From Mr Coppin
Tolerance for Ambiguity and Calculated Risk
On International Women’s Day it was delightful to hear from Kambala Parent Naomi Shepherd and Kambala Alumni and Parent Rachel Scanlon. Naomi holds the role as Group Industry Director at META and Rachel is Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific for D2 Legal Technology.
Inspirationally for our audience, Naomi and Rachel spoke of pivotal moments in their career trajectories when they had to have faith in their own abilities, take calculated risks whilst maintaining their tolerance for ambiguity to enable them to diverge from traditional accountancy and legal routes respectively. This appetite for calculated risk and tolerance for ambiguity eventually led them to highly esteemed careers with META and D2 Legal Technology respectively.
This had me thinking about developing in our girls the ability to have a go and take calculated risks. Two weeks ago, the Cross Country run for our students was a demonstration to us all of their courage and tenacity. Having a go at an event that they may not “love” but having a go anyway with a focus on personal best.
Outdoor education is another way to develop in the students their tolerance for ambiguity and ability to take calculated risks. At Kambala we have a progression of nested experiences from our Year 2 Sleepover at Kambala to our one night experience for Year 3 at Chaldercot. Year 4 and Year 5 move to three day and two night experiences at Milson Island and Gerrigong respectively. Year 6 have had their extended three day excursion to Canberra then go to Camp Somerset on the banks of the Colo River (in two woman tents) for four days and three nights at the end of the year. The school has been taking the girls to Camp Somerset for more than thirty years. Some of our alumni who are parents will remember fondly their time at Camp Somerset when they were in Junior School in the late ‘80s and ‘90s.
Philosophically, camps are about developing tolerance for ambiguity, building cooperative skills and time away from family to enhance resilience and confidence. My thanks to our teaching staff who take time away from their personal lives to care for your daughters.
In this ever changing technological environment, in addition to mobile phones (as a mobile phone free school) we have also asked parents to not air tag backpacks/luggage or their daughters, as this does not sit comfortably with the school. To my witnessing, it is concerning that any member of the general public with an iPhone can track air tags within a vicinity and your daughters’ safety is paramount. Additionally, Experiential Learning and Camps are also about building trust and relationships with peers and teachers, moving beyond family for the duration then returning to the nest safely at the end of this experience.
It is our intention and hope that through our sequenced program of experiential learning and outdoor education that we will build capacity in your daughters in terms of their tolerance for ambiguity and the ability to take clever risks so that their trajectory can be as impressive as those Kambala parents and alumni who have gone before them.
Year 4 on Camp at Milson Island (below)
Year 6 outside Parliament House in Canberra during their 3 day curriculum in context Canberra Excursion (above) and with Governor General Sam Mostyn (below)
Junior School Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent-Teacher interviews with Class and Specialist teachers will be held during Week 10 of Term 1 (Monday 31 March- Thursday 3 April). Specialist teachers available for Term 1 interviews are:
Year 2- French, Music
Year 3- French, Art, PE
Year 4- French, Art, Music
Year 5- Science, Drama, PE
Year 6- Science, Drama, Mandarin
Interview times with your daughter’s teachers will be offered both before and after school hours. Most parents find 10 minutes sufficient time for interviews with their daughter’s Class teacher, plus 5 minutes with Specialist teachers and if their daughter’s Maths teacher is not their class teacher. If you feel that more time is necessary, please contact your daughter’s teacher to arrange a convenient time and date for a longer meeting. You may request interviews at other times throughout the year by contacting teachers directly.
How will these interviews work?
We will continue to utilise Zoom for our interviews as feedback indicates this works best for our busy parents and carers. Parent-Teacher interview bookings can be made using our online booking system at https://kambala.meettheteacher.com/ Once you click on the link you will be directed to the online booking system to schedule your appointment/s. The booking portal will be open from 5.00pm on Thursday 13 March and will close at 4.00pm on Thursday 27 March. A Parent-Teacher Booking Appointment Guide has been created to assist parents with their bookings. Please click here to access this Guide. Once you have made an appointment time, confirmation of your appointment time will appear on your screen. A confirmation will also be sent to your parent email address. If you need to amend your booking time, please do so via your confirmation email.
On the day of your Appointment
You can access Zoom links for all teachers on your daughter’s Sundial class page. Teachers will be alerted that you are in the virtual waiting room and will admit parents to begin the appointment at the scheduled time. Every effort to keep to the schedule will be made and we encourage parents to access the Sundial class pages ahead of the scheduled meeting times to support timeliness. Please note if you are running significantly late, you will need to reschedule your appointment as teachers must follow their pre booked interview times with other families. We kindly ask that you respect our teachers’ time and notify them in advance via email if you are unable to make your scheduled appointment time.
IT support
Should you experience technical difficulties during the event, please access ICT support by clicking on the ICT Support tile on the Sundial homepage. While we are doing all we can to prepare for a smooth experience, we appreciate your flexibility should there be any disruptions.
Year 3 Term 2, 2025 Sport Choice
Year 3 will be given the opportunity to play Touch Football in Term 2. They will play in a competition against SCEGGS, Ascham and Kincoppal. The competition will be aimed at preparing the girls for the introduction of IPSHA sport in Year 4 by learning the basic skills of the sport.
Please read this information and fill out the form at the end of the letter if you wish to register your daughter for sport in Term 2.
ySafe Cyber Safety Education Session for Parents of Year 5 - Year 8 Students - Wednesday 26 March 2025 - 6.30pm
Please CLICK HERE to register for the Webinar.
National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy - NAPLAN - Year 3 and Year 5
NAPLAN provides an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students have already learnt through the school curriculum. Teachers will provide appropriate support and guidance, including ways to become familiar with the format and functionality of the online platform.
Students in Years 3 and 5 will sit the NAPLAN tests on the following dates:
Wednesday 12 March- Writing
Friday 14 March- Reading
Tuesday 18 March- Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
Thursday 20 March- Numeracy
Friday 21 March- catch up testing for absentees
Students in Year 3 will complete the Writing test using pencil and paper. Year 3 students will answer the other test questions on their school iPad. Students in Year 5 will answer all their test questions on their school laptop. All students will need their own headphones.
Preparation at home is not required and can lead to unnecessary anxiety. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure them that NAPLAN tests are just one part of our school’s learning and assessment program, and to advise them to simply do the best they can on the day. A good night’s sleep, punctual school arrival and healthy breakfast are the best ways to set the girls up for success. Students and parents can access the Public Demonstration Site to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN and the types of questions and tools available. Please click on this link - NAPLAN 2025 Information for Parents and Carers- for further information.
After NAPLAN testing is complete, the Years 3 and 5 girls will enjoy time away at camp.