Senior School programs

Sessions are held in the Kate Mason Senior Centre Building – Monday to Thursday, 3.30pm to 6.30pm and Sunday in the Conde Library, 10.30am to 3.30pm.

A detailed schedule (rooming) and registration link is available via the After Hours Study Program website: https:// sites.google.com/pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/ afterhoursstudyprogram/home Study Camps (Year 12)

Throughout 2021, Year 12 is offered the opportunity to attend a structured study (nonresidential) camp during the winter and spring holiday breaks.

Dates for 2021 Study Camp • Winter Holidays: Monday 21 June to

Friday 25 June • Spring Holidays: Monday 20 September to

Friday 24 September

Further details will be available closer to the start of the camps.

For further information on Senior School study programs, please contact Mrs Olsen (Head of Extended Learning) jolsen@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Meal options

Breakfast on the Go Breakfast on the Go is a daily service offering students from Years 5 to 12 a small range of economic and nutritious breakfast choices. The service operates from 7.00am to 8.00am daily from the Pymble Food Van. Breakfast on the Go is ideal for students involved in early morning co-curricular activities or for those girls who arrive early at the College from time to time. It is designed to support students to be punctual to class after co-curricular activities, to provide nourishment to avoid mid-morning energy slumps and to reduce congestion at the local shops in the morning.

Luncheon Packages – Years 3 to 12 students A limited number of Luncheon Packages are available for day students in Junior School and Secondary School. Students on Luncheon Packages receive a daily meal served by the kitchen. Registration for this service opens in January and closes within 72 hours of the link going live on the Portal.

Jacaranda Café The Jacaranda Café is open before school, offering varied breakfast, morning tea and lunch options. During school hours, this café offers a range of light meals, sandwiches, snacks and beverages for senior school students and staff.

SENIOR SCHOOL PROGRAMS

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.” – Hodding Carter

The above quotation effectively captures the challenges and opportunities presented to the girls in the Senior School. While continuing to develop the strong sense of community and joy of learning that have been established in the Middle and Upper Schools, Senior School students are also preparing to leave the College and ‘fly’ in their post-school lives. As such, these final years of school are an exciting time of growth, trial and reward. Through their involvement in College life, the young women of the Senior School develop greater responsibility, self-discipline, self-awareness and independent decision-making skills.

These capacities are fostered in the Senior School Centre – Kate Mason Building, as the students and staff embrace the possibilities and opportunities presented in the flexible learning spaces and state-of-the-art technologies. Senior School students are provided with a range of experiences which challenge them and enhance their academic, physical, social and emotional development. These experiences are developed through the vast choices of academic courses, co-curricular activities, such as sport, performing arts, community service, and the Connect program. Leadership roles for Senior School students are available in all of these activities. In these roles, students are encouraged to make a difference as responsible, compassionate and effective young leaders of their peers and the College.

Curriculum

In Years 11 and 12, English is the only compulsory subject. The remainder of each girl’s timetable is made up of subjects chosen from the following list: Mathematics, Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Physics, Investigating Science (in Year 12), Ancient History, Modern History, Geography, Legal Studies, Chinese, Classical Greek, Dance, Drama, Music, Food Technology, Design and Technology, Hospitality, Software Design and Development, Business Studies, Economics, French, German, Japanese, Italian Beginners, Latin, Textiles and Design, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Studies of Religion, and Visual Arts. The Year 10 Information Booklet, ‘Subject Choice for the HSC’, is available on MyPymble in the Curriculum section.

Study periods

Many students will have lessons on their timetables, designated as Study or ‘Prep’ periods. In these lessons, the girls are expected to take responsibility for using this time effectively. Senior School girls have a variety of options during this time. They can choose to complete quiet, independent work in the library or the Senior School Centre, or they can work on group projects in seminar rooms or the student lounge. All students are required to sign on for their study periods at the Senior School Office. In Period 1, students are required to do this by 8.15am.

Examination policies

Examination policies can be accessed in the Curriculum section of MyPymble www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/mypymble/ The Assessment Policy booklets contain all of the relevant information about the formal assessment programs for Years 10 to 12.

As well as some general information, they contain important rules and procedures for students, parents and teachers. The formal assessment requirements for each subject are also included. If you have any questions about the Assessment Policy, please contact Director of Studies by emailing curriculum@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Leadership opportunities

The students in Year 11 have various opportunities to develop their leadership potential through serving in various positions. These include the roles of Subject Captains, Captains of various sports, activities and cultural teams, Chapel Captains, SRC and Connect Group representatives. Each of these positions has its own selection criteria and process for appointment, which is clearly outlined with the students.

In their final year at the College, all Year 12 students are expected to act as role models and leaders. Senior badges are presented to all Year 12 students in recognition of this special role and the related expectations. As the most senior girls in the school, there will be various opportunities to develop individual leadership and management skills. The Prefect body is composed of Year 12 students elected to that position by their peers and teachers.

Each of the Prefect positions has a delegated portfolio. Year 12 students can also serve as Captains of various sporting and cultural teams, SRC and Connect Group representatives. There are also many opportunities for the students to lead a variety of committees in their final year at the College.

Mentoring

In addition to the girls’ Connect teachers, Senior School students can work with a mentor. Mentors are senior members of staff who will meet individually with the student, or mentee, to discuss their long-term goals and development. The mentoring partnership is a structured one-to-one relationship that focuses on the requirements of the mentee. The relationship can be described as ‘walking alongside’ a younger person with the goal or aim of assisting that person to achieve their potential, in a supportive environment.

As part of the Connect program, students will submit their preferences for their mentor and the allocation will be made from this list. The mentoring conversations that follow are organised by the student. It is hoped that the mentoring program will: • provide opportunities for girls to engage and connect with a trusted advisor, or mentor, who can offer their guidance and support • strengthen individual capacity and responsibility to make decisions in consultation with others • build authentic connections between girls and teachers.

Further information and the opportunity to select a mentor will be provided to the girls as part of their Connect program.

Student Wellbeing Program

Research has indicated that people are most likely to experience wellbeing, happiness and fulfilment when they have a strong sense of purpose and belonging. Our Student Wellbeing Program acknowledges that there are strong links between learning, wellbeing, resilience and student academic achievement. The Senior School Student Wellbeing Program is based upon the College values and aims to foster and develop in all students: • creative and critical thinking skills • flexible and collaborative thinking and work habits • positive thinking and academic resilience • connectedness, community spirit and service. As the students learn to manage an increasingly demanding academic program, they are encouraged to consider the importance of balance in their lives so that they can continue to develop holistically.

As a result, it is hoped that the students will continue to develop strengths in all fields – academic, social, physical and emotional. Much of the Senior School Student Wellbeing Program is based on cognitive-behavioural principles. This evidence-based approach says that our thoughts play a central role in influencing our feelings and consequent behaviour.

This program aims to encourage young people to challenge unhelpful thoughts and draws on positive psychology literature, taking a strengthbased approach that removes the focus from ‘deficits’ to students’ inherent qualities and skills. We also aim to develop resilient learners. This requires more than just being able to overcome distressing feelings and adversity; it also involves being able to make mistakes, and learn from them, as part of the overall growth process. To help to build confident, composed young women, we encourage Senior School students to: