Boarding Transition Guide Year 7 2021
CONTENTS Welcome to Pymble Boarding!...Page 4 Marden House................................Page 5 Our Special People........................Page 6 Our Health Care Team..................Page 9 ‘Big Sisters’......................................Page 9 Boarding Friends and Family.......Page 9
Visitors.............................................Page 13 Parent visiting hours..................Page 13 Shopping......................................Page 13 Travel................................................Page 14 Getting ready..................................Page 14 The to do list...................................Page 15 Label, label, label........................Page 15
Academic Tutors............................Page 10
Set up a bank account...............Page 15
Routines..........................................Page 10
Opal Card.....................................Page 15
Monday to Thursday..................Page 10
Mobile Phones.............................Page 15
Weekends.....................................Page 10
Some basic life skills..................Page 16
Weekly Schedule........................Page 11
Packing.........................................Page 16
Parent Communications...........Page 11
Forewarned is forearmed..........Page 17
Community Weekends and Community Days...................Page 11
Homesickness.............................Page 17 Some other opportunities.........Page 18
Leave................................................Page 11
And for you.....................................Page 18
Leave during school hours.......Page 12
Frequently Asked Questions........Page 19
Leave with parents.....................Page 12
Contacts..........................................Page 21 College Map....................................Page 22
WELCOME TO BOARDING
WELCOME TO PYMBLE BOARDING! What a pleasure it is to welcome you and your daughter to our Boarding family. We treasure all of our Boarders, but our Year 7 cohort are extra special bringing the vitality and sparkle of new girls about to embark on their first experience of Secondary School.
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We understand it will be a year of firsts – their first time away from you, their first time in Secondary School and perhaps, their first mobile phone. Our staff understand the challenges and the pressure points and are there to support and encourage the girls as they negotiate their new life as a Boarder. We aim to make this transition as smooth as possible so that your girls can make the most of all the wonderful opportunities on offer here at Pymble.
Working in partnership with you is key to our success and I look forward to getting to know you and your family in the months and years to come. I am lucky enough to live onsite with my husband John and my three girls Lizzie, Kate and Charlotte. I love being able to pop up to the Houses, at the drop of a hat and John and I enjoy regular walks around the College with our dog Bonnie, you will see quite a bit of me! My office is in Joan Hammond House where you will also find our Boarding Administration Coordinator, Sally Dickens. We love having visitors – please do pop in and say hello whenever you are onsite. I have a long history at Pymble, prior to taking on the role of Director of Boarding, I was Head of Technology and Applied Studies for over ten years and have a deep understanding of the demands of the Day School.
Working closely with our Heads of School and the academic team helps us to ease our Boarders into their new environment and maximise the opportunity to enhance their wellbeing and learning. Over the last three years I have been lucky enough to live and breathe Boarding and I am proud of the structures and programs we have in place to provide an outstanding Boarding experience. This handbook, along with our Handbook for Boarders and their Families, provides you with details of these provisions and aims to be a comprehensive guide for Boarding at Pymble. I hope you find it useful. You and your daughter are about to set off on an exciting adventure! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this journey. Carolyn Burgess DIRECTOR OF BOARDING
Jersey Day 2020
MARDEN HOUSE Named after our founder and first Principal, Marden House is home to 44 Year 7, 8 and 9 Boarders. It is one of our original buildings built in 1916 specifically for Boarding. Over the last year we have undertaken an extensive refurbishment program and our Marden girls love their attractive and functional rooms and comfortable spaces for relaxation and study. The Year 7 girls enjoy sharing a room with either two or three other girls and appreciate
the support and guidance of their big sisters in Years 8 to 9. Our staff in Marden are specifically selected for their expertise in dealing with the younger girls and understand the need for special guidance and particular care of these girls. Our Marden House Supervisor is Kathryn Glover and she is supported by Assistant House Supervisors, Mardi Cussack, Kate Inglis and Kirsty Ogilvy as well as a team of dedicated Duty Assistants. PAGE 5
OUR SPECIAL PEOPLE
Gold Mining with Mr Bell
Dr Kate Hadwen (left)
Mrs Julie Shaw (left)
Dr Hadwen Principal
Mrs Shaw Deputy Principal
Our fabulous Principal is not only our biggest fan but also our greatest supporter. Dr H was a Boarder herself, as well as a Director of Boarding. She is so committed to Boarding she completed her PhD in this area and she has even written a book about Boarding! Dr Hadwen is a regular visitor to our Boarding Houses and, along with her husband, Mr Bell, hosts regular dinners for our Boarders. Mr Bell is also a great asset to our ‘Love It’ program – running fun sessions including pasta making classes and gold panning adventures.
Mrs Julie Shaw is a fount of knowledge on all things Boarding. She is a frequent and wise presence in the Houses and mentors many of our girls. Mrs Shaw works closely with staff to ensure that we have the optimal structures, programs and strategies in place to deliver an exceptional Boarding experience.
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OUR SPECIAL PEOPLE Kathryn Glover House Supervisor, Marden House Kathryn will be a key person in your daughter’s Boarding life. She has extensive Boarding experience having attended Boarding school coupled with experience in numerous Boarding schools in Australia and the United Kingdom. Kathryn has a love of classical music and she shares this as a teacher of Music in the Day School and through mentoring our Marden musicians. Kathryn leads her Marden team to provide outstanding guidance, direction, and nurturing to support your daughter in her transition to life as a Pymble girl. She is looking forward to working with you in building your daughter’s confidence, resilience, and independence, ensuring she makes the most of the wonderful opportunity of a Pymble education.
Mardi Cussack Assistant House Supervisor, Marden House Mardi has been a key member of Marden House for the last five years. She has a deep understanding of the special needs of our youngest Boarders and balances her common sense approach with great kindness and a good dose of fun. Mardi particularly enjoys weekends with the girls.
Kirsty Ogilvy Assistant House Supervisor, Marden House Our Marden Boarders always look forward to Mrs O’s afternoon welcomes. A Mum of teenagers and a Learning Support teacher, Kirsty is very much attuned to the special needs of the girls. Kirsty also has a great knack of planning fabulous weekend outings.
Kate Inglis Assistant House Supervisor, Marden House We are delighted to have Kate as part of our Marden Leadership team. She brings a genuine warmth and high energy to our team. With a passion for hospitality and clear understanding of the demands of Secondary School, Kate is a caring and compassionate presence for the girls.
Sally Dickens Boarding Administration Coordinator Sally is a warm and welcoming presence in Joan Hammond House and is the first point of contact for any enquiries during school hours. Sally lives locally with her husband Lynton and two adult children, Elisha and Ben. She has two dogs, Richie and Sonny, who are regular visitors to our Boarding Houses. Sally helps out with transport and will liaise with you about any matters that arise during the school day. Please make sure you call in to say hello.
Mariel Lombard Head of Transition Mariel is a member of our Day School staff and a specialist in transitioning students through key milestones in their education. She has a special interest in our Year 7 Boarders, who are transitioning into our secondary school and living away from home for the first time. Mariel, along with our Counselling team, organises our Circle Time program, which is designed to build strong and meaningful connections between our Year 7 group.
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OUR SPECIAL PEOPLE
Kathryn and the Boarders Get Baking Program
Kathryn Wiedemann Boarders Get Baking Convenor
Reverend Punam Bent and Reverend Lorenzo Rodriguez Torres
Kathryn initiated our Boarders Get Baking (BGB) Program two years ago, coupling her passion for all thing’s food with her love for our Boarders. Held most Friday afternoons during term, BGB is a great program which balances the teaching of cooking with delicious food and fun. Kathryn also organises interesting (and tasty!) excursions for our girls. The program is a firm favourite with our Year 7 girls in particular.
Our ‘Revs’ are treasured members of our Boarding Family. Living on site, they are our neighbours and regular visitors to our Boarding Houses. The Rev’s run our fortnightly Chapel services and are always available to support and nurture our girls.
Rev Punam Bent (left)
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Rev Lorenzo Rodriguez Torres (left)
Our 2020 ‘Big Sisters’
OUR HEALTH CARE TEAM
‘BIG SISTERS’
We are fortunate to have a well-resourced on-site Health Care Centre. The centre is open from 7.30am until 6.00pm and run by our Nurse Manager, Lauren Green. Dr Tho Pham, a General Practitioner from Pymble Medical and Dental Centre, runs a clinic for our Boarders every Wednesday morning. Physiotherapists from KuRing-Gai Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy also attend the HCC on a regular basis.
Our ‘Big Sisters’ are Years 10 to 11 Boarders, who consistently demonstrate the College values. They are chosen as excellent role models and are charged with supporting our Year 7 girls throughout their early years in Boarding. They try, whenever possible, to go out of their way to assist their ‘Little Sister’ helping with homework, organisation, friendship conflicts and even homesickness. ‘Big Sisters’ have a wonderful opportunity to provide genuine support, interest and empathy for their ‘Little Sister’.
Greta Roberts House Liaison Prefect 2020/21 Greta joined us as a Boarder when she was in Year 9. Originally from Wagga Wagga, she came to us via Singapore. Greta has first-hand experience as a Boarder and is able to use this to assist our youngest Boarders to settle in and make the most of their Boarding experience. Greta leads the team of ‘Big Sisters’ and organises activities to build relationships between Boarders across the three Houses.
BOARDING FAMILY FRIENDS (BFFS) Our BFFs are families of Day girls who offer their support to our Year 7 Boarders. They are a generous group of people who open their hearts and homes to our Boarders, hosting afternoon teas and sleepovers, assisting with transport to sport and liaising with Boarding families. BFFs meet with our Year 7 families on Orientation Day with the view to finding the perfect match. PAGE 9
ACADEMIC TUTORS Academic tutors are high performing exstudents who are hand-picked to assist the girls with homework, assignments and organisation during the Evening Study program, ‘Learn It’. If a girl is having particular difficulty with a subject, a regular session can be organised to help her get back on track, feel more comfortable and move forward with her studies.
ROUTINES Monday to Thursday When
What
7.00am
Girls who are not already at Co-curricular commitments are woken.
6.30am to 7.50am
Breakfast served in the Boarders’ Dining Room
8.05am
Leave Marden House for the Day School
10.25am to 10.45am
Morning tea served in the Boarders’ Dining Room; Boarders take their food out to eat with the Day girls
12.50pm to 1.35pm
Lunch is served in the Boarders’ Dining Room; Boarders take their lunch out to eat with the Day girls
3.15pm
Return from Day School, afternoon tea is served in Marden House kitchen
3.15pm to 5.00pm
Girls attend Co-curricular activities, relax in house or enjoy the College grounds or an outing with ‘Big Sister’ or a staff member
5.00pm to 6.00pm
Attend ‘Learn It’ program in the Library or Kate Mason Senior School Centre
6.00pm to 6.30pm
Dinner is served in the Boarders’ Dining Room
6.30pm to 7.30pm
Return to ‘Learn It’ program in the Library or Kate Mason Senior School Centre
7.30pm to 8.30pm
Free time to relax, watch television, go to the gym or for a swim
8.30pm
In rooms and lights out
Weekends Life is more relaxed for girls on the weekends. On Saturday, girls are woken in time for their various sporting commitments and breakfast is available in the Marden House kitchen. While sport is not compulsory, we encourage all our Boarders to play sport as a great way to stay fit and make new friends. Following sport, there are a number of possibilities for the afternoon. There is usually an outing or activity on offer, or the girls may choose to spend the afternoon relaxing or enjoying all that is available on campus. On Sunday morning the girls have PAGE 10 Boarding Transition Guide Year 7 2021
the opportunity for a sleep-in, with brunch being served in the Boarders’ Dining Room between 10.00am and 1.00pm. Most Sundays there is an activity or outing organised. We aim to provide the girls with age appropriate activities that help them make the most of Sydney. Typical activities include beach walks, visits to markets, catch ups with Boarders from other schools and trips to the movies. Sunday evenings are a great opportunity for the girls to get organised for the coming week. House staff and Academic Tutors are available to assist the girls with planning for the school week.
ROUTINES Weekly Schedule Learn It – Monday to Thursday 5.00pm to 6.00pm and 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Year 7 attend our Evening Study Program in the Kate Mason Senior School Centre or the Conde Library. House Meeting – every Monday 7.30pm. Circle time – every second Thursday. This is an opportunity for the girls to work with our Head of Transition and is designed to build strong and meaningful connections between our Year 7 Boarders.
COMMUNITY WEEKENDS AND COMMUNITY DAYS Community Weekends and Community Days are times in which special activities and interHouse competitions are held. These dates are advertised well in advance so you can plan ahead. Leave will only be granted during this time in exceptional circumstances.
Boarders’ Chapel – every second Tuesday. Spirit House Circle dinner – every Tuesday 6.00pm. Boarders dine with girls from their Spirit House across Years 7 to 12. Boarders Get Baking – every Friday 3.30pm to 5.00pm in the Food Technology Room. Technology – laptops and phones are handed in before lights out each night. Use of technology on the weekend is limited to two, 90 minute sessions during the day. Bedtime – Boarders are in their rooms with lights out by 8.30pm, with variations on Friday and Saturday nights. Laundry – Tuesday mornings sheets and towels are collected for our external laundry service. Staff will assist your daughter with her personal laundry.
Parent Communications Marden Matters – Boarders’ newsletter emailed every Wednesday. College Newsletter – including a Boarders’ update emailed every Thursday.
LEAVE Social contact with family and friends and outings away from the Boarding House is important for all Boarders and particularly our Year 7 girls. We are always keen for the girls to take opportunities to be out and about. We do, however, take great care to ensure we know where the girls are going and who they are with. Most importantly, we will not approve leave that you have not first sanctioned. We also contact the host family to ensure that we can feel confident that our Boarders are kept safe. For this reason, we ask that all leave is entered by no later than 5.00pm on a Thursday. This gives staff adequate time to carry out appropriate checks so that we can all feel assured that our duty of care obligation is being met and families can feel confident that a strict process has been followed. Late Leave will only be approved in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the House Supervisor. Boardingware is the software program used by the College to manage student leave.
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LEAVE Leave during school hours Boarding staff are not able to approve leave for the Day School. Requests for leave during school hours for up to one day must be submitted in writing to the Head of Middle School, Mrs Jennifer O’Donnell, at least three days in advance. Leave in excess of one day needs to be requested through the Dean of Students, Mrs Lamia Rockwell, at least two weeks in advance. Once approval for leave from the Day School has been granted, a leave request can then be entered in Boardingware for approval by the House Supervisor.
Leave with parents We encourage parents and carers to visit their daughters whenever they can and understand that opportunities for a visit to Sydney comes up at the last minute. Families are most welcome to take their daughters out and usual protocols around entry of leave do not apply. The only exceptions are on our Community Days. Marden House staff will orientate you to the Boardingware system on arrival. All Boarders taking leave are required to report to the staff member on duty and sign out using Boardingware before leaving the House. Our Year 7 girls are required to be collected by the host from the foyer of Marden House or to be escorted by a member of staff to meet the host. The same processes apply for signing in when the Boarder returns from leave. Leave is an important part of our Boarding program and we ask that there is a focus on balance when the girls first start Boarding with us. There will be Boarding outings and occasions designed specifically for the girls to get to know each other, so tight bonds can form across the cohort. These special opportunities mostly take place on the weekends and if the girls are repeatedly missing these shared experiences, it becomes more difficult for them to connect with the group. Please be mindful of this when planning visits for your daughter.
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LEAVE Type of leave
Description
When
Permission required
Weekend leave
Available to all Boarders. Boarders may go home or visit a pre-approved host or carer for all or part of the weekend.
Between 3.30pm Friday and 8.00pm Sunday or 8.00am Monday, in consultation with the House Supervisor. Boarders returning on Friday or Saturday night must return to Marden House by no later than 9.30pm.
Entered into Boardingware before 5.00pm on the preceding Thursday. Approval by Boarding House Leadership team.
Dinner Leave
Year 7 Boarders may attend outings with parents, grandparents, nominated carers or Boarding Family Friends.
School nights between 3.30 and 8.30pm.
Request should be submitted through Boardingware.
Appointment leave
Available to all Boarders.
Ideally after school hours.
Requests should be submitted through Boardingware.
As required by sporting teams.
Year 7 Boarders may sign themselves out if the sport is onsite. Offsite Sport Leave must be entered in Boardingware for approval by no later than Thursday 5.00pm.
Sport Leave
Available to all Boarders for all sporting events.
Please note: Community Days are exceptions to the above and leave will be only be granted during this time in exceptional circumstances.
VISITORS Boarders are most welcome to have visitors to the College. All visitors must report to Marden House on arrival. They are not permitted to enter the girls’ rooms and must use alternative places to meet, such as the foyer in each House, the Joan Hammond facility or the verandah and gardens at the front of each Boarding House. Visitation may be amended to meet NSW Health requirements during your daughters’ time at the College. Family members are most welcome to join us anytime for a visit and/or a meal in the Boarders’ Dining Room at breakfast and dinner. Family members may even like to come along on one of our ‘Love It’ adventures. For all other visitors: Monday to Friday 3.30pm to 5.00pm and Saturday and Sunday 9.00am to 5.30pm.
Parent visiting hours Parents are welcome to visit at any time outside of academic program hours and are asked to let the House staff know prior to their arrival. Boarders who have training or rehearsal commitments must still honour them, and parents are welcome to attend the activity with their daughter, where appropriate.
Shopping Self-escorted shopping leave is not permitted for any student in Year 7, however with parental permission, a ‘Big Sister’ from Years 10 to 12 can escort her ‘Little Sister’ on shopping leave. Staff are also available to take groups of girls on shopping trips. This leave is available between 3.30pm and 5.00pm Monday to Friday and for up to three hours on the weekend at the discretion of the Marden Leadership team. PAGE 13
TRAVEL
GETTING READY
It is a given that the majority of our girls live a long way from Pymble. We do all that we can to assist with travel while minimising impact on the academic program. Boarders who live more than two hours away from the College are able to access the Boarders’ Travel day. This is available for long weekend travel and at the end of certain terms. Those girls joining us from Regional NSW are eligible for end of term travel with Countrylink. Approximately five weeks before the end of term, you will be contacted by Boarding staff confirming your arrangements for the end of term. We will then book the girls on the bus or train services and you will be able to collect them at a destination close to you. You will also need to apply for a free Boarders’ Travel Pass. Details on how to apply will be emailed to you prior to your daughter’s commencement.
Moving away from home for the first time is a big step. There are, however, many ways in which we can work together to ease the way and make the transition as smooth as possible for you and your daughter.
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Research has shown that the more time you can spend at the Boarding School prior to commencement, the smoother the transition. So please take every opportunity to call in and see us when you are in Sydney. We are always happy to show you and your daughter around, organise a visit to classes and/or overnight stays with us in Boarding. Sadly, COVID-19 has put a limit on some of our plans, but do not hesitate to call and we can work together to find a safe way to work within the restrictions. Ideally, you daughter will also be able to join us for Links Day in early December. This is an important time where our new Boarders join the entire Year 7 cohort for classes in the Day School followed by Boarding activities and a sleepover with us. It is a wonderful opportunity for the girls to start to get to know each other and us, as well as set up connections by exchanging contact details.
THE TO DO LIST…. Label, label, label Label everything, and I mean everything! Any item that is not directly and permanently attached to your daughter’s person needs to be clearly labelled with either a permanent laundry marker or sew/iron on labels.
Set up a bank account While the cost of many activities and outings is covered by Boarding, your daughter will still require a small amount of spending money. Although we have facilities for the secure storage of cash, we don’t recommend bringing large sums of money to Boarding. A debit card is a secure and convenient way for girls to access funds.
Opal Card An Opal Card is a contactless fare collection system for public transport services in the greater Sydney area, that is essential for
travel. You can purchase an Opal card from convenience stores and newsagents. These cards can be easily ‘topped up’ at train and bus stations, using either a debit/credit card or cash or online.
Mobile Phones Mobiles are an important way for the girls to communicate with you. For most of our Year 7 girls, it is the first time they have had a phone and the novelty of this can sometimes be an unwelcome distraction. This is one of the reasons we collect phones before bed time each evening and limit their use at other times. We ask you assist us with this by planning phone calls to allow ample time for the girls to settle into their evening routine. We will spend time educating the girls about safe and appropriate usage including the use of passcodes and it is ideal if you go through practicalities such as how to check credit and making sure that they have a labelled charger before they leave home.
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THE TO DO LIST…. Some basic life skills Our ‘Live It’ program aims to teach the girls basic life skills, but it is always good for them to feel confident on the fundamentals before they arrive. For example, your daughter will be required to make her bed every morning and change her sheets each week. Start practising this now so she is confident and capable come February. With the exception of sheets and towels, she will also be doing her own laundry. Of course, we will be there to assist but practice is invaluable, so do have the conversation about separating out colours and the dangers of washing the lovely new red T-shirt with the white sport shirt! Teaching her to hang her uniform while it is still wet from the machine will save her ironing time and ensure she is always well presented for school. You might also want to practice making simple snacks – ingredients for smoothies and toasties are always available and are popular afternoon or weekend snacks.
Packing for a home away from home Marden House will be a home away from home, it’s important girls make their rooms their own. Girls should bring their own bedding – shopping to choose a new doona cover and sheets is a perfect way to start thinking about the next adventure. She will need two sets of sheets, ideally patterned or coloured so they are easily spotted when they are returned from the laundry. Every bed has a large pin board and the girls like to decorate these with photos and mementos. There is space for the display of a few photo frames and special trinkets. Battery powered fairy lights and pretty push pins are popular and make great stocking fillers at Christmas time. A small plastic basket with a handle is also a good addition to the shopping list and makes a great shower caddy to carry soap and hair washing supplies. Storage in each room is limited and for this reason we ask that clothing is kept to a minimum. Clothing suitable for the beach, bushwalking, shopping and doing homework, as well as smart clothes suitable for Chapel services, are suggested. Please ensure that all items and clothing are clearly labelled. PAGE 16 Boarding Transition Guide Year 7 2021
• • • • •
1 pillow 2 sets of sheets – single bed 1 blanket and/or doona and doona cover 2 bath towels and face washers 1 smart casual outfit for Chapel Services and Formal Dinners • 2 pairs of pyjamas • Dressing gown and slippers • Underwear • 1 pair of good shoes • 1 pair of casual shoes or sandals • 1 pair of thongs • 1 swim suit • 1 beach towel and 1 bathing cap • 1 umbrella • 1 overnight bag for weekend outings/ visits • Toiletries including soap, toothpaste and tissues • Brush and comb • Coat hangers • 1 drawstring laundry bag (labelled) • 1 delicates wash bag
THE TO DO LIST…. • Sporting equipment (e.g. tennis racquet, hockey stick etc) • Alarm clock • Boarders’ jersey (an order form will be sent in January). The girls are also required to have all the uniform items required in the Day School. A separate list of these items will be provided by the Head of Middle School.
Forewarned is forearmed An education as a Pymble Boarder is a priceless gift to your daughter. She will develop skills and knowledge that will take her far and build relationships that last a lifetime. She will become a woman of confidence and compassion. She will be set to change the world. This will be a joyful journey but there will be challenges along the way, that will help her develop resilience and perseverance. The most common and obvious of these will be homesickness.
Homesickness It is natural that your daughter will be homesick, at some point during her Boarding years. For most of our Year 7 girls, it is their first experience of being away from home. This is on top of the challenges of transitioning from often a very small Primary School, to a big, busy Secondary School. They will be tired; they will miss you and their usual routines. The good news is, homesickness is usually a temporary phenomenon. Our Boarding staff are highly experienced in supporting the girls through homesickness. We do all the practical things like ensuring she gets enough sleep, helping her to plan her time and walking alongside her as she negotiates new routines. We encourage the girls to talk to us and tell us how they are feeling. While being mindful of giving the girls adequate ‘downtime’, we keep the girls busy and engaged. You will have an important role in helping your daughter manage homesickness.
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THE TO DO LIST….
AND FOR YOU
Before your daughter starts, talk about a communication plan. Set a time when you will call. A call straight after school or around 7.45am is great versus after 8.00pm. Try to focus the conversation on positives and avoid things she may feel she’s missing out on. Be mindful about calling too often, especially in those early weeks. There will be times when you need to offer reassurance and others some ‘tough love’. One good framework to apply if your daughter is distressed is the LATE model:
This is a time of adjustment for you too. Please start thinking about how things will be different when you daughter heads off to Pymble. Just as you will have done with your daughter, focus on the positives, remember all the reasons why you have sent her to Pymble. Keep yourself busy, take up a new hobby, catch up more regularly with old friends. Make new friends by connecting with other parents and our Pymble community! Be an active member of our Boarding Parent Group and reach out to Edwina Payne, mother of Elke (Year 7 2021) who has volunteered to put together the contacts of our Year 7 families. Her contact details are listed at the end of this document, so please reach out. Join the Isolated Children’s and Parents Association. Most importantly, know that you are now part of our Pymble Family and we will all be working together to provide the best possible opportunities for your daughter.
Listen, listen, listen Acknowledge Talk about options End with encouragement It is also a good idea to plan for visits and leave. If your daughter knows that you will be visiting on a particular weekend or there is a special outing planned, she will look forward to these events and you will be able to remind her what is coming up. Don’t forget to consider special occasions – family birthdays and traditions and incorporate these into your planning.
Some other opportunities for growth Living in community has so many positives, but there will be things that your daughter may find difficult at first. It is a good idea to start talking through some of the challenges with your daughter over the next few months. She will be sharing a room with at least two other girls, there will be a loss of privacy and a need for compromise. We do always need to know where she is, and some girls find this lack of freedom and rules tricky at first. Getting used to new routines is another challenge she will need to meet. With gentle guidance and lots of support from all of us, she will find her way and build the beautiful qualities for which our Boarders are best known – fortitude, resilience and empathy. Being open, honest and positive are essential preparation. You could try role plays of potential scenarios and laugh at the possibilities. Encouraging your daughter to practice gratitude is an excellent way to equip her for the years to come and a gratitude diary is a perfect ‘leaving home’ gift. PAGE 18 Boarding Transition Guide Year 7 2021
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How does my daughter get to sport? Our House staff along with Pymble sports coaches organise transport to sport. Usually this will involve your daughter travelling with the family of a team mate, sometimes Boarding staff will drive the girls and at other times there is a College bus to transport Boarders. What if my daughter doesn’t have any homework during the ‘Learn It’ program? The ‘Learn It’ program runs for 2 hours. Year 7 girls should expect to have at least 20 minutes of homework each day per subject. That means 1 hour and 40 minutes of homework each day, with 20 minutes remaining for personal reading. Can my daughter bring extra furnishings or appliances to Boarding? Unfortunately, there is no room for additional furnishings or large appliances such as fans. Small appliances such as hair dryers are permitted, but they must first be tagged and tested by our Facilities staff to minimise risks..
Is there somewhere my daughter can store extra luggage? Space for additional luggage is limited, so please try to limit the items brought to Boarding. Empty suitcase will be stored in the box room or in the under house storage. When do I get to change rooms? Room allocations are usually changed on a semester basis. At the end of Semester 1, Boarders have the opportunity to nominate a room and room mates with who they would prefer to share. Boarding staff do their best, with varying degrees of success, to meet these requests. Can my daughter keep personal items safe? Each girl will have a lockable space where they can keep valuables. Items such as passports and large sums of money should be given to House staff to be locked in the safe. It’s best to avoid bringing anything expensive or precious.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Can my daughter bring her own food into Boarding? Girls may store a small amount of packaged and unopened food in their room. Once opened, food needs to be taken to House staff for storage. Soft drinks and high sugar foods should not be brought to Boarding.
member will take her to the Pymble Medical and Dental Centre for a consultation. If the illness is contagious in nature, your daughter will be provided with a single ensuite room in Boarding and/or your family will be required to collect her. If the illness is predicted to extend longer than two days we ask that you come and collect your daughter.
What if my daughter has special dietary requirements?
What happens if my daughter becomes unwell during the night?
Please let us know if there are foods that your daughter cannot eat. We can accommodate all food allergies and intolerances. A healthy diet is so important, please let us know if her food needs are not being met.
There are always at least two staff members on call during the night. Should you daughter become unwell, she should knock on the door of the staff member who will ensure she gets appropriate attention.
What if my daughter has an appointment or external sport commitment offsite?
Can my daughter keep her medication with her in her room?
We ask that medical appointments are made outside of school hours and wherever possible local to Pymble. We will organise a staff member to escort the Boarder to the appointment. We do our best to assist with transport for external sport commitments.
Asthma puffers and Epipens may be kept in rooms. All other medication including vitamins, Panadol and cold and flu tablets must be handed to House staff. There are strict procedures for the storage and administration of medications.
What if my daughter is not well enough to attend school?
Can my daughter return to the Boarding House during the day?
Unwell Boarders will spend the day in Health Care, under the care of our nursing staff. If the nurses feel a doctor’s visit is necessary, a staff
Marden House is closed during the day and therefore there is no entry to the House between 8.15am and 3.15pm.
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CONTACTS JOAN HAMMOND HOUSE DIRECTOR OF BOARDING
ADMINISTRATION
Mrs Carolyn Burgess
Phone: +61 2 9497 7858 Mobile: 0407 771 571 cburgess@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Sally Dickens
Phone: +61 2 9497 7864 Fax: 9855 7766 Mobile: 0427 651 836 boarding@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
MARDEN HOUSE (YEARS 7 TO 9) House mobile: 0408 234 792 HOUSE SUPERVISOR
Miss Kathryn Glover
Phone: +61 2 9497 7691 Mobile: 0408 770 799 kglover@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
ASSISTANT HOUSE SUPERVISORS
Mrs Mardi Cusack Mrs Kirstie Oglivy Miss Kate Inglis
mcusack@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au koglivy@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au kinglis@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
DUTY ASSISTANTS
Miss Phoebe Thompson Miss Claudia Hammond Miss Emma Cullen Miss Phoebe Kinsey
Phone: +61 2 9497 7691
HEALTH CENTRE
HEALTH CARE CENTRE MANAGER
Mrs Lauren Green
Phone: +61 2 9855 7742 Fax: 9855 7743 Mobile: 0421 036 123 healthcarecentre@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
HEALTH CARE CENTRE ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT (MONDAY/WEDNESDAY/FRIDAY)
Mrs Roslyn Howe
Phone: +61 2 9855 7742
SURGERY (BUSINESS HOURS)
Dr Tho Pham
Phone: +61 2 9488 8849 Pymble Medical and Dental Centre 951-957 Pacific Highway, Pymble
PARENTS BOARDING PARENT GROUP PRESIDENT
Mr Nick Wilson
Mobile: 0428 894 422 nick.julie@bigpond.com
YEAR 7 LIAISON PARENT
Mrs Edwina Payne
Mobile: 0427 772 297 edwinapayne@bigpond.com
PAGE 21
Gate
P
B C D E
Agricultural Plot Art Centre (Ferguson House) Avonmoore Boarder’s Dining Room (Main Hall)
2020-MAP-BOARDING_1v1
Boarding F G H I J K L
Goodlet House Goodlet Lawn Joan Hammond House Lang House Lang Lawn Marden House Marden Lawn
PAGE 22 Boarding Transition Guide Year 7 2021
Centenary Sports Precinct M N O P Q R
Braith Williams Aquatic and Fitness Centre Centenary Car Park Centenary Walkway and Centenary Artwork Gym, Artistic Gymnastics Centre (Jeanette Buckham Gymnasium) Mollie Dive Field Sporting Courts
College Reception
S (Isabel McKinney Harrison Centre)
V David Macfarlane Centre (DMC) W Dorothy Knox Building X Facilities Management Y Flagpole Lawn Gate 1 – Main Gates
Z (John Marden Gates) 8 Gate 2 – Staff Parking Gate 3 – Deliveries
9 (Roland Love Gates) Gillian Moore Centre for
T College Uniform Shop
: Performing Arts (GMCPA)
U David Blackwell Music School
; Gloucester Lawn
e3 Gate 3
Gate 2 Gate 2
Main Oval Main Oval
P
P
Gate 1 Gate 1
Pymble train Pymble train station station
Senior School Centre Senior School Centre (Kate Mason Building) (Kate Mason Building) Health Centre CISCO Room School (Main(Main Colonnade) i Middle Health Care Centre CISCO Room = Care School Colonnade) p p i Middle Jacaranda Café Jacaranda Café HeritageHeritage Centre Centre (Archives, (Archives, Preparatory School Pick-up / / Preparatory School Pick-up Jobson Lecture Theatre Jobson Lecture Theatre a Development, j Drop-off j Drop-off Development, Alumni)Alumni) Area Area Speech and Drama Centre qq Speech and Drama Centre James and Field JamesPavilion Kelso Pavilion and Field bKelso School School k Preparatory k Preparatory Sufferance Pathway Sufferance Pathway r r Junior (John SchoolReid (John Reid Building) Junior School Building) c OSHC Centre Technology and AppliedStudies Studies Pymble Train Station l Technology and Applied Pymble Train Station l OSHC Centre ss Centre (TAS) Centre (TAS) Junior Pick-up School Pick-up / Drop-off m Riverbed Junior / Drop-off dSchool m Riverbed Hub – IT Centre Area at Flagpole TheThe Hub – IT Centre Area at Flagpole Lawn Lawn tt Science Centre Science Centre LianeField Tooth Field Pavilion n Science Lecture Theatre LianeeTooth TheThe Pavilion n Science uu Lecture Theatre Upper School Main Colonnade Upper School v Mainf Colonnade Secondary School Library (Robert Vicars Building) v Secondary School Library o (Conde (Robert Vicars Building) Building) o (Conde g Main Hall w War Memorial Chapel Building) Main Hall w War Memorial Chapel
House < Grey< DMC) GreyWalk House Walk
= a b c d e f g
h Main Main Oval h Oval
PAGE 23
Avon Road, Pymble NSW 2073 PO Box 136, North Ryde BC NSW 1670 Australia
2020-BOA-1v6
Tel: +61 2 9855 7799 www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au A school of the Uniting Church in Australia for girls from Kindergarten to Year 12, with Boarding available from Year 7
‘All’ Ultimo Lavoro’ – Strive for the highest
CRICOS 03288K