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 is off to Worlds. It was wonderful to have these debaters acknowledged in assembly this week.
ISDA and FED
ISDA
Congratulations to Primary B, Year 7, and Year 8, who debated in the ISDA Quarter finals last week. Sadly, Primary B were defeated. Years 7 and 8 were victorious at Shore. On Friday, Year 8 will be at Monte and Year 7 will be at MLC for semi-finals.
Guests are welcome to watch debates. Good luck teams.
Transport To and From ISDA Debating Semi Final
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.
More Debating Opportunities
Social Debating coaches – Thank you to those who have volunteered to assist uni coaches with Social Debating. This competition runs until and including Friday 27 June
Social Debating girls – We look forward to seeing you tomorrow after school in Jobson theatre, KM building, to start your online season.
Archdale
Round 3 Shield and Invitational debating continued Tuesday when we hosted Kincoppal Rose Bay. Next Tuesday, debates will again be held at Pymble. Invitational will be run from Upper Colonnade, and Shield will run from Upper School Common Room.
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.
Public Speaking
DELO – Public Speaking Invitation
“A woman with a strong voice is by definition a strong woman” – Melinda French Gates.
The Dame Enid Lyons Oratory competition is the most prestigious Public Speaking competition for girls in NSW. Please take a look at this ABC footage of some of the DELO contestants with the Governor General, and at the event, by clicking here.
Bravo to Jenny Xu (Year 11), our Public Speaking Captain, who was the first Pymble student to enter this inaugural competition and who was named runner up.
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.
Public Speaking Classes and Ted X
A special shout out to all who attend Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday classes. It is encouraging to watch students gaining confidence and presenting some great speeches. Miss Shen will be replaced on Wednesday next week with Miss Lara Hogan. All the best to Miss Sheng as she prepares to leave to pursue tertiary study overseas.
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 again this year. We have also received invitations to MUN conferences to be held at various high schools including Trinity and Knox. Please see our MUN captain, Kiki Chen (Year 11), if interested and email your interest to Mrs Hubbard.
HMUN
Harvard MUN is being held at Cranbrook from Thursday 29 May to Sunday 1 June this year. Co-curricular Administration will continue to update information to the fourteen girls and parents who registered.
THIMUN 2026 Tour
All who have expressed interest in the THIMUN tour have been contacted and girls were asked to submit their expression of interest letter by Monday 26 May.
Discover MUN
Well done to our Discover MUN team who spent the day at UNSW on Tuesday this week. Special congratulations to Imogen Kee, Nia Arun and Katherine Xu who were awarded prizes for speaking and advocacy. All enjoyed the day, especially the opening speech from former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Turnbull highlighted the rift between Australian and American values under Donald Trump.
Mock Law
Bond Mooting
The date for our online heat was Tuesday 20 May at 2.30pm and results are in! Our team has progressed to the semi finals to be held at Bond University on Saturday 7 June. Thanks to our mooters – Catherine Shi (Year 12), Kitty He (Year 11), and to Kiki Chen (Year 11), silent solicitor. Catherine and Kitty were also awarded honourable mentions for advocacy. They impressed the judges with their oral advocacy skills, their demonstrated understanding of the law, and their ability to articulate legal arguments and respond to judges’ questions. Certificates will be issued to these students shortly and presented at LA showcase.
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 for the date. le for a tour and to conduct a lunchtime session for all interested in Ethics and Law. Stay tuned.
Bronwyn Hubbard
Head of Language Arts