Language Arts
DEBATING
Archdale – Shield and Invitational
Make ups for Shield and Invitational Archdale Debating have now been completed. Congratulations to Year 10 and coach Lara Hogan. Year 10 won both their debates. Congratulations also to our Senior Invitational team and Coach Daniel Judd. Our Senior Invitational team have now progressed straight to the grand final. Other breaking teams are – 7B, 8A, 8B, 9, and 10 – who ranked first out of 24 Year 10 teams. All these teams are likely to be progressing to finals following tie breakers held this week. Pymble was not required for a tie breaker. To those who will not progress, thank you for the season and for your commitment. Details for finals will be forthcoming.
More Debating Activities and Opportunities
PLEASE NOTE – This Friday (tomorrow) Bootcamp and Social Debating will continue in KM.
Social Debating Student coaches – Thank you to those who assist university coaches with Social Debating Competition coaching and adjudicating. We value your help.
Social Debating Classes/Dukes opportunity – Thank you to the Duke of Edinburgh helpers who are assisting coaches with Junior classes. Your help is invaluable.
International Debating Championships (IDC)
Thank you to the girls who have registered teams internally for IDC. Girls who registered as individuals, thank you for your patience as we finalise teams for this Term 4 online competition. We will try to accommodate you. We currently have thirteen teams registered.
Cambridge Schools ANZ Competition
Students are invited to join the Cambridge Schools ANZ competition, which will take place on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August at Riverview and/or via Zoom. Applications close Saturday 23 August.
The competition is a British Parliamentary competition. This year a fifth preliminary round has been added, meaning all teams will get more opportunities to debate.
As always, the top four teams at the competition will be invited to compete at the Cambridge Schools ANZ global finals in March 2026, at Cambridge University.
Registrations can be made by clicking here, and any questions should be directed to the event organisers (contact details in the link). Co-curricular Administration have sent details of this competition to all 2025 debating students.
Garden Party – Saturday 20 September
Language Arts will present some Soapbox and some TEDx speeches at Garden Party. Please contact Mrs Hubbard if you have presented at the TEDx online showcase and are interested. Likewise, please contact Mrs Hubbard if you are interested in presenting a fun Soapbox speech on a pet peeve.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
TEDx
Semester 2 classes continue each Saturday at 10.30am to 12.30pm, 1.00pm to 3.00pm, and 3.15pm to 5.15pm in DK10 with coach Swetha. Please note the venue has changed from KM to the Conde Library studio.
UN Voice of Youth
Co-curricular Administration and Mrs Hubbard have called for expressions of interest for this Term 4 competition. This year we are aiming to streamline registrations. A workshop will be run this term, by current senior Language Arts girls who have progressed to state and national finals in previous years. Two registration options are being presented. These are outlined in the content sent by Co-curricular Administration. Please contact them directly if you missed the expression of interest form.
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 have also received invitations to MUN conferences to be held at various high schools including Trinity and Barker/Knox. Please see our MUN captain, Kiki Chen (Year 11), if interested and email your interest to Mrs Hubbard.
THIMUN – The Hague 2026 Tour
To all who have expressed interest in the January 2026 THIMUN tour to The Netherlands, thank you for your patience. Numbers are down slightly for this opportunity, and we await a response from THIMUN regarding proposals as we move forward. This wonderful opportunity is open to girls in Year 9 and above in 2026. Please contact Mrs Hubbard urgently if interested!
Imogen and Jemma – UN Youth National Conference
Imogen Kee (Year 10) and Jemma Hung (Year 10) attended the UN Youth Australian and New Zealand National Model United Nations Conference in Adelaide. While this was not a school activity, state and national conferences are promoted and seen as a great opportunity to make like-minded friends and to learn more about speaking, diplomacy and global issues. Congratulations girls, we are pleased you enjoyed the conference, and we look forward to your forthcoming report.
UN Negotiations
Congratulations to Leahara Wijesuriya (Year 9) and Katherine Xu (Year 9) who have now completed two rounds of UN Negotiations over the past two Sundays. Leahara and Katherine represented Russia in a conflict against Japan, while the second negotiation involved role playing Chinese and USA politicians. We look forward to hearing your results.
MOCK LAW
Antigone on Trial
Last Friday, we were fortunate to have Linden Barnes, a Senior Ethics Solicitor and Advisor at The Law Society and Pymble alumna preside at Antigone on Trial, an initiative involving Language Arts, the Classics Department and the Centre of Excellence. What a treat! Our Language Arts girls proved formidable in their roles as Court officials (Jemma Hung (Year 10) and Leahara Wijesuriya (Year 9)), Barristers for the Defence and Prosecution (Jasmine Tran (Year 11), Nia Arun (Year 11), Sophie Guo (Year 10) and Isis Li (Year 10)), Antigone (Grace McSweeney (Year 10)) and King Creon (Imogen Kee (Year 10)). Antigone was, by a small margin, found not guilty and was able to resume afternoon lessons. Thank you to Dr Asmonti for initiating this event as part of Languages Week. Thanks also to our Language Arts leaders for all their support.
