From the Middle School
From our Head of Middle School
Welcome to Week 1 of Term 3!
It was so lovely to welcome the girls back onto the campus on Tuesday. I trust that the break provided opportunities for our Middle School families to spend time together and recalibrate for the term ahead.
Over the winter break we had some wonderful news from our Year 8 team competing at the National da Vinci Decathlon. Congratulations to Isabella Attard, Grace Beck, Kiki Chen, Rosa Kim, Alice Mao, Ruhani Surana, Amber Li and Katherine Pan who are now national champions!
Congratulations to Zara Kinniburgh who has been selected for the NSW Hockey Under 13 Years squad. This is a wonderful achievement, and we wish Zara good luck in the upcoming trials and future competitions.
This week, Year 7 students from Bennett, Goodlet, Lang and Marden will be out at Vision Valley for their three-day Outdoor Education program. We look forward to sharing many stories and photos with our Middle School families next week.
Year 7
Welcome back to our Year 7 girls and families. It has been lovely to reconnect with the girls and hear about their recent holiday break. We hope that everyone was able to recharge and enjoy a slower pace over the last few weeks. We would also like to welcome Phoebe J, who started in Year 7 this term.
We hope that most families were able to meet with their daughter’s Compass teachers on Monday. If you were unable to attend this meeting but have any questions or concerns, please contact your daughter’s Compass teacher or Head of Year to follow up as necessary.
After a long break from school, it can take the girls some time to adjust back into school routines. This week we continue to encourage the girls to be proactive about being organised for school each day so that they can make the most of all that is ahead of them this term. Please encourage your daughter to utilise her diary and term planner so that she can map out her academic and Co-curricular commitments for each week.
For the girls in Bennett, Goodlet, Marden and Lang, it has been an exciting week spending time at Vision Valley for their Outdoor Education program. Despite the wet weather it is a fantastic opportunity for the girls to experience new activities, challenge themselves and strengthen their relationships throughout the year group.
Year 8
A big welcome back to our Year 8 students and families for Term 3. We hope that you were able to enjoy some rest and family time over the break. This term we are welcoming four new students into Year 8. Welcome to Jadyn, Krystal, Ella and Annie. We are looking forward to getting to know the girls over the coming weeks and hearing about their experiences in Hong Kong, Copenhagen and Jerrabomberra!
It was wonderful to have so many parents connect with their Compass teachers online on Monday for our Compass Conversations. If you were not able to attend the meeting but have any questions or concerns, please contact your Compass teacher or relevant Head of Year who will be able to follow up accordingly.
Earlier this week, Year 8 students were sent a term planner by email. This may be helpful in planning for the term ahead and entering key dates into their diary. Some important dates ahead for Year 8 this term include the subject selection evening on 17 August, an environmental service day at Vision Valley on 1 September and Garden Party, which will take place on Saturday 17 September.
Congratulations to Olianna Tighe (Pymble Rugby Sevens), who was selected in the holidays for the Sydney Junior Rugby Union 2022 Representative team.
The theme for Directions this term is ‘character’. For the purposes of our Directions curriculum ‘character’ embodies: Personal qualities that shape who we are and what we will become. How will this be achieved? We will explore and define what drives us, how we view the world and what we value in our lives and in our community. Why is this important? Our character motivates and influences our decisions and actions towards positive change in our community and beyond.
The focus of Directions this week was NAIDOC and the 2022 Theme: ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ The theme advocates for, “The relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non‑Indigenous Australians needs to be based on justice, equity, and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights.” https://www.naidoc.org.au/
In class students explored the concept of rights and responsibilities and discussed the difference between personal and civic responsibility. This included a discussion about how being informed can be seen as a civic responsibility. Students read and briefly discussed the Uluru Statement from the Heart and then explored what it means to be an Indigenous ally.
REMINDER FOR 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
Mrs Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School
FROM THE SECONDARY SCHOOL PARENT GROUP
Year 7 Co-ordinators
Carol Bai 0450855866
Shiva Rich 0414322874
Year 8 Co-ordinator
Sunny Ires 0424878781
