From the Upper School
A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
As we near the end of the term for our Year 9 and 10 students, I encourage you to spend a moment with your daughter reflecting on the term so far and thinking about how she can conclude it in a constructive and supportive manner. It has been wonderful to observe so many positive interactions across the campus, and we hope your daughter is feeling settled in the Upper School.
As we enter the end-of-term phase of the assessment calendar, your daughter may be feeling increased pressure. For some students, this signals a need to refine their study or revision methods, while others might benefit from a boost in time-management strategies. The College’s virtual classroom contains great study tips for them to explore. It’s also advisable for students to connect with their Compass teacher or Head of Year if they need additional help with organisation.
Peer Support
Earlier this week, our Year 10 Peer Support Leaders had the opportunity to meet with their Year 7 Compass groups and run a Compass session. The aim of the peer support program is to allow our Year 10 students to develop their leadership and communication skills whilst supporting the transition of Year 7 students to the Secondary School.
Peer Support Leaders meet as a group with a member of staff in the week prior to their peer support session. During this time, they brainstorm a range of activities that meet the needs of the Year 7 cohort and ensure a careful balance between fun and educational activities. Thank you to Laranya and Amelia for sharing a little about their first peer support session.
On Monday 24 March, some Year 10 students had their first peer support sessions with Year 7 Compass groups. It was an exciting opportunity to connect with the younger students, offer guidance and strengthen our own leadership skills. Throughout the session, we discussed key topics such as academic preparation and building strong friendships, aiming to share the lessons we’ve learned from our own high school experiences. We encouraged open conversations, ensuring the Year 7s felt comfortable asking questions and expressing their thoughts. To wrap up, we played some fun games that helped build teamwork and create a positive, supportive atmosphere.
Written by Laranya Nanthakumaran (Year 10)
On Monday during Mind-Body-Spirt, three other girls and I participated in an engaging peer support session with our Year 7 Compass class. We began the session with a fun class game to get to know each other a bit better, before sitting in a circle to have an open discussion. We discussed how the Year 7s were finding high school so far and addressed any minor concerns that they shared with us. Additionally, there was an opportunity for them to ask anonymous questions on post-it notes about anything they were worried about, or something they needed advice on.
After that, we randomly divided the girls into small groups to play a game called Hotseat, where a girl sits in the middle of a circle, while the other two girls take turns firing random questions at them. This allowed the girls to become more friendly with their peers and learn something new, particularly from the people they hadn’t really had a chance to connect with yet.
As a final reward, we all participated in Just Dance and handed out some lollies that we brought in for the Year 7s. Overall, it was a really fun and engaging experience that allowed me to develop my leadership skills and connect with girls in younger years.
Written by Amelia Gross (Year 10)
MMG Education Survey
Thank you to the parents of Year 10 who have already completed their MMG Education surveys. I encourage all parents of Year 10 to share their feedback with the College through this survey as your input helps us understand a variety of views and hear your ideas. Look for the email from MMG Education sent on Friday 21 March or contact Dr Sarah Loch for more information (sloch@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au)
Photos from the Tildesley Shield Tennis Tournament
Key Dates – Term 1
Friday 28 March – Year 10 Minimum Standards Testing (Mathematics)
Tuesday 1 April – Year 10 Minimum Standards Testing (Reading)
Saturday 5 April – Foundation Ball
Monday 7 April – Careers Expo
Thursday 10 (evening) and Friday 11 (day) April – Year 8 to 10 Learning Discussions
Friday 11 April – Boarders’ Travel Day
Friday 11 April – Pupil-Free Day
Key Dates – Term 2
Monday 28 April – Boarders’ Travel Day
Tuesday 29 April – First Day of Term 2
From the Year 9 Parent Co-ordinators
Jenny and Ira look forward to welcoming as many parents as possible for our end of Term 1 catch up. Please respond to the invite in Year 9 WhatsApp group.
For any enquiries, please feel free to contact us – Ira (0415 112 575) or Jenny 0422716808.
Victoria Harrison
Head of Upper School