From the Upper School
A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
There is no doubt that the Term 3 Vision Valley adventurers have faced a very wet residential program. Despite the persistent rain over the past few months, the girls have shown great resilience and character throughout the experience. We are sure that reuniting with their families at Friday’s Honouring ceremony will be an emotional occasion and the girls will return with a renewed appreciation for home and family.
We look forward to welcoming the girls back on campus on Monday. The day will begin with a reintegration workshop designed to support their smooth return to school. We also encourage families to help maintain the digital detox gains their daughters have achieved during the program.
Best wishes to our Year 9 and 10 athletes who will be representing Pymble at the igsa Athletics Carnival on Friday. We look forward to sharing their results with you next week.
Patricia Burgoyne Public Speaking Competition – Year 10
Each year, the Pymble English Department hosts the Patricia Burgoyne Public Speaking Competition. Patricia Burgoyne, who served as Head of English in 1966 and later became Deputy Principal in 1970, was deeply passionate about ensuring that young women developed the confidence to share their voices with the wider community. In 1991, she established this competition to empower students to speak with conviction and purpose.
Today, we continue to honour her vision by encouraging our girls to find and celebrate their own voices. This week, the winning entries from each English class were presented to the entire year. Ms Nolan and Ms Lombard were so impressed with the engaging and thought-provoking speeches. Congratulations to all involved and a special congratulations to Isabelle Port, who is this year’s winner. Here are a few insights from the judges.
Isabelle We thought your speaking style was excellent and there was a real warmth to your tone. You went beyond what we can learn from nature and forced us to question how we should subvert it! Adaptability is important, but change and resilience even more so!
Hakone, your tone, engagement and humour when speaking about something universal was entertaining. You’re also commended on some fabulous literary allusions!
Zahra, you’ve taken a fresh perspective on war and the battle humanity faces with nature. It was very interesting to hear your insights about the indifference of nature towards us: it got us thinking about climate change and perhaps the resilience in nature.
Imogen, you’re examination of women and their strength was inspiring. What particularly stood out was your reference to Mrs Burgoyne and her lesson of how a woman’s voice doesn’t roar, it endures.
Jaimee, your topic was very relevant in our current global climate. Your message was great: we need to approach humanity and migrants with more respect and learn from the awe with which we approach the animal world.
Joy, your speech had so many elements of the discursive form and its exploratory shifting perspective. From cultural and poetic references to seasonal metaphors and imagery; it was well developed.
Xiaoyin, you made us think carefully about the unresolved characteristics of nature and how we can learn from it. You painted fabulous images of that infamous shark!
Kitty, your metaphor of the cherry blossom and the ‘pathos of things’ was very thoughtful. You took a grave topic in grief and turned it into something hopeful and reflective.
Sanaya, your passion was incredible! You had very interesting insights into the female experience and thought provoking commentary on difference vs uniqueness. The Keats reference was wonderful!
Sophie, what a unique and personal take on the prompt. The passionflower and it’s symmetry (as well as all the other botanical references) highlighted your research and it was a lovely idea to relate these to literary allusions also.
Alex, yours was a poignant reflection on the farming lifestyle and we were all moved by how eloquently you shared the hardships of drought. The Van Gough allusion also sparked some really fabulous imagery.
Upper School students getting ready for futures in Science and Health
To celebrate National Science Week on 11 and 12 August, over 60 Year 10 students from Pymble, Abbotsleigh, and Wahroonga Adventist School participated in a program called I-WiSH, which stands for Inspiring Women in Science and Health.
The program aims to inspire and stretch Year 10 girls in their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) interests by introducing them to a range of women working in, researching, and leading the way in these fields. The program was initiated by Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, and a group of Pymble students and staff were fortunate to participate in their program last year.
Our I-WiSH program invited leading women to be our mentors. The Year 10 students heard about the latest work in hospital emergency departments, palliative care, rural health, heart-monitoring fabric development, mental health campaigns, antibiotic resistance, consent education, and more. We were especially honoured to have Dr Pippa Kensit (former Head Boarder), Dr Nikki Raftopulos (former Head Prefect), and Dr Abigail Franklin (current Pymble parent) amongst the mentor team.
After an afternoon of ‘speed-dating’ to meet the mentors and hear about their work, held in the Upper School Common Room, the following day saw us at the San Hospital to follow a design thinking process led by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Using the ANSTO process, the students worked in teams to design a solution to a challenge posed by each mentor. The San was an ideal location for the program as students had a glimpse of the range of roles in action every day.
The winning group tackled the social challenge of how early intervention and preventative public health strategies can be part of consent education, especially in a climate when male influencers are spreading negative messages. Other pitches presented decision-making apps for doctors, jewellery to monitor heart conditions, inclusive STEM education strategies, support for renal patients in remote areas, and designing palliative care with adolescents in mind.
Congratulations to students from the three schools who worked very hard and presented inspiring and powerful pitches to the judging panel; to Tara Sproules-Nash and Sienna Melton for delivering Votes of Thanks; the Year 11 helpers; and the Pymble staff team who ran the event.
A short video featuring Amelie Clements and Thiloksha Perera can be viewed here.
See Dr Nikki Raftopulos’s and Dr Abigail Franklin’s messages here. They’re so inspiring!
We are pleased to share some student insights into their experience.
On Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 August, I was fortunate to be one of 50 students selected to take part in the I-WISH program (Inspiring Women in Science and Health). Over the two days, we heard from incredible women, our mentors, across a wide range of science and health fields, learning not only about their career journeys but also the challenges they face.
On Monday afternoon, we spent time getting to know all the mentors and hearing about the obstacles they’ve encountered in their work. The following day we spent at the SAN Hospital, where we were introduced to design thinking. Working in groups, we found solutions to issues presented by our mentors. My team, made up of three Pymble girls, two Abbotsleigh girls, and three Wahroonga Adventist girls,were thrilled to win the competition.
Our project explored the science behind addressing the rise of misogyny among teenage boys, and the judges found it creative and impactful. Other groups explored topics such as antibiotic resistance and challenges in rural healthcare.
This experience revealed career paths in science and medicine I hadn’t even realised were open. It allowed me to grow my collaboration and public speaking skills, while being surrounded with brilliant peers and inspiring mentors.
Hayley Browne
On Monday and Tuesday, I participated in I-WiSH (Inspiring women in science and health) along with 50 other girls from Pymble, Abbotsleigh and Wahroonga Adventist School over the course of two days. We started off with an afternoon of speed dating with the mentors that will guide us through our challenge tomorrow. During this we learnt about their careers, how they got there and asked all our burning questions. Some of the mentors were working in palliative care, some were working in pharmaceutical chemistry, and others were researchers in gender based and sexual violence. Listening to all their stories, we were all super amazed by each one of their paths and we learnt that for most people, the path in medicine is almost always not a straight road.
Tuesday was the day that the mentors would propose an issue for us to solve in relation to their experience in medicine and healthcare. Students arrived at the San Hospital at 8am, and we all sat in the conference room, listening to each of the challenges from the mentors. They also provided a brief background about themselves and went into detail about their journey in school. We then received a much-needed tutorial on critical thinking, problem solving and prototype creation.
After that, students voted on which challenge they wanted to tackle, and after getting into groups of around eight people, we got started on the task. I chose accessibility in rural health, and my team brainstormed barriers, opportunities, and solutions, and through the second half of the day, we engaged with our mentors and our teammates to create an engaging presentation that we shared with the rest of the cohort. Many groups chose super creative ways to hook the audience in, like singing, role play and even some interactive games. Some parents came to watch, and special guests were invited from the San Hospital as judges.
Overall, the experience was extremely eye opening and insightful and was an amazing opportunity for anyone looking to do medicine in the future, or even just for the girls there to keep their options open. It challenged our problem thinking skills, our teamwork and creative thinking.
Camille Xiao
Reflections for Commerce Melbourne Enrichment Tour:
Day 1:
Our Melbourne trip included an amazing blend of art, animals, culture and hands-on experiences. On day one, we visited the National Gallery of Victoria where we explored various exhibitions from different countries. Paintings included pieces from Picasso, and the stunning collection of fashion pieces created by luxury houses Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel. It was fascinating to learn about the evolution of both art and fashion. While at the Gallery, we worked in groups to design a new marketing campaign to target teenagers, applying our knowledge of marketing strategies and promotional materials.
In the afternoon, we engaged in a collaborative shopping challenge supporting Emerge, a charity supporting women and children affected by domestic violence. We split into groups and were each tasked to purchase items. My group chose chocolates, selecting from a wide range of Lindt and Maltesers.
In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to participate in a pasta making masterclass with renowned chef Jerry Kim at Il Mercato Central. Starting off in the countryside of South Korea, his passion for Italian food bloomed, now owning multiple restaurants across Melbourne. He guided us through a step-by-step process, from the ratio of the ingredients, to kneading and shaping the pasta. Later that evening, we headed downstairs to enjoy dinner, pasta napolitana and gelato for dessert. After dinner we were lucky to hear from general manager Gary Patikkis who explained the business concept, the uniqueness of having 23 different stalls in one building who rely on each other instead of competing. Gary explained the importance of the design and look of the space, the challenges they faced and their future plan of expanding into Sydney. We can’t wait to see them open in Sydney next year. I enjoyed exploring various stalls, learning about the heritage and traditional influences which was a memorable way to end the day. I’m grateful for the chance to take part in this trip, which was both enriching and valuable, enhancing my experiences in meaningful ways.
Arin Yoon
Day 2 of our commerce tour started with preparing the Emerge gifts to hand over later in the day and then headed out on a walk around the Yarra River. At the time, there was a showcase of the Variety Melbourne car bash, a charity that raises money through road trips in creatively decorated vehicles like Elvis, Sesame Street and even Where’s Wally. A few of us even stopped and got photos with Elvis!
Our first major activity of the day was a behind-the-scenes guided tour of Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. We explored the facilities and heard from a range of employees about their careers and the different pathways that led them there. Highlights included marine biologists demonstrating a penguin feeding and tank cleaning, animal carers guiding us as we patted starfish, and marketing staff challenging us to identify their target audience while explaining how they use design activities to boost engagement through various advertisements. We also heard personal stories from educators and gained insight into the daily responsibilities of operations staff. We also got to see the benefits of operations like Sea Life on the economy and the environment.
Next, we travelled to the Queen Victoria Market, where our task was to interview small business owners to get an understanding of daily business operations, how small businesses survive in competitive markets and unique strategies they use to attract customers. We were also kindly given time to explore in groups, where we got lunch. I had a beef and rice bowl and even had time to get a new necklace!
In the evening, we visited the Royal Botanic Gardens Lightscape show, where a variety of large immersive light installations highlighted the scenery of the gardens. While here, we debated on the factors that made this a tourist attraction and fun even for the locals. For dinner we got the option to choose from four different food trucks: Spanish, Vietnamese, Chicken Schnitzel and Greek. I got a chicken schnitzel burger and chips as well as a taco while exploring the gardens and my group also got fairy floss. The gardens were the perfect attraction as they acted as a perfect spot to get photos and explore for our last night in Melbourne.
Overall, the day involved career exploration, insights into small and large business operations and how different industries contribute to the Melbourne economy, while enjoying exciting attractions and time to explore different elements that keep Melbourne’s economy alive.
Ruby Watson
Key Dates for Term 3
Year 9 Term 4 Vision Valley Parent Evening and Student Mentor session – Tuesday
Garden Party – Saturday 20 September