News from the Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

Dare to Grow!

Stepping Beyond the Comfort Zone

Over the past few weeks in Junior School Assemblies, I have been talking to our students about the importance of being brave and stepping outside their comfort zones. I’ve spoken to our students about how easy it is to stay where things feel safe and familiar, but real growth happens when they can take on challenges that stretch their abilities. Even small steps, like asking a question in class or trying a new game with different friends, can lead to exciting discoveries and build confidence. There is nothing better than watching a student beam with self-pride after trying something new, succeeding or not doesn’t matter, it is the trying that matters and builds the character. 

A comfort zone feels secure, but it can also limit learning and personal development. When students take risks and embrace new experiences, they develop resilience, creativity, and adaptability. These skills will serve them well throughout life! Our learners from PreK to Year 6 are capable of so much more than we often imagine and give them credit for, and setting high expectations helps them reach new heights.

Each week in our Junior School assemblies, we see wonderful examples of students stepping beyond their comfort zones. From musical performances to class presentations, they take a deep breath and share their ideas with courage and pride. Last week, our Year P5J students reflected on the meaning of resilience, drawing inspiration from Turia Pitt. Their insights reminded us that confidence grows through action, positivity shapes our response to setbacks, and personal growth comes from tackling hard things. These messages are powerful reminders for all of us as we finish the year strong. Please read the summary of their presentation below.

Written by Lloyd (P5) 

Last Friday, they presented 4 different quotes in assembly that embody her deep message of resilience, confidence, positivity and personal growth.

The first group talked about the quote: “I am not special; I am just someone who decided to keep going.” Through her continual tenacity, Turia showed us that resilience is possible and giving up won’t achieve anything.

The second quote that was presented was: “you don’t have to be confident to do something, you become confident by doing the thing. This highlights that confidence is not an innate skill, but you build confidence by doing the thing consistently. Every step you take is still moving in the right direction.

Thirdly, the next group talked about the quote: “I am not going to be bitter, I am going to be better.” This means when something goes wrong, we have a choice. We can choose to be positive instead of negative, enthusiastic over defeated and joy over despair. We can’t control what happens to us, but we can control how we react.

Final group presented on the concept of personal growth. The quote was: “when you do hard things, you become stronger.” Stepping out of your comfort zone enables you to enlarge your capability to face challenges.

To conclude, the assembly looked at Turia Pitt’s character traits how she used her experience to inspire others to face and overcome tough challenges by using resilience, confidence, positivity and personal growth.

Thank You to Our Wonderful Parent Helpers

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of sharing a morning tea with our 2025 class parents to express our heartfelt thanks for their incredible support throughout the year. Being a class parent is such a rewarding role as it’s an opportunity to build friendships, collaborate with the school, and strengthen our community. Most importantly, class parents help organise fun social events that bring families together and create a welcoming environment, especially for those who are new to our school. This contribution is invaluable and deeply appreciated.

As we look ahead to 2026, we invite you to consider becoming a Class Representative. This role is a fantastic way to stay connected, foster community spirit, and support family engagement. Next year, we’re excited to create even more opportunities for parents to visit classrooms and connect with their child’s learning journey.

If you’re interested or would like to learn more about what’s involved, please come and have a chat with me, I’d love to share how you can make a difference.

From the Assistant Head of Junior School

Junior School Orientation Days

Over the last two weeks, our Junior School was buzzing with excitement as we opened our doors for our Pittwater House Junior School Orientation Days, welcoming all incoming students, including our enthusiastic Kindergarten cohort and the youngest members of our community, our Pre Kindergarten class. 

These special days are more than just a first look at classrooms; they are an important stepping stone in helping children feel safe, confident, and ready for the following year.

For many of our new students, Orientation Day marks their very first experience in a school environment. It’s a time filled with curiosity, new faces, and the early spark of friendships. By exploring their classrooms, meeting their teachers, and discovering the routines of the school day, students begin building a sense of belonging well before the official start of term. This early familiarity plays a significant role in easing first-day nerves and fostering a positive start to their learning journey.

One of the true highlights of these days is the role our existing Junior School students play. Their warm smiles, friendly greetings, and eagerness to help make a world of difference. Whether guiding younger children to activities, demonstrating classroom routines, or simply sharing encouraging words, our current students showed exceptional kindness and maturity. Their natural ability to make others feel welcome reflects the caring culture we are so proud of in our school community.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our students, staff, and families for creating such a supportive and vibrant environment. We are excited for the year ahead and delighted to see our newest learners already settling in with confidence and joy.

From the Junior School Curriculum Co-ordinator 

Year 3 Dive into Renewable Energy!

Year 3 have been hard at work investigating renewable sources of energy, and their curiosity has truly shone! Students discovered how solar panels capture the sun’s power and even engineered their own water turbines to witness energy in motion. The classroom buzzed with excitement as ideas turned into hands-on experiments.

Mrs Breckenridge dropped by to admire their incredible creations - and we all agreed this might be the only time plastic plates were the smarter choice! From sunlight to spinning wheels, it’s been an inspiring journey into the world of sustainable energy, sparking conversations about how we can power a greener future.

Reports

I would like to share some minor updates to the Key Learning Area achievement grades in English for Semester 2. These changes ensure our reports align more closely with the updated NSW English syllabus and the teaching and learning programs at Pittwater House. You may notice slight differences in achievement grade descriptors across stages, reflecting the natural progression of literacy skills. Below, you’ll find a short description of each area to help you understand what your child has been assessed on. There will be a letter shared with you when the Semester 2 Reports are released to further discuss the changes. 

Phonological Awareness (Kindergarten only):

This is about playing with sounds in words. Children learn to notice rhymes, clap out syllables and break sentences into individual words. These skills help them hear how language works.

Print Conventions (Kindergarten only):

These are the “rules” of written language - like reading from left to right, turning pages the right way, using punctuation and capital letters, and understanding that print carries meaning.

Phonic Knowledge (K-2):

This means knowing that letters and groups of letters represent sounds. For example, the word cat is made up of the sounds /k/, /a/ and /t/. This skill helps children sound out and blend words when reading and writing.

Reading, Understanding and Responding to Literature (K-6):

Reading involves two key parts:

• Fluency – reading aloud smoothly, accurately, and with expression.
• Comprehension – understanding what the text means, not just saying the words.

Students also learn to think about stories and texts, connect them to their own experiences, and explore how language works to appreciate the purpose and beauty of literature.

Creating Written Text (K-6):

This includes building sentences and paragraphs, using punctuation, and understanding parts of a sentence like nouns and verbs. Students learn how to join ideas together and write in different styles. Creating written texts also include the three key text types: Imaginative, Persuasive and Informative. 

Spelling and Vocabulary:

Spelling is more than memorising words - it’s about understanding sounds, letters and how words are built (like roots, prefixes, and suffixes). Vocabulary is knowing what words mean and how to use them correctly. Tier 1 words are the high frequency, common words we see every day. In our English lessons, we particularly focus on:

• Tier 2 words – useful words that appear often in books and conversations.
• Tier 3 words – specialised words for specific topics.

The infographic below provides an example of the three tiers of vocabulary. 

Handwriting (K-2) and Digital Transcription (3-6):

Handwriting is the core transcription skill focusing on developing legible, fluent, automatic writing (both print/manuscript and cursive/joined) using correct posture, pencil grip and letter formation. Digital Transcription refers to using digital technology to create written texts, complementing traditional handwriting, focusing on efficient typing, software use, and connecting reading/writing through digital tools, helping students develop fluency and literacy in the modern world.

Oral Language and Communication (K-6):

Oral Language and Communication include speaking and listening skills, as well as students’ ability to effectively listen for understanding and express themselves in various social and learning situations. 

The updated report descriptors now closely reflect the content strands and outcomes in the NSW English syllabus. By separating key areas within reading and writing, we highlight the essential building blocks of literacy, such as phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, that are intentionally taught in our daily English lessons at Pittwater House. The hope is that these finer details give families a clearer picture of how each skill contributes to your child’s overall literacy development and ensures our reporting aligns with best practice and current curriculum standards.

Due to recent changes, the data from previous reports will not align with your child’s current Track One scores. If you would like an update on your child’s progress and future growth areas, we recommend arranging a meeting with their classroom teacher. This will provide an opportunity to explain the changes and share more detail about how your child is progressing across the English syllabus sub-components.

From the Junior School PDHPE Co-ordinator

Mosman Shield Annual Cricket Match 

In Week 5, our Year 5 and 6 cricket team proudly represented Pittwater House in the annual Mosman Shield, a tradition shared between Mosman Prep and Pittwater House since the 1960s. Played in beautiful weather and supported by a wonderful crowd of parents, the team displayed great sportsmanship, teamwork, and resilience throughout the match.

After losing the toss, we were sent in to bat and posted a competitive total of 120 runs. Jensen batted with confidence and retired on 27, while James retired on 30 after an excellent display of shot selection. Spencer and Alex added valuable runs through positive batting and Samar showed great determination as he carried his bat. With small boundaries and a fast outfield, the boys made every opportunity count.

Our bowling effort started strongly, with tight lines in the opening overs. At the 10-over mark, we were slightly ahead—72 runs compared to Mosman’s 65. Their top three batters proved to be very capable, scoring the bulk of their runs, but our boys fought back well and managed to claim all three wickets. Andrew, Spencer, and Samar each took wickets, while Andrew also bowled tidily to restrict the scoring. James was our most economical bowler, conceding just one run from his two overs.

Mosman reached our total with three overs to spare, but the match was competitive, enjoyable, and played in great spirit.

A thank you to the parents who attended—their support made the day even more special. The Mosman Shield continues to be a highlight of our Junior School sporting calendar, offering our students a memorable experience steeped in tradition.

K-2 Swimming Carnival

We were treated to beautiful weather for our K–2 Swimming Carnival last week, creating the perfect atmosphere for a day of fun, confidence-building and celebration in the pool.

Every student participated enthusiastically, with all children swimming at least three races: 25m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, and a novelty race that brought plenty of smiles. Many students also chose to take part in additional events, including Breaststroke, Butterfly, and the 50m Freestyle—a fantastic achievement for swimmers of this age.

For some children, swimming 25 metres is a significant challenge, and it was wonderful to see their bravery, determination and sense of pride as they pushed themselves to do their best. Their resilience and willingness to “have a go” were clear highlights of the day.

A special thank you goes to our Year 6 House Captains and helpers, who supported our younger swimmers both in and out of the water. Their leadership, encouragement and calm presence made a real difference.

Thank you also to the parents and carers who came along to cheer from the sidelines. Your support created a positive and uplifting environment for our students. It was a wonderful celebration of participation, effort and swimming progress across K–2.

From the Junior School Wellbeing Co-ordinator

As we approach the end of the year, there is plenty happening across our Junior School community. 

1. Year 6 Transition Program

Over the past five weeks, our Year 6 students have been actively preparing for their exciting move to Senior School. This transition program has been designed to help them feel confident and connected as they step into a new chapter. Each week, students have engaged in different activities from learning how to navigate timetables and lockers to spending time with various groups across the school. They’ve met Year 7, Year 8, and Year 10 students, connected with current leaders, and had valuable conversations with Heads of School and Year Coordinators. Placement tests have also been completed, and students have started meeting some of their future peers who will join Pittwater House next year. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, this program is proving to be a fantastic way for our Year 6 students to build relationships and feel ready for the journey ahead.

2. Christmas Toy Drive

The festive season is a time for giving, and we’re thrilled to announce the return of our Christmas Toy Drive! More details will follow soon, but we invite all students to bring in toys that are in good condition and ready for a second life. Just like last year, donations will be collected in the classroom, taken to the Hall and passed on to an organisation that will refresh and redistribute them to families in need. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to share kindness and make a difference. Please send in any toys between now and the end of term, together we can spread joy to those who need it most.

3. Finishing the Year Right

With just over two weeks left in the school year, let’s keep our focus on finishing strong. While there are plenty of fun events ahead, we’ll continue learning right up to the last day. We encourage everyone to be kind, use good manners, and show respect to friends, teachers, parents, and guests. Let’s make these final weeks memorable for all the right reasons and end the year on a positive note.

Other Junior School News

Year 6 Camp

In week 4, our Year 6 students travelled to Canberra for their final primary school camp, an unforgettable experience filled with learning, exploration and fun. Throughout the week, students visited some of Australia’s most iconic institutions, including the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Questacon, the Australian War Memorial, the Royal Australian Mint, the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD), Wildbark, the National Arboretum and Parliament House. We also enjoyed a night of bowling and plenty of laughter together. 

The camp provided many opportunities for hands-on learning and memorable moments:

“I liked visiting all the places in Canberra and seeing all the interesting things!” Hunter

“The Free Fall vertical slide at Questacon was fun but scary!” Holly

“Parliament House was great because we role-played the Senate and passed a law. While we were there, so was Anthony Albanese!” Elle

“I loved Questacon and The Mint. The Great Barrier Reef coin was my favourite!”  Freya

“I enjoyed being with my friends in the cabin, we even made a hammock! "Charlotte

“Camp was very fun. I enjoyed playing basketball at the AIS.” Digby

“I really liked Questacon because there were so many great puzzles. There was also a TV in our room!" Jackson

“The food at camp was good! Questacon was fun and interactive!”  Josh

The Year 6 Canberra Camp was a wonderful way to celebrate the end of primary school.  A week filled with learning, friendship and lasting memories! 

Important Dates 

Term 4 - Save the Dates