Senior School 

HSC 2023 Nominations & Awards

Congratulations to the following HSC students who have been nominated for various awards. Further nominations will occur over coming weeks and we'll keep the community up to date!

Design and Technology Major Design Projects

Shortlisted for inclusion in the prestigious D&T Showcase SHAPE:

Adia Hedges

Mila Folsom

Milla Flintoft

NESA Drama OnSTAGE

Group Performance:

Ashley Friezer

Lulu Joye

Bo Oliver

Jemima Salt

Siena Williams

Individual Performance:

Lulu Joye

Zara Psirakis

Jemima Salt

Claudia Williams

Siena Williams

Encore:

Zara Psirakis

Middle School Production - The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon

We are very excited to announce a new performance opportunity for students in Year 7 and 8 in 2024. Students in these years will now have their very own production! Next year this will be The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon.  In this hilarious play the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are turned on their heads in this fast-paced, rollicking ride as the cast attempt to combine all 209 stories ranging from classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel to more bizarre, obscure stories like The Devil's Grandmother and The Girl Without Hands. It will be a wild, free-form comedy with lots of dance opportunities, audience participation and madcap fun. The play will be an ensemble piece with many opportunities for all girls to shine on stage.

Auditions will take place  later this term with the rehearsal pack sent to parents on Friday 15 December. The first rehearsal will be on Saturday 3 February, 2024, with subsequent rehearsals required on Monday and Wednesday afternoons ( 5:15pm - 6:45pm). The performance for this fabulous play will take place on Friday 5 April, 6:30pm. Further information regarding auditions for this performance will be communicated via Sundial. 

An expression of interest will be sent via the Drama Production Sundial page to the relevant cohorts. Please complete this to register your interest.

Ms Lisa Moir

Head of Drama

Highlights from the 2023 Angus Cup House Debating Competition

The 2023 Angus Cup House Debating Competition at Kambala came to a thrilling close, at the end of Term 3. The competition was divided into two sections, lower senior (Years 7 and 8) and upper senior (Years 9, 10, and 11). As always, our students showcased their intellectual prowess, aiming to earn valuable house points and, ultimately, win the prestigious House Debating Angus Cup Competition.

The competition offered a diverse range of student suggested topics. From discussing whether "Barbie is better than Oppenheimer" to questioning the idea of whether "humans are inherently good," and exploring the idea that "living forever would be good for society". 

The champions of the 2023 Angus Cup House Debating Competition was Gurney House who clinched victory in both the lower senior and upper senior sections, completing an extraordinary double. The runner-up position was secured by Hawthorne House. Well done to all the students who signed up and participated in the competition, you all did a fantastic job of representing your House.  

The 2023 House Debating Competition witnessed an unprecedented level of support from the Kambala community. Over 500 students and teachers gathered to watch the eight debates that took place during lunchtimes over a two-week period in Term 3. The audience's presence created a real house spirit, one which saw Roseby win the best supporting house for 2023.

Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the 2023 Debating Prefect Emma Janes, the House Captains and the Debating Committee for all their support during the competition. 

Ms Leigh Barlow

Debating Coordinator

Experiential Learning at Kambala

At the end of Term 3, Years 10 and 11 were involved in their respective peak experiential experiences for the year. Year 10 participated in their final middle years Outdoor Education Experience taking them on adventures to Arrawarra, Northern NSW, Tasmania and Ku-ring-gai National Park for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Silver Expeditions. Year 11 embarked on their Leadership Retreat which allowed them the opportunity to come together and develop their capacity to lead as a group and consider their legacy over the next 12 months. There were also sessions that focused on the cohort exploring and practising a range of support strategies, such as meditation and journaling, with the aim that these will assist them to flourish and succeed during and beyond their Senior School years.

Year 10 Outdoor Education Experiences

The overall aim of the Year 10 OEE is about individuals growing in leadership by developing a greater sense of independence, determination and resilience. A focus on environmental and local and indigenous issues are also explored to expand students thinking beyond their own life experiences to-date. There were four different adventures that Year 10 could select from this year and students were challenged to make a choice to which experience they participated in. There was a focus on surfing in Arrawarra, hiking and exploring indigenous culture in East Tasmania, conservation and hiking in western parts of Tasmania and completing the expedition section of the Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Ku-ring-gai National Park. There were a number of challenges that each group faced, some of these unexpected such as unseasonably high temperatures and road closures but overcoming uncertainty and supporting each other, developing resilience and teamwork were outcomes of each group.

Year 11 Retreat

The two main themes that are focused on during the Retreat are leading and succeeding and the Class of 2024 certainly proved their capacity for both. The group began the Retreat by stepping out of their comfort zone in a number of challenging activities such as a giant swing, drop pole and archery. Under the support of mentors and peers everyone was encouraged to ‘take one further step’ and resilience was celebrated through adrenalin inducing activities and cheers from friends. For remainder of Day 1 the cohort focused on developing their motto, with the opening session led by Ms Danvers who challenged the cohort to consider their personal strengths and legacy as a Kambala student and how each person shows up to contribute to the culture and success as a cohort. That evening, led by Freya Young from the fabulous Kambala Counselling team, the group explored several support strategies that could be accessed in periods of heighted moments of stress and students were invited to practise a number of meditation techniques. Day 1 finished off with some joy and fun with Mr Cheung’s Quiz Night. The highlight round was to "guess the teachers baby photo". On day 2, the organisation Y-Lead built upon the legacy of leadership with a number of practical and reflective activities and the day concluded with more joy, laughter and a sing-a-long of karaoke, Mr Riza’s rendition of Dua Lipa’s song, Levitating stole the show.  

Huge thank you to Ms Rosen and Ms McKellar for all of their organisation and planning for these experiences and to the staff who accompanied and support the challenges of our students. Year 11 Retreat – Ms Boshell, Ms Patience, Mr Cheung, Mr Riza and Mr Rollston. Year 10 OEEs – Dr Green, Ms Wilson, Ms Daly, Mr Webstrer, Ms Lin, Ms Tamminga, Mr Sollner and Ms Archey.

Julie Laytham

Head of Student Life

Social Media Content - Please Read

We have been advised that there is a high probability that there may be extremely disturbing images on social media channels, over the coming hours, days and weeks.

To protect our children from this distressing material, can I urge all parents and carers to prepare your families for this, monitor their social media use and avoid sharing any related content.

Below is a guide from the eSafety Commissioner on what to do should you find distressing content online

The 2023 National Chinese Eisteddfod

On Saturday, September 23, 2023, seven students from Kambala School participated in the 2023 National Chinese Eisteddfod, an event organised by the Chinese Language Education Council of NSW Inc. This annual competition serves as a vibrant celebration of the Mandarin language, its rich historical legacy, and the art of poetic recitation.

Among the enthusiastic participants, Serena Yu (Year 9) and Tiffany Zeng (Year 8) distinguished themselves by selecting poems from the Song Dynasty, showcasing their deep appreciation for ancient Chinese literary traditions. Their wonderful performances secured them the third place and the fourth place respectively in their age groups.

In another age group, Leyi Bian (Year 11) delivered an exceptional performance that vividly and passionately captured the essence of her chosen poem, resonating with both the judges and the audience. Her outstanding recital earned her the first place in her age group.

This event not only recognises the dedication and talent of participants from around NSW but also underscores the significance of preserving and promoting the Mandarin language and its rich cultural heritage for future generations. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants for their dedication, efforts, and the unwavering support of their families in nurturing their daughters’ language learning journeys.

Ms Sherry Chen 

Mandarin Teacher