Senior School 

The Scholars Guild - The Intersection of Personal Interest and Academic Research

Last week, the inaugural Scholars Guild Sprint was held in the Bain Library at Kambala. This gathering of aspiring Year 10 student researchers from both Kambala and Scots College came together to devise and refine their research questions. It was an honour to be able to attend and see Kambala students lead and work effectively with their Scots peers.

The Scholars Guild is a semester-long program where students work in small groups to develop a research question, conduct research, and eventually present their findings. The launch was held at Scots a few weeks ago, but the first sprint, hosted by Kambala, focused on refining questions related to geopolitical, gender, and environmental topics. Students also undertook some initial research and explored different types of data they could use, including qualitative, quantitative, and more.

This collaboration is another wonderful example of Kambala students making the most of their academic opportunities.

Ms Carolyn Gedling

Deputy Principal - Academic

Everybody Belongs: A Connected and Kind Community

The Senior School Student Representative Committee (SRC) hosted a week of activities from Monday 11 - Friday 15 August to support the national week of action - Bullying No Way. The theme for 2025 was 'Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.' Students were invited to take part in a range of activities to connect with peers and reflect that it takes courage and action for all members of the Kambala community to be kind and caring. The activities were masterminded and organised by members of the SRC and included a cohort pledge wall, where students made commitment to acts of kindness, creating bag tags in the Everyone Belongs hero colour, purple and a handball competition of the fiercest kind, students versus staff! Thank you to everyone who joined in during the week of action and to Ms Crowley for her support throughout the week.

The Senior School was supported during the national week of action by current parent, Ainsley Gardiner who donated (and cut!) 400 purple ribbons. Thanks to Ainsley, our Prefects and SRC members were able to hand out these ribbons whilst welcoming our community onsite each day. The Senior School was a sea of purple, reminding us to be bold, kind and support each other every day.

Thank you to the amazing SRC members, Savanna Destro, Oliva McNeil, Arabella Cochineas, Olivia Dan, Chloe Lambert, Katherine Lewis, Victoria Smeets, Laura Janes, Jackie Howe and Lilli Bartlett who demonstrated throughout the week that leadership is action.

Ms Julie Laytham

Head of Student Life

Year 11 IB Students Explore Social Justice and Service in Action

On Tuesday, 12 August, as part of their engagement with the IB Diploma Programme Core value of service and our school’s ethos of compassion and service, the Year 11 IB cohort participated in an immersive workshop with The Salvation Army on homelessness and the stigmas surrounding it. This activity expands on the school’s active support of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal this year where our girls helped raise over $5,000.

The session, organised by Ms Lin (CAS Coordinator) and supported by Mr Farr (EE Coordinator and Head of Libraries) and Mr Bird (Head of IB), began with an in-depth discussion demystifying the nature and causes of homelessness in Australia. Students were challenged to move beyond common stereotypes and to consider the complex social, economic, and personal factors that contribute to housing insecurity. Students were surprised to learn that the greatest proportion of homeless people in Australian were between 12 and 34 years of age. Gendered domestic violence was foregrounded as another major factor facing thousands of women in the community. The students were moved by the many narratives of struggle and privation experienced by people lacking support or stability in their lives.

A guided walking tour of Hyde Park offered powerful, first-hand narratives sourced from individuals with lived experience of homelessness. These personal accounts fostered empathy and gave students a nuanced, fact-based understanding of homelessness in contemporary Australian society.

Prior the workshop, students visited the Hyde Park ANZAC Memorial, deepening their appreciation for another form of service — the sacrifices made by Australia’s service men and women in the face of aggression. This additional perspective highlighted the many ways in which service shapes and strengthens communities, resonating strongly with both the IB Mission Statement and Kambala’s values.

This experience not only enriched students’ understanding of social justice but also reinforced the importance of informed, compassionate action — qualities at the heart of both the IB learner profile and our vision for students.

Mr Phillip Bird

Head of IB

Exploring World-Class Creative Study Opportunities in the UK

Earlier this term, Kambala recently hosted an information evening on studying at the University of the Arts London (UAL), one of the world’s leading creative universities.

The event began with a light supper, followed by an engaging presentation in the Music Performance Theatre. Parents and students from Ascham, St Catherine’s, St Vincent’s, Sydney Grammar School and Kincoppal Rose Bay were treated to exceptional insights from Philip Scurrah, International Academic Coordinator at UAL, and Gavin McGuire, Deputy Director of BCIC and UAL’s Australia & New Zealand Representative.

Philip gave an inspiring overview of UAL’s six internationally renowned colleges, spanning disciplines from Fashion to Fine Art, Film to Architecture. Gavin shared valuable insider tips on the application process, student life, and making the most of the opportunities that come with studying in the UK.

Kambala is proud to provide students with direct access to world-class educators and the chance to consider exciting international pathways. Our current Year 12 student Izzy Kellett (pictured) is very keen to join Central St Martin’s next year. She met with both Philip and Gavin for advisory sessions and feels that she was given some great ideas to improve her portfolio. Year 10  Future Pathways Ambassador Sabine Reja presented a welcome to the group and very professionally took care of guests from other schools.

Mr Ian Pettit

Future Pathways Advisor

Jeans for Genes Fundraiser

Well done to the Senior School on raising an outstanding $3034 for Jeans for Genes Day.

Year 7 Mandarin Excursion

On the 29th of July, the Year 7 Mandarin classes embarked on an exciting adventure.

Our first stop was a bubble tea–making workshop. This was an incredibly fun experience where we learned all about the process of making bubble tea—from preparing tapioca pearls, brewing green and jasmine tea, and making ice, to the constant work of ensuring the tea is always fresh. We also learned the related words in Mandarin.

After our lesson, we got to make our own tea! I added strawberry pearls, mango pearls, tapioca pearls, pudding, and passionfruit green tea. Mine tasted so good that I bought another one!

Following our bubble tea session, we enjoyed an early lunch. The spread was delicious, with an array of dumplings and spring rolls—authentic, tasty, and very satisfying.

After lunch, we hopped back on the bus and headed to the Taiwanese Cultural Centre. We began by learning about Taiwanese Third Prince dancing. Once we had mastered the steps, some of us even got to try on the traditional costumes. They were heavy, but still so much fun to dance in.

Finally, we wrapped up with a short quiz on Taiwanese culture, where winners received prizes—and we all enjoyed Oreos together.

Overall, it was an amazing day filled with learning, culture, and fun—an experience we will never forget!

Jacinta Gerber

Year 7

Volunteers Needed: HSC Examinations

Every year NESA approves provisions to support students with disability to access their Final HSC Examinations on the same basis as their peers. Kambala’s supportive and inclusive schooling environment ensures that practical arrangements are provided in line with NESA Guidelines. These provisions can include the use of a reader and/or writer to support individual student needs.

The Learning Enrichment Team are looking for volunteers to act as readers and/or writers to support our Year 12 students during their Final HSC Examinations. 

Readers and Writers:

Readers may be approved for students whose disability prevents them from independently reading and/or comprehending written questions.

Writers may be approved for students whose disability prevents them from independently communicating their responses in a handwritten format. 

Due to the nature of service, all reader/writers must be acting in a voluntary capacity.

Qualities that a  Reader or Writer should have:

A reader or writer should have:

• the ability to communicate clearly in English with a sufficient literacy level
• an understanding of the subject(s) being examined
• clear, legible handwriting (if writing for the student)
• a willingness to spend time practising with the student
• patience and sensitivity
• an understanding of the need to maintain confidentiality and an ability to do so
• a Working With Children Check for volunteers 

If you are interested in applying please scan the QR Code below or clickhere to apply.

Not able to volunteer yet, but know someone who may be interested? 

Please share this information with your contacts.