open-ended questions help her process the experience and recognise her own growth. 

2. Reinforce independence and responsibility 
The program builds resilience and teamwork. Encourage your daughter to continue these skills at home by taking ownership of routines, commitments and decision-making. 

3. Celebrate strengths and small wins 
Acknowledge the confidence, courage or leadership she showed during the program. Highlighting these strengths boosts self-belief and helps her carry them into future challenges. 

4. Maintain healthy routines 
After a busy residential experience, support her in re-establishing good sleep, nutrition and study habits. A stable routine helps balance energy, wellbeing and school commitments. As we look ahead to the Government social media restrictions being implemented on December 10, this is also a valuable moment to reflect on how successfully your daughter managed the digital detox at Vision Valley, and to encourage her to continue the healthy screen habits she demonstrated during the program. 

5. Help her set realistic goals 
Use the momentum from Vision Valley to guide short-term goals, whether academic, social or personal. Setting achievable steps helps her apply what she learned and stay motivated. 

Year 10 Outdoor Education Program 

Our Year 10 Outdoor Education Program is now underway, with two of the five groups (Namadji and Snowy River) setting off this week for their unique expeditions. The remaining three groups will depart on Monday, embarking on their own challenges and adventures designed to build resilience, teamwork, and independence. Across the program, students will experience a range of outdoor activities that encourage them to step beyond their comfort zones, connect with their peers and develop valuable life skills. It promises to be a memorable and rewarding experience for all involved. 

Year 9 Peer Support Training  

On Wednesday, our 2026 Peer Support Leaders took part in a special day-long training session with the Burn Bright team. The girls spent the day practising leadership and communication skills and exploring what it means to be a positive role model for our incoming Year 7 cohort. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and genuine care for creating a welcoming start for our newest students, and they are already well on their way to becoming supportive and empathetic Peer Support Leaders in 2026. 

Year 10 Exchange 

We love hearing news from the latest group of Year 10 students who embarked on their Exchange last week. Last weekend 13 students departed for Colmar, Toronto, Venice, and Monza. The girls are settling into their host homes and new school environment while adjusting to the winter weather. 

This week we have been completing interviews with many enthusiastic Year 9 students for the 2025 International Exchange program. Preparations for 2026 are already underway, with applicants being shortlisted and arrangements confirmed with our partner schools. We hope to offer some places by the end of the term.  

Student Shoutouts 

Celebrating our Speakers! 

Congratulations to Imogen Kee, Year 10 who progressed to the state finals of the UNVoice Speaking Competition held at NSW Parliament House this week. To reach state finals is a most impressive achievement. Further, Imogen placed first in the Senior division and progresses to National finals in April next year. 

Isla Campbell