From the Upper School

A Message from Mr Riley, Head of Upper School

There has been so much happening in the Upper School over the past week. From Year 9 Outdoor Education in the Royal National Park, our Year 10 Future You Festival, The Great Return of our second group of Pioneers at Vision Valley, a week of Service Learning for our inaugural Vision Valley Pioneers, The Patricia Burgoyne Public Speaking Competition for Year 10, and the Young Entrepreneur Society (YES) Lunchtime Marketplace to name but a few!

On a personal note, it was fantastic to be offsite last week with a group of Year 9s enjoying some hiking, canoeing and more hiking in the glorious sunshine. I was so pleased to see my average screen time for the week was 17 minutes (a dramatic reduction on its usual value) and wanted to share this interesting article about being present and connected the world around us. With the holidays coming up, hopefully you have an opportunity to put some time aside to spend with your daughter enjoying our wonderful state in summer.

A Message from Mrs Hunt, Deputy Head of Upper School

As many of you will know, service is very close to my heart, and I am so proud to share the reflections of our Year 9s from their week serving the community.

Sewing with Heart

During Week 6, myself along with five other girls were chosen and placed in a group called ‘Sewing with Heart’ where we would go on to sew scrunchies, quilts and ornaments. Participating in community service for four days couldn’t have been more rewarding, and by the end we had picked up lifelong skills and, more importantly, put in many hours helping those in need. As young people receiving an education at Pymble, we each have a responsibility in life to serve those who are less fortunate. This is something that was truly emphasised while we completed our week of community service, even though it was undeniably difficult to get into the swing of things.

Starting out on day one, I remember thinking, “Oh my gosh, I have no clue how to sew. This is going to be a complete disaster.” And while it was a bit of a disaster at first with me not even knowing how to properly set up a sewing machine, it didn’t take long before the Sewing with Heart group made over 100 scrunchies over the span of two days.

By the end, I could make a scrunchy from start to finish like it was second nature – one of the many surprising things I got out of this experience. These scrunchies will be sold by the Junior School girls to raise funds for a school of First Nations’ children, which is why all our scrunchies had gorgeous Indigenous Australian patterns on the fabric.

The hardest thing about doing service, as our wonderful teachers Ms Schumann and Ms Myles told us before we began, was to pour your heart and soul into something and give it away – as all of us had to accept by the end. But the sad feeling of saying goodbye to our creations was accompanied by an overpowering sense of achievement and pride. We had managed to support and provide for people in need within our community, while also solidifying the fact that giving to others is the greatest gift you can give to yourself.

Written by Rebecca Ryan

Exodus

During our service learning week, we had the opportunity to go to the Loaves and Fishes Exodus Foundation in Ashfield. We were privileged enough to work in the restaurant serving meals and packaging take away meals. We created hampers and Christmas decorations for the community, then spent time transferring donations between two of the different Bill Crews’ sites in order to prepare for the Christmas hampers to be made. After our second last day, we had the honour of meeting Rev Bill himself, he thanked us for all our work, and we thanked him for the opportunity to have this new experience. On our last day we spent the morning unpacking donations counting and sorting stock and then spent the rest of the day making more Christmas decorations. Overall, it was an amazing and eye-opening experience that we were all grateful to be a part of. 

Written by Mika Naito and Tully Black

Easy Care Gardening

This week for service we were part of the Easy Care Gardening program and went out to help garden the houses of elderly and people who are unable to do it themselves. This involved weeding, raking, and mulching. It was an amazing experience that allowed us to learn new techniques and get outdoors, whilst also helping those in need. It was great to see how our contributions make an impact on the clients, lives and their environment.

Written by Abby Sywak

Cook for Good

This week as part of our Service Learning Program, we stayed at school and participated in the Cook for Good project. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, especially knowing that the treats we made will have direct impact on those who really deserve them, the parents of the campers who will attend Sony Camp in the weeks to come. We also spent time communicating with Hornsby Women’s Shelter and are going to donate the money we raised from selling over 300 gingerbread cookies around the school. Overall, we had a wonderful week, not only making the treats but also keeping in mind that our hard work will pay off when those in need are able to taste our Christmas treats!

Written by Phoebe Cooper

Cromehurst

During week 6, some of us attended Cromehurst school for our service learning week. Cromehurst school is a school that provides a range of programs for students with moderate to severe disabilities. The Pymble girls were allocated to different primary school classes to meet and help students throughout the week. In my class, we would listen to the kids read, help them write and do maths, etc. Over these 4 days, it was truly a rewarding experience as we watched the progress these students make in just a few days and how they were excited for even the slightest things like when we arrived every day. Each of us enjoyed our individual experiences in which we were able to meet some really great kids and bring light to the difficulties they struggle with at school. Overall, we learned so much about how to interact children with special needs effectively and enjoyed the time we spent with them so much. We are all so sad to be leaving them and are hoping to arrange another visit to their school soon to see all our friends again!

Written by Sabrina Cooke

MUSEC

This past week Lauren, Annabel and I volunteered at MUSEC as part of our service learning program, and it was probably one of the best experiences we’ve had. Throughout the week we worked in two classrooms with primary years students with a range of disabilities such as ADHD and autism. On day one we arrived at 8:30am and met with the wonderful principal as we got to learn a little bit about the students we would be working with. We even watched a video about reading and interacting with the kids but our favourite part of the day was meeting these children.

They were all energised and excited to see us, making everything very worthwhile. At the start, we sat at small tables with the different teachers and just observed how they interacted with the kids, the teachers were all so patient, and they really loved what they did. We also were able to take the kids into quiet rooms where we read with them one-on-one, that was probably my favourite. There was something really rewarding about hearing them implement the corrections that we gave them. We sat with them during morning tea and lunch, and those were the times when we actually got to know them.

We played hide and seek and tip with them religiously! On days two and three, we continued with a meticulous schedule that the teachers used which helped the children understand routine and discipline, but Lauren and I got upgraded to our own desks. The kids moved around every 15 minutes in rotations to keep them engaged and we worked with them in literacy and maths rotations. We also PDHPE with them, outdoor gymnastics was really something. We loved all the kids from the moment we met them, which made leaving that much harder.

On the last day, we gave the kids a heartfelt gift from us based on things we heard them say in the playground and in the classes. We got them a range of gifts from board games to hula hoops, to Rubics cubes (which turned out to be a favourite), and we’ll never forget the priceless look on their faces after receiving their gifts. This experience really put things into perspective for us and made us understand just how challenging some of their lives are. It felt amazing being able to make a difference in the lives of those children, and we wholeheartedly recommend this experience to everyone else.

Written by Nandika Singh

St Eddie’s

This week we were assigned to spend time at St Edmunds College in Wahroonga. The experience was challenging but unforgettable. All four Pymble girls were assigned to a class in either year 9 or 10 and over the week we got to know the students as we spent more time with them. All the kids were so welcoming and always had a positive approach to all challenges during the day. From this experience, we have learned more about ourselves and about the different communities around us. For all of us girls I’m sure this week has really impacted us in the best way possible. We were so grateful to have had this opportunity with the children at St Edmunds

Written by Mia Tesoriero

Clarke Rd

Mary, Lavan, Catherine and I were so privileged to be able to take part in going to Clarke Road School (a school for children with additional needs) for 4 days for our Service Learning. During our time we were able to interact with the variety of kids, learning lots of things from the staff and one another. Whilst we were there, we got to know the kids in our classes very well. From basketball at lunch, playing with the chickens, going on excursion through their community access, enjoying catch in the morning or watching them how they adapt to learning in the classroom. The last day was quite emotional with lots of high fives and hugs, we were able to reflect on our experience and see the genuine hearts and all their individual personalities. After the week well spent, we were very happy with the impact and connections we had made in their community. We definitely have lots of gratitude for the teachers and staff of both schools for making this happen and greater appreciation for educators everywhere!

Written by Jocelyn Teni

A Message from Mr Levin and Mrs Richter, Heads of Year 9

What a unique week we had last week. Our Year 9 Pioneers were involved in Service Learning which was a great way to give back. It was such a successful week, and these students should feel proud of their efforts. The second Residential Program also finished with a Great Return. A huge congratulations to all of these students on their fantastic achievements over the past four weeks. There was also the Outdoor Education Program with Southbound down on the South Coast. We were so lucky with the weather and our lovely camp sites, especially the Bonnie Vale campsite. Well done to all who challenged themselves well beyond their comfort zones. Student Outdoor Education Program reflections are below.

Last week, those in Year 9 who hadn’t gone to Vision Valley attended a 4-day camp at the Royal National Park with Southbound Adventures. Over the course of the 4 days we hiked, canoed and used public transport to move around from campsite to campsite on a daily basis. The camp started with the highly anticipated city challenge where we worked with our new camp groups in order to complete given tasks across Sydney’s CBD. This activity provided us with an amazing team bonding experience and a great kick off to our camp experience.

On this camp, we completed a 12km hike with rucksacks on Day 2, which was by far the hardest thing I have ever done. This task at times seemed impossible but at the same time taught me to never give up, and to always keep going even if your limits are being challenged. Although this day was challenging, the amazing views we got along the way at Uloola Falls and Karloo Pools definitely made it worth it. During this camp, we were also meant to take part in a canoe journey to our night 3 campsite, but due to the weather we instead took part in a canoeing skills session at Yowie Bay. Here we learnt the three main canoeing strokes, the forward stroke, the reverse stroke and the emergency stop.

Another key highlight was visiting the Bonnie Vale campsite where we stayed on night 3. Here we got to experience the spectacular views of the ocean and faraway towns from the shoreline. A couple members of my group and I also took part in a sunset swim here, this being a fun way to spend our time at our final campsite. The camp ended with what was a beautiful hike along the Royal National Park Coastal Trail where we got to view the amazing Indigenous Rock artworks at Jibbon Head. When we reached the end, the relief felt by everyone was evident, as we finished what was a challenging but at the same time unforgettable camp experience.

Written by Katherine Macpherson

My favourite part of OEP was arriving at Bonnie Vale. After an exhausting day long hike, carrying our tents and camp gear through the bush for hours, it was so relaxing to just stop and admire the view. I found it so peaceful being surrounded by old and new friends and it was very amusing watching some of my friends go for a swim. I found it so valuable when our camp instructor Beth gathered my group around the beach and shared with us the importance of spreading positivity, having time alone to explore your thoughts, expressing appreciation for others, and slowing down by practicing mindfulness in our busy lives. Our camp instructor’s positive attitude towards everything is something I aspire to embody and impacted everyone in my group. From this experience I have grown as a person through strengthening friendships and learning how to make the best of any situation. I really enjoyed my time on OEP and I made so many memories.

By Jasmine Economou

Peer Support training was held on Tuesday with Burn Bright for the newly elected Year 9 students. These students will be a Big Sister in Year 10 in 2023 and continually meet with the Year 7 2023 cohort during Mind Body Spirit time to build stronger connections.

A huge congratulations to Alethea Levy in Year 9 for her selection in the International Football Group Australia U14 Girls Team. Please could you assist her by bringing in any lightly used football boots that you can spare?

A message from Alethea Levy

I have been selected to play in the 14’s Girls Youth team representing the International Football Group Australia at the 2022 Ultimate Fiji Soccer Cup. I’m very excited about the football opportunities and experience.

I leave next week on Tuesday 29 November until Tuesday 6 December. We will play against three Fijian sides Nadi, BA and Lautoka. The final game of the week, and the one I’m most excited about, is against the Fijian National G15 team.

Off the field, I will have the opportunity to travel to some of the local villages and a primary school. I hope to take over as many lightly used football boots and kits to donate to them. When I have travelled to less developed countries, I’ve seen their passion and love for football. Very few of them have boots or even proper footballs to play with, but this doesn’t stop them from playing. Football has given me many opportunities and I want to be able to give something back to others that also love the sport.

With our season just about to start up again I know many of you may have outgrown your boots or football kits. If your old boots are still in good condition and just sitting in a cupboard, please bring them to Upper School by next Monday 28 November so I can take them with me to Fiji to give to the local children. I’m hoping to fill up my entire suitcase because I know how much excitement those boots will bring!

Thank you!

A message from Mrs Beaumont and Ms Attley, Heads of Year 10

The Future You festival has been jam-packed with a range of presentations, interviews and activities. Please enjoy Julie’s reflection on the first day of the festival:

Future You, Day 1

As Year 10 students edge closer and closer to the exciting new realm of Senior School and a future of boundless opportunities, many of us find ourselves mulling over the same questions in our minds: What next? What will I do after school? Where will I allow life to take me?

Obviously, these are big questions – and immensely important ones too – which is why the ever-supportive College has kindly organised two days packed with motivational guest speakers, consultants and university workshops to guide us on our quest to finding our career of choice. These two days constitute Pymble’s inaugural ‘Future You Festival’ – an apt name, considering the joy it brought to everyone attending. Whether we were gaining pearls of wisdom from our guest speaker Dr Amira Howari, who is an inspirational clinical optometrist and leader in medicine or learning how to present ourselves as professionals for the job interviews that will inevitably pop up in our later years, we all took away many profound insights and enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

Of course, these weren’t the only fun events on the schedule. The professional analysis of our Motivational Maps, which are reports that identify our motivations and explain how we should embrace them to maximise our success in life, greatly resonated with us and spurred us to reflect deeply on our inner selves. We also got a taste of what it would be like to study at university by participating in a range of workshops provided by Australia’s leading colleges – the content of these immersive sessions spanned everything from Physiotherapy to Marine Studies to Biomedicine and Law.

And how can I forget to mention gelato? I am happy to report that, as a cherry on top of all the other amazing activities, we received a welcome sweet treat!

And that’s not all. Tuesday promises a Mock Interview, guest speaker presentations on community service, and workshops that will teach us how to get the best out of our credentials and personal statements – all of which I am definitely looking forward to (I already have my smart casual interview outfit planned!).

Looking back on today, I realise that it’s okay if I haven’t come up with exact answers to the questions I posed at the very beginning of this reflection. Year 10 is all about exploring different pathways and trying everything out there. But although we still have plenty of time to decide what kind of professions we will pursue in future, I do certainly appreciate the help that the Future You Festival has given me in getting me started on my career journey. It has opened up my vision and allowed me to see the endless possibilities lying on the horizon.

I am eagerly anticipating another day of Future You festivities tomorrow. I cannot wait to learn more about both the world of work and the world of my own personal passions, and I’m sure that this sentiment holds true for my peers too!

Written by Julie Sheng

We are blessed to have ex-students and experts in different fields come to address our wonderful group to inform them of the realities of work after school. We hope every single student brings new knowledge home to discuss and is able to connect to a passionate area important to them.

Additionally, this week we will have opportunities for service learning and fun on our Urban Challenge adventure. We look forward to updating you next week.

With the end of year fast approaching and the end of Upper School nigh, we hope Year 10 enjoy the little moments and relish the opportunity to learn about themselves as well as giving back to a range of worthy causes.

Ecologically Sourced Seafood – Mr Brendon Long, Marine and Aquaculture Technology Co-ordinator

In our final topic for the year, our Year 10 Marine and Aquaculture Technology students have been investigating Food From The Sea. Following an exploration of the many stakeholders in the seafood industry, we turned our attention to the stressors on the natural systems and the long term implications of current management and practices. With 1 in 5 people (out of now 8 billion on the planet) depending on fish as their primary source of animal protein in their diet, and demand sharply rising, the sustainability of seafood is a global concern. In promoting the health benefits of eating seafood, we have turned our attention to making a range of seafood meals onsite to encourage our students to try new things, or build upon their seafood cooking repertoire.

We began the term by making sushi (with sustainably sourced salmon and tuna), and we assessed the buying options available to us as consumers. Our students can now make a variety of sushi rolls by hand, with the protein of their choice, and we would love to see more being brought in as school lunches if the traditional sandwich is getting a bit monotonous.

Mid-term, our students learned about the anatomy, life cycles and sustainability of prawns and salmon before learning how to peel cooked king prawns and grill farmed Atlantic salmon fillets on the BBQ. If your daughter is studying our elective, you should now have another family member at Christmas time to help with the prawn peeling duties, and confident enough to put on a seafood inspired meal for the family.

This week, we were lucky enough to have Mrs Fiona Walmsley (Woolworths General Manager – Climate & Environment and Co-Chair Gender Equity Network) give up her time to address our cohort. She shared with us the challenges facing large industries in their push to lead by example to source and stock sustainably caught seafood. As an ex-student herself, Fiona with our students about her own time at the College, her subjects studied, her tertiary education pathway and career progression. Her valuable insight added depth to our content, and showed firsthand the difficulties the industry faces to serve up sustainable seafood.

We wrapped up our sustainable seafood cooking unit with an Aussie favourite; fish and chips. Following Fiona’s presentation, and feeling confident to buy sustainably sourced fish, we made a simple but tasty batter from scratch, and deep fried our fillets (along with some chips) leading into recess.

Thanks go out to our amazing TAS colleagues for sharing their spectacular food preparation spaces and cooking knowledge with us, the Facilities team for their work behind the scenes, and my exceptional team (Mr Hare and Ms Hessel) for supporting this unit with gusto.

We would like to give a special shout out to the Sydney Fish Markets for their support of our unit goals, last year and this year, to assist us in showcasing the best seafood available. We purchased our stunning seafood from Claudio’s Seafood. All students present will attest that the quality of the seafood was of the highest order. Whilst we weren’t able to fit in a visit to the fish markets this year, I hope we have instilled a healthy appetite for seafood in our students, and upskilled our students in how to assess and buy sustainable seafood.

Key Dates

Term 4

Monday 21 to Friday 25 November Year 10 Future You Festival

Tuesday 29 November ‘Walk for Cassius’

Friday 2 December Speech Day and Final Day of Term 4