Senior Academic Scholarship registrations open to Year 9 students
Pymble offers a number of scholarships each year to girls who are currently in Year 9 at Pymble or external to Pymble who will be in Year 11 in 2027. Registrations for Year 11 2027 Senior Academic Scholarships are currently open.
Information and to register to sit the Academic Test in August visit the Scholarship webpage.
Registrations close on 30 July 2025. The examination will be held at the College on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Scholarship registrations open to current Year 5 students
Pymble offers a number of scholarships each year to girls starting in Year 7 including current Pymble students moving into Year 7. Registrations for Year 7 2027 Rosalie Ramsay Junior Academic Scholarship and Year 7 2027 Performance Scholarship – Music are currently open to our Year 5 students.
Registrations close from 23 July2025 depending on the scholarship. The examination will be held at the College on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Information about portfolio requirements and how to apply can be found online through the Scholarship webpage.
Scholarship registrations for new RTG STEM Scholarship open to current Year 8 students
Pymble has a new scholarship for students with a passion and competent skills in STEM. The RTG STEM Scholarship offered through the Pymble Foundation is open to Year 8 students (current and external students) for a scholarship commencing in Year 9 2026 until Year 12 2029.
Registrations close on 30 July 2025. Students are required to sit an examination held at the College on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Information about portfolio requirements and how to apply can be found online through the Scholarship webpage.
From the Principal
Happy International Nurses Day for Monday to all the nurses in our community, including Mrs Lauren Green, Mrs Brooke Jordan, Mrs Suzie Creswick, Mrs Kathleen Chilton, Mrs Katie Titley, and Mrs Kirsten Smith in our Health Care Centre team. Our fabulous Registered Nurses are always available to care for our Pymble family: scooting around campus in their buggy to patch up skinned knees and falls in the playground; tending to sports injuries on the sidelines; triaging coughs, colds, injuries, wounds, nausea, asthma, anxiety, anaphylaxis, aches and pains; administering prescription medicines to students; escorting Boarders to offsite medical appointments; and looking after unwell Boarders who require care during the school day.
In Term 1 alone, our nurses saw 1745 students and this support also extends to visitors to our campus. Members of the team recently attended to a student from a visiting school who fractured her arm in a soccer tournament, and last year a contractor working on site was the extremely fortunate recipient of a lifesaving EpiPen injection delivered by Lauren. True story!
We are blessed to have this wonderful team of carers who always deliver the right dose of warmth and professionalism to help our community thrive. Our new Wellbeing Centre in the Grey House Precinct will be enormously appreciated by both our students and our dedicated Health Care Centre team when it opens in 2026.
It’s also that time of year when we celebrate the unique qualities and contributions of our residents of Avonmoore, Marden, Goodlet and Lang House.
Boarders’ Week in May is an opportunity to focus on forging deep connections with our students who live, work and play on campus 24/7 during school terms and, for our Year 12 Boarders, some of the holiday breaks, too.
Each year, our Boarders get a huge kick out of hosting a week of events, including the hilariously friendly/fiercely-contested Day Girls Vs Boarders sports matches and a breakfast to say thank you to staff.
While Boarders’ Week activities are highly visible on campus, the all-year-round contributions our Boarders make to our community are not always so evident. So, in honour of our 146 unique, caring and spirited girls in pink jerseys, here are 10 lesser-known reasons why we celebrate our Boarders, not just this week, but every day of the year.
10 (more) reasons why we love our Boarders
10. Their influence extends across the campus. Many of our Senior Boarders care for our Junior School girls who attend our Out of School Hours Care centre, and some stay on as Junior Educators when they graduate from Pymble and go on to tertiary study.
9. ‘Boarders Get Baking’ is a long-established Friday afternoon tradition. In Term 1 this year, under the new banner of ‘Boarders Get Giving’, our resident ‘givers’ used this time to cook meals to donate to the homeless shelter in Hornsby.
8. Living on campus means our Boarders often show up to watch their peers performing and competing at co-curricular events held at Pymble. How lucky our girls are to have a ready-made cheer squad!
7. The Gordon-Pymble Uniting Church parishioners find great joy in their enduring friendship with our Boarders, who attend the Sunday Service twice a year and share morning tea and beautiful chats.
6. Our older Boarders are true Big Sisters to the younger ones, taking them under their wings to help them settle in. Year 10 Big Sisters are buddied up with Year 7 Little Sisters so they can enjoy after-school outings to the shops and other ‘sisterly’ activities.
5. Our First Nations Scholars in Boarding attend Learning on Country programs with our students in Years 5 and 6 to experience traditional Aboriginal games and activities, local culture and sacred sites in Goodooga, Brewarrina and Sydney.
4. Many of our Boarders are members of the Country Women’s Association to connect with and support women in rural, remote and regional areas.
3. Our Boarders are generous hosts of a range of events in their Boarding Houses, including after-school Trick or Treating with OSHC students, Day Girl sleepovers, and afternoon tea with staff.
2. Pymble Boarders are described as “rockstars”, loved and admired widely for their unique personalities, talents and gifts. Unlike some rockstars, however, they are also the most humble, resilient and down-to-earth people who just ‘get on with it’ and ‘get on with each other’.
1. Their lives back home are as diverse as you could imagine and a far cry from many of ours. By generously sharing their stories, which include working on the farm during holidays, urban living in Hong Kong and waking up to “Uluru in my backyard”, our Boarders remind us that we have much to gain from listening to each other with open hearts and minds, and respect.
Thank you to all who support our Boarders
Having been a Boarder from the age of 10, I have a unique understanding of the challenges and the benefits of Boarding. Our Boarding community fills me with great pride; our girls, our staff and their remarkable families, led by our inspiring and influential alumna, Mrs Edwina Beveridge, are the heart and soul of Pymble.
We also have a small army of parents of day students who rally around our Boarders, taking them to sport and any number of other events, and welcoming them as guests in their homes. I know our Boarding parents would want me to acknowledge and thank these generous members of our community who open their hearts and homes to their daughters.
From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Our girls are capable of anything they put their mind to. This week, I am proud to report on the many initiatives our girls are leading to bring ideas into action. It’s easy to forget the age of our girls when I hear or see them leading clubs and working together to share ideas and lead the change they want to see.
Last week, I was dazzled by our Year 6 girls who had worked over the last few weeks to research and prepare a formal pitch requesting the addition of a music app to their Wise Phones. Seven girls pitched to three members of the College Senior Executive team and were supported by an impressive research team; the girls spoke with confidence and conviction.
They were justifiably proud of the decision in their favour and Year 6 are now proving they are young women of their word as they work through the six-week trial period for these musical apps. Congratulations Year 6! I am very proud of the way you worked together and the maturity of your arguments and research presented in support of your case.
Leading change through our clubs and Student Leaders
Our Sustainability Captains are impressing us all with their determination to lead positive change as evidenced by this open letter, written by our 2025 Sustainability Leaders Harper Chen, Mia Farthing, Aurora Lin and Scarlett Qiu:
Composting
During Term 1, our focus was on composting. Each Sustainability Captain was provided with a bucket to collect fruit and vegetable scraps, which were then emptied into the compost bins at the end of the day. This initiative will continue into Term 2, with more compost bins installed throughout the Junior School playground to ensure food scraps aren’t filled to the brim.
Composting plays a vital role in enriching the soil and reducing methane emissions, which contribute significantly to environmental harm. These compost bins house earthworms that consume food scraps and produce nutrient-rich fertiliser, supporting plant growth. When food biodegrades in landfill, it releases methane, a gas far more harmful than carbon dioxide. By composting, we prevent these emissions and uphold a more sustainable Junior School environment.
Return and Earn
This term, our sustainability focus is recycling, with an emphasis on plastic waste. We are pleased to introduce the Return and Earn program to the Junior School. Recently, we had noticed a concerning number of discarded plastic bottles at Archie’s Café, many of which could have been recycled. Most of these bottles are eligible for a 10-cent refund at the local Return and Earn centres.
To support this initiative, a designated collection bucket has been placed outside Hedgehog House for students to deposit their plastic bottles. The funds generated through recycling will be donated to local charities, allowing our sustainability efforts to make a broader impact within the community.
Waste-Free Friday
Waste-Free Friday is an initiative introduced by the Sustainability Committee (and Year 3 Waste Free Warriors – Lucinda, Isla, Georgia & Georgie) to promote environmentally conscious habits among students. Every Friday, during Compass lunch, each class’ Sustainability Captain will record the number of non-recyclable or non-reusable items found in lunchboxes for crunch and sip, recess and lunch that day. At the beginning of the following week, the top classes with the least waste will be acknowledged in assembly.
This program aims to encourage a waste-free Junior School while fostering responsible consumption and sustainable habits.
We look forward to making our Junior School more sustainable with YOUR support.
Thank you!
Written by Harper, Mia, Aurora and Scarlett
Service challenge for our Junior School: Kindness and Care
Thank you to all of you for supporting your daughters in engaging in acts of service and care around the home and local community this term. I am proud to report that we have already completed 576 acts of service. I am extremely proud of the determination shown by our Term 2 Kindness Captains from Year 1 to 6 who are leading this initiative. Each week we will give an update as to the number of acts of service we have completed.
Putting ideas into action: an update from our SRC Leaders
As the Year 6 Student Representative Committee leaders this year, we are committed to empowering girls to have a say and share their voices within our Junior School community. From their suggestions, we have come up with a variety of new initiatives, including a pyjama day that would be a fundraiser for Bowden Brae (an aged-care centre) and extra handballs in our playground for recess and lunch.
We collaborated with the girls who visit Bowden Brae each fortnight. They noticed the piano there needed to be tuned so we have come together to raise money to tune the piano, by organising a pyjama day for the girls on Friday 6 June. Girls can wear their pyjamas that day with a gold coin donation.
Another idea that was brought up in our SRC meetings was extra handballs in the courtyard, which we implemented last week with a new box of handballs and tennis balls. Through listening to everyone’s suggestions, we can create a united Pymble community. As SRC Leaders, we aim to make every voice in the Junior School heard and respected, no matter how small.
Written by SRC Leaders Emma Feng, Emily Long, Sarah Lu and Loriah Zhang
A message from Mrs Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics
Mathematical Thinking: Building reasoning skills in our junior mathematicians
Thank you for the positive feedback on the Year 3 to 6 mathematics workshop as part of our parent series. As outlined in the presentation, we continue to drive a culture of strong proficient mathematicians in the Junior School focusing on mastery over memorisation.
To support our girls as junior mathematicians, in mathematics lessons across the Junior School there is a strong emphasis on Mathematical Thinking, an overarching outcome within the NSW Mathematics K–10 Syllabus 2024. This includes the vital skills of communicating, understanding and fluency, problem solving and reasoning.
When working mathematically, the girls develop their mathematical understanding and fluency by connecting mathematical concepts, applying mathematical strategies and techniques to solve problems, communicating their mathematical thinking and reasoning clearly. When the girls are working mathematically, it assists them to develop mathematical habits of mind.
In the classrooms, the girls are encouraged to explain their thinking, explore different strategies, and engage deeply with mathematical concepts, promoting resilience and confidence in their learning.
To extend the girls beyond the classroom they are provided opportunities to apply their mathematical knowledge to real world problems by participating in mathematical investigations. This includes the Mathematics Association of NSW Investigating with Mathematics competition where girls apply their mathematical understanding and thinking to real world problems through guided investigations. Girls also apply their mathematical understanding across other key learning areas such as Science, Geography and History.
“I love when we do problem-solving questions because it makes my brain work and it is fun.” – Stella (Year 2)
“I like to skip count because it is fun when we project our voice and we have all become better at counting.” – Evelyn (Year 2)
“I am very clever at using a number line and I can now put numbers in the right spot. Using a number line to find the difference between numbers is really interesting.” – Mira (Year 2)
“Learning to tell the time is fun because we get our own clocks and I can now tell the time better.” – Alycia (Year 2)
“I am more confident using language to explain how I think when adding numbers. I know to bridge and split into quantity values to find the answer.” – Charlie (Year 2)
“I like skip counting because it helps our brain think about numbers to help with other maths areas. I like it because I notice patterns with even and odd numbers.” – Lily (Year 2)
“When I come across a question that can’t be easily solved in my mind, I like to use methods as tools such as split and jump. However, in some Maths problems, some strategies might not work so it is better to always have a few strategies in the back of your mind. I also prefer having group discussions as my classmates’ ideas might make it easier to find a solution. Some methods that I use are splitting numbers in their place value, number lines and algorithms.” – Violet (Year 4)
“I think it’s really important to try different strategies in Maths. The more I know, the better I can choose the one that works best for each question. I enjoy it when problems have more than one possible answer because it gives me a chance to show my understanding in different ways. I’ve also noticed that finding patterns can help make tricky questions easier to solve.” – Yantong (Year 4)
“Have you ever wondered why Maths is exciting? Maths is exciting because you can explore and learn different ways to solve a question. You don’t have to use one way to solve a question, but what happens when you come across a hard and challenging question and you can’t solve it? The answer is not to quit! Instead, revisit different strategies in your mind and try one that can help solve the problem. If you can’t find the answer, try a new strategy. When you solve a question that is tricky, how would you feel? The answer is up to you. I feel happy and proud of myself because I have overcome my fear.” – Claire (Year 4)
“When I solve a question, I read the whole question first. I identify if there any patterns or relationships with the numbers. Then, I start to work out the solution. Another way I work mathematically is in a group. I like communicating and sharing answers verbally and completing investigations.” – Angela (Year 5)
“I believe that I work better by communicating answers with my friends because I get to learn different strategies and then I’m able to apply them when I come across another question that may be similar.” – Euphemia (Year 5)
Parents can support their daughter’s mathematical thinking at home by asking questions such as:
How did you work that out?
What are you using to help you solve the problem?
Why did you select that strategy?
Can you show me another way to solve it?
What did you find out about the different ways to find the solution?
Why do you think that answer makes sense?
What do you need to find out?
Is there a pattern or rule you can see?
Everyday activities can be mathematical experiences for your daughter including cooking or baking (measurement and time), shopping (budgeting, addition and subtraction with decimals, percentages) and travel (reading timetables, estimating time and distance). Reading picture books that focus on mathematical concepts and games such as Uno or sudoku to build mental computation are also wonderful opportunities to share with your daughter.
ICAS Assessments and Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC)
Information regarding ICAS Assessments and the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) will soon be available on the MyPymble parent portal. These optional competitions will be held before school for Years 3 to 6 in Term 3.
Pymble Junior School Weather Station
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Pymble Junior School Weather Station. As part of the Year 2 Science unit of work, the girls are now delivering daily weather reports to their peers. This hands on initiative supports learning in Science and Mathematics by enabling the girls to collect, interpret and communicate data.
Junior School Paper Plane Competition
We are excited to invite the girls to compete in the Junior School Paper Plane Competition, to be held at lunch in Week 4 from Monday to Wednesday. The girls can compete in two categories: paper planes constructed at school and those constructed at home. This week girls can construct their paper planes ready for the competition at recess and lunch in Hedgehog House or they can work with family members and construct their plane at home.
Northside Gifted and Talented Network
Pymble Ladies’ College Junior School is a member of the Northside Gifted and Talented Network (Northside G&T). This network provides opportunities for selected students to attend workshops at member schools across the school year. Northside G&T are hosting an evening with Dr Ruth Philips.
Parents are welcome to attend this information evening to listen to Dr Ruth Philips. For more information, please click here to view the flyer. If you would like further information, please email Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academic – lbird@pymblec.nsw.edu.au
A message from Mrs Martha Itzcovitz, Junior School Teacher Librarian 3-6
We had two wonderful author visits in the 3-6 Library last week.
Jacueline Harvey took Year 5 on an historical journey through the French revolution with tales of ghosts, mysteries and old chateauxs. Jacquelline gave us a glimpse into her inspiration process for her stories, including meeting the Crown Pince of Brunei!
Poet and author Joel McKerrow brought poetry alive, enthralling Year 6 (and the teachers!) with his poetry performance and stories of rapping with his band in Nashville. Did you know rap stands for rhythm and poetry? We didn’t! Joel also illustrated how poetry techniques can be used in prose to make our writing more interesting and showed us how inspiration can come from the most ordinary memory when we put ourselves inside it and ask what if?
A message from Mr Stephen Robinson (Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations)
K-2 Carline Zone – No Parking Area
Drivers in this area would have seen new signage that aims to keep the road restricted to a single lane of cars only near the drop off zone. We kindly as parents to not park in this single lane area but rather find a space to park on either side. The small inconvenience of walking means we can all keep this area safe for students with slow and controlled car movement in the area.
Leave From School
If you are planning to have your daughter take leave during the school term for two days or more, you must complete the Exemption from Attendance Application form in advance of the absence.
Please do not enter ‘holiday’ into the free-form response on the MyPymble App.
Uniform and Appearance
Thank you for showing respect to the College uniform policy with your daughter arriving to school in her full winter uniform for this term and Term 3.
All students are expected to wear their uniform correctly and with pride, which means the top button is done up and the tie is correctly fitted.
Uniforms cannot be mixed with each season. This includes no co-curricular jackets as the primary source of uniform. These can only be worn underneath the PE tracksuit on such days.
Please ensure all items of clothing are clearly labelled, including tunic belts and ties. We recommend white markers to be used to label dark clothing items.
Junior School Canteen Helpers
The Junior School Canteen will continue for Term 2 on Wednesday and Friday. Junior School allows students to purchase (through Flexischools) cold drinks and frozen desserts. Once your order is placed your daughter will have a brown paper bag, where she will go to the Junior School Canteen (lunch tub room) to collect her cold treat.
Please click here if you can volunteer your time. For the care and safety of your daughters, all volunteers must have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC). If we do not already have your WWCC on file, please email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au your WWCC number and date of birth so your WWCC can be verified.
Term 2 After-School Arrangements
Girls in Years 3 to 6 are responsible for remembering where they need to go after school each day. Please update your daughter’s diary with her Term 2 after-school arrangements to assist her to remember where to go each afternoon.
For girls in Kindergarten to Year 2, please email any changes for Term 2 to the Junior School office at juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and advise if this is a permanent or casual change to your daughter’s arrangements. Please note that it is important that any changes to travel arrangements are received prior to 2.00pm.
Girls with older sisters – Girls wait at the Junior School Library until their sister collects them by 3.30pm or at OSHC if they have a sister in the Senior School (bookings need to be made with OSHC for supervision purposes only, no charges will occur).
Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance– Ticket sales close tomorrow at 9.00am!
Year 6 parents are invited to the Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance on Saturday 24 May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm at the Killara Golf Club. This event is one of the most anticipated annual traditions in the Junior School, and is the final dance girls will have with their parents before moving on to the Secondary School.
The theme for this year’s dance is Florals and Sparkles, which will accentuate the beautiful aesthetics of the golf club surrounds. Please note, girls will need to be suitably dressed at this event as golf club etiquette dictates, and should refrain from wearing denim or ripped pants.
Tickets include substantial canapés, soft drinks, dessert bar, DJ and entertainment. Additional beverages can be purchased at the bar.
We’re looking forward to celebrating with you and your daughter on this special night!
Scholarship registrations open to current Year 5 students
Pymble offers a number of scholarships each year to girls starting in Year 7 including current Pymble students moving into Year 7. Registrations for Year 7 2027 Rosalie Ramsay Junior Academic Scholarship and Year 7 2027 Performance Scholarship – Music are currently open to our Year 5 students.
Registrations close from 23 July2025 depending on the scholarship. The examination will be held at the College on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Information about portfolio requirements and how to apply can be found online through the Scholarship webpage.
Mother’s Day Photos
Junior School Digital News
Important Dates
Wednesday 21 May – National Simultaneous Storytime 12.00pm
Wednesday 21 May – K-6 Parent Academic and Wellbeing Series
Wednesday 21 May – JSPG Term 2 Meeting
Wednesday 21 May – Sydney Writers Festival
Friday 23 May – Dance Eisteddfod and Formula Goblin team excursion
Happy Boarders’ Weekto all of our Year 7 and 8 Boarding families. This week we have had great fun decorating the Middle School office to reflect the richness of our Boarders who hail from near and far:
Year 7
Alyangula, NT – Narromine, NSW – Gravesend, NSW – Forbes, NSW – Oura, NSW -Walgett, NSW – Obley, NSW – Rawdon Island, NSW – Rankin Springs, NSW – Canowindra, NSW – Tokyo, Japan – Bourke, NSW – Cowra, NSW – Eurunderee, NSW – Port Macquarie, NSW – Gravesend, NSW – Woollahra, NSW
Year 8
Wellington, NSW – Hong Kong – Cootamundra, NSW – Walgett, NSW – Young, NSW – Cudal, NSW – Burren Junction, NSW – Scone, NSW – Mitijulu, NT – Tennyson Point, NSW – Rocky Glen, NSW – Gunnedah, NSW – Spring Flat, NSW – Redfern, NSW – Breeza, NSW – Walgett, NSW – Thursday Island, QLD
Our photographic display of the girls’ favourite animals has adorned the walls and invited many compliments. We had a barnyard of animals for all to enjoy.
Thank you to our Boarders who worked diligently to produce some amazing woven pieces of art and dream catchers that were hung in the Middle School garden in celebration of the theme of weaving communities together: Threads of Connection. Everyone had a lovely time at the Middle School Boarders’ morning tea today.
This week we have continued to interview those shortlisted for Year 7 leadership positions. The applicants have been impressive in their confident presentation and range of proposed initiatives. We hope to be able to finalise position towards the end of next week.
Week 3 provided an opportunity for our first year assemblies for Term 2 and I would like to acknowledge the investment of our Heads of Year who worked to ensure engagement and poignant messages about the importance of respect and inclusion within Middle School.
Below is a window into these important community events for Years 7 and 8 students. Congratulations to the many students who received individual recognition for their contribution to building community last term.
Year 7 Assembly Outline
Words have power, and the way we use them shapes the experiences of those around us. In a deeply personal and thought-provoking assembly, our Heads of Year shared their own encounters with the way language can influence identity and belonging.
Karen reflected on the impact of the ‘OK Karen’ stereotype, while her co-leader spoke about the assumptions and perceptions he has faced as a Jewish man working in an all-girls Christian school. These stories encouraged students to consider how everyday interactions – such as comments about someone’s background or cultural differences – can influence inclusion and connection.
To build on this conversation, students will take part in the ‘Rewrite the Narrative’ activity in their Compass lessons next week. Working in small groups, they will reflect on real-life interactions and explore ways to shift conversations toward inclusivity and respect.
The lesson will conclude with the creation of class pledge boards – visible commitments to fostering a supportive and welcoming school environment. Through this initiative, students will deepen their understanding of how thoughtful language can strengthen relationships and celebrate the diversity within our community.
Year 8 Assembly Outline
On Tuesday, our Year 8 Boarders presented to the year group assembly. They created beautiful slides showing their families, their home routines, the fun activities they are involved in when they return home. All of them demonstrated our Pymble values and epitomised the significance of their Threads of Connection which is the theme for 2025.
They have a genuine love for their Boarding sisters and the opportunity to connect in many different ways. They all spoke of their growing independence and the joy of returning to their homes and in particular, their pets, including chickens, a bunny, dogs and cats, horses, sheep and cattle. We love their diverse stories and their capacity to be inclusive within the year group. After all, how many people can say they can see Uluru from their backyard? Incredible!
Next week, the first three groups of our national exchange program will be heading off to Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. Thank you in advance to the teachers accompanying the girls and their families who will host their daughter’s Exchange Sister on return. It promises to be a wonderful experience for all involved.
International Nurses Day
Our school nurses play a vital role in our community and Middle School wanted to acknowledge the dedication and care that they provide to the girls. This week Aaira (Year 8) interviewed the team:
Hi, I’m Aaira! This week I had the great opportunity to interview our amazing nurses in healthcare in honour of International Nurses Day on Monday. I interviewed Lauren, Brooke, Marie and Suzie.
What are some of your day to day responsibilities as nurses at the Pymble Health Care Centre?
We see any of the students that need any sort of medication or have hurt themselves, we see any of the Boarders as they don’t have family or parents to check up on them if they have problems like headaches and muscle pains.
We don’t just take care of the students but the staff as well. There are around 2,500 students at the College and up to 1,000 staff, and we cater for everyone in the Pymble community.
Do you provide health education for students? If so, what kind?
We are constantly reminding students about how to keep their puffers and epipens safe and near them at all times. We also like to get out and talk to each year group, with big presentations on things such as vaping. We have done talks on epilepsy and lots of other talks, such as anaphylaxis, that we do with the heads of Boarding houses. With Year 12, we make sure to emphasise how they should take care of themselves with their different doctors, and tests they should take to ensure their bodies are doing well as they are going to universities all over the world, sometimes on their own.
These questions are just two many I asked our nurses.
Make sure to appreciate the nurses around you!
Congratulations to our newly appointed Compass Captains. Good luck for the term ahead.
Congratulations to Misaki Nakakoji (Year 7) who won both the U14 Latin Dance section and U14 Latin Open Championship at the Open Worldscompetition in the UK last week. This is one of the major international competitions of social dance in the world. She is now a WORLD CHAMPION for her age group. What an amazing achievement!
Scholarship registrations for new RTG STEM Scholarship open to current Year 8 students
Pymble has a new scholarship for students with a passion and competent skills in STEM. The RTG STEM Scholarship offered through the Pymble Foundation is open to Year 8 students (current and external students) for a scholarship commencing in Year 9 2026 until Year 12 2029.
Registrations close on 30 July 2025. Students are required to sit an examination held at the College on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Information about portfolio requirements and how to apply can be found online through the Scholarship webpage.
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School
From the Upper School
A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
Each year during Boarders Week, the Upper School team loves the opportunity to shine a spotlight on our Year 9 and 10 Boarders, celebrating the important role they play in the Pymble community. We want our Boarders to know how deeply we value their contributions and the unique perspectives they bring to life at Pymble.
This year, we continued our partnership with Farmer Dave, delighting students with silky chickens from the Agricultural Plot. We also unveiled the 2025 edition of our scarecrow and displayed the beautiful bunting crafted by Mrs Myles last year, which brought colour to our Upper School spaces along with the profile posters of our Boarders.
A standout addition was the new sign post, thoughtfully created by Mr Peter Ellis. This signpost highlights the diverse home regions of our Boarders, visually illustrating the distances they travel to be part of our community. It sparked conversations and offered our day students a chance to learn more about the backgrounds and experiences of their boarding friends.
We extend a huge thank you to the dedicated Pymble staff who helped bring our Boarders display to life.
We hope our Boarders have enjoyed the week and truly felt appreciated for all they contribute to Pymble. Thank you to everyone who made this week so memorable.
A special mention goes to our Boarders for leading this week’s Year assemblies, further demonstrating their leadership and spirit within the College.
Contributions from some of our Upper School Boarders
Allegra Taubenschlag
My name is Allegra, and I am a Year 10 Boarder in Goodlet House. I come from a little area in the Snowy Mountains called Crackenback, which is 30 minutes from the Victorian border. I live there with my parents, my sister, and our two Golden Retrievers. I love to ski, mountain bike and hike when I’m home. It’s a peaceful place surrounded by nature, and while I love it here in Sydney, I miss my family, my dogs, and having space to just breathe.
I started at Pymble in Year 8 in 2023, and it was a big change at first. Boarding was a new experience, but over time, it’s really become a second home to me. I’ve been lucky to be involved in so many activities, from playing soccer with my friends to taking on leadership opportunities that give us a voice. One of the things I have been most passionate about is rowing. I’ve worked hard to be part of the Inter First VIII, and it has been an incredible journey. We’ve had an amazing season, and I’m proud to be part of such a dedicated and successful team.
Boarding life has its ups and downs, but I love the sense of community. There is always someone around to talk to, to laugh with, or just to hang out. Some of my favourite memories are the late-night chats, the boarding games, and just spending time around with my friends after a long day. It feels like one big sleepover, most of the time.
Pymble has helped me grow in so many ways. I’ve become more independent, confident, and resilient, and I have learned how to manage my time and face challenges head-on. Rowing has taught me so much about teamwork, dedication, and pushing through when things get tough. I’m really grateful for everything I’ve experienced here, and I’m excited for what’s still to come.
Alex (Cabbage) Reardon
My name is Alex Reardon, and I am a Year 10 Boarder in Goodlet House. I come from a country town called Moree in North West NSW, about an eight-hour drive from Sydney. I live on my family farm with my brothers, Angus and Hugh, my Mum and Dad, as well as two dogs and two horses.
On the farm, we have cropping including wheat, barley, sagum, and fava beans and more, as well as sheep. I love going home in the holidays, because there is so much open space, I enjoy going for runs through the back paddocks, and working on the farm with my dad, and seeing my friends from primary school.
Although, there is always a point in the holidays where I just want to go back to school. Boarding has its ups and downs and there will always be times where you won’t enjoy it. But overall, I love living with all the Boarders, as well as some of my best friends. Boarding provides me with so much support, including the study and prep program, organising sports and co-curricular, or just helping me when I’m having a bad day.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Victoria O’Sullivan, Ella Gungor, Iris O’Brien, Mia Chan, Katerina Economou and Annabel Taylor who were valuable members of the cast of the Knox musical, We will rock you.
Special Year 9 Assembly
In our Year 9 Assembly last week, we explored both the range of wellbeing supports available to our students and the importance of engaging in effective self-care strategies. Along with our College psychologists, we also explored the importance of language in identifying and communicating emotions. Using evidence-based research from Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence (https://rulerapproach.org/), we explored the notion that by correctly naming our emotions, we are more likely to be able to ‘tame’ these emotions.
We know that young people can sometimes communicate online and via text message to each other using strong emotive language without necessarily meaning what they write. We have asked students to make a conscious effort to reserve this type of language for if and when they may need support. By doing so, we can ensure that such language does not lose its meaning and that students are more reflective of the way in which they communicate online to one another.
Inspiring Women in Science and Health (I-WiSH)
There is an opportunity for 50 Year 10 students to participate in a special program during National Science Week in August. I-WiSH (Inspiring Women in Science and Health) is a Pymble Institute initiative which aims to inspire students’ interest in careers in science and health.
This year’s program will take place on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 August at the College and at the San Hospital. Students will meet a range of women, working in medicine, public health, academia, science labs and research programs, who will mentor them as they complete the I-WiSH Challenge.
The challenge is undertaken in small groups and involves using a design thinking approach to solve a problem that the mentor is facing in her work or research. Joining Pymble girls will be girls from Abbotsleigh and Wahroonga Adventist School.
If you are passionate about your studies in Science or PDHPE, can see yourself following a career in Science or Health, and would like to extend your skills and knowledge, then I-WiSH is for you.
Senior Academic Scholarship registrations open to Year 9 students
Pymble offers a number of scholarships each year to girls who are currently in Year 9 at Pymble or external to Pymble who will be in Year 11 in 2027. Registrations for Year 11 2027 Senior Academic Scholarships are currently open.
Visit the Scholarship webpage for more information and to register for the Academic Test in August.
Registrations close on 30 July 2025. The examination will be held at the College on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Around the Grounds
Key Dates – Term 2
Friday 16 May – igsa Cross Country at Frensham
Tuesday 27 May – Year 9 Residential Program Term 3 Parent Information Evening
Thursday 29 May – Year 10 Make-up Vaccinations
Saturday 31 May – PPA Parent Trivia Night
Tuesday 10 June – Year 10 Subject Selection Evening
Thursday 12 June – Pymble Year 2-12 Athletics Carnival
Tuesday 24 June – Secondary School Ensemble Concert
Friday 27 June – Boarder’s Travel Day
Friday 27 June – Last day of Term 2
Victoria Harrison
Head of Upper School
From the Senior School
A message from Patricia Gallardo, Acting Head of Senior School
It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end of Week 3 – the term is certainly flying by! With routines now well established, it’s a great time to check in with your child about their learning goals, co-curricular commitments and overall wellbeing. A strong start to the term sets the foundation for continued success, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers or compass staff if you have any questions or concerns.
Academic support sessions have now commenced, and teacher appointments are beginning to fill up. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to seek help early and stay on top of their learning. Please note that after-hours study is not available in the KM building on Friday evenings. For safety and supervision reasons, students must use the library if they wish to remain on campus after hours.
Trangia Masterchef, hosted by our Community Prefects Christiana Soo and Madeleine Watson
As part of Community Week, our Outdoor Education Prefect, Erin Porter, led a fantastic initiative: Trangia Masterchef. Students were challenged to cook a creative and delicious meal using a set amount of Trangia fuel and a limited selection of ingredients.
The competition brought great energy, teamwork, and plenty of laughs, with some truly impressive culinary results. Congratulations to our winning teams – your resourcefulness and flair stood out!
A big thank you to Erin for organising such a fun and engaging activity that highlighted both our school values and some serious outdoor cooking skills!
Year 11: Mock interviews to the support their personal and career development
As many Year 11 students begin their journey of applying for part-time jobs, scholarships, residential colleges, cadetships and internships, we’re offering mock interviews to help them build confidence and develop the skills needed to make a strong impression.
Students will be interviewed by members of our non-teaching staff, giving them the chance to practise professional communication with adults they may not know – just like in a real interview setting.
Mock interviews will help students:
respond to common interview questions;
speak confidently about their strengths and goals; and
receive personalised feedback to support their development.
When: Week 6 and Week 8 Friday Mind-Body-Spirit session
How to book: Students can click here to book their interviews.
Places are limited, and we strongly encourage Year 11 students to take part in this valuable opportunity. This initiative is designed to complement the current Compass curriculum by allowing students to build on and practise the skills they are developing.
Year 12 Charity Trivia Night – A night to remember!
Wow – what an evening! The Year 12 Charity Trivia Night was a huge success, filled with laughter, competition and unforgettable outfits. The students truly embraced the spirit of the event, dressing up in creative and colourful costumes that surpassed all expectations. It was a night full of fun and memories that will last a lifetime.
The goal of the evening was to raise funds for the Sir David Martin Foundation, and thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our community, we’ve already raised over $1,900, with donations still coming in.
Special thanks to Mrs Karina Richter and Mr Adam Levin, who brought humour and flair to the night as our fabulous Barbie and Ken MCs. A huge thank you also to Mr Andrew Heggie and Mrs Catherine Schreuder for their outstanding work behind the scenes – planning the event, writing trivia questions and managing the setup.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes in the scoring room, our amazing Year 11 student volunteers helped ensure the night ran smoothly – thank you for your energy and support.
What a team effort for a wonderful cause!
Key Dates – Term 2
29 May – Year 12 Photographs
9 June – Public Holiday – Kings Birthday Long Weekend
12 June – Athletics Carnival
13 June – Wrapped with Love
From the Year 11 Parent Group
Patricia Gallardo
Acting Head of Senior School
From the Boarding School
It has been a wonderful week celebrating all things Boarding and fabulous to see the love of pink extending itself across the College! Boarders’ Week is special for so many reasons, not the least it is a beautiful recognition of the wonderful family of 146 incredible young women who live here on site.
Boarders’ Week also celebrates the wider Pymble family who make living at Pymble so special. Our heartfelt thanks go to the entire Pymble staff, students and families who go out of their way to make living at this beautiful College so special.
Along with the Boarding houses, it has become a wonderful tradition that the school offices ‘dress themselves up’ for Boarders’ Week and this year the frivolity has extended itself to various departments, including Performing Arts and Out of School Hours Care. My heartfelt thanks go to these special people who are the frontline supporters of our Boarders, not just during Boarders’ Week but every day!
One of the favourite activities of the week is the day girls verses Boarders sport matches, and there was plenty of action on and off the field. While the day girls certainly edged us out in water polo and volleyball, the Boarders were triumphant in touch football and netball. There’s no doubt the Boarders were the winners with cheering, and despite their relatively small numbers, they created much noise, fun and spirit.
Boarders’ Week was also the opportunity to learn from our past Boarders and on Tuesday night we were delighted to welcome Jen Tighe (Head Boarder 1993) to our Tuesday night chapel service. Jen boarded at Pymble for six years and was honoured to serve as Head Boarder in her final year. Her daughters, India (2024) and Olianna (Year 11), are the third generation of her family to attend the College.
After university, Jen began her career in finance, working with NAB and later Macquarie Bank as an associate director. An opportunity with Macquarie took her to Asia, where she spent seven years living and working across Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, all while raising three young children.
In 2016, Jen and her family moved to Bali, where she founded The Garden Early Learning Centres and Good Living Asia. She now lives in Sydney and travels regularly to Indonesia to oversee her businesses.
A strong believer in community and giving back, Jen also co-founded The Bali Mother and Baby House, a safe haven for abandoned babies and single mothers in crisis. I hope you enjoy reading the transcript Jen’s inspiring presentation.
I arrived at Pymble on 29 January 1988. Like all Year 7s at the time, I spent my first year living in Hammond House — now the Health Care Centre. I’d come from Forbes Primary School, and like many of you, was suddenly thrown into a whole new world. The biggest plane I’d ever been on was a crop duster, the furthest I’d travelled was Queensland, and somehow Forbes Primary had managed to not explain what a decimal place was! I was on a steep learning curve.
As you get older, six years can feel like the blink of an eye — but the six years you spend here are deeply formative. Living away from home, growing up alongside your peers, and learning to navigate life with a new level of independence — it all leaves a lasting mark.
You’ve probably heard it before from other ex-Boarders, and yes, we do love to bang on about how much better you’ve got it now. But honestly, some of it is true. When I was here, the balconies were open, and our beds were stacked all around them. Winters were freezing — especially on nights when someone would toss your doona off the balcony for a laugh, leaving you shivering on just a mattress. We were allowed out only two weekends in a term, and it wasn’t until Year 12 that we were permitted to walk to Pymble shops for one hour on a Friday afternoon.
There was one pay phone per house — in Goodlet, it was under the stairs. On Sundays, we’d write our names on the board to take turns using it. A bunch of us would pool our coins and call Baker House at Kings or Robson House at Shore, and we’d talk to the boys until a senior girl kicked us off. We were always hungry — we spent most lunchtimes trying to convince a day girl to swap her meal for one of our revolting baked bean or jam sandwiches.
So yes, times have definitely changed as for the past five years. I’ve asked Rosie or Phoebe (current Boarders) if they need anything from Woolies, and their answer is always, “No, we’re fine, Jen.” That would not have been my answer back in the day. If a day girl’s mum had offered me a Woolies run, I’d have had a list ready, from tampons to Tim Tams.
But despite the differences, some things stay the same. You live with a group of girls for years, all of you sharing one fundamental experience: living away from home. And through that, you become deeply connected. You rely on these girls – they support you, give you advice, hold space for you when you’re shaky, laugh with you when you are not. But just as importantly, you learn that you can rely on yourself. If something needs doing, you figure out how to do it. That quiet independence is something every Boarder builds — and trust me, it will serve you for life.
You’ll hear this a lot, but I’ll say it again: there is so much on offer at Pymble. And people keep telling you to take advantage of it because once you leave school, you’ll understand how much harder it is to try new things. Joining a sporting team in the real world? Sure, it’s possible — but you’ve got to find the club, check the level, sign up, pay, show up on your own and hope it’s not a total dud. And if you want to be in a musical or play? Even harder. So if you’re even vaguely curious about trying something — being in the chorus, working backstage, playing basketball for the first time — do it here. You won’t regret it.
One of my only regrets from my time as a Boarder is this: I wish I’d asked more questions. I wish I’d been more curious about the other girls around me — especially those who came from different places and backgrounds. I was friends with everyone but for some I didn’t delve deep enough. By Year 12, we had 44 Boarders in my year. Some were from Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam — and one had even been homeschooled on a yacht. It wasn’t until I started travelling in my 20s that I realised how much knowledge and perspective I had missed out on by not asking these girls more questions about their childhood. What were their families like? What did weekends look like for them before Pymble? How did they celebrate birthdays or cultural events? There was so much richness right beside me that I didn’t tap into. So, if you’re not already — get curious. Be interested in each other. Ask, listen and share.
When I left Pymble, I wanted to be a doctor. I didn’t get into med, so I picked the next course on the list I could get into — diagnostic radiography. Not the smartest way to choose a degree. And, unsurprisingly, not the right fit for me. I ended up in finance, which might sound random, but what I discovered along the way is that what I loved was – people. In finance, that meant I moved more towards management — building teams, solving problems, working with others. I now own Early Learning Centres in Bali, another completely different path.
So my advice on careers is this: don’t just choose a course because you can get in. Try to find subjects that actually interest you. But also, don’t stress too much. If you get it wrong, it’s not the end of the world. Most of you will end up in jobs that don’t even exist yet. The better questions are: What lights you up? Are you someone who loves being around people? Or do you prefer working solo? Do you love the outdoors? Or literature? Work backwards from what energises you, not from a job title.
That winding path in finance took me overseas — first to Japan, then Hong Kong, then Singapore, and finally Bali. And I can honestly say: if I hadn’t been a Boarder, I don’t think I would’ve had the confidence to take those leaps. When you’ve spent years making decisions for yourself — without your family there every day — you develop a strong sense of independence. You get better at weighing up risks and backing yourself. So when the job in Japan came up, I didn’t hesitate — I knew I’d be okay. That kind of self-assurance is something boarding gives you in spades. It’s not as easy to build when you go home every afternoon to your family. After five years in Singapore, we decided to take a “one-year break” in Bali… which ended up becoming seven years.
Everyone said it was “brave” to move to a developing country, especially as I had three small children. But to me, it didn’t feel brave — it felt like the next adventure. And that confidence — to adapt, to try new things, to figure it out — started here, in boarding. While in Bali, we built two early learning centres and cafés. Do I use diagnostic radiography now? Not even a little. But that’s the beauty of it — every step still leads you somewhere valuable. Nothing is ever a waste of time.
And finally, I want to say something about community. I think being a Boarder instils this instinct to look out for others — whether it’s younger years, your peers, or someone struggling. Living in Bali made me more aware of the privilege we’re born into, and how many people around the world will never have those same chances. I ended up helping to fund and build a charity called the Bali Mother and Baby House, supporting babies abandoned due to the stigma around unmarried motherhood in Indonesia. That sense of responsibility to others — it doesn’t leave you. And it starts here, in Boarding.
So wherever you are in your boarding journey — keep showing up for one another. Keep giving back. Stay curious. Give things a go. And trust that you’re far more capable than you know.
View From My Window
My name is Mataya, and I’m a Year 9 Boarder who started at Pymble this year. I live on a rural cherry farm just two hours west of Canberra in a small town called Wombat (15 minutes from Young). My house is always crazy with four energetic brothers (Riley, Oliver, Kynan and Henry) as well as my mum and dad. I am the only girl which is so fun to me but can be tough at times.
Since moving to Pymble it has felt like a dream to have sisters who are there for me and be the sisters I never had. I was born in Young and always hoped to move to our cherry farm that I grew up working in the packing shed, we recently moved to our property in Wombat and have loved every minute of the outdoor experiences.
When I look out my window, I witness the rows of cherry trees that are lined perfectly. The green crop that spreads nicely in front of our house (which sits on the hill). I can see the dam water which sparkles under the sun, creating a beautiful scene that I do miss whilst I’m gone.
Living on a cherry farm is an adventure in itself! There’s so much to learn and so much to do, and so many cherries to eat in season. You can see Dad driving tractors spraying through the rows at night with the bright lights reflecting into our house. Looking through our big glass window you can see my mum working diligently on the grass and garden, adding her own touch of care to our home and our little area within the farm.
Whilst cherry harvest is on, you can imagine how crazy it is with Mum and Dad working tirelessly to make sure our fruit is quality for the markets up here in Sydney. I enjoy getting to meet and learn about all the different cultured people from all over the world during the cherry season.
Other than the cherry farm there are a few more things that I miss about my crazy home. I miss having my little brothers who are my best friends – we do everything together. I miss our little backyard competitive rugby games that always turn out with someone hurt, but that’s just a part of being siblings.
I miss the beautifully cooked steaks that Dad does for the family. I miss playing sardines in the pitch-black packing shed and having the best spot to hide my little brother. I miss playing and taking my fluffy brown Cavoodles on walks through the orchard. I miss my older brothers and our late-night rips through the farm on our motorbikes.
During the holidays our family loves to go on our boat on a hot summer’s day and enjoy the nice cold water. My brothers and I love the fun adrenaline that comes along with being pulled behind the boat. Most of all I miss having my parents around who support me in anything and everything I do, making me feel loved and cared for all the time.
Even though Pymble is not the same as the cherry farm, it’s now made me realise it’s a very fun and supportive home away from home that offers many opportunities and experiences that I will be forever grateful for.
Boarder of the Week
Congratulations to Year 8 Boarder Havana who we celebrate as our Boarder of the Week in our most special week of the year!
Havana joined us in Marden House at the start of 2025 from Wellington in Central West New South Wales and it feels as though she has always been with us. An old soul, always donning a beautiful smile and perfect uniform, Havana is an exemplary Boarder who we are proud to call one of ‘ours’.
Despite managing the challenges of living away from home for the first time, Havana always puts the needs of others before her own. She is kind and thoughtful and goes out of her way to help out her Boarding sisters. Havana keeps an immaculate room and works hard in our Learn It program.
Always ready for a friendly chat, her presence never fails to brighten our days.
Save the Date
Sunday 11 May to Sunday 18 May – Boarders’ Week
Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 May – Boarding Schools Expo Dubbo
Thursday 29 May – Boarder Parent Group (BPG) online meeting 7.00pm
Sunday 1 June – Event to be confirmed 10.00am and 3.00pm*
Wednesday 4 June – Boarders’ Jersey Day
Friday 6 June – Long Weekend Boarders’ Travel Day**
Monday 9 June – Boarders return from 5.00pm
Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Griffith
Friday 20 to Saturday 21 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Wagga Wagga
Tuesday 24 June – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel Service*
Friday 27 June – End of Term 2 Boarders’ Travel Day**
* All Boarders required to be in attendance, no leave during this time.
** All Boarders to be collected by 4.00pm.
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
From the Chaplains
If you are observant, you may have noticed a new banner in the chapel. It is hanging along the stairs in the foyer and says:
Climate Justice
Leave no-one behind
It is one of two that we have recently been given by the Uniting Church.
The Uniting Church has been a strong advocate and participant in climate justice initiatives for many years. You may remember that several students from Pymble participated in the School Strike for Climate alongside Reverend Bent in 2021.
What you probably don’t know is that I was there too.
Not as the chaplain at Pymble, of course, but as a mum who was supporting her three children and as the minister of an Inner-city Church. My oldest son was a key leader in this student-led movement, that for a time, captivated the globe.
In Term 4 Pymble’s year of Respect will focus on environmental awareness. I want to use this week to highlight several events that you and your families might like to be part of as you start to immerse yourself in this important issue. We will also be advertising these in Chapel.
These events are:
Clothes Swap – beginning in Weeks 4 & 5 of Term 2
Stewardship of the Earth Conference – Saturday 14June
Climate Poetry Competition- submissions now open!
Scenes from the Climate Era – Year 11 Drama Production
Clothes Swap
Did you know that the disposal of clothing is causing mass environmental devastation across the globe? In Term 3, Pymble will hold a ‘Swap Till You Drop’ Clothing to help us begin to consider the impact of fast fashion in our lives. During this event you will be able to fill your wardrobe with high quality second-hand clothes.
To take part the Environment Leaders have asked that you:
Donate good quality clothing that you no longer need during recess in Weeks 4 and 5 in the chapel foyer – you will receive a token for each piece of clothing.
Use your tokens to receive choose from a huge range of clothes during the clothes swap event later in the year.
Please make sure that all donations are washed and in good condition. The following items will not be accepted: underwear, socks, accessories and shoes.
Stewardship of the Earth Conference
On 14 June the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT will be holding a Stewardship of the Earth Conference at the Centre for Ministry at North Parramatta. I strongly encourage Pymble students and their families to attend.
Attendance is free for those under 16 and minimal cost for others. This vonference is a platform for learning from activist and practitioners, theologians and scholars on how we could become responsible stewards of the Earth and work toward climate justice. To register, click here.
Climate Poetry Competition
The organisers of the ‘Stewardship of the Earth Conference’ are seeking submissions of original poetry on the theme ‘Stewardship of (the) Earth.’ A selection of poems will feature in an open mic event.
Scenes from the Climate Era – Year 11 Drama Production
Year 11 Drama are currently preparing for their upcoming production, Scenes from a Climate Era. The performance will be on 12 and 13 June at 6.30pm in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing ARts. Tickets will be available from next week.
This powerful play, written by David Fining and first performed in 2023 at the Belvoir At Theatre in Sydney includes ‘a mosaic of snapshots capturing how it feels to live through this historical planetary transformation’.
As part of their preparation the students had a visit from Dr Sureka Goringe – the National Director of UnitingWorld. Dr Goringe spoke about the work of UnitingWorld in Kirabati, a small Pacific Island Nation that is significantly impacted Climate Change and Gender Inequality. Click here for more.
Ticket sales will for the performance will be used to support this important work. Please save the date.
Reverend Danielle Hemsworth-Smith
College Chaplain
From the Futures Team
Welcome to our new Overseas Pathways Careers Advisor – Simone Salier
I am pleased to welcome a new member to our Futures team, Simone Salier, as an Overseas Pathway Careers Advisor.
She commenced in Term 2 and will be on campus on Fridays. Her focus will be to advise students with overseas pathways application preparation and working with us to deliver initiatives from our Global Education Pathways strategy.
Please see below for a brief biography on Simone:
Simone is an experienced careers counsellor who has worked in International Schools in Dubai and Hong Kong as well as Ascham School, Redlands and SCEGGS Darlinghurst. She is a member of the St Andrews University Global Advisory Board and has supported students to achieve prestigious scholarships locally and internationally. She also currently works at the Lycée Condorcet International French School in Sydney.
Personal Statement Workshops by College Essay Guy
Over 50 students from Year 7 to 12 participated in the first-ever holiday workshops focused on developing skills and knowledge on overseas pathways. This series was facilitated by Spencer Ganus from College Essay Guy. Spencer travelled from the USA to deliver the three-day, in-person workshop to students to help them to learn more about how to prepare the personal statement component of US Applications for College.
Florence Luncheon – Celebrating and Elevating Women in Construction with Master Builders Association
A group of Pymble students and staff were invited to attend the Florence Luncheon last week. Ex-student Dene Paterson (2022) also joined us at the event to share her experiences as a student. Dene is currently studying construction management at UTS and completing an internship with Transgrid. Students and staff enjoyed a keynote speech from former world number four tennis player, Jelena Dokic.
We were also fortunate to connect with the Seidler family, who were attending the event to honour the passing of their father, Brian Seidler, Executive Director of Master Builders Association. Brian’s daughters, Mila (2024) and Ashleigh (2019), are former Pymble students, his son, in Year 12 at Knox, and their wife, Donna, were pleased to see the Pymble students at the event. Brian was a strong advocate for women in construction and started the Florence initiative to showcase the contribution of women across the industry and to promote future generations.
Thank you to Stephen Edwards Constructions for inviting our students to the event and for sharing this wonderful opportunity with the College.
Student reflections
“We had the opportunity to listen to guest speaker Jelena Dokic and talk to ex-Pymble student Dene Peterson who studies construction management and staff from Stephen Edwards Constructions’ involvement in the Grey House Precinct building at our school.
Something that was interesting was seeing that there are so many opportunities in the construction industry beyond the typical construction jobs that you think of. From all kinds of engineering, digital modelling, urban planning, architecture to project management. It was nice to hear that industries are becoming more aware of the importance of gender representation in workplaces and are wanting to support women for 50:50 men & women employees with the empowering Florence magazines and scholarship opportunities.”
Yuyin Luo (Year 11 Futures Leader)
“We listened to former fourth in the world tennis player Jelena Dokic share her struggles with abuse in the sports industry, how she bravely overcame them and is now encouraging other individuals to find their own voice against abuse. She also shared about her personal motivations in life which I found very empowering and aspirational. While enjoying the delicious food, we got the opportunity to chat with the representatives of Stephen Edwards Construction. I found it very insightful to learn about different roles in construction and the importance of women in male dominated fields like construction. I am extremely thankful for this amazing opportunity given to us by Stephen Edwards Construction.”
Madelene Wong (Year 12)
“I didn’t realise there were so many jobs in construction, like engineering, digital modelling, and planning – not just building. It was also cool to see how the industry is trying to get more women involved through scholarships and things like the Florence magazine. I learned a lot and it made me think more about future careers. I am overly grateful to Stephen Edwards Construction and Pymble Ladies’ College for the wonderful opportunity and everything I was able to experience and take away from the day”. –
Peita Christofis (Year 10)
Year 10 Strengths and Skills Day
The Strengths and Skills Day was run on Wednesday 7 May with all Year 10 students engaged in workshops and activities to unpack their Clifton Strengths Student Profiles and understand how to effectively communicate their strengths to others.
Further information will be reported back on the event next week from student reflections of their learning.
Thank you to Fiona D’Souza for leading this event and to the Upper School for their support in its planning and delivery.
Kim Maksimovic
Director of Futures and Partnerships (K-12)
Events Calendar – Term 2 and 3
From the Co-curricular Sports Team
2025 Secondary School Athletics Carnival
The 2025 Secondary School Athletics Carnival will be held on Thursday 12 June at the Sydney Olympic Park Competition Arena. The carnival will involve all students from Years 7 to 12 who will be transported to and from the venue by bus.
The carnival will begin at 7.30am for selected championship athletes and 9.00am for all other students. Please click here see the attached note to parents, a registration link for championship events, and a program for your reference.
The Athletics carnival is a compulsory school event that aims to promote house spirit and participation. It is also a selection for our Pymble Athletics squad.
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Co-curricular Administration
Term 3 Saturday Sports Registrations are OPEN and will close at 12.00pm on Friday 16 May.
Saturday Sport Term 3 options are:
AFL (Years 3 to 6)
Touch Football (Years 3 to 6)
Hockey (Years 7 to 12)
Netball (Years 7 to 12)
Rugby Sevens (Years 7 to 12)
Water Polo (Years 7 to 12)
Registrations are required to be completed before 12.00pm on Friday 16 May. To register, please access the online registration form via the Co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. Please note that a parent or carer login is needed to complete the registration process.
If you need any assistance, the Co-curricular Administration team is here to help — you can reach us at ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or on +61 2 9497 7848.
As a reminder, all registrations must be completed online and unfortunately cannot be processed over the phone or by email.
Reminder notices will also be posted on the Pymble App before registrations close.
For any further enquiries, please contact the Co-curricular Administration team ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Sally Davidson
Head of Co-curricular Administration
AFL
NSW CIS AFL U15 Team Selection
Congratulations to the below girls who competed at last week’s NSWCIS U15 girls selection trials:
Eloise Stewart (Year 10)
Willa Pearson (Year 9)
Evie Farr (Year 10)
Stephanie Shaw (Year 8)
Holly Mitchell (Year 8)
Eloise Lawry (Year 8)
Well done to Eloise Stewart, Willa Pearson, Evie Farr, and Stephanie Shaw who were selected into the NSWCIS team to compete at the SSA Australian Football Championships in Moreton Bay Queensland.
Jack Garrad
Co-ordinator – AFL
Basketball
Round 2 – Pymble19 Year 7 Match Recap
Pymble 19 put in a valiant effort this week but unfortunately came away with a loss. Nonetheless, the girls remained in high spirits throughout and displayed great determination. Phoebe Evans (Year 7) was a standout in defence, producing some exceptional rebounding and applying relentless pressure on the opposition’s offence. On the attacking front, Mia Jiang (Year 7) shone with impressive breakaways, skilfully using her dribbling to drive the team forward. Overall, it was a fantastic team performance, with incredible teamwork and smiles all round.
Season Shoutouts
Season shoutouts are designed to recognise students who have gone above and beyond and celebrate a player’s effort, improvement, or achievements throughout the season.
This week the season shoutouts go to Mary Cottrell (Year 12), Ilaria Bicego (Year 12), and Madeline Taylor (Year 12) who ventured down to the basketball courts to support and cheer on their friends during the match. Armed with pom poms and plenty of Pymble spirit, the girls brought fantastic energy to the game and helped lift the team’s morale.
The next round of season shoutouts goes to students in Pymble 14, Zeta James-Taylor (Year 8), Valerie Zhao (Year 9), Yuxi Zhao (Year 8), and Ruoyuan Shen (Year 9) who played a full match with only four players. Their perseverance, teamwork, and unwavering commitment were truly impressive, as they gave it their all despite being short-handed. Pymble 14 held their own the entire game and led for a majority of the match. Well done, girls—you demonstrated true Pymble spirit!
Results
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 1
Wenona 1
29 to 46
Pymble 2
Roseville 2
4 to 26
Pymble 3
Loreto Normanhurst 3
12 to 5
Pymble 4
Abbotsleigh 6
31 to 21
Pymble 5
Ravenswood 4
32 to 14
Pymble 6
Loreto Normanhurst 15
34 to 37
Pymble 7
Ravenswood 7
33 to 14
Pymble 8
Roseville 7
12 to 30
Pymble 9
Loreto Normanhurst 20
49 to 21
Pymble 10
Meriden 7
8 to 32
Pymble 11
Tara 6
10 to 30
Pymble 12
Brigidine 7
31 to 17
Pymble 13
Roseville 12
25 to 5
Pymble 14
Roseville 13
22 to 28
Pymble 15
Roseville 14
36 to 13
Pymble 16
Roseville 15
19 to 26
Pymble 17
Brigidine 11
20 to 4
Pymble 18
Roseville 17
6 to 20
Pymble 19
Ascham 11
2 to 40
Pymble 20
St Catherine’s 10
2 to 32
Maddison Scott
Co-ordinator – Basketball
Cross Country
igsa Cross Country Carnival
Congrats to the below girls who will be representing the school at the 30th igsa Cross Country Carnival this Friday 16 May at Frensham in Mittagong. You have all trained exceptionally well and we are very excited to see you run on Friday.
We have no doubt that you will represent the College with pride!
GO PYMBLE!
12 Years
Harper Lee (Year 7)
Anna Smart (Year 7)
Havana Gray (Year 7)
Safina Burgess (Year 7)
Chloe Morrison (Year 7)
Kamilla King (Year 7)
Joy Yu (Year 7)
Alice Neilson (Year 7)
Florence Cheng (Year 7) (Reserve)
13 Years
Flossie Murphy (Year 7)
Marley Titley (Year 8)
Grace Scammell (Year 7)
Isabella Deane (Year 8)
Elsa Yu (Year 8)
Sophie Chiang (Year 7)
Chanya De Mel (Year 7)
Emma Fogale (Year 8)
Alexis Kostalas (Year 7) (Reserve)
Oriana Fenton (Year 8) (Reserve)
Maggie Brown (Year 7) (Reserve)
14 Years
Gemma Dixon (Year 9)
Charlie Slater (Year 8)
Georgia Blue (Year 8)
Sherise Tam (Year 8)
Quinn Parry-Okeden (Year 8)
Ellie Lau (Year 8)
Zoe Wang (Year 8)
Jocelyn Chow (Year 8)
Ruby Azar (Year 8) (Reserve)
15 Years
Isabel Shorter (Year 10)
Harriet Murphy (Year 10)
Claudia Wyatt (Year 9)
Charlotte Thistlewood (Year 10)
Naomi Kranjancic (Year 9)
Amalia Bond (Year 9)
Daysie Leahy (Year 8)
Eloise Stewart (Year 10)
Claudia Sherlock (Year 9) (Reserve)
16 Years
Aniela Knight (Year 10)
Layla Abdel-Megeed (Year 10)
Saja Abdel-Megeed (Year 10)
Poppy Barwick (Year 10)
Leander McLaughlin (Year 10)
Indianna Vale (Year 10)
Hayley Browne (Year 10)
Phoebe Pockley (Year 10)
Amelia Bicego (Year 10) (Reserve)
Chloe Ayton (Year 10) (Reserve)
Laura Makeham (Year 11) (Reserve)
17 Years
Grace Beck (Year 11)
Rachel Schwulst (Year 11)
Claudia Hodder (Year 11)
Phoebe Paleologos (Year 12)
Charlotte Ruscio (Year 11)
Arabella Murphy (Year 11)
Elizabeth Yates (Year 11)
Lucy McLean (Year 11)
18 Years
Sophia Slater (Year 12)
Lily Jones (Year 12)
Tessa Newitt (Year 12)
Tully Black (Year 12)
Lana Pike (Year 12)
Erin Porter (Year 12)
Katherine Macpherson (Year 12)
Balmoral Burn
On Sunday 25 May, the famous annual Balmoral Burn will be run up the 420m hill of Awaba Street in Mosman. Pymble Ladies’ College have competed for many years in the annual Balmoral Burn. In 2020, Pymble entered 70+ teams, and we placed first overall in the school event. We also hold the record in the Senior Girls “Head of the Hill” relay event and would love to defend our title again this year after winning in 2024.
For more information on the program and to register to run with Pymble, please click here.
Last week, we had five Pymble girls represent igsa at the 2025 NSWCIS Diving Championships, held at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Tuesday 6 May. We were successful in bringing home one gold and two bronze medals.
Congratulations to all girls who competed at the meet; Lara Manuel (Year 8), Amélie Rahme (Year 7), Eleanor Mason-Jones (Year 9), Isabelle Benjamin (Year 9), Leila Rich (Year 10). Thank you to our Head Coach, Kurtis Matthews.
Lara Manuel (Year 8)
1st 14 Years Girls Springboard
Amélie Rahme (Year 7)
3rd 13 Years Girls Springboard
Eleanor Mason-Jones (Year 9)
3rd 14 Years Girls Springboard
IPSHA Primary Diving Championships
For Junior School Diving, the first major competition of 2025 was the IPSHA Primary Championships. Pymble fielded a strong team, with many standout performances. A special shout-out to our youngest athletes Clara Conn (Year 2) and Isla Merritt (Year 2) who competed fantastically at the first major competition of their diving journeys. Special congratulations to Zara Ware (Year 6) who became the 2025 IPSHA Springboard and Platform Champion! Well done.
Zara Ware (Year 6)
1st Platform
1st 12 Years Springboard
Amélie Berg (Year 6)
2nd Platform
2nd 11 Years Springboard
Nouvelle Nicholson (Year 6)
2nd 12 Years Springboard
Anabelle Ahlenstiel (Year 6)
3rd 12 Years Springboard
Freya Holland (Year 5)
3rd Platform
3rd 11 Years Springboard
Jasmine Smith (Year 5)
5th 11 Years Springboard
Audrey Conn (Year 4)
2nd 10 Years Springboard
Sarayah Wijesuriya (Year 4)
6th 10 Years Springboard
Emily Dao (Year 4)
7th 10 Years Springboard
Makayla Cui (Year 3)
2nd 9 Years Springboard
Ariana Brandner (Year 4)
4th 9 Years Springboard
Isla Merritt (Year 2)
3rd 8 Years Springboard
Clara Conn (Year 2)
6th 8 Years Springboard
NSWCIS Primary Diving Championships
Building on phenomenal momentum, our Junior School divers stunned the competition at the NSWCIS Primary Championships. Pymble had fantastic performances from all divers, with podiums from Zara Ware (Year 6), Ariana Brandner (Year 4), Amélie Berg (Year 6), Nouvelle Nicholson (Year 6), and Audrey Conn (Year 4). Special mentions to Audrey toppled her personal record by a large margin, and Ariana who put up her season best result with gold!
Pymble diving showed the talent and depth of the program with top five finishes in 12 out of the 13 events in a competitive field, including Anabelle Ahlenstiel (Year 6), Freya Holland (Year 5), Jasmine Smith (Year 5), Makayla Cui (Year 3), and Isla Merritt (Year 2). A phenomenal achievement and reflection of the hard work each diver has put into their training. Special congratulations to Zara Ware (Year 6) for being crowned 12 Years Springboard Champion, and Ariana Brandner (Year 4) for becoming 9 Years Springboard Champion!
Zara Ware (Year 6)
2nd in Platform
1st 12 Years Springboard
Amélie Berg (Year 6)
3rd Platform
3rd 11 Years Springboard
Nouvelle Nicholson (Year 6)
2nd 12 Years Springboard
Anabelle Ahlenstiel (Year 6)
5th 12 Years Springboard
Freya Holland (Year 5)
4th Platform
6th 11 Years Springboard
Jasmine Smith (Year 5)
4th 11 Years Springboard
Audrey Conn (Year 4)
2nd 10 Years Springboard
Ariana Brandner (Year 4)
1st 9 Years Springboard
Makayla Cui (Year 3)
4th 9 Years Springboard
Isla Merritt (Year 2)
4th 8 Years Springboard
PSSA Diving Championships
Thursday 10 April marked the final primary competition our Junior School divers could use to hone their skills, before the 2025 Australian Age National Championships. Nouvelle Nicholson (Year 6) and Audrey Conn (Year 4) were in the huny, finishing fourth and fifth respectively in their events, narrowly missing the podium in competitive fields.
Amélie Berg (Year 6) and Zara Ware (Year 6) displayed some fine diving and resilience with amazing performances, walking away with four medals in total, two silver for Amélie and a gold and bronze for Zara. Performance of the day was from Ariana Brandner (Year 4) who took home the silver medal in the nine years springboard, closely chasing her first-place competitor. Special congratulations to Zara Ware (Year 6) who became 12 Years Springboard Champion!
Zara Ware (Year 6)
3rd Platform
1st 12 Years Springboard
Amélie Berg (Year 6)
2nd Platform
2nd 11 Years Springboard
Nouvelle Nicholson (Year 6)
4th 12 Years Springboard
Audrey Conn (Year 4)
5th 10 Years Springboard
Ariana Brandner (Year 4)
2nd 9 Years Springboard
Jaimi Arthur-Newman
Co-ordinator – Diving
Football
igsa Football Round 2
The second round of the igsa Football season took place this past weekend with all 12 of our Pymble teams competing. From our 12 games that were played, we had six wins, one draw, and five losses.
Our Senior First team took a 3 to 0 lead into halftime against Loreto Kirribilli, however, Loreto managed to get two early goals in the second half to put our girls under pressure for the remainder of the game. Some excellent game management and possession led to a close 3 to 2 win.
Our Junior First team suffered their first defeat in over three years against a very good Brigidine team. A close encounter ended up with a 2 to 0 loss.
Our Year 7 First team notched their first win of the term with an impressive 4 to 1 win against a strong PLC Sydney.
Our team of the week goes to our Senior Second team who had a 6 to 0 win against Brigidine. Some stunning goals from Isabel Donald (Year 11) and a clean sheet from Jemma Horley (Year 12) helped the team to an emphatic win. That’s two wins from two games for Pymble.
Results
Team
Opponent
Result
Score
Pymble 1
Loreto Kirribilli 1
3 to 2
Win
Pymble 2
Brigidine 2
6 to 0
Win
Pymble 3
Abbotsleigh 3
5 to 4
Win
Pymble 4
PLC Sydney 3
2 to 12
Loss
Pymble 5
Monte 5
1 to 1
Draw
Pymble 6
Pymble 7
1 to 9
Loss
Pymble7
Pymble 6
9 to 1
Win
Pymble 8
Brigidine 7
0 to 2
Loss
Pymble 9
Monte 10
2 to 0
Win
Pymble 10
Monte 12
3 to 4
Loss
Pymble 11
PLC Sydney 8
4 to 1
Win
Pymble 12
Monte 15
2 to 3
Loss
Round 2 MVPs
Pymble 1 – Mary Staciwa (Year 11)
Pymble 2 – Isabel Donald (Year 11)
Pymble 3 – Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 10)
Pymble 4 – Imogen Pope (Year 11)
Pymble 5 – Sophie Ribeira (Year 11)
Pymble 6 – Eloise Fisher (Year 10)
Pymble 7 – Sofia Altorf (Year 11)
Pymble 8 – Georgia Blue (Year 8)
Pymble 9 – Giselle-Sophia Jones (Year 8)
Pymble 10 – Phoebe Toynton (Year 8)
Pymble 11 – Marlia Uhl (Year 7)
Pymble 12 – Nina Basic (Year 7)
Senior First Match Report from Football Captain, Alethea Levy (Year 12)
Our second match of the season saw us face a tough opponent in Loreto Kirribilli. From the outset, the intensity was high, with both teams battling hard for possession and control of the game.
The game demanded focus, teamwork, and resilience, and the Senior Firsts rose to the challenge.
It was fantastic to welcome Amelia Brandon (Year 11) back between the posts after sustaining a long-term injury last year. Our backline, led strongly by Laura Januszek (Year 12), Isla Devlin (Year 11), Eve Goldsworthy (Year 10) and Mary Staciwa (Year 11) put in a tireless performance, holding their shape well under pressure and making several crucial tackles and intercepts throughout the game.
In attack, our goals came quickly, catching our opponents off guard in the first half. An unfortunate own goal by the opposition gave us an early lead. I was able to follow up with a second goal after a fast counterattack. Emily Visser (Year 12) then sealed our win with a brilliant strike to find the back of the net. Every goal was earned through solid team play and determination.
One of the game’s highlights was our passing and movement up the field throughout the entire game. Despite the pressure from our opponents in the second half, we remained composed and played with purpose and cohesion.
It was a fast, challenging match, but we showed great spirit and teamwork, which I am confident we can take into round three.
School Pathway Updates
Congratulations to Alethea Levy (Year 12), Amelia Brandon (Year 11), Eve Goldsworthy (Year 10), and Willa Pearson (Year 9) who all made the igsa Football representative team. Over 60 students competed in the trials, with only 16 spots available. All four students will compete at the upcoming NSWCIS Football Championships at the end of May.
Chris Wood
Co-ordinator – Football
Hockey
IPSHA Hockey
What a sensational week of hockey we’ve witnessed! Round 2 saw our Junior School Hockey teams take to the field with determination, teamwork, and no shortage of excitement.
We are delighted to report that our teams played with great skill and enthusiasm. Whether defending with grit, attacking with flair, or supporting teammates, every player showed what true Pymble spirit looks like. Our coaches were super impressed by the sportsmanship and effort on display.
A big shout out and thank you to all the parents and friends who came along to cheer. Your encouragement inspires our players to do their best and makes match day so much more special.
Congratulations to our junior hockey stars. Keep training hard, playing fair, and most importantly enjoying the game.
Go Pymble!
Results
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 1
Wenona 1
0 to 5 Loss
Pymble 2
Abbotsleigh 2
4 to 3 Win
Pymble 3
St Catherine’s 2
8 to 3 Win
Pymble 4
Tara 1
3 to 2 Win
Pymble 5
Barker 5
10 to 0 Win
Player of the Match
Congratulations to the following students who received player of the match for Week 2:
Pymble 1 – Eadie Peacock (Year 6)
Pymble 2 – Lia Sloane (Year 5)
Pymble 3 – Emma Ware (Year 5)
Pymble 4 – Georgia Farthing (Year 4)
Pymble 5 – Estela Valente (Year 3)
Have a Go Hockey – Kindergarten to Year 2
We are thrilled to welcome our youngest athletes back to the pitch this week for another exciting session of our Kindergarten to Year 2 Have a Go Hockey program!
It has been heartwarming to see so many eager and smiling faces as our students returned for Week 2. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as everyone picked up their sticks and jumped straight back into the fun.
Our focus continues to be on enjoyment, skills and teamwork. The students enjoyed activities and games designed to build confidence with the hockey stick, improve co-ordination, whilst having fun. The laughter and positive energy was infectious, and it is fantastic to see new friendships blossoming alongside developing skills.
As we continue through the term, we look forward to seeing our youngest hockey stars grow in confidence each week. Above all, we hope every student continues to have fun, feel included, and discover the joy of hockey.
Thank you for being part of our hockey community. We can’t wait to see everyone again next week for more action-packed sessions!
Mollie Dive Hockey
The 2025 hockey season is officially underway for our Senior School Hockey program and what an inspiring start we have had!
Last week, our Senior School Hockey teams made their much-anticipated return to the pitch, and it was fantastic to see such energy and enthusiasm radiate throughout both matches.
Our teams have a strong, shared vision for the season ahead. From setting their team goals to strategising on and off the field, their unity and commitment are already shining through.
The first matches brought thrilling performances and showcased impressive teamwork. Our coaches were absolutely delighted, praising not only the skills on display, but also the determination and sportsmanship shown by every player.
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 1
Abbotsleigh
Draw 2 to 2
Pymble 2
Stella Maris
Lost 5 to 1
Congratulations to the following students who received player of the match of Week 1.
Pymble 1 – Gwendolyn Meek (Year 12)
Pymble 2 – Ruby Polson (Year 11)
Shellie Rocca
Co-ordinator – Hockey
Netball
Week 2 Netball – IPSHA and Net Set Go
The netball courts came alive this week as our Pymble 6 IPSHA team delivered a commanding performance, taking home an impressive 11 to 0 victory. Our Year 5 athletes demonstrated remarkable skill and teamwork, showing great promise for the future of Pymble Netball.
A special mention goes to Lily O’Neill from Year 2 in NetSetGo, who scored an incredible three goals! Lily’s contribution not only lifted the team’s score but also showcased her developing talent and enthusiasm for the sport!
It was truly heartening to see skill development across all grades, with every player striving to put their best foot forward from Kindergarten to Year 6. The progress our students have made, no matter their experience was evident! Around the grounds we saw plenty of smiles on and off the court. Their teamwork, enthusiasm and love for the game truly exemplified the Pymble spirit.
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Year 4 students who generously filled in for another team, playing two games over the weekend. Their willingness to step up and support their peers is a wonderful reflection of the camaraderie and sportsmanship we value at Pymble. Your effort and versatility have not gone unnoticed—well done, girls!
Each week, we celebrate a ‘Team Member of the Week’. This award goes to a student who displays outstanding effort, courage and teamwork. This accolade recognises those who are not only honing their netball abilities but also demonstrating the Pymble values both during matches and in training sessions. Congratulations to our players of the week! Your dedication and positive attitude set a wonderful example to your peers.
IPSHA Netball Team Member of the Week
Team A
Team Member of the Week
Pymble 1
Selina Zhang (Year 6)
Pymble 2
Yuanya Miao (Year 6)
Pymble 3
Kathy Feng (Year 6)
Pymble 4
Olivia Hegetschweiler (Year 5)
Pymble 5
Jacqueline Yang (Year 5)
Pymble 6
Annie Chen (Year 5)
Pymble 7
Catherine Wang (Year 5)
Pymble 8
Adora Zhang (Year 4) and Charlotte Castrission (Year 4)
Pymble 9
Queenie Qin (Year 4)
Pymble 10
Erica Dai (Year 3)
Pymble 11
Madeline Nam (Year 3)
Net Set Go Team Member of the Week
Team A
Team Member of the Week
Pymble 1
Alice He (Kindergarten)
Pymble 2
Emma He (Year 1)
Pymble 3
Lily O’Neill (Year 2)
Want to be a part of the action?
Registrations for Term 3 igsa Netball are NOW OPEN! Come join our Netball program by registering through MyPymble before Friday 16 April at 12.00pm. For more details, please click here.
Megan O’Keeffe
Head Coach – Netball
Rugby Sevens
NSWCIS Primary Rugby Sevens
Congratulations to Samantha Robson (Year 6), Rose Bayliss (Year 5), and Isabelle Lawry (Year 5) who were successful in trialling for the NSWCIS Primary Rugby 7s team last week. The girls will now compete for the NSWCIS at the NSWPSSA Primary Rugby 7s Championships later in the year. Well done girls!
igsa Rugby Sevens
Congratulations to the below girls who were selected into the Rugby 7s teams to represent igsa at the NSWCIS Championships on Wednesday 21 May at the Kings School, Parramatta.
Under 18s
Lucy McLean (Year 11)
Olianna Tighe (Year 11)
Maya Atkinson (Year 12)
Under 16s
Rosalie Eggins (Year 11)
Evie Farr (Year 10)
Scarlett Mitchell (Year 10)
Mie Naito (Year 10)
Well done girls and looking forward to seeing you in action next Wednesday.
Jack Garrad
Co-ordinator – Rugby Sevens
Swimming
NSWCIS Swimming Championships
Last week, we had 24 Pymble girls represent igsa at the 2025 NSWCIS Swimming Championships, held at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Monday 5 May and Tuesday 6 May. Over these two days, we were successful in bringing home 16 gold, eight silver, and 13 bronze medals. Congratulations to all those who competed at the meet. Thank you to our coaches, Leanne Speechley and Rafael Rodrigues, for your support over the two days. Special mention to Priscilla Miller (Year 7) who also broke the NSWCIS record for the 12 Years 50 Backstroke.
Results
Priscilla Miller (Year 7)
1st 12 Years 50m Freestyle
2nd 12 Years 50m Butterfly
1st 12 Years 50m Backstroke
Lilly Andrews (Year 8)
1st 13 Years 50m Freestyle
1st 13 Years 50m Butterfly
3rd 13 Years 50m Backstroke
Alexis Whitton (Year 8)
3rd 14 Years 50m Freestyle
3rd 14 Years 100m Freestyle
Sarah Tian (Year 11)
3rd 17 to 19 Years 200m Freestyle
1st 17 to 19 Years 100m Backstroke
2nd 17 Years 50m Backstroke
1st 17 to 19 Years 200m Backstroke
Aj Gillespie (Year 11)
1st 16 and Over MC 50m Freestyle
3rd 16 and Over MC 50m Butterfly
1st 16 and Over MC 50m Breaststroke
3rd 16 and Over MC 100m Freestyle
2nd 16 and Over MC 50m Backstroke
Penelope Hargraves (Year 8)
3rd 14 Years 50m Butterfly
Caitlyn Keating (Year 10)
1st 15 Years 50m Butterfly
1st 15 to 16 Years 200m Butterfly
1st 15 to 16 Years 100m Butterfly
Megan Chia (Year 9)
2nd 15 Years 50m Butterfly
1st 15 Years 100m Freestyle
2nd 15 to 16 Years 100m Butterfly
Victoria Puisai Ko (Year 7)
1st 13 Years 50m Breaststroke
Emma Ng (Year 8)
1st 12 to 14 Years 200m Butterfly
2nd 12 to 14 Years 100m Butterfly
Indianna Vale (Year 10)
3rd 16 Years 100m Freestyle
Hannah Carmichael (Year 12)
2nd 18 to 19 Years 50m Backstroke
Keira Smith (Year 12)
3rd 18 to 19 Years 50m Backstroke
Relays
2nd 12 to 14 Years 4x50m Medley Relay
Georgia Friedel, Victoria Puisai Ko, Penelope Hargraves, Alexis Whitton
3rd 15 to 16 Years 4x50m Medley Relay
Megan Chia, Annalise Chow, Caitlyn Keating, Zara Sandham
3rd Open 4x50m Medley Relay
Sarah Tian, Lily Lockhart, Keria Smith, Jaya Lilienthal
Congratulations to all students who competed on the day: Lilly Andrews (Year 8), Lily Barlow (Year 12), Hannah Carmichael (Year 12), Megan Chia (Year 9), Jennifer Chong (Year 12), Annalise Chow (Year 11), Jessica Cullen (Year 12), Georgia Friedel (Year 8), Aj Gillespie (Year 11), Penelope Hargraves (Year 8), Caitlyn Keating (Year 10), Victoria Puisai Ko (Year 7), Jaya Lilienthal (Year 12), Lily Lockhart (Year 12), Priscilla Miller (Year 7), Emma Ng (Year 8), Quinn Parry-Okeden (Year 8), Ruby Pickthall (Year 11), Zara Sandham (Year 9), Keira Smith (Year 12), Sarah Tian (Year 11), Indianna Vale (Year 10), and Alexis Whitton (Year 8).
Jaimi Arthur-Newman
Co-ordinator – Swimming
Touch Football
NSWCIS Touch Football Championships
We would like to extend a warm congratulations to Stephanie Shaw (Year 8) who was selected to represent the igsa U15s Touch Football team last term. Stephanie took part in the NSWCIS Touch Football Championships on Friday 9 May, where she played exceptionally well and made a fantastic contribution to her team’s success. We are thrilled to share that Stephanie and her teammates were crowned champions on the day. Well done Stephanie, your hard work and team spirit truly shone through on the day.
Shellie Rocca
Co-ordinator – Touch Football
From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team
Step Behind the Curtain – Discover Your Future in the Arts
Are you passionate about the performing arts?
Curious about where a love of film, theatre, music, costume design, production design or arts management could take you?
Behind the Curtain is your exclusive opportunity for students in Years 7 to 12 to connect with inspiring Pymble alumni who are forging dynamic careers in the creative industries. Join us for a lively panel discussion, followed by a seated lunch where students will have the chance to engage in meaningful conversations with graduates who have transformed their artistic passions into successful professions. Gain valuable insights, ask burning questions, and be inspired to take the first steps into the world of the performing arts.
In the upcoming newsletters, we will introduce you to the alumni who have been invited to participate in this special event.
Places are limited for this special event – don’t miss your chance to go Behind the Curtain.
Date: Wednesday 11 June, 12.45pm to 2.20pm (lunch and compass)
Venue: Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts foyer
Cost: $10.00 (lunch and drinks)
Best of PAC Finalists
Congratulations to the following students who had been selected to perform at the 2025 Best of PAC finals. This performance will be held on Tuesday 20 May in the gym. All Secondary School students will attend this performance during Compass time (1.30pm to 2.15pm). Parents of performers are welcome to attend.
Joanna Au (Year 11), Alice Mao (Year 11), Lily Still (Year 11), and Tina Zhao (Year 11)
Caitlin Kim (Year 11) and Emily Mah (Year 10)
Evelyn Zhu (Year 12)
Doris Li (Year 12) and Maddy Watson (Year 12)
Laranya Nanthakumaran (Year 10), Isabelle Port (Year 10), Amrita Marwah (Year 10), Zoe Manning (Year 10), Annabel Taylor (Year 10), and Jasmine Chi (Year 10)
Zarina Nurlanov (Year 12) and Sarah Boland (Year 12)
Feifei Wang (Year 9)
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Dance
Autumn Family Festival
On Thursday 1 May, Year 12 student Sahara Lemon performed her Aboriginal Studies Major Work at the Autumn Family Festival. The festival was a celebration of the College’s many cultures, brought together over a shared love of delicious food, dance, music, art, games and crafts.
Congratulations to Sahara on her artful creation and performance of this important work.
Lucy Eateon
Dance Co-ordinator – Secondary School
Language Arts
Debating
Best Wishes for the National Schools’ Debating Championship (NDSC)
· 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. All the best for the National Schools’ Debating Championship from Sunday 11 to Sunday 18 May in Sydney. 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.
NSDC Opportunities
Invitation to all – Please use the code STUDENTENTRY for free entry to the Final Debate and closing ceremony, available through the NSDC website by clicking here. As we are hosting, we were fortunate to be granted free entry to these high-level student debates. Should students and parents wish to attend, please note that it will be as a private arrangement, not a school excursion. Keen debaters, however, should be very interested in this opportunity.
Pymble hosted our NSW and interstate NSDC debaters today.
ISDA and FED
FED
Congratulations to 8B who is through to the semi finals this Friday 16 May. Co-curricular Administration have notified girls and parents of venue details at Knox and timings. To other teams who did not break or continue, see you again!.
ISDA
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 is a significant achievement.
All Pymble ISDA breaking teams have all been allocated to the second round Octofinals, which Pymble will host in KM, on Friday 16 May (Due to a clash with NSDC, the timing of Senior A may be rescheduled). Guests are welcome to watch debates.
To non-breaking teams – commiserations. Seasons can be fickle! We hope to see you back at Debating for IDC and auditions later in the year.
More Debating Opportunities
ISDA Senior B, FED Senior A and B, and FED Year 10 – could you please assist in the running of Social Debating? Training for this leadership opportunity will commence tomorrow with Social Debating commencing the following Friday in KM. We would love to have you assist. There are many keen debaters willing to learn these valuable skills. Please email your availability. We need your help and expertise!.
Senior B and Primary A teams – Could I please have at least two volunteers per team to assist with hosting, catering, room set up, pack up, and chairing your level Octo on the evening as this is our responsibility.
ISDA Octo Final – Friday 16 May at Pymble
Timing
Debate
School 1
School 2
Adjudicator
5.30pm
Primary A
Redlands
Scots
Aman Mohamed
5.30pm
Primary B
Pymble
Redlands
Arwyn Stone
6.15pm
Year 9
Pymble
Abbotsleigh
Aman Mohamed
6.15pm
Year 8
Pymble
Abbotsleigh
Riley Landfear
6.15pm
Year 7
Knox Grammar
Pymble
Arwyn Stone
7.30pm
Senior A
Pymble
Riverview
Aman Mohamed
7.30pm
Senior B
Abbotsleigh
Barker
Riley Landfear
7.30pm
Year 10
Pymble
Saint Aloysius’
Arwyn Stone
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.
Chinese Debating – NSW Chinese Debating Association
A holiday highlight! Thank you to Mrs Leyya Li, our team parent and Tim Lan, coach. Chinese Debating ran through the recent holidays at Sydney University School of Business. Well done team! Results are in.
Pymble was placed in the top eight teams
Pymble were second in their pool and won two out of three debates
Jessca Xu ranked sixth in speakers
Certificates will be presented at the Language Arts Showcase later this year.
Student Debating Successes – Congratulations Sophie and Athena!
Recently, Sophie Guo (Year 10) participated in the ANZ round of the Harvard World Schools Debating competition, together with two girls from Queenwood. The team qualified to go to Harvard in Boston next year for the international round as they were one of the top four teams in the competition! Sophie was awarded the fourth best in the Reply Speaker section and fifth Best Speaker overall. Around 150 participated and 51 teams were in attendance. Congratulations Sophie!
From Friday 18 to Sunday 20 April, Athena Wu (Year 8) took part in the 11th Shanghai International Debate Open (SIDO) 2025, held at the Shanghai University of Economics and Finance. It was a British Parliamentary style tournament featuring 160 teams from around the world, including university and high school teams from the UK, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and Ghana. Athena received the following awards:
• U14 Grand Finalist
• 4th Best Speaker (U14 Division)
She also competed in the Harvard ANZ WSDC debate on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April, hosted at Riverview, and received following rewards:
• 1st Best Reply Speaker
• 9th Best Overall Speaker
Congratulations girls on your success. External tournaments can be incredibly enriching, challenging students to think critically about global issues in a diverse and competitive environment and providing opportunities to make new friends.
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.
Please book bus tickets through Co-curricular Administration for next Tuesday’s Round 2 at Mt St Benedict’s. The bus is not a return bus, and parents are asked to collect their daughters from away venues following their debates. Co-curricular Administration will send all venue details and timings.
Sydney Social Debating (SSD)
There has been keen interest in Social Debating this term and we look forward to the commencement of this competition.
Friday 16 May – Welcome to SSD coaches
Friday 23 May – Welcome to SSD Teams and Introduction to Debating
Friday 30 May – SSD Round 1
Friday 06 June – SSD Round 2
Friday 13 June – SSD Round 3
Friday 20 June – SSD Round 4
Friday 27 June – SSD Round 5
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 is the first Pymble student to enter this inaugural competition and who has been selected as a finalist. The Dame Enid Lyons Oratory competition is the most prestigious Public Speaking competition for girls in NSW.
The DELO final will be held in the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre, on the evening of Wednesday 21 May from 6.00pm. Please be seated by 5.45pm. Admission is free, and seating is unreserved, although we would like Pymble supporters to form a block and tickets must be booked.
To book accessible seating contact Box Office on 029250777702 9250 7777 Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Guests welcome. We ask that all student supporters wear full Pymble uniform.
The presenter will be Dr Julia Baird.
Mrs Hubbard has booked a block of tickets and a bus to and from this evening event. If you would like to attend with the school, please email your interest and number of tickets ASAP to Mrs Hubbard BHubbard@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. All welcome! We would love your support. Click here for more information.
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 is through to Rostrum regionals at Ravenswood this evening. We wish you all the best in both your prepared and impromptu sections Katherine.
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.
Mock Law
Bond Mooting
Our online heat will be held on Tuesday 20 May at 2.30pm.
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.
Bronwyn Hubbard
Head of Language Arts
Music
Thank you to the Music Support Group for our meeting which took place in Week 2. With three of our wonderful parents having children reach the end of their school education, we are looking to recruit some more parents to the team. The Music Support Group is a team of fabulous parents who support and help nurture our young musicians. They provide funding of instruments, composition commissions, as well as lessons for students playing the harpsichord. All parents work together to help with concerts by providing saleable items and being part of a creative network of friends. If you are interested in being part of this team, please email Sarah Turner on sturner@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
PAC
Congratulations to Lizzie Tang (Year 12) and Maddie Taylor (Year 12) for their superb organisation of PAC. Special shout out to ALL the amazing performers. It is always such a wonderful array of performances, from stand-up comedy to K-Pop dancing to opera. Narrowing down a winner is going to be a difficult task. I am so impressed at each student who showed courage and resilience in their performances. BRAVO!
Congratulations
The following students performed brilliantly in the Knox Musical We Will Rock You. Everyone who attended has been full of compliments about our girls and the manner in which they conducted themselves. Well done and we are Pymble proud!
Annabel Taylor (Year 10)
Doris Li (Year 12)
Ella Gungor (Year 9)
Grace Walmsley (Year 11)
Iris O’Brien (Year 10)
Katerina Economou (Year 10)
Mia Chan (Year 10)
Verity Haslam (Year 11)
Victoria O’Sullivan (Year 10)
Reminder About Attendance
Please remember to complete the notification through the Parent Portal if you know your daughter is not going to be at school for a rehearsal or a lesson. Our conductors and tutors have a duty of care and will note any absences down.
Dates for your diary
Thursday 15 May – Year 8 Elective Music production of High School Musical Jnr at 6.30pm in the GMCPA
Thursday 22 May – College Quartet to play at the Alumni event at Qantas House
Monday 25 May – Eisteddfod at Knox Grammar School for Ivory Quartet, Brass ensemble and Andarta Trio. Notes have gone out for this event.
Tuesday 26 May – Chorale recording for Eisteddfod at 5.45pm in the College Chapel. Parents are invited to watch.
Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 June – Ensemble photos for Secondary Students – timetable TBC
Monday 16 June – Eisteddfod for Hindson Chamber Strings and Senior Chamber Strings. Please check emails for permission notes for this event.
Tuesday 24 June – Term 2 Ensemble Concert in the GMCPA at 6.30pm. Tickets will be $5.00.
Wednesday 25 June – Farewell lunch for Year 12 musicians, hosted by Year 11 musicians
Sarah Turner
Head of Music
Year 12 Study Camps
Click the poster below to register.
After-Hours Study
Homework Help
Top Interview Tips from your 2025 Student Leaders
This week’s edition of Clued In was created by Abby Christopher from your Student Communications Leadership team:
Maya Garg (Year 12): Student Communications Prefect 2025 Abby Christopher: Year 12 Leader Kitty He: Year 11 Leader Catherine Li: Year 10 Leader Nicole Fan: Year 9 Leader Charlotte Pang: Year 8 Leader
Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance
Year 6 parents are invited to the Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance on Saturday 24 May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm at the Killara Golf Club. This event is one of the most anticipated annual traditions in the Junior School, and is the final dance girls will have with their parents before moving on to the Secondary School.
The theme for this year’s dance is Florals and Sparkles, which will accentuate the beautiful aesthetics of the golf club surrounds. Please note, girls will need to be suitably dressed at this event as golf club etiquette dictates, and should refrain from wearing denim or ripped pants.
Tickets include substantial canapés, soft drinks, dessert bar, DJ and entertainment. Additional beverages can be purchased at the bar.
We’re looking forward to celebrating with you and your daughter on this special night!
You’re invited to the 2025 PPA Trivia Night
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of trivia, prizes, dancing and fun!
The Pymble Parent Association warmly invites you to our annual Trivia Night on Saturday 31 May. Create your own table of ten or we’ll seat you with others from your year group to meet new people! Fantastic prizes will be won and auctioned throughout the night and raffle tickets are available for advance purchase. This year’s prizes include a designer handbag, a champagne basket and pamper package.
Time: 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start, concluding at 11.30pm
Theme: Hop in your time travel machine and come dressed from any era, past or future, for a chance to win best costume! Don’t worry if costumes aren’t your thing – your presence is what matters most. We encourage dressing up to add to the festive atmosphere, but it’s entirely optional.
Ticket includes a welcome drink, two course meal (entreé and main) followed by a dessert platter and coffee/ tea. Additional drinks can be purchased at the bar.
The Trivia Night is also the PPA’s major fundraising event of the year. To make it a successful evening, we rely on the kind support of our community for donations to the live and silent auctions, and the raffle.
Any monetary donations would also be much appreciated. The organising committee will use this money to purchase items for gift baskets. These gift baskets will be part of the silent auction on the night. Please donate by clicking here.
Register by: Friday 16 May. Registrations are essential. This is a parent-only event.
To purchase tickets, please click here. Please find attached an invitation with full details of the event.
