From Mr Coppin

Tolerance for Ambiguity

I was delighted to visit the Year 6 students at Camp Somerset on Monday evening.  A wonderful miracle that our Sydney “summer” storm completely bypassed the Year 6 Campers. Our School has a thirty year affiliation with Kambala and we are at the point where Kambala alumni of the Junior School would have themselves attended Camp Somerset in the 1990s.

School camps offer an ideal environment for students to step out of their comfort zones and experience the unexpected. Away from familiar routines and technology, students face new challenges, from navigating unfamiliar trails to setting up tents in unpredictable weather. These experiences not only build practical skills but also nurture a tolerance for ambiguity, as students encounter and solve problems without clear, immediate answers. In this space, young learners are encouraged to think creatively, adapt to changing situations, and make decisions without always having a clear “right” path forward. 

Building tolerance for ambiguity is a critical life skill, fostering resilience, flexibility, and open-mindedness. As students work through the uncertainties of camp activities, they develop the confidence to tackle real-world complexities where instructions aren’t always explicit, and outcomes aren’t guaranteed. Learning to be comfortable with ambiguity at a young age helps students embrace diverse perspectives and approach future challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Ultimately, school camps offer more than just outdoor adventures; they provide a transformative opportunity for students to build the mental agility they’ll carry through school and beyond.

Somerset is one of the pinnacle experiences for the students linked closely to our Year 6 Kambala Scots Write a Book in a Day, Shadow a Sister Day, Canberra Excursion, Year 6 Production Year 10/Year 6 UTS Science Mentor Program and the Year 6 Dinner. Camp Somerset as a venue has no mobile connectivity and you can see from the demeanour of our students and staff that they thrive on this form of unplugged slow learning and living which helps develop in the girls a tolerance for ambiguity.  

Parents as Partners 

The Junior School teachers are working with determination to finalise Semester 2 2025 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 8 December 2025. 

Data is reviewed and Year 3 to Year 6 Speech Day prizes are announced to the girls in the EJ Watt Student Assembly in Week 8 on Friday afternoon, 5 December 2025. Girls who have been awarded prizes for the 2025 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.

Reminder: Respectful Online Conduct During Concert and Recital Season

As we move into Concert and Recital Season, we remind parents and carers to be mindful of privacy when capturing special moments.

Please avoid taking or posting photos or recordings of other students without the express permission of their parents or carers.

Thank you for helping us ensure that every student and family feels respected and comfortable during these important community events.

Year 6 Transition to Year 7 Art Lessons

In Weeks 5 and 6, Kambala’s Year 6 classes will take an exciting step into the world of Senior School Visual Arts through creative workshops with our specialist art teachers. During this experience, students will engage in a hands-on printmaking session that will develop their skills in composition, material use and the technical processes of printmaking. Working alongside Mr Bickford, Ms Lim and Ms La Spina, the girls will be introduced to some of the specialist equipment in our Senior Visual Arts studios. 

This annual initiative offers Year 6 a valuable glimpse into the specialised practices that define the senior Visual Arts program and extend upon their current creative experiences with Mr Story. Through this tactile and process-driven activity, students will begin to understand how creative ideas can evolve from experimentation into refined outcomes. Kambala has always fostered a culture of creativity, and our Junior and Senior school collaboration further acknowledges artmaking as an essential part of each girl's experience. The schedule for each class is as follows:

• 6U – Monday, 10 November 2025
• 6N – Friday, 14 November 2025

• 6S – Tuesday, 18 November 2025

   

We look forward to supporting our Year 6 students as they explore new creative experiences and prepare for their journey into Year 7.

Rescheduled Prep Sports Morning - Wednesday 12 November 2025 - 9.15 - 10.00am

We are delighted to announce the new date for our postponed Preparation Sports Morning.

Year 6 and Year 10 Science Partnership with UTS

During Term 3, our Year 6 students participated in a successful science enrichment program, conducting various Science experiments alongside their Year 10 mentors. This initiative was a product of our dynamic partnership with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and G.A.T.E.W.A.Y.S. Education.

To further cement this learning experience, the Year 6 students and their Year 10 mentors will attend an exciting excursion to the University of Technology Sydney at Ultimo on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 (Term 4, Week 5).

The day will begin with a welcome presentation and an introduction to studying science at UTS. Students will gain insight into the diverse opportunities and pathways available within the field of science.

Following the presentation, students will take part in three engaging workshops:

• Forensic Science Workshop – Explore the fascinating world of crime scene investigation and evidence analysis.
• Microbiology Science Workshop – Discover the unseen world of microorganisms and their impact on health and the environment.
• Science Facilities Tour – Visit UTS’s state-of-the-art science facilities and experience a crime scene demonstration.

This collaboration provides invaluable experience and offers our students early exposure to university-level science and technology. 

Book and Stationery Orders for current Years 2 - 5 (Years 3 - 6, 2026)

We are pleased to announce a significant enhancement to how book and stationery items will be managed for the 2026 academic year for students entering years 3 - 6 in 2026 (for current Year 6 students' resources - Year 7 2026 - please see notification below). To ensure a seamless start to the year and simplify the process for families, we are transitioning to a new model in partnership with Campion Education.

What This Means for You

• Centralised Ordering: All necessary book and stationery resources will now be ordered directly by the school through Campion Education on your behalf.
• Direct Classroom Delivery: Resources will be delivered directly to your daughter's classroom prior to the start of Term 1, ensuring they are ready for her on the first day of school.
• Payment Streamlining: The cost for these essential resources will be incorporated as part of the Year 6 Consolidated Fixed Levy, eliminating a separate payment transaction.
• **PLEASE NOTE - students will be required to supply their own pencil cases for 2026

We are confident that this streamlined approach will make the organisation of resources at the beginning of the year a much smoother and more efficient process for both our families and staff. We trust this change provides greater convenience as we prepare for a successful 2026.

Book and Stationery Orders for current Year 6 (Year 7, 2026)

Campion Education would like to let you know that the Resources List for Year 7, 2026 (current Year 6) is now available to be purchased online by CLICKING HERE and visiting www.campion.com.au

When ordering online, you will need the following ACCESS CODE "FHWC". Please click here for your HOW TO ORDER RESOURCES FLYER.

**PLEASE BE SURE TO SELECT THE CORRECT GRADE YEAR YOUR DAUGHTER WILL ENTER IN 2026!

**PLEASE NOTE - YEAR 7 2026 RESOURCES CANNOT BE DELIVERED TO KAMBALA - YOU MUST DESIGNATE EITHER A HOME OR OFFICE/WORK ADDRESS.

Please place your order by Friday 19 December 2025 in order for books and resources to be delivered to your home or office (any designated address) in time for Term 1 commencement. Placing your order online by the due date is the best way to ensure students will receive all necessary resources in time for the start of the new school year.

A REMINDER TO EXISTING YEAR 6 PARENTS TO ACCESS THE NEW STUDENT INFORMATION TILE ON SUNDIAL FOR ALL YEAR 7 INFORMATION (screenshot below for your reference).

Wishing all students the best for the coming year!

Years 4 - 6 2026 (Current Year 3, 4 & 5) Term 1 Saturday Sport Choice

Please be advised that the letter containing all the Term 1 2026 Years 4-6 Sports choices can be accessed here.

Please read the document carefully as it contains multiple options and at the bottom of each, the link to the Google registration form is to be completed.

The cut-off date for registrations is Tuesday 11 November by 4 pm. 

The options for Term 1 2026 are as follows:

• IPSHA Soccer (Saturday)
• Netball Clinics (Saturday)
• Learn to Sail (Saturday)
• Thursday Track Club 

Please choose only one Saturday sport. 

For skiing and snowboarding, please email kath_sambell@kambala.nsw.edu.au if you require any information regarding the competitions for students in year K-12 during the last week of the July School Holidays.

Year 3 2026 (Current Year 2) Term 1 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 2026.

Please note that the final day for registrations is Friday 28 November 2025.

Year 7 2026 (current Year 6) Term 1 Sports Choice now open and due 4pm Wednesday 12 November

2026 Year 7 (current Year 6) Term 1 Sport Choice is now available here

Please ensure you complete the registration and payment link by 4pm Wednesday 12 November.

Once we reach the number of teams Kambala can enter we are unable to add extra teams. Therefore, to avoid disappointment please ensure you enter your daughter into her chosen sport by 4pm Wednesday 12 November.

Girls who register after the closing date will be placed on a waiting list.

Number-a-thon

We are excited to announce that girls in the Junior School will be participating in a Number-a-thon this year; the benefits of which are enormous.  The Number-a-thon helps the girls to better remember and embed their learning in number facts, builds mathematical fluency 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 foundress of the school, comes to Kambala to share her inspirational story with the girls.

On Monday of Week 3, every student from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be given a number fact list appropriate for their year level and level of ability. The girls will then be tested on their number fact list over the course of Week 6 (commencing Monday 17 November). Girls’ results in the Number-a-thon will contribute to their House Points. The House with the best overall number fact 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 number fact’ or pledge a donation. Sponsorship money will be due by the end of Week 7 of Term 4 (Friday 28 November). Please return funds raised to your daughter’s class teacher.

Happy calculating!

TERM 4, 2025 EVENTS

We urge our Parents and Carers to visit the next page of this Newsletter to ensure all families are aware of the wonderful and numerous Term 4 Events on offer and record these in t calendars!

Thank you.