From Mr Coppin
Beyond Our School Gates
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our families and students for their incredible support of our St Jude’s Spellathon. Your generosity and enthusiasm have once again helped us raise awareness for this wonderful cause, embodying the true spirit of Christmas and giving. Over the past number of years the Kambala has contributed more than $118,000 to St Jude’s and we look forward to Gemma Sisia the founder connecting with our students in March of 2025. We eagerly anticipate sharing the total amount raised for this worthy initiative and will announce it at assembly on Friday. Additionally, the winning house for the Spellathon will be revealed during this assembly. To celebrate, the victorious House Spellers from Kindergarten to Year 6 will enjoy a popcorn movie lunch in the MPR at lunchtime on Monday 9 December 2024.
A special thank you also goes to the Kambala community for your generous contributions to the Toys and Tucker appeal. These gifts will bring joy and hope to many families during the festive season. The collected toys will be taken to St Michael’s Church as part of our Kindergarten to Year 3 and Year 4 to Year 6 Christmas Church Services on Wednesday 10 December 2024. This annual tradition not only marks the season of giving but also highlights the strong connection between our school and the wider community.
As a friendly reminder, students attending the Christmas Church Services must wear their full summer uniform. Thank you for your continued support of these meaningful initiatives that extend the values of our school beyond its gates. Together, we are making a positive impact and spreading the true spirit of Christmas.
In the spirit of honesty this newsletter introduction was the one that I have used in previous years but the words ring just as true for 2024. Reverend Jenni Stoddard - who was the Chaplain at my previous school, Abbotsleigh - in the past has shared this post on social media which resonated with my own educational journey and is an important piece of perspective at this time of year:
“HSC reveals super powers of average. Looking through some old papers and reports, I came across my own final school report. It reported my position in the cohort for each class. For most of my subjects I was in the middle. I didn’t know it then but what I know now is being in the middle is a super power. I regularly dealt with disappointment, I worked hard without receiving public admiration. I was given the perspective of seeing those who were achieving more than me and those who were struggling more than. Today I am thankful to God for my averageness and what it does in me – I couldn’t see it when I was 17. To all those middles who just sat exams, wait and watch as this could be the origin story to your superpower".
”Whilst we are champions of personal excellence at Kambala, it is important to acknowledge the progress made by every girl during each academic year and over the course of her educational journey".
Speech Day Information for Junior School Families - Wednesday 11 December, 2024 - 11.00am - 1.00pm, State Theatre, Sydney
It is an expectation that all Year 3 - 6 girls attend to celebrate the success of their peers.
UNIFORM
Year 3 - Year 6 Girls will need to wear their Panama hats and blazers when representing Kambala in the city (please note that all girls are asked to bring blazers but they will not be worn if the weather is too warm). Sisters in Massie House attending are also expected to wear their school uniform (Massie Year 1 and 2 students should also wear their Panama hat when representing the school in the city).
PRIZES
Prizes will be announced to girls in Years 3 to 6 at our student assembly on Friday afternoon, 6 December 2024. An enveloped letter confirming the prize will also be sent home with girls who have been awarded prizes via their school diary that Friday afternoon.
On Speech Day, prize winners are to report to Ms Moore in the foyer of the State Theatre at 10.20am and will be ushered in to be seated on the ground floor.
SEATING AND STUDENT DROP-OFF
Year 3 - 6 Students 10.20am - 10.30am - All Year 3 to Year 6 students (who are not receiving prizes) are to meet their class teachers in the Pitt Street Mall outside Myer at 10.20am. Class teachers will be there with their respective class signs.Parents will then make their way to their seats which are located on the Dress Circle level of the State Theatre. PLEASE NOTE - specific seats have not been assigned. Massie students are to be seated with their parents for the ceremony.
10.40am - Once roll call is completed all Year 3 - 6 Junior School students will walk with their respective teachers from Pitt Street Mall to their seats which will be located on the Mezzanine level of the State Theatre.
1.15pm - DismissalWe anticipate Speech Day to conclude by 1.15pm. Parents of students in Year 3 to Year 6 are to proceed to the Mezzanine level of the State Theatre to collect their daughter/s from their classroom teachers. Parents of prize winners in Years 3 - 6 are to proceed to the seats in the Stalls (on the bottom level) to collect their daughters from Ms Moore.
We look forward to celebrating the success of the girls on this very special day.
Kind regards,
Mr Stuart Coppin
Deputy Principal - Head of Junior School
Junior School Christmas Services - St Michael's Church, Vaucluse - Tuesday 10 December 2024
Students in Kindergarten to Year 3 and Year 4 to Year 6 will attend Christmas Services at St Michael’s Anglican Church at Vaucluse.
All Kindergarten to Year 6 students will need to attend school in their summer uniform and panama hats. Each service will be close to 25 minutes in duration.
Blazers are only required if the weather is cooler.
Toys 'n' Tucker
This year, Kambala is once again supporting Anglicare’s toy drive, which provides toys at Christmas for children who would otherwise go without. Baskets will be placed in each classroom from Week 7.
If you are able to donate a new toy (optional) to this worthy cause, your daughter should place it (unwrapped) in her class collection basket by Tuesday 10 December, 2024.
When we attend our end of year Church Service on this day, the girls will take their presents to St Michael’s Church for collection. We appreciate your support of this charity drive.
Year 3 2025 (current Year 2) Term 1, 2025 Saturday Sport Information and Registration
Please click here to access all the information in regards to the Year 3 Saturday Sports practices for Term 1 2025.
Please note that the final day for registrations is Friday 29 November 2024.
Kambala Outfitters
If you have a daughter currently in Prep, Kindergarten, Year 2 or Year 6, she will require additional uniform items for 2025.
Orders for the additional items required in Years 3 and 7 may be placed with Outfitters over the phone or by email, however, students going into Kindergarten and Year 1 may require a uniform fitting.
We encourage you to place an order or bring your daughter into Outfitters before the last day of Term 4 (Tuesday 10 December 2024).
Parents as Partners
The Junior School teachers are working with determination to finalise Semester 2 2024 Reports. We anticipate parents of Preparation to Year 6 students to receive their daughter’s report on the penultimate day of Term 4, which is Monday 9 December 2024.
Data is reviewed and Year 3 to Year 6 Speech Day prizes are announced to the girls in the EJ Watt student Week 8 Assembly on Friday afternoon, 6 December 2024. Girls who have been awarded prizes for 2024 Speech Day will receive a letter regarding arrangements for Speech Day at the assembly. We kindly ask parents to reflect a growth mindset or “yet” mentality with the girls to ensure perspective is maintained.
Massie House Final Day 2024
The final day of school for girls in Massie House will be Tuesday 10 December, 2024 (normal dismissal times apply).
Class Requests for 2025
Class placements and class lists are announced to families on the morning of the first day of Term 1 each year. Class lists are posted on notice boards in EJ Watt and Massie for girls in readiness for their arrival at school.
Parents will also be notified over Sundial of class lists on the first day of Term 1.
The School has a ‘No Class Request’ policy and thanks families for understanding that we cannot accept requests for teachers and class placements - factors behind the scenes and educational considerations make these requests impossible to deliver.
SPELL-A-THON
We are excited to announce that girls in the Junior School will be participating in a Spell-a-thon this year; the benefits of which are enormous. The Spell-a-thon helps the girls to better remember and embed their learning in spelling, builds spelling skills and raises money for students less fortunate than ourselves. The funds raised will go to St Jude’s School in Tanzania. Each year Gemma Sisia, the founder of the school, comes to Kambala to share her inspirational story with our students.
“For those of you who don’t know, Gemma Sisia is an Australian philanthropist and educator who founded The School of St Jude in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2002. The school was established to provide free, high-quality education to some of the country's poorest and brightest children. With a vision to break the cycle of poverty through education, St Jude's has grown from just a few students to over 1,800, offering opportunities in academics, leadership, and community service. Gemma’s work has inspired global support, with St Jude's becoming a beacon of hope for underprivileged students across Tanzania.” To date Kambala has contributed more than $110,000 to this worthy initiative.
Each student, from Kindergarten to Year 6, has been given a spelling list appropriate for their year level and level of ability. Massie girls have 50 words in total. Students in Years 3-6 have 100 words. The girls will be tested on their spelling list over the course of Week 6 (commencing Monday 18 November 2024). Testing will take place during Spelling lessons. Girls’ results in the Spell-a-thon will contribute to their House Points. The House with the best overall results will be rewarded with a fun movie lunch at the end of Term 4.
Our girls are asked to find friends or relatives who will be sponsors and record their information and donation on the sponsor sheet. Sponsors can either nominate an amount ‘per correct word’ or pledge a donation. You will find the sponsorship form on the back of the note, which was sent home with the girls last week.
An online copy is HERE.
Sponsorship money will be due by the end of Week 7 of Term 4 (Friday 29 November 2024). Please return funds raised to your daughter’s class teacher.
Important Dates for Extra Curricular
Just a reminder, the last day of extra curricular for 2024 is:
Monday 9 December 2024
We run all classes up until that Monday.
IMPORTANT DATE CHANGES FOR EXTRA CURRICULAR
TIMETABLE
Timetable will be released at the end of Week 8 (next week).
ENROLMENTS
With the system we use for Extra curricular not rolling over for pre-admissions till the last day of school, we have had to extend our date to enrol until :
Sunday 15 December 2024 at 8.00pm
Apologies for the inconvenience.
Please note, the booking link will be open all summer holidays until school starts in 2025.
Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
And again, thank you very much for your support.
Juan Renshaw
Extra-Curricular Manager
(02) 9388 6747
juan_renshaw@kambala.nsw.edu.au