Junior School
Belonging
Belonging is at the heart of everything we do in our school community. It plays an essential role in supporting students’ academic, emotional, and social growth. When children feel a strong sense of belonging, they naturally engage more positively with their learning environment, which allows them to truly flourish both in and out of the classroom.
Beyond academic success, fostering a deep sense of belonging is vital for students' overall well-being. Schools that create an inclusive and nurturing environment give children the space to build confidence, form healthy relationships, and feel valued. Research by Osterman (2000) highlights the importance of this connection, showing that when students feel they belong, they experience greater social and emotional well-being. In these spaces, students are less likely to feel isolated, more resilient, and better equipped to handle life's challenges. By prioritizing belonging, schools become a place where students feel safe to express themselves, form lasting friendships, and develop a strong sense of trust with their peers and teachers—ultimately creating a lifelong love of learning.
We were absolutely delighted to host our KPA Cocktail Party on 13 September. This special evening was all about "friend-raising" and building a stronger sense of community and belonging among our families. It was truly wonderful to see more than 200 parents, from Hampshire House to Year 8, come together and connect at the Watson’s Bay Hotel.
A heartfelt thank you to the Walker family for their incredibly generous donation of a trip to the Fijian Resort Kokomo, valued at $20,000, which was won by Valentina Roushanak. We also extend our warm thanks to Paspaley for their stunning donation of the celestial crescent moon jewellery set in white gold, valued at $10,600, and won by Susie Binder.
This event was a perfect reminder of the power of community, and we’re so grateful for everyone who helped make it such a memorable evening!
Mr Stuart Coppin
Deputy Principal - Head of Junior School
Staffing Update
We take this opportunity to congratulate Kate Moore on her exciting new role as Deputy Head Pastoral at SCEGGS Redlands, commencing in January 2025.
Since her appointment at Kambala in 2019, Kate has worked tirelessly, and her impact within the wellbeing domain has been considerable.
Anyone who has had the privilege of connecting with Kate (AKA Ms Moore) knows how deeply she cares about the pastoral development of our students. Her passion, insight, and enthusiasm in supporting their well-being has been inspiring.
We congratulate Kate on her exciting new role. While we know she will be missed by our students and parents alike, we feel certain she will continue to make a difference in her new school community.
Term 4, 2024 - Summer Uniform - Kambala Outfitters
Outfitters will be closed for the school holidays from 3.45pm Friday 27 September until 7.30am Monday 14 October 2024.
Please note that students return in Term 4 in summer uniform. We therefore ask that you take the time to check the size of your daughter's summer uniform and arrange to place an order prior to the end of term.
Researchers in the Making
Students in Years 5 and 6 recently completed submissions for the 2024 National History Challenge. The competition required students to apply a historical lens to research, and create presentations based on this year’s theme of “Crisis and Response”. Students used a range of historical sources and evidence. Presentations displayed originality and creativity, and a diverse range of areas were explored, such as The Black Death, comparisons of global plagues and pandemics over time, and The Great Depression. Chelsea Liang arranged an interview with the Director of The Australian War Memorial as part of her presentation on World War I. Gabriella Harrison interviewed an older Australian who had experienced both the Spanish Flu and Covid-19 pandemics, to gain an original perspective. Willow Randall-White interviewed her grandfather to learn more about Polio in the last century.
Mrs Anna Koutsoukis
Learning Enrichment- Gifted and Talented Teacher
"I had a fantastic time learning and writing about Apartheid in South Africa. I made a multimedia presentation to show the crisis and response."
Jacinta Gerber, Year 6
"The National History Challenge was a fun challenge. It was interesting because my group got to be creative and research a topic. It helped me with time-management and group-working skills."
Hannah Lawson, Year 6
"The National History Challenge pushed me to work to my limits. The Great Depression was interesting to research and to learn about the traumatic past of Australia’s financial downturn."
Helen Le, Year 6
"The National History Challenge was an exciting experience for me. I learnt numerous values. Waiting patiently for a reply for an interview, persevering when I had no idea what something meant and learning new things. Overall, the Challenge has been a great help to enhance my capabilities and adopt new strengths."
Chelsea Liang, Year 5
"Participating in the National History Challenge with a focus on women in World War 1 was a truly eye-opening experience. It broadened my perspective on history by revealing the vital contributions women made during the war. Researching influential figures helped me realise how much women contributed to society during times of crisis, often under difficult circumstances. This project not only enhanced my research and writing skills but also gave me a greater appreciation for the strength of women in history. "
Karina Wu, Year 5
Tournaments of the Mind
Three Junior School teams recently competed in the annual Tournament of Minds competition. The competition requires teams of seven students to prepare a six-week, long term challenge, using collaborative problem-solving and critical thinking. On Tournament Day, the teams also complete a spontaneous challenge. This challenge demands the ability to think creatively, to rapidly exchange ideas, and well-developed teamwork.
The Arts challenge required the team to interview a local person and display their story using three art forms. They chose to interview one student’s grandfather and re-told his life story, displaying an ongoing connection and learning from his experiences. “Congratulations Kambala on an excellent and creative outlook… we really like that you were thinking deeply about how to give your solution a unique twist, and you successfully made sure that everyone's ideas were heard and built upon your original idea something solid and interesting. Overall, an awesome job!” -Judges feedback to The Arts team.
The Spirit of TOM was released in The Social Science team’s presentation. Using a news program as a backdrop, the team incorporated humour and very creative costumes to depict “Donald Trump” and “Anthony Albanese” characters. “A humorous…and engaging piece… A collaborative approach towards the generation of ideas… Demonstration of critical thinking” -Judges feedback to the Social Sciences team.
The Language Literature team incorporated the The Lorax by Dr Seuss into their presentation. The team created colourful and creative costumes and props to bring the character to life. The performance was strengthened with the addition of humour and a rap. “…it was really encouraging to see a genuinely inclusive and supportive team environment - the very positive and affirming interactions definitely helped to get the best out of the group. Overall, this was a fabulous attempt at providing a solution to the challenge - well done!” -Judges feedback to the Language Literature team.
Mrs Anna Koutsoukis
Learning Enrichment- Gifted and Talented teacher
Tournament of Minds coordinator
"The Tournament of Minds was a great experience. The team worked well together to create a very good presentation. It was a great day, and I would love to do it again!"
Josie Ephron, Year 6
"I thought that Tournament of Minds was fun and rewarding. Everyone in my team collaborated and worked very well together. We asked each other’s opinions and helped everyone whenever they needed it. We spent six weeks preparing and memorizing all our lines. It was a great experience!"
Avery Lee, Year 6
"Throughout the long-term challenge the team displayed characteristics of hard work and kindness. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to work with many girls. We all used creative ideas and challenged ourselves constantly. It was a truly unforgettable experience."
Anya Wright, Year 6
"Tournament of Minds was a learning experience for my team. It showed many perspectives of how we can tell stories in a performance. My team and I worked very hard to create the performance. It was a challenging but fun experience, and I learnt more ways to express myself through a performance."
Isla Holland, Year 5
Spring School Holiday Camps
We still have availability in our Spring School Holiday Program, which commences this Friday 27 September.
For more details regarding the program click here.
To book any of the program days through Sundial, click here.
Mr Juan Renshaw
Extra Curricular Manager