From Mr Coppin

Raising Capable, Confident Children

One of the guiding principles we often return to at Kambala is this simple mantra:

"Do not do for your daughter what she can do for herself."

The message applies equally to all children. As parents and educators, our role is not to make life easy for children, but to help them develop the skills, confidence, and resilience to manage life independently.

This can sometimes feel counterintuitive. We naturally want to help. We tie shoelaces because it is quicker, pack bags because we are running late, and solve problems because we want to spare our children frustration. Yet every time we step in unnecessarily, we may also be stepping between our children and an opportunity to learn.

Research supports this idea. A longitudinal study conducted by the University of Minnesota followed children from preschool into adolescence and found that those who developed greater self-confidence, stronger social skills, better executive functioning, and higher levels of life satisfaction had one thing in common: they regularly participated in household chores from an early age.

Not academic grades. Not IQ. Not talent. Not the number of extracurricular activities.

Instead, it was their contribution to the everyday functioning of their family.

In today's busy world, many of us work hard to provide opportunities for our children. We organise sports, lessons, tutoring, and activities, often wondering whether we are doing enough. Yet one of the most powerful things we can do may be to allow our children to do more for themselves.

Household responsibilities teach children far more than how to tidy a room or empty a dishwasher. They help children learn to:

Take initiative
Recognise when something needs to be done
Plan and organise tasks
Persist when a task is challenging or uninteresting
Contribute to a community
Develop a sense of responsibility and ownership

As children grow, these opportunities can extend beyond chores. They might help plan a family meal, write the shopping list, organise part of a family holiday, or take responsibility for planning elements of their own birthday celebration.

One family I know has a simple expectation: the first person who notices the rubbish bin is full empties it. When groceries arrive, everyone helps unpack them. No one waits to be asked. Children learn to identify a need and respond with action.

Of course, children are often slower than adults. They may make mistakes. They may need reminders. Tasks may not be completed perfectly. However, while short-term convenience can be tempting, it is capability that we are ultimately trying to build.

Achievement teaches children how to perform when someone is watching. Contribution teaches them how to function when no one is watching.

As parents and educators, we are not simply raising high achievers. We are raising future adults who will need to navigate challenges, take responsibility, solve problems, and contribute positively to their communities.

So perhaps the next time we are tempted to step in, we might pause and ask ourselves:

"Is this something my child can do for themselves?"

Because every small opportunity to contribute is also an opportunity to grow.

References

Rossmann, M. (2002). Involving Children in Household Tasks: Is it Worth the Effort? University of Minnesota Extension.

White, E. M. (2019). Associations Between Household Chores and Childhood Self-Competency. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.

Tepper, D. L. et al. (2022). Executive Functions and Household Chores: Does Engagement in Chores Predict Children's Cognition? Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.

Thank you Mrs Pericles

I take a moment to celebrate and farewell our Junior School Teacher Librarian Kimberly Pericles who is retiring, at the end of Term 2, after ten years of dedicated service to Kambala and 30 years of service in the education sector.

For the past decade, Mrs Pericles has been at the heart of our learning community, fostering a love of reading and imagination in our students. Through her passion for literature and learning, she has created a library which is a place of discovery and possibility.

Her enthusiasm for books comes alive each year during our much-anticipated Book Week celebrations. From creative costumes and engaging activities to the excitement of welcoming acclaimed authors and illustrators, she has created memorable experiences that have inspired our students to read widely, think deeply and express their own creativity. These joyful occasions became treasured highlights of the school calendar, sparking imaginations and nurturing a lifelong love of stories.

As a committed advocate of the Project Zero approach developed at Harvard University, Mrs Pericles has championed visible thinking and inquiry-based learning. Her work encouraged students to become curious and independent thinkers, empowering them to ask meaningful questions and make thoughtful connections in their learning.

Her impact extends far beyond the library shelves. Through her wisdom and unwavering commitment to education, she has enriched the lives of countless students and colleagues. She leaves a legacy of curiosity and creativity that will continue to flourish for years to come.

We thank Mrs Pericles for her contribution to Kambala and wish her every happiness and fulfilment in this exciting new chapter. May her retirement be filled with wonderful books, new adventures and all the joy she has brought to others throughout her remarkable career.

I know our students will enjoy meeting our new teacher librarian Ms Dora Kazamias who will join the Kambala community from the commencement of Term 3.

2026 Creative Showcase

Dear Parents and Carers of Year 5 - 6 Students,

we invite you to the upcoming 2026 HSC & IB Creative Showcase where our Year 12 students get to display their outstanding talents in Music, Drama and Art.

Please click here to RSVP to individual showcases.

Year 6 Parents Please Note - "Once Upon a Term" - Afternoon Arrangements - Thursday 18 June 2026

Year 6 Parents - Please note - there will be NO Extra Curricular activities for Year 6 girls next Thursday 18 June 2026 prior to the Evening Performance of ONCE UPON A TERM.

**Girls will have an early Pizza dinner on Tivoli Lawn at 3.20pm and will then prepare for the evening performance - they will not be going home from school in the afternoon.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE - all Year 6 students are permitted to wear their sport uniform from Monday 15 until Thursday 18 June, 2026 (inclusive) to make rehearsals easier.

Communicating with Parents and Carers - Semester 1, 2026 Reports

Our Kindergarten to Year 6 teachers are busy at present preparing student progress reports.

We anticipate reports will be distributed via email on the penultimate school day of Semester 1 (Thursday 25 June, 2026). You may also access past Academic Reports via Edumate. Please see the steps on how to access your daughter’s past reports at this link. Please note: to access reports via Edumate, please log in using a tablet or laptop.

Preparation students will also receive a Learning Portfolio at the end of this term. Please check your daughter’s Sundial Learning Moments.

The NSW Curriculum is structured in stages, with each learning stage spanning two years:

Early Stage 1: Preparation and Kindergarten
Stage 1: Year 1 and Year 2
Stage 2: Year 3 and Year 4
Stage 3: Year 5 and Year 6

As students progress to a new learning stage, they encounter a fresh set of learning outcomes and have two years to master these. It is common for grades to initially stagnate or slightly decline during this transition. For example, a student who earned an A in English at the end of Year 2 might receive a B at the beginning of Year 3, and a student with a B in Mathematics at the end of Year 4 might initially receive a C in Year 5 due to the increased rigor of the new stage’s curriculum. Please note that a C grade represents that a student is achieving at the expected level for their stage of learning, which is viewed as a positive achievement.

Please be reassured that students have two years to thoroughly understand and excel in the teaching and learning outcomes of their new stage, and they typically become stronger as they progress.

In Kindergarten, the first formal year of learning in the NSW Curriculum, A-E grades are not awarded due to the individualised pace of learning. The NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) advises that A-E grading should commence from Year 1.

Parents of students in Years 5 and 6 receive feedback through Progressive Reporting on Sundial throughout the semester. As such, the Year 5 and Year 6 academic reports are streamlined. Year 5 and 6 Parents are reminded to take the time to check their daughter’s Sundial profile at regular intervals throughout the semester to view students’ most recent annotated learning samples. Please click on the ‘Feedback’ button to view your daughter’s assessments.

At Kambala, we are committed to realising each student's academic potential and are proud of the comprehensive nature of our reports. We place a strong emphasis not only on academic growth, but also on effort, resilience and a willingness to embrace feedback. It is important to remember that our view of the students is multifaceted and extends far beyond words or grades on a page.

2027 School Readiness Webinar

Please CLICK HERE to join

ICAS Assessment Competition

Kambala is pleased to offer our students in Years 3-6 the opportunity to participate in the ICAS Assessments, which will take place in Term 3. Our students can nominate to sit the English, Science and/or Mathematics assessments. The assessments are designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.

Please consider carefully before choosing this enrichment opportunity for your daughter. It is a rigorous competition with many questions set beyond grade level. Participants are required to demonstrate a deeper, integrated and thorough level of learning. Please note that most schools only enter their most capable students, so the averages are very high.

More information about the assessments can be found at ICASassessments.com

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. All students receive a certificate and an individual student report with their score and achievement level. Top performers are eligible for an ICAS medal.

The dates for each competition are as follows:

English - Monday 10 August

Science - Tuesday 18 August

Mathematics - Monday 24 August

Each of these will be completed at Kambala.

If you would like to register your daughter, please complete this form.

Registrations close on Friday 24 July, 2025 (Term 3 Week 1).

Extra Curricular Parent Viewing Weeks

Thank you all for enrolling your daughters in the Dance and Musical Theatre program in Term 1 and 2.

Our program has grown in the past year and we are very excited to share with you important dates for our Parent Viewing Weeks.

At the end of Term 2 we will have our traditional Open Class week, when parents are welcome to come in for the last 15 minutes of your daughter's class to see the great work they have been doing in the first Semester.

Parent Viewing Week 9 and Monday Week 10:

Tuesday 16th June to Monday 22nd June

(Week 9 and Monday Week 10)

Before School Care

Earlier this year, we advised families that our Before School Care provider, OSHClub, was reviewing the viability of the service due to low enrolment numbers and that the service could only continue if enrolments increased to an average of at least three students per day.

As we approach the end of Term 2, enrolment numbers have unfortunately not increased significantly and remain below the level required to sustain the program. As a result, OSHClub has confirmed that Before School Care will conclude at the end of Term 2, 2026.

We understand this news may be disappointing for families who have utilised the service and thank those who have supported the program. Before School Care will continue to operate as normal until the final day of Term 2.

Homework Club Plus

Designed to dovetail with those later Extra Curricular activities, we are piloting Homework Club Plus which will be available for students in Years 3 to 6 and provides a supervised environment where students can engage in independent learning activities or independently complete homework tasks after school in the Junior School Library.

The program operates in the Junior School Library from 4:00pm to 5:30pm, Monday to Thursday, offering students a quiet and structured space to focus on their homework and learning tasks. The charge for this service will be $15 per afternoon.

Students enrolled in Extra Curricular activities will be collected from the Junior School Library and escorted to their respective activities.

We encourage families of students in Years 3 to 6 to consider taking advantage of this valuable after-school opportunity. For further information regarding enrolment and attendance, please contact Mr Juan Renshaw. A booking link will be forwarded to parents in the coming days.

Please note our usual Homework Club will continue to operate for Year 3 to Year 6 students from dismissal time to 4.00pm Monday to Thursday - free of charge.

End of Term 2 Church Services - St Michael's Vaucluse - Friday 26 June, 2026

We appreciate our diversity and take the opportunity to honour our Anglican Heritage.

Girls in Kindergarten - Year 3 will walk up to St Michael’s Church on Friday 26 June 2026 at 1.30pm to attend end of term church service and out Year 4 - Year 6 girls will walk up at 2.15pm to attend their end of term service.

As a mark of respect, girls are to wear full Winter Uniform on the day including Blazers and Panama Hats. If students have a timetabled sports or PE lessons on Friday 26 June they are to bring their sports uniforms in their Kambala Sports bags.

Kambala and Hampshire House Elevator Upgrades

Kambala is investing in some important upgrades to better serve our School community.

Over the coming months, we will be upgrading the elevators at both of our elevator sites, replacing each with a brand new installation.

As part of this process, each elevator will need to be temporarily decommissioned during its upgrade period. We want to make sure everyone has plenty of notice so you can plan accordingly:

Tivoli Lawn Elevator - elevator out of service from 22 June to 10 August 2026
Hampshire House Elevator - elevator out of service from 11 August to 19 October 2026

To ensure everyone can continue to move around the school with ease, please refer to the Sundial notification posted to parents earlier this week.

Junior School Events

Please see the next page for exciting Junior School Events and Dates for your Calendars!