Junior School
Celebrating 139 Years of Kambala: A Legacy of Community, Values and Vision
Last Friday, we proudly celebrated 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 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 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 multi-purpose 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.
Mr Stuart Coppin
Deputy Principal - Head of Junior School
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.
Kambala Bus Services
Kambala operates two subsidised bus services on two separate routes for Kambala students for both the morning and the afternoon.
Bookings are simple and details (including timetables) can be foundhere on Sundial.
Route 1: Eastern Beaches
La Perouse, Little Bay, Chifley, Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar, South Coogee, Coogee, Clovelly, Waverley, Bronte, Bondi Beach, North Bondi, Dover Heights and Kambala
Route 2: Inner City
Eastgardens, Rosebery, Alexandria, Waterloo, Paddington, Woollahra, Edgecliff, Double Bay, Point Piper and Kambala
Clickherefor a pdf of the current routes.
It's the Journey, Not the Destination
“An answer is brief and just contains answers to the questions we've posed. A solution may not be complete, but will include the solver's ideas, why they chose a certain method, and explanations of what they noticed.” – NRICH
At the beginning of this year, I shared a simple message with every girl in my Mathematics classes: the answer is only part of the story. I want to understand the thinking that led them there.
This idea sits at the heart of the current NSW Mathematics Syllabus, which places strong emphasis on students reasoning mathematically. Rather than viewing mathematics as a subject of memorising procedures or producing the correct answer as efficiently as possible, students are encouraged to explain their thinking, justify their decisions and communicate the strategies they use. This emphasis on reasoning and conceptual understanding is reflected in the work of mathematics educators, such as Professor Jo Boaler and Professor Dianne Siemon, whose research highlights the importance of helping learners make connections, explain their thinking and develop deep mathematical understanding.
I am fortunate to teach girls who embrace challenge and genuinely enjoy thinking mathematically. Their willingness to explore different approaches, test ideas and persevere through uncertainty creates a classroom where learning is driven by curiosity, rather than simply finding the quickest path to an answer. It is through this productive struggle that girls build confidence, resilience and flexible problem-solving skills.
One of the ways we have fostered this thinking is through engaging with NRICH, an online mathematics project developed by the University of Cambridge. NRICH provides rich, open-ended problem-solving tasks that encourage students to think deeply, communicate their reasoning and develop mathematical resilience. Some problems also invite students to submit their solutions for publication.
Recently, I invited the girls to tackle the current NRICH problem, Hunting for Averages, and challenged them to write a clear, well-reasoned mathematical explanation as to how they solved the problem. It was through this process that the idea of the journey, not the destination truly came to life. The girls were challenged not only to solve a problem but also to communicate their mathematical thinking in a way that another person could understand and replicate. For many, writing a mathematical solution proved to be just as demanding as solving the problem itself. The quality of the girls’ work was evident, with the solutions produced by Mollie Tong, Isla Wong and Chloe Kollias selected for submission to the NRICH team for consideration.
Watching the girls refine their work was incredibly rewarding. Rather than simply presenting an answer, they carefully justified each step, explained why they selected particular strategies and reflected on the patterns and relationships they discovered. Their solutions demonstrated that mathematics is far more than arriving at a correct answer; it is about constructing logical arguments, communicating ideas clearly and developing methods that can be applied to new situations.
One of the most exciting aspects of reading the girls' submissions was seeing the diversity of their thinking. Although they had all been presented with the same problem, no two solutions were exactly alike. Each girl approached the challenge from her own perspective, selecting different strategies, recognising different patterns and communicating her reasoning in a unique way. Despite these varied approaches, each solution demonstrated sound mathematical thinking and arrived at a valid conclusion. It was a wonderful reminder that mathematics is not about finding a single "right" way to solve a problem, but about developing the confidence and understanding to justify your thinking.
When asked to reflect on the experience, the girls spoke candidly about both the challenges and the enjoyment of engaging with a task that encouraged them to think deeply, make connections and communicate their mathematical reasoning. Their reflections capture the culture of thinking we strive to create together in our mathematics classroom.
Isla Wong"It was good to make connections between what we learned in Term 1 around multiples and averages. It was a bit hard to write my solution but as I went it was easier than I thought it was going to be and my thoughts just flowed."
Chloe Kollias"It was fun. It was hard to figure out how to solve it and find a solution but once I figured out what the solution was, it was okay. I enjoyed writing down my methods, and it was nice to be able to say what I thought and explain how I worked it out."
Mollie Tong"I think it is a really nice challenge because it is not asking you directly for the answer - it would be too boring. It requires a lot of thinking and refreshing my brain. It was very enjoyable."
The girls' reflections beautifully reinforce an important message: mathematics is not simply about finding answers. It is about making connections, exploring ideas, persevering through challenges and developing the confidence to communicate and justify thinking. These are the skills that prepare our girls not only for success in mathematics, but for thoughtful problem-solving well beyond the classroom.
Ms Amy Schey
Junior School Maths Specialist
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.