Senior School 

Learning Occurs at the Point of Challenge

Term 3 is a time of mixed emotions for Senior School educators. Year 12 students are taking their final strides towards the exam period, and we see a culmination of the academic, social, emotional and executive functioning skills that have been developed during students' school journey. Concurrently the remaining Senior School students continue on the rollercoaster of academic development, exams, future preparedness, finals for winter sports teams and a range of experiential and service-learning experiences that still lay ahead. On one hand as a teacher, you feel a sense of pride as our eldest students’ head for life beyond the school gates, whilst on the other hand, you have a renewed sense of determination to continue to encourage and support our students in Years 7 – 11 on their education journey. 

No matter the student learning stage, one thing has become especially clear through our work with Academic in Residence Professor Ron Ritchhart, is that learning occurs at the point of challenge. Within the senior school years, we change the setting that the challenge occurs to deepen a range of academic, social and emotional skills, in order for students to practice these and apply flexibility and agility to learning. 

Beyond lessons and typical extra and co-curricular opportunities there are many actions taken by a school to support students to build their strength and capacity to be happy and healthy now and into the future. Whether it be a camp, event, experience or lesson, no matter the setting, requires students to apply prior knowledge about themselves and others, adapt and develop the skills of being agile, then responding effectively to change and unpredictability. For some student’s challenge will take place in the setting of an outdoor education program and will require perseverance, relational development and self-awareness, whilst the Urban Challenge provides opportunities for problem solving, teamwork and determination. 

No matter the situation or challenge, be it an HSC or IB exam, leadership retreat or Term 4 whole cohort day, providing social and emotional competency learning experiences that are safe, caring and participatory are key for better academic performance and success of young people in school and life. Experiences that challenge and provide opportunities for positive social interactions with peers and adults whilst allowing young people to practice emotional regulation, are key to improving a young person’s sense of social connectedness, self-efficacy and self-worth.

As we look towards the multitude of experiences and lessons to come towards the end of Term 3 and into Term 4, our aim is for students to be challenged and for learning to occur in a range of settings to prepare them to be happy and healthy now and into the future.

Ms Julie Laytham

Head of Student Life

Senior School Key Dates for Term 3 and 4:

TERM 3

Year 11 Retreat: Friday 20 – Thursday 26 September.

Year 12 Final Week: Monday 23 – Thursday 26 September.

TERM 4

Year 7 – Retreat: Thursday 28 – Friday 29 November.

Year 8 – Service Learning: Tuesday 19 – Wednesday 20 November.

Year 8 - Camp: Tuesday 3 – Friday 6 December.

Year 9 - Service Learning: Thursday 28 November (part 1 – all day)

Year 9 - Service Learning: Friday 29 November (part 2, lesson 3 and 4 only)

Year 10 – Camp: Monday 25 – Wednesday 27 November

Year 10 - Preparedness Program: Thursday 28 – Friday 29 November (week 1)

Year 10 - Preparedness Program: Monday 2 – Friday 6 December (week 2)

Sisterhood Circles: Building Belonging

Sisterhood Circles: Building Belonging

I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness -

Emily Dickinson, 1859

Set on the “fair hill of flowers”, we held our inaugural Sisterhood Circles. This initiative will continue to strengthen the bonds Kambala students share across the whole school with vertical mixes of Y1 - Y11 students into ‘family groups’ that are titled with a given flower. In the first circle, the Year 11 group leaders facilitated a colouring activity using their ‘family’ flower as each ‘sister’ introduced herself. It was an exciting start to what will become a legacy of belonging at Kambala. 

Ms Lauren Walsh and Ms Olivia McAtamney

Annual HSC Music 2/Music Extension Showcase

On August 23, the Year 12 Music 2 and Music Extension Showcase was held in the Performance Theatre, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of music teachers, family and friends. This special evening celebrated the exceptional talent and dedication of our senior music students, with the audience witnessing a selection from their HSC program. 

Year 12 Music 2 and Music extension students performed challenging pieces on a wide range of instruments, including Evangeline Chu on piano playing Pirates of the Caribbean by Badelt, Sophie Regan on clarinet playing Sonata, 3rd Movt. by Poulenc and Eliza Andrews on voice singing Gershwin's How Long Has This Been Going On. Congratulations also to Luna Hu, Heidi Gerber, Sophie Regan, Nadine Galambos, Jessica Allen-Waters, Ashley Kim, and Genevieve Hughes for their remarkable performances. 

A big thank you goes out to the audience, the instrumental and vocal teachers of all the girls and to the music department staff for their guidance and support. Special thanks are due to Mr. Sagar for his brilliant accompaniment- the evening wouldn’t have been possible without his unwavering support and exceptional talent!

Lilian Pack

Music Prefect

Flute Eisteddfod News

At the annual flute eisteddfods, held on 25 August at MLC Burwood, three of Mrs Benz’s students came home with prizes. Cathy Wang in Year 4 won the 1st place prize in the grade 3/4 section as well as placing 2nd in the under 10 years open. Katherine Lewis in Year 9 came 2nd in the grade 3/4 category, and Gisele Correa in Year 9 came placed 2nd in the grade 5/6 section. An outstanding achievement by our Kambala flautists!