Junior School
Celebrating 138 Years of Kambala: A Legacy of Community and Values
Last Friday July, we proudly celebrated Kambala’s 138th 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 gathered 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 was 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 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 and sisterhood has the power to transform. Here's to the next chapter in our extraordinary, shared journey.
On the school’s birthday, Kambala is proud to host a Friendship in Sisterhood afternoon. Designed for our Kindergarten to Year 6 students to strengthen connection, kindness and belonging across year groups, the afternoon will include fun activities that empower girls to build healthy friendships, practise empathy and celebrate the unique bonds formed within their Sisterhood. It’s a joyful opportunity to reinforce the values of Courage, Curiosity and Humanity through meaningful connection and cross-age collaboration.
Year 6 Production - Goldie Locks On!
In Week 8 of Term 2 our Year 6 cohort took to the stage and showcased their many talents in their Year 6 Production of Goldie Locks On!
Thanks to the help of parent volunteers, the performers looked outstanding in their costumes and make-up and the colourful set really brought the Alexander Hall to life!
The audience were transported to the home of the three bears, where a disgruntled Goldie decides to go for a rest in an attempt to have a break from her parents.
Unfortunately, sleep was the last thing that occured as Goldie was interrupted by a variety of different characters that had lost their way.
This modern interpretation of Goldie Locks On was very well received and it often had the whole audience in fits of laughter.
Each student gave it 110% and played their role with enthusiasm and conviction making me incredibly proud.
The Year 6 production is such an integral part of our Kambala girls experience and a memory that will last a lifetime. A special mention to Ms Alice Bendall, our very talented dance choreographer, our Year 6 teachers who assisted with all things backstage and Inspired Productions and the Kambala Krew who ran sound, lighting and set.
Ms Anna Derrig
Director
The da Vinci Decathlon Competition 2025
Teams from across NSW from Years 5-10, recently participated in the da Vinci Decathlon at Knox Grammar School. Over 1000 children attended the competition, from over 100 schools. Students completed challenges requiring higher order thinking skills, problem solving and creativity, across ten disciplines: Art and Poetry, Cartography, Code Breaking, Creative Producers, English, Engineering, Ideation, Legacy, Mathematics and Science. Tasks were designed around this year’s theme- Light.
Kambala teams achieved strong results with Year 6 winning 1st place in NSW for Code Breaking and Year 5 scoring 3rd place in NSW for Art and Poetry. The Year 7 team achieved 3rd place for Creative Producers and 4th place for Mathematics. Year 8 were place 13th for Engineering. As Year 9 were away on camp at Cape York, Year 8 students competed in the Year 9 competition. The team scored 7th for Engineering and 11th for Creative Producers. Year 10 girls performed exceptionally well and were placed 13th overall in the state competition, with results such as 2nd for Code Breaking, 5th for Engineering and 6th for Art and Poetry
Mrs Anna Koutsoukis
Learning Enrichment- Gifted and Talented teacher
URStrong Friendship Resources
You are invited to take advantage of a Free Parent Membership to access hundreds of resources – including an 8 session video series. This will allow you to learn the same language & strategies being taught in the classroom. We hope that, as a URSTRONG Family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, & kindness at home.
As a next step, we would recommend:
- Click here to view an overview of URSTRONG.
- Activate your FREE Parent Membership and explore all the resources available to your family.
- Explore the hundreds of resources available to you
Personal and Pubertal Development Parent Information Session with Ms Judith Krause
Parents of students in Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 are invited to attend an online information session with Judith Krause. These sessions will allow you the opportunity to understand what is being covered in your daughter's personal and pubertal development lessons and how to foster positive conversations on these topics with your daughter.
Date
Wednesday 13 August 2025
Time
Year 4: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Year 5 and Year 6: 7:15pm - 8:15pm
Location
Online: Link to follow
Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 students will participate in classroom workshops with Ms Krause on Friday 15 August, Monday 18 August and Tuesday 19th August. If you have any questions regarding the personal and pubertal development lessons, please contact the Deputy Head of Junior School, Sheridan Sweeney, for further information.
NAPLAN - Individual Student Reports
Parents of students in Year 3 and Year 5 will receive their daughter’s NAPLAN Report today Thursday 24 July 2025. 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.
Further information about NAPLAN can be found here https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/results-and-reports
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 - Registrations close on Friday 25 July 2025 (tomorrow)
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 11 August
Science- Monday 18 August
Mathematics- Monday 25 August
Each of these will be completed at Kambala.
If you would like to register your daughter, please complete this form by Friday 4pm.
Guiding a Confident Step Forward: Supporting the Transition to Senior School
Junior School Tennis Championships - Friday 15 August 2025
Please click here to find all the information in regards to the Annual Junior School Tennis Championships to be held on Friday 15 August on the Kambala courts. The permission form is at the bottom of the letter.