From Mr Coppin

How do we show up?

When we posted at 7am that the 2026 Athletics Carnival would go ahead, I thought our absentee line would be flooded with excuses for our students to not run in the rain, instead our students by and large showed up in droves on the all weather track.

And what a powerful lesson that turned out to be.

There is something easy about showing up when the conditions are perfect. When the sun is shining, the track is dry, the crowd is cheering and everything is going your way, participation requires little courage. But when the rain comes down, when the weather is miserable and when it would be perfectly understandable to stay home, showing up becomes a choice.

Our students made that choice.

They arrived in the rain, pulled on their House colours, gathered with their friends and took to the track. Some competed for points. Others came simply to be part of the day. Some ran personal bests, while others pushed themselves to finish events they may never have imagined entering. There were cheers from the sidelines, encouragement between competitors and plenty of moments where the conditions mattered far less than the people standing beside them.

That is the power of showing up.

Showing up does not guarantee that we will win. It does not mean that everything will go according to plan. It certainly does not mean that the conditions will be comfortable. What it does guarantee is that we give ourselves the opportunity to experience something, to challenge ourselves, to support someone else and to discover what we are capable of when circumstances are less than ideal.

In education, we talk a great deal about resilience, perseverance, courage and character. These qualities can sometimes sound like abstract ideas, but on an afternoon soaked by rain, they became very real.

Resilience looked like getting back on the track.

Courage looked like standing at the start line despite the weather.

Perseverance looked like finishing the race.

Character looked like cheering for someone else, even when your own House wasn't the one crossing the line first.

And community looked like thousands of small acts of encouragement that kept the carnival moving.

Our Athletics Carnival reminded us that some of the most valuable experiences are not the ones where everything goes perfectly. Sometimes the rain becomes part of the story. Sometimes the day we nearly cancelled becomes the day we remember. Sometimes the conditions we would rather avoid are exactly what give an experience its meaning.

I am incredibly proud of our students—not simply because they competed, but because they showed up.

They showed up for themselves. They showed up for their friends. They showed up for their Houses. They showed up for their school.

Most importantly, they showed us that when life presents less-than-perfect conditions, we don't always need to wait for the sun to come out before we take our place on the track.

Sometimes, the most important thing we can do is simply show up.

Knowledge is Power

The ongoing focus in the media on women’s safety highlights a wider community concern. Education plays a critical role in this space, and while it is essential to reflect on the messages our young men receive and may go on to perpetuate, I want to draw your attention to the proactive and preventative work we do to support your daughters here at Kambala.

Since commencing at Kambala more than a decade ago, our suite of programs focused on personal safety and protective behaviours has grown significantly. We never “rest on our laurels,” and we remain committed to helping our students find and develop their voice.

One example is this year’s  URSTRONG Day of Friendship that took place on  Tuesday 28 April , a cornerstone of our learning from Year K to Year 6. This initiative helps our students understand and practise what respectful relationships look and sound like. It may seem simple, but this foundational work lays the blueprint for lifelong understanding of respectful interactions. We look forward to continuing the conversation with you during our upcoming Language of Friendship parent webinar on Wednesday 21 May 2025 at 6.30pm.

Students in Years Preparation, 1 and 3 also participate in Learn to be Safe with Emmy and Friends, a protective behaviours program designed specifically for young children. Through engaging stories, songs, and activities, children learn about body ownership, recognising unsafe situations, identifying early warning signs, and seeking help from trusted adults. Linked to “Act for Kids,” this program builds confidence and reinforces the message that every child deserves to feel safe.

Our youngest students in Hampshire House begin their learning journey through the My Underpants Rule program and the Kids Safe Series. These lessons are built on further in Massie House, through our Personal Development program, led by Deputy Head, Sheridan Sweeney.

From Years 4 to 6, students explore more advanced topics related to personal development and protective behaviours. Our 2026 student workshops in this domain commenced this week. We work closely with expert Judith Krause from Youth Related. With her impressive qualifications and experience, Judith facilitates workshops on boundaries, appropriate and inappropriate touch, recognising discomfort, and knowing when and how to seek help. These sessions also include content from the Daniel Morcombe Keeping Kids Safe program.

Importantly, our student workshops are complemented by annual parent sessions, (these parent workshops took place last week on Wednesday 12 August 2026) ensuring the lines of communication between girls and their families remain open. This learning is supported by the work of thought leaders like Brené Brown, particularly around courage and building resilience to shame.

As I’ve shared before, we also draw inspiration from the work of Elizabeth Broderick, UN Rapporteur for Discrimination Against Women and Girls, and her Male Champions of Change movement. Our conversations must also include male narratives and dialogue. This is a collective responsibility.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this important work. Together, we are helping our girls grow into confident, capable young women who know their worth and use their voices with courage.

Preparation - Year 6 Semester 2 Parent Teacher Zoom Interviews - Monday 15  Thursday 17 September 2026

Junior School Parent-Teacher Interviews 

Parent-Teacher interviews with Class and Specialist teachers will be held during Week 9 of Term 3 (Monday 14 September - Thursday 17 September). Specialist teachers available for interviews are:

Year 2 - French, Music, Science 

Year 3 - Drama, French, Science

Year 4 - Drama, PE, Science

Year 5 - Mandarin, Music, PE

Year 6 - French, Mandarin, Music

Interview times with your daughter’s teachers will be offered both before and after school hours. Most parents find 10 minutes sufficient time for interviews with their daughter’s Class teacher, plus 5 minutes with Specialist teachers and if their daughter’s Maths teacher is not their class teacher. If you feel that more time is necessary, please contact your daughter’s teacher to arrange a convenient time and date for a longer meeting. You may request interviews at other times throughout the year by contacting teachers directly. 

How will these interviews work? 

We will continue to utilise Zoom for our interviews as feedback indicates this works best for our busy parents and carers. Parent-Teacher interview bookings can be made using our online booking system at https://kambala.meettheteacher.com/  Once you click on the link you will be directed to the online booking system to schedule your appointment/s. The booking portal will be open from 4pm on Thursday 20 August and will close at 4pm on Thursday 10 September. 

A Parent-Teacher Booking Appointment Guide has been created to assist parents with their bookings. Please click here to access this Guide. Once you have made an appointment time, confirmation of your appointment time will appear on your screen. A confirmation will also be sent to your parent email address. If you need to amend your booking time, please do so via your confirmation email. 

On the day of your Appointment

You can access Zoom links for all teachers on your daughter’s Sundial class page. Teachers will be alerted that you are in the virtual waiting room and will admit parents to begin the appointment at the scheduled time. Every effort to keep to the schedule will be made and we encourage parents to access the Sundial class pages ahead of the scheduled meeting times to support timeliness. Please note if you are running significantly late, you will need to reschedule your appointment as teachers must follow their pre booked interview times with other families. We kindly ask that you respect our teachers’ time and notify them in advance via email if you are unable to make your scheduled appointment time. 

IT support 

Should you experience technical difficulties during the event, please access ICT support by clicking on the ICT Support tile on the Sundial homepage. While we are doing all we can to prepare for a smooth experience, we appreciate your flexibility should there be any disruptions. 

Staffing News

We would like to share that Mr Andrew Story, who has been a valued member of the Kambala community since 2016, will soon be taking a well-deserved period of leave. He will be accessing a combination of Parental and Long Service Leave entitlements to enjoy precious time with his young son, born earlier this year. Mr Story’s final day on the fair hill for 2026 will be Friday 28 August 2026. We are sincerely grateful to him for his thoughtful preparation in ensuring everything is beautifully in order for our upcoming Massie House Art Show on Thursday 22 October 2026.

In his absence, we are delighted to warmly welcome Ms Gaby Franks to the Kambala family. Ms Franks is a highly experienced Art Specialist who joins us with a wealth of expertise, having taught most recently at Masada College, St Ives, and Trinity Grammar School. We look forward to the creativity and passion she will bring to our Junior School Art program.

We look forward to Mr Story’s return to Kambala for the commencement of the 2027 school year.

Parent Teacher Interviews with Mr Andrew Story - Year 5 and 6 Parents -  24 August - 28 August 2026

Our Junior School Parent Teacher Interviews for P-6 parents will take place over Zoom  in Week 9 of this term (14 September - 17 September, 2026). 

However, with his planned leave, Mr Story will be conducting interviews during Week 6 of Term 3 commencing on Monday 24 August.  We stagger interviews with Specialist teachers across the year levels for Terms 1 and 3. 

Mr Story conducted interviews with parents of Years 2-4 students in Term 1, thus in Term 3 he is available for interviews with Years 5 and 6 parents. 

You can access the online booking system at this link  https://kambala.meettheteacher.com/  

The booking portal is now open and will close on Thursday 20 August 2026 at 4.00pm. You can access Mr Story’s Zoom link for your booked interview time on your daughter’s Sundial page.

Kambala Academic Transition Day: A Glimpse into Year 7

As part of our ongoing transition program, our Year 6 students will participate in the Kambala Academic Transition Day on Tuesday, 1 September. This immersive experience gives students a true taste of daily life in Year 7.

Purpose of the Day

Designed around recent student feedback, this day aims to:

• Build Confidence & Curiosity: Help Year 6 students feel prepared, empowered, and eager for Senior School.
• Inspire Future Growth: Highlight the unique learning and personal growth opportunities available within our girls' education framework.
• Foster Readiness: Cultivate dispositional and reflective thinking needed for Senior School success.

Program Highlights

• Morning Session - Becoming a Senior School learner

  Students will gather to explore core learner attributes—focusing on self-awareness, self-authorship, and self-reflection. Key discussion topics include:

  • Who am I now, and who am I becoming?
  • Navigating the exciting challenges of Senior School
  • Understanding dispositional learning in a girls' school environment

• Recess & Lunch - Senior School communal spaces

  Students will share break times with their Year 9 Sisters, building natural connections and offering a supportive space for informal conversation.

• Middle Session - Learning Opportunities in Senior School

  An interactive look into key Senior School learning pathways, including:

  • Global Mindedness
  • Future Problem Solving
  • STEM

What Students Need to Bring

• Excursion bag
• Recess, lunch and a refillable water bottle
• Small pencil case
• Fully charged laptop

We are excited to offer this rich and supportive experience, designed to help our Year 6 students feel more confident and prepared for the journey ahead. This meaningful connection allows our students to explore the routines, subjects and social spaces of Year 7 in a safe, supportive environment.

This program beautifully complements the language taster sessions held last week, and we look forward to it alongside our Parent/Daughter House Afternoon Teas with the Principal later this term (dates below and invitations to follow), and the Year 7 2027 Test and Connect Day on Friday 30 October.

• Year 6 Gurney House Afternoon Tea with Ms Danvers (parents and students) - Tuesday 25 August 2026
• Year 6 Hawthorne House Afternoon Tea with Ms Danvers (parents and students) - Wednesday 2 September 2026
• Year 6 Roseby House Afternoon Tea with Ms Danvers (parents and students) - Thursday 3 September 2026
• Year 6 Wentworth House Afternoon Tea with Ms Danvers (parents and students) - Monday 7 September 2026

Junior School Tennis Championships

The annual Junior School Tennis Championships will be held at Parkland Sports Centre Tennis courts, Moore Park on Wednesday 9 September. We ask that only those girls in Years 4-6 who are currently playing tennis nominate for the Championships. 

Information can be found here

Please complete the google form here by Monday 24 August.

2026 Term 4 Years 4-6 Sports Choice

You can find the letter containing all the 2026 Term 4 Years 4-6 Sports information here. 

Please read the document carefully as it contains the options for Term 4, the directions for trials and training, and the link to the Google registration form to be completed at the bottom of the letter. Please complete it by no later than 4.00pm Wednesday 26 August 2026. 

 The options for Term 4 2026 are:

• IPSHA Tennis Competition
• IPSHA Basketball Competition 
• Learn to Sail
• Year 6 Touch Football (Monday at Rowland Park, Daceyville)

Kambala and Hampshire House Elevator Upgrades

Kambala is investing in some important upgrades to better serve our School community.

Over the coming months, we will be upgrading the elevators at both of our elevator sites, replacing each with a brand new installation.

As part of this process, each elevator will need to be temporarily decommissioned during its upgrade period. We want to make sure everyone has plenty of notice so you can plan accordingly:

• Tivoli Lawn Elevator - elevator out of service from 22 June to 24 August 2026
• Hampshire House Elevator - elevator out of service from 24 August to 19 October 2026

To ensure everyone can continue to move around the school with ease, please refer to the Sundial notification posted to parents earlier this week.

Junior School Events

Please see the next page for exciting Junior School Events and Dates for your Calendars!