There are so many highlights of Week 5 to celebrate, including the incredible bodies of work on display at the HSC Visual Arts Exhibition which officially opens tonight, but today this column is dedicated to all the dads, father figures, grandfathers, uncles, and significant male role models and carers in our girls’ lives. This includes our male Board members, academic staff, coaches, and professional services staff, who all influence the development of our students, sometimes directly and at other times behind the scenes, thanks to their unwavering care, dedication to their work, and belief in the power of a Pymble education for girls.
You’ve heard us say many times before that Pymble is firmly committed to single sex education, along with boundless opportunities to learn with and from people of different cultures, backgrounds, beliefs and gender. We pride ourselves on creating an optimal learning environment for the girls in our care and this includes having a healthy mix of influencers – the real-life variety, not the ones on social media! Our male teachers and staff are essential to this mix, bringing diversity of thought, lived experience, and professional skills to our community.
Thank you to all the students, parents and staff members who have put a great deal of thought and care into honouring our dads with a series of events across the College. Last weekend, our Boarders hosted an early Father’s Day barefoot bowling day in Sydney for those who were able to join them. It was wonderful to see dads, granddads and other family members travel from as far as Darwin and Alice Springs for this special occasion, which is now a regular fixture of the Boarding calendar.
This weekend, our Year 5 dads and daughters will be camping out overnight at Vision Valley, and all fathers and father figures in our community are invited to join us next week for the K-12 Father’s Day breakfast from 7.00am to 8.15am on Friday 6 September in the Junior School. You can still book your tickets here – but hurry, reservations close at midnight tonight.
Family means everything to me, and I am so grateful that my own dad will be sitting at my table on Sunday for our big, noisy family brunch. However, I am conscious that Father’s Day can be difficult for some. For those whose fathers are no longer in their lives, please know you are in our thoughts.
Windows into Learning
This week’s Junior School Window into Learning is perfect for our Father’s Day edition. Dad of two and creative extraordinaire, Mr Schweinberger, perfectly captures the unique combination of skills required to produce our fabulous musicals with our youngest students. Love it! With thanks also to our fabulous Year 10 students, Emily, Lily, Cindy and Jocelyn for their reflection on a visit from a celebrated author.
Learning through performance in Years 1 and 2
Working with the youngest members of our College community during the rehearsal process for the Year 1 and 2 performance of Porridge – The Musical has been an absolute joy. These young students are like sponges, soaking up every direction with enthusiasm and a genuine eagerness to learn. It’s remarkable to see how they rise to the occasion when high standards for excellence are set. Though their stage directions need to be highly scaffolded, they deliver in leaps and bounds. One of the challenges has been keeping their focus during scenes when they are not directly involved in the action. Their minds naturally wander, and finding ways to keep them engaged as active listeners has been an ongoing challenge. For me, humour, paired with linking dialogue and scenes to situations relevant to such young students has been particularly effective. The most rewarding moments are when they have the light bulb moment and you see the understanding dawn on their faces. These instances of comprehension and connection make the entire process deeply fulfilling.
Mr Kurt Schweinberger Head of Creative and Performing Arts K-6
Author Q and A session for Year 10
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to interview author Suzy Zail to celebrate Book Week. Suzy’s latest book, Inkflower, is the winner of the Shadow Judging prize for Older Readers in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards.
The stories Suzy told us about her own life and the people she based her stories on were so inspiring, and really put our own experiences into perspective. Some of the women she had interviewed for her books included: a blind mother, women who are forced into arranged marriages, a mother who ended up in prison and separated from her children, and women who were fighting for their education. She gave so many useful tips on how to get inspiration for writing stories, and how to motivate yourself when writing. We especially found her father’s story and his perseverance throughout the Holocaust inspiring and impressive. After all the trauma that he had gone through, he still kept a positive outlook on life. We were inspired by his optimism and resilience enduring the terrible conditions at Auschwitz.
We also gained valuable insights into her writing process, including how she developed her characters, plot, and her planning technique. We learnt so much from Suzy during this enjoyable and educational experience.
Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts Pymble Ladies’ College
Step outside the everyday and be taken on an emotional journey, from laughter to tears, at the HSC Drama Showcase.
With 16 exceptional performances, we invite you to celebrate the extraordinary talent and dedication of our HSC Drama students.
Tuesday 3 September, 5.30pm
Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts
Admission is free.
From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Green time and Screen time
I love that our children are growing up in the dynamic age of technology as so often technology enhances the learning experience for our children. Kindergarten are using drones to understand birds-eye view, Year 3 are working with Lego Spike to understand the Earth’s rotation and Year 4 are learning how to podcast; all possible through the fabulous technological resources we have. Many of our Junior School teachers, myself included, have just completed an AI Champions course ensuring we are able to plan and guide learning opportunities for our girls for the future which are going to continue to set them up for success as learners and in life.
Yet in this fast-paced digital age it’s also incredibly important we teach our children the need for balance and outdoor play. Recently I saw this award winning short animation which represents the addiction of apps and how challenging it can be for our children to resist.
Recently I read Johnathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation. A social psychologist, Haidt has studied the impact the shift from basic phones to smartphones has had on children (12 years and under) and young people over the last 14 years and explores how an increase in digital activities is now being linked to four areas of concern; sleep deprivation, social deprivation, attention fragmentation and addiction.
Whilst I don’t want us to negate the positive impact digital technology can have in learning and life; his research resonated with me as amongst other things it cites the positive impact of outdoor play on the wellbeing of young people. Haidt’s research shares how play with loose parts is a strong protective factor against the lure of screen time and social media. Reassuringly for our Pymble girls, we prioritise this form of play for our girls with time provided in the timetable for unstructured play for Years 3 and 4.
Unstructured play provides space and time for creativity, collaboration and resilience. Students are supervised but they direct their own play, choose the loose parts they need to support their play and barter with one another for key parts. It’s also an opportunity for students to ‘play’ their learning, to develop social skills through role play and to grow their understanding of their world. Last week, Year 4 girls built houses for the Three Little Pigs (an application of their learning about fairytales), created an impromptu drama performance of a trip to the dentist and designed and made a dream catcher.
Respect and kindness to our environment
This week I am giving a huge shout out to Mya Aggarwal and Aaisha Suresh who are on a mission to lead by example and have given up their lunchtime plays this week to pick up rubbish around our Junior School campus.
This week our courageous Year 4 students (and staff) are out at Webbs Creek for their Outdoor Education Program. The girls have been enjoying bushwalking, kayaking, abseiling, and a terrific flying fox. These photos only touch on the many highlights of the outdoor program that girls will have long lasting memories of.
We wish all our amazing Dads and stepdads a happy Father’s Day this Sunday. For those in our community who are not able to be with their fathers, I hold you in my thoughts and prayers.
A message from Stephen Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
OSHC Registrations
Please note that ALLJunior School students need to be registered at OSHC (through the Kidsoft Website) in order to enrol in new or additional co-curricular offerings,including swimming and tennis. If your daughter is not registered with OSHC she will not be able to be enrolled in any co-curricular activities from Term 4 2024.
Father’s Day Breakfast and Musical Performance
We are very much looking forward to seeing many dads and special people at our Father’s Day BBQ Breakfast on Friday 6 September. There are still tickets for this K-12 event available through Community Engagement. This will be followed by a musical performance in the John Reid Hall by all Junior School year groups from 8.20am to 8.50am.
Water bottles
With the temperatures increasing, a reminder to ensure you daughter has a water bottle with her at school. Water bottle filling stations and water bubblers are available throughout the Junior School.
A message from Mrs Lara Bird – Deputy Head of Junior School – Academic
Speech and Drama
Speech and Drama girls made Pymble proud with their success at the Ryde Eisteddfod. Thank you to Mrs Victoria Clancy, Speech and Drama Instructor for preparing the girls for the competition.
Poetry Performance
Sana Iyer Year 5 1st Place
Nadya Faheem Year 4 2nd Place
Cecilia Zhang Year 6 2nd Place
Miranda Liu Year 4 3rd Place
Scarlett Qiu Year 5 Highly Commended
Sophia Wang Year 5 Highly Commended
Character monologue in Costume
Aarthi Rao Year 4 1st Place
Prose Speaking
Hailey Zhang Year 4 1st Place
Chloe Zhang Year 4 2nd Place
Sophia Wang Year 5 2nd Place
Charmaine Li Year 4 3rd Place
Sarayah Wijesuriya Year 3 Highly Commended
Anya Jolapara Year 4 Highly Commended
Talented performers
Year 4: Olivia Deng, Priscilla Fang,Eva Shi, Rose Wang,Adela Wu, Sophia Wu and Rachel Zhang
Year 5: Leah Liu and Batool Rangwala
Year 6: Olivia Guo and Katelyn Hsu
Wellbeing Weekly – Kate Giles, Head of Wellbeing K-6
Next term we will be holding our final two sessions in our Wellbeing Series for the year. The first will be a session for Years 5 and 6 parents on technology and AI in preparation for Middle School held on 17 October and the second will be for Kindergarten to Year 6 parents on supporting your daughter with anxiety and change on 31 October. Both sessions will be held in the 3-6 Library at 8.45am and a sign-up form will be shared shortly.
As we prepare for 2025, I would love some feedback regarding these sessions and any other sessions you would like to see as a part of the series. Please use this link to provide your feedback.
A message from the Intercultural Committee
The Junior School Intercultural Committee (ICC) is proud to announce our drawing competition for the 2025 Cultural Celebrations Calendar!
We are looking for entries for the following celebrations – Hannukah, Ramadan, Yoyo Day, Bastille Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, The Day of the Dead, World Indigenous Day, Diwali and Christmas.
Twelve winning entries will be chosen to be printed for each month of our Cultural Celebrations 2025 calendar.
Drawings can be submitted at Hedgehog House and each entry will earn you ten house points. You can submit as many drawings as you want! The competition closes on Friday 6 September.
Come and see Seussical – The Musical
“Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’ best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper!
I hope you are excited for the upcoming Year 6 production of Seussical – The Musical. Please note that tickets are on sale via the GMCPA Box Office.Click here to purchase your tickets.
Performance Dates: Thursday 19 and Friday 20 September commencing at 7.00pm.
Ticket Price: $22
Confirming the production will run for approximately two hours (with a 20-minute interval).
We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!
Junior School Digital News
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
Garden Party – Saturday 21 September
Years 5 & 6 Lucky Prize Stall
Year 5 and 6 Families, please assist us at the Garden Party by either donating prizes, making a donation to allow us to purchase prizes for the stall or volunteering your time on the stall. Please contact your parent Year Coordinators with any questions. Thank you in advance for your donations and support.
You can donate via our GroupTogether here and / or sign up to volunteer on the stall here.
Cake Stall
You can help in two ways by:
Baking delicious cakes, biscuits, slices and treats for sale.
Assisting on the stall during the day.
The cakes and baked goods can be dropped off at the stall in the foyer of the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA) on the day of the Garden Party from 7.30am.
We also need volunteers to work on the stall and sell the delicious treats throughout the day. If you can help at the stall for an hour, please register here.
Friday 29 August – Year 4 OEP Group 2 return from Webbs Creek
Saturday 30 August – IPSHA Saturday Sport
Sunday 1 September – Father’s Day
Tuesday 3 September – Year 2 OEP
Tuesday 3 September – Year 3 Windows into Learning – 8.30am to 10.25am (parents invited to bring snack and stay for recess)
Tuesday 3 September – Year 1 Windows into Learning – 11.00am – 12.45pm (parents are invited to bring their lunch and stay for lunch)
Wednesday 4 September – Year 6 Transition (Group 2) – 12.50pm to 1.30pm
Thursday 5 September – Kindergarten Windows into Learning – 11.30am to 12.30pm (parents are invited to bring a picnic lunch and stay for lunch 12.30pm 1.00pm)
Friday 6 September – Father’s Day Breakfast – 7.00am to 8.15am (pre-registered)
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School
From the Middle School
On Monday on MyPymble, I shared news with you regarding our very well-loved Head of Year 8, Theresa Mimmo. An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Boarding community here at Pymble and Theresa has now accepted the position of Deputy Director of Boarding from Term 4.
Theresa joined Pymble five and a half years ago as a maths teacher and has been an integral part of the Wellbeing team for the last four years. We are very sad to see Theresa leave the Middle School. Her deep care and investment in your daughters’ wellbeing has been exemplary. Once we have confirmed the new Head of Year 8, I will be in contact to update our Year 8 families. We wish Theresa all the best in her new role.
Pymble Ladies’ College Athletics Champions!
On Friday last week Year 7 attended the 2024 igsa Athleticscompetition at Homebush. Pymble Pulse was stronger than ever as Year 7 led the mighty cheers to the surprise of our competitors in the stands.
The girls showed indomitable spirit as they stood time and time again to encourage the Pymble athletics team to cross that finishing line and there were many first placings which made the day even more satisfying. We value the role our Year 7 played in contributing to Pymble spirit at igsa this year.
During Mind-Body-Spirt time this week the much-anticipated Masked Singer house eventhad everyone on the edge of their seats, with each house delivering spectacular performances in a variety of languages. The twist? Every house had to perform in a different language, making it a true celebration of our school’s linguistic diversity.
From catchy Spanish pop songs to Russian rap, the students’ powerful voices and expressive gestures, enhanced by their House mascot costumes, brought the drama and emotion of music to life. Mr Raymond, Ms Rockwell and Ms Bussien judged the performances, focusing on house spirit, showmanship and language proficiency. This event was a true celebration of language and culture, showcasing not only the talent of our students but also their dedication to embracing and learning new languages. Congratulations to all the houses for their incredible performances – this will be a Languages Week to remember!
Melissa Jeurgens presented to Year 8 on Tuesday. Melissa is an accredited practicing dietitian and an accredited sports dietitian. In addition to her clinic at Narrabeen, Melissa works with the GWS Giants AFL and Giants Netball as their head sports dietitian. It is Melissa’s mission to simplify diet and nutrition and help people see food as more than just calories. A balanced diet should not deprive you of foods you love but instead help you to be the healthiest, happiest version of yourself and enable you to thrive in our ever-changing world. Our Compass team will conduct follow-up activities on Thursday.
Year 8 Student Reflections
Melissa told us all about the three big food categories vegetables, carbohydrates and protein and how to incorporate these into our diet. Especially because lots of us are athletes and participate in training, Melissa told us all about what we should eat before trainings for energy and after trainings for recovery. She also spoke to us about body image and how unhealthy eating habits can affect our menstruation. I can definitely say that I learned a lot from her visit and will remember the things she said for a while! – Emma (Year 8)
During our year assembly on Tuesday, we learnt about our protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. We learnt how significant these foods are for us so we can grow healthy. Our guest speaker had talked to us informing how nutrients are vital for us growing teenagers. We enjoyed having her to our assembly and have learnt so much about what we should eat to keep healthy. – Charli (Year 8)
During assembly today we were lucky enough for a guest speaker to come and talk to the whole of year 8 about the importance of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. I am so glad that she came as I was able to learn how to fuel and repair my body especially after physical activity. This is so important as we are growing girls and need to eat the right things for us to grow up and be healthy. This was an amazing opportunity and I’m very grateful for it. – Constance (Year 8)
Melissa will be presenting to Year 7 next week.
On Friday 23 August we spent our final day of national exchange exploring the sights of Sydney. We had a beautiful sunny day in Sydney, and we were able to showcase what the city has to offer. It wrapped up an amazing week of exchange for the girls. Thank you to all of the teachers who made the program such a success.
Congratulations to Thazin Naidoo (Year 7) and Annabel Zhao (Year 7) who were selected to participate in theWestern Sydney University Space Teams Academyheld last week. Thirty-two young space adventurers formed teams to complete a virtual space mission as part of a WSU mission team to design spacecraft, learn basics of interplanetary navigation, land their vehicles on an exoplanet, build a sustainable habitat in a hostile environment, and explore the strange exoplanet as a team to locate resources critical to sustaining human life for the duration of their mission.
Student Reflection:
It was an amazing experience to attend Space Teams Academy in Western Sydney University. We took six major lessons throughout the week, learning from professionals and experts, and extending our knowledge through online activities including designing planets, creating habitats on Mars, and landing a spacecraft on different planets. We learnt about physics, planetary science, and orbital trajectory. It was so exciting and interesting to learn about, as there were virtual simulations of rockets and spaceship landings. We talked to professionals involved in space exploration missions, and experts in planetary science. We even talked to a former NASA astronaut and flight engineer, Gregory Chamitoff. It was truly a great experience to attend Space Teams Academy, and I genuinely look forward to any other science programs in the future. – Annabel (Year 7)
Madeleine Gaden recently travelled to Queensland on two separate occasions for equestrian competitions, one being a Grand National qualifier for 2025 and the other Brisbane Royal, the EKKA. Mads came away with qualifying four different horses for the Grand Nationals next year including her own horse, Rooster. She also had a wonderful time at the EKKA, winning many placings including a royal championship. Congratulations!
It is wonderful to be able to share the news that Diona Jacobs, Selina Jiang, Meii You and Annabel Zhao of Year 7 have made it through to the Semi Finals in the CCSA Debating competition. We wish them all the best for the next round.
From the Middle School Parent Groups
Middle School Sweet Sensations Stall 2024
The Garden Party, the biggest and most exciting event of the year, is coming up on Saturday 21st September – just a month away! The Years 7 and 8 Sweet Sensations Stall is one of the most popular so we are expecting huge crowds. Please help us out by either volunteering your time or donating money to help us buy lollies. See links below for both options and attached flyer.
A message from Ms Mariel Lombard, Acting Head of Upper School
We are delighted to have officially welcomed Years 9 and 10 students to the new Upper School Common Room this week. To celebrate the opening of our new Upper School space, our Years 9 and 10 Compass Captains and Upper School Leaders led a special gratitude ceremony on Wednesday to thank the builders, architects and Master Planning team.
All Upper School students also took part in an induction and welcome session as they walked through the Common Room for their first time. There was much excitement as they discovered their new kitchen (a highlight for many!) and the array of furniture which has been so beautifully set up for our girls. Today our Common Room was officially ‘open for business’ with students enjoying the joys and privileges of our new home during recess and lunch.
Our Upper School team have also settled into the new administrative office, located at the bottom of the Colonnade stairs. We look forward to welcoming students (and parents) to our new offices over the coming weeks.
Year 10 Knox-Pymble Afternoons
Over the past three weeks, our Year 10 students have had the pleasure of joining Year 10 students from Knox Grammar School for a series of choice-based afternoon activities. Students were provided with a range of sporting and service activities including netball, volleyball, soccer, baking, knitting and volunteering in the Out of School Hours Care (OSHC).
It has been wonderful to see new connections formed through these co-educational opportunities. Tomorrow, a group of Year 10 students will also be hosting a focus group with students from Shore as they prepare for the Shore-Pymble dance which will be held in Week 1 of Term 4. We are very proud of the range of co-educational opportunities available to our Upper School students. These activities, offered over the course of the year in a range of settings, provide our students with opportunities to make connections beyond the school community, build their confidence and develop their ability to work with a diverse range of peers.
Exchange Update
Last weekend, our Head of Upper School, Victoria Harrison, accompanied a group of excited Year 10 students for the start of their exchange experience in Argentina. We are excitedly awaiting their updates and look forward to sharing these with you in the coming weeks. We have also farewelled students heading to Scotland, Japan and New Zealand and are eagerly awaiting their photos!
Year 9 Residential Program
It has been wonderful having all of our Year 9 students back together on campus this week after the conclusion of the Term 3 Residential Program at Vision Valley. Last Friday, our campers took part in a special student-led Honouring Ceremony, as they celebrated the end of their residential program. Serena, Riley and Nazgol in Year 9, have kindly offered reflections on their Residential program.
Throughout this month on the residential program, we have overcome many challenges and gained more independence and responsibility. We participated in many outdoor activities at Vision Valley and went on several expeditions where we were attacked by many leeches on the hikes. It was definitely a change of our daily routines and lifestyle since we were put in lodges with 40-50 other girls, going on the VV3 runs most mornings and having dinner with each other every night, but we had so much fun and didn’t want to leave by the end. On the last day we had an honouring ceremony to wrap up the program and reflected on our experiences and all of the memories we made over the four weeks. – Serena Cummings (Year 9)
The residential program was so good. The Blue Mountains were great as we went canyoning. The food was great – cooking with trangias was a very different kind of experience. We also went to Bouddi National Park to trek. It was hard when we thought the lookout was so much closer than we expected. The highlight was going for a swim at Tallows after a long day of walking – it was so refreshing and special. The honouring ceremony last Friday was culturally special and memorable. We reflected on our experiences and shared our gratitude for the Vision Valley staff and our families and parents. – Riley Atkinson (Year 9)
I can’t even name one highlight as I have so many. I was really proud of myself for trying so many new things – the Expeds were such a challenge. I miss living with friends and having so much time with them at Vision Valley. The honouring ceremony was really unique – it was so emotional seeing my family again. I never thought I would have been able to hike 50+km – I am proud of that. – Nazgol Koochakzadeh (Year 9)
Year 10 Commerce Visit to UTS
The UTS entrepreneurship workshop provided a dynamic platform to delve into the intricacies of starting and managing a business venture. The CEO of a company came to speak to us about her experiences owning and running a business plus why she does it. She volunteers her time for the company which provides tutoring services to students who can’t access standard education, while also having a full-time job. This is quite an inspirational story as she also shared with us, her struggles when she attended school with mental health. Overall, it was an informative workshop that we would love to attend again.
Hands-on activities such as discussions, note taking, questions and theoretical situations really helped form the core of our workshop experience, allowing us to apply the knowledge learnt to practical scenarios. For example, we were tasked with think of a problem in the world. It could have been big like climate change, or something small like the food at our school café was too expensive. Our group chose to do accessibility to electricity as lots, of people, for many different reasons, do not have access to it. After we had found our problem, we were asked to find a solution, which for our group was to create a company that built solar panels on buildings in low-income areas where most people couldn’t afford electricity. We felt that this hands-on activity added to the experience of the workshop and helped put our knowledge to use.
The workshop helped us understand all the real-life applications of the theory we were learning in class. For example, the CEO told us to always focus on your problem or gap in the market, because that is what your business is going to be aiming to solve. She also reiterated the fact that recognising failure is part of the process but it’s important to learn from that experience. Therefore, this workshop was an incredibly informative and enjoyable experience which we are grateful we were able to participate in.
Written by Samantha Fahy & Ruby Lyons (Year 10)
Important Dates
Term 3
Friday 30 August – Year 9 Subject Selection presentation and Launch of Leadership for 2025
Friday 30 August – Year 10 Pymble/Shore Focus group meeting
Tuesday 10 September – Year 9 Residential Program Term 4 Parent Information Evening/Student Icebreaker event
Thursday 12 September – Year 9 Subject Selection Evening ONLINE for Parents
Wednesday 18 September – 2025 International Exchange Information Evening
Friday 27 September – Boarder’s Travel Day/Last day of Term 3
Monday 14 October – Boarder’s Travel Day/Staff Day
As we move closer to the end of the term, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the significant milestones and accomplishments within our Senior School community.
Year 11: Preparing for Yearly Examinations
Our Year 11 students are diligently preparing for their upcoming Yearly Examinations. This period marks an important step in their academic journey as they begin to consolidate the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired throughout the year. We encourage them to approach these examinations with a sense of determination and focus, knowing that their efforts now will lay the foundation for their final year of schooling.
A reminder that the students do not have a study day on Friday 30 August. The normal schedule of classes will be running and all students are expected to be at school.
During the examination period, the Year 11 students only need to attend school for their exams. However, they are very welcome to come and study at school or meet with their teachers. If the students are on campus, for an examination or to study, they are expected to be in full school uniform.
Building a community of respect
At the heart of our Senior School is a commitment to fostering a community of respect. Respect for oneself, for others and for the environment is a value we strive to instil in every student. This week in our Senior School assembly, we have focused on the value of respect, and how this influences our community, our relationships and our wellbeing. The students gave valuable feedback and insight during an interactive session, and we are looking forward to continuing to reinforce this value through various initiatives and programs aimed at promoting positive relationships and a supportive school culture. We believe that by working together, we can create an environment where every student feels valued, respected for her efforts and confident to grow.
Celebrating our Duke of Edinburgh Award Winners
We are also delighted to celebrate the achievements of so many of our students who have recently completed their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. These students have demonstrated exceptional commitment, perseverance and leadership in fulfilling the rigorous requirements of the award. Their success is a testament to their dedication to personal growth and community service, and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them.
This term, we’ve been witnessing a valuable exchange between our graduating student leadership body and the incoming Prefects. The current leaders have taken on the role of mentors, sharing their experiences, offering practical tips for success, and guiding the new Prefects in navigating the challenges that come with leadership.
Through open dialogue and collaborative sessions, they’ve been passing on insights into effective communication, time management and the importance of maintaining balance. This mentoring process not only strengthens the leadership skills of our incoming Prefects but also ensures that they are well-prepared to build on the legacy of those who have come before them, avoiding common pitfalls and confidently leading the student body into the new year.
Sincerest thanks to Mrs Michelle Hunt, Head of Wellbeing, in facilitating this process.
Year 12 Spring Study Camp
The Pymble HSC Spring Study Camp is on during the first week of the holiday break to get your child ‘match fit’ for their HSC exams.
The camp is a five-day (non-residential) program that provides you with a structured study environment free from distractions in the lead up to the HSC Examinations.
Fabulous features of study camp:
Teachers available daily for individual or small group tutoring
Dedicated absolute quiet study space
Allocated rooms do a practice exam or collaborate in small groups
Academic advisors will be available daily for ATAR estimates and study planning assistance
The Futures Team will be onsite. Students will be able to book a time with a member of the team.
Unlimited tea, coffee and fruit
Camp Details: Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October 2024
Time: 8.30am to 4.30pm
Cost: $345.00 (5 days) – morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided daily
For further questions, please contact: Mrs Jenny Olsen jolsen@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au (Head of Extended Learning).
Term 3 Key Dates
2 September – 13 September – Year 11 Yearly Examinations
16 September – Year 12 GPs In Schools
16 September – Year 11 and Year 12 Y-Safe presentations
21 September – Garden Party
25 September – Year 12 Picnic Day at Clontarf
26 September – Year 12 Graduation Assembly (students and staff in attendance)
27 September – Year 12 Speech Day
27 September – Year 12 Honouring Ceremony
27 September – Year 12 Chapel Service
27 September – Year 12 Valedictory Dinner
27 September – Term 3 ends
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School
From the Boarding School
It has been a lovely week of happy news, friendship and learning as we all enjoy the warmer weather and longer days. By now most of you will be aware of our new Deputy Director of Boarding, from Term 4, will be our current Head of Year 8, Theresa Mimmo. We are thrilled with that Theresa is joining our Boarding family and I look forward to welcoming her onsite in the weeks to come.
Dads and Daughters Celebration
Last Sunday many of our Boarding dads made the trip to Sydney to celebrate an early Father’s Day with their girls. It was a fun afternoon of friendly competition at the Greens North Sydney where our duos were introduced to the joy of barefoot bowls. I was delighted to hear the positive feedback and grateful to our dads, granddads and special people who made the journey from as far as Darwin and Alice Springs for this special occasion. It was such a hit we’ve already locked in the date for this time next year!
Loving Learning
Academics are never far from our thoughts and it has been good to see our Year 12 Boarders emerge happily from their HSC Trial Examinations as our Year 11 girls prepare diligently for their examination period which starts next Monday. Our Learn It program is well resourced and well utilised. If you haven’t already, please encourage your daughter to sign up for some one-on-one time and academic support.
AISNSW Student Leadership Conference – Mrs Beth Ayling, Head of Goodlet House
On Monday 25 August, Madeleine Gardiner (Indigenous Education Co-ordinator) and I had the pleasure of accompanying Latiah, Sahara and Dezi to the AISNSW Student Leadership Conference at Western Sydney University. The event is put together by AISNSW to educate and mentor young First Nations students on how their culture can be used as a strong foundation for leadership development.
The students were involved in various workshops that celebrated their cultural roots and promoted thoughtful discussion. On a practical level, they were involved in a traditional dance workshop, painting in traditional Aboriginal styles using dots and symbols as well as learning about native plants and their usages. The students also dug a little deeper when discussing what their ideal school may look like and how it would honour and conserve their cultural heritage.
They were asked questions about what sort of ancestors they would like to be and the legacy they would like to leave behind, as well as having an in-depth discussion about how to identify and understand leadership through a cultural lens and the people and systems that can support this.
The night ended with a lovely dinner while we listened to guest speakers from all walks of life share their journeys and struggles to get to where they are today. These speakers were open and honest in sharing the steps they took and the support they received in order to achieve different paths, all of which involved giving back to community, specifically Indigenous youths.
Ms Gardiner and I were proud of the insight our Pymble Boarders shared so thoughtfully and eloquently with the group. As a non-indigenous person, I always jump at the opportunity for further learning in this space. The event was educational not only in gaining deeper insight into just how interconnected culture is to all other aspects of indigenous life, but also highlighting the ways in which people like me can best support and nurture the needs of First Nations students in order to support cultural connections.
National Exchange
The National Exchange Program is a wonderful opportunity for our Year 8 students to experience a different school and meet new people. As you will read below, Sasha and Cleo certainly enjoyed the change of routine.
On 18 August, six of us Pymble girls arrived at the airport to catch a flight to Clayfield College Brisbane. Nerves were in the air as we boarded the plane, and one short flight later, we arrived. We met our exchange girls and over the next couple of days widened our comfort zones in the best way possible. On Sunday night the boarding house organised for us to go to Eat Street, a night market in Hamilton where we got to know our exchange buddies and had a fun time trying new foods and adjusting to a new environment.
Monday morning was the day where we experienced school as a Clayfield student. Our school subjects were Spanish, Maths, Social Science, Food Tech and more! We enjoyed the small school and loved experiencing a day in the life of our exchange buddies. Tuesday was our favourite day because we wore sports uniform and had a tour around Brisbane for the entire day. We took a ferry along the beautiful Brisbane River and hit the shops whilst also completing a scavenger hunt. Additionally, we played a game of Clayfield VS Pymble laser tag that was loads of fun and we won! Wednesday was our final day in Brisbane, and we started the day off strong with half a day of school then at 11.30am we headed off to the airport and although we were sad to leave Brisbane, we were excited to return to home.
We returned to Sydney and caught the bus back to Pymble with the Melbourne and Towamba girls. We returned to school the next day with our exchange partners. Both girls enjoyed the day, and their favourite subject was Art. They were a bit overwhelmed by our big school but enjoyed exploring our beautiful campus. In the afternoon, we relaxed and chatted before going to prep and dinner. After tech hand in, we got in our beds in the common room and watched a movie together whilst eating Tim-Tams and popcorn, it was a lovely way to end the day.
On Friday morning, we took a train into the city and walked from Milsons Point to the Opera House then several photos later we caught a ferry to Manly. Our exchange buddies thought the beaches were beautiful and we even got some Yo-Chi and Butter Boy Cookies.
Thank you, Clayfield, and Pymble, for organising a trip that has deepened our connections and widened our comfort zones. We are so grateful to be able have had this once in a lifetime opportunity that we will never forget.
Love It – Katie White, Deputy Director of Boarding
Last weekend’s Love It program involved some great Father’s Day crafting with Mrs Myles and a trip to Yo Chi at Macquarie on Saturday evening. As you read above, the Sunday afternoon Burgers and Bowls event was a huge success. This weekend we have laser tag planned for Saturday evening and then a picnic on Sunday on the Northern Beaches. The weather is set to be summer-like on the weekend, so we can’t wait to get out in the sunshine.
As mentioned last week – we will be heading to Sister Act the Musical on Sunday 15 September. Please remember to fill in this form to give permission for your daughter to attend.
The Press Club
Just a reminder to sign up for our next Boarding Community Event, to be held on 20 September, the eve of the Garden Party. Following the Boarder Parent Group meeting and some last-minute Garden Party preparations, join our Boarding parents for a dinner at the Butchers Block at Wahroonga before heading to the Warrawee Club for an evening of live music and dancing. All Boarders are required to be in attendance on this night and we hope our families can join in the fun too.
A message about our Garden Party
As you may be aware the Garden Party is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Boarding community. Last year we raised $17,000 and $20,000 the year before. It is being held on Saturday 21 September and is a fantastic day. We will be running three stalls: the Produce Stall, the Boarders’ Barbecue and the fabulous Hillbilly Cider Shed. We will also be holding a raffle. This is a shout out to get you thinking of what you may be able to donate or contribute to the Produce Stall or the raffle.
Anything produced by Boarding families is welcome. Some examples include baked goods, jams, chutneys, sauces, pickles, fruit, eggs, bunches of herbs, flowers, wheat and cotton. It is a very popular stall and loved by all the city folk. Any donations for raffle prizes would also be greatly appreciated.
On the barbecue this year, we will also be serving bacon and egg rolls with tomato relish between 10.00am and 11.30am, and after that it will be our delicious pork and slaw rolls. Any donation of eggs for this stall would be amazing.
Finally, keep your eye out for the Google form to book a spot on the roster. Any help is appreciated and it really is a great way to catch up with other parents while contributing to the day.
View From My Window
Hi, my name is Camilla, but people call me Milla. I just started Boarding at Pymble this year in Year 7 and live in Avonmoore. I come from a small town called Young which is the cherry capital of Australia and is about five hours away from Sydney. I live on a farm in between Grenfell and Young with about 3,500 acres. I live with my mum and my dad and my three brothers, two of who board at Riverview.
On my farm we have sheep, cattle, dogs (three sheep dogs, a Jack Russel and a Labrador) and a horse. My dad is a farmer so he does most of the sheep and cow work and my mum teaches at my little brother’s school in Grenfell. I went to primary school in Grenfell with less than 50 students and a school which was probably just a bit bigger in size than Main Oval at Pymble, so going to a much bigger school has been very different but good because I have made so many friends.
It took me a while to adjust to living away from home, but now that I am more comfortable with my friends in the boarding house, going back after a holiday isn’t so bad because I get to see all my friends again. But there is still no better feeling then coming back from Sydney and driving down my driveway to my farm that is so peaceful and quiet.
When I look out the front window of my house, I see the driveway leading up to the road, the paddocks stretching out as far as I can see and the dogs running around the yard. I love growing up on a farm and the Young and Grenfell communities but now, I also get to be a part of the Pymble Boarding family and I already feel so welcome.
Boarder of the Week
Erica is a much-loved member of our Boarding family and truly exemplifies the Boarder spirit. She is not only caring and funny, but also demonstrates hard work and dedication. Erica keeps her room immaculate without ever needing to be asked.
She’s always upbeat and laughter comes easily to her – she is the kind of person who brightens up any room she enters. Her upbeat attitude is contagious, making those around her feel supported and at ease. She’s quick to lend a hand, often anticipating the needs of others before being asked.
She takes pride in her appearance and her uniform is pristine. Even when she’s just come back from a challenging run, she still looks totally put together. Her cheerfulness isn’t just surface level; it’s a genuine part of who Erica is, making her a joy to be around and a reliable friend.
Save the Date
20 September – Boarders and their Families event (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
21 September – Garden Party
24 September – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel and Farewell to Year 12 Boarders (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
26 September – Year 12 Boarder and Parents’ celebration event (Year 12 Boarders and parents only)
27 September – Year 11 and 12 Speech Day, followed by Boarders’ Travel Day
Term 4
14 October – Boarders return from 2.00pm
18 October – Boarding lockdown and evacuation drill (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
Term 4 TBA – Mother Daughter Lunch
4 December – Year 7 to 10 Speech Day, followed by Boarders’ Travel Day
Boarder Parent Group Meetings
20 September – 2.30pm onsite
24 October – 7.00pm TEAMS meeting
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
From the Chaplains
As I write, I sit on Marden Lawn, enjoying the heat of the sun’s rays. I look and see the College campus enlivened by the fresh burst of sunshine, the magpies are cheekier, garden beds are blooming, and the students have a quickness in their steps. The hot pink azaleas remind us that Spring is almost here, and staff enjoying picnics at lunchtime tells us that we are very ready to come out of Winter’s hibernation.
Many staff have been commenting, “Isn’t it great to see the sun come out?” This got me thinking, has the sun really come out? It’s a funny expression isn’t it, because the truth is, the sun’s rays are always warming the earth. It is we who now feel it because the clouds have been blown off-shore, revealing the sun’s ever faithful presence with us.
It reminds me that like the sun, sometimes unseen and unfelt, there is always something sacred and wonderful happening within our lives. It calls me to look beyond the “seen” and “felt” life of the everyday, and uncover the eternal beauty in the ordinariness and unseen.
Henri Nouwen once commented,
“Contemplative life is a human response to the fundamental fact that the central things in life, although spiritually perceptible, remain invisible in large measure and can very easily be overlooked by the inattentive, busy, distracted person that each of us can so readily become. The contemplative looks not so much around things but through them into their centre. Through their centre he discovers the world of spiritual beauty that is more real, has more density, more mass, more energy, and greater intensity than physical matter. In effect, the beauty of physical matter is a reflection of its inner content.
To start seeing that the many events of our day, week, or year are not in the way of our search for a full life but are rather the way to it is a real experience of conversion. We discover that cleaning and cooking, writing letters and doing professional work, visiting people and caring for others, are not a series of random events that prevent us from realizing our deepest self. These natural, daily activities contain within them some transforming power that changes how we live.”
Loving God, may we be attentive to the sacred in our midst. Thank you for making every-day events in our lives the way to discovering you within ourselves, rather than preventing it. May we hear your call to see your beauty, your image in those we encounter each day. May we glimpse the eternal within the ordinary moments of our lives. And even when unseen and unfelt, may we know your ever-faithful presence with us. Amen
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Cass Blake
College Chaplain
From the Futures Team
Introducing our Expert in Residence, Amy Rogers
The College has welcomed Amy Rogers, distinguished Consultant with the Carney, Sandoe and Associates as our visiting expert in residence from 20 to 30 August. She is working with our Futures Department, Pymble staff and students to increase our understanding of study pathways to the USA. Furthermore, she presented workshops to a professional network of Careers Advisors from ICGS Schools on supporting student aspirations for study at US Colleges and to parents and students of ICGS Schools on advice when considering study in the USA.
Amy brings a wealth of experience from her 15 years at Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut, where she served as Dean of College Counseling and contributed significantly to the school’s Center for Global Leadership. Her leadership extends to roles at several prestigious institutions, including The Taft School and Phillips Academy Andover, where she has influenced college counseling, admissions, and educational leadership. She holds a B.A. in English from Bucknell University and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. With a passion for helping people design their best lives, she is also a certified coach with expertise in Positive Psychology.
We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from Amy and thank Dr Hadwen and the ICGS for their support.
Kim Maksimovic
Director of Futures and Partnerships
For Secondary School Students
Spring Camp Years 10- 12: School of Project Management University of Sydney
This in-person event provides a deep dive into project management, career paths, and degree insights. Hear from industry experts, academics, students and alumni.
Past programs included tours to Google, Atlassian, and Western Sydney Airport
Open date: October 15 2024 Closing date: February 28 2025 (Only one student per school)
Taronga Zoo Sydney offers school work experience opportunities for students in years 10 to 12 who are interested in pursuing a career in zoo keeping, animal care, tourism or zoo horticulture.
Work experience undertaken at Taronga Zoo Sydney allows students to:
Observe a variety of work being done in the fields of zoo keeping, animal care, zoo horticulture or guest services and education
Undertake supervised work appropriate to the student’s skill level
Registrations will open for Term 4 programs via the online registration system at 12.00pm on Wednesday 11 September.
Please access the online registration via the Co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. A parent/carer log in is required to be able to register. We recommend families check they can access the system well in advance of the opening date to avoid any technical issues on the day as registrations CANNOT be processed via email or phone.
A notice will be posted on the MyPymble App prior to registrations opening to all families as a reminder of the opening date and time. All program information will be finalised on the Co-curricular pages of MyPymble by Wednesday 30 August.
Term 4 Saturday Sport registrations are now closed
Registrations for Term 4 Saturday Sports closed on Friday 4 August at 12.00pm. To request registration into an available Saturday Sport for Term 3, you will need to complete a registration request by clicking here. Requests will be sent to the Co-ordinator for approval, and you will receive an email of the outcome.
Sally Davidson
Head of Co-curricular Administration
From the Co-curricular Sports Team
The shortcode only works for newsletter articles
Artistic Gymnastics
WAG NL5-7 State Championships
What a wonderful weekend our artistic gymnasts had at the WAG NL5-7 State Championships held at the Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre, Rooty Hill. Congratulations to the following gymnasts who have been training so hard and achieved their personal bests. We are Pymble Proud of you all!
Anna Wang (Year 6) Level 7 Division 1
2nd All Around
3rd Beam
Claire Ni (Year 7) Level 6 Division 3
3rd Beam
Sydney Zhou (Year 7) Level 6 Division 3
Joint 4th Vault
Mahika Swamy (Year 10) Level 7 Division 4 (narrowly missing out on placing on beam)
Sophie Ahn (Year 6) Level 5 Division 2
Summer Zhou (Year 7) Level 5 Division 4 (narrowly missing out on placing on both vault and beam)
From Vanessa Clyne, Acting Head Coach
I wanted to take a moment to express how lovely it has been to return to the gym recently. It has been a joy to see so many familiar faces and to meet so many enthusiastic new members. The energy and passion within our community is truly inspiring.
I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Alison’s fantastic work. Her dedication has always been exceptional, and it’s heartwarming to hear that she is now enjoying precious moments with her beautiful baby boy, Joey. She and Joey are doing wonderfully and making the most of their special 12 months of maternity leave.
Thank you all for your continued hard work and support. I’m looking forward to what the rest of the year holds and am excited about the many achievements and milestones ahead.
We are fortunate to have a team of exceptionally experienced and dedicated coaches who are here to guide and inspire our gymnasts. Stay tuned for more details on their backgrounds and specialisations—our coaches are truly the heart of our club!
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
Olympic Display Theme – Dates to be confirmed. Stay tuned for more details!
IGSA Trials. Be prepared and bring your best. Attendance at one trial is compulsory.
Wednesday 28 August 2024 from 3.45pm to 6.45pm
Wednesday 25 September 2024 from 3.45pm to 6.45pm
Holiday Squad Training – We will have training sessions during the holidays. Make sure you are booked in. Emails coming out this week.
Arrive on time and ready to train for your sessions
We will be noting any lateness that is unauthorised and how this can impact upon your training and personal outcomes.
If you are arriving late to gym due to another activity, please pop into the office to get your attendance marked.
If you are not feeling 100%, please let your coach know accordingly, so the training session can be amended to bring out the best of you on that day.
Keep the Gym Tidy
Please ensure that you take care of your own personal equipment and keep the gym clean. We are seeing a large amount of lost property. Please ensure all individual items are labelled, i.e. leotards, crop tops, sweatbands, loops, grips, tiger paws, socks etc.
Any unnamed grips, sweatbands, loops or tiger paws will be placed in the lost property boxes in the gym for these pieces of equipment.
All clothing is returned to either the Junior school office or the Senior School Sports Hall Lost Property equipment box.
Upcoming Competitions – We have several exciting competitions on the horizon, including National Clubs, State Clubs, NL3-4 State Champs, igsa, IPSHA, and State Levels. Let’s prepare and aim high!
Self-Reflection and Goal Setting: Take time to reflect on your progress and set new goals. Self-improvement is key to success. All our coaches are encouraging their competitive gymnasts to utilise the Self Reflection Loop which can be found by clicking here.
Viewing Results: For Gymnastics NSW results, visit Gymnastics NSW Results Page to stay updated with the latest scores and achievements
Additional Resources
Nervous about competitions? Brain in the Game Podcast: Tune into the Brain in the Game Podcast for valuable insights and tips to enhance your gymnastics experience.
Thank you for your dedication and enthusiasm. Let’s make the most of this exciting season ahead!
Vanessa Clyne
Acting Head Coach – Artistic Gymnastics
Athletics
igsa Athletics
Last Thursday 22 and Friday 23 August, igsa held their annual Track and Field Championships. It was a very successful event with Pymble taking out the following trophies:
Division 1 Heat Winners
Individual Senior Shared Champions – Samara Bond (Year 11)
Senior Final Point Score Winners
Melinda Gainsford Taylor Shield – Final Point Score Winners
Overall Champion School – Combined Finals Points and Para Points
An amazing effort from all students and coaches! We are all so proud of you.
Jack Garrad
Co-ordinator – Athletics and Cross Country
Badminton
Interschools Badminton Competition
On Sunday 25 August, we had seven Pymble Badminton teams compete in the 2024 NSW Interschools Badminton Teams competition at the Alpha Badminton Centre in Auburn. The event is played in a round robin format, leading to a straight 1v2 grand final match. We saw all our Pymble teams dominate throughout the day whilst having loads of fun!
Congratulations to all the students involved on a fantastic day of Badminton. See below results:
Team
Division
Result
Athletes
Pymble 1
Division 1
3rd (pool)
Amy Xue (Year 10), Coco Shi (Year 10), Oldina Xia (Year 10), Rachael Lee (Year 11)
Pymble 2
Division 1
2nd (overall)
Katherine Pan (Year 10), Vivian Zhang (Year 10), Sophie Zhang (Year 10), Amber Li (Year 10), Amber Wang (Year 10)
Pymble 3
Division 2A
4th (overall)
Helsa Hui (Year 8), Kimmy Wong (Year 8), Valerie Zhao (Year 8), Kayla Ma (Year 8)
Pymble 4
Division 2A
3rd (overall)
Adele Jiang (Year 7), Vivian Liu (Year 7), Ariel Lau (Year 7), Haley Zhang (Year 7), Jessie Leung (Year 7), Athena Ng (Year 7)
Pymble 5
Division 2B
4th (overall)
Fiona Chen (Year 7), Alice Lin (Year 7), Ashleigh Du (Year 7), Melanie Xu (Year 7), Tangia Sun (Year 7), Candice Zhou (Year 7)
Pymble 6
Division 2B
2nd (overall)
Kristen Pang (Year 9), Sarah Bai (Year 9), Jane Lee (Year 9), Xiran Rong (Year 9), Arin Yoon (Year 9)
Pymble 7
Division 3A
3rd (overall)
Vivian Tian (Year 7), Vivian Wang (Year 7), Zarah Ali (Year 7), Mina Jin (Year 7), Yuxi Zhao (Year 7)
Shellie Davis
Co-ordinator – Badminton
Cross Country
School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships
A huge congratulations to Gemma Dixon (Year 8) who ran at the most recent School Sport Australia Cross Country Championship event. Gemma placed third in the U14 age group. In addition, Gemma’s relay team were awarded gold and then her NSW team gold overall! A very successful meet, well done Gemma!
Australian Cross Country Championships
Good luck to the below students who will be competing at the 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian Cross Country Championships this weekend:
Sarah Baker (Year 12)
Gemma Dixon (Year 8)
Eliza Lawton (Year 8)
Georgia Phillips (Year 12)
Charlie Slater (Year 7)
Sophia Slater (Year 11)
Good luck girls!
Jack Garrad
Co-ordinator – Athletics and Cross Country
Hockey
igsa Hockey Competition – Round 5
With two round games left, our Pymble teams are starting to fire up as it gets closer to finals. We wish all teams the best of luck this week with Pymble 1, Pymble 2, Pymble 3 and Pymble 4 all at home, and Pymble 5 and Pymble 6 travelling down to Frensham. Here is an update on our current standing per division:
Pymble 1 3rd
Pymble 2 7th
Pymble 3 4th
Pymble 4 5th
Pymble 5 5th
Pymble 6 2nd
Team of the Week
This week in Hockey we would like to give a big shout out to the team of the week being Pymble 5! They had a tough match on the weekend, having to defend majority of their match, but with their determination and attitude they managed to score a goal in the final minutes to make it a draw.
They have been fantastic at training and games and really utilizing what Coach Hermione has been working on with them.
See below Round 5 results:
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 1
SCEGGS 1
5 to 0 Win
Pymble 2
PLC 2
0 to 1 Loss
Pymble 3
Monte 2
0 to 4 Loss
Pymble 4
Roseville 4
1 to 6 Loss
Pymble 5
Danebank 3
1 to 1 Draw
Pymble 6
Roseville 6
1 to 1 Draw
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded best and fairest for their match in Round 3!
Pymble 1 – Arabella Smithyman (Year 12)
Pymble 2 – Teya Cranley (Year 10)
Pymble 3 – Sienna Phair (Year 10)
Pymble 4 – Lucy Chapman (Year 8)
Pymble 5 – Eleanor Rowe (Year 8)
Pymble 6 – Georgia Blue (Year 7)
Shellie Davis
Co-ordinator – Hockey
Junior School Sports
Junior School Sport Team of the Week
Congratulations to the Year 5 and 6 Representative Touch Football team for their outstanding performance at the NSW Primary School Touch Football Gala Day last week! The girls played exceptionally well, going undefeated throughout the entire competition. Your dominant performance was impressive, but even more commendable was the sportsmanship and teamwork you displayed. Well done!
Matt Tyson
Head of Sport – Kindergarten to Year 6
Netball
igsa Netball – Round 5
What a weekend it was for Pymble Netball with 14 of our teams coming away with a win! Despite a bit of rainy weather in the morning for our outdoor teams, the girls pushed through the slippery conditions. Congratulations to Pymble 1, our Senior Firsts, who had a fantastic game winning 41 to 29, Pymble 21, our Year 7 Firsts, who won 47 to 14, and special mention to Pymble 22, our Year 7 seconds, who, despite the wet weather, won 26 to 8. Let’s keep up this good work girls as we approach the last game before finals!
See below round 5 results:
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 1
St Catherines 1
41 to 29
Pymble 2
Meriden 1
27 to 27
Pymble 3
Queenwood 2
21 to 26
Pymble 4
Brigidine 4
11 to 45
Pymble 5
Meriden 3
11 to 29
Pymble 6
Danebank 1
29 to 9
Pymble 7
Loreto Normanhurst 9
16 to 4
Pymble 8
SCEGGS 5
31 to 8
Pymble 9
Loreto Normanhurst 11
26 to 14
Pymble 10
Loreto Normanhurst 12
3 to 18
Pymble 11
Ravenswood 8
22 to 30
Pymble 12
Loreto Kirribilli 2
25 to 21
Pymble 13
Abbotsleigh 15
27 to 27
Pymble 14
Roseville 12
28 to 9
Pymble 15
Roseville 13
12 to 19
Pymble 16
Abbotsleigh 23
10 to 11
Pymble 17
Mount St Benedict 3
18 to 10
Pymble 18
PLC Sydney 17
4 to 25
Pymble 19
Queenwood 13
23 to 8
Pymble 20
Loreto Normanhurst 22
17 to 16
Pymble 21
Ravenswood 20
47 to 14
Pymble 22
Abbotsleigh 30
26 to 8
Pymble 23
Roseville 22
9 to 16
Pymble 24
Queenwood 15
12 to 9
Pymble 25
St Vincents 20
10 to 12
Pymble 26
Roseville 24
7 to 6
Megan O’Keeffe
Head Coach – Netball
Snowsports
State Interschools Snowsports Championships
A huge congratulations to the 35 students who competed in the State Interschools Snowsports Championships at Perisher last week, where the finest Snowsports talent from across NSW gathered. Over five days, our Pymble students demonstrated outstanding commitment, dedication, and teamwork, making Pymble a formidable presence.
In the Junior School, our students shone with eight team podium finishes. Special recognition goes to Eno Lin (Year 2), Michelle Zhang (Year 2), and Makayla Cui (Year 2), who swept the podium by finishing first, second, and third, respectively, in the same Ski Cross competition. Additionally, Evelyn Zhu (Year 3) secured third place in Ski Cross, while Makayla Cui (Year 2) took third in Snowboard Cross. Anna Smart (Year 6) claimed second in the Laser Biathlon event. Thanks to these remarkable performances, our girls were crowned Primary Female Overall Champion School for the third consecutive year!
In the Secondary School, despite challenging conditions, our girls delivered impressive results. The secondary campaign started strong, with the Division 1 Moguls Team (Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) and Olivia Clifford (Year 12)) earning a third-place team finish. Individually, Hilary Eyers (Year 7) took second in Moguls, and Aurora Zhang (Year 8) secured second place in the Laser Biathlon event.
As a result of these fantastic achievements, 26 of our 35 competitors will be advancing to the National Championships next week. We wish all the best to our students and their families as they head back to Perisher, and we look forward to another exciting week of competition! See below for full results from State:
Alpine
Division 1 – Team 6th
Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) 8th
Olivia Clifford (Year 12) 36th
Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) 59th
Division 2 – Team 6th
Arabella Wheatley (Year 10) 11th
Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 9) 22nd
Elizabeth Lien (Year 9) 58th
Zara Tang (Year 10) DSQ
Division 3 – Team 4th
Hilary Eyers (Year 7) 12th
Aurora Zhang (Year 8) 18th
Eloise Gavagna (Year 7) 39th
Bella Xu (Year 7) 51st
Division 4
Christina Yang (Year 5) 28th
Division 5 – Team 3rd
Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) 6th
Tina Wang (Year 4) 16th
Kimberly Zhao (Year 4) 30th
Caia McCarthy (Year 4) 63rd
Division 6 – Teams 1st and 9th
Makayla Cui (Year 2) 5th
Michelle Zhang (Year 2) 7th
Eno Lin (Year 2) 12th
Clover Gong (Year 2) 13th Evelyn Sang (Year 2) 30th
Dorothy Zhao (Year 1) 41st
Anne Li (Year 1) 55th
Moguls
Division 1 – Team 3rd
Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) 15th
Olivia Clifford (Year 12) 18th
Division 3 – Team 5th
Hilary Eyers (Year 7) 2nd
Bella Xu (Year 7) 37th
Eloise Gavagna (Year 7) 43rd
Division 4 – Team 6th
Christina Yang (Year 5) 10th
Lydia Chen (Year 6) 32nd
Division 5 – Team 1st
Kimberly Zhao (Year 4) 8th
Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) 10th
Ski Cross
Division 1 – Team 8th
Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) 13th
Olivia Clifford (Year 12) 38th
Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) 54th
Division 2 – Team 6th
Arabella Wheatley (Year 10) 14th
Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 9) 23rd
Zara Tang (Year 10) 31st
Division 3 – Team 8th
Hilary Eyers (Year 7) 15th
Aurora Zhang (Year 8) 30th
Eloise Gavagna (Year 7) DSQ
Division 4
Christina Yang (Year 5) 23rd
Division 5 – Teams 2nd and 6th
Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) 3rd
Tina Wang (Year 4) 9th
Kimberley Zhao (Year 4) 22nd
Division 6 – Teams 1st and 6th
Makayla Cui (Year 2) 1st
Michelle Zhang (Year 2) 2nd
Eno Lin (Year 2) 3rd
Clover Gong (Year 2) 15th
Dorothy Zhao (Year 1) 29th
Evelyn Sang (Year 2) 44th
Snowboard GS
Division 1 – Team 11th
Esther Essey (Year 11) 21st
Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) 43rd
Division 2 – Team 13th
Elizabeth Lien (Year 9) 27th
Tina Zhao (Year 10) 43rd
Division 3
Isabel Parker (Year 7) 27th
Division 4 – Team 6th
Ellie He (Year 5) 17th
Christina Yang (Year 5) 29th
Bella Geng-Yang (Year 5) 34th
Division 5 – Team 3rd
Michelle Zhang (Year 2) 7th
Eno Lin (Year 2) 6th
Reena Geng-Yang (Year 1) 12th
Makayla Cui (Year 2) 19th
Aini Liu (Year 2) 27th
Snowboard Cross
Division 3
Isabelle Parker (Year 7) 37th
Division 4 – Team 7th
Bella Geng-Yang (Year 5) 23rd
Christina Yang (Year 5) 29th
Ellie He (Year 5) 29th
Division 5 – Team 1st
Makayla Cui (Year 2) 3rd
Michelle Zhang (Year 2) 6th
Eno Lin (Year 2) 10th
Cross Country Classic
Division 1 – Teams 5th and 7th
Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) 17th
Esther Essey (Year 11) 19th
Olivia Clifford (Year 12) 22nd
Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) 23rd
Elizabeth Lien (Year 9) 26th
Tina Zhao (Year 10) 26th
Division 3 – Team 8th
Aurora Zhang (Year 8) 22nd
Eloise Gavagna (Year 7) 26th
Bella Xu (Year 7) 37th
Division 4 – Teams 8th and 11th
Anna Smart (Year 6) 6th
Lydia Chen (Year 6) 34th
Christina Yang (Year 5) 39th
Carolyn Sang (Year 5) 43rd
Arlene Ke (Year 5) 46th
Bella Geng-Yang (Year 5) 47th
Division 5
Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) 20th
Reena Geng-Yang (Year 1) 45th
XC Relay
Division 1 – Team 6th
Olivia Clifford (Year 12)
Evelyn Zhu (Year 11)
Alessandra Braysich (Year 12)
Division 3A – Team 4th
Aurora Zhang (Year 8)
Bella Xu (Year 7)
Eloise Gavagna (Year 7)
Division 3B – Team 12th
Hilary Eyers (Year 7)
Cienna Heald (Year 7)
Erika Zhao (Year 8)
Division 4 – Team 8th
Anna Smart (Year 6)
Lydia Chen (Year 6)
Christina Yang (Year 5)
National Qualifiers
Dorothy Zhao (Year 1)
Makayla Cui (Year 2)
Clover Gong (Year 2)
Eno Lin (Year 2)
Evelyn Sang (Year 2)
Michelle Zhang (Year 2)
Evelyn Zhu (Year 3)
Caia McCarthy (Year 4)
Tina Wang (Year 4)
Kimberly Zhao (Year 4)
Bella Geng-Yang (Year 5)
Ellie He (Year 5)
Christina Yang (Year 5)
Anna Smart (Year 6)
Hilary Eyers (Year 7)
Eloise Gavagna (Year 7)
Bella Xu (Year 7)
Aurora Zhang (Year 8)
Elizabeth Lien (Year 9)
Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 9)
Zara Tang (Year 10)
Arabella Wheatley (Year 10)
Esther Essey (Year 11)
Evelyn Zhu (Year 11)
Alessandra Braysich (Year 12)
Olivia Clifford (Year 12)
Megan O’Keeffe
Co-ordinator – Snowsports
Swimming
2024 NSW State Short Course Championships
Team Pymble Results
2024
Gold medals
6
Silver medals
5
Bronze medals
1
Relay medals
2
Top 10 finishes
2121
Total competitors
14
The swimmers from the Pymble contingent of Knox Pymble Swim Club (KPSC) delivered an incredible performance at the 2024 State Short Course Championships, helping KPSC secure first place for the overall point score! While the statistics above display some impressive results, they don’t fully capture the toughness, skill, resilience, supportiveness, and professionalism displayed by our athletes. They stood up behind the blocks and gave everything for their team, wearing their club cap with pride.
Looking back at their performances at Metro just six weeks ago, you might have wondered how they could top those results. Well, they not only surpassed them, but they also annihilated them and did so in style! Even the younger Engine swimmers, who smashed their personal bests at Metro, found a way to shave off more seconds at State.
The Pride Squad achieved their goal of reaching the “next level.” We saw marked improvements in self-management, confident race planning, and smart execution. Their self-analysis is improving as well, making it refreshing to have productive and quality conversations with our Pymble athletes. What’s even more impressive? They’re comfortable with failure, seeing it as part of their growth.
A huge thank you to coaches Sara, Michelle, and especially Leanne. Having you back on pool deck made a world of difference. Your expert guidance and support pushed our athletes toward success. When we have people like you lifting us up, success is inevitable!
We also want to extend our gratitude to the parents who toughed it out in the stands and helped on pool deck with timekeeping or officiating during what was a marathon weekend. Your support was invaluable in making these results possible. Additionally, thank you to KPSC for your ongoing support and to Pymble Ladies’ College for providing us with top tier coaching and world-class facilities. Swimming at Pymble is truly a journey.
While we are thrilled with the results, we are even more proud of the camaraderie, personal growth, and the fun and laughter shared along the way. Swimming teaches us to handle the highs, the lows, and everything in between, all while immersed in the great element of water alongside friends. The skills learned here will undoubtedly set our swimmers up for future success—both in and out of the pool.
Congratulations to all our swimmers. You were brilliant, and I had an amazing time with each of you. Now it’s time for a well-earned break to refresh your minds and bodies. Enjoy some lazy sleep-ins, social time, and a chance to catch up on studies. We’ll be back in the water soon, ready for more.
From Leanne Speechley, Head Coach – Swimming
I’d like to congratulate Coach Rafael for his expert knowledge, programming, and commitment to the swimmers. The respect he has from the athletes is evident as they endeavour to give all they have in his honour. It was a pleasure coaching alongside you and seeing the growth in your coaching and the calmness in which you deliver your feedback and motivation. Thank you for the time you give to the sport and for putting together this excellent report.
Thank you to Coach Sara who had two swimmers compete at the senior level. Your athletes shone bright for their first meet at big state, and this is a credit to your coaching. They displayed excellent racing skills and your assistance at the meet allowed Coach Rafael and I to see more racing. Great team effort.
4th Sarah Tian, Ruby Pickthall, Keira Smith, Jessica Croll
Girls 15 to 16 Years 4x50m Medley Relay
10th Annalise Chow, Jennifer Chong
Girls 4x25m Medley Relay
7th Sarah Tian, Lily Lockhart, Piper Gregory-Reid, Keira Smith
Signing off for winter – finish strong!
Rafael Rodrigues
Engine Coach – Swimming
Tennis
Sawtell Seaside
Congratulations to Isabella Su (Year 8) for winning the J125 Sawtell Seaside Junior 14U Singles last weekend. Isabella came back from a set down to take out the final match with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 10-4. Well done, Isabella!
Jufri Foss
Co-ordinator – Tennis
From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team
The shortcode only works for newsletter articles
Drama
Spotlight on Drama Skills!
As CentreStage approaches, our Drama Skills classes are hard at work, devising original pieces of theatre. Guided by their passionate instructors, these students are creating new pieces based on the theme “Behind the Mask.”
Starting with a blank slate, the class has been brainstorming, improvising, and shaping their unique narratives. Alongside this creative devising process, they are honing essential acting skills—stage presence, vocal projection, and emotional expression—building the foundation for powerful and engaging performances. Confidence and collaboration are key elements in this class and students are learning to step into the spotlight, embrace challenges, and support each other, fostering a team spirit that is vital in theatre.
We hope you can all join us for a night of fun and excitement at CentreStage Behind the Mask.
CentreStage Behind the Mask Dates
25 November – Theatresports and Film CentreStage
26 November – Dress rehearsal for Junior show
27 November – CentreStage Junior Show (all Junior Drama students)
28 November – Dress rehearsal for Secondary show
29 November – CentreStage Secondary show (all Secondary Drama students
Important Drama Events
31 August – Ryde Eisteddfod at West Ryde Community Centre
24 October – Junior Theatresports Competition
25 October– Festival of Speech Competition – Theatresports
26 October – Festival of Speech Competition – Eisteddfod
28 October – Primary Theatresports Competition
Rebecca York
Co-curricular Drama Co-ordinator
Language Arts
Debating
Archdale Debating – Shield and Invitational
Thank you to all Archdale Debaters for their dedication this past preliminary season. Five teams progressed to the quarter finals which were held earlier this week on Tuesday 27 August. Results will be announced shortly. Parents are reminded that travel to and from finals rounds is the responsibility of parents.
7A Debated Danebank at Tara
8B Debated MLC at SCEGGS
Juniors Debated PLC at PLC Sydney
Yr 9 Debated Meriden at PLC Sydney
Seniors Debated SCEGGS at SCEGGS
Congratulations to our Invitational Intermediate team who are straight through to the grand final on Tuesday 10 September. Details to be forwarded.
Archdale Representative team
Congratulations to Kitty He (Year 10), Maya Garg (Year 11), and Amy Zhang (Year 11) who were selected for this prestigious team. Pymble debaters make up one quarter of the team! Enjoy the season girls.
Pymble will host an Archdale representative round in the library on Monday 9 September.
Further Opportunities – Speakers’ Corner
Our Pymble debaters across all years have met with much success in the competitions offered through Speakers’ Corner. Alice Mao (Year 10) and Amy Zhang (Year 11) travelled to England earlier this year to compete in the finals at Cambridge, and some of our junior debaters have met with similar success in additional competitions. If you wish to provide further debating opportunities for your daughter, the following may be of interest.
Cambridge Schools Debating 2024 to 2025
Cambridge Schools Debating 2024 to 2025 will launch on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October in Sydney, like at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview. It will run from approximately 9.00am to 5.30pm both days. The competition will use the British Parliamentary style of debating, with 15 minutes of preparation time and Points of Information.
The cost is $220.00 per person. Speakers’ Corner will offer supervision and school staff will not attend. The competition is open to any student from Year 7 to 11. Winning teams will be invited to compete in Cambridge, UK, in March 2025.
Click here to register. The links to make payment are within the registration form. Optional training sessions will be held via Zoom in the weeks prior to the competition. Registration for the sessions is via the competition registration form, with a cost of $30.00 per session.
2024 Australian Schools Open
The 2024 Australian Schools Open is the first national in-person debating competition for schools. The winners will be the inaugural Australian Schools Debating Champions. This competition will take place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September in Sydney, likely at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview. It will run from approximately 9.00am to 5.30pm both days. The competition will use the Australian 3v3 style of debating, with 30 minutes of preparation time.
The cost is $220.00 per person. Speakers’ Corner will offer supervision and school staff will not attend. Team members do not have to be from the same school. The competition is open to any student from Year 7 to 12.
Click here to register. The links to make payment are within the registration form. The deadline for registration is Saturday 14 September. Optional training sessions will be held via Zoom in the weeks prior to the competition. Registration for the sessions is via the competition registration form, with a cost of $30.00 per session.
Debating Notes
Debating Bootcamp – The Language Arts High Level Debating Bootcamp continues this Friday after school. A continued thanks to Maya Garg (Year 11), State Debating representative, and the Language Arts Captains for this initiative. Girls are on a steep learning curve!
IDC Debating – Term 4 – Teams will be released in the forthcoming weeks. Please ensure all registrations have been completed. We currently have 12 IDC teams ready to take on the world in international debating!
Absences – Debaters must inform Mrs Hubbard, their coach, and team, in advance if they will be absent for a debating round. We do not forfeit, and substitutes can be arranged.
Public Speaking
UN Voice Registrations
Pymble will host a UN Voice of Youth heat on Monday 14 October. In 2022, Jenny Xu (Year 11) was the national winner. Last year, Isis Li (Year 9) was the national runner up. This is a wonderful competition and is open to all. In the first instance, please email our incoming Public Speaking Captain, Jenny Xu at JIXu@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au to register interest. Please use UN Voice interest as the subject heading. Please copy Mrs Hubbard bhubbard@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and Co-curricular Administration ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au into the email. You will then be invited to a workshop run by past winners, and registrations will be completed through Co-curricular Administration.
Junior Secondary School Speaking Award (JSSA)
Estelle Lee (Year 8) has progressed to the JSSA regional round to be held at The Arts’ Centre, Lewisham, on Tuesday 3 September from 9.30am. Best of luck Estelle.
Model United Nations (MUN)
Further Opportunities – UN Youth Junior Leadership Summit 2024
Junior Leadership Summit is a two-day non-residential conference for students in Years 7 and 8 taking place at the University of Technology, Sydney, on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September. Delegates will participate in thematic workshops based around a set theme and will enhance their communication, advocacy, and leadership skills through structured skills workshops. Assisting the development of these skills will be influential and inspiring guest speakers who will share their wisdom with the delegates. Pymble staff will not attend; however UN Youth staff will be present.
Maya Garg (Year 11) and Catherine Shi (Year 11) have progressed to the Evatt National final and will represent NSW at the National finals during the upcoming summer holidays.
UN Negotiations
Well done to our negotiators who competed in the first of their two preliminary rounds last Saturday at Pymble. They are awaiting their second scenario.
57th Session of THIMUN – The Hague, January 2025
The Pymble Language Arts International Tour group have been accepted as the first Australian school to attend THIMUN at The Hague. Sixteen Language Arts students and three teachers will depart Sydney on Friday 17 January and travellers will commence Term 1 2025 on Monday 3 February. We are excited for this wonderful travel experience!
Mock Law
Mediation
The scenario for the next mediation session has arrived and the date of the next mediation round will be announced soon.
Mock Trial
The material for the next mock trial finals round has arrived and Pymble will be hosting Ravenswood on Monday 2 September from 4.00pm. The trial will take place in the IH administration building.
Festival of Speech
The annual Festival of Speech will be held at MLC Burwood this year on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 October. A Pymble representative team will be formed over the coming weeks.
Bronwyn Hubbard
Head of Co-curricular Language Arts
Music
Congratulations
Catherine Li (Year 9) recently competed in the Sydney Eisteddfod in the Russian Open Age for piano and WON! Well done Catherine.
Athena Ng (Year 7) – Grade 2 Musicianship – High Distinction A+
Garden Party – Saturday 21 September
Members of the following groups will be performing on the day at various locations around the College. Students are to ensure they are wearing comfortable clothing, not school uniform (hats are recommended as it is often hot), and to bring their music and instruments.
Ensemble
Venue
Approximate Times (TBC)
Clarinet Ensemble
GMCPA Foyer
11.00am to 11.15am
Flute Ensemble
GMCPA Foyer
11.20am to 11.35am
Piccoline Choir
Music Gallery
11.30am to 12.00pm
Pizzicato Strings
Music Gallery
11.30am to 12.00pm
Junior Jazz Band
Music Colonnade
12.45pm to 1.05pm
Secondary Jazz Band
Music Colonnade
1.10pm to 1.30pm
Grainger Band
Chapel Court
2.05pm to 2.25pm
Stanhope Band
Chapel Court
2.30pm to 2.45pm
Year 4 Band
Chapel Court
2.50pm to 3.00pm
Scholars’ Recital Night
Thank you to the wonderful musicians who performed and spoke last week. Click here for a snippet of the evening.
Music Tour 2024 – Violinists/Violas
Please be advised that Emirates have informed Hayes Travel Enterprises that all violins and violas must be in shaped cases, not the rectangular ones. If you are struggling to find an option, please see Mrs Turner.
Sarah Turner
Head of Music
Speech and Drama
Ryde Eisteddfod
Speech and Drama students made Pymble proud with their success at the recent Ryde Eisteddfod.
Poetry Performance Events
Sana Iyer (Year 5) 1st
Nadya Faheem (Year 4) 2nd
Cecilia Zhang (Year 6) 2nd
Miranda Liu (Year 4) 3rd
Scarlett Qiu (Year 5) Highly Commended
Sophia Wang (Year 5) Highly Commended
Character Monologue in Costume
Aarthi Rao (Year 4) 1st
Prose Speaking
Hailey Zhang (Year 4) 1st
Chloe Zhang (Year 4) 2nd
Sophia Wang (Year 5) 2nd
Charmaine Li (Year 4) 3rd
Sarayah Wijesuriya (Year 3) Highly Commended
Anya Jolapara (Year 4) Highly Commended
Talented performers:
Olivia Deng (Year 4)
Priscilla Fang (Year 4)
Eva Shi (Year 4)
Rose Wang (Year 4)
Adela Wu (Year 4)
Sophia Wu (Year 4)
Rachel Zhang (Year 4)
Leah Liu (Year 5)
Batool Rangwala (Year 5)
Olivia Guo (Year 6)
Katelyn Hsu (Year 6)
Victoria Clancy
Speech and Drama Instructor
Garden Party – Map and Entertainment Schedule
We can’t wait to welcome you to our Pymble campus on Saturday 21 September from 10.00am to 3.00pm for our biggest event of the year.
Open to the whole community, our fete will have rides, food and market stalls, demonstrations, live music, competitions and more!
Funds raised at this year’s Garden Party will go to the Barbara May Foundation and Sony Foundation.
As parking will be limited on the day, we recommend families catch the train to Pymble Station from where our campus is only a short five-minute walk away.
We look forward to welcoming students, their families and members of the public for a day full of fun, all while supporting a good cause!
Can you help out at Garden Party?
Toy Stall
We are accepting expressions of interest from parents who are interested in running the Toy Stall at this year’s Garden Party. We are seeking one or more parent(s) who can take on this role; you will also receive guidance and valuable insights from someone who has previously managed the Toy Stall.
Please email events@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you are interested.
Japanese Food Stall
We are looking for volunteers to assist with the Japanese Food Stall at Garden Party. If you have a passion for Japanese cuisine or simply want to lend a hand, your help would be greatly appreciated, even if you can only spare an hour or two on the day.
Please contact takako.davison@gmail.com or events@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you are able to assist.
Pymble Parent Association (PPA) Barbecue
We are looking for parents or staff members who are willing to help out for an hour at the PPA Barbecue either cooking the sausages, serving the sausages or handling payments.
If you can lend a hand, please click here to sign up.
Pre-order your Unlimited Rides Pass!
We are delighted to invite the College community to celebrate all things Pymble at our annual Garden Party on Saturday 21 September.
The Unlimited Rides Pass allows you to go on as many rides as you would like at Garden Party 2024 between 10.00am and 3.00pm. This is great value for money and is sure to keep the young ones entertained over the course of the day.
This year there are two options based on a child’s height:
Unlimited Rides Pass for children 130cm and over – Cost: $45
Unlimited Rides Pass for children under 130cm – Cost: $35
Each pass provides unlimited access on any ride or activity where the minimum height/age requirement is met:
The Superhero Ride (130cm and over)
The Round Up (120cm and over)
The Whirlwind (110cm and over)
Storm Ride (110cm and over)
Cup & Saucer (Two years and over)
Swinging Pirate Ship
Turbo Flyers
Giant Slide
Inflatables
Order now: Click here to pre-order your Unlimited Rides Pass.
Registrations close: Thursday 19 September 2024
Enquiries: Please contact the Rides Convenor, Sangeeta Venkatesan at sangeeta.venkatesan@gmail.com
Click here for more details on Pymble Ladies’ College Garden Party 2024. We look forward to seeing you there!
Second-Hand Uniform Stall
The Pymble Parents’ Association (PPA) Second-Hand Uniform Stall is returning to Garden Party in 2024!
Drop-off collections start on Monday 2 September and run until Wednesday 18 September. Please bring your pre-loved uniforms (except socks and tights) to the Centenary Car Park (Gate 3) between 7.30am and 8.30am, and 2.30pm to 3.30 pm. Your donations will help make this year’s stall a success!
Uniform Donations Details
DatesMonday 2 September to Wednesday 18 September 2024
Where Drop-Off Zone in the Centenary Car Park (entry via Gate 3)
Time 7.30am to 8.30am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Thank you in advance for your help in making this year’s stall the best yet!
Give FunDive a Try!
Ever wondered what it takes to be a diver? Curious about how it feels to springboard from a height into a pool of water beneath you?
If you’re looking for a thrill at Garden Party or just want to try your hand at learning a new skill, you don’t want to miss Pymble’s FunDive event taking place in the afternoon in the Braith Williams Aquatic and Fitness Centre.
Led by Olympian Kurtis Mathews, Pymble’s Head Coach of Diving, FunDive will give you the rare opportunity to learn the principles of diving, participate in a session guided by an expert coach and truly understand the courage involved in this fantastic sport.
There are only a limited number of tickets being sold for this event, so you’ll need to be quick to secure your spot. Please note: Students must be able to swim 15 metres unassisted in the deep end of the 50 metre pool to participate.
For further information please contact Kurtis Mathews at kmathews@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or events@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Cake Stall
Pymble is hosting its annual Garden Party on Saturday 21 September and the Cake Stall is always a highlight of the day. All funds raised are donated to the Garden Party charities – the Barbara May Foundation and Sony Camp Australia.
You can help in two ways by:
Baking delicious cakes, biscuits, slices and treats for sale.
Assisting on the stall during the day.
The stall caters to a broad range of customers from those wanting a delicious on-the-go snack to keep up their energy levels, to those looking to take home a cake, tart or pie for a special occasion. All baked goods are welcome!
The cakes and baked goods can be dropped off at the stall in the foyer of the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA) on the day of the Garden Party from 7.30am.
We also need volunteers to man the stall and sell the delicious treats throughout the day. If you can help at the stall for an hour, please register here.
Thank you, as always, for your support.
Cake and Cake Box Decorating
With the theme of Enchanted Garden, students from Kindergarten to Year 12, parents and families are invited to bake and/or create their most creative cake and/or cake box! Any size, shape and skill level is welcome to enter, and you can submit multiple entries should you wish.
Cake Decorating Competition
Cake Box Decorating Competition
Reminder: Term 3 Pymble Bus Service – Register now!
A reminder to parents to register your daughter for the Pymble private bus service for travel during Term 3 if you have not already done so.
Students must use their student ID card to tap on and tap off each trip. If your daughter has lost her card, please contact College Services for a replacement form.
Please contact College Services via collegeservices@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you have any further questions about transport to and from Pymble Ladies’ College.
We are pleased to announce that the trial of the two additional Northern Beaches bus services in the early morning and late evening will continue in Term 3.
This is a shared and co-branded bus service between Pymble, Barker College and Abbotsleigh.
The continuation of these bus services is dependent on continuing demand throughout the year so please register your family’s interest in this service for Term 3 at collegeservices@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Times
The early AM bus departs Avalon at 5.50am and arrives at Pymble at 6.41am
The evening service departs Pymble at 5.00pm (departure from Pymble at 5.10pm on Monday evenings) before making its way to Avalon via Abbotsleigh and Barker College. It is scheduled to arrive at the last stop at 6.30pm (or 6.45pm on Monday evenings). This is also a co-branded bus.
