Senior School
*2027 Kambala Scholarships are open
Applications are welcomed from girls currently enrolled at Kambala or attending other schools.
Click here to learn more about the scholarships on offer and how to apply. Clickhere to apply.
All scholarship enquiries are to be directed to Mrs Tracy Mulligan, Director of Enrolments.
Small Habits, Big Impact
Some time ago, I shared with Senior School students at assembly a few ideas inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits (2018). Last week, as I walked through Tivoli, a student stopped me to say they had recently read the book and found it fascinating. I was delighted—not only that someone had taken the message from assembly to heart, but also because it reminded me to revisit the book myself. Once again, I was struck by its clarity and motivation.
As we begin this final term of the year, one idea from Clear’s work continues to resonate: the power of getting just 1% better each day. The cumulative effect of small improvements is transformative. Clear suggests that reading half a page of a book, tidying a space for one minute, or exercising briefly each day can, over time, become powerful habits. Effective habits reduce our cognitive load—what once required effort becomes instinctive, freeing our minds for deeper focus and creativity.
So, as students step into this term of reflection and celebration, it may be worth asking: what small, daily actions could make study time more productive, attention more sustained, or wellbeing more consistent? The smallest changes often lead to the greatest growth.
I wish all our students the very best for Term 4 and what promises to be a fast-paced, purposeful and fulfilling term.
Ms Carolyn Gedling
Deputy Principal - Academic
Year 12 Celebration Week: A Joyful Farewell
Fun, laughter, and a few tears – the Year 12 Celebration Week perfectly captured the vibrant, spirited, and eccentric nature of the graduating Class of 2025. The festivities began with the inaugural House Farewell Afternoon Tea, where students were celebrated with performances, games, and heartfelt gifts, thanks to the 2025/2026 House Prefects and Ms Laytham.
On Monday, the Year 12 Pockets and Special Awards Assembly honoured the cohort’s many achievements, followed by the final Sisterhood Circles session, where Year 12 students led their younger peers in reflection and gratitude activities. That evening, the Boarders and Parents Farewell Dinner offered a moving tribute to our boarders and their families who have called Kambala home. Tuesday brought colour and chaos with Festival Day, as Mentor groups performed their hilarious “Grad Grooves” and students enjoyed trivia, music, and a picnic on the oval. Wednesday marked the emotional finale — a whole-school Guard of Honour, Valedictory Assembly, and St Michael’s Service, culminating in the grand Valedictory Dinner.
The week was a fitting tribute to the Class of 2025 and their motto, Unite to Ignite — a legacy that will continue to burn brightly for years to come.
Olivia McAtamney
Head of Year 12
Entrepreneurship
This term Year 8 Roseby was lucky enough to participate in the entrepreneurship component of Altius. We began by exploring the stories of different entrepreneurs, researching how they started their journeys and investigating their keys to success. The Altius program taught us not only how to identify problems in the community and bring ideas to life, but that courage is at the core of entrepreneurship. We then applied this knowledge to creating our own technology that either addressed climate change or the fast fashion crisis. Finally, we pitched our ideas to the class, receiving constructive feedback and questions that helped us improve.
This program gave us a strong introduction into the elective option of Commerce, and a multitude of other subjects continuing through Kambala in the later years. Through designing and pitching our ideas, we learnt crucial factors in the business industry including how to engage and persuade audiences whilst creating a realistic proposal. It encouraged us to ask insightful questions about funding, demand, supply chains and target audiences. Overall, the program was a worthwhile experience, teaching us new skills, public speaking and how to turn small ideas into life changing products.
Mary Kotronakis and Hannah Heimans
Year 8
We've Got Spirit, Yes, We Do!
Connection and sisterhood are key elements of a Kambala education. Our students' sense of belonging is vital, and research informs our practice as we know that students who feel well, function well. In the Senior School, students' sense of belonging is strengthened through our House system. Throughout the year there are a variety of events, fundraisers and moments where healthy competition and camaraderie connect peers within and between cohorts. For the first time in 2025, the Kambala Senior School has a new moment of connection and sisterhood, the House Farewell Afternoon Tea!
On Friday 19 September, led by 2025/26 House Prefects and organised by Year 11 students, each House celebrated their Year 12 ‘sisters’ and farewelled them in style with a range of games, a flash mob, gifts and cupcakes. Kambala was a wash of House colours of Friday afternoon as each cohort accessorised with their House colours, bringing the Ra Ra and energy as they celebrated the Class of 2025. What a joy it was to witness sisterhood in action and kick off our farewell celebrations to our Year 12 students with fun across the school.
Huge thank you to the House Prefects for their enormous effort and setting the bar high for a new school tradition. Gurney - Ruby Jones and Kate Wu, Hawthorne - Morrison Elliot and Coco Manovel, Roseby - Lyla Hyder and Isabella Hupfau, Wentworth - Bella Dixon and Frankie Johnston. The students were supported by their House Patrons, Gurney, Mr Petrucco (standing in for Mr Rollston), Hawthorne, Mr Azzapardi, Roseby, Ms Selinger and Wentworth, Ms Galpin.
Julie Laytham
Head of Student Life
Big Sisters - Thank You and Farewell
The final week of Term 3 is a special time for Year 12 students, a time that many reflect on their school journey. As our oldest students celebrate this milestone, Year 7 students wanted to mark this important time by throwing their ‘big sisters’ a morning tea to celebrate their guidance and friendship.
In Term 1, Year 12 students welcomed Year 7 at the start of their Senior School journey so pausing to celebrate, share a cupcake and say thank you, good luck and farewell seemed fitting as Year 12 brought their Senior School journey to a close. Each Year 7 student gave their ‘big sisters’ a card with messages to wish them luck for the exam period ahead.
Julie Laytham
Head of Student Life
Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation Silver Ball
On the evening of the 13th of September, the Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation Silver Ball was held in the Hilton Hotel. This is a charity event that brings people together to raise vital funds and awareness for MS research and support services. The Dulcie Holland Orchestra, which consists of string players from Years 7 and 8, performed 10 challenging pieces, including La Vie en Rose by Guglielmi, Danse Bacchanale by Saint-Saëns and Hey Jude by The Beatles.
The event was very exciting and enjoyable, and it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the pieces they’d worked hard on, while also supporting a very important cause. Congratulations to all performers and thank you so much to private music tutors and music department staff for your dedication, hard work and unwavering support! A special thanks to Ms Spencer for organising the excursion, Ms Easton for preparing and conducting the orchestra, and Mr K for stepping in to play double bass.
Emily Carman
Year 8
Future Problem Solvers- National Competition
The recently held Future Problem Solvers National Competition at Knox Grammar, sawthecoming together of theMAGIC division, where individual students are grouped with students from other schools and year levels to complete a similar challenge. It allows for collaboration with previously unknown students who all bring their knowledge to the table. In the MAGIC division, Erykah Skimin's team came first, Cindy Tang's team came second, and Saskia Munro's team came third, all achieving medals.
In the afternoon teams and MAGIC competitors join together for an Action Plan Presentation, a dramatic, comedic, and sometimes musical interpretation of one of their solutions. This is a fun two hours where students get to make their own costumes and prepare a performance. The Year 10 team consisting of Quincy Sheldrick, Hania Skimin, Chelsea Wong, Tara Chen and Georgianna Botros came first, winning a trophy for Kambala. This team also came 5th place overall.