From the Principal

Congratulations to our students and staff on reaching the halfway point of the school year, and a massive round of applause for our musicians (and their support crew!) who delivered a magnificent finale to Term 2 last night with the Concerto Competition and Ensemble Concert. The quality of performances was truly second to none! A special congratulations to Ashleigh O’Young (on clarinet) and Gabrielle Zhong (on cello), whose outstanding musicianship was on display as our two Concerto Competition performers and reflected the standard I see at professional concerts.

Thank you to our Pymble staff for another term of enthusiastically dedicating your time to the development of our students in whatever pursuits they undertake; your commitment and care is deeply appreciated.

Thank you also to all our wonderful parents and carers. We’ve loved having you on campus and appreciated your involvement in so many shared events and activities in Term 2. You are our Very Important Partners (VIPs) in your daughters’ learning journeys at Pymble and we are truly grateful for your ongoing support. 🙏🏻

In the upcoming holidays, we have students travelling locally and internationally to participate in a range of external sports, activities and learning programs, ranging from rowing in the Henley Royal Regatta to competing in the Artistic Gymnastics Border Challenge and studying at the Oxford Royale summer school. More than 190 of our Senior students, supported by a team of dedicated staff, will be making the most of their time to prepare for their upcoming HSC trials in Term 3 at our HSC Study Camp. Whether you are working through the holidays, representing Pymble in your passions, heading off to exciting destinations or having a staycation at home, my hope is you also find time to rest, reflect and find some Tiny Little Joys over the next few weeks – but more on TLJs in just a moment.

First, I’d like to take a moment to extend my sincere and grateful thanks to two staff members who have gone above and beyond to be of service to our girls and staff this semester.

Thank you to our co-Acting Deputy Principals

I often speak to the girls about the joy of being of service; using your heart, your gifts, and your talents to genuinely give of yourself to other people. At the beginning of the year, our Director of Academic Excellence, Jake Plaskett and Director of Studies, Natasha Stanfield kindly agreed to take on the additional (and demanding) role of co-Acting Deputy Principals – Academic for the first half of this year. This enabled Justin Raymond and Lamia Rockwell to start in their new Deputy Principal roles from January, and gave the College time to undertake a global recruitment search for the ideal candidate, Mrs Christine Kenny, who commences in Term 3. Mr Plaskett and Mrs Stanfield already had demanding positions and took on this additional responsibility with grace, wisdom and passion. Their generosity of time, leadership and energy has been a tremendous gift to our students and staff, and to me, personally; thank you both for being of service to our College.

The science of Tiny Little Joys

Which brings me back to Tiny Little Joys, a timely topic as students and many of our staff head into the holiday period.

The idea of intentionally noticing a Tiny Little Joy each day or, ideally, several times a day, is based on neuroscience. As research professor and life coach Dr Catherine Mary McDonald explains in this clip, our brains are designed to automatically imprint negative experiences – this is natural and serves to keep us safe from harm. Joyful experiences, on the other hand, need to be manually imprinted so that our brains become used to, and start looking for, positivity in our lives.

We can choose to let go of some of the bad experiences we hold onto by noticing joyful things we encounter as we go about our day. This could be as simple as seeing something that reminds you of a special person or time, hearing your favourite song, or appreciating the beauty of nature.

After showing the clip to Years 5 to 12 in Combined Assembly yesterday, I shared a few of my own Tiny Little Joys, including having several students stop and say hello to me as I was making my way to the assembly. This brought me enormous joy because the best parts of my day are when I’m spending time in conversation with our students! Thank you, girls, you really made my day.  

Having Years 5 and 6 join the ‘big girls’ at this assembly also brought me great joy – all those eager and engaged faces! To honour their presence, I asked a few of our Junior School girls to come to the podium to share their Tiny Little Joys, which ranged from playing musical instruments, to writing poetry to share with their family, interactions with pets, playing basketball, and, the answer that brought the house down, “my lunch!”. Witnessing the entire assembly cheer, applaud and support each of our courageous Junior School girls as they revealed a little piece of themselves was perhaps the greatest joy of all.

Signing off for Term 2 with all best wishes for a wonderful three weeks before Term 3 begins on Tuesday 18 July. Be well, stay safe and keep an eye out for all those Tiny Little Joys that are just waiting for you to notice.

Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal

From the Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

As we end this term, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey of learning, friendship, challenge, sport, co-curricular activities, and personal growth that our girls have undertaken. It has been a term filled with excitement, discovery, and meaningful experiences. Congratulations to our Year 6 Hockey Team A whom I watched play on Saturday and who displayed such a committed sense of teamwork as they played.

Congratulations also to our outstanding Eisteddfod Jazz and Lyrical teams who both competed at the Extreme Dance Eisteddfod on Sunday. These girls also dazzled with their strong sense of teamwork and the precision they have in their choreography reflects their hours of dedicated rehearsal and their determination to present as a collective whole. I was very proud watching both groups perform. 

Congratulations to our Eisteddfod choral groups who also came 2^nd and 3^rd at the competition this week #Pymbleproud!

At the heart of our Junior School educational philosophy lies the core guiding principle of kindness. This term, we have focused on nurturing kindness in others through four important statements: “I can be of service,” “I can be inclusive,” “I can listen,” and “I can use my voice for change.”

Look at these amazing posters created by Chelsea Duan (Year 6) to represent our Kindness to Others’ facts. Chelsea is still working on her design Fact 4, ‘I can use my voice for change’

In our classrooms and beyond, we have witnessed our students embracing the value of being of service and leading social inclusion and care. They have actively sought ways to help others, whether it’s assisting a peer with their work, cheering a friend on in sport, supporting a friend during challenging times, celebrating each other’s successes in eisteddfods, sharing their passion of music with someone who is elderly or lonely, making artworks and cards for those in hospitals or participating in community service projects. Their acts of kindness have had a profound impact on those around them, and I hope given them a sense of joy too as they give kindness to others. Our Kindness Captains surprised the teachers this week with messages of gratitude for the semester. 

Our commitment to inclusivity has been an integral part of this term’s journey. Our girls have demonstrated a deep understanding that everyone deserves to be included and valued. They have actively created an environment where everyone feels welcomed and celebrated for their unique qualities, fostering a sense of belonging that enriches our community. Thank you for modelling that focus on inclusivity to your daughters.

We have also emphasised the importance of listening. Our students have honed their listening skills, understanding that true empathy and understanding begin with attentive ears and open hearts. They have embraced the art of active listening, valuing diverse perspectives and appreciating the beauty of human connection through genuine dialogue. They have listened respectfully to their teachers and opened their minds to new learning challenges and how to problem solve.

Finally, our girls have discovered the strength of their own voices and the potential for change they hold. Through various initiatives, they have learned to articulate their thoughts, express their ideas, and advocate for positive transformation. They have come to understand that their voices matter and can create meaningful impact both within our school and beyond.

I was so proud to observe Year 4M who shared their Health lesson, led by Mrs Rachel Kingsell, Head of PDHPE K-6, with Channel 9 and representative from the Butterfly Body Bright foundation this week. The girls showcased their maturity and depth of kindness to self as they shared their thinking about the power of our bodies and the gratitude, they each have for their bodies, whatever shape and size they are and the things they allow us to do.

As we reflect on the term’s accomplishments, we are immensely proud of the growth we have witnessed in your daughters. Their kind deeds, inclusive attitudes, attentive listening, and courage to use their voices for change have laid a strong foundation for their future as compassionate and empowered individuals.

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to you, the parents, for your unwavering support in nurturing these qualities in your children. Together, we are creating a community where kindness thrives, and a learning community where your daughters are equipped with the skills and values to thrive and make a positive difference in their world.

Thank you for entrusting us with your daughters’ education and growth. We wish you safe travels and a relaxing break as a family so that your girls can come back energised for another semester of learning beginning in Term 3. We look forward to the exciting journey ahead as we continue to inspire kindness, foster inclusivity, encourage active listening, and empower our girls to be the change they wish to see.

House Robotics Day

On Monday our House Captains 2023 launched our inaugural inter House Robotics competition. Every girl from Kindergarten to Year 6 had a go at driving robots in a thrilling series of short games to earn points for her House. The House Captains were exceptional in their support of their House sisters throughout the day and led the atmosphere of having a go, being resilient when faced with pressure or technical difficulties and having fun.

A huge thank you to Mrs Alison Tedesco, our K-6 Robotics Coordinator, Ms Charlotte Baker and Mr Dan Brown who led the day for our girls alongside our high energy and brilliant staff House Champions; Mrs Tracy Reid (Hammond), Mrs Shaira Musico (Bennett), Ms Sarah McGeogh (Goodlet), Mrs Nicola Michie (Ingleholme), Ms Penny Charalambous (Marden), Ms Rosie Prince (Lang), Ms Imogen Kennett (Thomas) Mrs Cindy Anderson (Wylie).

We had three secondary exchange students from France visit our Years 3 to 6 French classes this week. We have Julie, Lilou and Charlotte from Colmar in Alsace in this photo. They are staying with host families of Pymble Year 10 French students and are 16 years old. They have been generous in sharing their time and energy with our Junior School talking about France, their language and culture. For this we are profoundly thankful.

Our Year 6 girls continue to impress with their depth of thinking. This week they shared their knowledge of Malawi inspired by their reading of the text, The Boy who Harnessed the Wind. The girls each researched an area which resonated with them having read the text and the array of guiding research questions they had come up with was impressive. We had students researching the impact of famine, the impact of poverty on a country’s growth and people, clothing as a representation of culture and history, how windmills, turbines and transformers work, how batteries and AC/DC electrical currents work, and even how the subjects offered in schools impact the country’s ecomomic growth.

Message from the Administration Office

Thank you parents for a wonderful Term 2 and for your assistance in notifying us if your daughter has changes to her normal school routine day or is absent from school, or if you need to pass a message onto your daughter.

A reminder you daughter will return to school in Term in full winter uniform for Term 3, please ensure all items of clothing and items are clearly named with her full name so it can be easily returned to her if it is found. Further information regarding uniform and appearance can be found on page 32 and 33 of your daughter’s student diary.

We wish you a safe and lovely school term break and look forward to providing assistance and seeing your daughter in Term 3.

For Kindergarten to Year 2 girls whose travel arrangements have changed for Term 3 please email juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)

Thank you again to your support for the K-2 and 3-6 Athletics Carnival held recently.

A special thank you to Annabel Blaiklock and Jess Du on the JSPG for convening these stalls with other helpers.

Save the Date – Parent Daughter Dances

We are very excited to announce that our Parent Daughter Dances are being held in August. Please mark these dates in your diaries as they are just around the corner!

Years K-2 Parent Daughter Dance

Date: Saturday 5 August

Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Venue: John Reid Hall and Sunshine Square

Price: $50 per person

Dress Theme: “Under the Sea”

Years 3-5 Parent Daughter Dance

Saturday 19th August 2023

Time: 6:00pm to 8:30pm

Venue: John Reid Hall and Sunshine Square

Price: $50 per person

Dress Theme: “Glitz and Glamour”

Class 3R Brunch & Playdate

Please join us for a brunch and playdate on Sunday 16^th July at Eden Gardens from 10:30am. See flyer for more details.

On behalf of the JSPG, we wish all the junior school families as happy and safe holiday break. We look forward to catching up with you in Term Three.

If you have any questions or require further information, please email us the JSPG at: pymblelcjspg@gmail.com

Important Dates for Term 3

Monday 19 July	No school today
Tuesday 18 July	First Day of Term 3
Thursday 20 July	Years 1 & 2 Concert Voice Recording 9.00am to 1.00pm, GMCPA
Monday 24 July	Emmy and Friends for Year 1
Tuesday 25 July	Catch up Photo Day
Tuesday 25 July	Years 5 to 12 NAIDOC Assembly 1.30pm
Wednesday 26 July to Friday 28 July	Year 6 OEP Group 1 Glenworth Valley
Wednesday 26 July	Years 5 and 6 Maths Olympiad
Wednesday 26 July	Years 3 and 4 Maths Explorer
Thursday 27 July	Year 5 and 6 da Vinci Decathlon
Friday 28 July	Year 6 OEP Group 1 Glenworth Valley
Friday 28 July	Year 5 and 11 Honouring (Unstructured Play)
	**Note for your calendars:  Academic learning discussions will take place on Monday 18 September 2023. All students will take home their iPad on Friday 15 September. As these discussions will be online and throughout the whole day no Junior School student will be on campus on Monday 18 September.

Kate Brown

Head of Junior School

From the Middle School

This week in Middle School the girls spent time with Year 12 students as part of a mentoring initiative: You’ve Got A Friend In Me! The purpose was to build relationships across year groups and foster community. We also held our final Year 7 and Year 10 Peer Support activity with a shared barbecue on Gloucester Lawn. There is always great value in providing opportunities for the girls to spend time with their older Pymble sisters. Our hope is that these relationships will continue to grow across Semester 2.

Well done to Ava Chrsitofides, who completed the 2023 Kuring-Gai Chase Fun Run. Ava completed the fun run with her brother, not only finishing 45^th place but also raising $375 for a great cause. Ava did a great job representing Pymble and giving back to the community.

I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. The girls and staff are very ready for this break. I would like to thank everyone in the Middle School for their work to support the girls across Semester 1: Mrs Budd – Deputy Head of Middle School, Mr Heggie and Ms Mimmo – Heads of Year 7 and Ms Ventura and Ms Attley – Heads of Year 8, and our amazing MS Administration staff: Mrs Sibug, Ms Volonakis and Mrs Bastes.

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Jenny O’Donnell

Head of Middle School

From the Upper School

A message from Mr Riley, Head of Upper School

And just like that, unbelievably we are halfway through the year.

It has been an action-packed end to a busy Term 2, with our leaders planning and coordinating our Upper School Assembly on Tuesday. It was fun seeing 550 girls battle it out for trivia champion; a big congratulations to Athena Chen on their win! We also celebrated our Jacaranda Award recipients for Term 2.

Last weekend, Evie Leahy, Celeste McDermott Bulzoic, and Freya Howes (below) were sponsored by our Rotary Club to attend their annual Leadership Camp, RYPEN, in the Blue Mountains.

Elsewhere we have enjoyed seeing the broad successes of our girls including;

• Zara Cooke and Keira Mironova competing in the Netherlands and Hungary for Water Polo for Australia
• Anda Xintong Wang being crowned adult division champion for 2023 ADS Night of Stars Dancesport National Championship held in Perth
• Samantha He competing in this year’s Hollin’s Trophy International, a prestige figure skating event in Australia
• Our Year 9 and 10 girls competing NSW All Schools Touch Gala Day
• A celebration BBQ for our Year 10 Peer Support Leaders with their Year 7 Compass Cohorts
• A wide variety of girls strutting their stuff a lunchtime concert for Wellbeing Week!

I hope you manage some time with your girls over the break and encourage them to properly recharge their batteries. There is a lot of exciting events planned for both Year 9 and 10 in the latter half of the year, and we look forward to having them firing on all cylinders.

Save the Date: Vision Valley Experience for Year 10 Mothers and Daughters

Celebrating the women we are, and the women our daughters will become. 

Have you ever wanted to experience Vision Valley? 

Mothers, you are warmly invited to join us for a memorable day with your daughter where you will share laughter, participate in fun activities and enjoy a long lunch in the great outdoors.

The Upper School Parent Group are delighted to announce the inaugural Year 10 Mother/Daughter day in the beautiful surrounds of Vision Valley. This exciting day will include three fun activities, a delicious long lunch, an entertaining short workshop and a treasure hunt to finish.

Date: Sunday 8 October (last weekend of the October holidays)

Time: 9.00am to 4.30pm

Tickets will be strictly limited to 50 mother/daughter couples and will be on sale in Term 3. In the spirit of inclusion, other family members will be welcome to substitute for Mothers.

From the Upper School Parent Group

Click here to purchase your tickets for the Year 9 Cocktail Evening on Saturday 5 August.

Year 10                Zoe Green                        bzgreen@bigpond.net.au

                             Pamela McPherson         bruceandpam@bigpond.com

Year 9                  Monika Surana                monsisurana@yahoo.co.in

                              Christel Vigne                 vignechristel@gmail.com 

Social media community groups:

PymbleLC Parents Class of 2025 (Facebook for year 10)

PymbleLC Parents Class of 2026 (Facebook for year 9)

PymbleLC USPG 2023 (Facebook for all Upper School parents)

Or please contact us for an invite to a WeChat group or Dads WhatsApp group.

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Tom Riley

Head of Upper School

From the Senior School

Congratulations to all the senior students who have worked hard this term with their assessment program and co-curricular activities. You have shown an impressive sense of determination and commitment, which has made your teachers very proud.

The Senior School also enjoyed the sense of community at our annual Wrap with Love Knit-In this week. Knitting squares provides warmth and protection for vulnerable people all over the world. The girls and staff are also proud of their many years of service to this organisation and participate enthusiastically, demonstrating their genuine care for others. It is also a therapeutic and relaxing activity for us all as we work together knitting and chatting over our squares.

Please ensure that your daughter manages to find a balance during the term break. There is a need for the girls to maintain some academic focus but this should not dominate her time. Planners are always available for the girls to collect from the front office to assist the girls with their time management.

Best wishes to you all for a safe and restful break. See you next term.

Term 2 Key Dates

Tuesday 18 July – Students return to school

Friday 28 July – Year 12 Study Day

Monday 31 July – Year 12 Trial HSC examinations begin

Friday 11 August – Last day of Year 12 Trial HSC examinations

Monday 28 August – Year 11 Examinations begin

Friday 8 September – Last day of Year 11 Examinations

Monday 18 September – Year 12 Picnic Day

Wednesday 20 September – Year 12 Honouring Ceremony

Thursday 21 September – Year 12 Awards, Year 12 Final Chapel Service and Year 12 Valedictory Dinner

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Nikki Wyse

Head of Senior School

From the Boarding School

Thank you for sharing your special girls with us for another term. They have been exceptional this term, sharing their enthusiasm, compassion and Boarder common sense with their trademark generosity of spirit. I have been particularly proud of the manner in which the Boarders represented the College at Jersey Day and at the AIS Boarding Symposium, in both cases demonstrating the standard of care and excellence that we enjoy here at Pymble. As I regularly repeat, as residents of the College, our Boarders set the standard and it is a very fine standard indeed!

I know you will join me in thanking our wonderful Boarding staff who, as always, have worked tirelessly to support the girls in every way they can. Our Deputy Director of Boarding, Katie White is particularly dedicated to ensuring the best academic and recreational opportunities for the Boarders and I thank her and wish her all the best as she heads off for a brief period of long-service leave in the first three weeks of the new term.

Keeping Up With Our Boarders

It is with great delight that I share our latest edition of Keeping Up With Our Boarders. My thanks to all our Boarders and staff who contributed stories and to our incredible team of Bray Stoneham and Rachel Fairbairn from Community Engagement who share their incredible talents in editing and graphic design to make it such a memorable read. I hope you agree it is a fabulous record of our fabulous family!  

Farewell to much-loved team members

Tilly Fox

On Tuesday evening we farewelled our wonderful gap staff member, Tilly Fox. Tilly joined us at the start of the year from the United Kingdom where she lived at a boarding school and quickly made a big impact on all of us. She has been a fabulous support in Boarding and an invaluable member of the Health Care team. Year 7 Boarder, Sasha Paris sums up our thoughts on terrific Tilly below.

T is for Terrific

I is for Intelligent

L is for Loving

L is for Lively

Y is for Youthful

Tilly, you are all of these qualities and more. You have done so much for us, like whenever we walk into Health Care you have the brightest smile on your face, or when we go to breakfast on a Friday morning you always check up on us to see how we are doing. Though these are just the little things you do, they make our day and make us feel so loved and cared for. We will miss you so much. Please come back and visit, and we wish you safe travels home to see your family again. From the bottom of all our hearts, thank you.

Neha Beri

We also bid a sad farewell to Neha who has been a beautiful presence in all our lives. Neha has been absolutely crucial to the two things that I am sure our girls feel are the most important aspects of their lives in Boarding – leave and travel home! As you can imagine it is no mean feat facilitating the comings and goings of 128 young women and Neha has done this seamlessly, ensuring their enjoyment and safety. She has called hosts, airlines and even theme parks to ensure the Boarders get where they need to be in a safe and sensible manner.

In Term 2 Neha also managed this role while stepping up to the position of Assistant Head of Year. She has set an excellent standard and done so in a professional and collegial manner. I wish Neha every success as she embarks on her teaching career, and we hope she returns to our Pymble family in the not too distant future.

Our Term 2 “Brooksie” Recipient

The Margaret “Brooksie” Brooke Award is awarded to a Boarder who exemplifies the spirit of a tenacious, courageous, compassionate and giving woman. These Boarders consistently uphold and demonstrate the College values and actively contribute to the Boarding community while demonstrating dedication to her studies.  A Brooksie recipient consistently displays ‘Pymble Pride’ including wearing appropriate school uniform, being punctual and maintaining a tidy room.

It is my great delight to award Year 10 Boarder, Evie Leahy the Brooksie for Term 2. Since the day she arrived in Boarding at the start of 2022, Evie has been pure delight. She is consistently kind, caring and she has an excellent sense of humour. Evie keeps an excellent room and her Pymble pride is reflected in her perfect uniform.

Evie has high expectations for herself and this is obvious in her commitment to rowing. She set herself a goal of making the First Four and worked hard to achieve the dream. She is also a natural leader and this was evident in her nomination to attend the Rotary Leadership camp last weekend. Evie was one of just three of our all the Pymble Year 10 girls to be awarded this opportunity and it was clearly well deserved.

Evie is the rare individual who makes everyone she meets feel special. She is sweet, thoughtful and makes looking out her others her priority. Evie is truly the embodiment of the College Values and feel so lucky to be able to call her one of ours. 

Our Term 2 Pink Ladies

Thank you to all of our day school friends and families that make our time in Boarding easier, happier and much more connected. You help us out with lifts, sleepovers and home made treats and we are super grateful for all that you do.

Our Pink Lady this term, Chloe Lam of Year 8, adds sharing her musical talents to the list and we are so thankful! Chloe was our organist for the Jersey Day Commemoration Chapel Service and she made the service extra special. Chloe attended numerous rehearsals, was incredibly accommodating and played beautifully. We hope this will be the first of many collaborations with Chloe.

Aside from our Day school families, all day school staff go out of their way to support and make our life at Pymble so much sweeter. And there is no better example of this than our wonderful Reverend Bent. Rev Bent is our much-loved neighbour and a key member of our Boarding family. She works tirelessly to make our Chapel services extra special and is always there to brighten our day. Rev Bent was key to making the Jersey Day Commemoration Chapel Service extra special – with her warmth and kindness a true tonic for all involved.

It’s not too late to sign up for Eat Like a Boarder

I hope you can join us for dinner on Monday 17 July at 6.00pm, when you return your girls from the Term 2 break. This will be the ‘real’ experience, with you being able to enjoy the regular dinner service, just as the girls do each evening. If you would like to join us, please RSVP to boarding@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au before 10 July.

Pymble heads north!

We would love to see you up north when we head up to Moree and Narrabri. There will be a special function in Moree on Thursday 20 July and I hope you can join us to catch up with our Pymble family. Please click the invitation below to RSVP.

Boarding Parent Group Meeting

Given the time of term, we have made the decision to delay the previously advertised meeting on 16 June. The meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday 27 July at 7.00pm and we hope you can join us online at this time. A Teams meeting link will be sent through early next term. Topics on the agenda include Garden Party, parent events and an update on Boarding. Please send through any additional agenda items to boarding@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Save the Date

Monday 17 July from 2.00pm – Return to Boarding Start of Term 3

Monday 17 July – Eat Like a Boarder, 6.00pm

Thursday 20 July – Pymble in Moree and Boarding Expo

Friday 21 to Saturday 22 July – Narrabri Boarding Expo

Thursday 27 July – Boarding Parent Group Meeting

Friday 4 to Sunday 6 August – Boarder Parents Regional Weekend in Mudgee

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Carolyn Burgess

Head of Boarding

From the Chaplains

As we reach the last week of term, I am reflecting on inner peace as we enter the period of winter break. Of course, for College staff there is always work to be done for the following term, and I am mindful of those who continue the good work of property upkeep, repair, building work and admin staff – the ones who keep the ship afloat while many of us are at home or on vacation elsewhere.  

The source is unknown, but someone who is clearly a deep thinker has written the symptoms of inner peace which I absolutely love:

1. The tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears. 

2. The ability to enjoy each moment. 

3. Loss of interest in judging self and others. 

4. Loss of interest in conflict. 

5. Disinterest in interpreting the actions of others. 

6. Loss of the ability to worry. 

7. Frequent episodes of appreciation. 

8. Feeling connected to others and nature. 

9. Frequent attacks of smiling through the eyes of the heart. 

10. The increasing tendency to let things happen rather than to make them happen. 

If you have all or even most of the above symptoms your condition of peace may be so far advanced as to not be treatable!  

I found it funny that when I was reading this excerpt in one of my devotional books, it spoke of how we often use ‘symptom’ in a negative manner to speak of an illness or disease. As we look at the list however, there can be positive symptoms as well.  

Symptoms of inner peace could reflect spiritual vitality and that we’re at a place in life where we feel a sense of balance and that everything in our lives just makes sense at this time. Last week in Chapel we focused on the compassion of Jesus when he looks upon the crowds, who seem frayed and without hope. The compassion Jesus feels moves him to call his disciples into action with bringing about healing and hope to those around. But, of course, it begins first with our own selves.  

We must be nonjudgmental and compassionate, first to our own selves and then of course to others. To quote the devotional I mentioned earlier, (CPR for the Soul by Tom Stella), ‘Until we learn to accept our less than perfect selves, both peace and happiness will elude us, and we will create havoc, not peace, for those around us.’ 

As I log out for the term, I give thanks to God for sending us Edwina O’Brien as Assistant Chaplain, who has been such a support in ministry and pray Jesus himself may bring peace to you and yours.

May God hold you in the palm of his hand until we meet again. 

Stay well and safe! 

Reverend Punam Bent

College Chaplain

From the Community Engagement Team

Events Calendar

All College events, including community events, can be viewed on the MyPymble app from the calendar tab. It is important that all parents download the app and check it regularly to keep up to date on the very busy schedule Pymble offers students and families. This week we are planning for Term 3 and hope all our families enjoy a restful holiday period.  

Dragon Boat Festival 

We would like to wish Pymble families a very happy Dragon Boat Festival today and extend our best wishes for good health. Although we couldn’t celebrate as a College today due to the impending school holidays, we are excited to welcome families onsite on Friday 22 July for our inaugural Cultural Festival – Dragon Boat Dinner. Guests are welcome to wear their own cultural dress regardless of heritage as we celebrate the diversity of the Pymble community. 

We have almost reached capacity for this evening so if you have not booked your tickets, please do so as soon as possible as registrations are closing soon – tickets are available here. 

Supporter Merchandise 

Pymble would like to offer the parent and carer community a line of supporter merchandise to wear at matches, performances or as casual wear, and we are seeking feedback regarding the types of items our community might like to purchase in support of our girls. If you would like to extend your thoughts on merchandise, please click here to fill out a short survey. 

Foundation Ball 

On Saturday 14 October Pymble will host the Foundation Ball at the Art Gallery of NSW. Parents and carers are invited to enjoy an unforgettable evening at this stunning venue as part of the Pymble Foundation’s ongoing philanthropy program, supporting students through the Bursary Program (means-tested scholarships) or Building Fund. These initiatives help us bring our vision for the future of our learning environments to life and enable Pymble to remain a world leader in educating girls and young women. Please mark the date in your calendar; we will share more information early next term. 

Kelly Mancey

Director of Community Engagement and Advancement

From the Futures Team

Subject Pathway Guides

We recently collaborated with the Heads of Learning Areas to work on a series of Subject Pathway Guides to help students and families to understand the specific pathways that can be undertaken to deepen expertise and knowledge in a subject area. Each guide includes information on transferable skills developed in the subject and examples of further study.

These guides were recently included in the Year 10 Subject Selection event and we thought it may be helpful for all parents and students to view this insightful information.

Below is an example from Geography, to view the full collection, click here.

UNSW Coop Scholarship Masterclass

We recently welcomed back Arousha Soultany (2022) to share her advice and learning about being a Coop Scholar.

Co-op (or co-operative) scholarships are programs where industry sponsors partner with universities to offer scholarship recipients with bespoke opportunities to develop their career whilst studying.

Students receive a scholarship (over $80,000), mentoring, internships at sponsor companies and invaluable experience to add to their CV whilst completing their undergraduate studies.

To view this masterclass follow this link to the Futures@Pymble YouTube account.

Kim Maksimovic

Director of Futures and Partnership (K-12)

From the Co-curricular Sports Team

The shortcode only works for newsletter articles

Opportunity to purchase photos

Photos of the Senior School Athletics Carnival (as well as a range of other sports) are now available to purchase online from our College photographer, Anthony Khoury Photography. Simply click the image below and use the password kelso when prompted.

Katie Edwards

Head of Sports – Years 7 to 12

From the Co-curricular Performing Arts Team

A Magnificent End to the Term

The achievements of the various eisteddfod dance ensembles in the Extreme Eisteddfod on Sunday were astounding. The great results have been celebrated by Miss Gardiner in the Dance section below. As one of many fiercely enthusiastic supporters of the various Pymble dance ensembles, my own heart swelled with pride as each group of Pymble dancers entered the stage with heads held proudly high. Each and every dancer proceeded to dance their hearts out in technically-tight routines imbued with sophisticated and spectacular choreography.

The Senior Ensemble Concert and Concerto Competition on Wednesday night were triumphant reflections of the abundantly talented music ensembles at Pymble. Every ensemble played or sang with verve and passion to engage the enthralled audience. It was a privilege to witness the collaborative excellence created by the committed contribution of every instrumental player and chorister so expertly led by their associated conductors. The two finalists in the Concerto Competition must be commended for the extraordinary calibre of their performance work. Bravo!

I would like to thank sincerely every tutor, coach and instructor who has contributed to the achievements of the Pymble students involved in the Performing Arts. Thanks also to the Coordinators and Heads who lead all of the various Performing Arts ensembles and teams. Your collective commitment and dedication do not go unnoticed.

Michael Griffiths

Director of Co-curricular Performing Arts

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Co-curricular Administration

End of Term 2 Registration Period

The End of Term 2 Registration period opened at 12.00pm on Wednesday 7 June. During this period, families will be able to register their daughters for Term 3 and Semester 2 programs, as well as Term 4 2023 Saturday Sports. All program information and access to the online registration system is available on the Co-curricular pages of MyPymble by clicking here. A parent/carer log in is required to be able to register and registrations cannot be processed via email or phone.

The system will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 July for Term 3 and Semester 2 programs, and 12.00pm (midday) on Friday 4 August for Term 4 Saturday Sports.

Reminder notices will be posted on the MyPymble App as the closing dates approach.

Monique Zahra

Head of Co-curricular Administration

Artistic Gymnastics

2023 Winter Wonderland Competition, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June

What a fabulous weekend of gymnastics. In total, 40 Level 3-7 girls from Pymble Gymnastics attended the annual Winter Wonderland competition at Manly Warringah Gymnastics Centre.  Our Pymble gymnasts had a blast and performed their routines to the best of their ability finishing with some amazing results.

Level 3

Olivia Birch (Year 3) 6th Vault

Celine Wang (Year 3) 1st Overall, 1st Vault, 3rd Bars, 1st Beam, 3rd Floor

Evelyn Zhu (Year 2) 5th Floor

Olivia Xue (Year 3)

Sofiyah Khanche (Year 3) 5th Bars

Bella Wang (Year 1) 6th Vault

Ellie Rose Ruiz del Portal Greene (Year 3)

Maggie Li (Year 5) 3rd Beam

Monica Li (Year 3) 4th Floor

Joslyn Wong (Year 4) 2nd Overall, 1st Vault, 5th Bars, 1st Beam, 2nd Floor

Evelyn Shi (Year 5) 1st Overall, 2nd Vault, 1st Bars, 2nd Beam, 1st Floor

Level 4

Lia Sloane (Year 3)

Scarlett Qiu (Year 4) 4th Floor

Aurora Lin (Year 4)

Clarice Chung (Year 4)

Emily Long (Year 4)

Isabella Niu (Year 5)

Olivia Wang (Year 5)

Rayna Wang (Year 3) 3rd Floor

Jacinta Ngo (Year 7)

Celine Chen (Year 8)

Bethany Tucker (Year 5)

Level 5

Charlotte Elliott (Year 4)

Miranda Wu (Year 6)

Crystal Gui (Year 5)

Olivia Dinnie (Year 5)

Nouvelle Nicholson (Year 4)

Alice Liu (Year 5)

Holly Graham (Year 9) 3rd Vault

Autumn Wang (Year 6)

Hayley Nguyen (Year 5)

Level 6

Rose Purcell (Year 7)

Gabrielle Sheh (Year 8) 3rd Vault 5th Bars 6th Beam

Stella Pieterse (Year 6) 2nd Overall, 1st Vault, 1st Bars, 1st Floor

Mahika Swamy (Year 9) 4th Overall, 5th Vault, 1st Beam, 2nd Floor

Vivienne Eaton (Year 9) 1st Overall, 4th Vault, 1st Bars, 2nd Beam, 1st Floor

Sasha Clark (Year 9) 3rd Overall, 1st Vault, 5th Bars 4th Beam, 5th Floor

Level 7

Aimee Yap (Year 7) 1st Overall, 1st Bars, 2nd Beam, 1st Floor.

Emma Baikie (Year 9)

Ellie Mason Jones (Year 7) 6th Floor

Basketball

Throughout the term 2 season, of our Pymble Basketball players vastly improved as each player now has a thorough understanding of the fundamental skills of basketball. The girls showed consistent effort each week, and the future of Pymble basketball looks very bright!

Below are some wrap ups of the season and some kind words provided to us by our loyal and hard working coaches.

Pymble 1 won the igsa grand final against a tough Monte team. I cannot thank our players enough for their commitment to Pymble basketball and the phenomenal culture they have built over the years. Most of this team has been in Pymble 1 for the past three years: Amarley Bron (Year 12), Madeleine Coman (Year 12), Abigail Tyler (Year 12), Natasha Newham (Year 12), Philippa Begg (Year 12), Alice Hillsdon (Year 12) and Sophie van Kerkwijk (Year 12). It was great to see the future of Pymble basketball closing the game out with our young guns Izabella Ziolkowski (Year 10), Ariana Ziolkowski (Year 9) and Gemma Stanbury (Year 9) all providing a fantastic performances. A special mention to Yvette Volk (Year 11) and her beautiful teamwork from the bench while injured.

In Pymble 2, Lucy Pennington (Year 11) kept the team energy and morale high, both from the bench and on the court. Charlotte Craig (Year 10), although new to the sport, became such a phenomenal rebounder on both the offensive and defensive ends. Both Annabel Taylor (Year 10) and Ella O’Dea (Year 10) showed heart and aggression getting to the rim and finishing against contact. Ruby Thomson (Year 12) took three pointers at crucial times and landed them. She also showed high basketball IQ on the defensive end. Ava Thomson (Year 11) showed high basketball IQ with finishing around the rim with a great display of footwork. Ashley Chow (Year 10) made crucial passes to team scoring. Their coach is so proud of how much they have individually improved and the transfer to team improvement!

What a wonderful result for team Pymble 3! Bella Walker (Year 11) was strong in defence. Georgia Bicego (Year 11) showed off her offensive prowess with some timely baskets. Claire Spring (Year 11) shot the ball with confidence and was rewarded. Special mention to these players as often they match up against either the seconds or sometimes even the firsts teams from other schools. They have progressed so well over this term!

Pymble 4 had an amazing finish to their match, fighting to the very end, going down narrowly to a determined Loreto 22 to 20. This was an end-to-end tussle and the score line was changing on the minute. Special mentions to Sophie Livingstone (Year 11) who made some determined runs to the basket and Sofia Laftsidis (Year 11) who was a menace in defence. With two wins and three losses, Pymble 4 finishes in the middle of the pack which is an outstanding effort considering the competition in this division.

Matilda Batman (Year 11) and Phoebe Bucknell (Year 10) were both awesome rebounders and teammates for Pymble 5. The cohesion and chemistry has grown over time with this team, the opposition in this grade especially was very competitive and these players showed great resilience in taking the court each week!

Olivia Radford (Year 12) played an all-round phenomenal game and has greatly impressed her coaches. Serena Leung (Year 12) was top scorer with 12 points in the win for Pymble 6! Overall, this team performed exceptionally, with six wins and only one loss they were agonisingly close to taking out the S09 division. Well done Pymble 6 on this effort!

Great game as ever for Pymble 7, who dominated their game. Special mention to; Alice Anand (Year 10), scoring many amazing layups. Melanie Tan (Year 10) consistently stole the ball and made great shots and Isabelle Hicks (Year 10) who supported her team the entire match being a great team player, not to mention bringing home-made brownies for everyone. Great game, amazing team, true Pymble spirit and were constantly a joy for their coach throughout the season.

Pymble 8 finished their season off on a high, defeating Roseville 20 to 12. An amazing effort from the players and what a way to finish the term. Special mention to the entire team being especially committed to each training session, impressing Coach Jada. It was also great to see them sharing some lunch on the grass after their match!

A tough away task for the Pymble 9 team with only six girls available for this extra game in Frensham. Skye Macleod (Year 8) showed courage on the defensive end, forcing multiple turnovers with her defence. Scarlet Oleson (Year 9) making a huge impact throughout the whole game, rebounding and making her presence felt throughout the entire match. Pymble 9 have learned so much from their coach Rowan Choi this season and we are looking forward to their continued growth over the next years!

Pymble 10 had a tough loss.  A special mention to Ruby Watson (Year 8) for contributing to her team’s success, no matter how small. Alannah Tang (Year 8) showing true leadership and enjoying seeing her teammates succeed. This was a tough division for Pymble 10 however with determined Pymble spirit never gave up and left nothing on the court at the end of a match.

While Pymble 11 had a tough loss, some highlights included Ellie Pointon’s (Year 8) numerous blocks on defence, Annabelle Johnston’s (Year 8) strong ability to bring the ball down the court and Iman Utteridge (Year 9) and the team banking so many shots. Lucy Lakeman (Year 8), Annie Liebmann (Year 9) and Lucinda Martin (Year 8) were dependable for a rebound, dishing out to teammates such as Charlotte Henderson (Year 8) and using the skills of getting low, using pivots to get the ball to an open player. Team spirit was led by Imarni Woodroffe-Mulholland (Year 8), Wynter Woodroffe-Mulholland (Year 9) and Ella Mitchell (Year 9). Nicole Zhang (Year 8) along with the team improved greatly in defence, keeping their hands out and finding a player to mark. Overall, it’s been a great season, and the players in Pymble 11 have learnt a lot about Basketball and teamwork.

Yilin Xie (Year 9) was great defensively on transition and attacked the basket in a tough loss for Pymble 12. Coming up against the competition leaders was always going to be a tough task for this team. Pymble 12 finished in the middle of the pack in this division and did notch up a couple of valuable wins. Well done and we look forward to seeing you back in 2024.

Pymble 13 were in a very tough Year 7 Firsts division this term and played a determined Wenona side on the weekend. With three wins and four losses, they were only a win or so out of the top two teams in the division. This is a phenomenal effort and I cannot wait to see these players in action in the Junior Division next year.

Pymble 14 finished on a high – all players have improved so much over the season should be very proud of their efforts this season. Emma Chen (Year 7) had a phenomenal game, scoring 8 points, blocking shots, and getting lots of steal, Savannah Lorimer (Year 7) played another great game pushing herself to be more aggressive producing four fouls for the first time ever. Isabella Benjamin (Year 7) played a determined defence game, trapping the players at half court and producing four cross court violations while putting fantastic pressure on the opposition.

In Pymble 15’s game, Claudia Sherlock (Year 7) had an incredible shooting game, making a fantastic shot only a step in from the three-point line. The whole team worked hard the entire game and had an excellent second half. Olivia Pragassen (Year 7) made an amazing shot for Pymble 15.

Pymble 16 played very confidently for their last game, working together in the last few minutes of the game. Nicole Fan (Year 7) and Isabella Du (Year 7) tried their best to help the team on the court, finding gaps and making easy passes when throwing in the ball with Nicole Fan (Year 7) on fast transition.

Everyone put in such a great effort for Pymble 17 and really showed an amazing improvement from the start of the season. Emma Koorey (Year 7) made an excellent free throw and chased every ball. Valerie Zhao (Year 7) made an excellent shot and made some great steals! Well done to Pymble 17 on your first year in igsa Basketball! We are all so proud of your commitment each week and see you back on court in 2024!

The final results are listed below:

Team	Opponent	Score
Pymble 1	Monte Sant Angelo 1	34 to 29
Pymble 2	PLC Sydney 1	36 to 31
Pymble 3	Loreto Normanhurst 2	30 to 20
Pymble 4	Loreto Normanhurst 3	20 to 22
Pymble 5	Tara Anglican School for Girls 2	20 to 42
Pymble 6	Wenona School 3	31 to 8
Pymble 7	Loreto Normanhurst 15	63 to 5
Pymble 8	Roseville College 8	20 to 12
Pymble 9	Frensham 7	15 to 13
Pymble 10	Tara 7	23 to 35
Pymble 11	St. Catherine’s School Waverley 4	18 to 52
Pymble 12	Loreto Normanhurst 26	10 to 68
Pymble 13	Wenona School 12	12 to 42
Pymble 14	Tara Anglican School for Girls 13	23 to 11
Pymble 15	Abbotsleigh 31	6 to 28
Pymble 16	Loreto Normanhurst 29	8 to 38
Pymble 17	Abbotsleigh 33	3 to 26

Rachel Maenpaa

Head Coach – Basketball

Cross Country

On a beautiful but brutal course, several of our Pymble athletes travelled south to Nowra to compete at the Athletics NSW State Cross Country. We had some amazing performances with a few athletes gaining automatic selection for National Cross Country in Canberra in August.

U14 Female

1st Eliza Lawton (Year 7)

9th Gemma Dixon (Year 7)

U16 Female

15th Grace Beck (Year 9)

U17 Female

9th Tessa Newitt (Year 10)

U18 Female

2nd Abby Ballhausen (Year 12)

11th Georgia Phillips (Year 11)

17 to 19 years Para Female

1st Yi Ying Lim (Year 12)

U20 girls Female

7th Lucia O’Dea (Year 12)

8th Caitlyn Tan (Year 12)

Congratulations to our Pymble athletes.

Laura Verlinden

Sports Co-ordinator – Cross Country

Football

The final round of igsa Football took place Saturday 17 June with Pymble coming away with seven wins and three losses. A fantastic final round of football saw three of our teams clinch their division. Pymble 3 defeated PLC Sydney comfortably to win the Junior 1st division, Pymble 5 clinched their 6th win of the term to claim the S08 division, and with a win on Saturday, Pymble 6 won all seven of their games to storm away with the S10 division. Pymble 2 won their 5th straight game to finish in a respectable 3rd place in the S03 division. Pymble 3 had a forfeit win on Saturday, which means they finished in 2nd place in the S05 division. Pymble 9 got another solid win this past Saturday which meant they finished with four wins and a commendable 2nd place.

A huge thank you to all students, parents, and coaches for an incredible term of football. Finally, a big thank you to all our leaving Year 12 students.

Team	Opponent	Score
Pymble 01	Roseville 1	0 to 1
Pymble 02	Santa Sabina College 1	2 to 1
Pymble 03	PLC Sydney 3	3 to 0
Pymble 04	Queenwood 2	1 to 3
Pymble 05	Brigidine College 3	2 to 0
Pymble 06	Ravenswood 4	7 to 0
Pymble 07	PLC Sydney 5	3 to 0
Pymble 08	Brigidine College 8	0 to 2
Pymble 09	Monte Sant Angelo 8	4 to 2
Pymble 10	Queenwood 7	3 to 6

Round 7 MVPs

Pymble 1 – Amber Halliday (Year 11)

Pymble 2 – Phoebe Berglund (Year 11)

Pymble 3 – Ilaria Bicego (Year 10)

Pymble 4 – The Whole Team (Years 10 and 11)

Pymble 5 – Lily Hearne (Year 11)

Pymble 6 – Eliza Michie (Year 12)

Pymble 7 – Willa Pearson (Year 7)

Pymble 8 – Soraya Catchpole (Year 9)

Pymble 9 – Holly Graham (Year 9)

Pymble 10 – Cleo McLaughlin (Year 7)

Season MVPs

Pymble 1 – Sophie Watson (Year 12)

Pymble 2 – Madeleine Short (Year 11)

Pymble 3 – Lily Barlow (Year 10)

Pymble 4 – Holly Craig (Year 11)

Pymble 5 – Georgia Dixon (Year 11) and Annalise Cuschieri (Year 11)

Pymble 6 – Milla Black (Year 12)

Pymble 7 – Madison Gabila (Year 7) and Amelia Brandon (Year 9)

Pymble 8 – Hannah Willert (Year 9)

Pymble 9 – Kiki Chen (Year 9)

Pymble 10 – Sanduli Bandara (Year 7)

Season MIPs (Most Improved)

Pymble 1 – Laura Januszek (Year 10)

Pymble 2 – Phoebe Cooper (Year 10)

Pymble 3 – Sophia Lim (Year 10)

Pymble 4 – Arabella Sherlock (Year 11)

Pymble 5 – Georgia Lyster (Year 11)

Pymble 6 – Freya Carmody (Year 12)

Pymble 7 – Victoria O’Sullivan (Year 8)

Pymble 8 – Soraya Catchpole (Year 9) and Charlotte Ruscio (Year 9)

Pymble 9 – Jadyn Wong (Year 9)

Pymble 10 – Isabelle Quessy (Year 7)

Grand Finals Report

Our Senior First and Junior Firsts had their grand finals on Saturday 17 June, with both teams going in as number one seeds.

Our Senior Firsts played against a strong Roseville team, who had brought a large crowd to the game. In a back-and-forth affair, Roseville took the lead in the first half. In the second half Pymble had multiple opportunities to draw the game level, but some expert keeping from Roseville kept our team at bay. Unfortunately, Pymble were unable to get back into the game, and after staying undefeated all term, we came away with a 1 to 0 loss.

A massive thank you to Madeleine Short (Year 11) and Victoria Apachou (Year 10) who stepped in to help the team. All Pymble 1 players can hold their heads up high on a tremendous season!

Our Junior Firsts faced a strong PLC Sydney who they narrowly defeated in their last match. Pymble had a strong start thanks to early goals from Victoria O’Sullivan (Year 8) and Amelia Bicego (Year 8). Some sharp goalkeeping from Amelia Brandon (Year 9) and great defending from our entire backline kept PLC Sydney scoreless at half-time. In the second half, Leander McLaughlin (Year 8) scored with a thunderbolt of a shot to make the game 3 to 0.

Our Junior Firsts are J01 Champions! What an incredible season they have had, going the whole term undefeated!

Bill Turner Trophy

Congratulations to our Bill Turner Trophy team who defeated Cheltenham Girls High School on Monday 19 June. Our team came away with a convincing 3 to 1 win which puts them into the final of the North Division. Goals on the day came from Amelia Bicego (Year 8), and two from Ariana Ziolkowski (Year 9).

Chris Wood

Sport Co-ordinator – Football

Hockey

Congratulations to our Pymble Hockey Captain, Amalia Patterson (Year 12), who has been selected into the 2023 NSW Pride Women’s Extended Training Squad. 

Only the top players in NSW are selected into this squad. They will train together over the next few months and a final 22 players are selected in September before the National Hockey One series kicks off in October.

Click here for the full article!

Laura Verlinden

Sports Co-ordinator – Hockey

Junior School Sport

Congratulations to all students who competed in the Junior School Athletics Carnival Championship Track and Field Events. Special mention to Deb Walsham, Laura Verlinden, the Sports team and our athletics coaches that helped run each event, resulting in a very successful day.

We combined the point scores from the Kindergarten to Year 2 Athletics Carnival, the Year 3 to 6 Athletics Carnival and the Championship Track and Field Events to award our overall winning House as Bennett.

Please see the outstanding Championship Track and Field Events results below:

Junior 800m             

1st Isabelle Lau (Year 4)

2nd Emma Deere (Year 4)

3rd Megan Ng (Year 4)

11 Years 800m          

1st Emma Fogale (Year 6)

2nd Oriane Fenton (Year 6)

3rd Amélie Rahme (Year 5)

Senior 800m             

1st Adele Cassidy (Year 6)

2nd Charlie Slater (Year 6)

3rd Penelope Hargraves (Year 6)

8 Years 100m

1st Siena Cassidy (Year 2)

2nd Claire Lee (Year 2)

3rd Evelyn Zhu (Year 2)

9 Years 100m

1st Chloe Huang (Year 3)

2nd Amelie Berg (Year 4)

3rd Shelly Xie (Year 3)          

10 Years 100m

1st Florence Cheng (Year 5)

2nd Emma Deere (Year 4)

3rd Isabelle Lau (Year 4)

11 Years 100m

1st Zoe Liang (Year 5)

2nd Emma Fogale (Year 6)

3rd Amber Zhou (Year 6)

12 Years 100m

1st Charlotte Sadler (Year 6)

2nd Stella Pieterse (Year 6)

3rd Adele Cassidy (Year 6)

Junior 200m             

1st Florence Cheng (Year 5)

2nd Safina Burgess (Year 5)

3rd Emma Deere (Year 4)

11 Years 200m          

1st Zoe Liang (Year 5)

2nd Emma Fogale (Year 6)

3rd Amber Zhou (Year 6)

Senior 200m             

1st Stella Pieterse (Year 6)

2nd Adele Cassidy (Year 6)

3rd Charlie Slater (Year 6)

Junior Shot Put        

1st TBA

2nd TBA

3rd TBA

11 Years Shot Put    

1st TBA

2nd TBA

3rd TBA

Senior Shot Put        

1st Adele Cassidy (Year 6)

2nd Lillie Oldfield (Year 6)

3rd Ava Costa (Year 6)

Junior Discus           

1st Taylor Green (Year 5)

2nd Safina Burgess (Year 5)

3rd Zoe Soumboulidis (Year 4)

11 Years Discus       

1st Deanne Fernando (Year 5)

2nd Isabelle Yeh (Year 5)

Senior Discus           

1st Ava Costa (Year 6)

2nd Adele Cassidy (Year 6)

3rd Ellie Lau (Year 6)

Junior Long Jump   

1st Claudia Birrell (Year 4)

2nd Safina Burgess (Year 5)

3rd Charlotte Lau (Year 4)

11 Years Long Jump

1st Edith Cullinane (Year 6)

2nd Isabelle Yeh (Year 5)

3rd Sarah Tew (Year 5)

Senior Long Jump   

1st Charlie Slater (Year 6)

2nd Adele Cassidy (Year 6)

3rd Jade George (Year 6)

Junior High Jump    

1st Claudia Birrell (Year 4)

2nd Charlotte Lau (Year 4)

3rd Isabelle Lau (Year 4)

11 Years High Jump

1st Edith Cullinane (Year 6)

Senior High Jump    

1st Grace Neal (Year 6)

2nd Jade George (Year 6)

3rd Ellie Lau (Year 6)

Matt Tyson

Head of Sport – Kindergarten to Year 6

Swimming

Mini Meet

On Monday 19 June 2023, Pymble Swimming wrapped up the last Mini Meet of Term 2. The afternoon was fun and energetic from start to finish.

Our Pride and Engine Squad took charge again in leading our mini meet teams to some great relays to start the race league, followed by the 25m and 50m events. It was great to see our Tiger Shark swimmers competing in the 25m events. Well done to all!

The support displayed by the teams was great to see, lots of cheering and smiles. Special mention to Bella Zhang (Year 12 – Pymble 2023 Swimming Captain) who was our meet announcer and keeping swimmers and parents engaged throughout the meet.

The coaches would like to thank all swimmers and parents in assisting to make our Mini Meets something to always smile about! Good things come from those who swim!

Knox Pymble Swimming Club SC Qualifying Meet

On Saturday 17 June, a total of 132 swimmers attended the Knox Pymble Swimming Club (KPSC) qualifying meet.  70 swimmers from the Pymble swimming program and 34 Pymble students, including one Alumni. Thank you to everyone who made the meet a huge success.

All swimmers went into competition with the same goals; achieving personal best times, chasing new times for metro, junior/senior State and most importantly, race practice. The team outcome was very positive, with many achieving many Personal Best’s (PB’s), new qualifying times for metro and junior/senior State.

Thank you to the KPSC committee and parents who helped on the day. These meets simply cannot run without your team contribution and effort.

The next event is just around the corner: SMNE SC Distance Meet and NSW Metropolitan Championships.

Well done to all Pymble students that competed

Amelia Carlan (Year 8), Jennifer Chen (Year 4), Megan Chia (Year 7), Annalise Chow (Year 8), Elisabeth Costa (Year 6), Emma Deere (Year 4), Carla Eibach (Year 6), Emma Feng (Year 4), Oriana Fenton (Year 6), Georgia Friedel (Year 6), Penelope Hargraves (Year 6), Imogen Jones (Year 7), Avika Kapoor (Year 6), Victoria Ko (Year 5), Sarah Kranes (Year 6), Annabelle Li (Year 8), Annika Lee (Year 10), Anne Liu (Year 7), Elizabeth Lockhart (Year 10), Emma Ng (Year 7), Lakshi Rajeev (Year 5), Charlotte Sadler (Year 6), Zara Sandham (Year 7), Naomi Shi (Year 4), Chloé Shires (Year 6), Keira Smith (Year 10), Sarah Tian (Year 9), Grace Wang (Year 4), Isabella Wang (Year 4), Charlotte Watts (Year 6),  Jiayi Wu (Year 5), Lucy Xie (Year 9), Chloe Xiong (Year 6), Jisoo Yeou (Year 8), Chenxuan Yu (Year 6), Angelica Tan (Alumni)

A huge thank you to the coaching team, providing great leadership and guidance throughout the meet.

Rafael Rodrigues

Coach – Swimming

Touch Football

We extend our congratulations for the outstanding performance of our Pymble touch footballers who participated in the NSW All Schools Touch Football Gala Day held on Wednesday 14 June and Thursday 15 June. Over the course of these two days, our Year 7 and Year 8 teams exhibited remarkable improvement. With their exceptional execution of draw and pass techniques, as well strong drives up the middle, our players secured a spot in the quarter finals. In this intense matchup against Stella Marist, they fought fiercely and showcased numerous incredible touches. Although they narrowly lost by three tries to the eventual grand final winners, their determination and effort were truly commendable.

A similar narrative unfolded in the Year 9 and Year 10 competition. Our players displayed their prowess right from the beginning, delivering impressive performances during the pool series and ultimately finishing second in our pool. Our Pymble footballers progressed to the quarter finals going down to the grand final winners Mackellar Girls. Our esteemed coaches, Barry and Jono, were thoroughly impressed by how our Pymble players effectively translated their coaches’ instructions into action.

Congratulations on a fantastic two days of competition and we look forward to Term 4 Touch Football!

Megan O’Keeffe

Sports Co-ordinator – Touch Football

Water Polo

Pymble Opens Water Polo team competed in the grand final on Friday 16 June in the Northern Suburbs Competition at Warringah Aquatic Centre.

Pymble went down to Brigidine College 8 to 5.  Our Pymble lifted each quarter and applied themselves the whole game. This team should be proud of their improvements this season, their growth as a team was displayed week in, week out. 

Our Pymble Intermediate teams both came away with two strong wins on Monday 19 June.  Pymble Blue won against Brigidine College – White, 9 goals to 4 and Pymble Red to Redlands 15 goals to 2.  Well done to all players, this competition will continue through Term 3 with finals played in September.

Special mention to Zara Cooke (Year 9) and Kiera Mironova (Year 10) who are currently touring over in Europe in the Australian U16 Water Polo team, the team has been very successful on the first leg of the trip in the Netherlands, best of luck on the second part, with their tour of Hungary.

Brigette Moore

Head Coach – Water Polo

Dance

Pymble Dance recently competed at Extreme Eisteddfod on Sunday 18 June.  

Both our Junior and Secondary dancers showcased their talents and represented Pymble Ladies’ College with grace and excellence. 

The Extreme Eisteddfod provided an opportunity for our students to witness the incredible talent and passion from all schools, and it was inspiring to see such a high level of skill and dedication within the dance community. First and foremost, we want to express how proud we are of our girls’ outstanding performances. Not only did they deliver captivating routines, but they also displayed exceptional sportsmanship throughout the competition. 

We are delighted to announce that our Junior troupes achieved remarkable success at the competition. They secured a double win with a first place in both the Jazz and Lyrical categories. It was a delight to witness the sheer joy and happiness radiating from our Junior dancers. Their passion for dance was evident in every move they made on stage. It was a delight to see their beaming smiles, boundless energy, and genuine love for what they do.  

In the High School Jazz Section, Our Jazz White team achieved remarkable success, securing first place in their section. Additionally, we are thrilled to recognise the achievements of our Contemporary Teams. All groups showcased their artistic expression and versatility, and Contemporary White received second place, and our Navy and Scarlet teams were rewarded Highly commended. Their emotional storytelling and seamless execution captivated the judges and left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. 

We would like to extend our gratitude to the family and friends who came out to support our girls. Your presence and encouragement truly made a difference and contributed to the positive and energetic atmosphere at the event. We would also like to acknowledge the presence and support of our leaders. Thank you to Mrs Brown, Head of Junior School, and Mr Griffiths, Head of Performing Arts, for cheering on our dancers and for your support.  

Lastly, we want to again express our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful staff who worked tirelessly to prepare our dancers for this competition, even with last minute reblocks. Their expertise, guidance, and passion for dance have played an integral role in shaping our girls into the talented performers they are today. 

Genevieve Gardner

Dance Program Co-ordiantor

Music

Secondary Ensemble Concert

Congratulations to all the performers at the Secondary School Ensemble Concert on Wednesday night. The girls always turn on the musical charm and we, as their conductors, are amazed at how often they are able to come together and create music. I’d like to especially thank our two finalists, Gabrielle Zhong and Ashleigh O’Young, on their spectacular performances. We are in awe of you both.

Please note that Term 3 rehearsals will commence in Week 1 (apart from the Monday groups). Although we do not have a concert in Term 3, this is where we work on repertoire for the end of the year (lots and lots of concerts) and ask girls to sit in performance seats once occupied by the Year 12 cohort.

AMEB Exam Results

Congratulations to the following students who sat their AMEB Comprehensive exams recently, receiving the following results:

Annabella Bayfield – Grade 2 Voice – A+

Lillian Wang – Grade 4 Voice classical – B+

Anna Ward – Grade 4 Musicianship – A

Chloe Frontczak – Grade 4 Musicianship – A 

Evelyn Zhu – Grade 5 Voice classical – A

Bonnie Xu – 6 Grade Violin comprehensive – B+

Zarina Nurlanov – Grade 8 Voice classical – A

Emma Popli – 8 Grade Violin comprehensive – A

Uniform change – final reminder

We are in the process of updating the current red music performance jacket. Please use this link to vote. The link will close tonight, when the decision will be made. The jackets will be a choice of black with red piping OR red with black piping. The reason for the change is based around style and allowing the girls some choice in what they wear. There will also be black pants as part of the uniform, which all girls must wear. This will all be available from 2024.

Music Tour 2024 – Spain and Portugal

Save the date: 6.15pm, Monday 7 August in the Music Gallery.

All parents who are interested in the Music Tour, please come along to this initial meeting to find out if this is the one for you.

Thank you for all of your support in Term 2 and I hope you all have a wonderful break from the busy but rewarding schedules of the Pymble community.

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Sarah Turner

Head of Co-curricular Music

Annual Appeal 2023

The support Pymble families offer not only their daughter/s but also the College is second to none, and we are truly grateful to have such a kind, caring and compassionate community.

As per our email last week, we are inviting you to join others in making a difference to the lives of our current and future students by giving a tax-deductible donation to Pymble Ladies’ College by 30 June for our 2023 Annual Appeal.

Your gift will support students through our Pymble Foundation Bursary Program (means-tested scholarships) or our Building Fund to help us bring our vision for the future of our learning environments to life.

Please click here to make a donation, and thank you for considering a gift to our Annual Appeal to help change the world, together. 

Are you interested in working at Pymble?

Are you interested in working at Pymble and want to learn more about how we value diversity?     

You’re invited to attend Think Pymble – Embracing Inclusion, an employment-opportunities information evening where you can step inside and find out what makes Pymble an exceptional place to work.    

Come along and hear our staff and College leaders share how valuing a diversity of backgrounds and embracing inclusion are central to our culture at Pymble.     

Join our Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen and a panel of our wonderful staff as they share their passions and insights into social intelligence, belonging and ‘inclusion as a superpower’ and enjoy refreshments and canapés while you network with representatives from our teaching, co-curricular and professional services staff.    

Date: Wednesday 26 July, 5.00pm to 6.30pm     

Venue: Kate Mason Building, Pymble Ladies’ College

Register: Click here to confirm your attendance

PPA Year 6 Dads and Daughters Camp

The Pymble Parent Association (PPA) Year 6 Dads and Daughters Camp will be held at Vision Valley on Saturday 26 to Sunday 27 August 2023.

Please note all dads wanting to attend the camp will require a Working with Children Check (WWCC) number. You do not need this number to register and pay for the camp, but only those dads with a confirmed WWCC can attend.

Places are limited to 60 dads and daughter pairs and will be allocated by date of registration and confirmed WWCC. We have already had 35 pairs sign up, so get in quick to avoid disappointment!

Click here to book and secure your place now!

Save the date: King of the Polar Bears ballet production

The Co-curricular Dance RAD Ballet Stream is presenting a narrated ballet featuring ballet dancers from Kindergarten to Year 11.

The Ballet will be a premiere production of The King of the Polar Bears adapted and directed by Theatre Manager Tonya Grelis and Choreographed by Dance Program Manager Samantha Hibburt.

It is a must-see event as the music and storyline will take you on a wonderous tale about love, loss and acceptance. The wise and mighty King of the Polar Bears loses his beautiful coat to human hunters of the artic. He is saved by the gulls who shower him with feathers from which he grows a new and magnificent plumed coat. But now because he is neither bird nor bear, his sovereignty is in danger because he looks different from his fellow bears. The King must overcome doubt and savage challenges to prove his worth and to show that after all, what really matters is what’s on the inside.  

The show will be performed in the Gillian Moore Centre of Performing Arts (GMCPA) on Friday 1 September at 6.00pm and Saturday 2 September at 11.00am. Tickets go on sale in Term 3 via the GMCPA Box Office.

Thinking of a career change? Think Pymble!

At Pymble, you will be wrapped in a culture of care, community and commitment to educational excellence. You’ll also enjoy all the benefits of a big and beautiful working environment. For more information about working at Pymble, click here. 

Job of the week: Client Project Manager

With our master plans bringing our campus and the education of our students to the next level, we are looking for a confident and experienced construction Project Manager, with 5+ years’ experience, to join us on a full-time permanent basis, commencing immediately.

You will see yourself being part of a team assisting in several large landmark construction projects, including one currently under construction, one in design, and one that has recently received approval from the Department of Planning, as well as assisting in the management of capital works projects at the College.

Working closely from our offices located in beautiful Pymble every day, and alongside the Master Planning Project Director you will be involved in project planning, budgeting, scheduling, and quality control. You will also see yourself developing your skillsets, through your involvement in the day-to-day activities that will be required of you. In addition, this role will have you develop strong relationships with the users, contractors, consultants and other stakeholders involved in this exciting process. Bringing a familiarity and a confidence in compliance, building codes, regulations and industry standards, commensurate with your experience, as well as working closely with the Project Director to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget, will accompany this fulfilling and rewarding role.  

Our kind of team member

• Willingness to support the ethos and values of the College.
• Solid experience 5+ years in construction-based project management.
• Proven understanding and skill in working as a part of a team.
• Experience working on education related construction projects in a live environment would be beneficial.
• Knowledge of building codes, regulations, and industry standards.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Exposed to construction budgeting and scheduling.
• Strong communication skills.
• Desire to learn and grow in the position.

For more information or to apply, click here to head to our dedicated Careers website.

Pymble in Moree

Scholarship registrations open to current Year 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 students

Pymble offers a number of scholarships each year to girls seeking a Performance Scholarship – Sport or All-Rounder Scholarship starting in 2024. These scholarships are open to all students who are currently in Year 6, 7, 8, 9 or Year 10.

Registrations close on 4 August 2023. The examination will be held at the College on Sunday 13 August 2023.

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

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Clair Stock

Enrolments Manager