This week’s edition of Clued In was created by Nicole Fan from your Student Communications Leadership team:
Maya Garg (Year 12): Student Communications Prefect 2025
Abby Christopher: Year 12 Leader
Kitty He: Year 11 Leader
Catherine Li: Year 10 Leader
Nicole Fan: Year 9 Leader
Charlotte Pang: Year 8 Leader
A huge thank you to all the students, staff and families who supported our Autumn Family Festival last Thursday. In our designated year of Respect, it felt especially meaningful to launch this vibrant community event to celebrate culture in all its forms, bring people together, and create space to share stories, traditions and time with one another. It was very special to wander around the stalls, ask the girls why they had chosen to make the items they had on display, and see such diversity and pride in their work.
Continuing our international/cultural theme this week, I wanted to let you know we have confirmed our Trips and Tours Schedule for students in 2026 and 2027. Hopefully, sharing this information with you now helps you to plan for any opportunities you wish to pursue for your daughters next year and beyond.
We will continue to add to this schedule as new trips and tours arise. In the meantime, we invite you to review the current list of national and international trips and tours and email travel@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you have any further questions or enquiries.
Our aim is to offer Pymble students as many opportunities as possible to develop greater depths and layers of perspective, knowledge and character through learning experiences all over the world, as well as closer to home. In Term 2, for instance, we have:
And just 45 minutes up the road, our second group of Year 9 students are now settled in at Vision Valley for their four-week Residential Program with Year 9 boys from our partner school, Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie). I love this photo below, which reflects how completely, silently and respectfully absorbed the students were in the Welcome to Country ceremony on their first day – such a special tradition in our uniquely Australian environment.
As you read this, I’m also off-campus, currently in Amsterdam having first travelled via Perth to London (with next stop Dublin). The purpose of this trip is to meet and screen potential staff at our annual Think Pymble recruitment events in the UK and to attract additional partner schools for both our cultural exchange and Vision Valley Residential programs.
Last night we had more than 50 teachers at Think Pymble in London, many of whom were highly impressive. Today, I also had a very productive meeting with the British International School in Amsterdam, who are keen to be involved in our Year 10 exchange program.
Our international Think Pymble evenings are in addition to several local events held each year to ensure we cast the net near, far and wide to attract and retain the best academic staff to join the exceptional team that helps shape your daughters as compassionate and influential global citizens. I’ll also be attending a two-day Geopolitical Summit hosted by my professional network group, who always facilitate incredible learning opportunities to broaden our perspectives and thinking, and hosting afternoon tea for our younger Pymble Alumni studying and working in the UK.
This means I’ll be away from home on Mother’s Day this weekend, just as many of our Boarding mums will be separated from their children, too. Rest assured, your girls will be cared for and loved by our amazing staff as they think of you back home. They miss your hugs, chats, laughs and all the special things you do to make them feel loved, safe and secure when they are with you, such as:
💖 Cooking chicken and broccoli bake on your daughter’s first night home because you know it’s her favourite (even though no-one else in the family is a huge fan).
💖 Always stopping at a particular store to buy Friday lolly bags when you drive into town.
💖 Letting her sleep in until midday during the holidays and waking her with a warm smile.
💖 Bringing the cats into her bed in the morning for a cuddle.
💖 Trying out new recipes during term time while she’s away so you can serve up the best ones when she gets home.
💖 Your spag bol!
💖 Sharing your love of books and reading together on the couch at night.
💖 Always waiting at the airport with a huge smile and lots to chat about even though it’s 1.00am Darwin time and there’s still an hour’s drive to get home.
No doubt some of these things will sound very familiar to some of our long-distance mums!
Thanks to our thoughtful Boarders who enjoyed sharing theses anecdotes about the little things they love about their mums, and thanks to all the mums who share their daughters with us at Pymble. We realise you would much rather have them with you at home, and appreciate the sacrifice you and your families make to provide your daughters with an exceptional education.
Wishing you all a beautiful day on Sunday, appreciating or remembering your own mum and children.
I know I will be.
The Autumn Family Festival will be one of the highlights of my year. It was an exceptional evening of entertainment and entrepreneurship and all the girls involved should be extremely proud of themselves. The effort and commitment they each showed to their performance and their market stalls showed their strength of character, care, responsibility and respect.
Together we raised just over $10,000 which will have a significant impact on local families who are struggling with the cost of groceries and often going hungry. I am very proud of the way our girls go above and beyond expectations when given a challenge. They are remarkable in their determination to be kind, caring citizens and do whatever they can to bring comfort and hope to others who are doing it tough.
Many of our girls and parents then backed up their service at the markets by running/walking in the Lindfield Fun Run on Sunday. Thank you all for your community spirit.
Mrs Bird recently introduced me to a picture book I hadn’t read before, Wilder Child by Nicolette Sowder, which contains a poem which aligns closely with our vision for our girls:
May we raise children
Who love the unloved things –
The dandelion, the worms, the spiderlings.
Children who sense that the rose needs the thorn,
And run into rainswept days
The same way they turn towards the sun…
And when they’re grown
And someone has to speak for those
Who have no voice
May they draw upon that wilder bond,
Those days of tending tender things
And be the ones.
Our Junior School girls continue to impress with their capacity to notice the little things and their commitment to being a voice for those who need to be heard. There is lots of hope for a brighter future for all to share given our Junior School girls will one day be leading change just by being who they are.
Our debating teams have worked together exceptionally well throughout their 2025 season and achieved great results in their many debates. Congratulations to all these girls who have represented our Junior School in our Primary A and Primary B teams this year:
Primary A team
Aurora Lin
Angelina Kim
Sarah Lu
Alicia Miao
Naomi Shi
Primary B team
Hayley Du
Yuanya Miao
Ellie He
Vivian Li
Josephine Tamas
Good luck to our Primary B team who are progressing to the first finals rounds with a debate against Redlands on Friday 16 May.
I wish all our mums, grandmothers and special women in our lives a very happy Mother’s Day on Sunday. Whilst for many people this is a happy family day it can also be a sad or challenging day for those not able to be with their mother or daughter, I am thinking of all of you and sending love and strength.
The 2025 World Happiness Report has shown that social connections are vital for the wellbeing of children and young people and research also shows that healthy friendships are a strong protective factor for mental health, particularly for girls. In our Junior School Compass lessons, the girls are explicitly taught the qualities of a healthy friendship and how to make and be a friend using the URSTRONG program. An important aspect of this are the four friendship facts:
Through the exploration of these four friendship facts, the girls develop resilience in their friendships and are empowered to manage the natural ups and downs of relationships now and into the future. The girls learn that disagreements (friendship fires), misunderstandings and hurt feelings can be a normal part of friendship and how to manage and move on from these.
With the College focus on our value of Respect this year, there is a particular focus on respect within friendships. We are working with the girls to understand that respect is what makes friendships feel safe and supportive, and is shown by:
At home, you can support your daughter with this by:
The first Wellbeing Session of the Parent Academic and Wellbeing Series will be held on Thursday 15 May at 8.30am in the Junior School 3-6 Library. This session will be focused on how parents can support their daughters in Years 5 and 6 with her emotions and friendships. I will be joined in this session by Mrs Heidi Lynch, Year 6 Co-ordinator and Ms Lyn Wynne, Year 5 Co-ordinator. If you would like to attend this session, please sign up here.
Mother’s Day Event
Our whole-school Mother’s Day event is taking place on Friday 9 May, with a breakfast for mothers/special people taking place in the Junior School from 7.00am. At 8.15am, students will head to their classrooms, and guests of Junior School students are invited to move to the John Reid Hall for a special performance featuring all grades. It is anticipated the event will conclude at 9.00am.
Please be aware of increased traffic and congestion on this day. It is highly recommended to carpool, use public transport or walk. Car line locations will operate as normal and must remain clear of parked vehicles.
Leave From School
If you are planning to have your daughter take leave during the school term for two days or more, you must complete the Exemption from Attendance Application form in advance of the absence.
Please do not enter ‘holiday’ into the free-form response on the MyPymble App.
Uniform and Appearance
Thank you for showing respect to the College uniform policy with your daughter arriving to school in her full winter uniform for this term and Term 3. All students are expected to wear their uniform correctly and with pride.
Junior School Canteen Helpers
The Junior School Canteen will continue for Term 2 on Wednesday and Friday. Junior School allows students to purchase (through Flexischools) cold drinks and frozen desserts. Once your order is placed your daughter will have a brown paper bag, where she will go to the Junior School Canteen (lunch tub room) to collect her cold treat.
Please click here if you can volunteer your time. For the care and safety of your daughters, all volunteers must have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC). If we do not already have your WWCC on file, please email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au your WWCC number and date of birth so your WWCC can be verified.
Term 2 After-School Arrangements
Girls in Years 3 to 6 are responsible for remembering where they need to go after school each day. Please update your daughter’s diary with her Term 2 after-school arrangements to assist her to remember where to go each afternoon.
For girls in Kindergarten to Year 2, please email any changes for Term 2 to the Junior School office at juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and advise if this is a permanent or casual change to your daughter’s arrangements. Please note that it is important that any changes to travel arrangements are received prior to 2.00pm.
Girls with older sisters – Girls wait at the Junior School Library until their sister collects them by 3.30pm or at OSHC if they have a sister in the Senior School (bookings need to be made with OSHC for supervision purposes only, no charges will occur).
Tomorrow – Mother’s Day Event, 7.00am to 9.00am
Tomorrow – Year 6 author visit (Periods 3 and 4)
Tomorrow – Junior School House Event (Periods 5 and 6) Students to wear house shirts
Wednesday 21 May – JSPG Term 2 Meeting
Thursday 5 June – Year 3 to 6 Athletics Carnival
Wednesday 11 June – Kindergarten to Year 2 Athletics Carnival
6L Play Date – Save the Date
📅 Date: Sunday 11 May
⏰ Time: 2.00pm to 5.00pm
📍 Location: Treetops Adventure, the Hills – 95 Castlehill Road, West Pennant Hills 2125
💰 Cost: $51 per child & $60 per adult
📌 RSVP by: Friday, 25 April 2025, Wendy 0403691999
Join us for a thrilling outdoor adventure as we navigate tree-top courses, zip lines, and rope challenge. This is a fantastic opportunity for our girls to build confidence, teamwork, and unforgettable memories!
Year 4 Parents Sip and Supper – Save the Date
📅 Date: Saturday, 17 May 2025
⏰ Time: 6.00 PM
📍 Location: Greengate Hotel, Cnr Pacific Hwy & Greengate Rd, Killara
Please join us for a relaxed evening to connect and make new friends. Please reach out to your class parents for any questions.
Year 5 Family Picnic
📅 Date: Sunday 18 May
⏰ Time: 11.00am to 2.00pm
📍 Location: Bobbin Head National Park
📌 RSVP: Fatima or Liz
Join us for lunch by the creek. BYO picnic, drinks and chairs.
This event is subject to weather conditions.
Please contact us with any questions at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School
This week in Middle School, the girls have been getting back into routines and starting new units of work for many of their subjects. I’m proud to say that they appear to be confident and ready to take on the challenges of Term 2. Thank you to all the Year 7 families who joined us for Learning Discussions last Wednesday. It was such a great opportunity for you to meet with your daughter’s teachers and share feedback around their transition and academic progress.
This term, the College is continuing to focus on the value of Respect, foregrounding our Diversity and Inclusion pillar. We will be working with the girls to help them to better understand the impact of their words and actions on others and encouraging them to broaden perspectives and understanding by taking time to ‘walk around in someone else’s shoes’ for a while.
In Middle School, one of the tools we employ comes from Dr Mark Brackett’s (founding director of the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence) RULER, an evidence-based program and acronym for the five skills of emotional intelligence: Recognising, Understanding, Labelling, Expressing and Regulating. You can find out more here.
One tool in particular – the Blueprint – assists students to navigate challenges and develop an insight into the impact of their actions. We encourage you to have a conversation with your daughters about using respectful and inclusive language amongst their peers. Working together to underscore shared expectations is key to building a positive community.
The Autumn Family Festival held last Thursday was such a celebration of our diverse College community. Thank you to all those who participated and contributed to the success of this important initiative.
We have commenced interviews with the Year 7 students who have been shortlisted for positions of responsibility and look forward to sharing nominations in the near future.
The Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime Gloucester Gathering activities are off to a good start with many students joining in our weaving activities last week and the ever popular slime making on Tuesday.
Throughout lunchtimes this week, the girls have also had the opportunity to participate in and be an audience for our Best of PAC performances which showcase the incredible talent and confidence of students from across the College within a variety of mediums. There have been some inspirational performances that could easily find a spot at professional venues – thank you to all who are sharing their gifts.
Next week, we’re looking forward to celebrating Boarders Week in the Middle School, with a range of activities planned to celebrate our Boarders.
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School
Last Friday, Mrs Wyse, Mr Ellis, and I had the pleasure of judging the Trangia MasterChef Challenge. This initiative was organized by Outdoor Education Prefect Erin Porter as part of Community Week with support from Mr Riley and Mr Eckford from our Vision Valley Campus.
It was a fun event, and it was lovely to see teams from Years 9, 11 and 12 in action, applying the skills they have learned at Vision Valley and during their Outdoor Education Programs to create their meals. The contestants performed admirably under pressure as they worked to prepare their dishes. Special thanks to Sarah Quan (Year 9) for writing this thoughtful reflection.
Last Friday lunchtime, around 20 students took part in the Trangia Masterchef Challenge where each group had to cook a tasty meal on Trangias which were judged for the best looking and most delicious dishes – just like the Masterchef TV show! We made fried rice, and each group had slightly different ingredients although I think everyone’s tasted good in the end.
I was in a group with Yuna and Sarah who were both in my kin group on the Residential Program at Vision Valley and this friendly competition definitely brought back exciting memories of cooking on camp, which I’m sure many of the older girls remembered too! It was exciting to see every group’s creation and cooking a meal under the time limit was so much fun… although cleaning the Trangias afterwards definitely wasn’t the highlight!
The sun was shining on Sunday as we kicked off the 11th Vision Valley Residential Program! This year, 70 Pymble girls have started their first week at Vision Valley, joining students from Churchie for an exciting few weeks away from home.
We know families are already missing their girls and are eager to hear how they’re doing. Rest assured, everything is going really well – the girls are settling in, making new friends and enjoying all the fun activities. We encourage families to keep in touch by writing letters; it’s a wonderful way to stay connected and brighten their days while they’re away. Letters can be dropped off at the Upper School office, and we’ll make sure they get delivered straight to Vision Valley a little bit faster than regular post.
This week we warmly welcomed Maya and Emily back to Pymble after their enriching month-long exchange in Beijing. We extend our sincere gratitude to Mrs Shelley Xie for accompanying the girls for the initial part of their stay, supporting them as they settled into their new homes and school.
It is exciting to see this partnership thriving once again, and we eagerly anticipate meeting their exchange sisters when they arrive at Pymble in Term 3. We hope you enjoy learning a little about Maya and Emily’s experiences in China.
Emily Huang
During our four-week stay on the Language Exchange Program to Beijing’s No. 39 Middle School, we had many experiences that were largely different to my daily life in Australia. The school day, the different transport and being able to visit famous landmarks in Beijing in my spare time all made this journey memorable.
In Beijing, students spend nearly 13 hours a day at school, arriving at 7.30am and leaving at 8.15pm after two hours of evening self study. They have nine periods a day, each being 45 minutes, and a one-hour lunch break, as well as 20 minutes sleeping time. During these arduous hours at school, new friendships blossomed between us and our new classmates. From the very first day, they were welcoming, curious, and willing to initiate conversation.
With the support of our class teacher, we were able to fit in very quickly. Our program coincided with their mid-term exams, and we were able to see how it worked. They have three exams per day for three days, and they get their results either on the last day, or the following Monday. Additionally, after their exams, we were able to join them on their spring trip to 长城黄花岭 (The Great Wall), where the class was split into groups to do point-based activities.
On the weekends, 依依 (my exchange sister) and I visited many places with her family. We visited Universal Studios, Jingshan Hill as well as many other famous locations. We visited her grandparents, and her family were all very warm to me.
Overall, I believe this Exchange Program was a huge success, and hope that future generations of Pymble students will also be interested in visiting China and sharing this wonderful experience.
Maya Clements
During this four-week period, I had the privilege to experience day-to-day school life and the many cultural differences and landmarks of China, while improving my own language skills. The experience proved to be harder than expected for me, in terms of my ability to speak Mandarin, but I am incredibly proud of myself for how much I was able to comprehend and speak by the end of this journey.
Outside of school, my exchange sister 林依晨, her family and I enjoyed visiting horror escape rooms and museums, while experiencing foods from all over China. I was fortunate enough to be taken to a number of landmarks with the first being the 650-year-old Forbidden City, where my exchange mother told me stories about the late emperors that had lived and served there. Following that, we also visited the Temple of Heaven.
My highlight was the friendships I made with my classmates. They were incredibly understanding when I couldn’t comprehend what they were saying, putting effort into ensuring I was included in the conversation too. The farewell ceremony was sad for all of us, but we’ve promised to visit again. I know these friendships will last a lifetime! This experience was well and truly a highlight of my year so far, and I hope that this program to China will grow in interest and become a must-do exchange in the future for other Year 10 students.
On Friday during Study MBS, Year 10 will have an explicit study skills lesson looking at monotasking vs multitasking and active study methods. They will also go through events which will be part of the exciting process of Subject Selection for Year 11 2026. They will be well supported by both the Curriculum and Futures team, as well as the Upper School team, over many weeks to ensure they are making an informed decision.
Below is an outline of the Subject Selection process.
Please take special note of Tuesday 10 June which is the Parent-Student Subject Selection Evening at 6.45pm in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts.
| Term | Date | Event |
| 2 | Week 2 | Reviewing the Strengths and Skills Profile with the Futures Team to help with choices |
| 2 | Week 5, Friday 30 May | Subject Selection Launch Assembly including the Subject Selection Website with the Director of Studies. |
| 2 | Weeks 5 to 9 | In class presentations with teachers for individual subjects |
| 2 | Week 6, Friday 6 June | Subject Selection Assembly in MBS with Heads of Learning Area |
| 2 | Week 7, Tuesday 10 June | PARENT/STUDENT SUBJECT SELECTION EVENING – 6.45pm* Includes Q and A with Heads of Learning Area, Futures Team, Heads of Year and Teachers *The presentation will be a live event for Boarding families and recorded for those unable to attend. |
| 2 | Weeks 8 and9 | Draft Subject Selection submitted on google form for review Individual student interviews with an Academic Advisor |
| 3 | Weeks 1 and 2 | Individual student interviews with an Academic Advisor |
| 3 | Week 3, Friday 8 August | Final Subject Selection due online (parent/carers will be emailed a unique link). |
This week we started the first of three social afternoons of activities with Knox Grammar students who either opted for sport, service or a trivia option. The sessions have been organised to provide students with the opportunity to connect and interact in a coeducational environment. We look forward to seeing the girls build their connections over the next few weeks and are looking to expand opportunities for our Year 9 students as well.
A reminder to all Year 10 parents – if you have not registered for your daughter to have her Meningococcal ACWY vaccination, please do so as soon as possible. The clinic for this important vaccination will take place on campus on Thursday 15 May.
How to provide consent:
1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage and log in using your Service NSW details. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. Refer to Service NSW to create an account if you don’t already have one.
2. Update or confirm your personal details in Service NSW as required.
3. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child. Read a step-by-step guide on how to provide consent online.
Monday 12 to Friday 16 May – Celebrating Boarders Week with various activities on campus
Thursday 15 May – Year 10 Vaccination Clinic
Thursday 10 June – Year 10 Subject Selection Evening
Victoria Harrison
Head of Upper School
The Senior School is in full swing, and it’s been a positive start to the term as students settle into their routines, engage with their learning and reconnect with peers and staff. Classrooms are buzzing with activity, co-curricular programs are well underway and the sense of momentum across the school is clear.
We are very excited for our upcoming Year 12 Charity Trivia Night – a much-anticipated event that brings students and staff together for an evening of fun, laughter and friendly competition. This year, the event is held in support of the Sir David Martin Foundation, a charity that does vital work helping young people in crisis. It’s a meaningful cause, and we’re proud to see our students and staff rallying behind it.
Our Academic Teacher Support program recommences in Week 3, offering students in Year 11 and Year 12 the opportunity to receive one-on-one help from their teachers after school. Different subjects are available on different afternoons, and students are encouraged to book appointments to ask questions, revise content or clarify anything they’re unsure about. This is a valuable resource, and we encourage all students to take advantage of it.
At this stage in the year, it’s important for students to maintain healthy habits that support their learning – balancing schoolwork with rest, staying organised and seeking help when needed. We are here to help, and we encourage students to make the most of the resources available to them.
A huge congratulations to Madison Pearce (Year 11), who was awarded first place in the Junior Tenor Saxophone section at the Australian National Championships 2025, held in Melbourne during the school holidays. This is an outstanding achievement, and we are so proud of Madison’s talent, dedication and hard work.
We also celebrate Grace Walmsley who placed second in Junior French Horn section individually, and along with Macy Sun and Angela Zhang, who each placed second in the National A Grade band section at the championships. Competing at a national level is a remarkable accomplishment, and their success reflects hours of practice, teamwork and commitment to musical excellence.
And an extraordinary shout-out to Amber Li, who represented Australia at the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad, held in Kosovo. The Australian team placed third out of 56 countries, and Amber achieved an incredible fourth place individually out of 219 competitors. This is a phenomenal result on the international stage and a true testament to Amber’s mathematical talent and perseverance.
Well done to Madison, Grace, Macy, Angela and Amber – we’re so thrilled for you all!
9 May – Mother’s Day Breakfast
13 May – Year 12 Student Charity Trivia Night
29 May – Year 12 Photographs
9 June – Public Holiday – Kings Birthday Long Weekend
12 June – Athletics Carnival
Patricia Gallardo
Acting Head of Senior School
Community days are always a fabulous celebration of our Boarding family and last weekend was no exception. Starting with our Year 7 to 9 Boarders’ Social on Friday evening through to our combined chapel service on Sunday morning, I was beyond proud of the way our Boarders engaged, included others and had fun.
Gatherings with other schools are always a favourite and it was lovely to see new friendships being forged and old friends reunited across schools including St Ignatius College, Knox Grammar School, Shore School, Abbotsleigh, Ravenswood School for Girls, Wenona School and Ascham at our first official social for the year. We were grateful to our more senior Boarders who were invaluable in directing and assisting visitors, and to our Ravenswood neighbours for hosting some of our Boarders at their Ravenswood social for Years 10, 11 and 12.
And while our Boarders are always enthusiastic about making new friends, there are no friends like ‘old’ friends, and our Just Dance night on Saturday remains the number one hit of all community gatherings.
Our Year 12s chose the theme of ‘movies’ and easily took out the title of best dressed, looking (but not acting) morose in their Addam’s Family costumes. The night was not without controversy, with the Year 10s narrowly snatching the much-coveted title of ‘Best Year Group of Just Dancers’ from the Year 12s. Despite the competition, it was heartwarming to see all the girls enjoying being with each other and dancing the night away in the company of their best friends.
On Sunday, we celebrated a beautiful chapel service with our friends from the Pymble and Gordon Uniting Church congregation. Spirit House Captains Addi, Joanna, Ella, Rose and Phoebe were an integral part of the service and it was lovely to be a part of the baptism of two beautiful little girls.
As always, our Boarders did us proud behaving with reverence during the service and making everyone feel welcome. The service was followed by a delicious brunch, and once again our Boarders ensured all our guests felt included and were well fed.
Our most-anticipated week of the year is just around the corner and we are all set to celebrate! National Boarding Week commences on Monday 12 May with the theme of ‘Threads of Connection’. The girls will be busy decorating their houses over the weekend and getting ready for the Day Girls verses Boarders competitions, as well as the many other festivities we have planned.
Please click here to see the Boarders’ Week program.
I am absolutely delighted to welcome Mrs Emma Thompson as our Boarding Liaison Officer (BLO). This is a key role for Boarding and essential to the success of our leave program. Emma has extensive and varied experience across a range of roles and is used to working with multiple stakeholders.
Most recently, Emma completed a Graduate Diploma in Counselling and worked in a voluntary capacity as crisis supporter at Lifeline. Emma’s hours of work are between 12.00pm and 5.00pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and 10.00am and 6.00pm on Thursday and Friday.
You can contact Emma on 9855 7469 or by email at boardingleave@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. I know she is looking forward to getting to know all our Boarding family.
Pymble will be at the Dubbo Boarding Expo on 16 and 17 May and if you are in the area we would love you to call in and say hello. We will also be celebrating with families and old and new friends on 16 May at Press in Dubbo. We would love you to join us. Please see the invitation below.
My name is Rachael, and I’m from Hong Kong, about a nine-hour flight away. I live in an apartment on the 53rd floor with my parents and younger brother, Trevor. What I love most about my home is how high up it is – sometimes we’re even above the clouds! We also have lots of animals at home: a rabbit, two turtles, a cat and some fish.
On the sixth floor, there’s a large shared space with a swimming pool, gym, playgrounds, a pool room and a ping pong room. In primary school, I remember going to the playground every Friday with friends I met there, all of whom lived nearby. Fridays were always something to look forward to every week, and those friendships have stayed strong – I still catch up with them every year when I go home!
Our apartment is also close to an MTR and a high-speed rail station, which makes it easy to travel anywhere in Hong Kong and even to Mainland China. There’s a shopping mall right next to the station with restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores like 7-Eleven, so everything is incredibly convenient. Overall, I feel very lucky to call Hong Kong home, and I look forward to going back each year!
Congratulations to Goodlet Boarder Leander, our first Boarder of the Week for Term 2. Leander joined us from Bilpin in the Blue Mountains when she was in Year 7. Now in Year 10, Leander is known for her calm, considered and conscientious approach to all that she does. This is evident in the manner in which she keeps her room, her commitment to her studies and her wholehearted approach to rowing.
Leander is a friend to many, an ear to listen and quietly goes about her day without a fuss. She is kind, caring and always finds time in her busy schedule to take our younger Boarders on shopping outings. Leander’s uniform is always immaculate, she is always timely and works incredibly hard on any given task. To our resident ‘yes’ Boarder and volunteer, a well-deserved Boarder of the Week!
Sunday 11 May to Sunday 18 May – Boarders’ Week
Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 May – Boarding Schools Expo Dubbo
Thursday 29 May – Boarder Parent Group (BPG) online meeting 7.00pm
Sunday 1 June – Event to be confirmed 10.00am and 3.00pm*
Wednesday 4 June – Boarders’ Jersey Day
Friday 6 June – Long Weekend Boarders’ Travel Day**
Monday 9 June – Boarders return from 5.00pm
Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Griffith
Friday 20 to Saturday 21 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Wagga Wagga
Tuesday 24 June – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel Service*
Friday 27 June – End of Term 2 Boarders’ Travel Day**
* All Boarders required to be in attendance, no leave during this time.
** All Boarders to be collected by 4.00pm.
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
Mother’s Day makes me think about God’s maternal side.
Many of us know that mothers are ‘heaven sent’, but did you know the Christian Scriptures use maternal and motherly metaphors to describe what God is like?
God as Mother Bird & Mother Bear
One of the common images is God as a mother bird sheltering her children under her wings. In fact, the first image of God in Genesis 1, is of the Holy Spirit brooding like a mother hen over creation. The Psalms used this imagery several times:
“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” (Ps. 17:8)
“… I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Ps. 57:1)
Jesus picks up these images when he laments over Jerusalem:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34)
God as Human Mother
Of all the prophets, Isaiah seems to be the fondest in painting God as an actual human mother:
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I [God] comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isa. 66:13)
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I [God] will not forget you!” (Isa. 49:15)
In chapel this week, we acknowledged that mother’s and maternal figures in our lives who have invested their love, wisdom and guidance in us. We also acknowledged the grief, sadness and confusion that celebrating Mother’s Day can bring as we remember mothers who are no longer with us and those who dearly wish to be mothers. In all these responses, God welcomes us with the care and warmth, just like mother’s heart.
A special prayer for Mother’s Day:
Loving Lord, Creator of all,
In love you have fashioned the human family
you created us all in your own image,
one image – many colours,
one image – many cultures.
Help us to see the beauty you have created in each and every one of us.
We thank you for the gift of motherhood, the many sacrifices made and the unconditional love given.
As Mother’s Day approaches, we thank you for our mothers and mother-figures.
We thank you for the gift of life, strength, patience and love they nurture us in.
Let their example be a beacon that guides our families through life’s challenges and joys.
May their faith and wisdom be a legacy passed down to the next generation of mothers and this Mother’s Day be a reflection of the joy and beauty they bring.
We also pray for comfort and support for those who find this day difficult- those who have lost their mothers, those yearning to be mothers, and those with strained relationships. Enfold them in the shelter and love of your wings.
Amen.
Reverend Cass Blake
College Chaplain
UNSW: Law and Justice Info Evening (Online) – Wednesday 14 May
Macquarie University: Year 10 Guide to Uni Webinar (Online) – Wednesday 14 May
Register: Year 10 Guide to Uni webinar
University of Sydney: Year 10 Subject Selection Evening (Online) – Thursday 15 May, 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Register: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5QL95pOWT_SSZZA0wUKNiw#/registration
University of Sydney: Explore Oral Health (Webinar) – Wednesday 14 May, 4.00pm
Register: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HFy4xt4uRzqMkjQ4Lq-feQ#/registration
National Youth Science Forum: Exploring Careers in Medicine (Webinar) Tuesday 13 May
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9417413305478/WN_WnW4wDUXQdmQTvsh6qScZA#/registration
Radio Skills Workshop with Radio Northern Beaches – Saturday 10 May
Register: Radio Northern Beaches 88.7 & 90.3 FM
Apprenticeship Opportunities at Sydney Trains – Sunday 25 May
Find out more: May Newsflash 2025.pdf – Google Drive
Career Discovery Series Webinars: Charles Sturt University – including Animal, Equine and Veterinary Studies, Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Law and Criminology
Find out more and Register: Career Discovery Series – Study
2025 Secondary School Athletics Carnival
The 2025 Secondary School Athletics Carnival will be held on Thursday 12 June at the Sydney Olympic Park Competition Arena. The carnival will involve all students from Years 7 to 12 who will be transported to and from the venue by bus.
The carnival will begin at 7.30am for selected championship athletes and 9.00am for all other students. Please click here see the attached note to parents, a registration link for championship events, and a program for your reference.
The Athletics carnival is a compulsory school event that aims to promote house spirit and participation. It is also a selection for our Pymble Athletics squad.
Term 3 Saturday Sports Registrations are OPEN and will close at 12.00pm on Friday 16 May.
Saturday Sport Term 3 options are:
Registrations are required to be completed before 12.00pm on Friday 16 May. To register, please access the online registration form via the Co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. Please note that a parent or carer login is needed to complete the registration process.
If you need any assistance, the Co-curricular Administration team is here to help — you can reach us at ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or on +61 2 9497 7848.
As a reminder, all registrations must be completed online and unfortunately cannot be processed over the phone or by email.
Reminder notices will also be posted on the Pymble App before registrations close.
For any further enquiries, please contact the Co-curricular Administration team ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Sally Davidson
Head of Co-curricular Administration
Congratulations to our outstanding gymnasts on their recent achievements at the Senior State Trial 2, held at the Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre.
Aimee Yap (Year 9) competed in National Level 9 Junior and achieved an impressive second place overall. Aimee also placed third on floor, fourth on beam, joint fifth on vault, and sixth on bars.
Anna Wang (Year 7) competed in National Level 8 Unders, also claiming second place overall. Anna took out first place on beam, second on floor, third on bars, and fifth on vault.
Ava Wang (Year 7) competed in National Level 8 Juniors and finished third overall. Ava also placed third on bars and joint fifth on beam.
Rose Purcell (Year 9) competed for the first time in National Level 8 Seniors and finished fifteenth.
We are incredibly proud of all our gymnasts for their dedication and determination. Well done to Aimee, Anna, Ava, and Rose on these fantastic results! Go Pymble!
Vanessa Clyne
Acting Head Coach of Artistic Gymnastics
The Junior Firsts kicked off their season with an impressive win over Monte. The girls showcased excellent court awareness, consistently spacing the floor and creating plenty of opportunities to drive to the hoop. Every player contributed defensively, applying relentless pressure on the ball and forcing turnovers, which proved vital in building a strong lead during the second half. It was a fantastic team effort, with every member making valuable contributions on Saturday. Pymble 9s communication and support for one another on the court demonstrated a real sense of teamwork. Well done, girls!
Season shoutouts are designed to recognise students who have gone above and beyond and celebrate a player’s effort, improvement, or achievements throughout the season.
The first week of season shoutouts go to Claire Murphy (Year 11), Mei Mei Jiang (Year 11), and Arin Yoon (Year 10) who all stepped up to play in the Senior First team on Saturday. These students stepped onto the court with courage, confidence and quickly adapting to the intensity of the senior first game play.
Congratulations to those girls and to Pymble 9 on a fantastic weekend of Igsa basketball.
Results
| Team | Opponent | Result |
| Pymble 1 | Ravenswood 1 | 20 to 56 |
| Pymble 2 | SCEGGS 2 | 15 to 35 |
| Pymble 3 | Tara 1 | 24 to 20 |
| Pymble 4 | Roseville 4 | 20 to 18 |
| Pymble 5 | Meriden 4 | 42 to 22 |
| Pymble 6 | Loreto Normanhurst 14 | 44 to 16 |
| Pymble 7 | Roseville 6 | 42 to 2 |
| Pymble 8 | Ravenswood 9 | 5 to 16 |
| Pymble 9 | Monte 5 | 44 to 23 |
| Pymble 10 | Wenona 8 | 15 to 35 |
| Pymble 11 | Wenona 9 | 6 to 32 |
| Pymble 12 | St Catherine’s 5 | 22 to 21 |
| Pymble 13 | Monte 7 | 30 to 8 |
| Pymble 14 | Loreto Normanhurst 27 | 6 to 60 |
| Pymble 15 | Ravenswood 15 | 20 to 34 |
| Pymble 16 | Ravenswood 16 | 32 to 16 |
| Pymble 17 | St Catherine’s 9 | 4 to 40 |
| Pymble 18 | Tara 12 | 10 to 27 |
| Pymble 19 | Loreto Normanhurst 31 | 16 to 5 |
| Pymble 20 | Ravenswood 19 | 14 to 23 |
Maddison Scott
Co-ordinator – Basketball
The first round of the igsa Football season took place this past weekend with all 12 of our Pymble teams competing, with one game being washed out. From our 11 games that were played, we had seven wins and 4 losses.
Our Senior First team started their defence of the S01 trophy with a solid 10 to 0 win against PLC Sydney.
Our Junior First team started their defence of the J01 trophy with an impressive 3 to 0 win over Queenwood. The juniors haven’t lost a game in over three years and will look to maintain their dominance over the competition for the season ahead.
| Team | Opponent | Result | Score |
| Pymble 1 | PLC Sydney 1 | 6 to 0 | Win |
| Pymble 2 | Loreto Kirribilli 2 | 4 to 1 | Win |
| Pymble 3 | St. Vincent’s 3 | 3 to 10 | Loss |
| Pymble 4 | WASHOUT | ||
| Pymble 5 | Queenwood 4 | 4 to 2 | Win |
| Pymble 6 | Ravenswood 3 | 3 to 7 | Loss |
| Pymble 7 | Tara 3 | 6 to 3 | Win |
| Pymble 8 | Queenwood 5 | 3 to 0 | Win |
| Pymble 9 | Loreto 6 | 1 to 4 | Loss |
| Pymble 10 | Loreto 8 | 3 to 0 | Win |
| Pymble 11 | Monte 13 | 0 to 7 | Loss |
| Pymble 12 | Queenwood 9 | 2 to 1 | Win |
Pymble 1 – Willa Pearson (Year 9)
Pymble 2 – Annabel Taylor (Year 10)
Pymble 3 – Aniela Knight (Year 10)
Pymble 5 – Emily Walker (Year 11)
Pymble 6 – Laranya Nanthakumaran (Year 10)
Pymble 7 – Isabelle Short (Year 11)
Pymble 8 – Eloise Lawry (Year 8)
Pymble 9 – Edith Cullinane (Year 8)
Pymble 10 – Amelia Blaiklock (Year 8)
Pymble 11 – Amelia Francis (Year 7)
Pymble 12 – Aarna Ashwin (Year 7)
All that pre-season training paid off for the Senior Firsts with a massive win to kick off igsa Round 1. PLC Sydney came out competitive, but our defence held strong with Mary Staciwa (Year 11) and Claudia Stretton (Year 10) being rock solid all game. Anika Watson (Year 12), Willa Pearson (Year 9) and I worked hard in the midfield to keep the ball moving quickly and stay in control, keeping the tempo up with confident, clean passes. But this game was all about the forwards – ten goals says it all. Emily Visser (Year 12), Amelia Bicego (Year 10), and Havana Gray (Year 7) brought heaps of energy and made the most of every chance, constantly putting pressure on their defence and making their presence known. What stood out most was how well we connected as a team. Our passing was sharp, our structure was solid, and everyone played their part. Such a strong start to the season – well done, girls!
Our CIS Football team is now into the quarter finals of the CIS Football Cup after two impressive wins in the earlier rounds where we have scored a combined 24 goals and conceded 0. Our next opponent is the number seven seed, Bishop Druitt College, who will travel down to Coffs Harbour to play at Pymble on Wednesday 21 May.
Our Bill Turner Trophy team is into Round 3 of the tournament, following an impressive 2 to 0 win over Pittwater House in Round 1, and a thumping 15 to 0 win over Narrabeen Sports High in Round 2. Our next opponent is NBC Mackellar.
On Thursday 8 May, we will have 11 students vying for a place in the igsa Football representative team. Good luck to all students involved!
Chris Wood
Co-ordinator – Football
What a sensational start to our Junior School Hockey season!
In Round 1, we saw a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and fantastic teamwork, making for an exciting opening weekend of matches.
It was inspiring to see our students play with such outstanding sportsmanship and determination. Each girl gave her best, and whether defending, attacking, or working hard in the midfield, all players contributed to memorable games and demonstrated the true Pymble spirit.
Congratulations to every team for a wonderful beginning to the season. We can’t wait to see your skills grow and celebrate your achievements throughout the weeks ahead.
Go Pymble!
| Team | Opponent | Result |
| Pymble 1 | BYE | |
| Pymble 2 | Queenwood 3 | Draw 6 to 6 |
| Pymble 3 | Loreto Kirribilli 4 | Draw 4 to 4 |
| Pymble 4 | PLC Sydney 5 | Loss 2 to 4 |
| Pymble 5 | Abbotsleigh 4 | Loss 2 to 3 |
Congratulations to the following students who received player of the match for Week 1:
Pymble 1 – Bye
Pymble 2 – Isabelle Lawry (Year 5)
Pymble 3 – Jasmine Smith (Year 5)
Pymble 4 – Claire Huang (Year 4)
Pymble 5 – Isla Coupland (Year 3)
We’re delighted to announce the launch of our new sport offering in the Have a Go program kicking off Term 2 with Hockey. In our first session, we introduced students to the exciting game of hockey in a safe, supportive and fun environment.
This week was all about getting involved, building confidence, and having a go! Our little athletes tried out basic hockey skills such as holding a stick, dribbling the ball, and moving safely in the play area. The focus was on participation, teamwork, and above all enjoying themselves.
Our coaches were so impressed with all the smiles, determination, and enthusiastic “first tries” from every student.
We can’t wait to see you all back for Week 2.
On Wednesday 30 April, the following students represented Pymble Ladies’ College at the igsa Hockey trials.
U15s
Lucy Chapman (Year 9)
Zahra Craig (Year 8)
Selina Kerin (Year 9)
Skye Mitchell (Year 8)
Grace Scammell (Year 7)
U19s
Bella Croker (Year 12)
Gwendolyn Meek (Year 12)
Eloise Fisher (Year 10)
Tessa Newitt (Year 12)
Isabelle Johnston (Year 12)
The level of talent and determination displayed by all participants was exceptional which displayed a highly competitive selection process throughout the day. Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent igsa at the NSWCIS Hockey Championships next week at Moorebank:
U15s
Grace Scammell (Year 7)
U19s
Bella Croker (Year 12)
Gwedonlyn Meek (Year 12)
Tessa Newitt (Year 12)
A big congratulations to our current student Bella Croker (Year 12) and Pymble Coach and alumni Amalia Patterson who were selected in the NSW U21 Hockey team that is currently competing at the National Championships in Bendigo. This achievement is a testament to their exceptional hard work, dedication, and outstanding skill on the field. We are so proud of your accomplishments and are so privileged to see you both put on the NSW jersey alongside one another.
Shellie Rocca
Co-ordinator – Hockey
It’s been a whirlwind year on the netball courts at Pymble! From the tiniest shooters in kindergarten right through to our seasoned Year 12 stars, our girls have thrown themselves (sometimes literally!) into every opportunity – and what an incredible journey it has been.
What a joy it was to see our NetSetGo players take to the court on Saturday 3 May for their very first game! We send a special mention to those who laced up netball shoes for the very first time. Each Saturday in West Pymble, we’re watching three teams of our littlest athletes play their hearts out in the Ku-ring-gai Netball Association competition. We can already see their skills, confidence and friendships blossoming week by week and we can’t wait to cheer them on in the coming months!
Term 2 kicked off with a buzz as we hosted our first-ever IPSHA Netball clinic with 50 excited girls. One day was all it took for everyone to step up a level which is a real testament to their passion and willingness to learn! Then, on Saturday 3 May, we launched into the IPSHA season with 11 teams playing schools all over Sydney. The courts were filled with grins, giggles, and some seriously skilful play. Cannot wait to see what’s instore for our girls over the coming weeks!
Throughout Term 1 and continuing through Term 2, our secondary students have been giving it their all at the Pymble Netball Academy with early morning sessions. Our Emerging Athlete Program students even tested themselves against King’s College, New Zealand, during the holidays. This was such a great experience for our youngest Year 8’s to put their training into practice with our Year 12s. So great to see our girls step up to the challenge!
Beyond school nets, many Pymble girls are suiting up for association representative and development teams, taking on the best in the state at the Junior and Senior State Titles.
A very big congratulations to the following girls who have been selected into representative and development teams:
A special mention to Harriet Murphy (Year 10) and Eloise Stewart (Year 10) (Training Partner), who have been working hard with the Sydney Academy for the NSW Regional Academy Games, plus Megan Chen (Year 12), who’s quickly becoming a star of the umpiring world! A special mention to Harriet who was named most valuable player for the Sydney Academy Blue Team.
If you want inspiration, look no further than our girls representing Pymble in the DOOLEYS Metro League and NSW Premier League competitions – the top of the netball competition pyramid in NSW. These are tough competitions, where only the most dedicated athletes get a place, and we are so proud of every single Pymble girl out there competing alongside, and against the state’s finest.
Congratulations to Isabel Grant (Year 10), Zoe Lupton (Year 12), Alexandra Reardon (Year 10), Johanna Ricketts (Year 11), Madeleine Woods (Year 12), Addison Hartog-Smith (Year 11), and Maithili Nagarajah (Year 11) for making their mark in Metro League, and to Charlotte Craig (Year 12), Jessica Cullen (Year 12), and Sophie Liang (Year 12) for Premier League selection. In addition, a special applause for Charlotte’s role in the Northern Territory U19s at the Australian Championships – what a phenomenal achievement!
Every Pymble player is part of something bigger – a pathway that starts with basic ball skills and can lead all the way to representing your state or even Australia. Our school’s netball journey fits hand-in-hand with the Netball NSW pathway: nurturing beginners, supporting talented juniors, and encouraging our elites to fly.
We are also so proud to see the success of our alumni. Audrey Little is with the Giants Academy, aspiring to the Suncorp Super Netball league to join Emily Moore (Queensland Firebirds), Rudi Ellis (Melbourne Vixens) and Grace Whyte (NSW Swifts) hitting the court this year in the Suncorp Super Netball – all began their journeys right here at Pymble!
If you’re curious about where Netball at Pymble can take you, or what the wider netball pathway in NSW looks like, have a look at the Netball NSW Athlete Pathway.
Registrations for Term 3 igsa Netball are NOW OPEN! Come join our Netball program by registering through MyPymble before Friday 16 April at 12.00pm. For more details, please click here.
Megan O’Keeffe
Head Coach – Netball
What a season it has been out on the water for our Pymble sailors! From the very first lesson in Term 4 last year to breathtaking finishes this term, our Sailing program continues to capture the spirit of adventure, learning, and teamwork.
Our journey began in Term 4 2024 as our Learn to Sail and Senior Sailing programs took to the boats every Thursday and Saturday morning. From Year 5 through to Year 12, the dedication of our sailors was on full display as they mastered everything from the basics of handling a boat and understanding the breeze, to the finer points of team tactics and advanced racing skills. It’s been wonderful to see confidence grow and friendships flourish with every week on the water.
This year, our sailors were honoured to receive an invitation to the NSW Summer Series Sailing Competition at Woollahra Sailing Club. While the first day put everyone’s patience to the test with no wind and abandoned races, Day 2 came alive with fantastic sailing and determination. Our students seized the opportunity to challenge themselves against some of the best!
The energy and excitement rolled right into the NSW State Championships, held at Georges River from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 May. Despite a soggy start on Friday, the sun eventually broke through and delivered ideal sailing conditions for a weekend of fantastic competition. Watching our sailors improve over the course of the event was an absolute delight, and the pride was palpable as our team finished an incredibly impressive fourth among all girls’ schools!
Congratulations to our talented sailors for representing Pymble with tenacity and grace at both the Summer Series and State Championships:
A huge thank you to every participant who brought enthusiasm and positive energy to the program week after week – you are what makes Pymble Sailing so special. It has truly been a terrific season of growth, fun, and friendship. We can’t wait to see familiar and new faces alike when we set sail again in Term 4!
Megan O’Keeffe
Co-ordinator – Sailing
On Sunday 4 May, 38 Pymble girls took part in the Knox-Pymble Swim Club Short Course Invitational Meet held at Pymble. This competition marked our first official short course meet of the season and provided a great opportunity for our swimmers to test their skills, try new events, achieve state and metro qualifying times, and gain valuable race experience. The team embraced the short course season with energy and focus, especially on key skills such as turns and underwater work. The day was filled with excitement, numerous personal bests, and several newly achieved state qualifying times.
Congratulations to all swimmers who represented Pymble at this meet:
Hannah Carmichael (Year 12), Jennifer Chong (Year 12), Jaya Lilienthal (Year 12), Annalise Chow (Year 12), Zara Sandham (Year 9), Annie Liu (Year 9), Jade Mao (Year 8), Alexis Whitton (Year 8), Georgia Friedel (Year 8), Pennelope Hargraves (Year 8), Chenxuan Yu (Year 8), Lilly Andrews (Year 8), Carla Mikkeline Eibach (Year 8), Sarah Kranes (Year 8), Oriana Fenton (Year 8), Quinn Parry-Okeden (Year 8), Ludovica Iacovelli (Year 8), Rose Harrington (Year 7), Chloe Zhang (Year 7), Priscilla Miller (Year 7), Haeun Lee (Year 6), Isabella Wang (Year 6), Emma Wang (Year 6), Amelie Berg (Year 6), Emma Deere (Year 6), Genevieve Wong (Year 6), Yuxi Lun (Year 6), Rose Wang (Year 5), Hailey Zhang (Year 5), Charlotte Yim (Year 5), Emily Dao (Year 5), Yifei Zheng (Year 5), Vera Le (Year 4), Alicia Gong (Year 4), Mia Hong (Year 3), Olivia Sun (Year 3), Makayla Cui (Year 3), and Aini Lui (Year 3).
A big thank you to our Pymble coaches for preparing and supporting the team throughout the meet, and a heartfelt thank you to all the parents for your ongoing help and encouragement!
Sara Petronzio
Swimming Coach
Congratulations to the following students who were selected last term to represent IPSHA at the NSWCIS Primary Touch Football Championships held on Wednesday 30 April.
Claudia Birrell (Year 6)
Madeline Dreverman (Year 6)
Samantha Robson (Year 6)
The Championship trials was remarkably high, with every participant giving their all on the field.
A shout out to Samantha Robson (Year 6) who was selected into possibles vs probables.
Shellie Rocca
Co-ordinator – Touch Football
At Pymble, Performing Arts continues to play a powerful role in bringing people together. Over the past week, this has been especially evident as students from Kindergarten to Year 12 took to the stage for the Autumn Family Festival. Their performances were entertaining, full of heart and a true showcase of the talent that lives within our community.
The Pymble Performing Arts Challenge (PAC) has also been a wonderful celebration of community. Each lunchtime, the Amphitheatre has come alive with performances that reflect the diversity of our students’ passions. From classical voice to K-pop dancing, stand-up comedy and everything in between, these moments highlight the skill within our Pymble community.
As we acknowledge International Dance Week, we are proud of the opportunities emerging for our dancers, and for the dedication show by the Dance staff. Thank you for a wonderful week of activities.
Finally, best wishes to the following students who are performing in the Knox production of the Queen musical We Will Rock You. We are incredibly proud of your achievements and wish you all the best in your performances.
| Victoria | O’Sullivan | Year 10 |
| Ella | Gungor | Year 9 |
| Grace | Walmsley | Year 11 |
| Iris | O’Brien | Year 10 |
| Mia | Chan | Year 10 |
| Verity | Haslam | Year 11 |
| Doris | Li | Year 12 |
| Katerina | Economou | Year 10 |
| Annabel | Taylor | Year 10 |
Kurt Schweinberger
Director of Co-curricular Performing Arts
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Our annual Dance week encompassed an exciting line up of activities to bring the community together to celebrate International Dance Day and all that Dance is to us.
Our Dancers participated in the following events:
All students are to be congratulated on their energy and enthusiasm.
A huge thank you to our Dance staff and Dance leaders who executed these events
Katrina Cluff
Head of Dance
This year’s Dance intensive weekend was an energising and inspiring experience, built around the theme “Come Alive”, focusing on how dancers bring energy, presence, and emotion to both rehearsals and the stage.
Over the weekend, dancers participated in 28 choreography sessions and five specialised workshops, including choreography sessions, a junior photography workshop, a Storyline and the Story before the Stage and Come Alive workshop, and a Captain Session, designed to serve as a key preparation phrase. It was a fantastic opportunity for junior and secondary dancers to come together, refine their artistry, and build team spirit as we prepare for our first eisteddfod in under a month.
Teagan Ning (Year 11), one of our Dance Captains, shared her reflections on the weekend:
“This year’s intensive was built around the school theme, ‘Come Alive.’ And for us, that meant more than just performing with energy, it was about coming alive together. Through every workshop and every movement of storytelling, we watched dancers bring emotion, presence, and artistry not only to the stage, but to each other. We saw friendships form, teams supporting one another, and dancers stepping outside their comfort zones, not just technically, but also socially. That’s why we shaped our captains session this weekend around building relationships, through team activities, scavenger hunts, and creative challenges.”
The weekend also included dedicated dance parent sessions, such as backstage tours, a Q&A with dance parents, and a session delivered by the Head of Dance and the Dance Co-ordinator for Performance Stream Development, titled Unpacking the Eisteddfod Dance, where parents gained valuable insight into how routines are developed and brought to life. We closed the weekend with an informal performance, offering a sneak peek at the routines that will soon take the stage. The respect, teamwork, and growth shown by all dancers truly captured the spirit of “Come Alive” and set the tone for an exciting season ahead.
A heartfelt thank you to the parents, teachers, and staff for your time, support, and commitment. You all played a vital role in making the weekend such a success. Click the links below for some videos from the week.
Keya Pettigrew
Dance Co-ordinator (Performance Stream Development – Eisteddfod)
Best Wishes for the National Schools’ Debating Championship (NDSC)
We are so Pymble proud of these Debaters. All the best for the forthcoming National Schools’ Debating Championship from Sunday 11 to Sunday 18 May in Sydney. The National Schools Debating Championship is Australia’s premier school debating competition and brings together the most talented young debaters from across the country, fostering excellence in critical thinking, persuasive communication and civic engagement. Details can be found on the NSDC events page.
NSDC Opportunities
Invitation to all – Please use the code STUDENTENTRY for free entry to the opening ceremony and showcase debate, and national final debate and closing ceremony, available through the NSDC website by clicking here. As we are hosting, we were fortunate to be granted free entry to these high-level student debates. Should students and parents wish to attend, please note that it will be as a private arrangement, not a school excursion. Keen debaters, however, should be very interested in this opportunity.
Pymble is hosting our NSW and interstate NSDC debaters on Thursday 15 May. Please email Mrs Hubbard if you are a 2025 Years 7 to 12 ISDA, Archdale, or FED finals Debater and keen to assist chair, time, or watch a 2.30pm debate.
ISDA and FED
FED
Congratulations to 8B, 8A, Senior B, and Senior A FED teams and coaches, who are through to the quarter finals this Friday 9 May. Co-curricular Administration have notified girls and parents of all venues and timings. 8B will be at MLC, 8A and Senior B will be at Barker, and Senior A will be at Trinity. To other teams who did not break, thanks for the preliminary rounds and see you again!
ISDA
Congratulations to our ISDA Senior B team who won their online make up round five debate last week.
Congratulations ISDA. Six out of our eight ISDA teams broke to Octo finals – Primary B, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 and Senior A. This is a significant achievement.
All Pymble ISDA breaking teams have all been allocated to the second round Octofinals, which Pymble will host in KM, on Friday 16 May (due to a clash with NSDC, Senior A may be rescheduled). Guests are welcome to watch debates.
To non-breaking teams – commiserations. Seasons can be fickle! We hope to see you back at Debating for IDC and auditions later in the year.
More Debating Opportunities
ISDA Senior B team – could you please assist in the running of Social Debating? This leadership opportunity will commence in mid-May, on a Friday, and we would love to have you assist. There are many keen debaters willing to learn these valuable skills. Please email your availability. We need your help and expertise!
Senior B and Primary A teams – Could I please have at least two volunteers per team to assist with hosting, catering, room set up, pack up, and chairing your level Octo on the evening as this is our responsibility.
ISDA Octo Final – Friday 16 May at Pymble
| Timing | Debate | School 1 | School 2 | Adjudicator |
| 5.30pm | Primary A | Redlands | Scots | Aman Mohamed |
| 5.30pm | Primary B | Pymble | Redlands | Arwyn Stone |
| 6.15pm | Year 9 | Pymble | Abbotsleigh | Aman Mohamed |
| 6.15pm | Year 8 | Pymble | Abbotsleigh | Riley Landfear |
| 6.15pm | Year 7 | Knox Grammar | Pymble | Arwyn Stone |
| 7.30pm | Senior A | Pymble | Riverview | Aman Mohamed |
| 7.30pm | Senior B | Abbotsleigh | Barker | Riley Landfear |
| 7.30pm | Year 10 | Pymble | Saint Aloysius’ | Arwyn Stone |
Transport To and From Debating Finals
As finals can mean multiple venues, please note that buses will NOT run through finals and parents must be responsible for their daughter’s travel both to and from events. Carpooling is recommended.
Parents are welcome to attend and please note that parents must arrange transport home following their daughter’s debate.
Chinese Debating – NSW Chinese Debating Association
A holiday highlight! Thank you to Mrs Leyya Li, our team parent and Tim Lan, coach. Chinese Debating ran through the recent holidays at Sydney University School of Business. Well done team! Results are in.
There will be an award ceremony at Sydney University this Saturday.
Student Debating Successes – Congratulations Sophie and Athena!
Recently, Sophie Guo (Year 10) participated in the ANZ round of the Harvard World Schools Debating competition, together with two girls from Queenwood. The team qualified to go to Harvard in Boston next year for the international round as they were one of the top four teams in the competition! Sophie was awarded the fourth best in the Reply Speaker section and fifth Best Speaker overall. Around 150 participated and 51 teams were in attendance. Congratulations Sophie!
From Friday 18 to Sunday 20 April, Athena Wu (Year 8) took part in the 11th Shanghai International Debate Open (SIDO) 2025, held at the Shanghai University of Economics and Finance. It was a British Parliamentary style tournament featuring 160 teams from around the world, including university and high school teams from the UK, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and Ghana. Athena received the following awards:
• U14 Grand Finalist
• 4th Best Speaker (U14 Division)
She also competed in the Harvard ANZ WSDC debate on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April, hosted at Riverview, and received following rewards:
• 1st Best Reply Speaker
• 9th Best Overall Speaker
Congratulations girls on your success. External tournaments can be incredibly enriching, challenging students to think critically about global issues in a diverse and competitive environment and providing opportunities to make new friends.
Archdale
A preseason meeting was held this week on Tuesday 6 May in the Conde Library Studio.
Round 1 Shield and Invitational Debating begins Tuesday 13 May. Archdale Shield debating Round 1 will be at Meriden. Please book bus tickets through Co-curricular Administration. The bus is not a return bus, and parents are asked to collect their daughters from Meriden following their debates. Co-curricular Administration will send all draw details and timings.
Sydney Social Debating (SSD)
There has been keen interest in Social Debating this term and we look forward to the commencement of this competition.
Friday 16 May – Welcome to SSD coaches
Friday 23 May – Welcome to SSD Teams and Introduction to Debating
Friday 30 May – SSD Round 1
Friday 6 June – SSD Round 2
Friday 13 June – SSD Round 3
Friday 20 June – SSD Round 4
Friday 27 June – SSD Round 5
Soapbox Stars
Thank you to Katherine Pan (Year 11), Grace McSweeney (Year 10), and Sahana Shasidharan (Year 7) for representing Language Arts so ably at the recent Autumn Festival. Your soapbox speeches were terrific!
DELO – Public Speaking Invitation
“A woman with a strong voice is by definition a strong woman” – Melinda French Gates.
Bravo to Jenny Xu (Year 11), our Public Speaking Captain, who is the first Pymble student to enter this inaugural competition and who has been selected as a finalist. The Dame Enid Lyons Oratory competition is the most prestigious Public Speaking competition for girls in NSW.
The DELO final will be held in the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre, on the evening of Wednesday 21 May from 6.00pm. Please be seated by 5.45pm. Admission is free, and seating is unreserved, although we would like Pymble supporters to form a block and tickets must be booked.
To book accessible seating contact Box Office on 0292507777 Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Guests welcome. We ask that all student supporters wear full Pymble uniform.
The presenter will be Dr Julia Baird. The Governor General will also be in attendance.
Mrs Hubbard is booking a Pymble bus to and from this evening event. If you would like to attend with the school, please email your interest and number of tickets ASAP to Mrs Hubbard BHubbard@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. All welcome! We would love your support. Click here for more information.
Audition Feedback
While general feedback was given at a group meeting for Public Speaking auditions, we understand that many would like more specific feedback. Apologies for the wait. We are looking into using AI to assist with the distribution of specific feedback.
Rostrum Regional
Congratulations to Katherine Pan (Year 11) who is through to Rostrum regionals at Ravenswood on the evening of Thursday 15 May. We wish you all the best in both your prepared and impromptu sections Katherine.
EVATT – UN Youth
Requiring no prior debating experience, Evatt immerses young people in Years 9 to 12 to uncover the driving forces of influence that threaten to destabilise world order all while mastering the art of public speaking through negotiation. Going beyond ordinary debating, Evatt challenges delegates to think critically, problem solve carefully, and search for answers in the rapidly changing world of current affairs surrounding them.
Evatt commences in May. This is a highly valued diplomacy competition where girls work in pairs to represent a country. Pymble plans to travel to PLC Croydon on Tuesday 13 May, and we ask that you attend through school rather than register online. When girls register themselves online, we cannot offer additional training should they progress, and we have a duty of care issue. Any Secondary students who still wish to register themselves, should ensure this occurs on a weekend rather than a weekday, and parents, please note a teacher from Pymble will not accompany the girls to UTS. Mrs Hubbard will attend the PLC Sydney round.
Pymble Model UN Club (PMUN)
PMUN runs each Monday lunch in DK06. Come along and join us this term. Everyone is welcome! Learn how to prepare for a MUN conference. We will hold our own Winter conference on Saturday 26 July this year. We have also received expressions of interest for a MUN conference to be held at Castle Hill High. Please see our MUN captain, Kiki Chen (Year 11), if interested.
HMUN
Harvard MUN will be held at Cranbrook from Thursday 29 May to Sunday 1 June this year. Co-curricular Administration will provide further information to the twelve girls and parents who registered. All liability waivers need to be sent to Co-curricular Administration ASAP. Delegations will not be issued until all waivers are in.
THIMUN – The Hague 2026 Proposed International Tour
In January this year, Pymble Language Arts girls attended THIMUN, The Hague, which was a wonderful opportunity. Having secured a highly coveted place at this Model United Nations conference, we are keen to attend again this year as membership is ongoing, and we do not want to lose our place.
The proposed January 2026 Language Arts tour will be open to students currently in Year 8, 9, 10 and 11. We are currently gaining prices on two options:
Thank you to those who submitted expressions of interest which closed on Monday.
Bond Mooting
The date for our online heat will be held on Tuesday 20 May at 2.30pm.
Young Lawyers’ Justice Day at Wollongong University Friday 2 May
Thank you to the fifteen girls who attended this event. It was a worthwhile day, and girls learnt much about the legal profession.
Mock Mediation
We have decided to open Mediation skills to more than one team. All those in Years 8 to 10 interested in Mediation will be invited to a lunchtime introductory talk. Stay tuned. This is a terrific life skill and will be a fun internal competition.his is a terrific life skill and will be a fun internal competition.
Bronwyn Hubbard
Head of Language Arts
Please remember to complete the notification through the parent portal/app if you know your daughter is not going to be at school for a rehearsal. Our conductors have a duty of care and will note any absences down.
Thursday 15 May – Year 8 Elective Music production of High School Musical Jnr – 6:30pm in the GMCPA
Thursday 22 May – College Quartet to play at the Alumni event at Qantas House
Sunday 25 May – Eisteddfod at Knox Grammar School for Ivory Quartet, Brass ensemble and Andarta Trio
Sunday 25 May – Pymble Chorale and Capella Chamber Choir video Eisteddfod performance
June 2, 3, 4 – Ensemble photos for Secondary Students – timetable TBC.
Week commencing June 10 – Eisteddfod week for Hindson Chamber Strings and Senior Chamber Strings
Sarah Turner
Head of Music
During the first week of the Term 1 holiday, the PLCCU conducted their AFX (Annual Field Exercise) at Marrangaroo Training Area, NSW. This six-day camp was a wonderful opportunity to put the theoretical lessons the cadets have learnt over the term to the test, with activities including navigation using a map and compass, dealing with various medical scenarios, radio communications and much more. Each day was packed full of games and activities and all meals were freshly prepared, with toast and cereal for breakfast, sandwiches and wraps for lunch, and dinners like burgers, nachos and pizza, catered for by our amazing staff.
AFX was a great opportunity for cadets and their rank to get to know each other better. It was lovely to see some of the younger cadets and recruits volunteering and getting involved in the activities, with their seniors guiding them. Many cadets had never been on an AFX before, so it was great to see the CPLs and SGTs stepping up and getting them as involved as possible. This strengthened the bonds within the unit and opened new friendships for many others.
The theme for the camp this year was Jumanji and the SLT (Senior Leadership Team) took every opportunity to incorporate it, with exercises like a Jumanji-themed obstacle course, shelter building to hide from big cats, and of course, a Jumanji movie night. The staff and SLT had been planning for the camp since the first week of term and their hard work paid off. This camp would not have been possible without them. The cadets had a wonderful time and are already looking forward to the next one.
Arana Roy (Year 12)
Head Cadet
Click the poster below to register.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of trivia, prizes, dancing and fun!
The Pymble Parent Association warmly invites you to our annual Trivia Night on Saturday 31 May. Create your own table of ten or we’ll seat you with others from your year group to meet new people! Fantastic prizes will be won and auctioned throughout the night and raffle tickets are available for advance purchase. This year’s prizes include a designer handbag, a champagne basket and pamper package.
Time: 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start, concluding at 11.30pm
Venue: Miramare Gardens, entry via 48 Myoora Road, Terrey Hills NSW 2084
Cost: $120 per person/$1,200 for a table of 10
Theme: Hop in your time travel machine and come dressed from any era, past or future, for a chance to win best costume! Don’t worry if costumes aren’t your thing – your presence is what matters most. We encourage dressing up to add to the festive atmosphere, but it’s entirely optional.
Ticket includes a welcome drink, two course meal (entreé and main) followed by a dessert platter and coffee/ tea. Additional drinks can be purchased at the bar.
The Trivia Night is also the PPA’s major fundraising event of the year. To make it a successful evening, we rely on the kind support of our community for donations to the live and silent auctions, and the raffle.
Any monetary donations would also be much appreciated. The organising committee will use this money to purchase items for gift baskets. These gift baskets will be part of the silent auction on the night. Please donate by clicking here.
Register by: Friday 16 May. Registrations are essential. This is a parent-only event.
To purchase tickets, please click here. Please find attached an invitation with full details of the event.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Kai Jones: 0431 725 948 or kai_look@yahoo.com
Kenneth Kok: 0413 361 969 or kenneth@kok.family
Shiva Rich: 0414 322 874 or shivarich@icloud.com
Year 6 parents are invited to the Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance on Saturday 24 May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm at the Killara Golf Club. This event is one of the most anticipated annual traditions in the Junior School, and is the final dance girls will have with their parents before moving on to the Secondary School.
The theme for this year’s dance is Florals and Sparkles, which will accentuate the beautiful aesthetics of the golf club surrounds. Please note, girls will need to be suitably dressed at this event as golf club etiquette dictates, and should refrain from wearing denim or ripped pants.
Please click here to order your tickets.
Date: Saturday 24 May
Time: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Venue: Killara Golf Club
Dress: Florals and Sparkles
Tickets: $65.00
Tickets include substantial canapés, soft drinks, dessert bar, DJ and entertainment. Additional beverages can be purchased at the bar.
We’re looking forward to celebrating with you and your daughter on this special night!
