From Mr Coppin

Tolerance for Ambiguity

It will be my delight to visit the Year 6 students at Camp Somerset this evening. Our School has a thirty year affiliation with Kambala and we are at the point where Junior School alumni would have attended Camp Somerset in the 1990s.

School camps offer an ideal environment for students to step out of their comfort zones and experience the unexpected. Away from familiar routines and technology, students face new challenges, from navigating unfamiliar trails to setting up tents in unpredictable weather. These experiences not only build practical skills but also nurture a tolerance for ambiguity, as students encounter and solve problems without clear, immediate answers. In this space, young learners are encouraged to think creatively, adapt to changing situations, and make decisions without always having a clear “right” path forward.

Building tolerance for ambiguity is a critical life skill, fostering resilience, flexibility, and open-mindedness. As students work through the uncertainties of camp activities, they develop the confidence to tackle real-world complexities where instructions aren’t always explicit, and outcomes aren’t guaranteed. Learning to be comfortable with ambiguity at a young age helps students embrace diverse perspectives and approach future challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Ultimately, school camps offer more than just outdoor adventures; they provide a transformative opportunity for students to build the mental agility they’ll carry through school and beyond.

Somerset is one of the pinnacle experiences for the students linked closely to our Year 6 Kambala Scots Sports Afternoon, Canberra Excursion, Year 6 Production and the Year 6 Dinner. Camp Somerset as a venue has no mobile connectivity and you can see from the demeanour of our students and staff that they thrive on this form of unplugged slow learning and living which helps develop in the girls a tolerance for ambiguity.

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.

Speech Day - Wednesday 11 December, 2024 - 11.00am - 1.00pm, State Theatre, Sydney

It is an expectation that all girls in Years 3 - 12 attend in full school uniform with a parent/s to hear the address and support students who will receive prizes.

Massie House sisters who attend Speech Day will need to attend in their school uniform.

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).

Year 2 Merit Assembly - Friday 6 December, 2024 - Music Performance Theatre - 9.00 - 10.30am

Year 2 Merit Assembly will be held on Friday 6 December, 2024 from 9.00 - 10.30am in the Music Performance Theatre at Kambala.

Parents of girls in Year 2 are warmly invited to attend.

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

We are excited to announce that girls in the Junior School will be participating in a Spell-a-thon this year; the benefits of which are enormous. The Spell-a-thon helps the girls to better remember and embed their learning in spelling, builds spelling skills and raises money for students less fortunate than ourselves. The funds raised will go to St Jude’s School in Tanzania. Each year Gemma Sisia, the founder of the school, comes to Kambala to share her inspirational story with our students.

“For those of you who don’t know, Gemma Sisia is an Australian philanthropist and educator who founded The School of St Jude in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2002. The school was established to provide free, high-quality education to some of the country's poorest and brightest children. With a vision to break the cycle of poverty through education, St Jude's has grown from just a few students to over 1,800, offering opportunities in academics, leadership, and community service. Gemma’s work has inspired global support, with St Jude's becoming a beacon of hope for underprivileged students across Tanzania.” To date Kambala has contributed more than $110,000 to this worthy initiative.

Each student, from Kindergarten to Year 6, has been given a spelling list appropriate for their year level and level of ability. Massie girls have 50 words in total. Students in Years 3-6 have 100 words. The girls will be tested on their spelling list over the course of Week 6 (commencing Monday 18 November 2024). Testing will take place during Spelling lessons. Girls’ results in the Spell-a-thon will contribute to their House Points. The House with the best overall results will be rewarded with a fun movie lunch at the end of Term 4.

Our girls are asked to find friends or relatives who will be sponsors and record their information and donation on the sponsor sheet. Sponsors can either nominate an amount ‘per correct word’ or pledge a donation. You will find the sponsorship form on the back of the note, which was sent home with the girls last week.

An online copy is HERE.

Sponsorship money will be due by the end of Week 7 of Term 4 (Friday 29 November 2024). Please return funds raised to your daughter’s class teacher.

Ingrid Holden Cup

In honour of Mrs Ingrid Holden, a former Deputy Head of Junior School at Kambala, we hold our Ingrid Holden Cup public speaking finals this term. Our Years 3 - 6 students have been developing their persuasive writing skills in class by writing both prepared and impromptu speeches on a variety of topics. Their public speaking skills have been enhanced by considering posture, eye contact, gestures and the5Ps for voice: projection, pace, pausing, pitch and pronunciation.

The girls have been assessed on their Manner, Matter and Method when presenting two prepared and one impromptu speech to their class. Two finalists from each class have been selected to speak at the Final, where they will be given an impromptu topic and only 20 minutes to prepare a speech, then perform in front of the audience.

The Stage 2 Final will take place on Friday 8 November, 2024 at 9.30 am in the EJ Watt Multi Purpose Room.

The Stage 1 Final (Years 1 and 2) will take place on Friday 15 November, 2024 at 12.10pm in the EJ Watt Multi Purpose Room.

Parents of the finalists have been invited to attend the Final. We are very proud of all of our girls for their impressive speeches, demonstrating how they can communicate with purpose.

Staffing News

I write to announce that after nearly two years at Kambala, Mr Jonathan Tam has accepted a role from January 2025 at Reddam North Shore as the Science and Technology Specialist. We have greatly appreciated Mr Tam’s dedication to each student as an individual. Jonathan is a committed lifelong learner who has honed his knowledge of girls’ education whilst exploring a wide range of pedagogical approaches - particularly linked to Project Zero Classroom. We thank Jonathan for his commitment to teaching and learning and also for being a highly regarded colleague to his peers. We wish him every success in his 2025 role as Science and Technology Specialist at Reddam North Shore.

Years 4 - 6 2025 Term 1 Saturday Sports Choice

Please be advised that the letter containing all the Term 1 2025 Years 4-6 Sports choices can be accessed HERE.

Please read the document carefully as it contains multiple options (please choose one only) and at the bottom of each, the link to the Google registration form is to be completed.

The cut-off date for registrations is Wednesday 13 November by 4 pm.

The options for Term 1 2025 are as follows:

IPSHA Soccer
Netball Clinics
Learn to Sail

For skiing and snowboarding, please email kath_sambell@kambala.nsw.edu.au if you require any information regarding the competitions for students in year K-12 during the last week of the July School Holidays.

Year 3 2025 (Current Year 2) Term 1, 2025 Saturday Sport Information and Registration

Please click here to access all the information in regards to the Year 3 Saturday Sports practices for Term 1 2025.

Please note that the final day for registrations is Friday 29 November 2024.

Resources for Parents to Order for 2025 Year 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Students (CAMPION)

CURRENT YEAR 2 PARENTS (YEAR 3, 2025) - Resources List and Parent's Link to Purchase

Campion Education would like to let you know that the Resources List for Year 3, 2025 (current year 2) is now available to be purchased online by CLICKING HERE and visiting www.campion.com.au