From the Boarding School

From our Head of Boarding

Boarder voice is super important in helping us maintain a happy, healthy home where wellbeing is a priority. There are variety of forums in which our Boarders can provide feedback, most significantly our Boarders’ Representative Council (BRC) is key in providing student voice and enhancing the boarding experience for all.

There are two BRC representatives from each year group and these girls have the responsibility of representing the views of their cohort and feeding back outcomes from matters raised. I am delighted to announce the following BRC members for the 2023 year.

Year 7 – Phoebe Pockley and Sienna Melton

Year 8 – Phoebe Roberts and Rose Kirkby

Year 9 – Alethea Levy and Evie Leahy

Year 10 – Aspen Moore and Hannah Thornton

Thinking of our families who have been impacted by the floods

It has been a very tough time for many of our families who have been impacted by ongoing flooding. Almost all of our Boarders have either been personally affected or have family members or friends who are dealing with the ravages of the too much water. Our thoughts are with those families, and we ask that you let us know if we can assist in any way here at Pymble.

Over the weekend, our wonderful year 12 Boarders put their concern into action and set about raising awareness and funds for victims of flood. With Head Boarder, Abigail Ballhausen, as a driving force our prefect team gave up their Sunday to made delicious cupcakes and on Monday sold these were sold to raise money for the cause. Over $850.00 was raised with all profits being sent to the GIVIT foundation flood appeal.

Amazing Athletes

Congratulations to the following Boarders who swept the field at the Annual Sportswomen’s’ Dinner held last Friday.

Abigail Ballhausen: The Julie Shaw Year 11 Sportswomen of the Year and Cross Country Athlete of the Year

Rylee McKinstry: Diving Athlete of the Year

Chloe Hanlan: Basketball Athlete of the Year

Grace Whyte: Netball Athlete of the Year

Stella Robertson: Artistic Gymnastics Athlete of the Year

All’ Ultimo Lavoro – Strive for the Highest Awards

Grace Peters (Athletics)

Alethea Levy (Football)

Lucy Robertson (Rugby Sevens)

Philippa Austin (Rugby Sevens)

Giselle Kawane (Tennis)

Sophie Laing (Water Polo)

Team of the Year

Netball: Grace Whyte

Representative Team of the Year

Cross Country: Sophie Webster, Phoebe Pockley, Sophie Beveridge, Abigail Ballhausen, Erica Williams, Sarah Thornton

You can read more about these incredible athletes in our Spring edition of Keeping Up With Our Boarders.

Congratulations to our Football Superstar

We are so proud of Year 9 Boarder, Alethea (Lethy) Levy who has been selected to play in the Girls’ Youth team representing the International Football Group Australia at the 2022 Fiji Soccer Cup. Australia is represented with players from NSW, Queensland and South Australia and Lethy is in the mix as a fabulous player. This selection follows on from Lethy’s triumph in the National Youth Championships where she captained the Country New South Wales team leading them to victory .

Lethy will travel to Fiji on Tuesday 29 November and return on Tuesday 6 December. A wonderful opportunity and experience for her to finish off a busy year.

Head on Foundation Portrait Prize

Congratulations to Year 10 Boarder Erica Williams who was a runner up in the Student Awards of the Head On Foundation Portrait Prize. This annual and highly regarded competition attracts entries from around the world and we are all thrilled by Erica’s success. Erica’s fabulous portrait of our resident goat Feta, was selected for its technical expertise and appealing format. Erica is delighted to be receiving a camera valued at $1500.00 so she can pursue her photography dreams.

Lang House Warming

Sunday evening marked a very special occasion for our oldest Boarders as our Year 12 2022/23 cohort made an important rite of passage, graduating to Lang House. The evening was celebrated with a House Warming, inspired by the 1916 event when the very first Pymble girls made the trip across from PLC Croydon.

The girls were delighted with their new rooms and the fabulous celebration meal organised by our Head of Year 12 Boarding, Anne Graham and Senior Boarding Assistant, Roz Martindale.

Love It – Mrs White

We have a busy weekend coming up as we welcome our new Boarders in Years 8 to 11 for 2023. The Year 8s will be heading out for a twilight picnic; the Year 9 and 10 students are heading to the Upper School Disco and Year 12 2023 will be welcoming Riverview for a trivia night. On Saturday the girls will have the option of heading to Manly beach for the day and on Sunday we are super excited to be heading to Cabramatta, the Vietnamese centre of Sydney, for an adventure of the taste buds.

Last weekend the girls enjoyed Glebe markets, Newtown thrifting and some beach excursions in addition to a fun night with the year 9 Riverview Boarders. A big thank you to our new Spirit House Captains who hosted that evening.

View From My Window

Hello, I am Phoebe Pockley and I am in Year 7. I currently come from Byron Bay on the far north coast of New South Wales but I have grown up on our 5000-acre cattle farm in Cootamundra and recently a 150,000-acre goat farm west of Cobar also became one of our homes.

Byron is known as a popular tourist destination as well as being famous for its hipster and chill environment. It is also a popular whale watching spot as well as being the most easterly point in Australia.

I live with my Dad – Jeremy, Mum – Kirsty, sister Skye who is in Year 10, and brothers Sam and Tom. We have a cavoodle Garry, a kelpie Jimmy and a cat Bonnie.

In Byron we spend a lot of time at the Surf Club where my mum’s side of the family is heavily involved. We might go out snorkelling, surfing, paddle over to the pass, or go down the street for an Acai Bowl. Since we have such a busy family our grandparents often have to help taxi us all around which is great because I love hearing their stories.

Away from the coast I love to go ride motorbikes, venture through the country, or help with jobs around the farm.

When I look outside my window I see ocean views of Byron, the luscious green hills of Coota or the red dry dirt in Cobar.

I love coming back to Boarding because I get to be with all my friends and experience all of the opportunities I would not have had back at home.

Boarder of the Week

Congratulations to Year 10 Boarder Charlotte Leung, our Boarder of the Week. Since joining us at the start of the year, Charlotte has been a happy and engaged presence who demonstrates the Boarder spirit every day. Charlotte is a kind and compassionate housemate and a great listener. She is talented, especially in the realms of music and we are all grateful for her willingness to share skills in playing the piano and harp. Charlotte is a role model to so many girls both in her year, and for younger Boarders as well. She was recently elected to the position of Spirit House Captain and we are all excited to see shine in this role.