Senior School
Recharge and Read!
As our Year 12 students head into the final stretch of their HSC and IB exams next term, I wanted to wish them well. They have worked with focus and determination, and I am confident they will do themselves proud. This is a significant milestone in their academic journey, and I am grateful to families who have supported their daughters and worked with us at Kambala to provide opportunities and encouragement.
As the holiday approaches, it is essential for all to take time to rest and rejuvenate. Switching off from the study and devices for even for a short while, is crucial for young people, and adults, wellbeing. Whether it’s spending time with loved ones, enjoying nature, or simply taking a deep breath, please take time to pause and celebrate all that has been accomplished to date.
I also recommend picking up a good book—reading is a wonderful way to relax, expand your mind, and find comfort in a slower pace. Our library is very well stocked, and our library staff have such a vast knowledge of (YA) Young Adult books they are very happy to share recommendations. Please encourage your daughter to find sanctuary in a library book over the break.
Wishing you all a refreshing break, and a most productive time for our Year 12’s as they maintain momentum for the final weeks ahead.
Ms Carolyn Gedling
Deputy Principal, Academic
In Conversation with Principal Jane Danvers
Over the past term we have held four of the five series of "In Conversation with Principal Jane Danvers" presentations to our parents. These informative sessions provided details around the 2024 - 2027 Strategic Plan, and shared key insights and future plans for Kambala. The school’s activities and developments for the remainder of this year were discussed, and a deep dive into the longer terms' goals, operational priorities and key projects were made available. We thank all parents who attended the past four events.
You can still RSVP to the last presentation in the series to be held on 21 October at 6pm. Whilst the invitation has been issued to Hampshire House - Year 4 parents, any interested parents that were unable to attend previous dates are welcome to attend. Click here to RSVP.
Mary's Underground, a Fine Performance!
On 10 September, musicians from Kambala delivered an unforgettable performance at Mary’s Underground, showcasing their incredible jazz talents. Mary's Underground is a vibrant live music and dining venue, previously known as “The Basement”. This jazz club has been around since 1972, when it first opened its doors to the Circular Quay. Multiple famous jazz musicians have performed at this venue through the years, such as James Morrison.
The inaugural Jazz and Burgers at Mary’s Underground concert was an amazing opportunity for all the girls participating to get a taste of what it's like to perform in professional jazz clubs. I think I can say on behalf of all the girls there, that the experience was truly incredible and unforgettable. It gave us the chance to build our skills and gave the younger students a glimpse of the bands they could join in the future.
Highlights included jazz bands, filled with students of all levels of talent. A piece named “I Don’t Know Why” by Nora Jones, with Annabelle Shepherd, Year 10, starring as the vocalist. The Kambala Big Band combined with some members from Kambala Jazz Orchestra was conducted by Ms Lewis. The concert also included delightful performances from the Tango Orchestra, Madrigals and Vocal solos. The Madrigal girls performed acapella, “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder and “Sing Sing Sing” by Benny Goodman for their first performance. The Year 12s had feature solos as sadly, it was their last performance with the Madrigal group. Alana, Eliza, Eloise, Hayley and Sophie are to be congratulated on their commitment to our music ensembles.
Thank you to everyone who performed on the evening. All the performances stunned the audience, leaving everyone inspired and excited about the future of Kambala and Mary’s Underground.
Chloe Carman and Jolie Wu Year 10
Our Spanish Students attend the Spanish Film Festival 2024
At the end of Term 2, 16 students from the Spanish IB and Spanish Pamoja courses embarked on an exciting excursion to the Spanish Film Festival. It was a fantastic way to conclude an intensive term and usher in the holidays!
The featured film, Checkmates (Menudas piezas), tells the story of a secondary education teacher who was given the chance to teach a “group of socially marginalized students” from a high school in Zaragoza, eventually enabling them to partake in a national chess tournament.
This comedy-drama provided our students with the opportunity to test their Spanish comprehension. More importantly, it offered a cinematic glimpse into the lives of young people dealing with social and global issues such as access to quality education, school dropout, discrimination, drugs, and teenage pregnancy.
There was a range of different opinions about the movie, but everyone agreed in that the experience of attending the Spanish Film Festival 2024 was memorable.
Ms Leslie Jervis
Spanish
HSC Drama Showcase
Congratulations to the HSC Drama class who performed their outstanding Group and Individual Performances to a welcome audience recently. Drama is the only HSC subject that has a group component, and the girls demonstrated both their technical skill and ability to engage an audience via their uniquely envisaged performances. Pageant Moms (featuring Hayley Green, Natalie Twivey and Annie Geissler) utilised satire and black comedy to critique questionable aspects of American culture. B Boys (featuring Mia De Oglou, Lexie Murray, Sophie Scanlon and Eloise Sinclair) used satirical comedy to examine the impact social influencers like Andrew Tate have on young boys. Such was the quality of the work that both groups received OnStage Nominations from NESA Examiners for the excellence of their performance.
Individual performances also demonstrated the breadth of the girl's theatrical knowledge with performances ranging from black comedy to Australian realism to the wit of Oscar Wilde. Congratulations also go to Annie Geissler who also received an OnStage Nomination for her performance of Dinner with Marsha. The Individual projects are assessed at a later date, and we wish Mia De Oglou (Promotion and Program - The Taming of The Shrew) and Sophie Scanlon (Set Design - The Visit) the very best for the assessment of their incredible work.
Ms Lisa Moir
Drama
Year 9 English, Speculative Fiction
A dried-up world of thirst and starvation, where human neglect has rendered all water toxic.
A future, regressive dystopia where one’s skin colour determines their ‘Purity Score’.
A cityscape of drones and surveillance, where women’s freedom is scrutinised 24/7.
These are just a few snapshots into the narratives created in Year 9 English as part of their Term 2 deep-dive into Speculative Fiction.
From the surveillance-driven world of Orwell’s 1984, to Octavia Butler’s exploration of autonomy and communication in Speech Sounds, and the ever-present poignancy of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, students studied and took inspiration from Speculative Fiction to create their own unique narrative contributing to the genre.
Students were required to ‘write through social discourse’, embedding a social critique within their own Speculative Fiction narrative. Students’ work was firmly rooted in current world issues: environmental degradation, governmental policy, racial inequity, the future of women’s rights, emerging technologies, and the development of artificial intelligence to name a few.
To bolster students’ inquiry in Term 2, and help develop their own Speculative Fiction worlds, Year 9 students welcomed back an annual panel discussion featuring four academics of varying disciplines from the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales. Through a question-and-answer seminar, Year 9 students enriched their knowledge in the fields of science, sociology, medicine, engineering and humanities in order to create authentic, informed, and socially minded creative compositions.
Student questions elucidated rich discussion rooted in real-world examples, current trends of research, and emerging academic discourses. The question-and-answer format, whilst linked to their English studies, offered students a valuable insight into the academic realms of university study, PhD candidacy, research, publication, and beyond.
To celebrate the meaningful, critical writing of our Year 9 students, a selection of ten narratives across the cohort have been made available for viewing in an interactive Sundial showcase. Accompanying each student’s narrative is a short statement outlining the social discourses they sought to interrogate, alongside references to the Speculative Fiction texts that inspired their creative choices.
Please click this link or scan the QR code to explore Year 9 students’ evocative, critical worlds of Speculative Fiction that work to ‘write through social discourse’.
Mr Thomas Israel
English
The Annual Kambala v SCOTS Netball Game
The annual Year 12 Kambala versus The Scot’s College netball game took place under the glorious spring sunshine on Tuesday 17 September. Our mighty Year 12 team were clapped onto the court under an arch of student arms, cheering them on as they prepared to battle the Scot’s team. It was a close game that went down to a final minute. In the end the Kambala Year 12 team finished strong winning 9 – 8. Huge thank you to Cath Scott for assisting the Year 12 make the necessary arrangements for this friendly game, thanks to the student umpires, Maddie Nazar and Sasha Novaka. Congratulations to the Year 12 players and big shout out to the students in all year groups who showed up and cheered loudly with every goal that was scored.
Ms Julie Laytham
Head of Student Life
Medicine/Physiotherapy Lunchtime Forum
The Future Pathways Department at Kambala has been trialling a series of lunchtime forums to provide information to students about a variety of career paths and connect current students to member of the wider Kambala Community.
Guest Speakers for the Medicine / Physiotherapy Forum on Wednesday 18th of September included KOG Executive member Sarah Li (Doctor of Medicine), Kristen Haigh (Physiotherapist and mother of Sienna Haigh KOG’23) and Ali McGill (Physiotherapist and KOG’16).
Over 50 students from Year 8-11, attended the forum and asked a variety of relevant questions that helped reinforce understanding of their interested university courses and additional requirements.
Many thanks to our guest speakers for giving up their time so generously. Our next forum will be around Law and Business, if any KOG or Kambala Community members would consider speaking, please let us know.
Mr Ian Pettit
Future Pathways Advisor
Year 7 Taronga Zoo
The Year Seven excursion to Taronga Zoo was undoubtedly one of the most exciting highlights of the year! From the moment the permission form was sent out, our year group was buzzing with excitement about the upcoming adventure. With many assessments looming, it was a welcome break from our usual workload.
Upon arriving at the zoo, we were given a quick tour of the Education Centre, where we would meet again at 11:30. Then, for the first time ever, we were sent off in our own mini groups without any teachers! Our group headed straight to the reptile exhibit, where we were amazed by a super long snake slithering up a branch and a frog hilariously squashing its face against the glass. We snapped photos and created unforgettable memories. After exploring the reptiles, we decided to visit the capybaras and treat ourselves to an ice chocolate at the café. At 11:30, we returned to the Education Centre, where we learned fascinating facts about echidnas, scorpions, and a bright green frog. For instance, we discovered that scorpions with larger tails and smaller pincers are more dangerous! We also learned more about classifying animals in science and even had the chance to pat a snake as we were leaving at the end!
The rest of the zoo was just as exciting. We saw elephants, red pandas and penguins, learning about their unique adaptations and survival skills. The red pandas were so adorable and a person favourite of ours. After a lunch of hot chips, we visited the giraffes, lions, and seals. The giraffes towered gracefully, and the lions were impressive! They even climbed up a tree at one point! And finally, to top off our day, we were let loose in the gift shop. If you ever wonder what happens when Year Sevens are given a credit card and a trip to the zoo, just picture a shopping frenzy with all the enthusiasm of a group of kids who’ve just discovered the ultimate candy store. Let’s just say the gift shop definitely felt the impact of our wild excitement! The day was a perfect blend of fun and learning, leaving us all with more knowledge about the animal kingdom and a newfound confidence in our ability to explore independently!
Sophie Elliott and Sami Cheung Year 7
Unveiling the Past: Year 8 English students Explore Ancestral Stories through a Postmodern Lens
In an inspiring Year 8 English project, students have ventured into a unique exploration of storytelling, focusing on the personal histories often overshadowed by grand historical narratives. The project, titled "Stories Worth Telling," encouraged students to delve into their own family backgrounds, unearthing and narrating the smaller, yet profoundly significant, stories within the larger framework of history. Through a reimagining of the past, these young writers have crafted evocative and innovative portrayals of their ancestors’ experiences.
The essence of the project lies in its emphasis on personal and familial stories that contribute richly to our understanding of historical narratives and their continuing impact in our lives today. Students interviewed their parents and other relatives to collect anecdotes and stories of the past—moments that might otherwise remain untold. These narratives, ranging from tales of migration and personal hardship to profound stories of survival in war, and stories of joy and achievement, offer a unique glimpse into the small human tales that remain untold and are often overshadowed by global historical events.
The emotional impact of this project has been profound. By focusing on personal stories, students have gained a deeper understanding of their own backgrounds and the broader human experience. The small, intimate narratives—full of struggle, triumph, and resilience—have fostered empathy and a greater appreciation for the intricate tapestry of individual and collective histories.
At the conclusion of the “Stories Worth Telling" project students reflected on their newfound appreciation for both their heritage and the art of storytelling. Many expressed a deeper connection to their family’s history and a sense of pride in their own ability to narrate these stories.
Click this link to discover some of the evocative and poignant historical stories reimagined by our extremely talented Year 8 students
Ms Liliana Zavaglia
English
R U OK Day 2024
On 12 September, the Senior School acknowledged the huge impact that connecting with friends and peers from all age groups can have a positive effect on the mental health and wellbeing of our community. Our theme was ‘looking up’, emphasising the need to look out and have a conversation in order to find out what may be going on with others and offer any support by way of conversation. During recess and lunchtime student leaders from Years 7 - 10 gave out lollies, chatted with their peers and ran activities. The Hall was buzzing with students interacting and enjoying time with peers over games, loom band making, watercolour painting and energetic karaoke singing with special guest song from Year 8 with their special rendition of one of the tracks from the musical ‘Six’.
Huge thank you to all of the students who supported the day helping to set up, pack down, run activities or showed up to get involved and check in with their peers.
Julie Laytham
Head of Student Life
Band Performance at MS Trish Ball
The Kambala Big Band and Kambala Jazz Orchestra combined bands had an amazing opportunity earlier this month to play at the annual Trish MS Ball at the Hilton Hotel. The Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation was inspired by Trish Langsford who, having lost her battle with multiple sclerosis, passed away at the age of 30.
Fitting to the theme of the night, ‘All That Jazz’, the bands raised the roof with jazz, rock and Latin numbers from ‘Brazil’ to ‘Party Rock Anthem’. Nothing beats playing to a live audience and hearing the applause of the community - and not just our parents! Throughout the night, percussion, saxophone, piano, and trumpet solos featured prominently in every piece, giving the audience a unique and unforgettable experience. Later in the evening, our lovely vocal teacher, Ms Powell, and music teacher Mr Karamanos on trumpet also treated the audience a performance of “All That Jazz.”
A big thank you to Ms Lewis, for this opportunity to showcase how remarkable our Kambala bands can be! Also, thank you to Mrs Mitchell and Mr Karamanos who helped with equipment, and Ms Carrard, Mr Birchall, Mr Machamer and Mr Pearce, who helped at the many rehearsals leading up to the performance. It was an honour to perform for such an important cause, and we wanted every song to reflect that. We were proud to represent the school, and we hope we can get another opportunity next year!
Jaimie Humphrey
Year 9
