From Mr Coppin
Celebrating a Year of Growth and Achievement in the Junior School
As the year draws to a close, the Kambala Junior School community is preparing to gather for two of our most cherished traditions: Carols on Tivoli Lawn on Sunday 7 December and Kambala Speech Day on Wednesday 10 December. These celebrations provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on what has been a remarkable year of learning, creativity, and connection.
Throughout 2025, our students have demonstrated exceptional resilience, enthusiasm, and curiosity. They have embraced every opportunity to grow — academically, socially, and emotionally. From classroom projects that sparked new questions to co-curricular activities that revealed hidden talents, the achievements of our students speak to their hard work and the nurturing environment created by our dedicated teachers and staff.
This year has been rich in highlights, with each term offering meaningful experiences that enriched the vibrant culture of our school. Our beloved traditions — the Prep Nativity, Massie House Art Show, and Junior School Open Day — once again brought joy to students, staff, and families. We were also proud to introduce new and innovative initiatives, including the Year 10 and Year 6 UTS Science Mentor Program and the Shadow a Sister Day initiative, both of which helped set our Year 6 students up for future success. None of these experiences would have been possible without the commitment and enthusiasm of our teachers, parents, and the wider Kambala community.
Our sense of community was further strengthened through two very successful “friend-raising” events, the Mothers Lunch in August and the Father–Daughter Pizza and Games Night in October. These gatherings provided wonderful opportunities for families to connect, build relationships, and celebrate the spirit of belonging that is so central to the Junior School.
As we farewell 2025, we do so with great pride. This year has deepened our connections, strengthened our foundations, and reaffirmed what makes the Junior School such a special place. Our end-of-year events — from the Year 2 Merit Assembly and Year 6 Dinner to the Year 1 Christmas Production and now Carols on Tivoli Lawn, serve as fitting celebrations of our students’ achievements and joyful markers of the year gone by.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to making 2025 such an inspiring and memorable year. We look forward to welcoming our Kambala Junior School family back in 2026 for another year filled with learning, growth, and joy.
A reminder that the first day of school for students after the Summer break is Friday 30 January, 2026.
The KPA Welcome Cocktail Party will be held at Kambala from 6.00pm on Friday 30 January 2026 on the Tivoli Forecourt.
Come for the Walk Stay for the Wait Mate
Thank you to our wonderful families and students who took time out of their busy schedules to support our Wellbeing Walk Safely to School which took place on Friday 28 November 2025. Thank you also to our 50 or so parents who came and supported our Wait Mate initiative.
For those who missed the Child Psychologist and Wait Mate Smartphone session last Friday, a link to further information is below.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive already, 5 year groups have been unlocked with parents pledging to delay smartphones as a community until at least Senior School up to years 7, 8, 9 or 10!
The presentation covered the impacts of smartphones and social media on children’s mental health and how we can reduce the risks for our girls. The Speakers were Jessica Mendoza-Roth Co-Founder of Wait Mate and Dr Tamara Kezelman, Child Psychologist.
Number-a-thon
As I write this final newsletter for 2025, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our families and students for their generous support of our St Jude’s Number-a-thon. Each year, this initiative allows us to come together in the spirit of Christmas and giving, and once again our community has risen to the occasion with wonderful enthusiasm.
Thanks to your collective effort, we are delighted to share that we have raised more than $10,900 in support of St Jude’s School in Tanzania. Your generosity will make a meaningful difference to the lives and learning of students who greatly benefit from the opportunities this remarkable school provides, and for this we are truly grateful.
We look forward to announcing the winning House for Number Crunching at our assembly on Friday. To celebrate, we will be hosting a popcorn and movie lunch in the MPR for the winning House Number-Crunchers from Kindergarten to Year 6 at lunchtime on Monday 8 December 2025.
Thank you once again for your participation, spirit, and support, together, we have helped change lives. We are excited to announce that Kambala has raised close to $130,000 in it’s support of St Jude’s. Our Year 11 students have partnered with Sydney Grammar and will be visiting the School of St Judes in September 2026.
Staffing News
It is with a mixture of selfish sadness and genuine excitement for her next professional chapter that I share that Ms Nadine Walsh will be leaving Kambala at the end of the school year. After 13 dedicated years of service to Kambala, Nadine will be exploring new educational horizons as she takes up a teaching position at St Michael’s School in Lane Cove.
This move is a wonderful opportunity for Ms Walsh, offering her a considerably shorter commute, an increasingly important consideration as her son prepares to commence his own school journey in 2026 at St Michael’s.
Ms Walsh has been an impressive educator and a fondly regarded colleague throughout her tenure at Kambala. Her commitment to her students has been a hallmark of her teaching, and she has always been dedicated to fostering the best possible educational outcomes for every student in her care.
A pioneer in the implementation of progressive teaching methodologies, Ms Walsh was one of the inaugural 'lighthouse adoptees' of the highly influential Harvard Project Zero Classroom back in 2016.
We wish Nadine every success and happiness in her new role and thank her sincerely for her immense contribution to Kambala over the past decade and more. She will be missed by students, parents, and staff alike. We look forward to seeing and thanking Ms Walsh at our Year 2 Merit Assembly on Friday 5 December.
Thank you to Miss Olivia Ryder who has worked as a teaching assistant with our youngest of learners in Preparation for the past 18 months. Miss Ryder has made the decision to focus on completing her university studies in the field of education in 2026. We thank Olivia for her wonderful efforts. Particularly her impressive support of the Prep learners and their artistic pursuits.
We also thank Mrs Olivia Willams who taught the students of Kindergarten S Class whilst Mrs Panagopoulos has been on long service leave. We thank Mrs Williams for her efforts. We also thank Miss Niamh Fitzgerald who has covered 2U Class whilst Ms Crawford has been on maternity leave.
Carols on Tivoli Lawn - Sunday 7 December, 2025 - Tivoli Lawn, Kambala - Gates open at 6.30pm (Carols start at 7.00pm)
Wet Weather Plan - Carols on Tivoli Lawn
We are excitedly planning our Carols on Tivoli Lawn on Sunday 7 December, 2025. We pray for fine weather.As we mention each year, this beautiful evening is a weather dependent event. In the event of rain this event would need to be cancelled.
The school would advise on Sunday 7 December via a Sundial notification at 10.00am if this event would need to be cancelled.
Toys 'n' Tucker
This year, Kambala is once again supporting Anglicare’s toy drive, which provides toys at Christmas for children who would otherwise go without. Baskets will be placed in each classroom from Week 7.
If you are able to donate a new toy (optional) to this worthy cause, your daughter should place it (unwrapped) in her class collection basket by Tuesday 9 December, 2025.
Please note this initiative if optional.
When we attend our end of year Church Service on this day, the girls will take their presents to St Michael’s Church for collection. We appreciate your support of this charity drive.
Kambala Outfitters Holiday Opening Hours
Our Outfitters will be open on the below days:
- December 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 from 8.00am - 3.30pm
- December 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th ,12th 8am-3.30pm
- Closed for Christmas Break
- January 19, 20, 21, 22 23 8.00am - 3.30pm (Booking only)
- January 27, 28, (Booking only) then normal opening times 29 and 30 from 7.30-3.45pm
Below is the booking link to make appointments.
Please let me know if you have any questions - 9388 6892.
https://outfitterskambala.setmore.com/
EXTRA CURRICULAR 2026
Enrolments for extra curricular Term 1 AND Term 2 open on Sunday 14 December 2025 at 8.00pm.
Log through Sundial, using the link here
Click the Enrol & Pay tile.
When you sign into the Clipboard Portal, click on 'Sign in with SSO' rather than entering your email and password.
The link will be open all summer and the first week back at school.
Please note that 🏊 swimming 🏊 for Term 1, 2026, has now opened.
All new and current enrolments are required to fill out a form to enrol for Term 1, 2026.
The form can be found here : TERM 1, 2026
Junior School Christmas Services - St Michael's Church, Vaucluse - Tuesday 9 December 2025
Students in Kindergarten to Year 3 and Year 4 to Year 6 will attend Christmas Services at St Michael’s Anglican Church at Vaucluse on Tuesday 9 December 2025.
All Kindergarten to Year 6 students will need to attend school in their summer uniform and panama hats. Each service will be close to 25 minutes in duration.
Blazers are only required if the weather is cooler.
Parents as Partners
The Junior School teachers are working with determination to finalise Semester 2 2025 Reports. We anticipate parents of Preparation to Year 6 students to receive their daughter’s report on the penultimate day of Term 4, which is Monday 8 December 2025.
Data is reviewed and Year 3 to Year 6 Speech Day prizes are announced to the girls in the EJ Watt Student Assembly in Week 8 on Friday afternoon, 5 December 2025. Girls who have been awarded prizes for the 2025 Speech Day will receive a letter regarding arrangements for Speech Day at the assembly. We kindly ask parents to reflect a growth mindset or “yet” mentality with the girls to ensure perspective is maintained.
Class Requests for 2026
Class placements and class lists are announced to families on the morning of the first day of Term 1 each year. Class lists are posted on notice boards in EJ Watt and Massie for girls in readiness for their arrival at school. Parents will also be notified over Sundial of class lists on the first day of Term 1.
The School has a ‘No Class Request’ policy and thanks families for understanding that we cannot accept requests for teachers and class placements (and for separations also) - factors behind the scenes and educational considerations make these requests impossible to deliver.
Reminder: Respectful Online Conduct During Concert and Recital Season
As we move into Concert and Recital Season, we remind parents and carers to be mindful of privacy when capturing special moments.
Please avoid taking or posting photos or recordings of other students without the express permission of their parents or carers. In addition, Kambala is unable to share any photography or videography taken onsite by the school photographer.
Thank you for helping us ensure that every student and family feels respected and comfortable during these important community events.
Book and Stationery Orders for current Years 2 - 5 (Years 3 - 6, 2026)
We are pleased to announce a significant enhancement to how book and stationery items will be managed for the 2026 academic year for students entering years 3 - 6 in 2026 (for current Year 6 students' resources - Year 7 2026 - please see notification below). To ensure a seamless start to the year and simplify the process for families, we are transitioning to a new model in partnership with Campion Education.
What This Means for You
- Centralised Ordering: All necessary book and stationery resources will now be ordered directly by the school through Campion Education on your behalf.
- Direct Classroom Delivery: Resources will be delivered directly to your daughter's classroom prior to the start of Term 1, ensuring they are ready for her on the first day of school.
- Payment Streamlining: The cost for these essential resources will be incorporated as part of the cost structure, eliminating a separate payment transaction.
- **PLEASE NOTE - students will be required to supply their own pencil cases for 2026
We are confident that this streamlined approach will make the organisation of resources at the beginning of the year a much smoother and more efficient process for both our families and staff. We trust this change provides greater convenience as we prepare for a successful 2026.
Book and Stationery Orders for current Year 6 (Year 7, 2026)
Campion Education would like to let you know that the Resources List for Year 7, 2026 (current Year 6) is now available to be purchased online by CLICKING HERE and visiting www.campion.com.au
When ordering online, you will need the following ACCESS CODE "FHWC". Please click here for your HOW TO ORDER RESOURCES FLYER.
**PLEASE BE SURE TO SELECT THE CORRECT GRADE YEAR YOUR DAUGHTER WILL ENTER IN 2026!
**PLEASE NOTE - YEAR 7 2026 RESOURCES CANNOT BE DELIVERED TO KAMBALA - YOU MUST DESIGNATE EITHER A HOME OR OFFICE/WORK ADDRESS.
Please place your order by Friday 19 December 2025 in order for books and resources to be delivered to your home or office (any designated address) in time for Term 1 commencement. Placing your order online by the due date is the best way to ensure students will receive all necessary resources in time for the start of the new school year.
A REMINDER TO EXISTING YEAR 6 PARENTS TO ACCESS THE NEW STUDENT INFORMATION TILE ON SUNDIAL FOR ALL YEAR 7 INFORMATION (screenshot below for your reference).
Wishing all students the best for the coming year!