From the Deputy Principal - Head of Junior School

From Mr Coppin

Finding Voice in Character, Finding Voice in Life - Communicating with Impact

 In the journey of childhood and adolescence, learning to communicate with clarity, conviction and compassion is one of the most powerful skills we can nurture. A fundamental tenet of the Kambala Philosophy for Dispositional Learning is Communicating with Impact. Through this year’s Year 6 Production of Goldi Locks On, every student has had the opportunity to step into character—not only to entertain, but to embody new perspectives, take creative risks, and express themselves with growing confidence. Performing on stage requires far more than just memorising lines; it demands students speak with presence, listen with care, and collaborate generously.

 

This powerful culmination is no accident—it is the result of a rich and sequential Drama program from Year 3 to Year 6, led by our dedicated Drama Specialist, Ms Anna Derrig. Each week, students engage in purposeful lessons designed to build their capacity to communicate with impact and confidence. The Year 6 Production builds on a foundation of nested experiences, including last year’s Year 4 cohort production of Horton Hears a Who, which gave students their first taste of performing for a live audience and working together as an ensemble. These theatrical opportunities dovetail with other speaking experiences across the Junior School, such as the Ingrid Holden Cup, and reflect our commitment to nurturing confident communicators. By Year 6, students have developed not only the technical and expressive skills needed for theatre, but also the personal confidence and collaborative spirit that will continue to serve them long after the final curtain falls.

Communicating with Parents and Carers - Semester 1, 2025 Reports

Our Kindergarten to Year 6 teachers are currently busy preparing student progress reports for Semester 1, 2025. These reports reflect each student’s academic development, effort, and engagement across the curriculum.

 

We anticipate that Semester 1 reports will be distributed via email on the penultimate school day of Term 2 — Wednesday 25 June 2025. Parents and carers can also access previous academic reports via Edumate. To do so, please log in using a tablet or laptop, and follow the instructions available HERE.

 

In addition, Preparation students will receive their Learning Portfolio at the end of this term. Please continue to check your daughter’s Sundial Learning Moments, which offer a window into her day-to-day learning journey.

 

Over the past two weekends, I have had the pleasure of reading your daughters’ reports. They continue to highlight the rich, multifaceted nature of each Kambala student – their academic growth, personal development, and unique strengths.

 

As a reminder, the New South Wales Curriculum is structured in stages, with each 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
  • Stage 4: Year 7 and Year 8

When students enter a new stage of learning, they encounter a fresh set of outcomes and expectations. It is entirely normal for grades to plateau or dip slightly during this transition. For instance, a student who received an A in English at the end of Year 2 may initially receive a B in Year 3; similarly, a student with a B in Mathematics in Year 4 might receive a C in Year 5 due to the increased complexity of the new stage.

 

Please be reassured that students have two years to master the outcomes of each stage, and in most cases, they steadily build strength and confidence as the stage progresses.

 

In Kindergarten, the first formal year of learning in the NSW Curriculum, A–E grades are not used, as learning is highly individualised at this point. The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) recommends that A–E grading begin from Year 1.

 

At Kambala, we are committed to nurturing the academic potential of every student. While our reports are comprehensive and informative, they are just one lens through which we view your daughter’s development. Our understanding of each student extends well beyond a written report — it is grounded in the relationships we build, the growth we witness, and the joy we see in their learning each day.

KITE (Kambala Institute of Teaching Excellence)

We are excited that we have three Junior School Educators who will be attending Project Zero Classroom on campus at Harvard University (Cambridge Massachusetts) in 2025.  In Week 9 of Term 2, Ms Helen Maynard, Ms Rebecca Grose and Mrs Anna Koutsoukis will be immersing themselves in this truly transformative learning experience.  These educators have shown great commitment to building a culture of thinking at Kambala having completed either the online study module course Building Capability Through Critical and Creative Thinking or through impressive contribution to the Culture of Thinking learning community.

 

We look forward to hearing from Ms Maynard, Ms Grose and Mrs Koutsoukis when they return in Term 3.

 

As you would remember from last newsletter, congratulations to Ky-Lee Murphy, who has completed an 18-Month Global Action Research Collaborative project. Ky-Lee will be presenting her research at the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools conference in Philadelphia..  The research report is titled “Girls as Authors of their Learning: Using Vertical Whiteboards to Empower Year 3 Girls to be Confident, Courageous, and Curious Mathematicians.”

Guiding a Confident Step Forward: Supporting the Transition to Senior School

The move from Junior School to Senior School marks an exciting and transformative chapter in a student’s journey — filled with new possibilities, growing independence, and a world of learning ahead. At Kambala, we are committed to ensuring that this transition is supported with care, clarity and confidence.

 

Across Term 2 and Term 3, we begin laying the foundations for this important shift, starting with House Morning Teas with the Principal in the Tivoli Drawing Room. These morning teas will take place on the following dates

  • Gurney House - already held
  • Hawthorne House - held yesterday
  • Roseby House - Tuesday 29 July 2025
  • Wentworth House - Wednesday 30 July 2025

These gatherings provide our Year 6 students with a warm introduction to Senior School life in the company of their House peers. It is a time to foster a sense of belonging, engage in open conversation, and build early connections with school leadership and the House system that becomes such a cornerstone of life in the Senior School.

 

Looking ahead, a range of transition experiences have been thoughtfully designed to gently guide Year 6 students into their new environment:

  • In late July, the Year 6 students will participate in “taster” Latin, Mandarin and French with members of the Senior School Languages Faculty in the Senior School Languages Classrooms. Families will then receive a Year 7 survey to indicate preferences for foreign languages (Latin, French, Mandarin). This information will inform the 2026 timetable.
  • Shadow a Sister Days will take place across three dates in Week 6 of Term 3 (Monday 25, Tuesday 26, and Thursday 28 August 2025). On these days, Year 6 students will "shadow" their Sisterhood Circle peers in Year 7 through a morning of Senior School classes. In the afternoon, they will come together for a dedicated transition workshop, designed to reflect, connect, and prepare our students for what lies ahead.
  • Test & Quest Day on Friday 31 October 2025 offers a full day of orientation for all continuing and new students. This special event is a highlight of the transition process, offering Year 6 students the opportunity to meet future classmates, explore the Senior School environment, and engage in a range of interactive activities designed to build confidence and excitement.
  • Throughout Term 4, students will continue their exploration of Senior School through “taster” lessons in subjects such as Science, Art, Design and Technology, and Library with specialist teachers.

To support families, key Year 7 information including the Senior School Handbook, curriculum overviews, uniform and book lists, sport and co-curricular options will be published on Sundial to coincide with Test & Quest Day. Parents of Year 6 students are invited to attend the information morning component of this exciting day.

The new year will begin with an Induction Session on Thursday 29 January 2026, followed by the official start of classes on Friday 30 January 2026.

 

As always, we remain deeply committed to ensuring that your daughter’s transition to Senior School is a positive, supported, and joyful one. This journey is not simply a change of location — it is a rite of passage into the next stage of learning and life at Kambala.

Uniform Reminder

Younger siblings attending Kambala events as audience members are requested to attend in school uniform.

End of Term 2 Church Services - St Michael's Vaucluse - Thursday 26 June, 2025

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 Thursday 26 June 2025 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 Thursday 26 June they are to bring their sports uniforms in their Kambala Sports bags.