From the Principal

Welcome back to Pymble for Term 2. But first, what are you doing for dinner?

Tonight, as part of our Autumn Family Festival, we have several food trucks on campus from 4.30pm until 7.45pm – which means there’s still time for locals to pop down, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the displays in the gymnasium. This inaugural event is the perfect introduction to our Term 2 focus on Respect in relation to Diversity and Inclusion, specifically leaning into the richness of our culturally diverse community.

Throughout the term, there will be many more opportunities to celebrate and learn about our cultural, religious, neurological and physical differences, our aim of course being to build deeper levels of mutual respect and understanding within our Pymble family. Thank you to all our students, staff and families who have contributed to this event – and others coming up – with such passion and pride in sharing aspects of their lives that make them who they are today. Special thanks to Dr Sarah Loch, Director of our Pymble Institute and the powerhouse behind the festival. I love that Dr Loch is ‘walking the talk’ about cultural diversity and inclusion in many ways, including as a learner of Indian dancing for the past two years. She is a wonderful role model for our girls.

Bringing history to life

Another very special event this week was our annual Anzac Day Ceremony marking the 110^th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli. Many of our students were involved in Tuesday’s assembly to pay our respects to the men and women from Australia and New Zealand who fought and served in wartime, military operations and peacekeeping efforts since WW1. Thank you to our History Captains, Kitty He and Katherine Pan in Year 11, who did a great job reflecting on the significance of Anzac Day and explaining the ceremonial components of this important Australian tradition. Our Cadets represented the armed services and Pymble so respectfully as did Josephine Green (Year 12) with her flawless rendition of the Last Post and Reveille on the bugle.

It was an honour to share the assembly with four very special guests, all Pymble Alumni with deep connections to the College spanning many generations. At 91 years young, Beth Kannegieter (Tierney, 1950) was joined by her daughter Cathy Lisle (Kannegieter, 1976) and granddaughter Anna Lisle-Turner (Lisle, 2005) and watched on fondly by her great-granddaughter Harriet, one of our delightful Year 9 Boarders.

We also had the great joy of meeting Jean Poole-Williamson (Newling, 1940) and her daughter Linda Milne (Poole, 1973). At 102 years young – I know, amazing! – Jean was delighted to have the opportunity to sit with her daughter, front and centre at assembly, and reflect on her time as a student at Pymble and working in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) based at the signal station at Nowra in WWII. Our students showed genuine respect for all our guests and their contribution to our community. They were also amazed to hear one of our former Principals, Ms Dorothy Knox, was a trained air warden certified by the National Emergency Services in 1941 and that our Boarders in 1942 were the first to use the Pymble bomb shelter that still exists under the Colonnade today.

As every teacher will tell you, there’s nothing like bringing history to life for young people. We hope this week’s Anzac Day Ceremony and Autumn Family Festival spark some meaningful conversations around the dinner table about your own family’s history and culture.

Congratulations to our amazing students

We start Term 2 celebrating many great co-curricular achievements of our students during the break. You can read about all the finer details in the co-curricular section of this newsletter, but for now, I’d like to say a huge congratulations to:   

• Our Knox-Pymble Swimming team who placed first in both the Multiclass and Age divisions at the 2025 Australian Age Swimming Championships in Brisbane – an outstanding achievement from our team, especially given that the last time we won was in 1988!

• Our Divers who also had great success at the 2025 Australian Age Diving Championships at the Gold Coast, including our Coach, Mr Kurtis Matthews, receiving the award for Emerging Coach of the Year.

• Our Robotics students who competed at the World Robotics Championships in Houston. The scale of this competition is unbelievable, and our girls and their coaches were mesmerising to watch as they coded, repaired, drove, reflected, scouted, strategized and formed alliances with other teams over three days and nights, always giving their best and with their values and Pymble Pride shining through.

• Our Cattle Club who were sensational in action at the Royal Easter Show.

• Our Athletes – and Pymble Alumni – for earning a swag of medals and PBs at the 2025 Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Perth.  
  
• And last but by no means least, Mika Naito in Year 12 and Millie Cullinane in Year 11 who have been selected to represent Australia at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Lithuania later this year. What an incredible way to cap off a great rowing season; well done, girls.

Congratulations to our amazing staff

It is also a great joy – and a sign of my enormous respect – to share some outstanding academic achievements from our awe-inspiring staff, who also dedicate many hours outside of term-time to pursuing their passions with excellence.

Please join me in congratulating:

• History teacher, Dr Joshua McDermott, who was awarded his PhD in 2024 (Doctor of Philosophy – Classics and Ancient History) for his thesis: Praise and Parrhēsia in Hellenistic Court Geography.

• History teacher, Mr Ryan Stewart, who has submitted his thesis to the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle, on the topic of First Nations histories in the Central Coast area.

• Reverand Cass Blake, who has submitted her PhD thesis to the University of Theology, Sydney, with the title: Seeking the Father in the Crucified Son, A study on the Trinity and the Atonement through the lens of the Johannine Mutual Indwelling Motif and Temple Symbolism.

• Deputy Head of Upper School, Ms Mariel Lombard, who has submitted her thesis to School of Education, Western Sydney University, with the title: Prevalence and correlates of compassion fatigue among Year Coordinators in Australian secondary schools. It’s wonderful to see the team already referring to Mariel’s work.

Our girls are blessed to have so many teachers who role model the value of life-long learning, and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of other staff at Pymble who are currently part-way through their studies.

For now, please enjoy this insight into the character of our student learners from our Director of the Centre of Excellence, Mrs Debbie Tarrant, who shared this feedback with me earlier this week.

“I just wanted to let you know that Evelyn Zhu, Olivia Xu and Sophia Chang in Year 12 all attended our da Vinci Training Day for the younger students to mark papers.

“I was so impressed that they gave up a day of their holidays to help me and the students in this way.

“Some of them even waited around to spend time with the students, explaining the feedback.

“I was completely ‘blown away’ by their dedication. Some of the papers were lengthy and they spent hours poring over the marking criteria and providing detailed feedback. 

“These students all went through da Vinci themselves and clearly understand the honour it is to be selected. They told me they wanted to ‘give back’ to the other students.

“The Yr 11 team (Kiki Chen, Rosa Kim, Katherine Pan, Amber Li, Jenny Xu, Grace Beck, Jessica Xu and Elysia Sun) ran the Training Day, even writing their own da Vinci papers for the occasion!

“They were in the room from 7.45am to 3.30pm with 40-plus students on their last day of holidays!

“It’s such a special thing – da Vinci! I’ve never experienced anything quite like it!

What a wonderful example of compassionate and influential young women. Thank you, girls, for making us all so Pymble Proud.

From the Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

Welcome to Term 2! It’s lovely to see our girls back bringing their Pymble spirit, joy and energy.

It promises to be a wonderful term with many exciting learning opportunities and events already planned including, the Dance Intensive this weekend, the Junior School Parent Group Year 6 Dance on Saturday 24 May, our Year 5 Performing Arts Showcase and our athletics carnivals on Thursday 5 June for Years 3 to 6 and Wednesday 11 June for Kindergarten to Year 2.

We also have our history-making Formula Goblin team heading over to race in the UK.

Tonight, we celebrate our inaugural Autumn Family Festival, and I am so proud of the girls’ entrepreneurial skills and dispositions and their determination to support charities through their hard work and creativity. I’m looking forward to doing some early Christmas shopping at their market and watching those of our girls who are performing. I know the soggy weather won’t dampen the festival feel of this evening and I thank you all for your support of the girls and this special event for our College.

Kindness to Others

This term we will focus on thinking about the way we can change the world with kindness. Starting within our own homes, and then our local communities, we are looking for ways simple acts of kindness and care can have positive impact and help grow our service mindset. As many children in our world continue to struggle in war-torn communities, poverty and living without voice, it’s critical our girls grow as leaders with a strong sense of compassion and a determination to be the change they want to see in their world.

As it’s 2025, I am challenging the Junior School girls to complete 2025 acts of service, and we have large thermometer which will be displayed in the John Reid Hall to track the number of service acts we do as a community.

This year we are, as a College, partnering with Dr Bosco Rowland, Senior Research Fellow at Monash University, to deepen our understanding of the impact of engaging in acts of kindness and service on both the recipient and the giver.

As Dr Rowland says: “Learning and practising caring and kindness towards others is an important development stage. It teaches children to negotiate difference, develop autonomy, self-approval and self-control. These are essential life skills which have ongoing benefits to help children live and feel well.”

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

Mother’s Day Event

Our whole-schoool Mother’s Day event is taking place on Friday 9 May, with a breakfast for mothers/special people taking place in the Junior School from 7.00am. At 8.15am, students will head to classrooms, and guests of Junior School students are invited to move to the John Reid Hall for a special performance featuring all grades. It is anticipated the event will conclude at 9.00am.

Please be aware of increased traffic and congestion on this day. It is highly recommended to carpool, use public transport or walk. Car line locations will operate as normal and must remain clear of parked vehicles.

Uniform and Appearance 

Thank you for showing respect to the College uniform policy with your daughter arriving to school in her full winter uniform for this term and Term 3.  All students are expected to wear their uniform correctly and with pride.

• Uniforms cannot be mixed with each season. 
• Junior School has a strict ‘no hat, no play policy’. Please ensure your daughter has her bucket play hat at school every day.
• Please make sure that all your daughter’s uniform clothing item is named including socks and shoes.   We recommend white markers to be used to label dark clothing items. 

Junior School Canteen Helpers 

The Junior School canteen will continue in Term 2 on Wednesdays and Fridays. Junior School allows students to purchase (through Flexischools) cold drinks and frozen desserts (with an expanded range commencing in Term 2). Once your order is placed your daughter will receive a brown paper bag, where she will go to the Junior School canteen (lunch tub room) to collect her cold treat. 

Please click here if you can volunteer your time. For the care and safety of your daughters, all volunteers must have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC). If we do not already have your WWCC on file, please email to juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au your WWCC number and date of birth so your WWCC can be verified. 

Term 2 After-School Arrangements

Girls in Years 3 to 6 are responsible for remembering where they need to go after school each day. Please update your daughter’s diary with her Term 2 after-school arrangements to assist her to remember where to go each afternoon.  

For girls in Kindergarten to Year 2, please email any changes for Term 2 to the Junior School office at juniorschool@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and advise if this is a permanent or casual change to your daughter’s arrangements. Please note that it is important that any changes to travel arrangements are received prior to 2.00pm. 

Girls with older sisters – Girls wait at the Junior School Library until their sister collects them by 3.30pm or at OSHC if they have a sister in the Senior School (bookings need to be made with OSHC for supervision purposes only, no charges will occur).

Junior School Digital News

Important Dates

Friday 2 May – School photo catch up day

Monday 5 May – Year 6 author visit (Periods 3 and 4)

Wednesday 7 May – Year 5 author visit (Period 3)

Wednesday 7 May – Year 5 Stargazing Event, 5.45pm

Thursday 8 May – Academic Series for Parents (Year 3 to 6 Maths), 4.00pm to 5.00pm

Friday 9 May – Mother’s Day Event, 7.00am to 9.00am

Friday 9 May – Year 6 author visit (Periods 3 and 4)

Friday 9 May – Junior School House Event (Periods 5 and 6) Students to wear house shirts

Wednesday 21 May – JSPG Term 2 Meeting

Thursday 5 June – Year 3 to 6 Athletics Carnival

Wednesday 11 June – Kindergarten to Year 2 Athletics Carnival

From the Junior School Parent Group (JSPG)

6L Play Date – Save the Date

📅 Date: Sunday 11 May

⏰ Time: 2.00pm to 5.00pm

📍 Location: Treetops Adventure, the Hills – 95 Castlehill Road, West Pennant Hills 2125

💰 Cost: $51 per child & $60 per adult

📌 RSVP by: Friday, 25 April 2025,  Wendy 0403691999

Join us for a thrilling outdoor adventure as we navigate tree-top courses, zip lines, and rope challenge. This is a fantastic opportunity for our girls to build confidence, teamwork, and unforgettable memories!

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Year 4 Parents Sip and Supper – Save the Date

📅 Date: Saturday, 17 May 2025

⏰ Time: 6.00 PM

📍 Location: Greengate Hotel, Cnr Pacific Hwy & Greengate Rd, Killara

Please join us for a relaxed evening to connect and make new friends. Please reach out to your class parents for any questions.

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Year 5 Family Picnic

📅 Date: Sunday 18 May

⏰ Time: 11.00am to 2.00pm

📍 Location: Bobbin Head National Park

📌 RSVP:  Fatima or Liz

Join us for lunch by the creek. BYO picnic, drinks and chairs.

This event is subject to weather conditions.

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

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Kate Brown

Head of Junior School

From the Middle School

Welcome back to Term 2. I trust that all of our Middle School families enjoyed the Easter break and the girls are feeling refreshed and ready to take on all the opportunities to interact, learn and grow that are available across the College in Term 2.

Thank you for ensuring that your daughter’s winter uniform was ready for the start of school; they looked so proud to be a Pymble girl when walking on to the campus on the first day. We appreciate your ongoing support with uniform as the College continues to focus on this important aspect of representation.

We are so proud of the many Year 7 students who have put themselves forward for leadership opportunities for the remainder of 2025 – we have been inundated with applications – and look forward to meeting many of the girls at the interviews.

The Year 8 National Exchange Program is set to roll out in Week 4 and 5. This will be a wonderful experience that allows the girls to become more independent and, in turn, be ambassadors for both Pymble and their families. We look forward to sharing their rich experiences.

We hope that the Year 8 Learning Discussions held at the end of Term 1 and the Year 7 Learning Discussions held this week were productive and a chance to celebrate the hard work of our Middle School students. A reminder that homework help is available to all students in the Conde Library from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, Monday through to Thursday. Please encourage your daughter to take advantage of the specialist teachers available to them at this time.

Thank you to all the families who are joining us for the Autumn Family Festival this evening. This promises to be a wonderful celebration of our community’s diversity and generosity. A special acknowledgement to the students who are performing or running stalls – your investment is most appreciated.

Congratulations to Eesha Marwah (Year 8) who spoke with such confidence at our Anzac Day Commemorative Service on Tuesday. Congratulations also to all students who have represented the College in co-curricular pursuits across the break; notably in swimming and diving, rowing, robotics and our Cattle Club at the Royal Easter Show.

All the best for a smooth and engaging Term 2 for Middle Schoolers.

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Jenny O’Donnell

Head of Middle School

From the Upper School

A message from Victoria Harrison, Head of Upper School

Welcome back to Term 2. We are excited about the opportunities ahead for our Year 9 and 10 students, especially as they engage in a variety of co-educational activities. A special welcome to Emily and Jennifer who have joined us this term. Welcome to Pymble.

The Vision Valley residential team eagerly awaits the arrival of our second group of Year 9 students, who will join peers from the Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), Brisbane. We wish our Term 2 adventurers all the best as they begin the program this Sunday. We also hope that families who attended the parent night with Dr Arne Rubinstein found the presentation and workshop valuable in supporting their daughters through this important rite of passage.

Our Year 10 students have the chance to participate in afternoon activities alongside students from Knox Grammar School. These activities, hosted at both schools, include netball, volleyball, cooking for charity, and volunteering in the College’s Out of School Hours Care (OSHC). We look forward to the first session next week.

Service to others remains a key focus this term as we continue our partnership with Days for Girls. We thank families for their generous donations to our annual undie drive and welcome ongoing contributions. Later in the term, Year 10 girls will also have the opportunity to participate in the AIM (Advocacy, Immersion, Mission) initiative at St Edmund’s College, Wahroonga.

Next Tuesday, Year 10 students will engage in a half-day ‘strengths and skills’ workshop to help them identify and articulate their strengths. This will support their decision making as they prepare for subject selections for Year 11 in 2026. Please check with your daughter that she has completed the online strengths profile. All girls need to bring a printed copy of their profile to school next Tuesday 7 May.

We look forward to supporting and guiding our girls throughout Term 2 and thank you for partnering with the Upper School team to make this a successful and fulfilling term for all.

Student Achievements

It was a busy end to the term and holiday period in the co-curricular arena, with many Upper School girls enthusiastically embracing the diverse opportunities available at Pymble and beyond. Congratulations to all the girls for their dedication and hard work in training, practicing, and competing across a range of disciplines, including cycling, robotics, athletics, football, equestrian, gymnastics, debating, swimming, robotics and diving, on both national and international stages.

Their commitment exemplifies the spirit of excellence fostered through Pymble’s comprehensive co-curricular programs, which support the development of skills, resilience, and teamwork. Well done girls. A special shoutout to Willa Pearson who has been selected in the U17 Young Matildas squad. We look forward to celebrating the success of all our girls throughout the year.

Key Dates – Term 2

Friday 9 May – Mother’s Day Breakfast

Tuesday 6 May – Year 10 Pymble/Knox Cup

Thursday 15 May – Year 10 Meningococcal Vaccinations

Tuesday 10 June – Year 10 Subject Selection Evening

From the Year 9 Parent Co-ordinators

It was great to meet some parents last week at the end-of-term catch up. We look forward to meeting more parents over the course of the year.

For any enquiries, please feel free to contact us – Ira (0415 112 575) or Jenny 0422716808.

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Victoria Harrison

Head of Upper School

From the Senior School

From the Acting Head of Senior School

We hope you had a restful and enjoyable break. As we begin a new term, we’re excited to welcome both familiar faces and new members to our Senior School community.

We’re pleased to introduce Mr Andrew Heggie, who joins us as Acting Deputy Head of Senior School, and Mrs Gabrielle Zolezzi, our new Year 11 Head of Year. Both bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to supporting our students, and we’re delighted to have them on board.

We also extend a warm welcome to Ms Rachel Moore, Mrs Ineke Amer and Mr Thomas Powell, who have joined the Year 11 Compass Team. As dedicated educators, they bring fresh energy and valuable insight to our compass program, and we look forward to the care and guidance they will offer our students.

This term brings with it a number of exciting opportunities. In the coming days, we’ll launch our Wrap with Love initiative – a hands-on service project inviting students to create and contribute to those in need.

We’re also proud to announce a new partnership with the Sir David Martin Foundation, supporting youth in crisis. This important initiative gives students the chance to engage meaningfully with social issues and youth wellbeing. A special congratulations to Ellie Hennessey (Year 12), who is a member of the Youth Advisor board to the Foundation – a role that reflects outstanding leadership and community spirit.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support. We’re looking forward to a vibrant, purposeful and inspiring term ahead!

Student Leadership – Next Phase Begins

The next phase of our student leadership process is now underway. Year 11 leadership applicants have submitted their videos, which will soon be shared for viewing. This is an important opportunity for the school community to hear directly from candidates about their vision and values.

Voting will follow, with students in Years 10 to 12 and staff invited to cast their votes. This process ensures a broad and representative voice in shaping our future leadership team.

We encourage all eligible voters to engage thoughtfully and take part in this important decision.

Supervised study for Year 12 reminder

Most Year 12 students have study lessons built into their timetable, based on the number of units they are undertaking. Students who are managing a ten-unit academic program will have the most study sessions allocated in their timetable.

While many girls use this time effectively for independent study, we recognise that some of these students would benefit from a more structured environment. To support this, we have created the opportunity to provide a limited number of supervised study lessons, providing a quiet and focused space to build added routine and accountability.

Those students studying ten units especially will be encouraged to sign into one designated study space per week (at least two sessions per cycle) in preparation for their Term 2 progress, as they work towards their Trial Examinations and HSC. These supervised sessions will ensure all students make the most of their study time in the lead-up to their final assessments. 

We launched this program In the final week of Term 1, and I am very proud of the students who have shown such determination and good sense in taking up this opportunity. 

Congratulations!

At the end of last term and over the holiday break, there have been a number of outstanding achievements across our school community.

We know there are many other students who have achieved great things recently, and while we may not be able to mention everyone by name, please know that your efforts are valued and recognised. We’re incredibly proud of the spirit, commitment and talent across our senior school.

This week’s mentions:

We celebrate the wonderful Cattle Display Team at the Royal Easter Show – a fantastic showcase of dedication and teamwork. A big shout out to Hannah Weber (Year 12) for her efforts and representation at this event.

Congratulations to Mika Naito (Year 12) and Millie Cullinane (Year 11) who have been selected in the team to represent Australia at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Lithuania later this year – an exceptional achievement that reflects both talent and commitment.

A special mention must go to our Cadet Unit, who represented the school with great pride and respect during the ANZAC Day commemorations. Congratulations to Josephine Green (Year 12), who led the Last Post and Reveille in our school ceremony on Tuesday with poise and honour.

We also acknowledge the continued excellence of our Athletics squad, swimmers, robotics team and rowers. Your hard work and strong results continue to make us proud.

Well done to all. Your achievements inspire us as we begin this new term!

Key Dates – Term 2

1 May – Autumn Family Festival

8 May – Year 11 Online Learning discussions

9 May – Mother’s Day Breakfast

13 May – Year 12 Student Charity Trivia Night

29 May – Year 12 Photographs

9 June – Public Holiday – Kings Birthday Long Weekend

12 June – Athletics Carnival

Patricia Gallardo

Acting Head of Senior School

From the Boarding School

It was lovely to welcome our Boarders and their families back to campus on Monday afternoon. I think it is fair to say, the first day back after a break is never easy but five minutes with our beautiful Boarders always sorts out any reluctance. Here are just a few snaps of some happy returns.

Food glorious food!

Our catering team is such an integral part of our Boarding family, and they take great care to ensure your girls have access to nutritious and tasty meals. Our Term 2 menu is included here for your reference and can also be accessed on the website.

As background, there is quite the process that goes on before the menu is confirmed and it is a live document that has ongoing iterations. The first step in the process is a draft menu devised by our head chef, Mike. This is then provided to the Boarders’ Representative Council (BRC) who seek feedback from the various year groups. The Heads of House also provide feedback. This feedback is then collated and the menus are adjusted accordingly. The Chartwells dietitian then reviews the menu, and tweaks are made to ensure a well-balanced and delicious menu is available.

Throughout the term, Boarding staff and the Boarders provide daily feedback on the food and based on this, adjustments are made to the cyclic menu. Our head chef also attends the fortnightly BRC meetings to seek and respond to feedback. Your thoughts are also welcome and you can share these with your relevant Head of House who will ensure this is feed into the process.

Keeping Up With Our Boarders

I am always proud to share our quarterly publication, Keeping Up With Our Boarders. This Boarder publication is a great snapshot of the term that was and I hope you can find the time to leaf through our Term 1 edition.  

 Love It – Theresa Mimmo, Deputy Director of Boarding

We are looking forward to a fabulous term of Love It and Learn It. Our teaching staff and academic tutors will be back in full force next week, and you can click here to view the Term 2 Love It program.

See you in Dubbo?

Pymble will be at the Dubbo Boarding Expo on 16 and 17 May and if you are in the area we would love you to call in and say hello. We will also be celebrating with families and old and new friends on 16 May at Press in Dubbo. We would love you to join us.

View From My Window

Hi everyone, I’m Ally and I’m Lethy, and we are twins. I (Ally) get to say my name first because I am 30 minutes older. We are both 17 and come from Wagga Wagga, the largest city in NSW, and also number one on the best inland beach list! We live with our parents, Kylie and Cole, our older sister, Ami, our cat, Basil, our dog, Quinn, and three chickens.

Ally: When I look out my window, I see a stunning sunset, a view of my front yard, and, if I’m lucky, my dog and cat – who, of course, come over to remind me that they’re the real owners of the place. Looking out my window during spring I see all the trees blossoming making the driveway look like someone should be getting married.

Lethy: When I look out my window, I see the open paddocks stretching out behind and beside our house. There’s always a great sunset that catches in the trees, and sometimes a few kangaroos bouncing around like they own the place. It’s peaceful – unless the dog decides it’s time for a drama (aka chasing the kangaroos), which is most days.

Ally: When I am at home I love to catch up with my family and spend the long afternoons out the back watching the NRL or swimming in the pool and of course eating a cheese platter!

Lethy: I love taking the dog for a walk around the lake or going to the gym with Ally, when she can finally convince me. It’s much easier to drag me there now that we can drive. Everyone here knows what car she drives, it’s kind of hard to miss. I also somehow always end up being in charge of collecting the cheese and fruit for the platters… which I don’t mind, as long as no one touches my brie!

Ally: When it comes to the dreaded time to return to school, I couldn’t be more excited. I get to see some of the closest friends I have made in my life. Coming back to school from living in a big open space makes me so grateful that I can have two homes, with very different surroundings.

Lethy: I like getting back into routine – especially with sport and school. I’m never really in Boarding because I always have training, so being busy feels normal for me. But mostly, I love seeing everyone again and having people around who make me laugh until my stomach hurts. It makes saying goodbye to home just a little bit easier.

Save the Date

Friday 2 May – Boarders’ Lockdown and Evacuation Drill*

Friday 2 May – Years 7, 8 and 9 Boarders’ Social

Saturday 3 May – Boarders’ Community Evening (5.00pm*)

Thursday 8 May – Learning Discussions for Year 11

Sunday 4 May – Pymble and Gordon Uniting Church and Boarders’ Combined Chapel Service (9.00am to 11.30am*)

Thursday 8 May – Learning Discussions for Year 11

Sunday 11 May to Sunday 18 May – Boarders’ Week

Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 May – Boarding Schools Expo Dubbo

Thursday 29 May – Boarder Parent Group (BPG) online meeting 7.00pm          

Sunday 1 June – Event to be confirmed 10.00am and 3.00pm*

Wednesday 4 June – Boarders’ Jersey Day

Friday 6 June – Long Weekend Boarders’ Travel Day**

Monday 9 June – Boarders return from 5.00pm

Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Griffith

Friday 20 to Saturday 21 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Wagga Wagga

Tuesday 24 June – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel Service*

Friday 27 June – End of Term 2 Boarders’ Travel Day**

* All Boarders required to be in attendance, no leave during this time. 

** All Boarders to be collected by 4.00pm.

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Carolyn Burgess

Head of Boarding

From the Chaplains

Who is Jesus in the Post-Easter World?

At the end of each of the four Gospels the disciples of Jesus struggle to immediately recognise him when he appears before them. Part of this is explained in their expected doubt that he was indeed resurrected, but that is not all of what we read. There is more. The Gospels appear to agree that Jesus looked different post resurrection for how he looked during his life.

In the Gospel of John we read that ‘Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus (John 21.4). If we read further we discover that is was not until after Jesus demonstrates who he is that the disciples recognise him.

In the Gospel of Mark we are told that Jesus ‘appeared on another form to two’ of his disciples (Mark 16.12).

In the Gospel of Matthew we are told that the disciples saw him ‘but they doubted’ it was truly him (Matthew 28.17).

In the Gospel of Luke we are given the story of the Road to Emmaus. In this story two of the disciples walk several miles along the road to Emmaus with Jesus ‘but their eyes were kept from recognising him’ (Luke 24.16.) It was not until after they had listened to the strangers teaching, invited them into their house and then accepted their hospitality that ‘their eyes were opened and they recongised him’ (Luke 24.31).

All of these texts make me wonder what Jesus looked like? How was he so different that his closest friends did not recongise him?

Artist Emmanuel Garibay (b. 1962, Philippines) has speculated about this in several of his paintings. The painting below does not give us an answer but it invites this question. If you look closely Jesus is the person sitting where we are. Only his hands can be seen gesturing to the gathered people. We know they are his hands because we can see the stigmata- the holes that were placed when he was nailed to the cross.

Garibay takes this a little question one step further in this next painting which is titled ‘Emmaus.’ As you look at it I invite you to look for Jesus before reading further.

Did you find Jesus?

For Garibay, Jesus appears as the woman in the pink dress at the centre of the painting. Of course, like all artists, Garibay’s painting reflects from his context. In discussing the painting Garibay says that he has depicted Jesus as a very ordinary Filipino woman who shares food and tells stories. These stories are filled with laughter as is common for the Filipino people. Jesus, as a woman, works for Garibay this context because she does what Jesus did. Women transcend the conventional concepts of power including the need to control and dominate.

The beauty of the painting is that like the disciples who missed Jesus whilst walking on the road, Garibay is reminding us to look closely. If we did not see the stigmata all of us would have missed an encounter with God too because of our assumption. If you like because of our inherent (and often unknown) cultural understanding and bias.

Through the scripture and through these perhaps provocative paintings I think that we are reminded that we must look for Jesus in all people and places. We are reminded to look for the compassion, justice, kindness and care that Jesus demonstrated in his life, death and resurrection in all people today. Not just in people that look like us, or are familiar to us, but in all people

More importantly, we are also reminded that this compassion, justice, kindness and care will likely look different for each of us. Because each of us apply these things differently because our lives are different.

It is in inviting one another to the banquet of life and accepting hospitality and love of the ‘other’ that we are changed. This is the true wonder of diversity and inclusion. This is where, I believe, we find Jesus today.

‘Let mutual affection continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.’ Hebrews 13.2

P.s. If you want to see these paintings I encourage you to visit Paddington Uniting Church. You will find them side by side inside the church, alongside a range of other beautiful art.

Reverend Danielle Hemsworth-Smith

College Chaplain

From the Futures Team

Macquarie University – Year 10 Guide to Uni Webinar (Online) Wednesday 14 May

Register: Year 10 Guide to Uni webinar  

University of Sydney – Year 10 Subject Selection Evening (On Campus) Thursday 8 May, 5.30pm to 7.30pm  

Register for tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/your-path-to-sydney-year-10-subject-selection-evening-tickets-1236650186999?aff=1UGeventspagelisting   

University of Sydney – Year 10 Subject Selection Evening (Online) Thursday 15 May, 6.00pm to 7.30 pm  

Register: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5QL95pOWT_SSZZA0wUKNiw#/registration  

University of Sydney – Explore Oral Health (Webinar) Wednesday 14 May, 4.00pm

Register: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HFy4xt4uRzqMkjQ4Lq-feQ#/registration   

UNSW Online Faculty Webinars May- June  

Register now:  

7 May | Arts, Design & Architecture Info Evening, opens in a new window  
14 May | Law & Justice Info Evening, opens in a new window  
21 May | Science Info Evening, opens in a new window  
28 May | Business Info Evening, opens in a new window  
4 June | Engineering Info Evening, opens in a new window  
18 June | UNSW Canberra Cyber Security Info Evening, opens in a new window  
  

Interested in Medicine? Our Medicine Info Evening was hosted on 12 March. Watch it on demand.  

UCAT Strategy Weekend – Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May, 9.00am to 3.00pm

This Strategy Weekend breaks down the new UCAT Exam following the removal of Abstract Reasoning. During live classes, our mentors will focus on how to apply the fundamentals of the UCAT to all four sections, before students complete a full-length UCAT Mock Exam to test their skills.  

Register: UCAT | Strategy Weekend | March 2025  

Events Calendar – Term 2 and 3

From the Co-curricular Sports Team

The shortcode only works for newsletter articles

Co-curricular Administration

Term 3 Saturday Sports Registrations are OPEN and will close at 12.00pm on Friday 16 May. 

Saturday Sport Term 3 options are:

• AFL (Years 3 to 6)
• Touch Football (Years 3 to 6)
• Hockey (Years 7 to 12)
• Netball (Years 7 to 12)
• Rugby Sevens (Years 7 to 12)
• Water Polo (Years 7 to 12)

Registrations are required to be completed before 12.00pm on Friday 16 May. To register, please access the online registration form via the Co-curricular pages on MyPymble by clicking here. Please note that a parent or carer login is needed to complete the registration process.

If you need any assistance, the Co-curricular Administration team is here to help — you can reach us at ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or on +61 2 9497 7848.

As a reminder, all registrations must be completed online and unfortunately cannot be processed over the phone or by email.

Reminder notices will also be posted on the Pymble App before registrations close.

For any further enquiries, please contact the Co-curricular Administration team ccsa@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

Sally Davidson

Head of Co-curricular Administration

AFL

AFL Representatives

Good luck to Eloise Stewart (Year 10), Willa Pearson (Year 9), Evie Farr (Year 10), Stephanie Shaw (Year 8), Holly Mitchell (Year 8), and Eloise Lawry (Year 8) who will be competing at the U15 CIS AFL selection trials next Wednesday 7 May.

Well done to Maya Atkinson (Year 12), Sophia Slater (Year 12), Elizabeth Yates (Year 11) and Aimi Jenkin (Year 12) who competed in the recent igsa representative match at the end of Term 1! These girls were selected based on performances throughout the Term 1 AFL competition. Congratulations girls and thank you for your services to the AFL program in 2025!

Jack Garrad

Co-ordinator – AFL

Athletics

Australian U20 and Opens Championships

Following the huge success of the Australian Junior Championships, attention turned to the U20 and Opens Australian Championships – and our girls did not disappoint.

Our 2025 Captain of Athletics (Track), Samara Bond (Year 12), delivered a standout performance, finishing strong to claim silver in the U20 400m. Adding to her achievement, Samara was called up at short notice to compete in the open mixed 4x400m on the final day of the championships, where she anchored the NSW team to bronze.

In the gruelling two-day U20 heptathlon event, Sarah Lovell (Year 12) showcased grit and consistency across all seven events to finish an impressive fifth. Meanwhile Sybella Warton (Year 12), competed up in the open Para 100m and 200m setting personal bests and being a finalist in both events, a fantastic achievement.

We were excited to see several of our current coaches and Pymble alumni in action. Among the familiar faces were Olympians Kristie Edwards, also a current K-6 coach, who claimed silver in the 200m, and Mackenzie Little, who took out gold in the javelin. A special congratulations as well to our own Athletics Co-ordinator, Samantha Dale, who was crowned national champion in the long jump.

As we celebrate the outstanding performances of the athletics, our focus shifts to the final preparation for igsa Cross Country. With our final trial taking place on Tuesday 6 May, I strongly encourage all girls to attend. Let’s give our best over these next two weeks to ensure we’re ready to defend our igsa champion title.

Deb Walsham

Head Coach

Artistic Gymnastics

Senior State Trials

We are delighted to announce and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our four gymnasts who recently competed at the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Senior State Trials held at the Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April 2025. Each of them performed magnificently and placed in their divisions, a true testament to their dedication, skill, and team spirit.

Their success did not come overnight. It is the result of countless hours spent in disciplined training, an unwavering commitment to refining each routine, and the exceptional guidance provided by our coaching staff. We could not be prouder of their performance, both as individuals and as representatives of our school.

Please join us in congratulating our talented gymnasts on their well-deserved recognition and let us wish them continued success in all their future events. We look forward to seeing them bring home even more achievements as the season progresses.

Siobhan Hsu (Year 11 – Level 9 Senior)

2nd      Beam

6th       Floor

Aimee Yap (Year 9 – Level 9 Junior)

5th       Beam

3rd       Floor

Ava Wang (Year 7 – Level 8 Senior)

4th       Bars

5th       Beam

2nd      Floor

3rd       Overall

Anna Wang (Year 7 – Level 8 Junior)

5th       Vault

6th       Bars

2nd      Beam

2nd      Floor

2nd      Overall

Vanessa Clyne

Acting Head Coach of Artistic Gymnastics

Cross Country

Balmoral Burn

On Sunday 25 May, the famous annual Balmoral Burn will be run up the 420m hill of Awaba Street in Mosman. Pymble Ladies’ College have competed for many years in the annual Balmoral Burn. In 2020, Pymble entered 70+ teams, and we placed first overall in the school event. We also hold the record in the Senior Girls “Head of the Hill” relay event and would love to defend our title again this year after winning in 2024. 

For more information on the program and to register to run with Pymble, please click here.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at jgarrad@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

igsa Cross Country

The final trial to make the Pymble Cross Country team to compete at igsa will take place on Tuesday 6 May. We strongly encourage all girls to attend. Let’s give our best over these next two weeks to ensure we’re ready to defend our igsa champion title.

Jack Garrad

Co-ordinator – Cross Country

Diving

Australian Age Diving Championships

From Sunday 20 April to Thursday 24 April, nine of our Pymble girls took part in the 2025 Australian Age Diving Championships on the Gold Coast.

Over the course of the championships, our Pymble girls collected the following medals, places and achievements:

Amélie Berg (Year 6)

1st       U11 Years 1m Springboard

1st       U11 Years Platform

2nd      U11 Years 3m Springboard 

8th       U13 Years Synchro

1st       Overall U11 Girl (Champion of the meet)

Amélie Rahme (Year 7)

1st       U13 Years Synchro

4th       12 to 13 Years 1m Springboard

6th       12 to 13 Years 3m Springboard

Freya Holland (Year 5)

4th       U11 Years Platform

7th       U11 Years 1m Springboard

7th       U11 Years 3m Springboard

7th       U13 Years Synchro

Jasmine Smith (Year 5)

8th       U11 Years 1m Springboard

8th       U11 Years 3m Springboard

12th     U13 Years Synchro

Eleanor Mason-Jones (Year 8)

9th       14 to 15 Years 1m Springboard

16th     14 to 15 Years 3m Springboard

Nouvelle Nicholson (Year 6)

20th     12 to 13 Years 1m Springboard

11th     U13 Years Synchro

7th       U13 Years Synchro

Congratulations also to our wonderful Head Coach, Kurtis Matthews, who was named Emerging Coach of the meet.

Jaimi Arthur-Newman

Co-ordinator – Diving

Pymble Elite Sportswomen’s Program

Female Athlete Health and Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle Workshop

I am delighted to offer the following workshop: “Female Athlete Health and Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle,” on Monday 19 May from 12.50pm to 2.10pm. The workshop will be held in the Kate Mason Lecture Theatre. Students wishing to attend the workshop should bring their lunch with them.

The workshop will be facilitated by Lizzie Welborn, one of the youngest competitors to qualify for the professional Ironwoman series at the age of 16. She has been competing professionally for nine years. Lizzie has placed in the top three of the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series and Summer of Surf series on multiple occasions, been part of many Australian teams, and is known as one of the best board paddlers in the country. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and is the co-founder of KaMana. KaMana is a program designed to educate and empower female athletes to build confidence so they can reach their potential in sport and life. For more information about KaMana, click here.

The workshop will explore the following content areas:

• Understanding female physiology (we are different to men)
• What it means to be a healthy athlete
• Understanding your menstrual cycle
• Tracking your cycle and using this to support training, performance, and recovery
• Tips for training in different phases of your cycle
• REDs

This workshop is compulsory for all PESP students. Other Pymble student-athletes in Years 7 to 12 who represent the College in a sporting team are most welcome to attend; however, please note that attendance is capped at 200 participants so you must make sure that you RSVP.

Students and staff are also encouraged to complete the following AIS education modules from the Female Performance and Health Initiative prior to the workshop presentation:

1. Female Performance and Health Initiative: The Normal Menstrual Cycle
2. Female Performance and Health Initiative: Menstrual Cycle Abnormalities 1
3. Female Performance and Health Initiative: Menstrual Cycle Abnormalities 2

I look forward to seeing staff and students in attendance for this valuable and informative workshop. 

Please only RSVP if you intend on attending as the College is being charged based on the numbers attending the workshop. RSVP’s are required by Monday 12 May to assist with final numbers. Unfortunately, late RSVP’s will not be accepted. A reminder it is compulsory for all PESP students to attend the workshop. Unfortunately, those PESP students at Vision Valley will not be able to attend.

CLICK HERE TO ATTEND

Skye Halliday

Head of PESP

Swimming

2025 NSW PSSA Championships

Eight Pymble Junior School students delivered remarkable performances at the 2025 NSW PSSA Championships, which took place at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 April. Spanning Years 2 through Years 6, the talented group of swimmers truly excelled in the pool. Their dedication and commitment were plainly evident. Congratulations to all students who competed: Emma Deere (Year 6), Emma Feng (Year 6), Rose Wang (Year 5), Hongor Temuqile (Year 2), Vera Le (Year 4), Mia Hong (Year 3), Isabella Wang (Year 6), and Yuxi Lun (Year 5).

Third Place

11 to 13 Years 4x50m Freestyle Relay

Emma Feng (Year 6), Yuxi Lun (Year 5), Emma Deere (Year 6), Isabella Wang (Year 6)

Fourth place

Junior 4x50m Freestyle Relay

Hongor Temuqile (Year 2), Vera Le (Year 4), Mia Hong (Year 3), Rose Wang (Year 5)

Fifth Place

12 to 13 Years 50m Breaststroke

Emma Deere

Steven Qu

Swimming Coach

2025 Australian Age and MC Championship and Australian Open Championship

From Thursday 10 April to Friday 18 April, 18 of our Pymble girls took part in the 2025 Australian Age and MC Age Championships, followed by the 2025 Australian Open Championships from Monday 21 April to Thursday 24 April.

This competition is one of the most exciting and competitive meets of the year, giving our swimmers the chance to race against the fastest swimmers in Australia. This year, Pymble proudly secured two spots in the state relay team, with two of our very own swimmers representing New South Wales against the other states!

The meet was filled with energy, team spirit, and many personal bests, as well as a host of top ten finishes — including a total of six medals:

• Alyssa Gillespie (Year 11): Bronze medal in the 100m Backstroke at the Australian Age and MC Championships. She also delivered an outstanding performance at the Australian Open Championships with a total of eight top 10 finishes in individual events.
• Caitlyn Keating (Year 10): Gold medal in the mixed 14 to 15 Years 4x50m Medley State Relay, swimming the butterfly leg for NSW, and two silver medals in the 14 Years 100m Butterfly and 50m Butterfly.
• Alexis Whitton (Year 8): Silver medal in the 13 to 14 Years 4x50m Freestyle State Relay, proudly representing NSW.
• Emma Ng (Year 9): Bronze medal in the 14 Years 200m Butterfly

The spirit was high throughout the week, with the girls having lots of fun supporting each other during the competition.

We are also thrilled to announce that the Knox Pymble Swim Club (KPSC) won the combined multi class and able-bodied club point score, an outstanding achievement after many years!

In addition to the medals listed, above our team secured the following top ten individual and club relay results:

Australian Age and MC Championships

Alyssa Gillespie (Year 11)

5th       50m Freestyle

5^th        100m Breaststroke

6^th            50m Backstroke

8^th        50m Breaststroke

Caitlyn Keating (Year 10)

9^th        200m Butterfly

Alexis Whitton (Year 8)

4^th        50m Freestyle

8^th        50m Freestyle

Megan Chia (Year 9)

7^th        100m Butterfly

9th       50m Butterfly

Sarah Tian (Year 11)

5^th        200m Backstroke

7^th        100m Backstroke

13 to 14 Years 4x50m Freestyle Relay

6th       Alexis Whitton (Year 8), Megan Chia (Year 9), Georgia Friedel (Year 8), Quinn Parry-Okeden (Year 8)

Australian Open Championships

Alyssa Gillespie (Year 11)

4th       100m Breaststroke

6^th        50m Breaststroke

6^th        50m Backstroke

9^th        100m Backstroke

Congratulations also to the Pymble girls not listed above who competed for KPSC at the highest-level meet for age groupers in Australia: Lily Barlow (Year 12), Lily Lockhart (Year 12), Hannah Carmichael (Year 12), Annalise Chow (Year 11), Carla Mikkeline Eibach (Year 8), Penelope Hargraves (Year 8), Quinn Parry-Okeden (Year 8), Ruby Pickthall (Year 11), Charlott Sadler (Year 8), Keira Smith (Year 12), Sarah Tian (Year 11), Indianna Vale (Year 10), and Lilly Andrew (Year 8).

A huge thank you and congratulations also go to our Pymble parents for their ongoing support throughout the meet, and to our incredible coaches, Leanne and Raf, for preparing, supporting, and motivating the swimmers during this long but exciting week of competition.

Good luck to our NSWCIS team, who will compete on Monday 5 May and Tuesday 6 May at Sydney Olympic Park!

Jaimi Arthur-Newman

Co-ordinator – Swimming

Dance

Junior Holiday Dance Workshops

Over the April holidays, our Years 3 to 6 dancers were treated to an exciting series of Dance holiday workshops, with three different programs designed to develop skills, confidence, and creativity across a range of styles.

On Wednesday 16 April, students started their morning with the contemporary basics and ballet workshop, led by Miss Lucy and Miss Laura. Participants explored the foundations of contemporary dance, learning travelling sequences, floorwork, and choreographic techniques inspired by companies like Sydney Dance Company and Australian Dance Theatre. They also discovered the important links between ballet, lyrical, and contemporary dance, finishing the session by performing a short routine for their peers.

That afternoon, the energy lifted with the hip hop foundations and freestyle skills workshop, led by Miss Gen. Students built their groove and musicality, learning classic hip-hop moves and a dynamic routine. They worked on freestyle confidence and performed their choreography in small groups, celebrating their growth and individuality.

The fun continued the Thursday 17 April with a full-day musical theatre dance workshop, where Miss Gen and Mr Jackson guided students through a fast-paced and exciting day of theatre jazz. The dancers learnt a full musical theatre number from start to finish, developing their stage presence, characterisation, and technique through warm-ups, theatre games, and choreography sessions. The day ended with a final group performance that showcased all they had achieved in just a few hours.

It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm, improvement, and joy across the workshops. A big thank you to the whole dance department for creating such a fantastic holiday dance experience!

Secondary Holiday Dance Activities

Our Secondary Dance students engaged in a wide range of exciting Dance activities over the term break. Pymble Dance students are incredibly committed to their training, seeking learning opportunities at every turn.

We are proud to share some of their achievements below:

Deep Dive into HSC Dance

This workshop provided students with a deep dive into HSC Dance to provide additional support, guidance and rehearsal time for the practical components including core performance, core composition and major study and their accompanying interviews. Students unpacked the marking criteria and determined their plan forward in each area of study.

Alanah Scott (Year 12), Dance Prefect, statement on the workshop:

The HSC Dance workshop was an incredibly valuable day which gave me insight into how each component of the course is assessed, enabling me to identify areas for refinement and how to choreograph for the markers. With a strong focus on major, we had the opportunity to watch and analyse sample interviews, which deepened my understanding of how they are structured, the types of questions that may be asked, and the correct dance terminology and vocabulary which can be used in interviews. We also began choreographing our major works, applying this knowledge directly to the creative process.

Secondary Contemporary Basics and Ballet

This workshop built the foundations of contemporary dance. Focusing on mastering entrances and exits of floorwork skills, long and strong lines, travelling and execution of these emphases within choreographic phrases.

Conditioning and Body Awareness

This workshop focused on the intrinsic control the body needs to have to perform well, through use of pilates and somatic techniques. Conditioning the body is something every elite dancer in the industry continuously works to master. The session drew focus to strength, control, and mind-body connection you and how this enhances artistry and economy of movement. This workshop is met demands for dancers in elective dance, advanced-level classes, and dancers seeking improved dance technique.

Stella Boyle (Year 11), Captain of Ballet, statement on the workshop:

The Conditioning workshop enhanced our understanding of the mind-muscle connection and anatomy, teaching us to activate muscles safely. Through body awareness, we discovered how isolating a single body part can influence the entire body’s response.

igsa Dance Festival

igsa (Independent Girls’ Schools Association) has partnered with Sydney Dance Company to create an annual dance festival for girls from member schools. The festival, held at the prestigious Sydney Dance Company’s Neilson Studio Theatre Space, is a two-day workshop focusing on contemporary, lyrical, theatre jazz, and hip hop classes, culminating in a fantastic Sunday night performance. Congratulations to Stella Boyle (Year 11), Charlotte King (Year 10), and Emily Mah (Year 10) who represented Pymble Dance so well.

Charlotte King (Year 10) on the workshops:

The igsa workshops were really fun and helped me grow more confident in expressing myself through dance. I learned a lot about working as a team with other people who I’m not familiar with and telling a story with movement.

Emily Mah (Year 10) on the workshops:

The dance festival is a way to broaden dance styles, learn from choreographers outside of Pymble, and build connections especially since there were over 30 schools that took part in this amazing program. I have learnt the dedication and motivation required to learn four dances (lyrical, contemporary, JFH, and theatre jazz) in just two days, tiring but so much fun.

Katrina Cluff

Head of Dance

Drama

Welcome Back to Term 2 2025

Welcome back to Term 2 of Co-curricular Drama at Pymble! We hope you all enjoyed a restful break.

Last term, our students embraced new challenges, preparing for the upcoming Eisteddfod season while sharpening their movement, voice, and performance skills. The highlight was our Year 10 to 12 production, You’re Just Too Good To Be Shrew, which brought joy and laughter with its sharp-witted comedy. Congratulations to all involved on a truly memorable performance!

As we look ahead to an action-packed term, we’d like to remind everyone of a few important details to ensure a smooth start.

Drama Uniform

All students are required to wear their co-curricular Drama uniform for every lesson. The uniform allows for comfortable movement, essential to our drama activities. If you have not yet purchased the Drama shirt, please do so via the Uniform Shop before your first class. The shirt should be paired with plain black trousers/ leggings.

Competitions

This term marks the start of Eisteddfod season for many of our Drama classes. Each class will participate in two competitions, and initial details should already have been received via the app. As some dates and times are still being finalised, please keep an eye on your Pymble app for updates.

On competition days, students must arrive in their Drama uniform and bring their costumes to change into upon arrival at the venue (changing facilities will be provided). Please ensure hair and makeup, if required, is done prior to arrival.

Upon arrival, students should meet their supervising teacher outside the venue entrance and remain under supervision until instructed to enter. All students must be dropped off and collected by guardians unless alternative arrangements have been made and approved by Rebecca York (Co-curricular Drama Co-ordinator).

Upcoming Competitions and Events

Autumn Festival – Thursday 1 May

When: 6.00pm to 8.30pm

Where: Pymble Ladies’ College – Gloucester Lawn

Shakespeare Carnival – Wednesday 7 May

When: 3.30pm to 9.30pm

Where: Lindfield Learning Village

Senior TheatreSports Challenge – Thursday 8 May

When: 4.30pm to 9.30pm

Where: William Clarke College

Inner West Eisteddfod – Between Saturday 10 May and Sunday 15 June

When: To be determined

Where: West Ryde Community Hall

Sydney Eisteddfod – Saturday 17 May

When: 11.00am to 1.00pm and 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Where: Zenith Theatre, Chatswood

Short and Sharp Eisteddfod – Monday 26 May

When: 11.00am to 9.30pm

Where: Riverside Theatre, Parramatta

Parramatta Eisteddfod – Friday 31 May

When: 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Where: Dundas Area Neighbourhood Centre, 21 Sturt Street, Telopea
 
Northern Beaches Eisteddfod – Between Saturday 31 May and Sunday 22 June

When: To be determined

Parramatta Eisteddfod – Saturday 1 June

When: 2.00pm to 4.00pm

Where: Dundas Area Neighbourhood Centre, 21 Sturt Street, Telopea

Parramatta Eisteddfod – Friday 21 June

When: 12.30pm to 2.30pm

Where: Dundas Area Neighbourhood Centre, 21 Sturt Street, Telopea

If you are involved in any of these events, you will receive detailed communication via the Pymble app. If not participating, we warmly invite you to attend and support these performances and help us celebrate the vibrant Pymble Drama community.

We look forward to a creative and inspiring Term 2!

Rebecca York

Co-curricular Drama Co-ordinator

Language Arts

Welcome to Term 2 Language Arts (LA). It is a busy term ahead! Thank you to all our LA family for your passion and commitment to LA. Let’s start!

Debating

Best Wishes for the National Schools’ Debating Championship (NDSC)

• Kitty He (Year 11), Captain of Debating at Pymble, NSW State team member
• Maya Garg (Year 12) 2025 Captain of the NSW team

We are so Pymble proud of these Debaters. They have shown tenacity and consistent improvement over many years. All the best for the forthcoming National Schools’ Debating Championship from Sunday 11 to Sunday 18 May in Sydney. The National Schools Debating Championship is Australia’s premier school debating competition and brings together the most talented young debaters from across the country, fostering excellence in critical thinking, persuasive communication and civic engagement. Details can be found on the NSDC events page.

ISDA and FED

Our FED teams will not have a makeup round this week. Teams through to the first of the quarter finals next Friday will be notified once the finals draw is announced.

Our ISDA Senior B team will have an online make up round five debate tomorrow, Friday 2 May, in KM v Roseville. Prep will be 6.45pm and the debate will commence at 7.30pm. Coach Justin will sort training times. We will be affirmative. Parents are welcome

Primary A and B will travel to Barker tomorrow after school with Ms Itzcovitz for their makeup round three debate. We will be negative. Parents are welcome and are reminded to arrange lifts home, following debates.

This week marks the completion of all FED and ISDA make up rounds and those teams breaking to finals will be notified as soon as the draws are released. Some teams will not progress to finals. Stay tuned for those teams progressing.

As finals can mean multiple venues, please note that buses will NOT run through finals and parents must be responsible for their daughter’s travel both to and from events. Carpooling is recommended.

Parents are welcome to attend and please note that parents must arrange transport home following their daughter’s debate.

Chinese Debating – NSW Chinese Debating Association

A holiday highlight! Thank you to Mrs Leyya Li, our team parent, and Tim Lan for being coach. Round 1 commenced on Saturday 12 April and Chinese Debating ran through the recent holidays at Sydney University School of Business. Well done team! Our inaugural team won two from three debates in the preliminary season. Last week they had a strong win against the NSW Chinese Debating team. Jessica Xu (Year 11) was particularly convincing. We await the finals draw.

Archdale

Preseason meeting – Tuesday 6 May 3.30pm to 5.00pm

Round 1 Shield and Invitational Debating begins Tuesday 13 May. Archdale Shield debating at Meriden. Please book bus tickets through Co-curricular Administration. The bus is not a return bus, and parents are asked to collect their daughters from Meriden following their debates. Co-curricular Administration will send details and timings.

Social Debating

There has been keen interest in Social Debating this term. The program will begin on Friday 23 May with a welcome and a workshop. Debates will then be held on Friday 30 May, Friday 6 June, Friday 13 June, Friday 20 June, and Frida 27 June (the last day of school). The program will run in the KM building from 3.30pm each week. Keep an eye out for further information from Co-curricular Administration.

Public Speaking

UN Voice of Youth, National Finalists!

Congratulations to Katherine Pan (Year 11) and Hakone Liceralde (Year 10) who both progressed to the national finals of the UN Voice of Youth Public Speaking competition on the first weekend of the Term 1 break on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April. Warm Congratulations from all the Language Arts ‘family’ on your progression to the national finals. This was a significant achievement.

DELO – Public Speaking Invitation

“A woman with a strong voice is by definition a strong woman” – Melinda French Gates.

Bravo to Jenny Xu (Year 11), our Public Speaking Captain, who is the first Pymble student to enter this inaugural competition and who has been selected as a finalist. The Dame Enid Lyons Oratory competition is the most prestigious Public Speaking competition for girls in NSW.

The DELO final will be held in the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre, on the evening of Wednesday 21 May from 6.00pm. Please be seated by 5.45pm. Admission is free, and seating is unreserved, although we would like Pymble supporters to form a block.

To book accessible seating contact Box Office on 0292507777 Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

Guests welcome. We ask that all student supporters wear full Pymble uniform.

The presenter will be Dr Julia Baird. The Governor General will also be in attendance.

Mrs Hubbard is looking into booking a Pymble bus to and from this evening event. If you would like to attend with the school, please email your interest and number of tickets ASAP to Mrs Hubbard BHubbard@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. All welcome! We would love your support. Click here for more information.

Audition Feedback

While general feedback was given at a group meeting for Public Speaking auditions, we understand that many would like more specific feedback. Apologies for the wait. We are looking into using AI to assist with the distribution of specific feedback.

Model United Nations (MUN)

UN Youth National Conference

Imogen Kee (Year 10) has been selected as one of seven NSW delegates for this year’s UN Youth National Conference. It will be held in Adelaide from Sunday 6 to Saturday 12 July, with this year’s theme focusing on “Galactic Governance: Navigating the Space Age.” The conference will explore the Space2030 Agenda and how space technology can drive sustainable development. Well done Imogen!

EVATT – UN Youth

Requiring no prior debating experience, Evatt immerses young people in Years 9 to 12 to uncover the driving forces of influence that threaten to destabilise world order all while mastering the art of public speaking through negotiation. Going beyond ordinary debating, Evatt challenges delegates to think critically, problem solve carefully, and search for answers in the rapidly changing world of current affairs surrounding them.

Evatt commences in May. This is a highly valued diplomacy competition where girls work in pairs to represent a country. Pymble plans to travel to PLC Sydney in Croydon on Tuesday 13 May, and we ask that you attend through school rather than register online. When girls register themselves online, we cannot offer additional training should they progress, and we have a duty of care issue. Any Secondary students who still wish to register themselves, should ensure this occurs on a weekend rather than a weekday, and parents, please note a teacher from Pymble will not accompany the girls to UTS. Mrs Hubbard will attend the PLC Sydney round.

Pymble Model UN Club (PMUN)

PMUN runs each Monday lunch in DK06. Come along and join us this term. Everyone is welcome!  Learn how to prepare for a MUN conference. We will hold our own Winter conference on Saturday 26 July this year. We have also received expressions of interest for a MUN conference to be held at Castle Hill High. Please see our MUN captain, Kiki Chen (Year 11), if interested.

HMUN

Harvard MUN will be held at Cranbrook from Thursday 29 May to Sunday 1 June this year. Co-curricular Administration will provide further information to the twelve girls and parents who registered. All liability waivers need to be sent to Co-curricular Administration ASAP. Delegations will not be issued until all waivers are in.

THIMUN – The Hague 2026 Proposed International Tour

In January this year, Pymble Language Arts girls attended THIMUN, The Hague, which was a wonderful opportunity. Having secured a highly coveted place at this Model United Nations conference, we are keen to attend again this year as membership is ongoing, and we do not want to lose our place.

The proposed January 2026 Language Arts tour will be open to students currently in Year 8, 9, 10 and 11. We are currently gaining prices on two options:

• A two-week tour including a visit to Paris, prior to travelling on the Eurostar to the Netherlands and journeying to The Hague for the conference
• A shorter tour which just focuses on The Netherlands and the conference.

Thank you to those who have already submitted expressions of interest. There is still time to let Mrs. Hubbard know your preference!

An international MUN conference is an amazing experience. THIMUN has over 3000 students from around the globe attending. These experiences for learning and growth are valued highly in Europe and by ivy league universities. This opportunity is open, but students must join our own PMUN club and be willing to attend regularly to apply.

Mock Law

Bond Mooting

The date for our online heat has been released and will be held on Tuesday 20 May at 2.30pm.

Young Lawyers’ Justice Day at Wollongong University Friday 2 May – tomorrow!

Thank you to the fifteen girls who have registered interest. We are now at maximum capacity. Notes have been sent via Co-curricular Administration and the bus will leave Pymble at 7.30am and return at 5.30pm. Please be at the flagpole by 7.15 am.

Mock Mediation

We have decided to open Mediation skills to more than one team. All those in Years 8 to 10 interested in Mediation will be invited to a lunchtime introductory talk. Stay tuned. This is a terrific life skill and will be a fun internal competition.

Bronwyn Hubbard

Head of Language Arts

Music

Thank you for all your support in Term 1 and for attendance at various events we held.

Term 2 is looking very busy, and being a shorter term, the girls will need to be on their toes to see what is coming next.

Please note that all rehearsals commence on the first day back of term ALWAYS and will end on the last day of term, unless otherwise indicated from the conductor only.

Below is a list of events we are currently aware of for Term 2:

Thursday 1 May – Autumn Festival – Various Musical items

Thursday 15 May – Year 8 Elective Music production of High School Musical Jnr – 6.30pm in the GMCPA

Friday 16 May – College Quartet to visit Dubbo

Thursday 22 May – College Quartet to play at the Alumni event at Qantas House

Sunday 25 May – Eisteddfod at Knox Grammar School for Ivory Quartet, Brass ensemble and Andarta Trio

Tuesday 27 May – Reconciliation Assembly – School Choir to sing Postcards from the Dreaming

Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 June – Ensemble photos for secondary students – Timetable TBC

Week commencing Tuesday 10 June – Eisteddfod week for Hindson Chamber Strings, Senior Chamber Strings, Pymble Chorale, and Capella Choir

Tuesday 24 June – Term 2 Ensemble Concert – 6.30pm in the GMCPA

Wednesday 25 June – FAREWELL LUNCH TO YEAR 12 musicians, hosted by Year 11 musicians

Congratulations

Congratulations to the Senior Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Ms Ashton, the Pymble Chorale, conducted by Mr Schweinberger, and Josephine Green (Year 12) for providing the music at the ANZAC Day Service on day one of term.

Laura Makeham (Year 11) performed the Last Post and Reveille at MUSEC, a school that is part of Macquarie University. It is so wonderful to see our girls give back in their service and provide an opportunity for others to meet them and talk about their musical journey.

Australian National Championships 2025 results

Madison Pearce (Year 11) was awarded 1st Place in the Junior Tenor Saxophone section.

Grace Walmsley (Year 11) came 2nd in the Junior French Horn section.

Angela Zhang (Year 11), Grace Walmsley (Year 11), Macy Sun (Year 11), and Audrey Quan (Year 7) all competed in the band section.

National Strike a Chord – Musica Viva

The Ivory Quartet (Joy Yin (Year 10), Alessandra Liew (Year 9), Danielle Hu (Year 8), and Ivy Yan (Year 7)) participated in a workshop at Monash University, being one of eight Chamber music groups selected from around Australia. The girls worked with professional musicians, who gave them advice on ways to improve their balance within an ensemble. The next step is the competition, so we will support these fabulous musicians and their director, Ms D’Elia.

Unfortunately, Alessandra was unable to make it, so we had a professional violist step in to workshop and the girls then performed without the viola part. This demonstrated a great ability to pivot and showed resilience in the face of nerves – well done girls!

Australian Youth Orchestra

Joanna Au (Year 11) was selected to be part of a week-long workshop at the Young Symphonists in the school holidays, held in Canberra. As a percussionist, this was a highly selective process, and Joanna was one of five from around Australia to be selected.

Sarah Turner

Head of Music

Robotics

Pymble Pride Takes on the World Stage at the FRC Championships in Houston

Over the April holidays, 13 students from Pymble Ladies’ College travelled to Houston, Texas, to represent Australia on the global stage at the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) World Championships. Our team, Pymble Pride 6510, proudly packed up our competition robot – quite literally – dismantling it and distributing the parts, tools, and spares across seven large bags to make the long journey by plane.

Once we landed in Houston, the real adventure began. We were warmly welcomed by Team 5414 Pearadox, who generously opened their workshop for us to reassemble our robot. Their support and hospitality were nothing short of amazing, and it made us feel right at home in a new country.

Before the competition kicked off, we had the incredible opportunity to train at the facilities of Team 118, the Robonauts, a world-renowned team based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Alongside them and other visiting teams, we spent three full days testing our autonomous routines, refining our driving, and gaining invaluable insight into how elite teams operate. It was an amazing learning experience – not just in robotics, but in teamwork, collaboration, and innovation.

Another standout moment of the trip was visiting NASA in Houston – a truly inspiring experience, especially for young women in STEM. Seeing where real space missions are planned and engineered gave us a deeper appreciation for the possibilities ahead of us, and it was incredibly inspiring.

The Championships themselves brought together over 600 teams from around the globe, creating a vibrant and electric atmosphere of excitement, passion and creativity. Being part of this international event was both inspiring and humbling. We made friends from all over the world, shared stories and strategies, and returned to Australia not just with memories and pride, but with new knowledge and a fresh perspective on what’s possible.

As part of the Milstein Division, we had the privilege of competing alongside some truly incredible teams. Throughout the event, our pit was buzzing with energy – with other teams dropping by to chat, offer support, and check out our robot. We also made time to visit other pits, learn from their designs, and share ideas. One of the most special parts of the experience was the atmosphere of mutual support – we were constantly cheering on other teams and were so touched to have many cheering us on in return. Even though it’s a competition, the FIRST community is about so much more. Teams help each other grow, perform at their best, and celebrate every success – big or small. In the end, we all walk away as winners, simply for being part of something this inspiring.

To wrap up an unforgettable trip, we spent our final day at Six Flags by Texas in Dallas, where we celebrated all we had achieved with roller coasters, laughs and a lot of fun – a well-earned break after a full-on competition week!

We’d also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers, organisers, mentors, families and supporters who made the event possible. The dedication and hard work behind the scenes were truly inspiring and deeply appreciated by all of us. It’s safe to say that the 2025 FRC World Championships will be a highlight we’ll never forget – and we’re already looking forward to what’s next.

Go Pymble Pride!

Cristhina Boni Lavratti

Robotics Manager

Cattle Club

Sydney Royal Easter Show Report 2025

The 2025 Cattle Team presented two middle weight steers, Vegemite and Vermin, at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. They were bred and purchased from the Laurie Family, Knowla Livestock. Ted and Alison Laurie are ex-Pymble Ladies’ College parents, and we are very grateful for their ongoing support for the school’s cattle program and enabling the girl’s involvement within the beef cattle industry.

We have a very strong team of girl’s who willingly give up their time and energy for the school’s program – it was excellent to see the attendance and professional display provided at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show and into the Easter holiday break. Each day we had 10 to 12 students on rotation looking after the cattle, maintaining the area, and presenting the animals to an exceptional standard. The girls received several commendations from the public, including one member from the public calling the school wishing to express their heartfelt appreciation for the interaction they had with our girls as the girl’s had highlighted their knowledge, passion, and commitment they had for the Cattle team and their school! A very Pymble proud moment!

Results

On the Hoof

Vermin – 1st in his heat class and selected in the Angus Breed for the “Stan Hill Trophy” team.

Vegemite – 1st Virtual Taste test – Class 2.

The prestigious “Stan Hill Trophy” Angus team of three steers – 3rd place.

Student Result

Hannah Weber (Year 12) Reserve Champion Schools Parader

The high standard of student participation, their involvement in an industry with deep rooted traditions and expectations. It is a privilege to witness the girls hitting and meeting these standards consistently is very encouraging and heartwarming. My sincere congratulations must be extended to Zoe Glendinning (Year 12) and Hannah Weber (Year 12), the Captains of Cattle Team, as they gently encouraged and nurtured the younger girls to maintain the high standards, building on the Pymble standards of excellence! Congratulations to the team.

Peter Wearne

Co-ordinator – Cattle Team

Year 12 Study Camps

Click the poster below to register.

After-Hours Study

Homework Help

Mother’s Day Breakfast

All mothers or carers are warmly invited to join their daughter/s for breakfast to celebrate Mother’s Day at Pymble. 

All proceeds raised will support the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).

Time: 7.00am to 8.15am

Venue: Hedgehog House, Junior School, Pymble Ladies’ College

Open to: All students with their mothers or carers and Pymble staff

RSVP: Please click here to register by this Sunday 4 May.

Cost: $18 per adult and $15 per student

Parking: There will be no parking on site. We recommend catching the train to Pymble Station from where our campus is a five-minute walk away. Street parking is limited but may be available for those who prefer to drive.

Enquiries: events@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

We look forward to welcoming you to this special event.

Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance

Year 6 parents are invited to the Year 6 Parent Daughter Dance on Saturday 24 May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm at the Killara Golf Club. This event is one of the most anticipated annual traditions in the Junior School, and is the final dance girls will have with their parents before moving on to the Secondary School. 

The theme for this year’s dance is Florals and Sparkles, which will accentuate the beautiful aesthetics of the golf club surrounds. Please note, girls will need to be suitably dressed at this event as golf club etiquette dictates, and should refrain from wearing denim or ripped pants.

Please click here to order your tickets.

Date: Saturday 24 May

Time: 6.30pm to 9.30pm

Venue: Killara Golf Club

Dress: Florals and Sparkles

Tickets: $65.00

Tickets include substantial canapés, soft drinks, dessert bar, DJ and entertainment. Additional beverages can be purchased at the bar.

We’re looking forward to celebrating with you and your daughter on this special night!

You’re invited to the 2025 PPA Trivia Night

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

The Pymble Parent Association warmly invites you to our annual Trivia Night on Saturday 31 May. 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 a designer handbag, a champagne basket and pamper package. 

Time: 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start, concluding at 11.30pm

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

Cost: $120 per person/$1,200 for a table of 10

Theme: Hop in your time travel machine and come dressed from any era, past or future, 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, two course meal (entreé and main) followed by a dessert platter and coffee/ tea. Additional drinks can be purchased at the bar.

The Trivia Night is also the PPA’s major fundraising event of the year. To make it a successful evening, we rely on the kind support of our community for donations to the live and silent auctions, and the raffle.

Any monetary donations would also be much appreciated. The organising committee will use this money to purchase items for gift baskets. These gift baskets will be part of the silent auction on the night. Please donate by clicking here.

Register by: Friday 16 May. 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:

Kai Jones: 0431 725 948 or kai_look@yahoo.com

Kenneth Kok: 0413 361 969 or kenneth@kok.family

Shiva Rich: 0414 322 874 or shivarich@icloud.com

Linfield Fun Run

The Lindfield Fun Run is a local event, this year taking place on Sunday 4 May, that not only encourages the community to be active but supports two well-known service organisations on the North Shore, the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter (HKWS) and  KYDS Youth Counselling Service. These not-for-profit organisations provide invaluable support in our local community.  By participating in the fun run either as a runner/walker or volunteer you will be making a difference to in our community. 

In 2024 Pymble Junior School had a strong presence and made a significant impact at the event with the greatest number of participants and the biggest fund-raiser.  This year Sydney Grammar is knocking on our heels; it would be so exciting to see our community rally and throw our energy at this local event.      This is an inclusive family event, with a distance to suit every member of your family – we can’t wait to see you all there in your Scarlet, Navy and White!

Click to register as runner/walker for follow this link or to register as a volunteer.  

You’re invited: Pymble in Dubbo