From Mr Coppin

As I write this final Newsletter for 2023 I wanted to thank our families and students for their support of our St Jude’s Number-a-thon.  We are grateful to again raise awareness for this wonderful cause in the spirit of Christmas and of giving.  We were able to raise more than $10,000.00  for this very worthy cause.  We will announce in assembly on Friday the winning house for the Number-a-thon and host a popcorn movie lunch in the MPR for the winning House Mathematicians K-6 at lunchtime on Monday 4 December, 2023.

I also thank the Kambala community for their support of Toys and Tucker.  We look forward to taking the toys to St Michael’s for our Kindergarten to Year 3 and Year 4 to Year 6 Christmas Church Services on Wednesday 6 December, 2023.  A reminder that students will need to be in full summer uniform for these services.

A reminder that the first day of school for students after the Summer break is Wednesday 31 January, 2024.  The KPA Welcome Cocktail Party will be held at Kambala from 6.30pm on Friday 2 February, 2024. 

In the spirit of honesty this newsletter introduction was the one that I have used in previous years but the words ring just as true for 2023.Reverend Jenni Stoddard -  who was the Chaplain at my previous school, Abbotsleigh -  in the past has shared this post on social media which resonated with my own educational journey and is an imp

ortant piece of perspective at this time of year:

“HSC reveals super powers of average. Looking through some old papers and reports, I came across my own final school report. It reported my position in the cohort for each class.  For most of my subjects I was in the middle.  I didn’t know it then but what I know now is being in the middle is a super power.  I regularly dealt with disappointment, I worked hard without receiving public admiration.  I was given the perspective of seeing those who were achieving more than me and those who were struggling more than.  Today I am thankful to God for my averageness and what it does in me – I couldn’t see it when I was 17.  To all those middles who just sat exams wait and watch as this could be the origin story to your superpower".

”Whilst we are champions of personal excellence at Kambala, it is important to acknowledge the progress made by every girl during each academic year and over the course of her educational journey.

Junior School Languages Day - Red, White and Blue Mufti - Tuesday 5 December, 2023

**Dear Parents - Please note the new date for this event - now Tuesday 5 December, 2023 (previously Tuesday 14 November).

Growth Mindset

As we approach the time of year where we acknowledge achievement, we take this opportunity to remind our families and girls that we are a school which focuses on personal best with a growth mindset.  Comparison is the thief of joy, so I ask that we instil in our girls a “yet” mentality.  Help our girls to reframe things “I haven’t achieved ‘Goal x’ yet” as we look forward to 2024!

Junior School Semester 2 Reports

The Junior School teachers are working with determination to finalise Semester 2 2023 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 Tuesday 5 December 2023. 

We have changed the way reports are accessed. Aswell as receiving reports via email, end of semester reports will be uploaded to Edumate. We will be sending through instructions via email, so please keep an eye out for this over the coming days. Please note: to access reports via Edumate, you will need to log in using a tablet or laptop.

Year 3 to Year 6 Speech Day prizes will be announced to the girls in an EJ Watt student assembly on Friday afternoon, 1 December, 2023. Data is carefully reviewed by teachers and the leadership team. Girls who have been awarded prizes for 2023 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.

Carols on Tivoli Lawn - Sunday 3 December, 2023 from 6.30pm

Dear Junior School Parents and Carers,You are warmly invited to our Carols on the Lawn.All Preparation - Year 6 Students have been practising Choral items for this special celebration, so bring a picnic hamper and rug to enjoy an evening listening to your daughters sing. Please note, all children are to sit with their parents at all times unless performing. Please note, in the event of inclement weather this event will need to be cancelled.  Families will be advised of the need to cancel by 10.00am on Sunday morning 3 December, 2023.

Speech Day Year 3 - Year 6 Arrangements - Thursday 7 December, 2023

Dear Year 3 - 6 Families,

I write to advise of arrangements for the Kambala Speech Day which commences at 11.00am on Thursday 7 December 2023 at the State Theatre, 49 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

It is an expectation that all Year 3 - 6 girls attend to celebrate the success of their peers. UNIFORM.

Year 3 - Year 6 Girls will need to wear their Panama hats and blazers when representing Kambala in the city (please note that all girls are asked to bring blazers but they will not be worn if the weather is too warm). Sisters in Massie House attending are also expected to wear their school uniform (Massie Year 1 and 2 students should also wear their Panama hat when representing the school in the city). 

PRIZES

Prizes will be announced to girls in Years 3 to 6 at our student assembly on Friday afternoon, 1 December 2023. An enveloped letter confirming the prize will also be sent home with girls who have been awarded prizes via their school diary that Friday afternoon. 

On Speech Day, prize winners are to report to Ms Moore in the foyer of the State Theatre at 10.20am and will be ushered in to be seated on the ground floor.

SEATING AND STUDENT DROP-OFF

Year 3 - 6 Students 10.20am - 10.30am 

All Year 3 to Year 6 students (who are not receiving prizes) are to meet their class teachers in the Pitt Street Mall outside Myer at 10.20am. Class teachers will be there with their respective class signs.

Parents will then make their way to their seats which are located on the Dress Circle level of the State Theatre. 

PLEASE NOTE - specific seats have not been assigned. 

Massie students are to be seated with their parents for the ceremony.

10.40am - Once roll call is completed all Year 3 - 6 Junior School students will walk with their respective teachers from Pitt Street Mall to their seats which will be located on the Mezzanine level of the State Theatre.

1.15pm - Dismissal

We anticipate Speech Day to conclude by 1.15pm. Parents of students in Year 3 to Year 6 are to proceed to the Mezzanine level of the State Theatre to collect their daughter/s from their classroom teachers. Parents of prize winners in Years 3 - 6 are to proceed to the seats in the Stalls (on the bottom level) to collect their daughters from Ms Moore.

We look forward to celebrating the success of the girls on this very special day.

Kind regards,

Mr Stuart Coppin

Deputy Principal - Head of Junior School 

Parents as Partners

The Junior School teachers are working with determination to finalise Semester 2 2023 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 Tuesday 5 December 2023. 

Data is reviewed and Year 3 to Year 6 Speech Day prizes are announced to the girls in an EJ Watt student assembly on Friday afternoon, 1 December 2023.  Girls who have been awarded prizes for 2023 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.

Massie House 

The final day of school for girls in Massie House will be Wednesday 6 December, 2023. (normal dismissal times apply).

Year 2 Merit Assembly will be held on Friday 1 December, 2023 from 9.00 - 10.30am in the Music Performance Theatre at Kambala. Parents of girls in Year 2 are warmly invited to attend.

Staffing News 

Jacqueline Young who has been our Director of Learning Enrichment at Kambala since April of 2022 has made the decision to return to Presbyterian Ladies College Sydney at Croydon at the start of the 2024 academic year.  We warmly thank Ms Young for her dedication to the needs of our learning community and her learning enrichment team.  

Ms Tina van der Graaf will commence as our Prep to Year 12 Head of Learning Enrichment at the start of the 2024 academic year.  Ms van der Graaf has worked previously at Kambala within the Senior School Learning Enrichment Team in 2020.  Most recently she has worked with the New South Wales Educational Standards Authority as a Curriculum Reform Advisor for Diversity.

Christmas Services at St Michael's Church Vaucluse - Wednesday 6 December, 2023

Students in Kindergarten to Year 3 and Year 4 to Year 6 will attend Christmas Services at St Michael’s Anglican Church at Vaucluse.  

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.

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 6. 

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 Wednesday 6 December. 

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.