From the Principal

This week it is with great pride that we celebrate the success of our 2024 da Vinci teams. For those who may not know, the annual da Vinci Decathlon was launched by Knox Grammar School in 2002 to celebrate the academic gifts of school students across Australia. The competition runs in the spirit of an Olympic decathlon, with students competing in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: Engineering, Mathematics, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, Science, English, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography, and Legacy.

Each year, Pymble students in Years 5 to 11 apply for selection in their year-group da Vinci team – an equally exciting and gruelling process for our staff selection panel given the level of academic rigour and enthusiasm for learning we see every day at Pymble. Students train for one term under the guidance of dedicated academic staff to hone their critical thinking, teamwork and creativity under pressure.

The competition starts at state level, with Secondary School place getters going on to compete at the National Finals. In 2023, our Year 7 and Year 8 Pymble teams took out first and second place respectively at Nationals, and our Year 5 team placed third overall in the state, which is the highest level of competition for Junior School teams. It’s fair to say, Pymble has form at da Vinci.

Congratulations to our 2024 da Vinci superstars!

With this background in mind, allow me to publicly congratulate our 2024 superstars, our amazing students in Years 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 who were among 158 da Vinci teams from around NSW competing in fierce but friendly style at the state championships held on 14 to 16 May. Our students’ tally of outstanding results are as follows:

Year 5 and Year 10 were officially named state champions, both placing first overall in their age groups.

Year 10 will go on to compete at National level on Saturday 29 June through to Monday 1 July.

Our teams in Years 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 all placed in the top three for their age groups, and Year 6 placed eighth overall.

Behold this fabulous breakdown of results per team:

Pymble team	Discipline and place	Discipline and place	Discipline and place	Discipline and place	Discipline and place	Overall place in state
Year 5:	3^rd in Cartography	1^st in English	1^st in Ideation			1st
Year 6:	2^nd in Ideation					8th
Year 7:	1^st in English	1^st in Creative Producers	1^st in Ideation	3^rd in Science		3rd
Year 8:	1^st in English					2nd
Year 9	2^nd in Code Breaking	2^nd in Cartography	3^rd in Art and Poetry	3rd in Ideation		3rd
Year 10:	1^st in Science	1^st in Engineering	2^nd in English	2^nd in Legacy	3^rd in Code breaking	1st
Year 11:	2^nd in Art and Poetry	2^nd in Mathematics				2nd

Wow, just wow, girls! These are incredible results, made more impressive by the fact that Pymble is a non-selective school competing against a vast number of teams from all around NSW, many of them from selective schools. Congratulations to all our students involved, and to our equally incredible academic staff for coaching and supporting our students to bring their best minds – along with our College values – to this prestigious competition. In Junior School, this is Ms Lyn Wynne (Year 5 team) and Mrs Jo Meacock (Year 6 team), overseen by our Deputy Head of Junior School – Academics, Mrs Lara Bird. Our Years 7 to 11 teams are supported by our Director of the Centre of Excellence, Mrs Debbie Tarrant, and Mrs Kristen McEvoy who assists with Year 7.

Congratulations to all and best wishes to our Year 10 team as they prepare for Nationals in two weeks – Team Pymble will be cheering you on in spirit and with pride.

Our first Year 9 Residential Program with Anglican Church Grammar School, QLD (Churchie)

Perhaps today is not the best day to be talking about productive relationships between NSW and QLD given the State of Origin game last night… however, we have just come to the end of a fantastic Year 9 Residential Program with our students and the young men from Churchie.

The start of the program, now over a month ago, began with torrential rain and close to freezing conditions! Thank goodness we had just finished renovating all the lodges at Vision Valley in readiness for our guests. I think our friends from Churchie were particularly grateful to come ‘home’ each day to such warm and cosy lodges.

It’s hard to encapsulate everything that was offered on this program as much of the learning occurs in the unstructured times, but the following list gives you a taste of some of the activities students enjoyed:

Full-day orienteering challenge in Marra Marra National Park.
Full-day canyoning and abseiling in the Blue Mountains.
24-hour solo experience.
Preparing and dehydrating their own expedition meals.
Three-day expedition to Bouddi National Park.
Four-day expedition along the Great North Walk.
Geography and service (also known as ‘Dulumi’, which is the First Nations word for ‘give away’), including designing frog hotels as sanctuaries around the lake.
Great Adventure Race to solve challenges across the Valley, with the winning team crowned as victors.
Learning experience with First Nations Elders Tim Selwyn and partner Arwen from Girra Girra.

A massive thank you to Dr Alan Campbell, the Headmaster of Churchie, for saying ‘yes’ to this wonderful initiative, and to the team from Churchie who were great supporters of the program. Our team, of course, kicked it out of the ballpark with incredible feedback from students at Pymble as well as Churchie. Thanks to our Head of Campus – Vision Valley, Tom Riley, Vanessa Petersen and her team, Nick Wilkesmann and his team, and all the staff who have worked on and championed this program.

Of course, the real stars here are our amazing Year 9 students. There’s something very special about our girls welcoming the boys to ‘their place’. The girls were enthusiastic, demonstrated grit and brought with them the fabulous ‘have a go’ mentality that we love about our Pymble students.

One of the best reflections of the experience came from our Deputy Head of Campus – Vision Valley, Vanessa Petersen, who shared the final debrief with students the night before they went home. Vanessa said, “There were lots of tears and my favourite reflection from one of the students was, ‘I am aggressively not suited to the outdoors but I never want to leave’. Tomorrow will be bittersweet!” How beautiful is that?! We look forward to many more adventures in the coming years with our new friends from Churchie.

Windows into Learning

There’s a special joy that comes from hearing students reflect on their own learning. This week we celebrate the work of our budding Year 4 scientists and Year 11 Design and Technology students.

Science in Year 4

A recent Science lesson in Year 4 began with an observation about balloons popping, which lead to a question on our current topic of conduction: “What will happen if I apply heat to a balloon using a candle?”.

“I think the balloon will pop because the rubber will melt!” exclaimed one student. “No, it will deflate slowly!” countered another.

As the experiment unfolded, the balloon indeed popped. All students eagerly recorded their observations and questions bubbled around the classroom.

“Let’s add more air to the balloon and try again!” suggested one student. “It will pop slower because there’s more air to heat up,” said another. “No, it will pop faster because the rubber is more stretched!”.

The balloon popped faster the second time and the students quickly wrote down their observations and theories. “We should time it to be more accurate!” observed one student, pointing out the need for precision, which was lacking in the first test.

The class decided to test with less air, making sure to measure the balloon’s size accurately this time. The balloon took longer to pop, and there were noticeable burn marks on the rubber.

With more meticulous measurement, the balloon was filled with water to one-third of its volume, thanks to a suggestion from the girls.

“It’s going to burst and water will go everywhere!” giggled some, while others debated whether the air and water in the balloon would heat up or cool, and if it would burst faster or more slowly.

To their amazement, the balloon didn’t pop; instead, the rubber burned without bursting. The ballon was passed around the room and when students felt the burn mark they discovered it was cold.

Awe had been sparked, along with countless questions, and a growing awareness of the importance of the scientific process, where each question leads to new insights.

Mr Dan Brown
Head of STEM K-6

Year 11 Design and Technology

Our class is in the beginning stages of planning and creating our Minor Major works for 2024. This process has involved interacting with many new pieces of equipment, including the thicknesser, which is a machine that can cut timber to a consistent thickness, and the welder, which some students are looking to utilise in their final designs.

These experiences have enhanced our ability to prototype and iterate on our designs and taught us valuable problem-solving and technical skills. The precision and attention to detail required are applicable in a variety of subjects, including Economics and Biology, where I am finding that the critical thinking skills are in high demand during practicals and other depth studies.

Working with advanced technology prepares us for real-world applications, giving us a head start in fields like engineering, architecture, and graphic design. This hands-on learning extends beyond the classroom, engaging a mindset of innovation and adaptability that will benefit us in various aspects of our future careers and everyday lives.

Mary Cottrell (Year 11)
Design and Technology Subject Captain

From the Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

Thank you to all of you who donated nappies over the last few weeks. I am so proud of the kindness within our community. Last weekend a busy group of Junior School girls sorted, counted and packed 17,991 nappies which are now on their way to support families who are finding life challenging across the greater Sydney area. The Nappy Collective were thrilled with the amount of donations given by our community and the spirit in which our girls worked to support this critical community service.

A shout out to our intrepid Year 4 mums and daughters who braved the elements to spend the weekend at Vision Valley. Rain didn’t stop play and these warrior women and girls had a wonderful time connecting with nature and one another. I am sure many special memories were created.

This week we hosted the Children’s Kindness Convention which has grown from a small idea to spread the power of kindness through our local schools’ community. I am particularly proud that a school from Adelaide flew up for the convention and we hosted them at Vision Valley and shared a wonderful breakfast with them on the morning of the convention. They will now be taking our Kindness Convention model back to South Australia to launch it there across their school community. #WatchUsChangeTheWorld.

Transport Survey for Grey House Precinct

Construction of Grey House Precinct is well underway and we are looking forward to the purpose-built educational and co-curricular spaces it will offer our students.

Due to the significance of this development, the College is required to conduct a transport survey of all Pymble students and staff.

This survey will be used to develop Pymble’s Green Travel Plan which will allow us to manage traffic flow more effectively and accurately determine parking requirements within the College. It will also help us to promote more sustainable and efficient travel choices for students, staff and visitors to the College whist recognising the unique context of travel planning for Pymble families.

Surveys have been sent to all Junior School parents via MyPymble to complete on behalf of their daughter/s. Secondary students will complete the survey themselves and time has been set aside during Compass to do this.

The survey will take five minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous and confidential. Surveys must be completed by Friday 21 June. If you have any questions, please contact Community Engagement at communityengagement@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Thank you for your support of Pymble’s Master Plan.

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

Year 3 LEGO Masters

Our Year 3 Lego Masters very proudly came to Hedgehog House to display their LEGO construction of the Grey House Precinct. Each class was given the challenge using LEGO bricks to construct different areas including their new Year 5 classrooms, a STEM lab, OSHC and dance studios, using architectural blueprints. Sharing their experiences the girls reflected on the skills they used when building these models including creativity, perseverance, accuracy, collaboration and problem solving.

They also shared that they all needed to be mathematicians, engineers and designers when interpreting the blueprints and constructing their models, to ensure it accurately reflected the blueprint. Year 3 were very excited to know that they will be the first Pymble girls to learn in this space and provided suggestions on what they would like to see in classrooms, this included: areas for robotics (they were thrilled to hear that there was a STEM lab they would be using in their learning); bookcases filled with books for them to read; and plants in all areas to create a calm learning environment.

We also talked about how in Term 1 Year 3 had learnt about how communities change, and the girls were informed that their Lego Masters will be recorded for their future selves when in Grey House Precinct. A very big thank you to the Year 3 Compass teachers and Mr Stephen Robinson, a LEGO Master himself, for guiding the girls during the construction phase.

World Ocean Day

Last week a group of students from Year 4 came together with some Year 9 Marine and Aquaculture students in the Senior School science labs to discuss the importance of protecting our oceans leading up to World Ocean Day on Friday 31 May. In groups they discussed reducing pollution, ways we can protect endangered marine life and most importantly how we can take action. The girls completed engaging activities based upon these themes.

ICAS

A link has been sent to Year 3 to 6 families to enrol their daughter(s) in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) which will be held in Term 3. These assessments will include Writing, English, Mathematics, Spelling and Science.

Not all schools enter these competitions, and some schools enter only their high achieving students. This is a voluntary competition and will be held before school. Registration closes on Monday 22 July.

Micro Mathematician – Maths Holiday Workshop for Year 5 and Year 6

University of Melbourne, School of Mathematics and Statistics run a virtual and in person holiday program “Micro Mathematician”. Please click here for more information.

Wellbeing Weekly from Kate Giles- Head of Wellbeing K-6

Communicating with your daughter

A common challenge that parents share is around how to communicate with their daughter to find out about her day at school. Quite often children (my own included) report their day was “fine” or “good” when asked how school was, providing no detail at all. Some things that can be more effective to get a little more information about your daughter’s day include:

Setting aside time each day to chat about school. This could be in the car on the way home, at the dinner table or immediately before bed, but having time when you can actively listen is important.
Ask open ended questions (and ask why). Some questions that can be helpful to gain deeper information can include:
- What was the best part of your day?
- What was something that challenged you today?
- What made you smile at school today?
- What is something that made you feel proud at school today?
- What is something interesting you learned today?
Be supportive and encouraging. Praise their hard work and provide reassurance when they are facing difficulties.
Problem solve any concerns together. Guide your daughter with solutions and goal setting.
Share your day. It is great to model communicating your feelings and thoughts with your daughter too.

Creating an environment where your daughter feels comfortable to share her thoughts and feelings is important to help you understand her experiences better, but also provides her with the reassurance that you are there to listen and provide unconditional support.

ySafe Online Parent Presentation – Wednesday 12 June 6.00pm

An online session for parents will be held on Wednesday 12 June at 6.00pm to 7.00pm. This session will cover important information such as online safety, social media, gaming, screen time recommendations and step-by-step instructions on how to set up a cyber safe home for children of all ages. The session will also include a Q&A session.

A message from Penny Charalambous – Junior School House Coordinator

A reminder that there is an exciting competition offered to Junior School girls in Years 3-6 to name the crane!

Students are invited to participate by creating a postcard that illustrates how kindness aligns with our College values. They are encouraged to express their thoughts in words and to complement their explanation with a drawing illustrating the importance of kindness in our daily lives.

Each student has been provided with a postcard template for them to use. Completed postcards are due by Friday Week 7 at 8.00am to their Compass teacher.

The winner of the competition will be announced during the Years 3 to 6 Assembly on Monday of Week 8 and will have the privilege of having the luffing crane named after their house, raising morale and pride for the whole house. They will also receive an individual prize.

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

STEAM Festival – Resource collection

We are still seeking donations of:

Newspapers
Paper towel rolls (please no toilet paper rolls)
Paper straws
Red and blue cellophane
Paper plates

Please drop donations to the boxes located inside Hedgehog House.

A message from Kurt Schweinberger, Head of Creative and Performing Arts K-6

Please join us for a heartwarming showcase of unique stories through dance and singing at the Year 5 Showcase: Everyone Has a Story—What do you call your Grandma?

At the heart of the showcase is the recognition that each person has a story worth sharing. Whether it’s the endearing nickname for their grandma, the cherished memories of family gatherings, or the tales of resilience and love passed down through generations, everyone has a story that deserves to be heard and celebrated.

Through music, stories and dance, Year 5 students will honour the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that make up the College community and beyond. These stories will inspire and remind people of the beauty of our shared humanity and diverse backgrounds.

We look forward to seeing you at the Year 5 Showcase, where every story is valued, and each voice is heard.

Performance dates: Wednesday 19 June, commencing at 1.30pm

Venue: Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts

Tickets: This is a free event, no ticket is needed.

Junior School Digital News

Term 2 2024 Key Dates – Week 5 and 6

Tomorrow Kindergarten Nature Play (girls to wear PE uniform and bring gumboots and raincoats)

Saturday 8 June No IPSHA Saturday Sport

Monday 10 June King’s Birthday Public Holiday – No school

Tuesday 11 June Hindson Chamber Strings excursion P3-6

Wednesday 12 June ySafe Year 3(P2), 5(P3) and Parents (Online) 6.30pm

Wednesday 12 June Junior Capella Choir Excursion

Thursday 13 June ySafe Year 1, 2, 4 and 6

Friday 14 June House time 11.45am-12.45pm (No K-2 assembly)

Friday 14 June Year 2 Nature Play 1.00pm-2.00pm (girls to wear PE uniform and bring gumboots and raincoats)

Friday 14 June IPSHA Debating (St Andrews)

Saturday 15 June IPSHA Saturday Sport

Sunday 16 June Junior Eisteddfod Team Extreme at Sydney Opera House

From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)

Year 4 Mother and Daughter Camp – Vision Valley

Last weekend, 40 of our Year 4 mums and their daughters braved the extremely wet weather for an overnight camp at Vision Valley. The rain did nothing to dampen our spirits, nor stop us from experiencing nearly all that Vision Valley has to offer.

Mums and their daughters completed activities including archery, crate stacking, vertical high rope climbs, an early morning bush walk and an outdoor team challenge course – much of those in the pouring rain. Although disappointed we couldn’t have a campfire and marshmallows as planned, we did enjoy a lively round of trivia and were entertained by group challenges between rounds.

The camp aimed to help our girls feel a greater sense of connection with their families and each other, and these activities were chosen to promote teamwork, trust, resilience and communication. There was so much support and encouragement as we all pushed outside our comfort zones, with lots of laughter as we shared our experiences over meals together.

Thank you to the fabulous Vision Valley staff for sharing this wonderful experience with us. We’ll treasure the memories we made.

PPA Trivia Night – Saturday 22 June

Thank you to our parents who have registered for the upcoming Trivia Night, which will be held at a new venue this year – Miramare Gardens at Terrey Hills. We’ve had a great response from our Junior School community, with tables now registered for Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

There are still some spaces available on these tables so if you would like assistance in joining a table, please reach out to your parent Year Coordinators, or Edwina Burns on edwina@deburns.com who is the Junior School convenor of this event.

If you are unable to attend the event but would still like to show support, raffle tickets are available for advance purchase via the ticket link below.

Fantastic prizes will be won and auctioned throughout the night and proceeds will go towards the Teacher and Staff Development Program and the Thank You Lunch on World Teachers’ Day.

Please note this is a parent only event. Tickets are still available for purchase here. Please RSVP by Wednesday 12 June.

Other Upcoming Events

Year 3 Play Date at the Park – Sunday 9 June

Come along for a fun afternoon at Bicentennial Park, West Pymble. Catch up with some old friends and meet some new ones too! The whole family is welcome to join.

Year 1 Mum’s Night Out – Thursday 20 June

Please join our Year 1 Mum’s Night Out on Thursday 20 June from 6.30pm at the Governor Hotel. Please book through the QR code on the flyer.

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

Kate Brown

Head of Junior School

From the Middle School

We are now officially at the midway point of Term 2 and this week has been an especially busy week for our Middle School students. On Thursday, David Smith from y Safe spoke to Year 7 and Year 8 students. ySafe is one of Australia’s leading online safety providers, educating and empowering our students to use the internet and social media in safe and positive ways. Below, Yenyu and Abigail share their thoughts on the presentation.

“I found the ySafe talk informative as we talked about problems that we could face online. This was good as we learnt how to react in these situations, such as if someone is sending us threats or inappropriate messages. Also, learning about age laws for things like different social media platforms and why they are used helped me learn why they don’t let younger people on them.” – Abigail Martin (Year 8)

“As technology improves, more and more people are beginning to use it more often, using platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. And more often than not, people are starting to get upset and insecure about it. So what can you really do?

Last week, David Smith, the State Education Manager for NSW, came to talk to us about it. We learnt about toxic online behaviour, how it can damage our self-esteem drastically, and how to deal with it. All of this information helps us live in a world where AI technology is all around us. With this information, we are provided with the knowledge of developing a healthy digital wellbeing and footprint.

Students learnt about how reporting an issue, whether involving yourself or not, can help your peers and yourself. This maintains your digital feed and helps you be constantly aware of the numerous trolls lurking around out there. The scenarios provided explained social exclusion and bystander behaviour and how to prevent it. Overall, the program delivered ways to maintain our screen time and digital wellbeing, thus informing us on how to have a healthy and optimistic online experience.” – Yenyu Chan (Year 7)

Congratulations to Estelle Lee (Year 8) who participated in the Rostrum Voice of Youth Public speaking competition last month. Estelle has shared her experience with us below:

“The Rostrum Voice of Youth is a national public speaking competition which provides an opportunity for Secondary students to have a go expressing their views and opinions on a specific topic. l chose the topic ‘The End of an Era’, and decided to talk about the biases within AI and how although AI may represent the end of an era for many aspects of our world and something that moves us forward, AI only works through looking backwards, learning from the data we have collected in the past.

So, unfortunately, this means that AI cannot bring about the end of an era for the biases that have ingrained themselves in our world. After being successful in the first two rounds of knock out auditions, it was a privilege to represent Pymble in the Regional Finals at Ravenswood.” – Estelle Lee (Year 8)

As you may have read in last week’s College Compass, our Middle School leaders have been embarking on a new project to design new welcome signage for the Middle School. Below is an update on their progress.

“The 2024 Middle School Leadership Team is very excited to launch a project that we will be working on over this term. With your help, we are going to design, build, acknowledge, learn and celebrate a ‘Welcome Sign’ for the Middle School Office using all the different languages we speak and cultures we belong to.

The Middle School is a diverse group of cultures and nationalities. The ‘Welcome Sign’ strives to embrace, appreciate, recognise and, of course, celebrate cultural diversity of our students and staff here in the Middle School.

Last week, a survey was launched to all Year 7 and 8 students so we could capture the languages we speak. All of the greetings in language will be compiled to create a signpost that will sit outside the Middle School office.

The results of the survey were compiled early this week, and it turns out that 29 different languages are spoken in the Middle School!

This signpost will look almost like a street sign with laser-cut wording. We will work in collaboration with the TAS Department to construct it. An unveiling assembly will be held, to officially launch the new sign and celebrate the diverse and rich culture in the Middle School.

We hope everyone is excited about this idea, and we want you to get involved as much as possible and support the Middle School by showing your spirit! We are also looking forward to sharing updates each week.” Written by Arden Liceralde (Year 7) and Ginny Makan (Year 8)

Finally, our Gloucester Gatherings continue for Term 2. This week, the girls created bouquets of paper flowers and played Jenga in the sunshine on the cobblestones. Remember, anyone can join Gloucester Gatherings which take place each Tuesday and Thursday at lunchtime. The schedule can be found below.

The Pymble Family Book Club

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

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

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

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

How the Pymble Family Book Club works:

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

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

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

Kind regards and happy reading!

Key Dates

Monday 10 June – King’s Birthday public holiday

Friday 28 June – Last day of Term

From the Middle School Parent Groups

Year 7

Dear Parents and Carers

We are really looking forward to the two events coming up this term:

Mother and Daughter Day at Vision Valley

This event is for those mothers and daughters who have registered via the portal. This is being held on Sunday 16th June from 9.00am to 3.00pm.

Vision Valley is organising a wonderful day for us full of activities, including a delicious morning tea and lunch.

PPA Trivia Night

Please come join us on the night and/or donate items for prizes. Join other Year 7 parents at one of the best events in the parent calendar!

Date: Saturday 22nd June 6.30pm to 10.30pm

Please do not worry if you do not know other Year 7 parents, as this is the perfect opportunity to meet new faces in Year 7 and across the whole school.

This year is being held at exclusive function centre Miramare Gardens, so it will be an amazing function to be a part of. Optional dress-up theme: Pop Rock Stars!

Click here for tickets. It’s guaranteed to be a sensational night!

Please note we are also looking for donations to the Trivia Night which can be given as prizes.

Years 7 and 8 are putting together hampers ‘for the mums’.

There is a basket in the Middle School office for which to donate prizes. The Middle School office is located on the other side of the Chapel towards the Junior School office (where the old Uniform Shop used to be).

Products ‘for the mums’ might include: body lotion, body wash, spa vouchers; basically anything that could pamper our mums and make them feel special.

We are incredibly grateful for anything, however big or small, you are able to donate. Our Trivia Night Committee has been working tirelessly for months to make sure this event is beyond special for everyone.

We look forward to seeing you on the night!

Year 8

Year 8 Coffee Morning

We are holding the next Year 8 coffee morning this Friday 7 June at Brick Lane Expresso in West Pymble from 8.00am. See you there.

PPA Trivia Night – Donations

The Trivia Night is one of the PPA’s biggest fundraisers of the year. To make it a successful evening, we rely on the kind support of our community for donations for the live and silent auctions, year group baskets, and raffles. If you have anything that you would like to donate, please get in touch.

We are seeking all kinds of donations such as vouchers for experiences, activities, vouchers/products from local businesses (restaurants, gyms, PTs, food & beverage etc), holiday stays, and bottles of wine/champagne to go towards a “Wine/Champagne Lovers” basket (please contact Kenneth Kok at kenneth@kok.family – alcohol cannot be dropped off at school).

Kindest regards,

Ms Cindy Tian 0400 980 181 and cindy.tian@gmail.com

Ms Kai Jones 0431 725 948 and kai_look@yahoo.com

Jenny O’Donnell

Head of Middle School

From the Upper School

A message from Mrs Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School

It has been a week of hearing from inspirational people linked to the Pymble community. Dr Andrew Browning shared with the girls the work the Barbara May Foundation does for women in Africa to help relieve the high incidence of death and fistula injury in pregnancy and childbirth. We hope that his story helps to motivate the girls to consider how they can be of service to others less fortunate.

Closer to home this can be done by participating in our weekly Days for Girls service activity creating reusable sanitary products for girls and women in the developing world. On Wednesday 19 June (Week 8) we are inviting Upper School mums, grandmothers, aunts, and carers to join our lunchtime workshop. This is a wonderful way to spend some time working with your daughters on a valuable project that makes an enormous difference to the lives of women around the world. Please register your interest if you are available to attend.

Another straightforward way that families can support women and girls is to buy some undies over the weekend to donate as part of our support for Days for Girls. The undies are included in the menstruation kits for women around the world; a small gesture that makes an enormous difference. Thank you in advance for your support of this great initiative.

Our Year 10 students are exploring the importance of self-care strategies for supporting the health and wellbeing of themselves and others in PDHPE this term. This week as part of the PDHPE curriculum, our Year 10 students had the privilege of listening to Alex Richter, an inspirational young man.

Alex shared with Year 10 his personal journey, highlighting the challenges he has faced after suffering a spinal cord injury and the power of self-care practices and a strong support system. His candid and engaging demeanour not only imparted valuable lessons but also provided a profound glimpse into the realities and daily obstacles confronted by individuals living with paralysis. Alex was incredibly open and willing to answer the many questions that the girls had, and we hope that they have shared this experience with their families.

We have excitedly welcomed back the Vision Valley adventurers from the second residential program of the year. On Friday, we held a special honouring celebration with parents and carers at Vision Valley where the girls shared wonderful reflections on their experiences, and we acknowledged the growth of these great young women. We hope that the girls attending the program next term are excited about the challenges and fun that they will also experience at the Valley.

Wishing all Upper School families a relaxing and safe King’s Birthday Weekend.

Key Dates

Friday June 7 Boarders’ Travel Day

Monday June 10 King’s Birthday Public Holiday

Wednesday June 12 Year 10 into Year 11 Subject Selection Event (Parents/Students)

Tuesday June 25 Secondary School Ensemble Concert

Friday June 28 Boarders’ Travel Day & last day of Term 2

Victoria Harrison

Head of Upper School

From the Senior School

From the Head of Senior School

The Barbara May Foundation

This week in Combined Assembly, the students were privileged to hear from Dr Andrew Browning, of the Barbara May Foundation. Dr Browning works in various countries across Africa, assisting patients who have been injured during childbirth and offering safe delivery of babies to pregnant mothers.

The Foundation also trains staff and provides pre and post-maternal care, free of charge to their patients. Dr Browning explained to the students the need for these services in these countries and how they can help. He also spoke about the difference between apparent success and character, and challenged all of us to consider these ideas deeply. The Barbara May Foundation is the main focus for our service and charity initiatives this year.

More information can be found on their website.

Senior School Knit In

We warmly invite all parents, grandparents and carers to come along to our annual Knit In in the Senior School on Friday 14 June, from 12.45pm to 2.00pm. Please bring your knitting needles and wool to help us knit up a storm for Wrap with Love over a warm cup of tea or coffee. We all appreciate your support of this amazing charity, which supplies warm blankets for those in need in Australia and overseas.

AIE Work Experience

Two Year 11 students recently undertook some work experience at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment. Please see below for Charlotte’s report on this experience:

“In Week 4, I had the opportunity to join the Academy of Interactive Entertainment for one of their student courses as part of my work experience. The course focused on game design and development which ranged from character animation to learning how to program the game to make it fully operational. Allison and I attended the academy in the city, alongside students from other schools, and experienced a sample of one of the full courses AIE has to offer and experience university life.

The two main applications we used were Maya for the character rigging and Unreal engine for the actual game environment and the first few two days consisted of learning to use the applications and generating ideas for the concept of our game. Wednesday and Thursday focused on animating our characters and rendering the game environment to make it more visually appealing. We were granted a lot of freedom regarding the overall theme of the game and each student presented something different at the end of the week.

Overall my experience with AIE was fantastic and I’m grateful I got the opportunity to join them for the week. I really enjoyed learning from the staff about navigating the software frequently used in game design, code, and animation and I will definitely be considering this pathway as a potential degree or career in the future.” – Charlotte

Term 2 Key Dates

30 May– ySafe Parent Digital Safety Webinar

10 June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday

14 June – Senior School Wrap with Love Knit-In

28 June – Term 2 concludes

From the Secondary School Parent Group

Hey Year 11 parents!

We need your help to make the PPA Trivia Night on 22 June at Miramare Gardens a smashing success! This is our chance to come together, have a blast and support our amazing Pymble community.

We’ve got a special task for Year 11 – creating a luxurious basket filled with goodies for the home. Think candles, picture frames, cushions, vouchers… anything that screams “home sweet home.”

Here’s how you can be a superhero:

Donate an item for our home basket and drop it in the collection basket at the Senior School office. Every little bit counts!

Got a business or know someone who does? We’re seeking all sorts of donations for auction items – vouchers, products, experiences, you name it! Showcase your generosity and get some recognition.

Funds raised will support our stellar staff, students’ wellbeing, and more. It’s a win-win!

Click here to get your tickets.

Nikki Wyse

Head of Senior School

From the Boarding School

It was wonderful to see our First Nations scholars leading the way throughout Reconciliation Week. On Saturday, the culmination of the week, our Boarders embraced the opportunities of the First Nations Round of Sport. This special event commenced with a welcome ceremony opened by Uncle Neil Evers and led by our First Nations students. The ceremony included sharing of stories, performances from our First Nations dance troupe and speeches outlining the important role sport can play as a platform for increasing understanding and awareness of important national issues. It was great to hear these special young women sharing their stories and culture and especially wonderful to have many of their families here with us.

On Tuesday we came together in the Lang House lounge to give thanks to some of the people who so generously support our First Nations program. It was an excellent opportunity for our scholars to share their journey and we couldn’t have been prouder of Year 12 First Nations scholar, Imogen who shared her story since arriving at Pymble when she was in Year 8. I hope you enjoy sharing in Imogen’s words which I have reprinted below:

“My name is Imogen, and I am a proud Gamilaraay woman. I have been boarding at Pymble since Year 8 and am now in Year 12. I am from a family of five with my parents and two younger brothers who are all in Bundaberg.

I came to Pymble in 2020 because my family and I wanted a supportive and challenging environment in which I could grow. At first, I was both excited and nervous. My dad was in the navy, and as a result we moved a around a lot, and I had to learn how to adjust to new friends and different environments. However, Pymble soon became a new constant in my life, for which I am so grateful.

Pymble has helped me grow a lot, encouraging me to try new things, take on leadership roles, and look into a lot of opportunities I would have never had the chance to. Looking back and now being in my final year, I can truly see how much this school has given me, the confidence to be here right now speaking with you, skills for my future and the lifelong friends I have made.

During my time at Pymble, I have had the incredible opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities, many of which have shaped my passions and interests. From joining water polo and hockey teams, to being able to express myself in drama and the arts, each experience has played a vital role in my growth and the person I am today.

Being a part of sports teams has taught me the importance of teamwork, winning and losing, as well as dedication. My competitive spirit has very much grown being at Pymble, as has my dramatic side. Being involved in the creative and performing arts at Pymble has allowed me to explore to express myself in ways I never thought were possible, as well as explore my culture more deeply. Most recently, I have helped produce an artwork for the Conde Library’s Acknowledgement of Country, which is hung in the entrance way as a reminder of whose land we stand on.

The opportunity to engage in community service projects has also given me a sense of fulfilment and joy in giving back. In particular, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to go to Arnhem land and be immersed in Yolngu culture.

I sent this text to my parents the day we landed back in Sydney explaining the effect it had on me. It read:

“Probably the best thing I have ever heard was one of the Yolngu ladies explain how rich they are. She said being rich can mean all different things, and although most people think being rich or successful is having a lot of money, she said her vision of being successful is being where she is now. She is rich in health, family, knowledge and happiness. And so am I. I know most people would judge some of the houses they lived in, maybe even the lack of wealth they were surrounded by. But when I tell you, some of those people were the happiest people I have ever met, I would rather live like that any day. I couldn’t even tell you how jealous I was by the amount of knowledge they had, it makes me both happy and sad, as sometimes I wish mine and dad’s mob had more knowledge since most of it is lost, but it also makes me happy still knowing our culture as a whole isn’t lost. One of the Elders spoke about growth, growth in culture, growth in understanding… Aboriginal or not, we learn to keep that fire alive”.

This was without fault, a life-changing experience that I will remember forever. The pride I felt in my culture, my family and my First Nations sisters here with me today was and is immense.

My friends and fellow First Nations students at Pymble are my second family and the people who make my home away from home in Boarding. They’ve been there for me when I’ve been at my weakest and to celebrate my strengths. Many of us First Nations students have built a strong bond, based on shared experience and a deep sense of connection throughout our culture. They’ve all shown me the true meaning of sisterhood, teaching me that family is more than just blood. With them, they have created a place and school environment where I am loved, accepted, and cherished for who I truly am.

After I finish school, I want to study psychology at the University of Queensland. Understanding the human mind has always fascinated me, and I want to help people with their mental health. I also plan to travel and learn about different cultures, including my own. Overall, my goal is to make a positive impact and to know that I’ve made a difference, no matter how small.”

Jersey Day

Jersey Day is one of the most cherished days in our Boarding calendar as we remember our three beautiful Boarding sisters, Alanda Clark, Jane Gay and Prudence Papworth who tragically passed away when their plane crashed as they travelled home for the June long weekend in 1993. This special day of remembrance is an opportunity to remind us of the gift of Boarding and the ties that hold us together so closely.

You can learn more about Jersey Day by watching the following video which was produced last year in recognition of the 30-year anniversary of the girls’ passing.

Pymble comes to you

Please don’t forget, we will be in Wagga Wagga on 21 and 22 June at the Boarding School Expo. If you are in the area we would love you to call in and say hello.

Better still, if you are available on the evening of 22 June, it would be great to see you at the Temora home of Pymble parents, Jo and Mark Brennan for a gathering of Pymble friends. Please click the invitation below to RSVP.

Love It, Mrs Katie White – Deputy Director of Boarding

Last weekend, the Boarders were lucky to pick up some last-minute tickets to watch the Waratahs play rugby at Allianz Stadium. They were also out in force on Saturday, showing their support for the First Nations Round of Sport. Despite the wet weather, all the sports events went ahead, and the Boarders relished the opportunity to support their sisters.

With the long weekend fast approaching, we are looking forward to lots of photos from the girls as many of them host friends and their Boarding sisters for the weekend.

View From My Window

My name is Annika, and I am a Year 9 Boarder in Marden House. I started at Pymble when I was in Year 7, coming from a small town called Moree which is home to about 7,000 people. Moree is located in north-west NSW about an hour or two away from the QLD border.

My parents, brother, dog Millie and I live in town. My dad works as a crop duster and is the funniest person I know, my mum works as an early intervention teacher and is so loving, and my brother Lachlan who is in Year 11 goes to Knox and is always there to cheer me up. When I look out my window I see a freshly mowed lawn thanks to my dad, who loves to keep it pristine, with kangaroos and Millie soaking up the sun.

Moree is known for its agriculture and being located right on top of the Artesian Basin giving us relaxing artesian hot pools. There is lots to like in Moree and the main things I miss when I am here at Pymble are my family and open spaces. I have found coming to Pymble exciting as it is fun to participate in all the amazing opportunities, we are able to access such as playing netball and participating in leadership opportunities, giving us the privilege to make a change and for our voices to be heard.

Coming to Boarding has had its challenges but I love having sleepovers every night, playing games with my friends at night and occasionally mucking up with my mates.

Boarder of the Week

It has been wonderful to welcome Amy back to Marden House and there is no one more deserving of Boarder of the Week this week. Amy arrived from Mudgee in 2022 and she had made our Boarding family so much richer just by being her.

Tenacious with a zest for life, Amy has grown and matured before our eyes. She approaches all that does with enthusiasm and a sense of fun. Amy is a fiercely loyal friend and looks out for those she cares about. In the boarding house, she is organised and keeps her room as her sanctuary.

This week, Amy presented a talk to her Boarding sisters about her five-year-old cousin Jack, who is battling neuroblastoma. She stood before her peers and implored them to help raise $500,000 to get Jack to the USA for potentially life-saving treatment. Not only this, she encouraged us all to lobby our local members to make this treatment available here at home to help families like theirs. Amy has also taken it upon herself to organise a sausage sizzle and cake stall to raise more funds next term.

To say we are proud of her is an understatement!

Let’s help Amy!

Please help support the Schofield family as they work together to raise funds to support young Jack in his battle against neuroblastoma.

Save the Date

4 August Boarder Community Day (all Boarders required to be in attendance)

25 August Father, Daughter event

20 September Boarders and their Families event

21 September Garden Party

Term 4 TBA Mother-Daughter Lunch

Boarder Parent Group Meetings

20 September – 2.30pm onsite

24 October – 7.00pm Microsoft Teams meeting

Carolyn Burgess

Head of Boarding

From the Chaplains

This week I was chatting with some of our senior students about a popular Netflix series, particularly talking about the broken friendship between two of the characters, Penelope and Eloise. It got me thinking about the power of letting go. The healing power of forgiveness in friendships.

Someone wise once said, “Forgiveness is a sign that the person who has wronged you means more to you than the wrong they have dealt.”

It reminded me of a story that I heard earlier that day.

Two good friends were walking along the beach one day when they had a quarrel, one of them betrayed the confidence of the other. The friend who felt wronged, felt pain, and wrote on the sand: “Today my best friend betrayed me.”

The two friends decided to swim in the water when suddenly the one who betrayed her friend, started to sink, but her friend saved her.

When she regained consciousness, she wrote on the stone: “Today my best friend saved my life.”

The other friend, asked her, “When I hurt you, you wrote on the sand and now you are writing on the stone. Why?”

Her friend answered, “When someone hurts us, we should write it on the sand, so that the wind can erase it. But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it on the stone, so that the wind can not erase it.

Our Pymble community is knit together by thousands of interconnected friendships. Sometimes letting go of pain will mean letting go of people from our lives because boundaries and self-respect are important. Sometimes letting go will mean forgiveness and reconciliation. Because true friendships are worth it. Forgiveness is a sign that the person who has wronged you means more to you than the wrong they have dealt.

Colossians 3:12-14

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

A Prayer

Father, you are the provider of all good things.

We thank you for the blessing of friends who love us, who share our joys and sorrows, who laugh with us in celebration, and who need us as we need them. We thank you for the friends who give us the freedom to be ourselves. Help us to always be a friend to others, no matter who they are. Help us let go, where we must go. Give us the grace to forgive and generosity of heart to let others near. Fortify our friendships in resilience, kindness and care. Amen.

Holy Communion and a time of Prayer

All staff and parents are warmly invited to join the College Chaplains in the War Memorial Chapel at Pymble for a short service of Holy Communion, followed by a time of prayer for our school community and our world.

Date: Friday 14 June

Time: 7.45am to 8.15am, followed by tea and coffee

RSVP: Email Fiona van Horen, Pymble Parent Prayer Group at vanhorencf@bigpond.com (or just turn up!)

The Uniting Church believes in an open table. All are welcome, no matter your faith or church background. Gluten-free wafers available.

Cass Blake

College Chaplain

From the Futures Team

Student Experiences

Multiplex Jumpstart Program – NextDC

On Wednesday 15 May, we got the opportunity to visit the NEXTDC Server Centre, as part of the Multiplex Jumpstart Program. NEXTDC is an Australian data centre, where we gained firsthand insight into the construction process behind this massive infrastructure and modern digital service.

This facility is crucial for storing, processing and managing the data and information that we see and use daily. We acquired knowledge and inspiration about considering construction as a career pathway and about the various critical roles people can have in delivering a large building projects.

Through informative presentations and interactive activities, we deepened our understanding on how certain sections of the centre are constructed and its contributions to the operation of the data centre as well as some sustainable construction techniques. It was a highly enjoyable and educational experience.

Overseas Opportunities

Please note that Pymble Ladies’ College does not endorse any of these programs.

Wondering what to do during July holidays?

Overseas Summer Courses are a great way to incorporate study and travel. Many Pymble students decide to apply for a course to dive deeper into a subject area or to gain a perspective on learning in a different environment. Otherwise, the warmer climate may motivate you to escape the Australian winter!

No matter what your reason, you can visit the following links to find out more about summer programs hosted at universities in the US and the UK.

The Athena Fellowship is a virtual summer fellowship for rising 9th-12th grade students designed to empower future female leaders in STEM. Created by young women from Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, the fellowship seeks to identify top female students across the country. The 2024 Summer Fellowship will run from July 8th to August 2nd, and students may participate alongside other summer activities. As an Athena Fellow, students will learn from a network of accomplished young women from top institutions. Students will learn about different opportunities in STEM, career pathways, and life skills for high school, college, and beyond.

Applications for the 2024 Summer Fellowship are due June 12th. Admissions are rolling, meaning that applications are reviewed as they are received. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To learn more and apply, please visit www.athenafellowship.org. If you have any questions, please email info@athenafellowship.org.

View this link to see other Pre College Summer Programs in the US

Pre University Programs in the UK
- List by Teen Life
- List by Go Abroad

Events Calendar

Date	Event	Audience
10^th June 9.30- 4pm	Designer for a day workshop: https://sydneydesignschool.com.au/designer-for-a-day-workshop/	Year 10-12
10^th and 11^th June On site 1- 5 pm	AMPA musical theatre, dance, contemporary music production day: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ampa-experience-day-music-theatreclassical-tickets-877157851747?aff=ebdsoporgprofile	Year 10- 12
11^th June	Discover Western Sydney University: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/student-life/events/western-webinars Information for students and parents about early entry and pathways	Year 11 and 12
11^th June- 12^th July webinars	UOW: HSC Subject Support Series in the lead up to trial and final HSC exams: https://future-students-events.uow.edu.au/hscsupportseries	Year 12
12^th June 6- 7pm webinar	UNSW Engineering Information Evening: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/unsw-engineering-information-evening-tickets-851300521777?aff=DOMUGEventsPage	Year 11 and 12
12^th June 4pm webinar	Pathways to Studying Law at Uni of Sydney: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/unsw-engineering-information-evening-tickets-851300521777?aff=DOMUGEventsPage	Year 10 and 12
12^th June 5- 7.30 pm webinar	Uni Newcastle: Information for Parents and Carers: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/events/info-sessions/undergraduate/parents-and-carers-info-session-port-macquarie	Year 11 and 12
12^th June 5 pm webinar	UTS Early Entry Explained: https://utsmeet.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dY3wHqIRSZSKHkp1ryXW5A#/registration	Year 11 and 12
27^th June	Western Sydney Careers Expo From Thursday 27 June to Saturday 29 June at The Dome, Sydney Showground, Olympic Park. Tickets on sale via https://www.westernsydneycareerexpo.com.au/	Open to all year groups and community
30^th June 10- 4pm On campus	Western Sydney Open day: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/openday	Year 10- 12

Events Calendar

From the Co-curricular Sports Team

The shortcode only works for newsletter articles

Co-curricular Administration

Term 3 Saturday Sport Registrations

Next Registration Openings

The next round of registrations for Term 3 and Semester 2 programs will open via the online registration system at 12.00pm on Wednesday 12 June and close at 11.59pm (midnight) on Wednesday 10 July. 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. We recommend families check they can access the system well in advance of the opening date to avoid any technical issues on the day as registrations CANNOT be processed via email or phone.

A notice will be posted on the MyPymble app prior to registrations opening to all families as a reminder of the opening date and time.

Term 4 Saturday Sports will open for registration on Wednesday 24 July at 12.00pm and close at 12.00pm (midday) on Friday 9 August.

Co-curricular Registration Requests

Registrations for Term 3 Saturday Sports closed on Friday 17 May, with many sports already having completed their trials. If you missed the registration period and would like to request registration into a sport, please click here to complete our registration request form. A reminder that late registrations are NOT guaranteed.

Registrations for Term 2/Winter Semester/intake programs are now closed and the cut-off date for registration requests has now passed as per our conditions of registration. What this means is that any late requests submitted after Monday 13 May will not be approved and any withdrawals after this date will be subject to the charge as indicated in the conditions. Requests submitted prior to the cut-off date are currently being processed and will adhere to the conditions of being submitted prior to the cut-off.

Monique Zahra

Head of Co-curricular Administration

Athletics

The Secondary School Athletics Carnival was held on Wednesday 29 May on Pymble’s Main Oval. We were fortunate to enjoy beautiful weather and it was truly inspiring to see so many students participating enthusiastically in every event, competing for their house while having fun.

A select number of students have been chosen from the Secondary School Athletics Carnival to compete in the Championship Carnival to be held on Tuesday 11 May, at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic. Please click here to read information.

If you did not receive an email and wish to participate in the Carnival, please contact Mr Garrad at jgarrad@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au as soon as possible.

The results from both carnivals will be published in the upcoming newsletter after the Championship Carnival.

Katie Edwards

Head of Sport – Years 7 to 12

Basketball

First Nations Round – Saturday 1 June

Player’s Report – Millie Sutcliffe (Year 10) – Pymble 1:

My name is Millie. I am a Boarder at Pymble and a proud Wiradjuri girl from Dubbo NSW. On Saturday 1 June, the First Nations Round of Sport was held.

The Senior Firsts basketball team were up against Loreto Normanhurst, coming away with a win, the final score being 49 to 31. The game was filled with energy, teamwork and great basketball. It was also lovely to see our Boarding family/sisters support and cheer us on.

I feel incredibly grateful to not only represent Pymble but also my culture and identity. I am part of an amazing basketball team with such an inspiring coach who has welcomed me since coming to Pymble this year. I felt so lucky that my parents were able to travel from Dubbo to Pymble to watch me play the sport I love and have so much passion for.

Results:

Team	Opponent	Result
Pymble 1	Loreto Normanhurst 1	49 to 31 Win
Pymble 2	Danebank 1	54 to 40 Win
Pymble 3	PLC Sydney 2	14 to 48 Loss
Pymble 4	Abbotsleigh 6	14 to 17 Loss
Pymble 5	Loreto Normanhurst 10	38 to 10 Win
Pymble 6	Monte Sant’ Angelo 3	36 to 15 Win
Pymble 7	Loreto Normanhurst 19	31 to 13 Win
Pymble 8	Loreto Normanhurst 20	40 to 25 Win
Pymble 9	Monte Sant’ Angelo 5	13 to 17 Loss
Pymble 10	Ravenswood 12	11 to 12 Loss
Pymble 11	Abbotsleigh 23	20 to 10 Win
Pymble 12	Brigidine 9	54 to 8 Win
Pymble13	Loreto Normanhurst 29	16 to 45 Loss
Pymble 14	Ravenswood 15	20 to 32 Loss
Pymble 15	Abbotsleigh 31	10 to 18 Loss
Pymble 16	BYE	BYE
Pymble 17	Danebank 6	58 to 21 Win
Pymble 18	Loreto Normanhurst 33	6 to 39 Loss

Best and Fairest

Each week our basketball coaches and head coach Rachel nominate students who show Pymble pride, sportsmanship, and courage both on and off the court. Congratulations to all students below who have nominated by their coaches this week.

Team:	Player:
Pymble 1	Yvette Volk (Year 12)
Pymble 2	Ashely Chow (Year 11)
Pymble 3	Isabella Stalley (Year 11)
Pymble 4	Hannah Miao (Year 10)
Pymble 5	Victoria Burton (Year 12)
Pymble 6	Annabel Taylor (Year 11)
Pymble 7	Claudia Offer (Year 12)
Pymble 8	Kaylene Chiu (Year 7)
Pymble 9	Isabelle Younger (Year 9)
Pymble 10	Isabella Eum (Year 8)
Pymble 11	Rain To (Year 9)
Pymble 12	Charlotte Thistlewood (Year 9)
Pymble13	Nazgol Koochakzadeh (Year 9)
Pymble 14	Jade George (Year 7)
Pymble 15	Sarah Asgari (Year 7)
Pymble 16	BYE
Pymble 17	Amber Chen (Year 7)
Pymble 18	Chloe Teoh (Year 7)

Maddison Scott

Sports Co-ordinator – Basketball

Diving

Congratulations to Méa Shires (Year 10) who competed last week at the All Schools Diving Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Méa dived beautifully placing second in the 15 year springboard, gaining a place in the NSW team for SSA. Well done on these great results.

Open Nationals and Olympic Trials

An exciting week ahead for staff and alumni heading to Adelaide for the Open Nationals and Olympic trials.

Brittany O’Brien (Pymble Alumni 2016) and Kennedy Cooper (Pymble Alumni 2021), head coaches Kurtis Mathews and Chris Lang (technical official) will also be part of a fantastic week of diving trials for Paris 2024.

We wish all competitors the very best of diving this week.

Equestrian

From the Friday 31 May to Tuesday 4 June, 11 students represented Pymble at the Northwest Equestrian Expo in Coonabarabran. This event hosts approximately 500 riders from schools across NSW. Students competed in a range of events from combined training, where they demonstrated their proficiency in both dressage and showjumping to the pentathlon which encompassed many events form showjumping to javelin, running and many other events. All students representing Pymble showed great courage, pride and sportsmanship both during and after their events. Thank you to all parents for their support and helping students prepare and perform across the week – without the efforts of parents, the event could not have run smoothly.

One of the highlights of the competition was the Polo X competition where our Pymble riders excelled, securing 3rd place podium position. Saskia Fitzgerald’s (Year 12) ability to move around defenders and constantly score points was instrumental in the team’s success. Poppy Barwick’s (Year 9) strong defence held opposing teams’ points to a minimum. Selina Kerin’s (Year 8) passing skills up and down the field aided in swift and efficient ball movement. Congratulations to those students and their phenomenal efforts in the Polo X event.

Results

Congratulations to all the students below who placed in their respective disciplines. Placing in the Northwest Equestrian Expo is an incredible achievement and all students should be proud of their achievements.

Pentathlon

Lola Barwick (Year 11) 1st Place

Poppy Barwick (Year 9) 1st Place

Dressage

Saskia Fitzgerald (Year 12) 2nd Place

Clara Mudaliar (Year 8) 6th Place

Showjumping

Lola Barwick (Year 11) Champion 1st Place

Combined Training

Saskia Fitzgerald (Year 12) 4th Place

Teya Cranley (Year 10) 4th Place

Alexa Kong (Year 9) 9th Place

Qiana Joisce (Year 7) 9th Place

Working Horse Challenge

Saskia Fitzgerald (Year 12) 3rd Place

Polo X

Pymble Polo X 1 (Saskia Fitzgerald (Year 12), Poppy Barwick (Year 9), Selina Kerin (Year 8)) – 3rd Place

Team Six 6

Pymble Six Bar Team (Saskia Fitzgerald (Year 12), Poppy Barwick (Year 9), Lola Barwick (Year 11), Teya Cranley (Year 10)) – 4th Place

Maddison Scott

Co-ordinator – Equestrian

Football

Round 5 of the IGSA football season took place on Saturday 1 June with all 14 of our Pymble teams competing. It was also Pymble’s First Nations Round of Sport, which Pymble holds annually during Reconciliation Week.

Our Senior First team won 1 to 0 against Abbotsleigh to make it four wins from four games. In our tightest game so far this term, the Abbotsleigh goalkeeper made it very hard for Pymble to score.

Our Junior First team won 5 to 0 against Queenwood, also making four wins from four games.

Our Year 7 First team had a solid 2 to 0 win against Queenwood. The team remain undefeated setting up a Semi-final match against PLC Sydney.

In other results, our Pymble teams had tight clashes with other schools resulting in draws or losses by only a goal or two. Pymble 7 recorded back-to-back wins, putting them in contention for a Grand-final opportunity at the end of the season.

Every week, our Pymble students always give 100 per cent despite the result and this a testament to their determination, courage and resilience.

Team	Opponent	Result	Score
Pymble 1	Abbotsleigh 1	1 to 0	Win
Pymble 2	Santa Sabina 1	0 to 3	Loss
Pymble 3	Loreto Kirribilli 3	1 to 2	Loss
Pymble 4	Queenwood 3	3 to 4	Loss
Pymble 5	Roseville College 3	1 to 7	Loss
Pymble 6	Abbotsleigh 5	0 to 5	Loss
Pymble 7	Loreto Normanhurst 4	2 to 1	Win
Pymble 8	Brigidine College 6	9 to 0	Win
Pymble 9	Queenwood 5	5 to 0	Win
Pymble 10	Ascham School 5	0 to 0	Draw
Pymble 11	Roseville College 7	1 to 9	Loss
Pymble 12	Queenwood 8	2 to 0	Win
Pymble 13	Santa Sabina 5	3 to 3	Draw
Pymble 14	Queenwood 10	1 to 3	Loss

Round 5 Most Valuable Players

Pymble 1 – Chloe Tseros (Year 12)

Pymble 2 – Demitria Volos (Year 12)

Pymble 3 – Abby Sywak (Year 11)

Pymble 4 – Emily Walker (Year 10)

Pymble 5 – Sophie Livingstone (Year 12)

Pymble 6 – Sara Khan (Year 10)

Pymble 7 – Grace Santoso (Year 10)

Pymble 8 – Skye Pockley (Year 12)

Pymble 9 – Eve Goldsworthy (Year 9)

Pymble 10 – Hayley Browne (Year 9)

Pymble 11 – Haylee Lam (Year 8)

Pymble 12 – Imogen Marquez (Year 7)

Pymble 13 – Ellie Lau (Year 7)

Pymble 14 – Summer Zhou (Year 7)

CIS Football

Congratulations to Juliette Harris (Year 12) and Willa Pearson (Year 8) on their selection to represent the CIS Opens Football team at the upcoming NSW All Schools Championships. Our standout goalkeeper, Chloe Tseros (Year 12), has been selected as a shadow player and Laura Januszek (Year 11) represented igsa for the first time at the CIS Football Championships.

Bill Turner Trophy

Well done to our Bill Turner Trophy team on their victory over Northern Beaches Christian School last Friday in Round 3. After conceding one goal, our Pymble players kept their composure, scoring five unanswered goals. The team will now face Stella Maris College this Friday 7 June at Cromer Park.

Chris Wood

Sports Co-ordinator – Football

Hockey

We were fortunate enough last week to have all Pymble Mollie Dive teams play at Ku-ring-gai Hockey Centre on Wednesday 29 May. The Pymble spirit was high, with all teams playing with determination and courage against their opposition.

Congratulations to everyone on another wonderful performance last week.

We are down to our last round game being played this week with finals commencing the week after.

Good luck to all teams for their final round game of Hockey this term!

See below Round 4 results:

Team A	Team B	Result
Pymble 1	Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College	Won 7 to 0
Pymble 2	Roseville College	Lost 0 to 2
Pymble 3	Loreto Normanhurst	Lost 0 to 6

Congratulations to the following students who received best and fairest for their match last week!

Pymble 1– Georgia Lyster (Year 12)

Pymble 2– Francesca Chan (Year 8)

Pymble 3– Phoebe Pockley (Year 9)

Shellie Davis

Co-ordinator – Hockey

Junior School Sport

Junior School Sport Team of the Week

Congratulations to our youngest students in the Kindergarten Have A Go @ Saturday Sport Netball program, braving the wet weather – this team are this week’s Junior School Sport Team of the week.

Run by our experienced Netball coaches, students played fun games that worked Netball skills and drills and finished the session with a mini game, all during some very cold and wet conditions. It was great to see the smiling faces from both students and parents regardless of the wet weather.

For all enquiries regarding the Have a Go @ Saturday Sport Saturday Sport program (available to Kindergarten to Year 2 students), please contact the Head of Sport K-6, Mr Matt Tyson (mtyson@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au)

Matt Tyson

Head of Sport (K-6)

Rowing

Pymble Parents win the Great Hope Regatta

Over the last few weeks, parents of Pymble rowers have been training under the guidance of coaches Mr Randell, Mr Booker and Mr Gray. Three crews of Eight were entered to compete against rowing parents from other schools on Sunday 26 May, at the Great Hope Regatta. This experience allowed parents to connect and learn more about their daughter’s experience on the water.

Pymble organised a Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Eight to enter. The Mixed Eight and Women’s Eight both came second in the C and B Final respectively, including the Women’s Eight achieving the status of the fastest women’s crew in the entire regatta. The Men’s crew progressed to the A-Final and took Pymble’s first gold since the regatta’s inception in 2007.

A big congratulations to all parents and students that took part. Thank you to the parents that gave generously to the program to take part in this experience. Pymble aims to enter more crews next year hoping to make it two in a row and win the Trophy again!

Lewis Gray

Co-ordinator – Rowing

Rugby Sevens

Our Pymble Rugby students took on Gordon Rugby club, in very wet conditions, for the First Nations Round or Sport held at Pymble. Despite the wet football and slippery ground, Team Pymble put together some fantastic Rugby!

Due to the opposition’s lack of numbers, some of Pymble’s Junior Rugby players put their hand up to play. Thank you to those players for being so co-operative. Notable mentions to:

Milly Farr (Year 7), Ruby Azar (Year 7), Eloise Lawry (Year 7) and Jade George (Year 7) who were strong in attack for the opposition.
Narla Bron (Year 7), Emily Finucane (Year 8), Poppy Fox-Ashwin (Year 8) and Daysie Leahy (Year 8), damaging in defence and allowing the team’s speed to flourish out wide.
A huge shout out to Madison Aikman (Year 7) who played her first match of Rugby 7s!

The Intermediate match provided some entertaining tries from both teams. Special mentions to:

Alessia Calvani (Year 9) making some bone rattling tackles and strong in the breakdown.
Rose Kirkby (Year 10) and Lily Mancey (Year 9) who were lethal out wide with some great attacking plays.
Scarlett Mitchell (Year 9) and Olianna Tighe (Year 10) were immovable at the breakdown securing possession for the backs;
Mie Naito (Year 9), Evie Farr (Year 9), Claudia Hodder (Year 10), Ellie Pointon (Year 10) and Elke Payne (Year 10) gaining possession and working their magic.
Annie Pennington (Year 9) and Imarni Woodroffe-Mulholland (Year 9) were damaging with the ball in hand with some courageous carries through the middle.

This match was cut short due to an unfortunate injury from the opposition, however a convincing win for the team – well done to all players!

The final match of the day was our mighty Senior team. A huge shout out to Dezi Magann-Jones (Year 11) who offered to play the whole match for the opposition due to injuries. It is not easy to play against your teammates and Dezi did so with a smile on her face! A dominant display from these girls against a physical pack from Gordon. A whole team performance with special mentions to:

Buffy Hutton (Year 12), Latiah McMillan (Year 11), Hannah Weber (Year 11) and Aspen Moore (Year 12) producing strong carries busting through the opposition defence.
Maya Atkinson (Year 11), Evie Leahy (Year 11), Sophie Livingstone (Year 12) and Mika Naito (Year 11) made the most of the front foot ball and executed in attack.

Three wins from three games on the day and we could not be prouder of our Pymble Rugby players and the manner in which they carried themselves on and off the field.

Well done!

Jack Garrad

Co-ordinator – Rugby Sevens

Swimming

Mini Meet – Paris 2024

On Wednesday 29 May, Pymble Swimming held a mini meet with the focus on Paris 2024. 60 swimmers attended from our tiger sharks, mini, star and cadet squads. Senior swimmers from Pride and Engine took leadership and did an excellent job raising team spirit and organising teams.

After swimmers were allocated into teams, they had to pick an Olympic swimmer as their team mascot. Halfway through the mini meet, teams made up a chant about their Olympic swimmer. The songs were outstanding, very creative and inspiring.

Jessica Croll (Year 11) and Sarah Tian (Year 10) organised a spinning wheel with mystery relays, keeping swimmers guessing and keeping everyone involved.

Thank you to all parents for your support and cheering. Thanks to coaches Andrea Raso, Sara Petronzio, Rafael Rodrigues and Michelle Thomas for their huge efforts in another successful mini meet.

Bring on the Olympics!

2024 NSW All Schools Swimming Championship

Over 600 students from Catholic, government, and independent schools competed at the 2024 NSW All Schools Swimming Championship, held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. We were excited to witness such a high standard of swimming in NSW.

Selected team members will represent NSW under the new unified NSW All Schools brand, joining a 400-strong contingent of NSW athletes at the inaugural School Sport Australia Games on the Gold Coast.

Congratulations to the following Pymble Swimmers who competed:

Lily Barlow (Year 11), Megan Chia (Year 8), Jennifer Chong (Year 11), Arabella Cox (12), Jessica Cullen (Year 11), Keira Donovan (Year 7), Piper Gregory-Reid (Year 12), Imogen Jones (Year 8), Annika Lee (Year 11), Jaya Lilienthal (Year 11), Lily Lockhart (Year 11), Emma NG (Year 8), Quinn Parry-Okeden (Year 7), Ruby Pickthall (Year 10), Charlotte Sadler (Year 7), Keira Smith ( Year 11), Sarah Tian (Year 10), Indianna Vale (Year 9).

Results:

Relays

Girls 17&O 200m Freestyle relay: 2nd place

Girls 12-14 200m Medley relay: 2nd place

Girls 15-16 200m Medley relay: 3rd place

Girls 17&O 200m Medley relay: 1st place

Girls 12-19 6x50m Freestyle relay: 2nd place

Individuals results

Girls 14 100m Freestyle – Megan Chia (Year 8) – 1st place

Girls 12-13 100m Backstroke – Emma Ng (Year 8) – 3rd place

Girls 16 100m Backstroke – Sarah Tian (Year 10) – 1st place

Girls 17 & O 100m Backstroke – Arabella Cox (Year 12) – 3rd place

Girls 16 50m Backstroke – Sarah Tian (Year 10) – 2nd place

Girls 17 & O 400m Freestyle – Lily Barlow (Year 11) – 2nd place

Girls 15-16 200m Backstroke – Sarah Tian (Year 10) – 2nd place

Well done to our Pymble swimmers selected to represent NSW at the inaugural School Sport Australia Games on the Gold Coast:

Lily Barlow (Year 11)

Megan Chia (Year 8)

Emma Ng (Year 8)

Sarah Tian (Year 10)

2024 SMNE Winter Championship

On Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June, 43 Pymble students competed at the SMNE Winter Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

SMNE Championships is an exciting and important meet for our athletes as they get a chance to compete against the fastest swimmers of the area, from the ages of 8 years to Open. All swimmers gave their best, demonstrating amazing skills and achieving many new personal bests, qualifying for NSW Metropolitan and NSW State.

The weekend was full of great results with many top ten placings, 13 individual Gold Medals, 16 individual Silver Medals and 8 Individual Bronze Medals.

Our Pymble swimmers dominated the point score, ranking 1st with more than 1500 points in front of our next rival.

Top 3 Pymble swimmers point score

Charlotte Sadler (Year 7) 142 points

Megan Chia (Year 8) 137 points

Penelope Hargraves (Year 7) 125 points

Relay – Top three results

Pymble qualified eight Relays teams between Senior and Junior teams.

Gold Medal: 13&Under Medley Relay (Megan Chia Year 8, Penelope Hargraves Year 7, Quinn Parry-Okeden Year 7)

Gold Medal: 13&Under Freestyle Relay (Megan Chia Year 8, Quinn Parry-Okeden Year 7)

Bronze Medal: 13&Over Freestyle Relay (Keira Smith Year 11, Jaya Lilienthal Year 11, Arabella Cox Year 12, Jessica Croll Year 11).

Congratulations to all Pymble swimmers who competed over the weekend:

Lily Barlow (Year 11), Amélie Berg (Year 5), Hannah Carmichael (Year 11), Jennifer Chong (Year 11), Annalise Chow (Year 10), Jessica Cullen (Year 11), Emma Deere (Year 5), Carla Mikkeline Eibach (Year 7), Emma Feng (Year 5), Oriana Fenton (Year 7), Georgia Friedel (Year 7), Ludovica Iacovelli (Year 7), Avika Kapoor (Year 7), Puisai Victoria Ko (Year 6), Katherine Kong (Year 5), Sarah Kranes (Year 7), Vera Le (Year 3), Anne Liu(Year 8), Lily Lockhart (Year 11), Jade Mao (Year 7), Lena Pan (Year 5), Gwen Pickthall (Year 8), Ruby Pickthall (Year 10), Carlyn Suhendra (Year 12), Indianna Vale (Year 9), Emma Wang (Year 5), Grace Wang (Year 5), Isabella Wang (Year 5), Rosa Wang (Year 4), Annabelle Watts (Year 7), Erin Wei (Year 5), Genevieve Wong (Year 5), Jiayi Wu (Year 6), Chenxuan Yu (Year 7), Hailey Zhang (Year 4).

Thank you to coaches Raf, Michelle, Sara and Steven for helping to prepare for this meet and the support on the pool deck.

Michelle Thomas

Swimming Coach

From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team

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Drama

Congratulations to our outstanding performers!

We are pleased to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our drama students at the recent Eisteddfod competitions.

Parramatta Eisteddfod

Isabel Neal and Charlotte Blaiklock delivered a fantastic performance of “Sugar House,” earning them a well-deserved second place win. This dynamic duo continues to impress us with their talent and dedication. Keep up the excellent work!

Cyma Shah and Isabella Benjamin received a Highly Commended award for their powerful performance of “Jasper Jones.” This piece demands a high level of maturity and professionalism to portray its serious themes effectively, and they executed it with great skill. Well done!

Emma Popli and Lakshi Rajeev secured 3rd place for their engaging rendition of Colin and Alistair from “Two Weeks With The Queen.” Their performance was captivating and well-received.

Olivia Guo and Trinity Sun earned a Highly Commended award for their performance. Their commitment to their characters really impressed the judges. Their hard work and dedication to their craft shone through, making their performance memorable and impactful. Congratulations on your outstanding effort!

Chloe Xiong and Eden Ni also received a Highly Commended award for their performance. Their collaborative spirit and strong stage presence demonstrated their excellent teamwork and dedication. Well done on your excellent work!

Shakespeare Carnival Grand Final

Our young filmmakers, Ayla Gortan, Cyma Shah, Sierra Borean, and Lulu Li, competed in the Shakespeare Carnival Grand Final with their short film “Sonnet 98.” Although they did not place, their emotive storytelling and beautiful poetry received high praise from the audience. Their efforts were rewarded with a filmmaking workshop with the Bell Shakespeare Company, where they had the opportunity to further develop their skills and create a short film in just one day. This experience provided valuable professional insight and one-on-one mentoring, significantly enhancing their filmmaking abilities.

Congratulations to all our talented students for their dedication and exceptional performances. We are incredibly proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing your continued success!

Upcoming Eisteddfods

JUNE

Monday 3 June Short and Sharp: Riverside Theatre

Friday 14 June Short and Sharp Finals: Riverside Theatre

Saturday 15 June Northern Beaches Eisteddfod: Mona Vale Memorial Hall

Saturday 22 June Parramatta Eisteddfod: Dundas Area Neighbourhood Centre

Sunday 23 June Northern Beaches Eisteddfod: Curl Curl North Public School

JULY

Saturday 27 July Ryde Eisteddfod: West Ryde Community Centre

AUGUST

Saturday 10 August Ryde Eisteddfod: West Ryde Community Centre

Saturday 10 August Sydney Eisteddfod: Darlinghurst Theatre

Wednesday 14 August Ryde Eisteddfod: West Ryde Community Centre

Saturday 31 August Ryde Eisteddfod: West Ryde Community Centre

Please note that some Eisteddfods have yet to be confirmed. More information will be sent to all students involved.

Rebecca York

Co-curricular Drama Co-ordinator

Language Arts

ISDA Debating – Year 10 made it to the Grand final!

Congratulations to Year 10 who were successful in their Semi-final at Ascham on Friday 31 May and will debate Knox next Friday 14 June, at Cranbrook. Best wishes go to Kiki Chen (Year 10), Kitty He (Year 10), Rosa Kim (Year 10), Alice Mao (Year 10) and Jenny Xu (Year 10) and coach Lara Hogan.

Venue map and details will be sent to Year 10 and parents shortly. Visitors are welcome.

If attending the Grand final, please allow plenty of time for Friday traffic and parking. Parents are reminded that for finals rounds, Pymble does not arrange transport and students are not permitted to travel home without being accompanied by an adult.

Best wishes to Year 10 for the Grand final!

Congratulations to ISDA Year 7 who remain undefeated after nine competition debates!

Year 7 attended the Semi final on Friday 31 May, at Ascham but were defeated by Queenwood. Thank you for a wonderful season, Athena Wu (Year 7), Arabella Hoang (Year 7), Grace Jacobs ( Year 7), Penny Xing (Year 7), Jing Yuan Liu (Year 7) and coach Annika Shankar.

Archdale – Shield and Invitational

Archdale Shield Round 3 was hosted by Queenwood. Well done to Pymble teams who won four of the eight debates.

Archdale Invitational also ran from the new IH classrooms.

Thank you to Estelle Lee, (Year 8), Athena Wu (Year 7) and Sarah Quan (Year 8) who have joined the Junior Team and to coaches Jai Nandan, Thanya Paidi and Nishant Suriyadeepan.

Well done to our Intermediate Virtual team who have won three debates from three rounds.

A bus will be travelling to Meriden next Tuesday 11 June for R4 Shield Debates and tickets can be purchased by clicking here. Parents are welcome to watch debates and are reminded to collect daughters from the venue.

Round 4 Archdale Invitational debates will again run from IH classrooms.

Social Debating SSD – Sydney Social Debating

Bravo to our six teams of SSD debaters who debated online in the SSD competition last Friday 31 May. Training, Preparation and Online Debates will be held on Friday 7 June from 3.30pm to 6.30pm.

All debates will be held in the KM (Kate Mason) building at Pymble.

We are pleased our new Pymble debaters are honing their critical thinking, communication and teamwork skills as well as developing Public Speaking skills and keeping up to date with current affairs issues.

Absences

Debaters must inform Mrs Hubbard, their coach and team, in advance, if they will be absent for a Debating round. We do not forfeit, and subs can be arranged.

Public Speaking

PESA – Congratulations!

Jenny Xu (Year 10) has progressed to the State Semi final of the Plain English Speaking Awards. The Regional finals were very competitive! Congratulations Jenny! The State Semi final will be held on Friday 14 June in Martin Place. Results to follow.

MUN – Model United Nations

Consultation with the 2024 Australian Youth Ambassador to the United Nations.

On Monday 3 June, some of our Language Arts students had the opportunity to meet online with Gavin Choong, the 2024 Australian Youth Ambassador to the United Nations. Gavin was keen to hear from students as they discussed and prioritised the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Congratulations to Jenny Xu (Year 10) who has been selected to attend the UN Youth National conference to be held in Brisbane in July.

Evatt

Congratulations to those who entered Evatt and performed so well.

Congratulations to Maya Garg (Year 11) and Catherine Shi (Year 11) who progressed to the State Finals, which will be held in State Parliament House, Macquarie Street.

Harvard Model United Nations

Harvard MUN (HMUN) will be held face to face at UTS, Sydney from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and students have registered individually rather than through the College. For information, please click here.

57th Session of THIMUN – The Hague, January 2025

The Pymble Language Arts International Tour group have been accepted as the first Australian school to attend THIMUN at The Hague. Tour details have been provided by Travel@Pymble. The tour will depart Sydney on Friday 17 January 2025 and travellers will commence Term 1 2025 on Monday 3 February 2025. We are excited for this wonderful travel experience!

Mock Law

Mediation

Round Three scenarios have been released. Our score average to date is 93/100! Bravo team and coaches.

Mock Trial

Round Three will be held at Pymble against Pacific Hills. The date is yet to be confirmed. Results are due by Tuesday 25 June and material has been released.

Upcoming Programs and Events

Farewell to Year 12 High Tea

This much anticipated annual event will be held on Thursday 27 June from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA) for Language Arts students in Years 10 to 12. Parents of Year 12 students are also welcome.

We hope to honour every Year 12 student who has debated this year! Parents are working hard to make this a lovely event. There will be personalised presentations, a delightful array of treats and fun games organised by our Language Arts Captains.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here.

IDC Debating Term 4

Staff v Student debate

PMUN Winter Conference – Saturday 27 July

Bronwyn Hubbard

Head of Language Arts

Music

During rehearsals this week, I asked students who had completed one of their exams to stand up. I told them how proud I was of them for working towards a goal, and going into their exam prepared for whatever result may occur. On Friday 31 May, three AMEB examiners attended the College to mark many of our students. All three examiners commented how much they love coming to Pymble to see the talent, to hear our Pymble musicians play, and most importantly, commented on their attitude and how polite they are. Well done to all students. The results do not matter – your preparation matters. This reminds me of Angela Duckworth and her work on “grit”. She says “as much as talent counts, effort counts twice.”

Week 6 and 7 are filled with Eisteddfods and, although it’s always great to win, we know that Pymble musicians and performers win just by showing up. The following groups will participate in the City of Sydney Eisteddfod:

Hindson Chamber Strings
Senior Chamber Stringsw
Capella Choir
Pymble Chorale
Andarta Trio
Aurora Trio
Meleota Trio

We wish all performers the very best of luck. Having a go, getting nervous, working as a team, and showcasing your best selves is winning in our books!

Congratulations

Congratulations to Candice Li (Year 5) on her achievement of a High Distinction A+ in Grade 2 Musicianship.

Some events outside of Pymble you might be interested in:

AMPA | Music Theatre/Classical Experience Day – Wednesday 10 July 2024

Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) invites aspiring Music Theatre and Classical musicians aged 16 and over to join us on campus for a day of music!

Attendees will have the chance to sit in on a performance class, participate in workshops/Q&As facilitated by AMPA’s music faculty and experience what studying music is like at AMPA. Experience a day in the life of an AMPA music student to gain further insight into tertiary education and how it can benefit your future. Find out more by clicking here.

AMPA | Contemporary/Music Production/Composition – Thursday 11 July 2024

Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) invites aspiring Contemporary musicians, Music Creators and Composers aged 16 and over to join us on campus for a day of music!

For singers:

The Conservatorium of Music hosts an “Opera and Musical Theatre Lab” and it is open to all interested students. Pymble has had some students go and perform part of either an opera or a musical, after spending time with renowned singers and actors. Please click here to find out more.

Date for your diary – Tuesday 24 June

Secondary School Ensemble Concert – A Night at the Oscars

Join us for an evening to celebrate our Year 12 ensemble members on Tuesday 24 June as we farewell and thank them for their commitment to the Ensemble program. The concert will commence at 6.30pm in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts. Keep an eye on your socials for the flyer to book a free ticket. Everyone is welcome to dress up in formal attire should they so desire. All music performed will be from films with a special performance from the Year 12 cohort, which promises to be a highlight.

If you’d like to help the Music Support Group, please contact Liz Toh on Elizabethtoh@gmail.com

Upcoming dates for your diary:

Eisteddfod Week	Senior Music Ensembles to compete in the City of Sydney Eisteddfod	Monday 17 June	Friday 28 June
Secondary Schools Ensemble Concert	Senior School Ensembles perform	Tuesday 25 June
Year 12 Farewell Lunch	Music Support group provide lunch for Year 12 ensemble members	Thursday 27 June

Sarah Turner

Head of Music

Transport survey for Grey House Precinct

Construction of Grey House Precinct is well underway and we are looking forward to the purpose-built educational and co-curricular spaces it will offer our students.

Due to the significance of this development, the College is required to conduct a transport survey of all Pymble students and staff.

Thank you for your support of Pymble’s Master Plan.

You’re invited: Research Conversations

Join us for a Research Conversations afternoon in Term 2 with Pymble Ladies’ College teachers Elaine Lee, Sandra Nolan, Kate Giles and Victoria Adamovich.

Elaine and Sandra are presenting at the 2024 International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) conference in Baltimore, along with Kate Giles who is concluding her Global Action Research Collaboration project with ICGS. Victoria will present on her Master’s Thesis on EAL/D and wellbeing. Each presenter will explain the genesis of their work and talk about the conference or course opportunity that has sparked their presentation.

The afternoon will be friendly and informal and we invite you to share ideas and discussion. If you’re considering action research, postgraduate research in education, adding skills to your practice or connecting with Pymble as a research destination, the session is perfect for you.

Please click here to learn more about Elaine, Sandra, Kate and Victoria, and click here to RSVP.

Scholarship opportunities for Year 5 students

The College offers a number of scholarships each year to girls starting in Year 7 including current Pymble students moving into Year 7. Registrations for Year 7 2026 Rosalie Ramsay Academic Scholarship and Year 7 2026 Performance Scholarship – Music are currently open to our Year 5 students.

Registrations close from 24 July 2024 depending on the scholarship. The examination will be held at the College on Sunday 11 August 2024.

Information about portfolio requirements and how to apply can be found on the Scholarship webpage.

You’re invited: Girl Asleep

Girl Asleep is about closing the doors of childhood and opening the strange and incongruous doors of adolescence. From the perspective of 15-year old Greta Driscoll, we are reminded of the significant changes that take place in the minds, hearts, and bodies of teenagers.

We are also reminded that beneath the somnolence and quiet of some teenage girls, a storm rages. One that threatens to swallow them whole. On the night of her 15th birthday, Greta’s parents throw her a party that she never wanted. A party where everyone is invited. Even her worst fears and nightmares. Greta must face her challenges whether she likes or not, otherwise she might remain asleep forever.

Matthew Whittet’s play reminds us that the battles we fight as teenagers are the ones define so much of who we are as adults.

Click here to purchase your tickets today!

PPA Trivia Night

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of trivia, prizes and fun!

The Pymble Parent Association warmly invites you to our annual Trivia Night on Saturday 22 June 2024. Create your own table of ten or we’ll seat you with others from your year group to meet new people! Fantastic prizes will be won and auctioned throughout the night and raffle tickets are available for advance purchase. This year’s prizes include sports lovers, pamper and wine lovers packages.

Date: Saturday 22 June

Time: 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start

Venue: Miramare Gardens, entry via 48 Myoora Road, Terrey Hills NSW 2084

Cost: $90 per person / $900 for a table of 10

Theme: Come dressed as your favourite pop or rock star for a chance to win best costume! Don’t worry if costumes aren’t your thing – your presence is what matters most. We encourage dressing up to add to the festive atmosphere, but it’s entirely optional.

Ticket includes a welcome drink, main meal and coffee and tea. Additional drinks can be purchased at the bar.

Register by: Wednesday 12 June. Registrations are essential. This is a parent-only event.

To purchase tickets, please click here. Please find attached an invitation with full details of the event.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Sunny Hres – sunny.hres@gmail.com

Kai Jones – kai_look@yahoo.com

Edwina Burns – edwina@deburns.com

Julie Xie – xiejihong_68@yahoo.com.au

Year 12 HSC Winter Study Camp

The Pymble HSC Winter Study Camp is on during the first week of the holiday break!

The camp is a five-day (non-residential) program that provides you with a structured study environment free from distractions in the lead up to the Trial Examinations.

Fabulous features of study camp:

Teachers available daily for individual or small group tutoring
Dedicated absolute quiet study space
Allocated rooms do a practice exam or collaborate in small groups
Academic advisors will be available daily for ATAR estimates and study planning assistance
The Futures Team will be onsite. Students will be able to book a time with a member of the team.
Unlimited tea, coffee and fruit

Students who are working on a major project will be able to visit their respective classrooms/spaces during this time to work on their projects if staff are available.

Camp Details: Monday 1 July to Friday 5 July 2024

Time: 8.30am to 4.30pm

Cost: $345.00 (5 days) – morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided daily

Location: KM Building

Click here to register.

Registrations close: Friday 14 June 2024.

It is recommended to register ASAP as the number of teachers for tutoring is matched to the number of students attending. Last year over 70% of the Year 12 cohort participated.

For further questions, please contact: Mrs Jenny Olsen jolsen@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au (Head of Extended Learning).

Important message from the Healthcare Centre

The peak of the cold and flu season is upon us. To prevent widespread flu in the College, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines:

Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if she has any of the following symptoms:

Very stuffy or runny nose and/or cough
Mild sore throat
Headache
Stomach ache

Definitely keep your child at home for treatment and observation if she has any of these symptoms:

Fever (greater than 38 degrees and your child may return to school only after her temperature has been consistently below 38 degrees, for a minimum of 24 hours)
Vomiting (even once)
Diarrhoea
Chills
General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches
Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough

To help prevent the flu and other colds, teach your children good hygiene habits:

Wash hands frequently
Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth
Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing by using your elbow or a tissue, throw it away and then wash hands
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Colds are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should remain at home until “fever free” for a minimum of 24 hours. Often when a child awakens with vague complaints (the way colds and flu begin) it is wise to observe your child at home for an hour or two before deciding whether or not to bring to school.

Your child should be physically able to participate in all school activities on return to school. Keeping a sick child at home will minimise the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom. That includes not attending co-curricular and/or the Uniform Shop.

Thank you in advance for helping make our College as healthy as possible.