From the Senior School
From the Head of Senior School
This week we are focusing on some exciting recent events that have taken place over the past few weeks, with reports written by the students involved. My congratulations to all those involved and the many students who took part in study camps, sports training for state and national teams, STEM activities and performing arts rehearsals.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Year 12 students all the best for their upcoming HSC Trials, on behalf of all of the staff in the Senior School. They have worked hard for these papers and should take extra care with their wellbeing – early nights and good food are essential during this time. Should students need extra support or advice, they should contact their Heads of Year or subject teachers.
Leave
I will be taking a short period of Long Service Leave this term from 8 August until 2 September. In my absence Ms Patricia Gallardo will be acting Head of Senior School.
Term Break Oxford Trip
During the term break eleven Year 11 students attended Oxford University to participate in a range of learning opportunities. They were all wonderful ambassadors for the College and for their country, earning a number of awards and certificates for their efforts.
Here are their thoughts:
Along with 19 other students in Years 10 and 11, I attended the Oxford Royale Academy, which is a 2-week long program held at a constituent college of Oxford. I stayed at Queen’s College, which had a beautiful campus and took the mathematics (age 16-18) course. There were people from across 5 continents staying at Queen’s College, so my Pymble friends and I got acquainted with a wide variety of people.
We would have 3 classes in the morning and afternoon, each 90 minutes, and were assigned a graded essay and presentation to complete by a deadline. In the evenings, there would be social activities and free time which allowed us to explore the city of Oxford, eat lunch, shop, and do activities such as punting!
Angie
My experience at Oxford Royale Academy was highly valuable for my perspective on academic learning and cross-cultural relationships. I was able to study areas of interest not typically available in the school curriculum, such as masterclasses in intersectionality and diplomatic decision-making, and the diversity of opinions that emerged from one classroom as a result of varying cultural backgrounds made every conversation interesting. What I loved most about my time at Oxford was the multitude of activities they prepared for us—punting, ghost tours, museum visits, day trips to London, debates—but most notably, the unforgettable friendships that were formed through these activities.
Angelina
The environment that Oxford provided was awe-inspiring, and the academic experience was enlightening and felt tailored for personal growth and enrichment. Among the most engaging elements was the program’s cultural experience, and having the opportunity to gain insight and opinions from countries around the world. There was a refreshing balance between work and activities, and every day was memorable because of all the different experiences, whether it was exploring the city and visiting iconic landmarks, or interacting with new friends.
Hayley
‘In the holidays I had the privilege to attend Oxford for a summer school where I stayed at Balliol College one of the oldest colleges in Oxford. I studied ‘Philosophy, Modern History and Literature’ where I engaged in essay writing, ethical and moral debates and critical historical events such as the Cold War. In my free time, I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and explore the beautiful city of Oxford.’
Lucy
The Oxford Royale experience was, to put it briefly, incredible, and indescribable. Mr Kozyra initially described this as a ‘super-curricular’ and he was right in doing so; I am certain that I will never forget this experience. The opportunity to live in St Catherine’s College, to eat, sleep and learn like a real Oxford student, was thrilling. The class I took was called Philosophy, Literature and Modern History, a crash course of all of Modern History in just two weeks, starting with the Renaissance and working our way up, with focuses on important philosophical and literary movements, periods and eras. This was certainly a university level class. We moved quickly and with a high expectation of pre-existing knowledge. But that’s not to say we were expected to know it all- in fact, while I loved the lessons in which I had a lot to contribute, some of my favourites were those when I knew little to nothing about a subject and could sit back and listen to my peers and professor share their knowledge.
While the classes were amazing, what I found perhaps even more valuable was the cultural experience. In my college of about 160 people, there were no other Pymble students and only two other Australians. I made new friends from Turkey, Brazil, France, England, Thailand, Bulgaria and so many more places around the world. In fact, my closest friend (who I am still texting on the regular and have plans to meet up with over the summer break) was from none other than New Jersey, in the United States. This was a truly multicultural experience, enriched not only by the people I met, but by the beautiful setting in which I met them. Oxford is an undeniably gorgeous town, and there is something almost magical about its atmosphere. I treasured my daily 20-minute walks through town to get to class, and often found myself pausing throughout the day to just admire the beautiful, historical places I found myself in.
This was an experience I know I will never forget, and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity. In our final class, my professor, Rose Lyddon, asked us all to say one thing we had taken from the course. My response was “I think I’m actually just smarter than I was at the start.” This comment was met with some mild laughter and amusement, but it’s true. And that’s not something one can often say about a short two weeks abroad.
Gen
Attending summer school at Oxford gave me so much insight into both the theoretical and practical aspects of medicine. I was privileged enough to engage with leading medical professionals, Oxbridge alumni and gain hands-on experience in a hospital – all whilst exploring the beautiful and historically rich city. Beyond that, I’m incredibly grateful to have been surrounded by some of the most brilliant, supportive and kind people, that I would never have gotten to meet otherwise. All things considered, the experience gave me so much motivation to work hard and pursue my passions, so that I can one day work in medicine among such individuals.
Aileen
The Oxford University Summer School was an incredible experience, especially getting to live in the actual dormitories on-campus and following a similar routine to that of students. We got to meet so many other students from across the world and it was a great opportunity to develop a wide range of friendships and relationships with other likeminded young people. We were also able to explore possible university courses, and experience what those courses entailed, which has helped me to further develop an idea of what I’d like to study at university.
Rhedyn
In its entirety, my two-week experience at Oxford Royale Academy was memorable and incredibly valuable. My chosen course, Medicine and Disease, was very enriching; I was being academically stimulated every day in lectures, intimate classes, and excursions. Around me were brilliant and passionate international students who brought diverse perspectives and personalities to the learning atmosphere. However much of my experiences were also cultural, and I will always be grateful for the connections and memories I made with new friends, and my chance to explore the truly beautiful city.
Sophia
What could prepare you for medical school more than two weeks of medical school itself? From case reports and written assignments, to volunteer patients and practical examinations, Oxford Royale offered a truly exceptional experience and a glimpse into what studying medicine is like at Oxford University. This was a unique opportunity to sit down for lectures, tutorials and guest speakers in the famous Oxford campus itself, while being able to make connections with peers our age from all around the globe. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has the ability to attend, because of the memories it has left me that I will never forget.
Alex
The Oxford Royale Academy summer course was an extremely rare and unforgettable experience. It was an amazing opportunity to meet people from all around the world who share my passion for medicine and spend time together learning about what we truly enjoy. Being taught by doctors and medical students really extended my knowledge on medical research and practical skills, and the organised activities outside the classroom including touring Oxford, visiting Blenheim Palace and going to the movies made it a fun and fulfilling two-week trip.
Jolie
During the last holidays, I completed a two-week course of Law, Politics and Economics at Oxford Oriel College along with several other Pymble peers. There, I developed my interests in LPE with students from different countries, including Brazil, Switzerland, Greece, Pakistan, and many more through the classes that we attended together. At Oxford, we received a variety of opportunities to listen to guest speakers discuss topics such as International Governance and Intersectionality, explore the rich history of Britain and become immersed in the famous landmarks of Oxford, including Christchurch College and The Covered Market. Overall, Oxford Summer Course was a highly enjoyable experience that I would recommend students to consider next year!
Jessie
From the Heads of Year 12
With Term 3 well under way and Year 12 busy with their Trial examination preparation, the KM building has been full of energy, albeit nervous energy at times. The girls have been working hard on their studies and taking opportunities to meet with teachers to go over notes or to emulate examinations conditions and practicing past papers. In whatever way they have been preparing we know that they will use the trial examinations as an opportunity to show their learning and use them to receive feedback to develop for their final HSC examinations.
Here are some words from Year 12 about the upcoming trial examinations:
“I am interested to see how I perform under extended examination conditions. The trials feel like a good pre-HSC practice opportunity” – Hayley
“I am excited to get them (trials) started and show all the hard work I have put into Year 12 so far” – Freya
During the trial examination period we encourage Year 12 to balance their studies with some timeout to look after themselves. This may be a short mindfulness activity, walking the dog or spending some time with family and friends, something that gives them time to reset and take a little time away from the books.
We want to wish them the best of luck!
From the Heads of Year 11
Alyssa Yee, Thomas B, was a fundraiser for the Cathy Freeman Stride for Education charity. She writes:
The Cathy Freeman Foundation’s Stride for Education is a wonderful charity that helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children recognise the power of education and achieve their goals and dreams. I really appreciate the education we receive at Pymble and the opportunity to make a difference inspired me to be involved in this valuable cause. I walked over 70 km over the month of November, raising awareness and support for the cause, which helped Pymble become the highest fundraiser school for Stride for Education. As a prize winner, my Compass Class, 11 Thomas A, was given the wonderful opportunity to have an interactive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural experience last Tuesday, courtesy of Wanyara.
Wanyara is an Indigenous Australian awareness and empowerment group who run cultural experiences to change how Indigenous culture is seen and aim to improve the lives of Indigenous youth. We were very fortunate to have representatives from Wanyara teach us about the work they do and lead us through a traditional Indigenous art painting session. We learnt about the different symbols used in Indigenous art and their importance in culture and storytelling. We were encouraged to create our own symbols to tell our own stories through art. The whole class enjoyed the experience to express ourselves and tell our stories through painting. It was wonderful to share this cultural experience with my Compass Class and learn and celebrate some beautiful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions.
REMINDER TO ALL STUDENTS
Learning for Secondary School students will be face-to-face and on campus from Term 3 as advised via the Parent Portal at the end of Term 2.
Secondary students who test positive to Covid or are not well enough to attend school are to follow the normal procedure by contacting their subject teachers via email and/or referring to Canvas to catch up on missed work.
Homework Help in Term 3
Homework Help is an after-school service offered to all Pymble students in the Secondary School to provide assistance and support with everyday homework, assignments and research skills in a friendly, quiet environment. Homework Help is staffed by teachers from the Learning Support Team.
When: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday after school: 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Where: Classroom C3 (Top floor of the Colonnade Building)
Dates: From Monday Week 3 (1 August) to Thursday Week 9 (15 September)
For further enquiries, please contact Mrs Lora Lim, Head of Learning Support at llim@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Volunteers Needed for the Sri Lankan Food Stall at Pymble’s Garden Party
