From the Principal

It is such a joy to have our students and staff back on campus this week, made even merrier by the infectious House spirit, energy and camaraderie of our Junior School Athletics Carnival yesterday and today. Thank you to all the parents who were able to come along to support their daughters and contribute to the fabulous refreshment stall. Your involvement in these important school events is highly valued.

When my alarm went off on Tuesday morning, I was so excited about the first day of term that I postponed a meeting with our fabulous deputies so we could all be out and about to greet the girls – our favourite way to spend a morning. An extra special welcome back to Year 12 for their very last first day of term ever, and to all our new students who commenced at Pymble this week: Margaux, Holly, Lily, Imogen, Brinda, Rhea, Zuleika, Sophia, Edwina, Melissa, Eeva, Erin, Emily, Ella, Rosie, Celica, Emma, Summer and Adela in the Secondary School; and Melanni, Chloe, Jessica, Shushu, Vedha, Harriet, Ananya, Mia, Leia, Isla, Georgia and Joy in the Junior School. We are so glad you are here with us.

We also have 32 exchange students joining our Year 10 and Year 11 cohorts this term from Argentina, England, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland and Singapore. We know there is huge interest among our Upper School girls to participate in international exchange and we are working hard to establish more connections with appropriate schools, including several in the US and UK, to provide a greater number of global learning opportunities for our girls. We look forward to sharing more information about these new offerings in due course.

Living Our Values Everyday

On our Staff Day on Monday, we were delighted to present 12 staff members from across all areas of the College with LOVE Awards for Living Our Values Everyday. These biannual awards are given to educators, coaches, administration and professional services staff who are nominated by their colleagues for being exemplars and role models of the values and behaviour we expect all members of our Pymble family to uphold: Care, Courage, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility.

Our Deputy Principal, Ms Lamia Rockwell, has been leading a team of staff who have undertaken a great deal of work around our values, what they mean to us, and how we expect to see them in action everyday within our entire community.

Following extensive consultation with students, staff and families, we have developed the following set of values statements to guide our interactions with one another.

Care: I am kind to myself and others.
Courage: I am open to new experiences to learn and grow.
Integrity: I do the right thing even when no one is watching.
Respect: I value diversity, my worth and the worth of others.
Responsibility: I take ownership of my actions.

In our first Combined Assembly for the term on Tuesday, I spoke with the girls about these statements and behaviours, and how amazing it feels, deep within yourself, when you know you are valued.

Part of that feeling comes from how we treat each other, and how we show up each day for our friends, families, acquaintances and colleagues. Putting this in context for the girls, valuing the staff and students speaking to you at assembly means listening, paying attention, and caring about what each person is saying, not talking to your friends throughout. Another example is saying thank you to your teacher at the end of a lesson or the school day.

It was heartening to see the girls rise to the challenge of choosing a value, thinking about a time when they have seen or demonstrated that value in action, and writing an example on a Post-it note. On the weekend, I am looking forward to going through the hundreds of examples collected at the end of assembly and acknowledging students for their thoughtful answers.

In addition to guiding student behaviour, our values statements are designed to provide the framework for all interactions between staff, parents and carers, and will ultimately become a component of accepting a place at Pymble. This is a positive move forward for the College, recognising that each member of our Pymble family wants to feel valued for who they are, and that we all share a collective responsibility to make that happen.

Finally, a big shout-out to three of our amazing Year 5 students who had the courage to share an example of a time when they demonstrated one of our College values in front of all students at Tuesday’s assembly – that’s all students in Years 5 to 12, no small crowd!

The girls spoke so thoughtfully and with such dignity and confidence that we were all completely captivated.

Ava: Responsibility

“At my old school, we had fidget toys handed out by the teachers. Mine had an elastic band and flew off to the ceiling. Everyone thought, ‘what just happened?’. The teacher said someone had to take responsibility for this. I said, ‘teacher it was me. I’m so sorry. I was just too fidgety.”

Mya: Care

“When some of my friends were sad because we had a friendship fire, I went up to them and asked if they are okay and want support and if they want me to sit with them at recess and lunch. I tried to support them by saying positive things to them.”

Aaisha: Respect

“I always respect my teachers and my friends, and I give them privacy, and I respect them by listening to what they say and do. It’s very important to give people respect so that they can respect you too.”

Honestly, I could not be more #PymbleProud of those girls and their reflections. Congratulations to Ava, Mya and Aaisha – a special student LOVE Award from me is coming your way.

You’ll be hearing a lot more about values and behaviours as your family’s journey at Pymble continues. For now, I wish you all our students, staff and families a wonderful term during which you are seen, heard and valued for who you are.

From the Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

Welcome to Term 3. It’s been fabulous to see the girls back at school and bringing the magic of their smiles and joy for learning. This term, we extend a warm welcome to Leia Bennetts (Year 1), Georgia and Isla Coupland and Gemma Shum (Year 2), Mia Yuan and Ananya Agrawal (Year 3), Harriet Cheung and Joy Hong (Year 5), Chloe Zhang, Vedha Choudhary, Melanni Baker, Jessica Parker and Shushu Zhang (Year 6) and their families, who have joined our Junior School family. I look forward to getting to know you all over the coming weeks.

We ended Term 2 with our spectacular STEAM Festival, and we have started this term with the magic of creativity as we all engaged in the writing extravaganza led by Mrs Bird. I am so proud of the opportunities we offer our girls to extend their thinking and show them the fun there is to have with academic challenge and new experiences. I am delighted to say that through their STEAM marketplace, this year the girls raised a staggering $6,301 that will go towards STEM kits which we will deliver to the HARK Refugee Clinic to support children and bring the magic of learning to families who have left their homes and lives through trauma. This is an improvement on last year’s total of $5,577.

Watching the girls engage with the scenes they saw as they arrived at school on Tuesday and hearing their wonder about how and why the teddies, hot air balloon and other items had ‘landed’ in our Junior School reminded me of the power there is in letting children’s imaginations run wild. Often in the fast pace of our digital and consumer-focused world, we inadvertently encourage children to grow up too quickly. Too often, children don’t have the opportunity to lose themselves in the magic of imaginary worlds, yet there is such power to be had from exploring different ideas and unknown situations. Imagination and imaginary play enable children to shape and try new ideas and possibilities out of bits of existing knowledge. Imagination allows children to challenge their thinking, therefore helping their cognitive development.

This week we have gone for gold with our athletics carnivals – bring on the Olympics as our Pymble girls brought their passion for sport and house with gusto! The girls ran fast, jumped hard and gave each activity their absolute best. A special shout out to our Year 6 House Captains who led by example. In true Pymble spirit, some of the House Captains noticed a younger girl upset on the morning of the Year 3 to 6 Carnival and immediately sprang into action and encouraged her to play a game of dog bingo with them and me in Hedgehog House, ensuring that the little girl started her day with laughter and joy. #PymbleProud!

A message from Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics

Unleash your imagination – Junior School Writing Extravaganza

On their first day of term, Junior School girls excitedly participated in a writing extravaganza, where the playground was transformed into an imaginary world. This event not only sparked their imagination but highlighted the importance of writing as a powerful tool for self expression, communication and learning. Across Kindergarten to Year 6, on a daily basis, our girls are given opportunities to consolidate, develop or extend their existing writing skills.

Learning to write is a complex process encompassing cognitive, physical and cultural dimensions (Daffern, Mackenzie & Hemmings, 2017). Writing is good for mental health; it strengthens executive functions and encourages reflection and self-awareness. Writing is an integral part of learning in the Junior School and is undertaken across all subject areas where the girls learn to compose a range of texts to meet different purposes, audiences and subject-specific content. This enables them to build their ability to not only think, but write across a range of disciplines.

Writing is the act of conveying creative ideas, stories, and information through words, a skill essential for the girls as they journey through Pymble. By writing, the girls invite the reader into their world, to share experiences, whether real or imagined. Independent writing cultivates various skills including creativity and organisation. Through writing activities in the Junior School, the girls are able to clarify what they think, experiment with expression as well as articulate their own ideas. They learn to adapt their writing to suit the different purposes of texts including persuasive, informative and imaginative.

Writing also has a strong relationship with oral language and reading. Through reading a range of texts and genres, not only does it provide exposure to coherent and cohesive text structures and sophisticated language choices, but also stimulates ideas for the girls when composing their own written texts. The girls are also exposed to different grammatical structures, sentence structures and vocabulary. Through our library programs, the girls are provided opportunities to learn the skills of writing with our visiting authors. Our Year 5 girls are also working with Kate Temple, our author in residence, to hone their skills as writers.

By creating this whole school writing extravaganza, we hope to continue to foster a love of storytelling and enable the girls to increasingly view themselves as writers and authors.

OzKids in Print – Writing and Art Competition

If your daughter would like to enter a short story, poem or artwork into the OzKids in Print Competition, please contact Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academic, at lbird@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. Entries will be closed for submission on Friday 30 August (Week 6). Please include a title with any short story or poem submitted. For any artwork submitted, please include a title and a brief description of the artwork. (For more information, please click here.)

Wellbeing Weekly – Kate Giles, Head of Wellbeing K-6

Parent Wellbeing Series

This term we will be holding two workshops in our Parent Wellbeing Series. The first of these will be held on Thursday 1 August at 7.45am in the Junior School Library. The session will focus on supporting your daughter with her friendships, particularly in a digital world where girls are interacting with each other online. I will be leading this session with Emma Davenport, Year 6 Co-ordinator. Parents of all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 are welcome to attend. Please sign up using this link.

A message from Mr Robinson – Acting Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations

Afternoon Departure Procedures

It is vitally important that students are well supervised in the afternoon and that the College is aware of student movement so we can support students and ensure their safety.

Grey House Walk: Students who exit the campus via Grey House Walk must do so with a parent or carer. If they are meeting the parent on the street, or walking to a nearby house, they must carry an authorised Grey House Pass provided by the Junior School office. Students who do not have a pass will need to wait with the teacher or at the Junior School office for later collection.
Collection Via Grandview Street: Students in Years 3 to 6 who wish to be collected from Grandview Street or walk home to a nearby residence will from Term 3 be required to carry a Grandview Street Pass. This will be shown to the Junior School teacher on duty at the station overpass. Students without a pass will return with the teacher to the Junior School for later collection.

Name badges: All students in the Junior School are expected to wear a name badge as part of their uniform. At the beginning of the year, the College provides all students with two name badges free of cost. In the event that these become damaged or lost, students will be provided with a replacement, with the cost of $10.50 charged to student accounts.

Lunch Orders: We are excited to see changes to the Junior School lunchtime menu, with the launch of a Junior School-specific Flexischool site from Term 3. This new offering includes cold drinks and frozen treats available for all students K-6 each Friday. We are also seeking the support of family members to support sorting lunch orders and serve cold food items throughout Term 3. If you are able to assist, please sign up via this link.

A message from Tiffany Farlow – Performing Arts Teacher

We are excited to announce a drawing competition for Year 1 and 2 students, based on the musical Porridge!

Students are encouraged to create an original piece of artwork at home, using any medium, on A4 or A3-sized paper. The artwork must be the student’s own work, completed without any help from parents or siblings. On the back of the artwork, please ensure the student’s full name, age and class are written.

Additionally, on the back of the artwork in pencil, include a title and a short description explaining how the artwork relates to Porridge. All entries must be submitted to Ms Farlow by tomorrow, Friday 26 July. The top three artworks will receive prizes, and finalists will have their artwork proudly displayed in the Junior School. We can’t wait to see the creative and original pieces our students will produce!

Term 3 2024 Key Dates – Week 1 and 2

Friday 26 July – Catch up photo day

Friday 26 July – IPSHA Debating

Saturday 27 July – IPSHA Saturday Sport commences for Term 3

Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August – NAIDOC Week

Monday 29 July – 100 Days of Kindergarten, 11.00am to 1.00pm

Thursday 1 August – Wellbeing Series: Friendships in Digital World, 7.45am

Friday 2 August – Jeans for Genes – Years 2 to 6 sausage sizzle (pre-paid)

From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)

Jeans for Genes Day Sausage Sizzle – Friday 2 August

We are very much looking forward to our Jeans for Genes Day fundraiser next week.

Girls in Years 3 to 6 are warmly invited to enjoy a sausage sizzle for lunch in Sunshine Square. Funds raised will be donated to Jeans for Genes, for the Children’s Medical Research Institute who research childhood genetic diseases. Please register for the sausage sizzle here by this Friday 26 July.

Regular, gluten-free and vegetarian sausages are available within a bread roll, along with a drink and a cookie.

We are looking for ten parent volunteers to help cook the barbecue and serve food for the girls. If you are available to help, please sign up here.

Please contact us with any questions at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com

Kate Brown

Head of Junior School

From the Middle School

Welcome back to Term 3 in Middle School. I trust that the girls have enjoyed the break from school routines and taken time to recalibrate. I would like to warmly acknowledge four new students in Years 7 and 8 and their families who are joining us at this point in the year. Welcome to Ella Dong (Year 7), Lilly Bart, Holly Lindsay and Margaux Marcet (Year 8).

A couple of highlights to look out for this term will include:

The Goodooga Indigenous Games in Central Western NSW at which seven Middle School students will represent the College in Week 3.
The Year 8 National Exchange Program in Week 5 where 25 students will have the opportunity to travel to either Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane or Toowoomba and experience school life in a new environment.
Year 8 students enjoying the Outdoor Education program with Somerset on the Colo River in Week 9.
Year 7 will have the opportunity to be involved in the transition program activities, which will involve mentoring our current Year 6 students in their transition to Secondary School.

These are just a few of the opportunities ahead for our Middle School girls to look forward to!

This term, students from Year 6 to 12 will be invited to complete the MMG Wellbeing Survey. This survey goes into greater depth than the tracking survey which was given to Year 8 students last term. Students will receive an email from MMG Education just before their scheduled survey time in Week 2. Students will be supervised in Compass time to complete their survey, and whilst we encourage all students to participate, the surveys are voluntary. The MMG email will provide a link to your daughter’s own questionnaire.

Congratulations to all our Middle School girls who have achieved amazing things over the holiday break. Below are some of the highlights that have been shared with me.

2024 Asia Pacific Junior Debate Championships

Attracting participants from diverse countries such as Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, among others, the event typically sees representation from over 150 students. Our Year 7 Debaters have excelled in this prestigious competition.

Athena Wu: 2nd Best Speaker, 12-and-Under Category, 1st Best Speaker of Australia, Oceania

Jing Yuan Liu and Selina Jiang: Tied 7th Best Speaker, 12-and-Under Category, Tied 2nd Best Speaker of Australia, Oceania

Yenyu Chan: 9th Best Speaker of Australia, Oceania

Angela Mao: 10th Best Speaker of Australia, Oceania

The European Girls Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI)

 Alexa Wu (Year 8) is currently overseas participating in the European Girls Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI). The European Girls Olympiad in Informatics is an international competition promoting young women in computer science, and, similar to maths olympiads, is a prestigious competition in which top high school students from different countries compete against each other to solve informatics tasks, which are part mathematical problem solving and part computer programming. Lex is currently ranked first in Australia, 29^th in the world and the youngest member of the national team.

2024 Water Cube Cup Chinese Songs Contest

Mia Zhu (Year 7) is also currently overseas competing in the 2024 Water Cube Cup Chinese Songs Contest in Beijing. She has been selected as a finalist and we look forward to her sharing her experience when she returns.

New South Wales All Schools Swimming Team

Congratulations and good luck to Emma Ng (Year 8) who has been selected to join the New South Wales All Schools Swimming Team. They will be competing at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships next week in Queensland.

The Pymble Family Book Club

We are writing to announce a very exciting opportunity for Pymble families with the launch of The Pymble Family Book Club.

With this initiative, we are offering families the chance to read great stories together, share ideas, and attend events to connect with authors and fellow readers.

The first author we will be showcasing is Maryam Master. Her books Exit Through The Gift Shop and No Words have been celebrated by critics and readers alike. We are very pleased to announce she will be joining us for the first ever Pymble Family Book Club on Wednesday 28 August at 5.00pm.

We invite you to come along to spend time with your family and friends, discuss Maryam Master’s books, led by the author herself, and connect over literature. You can see Maryam talking with Pymble students earlier in the year about her books in this video.

How the Pymble Family Book Club works:

Check out Maryam Master’s books and discuss with your carer/student if there is one (or both) you wish to read, and if you’d like to attend the Family Book Club together. You could even get a reading group together. Reach out to other carers and students in the year and organise to make it a social event!
RSVP to attend the Family Book Club on Wednesday 28 August. Please RSVP via this form. There is no cost to attend the event.
You are welcome to obtain a copy of Maryam’s book/s through a library or borrow from a friend. For those who wish to purchase the books, we have organised an easy way for you to source Maryam’s books through a supplier. Please see the order form attached or click on this link to order one or both of Maryam’s books. These will be available for collection at the College in the last week of Term 2.
Both carer and student read the book/s prior to the event on Wednesday 28 August.
Put the event in your calendar and come along on Wednesday 28 August to the Conde Library at the College to have a great time.

If you can’t make the event but still want to read some Maryam Master, you are still welcome to order the books through us and please email us at library@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au for some ideas about what we will discuss on the night.

We look forward to you joining us for this special opportunity to connect over some incredible stories and ideas. If you have any questions, please reach out to library@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Kind regards and happy reading!

From the Middle School Parent Groups

Year 7 Update

Welcome back to all our families, we hope you had a lovely break!

Our first event this term is our ladies’ night on Friday 2 August at 7.30pm at The Greengate Hotel.

Similarly to last time, we have booked the alcove section so we have our own space for everyone to catch up. It’s the perfect opportunity to get to know other Year 7 mums, so please come along!

RSVP is in the WhatsApp group and we will order dinner and drinks at the bar on the night so it should be a very easy and fun event!

We are also looking forward to Pymble’s Garden Party, one of the biggest and best days of the year! Please put Saturday 21 September in your diary to make sure you join in on the fun.

If you are able to help, Years 7 and 8 are running the Sweet Sensations lolly stall which is super popular with all our families, so please sign up to help in the WhatsApp group!

Wishing everyone a fantastic Term 3.

Kind regards

Stephanie, Leigh and Briar

Jenny O’Donnell

Head of Middle School

From the Upper School

A message from Mrs Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School

Hello and welcome back! We hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing holiday break and that the girls are feeling refreshed and excited for Term 3. Fourteen new students have started in the Upper School this term, and we hope that the girls’ first week in a new school environment has been happy and that they are excited about the opportunities that being at Pymble will bring.

This term, we are excitedly approaching the completion of the Upper School Hub, which will provide Year 9 and 10 students with a beautiful new common room for the first time. We look forward to moving into this space and will work with the girls to establish guidelines that ensure it remains warm, inclusive and welcoming for all.

Also, the International Exchange program starts this term with 32 students from around the globe. We warmly welcome these girls to Pymble and are grateful to the families who support this enriching experience. We are confident that our Pymble exchange sisters will help them settle into school life and enjoy their time here.

We also wish the best to our Term 3 Vision Valley Residential program group as they start their program on Sunday 28 July.

Best wishes for a wonderful term of growth, learning and friendship.

MMG Wellbeing Survey

On Friday, Year 9 and 10 Students will have the opportunity to complete the MMG Wellbeing Survey. This survey goes into greater depth than the tracking survey which was given to select year groups last term.

Students will receive an email from MMG Education just before their scheduled survey time. Students will be supervised in Compass time to complete their survey and we encourage all students to participate, however the surveys are voluntary to complete. The MMG email will provide a link to your daughter’s own questionnaire. Students must not share their link with others.

If you do not wish your daughter to participate in the MMG survey, she can ignore the link sent to her or you are welcome to let Dr Sarah Loch sloch@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au know of your preference in advance. We look forward to sharing insights from the MMG surveys with the community and thank students in advance for their valuable feedback.

Student Achievements

We are thrilled to announce the remarkable achievements of Catherine Li during the recent Sydney Eisteddfods held over the holidays. Catherine showcased her exceptional piano talent, earning several prestigious awards in the following categories:

1st Place in 19th Century Piano (Ages 15-16)

1st Place in Recital (Ages 15-16)

2nd Place in 20th-21st Century (Ages 15-16)

Highly Commended in 18th Century (Ages 15-16)

Catherine’s dedication and hard work have truly paid off, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations on her well-deserved success!

Congratulations to Zara Cooke (Year 10) who was a member of the Australian under 16 Water Polo team who won bronze at the Under 16 World Water Polo Championships in Manisa, Turkey.

Tanzania Service Tour – 27 June to 12 July, 2025

Due to the outstanding success of the Tanzania Service Tour in 2023, we will be offering the opportunity for our current Year 10 students (Year 11 2025) to go to Tanzania to continue our long-standing relationship with East Meru Community School (since 2012), the School of St Jude and Maternity Africa Kivulini (funded by the Barbara May Foundation, our 2025 College charity supporting the work of obstetrician Dr Andrew Browning). A three-day Safari will also be included.

The information night for the Tanzania Service Tour (27 June to 12 July, 2025) will be Monday 29 July 2024 at 6.30pm in the Jobson Lecture Theatre (located in the Kate Mason Building). You are welcome to attend with your child. The evening will be held by the staff travelling on the trip. We will go through the trip’s details, proposed itinerary, service opportunities, fundraising, selection process (pending numbers) and payment timelines.

Please feel free to contact Michelle Hunt at mhunt@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions.

Important Dates

Term 3

Sunday 28 July – Year 9 Residential Program Group 3 begins at Vision Valley

Tuesday 30 July – NAIDOC Week Assembly

Thursday 1 August – Year 8 to 11 Textiles on Parade

Friday 2 August – TASFest, including Textiles on Parade

Monday 5 August – Year 10 Agricultural Camp begins (3 day camp)

Tuesday 6 August – Pymble host St Edmund’s College Athletics carnival

Thursday 8 August – Year 10 Pymble/Knox Social Cup (three Thursday afternoons)

Victoria Harrison

Head of Upper School

From the Senior School

As we bid farewell to the chilly winter break, we extend a warm welcome back to all our Senior School students. We hope that the holidays were restful and rejuvenating, providing the perfect opportunity to recharge for the busy term ahead. Congratulations to all Year 12 students who attended the study camp during the break. The teachers in attendance were very proud of the productive and collaborative approach, ensuring that some great work was completed. Special thanks to Mrs Jenny Olsen, Mrs Natasha Stanfield and the teachers who attended for their leadership and contribution to the camp.

Returning to school after a break can often feel like a significant adjustment. For our teenagers, establishing a strong routine is crucial, particularly as both Year groups prepare for their upcoming examinations. A well-structured routine helps to manage time effectively, reduce stress, and ensure a balanced approach to study and leisure.

To assist our students in creating these routines, we recommend:

Consistent Sleep Schedule: Encourage your children to maintain regular bedtimes and wake-up times. Adequate sleep is vital for concentration, memory, and overall well-being.
Dedicated Study Time: Setting aside specific times each day for study can help students stay on top of their workload and avoid last-minute cramming. This can include revision, completing assignments, and reviewing notes.
Breaks and Relaxation: It’s important for students to take short breaks during study sessions to prevent burnout. Activities like exercise, hobbies, or simply relaxing can help refresh their minds.
Healthy Eating Habits: A balanced diet rich in nutrients supports cognitive function and energy levels. Encourage students to make healthy food choices throughout the day.
Organisation and Planning: Using planners or digital calendars can help students keep track of deadlines, exams, and other commitments. This helps in prioritising tasks and managing time effectively.

As we navigate this term together, let’s support our students in establishing routines that foster both academic success and personal well-being. Your daughter’s teachers are here to provide guidance and support each step of the way.

Year 11 Pymble – Knox Social Event

Pymble Ladies’ College has collaborated with Knox Grammar School to organise a school-supervised social event for Pymble’s Year 11 students on 15 October at Hijinx Hotel in Alexandria. This event offers a safe and structured environment for students to socialise and celebrate together. This event is exclusively for Year 11 students from Knox Grammar School and Pymble.

The dress code is appropriate casual clothing, or they can wear sensible fancy dress (as part of a team’s theme) that allows them to participate in activities safely. Enclosed shoes are required. Tickets are priced at $85. All information is available on the MyPymble parent portal.

The ticket price includes transport to and from the venue, activity costs, food, and drinks. Students will be picked up from their respective schools at 4.00pm and taken to the venue, where they will work in mixed teams and engage in various activities such as challenge rooms, laser tag, bowling, and VR experiences. Students will be collected at 8.00pm and are expected to arrive back at Pymble by approximately 8.45pm. Pymble and Knox staff will accompany the students throughout the event.

Please note: Tickets must be purchased by Monday 12 August. Click here to purchase tickets.

Congratulations to Kiera!

Congratulations to Kiera Mironova (Year 11) who was a member of the Australian under 16 Water Polo team who won Bronze at the Under 16 World Water Polo Championships in Manisa, Turkey. We are all so proud of you!

Days for Girls

This term, we will continue our Days for Girls sessions each Wednesday lunchtime in the Senior School. Days for Girls works to eliminate the stigma and limitations associated with menstruation so that women and girls have improved health, education and livelihoods. To date, the organisation has reached over 3 million women and girls with life-changing menstrual health solutions. More information can be found at https://www.daysforgirls.org/

MMG Wellbeing Survey

As part of our continuous improvement process, we wish to provide opportunities for students to provide research informed feedback relating to their experiences at Pymble. Students in Years 11 and 12 will complete this survey this Friday during MBS sessions.

The research is being conducted by MMG Education, a specialist education consultancy that works with schools in the areas of school feedback and parent, student, staff and alumni satisfaction.

Please note that the questionnaire is confidential. All responses will be treated in strict confidence and no student will be identified to the College. However, to fulfil our commitment to student safety, if a student’s response suggests there may be a concern for their wellbeing, MMG will contact Deputy Principal – Students, Mr Justin Raymond so that appropriate support can be provided.

We look forward very much to the valuable contribution students will make to this most important project by completing their questionnaire.

Term 3 Key Dates

2 August – Year 12 Study Day

2 August – TASFest

5 August – 16 August – Year 12 HSC Trial Examinations

2 September– 13 September – Year 11 Yearly Examinations

16 September – Year 12 GPs In Schools

16 September – Year 11 and Year 12 Y-Safe presentations

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

Please note: Further information for Year 12 Graduation Events will be made available in the coming week.

Nikki Wyse

Head of Senior School

From the Boarding School

Welcome back! It was lovely to see the smiling faces of your beautiful girls as they returned to Boarding in a steady stream on Monday afternoon. I think it’s fair to say they were universally happy to back with their Boarding mates and keen to start a fresh term. There was the added bonus of welcoming eight new Boarders to our Boarding family and it was good to see our returning Boarders opening their arms to our newest recruits.

We are looking forward to another fabulous term and our Love It program continues to be a great source of fun and adventure for our Boarders. Please view below or click here to see what is on offer in Term 3.

ICPA Conference

It has been a busy start to the term and over the last couple of days Katie White and I took it turns of attending the Isolated Children’s and Parents’ Association (ICPA) Federal Conference. This incredible organisation is a voluntary, non-profit, apolitical parent body dedicated to ensuring all geographically isolated children’s educational needs and aspirations are not disadvantaged because of where they live. Clearly, they have an important role in the lives of many of our Boarders and it was informative few days of learning from the various stakeholders.

There was the additional honour (and very proud moment) of having our very own Latiah open the Conference by singing the National Anthem. Please read below the introduction to Latiah’s performance which is an accurate summary of the wonderful young woman she is.

Latiah is a proud Gamilaraay woman, and Year 11 First Nations Scholar and Boarder at Pymble Ladies’ College. Having lived in Dubbo, New South Wales, her entire life, Latiah first joined the Pymble family as a bubbly and bright Year 8 Boarder.

Over the last four years, Latiah has continued to impress with her many talents, can-do attitude and kindness to everyone. She has negotiated the challenges of living away from family, particularly in the time of Covid with dignity and fortitude.

She is a true leader and an outstanding role model for her peers and a reminder to us all of the importance of resilience and empathy. The messages of NAIDOC Week are close to her heart and Latiah hopes to make a meaningful contribution to the process of Reconciliation, there is no doubt she will be a significant voice for her people in the years to come.

In the near future, Latiah looks forward to tertiary study in the area of forensic science. Music is a true passion for Latiah, and she is generous in sharing her incredible musical talents and inspiring in her courage. She is honoured to be performing the National Anthem for you today and grateful for the opportunities provided to rural and remote students through the ICPA.

We will be in Tamworth on Friday night!

Our Pymble team will be at the Tamworth Boarding Expo this Friday and Saturday and celebrating with current, past and prospective families on Friday night. If you are in the area we would love to see you, please just send an email and let us know if you can attend.

Some handy information

Our Handbook for Boarders and their Families is your ‘go-to’ guide for all things Boarding. Please click here to view the Semester 2 edition.

I know you appreciate the importance of a delicious and nutritious menu for our Boarders. Please click here to view the Term 3 menu.

Please note both of these documents are always available in the Boarding section of the College website.

Supporting our wider Boarding family

In previous editions, you would have read about Amy’s efforts to support her young cousin Jack in his battle against neuroblastoma. Please make a note of 3 August when Amy is organising a bumper sausage sizzle to raise funds for this most worthwhile cause.

Keeping Up With Our Boarders

I am delighted to share with you the latest edition of Keeping Up With Our Boarders. I hope you can find a warm and quiet spot to have a leaf through and read about our fabulous Boarding family.

View From My Window

Hi, I’m Rosey from Temora, recently known for producing tough rugby league players, with three in this year’s NSW State of Origin team. Go NSW! When I look out my window, I see hills in the distance and crops in the valley. At this time of year, everything is green, but in springtime the canola will flower, flooding the landscape in patches of bright yellow.

We live on ‘Sunny Slopes’, which is just a hobby farm, but Dad likes to think he’s a farmer. We have cows, sheep, pigs, chooks, a cat called Georgie and a new puppy called Missy. I enjoy walking to the top of the hill and sitting on the big rocks as I watch the sunset. I love cold nights because Dad lights a campfire and we sit around toasting marshmallows and cooking a camp oven for dinner.

During the school holidays, I work at my parents’ floor-covering business to earn my pocket money. It means I get to spend lots of time with Mum while being in town, so I can catch up with my old friends. We always go to Wagga, an hour away from Temora, to attend my old gymnastics club to train with them which is one of my favourite things to do when I’m home.

The best experience these school holidays was being able to have my city family friend visit for three days to celebrate my birthday. She had never been to a farm or a small town before, so it was really fun to show her around and help to keep her from getting bored. We played card games, watched some Netflix, and went on lots of walks even though the weather was lousy.

As the holidays come to an end, I’m sad that I have to pack up my things again and take the long journey back by bus to Pymble, but I’m also excited to see my Boarding and day school friends. It makes you really appreciate the other when it’s gone, and I realise how lucky I am to have the best of both worlds.

Save the Date

3 August – Fundraiser for Jack Schofield

4 August – Boarder Community Day (all Boarders required to be in attendance between 8.30am and 12.00pm)

25 August – Dads and Daughters event

20 September – Boarders and their Families event (all Boarders required to be in attendance)

21 September – Garden Party

Term 4 TBA – Mother Daughter Lunch

Boarder Parent Group Meetings

20 September – 2.30pm onsite

24 October – 7.00pm TEAMS meeting

Carolyn Burgess

Head of Boarding

From the Chaplains

Why Do Gorillas Wear Red Socks?

As a Uniting Church school our girls and staff attend chapel each week. This is a time of where they are encouraged to reflect on their place in the world as those made in the image of God, and invited to think of things beyond themselves that need care and compassion.

Most will have noticed that there is a flow or a similarity between each service. I thought it might be helpful to explain this, using a simple memory verse that I was taught during my Ministry training – ‘Gorillas Wear Red Socks’ or ‘Gather’, ‘Word’, ‘Respond’ and ‘Send’.

In the Uniting Church we use a term called ‘Ordered Liberty’ for all worship services. The idea is that we use a simple structure, inherited and developed since the time of the early church that allows for creative expression that suits the context or audience. This approach allows worship to be offered in many different styles whilst ensuring the essential elements passed down through our tradition since the establishment of the early church are maintained and valued. Though not the same, writing a service of worship is something like arranging a song with the familiar building blocks of intro, verse, chorus, etc. or perhaps even writing an essay with and introduction, body and conclusion.

In each worship service we are invited to:

Gather in God’s Presence
Listen for God’s Word
Respond to God in Love

And at the conclusion of the service we are

Sent into the world as the People of God to serve

All of these things can be done in unique combinations of many elements including through spoken word, creative expression and music, depending on the preferences and options available to the gathered community. Generally this will be held together with a central theme.

Gathering happens at the very beginning of the service. Formally this may include things such as the ‘Acknowledgement of Country,’ ‘Call to Worship,’ ‘Prayer of Invocation’ and ‘Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession.’ This is a time for us to settle and to open ourselves up to the presence of God among us. We acknowledge each other as community, we recognize and give thanks for the things that we have been thankful for since the last time we gathered and, we honor and share the sadnesses and regrets that we bring with us into the space, so that burden of these things is shared with God and each other. During this stage of worship we are preparing ourselves to hear what God has to say to us today, by letting go of the week that has been.

Once we are ready, we listen to the Word of God.

During this time someone will read one or more passages from the Scriptures, and this will be followed by a ‘reflection’ which is also sometimes called a ‘message’ or ‘sermon.’ During the reflection the ‘preacher’ or person/s presenting will prayerfully unpack the passage.

To prepare the ‘Preacher’ or person leading this section uses a variety of methods and styles including, but not limited to:

studies of scholarly sources and interpretations
prayer
analysis of current events
conversation and creative expression

What you hear in your heart during this time may be very different from the message that the preacher intends. We believe that these differences are the beauty of the Holy Spirit breathing the Word of God into the community.

Responding to the Word is the next step in our journey of Worship together. We use this time to begin to think about what we might do as God’s people with the what we have heard.

This may include the prayers of Intercession (also called the prayers of the people) where we pray for the world and our community.

It may also include the sharing of Holy Communion and the collection of a financial or alternative ‘offering’ for the work of the church in the world.

To conclude or worship, we are blessed and Sent into the world to be God’s hands and feet in our community where we respond more fully and actively to the words that we have heard. This may include a benediction that specifically reminds us of our commitment to serve, and/or words of encouragement and love. Sung blessings, where the community sings words of encouragement to one another are common here.

Next time you are in chapel, or perhaps visiting your local church I invite you to take time to see if you can identify the ‘ordered liberty’ that has been used, using the Gorillas Wear Red Socks or Gather Word Respond Send approach to ‘Ordered Liberty.’

If you have any ideas for how we enhance any or all these essential elements to our worship together, please don’t hesitate to share them with the Chaplaincy team.

Cass Blake

College Chaplain

From the Futures Team

Confused about the difference between Bachelor, Master’s, and Doctorate? We’ve put together your go-to guide to different university degrees.

Bond University – Learn for Credit Courses

Over the July term break, Noora from Year 12 attended a Learn for Credit course at Bond University to gain credit in the ‘Criminal Law and Procedure in Queensland’ and another course. Read below about Noora’s experience:

I found out about Bond University’s learn-for-credit courses through a friend’s recommendation, who spoke highly of their pre-university offerings. I decided to take part because I wanted to improve my professional skills and academic knowledge in a structured setting. I recently finished three courses, which allowed me to gain a finer understanding of what Bond Universities offers. With the completion of five courses, there is 10-credit point deduction from your degree. For those interested, I’d recommend these courses as they’re valuable. Next, I plan to apply my knowledge and what I’ve learned to keep growing and improving. Stand out!

Written by Noora Miraki (Year 12)

Student Experiences

ACCIONA Intro to Industry

A small group of Year 10 girls interested in construction related fields were fortunate to visit the Western Harbour Tunnel Project in North Sydney.

They listened to a panel of female engineers who have been working on the project and were able to learn about their experiences of working onsite and of working in the construction industry before touring the underground tunnel.

They saw the machinery used to drill through the sandstone and make the caverns that the cars will drive through when the tunnel is finished.

The experience opened the possibility of studying about and working on construction sites as female civil engineers, exploring a side of the workforce that many had not seen or known about to its fullest extent.

Data Science visits SAS

The SAS Girls in Tech Day was a great opportunity for students to gain valuable insights into the tech industry and skills required when using data. Students learnt about the concept of data, how to collect data, how to clean data and identify outliers, make visualisations and identify trends from presentations, hands-on activities and discussions, and other useful information that can be used outside of the classroom.

One particularly fascinating segment of the presentation focused on using statistical analysis to become a successful YouTuber. It demonstrated how data can be used to gain insights into the preferences and behaviours of viewers.

Using a data visualisation tool, student were shown how aspiring content creators could analyse viewer engagement, identify trending topics, and optimise their content strategies based on data insights. The clarity and organisation of data into tables and visual representations made it easy to understand how data can guide decision-making processes. Overall, the presentation was an enlightening experience that highlighted the power of visualisations in solving real-world problems and making informed decisions.

The SAS Girls in Tech excursion was a fantastic chance for students to get more information on women in STE and how women’s involvement in STEM fields is important because of their high capacity for lateral thinking, as well as their skill level and teachable technical ability.

Full article: https://explorecareers.com.au/sas-girls-in-tech-day-event/

Work Experience Stories

The Village Vet – Killara – Carly Yiu (Year 12)

During the first week of the holidays, I had the opportunity to visit The Village Vet – Killara for my work experience. The Village Vet provides services such as general consultations, cat boarding and chemotherapy, and I gained firsthand insights into the procedures that occur beyond the consultant rooms in a veterinary hospital. By experiencing general consultations, surgeries and premedication, I was able to learn the use of certain medications like Alfaxan and medetomidine, which I believe would be very useful in my future studies. Towards the end, I was even allowed to prepare some sodium chloride solutions in syringes, and it was a huge achievement for me to see my solutions being approved by the nurses.

The Village Vet is also called Sydney Hyperthyroid Cat Hospital, which I was very lucky to see a couple of ultrasounds and learn the possible signs that indicate hyperthyroidism in cats. It was fascinating to use some of the biology and chemistry knowledge that I acquired at school in real life situations. The vets and nurses showed me fungi samples under a microscope, x-ray images of cats and dogs, as well as blood sampling results. It was definitely an enjoyable and educational experience for me.

Office for Member of Bradfield – Jenny Xu (Year 10)

During the past holiday I was very fortunate to receive the opportunity to complete a week of work experience at the electorate office of the Hon Paul Fletcher MP. It was such an interesting and rewarding experience to be able to see democracy in action and understand the responsibilities of our government representatives. Some my responsibilities included making calls to the offices of other MPs as well as the Attorney General, reading and logging the invitations that the MP received and completing administrative tasks. Through this opportunity I learned so much about Australia’s political system, and it has made me even more passionate about youth engagement with politics.

Prepare for an Open Day: https://myfuture.edu.au/career-articles/details/preparing-for-an-open-day

Date	Institution Registration Links
10 August On site	Macquarie University: https://event.mq.edu.au/open-day#/
17 August On site	ACU (Australian Catholic University) Strathfield: https://www.acu.edu.au/student-life/experience-uni-before-you-start/open-day#/
26 August On site	TAFE Ultimo Campus: https://www.tafenswevents.com.au/event/ultimo-campus-open-day
31 August On site	ACU (Australian Catholic University) North Sydney: https://www.acu.edu.au/student-life/experience-uni-before-you-start/open-day#/
31 August On site	University of Notre Dame. Broadway: https://www.notredame.edu.au/events#/
31 August On site	University of Sydney: https://openday.sydney.edu.au/
31 August On site	UTS (University of Technology): https://www.uts.edu.au/study/open-day
31 August Open Day	University of Newcastle: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/
7 September On site	UNSW (University of New South Wales): https://www.unsw.edu.au/openday#/

Undergraduate course guides 2024: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1u2Z4Ge_CvceRQ-uVJtgwfTB1kKU5nE5N

Events Calendar

From the Co-curricular Sports Team

The shortcode only works for newsletter articles

Co-curricular Administration

Term 4 Saturday Sport Registrations

Registrations are now OPEN for Term 4 Saturday Sports.

Registrations must be completed prior to the system closing at 12.00pm on Friday 9 August. 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.

Reminder notices will be posted on the Pymble App before registrations close.

The Term 4 Sports available for registration include:

igsa Touch Football (Years 7 to 12 – Saturday mornings)
igsa Tennis (Years 7 to 12 – Saturday mornings)
igsa Water Polo (Years 7 to 12 – Saturday mornings)
Santa Sabina Volleyball (Years 7 to 12 – Saturday mornings)
Pymble Cricket (Years 7 to 12 – Saturday afternoons)
Rowing – Summer season (Years 7 to 12)
IPSHA Basketball (Years 3 to 6 – Saturday mornings)
IPSHA Cricket (Years 3 to 6 – Saturday mornings)
IPSHA Tennis (Years 3 to 6 – Saturday mornings)

Co-curricular Registration Requests

Registrations for Term 3 Saturday Sports and Term 3/Semester 2 programs are now closed. If you missed the registration period and would like to request registration into a program, please click here to complete our registration request form. A reminder that late registrations are NOT guaranteed.

Sally Davidson

Head of Co-curricular Administration

Junior School Sports

NSWPSSA Cross Country

Congratulations to Siena Cassidy (Year 3) who competed at the NSWPSSA Cross Country on Tuesday 23 July at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsely Park. Siena raced in against the best 8/9 year old runners in NSW and finished 12th in the state. She was 2nd overall for the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) association. Such an amazing achievement. Well done, Siena!

Matt Tyson

Head of Sport – Kindergarten to Year 6

Snowsports

During the winter break, 60 Pymble Snowsports athletes from Kindergarten to Year 12 competed at the Northern NSW Regional Snowsports Championships.

Prior to the championships, Pymble hosted a training camp where 35 students took the opportunity to hit the slopes early in preparation for the competition and for some important team bonding.

Congratulations to our snow enthusiasts who performed brilliantly and won a sweep of individual and team medals!

Alpine

Division 1 – 2nd Place Team

Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) – 3rd

Olivia Clifford (Year 12) – 7th

Evelyn Zhu (Year 11)- 22nd

Division 2- 2nd Place Team

Arabella Wheatley (Year 10) – 3rd

Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 9) – 4th

Amber Wang (Year 10) – 31st

Elizabeth Lien (Year 9) – 21st

Audrey An (Year 10) – 41st

Zara Tang (Year 10) – 15th

Division 3 – 2nd Place Team, 10th Place Team, 12th Place Team and 13th Place Team

Aurora Zhang (Year 8) – 6th

Hilary Eyers (Year 7) – 1st

Eloise Gavagna (Year 7) – 17th

Bella Xu (Year 7) – 24th

Imogen Jones (Year 8) – 48th

Cienna Heald (Year 7) – 38th

Ellie Zhao (Year 8)- 26th

Helsa Hui (Year 8) – 41st

Sarah Kranes (Year 7) – 34th

Athena Wu (Year 7) – 53rd

Ellie Cao (Year 7) – 64th

Jade Mao (Year 7) – 47th

Bella Legge-Hughes (Year 8) – 42nd

Ashleigh Du (Year 7) – 56th

Ruby Azar (Year 7) – 57th

Selina Jiang (Year 7) – 50th

Division 4 – 6th Place Team and 11th Place Team

Christina Yang (Year 5) – 16th

Carolyn Sang Year 5) – 28th

Ellie He (Year 5) – 23rd

Anna Smart (Year 6) – 35th

Lydia Chen (Year 6) – 26th

Lily Salek (Year 6) – 60th

Arlene Ke (Year 5) – 55th
Jingyi Wang (Year 5) – 53rd
Polly Zhao (Year 5) – 41st

Division 5 – 1st Place Team

Kimberly Zhao (Year 4) – 7th

Evelyn Zhu (Year 11)- 6th

Jasmine Smith (Year 4) – 28th

Tina Wang (Year 4) – 5th

Caia McCarthy (Year 4) – 25th

Division 6- 1st Place Team and 4th Place Team

Makayla Cui (Year 2) – 5th

Michelle Zhang (Year 2) – 1st

Eno Lin (Year 2) – 2nd

Anne Li (Year 1) – 30th

Clover Gong (Year 2) – 18th

Dorothy Zhao (Year 1) – 17th

Evelyn Sang (Year 2) – 19th

Evelyn Lee (Year 2)- 27th

Ski Cross

Division 1 – 2nd Place Team

Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) – 2nd

Olivia Clifford (Year 12) – 13th

Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) – 19th

Division 2- 1st Place Team and 7th Place Team

Arabella Wheatley (Year 10) – 1st

Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 9) – 6th

Amber Wang (Year 10) – 30th

Elizabeth Lien (Year 9) – 21st

Zara Tang (Year 10) – 13th

Division 3- 2nd Place Team, 9th Place Team, 18th Place Team, 19th Place Team and 21st Place Team

Aurora Zhang (Year 8) – 7th

Hilary Eyers (Year 7) – 3rd

Eloise Gavagna (Year 7) – 8th

Bella Xu (Year 7) – 19th

Imogen Jones (Year 8) – 24th

Cienna Heald (Year 7) – 43rd

Ellie Zhao (Year 8) – 34th

Sarah Kranes (Year 7) – 37th

Athena Wu (Year 7) – 55th

Ellie Cao (Year 7) – 51st

Bella Legge-Hughes (Year 8) – 49th

Ashleigh Du (Year 7) – 56th

Selina Jiang (Year 7) – 44th

Division 4- 7th Place Team

Christina Yang (Year 5) – 11th

Anna Smart (Year 6) – 38th

Ellie He (Year 5) – 31st

Carolyn Sang (Year 5) – 25th

Lydia Chen (Year 6) – 32nd

Jingyi Wang (Year 5) – 45th

Polly Zhao (Year 5) – 44th

Division 5- 2nd Place Team and 6th Place Team

Kimberley Zhao (Year 4) – 11^th

Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) – 1st

Jasmine Smith (Year 4) – 33rd

Tina Wang (Year 4) – 8th

Caia McCarthy (Year 4) – 28th

Division 6 – 1st Place Team, 4th Place Team and 9th Place Team

Makayla Cui (Year 2) – 5th

Michelle Zhang (Year 2) – 1st

Yunuo Lin (Year 2) – 2nd

Anne Li (Year 1) – 25th

Clover Gong (Year 2) – 11th

Dorothy Zhao (Year 1) – 13th

Evelyn Sang (Year 2) – 17th

Evelyn Lee (Year 2) – 29th

Snowboard GS

Division 1- 4th Place Team

Esther Essey (Year 11) – 12th

Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) – 17th

Division 2- 2nd Place Team

Elizabeth Lien (Year 9) – 4th

Tina Zhao (Year 10) – 8th

Division 3- 3rd Place Team

Isabel Parker (Year 7) – 6th

Erika Zhao (Year 8) – 12th

Ruby Azar (Year 7) – 15th

Division 4 – 1st Place Team and 2nd Place Team

Christina Yang (Year 5) – 9th

Ellie He (Year 5) – 7th

Bella Geng-Yang (Year 5) – 12th

Hannah Setsu (Year 5) – 13th

Division 5- 2nd Place Team and 4th Place Team

Michelle Zhang (Year 2) – 1st

Yunuo Lin (Year 2) – 7th

Makayla Cui (Year 2) – 5th

Reena Geng-Yang (Year 1) – 12th

Anne Li (Year 1) – 10th

Snowboard Cross

Division 1

Esther Essey (Year 11) – DNF

Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) – 15th

Division 2

Elizabeth Lien (Year 9) – DSQ

Tina Zhao (Year 10) – 6th

Division 3

Isabel Parker (Year 7) – 10th

Erika Zhao (Year 8) – DSQ

Division 4- 1st and 3rd Place Team

Christina Yang (Year 5) – 9th

Ellie He (Year 5) – 6th

Bella Geng-Yang (Year 5) – 12th

Hannah Setsu (Year 5) – 15th

Division 5 – 1st and 3rd Place Team

Michelle Zhang (Year 2) – 1st

Yunuo Lin (Year 2) – 2nd

Makayla Cui (Year 2) – 4th

Reena Geng-Yang (Year 1) – 10th

Aini Liu (Year 2) – 8th

Megan O’Keeffe

Co-ordinator – Snowsports

Swimming

2024 NSW Metropolitan SC Championships – Friday 19 July to Sunday 21 July

Pymble Ladies’ College were represented by 21 swimmers at the NSW Metropolitan Championships racing for Knox Pymble Swim Club (KPSC) at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. This competition was held over three days, bringing together the best swimmers from around Sydney to compete against each other.

Our Pymble swimmers did an outstanding job with many personal best times, medals and top ten placings. There were plenty of qualifying times achieved for the upcoming NSW swimming State Championships, which will be held in August for Senior swimmers and September for Junior swimmers.

Top 3 highest point scorers:

Sarah Tian (Year 10) – 144 points, swam personal best times in all races (2 Gold, 1 Bronze, 6 top ten swims)

Keira Smith (Year 11) – 114 points, (1 Gold, 6 top ten swims)

Isabella Wang (Year 5) – 107 points, swam personal best times in all races (1 Bronze, 7 top ten swims)

Well done to all Pymble swimmers who competed over the three days. You did an amazing job for your Knox Pymble Swim Club, placing 2nd overall.

Hannah Carmichael (Year 11), Megan Chia (Year 8), Annalise Chow (Year 10), Jessica Croll (Year 11), Carla Mikkeline Eibach (Year 7), Oriana Fenton (Year 7), Georgia Friedel (Year 7), Piper Gregory-Reid (Year 12), Penelope Hargraves (Year 7), Ludovica Iacovelli (Year 7), Jaya Lilienthal (Year 11), Anne Liu (Year 8), Lily Lockhart (Year 11), Jade Mao (Year 7), Ruby Pickthall (Year 10), Keira Smith (Year 11), Sarah Tian (Year 10), Isabella Wang (Year 5), Chenxuan Yu (Year 7), Olivia Yu (Year 4), Chloe Zhang (Year 6)

Leanne Speechley

Head Coach

From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team

The shortcode only works for newsletter articles

Drama

Drama Holiday Incursion

Our recent holiday Drama Incursion was a resounding success, leaving students inspired and eager for more theatrical adventures. Spanning two action-packed days, the event offered a rich blend of workshops led by industry professionals, providing students with invaluable skills and unforgettable experiences. Esteemed practitioners from Belvoir, Bell Shakespeare, Sport for Jove, and Action Academy shared their expertise, making the incursion a truly enriching experience for our eager drama students.

Belvoir – Building a Character

The day started with a transformative session on “Building Character” facilitated by Belvoir’s education coordinator – Claudia Ware. Claudia led a series of dynamic exercises activities that explored energy levels, inside-out character development, hot seating, and paired scene work. Students learned to fully embody unique characters by focusing on physical and psychological traits, projecting energy, and interacting with others. Claudia’s expert guidance and engaging activities provided students with invaluable tools for character creation, significantly enhancing their acting skills and deepening their appreciation for the art of performance.

Belvoir – Monologues

Next, Claudia led the group through an in-depth monologue workshop where students learnt the art of dissecting text into small, actionable units and beats. They explored foundational skills including given circumstances and character objectives, using physical exercises to embody characters’ emotional journeys and learning how to heighten dramatic tension. Providing individualised feedback, Claudia added complexity and depth to the work of our students, who bravely put themselves on the line for creative critique.

Bell Shakespeare

The Shakespeare workshop was facilitated by Bell Shakespeare’s resident artists Emily and Cat. Students participated in dynamic activities embodying famous Shakespearean lines through movement and action. The “Radioactive Richard” game added excitement and teamwork, with complex variations to keep students on their toes. They created imaginative tableaux, bringing scenarios and objects to life, and competed in a high stakes rap battle using Shakespearean insults. The workshop culminated in group performances of “All the World’s a Stage,” focusing on creating vivid images through ensemble choreography, and leaving students with a deeper appreciation of Shakespeare’s timeless works.

Sport for Jove

The Sport for Jove workshop, led by George and Max, began with a lively warm up and observation activity focusing on attention to detail and physical expression. The workshop then shifted focus to the prologue of “Romeo and Juliet,” where students read, unpacked, and broke down text into unified chorus lines, working on rhythm, pace, energy, and projection.

Finally, students engaged in rehearsal-style performance using extracts from Shakespeare’s famous plays, allowing them to develop their directorial skills with authenticity and immediacy. This hands-on approach deepened our students’ understanding of Shakespearean text and boosted their confidence. The session culminated with students performing their scenes and refining their performance skills through live feedback from our Shakespeare professionals.

Musical Theatre Workshop with Kate and Maggie

The Musical Theatre workshop with our very own Kate and Maggie kicked off with a vocal warm-up focusing on vowels, breathwork, and choral rounds. Students were then guided through the soprano and alto lines for “Hard Knock Life,” where Maggie emphasised skills in rhythm and vocal dynamics. The focus was on developing two-line harmonies and characters appropriate to the performance style. Next, Kate choreographed the accompanying sections of movement, keeping our girls physically fit enough to dance a routine while maintaining vocal clarity.

The workshop emphasised the integration of vocal performance and choreography, teaching students how character development and song style contribute to a cohesive performance. Students performed the learned sections in small groups, receiving feedback that allowed them to refine both their singing and dancing. This immersive experience in musical theatre left students with improved skills in harmony, rhythm, and characterisation, preparing them for future performances.

Action Academy: Stage Fighting

Finally, we hosted a stage fighting workshop, facilitated by Action Academy specialists Blake and Lauren. The session began with a discussion of fight choreography from an industry perspective, highlighting roles such as stunt doubles and key skill specialists, as well as comparing techniques used in film versus theatre. Emphasising safety and partner awareness, Blake and Lauren taught students how to create the illusion of internal struggle in fight sequences, with tips and tricks on how to make sure the victim, rather than aggressor, controls the action. The workshop also covered punches and uppercuts, demonstrating techniques to safely execute these moves while using effective sound and distance skills to complete the illusion. This comprehensive session left students with a deeper understanding of stage combat, enhancing their performance skills while prioritising safety and realism.

A huge thank you to all our expert theatre practitioners, and our drama students for their creativity and bravery!

Rebecca York

Co-curricular Drama Co-ordinator

Music

Rehearsal times reminder

Due to tour group preparations, times have altered for rehearsals for terms 3 and 4. All non-tour members must still attend their large group rehearsal (School Concert Band, Middle School Concert Band, String Orchestra, Choir) along with Symphony Orchestra for those who are in Chamber Strings not going on Tour.

Below are the times for rehearsals:

Tour singers – Monday evening 6.00pm to 7.00pm

Tour string players – Thursday morning 6.50am to 8.00am

Tour band players – Wednesday morning 6.50am to 8.00am

Stage band – Thursday 3.30pm to 5.00pm

Combined rehearsals – Friday afternoon 3.30pm to 5.30pm

All non-tour members will attend their respective large ensemble rehearsals:

String and Band players

Monday String Orchestra, Monday Concert Band, Tuesday Middle School Concert Band.

Jazz

Musicians will go to Tuesday Jazz Band and not stage band.

Singers will attend choir or chorale.

Friday morning Orchestra is still on at the same time for the same people plus any Chamber String musicians who would like to be part of this group.

Scholar’s Concert invitation

You are warmly invited to come along and enjoy performances from 12 of our finest young musicians as they take to the stage to perform some challenging and inspiring repertoire.

The evening will commence with a short performance on harpsichord and Baroque flute from two of our fabulous peripatetic staff, Anthony Abouhamad and Jessica Lee.

Date: Wednesday 21 August

Time: 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Location: Music Gallery

Please book your free ticket by clicking here. If you have any queries please send them to musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

Congratulations

During the holidays many of our students participated in various competitions and events. I applaud their efforts and congratulate them on their humility and skill.

The following students achieved exceptional results in their musicianship exams, ably prepared by Mrs Goodman – well done to all.

Annette Ng (Year 4) – Grade 1 Musicianship – A+ (100%)

Chloe Ayton (Year 9) – Grade 2 Musicianship – A+ (99%)

Karen Kuang (Year 9) – Grade 1 Musicianship – A+ (100%)

Veronica Deng (Year 9) – Grade 2 Musicianship – A+ (100%)

Jade Mao (Year 7) – Grade 1 Musicianship – A+ (100%)

Annie Liebmann (Year 10) – Grade 1 Musicianship – A+ (99%)

Mia Davies (Year 9) – Grade 2 Musicianship – A+ (100%)

Zoe Manning (Year 9) – Grade 3 Musicianship – A+ (98%)

Charlotte Henderson (Year 9) – Grade 3 Musicianship – A+ 100%)

Isabel Fan (Year 7)

Participated in three events at the Sydney Eisteddfod:

2nd place – 20th and 21st Century piano category (age 13 to 14)

3rd place – Piano polyphony (15 years and under)

Highly Commended – 13 years Recital award

Jessamy Facer (Year 7)

Jessamy sang with Opera Australia, presenting Tosca by Puccini. Ms Zeltzer and I had the great joy to attend one of Jess’ performances and she was truly spell binding. The children’s chorus were only involved in the opening act, so during interval, Ms Zeltzer and I waited at the stage door to see Jess to congratulate her. The look on her face was sheer surprise and utter disbelief. We were so proud of her and wanted to pass on our admiration. Jess is completely awe struck now and finds that being part of the Opera, or anything to do with musical theatre might be her calling. Well done, Jess.

Please do let me know of any achievements you’d like published – we applaud all our musicians and are enormously proud of every child who chooses to have music in their lives.

Garden Party – Saturday 21 September

All musicians will be expected to be available for Garden Party – whether to perform or to help, especially with our little performers in Kindergarten to Year 2. The Music Support Group would also appreciate any help if you are able – please contact Liz Toh on Elizabethtoh@gmail.com

Tour Group – Spain/Portugal December 2024

It’s only four and a half months until we board our flight for our tour and the excitement is palpable! During these coming months, please talk to your daughter about all the wonderful opportunities that await her. It is a very daunting experience and some of our musicians are quite young. It’s perfectly fine for them to be feeling a little anxious about this adventure, and as parents, you are possibly feeling much the same. This is OK. Be open and discuss what lies ahead – tell them of your adventures. We will be holding an information session towards the end of Term 3 and I encourage you all to attend. The final instalment for payment is due Sunday 1 September.

Sarah Turner

Head of Music

Duke of Edinburgh

Congratulations to our Gold Duke of Edinburgh award recipients!

We are thrilled to congratulate the following students for achieving their prestigious Gold Duke of Edinburgh award:

Romina Cooke (Year 12)
Ella Jones (Year 12)
Georgia Phillips (Year 12)
Linh Pham (Year 12)

This remarkable accomplishment reflects their dedication, resilience, and commitment to personal development through the program.

We would like to remind students in Years 9 to 12 that they can also participate in this enriching program. For more information about how to get involved, please contact Mrs Chris Boland at dukes@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Congratulations once again to our Gold Award recipients! Keep up the great work!

Chris Boland

Co-ordinator – Duke of Edinburgh

Save the date for Garden Party 2024!

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!

Junior School Garden Party Poster Competition

With just under two months to go until Pymble’s biggest event of the year, Junior School students are encouraged to enter the Garden Party Poster Competition, with winners receiving house points.

Entries are to be submitted to the Junior School Office by Friday 23 August 2024. All posters entered will be displayed at Garden Party 2024. Prizes and certificates will be presented at Assembly in the week before Garden Party. Multiple entries are welcome.

Click here to download a copy of the poster which you can print at home. Students/parents can also pick up copies at Junior School reception.

Good luck!

You’re invited: Think Pymble 2024

Please join us at Think Pymble, an employment opportunities evening

Pymble Ladies College is a global leader in girls’ education and an exceptional place to grow your career. Our wonderful staff are the heart of our College and provide outstanding educational opportunities for our students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

At Pymble, you will be welcomed into a culture of care, inclusion and commitment to educational excellence. We provide a collaborative and innovative working environment where each person is valued for who they are and their unique contribution to their work.

And, as we look to the future, there are even more reasons for you to Think Pymble.

Pymble is the first independent Australian Olympic Pathway School

We are proud of this endorsement by the Australian Olympic Committee of our world-class coaching programs, facilities and holistic support of our student athletes. Pymble offers this unique pathway for our students and staff to achieve success on a global stage.

Our beautiful outdoor education campus at Vision Valley

Pymble’s second campus located in the bush at Vision Valley allows us to provide our girls with life-changing experiences that embrace social and emotional intelligence, promote peer connections, support rites of passage and environmental stewardship.

Our exciting Master Plan

Pymble’s five year Masterplan is well underway to deliver world-class educational and co-curricular learning spaces that prioritise student and staff wellbeing, with leading pedagogical practices and flexibility to accommodate developments in learning and teaching methods.

Keen to learn more?

Join us at a special career information evening on Wednesday 31 July from 5.30pm to 7.45pm in the Kate Mason Building at Pymble Ladies’ College. You will hear from our Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen, our wonderful executive team and teachers about what makes Pymble a leading employer.

Take the opportunity to step inside and learn more about what your next career move could be at Pymble. We welcome a diversity of teachers from all parts of the education sector.

Refreshments and canapes will be available while you network with our staff and visit the exhibits featuring some of the exciting things happening at Pymble.

Click here to register your attendance on the evening. We look forward to meeting you then.

Join us for TASFest 2024!

Join us for TASFest, our annual festival dedicated to celebrating the incredible talents of our TAS students. Experience the brilliance of our Design and Technology students’ creations, be captivated by our remarkable HSC Major Works, indulge in delicious snacks crafted by our Food Technology students, savour hot and cold beverages prepared by our Hospitality students, and conclude the evening in grand fashion with our captivating Textiles on Parade. We’re showcasing TAS and you won’t want to miss it!

Click here to purchase your tickets!

Term 3 Bus Registrations

The Pymble private bus service registrations opened on Tuesday 9 July 2024. Information on how to register was sent via a MyPymble notice on this date.

Please remind your daughter to use her student ID card to tap on and tap off each trip. If your daughter has lost her card, please contact College Services for a replacement form.

Please contact College Services via collegeservices@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you have any further questions about transport to and from Pymble Ladies’ College.

Early Morning/Late Evening Bus Services

We are pleased to announce that the trial of the two additional Northern Beaches bus services in the early morning and late evening will continue in Term 3.

This is a shared and co-branded bus service between Pymble, Barker College and Abbotsleigh.

The continuation of these bus services is dependent on continuing demand throughout the year so please register your family’s interest in this service for Term 3 at collegeservices@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Times

The early AM bus departs Avalon at 5.50am and arrives at Pymble at 6.41am

The evening service departs Pymble at 5.00pm (departure from Pymble at 5.10pm on Monday evenings) before making its way to Avalon via Abbotsleigh and Barker College. It is scheduled to arrive at the last stop at 6.30pm (or 6.45pm on Monday evenings). This is also a co-branded bus.

Please refer to our website for more information.

Join the Pymble Family Book Club

We are writing to announce a very exciting opportunity for Pymble families with the launch of The Pymble Family Book Club.

With this initiative, we are offering families the chance to read great stories together, share ideas, and attend events to connect with authors and fellow readers.

How the Pymble Family Book Club works:

Check out Maryam Master’s books and discuss with your carer/student if there is one (or both) you wish to read, and if you’d like to attend the Family Book Club together. You could even get a reading group together. Reach out to other carers and students in the year and organise to make it a social event!
RSVP to attend the Family Book Club on Wednesday 28 August. Please RSVP via this form. There is no cost to attend the event.
You are welcome to obtain a copy of Maryam’s book/s through a library or borrow from a friend. For those who wish to purchase the books, we have organised an easy way for you to source Maryam’s books through a supplier. Please see the order form attached or click on this link to order one or both of Maryam’s books. These will be available for collection at the College in the last week of Term 2.
Both carer and student read the book/s prior to the event on Wednesday 28 August.
Put the event in your calendar and come along on Wednesday 28 August to the Conde Library at the College to have a great time.

We look forward to you joining us for this special opportunity to connect over some incredible stories and ideas. If you have any questions, please reach out to library@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Kind regards and happy reading!