From the Boarding School

From our Head of Boarding

This week we wished our Year 12s all the best as they embarked on the first week of the HSC Trial Examinations. They set off on Monday morning with a well-deserved, quiet confidence following many weeks of preparation. We are all proud of their diligence and steadfastness and look forward to supporting them throughout the coming weeks.

While our Year 12s were studying extra hard, our younger Boarders found time to enjoy the company of other Boarders from local schools. On Friday night, our Year 10 Boarders enjoyed a special evening with the Year 10 Boarders from Newington College. The evening was designed to encourage new friendships and to build confidence in the dos and don’ts of formal dining. It was wonderful to see new friendships being forged over a delicious meal in our beautiful new Boarders’ Dining Room.

And the fun didn’t end there! On Saturday night Boarders across all of year groups headed off for a much-anticipated evening at the Driving Range. This was followed by a Sunday afternoon for our Marden girls at Strike Bowling with our Knox Grammar Boarder neighbours. I am sure you will agree it was a terrific weekend of varied activity with plenty of opportunities to enjoy our Sydney environs and make new friends. My thanks to Mrs White who does a great job in organising these activities and to our intrepid Boarding staff who lead these wonderful expeditions.

Congratulations to our fabulous footballers!

Year 9 twins Alethea (Lethy) and Allyana (Ally) have been selected in the 2022 NSW Country Girls State Team for Football. In September they will represent NSW in the Football Australia Girls’ National Youth Championships in Coffs Harbour. This tournament allows the girls to play football at the National level against the best players from across the country, representing their respective States and Territories. It is great to see the hard work of Ally and Lethy being rewarded and we look forward to hearing more about the Championships in the year to come.

View From My Window

My name is Leander McLaughlin and I am a Year 7 Boarder. I live with my Mum Tessa, my Dad Shane, my two sisters Cleo and Milla, my dog Sooty and my three horses.

I live on an orchard in Bilpin in the Blue Mountains which is about 90 minutes drive west of Sydney. The area covers 179 square kilometres with a population of about 1,000 people.

The primary school I went to from Kindy to Year 6 had 56 kids (and at one point only had 49). The good thing about living in a small town is that you know everyone there. Bilpin is known as “the land of the mountain apple”.

Our family business is Hillbilly Cider. The cider is sold all over Australia and we have a cellar door with a pizza restaurant.

When I look outside my window, I can see the bright green grass that slowly turns into dense bushland. I love waking up to the massive dam with the rope swing. Sometimes in the middle of winter when it gets to -1 degree or less in the early mornings, I see my Dad and my sister jumping into the freezing cold dam.

One of the not so nice aspects of living in Bilpin is the bushfires. In 2019, Bilpin experienced one of its worst ever bushfires that tore through houses and businesses. Many people had to evacuate including my sisters, my mum and I. We were evacuated for one whole week while my dad stayed behind and fought the fires. When we entered Bilpin after the fires were over it was almost unrecognisable.

Some of the things I love about home is the big dam that we swim in a lot. I love the fire pit dinners and the bush walks down to the waterfalls.

What I like about Pymble is there is always something to do.

Boarder of the Week

Goodlet House Boarder Angeline Sum (Year 11) was an easy choice for this week’s Boarder of the Week. She is an outstanding Boarder who is serious about her studies but always finds time to support others. She is an incredible musician and is generous in sharing her talents in our Chapel service and on other special occasions. Angeline also writes beautifully and is a prolific contributor to Keeping Up With Our Boarders. Most importantly, Angeline is a kind and caring soul and her check-ins and friendly chats are much valued by our entire Boarding family.

Save the Date

Please add the following dates to your Boarding calendar. If you missed out on a copy of our calendar, please let us know at boarding@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and we will send one out to you.

Sunday 14 August

Gordon and Pymble Uniting Church service (no leave for Boarders between 9.00am and 11.00am)

Friday 16 September

2:00pm Boarder Parent Group meeting

7:00pm Boarding Community Event (no leave for Boarders from 4.00pm)

Saturday 17 September

Garden Party (no leave for Boarders)

Thursday 22 September

Year 12 Boarders and Parents’ Celebration

Friday 23 September

Boarders’ Travel Day

Tuesday 29 November
End of Term Chapel and Christmas Dinner