Senior School 

Student Leadership

It is with great pleasure that we announce the full student leadership team for 2024-2025. We provide opportunities for students in Years 11, 10 and 9 to lead in different areas of the school and develop their leadership skills whilst providing service to the student body.

Year 9s have a special responsibility to their House and the peer support program for Year 7 orientation. Year 10s have special responsibility to the portfolios and to provide support to the Prefect and committees who are involved in running events and advocating for their special area of interest. Our Prefects lead in a range of portfolio and house areas and provide for the development and nurturing of our student body.

We can’t wait to see what wonderful opportunities they create for us at Kambala. 

Students also have the opportunity to engage in Committees for each portfolio and the Student Representative Council (SRC). Applications for these committees will open in the coming week. Students from Years 7-11 are encouraged to apply and be instrumental in the running of these committees.

Ms Joanne Sarmiento

Deputy Principal - Wellbeing

Student Leadership Team 2024 - 2025

Prefects

Head Prefect Sophie Alexander

Deputy Head Prefect Emma Antico

Head Boarder Ava Purvis

Deputy Head Boarder Hilary Guilfoyle

Advocacy Prefect Kate (Katie) Greenwood

Communications Prefect Anna Mavrakis

Cultural and Global Connections Prefect Elisheba-Wendy Adu-Osae

Debating Prefect Ziva Mortimer

Drama Prefect Lauren Assef

Environment Prefect Abigail (Abi) Jellins

Music Prefects Cacharelle Dan & Lilian Pack

Sports Prefects Minty Welsh & Poppy Nuthall

STEM Prefect Katherine (Katie) Fan

VADT Prefect Isabela (Izzy) Kellett

Wellbeing Prefect Georgina Happ

Senior Leaders

Boarding Jacqueline Howe & Rachel Tong

Advocacy Lara Chersky & Elke Novak

Communications Isabella Feng & Eleanor Humphrey

Cultural and Global Connections Sophia Dan & Zoe Leibman

Debating Laura Janes & Kate Wu

Drama  Maiya Griffiths-Green & Madison Kozak

Environment Lucinda Isert & Annabelle Knox

Music Charlotte Cullen & Elsie Paton

Sports Isabella Hupfau & Francesca Somerville

STEM  Frederique Blann & Chloe Paleologos

VADT Milla Sleijpen & Cecilia Wang

Wellbeing Frankie Johnston & Scarlett Levy

HOUSE Prefects

GURNEY Prefects Jacinta Cortis & Polly Roche

G House Officers  Raquel Chen, Eva Heckendorf,  Jade Derwin

& Quincy Sheldrick

HAWTHORNE Prefects Scarlett Aboud & Lucea Benko

H House Officers Margot Hindmarsh, Elizabeth Somerville, Neve Mortimer

& Coco Sweeney

ROSEBY Prefects Zanna Rose & Daisy Webster

R House Officers Georgianna Botros, Giselle Overton, Savanna Kirkwood

& Lucy Pan 

WENTWORTH Prefects Indiana Pirie & Bonnie Zheng

W House Officers Kalia Finau, Ruby Small, Tilly Mathews

& Sarah Tay 

Australian First - Sun Safety Program

We're delighted to share a radio interview held by 2GB with Head Prefect Sophie Alexander, who has championed a sun safety program with Mr Simon Board - Head of Health & Movement Science. Please listen to the interview here. Well done all, what an amazing initiative! 

Winter Cello Course 1-3 July 2024

 In the July holidays, girls from Kambala and students from other schools around Sydney participated in a Winter Cello Course hosted by Kambala. The Cello Course was a part of international events celebrating the centenary of legendary American-Hungarian Cellist, Janos Starker. Simultaneously, there were Cello Festivals in world famous concert halls in Tokyo and Seoul, as well as throughout Europe and America. We were tutored by international and interstate cellists, led by our own cello teacher, Mr Benz.

This was a great opportunity to broaden our musical skills, learn a range of repertoire, and meet new people who share a common interest. We were broken up into three different ensembles tailored to our skill level. Each ensemble was named after a famous cellist: Piatti, Casals and Starker. We worked on a variety of pieces throughout the course, including works combining all three groups. In the afternoon sessions, we had the option to play our own repertoire for professional cellists and hear their feedback. On the last afternoon, we all gathered in the Music Performance Theatre and played all the repertoire we had learnt that week for our parents.

Overall, this was a highly educational and enjoyable experience that taught me new techniques and extended my musical style from Handel to Piazzolla. 

Abby Leibman

Year 8

Work Experience France - Coco Manovel

Bonjour! 

Mes vacances au mois de juillet sont passées à L'école Élémentaire les Micocouliers à Languedoc, France. 

In my July holidays I went to France to experience working at a French Primary School in France (Ecole Elémentaire les Micocouliers à Langue) with kids aged 3 - 8 years old. This was an excellent, eye-opening experience and has shown me the benefits of studying French as a language. While working I was able to participate in a range of activities including teaching students words in English, helping at meal preps and working through activities with kids. Through these activities I had the opportunity to speak French and learn about culture and customs. The highlight of my experience was being able to meet new people including teachers, parents and students. Everyone was so welcoming and patient which made it all the more enjoyable. 

Through networking with friends and family as well as a letter from the wonderful Mr Pettit, the Future Pathways Advisor, I was able to work at the school and live in a French farmhouse with a French family, away from my parents. This allowed me to step outside my comfort zone while also gaining knowledge about the language and culture. I feel it is vitally important to study a language so you can travel, meet new people and create new experiences. This was displayed to me by travelling to France and immersing myself in society and traditions. I hope that anyone looking to study a language considers looking at work experience overseas as this not only improved my French but gave me first-hand experience of working with young kids.

Au revoir!

Coco Manovel 

Year 10

Band and Percussion Evening

At the end of July, we held the annual Bands and Percussion evening where bands ranging from Junior to Senior were given the chance to showcase their hard work and dedication. Throughout the evening, we heard from our youngest musicians in Tivoli Wind Ensemble to our most senior musicians in Symphonic Wind Orchestra. All 10 groups gave captivating performances and gave our students a wonderful opportunity to present what they have worked hard on this year to their families. 

The concert featured our three concert bands who played a variety of styles ranging from Lady Gaga and Queen to music by Australian Composers Percy Grainger and Tim Ferrier. Our three jazz bands also showcased an array of jazz, rock and pop tunes and featured many soloists. A highlight of the evening was our most senior jazz musicians in Kambala Jazz Orchestra who accompanied Milla Sleijpen and Coco Manovel singing Sway and Sophie Scanlon singing Feeling Good.

Four percussion ensembles also performed on the evening, directed by Mr Machamer and even included one of his compositions. Watching the Junior Percussion students add their own choreography and solo sections was delightful. Another highlight was the Senior Percussion ensemble playing a mesmerising Chopin arrangement. 

The evening concluded with a marvellous combined item that included over 120 of our musicians playing We Don’t Talk About Bruno from Encanto together, conducted by Ms Lewis. Congratulations to all the students who performed at the Bands and Percussions evening and thank you to all the audience members who came to watch. And of course, a big thank you to all the band conductors, music staff, and music tutors who made this evening, and every band rehearsal possible. 

Cacharelle Dan

Senior Music Prefect

Jenni Lewis

Coordinator of Winds, Brass and Percussion