From the Middle School

From our Head of Middle School

This week in Middle School we are beginning to tie things up for the year and preparing for our final celebration assemblies including the Speech Day event on Friday 2 December which will be held here on campus in the gymnasium. Congratulations to the award recipients and congratulations also to all those students across the Middle School who always try their best and contribute in such a positive way to building our community.

Last week at Barker VEX V5, our Year 7-8 Robotics teams, as usual, were a force to be reckoned with. There were gallant efforts and great improvement from all team members; but unfortunately we didn’t make it through. Nonetheless, our little gems of a Year 7 team won the Excellence Award for Middle School, the highest award a team can get. We are so proud of your commitment and achievements.

Year 7

This week it has been another exciting week hosting some fun Christmas activities such as our Christmas Biscuit Houses and upcoming House Christmas Festival on Friday. Each House will be preparing and then singing a Christmas carol which will be judged by a special panel of staff and students. We also celebrate the end of the year with a Middle School lunchtime barbecue on Friday. Girls can wear PE uniform on Friday and bring along a Christmas accessory to wear during the performance.

We are very proud of the achievements of all Year 7s who have enjoyed a lockdown free year, the first time in two years. Year 7 have been developing connections with their peers and adapting to the routines of high school, we know it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. In 2023 we will continue to work with the girls on developing the skills they need to form respectful relationships, be organised, to make positive decisions and build their capacity to take on new challenges.

We are delighted to announce a new student Leadership team for 2023. Congratulations to:

We are sure that they will continue to build on the great work done by the outgoing Leaders. Thank you to Saskia, Kyraa, Sophie, Tyra, Serenna, Jada, Leander, Anjali, Sitian, Mia, Jolie, Eloise, Alannah, Sienna, Clare, Irisara, Jaquelyn, Cindy, Grace and Amrita for all their fabulous contributions this year.

This week the Award Winners for next Friday’s College Speech Day were announced. We congratulate these girls on this special recognition of their commitment to their academic studies and contributions to the College community. We look forward to acknowledging these girls next week and expect to see all Year 7 students in attendance on the final day of school. Please ensure that your daughter’s uniform is to the expected standard.  Students will be dismissed for the summer break at 11.30am on 2 December.

As we approach the final week of school we will remind the girls about clearing out their lockers. It is best that the girls do this gradually over the next week to ensure they don’t have too many items to take home on the last day of school.

Year 8

Congratulations to the students listed below who will take on leadership positions in Year 9. Students who did not receive roles are encouraged to seek feedback.  More opportunities for leadership roles will arise in 2023. We encourage all students to try out and participate in projects and initiatives which interest them.

Year 8 have continued with Transition to Upper School activities this week. On Tuesday Year 8 Compass groups combined with their corresponding Year 9 Compass group during Mind, Body, Spirit time to discuss and clarify questions Year 8 have about Year 9.  The Year 8s also had time to connect again with their big sisters (Year 9s) who were with them in Middle School when they arrived in Year 7, through conversations and games. Some Year 8s were relieved to hear that not all subjects have half yearly exams and that the yearly exams are not as daunting as they thought. One student was very pleased to hear that they have the opportunity to go home to study after writing an exam. This reflects the responsibility Year 9s can step up to in the Upper School.

On Friday Year 8 will celebrate the end of year with a Middle School barbecue on Gloucester Lawn. This will be followed by a House Christmas performance competition for the last two periods of Friday.

From the Middle School Parent Group

We would like to invite you to our final coffee for the year:

Year 7 and 8 Coffee Morning for Parents

Date: Friday 25 November

Time: 8.00am

Location: Bricklane Espresso, Shop/21 Philip Mall, West Pymble

We hope to see many of you there!

Malini (Year 8), Sunny (Year 8), Shiva (Year 7) and Carol (Year 7)

Mrs Jenny O’Donnell

Head of Middle School