From the Junior School

A Message from Mrs Kate Brown, Head of Junior School

Good luck to our Year 1 and 2 performers! 

This week we celebrate the courage, confidence and collaboration of our Year 1 and 2 students as they showcase their Performing Arts skills and passion with their performances of Pirates of the Curry Bean. A huge thank you to Ms Tiffany Farlow who has led the girls’ learning and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to set the girls up for success in their performances. Thank you to our amazing Year 1 and 2 Compass Teachers who have worked hard to help the girls practise choreography and spoken parts and who are always there encouraging and empowering the girls in all their learning.  

A special shout out to the friendly gorilla who also appeared on stage with the girls to support their performance!  

As we focus, as a College, on effective communication this term I am proud to see that our girls are communicating and driving the change they want to see. Janet Lee (Year 5) came to me with the idea of Swap ‘Til you Drop, Jasmine Smith (Year 5) is continuing to lead the Cook2Care initiative she developed in 2024, our Year 5 Bead4Love group continue to inspire others to craft beaded bracelets we can gift to elders in our community and our Formula Goblin team continue to be enterprising in their ways to grow their racing mission. 

Swap ‘Til You Drop 

Swap ‘Til you Drop is your chance to bring in an old, pre-loved toy, game or book that someone else may love to use. Please just remember that it must be good working condition, such as the toy or game being clean and not missing any parts. This will take place Monday of Week 6, so any time during Week 5 you will be able to bring your donation into Hedgehog House ready for Week 6.  

Cook2Care 

Last week we launched Cook2Care which has returned this year and is being led by Jasmine Smith in Year 5. Cook2Care is a great way for us to provide non-perishable foods, such as canned goods, rice and cereal to those who need it most. Together we can make a big difference for people in need this cold winter. So come on Year 4 and Year 5, let’s get stuck in and see what you can bring in from your pantry! Additionally, each Friday we are running a competition to see what House can donate the most. Last Friday, the winning House was Hammond! 

Formula Goblin – LEGO Raffle  

In preparation for the next Formula Goblin tournament later this year, our team is raffling off four amazing sets of LEGO, including LEGO Fortnite, LEGO Creator, LEGO Harry Potter and even a LEGO NASA Spacecraft model, which would cost nearly $200 if you bought it at the shops. Tickets are just $1.00 and are sold every lunch time this week by the team from Hedgehog House.  

Bead4Love 

Bead4Love is a wonderful initiative devised by a group of seven amazing Year 5 girls,  Arin, Arya, Zoe, Riya, Alana, Deenah and Irene. The girls were keen to start a group in the Junior School that would spend time connecting with other students whilst making beaded items. They have decided to make bracelets and key chains that will be given as Christmas gifts to residents of the nursing homes that Pymble visits each week. The activity is proving popular, with many girls across the school coming together outside Hedgehog House to make the items. 

 Last weekend I attended professional learning on the concept of ‘Learnership’ led by James Anderson, and it was affirming to hear him talk about how effective learning is linked to the activity of the learners. Anderson explained that as children experience learning, their brains re-wire and adapt. As a result, they have learnt something.  

I came away from the professional learning feeling inspired and proud that the way we create opportunities for our girls to be active in their learning, to explore their learning, to focus on their own learning journey and seek out challenges which stretch and develop their growth mindset is empowering them to have powerful ‘learnership’. 

We want our girls to approach life and learning with an attitude of ‘I’m capable of finding a way’ and this was evident in Year 3 as some of our mathematicians shared their investigative skills with Mrs Christine Kenny, Deputy Principal Academics. Here are a couple of reflections from these mathematicians: 

• I love to do ‘Figure it out Friday’ because it is fun, thrilling and the BEST! I like doing it because we learn new things. I can’t wait for more – Olivia Sun 
• It was fun with Mrs Kenny on Friday making the luge track because she came up with so many good ideas. Figure it out Friday was creative as girls made flags too. We had to use a lot of Maths to measure and cut the length of the luge track – Anna Won 

From the Sustainability Club 

Last week, our Sustainability Leaders launched a Sustainability Challenge. The aim of this is to allow students to be involved in their local community and participate in Sustainable practices through a variety of different challenges. Please help your daughters complete these challenges throughout the term. If you have photos of your daughter completing the challenges please upload photos via the QR Code and these will be shared in Assembly. 

A reminder to parents: On Fridays we have ‘Waste Free Friday’. This is an initiative started by our Year 3 Waste Free Warriors (Lucinda De Bilde, Georgia Coupland, Isla Coupland and Georgina Harris). Please help your daughters bring their food (crunch and sip, recess and lunch) without any rubbish. You could swap ziplock bags for reusable plastic containers or cling wrap for paper bags. Please help your daughters help the environment 

Year 6 visit to NSW Parliament House – Year 6 Co-ordinator Heidi Lynch 

On Monday, Year 6 enjoyed an inspiring excursion to NSW Parliament House and the Art Gallery of NSW. At Parliament, the girls stepped into the shoes of NSW decision makers, engaging in a lively House of Representatives debate on whether the school week should be extended to Saturdays. At the Art Gallery, they explored the creativity of the Young Archies portrait exhibition and were captivated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander weaving and artworks, gaining a deeper appreciation for the rich cultural stories they convey.  

The girls share their own reflections and highlights from a day filled with lively debate and artistic exploration:

• It was truly an honour to be able to participate in this excursion, filled to the brim with excitement and learning! I was lucky enough to learn about the process of passing bills in the state parliament as well as admiring Indigenous artworks in the New South Wales Art Gallery. The Year 6 excursion to parliament was an absolute success, I had so much fun and I learnt a lot more about Australia’s political history. 
  Naomi Shi 6M  
  
• We first arrived at the State Art Gallery, where the plain white rooms held the most gorgeous artworks. As we inspected traditional Torres Strait weaving and Aboriginal art, our minds were sparked with curiosity and wonder. The rooms emanated with the thoughts of centuries, the expressions of culture and languages long since gone. Holding as much history within its walls as the Art Gallery, the NSW State Parliament was a beautiful building radiating with history and memories. Equally grand and elegant, the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council chambers were unforgettable highlights of the visit, with their tall leather chairs and majestic carpeted floors. Everyone was fascinated by the magnificent golden mace, enthralled by the history behind the rooms. As we role played debates over laws and touched the chairs in awe, we created lasting memories that would stay with us forever. 
  
  One of my favourite parts of the excursion was learning how the crown on the mace always pointed towards the government because they owned the power. It is so fascinating that every detail in the chambers were thought out, from the colour of the carpet, to the design of the exits. 
  
  By the end of the visit, everyone had gained a deeper appreciation and understanding for both the political and artistic history of New South Wales. From walking down the endless white galleries to stepping into the grand Parliament building, the excursion ended in a perfect blend of abstract artistry and formal government. It was a day full of learning, reflection and noticing small details, an unforgettable experience for every Year 6 girl. 
  Sarah Lu 6F 

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

In the Junior School the development of scientific thinking is embedded within our curriculum, ensuring that the girls engage deeply with the processes, habits of mind and analytical rigour required of a scientist. While Science Week provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate Science, our primary focus remains on cultivating scientific learning and investigations throughout the year for the girls. This allows them to engage meaningfully through hands on exploration where they hone skills in observation, data interpretation, design and problem solving fostering higher order thinking, resilience and the capacity to apply scientific principles.  

Across the Junior School, our girls are engaging in rich and challenging explorations. If you were to walk into a classroom, you might see girls investigating the properties of natural and manufactured materials, applying their observational skills and the Design Thinking process to create purposeful products from natural resources. You could observe students examining the Earth’s rotation, using models and simulations to understand how this astronomical phenomenon governs night and day and influences observable patterns in the natural world. In other spaces, investigations extend into future focused transport, where students explore drones, aerodynamics, and electrical energy circuits while applying their knowledge to conceptualise innovative designs. Alongside the acquisition of scientific knowledge, they are consciously cultivating character strengths – resilience, courage, creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. 

• In Science we have been learning about seasons and how the weather changes what we can do. We had to draw and explain what our favourite season is. I chose Spring because I love the flowers coming in the trees.
  Sara Sidhu (Kindergarten) 
  
• We have been learning about the weather and what we do in hot and cold weather. In cold weather I wear more layers and drink hot chocolate. In hot weather I go to the beach and wear short sleeves.
  Erin Jiang (Kindergarten) 
  
• We made playdoh from scratch with salt, flour, warm water, cream of tartar and food colouring. After squishing it our hands a lot, we tested how much it could be stretched, bent, rolled, squished and even bounced! I loved making playdoh from scratch. It felt soft and warm in our hands.  
  Lareina Sun (Year 1) 
  
• To begin our Science topic, we had a marvellous materials mystery box where we had to put our hand inside, choose an object and describe what we were feeling. I pulled out a scrunchie. It was silky, soft, squishy and stretchy. Then we sorted all the objects into types of materials and properties. For example, all the shiny objects were together, all the squishy objects were together and the rest we made into groups depending on their properties. 
  Chloe Cao (Year 1) 
  
• In Science this year, I really enjoyed making Oobleck. We needed to mix cornflour and water and when you touched it, the heat from our hands made it go gooey and sticky. I learnt that balloons can inflate with different water temperatures. One of the investigations we did, did not go as planned. When experimenting with melting chocolate, we predicted the smaller piece of chocolate would melt quicker but in fact the larger piece melted first. We wondered why… We learnt more about our ‘I wonder’ questions each lesson and this made Science so much more interesting. When we worked together to code the Spheros, we learnt that to work collaboratively we needed to take turns and talk about the steps of the code. These skills help me in Maths too when I work together in my group to solve investigations. In Science, we always do think/see/wonders about our topics which helps me think creatively, notice things more carefully and be more curious about how things work in my world and how things are made.  
  Charlotte Cross – Year 3 
  
• In Science this term, I enjoyed coding Spheros to represent the Earth revolving and rotating around the sun. So far, we’ve learnt what an equinox is and why we have seasons. The coding was so much fun! Did you know the Earth is on a tilt? When we made sundials we learnt about how people told the time before clocks were invented. Now we can use what we know about the sun and shadows to tell the time too. In Science we also complete algorithms and decision trees. Learning about algorithms has helped me with my learning because when I have a problem to solve I can use small steps to help me solve the problem. I have realised that we use algorithms everyday even without thinking! 
  Violet Li – Year 3 
  
• In Science we learnt about light and heat. I especially loved building our own solar powered cars and doing the light bends experiment, where we held a torch under a balloon. It was so much fun! I developed my skills in making predictions and testing ideas and explaining scientific concepts using the right vocabulary. I’ll use what I learnt by thinking about how electricity works every time I press a switch to turn something on. 
  Mackenzie Kelly – Year 4 
  
• In Science, we explored light and energy. During the Sun Sprint Challenge, we learnt about solar panels, especially how they power solar cars. Working in teams, we built our own cars and even raced them. I improved my teamwork and problem solving skills, learnt how to analyse results to make improvements and applied my understanding of light properties and energy transfer to real world contexts like solar powered cars. Now, we can use what we’ve learnt to better understand how things work in our daily lives and how electricity is all around us. 
  Li-Ya Koo – Year 4 
  
• In Science I have been learning about the different types of adaptations animals have to help them survive in harsh conditions. For example, platypus will use their long bill to search for food underwater and a crocodile has eyes on top of their head and small sensory buds that help them ambush their prey. –
  Shelley Xie Year 5 
  
• In Science we did an experiment to see how blubber keeps animals warm in cold climates. We had to work collaboratively to complete all the different steps of the experiment and record our results in a Science report.  As a result of this experiment, I learnt that blubber does help keep animals warm in cold climates. When we were doing the experiment we had to make sure all the variables were correct otherwise it wouldn’t be a fair test. 
  Miranda Chen – Year 5 
  
• Over the course of this year, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about different types of energy circuits during science. The goal was to attempt to light up a light bulb as it progressively got harder, trying to light up two bulbs and keeping the brightness as high as possible. We had to use a lot of predicting, problem solving and experimentation skills, not to mention we were also working in groups so we used a lot of teamwork and collaboration. I know I will be applying these skills when I have to fix a broken light in the future or a headlight on my car.
  Emily Pu – Year 6 
  
• One of the Science tasks that I enjoyed this year while working on the rotation called Urban flow. We had to code the Mbot to drive around the VWX IQ fields and adapt to different obstacles we may face on the road. During this experiment, I used different scientific skills including prediction, critical thinking and collaboration. I know I am building strong coding skills that I hope to use in a future career in STEM.
  Rebecca Cooke – Year 6 
  
• In Science, I loved learning about sustainable farming and creating a sustainable farming product that was automated by Ai (we called ours Agrifly). Naomi and I used our critical thinking and we used our Maisie the Mouse Chatbot to help us answer questions like “How long does our battery last?” or “What will be the best materials to use?”. This knowledge can help future engineers or designers who to create a farming drone or  to research sustainable farming techniques.
  Grace Wang – Year 6 

This year’s Science Week theme, Decoding the Universe – Exploring the Unknown with Nature’s Hidden Language, invited our girls to explore how science uncovers the secrets of our world. Lunchtime experiments such as giant bubbles, magic milk, invisible ink, oobleck, and crystal creation revealed the “hidden language” behind everyday wonders. From water droplets on leaves to the formation of snowflakes, students discovered that the same reactions used in our activities also occur in nature, in places like sea foam, quicksand, and mineral caves. It was a joyful mix of creativity, chemistry, and curiosity, proving that with a keen eye (and a little mess), nature’s secret science is everywhere. 

Deputy of Head of Junior School – Operations: Stephen Robinson 

‘Wearing my uniform with pride is showing up with Respect’ 

It is wonderful to see so many students turning up school in their full winter uniform including blazer and polished shoes (shoe polish is available at Hedgehog House too).  

A reminder that Pymble hoodies are not regular school uniform and are meant for co-curricular and sport. If needed, they can be worn under the PE tracksuit top for additional warmth.  

Collecting Your Daughter or Delivering Items During the School Day 

If you need to collect your daughter before the end of the school day – for example, for a medical appointment – or if you’re bringing in equipment she needs, please come directly to Hedgehog House rather than going to her classroom. We’ll make sure she knows that her equipment has arrived or that you’re here to collect her. 

Arriving at School in the Morning 

Please ensure your daughter arrives at school prior to 8.15am. Teachers are on duty in the playground and the K-2 drop off zone from 7.45am, allowing plenty of time to drop off prior to lessons commencing.  

Arriving at school prior to 8.15am allows your daughter to not become rushed, to settle into the morning naturally and most of all, not miss any of the information shared when lessons commence. 

Alternate Ways to School 

Do you want to avoid the traffic in the morning? Consider dropping your daughter off at Grandview Street (near the train station) between 7.40am -7.55am or Grey House Walk 7.30am -7.45am. Junior School staff are at these locations between these times and walk students to school. This eases congestion with vehicles on Avon Road and within the College and allows students to undertake a little morning exercise. 

Junior School Canteen Helpers  

Thank you to the parents who gave up their time to volunteer last term.  Term 3 dates are now available on the google form. Please click here if you can volunteer your time. For the care and safety of your daughters, all volunteers must have a current Working with Children Check Number (WWC). If we do not already have your WWC on file, please email to juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au your WWC number and date of birth so your WWC can be verified.  

Message from Junior School Administration Office  

A reminder to email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au when your daughter is late or needs to leave early. Please continue to use MyPymble to mark your daughter absence, for two days or more absence please complete the Exemption from Attendance at School form or email though a medical certificate for illness. 

After school arrangements for girls in Years K-2, please email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you have changes to your daughter’s after school arrangements in Term 3. 

If your daughter is in Years 3-6 please update your daughter’s student diary with her new after school arrangements for Term 3.  

Tomorrow Year 1 and Year 2 showcase: Pirates of the Curry Bean, 2.00pm and 5.00pm 

Saturday 16 August IPSHA Saturday Sport 

Sunday 17 August Dancespec – Junior Eisteddfod Dance 

Monday 18 August Book Week Parade: Book an Adventure 

Monday 18 August – Friday 21 August Wellbeing Week – No homework 

From the Middle School

From the Head of Middle School Jenny O’Donnell

Welcome to Week 4 in Middle School. This week Year 8 attended a presentation by Somerset detailing their up and coming Outdoor Education experience which is scheduled for week 9. The girls had lots of questions to ask and are looking forward to the adventure. Can we please ask that parents complete the forms available on the Parent Portal as soon as possible so that we can lock in arrangements.  

Congratulations to all the girls who received recognition at the Year 7 assembly on Tuesday: our Jacaranda Award recipients, our new Term 3 Compass Captains, Sports Colour Award recipients and Aretha Award recipients. It is always inspirational to hear how the girls are stepping up to live our College values and achieve across a number of co-curricular areas. 

Year 7 students have been invited to apply for the position of responsibility as Transition Leaders in support of incoming Year 7, 2026 students. An expression of interest statement of 200 words has been requested before Friday 15 August. The girls have been sent an email detailing the position. Please encourage your daughters to get involved as this role is integral to building our community. 

In week 6 we will be hosting 10 students from Millingimbi School in the Northern Territory. Thank you to the five Middle School families who have generously welcomed the girls into their homes during this time. As you can imagine, our southern winter weather will be quite a shock for the girls and as a result we would welcome donations of second hand warm clothes: hoodies, trackpants, puffer jackets, beanies, gloves etc. Please send any donations to the Middle School Office over the next week, your support is most appreciated. 

It was wonderful to hear stories of the success of the Goodooga Indigenous Games and how our Year 8 girls stepped up to help run events across the day. Below you can read some student reflections that capture their excitement and investment. 

• The Goodooga Indigenous Games Cultural Immersion Trip was an amazing experience that went beyond just visiting regional towns. Being part of the Goodooga Indigenous Games Day in Goodooga, a small rural community in northwestern NSW, showed me how culture can connect people across different places and generations. It was inspiring to see how the event celebrated Aboriginal traditions and brought together students from all over NSW to participate in traditional Indigenous games. 
  
  I really appreciated the cultural immersion part of the trip. Visiting nearby towns like Dubbo, Walgett, and Brewarrina, especially seeing the ancient fish traps, helped me understand more about regional Australia’s history and stories. 
  
  One of my favourite parts was the travel itself, watching the landscapes change, especially during golden hour, was beautiful. It was an experience full of memories and moments that changed how I think about culture. Aliya Singh (Year 8). 

• Goodooga was a fun experience. The first day was a travel day on the train to Dubbo and then a drive from there to Walgett to Milly’s house where we had spaghetti bol and sat by the fire and told stories. That night we set up our sleeping bags in the living room and non stop talked all night. 
  
  The next day, we visited St Joseph’s primary school and played Bullrush with the kids there. Once school started, we had a lesson with JB to learn about Indigenous culture and their language. Then we went to the ag plot and held baby bunnies, baby emus and saw other animals, like peacocks, turkeys, emus, sheep and turkeys. 
  
  After that, we went to the fish traps and learnt about how they used to catch fish back in the day, and we saw the fish traps in real life. After a lot of asking we had some fun at PCYC where we played touch at the gymnasium, played basketball and got rid of some energy. As it was Milly’s dad’s birthday, we went out to dinner and whilst we were waiting, we went outside and played red rover with Milly’s cousins and family friends. 
  
  On Thursday we headed over to Goodooga and had our game day where we played games like AFL, volleyball, hockey, and some other Indigenous games. After the games were finished, we had a buffet BBQ lunch with the other schools. Once all the awards were given out, we drove over to the hot springs and went for a swim for a bit. We then went back to Milly’s place and ordered pizza, whilst the pizza was on its way, we went yabbying in her pond but sadly caught nothing, while we were waiting for the line to catch a yabby, we went to look at the pigs, piglets, lama’s and geese. We went inside and ate pizza and had the best brownies ever for dessert. 
  
  Friday was our travel day, so we stopped at a café and got some hot chocolates for the drive and visited the information centre then the IGA to get some snacks for the train. 
  
  By the end of it, we were all so tired and had the best sleep ever back in our beds. We had an amazing time meeting new people, catching yabbies, hanging out, playing games, non-stop talking and being out in Goodooga. Lillie Oldfield (Year 8) 
  
• Last week from Tuesday-Friday I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Cultural Immersion Tour. On Tuesday at 7:20 am we all caught the train from Central Station to Dubbo. Although this took around 6 hours, I loved having the time to chat and laugh with my friends. When we had arrived at Dubbo we got a car and off we were to Walgett! The next day we went to St Joseph’s school and played with the children there until class started. We then got the opportunity to have a languages lesson with one of the teachers called JB. After visiting the school, we then drove to Brewarrina to explore the fish traps. They were very interesting! On Thursday it was the day of the games! We got up very early and drove to Goodooga a small country town on the Queensland Boarder. We got split up into groups and played games that were like the sports we do but changed into the Indigenous way. After the games we all had a big feast, and I even had 3 sausages! After a long day we went into the hot springs to relax and drove all the way back to Dubbo. On Friday we had a long way back home to sleep and relax. I had the best time ever and I wanted to say thank you to Milly’s mum and dad for being amazing hosts for us!  Chloë Lenane (Year 8) 
  
• This four-day trip was one of the most amazing experiences I will never forget. The first day, when we all arrived bright and early at Central Station, our group jumped on a big train which we stayed on for seven hours. Although it was long, I enjoyed hanging with my friends, eating lollies and watching the scenery pass by out the window. When we arrived in Dubbo, we jumped in a minivan (which we all loved dearly and named Bob) and drove for another three hours until we got to our destination in Walgett where we made base at Millie’s house. During the drive, we experienced the first sunset on the trip. Colours of a mocktail spilled sky melted and danced together, as the sun dipped below the yellow fielded horizon of canola flowers. The photo storage on my phone now consists mostly of this sunset. 
  
  That night we had a delicious meal which Millie’s family cooked for us, we all devoured in seconds before going up for seconds. Even though we went to bed at around 9:15, we all stayed up chatting and laughing until around 10.00pm, but we all had lollies to boost our energy in the morning. 
  
  The next morning, we drove to St Joseph’s Primary School, which was Millie’s old primary school. We played tip and red rover cross over with the kids of the school before listening and learning about First Nations culture and language with a teacher named JB. 
  
  After we left the school, we drove about an hour to Brewarrina where we explored the fish traps which were over 40,000 years old and super interesting. That afternoon we drove back to Walgett, where we went to PCYC which was a fun active centre before we all had a mouth-watering dinner at the local RSL. We met more of Millie’s friends and family whom we played more red rover cross over and piggyback races with outside. There was even this kid who could backflip. 
  
  The next day, we woke up extra early to jump in our minivan to drive to Goodooga Central school where the Goodooga games would take place. After about two hours driving, we finally reached the school which was all decorated for their annual games. When we got sorted into our allocated groups, where I quickly became friends with four other girls who were from different parts of regional NSW. My favourite game of the day was similar to hockey and netball mixed together, you could hit the ball with a stick, but you couldn’t run with it. After a long morning of many fun games, we lined up to get lunch which was really good. Some of us even went up for seconds… 
  
  To relax our muscles and our bodies we then travelled to the Artesian Springs which we only spent a few seconds in for a picture before hopping out because it was absolutely boiling hot. At least we got a photo!
  
  That night back at Walgett, Millie’s mum ordered us pizza which we sat and ate in our pjs, which was wonderful after a big day of running around. 
  
  That night we packed up and got ready to leave in the morning, anticipation to get back home and sadness about leaving so soon hung in the air. Our bodies were exhausted as we all flopped into our sleeping bags. 
  
  Nice and early we had brekkie and said our goodbyes to Millie’s home and family. After driving into town and exploring Walgett’s Freedom Ride, the information centre and the IGA, (I still owed the teachers a coffee after an unfortunate bet…) we finally hoped into our beloved minivan and drove back to Dubbo. The rain finally caught up to us as we neared Dubbo station. Before jumping on the train back home we bought some lunch and dinner at the Bake House, then power walked to the station. 
  
  For the rest of the seven hours of the trip, Lillie and I watched ‘How to lose a guy in 10 days’ before eating more lollies and falling asleep. 
  
  As the trip came to an end, we were all tired and longed for our own bed. But we all felt a bit sad as our journey had now ended. Yet the many memories we made and the experiences we felt and did, would last us the rest of our lives. Many things would happen in our lives, but we would always remember this trip. The friends we made, the connections we built and the memories which were born. Knowing that whenever we saw a sunset, we would see the one above the yellow flowers. Ellie Lau (Year 8) 

Futsal
Congratulations to Anna Smart (Y7), Sophie Chiang (Y7), Havana Gray (Y7), Catherine Yu (Y7),  Sophia Xiong (Y7), Marlia Uhl (Y7) and Georgia Blue (Y8), who are now the regional champions after winning the grand final at Under 14 Regional Futsal Competition in Windsor. The girls had everyone on the edge of their seats, only winning in the final minutes. Well done to our champions. Anna has shared her experience with us:

Last week on Wednesday in Year 7 Sophie Chiang, Havana Gray, Catherine Yu, Sophia Xiong, Marlia Uhl and Georgia Blue in year 8, competed in the u14 Regional Futsal competition in Windsor.

At this amazing event we versed different schools, we met different people and we played as a team. In the competition we had to play 7 games overall, we were doing great in the first 5 being undefeated and we made our way to the quarterfinals, then to the semifinals then to the grand final which we won 5-4.

In the grand final we were down 3-1 at one stage, but we didn’t drop our heads and we were eager to win. We gave it everything we had and climbed out way back to the winning lead when Marlia scored the winning goal!

This event was so fun!!! And I think all the girls think the same.

It was a great week for Futsal with our 3 senior teams winning their region and our junior school girls making their debut. All teams qualified for NSW State and will be competing again at the end of the month.

Anna Smart

Term 3 Gloucester Gatherings  

Jenny O’Donnell

Head of Middle School

From the Upper School

A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School

We are currently exploring ways to offer additional coeducational experiences for our Year 9 and 10 girls. This work builds on the existing partnerships we have with Shore, Knox Grammar School, and Churchie, who have supported a variety of shared activities over recent years. 

These partnerships have provided opportunities for collaboration in areas such as academic enrichment, leadership development and co-curricular engagement. As we continue to review and refine our programs, we’re considering how further coeducational experiences might complement and enhance the learning and social development of our students.  

We were delighted to welcome St Edmund’s to Pymble on Tuesday for their Athletics Carnival, and even more thrilled that the sun came out to shine on the day. Despite a few soggy patches underfoot, it was fantastic to see the St Edmund’s students fully engaged in the track and field events with such enthusiasm. We love hosting this event and look forward to hosting the Swimming Carnival next term. 

A huge thank you to our wonderful team of Year 10 student helpers, and to Ms Lombard, Mr Fathers, Mrs Attley, Mrs Seymour, and our Facilities team for their efforts in bringing the day together so smoothly. 

Student Reflections: 

I had the privilege of helping at the annual St Edmund’s Athletics Carnival. The buses rolled in, filled with excited students, and we were just as eager to get the day started. At the beginning of the day, I met Lawrence, a Year 5 student who is visually impaired, and we instantly clicked. After a quick explanation from Paul, who supports Lawrence with his walking cane at school, I learnt how to guide him and collected a thick string so Lawrence could run the 100 metres without his white cane, giving him a sense of direction. We ran side by side and proudly came 3rd! 

After meeting more friendly students, we headed up to Kelso for a series of activities to earn house points. These included the vortex throw, chook throw, shot put, frisbee throw, and an obstacle course that had been modified so Lawrence could complete it without his white cane. Using his hearing and other senses, he was able to navigate the course and throw the equipment freely with both hands. 

The day ended with house war cries and a sausage sizzle. It was such a rewarding experience to spend the day with the St Edmund’s students and to reunite with friends I had met in the classroom and in the playground during the AIM Day (initiative day) last term at the college. It was truly a heartwarming and great experience!  

Genevieve Bazina 

On Tuesday the 12th of August, I was one of the lucky girls to participate in the St Edmund’s Athletics Carnival. The students had a fantastic time and it was a very rewarding experience to assist with activities throughout the day.  

The first event was the 100m sprint across the oval. It was really fun to run alongside the students and encourage them to get to the finish line. The atmosphere was buzzing, and it was wonderful to see the whole school cheering from the sidelines. 

The second part of the day involved a rotation of activities, where I was stationed on running an obstacle course. This involved running, throwing sacks and hurdles. This was a highlight as it was great to see all of the St Edmund’s students stepping out of their comfort zone and giving everything a go; no matter their athletic ability. I really admire their positivity and enthusiasm. 

The day rounded out with the long awaited sausage sizzle, followed by the anticipated war cry competition. I was cheering alongside Mt Sion, which was one of the four sports houses. Mt Sion ended up winning the carnival, but each house and student should be commended as they really gave it their all! 

The AIM Initiative and Athletics Carnival event were such rewarding opportunities, and I won’t forget the friends I made with the St Edmund’s students. Thank you to all of the lovely staff for making the day so enjoyable. 

Zoe Manning 

Being able to participate in the St Edmund’s AIM day as well as their athletics carnivals was such a privilege.  

We started off the day greeting the students as they arrived at school and walking them over to the oval. I was able to see some familiar faces that I had met last term. Once everyone was on the oval, we split up into house groups. I stayed with the Red house (Callan) most of the day. We did a warm up before the 100m races. Unfortunately we weren’t able to do the 400m races as the track was too wet. I was able to run with three of the students, as some of them weren’t as confident and wanted some encouragement to the finish line.  

After the individual races there was the student vs teacher vs Pymble races. I ran one of the races and came second. It was so nice seeing all the students as they encouraged each other as well as their competitive sides. After the races, we had a house chant practice on the oval before moving up to Kelso, where we were then assigned an activity station. I was on frisbee. We had to measure who threw the frisbee the furthest as well as the top four throws. We were able to teach some of the students to throw a frisbee as some of them didn’t know how to. All of them were so excited to see who won and receive a ribbon.  

After that we had a sausage sizzle and we were able to sit on the bleachers and talk to the students, I found myself singing Gangnum Style with one of the older students for most of lunch. After lunch all the house did their house songs and the loudest house was given a trophy, we then added up all the scores throughout the day. Callan did really well and came first in two events. Overall we came second!  

The experience to be a part of their community for the day was very special. We got to see them excel in so many aspects of the carnival whether it was the sports or cheering their friends along and singing the house songs as loud as they could. These students are so incredible and have such a wide range of skills that can be looked over but being there and seeing them in action really makes you appreciate their strength and determination. 

Sanaya Lakhani 

St Edmund’s at Vision Valley 

Our Vision Valley girls were wonderful hosts to a small group of St Edmund’s students at Vision Valley last week. It was a great success, with the Pymble girls proud to share their beautiful campus and keen to teach a range of outdoor education skills. 

This week, the adventurers are off on their Birrong expedition, so keep an eye out for student reflections in next week’s newsletter. For all parents of adventurers don’t forget that Solo letters are due to the Vision Valley team this week Please drop to the US office if you haven’t done so already. We will make sure it arrives to the girls in time  

Year 9 Design Technology Projects 

Our creative Year 9 Design Technology students have been busy in the workshop on their latest projects.  Their jewellery boxes are looking so good! 

In our recent Design Technology project, we constructed beautiful wooden jewellery boxes using traditional joinery techniques like the stopped housing joint, carefully crafted with chisels. We took great care sanding, waxing, and buffing each piece to a smooth finish. For the lids, we designed intricate marquetry patterns using Adobe Illustrator, printed the designs on the lasercutter, and then arranged and glued veneer pieces to bring the artwork to life. My favourite part was definitely the marquetry, as it was both creatively rewarding and challenging. Overall, this has been a super cool project that allowed us to combine craftsmanship with digital design. 

Hannah Murphy 

Student Achievements 

Congratulations to Catherine Li on her outstanding achievements at the Sydney Eisteddfod! Catherine won 1st place in the Open Age Piano category, 3rd place in the 18th Century (15–16 years) section, and received a Highly Commended in the 19th Century (15–16 years) category. A fantastic result across a highly competitive field, well done, Catherine! 

At the end of this week, Willa Pearson will travel to Indonesia to represent Australia as part of the Young Matildas squad competing in the ASEAN U-12 Girls Championship. We wish Willa all the very best for this exciting opportunity. Good luck! 

Garden Party is coming  

We’re excited about our annual Garden Party! This year, we’ll have Bottle Bingo stalls for both Year 9 and Year 10. We would really appreciate your help by donating two or three jars for the stalls. Next week, students will start collecting bottles, and we encourage parents to support their daughter in taking responsibility for organising their donations.   

Key Dates for Term 3 

Year 10 RYDA Excursion – Wednesday 20 August.  Please give your consent urgently via the Parent Portal 

Garden Party – Saturday 20 September 

From the Senior School

From the Acting Head of Senior School – Patricia Gallardo

We are so proud of our Year 12 students, who have been arriving punctually and approaching their Trial HSC examinations with diligence, focus, and determination. Their commitment during this time is commendable.

A reminder that the first day back at school after Trials is Wednesday, 20 August. There is still a great deal of important learning to be completed to finish the course syllabus, and we encourage all students to stay engaged and make the most of the weeks ahead.

Our Year 11 students are busily fine-tuning their study skills, with a wealth of resources available to them through our virtual classroom. We encourage them to approach their upcoming examinations with a balanced perspective; to see them as a valuable opportunity to consolidate learning and practise exam technique.

We are here to help. The Wellbeing Team is available to offer advice, sit alongside students to organise their study time, and provide strategies for managing workload. Don’t forget that after-hours teacher help is also available from Monday to Thursday.

Garden Party

In readiness for this year’s Garden Party, our stalls will be the Year 12 Raffle and Year 11 Spin It to Win It. Thank you in advance for your help. Funds raised at this year’s Garden Party will go to the Mahboba’s Promise and HerVillage Foundation.

Year 12 students will receive a booklet of raffle tickets to sell prior to the event. Tickets are $2.50 each or $40 for a book of 20. Prizes include an Apple Watch, wireless headphones, and a $100 gift voucher.

For Year 11, donations of small items from the list provided in their Compass classes will go towards Spin It to Win It—a game of chance where participants purchase numbered tickets that correspond to sections on our wheel. When the wheel stops, the number it lands on determines the lucky winner of a prize. Each spin will be $2.

A student account and reflection by Isabella Rumble and Aria Wallbank 

On 26 June, I was delighted to attend the Student Wellbeing Conference at Ravenswood School for Girls with five other Pymble students. More than 30 schools came together to share their wellbeing strategies. 

The day opened with the theme “Mental Toughness – The Power of Growth”, followed by an energetic drumming workshop that encouraged teamwork and creativity. 

We then heard from Michael Crossland, an Australian motivational speaker, author and cancer survivor. His speech focused on overcoming adversity, building resilience, practising gratitude and living with purpose. This was easily the highlight of the day for me. Listening to his story reminded me to appreciate each day as it comes — not just when challenges arise. 

In student-led workshops, we took part in activities like Jenga and a blindfolded obstacle course, which showed how teamwork and encouragement lead to success. The day ended with reflections on how we can bring these lessons back to our own school. 

I am grateful for this experience, which strengthened my perspective on resilience, teamwork and gratitude, and inspired me to put these values into practice every day. 

Aria Wallbank 

 Student reflection: Isabella Rumble 

Attending the mental health conference was an incredibly valuable experience that deepened my understanding of stress management, the importance of mental wellbeing, and how to apply this knowledge to support others. The guest speaker, Michael Crossland, shared a powerful story about overcoming extreme adversity and lifelong challenges. His message reminded us that mindset plays a major role in how we approach difficulties. His resilience and optimism emphasized the value of focusing on what we can control. 

The workshops following his talk offered practical strategies for handling stress. One explored the connection between stress and the hippocampus, explaining how it can impact memory and emotional regulation. Another introduced techniques like deep breathing, positive self-talk, and the idea of balancing each negative thought with three positive ones. I also learned that opening up to friends and acknowledging our emotions are essential ways to cope and to help others do the same. 

Interestingly, the sessions also highlighted that not all stress is harmful; in fact, it can be helpful when it pushes us to meet deadlines or stay motivated. Overall, the conference reinforced how crucial it is to care for our mental health and develop effective stress management skills in today’s fast-paced world. 

Term 3 Dates

4 – 19 August – HSC Trials 

1 – 12 September – Year 11 Exams 

20 September – Pymble Garden Party 

24 September – Year 12 Picnic Clontarf – Students only 

25 September – Graduation Assembly – Students Only 

26 September – Year 12 Speech Day, Farewell Chapel 

26 September – Valedictory Dinner 

Patricia Gallardo

Acting Head of Senior School

From the Boarding School

Gosh it’s nice to see some sunshine this week and even better to enjoy the lighter evenings. The thought of spring is becoming very real!  

With spring comes the promise of our Garden Party, my favourite event in the Pymble calendar! As you will read below, our parent committee have planning well underway for our Boarder Stall and are keen for your support to make this a wonderful day for everyone. 

Dear Boarding Families, 

The Garden Party is our biggest fundraiser of the year for the Boarding Community – and it’s always a highlight! 🎉 Last year we raised $15,000 (and $17,000 the year before), with all proceeds going directly towards our Boarder Parent Scholarship Fund, helping support families within our boarding community. 

This year’s event will be held on Saturday 20th September, 10am–3.00pm 📅 and we’d love your help to make it another huge success. 

We’ll be running three stalls: 

• 🍓 Produce Stall – a crowd favourite with our city folk! Some ideas include baked goods, jams, chutneys, sauces, pickles, fruit, eggs, bunches of herbs, flowers, wheat or cotton – anything made or grown by Boarding families is welcome. 

• 🥓 BBQ Stall – serving bacon & egg rolls with tomato relish (10–11.30am) 🥚, followed by our famous pork & slaw rolls. Donations of eggs would be amazing. 

• 🍏 Hillbilly Cider Stall – always a hit! If you have an RSA ✅ and can help serve on the day, we’d especially love to hear from you. 

We’ll also have a 🎁 raffle, so if you can donate a prize, we’d be very grateful (please note: no alcohol due to school rules). All donations can be dropped to the Marden Quiet Room for storage until the big day. 

If you can spare a little time on the day, we’d love your help 🙌. It’s a great way to meet other parents while supporting the school. You can sign up here: 
Sign Up to Help 

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to email kate@greenwooddesigns.com.au Thanks for your support. 

Kind regards, 

Kate Greenwood 

Big Sisters, Little Sisters 

Our Big Sister/Little Sister program has long been a cherished feature of our Boarding community. Each year, our Year 10 and 11 Boarders volunteer their time to mentor our youngest Boarders, offering guidance, friendship, and support. It’s a meaningful opportunity for the younger girls to learn from those who know Boarding life best — their fellow Boarders. 

This term, we’ve taken the program to the next level. Every Thursday, Big Sisters now join their Little Sisters for dinner, creating even more space for connection and conversation. Last Thursday was particularly special, with a gathering in Avonmoore that brought everyone together. The evening coincided with Boarders’ choice for dinner, and paired with fun games and laughter, it made for a memorable night. 

It’s been heartwarming to see stronger bonds forming across year levels, and we’re excited for more shared activities to take place in Goodlet and Marden Houses in the weeks ahead. 

Narrabri and Moree Expos – Ms Theresa Mimmo, Deputy Director of Boarding 

It was a very wet and windy few days in Narrabri and Moree. The weather didn’t deter prospective families from attending the Boarding Schools Expo which was held at Narrabri Bowling Club. On Sunday, we met five of our current families and a new Year 7 2026 family for lunch in Moree. We were so grateful to have that time with the families and visiting some of their hometowns. 

And Orange is up next! 

Pymble will be at beautiful Printhie Wines on September 12 between 5.30 and 8.00pm. Everyone is welcome and we hope you can join us for a lovely celebration of all things Pymble.  

Love It 

Our Year 10 and Year 11 Boarders spent time with their respective year groups on Friday night enjoying dessert treats and playing games and cards. Tilly in Year 11 said “it was lovely to hang out with her year group” and enjoyed the laughs. Another weekend with most sport cancelled, bowling was the next best option. A trip to Strike Bowling for a group of Boarders ensured that they enjoyed their Saturday afternoon and were able to exert some physical activity. Sunday was a relaxing shopping trip to Hornsby where the Boarders were able to peruse at their leisure. 

View From My Window 

Hi, my name is Molly and I am in my first year here at Pymble in Year 7. I come from Mudgee in the Central West of NSW and live on a small farm about five minutes out of town. I live with my parents Arnya and Ed and my two older brothers Toby and Will. 

I have two dogs named Rodger and Sam. Rodger is a ten-year-old Jack Russell and Sam is a six-year-old Groodle. I also have a cat called Buzz. On the farm I have some very naughty steers including two friendly Speckle Parks named Milo and Ferdinand. 

When I look out my window, I see the cattle grazing in the paddock slowly making their way to the water trough. Rodger and Sam race each other to chase off the cheeky magpie that won’t give up trying to steal their bones. I see my brothers playing cricket in the net and the pool glistening in the afternoon sun. 

What I love about being home is that there is always something going on whether it is the steers creating chaos or trying to figure out what the dogs are barking at. I love spending time with my pets and having sleep-ins without having to get up for school. The best part is definitely Mum’s home-cooked meals. I always know I am home when I smell something delicious coming from the kitchen. 

I love coming home for the holidays, but I also enjoy returning to Boarding and seeing all my friends again and getting back into everything Pymble has to offer. Both places feel like home in their own way. 

Boarder of the Week  

A big congratulations to our Year 8 Boarder, Daysie, who has been a wonderful addition to our Boarding family since joining us in 2024. She is thoughtful, organised, and always willing to help out, no matter what the task. Whether she’s greeting everyone with a friendly smile or quietly lending a hand, Daysie has made a positive impact on all of us. In addition to her helpful nature, Daysie is also a talented sportswoman and a dedicated student. Despite her busy schedule, she always finds time to offer support to others. Her ability to make those around her feel valued and appreciated truly sets her apart. 

We’re lucky to have Daysie with us and can’t wait to see what she’ll continue to achieve in the future. 

Save the Date

4-19 August – HSC Trial Examinations

31 August – Dads and Daughters – Burgers and Bowls Father’s Day Celebration

19 September – Boarder Parent Group Meeting followed by FABBA event

20 September – Garden Party

25 September – Farewell to Year 12 Chapel Service (all Boarders required to be in attendance) followed by Year 12 Celebration dinner for Year 12 Boarders and their families

25 September – Boarders’ Travel Day

26 September – Year 12 Speech Day and Valedictory Dinner

Carolyn Burgess

Head of Boarding

From the Chaplains

Throughout history singers and songwriters have been inviting us to be still and to simply listen.  

There are many of these songs but think for a moment ‘Memories’ by Maroon Five or Snow Patrols ‘Chasing Car’s’.  

Or if you want to go a little back in time invite you to explore John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a wonderful world’ or Billie Holiday’s iconic ‘Summertime’ from 1936. 

Through these songs we are invited to listen not just to the words of the song, but to ourselves. 

To listen to our hearts. 

To listen to our feelings and intuitions. 

To remember things that we may have forgotten that are important to us and to those around us 

To listen to the universe. 

To make space for something bigger than the need to constantly do things and achieve. 

And ultimately to connect in with our inner consciousness and our deepest selves. And, if you are a person of faith, the very breathe of God that lives within each of us.  

When was the last time you did this?  

When was the last time you stopped and took time to listen to whatever it is that is beyond rational thinking? 

When was the last time you stopped and remembered how incredible you are and how much you already know? 

When was the last time you stopped and remembered how incredible the world is and how much there is to it that we all too often forget in the busyness of everyday? 

This idea of stopping to listen and to trust in something bigger than us that is beyond our rational understanding is a theme that echoes across music, religions, generations, cultures and geography   

That something comes with different names.  

Some people call it God.  

Some people call it the power of love. 

Some say it is connection or psy- ability.  

Others call is gut instinct or intuition.  

Personally, I think it is a combination of these things. 

Whatever it is, it is something.  There are too many people, too many songs and too many cultures that have given it names for there to be nothing. 

The other thing that is common across cultures and religions is that when we take the time to listen to the universe, we find a path to peace and knowing. We find an inner love that is reflected in our words and actions. 

The Christian Gospel’s remind us that ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ Luke 6.45 & Matthew 12.34.  

The Dalai Lama once said “‘World peace must develop from inner peace. Inner peace is not just the mere absence of violence. Peace is I think the manifestation of human compassion.’ 

13th Century Sufi mystic Rumi said  ‘Your heart is the size of an ocean. Go find itself in it’s depths’, and ‘Only from the heart can you touch the sky’ 

This week I encourage you to take time to discover these ancient, timeless and universal truths by taking time to stop and listen in whatever way works for you.  

Some ways you might like to try include: 

• Go and visit a Chapel or a place of worship.  

• Spend some time looking at the clouds 

• Walk in of Sydney’s many Labyrinths, or come and get take one of the small finger versions that we have in the Chaplains office 

• Spend time journalling or doodling. Begin with a page of random thoughts or scribbles and see what ends up on the page  

• Meditate with a mantra that you repeat.  My favourite is ‘Be still and know that I am God’ 

• Go for a walk or a run and be intentional about noticing the flowers and the ground under your feet 

In whatever you do the most important thing is an intention is to find the love for yourself and for all of the world. 

My hope is that you find comfort and purpose and vision and renewed passion so that your words and actions reflect your heart.  

And that you discover what I already know- that your heart is true and good and loving and kind and compassionate. 

Rev. Danielle Hemsworth-Smith 

College Chaplain 

From the Futures Team

Futures Update – Week 4  

This week we began our series of Global Pathways events with our Study in the UK information evening on Monday. We welcomed University of Cambridge and Imperial College to speak to the Pymble community, sharing advice about the admissions process.  

I spoke about support from the Futures Department and the success of previous graduates in UK pathways. Here is an overview of the universities our students have been admitted to in the UK over the past three years.  

I encourage families to register for the Global Pathways Information Evening (online) if they are interested to know more about how the Futures Department can support your daughter in applying for international universities or colleges. Further information below including the registration link.  

We also have a new event, the US College Admissions Conference on Thursday 4^th September hosted in partnership with Princeton Review, Australia. A link to register is provided below.  

Kim Maksimovic 

Director of Futures and Partnerships (K-12) 

Internal Pymble Events / Masterclasses 

The events during school time are open to interested students in the year groups listed.  

There are some afterschool events parents are also welcome to attend. 

Registration links are under the topic title. 

External Important Dates  

University Open Days – use links to register 

Full list of upcoming Open Days available via UAC   

External Opportunities 

Please see the posters below for some interesting opportunities offered by external providers. 

Study Work Grow collate a comprehensive newsletter each week filled with a very wide variety of upcoming opportunities. Please use the link to find out more. 

Work Experience / Immersion 

LAW  

Jemma Hung – Year 10 – King Wood Malleson 

During the first week of the semester break, I undertook my Year 10 Work Experience at King & Wood Mallesons (KWM). This was as incredible opportunity for me to immerse myself in daily life at one of Australia’s leading law firms and gain a better understanding of the corporate and commercial law field.  

Over the course of the 5 days, I engaged in a series of tasks which included writing up cover letters for clients, attending meetings, preparing index bibles, attending a session on corporate liability and partaking in CLE (Continuing legal education) trainings. One of the highlights of my experience was conducting pro bono research for the Global case law database on statelessness. For this, I prepared a case summary alongside one of the law clerks on the ‘Mouvement Ivoirien des Droits Humains v. Côte d’Ivoire’ 2008 case – an intriguing subject matter that catered to my keen interest in international law. This was also a task that greatly developed my legal writing skills and one which taught me the value of plain language.  

I also had the privilege of speaking to a range of individuals working in both the debt capital markets (the team which I was assigned to) and those working in dispute resolution/litigation. Through their insights I was offered a more holistic view on law as a more varied practice which isn’t just confined to getting up on your feet before a judge on the daily. The team thoroughly enhanced my experience being wonderful people who were welcoming, passionate about their work and treated me like another one of their coworkers.  

Overall, this was a thoroughly insightful experience and a unique opportunity which reinstated a passion in pursuing law on the tertiary level and beyond. I thank the team at KWM and Pymble’s Futures’ Department for their support. 

From the Futures Team

Futures Update – Week 4  

This week we began our series of Global Pathways events with our Study in the UK information evening on Monday. We welcomed University of Cambridge and Imperial College to speak to the Pymble community, sharing advice about the admissions process.  

I spoke about support from the Futures Department and the success of previous graduates in UK pathways. Here is an overview of the universities our students have been admitted to in the UK over the past three years.  

I encourage families to register for the Global Pathways Information Evening (online) if they are interested to know more about how the Futures Department can support your daughter in applying for international universities or colleges. Further information below including the registration link.  

We also have a new event, the US College Admissions Conference on Thursday 4^th September hosted in partnership with Princeton Review, Australia. A link to register is provided below.  

Kim Maksimovic 

Director of Futures and Partnerships (K-12) 

Internal Pymble Events / Masterclasses 

The events during school time are open to interested students in the year groups listed.  

There are some afterschool events parents are also welcome to attend. 

Registration links are under the topic title. 

External Important Dates  

University Open Days – use links to register 

Full list of upcoming Open Days available via UAC   

External Opportunities 

Please see the posters below for some interesting opportunities offered by external providers. 

Study Work Grow collate a comprehensive newsletter each week filled with a very wide variety of upcoming opportunities. Please use the link to find out more. 

Work Experience / Immersion 

LAW  

Jemma Hung – Year 10 – King Wood Malleson 

During the first week of the semester break, I undertook my Year 10 Work Experience at King & Wood Mallesons (KWM). This was as incredible opportunity for me to immerse myself in daily life at one of Australia’s leading law firms and gain a better understanding of the corporate and commercial law field.  

Over the course of the 5 days, I engaged in a series of tasks which included writing up cover letters for clients, attending meetings, preparing index bibles, attending a session on corporate liability and partaking in CLE (Continuing legal education) trainings. One of the highlights of my experience was conducting pro bono research for the Global case law database on statelessness. For this, I prepared a case summary alongside one of the law clerks on the ‘Mouvement Ivoirien des Droits Humains v. Côte d’Ivoire’ 2008 case – an intriguing subject matter that catered to my keen interest in international law. This was also a task that greatly developed my legal writing skills and one which taught me the value of plain language.  

I also had the privilege of speaking to a range of individuals working in both the debt capital markets (the team which I was assigned to) and those working in dispute resolution/litigation. Through their insights I was offered a more holistic view on law as a more varied practice which isn’t just confined to getting up on your feet before a judge on the daily. The team thoroughly enhanced my experience being wonderful people who were welcoming, passionate about their work and treated me like another one of their coworkers.  

Overall, this was a thoroughly insightful experience and a unique opportunity which reinstated a passion in pursuing law on the tertiary level and beyond. I thank the team at KWM and Pymble’s Futures’ Department for their support. 

From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team

From the Co-curricular Sports Team

Co-curricular Administration

CO-CURRICULAR ADMINISTRATION 

Sally Davidson, Head of Co-curricular Administration 

Term 4 Saturday Sport Registrations

Registrations are now CLOSED for Term 4 Saturday Sports.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: All communication regarding co-curricular programs throughout the term will be distributed via the MyPymble app. If you have not yet downloaded the app, please click here to do so.

Athletics

Twilight Athletics

We head into our final Twilight Athletics meet this Friday night – just one week away from the igsa Championships! The excitement is building, and final preparations are in full swing.

It’s been fantastic to see the Pymble spirit in action, with girls encouraging each other and celebrating each other’s success. The third Twilight meet was a standout, with so many personal bests achieved. Special mention to the following girls who achieved multiple personal best’s – Florence Cheng (Year 7), Sherise Tam (Year 8), Sofia Lopez Fisher (Year 7), Heidi Ferriera (Year 8) and Bethany Carruthers (Year 10).

Let’s carry this momentum into our final preparations, one more Twilight, one more week, one more chance to fine tune before the big day.

City to Surf

Beyond the track, a huge congratulations to all the girls (and staff!) who took part in the iconic City to Surf – running, walking and enjoying the atmosphere alongside 90,000 others. A fantastic example of community spirit.

Cross Country

Jack Garrad, Co-ordinator of Cross Country

Deb Walsham, Head Coach of Cross Country

City to Surf

Beyond the track, a huge congratulations to all the girls (and staff!) who took part in the iconic City to Surf – running, walking and enjoying the atmosphere alongside 90,000 others. A fantastic example of community spirit.

Cricket

Jack Garrad, Co-ordinator of Cross Country

Pymble/Lindfield Cricket

With the cricket season just around the corner, a friendly reminder that all information about the Pymble/Lindfield Cricket program and be found by clicking here. Registrations are now live.

For further enquiries, please email juniors@ldcc.com.au

Dance

Co-curricular Dance

Miss Laura Fishwick

Dance Co-ordinator – Ballet and Technique and External Streams

Hansel and Gretel – The Countdown is on

In just over two weeks, the curtain rises on our enchanting Ballet Production of Hansel and Gretel.

From dancers in Kindergarten to Year 12, every student has poured their heart into bringing this magical tale to life. Expect witches, breadcrumbs, and a whole lot of wonder.

Performance date: Saturday 30 August, shows at 11.00am and 2.00pm.

Don’t miss this spellbinding performance, tickets are selling fast.

Click here to book your tickets today.

Co-curricular Dance

Mrs Keya Pettigrew

Dance Co-ordinator – Performance Stream Development

Platinum Dance Competition Success

Congratulations to all students who took part in the Platinum Dance competition over the weekend. We are incredibly proud of the way you performed and supported one another throughout the event.

A special mention to our Secondary Troupe students, who took to the stage for the first time this year and delivered a fabulous performance. The atmosphere was filled with support, with everyone cheering each other on and celebrating the dedication and hard work of the season.

Our dancers achieved outstanding results across all groups, with Year 5 and 6 Eisteddfod Jazz earning the overall highest score of the entire competition!

Contemporary Scarlet – First place

Contemporary Navy – Highly Commended

Contemporary Troupe – Highly Commended
Jazz Scarlet – Second place

Jazz Navy – Third place

Jazz Troupe – Highly Commended

Year 5 and 6 Eisteddfod Jazz – First place, overall highest point score

Year 3 and 4 Eisteddfod Jazz – Second place

Junior Eisteddfod Lyrical – First place

Well done to all our dancers for your exceptional performances, professionalism, and commitment. We are so proud of you.

Drama

Outstanding Achievements at Sydney Eisteddfod

This weekend, four junior teams and two senior teams competed at the Zenith Theatre in Sydney Eisteddfod’s ‘Group Devised’ section, showcasing a fantastic range of creative performances.

Sydney Eisteddfod – Junior

Our Year 5 teams brought laughter with their original comedic pieces. The Crown, about a prom competition interrupted by a missing crown, won first place, while Mystery Man, a romantic masquerade story, delighted audiences. Year 6 teams presented very different works, The Extinction of Empathy, exploring a world without emotions, and The Elements, a beautiful movement piece that earned third place.

Year 5 – The Crown: Priscilla Fang, Freya Hollande, Vivienne Huang, Grace Li, Miranda Liu, Chloe Ma, and Chloe Zhang.

Year 5 – Mystery Man: Gloria Duffy, Davina Excell, Jianing Li, Emerald Liu, Aimee Qui, Emily Yan, Davina Excell, and Irene Zhao.

Year 6 – Extinction of Empathy: Emma Deere, Caitlyn Ho, Joy Hong, Afra Sarchami, Ellie He, and Emily Horniak

Year 6 – The Elements: Bhuvika Bhatia, Kate Bi, Sana Iyer, Anandita Kalantri, Arlene Ke, Emily Pu, Aaisha Suresh, and Angelina Yang.

Sydney Eisteddfod – Senior

The Year 8 team’s The Jester’s Gambit, telling the story of women disguised as men competing to make the King laugh, won first place. The Year 11 team performed The Haunting of Turner’s Lake, a chilling school camp horror story, earning third place.

Year 8 – The Jester’s Gambit: Gabby Guo, Chloe Shires, Ishana Viswanathan, Penny Xing, and Annabel Zhao.

Year 11 – The Haunting of Turner’s Lake: Sehjal Baveja, Selina Huang, Abigail McKinnon, Nikita Srivastava, Mahika Swamy, and Nina Uehara.

All students demonstrated tremendous creativity and professionalism, mastering the challenges of performing on a large stage. Congratulations to all involved for these incredible achievements!

Upcoming Competitions

Ryde Eisteddfod
Date: Friday 30 August
Time: 1.30pm to 3.30pm and 2.15pm to 4.15pm
Venue: West Ryde Community Hall, 3 to 5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

Language Arts

DEBATING

Archdale – Shield and Invitational

Make ups for Shield and Invitational Archdale Debating have now been completed. Congratulations to Year 10 and coach Lara Hogan. Year 10 won both their debates. Congratulations also to our Senior Invitational team and Coach Daniel Judd. Our Senior Invitational team have now progressed straight to the grand final.  Other breaking teams are – 7B, 8A, 8B, 9, and 10 – who ranked first out of 24 Year 10 teams. All these teams are likely to be progressing to finals following tie breakers held this week. Pymble was not required for a tie breaker. To those who will not progress, thank you for the season and for your commitment. Details for finals will be forthcoming.

More Debating Activities and Opportunities

PLEASE NOTE – This Friday (tomorrow) Bootcamp and Social Debating will continue in KM.

Social Debating Student coaches – Thank you to those who assist university coaches with Social Debating Competition coaching and adjudicating. We value your help.

Social Debating Classes/Dukes opportunity – Thank you to the Duke of Edinburgh helpers who are assisting coaches with Junior classes. Your help is invaluable.

International Debating Championships (IDC)

Thank you to the girls who have registered teams internally for IDC. Girls who registered as individuals, thank you for your patience as we finalise teams for this Term 4 online competition. We will try to accommodate you. We currently have thirteen teams registered.

Cambridge Schools ANZ Competition

Students are invited to join the Cambridge Schools ANZ competition, which will take place on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August at Riverview and/or via Zoom. Applications close Saturday 23 August.

The competition is a British Parliamentary competition. This year a fifth preliminary round has been added, meaning all teams will get more opportunities to debate.

As always, the top four teams at the competition will be invited to compete at the Cambridge Schools ANZ global finals in March 2026, at Cambridge University.

Registrations can be made by clicking here, and any questions should be directed to the event organisers (contact details in the link). Co-curricular Administration have sent details of this competition to all 2025 debating students.

Garden Party – Saturday 20 September

Language Arts will present some Soapbox and some TEDx speeches at Garden Party. Please contact Mrs Hubbard if you have presented at the TEDx online showcase and are interested. Likewise, please contact Mrs Hubbard if you are interested in presenting a fun Soapbox speech on a pet peeve.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

TEDx

Semester 2 classes continue each Saturday at 10.30am to 12.30pm, 1.00pm to 3.00pm, and 3.15pm to 5.15pm in DK10 with coach Swetha.  Please note the venue has changed from KM to the Conde Library studio.

UN Voice of Youth

Co-curricular Administration and Mrs Hubbard have called for expressions of interest for this Term 4 competition. This year we are aiming to streamline registrations. A workshop will be run this term, by current senior Language Arts girls who have progressed to state and national finals in previous years. Two registration options are being presented. These are outlined in the content sent by Co-curricular Administration. Please contact them directly if you missed the expression of interest form.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS (MUN) 

Pymble Model UN Club (PMUN)

PMUN runs each Monday lunch in DK06. Come along and join us this term. Everyone is welcome. Learn how to prepare for a MUN conference. We have also received invitations to MUN conferences to be held at various high schools including Trinity and Barker/Knox. Please see our MUN captain, Kiki Chen (Year 11), if interested and email your interest to Mrs Hubbard.

THIMUN – The Hague 2026 Tour

To all who have expressed interest in the January 2026 THIMUN tour to The Netherlands, thank you for your patience. Numbers are down slightly for this opportunity, and we await a response from THIMUN regarding proposals as we move forward. This wonderful opportunity is open to girls in Year 9 and above in 2026. Please contact Mrs Hubbard urgently if interested!

Imogen and Jemma – UN Youth National Conference

Imogen Kee (Year 10) and Jemma Hung (Year 10) attended the UN Youth Australian and New Zealand National Model United Nations Conference in Adelaide. While this was not a school activity, state and national conferences are promoted and seen as a great opportunity to make like-minded friends and to learn more about speaking, diplomacy and global issues. Congratulations girls, we are pleased you enjoyed the conference, and we look forward to your forthcoming report.

UN Negotiations

Congratulations to Leahara Wijesuriya (Year 9) and Katherine Xu (Year 9) who have now completed two rounds of UN Negotiations over the past two Sundays. Leahara and Katherine represented Russia in a conflict against Japan, while the second negotiation involved role playing Chinese and USA politicians. We look forward to hearing your results.

MOCK LAW

Antigone on Trial

Last Friday, we were fortunate to have Linden Barnes, a Senior Ethics Solicitor and Advisor at The Law Society and Pymble alumna preside at Antigone on Trial, an initiative involving Language Arts, the Classics Department and the Centre of Excellence. What a treat! Our Language Arts girls proved formidable in their roles as Court officials (Jemma Hung (Year 10) and Leahara Wijesuriya (Year 9)), Barristers for the Defence and Prosecution (Jasmine Tran (Year 11), Nia Arun (Year 11), Sophie Guo (Year 10) and Isis Li (Year 10)), Antigone (Grace McSweeney (Year 10)) and King Creon (Imogen Kee (Year 10)). Antigone was, by a small margin, found not guilty and was able to resume afternoon lessons. Thank you to Dr Asmonti for initiating this event as part of Languages Week. Thanks also to our Language Arts leaders for all their support.

Hockey

Shellie Rocca, Co-ordinator of Hockey

igsa Hockey

Although the weather did its best to rain on our parade with most matches cancelled on Saturday, the action still managed to shine through! We were treated to some fantastic play from Pymble 1 and Pymble 3, who played another challenging week on the pitch. Pymble 1 continued their sensational run, storming to a dazzling 5 to 0 victory over Ascham, while Pymble 3 put up a heroic fight in a nail-biter, narrowly missing out by just one goal against Ascham. Well done to all our players! We look forward to more brilliant Hockey this Saturday.

Results

Congratulations to the following students who received best and fairest for Round 3:

Pymble 1 – Tessa Newitt (Year 12)

Pymble 2 – Match cancelled

Pymble 3 – Olivia Greenwood (Year 9)

Pymble 4 – Match cancelled

Pymble 5 – Match cancelled

Pymble 6 – Match cancelled

Music

Congratulations 

Haylee Lam (Year 9) was awarded a third place in the Ryde Eisteddfod last Saturday in the 14 to 15 Years Woodwind Solo.

Ivy Yan (Year 7) won first place playing a duet with alumna Gabrielle Zhong (2023), along with first place in the solo 12 years and under in the City of Sydney Eisteddfod.

• Macy Sun (Year 11) – 1st place – Woodwind and Brass Baroque Solo 15 years and over
• Madison Pearce (Year 11)
  • 1st place – Woodwind and Brass Contemporary Solo 15 years and over
  • 1st place – Woodwind and Brass Jazz Solo 15 years and over
  • 3rd place – Open Classical Woodwind Solo
  • Highly Commended – Woodwind Solo 15 to 18 years
• Mia Davies (Year 10)
  • 1st place – Woodwind Solo 15 to 18 years
  • 2nd place – Encore Woodwind and Brass Solo 15 years and over
  • Highly Commended – Woodwind and Brass Contemporary Solo 15 years and over

Imogen Martin (Year 7) also performed at the Ryde Eisteddfod, and although did not place, received high praise from the adjudicator, who described her as extremely giving and said she connected beautifully with her audience. For someone so young, this is a wonderful accolade for Imogen, who consistently demonstrates maturity in her playing and her approach to her music.

Dates for your Diaries

• Tuesday 19 August – Open morning in the Junior School. Stanhope Concert Band and Junior School Choir to perform at 8.55am and 10.15am respectively at this event.
• Tuesday 19 August 4.30pm – Emily Palethorpe’s Cello Studio Concert in the Music Gallery
• Wednesday 20 August 6.30pm to 7.00pm – Think Pymble event in the KM building: Year 7 String Quartet to perform
• Thursday 21 August 6.00pm – Music Scholar’s Concert in the Music Gallery – please see poster. This is a free event, but we would like tickets to be reserved. Alexandra Osborne from Sydney Symphony Orchestra will perform and provide a discussion for students interested in pursuing a career in Music.
• Friday 5 September 5.00pm – HSC Music Recital evening. Please come along and watch our HSC musicians perform their repertoire in preparation for their HSC.
• Saturday 13 September from 1.00pm – Battle of the Bands – Barker College. This event is for the girls in the Rock Bands and part of the Barker Spring Fair.
• Saturday 20 September all day – Garden Party – Various ensembles will perform at this event and permission will be sent out shortly.
• Tuesday 23 September 5.00pm – Music Elective Night in the Music Gallery – all girls from Years 8 to 11 who study Elective Music will perform an item for family and friends.
• Friday 26 September – Year 12 Valedictory Dinner – Randwick Racecourse. College Quartet to perform.

Call for Parent Volunteers – Music Support Group

We warmly invite parents from all year groups to join our enthusiastic and supportive Music community. Musical experience is not required — just a shared passion for encouraging and supporting our talented music students.

Our Music Support Group plays a vital role in assisting at concerts and events throughout the year, and the students truly appreciate seeing their families involved.

We are especially seeking Year 11 parent volunteers, as we currently have no representation from this year group.

If you’re interested in getting involved, meeting other music-loving families, and making a meaningful contribution to the program, we’d love to hear from you.

Netball

Megan O’Keeffe, Head Coach of Netball

igsa Netball

It has been another challenging week of netball, with many scheduled matches cancelled once again due to persistent wet weather. For those who did not get to play this weekend, we appreciate your understanding and patience. For those who did get a match in, well done on another successful weekend of netball.

Special shout out to players in Pymble 16 and Pymble 17 who helped fill in for Pymble 15 on the weekend. The teams incredible teamwork led to a win in the last quarter 22 to 18. Another shoutout must go to Pymble 25 who secured their first win of the season on Saturday.

Results – igsa

Net Set Go

Unfortunately, due to wet weather Net Set Go was cancelled for a second week. We hope to see the Net Set Go students back on the court next week.

Rubgy Sevens

Round 2

Unfortunately, another cancellation on the weekend. Fingers crossed for some sunlight this week to dry our fields out in preparation for Round 3 this weekend.

On a happier note, Year 10 student Mie Naito was lucky enough to be a flag bearer for the recent Wallabies v Lions test at Homebush last weekend! What an amazing experience for Mie.

Swimming

Jaimi Arthur-Newman, Co-ordinator of Swimming

SWIMMING

Rafael Rodrigues, Swimming Coach

2025 Para Futures Squad – Day Camp

Alyssa Gillespie (Year 11) attended the 2025 Para Futures Squad day camp. Selection for this squad is based on performance and results at state and national levels. Being part of this squad is a significant achievement and requires commitment and dedication. This program offers a great opportunity for athletes to develop into elite competitors, with the goal of becoming a Para Dolphin athlete.

The day camp was held on Sunday 10 August at Knox Grammar School and began with an introduction and squad presentation. The morning continued with a pool session featuring the A2 test, with a focus on the importance of this assessment. After the pool session, a physiotherapist delivered a presentation titled Move Well, Swim Well: How Joint Range Impacts Your Swimming, which included both theoretical insights and practical exercises.

Following lunch, the group completed a skills test set. In conclusion, the day provided a valuable opportunity to identify what we are currently doing well, where improvements can be made, and how we can continue to develop, not only in preparation for the short course state championships, but also to support long-term success and longevity in competitive swimming.

Touch Football

TOUCH FOOTBALL

Shellie Rocca, Co-ordinator of Touch Football

IPSHA Touch Football

Unfortunately, all IPSHA matches, and Kindergarten to Year 2 Skills were cancelled on Saturday due to the wet weather, but we can’t wait to see you all back on the field this week ready to kick off another thrilling round of games.  

Tennis

Jufri Foss, Co-ordinator of Tennis

Learn to Lead Program

Congratulations to Emily Basak (Year 9) who participated amongst a team of 14 girls from NSW in the Learn to Lead program conducted by Tennis Australia to empower the next generation of women leaders in Tennis. It was a ten-week face-to-face and online course where the girls were coached for leadership roles by Casey Dellacqua.

Emily was able to learn a variety of leadership skills and gained opportunities to help build a supporting and inclusive environment for women in tennis all around NSW. It was an extremely fun experience and allowed her to form new friendships and perspectives on the sport.

Touch Football

Round 2

Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather on Saturday, all IPSHA Touch Football matches and Kindergarten to Year 2 Skills were cancelled. We look forward to seeing our Touch Football program back in action for this Saturday!

Shellie Rocca, Co-ordinator of Touch Football 

Homework Help

Year 12 Study Camps

Click the poster below to register.

Pymble Transport

Register now – Pymble Bus Service 

A reminder to register your daughter for the Pymble bus service if you have not already done so. Registrations are essential, as we cannot guarantee a seat without a booking.

You can choose between a flexible registration, whereby you are only charged for the number of trips taken, or you can reserve a seat for your daughter for the full term.

Grey House Walk Closure – Alternative travel options

Grey House Walk remains closed during Term 3 and Term 4 to allow for the timely completion of Grey House Precinct. The College has introduced the following initiatives to support students who usually walk to school from Pymble Avenue via Grey House Walk.

Minibus Shuttle Service (Pymble Loop)

This shuttle travels down Livingstone Avenue and up Pymble Avenue via Courallie Avenue and Golfers Parade. This is a convenient way for parents to bypass traffic near the College on Pymble Avenue and Avon Road.

View map and loop times here. Bookings are essential for this service and can be made here. 

Walking Group for Grey House Walk

This supervised walking group is available for our Junior School students. It runs in the morning only, meeting from 7.30am at the entrance of Grey House Walk on Pymble Avenue, departing together at 7.45am. Register to join the walking group here. 

Additional stops on our Hunters Hill Route (Bus 1)

The shuttle service is being supplemented by additional Pymble stops on our Hunters Hill route. These stops are free of charge during the closure of Grey House Walk. As seats are limited, bookings are essential to utilise this service and can be made here.

For further information on travelling to and from Pymble Ladies’ College, please contact College Services on (02) 9855 7447 or collegeservices@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Volunteers Wanted

Garden Party 2025 – PPA BBQ Request for Volunteers

We are looking forward to our wonderful annual Garden Party on the 20^th September. This is a fantastic school event bringing together thousands from our school community.

The PPA BBQ is a busy, exciting stall and we need volunteers to assist on the day. It is a wonderful way to meet other parents, while keeping busy preparing food, cooking and serving our wonderful school community.

If you can help for an hour on the day, please sign up using this link.

Thank you for your support,

The PPA Committee

Garden Party 2025 – Cake Stall

The Garden Party is one of Pymble’s most beloved events on the school calendar, and the ever-popular Cake Stall remains a highlight for many visitors throughout the day. Its success depends entirely on the generosity and baking talents of our wonderful community.

How you can help:

Calling all bakers!

We are seeking delicious homemade treats to sell at the stall — whole cakes, tarts, cupcakes, biscuits, slices, jelly cups, or any sweet delights that can tempt our guests.

Join our friendly team!

We need enthusiastic volunteers to help staff the stall and share these delectable treats with visitors. Even an hour of your time would make a big difference!

Our stall caters to everyone — from those wanting a quick, energizing snack to those looking for a special cake, tart, or pie to take home.

Baked goods can be dropped off at the stall, located in the foyer of the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA), from 7:30 am on Garden Party day.

All proceeds from the Cake Stall will be donated to the HerVillage Foundation and Mahboba’s Promise charities.

Please contact the Cake Stall Convenor for further information:

Leah Deutscher: – leahorr@hotmail.com – 0410 188 464

Aimee Birch – aimee.birch1@outlook.com – 0407 310 803

Leisa Whitehead – leisajwhitehead@gmail.com – 0404 000 207

Thank you for your support! Please click the link to volunteer your baking skills and/or to help out on the day.

Colouring in Competition

Unlimited Rides Pass

The Unlimited Rides Pass allows you to go on as many rides as you would like at Garden Party 2025 between 10.00am and 3.00pm. This is great value for money and is sure to keep all entertained over the course of the day.

Unlimited Rides Pass – Cost: $40.00 pre-purchase

Unlimited Rides Pass – Cost: $50.00 on the day of Garden Party

Each pass provides unlimited access on any ride or activity where the minimum height/age requirement is met:

• The Superhero Ride (130cm and over) – Adults can ride
• Dodgem Cars (NEW ride)
• The Whirlwind (110cm and over) – Adults can ride (NEW ride)
• Storm Ride (110cm and over) – Adults can ride
• Cup & Saucer (2 years and over) – Adults can ride
• Swinging Pirate Ship – (must be over 80cm) – Adults can ride
• Turbo Flyers – (2 years and over – Adults can ride
• Giant Slide (3 and Under must be accompanied by an adult)
• Inflatable Obstacle courses
• Soccer Shoot Out
• Mini Golf
  

Please note that parents can ride for free only if they are accompanying their child(ren).

Click here to register

Registrations close: Thursday 18 September 2025

Enquiries: Please contact the Rides Convenor, San Venkatesan at sangeeta.venkatesan@gmail.com

Click here for more details on Pymble Ladies’ College Garden Party 2025.  We look forward to seeing you on the day!