On Tuesday 3 September, we witnessed the exceptional talent of our 2024 Drama cohort in their HSC Showcase. It was a night that not only reflected the remarkable creativity and dedication of these students, but also highlighted the transformative power of theatre. Over the past year, I have had the immense pleasure of guiding this group as they developed an impressive variety of group and individual projects.
The night’s program was filled with thought-provoking, emotionally charged, and beautifully vulnerable performances. These students did not take the easy way out. Instead, they embraced challenging themes, creating pieces that were not only entertaining but also compelling – encouraging the audience to laugh, cry, and reflect on both themselves and the world around them.
The integrity of live performance is something we deeply value as a school community and the variety of themes explored was testament to the courage of these young artists. As we reflect on the night, it’s clear that these brilliant young women achieved more than just a performance. They offered us a moment of shared experience and a celebration of their years of Pymble Drama.
We are incredibly proud of their achievements, and their hard work and dedication has been acknowledged with eleven OnSTAGE nominations! More details to follow!
Congratulations Year 12 Drama!
Melinda Pedavoli
Head of Drama and Theatre Production
Download the Garden Party app today
Download the Ignite Event Launcher for Garden Party!
Don’t miss anything at Garden Party and make the most of your day with our exclusive Ignite Event Launcher for Garden Party app.
Why download the Ignite Events Launcher for Garden Party app?
Garden Party schedule at your fingertips Keep track of all the exciting activities, live performances, and special events throughout the day.
Explore all the stalls Discover our incredible variety of food, fashion, and craft stalls with detailed information on what’s available and where to find them.
Interactive map for easy navigation Getting around Garden Party has never been easier! Use the interactive map to locate everything including food stalls, the Kids Zone, the High Tea Pavilion, rest areas and more.
Real-time updates Be alerted to the latest announcements, raffle draws, and special offers happening throughout the day.
Save the date for the upcoming Year 7, 8 and 9 Drama production of The Government Inspector. Tickets on sale next week.
From the Principal
Year 6, you are superstars! To quote one of the many brilliant numbers you performed in Seussical the Musical this week, How Lucky You Are to have Mr Kurt Schweinberger, Mrs Maria Lee, Miss Ellen Buckley and all our teachers and parent helpers in the Junior School to support your experience of performing an entire Broadway show live on stage in our GMCPA. It takes a great deal of courage to take to the stage, especially if it’s your first time and you’re playing to a full house, as you did on Wednesday. Congratulations to all involved on a fabulously entertaining show, and a delightful display of collaboration and creativity.
Just before the curtain went up, a few of our cast members came out in full costume to personally welcome a group of children from the Macquarie University Special Education Centre who were here to see the show – their first ever excursion. We are so proud of our girls for taking this time to greet our visitors with kindness, care and respect. #PymbleProud
These small but significant displays of our values remind me how lucky WE are to have so many wonderful role models across the College who use their compassion and influence to bring our community closer together. Sadly, we have just one week left with our Year 12 role models, who we will honour next week in a series of formal and informal celebrations. We also celebrated our soon-to-be graduates in a final Assembly for Years 5 to 12 this week, during which our wonderful Head Prefects Julie Sheng and Bella Walker addressed the student body as leaders for the last time. With pleasure and pride, I now handover to Bella and Julie to share their final ‘Roar in 2024’ to their ‘pride’.
Farewell from “Yours truly, Bella and Julie”
“It is a bittersweet feeling to be standing before you for the last time, as we say goodbye to you all, the Pymble pride that we love and cherish.
“I think we can say we have learnt an incredible amount over our time at Pymble, particularly this year. As summer approaches and you begin to reflect on your own graduating year, and the excitement but strangeness that comes with the thought of leaving this community, we hope that you find comfort in Pumba and Timon’s problem-free philosophy, Hakuna Matata. Whatever happens next, we will be there for each other and, as Alumni, we will always be there to help you. To our younger Pymble girls, take all that knowledge in – you may not realise it now, but you are living your future memories each day at Pymble!
“To you, our Pymble family, we express our eternal gratitude for the way you have rallied behind us and supported our leadership journey, from your thunderous cheers when we were first announced as Head Prefects, to your enthusiastic engagement with our 2024 theme ‘Hear us Roar in 2024’. Thank you for the smiles you gave us as we walked around the school, and the way you live out College values with grace and humility.
“2024 has been a year of energy and wonder. It has been a year of self-discovery, friendship and laughter. We can’t deny that it has also been a year with a few bumps and hurdles, and you should all be so proud of how you approached and navigated your personal jungle.
“We are incredibly honoured to have had the opportunity to support the Pymble community this year. It has been extremely rewarding to see you search for and find your roar, conquer the school jungle, and grow into strong young women with boundless potential – but it’s also completely okay if you are still searching.
“Although we are setting off to new destinations, we are sure that the leadership cycle will continue with our two incoming Head Prefects, Emily Abadee and Ang-Ya Koo. We are confident that these two very capable leaders, who Just Can’t Wait to Be King, will carry on our torch in 2025. Emily, Ang-Ya, we invite you to complete The Circle of Life!
“We can’t wait to see all the exciting things that you all will get up to next year. Believe in yourself. Strive for the highest. And until next time, keep roaring!”
Yours truly, Bella and Julie
Windows into Learning
This week we travel from space to the ancient king of Macedonia thanks to the following sneak peeks into our Junior School and Upper School classrooms.
Exploration and discovery in Science
This term, Year 3 students have embarked on an exciting journey of exploration into the relationship between the Earth and the Sun, focusing on the concepts of rotation and revolution, and engaging with the themes of investigation, coding, observation, and exploration. The girls explored the vastness of space, the Earth’s seasons, its axial tilt, and the rotation and revolution of our planet around the Sun. They coded Spheros to simulate the movement of the Earth and Sun, built models of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun using Lego Spike, researched biomes, and explored climate zones through Virtual Reality headsets. Additionally, they gained a deeper understanding of the reasons for the seasons and learned about the cycle of day and night through hands-on activities using globes and lamps.
These activities fostered creativity and critical thinking, allowing the girls to become inquisitive problem solvers. Their collaboration and communication skills have shone through as they worked together to manipulate digital systems and solve challenges. Teachers have witnessed moments of discovery as students cracked codes, experienced “a-ha” moments, and eagerly reflected on their learning.
Mrs Victoria Soumboulidis Year 3 Compass Teacher
Fun and games with Alexander the Great
Creating a board game about Alexander the Great’s life and achievements was a challenging but fun and unique way for us to consolidate our learnings about this period of history. We started by following the scaffold provided, brainstorming ideas that would allow us to capture the key information about Alexander the Great while also developing an engaging board game for the target audience. We decided to make an educational board game for primary and high school students, which involved following the path of Alexander’s conquests while being challenged with quiz questions and military victories or defeats along the way to add an element of chance to the game. The first player to reach Babylon, where Alexander died and the legend of ‘the Great’ was born, wins the game. One of our favourite things about this project was looking for ways to incorporate details of Alexander’s life into the game, such as making character tokens with images of key figures during this time, including his nemesis Darius III of Persia.
By Helena Tang and Kiki Chen Year 10 Elective History students
From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Seussical is here!
This week is a huge week for our Year 6 girls, and our Year 6 and Performing Arts teaching teams. After many months of dedicated rehearsals, Seussical the Musical is here! It will be a wonderful showcase of the girls’ talents and teamwork and I am proud that this year Mr Schweinberger and his team have led a full Broadway musical performance over two acts which enables each girl to have more time on stage and each Compass class to work as a performance team together. I am watching both evening performances and can’t wait!
I am also excited and proud that some of our elders from Northaven Uniting Care Centre and Kari Court also came to watch the matinee performance on Wednesday. I know how deeply they feel the kindness and care extended to them by our Year 5 and Year 6 girls who visit regularly, and they were thrilled to be able to come and watch the performance. We also have ten students from a Macquarie University-run primary school for students with special learning needs coming to watch the performance, as we are now connecting with that school and looking forward to ways in which we can support them and share learning opportunities with them.
Hooray for the Garden Party!
I am really looking forward to Garden Party on Saturday as it’s such a wonderful way for us to come together as a community and enjoy fun, conversation and some delicious food throughout the day.
A huge thank you to all our parents who have been busy planning and organising our Junior School stalls and to those of you who will help to run these stalls on Saturday. Mrs Bird and I are excited to be on the Year 4 Butterfly Balloon Stall (from 12.00pm to 1.00pm) and the barbecue stall (from 1.00pm to 2.00pm) so please come and say hello to us as we work on these stalls.
Opportunity for our Junior School Artists and Designers
Pymble’s values of care, courage, responsibility, respect and integrity, reflect who we are as people, inform our behaviour and show the world what we, as individuals and as a College, know are important.
These five values also inform our statement of intent, Watch us Change the World, defining our goal to make the world a better place for all.
To celebrate the launch of our behaviour statements related to each of our values, I am delighted to announce a very special Pymble competition to design the cover of the Pymble 2025 Junior School Student Diary.
The competition for Junior School is open to girls from Year 1 to Year 6 and entries will be accepted until Friday 27 September at 8.00am. If your daughter is interested in having a go at this competition please talk through these requirements with her:
An original artwork, either hand drawn or digital, that represents the five College values and their relevant behaviour statements.
This is an opportunity to explore your creativity, using visual elements to express your ideas. Please keep text and words to a minimum.
Your artwork must measure 180mm width x 170mm height.
Digital submissions must be made in high resolution, in JPEG or PDF format.
Each student must submit an artist statement (minimum 100 words) explaining their idea, rationale, inspiration and/or intentions. This statement, and your school photo, will be printed in the school diary.
Artworks will be judged by Dr Hadwen, Mrs Bird, Mr Robinson, Ms Rockwell, Mrs Kenny, Mr Raymond and me, and the winner will be decided on the demonstration of age-appropriate technical skill and how effectively the College values are conveyed.
The winner will also receive a $100 gift voucher to Event Cinemas
Artwork must be clearly labelled with the student’s name, year and Compass Class
I am also planning to have a gallery of entries which are highly commended by the judging panel which will be on display at the start of the new school year.
Amazing results in the Asia Schools Open Debate
Congratulations to Alice Jiang and Lakshi Rajeev who both competed in the recent Asia Schools Open – British Parliamentary Debate and achieved exceptional results in this fiercely contested debate competition.
Alice – 7th best speaker in 12 and under category and quarterfinalist in the 13 and under category
Lakshi – 10th best speaker in 12 and under category and quarterfinalist in the 13 and under category
An important message from Mr Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
Friday Canteen
Due to the overwhelming response and the warmer weather, cold drinks/frozen treat will now be available to order from Term 4. We are seeking help from parents across the Junior School to assist on a Wednesday and Friday sorting lunch orders and handing out cold drinks/frozen treats that have been pre-ordered. Should you be willing to assist, please click here (we are initially limiting the form to only accept one submission per person, to share this opportunity with all members of the community).
Note: There will be no cash or card purchases of a Friday. Items are only available for pre-purchase via the Junior School Flexischools app. Years 5 and 6 may use this facility, or access Archie’s Cafe as normal.
OSHC Registrations
Please note that there are 62 days left to register at OSHC. ALLJunior School students need to be registered at OSHC (through the Kidsoft website) in order to enrol in new or additional co-curricular offerings, including swimming and tennis. If your daughter is not registered with OSHC she will not be able to be enrolled in new activities from Term 4 2024 or be eligible to select new activities for 2025.
Water bottles
With the temperature increasing, a reminder to ensure you daughter has a named water bottle with her at school. Water bottle filling stations and water bubblers are available throughout the Junior School.
A message from Kurt Schweinberger – Head of Creative and Performing Arts K-6
Seussical – The Musical opens tonight! Get your tickets
“Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’ best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper!
I hope you are excited for the upcoming Year 6 production of Seussical – The Musical. Please note that tickets are on sale via the GMCPA Box Office.Click here to purchase your tickets.
Performance Dates: Thursday 19 and Friday 20 September commencing at 7.00pm.
Ticket Price: $22
Confirming the production will run for approximately two hours (with a 20-minute interval).
We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!
Bravo to the Grainger Concert Band!
Congratulations to the Grainger Band on their stellar performance at the NSSWE Spring Band Festival in Chatswood last Friday night! Under the skilled baton of Mrs. Patrice Goodman, the band delivered captivating renditions of Flutopia and Arabian Dances, impressing the audience with their musicality and energy. The girls’ dedication and talent truly shone through, making the night a memorable celebration of their hard work. We are so proud of the Grainger Band for their exceptional achievements!
One week to register for PJ Factor 2024
2024 Junior School PJ Factor is back, and we are looking forward to seeing students in Years 3 to 6 create exciting and entertaining performances.
Students may only enter ONCE as either a soloist or as part of a small group. All students that participate will receive House Points.
Heats will commence Wednesday 16 October (Term 4 Week 1). All heats will be held at lunch in the John Reid Hall and students will be allocated to one of the following times:
Heat 1: Wednesday 16 October
Heat 2: Thursday 17 October
Heat 3: Friday 18 October
Heat 4: Monday 21 October
Heat 5: Tuesday 22 October
Heat 6: Thursday 24 October
Following the heats, a selection of solo and group performances will be chosen to perform at the finals in the GMCPA Theatre on Friday 22 November.
When preparing their performance, students need to consider the following points:
My performance does not exceed two minutes
My performance is appropriate for my age (parents need to work with their daughter to create a performance that is indicative of their respective age)
Registrations close Tuesday 24 September (Week 10). Students will be informed of their performance date on Thursday 26 September.
If you have any questions, please speak with Mr Schweinberger.
Junior School Digital News
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
JSPG Movie Night – Saturday 19 October
Tickets are now available here for the JSPG Movie Night, coming up at the end of Week 1 next term.
Date: Saturday 19 October
Time: 4.30pm to 8.30pm
Location: Main Oval
The evening will feature food stalls, a big screen movie screening of Migration, popcorn and an inflatable obstacle course. BYO seating including cushions, rugs or low chairs.
Monday 23 September Year 3 OEP Group 1 Vision Valley
Tuesday 24 September Year 3 OEP Group 1 return from Vision Valley
Tuesday 24 September Year 3 OEP Group 2 Vision Valley
Wednesday 25 September Year 3 OEP Group 2 return from Vision Valley
Wednesday 25 September Year 5 Riverview Excursion
Thursday 26 September Year 1 OEP Vision Valley
Friday 27 September Kindness/Service House Day
Friday 27 September Last Day of Term 3
Tuesday 15 October First Day of Term 4
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School
From the Middle School
Our Year 8 students have had an amazing experience so far out at the Somerset campus on the Colo River. The Outdoor Education Program is a challenge-by-choice adventure, and I am very pleased to report that across the week the girls have embraced the opportunities and stepped up to try new things whilst building their resilience.
Apart from this, most importantly they have worked collaboratively across their camp groups to foster a sense of community and camaraderie, supporting and encouraging each other across activities. Hopefully you have been following their journey on social media.
Some highlights have been the canoeing down the Colo River, sleeping out under the stars and the trek through the national park. Such an idyllic setting, with perfect weather, and a great way for our girls to finish off Term 3.
Thank you to all the staff who have supported this important event on our Middle School calendar – without your commitment and investment in the girls we would not be able to offer such programs. A special thank you to Andrew Heggie and Theresa Mimmo, our Heads of Year 8 and Sarah Budd, our Deputy Head of Middle School for all of the organisation.
On Thursday last week, our Year 7 students had the opportunity to hear from Senior Constable Jennifer Brown on the important topics of e-safety and responsible mobile phone use. The session provided valuable insights into online privacy, cyberbullying, and the legal responsibilities surrounding mobile devices under Australian law. Students left with a clearer understanding of how to stay safe online and the legal consequences of their digital actions, helping them make informed decisions in today’s digital age.
During the presentation I was very inspired. She taught me how to handle situations and what to do when something that you are uncomfortable with happens. Ms Brown showed me that when it comes to needing help from others, you can rely on trusted adults, friends, and online resources. – Written by Gloria (Year 7)
Congratulations to Angela Mao and Yenyu Chan of Year 7 for their remarkable participation in the summer edition of the Asia Schools Open – British Parliamentary Debate, held on 31 August to 1 September 2024. These tournaments are designed to nurture and showcase exceptional talent on a global stage. The organisers noted that the girls “demonstrated outstanding debating skills which significantly contributed to the prestige of this flagship event.” Their results and a joint student reflection are below.
Angela Mao
3rd Best Speaker, 12-and-Under Category
Co 4th Best Speaker of Oceania, Australia
Quarterfinalist, 13-and-Under Category
Yenyu Chan
Semifinalist, 13-and-Under Category
We have been in many school debating competitions, and because of our passion for debating, we decided to extend ourselves into British Parliamentary debating in an international competition.
The competition consisted of five rounds and three finals. During these rounds, Angela and I as well as our partners had to go against several older students from many different countries around the world. And in the end, my team and Angela’s team both reached the quarterfinals. I managed to get into the semi finals.
Unfortunately, we both did not make it to the grand finals but we still received a very good experience from this, and we will continue on our debating journey.
Written by Angela and Yenyu
From the Middle School Parent Groups
Middle School Sweet Sensations Stall 2024– VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
The most anticipated event of the school calendar is only two days away!
Thank you in advance to all the wonderful families that have supported the Sweet Sensations stall thus far.
We need your support at the stall on the day. If you can spare an hour to help out, please sign up using the link below;
A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
We are looking forward to our annual Garden Party and our annual Bottle Bingo stall. We really appreciate the donations of two or three jars for Saturday. It is not too late for the girls to contribute so we hope to see some more jars arrive on Friday. We would love to be able to generate a fantastic Upper School charitable contribution on the day.
It is finals season in sport; it has been wonderful seeing so many Upper School students involved in Co-Curricular activities this term. For those girls in finals this weekend, we wish you good luck, and a shout out to the Year 9 and 10 students in the Intermediate Rugby Sevens’ 1sts for a hard-fought win over Kinross Wollaroi last weekend. The atmosphere on Main Oval and James Kelso Field was excellent and it was great to see the girls play with determination and show great Pymble spirit. Well done to these girls and all others involved in a great season.
We currently have 14 students away on Exchange. We are receiving regular updates from the girls and love seeing these highlights of our girls currently in Scotland, Japan, Argentina, and New Zealand.
Peer Support
On Monday this week, our Year 10 Peer Support Leaders celebrated the end of their peer support sessions with their beautiful Year 7 little sisters with a picnic. Peer support is a valuable way for each year group to develop connections and build ongoing relationships. We hope that all girls found these sessions helpful, and we look forward to continuing this program next year.
Olivia Song has shared this reflection:
Throughout my time as a Peer Support Leader for Year 7 this year, not only did I learn how to be an enthusiastic leader with effective communication and engaging sessions, I strived to become a genuine role model.
I tried to ensure that I made meaningful connections through sharing my own experiences and giving advice about a wide range of topics including school, academics and friendships. I learnt how genuine leadership does not necessarily come from the most knowledge or experience, but more so a true willingness to encourage and inspire the ‘followers’.
I hope that I was able to support these girls in the beginning of their high school journey while learning so much about leadership myself!
Year 10 Outdoor Education Program
In Week 6 next term, all Year 10 students will be involved in one of four Outdoor Education Programs. This program is a compulsory part of the Year 10 program, and we look forward to supporting all girls to enjoy this fantastic opportunity to be in nature and be involved in a rewarding experience.
Information letters and the links for consent and medical forms have been posted on MyPymble. It would be great if all parents could complete these by the end of term. Thank you for your support of this important part of your daughter’s journey at Pymble.
Important Dates
TERM 3
Saturday 21 September Garden Party (10.00am to 3.00pm)
Friday 27 September Boarder’s Travel Day + Last day of Term 3
TERM 4
Monday 14 October Boarder’s Travel Day/Staff Day
Tuesday 15 October First day of Term 4
Wednesday 16 October International Exchange Information Evening ONLINE – NEW TIME
Friday 18 October Year 10 Pymble-Shore Dance at Miramare Gardens
Sunday 20 October Year 9 Residential Program Group 4 begins at Vision Valley
Friday 25 October Year 10 Study Day (All girls to remain at home – no classes being held)
Monday 28 October Year 10 Examination week begins.
For the first time in a number of weeks, the Senior School building has returned to normal classes. All the examinations have been completed for the term, and the students are taking some well-earned space to reflect and settle back into their normal routines. It is timely for all the students to spend some time in honest self-assessment, and consider any changes to their preparation for academic growth and progress.
Final Combined Assembly for Year 12
This week marked a joyful moment for our Year 12 students as they attended their final Combined Assembly, filled with excitement and celebration. The students made a memorable entrance to the upbeat tunes of “Hakuna Matata,” sporting vibrant jungle headbands thoughtfully crafted by our Head Prefects. A very special moment was when Bella and Julie reacted the scene from The Lion King and handed over Kimba the lion to Emily and Ang-Ya.
As they step into their final week of formal schooling at Pymble, we eagerly anticipate a series of heartfelt send-offs. We extend our best wishes to this impressive group of students as they move forward and express our deep gratitude for their significant contributions to the College. Their legacy and spirit will continue to inspire us all.
A special visit from the Ex-Students’ Union
As the Year 12s begin to think about their final days, they have been invited to join the Ex-Students’ Union. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mrs Corcoran and the dedicated members of the ESU for their recent special presentation to our graduating Year 12 students.
Their thoughtful words of encouragement and well-wishes for the upcoming exams and future endeavours truly resonated with our students. The Ex-Students’ Union’s generous offer of support, including access to a valuable network of career mentors, overseas support, special interest groups, and enduring friendships, provides a wonderful resource as our graduates embark on their next chapter. Additionally, the beautiful keyrings presented were a lovely token of their continued connection and encouragement.
We are deeply appreciative of the Ex-Students’ Union’s commitment to supporting our students and fostering a strong, interconnected alumni community.
Empowering Year 12 Girls with Health Insights: A Special Thanks to Our Local GPs
We are delighted to share that our Year 12 girls recently had the invaluable opportunity to engage in a unique health education session, thanks to the generosity of local General Practitioners who volunteered their time through the GPs In Schools program.
In confidential discussions, the girls were grouped into their friendship circles, creating a comfortable environment where they could openly explore and discuss health matters pertinent to them. The local GPs provided tailored advice and answered questions on a wide range of topics, from mental wellness to physical health, addressing the specific concerns that the students brought to the table.
This initiative was designed not only to enhance the girls’ understanding of their own health but also to empower them with practical knowledge and resources. The GPs’ willingness to dedicate their time and expertise to this program highlights the profound impact of community support in shaping the well-being of our young women.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the local GPs for their dedication and for making this valuable experience possible. Their contributions have made a significant difference in equipping our students with the tools they need to navigate their health confidently.
y-Safe presentation to Year 11
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to y-Safe for their recent visit to speak with our Year 11 students about cyber safety. Their engaging and informative presentation provided crucial insights into protecting oneself online and navigating the digital world responsibly. y-Safe’s expertise in this area has equipped our students with essential knowledge and practical strategies to stay safe in an increasingly connected environment. We appreciate their dedication to fostering a safer online experience for our young people and are thankful for their commitment to empowering our students with the tools they need to make informed and secure choices online.
Save the Date: Year 12 (2025) Information Night – Thursday 24 October
Please note that Senior School will be hosting a Year 12 Information Night for parents of Year 12 2025 students. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the journey through Year 12, and meet with the Compass Teachers, the Head and Deputy Head of Senior School, the Director of Studies and the Futures team.
This will take place on Thursday 24 October, from 5.30pm, in the Kate Mason Building – Senior Centre.
From the Heads of Year 12 – Mrs Michie and Mr Stern
The upcoming Garden Party gives Year 12 the opportunity to participate in their last fundraising opportunity as Pymble students.
Year 12 have been provided with raffle tickets and are expected to sell one booklet each. Tickets cost $2.50 each or $40 for the book of 20.
Year 12 will be working at the Year 12 Raffle stall and are asked to work one 30-minute shift at some point throughout the day. Please encourage your daughter to register for a shift by the end of this week!
Year 12 Spring Study Camp
The Pymble HSC Spring Study Camp is on during the first week of the holiday break to get your child ‘match fit’ for their HSC exams.
The camp is a five-day (non-residential) program that provides you with a structured study environment free from distractions in the lead up to the HSC Examinations.
Fabulous features of study camp:
Teachers available daily for individual or small group tutoring
Dedicated absolute quiet study space
Allocated rooms do a practice exam or collaborate in small groups
Academic advisors will be available daily for ATAR estimates and study planning assistance
The Futures Team will be onsite. Students will be able to book a time with a member of the team.
Unlimited tea, coffee and fruit
Camp Details: Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October 2024
Time: 8.30am to 4.30pm
Cost: $345.00 (5 days) – morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided daily
For further questions, please contact: Mrs Jenny Olsen jolsen@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au (Head of Extended Learning).
Term 3 Key Dates
21 September – Garden Party
25 September – Year 12 Picnic Day at Clontarf
26 September – Year 12 Graduation Assembly (students and staff in attendance)
27 September – Year 12 Speech Day
27 September – Year 12 Honouring Ceremony
27 September – Year 12 Chapel Service
27 September – Year 12 Valedictory Dinner
27 September – Term 3 ends
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School
From the Boarding School
We are fortunate in Boarding to enjoy the company of girls from around the world. Celebrating the various cultural traditions is a real treat and the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of our favourites! Also known as the Moon Festival, the celebration is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, with a history dating back over 3,000 years.
This year was extra special with our Boarding fairy godmother, Mrs Sophia Fang, treating the Boarders to a stunning array of delicious mooncakes. For many of our international girls the taste of home brought tears to their eyes and we are all very grateful for the thoughtfulness and generosity of Mrs Fang.
Our catering team also went all out to ensure it was a special night and the delicious Asian style banquet was enjoyed by all.
ATAR Update with Mrs Stanfield
We are very grateful to have a team of day school staff who support our Boarders so generously. Mrs Stanfield, Director of Studies, is a regular visitor and, as Charlotte shares below, her visits are always very welcome.
Last week, Mrs Stanfield visited Lang House to meet with some of the Year 12 Boarders for individual meetings focused on our ATAR estimates and strategies to enhance our performance leading up to the HSC exams.
During the meetings, she offered advice and shared practical tips and strategies that motivated us to push forward and commit to our studies. She further worked with us to set clear goals and craft detailed study plans, helping us organise our time more effectively and efficiently.
This provided a much-needed boost of confidence, encouraging us to stay focused and disciplined as we approach the final stretch before the HSC. We really appreciate and are so grateful for Mrs Stanfield’s dedication and expertise and the rest of the day school staff who provide endless support towards our studies and assisting us during these stressful times.
Our new Spirit House Captains
On Tuesday night, I was delighted to announce our Spirit House Captains for the 2024-2025 school year. While the day school has membership to eight ‘Houses’ our Boarders are members of one of four of these Houses, known as ‘Spirit Houses’ – Goodlet, Marden, Hammond and Lang.
There are up to two Spirit House Captains for each Spirit House and these girls are charged with engaging the entire Boarding community in the various events and activities that take place throughout the year in addition to promoting and fostering school spirit and the College values – Care, Courage, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility.
Please join me in congratulating the following leaders:
Marden House – Rose Kirkby and Ella Mitchell
Lang House – Joanna Au and Addison Seeto
Goodlet House – Jocelyn Blair and Matilda Ord
Hammond House – Katelyn Chan and Phoebe Roberts
Our Pink Ladies
Pink Ladies are special people in the lives of our Boarders who go out of their way to make our time in Boarding easier, happier and much more connected.
This term there were multiple Pink Lady awards for our students with our Year 12 Boarders bestowing this honour our entire Year 12 cohort. As Head Boarders, Aspen and Skye said, “We are so grateful to our day school friends who, over the last six years, have shown us immeasurable kindness – picking us up, driving us around, feeding us and providing a lovely home environment for us to stay. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you!”
It was also a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge Mrs Katie White, who leaves us at the end of the term after four fabulous years as Deputy Director of Boarding. As Skye and Aspen share below, it was a very well deserved honour:
Our final Pink Lady award goes to probably the pinkest of all pink ladies – Mrs White. Mrs White has been our Deputy Director of Boarding for the last four years and for our year group, before that she was our Head of Year in Year 7 and 8.
She has been a staff member at the College for 20 years and has had an incredible impact on all of us. We want to recognise her as a Pink Lady today because she has consistently gone over and above to make our time in Boarding easier, happier and much more connected.
Whether it be organising amazing community weekends and love-it adventures, or ensuring we are booked in with the right teacher to help us with our studies or just being a mentor who supports us with practical advice and kind words, she really has enhanced the lives of us Boarders and we are very grateful.
Love It – Katie White, Deputy Director of Boarding
Last weekend was a special weekend for Love It with our first musical experience – Sister Act! Twenty-four Boarders were joined by Mardi and Dan at the Capitol Theatre and had a delightful experience. We also ventured out to C3 Gelato on Saturday evening in Wahroonga. The Boarders were delighted with the variety of flavours and exciting combinations. We also had a fantastic Trivia evening on Friday with the boarders from Newington.
The final week of Love It is upon us, and what a cracker it is! We have the community event on Friday night at the Warrawee Club, Garden Party on Saturday and then we have snagged 20 tickets to the AFLW Swans vs Giants on Sunday afternoon.
Eat Like a Boarder
I hope you can join us for dinner on Monday 14 October at 6.00pm, when you return your girls from the Term 3 break. This will be the ‘real’ experience, with you being able to enjoy the regular dinner service, just as the girls do each evening. If you would like to join us please RSVP to boarding@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au no later than Friday 27 September.
View From My Window
Hi everyone, for those of you that don’t know me, my name is Phoebe and I’m in Year 7.
I live in between Coonabarabran and Mulley. I live with my mum, dad and my two sisters, Millie and Emma, who were both Boarders at Pymble. Emma graduated last year and Millie in 2022.
Home for me is a 3000-acre farm with angus cattle and we also have two dogs, Loki and Sylvie, and I have one cat called Trixie. The farm has been in the family for two generations as my dad grew up on the farm with his family. My Nan and Pop still live in the same house that dad grew up in and we see them often as they are on the farm too.
My dad works on the farm while my mum is a speech pathologist managing her own business in Gunnedah. I love being at home with Mum and Dad as there is so much space with wonderful views. I especially love the views of the sun setting through the clouds over the landscape. The sunny days are lovely as our lake sparkles in the sunshine while the cows wander through the paddocks eating grass. Sometimes the view is noisy with the dogs fighting over bones in the backyard.
One thing that I love is the drive around the farm in the ute, helping my dad check the cattle and the paddocks. Although a little different, when I’m at school, I love my time in Cattle Team as it feels familiar being around the cattle and doing the jobs involved. Starting boarding was a little hard for me as I really missed Mum and Dad, home and the farm. Meeting friends in other years through Cattle Team was great, and I really enjoyed my time at the Easter Show earlier in the year. Over the last three terms, I’ve become more familiar with things at Boarding and feel comfortable in Avonmoore.
Boarder of the Week
Sally joined Pymble Boarding from Tomalla NSW in Year 10 last year and has been a lively presence within our community. Throughout Year 11 exams, Sally was a support to her Boarding sisters, writing daily affirmations of inspiration for Year 11 as they headed to exams.
She is known for her friendly banter, and teatime chats of an evening with staff and peers and is a go-to big sister for many of our younger Boarders. Sally is always thoughtful of others and has dedicated her time knitting squares for the ‘Wrap with Love’ initiative.
She leads by example in every task she does and is always the last to leave the Boarders’ Dining Room after assisting with clearing tables. Congratulations to Sally on being our very well deserved, Boarder of the Week!
Save the Date
20 September – Boarders and their Families event (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
21 September – Garden Party
24 September – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel and Farewell to Year 12 Boarders (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
26 September – Year 12 Boarder and Parents’ celebration event (Year 12 Boarders and parents only)
27 September – Year 11 and 12 Speech Day, followed by Boarders’ Travel Day
Term 4
14 October – Boarders return from 2.00pm
18 October – Boarding lockdown and evacuation drill (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
Term 4 TBA – Mother Daughter Lunch
4 December – Year 7 to 10 Speech Day, followed by Boarders’ Travel Day
Boarder Parent Group Meetings
20 September – 2.30pm onsite
24 October – 7.00pm TEAMS meeting
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
From the Chaplains
The Black Dot
“In ordinary life we hardly realise that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
One sunny spring day, in a school quite like this, a professor asked her students to prepare for a surprise test.
The students waited anxiously for the test to begin, they had not prepared anything!
The professor handed out the question paper with the text facing down as always, and then asked the students to begin.
To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions, just a black dot somewhere around the bottom of the page.
The professor then said, “I want you to write about what you see there.”
The students were a little confused but got started on the task.
At the end of the class, the professor collected all the papers and started reading each one of them aloud to her students.
All of them, without exception, described the black dot, trying to explain its position on the paper, its shape and colour.
Once she had finished reading she explained, “I am not going to grade you on this. I just want to give you something to think about.”
No one write about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the back dot.
In our lives, its easy to focus on the black dot isn’t it? Our life is a gift, our breath is a gift, this day is a gift. We have so many reasons to celebrate, yet we focus on the dark spots of our lives. The opportunities that we miss out on, the speed that we don’t have, the friendships that aren’t ours, the beauty or lifestyle that is someone else’s.
These spots are actually very small parts of our lives but spoil our minds. She challenged her students to look away from the dark spots, to look at and name the blessings already in their lives. The gift of each moment, the gift of each other, the gift of today.
The Prophet Habakkuk was writing during a period political volatility, unpredictable weather patterns devastating livelihoods and emptying dinner tables. Yet he holds onto hope and thanksgiving, saying
16I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled… 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Knowing the ‘black dot’ was ever present, but choosing to draw is glance wider to a new day, he sung to that which was constant, his God. He did not look with rose-coloured glasses, rather, he magnified his focus on that which was good, constant and hope-filled. May each of us magnify that which is hope-filled, enchanting and good, even as we walk in the awareness of our ‘black dots.’
Let me pray a Blessing by Indigenous Elder Francis Bodkin
May you always see the beauty of the Earth. May you always taste the sweetest fruit. May you always hear the laughter of the People. May you always feel the warmth of the Flame. May you always smell the perfume of the flowers. May you dreams always be happy ones. May your friends always be with you when you have need. May your stomach always be full. Amen .
Reverend Cass Blake
College Chaplain
From the Futures Team
University of Sydney | 2024 School of Project Management Spring Camp
October 4, 2024 – The University of Sydney is hosting a Spring Camp on Friday 4 October 2024, for students in Years 10-12. This in-person event provides a deep dive into project management, career paths, and degree insights. Hear from industry experts, academics, students and alumni.
Past programs included tours to Google, Atlassian, and Western Sydney Airport.
CQC²T Open Day
October 7, 2024 – Showcasing the state-of-the-art facilities at the UNSW Kensington Campus, the Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC²T) is opening our doors this September school holidays. This is a science-led day filled with talks and tours of our labs including practical demonstrations and an opportunity to speak to those currently working in this exciting field. This is the perfect opportunity for students contemplating STEM careers, with a passion for physics, maths, engineering or coding.
Students will participate in learning activities and tours of our world-class laboratories and facilities. Program includes:
TechToys – An Inclusive Toy Car Demonstration with Biomedical Engineers
Intro to Computing – Basics of Computer Science and Programming
Maths Activity: 4D Pool in Virtual Reality
Electromagnetic Waves: Exploring the Fascinating Invisible World
Tour of the Australian Centre for Robotics – A Global Leader in Robotics Research
Flight Simulator in an Aerospace Laboratory
Mini Drone and Flight Mechanics
Panel Discussion on “What Do Engineers Do?” This program provides an excellent forum to learn about engineering and the diverse career paths it opens up. Students will gain insights into the discipline, explore career opportunities, and understand the Bachelor of Engineering degree at the University of Sydney.
For Secondary School Students
University of Sydney | 2024 School of Project Management Spring Camp
October 4, 2024 The University of Sydney is hosting a Spring Camp on Friday 4 October 2024, for students in Years 10-12. This in-person event provides a deep dive into project management, career paths, and degree insights. Hear from industry experts, academics, students and alumni.
Past programs included tours to Google, Atlassian, and Western Sydney Airport.
Open date: October 15 2024 Closing date: February 28 2025 (Only one student per school)
Taronga Zoo Sydney offers school work experience opportunities for students in years 10 to 12 who are interested in pursuing a career in zoo keeping, animal care, tourism or zoo horticulture.
Work experience undertaken at Taronga Zoo Sydney allows students to:
Observe a variety of work being done in the fields of zoo keeping, animal care, zoo horticulture or guest services and education
Undertake supervised work appropriate to the student’s skill level
NSW Education Scholarships: Open to Teacher Education programs from Kindergarten to Year 12.
$7,500 per annum. Closing 13 September 2024.
NIDA September Spring Holiday Courses 2024 – NSW
September 16 to October 13, 2024
NIDA’s Holiday Program offers fun and engaging skills-based training for all ages and aspirations. From 3-week Residency programs to 1-day short courses for adults, children and young people, we have something to offer everyone.
The Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship is a remarkable opportunity offered to passionate and curious individuals looking to expand their worldview, embrace new perspectives and help build stronger ties between Australia and Asia.
This forum is an excellent opportunity for teachers, students and their parents to find out about the UCAT, pathways into medicine, and have all questions answered by an expert teacher who has been working in the field since 1999.
UTS Bachelor of Accounting (BAcc) Co-op Scholarship Program
Offering students a wonderful opportunity to graduate with an internationally recognised Bachelor of Accounting qualification, coupled with real industry experience. We are grateful to have around 30 sponsor organisations recruiting graduates from the BAcc program. Up to $75,000 over three years. Applications close 13 October.
For more information, email carin.alberts@uts.edu.au.
Events Calendar
Co-curricular Administration
Term 4 Registrations Now Open
Registrations for Term 4 programs opened via the online registration system at 12.00pm on Wednesday 11 September. Registrations will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 2 October.
Please access the online registration via the Co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. A parent/carer log in is required to be able to register. A reminder that registrations CANNOT be processed via email or phone.
All registrations, including registration requests are actioned on a first come, first served basis. Please select your sport and/or activity carefully. Program fees will not be adjusted for sessions missed due to student sickness, wet weather or school events, such as camps, as per our terms and conditions.
If you require any assistance with completing your registration, please contact Co-curricular Administration at ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or on +61 2 9497 7848
Term 3 Year 12 Performance Awards
Congratulations to all Year 12 students who received a Performance Award for Term 3. Please click here for the full listing. Year 7 to 11 Performance Awards from Term 3 will be announced early in Term 4.
Sally Davidson
Head of Co-curricular Administration
From the Co-curricular Sports Team
The shortcode only works for newsletter articles
Artistic Gymnastics
WAG Northern Region NL3-4 Trial 2
Our gymnasts shine under pressure! We are Pymble proud of all our gymnasts who competed at the WAG Northern Region NL3-4 Trial 2 over the weekend.
This competition uses a banding system which categorises the gymnasts’ performances into gold, silver, and bronze. Some of our very talented gymnasts achieved gold which requires flawless skills and technique and is an exceptionally rare achievement. Well done!
Silver medals are also a huge achievement, signifying the gymnast is nearing the pinnacle of excellence. Well done to all our silver winners!
A bronze medal is a commendable achievement and a mark of dedication. It acknowledges the gymnasts’ hard work and progress, celebrating their efforts. We are so proud of our bronze medallists!
Level 4, Session 1
Clarice Chung (Year 5) – Gold
Scarlett Qiu (Year 5) – Silver
Joslyn Wong (Year 5) – Silver
Aurora Lin (Year 5) – Silver
Bethany Tucker (Year 6) – Bronze
Level 4, Session 2
Bella Wang (Year 2) – Gold
Celine Wang (Year 4) – Gold
Evelyn Shi (Year 6) – Silver
Elsa Yu (Year 7) – Silver
Monica Li (Year 4) – Silver
Evelyn Zhu (Year 3) – Silver
Maggie Li (Year 6) – Bronze
Ellie Rose Ruiz del Portal Green (Year 4) – Bronze
Sophia Thach (Year 2) – Bronze
Level 3, Session 4
Aaisha Suresh (Year 5) – Gold
Karena Lu (Year 4) – Silver
Evelyn Hao (Year 4) – Silver
Riya Samy (Year 4) – Bronze
Norah Liu (Year 4) – Bronze
Selena Razaei (Year 3) – Bronze
Level 3, Session 5
Yifei Zheng (Year 3) – Gold
Claire Lee (Year 3) – Silver
Moyan Zhang (Year 6) – Silver
Amelia Chen (Year 3) – Silver
Li-Ya Koo (Year 3) – Silver
Hailey Judd (Year 7) – Bronze
Grace Wang (Year 4) – Bronze
Eleanor Lim (Year 2) – Bronze
Level 3, Session 6
Ruby Shi (Year 2) – Bronze
Celine Shen (Year 2) – Bronze
Ailisa Liu (Year 2) – Bronze
Katherine Wang (Year 2) – Bronze
Eldora Xu (Year 2) – Bronze
Olivia Yang 2) – Bronze
State Club Team Championships Correction
Congratulations to Charlotte Elliot (Year 5) who also competed in the State Club Team Championships recently in the Level 5 Team 2. The team places second on beam, eighth on floor and bars, and ninth on vault.
Liz Portocarrero
Administrative Assistant – Artistic Gymnastics
Athletics
We would like to wish the below student’s good luck at next week’s NSWCIS Secondary Athletics Championship as part of the igsa team!
Phoebe Berglund (Year 12)
Jocelyn Blair (Year 10)
Amalia Bond (Year 8)
Samara Bond (Year 11)
Bethany Carruthers (Year 8)
Isabella Deane (Year 7)
Matilda Harrison (Year 10)
Eliza Lawton (Year 8)
Anabella Legge-Hughes (Year 8)
Grace Peters (Year 11)
Georgia Phillips (Year 12)
Sophia Slater (Year 11)
Marley Titley (Year 7)
Grace Townsend (Year 11)
Isabelle Younger (Year 9)
Jack Garrad
Co-ordinator – Athletics
Hockey
igsa Hockey Competition – Finals
Congratulations to all our Hockey teams this far. We are looking forward to seeing Pymble 1 take on their grand final rivals from last year, PLC Sydney, in a semi-final this Friday night, 20 September, at Sydney Olympic Park.
A big shout out to Pymble 3 who went down in their semi-final last weekend having played so well together throughout the season. A special mention to our wonderful Year 12s in Pymble 2 and Pymble 3 who played their last games of hockey for Pymble over the last 2 weeks. We thank you for your outstanding efforts during your time at Pymble, and hope you continue to play and enjoy the sport outside of school.
Good luck to Pymble 5 and Pymble 6 who will have their final round game this Saturday. We can’t wait to cheer you all on for your last match of the season!
Current standings:
Pymble 1 3rd
Pymble 2 7th (final placing)
Pymble 3 4th (final placing)
Pymble 4 5th (final placing)
Pymble 5 4th
Pymble 6 2nd
Team of the Week – Round 8
This week goes to all our Pymble Hockey teams for their outstanding efforts this season. Thank you for always giving 110% whenever you take the pitch!
See below Round 8 results (Pymble 1, 2 and 4 did not have matches):
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 3
Queenwood 2
1 to 6 Loss
Pymble 5
Ascham 7
0 to 0 Draw
Pymble 6
Loreto Normanhurst 5
8 to 0 Win
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded best and fairest for their match in Round 8!
Pymble 3 – Giaan Jackson (Year 12)
Pymble 5 – Katherine Xu (Year 8)
Pymble 6 – Jade George (Year 7)
Shellie Davis
Co-ordinator – Hockey
Netball
Finals Time is Here!
Congratulations to all our teams who competed in the semi-finals last weekend! We witnessed exceptional netball across Sydney, showcasing the hard work and dedication of our players.
Our Senior Firsts put up a fierce fight against Roseville, narrowly losing by just two goals. Their grit, courage, and relentless spirit were on full display.
We’re thrilled to announce that six teams have qualified for the finals this weekend! Good luck to everyone involved. Let’s come together as a community to support our girls. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
See below semi-final results:
Team
Opponent
Result
Pymble 1
Roseville 1
36 to 38
Pymble 2
Brigidine 2
28 to 25
Pymble 3
Wenona 3
18 to 16
Pymble 7
Roseville 7
10 to 14
Pymble 8
Wenona 8
29 to 9
Pymble 9
Ascham 5
24 to 13
Pymble 10
Loreto Normanhurst 12
12 to 23
Pymble 11
Ravenswood 8
16 to 36
Pymble 12
Ascham 15
33 to 26
Pymble 16
Ravenswood 14
11 to 30
Pymble 19
Roseville 17
25 to 12
Pymble 20
Loreto Normanhurst 22
22 to 30
Pymble 21
St Vincent’s 17
32 to 16
Pymble 22
St Catherine’s 4
10 to 25
Pymble 24
SCEGGS 12
10 to 16
Pymble 25
St Vincent’s 20
6 to 22
Megan O’Keeffe
Head Coach – Netball
Rugby Sevens
Saturday saw the end to another Rugby 7s season with the grand finals of the Chloe Dalton Competition.
Congratulations to Pymble 4 who narrowly defeated Kinross in a nail biter grand finale to take out the Intermediate Championship. Our girls showed great determination and grit to see out a fiercely contested match. At 14 all, a perfectly executed backline saw Pymble 4 flyer Ellie Pointon (Year 9) score a seven pointer to seal the deal for the girls. A well-deserved win, congratulations girls!
Pymble 7 progressed to the grand finale against Kinross in the Junior division. Unfortunately, the result was the opposite to the Intermediate grand final with Kinross scoring the winning try with one second left on the clock in extra time. A credit to the girls who were very emotional at full time, they held their heads high and were gracious in defeat.
Specific mentions to Pymble 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8. Regardless of results, you have all improved immensely and it was a joy to watch you take the field every Saturday with a smile on your face. A huge shout out to those girls playing Rugby 7s for the first time, it takes courage to play a contact sport, and we hope to see you back next year.
A reminder that next Thursday 26 September we will having a barbecue lunch to celebrate an amazing season. This will be held at the barbecues located next to the tennis courts at the rear entry to the basketball courts. Please arrive from 12.45pm for one last get together before the holiday break.
Jack Garrad
Co-ordinator – Rugby Sevens
Swimming
SMNE Olympic Dream Meets
On Sunday 15 September, 17 Pymble girls took part in the SMNE Olympic Dreams meet, held at our own pool at Pymble.
The meet was targeted at swimmers 12 years and under and each club chose a country to represent. Pymble chose Italy as their country and dressed up in blue colours. There was a lot of awesome energy on the pool deck and fast swimming on display, with many personal bests and top ten times achieved.
There was also a ‘skins’ race for eight to ten years and 11 to 12 years male and female swimmers. The ‘skins’ is a 50m freestyle elimination race. It starts with eight swimmers and the two lowest timed swimmers in each heat are eliminated until there are only two swimmers left for the final. Yuxi Lun (Year 4) took out the win for the eight- to ten-year-old girls in an exciting finish. Prizes were given to the top two fastest swimmers.
Congratulations to all the Pymble girls that competed at this meet: Amelie Berg (Year 5), Oriana Fenton (Year 7), Mia Hong (Year 2), Ludovica Lacovelli (Year 7), Leah Ji (Year 2), Sisi Ko (Year 6), Vera Le (Year 3), Crystal Li (Year 4), Yuxi Lun (Year 4), Emma Wang (Year 5), Rose Wang (Year 4), Genevieve Wong (Year 5), Jiayi Wu (Year 6), Chenxuan Yu (Year 7), Olivia Yu (Year 4), Victoria Yu (Year 6), and Hailey Zhang (Year 4).
Thank you to our Pymble coaches Sara, Michelle, and Nikolai for helping prepare the team and for supporting the swimmers over the weekend. A huge thank you goes to Duccio and his team of lifeguards for a smooth and safe event.
Sara Petronzio
Swimming Coach
Taekwondo
All Schools Taekwondo Tournament Correction
Congratulations to Adaline Li who also placed third in her age group at the recent All Schools Taekwondo Tournament for Pymble.
Samantha Dale
Co-ordinator – Taekwondo
Water Polo
MLC and Northern Suburbs Competitions
Congratulations to our Pymble Year 7 team who finished off the season in fourth position in the Northern Suburbs Competition, playing a strong game on Friday 13 September, going down to the Barbarians fighting. The team has worked skilfully in both attack and defence throughout the season which assisted them with their overall fourth place result.
Also, a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the Pymble Opens team which came away with the GOLD in the MLC Competition on Friday 13 September, securing the win against MLC 9 to 6. The team created lots of goal opportunities for each other in attack helping them secure some strong outside shots. The team worked well in feeding the ball into centre forward and played a strong defensive game and keeping their cool to the very end.
Both teams should be incredibly proud of their efforts through Term 3, well done!
Brigette Moore
Head Coach – Water Polo
From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team
The shortcode only works for newsletter articles
Dance
Hip Hop Crew’s First Eisteddfods
This year, Pymble’s first ever competitive Hip Hop Crew were set to compete at two eisteddfods – Extreme Eisteddfod and Sydney Eisteddfod, as part of Pymble’s new Performance Stream troupes. However, following our immediate success, we added Platinum Dance Competition to our list, and even won the chance of progressing beyond Sydney Eisteddfod to compete at the Dance of Champions section – which we competed in last weekend.
With our training sessions being shorter than a standard eisteddfod group, and attempting a style Pymble hasn’t competed in before, we were faced with many challenges and stressful times along the way. However, we achieved amazing results beyond our expectations and created a team of true commitment and connection – a factor that clearly showed in our amazing performance last weekend.
Our competition results throughout the year:
Extreme Eisteddfod (16 June) – 2nd place
Sydney Eisteddfod (22 June) – 1st place
Platinum Dance Competition (10 August) – 1st place
Sydney Eisteddfod – Dance of Champions (8 September) – Competed
Written by Caitlin Kim (Year 10)
Language Arts
Debating
Archdale Representative team
Pymble hosted an Archdale representative round in the library on Monday 16 September. Congratulations to Kitty He (Year 10), Maya Garg (Year 11), and Amy Zhang (Year 11) who were all selected to be part of the igsa representative team who debated three representative GPS teams. The GPS boys won two debates and the igsa girls won one. A great night was had by all. Enjoy the season girls!
Asia Schools Open – British Parliamentary Debate
Our Pymble students have performed outstandingly in this competition throughout 2024 to date. The latest edition, held on Saturday 31 August to Sunday 1 September 2024 drew participation from 124 brilliant young debaters from various reputable institutions across the Asia Pacific region.
Please join us in congratulating the following students for their stellar performances
Lakshi Rajeev (Year 6)
10th Best Speaker, 12 and under category
Quarter-finalist, 13 and under category
Alice Jiang (Year 6)
Co 7th Best Speaker, 12 and under category
Quarter-finalist, 13 and under category
Angela Mao (Year 7)
3rd Best Speaker, 12 and under category
Co 4th Best Speaker of Oceania, Australia
Quarter-finalist, 13 and under category
Yenyu Chan (Year 7)
Semi-finalist, 13 and under category
Charlotte Xue (Year 6)
Quarter-finalist, 13 and under category
Further Opportunities – Speakers’ Corner
Our Pymble debaters across all years have met with much success in the competitions offered through Speakers’ Corner. Alice Mao (Year 10) and Amy Zhang (Year 11) travelled to England earlier this year to compete in the finals at Cambridge, and some of our junior debaters have met with similar success in additional competitions. If you wish to provide further debating opportunities for your daughter, the following may be of interest.
Cambridge Schools Debating 2024 to 2025
Cambridge Schools Debating 2024 to 2025 will launch on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October in Sydney, like at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview. It will run from approximately 9.00am to 5.30pm both days. The competition will use the British Parliamentary style of debating, with 15 minutes of preparation time and Points of Information.
The cost is $220.00 per person. Speakers’ Corner will offer supervision and school staff will not attend. The competition is open to any student from Year 7 to 11. Winning teams will be invited to compete in Cambridge, UK, in March 2025.
Click here to register. The links to make payment are within the registration form. Optional training sessions will be held via Zoom in the weeks prior to the competition. Registration for the sessions is via the competition registration form, with a cost of $30.00 per session.
Debating Notes
Debating Bootcamp – The Language Arts High Level Debating Bootcamp continues this Friday after school. A continued thanks to Maya Garg (Year 11), State Debating representative, and the Language Arts Captains for this initiative. Girls are on a steep learning curve!
IDC Debating – Term 4 – Teams will be released in the forthcoming weeks. Please ensure all registrations have been completed. We currently have 12 IDC teams ready to take on the world in international debating!
Absences – Debaters must inform Mrs Hubbard, their coach, and team, in advance if they will be absent for a debating round. We do not forfeit, and substitutes can be arranged.
Public Speaking
UN Voice Registrations
Pymble will host a UN Voice of Youth heat on Monday 14 October, the day prior to the commencement of Term 3. In 2022, Jenny Xu (Year 11) was the national winner. Last year, Isis Li (Year 9) was the national runner up and Catherine Shi (Year 11) was a national finalist. Thanks to these girls for running a workshop. This is a wonderful competition and is open to all.
Co-curricular Administration have sent out information sheets for registration. Please ensure these are returned ASAP so topics can be sent. In the first instance, please email Mrs Hubbard or our incoming Public Speaking Captain, Jenny Xu at JIXu@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au with any questions. Please use UN Voice as the subject heading.
Model United Nations (MUN)
Further Opportunities – UN Youth Junior Leadership Summit 2024
Junior Leadership Summit is a two-day non-residential conference for students in Years 7 and 8 taking place at the University of Technology, Sydney, on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September. Delegates will participate in thematic workshops based around a set theme and will enhance their communication, advocacy, and leadership skills through structured skills workshops. Assisting the development of these skills will be influential and inspiring guest speakers who will share their wisdom with the delegates. Pymble staff will not attend; however UN Youth staff will be present.
We hope that any Junior Language Arts girls attending the summit have a wonderful experience. Please contact Mrs Hubbard with your feedback.
Evatt
Maya Garg (Year 11) and Catherine Shi (Year 11) have progressed to the Evatt National final and will represent NSW at the National finals during the next holidays.
UN Negotiations
Well done to our negotiators who have now finalised their participation in this competition for 2024. We know they honed their skills.
57th Session of THIMUN – The Hague, January 2025
The Pymble Language Arts International Tour group have been accepted as the first Australian school to attend THIMUN at The Hague. Sixteen Language Arts students and three teachers will depart Sydney on Friday 17 January and travellers will commence Term 1 2025 on Monday 3 February. We are excited for this wonderful travel experience!
Country delegations will be announced in October.
Mock Law
Mediation
Congratulations to our Mock Mediators and our coaches! The team was awarded 94/100 in their last mediation, the semi-final. Congratulations on your progression to the grand final. Details to follow.
Festival of Speech
The annual Festival of Speech will be held at MLC Burwood this year on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 October. Offers are being sent this week.
Bronwyn Hubbard
Head of Co-curricular Language Arts
Music
Garden Party – Saturday 21 September
Parents who wish to be part of the Music Support Group and help on the day, please click here to sign up.
Please see the portal for information about times for Garden Party and read below. Times and venues are listed here; however, details about arrival times are on the portal notification. We are really looking forward to seeing you there supporting our wonderful musicians.
Ensemble
Venue
Approximate Times (TBC)
Clarinet Ensemble
GMCPA Foyer
11.00am to 11.15am
Flute Ensemble
GMCPA Foyer
11.20am to 11.35am
Piccoline Choir
Music Gallery
11.30am to 12.00pm
Pizzicato Strings
Music Gallery
11.30am to 12.00pm
Junior Jazz Band
Music Colonnade
12.45pm to 1.05pm
Secondary Jazz Ensemble
Music Colonnade
1.10pm to 1.25pm
Brass Ensemble
Butterfly
1.25pm to 1.40pm
Tour Stage Band
Music Colonnade
1.40pm to 2.00pm
Grainger Band
Chapel Court
2.05pm to 2.25pm
Stanhope Band
Chapel Court
2.30pm to 2.45pm
Year 4 Band
Chapel Court
2.50pm to 3.00pm
Congratulations
Grainger Band performed at the Concourse last Friday evening as part of the Willoughby Spring Festival with New South Symphonic Wind Ensemble. The girls were outstanding in everything they did – performing, being an engaged audience, and being polite with exceptional behaviour. It was a late night, and our girls stood out with their attitude, well done girls! Thank you to Mrs Goodman and Mr Schweinberger for being with the girls late on a Friday night.
To the Music 1, 2, and Extension students – these amazing musicians performed their HSC repertoire over three days and were so well prepared. We are enormously proud of you all and thank Mr Stafford and Ms Zeltzer for their unwavering support and preparation.
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” – Plato
Music Tour 2024
We had a visit from Geoff Hayes of Hayes Travel Enterprises on Friday. He was impressed with the musicality of the girls and their attitude to their preparation. Discussions around where we are going to perform were made, with the hope of having the Ambassador of Spain (Sophia McIntyre) and Ambassador of Portugal (Indra McCormick) in attendance.
We are trying to help the girls understand that they must practise their music on their own so that when we come together, we can work on ensemble building skills, not individual parts. Please encourage your daughter to continue working through the holidays on their tour repertoire. There will be no rehearsal on Friday 27 September, the last day of school.
Rehearsals will resume Week 1 of Term 4. The only excuse for missing a rehearsal will be illness. We are still a long way from performing on a world stage and haven’t even begun the carols repertoire.
Save the Date
Carols 2024 – Sunday 1 December
Music Performance Uniforms
Any Year 12 students who would like to sell their performance uniforms, please wash and iron them, and return them to Gladys in the Music office along with the following information:
Name
Contact phone number
Amount for sale
We will be selling uniforms at Links Day to incoming students. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Toh at elizabethtoh@gmail.com
Sarah Turner
Head of Music
Robotics
Over the weekend, we went to two exciting tournaments. On Friday 13 September, we had the VEX IQ competition for our Year 5 and 6 teams, followed by the VEX V5 tournament for Year 7 and 8 students on Saturday 14 September.
VEX IQ Tournament
On Friday, elementary school teams came together for an exciting VEX IQ competition, with 26 teams in total, including six representing Pymble. Having already competed in a previous tournament, the students arrived well-prepared and ready to showcase their improved skills and strategies. The day was filled with hard work, determination, and remarkable achievements.
Many teams celebrated personal bests, demonstrating their growth and progress throughout the season. While some teams were disappointed not to advance further, they maintained a strong work ethic and can take pride in their accomplishments this year.
Special recognition goes to the teams that consistently improved their personal best scores over the course of recent competitions. Team 6510U for securing third place in the Robot Skills ranking and finishing as Tournament Finalists alongside Team 878A. Team 6510V also achieved an excellent fourth place in the Robot Skills ranking. And Team 6510H made it to the playoffs with Team 2076N. Their quiet, steady effort proved the timeless saying, “slow and steady wins the race.” All these teams have shown tremendous dedication, skill, and progress this season, and their achievements are a testament to their hard work.
Team 6510R – Mandy Zhou (Year 6), Jaanvi Sawhney (Year 6), Kiera Xu (Year 6), Alice Jiang (Year 6), Sophia Na (Year 6)
Team 6510U – Bianca Ng (Year 6), Chelsea Wang (Year 6), Lily Zhang (Year 6), Adeline Wu (Year 6)
Team 6510V – Lydia Chen (Year 6), Emma Fu (Year 6), Charlotte Wu (Year 6), Emma Popli (Year 6)
VEX V5 Competition
I am excited to share the fantastic news that our Pymble Robotics team has won the VEX V5 competition at Barker College! Our Year 7 team, 65100F Dunkin Donuts excelled through the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals, ultimately emerging as the Tournament Champions alongside Team 18422A Sponge Bot from Vulcan Mind. This remarkable achievement is a true reflection of our students’ hard work, dedication, and teamwork.
The VEX V5 competition at Barker College brought together 22 middle school teams, including six from Pymble. Most of these Pymble teams had participated in competitions before, making them better prepared and familiar with many of the other competitors. This prior experience allowed them to approach the competition strategically, knowing the importance of scouting, asking questions, and constantly improving. Throughout the qualification matches, Pymble teams were actively gathering information, taking notes, and strategizing based on what they learned—an extraordinary example of competitive spirit.
Of the 22 teams at the competition, 16 made it to the playoffs, including all six Pymble teams. The playoffs were intense, filled with strategy and pressure. Every Pymble team played according to their well-thought-out strategies, and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and teamwork. With Team 65100F Dunkin Donuts winning the tournament, they secured their spot in the State Championship!
A special shoutout also goes to Team 65100N Nailed It, who competed in their first VEX V5 tournament and impressively reached the semi-finals, and for winning the Judges Award! Additional congratulations to Team 65100B for winning the Innovate Award and Team 65100S for receiving the Design Award.
We are incredibly proud of all the Pymble teams for cheering each other on, offering support when things didn’t go as planned, and celebrating each other’s successes. The highlight of the day was when Team 65100F won the tournament, and every Pymble team was there to celebrate. That moment captured the true essence of teamwork and made all the hard work worth it.
Team 65100B – Nicole Fan (Year 8), Alexa Wu (Year 8), Chloe Shao (Year 8), Bella Yang (Year 8)
Team 65100F – Adele Jiang (Year 7), Emma Ouyang (Year 7), Sarah Xia (Year 7), Meii You (Year 7)
Team 65100N – Lily Dao (Year 7), Ellie Lau (Year 7), Jessica Franklin (Year 7), Bella Xu (Year 7), Ella Su (Year 7),
Team 65100R – Kathy Wang (Year 8), Lily Xing (Year 8), Joyce Li (Year 8), Erica Kwok (Year 8)
Team 65100S – Cabrini Lee (Year 8), Leahara Wijesuriya (Year 8), Malaika Rasheed (Year 8), Allison Wang (Year 8), Alexis Lam (Year 8)
VEX IQ Competition Photos
VEX V5 Competition Photos
Christhina Boni Lavratti
Robotics Manager
Garden Party – Map and Entertainment Schedule
We can’t wait to welcome you to our Pymble campus on Saturday 21 September from 10.00am to 3.00pm for our biggest event of the year.
Open to the whole community, our fete will have rides, food and market stalls, demonstrations, live music, competitions and more!
Funds raised at this year’s Garden Party will go to the Barbara May Foundation and Sony Foundation.
As parking will be limited on the day, we recommend families catch the train to Pymble Station from where our campus is only a short five-minute walk away.
We look forward to welcoming students, their families and members of the public for a day full of fun, all while supporting a good cause!
Last day to pre-order your Unlimited Rides Pass!
We are delighted to invite the College community to celebrate all things Pymble at our annual Garden Party on Saturday 21 September.
The Unlimited Rides Pass allows you to go on as many rides as you would like at Garden Party 2024 between 10.00am and 3.00pm. This is great value for money and is sure to keep the young ones entertained over the course of the day.
This year there are two options based on a child’s height:
Unlimited Rides Pass for children 130cm and over – Cost: $45
Unlimited Rides Pass for children under 130cm – Cost: $35
Each pass provides unlimited access on any ride or activity where the minimum height/age requirement is met:
The Superhero Ride (130cm and over)
The Round Up (120cm and over)
The Whirlwind (110cm and over)
Storm Ride (110cm and over)
Cup & Saucer (Two years and over)
Swinging Pirate Ship
Turbo Flyers
Giant Slide
Inflatables
Order now: Click here to pre-order your Unlimited Rides Pass.
Registrations close: Thursday 19 September 2024
Enquiries: Please contact the Rides Convenor, Sangeeta Venkatesan at sangeeta.venkatesan@gmail.com
Click here for more details on Pymble Ladies’ College Garden Party 2024. We look forward to seeing you there!
Book your tickets to Seussical – The Musical
Seussical – The Musical starts tonight!
“Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’ best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper!
I hope you are excited for the upcoming Year 6 production of Seussical – The Musical. Please note that tickets are on sale via the GMCPA Box Office.Click here to purchase your tickets.
Performance Dates: Thursday 19 and Friday 20 September commencing at 7.00pm.
Ticket Price: $22
Confirming the production will run for approximately two hours (with a 20-minute interval).
We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!
Register for free mental health webinars
To help promote mental health month this October, KYDS Youth Counselling are coveringfour different topics on youth mental health & wellbeing across eight free webinars, and we’d love you to join us!
These are open to parents, carers, school staff and young people. There is also aflyer attached – please share this wherever it may help!
Event Details
Topic: “Screenagers”
Date & time: Tuesday 1 October (1.00pm) or Wednesday 2 October (6.30pm – repeated)
