From the Upper School
A message from Mr Riley, Head of Upper School
A massive thank you to our First Nations students and staff for the moving conversations, speeches and presentations we enjoyed last week as part of Reconciliation week. As we look to develop perspective in the Upper School through experience, it was particularly poignant for our students to hear from their peers and teachers about the need to reflect on our past and to provide a voice for the future.
I have a big favour to ask… could every family please buy some undies over the weekend to donate for our support of Days for Girls and Pymble Gives Back? In 2021, the Upper School managed to raise over 1000 pairs of undies which we later packaged and sent as part of menstruation kits. We are keen to continue the legacy of fantastic support for this amazing initiative and know the impact this small donation will have. The winning compass group will receive a ‘digni-tea’ (high tea) in recognition of their fundraising efforts.
This week our Year 10s began their subject selection process. It was wonderful to see and hear the buzz of excitement in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts on Monday, and to have our subject captains be on hand to answer any burning questions. We look forward to welcoming parents on site next Tuesday 13th June to hear from our Curriculum Team and encourage students and families to explore the well-resourced subject selection website as they consider their future and subjects choices, due in early Term 3.
Speaking of the future, congratulations to budding film maker Kathie Ong (far right, Year 10) who shares her thrilling news below.
Hi! My name is Kathie Ong, I’m a Year 10 student and aspiring filmmaker. I have been creating films since 2017, and joined Pymble’s Co-Curricular Filmmaking program when it was started in 2018. Two of my films, Sonnet 55 and Pymble Perspectives, have recently received an Official Selection and Honourable Mention respectively in the Student World Impact Film Festival. My films were part of those selected from over 13,000 submissions across 120 countries.
What I love most about filmmaking is being able to tell a story and invoke emotion from my audience. A piece of advice I would give to any fellow film enthusiasts: if you see it, shoot it, you never know where it will take you.
Sadly, we can’t show Kathie’s films until they have aired at the festival, but we look forward to doing so in due course.
Congratulations also to Diana Attinger, who got the amazing opportunity to go to Canberra and take part in a work experience opportunity with Sky News and shares her reflections below.
While on this program for two days, I was able to visit several interesting locations, such as parliament house and at the Sky News studio. I participated in activities ranging from viewing live recordings to practicing my own news reading and reporting with professional technologies and experts in their field.
During my time at Sky News, I had the opportunity to work closely with experienced journalists and reporters who shared valuable insights and guidance. They taught me about the importance of accuracy, impartiality, and delivering news in a clear and engaging manner. I observed their meticulous research process, fact-checking techniques, and witnessed how they worked under tight deadlines to deliver breaking news.
I also had the chance to witness the fast-paced and dynamic nature of news reporting. I saw how stories were pitched, developed, and produced, and witnessed the teamwork required to bring a news segment together. It was fascinating to see the collaboration between producers, reporters, camera operators, and editors, as they all worked together to create a cohesive news broadcast.
Beyond the technical and practical skills, I gained, this work experience also allowed me to develop my confidence and networking abilities. I am so grateful that I got this amazing opportunity that I will never forget.
Finally, I’d like to congratulate our Co-curricular Drama Team including Lizzie Tang and Rachel Zhao for their successes at the recent Sydney Eisteddfod. Their piece, The Second Chance Ship, was one of only 10 plays from 65 entries to be selected to feature at the Riverside Theatre!
Year 10 into 11 2024 Subject Selection Evening
We are looking forward to seeing parents/carers and students at the Year 11 2024 Subject Selection Evening on Tuesday 13 June at 6.45pm. This is such a valuable evening as the students begin the process of making an informed decision about their pattern of study for their HSC.
The evening will include a presentation from myself with the Head of Senior School, Nikki Wyse, the Director of Studies, Natasha Stanfield and the Futures team. The presentation will be followed by the chance to move around with your child to ask questions with the Heads of Learning Area and specific subject teachers.
You may like to view the Subject Selection Website ahead of this evening with your child. It contains the Subject Selection Booklet and videos about each subject, and a link to view the presentation live if you are unable to make it on the night of June 13.
Year 10 Commerce
On Tuesday 30 May and Tuesday 6 June, around 50 Commerce Students enjoyed participating in an event with a guest Economics Lecturer from Macquarie University, Dr Andrea Chareunsy.
The lesson began with a general introduction, followed by engaging in a special economics activity. We were divided into groups of 4-5, and were given two sheets of paper, scissors, and a template with numerous shapes. The rules went as follows: each of the shapes on the template held a different market value, and our task was to use our given resources to cut shapes and sell them to the bank, with a money equivalent of chocolate.
With the chocolate obtained, we could either choose to save it, or spend parts of it on more resources such as extra scissors and paper to enable us to continue growing our shape-supply and monetary profit. The heart shape held the most value, with three hearts being worth one chocolate, so all teams ended up choosing to cut out hearts, and by the time the chocolate supply had been exhausted, every group had a large stash.
The activity contextualised the workings of the economy, and gave us a practical understanding of how market analysts and economists create strategies to gather the greatest profit. Following this, we got to hear about the wider scale of socioeconomics beyond the macro scene, and learnt of how famous economists like Elinor Ostrom and Esther Duflo have engaged with environmental, behavioural, political, and other fields of economics.
Overall, the opportunity was highly beneficial and enticed many students to consider the range of career paths and opportunities surrounding economics, definitely garnering much excitement over choosing GBE subjects for the HSC.
From the Upper School Parent Group
Click here to purchase your tickets for the Year 9 Cocktail Evening on Saturday 17 June.
Year 10 Zoe Green bzgreen@bigpond.net.au
Pamela McPherson bruceandpam@bigpond.com
Year 9 Monika Surana monsisurana@yahoo.co.in
Christel Vigne vignechristel@gmail.com
Social media community groups:
PymbleLC Parents Class of 2025 (Facebook for year 10)
PymbleLC Parents Class of 2026 (Facebook for year 9)
PymbleLC USPG 2023 (Facebook for all Upper School parents)
Or please contact us for an invite to a WeChat group or Dads WhatsApp group.
Key Dates
Monday 12 June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday 13 June – Year 10 into 11 Subject Selection Evening (6.45pm to 8.30pm) – To be held in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA), Main Hall and Colonnade classrooms
Wednesday 21 June – Secondary School Ensemble Concert
Thursday 22 June – Last day of Term 2
Tom Riley
Head of Upper School