Senior School 

Bravo to the Cast, Crew and Orchestra of Nice Work If You Can Get It

Congratulations to the outstanding students who brought Nice Work If You Can Get It to the Kambala stage with such professionalism and flair. From the polished performances to the backstage coordination and vibrant orchestral accompaniment, this production was a celebration in creativity, commitment and collaboration. Working together with Cranbrook School and Sydney Grammar School students over the many months of rehearsals, has created friendships that will last beyond the last performance. 

As students head into subject selection in the coming months, I hope Drama and Music will be selected knowing the outlets it provides. To have Alumni return in positions of technical expertise demonstrates the opportunities these passions afford students.

Staging a musical of this calibre requires not only talent, but also resilience and a willingness to take risks—qualities that each student displayed in abundance. The energy, teamwork and passion infused in every aspect of the show enriched our school life and reminded us of the power of the performing arts to bring a community together.

We also warmly thank the dedicated staff and parent volunteers whose support made the production possible, and our enthusiastic audiences who made the dedication feel appreciated by all involved. 

A special mention to our Year 9 cast, crew and orchestra members, who, after taking their final bow, set off the very next morning on their two-week Cape York immersion. We wish them every success and growth on this next adventure. What a remarkable way to transition from stage lights to outback stars!

Finally, we have been busy this week with the selection of our 2025-2026 student leaders. We look forward to officially announcing them in the next edition of The Solstice.

Ms Carolyn Gedling

Deputy Principal - Academic

A student's perspective - Nice Work If You Can Get It

Last weekend Kambala, in association with Sydney Grammar School and Cranbrook School, performed Nice Work If You Can Get It, a funny and thrilling musical. This production was so incredible, and I am so honoured I could be a part of the wonderful process. Being in a musical has taught me discipline, patience and to be confident in myself as well as helping me to grow into a skilled performer. Despite the wide age range throughout the cast, everyone in the show has become so close. 

Through warmups, big dance numbers and late-night rehearsals the cast has blossomed into incredible performers. The cast have made this experience so invaluable to me. Everyone in the show constantly supported each other and created a safe space to be vulnerable while performing, which created a truly special connection for us all. It has been rewarding to watch this hilarious musical come to life and we are so grateful for all the parents, teachers and students who came to watch. On behalf of the cast, I would like to thank Ms Moir, our Director, for her dedication and support throughout the show.

A big thank you also goes to Ms Powell, Mr Birchall and Ms Matheison for their incredible musical talents, guidance and encouragement throughout the show. 

Ms Moir and cast and Krew of Nice Work If You Can Get It would particularly like to thank Daryl Jones (and his company Better Sets) for the building of the incredible set for this production. His very generous and very skilled contribution to the production provided the foundation for the show's impact and success. Thank you, Daryl!

Coco Manovel

Year 11

Finding Joy

Throughout Terms 2 and 3, our Senior School Students will travel to St Michael’s Church , Vaucluse during one of their Pastoral Care sessions for chapel. As an school in the Anglican tradition, we value our chapel services as opportunities to deepen our faith connection. Last week, I was fortunate to be able to accompany Year 9 to their service and hear Reverend Aroney’s message, asking students to consider, ‘what lifts you up and makes you happy’? 

I reflected on some of the examples of challenge that Rev. Aroney provided to students and how working through these, through a growth mindset lens could support them to finding even greater joy in life. We know that the adolescent years are categorised with many challenges. In particular I think of our Year 7 and 8 students who started the term with their camps and then Year 9 as they embarked on their Cape York Cultural 

Immersion this week. 

Rev. Aroney’s message was to encourage students to consider and where possible focus on three areas, when faced with challenges, to support an outlook of joy. These areas are: cultivating thankfulness and gratitude, reminding students that being able to identify and be grateful for simple treasures such as good health and relationships are key for noticing joy in all areas of life. Rev. Aroney also spoke about the ability to ‘hand over our worries’, acknowledging that we can be weighed down by concerns and stresses but finding a way to work through them is necessary. 

He suggested writing, breathing techniques, reading, walking or prayer as ways to lighten our worries. Finally, Rev. Aroney spoke of noticing the light and bright in all things in life. The autumn colours of the leaves, sunsets over the harbour and that we are loved and have family, friends and a supportive school community looking out for each other.

The key message of the chapel service was for students to consider how can I be happy and find joy in the good and challenging moments. 

An important message to connect with and live into for all.

Ms Julie Laytham

Head of Student Life

Year 9 Explores the Fascinating (and slightly gruesome) World of Disease!

Recently Year 9 Science students had an eye-opening excursion to the Museum of Human Disease at UNSW. Forget dusty old relics, this museum offered a unique and sometimes startling glimpse into the world of illnesses that affect the human body.

The Year 9 cohort were greeted by a fantastic team of enthusiastic UNSW Student Ambassadors, who were ready to guide us on a campus tour. It was great to get a feel for university life, see the impressive buildings, student accommodations, and hear about the different courses on offer. The ambassadors shared some fun facts about the university and their own experiences, making us think a little bit about our futures after school.

After our walk around the beautiful campus, it was time to head back to the main event: the Museum of Human Disease. By this point, our stomachs were rumbling, so the lunch break was very welcome! We all gathered to refuel and were excited to try the onsite canteens.

With our batteries recharged, we met back at the museum for a quick roll call, ready to dive into the afternoon's lesson. The museum leader Ms Dable, was waiting for us and gave us an introduction to the museum, explaining some of the 1500 diseased human tissue specimens we were about to see.

Row upon row of preserved specimens showcased a vast array of diseases and conditions, from the common cold to more complex and rare illnesses. We were able to see the actual effects of diseases on different organs and tissues. It was a powerful and sometimes sobering experience to witness firsthand the impact that disease can have on the human body, sparking a real sense of curiosity and a deeper understanding of the importance of health and medical research.

The day was both educational and thought-provoking. It gave us a new perspective on the fragility of human health and the amazing work that scientists and medical professionals do to understand and combat disease. A big thank you to our Science teachers, the UNSW Student Ambassadors and the team at the Museum of Human Disease for such an insightful and unique experience! We definitely left with a lot to think about.

Ms Megan Wright

Science

Kambala Students Shine at IGSA Dance Festival

Kambala students Oni McPhee and Coco Sweeney proudly represented their school at the IGSA Dance Festival — a vibrant celebration of talent, creativity, and collaboration. Held at Sydney Dance, the festival brought together 62 students from 21 schools for two days of intensive workshops across four dance genres, all led by professional choreographers.

Oni and Coco embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm and dedication, culminating in three outstanding performances that highlighted their passion and hard work. It was a wonderful achievement and a proud moment to see them represent Kambala on stage.

Ms Olivia Hunt

XC Dance Co-ordinator

News from the Music Department

Two lovely and very contrasting concerts are coming up this term. The Rock Concert and the Choral Gala Concert warmly welcomes parents and students.

Rock concert – Thursday 5th June 6pm - 9pm in the Performance Theatre

The rock concert will feature six of our senior rock bands, plus some solo and instrumental ensembles.

Choral Gala – Tuesday 10th June 6pm - 9pm in the Alexander Hall

The Choral Gala concert will feature eight choirs across the junior and senior school, concluding with a combined choir of over 200 voices.

Inter-House Theatresports Festival

Kambala's Inter-House Theatresports Festival held last term, was a whirlwind of energy, laughter, and quick-witted brilliance. The excitement leading up to the event was incredible, driven by the students' dedication and commitment to early morning rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday. These sessions boosted the girls' confidence and fostered collaboration across different year groups, allowing genuine friendships and connections to flourish throughout the senior school. 

Every week came with new challenges and breakthroughs, creating strong bonds and a unified sense of purpose among each team. When the competition day arrived, their hard work and preparation culminated in a fun filled performance for the audience. The festival ended with Roseby winning the overall competition, a well-deserved win for the girls!

In other news, the Kambala Theatresports teams who will represent our school at the Theatresports School Challenge have been officially announced. We are very proud to announce the very talented Intermediate team: Hannah Heimans, Ellie-Rose Heimans, Emily Carman, and Abby Leibman won their first Heat, competing against nine other schools. They are now into the semi-finals! 

Additionally, we're excited to present our senior and junior teams. The Senior squad comprises Michaela Blier, Chloe Carman, Laura Halley, and Savanna Kirkwood, while the Junior team features Hannah Heimans, Clara Khoury, Sienna Kirkwood, Laura Walsh, and Robin Bonser. These talented young women have proven their ability to excel under pressure, creating electrifying and skilled improvisations. I can't wait to see the incredible achievements these teams will accomplish in the rest of the year!

Lauren Assef - Year 12

Drama Prefect