We are delighted to announce that our Silent Auction in support of the Pymble Foundation is now open.
If you cannot attend the Gala Ball, our Silent Auction is a wonderful opportunity to support the Pymble Foundation AND win some incredible prizes, including:
A personal 45-minute, one-on-one training session by Ian Thorpe AM in the Pymble Ladies’ College pool. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for any aspiring young swimmer!
A five-night holiday at Elements of Byron in beautiful Byron Bay. Escape the daily grind at this stunning resort offering beach front access and world-class amenities.
A Sydney FC 2023/2024 Home Game experience for four people at your choice of the women’s or men’s game. This incredible experience includes general admission tickets, pitch-side seats of the A-League team warm up, and viewing players walking out from the Tunnel Club.
The Silent Auction is open now and will close at 10.15pm on Saturday night.
Welcome back to Pymble for our final term of the year. There’s been much excitement and celebration already, even before day one, with news of several very special achievements over the break.
Congratulations to our amazing Year 7 team who placed first overall, and our equally amazing Year 8 team who placed second overall in the national and very prestigious da Vinci Decathlon competition held during the holidays. The girls worked so hard to take out the top two places in this highly competitive academic challenge, beautifully supported by our Director of the Centre of Excellence, Mrs Debbie Tarrant. Well done to all on this incredible achievement. #PymbleProud
We are also incredibly Pymble Proud of Lauren Korenblyum (Year 10) who received the EdStart Achievement Award for Social Impact for her passion project to raise funds for war relief efforts in Ukraine. Lauren’s idea involved designing, creating and selling badges at multiple community events last year, an initiative which raised thousands of dollars to support the people of Ukraine. Great work, Lauren.
Several of our students also participated in tours, including to Arnhem Land for cultural immersion in traditional homelands and Tanzania to be of service to our partner schools and affiliated organisations in the region. Great job girls, and a special thank you to our staff who gifted their time to supervise our girls on these important programs under our Social Intelligence pillar.
And today we had the great joy of officially opening our new Junior School Office building, which effectively combines the leadership and administration teams of K-6 in one purpose-built space. Affectionately nicknamed Hedgehog House, the building was a big hit with the group of students (one from each class in each Junior School year group) who attended the launch, and we are quietly confident parents will love it too when they next need to visit.
See the care in me – our mantra for Term 4
Typically, before the start of term, I spend the weekend prior feverishly worrying – probably over-worrying – about the term ahead. Are we all prepared? Have we thought about absolutely everything we need to do to make sure Pymble is the best place it can possibly be for our students, staff and families? As I often tell the girls, worry and feelings of anxiousness are often indicators of how much something means to you; how much you care. This is certainly true for me. The day the girls come back and our campus kicks in to term-time is always a day of great anticipation and importance, and I am always conscious of setting the right tone from the start.
Over the break, I was thinking about the impact that each of us has on the people around us. Sometimes we are conscious of that impact, and therefore intentional in our words and actions, and at other times we just go about our day, not recognising or pausing to reflect on the fact that how we show up has a direct impact on others.
Some interesting research by Harvard University Professor James Fowler shows us that ideas, attitudes and patterns of behaviour not only have an impact on the people directly around us, but they also have an impact on people who are three degrees of separation from us. According to Prof Fowler, the ‘social contagion’ theory reveals that if your friend’s friend’s friend is happy, you are more likely to be happy. It seems happiness (and, most likely, the opposite of happiness) spreads through three degrees of separation.
It got me thinking, especially in the context of so much civil unrest and conflict in the world, what would happen if we all showed up with more care in our hearts? Could care for others become contagious if we intentionally channelled more of it within our own circles of influence?
In our first Combined Assembly for Term 4, our new Head Prefects Bella Walker and Julie Sheng helped me to visually demonstrate the answer to this question.
Both selected a number of girls to stand up and represent their circle of influence (this being the immediate family they live with, their teachers, and close friends). Each girl who was chosen to stand was then asked to do the same, and so on, and so on. Pretty soon all students in the gym were on their feet and had a clear – if not slightly chaotic vision – of how their influence has the potential to spread throughout our community.
So, as we begin this term, I am encouraging students, staff and families to embrace the mantra of “see the care in me”. For if we all make a conscious decision to show up to school, work or whatever it is we do during the day with more care for others in our hearts, think about the crazy number of people our Pymble family of 2400 students, 500+ staff and 4000+ parents and carers could potentially influence. If somehow, someway, we could extend the reach of our compassionate influence way beyond our gates, to different parts of the world, to people who are hurting and suffering as a result of war and disasters, imagine how much of a better place the world would be.
I know you will join me in keeping all those communities who are in terrible crisis right now in your thoughts and prayers, and please also take a moment to click through to some tips for parentsregarding war content being shared online and via social media.
Wishing you all a wonderful term filled with care, compassion and kindness.
From the Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
Welcome to Term 4and a warm welcome to our new students and their families and those who are returning to our Junior School; Olivia Xiao (Year 3), Adela Wu (Year 4), Uya Cheng (Year 4) and Ula Cheng (Year 6). We look forward to sharing your daughters’ journey through our Junior School with you.
It has been a joyous start to the term with the girls excited to be back and happily exploring our fabulous new Junior School office. We were honoured today to have our office officially with a smoking ceremony led by Uncle Gavi, a highly respected elder in our community. It’s clear our girls are also loving the new flat space behind our office which allows them to hone their soccer skills and play on the grass together. I was lucky enough to take part in a Year 4 Mathematics lesson yesterday in this outdoor space led by Mrs Shaira Musico and Mrs Di Lewis with lots of mathematical discussion and active participation as the girls predicted and measured capacity using water.
Our Year 2 have blasted into the term with a series of ten rotations exploring push and pull forces including rocket balloon, pendulum paint art, aqua cars, magnetic cars and paper aeroplanes. The girls recorded their observations and wonderings and will deep dive into some of these experiments as they continue their scientific investigation of forces.
Year 5 Team Collaboration
Year 5 started the term strong with a whole grade team activity to look at the power of collaboration. All but two of the girls spread themselves out in a long line along the Valley Playground. The aim of the activity was to move 6 items (pens) from one end of the line to the other as quickly as they could. The girls could choose how to pass them along, but no girl could have more than one pen in her hand at a time. The other two girls, two of our wonderful athletes, had to transport the pens one at a time to the end of the line by themselves – running as quickly as they could. Surprisingly the two girls completed the task at the same time as the larger group.
During the reflection activity, the girls made suggestions for how they could have significantly improved the team performance with ideas about being more aware of where the pens were and passing accurately suggested. The activity allowed the girls to see how stronger collaboration with their peers could have led to greater success. Year 5 hope to repeat the task later in the term to see if they have improved their collaboration skills. What a great lesson for the girls to learn as they head into their final term in Year 5 and look towards leadership next year.
A message from our Sustainability Captains – Oriana Fenton & Richielynne Xiong
Thank you to everyone for bringing in your creative artworks for our recycled art competition. We were so excited to see the amazing entries so far. The competition closes tomorrow, so please bring all your artworks to the Junior School Office. Prizes will be awarded to the most sustainable and creative artworks!
Last term, the Sustainability Club undertook a garbage audit. In this audit, we all put on our gloves and sorted the garbage generated by the Junior School over the course of one day. Some things we found were:
There was a lot of food waste in our bins
Many items that could be recycled were placed in the ‘normal’ bin
We had lots of rubbish that came from our lunch orders including containers and bags and this took up much of our bins
We decided that some things need to change following this and we will be working with the Term 4 Sustainability Captains to minimise our rubbish and also make sure our recyclable items are put in the correct bins. We also will continue talking with the College kitchen about the lunch orders.
A message from Lara Bird, Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics
ICAS Certificates
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the ICAS assessments. We are extremely proud of our girls and results achieved. We are currently waiting to receive all certificates from ICAS. Once we have received certificates across the assessments, we will present them to participating students.
Parent Focus Group – Homework and Academic Reports
Mrs Christine Kenny, Deputy Principal – Academics and I will be hosting parent focus groups on Thursday, 2 November with a focus on homework in the Junior School and academic reports. A portal notice will be uploaded with more information for parents on how to register.
A message from Kate Giles, Lead Coordinator K-3
In the school holidays, Mrs Davey and I headed to Westmead Children’s Hospital to deliver the second donation of stationery packs and toiletries for the HARK Clinic for refugee children. We were excited to be able to donate over 30 stationery packs and almost 90 toiletry packs for children from the ages of 5-12.
A massive thank you to all of our Junior School families for your generosity and kindness and thank you to our Kindness Club and Social Justice Club students who kindly packaged and labelled each pack. The Hospital Clinic were extremely grateful to be able to assist so many refugee patients who are seeking their medical care, most of whom have arrived in Australia with nothing.
In the lead up to Christmas, the HARK Clinic are seeking donations of toys, specifically Barbie dolls, baby dolls, play dough, matchbox cars, soccer balls and Lego. These items can be brought to school by your daughter or dropped at the Junior School office. If you have any questions, please email kgiles@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. We thank you for helping support the HARK Refugee Clinic at Westmead.
From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)
Welcome to Term 4, we hope all our Junior School families had a wonderful and restful break.
Coming up this term, the JSPG events include:
1. JSPG Term 4 meeting on Tuesday 24 October from 8.30am to 9.30am – to be held in the Junior School Library. We hope you can join us.
There is a call out for any parents who would like to fill the role of year coordinator in 2024. We would like to announce these candidates at the meeting. Please find further information below.
2. Build-a-Bear on Friday 16 November for Kindergarten to Year 2
3. Swimming Carnival stalls on Thursday 15th November (Years 3 to 6) and Friday 30 November (Kindergarten to Year 2).
2024 Parent Year Coordinators
We would love to introduce our new year coordinators for 2024 at our upcoming JSPG Term 4 Meeting, so we are now looking to fill these roles.
The year coordinator role is a hands-on role in the coordination of school events/activities and provides support for each year level in the College. In the Junior School, our year coordinators act as a conduit between the JSPG leaders and class parents, help to find volunteers for various activities and work closely with the JSPG leaders, Community Engagement and school staff as needed.
If this is of interest to you, we’d love to hear from you. Ideally we will have one or two year coordinators per year group. Please reach out to your current year coordinator or a JSPG leader to discuss further, as planning will soon get underway for next year.
Please contact us at pymblelcjspg@gmail.com if you have any queries. Wishing everyone a fantastic term ahead.
Important Dates for Term 3
mportant Dates for Term 4
Saturday 14 October
Year 5 Father/Daughter Camp
Sunday 15 October
Year 5 Father/Daughter Camp
Wednesday 18 October
Year 1 Get Growing Incursion
Friday 20 October
House Dance K-6
Saturday 21 October
Year 4 Father/Daughter Camp
Sunday 22 October
Year 4 Father/Daughter Camp
Kate Brown
Head of Junior School
From the Middle School
Welcome Back to all of our Middle School families. I hope that you had a wonderful break from the school routine and that you had some time to enjoy the beautiful weather. I would like to warmly welcome Cynthia Zhao (Year 8) and her family to Pymble in Term 4. Over the break our Middle School girls have been involved in some exciting ventures.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the incredible work of our Year 7 da Vinci team, who placed first in the Nationals da Vinci Decathlon, represented by Celine Cai, Ruby Chu, Harriet Gregory, Yen Huynh, Chloe Shao, Alexa Wu, Katherine Xu and Bella Yang.
The students completed 10 papers, over the past two days, achieving the following results:
1st in Art and Poetry;
1st in Ideation;
2nd in Cartography;
2nd in Engineering;
2nd in English;
3rd in Creative Producers;
3rd in Legacy (General Knowledge)
Also, a fantastic result for our Year 8 da Vinci team who placed second in the Nationals da Vinci Decathlon, represented by Sitian Chen, Emily Chiang, Sophie Guo, Jenny He, Emily Huang, Karen Kim, Angela Tao and Chloe Wang.
The students completed 10 papers, over the past two days, achieving the following results: 1st in Art and Poetry
1st in Engineering
1st in English
1st in Ideation
2nd in Mathematics
2nd in Legacy (General Knowledge)
3rd in Creative Producers
Congratulations to Debbie Tarrant, Director of Centre of Excellence and the Year 7 and Year 8 teams.
Gabi Nutman (Year 8) represented NSW in baseball at the Barclay Cup in Perth during the school holidays. This tournament was created to celebrate and empower young girls in baseball, in memory of the late Jacinda Barclay, whose legacy continues to inspire women’s baseball in Australia. It was a long tough tournament but Gabi’s team fought hard to finish third.
On Monday an Information session was held for families of Year 7 students starting in 2024. We had a great turn out and many new families had an opportunity to meet some of our current families. Thank you to our leaders who helped on the night: Emma Yates (Year 7), Abigail Martin (Year 7), Leahara Wijesuriya (Year 7), Jasmine Jung (Year 7), Addison Woods (Year 8), Laranya Nanthakumaran (Year 8), Zoe Bloom (Year 8) and Catherine Li (Year 8).
As you may be aware, we have recently launched our 2024 Leadership applications to Year 7. We have had many quality applications submitted. Thank you to all the students who have shown interest in being a leader in the College. I appreciate that this takes courage and commitment. Interviews will begin next week.
Congratulations!
In the Australian Mathematics competition the following students from Year 7 received a prize Isabel Chook, Kathy Huo, Yen Huynh. Amber Li, Year 9, achieved the prize for best in school. In the Australian Intermediate Olympiad, a four hour competition sat by students from Year 7 to 10, the following students received High Distinctions Year 8 Sophie Guo, Year 9 Amber Li and Year 10 Olivia Xu. Distinctions were achieved by Year 7 Chloe Shao, Alexa Wu and Year 9 Katherine Pan.
Gloucester Gatherings
Our Gloucester Gathering Liaisons along with our Middle School Liaisons, have put together a wonderful schedule for Gloucester Gatherings this Term. See below for the exciting activities planned for Middle School. We look forward to sharing many photos throughout the term.
From the Middle School Parent Group Leaders
Term 4 is gearing up to be a wonderful celebration for the girls and parents. We would like to highlight a couple of special events coming up for parents in Term 4.
Middle School Dinner for Parents
As we rapidly approach the end of the school year, the Middle School coordinators warmly invite all parents and carers from Years 7 and 8 to come along to the ‘Middle School Parents’ Dinner’. The dinner will be held at Cavallino’s Italian Restaurant in Terry Hills on Saturday 4 November from 6.30pm. Please indicate your intention of attending this event by Friday 27 October 2023.
It is our end of year event for Year 7 parents and carers, and will be our final event as a cohort. Please come along to catch up with friends and celebrate the end of year school year. Please click here to sign up for the event.
A Year 7 Yum Cha Brunch
May Tai warmly invites all Year 7 parents to join her for a Yum Cha Brunch to be held at Star Capital Seafood Restaurant in Chatswood on Friday 10 November between 11.30am and 1.30pm. Please RSVP to this event by Friday 27 October 2023
If you would like to come along to this event, please click here.
Key Term Dates
Monday 23 October to Friday 27 October – Year 7 Camp Group 1
Monday 30 October to Friday 3 November – Year 7 Camp Group 2
Friday 3 November – Year 8 into 9 Transition Day
Wednesday 15 November – Year 7 Christmas Service
Friday 17 November – Year 8 Environmental Day
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School
From the Upper School
A message from Mr Tom Riley, Head of Upper School
Welcome back to Term 4! It was so exciting to see the girls back on Tuesday, refreshed, enthusiastic, and ready for the action-packed term ahead.
We welcome Felicity Gray to the Upper School this term to cover Adam Levin as Head of Year 10 whilst he heads off for six weeks of paternity leave. We are very excited for Adam and his young family and look forward to sharing his news. Felicity brings over 20 years of teaching experience about the team and has held positions of pastoral leadership. We are excited to share in her passion for helping young people navigate the journey of adolescence.
On Tuesday 28 November we will be holding an opportunity for our Year 10 students to meet parents in small groups to discuss their careers, industries and professional journeys as part of their Future You Week.
We would love to have you involved and would really value your generosity of time. We are asking for parent volunteers to be on campus between 8.00am and 10.30am, and encourage those interested to sign up by clicking here.
I was thrilled to be able to award Lauren Korenblyum with her Edstart Achievement Award on Tuesday for her social impact work. In 2022, Lauren coordinated a fundraiser for UNICEF in Ukraine that helped to raise thousands of dollars in support and importantly awareness of the devastating conflict. This year, she has continued to be of service by volunteering for the Humanitarian Project at Barker College. Her she helps to tutor English to Ukrainian and Afghan refugee children. We are so proud of you, Lauren!
Over the break Amelia Laing had an amazing opportunity and shares her experiences below:
From Friday 22 to Sunday 24 September, I had the amazing opportunity to compete in the Youth Grand Prix Australia (also known as Youth American Grand Prix/ YAGP). During this experience I was able to attend two masterclasses and perform a variation in front of a panel of adjudicators, as well as it being shared via livestream around the world for schools and companies that were unable to come in person. From this, I have been awarded acceptance to the International Summer School in Volta Mantovana, Italy. This experience will include eight days of classical ballet and contemporary training, with the final day concluding with a gala to showcase our work. I am so beyond excited for this experience and to see what the future holds!
Congratulations!
In the Australian Mathematics competition the following students from Year 7 received a prize Isabel Chook, Kathy Huo, Yen Huynh. Amber Li, Year 9, achieved the prize for best in school. In the Australian Intermediate Olympiad, a four hour competition sat by students from Year 7 to 10, the following students received High Distinctions Year 8 Sophie Guo, Year 9 Amber Li and Year 10 Olivia Xu. Distinctions were achieved by Year 7 Chloe Shao, Alexa Wu and Year 9 Katherine Pan.
From the Upper School Parent Group
All Year 10 parents are invited to join Zoe and Pam for informal drinks this Friday evening. While the Year 10 students attend Shormal, we will be just around the corner at the Terrey Hills Tavern, 2 Aumuna Rd, Terrey Hills.
You can drop off your daughter then come for a chat, drink and light dinner from 7.20pm onwards. There is a table booked in Zoe’s name.
This is a very informal event, come and go any time that suits.
Last Sunday 8 October saw nearly 50 ladies enjoy a fabulous day of outdoor fun at Vision Valley for the inaugural Year 10 mother daughter day, convened by the USPG. This event was a first, being a non-residential experience specifically aimed at helping mothers and daughters share some fun in the great outdoors. The day included canoeing, archery and high ropes along with a ‘How well do you know Mum’ trivia quiz and a workshop on ‘Keeping formals stress-free’. The highlight would have to be our long lunch on the balcony, enjoying a tremendous view of Vision Valley in the sunshine with beautiful food. A sincere thanks to all the Vision Valley staff, especially Rebecca and Sam, for making this a day to remember.
PymbleLC Parents Class of 2025 (Facebook for year 10)
PymbleLC Parents Class of 2026 (Facebook for year 9)
PymbleLC USPG 2023 (Facebook for all Upper School parents)
Or please contact us for an invite to a WeChat group or Dads WhatsApp group.
Key Term 4 Dates
Thursday 12 October – Tour and Exchange Expo Evening (6.30pm to 7.30pm in Kate Mason Building)
Friday 13 October – Year 10 Shormal at Miramare Gardens
Tuesday 17 October – St Edmund’s Swim Carnival
Wednesday 25 October to Wednesday 1 November – Year 9 and 10 Examination Week
Thursday 2 November – Year 10 Allwell Testing
Friday 3 November – Year 10 into 11 Transition Afternoon
Friday 3 November – Sportswomen Awards Night at Miramare Gardens
Saturday 11 to Tuesday 21 November – Year 10 Namadji Outdoor Education Program (OEP)
Sunday 12 to Tuesday 21 November – Year 10 Snowy Mountains OEP
Monday 13 to Friday 17 November – Year 10 Blue Mountains and Murramarang OEPs
Wednesday 22 November – Secondary School Ensemble Concert
Monday 27 November to Friday 1 December – Year 10 Future You/Service Week
Wednesday 6 December – Year 7-11 Speech Day in Gym
Tom Riley
Head of Upper School
From the Senior School
From the Head of Senior School
Year 12 (2024) Information Night
All parents and carers are invited to attend the Year 12 Information Night, which will be held on Tuesday 24 October, from 6:00pm in the Kate Mason Senior School. This is an opportunity to meet up casually with your daughter’s Compass teacher and hear presentations from the Head of Senior School, the Year 12 Heads of Year, the Futures Team and the Curriculum Department. We aim to be finished by 7:30pm. It would be wonderful to see as many of you in person, but for those unable to make it, the presentations will be recorded.
Year 12 2024
How wonderful to be back on campus and welcome our new Year 12s for 2024 into their final year of school! They have returned full of stories from their break and lots of good humour and great ideas. I have asked a few of the students to let me know how they feel about starting Year 12 and here are their thoughts:
Claire: ‘It feels bittersweet; the weight that comes with knowing the importance of our final year but also the feeling of excitement, because, well, it’s our final year. To be honest, it doesn’t feel as if we’re ready and strange to think we’re now the oldest students on campus but it simultaneously feels long overdue and as if we could never be more ready.’
Jiya: ‘The prospect of starting Year 12 seemed daunting for years. Although, as it happens, I’m feeling more prepared and excited than I thought I’d be. I’m glad I chose the subjects I did; I’m eager and enthusiastic to begin the HSC journey, and I think that’s always a good sign.’
Julie: ‘Starting Year 12 has brought me a mix of complex feelings. On the one hand, I certainly feel nervous about the upcoming HSC and I am also saddened by the prospect of leaving the Pymble community, which I have been proud to call home for so many years. Yet on the other hand, I am excited to experience my final year of high school and explore the future lying ahead of me.’
Claire: ‘I am extremely excited about all the upcoming, fun events in Year 12, and building upon our strong friendships within our cohort. Whilst the HSC marathon this next year is daunting, I can’t wait for an amazing year of dedication and friendship.’
Bella: ‘Starting Year 12 feels exciting and nerve racking and I think it’s easy to get lost in the nerves. But remembering we are not alone and as a cohort, as friends, we can embrace the fun feeling of our last year at school and motivate one another as we look toward the future together.’
Arabella: ‘I feel mixed emotions, including sadness as it is the start of the end, a little nervous due to it being beginning of the HSC journey but at the same time I feel an immense excitement for all the amazing opportunities and fun that is ahead which comes with being a Year 12 at Pymble.’
Maddie: ‘I’m excited to start Year 12 and am really looking forward to studying my different extension topics over the course of this year and delving into self-interest projects with my passions for English and History.’
Harriet: ‘Heading into year 12 I am feeling a range of emotions from nerves to excitement for the year ahead of us. I can’t wait to share this journey with all my peers and even though it will be filled with many ups and downs, in the long run I’m sure we will all walk away with amazing, fun memories we will remember for life.’
Megan: ‘Embarking on year 12, I’m navigating a mix of anticipation and determination. I feel prepared to experience the last chapter of high school with my peers and teachers while embracing every opportunity to learn and grow for my future.’
Murphy: ‘For me, it feels like year 12 hasn’t really started yet, because the old year 12s are still here, and most of my subjects just feel like they’re a tv show that have been on pause. At the same time, my new subjects, and English advanced, have new teachers and so feel like year 12 courses.‘
Year 12 2023 – HSC begins!
This week saw the start of the HSC examinations, with English – Paper 1 on Wednesday. Alongside all their teachers, I am so very proud of these students, as they have prepared so well and been wonderful leaders for the College. They sit these exams in the firm knowledge that they have the good wishes of the entire College community behind them. We all look forward to hearing their plans for next year and beyond!
After their first paper, the Year 12 students received a little gift of a Kit Kat from their Year 11 sisters. I hope that they felt the love and support from all of us. Please don’t hesitate to contact the College, should your daughter need any assistance during her examinations.
Term 4 – Key Dates
13 October Year 12 Leadership and Badge Ceremony
6 December Speech Day Years 7-11
6 December Term 4 concludes
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School
From the Boarding School
The first day of any term is always a firm favourite and it was lovely to see our Boarders filled with joy as they are reunited. It will be a busy term but filled with fun and opportunities and I can’t wait to see our Boarders embracing all that is on offer.
It was equally lovely to hear of the fun that was had in the holidays and not surprising that many of our Boarders chose to spend the term break together in various locations and as you will see from the following snaps, some engaged in some very interesting activities!
Good luck to our HSC students
We are so proud of our 21 Year 12 Boarders and all that they have achieved over the last 6 years. They have worked hard, taken opportunities and given their best to their studies. All the while being supportive and kind Boarding ‘sisters’. It was a pleasure to celebrate their efforts and wish them luck on the eve of their HSC exams.
Boarders Shine
It is a well known fact that our Boarders are a multi talented bunch and I couldn’t resist sharing some of their fabulous achievements. Congratulations to the following girls:
Stella Robertson (Year 11) who received Silver Colours for Artistic Gymnastics.
Ashleigh Henderson (Year 11) who received Silver Colours for Dance (Ballet Production).
Airiana Chan (Year 11) who received Silver Colours for Orchestra.
Phoebe Roberts (Year 9) and Emma Roberts (Year 7) who have been selected to represent their club at the Australian Youth Waterpolo Championships in Brisbane in January 2024.
Alethea (Lethy) Levy (Year 10) who is currently playing in the New South Country team in the National Youth Championship Tournament in Wollongong.
Food, Glorious Food
As you know, food plays such an important part in our wellbeing and to this end we take a great deal of care to ensure we are providing our Boarders with a nutritious and delicious menu. Please click here to see the Term 4 menu.
Love It
We have an exciting term ahead filled with an action packed Love It program. The Boarders all received a program as they arrived back on Monday and there was a flurry of excitement over what was on offer.
Our Year 10s are excited about the event with Shore School tomorrow evening and there is a host of activities with everything from a beach picnic to basketball to an adventure in Newtown on offer for all the girls.
Please click here to see the Term 4 program. I hope you enjoy leafing through the opportunities and planning with your daughter which events she will attend.
View From My Window
Hi, my name is Issy Johnston, I’m currently a Year 10 student living in a town located in the central west called Orange. I started at Pymble at the start of this year and I’m loving it. I am especially enjoy playing a range of different sports including Hockey, AFL, Rugby 7s and Touch Football. Before I came to Pymble I was at a different boarding school up in Brisbane which was 11 hours away from home. Being closer is definitely better! Pymble was very welcoming making my transition here so easy.
In my family I have two younger siblings and both my parents, Spencer (Brother), Harriett (sister), Charlotte (Mum) and Nick (Dad). Spencer boards at St Stanislaus in Bathurst and Harriett goes to Kinross Wollaroi.
Our home is set on a small farm just outside of Orange where we run just around 100 sheep. When I come home during the holidays, I like to catch up with my friends and work on my grandparent’s farm near Crookwell. On their farm they have about 2000 acres of land with about 6000 sheep, seven sheep dogs and a horse named Bruce.
When I look out my window, I see the great big golden elm tree covered in bright yellow leaves. The rolling countryside is painted in luscious shades of green an array of crops and vineyards dotting the paddocks, depending on the time of year. The sky above is often vast and clear, with bright sunny days being a common occurrence. The combination of stunning landscapes, rich heritage, and warm community spirit makes Orange a truly delightful place to call my home.
Save the Dates
It will be a busy term! Please make note of important dates as follows:
Tuesday 28 November – End of Year Chapel Service and Boarding Christmas Party (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
Wednesday 6 December – Year 7 to 10 Speech Day (all Boarders required to be in attendance)
Wednesday 6 December – Boarders’ travel afternoon (following Speech Day)
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding
From the Chaplains
Welcome back to Week 1 and the last term of 2023. It is unbelievable that we are now in the last quarter of the year!
As the season progresses and the promise of a scorching summer awaits us, we have already felt the effects of climate impact in Victoria and the far-south coast of New South Wales. Our prayers and actions continue in areas of climate care and nurture of the planet as God’s stewards.
We also pray continually for the people of Israel and Palestine, for Ukraine and Russia and all places where conflict and violence are causing death and suffering of the innocent.
The Year 12s began their HSC this week and we remember all students across NSW who are feeling the pressure this time usually brings them and their family.
October 11 also marks the UN International Day of the Girl Child, inviting us to acknowledge the great gap in the rights of girls across the world.
As we begin this last term, may we know the strength that comes from the synergy in community, through support of and engagement with each other.
I hope and pray this will be a blessed term for each of you as you embrace the busyness of school life and manage all aspects of your lives.
We continue to pray for all of you. Please reach out if you need a chat or a coffee with our Chaplaincy team.
I will close with the words of Psalm 34:
‘I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord,
Let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt his name together. ‘
Blessings and peace.
Reverend Punam Bent
College Chaplain
From the Community Engagement Team
Welcomeback!
Welcome to Term 4 – I hope you all had a wonderful and restful break. It’s hard to believe that we are close to the end of 2023 already. This is always one of the busiest terms and this year is no exception. Please refer to the table below for our upcoming community events. I look forward to catching up with many of you over the coming weeks.
Pymble Foundation Gala Ball
We are on the official countdown to the inaugural PymbleFoundation Gala Ball at the Art Gallery of NSW this Saturday night. We are excited to celebrate all things Pymble with our community whist supporting the Pymble Foundation to invest in people, places and programs.
If you aren’t able to join us this weekend, you can still show your support by bidding in our Silent Auction and buying tickets in the Raffle with some amazing prizes up for grabs:
First prize: 2023 Sea-Doo 130 Jet Ski (valued at $20,000)
Secondprize: Five-night stay for two people at NOOE Maldives Resort (valued at $5,000)
Thirdprize: LG OLED Evo C3 55-inch 4k Smart TV (valued at $3,300)
All funds raised by the Pymble Foundation benefit current and future generations of Pymble girls by funding buildings and facilities, scholarships, bursaries and other programs. It also enables the College to remain a world leader in educating girls and young women.
Pymble Parent Association (PPA) Annual General Meeting and College Board Thank You Cocktail Party
The PPA Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 October in the David Macfarlane Centre from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. The PPA is a crucial part of Pymble life, running many events and activities throughout the year that would not be possible without their support.
The meeting will include an overview of PPA activities for 2023, voting and an induction for the 2024 committee and plans for the coming year. It will also cover the Term 4 Secondary School Parent Group meeting. The AGM is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and College staff and develop an understanding of the many events and initiatives the PPA assists with.
Immediately following the AGM at 7.00pm, the College Board invites all parent volunteers of any capacity to join James Hunter, Chair of the Board on Gloucester Lawn for the College Board Thank You Cocktail Party.
This event recognises the hard work and dedication of all our parent and carer volunteers throughout the year. If you have donated your time or provided other support in 2023, we want to celebrate your contribution and enjoy the beautiful surrounds of the College with some delicious food and drinks. We hope to see you there.
Kelly Mancey
Director of Community Engagement and Advancement
From the Futures Team
Taronga Zoo Work Experience
Applications for 2024 will open on the first day of Term 4, 2023.
Placements are processed in order of receipt, and only fully completed and signed applications are considered. Applications will close as soon as all places have been filled.
Please be aware that the selection panel will only accept one application for either Taronga Zoo Sydney or Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo. Students are advised to apply for their preferred site only. Any duplicate submission will void your application. Priority will be given to NSW residents.
In the interests of fairness, only one successful applicant per school will be considered for placement for one week (Monday to Friday), excluding school and public holidays.
Please contact the Futures Department if you are interested. Places are strictly limited and approval is required from the school before Taronga can proceed.
Meet a Keeper
If Work Experience is fully booked, you may wish to attend Meet a Keeper. This is a one-day program for school students aged 14 years and over who have expressed a keen interest in pursuing a career at the Zoo. Meet Keepers, hear about their career pathways and learn about the variety of pathways to working in a zoo. Find out more.
From the Co-curricular Sports Team
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Co-curricular Administration
End of Term 3 Registration Period
Registrations for Term 4 are now closed. Confirmation emails were sent to all families on Wednesday 4 October. The new format for these emails included not only the new selections that were made, but also included the Term 4 Saturday Sport your daughter had selected, any ongoing programs that continue throughout the year she is registered for, and any current selections for Term 1 2024 Saturday Sports. If you believe your daughter should have a new selection but you did not receive an email, please contact ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. If you missed the registration period and need to request a late registration for your daughter, 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 daughter cannot begin participating until you have received confirmation of acceptance via email.
Term 1 2024 Saturday Sport Registrations
Registrations for Term 1 2024 Saturday Sports close on Friday 27 October at 12.00pm. Please access the online registration via the Co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. A parent/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 in the weeks and days before registrations close.
The Term 1 Saturday Sport options will be as follows:
IGS AFL (Year 7 to 12)
igsa Tennis (Year 7 to 12)
igsa Badminton (Year 7 to 12)
Pymble Water Polo Competition (Year 7 to 12)
Pymble Softball (Year 8 to 12)
Sydney Sixers Cricket (Year 7 to 12 – Saturday afternoons)
IPSHA Football (Year 3 to 6)
IPSHA Water Polo/Flippa Ball (Year 3 to 6)
End of Term 4 Registration Period Changes
The End of Term 4 registration period will allow families to make selections for their Term 1, Semester 1 and Yearly 2024 Co-curricular Programs, as well as Term 2 2024 Saturday Sports. We are making several significant changes to this registration period as per the below:
The open date has changed from what was previously advertised. The End of Term 4 registration period will now open at 12.00pm on Wednesday 15 November. This is two weeks earlier than the registrations would normally open. One of the main reasons for this is to allow more time for families to register before going away over the holidays, and so that we can send families a summary of their current confirmed selections prior to school finishing. Changes can still be made to the registrations until the system closes in January, however this will help families better be able to plan for 2024 before the end of 2023.
The closing date will be moved forward one week to 12.00pm on Wednesday 10 January.
This registration period will no longer include Saturday Sports. Registrations for Saturday Sports will now open on the first Wednesday of each term and close on the third Friday, with registration for the sports being played the following term. As such, Term 2 2024 Saturday Sports will open for registration on Wednesday 31 January and close on Friday 16 February 2024.
Reminders of the opening and closing dates will be sent closer to each time, and a full calendar of registration dates will be provided at the start of 2024.
Monique Zahra
Head of Co-curricular Administration
Athletics
Over two weekends in the holidays, 20 Pymble athletes competed at the NSW All Schools Track and Field Championships. Our athletes came away with an amazing 21 medals, more than any other Girls’ school in the state. Nine of our Pymble athletes have been selected in the NSW Team to compete at the Australian All Schools Championships in Perth in December. Seven students also recorded top eight performances.
Congratulations to all athletes who competed over the two weekends. A big thank you to our coaches, Katie Edwards and Adam Raw who supported our students over the championships.
Medallists (Students highlighted have been selected in the NSW Team)
AmaliaBond (Year 7)
1st 13yrs Triple Jump
3rd 13yrs Long Jump (NSW State Record)
Eliza Lawton (Year 7)
1st 13yrs 800m and 1500m
Matilda Harrison (Year 9)
2nd 14yrs 100 and 200
Bethany Carruthers 3rd in 13yrs Hammer throw
Eloise Stewart (Year 8)
2nd 13yrs Hammer throw
Sarah Baker (Year 12)
3rd 16yrs 800m and 1500m
Sophia Slater (Year 10)
1st 16yrs 2km Steeplechase
Abigail Ballhausen (Year 12)
1st 17yrs 3000m
2nd 17yrs 1500m
Sybella Warton (Year 10)
2nd 16yrs 100m and 200m para
Samara Bond (Year 10)
2nd 16yrs 200m
3rd 16yrs 400m
Grace Townsend (Year 10)
1st 16yrs 400m hurdles
Rhedyn Wong (Year 12)
2nd 18yrs Javelin
Georgia Phillips (Year 12)
3rd 17yrs Long Jump
Yi Ying Lim (Year 12)
1st 18yrs 800m Para
The NSW Schools Team Challenge will be held on Wednesday 18 October. This a fantastic team event with Pymble entering four teams across three divisions. Students will travel by bus from the College as a team and we welcome any parents or carers who would like to come out and support Team Pymble.
Saturday 14 October is the start of the summer competition and will be held at Sydney Olympic Park. Any student registered can compete – please register at www.nswathletics.org.au. I strongly recommend students check the events on offer (400m hurdles, 200m hurdles, 100m, 400m, 1500m, High jump and Discus) for more competition practice. It is a lot of fun too!. If you require any further information on registering or competition, please contact Mrs Deb Walsham (dwalsham@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au).
Deb Walsham
Head Coach – Athletics
Baseball
Congratulations to Gabriella Nutman (Year 8) who has represented NSW at the Barclay Cup over the last eight days. This tournament was created to celebrate and empower young girls in baseball, in memory of the late Jacinda Barclay, whose legacy continues to inspire women’s baseball in Australia. Gabi’s team fought hard to finish third. We are very proud of Gabi’s performance at the tournament and her future in women’s baseball.
Katie Edwards
Head of Sports – Year 7 to 12
Duke of Edinburgh
Partnership with Dignity Dishes
We are extremely excited to announce, towards the end of Term 3 the Pymble Duke of Ed program partnered with Dignity Dishes, a brilliant initiative to prevent homelessness.
This partnership allows our Duke of Ed participants to cook delicious meals at home and drop them off to a location within the College ready for pick up and distribution to various locations around Sydney, for those in need.
So far, in just a few weeks the following Duke of Ed participants have cooked over 100 meals. This is an amazing achievement, and we look forward to seeing all your delicious meals this term. Keep up the great work!
Lisa Davidson (Year 10)
Samantha Fahy (Year 9)
Matilda Hawkins (Year 9)
Annie Luo (Year 10)
Mary Staciwa (Year 9)
Ella Van Horen (Year 10)
Emily Walker (Year 9)
I would also like to thank Ms Jo Collins who has assisted with getting this brilliant initiative off the ground and being present each week for our students to drop off their meals.
Year 9 2024 – Register for Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an exciting opportunity available to students starting from the age of 14 years. We strongly encourage all Year 9 students to participate in this globally recognised award program.
Our Year 9 Vision Valley program offers an excellent platform for students to begin their journey towards achieving the Bronze Award. This program consists of three immersive bushwalks/hikes, and the experiences gained from these outings can be used to fulfill both the Practice and Qualifying Adventurous Journeys, which are integral components of the Bronze Award.
By participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, students not only embark on an adventure that promotes personal growth and outdoor skills but also join a global community of young achievers. This program provides an excellent opportunity for Year 9 students to challenge themselves, build character, and gain valuable life skills that will benefit them now and in the future.
All students must register for the Duke of Edinburgh program prior to attending their Vision Valley Residential in 2024.
For further information regarding the Duke of Edinburgh program, please reach out to Mrs. Chris Boland via email at dukes@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Chris Boland
Duke of Edinburgh – Co-ordinator
Golf
Congratulations to Sarah Quan (Year 7) who played in the Jack Newton International Sub-Junior Classic during the first week. They played 72 holes in four days from Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 September. There are more than 450 entrants from across the world and the event is also the biggest Junior Golf tournament in the country. Sarah placed 2nd as Runner up in Girls 12 years old. On Thursday 5 October, Sarah also competed in the annual Junior Cup in Killara Golf Club and came Runner Up by one stroke! Well done on your achievements, Sarah!
Jack Garrad
Sports Co-ordinator – Golf
Water Polo
During the holidays three of our Pymble students competed in the National State Championships at the AIS in Canberra: Lucinda Middleton (Year10) in the NSW U15 Waratahs team, Keira Mironova (Year10) Captain of the NSW U15 Blues team and Zara Cooke (Year 9) Vice captain of the NSW U15 Blues team. It was a huge and successful six day tournament.
NSW Blue team played off in the gold medal match against the top QLD team and unfortunately went down 11 to 7.
Congratulations to Kiera and Zara who came away with the National Silver Medal and to Lucinda whose team came 5th overall.
Keira and Zara were also selected following the competition into the U15’s National Age Group Program that stayed on at the AIS for six days to complete a training camp with the Australian Squad, congratulations to Keira and Zara on this selection and opportunity.
Brigette Moore
Head Coach – Water Polo
From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team
Welcome back to the new term!
The first two weeks will see two exciting Drama productions: 12 Angry Women for Year 11 students and Hating Alison Ashley for Years 7 to 9 students
This term brings a plethora of showcases and concerts in Music, Dance and Drama. Further details will follow in future newsletters.
Much to celebrate in the final performance journeys of Pymble Performing Arts students in 2023!
We wish our Performing Arts students all the best for the upcoming HSC examinations.
Michael Griffiths
Director of Co-curricular Performing Arts
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Music
Welcome back! Rehearsals have begun in earnest as we prepare for yet another manic term of music making! Private lessons have also commenced and if you have not heard from your tutor, please do reach out to them to organise your lessons.
Regarding private tuition, please understand that our tutors work on a rotating timetable to ensure your daughter does not miss the same class each week. However, when a tutor only has 4 students, this might result in 2 school classes per term being missed. This is unavoidable but it does not hinder your daughter’s progress in learning. The science does not lie – music lessons have been proven to help learning and retention. I therefore ask kindly that you discuss lesson times openly with your private tutor and accept that there will be times when a class is missed. Year 12 are the only students who are given priority for lunch time, before and after school lessons.
Congratulations to our wonderful Year 12 Music 1, 2 and Extension cohort.
These girls received an Encore Nomination for their performances. Encore is the concert held at the Opera House and showcases the students who received the highest marks in their performance exams for the HSC.
Xin Ying Selina Hsieh
Freya Carmody
Charlotte Allen
Eliza Michie
Bella Zhang
Gabrielle Zhong
Odessa Girdis
Claire Oslington
Dates for your diaries:
14 October – Foundation Ball: String quartet and selected choristers. Please check parent portal for information
18 October – Music Support Group Meeting: 6.00pm Music Gallery
20 October – Internal Scholarships take place. Information was delivered via the portal and email.
25 October – Junior School Ensemble Concert: 6.30pm in the GMCPA (this is a compulsory event for all Junior School ensemble members)
Week 3: Junior School Ensemble Concert
The Junior School Ensemble Concert will be held on Wednesday 25 October (Week 3) at 6.30pm in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts. This is a wonderful opportunity to see and hear the culmination of a year’s hard work by your daughter. The ensembles have achieved some outstanding results this year and I know you will be amazed and very proud of what your daughters have achieved.
The concert will be approximately 90 minutes in duration with no interval. Please note that no student will be allowed to leave during the concert. Students in the Band and String Ensembles will be arriving from 5.45pm as directed by their conductors in order to tune their instruments. Students in Choirs only, need to arrive at 6.00pm. Following the concert, parents are to collect their daughter from the holding room they were dropped off at for the start of the concert.
If students are not going home prior to the concert and need supervision from 3.00pm, please complete the following LINK. We have arranged for a College staff member to supervise students. Sign up for supervision will close on Friday 20 October. In addition, if your daughter has an after-school activity and needs to be collected for supervision, please indicate this in the online survey.
31 October – String Quartet performance for the opening of Barrenjoey House.
1 November – BIG BAND BLOW for Year 3 students. More details will be sent home for this very fun morning
13 November – EOI for the Concerto Competition Close
22 November – Secondary School Ensemble Concert: 6.30pm in the GMCPA (this is a compulsory event for all Secondary School ensemble members)
2 December – Choral Climate Festival – All School Choir (notes will be sent home)
3 December – Community Christmas Carols Service – from 5.00pm on Gloucester Lawn then the Chapel. Bring a picnic, your voices and your joy of Christmas.
6 December – Speech Day Celebrations for Junior and Senior Schools.
Concerto Competition
An EOI was placed on the portal for this. Please ensure you have read the information and discussed this with your tutor. Entries close 13November.
Congratulations to the following students in their musicianship exams.
Chloe Ayton - Grade 1 Musicianship - High Distinction (A+)
Charlotte Henderson – Grade 2 Musicianship - High Distinction (A+)
Amrita Marwah – Grade 2 Musicianship - High Distinction (A+)
Celine Cai - Grade 3 Musicianship - High Distinction (A+)
Sophia Kok - Grade 4 Musicianship - High Distinction (A+)
Angela Tao - Grade 4 Musicianship - High Distinction (A+)
Ang-Ya Koo – Grade 8 Cello Comprehensive – B
Lydia Chen – Grade 6 Cello Comprehensive – A
Chloe Ayton – Grade 5 Cello Repertoire – B
Celine Cai – Grade 5 Cello Comprehensive – B+
Vivian Zhang – Grade 4 Cello Comprehensive – A
Yuecheng Xu – Certificate of Performance Cello – A
Megan Ng in Year 4 also achieved an A+ in her violin exam for C.Mus.
TOUR 2024 – Spain and Portugal
If you or your daughter completed the EOI, you will soon be receiving some information about deposits. Some girls have been invited to audition – please note that this is so that the conductors have a sense of what instrumentation is available. If your daughter has not received any emails asking her to audition, it is assumed she is confirmed for the tour and you will receive notice about deposit payments.
Regarding costs, please note that if you were at the information session, we provided you with the amount that was the higher end of the spectrum based on smaller numbers of girls attending. The more girls we have going, the less the cost.
Sarah Turner
Head of Music
Navigating media consumption in times of unrest: a guide for parents
In today’s digital age, news travels faster than ever before, often reaching our screens within moments of an event occurring. While this can be beneficial, it also means that our children might be exposed to images and information that can be distressing. With the current civil unrest unfolding across the globe, it’s important to ensure that our daughters are shielded from graphic content while still staying informed.
Balancing awareness with wellbeing
First and foremost, it’s essential to strike a balance. While it’s important for our daughters to be aware of world events, we need to ensure their mental wellbeing is prioritised. Discussing the news as a family can offer an opportunity to contextualise events and provide a supportive environment for your daughter to share her feelings.
Practical strategies for parents
Please note that some of these will apply more or less depending on the age of your daughter.
1. Set parental controls: Utilise parental controls on devices and TVs. This allows you to filter out inappropriate content and potentially distressing news reports.
2. Schedule media time – for when you are around: Allocate specific times in the day for catching up with the news, preferably when you’re present. This way, you can monitor and discuss the content with your daughter, providing context and reassurance. A common piece of advice we give to parents is no phones in bedrooms.
3. Encourage open dialogue: Make it a habit to talk about the news and world events. By creating an open environment where your daughter feels comfortable sharing, you can address any concerns and clarify misunderstandings.
4. Navigate social media use: Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube can sometimes expose users to unfiltered content. Encourage your daughter to be discerning about whom she follows and to take regular breaks from these platforms. It is through these platforms that much of the highly distressing media is distributed.
The aim isn’t to shield our daughters from the realities of the world entirely, but to present them in a manner that’s digestible and less distressing. By fostering an atmosphere of understanding and openness, we can help our daughters navigate these challenging times with resilience and empathy.
Term 4 bus registrations are now open!
Registrations are now open for the Pymble private bus service during Term 4 – all students must be registered to catch the bus and must have a current student ID card to tap on and off each trip.
In Term 4, the bus service will operate from Tuesday 10 October to Wednesday 6 December 2023.
Please check thebus stops and timesfor your preferred bus route. 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:
Term registration enables the student to access the bus service every day in the morning and afternoon. The charge is currently set at $430.00 per term.
Flexible registration enables the student to register for specific day(s) with a choice of morning and/or afternoon runs. The charge is currently set at $7.50 per trip.
A reminder for parents and students:
Student ID cards must be used to tap on and tap off each trip. If your daughter has lost her card, please contact College Services for a replacement form. 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 using the free app, available on Android and Apple devices.
Please contact College Services via collegeservices@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you have any further questions about transport to and from Pymble Ladies’ College.
’12 Angry Women’ Drama Production
You are warmly invited to the Pymble Theatre Ensemble production of 12 Angry Women starting from Thursday 12 October in the Drama Theatre (SLT).
In this production – a twist on the classic 12 Angry Men – 13 exceptional Pymble actors create a viscerally wrought fictional world in which every individual character’s right to express her voice is put on trial. The play is a modern examination of the effect of bias on decision making and justice, with the impact of the production resting firmly on the performance skills of these actors. There are no production elements to camouflage or blur their work beyond the third eye of a digital camera.
Year 4 Parent and Daughter Camp at Vision Valley – Bookings close tomorrow!
Don’t miss out on a fun weekend in the great outdoors at Vision Valley from Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 October 2023.
The camp promises to be a fun weekend of adventure activities, toasting damper over the campfire, meeting other parents and spending quality time with your daughter while you camp under the stars at the beautiful Vision Valley campus in Arcadia.
All parents must provide a valid WWCC to Vision Valley prior to attending. See the flier for more information.
Click here to book before 6.00pm tomorrow, Friday 13 October.
Get your copy of The Pymble Pantry!
A few months ago, Community Engagement put the call out to the Pymble community to submit your favourite recipes to feature within a College cookbook, and after an enthusiastic response and outpouring of contributions, we’re thrilled to announce The Pymble Pantryis now available to download for just $9.95!
Inspired by Lucinda Woodfield (Year 11), the 2023 Food Technology Captain, The Pymble Pantry is a crème de la crème, digital collection of over 100 recipes, crafted with passion and brought to you by the talented students, staff and parents of Pymble Ladies’ College.
Within these deliciously curated chapters, you’ll embark on a journey through the kitchen of our talented, cooking-savvy contributors, with each recipe a testament to the rich tapestry of flavours, techniques and cultural influences that shape our vibrant community. From classic comfort foods to exotic masterpieces, you are sure to find something to make your taste buds tango.
But this cookbook is about more than just good food – it’s about making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. As a part of the College’s 2023 Pymble Gives Back initiative, every cent generated from the sale of The Pymble Pantry will be divided evenly and donated to two amazing charities: Dignity and The Smith Family.
So, whether you’re a seasoned chef, an aspiring home cook or simply someone who loves enjoying a good meal, through The Pymble Pantry, we invite you to open your own pantry and experience the tastes of Pymble for yourself – all while contributing to the betterment of the lives of those doing it tough.
Click here to purchase your copy of The Pymble Pantry today!
Pymble Parent Association Annual General Meeting
The whole Pymble community is invited to attend the Pymble Parent Association (PPA) Annual General Meeting (AGM), followed directly by the College Board Thank You Cocktail Party to celebrate all those who donated their time in 2023.
The AGM will feature an overview of the PPA’s activities for 2023, an induction of next year’s committee and an announcement of plans for 2024. Click here to view the agenda for the evening.
James Hunter, Chair of the College Board and Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal will then be in attendance to share their updates for 2024 and recognise the hard work and dedication of all our parent volunteers over the past year with some delicious cocktails and canapés on Gloucester Lawn.
PPA AGM& Secondary School Parent Group Term 4 Meeting
At the Sportswomen’s Awards Night to be held on Friday 3 November, the College honours our talented sportswomen in Years 7 to 12 who have achieved great success and demonstrated outstanding commitment to their sports throughout the year.
On the night, students who participate in competitive sports will be recognised through several awards which include Athlete of the Year, Para Athlete of the Year, All Rounder of the Year, Team of the Year, Representative Team of the Year, Strive for the Highest Awards, Sports Officials of the Year, Australian Representatives and Sportswoman of the Year.
Students and teams are nominated for these awards by the Sports Co-ordinators and Head Coaches and are then finalised by a committee. The dinner will celebrate the achievements of our students and teams and give due regard to the College values which these awardees exemplify. Awards are a way to encourage good performance and instil competitive spirit. Sport at Pymble provides a platform for students to be challenged, to achieve and grow and this awards dinner is designed to recognise those who compete at the highest level in their chosen disciplines.
Also, we acknowledge that not all students who show excellence and commitment to their sport can be recognised at the awards evening – there are simply too many students who represent the College in sport. For those students not receiving an award at the dinner, we recognise and acknowledge your contribution to Pymble and encourage you to continue to strive for your highest in your chosen sport.
I would also like to extend special thanks to our College Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen, and the College Council for supporting our exceptional Sport program, and to all the Parents/Carers who support their daughters in their varied sporting pursuits.
For more information and to purchase tickets to the event, please click here.
Katie Edwards
Head of Sports – Years 7 to 12
Year 8 Dads and Daughters Camp at Vision Valley – Book now!
Year 8 Dads and their daughters are invited to attend the popular PPA Camp at Vision Valley on Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 November 2023.
The camp promises to be a fun weekend of adventure activities, toasting damper over the campfire, meeting other dads and spending quality time with your daughter while you camp under the stars at the beautiful Vision Valley campus in Arcadia.
Places are limited to 60 Dad and Daughter pairs. All dads must provide a valid Working With Children Check to Vision Valley prior to attending. See the below flyer for more information. Click here to book now!
