From Mr Coppin

Celebrating 139 Years of Kambala: A Legacy of Community, Values and Vision

On Friday 24 July, we proudly celebrate Kambala’s 139th birthday,  a remarkable milestone that reflects not only the longevity of our school but also the enduring strength and spirit of our community. To mark the occasion, our P–12 students and staff will gather for a special outdoor assembly, taking time to reflect on our rich history and look ahead to the future. And of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without cake!

From our beginnings in 1887 in the Terrace House Fernbank on Edgecliff Road to the vibrant school we are today, Kambala’s journey has been shaped by generations of students, staff, families and alumni whose collective spirit and commitment have built something truly special.

In a world that changes rapidly, the heart of Kambala remains constant. The enduring power of sisterhood, a bond that connects students across year groups, generations and continents,  continues to be a defining strength of our community. Alongside this, our School values of Humanity, Courage, Curiosity and Respect guide every aspect of life at Kambala. Whether it’s the courage to take a risk, the curiosity to explore new ideas, the humanity to lift one another up, or the respect that shapes how we learn and lead together, these values anchor us. Together, they nurture not only a deep sense of belonging, but a shared purpose that transcends time and place.

As we celebrate 139 years, we are also embracing an exciting new chapter in Kambala’s story. The construction of our new oval and multipurpose sports hall represents far more than an investment in facilities; it is an investment in the generations of students yet to come. These new spaces will inspire participation, teamwork, wellbeing and excellence, providing opportunities for every girl to learn, play and thrive. Just as those who came before us had the foresight to build a school that would endure, we too are shaping a campus that reflects our values and prepares our students for the future.

As we reflect on this anniversary, we do so with immense gratitude and optimism. Kambala’s story is not just one of years passed, but of lives enriched and possibilities still to come. Our future is bright because of the strong foundations laid by those before us, and because of the continued belief that education, guided by values, sisterhood and a commitment to excellence, has the power to transform lives.

On Kambala’s 139th birthday, we are proud to honour our past while building for our future. As work begins on our new oval and multipurpose sports hall, we celebrate not only where we have come from, but where we are going. Here's to the next chapter in our extraordinary shared journey.

NAPLAN - Individual Student Report

Parents of students in Year 3 and Year 5 will receive their daughter’s NAPLAN Report on Thursday 23 July 2026 - please check your daughter’s diary for the envelope containing the report. 

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum. Individual student performance is shown on a national achievement scale for each assessment. This scale indicates whether the student is meeting expectations for the literacy and numeracy skills needed to participate fully in that year level. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

Our teachers use the results to identify strengths and areas of need to improve teaching programs, and to set goals in literacy and numeracy for each student. If you have any questions about your daughter’s NAPLAN report, please contact her class teacher.

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).

Welcome New Teacher Librarian

We are delighted to welcome Ms Dora Kazamias to our school community as our new Teacher Librarian. Dora joins us with a wealth of experience, having most recently served as Teacher Librarian at Mosman Prep School, Kincoppal Rose Bay, and Darlinghurst Public School. She is deeply passionate about fostering a lifelong love of reading and inspiring students through literature, and we are excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm she will bring to our library, especially as we look ahead to Book Week. In addition to presently completing her Teacher Librarianship qualifications through Charles Sturt University, Dora also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from Macquarie University. We are thrilled to have her join our team and warmly welcome her to our community.

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. 

• To enrol, please go to SUNDIAL Enrol & Pay tile, log in with SSO, and you will find Homework Plus in Activity Selection (left hand side bar)
• For further information regarding enrolment and attendance for Homework Plus, please contact Mr Juan Renshaw.

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.  

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!