PYMBLE LADIES’ COLLEGE JULY 2017 VOLUME 41 NO. 1
Contents
Principal’s Message
Pymbulletin | Volume 41 Principal’s Message
People and Culture
Onwards, upwards and Towards 2020..... 3
Goal shooting.............................................. 31
HSC overview
Be bold for change! ................................... 32
Changes to the HSC................................... 4 Language learners on top......................... 4 2016 HSC overview..................................... 5 Excellence in the arts ................................ 5
Personalised Learning A window into the classroom ................. 7 History in the making................................. 8 FRONT COVER Pymble's Indigenous Dance Group, after their performance at the 10th Anniversary Indigenous Scholarship Program Celebration Dinner in June. ABOUT PYMBLE LADIES' COLLEGE Celebrating 100 years of education in 2016, Pymble’s history has been marked with excellence. The College has gained a reputation for offering extraordinary opportunities with outstanding teachers and facilities. Pymble students aspire to the College motto, ‘All’ Ultimo Lavoro’ – Strive for the highest, graduating with confidence and maturity to embrace the challenges that lie beyond the College gates. A school of the Uniting Church in Australia, Pymble welcomes girls of all faiths in Kindergarten to Year 12 and as Boarders from Year 7.
Pathway to STEM......................................... 9 Cracking the code...................................... 9
A glimpse into the future........................... 34 Foundation Day........................................... 35 Key conferences ......................................... 35
Sustainability Towards the final frontier.......................... 37 Bridging the gap.......................................... 38 Big steps towards sustainability ............. 40 Meet Pymble’s newest entrepreneurs... 41
Sport and Activities
What is HMUN? ........................................... 11
It’s carnival time!......................................... 43
Tackling the big issues............................... 12
We are the World Champions!................. 45
The only way is up....................................... 13
Happy campers!.......................................... 46
MASTERMIND, re-imagined for 2017..... 14
New program for athletes......................... 47
The great da Vinci Decathlon.................. 16
Atten-shun!................................................... 48
A trip through time..................................... 18
One to watch............................................... 48
Inspired by nature....................................... 19
Spotlight on: Rowing at Pymble.............. 49
Music to our ears......................................... 19
Co-curricular STEM at Pymble................ 50
Community
Congratulations to our dancers!............. 51 Double bill for Festival of Drama ............ 51
Onwards and upwards into Year 7.......... 22
Black Watch Ties
Leaders of the pack .................................. 23
President’s Report....................................... 52
The social justice network ....................... 24 Chooseday Tuesday!.................................. 25
EDITOR Mrs Mara Lee DESIGNER Ms Amelia Hull EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Mrs Vicki Waters, Mrs Kelly Mancey and Mrs Katrina Corcoran.
performance at the prestigious da Vinci Decathlon, including our Year 7 team being awarded Overall Champions at National level. This is truly a remarkable achievement for our girls (see pages 16 to 17).
Lest we forget.............................................. 34
Spotlight on… the Learning Studio......... 10
Greetings from Canberra!......................... 21
Onwards, upwards and Towards 2020
It’s showtime! .............................................. 26 Coming home to Pymble.......................... 27 Icebreaker evening..................................... 27 Cultural ties.................................................. 28 Reaching out in remote areas.................. 28 Pymble to a tea!........................................... 28 Let’s talk about it ........................................ 29 Cyber safety ................................................. 29
Welcome to the first issue of Pymbulletin for 2017. Regular readers will note that our much-loved College magazine has had a restructure since the 2016 Centenary issue and that it now reflects the four signposts of our Towards 2020 strategy: Personalised Learning, Community, People and Culture and Sustainability. Given that we are halfway through our fifth year of implementing Towards 2020, it seemed timely to showcase some of the ways we, as a College of five schools, are continuing to work cohesively and with intent to meet the educational needs of the future. We now have an official Personalised Learning Framework, which our educators use to know, guide and challenge each student, not just to reach their potential but to appreciate that there is no ceiling on the heights to which they can strive. At the core of this framework lies the learner attributes we seek to nurture and develop in each girl: passion, scholarship and self-assurance. One look at the Personalised Learning section will show the depth and breadth of our students’ learning, globally, locally, collectively and individually. Of note is our
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Stay in touch with us on social media
Stay in touch with us on social media
At the time this issue was going to print, one of our Year 12 students, Charlotte Jiang was announced as the first International Youth Ambassador to be accredited as a permanent representative at both the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Vienna, Rome and New York and the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels, Strasbourg and Lichtenstein. Charlotte is the first under-18 official representative for the UN and EP, making history and paving the way for young women worldwide. Congratulations Charlotte! Six of our finest athletes have also made their mark on the international stage this year, running away with the World Champion title at the International School Sports Federation’s Athletics World Schools Championship in France. Our girls faced off against more than 450 outstanding student athletes from 24 nations. Despite the fierce challenge, our athletes gave their all to end up top of the leader board! Congratulations to Kristie Edwards (Year 12), Imogen Breslin and Edita Grinbergs (Year 11), Nicole Freestone (Year 10) and Georgia Duncan and Imogen Gardiner (Year 9), who have all represented Pymble and Australia to great honour (see page 45). In terms of musical highs, it would be remiss not to applaud our spectacular production, Legally Blonde, The Musical. Once again, our extraordinary Music department and our girls revealed the extent of their passion, commitment and talent for the performing arts and we thank them for this delightful escape from reality!
We also launched several new programs this year, including: • T he Pymble Parent and Community Education Program information evenings on topics including parenting in the HSC years, study skills, understanding teenagers, and nutrition (see page 29). • T he Pymble Athlete Education Program, to help athletes achieve their highest level of physical, intellectual and personal growth in their chosen sports (see page 47). • O ur Australian Army Cadet Unit, which offers students an opportunity to develop their service, leadership, teamwork and outdoor skills, as well as their confidence, self-sufficiency and a commitment to mental and physical challenges (see page 48). Another program enjoying a welldeserved moment in the sun this year is our Indigenous Scholarship Program (ISP). This year marks a decade of the ISP at Pymble, a milestone which we acknowledged with a 10th Anniversary Celebration Dinner in Term 2. This was a wonderful gathering of our community and a fitting tribute to the students, staff, parents and mentors who have played a role in this lifechanging program at Pymble. The cover of this issue of Pymbulletin features our Indigenous Dance Group, who performed a moving tribute to their heritage on the night. Thank you to all who took part in this very special celebration, which you can read about on pages 38 and 39. Vicki L Waters PRINCIPAL
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HSC overview
HSC overview
Changes to the HSC You may have heard that the Higher School Certificate (HSC) is undergoing a transformation. One of the goals of this transformation is to ensure that all Year 12 students reach a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy, which will be a condition for students to receive the HSC from 2020 onwards. FOUR KEY COMPONENTS OF THE HSC REFORM ARE: • Students must achieve a minimum Band 8 result for literacy and numeracy in Year 9 NAPLAN testing from 2017 – this means that students who are currently in Year 9 will be the first expected to meet the minimum standard. Those who achieve lower than a Band 8 result on their first try will have multiple opportunities to re-take the test online in Years 10, 11 or 12. • There will be a new syllabus for English, Mathematics, Science and History and a review of HSC exam questions to assess deeper knowledge and skills, as opposed to encouraging rote learning. • S tudents will have fewer assessment tasks in Years 11 and 12. • Mathematics courses will be marked on a common scale to encourage students to study Mathematics at their level of ability, as opposed to how they will be “scaled”. The exciting part is that these reforms are in line with both current research in education and Pymble pedagogy, so we are well-prepared for what is to come. To future-proof our students, the College is committed to Personalised Learning – along with three other key signposts, People and Culture, Community and Sustainability – which we outlined in the directional document, Towards 2020. We understand that each student’s learning style is unique to her, and our teaching is crafted around meeting every girl at her particular point of challenge. We seek to empower each student to follow her individual passions and interests, while instilling qualities that standardised testing cannot measure, including a growth mindset and a sense of self-worth that enables her to exceed her own expectations during her school years and in life beyond the College gates. A summary of our Class of 2016's HSC results follows.
Language learners on top Pymble keeps students connected with cultures from around the world by teaching two Classical, two Asian and three Modern European Languages at Beginners, Continuers and Extension levels.
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Our Italian Beginners students achieved some “grande” results in the 2016 HSC! Isabelle Glover and Charlotte Markson placed fourth and third respectively, while Madeleine Carroll topped the state. Multilingual Maddie, who also studied French and Latin at Pymble, credits her results to her dedicated teachers. “I never could have achieved what I did without them, especially my Italian teacher, Mrs Sorina Cepraga,”
said Maddie. “She went above and beyond with speaking practice, making herself available before and after school and at lunchtime in the lead up to the HSC. She was always so supportive and positive.” Brava, girls!
Meet our all-round achievers We are delighted to acknowledge 19 exceptional students who achieved results in Band 6 (90 or better in a 2 Unit course) or Band E4 (45 or better in an Extension course) in 10 or more units studied. Congratulations to: • Emily Bakker • Eleanor Bate • Joanna Bradley • Madeleine Carroll • Felicity Chong • Jessica Cooper • Laura Gongolidis • Pascale Kahn • Phoebe Lee • Helen Lin • Anna Maxwell • Nicola Paterson • Anju Ramanayake • Hannah Roux • Katie Sun • Michelle Tsou • Amy van Dongen • Liran (Chloe) Wang • Catherine Yu
ATAR by numbers… As a non-selective school, our goal is for each student to achieve the result she deserves. Our 2016 graduates exemplified Pymble’s rigorous approach to learning, and achieved some extraordinary results: OUR ATAR RESULTS CAN BE SUMMARISED AS FOLLOWS: 99.00 and higher: 17 students (6 per cent) 95.00 and higher: 71 students (27 per cent) 90.00 and higher: 125 students (48 per cent) 80.00 and higher: 190 students (73 per cent)
Excellence in the arts Pymble students produced some fantastic major works in 2016: DANCE Bree Dennis (Major Study Dance and Technology – Film and Video) and Madeleine Williams (Core Performance) were nominated for Callback 2016, which is a showcase of exemplary performances and compositions by HSC Dance students. DRAMA Francesca Caccamo was nominated for OnStage 2016. OnStage is the presentation of group and individual performances by HSC Drama students. MUSIC Isabella Bignasca, Josephine Chung and Reena Oh were nominated for ENCORE 2016, a musical concert featuring outstanding HSC composers and performers.
On the Honour Roll In 2016, Pymble students earned 494 places on the Honour Roll. These places were achieved by 192 individual students. The Honour Roll acknowledges students who earn a Band 6 result (90 or better) in a 2 Unit course or a Band E4 result (45 or better) in an Extension course, in one or more subjects.
Eight of Pymble’s students earned a place on the Top Achievers in Course List for their 2016 HSC achievements in Classical and Modern Languages.
Stay in touch with us on social media
2016 HSC overview
Stay in touch with us on social media
TEXTILES AND DESIGN Vanessa Gray and Joanna Zhao’s Major Textiles Projects were selected for display at the 2016 Texstyle Exhibition. Additionally, Joanna’s project was chosen to be displayed at the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences’ Shape 2016 exhibition. VISUAL ARTS Mary Kerr, Gemma Priddle, Katherine Seymour and Joanna Zhao’s major works were selected for display at ARTEXPRESS 2016 – an exhibition of exemplary artworks created by HSC Visual Arts students. Mary was the recipient of an Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) Scholarship, and boarded at Pymble from Years 7 to 12. For more about this important scholarship program, turn to page 38.
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Classical Tour of Greece and Italy, pages 18-19
Personalised Learning
PREPARATORY SCHOOL
It was back to school for Preparatory parents in Semester 1! As part of our Windows into Learning initiative, Kindergarten to Year 2 parents were invited to step into their daughters’ classrooms and become an active part of the educational process. In addition, Windows into Learning assisted parents with developing strategies for engaging their daughters’ at-home learning, reflecting Pymble’s commitment to building strong collaborations between the College and parents.
A window into the classroom KINDERGARTEN One of the highlights of Windows into Learning was the Kindergarten Hoedown at the end of Term 2, where parents, students and visitors enjoyed unleashing their inner cowboys and cowgirls in a fun-filled celebration! Kindergarten girls used their iPads to present their findings on how food makes its way from the paddock to our plates. Our students’ research skills and hard work were showcased as they participated in a question and answer session with their parents and visitors on the food production process. YEAR 1 Year 1 students concluded their Science and Technology study of weather, which included an excursion to the Sydney Observatory, by inviting their parents to Windows into Learning where they collaborated in “design and make” tasks to create shelters that could withstand sun, wind and rain. YEAR 2 Our Year 2 parents joined in their daughters’ reading rotations in June in Windows into Learning sessions that allowed the girls to showcase their developing reading and language skills as they shared their favourite stories.
Personalised Learning Personalised Learning experiences value students’ voices, needs, aspirations and passions in authentic ways, because their purpose is to empower those learners to become self directed and independent. Our Personalised Learning Framework places at its heart the learner attributes of passion, scholarship and self assurance; its intention is to foster young women who can delight in their successes and failures because these experiences contribute equally to ongoing learning.
Windows into Learning will be running throughout 2017. Check the Pymble e-newsletter to find out when the next event is on.
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Personalised Learning
PREPARATORY SCHOOL
History in the making
What history means to me... "History makes me remember my family." – Polly Hargraves "History is important so people can know more about us." – Annabel Makeham "History helps me remember when I was a baby." – Mia Zhu
Personalised Learning
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Pathway to STEM " It was really helpful to chat with Scarlett from UNSW about my issue I want to solve. She really helped me because she gave me the next steps." – Lindsay Campbell
“Artefacts tell stories – and each of those stories are different,” says Kindergarten Co-Ordinator Erin Dorsen. As part of their ‘History in a Bag’ Unit in Term 2, Kindergarten students began exploring their own histories through artefacts that meant something to them, mirroring the College ethos of Personalised Learning. Every week for four weeks, students brought in photographs, baby clothes, religious and cultural items and toys that had great significance to their past and present. Kindergarten student Amelia Nicholls says, “I enjoyed sharing my bunny toy because it is fluffy and special!” The girls were excited to turn their stories about their artefacts into animated videos on their iPads. These were then compiled into an e-book at the end of term. In Term 3, Kindergarten students will continue to build on their understanding of History and culture when they start thinking about the kinds of stories that other people tell.
" Jasmine helped me take one of my interests, which is water, and work out how to help others have clean water." – Isabella Li Women have historically been under-represented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). At Pymble, we’re focused on rectifying this imbalance and empowering out students to achieve their STEM goals at school and beyond. As part of this on-going commitment to STEM, the Junior School has partnered with Women in Engineering – a group of female students studying at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Each month, these students volunteer their time as mentors to Years 5 and 6 girls undertaking extension Mathematics. Our students have revelled in the challenge of solving real-world problems and tackling projects that interest them. In the coming weeks, they will design prototypes of their ideas, with the goal of pitching them to industry experts.
Did you know? 1 C omputer code is one of the world’s most widely used languages.
Key learnings 1 What the past means. 2 H ow the past has influenced the present. 3 H ow the world has changed over time.
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2 C oding helps students understand technology more effectively, enabling them to becomes active tech creators. 3 H aving coding skills is an advantage when competing in a competitive job market.
Cracking the code As the world becomes increasingly technologised, it is more important than ever that we provide our students with a solid foundation of computing skills. Our Junior School teachers are working towards this goal by implementing a daily ‘Drop Everything and Code’ session for students in Years 3 to 6.
In addition, students who have been identified as potentially advanced learners in Mathematics are also attending a weekly lesson in Lego Mechanics (Years 3 and 4) and Mathematics in Engineering (Years 5 and 6) to ignite their interest and skills in design, creative thinking and problem solving.
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Personalised Learning
MIDDLE SCHOOL
UPPER AND SENIOR SCHOOLS
Personalised Learning
Spotlight on… the Learning Studio
What is HMUN?
The best educational environments are the ones that inspire and nurture a passion for scholarship. The Middle School Learning Studio is an ILE (Innovative Learning Environment), and has been architecturally designed to enhance Personalised Learning. In turn, student learning has been structured to work for the Studio, and students are purposefully grouped to maximise learning.
Seventeen of our Upper and Senior School students had the educational experience of a lifetime when they stepped into the shoes of international decision-makers as part of the annual Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN) conference in Boston. As the only Australian school to partake in this prestigious event, the girls were proud to represent Pymble as they joined more than 2,300 international student delegates in tackling some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, including climate change, terrorism, civil war and human rights. The Pymble delegation represented Greece and argued their country’s point of view on a number of important global issues. It was exciting to have the efforts of two students receive special acknowledgement – Zahra Bilal received a third place commendation in the essay competition, while Charlotte Jiang received honourable mention in the delegation of women. The extensive preparation the girls undertook before the trip, and the hard work they all put in during the conference paid off as everyone walked away with valuable insights into international issues, the importance of diplomacy, and the value of teamwork. The entire trip also reflected Pymble’s commitment to Personalised Learning, as it centred on four main attributes that have been used to define such learning – Voice, Co-creation, Social Construction and Self-Discovery.
Learning in the Studio is: • G rowth focused as it enables students to learn at a personal point of challenge, while developing girls’ capacity in targeted learning outcomes. • Learner centred, fostering opportunities for students to understand themselves as collaborators, designers, inquirers, creators and contributors. • Dispositional because students are empowered to understand and mobilise the Pymble learner dispositions of creative exploration, critical thinking, discipline, collaboration and a willingness to embrace challenge.
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" Your energy and intelligence are what is needed most in today's world. You can come up with innovate approaches to help confront the challenges facing the global community." – Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General and HMUN participant
Congratulations to all who participated, and thanks to coaches, Katie Sun (2016) and Mehhma Malhi (2016), as well as Mrs Jennifer Higgins who had the vision to plan this unforgettable experience!
Studio highlights
Did you know?
Our Middle School students have engaged in a number of dynamic educational activities in the Learning Studio throughout 2017, including… Year 7 English: producing a short film in a genre of their choice Year 8 History: workshops in ancient Rome Year 7 French: practising language and oral skills Year 7 Maths: data topic Years 7 to 10: team training for the da Vinci Decathlon Co-curricular: Coding Club and Film Club
HMUN is a fantastic training ground for future movers and shakers! Former HMUN participants who have gone on to greatness include former US Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Suzan G LeVine, and current US Associate Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
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Personalised Learning
MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOLS
MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOLS
Personalised Learning
Tackling the BIG issues 97% Year 10 students agree or strongly agree that service learning is of value to them.
Albert Einstein once said that “the important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Pymble is following Einstein’s example by continuing our proud tradition of guiding students to discover their potential through Personalised Learning. One key way we are doing this in 2017 is through our Scholars Program, which continues under a new name – Sokratis. Sokratis offers students in Years 8, 9 and 10 the opportunity to extend their academic interests and passions through an individually selected project with the support of a mentor from within the College. The Sokratis program will create an environment where ideas can connect with curiosity, purpose and passion. The purpose of Sokratis is to: • Develop students’ individual areas of passion. • Guide effective research practice in students’ chosen areas of interest. • Encourage intellectual curiosity. • Showcase student learning through an inspirational final product presentation. • Enhance student scholarship through deep and sustained inquiry, sophisticated communication, and shared, meaningful expertise.
Project management Our students have selected some timely and thought-provoking Sokratis projects, including developing apps to teach English, studying the mental effects of violence, and putting an end to gender inequality. Other standouts include: 1. Alessandra Natale, Year 8: The brain and principles of Neurology, specifically how the hippocampus works and how memory can be improved. 2. T ara Narayan, Year 8: The rise of Artificial Intelligence – Fears, AI surpassing humans and AI in the future. 3. Rachel D’Cunha, Year 9: Reducing our carbon footprint, focusing on the use of biofuels and alternative fuels. 4. Rachel Tang, Year 9: The expression of fear through Literature and Music. 5. K atrina Woo, Sophie Mok, Zahra Bilal, Riya Minocha, Isabelle Nguyen, Year 10 Group Project: Eradicating poverty and HIV/AIDS. 6. Sophie Lind, Fiona Parsons, Emma Cree, Year 10 Group Project: Gender equality and the gender gap.
Vision of hope Year 10 student Isabelle Nguyen’s Sokratis project was inspired by the Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) motto “giving sight to change lives”. To that end, Isabelle launched Pymble’s first “Funky Sunglasses Day” in May, where our students stepped out in their silliest, most fun, most over-the-top sunnies. “It was amazing to see the students’ unmatched enthusiasm and participation!” Isabelle said. “The funds raised contributed to achieving my goal in purchasing AHHA an operating microscope, which will be used to treat thousands of cataract cases in Cambodia. Furthermore, the glasses which are collected will be donated and given a new purpose – to allow someone to see the world again.” So what’s next for Isabelle? This August, she will travel to Cambodia to contribute to the prevention of blindness and impaired vision and to improve the quality of life for AHHA patients. "I am greatly looking forward to visiting Cambodia, knowing that the efforts of both I and the Pymble community will make a meaningful difference in these people’s lives.” Well done, Isabelle!
The only way is up On Thursday 1 June, the Year 9 Upper School Leaders attended the yLead Altitude Day, a youth leadership event aiming to empower students in Year 9. The day began with social networking with students from other schools and was followed by short icebreaker activities to help students mix and meet with students from other schools and settle into the day. The yLead CEO, Matt Kershaw, gave some authentic advice about finding your passion and using it as a driver to achieve goals. The potential of an individual and their ability to create change in the world was the underlying message of the day. Students also heard from three amazing guest speakers who illustrated this concept by sharing their personal stories and anecdotes. Morgan Koegel is the CEO of the organisation One Girl, Daniel Flynn co-founded the social enterprise Thankyou and Rowie McEvoy is a self-made businesswoman and fitness instructor.
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Personalised Learning
SENIOR SCHOOL
MASTERMIND, re-imagined for 2017 At Pymble, we’re constantly seeking new ways to nurture our students’ unique strengths, and target areas where they may need a little extra support. As part of this commitment to Personalised Learning, we have re-imagined our Mastermind study program for Years 11 and 12. The goal of Mastermind is to help students develop their academic, social and emotional skills in relaxed and engaging learning environments.
How does it work? Mastermind is structured into three complementary “layers” that run concurrently. Every Wednesday, students get to exercise their autonomy by picking and choosing the “layer” they want to participate in – subject-based study groups, presentation-style workshops, and depending on their individual needs, meditation sessions. 1. SUBJECT-BASED STUDY GROUPS Running on a four-week rotational basis, these student-driven groups give girls the opportunity to engage in lively, subject-based discussions. Students assume teaching and learning roles to explore ideas, to consolidate and construct knowledge collaboratively and to build their academic agility. 2. PRESENTATION-STYLE WORKSHOPS As part of this “layer,” students attend a series of educational workshops designed to develop their socio-emotional and academic skills to prepare for tertiary study and beyond. These workshops are an interesting blend of the psychology and science that underpins learning, and the workshopping of practical strategies. The choice of workshops range from Procrastination and ACT, to Memory: Encoding, Storage and Retrieval, to Motivation and Perspective. 3. MEDITATION We encourage Pymble students to develop a range of strategies to support their emotional wellbeing. Through guided meditation, girls learn to calm their minds and maintain harmony. These helpful skills can protect against stress and fatigue, especially in the midst of heavy workloads and assessment schedules.
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SENIOR SCHOOL
Personalised Learning How Mastermind works MANAGING STRESS: " I got a lot out of a Mastermind workshop on stress, led by College counsellor Ms Dania Saab. We learned what causes stress, and that it isn’t always bad – in fact, lower levels of stress can actually help you focus and succeed! More importantly, we workshopped practical strategies to manage and overcome stress. Ms Saab emphasised that we all have to make time to socialise with friends, exercise and relax amongst our packed and heavy schedules, and extended valuable resources to help navigate our way through stressful times." – Zoe Cree CONQUERING PROCRASTINATION: "Many students struggle with procrastination, so it was great to gain a deeper understanding into what causes it through Mastermind. We workshopped strategies to help us complete our work more efficiently, such as engaging in positive and productive thinking, practicing mindfulness, challenging self-defeating beliefs and being assertive in setting limits around things that might distract from productivity. It was an incredibly useful workshop that allowed students to understand and adopt productive habits." – Eve Parker RETHINKING PERFECTIONISM: " For me, the most helpful Mastermind workshop was focused on managing perfectionism. In understanding perfectionism better, I can see both its negative and positive effects. It was helpful to understand why I work the way I do, and to think about how to improve my academic skills. I’ve come to recognise the importance of handing work in to receive feedback, rather than attempting to achieve perfection without it. Importantly, I’ve also learned to differentiate between my thoughts and emotions, and to distinguish between needing perfection and completing tasks." – Anonymous
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Personalised Learning
Personalised Learning
The great da Vinci Decathlon challenge What began as a local competition for Australian public and private schools in 2005 has grown to be a national and global phenomenon, involving thousands of students from Years 5 to 11. Pymble has a proud tradition of success in the competition. Teams are chosen based on a formal, written expression of interest application. A rigorous selection criteria is used including the application, teacher judgement, academic results, attendance and behaviour, extra curricular involvement and expertise in topic areas.
Our teams’ results: YEAR 6 • 2nd Place for Creative Producers YEAR 7 • 3rd Place for Cartography • 1st Place for English • 2nd Place for Ideation • 2nd Place for General Knowledge • Overall Year 7 da Vinci Decathlon Champions for 2017
The annual da Vinci Decathlon academic competition is designed to stretch the minds of school students by providing a stimulating and challenging competition run in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon. Students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: Engineering, Mathematics, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, Science, English, Creative Producers, Cartography, Ideation and General Knowledge. The competition requires the girls to organise their time efficiently as tasks are completed simultaneously over three sessions throughout the challenge. Students focus on specific talent areas and complete all tasks under timed conditions. The girls are required to work co-operatively, creatively and as a team in order to complete all the disciplines in the decathlon.
YEAR 8 • 3rd Place overall for Science
The 2017 teams who represented Pymble were exceptional in their co-operation, spirit of good will and fair play. They were exemplary in their manners and were wonderful ambassadors for the school.
YEAR 11 • 1st Place for English • 1st Place for Engineering • 3rd Place for Science • 3rd Place for Ideation • 1st Place for General Knowledge • Overall Year 11 da Vinci Decathlon Champions for 2017
YEAR 10 • 1st Place overall for English
Meet our teams... YEAR 5 Sophie Ma Lily Huang Mikayla Tsou Claire Lee Vanessa Liu Isabella Li Zara Dimovski Elena Zhang YEAR 6 Kristen Ma Shivani Senthil Tilly Morgan Martina Chin Jade Yang Alexandra Luxton Caitlyn Tan Zarah Fardin
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YEAR 7 Chloe Hoang Suzanne Brian Faye Chang Annabel Maple-Brown Caitlyn Kim Claire Kim Jenhui Lau Serena Li Reserve: Isabel Dean YEAR 8 Emily Schliebs Tess Rickard Sarah Kim Amy Jarvis Alessandra Natale Emily Ji Esther Choi Laura Whitney Reserve: Danielle Cheung
YEAR 9 Corinna Chen Lucy Fang Viveca Tang Jennifer Hao Shankari Kathirgamalingam Akina Li Rachel Tang Amelie Read Reserve: Elisa Han YEAR 10 Alicia Adamson Grace Hu Emma Cree Sophie Mok Alexandria Cung Isabella Natale Selena You Fores Zhang Reserve: Chloe Shang
YEAR 11 Emily Shaw Emily Shen Daphne Zhang Alicia Chang Joyce Wu Ruvanya Mallikahewa Julia Lin Juliette Di Bello Reserve: Kaman Chan
Congratulations to Year 7 – National Champions! Congratulations to our brilliant Year 7 da Vinci team members who went on to compete at the National da Vinci Decathlon and were announced Overall Champions! The exhilarating competition highlighted our girls’ exceptional teamwork, problemsolving and creative thinking. The girls also placed as follows: 1st Place – English 1st Place – Mathematics 1st Place – Ideation 2nd Place – Science 2nd Place – Creative Producers
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Personalised Learning
The students demonstrated their pride in the College by dutifully singing the School Song at important archaeological sites, in particular, the world-famous theatre at Epidaurus, which reverberated with the strains of our motto, All’ Ultimo Lavoro!
Personalised Learning
A trip through time
Inspired by nature
Twenty of our Upper and Senior School students were able to see, touch and walk all over history as part of the 2017 Pymble Classical Tour of Greece and Italy in January. Each day of this extraordinary experience presented new opportunities for students to engage critically with formative events in European history.
The gorgeous Vision Valley played host to Pymble’s Year 11 Visual Arts students as they embarked on a three-day intensive art camp in May.
The girls experienced learning on-the-go as they: 1. Visited the world-famous archaeological site of Mycenae. 2. Descended into the mysterious cavern once used by the sibyl of Cumae to utter the prophecies of the god Apollo. 3. Marched all over the hollow hills of Caere, described by the poet Virgil as being the place where the goddess Venus delivered to the hero Aeneas his miraculous armour forged by the god Vulcan. 4. Climbed Mount Parnassus to view the breathtaking site of the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. 5. Inspected the ruins of the ancient Roman Republic and Empire, including the Colosseum, the Capitoline Hill, the Campus Martius (where students stood metres from where Julius Caesar was assassinated), the Pantheon, Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Members of the Visual Arts staff, along with guest artist Patrick Shirvington presented a variety of workshops that inspired the students to engage with Australian bush settings in their art-making. In addition, the girls were encouraged to explore and experiment with innovative new techniques. The finished products, which reflected their hard work and willingness to try new artforms, were displayed in the Senior School Centre in late June and early July. Well done, girls!
Our students demonstrated Herculean bravery in enduring extreme cold, snow and rain. Furthermore, they impressed their chaperones Dr Alexander Bril and Ms Amanda Harris by displaying remarkable stamina in keeping up with the gruelling schedule of the tour, which involved travelling great distances and walking many kilometres.
Key learnings On this trip, our students were encouraged to engage in: • C ritical and creative thinking about how the past has shaped the present. • F inding opportunities to practice global citizenship. • C ollaborative learning with peers outside of school settings.
Music to our ears Three Pymble musicians have successfully auditioned for, and been accepted into the prestigious Sydney Youth Orchestra program. These positions are highly competitive and sought by students from all over NSW. Congratulations to Florence Chou (Oboe – Year 12), Isabel Dean (Violin – Year 7) and Lara Albany (Double Bass – Year 7) on this exceptional achievement.
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Community Development and Leadership Summit, page 23
Community
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Greetings from Canberra! Imagine, create, explore, discover! The 2017 Year 6 Camp was a memory students and staff will treasure. From remembering hardships, to conquering hurdles, to formality and fun – the Year 6 Camp was an action-packed adventure filled with educational, physical and team-building achievements. PIT-STOP ONE: THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL The journey began with a tour through the nation’s capital. At the Australian War Memorial, students learned about the sacrifices Australians made to enable us to enjoy the wonderful country in which we live. They also learned about the Gallipoli landing, the ANZAC legacy, the vital role that women played during conflicts and the important contributions the Australian Defence Force makes today. PIT-STOP TWO: PARLIAMENT HOUSE It was a thrill to experience Australian democracy firsthand during a visit to the Senate and House of Representatives. Included in the tour was an eye-opening trip to the Australian Electoral Commission, where students learned about the complexities of the preferential voting system. PIT-STOP THREE: QUESTACON Next stop, Questacon – a place to enjoy science and wonderment in a hands-on way. Students experienced the tremors that occurred globally during an earthquake and lightning flashing before their eyes, leaving them astounded at its power! PIT-STOP FOUR: MOUNT KOSCIUSZKO Hiking to the top of Australia’s highest peak was a true achievement and a testament to what marks a Pymble girl – her resilience and persistence. Combined with camping, kayaking across the stunning Lake Jindabyne, picking fresh apples from the lakeside and learning how to work together as a team, this time spent in the great outdoors made memories our girls will cherish.
Community As a community, we value the relationships we have with each other and we stand together as global citizens, included and valued. Connecting and engaging with members past and present ensures our rich learning community extends through generations to build Pymble bonds that endure. Together, we acknowledge and commemorate our past and present achievements. At home and internationally, community members are committed, loyal and proud they are a part of Pymble.
Did you know? When a Pymble girl reaches her final year of Junior School, she has grown and matured – and so has the Outdoor Education Program she attends. The Year 6 Camp represents the culmination of an incrementally challenging series of camps that are designed to flex students’ learning and team-building skills.
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Community
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Community
UPPER SCHOOL
Onwards and upwards into Year 7
Leaders of the pack
The step out of Year 6 and into Year 7 can feel like a big one for some, which is why all girls starting in Year 7 undergo a comprehensive Transition Program to helps smooth the move to Secondary School.
A key goal of Pymble's is to mentor potential leaders, and encourage students to find – and trust in – their voices. We were therefore thrilled when four of our students chose to take part in the Community Development and Leadership Summit (CDLS) at The Modern School in New Delhi in 2016. Their mission? To exchange ideas with students from 18 schools in 15 countries on the year’s theme of being the change in a changing world. Their ultimate goal?
Our customised Middle School Transition Program is designed to: • Foster a sense of belonging, connectedness and familiarisation with the College, staff and peers. • Assist students to adapt quickly to their new environment. • Prepare students for changes in relation to their life, development and learning. WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE TRANSITION PROGRAM? Links Day – This takes place the year prior to commencing Year 7 and gives students a behind-the-scenes peek into what life looks like for a Pymble girl. Students participate in their first Year Group assembly, have a chance to look at sample lesson plans, and meet some of their new classmates. Highlights from our 2016 Links Day for 2017 Year 7 students included an address from Principal Mrs Vicki Waters, a barbecue lunch and an energetic Zumba class!
To understand the role of leadership in community development and to hone their own leadership skills in order to one day take on meaningful roles in their world. Says Hannah Westhuizen, now in Year 11, of her experience, “CDLS took me out of my comfort zone, and enabled me to meet new people and learn new things in a different environment. I will never forget it. The friendships and lessons learnt on CDLS are ones I will keep forever.”
Assessment Morning – New students will also sit for a placement test prior to starting at Pymble. This is not an entrance exam – it is simply a way of placing girls in the appropriate Mathematics class for them. While students sit this exam, parents are given opportunities to tour the College and meet key staff members. Orientation Program – Once classes commence for the year, students participate in orientation programs with Connect teachers, Peer Support leaders and other Year 7 students. Some of these programs continue throughout the year in order to ensure that students feel supported and confident in themselves and in their educational progress.
Postcards from India While the CDLS was the highlight, students also enjoyed incredible cultural opportunities, including a trip to the Taj Mahal at Agra and the India Gate, as well as a visit to Qutub Minar, tomb of the Emperor Humayan. Reflecting Pymble’s core value of Care, the students also paid a visit to the Cheshire Home Delhi which provides shelter to the physically handicapped. Congratulations girls and thanks to Mrs Michelle Hunt for organising this extraordinary experience.
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Community
"...our purpose should be underpinned by personal zest, commitment and a willingness to learn." – Michelle Ma (Year 12)
SENIOR SCHOOL
The social justice network
Chooseday Tuesday!
Senior School students received a serious dose of inspiration when Kathleen Heath (2007) stopped by to visit. A former Fulbright Scholar and current Social Justice lawyer for the Aboriginal Media Services in Western Australia, Kathleen had plenty to say about how purpose and self-control – the Senior School focus areas for Term 2 – helped her achieve her goals. Kathleen’s audience was rapt as she discussed the day-to-day realities of life for some Indigenous people, and left with much to ponder as she encouraged them to always “open your minds to ideas” and to “find levels of purpose in your future jobs.”
Always thought that Tuesday was the dullest day of the week? Think again! Every Tuesday in the Senior School is “Chooseday,” where students get to try out fun and relaxing activities that they, or their Connect teachers, have selected as part of their Connect Time. From sport, to knitting, to Zumba, students have learned new skills, and built new friendships at the same time. Watch out for an exciting new stage in “Chooseday” later in the year.
Year 12 Liaison Prefect, Michelle Ma walked away from Kathleen’s visit with a fresh perspective on her future. “As we begin to make important decisions about tertiary pathways and future career prospects, we may feel forcibly driven by other peoples' expectations or wish to conform to societal conventions. Yet, through Kathleen Heath’s inspiring account of her journey to becoming a criminal defence lawyer, it became apparent to Senior School girls that beyond Pymble, our purpose should be underpinned by personal zest, commitment and a willingness to learn. Kathleen’s message truly resonated with us all – she emphasised the importance of investing energy in a career that we’re very passionate about, because ultimately, that is how we will make the greatest impact upon society, and the future.”
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SENIOR SCHOOL
Community The bigger picture There is a lot more to “Choosedays” than just fun and games – they also address two key Senior School goals for 2017: 1. Increasing student involvement in discussion and decision making to develop their sense of autonomy and responsibility, and to improve outcomes for students. 2. P rioritising personal sustainability through programs designed to improve the sense of wellbeing and balance in students’ lives.
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Community Key learnings Musicals provide students with valuable educational and life experiences: 1. Being involved in a musical is an intensive learning experience – from the student cast, orchestra, teachers, technicians, staff and parents who assist behind the scenes. 2. T he girls learn valuable lessons in teamwork, responsibility and commitment, they grow in confidence and self-esteem, and gain practical experience in live performance and theatre production. 3. Girls can also have the opportunity to work in partnership with their “brothers” from local schools, complementing our intentionally single-sex learning environment.
Community
It’s showtime! It’s official – Pymble’s production of Legally Blonde, The Musical was an all-singing, all-dancing smash hit! Running from Wednesday 8 March to Saturday 11 March, our talented cast of Pymble girls and Knox Grammar School, St Pius X College and Barker College boys played to near-sold out audiences of students, parents and community supporters. Although it may appear light and fluffy on the surface, Legally Blonde has a message of substance at its core – believe in who you are and what you can achieve, regardless of how others
label you or the obstacles that get in your way. This message resonated even more deeply with our students as our performances coincided with International Women’s Day, where the world comes together to celebrate the accomplishments and potential of women in all fields. Many thanks to Director of Music, Mrs Sabina Turner and our Music Co-ordinator, Mr Kurt Schweinberger for their tireless efforts in bringing another colourful and masterful performance to life for the benefit of our girls and the Pymble community.
Coming home to Pymble Leaving the comfort and familiarity of home to become a Boarder can be daunting, which is why we’ve made our Boarding Houses beautiful, safe, welcoming, friendly and caring. We want the best for every one of our Boarders and strive to provide a happy and supportive home environment for all. Our newest Boarders and their parents experienced this firsthand at our New Boarder and Family Orientation Program in late January. Over a fun-filled weekend, our Boarders, their siblings and parents participated in a range of activities aimed at helping the girls transition smoothly to boarding life. This culminated with our Boarding Parent Group drinks on January 31, where new and returning parents were able to meet and mingle with Pymble Executives, as well as the Heads and Deputy Heads of School.
" The best part of being a Boarder is living in a ‘home away from home’ with many big sisters." – Director of Boarding, Mrs Deanne Elliott
Throughout the ages Our three separate Boarding Houses have been created to foster the care, growth, support and development of girls at their different stages of physical, emotional, social and spiritual growth as they move from dependence to independence: • M arden House – Years 7, 8 and 9 • Goodlet House – Years 10 and 11 • Lang House – Year 12 The number of Pymble Boarders remains small to maximise both personal attention for each girl and a sense of community.
Icebreaker evening On February 24, new and current parents had the chance to meet, mingle and make friends at our annual Icebreaker evening. We were blessed with beautiful weather as our parents shared banter and bubbles with new Pymble Parent Association (PPA) President Mr Andrew Dutkiewicz, and College Principal Mrs Vicki Waters on the Gloucester Lawn. A wonderful time was had by all!
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Community
Community
Reaching out in remote areas
Cultural ties Did you know that Pymble parents speak more than 30 languages? The Cultural Community Network (CCN) – which was born of an idea raised in the Community Consultation process in the development of Pymble’s strategic vision Towards 2020: Striving for the highest – celebrates and supports our different cultures and nationalities. The College has commenced a program to establish representation from the various cultures that form our wider community to ensure that prospective, new and current parents are fully informed, connected and engaged in their daughters' education. Our first CCN Luncheon was at Avondale Golf Club on Friday May 7 in Term 2. Guests enjoyed mingling over a light lunch, before an informal welcome from Principal Mrs Vicki Waters and our 2017 Pymble Parent Association President, Mr Andrew Dutkiewicz. Our next CCN Luncheon will be held on Monday 16 October in Term 4.
In March, the Uniting Church hosted the 2017 Small Schools Super Camp in Nyngan, a remote town in the dusty centre of New South Wales. Six Year 10 representatives from Pymble, along with students from Knox Grammar School and Ravenswood School for Girls made the trip to Nyngan to help teach specialist subjects – including STEM, Dance, Gymnastics, Athletics, Art, Music and Drama – to children from rural areas. " Engagement was very evident as young children interacted with BeeBots, learnt new songs and dances, interacted in sports and created amazing artworks,” said Head of Preparatory School, Mrs Karen Ahearn, who, along with Reverend Punam Bent, accompanied the girls on their trip. “This extraordinary experience reminded me of what each of us can bring to the lives of those with whom we connect.” Our values It’s our goal to instil Pymble’s core values in each and every one of our students. Our girls distinguished themselves at Super Camp by displaying the College’s five values:
Care Courage Integrity Respect Responsibility
Pymble to a tea! 'Stripes and spots' was the dress code for a beautiful day in May when we celebrated Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea. The Pymble spirit of Care was on full display as students, staff and parents came together to show support for those we love, and to raise money for cancer research and prevention. Thank you to all parents, grandparents, family, friends and staff for showing how much they care about this important cause and for sharing a delightful morning with our students.
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Cyber safety
Let’s talk about it At Pymble, we believe in the power of our three-way partnership between students, staff and parents to help our girls develop the values, self-assurance and skills to identify right from wrong, to strive for their highest, and to be their best selves. We continue to work with experts in the Pymble network to share ideas and wisdom on a range of topics. Highlights so far have included: 1. Parenting through the HSC Pymble parent and StreetWork Youth Services Manager Lucy Dahill presented sage advice on easing students’ stress and maximising their potential during the HSC, including: • K eeping in mind that it is your daughter’s HSC, not yours. • H elping her look after her physical and mental health. • K eeping things in perspective – the HSC is not the be-all-and-end-all. 2. Being 14 Journalist and author Madonna King presented her revealing insights into what today’s 14-year-old girls are thinking and feeling. She presented her findings to a packed theatre of parents from Years 7 to 10, and the wider Pymble community. According to Ms King, who conducted 200-plus interviews across Australia, this is what 14-year-old girls want: • “ I want you to really listen to what I am saying.” • “ I want you to put yourself in my shoes.” • “ I want you to be calm.”
3. Enhancing home study Educational consultant and researcher Dr Prue Salter provided strategies and skills supporting students and their parents in developing an optimum home-study approach, including honing time management and organisation skills, as well as identifying personalised study techniques.
Staying safe online can be a tricky business for young people living in a globally-connected world. As part of our Wellbeing Program, we invited returning presenter Lucy Dahill to speak to Year 6 and Middle School students about how using social media can affect their mental health, and to encourage them to think critically about how people represent themselves online. Following on from Lucy’s presentation, Year 6 students explored important concepts such as the ‘digital footprint’, cyber bullying, and the consequences of sharing personal information online by creating entertaining and thoughtprovoking role-plays. “ I found it helpful because later on when we can use social media we know how to react in a responsible way… think before you post.” – Catherine Kelly “ It was definitely worthwhile… I think it was great advice for the future.” – Charlotte Allen
4. The food-wellbeing connection What – and how – we eat can have a direct impact on our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Nutritionist Michele Chevally Hedge gave an eye-opening presentation to parents about what this means for students’ ability to learn, including: • How food impacts the brain, skin, body and mood. • K nowing which foods do and don’t work for you. • T he importance of balance: study, sleep, exercise, friends, sunshine. • T he connection between eating, thinking and moving.
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International Women’s Day, pages 32-33
SENIOR SCHOOL
People and Culture
Goal shooting
What our students say
Entering the final stretch of high school is unquestionably exciting. On the flip side, it can also be overwhelming for students to contemplate life after Year 12 and all that it entails. Having someone with whom they can discuss their plans, and bounce ideas off can help students refocus their goals, ease their stress and empower them to achieve their potential.
" Mentoring provides the opportunity to connect and learn from the wisdom of the teachers."
In 2017, Senior School students have been extended the option of working with a senior member of staff in a structured one-to-one mentoring partnership to discuss long-term goals and challenges, in addition to working with their Connect teachers. The value of the mentoring program is that it focuses on the individual needs of each student, and: • P rovides opportunities for girls to connect with a trusted advisor, or mentor, who can offer guidance and support. • S trengthens students’ ability to make decisions in consultation with others. • B uilds authentic connections between girls and teachers. Thank you to the staff members who have offered their time to be involved in this important program.
Four Year 12 students share what they have learned from their mentors:
" It’s really helped me become more organised and enabled me to set out my goals so that I can actually achieve them." " The one-on-one sessions gave me personalised advice and allowed me to think about things in different ways, leading me to improvement." " A positive thing I have taken away from this program is that I am now conscious of the time I spend on things that should not be my priority in my HSC year. I have also noticed a big difference in my overall happiness and willingness to learn at school."
People and Culture We are committed to ensuring every student is known, valued and encouraged. Professionally, we nurture a learning culture that celebrates creativity, engagement and critical thinking. Our professional practice is deeply embedded in worldwide research and best practice, and we actively seek to share our expertise, facilities and resources to create a vibrant global educational community. Together we make a difference, within Pymble and beyond. VOLUME 41 | PYMBULLETIN | 31
People and Culture Every year, Pymble students come together to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) – a global event commemorating the amazing social, political, economic and cultural achievements of women everywhere! This year’s theme was ‘Be Bold for Change’ and our girls embraced it with gusto. In the lead-up to IWD, each student was tasked with thinking about how to be the change they want to see, and how they plan to use the self-assurance, confidence and resilience Pymble has instilled in them to make positive changes in the world.
People and Culture
Be bold for change! PREPARATORY SCHOOL The Preparatory School used IWD as an opportunity to focus on the five values of the College – Care, Courage, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility – and to think about the ways in which the women in their lives show these values.
“ Mum shows care because when I fall over or graze myself, Mum makes it feel better.” – Leura “ My sister is responsible because when we play she always helps me tidy up.” – Sahana “ Mrs Bulgin is special to me because she helps me with learning.” – Jemma JUNIOR SCHOOL Our Junior School students spent the week before IWD brainstorming the kinds of changes they would like to see for women around the globe, and coming up with positive calls-to-action.
“ We will be bold and make everything brighter for women.” “ I will be bold and be myself.” “ Be bold for change and… change women’s rights.” MIDDLE SCHOOL Year 7 students commemorated IWD by leading an inspiring assembly celebrating positive female role models. The girls organised a quiz highlighting key facts about women and gender inequality, delivered presentations that honoured prominent Australian female role models and conducted interviews with Dean of Students Dr Sarah Loch and College Deputy Principal Mrs Julie Shaw. They also designed and produced IWD-themed stickers as a gift to all Year 7.
International Women’s Day Breakfast 9 March 2017 The UN Women National Committee Australia hosts Australia’s largest IWD celebrations. On 9 March, student representatives from Pymble attended the Committee’s breakfast at the Sydney International Convention Centre, where they were inspired by keynote speakers who discussed how far women have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development.
UPPER SCHOOL To get into the spirit of IWD, Upper School students used their Connect Time to think about female empowerment and gender equity. Ex-student Chloe Dalton (2011) also stopped by to share her experiences of challenging gender expectations as a member of the Olympic Gold Medal-winning Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens team. SENIOR SCHOOL The Senior School celebrated IWD with a special assembly. Led by Senior School Liaison Prefects Zara McTaggart and Michelle Ma, the guest speaker was ex-student and CEO of Ella Baché, Pippa Hallas (1992), who spoke to the girls about her time at Pymble, closing the gender gap and her top tips for being your best and most successful self.
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People and Culture
People and Culture
Lest we forget Our Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Award students are keeping the past alive with a very personal War Service Project crafted around the Pymble community members who played an active role in World War II. Their project is based on correspondence to the Principal at the time, Miss Dorothy Knox, who went to great effort to keep in touch with former students serving in the forces in World War II. Our Duke of Edinburgh girls had the opportunity to develop their investigative skills as they transcribed and recorded audio of some of the surviving letters sent to Miss Knox, offering a poignant snapshot into the ex-students’ daily lives. The girls also sharpened their writing abilitities as they researched and crafted biographies of these brave young women. Now on display in the Heritage Centre (which is located under the War Memorial Chapel), their work will form the foundation of an ongoing interactive resource where students and visitors can view the ex-students’ originals letters and photos, and listen to the narrations from an iPad kiosk.
A glimpse into the future From science to sales, public relations to podiatry – there are so many careers on offer in our modern world that it can be difficult for students to decide which one to pursue. That’s where our annual Careers Expo comes in handy. This year, students from Years 10 to 12 met representatives from 66 higher educational institutions, plus a host of Pymble parents and ex-students working in a range of industries, in order to get an insider’s take on post-school options. For a closer look at this hugely successful event, turn to the Black Watch Ties section on page 54.
World War II by numbers • 993,000: Number of Australians who served in the armed forces in WWII. • 5,000: Number of Australian nurses who served at home and overseas during the war. • 150+: Number of Pymble ex-students and staff who served in WWII, and are included in the 1939-1945 Chapel Roll of Honour. • 4: Number of Pymble ex-students who lost their lives in WWII.
Pymble officially opened on 8 February 1916 by founding Principal, Dr John Marden – a visionary man who believed that girls would benefit from having the same quality of education as boys, and that physical education was a key component of student wellbeing. His vision still resonates today.
Key conferences
Foundation Day The wet weather may have prevented us from taking our usual place on Gloucester Lawn on 8 February to celebrate Foundation Day, but it could not dampen our spirits. This beloved annual event marks the anniversary of the College’s founding over a century ago. One of the highlights of the day was hearing from our guest speaker, ex-student Romilly Madew (1984). Romilly, who is the CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia, held her audience captive with her relatable experience of being a Pymble girl and her empowering message to the girls: “ I never imagined my career when I sat where you are now – I was probably thinking about morning tea, homework, had I packed my sports shoes... “ The world is so different for you today. Anything is possible for you. “ You can all achieve great things. You all have potential. Even if you face challenges you can bounce back with support; you can ask for help and you can learn from mistakes. “ I think how lucky am I to be able to look at the Sydney city skyline and know I made a difference – so can you make a difference in your chosen field,” Ms Madew said.
Pymble is committed to enhancing our educators’ classroom practice through a rich array of opportunities, including presenting at conferences to extend their professional development and to facilitate the forging of valuable connections with other educators. Some of the key conferences our staff have presented at in 2017 include: LOCAL • 5 th National Coaching in Education Conference – Sally Egan, Director of Improvement Strategy and Deanne Elliott, Director of Boarding • Association of Independent Schools (AIS) Experience Teacher Course – Kate Howie, Indigenous Student Coordinator and Lauren Bliss, PDHPE teacher • E duTECH – Anthony England, Innovative Technologies Director and Kim Maksimovic, IT Integrator • E ssential Technologies Workshop – Food Technology – Crystal Kruger, Arts, Design and Applied Technology Stage 4 Technology Co-ordinator • M odern Languages Teachers Association (MLTA) Conference – Linna Wang, Chinese Department of Languages teacher • P roject Zero Sydney: Service Learning, Engaging the Heart and the Mind – Ruqqiya Dean, Library Manager • T eaching Classroom Music through Singing Conference – Sabina Turner, Music Director • T echnology Educators Association (TEA) Conference – Heather J Hansby, Art, Design and Applied Technology Textiles Co-ordinator • V isual Arts and Design Educators Association (VADEA) Conference – Nicole DeLosa, Art, Design and Applied Technology Head of Learning Area INTERNATIONAL • E cole Normale Supérieure de Lyon: New Perspectives on As You Like It – Dr Kathy French, English teacher
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Sustainability
10th Anniversary Indigenous Scholarship Celebration Dinner, pages 38-39
Sustainability
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Towards the final frontier "Man must rise above the Earth – to the top of the atmosphere and beyond – for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives." – Socrates, Philosopher
Fact File NAME: Soichi Noguchi BORN: 1965 COUNTRY OF BIRTH:
Pymble students were inspired to reach for the stars when astronaut Mr Soichi Noguchi visited the College in February to deliver a presentation entitled ‘Working Together Towards Sustainable Space’. The presentation, which was brought to life by breathtaking footage and fascinating stories from Mr Noguchi’s time in space, was one of only three ‘Lectures for Globally-Minded Citizens’ he gave in Sydney. The aim of ‘Lectures for Globally-Minded Citizens’ was to encourage the younger generation to think and act on a global level across national borders. And for our students, it was the learning opportunity of a lifetime. “As a College deeply committed to the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), sustainability and global citizenship, Pymble was a natural choice of audience for Mr Noguchi,” said Principal Mrs Vicki Waters. “Student interest in STEM subjects and STEM challenges has really taken off in the past couple of years and continues to grow,” explains Mrs Waters. “Our girls are also determined to make a difference to their community, both locally and globally – there is no greater incentive to reach for the stars than a firsthand account of space exploration from a highly-experienced astronaut.”
Yokohama, Japan ASSOCIATION: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Mr Soichi Noguchi participated in the STS-114 mission by the Space Shuttle Discovery in 2005 and carried out three extra-vehicular activities. He
Sustainability
stayed at the International Space Station (ISS) for five and a half months in 2009 and was
Locally and globally, individually and collectively, we actively engage in sustainable management practices for the prosperity and longevity of our world. We embed high-level sustainable practices in every area of Pymble life – in educational, operational and wider community settings – as the way to protect and guide our future. Social and personal responsibility, as well as economic and environmental initiatives are evident throughout the College, influencing others to make positive changes. 36 | PYMBULLETIN | VOLUME 41
responsible for installing and experimenting with the robotic arm of the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module.
Key learning: aim higher Prior to Mr Noguchi's visit, our Year 7 students were encouraged to start thinking about how their mindsets impact on the way they approach learning. The girls were introduced to the magic word ‘yet’ in relation to solving problems, and coached to embrace a Growth Mindset as they shifted their thinking from “I’m no good at this!” to “I’m no good at this… yet!”. Positive thinking = better learning.
Change the conversation Keen to build on your daughter’s Growth Mindset? It can be as easy as switching the language she uses… INSTEAD OF:
TRY:
“I give up” “ I’ll use some of the strategies we’ve learned” “I can’t do Maths” “I’m going to train my brains in Maths”
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Sustainability
Sustainability
Celebration of the year! Pymble’s Indigenous Scholarship Program was launched in 2007, based on a vision for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to be educated side-by-side and to stand together as future leaders of community and country. The program provides Leadership and Performance Scholarships for promising Indigenous 10th Anniversary Indigenous Scholarship Program Celebration Dinner girls in remote and regional Australian areas. Four of Australia’s most outstanding Indigenous achievers in sport, the arts and Currently, 18 Indigenous Scholarship holders are enrolled at Pymble and 14 girls in total have graduated from the program, including several who have gone on to university and one who is currently studying medicine. The program is in partnership with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF).
journalism gathered with the Pymble community of students past and present, staff, parents and members of College Council to celebrate 10 years of the Indigenous Scholarship Program (ISP) at Pymble.
The 10th Anniversary Indigenous Scholarship Celebration Dinner was held at Miramare Gardens on Friday 16 June, co-hosted by renowned journalist Ray Martin AM and ex-student Biama Nona, who graduated from the Pymble ISP in 2014. Biama, who was just weeks away from graduating with a Bachelor of Business from Bond University told the audience, “attending Pymble allowed that door to open.” The festivities kicked off with former world number one tennis player, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley acknowledging Country, followed by a stirring performance of On Country from the Pymble Indigenous Dance Group. On Country tells a story about the importance of acknowledging the country on which we stand and the protocols surrounding crossing over Indigenous borders.
"We’ve watched with pride as deserving Indigenous students from all over the country have embraced the outstanding academic and co-curricular opportunities at Pymble through our extraordinary and life-changing program." – Principal, Mrs Vicki Waters
Ms Goolagong-Cawley spoke about her dream of playing – and winning – at Wimbledon as well as her current mission to see as many Indigenous students as possible stay in school, using tennis as a vehicle for her message. AFL legend and 2014 Australian of the Year, Adam Goodes also gave an impassioned speech about giving back to the Indigenous community and continuing to break down barriers to education through the ISP and his own GO Foundation cofounded with his nephew and fellow AFL player, Michael O’Loughlin. Highlights of the evening included interviews with current and former Indigenous Scholars and their families as well as heartfelt performances of her iconic hits, My Island Home, Sunshine on a Rainy Day, Party and Kulba Yaday by entertainer Christine Anu. Guests bid on silent auction items throughout the evening, with proceeds going towards the fundraising target of $100,000, which will cover one year of boarding and tuition for two more deserving Indigenous Scholars.
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Sustainability
Sustainability
Big steps towards sustainability "Our goal as the 2017 Sustainability Captains is to minimise the amount of waste we produce as a school,” said Year 12 students, Kiri Mitchell and Belinda Zhang. “To achieve this, we are promoting recycling and alternatives to disposables while also providing the means to use these alternative products. "We are super passionate about the environment because you cannot enjoy your favourite foods, activities or be around your favourite people if there’s no more world to live in!"
3. Water stations: “In Term 4 of 2016, nine water-bottle filling stations were installed around the school. This has encouraged the use of reusable drink bottles as opposed to disposable plastic bottles. It’s only a small action, but it is helping contribute towards a greater cause.” 4. Capturing World Environment Day: “The theme for this year’s World Environment Day was ‘Reconnecting People with Nature’. In honour of the day, we held a photo competition – many girls sent in amazing photos they had taken of nature, encouraging them to better appreciate the beauty of our world.”
What’s important to me Kiri and Belinda have spearheaded four fantastic initiatives to help reduce waste and promote sustainability: 1. KeepCups: “In Term 1, more than 250 students and staff ordered KeepCups, which are able to be used at the canteens and at home,
helping us progress towards a more sustainable Pymble community. The profits went towards sponsoring two of our very own whales in the Pacific, and to 1 Million Women – an organisation seeking to promote and educate the world on climate change through women and girls.” 2. Recycling bins: “We performed an assessment of the locations of recycling bins in the Secondary School and suggested locations for new ones. In addition to placing a few more recycling bins around the colonnade and amphitheatre areas, each room in the Kate Mason Building now has a paper recycling bin. The Senior School goes through a lot of paper, so more accessible bins will encourage recycling and reduce our waste.”
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The environmental issues that Senior School students care about the most are: 1. Animal rights 2. Climate change 3. Deforestation 4. Water conservation 5. Recycling 6. Energy conservation
80%
Meet Pymble’s newest entrepreneurs Pymble students have big dreams, and we are 100 per cent behind them! To support our students’ entrepreneurial spirits and desire to embrace innovative thinking techniques, we have launched the Pymble Entrepreneurs' Society. Under the guidance of ex-student mentors, the Entrepreneurs’ Society motivates our girls to explore the world of possibilities and supports them as they develop their own passion projects. GREAT MINDS! Our Entrepreneurs' Society students in Years 10 to 12 participated in – and won! – the Student Stream at the Amazon Web Services Summit in April. The girls worked in groups in a design-thinking activity showcasing the Amazon Echo, which uses machine learning and IOT (Internet of Things) technology. The winning group pitched an idea to help the ageing population to administer self-care via an automated pill dispenser, access to medical advice and connection to pharmacies to automate prescription renewal. The girls each won a gift voucher and Pymble was awarded an Amazon Echo for participating in the Student Stream of the conference.
This is the percentage of Senior School students who genuinely care about the environment and its future, according to a survey conducted by Kiri and Belinda.
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Pymble Rowing program, page 49
Sport and Activities
It’s carnival time! The first half of the 2017 College calendar was jam-packed with our much-loved sports carnivals. Our Preparatory, Junior and Secondary School students showed great determination, integrity and exemplary sportsmanship in having a go and supporting each other to achieve their personal bests. PREPARATORY SCHOOL On a gorgeous winter day in June, students, parents and teachers flocked to Pymble’s Main Oval to participate in the 2017 Preparatory School Athletics Carnival. The day began with a rousing opening ceremony featuring a recitation of the Preparatory School Athletics Carnival Oath. Then as their loved ones cheered them on, the girls gave their all in nine events – a sprint, an endurance race, hurdles, long jump, shotput and javelin, as well as a hopper, sack, and egg-and-spoon race. The day was filled with House spirit and wonderful displays of teamwork from our girls. Congratulations to Gibbs, the winning House on the day.
“ In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in this Athletics Carnival responsibly, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them. In the true spirit of sportsmanship and for the glory of sport we will honour our Houses, Gibbs, Mackellar and Turner. We also promise to play with integrity, respect and care for others, and with courage within ourselves. Most importantly we promise to have fun!” – The Preparatory School Athletics Carnival Oath
Sport and Activities Our founding Principal, Dr John Marden, strongly believed health and wellbeing were vital to every girl reaching her potential. This vision still resonates today, more than 100 years later. Pymble is balanced in its passions, demonstrating to students that true success comes from a holistic approach to education; this approach values academic success, music and cultural pursuit, sporting achievements, community service and personal wellbeing, equally. VOLUME 41 | PYMBULLETIN | 43
Sport and Activities
Sport and Activities JUNIOR SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
SECONDARY CROSS COUNTRY
Our Junior School students channelled the College motto to strive for the highest at their Junior School Cross Country. Every girl had the opportunity to have a go, while the top 10 competitors in each year group went on to represent Pymble against other schools.
Pymble’s annual Secondary School Cross Country is a highly-anticipated event in which our girls enjoy running together through the stunning College grounds. Supported by teachers and their peers as they crossed the finish line, it was wonderful to see the girls' visible pride in their accomplishments.
IGSSA CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL 80 of our athletes ran their hearts out in the annual Independent Girls’ Schools Sporting Association (IGSSA) Cross Country Carnival at Frensham School in Mittagong. Our girls performed remarkably well in all age groups and clocked some outstanding times. To top off the day, our team placed first overall. Congratulations to our mighty Pymble girls! SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETICS The weather was perfect, team spirit was at an all-time high and our students gave their all in every event at our Secondary School Athletics Carnival in Term 2. Congratulations to our girls for making the day such a fun and memorable one.
We are the World Champions! During the mid-year break, Pymble athletes travelled to Nancy, France to compete at the International School Sport Federation (ISF) World Schools Athletics Championship – and they won! Our athletes hit the ground running on day one to achieve the following results: • Kristie Edwards: 1st in long jump (PB) • Imogen Gardiner: 1st in 800m (two-second PB) • Edita Grinbergs: 2nd in 800m (season's best) • Nicole Freestone: 5th in 400m (PB) and equal 3rd in high jump • Imogen Breslin: 10th in long jump (PB in the final jump) • Georgia Duncan: 3rd in shot put On day two, Imogen won the hurdles, Georgia came second in her heat, Kristie finished second in the 100m and second overall amongst schools and selection teams and Edita came second in the discus. The girls had a lead of 48 points going into the relay and ran with all their might to come in at third place, before being announced World Champions! A phenomenal effort from the girls and their coaches!
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Sport and Activities
Happy campers!
New program for high-performing athletes
Year 8 students were blessed with fantastic weather for their Outdoor Education program in February. Based at two campsites in Killalea and Mount Keira, the camp offered a range physical activities, with surfing, stand-up paddle
boarding and rock climbing proving to be popular among the girls. Students embraced being out of their comfort zones as they met each experiential learning opportunity with a great attitude, determination and perserverance.
Sport and Activities
" Our new PAEP program is designed to take athletes with great track records to the next level, and perfectly complements our Pymble Elite Sportswomen's Program." – Director of Sport and Activities, Mr Cameron Anderson
5 take-home points from camp 1. Bonding 2. Resilience 3. Independence 4. Passion 5. Self-assurance
For the past 10 years, the Pymble Elite Sportswomen’s Program (PESP) has supported elite athletes to strive for their highest in academic and sporting pursuits. Recently, we have identified a need to provide greater support and sports education to those girls who currently don't meet the PESP criteria but are still participating in sport at a high level – in a Firsts Team for their age group or as an Independent Girls' Schools Sporting Association (IGSSA) representative. Launched in Term 2, our new Pymble Athlete Education Program (PAEP) aims to help students learn the skills required to achieve their highest level of physical, intellectual and personal growth in their chosen sports. Each school term, participants are required to complete three online Sport Education lessons including: • Individual skills analysis. • Setting personalised sporting goals. • U nderstanding how each student’s character strengths can help their sporting performance. • Strategies for developing resilience. • Managing the mental side of injury recovery. • Being a better teammate. • A wide range of sports psychology topics. At the conclusion of each 12-month period, athletes should be better equipped with the skills and knowledge to successfully navigate their own sporting pathways and make decisions that positively influence their performance in sport and life. Applications for the PAEP close at the end of Week 3 each term.
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Only at Pymble... The PAEP is a bespoke program created for Pymble by our Coaching Director – Rowing, Simon Pennington, who combined his expertise in sports coaching, teaching, pastoral care and online learning with research from his Master of Education degree. The PAEP Co-ordinators are Miss Skye Halliday and Mr Simon Pennington.
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Sport and Activities
Sport and Activities
Atten-shun!
Spotlight on: Rowing at Pymble
In April 2017, the Pymble Ladies’ College Cadet Unit was formally ratified by the Australian Army, making it the only all-female Australian Army School-Based Cadet Unit in the Commonwealth of Australia. The program is open to students from Term 4 in Year 8 through to Term 2 in Year 12. Cadets have the opportunity to develop their service, leadership, teamwork and outdoor skills and become confident and selfsufficient young women. All registered students commence as Cadet Recruits and, after introductory training, have opportunities to undertake promotions courses to obtain Cadet rank to carry out leadership roles within the unit. Key activities of the program include: • Weekly training: cadets learn core skills in preparation for field exercises and ceremonial occasions. • Overnight bivouac camp: to build skills for the annual field exercise (camp). • Annual field exercise: camp designed to consolidate skills and training and encourage teamwork in a challenging environment. • Promotion courses: training in leadership, project management and facilitation of training for cadet recruits. • Ceremonial parades: ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day and Cadets graduation parade.
Pymble has a long and proud tradition of Rowing excellence, having been a dominant contender for many of the years in which we have participated in this exciting sport. This coming season, we will clock up 25 years of Rowing at Pymble, during which time we have won the Head of the River Point Score trophy 14 times, including 12 consecutive years winning the 1st VIII’s event and four Schoolgirl VIII National titles. In the recent Rowing season, which ran from September 2016 to March 2017, our 1st VIII raced our newly christened eight, named Vicki Waters, to finish as bronze medallists at the national titles.
One to watch... Abbey Rockliff, sprinter, Year 10
The Pymble Rowing program has been re-invigorated in the last couple of years and is now looking to expand.
WE WANT YOU! It’s never too late to join the Pymble Rowing squad – just ask Pymble ex-student and Olympian rower Genevieve Horton (2012), who commenced rowing later than most!
Oarsome benefits Aside from becoming physically fit and having fun along the way, Rowers are supported to develop character-building attributes including: • Teamwork • Goal setting and achieving • A positive mindset • Perseverance • Time management skills
We encourage all Secondary School girls to consider giving it a go. Years 7, 8 and 9 are ideal times to try it out – and the good news is that Rowing does not require an early-morning on-water training commitment in these year groups. Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 who are interested in Rowing but lacking in time are also encouraged to look into our new Blue Squad options. These require less time commitment, but girls still compete at the Independent Girls’ Schools Sporting Association (IGSSA) and Head of the River Regattas. So, whether you have rowed before or haven’t tried it yet, why not consider getting on board to celebrate 25 years of Rowing at Pymble?
Congratulations to Abbey Rockliff (Year 10) who won the Balmoral Burn Open Female race on Sunday 28 May. Abbey was seventh overall out of all the Elite and Open runners and only nine seconds behind the winner, Olympian Anneliese Rubie. Abbey broke the record for the under 18 girls, which was held by a Pymble ex-student, Miranda Middleton (2011) in 2010 at 1.52. Abbey ran an outstanding race in just 1.47.
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Sport and Activities
Sport and Activities
Co-curricular STEM at Pymble Interest in our Co-curricular STEM groups and activities continues to grow at a rate of knots. We now have more than 100 students signed up for the various Code Clubs and Robotics Teams, run by STEM Co-ordinator, Dr Kristie Spence.
From strength to strength
Code Club introduces computer programming, aka “coding”, in a fun and creative way, with the help of an expert guide. Girls design and code apps, games and websites, learning how to break down problems and find ways to solve them using their knowledge and skills learned in Mathematics, Science and Technology.
Congratulations to our dancers! Our Junior Eisteddfod team floored us with their outstanding performances at Extreme Dance Eisteddfod. Both our Lyrical and Jazz groups danced with skill, passion and dedication to win first place in their categories.
We currently have Junior School and Secondary School Code Clubs. As of Term 3, Code Club will also be open to Preparatory students in Year 2, who will work with students in Years 3 and 4. Robotics is a fun and engaging way for students to tinker with robots, solve openended problems and turn ideas into reality. Our Junior School Robotics program gives girls the opportunity to learn how to design robotic mechanisms to carry out specific tasks. In Semester 1, our girls designed an efficient mechanical stirrer to make bubbles and mechanical hands to pick up and carry items. The girls have also been exploring how to use sensors and coding. These tasks are all training for the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competition to be held in Semester 2. Our Secondary Robotics program encourages the development of a variety of engineering skills, which students have taken to a competition level in 2017. Our FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team, Pymble Pride 6510, took part in their first competition, the South Pacific FRC Regional in March. The team, comprising of 41 students as well as ex-students and mentors, had less than six weeks to design and build a working robot that could collect and deliver gears to an ‘airship’ and climb aboard a ‘spaceship’. At the end of the qualifying rounds, Pymble Pride 6510 was ranked nineteenth amongst 39 teams and our team walked away with the Rookie Inspiration Award as well as a Safety Award.
Early success in their inaugural FIRST Robotics Competition motivated the girls to learn new skills in order to improve their robot designs. Pymble Pride 6510 went on to compete in Duel Down Under, another FIRST Robotics Competition, where our girls made it all the way to the finals, as part of the Blue or Red alliance. The friendly competition saw the Blue alliance claim first place. Later in the year, the girls will also compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge and the VEX Robotics Competition. A third afternoon of Senior Robotics will be available in Semester 2, so watch this space!
Double bill for Festival of Drama Drama lovers enjoyed a double bill with a difference in June at this year’s Festival of Drama, produced by our Cocurricular Drama students in Years 7 to 11. The group staged two engaging and thought-provoking performances, the classic Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and the modern Stories in the Dark by Australian playwright Debra Oswald, which played on alternating nights in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA). For the first time in College history, the Co-curricular Drama group used innovative principles of repertory theatre to present the two stunning productions in rotation, using one set and one lighting rig as the basis for the two plays in the 750-seat theatre. “The two productions have more in common than it seems at first glance,” said Co-ordinator of Co-curricular Drama, Ingrid Spears. “While Jane Eyre is set in nineteenth century England and Stories in the Dark takes place in a modern war-torn city, these vastly different tales both revolve around strong, inspiring and empowering women overcoming many confronting obstacles.”
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Black Watch Ties
Black Watch Ties
President’s Report
Events and Reunions
I am excited to be writing my first Ex-Students’ Union (ESU) President’s piece for Pymbulletin. I have been a reader of the publication for many years, so it is now a privilege to be a contributor.
extra-curricular robotics program. Read all about these, and other wonderful events and reunions on pages 53 to 55.
As the “new” President, I am still getting to know everyone, learning how things work and setting the new Committee’s direction. I hope to put in place the motto that we all learned at Pymble: to strive for the highest. If you think my Committee and I can do better in that regard, we welcome your constructive feedback.
By popular demand, the ESU will once again be running the 'Chicken and Champagne' stall at the Garden Party on Saturday 16 September from 10.00am. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the wider College community and have some fun. We are asking for volunteers to help with a range of activities, including making and donating chicken sandwiches (the famous ESU recipe will be shared with you!), cutting strawberries the day before, and serving on the day. If anyone has an RSA qualification, we would particularly like to hear from you! To sign up, please SMS or call Annie Corbett on 0428 966 298, or email her at annie_corbett@ icloud.com. Of course, everyone is invited to enjoy a sandwich, strawberries and Champagne with us on the day!
The new Committee was voted in at the AGM late last year. Besides myself, we now have a new Vice President in Danielle Ainsworth (Kelly, 1987), Treasurer Lucinda Lovell (1999) and Assistant Secretary Peppy Mitchell (1987). We welcome new Committee members Annie Corbett (Wong, 1992), Holly Lewis (2006) and Apoorva Kallianpur (2009). I’m grateful that we have several Committee Members staying on, including our Secretary, Robyn Soonius (Whyte, 1983) and Assistant Treasurer, Shilpi Sanghera (Chakrabarti, 1998), as well as Larissa de Carle (1987), Janet Stanley (Burney, 1986) and Joanna Bertoline (Mason-Jones, 1988). I would like to thank the outgoing Committee for their efforts up to and including the Centenary year, particularly Katrina Corcoran (Hum, 1987) and Sabah Hussain (2004), who were our previous President and Treasurer. The new Committee has put much thought into how to maintain relevancy to our ESU members, ex-students, current students and the College. The ESU has been in operation for almost as long as the College has existed, with largely the same objectives. Those objectives are to maintain the traditions of the College; to unite past and present students; and to promote a committed ex-student body that works collaboratively with the College to support the wellbeing of members of the College community. With these long-held objectives in mind, we have decided to focus on four main areas in 2017. We will: 1. Complete fundraising for the ESU’s Centenary Pledge. 2. Meaningfully connect past students with each other, professionally and socially. 3. Meaningfully connect past students with present students as role models and mentors. 4. Support College-organised activities, such as the Garden Party. Our events and activities all tie back to these focus areas. For example, we will continue to provide a scholarship to the daughter of an ex-student for her final two years of schooling, and will also provide support for Indigenous Scholars’ uniforms. It’s already been a busy first half of the year! Generations of Pymble women came together in our beautiful Mothers' and Grandmothers' Morning Tea. Students in Years 10 to 12 were inspired by the career paths forged by ex-students at the annual Careers Expo. And Pymble’s STEM Co-ordinator, Dr Kristie Spence, put her 2017 ESU Artist in Residence (AIR) Grant to great use by launching a successful
We have a number of great events planned for this year. First is the ESU Commemoration Day Service in the Chapel on Sunday 30 July at 10.30am, where we look forward to hearing from our wonderful ESU Choir. The service will be followed by morning tea.
In October, we will again hold our ESU Networking Breakfast in the city. Past speakers have included the current NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian and ex-student, Bronwyn Taylor (Washington, 1986) who is an MLC for the National Party in NSW. We will provide further details closer to the date. The annual ESU Golf Day will be held on Wednesday 22 November at Avondale Golf Club. This year, we are offering a walk alongside the traditional round of golf, followed by a delicious lunch and some inspiring words from a guest speaker. As we use this event to raise funds for the ESU, we are looking for sponsors for the day and welcome anyone who would like to highlight their business or product to the Pymble community. There are a range of sponsorship opportunities available, and we welcome donations for the raffle as well. Please contact Larissa de Carle on 0427 659 456 or larissafleur@optusnet.com.au if you would like to get involved. In addition, the ESU is now selling the Entertainment Book, containing thousands of discounts and special offers for restaurants, arts, attractions, hotels, travel and shopping. You (and family and friends) can buy a digital or hard copy online through www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/91u2752. The digital version can be accessed immediately after purchase. If you order a hard copy online, it can be picked up from the Alumni Department at the Heritage Centre during school term. The ESU is a voluntary committee that works alongside the College’s Alumni Department, helping the ESU organise functions by managing the ex-student database and sending out invitations. Katrina Corcoran (previous ESU President) is the Alumni Relations Manager and Carrie Medworth is the Alumni Assistant. If you have recently changed your contact details, please contact Katrina and Carrie on alumnirelations@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au. All’ Ultimo Lavoro. Li-Enn Koo (Lau, 1991) PRESIDENT
For more information about ESU events and reunions visit www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au 52 | PYMBULLETIN | VOLUME 41
alumNOW 2016 Centenary Art Exhibition Friday 19 August to Sunday 21 August 2016 You may have heard of our alumNOW 2016 Centenary Art Exhibition. Held in August of 2016, this unique event showcased the artistic works of ex-students living in Australia and abroad. The monies raised from the sale of these items contributed to the ESU’s gift to the College – the Centenary Artwork within the Centenary Sports Precinct. The success of this exhibition has ensured that alumNOW will become a recurring event in the ESU calendar during the next 100 years. The opening night of the exhibition was truly a night to remember! More than 200 guests sipped Champagne as they browsed through 100 pieces of outstanding artwork, including ceramics, sculpture, jewellery, photography and paintings created by ex-students. We were delighted to see our Principal, Vicki Waters and Chair of College Council, Braith Williams in conversation with ex-student artists and welcoming back so many ex-student guests. The guests were serenaded by Pymble’s clarinet and flute ensemble and harpsichord players, who were fortunate enough to play a harpsichord painted by ex-student Diana Ford (Gee, 1959). The late Kerrie Lester (1971) was also honoured on the night. A prolific artist, Kerrie was a 16-time finalist in the Archibald Prize, and her incredible portrait of former principal, Mrs Gillian Moore still hangs in the Conde Library at the College today. We were thrilled to be able to exhibit a selection of her works at the event.
Jennifer regularly collaborates with all the major Australian companies, and has designed some of the largest and most spectacular productions ever staged in Australia, such as the ‘Awakening’ Indigenous segment of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony. Jennifer also co-designed all the costumes for the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony, the official commemorative ceremony marking the Centenary of Australian Federation, and the opening of the Olympic Arts' ‘Festival of the Dreaming’. Thank you to Gill Ross-Edwards (Clark, 1976) and her dedicated team for an outstanding exhibition, and to artist Sophie Mill (Busquets, 1987) who was the art technician for the evening.
Mothers’ and Grandmothers’ Morning Tea Thursday 30 March 2017 Generations of Pymble women came together to indulge in a little cake and a lot of lively chatter at our Mothers’ and Grandmothers’ Morning Tea. This delightful annual gathering is for mothers and grandmothers who are ex-students, and currently have daughters or granddaughters attending Pymble. If you are an ex-student with a daughter or granddaughter currently attending but weren’t aware of the Morning Tea, please contact alumnirelations@ pymblelc.nsw.edu.au as we would love to see you at next year’s event!
Mothers’ and Grandmothers’ Morning Tea
Connecting with the past alumNOW Art Exhibition
Take a College tour Curious to see how Pymble has changed since your schooldays? Visit sites familiar and new by booking yourself in for a guided tour of the College. Exclusive to ex-students, the tours will run on Tuesday 25 July and Thursday 19 October. Each tour takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes, followed by morning tea in the Heritage Centre. Please contact the Alumni Department on alumnirelations@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or (02) 9855 7304 to book your place.
Internationally-renowned costume designer Jennifer Irwin (1976) was the guest speaker at the exhibition. In a career spanning 36 years, Jennifer has constructed and designed costumes for drama, opera, film and in particular, for dance and ballet.
At the beginning of each new school year, our Year 7 students learn all of the ins and outs of Secondary School life during Connect Week. No Connect Week is complete without a trip to the Heritage Centre, where girls become immersed in the history of the College and enjoy a question-and-answer session with visiting ex-students. During this year’s Connect Week, we were thrilled to invite Margaret Snodgrass OAM (Forsyth, 1955) and Philippa Graham (Myers, 1969) in to talk to the girls, who were rapt to hear about life at the College during the 1950s and 1960s. A huge thank you to both ladies for sharing their time and their stories.
College Tour Connect Week
Stay in touch with our global network of ex-students. Join the ESU Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/PymbleESU VOLUME 41 | PYMBULLETIN | 53
Black Watch Ties
Black Watch Ties
Talking about your generation
Doing the robot
Do you have Pymble family connections that go back generations? Or, do you have a daughter or granddaughter who will commence her schooling at the College in the coming years? We like to celebrate family trees and continuing Pymble ties so please contact the Alumni Department on alumnirelations@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if this is of interest to you.
This year, the Ex-Students’ Union (ESU) Artist in Residence (AIR) Grant was awarded to Pymble STEM Co-ordinator, Dr Kristie Spence. With the grant, Dr Spence engaged two robotics experts, Mr Asaph Mross Becker and Mrs Cristhina Mross Becker. Their goal was to teach co-curricular students in Years 5 to 12, along with recent Pymble graduates Minyi Zhong (2016) and Komal Kaur (2016), and adult mentors including Simone Brian (Park, 1988) and Abigail Harkness (2015) how to design and build a working robot to compete against other robots in the three-day long FIRST Robotics Competition’s South Pacific Regional.
International Women’s Day Wednesday 8 March 2017 International Women’s Day is a fantastic celebration of the social, cultural, political and economic achievements of women around the globe. This year, Pymble marked the occasion by inviting two inspiring ex-students to share their stories with the girls. We were delighted to welcome back Olympian Chloe Dalton (2011) who spoke to Upper School students about her glittering rugby career. Chloe discussed what it is like to be a woman playing in Rugby Sevens, how she tackles stereotypes head on, and the glory of taking gold with the Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. Students were left feeling uplifted – and were thrilled to have the chance to try on her medal, too! Successful CEO of skin care company Ella Baché, Pippa Hallas (1992) delivered a wonderful talk to Senior School students about using their voices fearlessly. Pippa shared sage advice about the importance of self-belief – even when others doubt you – and treating others with respect. She encouraged the girls to surround themselves with positive people, and to always value their support. Many thanks to Chloe and Pippa for their inspiring and passionate words!
Chloe Dalton (2011) visits Pymble
Pippa Hallas (1992) visits Pymble
Make memories at the Chapel The War Memorial Chapel is the heart of Pymble, having playing host to more than 900 weddings since it was built in 1956. If you are interested in getting married or holding a Christening at this beautiful and historic venue, contact the Alumni Department on alumnirelations@pymblelc. nsw.edu.au or (02) 9855 7304. Please note that the Chapel is only available for weddings and Christenings during term time.
War Memorial Chapel
Annual Careers Expo The future looks bright for our Years 10 to 12 students, who recently had the chance to explore post-HSC opportunities and pathways at our Careers Expo. The girls had access to representatives from 66 universities, colleges, institutions and academies, as well as the opportunity to chat with experienced professionals comprising of Pymble parents and exstudents who work in a range of industries from Business to Science, Engineering, IT, Health, Law, Media and more. We are very fortunate to have such a strong and diverse range of ex-students we can call on to give back to the College through their time, advice and career guidance.
Forming a team called Pymble Pride 6510, the group worked with Asaph and Cristhina two afternoons a week, learning how to use new tools and programs, to push through failures until they found success, and to think creatively as a team, despite the age differences between them. After creating their robot with support and encouragement from Asaph and Cristhina, the team earned 19th place at the competition, picking up a Rookie Inspiration Award and a Safety Award at the same time. Congratulations, Pymble Pride 6510! Asaph and Cristhina will be working further with Secondary School students as they gear up for more competitions later in the year. They will also be working with Junior School staff and students in another FIRST competition in 2017. You can follow their progress on www.facebook.com/ PymbleLCrobotics/. If you are interested in volunteering your time to mentor the team, offering your financial support, or providing resources such as tools, wood or electronics, please contact Dr Spence on kspence@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Pymble Pride 6510
For more information about ESU events and reunions visit www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au 54 | PYMBULLETIN | VOLUME 41
Volunteers wanted for College Archive The Pymble Archive is a treasure trove of papers, objects, photos, audio visual resources and memorabilia dating all the way back to the College’s beginnings in 1916! Showcased in the Heritage Centre below the Chapel, our collection tells the story of the College, its foundation, growth and changes over the years. The Archive Department is looking for volunteers to assist in tasks that will help us preserve and better utilise the collection, for example, indexing past magazines, arranging and identifying photographs or dating and packing textiles. If you’d like to volunteer, please contact our Archivist Enid O’Carroll on eocarroll@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or (02) 9855 7303.
ESU Centenary Christmas Carol Service Sunday 11 December 2016 The ESU was delighted to host its Centenary Christmas Carol service in the Chapel in December. The Pymble community was greeted and called to worship by College Chaplain Reverend Punam Bent, who also led the advent candle lighting. ESU President Li-Enn Koo (1991) delivered a warm welcome, and readings were given by Margaret Snodgrass OAM (Forsyth, 1955), Danielle Ainsworth (Kelly, 1987) and Madeleine Payne (2016). Reverend Lorenzo Rodriguez Torres provided a reflection and prayer. Throughout the service, the Pymble community was also fortunate to listen to the beautiful carol singing of the ESU Choir, with special solo performances by ex-students Diana Sidney (Butler, 1969), Felicity Kelly (Philipp, 1969) and Sue Lack (Westmore, 1972).
Canberra Regional Reunion Saturday 18 March 2017 On March 18, 35 ex-students from Pymble Ladies’ College and Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Goulburn gathered at the Commonwealth Club in Canberra to enjoy a wonderful reunion. Our leaving dates spanned from 1949 to 2008, so we had a huge range of different experiences. We enjoyed catching up with old friends and
making new ones – it may sound clichéd, but that’s how it is when Pymble “Old Girls” get together. After I welcomed everyone and acknowledged the traditional owners of our country, we kicked off an evening filled with fine food, fine wine and excellent company. Bin Barnier generously donated prizes that were raffled off, and $200 was raised for the ESU contribution to the Indigenous Scholarship Program. The School Song was sung with gusto, to the amusement of staff, I fear. Photos were taken to record our smiling faces. We were happy that Katrina Corcoran, Alumni Relations Manager, came to our reunion and we appreciate the effort she made to get the invitations out and the acceptances in! We enjoyed hearing Katrina’s update of College events. Thanks to Ali Watson (Ferguson, 1963) for her excellent organisational skills and to Katrina for the beautiful gifts of College memorabilia for Ali and me.
Just over 100 attended, with girls coming from the USA, Singapore and all across Australia to celebrate. The night could have continued forever, with so much to catch up on and so many stories to share! The 1987 cohort is a wonderful group of fabulous ladies and we hope to continue these strong numbers in our future reunions. Katrina Corcoran (Hum, 1987)
Class of 1987 Reunion
Louise Allison (1963)
Meet your 2017 ESU Committee •
Li-Enn Koo (1991) President
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Danielle Ainsworth (Kelly, 1987) Vice President
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Lucinda Lovell (1999) Treasurer
Pymble in Hong Kong Wednesday 1 March 2017
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Robyn Soonius (Whyte, 1983) Secretary
The glamorous Hotel ICON in Kowloon was the site of a catch-up between current and ex-students based in and around Hong Kong in March. Over cocktails and canapés, College Principal Vicki Waters and ESU President Li-Enn Koo reminisced with Pymble girls past and present about their memories of the College, and what the future has in store.
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Peppy Mitchell (1987) Assistant Secretary and Risk Manager
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Larissa de Carle (1987)
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Janet Stanley (Burney, 1986)
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Joanna Bertoline (Mason-Jones, 1988)
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Holly Lewis (2006)
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Annie Corbett (Wong, 1992)
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Apoorva Kallianpur (2009)
Canberra Reunion
Class of 1987 30-year Reunion Saturday 18 March 2017 In March, ex-students from the class of 1987 celebrated their 30-year reunion at the Greenwood Hotel in North Sydney.
For Committee contact details, please follow the link www.pymblelc.nsw.edu. au/community/ex-students-union/ committee-contacts/
Stay in touch with our global network of ex-students. Join the ESU Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/PymbleESU VOLUME 41 | PYMBULLETIN | 55
Black Watch Ties
Black Watch Ties
Announcements
Vale
Marriages Lizzie Webster (2000) and Dave Waters married on 8 October 2016. The ceremony was held in Breadalbane at “The Old School House” – a gorgeous property owned by Lizzie’s mother, Elizabeth Webster (Love, 1969). The wedding was attended by Pymble girls Kate Bailey (Aitken, 2000), Jenny Barraclough (2000) and bridesmaid Edwina Mill (Bull, 2000).
Natasha Blake (2003) married Karl Laing on 25 March 2017 in the Pymble Ladies’ College War Memorial Chapel. The grounds provided a memorable backdrop for beautiful photos on their special day.
Natasha and Karl
Lizzie and Dave
Gretta Howard (1994) and James Thompson (Knox Grammar School, 1986) were married on 27 December 2015. Gretta’s bridesmaids included her two sisters, Kylie Gray (Howard, 1997) and Veronica Thomas (Howard, 2000).
Elvina Li (2001) and Michael Song were married on 8 April 2017 in the Chapel. Two of her bridesmaids were Angela Hung (2001) and Joyce Li (2001). Other Pymble friends in attendance were Annie Pan (2001), Janet Li (2003), Jennifer Lee (2001), Judy So (2001), Julie-Anne Huang (2001), Stephanie Yam (2013) and Yvonne Ng (2001).
Births Gretta Howard (1994) and her husband James Thompson are proud to announce the arrival of their son Hamish, on 21 October 2016. Hamish is younger brother to Marcus.
Gretta and James
Briony McIntosh (2001) married Matthew Clark in the picturesque French village of Moissac-Bellevue in Provence on 3 September 2016. Briony is the daughter of Sue McIntosh (Turnbull, 1972). The couple will continue to live in London where Briony is the Marketing Manager for Treasury Wine Estates.
Ex-Students’ News
Saira Zaki (Ahmed, 2001) and husband Irfan are delighted to announce the birth of their son, Zayn Irfan Zaki, born 30 September 2016. Alyssa Squance (Burman, 1998) and her husband Dane welcomed Evelyn Rose Carey Squance on 22 August 2016. A much-adored little sister for big brother, Harrison. Emily Rees (Cale, 2005) and husband Chris are thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter, Livia Quinn Rees, born 4 March 2017. Livia is the niece of Jessica Cale (2007) and Alicia Meredith Cale (2010).
Jim Kelso, OAM passed away on 7 April 2017 at the age of 86. Jim’s three daughters attended Pymble Ladies’ College, and he served on the College Council from 1974 to 1995. During his time on the Council, Jim supervised the construction of the new gates and the Jeanette Buckham Centre for Physical Education, as well as extensions to the College’s boarding houses. The James Kelso Pavilion/Field was named in his honour. Jim was the devoted and muchloved husband of Dorothy (deceased) and the loving father and father-in-law of Sally and David Carratt, Fiona and Finlay Crawford and Amanda and Richard Neville. He was also the dearly-loved grandfather of Lisa, Jason, Michelle, Mitchell, Hamish, Angus, Lucy, Hugo and Felix, and the loved brother and brother-in-law of Allen (deceased) and Jenny Kelso, Brian and Margaret Dean (deceased) and Wendy and Robert Syme. Beatrice Annie Knight (Pattinson, 1945) passed away in her 90th year on 1 January 2017 in Dunedoo, NSW. Missed by daughters Anne Bowman (Knight, 1970) and Jill Bowman (Knight, 1975), son David and her nine grandchildren. Helen Judith Hipsley (McCorquodale, 1977) passed away in 2012 after battling ongoing breast cancer and a lung operation. Helen made a career in the travel industry after leaving Pymble. She taught Tourism and Travel at Ryde College TAFE, and was held in high regard by her students and peers. Helen will be dearly missed by her husband Stephen and two children, Christopher and Sarah. Denise Househam (Leicester, 1942) passed away peacefully on 1 November 2016 in her 90th year, following a short illness. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends, but will live on in her four children, nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Frances Susan Pratt (Fawcett, 1944) passed away peacefully 6 October 2016, aged 90. She always felt a strong connection with Pymble and its community, with her six daughters and granddaughters attending the College.
She typified many of the values of the school, especially care, courage and responsibility. A true lady who will be sorely missed by many, especially her husband of 60 years, Nevill. Shirley Pennell (Dannefaerd, 1942) passed away 17 November 2016. Shirley attended Pymble for her entire schooling, commencing in the 1930s. She and her sister lived in Ashmore Avenue, and walked to school each day through the paddocks of the dairy separating their home from the school. Shirley became a triple certificate registered nurse and spent two years working at the London Clinic in the 1950s, later heading up the orthopaedic ward at Royal North Shore Hospital. Shirley and her husband William were married by Reverend Robert MacArthur at the War Memorial Chapel in 1957 – her daughter Penny Blomfield (Pennell, 1978) and husband James were later married at the Chapel by Reverend MacArthur in 1984. Shirley’s daughters Christine Pennell (1976) and Penny attended Pymble, as did her granddaughter, Emma Blomfield (2004). Unwell in recent times but never one to give up without a fight, Shirley will be remembered with much love by her family. Lesley Mitchell (Paton, 1961) passed away peacefully on 3 June 2015. Lesley was the daughter of Joan Grounds, formerly Paton (Smith, 1929). She was the sister of Anne Deane (Paton, 1959), aunt to Pymble Mathematics teacher Sarah Israel and Melissa Mason (Grounds, 2000), mother of Penelope “Peppy” Mitchell (1987) and grandmother of current Year 8 student, Sophia Mitchell. She was baptised in the Chapel on 4 February 1992 and her memorial service was held there on 20 June 2015. Lindsay Russell Neil (Walker, 1936) 27 December 1921 – 11 February 2017. Lindsay attended Pymble from 1933 to 1936, leaving at the end of Year 11. Upon finishing school, she embarked on an extended tour of the UK and Europe with her mother, which was cut short by impending events leading to World War II.
In 1944, Lindsay married Robert Stewart Warren Neil, then a Sergeant in the Australian Army on active service in Papua New Guinea. They had three children Robert, Mignon and Barry. She and her family lived variously in Gordon, Long Reef, Killara, Federal and again in Killara. Lindsay supported a number of charities and cultural activities, including the Children’s Medical Research Institute. Lindsay passed away at Killara Gardens Nursing Home, aged 95. She is survived by her three children, six grandchildren and 15 greatgrandchildren. Margaret Maddrell (Richardson, 1936) passed away peacefully on 9 January 2017, with a daughter by her side. Margaret was the daughter of Reverend Sydney Richardson, Minister of the Presbyterian Church at Pymble from 1930, and a staff member of the College from 1962-1973. Audrey Myrtle (Cummins, 1941) late of Moree and Springwood, passed away peacefully on 21 March 2017. Born on 2 July 1924, Audrey received an OAM for service to the community as a church organist and musical director. Audrey was a musical director/organist and member of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Manly for 43 years, as well as an organiser of the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Concert series. Audrey was an organist for the NSW Annual Conference of the Country Women’s Association for over 30 years, and from 2000, she was also a relief organist for the Springwood Presbyterian Church. Muchloved daughter of Robert and Ida Cummins and loving sister to Bruce and Bob, and sister-in-law of Pamela (all deceased). Audrey was also the much-loved aunt of Anne, Richard and Greg and their families. Christine Fekete (Macfadyen, 1967) passed away on 1 April 2017. Although she was born Maria on 17 January 1950, her preferred name was Christine. Wife of Steven and mother to Nicholas, Theresa and Sebastian, Christine will be dearly missed by all.
Vivienne Pittendrigh (1952) turned her lifelong passion for chamber music into a career after leaving Pymble. She lived and worked in England, Vienna, Budapest and Prague before settling permanently in Greece, where she is the Director of Chamber Music Holidays and Festivals, Divertimenti in Corfu. Vivienne is currently organising the Festival Divertimenti, which will be held this September in Corfu.
2017 Ex-Students' Events DATE EVENT Sunday 30 July
45 Year 1972 Reunion
Saturday 12 August
unter Valley/ H Newcastle Reunion
Saturday 9 September
Brisbane Reunion
Saturday 9 September
Los Angeles Reunion
Saturday 9 September
55 Year 1962 Reunion
Saturday 16 September
Garden Party
Saturday 16 September
New York Reunion
Saturday 24 September
Melbourne Reunion
Saturday 7 October
5 Year 2012 Reunion
Saturday 14 October
40 Year 1977 Reunion
Saturday 14 October
35 Year 1982 Reunion
Saturday 14 October Darling Downs/ Northern NSW Reunion Tuesday 19 October Ex-Student Tour and Morning Tea Saturday 21 October
Update your contact details by completing the form in the ESU section of the College website at
60 Year 1957 Reunion
Monday 23 October ESU Networking breakfast, 8.00am Wednesday 25 October
Perth Reunion
Saturday 4 November
50 Year 1967 Reunion
Saturday 18 November 25 Year 1992 Reunion Saturday 18 November UK/Europe Reunion Wednesday 22 November Golf Day at Avondale Golf Club Saturday 25 November
Briony and Matthew
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Rachel Thomas (1998) has been named the British Medical Association’s “Young Author of 2016” for two medical textbooks she has written. After leaving Pymble, Rachel graduated in Biomedical Engineering (Hons 1) and Science at The University of Sydney, before moving to the UK to study Medicine and Surgery at Oxford University. She recently returned to speak to our current students about her career in STEM.
20 Year 1997 Reunion
www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/community/ex-students-union VOLUME 41 | PYMBULLETIN | 57
Guests enjoying the 10th Anniversary Indigenous Scholarship Program Celebration Dinner
Avon Road, Pymble NSW 2073 PO Box 136, North Ryde BC NSW 1670 Australia Tel: +61 2 9855 7799 Fax: +61 2 9855 7766 Email: communityengagement@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
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