Junior School 

Welcome

The joy of working in a girls’ school is the students’ natural enthusiasm for school and learning.  It was so wonderful to see the students’ joy evident as they returned to the “fair hill of flowers”.

We were also delighted to welcome some new team members to Kambala!

We are excited by the new renovations which have come to fruition. Year 6 students are now at home on the top floor of EJ Watt in the newly refurbished classrooms (formerly the Art Room).  Year 3 are now at home on the lower floor of EJ Watt.  

We have a new Junior School (P - 6 Art Room) housed in Massie House in what was the Massie Library and we have expanded the EJ Watt Library to make space for a picture fiction area.  The refurbished Library is the only space upon which we are waiting for furniture to arrive, thus Ms Pericles and I will run modified Library lessons whilst the collections remain boxed.  We are hopeful in Week 5 of Term 1 for the newly extended P - 6 Library to be fully functional.

We also have a new Student Services Office and Officer (Ms Melina Sallos) and a whole school (P - 12 ) Reception now housed in Massie House attended by Ellie Styles. 

A welcome message by the Junior School Captain- whole school assembly 31 January 2024

The following is the welcome message by the Junior School Captain at the whole School assembly last week:

"The adventure of a new school year is about to begin! I stand before you today not just as the Junior School Captain, but as a fellow traveller on this rollercoaster of learning, growth, and unforgettable moments.

Now, I know the school holidays felt like they finished way too quickly, but here we are, ready to dive into the next chapter of our Kambala journey. Whether you're a seasoned Year 12, fresh faced Massie or bright-eyed new girl, this year promises to be nothing short of awesome. So welcome back old girls, to the school you know and love, and to all our new girls, we welcome you to the school we all hope that you will grow to know and love. Settling into the new school year can be hard, especially as someone new to the Kambala community, but for everyone here today, know that this year will bring surprises and fun to look forward to.

I know that it can be terrifying to start a new school - when I started in year three, I didn’t know what to expect, but I found that Kambala welcomed me with wide arms, and I know that the school will do the same for you. It always helps to go see a teacher if you need to know anything and know that your friends and buddies will always be there to help you along the way, and that if you ever need anyone to sit with, the whole school is here for you.

Kambala is a family that everyone is a part of, and as we continue on this year, we will find that every single person here will have shaped and improved this community. Imagine this school year as a blank canvas, waiting for us to paint it with our achievements, friendships, and the occasional scribble in the margins. So, to make the most of this year, we have a shared challenge. To embrace and to accept. It might be to embrace a new sport, a new instrument or a new extracurricular activity. It might even be to embrace a new friend. Whatever it is, I want you to accept the challenges that come your way and to try new things by embracing and accepting.

So, make this year one to remember, and as your 2024 Junior School Captain, I give you a very warm welcome."

Erykah Skimin

Junior School Captain

Reminder from Principal Danvers:

We would like to remind parents of some if the key points from Ms Danvers recent updates posted on Sundial: 

Reception

To create a centralised welcome for our school, the senior and junior school reception offices have moved and are now situated as one Kambala reception, located at Massie House in the Junior School.

Reception will be staffed by Ms Ellie Styles who is responsible for the reception duties for the whole school from Preparation to Year 12.

All visitors and community members must report to Reception when they enter the school grounds to register their attendance. A waiting area is also located within this new reception site. 

To call reception: 9388 6777

Operating hours: 7.30am - 4.30pm

To email: reception@kambala.nsw.edu.au

Students Services

We have a new administration division called Student Services who are responsible for servicing the needs of students whilst on site at the school. This department will primarily be focussed on our students' needs. The previous reception style enquiries or visits are now relocated to Reception in Massie House.

Junior School Student Services will be led by Ms Melina Sallos

Senior School Student Services will be led by Ms Prue Hancock  

We are aware that many of the Junior School families are familiar with communicating with Ms Sallos for reception style enquiries. These enquiries should now go to Ms Ellie Styles at Reception located in Massie House. Ph: 9388 6777

Any Senior School reception style enquiries should be made with Ms Ellie Styles at Reception in Massie House. Ph: 9388 6777

Late to School

For any child who is late to school, parents should fill out this link on Sundial to notify the school. We cannot receive late to school phone calls. A digital record must be made.

Once at school students must sign in:

Any child in Junior School (P - Yr 6) must sign in at Reception with Ms Ellie Styles.

Any child in Senior School (7-12) must sign in at Student Services with Ms Hancock (previous reception located at Hawthorne Building, senior school).

Absent from School

For any child who is absent from school, parents must fill out this link on Sundial to notify the school. You can also record absences on the school app.

Please do not phone the school for absences as you will be redirected to Sundial to submit an absent notification as the school must have a digital record of the absence. 

We also ask that any changes to afternoon arrangements are conveyed to Reception no later than 1.30pm on school days. 

"Students should leave their home in the morning with the certainty of knowing their after-school departure arrangements". Please make use of the beautiful new Kambala yellow student diary to record after school arrangements so they are a point of reference for both your daughter and her teacher. 

Staffing 2024

We are excited to share our list of class teachers for 2024:

We are delighted to have the following Coordinators working to oversee the curriculum and pastoral needs of girls within the respective stages.

Stage 1 (Massie House) Coordinator is Mrs Alex Panagopoulos (Prep to Year 2) alex_panagopoulos@kambala.nsw.edu.au 

Mrs Louise Pinkstone continues to work as a member of our Learning Enrichment Team and is our Junior School Learning Enrichment Coordinator.

louise_pinkstone@kambala.nsw.edu.au 

Ms Kate Moore remains as our Deputy Head of Junior School and is the first point of contact after your daughter’s teacher for pastoral support.

Ms Ky-Lee Murphy remains as our Director of Curriculum in the Junior School and is the first point of contact after your daughter’s teacher for teaching, learning and curriculum matters.

New Staff 2024

We warmly welcome Mrs Robyn Wishart back to Kambala. Robyn worked at Kambala previously from 2008 to 2011.  She has also worked at Clearwater International School.  Mrs Wishart is passionate about teaching and learning and holds a Bachelor of Education from Cambridge University (UK).

We also welcome Miss Rachael Dossetor to Kambala.  Racheal joins us from SCEGGS Darlinghurst prior to that Rachael has taught at Mascot and Vaucluse Public Schools.  Rachael holds a Master of Primary Teaching from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and Bachelor of Arts (Spanish) from the University of Sydney.  

We look forward to seeing our Kambala Parents at the KPA Welcome Cocktail Party from 6.00pm on Friday 2 February 2024.  

**PLEASE SEE NEXT PAGE - EVENTS AND SAVE THE DATE - FOR ALL TERM 1 JUNIOR SCHOOL KEY DATES

We do however draw your attention to the below two events:

Junior School Meet the Teacher evening

Junior School Sport

100m Freestyle Championship Trials for JS Swimming Carnival.

In preparation for the Junior School Swimming Carnival, we will be holding lunchtime time trials on Thursday 15 February for the 100m Freestyle championship. 

Strong swimmers who are interested in swimming the 100m Freestyle race at the Junior School Swimming Carnival on 23 February are encouraged to come along to the pool and be timed. The fastest 6 girls in the Junior School will swim in this event at the carnival. There is only one 100m Freestyle race and it is the first race of the carnival meaning it will be a final.

Whilst House Points will be awarded for the girls who trial at these lunchtime sessions, only serious swimmers who can make the distance and complete the correct strokes should attend.

The interested swimmers should bring their swim gear and meet Mr Doyle at the EJ Watt Undercroft at the start of lunch to be directed to the pool.

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.