Swimming carnivals, outdoor adventures, rowing, Pymble Stride, and pre-competition training across the breadth of co-curricular…it’s been another invigorating week of learning and character development for our Pymble girls.
At our Executive meeting on Tuesday, I asked each table of five or six staff to nominate one highlight of the week from their perspective. Top of the list was the energy and aptitude of both our Kindies and our Year 7s, who have maintained their wide-eyed enthusiasm since day one, much to the delight of their teachers and Heads of School.
Shout-outs were also given to our Year 6 students who are pioneering the steep learning curve of designing, building and eventually racing their own electric-powered car in the Formula Goblin Project, and our Year 9 adventurers currently on the Residential Program at Vision Valley. When their departure for expedition was temporarily delayed by a sudden storm last week, our resilient ‘resies’ patiently waited it out by practicing their wilderness first aid skills indoors before cheerfully embarking on the bus to Bouddi National Park when it was safe to do so. Having seen firsthand their commitment to a canyoning expedition in the Blue Mountains last Friday, this came as no surprise. The photo above is me with my group, all of us feeling on top of the world after abseiling down Empress Falls.
Back at the exec meeting, our Acting Director of Studies, Ms Caragh Warth, summed up the start of the academic year beautifully, with a reflection on how proud she was to hear each Head of Learning Area sing the praises of their staff for the passion, skill and creativity they bring to lessons. Her comment, “I just really want to be a student in their classes!” speaks volumes about the calibre of our teachers. Our girls are truly blessed to have these extraordinary educators delivering highly engaging programs, right across the College. And we are equally blessed that you have chosen Pymble for your daughter – thank you!
It was gratifying to hear one of our former students pay tribute to our teachers in her address to students at last week’s Foundation Day service. The Honourable Bronnie Taylor (Washington, 1986) was once a Boarder in Lang House before she became a nurse, politician and the first female Deputy Leader of the NSW Nationals Party. Of her time at Pymble, she said, “I loved it and I knew that when I walked out of the gates when I finished Year 12, because of the education that I had here, I could do anything if I set my mind to it.”
She also spoke to students about the moral responsibility that comes from being a member of our Pymble family.
“When you see something that isn’t fair or isn’t right, remember who you are. Remember you have had an education that has taught you to put your hand up, speak out, and stand up for what is right.”
Bronnie was speaking about our College values, of course. This leads me to share a sneak peak of some work we have been doing to create a series of icons that will become part of the Pymble values recognition system for our community.
Our aim was to design each value as an icon, within a set of five. Each icon had to meet three key requirements:
Visibly represent a place, tradition, or symbol of Pymble that is meaningful to past, present and future students, staff and families.
Reflect the essence of the behaviour statement written for that value.
Have longevity and a timeless, classic design.
The following designs pay homage to our College crest, our Chapel and relationship with the Uniting Church of Australia, our beloved Jacaranda tree, our highly coveted school medallion, and the Black Watch tartan of the students’ uniform.
Introducing our values icons
Care – I am kind to myself and others
Our Jacaranda tree, with the wisdom of an aged trunk and familiar branch structure, symbolises Care for self, others and the environment, along with stability, growth, and a commitment to supporting each other to thrive.
Courage – I am open to new experiences to learn and grow
Derived from our College crest, the Lion is a universal symbol of Courage. Interesting that our Year 12 girls in the last two years have identified with the lion and brought it into their leadership theme!
Integrity – I do the right thing, even when no one is watching
Our Compass takes the shape of the Sun on our crest, pointing the way to our collective values. Integrity lies at the centre of our inner compass, guiding us to act with Care, Courage, Respect and Responsibility, even when no one is watching, as we journey through our Pymble days and life beyond.
Respect – I value diversity, my worth and the worth of others
This icon takes the Maiden from our crest and incorporates our historic architectural arches as her Crown, symbolising that each Pymble girl and member of our community leads themselves in a way that welcomes, values and shows Respect to all, regardless of race, culture, background, faith and beliefs.
Responsibility – I take ownership of my actions
Responsibility is represented by the Rose Window located in the spiritual and geographical heart of our College, the War Memorial Chapel. As members of a school of the Uniting Church in Australia, we find light, joy and beauty in taking Responsibility for our actions and living life according to our shared values.
Pretty fabulous, right?
We are so excited about these designs, which are the result of thorough research work undertaken to ensure there is meaning and longevity for each one. Having said that, we also appreciate that everyone will have their own thoughts and different views – and that many of us are fiercely passionate about all things Pymble. I am delighted that our former Principal, Mrs Gillian Moore AO, has accepted my invitation to speak at our Secondary School assembly on 25 February where we will formally launch these icons to students and staff. My hope is that our whole community will be as delighted by them as we are.
Well, the girls have arrived at my office for another UNO challenge, so it’s time to sign off until next week.
Respectfully yours,
From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Why not?
This year, as we do every year, we are focusing our thinking around a picture book. We do this partly because it helps us encourage a lifelong love of reading, and also because picture books convey powerful messages through both their text and visuals which all our girls connect with.
This year we are grounded in the beautiful picture book Why Not? by Kobi Yamada, a story about discovering your bright possibilities. This is a text I used with our Year 6 leaders in their leadership induction service and it is a book all grades have in their common areas and we will refer to in assemblies throughout the year. I will be sharing insights into the book in our Term 1 JSPG meeting too and explaining how it is embedded across each grade to enrich the girls’ learning. Inspirational quotes from this book include:
Why not make the most of every moment?
Be a stranger to the ordinary. Get to know the unknown.
Why not try something you have never tried before?
Stay curious. Have adventures. Make room for what you love.
Why not see how good your best can be?
Even if the odds are a million to one. Why not be the one?
In the spirit of Why Not? I encourage you to consider making a short video on your phones and sending it in via this this link to be part of our International Women’s Day video where we will share our collective hopes for the girls and their world. Thank you to those families who have already created and uploaded their video message.
Good luck to all our swimmers in Years 3 to 6 for the swimming carnival tomorrow. I look forward to seeing many of you there to cheer on the girls as they challenge themselves with having a go and trying their best for themselves and their house.
Good luck to all our girls in the music program who are in for our band intensive this weekend. Thank you to our amazing Performing Arts team and music tutors who are leading these workshops.
A message and request for help from our Performing Arts team
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Year 5 Showcase. Students will embark on a journey of discovery through traditional dances and songs from around the world. This special event will celebrate the beauty and diversity of global cultures through movement, music and storytelling.
To make this showcase meaningful, we are reaching out to our wonderful Junior School parent community for volunteers with experience or knowledge of traditional dances and songs from different cultures. Whether it’s the graceful Chinese fan dance, rhythmic Indian dance or any other rich cultural tradition, we would love for you to share your expertise with our students!
Your participation will give our students a hands-on, immersive learning opportunity that fosters respect and appreciation for different cultures. No professional experience is necessary – just a willingness to share and celebrate your heritage!
If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please fill out your details HERE. All volunteers must have a current working with children’s check.
Thank you for your support in making this a memorable and enriching experience for our Year 5 students. We greatly appreciate your time, talents, and cultural contributions!
A message from Mrs Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academic
Junior School girls will have the exciting opportunity to participate in a range of enrichment activities designed to challenge and inspire them across various subjects. These experiences – both inside and outside the classroom – foster creativity, encourage critical thinking, problem solving, and explore student interests in meaningful ways.
Some opportunities will require students to submit an expression of interest, while others will be school selected based on student data. Various competitions are offered to different year groups, with some open to all students or a small group of students, and others open to specific grades. Students will be informed about competitions during assemblies or through their Compass teacher.
When it comes to writing and creative expression, students can take part in competitions such as Pens Against Poverty, the Write On Competition and the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Competition. These competitions encourage young writers to express their thoughts, emotions and ideas while refining their writing skills and engaging with meaningful themes. From Week 7, girls are able to submit their work – a short story, poem or artwork in the OzKids In Print Competition. Details on how to enter will be provided in the Week 7 newsletter.
This term the girls in Year 4 will be offered to submit an expression of interest to be part of the Creative Writing Club where a select group of students will be working with Mrs Brown and myself developing their creative writing skills. Year 5 students can apply to be part of the Sokratis Junior Research Program, working with Dr Sarah Loch, Director of the Pymble Institute and myself, and students in Year 6 can apply to be part of the Shark Tank Competition.
For those passionate about mathematics, a variety of problem solving and investigative challenges will be available. Students may be selected to participate in the APSMO Maths Olympiad, APSMO Mathematics Explorer or the Mathematics Association of New South Wales (MANSW) Investigating in Maths Competition, which promote deep mathematical thinking. Additionally, the Newton Maths competition will be offered to select students in Year 6. ICAS and Australian Maths Trust will also be offered later in the year for students in Years 3 to 6.
These enrichment opportunities will help students extend their learning and develop confidence in their abilities in a stimulating and supportive environment.
If you have any questions about competitions, please email me lbird@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
A message from Mr Stephen Robinson – Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
Critical Medical Information
As part of the College’s commitment to keep all students safe, it is vital that we have all requisite information and medication relating to allergies and medical conditions. It is imperative that information shared with the school is complete and up to date for our staff and nurses to ensure optimal care is provided for your daughter when they are on campus. If your daughter suffers from anaphylaxis or asthma, please register the action plan with the College and provide all the necessary medication. Further information can be obtained from our Health Care team or from Junior School administration.
Nut Allergies
Please ensure that your daughter’s food does not contain any nuts as some of our students have severe allergies to food containing nuts and nut products. This includes spreads such as peanut butter and Nutella.
Birthday Treats
If you would like to send in birthday treats for your daughter and her class please limit this to either small (mini) cupcakes or ice blocks (Zooper Doopers) only. Please only supply for your daughter’s class (not the whole grade). If your daughter has allergies, please make arrangements directly with your class teacher. We ask that you do not send in presents/party bags for the girls to school as these distract the girls from their learning – presents/party bags are lovely for parties at home!
Junior School Canteen Helpers
On Wednesdays and Fridays in Term 1, Junior School allows students to purchase (through Flexischools) cold drinks and frozen desserts. Once your order is placed your daughter will receive a brown paper bag, where she will go to the Junior School Canteen (lunch tub room) to collect her cold treat.
Please click here if you can volunteer your time. For the care and safety of your daughters, all volunteers must have a current Working with Children Check number (WWCC). If we do not already have your WWCC on file, please email to juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au your WWCC number and date of birth so your WWCC can be verified.
Departure: Daily Routines
For those with daughters in Kindergarten to Year 2, your daughter’s Compass teacher will receive your daughter’s after-school arrangements each day from the travel master list, to assist your daughter in getting to her correct location after school.
Girls in Years 3 to 6 are responsible to remember where they need to go after school each day. Please use your daughter’s diary to assist her to remember where to go each afternoon.
Any changes to these routines must be sent in writing to the Junior School office juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au . Please note that it is important that any changes to travel arrangements are received prior to 2.00pm.
For girls with older sisters, they must wait at the Junior School Library until their sister collects them by 3.30pm or at OSHC if they have a sister in the Senior School.
Girls Traveling on College Buses
Girls wait in the K-2 School Office and are supervised until 3.00pm when they are walked to Sunshine Square to join the Year 3 to 6 girls. All Junior School girls are then walked to James Kelso Field by a teacher, where they will then board the bus.
A reminder that all students travelling on the Pymble bus service must have a current registration. Please click here to register your daughter.
Term 1 Key Dates(Weeks 2 and 3)
Friday 14 February – Years 3 to 6 Swimming Carnival
Friday 14 February – Kindergarten Portrait photo day and catch-up photo day
Saturday 15 February – Years 4 to 6 Band Camp and Year 3 String Intensive Day
Sunday 16 February – Years 4 to 6 Band Camp and Year 3 String Intensive Day
Monday 17 February – Allwell Testing – Year 3 – 8.30am to 1.30pm
Wednesday – 19 February – Allwell Testing – Year 5 – 8.30pm to 12.30pm
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
Years 3 to 6 Junior School Swimming Carnival – Friday 14 February
Parents are welcome to attend and support their daughter/s. We encourage parents to wear a touch of their daughters House colour and get into the House spirit with the girls.
Refreshments for parents are available from Archie’s Café. Lunch orders are available for the girls as usual.
Please note this is a full school day and there are no early departures for students.
Welcome to 2024 – Icebreaker Invitation – Friday 21 February
Don’t forget to book your tickets for the Pymble Parent Association (PPA) Icebreaker on Friday 21 February! It’s a fantastic parent-only evening to catch up with friends, meet new families, and enjoy canapés and drinks on Gloucester Lawn.
📅 Date: Friday 21 February
⏰ Time: 6.45pm to 9.00pm
📍 Location: Gloucester Lawn
💰 Cost: $52.00 (includes a cocktail dinner)
Babysitting Available
Junior School students can be dropped off at OSHC from 6.30pm to 8.30pm for a G-rated movie and craft activities (no food provided). Click here to register.
Transportation support
The school is offering a complimentary bus service to drop parents off at Pymble Hotel or Turramurra Station after the event. If you’d like to use this service, please click here to complete the online form.
Upcoming Events
Kindy KO Class 1st Playdate Afternoon
Join us for a fun afternoon at St Ives Showgrounds.
📅 Sunday 16 February
⏰ 1.00 PM
Please check the flyer for more details.
Year 5 Dads & Daughters Barefoot Bowls Afternoon
Join us for a fun afternoon at West Pymble Bicentennial Club!
📅 Sunday, 16 February
⏰ 2.00pm
Please check the flyer for more details.
Screenshot
Save the Date: Kindy Easter Egg Hunt
Hop on over for some Easter fun!
📅 Sunday 23 March
📍 Bicentennial Park, West Pymble
Please see the flyer for details and RSVP to your Year Coordinators.
JSPG Meeting – All Parents Welcome!
We invite all Junior School parents and carers to join our first JSPG Meeting of the year. This is a great opportunity to connect and hear about plans for 2025.
📅 Wednesday 26 February
⏰ 8.30am to 9.30am
📍 3-6 Junior School Library
As you can see, we are off to a flying start for 2025!
We hope you enjoy meeting your daughter’s new compass teacher/s at the Parent Information Evening this Thursday 13 February. After your session, please head to the lawn behind Hedgehog House, where you can meet and socialise with other parents for a short time.
This week in Middle School we came together in house groups to participate in the Year 7 to 9 Swimming Carnival. The girls are to be congratulated on their enthusiasm and participation in events across the day. Congratulations to everyone who swam, whether that be competitively or for house points and fun. The stands were awash with colour, and the noise inside the Aquatic Centre from students cheering on their friends was testament to the deep sense of community.
Last Friday, our three Year 12 Middle School Liaison Prefects – Kathie Ong, Isabella Yu and Gina Lau – took the time to prepare a beautiful message of inspiration for each of the Year 7 girls, leaving it on their locker door as a surprise for the end of their first full academic week. We are so fortunate to have big sisters who are so invested in empowering the younger girls. Year 7 will also be starting their Year 10 Peer Support sessions – a program to build mentoring opportunities and establish further bonds across the College – in the following weeks.
On Thursday, Year 8 had a fabulous Mind-Body-Spirit Day in the city where they ventured out in Compass groups to experience exhibitions at either the Art Gallery of NSW, The Museum of Contemporary Art or the Australian Museum. A couple of our Compass groups even had the opportunity to visit the NSW Parliament for a question time session. We all then gathered in the Botanic Gardens for a picnic by the Harbour before walking back over the Harbour Bridge and heading home. Next week, I will add our student reflections for you to enjoy.
A reminder to RSVP to Knowing People, Knowing Pymble – Middle School Information Evening. You will have an opportunity to meet your daughters Compass teacher and hear from staff across the College.
Congratulations to the two Year 7 students who were invited by Dr Hadwen to join her at a conference in the city last week to share their experiences of using Wise Phones. Well done Kashmira Agnew and Gabriella Hanna for your impressive representation of the College.
The permission forms for our Year 7 Outdoor Education Experience will be sent out via the MyPymble parent portal early next week. We ask that you complete them as soon as possible so that we can finalise arrangements.
Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 March: Bennet, Goodlet, Hammond and Ingleholme.
Tuesday 25 to Friday 28March: Lang, Marden, Thomas and Wylie.
Year 7 NAPLAN will be held in Week 7 on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March.
From the Year 8 Parent Co-ordinators
We hope everyone has settled well in the new school year.
For this year, Eszter Sebok, Supriyaa Singh and Chloe Ma are the Year 8 Co-ordinators.
We have set up communication channels to help parents stay connected, which are independent of the school and provide an opportunity to share updates and ask questions. Joining these groups is entirely optional but highly encouraged:
WhatsApp: We maintain two WhatsApp groups—one for announcements and key messages (admin posts only) and one for general parent discussions.
WeChat: There is a Year 8 WeChat group, which is regularly updated with relevant information.
Facebook: Our year also has a dedicated Facebook group where selected updates are posted.
If you would like to join any of these groups, please feel free to reach out to us and we will assist you with access. You can reach us at:-
A message from Mariel Lombard, Deputy Head of Upper School
This week, our Year 9 and 10 students ‘came alive’ as they took part in the Junior and Secondary Swimming Carnivals. It was wonderful to see the talent on show, and to see many of our students step out of their comfort zone in order to earn extra house points. Congratulations to all our swimmers, both competitive and social, for having a go!
The end of this week marks the half-way point for our Term 1 adventurers on the Year 9 Residential Program. Our students have been putting their resilience and flexibility to good use as they navigated changing weather forecasts and headed off on their first expedition last week. It has been lovely visiting our students at Vision Valley, and it was great to welcome the parents of our Term 1 adventurers for a parent workshop on campus earlier this week. Thank you to all who joined for this special evening with Dr Arne Rubinstein.
Paul Dillon Presentation to Year 10
Late last week, our Year 10 students had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Paul Dillon from Drug and Alcohol Research Training Australia (DARTA). Catherine Li, our Year 10 Communications Leaders, has shared a reflection on the presentation:
Last Friday, Year 10 had the pleasure of listening to Australian Drug and Alcohol educator Paul Dillon speak. Paul’s insightful and engaging presentation focused on the crucial process of how to treat intoxicated young people with care and responsibility.
He walked us through the steps of managing situations involving drunk people, emphasising the importance of remaining calm, ensuring safety and observing the state of the person. Paul’s use of real-life examples helped to create a sense of awareness, encouraging us to think critically about the choices we make and the consequences they can carry. His insights into how to de-escalate situations effectively and responsibly were incredibly valuable, offering us a clearer understanding of how to manage these encounters with maturity and care.
Safer Internet Day 2025
Earlier this week we recognised Safer Internet Day, a Global Day of Action aimed at raising awareness of online safety issues. According to the eSafety Commissioner, up to 45 per cent of young people aged between 8 and 17 years old have been treated in a hurtful or nasty way online. To ensure we continue to work towards a safer, more positive internet for all, the eSafety Commissioner has shared the following five tips:
Be kind: Practice respect, empathy and kindness online
Be mindful: Ensure your daughter balances her time online and consumes positive and respectful content
Speak up: Ensure your daughter knows how to report online abuse and harmful content to the relevant platform and eSafety website
Start the conversation: Talk about online safety as a family
Share resources: Promote online safety tools and tips
Upper School Parent Information Evening
We are looking forward to seeing as many parents as possible at the Upper School Information evening on Monday 17 February. This event will commence at 5.30pm on Gloucester Lawn, and then at 6.00pm the two year groups will attend a presentation in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (Year 9) or the Chapel (Year 10).
This is a great opportunity for you to meet your daughter’s Compass teacher, hear from key staff about learning and thriving in Year 9 and 10, and for Year 9 families, a comprehensive overview of the Vision Valley Residential program will be included in the presentation.
Please click here to RSVP to the evening to assist with catering.
Administration Reminders
We ask all parents to update our contact details, especially our Year 9 families now that your daughter has moved to Upper School. The office number is 9497 7865 and the email address is upperschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
If your daughter is going to be late for school or needs to leave early for an appointment, please email the office by 8.15am at the latest.
The portal is to be used for full day absences ONLY or you can email the office.
The updated Parent Handbook will be available on the parent portal. This contains everything that you need to know about the College. If you cannot find the answer you’re looking for, please feel free to call the Upper School office.
Student Achievements
Congratulations to the First 9 Quad who won a gold medal at the NSW Rowing Championships last weekend. Madeline Gaden, Cleo Mclaughin, Claudia Wyatt, Madison Landgrebe and Emma Wang are the first Pymble crew to win this event in seven years!
Key Dates – Term 1
Monday 17 February – Upper School Parent Information Evening
Friday 21 February – PPA Icebreaker
Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March – Year 9 NAPLAN
Saturday 5 April – Pymble Foundation Gala Ball
Thursday 10 and Friday 11 April – Year 8 to 10 Learning Discussions
Friday 11 April – Boarder’s Travel Day
Friday 11 April – Pupil Free Day
Key Dates – Term 2
Monday 28 April – Boarder’s Travel Day
Tuesday 29 April – First Day of Term 2
From the Year 9 Parent Co-ordinators
We hope the girls have settled well in Term 1 and those at Vision Valley are having a great time.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Icebreaker event next week. For those who have bought tickets, the school is also providing shuttle services from College to Turramurra station and Pymble Hotel. Please fill out the form sent via MyPymble if you want to utilise this service.
For any help or assistance, please feel free to contact us.
Jenny (0422 716 808) and Ira (0415 112 575)
From the Year 10 Parent Co-ordinators
We look forward to welcoming you to Icebreaker next week. Booking of tickets has been extended to 7.30am Monday 17 February. The school is also providing shuttle services from the College to Turramurra Station and Pymble Hotel. Please fill out the form sent via MyPymble if you want to utilise this service.
For any help or assistance, please feel free to contact your Year 10 Co-ordinators – Joan Finn (0412 522 609) and Sylphia Wang (0468 464 388).
Victoria Harrison
Head of Upper School
From the Senior School
From the Head of Senior School
The 2025 school year is off to an exciting start, with our Year 11 and 12 students embracing the opportunities and challenges ahead with enthusiasm. A highlight of the past week was the vibrant celebration of Lunar New Year, which brought the College community together in a wonderful display of culture and tradition.
The energy and excitement were palpable as the Lion Dance wound its way through the grounds on Friday, filling the campus with colour, movement and joy. It was a fantastic way to mark the beginning of the year, reminding us of the rich diversity within our community and the shared experiences that bring us together.
Year 11 Wellbeing Connections Days
Year 11 students also enjoyed two highly successful Wellbeing Connections Days, designed to equip them with valuable insights and practical strategies for the years ahead. They heard from a range of expert speakers, including Paul Dillon, who provided essential guidance on drug and alcohol awareness, Brent Sanders, who spoke about personal safety and consent, and Sally Dwyer, who shared important advice on managing a strong digital footprint.
Students were also presented with the opportunity to up-skill themselves by participating in a car maintenance course, and engaging with free micro-skills courses, such as Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Introduction to Cyber Security, being offered through the Institute of Applied Technology.
Beyond these thought-provoking sessions, the girls spent time with their Compass teachers, engaging in meaningful conversations about growth and resilience. The day also provided opportunities for students to strengthen friendships through interactive activities, fostering a strong sense of connection and support. I would also like to thank our Year 12 students Kexin, Sonya, Gina, Claire, Abbey, Josie and Kiera, who took part in a student-led panel discussion, offering advice and tips to navigate Year 11.
I was immensely proud of the maturity and great sense of ‘having a go’ displayed by the girls, who engaged wholeheartedly in all aspects of the program. Friday concluded with a beautiful outdoor movie night, where students gathered under a balmy evening sky to enjoy Wonka.
A special thank you to the staff who worked tirelessly to bring this event together – the Senior School administration team, the Year 11 Compass teachers and Heads of Year, and our Deputy Head of Senior School, Ms Patricia Gallardo. It has been a fine way to begin the Senior School journey.
Year 11 Pymble – Knox Connections
This week we were delighted to launch of our annual Pymble – Knox Connections group. Interested students will participate in a range of social activities, after an initial getting-to-know-you session with students from Knox Grammar School.
This group aims to foster healthy connections between Year 11 students of the two schools. Through this, we hope those involved further develop social skills and empathy, form new friendships and understand different perspectives. Meeting new people fosters social confidence, respectful relationships and builds skills in communicating and networking. Each school is inviting up to 50 students from each school to be involved this year.
Students who elect to participate need to commit to attending and contributing to regular meetings. As the students involved are also ambassadors for the College, we also expect those involved to model our school values, including wearing the uniform with pride.
Further information will be sent directly to students in the coming days.
Year 12 Paul Dillion presentations
Year 12 students also had the opportunity to hear from Paul Dillion, with his session carefully constructed for a Year 12 audience, which addresses the specific concerns and issues of this age group. As always, the girls reported a high level of engagement and gratitude for his wisdom and care.
Sony Camp
Over the summer break, a number of Year 12 students participated in our annual Sony Camp. I have included a report from Alice below:
Sony Camp was amazing! Sony Camp is a three-day camp run by staff and students from Pymble and Shore in the December holidays. It is intended to be a week of fun and activities for children with a disability, while also providing their families with respite. Not only is Sony Camp beneficial for the camper and their families but it was also extremely beneficial to me. Through my experience, and speaking to other companions, I gained an insight into the lives of other families who have a child that has a disability.
During the camp I didn’t realise the impact the campers were having on me. I’m a Boarder, so it was when my mum came to drive me home that I realised the lasting impact the camp had on me. Not only did I see the development of the campers during their time at Sony Camp, but I also witnessed the personal growth in my friends. I watched my peers do remarkable things that a seventeen-year-old student typically wouldn’t have experienced, and the experience has completely altered my perspective on so many interactions with other individuals I have had and will have.
The staff organised so many fun activities for the campers to participate in, such as reptile shows, carnival rides, magic shows and many more. Although three days is a short period of time I could see the change in the campers’ behaviour from the start to the end. On the first day some of the campers didn’t want to get involved with the gymnastics but by the last day they were dancing in the disco and having the time of their lives.
I am so proud to say that I was a part of Sony Camp, and I highly recommend everyone to participate if they can. Sony Camp will definitely be the highlight of my time at Pymble. I know it has made me a more compassionate and kind person, and I am so grateful for that.
Hague Model United Nations
Over the summer break I, alongside 14 other girls, had the privilege of attending the prestigious annual Hague Model United Nations (THIMUN) in which Pymble is one of the pioneering schools of the Southern Hemisphere invited to attend. It brought together 3,500 students from across the world in a five-day simulation of the United Nations, held in the same city as the International Court of Justice and sponsored by the UN itself.
The trip, organised by Mrs Hubbard, began in London as we immersed ourselves in the rich political and historical fabric of the city. A highlight for many of the Language Arts students was meeting up with Pymble alumni at Oxford, the very girls who ensured us this opportunity from their time at the College in their Language Arts initiatives. From London, we boarded the Eurostar to Belgium, making our way from Brussels to Bruges, where we stayed for a few nights before taking an hour bus ride to Amsterdam.
From museums to walking tours, the itinerary allowed us to get a comprehensive familiarity with the cities and local towns we visited and an unforgettable exposure to different ways of living. The final six days of the trip were spent in the Hague, as we were allocated commissions and delegations tasked to discuss a range of critical issues under the overarching theme of ‘The Impact of AI on Humanity’.
It was a truly enlightening experience, one that enforced the value of diplomacy and the process of conflict resolution in a parliamentary, international forum. We were able to network and form long-lasting friendships with aspirational students from across the world, learning from their diverse goals and interests. As the representative for UN – Water, we were able to approach this conference from the unique perspective of the UN itself, speaking on behalf of an agency concerned with SDG6; the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation.
Our role was to inform on the policy making of other delegations, supporting those who aligned with the accelerated effort to relieve strain on water resources in a goal to uplift millions from preventable diseases caused by unsafe water.
We are truly grateful for Mrs Hubbard for organising the trip, and for Ms Blake and Mr Dunk who assisted in making it a memorable and safe experience.
Written by Angela
Key Dates – Term 1
Friday 21 February – PPA Icebreaker
Friday 28 February – Year 12 Social (academic half day)
6 March – Year 12 GPs In Schools
6 March – Year 12 Food for Thought
6 March – Year 11 Immersion Day
14 March – Year 11 Formal (academic half day)
10 April – End of Term 1
From the Year 11 Parent Co-ordinators
A friendly reminder about the upcoming PPA Icebreaker on Friday 21 February at 6.45pm to 9.00pm. This is a lovely opportunity to socialise with other Year 11 parents and the wider school community on the beautiful Gloucester Lawn.
Please remember to RSVP by today if you haven’t already. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please contact your Parent Coordinators Kate Hart 0438987825 or Julie Xie 0404197139 via text if you would like to be added to the PymbleLC Parents Class of 2026 on WhatsApp or WeChat.
If you would like to be added to the Facebook group please search the group name (PymbleLC Parents Class of 2026) and ask to join ensuring you answer the questions. These pages are used to share social event information and connect with other parents in the year group.
We hope you were able to make it to the Year 11 information night, but if not, it was recorded so you will be able to watch a replay.
A big welcome back to Year 12 parents! We’re looking forward to seeing all Year 12 parents at the 2025 Icebreaker on Friday 21 February. It’s the last one for us, so let’s go out with a bang!
Also, if you are looking to join our Year 12 parent groups, please contact Jemma on 0426868643.
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School
From the Boarding School
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is always a special time in our Boarding calendar. With students joining us from around the world, we take every opportunity to celebrate such occasions. On Tuesday night the Boarders enjoyed a delicious Chinese banquet beautifully prepared by our Chartwells team.
They were thrilled with all that was on offer from spring rolls all the way through to fried ice cream and fortune cookies. Another highlight of the evening was a delivery of giant fuji apples, etched with good wishes, for our Boarders to enjoy. In Chinese culture, the word for apple, “ping guo”, is a homophone for the word “ping”, meaning peace or tranquillity, so an apple symbolises a wish for peace.
This special gift of apples has become a much-loved tradition for our Boarders and we are very grateful to the beautiful day school family who, year after year, take the time to bring much joy to our Boarding family.
Speaking of food, I am delighted to share the Term 1 menu with you. This menu has been through numerous critiques including our Boarders Representative Council, Heads of Houses, and the Chartwells team including their dietician before appearing in its final version that you can view by clicking here.
Furthermore, we have a process where we provide daily feedback and tweaks are made along the way so we can ensure a delicious and nutritious menu for all. If you have any feedback on the menu, I would love to have your input too.
Pymble comes to you
One of my favourite aspects of my job is to be out and about visiting families in their home towns. In the coming weeks we will be visiting Scone and if you live in the vicinity and are free on Friday 21 March, we would love you to join us. The invitation can be accessed by clicking here.
We also have other plans to visit in the months to come. Please make a note of the dates when we will be ‘on the road’ or let us know if you would like a visit.
Year 12 Learning Discussions
Year 12 Learning Discussions are back on site at Pymble on Wednesday 5 March. We understand that it may be difficult for some of our Year 12 parents to be here in person and for this reason we have arranged the opportunity for online appointments between 3.30pm and 5.00pm on the same day. Boarding parents will be prioritised to book interview times and will have early access to the booking system. An email will be sent with the details of how to book later this week.
Our Boarders Shine in the Pool
The swimming carnival is always a super fun day for the girls and the competitive streak really comes into play in the day girls verses Boarders event. Yesterday, the Year 7 to 9 race was a real nail biter with our Boarders narrowly triumphant in the pool. Not so lucky today, with our Year 10 to 12 team missing out by just 30 seconds. Congratulations to all our swimmers who did us all proud in the pool!
Live It, Love It, Learn It – Ms Theresa Mimmo, Deputy Director of Boarding
Boarders got baking on Friday afternoon with the making of brownies and milkshakes. Mrs Wiedemann was happy for all Boarders to be back and welcomed all of our new Boarders. On Saturday afternoon, the trip to Hornsby shopping centre proved beneficial to collect all required school equipment for the new year.
The weather played a part in the successful adventure to Watson’s Bay on Sunday. Poké bowls were on the menu for a picnic lunch in the park and a quick dip in one of the harbour beaches. The group were lucky enough to see the yachts racing in the SailGP final on Sydney Harbour.
Our academic tutors also returned this week. Boarders are able to book time with tutors to assist with their academic studies.
A View From My Window
Hi, my name is Daysie, and I joined Pymble last year in Year 7. I live four hours’ drive from Sydney in a town called Cootamundra, on a 4,000 acre mixed-farm property; we also own two other farms an hour and a half away near West Wyalong which are both 2,000 acres. On our farm in Cootamundra, we have Hereford cattle and sheep, as well as some crops including canola, oats, wheat and lupins.
I live with my mum, dad and my six siblings – Rogan, Digby, Felix, Macey, Evie and Wylie – some of whom now live in Sydney. I am the youngest! We also have a dog called Bernie who is an old English sheep dog and cat called Fuzzy who is a rag doll, as well as five working dogs which are kelpies.
When I look out my window, I see Bernie playing around and my siblings kicking a footy around (usually with Bernie chasing after them). My favourite things to do when I get home are ride my motorbike, go chaser binning for my dad when it’s harvest time, and go fishing for carp out on the tinny in the swamp, even though I don’t usually catch much! When I come home in the spring holidays I help my family with lamb marking.
I love spending time at home because I get to see all my siblings and relax by doing things like swimming in the dam on a hot summer’s day or when we go water skiing in the summer and getting to have my mum’s pasta when I get home. When I drive through the countryside, I see acres and acres of bright yellow canola; they blossom bright yellow for a couple of weeks in the spring, and then they fall, starting to get ready for harvest. I also love seeing paddocks of wheat, getting to smell the fresh air and the views from our other farms in West Wyalong because they have the best sunsets and are peaceful and quiet.
I love my time at Pymble, and love playing all sorts of sports throughout the year. My favourite time so far has been rugby season and getting to row in Terms 1 and 4. My older sisters, Macey and Evie, have both boarded before me – and I love that Evie is still here because she has helped me settle into my home away from home.
Boarder of the Week
Congratulations to Boarder of the Week, Margaux. A dedicated Year 9 student, Margaux joined us from Hong Kong in 2024. Margaux is enthusiastic about everything especially baking and she is a capable and dedicated participant in Boarders Get Baking.
Margaux always looks out for others and she has been especially kind to our new Boarders – showing them around, making sure they feel welcome and generally being a lovely Boarding sister. A talented writer who works hard at her studies, Margaux is a wonderful role model for all our Boarders.
Screenshot
Save the Date
Friday 21 February – PPA Icebreaker and Boarding parent “afters” at Pymble Pub
Friday 28 February – Year 12 Formal
Sunday 2 March – Mother and Daughter Lunch event – venue TBA
Friday 14 March – Year 11 Formal
Friday 21 and Saturday 22 March – Year 12 Boarder and Day Girl Parents’ regional weekend
Saturday 8 April – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel Service and Dinner
Monday 10 April – Face-to-Face Learning Discussions for Boarding Families
Tuesday 11 April – Boarders’ Travel Day
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
From the Chaplains
Valentine’s Day
This week in chapel I invited the girls to enjoy some hot chips, all in the name of Valentine’s Day. Why hot chips? Well, we looked at a passage of scripture where Jesus encourages us to be salty. He says:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” (Matt 5:13).
The girls enjoyed tasting the chips, trying to work out which bag of chips had regular salt, chicken salt and no salt, and which was the tastiest (chicken salt won, of course). The fact is, we are a nation that loves salt. While salt is associated with many unhealthy foods, back in Jesus’ time salt was highly sort after, used to preserve foods, purifying them of germs and drawing out their flavours.
We spoke about how Jesus encourages each of us to be ‘salty’ when it comes to faith. Yes, faith is a deeply personal treasure, and our school represents a rich and diverse range of faith tradition. But faith also connects us to our world, to each other.
Let me illustrate by sharing a legend behind the first celebration of St Valentines Day.
In modern times, St Valentine’s Day is more closely associated with cards, chocolates and commercial gain, but it has not always been the case. Although the story of the saint and the origins of the feast day are clouded by myth, February 14 has long been celebrated as the day of lovers.
The earliest version of the story dates back to ancient Rome and the pagan spring festival of Lupercalia. Every year in February, the Romans would go about the odd custom of whipping newlywed girls with strips of goat skin to ready them for babies. Very strange, indeed.
Constantine, the first Christian emperor, decided on a more humane way to celebrate the Spring festival by focusing upon the life and story of Saint Valentine. Valentinewas supposedly a Roman bishop who in the 260s and 70s secretly conducted weddings for lovers. Valentine would marry Christian soldiers, despite royal decree that they had to go to war.
Valentine was imprisoned by Emperor Aurelius for conducting these secret weddings! But prison did not stop him from bearing love for those around him. While in prison Valentine cured his jailer’s daughter of blindness and the pair fell head over heels in love (quite literally ‘love at first sight’.) Like Titanic, their love was not to be, and he died for his cause on February 14 the following year. On the eve of his death, the condemned man sent a passionate letter to his beloved, signed simply ‘your Valentine’.
His story is about romantic love, yes, but it’s also about living out your beliefs, wherever you may find yourself, it’s about shining in a dark place. I challenged the students by asking them:
What would it look like for you to be salt in your community today?
May God grant us an understanding of how wide, how high, how long and how deep His love is for us, just as we are.
May the Lord bless us and keep us in his love, now and evermore.
Reverend Cass Blake
College Chaplain
Events Calendar – Term 1 and 2
From the Futures Team
Workshops/Experience Days
Maria Island Marine Biology Experience
Date: Monday 21 April to Sunday 27 April
A practical learning experience on Maria Island for Year 11 and 12 students.
This predominately field-based unit consists of five days on picturesque Maria Island on the Tasmanian east coast. The unit is open to 24 students and is designed to engage, challenge, excite and inspire you through a hands-on marine science program. It will encourage you to explore issues threatening biodiversity as well as the productivity of the marine system. Climate change, invasive species, pollution, debris and their associated social and economic impacts will be covered.
In the April school holidays, we invite Year 10 and 11 students to explore Game Art, Animation, Design and Visual Arts at our cutting-edge UNSW Art & Design campus in Paddington. We encourage interested students to share their details below to find out more.
Click here to lodge an expression of interest in attending.
Projects Abroad: Overseas Medical Experience Webinar
Date: Tuesday 4 March
Time: 6.30pm to 8.00pm
Projects Abroad has been running these programs for over 15 years. They are very popular with students from across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and North America. The programs run in countries such as Cambodia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Tanzania, and our most popular program, Nepal.
Registrations for Term 1/Semester 1/Yearly programs are now closed. All confirmations can be found via the MyPymble App. If you missed the registration period and need to request a late registration for your daughter, or if you need to withdraw or transfer programs, please click here to complete a registration request. Please check the conditions of registration for the request cut-off dates. NOTE, all changes must be made by Monday 17 February 2025 to avoid incurring charges for the term, with the exception of Term 1 Saturday sports as teams and draws have been finalised and any changes will incur program fees.
Term 2 2025 Saturday Sport Registrations
Registrations CLOSE at 12.00pm on Friday 14 February for Term 2 Saturday Sports. Please access the online registration via the co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. A parent or carer log in is required to be able to register. 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. A reminder that registrations must be completed online and cannot be processed over the phone or via email.
Sally Davidson
Head of Co-curricular Administration
From the Co-curricular Sports Team
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2025 Cross Country Carnival
The 2025 Cross Country Carnival will be held on Monday 3 March. Further information about the carnival will be sent out in the coming days.
AFL
AFL Team of the Week – Pymble 6
Our mighty Pymble 6 team took on Brigidine on Saturday in very hot conditions. This was a special occasion as it was not only Round 1 2025, but it was many of our girls first ever game of AFL. Within Pymble 6, 90 per cent of this team had never played an AFL game in their lives.
Nonetheless, our girls left nothing on the field and from starting whistle to finish whistle, all girls improved immensely. Notable mentions to Amelia Francis (Year 7), Giselle-Sophia Jones (Year 8), and Grace Scammell (Year 7) who were the top performers of the day.
An incredible effort from all students and I look forward to seeing them progress throughout the season.
AFL Round 1 Results
Pymble 1 defeated Ravenswood 1 (42 to 13)
Pymble 2 defeated PLC Sydney 2 (42 to 6)
Pymble 3 defeated by Brigidine 4 (14 to 19)
Pymble 4 defeated by Brigidine 6 (30 to 43)
Pymble 5 defeated PLC Sydney 5 (81 to 0)
Pymble 6 defeated by Brigidine 8 (3 to 26)
Jack Garrad
Co-ordinator – AFL
Diving
Diving NSW Barnette Family Meet
This past weekend, our Pymble divers travelled to Sydney Olympic Park to compete at the Diving NSW Barnette Family Meet. Pymble fielded a strong team comprised of Ariana Brandner (Year 4), Emma Ware (Year 5), Freya Holland (Year 5), Jasmine Smith (Year 5), Amélie Berg (Year 6), Amélie Rahme (Year 6), Nouvelle Nicholson (Year 6), and Eleanor Mason-Jones (Year 9).
Pymble started off the day in the Under 11 Girls combined one metre, three metre, and platform event. Amélie Berg led the field finishing first place overall, and first place on one metre, with a score of 187.50 points. Closely following was Emma Ware finishing second place overall, and first place on three metre, with a score of 176.00 points; Jasmine Smith finishing fifth overall, and second place on one metre, with a score of 162.15 points; and Freya Holland twelfth place overall, and first place on platform, with a score of 106.75 points.
In the 12 and 13 Girls combined event, Amélie Rahme and Nouvelle Nicholson fought for top places in the field. Amélie Rahme finished third place overall, and second place on three metre, with a score of 176.15 points, closely followed by Nouvelle Nicholson finishing fifth place overall, and second place on one metre, with a score of 151.30 points.
Jasmine Smith competed in two separate events on Sunday, finishing first place in the girl’s Level 4 Pathways event, with a score of 108.60 points on three metre springboard.
Ariana Brandner competed in the girl’s Level 5 Pathways event on the one metre springboard, finishing sixth place, with a score of 107.75 points.
Finishing the day with a standout performance, Eleanor Mason-Jones finished first place in the 14 and 15 Girls combined event, with a break-away score of 229.40 points!
Kurtis Mathews
Head Coach – Diving
Junior School Sport
New Program Alert!
Pymble has teams up with Ku-ring-gai Netball Association to offer our students the “Net Set Go” program, the official starter program of Australia Netball for children aged five to ten. Registrations are OPEN NOW via the online registration system and will close on Friday 28 February. Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 will train on a Tuesday afternoon and play games on a Saturday at the local Lofberg Road Netball Courts throughout Term 2 and 3.
Click here for the Co-curricular at Pymble pages to register.
Megan O’Keeffe
Head Coach – Netball
Netball
New Program Alert!
Pymble has teams up with Ku-ring-gai Netball Association to offer our students the “Net Set Go” program, the official starter program of Australia Netball for children aged five to ten. Registrations are OPEN NOW via the online registration system and will close on Friday 28 February. Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 will train on a Tuesday afternoon and play games on a Saturday at the local Lofberg Road Netball Courts throughout Term 2 and 3.
Click here for the Co-curricular at Pymble pages to register.
Megan O’Keeffe
Head Coach – Netball
Rowing
NSW Rowing State Championships
The Pymble Rowing team competed in the 2025 NSW Rowing State Championships from Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 February. These championships are a highly competitive event, with the presence of approximately two thirds of all crews that will be competing at the National Championships in March. All Pymble crews raced bravely and fiercely against high-level opposition, in total coming away with a State Championship (gold medal), a silver medal, and three bronze medals.
Congratulations and well done to our Year 9 1st Quad who secured a State Championship title by winning gold in the Championship Women’s Under 16 Coxed Quad event. This is Pymble’s first win in this event since 2017 and the crew won in a blistering time of three minutes and 38 seconds. Well done to Emma Wang (Year 9), Claudia Wyatt (Year 9), Madison Landgrebe (Year 9), Cleo McLaughlin (Year 9), and Madeline Gaden (Year), coached by Mr Ben Booker, Lead Development Coach – Rowing. Madison Langrebe (Year 9) also took the bronze medal in the Championship Women’s Under 16 Single Scull event, after racing a heat, semi-final, and final in quick succession, well done Madison!
The Senior 1st Eight achieved a bronze medal in the Championship Schoolgirl Eight event, making them the third fastest schoolgirl eight in NSW, not to mention the event had competitive crews from Queensland, ACT, and Victoria included. Congratulations to Mathilde Goddard (Year 12), Mika Naito (Year 12), Erin Porter (Year 12), Leander McLaughlin (Year 10), Summer Phillips (Year 11), Scarlet Olesen (Year 11), Millie Cullinane (Year 11), Annabell Shanahan (Year 12), and Isabella Stalley (Year 12). On the same day, members of the Senior 1st Eight, Mika Naito (Year 12), Summer Phillips (Year 11), Scarlet Olesen (Year 11), Millie Cullinane (Year 11), and Mathilde Goddard (Year 12) won Silver in the Championship Women’s Under 19 Coxed Four. Congratulations girls.
The Year 10 Eight raced very well against interstate crews to secure a hard fought bronze medal in the Championship Women’s Under 17 Eight. Congratulations to Sanaya Lakhani (Year 10), Zara Kinniburgh (Year 10), Harriet Murphy (Year 10), Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 10), Kelly Clifton (Year 10), Erin O’Kane (Year 10), Georgina Curtis (Year 10), Olivia Norton (Year 10), and Lucy Simpson (Year 10)
The team now continues to work towards Schoolgirl Head of the River on 8 March 2024.
Lewis Gray
Co-ordinator – Rowing
Softball
Week 1
Round 1 of the Invitation Independent Schools Softball Competition took place this past Saturday with Pymble having four teams competing.
A beautiful sunny morning started off the first round of the term. We had some strong opponents this past weekend, with our Senior Firsts taking on last year’s grand final winners. In our Junior Firsts, we had a lot of new students playing their first ever game, which was great to see. Our Pymble 3 team came up against Tara’s Senior First team, with the clock being our enemy. Finally, our Year 11 Pymble 2 team showed up with amazing energy to take down Abbotsleigh 2.
Week 2 sees our Senior Firsts as the only team at home, with our three other teams on the road.
Pymble Team
Opponent
Result
Score
Pymble 1
Barker 1
Loss
3 to 9
Pymble 2
Abbotsleigh 2
Win
14 to 8
Pymble 3
Tara 1
Loss
5 to 11
Pymble 4
Barker 2
Loss
5 to 19
Chris Wood
Co-ordinator – Softball
Tennis
Welcome back to another exciting season of tennis!
We are thrilled to welcome our tennis families back for another fantastic year on the courts. Our program continues to grow, with an impressive 30 igsa tennis teams competing in the Saturday morning inter-school competition this term. Best of luck to all our players as they represent Pymble with pride and determination!
This season also marks an exciting milestone for our Pymble Tennis Academy, which has been officially recognised as a Tennis Australia Talent Hub. This partnership will provide enhanced development opportunities for our high-performance junior players, offering them a clear pathway to take their tennis to the next level.
Tildesley Tennis Camp – Melbourne 2025
During the holidays, 28 of our senior tennis players embarked on a memorable tour to Melbourne for our biannual Tildesley Tennis camp. Across five days (Monday 20 January to Friday 24 January), students took part in high-intensity training sessions, a fun-filled pickleball session, a visit to the arcade, and a well-earned shopping break at DFO. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the two days at the Australian Open, where students had the incredible opportunity to watch Aryna Sabalenka, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz in action on the big stage. We were also fortunate enough to be showcased on live TV as part of a segment on The Morning Serve, the Australian Open pre-game show.
With the Tildesley Shield fast approaching, our squad is more motivated than ever, and we look forward to an exciting season ahead!
Here’s to a fantastic term of tennis at Pymble!
Jufri Foss
Co-ordinator – Tennis
From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team
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Dance
Dancing into Year 7!
On Thursday 30 January, four dance sessions were led to welcome 295 students to Year 7. It was a fabulous and energetic way to introduce Pymble Dance to our new students and to meet all their smiling faces. Thank you to the dance staff Chloe, Denise, Bonita, and Laura for leading the lively dance sessions and thank you to the students for participating.
Katrina Cluff
Head of Dance
Drama
What a fantastic first week we’ve had for co-curricular Drama for 2025! Classes kicked off in full swing last Monday, with students eagerly meeting their new teachers, classmates, and classrooms. With energy and enthusiasm students dove right into their classes, and it was clear that they were excited for what the year holds.
With the wonderful mix of classes we are offering this year, students were able to immerse themselves in a variety of dramatic experiences. From exploring storytelling in Drama and Performance Skills, to the fast-paced excitement of Theatresports and Improvisation, and the creativity of Musical Theatre, there was something for everyone. Our Eisteddfod Drama classes also brought out the best in students, with many showing immense passion and dedication already. The excitement and focus that the students brought to their classes was truly inspiring, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.
To ensure all students are fully engaged with the after-school Drama program, we kindly ask that the new Drama uniform be worn. We understand that the drama shirts are not yet available from the uniform shop, but they will be in stock by the middle of this term. In the meantime, students are requested to wear a plain black shirt instead.
We would also like to kindly remind parents and guardians that all Junior School students must be picked up from FlagpoleLawn at the commencement of their classes to ensure they are travelling home safely, unless they have another activity within the school afterwards or staff have been notified. All students will need to be collected within 15 minutes after their class finishes, otherwise they will be taken to OSHC.
It has been a brilliant start to the year, and we are so excited to continue supporting the growth and creativity of our Drama students throughout 2025.
Rebecca York
Co-curricular Drama Co-ordinator
Language Arts
Debating
Thank you for your patience as we get an unprecedented number of Debating teams up and running. Please complete registrations as soon as possible via the online registration system.
ISDA and Friday Evening Debating (FED) Debating Competitions
One sleep to go! Rounds 1 and 2 FED and ISDA commence this Friday 14 February. Round 1 and 2 for both competitions will be hosted by Pymble. ISDA and FED team coaches have been in contact with girls to organise training times and meeting spots at venues. Programs will be available on the night and each team will have a specific prep and debating room.
Most students are collected at the conclusion of their debates. Please note that girls are not permitted to travel home on public transport without an adult.
Four girls are selected to debate in each team each week. If a team has more than four, every girl is expected to attend. When we host, all teams also need to provide a timer and chairperson, and this is usually the role of a fifth member or the coach.
Venues
ISDA debates will be held in the Kate Mason/Senior Studies centre, and FED debates will be held in the Upper School Common Room and surrounding RV, DK, and IH classrooms. Parents are welcome to watch ISDA and FED debates. Schedules and draws are in the registration information.
Catering
As we are double hosting Rounds 1 and 2, our tradition is that Language Arts parents cater when we double host. All debaters look forward to these highlight afternoon teas and suppers. If you can assist or would like to join our Language Arts parent support group, please contact Mrs Aimy Hoang. Here is the link to the WhatsApp group for parent supporters: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Gj7SRoMUOlaGPCayMt9QL6
Archdale, Social Debating, and International Debating Competition (IDC)
These competitions will commence later in the year. All the best to all FED and ISDA teams for a great season!
Public Speaking
Many girls have registered for our Public Speaking auditions to be held on Wednesday 19 and 26 February and 5 March. We look forward to hearing a variety of speeches.
TEDx classes resumed on Saturday with a morning and now an afternoon class. Wednesday Public Speaking classes resumed last week with a senior and a junior class. Waiting lists are currently available.
Model United Nations (MUN)
PMUN has commenced for the year and girls meet at lunch in DK06. This is a student led Model United Nations club which discusses current affairs and prepares for MUN conferences, both internally and with other schools in the area. All are welcome and we would love to see new faces.
It is hard to believe we have been back a week now from our whirl of a tour around London, Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Amsterdam, and The Hague. The THIMUN Conference at The Hague was a tour highlight, and we are considering offering this opportunity again in January 2026, albeit a shorter trip with a focus on the conference. Stay tuned!
Mock Law
Auditions for Mock Law teams will be finalised in the coming week and teams will be announced along with registration details for Mock Mediation, Mock Trial, and Mooting.
Bronwyn Hubbard
Head of Co-curricular Language Arts
Music
There is nothing that compares to the glorious sound of young musicians perfecting their skills emanating from the Music Building from 6.50am until 7.00pm! I often hear Principals declare that schools are lonely places without the children. The same can be said for Music buildings – it is silent, and, to the music staff, this is quite dull. We love hearing the beautiful sounds, knowing our students are busily preparing for various concerts, events, exams and performances.
On that note, as you read this, the Concerto Competition will be taking place with adjudications from Claire Edwardes OAM and Simon Tedeschi. The winner will be announced and I can’t wait for the Term 2 Ensemble Concert where they will perform their concerto with the College Symphony Orchestra. Congratulations to our contestants: Chloe Yang (Year 8), Charlotte Wu (Year 7), Grace Walmsley (Year 11), Jana Zhang (Year 7), Ashleigh Yip (Year 7), Joy Yin (Year 10), Feifei Wang (Year 9), Emma Popli (Year 7), Joanna Au (Year 11), and Danielle Hu (Year 8). And a huge thank you to Ms Claire Race for ably rehearsing each student. To the parents and private tutors – what a talent you all have in producing such fine, young musicians. Thank you for sharing their passion with us.
Ensembles
All ensembles have commenced for 2025. For girls in the Secondary School, an agreement will be sent out this week for parents and students to read and return. This agreement is to demonstrate respect to your ensemble, your conductor, but most importantly, to yourself as a musician. Rehearsing in a group each week helps with muscle memory and auditory skills.
Junior School Music Camp
All students in Year 4 Band, Year 3 Strings, Stanhope Band, and Grainger Band will be attending the annual Music Camp on Saturday 15 February (Stanhope and Grainger) and Sunday 16 February (Year 3 strings and Year 4 Band). A Google form was sent out and we hope to see as many of you as possible to enable a fantastic start to the year.
Congratulations
Isabel Fan – 6th Grade Musicianship – Honours
Sarah Turner
Head of Music
Tickets on sale now for Icebreaker 2025!
Please join us for canapés and drinks with the Pymble Parent Association (PPA) and our Pymble family at our annual Icebreaker on Friday 21 February from 6.45pm to 9.00pm on Gloucester Lawn.
An annual College tradition for over 50 years, Icebreaker is a relaxed community event not to be missed. Join Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen, Chair of the Board, Mr Chris Fydler OAM, College Board members, parents, carers and staff as we welcome our new families, reconnect with old friends and toast a wonderful new year at Pymble.
The cost of the Icebreaker event is $52.00 which includes a cocktail dinner. Please note this is a parent-only event and registration is essential. Please click here to RSVP by Thursday 13 February.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Get to know our Head Boarding Prefects, Celeste and Sophie
After last week’s Q+A with Head Prefects Ang-Ya and Emily, this week we venture into Pymble’s Boarding family to get to know the ins and outs of Head Boarding Prefects Celeste McDermott (CM) and Sophie Laing (SL).
Celeste and Sophie hail from Boorganna and Tullamore, respectively, and bring a wealth of life experience to their positions of Head Boarding Prefects. Let’s get to know them a bit better.
What’s the best thing about growing up in the country?
SL: For me, the best thing about growing up in the country is the freedom that you get. I love that I can pretty much go outside and have a million things to do with no restrictions in terms of space, neighbours, and other roads or traffic around.
CM: Having the ability to sing (or even yell) at the top of your lungs and no-one can hear you. Being able to disappear into the forest all day and no-one notices. Another thing I value is going into town and the warm greetings of people in the streets, always a “g’day, how ya goin”, even if you don’t know them (more often than not though, you do!). Going into Coles you can expect to see absolutely everyone and their mother. Being able to appreciate the serenity at night, where the stars in the sky are crystal clear, you can hear the creek trickling on by, and the crickets and cicadas… and you know that nothing will change while you’re gone.
If you could teleport home for just one hour, what’s the first thing you’d do?
SL: I would most definitely go up to the back shed and get my motorbike out. I would ride it all around my property and then my farm over the road to go to the big pit full of piles of gravel that are so much fun to walk up and sit on top of – there is the best view of our properties from there. I would also spend time with my family and friends that live at home.
CM: Being honest, I’d like to open the cupboard and do some baking, to have a kitchen of my own with an oven and ingredients that aren’t banned from the Boarding school pantry (like condensed milk!). Losing track of time in the kitchen while baking something, then stuffing my face as soon as it’s out of the oven to sit on the armchair with a good book… no remorse.
What’s the most “country” thing about you?
SL: The most country thing about me is probably my love for country music. Every time I turn on my speaker or go for a drive, country music is always playing. Even when I am studying at school, I listen to country music to remind me of home, but also the amazing opportunities that have come from me being able to attend Pymble.
CM: I think in the country people are more grounded to nature. Physically, you walk out the front door and walk barefoot onto the paddock. You’re surrounded by nature and I think this grounds me spiritually; it gives me a sense of calmness and belonging. I try to carry this with me wherever I go by being peaceful and down to earth.
What’s the funniest or most unexpected thing that’s happened in the Boarding house?
SL: In Year 7, a cow broke out of the Agricultural Plot and we had to go into lockdown and weren’t allowed outside of the Boarding houses. It was quite funny because to most of us, seeing a cow roaming around is the norm, but to the Pymble staff it seemed to be an absolute nightmare.
Another funny memory is the 3.00am dashes across Marden Lawn when the fire alarms go off. I remember when I was in Year 7 I accidentally left my roommates and ran out so they slept through it… lucky there wasn’t a real fire. More recently, the fire alarms have been inconvenient as the rain makes girls fake tan streaky or their recently straightened hair frizzy. I love recalling this because it shows how our cohort has changed as we have gone through our both individual and collective journey at Pymble.
CM: At Boarding school it’s common to have unexpected fire alarms. So when one goes off at 9.00pm we’ll all stand around and you’ll see people freshly coated in fake tan, and some people who had to jump out of the shower and throw the most random outfit on, which is kind of funny until you realise it’s cold and rainy and your tan will be a disaster the next morning.
If you could plan the ultimate holiday, where would you go and who would you take with you?
SL: I would go to Paris and would love to take my family and all my close friends with me. Except, I would most definitely have to include a trip to the city beforehand with an unlimited credit card so I could buy a whole new wardrobe in order for myself to look incredibly stylish whilst walking the streets of Paris. On this holiday, I would also do a stopover in London and then go to New York. The holiday would ideally be around Christmas time because it is my dream to have a white Christmas and see the tree lighting in Town Square.
CM: Look, if we’re talking really ultimate, I’d go to the moon and perhaps peruse the solar system if budget allowed. May as well bring my family and my friends in my rocket ship like that one Wallace and Gromit episode. Probably then when we touch town set up camp in a sizeable crater. Then go back to earth a month later. I think the Instagram post would be fire.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received from your family?
CM: I get a few good nuggets from Mum and Dad every so often. When I felt overwhelmed the other day with the amount of things on my plate (just Year 12, the usual), Mum just said, “Celeste, nothing’s really that important.” In the sense that in five years time I won’t be freaking out over how my sport selections go or if I’ve covered that part of the syllabus – it really isn’t worth getting all tied up about.
If you could have dinner with one famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
SL: I would love to have dinner with Jennifer Lawrence. She seems like the funniest person ever. All her award acceptance speeches, interviews, and red carpets always have me laughing so hard – this dinner would be no exception.
CM: Miles Teller (alive) from the movie Whiplash/Top Gun. I think if we were to get married that’d probably be my only shot at that. Miles, if you’re reading this…
What’s one thing about country life that city people just don’t understand?
SL: I don’t think all city people understand how rural country life is. For me, when I need to get groceries, I drive 1.5 hours and through 3 towns. This means that I have to make a very good and thorough shopping list because if I forget anything, I will have to wait another week for my next trip to the shops.
CM: I don’t think there’d be too many things. Sometimes, I wish people didn’t have a stereotype of “being from the country” meaning that you automatically live on a massive farm with 10,000 cattle and a piece of hay in your mouth. The same could be said for “being a Boarder” – it’s my hope for people to know that they’re just as much of a “Boarder” whether they’re from Wagga or Hong Kong.
If you could have any farm animal as a pet at school, which one would you choose?
CM: The only animals on my property are the wild ones, like wild cows, bandicoots, and dingos. So I don’t know, does my dog count?
What’s your secret to making Boarding feel like home?
SL: My secret is to probably bring something from home, like your favourite pillow or blanket. I find that this is the key to making Boarding feel like home as it acts as a reminder of it and also your family. Another secret that I have is to have movie nights. This might sound random but when I’m at home, my family always watches a movie together so doing that with all your friends will definitely bring that sense of comfort and home that you get from being with your family in your house and on your farm.
CM: As long as the people you surround yourself with are nice, then that’s all you really need to feel safe and comfortable – like you would at home with your family. Me and my friend, who I share a balcony with have decorated our balcony to the max; we’ve got posters, flowers, pillows, throws, snacks, even a mini fridge. Making your space special by bringing a touch of the things that make you happy.
Parent information sessions on how to use MyPymble
Anthony England, Director – Innovative Learning Technologies, will be hosting two online information sessions on how to use the MyPymble parent portal, the College’s app and central point of truth for everything that happens at Pymble.
Session 1 is for new parents joining the College in 2025, and Session 2 will be a refresher with time allocated for questions and answers. New and existing parents are both welcome to join Session 2.
We hope to see many parents at the two sessions! If you are unable to attend, we will distribute a recorded video of both sessions in the days after the event.
Invitation: Careers Expo 2025
Term 1 Bus Registrations are now open!
This is a reminder to register your daughter for the Pymble private bus service for travel during Term 1 if you have not already done so.
Registration for the Pymble bus service is offered on a term-by-term basis with two options:
Term registrations are valid for a whole term.
Flexible registrations enable students to register for specific day(s) with a choice of morning and/or afternoon runs.
Students must use their student ID cards to tap on and off the bus service. Students who are new to the College will receive their student ID cards in the coming weeks. If your daughter has lost her card, please get in touch with College Services for a replacement form.
Green Travel Plan initiative
In line with our Green Travel Plan initiative, we will be trialling a new, lower full-term registration fee for students using stops within a 5km driving distance to the College.
Students who catch the bus at a stop within a 5km driving distance to the College will be charged a term registration of $250. The term charge outside the 5km driving distance will remain at $430 this term. The flexible registration charge remains at $7.50 per trip.
The $250 term charge will apply to the following stops:
New stop: Yarrara Road before Lachlan Avenue, West Pymble (Hunters Hill Bus Route 1). Please note, this replaces our Yanko Road stop
New stop: Ryde Road opposite Wyuna Road, West Pymble (North West Bus Route 3)
New stop: Ryde Road opposite Kiparra Street, West Pymble (North West Bus Route 3)
Existing stop: Birdwood Avenue before Koola Avenue, East Killara (Lower North Shore Bus Route 2)
Existing stop: Mona Vale Road opposite Memorial Avenue, St Ives (Northern Beaches Bus Route 4)
Safety of our students on the Pymble bus service
The safety of our students is paramount to us and the following measures are in place to ensure their safety.
Registering to use the service allows us to ensure that all students can get a seat on the bus. By knowing who is catching our buses, we are also able to communicate to the relevant parents any delays or changes.
Our Junior School students are walked to and from the James Kelso Field bus drop-off zone by a member of the Junior School staff in the morning and afternoon. Students are always supervised by a Junior School staff member and our trusted bus drivers.
The buses now have an additional safety feature to ensure that no child is left behind on a bus after it has finished its run. Drivers will need to check all rows of seats and push a button at the back of the bus at the end of each run. An alarm will sound if the driver does not complete this step.
All students are required to wear a seatbelt at all times on the bus. Moving between seats while the bus is on the move is not allowed.
All students must tap on and off the bus. This allows us to know who is currently on the bus should there be an incident while on the road.
All our buses are tracked via the TransportMe app in real-time. This is available for free on Android and Apple devices.
All our drivers are trained, experienced and hold a current WWCC.
Please do not hesitate to contact College Services if you have any further questions about transport to and from Pymble Ladies’ College as we are always happy to assist.
