Year 6

YEAR 6 INITIATIVES

In Year 6 this year we were taught that it doesn't matter if you’re wearing a badge or not, you are still a leader who is looked up to by younger year groups. We were both involved in starting initiatives in the Junior School. Our initiatives were about helping people or a cause we believed deserved our support. The first initiative started by Zara was creating ‘bags of love’ for the Year 12 girls who were going through a tough time doing their HSC during a pandemic. Having a brother in Year 12 really pushed me to do something to make the girls feel like they belonged and were supported. I wanted them to know we would always be there for them even when they are no longer a student at Pymble. All of the girls in Year 12 received a bag decorated by Year 3 and Year 4 girls containing a letter written by Year 5, positive affirmations, and two felt hearts woven by Year 6. I am so grateful to all of the girls who helped make this happen. The second initiative was started by Holly. I made bracelets to sell and raised more than $1,000 to donate to the Koala Foundation. The reason why I wanted to do this was because for starters I love animals, especially koalas, so it was very upsetting to find out about their plight after the summer fires. I was saddened to hear that they are in extreme danger now, so I did something to make a difference. I sold 98 hand-made bracelets and 42 scrunchies. With the help of Junior School teachers, I managed to spread the word about my bracelets and the mission of helping the koalas. I was also given the opportunity to help Year 3 with their study on endangered animals such as the koala. I am so grateful I made so much money to donate and help save some koala lives.

Leadership is not just about wearing a badge; it is about making a difference and taking action when you see a need.

Zara Pattinson and Holly Hogan, 6M

Vivian Liu, 3C and Holly Hogan, 6M

Betty Han, 3C and Olivia Chan, 3C

Science Week "If you know you are on the right track, if you have this inner knowledge, then nobody can turn you off... no matter what they say." – Barbara McClintok

During Science Week, we embraced the fact that science is for everyone and that scientists are not just old men with crazy hair wearing lab coats and thick glasses.

We had a special assembly, where four girls dressed up like scientists and talked about their field of science and what motivated them to become what they are now. During the week, we looked at interesting and fun science facts and told funny science jokes. Our teachers showed us some fun science experiments and we read books about famous female scientists like Marie Curie, who developed the theory of radioactivity. The best part of the week was when we dressed up like scientists. The Junior School was full of medical doctors, zoologists, marine biologists, geologists and other types of scientists. Science Week inspired us to be curious and to believe that anyone can be a scientist. Q: Why can’t you trust an atom? A: Because they make up everything. Meimei Jiang and Isha Satpathy, 6T

Year 6

YEAR 6 CAMP

On the bright and early morning of Monday 16 February, the Year 6 teachers stood eagerly on Kelso Field awaiting the arrival of their excited Connect class. They were off to Jindabyne and Canberra for their week-long camp. After a couple of hours of talking, laughing and sharing ideas on the bus, we finally arrived at our first destination – Jindabyne. Everyone was in a rush to get off the coach and run around. Outside was frosty and windy, but that didn’t stop us from having fun. There was a variety of activities on the first afternoon including raft building, kayaking, rock climbing, slider bikes and challenge ropes.

Ayana Chandra, 6D Our cabins were comfortable and roomy. There was plenty of hot water for showers too. Everyone enjoyed making new friends and having a go at new activities and games. One of the highlights of our time at Jindabyne was travelling to Thredbo to walk to the top of Mt Kosciuszko (depending on the weather). We caught the chairlift up – the ride was entertaining and exciting as we were very high up and we could see people mountain biking below. Each group had a guide who showed us around and explained interesting things about the plants and little animals. We didn’t make it to the summit as the weather turned very cold and cloudy. We walked much quicker downhill than uphill. By Wednesday afternoon we were back on the coaches and travelling to Canberra. Our first port of call was the National Science and Technology Centre, Questacon! Having two hours to explore and experiment was great fun. Our rooms at Lumeah Lodge were very new and nice – we even had our own ensuites!

Thursday saw us split into smaller groups as we toured around various sights and exhibitions of Canberra including experiencing Parliament House, The Electoral Commission, The National Museum and the National Capital Exhibition. Finally, on Friday we were fortunate to visit the National War Memorial and learn about the many sacrifices made in the past for our future as a free country.

Emmeline Powell, 6R

Grace Santoso, 6D

We loved watching the exciting and emotive flying films created by Peter Jackson.

Each day of camp was fun and never boring, as the activities were challenging and different. Camp went by so quickly and none of us could believe that it was over so soon. Every single student loved camp and cherished it as a memory to remember. Isabella Pak and Amy Xue, 6D

Year 6

#YEAROFWELCOME BOOK REVIEW

As part of our #YearOfWelcome in TH.inq (Science, History and Geography), we were asked to complete five rotations revolving around the topic of refugees. In groups, we completed activities that developed empathy towards how refugees and asylum seekers would have felt in their circumstances, and their feelings of beginning a new life in an unfamiliar land. One of the main activities was making choices, where we made decisions that a refugee would when seeking asylum. This activity was one of the strongest in terms of feeling compassion, as we were stepping inside and learning the outcomes of some of our decisions. Other activities included using creativity, art and language to display our understanding and knowledge of refugees. This task was created in order to bring a better understanding for all Year 6 students about the hard truth refugees face in order to find a safe place to call home. We were taught to think on our feet with more interactive tasks and we walked away with a deeper insight about the experiences of refugees. Angela Zhang, Annalise Chow, Jilan Zhang and Sarah Tian, 6A

Maths Olympiad Maths Olympiad

Out by Angela May George

A thought-provoking storyline that rings with truth, Out is a picture book, narrated from the perspective of a young girl. The protagonist flees her war-torn homeland, making a long and perilous boat journey with her mother. Angela May George chooses her vocabulary carefully, using descriptive language, to deliver a breathtaking piece. The predominant themes of this historical fiction picture book are the hardships of migration and the significance of hope in the midst of despondence. Symbolism is employed throughout this evocative picture book, leaving room for the reader to make their creative inferences. For example, in the opening image, the girl is isolated in a somewhat unappealing, generic urban setting of mundane-coloured shop fronts, advertisements, and traffic. This relatable illustration is used to imply that large cities anywhere can often feel distant and indifferent, especially if someone is new to them. The simple text is accompanied by gentle watercolour and pencil illustration in muted colours which become lighter and more vivid as the story progresses. A yellow ribbon worn by the girl recurs throughout the story, representing her hopes of being reunited with her father, which eventually occurs in the final spread.

Jessica Guo, 6L

Service Learning

Service Learning was an experience we will never forget. The buzz of receiving an email, and the thrill of starting to receive the product was overwhelming. Service Learning was a part of Year 6 girls’ Deep Space 6 program. Most of the girls, in the beginning, didn't know what they were signing up for but after a few lessons the excitement of helping others really kicked in.

One thing that we all really enjoyed was the concept of building relationships within the community and helping others who deserved better. Service Learning is a program in which you choose someone that you wish to help in the community. We reached out to companies to persuade them to not only help make a difference but to also contribute to young children’s development in kindness. We could not ask for money, only the kind donations of the businesses. We received an abundance of rejections and did not lose our fighting spirit. We kept pushing until it all started to fall into place. We helped women’s shelters, dog rescues, rural schools, kids’ hospitals, and countless more.

Meimei Jiang, 6T, Johanna Ricketts, 6L, Rosa Kim, 6T and Alissa Xue, 6R

Overall, we all made a substantial difference in our communities and impacted a multitude of lives including our own. We all agreed that these acts of kindness and generosity not only impacted others but also our future actions towards others. Meimei Jiang, 6T, Johanna Ricketts, 6L, Rosa Kim, 6T and Alissa Xue, 6R Imogen Durden and Scarlet Olesen, 6T

Year 6

POETRY

The Junior School

As we travel back to the years of fun and play We unlock the memories from what seemed like yesterday The Junior School our haven The Junior School our past Built us a bright future That will forever last

We studied the era when justice was rare We built a sanctuary, for generations to share We wove together a tapestry of words With Mrs Davey, the language of STEM was heard. This was the amazing Year 3. We combined our knowledge of French, song and dance We gave different camp activities a chance We studied about why the British chose this land Of sweeping plains and forests so grand. This was the fabulous Year 4.

We danced and discoed under sparkling lights We looked into our promising future with spaceflight We studied different instruments and their designers We drew courage and confidence from the Goldrush’s miners. This was the eye-opening Year 5. We looked into the hearts of those less fortunate We trekked through all manner of nature so ornate We worked in teams to solve problems, quite mathematic To build a bridge, stable and systematic. This was the memorable Year 6. Now we’re preparing for what lies ahead Opening doors, to Senior School we head Our life at the Junior School is coming to a close But the memories will stay as beautiful as a rose. This is our comfort, this is our space, A protective dome, a nurturing place. We will remember, year through year Our teachers, friends and this family so dear. Rosa Kim, 6T, Ruhani Surana, 6D and Angela Zhang, 6A

FRENCH DEEP SPACE 6

Deep Space 6 was created for us to have a creative outlet, to learn new skills and have a space to play. We had two and a half hours a week to enjoy Deep Space, and for Term 3 we had five weeks for one activity and the other five weeks for another activity. In the first weeks, we had activities including 3D printing, screen printing, Lego Technics, Service Learning, string art, mosaic tiles, virtual reality, cross-stitch and stop-motion. In the second half of the term, the activities were Service Learning, screen printing, scrunchies and bracelets, face masks, string art, Lego Technics and puppy accessories. One of the most popular topics was string art which let the students create artworks with nails and string. All these activities taught everyone something new, let our imagination go wild and gave us time to stop and relax. In Term 4, we designed a product based on recycled or upcycled materials. Lots of girls created candles, using tins and painting them then filling them with wax. The aim was to not spend any money and every girl had to present a product at the end of the term. At the end of the year, we had a Market Day to sell all the products and with that money, we voted for a charity to donate the profit to. This was a way of giving back to our community and sharing the love for Christmas.

Overall, Deep Space 6 let us use our imagination and creative mindset to feel a sensation of relaxation. It was the way Year 6 showed our play!

Johanna Ricketts, Scarlett Campbell and Chloe Brown, 6L

Audrey Bishop and Angela Xenofontos, 6L

Mon École

Je suis une fille à Pymble. J’adore Pymble. C’est le meilleur endroit au monde.

Un endroit d’apprentissage, de chant et d’art, Un endroit où le liens et les amitiés commencent. Un endroit où je peux me fixer des objectifs pour ma vie, Un endroit dépourvu de ténèbres et de conflits. Un endroit où je suis libre de parler, Libre de réfléchir, je suis a mon apogée. Un endroit où je peux danser et jouer, Un endroit où je vais tous le jours. Alors maintenant je marche, dans ma robe verte et bleue, Mon chapeau avec un badge argenté qui représente notre devise Un havre de gentillesse et de savoir, Pour nous tous, pour moi et vous. Je suis une fille à Pymble. J’adore Pymble C’est le meilleur endroit au monde, Parce que c’est mon école… Et mon avenir.

Ruhani Surana, 6D

Year 6

AMAZING RACE STEM CHALLENGE

The Amazing Race Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Challenge was a whole day where we had to build a stable bridge out of paddle pop sticks and PVA glue that had to span over a gap of 50 centimetres. If you ran out of paddle pop sticks, you would have to complete a series of mathematics questions of different levels which would give you different amounts of paddle pop sticks. The ranking colours were yellow, red, green and blue and they gave us between two and eight paddle pop sticks. If you ran out of glue, you would have to trade in ten paddle pop sticks. To build your bridge you would work in a team of five.

Design Process

During the design process, some groups split up with half of the people doing the mathematics questions and earning more paddle pop sticks while the other half were building and planning the bridge. All the designs were very unique and used different ideas to make a stable bridge. Some had different shapes used to make the bucket stay, while others had a different approach to this activity. The time we had to complete this was until lunch and we were able to test all the bridges afterwards.

Jenny Xu, 6M, Chloe Brown, 6L, Alessia Macolino, 6T, Aarushi Devgan, 6M and Julia Farcas, 6D

Testing

During the testing, six groups were put together and each bridge had a bucket hung on top of it. This bucket was filled by the teachers with bean bags and when we ran out of bean bags we had to use dictionaries and Bibles. When bridges snapped, that team would be eliminated from the competition. If you were the last team left you proceeded to the finals. This continued until all the teams had been tested once and the finals had to begin. In the finals, bean bags quickly ran out so we moved on to dictionaries. Strangely, we also ran out of dictionaries so our teacher had to get Bibles.

Learning

After the Amazing Race we learned that a design process is very important to a successful bridge since you need to incorporate different ways to add strength. Each student in Year 6 learned something new during this challenge. This challenge wasn’t just to make a bridge and hope for the best, it was to stimulate our minds and see how we may have approached this activity. This was a different and interesting learning experience that was both enjoyable and challenging. Katherine Lee and Iris Li, 6R

Year 6

YEAR 6 MUSICAL

The Emperor's Garden

Every year, the musical theme is unique and has a twisted plot which is co-scripted by the students. This year’s musical revolved around the theme of nature.

The musical involves an emperor who needs to find an heir, and he does this by giving all the children in the kingdom a jacaranda seed. Whichever seed grows to become the most charming tree will become the next emperor. Of course, in every story there is a villain, and in this instance, it is Lord Taj. He wants to become the emperor and he tampers with the seeds, causing chaos.

Year 6 students spent time rehearsing and improving their individual class items for the musical. The wonderfully talented Ms Wells wrote the script, while the Year 6 students helped with perfecting it and adding in our own ideas. We helped with choreographing the dance by following ideas from Mrs King, but also creating suggestions that were different and unique. Eventually we combined many ideas from different groups to create our final dance. The Connect teachers helped organise time during class for us to have extra practice so that the musical would be flawless and enjoyable. The amazing backdrops were drawn and coloured by some Year 6 students so that the performance would be more realistic and vivid for the audience. During Art, everyone decorated masks for an imaginary masquerade ball using a plant theme. Some techniques included quilling, papier mâché, and scrunched paper.

we were all incredibly excited to showcase all the hard work and effort we had put into the musical.

Lily Still, Caroline Wilson and Zarah Hres, 6A

Rosa Kim, Imogen Durden and Scarlet Olesen, 6T Genevieve Holt, 6L

Anna Ericsson, 6A

When performance time finally came around in Week 9 there had to be some changes due to COVID-19 restrictions. Unfortunately, there were no evening performances for our parents, however a videographer filmed the dress rehearsal and two of our day performances to create a fantastic DVD. We were lucky enough to perform three times to a socially distanced audience of Years 3, 4 and 5. While there were some nerves during the rehearsals, we were all incredibly excited to showcase all the hard work and effort we had put into the musical. When the curtain closed on the final performance, everyone had smiles on their faces and we were thrilled with how the musical was enjoyed by the audiences. Lucy Xie and Yolanda Liu, 6D