Junior School 

Humanity, Empathy and seeking first to understand...

I have been watching the escalation of curiosity that surrounded the Princess of Wales over the past few weeks.  Society’s inability to cope with not knowing absolutely everything reached fever pitch in the last couple of weeks.  We were unable to sit with not knowing and we also assumed the worst in terms of rumours which were being perpetuated and circulated.  The pressure was released recently with the Princess of Wales’ carefully timed disclosure (three hours after her children finished the School term for Easter Break) that she was in fact battling Cancer.  Even after the announcememnt people could not rest as they were seeking to know “what specific type of abdominal cancer she had?”. It made me think about the premise of “seeking first to understand” and developing humanity and empathy within our school community.

In addition to work that we do with Professor Ron Ritchhart on building community of learners our school also leans into the work of Social Researcher Dr Brene Brown who is the author of Daring Greatly, Dare to Lead and most recently the Atlas of the Heart.

In building Kambala culture together as a learning community we explored the notion of the Braving Inventory, building trust and assuming positive intent.  In building a staff culture of humanity our hope is for this to also connect with our students from Prep to Year 12.  Linked to our students as learners they will connect with the work of Brene Brown in lessons with Deputy Head Kate Moore and also with our personal and pubertal development facilitator Judith Krause who will work with the students in Year 4 to Year 6 later in the year.  

Year 4 Camp

A week to never forget!

It all started one normal Tuesday morning, with roll call… and then a day jam packed with activities at the Museum of Sydney, lunch at Hyde Park and a  visit to Hyde Park Barracks. All of this was then followed with a 3-day camp adventure at beautiful Milson Island!

The Museum of Sydney was fascinating and reinforced learning that has been undertaken in the classroom! We saw the excavations of Governor Phillip’s house, where the museum stands today. . We could imagine what it would be like standing outside his house back in 1789. He would have been able to see the harbour from there! Did you know that the Gadigal people’s major food source was fishing in the harbour?  

We analysed paintings which helped to build  our understanding of the different perspectives of people involved  in Australia becoming a colony. We even walked the length of one of the boats from the First Fleet. Many of us were shocked that the ship was so small, especially as it was home to so many people for the voyage. We now know that ships from the First Fleet were not the size of modern Cruise Liners! 

After a picnic at Hyde Park, we visited the Hyde Park Barracks. There, we dressed as convicts, laid in hammocks, built a room with bricks and listened to stories about the convict men and boys who had lived there. These experiences gave us insight into how awful it would have been to live at the Barracks with its  rules and harsh punishments. We all left for the day feeling very lucky that we were living in such contrasting conditions.

The fun didn’t stop there because we spent the next 3 days at Milson Island! It felt like we were miles from the city in a tropical paradise.  The island was only accessible by boat and had a breathtaking view of the Hawkesbury River. The girls thoroughly enjoyed  the outdoor activities including beach games at Twin Beaches, boat rides, pool challenges, raft building, indigenous games, playing in sprinklers and orienteering. Luckily enough, the weather was luxuriously warm, which made the water activities all the more inviting. 

Year 4 have made memories to last a lifetime, built new friendships and cemented old ones, and all whilst learning and challenging themselves with new experiences that were often outside their comfort zone.

Ms Anna Goodman

Year 4 Teacher

Year 3 Camp-Embracing Growth and Adventure

Year 3 embarked on their inaugural Kambala camp journey on Monday March 25th, brimming with excitement and curiosity. Singing along to Taylor Swift tunes as their soundtrack, the journey to the picturesque Port Hacking was filled with cheerful melodies and anticipation. Settling into their cabins at the Telford campsite marked the beginning of an unforgettable experience.

Venturing into the mangroves via boat, Year 3 immersed themselves in learning about nature's wonders, from pneumatophores to the mysteries of the sand's dark hue, even daring to taste the salty leaves. The art of bonfire building, and the joy of cooking damper added a delightful touch of hands-on learning to their outdoor escapade.

As night descended, Year 3 indulged in a hearty butter chicken feast followed by a creative Newspaper Fashion Show, where imagination ran wild and runway stardom was achieved. Amidst the tranquil sounds of the Royal National Park, sleep eventually enveloped them, preparing them for the adventures of the following day.

Daybreak brought renewed energy as Year 3 eagerly savoured their breakfast, gearing up for a day brimming with discovery. Engaging in Christian Discovery sessions and conquering the daunting waterslide tested their courage and resolve. The thrill of overcoming challenges and fears resonated throughout the camp, fostering values of humanity, courage, curiosity, and respect.

Each student embraced the camp experience with commendable strength, resilience, and optimism, showcasing their remarkable growth. Year 3's collective achievements reflect their unwavering spirit and determination. They have set a precedent for future adventures, demonstrating that with perseverance and a positive mindset, they can conquer any challenge that comes their way.

Ms Amber Foster

Year 3 Teacher

Year 5 & 6 performance Festival of Music

Everyone was so excited to finally do our music festival. After weeks of preparation, the big night had finally arrived. Excited chatter filled the air as we lined up for the bus ride to the grand Sydney Opera House. After 30 minutes of driving, we were finally standing in front of it. The teachers found it hard to stop our chatter as everyone was so excited. We soon lined up in our rows and got ready to head inside. The 5-6 choir was lucky enough to watch Gurney’s fabulous rehearsal. This brought the already high excitement levels beyond possible! 

When it was finally our time to practise, everyone got up to the stage and did an outstanding job. Everyone then went out for dinner with their families before coming back to watch the real thing. It started with the flabbergasting Senior Orchestra, then we listened to the astonishing Symphonic Winds Orchestra, after that we all enjoyed the spectacular Kambala Jazz Orchestra performing a fully choreographed piece. Finally, after weeks of rehearsals, it was time for us to sing in front of over 2 thousand people with our sensational ‘Like a Girl’. 

This experience was one like no other. It was  beautifully mixed with  such a powerful message that we thought we portrayed perfectly! Everyone utterly loved it. The pure feeling that we all felt when we got off the stage was unforgettable, we all felt a sensation of happiness, proudness and we all look forward to next year’s music festival!

Jacinta Gerber and Jolin Zhou 

Year 6

Quotes

‘The music festival was an unforgettable experience that will never be forgotten’

-Gabriella Botros

“It was great to be able to watch the senior girls sing and all the orchestras play.”

-Isabelle Kuang

Click for arecordingof the performance.