Language Arts
Debating
NSW Won the National Schools’ Debating Championship (NSDC)
- Kitty He (Year 11), Captain of Debating at Pymble, NSW NSDC State team member
- Maya Garg (Year 12) 2025 Captain of the NSW NSDC team
We are so Pymble proud of these debaters. NSW won the nationals and Maya and Kitty spoke so persuasively at the final at The State Library last Saturday. The National Schools Debating Championship is Australia’s premier school debating competition and brings together the most talented young debaters from across the country, fostering excellence in critical thinking, persuasive communication and civic engagement. Details can be found on the NSDC events page. We hope to have more Pymble NSDC debaters in the years to come.
Wait there’s more!
Congratulations to Maya Garg (Year 12) who was selected for the Australian Schools’ Debating team and will now travel to worlds. Wow!
ISDA and FED
FED
Congratulations to 8B who progressed to the quarter finals last Friday 9 May. Unfortunately, they were defeated by Knox.
ISDA
Thanks to all who assisted and debated last week at Pymble when we hosted seven schools. Congratulations ISDA. Six out of our eight ISDA teams broke to Octo finals – Primary B, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 and Senior A. This was a significant achievement.
Congratulations to Primary B, Year 7 and Year 8 who are continuing their journey. Co-curricular Administration will send venue details for this week’s debates at Shore for Years 7 and 8 and Trinity for Primary B. Guests are welcome to watch debates. Good luck teams.
More Debating Opportunities
Social Debating coaches – Thank you to those who have volunteered to assist with Social Debating coaching commencing this Friday in KM and running until and including Friday 27 June. Please ensure registration is completed through Co-curricular Administration and see you in Jobson Lecture Theatre (KM Building) after school on Friday.
Social Debating girls – We look forward to seeing you tomorrow after school in Jobson theatre, KM building, to start your season.
Transport To and From Debating Finals
As finals can mean multiple venues, please note that buses will NOT run through finals and parents must be responsible for their daughter’s travel both to and from events. Carpooling is recommended.
Parents are welcome to attend and please note that parents must arrange transport home following their daughter’s debate.
Archdale
Round 1 Shield and Invitational Debating began on Tuesday 13 May. Archdale Shield debating Round 1 was at Meriden. While we were a little rusty, it was good to see team bonding taking place and some great speeches.
This Tuesday’s round was at Mount St Benedict’s. We won seven out of eight debates, and our Invitational team won both their debates. Both teams debated up a division. Thanks to Imogen Kee (Year 10) for subbing. Next Tuesday’s Round 3 will be at Pymble with Kincoppal Rose Bay visiting. Hosting will be from the IH building.
Archdale Invitational will run from IH each week unless it is a HOME debate for Shield. In those instances, Invitational will run from Upper Colonnade.
Thank You!
Language Arts would like to thank our debating mothers! Our mums catered for around ninety NSDC visitors last week and then assisted with our hosting the ISDA final the following day. You were tremendous. Thank you Aimy, Amy, Elizabeth, Sylphia, Lisa, Joan, and all who supported Language Arts to feed the hungry debaters. A special thank you also to the music staff who kindly vacated rooms to enable Language Arts to host last Thursday. It was much appreciated.
Public Speaking
DELO – Public Speaking Invitation
“A woman with a strong voice is by definition a strong woman” – Melinda French Gates
Bravo to Jenny Xu (Year 11), our Public Speaking Captain, who was the first Pymble student to enter this inaugural competition and who was selected as a finalist. The Dame Enid Lyons Oratory competition is the most prestigious Public Speaking competition for girls in NSW.
The DELO final was held in the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre, on the evening of Wednesday 21 May. The presenter was Dr Julia Baird.
Audition Feedback
While general feedback was given at a group meeting for Public Speaking auditions, we understand that many would like more specific feedback. Apologies for the wait. We are looking into using AI to assist with the distribution of specific feedback.
Rostrum Regional
Congratulations to Katherine Pan (Year 11) who progressed to Rostrum regionals at Ravenswood last week. Katherine spoke exceptionally well in both her prepared and impromptu speeches.
Model United Nations (MUN)
Pymble Model UN Club (PMUN)
PMUN runs each Monday lunch in DK06. Come along and join us this term. Everyone is welcome. Learn how to prepare for a MUN conference. We will hold our own Winter conference on Saturday 26 July this year. We have also received expressions of interest for a MUN conference to be held at Castle Hill High. Please see our MUN captain, Kiki Chen (Year 11), if interested.
HMUN
Harvard MUN will be held at Cranbrook from Thursday 29 May to Sunday 1 June this year. Co-curricular Administration will provide further information to the twelve girls and parents who registered. All liability waivers need to be sent to Co-curricular Administration ASAP. Delegations will not be issued until all waivers are in.
THIMUN 2026 Tour
All who have expressed interest in the THIMUN tour have been contacted and girls are asked to submit their expression of interest letter by Monday 26 May. First deposits will be due by Monday 2 June.
Mock Law
Bond Mooting
The date for our online heat was Tuesday 20 May at 2.30pm. Results to follow. Thanks to our mooters – Catherine Shi (Year 12), Kitty He (Year 11), and Kiki Chen (Year 11).
Mock Mediation
We have decided to open Mediation skills to more than one team. All those in Years 8 to 10 interested in Mediation will be invited to a lunchtime introductory talk. Stay tuned. This is a terrific life skill and will be a fun internal competition.
Young Justice
At our recent excursion to the Young Justice Day, we discovered that our lecturer was a Pymble Alumni who lectures in Ethics and the Law. We are delighted that she is keen to return to Pymble for a tour and to conduct a lunchtime session for all interested in Ethics and Law. Stay tuned.
Bronwyn Hubbard
Head of Language Arts