From the Upper School
A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
It is exciting to see some spring weather this week. A little more sunshine is definitely a great mood booster for us all, especially as we notice some mid-term fatigue setting in for Year 9 and 10 students. This is a good time for parents to revisit essential healthy habits with their daughters.
Focusing on good sleep routines and physical activity sets the girls up for positive wellbeing and sustained energy as assessment deadlines and events pile up. The following tips might help guide conversations in your family:
Healthy Sleep Habits
Consistent sleep routines matter, teens need about 8–10 hours per night for optimal development. Evidence from ReachOut suggests opening gentle conversations about late nights, screens, and tiredness helps adolescents reflect and reset. Calm pre-bed rituals like reading, light stretching, or listening to music, and gradually nudging bedtimes earlier can make a real difference.
Physical Activity for Mood and Health
Current NSW advice recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous movement daily for young people aged 12–18. This could be brisk walks, dance, team sports, cycling, or gym sessions. Having a range of options keeps things fun and social, while also boosting mood and resilience. Small changes such as walking to school (avoid the traffic) or trying a new sport are achievable and build lifelong habits. There are lots of great co-curricular options at Pymble. The Pymble Stride Walk/Run club meets on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons, a simple way for your daughter to build movement into her week.
Vison Valley Group 4 – Term 4
Thank you to all students and parents that joined us in the Vision Valley Group 4 evening last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to see parents and pass on important information regarding their daughter’s upcoming Residential in Term 4. The girls enjoyed hearing about the program from students that have already taken part, and it was a wonderful way to share their experiences and top tips to add to the excitement!
AVISTA Roadshow – Inspiring the next generation of STEM Innovators
Year 9 and 10 on Monday experienced an interactive Science show focusing on flight and aviation, rockets and propulsion systems, AI and autonomous systems through the lens of future innovation and STEM career pathways. A highlight of the show was the interactive robot dog and demonstration of propulsion mechanisms in a rocket.
Maya Clements (Year 10) has provided a reflection on the event.
The AVISTA exhibition was a captivating glimpse into the future of technology and innovation. One of the standout features was the robotic dog: Its lifelike movements and interactive responses showcased the incredible potential of AI in engineering and design. The show also explored emerging career pathways in space exploration, artificial intelligence, and robotics, revealing how these fields are rapidly evolving and opening doors for the next generation of creators and problem solvers. It was both inspiring and thought provoking.
2026 International Student Exchange Program
We are excited to announce the launch of the 2026 International Student Exchange Program. This popular program offers Upper School students a unique opportunity to broaden their horizons.
An online information evening will be held at 6.00pm on Wednesday, 17 September. This session is highly recommended as it will cover the program’s opportunities, responsibilities, and expectations. It will also explain how to apply, including the application steps, required documents, and important deadlines to keep in mind. Formal applications will open in Week 9.
For an overview of the program, please click here. Keep an eye out for a portal notice with the link to join the online event and please indicate your interest to attend on the attached form found here.
Year 10 Camp – Term 4
A reminder to all Year 10 parents to please complete the consent form for their daughter’s Term 4 Outdoor Education Program. All required links and detailed program information have been sent to families through the My Pymble portal, specific to each daughter’s allocated program. Additional information about the Year 10 Outdoor Education Program can also be found HERE
Book of the Year Awards 2025
Thank you to Sophia Chen (Year 10) for her reflection on attending the Children’s Book Council of Australia Event:
A few weeks ago, I had the wonderful privilege of attending CBCA awards and giving a review on the book “I’m Not Really Here”. The day was action packed with six reviewers for each category – junior and senior – and of course, the grand announcement of the winners. I really enjoyed hearing other perspectives of the book and their interpretation of the author’s intent behind it, as well as talking and engaging with other students who are equally passionate about reading books.
In preparation for this event, I had to read the book I was assigned, annotate the book, and write a concise review on it:
Have you ever felt invisible, like you’re standing in a crowded room but no one truly sees you? That’s the raw reality for Jonah, the young Indigenous protagonist of Gary Lonesborough’s moving novel I’m Not Really Here.
Hi, I am Sophia from Pymble Ladies’ College, and today I am here to present my book review on I’m Not Really Here by Gary Loneborough. Gary Lonesborough’s I’m Not Really Here is a tender and deeply human story about Jonah who is a young Indigenous teen navigating grief, identity, and the feeling of being unseen in the world.
With the prominent theme of identity in the novel, it’s interesting to see how the book works as both a mirror and a window for marginalised readers, reflecting the painful reality of feeling unseen; for others, it offers a clear view into the systemic challenges faced by Indigenous youth.
I’m Not Really Here isn’t just to be read, it’s to be felt. And maybe, after reading it, we’ll all be a little better at truly seeing the people around us.
I really enjoyed writing this reflection and reading this book as it provided me a new insight into the systemic challenges faced by marginalised groups. And I am even more pleased that this book won the award! Overall, it was a very nice experience and next year I would love to get our passionate Pymble students to partake in judging the books too!
Garden Party is coming
We’re excited about our annual Garden Party! This year, we’ll have Bottle Bingo stalls for both Year 9 and Year 10. We would really appreciate your help by donating two or three jars for the stalls. Next week, students will start collecting bottles in their Compass Groups, and we encourage parents to support their daughter in taking responsibility for organising their donations.
Student Achievements
Congratulations to our ballet dancers for their impressive work in the recent production of Hansel and Gretel. These dedicated students have been refining their skills for many months and have shown commitment throughout, resulting in passionate and engaging performances.
Well done to our talented performers: Annabella Bayfield, Emma Scott, Indigo Meldrum, Lily Xing, Stella Walsh, Yiling Gu, Annabel Taylor, Charlotte King, Eva Pieterse, Rain (Wing Ki) To, Saskia Nicholson, and Stella Xu.
Congratulations to Year 9 student Willa Pearson who represented Australia in the Young Matildas ASEAN U16 Girls Championship in Indonesia. The team were victorious in the final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Thailand. Willa has an exciting season ahead with the Australian All Schools Cricket championships and her first season in the A League Football competition as part of the Sydney FC Women’s team. We are so proud of Willa’s achievements and look forward to watching her in action over the next few months and years.
Key Dates for Term 3
Garden Party – Saturday 20 September
Exchange Information Evening – Wednesday 17 September