One of the most significant decisions a parent can make is where to send your child to school. Thank you for choosing us for this journey; this is a responsibility we don’t take lightly. Whether you have been with us for three days or three years, or whether you’re in your 13th and final year at the College, each person is a valued member of our Pymble family. We see you; we hear you; and we’re glad you’ve chosen to be part of our wonderfully diverse and inclusive community in 2024. Please know you belong at Pymble, just as you are. We are going to have a great year together.
So, on that note, a very warm welcome to our new students, parents and carers, as well as all the familiar faces returning to campus for the year. A few fun facts: this year we are delighted to be joined by 177 new students in the Junior School: 73 in Kindy; eight in Year 1; seven in Year 2; 27 in Year 3; eight in Year 4; 39 in Year 5; and 15 in Year 6. Another interesting fun fact: of our 806 girls in the Junior School, 602 were born in Australia.
In the Secondary School, we welcome 187 incoming students, 29 of which are also new members of our beautiful Boarding family. In numbers, this breaks down as 124 in Year 7; 12 in Year 8; 18 in Year 9; 22 in Year 10; and 11 in Year 11.
2024 is the year of Pymble Pulse
You may have seen our Pymble Pulse flags all around campus and, hopefully, your daughters have told you a bit about the launch of Pymble Pulse at our Combined Assembly for Years 1 to 12 on Tuesday, our first day together for all of K-12. (Kindy families, our fabulous Junior School will brief your delightful little learners about Pymble Pulse in a smaller context that will be much more comfortable and memorable for them. They are super-excited about receiving their Pymble Pulse bandanas – see below – just like all the “big girls”!)
So, what does Pymble Pulse mean?
Pymble Pulse is our overall College theme for the year, and the umbrella for a range of initiatives led by staff and/or students to enhance our wellbeing and learning in 2024.
It is based on the notion that every action you take stimulates a reaction in the people around you, much like the way every beat of your heart stimulates blood to pulse through your body. When you do the things that bring you energy and joy, others in your orbit feel that energy and joy too, and vice versa. Actively supporting your friends and peers in doing what they love to do makes everyone feel connected as a community and helps us to carry each other through. As our new Chaplain Rev Cass so beautifully phrased, “When you thrive, I thrive and when I thrive, you thrive”.
Pymble Pulse represents the heartbeat of the College and acknowledges the impact we have on each other as a community. It’s about helping each other to achieve our goals and to thrive.
The first Pymble Pulse initiative for 2024 comes from our Year 12 Community Prefect, Charlotte Wykes and Sports Prefect, Holly Craig, who spoke to students about their aim to increase encouragement and acknowledgement of Pymble girls competing in co-curricular sports and activities throughout the year. This support can range from enlisting groups of friends to attend sporting events as supporters (wearing their Pymble Pulse bandanas and temporary tattoos we have created specifically for this purpose), to celebrating students participating in Performing Arts festivals, exhibitions and performances.
“Win, lose or draw, Pymble girls have each other’s backs at every different event across our school. The hard work that everyone puts into co-curricular at Pymble deserves to be appreciated and noted,” Charlotte and Holly said.
What a spirited way to start the year. Thank you to our fabulous Year 12 students for learning our powerful new Pymble Pulse war cry to demonstrate to the school. Thank you to Charlotte, Holly and our Year 12 students, along with Dance Captain, Emily Rothery, and the Secondary School dancers who volunteered to show up early on Tuesday to greet our girls at all the main entry points with cheering and dancing.
Finally, thank you to all the students who showed up this week – nerves and all – as their best selves, ready to engage fully in this brand-new year of opportunities at Pymble. I’ll leave you with a clip of this wonderful parable that I shared with the girls to articulate my wish for them all: that Pymble Pulse will encourage and support our students in living their life with heart and with purpose.
Here’s to a wonderful year in which our hearts beat as one and every voice at Pymble is of equal value; from the biggest to the smallest, we all matter.
From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Welcome to 2024 and Xīnnián kuàilè to all our families who celebrate Lunar New Year.
The girls arrived for the start of the term and year with huge smiles, positive spirits and excitement for their learning adventures. A particularly warm welcome to all our new families. We are so glad you have joined our Junior School community of kindness and I look forward to getting to know you all more over the coming weeks.
Please know that we are keen to connect with you all, so we grow as a community this year and our girls grow and learn in a strong, supportive sisterhood.
‘When you are interested, you are curious, and when you are curious, you discover things – amazing things, about yourself and about the world.’ – Kobi Yamada
This year, as a Junior School I am asking the girls to ‘notice’ more. Inspired by my reading of the wonderful picture book Noticing by Kobi Yamada, I am challenging the girls to be curious in their learning, to wonder and question.
Our Junior School continues to have a key focus on the power of kindness as I believe this is a critical strength in the world today. Sometimes acts or words of kindness are mistakenly viewed as weakness. I don’t agree. I believe kindness is strength. If we can empower our girls to walk through life with kindness, they will change the world. This kindness needs to start within themselves.
As we focus on Kindness to Self in Term 1, we want each girl to notice her passions and to know or discover what makes her the extraordinary young person we know her to be.
The Power of Kindness – Kindness to Self
We want each of our girls to be kind to themselves, and to:
like herself; her mind and her body, and know she is loved for who she is
be prepared to challenge her thinking and embrace learning that is tricky, knowing that she can achieve great learning if she tries
approach problems and mistakes she makes in her learning with a resilient mindset and trusting her capabilities.
face the unknown with creativity and courage, knowing she has the inner strength to explore new opportunities
have enough sleep each night so she can embrace her learning opportunities with enthusiasm and a mind ready to learn.
notice the ways she can be her healthiest self through a balance of movement and rest; energy and calm
Together with the girls, we will explore the many ways we can be kind to ourselves, and we hope the girls celebrate themselves for the extraordinary energy and heart they bring to our school.
Throughout the term I will talk to the girls about our four ‘Kindness to Self’ facts:
I will speak to myself with a kind voice (talking to myself as I would speak to a best friend)
I will be nervous sometimes, and that’s ok
I will have a go
I will make mistakes, and that’s ok
Please help us to encourage your daughters with these challenges.
I also encourage each of you to be as brave as your daughters and reach out to someone you don’t know yet and have a chat with them…it could be the start of a wonderful new friendship!
A huge shout out to all our Kindergarten parents who modelled bravery on Tuesday as they sent their daughters off on their first day of school and then chatted with new friends they were making for themselves over a cup of coffee.
We are very proud of Chloe Ma and Charlotte Xue who attended a special ceremony in Canberra in late December as winners of the Pens Against Poverty writing competition last year. Congratulations girls! Please keep writing and advocating for change in our world.
A message from Mr Stephen Robinson – Acting Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations
Name badges: All students in the Junior School are expected to wear a name badge as part of their uniform. At the beginning of the year, the College provides all students with two name badges free of cost. In the event that these become damaged or lost, students will be provided with a replacement, with the cost of $10.50 charged to student accounts.
Padlocks: All students in Years 5 and new students in Year 6 are provided a padlock for their lockers. This device remains with students as they travel through the Junior School and onto secondary years. The initial padlock is provided by the College, but replacements will incur a fee of $33.30, which will be charged to student accounts.
Critical Medical Information: As part of the College’s commitment to keep all students safe, it is vital that we have all requisite information and medication relating to allergies and medical conditions. It is imperative that information shared with the school is complete and up to date for our staff and nurse’s to ensure optimal care if provided for your daughter when they are on campus. If your daughter suffers from anaphylaxis or asthma, please register the action plan with the College and provide all the necessary medication. Further information can be obtained from our Healthcare team or from Junior School administration.
A message from Mrs Shaira Musico – Junior School Service Coordinator
As part of our Junior School focus on service, we will be supporting a number of different initiatives this year.
Kindergarten to Year 2 will continue to support the HARK Refugee Clinic at the Children’s Hospital Westmead this year. We are seeking donations of new stationery items to assist students at school. This could include lead or coloured pencils, pencil cases, pens, textas, glue sticks, scissors and other small stationery items. These items can be brought to school by your daughter or dropped at the Junior School office.
Years 3 and 4 will be ‘Cooking to Care’ an initiative started by Jasmine Smith in Year 4. Further information about this initiative will be coming shortly.
Years 5 and 6 will be supporting Pass it on Clothing through the donation of clothing to help those in need. Further information about this initiative will be coming shortly.
We thank you so much for your support and look forward to making a difference together.
Nut Allergies
Please ensure that your daughter’s food does not contain any nuts as some of our students have severe allergies to food containing nuts and nut products. This includes spreads such as peanut butter and Nutella.
Birthday Treats
If you would like to send in birthday treats for your daughter and her class please limit this to either small (mini) cupcakes or iceblocks (Zooper Doopers) only. Please only supply for your daughter’s class (not the whole grade). If your daughter has allergies please make arrangements directly with your class teacher. We ask that you do not send in presents for the girls to school as these distract the girls from their learning – presents are lovely for parties at home!
Car Line
Thank you for your patience with car line over these first 2 weeks until co-curricular activities begin. For parents of girls in Kindergarten to Year 2, please do not arrive before 2.30pm in the afternoon. Girls are escorted to car line after the conclusion of the school day at 2.45pm. We do our best to ensure drop off and pick up is a smooth process but we need your help!
Please remain in your car displaying your daughter’s name as you approach the collection area. Parents are asked not to exit their vehicles as staff will assist the girls in getting into their cars. Please note that this is a single lane and drivers must wait for the car in front to depart rather than exiting the car line lane. Parents may be asked to go around car line again if their daughter is delayed. Please follow teacher instructions in carline so we keep all our girls and staff safe.
If you are delayed in collecting your daughter, she will be taken to Out of School Hours Care until your arrival so we can keep her safe and she can play with friends.
Departure: Daily Routines
Parents of girls in Kindergarten to Year 2 will need to complete the travel for by clicking here if you have not already done so.
Girls in Year 3 to 6 are responsible to remember where they need to go after school each day, please use your daughter’s diary to assist her to remember where to go each afternoon.
Any changes to these routines must be sent in writing to the Junior School office juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au . Please note that it is important that any changes to travel arrangements are received prior to 2.00pm.
Girls with Older Sisters
Girls wait at the Junior School Library until their sister collects them by 3.30pm or at OSHC if they have a Senior School sister.
Girls Traveling on College Buses
Girls wait in the K-2 School Office and are supervised until 3.00pm when they are walked to Sunshine Square to join the Year 3 to 6 girls. All Junior School girls are then walked to James Kelso Field bus area by a teacher.
A reminder that all students travelling on the Pymble bus service must have a current registration. Please link your daughter for the bus.
Lost Property
Please check that all your daughter’s items are named including socks, hats, lunch boxes and drink bottles. All unnamed items are stored in the K-2 Upper Performing Arts Room.
Term 1 2024 Key Dates(Weeks 1, 2 & 3)
Friday 2 February – Individual Photo Day Year 3 to 6
Saturday 3 February – IPSHA Saturday Sport trials
Monday 5 February – Year 6 Leaders’ Induction, 8.45am to 9.45am in the Chapel
Tuesday 6 February – Foundation Day Assembly
Saturday 11 February – IPSHA Saturday Sport starts
Monday 12 February – Kindergarten to Year 2 Individual Photos and Year 3 to 6 Catch Up Day, 8.30am to 12.30pm
Thursday 15 February – Kindergarten to Year 6 Parent Information Evening
Thursday 15 February – Junior School Parent Group drinks
Friday 16 February – Year 3 to 6 Swimming Carnival
Saturday 17 February – IPSHA Saturday Sport
Saturday 17 February – Year 4 to 6 Band Camp
Saturday 17 February – Year 3 String Intensive
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 year. We hope you all enjoyed the summer break and are recharged and ready for another exciting school year.
Thank you to our Junior School Administration team who have provided the 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 year 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
Click here to join the Kindergarten WhatsApp group.
Year 1
Parent Year Coordinators: Emma Kerle & Dee Jolapara
Let’s celebrate together at ELS Hall Park, North Ryde. Please see the flyer for details.
Save the Date: Year 1 Easter Egg Hunt – Sunday 24 March
Hop on over for our Year 1 Easter Egg Hunt at Bicentennial Park West Pymble. Please see the flyer for details and RSVP to your Year Coordinators.
We hope everyone has a fantastic first week back to school, and we look forward to updating you on plans for the year ahead at our first JSPG Meeting on Wednesday 28 February from 8.15am to 9.15am in the 3-6 Junior School Library. All Junior School parents and carers are welcome to attend.
A very warm welcome to our new and continuing Middle School families for 2024. It was so lovely to meet many of you at the Year 7 Welcome Chapel Service on Monday. We are also delighted that 11 new families have joined our Year 8 cohort. I look forward to getting to know you and your daughters across the year.
This week’s two-day Year 7 Transition Program focused on building connections and assisting the girls to feel more familiar within their new environment. I am happy to report that they are settling in well and embracing the opportunities and challenges of stepping up to high school. A reminder that on Friday all of Year 7 will be sharing a barbecue lunch, followed by house games and a fun swimming session in our Aquatic Centre. There will be no academic classes that afternoon. Please ensure the girls have their kit with them. This will be an opportunity to celebrate together the end of a big and successful week.
Congratulations to Jingyuan Liu, Athena Wu and Selina Jiang of Year 7 who recently competed in the Asian Junior Championships Winter Debates. 193 students from China, South Korea, India, Singapore and Australia, attended this event. Jing was awarded best speaker for Australia and Oceania, Athena was awarded second best speaker and Selina was awarded third best speaker. We are so proud of the girls!
Congratulations also to Chloé Shires of Year 7 who over the break won the Year 6 Poetry Category in the 2023 Pens Against Poverty Competition.
A group of talented Year 8 students competed at the Worldwide Speed Cubers Competition held at Knox Grammar, late last year. It was the first team from Pymble to compete and they are to be congratulated on their skill and initiative. Bella Legge-Hughes (Year 8)has shared her reflection:
During the holidays a group of us (Cabrini Lee, Bella Legge-Hughes, Katy Jung, Nicole Fan) competed in a Worldwide Speed Cubers Competition at Knox Grammar. Following is a photo of us getting ready for the first rounds.
We all had a great day, and everyone was excited to smash their previous world rankings.
We all competed in the 3×3, 2×2, One Handed 3×3 and Pyraminx.
Our results were really good – we now collectively have an average world ranking of approximately 110,000 out of 220,000 Speed Cubers worldwide. The rankings are literally milliseconds apart, so we are super happy with our results.
We are all keen to get faster next year with more algorithms to learn.
I’m hoping to grow the team with the next competition coming up in May which will be 3×3, one-handed 3×3 and Skewb.
Last year I started the Pymble Rubik’s Cube Club. I wanted to find other people who were interested in cubing and other puzzles. It has grown into a really fun place to come together, solve puzzles and make new friends. A group of us decided to form a Pymble team to compete in upcoming competitions. There are several competitions during the year that we can join. If any students in Year 7 or 8 are interested they are most welcome to come to Rubik’s Cube Club which will be held every Monday during lunch in C08. We will supply 3×3 cubes. Come along and learn how to solve the 3×3 Rubik’s cube, make new friends and have loads of fun.
Written by Bella Legge-Hughes
From the Middle School Parent Group
Year 7
To stay up to date with all things Year 7, please click here to join the Year 7 WhatsApp parent group, and click here to join the Year 7 Facebook parent group.
Year 8
Welcome back to all families! We hope that you all had a wonderful and restful holiday break. Also, a huge welcome to the new Year 8 families! We hope your daughters have had a wonderful start at Pymble!
Cindy Tian and I are the Year 8 representatives for the Senior School Parent Group (SSPG) which is a subgroup of the Pymble Parents Association (PPA). The main objective of the parent group is to support the various activities within the school and to organise events with the aim to bring the parent community together.
There are several events coming up in Term 1. We strongly encourage as many parents to attend these events as possible. The first event to ‘kick off’ the year is the PPA Icebreaker which will be held on Friday 1st March. This is a fabulous evening with drinks and nibbles served out on the Gloucester Lawn. Later in the term, we will organise a Year 8 coffee morning at a local cafe.
Social Media for Year 8 Parents
We run several parent chat groups for the Year 8 group. These chat groups are independent of the school and are restricted access groups. Being a member of these groups provides opportunities to ask questions and to connect with other parents. Please note that joining these groups is entirely optional.
WhatsApp
WhatsApp is primarily used by our year group. It is a community WhatsApp group containing two private groups.
PLC Year 8 Announcements and Important Messages – This group is only used communicate important messages, announcements and reminders. Only the administrators can post messages in this group.
Yr 8 Parents Class of 2028. This general chat used by parents to ask questions.
Please join these groups by clicking here or please ask Cindy or I to add you to the group;
WeChat
There is also a Year 8 WeChat group and the name of this group is PLC Year 8 2024. Please join this group by contacting Cindy and she will add you to this group.
Facebook
PymbleLC Parents Class of 2028 is the FB group for our year. Selected messages from WhatsApp will be posted here.
PymbleLC MSPG 2024. Messages about various activities will be posted here.
Parents are also encouraged to join PymbleLC PPA and PymbleLC SSPG Facebook groups.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with either Cindy or myself if you have any questions or need help with anything.
A message from Mrs Victoria Harrison, Acting Head of Upper School
A very warm welcome to 2024 and the exciting start of a new school year! It has been lovely to meet the new girls to the Upper School and hope that they have enjoyed their first week as part of our Pymble family. We are sure that they will all make wonderful contributions to the life of the College and look forward to getting to know them well. We will have further opportunities to meet parents at the Upper School Information evening in a few weeks and the Pymble Icebreaker evening in early March.
2024 has brought change to the Upper School, this year the Upper School has a new home in Lower IH building while we await the renovation of an exciting new space for our Year 9 and 10 girls. We know that a dedicated Upper School space is going to be extremely popular when it is ready later this year.
We bid a fond farewell to Mr Tom Riley, from his role as Head of Upper School. Mr. Riley will be moving on to new challenges at Vision Valley as Head of Campus where he will continue to contribute to the growth of this great facility. We wish Tom continued success in this role and look forward to working closely with him through the Year 9 Residential program.
Mr. Riley’s leadership, care, and commitment to our students and colleagues has been exemplary. His positive influence has shaped the Upper School environment, fostering a culture of support and achievement.
I am looking forward to working in the Head of Upper School role following Mr Riley’s move and excited to collaborate with the dedicated Upper School team to provide strong support for your daughters. Working alongside Ms Mariel Lombard, Acting Deputy of Upper School, and our Heads of Year 10, Ms Myvanwy Carr, and Mrs Felicity Gray, as well as Head of Year 9, Mrs Stephanie Attley, and Mr Peter Fathers, we are committed to ensuring a positive and enriching academic experience for all students.
It is always a big adjustment for the girls (and families) as we settle back into the school routine. As we begin the year, we hope that the girls are feeling refreshed after the break and have reflected on what they would like to achieve this year. I have been encouraging our girls and staff to be kind to themselves and ensure that they establish effective and healthy routines that will serve us well throughout the year.
A key focus across the college this year is to improve the sleep and movement habits of our community. We will be building more opportunities for movement into the school day and educating the girls on how healthy sleep habits are a key driver in positive wellbeing and to being a great learner. To kickstart this initiative, the upcoming swimming carnivals provide a fantastic opportunity for movement, we encourage all Upper School students to have a go. In the spirit of diversity and positivity, two of our trademark behaviours, let us ensure we get out there, support our peers, and contribute to house points!
On Thursday, our Year 10s enjoyed a talk from Paul Dillon from Drugs and Alcohol Research and Training Australia. As always Paul provided an engaging experience in explaining how our girls can look out for each other at parties, how to navigate safer forms of risk-taking behaviour, and highlighted the potential dangers of vaping. Parents are encouraged to attend the parent version of this presentation at 6.00pm Thursday 1 February in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts. There is also a great range of helpful resources on the DARTA website.
2024 Student Exchange Applications – Year 10
Applications for the 2024 Student Exchange (Cultural and Language) program will close on Friday 2 February 2024.
Interviews will take place Week 2/3 of Term 1 (students will be notified) and places will be advised Week 3/4.
Sunday 4 February – Year 9 Residential Program Term 1 commences at Vision Valley
Saturday 10 February – Saturday sport begins
Wednesday 14 February – Year 7 to 9 Swimming Carnival
Thursday 15 February – Year 10 to 12 Swimming Carnival
Monday 19 February – Upper School Parent Information Evening (Begins at 6.00pm)
Thursday 22 February – Year 10 Careers Strengths Day
Thursday 22 February – Year 9 Residential Program Term 1 Parent Workshop
Wednesday 6 March – Year 9 Residential Program Term 2 Parent and Student Information Evening
Tuesday 12 March – Urban Challenge for Year 10
Thursday 11 April – Year 10 Learning Discussions – Evening
Friday 12 April – Year 10 Learning Discussions – All Day (No classes)
Friday 12 April – Last Day of Term (For Year 9)
Victoria Harrison
Acting Head of Upper School
From the Senior School
From the Head of Senior School
Welcome back to Pymble for 2024 and a special welcome to all our new families this year. The year has started with a bang, literally, with the exciting launch of Pymble Pulse, lead by our awesome Year 12 students. Thanks to Charlotte and Holly for leading the assembly yesterday – and to all the Year 12 students who generated such excitement and pride in their school. We are looking forward to a great year of Pymble spirit, recognising those students who give their all to their chosen activities and interests – be they academic, sporting, performing arts, creative arts, technology or service. The staff have been back at school for a while and it is such a fantastic day when the students return – they bring with them a warm buzz of friendship and energy.
Year 12 started back a day early to participate in their annual retreat at Vision Valley. Despite the humidity and heat, the students enthusiastically enjoyed a vast range of activities from car maintenance to high ropes, archery and time in the pool. It was a great day to reconnect, and touch base before the work routines begin in.
Year 11 are settling into the building and becoming familiar with Senior School routines. The students are particularly reminded about the importance of signing in during their Prep lessons during the day. Please encourage your daughter to seek clarification if she has any questions.
I would also like to take this opportunity to respectfully remind parents regarding the process for applying for leave during the school day. If your daughter needs to leave the campus for an appointment or other commitment, could you please email the Senior School Office at seniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au before 8.00am that day. Please understand that due to our duty of care, we cannot allow students to leave the campus without this notice.
It has been a very humid and warm return to school. Please remind your daughter about the importance of drinking lots of water and getting plenty of sleep. Coming back to school can be quite exhausting, both physically and intellectually, and extra challenges such as the weather, can compound this.
Term 1 Key Dates
Friday 2 February – School photographs
Tuesday 6 February – Foundation Day
Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 February – Year 11 Retreat at Collaroy
Tuesday 13 February – Year 11 Parent Information Night
Thursday 15 February – Year 10 to 12 Swimming Carnival
Tuesday 27 February – Year 12 Learning Discussions
Friday 1 March – Pymble Icebreaker
Friday 15 March – Year 12 Social at Dalton House
Friday 22 March – Year 11 Formal at Le Montage
Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 March – Year 11 Assessment block
Friday 29 March – Good Friday Public Holiday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday Public Holiday
Thursday 4 April – Year 11 University Immersion Day
Thursday 4 April – Year 12 Food for Thought
Monday 8 April – Careers Expo
Friday 12 April – Term 1 ends
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School
From the Boarding School
Welcome back!
It has been a great week settling in girls, meeting with families and generally catching up on the last few months. We were delighted to welcome our 29 new Boarders and their families to Pymble on Sunday, followed by our returning girls on Monday. There was much to talk about with the Avonmoore ready for occupancy and the move to our new House structure. We are beyond excited about the year to come.
Boarders’ Parent Group
On Monday afternoon our Boarders’ Parent Group met and it was great to see a good turnout of parents and to hear the College updates from Dr Hadwen and our Deputy Principal, Lamia Rockwell. I was excited to share news of my visit to the United States of American and Canada and look forward to implementing my learnings. The minutes will be available in the coming week. Jackie Garment also shared news of our planned country visits. Please click here to view our planned itinerary and please let us know if you have any suggestions for catch ups.
Community Weekend
We are all looking forward to the coming Community Weekend, which sees us exploring Sydney sites and transport networks on Saturday and heading out to Raging Waters on Sunday. I look forward to sharing happy snaps next week.
On the following weekends there will be multiple and varied opportunities for the girls to make the most of our Sydney location and through our Love It program. Please click here to view our Love It program.
Our Sporting Superstars
Our Boarders have had a busy holiday and it is great to see them continue to shine in an array of sports.
Congratulations to Alethea (Lethy) Leahy who represented NSW Regional Select in the Kuala Lumpur Cup at the end of 2023. There were extremely tough playing conditions but Lethy had a strong tournament with the team going through undefeated and winning the tournament.
Lethy and her sister Allayna (Ally) both represented NSW Country at Futsal Nationals in Queensland with Lethy captaining the side. The girls had solid wins against Queensland and Western Australia narrowly missing out on the semis.
Further congratulations to Ally who trialled for Greater Western Sydney and has been selected for into the 16s squad for 2024.
I am delighted to share that Abigail Ballhausen (Year 12 2023) was awarded the Young Sportswomen of Year for Narromine and Hannah Weber (Year 11 2024) was the Walgett recipient. It’s so good to see our Boarders being recognised in their local community.
Here’s to a great year!
Thank you for letting us have a little loan of your girls during term time and for sending them back so well prepared and brimming with enthusiasm. Every good wish for the year to come, it’s going to be a good one!
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
From the Chaplains
New Beginnings
As I enter this new year, 2024, I have been thinking a lot about the word ‘unprecedented’ and found wonder in the fact that there has never been a year such as the one we have entered. This year is fresh and new. A clean slate. There are new songs about to be written, new works of art about to be painted, new records in speed and strength about to be broken; the year of 2024 is indeed ‘unprecedented.’
On 1 January 2024 I sat in my local coffee shop, opening a fresh new journal page, when a favourite quote came to mind: “Don’t get stuck on one version of you. There are so many beautiful versions of you still to come.” These words ring true for each of us, there are so many more versions of us to be drawn out in experiences, travels, struggles and joys in 2024.
For me in particular, the year of 2024 marks a new season in my life as I join the Pymble family, along with Reverend Mark Sweeney, as the new chaplains. I am a Sydney girl through and through. For the past 25 years I have served in local churches as a pastor, ordained by the Baptist Church. I particularly enjoy being in environments of learning and growth, having also spent the best part of my adult life either studying (BA Ancient History + Master of Divinity +PhD) or teaching in universities. So it is with great excitement that I join the ever-expanding environment that is Pymble Ladies’ College.
Reverend Mark and I have been overjoyed by the warm arms of welcome we have received from staff, parents and students. We are extremely proud to be a part of the Pymble story and look forward to seeing our students flourish. I had the joy of speaking to many of our new students this week. We spoke about new beginnings and change. I invited our girls to reflect on one of my favourite passages from the Old Testament:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-5, 9-11.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
…….
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
This passage describes two certainties in life change: change is inevitable for all, yet God is constant. God is God in all seasons. In Malachi 3:6 we read “I am the Lord, I change not!” Like the changes of seasons that mark our weather systems, each of us experiences seasons of change. From changing hairstyles, fashion, friendship to careers, our lives are ever changing. Indeed, doctors tell us that 330 billion cells in the human body change each day!
Having grown up next to the bush I have seen how the seasons transform our environment. I had an old gumtree in my backyard that l loved to climb as a child and was heartbroken when it died and had to be cut down. As the chainsaw cut through the tree’s core, I recall being mesmerised by the pattern of the tree’s lines, a series of concentric circles marking each year the tree’s life. In the years of rainfall and sunny skies the tree’s rings were thick and lush, in the years of dry conditions or sickness, its lines are thinner. These rings told the tree’s story. Each season witnessed in this way, like a unique fingerprint.
In many ways we are like those trees, it is no accident that we are planted here, in this school, and on this planet. Each of us is planted here for a purpose. Each of us is unique- no tree’s story is the same – each have its own characteristics, its own story.
Like trees, much of our story is result of their environment, the atmosphere that we absorb from around us.Pymble is our eco system- the environment in which we have been planted to thrive and flourish. There will be seasons of change, but to remember that you are surrounded by teachers, parents and friends who champion your growth! I challenged the students to absorb strength, purpose and joy from their friends. To posture themselves around those who will see you thrive. I called upon them to commit to each other’s growth. Because when I thrive, you thrive with me. And when you thrive, I thrive with you!
May you prosper and flourish this year. May he make you beautiful in this season.
ReverendCass Blake
College Chaplain
From the Community Engagement Team
Happy New Year and welcome to what promises to be a wonderful year at Pymble. I hope you all had a restful and festive summer break.
Communication with our families is of the utmost importance to us, and we will continue to ensure that you have all the information you need to make the year ahead a great one for you and your daughter. If you ever have any questions about communications at Pymble, please reach out to the Community Engagement Team at 02 9855 communityengagement@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Where to find Pymble communications
MyPymble is the College’s central app designed to streamline communications and information for families within a digital record of your daughter’s Pymble journey. It is important you download this app and check it regularly. Please see below for information regarding how to access it.
The MyPymble app
You can access this critical communication tool in two ways:
1. From the Pymble website homepage: click 🔒 icon on top right of page or click here.
2. Download the app from Google Play or the Apple app store.
To log in you will need to use your unique carer number and password.
Your username will be your unique carer number followed by @pymblelc.nsw.edu.au (e.g. 123@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au).
If you are unable to log in, please reset your password using this link or, alternatively, contact the IT Help Desk on +61 2 9855 7771 for assistance.
To learn more about how to use MyPymble please click here.
MyPymble allows you to:
· View current and past academic reports.
· Read communications from the College.
· Give approval for attendance at excursions or events.
· Officially notify the College when your daughter is absent from school.
· View your fee invoice.
· Access the College and your daughter’s calendar.
· Read the College weekly newsletter (The College Compass).
· Secondary School families can also view your daughter’s upcoming assessment tasks.
The College Compass
The College Compass, which you are reading now, is our weekly newsletter posted to parents via the MyPymble app every Thursday evening during term time. It is also sent to students via email. Along with a message from the Principal and your daughter’s Head of School (Junior, Middle, Upper or Senior), our newsletter flags important dates for your diary, weekly notices and information about sport and performing arts.
College Uniform shop
The College Uniform Shop is situated in a new building opposite Goodlet House along the Centenary Walkway. Normal trading hours have now resumed and can be viewed here. Uniforms can also be ordered online and collected during opening hours.
Key events for parents and carersin Term 1
Icebreaker is our first major community event on Friday 1 March 2024 and we’d love to see you there. This much-anticipated and longstanding tradition at Pymble is hosted by the Pymble Parent Association (PPA) and provides a great opportunity for new and returning families to come together to enjoy a few drinks and canapes, connect with other parents and carers in their daughter’s year group, and mingle with key staff, the Chair of the Pymble Board, Mr Chris Fydler OAM and our Principal.
If you can’t attend the Icebreaker but would like to meet with your daughter’s teachers in person, the College hosts individual information evenings for Junior, Middle, Upper and Senior School early in Term 1.
Our Community Engagement team attends the information evenings and will host a session providing an outline of events and communications at the College.
Additional information about Icebreaker and the information evenings will be posted on MyPymble soon.
Pymble Parent Association
Parents and carers are the backbone of Pymble, and we are grateful to have a vibrant volunteer community lead by the PPA. The objectives of the PPA are to promote the wellbeing of the College and its students, represent our parents and carers, encourage participation in the life of the College and create a sense of community amongst parents and carers facilitated through social events and functions.
We welcome your involvement with the PPA, and all Pymble parents and carers are free to join as they wish. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the College, make new friends, and enrich and support your daughter’s journey through her time at Pymble.
Kelly Mancey
Director of Community Engagement and Advancement
From the Futures Team
Welcome back from the Futures Department!
For those new to the College, the Futures Department help students to explore and discover their future pathways by supporting them to learn about themselves and the world of work.
We’re excited to be hosting a variety of events for students and the community this year, starting with the following:
Futures Calendar of Events – Semester 1
Year 10 Skills and Strengths Day
Thursday 22 February
Whole Day incursion with all of Year 10 students participating in workshops.
Overseas Insight Evening
Monday 18 March
Information evening for students interested in an post school overseas study pathway, with particular focus on UK.
Year 11 Uni Immersion Day
Thursday 4 April
Whole Day excursion to universities with all Year 11 students
Careers Expo
Friday 3rd May
Community Expo featuring guest speakers, university, TAFE, College and industry representatives.
Work Experience Stories
Over the summer break, recent Pymble graduates from Year 12 (2023) participated in work experience at Arup, a global firm of engineering consultants, designers, development planners and project managers. Alice Windybank, Ning Ning Jin and Abigail Taylor spent a week at the Arup headquarters in Sydney.
Hear about their experiences below:
Thank you so much for setting up the work experience week with Arup!
Abby, Alice and I really, really enjoyed it. We learned so much about the industry and all the different disciplines within engineering and architecture from so many different people. It was super interesting to see all the projects they were working on and all the behind-the-scenes that goes into their designs.
I don’t think I can share anything about the specific projects because many were confidential (which was also super cool to be let in on!). We got to see the behind-the-scenes for all the different disciplines within engineering and architecture, and met many people in the industry who were very passionate about their work. Facades, drainage, and hydraulics engineering were just a couple of the niches we got to experience and learn more about. Arup is also super big on sustainability so it was really interesting to see how that shines through and is taken into consideration during each step of their design process.
I feel so much more excited to actually start uni now and have a much better idea of what fields I can go into in the future! It was such a rewarding and special week, I’ll never forget it. – Written by Ning Ning Jin (2023)
Opportunities to develop skills for work
If you are interested in learning skills to be a barista, check out this opportunity through our Co-Curricular program!
Here’s some further information on how to find a job as a barista:
Registrations are now OPEN for Term 2 Saturday Sports. Registrations must be completed prior to the system closing at 12.00pm on Friday 16 February. Please access the online registration via the co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. A parent or carer log in is required to be able to register. If you require any assistance with completing your registration, please contact Co-curricular Administration at ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or on +61 2 9497 7848. A reminder that registrations must be completed online and cannot be processed over the phone or via email.
Reminder notices will be posted on the Pymble App before registrations close.
The Term 2 Saturday Sport options are as follows:
igsa Basketball (Years 7 to 12 – Saturday mornings)
igsa Football (Years 7 to 12 – Saturday mornings)
Rugby Sevens (Years 7 to 12 – Training in Term 2 and Competition in Term 3 on Saturday afternoons)
IPSHA Hockey/Minkey (Years 3 to 6 – Saturday mornings)
IPSHA Netball (Years 3 to 6 – Saturday mornings)
Futsal (Years 3 to 12 – five week training program followed by a competition for selected students)
Co-curricular Registration Requests
Registrations for Term 1/Semester 1/Yearly programs are now closed. Confirmation emails were sent to all families on Thursday 25 January. If you missed the registration period and need to request a late registration for your daughter, or if you need to withdraw or transfer programs, please click here to complete a registration request. Please note that requests may take up to two weeks to process during busy periods and your request is not completed until you have received confirmation of acceptance via email.
Monique Zahra
Head of Co-curricular Administration
Athletics
Eleven Pymble athletes travelled to Perth in December 2023 to compete at the Australian All Schools Championships. All athletes performed exceptionally well. The following Pymble athletes represented NSW: Abigail Ballhausen (Year 12), Georgia Phillips (Year 11), Sarah Baker (Year11), Sophia Slater (Year 10), Samara Bond (Year 10), Sybella Warton (Year 10), Grace Townsend (Year 10), Matilda Harrison (Year 9), Eloise Stewart (Year 8), Eliza Lawton (Year 7) and Amalia Bond (Year 7).
The following athletes achieved these outstanding results:
Eliza Lawton (Year 8) 1st in the u14 800m and 1500m. Eliza smashed the meet record and incredibly achieved the World Junior qualifying time, although she is too young to be selected
Amalia Bond (Year 8) 2nd in u14 triple jump
Sarah Baker (Year 12) 2nd in u17 1500m
Eloise Stewart (Year 9) 2nd in u14 hammer throw
Samara Bond (Year 11) 3rd in u17 200m
Sybella Warton (Year 11) 3rd in u17 100m and 200m para
Grace Townsend (Year 11) 3rd in u17 400m hurdles
Following All Schools was the National Schools Challenge which is always an exciting event to finish off the Year. Our three teams were outstanding in track and field events, contributing valuable points throughout the day. The outstanding team atmosphere was a true testament to our Pymble athlete’s determination and unwavering Pymble pride and reflected in the impressive results. Our junior team was dominant throughout the day and came away with a convincing win. Our intermediate team were persistent throughout the day, but the result came down to the relay which proved to be very exciting with our Pymble team achieving a very impressive win. In our senior team, three Year 12 students interrupted their schoolies week to join the team. Eloise Stewart (Year 9) also stepped up to join the team at very short notice. The team achieved third place. To have all teams on the podium is just exceptional.
The two wins has given Pymble the impressive title of the most successful school in Australia, (both in boys and girls), in the 30-year history of the event. Since 2009, Pymble has competed every year and the contribution of so many Pymble athletes have culminated in this remarkable achievement.
Four Pymble athletes travelled to Canberra on the Australia Day long weekend to compete at the ACT Championships. Congratulations to Sybella Warton (Year 11) who won the u20 para 100, Matilda Harrison (Year 10) who secured a Personal Best in the 100m, Claudia Wyatt (Year 8) who achieved the qualifying time for National u15 Steeplechase and Lana Pike (Year 11) who competed in the 800m and 1500m.
At Sydney Olympic Park (SOP), Sarah Lovell (Year 11) and Louise Lovell (Year 11) competed in the NSW Combined Championships, competing in seven events. Sarah was in second place with two events to go and, with Pymble determination and grit, achieved the NSW u18 title. Louise finished in 8th place – a commendable effort.
Sophia Slater (Year 11) and Georgia Phillips (Year 12) also competed at SOP, achieving the National 3km Steeplechase qualifying standard. Well done! Congratulations to all Pymble athletes and coaches who support our students to work towards and achieve these amazing results.
Deb Walsham
Head Coach – Athletics
Diving
Diving NSW Country Championships – Saturday 20 January and Sunday 21 January Newcastle
During the Summer school holiday break, Diving training continued for many divers and the Country Championships were held in Newcastle, providing a fun weekend to get back in the pool and prepare for the busy Competitive time that is Term 1.
Congratulations to all divers on their results and we look forward to seeing everyone back in the pool for regular programs starting in Week 2 (from Monday 5 February).
Méa Shires (Year 10)
EJB – 1m – 1st, 3m – 1st
Angela Xenofontos (Year 10)
16/18 years – 1m – 3rd, 3m – 6th
Lillie Oldfield (Year 7)
12/13 years – 1m – 5th
Amélie Rahme (Year 6)
12/13 years – 1st
Zara Ware (Year 5)
11/u years – 1m – 1st
Pathways – Level 3 – 1st
Emily Long (Year 5)
11/u years – 1m – 2nd
Jasmine Smith (Year 4)
11/u years – 1m – 3rd
Pathways Level 5 – 1st
Open platform – 2nd
Emma Ware (Year 4)
11/u years -1m – 4th
Pathways Level 3 – 3rd
Pymble Alumni
We wish Brittney O’Brien (Pymble Alumni) all the very best in Diving as she competes in Doha at the World Aquatics this week competing for a quota spot in the Paris Olympics.
Go Brittney – Pymble is behind you!
Chris Lang
Head Coach – Diving
Duke of Edinburgh
Welcome to 2024! We hope you enjoyed a well-deserved and rejuvenating break.
As we navigate through the year, we want to ensure you are aware of an extraordinary opportunity for personal growth and adventure – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Program.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Program is a globally recognised initiative designed to challenge and inspire young individuals. It’s not just an award; it’s a transformative journey encompassing Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Adventurous Journey components. Here’s a quick refresher on what each aspect involves:
Volunteering: Give back to the community by dedicating time and skills to a cause you care about. Whether you choose to support local charities, community events, or assist your peers, your contribution makes a meaningful impact.
Physical: Embrace a healthier lifestyle by engaging in physical activities that resonate with you. From team sports to personal fitness goals, this component encourages you to prioritise your well-being and set achievable targets.
Skills: Cultivate a new skill or refine an existing one. Learn a musical instrument, pick up a new language, or master a craft – the possibilities are limitless. The journey of skill development is as rewarding as the skill itself.
Adventurous Journey: Embark on an unforgettable outdoor expedition with your peers. Whether it’s a hiking trip, camping adventure, or any challenging expedition, this component promotes teamwork, resilience, and the thrill of exploration.
Participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Program not only adds a prestigious achievement to your profile but also equips you with crucial life skills, boosts your self-confidence, and creates enduring memories with friends.
If your child hasn’t registered for the program yet, now is the ideal time to take that leap. This program is open to all students aged 14 and over.
Seize the opportunity to challenge yourself, uncover your potential, and make a positive impact. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Program eagerly awaits your participation – let the adventure unfold!
For more information, please contact me, Chris Boland – Duke of Ed Co-ordinator via email dukes@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Chris Boland
Co-ordinator – Duke of Edinburgh
Junior School Sport
Welcome to another exciting year of Junior School Sport. As usual, we hit the ground running, with all programs starting from Monday 5 February. Please refer to the Notices published on MyPymble setting out information regarding your daughter’s IPSHA Saturday Sport, including trial information, training, uniform, etc.
Please also see the important trail dates below.
2024 IPSHA Football Trials – Saturday 3 February
Students will meet their Coaches at Kelso Oval (enter via Gate 2). Parents may collect their daughters at the end of the session from Kelso Oval.
Year 6: 8.00am to 8.45am
Year 5: 9.00am to 9.45am
Year 4: 10.00am to 10.45am
Year 3: 11.00am to 11.45am
IPSHA and CIS Representative Team Trials
Any Year 5 or Year 6 students interested in trialling for an IPSHA Representative Team, please refer to our school trials schedule below. For your reference, the skill level of these trials is very high. It is recommended that only A Division or Rep level players attend the school trial.
IPSHA Representative Tennis Team School Trial
Friday 7 February from 12.45pm to 1.30pm at Senior School Courts (near Centenary Carpark, enter via Gate 3).
IPSHA Representative Basketball Team School Trial
Friday 9 February 12.45pm to 1.30pm at Indoor Basketball Courts (Jeanette Buckham Centre for Physical Education). Best access is from Centenary Carpark, entry via Gate 3.
Matt Tyson
Head of Sport – Kindergarten to Year 6
Lauren Jackson comes to Pymble Ladies’ College
Lauren Jackson AO is widely considered to be Australia’s greatest female basketball player of all time.
Throughout her career, Lauren has led the Australian women to the Olympic podium four times in four Olympic Games. Having won silver medals in Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008), Jackson carried the Australian flag into the London Opening Ceremony before going on to claim bronze in 2012.
In exciting news to begin 2024, Lauren Jackson and Pymble Ladies’ College have formed a partnership to launch a Basketball Academy for all students in Year 3 to 12.
For further details about the program, please click here.
Should students have conflicting sport activities on the set days outlined, please do not hesitate to contact me to arrange flexibility with your sport commitments. We want to ensure students do not miss out on this amazing opportunity.
Adam Raw
Director of Sport
Rowing
Rowing Camps at Lake Jindabyne and Nepean River
Over the Term break, the Pymble Rowing Team attended their respective squad camps. Well done to all Pymble rowers that completed the camp, a challenging week that all students handled well and achieved many beneficial lessons. It was fantastic to see the crew bonding, student camaraderie and sisterhood that developed during the camp, including every student improving their rowing skill and physical fitness. We look forward to watching our Pymble rowers race over the coming weeks, culminating in the Head of the River on Sunday 3 March.
The Seniors (Year 11 and 12) travelled to Lake Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains. In between some excellent training on the Lake built over a now sunken city, our Pymble rowers went for scenic mountain walks and conquered Mount Perisher together as a team. Following this, the Seniors continued this momentum by joining the rest of the squad at the Nepean River during the following week.
Intermediate, Junior and Learn-to-Row (LTR) Squads all travelled to the Nepean River, which is where the Women’s National Rowing team train each week. Our rowers had the opportunity to row alongside the National team and met them off the water for some inspiration! Alongside training incredibly well on the river, the rowers also got to take on squad trivia nights, karaoke and ice baths in between rows to increase their recovery.
These camp weeks are a great taste and experience of being an elite athlete. Well done to all Pymble rowers. Go Pymble!
Lews Gray
Sports Co-ordinator – Rowing
Swimming
2023-2024 NSW Senior State Age Championships: 10 to 16 December, 2023
Congratulations to Pymble Ladies’ College for a remarkable performance at the 2023-2024 NSW Senior State Age Championships held from Sunday 10 December to Saturday 16 December 2023. With 21 Pymble swimmers, including four alumni, representing Knox Pymble Swim Club, the team demonstrated exceptional resilience and commitment throughout the gruelling seven days of heats and finals.
Facing days of 12 to 14 hours, our swimmers raced in heats, swimming down, grabbing a quick nap and lunch, and delivering outstanding performances in the finals—some nights finishing as late as 9.00pm after starting at 7.30am. The team’s dedication and attitude towards each other were commendable.
The highlight of the week was the 10×50 Freestyle relay on the final night, creating an electric atmosphere where our Pymble swimmers swam their fastest times of the meet. Coaches Raf and Michelle were so proud of our team and being part of such an amazing week.
Megan Chia (Year 8) showcased exceptional talent in ten events achieving ten personal best times, seven top ten swims, and seven medals (two Gold, three Silver, and two Bronze). Megan’s positive attitude and continuous improvement throughout the week earned her the second-highest points in the female division, totalling 238.
Bella Zhang (Pymble Alumni and 2023 Swim Captain) raced in eight events achieving either top ten swims, and eight medals (one Gold, four Silver, and three Bronze). As the highest female point scorer with 242 points, Bella’s experience, leadership, and team spirit shone brightly, making her a fantastic role model for the younger swimmers.
Congratulations to all swimmers, coaches and families involved for a memorable and successful championship!
Top 5 Point Scorers
Bella Zhang (Pymble Alumni) 242 points
Megan Chia (Year 8) 238 points
Piper Gregory-Reid (Year 12 Swim and Captain 2024) 95 points
Jessica Munk (Pymble Alumni) 85 points
Sarah Tian (Year 10) 70 points
Gold medallist
Bella Zhang (Pymble Alumni) – 100m butterfly
Megan Chia (Year 8) – 100m butterfly and 50m butterfly
Jessica Munk (Pymble Alumni) – 50m backstroke
Sarah Tian (Year 10) – 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke
We are excited to see how many students are eager to participate in our Dance program in 2024. We have a total of 101 classes on the co-curricular timetable a week and are also now offering Year 8 Elective Dance, in addition to our Year 10, 11 and 12 elective classes. This results in over 1,400 registrations for our Pymble Dance program and we have no doubt that there will be a load of leaps, kicks and turns around the College.
Our year finished with the sensational Dance Showcase production of ‘It Could Be’, and if you missed the publication of the digital link you can find it here:
Should you have any queries regarding your daughters participation in the program please email dance@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and our incredible team will be happy to assist.
Our 2024 key Dance staff include:
Head of Dance –Miss Katrina Cluff
Cocurricular Dance
Executive Director of Co-curricular – Mr Greg Meagher
Dance Program Manager – Mrs Samantha Hibburt
Dance Program Coordinator – Mrs Keya Pettigrew & Miss Genevieve Gardiner
Dance Administration – Mrs Alysha Marsden
Head of Creative and Performing Arts Junior School – Mr Kurt Schweinberger
Curricular Dance
Head of Learning Area – Mr Marcus Stafford
Dance Teachers – Miss Melissa Cooper Findlay, Mrs Keya Pettigrew
Our co-curricular Dance classes are led by an enthusiastic and talented team of 30 casual dance instructors and you will be able to see who is teaching your daughters co-curricular class via her schedule.
Rad Ballet 2023 Examination Results
At the end of 2023, Co-Curricular Dance had 65 students participate in the formal RAD Ballet Class Awards and Examinations. We have now received the results and they are nothing short of spectacular.
A special mention to the 10 students who received Distinction.
Grade 2 Ballet
Davina Excell
Grade 3 Ballet
Isabelle La
Grade 4 Ballet
Adeline Wu
Grade 5 Ballet
Stella Pieterse
Lana Tao
Intermediate Foundation
Indigo Meldrum
Emma Scott
Leahara Wijesuriya
Advanced One
Ashleigh Henderson
Carine Kong
Congratulations to all students and ballet staff. The reports and certificates will be posted to all families and the students will be presented medals in their ballet class.
Dance Uniforms
We are currently working towards all Dance uniforms being made available from the College Shop. In the meantime, uniforms will be available directly from the Dance office.
Please click here to place your order for a Pymble Dance t-shirt. This order form will close at 11.59pm Sunday 31 March.
Junior School Distribution will take place via the Junior School Office and class teachers on a regular basis.
Secondary School students will be able to collect their order directly from the Dance Office.
The College Junior School Co-Curricular Music department is a dynamic and fun program. Students have the opportunity to participate in a vast array of music ensembles at their individual level of skill and interest. All enquiries should be directed to the Music Office at musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or phone 9855 7666. Information regarding private music lessons, ensembles and activities can also be found on the website.
Any student who plays an instrument and would like to be in an ensemble but has not yet been placed in one, is encouraged to come to the Music Office. All students who learn an orchestral or band instrument at the College are expected to participate in an appropriate ensemble.
Most ensemble rehearsals commence Week 2 (Monday 5 February). Please note the following rehearsal times and commencement dates for 2024. If you have any concerns, please contact the relevant ensemble conductor.
Junior School Music – Kindergarten to Year 2
Week2
Tuesday 6 February, 3.00pm to 3.45pm Year 1 Violin – Music Room 5 (Mr Askar Nurlanov)
Wednesday 7 February 3.00pm to 3.45pm Year 1 Cello – Music Room 3 (Mr Nigel Parry)
Week 3
Monday 12 February, 7.15am to 8.00am K-2 Pizzicato Strings – K-2 Performing Arts Room (Mrs Belinda Jezek).
Thursday 14 February, 7.15am to 8.00am Year 1 – 2 Piccoline Choir – K-2 Performing Arts Room (Mrs Julie Hare and Ms Tiffany Farlow)
Junior School Music – Year 3 to 6
Week 2 – Concert Band Rehearsals
Tuesday 6 February, 3.15pm to 4.15pm Stanhope Band – Music Gallery (Ms Maria Lee)
Thursday 8 February, 7.00am to 8.00am Grainger Band – Big Rehearsal Room (Mrs Patrice Goodman)
Friday 9 February 7.00am to 8.00am Junior School Jazz Band – Music Gallery (Mrs Patrice Goodman)
Week 2 – Choir
Monday 5 February, 7.30am to 8.00am Junior Capella Auditions – K-2 Junior School Music Rooms (Mr Kurt Schweinberger)
Tuesday 6 February, 7.20am Junior School Choir – K-2 Junior School Music Room (Ms Maria Lee and Miss Ellen Buckley)
Week 2 – Strings Orchestra Rehearsals
Monday 5 February, 3.15pm to 4.15pm Junior School Brumby String Orchestra – Music Gallery (Miss Ellen Buckley and Mrs Sarah Turner)
Wednesday 7 February, 7.15am to 8.00am Hindson Chamber Strings Auditions– Music Gallery (Mrs Belinda Jezek). Please see below for additional information.
Week 3 – Concert Band Rehearsal
Thursday 15 February, 3.15pm to 4.15pm Year 4 Band Training Band – Music Gallery (Ms Julia Zeltzer and Miss Tiffany Farlow)
Week 3 – Choir Rehearsal
Monday 12 February, 7.15am to 8.00am Junior Capella – K-2 Junior School Music Rooms (Mr Kurt Schweinberger)
Week 2 – Strings Orchestra Rehearsals
Wednesday 14 February, 7.15am to 8.00am Hindson Chamber Strings– Music Gallery (Mrs Belinda Jezek). Please see below for additional information.
Week 4 – String Orchestra Rehearsal
Wednesday 21 February, 3.15pm to 4.15pm Year 3 String Orchestra – Music Gallery (Mrs Belinda Jezek and Mr Mark Rossman)
Junior School Choir: Be in it!
Junior School Choir is open to anyone who likes to sing! No audition is necessary, but please come and see either Ms Lee or Ms Buckley in the JS Performing Arts Rooms so that you can be placed in the correct voice part. Junior School Choir rehearses every Tuesday morning at 7.20am to 8.00am.
Sport and Music Ensemble Rehearsal Clashes
When sport practices and Music rehearsals clash, it is the policy set up by the Sport and Music Departments that the student attends one weekly Sport practice and one weekly Music rehearsal. It is imperative that the student notify their Sport coach that they are unable to attend that practice due to their Music rehearsal, so that they are not penalised for poor attendance. This policy works on the basis that for most sports there are two scheduled practices per week, but for each Music ensemble there is only one rehearsal per week. If a student encounters further problems with clashes they must alert both staff members concerned so that the student is not disadvantaged.
Parents are requested to not sign their daughters up for other activities that clash with scheduled Music rehearsals to which their daughter is committed.
Junior School Instrument Cases and Storerooms
All Junior School Band instruments are to be stored in the Instrument Storage Room in the Music Gallery in the David Blackwell Music School. Cellos are to be placed carefully in the Guitar/Cello Storage Room at the end of the Music Colonnade. Every girl must ensure that her instrument case is CLEARLY NAMED ON THE OUTSIDE.
Private Music Tuition
Information and Commitment Forms for private Music tuition in any instrument, voice, or musicianship are available online and places are still available for all instruments. If you experience difficulties with accessing this information, please contact the IT Department.
Auditions for Junior School Chamber Strings (new members)
Mrs Belinda Jezek (Acting Head of Strings) will be holding auditions for the Junior School Chamber Strings. Please email Mrs Jezek if you have any questions or to book an audition (bjezek@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au) Auditions will be held on Wednesday 7 February 7.15 to 8.00am.
Auditions for Junior School Capella Chamber Choir (new members)
Mr Kurt Schweinberger will be holding auditions for the Junior School Capella Chamber Choir. Please email Mr Schweinberger if you have any questions or to book an audition (kschweinberger@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au). Auditions will be held on Monday 5 February in the Junior School Performing Arts Rooms from 7.30am. All students wishing to audition are to sing of their own choice.
Kurt Schweinberger
Head of Creative and Performing Arts (Kindergarten to Year 6)
Language Arts
Welcome, we are back to another year of flying high in Language Arts (LA)! We are pleased to have you onboard.
Debating
The standard of Debating auditions has been extremely high this year and the number of girls who auditioned is unprecedented. Over forty teams have already been formed.
An information session will be held for ISDA and FED debaters on Tuesday 13 February after school. Further details will be published on the Portal.
The ISDA season commences on 16 February and FED commences on Friday 23 February. CCSA will be releasing teams and draws. Please get registrations in promptly.
Pymble ISDA will travel to St Aloysius for Round 1 on Friday 16 February. Pymble will take the negative.
Pymble ISDA will be at Pymble for Round 2 on Friday 23 February. We will host Knox. NB Yearr 7 will NOT debate on this date and will have a make up round on May 3.
Pymble FED will travel to MLC for Round 1 on Friday 23 February.
Buses will be arranged to most away venues and parents are asked to arrange collection of girls following debates. Girls are not permitted to travel home of public transport without adult supervision. Parents are welcome to watch their daughter’s/ daughters’ debate(s). CCSA will send further details.
Archdale and SSD
Archdale debating commences in May.
Sydney Social Debating (SSD) will also commence later in the year.
IDC Debating
This runs in Term 4 and is open to ISDA and Archdale debaters and FED finalists.
Congratulations, a debating trifecta!
Congratulations to Jingyuan Liu, Athena Wu and Selina Jiang who recently competed in the Asian Junior Championships Winter Debates. 193 students from China, South Korea, India, Singapore and Australia, attended this event. Jing was awarded best speaker for Australia and Oceania, Athena was awarded second best speaker and Selina was awarded third best speaker. We are proud of these girls! What a start to the LA year!
Cambridge Schools’ Debating Competition
Congratulations to this formidable British Parliamentary Debating team! On the 27 and 28 January, two Pymble students, Alice Mao (Year 10) and Amy Zhang (Year 11), participated in the above competition and reached the finals, to be held at Cambridge University. Congratulations!
Public Speaking
Auditions – Junior and Senior 7-12
Rostrum, The Junior and PESA (Senior) Speaking Competition auditions will run after school Wednesday 21 February. Girls must register interest by emailing Mrs Hubbard and Evelyn Zhu, our Captain of Public Speaking. BHubbard@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au; Evelyn Zhu (Year 11) ezhu2025@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
The Portal will also provide further information and Mrs Hubbard or Evelyn, our Public Speaking captain can outline the procedure.
UN Voice of Youth Public Speaking
Congratulations to Nikita Serban, Isis Li, Catherine Shi and Katherine Pan who attended the Un Voice State Finals at the end of last year. Catherine Shi will now compete in the Nationals in April. Congratulations and best wishes.
MUN – Model United Nations
Congratulations Jenny
Congratulations to Jenny Xu who competed at Yale and Harvard MUN sessions in the vacation. Jenny was awarded a coveted outstanding delegate award. The keynote address was given by Ban Ki-Moon, 8th General Secretary of the United Nations.
THIMIUN – The Hague
Mrs Hubbard travelled to The Hague in the recent vacation where she met with board members and the head of THIMUN. We are awaiting an offer to attend the 57th session of THIMUN in January 25. If successful, Pymble will be the first Australian school to attend.
State Conference
Pymble hosts the first NSW MUN conference! On Friday 9 and Saturday 10 February, Pymble will host the first NSW MUN conference. This follows from our successful PMUN Winter conferences in 2022 and 2023. Congratulations to our MUN captain Catherine Shi and the team who are working so hard to ensure all is in place for a successful conference.
Parents, please let me know if you can assist for part of this time. We would love to have you on board. Please email BHubbard@Pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Bronwyn Hubbard
Head of Language Arts
Music
Welcome back! We hope you all had a wonderful rest and relaxed during the summer break. It is exciting to be back on the school grounds. Mr Schweinberger and I have been working with the girls and boys involved in The Addams Family Musical from 22 January and we are so proud of their progress. It is a wonderfully funny musical with all the typical “ear worms” that accompany any good musical. We look forward to welcoming you to the production, which opens on 7 March, closing on 9 March.
I’d like to extend a very warm Pymble welcome to our new students – those from afar, and those making their way up from the Junior School. Pymble is not a school for the idle; it is a place for active minds to gain great wisdom, active souls to be nurtured, and active bodies to be fuelled. Music will do all these things for you, so please come and hang out in the wonderful Performing Arts area and be part of our Music team.
Music Support Group
This group is for any interested parents who would like to volunteer their time and help throughout the year to support the students and staff in the ensemble program. Led by the very capable Elizabeth Toh (Estelle – Year 8), and Priscilla Macpherson (Sarah – Year 12). I’m sure these lovely mums would love to meet you, and have you help when and if you are able. Please reach out through Music admin at musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or contact Liz on Elizabethtoh@gmail.com to ask about how you can help.
Information
If you require private music lessons, or need a uniform, not sure about times for ensembles, etc, please go to the portal, or email Gladys Uy on musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or Head of Co-Curricular Music, Sarah Turner on sturner@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Ensembles and Lessons
Please note the times for ensembles and private music lessons will commence from Monday 5 February. Please see the table below for the times for the ensembles. If you are unsure of your group, please email and we will ensure you and your daughter are informed. New students are welcome to just show up on the first week – your conductor will take your name and you will be added to the roll. Alternatively, please email musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au to express your interest.
Staffing in Music
Secondary School
Head of Learning Area Performing Arts/Head of Bands – Mr Marcus Stafford
Head of Co-curricular Music – Mrs Sarah Turner
Head of Strings – Ms Belinda Jezek
Stage 4 Music Coordinator – Ms Sarah Ashton
Music teaching staff and conductors – Mr Mark Rossman, Ms Julia Zeltzer, Ms Charlotte Aquaro, Mrs Karen Bruce
College Accompanist – Ms Claire Race
Junior School
Head of Creative and Performing Arts K-6 – Mr Kurt Schweinberger
Teaching staff and conductors – Mrs Julie Hare, Ms Tiffany Farlow, Ms Maria Lee, Ms Ellen Buckley, Mrs Patrice Goodman
Auditions for Senior School Chamber Strings
Ms Jezek will be holding auditions for the Senior School Chamber Strings. Please email her if you have any questions or to book an audition time. bjezek@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Auditions for Junior School Jazz Band
Mrs Goodman will be holding auditions for Junior School Jazz Band. Girls in Stanhope & Grainger are welcome to audition and need to prepare one piece. Auditions are open to saxophone, trumpet, euphonium, trombone, drums, piano and bass guitar. Email Mrs Goodman if you have any questions or to book an audition time. pgoodman@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
School Choir is open to anyone who likes to sing! No audition is necessary, but please come and see Mrs Turner in the Performing Arts Staffroom so that you can be placed in the correct voice part. School Choir rehearses every Wednesday morning at 7.25am – 8.05am. All Elective Music students are expected to attend. Mrs Turner is looking forward to seeing you all!
Secondary School
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Before School
6.50am to 8.05am School Concert Band (BRR) 6.50am to 8.05am String Orchestra (MG)
6.50am to 8.05am Middle School Concert Band (BRR)
6.50am to 8.05am Symphonic Wind Ensemble (BRR) 7.25am to 8.05am School Choir (Chapel)
6.50am to 8.05am Chamber Strings (MG)
6.50am to 8.05am Symphony Orchestra (BRR)
Lunchtime
After School
5.00pm to 6.30pm Pymble Chorale (Chapel/Music Gallery)
3.30pm to 4.15pm Jazz Ensemble (Big Rehearsal Room)
3.30pm to 5.00pm Senior Stage Band (BRR)
Sport and Music Ensemble Rehearsal Clashes
When sport practices and Music rehearsals clash, it is the policy set up by the Sport and Music Departments that the student attends one weekly Sport practice and one weekly Music rehearsal. It is imperative that the student notify their Sport coach that they are unable to attend that practice due to their Music rehearsal, so that they are not penalised for poor attendance. This policy works on the basis that for most sports there are two scheduled practices per week, but for each Music ensemble there is only one rehearsal per week. If a student encounters further problems with clashes they must alert both staff members concerned so that the student is not disadvantaged.
Parents are requested to not sign their daughters up for other activities that clash with scheduled Music rehearsals to which their daughter is committed.
All girls learning through our Peripatetic Music teacher program will be contacted directly by their teacher. Lessons must be paid in accordance with the tutors’ directive and any missed lessons will be at the discretion of the individual tutor. (A rule of thumb is to give 24 hours notice). Lessons will be on a rotating basis throughout the term and preference is given to Year 12 students for a regular time. The tutors cannot provide lunch time lessons to a junior school student if they have a student in Year 11 or 12.
We are truly blessed to have such wonderful talent in our department and each of our Peripatetic tutors is regarded as part of our family. If you are dissatisfied with anything, please let Mrs Turner know immediately after expressing your concerns with the tutor. We have many tutors and therefore many options for your daughter. If you are having lessons within the College, you are expected to be part of the Ensemble program. Each girl in Elective Music is also expected to be part of the ensemble program and will find their music becomes so much easier and accessible if they are meeting with a like-minded tribe each week.
Secondary School Instrument Cases and Storerooms
There are three security storerooms in the Music Building for the storage of students’ instruments while they are at school. They are labelled clearly as to which instruments are to be placed in each. Please ensure that instruments are placed neatly and carefully on the shelves and not left in the middle of the floor where they could be damaged or cause harm to someone tripping over them. Instruments must not be left in a classroom or locker. Every girl must ensure that her instrument case is CLEARLY NAMED ON THE OUTSIDE.
Junior School Instrument Cases and Storerooms
All Junior School Band instruments are to be stored in the Instrument Storage Room in the Music Gallery in the David Blackwell Music School. Cellos are to be placed carefully in the Guitar/Cello Storage Room at the end of the Music Colonnade. Every girl must ensure that her instrument case is CLEARLY NAMED ON THE OUTSIDE.
Save the dates
Thursday 15 February – Concerto Competition: 6.30pm in the Music Gallery
This year we have 10 musicians competing for the coveted glory of being crowned the Concerto Competition winner and have the privilege of working with our Symphony Orchestra to perform later in the year. Kimbali Harding (CEO of Australian Youth Orchestra) and Alexandra Osborne (Associate Concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra) will be our adjudicators. We encourage as many aspiring musicians to attend this event and connect with these two wonderful musicians. A poster with a link will be sent through the portal. There is no fee, but we need to have tickets booked so we know how many people will be seated with us.
Thursday 7 March
The Addams Family Musical – rehearsals are well underway, and the performances begin on 7 March. There will be an evening performance on 7, 8, 9 March along with a matinee show on 9 March.
10 April
Secondary School Ensemble Concert on Gloucester Lawn. This will commence at 6.00pm (please note the earlier time due to Daylight Savings ending on the 7 April)
Tour to Spain/Portugal
Payments for the next instalment are coming up soon. Please watch out for information relating to this wonderful event. Any new Year 7 students who can play in the band, string orchestra or choir, who are at a Grade 6 AMEB standard, you are welcome to join us. Please email Mrs Turner or travel@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au so that you are able to receive any information. Rehearsals for tour will start to take place in Term 3.
Sarah Turner
Head of Music
Master Plan Update – February 2024
Pymble’s Master Plan has made some significant progress over the holidays. We are excited to share this progress with you (below) and highlight the benefits for our girls.
The safety of our students, staff and community is always our priority. Every phase of construction has been meticulously planned to minimise disruption to our girls’ daily school experience and ensure their safety and wellbeing.
The College Map has been updated to illustrate recent staff and department movements, including the Uniform Shop, and is included below for your reference.
The College is grateful for your support and we look forward to sharing more with you as the Master Plan journey progresses.
Term 1 bus registrations are now open!
Term 1 registrations for the Pymble private bus service to and from Pymble Ladies’ College are now open.
The bus service will commence from the first day of term, Tuesday 30 January and conclude on the last day of term, Friday 12 April 2024. Please check thebus stops and timesfor your preferred bus route prior to Term 1 commencing. This will also be attached to your registration confirmation email as per normal.
Registration for the Pymble bus service is offered on a term-by-term basis in two formats:
1. Term registration – $430.00 per term
Valid for the whole term. Cancellations of Term registrations must be made in writing within seven days of the start of term.
2. Flexible registration – $7.50 per trip
Enables the student to register for specific day(s) with a choice of morning and/or afternoon runs.
Please read and discuss the attached Terms and Conditions of Travel with your daughter and ensure that she has her student ID card ready to tap on and off the bus service.
A reminder for parents and students that:
Student ID cards must be used to tap on and tap off each trip. If your daughter has lost her card, please complete the attached form and return it to the IT Hub. The cost for a replacement card is $15, charged to your College account.
Pymble buses can be tracked through the TransportMe Passenger app in real time. Please find attached instructions on how to download and use the free app, available on Android and Apple devices.
Please do not hesitate to contact College Services if you have any further questions about transport to and from Pymble Ladies’ College.
Meet Pymble’s bus drivers
Every week we will feature a profile on one of our wonderful Pymble bus drivers. This week, we learn more about Paul on Bus 1 and what makes him tick!
Please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.
Paul McCurley. I am relatively new to driving buses but am enjoying the challenges and rewards of working out of my mobile office. My spare time is spent working and driving on my vintage cars and spending time with family and friends.
If any, what careers did you have before becoming a bus driver?
I have spent most of my working life in the automotive industry. A car guy at heart but have quickly come to respect and enjoy driving coaches at CDC Charter.
Which Pymble bus do you drive and how long have you been a Pymble driver?
PLC1 – Hunters Hill. This is my first time driving full time for Pymble Ladies’ College, however I filled in for other drivers and driven a number of Pymble Charters.
You spend a great deal of your time on the road and have no doubt seen it all. What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to Sydney drivers?
Impatient drivers who like to push in front of buses.
What is your favourite part of working at Pymble?
I am looking forward to the new year, working with the Pymble team and getting to know the staff and students.
Where is the best excursion/charter location you have driven to for Pymble? If new to Pymble, what other locations have you enjoyed driving to?
I enjoy camp charters as the students are always excited to go. You can always tell they have had a great time because they are exhausted on the way home. Taking students into venues in the city can be challenging but always nice to see our beautiful city.
What was your favourite subject at school?
History was the most interesting.
We hope you had a good Christmas break, and maybe managed to get away for a bit. What is your favourite holiday destination and why?
I am looking forward to spending my daughters 21st birthday in Disneyland this year. I am excited for the Star Wars rides in Galaxy’s Edge. You’re never too old for a giant roller coaster!
Register now for Sport and All-Rounder Scholarships
Pymble offers a couple of scholarships each year to girls seeking a Performance Scholarship – Sport or All-Rounder Scholarship. Applications for 2025 scholarships are open to current or external students who are in Year 6, 7, 8, 9 or Year 10 2024.
Registrations close on 12 February for All-Rounder applications and 29 February for Sport applications.
Please note that this is an earlier timeframe than in previous years. The application process for each scholarship is also different to previous years
Please review the Scholarship webpage for specific information on each scholarship.
Applications for 2026 Academic, Music, Boarding and Ex-Students’ Union Scholarships open in Term 2 on 30 April 2024.
