7 minute read
Senior School
A MESSAGE FROM MRS WYSE
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” – Maya Angelou
2021 presented more than its fair share of challenges – academic, social and physical – for the Senior School girls and our community. With the year interrupted by long weeks of online learning and lockdown, the girls showed incredible resilience and initiative to remain connected to their friends and committed to their learning and Co-curricular pursuits. Despite the disrupted schedule, the Year 11 and Year 12 girls still enjoyed plenty of social functions with both years celebrating at their formal dances. The Year 11 Retreat at Collaroy went ahead which provided a key event for the year group to grow their social networks and hear from interesting and engaging speakers. The Year 12 girls also enjoyed their annual Food for Thought luncheon with ex-students, and the fun of Trivia Night where they dressed up and raised money for Taldumande Youth Services, an organisation that supports homeless and vulnerable youth in Sydney. The Senior School also celebrated International Women’s Day, with its 2021 theme, ‘Choose to Challenge’. A group of students attended the International Women’s Day lunch and had the opportunity to hear the keynote address from Grace Tame, the Australian of the Year and fierce advocate for women’s rights. Her presentation was both challenging and inspiring to hear, and I know that all of us who heard her speak will never forget her message.
Once again, the Senior School knitted literally hundreds of squares for Wrap with Love, and celebrated community service with parents, grandparents and friends at our yearly Knit-In.
This year also saw the introduction of a new Mind Body Spirit initiative with our Directions classes. In these fortnightly sessions the girls 2021 was a year of flexibility, grit and accomplishment for the girls in the Senior School. As circumstances changed they learned to accept that there are some things that cannot be altered, but our responses and reactions to them can. They involved themselves wholeheartedly in a range of opportunities and maintained a kind and supportive community. I would like to pay tribute and acknowledge the work of the prefects, and all the Senior girls who volunteered as online big sisters, organised and led on campus and online initiatives and continued to engage in their own learning with such personal dedication and perseverance. As the oldest students in the College and student leaders, you all set a fine example of community, service and care as you lived the College values in your thoughts and actions. Mrs Nikki Wyse, Head of Senior School
worked through a varied curriculum of understanding their strengths, strategies for physical and social safety and wellbeing, emotional regulation, and more practical sessions concerning careers and readiness to leave school. Most importantly, these lessons provided wonderful opportunities for students and staff to discuss topical issues and share strategies for maintaining our wellbeing. As we headed into online learning the Senior School girls once again took up the challenge and engaged in their classes with responsibility and independence, while still maintaining their involvement in a variety of online sporting, academic and cultural opportunities. Innovative responses were required and the staff and girls worked hard and with a great sense of originality and determination to continue with online music, dance, debating, public speaking, and regular fitness workouts and training sessions.
During lockdown both Years 11 and 12 completed their Yearly and Trial HSC examinations online and showed amazing resilience and flexibility.
Some of the final Year 12 festivities had to be transferred to online events, culminating in a very moving and warm Graduation Assembly on the final day of Term 3. The Year 12 girls received a graduation pack and a commemorative yard sign on the day of the assembly which saw all areas of the College represented in farewell messages and performances. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Year 12 girls will celebrate their final Chapel Service, awards ceremony and the Valedictory Dinner in January 2022. In Term 4, the return to learning on campus brought a welcome sense of vitality and good humour back into the Kate Mason Building. Through online assemblies, Chapel services and guest speakers, the Senior School girls and prefects worked hard to build connections and lead their younger peers across the College.
Jessica Tyson, Year 12
Senior School
Emma Reidy and Tiana Zarafetas, Year 12
SENIOR SCHOOL LIAISONS’ REPORT
As the 2021 Senior School Liaison Prefects, our aim was to form genuine connections between the girls, and provide comfort and support throughout the Kate Mason Building. We achieved this through initiatives and events during the course of the year that we could engage in together.
International Women’s Day
This year’s International Women’s Day provided Pymble girls with the opportunity to contribute towards a global movement which strives to celebrate the achievements of women and calls for action towards reaching gender parity. The theme for 2021, ‘Knowing People, Knowing Pymble’, highlighted the importance of getting to know Pymble’s diverse community. On Gloucester Lawn, we had Secondary School students play live in the Pymble Jazz Band and accompany a guest singer, ex-student Ms Briana Cowlishaw (2006). Whilst enjoying the music, students set up picnics and celebrated together. The Senior School took part in the #ChooseToChallenge initiative where we collected photographs of students holding up different empowering messages as they held the ‘power pose’. These pictures were then displayed around the Senior School. We also had a large map of the world placed in the building where students could mark where they were from by placing a sticker on their country. This enlightened the Years 11 and 12 girls as to how diverse our community is and how lucky we are to share so many rich cultural backgrounds within our school.
Dene Paterson and Isabella Holdsworth, Year 11
Food for Thought
The annual Food for Thought luncheon was a highlight for our Year 12 students, who were given the opportunity to engage with 2020 Pymble alumni and to seek advice on coping with the challenges of the HSC. The most common advice passed on to us was that we would have a successful final year by having an open-minded mentality and managing our time to ensure a balanced lifestyle. Our guest speaker, Ms Freya McGahey (2012), Philanthropist Manager at the Bangarra Dance Theatre, inspired many girls with her passion for community engagement. Her determination and persistence through her struggles and her fulfilling career opportunities prepared us to not only embark on our final year of high school keeping an open mind to opportunities as they present, but for the future challenges beyond the HSC.
Despite COVID-19 lockdowns and online learning, we enjoyed several celebrations, opportunities and memories. We would like to thank Mrs Wyse, Ms Gallardo, Ms Ventura, Mrs Harrison, Mrs Pryor, Mr Heggie and Mrs Mimmo for their unwavering support throughout the year. It was so special to be part of such an enthusiastic and loving cohort and we wish the best to everyone in years to come! Tiana Zarafetas and Emma Reidy, Senior School Liaison Prefects
Senior School
CAREERS NIGHT
This year’s Pymble Careers Expo was highly anticipated after being cancelled due to COVID-19 in 2020. Straight after school on Monday 29 March, our Years 10 to 12 students attended the expo to learn more about universities and how to achieve their future goals. The pavilion and the gym were packed with tables and people presenting information about career opportunities and answering questions. There were representatives from 45 universities, colleges, academies and institutes from all across Australia, including Macquarie University, UTS, UNSW, TAFE NSW, the Australian Institute of Music, International Sports College Australia, Defence Force Recruitment and countless others. Overall, it was a very successful and productive night for the students. Leaving the hall carrying armfuls of pamphlets, brochures and booklets, we certainly had a lot more to think about, and were excited for the bright, opportunity-filled future ahead of us.
Mulan Xu, Year 9 and Sumeera Chabra, Year 10
Chloe Tedesco and Annika Johnson, Year 11 Claire Browning, Year 12
Georgina Seymour, Year 12 and Miss Sophie Wickins (2020)
Ruby Nicholas, Year 11
