Junior School 

World Teachers’ Day – last Friday 31 October 2025

Each year, World Teachers’ Day offers a special opportunity to recognise and thank the exceptional educators and support staff who bring such energy, care and commitment to Kambala.

One of the great privileges of my role is meeting with the nearly 80 new students and families who will be joining the Junior School for the year ahead. These enrolments are most often in Preparation, Year 3 and Year 5, with a handful joining across other year levels. There is a lovely “just right” blend of families new to Kambala alongside those returning as second or even third generation members of our community.

When meeting parents who are alumni, they often speak fondly of the transformative teachers who shaped their own school journeys — many of whom continue to inspire students today in the Halls of Massie and EJ Watt. Their stories remind me daily of the enduring influence of great teaching.

Our Kambala teachers are deeply committed to continual professional growth through partnerships with evidence-informed institutions such as UNSW/GERRIC’s Certificate of Gifted Education, Project Zero at Harvard, RULER linked to Yale University, and YouCubed from Stanford University. These collaborations ensure that our classrooms remain vibrant, reflective and grounded in best practice.

While there are always small bumps along the way, it is heartening to see the enthusiasm with which the girls bound into school each morning — a visible reflection of the joy, care and connection fostered by their teachers.

Stuart Coppin

Deputy Principal - Head of Junior School

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. 

Sue Whiting Writer's Workshops

Term 4 began with a series of writing workshops for our Year 2, Year 4, and Year 6 students. Sue Whiting, an award-winning children's and young adult (YA) author, is a former primary school teacher with a special interest in children’s literature and literacy education.

These writing workshops enhance our students' literacy skills, creativity, and self-confidence:

• Students get a behind-the-scenes look at how a book is created, from initial idea and brainstorming to drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Hearing a professional discuss the challenges and necessary revisions normalises the difficulty of writing and encourages students to persist.
• Meeting a published author and realising that the person behind their favourite stories is a real human being can be incredibly inspiring. It helps students view themselves as "real writers" with valuable ideas to share, boosting their self-esteem and empowering them to take ownership of their work.

Sue Whiting provided concrete, practical tips and techniques that complement the curriculum. She modelled how to use literary devices, develop compelling characters, structure a story, and "read like a writer," looking at published books as mentor texts for students' own work.

Sue's passion for storytelling was infectious. Her personal anecdotes about her writing journey, inspiration, and love of books sparked our girls’ creativity and enthusiasm for both reading and writing.

The workshops provided an authentic, engaging context that reinforced classroom instruction and inspired students by showing them a powerful, achievable path to becoming better writers.

Kimberley Pericles

Junior School Librarian

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).

*2027 Kambala Scholarships are open

Applications are welcomed from girls currently enrolled at Kambala or attending other schools.  

Click here to learn more about the scholarships on offer and how to apply. Clickhere to apply. 

All scholarship enquiries are to be directed to Mrs Tracy Mulligan, Director of Enrolments.