From the Middle School
From our Head of Middle School
On Tuesday night, we held our Year 7 2023 Parent Information Evening to welcome new families and share time together. I would like to acknowledge the six Year 7 and 8 students who so beautifully represented their peers when addressing parents. Layne Phillips, Kyraa Vigg and Saskia Nicholson shared their Middle School journeys so far with impressive confidence. They spoke of rich and diverse experiences which have helped to shape who they are and in turn inspire their futures. I would also like to congratulate Evie Farr, Sienna Melton and Ellie Pointon – three of our outstanding Indigenous Boarders – who delivered a warm and inclusive welcome and acknowledgement of Country. We are so proud of our girls who continually step up and generously give their time.
This week, we are finalising the filming of the Year 7 Postcards from the Dreaming project. Below are some images of our girls in action. We’re really looking forward to sharing the final product before the end of term.
Well done to Jenny Xu who participated in the State Final for the Legacy Public Speaking Competition on Tuesday at the NSW Art Gallery. Her delivery never ceases to impress.
Year 7
The Year 8 2023 Leadership launch took place on Tuesday this week. We encourage all students to consider stepping up into one of the many roles for 2023. Information about the roles may be accessed via the Middle School Leadership website and the process involves an application and interview. If there are any questions about the process or specific roles please contact Mrs Budd, Deputy Head of Middle School.
In Directions this week, the focus was to reconnect after the holidays and spend time getting organised for the term ahead. We value your support in making sure your daughter is using her College diary to assist with homework and academic organisation.
Year 7 Recounts – Guest Speaker Michele Chevalley Hedge
On Thursday the 13th of October, nutritionist Michelle Chevalley Hedge came to Pymble and gave a presentation about ways to look after your body and give yourself breaks from screens. She gave us tips on how to balance out your meals so that you are not impacted by “low sugar” or “no sugar” and encourage us to take breaks from our screens to avoid being “tired but wired”. She taught us that sugar and blue light can leave your body unhappy and unhealthy and experiencing mood swings, and taught us how to manage them, and lots more. My peers and I took a lot of information from this presentation and truly value what we have learnt from her expertise.
Written by Bonnie Hebblewhite
On Thursday Week 1, Michelle, a nutritionist, came in to talk to us about what nutrition is and how to maintain a good diet. She talked to us about all types of different things like how to sleep better, have clear skin and most importantly how to get all the different types of nutrition and fibres we need in order to stay energised and to keep our brains working. I learned about how to keep our brains fuelled with lots of energy and how not to be ‘tired but wired’ and lots more. So, thank you so much to Michelle for coming in, using her time to share with us her knowledge.
Written by Sienna Melton
On Thursday last week, nutritionist Michele Chevalley Hedge came to us to talk about nutrition. Some of the things that she talked to us about were that we shouldn’t give up sugar but minimise foods that have a high amount of unnatural sugars and packaged/processed food. She said that in or meals we should include protein, good carbs and good fat. That we should be having around two litres of water a day, so it helps to have a water bottle that you like. Another point she’d if we eat well, we will have more energy and not get “the flatsies”, which is where you are feeling really flat and do not have much energy, or “tired but wired”, which is where you are very tired late at night.
Written by Clare Ferreira
On Thursday 13th of October Michelle Chevally Hedge came to our school. She spoke to us all about good food habits and keeping our bodies healthy but also energised. She told us about the experience of being not tired but wired. This about what is stopping you from going to sleep. Sugar and the blue light emitted from our screens can leave you feeling buzzed, this means that you could feel tired but the sugar or the blue light will keep you up. This can effect our moods. Mood swings are becoming a big part in our lives as we are becoming teens. This will make us from gorgeous to grumpy. This means that we could be happy and energetic one second and then grumpy, mad and tired the next. She informed us on what is healthy to eat and the foods that will leave you satisfied. She explained to us that a little bit of chocolate was okay but there are also alternatives to eating unhealthy foods.
For example:
- Fruit instead of lollies
- Dark chocolate (70%) instead of milk chocolate
- Brown rice instead of white rice
- Sparkling water instead of soft drink
- Tea instead of juice
- Plain Greek yogurt instead of flavoured yogurt
- Butter instead of margarine
Overall, we learnt a lot about healthy food and sleep. We very much appreciate her presentation and feel very informed!
Written by Peita Christofis
Year 8
Earlier this week, we launched our Passport portfolium with Year 8. Passport is used by students until Year 12 and has been created with the purpose of providing an opportunity for students to reflect on key experiences and skills they have developed. Rather than acting as a record of certificates and achievements, Passport allows every student to celebrate her own personal bests and to reflect on her learnings. These reflections will build our girls’ abilities as they prepare for the world of work. Over the next few weeks, our Year 8 students will have time in their Directions classes to create their first Passport entries.
Tomorrow, we have the delight of hearing from study skills specialist, Pru Salter, about a range of tips and strategies that students can use to improve their study habits. We encourage you to speak with your daughter about some of her key takeaways from this presentation.
In Directions this week, our Year 8 girls have taken part in a Murder Mystery game which is designed to develop an understanding of various styles of leadership and collaboration. Year 8 have also reflected on what is included in a leadership application ahead of our leadership launch later next.
From the Middle School Parent Group
We look forward to seeing our Year 7 and 8 parents at the upcoming dinners. Please see details on how to book below:
Year 7 Parents Cocktail Dinner
Date: Saturday 5 November
Location: Avondale Golf Course
Year 8 Parent/Carers Social
Date: Saturday 29 October
Location: Governor Hotel, Macquarie Park
Please RSVP by clicking here by 22 October 2022, or contact us at Sunny.hres@gmail.com or Malinib.srivastava@gmail.com
From the Secondary School Parent Group
Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend the PPA meeting the other evening, including the compressed Secondary School Parent Group AGM. It was lovely to have a chance to catch up, find out more from Dr Hadwen about what is happening in the College and to thank everyone for their year’s effort and welcoming in the group for the year ahead.
As such, I would like to thank the parents who held formal roles on the SSPG committee this year including Julie Xie, Pam McPherson, Jane Stewart, Pilar Yemma, Susan Ma, Vicki Volikas, Gi-Nin Baikie, Dushi Cooke, Malini Srivastava, Sunny Hre, Carol Bai and Vanessa Middleton. Also, a big thank you to all the parents who took on informal and support roles, organising and supporting events, attending coffee mornings and forwarding on emails and requests for assistance.
Group Leaders – Brigid Robson and Priscilla Macpherson
Record Keeper – May Tai
Year 12 Co-ordinators – Jane Stewart and Melissa Markson
Year 11 Co-ordinators – Susan Ma and Pilar Yemma
Year 10 Co-ordinators – Pam McPherson and Zoe Green
Year 9 Co-ordinators – Christel Vgne and Monika Surana
Year 8 Co-ordinators – Shiva Rich and Carol Bai
Year 7 Co-ordinator – Kai Jones
Care and Support – Vanessa Middleton
Once again, thank you to everyone for all your help and support. We look forward to a chance to see you at the end of year celebrations and events for the start of 2023.
Written by Priscilla Macpherson
