Welcome to Term 3 2026

Let’s talk about Community Courage

An easy way to understand the concept of Community Courage is to ask ourselves one simple question about what we say and what we do in relation to others: “How is this helping?”

A very warm welcome to the second half of our Year of Courage at Pymble. It’s been a break filled with incredible sport viewing, with Wimbledon and the Soccer World Cup both in full flight over the past weeks. We have seen plenty of bravery in these two epic sporting events and are excited about the brave new term we have in store for your daughter. As a community, we will be encouraging everyone to focus on understanding and modeling Community Courage in Term 3.

An easy way to understand the concept of Community Courage is to ask ourselves one simple question about what we say and what we do in relation to others: “How is this helping?”

In particular, when we speak of Community Courage, we are referring to the actions we take to benefit society, such as:

• opening our hearts and minds to see others and invite them into our circle;

• speaking up for positive community-based change;

• supporting others in public, private and online contexts; and

• using our gifts and talents to be of service to our local, national or global communities.

We have been overjoyed with the support our PPA and families have given us in relation to various Community Courage initiatives. This term we will continue our collective efforts through:

• ‘Couch of Courage’ storytelling in Chapel.

• Student, parent and staff volunteers standing ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ with The Dish of St John’s at Hornsby to provide hot meals, friendship and compassion to vulnerable members of our community.

• Wrap with Love knitting sessions.

• Creating menstrual health packs for Days for Girls.

• Assisting with the Special Olympics Upper North Shore.

• The Junior School service program of visiting local aged care facilities and teaching robotics to students at St Lucy’s School, Wahroonga, among other opportunities.

Students will be encouraged to celebrate their friends and peers who lean into Community Courage by posting messages of acknowledgement on boards placed around campus. We look forward to diving deeper into this transformative journey together, with a firm understanding of the critical role service plays in shaping character and prosocial behaviour in our young people, and a wealth of research – including our own – supporting the benefits of Service Learning.

On a personal note, I am pleased to be able to start the term on campus with students and staff. I’ll be in and out a little as I continue to support my family and am grateful to have Mr Raymond stepping into the role of Acting Principal during the times I need to be offsite.

Signing off, as always, with much gratitude for your support and love to our girls, who I can’t wait to see next week. I am particularly thinking of our Year 12 students who head into a big term – best wishes, girls, for your upcoming Trial examinations. Lean into your Intellectual Courage and remember, you’ve got this!

DR KATE HADWEN PRINCIPAL

Community events in Term 3

Friday 31 July TASFest 5.00pm to 7.30pm

Tuesday 18 August 110th Anniversary Concert 6.30pm to 9.00pm Sydney Opera House Pymble Community

Wednesday 27 August to Saturday 30 August HSC Visual Arts Showcase Various times Isabel McKinney Harrison Centre Pymble Community

Sunday 30 August SSPG Year 7 Mother Daughter Day 9.00am to 3.00pm

Valley Year 7 students, mothers and carers Tuesday 2 September HSC Drama Showcase To be confirmed

Community

Friday 4 September Father’s Day Breakfast 7.00am to 8.15am Junior School

Kindergarten to Year 12 students, fathers and carers

Saturday 12 to Sunday 13 September SSPG Year 8 Father/Daughter Camp 1.00pm Saturday to 1.00pm Sunday Vision Valley Year 8 students, fathers and carers

Saturday 19 September Garden Party

to 3.00pm Pymble Ladies’ College Pymble Community

Tuesday 22 September Year 12 Speech Day 8.30am to 9.45am Jeanette Buckham Centre for Physical Education Years 7 to 12 students Year 12 parents and carers

Tuesday 22 September Year 12 Chapel Service: Bennett, Goodlet, Hammond and Ingleholme 10.00am to 10.50am War Memorial Chapel Year 12 students, parents and carers

Tuesday 22 September Year 12 Chapel Service: Lang, Marden, Thomas and Wylie 11.00am to 11.50am War Memorial Chapel Year 12 students, parents and carers

Tuesday 22 September Year 12 Honouring Ceremonies 12.00pm to 1.00pm Various venues Year 12 students, parents and carers

Tuesday 22 September Year 12 “Marking the moment” – hats to the sky 1.00pm to 1.30pm Gloucester Lawn Year 12 students, parents and carers

Tuesday 22 September Year 12 Valedictory Dinner 7.00pm to 11.30pm Winx Pavilion, Randwick Racecourse

Year 12 students, parents and carers

Winter uniform reminder

All students are required to wear the winter uniform in Term 3. Please ensure that your daughter has all necessary items ready for the first day of school. The uniform shop is open on Monday 20 July from 9.00am to 4.30pm for any last-minute purchases.

You can also order online and collect from the uniform shop during opening hours.

IMPORTANT UNIFORM NOTES

Your daughter should:

• Wear her long-sleeved white blouse, correctly buttoned, with her tartan school tie.

• Ensure the length on the winter tunic (Years 7-8) and skirt (Years 9-12) is no more than five centimetres above the knee.

• Wear 70 denier black opaque tights.

• Only wear her navy V-neck jumper on school grounds, or underneath her blazer to and from school. If your daughter catches the Pymble bus or is dropped off outside the College gates, she must wear her blazer over her jumper.

• Be reminded that no hat is required with the winter school uniform.

• Have her hair neatly tied back with a red, bottle green, white, navy or tartan ribbon, or a tartan scrunchie, no hair clips.

• Wear no makeup, false eyelashes or nail polish.

• Wear no more than one plain stud in each earlobe.

• Ensure that any sentimental jewellery is not visible and wear no other jewellery.

• Carry a Pymble Ladies’ College branded school backpack and sports bag to and from school. Tote bags are only permitted on school grounds.

YEAR 12 STUDENTS:

• May only wear their Year 12 jersey on school grounds, or underneath their blazer when travelling to and from school.

Student travel to Pymble

Student travel to Pymble

With excellent access to public transport and a safe, supervised walking route from Pymble train station, students can confidently travel to and from the College by train, bus or on foot. To help families plan safe, convenient and environmentally responsible commutes, the College also offers dedicated bus and minibus services for students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

PYMBLE BUS SERVICE

The College offers five dedicated bus routes and two local minibus routes. The buses help families avoid the peak-hour commute to and from campus, while the minibuses serve students who live locally, too far to walk but too close to drive.

The current routes are:

Bus Route 1 – Hunters Hill (refer to timetable for changes)

Bus Route 2 – Lower North Shore

Bus Route 3 – North West (refer to timetable for changes)

Bus Route 4 – Northern Beaches

Bus Route 5 – Lower Northern Beaches

PYMBLE MINIBUS SERVICE

Route 1: North Wahroonga, Wahroonga, North Turramurra, Turramurra and Pymble

Route 2: Wahroonga, South Turramurra, Turramurra and West Pymble

JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS (KINDERGARTEN TO YEAR 2)

For our youngest students, a staff member walks children in K-2 from the Kelso Oval bus stop each day, ensuring they are safely supervised between the classroom and the bus.

REGISTRATION

Students must be registered to travel. Registration is offered on a term-by-term basis with two options:

• Term registration – valid for the whole term. Highly recommended for regular bus users, it secures your daughter’s seat for every school day. It’s the simplest, most reliable option for families who travel on a consistent basis, and it guarantees a place before seats fill.

• Flexible registration – register for specific day(s), with a choice of morning and/or afternoon runs.

The Term 3 service will run from Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September 2026. To view timetables and to register, please click here.

Once registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a current timetable. For any questions, please contact collegeservices@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

STUDENT ID CARDS

Students must carry their student ID card to tap on and off the service each trip. If your daughter has lost her card, please contact College Services for a replacement form.

TRACKING PYMBLE BUSES

You can track the buses and minibuses in real time via the free TransportMe Passenger app, available on Android and Apple devices. REGISTER HERE

SATURDAY

19 SEPTEMBER 2026

10.00am to 3.00pm

Traffic and parking

Pymble teaching and security staff supervise our busy dropoff and pick-up zones and carpark bays to ensure the safety of our community on and around our carparks and roads. We rely on drivers to follow the rules, drive safely and model positive traffic behaviour.

A reminder that Gate 2 is off limits to all pedestrians.

Refer to our Traffic Management Plan for a full guide on safe and orderly travel by car, and drop-off and pick-up procedures.

PARKING IN AND AROUND THE COLLEGE

We encourage, when possible, our students and families to use public transportation when travelling to and from Pymble and visiting for College events or meetings. We appreciate the support of our families to keep our students and community safe.

We

rely on drivers to follow the rules, drive safely and model positive traffic behaviour.

Message from the Head of Early Years School

It is with a great sense of excitement and anticipation that the College welcomes our first children to the Early Years School. During the final week of the term break, many children commenced their first official day as members, of the Pymble family, and over coming weeks, these children will be joined by others as our Early Years School overflows with the curiosity, wonder and joy of both boys and girls.

Many of the children are younger siblings of Pymble girls and already have a strong sense of belonging and familiarity with our environment. Some are already participating in dance and swimming programs and take delight in the fact that their sisters are close and that they will be coming to school as part of a familiar family routine.

Our children will be seen regularly across the campus as they undertake visits to the farm, daily nature walks, physical education lessons and other adventures. Located adjacent to the gymnasium and pool and above the dance studios, in the Hunter and Vicars Building, our children will be keen observers of all the activity of Pymble

MRS KAREN AHEARN Head of Early Years School

The Early Years School operates as a long day care service and is open to boys and girls from 3 months to 6 years. Our hours are from 7:00am until 6:30 pm Monday to Friday, closing for four weeks from mid-December to mid-January. Child safety is paramount to all our considerations as well as ensuring an environment which promotes curiosity, creativity and problem solving. Our team of highly qualified and experienced educators have a genuine interest in building strong relationships with children and their families, and our intention is to support children to thrive in all their endeavours.

I look forward to sharing more of the adventures of the children of the Early Years School with our College community over coming months, as this special journey for the College strengthens family relationships and supports the growth of the youngest of learners.

The Pymble Early Years School offers 90 places. Click below to register your interest for boys and girls.

Email: earlyyearsadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

Phone: +61 2 98557720

Junior School Welcome

Welcome to Term 3! I am looking forward to seeing all our girls back at school and hearing all their holiday news and I am equally delighted to welcome two new families to our community with Aline joining Kindergarten and Joanna joining Year 3. I know we will all make these new families feel welcome as they join our Junior School community of kindness.

Term 3 brings a focus on kindness to the environment, and our Sustainability Captains will be leading a range of ideas for us all to try as we work together to care for our world. At the end of last term, we heard passionate speeches from Kate Li and Olivia Jin (Year 6) who urged us to choose courage over complacency, telling us that it is time to choose simple acts to lead positive change for our planet. This term we look forward to our Book Swap, an initiative being led by Olivia Birch (Year 6) and I hope our community gets behind this fabulous idea to support both our planet and our girls’ passion for reading.

Term 3 promises to be an exciting one for our Junior School! Our Kindergarten girls will celebrate their first 100 days of school. Across the term we will have our Year 5 entrepreneurs pitching their ideas in Spark Lab, all girls developing their passion for language and the culture of Italy, China and France with our annual Languages Day along with Science Week, Book Week, Outdoor Education Programs for Years 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the Year 6 musical – to name just a few events our girls will explore and enjoy!

Our Formula Goblin team is gearing up ready to race against other schools at the competition we are hosting on 29 August 2026 in partnership with HART Driving School, St Ives. This is a chance for our girls to showcase their skills as drivers, engineers and pit crew. The girls are also working hard to secure sponsorship for this event and for our EV racing teams as they continue to lead the way in EV racing and STEM education.

As this year’s National Book Week theme is Symphony of Stories, the girls will come back to school and see scenes around the Junior School which are designed to inspire their thinking and their creative writing. I look forward to reading what they create, both stories and illustrations.

Our annual Garden Party is sure to be a highlight of the term and as we head towards that wonderful community event, our young entrepreneurs can work on products they would like to sell as our Junior School market will be back and we hope the girls can raise money through their stalls. To support our EV race team and their hope to be of impact by supporting other schools in establishing their own EV team.

There is so much to look forward to in the term ahead and I look forward to sharing the journey with you all.

MRS KATE BROWN HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Middle School Welcome

Welcome to Middle School for Semester Two for 2026. I trust that all of our families have had a restful break away from routines. It is always exciting to begin a new term in Middle School with many anticipated highlights that will provide the girls with opportunities to flourish across the second half of the year.

Year 7 are now old hands at high school and ready to embrace new challenges in their learning and cocurricular activities. We do have a special celebration for Year 7 as a way of marking their first 110 days (coinciding with our 110 College birthday). More details to come but rest assured that it is about acknowledging student achievements and the way they have stepped up to embracing the challenges associated with high school. Speaking about celebrations, we are all very excited about the Opera House Concert on Tuesday 18 August when Year 7 will showcase their voices as part of the mass choir, alongside a number of other students who will be sharing their musical talents in a variety of performances.

Year 8 students are now in their final semester of Middle School before progressing to Upper School. We have seen such growth over the last 18 months which marks their maturity and increased self-awareness. There will be a Year 8 into 9 Subject Selection Information Evening on 27 August to assist with future studies. The National Exchange program is scheduled for Weeks 6 and 7 and presents an opportunity for those 40 students who have been selected to represent the College across five states. We know they will be

impressive ambassadors. In Week 3 there will also be nine students who travel to Goodooga in Central Western NSW to support the running of the Goodooga First Nations Games. They will have the chance to spend time immersed in culture with a visit to the Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum on the Barwon River. We will be holding our International Exchange Information Evening on 13 August for the 16 families whose daughters have been selected to travel to Shanghai in Term 4.

Due to the success of our Bubble Bumble Bee Service initiative, we will be extending the activity across Term 3 welcoming all students to get involved in this crochet project in conjunction with the SMILES 2U organisation. We will also be launching another leadership invitation to Year 7 students who would like to be involved in supporting the incoming Year 7 2027 Transition Program which begins with our girls working alongside current Year 6 Junior School students and then encompasses supporting the whole incoming cohort in Term 4 with our Links Day event.

These are just a sample of what lies ahead for our girls. Thank you once again for working in partnership with us to ensure this is a productive and exciting term ahead.

MRS JENNY O’DONNELL HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Upper School Welcome

Welcome back to all our existing and new Upper School families. We hope you and your daughter enjoyed a relaxing break, and that the girls are feeling refreshed for Term 3.

A mix of excitement and a few nerves as girls settle back in is completely natural, and often a sign they’re stretching themselves. Our focus remains on building confidence, resilience, healthy habits and a strong sense of belonging. A few simple steps at home make a real difference: re-establishing good sleep and wake routines, and balancing screen time with activity. Psychologist Dr Lisa Damour notes that sleep is one of the most powerful supports for a teenager’s mood and resilience, and keeping phones out of the bedroom overnight is one of the simplest ways to protect it. These foundations help girls approach the term with a positive mindset, a theme we’ll also explore through the Compass curriculum.

We’re also launching the Upper School Common Room as a Service Hub every Wednesday lunchtime, where girls can drop in for service opportunities including Days for Girls, Knitting for Wrap with Love, Crochet Club, and knitting beanies for Milingimbi students and newborn babies.

Key experiences ahead this term

• Year 9 Vision Valley Residential Program: Program 16 begins Sunday 26 July.

• International Student Exchange: we welcome our final group from Japan, Scotland, Argentina and Italy, alongside our own girls travelling overseas across Terms 3 and 4.

• Be Street Smart (Year 10): a new road safety excursion run by Westmead Hospital’s Trauma Department, addressing road accidents as a leading cause of death and injury among young people.

• Milingimbi Learning on Country: an immersive cultural experience for a small group of students.

• Year 10 continues the Ivy House Leadership Course, building leadership and life skills.

• Wellbeing sessions on social awareness, inclusive friendships and coping strategies.

• Guest presenter Melinda Tankard Reist, exploring girls’ online lives.

• Student focus groups, giving girls a voice in shaping Upper School life, including ideas for new clubs and activities.

• Leadership selection for next year: we welcome applications from a diverse pool of candidates.

Thank you for partnering with the Upper School team to make Term 3 a rewarding experience for your daughter.

MRS VICTORIA HARRISON HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

Senior School Welcome

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” A. A. Milne

We hope that the holiday break provided opportunities for rest, renewal and special time together with family and friends. As we begin a new term, we are reminded of A. A. Milne’s words: ‘How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.’ There is something particularly fitting about this sentiment, as Term 3 in the Senior School is a season marked by both beginnings and endings, and by the privilege of sharing important moments together as a community.

For our Year 11 students, the term represents an important transition. As they prepare for their yearly examinations and begin looking ahead to Year 12, they will continue to strengthen the study habits, organisational skills and resilience that will support them in the final stage of their schooling. They will also begin preparing to assume the mantle of leadership within the College, with their commitment to service and community to be recognised at the Badge Ceremony in Term 4.

For Year 12 students, Term 3 brings the challenge of the Trial HSC examinations and the opportunity to consolidate their learning and refine their examination techniques. Equally significant are the moments of celebration and reflection that accompany their final weeks as school students. Graduation events in the last week of term will provide a chance for students and families to honour the friendships, achievements and experiences that have shaped their journey.

As a Senior School community, we recognise that this

term carries many emotions. There is excitement for what lies ahead, pride in how far our girls have come, and gratitude for the relationships and memories that make parting difficult. The endings we celebrate are also the beginnings we embrace, and we look forward with confidence and hope to the opportunities that await our young women across both Years 11 and 12. Best wishes for a wonderful term filled with learning, growth, friendship and many moments to cherish.

MRS NIKKI WYSE HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

Boarding School Welcome

It hardly seems possible that we are already heading into the back half of the year, yet Term 3 has arrived with plenty to look forward to. This is a big term for our Year 12s, and we will be right beside them every step of the way as they make the most of their final full term at Pymble. Their Boarder sisters will be their loudest cheer squad through the HSC Trial Examinations and, when the time comes, the first to celebrate everything this remarkable year group has achieved.

There is no shortage of fun on the horizon. Our Love It program is brimming with adventure, different places to explore and new friendships to make. Good company sits at the heart of it all, including regular year group catchups and fun nights of teppanyaki planned. With cooler evenings settling in, Term 3 is made for the fire pit, so expect marshmallows aplenty to toast and happy conversations around the fire. Of course, there are Boarder favourites with classic Sydney adventures and plenty of movies, laser tag and markets, plus a couple of standout treats: tickets to see The Lion King and Come Alive! The Greatest Showman. Closer to home, the in-house favourites carry on, from movie nights to a healthy dose of friendly competition, with Monopoly, Cluedo, Uno and a stack of card games in rotation. Sunday evenings are getting a refresh, with Boarders’ Choice on the menu and Boarders’ Bingo to bring fresh energy and togetherness to the week ahead. And of course, Boarders Get Baking remains the firm Friday favourite it has always been.

The Garden Party weekend is one not to miss, and we are calling on every Boarding family to join us. It opens with an onsite Boarder Parent Group meeting on 18 September, followed by a special parent dinner and a night of dancing for everyone at the Warrawee Club on 18 September, where

the much-loved Press Club Band makes its return. We cannot wait for the Boarder takeover as our talented musicians take to the stage. The celebrations wrap up at the Garden Party, featuring our Boarders’ Farm Stall on Saturday 19 September, rounding out a memorable weekend. Please note that attendance at these events is required for all Boarders.

A few other important dates to mark in your calendar. Our mandatory evacuation drill takes place between 3.30pm and 4.30pm on Friday 24 July, and the Boarders’ combined Chapel service runs from 9.00am to 12.00pm on Sunday 2 August. On 21 September we will farewell and celebrate our Year 12 Boarders, and all Boarders are required to attend the Chapel service, which concludes at 6.00pm that day. All families are warmly invited to share in this special occasion. Do also save the date for our annual Father’s Day celebration on 30 August, when those special “dad” figures are invited to join their girls for Burgers and Bowls at the Greens in North Sydney.

Amid all the activity, our Boarders will be hard at work with their studies and sport. The Learn It program continues to go from strength to strength, and it is wonderful to see the Boarders embracing the academic support on offer. They are a sporty bunch too, and there is nothing quite like seeing them out on the pitch or cheering one another on from the sidelines. We hope to see you there as well.

Wishing you all a safe journey back to Pymble and a truly wonderful Term 3.

MRS CAROLYN BURGESS DIRECTOR OF BOARDING

Contacts

More contact details can be found online at pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and in the 2026 Student Diary.

YEARS SCHOOL (7.30am to 6.30pm)

2 9855 7720 JUNIOR SCHOOL (7.45am to 3.45pm)

2 9855 7700 MIDDLE SCHOOL (7.45am to 3.45pm)

2 9855 7611 UPPER SCHOOL (7.45am to 3.45pm)

SCHOOL (7.45am to 3.45pm)

2 9497 7865

2 9497 7871 BOARDING SCHOOL OFFICE (9.00am to 5.00pm)

OFFICE (8.00AM TO 4.00PM) ...........

ENQUIRIES (7.30am to 4.30pm)

AB

SENTEE PROTOCOL

2 94977864

2 9855 7788

2 9497 7848

7666

7741

2 9855 7745

2 9497 7840

2 9855 7799

Absences can be submitted via MyPymble or by calling the relevant School Office, listed above.