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 will come together on Sunday 8 December 2024 for Carols on Tivoli Lawn and Kambala Speech Day on Wednesday 11 December to celebrate a remarkable year of learning, creativity, and connection. This year has been defined by the resilience and enthusiasm of our students, who have embraced every opportunity to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. From classroom projects that sparked curiosity to co-curricular activities that showcased talent, the students’ achievements are a testament to their hard work and the nurturing environment fostered by our dedicated teachers and staff.
The highlights of 2024 have been plentiful, with each term offering unique experiences that enriched the school’s vibrant culture. Our beloved traditions, including the Prep Nativity, Massie House Art Show and Junior School Open Day, brought joy to students, staff, and families alike. This year also saw the introduction of innovative learning initiatives, such as our Days of AI challenges and Sisterhood Circles which encouraged collaboration and celebrated diversity. The commitment of our teachers, parents, and the wider school community has been instrumental in making these events memorable and meaningful for all involved.
As we bid farewell to 2024, we reflect with pride on a year that has strengthened our community and provided a solid foundation for the future. Our end-of-year celebrations from our Year 2 Merit Assembly, Year 6 Dinner, Inaugural Year 1 Christmas Production and now Carols on Tivoli Lawn are all fitting tributes to the achievements of our students, as well as a chance to look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to making this year so special, and we look forward to welcoming our Kambala Junior School family back in 2025 for another year of learning, growth, and joy.
Massie House Playground Development
We are excited that works have begun for the development of our Massie House Playground. To gain a glimpse of what lies ahead for our Kindergarten to Year 2 Students please see the current works in progress. Thank you for your patience with our carline changes, we promise it will be worth it.
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 2025!
A reminder that the first day of school for students after the Summer break is Friday 31 January, 2025.
The KPA Welcome Cocktail Party will be held at Kambala from 6.00pm on Friday 31 January 2025 on the Tivoli Forecourt.
Carols on Tivoli Lawn - Sunday 8 December, 2024 - Gates Open at 6.30pm, Performances commence at 7.00pm
Dear Junior School Parents and Carers,
You are warmly invited to our Carols on Tivoli 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/siblings are to sit with their parents at all times unless performing. Brothers attending are to sit with parents and are NOT to be shooting hoops or playing handball during the performances.
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 11.00am on Sunday morning 8 December, 2024.
Speech Day Information for Junior School Families - Wednesday 11 December, 2024 - 11.00am - 1.00pm, State Theatre, Sydney
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, 6 December 2024. 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 - DismissalWe 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
Junior School Christmas Services - St Michael's Church, Vaucluse - Tuesday 10 December 2024
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 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 10 December, 2024.
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
If you have a daughter currently in Prep, Kindergarten, Year 2 or Year 6, she will require additional uniform items for 2025.
Orders for the additional items required in Years 3 and 7 may be placed with Outfitters over the phone or by email, however, students going into Kindergarten and Year 1 may require a uniform fitting.
We encourage you to place an order or bring your daughter into Outfitters before the last day of Term 4 (Tuesday 10 December 2024).
Parents as Partners
The Junior School teachers are working with determination to finalise Semester 2 2024 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 9 December 2024.
Data is reviewed and Year 3 to Year 6 Speech Day prizes are announced to the girls in the EJ Watt student Week 8 Assembly on Friday afternoon, 6 December 2024. Girls who have been awarded prizes for 2024 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 Final Day 2024
The final day of school for girls in Massie House will be Tuesday 10 December, 2024 (normal dismissal times apply).
Class Requests for 2025
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 - factors behind the scenes and educational considerations make these requests impossible to deliver.
SPELL-A-THON
As I write this final Newsletter for 2024 I wanted to thank our families and students for their support of our St Jude’s Spell-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 $10,500.00 for this very worthy cause. We announced in assembly last Friday the winning house for the Spell-a-thon (Hawthorne) and will host a popcorn movie lunch in the MPR for the winning House Spellers from Kindergarten - Year 6 at lunchtime on Monday 9 December, 2024.
Important Dates for Extra Curricular
Just a reminder, the last day of extra curricular for 2024 is:
Monday 9 December 2024
We run all classes up until that Monday.
IMPORTANT DATE CHANGES FOR EXTRA CURRICULAR
TIMETABLE
Timetable will be released at the end of Week 8 (next week).
ENROLMENTS
With the system we use for Extra curricular not rolling over for pre-admissions till the last day of school, we have had to extend our date to enrol until :
Sunday 15 December 2024 at 8.00pm
Apologies for the inconvenience.
Please note, the booking link will be open all summer holidays until school starts in 2025.
Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
And again, thank you very much for your support.
Juan Renshaw
Extra-Curricular Manager
(02) 9388 6747
juan_renshaw@kambala.nsw.edu.au