From Mr Coppin

Rites of Passage in the Junior School

Life is all about transitions. The Kambala journey for students commencing in Preparation is a 14 year one. Throughout this journey there are transitions. Moving from Hampshire House to Massie House, moving from play based learning in Prep to formal learning in Transition (known as Kindergarten since 2023). Crossing the lawn from Massie House to EJ Watt, that is moving from Year 2 to Year 3. Moving from Junior School to Senior School and then Senior School to life beyond our Tivoli Gates.

Life at Kambala is all about transitions along this great 14 year journey of education. Transitions can be tricky and sometimes a little hard with the ultimate aim of setting the girls up for success. Jindal-Snape’s (2016) defines transition as the ongoing psychological, social and educational adaptations due to moving between, and within, schools. This past fortnight, our Year 6 students celebrated conquering the great outdoors at Camp Somerset. This is one of their Year 6 pinnacle experiences in the lead up to their move to Senior School. On Thursday 28 November we will formally celebrate this move at the Year 6 Dinner which acknowledges the end of the girls’ primary years. On Tuesday 3 December they will also embark on their Kambala/Scots Sports Afternoon, hosted at Kambala.

Meanwhile Year 2 girls are getting ready to “Cross the Lawn”, making the move from Massie House to EJ Watt with a range of experiences such as the Year 2 sleepover at the end of term on Friday 6 December, getting the girls ready for their first overnight camp experience in Year 3.

Kambala’s aim from Prep to Year 12, is to set your daughters up for success. Whilst some points in the transitional journey can be tricky and sometimes hard, our ultimate aim is to teach your girls to be robust and resilient to set them up for success in the long run.

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.

Speech Day - Wednesday 11 December, 2024 - 11.00am - 1.00pm, State Theatre, Sydney

It is an expectation that all girls in Years 3 - 12 attend in full school uniform with a parent/s to hear the address and support students who will receive prizes.

Massie House sisters who attend Speech Day will need to attend in their school uniform.

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).

Year 2 Merit Assembly - Friday 6 December, 2024 - Music Performance Theatre - 9.00 - 10.30am

Year 2 Merit Assembly will be held on Friday 6 December, 2024 from 9.00 - 10.30am in the Music Performance Theatre at Kambala.

Parents of girls in Year 2 are warmly invited to attend.

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.

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.

Resources for Parents to Order for 2025 Year 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Students (CAMPION)

CURRENT YEAR 2 PARENTS (YEAR 3, 2025) - Resources List and Parent's Link to Purchase

Campion Education would like to let you know that the Resources List for Year 3, 2025 (current year 2) is now available to be purchased online by CLICKING HERE and visiting www.campion.com.au