Jump for joy! RETURN TO CAMPUS, TERM 4 2021
We’re looking forward to seeing you (in person!)
Contents FROM THE PRINCIPAL ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 4 A FEW PRACTICALITIES ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 FROM THE HEADS OF SCHOOL ���������������������������������������������������������� 8 HEALTH AND SAFETY ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 10
RETURN TO CAMPUS IN TERM 4 3
From Dr Hadwen Click on Dr Hadwen’s image to view her video message.
Dear girls and Pymble families
with you as soon as we can. Thank you
have flexibility regarding start dates
in advance for your understanding.
for some cohorts (most likely those
We have missed the joy and energy you
vaccinated) after Monday 25 October.
bring to our campus and can’t wait to
RETURN TO ON-CAMPUS LEARNING
This will be dependent on community
see you in person in Term 4! There is so
Our preference, for now, is for students
vaccination rates and the College’s
much to look forward to, as your Head
to return to campus in alignment with
risk management assessment and
of School will outline in a video message
the dates announced for Department
subsequent plans. At this point in time,
to you on page 8 and 9. There’s also a
of Education school students, which
we intend to follow the government’s
special message for our Boarders from
are as follows:
plan outlined opposite.
our Director of Boarding. It will be a
• Monday 25 Oct (Week 4):
fabulous day indeed when we see your
Kindergarten, Years 1 and 12
bright smiling faces back at Pymble.
• Monday 1 Nov (Week 5):
VACCINATIONS FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF
Years 2, 6 and 11
To help us plan our COVID-safe return
Our first – and most important – priority
• Monday 8 Nov (Week 6):
to campus, we will be asking you to
will always be the health and safety of
Years 3, 4, 5, 7 8, 9 and 10
share your daughter’s vaccination
our community, as such, we need to
• Tuesday 9 Nov (Week 6):
status with us if she is eligible for
be agile and respond to changes as
HSC examinations begin
vaccination. Sharing this information with the College is not mandatory but
they occur. Here is our plan for now and, if circumstances change, we will
The Association of Independent
will be extremely helpful to us, so we
update the plan and communicate this
Schools of NSW has indicated we may
ask you to please complete the survey
4 PYMBLE LADIES’ COLLEGE
which will be sent to parents and carers
RAPID ANTIGEN TESTING ON CAMPUS
Term 4 to finish at lunch time on
in due course.
Another important part of our return to
Friday December 3 to ensure all year
campus is the ability to conduct COVID
groups have at least one month back
tests. The College has partnered
on campus before we break for the
with BioU to provide Rapid Antigen
summer holidays.
All students from the age of 12 will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine from 6 October, and students 16 years and older are currently able to book Pfizer vaccinations at the NSW Health Vaccination Centre at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park. All Pymble staff – teachers, coaches, administration and operational roles – are required to be fully vaccinated by 8 November (Week 6) and we are well on
Testing (RAT) on campus. This will be a fantastic benefit for our community, including our Boarders. We will not be testing students every day as they arrive but we can use RAT in many ways to ensure we keep our community safe as we return staff and students to oncampus learning.
schedule to achieve this government
LAST DAY OF TERM IS FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER
mandated target. As you would be
The College is keen to give our girls
aware, the College has run a number
as much time together as possible
of vaccination hubs to assist our staff in
before the end of the school year.
getting “the jab”, as Gladys would say.
Consequently, we have extended
We will be in touch again shortly with all the necessary details you will need ahead of Week 4. For now, we hope this gives our girls and families something to look forward to. Take care, stay safe and please, if you haven’t already, get vaccinated.
DR KATE HADWEN PRINCIPAL
RETURN TO CAMPUS IN TERM 4 5
A few practicalities, for now… We have anticipated a few questions that may spring to mind now. All essential details about Term 4 will be sent to families closer to the time.
ATTENDANCE
BUSES
From Week 4, learning will be happening
The Pymble bus service will be operating to
online and at school in a flexible hybrid
assist families with their commute.
model however, to ensure continuity for the girls and adequate staff are onsite, we ask
CANTEEN
students to choose where they will learn and
The College will provide a modified, COVID-
stay committed to that choice. Our Deputy
safe canteen service.
Principal – Students will be in touch about this process, which you can expect to be similar to the current weekly attendance document.
OSHC Our before and after school care service will be operating as usual. In addition, the
SUMMER UNIFORM
OSHC centre will be running our holiday care
All students from Kindergarten to Year 12 are
program at end of Term 3. The centre will
to attend school (or learn from home) in full
communicate with families about availability.
summer uniform. If you need to purchase uniform items for your daughter, please do so through our online College Uniform Shop.
6 PYMBLE LADIES’ COLLEGE
Our first – and most important – priority will always be the health and safety of our community.
CO-CURRICULAR Under Level 3 restrictions for schools, sport is banned and gatherings are limited however, the College will continue to deliver effective online activities for students. If there are opportunities to provide socially distanced sport, we will be offering this option. Registrations for Term 4 co-curricular will not go ahead.
RETURN TO CAMPUS IN TERM 4 7
A message from your Head of School Click on the image of your Head of School below to view their video message.
MRS KAREN AHEARN HEAD OF PREPARATORY SCHOOL
MRS KATE BROWN HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL
MRS JENNIFER O’DONNELL HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mrs Ahearn says the Riverbed is ready
Mrs Brown says the Junior School
Mrs O’Donnell says she is “outstandingly
and waiting for the Preparatory girls
staff are missing their girls “so much!”
proud” of all Middle School girls for
to come back to school and play!
and are looking forward to feeling the
their efforts in learning online. In Term 4
The Friday Nature Immersions will
positive energy return! There is plenty
she is looking forward to working with
continue as always – maybe with
to celebrate, from saying thank you
the Year 7 girls on their Middle School
toasted marshmallows – and Signora
and see you later to the Year 6 girls,
Leader applications and helping the Year
Belle is planning a special Italian-
to the new Term 4 Kindness theme.
8 students in their transition to Upper
themed day in Term 4.
School. She hopes that the Ingleholme Pizza Lunch will go ahead, as well as the traditional Middle School Barbecue!
8 PYMBLE LADIES’ COLLEGE
Please enjoy these messages from our very excited Heads of School and Director of Boarding, who are counting down the days until our girls return.
MR TOM RILEY HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
MRS NIKKI WYSE HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
MRS CAROLYN BURGESS DIRECTOR OF BOARDING
He might still be in Orange for now, but
Mrs Wyse sends her love to the Senior
Mrs B says there are many surprises
Mr Riley is looking forward to meeting
School girls and is most looking
for the Boarders upon their return,
the Upper School family in Term 4 and
forward to the “small, incidental
including a fabulous new ‘Love It’
setting foot on campus for the first time!
conversations” that occur around the
program designed by Mrs White,
KH Building – while knitting or having
new caterers and new artwork in the
a coffee at the café.
houses. She is counting down the days to see you all again!
RETURN TO CAMPUS IN TERM 4 9
Health and safety We will be operating at Level 3 COVID-19 restrictions which mandate the following:
STAY HOME IF YOU FEEL UNWELL
WEAR YOUR MASKS
Students must not attend school if unwell,
While at school, masks or face coverings are
even with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Any
required for:
person with any COVID-19 symptoms must be
• all students in Year 7 and above in
sent home and not return to school unless: • they have isolated for 10 days, when no medical certificate is available
indoors settings • all staff in indoor and outdoor settings.
• they have a negative COVID-19 test
Students in Kindergarten to Year 6 will be
result and are symptom free.
encouraged to wear masks as per the health advice.
In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms, a
Masks are mandatory on public transport. This
letter from their GP is sufficient to negate the
applies to students aged 13 years and over, and
requirement for a negative test.
staff when travelling to and from school and during school excursions by public transport or
Anyone who is unwell with COVID-19 symptoms is strongly encouraged to get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
10 PYMBLE LADIES’ COLLEGE
by chartered or private transport services.
VISITORS ARE LIMITED
Click on the link to access the full list of
Non-essential visitors are not permitted in schools.
conditions for Level 3 Schools.
Parents and carers must follow their school’s advice regarding changes to drop off and pick up including staying in the car when dropping off and picking up children if safe to do so. Parents should: • maintain physical distancing by avoiding gathering outside of school gates • remain outside of school grounds (note some exceptions may apply regarding schools for specific purposes, vulnerable students or students with disability) • follow mask-wearing requirements and sign in using the Service NSW QR code when entering the school. Essential visitors must sign in using the Service NSW QR code. RETURN TO CAMPUS IN TERM 4 11
pymblelc.nsw.edu.au Avon Road Pymble NSW 2073 PO Box 136 North Ryde BC NSW 1670 Australia +61 2 9855 7799 A SCHOOL OF THE UNITING CHURCH
2021-CE-1v4
ACN 645 100 670 | CRICOS 03288K
