Junior School 

Tolerance for Ambiguity and Calculated Risk Taking

On International Women’s Day it was delightful to hear from Kambala Parents Vanessa Lenthall and Amanda Laing. Vanessa holds the role of Global Head of Mining and Energy Finance for the Commodities and Global Markets Group at Macquarie Bank, and Amanda Laing who is Chief Commercial and Content Officer for Foxtel Group and Managing Director of Binge. 

Both Vanessa and Amanda spoke of pivotal moments in their career trajectories when they had to have faith in their own abilities, take calculated risks whilst maintaining their tolerance for ambiguity to enable them to diverge from traditional accountancy and legal routes respectively.  This appetite for risk and tolerance for ambiguity eventually led them to highly esteemed careers with Macquarie Bank and Foxtel/Binge respectively.

This had me thinking about developing in our girls the ability to have a go and take calculated risks. The recent Cross-Country run for the students was a demonstration of their courage and tenacity.  Having a go at an event that they may not “love” but having a go anyway with a focus on personal best.

Outdoor education is another way that we develop in the students their tolerance for ambiguity and ability to take calculated risks.  At Kambala we have a progression of nested experiences from our Year 2 Sleepover at Kambala to our one-night experience for Year 3 at Chaldercot.  Year 4 and Year 5 move to three-day and two-night experiences at Milson Island and Gerringong respectively. Year 6 have had their extended three day excursion to Canberra then go to Camp Somerset on the banks of the Colo River (in two-woman tents) for four days and three nights at the end of the year.  The school has been taking the girls to Camp Somerset for more than thirty years.  Some of our alumni who are parents will remember fondly their time at Camp Somerset when they were in Junior School in the late ‘80s and ‘90s.

Philosophically, camps are about developing tolerance for ambiguity, building cooperative skills and time away from family to enhance resilience and confidence.  My thanks to our teaching staff who take time away from their personal lives to care for your daughters.  

Additionally, Experiential Learning and Camps  are also about building trust and relationships with peers and teachers, moving beyond family for the duration then returning to the nest safely at the end of this experience. 

It is our intention that through our sequenced program of experiential learning and outdoor education that we will build capacity in your daughters in terms of their tolerance for ambiguity and the ability to take clever risks so that their trajectory can be as impressive as those Kambala parents and alumni who have gone before them. 

Year 6 outside Parliament House in Canberra during their 3-day curriculum in context Canberra Excursion.

Year 4 on camp at Milson Island. 

Canberra Excursion

With boundless energy and excitement, Year 6 travelled to Canberra to continue their studies of Federation, the Australian systems of government and the democratic voting process. During our visit to Parliament House, the girls viewed the House of Representatives and role-played passing a bill. They engaged in robust discourse about the benefits of free tertiary education and the impact of taxing sugary drinks. Year 6 toured Government House where the girls demonstrated their Kambala Curiosity in asking thoughtful questions, reflecting their learning throughout the term.

The Museum of Australian Democracy taught the girls about the history of government in Australia and the achievements of many politicians, including women of significance. The girls applied their learning about the preferential voting process to determine the favourite fruit of the Year 6 cohort. 

The Australian War Memorial enhanced the girls’ knowledge of Australians who have defended our country over the years. Year 6 visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Wall of Remembrance. 

To round out their visit to Canberra, the girls participated in hands-on learning experiences at the Australian Institute of Sport, Questacon and the CSIRO.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $30.00 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

Ms Sheridan Sweeney

Junior School Teacher

Year 3 Term 2 Sport Choice

Year 3 will be given the opportunity to play Netball in Term 2. They will play in a competition against SCEGGS and Ascham. The competition will be aimed at preparing the girls for the introduction of IPSHA sport in Year 4 by learning the basic skills of the sport.

Please read this information and fill out the form at the end of the letter if you wish to register your daughter for sport in Term 2. 

The cut-off date for registrations is Monday March 25 by 4 pm

Easter Church Services and Public Holidays - March, 2024

Girls in Kindergarten to Year 6 will attend Easter Church Services on Thursday  28 March, 2024. All girls are required to wear their Summer dress uniform on this day and bring any Sports uniform requirements in their black Kambala Bag. 

Kindergarten to Year 3 will attend from 1.45pm and Years 4 - 6 will attend from 2.30pm on the day.