And that’s a wrap for Semester 1. Well done to all, and a special thank you to our musicians who brought the house down with their farewell to Year 12 at this week’s Secondary School Ensemble Concert.
It’s been a huge two terms and now it’s time for a well-earned break. Our thoughts are with all the girls representing Pymble in the holidays, including the students and staff heading to Tanzania for the service tour, our Boarders travelling home, and families who are heading overseas. Have a wonderful time and, please, come back to us safely.
Going into the holidays, I’m conscious this is a time when screen time can blow out. Our staff recently attended a presentation on skills, strategies and context in relation to our young people and the online world. The presenter, Yasmin London, is a global online safety advocate and advisor, and CEO of The Digital Fluency Group, an online safety consultancy focused on ensuring technology empowers rather than limits our young people’s lives.
Here is what she wants every parent to know and talk about with their daughters.
“A girl’s greatest influence will always be her parents”
The internet and online environment are places not platforms in the minds of our young people. Regardless of impending age restrictions, it’s important to meet our children where they are at by understanding how they view the online world and talking with them about how to navigate it wisely.
Key risks to talk about
Online shopping addiction – girls are exposed to promotions and advertisements for skincare every time they open their devices, to the point where 93 per cent of 10- to 17-year-olds are making a purchase every week. On average, they are spending $1,300 to $1,500 each year on products they are seeing on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, which can disrupt their developing sense of self and self-esteem and lead to being scammed by too-good-to-be-true ‘deals’ on desired products.
Cyber-ostracism – around 60 per cent of teens experience some form of online exclusion each year, which can be damaging as one of the biggest issues at that age is wanting to be part of and belong to a group.
Filter dysmorphia – apps that make users look unrealistically beautiful are leading to young girls and women seeking cosmetic surgery to match their heavily filtered image.
Toxic beauty advice – toxic beauty ‘hacks’ and dangerous ‘advice’ such as eye-to-eyebrow threading procedures to achieve the cat’s-eye look or filing uneven teeth into straightness are becoming normalised thanks to unqualified online influencers.
Exposure to misinformation –in terms of personal safety,this puts teens at risk of online scams and exploitation of their personal information, grooming by predators, and online radicalisation. In terms of wellbeing, exposure to fake or harmful misinformation can negatively impact a teen’s self-esteem, create fear and anxiety, and lead to physical consequences or harm.
Skills and strategies to combat online risks
Yasmin’s top tips for young people who have access to chat groups, social media and online advertisements through gaming or YouTube include:
Slow down – pause before you react to anything.
Use fact-checking tools habitually – try PoliFact, Snopes and ABC Fact Check.
Use the 3 Ps to understand the difference between banter and bullying – is it persistent? Is it personal? Is the message couched in a pardoning of the behaviour, such as “no offense, but…”? If a post or comment ticks all these boxes, it’s most likely bullying, which can be reported.
Anticipate what could be seen as cyberbullying before you act – in relation to comments, posts, polls, and who is included and excluded in chat groups.
Understand that influencers have personal agendas – 60% of teens go to their favourite influencer for advice, rather than a credible news source. Encourage your daughter to fact check and ask herself the question, ‘What’s in that advice for the influencer, and what’s in it for me?’.
Disrupt algorithms that are not serving her well – sharing, liking or commenting on a post will deliver more similar content into her feed. Encourage her to block, restrict or hide non-credible, risky or harmful content to disrupt the algorithm feeding it to her.
Be a first mover – someone has to go first to influence digital group norms of respect, inclusion, healthy dynamics and priorities. Give your daughter the challenge of becoming a new type of influencer – one who prioritises values, belonging and inclusive online behaviour.
Lots of great, practical ideas and healthy conversation-starters here to help build on the important work we are doing together as ‘first movers’ towards healthier online habits through our Wise Phone Initiative.
Have a wonderful break and we look forward to seeing all students back on campus on Tuesday July 22 for the first day of Term 3.
From the Junior School
A Message from Mrs Kate Brown, Head of Junior School
Happy holidays! I wish you all a wonderful term break. Safe travels to all those who are travelling interstate or overseas and happy stay-cations to all those who are enjoying a change of pace and routine at home. Thank you for your support throughout the term to the myriad of events we have had this term.
The girls have worked hard and played hard, and they all deserve a break and time to be energised ready for the exciting adventures that await them in Term 3.
Good luck to our Snowsports team
Good luck to our Snowsports team who head down to the snow these holidays as their busy season begins. I look forward to hearing all your news and celebrating your hard work and passion for Snowsports throughout the season.
Formula Goblin team
Our Formula Goblin team has been working hard overseas these last two weeks and enjoyed international success. They won the ‘best presented team’ award in their first competition and placed 2nd overall. This is an impressive achievement for a team who began their journey in February this year and who are competing at this level against teams who have worked together since September 2024 and in schools who have competed in this competition for many years.
I am heading over to the UK tonight and look forward to cheering for our Formula Goblin team, Future Force Racers, in their final race day at the historic racetrack, Goodwood, where many Formula 1 legends have raced. I am also visiting other schools whilst over in the UK to continue fostering global learning partnerships for our girls.
Heidi the Hedgehog is going global!
Inspired by the story Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, Heidi the Hedgehog has flattened herself so she can travel easily and see the world to spread her message of kindness far and wide. Our Future Force Racers are photographing Heidi’s adventures in the UK, and it would be wonderful if other students could do this too and then share a photo during the break of their Heidi’s adventure too. A QR Code will be on the back of the photo they cut out for uploading photos. All submissions will form a special edition of Digital News next term.
A message from our Kindness Captains: Sooin Lee, Nouvelle Nicholson, Christina Yang, Isabella Yue
We have now achieved 3358 acts of service, and we’re still going! We want to thank all our families for supporting us in our mission to change the world through kindness.
A message from Miss Tiffany Farlow – Creative and Performing Arts Co-ordinator K-6
We are excited to announce a drawing competition for Year 1 and 2 students, based on the musical “Pirates for the Curry Bean”! Students are encouraged to create an original piece of artwork at home during the winter holiday break, using any medium and on A4 or A3 sized paper. The artwork must be the student’s own work, completed without any help from parents or siblings. On the back of the artwork, please ensure the student’s full name, age, and class are written. Additionally, on the back of the artwork in pencil, include a title and a short description explaining how the artwork relates to “Pirates for the Curry Bean”. All entries must be submitted to Ms Farlow by Friday 25 July. The top three artworks will receive prizes, and finalists will have their artwork proudly displayed in the Junior School. We can’t wait to see the creative and original pieces our students will produce!
A message from our Sustainability Club
This term in Sustainability Club we continued composting. Students noticed that the worm farms were getting full of the fruit and vegetable scraps that we were feeding them. As a result, we asked Farmer Dave if we could take some extra fruit and vegetable scraps up to the Farm for the chickens, goats, and sheep to eat. They loved it! It was so much fun taking our fruit scraps up to the Farm on Fridays. We are excited to continue this in Term 3.
“I really enjoyed going to the farm, meeting Farmer Dave, and feeding the animals. I liked giving the food scraps to the farm animals because it helps us not waste food and makes the animals happy to get extra food.” – Anna He (4K Sustainability Captain)
“I really enjoyed taking the compost to the farm to feed it to Fetta the goat. I also really enjoyed when the gardeners taught us how to use the worm farm.” – Isla Morrison (4E Sustainability Captain)
We also continued Waste Free Friday this term. It was fantastic to see Compass Classes working together to reduce our lunchbox waste on Fridays. We are excited to continue Waste Free Friday in Term 3 when the Junior School focuses on ‘Kindness to the Environment’.
“I feel like it was a really good idea to help the environment by bringing less rubbish. I really like to work with my class to reduce our waste. I like to challenge myself to see if I can do it every day.” – Siena Cassidy (4T Sustainability Captain).
Challenge for students: Help your parents pack your lunch on Fridays, see if you can bring in ZERO pieces of non-recyclable waste!
A message from the Deputy Head of Operations – Mr Stephen Robinson
Grey House Walk Closure
As noted in a recent Portal Notice, essential works to our new classrooms in the Grey House Precinct building will mean that Grey House Walk will be closed throughout Semester 2. No students will be able to access the College via this gate. The College has requested expressions of interest for: Loop shuttle services from local destinations Supervise d walking group, departing Grey House Walk entrance at 7.45am. This will operate in a similar fashion as the Grandview walking group that departs at 7.55am. Please register your interest for either of these options using this link by tomorrow, 27 June.
Junior School Canteen Helpers
Thank you to the parents who gave up their time to volunteer this term. Term 3 dates are now available on the Google Form. 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 Number (WWC). If we do not already have your WWC on file, please email to juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au your WWC number and date of birth so your WWC can be verified.
Message from Junior School Administration Office
Thank you for communicating with the office to advise when your daughter is late or needs to leave early. Please continue to use MyPymble to mark your daughter’s absence; for two days or more absence please complete the Exemption from Attendance at School form or email through a medical certificate for illness. After school arrangements for girls in Years K-2, please email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you have changes to your daughter’s afterschool arrangements in Term 3 once your new registration has been confirmed. If your daughter is in Years 3-6, please update your daughter’s student diary with her new after school arrangements for Term 3.
Lost Property
Please ensure your daughter’s full name is clearly labelled on all items of clothing including socks, hats, and lunch items so it can be quickly returned to her if it is found. White markers are recommended for all dark clothing items including socks and stockings. If you have already labelled your daughters’ items, please use the holiday period to check your daughters’ name can still be clearly identified on the clothing.
I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the girls for their many achievements across Terms 1 and 2 and acknowledge their willingness to step up to challenges across both academic and cocurricular domains. I have had the pleasure of reading the Middle School Reports, which showcase impressive individual outcomes that speak to determination and a curiosity for learning. The team has noted growing independence across cohorts and an active capacity for the girls to foreground student voices. Year 7 students have done a wonderful job settling into high school and should feel particularly proud of their transition.
Congratulations to the Middle School Age Champions from last Thursday’s Athletics Carnival: 12 Years Safina Burgess (Year 7), 13 Years Nadia McMahon (Year 8), and 14 Years Quinn Parry Okeden (Year 8). Your ongoing commitment to training and perseverance is a credit to you all.
On Tuesday, we held our termly Middle School Assembly, which was organised and run by our fantastic Year 7 and 8 Leaders. The creative presentation they put together celebrated highlights of the last 8 weeks and showcased a number of up-and-coming opportunities: Year 8 Goodooga First Nations Games, Year 7 Speaking in Colour Weaving Workshops to name a few. Please encourage your daughters to put themselves forward to be involved.
International Refugee Week Breakfast
Thank you to the girls who represented Middle School at the International Refugee Week Breakfast last Friday. Despite the chilly morning, it was great to hear from the founder of My Village and inspirational to ponder her message that an individual can most definitely make a difference.
Nourish and Flourish
Thank you to everyone who supported the Nourish and Flourish Pop-up Soup Initiative last Friday. It was a warm welcome at lunchtime.
Congratulations Naomi!
Naomi Chan is to be congratulated on winning the National Drawing Competition launched by Campion Books. Naomi’s magnificent drawing will be featured on the Campion bags for the next 12 months Australia-wide. What an endorsement of her talent!!
CIS Cross Country Championship
Last Thursday, on the day of the Athletics Carnival, we went to the CIS Cross Country Championships in Sydney International Equestrian Centre. It was a wonderful experience to head to this prestigious area, with stunning scenery, even kangaroos, and of course, the horse arenas. The 3K race was mostly around the beautiful scenery, which was inspirational. As a team, we were slightly surprised by the speed everybody started with, but we maintained our pace and overall did really well. The top 4 from Pymble, 12 years, qualified for CIS, and Anna, Havana, and Harper came in top 15, sending them through as well for a second reason. Although Havana qualified, she was unable to make it. Our team placed 1st in IGSA as well as Pymble coming 1st as a school which is why top 4 from Pymble was sent through to CIS. Anna came 10th at CIS, which qualified her for the All Schools NSW Cross Country Championships, and our team placed 3rd overall for the 12-year girls’ category. We all came in top 50 performances on the day, which was incredible. Overall, the day and race was amazing, and we all really enjoyed this experience and opportunity.
Written by Safina Burgess, Chloe Morrison, Anna Smart, Harper Lee (Year 7)
Chinese Language Excursion
On Thursday 19 June, the two Year 8 Chinese classes got the amazing opportunity to go on an excursion to Darling Harbour. While there, we went to the Chinese Gardens of Friendship, which helped me to appreciate the importance of nature, balance, and symbolism in traditional Chinese design. Afterwards, we got to explore Chinatown, gaining insight on how Chinese culture and traditions are preserved here in Australia. Finally, we finished the day with some delicious yum cha, which taught me about the customs of sharing food, the variety of Asian cuisine, and the social aspect of dining. I had an amazing time discovering more about China and its traditions with all my friends.
Written by Grace Jacobs
Pymble Wise Phone research project, led by the Pymble Institute
Your continued input is essential in helping us understand how the Wise Phone initiative is working and how we can continue to support our students. If you did not complete the survey in February, you can still complete it this time. The survey is open to all Year 4 to 8 parents and carers, regardless of the type of phone your daughters have or don’t have. Some important points to note about the survey: The survey will take 5 to 10 minutes. Surveys are completely anonymous; no names or email addresses are collected. If you have more than one daughter in Years 4 to 8, we encourage you to complete a separate survey for each daughter.
A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
As we approach the holiday break, we encourage the girls to take this time to rest, recharge and enjoy a well-deserved pause. Keeping a regular sleep routine and ensuring healthy habits will help with a smoother return to the school routine in Term 3. We also hope all families find time to relax and connect after what has been a busy and productive term.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the many events and activities planned for Year 9 and Year 10 in the second half of the year. We look forward to welcoming the girls back, refreshed and ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that Semester 2 will offer.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our dedicated Upper School team. The commitment of Mrs Stephanie Attley, Mr Peter Fathers, Mrs Kelly Crowley, Ms Cara Foley, Ms Mariel Lombard, Mrs Sally Seymour, Mrs Sabine Watts and Mrs Anthea Deschamps to caring for the girls and working tirelessly to provide a supportive and enriching experience throughout the term is greatly appreciated.
Wishing everyone a safe, restful and enjoyable holiday. We look forward to seeing you all back at Pymble in the new term!
Jacaranda Awards
Congratulations to the following girls who have been awarded a Jacaranda Award this term:
Year 9
Japmehar Bhatia BA
Emily Bask BB
Sophia Kidd GA
Devishi Malla GB
Alina Shi HA
Katherine Xu HB
Amelia Nicolaou IA
Irisa Han IB
Cecilia Bryant LA
Annie Chen LB
Paanya Khatri MA
Alice Gall MB
Imogen Jones TA
Annika De Goede TB
Kaitlyn Au WA
Anisha Chabra WB
Year 10
Riley Atkinson BA
Angela Chen BB
Annie Pennington GA
Isabelle Burke GB
Ainhoa Culazzo HA
Annabel Taylor HB
Alexandra Hargraves IA
Tiffany Lan IB
Madeline Kirsch LA
Yvette Moodie LB
Claire Ferreira MA
Thiloksha Perera MB
Kristen Pang TA Rachael Mutema TB
Lucy Sun WA
Phoebe Janowksi WB
Student Achievements
We’re proud to recognise the outstanding achievements of five Year 9 students who have recently excelled in sport and community service.
Kimmy Wong competed at the Australian National Rope Skipping Championships in Brisbane, placing second in Single Rope Pair Freestyle and ninth overall in her individual age category. Kimmy will now represent Australia at the World Championships in Japan this July.
Rianne Leung represented Australia at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships in Bali, competing against the top fencers from across Asia. Likely the youngest competitor, Rianne placed 29th out of 59.
Aaliyah Chang competed in tennis in Hong Kong and, at the end of Term 2, she will be competing at the Queensland Open State Championships tennis tournament in Brisbane.
Ava Christofides volunteered with over 500 young people across Sydney to prepare and deliver nearly 5,000 meals, snack packs, and care kits to vulnerable individuals during Term 1 and the April holidays. Her efforts are a powerful example of youth making a meaningful impact on the community.
Ayeesha Dowerah competed in two tennis ITF competitions in Nouméa recently. She was a semi-finalist in one for both singles and doubles, and she won the doubles with Riko, her Japanese partner.
Pymble Wise Phone research project, led by the Pymble Institute
Your continued input is essential in helping us understand how the Wise Phone initiative works and how we can continue to support our students. If you did not complete the survey in February, you can still complete it this time. The survey is open to all Year 4 to 8 parents and carers, regardless of the type of phone your daughters have or don’t have.
Some important points to note about the survey:
The survey will take 5 to 10 minutes.
Surveys are completely anonymous; no names or email addresses are collected.
If you have more than one daughter in Years 4 to 8, we encourage you to complete a separate survey for each daughter.
The Wise Phones Parent Survey closes on Friday 27 June.
Key Dates
Term 2
Boarder’s Travel Day – Friday 27 June
LAST DAY of TERM 2 – Friday 27 June
FIRST DAY of TERM 3 – Tuesday 22 July
Year 10 Agriculture Excursion – Wednesday 23 to Friday 25 July
Year 9 Residential Program Term 3 starts – Sunday 27 July
Year 10 Commerce Tour to Melbourne – Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 August
Year 10 Subject Selection choices for Year 11 DUE – Friday 8 August
From our Year 9 Parent Co-ordinators
We look forward to welcoming our Year 9 parents to our end of term gathering tomorrow, Friday 27 June. Thanks for all your votes and messages.
Victoria Harrison
Head of Upper School
From the Senior School
From Acting Head of Senior School Patricia Gallardo
We have reached the end of term, and it is now time for a much-needed break. It has been a busy and rewarding term, filled with opportunities and achievements across all areas of school life. From leadership and service initiatives to success in the performing arts, sport, co-curricular, and academic pursuits, our students have risen to the challenge. They have demonstrated perseverance, curiosity, and a strong sense of engagement in all they do.
As we look ahead to Term 3, with the Trial HSC and end-of-Year 11 examinations approaching, it is especially important that students use this holiday period to rest and recharge. A balanced break now will help ensure they return refreshed and ready to meet the demands of the new term.
One of our focus areas this year has been the importance of sleep, nutrition, and exercise in supporting student wellbeing and learning. As students reflect on their routines and goals, it is worth remembering the words of educator Stephen Covey: “Habit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do).” Building healthy habits takes time and intention, and the break is an ideal opportunity to reset, reflect, and strengthen the foundations for the term ahead.
We wish all our students and families a safe, restful, and well-deserved holiday.
Pymble vs Knox Netball
In keeping with long-standing Year 12 tradition, Pymble was proud to host the annual interschool match against Knox Grammar School. The event showcased the enduring spirit of friendly competition and mutual respect between our two schools.
The atmosphere was electric, with passionate support from the sidelines adding to the excitement of the day. A sincere thank you to our exceptional Sport Prefects, Maya Atkinson and Samara Bond, for their outstanding organisation and leadership.
We also extend our congratulations to the talented athletes who represented Pymble with pride, determination, and sportsmanship. It was a truly memorable occasion that reflected the strength of our school community and its cherished traditions.
Final score: Pymble 14, Knox 12. We look forward to next year’s match!
Nourishand Flourish
A big thank you to all the families and students who got involved in the Nourish and Flourish initiative! There was plenty of soup to go around, perfect for keeping warm during these chilly days. We’re looking forward to many more moments like this that bring our community together. A special shout-out to Mr Heggie, Acting Deputy Head of Senior School, for teaming up with the other Deputies to get this up and running for our students.
Term 3 Dates
24 September – Year 12 Picnic Clontarf – Students only
25 September – Year 12 Graduation Assembly – Students Only
26 September – Year 12 Speech Day, Farewell Chapel
26 September – Year 12 Valedictory Dinner
Patricia Gallardo
Acting Head of Senior School
From the Boarding School
Gosh, we have crammed a lot into the last nine weeks! Starting off with hosting more than 400 Boarders at the Year 7 to 9 Boarders’ Social, through to an epic Boarders’ Week, Colour Run, Jersey Day, and Leadership elections, and everything in between, it has been a massive term. I think it is fair to say that we are all ready for a well-deserved break.
As always, my thanks go to you for sharing your delightful daughters with us and to the very same girls for their enthusiasm, compassion, and generosity of spirit. I have been proud of the manner in which they have shown up, sometimes stumbling over the hurdles but always picking themselves up and getting on with it with trademark resilience.
I know you will join me in thanking our wonderful Boarding staff who, as always, have worked tirelessly to support the girls in every way they can. From our Heads of House, Anne, Dan, Danielle, and Kate to our trusty Assistant Heads of House and dedicated team of casual staff, we are lucky to have such dedicated women who work tirelessly to support our Boarders. My extra special thanks go to our Deputy Director of Boarding, Theresa Mimmo, who consistently goes out of her way to provide wonderful opportunities for the girls, support staff, and ensure that Pymble is a safe and happy term time home for all. We are very lucky to have all of them!
Pymble heads for the cold country!
Most of you know one of my favourite things is to get out in the country to meet our families on their home ‘turf’. Last week, accompanied by the wonderful Jackie Garment, it was a pleasure to visit Rankin Springs, Griffith, and Wagga Wagga in the Riverina district of Southern New South Wales. While the temperature was frosty to say the least, the company was warm and welcoming, and we felt very grateful to the family of Year 7 Boarder, Zoe, who made us feel so at home at Rankin Springs.
We also attended Boarding School Expos in Griffith, and Wagga Wagga, and were happy to see current families and meet many prospective families. An extra special treat was to spend Friday evening with one of our Year 12 parents along with families that will be joining us in 2026.
Cherishing our Boarding Alumni
One of the initiatives of our Head Boarders, Celeste and Sophie, has been to invite members of our Alumni to our fortnightly Chapel services. It has been wonderful to have glimpses of times gone by and to pick up on some common themes. On Tuesday night, the Boarders were captivated by ex-Head Boarder (1983), Julie Pilcher (Frost). As you will read below, Julie shared stories of Angus Cup challenges, long-term times, and no leave! It was especially heart warming to hear Julie reflecting on the wonderful qualities that Boarding helped her develop.
My first thought when Celeste contacted me was how on earth could I possibly be interesting to a chapel full of beautiful young women in 2025 at age 60? But the more I pondered on it the more I figured that having an understanding of the past can help you shape the future and personal stories can be far more impactful, thoughtful and relevant than reading the history books or looking at the names on the wall in the hall – is the hall even still there?
There has been so much change at Pymble since I left here in 1983 that it’s hard to even bring the past back to life. I suspect the physical environment that we grew up in is no longer standing apart from the Boarding Houses and the Chapel. I did have a walk around and it was nice to see the amphitheatre still there…The 9-hole golf course and horse paddocks, yes we had horses, are long gone to development but the heart of Boarding at Pymble I suspect is still here!
If I think about it, our life here in the late 70s and early 80’s was realistically like something out of Pride and Prejudice but without Mr Darcy. We had to perform home-grown plays and skits every term, we all had to play a musical instrument, sew, cook and play ALL sports. The idea of a well-rounded young lady was onerous indeed.
We developed a sense of HUGE competitiveness with our inter Boarding house rivalries (the Angus Cup) in our yearly calisthenics competition where the sound track was played via cassette tape! No UE Booms back then.
We were allowed a champagne in the dining room when Charles and Di got married in 1981 and a champagne toast at breakfast after we were allowed to stay up and watch Australia win the Americas Cup Yacht Race.
Our hems were measured by kneeling on the ground and having a ruler to make sure the hem was ON our knee, and we wore gloves to church on Sundays at St Swithuns.
To great amusement and hilarity, we often and I mean OFTEN had streakers on Lang lawn on a Sunday night. Our watch dog German shepherd, Ajax would see them off by chasing them around the lawn then swiftly towards the gates on Avon Road. By then all girls were hanging over the balconies gawking!
We had hot chocolate before sleep and once we were in Year 11 were allowed instant coffee! Imagine.
We slept on open balconies until Year 10 and finally got our own room in Year 12. The relentless wake up bell at 10 to seven has been trauma imprinted in my body clock!
Our time was hilarious, fun AND funny.
Not without drama and even surrounded by 180 other girls, it could be damn lonely at times. Some people missed their families more than others but this was one of the best things about boarding at Pymble – everyone had your back no matter what.
If only the real world had this sense of empathy, understanding and compassion that we had, and hopefully STILL have, for each other, it would be a much better place.
What I can tell you is that the foundations for an adult life that I developed at Pymble, I have taken with me throughout the last 42 years. I honestly feel that the Boarding experience at Pymble has given me an edge which has kept me in good stead through relationships, career and all that life has and will continue to throw at me.
Top 5
Independence – being given independence at an early age is probably the most wonderful thing – it will be the one thing that gives you an edge pretty much over every other person you will meet in your lifetime. Thank your parents for this opportunity!
Creativity and Curiosity – love of learning and inquisitive mind. Pymble gave me a huge love of history and to this day I am still studying and travelling, learning about art, architecture, history, politics…the world in general. Never stop learning girls.
Resilience – along with independence, resilience is a massive value we learn at Boarding school. No-one else but you can solve your problems, pick up your pieces, navigate relationships and make good decisions. When everything goes to muck, you have to get yourself back out of it. It’s an amazing skill to have.
Tenacity and Perseverance – six years of Boarding teaches you patience, how to deal with frustrations and you develop an inner GRIT to just get through….there will be times in your life when you draw on this experience. Life is not meant to be easy. It’s meant to have highs and lows – if you don’t have the lows you don’t recognise the highs – but the tenacity and perseverance you learn here will carry you throughout your life.
Fun and Laughter – more than anything from my teenage years at school, I learned the value of fun and laughter. Good times and the simple joys of fun with friends. As the class of ‘83 we have now had our 10, 20, 30 and 40-year reunions. Within minutes it is as it was, we kick off where we left off and are reminded of the unique privilege and opportunity we had to board at Pymble and how it has remained with us even now.
Thanks so much for having me…it’s been a pleasure!!
Eat like a Boarder
We would love you to join us for dinner on Monday 21 July at 6.00pm following drop off of your daughter/s. This will be the ‘real’ experience, with you being able to enjoy the regular dinner service, just as the girls do each evening. All family members are welcome. If you would like to join us, please rsvp to boarding@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au by 10 July.
Love It Ms Theresa Mimmo, Deputy Director of Boarding
It was a great weekend in Boarding this week! Year 7 enjoyed their pizza night in Avonmoore, and there was spirited conversation around the dinner table. Years 10, 11, and 12 were lucky enough to head to Knox for the Boarding Senior Social where the theme for the evening was ‘Movies’. Saturday saw a group of Boarders head to The Rocks Markets for a mid-morning browse through market stalls where they spent time making bracelets, returning to the Boarding Houses with big smiles. On Sunday, we headed to the netball to watch the Swifts beat the Giants. We were honoured to see Boarding alumni from 2023, Grace Whyte, playing for the Swifts.
It’s been a busy Love It program this term, and we look forward to the adventures we will have in Term 3.
Our Term 2 “Brooksie” Recipient
The Margaret Brooke, “Brooksie”, is awarded to a Boarder who exemplifies the spirit of a tenacious, courageous, compassionate, and giving woman. This Boarder consistently upholds and demonstrates the College values and actively contributes to the Boarding community while demonstrating dedication to her studies. A Brooksie recipient consistently displays ‘Pymble Pride’ including wearing appropriate school uniform, being punctual, and maintaining a tidy room.
Year 12 Boarder Dezi demonstrates all of these qualities in spades. It has been such a privilege to see her blossom from the shy and homesick Year 7 girl into the outstanding young woman she is today. Joining us from country New South Wales, Dezi brings deep commitment, passion, and excellence to all that she does. These wonderful qualities first became obvious in Dezi’s love for none other than One Direction which was so evident in her first few years of Boarding, and almost as deep as her love of all things sport.
Starting with netball, we all came to learn, whenever there was a ball involved, Dezi would be mesmerised. Softball, Cricket, and NRL are all favourites, and Dezi is tenacious in her commitment to her teams. Some might say she was also courageous, particularly in her support of the West Tigers given their current placing of 14th on the NRL ladder! With a career in sport journalism on the cards, I cannot wait to hear the broadcasts with our Dezi at the helm.
And just like her commitment to sport, Dezi wholeheartedly embraces her College commitments. I challenge you to find a student who wears her uniform with greater pride and respect. She also maintains an immaculate room, with Tigger taking pride of place on her bed, which is made so perfectly you could bounce one of her cricket balls off the surface. The only caution I will give is do be on the lookout for a random ball which is known to float around the otherwise spotless floor.
On top of her commitment to sport and study, Dezi is an exemplary role model and one who always finds time for her younger Boarding sisters. With a deep sensitivity and the enviable knack of knowing just what to say and when to say it, Dezi is a much-loved and highly influential member of our Boarding family. We are grateful for all that she has given over the last five years, and look forward to hearing of a wonderful future for this special young woman.
Save the Date
Friday 27 June End of Term 2 Boarders’ Travel Day*
Monday 21 July Boarders return from 2.00pm for the start of Term 3
Eat Like A Boarder 6.00pm
Friday 25 July Boarding Lockdown and Evacuation Drill 3.30 – 4.30pm**
Sunday 3 August Boarders’ Community Day 9.00am – 12.00pm**
Sunday 31 August Burgers and Bowls Father’s Day Celebration
Friday 19 September Boarder Parent Group Meeting 2.00pm – 3.00pm (on site)
Boarding Family Community event
Saturday 20 September Garden Party
Thursday 25 September Year 12 Farewell Chapel – all Boarders required until 6.00pm** Year 12 Farewell Dinner
Friday 26 September Boarders’ Travel Day (Rural and International Boarders only)
Year 12 Speech Day and Valedictory Dinner
* All Boarders to be collected by 4.00pm
**All Boarders required to be in attendance, no leave will be granted during this time.
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
From the Chaplains
Celebrating 48 Years of The Uniting Church in Australia
This Sunday we will celebrate 48 years of the Uniting Church in Australia. As a proud school of the Uniting Church it is timely for us to pause and remind ourselves of the bigger church of which we are a part.
The Uniting Church is a uniquely Australian Church. We were inaugurated on the 22nd June 1977 after more than 50 years of conversation between theCongregational Union of Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia and the Presbyterian Church of Australia. These three churches sought union as a visible sign of following Christ’s call to be one in Christ, whilst continuing to recognise that there was still work to do. This is why we are the ‘Uniting’ Church. Through our name we remember that the work of God is never complete, and that the work of brining God’s justice and peace and love is still part of our journey together.
The Uniting Church is the third largest Christian denomination in Australia. We have members from a large diversity of cultures, ages and different expressions of the Christian Faith. We are strong advocates for inclusion, and this is clearly demonstrated here at Pymble, with both of your Chaplains being ordained women. All people- women, men and people of diverse sexualities and genders are empowered to seek all leadership positions including ordination equally.
Currently both the Spiritual Leader of our State, the Moderator Rev. Faaimata Havea Hiliau, and the Spiritual leader of our National body, The Assembly, President Rev. Charissa Suli are women.
The strength of our church over the past 50 years can be seen in the many services that are included under the umbrella of our church.
Some of these things are:
Our schools including Pymble Ladies College, Knox Grammer, Ravenswood School for Girls, MLC School, Kinross Wolaroi School, Newington College & Margaret Jurd College
Uniting, who serve 145, 856 people each year through Aged care, Disability Services, Early learning Uniting, Out of Home care for children, Youth transition for young people and more.
International aid through UnitingWorld who partner with the global church to address the causes and consequences of poverty, injustice and environmental degradation
Advocacy and Social Justice with particular areas of focus in Climate action, Drug reform and First nations Self Determination and justice
And so much more!!!
I invite you this week to simply remember that as a part of the Pymble family you are also a part of something much bigger. You are a part of the Uniting Church in Australia, and therefore the continuing work of God in the world which is much bigger than any of us can imagine.
Rev. Danielle Hemsworth-Smith
College Chaplain
From the Futures Team
Data Science visits Datacom for Women in STEM event
On Thursday 19 June, Year 10 Data Science visited the Datacom headquarters in North Sydney to participate in the Women in STEM Event with students from Redlands School and South Strathfield High School.
The day involved students listening to a panel of specialists across the organisation responsible for customer support, product development, back ups, and digital experience. Students also engaged in a design-thinking workshop to propose a new product to a judging panel with Pymble team pitching the product “Zhrink it!” winning.
Here are some reflections from students that attended the event:
“…Datacom, a company most people haven’t even heard of,…[is] responsible for many Australian operations such as public transport, transactions, and anything that runs on data. Working at Datacom is described as challenging and collaborative, with a strong focus on soft skills, problem-solving, and relationship building. What stood out most to me was the advice from the employees: spend more time understanding the problem before rushing to a solution, stay curious, ask questions, and always keep learning; it’s never too late. You don’t need to know how to code to work there, but having self-drive and being part of a community that supports each other makes a big difference.” Ainhoa (Year 10)
“We were challenged to identify a real-world problem and design a digital solution. Our solution was an app concept called Zrink, short for “Zip it and Shrink it.” Zrink would work across devices to compress files using AI-enhanced and manual compression tools, increasing available storage without deleting anything. We pitched the app’s features, target market, technical design (using Dart code for cross-platform use); I’m proud to say we won the presentation competition. This taught me the value of communicating ideas in a way that’s not just logical but engaging. Our pitch wasn’t just about the technology; it was about how it solved a real human problem.
Looking back, this excursion had a major impact on how I view my future. Before visiting Datacom, I thought of tech careers as mostly coding behind a screen. But now I see how much collaboration, creativity, and communication are involved. I learned that successful products come not just from good code, but from good ideas, teamwork, and the ability to listen to users’ needs.
It also helped me reflect on my own strengths, like thinking critically under pressure and presenting with clarity, and areas I’d like to grow, such as learning more about app development tools and programming languages. I now feel more motivated to pursue digital technologies at school and beyond.
This experience showed me that I’m capable of working in a real-world tech setting, and it gave me a glimpse into the type of work environment I might enjoy in the future: fast-paced, creative, and focused on solving meaningful problems.” – Abani (Year 10)
Pymble Gap Program (Year 11)
Recent communication was sent to parents and students in Year 11 about the Pymble Gap Program via the Portal and student email. Further information can be found at the Futures@Pymble Gap page.
To support students considering the Pymble Gap Program, we will be hosting a Term 3 Gap Year Masterclass on:
🗓 Friday 8 August 📍 Library Learning Studio ⏰ During MBS Study
This session is open to all interested Year 11 students and will provide valuable insights and support as they plan their next steps. Applications will be due at the end of Term 3, so we suggest students start thinking about this option and discussing it with you during the upcoming school holidays.
We are currently planning more information events to provide information to students and families in Semester. Please check the Portal and the Compass newsletter for announcements
At these online meetings, an experienced member of our team will share an overview of the high school exchange programs with Southern Cross Cultural Exchange.
You’ll learn more about living with a host family and how studying overseas can help you develop confidence and independence… and gain a lifetime of memories.
Explore your destinations, program options and ask questions about how you can immerse yourself into a new life, culture, family, and high school overseas.
The 2025 Girls in Business (GiB) Camp is designed for female-identifying students in years 10, 11 or 12 from across NSW, who want to explore a future in business. This collaborative program with UNSW Business School and our industry partners aims to equip these students with the skills, desire, and ambition to study and work in the disciplines of:
Banking and Finance
Economics
Information Systems and Technology Management
Risk and Actuarial Studies
To provide students with an understanding of these study areas and to learn from inspiring female-identifying role models, we will be delivering workshops, info sessions and company site visits across 3 days.
You can expect to attend interactive workshops and gain real-world insights through industry excursions, and alumni and student panel discussions with Q&A while learning more about UNSW Business School’s Undergraduate programs and pathways.
Year 11 Business Studies Incursion – Boujee Boards
The Year 11 Business Studies classes had the opportunity to attend an incursion presented by Lily Avery, the owner of The Boujee Boards, on Tuesday the 24th of June. Lily presented about the process of creating her company in COVID, as well as the processes of operations, marketing and the entrepreneurial skills such as creativeness that aid her in her day-to-day work at the business. The Business classes also got to enjoy a small sample of the products offered at The Boujee Boards, which included a selection of delicious cheeses, crackers, salami and brownies. Lily shared the various target markets of the business, and how the primary products, operations and even product presentation can vary depending on the customer; Boujee Boards market towards corporate catering, kids parties and also private events, demonstrating its versatility in the business environment. We are very thankful to have learnt from such a successful small business owner, and her experiences in establishing and running a thriving small business.
Zoe, Business Studies Captain (Year 11)
Co-curricular Administration
Registrations for Term 3/Semester 2 Co-curricular programs are now OPEN and will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 9 July. Registration is available via the online system, which can be accessed through the co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. A parent or carer login is required to complete the registration process.
Please note that registrations cannot be accepted via email or phone.
Important Reminder: If your daughter is currently enrolled in a Semester 1 program (Term 1 and Term 2) and wishes to continue in Semester 2 (Term 3 and Term 4), re-registration is required.
Re-registration is NOT required for yearly programs.
Programs available for registration include:
Term 3 Programs
Junior School
Senior School
Athletics and Cross Country Diving eSports Fencing Football Skills Golf (invitation only) Have a Go @ Saturday Sport Health and Fitness Orienteering Taekwondo TAS Programs (Smart Cookies) Volleyball Development Program
Athletics and Cross Country Chess Diving Drone Academy (Years 4 to 9) eSports Fencing Football Skills Golf Health and Fitness Orienteering Rowing (Winter) Taekwondo TAS Programs (Brew Crew – Basics, Kitchen Whiz) Touch Football Skills Volleyball Development Program Water Polo Skills Sessions
Semester 2 Programs (Term 3 and 4)
Junior School
Senior School
Art Programs (Ceramics, Artmaking) Breakfast with Books Drama – Musical Theatre Language Arts STEM – Coding Natural Skincare and Wellbeing TAS Programs (Stitch and Create) Yoga for Year 2 to 6
Art Programs (Ceramics, Oil Painting, Print Artmaking) Book Club Language Arts Natural Skincare and Wellbeing STEM – Coding TAS Programs (Brew Crew – Essentials, Stitch and Create, Totally Textiles) Yoga for Stress Management
For any further enquiries, please contact the Co-curricular Administration team ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Sally Davidson
Head of Co-curricular Administration
From the Co-curricular Sports Team
Why is Load Management so Important?
Girls are still developing bone strength, muscle coordination, and hormonal balance. If training loads are too high, increase too quickly, or are not balanced with adequate rest, there is a significantly higher risk of:
Injury, both sudden (acute) and slow building (overuse), including
Stress fractures from repetitive impact without enough rest1,3
Tendonitis and tendon pain, especially in the knees and ankles
Growth plate injuries, which can affect long-term development
Muscle strains and ligament sprains
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), a condition where the body does not get enough energy from food to support growth, development, and training, leading to:
Irregular or absent periods
Poor bone health and increased risk of fractures
Declining performance, mood changes, and tiredness3
Frequent illness due to a weakened immune system1
Burnout or drop out from sport, with loss of enjoyment, motivation, or confidence2
Common Injuries from Poor Load Management
Stress fractures in the shins, feet, back or pelvis
Patellofemoral pain syndrome, resulting in knee pain from repetitive running, jumping, or landing
Sever’s disease or Osgood-Schlatter disease, causing heel or knee pain unique to growing athletes
Tendinitis, especially at the Achilles or patellar tendon
Muscle strains and ligament sprains, often due to fatigue, lack of rest, or sudden increases in load
Growth plate injuries, unique to adolescents, which can cause long term problems if not addressed1,2
Maturation and Individual Differences
It is important to recognise that girls mature at different rates during adolescence, both physically and hormonally. Signs of maturation include growth spurts, breast development, and the onset of menstruation. During periods of rapid growth, girls can be more vulnerable to injuries such as growth plate injuries, joint pain, and muscle imbalances. Girls who are late to mature compared to their peers may also require individualised load management, as their bones and joints are more susceptible to stress.
Guidelines post-maturation: Once a student has reached full maturation (growth has slowed, physical development and regular menstrual cycles are established), gradual increases in training can be considered, with closer alignment to adult athlete guidelines. However, progression should always be individual and account for the athlete’s injury history, overall readiness, and wellbeing.
Guidelines for late-maturing athletes: For girls who experience delayed maturation, it is important to be extra careful with training loads. Limiting repetitive impact and high training volumes, ensuring at least two full rest days a week, and regular check-ins with coaching and medical staff are advised. These girls benefit from flexible scheduling, targeted strength and conditioning, and continued focus on skill development across a variety of activities.
Menstruation as a sign: The onset of periods is a key indicator of healthy maturation but irregular, absent, or suddenly stopped periods can be a sign that training load or nutrition is not appropriate. If your daughter has not started menstruating by age 15, develops irregular cycles after periods have started, or experiences a sudden change in her menstrual pattern, please consult your GP or a sports physician for assessment and support.
Best Practice Load Management Recommendations
All the following recommendations are supported by scientific evidence and expert consensus:
Rest Days
Ensure at least one to two complete rest days per week. Rest means no organised sport, strenuous activity, or competition so the body can recover and adapt1,2
Total Weekly Load
A maximum of 16 to 18 hours per week of structured training and competition for most adolescent girls is recommended. Girls who are newer to sport or do high-impact activities may need significantly less, 8 to 12 hours per week2
Annual Breaks
Pre puberty girls should have two to three months away from their main sport each year, which can be spread across the year. This downtime is crucial for mental and physical recovery and early prevention of overuse injuries2
Gradual Progression
Sudden progressions or spikes in training are linked to increased injuries. The safest progression is no more than a 10 percent increase in duration, frequency, or intensity per week1
Specialisation
Multi-sport participation is encouraged up to at least age 12 to 14 to reduce repetitive strain and promote wellbeing. Early specialisation is linked to a higher risk of injury and burnout2
Recovery, Nutrition, and Sleep
At least eight to ten hours of sleep per night is vital. A diet sufficient in energy and nutrients supports development and recovery. Lack of adequate nutrition is a major factor in injuries, slow recovery, and REDs. Please consult a sports dietitian for guidance as needed. Encourage your daughter to speak up about soreness, fatigue, or pain. These are important warning signals and should never be ignored1,3
Other Important Considerations
Be cautious if your daughter is playing or training with multiple age groups at club level. While extra opportunities can be exciting, overlapping training and matches can easily lead to excessive total physical load and a higher risk of both injuries and burnout. Always include all sporting commitments in your daughter’s total load and count her weekly hours and matches accurately.
Parental Involvement – Your Support is Vital
We encourage all parents to sit down with their daughter and actively review her training and competition load regularly. Use the above guidelines to ensure there are clearly scheduled rest days and her full sporting commitments (both within and outside Pymble) are included. Supporting your daughter to accurately monitor and manage her load is one of the most effective ways you can help keep her healthy and enjoying her sport for the long term.
Communication is Key
Many Pymble athletes train with both internal and external coaches. Please ensure you regularly liaise with all coaches, sharing your daughter’s total training and competition schedule. Consistent communication allows every coach, both within Pymble and externally, to monitor, adjust, and support your daughter’s progress while prioritising her health.1
Signs That Load May Be Too High
Please look out for the following:
Ongoing tiredness, low motivation, or decline in school or sport performance
Chronic soreness or recurring injuries
Missed or irregular periods
Changes in eating habits or mood
Loss of enjoyment in sport
If in doubt, reach out to the Sports Department, your daughter’s coaches, or book an appointment with Dr Sly for advice and support.
Click here for a printable version of this information.
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From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team
Note from the Director of Co-Curricular Performing Arts Mr Kurt Schweinberger
As we come to the end of another successful and rewarding term, I would like to extend my thanks to all the students and staff who have contributed to the vibrant life of the Performing Arts program. Your creativity, commitment, and passion continue to inspire.
It’s been a particularly busy few weeks, filled with rehearsals, eisteddfods, performances, and celebrations of student achievement. From concerts to showcases, each event has reflected the incredible talent within our community and the power of the arts to bring people together.
Thank you for a wonderful term, and I look forward to an equally exciting one ahead!
ONE MORE DAY to sign up for the 2026 Drama Tour to London and Paris
Registrations close tomorrow for the 2026 June/July Drama Tour to London and Paris. This exciting tour promises an unforgettable experience for students with a passion for the performing arts, theatre, and cultural exploration.
Open to all students in Years 8 to 11, the tour offers a unique opportunity to visit world-renowned theatres, participate in workshops, and immerse themselves in the rich theatrical heritage of two of Europe’s most iconic cities.
We are also welcoming interest from non-Drama students who are curious about the world of theatre and production.
For more information, please speak with Ms Eliza Bell (Head of Drama) or Pymble Trips and Tours.
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AFL
Jack Garrad, Co-ordinator of AFL
Junior AFL Regional Cup Final
On Wednesday 23 July, our Junior AFL team travelled to Blacktown Sports Park to play in the Junior Regional Schools Cup final. Our girls progressed into this tournament by winning their local cup qualifier earlier in Term 2.
Our girls had a great first start to the day with a convincing win over St Aloysius Cronulla 46 to 2. We then came up against a very strong Endeavour Sports High School and unfortunately could not match the physicality and were defeated in this match. Our final match against Hunter Sports High was a must win to progress into the grand final. Although a tight affair, a slow start to the match meant the Pymble girls were playing catch up footy and narrowly missed out on a place in the final match going down by six points.
Overall, a very successful campaign for our girls and the good news is that these girls are still eligible to play in this tournament next year! Onwards and upwards and bring on the 2026 Schools Cup!
Cross Country
On Saturday, eight Pymble athletes travelled to Nowra to compete at the Athletics NSW State Cross Country Championships, renowned as one of the toughest courses in the country, and it certainly lived up to its reputation.
Siena Cassidy (Year 4), representing Junior School, was impressive in her first ever race at Nowra, placing an outstanding 3rd and securing an automatic qualification for the National Championships.
Eliza Lawton (Year 9) extended her remarkable run of success in cross country, finishing strongly and placing 2nd.
Gemma Dixon (Year 9), Harriet Murphy (Year 10), Charlie Slater (Year 8), Grace Beck (Year 11) and Rachel Schwulst (Year 11) were strong on a demanding course. Our Cross Country Captain, Sophia Slater (Year 12), ran a gutsy race in the u20 6km event and was, again, selected for National Cross Country.
In the u18 race, a moment that truly captured the Pymble spirit, Grace B stopped mid-race to check on Rachel S, who had become unwell on the course. After ensuring Rachel was okay and encouraging her to continue, both Grace and Rachel remarkably still qualified for Nationals. Well done to Grace for her care and to both girls on your selection.
We are proud that all eight Pymble athletes have qualified for Athletics Australia’s National Cross Country Championships to be held in Ballarat in August.
A reminder that holiday training will take place during the holidays:
Monday 7 July from 8.30am to 10.00am
Wednesday 9 July from 8.30am to 10.00am
Monday 14 July from 8.30am to 10.00am
Wednesday 16 July from 8.30am to 10.00am
Deb Walsham, Head Coach of Cross Country
Dance
Ballet Updates
We are thrilled with the progress of our upcoming ballet production, Hansel and Gretel. Students have been attending rehearsals with great enthusiasm and are working hard to perfect their roles.
Upcoming Rehearsals
To ensure a seamless and magical performance, full-cast rehearsals are essential, along with scheduled sessions for principal roles. These are crucial for refining transitions and bringing the entire production together.
A full list of rehearsal dates and times can be found on the Ballet Website.
The following rehearsals are compulsory. If, for any reason, your daughter is unable to attend, please notify us as soon as possible by completing the Activity Absence form in the MyPymble app.
Monday 30 June, 9.00am to 12.30pm (Selected students only – please see website for details)
Monday 21 July, 10.00am to 2.00pm (All students in Year 3 to 12 required – check the website for specific arrival times)
Saturday 26 July, 12.00pm to 4.00pm (All students in Year 3 to 12 required – check the website for specific arrival times)
Show Details – Save the Date!
Performance Day: Saturday 30 August
Show 1: 11.00 am
Show 2: 2.00 pm
Tickets
Tickets go on sale Monday 28 July at 10.00am via the GMCPA Box Office – Don’t miss out!
Junior Dance Disco
On Friday 20 June, the Dance Department hosted its very first Junior Dance Disco, with students from Year 3 to 6 filling the Main Hall with music, movement, and a whole lot of fun!
The theme Retro Rewind saw students and staff arrive in everything from 70s flares to early 2000s sparkles, with plenty of creativity and colour on display.
Alongside dancing, students enjoyed the Hair Bejewelling Station and activities run by our Dance Captains, Ruby and Teagan. There was pizza, music, and lots of energy from start to finish!
A big thank you to all staff involved, and to our wonderful Year 11 Certificate in Dance students who helped across the evening. We’re already looking forward to the next one!
Miss Genevieve Gardiner
Dance Coordinator – Junior School
Drama
Co-curricular Drama
Mrs Eliza Bell
On Sunday 22 June, Pymble Co-curricular Drama with the Duologue Eisteddfods Teams finished their final competition of the season and our Group Eisteddfods Teams competed in their first.
PARRAMATTA EISTEDDFOD
Two pairs attended the last day of Parramatta Eisteddfod competing brilliantly. Stephanie Port (Year 10) and Sofia Mohseni (Year 8) performed an excerpt from Jasper Jones, receiving 4th place. Ria Iyer (Year 7) and Jessica Parker (Year 7) performed a section of Stories in The Dark earning 1st place. Well done!
NORTHERN BEACHES EISTEDDFOD
At the start of the Eisteddfod, three duologues competed against 10 pairs. Neve Anderson (Year 8) and Isabella Afarin (Year 8) placed 1st in this section with their piece The Dumb Waiter, which was a hilarious expression of physical theatre; our other two teams competing wonderfully, tying for 3rd place. Following this was our primary group devised performances, which earned Year 6 Eisteddfod Group 1, for their performance of The Extinction of Empathy, and Year 6 Eisteddfod Group 2, for their performance of Behind Closed Doors, highly commended, and the Year 5 Eisteddfod Group 1st place for their piece, Lost and Found. Our senior school groups had Year 7, Year 8, Year 10, and Year 11 Eisteddfod teams competing. A highly commended was awarded to Year 8 Eisteddfod for Snow Bite and the Seven Vampires, 2nd place to Year 7 Eisteddfod for A Murder Mystery Marriage, and 1st Place for Year 10’s The Court Case of 7 8 9.
It has been a tremendous term for Co-curricular Drama, not only for the eisteddfod teams competing most weekends but also for the silent achievements happening in the classroom from skills classes to musical theatre. Teachers have focused heavily on combining the skills they have been refining over the first semester to develop work on story building as we approach the announcement of the Centrestage Theme for 2025. Congratulations on another wonderful term to all of our drama students!
UPCOMING COMPETITIONS:
Sydney Eisteddfod – Thursday 3 July
When: 4.00pm to 6.00pm
Where: Chippen St Theatre, Chippendale
Football
The final round of the igsa Football Season took place this past weekend with all 12 of our Pymble teams competing. Our Senior Firsts and Junior Firsts played their catch-up double header round instead of finals. There were seven wins, four losses, and three draws across all 14 fixtures. From 12 teams, two teams were undefeated, three placed as division winners, three placed as runners-up, and two teams finished third. More importantly, we saw a tremendous growth in the skills of our students, tons of respect shown to the opposition, and plenty of smiles, laughs, and good times.
Our Senior Firsts team reclaimed their trophy by winning the S01 division. A hard earned 2 to 1 win over Meriden and a 5 to 0 win against Roseville in the second game of the day, meant our Pymble footballers won all seven games.
Our Senior Seconds, Pymble 2, went into the final game of the season undefeated. However, they came up against the other undefeated team, Monte 2. Our girls went 1 to 0 up but unfortunately fell to a 3 to 1 win which left them as commendable runners-up. Well done girls!
Our Senior Thirds, Pymble 3, claimed the S07 title with a hard fought 4 to 3 win against Brigidine. Our girls started with a loss in Round 1 and then went on to win their next six matches. Well done girls!
Our Senior Fifths, Pymble 5, went undefeated all term and finished as runners-up in S09. Well done girls!
Our Year 7 teams had a tremendous first year of igsa Football. Our Year 7 Firsts, Pymble 11, finished runners up in the top Year 7 division. With a loss in Round 1 to the eventual champions, our girls went on to win the remainder of their matches. Our Year 7 Seconds, Pymble 12, went one better with a first-place finish in the Y705 division. Well done to all Year 7 girls!
Finally, a huge thank you to all students, parents, staff, and coaches, that made igsa football this term so enjoyable. To our Year 12 girls that have played their last football matches at Pymble, thank you for the legacy you have left behind.
Team
Opponent
Result
Score
Pymble 1
Meriden 1
Win
2 to 1
Pymble 1
Roseville 1
Win
6 to 0
Pymble 2
Monte 2
Loss
1 to 3
Pymble 3
Brigidine 4
Win
4 to 3
Pymble 4
Monte 4
Loss
0 to 5
Pymble 5
Tara 2
Draw
3 to 3
Pymble 6
Monte 6
Loss
0 to 3
Pymble 7
Monte 7
Draw
2 to 2
Pymble 8
Loreto Normanhurst 5
Win
5 to 0
Pymble 8
Roseville 5
Loss
0 to 5
Pymble 9
Wenona 6
Win
3 to 2
Pymble 10
Brigidine 10
Draw
1 to 1
Pymble 11
Wenona 9
Win
4 to 0
Pymble 12
OLM 3
Win
5 to 4
Round 7 Most Valuable Players
Pymble 1 – Alethea Levy (Year 12)
Pymble 1 – Emily Visser (Year 12)
Pymble 2 – Victoria Apachou (Year 12)
Pymble 3 – Jess Cullen (Year 12)
Pymble 4 – Dasha Stusenko (Year 11)
Pymble 5 – Jemima Groves-Berry (Year 11)
Pymble 6 – Laranya Nanthakumaran (Year 10)
Pymble 7 – Isabelle Short (Year 11)
Pymble 8 – Marlia Uhl (Year 7)
Pymble 8 – Adele Cassidy (Year 8)
Pymble 9 – Lucy Woodbridge (Year 8)
Pymble 10 – Nadia McMahon (Year 8)
Pymble 11 – Marlia Uhl (Year 7)
Pymble 12 – Aarna Ashwin (Year 7)
End of Season Awards
Most Valuable Player (MVP), Most Improved (MIP), and Spirit of Pymble (SOP)
Pymble 1
MVP – Willa Pearson (Year 9)
MIP – Sasha Chan (Year 11)
SOP – Alethea Levy (Year 12)
Pymble 2
MVP – Annabel Taylor (Year 10)
MIP – Samantha Fahy (Year 11)
SOP – Mary Cottrell (Year 12) and Madeline Taylor (Year 12)
Pymble 3
MVP – Aniela Knight (Year 10)
MIP – Mia Sherry (Year 10)
SOP – Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 10)
Pymble 4
MVP – Dasha Stusenko (Year 11)
MIP – Emma Baikie (Year 11)
SOP – Delaney Burke (Year 11)
Pymble 5
MVP – Emily Walker (Year 11)
MIP – Addison Seeto (Year 11)
SOP – Iman Utteridge (Year 11)
Pymble 6
MVP – Eloise Fisher (Year 10)
MIP – Lola Mason (Year 10)
SOP – Isabelle Port (Year 10)
Pymble 7
MVP – Isabelle Short (Year 11)
MIP – Isabella Berberian (Year 11)
SOP – Grace Santoso (Year 11)
Pymble 8
MVP – Havana Gray (Year 7)
MIP – Mia Lam (Year 8)
SOP – Isabel Parker (Year 8)
Pymble 9
MVP – Lucy Woodbridge (Year 8)
MIP – Edith Cullinane (Year 8)
SOP – Scarlett Martel (Year 9)
Pymble 10
MVP – Nawida Rohullah (Year 8)
MIP – Phoebe Toynton (Year 8)
SOP – Orla Cottrell (Year 8)
Pymble 11
MVP – Marlia Uhl (Year 7)
MIP – Kamilla King (Year 7)
SOP – Alexis Kostalas (Year 7)
Pymble 12
MVP – Nina Peng (Year 7)
MIP – Nina Basic (Year 7)
SOP – Oliana Zeccola (Year 7)
Senior Firsts match report from Football Captain, Alethea Levy (Year 12)
What an honour and privilege it’s been to be the Senior Firsts captain this year.
We headed into our final double-header round knowing we had to win against Meridan, another undefeated team. The sun was out, but as always, the Loreto fields brought their own challenges. We opened the scoring with my corner delivery finding Eve Goldsworthy (Year 10), who put us up 1 to 0. Early in the second half, some confusion during stopped play saw the score level at 1 to 1. Through brilliant teamwork up the field, I was able to score, bringing us to 2 to 1. This ended up being the final score, putting us one step closer to securing the igsa trophy.
In what was a fiercely competitive and high-pressure match, Pymble’s values of sportsmanship, resilience and fair play truly shone through. I’m so proud of these girls!
Huge credit to our backline: Eve Goldsworthy (Year 10), Catherine Yu (Year 7), Claudia Stretton (Year 10), and Mary Staciwa (Year 11), who were consistently solid and made sure we held the lead.
Our second game, against Roseville, saw our attack really start to fire. There were some tough midfield battles, with shots flying from both sides. Emily Visser (Year 12) made her last school game one to remember, scoring goal after goal. Willa Pearson (Year 9) and Havana Gray (Year 7) also found the back of the net, showing that the Pymble future in football is very bright. We wrapped up the game 5 to 0.
I’m incredibly proud of this team. To the Year 12 girls — Anika Watson, Emily Visser and Laura Januszek — what a way to finish. And to our younger players, there’s so much talent coming through. In you, and your 2026 captain Amelia Brandon (Year 11), we trust to keep the igsa trophy safe.
A big thank you to our coach Ally and Mr Wood for your coaching, support and guidance throughout the season.
School Pathway update
Congratulations to Willa Pearson (Year 9) who has been selected to the NSW All Schools team to play in the School Sport Australia Championships in Queensland.
Our Bill Turner Trophy team are into the North Sydney Division Final thanks to a 3 to 0 win over William Clarke College last week. Congratulations girls!
Hockey
IPSHA Hockey
As we approached the final round of the term, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what has been an incredible hockey season. Week after week, our students have displayed outstanding skill, determination, and sportsmanship on the field.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated coaches, who have gone above and beyond for our students. Their expertise, encouragement, and passion have inspired our teams to strive for excellence and enjoy every moment on the pitch.
We are also extremely grateful to our parents and families for your unwavering support. Whether that is cheering from the sidelines or making sure your daughter is there for those early morning starts. Your involvement means so much within our hockey community.
As we celebrate the success of this term, we look forward to welcoming everyone back next year for another exciting season. Until then, well done to all, and thank you for being a part of a truly fantastic IPSHA Hockey community!
Results
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 1
PLC Sydney 1
Won 3 to 0
Pymble 2
Abbotsleigh 2
Lost 0 to 7
Pymble 3
Loreto Normanhurst 2
Won 3 to 2
Pymble 4
SCEGGS 2
Won 7 to 4
Pymble 5
Abbotsleigh 4
Won 4 to 3
Player of the Match
Congratulations to the following students who received player of the match for Week 9:
Pymble 1 – Claudia Birrell (Year 6)
Pymble 2 – Lia Sloane (Year 5)
Pymble 3 – Olivia Birch (Year 5)
Pymble 4 – Scarlett McMahon (Year 4)
Pymble 5 – Melaina Kekatos (Year 3)
Have a Go Hockey Kindergarten to Year 2
Our Kindergarten to Year 2 Have a Go Hockey program wrapped up last week, and what a fantastic season it has been! The youngest members of our sporting community showed wonderful enthusiasm and energy as they tried their hand at hockey, developing new skills and making new friends along the way. We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated coaches and supportive parents, whose encouragement and involvement made each session such a fun and positive experience. We hope to see all our K–2 students continue their sporting journey next term as we look forward to another great season this time with Touch Football!
If you wish to register your daughter, please follow the link here.
Mollie Dive Hockey
On Monday night, the Mollie Dive Pymble 1 team delivered an outstanding performance to retain the trophy against a very classy and tough Abbotsleigh side in the Mollie Dive Grand Final. In a match that demanded grit and teamwork, our Mollie Dive hockey players were incredible, coming away with an impressive 4 to 1 victory. It was a fantastic display of hockey, with every player stepping up and playing their part to get the job done. We congratulate both Pymble 1 and Pymble 2 on an incredible season of Mollie Dive. Your hard work, sportsmanship and commitment have made us incredibly proud. A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful coaches for all their dedication and expertise, and to our supportive parents for braving the late, cold nights to cheer from the sidelines. We look forward to carrying this momentum into Term 3 for the igsa Hockey season and are excited to see what these amazing athletes continue to achieve both on and off the pitch!
Results
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 1
Abbotsleigh
Won 4 to 1
Congratulations to the following students who received player of the match for Week 9:
Pymble 1 – Bella Croker (Year 12)
Shellie Rocca, Co-ordinator of Hockey
Language Arts
What a term – bravo to our Language Arts students and coaches and thank you to all parents for your support.
Congratulations to:
Our newly elected Language Arts leaders – Imogen Kee (Year 10), Isis Li (Year 10), Grace McSweeney (Year 10), and Jasmine Tran (Year 11), our new Language Arts Prefect.
Maya Garg (Year 12) who was selected for Worlds Debating in Panama.
Maya Garg (Year 12) and Kitty He (Year 11) who debated in the winning NSW team, in the National Schools Debating Championships.
FED finalists, and to Year 8 ISDA who won the ISDA Grand Final and to Year 7 ISDA, who were runners up in their division.
Catherine Shi (Year 12) and Kitty He (Year 11) who travelled to Bond University, Queensland for the finals of Bond Mooting.
Students who attended the four-day Harvard Model United Nations conference at Cranbrook.
Those who participated in Law workshop days and lectures
Jenny Xu (Year 11), who gave a strong, (runner’s up) performance at The Inaugural Dame Enid Lyons’ Oratory competition (DELO) at The Opera House and has now been announced as Co-Head Prefect for 2026.
Pymble Model United Nations and Sydney Social Debating Competition students.
Archdale Debating preliminary rounds in Shield and Invitational divisions.
TEDx classes and the TEDx showcase on Saturday 21 June.
We look forward to seeing our Language Arts students and families at tonight’s Language Arts dinner. It has certainly been a busy term and a term of many firsts for the Language Arts program.
Enjoy the Term break.
DEBATING
More Debating Opportunities
Social Debating coaches – Thank you to Debaters who have volunteered to assist uni coaches with social debating. This competition runs until and including Friday 27 June. See you tomorrow!
Social Debating girls – We look forward to seeing you again after school on Friday, in Jobson Lecture Theatre, KM building, to continue your online season. Attendance is compulsory. It is wonderful to see girls enjoying this Debating journey, learning new skills and honing others. Please note that Social Debating will be carried into Term 3. (There will be no Debating on Friday 1 August)
Archdale – Shield and Invitational
Round 7 Preliminary round will be held on Tuesday 29 August when we travel to St Catherine’s. Please ensure bus tickets are purchased through Co-Curricular Administration.
Senior Invitational had a Round 6 make-up round against PLC Armidale on Tuesday 24 June.
Other make ups rounds will take place on Tuesday 5 August.
Make up Round 4 – Year 10 and Seniors – held online from Pymble on Tuesday 5 August.
St Vincent’s make up dates TBA.
MODEL UNITED NATIONS (MUN)
Pymble Model UN Club (PMUN)
PMUN runs each Monday at lunchtime in classroom DK06. Come along and join us next term – everyone is welcome. Learn how to prepare for a MUN conference. Please see our MUN captain, Kiki Chen (Year 11), for further information and email your interest to Mrs Hubbard (bhubbard@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au).
Winter conference will be on Saturday 26 July (the first Saturday of Term 3)!
MOCK LAW
Young Justice
At our recent excursion to the Young Justice Day, we discovered that our lecturer was Pymble Alumni, Linden Barnes, who lectures in Ethics and the Law. We were delighted that Linden returned to Pymble for a tour and to conduct a lunchtime session in the Jobson Lecture Theatre on Monday 23 June. We look forward to welcoming Ms Barnes back to judge our Moot on Antigone.
Music
Congratulations to the following students on their excellent achievements.
City of Sydney Eisteddfod
Haylee Lam (Year 9) received aHighly Commended in the section Flute Solo 15 or under.
AMEB RESULTS: Congratulations to the following students on their excellent AMEB results
Double Bass
Ling Qi (Year 4) – grade 1 A+
Violin
Ivy Dao (Year 2) – Prelim A+
Isabel Gao (Year 3) – Prelim A+
Flora Wu (Year 3) – Prelim B+
Kaymi Madugalle Wijeratne (Year 4) – 1st grade A
Muse Tang (Year 5) – 2nd grade B
Sophie Woo (Year 4) – 3rd grade B
Nadya Faheem (Year 5) – 3rd grade B+
Stephanie Port (Year 7) – 4th grade B
Rachel Shi (Year 5) – 4th grade B
Sophie Zhang (Year 11) – 6th grade B
Lily Still (Year 11) – Certificate of Performance C+
Charli Conn (Year 9) – Certificate of Performance A+
Theory
Karen Liu (Year 7) – 1st grade theory exam – High Distinction
Rachel Shi (Year 5) – 1st grade theory exam – Credit
Excursion to the Opera House for Stage 5 Elective Music:
On Friday 13 June, Year 9 and 10 Elective Music students had the opportunity to watch an open rehearsal of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House. It was a wonderful day away from the busyness of school and a great opportunity to immerse ourselves in music.
Students travelled to Martin Place station via train and metro and walked through the stunning Sydney Botanical Gardens. All enjoyed looking at the view of the Sydney Harbour and being surrounded by the budding roses. After our walk, the group arrived at the Opera House and sat down for the rehearsal. We were lucky enough to hear the orchestra perform Beethoven’s Prometheus Overture, and Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel Suite, which was a class favourite. I could really feel the emotion, sense of danger and resolution throughout the music. The conductor, Donald Runnicles, and the instrumentalists were highly expressive, and all students gained valuable insight from observing the orchestra’s collaboration.
Once the rehearsal had concluded, students had the opportunity to eat lunch around Circular Quay, and then made our way to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. We were all very lucky to be taken on a guided tour of the Conservatorium. My favourite part was looking at the library, which has the largest collection of historic sheet music in the Southern Hemisphere. It was so cool seeing a whole library dedicated solely to music. As well as the library, we also got to see the practice and lesson rooms, recording studios and equipment, and the performance spaces available to students studying at the Conservatorium. It was a valuable opportunity to get an insight into what studying music might look like for our future.
Thank you to Ms Zeltzer and Ms Bain as well as the Music Staff for organising such a fun and insightful excursion. It is one of the highlights of the Elective Music Students’ year.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the Music Staff, along with Ms Attley, Ms Lee, Mrs Lindsay, Mrs Richter and Ms Jian for their assistance at the recent Ensemble Concert. Our Pymble musicians work extremely hard in their preparations, but behind the scenes, the music staff are beavering away to choose music. This involves selecting music, photocopying parts, listening to recordings, marking-up scores, providing guidance on intonation and rhythms, bowing and blowing, pronunciation and breathing. Moreover, we need to take into consideration the girls and their wants and desires. It is a great honour that I have such a wonderful team to work with and I would like to show my respect to these people:
Charlotte Aquaro
Sarah Ashton
Luczia Bain
Karen Bruce
Narelle Colbey
Claire Race
Kurt Schweinberger
Marcus Stafford
Gladys Uy
Julia Zeltzer
Farewell to Year 12
Year 11 students were invited to lunch with our Year 12 leavers on Wednesday 25 June. There was much merriment and happiness among the girls. To our Year 12 students: “Thank you for the Music”.
Netball
Pymble Netball: Season Reflection As the curtain falls on our vibrant IPSHA and NetSetGo season, it is with immense pride and gratitude that we celebrate the journey, achievements, and spirit of our extraordinary Pymble Netball community. Congratulations to every player, coach, and supporter for contributing to another outstanding, inspiring term—one that shone with exceptional sportsmanship, teamwork, and steadfast dedication.
This season wasn’t just about spectacular goals and nail-biting finishes—it was about the consistent embodiment of our Pymble values: Care, Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Responsibility. Time and again, our students proved that these principles are not simply words on a page, but guiding lights at the very heart of our program. We witnessed care in every supportive word between teammates, courage in every bold play and willingness to try something new, and integrity in the honest pursuit of fair competition. Respect flourished not only in our interactions on and off the court, but also in the spirit of camaraderie shared with opposition teams and officials. Above all, the sense of responsibility shone through as our girls demonstrated commitment—from early morning trainings to the final whistle of each match.
This collective spirit has set a benchmark for what it means to belong to Pymble Netball. Thank you to all players, for your passion, perseverance, and positivity throughout this fantastic season. Let’s continue to champion one another, fuelled by the encouragement and shared values that make our community truly exceptional.
A Heartfelt Salute to Our Coaches Behind every thriving team stands a group of exceptional coaches, and we are incredibly fortunate at Pymble to have such dedicated mentors guiding our journey. My sincerest thanks go to Charlotte Huon (Pymble alumni 2019), Layla Farook (Pymble alumni 2022), Grace Rew (2025 Year 12), Isobel Clift (Pymble alumni 2020), Samantha Connellan (Pymble alumni 2021), Holly Craig (Pymble alumni 2024), Catherine Kelly (Pymble alumni 2023), Sheridan Davies (Pymble alumni 2009), Eloise Muller (Pymble alumni 2023), Olivia Radford (Pymble alumni 2023), Alessandra Braysich (Pymble alumni 2024), and Cate Walker (Pymble alumni 2024) – the inspiring leaders of our IPSHA and NetSetGo squads. Your passion, care, and relentless commitment have been pivotal in nurturing not just players, but confident, resilient young girls.
Gratitude to Our Parents And of course, a special thank you to our parents—for your unwavering support, encouragement, and energy. Whether you have cheered from the sidelines, driven to training, or helped with the little things behind the scenes, your role in the Pymble Netball program is truly invaluable.
As we close this chapter for 2025 and look ahead to an exciting new season next year, let us carry forward our spirit, our laughter, and the values that set us apart. We can’t wait to see you all back on court, ready to achieve and inspire once again in 2026.
IPSHA Netball Results
Grade Team A Tea
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 1
Tara 1
Win
Pymble 2
Abbotsleigh 3
Win
Pymble 3
Wenona 4
Win
Pymble 4
SCEGGS 3
Win
Pymble 5
Ravenswood 4
Win
Pymble 6
Wenona 7
Win
Pymble 7
Roseville 7
Loss
Pymble 8
Wenona 11
Win
Pymble 8
Roseville 9
Win
Pymble 10
Meriden 9
Loss
Pymble 11
Tara 7
Win
ANNUAL KNOX v PYMBLE NETBALL GAME
On Tuesday 24 June, our outstanding Year 12 Netball team took centre stage in the much-anticipated annual Knox vs Pymble Netball game. The atmosphere was electric as both teams delivered an exceptionally close and thrilling contest. In the end, Pymble emerged victorious with a nail-biting 14 to 12 win.
Thank you to Miss Megan O’Keeffe, Netball Head Coach, for coaching the team to this great victory. A special mention must go to our incredible Year 12 cheer squad, whose spirit and enthusiasm rivalled the renowned energy of the Knox supporters and band, creating a truly unforgettable atmosphere.
While the scoreboard crowned one team the winner, the true triumph of the evening was the enduring friendship and spirited competitive rivalry shared between both schools – a testament to the remarkable sportsmanship on display.
Congratulations to everyone involved for making the night such a memorable occasion!
Megan O’Keeffe, Head Coach of Netball
Rugby Sevens
NSW All Schools
Good luck to the following students who will be competing at the NSW All Schools U16 and U18 Girls Rugby Sevens competition!
Lucy McLean (Year 11)
Maya Atkinson (Year 12)
Mie Naito (Year 10)
Scarlett Mitchell (Year 10)
Evie Farr (Year 10)
Speech and Drama
Wonderful news for Lauren Korenblyum (Year 12) who was awarded the APCA Associate Diploma in Professional Communication (AMEB) recently. She is a fine example of the future standard of professional communication in all spheres. Congratulations, Lauren.
Congratulations also to Grace McSweeney (Year 10) for her second place at the Sydney Eisteddfod Drama Monologue event against very strong competition. It’s exciting to see the depth of talent developing within the Eisteddfod scene.
Swimming
Australian Trials
From Monday 9 to Saturday 14 June, six of our Pymble girls and alumni proudly represented our community at the 2025 Australian Swimming Trials—a key selection meet for the Australian Dolphins Swim Team, ahead of the World Aquatics Championships (Friday 11 July to Sunday 3 August) and the World Para Swimming Championships (Sunday 21 to Saturday 27 September), both to be held in Singapore.
The meet was filled with energy, team spirit, and inspiring performances. Our swimmers had the opportunity to race among Australia’s best, and many achieved personal bests while gaining valuable experience on the national stage.
The Pymble athletes who competed were:
Georgia Friedel (Year 8)
Alyssa Gillespie (Year 11)
Caitlyn Keating (Year 10)
Ruby Pickthall (Year 11)
Piper Gregory-Reid (Alumni)
Jessica Munk (Alumni)
A special mention goes to Alyssa (AJ) Gillespie (Year 11) for an outstanding week of racing in the Para events:
1st – 50m Backstroke
4th – 50m Breaststroke
10th – 100m Breaststroke
11th – 50m Freestyle
15th – 100m Backstroke
AJ broke the 17 Years SB8 Australian records in both the 50m and 100m Breaststroke, along with the Open SB8 100m Breaststroke Australian record. She also secured a qualifying time (QT) for the Australian Para-Flippers Squad in the 100m Breaststroke—adding to her existing QT in the 100m Backstroke. She now has two events to aim for at upcoming international competitions.
We are thrilled to congratulate Rafael Rodrigues on an incredible coaching milestone. Raf has been a valued coach at Pymble Ladies’ College since 2016 and, over the years, has guided and mentored many talented athletes.
One particularly special coaching journey has been with Declan, whom Raf first taught to swim at just six years old. Their enduring coach-athlete relationship is a true reflection of Raf’s dedication, patience, and excellence in coaching.
We are proud to share that Declan has been selected for the Australian Para Dolphins Team to compete at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships—a phenomenal achievement that highlights the impact of Raf’s unwavering commitment and passion.
Congratulations, Raf, on this well-deserved recognition. Your influence and leadership continue to inspire us all.
A huge thank you and congratulations go to our Pymble parents for their continued support throughout the week, and to our incredible coaches, Leanne Speechley and Rafael Rodrigues, for their tireless work in preparing, guiding, and motivating our swimmers across this exciting event.
We are so proud of all the swimmers for their commitment, courage, and passion—well done, team!
SMNE Distance Meet Report
The SMNE Distance Meet was hosted right here at Pymble, providing a valuable opportunity for our swimmers to gain experience racing longer-distance events in a competitive yet supportive environment. Events such as the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle, along with longer IM races, are often not offered at regular club meets, making this an important stepping stone for swimmers progressing towards state and national competitions.
Well done to all our Pymble swimmers who proudly represented KPSC at this meet, especially our younger swimmers who tackled the 400m for the first time:
Amélie Berg (Year 5), Oriana Fenton (Year 8), Georgia Friedel (Year 8), Alicia Gong (Year 4), Penelope Hargreaves (Year 8), Ludovica Iacovelli (Year 8), Caitlyn Keating (Year 10), Vera Le (Year 4), Sophia Li (Year 7), Jade Mao (Year 8), Priscilla Miller (Year 7), Indianna Vale (Year 10), Isabella Wang (Year 6), and Rose Wang (Year 5).
A huge thank you to our coaches for preparing and supporting the swimmers, to the parents for helping with timekeeping, and to Duccio and his team for their help with lifeguarding and pool set-up.
After-Hours Study
Homework Help
Year 12 Study Camps
Click the poster below to register.
Duke of Edinburgh
Term 2 Congratulations
Congratulations to all our students on another successful and inspiring term in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. We are delighted to acknowledge the achievements of the following students for completing their awards:
Bronze Level Arana Roy (Year 12) Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 10) Selina Huang (Year 11) Jemma Hung (Year 10) Georgina Stanley (Year 10) Phoebe Pockley (Year 10) Eden Orena Barlin (Year 10) Charlotte King (Year 10)
A special mention also to all our students who have contributed their time and compassion to the community through the Dignity Dishes program. Ms Jo Collins, our Dignity Dishes assessor, shares:
“Congratulations to the Pymble students who have come together to support those in need. Fulfilling their Voluntary Service hours, our students have volunteered their time to cook delicious meals for people within the community at risk of homelessness. Since beginning our relationship with Dignity, our Duke of Ed participants have prepared over 2000 home-cooked meals, making a positive difference to our local community. Congratulations and thank you for every meal.”
Dignity’s School Involvement Program is a fantastic opportunity for students (and teachers) to gain a greater awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness while making a meaningful and tangible contribution.
Well done to everyone involved for your hard work, dedication, and community spirit. We look forward to even more achievements next term.
Mrs Chris Boland, Co-ordinator of Duke of Edinburgh
Clued In @ Pymble
Grey House Walk closed in Term 3 and 4
A reminder that Grey House Walk will be closed to all pedestrian access tomorrow, Friday 27 June 2025 from 6.00pm until the opening of Grey House Precinct in Term 1 2026 to allow these critical works to take place, safely.
We understand that this will be an inconvenience to many in our community and we are committed to supporting families that are impacted by this closure.
In line with our Green Travel Plan to encourage healthy and active transport options for our girls, and in efforts to ease local traffic congestion, the College is seeking expressions of interest in new travel initiatives to support students who usually walk to school from Pymble Avenue via Grey House Walk.
🚶Walking Group from Grey House Walk🚶
This supervised walking group will operate in a similar fashion to our current Grandview Street walking group, departing from the entrance to Grey House Walk on Pymble Avenue and walking together to the Junior School.
🚌Free Pymble Suburb Bus Services 🚌
We are working with Ku-Ring-Gai Council and local families to introduce a new minibus loop service for families living in Pymble who will be most impacted by the closure of Grey House Walk.
This free service will travel through:
Livingstone Avenue
Courallie Avenue
Golfers Parade and
Pymble Avenue.
The minibus loop service will be supplemented by additional Pymble stops for our coaches, which will also be free of charge to use during the closure of Grey House Walk. The proposed stops are:
Ward Street and
Yarrara Road after Hesperus Street.
If you are interested in your daughter joining either of these initiatives, please complete this Expression of Interest form before TOMORROW, Friday 27 June.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to deliver world-class facilities though our Master Plan while prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and families.
Apply now for a range of Pymble scholarships
Senior Academic Scholarship registrations open to Year 9 students
Pymble offers a number of scholarships each year to girls who are currently in Year 9 at Pymble or external to Pymble who will be in Year 11 in 2027.
Registrations for Year 11 2027 Senior Academic Scholarships are currently open. For more information and to register to sit the Academic Test in August, visit our Scholarship webpage.
Registrations close on 30 July 2025. The examination will be held at the College on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Scholarship registrations open to current Year 5 students
Pymble offers a number of Year 7 scholarships each year that are open to current Pymble Junior School students and girls joining the College in Year 7.
The 2027 Rosalie Ramsay Junior Academic Scholarship and Year 7 2027 Performance Scholarship – Music are currently open to our Year 5 Pymble students.
Registrations close from 23 July2025 depending on the scholarship. The examination will be held at the College on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Information about portfolio requirements and how to apply can be found online through our Scholarship webpage.
Scholarship registrations for new RTG STEM Scholarship open to current Year 8 students
Pymble has a new scholarship for students with a passion and competent skills in STEM. The RTG STEM Scholarship offered through the Pymble Foundation is open to Year 8 students (current and external students) for a scholarship commencing in Year 9 2026 until Year 12 2029.
Registrations close on 30 July 2025. Students are required to sit an examination held at the College on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Information about portfolio requirements and how to apply can be found on the Scholarship webpage.
