From the Principal's Desk

Pittwater House paused for our acknowledgement of Remembrance Day on Monday, the 11th hour of the 11Day of the 11th Month. This continues to be a day of significance in our School calendar when all students and Staff, come together. 

I am enormously proud of our students, and community in the respect shown at our service, and the cadets, and band, who provided support at Manly Dam, and the War Vets for their services. We were remembering the 63,000 men lost in battle in the Great War, and the further 40,000 service personnel who have died in subsequent battles, under the Australian flag. Our pausing to remember includes too non-combatants, and civilians killed by bombs or by terrorists… We remember all who fell, not just Australians, and in all wars. We share with our students the bitter knowledge that war is sometimes necessary, but war destroys people, fractures societies, and creates cycles of violence and hatred. War must be the very last option. 

Unlike ANZAC Day, with its meaning specific to Australia and New Zealand, Remembrance Day is inclusive for it has meaning for all Australians in our racially and culturally diverse nation. Whatever one’s heritage, Remembrance Day provides common ground and a time to pause, to reflect on the cost of war to individuals, families, and our nation. 

The floral tributes brought forward by a member from each class, and later taken to the RSL LifeCare ANZAC Village, Narrabeen, help to remind our students that whilst the legacy of war is bitter, peace is precious.

Our newest Alumni, the Class of 2024 have now completed their written exams, and they came together for one last time, at the Valedictory Dinner on Tuesday evening. It was a marvellous occasion, showing how close a group they were. Through the speeches, the replies, and the happy, community feel, these wonderful young people knew it was a special occasion… just one last time. These are moments to be treasured. 

I share with you that our Head of Teaching and Learning, Mrs Jasmin Mano has been appointed as the Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School at St Euphemia College in Bankstown. In her time with us, Mrs Mano has driven our Deep Learning model, worked with all Staff on their individual and faculty goals, together with our School-wide goals. She has supported Staff through individual professional advancement and has been a fierce advocate for our HEROIC Core Values. I have very much appreciated her work and know that you will join me in wishing her happiness and success in this important career move. 

This week we begin a series of introductions to the Prefects of the Class of 2025. I am delighted that our Head Prefects, Deputy Head Prefects, our leaders of the SRC and Butterworth House Captains share some of their journey in this edition of HouseNews. And in the coming weeks, each member of the Prefect team will give you an insight to their passions and planned projects. I commend their contributions to you. 

Mirabelle - Head Prefect

Starting my journey at Pittwater House in Year 4, I would have never imagined becoming the Head Girl for 2025. Yet here we are! I couldn’t be more honoured of the opportunity that I have been given to lead and represent the School and the leadership team. I hope to inspire and make a difference at Pittwater House in 2025 and the years to come.

Pittwater House is my community, my family and I have had the privilege of being a part of it for many years. I have watched in awe as my siblings thrived in this community. I am so excited to give back to the School that has supported our growth so much.

My leadership journey began in Year 6 at Pittwater House when I had the opportunity of being a Year Captain. Under the extremely supportive guidance that the School gave me I was able to develop fundamental skills needed to become a leader.

In this position I would like to get to know each year group in greater depth and create an environment that brings people together. Surrounded by great role models in my own life, I am inspired to do the same for others. I hope to achieve this by being approachable and supportive, especially in times of need. While school is an incredible environment for many, I am aware that there can be challenging times. I am always open in offering a helping hand and being a supportive presence in the School. I have noticed the cooperativeness present in the previous leadership teams and feel blessed to be provided with an opportunity to be part of such a strong and supportive team of leaders that aim to build such a tight knit community at Pittwater House. The past leaders have shown me what it means to lead with integrity and commitment, and I wish to continue building on the strong foundation they've created.

I believe that building strong relationships across the School is essential to creating a supportive and inclusive community. I’m excited to explore new ideas and initiatives that foster an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. I aspire to embody this quality by celebrating individuality and encouraging everyone to flourish in their own unique way. 

I’m so excited for the year ahead!

Ruann - Head Prefect

It is such an honour and privilege to have been selected for the role of Head Prefect for the Class of 2025. 

I arrived at the School in 2017, when I moved to the Northern Beaches from South Africa, I then went on to venture into a different High School system and after just one year I found myself back at Pittwater House and I am forever grateful for the support and opportunities this School has given me. 

I am heavily involved in Co-curricular activities such as athletics, in which my main discipline is Javelin. It is one of my biggest passions and I dream of one day living out a life that allows me to see the world through my sport. 

Over my years at Pittwater House, I participated in many leadership activities such as Big Bro’s whilst creating my own initiative of an annual Ping Pong Tournament running from Years 5 to 10. These activities have provided me with many skills around communication and organisation, in which have put me in the position I am in today. 

As Head Prefect for 2025, I am committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, integrity, and excellence at Pittwater House through following the instilled HEROIC Core Values. It is an honour to serve alongside Mirabelle, working together to support our peers, represent student voices, and uphold the values that define our School community. I look forward to helping create an environment where every student feels empowered to reach their full potential and contribute to the positive legacy of Pittwater House.

This year we have a very skilled leadership team and through thorough communication we aim to impose several charity initiatives and continue many fun events to ensure that Pittwater House is a school that provides all students with an experience to remember. 

We will be continuing our involvement in programs such as the Big Bro and Cup Group, led by the Deputy Head Prefects which consists of peer mentorship to further enhance our theme of “connection” by embracing student cooperation across all year groups. 

I look forward to building this connection in an already amazing School community.

Adele - Deputy Head Prefect

Hello Pittwater House community! My name is Adele and I am delighted to introduce myself as the Deputy Head Prefect for the College in this upcoming school year (2024/2025). Growing up, I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by the incredible staff, students and facilities of Pittwater House. This year, I am truly so excited to celebrate the end of my 14 year journey here in a leadership role that will allow me to give back to this amazing community in a multitude of ways. 

When applying for the 2025 leadership team, I not only looked for a role that allowed me to continue to build my connections with students across the School, but also empower these young adults to establish their identity through their interests and passions. 

Across my time at Pittwater House, I have been involved in a variety of extra-curriculars, including sports and academic clubs, but my main area of focus was the Performing Arts. Through bands, choirs, dance troupes, musicals and so much more, I was, and continue to be, given the opportunity to establish and develop connections with students across all different year groups. The Performing Arts also provided me a means to establish my identity. My love for the arts shone through challenges I faced with friendships and academics, by giving me an outlet and safe space to engage with what I love, as surrounded by like-minded people whom, in turn, became my closest peers. In spending time developing my skills in singing, playing trombone, dancing and acting, I was able to discover who I was and become proud of this. The Performing Arts is, and will forever be "non-ageist," (as my dad says) and I truly believe that the people I met in these creative fields, whether older or younger, have inspired me to become who I am today. 

So, when I discovered the role of Deputy Head Prefect, the thing that enticed me the most was the ability to connect with all students in a program we call "CUPS." Standing for the 'College Union Program,' CUPS is a rewarding program that runs during a Thursday Form Time, focusing on providing the base for an older sister like relationship between our Year 7/8 and Year 11/12 students. 

I was so grateful when I was assigned this role, as I knew that this was the perfect opportunity to give back to the community which shaped who I am today. My goals for the program over the coming year are to support and empower the young women of our School, two qualities which I too experienced through the supportive and empowering staff and students at Pittwater House. 

Through CUPS this year, I am determined to build every girls confidence in themselves. Through fun, self-confidence and identity shaping activities, I strive to, alongside my team of stunning Year 11 and 12 College students, encourage all the young girls of our School to pursue their passions, interests or hobbies. I endeavour to educate both the leaders and students on the ever-present social challenges faced by women in modern society, and through this, empower all our young girls to ring true to their identity, pursuing sports, talents and passions that shape who they are despite the pressures that society may push upon them. 

I truly hope, through this program and our School's other amazing pastoral programs, that our younger students will feel comfortable to thrive in their true self, as supported by the multitude of friendly older students able to chat, and give advice to them both in and out of our School environment.

Luke - Deputy Head Prefect

Since joining Pittwater House in 2021 as a Year 8 student, I’ve tried to take every opportunity offered to me by the School. From school sports such as cricket and touch football to programs like Future Problem Solvers and Reading Buddies, the opportunities offered by Pittwater House have enabled me to develop many key skills both as a leader and on a personal level. In 2023 I was fortunate enough to take part in a trip to New Caledonia as part of my French Elective course. This amazing trip allowed me to immerse myself in a new language as well as gaining a wider perspective on another culture all while having a great time with friends.

My next big opportunity at Pittwater House is being the 2025 Deputy Head Prefect of the Grammar School. Looking ahead to my role, I’m excited to work with the rest of the Grammar School to strengthen vertical connections and contribute to our vibrant School community. The core part of my role is to run the Big Bros program which takes place every Thursday during Form Time and is led by Year 11 and 12 leaders. These sessions equip students with invaluable tools to overcome the challenges of school life, cultivate bonds with senior students who provide all-important guidance. To provide nuance to this year’s Big Bros program, the theme will be ‘brotherhood’. I want each Grammar student to treat others with respect and fairness. In addition to this, Adele and I have decided to continue to strive for the unity between the two Schools established by Clara and David, last year’s Deputy Head Prefects. We plan to regularly intertwine the Big Bros and CUPS programs to help build connections between the Grammar School and College before they transition to co-ed electives in Years 9 and 10. This will be done through merging the sessions which will involve engaging activities and discussions on common topics. Furthermore, we plan to occasionally swap the Big Bros and CUPS leaders to allow the students to forge additional connections with senior students from the opposite School to further the idea of unity. To conclude, I am really looking forward to the year ahead and I encourage each student to take advantage of all the opportunities our School has to offer.

Nakita - SRC

When I began my journey at Pittwater House 5 years ago, I was amazed and jumped at all of the countless opportunities offered to me — I wanted to immerse myself in as many of these as possible. As a result, I have made so many incredible friends, memories, and new experiences that I am so thankful to have. 

As the SRC Prefect for this academic year, I’m incredibly excited to be working alongside Iggy to build a team of students who have this same drive to immerse themselves in, and even be the ones to create new opportunities to better our School community. By the end of my journey at Pittwater House, I want to look back and be able to proudly say that Iggy and I were able to create an environment and team that all students felt safe to speak to on subjects that concerned them within our community; to be able to confidently say that we advocated and addressed these concerns with care, so that every student felt like they had equal opportunity to feel supported and heard. 

I am incredibly grateful to have been offered this opportunity and am looking forward to working alongside our SRC team and School community this coming year!

Iggy - SRC

As the 2025 SRC Prefect. I am honoured to have the opportunity to represent and give my fellow peers a voice. This role is a chance for me to actively contribute to the School community, ensuring that every student feels heard and valued. I look forward to working alongside Nakita to lead initiatives that will positively affect the student body and School, such as introducing more inclusive events that celebrate our diverse student body, fostering a sense of belonging for all. My goal is to work collaboratively with the SRC team, staff, and the entire student body to create positive changes that will leave a lasting impact. I am grateful for the trust placed in me and I'm eager to build strong connections within the School community. I look forward to working closely with students and teachers, embracing their feedback and ideas as we strive to make our School a place where every student feels valued and supported.

Jack and Marlena - House Captains Butterworth

We are both so honoured and grateful to be your Butterworth House Captains for 2024/25. We hope to inspire all students in Butterworth to foster a competitive spirit and represent their House to the best of their ability. Having been at Pittwater House throughout our entire High School journey, we have always aspired to become school leaders, and we are very excited to step into this role. As members of the leadership team, we are eager to embrace our broad goals of “connection” within the House Captain role and create an environment where everyone feels encouraged to participate and take pride in being a part of Butterworth. Through House Games, House Dinners, and the annual swimming and athletics carnivals, we look forward to fostering a vibrant, positive atmosphere. Most of all, we want students to feel comfortable approaching us, supported by their classmates, and genuinely excited for the new year ahead. We hope to help everyone create long-lasting relationships within the Pittwater House environment and make Butterworth a House where every student feels valued. Together, we’ll work to build a stronger community that connects both Grammar and the College, uniting us under the shared spirit of Butterworth.

This week our students from Years 7 to 10 are writing their final examinations. We wish them well. Our Year 9 cohort then go on camp, the final camp for 2024. I wish them a happy and successful time and thank the accompanying Staff for their support.  The opportunity to spend time outdoors, with your peers, undertaking a very different style of learning, holds a key place in our offering. 

May the week ahead be a positive one for the Pittwater House family.