Senior School 

Whole School Survey

As part of our continuous improvement process, Kambala will be providing an opportunity for parents (Hampshire House to Year 12) and students (Year 5 - Year 12) to provide feedback relating to their views of the school across a number of areas.

Parents will be invited to complete questionnaires over a two-week period commencing next Thursday 21 May. Students will complete their questionnaires at school during this period.

Next Thursday 21 May,  MMG Education will email you an invitation to participate and provide you with your confidential and secure access to your questionnaire.

At the conclusion of the research period, MMG will provide Principal Danvers with a report. There will be opportunities for members of the school community to receive feedback from the research.

In anticipation, we thank you for the valuable contribution you will be making by completing the questionnaire.

Subject Selection for 2027/2028

The Year 10 subject selection process is a key milestone in each Kambala girl’s school experience. As the girls begin preparing for the transition into their senior years, we are committed to ensuring that families are equipped with the information, guidance and support needed to make informed choices aligned with students’ interests, strengths and potential future pathways.

To underpin this process, we draw upon a range of different data points to provide individualised guidance. This includes assessment results, school reports, teacher feedback and data from the Morrisby careers assessments. 

Morrisby Careers Testing

Year 10 students completed the Morrisby careers testing program on Friday 1 May. To support families in understanding the Morrisby process and reports, a Morrisby information webinar will be held on Monday 18 May from 6.00pm–7.00pm. A Zoom link will be sent to the cohort on the morning of the webinar.

Year 10 Parent-Teacher Conferences 

Conferences take place on Tuesday 2 June from 4-7pm. These are an opportunity to ask questions of teachers about academic progress and suitable courses for Years 11 and 12.

Subject Selection Evening

Students and families will receive a detailed Subject Selection Brochure in Week 8 of Term 2. This booklet outlines the requirements of the HSC and IB pathways and provides detailed information regarding each course on offer. Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for the Subject Selection Evening by reading and annotating the brochure, noting questions for teachers. They should also consult the Beyond Kambala page on Sundial.

The Year 10 Subject Selection Evening will take place on Tuesday 23 June, beginning with a presentation in the Music Performance Theatre from 6.00pm featuring Ms. Carolyn Gedling (Deputy Principal – Academic), Mr. Sebastien Knox (Head of Academic Life) and Ms. Sarah Thompson (IB Coordinator).

Following the presentation, an exhibition will take place in Alexander Hall from 6.45pm until 8.00pm. During this time, students and families will have the opportunity to speak directly with classroom teachers regarding course content and sequencing, assessment requirements, and experiential learning opportunities associated with our subject offerings.

While the Subject Selection Evening is an important part of the process, it is only one point in a broader program of guidance and support. Students and families are encouraged to ask questions and seek advice at any stage throughout Terms 2 and 3. Attendance at the evening is strongly encouraged; however, the presentation component will be recorded for families who are unable to attend or who reside outside of Sydney.

Individual Interviews and Submission of Preferences

The first round of preferences will be accessible to students from Wednesday 24 June until the second week of the July school holidays. Following this, students will participate in interviews with Mr. Knox (HSC) and Ms. Thompson (IB) at the beginning of Term 3. These conversations are designed to support student reflection and ensure that pathway decisions are well-informed. Mr. Pettit, our Future Pathways Advisor, is also available to speak with students and families during this time.

The deadline for submission of the second round of preferences is August 9.

Parents and students are reminded that Mr. Knox and Ms. Thompson will be available throughout the process to respond to questions and provide additional support where required. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Year 10 students and families as they prepare for the exciting opportunities of the years ahead.

Sebastien Knox

Head of Academic Life 

Year 7 Outdoor Education Experience

Our Year 7 Outdoor Education Experience at Vision Valley was a truly memorable week, and I could not have been prouder of the way our Year 7 students embraced every opportunity with such positivity, enthusiasm and resilience. Across a busy program of activities, students consistently encouraged one another, stepped outside their comfort zones, formed new connections and strengthened existing friendships. 

It was wonderful to see so many students approach the week with genuine enjoyment, good humour and a willingness to give things a go, even when challenged by something unfamiliar or new.

A sincere thank you must also go to our dedicated Year 7 Mentor team, whose care, energy and support helped make the experience such a positive and meaningful one for our cohort. Camps like these are such an important part of the Senior School journey, and this experience provided a wonderful foundation for the continued growth, connection and spirit of our fabulous Year 7 cohort.

Olivia McAtamney

Head of Year 7

Gold Duke of Edinburgh Recipients

Last week, we had Frankie Johnston, Scarlett Levy and Arabella Bugden all attending a ceremony as Gold Duke of Edinburgh recipients at Government House with NSW Governor, Her Excellency, the Honourable Ms Margaret Beazley. 

Drew Bickford: Head of Art and Design - Finalist of Archibald Prize

Congratulations to Drew Bickford, Head of Art and Design, on being selected as a finalist in the Archibald Prize, one of Australia’s most prestigious portrait awards. Established in 1921 and presented annually by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the prize celebrates excellence in contemporary portrait painting. Drew’s finalist work features Australian horror filmmaking twin brothers Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou (also known as 'RackaRacka'), capturing their explosive creative energy and distinctive presence. 

This marks Drew’s second time as a finalist in the Archibald Prize, an achievement that reflects his dedication to his artmaking practice. His large-scale paintings often explore narrative themes drawn from horror and pop culture, infused with humour, satire, and a sense of nostalgia. Through these playful yet incisive oil works, alongside his professional practice, Drew regularly exhibits his work and brings this real-world experience into the classroom, enriching the learning of his students through direct insight into contemporary art making.

TheArchibald Prize exhibition runs from May 9 - August 16 at the Art Gallery NSW, before beginning its national tour.

SRC Represents Kambala at the 2026 Woollahra Council Youth Leadership Summit

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is an important student-led committee that is represented by students in Years 7 - 12. Students meet every fortnight led by Deputy Prefect, Laura Janes and Deputy Boarding Prefect, Lilli Bartlett. Committee members contribute ideas and raise student issues in order to strengthen and enhance our school community. 

On 30 April, Year 10 and 11 SRC members attended the 2026 Woollahra Council Youth Leadership Summit. On the day Kambala was represented by six SRC members who were impressive as they participated in collaborative discussions and engaged in direct dialogue with Council members. The Summit was a unique opportunity for some of our student representatives to experience real-world civic engagement, develop their advocacy skills, build connections with peers across the local area, and see their feedback translated into tangible Council action. Thank you to Year 11 SRC members, Georgianna Botro, Katherine Lewis, Giselle Overton and Savanna Kirkwood and Year 10 members Georgie Doyle and Olivia Dan.

Julie Laytham

Head of Student Life

Kambala Marches for ANZAC Day

The Kambala Marching Band delivered a poignant performance at this year’s ANZAC Day March, representing the school with immense pride in the city. Our 60-strong ensemble showcased remarkable spirit, with almost half the band comprised of Junior School students stepping up to the occasion. This achievement was truly a fabulous joint community effort, made possible by the dedicated parents and Old Girls who marched and played alongside the girls, providing invaluable support and musical expertise.

We extend our sincere gratitude to these family members for their involvement, as well as to Mrs Davy for her exceptional work in preparing and leading the band. Her guidance ensured our contribution to the commemorations was a resounding success.

The Music Department 

Science Guest Speaker - Dr Shane Ingrey

This term, our science students had the privilege of welcoming Dr Shane Ingrey to Kambala. A Dharawal man and PhD graduate in Microbiology, Dr Ingrey represents a unique bridge between ancient traditional knowledge and modern biotechnology. His visit was an inspiring display of curiosity in action, as he invited us to explore the "Dharawal Pharmacopeia" through the lens of Western science. He spoke passionately about the vast potential for new medical discoveries while also recognising the complex challenges still faced in protecting and respecting Indigenous knowledge.

For Year 9, the session brought the syllabus to life through the practical uses of Eucalyptus and Tea Tree oil. The highlight was definitely the "wattle soap" demonstration; by simply adding water to wattle seed pods, students saw a natural chemical reaction create a rich lather right in their hands. This hands-on moment turned a theoretical lesson into a tangible connection to Country, proving that scientific discovery often begins with the curiosity to look closer at the world around us and a deep respect for the environment that provides these resources.

Our senior Biology students took a deeper dive into Dr Ingrey’s research on endophytes, which are microbes living within native plants, and their potential to create new medicines. For the HSC and IB cohorts, hearing about his university pathways provided a powerful example of how integrity and humanity in research can lead to outcomes that are both culturally significant and globally impactful.

Dr Ingrey’s visit challenged us to look at the flora on our own doorstep with fresh eyes. By blending oral traditions with empirical data, he reminded us that the future of medicine often lies in the wisdom of the past. We are incredibly grateful to the Gujaga Foundation and Dr. Ingrey for inspiring our students to keep asking questions and seeking wisdom in both the ancient and the modern alike.

Sylvie Wilson

Science

The Scholars' Guild Launch - A Co-Educational Research Experience

On the 29th of April the launch of The Scholars’ Guild 2026 was held at Kambala in Bain Library. 

At this initial introduction students had the opportunity to meet their team members and embark on a quest to find a research question for their teams to explore over the next six months. 

It was a privilege to attend and see Kambala and Scots students working together so productively. 

The Scholars’ Guild is a six month-long program where Year 10 students from Kambala and Scots work in small groups to develop a project question, learn about the research process, conduct their own exploration, and ultimately present their findings. 

This collaboration is an excellent example of Kambala students making the most of their academic opportunities, and I congratulate all participants.

Julia Surducki

Teacher Librarian

Year 11 Visual Arts  - Bodies of Work

Last  week Year 11 Visual Arts students submitted their Bodies of Work for the unit The Revelation and Transformation of the Object. Throughout the unit, students explored the concept of “The Object” in art by examining Renaissance still life artworks through the lens of Vanitas themes. Students also investigated the transformation and reinterpretation of objects and their meanings in art by drawing comparisons with Postmodern art practices.

The works have now been professionally displayed in the exhibition space near the Visual Arts rooms. It has been wonderful to watch students spending time in the space, admiring both their own works and the creative achievements of their peers. The exhibition highlights the individuality, experimentation, and conceptual thinking that students have developed throughout the unit.

Coco Pierce

Art and Design

Recent Achievements in Public Speaking

Congratulations to all our student representatives who competed in external public speaking competitions in Term 1. 

Rostrum Voice of Youth Report:

We congratulate the phenomenal performances of our entrants to the Rostrum Voice of Youth 2026; Saskia Munro (Year 9), Emma Simunovic (Year 9), Leyla Saurajen (Year 9), Sophia Chen (Year 11) and Skye Wells (Year 11).

These students worked incredibly hard and produced fantastic speeches on subjects including anti-semitism, feminism in the digital age, gender discrimination in the medical field, the dangers of AI technology and harmful perceptions of immigration in the media.

Our Junior Competitors were required to present a prepared speech at length of 6 minutes, with our Senior Competitors required to present a speech at the length of 8 minutes guided by the following topics: A Beacon of Hope, Laughter is the Best Medicine, Digital Detox, The Voice of Reason and The New World Order. 

A special congratulations to Leyla Saurajen, who won her heat and is progressing to the Rostrum Regional Finals in early May. We wish Leyla all the best in the next stage of the competition and commend her on her incredible performance and powerful address on anti-semitism in the first round.  

Global Public Speaking Challenge Report:

Special congratulations are due to Skye Wells, who alongside her Rostrum competition preparations, competed in the Global Public Speaking Challenge 2026.

Against an incredibly competitive backdrop of competitors across the globe, Skye’s phenomenal speech submission on the importance of boredom in the digital age earned her a 30% Partial Scholarship to attend the TED Summer School in 2026. We wish Skye all the best in her upcoming academic program and commend her on her powerful and creative submission.

Kambala congratulates all our speech competitors of Term 1 on their incredible performances, and we look forward to another fantastic term ahead for Public Speaking.

Victoria Tsingos

Public Speaking Coordinator

ISDA Debating Update

This semester our Year 7-12 debating teams have been proudly representing Kambala in the Independent Schools’ Debating Association (ISDA) Competition. With 48 students engaging in weekly Friday evening debates against various independent schools across Sydney. A special congratulations to our Year 6 Primary B, Year 11 Senior B, and Year 12 Senior A teams, who all progressed to the knockout phase of the competition, the Octo Finals.

Both senior teams argued the affirmative case on the topic, ‘that organ donation should be mandatory.’ The Senior B team delivered a confident and persuasive case to secure a convincing victory over MLC and progress to the Quarter Finals. Meanwhile, the Senior A team competed in a closely contested debate narrowly losing their debate against PLC. 

Ms Barlow would also like to acknowledge the commitment of the Year 12 Senior A students, who have debated as a team for the last time as Kambala students. These students have participated in the debating program since being in Year 6 and have demonstrated exceptional dedication throughout their time at Kambala. Thank you, girls — you will be greatly missed!

Senior A team: Laura Janes, Chloe van Onselen, Kate Wu, Alannah Lennox and Madeleine Weissberger.

Senior B team: Georgianna Botros, Hania Skimin, Skye Wells, Neve Mortimer and Mysha Khan