Senior School 

A Warm Welcome to Term 2!

It has been a vibrant and energetic start to the term, with both our Senior School students and staff eagerly embracing the opportunities before our official classes had even resumed.

Congratulations to our Senior School teachers Ms Hattie Wilson (Mathematics), Ms Samantha Nahum (History) and Ms Greta Beaumont (English), who represented Kambala with distinction at the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Conference at Queenwood last Monday, sharing their inspiring action research. Our Principal Jane Danvers and I were also proud to present at the event, highlighting the thoughtful and innovative work our educators are doing around dispositional learning and developing cultures of thinking in our classrooms. You can read more about this work on our KITE section. 

At the very same time, a group of passionate students took part in a Model UN. A special thank you to students Ziva Mortimer and Zara Dempsey for their leadership in organising and hosting the event, and under the guidance and counsel of Director of KITE Ms Lauren Walsh.  

Our Year 7 and 8 students also launched into the term with courage, embarking on their outdoor education experiences. With a rainy start to their journeys, it was heartening to witness their resilience and tolerance for ambiguity in action. I had the pleasure of visiting the camps and was incredibly proud of how our students embraced the challenges and opportunities these experiences offered. These moments remind me of a sentiment from Jonathan Haidt’s work, below, shared at our Learning in Focus Evenings. 

We are off to a great start for learning, with plenty more to come this term.

Expectations - Uniform & Student Code of Conduct

Following our start of term welcome letter (including all important dates for Term 2), we have been pleased with our students’ representation of Kambala in their full winter uniform. Your ongoing support is appreciated. 

Similarly, at the beginning of term we remind our students of the many ways we can foster a safe and supportive environment, where expectations are high. Parents and students can refer to behaviour expectations and processes on the Sundial grade pages under ‘Code of Conduct & Behaviour Expectations’. 

Ms Samantha Gooch 

Deputy Principal - Pastoral Care 

Connection with our Community

On Friday 25 April, Councillor Sarah Swan, the Mayor of Woollahra Council invited Kambala to lay a wreath at the ANZAC Day ceremony. The Kambala community was represented by Year 12 Prefects, Abi Jellins, Lucea Benko and Year 5 student, Alaia Benko, sister to Lucea. These students laid a wreath on behalf of our School. 

The ceremony was a moment to pause, remember and pay tribute to those who have served both past and present in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Many current and past members of our School community were present at the Double Bay War Memorial in Steyne Park and were impressed to see students representing the school in their holidays. Thank you to these students and their families for demonstrating our school values and deepening our relationship with the wider community.

Ms Julie Laytham 

Head of Student Life

"You've Gotta Be There" - Nice Work If You CanGet It - Ticket Sales!

The Kambala cast and crew of Nice Work If You Can Get It, have been busily rehearsing and we can’t wait to present the show to the Kambala community. Featuring the talents of Coco Manovel and Ellie-Rose Heimans as Billie Bendix, Elle Dlugosz as Eileen Evergreen, Milla Sleijpen as Estonia Dulworth, Annabelle Shepherd as Jeannie Muldoon, Annabel Rowney as Chief Berry and Bella Stillone as Millicent Winter, and supported by a stunning dancing and singing Ensemble- the singing of Gershwin’s most famous tunes is sounding sublime and the dancing on fire.

About the play…

It is the Prohibition era, and Billie, the female bootlegger, is secretly storing 400 crates of gin in a Long Island beach house, owned by Jimmy’s mother. In the meantime, Jimmy is about to get married for the fourth time, but the playboy’s new fascination with Billie means that his best laid plans are going awry. Joe DiPietro’s book for the musical Nice Work If You Can Get It is a tribute to romantic comedies of the Hollywood Golden Age. Thoroughly frivolous and undoubtedly fun, the story is constructed around the fabulous songs of George and Ira Gershwin. The musical adheres completely to the original template of twenties musicals by combining daffy comedy, screwball characters, jazzy dance numbers and the occasional tender ballad.

Featuring popular Gershwin songs: Nice Work If You Can Get It, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, Someone To Watch Over Me, Fascinating Rhythm, S’ Wonderful, But Not for Me,  I’ve Got a Crush on You and more.

Nice Work If You Can Get It will be performed in Alexander Hall, from 15-18  May 2025. Tickets are on sale. 

Ms Lisa Moir

Drama

KOG Mentoring Program - kick off Wednesday 21 May!

Our 2025 KOG Mentoring Program is kicking off with a casual launch cocktail party in Tivoli Drawing Room Kambala, on Wednesday 21 May from 6.30-8.00pm. We invite current and past parents to join us at this event and hear from our guest speaker Sophie (Wasley) Todd 93,  founder of Mrs. Toddy's Tonic. 

On the night you can also register your interest should you want to be a mentor or mentee in our 2025 Mentor Program. The mentoring program is simple, flexible and mentee led - we aim to connect the knowledge and experience available within the broader KOG community with our younger Old Girls.  We'll facilitate follow up matches made at the event and encourage mentees to reach out to mentors when they need advice.  

We'd also love to hear from any parents who would be interested in coming and speaking about their own careers to Kambala students throughout the year, and invite you to email Kambala's Future Pathways Advisor Mr Ian Pettit at ian_pettit@kambala.nsw.edu.au to express your interest. 

We hope you can join us for this fun event and participate in a worthwhile endeavour!  Bookings close Friday 9 May 2025! Book your complimentary tickethere. 

Mrs Donna Kelly Smith

Alumni Relations Manager

Your Opinion is Important- Forthcoming Survey

Over the coming weeks we will be forwarding parents and students from Years 11 and 12 a five-minute survey regarding the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Kambala.

This survey will be conducted by a third-party survey organisation and we would greatly appreciate you taking the time to complete it. Gaining parent and student insight is of great value to the school and assists us in making informed decisions. 

Further information will be provided by Kambala Communications on Sundial shortly.