Coming alive – with Respect – in 2025 - 6 February
From the Principal
Hello and a very warm welcome to the next – or first! – chapter of your Pymble story. The team and I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and new year break. To our families who celebrate Lunar New Year, Gong Hei Fat Choi, Chuc Mung Nam Moi, and happy Year of the Snake! We count our blessings that all new and returning day students and Boarders have come back to us safe and sound to ‘Come Alive’ as a community in 2025.
Our campus certainly was brimming with life and energy on our first day back together last week thanks to the phenomenal effort from our Year 12s, led by Head Prefects Ang-Ya and Emily, along with Head Boarding Prefects Sophie and Celeste. Proudly sporting their ‘It’s 2025…Come Alive’ t-shirts, our Seniors were out in force from early in the morning to welcome students with cheers and high fives, setting the tone for the year, and instilling in all a sense of belonging to a very special family. Thank you, Year 12, for greeting the new school year with boundless enthusiasm, commitment and care. Something tells me this will be an inspired year under your inclusive style of leadership.
Congratulations also to our Year 6 students who were inducted as leaders of the Junior School in a beautiful Chapel Service on Monday. At the opposite end of the Junior School spectrum, a great, big high-five to our new Kindy students and their families, many of whom may be feeling a mixture of relief and nervousness right now, having successfully transitioned from Kindy Club at OSHC over the break into full days in the classroom as of this week. And an extra special shout-out to our 37 new Boarding students who joined us this year. It’s a big step to move away from home and start a new school all at the same time! Similar could be said for our 70 Year 9s who moved into Vision Valley on Sunday for four weeks to undertake our first Residential Program for the year. I can’t wait to join the girls on expedition in the Blue Mountains at the end of this week and to hear how their highly anticipated first week has been.
On a personal note, I have had the best start to the year ever! Over the break I moved office and am now located on the Colonnade overlooking Gloucester Lawn. It has already transformed my days, with a constant stream of girls dropping in to say hello, ask for help getting a straw into their sealed drink, find a classroom for lessons and co-curricular groups, or just to check out my new space. I’ve especially loved the Junior School girls who have visited for lunch – what a treat!
For all those who have started the year off on a courageous note by trying something new, like finding my office all the way from the Junior School, which could be slightly scary or unfamiliar, please know you have all the support in the world at Pymble to meet this challenge, along with others that will come your way. Mums, Dads and Carers, this applies to you, too. We are all in this together, and that’s what makes Pymble such a special community.
At this point, and I know this is getting long, but one final shout-out to our students and families who over the break adopted our Pymble Wise Phones. It took courage and trust – thank you! We are already working with our community to better understand what is working and what’s not so we can continue to refine the initiative. ❤️ 💙🤍
News from over the break
One of the things our new students and families will discover soon enough is that the incredible learning opportunities at Pymble don’t end when the school day, term or year ends.
Over the 2024/25 summer break, we had a number of students and staff representing Pymble all around the world, including on a service tour to Fiji to assist local communities in need, and on Language, Music and Exchange tours and programs in Italy, Spain and Portugal, France and Japan just to name a few destinations. Additionally, our Language Arts students became the first group in Australia to participate in the Model United Nations Conference held in The Hague!
Back home, Pymble volunteers assisted at Sony Camp, our roboticists were busily building in preparation for competition season, our rowers and swimmers were working hard at training camps, and our tennis team spent time at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where they were also interviewed by Channel 9 about our new relationship with the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain. Great job, all!
These after-hours experiences are an important part of life at Pymble and don’t happen without a great deal of thought, time and commitment from our staff and families. Thank you, one and all, for all you do to deliver these opportunities, which are truly life changing for our girls. My advice to all students – both new and returning – is to lean into every opportunity to journey beyond your comfort zones this year, safe in the knowledge that you will be known, guided and supported every invigorating step of the way.
Coming alive in 2025…with Respect
My final message to wrap up our first full week back for 2025 is about our College value, Respect. By now most families will be aware that Respect is our focus for the whole school community this year, and those who have spent time on campus this week will see obvious reminders as you move around the grounds.
In assemblies this week, we spoke to students about our expectations, breaking them down into common courtesies and basic manners that will help ensure each member of our community feels valued and respected. They include:
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Think before you speak – are your words hurtful, or caring and kind?
Remember to say please and thank you – especially to your teachers, co-curricular coaches, and staff you interact with.
Be the first to say sorry if you mess up or make a mistake.
I am so proud of our students; as members of a deeply values-based community, they have a great base from which to amplify respect for themselves, others and the environments they live and learn in. Thank you for supporting us to support your daughters to bring their best respectful selves to Pymble as we Come Alive, together, in 2025.
P.S. Hope to see you at Icebreaker on Friday 21 February!
Our annual gathering for parents and carers to meet key staff at the College is in just two weeks. Held on our stunning Gloucester Lawn at sunset, this is always such a beautiful evening for parents to connect with one another and with our Chair of the Board, Board members, Pymble leadership team and key staff. Click here to book your tickets – I look forward to catching up with you then, if not sooner.
From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Welcome to 2025! The girls arrived for the start of the term and year last Friday with huge smiles, positive spirits and excitement for their learning adventures. They are definitely all set to Come Alive in 2025 which is our Head Prefects’ theme for the year.
We warmly welcome all our new families. We are so glad you have joined our Junior School community of kindness and I look forward to getting to know you all more over the coming weeks. Please know that we are keen to connect with you all, so we grow as a community and our girls grow and learn in a strong, supportive sisterhood where we celebrate our uniqueness and respect the perspectives, stories, culture and strengths of each other.
This year, as a Junior School I am asking the girls to respect themselves and challenge themselves. Inspired by my reading of the wonderful picture book Why Not? by Kobi Yamada, I am challenging the girls to be curious in their learning, to wonder and question. I am encouraging them to seek out challenge and to find ways they can leave the world better than they found it.
Our Junior School continues to have a key focus on the power of kindness as I believe this is a critical strength in the world today as there our world continues to face conflict, concern and trauma. If we can empower our girls to walk through life with kindness, they will change the world. This kindness needs to start within themselves. As we focus on kindness to self in Term 1, we want each girl to notice her passions and to know or discover what makes her the extraordinary young person we know her to be.
The power of kindness – Kindness to Self
We want each of our girls to be kind to themselves, and to:
respect herself, her mind and her body, and know she is loved for who she is;
be prepared to challenge her thinking and approach problems and mistakes she makes in her learning with a resilient mindset, trusting her capabilities;
face the unknown with creativity and courage, knowing she has the strength to explore things beyond the ordinary; and
have enough sleep each night so she can embrace her learning opportunities with enthusiasm and a mind ready to learn.
Together with the girls, we will explore the many ways we can be kind to ourselves, and we hope the girls celebrate themselves for the extraordinary energy and heart they bring to our school.
I also encourage each of you to be as brave as your daughters and reach out to someone you don’t know yet and have a chat with them… it could be the start of a wonderful new friendship! If you don’t already have it booked in your diary, please note our College Icebreaker, a wonderful community event on Friday 21 February.
A huge shout out to all our Kindergarten parents who modelled bravery last Friday as they sent their daughters off on their first day of school and then chatted with new friends they were making for themselves over a cup of coffee.
Congratulations to Year 6
This week our Year 6 girls were inducted as our Junior School leaders. Whilst some girls have specific leadership portfolios, all our Year 6 girls collectively lead many aspects of the tone and culture in our Junior School, and they have each considered the impact they want to have this year.
Making history – The launch of Formula Goblin
Last weekend an intrepid group of pioneers in Year 6 launched our first racing team! Based around Formula 1, Greenpower has launched the Formula Goblin competition where teams race a green-powered, electric car.
Our girls will design, build, maintain and drive the car, and also manage the media and marketing of their team. They will handle all aspects of building a racing team and trying to encourage others to join their racing community.
The girls are making history as they are the first team in mainland Australia to join the Greenpower racing community, and are looking for sponsors and other schools to build this community and healthy competition.
Thank you to these teachers who are supporting the girls in their mission: Ms Lyn Wynne, Mrs Heidi Lynch, Ms Jacqui Ng, Mrs Lara Bird, Mr Locky Pryor, Mr Shannon Thompson (Secondary School TAS assistant), Mr Iggy Sandejas (College Web Developer). A huge thanks to Mr Dan Brown, Head of STEM K-6 who is leading this initiative.
Congratulations to the following girls who make up our Formula Goblin team:
Bhuvika Bhatia – Team Manager
Emma Gan – Team Manager
Dora Chen – Design Team
Emma Deere – Design Team
Lucy Ma – Design Team
Gisele Ren – Design Team
Amy Zong – Design Team
Sana Iyer – Drive Team
Kiana Rad – Drive Team
Afra Sarchami – Drive Team
Emily Walker – Drive Team
Madeline Chen – Pit Crew
Katie Shen – Pit Crew
Mia Farthing – Pit Crew
Aisha Younus – Pit Crew
Ellie Zhang – Pit Crew
Caroline Liu – Media and Marketing Team
Claire Shuai – Media and Marketing Team
Vivian Wang – Media and Marketing Team
Anaiya Patel – Media and Marketing Team
Christina Yang – Media and Marketing Team
A message from Mr Stephen Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
Critical Medical Information
As part of the College’s commitment to keep all students safe, it is vital that we have all requisite information and medication relating to allergies and medical conditions. It is imperative that information shared with the school is complete and up to date for our staff and nurses to ensure optimal care is provided for your daughter when they are on campus. If your daughter suffers from anaphylaxis or asthma, please register the action plan with the College and provide all the necessary medication. Further information can be obtained from our Health Care team or from Junior School administration.
Nut Allergies
Please ensure that your daughter’s food does not contain any nuts as some of our students have severe allergies to food containing nuts and nut products. This includes spreads such as peanut butter and Nutella.
Birthday Treats
If you would like to send in birthday treats for your daughter and her class please limit this to either small (mini) cupcakes or ice blocks (Zooper Doopers) only. Please only supply for your daughter’s class (not the whole grade). If your daughter has allergies please make arrangements directly with your class teacher. We ask that you do not send in presents/party bags for the girls to school as these distract the girls from their learning – presents/party bags are lovely for parties at home!
Junior School Canteen Helpers
On Wednesday and Friday in Term 1, Junior School allows students to purchase cold drinks and frozen desserts through Flexischools. 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.
We are seeking help from parents from across the Junior School to assist on Wednesdays and Fridays between 12.15pm and 1.130pm with the sorting of lunch orders and handing cold drinks/frozen treats that have been pre-ordered. Should you be willing to assist, please click here to express interest. We are initially limiting the form to only accept one submission per person, to share this opportunity with all members of the community.
Note: There will be no cash or card purchases. Items are only available for pre-purchase via the Junior School Flexischools app. Years 5 and 6 may use this facility, or access Archie’s Café as normal.
Parents should also be aware that as we commence our Compass lunch trial, where students will eat their lunch within classrooms of a Monday and Friday, students in Year 5 and Year 6 will not be able to access Archie’s until 1.05pm. It is therefore recommended that they order their hot meal through Flexischools and visit Archie’s for cold drinks and treats.
For the care and safety of your daughters, all volunteers must have a current Working with Children Check Number (WWCC). If we do not already have your information on file, please email your WWCC number and date of birth to juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au so it can be verified.
Car Line
Thank you for your patience with car line over these first two weeks whilst we begin our regular afternoon routines. For parents of girls in Kindergarten to Year 2, please do not arrive before 2.30pm in the afternoon. Girls are escorted to car line after the conclusion of the school day at 2.45pm. We do our best to ensure drop off and pick up is a smooth process but we need your help!
Please remain in your car displaying your daughter’s name as you approach the collection area. Parents are asked not to exit their vehicles as staff will assist the girls in getting into their cars. Please note that this is a single lane and drivers must wait for the car in front to depart rather than exiting the car line lane. Parents may be asked to go around the car line again if their daughter is delayed. Please follow teacher instructions in car line so we can keep all our girls and staff safe.
If you are delayed in collecting your daughter, she will be taken to Out of School Hours Care until your arrival so we can keep her safe and she can play with friends.
Afternoon Departure Procedures
It is vitally important that students are well supervised in the afternoon and that the College is aware of student movement, as so we can support students and ensure their safety.
Grey House Walk: Students who exit the campus via Grey House Walk must do so with a parent or carer. If they are meeting the parent on the street, or walking to a nearby house, they must carry an authorised Grey House Pass provided by the Junior School office. Students who do not have a pass, will need to wait with the teacher or at the Junior School office for later collection.
Collection via Grandview Street: Students in Years 3 to 6 who wish to be collected from Grandview Street or walk home to a nearby residence are required to carry a Grandview Street Pass. This will be shown to the Junior School teacher on duty at the station overpass. Students without a pass will return with the teacher to the Junior School for later collection.
Departure: Daily Routines
For those with daughters in Kindergarten to Year 2, her Compass teacher will receive your daughters’ after-school arrangements each day from the travel master list, to assist her in getting to her correct location after school.
Girls in Years 3 to 6 are responsible to remember where they need to go after school each day. Please use your daughter’s diary to assist her in remembering where to go each afternoon.
Any changes to these routines must be sent in writing to the Junior School office juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. Please note that it is important that any changes to travel arrangements are received prior to 2.00pm.
For girls with older sisters, they must wait at the Junior School Library until their sister collects them by 3.30pm, or at OSHC if they have a sister in Secondary School.
Girls Traveling on College Buses
Girls wait in the K-2 School Office and are supervised until 3.00pm when they are walked to Sunshine Square to join the Year 3 to 6 girls. All Junior School girls are then walked to James Kelso Field by a teacher, where they will then board the bus.
A reminder that all students travelling on the Pymble bus service must have a current registration. Please click here to register your daughter.
Lost Property
Please check that all your daughter’s items are named, including socks, hats, lunch boxes and drink bottles. All unnamed items are stored in the K-2 Upper Performing Arts Room.
Student Charge and Additional Costs for 2025
Please be aware of the following costs that will be incurred if replacement items are required throughout the year:
Hair Ribbons $1.50
Tights $10.00
Socks $10.00
Student ID Card $15.00
Y5/6 Locker Padlock $35.00
Diary $17.15
Lunchtime sandwich $8.20
Gluten-free sandwich $9.20
Sandwich, fruit and water $12.00
Term 1 Key Dates(Weeks 2 and 3)
Thursday 13 February – Academic Series (K-2 Reading) 4.00pm to 4.30pm
Thursday 13 February – Sport and Academics Parent Session 4.30pm to 5.00pm
Thursday 13 February Parent Information Evening
Kindy and Year 6 5.00pm – 5.50pm
Year 1/2/3 5.50pm – 6.40pm
Years 4/5 6.40pm – 7.30pm
Thursday 13 February – JSPG Parent Gathering 5.00pm to 7.30pm
Friday 14 February – Years 3 to 6 Swimming Carnival
Friday 14 February – Kindergarten Portrait photo day and catch-up photo day
Saturday 15 February – Years 4 to 6 Band Camp and Year 3 String Intensive Day
Sunday 16 February – Years 4 to 6 Band Camp and Year 3 String Intensive Day
Save the date: 2025 Intercultural Festival
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
Welcome Back!
A warm welcome back to all our Pymble families, and a special welcome to those joining us for the first time this year. We hope you had a wonderful summer break and are ready for an exciting year ahead!
A big thank you to our Junior School administration team for providing the list of Junior School and JSPG events in MyPymble this week. We hope this helps you plan for the year ahead.
Join Your Year Group’s WhatsApp Chat
To stay connected, we encourage parents to join their Year Group WhatsApp chats. From there, you’ll also find links to your child’s class group.
Your 2025 Year Coordinators
• Kindergarten: Emma Kerle and Dee Jolapara
• Year 1: Bill Chen and Tara & Prad Navaratnam
• Year 2: Yan Lin and Colleen Zhang
• Year 3: Grace Gao and Jullian Lu
• Year 4: Lynn Morrison and Shweta Chauhan
• Year 5: Fatimah Khamash and Liz Greene
• Year 6: Lalenya Waterhouse and Jennifer Sproull
Upcoming Events
Year 5 Dads & Daughters Barefoot Bowls Afternoon
Join us for a fun afternoon at West Pymble Bicentennial Club!
📅 Sunday, 16 February
⏰ 2.00pm
Please check the flyer for more details.
Screenshot
Save the Date: Kindy Easter Egg Hunt
Hop on over for some Easter fun!
📅 Sunday 23 March
📍 Bicentennial Park, West Pymble
Please see the flyer for details and RSVP to your Year Coordinators.
JSPG Meeting – All Parents Welcome!
We invite all Junior School parents and carers to join our first JSPG Meeting of the year. This is a great opportunity to connect and hear about plans for 2025.
We hope everyone has a fantastic first week back, and we look forward to a wonderful year ahead!
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School
From the Middle School
A very warm welcome to the Middle School for 2025!
The team has had a busy start to Term 1 with 300 Year 7 students beginning their transition to high school, and seven new families joining our Year 8 cohort.
Thank you to all the staff and students who have invested time to ensure that everyone has been made to feel welcome: our beautiful Heads of Year and Compass teachers who have embraced all the girls after the summer break and guided them as they navigate new routines, our Year 8 Transition Leaders and Middle School Leaders – 35 in total – who assisted across the two days of the bespoke Year 7 Orientation Program last week, the Year 10 Peer Support Leaders who ran get-to-know-you games, and the student buddies who helped new Year 8 students settle in and find their way around what can seem like a dauntingly large campus.
At this point I am happy to report that our Year 7 cohort has continued to impress us with their sense of initiative and enthusiasm – a sign of great things to come, I’m sure!
Last week’s Year 7 Orientation Program saw the girls engage in a variety of activities to help them get to know their peers and prepare them for their first full academic week. Sessions were run predominantly in House and Compass groups to provide some familiarity, foster relationships and allow for foundations to be established.
The sessions included:
An introduction to our focus on Five Ways to Wellbeing: connect, give, be active, take notice and keep learning.
Fun games and athletic activities on the oval run by our PDHPE staff and the Year 12 House Leaders.
Preparing for learning which was led by our Heads of Year 7: Mr Michael Stern and Mrs Karen Michie.
IT setup/working with devices which empowered the girls to explore how we use laptops at Pymble.
On Wednesday of this week our Year 7 girls spent the afternoon in the Aquatic Centre, a welcome break in this hot weather.
Below is the list of 2025 Heads of Years 7 and 8 and relevant Compass teachers for your reference.
Year 7 Compass Team
Year 8 Compass Team
Bennett A
Jane Lillycrop
Ronnell Catulong
Bennett B
Jack Routledge
Adam Moynihan
Goodlet A
Alex Campbell
Jessica Budden
Goodlet B
Scott Johnston
Angela Thorne
Hammond A
Katherine Kitto
Lucy Rich
Hammond B
Lucia Maalouf
Karen Al-Khaky
Ingleholme A
Jamie Batten
Mel Cooper Findlay / Keya Pettigrew
Ingleholme B
Alana Bowler
Eugene Jung
Lang A
Anne De Fraine / Lauren Thompson
Sam Kelly
Lang B
Joanne Howe
Alexandra Speed
Marden A
Lily Hoang
Mark Way
Marden B
Penny Blake
Rebecca York
Thomas A
Cara Smith
Monique Millett
Thomas B
Victoria Waldock
Erica Lyons
Wylie A
Peter Veliotis / Prasheel Kumar
Elaine Lee
Wylie B
Mami Izuishi
Brendon Long
Our Year 8s are looking forward to a day off campus next Thursday when they will be heading to the city for their Mind-Body-Spirit Day. The girls will have an opportunity to visit either The Art Gallery of NSW, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Australian Museum or NSW Parliament prior to picnicking together in the Botanic Gardens and then heading home via a walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Please remember to complete the permission form which is also available on the MyPymble parent portal.
Congratulations to Georgia Friedel (Year 8) who read with such confidence at Tuesday’s Foundation Day celebrations in front of an audience of over 2,000 people. You certainly made Middle School proud.
We look forward to meeting many of you at the up-and-coming Knowing People, Knowing Pymble event on Tuesday 18 February from 5.15pm. Invitations were sent via MyPymble, and are also below:
A reminder and invitation to all of our Middle School students that games and crafting activities will continue to be run across lunchtimes on Gloucester Lawn. This is a fabulous opportunity for the girls to build new connections and have some fun. Throughout the year, on Tuesdays in particular, our Gloucester Gathering Leaders will be organising and facilitating specific events. Please encourage your daughters to get involved. The schedule for Term 1 is below:
From the Year 7 Parent Co-ordinators
The Secondary School Parent Group extends a warm welcome to all our new Year 7 parents. Please note the following two activities in your diary, both of which are great opportunities to meet other Year 7 parents.
Icebreaker: Friday 21 February from 6.45pm to 9.00pm at the College. Click here to purchase tickets.
Thursday 20 March: Year 7 parent drinks from 6.00pm to 9.00pm at Killara Golf Club. Details to be published soon via the Year 7 WhatsApp group.
If you haven’t joined the Year 7 WhatsApp group yet, please contact either Edwina Burns or Maria Guo (Year 7 Parent Coordinators).
A warm welcome to you all! We hope that you had a lovely holiday break.
Eszter Sebok, Supriyaa Singh and Chloe Ma are the Year 8 coordinators for this year. Together with the coordinators of other years, we are part of the Senior School Parent Group (SSPG) which is a subgroup of the Pymble Parent Association (PPA). Our goal is to foster a supportive and engaging community for all Year 8 families.
Announcements
We have several events and activities planned for the year ahead to bring parents together and encourage involvement in the school community. The first one is the PPA Icebreaker, which will be held on Friday 21 February 2025. It is a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones, and we would love to see as many of you as possible!
We have also set up communication channels to help parents stay connected and informed. We run private Year 8 parent chat groups on various platforms. These groups are independent of the school and provide an opportunity to share updates, ask questions, and connect with other parents. Joining these groups is entirely optional but highly encouraged:
WhatsApp: We maintain two WhatsApp groups – one for announcements and key messages (admin posts only) and one for general parent discussions.
WeChat: There is a Year 8 WeChat group, which is regularly updated with relevant information.
Facebook: Our year also has a dedicated Facebook group where selected updates are posted.
If you would like to join any of these groups, please feel free to reach out to us and we will assist you with access.
Last but not least, we are here to support you and your girls throughout the year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. You can reach us at:-
We look forward to a fantastic year ahead and hope to meet many of you at our upcoming events!
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School
From the Upper School
A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
Welcome to the new school year. It has been lovely seeing the campus come back to life for Term 1. We are looking forward to a year in which your daughter’s commitment, interest and enthusiasm in school activities will lead to a successful year of learning and provide a strong foundation for her final years of school.
A special welcome to our new students in Year 9: Ella, Tia, Mataya, Joy, Larissa, Olivia, Naomi, Chantelle, Layla, Isabel, Aiko, Amelia, Kaitlyn, Eshaal, Emily, Hai Yee, Annabelle, Annabel, Sarah, Charlotte, Cate, Jemima and Avie.
In Year 10, we would like to welcome Zoe, Caitlyn, Zoe, Selena, Kayla, Ariel, Alicia, Madeline, Aniela, Srishti, Isabel, Lola, Zara, Phoebe, Georgia, Isabel, Chloe, Xielin, Megan, Alice and Saskia.
All Upper School students should be supportive of and set a good example for the younger students. It is expected that the girls maintain high standards of behaviour and uniform both within the College and beyond the gates. As she returns this year, we ask you to review with your daughter the sections in the front of the school diary, particularly those on Behavioural Standards.
Adjusting back to the school routine can be a significant change for both students and their families. As we settle into the new school year, we hope the girls have returned refreshed from their break and have considered their goals for the months ahead. I have been encouraging our students and staff to be kind to themselves and to establish effective and healthy routines that will benefit us all throughout the year.
Routines play a crucial role in the lives of students. According to Reachout.com, a well-structured routine can:
provide teens with a sense of safety and security, helping them manage stressful events;
reflect family priorities and what matters most to you;
help streamline family life;
teach basic work and time management skills; and
benefit the entire family by fostering a sense of unity.
At school, we’ll notice the positive effects if your daughter is well-prepared for the day. Here are some organisational tips:
Print your daughter’s timetable and place it near where she stores her school bag. This serves as a handy reminder to pack items needed for practical lessons like PDHPE, Food Tech, and Visual Arts.
Encourage her to pack her school bag the night before to prevent last-minute morning rush forgetfulness.
Remind her to read the weekly update email from her Head of Year, sent every Sunday evening, for events and schedule changes.
Support her in using her school diary, which includes school maps, bell times and policies, providing space to record daily homework.
Utilise a weekly or term planner to organise activities and assessment tasks.
If your daughter needs additional assistance with organisation, please reach out to her Compass teacher or Head of Year.
Upper School Parent Information Evening
It will be lovely to see as many parents as possible at the Upper School Information evening on Monday 17 February. This event will commence at 5.30pm on Gloucester Lawn, and then at 6.00pm the two year groups will attend a presentation in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (Year 9) or the War Memorial Chapel (Year 10). This is a great opportunity for you to meet your daughter’s Compass teacher, hear from key staff about learning and thriving in Year 9 and 10, and for Year 9 families, a comprehensive overview of the Vision Valley Residential program.
It was a quick turnaround for our Term 1 Year 9 Residential Program adventurers who have been at Vision Valley since last Sunday. The girls have settled in well and are finishing off the week with a Blue Mountain canyoning and abseiling adventure.
Paul Dillon Presentation to Year 10
This Friday, Year 10 students will attend a presentation by Paul Dillon, a renowned expert in drug and alcohol education. With 25 years of experience, Paul has recently worked with DARTA (Drug and Alcohol Research and Training) and has made appearances on popular TV and radio programs such as Sunrise, The Today Show and The Project. His presentation will offer students relevant and current information about drugs, alcohol and young people. We encourage families to engage in discussions with their daughters about strategies to ensure their safety and well-being.
Administration Reminders
We ask all parents to update our contact details especially our Year 9 families now that your daughter has moved to Upper School. The office number is 02 9497 7865 and the email address is upperschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
If your daughter is going to be late for school or needs to leave early for an appointment, please email the office by 8.15am at the latest.
The portal is to be used for full day absences ONLY or you can email the office.
The updated Parent Handbook will be available on the parent portal. This contains everything that you need to know about the College. If you cannot find the answer, then please feel free to call the Upper School office.
Swimming Carnivals – Wednesday 12 or Thursday 13 February
A portal message was sent out last Friday regarding the Pymble Swimming and Diving Carnivals which will take place next week. Year 9 is on Wednesday 12 February starting at 10.20am, and Year 10 is the following day starting at the same time. All parents are welcome to attend.
This is a compulsory school event and your daughter’s unexplained absence will be recorded. If your daughter is unwell, we require a doctor’s certificate. If your daughter is unable to participate, please send an email to your daughter’s Head of Year or the Upper School Office. It is a great day full of house spirit, and is not one to be missed.
Key Dates – Term 1
Monday 10 February – Pymble Parent Association Meeting
Wednesday 12 February – Year 7 to 9 Swimming Carnival
Thursday 13 February – Year 10 to 12 Swimming Carnival
Monday 17 February – Upper School Parent Information Evening
Friday 21 February – PPA Icebreaker
Thursday 13/Friday 14 March – Year 9 Naplan
Saturday 5 April – Pymble Foundation Gala Ball
Thursday 10/Friday 11 April – Year 8 to 10 Learning Discussions
Friday 11 April – Boarder’s Travel Day
Friday 11 April – Pupil Free Day
Key Dates – Term 2
Monday 28 April – Boarder’s Travel Day
Tuesday 29 April – First Day of Term 2
From the Year 9 Parent Co-ordinators
Parents and Carers of Year 9,
We are Jenny and Ira – your 2025 Year 9 Parent Co-ordinators, and we warmly welcome you. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have – we will try our best to answer.
For better communication among parents, we have two Year 9 WhatsApp groups – one is for announcements, and one is for general discussion. A WeChat group is also set up.
A private Facebook page for our year group is also available to view selected posts (PymbleLC Parents Class of 2028). Please contact us via our details below for information on how to join any of these groups.
We are also excited to invite you to our first major school event of the year, Icebreaker, on Friday 21 February. This event is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new connections and meet key members of the Pymble staff in a relaxed social setting. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. We look forward to an engaging and successful year together.
Jenny (0422 716 808) and Ira (0415 112 575)
From the Year 10 Parent Co-ordinators
A warm welcome to all Year 10 families! We hope that you had a lovely holiday break.
This year, Joan Finn and Sylphia Wang are continued to be the Year 10 Co-ordinators. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need any help and support.
We would like to mention that we have two social media groups for Year 10 parents to share information and support each other – WhatsApp and WeChat. If you are not in the groups yet and willing to join, please feel free to contact us.
Wishing you all a happy and successful year ahead! Looking forward to meeting you at the upcoming events: Parent Information Evening and Icebreaker!
Victoria Harrison
Head of Upper School
From the Senior School
Welcome Back to Senior School
It has been wonderful to see the Senior School come alive again with the great buzz of excitement and anticipation that always marks the start of a new year. The atrium and classrooms have been filled with stories – of travels near and far, celebrations shared with family and friends and achievements both personal and collective. It is always a joy to witness the energy and enthusiasm that a fresh start brings.
A very special welcome to our new Year 11 students and those students and families who are starting at Pymble this year. Our new Year 11 students were looked after by their buddies on Orientation Day and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Year 11 girls who volunteered for this role and will support our new girls as they settle in.
As we adjust to the rhythm of the term, it is important to discuss with your daughters the priority to take care of themselves, particularly in the warmer weather. Staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep and starting each day with a healthy breakfast are all essential to maintaining focus and wellbeing. These small but important habits support not only our learning but also our ability to fully engage in the many opportunities this term will bring.
The start of a new term is also a time to set clear intentions. The way we begin often shapes the way we finish, so I encourage all students to approach their studies and commitments with purpose, curiosity and determination. By starting as you mean to end, you set the foundation for a term of growth, achievement, and meaningful progress
I look forward to all that this term holds and to seeing each student make the most of the opportunities ahead.
It’s 2025… Come Alive!
Year 12 students warmly welcomed their younger peers, proudly modelling this year’s motto – It’s 2025… Come Alive – on their T-shirts. Their enthusiasm, school spirit and kindness made for a special and memorable return to school, setting a positive tone for the year ahead. Congratulations to our Year 12 students for leading with such generosity and joy.
Year 12 Retreat – Vision Valley
Year 12 students enjoyed a wonderful Retreat Day at Vision Valley, taking the opportunity to reconnect with friends and appreciate some downtime before the busyness of the year ahead. The day provided a perfect balance of relaxation and adventure, with students trying their hand at outdoor activities such as archery and canoeing, stepping outside their comfort zones and embracing new experiences.
Fiji Service Tour
Over the Christmas break 23 students took part in a very special service tour to Fiji. They spent seven days working along the locals, providing support and assistance with some community projects. Many thanks to the teachers who accompanied the students: Mrs Karina Richter, Ms Kate Howie and Ms Lauren Brooks, and to the students, for the way in which they served and represented the College. I have included reflections from two of the students involved:
The Pymble Fiji Service Trip left me with memories that will last me a lifetime. It was incredibly rewarding to see my work (sometimes real sweat and tears) make a tangible difference. From planting pineapples all together within three hours, a task that would have taken a single farmer three weeks to complete, to building pathways to prepare for the monsoon season in local villages, everything we did provided me with a sense of purpose and a direct connection to the community’s needs.
Beyond the physical work, the experience broadened my understanding of Fiji, allowing me to see the ‘real’ Fiji, not just the version presented in hotels. Attending a local church service and spending time with the community gave me a deeper appreciation for their culture, values and way of life. I made strong and meaningful connections with so many local children, and I felt genuinely accepted and welcomed into their lives. It was heartwarming to realise that family doesn’t need to be defined by blood, but with the love and welcoming hearts of Fijians, family ties can spread between all – no matter race, gender, background or any other factor.
This trip challenged my outlook and extended my comfort zone in the best possible way. It taught me the importance of humility, connection and gratitude. I left feeling inspired by the warmth and generosity of the Fijian people, with a renewed understanding of community and the profound impact we can have when we work together. This service trip broadened my horizons as to what love and connection among communities can look like. I didn’t know it was humanly possible to love as much as those communities love each other.
Au domoni Viti! Sotatale!
Written by Juliette
The Pymble Fiji Service Trip was truly life-changing. Travelling without my parents, immersing myself in a new culture and having the opportunity to serve others challenged me and helped me grow in ways I never expected. It was an absolute honour to be among the few Pymble girls apart of this trip and to make a tangible difference in the lives of the incredible people we met.
One of my most memorable moments was the cooking session for a local women and children’s shelter. We not only prepared meals but also had the privilege of personally delivering them to the families. Following this, we spent the afternoon playing games and getting to know the children in the women’s shelter and this was by far where my favourite memories were made.
The gratitude, warmth and love all of the locals showed us completely shifted my perspective on what truly matters in life and how true happiness is found in connection, generosity and the simplest moments of shared joy. The countless hugs and embraces from children we had just met were overwhelming in the best way – it was a powerful reminder of how little it takes to make someone feel seen and loved.
Being part of this trip was an eye-opening experience. I learned not only about Fiji’s beautiful culture and language but also about the power of genuine connection and the impact of simple acts of kindness.
Leaving Fiji, and the children and families we built such strong bonds with, was the hardest part. But I left with a full heart, carrying the lessons they taught me: to love unconditionally, appreciate the little things, and always in every occasion go the extra mile to make someone feel valued without expecting anything in return.
Sota Tale Fiji!
Written by Jess
Year 12 Social
A reminder that the Year 12 Social will take place on Friday 28 February, and tickets must be booked by Wednesday 13 February. Click here to purchase your tickets if you haven’t already done so.
To allow students sufficient time to prepare and travel to the venue, an academic half-day has been arranged. Year 12 students will have permission to leave at 12.45pm. To ensure that all lessons run effectively up until this time, we kindly ask that no requests for earlier leave be made on this day. We appreciate your cooperation and support in this matter.
Year 11 Information Night – Wednesday 12 February
All Year 11 parents and carers are invited to attend our Year 11 Information Night, held in the Kate Mason Building – Senior School Centre. Please note this is for parents and carers only.
This is a wonderful opportunity for a casual catch up with your daughter’s Compass teacher and hear presentations from key staff in the Senior School, including the Head and Deputy Head of Senior School, Deputy Principal – Students, the Heads of Year, the Lead Psychologist, the Curriculum Department and the Futures Team. The evening begins with Compass catch ups at 5.30pm and the formal presentations from 6.00pm.
Please note that the formal presentation will be recorded for families who are unable to attend in person.
Key Dates – Term 1
Friday 7 February – Year 12 Paul Dillon seminar
Friday 7 February – Year 11 Wellbeing Connections Day 1 (more detailed information on MyPymble)
Monday 10 February – Year 11 Wellbeing Connections Day 2
Wednesday 12 February – Year 11 Information Evening
Thursday 13 February – Year 10 to 12 Swimming Carnival
Friday 21 February – PPA Icebreaker
Friday 28 February – Year 12 Social (academic half day)
6 March – Year 12 GPs In Schools
6 March – Year 12 Food for Thought
6 March – Year 11 Immersion Day
14 March – Year 11 Formal (academic half day)
10 April – End of Term 1
From the Year 11 Parent Co-ordinators
A big welcome to Year 11 girls and their families. We’d love to introduce ourselves as your Year 11 Parent Representatives: Julie Xie (Lucy’s mum) and Kate Hart (Zoë’s mum).
As your main contacts we’re here to help with any non-academic questions you might have about school life. To stay informed, join our parent community on Facebook, WhatsApp, and WeChat – all under the name PymbleLC Parents Class of 2026. These pages will include reminders, invitations to events and a space for questions. Please let us know if you would like to join.
Our first event this year is Icebreaker, which is a great way to meet other parents and enjoy a social night out on the beautiful Gloucester Lawn. We look forward to meeting you there.
A big welcome back to Year 12 parents! We’re looking forward to seeing all Year 12 parents at the 2025 Icebreaker on Friday 21 February. It’s the last one for us, so let’s go out with a bang!
Also, if you are looking to join our Year 12 parent groups, please contact Jemma on 0426868643.
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School
From the Boarding School
Welcome to 2025! I hope you have had a wonderful start to the year, it has certainly been a happy time here in Boarding. Last week, we welcomed 39 new Boarders to Pymble and were delighted to have 108 returning Boarders join in the fun last Thursday. A super-sized family of 147 Boarders feels just right for us.
Our new Boarders and their families enjoyed a warm welcome by our Heads and Deputy Heads of Houses, along with our Assistant Heads of Houses and our team of indispensable Boarding prefects. There was an information session for new parents in the style of ‘speed dating’ but much more fun, followed by a beautiful chapel service and delicious dinner.
The chapel service is always a highlight for me, and I am grateful to Rev Danielle who makes our time in chapel so memorable. Yes, there were a few tears and our Avonmoore Prefect, Alice, helped put it all in perspective as she shared her experiences as a Boarder for five years. It was my great pleasure to lead a new tradition as I invited each of our new Boarders to the alter so that Dr Hadwen and Ms Rockwell could present each Boarder with their Boarders’ badge.
The Boarding badge is such a significant feature of our community, signifying the importance of the position of Boarders at the College and the responsibilities that go hand in hand with this privilege. I asked that the Boarders wear their badges with great pride and deep respect for the fine tradition of Boarding at Pymble.
Boarding Parent Group (BPG) Meeting
Last Thursday afternoon our BPG came together in record numbers. They were excited to hear from our Head of the BPG, Edwina Beveridge, about the plans for the year to come; our Head Boarders Sophie and Celeste’s vision for 2025, along with College updates from Dr Hadwen and Ms Rockwell. A special highlight was a video from Mr Bell, who is such an important member of our Boarding family but sadly unable to attend on the evening. The minutes of the meeting will be forwarded to you by email in the coming weeks.
Welcome Drinks
The Welcome Drinks went off in true Boarder style with dads ‘shooting the breeze’ and mums ‘catching up’. Once again, we had a record attendance and it was extra special to have our Chair of the Board, Mr Chris Fydler OAM, join the gathering. We are looking forward to similar attendance and celebration at the College Icebreaker on Friday 21 February. If you haven’t already, please click here to book your tickets and be sure to remember the ‘afters’ for Boarding parents at Pymble Pub.
Coming together as a community
And, it wasn’t just fun for our families, our Boarders went all out to squeeze every last drop of fun out of the first weekend of term. Starting with the New Girls’ Concert on Friday we were all thrilled to see the many talents of our new Boarders revealed.
Year 9 Boarder Larissa absolutely wowed us with her performance of Toccata by A. Khachaturian and was an easy choice for first place. Our other Boarders treated us to singing and dancing, even including our new staff members in the ‘Baby Shark’ routine.
As always, the finale of the night was the New Girls song, and while the tune was non-existent the words were a great reminder of life as a Boarder.
The Amazing Sydney Adventure
Saturday was a chance for our Boarders to negotiate the public transport network. Buses, trains, ferries, the Metro and light rail were all on the agenda with Boarders traversing the city between Manly, the Sydney Opera House and Barangaroo. Throw in some instant challenges and cryptic clues and you have a great day out. Speaking of which, see if you can spot the celebrity that one group were lucky enough to have a photo with (hint – it is rugby league star, Daly Cherry-Evans!).
My thanks go to our Deputy Director of Boarding, Theresa Mimmo, for her faultless organisation, and our Year 12 Boarders who were outstanding role models, motivating and engaging the various groups.
Raging Waters
As is the tradition, we finished the weekend with a much-loved trip to Raging Waters. The cool water and terrifying slides are always a hit with the girls and it is extra nice for the girls to be able to catch up with friends from home who attend the day with their various Boarding schools. Again, I am grateful to our fabulous Year 12s, who embraced the opportunity so wholeheartedly and made it a very special day for everyone involved.
Live It, Love It, Learn It – Ms Theresa Mimmo, Deputy Director of Boarding
You will have received a hard copy of our Term 1 2025 Love It program and you can access a digital copy by clicking here. The program is filled with fun and engaging activities designed to make the most of the Sydney surrounds and build relationships amongst our Boarders.
Boarders Get Baking is back this Friday, and no doubt our in-house domestic goddess, Kathryn Weidemann, will have a wonderful culinary adventure planned. Saturday will be a quieter day with a shopping afternoon so the girls can stock up on all their stationery needs. A trip to Watsons Bay is planned for Sunday and this will be a lovely opportunity for our Boarders to venture to the east side and discover a beautiful harbour beach with the added bonus of a picnic lunch with a side of hot chips!
Learn It will be in full swing at the start of Week 3 with the return of our academic tutors and staff. All Boarders will be emailed on Monday morning to sign up for time to work with a tutor or teacher.
Keeping Up With Our Boarders
I am delighted to share with you our latest edition of Keeping Up With Our Boarders. This publication is a lovely celebration of all things Boarding with a collection of articles written by our Boarders’ Editorial Team. Grab a cup of tea and click the following link for your personal insight into our Boarding family.
Broadband news
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts have advised that the School Student Broadband Initiative has been extended to 30 June 2028 (previously it was until the end of 2025).
I hope this is welcome news to some of our more remote families.
A View From My Window
For those of you new to our Boarding family, a little background on ‘A View From my Window’ – each week a Boarder shares stories of where she is from and what is special about her home. Some girls choose to present their story in chapel, others elect to have them published in The College Compass newsletter for everyone to read. These stories are a wonderful way to celebrate the diversity of our community and help to build connection and respect for each other.
This week I am sharing a special ‘view’ presented by our Avonmoore Prefect, Alice, to our new Boarding families:
Hello! My name is Alice. I have been Boarding at Pymble since Year 7 and I come from the small town of Young where I live with my mum, dad, brother and sister. Young is best known for its cherries. It is in fact the cherry capital of Australia, so that is why on our farm we have pigs! We also have sheep and cattle and grow crops, such as wheat and canola, which we use to feed our pigs. Our pigs are very spoilt, and they get fed a mixed diet of wheat and food waste, which includes anything from flavoured milk, Tic-Tacs, Zooper Doopers, pasta and other by-products that can’t be sold for human consumption.
I love being on the farm, riding my motorbikes and arguing with my sister, Sophie, without the neighbours listening in. These holidays I helped with harvest, however, I was demoted from driving the header to driving the chaser bin, but that was definitely not because of a lack of skill. When we are at home my family loves to go water skiing and for swims in the dam with our cousins. I am so lucky that I get to experience going to school in Sydney and learning what life is like in such a busy city, but also being able to go home and enjoy the peace and quiet of the farm.
It is always great to come back to Boarding, especially after the summer holidays, when the excitement of having me home wears off on my parents. I have been Boarding since year seven and I have made the most wonderful friends.
Boarding is the most unique experience, learning independence from such a young age and gaining the maturity of navigating living with your friends 24/7. When you share a room with someone, sometimes they might invade your personal space or you will have a disagreement. Everything always sorts itself out but it is important to know that’s normal. Pymble Boarding is such an amazing place with a diverse group of people coming from all over Australia and the world. You find you learn a lot about the geography of New South Wales.
For everyone who is starting their first year in Boarding I encourage you to take every opportunity; try all the sports and subjects until you find what is right for you.
Boarder of the Week
I am delighted to announce our first Boarder of the Week as Mia. Now in Year 12, Mia joined us as a bright and bubbly Year 7 and for the last five years she has filled our lives with joy. She is delightful in every way – down to earth, kind, fun and pragmatic. She calls a spade a spade with respect and integrity.
Mia also demonstrates inclusive leadership and this was on display last weekend when she went all out to ensure everyone felt included and had a fabulous time on our Amazing Sydney Adventure. Resplendent in blue to represent her Goodlet Spirit House, Mia encouraged, inspired and lead the way to make for a memorable day for everyone. We are so grateful to have this wonderful human in our Boarding family.
Save the Date
Tuesday 11 February – Lunar New Year celebrations
Friday 21 February – PPA Icebreaker and Boarding parent “afters” at Pymble Pub
Friday 28 February – Year 12 Formal
Sunday 2 March – Mother and Daughter Lunch event – venue TBA
Friday 14 March – Year 11 Formal
Friday 21 and Saturday 22 March – Year 12 Boarder and Day Girl Parents’ regional weekend
Saturday 8 April – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel Service and Dinner
Monday 10 April – Face-to-Face Learning Discussions for Boarding Families
Tuesday 11 April – Boarders’ Travel Day
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
From the Chaplains
If life gives you lemons, should you make lemonade?
Hello, and welcome to another adventure-packed term at Pymble. It has been so wonderful for both Rev. Cass and myself to see all of you back and to meet so many lovely new friends. As someone who likes to sometimes stand back and simply watch from the sideline, I have really enjoyed seeing the students and staff greet each other with such a lot of joy after the holidays apart.
During our Boarders’ Chapel over the next little while we will use some of our evenings to explore some common ‘truisms’ – those short phrases that we say to each other to reinforce an event or to explain something. This week, we looked at one of my favourites ‘If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’
What do you think?
When we look back in history we discover that this saying was first popularized by Christian anarchist Elbert Hubbard in 1909. He said,
“A genius is a man who takes the lemons that fate hands him and starts a lemonade-stand with them.”’
It evolved into it’s more modern for in 1940 as part of a poem call The Optimist by Dale Carnigie. The poem was as follows,
“Life handed him a lemon, As Life sometimes will do. His friends looked on in pity, Assuming he was through. They came upon him later, Reclining in the shade In calm contentment, drinking A glass of lemonade.”
From here the lemon seems to have become associated with bad things and bad things in general.
But is this fair? Let me did a little deeper.
If we look at the science, we discover that ‘life’ didn’t give us lemons. People did. They are a hybrid fruit, developed over many years of agriculture.
If we look at the science, we discover that ‘life’ didn’t give us lemons. People did. They are a hybrid fruit, developed over many years of agriculture.
Though somewhat bitter, they are overwhelmingly good for us. They are the first thing that many of us turn to as a cure for a cold and have multiple uses as an effective cleaning product. They are refreshing and cool when added to cold water.
When it comes to the scripture, there are no lemons. They were possibly not yet invented. But there were situations that could be describes as ‘lemons.’
In Job, after the protagonist losses everything. Instead of ‘Making Lemonade,’ he makes a deliberate decision to sit in his devastation.
‘Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it or light shine on it. Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds settle upon it;let the blackness of the day terrify it.’ Job 3.4-5
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15.11-32), the son decides he does not like the future that fate has given him and takes his fortune to ‘Make Lemonade.’ Sadly, the hoped for ‘lemonade’ turns out to be a very bitter ‘lemon’ when he finds himself homeless and without money. So, he returns to his family expecting to find an angry father. As he walks down the road his father runs towards him and draws him into an enormous hug as he says ‘let us eat and celebrate,for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’
Ecclesiastes seems to tell us that life, not us, gives both lemons and lemonade,
‘For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;a time to kill and a time to heal;a time to break down and a time to build up;a time to weep and a time to laugh’ Ecclesiastes 3.1-4
So what can I conclude from all of this? I have come up with three things
Be CURIOUS when confronted with something that feels bitter or bad. Lemons are not the enemy. It is possible that the lemon itself is an opportunity. Make sure that you look at all angles of the seemingly bad situation in front of you before coming to a conclusion
It is OK to feel sorry for yourself. Bad stuff does happen, and it is ok to feel horrible, even angry, and as long as we don’t sit there for too long.
Screenshot
Lemonade is made up of lemons, lots of crystal of sugar and water to dilute it.
When you are feeling bad, the most effective way to start to feel better is to surround yourselves with many crystals of love that your friends and family want to give you, and to give yourself time that will slowly dilute the sadness.
Danielle Hemsworth-Smith
College Chaplain
From the Futures Team
Work Experience Opportunities
Here are some highlights of opportunities we have seen this week.
Please keep look at our Work Experience Board for opportunities and let us know if you find some too!
Upper and Senior School Students
Year 10
University of Melbourne– STEM
30 June to 4 July 2025
*Applications close 28 February 2025
The University of Melbourne Year 10 Work Experience Program provides students with a sample of activities that are part of a career in STEM including conducting experiments, attending seminars, collaborating with others on research projects, and presenting their own findings.
Participants discover what it is like to be a scientist, meet like-minded friends and scientific role models, and also get a taste of university life.
The program is divided into a number of science discipline streams. Students must nominate their top three preferences as part of the application process. During the week, students will be hosted by academics working in their chosen discipline and also spend some time interacting with students from other groups.
Art & Design Year 10 and 11 Future Creators Experience Day
In the April school holidays, we invite Year 10 and 11 students to explore Game Art, Animation, Design and Visual Arts at our cutting-edge UNSW Art & Design campus in Paddington. We encourage interested students to share their details below to find out more.
The University of Melbourne Year 10 Work Experience Program provides students with a sample of activities that are part of a career in STEM including conducting experiments, attending seminars, collaborating with others on research projects, and presenting their own findings.
Participants discover what it is like to be a scientist, meet like-minded friends and scientific role models, and also get a taste of university life.
The program is divided into a number of science discipline streams. Students must nominate their top three preferences as part of the application process. During the week, students will be hosted by academics working in their chosen discipline and also spend some time interacting with students from other groups.
This Strategy Weekend breaks down the new UCAT Exam following the removal of Abstract Reasoning. During live classes, our mentors will focus on how to apply the fundamentals of the UCAT to all four sections, before students complete a full-length UCAT Mock Exam to test their skills.
NECA Electrical Apprenticeships are for Young Women too! NECA Training & Apprenticeships is excited to announce that our recruitment period for 2025 and beyond is now open! Our apprenticeship offers paid full-time employment, combining hands-on experience with one day per week of paid study.
You could work in one of the most dynamic industries, start your own business, or use your qualification as a foundation for further growth, such as, Project Management, an Electrical Engineering Degree, or further specialisations. With your electrical license, you’ll have the flexibility to work across Australia, and even in countries like the UK, USA and New Zealand.
Take the first step towards a bright future in the electrical industry with NECA Training & Apprenticeships!
Registrations are now OPEN for Term 2 Saturday Sports. Registrations will close at 12.00pm on Friday 14 February. You can access the online registration via the Co-curricular at Pymble pages on MyPymble by clicking here. A parent or carer log in is required to be able to register.
Registrations must be completed online and cannot be processed over the phone or via email.
Reminder notices will be posted on the Pymble app before registrations close.
The Term 2 Saturday Sport options are as follows:
igsa Basketball (Years 7 to 12 – Saturday mornings)
igsa Football (Years 7 to 12 – Saturday mornings)
Rugby Sevens (Years 7 to 12 – Training in Term 2 and Competition in Term 3 on Saturday afternoons)
IPSHA Hockey/Minkey (Years 3 to 6 – Saturday mornings)
IPSHA Netball (Years 3 to 6 – Saturday mornings)
Futsal (Years 3 to 12 – four-week training program followed by a competition for selected students)
Co-curricular Registration Requests
Registrations for Term 1/Semester 1/Yearly programs are now closed. Confirmation emails have been sent to all families. If you missed the registration period and need to request a late registration for your daughter, or if you need to withdraw or transfer programs, please click here to complete a registration request. Please note that requests may take up to two weeks to process during busy periods and your request is not completed until you have received confirmation of acceptance via email.
If you require any assistance with completing your registration, please contact Co-curricular Administration at ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or on +61 2 9497 7848.
Sally Davidson
Head of Co-curricular Administration
From the Co-curricular Sports Team
The shortcode only works for newsletter articles
PymbleSport and Respect
With Round 1 Saturday Sports starting this week, training now in full swing, and our theme this year of RESPECT, it is timely to remind ourselves of some important information about sport at Pymble.
We have been blessed at Pymble with students who have consistently been looked to by other schools as the benchmark for sport at girls’ schools; through their/your actions, behaviours, and high standards set on and off the field. You are a part of a proud history of sport here at Pymble and it is something that we feel honoured to also be a part of. We feel a sense of duty to our past and an excitement for the impact we can make on future cohorts. 2025 we come alive, and we would love to see that on our sporting fields, courts, water, and gyms.
The above legacy will take a combined effort, so please see below for real items that you can do at your next training session, this Saturday, and beyond, to make Pymble Sport and your legacy come alive! We also encourage all families to read the Sport at Pymble expectations together with their child, which can be found by clicking here.
Respect for the sports uniform
Each sport has a designated uniform. Please ensure to wear it correctly and in full (i.e. no different shorts, jumpers etc.) for all training and competition. Our uniform is our unity, wear it with pride.
Ensure to not be wearing sport uniform outside of training or competing unless specifically given permission (i.e. not moving between classes in sport uniform).
Respect for officials, your team and our competition
Turn up to your training sessions and competitions – every time and on time. Sport teaches you a lot about yourself and will enable you to grow if you go ‘all in’. This reliability, time management, organisation, and effort are key areas. With these simple skills, you will understand what you can create.
How we conduct ourselves at games and in training. Thank your coach and the officials, respect their decisions, treat and acknowledge your competition with respect even if they aren’t doing so to you, and choose the high road and play with humility and style. Honour your teammates and build your capacity to lift those around you. Handle wins and losses the same, with a growth mindset and positivity. Shake hands, celebrate the win well (on either side), and learn what to work on in the week.
Play hard and play fair. Always go out to put your best forward. This is where you will learn the most.
Enjoy the journey!
I wish every sportswoman at Pymble great luck this season. Luck, as they say, is earned, so go out there and make heaps of it!
Ten things that require zero talent:
Being on time
Effort
Energy
Attitude
Passion
Body language
Being coachable
Doing a little extra
Being prepared
Work ethic
2025 Secondary School Swimming Carnival
The 2025 Secondary School Swimming and Diving Carnivals will be held in the Braith Williams Aquatic and Fitness Centre at Pymble on the following dates:
Wednesday 12 February – Years 7 to 9
Thursday 13 February – Years 10 to 12
The swimming and diving carnival aims to promote House spirit and participation; therefore, all students are strongly encouraged to compete in at least one, and hopefully several events, to gain valuable points for their House. The format for the carnival will include both championship and non-championship events and races, as well as relays and a diving competition. The program will be posted on the portal closer to the date. The view all information about the carnival, please click here. For the order of events on each day, please click here. The full program will be placed onto the parent portal in the coming days.
To register for Championship events, please submit your nomination via the link in the letter linked above. Championship event entries close on Thursday 6 February. Please click here to view the selection policy for the Pymble Swimming team.
For any questions regarding the carnivals, please email Mrs Edwards, Head of Sport 7-12, on kaedwards@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
2025 Cross Country Carnival
The 2025 Cross Country Carnival will be held on Monday 3 March. Further information about the carnival will be sent out in the coming days.
Athletics and Cross Country
Welcome to the Pymble Athletics Program for 2025!
A special welcome to our new athletes and families joining us this year, as well as those returning for another exciting year of athletics and cross country. I’m super excited for the year ahead.
I’m also thrilled to have Samantha Dale working alongside me this year as the Athletics Co-ordinator. Samantha brings a wealth of experience – not only in co-ordinating school athletics, but also as an elite athlete, still competing at the highest level and having represented Australia at multiple major international events.
We’re also excited to have Jack Garrad continue as our Cross Country Co-ordinator. With an exciting season ahead, our focus is on preparing to defend our igsa Cross Country title, and it’s fantastic to have Jack co-ordinating this program again.
It’s been great to see so many of our athletes already competing at state events!
Sarah Lovell (Year 12) claimed victory at the NSW U20 heptathlon. Ranked second going into the last events, it was fantastic to see her get the win
Mia Croker (Year 12) took out the win in the ACT U20 3km steeple championships.
Rachel Schwulst (Year 11) also competed at the ACT championships and came away with a bronze in the U20 800m.
Jocelyn Blair (Year 11) had a standout weekend at the NSW Country Championships in Maitland, collecting a full set of medals – gold in the 100m hurdles, silver in high jump, and bronze in the 200m.
With the Athletics NSW Junior Championships approaching in March, many of our girls are focussed on building towards the event.
It was amazing to see such a strong turnout at sprints and hurdles on Tuesday morning with coaches Mel and Sienna. Some of these girls are just beginning their athletics journey at Pymble and it’s exciting to see such great energy to kick the year off with. Let’s keep this going – consistency is the key.
Monday also marked the launch of Pymble Stride, a free 1.5km, 3km, or 4.5km weekly event where staff and students can run or walk through our beautiful grounds. We had 70 participate to kickstart the week in the best possible way. Everyone is welcome, with sessions available on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Click here for more information and contact Co-curricular Administration to join at ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
And finally, with our school cross country carnival just weeks away, now is the time to get training and prepare for what is always an incredible day.
Screenshot
Deb Walsham
Head Coach – Athletics and Cross Country
Artistic Gymnastics
Pymble Athletes Shine at National Circus Competition
Over the summer holidays, two of our talented competitive circus athletes travelled to the Gold Coast to represent Pymble at the prestigious Bend The Air national finals.
Bend The Air is a leading Australian aerial circus competition that provides a platform for athletes aged nine and above to showcase their skills in Lyra (aerial hoop), Silks, Acro, and Open Apparatus categories. The event featured awe-inspiring displays of creativity, control, and individuality across solo, duo, and group performances.
Our Year 8 (2024) athletes, Aaliyah Khanche and Stella Pieterse, delivered captivating performances that highlighted their exceptional skills and dedication to the craft. Aaliyah competed in the Open Apparatus category on the Aerial Hammock, set to a powerful cover of Toxic by 2WEI. Her routine was a true “main character” moment, featuring elegant poses, dramatic drops, and mesmerizing spins, earning her a final score of 157.5.
Stella took to the Lyra, performing to Me and the Devil by Soap&Skin. Her performance seamlessly blended her dance and gymnastics background, resulting in a beautifully choreographed routine that showcased strength, grace, and creativity, finishing with a remarkable final score of 161.
Both athletes spent Term 4 refining their routines based on feedback from the Newcastle Regional event in October. Their dedication and hard work paid off as they pushed themselves to new heights, embodying the strength, agility, and creativity that Pymble girls are known for.
Congratulations to Aaliyah and Stella on these outstanding achievements. We are incredibly proud of your hard work and representation of our school on the national stage!
Vanessa Clyne
Acting Head Coach of Artistic Gymnastics
Rowing
Rowing Camps at Shoalhaven, Nepean, and Leichhardt
Over the term break, the Pymble Rowing team attended their respective squad camps. Well done to all girls that completed the camps, a challenging week that you handled well and got a lot out of. It was fantastic to see the crew bonding, camaraderie and sisterhood that developed during the camp, including every girl improving their rowing skill and physical fitness. We look forward to watching you race over the coming weeks, culminating in the Head of the River on Saturday 8 March.
The Seniors travelled to Shoalhaven River in the South Coast region of New South Wales. The Seniors produced some excellent training on the pristine waters of the river which they had almost exclusively for the entire week. Following this, the Seniors continued this momentum by joining the rest of the squad at Nepean River during the following week.
The Intermediate and Junior squads all travelled to the Nepean River, which is one of the best places to row in the world and where the women’s national rowing team train each week, alongside whom our rowers got to row during the week. Alongside training incredibly well on the river, the rowers also got to take on ice baths in-between rows to increase their recovery and go out for fun team bonding dinners, eating some delicious Italian food to recharge the batteries.
The Learn to Row (LTR) squad spent two days at our boatshed in Leichhardt training on the water, honing their crews combinations and increasing their technical prowess and fitness ahead of the term of racing.
These camps are a great taste and experience of being an elite athlete. Well done to all girls.
Roseville Regatta
On Saturday 1 February, the Pymble Rowing team raced on home ground in Iron Cove, competing in the Roseville Regatta to kick-off Term 1 racing on the road to Head of the River.
In an impressive first showing, the team achieved 11 golds, four silvers, and three bronze places out of 22 entries. In the Senior squad, the 2nd Eight came second in their race and are excited to build into the next few weeks of racing as an Eight.
In the Intermediate Squad, the Year 10 1st Eight came first in their race over the 1500m distance. Congratulations to Lucy Simpson, Olivia Norton, Georgina Curtis, Erin O’Kane, Kelly Clifton, Allegra Taubenschlag, Harriet Murphy, Zara Kinniburgh, and Sanaya Lakhani (all Year 10). Congratulations to the Year 10 2nd Eight who came second, beating crews from Queenwood and St Catherine’s. Congratulations to the Year 10 Quad who won the fourth division; Ginny Makan, Isla Campbell, Charlotte Blaiklock, Sanaa Kapoor, and Cassie Vielman. The Year 10 Double and Single both came fourth in their hard fought races.
In the Junior squad, the Year 9 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th Quads all won their races. Well done to Madeleine Gaden, Cleo McLaughlin, Madison Landgrebe, Claudia Wyatt, Emma Wang, Siri Taubenschlag, Rose Jones, Gemma Thiel, Annabella Legge-Hughes, Phoebe Hutton, Alexandra Ritchie, Stacey Sharp, Bethany Carruthers, Isla Polites, Eloise Jenkins, Ellie Zhao, Charlotte Lin, Poppy Fox-Ashwin, Isabella Eum, and Eden Conners (all Year 9). A big shout out to the Junior 3rd and 5th Quads who raced well to come second and third respectively. Congratulations to Madeleine Gaden and Madison Landgrebe who both raced in Singles as well winning gold, as well as Claudia Wyatt who achieved a very good silver place result. The Year 9 Double of Ginny Makan and Jamilla Soo raced well to come third.
In the LTR squad the Year 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd quads all won their races. Well done to Eloise Gavagna, Daysie Leahy, Peyton Ashton, Edith Cullinane, Hillary Eyers, Emma Lloyd, Skye Mitchell, Lucy Woodbridge, Lillie Oldfield, Jessica Pickford, Phoebe Toynton, Rose Bennett, Ava Costa, Diyana Palihawadana, and Selina Jiang (all Year 8). A great effort also from the 4th, 5th and 6th quads who came third, fifth, and sixth respectively.
Well done to all girls that raced, taking lots of learning from the weekend to keep building boat speed in these upcoming few weeks on the final run into Head of the River.
Lewis Gray
Sports Co-ordinator – Rowing
Swimming
SMNE Speedo Sprint Heats
On Saturday 1 February, 28 Pymble girls participated in the SMNE Speedo Sprint Heats meet. The day was filled with personal bests, incredible swims, and outstanding team support from everyone involved.
The Speedo Sprint Heats is one of the most exciting meets of the year, providing young swimmers with the opportunity to experience the competitive side of swimming in a dynamic and fun environment. It also gives the most experiences swimmers the chance to practice their race plans in preparation for Junior State in March.
The top four swimmers in each event qualified for the Speedo Sprint Finals, which will be held at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday 1 March where the fastest swimmers from each area will race against each other.
We are proud to announce that Pymble has qualified seven girls for the finals in March, with another six swimmers named as area reserves.
Congratulations to all the swimmers who participated in last weekend’s meet, and a special mention to our Speedo Sprint Finalists: Amélie Berg (Year 6), Luxi Lun (Year 5), Mia Hong (Year 3), Leah Ji (Year 3), Olivia Sun (Year 3), Rose Wang (Year 5), and Georgia Friedel (Year 8).
Well done to all our Pymble swimmers who competed:
Jennifer Chen (Year 5), Isabella Croll (Year 7), Makayla Cui (Year 3), Carla Eibach (Year 8), Jade Mao (Year 8), Priscilla Miller (Year 7), Annette Ng (Year 5), Charlotte Sadler (Year 8), Sarah Kranes (Year 8), Crystal Li (Year 5), Oriana Fenton (Year 8), Penelope Hargraves (Year 8), Emma Wang (Year 6), Erin Wei (Year 6), Alexis Whitton (Year 8), Genevieve Wong (Year 7), Chenxuan Yu (Year 8), Olivia Yu (Year 5), Chloe Zhang (Year 7), Victoria Ko (Year 7), Hailey Zhang (Year 5), andAlicia Gon (Year 4).
A big thank you to our coaching team, Michelle, Nicola, and Sara for helping and supporting the team through the meet and a special thank you goes to our amazing parent team!
Sara Petronzio
Swimming Coach
igsa Camp: Unity, Strength, and the Moana Spirit
Our igsa camp was an incredible experience, bringing the team together with a shared goal – building unity, strengthening our bond, and preparing to win igsa. But this camp wasn’t just about training, it was about lifting a team-first mindset, pushing each other to new heights, and embracing the journey toward our ultimate goal.
Our captain, Lily Lockhart (Year 12), set the tone with the inspiring theme of Moana, symbolizing courage, resilience, and the power of teamwork. The team was split into four groups, each embodying the spirit of the theme:
Wave Finders
Demigods
Moana Wave Warriors
Maui’s Tide Turners
The camp was filled with unforgettable moments, from beach training sessions at Manly, to embracing the sun, saltwater, and waves, every moment captured the Moana spirit. Highlights included beach volleyball, high-energy relays to fire our competitive spirit, and an exhilarating surf session, with each activity reinforcing the importance of perseverance, resilience, and trust in one another. With this strong foundation, we’re ready to dive into our first igsa session this coming Friday, bringing the energy, determination, and unity we cultivated at camp into the pool.
A huge thank you to our dedicated coaches, Rafa, Sara, Nikki, and our Head Coach, Leanne, for their leadership and commitment. Special appreciation also goes to Brigette and Lewis for their efforts behind the scenes, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
The igsa journey has begun, and our team is well on its way to achieving greatness! “Like Moana, we are navigating the waters ahead with courage, teamwork, and an unstoppable spirit!”
Forster Camp: Elevating Our Game
After a successful igsa camp, we picked up the rest of the team and headed off to Forster, ready to take things to the next level. This camp was all about strengthening our mindset, pushing our limits, and coming together as one united team.
Camp Mantras
“I Get To” – Training is not an obligation, it’s an opportunity. Every session is a chance to grow, improve, and embrace the journey with gratitude and purpose.
“Progression Over Perfection” – Success isn’t about being flawless; it’s about consistent progress, learning from every experience, and improving each day.
“Trust the Process” – Great results don’t happen overnight. It’s about believing in the plan, staying committed, and putting in the work to achieve long-term success.
Highlights from the Camp
The team was divided into smaller groups, each led by a captain, which fostered leadership, accountability, and a sense of ownership. Action-packed beach sessions, a trivia night, skits, and relays brought a fun, competitive edge, with each team earning points to fuel motivation and build stronger connections.
The Water Warrior award became the goal for every swimmer. At each pool session, this title was given to the swimmer who gave their absolute best, pushed their limits, and inspired the entire team with their effort and attitude. Earning Water Warrior wasn’t just about performance, it was about demonstrating resilience, commitment, and setting the standard for the team. Each Water Warrior earned massive points for their team, creating even more motivation and competitive spirit.
Goal-setting sessions were a highlight, helping swimmers define their personal targets for the season ahead. This was a powerful opportunity to focus on growth, performance milestones, and the mindset needed to achieve their goals.
Forster camp reinforced our core values of growth, courage, trust, respect, and teamwork, and the belief that we rise by lifting each other. With a united team and a clear vision, we are more than ready to take on the season ahead!
A huge thank you to Nikki for your care and support, Rafa for your energy and commitment, Leanne for your leadership and expertise, and Lewis for organizing and making it all happen. And a big shout out Brigette, pretty sure you did more laps to the shops than our swimmers did in the pool!
Rafael Rodrigues
Engine Swimming Coach
From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team
The stage is set, the music is playing, and the energy is high—welcome to another exciting year of Performing Arts at Pymble. Whether your passion lies in Dance, Drama, Language Arts, Music or Speech and Drama, there is something for everyone in our dynamic and inclusive program.
We are looking forward to the Junior School Ensemble weekend, a wonderful opportunity for our young musicians to come together, make music, and build connections. This event is a fantastic kick-start to the music program, helping students develop their skills and confidence in a fun and supportive environment. For more details, please see the parent portal.
Congratulations to our Music staff and the 71 students who recently participated in the Spain and Portugal Music tour. The tour was a resounding success, with students having the extraordinary opportunity to perform in some of Europe’s most breathtaking concert venues. Their outstanding performances and professionalism were a credit to our College, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements.
We also extend a warm welcome back to ourLanguage Arts students, who returned on Monday from The Hague, where they attended the Model United Nations Conference. This was an incredible opportunity for Pymble students, who proudly became the first Australian school to participate in this prestigious event. Engaging in high-level discussions on global issues, our students represented the College with confidence, intellect, and diplomacy.
Dance is back and bigger than ever, with new classes and performance opportunities. Whether in contemporary, jazz, ballet, or hip-hop, students will have more ways to refine their skills and take the stage in exciting performances.
As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” This sentiment rings true in the Performing Arts, where passion, dedication, and the belief in one’s creative potential lay the foundation for success. When students engage in the arts, they are not only refining their skills but also embracing the power of their dreams, making them stronger and more confident performers.
Stay tuned for an incredible year ahead. We look forward to seeing what our talented students will achieve in 2025.
Kurt Schweinberger
Director of Co-curricular Performing Arts
The shortcode only works for newsletter articles
Dance
Welcome to Dance 2025
A big welcome to all our Dance families for 2025. We have a huge year ahead of us with 130 Dance classes a week and around 1,800 registrations, which includes over 150 brand new students to co-curricular Dance. The College has certainly been buzzing this week with dancers!
Welcome to our fabulous Dance staff team. We are so fortunate to have this team leading our program.
Meet the Permanent Dance Staff Team
Miss Katrina Cluff – Head of Dance
Mrs Samantha Hibburt – Deputy Head of Dance
Mrs Alysha Marsden – Dance Administrator
Ms Melissa Cooper-Findlay – Academic Dance Teacher
Miss Lucy Eaton -Dance Program Co-ordinator – Secondary School
Miss Laura Fishwick – Dance Program Co-ordinator – Ballet and Technique and External Programs
Miss Genevieve Gardiner – Dance Program Co-ordinator – Junior School
Miss Sarah McGeoch – Dance Program Coordinator – Performance Stream Development – Troupes (Junior School Teacher)
Mrs Keya Pettigrew – Dance Program Coordinator – Performance Stream Development – Eisteddfod Groups (Academic Dance Teacher)
Mr Jackson Reedman – Dance Program Coordinator – Productions and Performances
Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Examinations 2024
Pymble Ballet had a fantastic year in 2024, and I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our dedicated ballet staff. Your hard work, support, and commitment to helping each student reach their personal best truly made a difference – and we certainly saw the results of that! Ballet exams can be a stressful time for students, especially right after Showcase, but once again, they rose to the challenge with remarkable results. The positive energy after the exams was undeniable, and that enthusiasm was clearly reflected in their scores. We were especially pleased to see a noticeable increase in High Merit results, which is an above average score – a fantastic achievement, especially considering the high standards set by the Royal Academy of Dance.
Special congratulations to Isabelle La (Year 6 2025), who received a High Distinction in Grade 4, the highest score among all our 2024 exam students. What a remarkable accomplishment!
A big congratulations to the following students who earned a Distinction – truly an outstanding achievement!
Grade 3 (Year 5 2025) – Davina Excell, Avril Huang
Grade 4 (Year 6 2025) – Emma Feng, Aurora Lin
Grade 5 (Year 7 2025)- Amy Peng, Adeline Wu
Intermediate Foundation – Stella Pieterse (Year 8 2025)
Intermediate – Emma Scott (Year 9 2025)
Looking ahead, our class numbers have grown, and I’m excited for all the opportunities the coming year holds. Here’s to another year of growth, learning and success!
Katrina Cluff
Head of Dance
Drama
Welcome back!
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and that you are all excited to return for another fun filled year for Drama. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to any new students who will be making their debut with Drama and the stage in 2025.
Term 4 2024 Co-curricular Drama – Centrestage Showcase
Before we move on to the business of 2025, I would like to highlight the exceptional work for last year’s end of year showcase. We wrapped up another incredible year of co-curricular Drama, where our Centrestage 2024 showcase was a true celebration of talent, dedication, and creativity. From our eager Year 2 newcomers to our graduating Year 12 students, every performer brought their unique energy to the stage.
Last year’s theme, “Behind the Mask,” inspired students to think outside the box, devising original works that explored both literal and metaphorical interpretations of masks.
The week began with an electrifying Theatresports and Filmmaking evening. Our Theatresports students took part in a fast-paced improvisation competition, creating scenes about everything from friendships and alien encounters to quirky restaurant mishaps. Following this, our Filmmaking students from Years 3 to 12 wowed the audience with a stunning selection of original films, showcasing their storytelling and technical skills.
On Wednesday, our Junior Drama students took the spotlight, presenting self-devised performances based on the theme. Each group explored different perspectives, from literal masks to the emotional layers we wear to hide our true selves. Their performances demonstrated remarkable confidence, imagination, and growth.
The week concluded with our Senior Drama Showcase on Friday evening, featuring a diverse selection of performances, including eisteddfod groups, duologues, skills classes, and musical theatre. It was a wonderful tribute to the hard work, progress, and passion of our senior students throughout the year.
Important Information for 2025
As we prepare for the new year, we would like to share some key information regarding co-curricular Drama in 2025.
Uniform – All students are required to wear the co-curricular Drama uniform for rehearsals and performances. As the official Pymble Drama shirt is not yet available at the uniform shop, students should wear a plain black shirt for the first few weeks of this term.
Carline pick up – Junior students will be escorted to the Flagpole carline pick up area at the end of class. Teachers will supervise for 15 minutes; any student not collected within this time will be taken to Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) for further supervision. If your child has another class on campus after Drama, they may walk there independently.
Thank you for your continued support of co-curricular Drama at Pymble. We can’t wait to see the incredible things our students will achieve in 2025!
Rebecca York
Co-curricular Drama Co-ordinator
Language Arts
January holidays saw the resumption of Pymble Ladies’ College’s international Language Arts tours. Sixteen girls participated in the tour of London, Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Amsterdam, and The Hague. Visits to The Tower of London and Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam reminded all of the importance of freedom of speech and the value of democracy.
The highlight of the tour was securing a coveted invitation to the 57th session of The Hague International Model United Nations. The tour culminated in the January 2025 conference at World Forum, The Hague. The theme was The Impact of AI on Humanity. Pymble represented Germany and the UN Fund for Water.
Bronwyn Hubbard
Head of Co-curricular Language Arts
Music
Welcome back!
We hope you all had a wonderful rest and relaxed during the summer break. It is exciting to be back on the school grounds. We had a wonderful and hugely successful tour to Spain and Portugal with 71 of our musicians from Years 7 to 12 2024. All girls contributed to the success of the tour and our performances received standing ovations at every single venue.
I’d like to extend a very warm Pymble welcome to our new students – those from afar, and those making their way up from the Junior School. Music will keep you busy, nurtured, and allow you to make more friends. So please come and hang out in the wonderful Performing Arts area and be part of our Music team.
Music Support Group
This group is for any interested parents who would like to volunteer their time and help throughout the year to support the students and staff in the ensemble program. Led by the very capable Ray Waterhouse and Liz Toh, I’m sure these lovely parents would love to meet you, and have you help when and if you are able. Please reach out through Music administration at musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au, or contact Ray at ray.waterhouse@hotmail.com to ask about how you can help.
Information
If you require private music lessons, need a uniform, not sure about times for ensembles, or have any other questions about Music, please go to the parent portal, or email Gladys Uy, our Music Administrator, at musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au, or Head of Co-Curricular Music Sarah Turner at sturner@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Ensembles and Lessons
Please note that ensembles and private music lessons will commence from Monday 10 February. If you are unsure of your group, please email and we will ensure you and your daughter are informed. All old students MUST re-register for 2025. If you have not yet registered for 2025, you will need to submit a post registration period request by clicking here. Registrations do not roll over into the new year. New students are welcome to register and on your first rehearsal, your conductor will take your name, and you will be added to the roll. Alternatively, please email musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au to express interest in joining an ensemble.
Performance Uniform
Performance uniforms can be purchased through the uniform shop. We have a few second-hand uniforms available from past Year 12 students. Please see Gladys Uy in the Music office if you would like to try one on.
Staffing in Music
Secondary School
Director of Performing Arts – Strategy and Operation: Mr Kurt Schweinberger
Head of Learning Area – Performing Arts/Head of Bands: Mr Marcus Stafford
Head of Co-Curricular Music: Mrs Sarah Turner
Head of Strings: Mrs Narelle Colbey
Stage 4 Music Co-ordinator: Ms Sarah Ashton
Music teaching staff and conductors: Ms Luczia Bain, Ms Julia Zeltzer, Ms Charlotte Aquaro, and Mrs Karen Bruce
College Accompanist: Ms Claire Race
Junior School
Teaching staff and conductors: Mrs Julie Hare, Ms Tiffany Farlow, Ms Maria Lee, Ms Ellen Buckley, and Mrs Patrice Goodman
Auditions for Senior School Chamber Strings
Mrs Colbey will be holding auditions for the Senior School Chamber Strings. Please email her if you have any questions or to book an audition time: ncolbey@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Performance Contracts
These contracts will be emailed to the students this week. Parents, please ask to see the information so that you have dates in your calendars. It is expected that ALL rehearsals are attended. Two unexplained absences will affect performance opportunities. Please email the conductor or notify an absence through Clipboard prior to your session.
Save the Date
Thursday 13 February, 6.30pm – Concerto Competition. Please book your tickets through the QR code sent out on social media, see the poster below or view the poster by clicking here.
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February – Junior School Music Camp weekend. All girls involved in Year 3 string orchestra, Year 4 Training Band, Stanhope Band, and Grainger Band are involved. Please return your forms to music admin.
Monday 7 April (Lunchtime) – All members of the Music ensemble program will be invited to a lunch that is kindly provided by the Music Support Group. Details will be sent closer to the time
Wednesday 9 April, 5.30pm – Term 1 Ensemble Concert. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the ensembles perform for the first time this year. Bring your picnics and enjoy the lovely surrounds and music. All girls must be in performance uniform.
Sarah Turner
Head of Music
Robotics
VEX V5 National Championships 2024: A Celebration of Robotics Excellence
The VEX V5 National Championships brought together 37 teams from across Australia, including Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne, to compete in one of the most prestigious robotics tournaments of the year. Among the fierce competitors were five dedicated teams from Pymble, ready to showcase their skills and hard work after months of preparation and experience gained from previous competitions.
The event spanned three days, with the first day dedicated to robot inspections and the remaining two days packed with intense competition. For Pymble’s teams, the challenge was not just in the matches but also in navigating an unfamiliar field of competitors. This unfamiliarity, however, quickly turned into an opportunity for collaboration and growth as students connected with peers, shared strategies, and exchanged experiences in robotics.
Pymble’s five teams performed exceptionally well, with all advancing to the playoffs:
65100R bobot teamed up with Barker College’s 4613M, reaching the semifinals!
65100B i’m a geese goose and 65100F Dunkin Donuts joined forces, making it to the quarterfinals.
65100N Nailed it partnered with Perth’s 79419Z Megatron, also reaching the quarterfinals.
65100S SHARK ATTACK! competed with 97230C Bent Axles, advancing to the Round of 16.
The competition wasn’t just about matches; it was about innovation and spirit. Team 65100B was honoured with the Create Award, recognizing their ingenuity and engineering excellence. Meanwhile, Team 65100F received the Energy Award, a testament to their infectious enthusiasm and passion for robotics.
These awards speak volumes about the heart of the competition: creativity and energy. The Create Award highlights the importance of pushing boundaries and thinking outside the box, a cornerstone of innovation in robotics. The Energy Award reflects the vibrant community spirit and determination that make events like these truly memorable.
The VEX V5 National Championships was more than just a competition; it was a celebration of teamwork, strategy, and friendship. Pymble’s teams exemplified these values, showing that while trophies and awards are wonderful, the real victory lies in learning, growing, and connecting with others in the robotics community. Scroll to the end of the Robotics notices for a series of photos from the Championships.
Pymble Robotics Teams Shine at the 2024 VEX IQ National Championships
The VEX IQ National Championships brought together 54 of the top robotics teams from across Australia, hailing from places like Yarramalong, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, and beyond. Representing Pymble, six teams made the journey to showcase their skills on the national stage.
The three-day event was intense, beginning with a day dedicated to inspections, followed by two full days of competition. With their experience from prior tournaments, our teams arrived ready and focused. They demonstrated remarkable preparation, confidently manoeuvring their robots and tackling challenges head-on.
However, the competition wasn’t just about robots; it was also about people. Our students faced a unique challenge—strategizing and collaborating with new allies they had never met before. For many Years 5 and 6 students, working with partners who were often older boys added a layer of difficulty. Despite initial nerves, our students quickly adapted, stepping out of their comfort zones to discuss strategies, make decisions, and forge effective partnerships. Some students embraced the challenge with ease, focusing entirely on matches, fine-tuning their robots, and impressing the judges during interviews.
A standout moment came when Team 6510V was awarded the prestigious Amaze Award. This recognition celebrates teams whose robots demonstrate consistently high performance, innovative design, and exceptional build quality. It seems fitting to say that Team 6510V didn’t just amaze—they were amazing!
Congratulations to all our Pymble teams for their incredible effort, determination, and sportsmanship at the Nationals. Their resilience, teamwork, and ability to rise to challenges, both technical and interpersonal, were truly inspiring. We can’t wait to see what they achieve next! Scroll to the end of the Robotics notices for a series of photos from the Championships.
Five Pymble Robotics teams at the 2024 FTC National Championships
The FTC National Championships brought together 42 teams from across Australia, including Queensland and South Australia, for an electrifying two days of robotics action. Among these competitors were five dedicated teams from Pymble, each prepared to showcase their skills and passion.
The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the competition kicked off. Pymble’s teams, equipped with prior competition experience, were focused and ready to face the challenges ahead. For many, it was an exciting opportunity to meet new teams, exchange strategies, and bond over shared experiences in robotics.
The first day came with an unexpected twist—a relentless downpour that added a layer of complexity to the already intense event. Teams had to navigate the rain while ensuring their robots stayed safe and functional. Improvised solutions like jackets and plastic bags became essential gear, and though the rain initially caused some chaos, it quickly became just another part of the adventure.
Despite the weather, spirits remained high, and the competition pressed on. By the end of the second day, two Pymble teams had advanced to the playoffs; Team 23636, Pymble Pterojazama Party Sharks, and Team 18359, Pymble Lion Cubs. The teams joined forces in a spirited quarterfinal performance, demonstrating the teamwork, strategy, and resilience that had brought them this far.
Beyond the matches, the event was a celebration of innovation, camaraderie, and the love of robotics. From exchanging ideas with teams from across the nation, to strategizing together on the field, the Pymble teams embodied the spirit of collaboration and determination.
A huge thank you to all the volunteers, mentors, event organizers, and supporters who made the FTC National Championships possible. Your dedication and hard work ensured a memorable experience for every team and participant. Congratulations to all the teams that competed, and especially to our Pymble representatives for their outstanding efforts. Whether navigating the challenges of competition or the unexpected rain, they showed that resilience and teamwork always prevail. Scroll to the end of the Robotics notices for a series of photos from the Championships.
Robotics Teams Kick Off 2025 with International Competitions and Build Season
Our robotics girls enjoyed a well-earned break over the summer holidays, but they were back in action early in January!
The VEX team 65100D, Pymble Pups, represented Australia at the VEX Asia Open Signature event in China, competing against over 100 Middle School teams. Hannah Zhao (Year 8) was the sole team member able to attend, taking the robot to the competition and doing an incredible job playing matches and strategising. Pymble Pups was awarded the Inspire Award, recognising their passion for the competition and positivity at the event. Congratulations, team!
Meanwhile, on Sunday 5 January, Years 9 to 11 students returned for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) build season, with the release of the 2025 game, Reefscape. This year, Pymble Pride will proudly bring two robots to the Southern Cross Regional, held from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 March at the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre. Scroll to the end of the Robotics notices for a series of photos from the Championships.
Robot 6510 is being designed, strategised, and built by our experienced students, who face the challenge of balancing creativity with efficiency. With limited time, they must develop a robot that is not only strong and reliable but also capable of performing well in the game. To streamline the process and minimise material waste, they first create detailed designs using CAD (computer-aided design) before moving on to construction.
Meanwhile, Robot 6497 is being built by students new to the FRC team. As they embark on their first season, they are learning essential skills, from using power tools like drills, saws, and files to mastering teamwork, task management, and strategic decision-making. This hands-on experience lays the foundation for their future in robotics.
Following the Southern Cross Regional, Robot 6510 will also compete internationally at the Colorado Regional in Denver, USA, from Wednesday 19 to Friday 22 March.
We look forward to an exciting season ahead—good luck to all our teams!
VEX V5 2024 National Championships Photos
VEX IQ 2024 National Championships Photos
2024 FTC National Championships Photos
2025 Summer Camp and Competition Photos
Cristhina Boni Lavratti
Robotics Manager
Tickets on sale now for Icebreaker 2025!
Please join us for canapés and drinks with the Pymble Parent Association (PPA) and our Pymble family at our annual Icebreaker on Friday 21 February from 6.45pm to 9.00pm on Gloucester Lawn.
An annual College tradition for over 50 years, Icebreaker is a relaxed community event not to be missed. Join Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen, Chair of the Board, Mr Chris Fydler OAM, College Board members, parents, carers and staff as we welcome our new families, reconnect with old friends and toast a wonderful new year at Pymble.
The cost of the Icebreaker event is $52.00 which includes a cocktail dinner. Please note this is a parent-only event and registration is essential. Please click here to RSVP by Thursday 13 February.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Get to know our Head Prefects, Ang-Ya and Emily
Since taking up the positions of Head Prefects at the start of Term 4 2024 Ang-Ya Koo (AYK) and Emily Aberdeen (EA) have taken their roles by storm, showing extraordinary leadership and entertaining and captivating audiences whenever they speak publicly.
The brains trust behind this year’s theme of It’s 2025… Come Alive, you couldn’t ask for two better young women to bring this theme to life across the College.
But for all that we do know about Ang-Ya and Emily on a professional level there’s a lot that we don’t on a personal one, so we sent them ten questions to help change that.
Take it away, girls.
If you could describe your leadership style in three words, what would they be?
AYK: Organised, collaborative, supportive. I love bringing people together, making sure everything runs smoothly, and always having a plan (or five).
EA: Responsive, creative and approachable.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
AYK: Oysters! I love all types of seafood but oysters are my favourite.
EA: Nachos with lots of guacamole. The proper ratio is one part nachos to at least three parts guacamole.
What’s the weirdest thing in your school bag right now?
AYK: Nothing weird because I just cleaned it! But once, I left a banana in there for way too long…
EA: This isn’t in my school bag, but I always carry a little tube of bubbles with me in my school blazer. They come in handy surprisingly often, and always seem to lighten the mood!
If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
AYK: A quokka! My friends tell me I have quokka energy.
EA: Being a dog would be super fun – a life of lounging around all day with your favourite people before going out to run around in nature… what more could you want?
What’s your dream travel destination, and who would you bring with you?
AYK: I would love to visit Vietnam and bring my friends with me.
EA: I have always wanted to go to Japan as I’ve heard the most incredible stories about it. My parents travelled there last year and just had the best time, so I think I’d bring them and my older sister with me.
Ang-Ya, Emily and Mr Justin Raymond before last week’s Combined Assembly.
What’s the last song you had on repeat?
AYK: It’s definitely a tie between party 4 u by Charli xcx and hoax by Taylor Swift. I am a big fan of both Charli and Taylor!
EA:Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce – it’s got a bit of an eerie vibe but I just love it.
What’s your guilty pleasure TV show or movie?
AYK: For a movie it has to be She’s the Man. I also love to watch Gossip Girl and Never Have I Ever when I just want to relax.
EA: Definitely Notting Hill. I think I’ve watched it more than 20 times now. I’m not sure why, but the romanticised British scenery, the classic rom-com trope and, of course, the incredible Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, just make the film so magical for me.
If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
AYK: I would love to swap lives with Taylor Swift. I’d love to see what it’s like to record music and tour so many different places in the world.
EA: I’m not sure why, but the first person who came to mind was Simone Biles. Wouldn’t it be so awesome being able to do flips all day? As someone who isn’t flexible at all and can’t even do a handstand, I’d want to know what it’s like to be able to nimbly fly through the air and stand upside down!
What’s the one thing you can’t start your day without?
AYK: I can’t start my day without drinking water – I always wake up super dehydrated. I also love to drink English breakfast tea in the winter. That’s my winter essential.
EA: Some fresh fruit and granola. Whether it be in a smoothie bowl or with yogurt, this combo always puts me in the best mood.
Do you have a hidden talent or fun fact about yourself that most people wouldn’t know?
AYK: I honestly don’t have any hidden talents but I really love collecting candles! I think I have at least twenty in my room. My favourite one is a gingerbread-scented candle my friend gifted me. It smells heavenly!
EA: I can whistle with my fingers! If you hear someone whistling at the end of a PAC performance, it’s probably me.
Term 1 Bus Registrations are now open!
This is a reminder to register your daughter for the Pymble private bus service for travel during Term 1 if you have not already done so.
Registration for the Pymble bus service is offered on a term-by-term basis with two options:
Term registrations are valid for a whole term.
Flexible registrations enable students to register for specific day(s) with a choice of morning and/or afternoon runs.
Students must use their student ID cards to tap on and off the bus service. Students who are new to the College will receive their student ID cards in the coming weeks. If your daughter has lost her card, please get in touch with College Services for a replacement form.
Green Travel Plan initiative
In line with our Green Travel Plan initiative, we will be trialling a new, lower full-term registration fee for students using stops within a 5km driving distance to the College.
Students who catch the bus at a stop within a 5km driving distance to the College will be charged a term registration of $250. The term charge outside the 5km driving distance will remain at $430 this term. The flexible registration charge remains at $7.50 per trip.
The $250 term charge will apply to the following stops:
New stop: Yarrara Road before Lachlan Avenue, West Pymble (Hunters Hill Bus Route 1). Please note, this replaces our Yanko Road stop
New stop: Ryde Road opposite Wyuna Road, West Pymble (North West Bus Route 3)
New stop: Ryde Road opposite Kiparra Street, West Pymble (North West Bus Route 3)
Existing stop: Birdwood Avenue before Koola Avenue, East Killara (Lower North Shore Bus Route 2)
Existing stop: Mona Vale Road opposite Memorial Avenue, St Ives (Northern Beaches Bus Route 4)
Safety of our students on the Pymble bus service
The safety of our students is paramount to us and the following measures are in place to ensure their safety.
Registering to use the service allows us to ensure that all students can get a seat on the bus. By knowing who is catching our buses, we are also able to communicate to the relevant parents any delays or changes.
Our Junior School students are walked to and from the James Kelso Field bus drop-off zone by a member of the Junior School staff in the morning and afternoon. Students are always supervised by a Junior School staff member and our trusted bus drivers.
The buses now have an additional safety feature to ensure that no child is left behind on a bus after it has finished its run. Drivers will need to check all rows of seats and push a button at the back of the bus at the end of each run. An alarm will sound if the driver does not complete this step.
All students are required to wear a seatbelt at all times on the bus. Moving between seats while the bus is on the move is not allowed.
All students must tap on and off the bus. This allows us to know who is currently on the bus should there be an incident while on the road.
All our buses are tracked via the TransportMe app in real-time. This is available for free on Android and Apple devices.
All our drivers are trained, experienced and hold a current WWCC.
Please do not hesitate to contact College Services if you have any further questions about transport to and from Pymble Ladies’ College as we are always happy to assist.
