Junior School News

From the Acting Head of Junior School

As Term 2 draws to a close, it's been a rewarding and productive few months filled with so much learning, growth, and community spirit. Students have continued to build on their academic foundations, tackling new challenges with curiosity and determination. From engaging classroom projects to enriching extracurricular activities, there has been a strong focus on collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking across all year levels.

Beyond the classroom, highlights of the term included the Year 2 excursion to Sea Life, the Year 6 Bollywood incursion and the Year 5 excursion to Luna Park. The skill and success in various sporting events has been celebrated throughout the term and our students continue to impress us all with their fierce determination, courage under pressure and passion for such a wide variety of sports.

We’re incredibly proud of the ongoing effort and resilience shown by our students each day and the ongoing support from families and Staff. As we look ahead to a well-deserved break, we thank everyone for their contributions to a successful Term 2 and look forward to an exciting Term 3 ahead.

Just Like You Workshops

Over the last two weeks, all classes in the Junior school have been attending “Just Like You” workshops facilitated by Variety – The Children’s Charity. The workshops are tailored to each class stage, with the purpose of educating students to develop understanding, acceptance and inclusion of people with a disability. All stages learnt that uniqueness and differences are positive, that we may have differences, but our physical and emotional needs are the same.

Year 1 Stem – Marble Run

Our Year 1 students have had a fantastic time exploring motion and design through their Marble Run STEM projects. Using everyday materials like cardboard tubes, paper plates, and tape, students worked in teams to plan, build, and test their own marble runs. The project encouraged creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration as they experimented with angles, speed, and gravity to keep their marbles moving. It was a fun, hands-on way to bring science concepts to life!

Year 2 – Sydney Sea Life Aquarium Excursion

Year 2 recently had a fabulous time visiting Sydney Sea Life Aquarium and together created an amazing presentation to share with the rest of the School at a recent Assembly. Well done Year 2 – we loved hearing about your amazing excursion and all that you learnt.

Year 6 Expert Project

As part of our Geography and Humanities program, Year 6 students participated in an engaging project titled Discover Asia: Country Connections Adventure. Each student became a "travel expert" and researched a country in Asia, creating a portfolio to showcase the country's profile and its connection to Australia. Students explored key areas such as trade, tourism, treaties, migration, and cultural exchange. They developed maps, graphs, and case studies to demonstrate these links, using a wide range of creative formats including brochures, travel booths, and scrapbooks. Importantly, PowerPoint was off-limits—encouraging hands-on, tangible presentation skills.

The project culminated in a vibrant presentation gallery, where students proudly displayed their work and shared their findings with visiting classes. This event sparked rich discussions and helped deepen understanding of Australia's role in the Asia-Pacific region. Many students showed great curiosity and enthusiasm and were surprised to learn how closely connected Australia is with its neighbouring countries. The project not only built research and presentation skills but also broadened global awareness. It was a fantastic celebration of student learning and intercultural understanding.

Year 6 - Bollywood Incursion

This term in HSIE, our Year 6 students have been learning about the diverse and connected world. Last week, our Year 6 students were treated to a vibrant and engaging cultural immersion experience as part of their studies understanding of Asia and Australia’s connection to India. The day began with a dynamic workshop led by Sirens Dance – Bollywood and Beyond, where students learned the expressive art of Bollywood dance. Laughter, colour, and rhythm filled the Junior School as the students enthusiastically followed the choreography, discovering the joy and storytelling behind this popular Indian dance form. The workshop not only got everyone moving but also offered a wonderful opportunity to learn about Indian traditions, music, and cultural expression in a fun and inclusive way.

Following their energetic dance session, students enjoyed a delicious lunch from a local Indian restaurant. The menu introduced a variety of authentic flavours and dishes, giving everyone a chance to try something new – from mild curries to tasty naan bread and savoury rice dishes. The shared meal was a highlight of the day, sparking lots of conversation and curiosity about Indian cuisine.

“We had lots of fun learning about the culture including the foods they eat and the clothes they wear. At lunch we got to have Indian food like curry, rice, naan and pappadams.” Sibella (J6)

“It was very educational, and the dances were really fun – I liked that we got to show each other the dances we learnt.” Caihla (J6)

“I really liked learning about the rich culture of Bollywood and India.” Jasper (P6)

“I liked the dancing and the part when we got to smell all the different spices. I also liked the food!” Thomas (P6)

Thank you to our Year 6 teachers for organising such a wonderful experience.

Year 6 Service Based Learning

This term, a select group of Year 6 students had the wonderful opportunity to participate in Service Based Learning activities that connected them with the local community in meaningful ways. These activities involved visits to two special locations: the RSL War Vets Home and Fisher Road School in Dee Why.

During their visits to the RSL War Vets homes, students spent time with elderly residents, listening to their stories and sharing conversations that bridged generations.

At Fisher Road School, students engaged with children with diverse learning needs. They participated in various activities designed to support social interaction, cooperation, and friendship. These regular visits not only help the Year 6 students build patience and compassion but also highlight the importance of inclusivity and kindness. Year 6 were excited to welcome their Fisher Road School buddies to our Hall for a special performance of Mamma Mia!.

These Service-Based Learning activities are invaluable in nurturing the personal growth of our students, helping them develop essential life skills such as communication, empathy, and social responsibility. We are incredibly proud of their willingness to step out of their classrooms and contribute positively to their community.

Thank you to Mr Marcial Nunara for organising these visits.

Junior School Athletics Carnival

The preparation for the Junior School Athletics Carnival started long before the day itself. House Leaders took the initiative to run their own House Meetings, showcasing strong leadership and teamwork. They organised chants, discussed strategies, and built excitement among their peers, creating a fantastic sense of unity and house spirit. It was great to see students stepping up and taking pride in representing their houses.

Then, on Monday 16 June, students from Years 2 to 6 gathered at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen for our annual Athletics Carnival. After a chilly start, the weather turned beautifully warm, setting the scene for a fantastic day of sport and community spirit.

The day began with the 800m races for keen long-distance runners, before students rotated through their field events. All students enthusiastically participated in shot put, discus, and long jump, while high jump was completed separately at School in the lead-up to the carnival.

In the afternoon, attention turned to the track, where students gave it their all in the 100m and 200m sprint events. Throughout the day, House Captains led their teams in spirited cheering, creating a wonderful atmosphere filled with encouragement and sportsmanship.

A huge congratulations to Butterworth, who were crowned the winning house for 2025!

Thank you to all the staff, students, and families who contributed to making the carnival such a successful and enjoyable community event.

Cross Country CIS Championships

On Thursday 12 June, Sonny, Monroe, Austin and Freya all represented Pittwater House at the CIS Junior School Cross Country Event at the Sydney Equestrian Centre. A huge congratulations on representing us at such an elite level. We are all so very proud of you.

Gymnastics Success

We are incredibly proud of our students’ outstanding achievements in gymnastics this term.

Zoe (J6) competed in the NSW State Gymnastics Championships, delivering strong performances across multiple events. She placed 6th in Female Level 5 Double Mini Trampoline, 3rd in Under 15s National Levels Synchronized Trampoline, 8th in Female Level 5 Individual Trampoline, and 14th in Female Level 5 Tumbling. Over the past three competitions, Zoe qualified to represent NSW at the Australian Gymnastics Championships on the Gold Coast in July for Female Level 5 Tumbling — a remarkable accomplishment.

Monroe (J5) and Harper (J6) proudly represented the school at the CSSA State Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) Championships, held at the Sydney Gymnastics Centre in Rooty Hill. Competing in Division 1, both girls demonstrated exceptional skill, focus, and enthusiasm. Monroe placed 6th overall and Harper placed 8th overall — an impressive result and a wonderful reflection of their dedication and hard work.

Congratulations to these students for representing our school with such excellence and spirit!

French - Stage 1 and Stage 2

Our Stage 1 students have been busy exploring the wonders of Paris and some of France’s most iconic landmarks in their French lessons. Their natural curiosity sparked rich discussions as they shared what they already knew—from the Eiffel Tower to croissants!

Together, they uncovered fascinating facts about famous monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. These dynamic sessions brought French to life in an authentic and engaging way, with students asking questions, making connections, and diving deep into the culture. To wrap up the unit, the students followed a tutorial—in French!—on how to draw a monument. Have a look at their beautiful and creative artworks on display. Bravo les artistes!

In Stage 2, students have had a fantastic term exploring the world of amazing animals! From curious pets to wild and farm animals, they showed great enthusiasm while learning new vocabulary in French. They proudly created animal masks and performed entertaining role plays, practising greetings and emotions - Cocorico !

Lost Property

We have several items in Junior School Lost Property that do not have a name including lunch boxes and uniforms. If your child is missing anything, please ask them to check by the end of term please. Lost Property is located at the top of the stairs of the Discovery Hub. Thank you!

School Holiday Code Camp: 14 to 16 July

Please see attached if you are interested in booking your child in for externally run school holiday camps over the holidays that will be held at Pittwater House.

Booking and payments can be made via this link: School Holiday Camps at Pittwater House | Code Camp

Important Dates

Monday 21 July - Staff Development Day
Tuesday 22 July - Students Return for Term 3
Foundation Day Celebrations – Foundation Day Whole School Relay
Wednesday 30 July - Years PK to 6 Book Character Parade