Senior School 

Welcome to 2024!

We start the school year with much gusto for all of our community. It was wonderful to meet new and familiar parents at the Cocktail Party and welcome information sessions that have taken place so far. A highlight of our return has been welcoming new students and staff at our first whole school assembly, gifting yellow gerberas to newcomers as one of our traditions and as a way to bring people into our school community.

This year sees us with much drive as we build upon the success of those that have gone before. The cohort of 2023 achieved across a multitude of areas with spectacular success in many andeavours and we look forward to hearing all they do in the future. We are proud of their effort and accomplishments. 

While we celebrate their success, our focus is on those students with us now. We have planned innovative experiences, challenging experiences and opportunities both in class and out of class for students across the school and we encourage them to delve into these demonstrating courage and curiosity. An example of this is Altius, the name given to our Year 8 Thinking Curriculum, which means ‘higher.deeper.wis’, something we are confident this curriculum will do for students, building confidence for students to think differently, to engage with others purposefully, explain understanding and navigate varied challenges so as to move beyond what is comfortable. The learning journey continues, and we are eager to acknowledge our heritage, but we are also driven to ensure our students are ambitious in their pursuits.

We look forward to working with and sharing with parents more as the year continues.

Ms Carolyn Gedling

Deputy Principal-Academic

A welcome message from our Head Prefect, whole school assembly 31 January 2024

"Good morning Ms Danvers, Mr Coppin, teachers, staff and girls, and welcome to the new 2024 school year. I hope each of you had an enjoyable and rejuvenating break, surrounded by the warmth of family and friends as we entered the new year.

I feel a great privilege to be able to speak to you today as we begin a new journey of school endeavours and introduce incoming students and staff into our Kambala community. 

With the beginning of the school year, I encourage you to consider more deeply the meaning and privilege of this experience. Provided with renewed energy and motivation combined with the hopes and possibilities the new year brings, I have no doubt each student will embrace these opportunities and continue to nurture their learning journey. 

Throughout the year I imagine we will encounter more challenges and hardships, and as we do, I remind you to value the lesson and learning instilled within each struggle. Utilising the values of our school; courage, curiosity, humanity and respect, we can overcome this adversity with unwavering integrity, unyielding tenacity, and a collaborative spirit. Courage will guide you to face difficulties head-on, curiosity will fuel your desire to explore and understand, humanity will remind you of the importance of empathy, and respect will foster a positive and inclusive environment. 

I look forward to our community celebrating at school events where achievements are acknowledged, talents are showcased, and the spirit of unity prevails. The ethos of our community leaves an indelible mark on our journey of growth throughout school, teaching us, believing in us and guiding us. It underscores the indispensable value of shared support and collaboration, instilling belonging and pride within each of us. 

As we look ahead into the upcoming year, I encourage you over this year to emulate our school values in a way that endeavours to empower ourselves and others around us. By upholding these principles, you contribute not only to your personal growth but also to the collective success of our school community. Entering a new year, your voice will become more important, your ideas more significant and your opportunities more abundant. Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and experience that your teachers and peers have to offer. Embrace the opportunities that surround you, yielding the chance to work towards your dreams and create your future.          

I anticipate the coming year will be abundantly filled with success, passion, encouragement, laughter, and a profound sense of achievement. Embark on this journey with enthusiasm and determination, recognise the unique potential you possess to catalyse positive change within our community. May we celebrate the beginning of a year of intellectual, creative, and personal breakthroughs, collaborative triumphs and the continuous pursuit of excellence. And amongst this, let the sun be the ever-present witness of your success. Thank you. 

Jessica Allen-Waters

Head Prefect

Welcome Archie and Daisy - our new school dogs!

Late last term, two staff members decided the time was right to grow their families, with each welcoming a four-legged family member.

Archie and Daisy are from the same Golden Retriever litter and have been providing such joy across the Junior and Senior School. We are so happy that as a community we will watch them grow as they spend much time on-site.

Kambala Ferry Service - shared with Kincoppal - Rose Bay

We continue to be excited about the new co-share ferry and bus service with Kincoppal-Rose Bay for our current North Shore families and staff, and our future North Shore community members. 

The Sealink/Captain Cook Cruises ferry service takes a mere 20-minute travel time across Sydney Harbour. Community members can board the ferry at either Cremorne Point or Circular Quay and travel to Watsons Bay, where a Kincoppal shuttle bus will pick them up and drop them to Kambala. A return service after school is also available.

Quotes from some of our users:

"The ferry that takes me to school every day is an incredibly efficient and safe way to get to school. It saves time and effort for my entire family, and I get to make new friends. From now on I never have to stress about being late and missing my favourite classes. "

Sienna Tait Year 6

"I really enjoy catching the ferry to school as it is so easy, efficient and very fast. It is also such a fun way to travel to school and get to know all the Kincoppal girls as well as the Kambala girls. 

Aspen Vernon Year 9

For further booking and timetable details click here.

The Class of 2024

Last Tuesday, the Kambala community was excited to welcome the Class of 2024 back to campus, and into the Soubeiran Room. It is a tradition that Year 12 enter this room on the first day of the new academic year, their final one at Kambala.

The morning commenced with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a breakfast in the “Soub”, before students entered their new mentor rooms, which were decorated with words of wisdom from last year’s cohort. 

Following this, students participated in a number of activities that had been designed to prepare them for the year. These activities included: academic preparedness sessions, Q & A’s with graduated students from last year, as well as activities focussed upon managing stress, healthy friendships, values, careers, and driver education. Additionally, Year 12 had a shared lunchtime with Year 7s, where they were able to meet their buddies and tighten the bond between the year levels. 

Thank you to all mentors and teachers involved in facilitating the day, and a particular thanks to the old girls who generously shared their wisdom.

We look forward to the journey that the Class of 2024 will take this year.

Mr Timothy Hay

Head of Year 12

New beginnings for Year 7

What a whirlwind week it has been for the youngest members of our Senior School community. On Tuesday 30th January, the Year 7 cohort were welcomed to campus for their first day of Orientation Week. There was much excitement and anticipation in the air as students formed new connections and explored the spaces that will be their home for the next six years.

To begin the week, students were formally welcomed in the Alexander Hall by the Ms. Danvers and Deputy Principal - Wellbeing and Boarding, Mrs. Joanne Sarmiento, as well as their Head of Year, Ms Paige Zavaglia. After meeting and spending time with their Mentors, students were introduced to their Year 10 House Officers and guided through their first Peer Mentoring session. Founded in the Kambala Values, the Peer Mentoring program explores the importance of acting with integrity, especially in times of challenge and change, and will be continued throughout Semester 1.

Throughout the week, the Year 7 cohort participated in a range of workshops with their Head of Year, Mentors, Learning Enrichment Staff, School Psychology and IT Teams. Together, these workshops sought to assess and hone each student’s self-awareness and executive functioning skills. Students also benefited from a workshop with Ms. Lisa Maltman from The Sleep Connection, who reminded them of the importance of well-maintained routines around sleep for better health, learning, and mood. The cohort were enthusiastically engaged in all sessions and, with courage and curiosity, shared their ideas and questions with one another.

The week concluded with the much anticipated full-day capstone workshop with Dannielle Miller from Enlighten Education, entitled ‘The Journey.’ Interspersed with much laughter and joviality, the workshop explored the themes of friendship, transition, and resilience, with learnings from this day to be reiterated throughout the year.

I am most proud of the way in which the cohort have begun their journey through the Kambala Senior School, and I look forward to seeing what this term will hold for all.

Ms Paige Zavaglia

Head of Year 7, Middle Years Wellbeing

Senior School Drop Offs and Pick ups

To help with traffic flow around our school, we would like all families to contribute to a one-way loop for drop offs and pick-ups. Please enter the car line from Bayview Hill Road and exit via Tivoli Ave lights. 

Please note that student safety is paramount and there have been instances where senior students are being dropped off outside the pool gates and running across the road in front of cars. Please use our car line and drop off outside the Tivoli Ave gates as part of our one- way loop.

Outstanding Trinity Drama Exam results for 2023

In Week 7 of Term 4 2023, the extracurricular drama students from Year 5 to Year 11 completed their Trinity Drama Exams, performing their allocated scenes, speeches, monologues, poems, mimes, and self-devised original pieces for an external examiner. 

We’ve now received all the results and they are outstanding across the board! The majority of girls all received marks in the highest band of distinction, with special comment from the examiner as to how impressed she was by the talent and enthusiasm displayed by all students. This is an incredible achievement, and a great reflection of the dedication shown by the XC Drama students in 2023.  We are extremely proud of the girls and look forward to watching their talents continue to grow throughout their time at Kambala.

We are "peer" to support you!

At Kambala we regularly discuss how we show up for each other. Our School values of Humanity, Courage, Curiosity and Respect guide how we enact and bring to life our expectations as members of this community. Our House Officers in Year 10 have demonstrated and brought to life these values by leading the Peer Mentoring Program during the first week of the 2024 school year. The Peer Mentoring Program is where Year 10 students meet with a Year 7 Mentor group to guide them in a range of activities. As part of the Year 7 Orientation week, Year 10 led two one-hour sessions with the focus of these sessions and the Term 1 program on fostering connections and fun. Two House Officers for each Mentor group guided Year 7 students in a series of activities such as name and movement games, conversation starters and a fierce handball competition. Although the program is aimed at enhancing relationship skills for students in Year 7, the additional benefit of the program is that our Year 10 students enrich their connection with younger students in their House groups as well as developing their leadership and communication skills.

Congratulations to our 2024 Peer Mentor Leaders: Claudia Gerber, Ruby Jones, Laura Janes, Elke Novak, Olivia Baukh, Coco Manovel, Morrison Elliot, Frankie Somerville, Lyla Hyder, Scarlett Levy, Elsie Paton, Danica Zhang, Lara Chersky, Bella Dixon, Amelia Darke, Frankie Johnston.

Ms Julie Laytham

Head of Student Life

Notification of Senior School Absences, Lates and Appointments

Last week, students in the Senior School were introduced to Ms Hancock, the Student Service Officer (SSO) whose role is to support students in Years 7 - 12. Part of Ms Hancock’s role will be to assist Mentors and Heads of Year to follow up unexplained or unusual attendance issues. In order to ensure that we have the correct attendance information for your daughter we ask for parents and carers support to follow the steps outlined below.

Notify the School of student absences, lates and appointments (in advance or on the day):

To ensure that we have the most up to date information on your daughter’s attendance, the school must be notified of all full day or part of the day absences. Partial day absences include late to school (eg. transport), late to arrive (appointment) or if they are required to leave early. 

To notify the school of your daughter’s part of full day absence all parents must complete the Google form found on the parent Sundial page (top-left hand side) or via the Kambala App (Absentee, bottom right-hand corner). This form can be completed in advance or on the day of the absence. Completing this will mean that you will not receive a text message reminding you to verify your daughter's absence (by completing the form).

Following up unexplained absences and lates:

Our Student Services Officer (SSO), Ms Hanock will be following up all unexplained student absences and lateness through the following process;

(i) Unexplained student absence by 10.00:  

A parent will receive a text message directing them to notify the school of their daughter’s absence by completing the Google form on Sundial (or via the School App).

(ii) Unexplained student absence or / late to school by 15.00: 

Unexplained whole day absence - a parent will receive a second text message, letting them know their daughter’s absence is still unverified and directing them to notify the school of their daughter’s absence by completing the Google form on Sundial (or via the School App). 

Unexplained lateness to school (included transport issues, students must be at school by 8.15am everyday), a parent will receive a text message, letting them know their daughter was late to school and the lateness is unverified, then directing them to notify the school of their daughter’s lateness by completing the Google form on Sundial (or via the School App). 

(iii) Unexplained student absence by 12.00 the next day: 

Unexplained whole day absence - a parent will receive a phone call from the SSO asking them to notify the school of their daughter’s absence by completing the Google form on Sundial (or via the School App).

Unexplained lateness to school  - a parent will receive a phone call from the SSO asking them to notify the school of their daughter’s lateness by completing the Google form on Sundial (or via the School App).

(iv) Unexplained student absence and / or lateness by end of the week:

A parent will receive a phone call from your daughter’s Head of Year asking them to notify the school of their daughter’s absence by completing the Google form on Sundial (or via the School App).

(v) For multiple unexplained absences and / or patterns of lateness to school: 

Parents / carers and their daughter will be asked to meet with the relevant Head of Year and Head of Student Life to go through the NSW Department of Education, Compulsory School Attendance Policy and if necessary, create an attendance plan.

All ongoing patterns of non-attendance and unexplained absences, including lateness will be escalated to the Deputy Principal - Wellbeing and Boarding.

Thank you to our School community for your support and adherence to this process.

Ms Julie Laytham

Head of Student Life 

Congratulations Allison Wu

On 10 Jan 2024, Allison (yr. 8) won second place (Silver) with her water polo team in the competition of Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (Under 14)! Please see the photos attached.