Welcome to 2023: A few things to know before your first day

From Dr Hadwen

Dear Pymble family

A warm welcome to the new school year. Our team is inspired to deliver an exceptional program of opportunities for learning and growth in 2023 and we can’t wait for the magic to begin on the first day of Term 1, which is:

Monday 30 January for new students, Year 11 and Year 12 or

Tuesday 31 January for Kindergarten and all other returning students.

This booklet outlines a few key points you need to know before the first day, including:

• changes to venues and locations on campus due to construction work commencing;

• our Pymble Gives Back initiative for 2023, which starts with a donation drive on the first day of school;

• back-to-school practicalities and dates for your diary.

Please take a moment to review this information with your daughter to ensure a smooth transition into her new school year – and start raiding those cupboards for our Pymble Gives Back drive. Let’s aim to fill those donation bins on day one!

Looking forward to an exciting year ahead, and to welcoming all students back on campus next week.

DR KATE HADWEN PRINCIPAL

Click here for a video message from Dr Hadwen

Back-to-school practicalities

ARRIVING AT SCHOOL

All year groups start school promptly at 8.15am each day. Please ensure students arrive at school by 8.00am to give them time to get to their classroom before lessons begin. The exception is Kindergarten on day one, when arrival time is 9.00am for that day only.

WEARING CORRECT UNIFORM

Please ensure your daughter travels to and arrives at school each day as her best self, proudly representing Pymble by wearing the correct uniform, without unsanctioned jewellery or other adornments such as make-up, nail polish or false nails/eyelashes.

You can find a comprehensive dress code in your daughter’s school diary:

• Secondary School uniform, from page 28

• Junior School uniform, from page 32.

ACCESSING OUR UNIFORM SHOP

• The College Uniform Shop stocks items required for all school and sporting activities.

• Opening times in Term 1: Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri: 10.30am to 4.30pm; Thurs: 10.30am to 6.00pm.

• Appointments for uniform fittings can be made on (02) 9855 7745 or at collegeshop@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

• The College Uniform Shop is located under the War Memorial Chapel on the Centenary Walk. The shop entrance faces the Junior School.

• Online purchases can be made at shop.pymblelc.nsw. edu.au. Orders placed before 10.30am will be available for collection from 12.30pm on the next school day. Kindergarten to Year 6 orders will be delivered to the Junior School Office and placed in students’ bags. Years 7 to 12 students should collect their orders from the shop during breaks.

REMINDER: NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL TIMETABLE

Our new timetable for Years 7 to 12 starts in Term 1:

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

For all events, including student events, please refer to the MyPymble App.

Contacts

More contact details can be found online at pymblelc.nsw.edu.au, in your 2023 Student Diary and in the 2023 Parent Handbook.

ABSENTEE PROTOCOL

Absentees can be submitted via MyPymble or by calling the relevant School Office, listed above.

Change of locations in Term 1

This year, we head into our master plan program, which means there will be several changes to venues and locations at Pymble and some construction commencing throughout the year, including the Junior School Administration Building (Term 1) and Grey House Precinct (most likely in Term 2).

Our aim is to minimise disruption by scheduling relocations to occur in term breaks and planning heavy work around student programs, however, construction will also continue during term time. The project team is working closely with College leadership and contractors to ensure minimal noise impact and disruption to school activities. We will of course continue to share all necessary information and safety requirements prior to each new term to keep our community fully informed and our College operating as normal.

Please note the following changes, effective from Term 1.

HEALTH CARE CENTRE

Joan Hammond House (the former administration office for Boarding) is now home to our Health Care staff, including our nurses. If you have been asked to collect your daughter from school because she is unwell, this is where you will meet.

How to find us:

• Number 31 on the map (page 6).

• Best access is via Gate 3.

• Park in the Centenary Car Park and walk up towards the Boarding Houses. Joan Hammond House is situated between Marden House and Lang House (check).

have been relocated to Lang Lawn behind the Chapel (number 55 on the map) and converted to three general learning areas. Access to the classrooms is via stairs and a ramp.

BOARDING ADMINISTRATORS

Our Boarding Administration team of Carolyn Burgess and Laurel Foley have vacated Joan Hammond House and relocated to the offices in lower Conde Library (number 46 on the map). Katie White will join them shortly, after a temporary period in the Middle School Office at the end of the Colonnade (number 42 on the map).

CISCO ROOM CONVERSION (SENIOR SCHOOL CENTRE)

The Cisco Room has been converted to our English faculty staffroom and teaching area (number 47 on the map) and is now open to staff and students.

STAFF MOVES

Please note the following locations for key staff commencing new roles in 2023.

• Deputy Principal, Ms Lamia Rockwell: Main Reception building (number 17 on the map)

• Deputy Principal – Students K-12, Mr Justin Raymond: Main Reception building

• Executive Director Co-Curricular, Mr Greg Meagher: Main Reception building

• Head of Secondary – Wellbeing, Mrs Michelle Hunt: Colonnade – Middle level (number 39 on the map)

• Acting Deputy Principal – Academic (shared position), Mrs Natasha Stanfield and Mr Jake Plaskett: Curriculum Office.

HEALTH CARE CENTRE DEMOUNTABLES

Following the relocation of the Health Care staff to Joan Hammond House, the Health Care Centre demountables

New locations in Term 1

BOARDING ADMINISTRATION

HEALTH CARE CENTRE

HEAD OF SECONDARY – WELLBEING

Gate 3 Gate 1

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL, DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - STUDENTS K-12, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CO-CURRICULAR

NEW JUNIOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING SITE COMMENCES IN TERM 1

B Agricultural Plot

C Art Centre (Ferguson House)

D Boarder’s Dining Room (Main Hall)

BOARDING

E Goodlet House

F Goodlet Lawn

G Joan Hammond House

o Boarding Administration (in Conde Library)

H Lang House

I Lang Lawn

J Marden House

K Marden Lawn

CENTENARY SPORTS PRECINCT

L Braith Williams Aquatic and Fitness Centre

M Centenary Car Park

N Centenary Walkway and Centenary Artwork

O Jeanette Buckham Centre for Physical Education (Gym and Artistic Gymnastics)

P Mollie Dive Field

Q Sporting Courts

COLLEGE RECEPTION

R (Isabel McKinney Harrison Centre)

S College Uniform Shop

T David Blackwell Music School

U David Macfarlane Centre (DMC)

V Dorothy Knox Building

W Facilities Management

X Flagpole Lawn

Y Archie's Cafe

Z Gate 1 – Main Gates (John Marden Gates)

8 Gate 2 – Staff Parking

9 Gate 3 – Deliveries (Roland Love Gates)

: Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA)

; Gloucester Lawn

< Grey House Walk

= Health Care Centre

a Heritage Centre

b James Kelso Field

2023-MAP-GENERAL 1v1 P

c Years 3 to 6 Learning Area, and OSHC centre

d Kindergarten to Year 2 Pick-up / Drop-off

e Kindergarten to Year 2 Learning Area

f Kelso Sports Rotunda and Bus Zone

g Liane Tooth Field

h Main Colonnade

i Main Hall

j Main Oval

k Middle School Office (Main Colonnade)

l Pymble Train Station

m Riverbed

n Science Centre Science Lecture Theatre

o Secondary School Library (Conde Building)

p Senior School Centre (Kate Mason Building)

Jobson Lecture Theatre

q Demountable Classrooms

r Sufferance Pathway

s Technology and Applied Studies Centre (TAS)

t The Hub – IT Centre

u Upper School (Robert Vicars Building)

v War Memorial Chapel

w Year 3 to Year 6

Pick-up / Drop-off Area at Flagpole Lawn

x New Junior School Administration Building Site

Construction on site in Term 1

JUNIOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

Work on our new Junior School Administration Building commenced during the break. Consequently, preferred access to our Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) centre is now via Gate 3, as previously communicated to families who use this service. Some pathways around the fully enclosed site are now closed to students, however, this will be signposted and alternative paths advised. All work will be contained within the site area and contractor deliveries will occur outside school drop-off and pick-up times.

FERGUSON HOUSE ROOF REPAIR

The roof coverings, gutters and high-level windows of Ferguson House (number 2 on the map) were replaced during the break. The Visual Arts teaching area on the upper floor of the building is in the final stage of the first round of renovations, and the space will be ready for use again from Friday 10 February.

ARCHIE’S

A reminder that Archie’s is now open, with a great range of hot and cold drinks, meals, and snacks.

Monday to Friday hours: 7.30am to 4.00pm

Who can access?

• Years 5 and 6 – lunch time only

• Years 7 to 10 – before and after school, recess and lunch

• Years 11 and 12 – from 1.30pm (when the Jacaranda Café closes)

• Staff, families and visitors

Saturday hours: 7.00am to 12.00pm (community access)

JACARANDA CAFÉ

Monday to Friday hours: 8.00am to 1.30pm

Who can access?

• Years 11 and 12 and staff.

Pymble Gives Back in 2023 – starting on day one!

In 2023, Pymble students, staff and families will be invited to ‘give back’ in a series of voluntary events, activities and initiatives that encourage and celebrate humanity, kindness and care in our community.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

There are myriad reasons to be of service to others, starting with our College values, our heritage as a school of the Uniting Church in Australia and a ton of research that shows helping other people improves your health, happiness and sense of purpose and belonging. Being of service also has a knock-on effect, inspiring more acts of kindness, which in turn helps make the world a better place.

WHO ARE WE SUPPORTING?

Our primary Pymble Gives Back partners in 2023 are Wayside Chapel, Dignity and The Smith Family. We will also be working with additional charities and organisations to give students opportunities to be of hands-on service to those in need.

WHEN DOES IT START?

It starts on day one of Term 1, with a donation drive for items needed by our three charity partners.

HOW TO BE INVOLVED

Raid your cupboards to find the following items to bring to school on your first day:

• clothing and footwear (especially suit jackets and pants)

• blankets and linen

• non-perishable food items

• personal care items

• new and unopened packages of underwear and socks.

DONATION BINS

Donation bins will be at the following locations when you arrive at school:

• near the Middle School Office

• Centenary Car Park

• Sunshine Square in the Junior School.

PYMBLE GIVES BACK TEAM SHIRT

As this is an ongoing program, students have the option to purchase a Pymble Gives Back shirt to wear with pride to all opportunities to be of service to others throughout the year.

If you have any questions about Pymble Gives Back, please contact:

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Mrs Nerissa Davey, ndavey@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Mrs Michelle Hunt, mhunt@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au