Welcome back to Pymble for Term 2, our designated term to step up, push up and promote better physical and mental health for our entire Pymble family, particularly our young people. As it’s May 2, those participating in the Push Up Challenge will clock up two push ups today. Tomorrow our target is three, and so it goes on throughout the month. In this way we will build up the strength and the commitment to achieve our goal for each of us to do 3,249 push ups during a set period in June; a mildly terrifying yet achievable target, so I’m told! Pictured above is Tully Black in Year 11 making sure that Mr Justin Raymond, Ms Lamia Rockwell, Mrs Christine Kenny, Ms Karina Olsen and I continue to rise to this important challenge!
Lest we forget
It’s always wonderful to see our students back on campus for a new term, although the first couple of days presented a different type of challenge thanks to torrential rain. In true Pymble style, however, our girls in Years 5 to 12 made their way through the downpour to the changed venue for our Anzac Day Assembly on Tuesday, showing up as their best selves to parade, present, perform and listen with great respect.
Thank you to our Cadets for representing our armed forces, our History Captains, Nandika Singh and Thinara Siriniwasa (Year 11), for their thoughtful presentation on people from the Pymble area who served our country, Josephine Green (Year 11) for her poignant renditions of The Last Post and Reveille, and our Chorale and Senior Jazz Ensemble for their musical performances. We could not be more #PymbleProud of all our girls for meeting our expectations for their behaviour on this solemn occasion.
Meet our new Chaplain
This week we also welcomed a very special new member of staff to our Pymble family, Reverend Danielle Hemsworth-Smith.
Rev Danielle brings more than 10 years of experience as an ordained minister in the Uniting Church in Australia, most recently as the Senior Minister at Paddington Uniting Church, where she was responsible for the theological and operational leadership and pastoral care of a large community of diverse people. Prior to ordination and her appointment within the church, she worked in a variety of roles in Hunter New England Health Services. Alongside ministry, Rev Danielle is a wife and proud mother of three teenagers.
In her own words: “I describe myself as progressive, incarnational, and evangelical in theological expression, and enjoy exploring, mentoring, and innovating in creative and diverse worship expressions that allow both individuals and communities to grow into who they are as loved and purpose-filled expressions of God in the world. My approach to everything I do is gently pastoral, collaborative, and empowering of individual gifts and skills.”
Rev Danielle joins Rev Cass and Assistant Chaplain Edwina O’Brien in the spiritual support of our community. Please join me in making her feel at home when you have an opportunity to meet her.
Building our vision for the future
Last night was another #PymbleProud moment when we were joined by Foundation Board directors, College Board directors and members of our community at our first Pymble Foundation Annual General Meeting and community update.
The evening included reflections from one of our current Pymble Foundation scholars, Malalai (Year 7) who arrived in Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan, and one of our former First Nations scholars, Teegan Wattam (2017). These incredible young women held the audience spellbound as they shared stories of how a Foundation scholarship changed their life and consequently inspired them to give back to others.
The event included a site tour of the Grey House Precinct construction which is now well underway. Excitingly, we are also on the countdown to opening our beautiful new Upper School Centre, which is scheduled for completion at the end of this term for Years 9 and 10 students to enjoy and our younger girls to look forward to.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the dedication and hard work of our Foundation Board members who gift their time and expertise in governance, and the generosity of our amazing donors, many of whom are current parents.
You can read more details about how the Pymble Foundation and our community are working together to leave a legacy, not only for their own children, but for many generations more, in our 2023 Impact Report.
Finally, signing off with best wishes to our Year 9 students who on Sunday will be embarking on the second Residential Program for the year at Vision Valley. Our girls will be joined by 48 Year 9 boys from Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in Brisbane and, as we know from past programs and feedback, they will have a wonderful time of learning and growth on so many different levels.
Echidna and Koala Lodges have been renovated in anticipation of their arrival, and further Master Plan works continue onsite at Vision Valley to enhance the experience of all our students, staff, families and visitors.
We are grateful for the incredible work of our Head of Campus – Vision Valley Mr Tom Riley, Deputy Head of Students Mr Justin Raymond, and the Vision Valley team who have brought this partnership to fruition and worked hard to ensure the success of the program and the relationship between the two schools.
Here’s to a successful term for all members and friends of our Pymble family.
PS Tomorrow night is our annual Careers Expo. Pymble parents and staff are welcome to bring their daughters and sons in Years 9 to 12 to this event, which runs from 5.30pm to 7.30pm in the Senior School Centre. Please click here for more details.
From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Welcome back to Term 2. I hope you have all enjoyed a break from the routine of school term and for those of you lucky enough to travel to see family, I hope special memories have been created.
I wish a happy Easter to those in our community who celebrate Orthodox Easter this weekend.
This term, we extend a warm welcome to Abigail Zheng and Momo Xiao (Kindergarten), Kylie Fong (Year 2), Jennifer Chi (Year 3), Catherine Wang (Year 4), Yiyi Wang and Susie Han (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.
This term we are looking forward to our inaugural STEAM Festival on Friday 28 June which also serves as our K-6 Windows into Learning for Semester 1. Please note that there will also be an afternoon performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Thursday 27 June at 6.00pm, for those parents who are unable to attend the STEAM Festival (or who would like to watch both performances!)
As educators we are committed to finding effective ways to nurture our girls’ extraordinary minds and to challenge them as thinkers. Life is unpredictable and we know that many of the jobs our girls will enjoy in their future are yet to be imagined, so it’s important that we teach our girls to be learners, to be observant and receptive to learning opportunities and to question everything. Children are naturally inquisitive and yet often education in the past channelled that natural curiosity into rote learning facts, algorithms and content. Whilst explicit learning is still crucial there is an equally compelling need for space and time in the curriculum for our children to wonder, think and walk away with more questions than answers. Way back in the 1700s this was noted by Samuel Johnson who is credited as a notable literary figure and creator of one of the earliest English dictionaries, who said, ‘curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind’.
To be successful globally our girls will need a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of people and events so they are equipped to form independent opinions, to challenge the veracity of ‘facts’ presented to them by AI and to ensure they can make a positive impact in their world and be confident doing so.
Creativity and STEM sit together in empowering students to form ideas – ideas that may then become extraordinary innovations or artworks of any form. This determination to empower our girls to be flexible thinkers who seek out challenge and have a hunger for learning is why we focus on interactive, real world focused learning rather than worksheets or reliance on one way of problem solving. Teaching our girls to make up their mind and articulate their understanding carefully after checking the evidence and processing perspectives and possibilities means they’re much more likely to not just cope with, but thrive on, change in their world and be leaders of that change.
Whilst reading over the term break, I read this quote which resonated with me and our approach to teaching and learning here at Pymble; ‘If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.’ We know that each girl deserves to think that she can if she is prepared to approach new learning with an open mind, courage, kindness to herself and determination and the safety of knowing that we are all here (parents and educators) to support her on that journey.
The Mighty May Challenge
This week Dr Hadwen and some of our senior girls are launching our PymblePulse initiative to Step Up and Push Up for better physical and mental health, together. This initiative is linked to the national Push Up Challenge which begins on Wednesday 5 June 2024.
Within the Junior School we will only be participating in the Mighty May challenge, which is the lead up to the actual push up challenge and we will primarily focus on stepping upor pushing up (with a range of options for how to push up) each day. Stepping up involves the girls literally going up and down a step a specific number of times each day during May and understanding that they are doing it purposefully for the challenge. Starting with one step up on Wednesday 1 May and progressing up to 31 step ups on Friday 31 May, we hope these simple exercises will continue to promote our positive focus on movement and give the girls a sense of our Pymble Pulse as we face this challenge within Compass classes and as staff teams too.
As we introduce the Mighty May challenge to our girls in Kindergarten to Year 6, we will focus on how this is supporting our College wide focus on positive wellbeing and learning skills (such as simple exercises) as a strategy to help regulate big feelings, anxiety and negative self-thoughts.
We are not promoting the actual Push Up Challenge or charity for our Junior School girls as we are mindful of their age and the potential heaviness of conversations the Push Up Challenge focus may bring into your homes. We are only doing the Mighty May challenge as a community building activity and a focus on positive movement.
Creative Writing Club for Year 5
I am excited to announce a creative writing opportunity for Year 5 students. This year Mrs Bird and I will be leading Creative Writing Club (CWC) for girls who have passion and aptitude for creative writing. Given the popularity of creative writing club last year we are looking to expand the opportunity to more girls this year by offering two opportunities across Term 2 and Term 3.
In Term 2 we will focus on fractured fairytales and in Term 3 we will focus on graphic novels. The Term 2 and the Term 3 units are separate allowing different girls to be selected to participate, as necessary. These workshops will involve weekend commitments as well as one lunch time a week throughout the term. It’s important that girls who are selected are available and self-motivated during these sessions as whilst we will be guiding their skills and growth as writers, we will expect them to be intrinsically motivated and capable of using the given time effectively.
During the program, the girls will explore traditional fairy tales from around the world. We will then investigate the aspects of a ‘fractured’ fairytale and challenge the girls with writing their own fractured fairytale. Mr Turnbull has also offered to mentor the girls in building skills with AI to create aspects of their published fairytale ready for the showcase at the end of the program.
Families will be invited to celebrate their daughter’s passion as a writer at the end of the program with an afternoon tea showcase.
The schedule for the fractured fairytale workshops is:
Saturday 18 May: 10.00am to 4.00pm
Sunday 19 May: 1.00pm to 4.00pm (as Mrs Brown will be running the Lindfield Fun Run that morning with many of our JS girls to promote kindness in our community)
Tuesday 21 May – lunchtime
Tuesday 28 May – lunchtime
Tuesday 4 June – lunchtime (this will be quiet independent working time supervised in Hedgehog House, as Mrs Brown, Mrs Bird and some of our Year 5 girls will be at the Children’s Kindness Convention)
Tuesday 11 June – lunchtime
Tuesday 18 June – lunchtime
Sunday 23 June: 10.00am to 4.00pm *noting that there will be a ‘showcase’ of the girls’ work at 3.00pm on that day.
The schedule for Term 3 will follow a similar pattern for those girls selected for that group, and will be as follows:
Saturday 3 August: 10.00am to 4.00pm
Sunday 4 August: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Tuesday 6 August: lunchtime
Tuesday 13 August: lunchtime
Tuesday 20 August: lunchtime
Tuesday 27 August: lunchtime
Tuesday 3 September: lunchtime
Sunday 8 September 10.00am to 4.00pm *noting that there will be a showcase of the girls work at 4.00pm on that day.
I am excited to announce that we have been fortunate to be given the opportunity this year to collaborate with Kate Temple, internationally acclaimed children’s author of many picture books (the Bin Chicken series, Room on our Rock and others), the Trilby Moffat series and the Under Dogs series. Kate Temple will be working with all Year 5 students this term and then will work with a smaller group of girls over additional workshops. We will aim to ensure diversity of opportunity for our Year 5 girls so girls who participate in this Creative Writing Club (the 2 programs across Term 2 and Term 3) will most likely not be selected to work with Kate Temple in the small groups.
Please have a conversation with your daughter about these opportunities and whether this is something she is interested in and will be passionate enough to commit to. If she is interested please ask her to complete this form by clicking hereas her expression of interest by Friday 10 May.
A reminder about our Junior School Dads’ Sport team – calling all Dads!
Percy Yang, one of our JSPG Relationship Leaders and a current Junior School dad has had the brilliant idea of setting up a social Dad’s sports team. Please click on this link to express your interest in the sports suggested for this initiative.
A message from Mrs Lara Bird – Deputy Head of Junior School – Academic
ICAS
The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) will be held in Term 3. These assessments will be available to students in Years 3 to 6 and held before school. These assessments will include Writing, English, Mathematics, Spelling and Science.
Not all schools enter these competitions, and some schools enter only their high achieving students. This is a voluntary competition and will be held before school.
Australian Mathematics Trust
The Australian Mathematics Competition will be held in Term 3 for students in Years 3 to 6. This assessment is a voluntary competition and will be held before school.
Further information will be provided to parents via a portal notice on how to sign up for these assessments.
A message from Mr Stephen Robinson – Acting Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
STEAM Festival – Student Marketplace
Preparations for the STEAM Festival, to be held on the last day of Term 2 are well underway. This week I spoke to students in Years 3-6 and invited them to sign up to hold a STEAM themed market stall. Stalls can be operated individually, or collaboratively in groups up to five students. Please register your child’s market stall via this link.
Lost Property
With the cooler months fast approaching, students are starting to wear layers of clothes. Please ensure that all items are clearly labelled. A white marker can be used to label dark clothing. At present, the lost property room is overflowing with a range of unnamed hats, jackets. Students and parents can access this room before and after school.
Mother’s Day (and Special Persons) Celebration
A message from Mrs Kate Giles – Head of Wellbeing K-6
Parent Wellbeing Series
Due to added interest, we are holding a second session on ‘How to help your daughter with her emotions’. The session will be the same as the one held earlier this term and will focus on emotional regulation and how to help your daughter manage her emotions. You will also hear from Heidi Lynch, Kindergarten Co-ordinator and Tracy Reid, Year 3 Co-ordinator about the programs used in the classroom. The session will be held on Thursday 9 May at 8.30am in the 3-6 Library. Please sign up using this link.
Running Kilometres for Kindness at the Lindfield Fun Run
The Junior School Kindness Club invite you to run kilometres for Kindness on Sunday19 May. The event, the Lindfield Fun Run is a Rotary Club community event with proceeds going to local community charities. Participants can walk, jog or run 2km, 5km or 10km while raising money for charity.
To join us, please sign up and select the Junior School team when registering using this link. Mrs Brown, Mrs Giles and Mr Schweinberger have all already signed up to run with the girls on the day.
Please note that a parent or carer is needed to attend with their daughter at the event. We look forward to the event and joining together as a Junior School community to run kilometres for kindness on Sunday 19 May!
Around the Grounds
Term 2 2024 Key Dates
Friday 3 May Individual student catch up photo day
Friday 3 May Bowden Brae Visit
Friday 3 to Sunday 5 May Years 4-12 Eisteddfod Intensive Weekend
Saturday 4 May IPSHA Sport Commences and Dance Intensive weekend
Monday 6 May Year 5 and Year 11 Buddy program – Period 5
Thursday 9 May Wellbeing Series: Kimochis 8.30am to 9.30am – John Reid Hall
Friday 10 May Mother’s Day Event – 12.30pm to 2.15pm
Saturday 11 May IPSHA Saturday sports commence
Sunday 12 May Mother’s Day
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
A warm welcome back to our Pymble families, and a big welcome to our new families joining us this term. We hope you all enjoyed the term break and are well rested coming into Term 2.
Thanks again to our Junior School Administration team who have provided the updated list of Junior School and JSPG Events for the year in the MyPymble notices this week. We hope this will help you to manage your calendars and plan for the terms ahead.
Here is a list of links to our WhatsApp groups for each year group if haven’t already joined and would like to. From there, you will be able to find the links to join your class groups as well.
Kindergarten
Parent Year Coordinator: Freda Liu and Tara Navaratnam
Junior School Mothers Day Lunch – 12.30pm to 2.00pm
This year, the Junior School welcomes Mums and special persons to join their daughters for lunch at school and celebrate Mothers Day within the Junior School. Please BYO picnic lunch, and stay for grade assemblies after lunch. Archie’s Café and Jacaranda Café are also available for parents to purchase lunch on the way in if needed.
Please note that girls must stay until the end of the school day. There will be no early departures permitted.
JSPG Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance
Year 6 Parents, you are warmly invited to the Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance on Saturday 25 May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm at Killara Golf Club. This event is one of the most anticipated Year 6 traditions in the Junior School, before the girls move on to Secondary School. The theme for this year’s dance is ‘Springtime in Paris’.
Tickets are on sale now here. We look forward to celebrating with you and your daughter on this special night!
PPA Year 4 Mother and Daughter Camp
Year 4 Mums, please save the date – Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 June, staying overnight at Vision Valley. There will be lots of fun activities to do together. Don’t miss this special opportunity to spend uninterrupted time with our girls. The invitation will be available on MyPymble over the coming week.
PPA Trivia Night
The PPA warmly invites you to our annual Trivia Night on Saturday 22 June 2024. Create your own table of ten or we’ll seat you with others from your year group to meet new people! Fantastic prizes will be won and auctioned throughout the night and raffle tickets are available for advance purchase. All proceeds will go towards the Teacher and Staff Development Program and the Thank You Lunch on World Teachers’ Day.
Please note this is a parent-only event and registration is essential. Tickets are available for purchase here. Please RSVP by Wednesday 12 June.
Welcome back to Term 2 in Middle School. It was so lovely to see the girls returning with enthusiasm, ready to take on the many opportunities that will be afforded them over the coming weeks. I would like to warmly welcome three new students who are joining us this term: Baheshta Rahmoni (Year 7), Stella Walsh (Year 8) and Emma Lucas (Year 8). We hope that you have enjoyed your first few days at Pymble. I would also like to warmly welcome Ms Kelly Crowley who will be taking responsibility for our Year 8, Ingleholme B Compass group going forward.
On Tuesday we celebrated Anzac Day as a whole school community and I would like to congratulate Katherine Xu of Year 8 who read the prayer with such poise and confidence. It was wonderful to see our Middle School Cadets on parade- their contribution to the service was most memorable.
Congratulations to Meii You who recently entered the 2024 Young Australian Writer’s Competition. Her composition was awarded a Certificate for Writing Excellence by the Australian Children’s Literary Board and has been published in the magazine ‘Oz Kids in Print’. This is an impressive achievement.
Good Luck to our team of Year 8 Robotics students who are currently competing in Dallas at the VEX Championships: Joyce Li, Kathy Wang, Lily Xing, Cabrini Li and Akshara Bhattacharya.
After much anticipation, we have now announced our new Year 7 Student Leaders.
It was lovely to be able to share morning tea with these girls on Wednesday as a celebration of their positions of responsibility. Congratulations girls and we look forward to the initiatives you will bring to light across your various portfolios.
Middle School Leaders 2024
Portfolio
Year 7
Middle School Leader
Lucy Liu
Middle School Leader
Wenhui Zheng
Middle School Leader
Georgina Lewis
Middle School Leader
Aaira Khan
Chapel Leader
Qiana Joisce
Chapel Leader
Isobel Goodridge
Chapel Leader
Jessie Leung
Chapel Leader
Una Kim
Chapel Leader
Jessica Chen
Wellbeing Leader
Olivia Sheldrake
Intercultural Leader
Amelia Quamby
Communications Leader
Yenyu Chan
Community Service Leader
Arden Liceralde
Environment Leader
Aliya Singh
Bennett House
Ellie Lau
Goodlet House
Adele Cassidy
Hammond House
Amber Lewis
Ingleholme House
Lily Dao
Lang House
Dimity Loeve
Marden House
Patricia Chia
Thomas House
Lillie Oldfield
Wiley House
Freya Andrews
Cyber Safety Information Session for Parents
Protecting children in their digital worlds is an ever-evolving task for Australian families. Now, more than ever, parents are looking for guidance on how to manage screen time and navigate the world of games and social media.
We are therefore pleased to help our parent community by offering a crucial and engaging education session with ySafe, Australia’s leading provider of online safety education. This practical, strategy-rich session will cover the most important points that all families need to know about online safety, covering key information about social media and gaming, screen time recommendations and step-by-step instructions on how to set up a cyber-safe home for children of all ages.
The webinar will be held on Thursday 30 May. Click here to register.
Year 7 and Year 8 students will have a separate presentation also held on Thursday 30 May during school hours.
Gloucester Gatherings continue this term, and the girls have organised some exciting activities!
Thank you for working with your daughters to ensure that they continue to wear their winter uniform with pride. We have been impressed with how the girls returned to school in full winter uniform and will work with you to keep the standard high.
Key Dates
Tuesday 14 May – Year 8 History Excursion
Monday 20 May – Sydney Writers’ Festival (select students)
Wednesday 29 May – Year 7 to 12 Athletics Carnival
Thursday 30 May – ySafe Parent Webinar
Thursday 6 June – Year 7 Zoo Excursion
Friday 28 June – Last day of Term
From the Middle School Parent Groups
Year 7 Ladies’ Dinner and Drinks – 17 May at The Greengate Hotel
We have received an overwhelming response for our dinner and drinks night on Friday 17 May!
Thank you to our mums/carers who have indicated their preference for this date in our poll on WhatsApp. We have used these numbers for our booking with The Greengate.
If you can no longer make it, please let us know as space is limited.
We have booked tables for 7.30pm in The Alcove area at The Greengate Hotel (between the front bar and The Terrace).
We are planning another ladies’ night in the same location on Friday 2 August, for those who cannot make our first one.
Year 7 Mother and Daughters’ Day at Vision Valley on Sunday 16 June
This will be a lovely day for all our mothers and daughters to spend quality time together at Vision Valley undertaking a range of activities. It is the first event of its kind and promises to be very special!
Senior School Mother’s Day Breakfast
Senior School mothers and carers are warmly invited to join their daughters for breakfast to celebrate Mother’s Day. Come along and catch up with the mums from our year over a cup of your favourite beverage. Proceeds from the breakfast will support the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
The breakfast will be held on Monday 13 May from 7.15am to 8.15am in the GMCPA Foyer. Please RSVP for this event as soon as possible using the link by clicking here.
PPA Trivia Night
Planning is well underway for this year’s Trivia Night and it’s going to be a fun-filled evening! This year we have a new location in the gorgeous Miramar Gardens, Terrey Hills. The theme for the night is “Pop & Rock Stars”, so come dressed as your favourite pop or rock icon and join us for an unforgettable evening of trivia, prizes, and fun! Don’t worry if costumes aren’t your thing – your presence is what matters most. We encourage dressing up to add to the festive atmosphere, but it’s entirely optional.
We would love Year 8 parents to join in the fun. Create your own table of ten or come solo and meet fellow parents from Year 8. Please get in touch if you would like to join a Year 8 table (kai_look@yahoo.com). Tickets are $90 per person or $900 for a table of 10. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
PPA Trivia Night Donations
The Trivia Night is one of the PPA’s biggest fundraisers of the year, with funds going towards:
1. The Teachers’ Luncheon on World Teachers’ Day to express our appreciation
2. The College’s professional development program for our dedicated educators
3. Equipment at the soon-to-be-established Pymble Wellbeing Space to support our students
To make it a successful evening, we rely on the kind support of our community for donations for the live and silent auctions, year group baskets, and raffles. If you have anything that you would like to donate, please get in touch. We are seeking all kinds of donations such as vouchers for experiences, activities, vouchers / products from local businesses (restaurants, gyms, PTs, food & beverage etc), holiday stays, and bottles of wine/champagne to go towards a “Wine/Champagne Lovers” basket (please contact Kenneth Kok at kenneth@kok.family – alcohol cannot be dropped off at school).
We’re also doing something a little bit different this year and collecting donations for “year group baskets”. Years 7 and 8 are collecting items to fill a luxurious basket ”for the Mums”. Examples of items for mum could be a candle, hand lotion, a voucher for a facial, etc. A basket for the collection items will be placed in the Middle School Office.
A message from Mrs Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School
Welcome back to Term 2!
We were excited to welcome five new students and their families to the Upper School this week. We hope that our new Pymble girls settle in well and that all students are excited for the term ahead. It has been a busy holiday for many girls with sporting competitions and amazing results by Upper School students competing in the Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide and the National Age Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast. Congratulations to Eloise Stewart, Jocelyn Blair, Grace Beck, Matilda Harrison, Sarah Tian, Indianna Vale, Annalise Chow and Ruby Pickthall.
Thank you to our wonderful cadets for their involvement in the ANZAC Day service and a special shout out to Clare Vincent for her volunteering in the Junior School last term. It was lovely to receive this feedback.
“Clare has been an absolutely wonderful volunteer for the Junior School this term. On multiple occasions Clare has been asked to change at the last minute. She has always been accommodating and friendly with nothing being too much trouble.
Clare has a wonderful quiet yet assertive manner with the youngest Pymble students and has been a good role model for the K-2 girls.”
Phoebe Roberts and Johanna Ricketts are two weeks into their exchange at Wrekin College in Shropshire. The girls have shared this reflection.
We are both having a lot of fun! We have been going out at the weekends to explore England with Ayla and her family; so far, we have been to Shropshire, Shrewsbury, Birmingham and many more. We have been to the Beatles expo, and we are going to London for a long weekend. The school we are at is super different to Pymble, and we have played lots of pool and cricket. We are both boarding which has also been very cool. We have made a lot of friends and cannot wait to keep exploring around England in the coming weeks.
This week we say farewell to Eloisa Hunt and Natalie Barclay as they head off on their six-week exchange to St Anne’s School in Hilton South Africa. We are sure that they are going to have a wonderful experience and return with many happy memories.
Excitedly, this Sunday marks the start of the second Vision Valley residential program of the year and our first program with Church of England Grammar School (Churchie) from Brisbane. We look forward to sharing news from the program over the next few weeks and also to parents joining us at the Parent Evening with Dr Arne Rubenstein on Thursday May 23 in the Kate Mason Building.
Year 10 parents are reminded to complete the NSW consent form for the upcoming Year 10 Immunisation program on Thursday May 16. Consent can be provided via your Service NSW Account or by clicking here.
Key Dates
Friday May 3 Careers Expo (5.30pm-7.30pm) in the Kate Mason Building
Sunday May 5 Residential Program Group 2 move into VV
Monday May 13 Mother’s Day Breakfast
Thursday May 16 Year 10 Meningococcal Vaccinations
Friday May 17 igsa Cross Country
Thursday May 23 Year 9 Residential Program Group 2 Parent Workshop
Wednesday May 29 Year 7 to 12 Pymble Athletics Carnival onsite
Thursday May 30 YSafe Talk to Parents at 6.30pm
Saturday June 1 Indigenous Round of Sport
Sunday June 2 Afghan Football Match at Pymble Ladies’ College
Wednesday June 5 Year 9 Residential Program Group 3 Parent/Student Info Night
Friday June 7 Boarders’ Travel Day
Monday June 10 King’s Birthday Public Holiday
Wednesday June 12 Year 10 into Year 11 Subject Selection Event (Parents/Students)
Tuesday June 25 Secondary School Ensemble Concert
Friday June 28 Boarders’ Travel Day & last day of Term 2
Victoria Harrison
Head of Upper School
From the Senior School
From the Head of Senior School
Welcome back to all Senior School families! We hope you had a restful break and enjoyed valuable family time together. As we transition into Term 2, it’s crucial to emphasise the importance of returning to important routines.
The new term offers a fresh start—a chance for students to expand their social circles and forge new connections. Encouraging your child to be open to meeting new people can enrich their school experience and broaden their horizons.
New friendships can bring fresh perspectives, shared interests, and support during both the good times and the challenging ones. By fostering a welcoming and inclusive attitude, we can create a school community where everyone feels valued and supported.
Establishing consistent routines around sleep, homework, exercise, and healthy eating can significantly impact your child’s well-being and academic performance. Adequate sleep is essential for concentration and overall health, while regular exercise can improve mood and energy levels.
Setting aside dedicated time for homework and study helps maintain academic progress and reduces stress. Additionally, prioritising healthy eating habits ensures that your child is fuelled with the nutrients needed for optimal learning and development.
As we settle into the new term, let’s work together to support our students in re-establishing these important routines. By doing so, we can help them succeed both academically and personally.
Best wishes to all for a successful and fulfilling Term 2!
Senior Geography Vanuatu Tour 2024
The inaugural Senior Geography Tour to Vanuatu took place over the school holidays. This inspirational experience for 28 of our talented Year 11 and 12 Geography students was an action-packed week of transformative learning opportunities.
The tour began with a visit to Pele Island. Here, we worked alongside the Nguna-Pele Marine and Land Protected Area Network. We were honoured to be welcomed into the community and spend time with people who are living with the effects of climate change through sea level rise. The Geographers participated in coral gardening, gathering fragments of branching coral, which were then tied to rope. This was to be planted to help the coral ecosystem recover from the devastating cyclones in 2023. The GBE department is excited to continue our partnership with the Nguna-Pele Marine and Land Protected network in the future.
Next, the Geographers participated in a cultural immersion tour of Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila. We visited key landmarks around the city, learning about the fascinating history of the Pacific Island nation. We visited the local markets and students were able to purchase souvenirs. The afternoon provided another profound experience as we visited Erakor Bilingual school. Our generous students donated 15 laptops to the students, who were just starting their exams. The legacy left behind by our students will undoubtedly effect positive change on the students and their futures.
Finally, we travelled to Nguna island to tackle the challenging hike to the summit of the extinct volcano, Mount Marou. The views we were rewarded with at the top were truly breath-taking. Students also visited Noaiwia primary school. This was a truly humbling and memorable experience. The local students were overwhelmed with excitement as our students donated school supplies and played games. The afternoon involved a well-earned break on the paradise-like island of Pele, where we snorkelled the coral reefs.
Overall, the tour was a truly life-changing opportunity for all Geography students involved and the memories they made will last a lifetime.
Term 2 Key Dates
3 May – Futures Career Expo
13 May – Year 12 photographs
14 May – Year 12 Trivia Night
29 May – Athletics Carnival
10 June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
21 June – Senior School Wrap with Love Knit-In
28 June – Term 2 concludes
From the Secondary School Parent Group
Mother’s Day Breakfast
We have a wonderful event coming up for Mother’s Day the morning of Monday 13 May. The College has kindly moved the time to a breakfast to accommodate those with jobs, and it would be wonderful if us mothers and carers could support this move by attending.
We hope you had a lovely Easter break. We hope you can join us for our Term 2 Parent/Carer Pizza Night on Friday 17 May at 7.00pm.
Best wishes
Pilar & Susan
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School
From the Boarding School
What a pleasure to welcome back our beautiful Boarders on Monday! They were happy and excited to be returning to campus and we were certainly glad to see them. Thank you to our families for preparing your girls so well and to our Boarding staff for ensuring such a smooth start to the new term.
Thank you to our teaching staff!
At the end of last term, our Years 8 to 10 Boarding families were invited to attend face-to-face Learning Discussions with their daughter’s teachers. This fabulous opportunity, available exclusively to Boarding families, was only possible because of our dedicated teaching staff who are well aware of the challenges of meeting face-to-face when you live a long way from Pymble. All of these teachers extended their work day for this special catch up and then dashed home to complete their remaining meetings online. Special thanks to Jake Plaskett and Kellie Whiley who coordinated this important event for our families.
Interschool State Equestrian Championships
Over the term break some of our Boarders competed in the Interschool State Equestrian Championships. It was wonderful to see our Boarders competing at such a high standard and so confident riding their magnificent animals. Special congratulations to Madeleine (Mads) Gaden who was named the State Interschool Champion and Lola and Poppy Barwick who competed so successfully.
Pymble honours our ANZACs in Walgett
We are so proud of our Boarders who represented Pymble so beautifully at the ANZAC Day March in Walgett. Led by Year 11 Boarder, Hannah, and supported by Evie, Milly and Dimity, our Pymble Boarders helped to make this occasion extra-special for the Walgett Shire.
Come and see us in Dubbo!
I am looking forward to visiting Dubbo for the Boarding Expo on Friday 10 May and Saturday 11 May. We have a special gathering at Press in Dubbo on the Friday where we will be joined by past, present and prospective families along with our Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen and the Chair of the College Board, Mr Chris Fydler. Please see attached the invitation to this special event, I would love to see you there.
Keeping Up With Our Boarders
I am delighted to share with you our latest edition of Keeping Up With Our Boarders. This publication is a lovely celebration of all things Boarding with a collection of articles written by our Boarders’ Editorial Team. Grab a cup of tea and click here for your personal insight into our Boarding family
Love It – Mrs White, Deputy Director of Boarding
We have an exciting weekend ahead with our second community weekend for the year. We will be starting with a fire drill and evacuation training on Friday, followed by the Year 7 to 9 Social. We are excited to welcome students from Joeys, Shore, Knox, Wenona, Ravenswood, Ascham, and Abbotsleigh.
While the Year 7 to 9 Boarders are playing host here, our Year 10 to 12 Boarders have been invited to the Ravenswood Senior Social. On Saturday, Term 2 sports begin, and we’ll be closely monitoring the weather, hoping all teams can play.
All Boarders will be due back on Friday evening by 5.00pm for our traditional Just Dance evening. This year, the theme is the Paris Olympics, and we can’t wait to see how this gets interpreted.
On Sunday morning, we are looking forward to welcoming the Pymble Gordon Uniting Church for our biannual community church service and brunch. Here, the Boarders can fuel up for the Angus Cup Sport competition.
The Love It program for this term is jam-packed with super-fun events. You can find a copy of the program by clicking here.
Don’t forget to sign up for a fabulous weekend away with our Boarding families
Following last year’s amazing parent weekend in Mudgee, the McLaughlin family has organised another action-packed weekend away; this time in the Hawkesbury.
After checking into Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley, only a 50-minute drive from Pymble, we will catch a coach to the McLaughlin’s Hillbilly Cider for a late lunch. After returning to the Crowne Plaza, and enjoying the facilities, dinner and drinks will be served at the hotel.
On Sunday morning, we will check out of Crowne and make our way to the Windsor Polo Club where we will enjoy a picnic lunch to conclude what’s set to be another wonderful weekend getaway.
We would love to have as many parents as possible join in the fun. Please click on the flyer below to book your activities, and click here to book your accommodation for the weekend.
Save the Date
3 May Emergency response drill
4 – 5 May Community Weekend
13 – 17 May Boarders’ Week
18 -19 May Regional Weekend on the Hawkesbury for Boarder parents only
25 August Father, Daughter event
20 September Boarders and their Families event
21 September Garden Party
3 November Mother, Daughter Lunch (please note revised date)
Boarder Parent Group Meetings
7 May – 7.00pm Microsoft Teams meeting
20 September – 2.30pm onsite
24 October – 7.00pm Microsoft Teams meeting
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
From the Chaplains
The Good Shepherd
Hello, it is so lovely to be writing for my very first time in The College Compass.
For those who I haven’t had the chance to meet you, my name is Rev. Danielle Hemsworth-Smith and I have just this week joined the Pymble family as College Chaplain. I am really excited to be here with you. Thank you for the warm welcome that has greeted me over the past week.
One of the lovely things that I have done in my short time at Pymble is to hear so many stories about the many different things that the community has done over the holiday.
For me it was a busy couple of weeks.
I had the great joy of presiding at the wedding of a wonderful couple who were surrounded by their family and friends. I celebrated a family birthday where we overindulged on cake. I went to the movies and saw Ryan Gosling (or was it his stunt guy…?) thrown about in the back of a skip bin through the streets of Sydney. I attended the new staff welcome program here at Pymble where I was introduced to a small group of fantastic colleagues, including Turi the dog and some of the family at the college farm. I sat with a friend as she moved from this life into death.
And amongst all of this, like many of you, felt the grief of that seems to have settled on our city following the incidents at Bondi Junction and Wakeley. For me the shock of Bondi Junction has been particularly close. Bondi Junction is my home. Westfield is a place that I go every day, and my oldest sons place of work.
As I have journeyed through these past weeks and tried to navigate the complexity of the joy and the sadness it has been a bit confusing.
How can I, in one moment, be so happy, when I know that others around me are so sad?
And how should I act, in another moment, when I must go into the everyday where people are busy and happily going about their own lives, when every part of me wants to sit down and have a good cry?
And where is God in all of that?
The answer, I think, is that God is right there in the middle, and on the margins, and along the edges. God is in all places, at all times, even when it doesn’t feel like it. We just need to remember this to be reassured of this truth.
But how do we do this?
Truth is I am not always very good at it, but over the past few weeks the metaphor of God as the Good Shepherd has been helpful.
The image of God as the Good Shepherd is found numerous times in the scriptures. The most familiar images are of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, but we also find this image in the Hebrew Scriptures. These various images teach us that God, as the Good Shepherd is with us in all things. God is with us in the shelter of the sheepfold. God is with us in the danger of the dark valleys. And in the refreshment of the cool waters and lush valleys.
We also learn that these places are not always as simple as they first seem. In the safety of the sheepfold there are sometimes difficult moments, where we feel threatened and scared. In the dark valleys we will find comfort and care. In the lush valleys and cool waters, we can get lost. Those who we think are strangers suddenly become the closest of friends.
This image has helped me through the past few weeks as I have navigated all the complexity of life’s joys and sadness. God was with me in the love of my family as we celebrated a birthday. God was with me in the darkness of the movie cinema through the creative wonder of the cinematographers. God was with me in the welcome that I have experiences through the community here at Pymble. God was in the tears of grief for my friend. God was there in the twinkling of candlelight, and the solidarity of community as I sat with my son during the vigil on Bondi Beach.
Danielle Hemsworth-Smith
College Chaplain
From the Futures Team
Careers Expo
We are proud to bring you the 2024 Pymble Careers Expo. This key event in the Futures event calendar provides our College and broader community with an opportunity to learn more about future pathways and career prospects.
This year, we are focusing on the theme of Explore the Possibilities, encouraging students and families to shift their perceptions of traditional careers of women and girls and to challenge themselves to make a difference in the gender representation and diversity across sectors such as Construction and Engineering.
A variety of presentations and workshops facilitated by tertiary and industry representatives will allow attendees to learn about essential information for university applications, local and global trends in the workforce and beyond.
Please come join our community in learning about the possibilities as our students explore their future pathways.
Girls Who Build
This program is funded by the NSW Government Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program.
Attention all girls in Years 7-12! Join us for our upcoming ‘Girls Who Build’ career information sessions, where you’ll gain valuable insights into the diverse opportunities available in the construction industry.
During these sessions, you’ll have the chance to hear directly from the Women of ADCO and learn about a wide range of roles, including:
Carpentry apprenticeships and site supervisor roles
Design Managers and Design Coordinators
Project Engineers and Site Engineers
Graduates, Cadets, and Interns
Estimators and Contracts Administrators
There’s a place for you in construction! Don’t miss this opportunity to explore different career paths and discover where your passion lies. If you have never heard of the jobs above, you have even more of a reason to attend.
Scan the QR codes or access the links below to register. Let’s empower girls to build bright futures in the construction industry!
Education USA Webinar series: Studying in the USA – May 2, 6.45pm to 8.15pm
Would you like to study at an American university? Are you aspiring to be recruited as a student-athlete? Do you want to understand the U.S. application process? Would you like to learn more?
Winning Tips from US and UK Admission Applications – 12 May
Learn how to stand out! Hear winning tips for successful international applications to UK and US universities. A wonderful opportunity to speak directly with admissions specialists from leading universities and hear exclusive tips. Register: https://www.jandjeducation.com/webinar
Work Experience at Tesla
Over five days during the April holidays we had the fantastic opportunity to experience a ‘big tech’ working environment at Tesla. We experienced the complexities of marketing as well as servicing vehicles. Our experience included observing technicians, sales advisors, finance, order and operations, customer engagement and engineers at work. We even got to ride in the most popular Tesla models, and it was a magical experience as the car interior felt like we’d been teleported onto a spaceship. We had meetings with those who specialise in engineering, finance and marketing and discovered how large companies function on a day-to-day basis. We were also taught the importance of networking skills and how make ourselves employable via LinkedIn and CV-building sessions.
Further opportunities to participate in Work Experience with TESLA are available this year, students can sign up using the link in the Work Experience Board.
Events Calendar
From the Co-curricular Sports Team
First Nations Round of Sport – Save the date!
The First Nations Round of Sport will be held on Saturday 1 June. Please click here for information regarding timing. Further information will be provided closer to the date.
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Co-curricular Administration
Term 3 Saturday Sport Registrations
Registrations are now OPEN for Term 3 Saturday Sports.
Registrations must be completed prior to the system closing at 12.00pm on Friday 17 May. 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 MyPymble before registrations close.
The Term 3 Saturday Sport options are as follows:
The next round of registrations for Term 2 and winter semester programs opened via the online registration system at 12.00pm on Wednesday 27 March. Registrations will close at 12.00pm (midday) on Monday 15 April (please note the earlier closing date). Please access the online registration system and program information documents via the Co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. A parent/carer log in is required to be able to register and registrations CANNOT be processed via email or phone.
A notice was posted on the MyPymble app prior to registrations opening to all families as a reminder of the opening date and time. Further notices will be sent on the app as reminders prior to registrations closing. See below for a list of exciting new programs that are being offered.
Term 3 Saturday Sports will open for registration on Wednesday 1 May at 12.00pm and close at 12.00pm (midday) on Friday 17 May.
New Programs
Botanical Watercolour – Students learn how to use watercolour and manipulate its qualities through colour mixing and layering of translucent washes.
Build ‘n’ Buddies – Students will delve into the world of various machinery and tools to create three projects including a robot like lamp, with Secondary students mentoring Year 4 and 5 buddies to collaborate together.
Co-curricular Registration Requests
Registrations for Term 2 Saturday Sports closed on Friday 16 February, with many sports already having completed their trials. If you missed the registration period and would like to request registration into a Sport, please click here to complete our registration request form. A reminder that late registrations are NOT guaranteed.
Registrations for Term 1/Semester 1/Yearly programs are now closed and the cut-off date for registration requests has now passed as per our conditions of registration. What this means is that any late requests submitted after Monday 19 February will not be approved and any withdrawals after this date will be subject to the charge as indicated in the conditions. Requests submitted prior to the cut-off date are currently being processed and will adhere to the conditions of being submitted prior to the cut-off.
Monique Zahra
Head of Co-curricular Administration
Athletics and Cross Country
During the holidays, 16 students travelled to Adelaide for the National Track and Field Championships. The athletes demonstrated exceptional determination, resulting in numerous outstanding performances. Our Pymble students proudly brought home ten medals – four gold, two silver and four bronze. Our athletes also had a remarkable 22 top ten finishes.
As students prepare for the Pymble athletics carnival in a few weeks, our cross country team is focused on their last two weeks of training leading up to the igsa Cross Country on Friday 17 May at Frensham. This Thursday 2 May marks the final cross country trial, a crucial event that will determine several spots in our team.
We are excited for the upcoming weeks and encourage athletes to maintain their dedication and commitment to training.
Deb Walsham
Head Coach – Athletics
Diving
During the first week of the school holidays, our competitive divers attended and competed in the National Age Championships in Melbourne.
It was an incredible week of diving by all competitors. Some of the events had 45 divers competing and took over three hours to complete. To maintain concentration and focus for this length of time is a credit to all divers, coaches, and judges.
Our team had the opportunity to train in outstanding facilities, increase their repertoire of skills and competition experience and make new and lasting friendships with competitors from all states.
Congratulations to our Pymble divers and coaching team who contributed to an outstanding week of competition.
The results were as follows:
11 and Under
Zara Ware (Year 5) – 1st National Champion 1m
Emma Ware (Year 4) – 8th 1m
Jasmine Smith (Year 4) – 12th 1m and 7th 13&u synchronised 3m
Congratulations to Pymble coach Charlotte Moore on her outstanding success at the Nationals winning two silver medals and one bronze medal in her respective events.
These championships would not be possible for our expert coaching team of Maddison Pullinger, Ryle McKinstry, and Mrs Lang.
CIS Championships
Good luck to our Pymble divers listed below competing in the CIS Championships on Tuesday 7 May:
Good luck to our Pymble divers listed below competing in the PSSA Championships on Wednesday 15 May:
Ariana Brandner (Year 3), Makayla Cui (Year 2), Emma Ware (Year 4), Audrey Conn (Year 3), Amélie Berg (Year 5), Jasmine Smith (Year 4), Zara Ware (Year 5), Nouvelle Nicholson (Year 5), Emily Long (Year 5)
We look forward to hearing of their successes in the coming weeks.
Chris Lang
Head of Diving
Pymble Elite Sportswomen’s Program
We are delighted to extend an invitation to Pymble student-athletes for a keynote on Performance Nutrition and Positive Body Image for Female Athletes, presented by Melissa Juergens.
This keynote session is scheduled for Tuesday 21 May from 3.45pm to 5.15pm held in the Jobson Lecture Theatre in the Kate Mason Building.
Melissa Juergens, an accredited and practicing dietitian, as well as an accredited sports dietitian, will cover several pivotal topics, including:
Fuelling for Performance: Emphasising the importance of a balanced and adequate nutritional approach to meet the demands of performance.
Debunking Myths: Addressing common misconceptions surrounding the “ideal” female athlete body and the risks associated with under-fuelling.
Practical Nutrition Guidance: Offering practical advice on nutrition before and after training/competitions to support heavy training loads and optimal recovery.
Uniqueness of Nutritional Needs: Reiterating the crucial understanding that athletes should not compare their diets to their peers, as their nutritional requirements are distinct and specifically tailored to their individual sporting needs.
Our goal for this session is to nurture an informative space where both student-athletes and their parents can acquire a deeper comprehension of these subjects, fostering healthy habits and a positive body image among our Pymble athletes. At the conclusion of the presentation, there will be an opportunity for attendees to engage in a Q&A segment.
Melissa Juergens has a commendable background, contributing her expertise as the Head Sports Dietitian for the GWS Giants AFL, Giants Netball, Waratahs Men and Waratahs Women team. With a mission to demystify diet and nutrition, Melissa is dedicated to helping individuals view food beyond mere calories. Her approach encourages a balanced diet that doesn’t impose unnecessary restrictions but instead supports individuals in becoming the healthiest, happiest versions of themselves, enabling them to thrive in our dynamic world.
We encourage all Pymble student-athletes and their parents to attend this invaluable presentation. The keynote is open to any student-athlete in Years 7 to 12 and their parent/carer who represent Pymble in a sporting team.
If you would like to attend the keynote, please complete the RSVP below. Students and parents are also encouraged to complete the following AIS education modules from the Female Performance and Health Initiative prior to the keynote presentation.
Due to limited numbers, parents/carers and students are requested to RSVP if they are wishing to attend the presentation.
Please RSVP by clicking here no later than 3.00pm on Friday 10 May.
Skye Halliday
Co-ordinator – Pymble Elite Sportswomen’s Program
Swimming
Five talented students from Pymble Junior School displayed their skills at the prestigious 2024 NSW PSSA Championships held at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Thursday 11 April.
Crystal Li (Year 4), Puisai Victoria Ko (Year 6), Amélie Berg (Year 5), Olivia Yu (Year 4) and Yuxi Lun (Year 4) had outstanding performances in the pool, showcasing their hard work and dedication.
The Junior Relay team, comprising of Yuxi Lun, Crystal Li, Olivia Yu, and Amélie Berg, clinched the silver medal.
Puisai Victoria Ko achieved 3rd place in the 12 years 50m Breaststroke event and have secured a spot to represent NSW at the School Sport National on the Gold Coast from Wednesday 24 to Saturday 27 July 2024.
Steven Qu
Swimming Coach
2024 Australian Age Championships – Monday 8 to Sunday 14 April 2024
Our Pymble swimmers demonstrated their talent and resilience at the 2024 Australian Age Championships held on the Gold Coast, facing tough competition with grace and determination. With a total of 19 swimmers participating, each athlete exhibited solid skills and commitment throughout the event. Despite the challenges they encountered, our swimmers remained focused and determined, demonstrating Pymble pride and sportsmanship. It was truly inspiring to witness their hard work and perseverance in action, setting a high standard for future competitions.
Congratulations to all our Pymble swimmers listed below:
Lily Barlow (Year 11), Hannah Carmichael (Year 11), Megan Chia (Year 8), Jennifer Chong (Year 11), Annalise Chow (Year 10), Arabella Cox (Year 12), Jessica Croll (Year 11), Jessica Cullen (Year 11), Piper Gregory-Reid (Year 12), Imogen Jones (Year 8), Jaya Lilienthal (Year 11), Elizabeth Lockhart (Year 11), Jessica Munk (Alumni), Emma Ng (Year 8), Ruby Pickthall (Year 10), Jessica Persson (Year 8), Keira Smith (Year 11), Sarah Tian (Year 10), and Indianna Vale (Year 9).
Highlights from the event were:
Megan Chia (Year 8) – achieved notable results, including 5th place in 100m Butterfly, 5th place in 50m Butterfly, 9th place in 200m Freestyle, and 6th place in 100m Freestyle.
Emma Ng (Year 8) – secured an impressive 3rd place in 200m Butterfly.
Jessica Persson (Year 8) – achieved 5th place in 200m Backstroke.
Sarah Tian (Year 10) – secured 6th place in both 100m Backstroke and 200m Backstroke, and successfully qualified for the Olympic Trials in both events.
Indianna Vale (Year 9) – achieved 9th place in 200m Freestyle.
Jessica Munk (Alumni) – achieved 6th place in 100m Backstroke and 10th place in 200m Backstroke.
Top 3 Highest Point Scorers:
Megan Chia (Year 8) – 91 points.
Jessica Munk (Alumni) – 51 points.
Sarah Tian (Year 10) – 44 points.
Relay Achievements:
The team’s relay performances were commendable, with the Girls 15 to 16 years 4×50 metre Freestyle relay securing 8th place. The relay team comprised of Sarah Tian (Year 10), Keira Smith (Year 11), Jessica Cullen (Year 11), and Jaya Lilienthal (Year 11).
In conclusion, the 2024 Australian Age Championship marks a successful wrap-up of our summer season. Congratulations to all our Pymble swimmers for their outstanding performances and achievements. We are immensely proud of their dedication and hard work.
As we reflect on this event, we look forward to upcoming competitions, especially CIS in a few weeks’ time.
Let’s continue to make Pymble proud!
Rafael Rodrigues
Swimming Coach
From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team
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Dance
Dance Week at Pymble Celebrating International Dance Day
This week our Dance Leaders and Staff have prepared an exciting program of events to celebrate International Dance Day.
The USA Dance Tour was an extraordinary experiential learning experience for 25 Pymble Dancers in Years 9 to 12. The tour group travelled from New York City to Los Angeles participating in dance workshops at leading dance institutions, sightseeing and attending Broadway productions. The skills the students learnt went far beyond their dancing and the memories will be cherished forever. We look forward to sharing our Tour Recap Video with the community in the coming weeks.
A big thank you to the tour staff for giving up their time to make this trip possible: Miss Sarah McGeoch, Mrs Natasha Stanfield and Ms Skye Halliday.
Katrina Cluff
Head of Dance
Music
Congratulations
Imogen Martin – Grade 3 Saxophone – High Distinction A+
Yuna Shin – Musicianship Grade 3 – High Distinction
For singers
The Conservatorium of Music hosts an “Opera and Musical Theatre Lab” and it is open to all interested students. Pymble has had some students go and perform part of either an opera or a musical, after spending time with renowned singers and actors. Please go to the open academy to find out more.
Dates for your Diary – Week 1 to 3
Week 1
All ensembles begin rehearsals.
Wednesday 1 May – Scholars’ performance at Board Meeting
Week 2
Monday 6 May – Music Ensembles Breakfast: 7:30am Music Gallery. Purchase tickets here.
Wednesday 7 May – Strike A Chord (chamber trio no 1) from 3.30pm
Thursday 8 May – Strike A Chord (chamber trio no 2) from 3.30pm
Friday 10 May – Year 8 Elective Music Rehearsal 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Saturday 11 May – SWE and Chorale/Choir TBC
Week 3
Monday 13 May – Year 8 Elective Music Rehearsal 3.30pm to 6.00pm
Tuesday 14 May – Year 8 Elective Music Rehearsal 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Thursday 16 May – Year 8 Elective Music PERFORMANCE Matinee: 1.30pm, Evening 6.30pm
Thursday 16 May – KPMG Alumni Networking Event: College Quartet
Friday 17 May – Australia Versus China Waterpolo – selected choristers TBC
Please also keep Tuesday 25 June free for “A night at the Oscars” evening which will be held from 6.30pm in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts. All music ensembles from Years 7 to 12 will perform.
Sarah Turner
Head of Co-curricular Music
Careers Expo 2024
Students in Years 10 to 12 and their parents are warmly invited to the 2024 Careers Expo in the Kate Mason Building on Friday 3 May from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
The evening will offer girls the opportunity to meet with representatives from various companies and organisations, ask questions and learn about a range of vocational opportunities. University and industry stalls will be featured across the event site with Pymble alumni also in attendance to share their experiences about studying and working in specific industries.
Attending the Careers Expo will arm our girls with valuable information they can use to explore different career paths and university options as well as informing them of important skills required by university entrance schemes and future employers.
Please find attached the invitation with more details about the evening.
We look forward to seeing you there!
You’re invited: ySafe Parent Webinar
Parents and carers of daughters in Years 7 to 12 are invited to attend the ySafe Parent Webinar on Thursday 30 May at 6.30pm.
Protecting children in their digital worlds is an ever-evolving task for Australian families. Now more than ever parents are looking for guidance in how to manage screen time and navigate the world of games and social media.
We are therefore pleased to help our parent community by offering a crucial and engaging education session with ySafe, Australia’s leading provider of online safety education. This practical, strategy-rich session will cover the most important points that all families need to know about online safety, covering key information about social media and gaming, screen time recommendations and step-by-step instructions on how to set up a cyber safe home for children of all ages.
If you’ve ever struggled with getting your children off their games and into bed, worried about the content of the games that they are playing or felt concerned that your child was spending too much time in the digital world, this workshop is for you!
Click here to access the online webinar on Thursday 30 May.
Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance
We warmly invite Year 6 students and their parents to the Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance on Saturday 25 May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm at the Killara Golf Club. This event is one of the most anticipated annual traditions in the Junior School, and is the final dance girls will have with their parents before moving on to the Secondary School.
The theme for this year’s dance is Springtime in Paris, which will accentuate the beautiful aesthetics of the golf club surrounds. Please note, girls will need to be suitably dressed at this event as golf club etiquette dictates, and should refrain from wearing denim or ripped pants.
Tickets include substantial canapés, soft drinks, dessert bar, DJ and entertainment. Additional beverages can be purchased at the bar.
We’re looking forward to celebrating with you and your daughter on this special night!
Sign up to the Lindfield Fun Run
Run, jog, walk, dawdle, push a stroller or volunteer and join us at the Lindfield Fun Run on Sunday 19 May – this fantastic community fun run has something for everyone. For the serious runners, the 10km run is sure to challenge, while both the 2km and 5km routes will give you a real sense of accomplishment. Best of all, join in for a good cause.
All proceeds raised will be donated to charity – to KYDS Youth Development Service and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter, and the balance to Rotary’s other local charities. Register to run/walk via QR Code on the flyer or click here.
In addition, to running/walking Pymble is keen to provide support with parents and student volunteers to help the morning go smoothy, please consider volunteering with your family. You can register as a volunteer by clicking here.
