Junior School News

From the Head of Junior School

Our Students Time to Shine!

Last Thursday evening, I left our Performing Arts showcase, A Night Under the Stars, with an overwhelming sense of pride and a smile so wide it almost hurt. The countless rehearsals truly paid off, as every element of the evening came together beautifully.

Excitement had been building throughout the day, beginning with our special rehearsal audience of proud grandparents. It was wonderful to share this preview with them and to feel their enthusiasm and support from the very start.

The evening itself opened with a vibrant whole-cast performance that set the tone for what was to come. From there, the audience was treated to an impressive variety of dance, drama and music performances, showcasing the breadth of talent within our Junior School. The standard of both dance and music was exceptionally high, and our Year 6 drama students brought great energy and commitment as they guided us through the narrative of the evening.

It was a joy to witness the courage of our students as they performed so confidently on stage. This confidence was undoubtedly strengthened by the warmth and encouragement of the audience, creating a safe and supportive environment where every student could truly express themselves. It is always especially rewarding to see some of our quieter students step into the spotlight and shine.

I was equally impressed by the way students responded to unexpected challenges during the performance. They showed such resilience, adapting, persevering, and continuing without hesitation. It was a wonderful example of learning and our HEROIC values in action.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our entire community for supporting such a memorable evening. As the first event of this scale combining multiple performing arts disciplines in the Junior School, there were, of course, a few teething challenges. However, the success of the night has only strengthened our excitement for what lies ahead. I am already looking forward to seeing how this event grows in the years to come.

Junior School Athletes Show Their Best

Please see more photos in the PDHPE Co-ordinator (Mrs Amy Maloneys') section in this addition of the Junior School News

The Power to Stop, Listen and Respond

As always, I value the time I spend in our classrooms and playgrounds popping into lessons, listening to discussions, and seeing our students’ curiosity in action.

Lately, though, I’ve noticed that when greeting some students, I am sometimes met with a mumbled response, little eye contact, or occasionally no acknowledgement at all. I do acknowledge that some students, like adults, have bad days or have things on their minds but respect sits at the heart of our HEROIC values, and these small, everyday interactions matter. It has been worrying me a little lately.

I know deep down that our students, particularly our older ones, are capable of showing this respect consistently. Wearing our uniform with pride and speaking politely are important parts of who we are as a school. 

Over the coming weeks, I will be gently reinforcing these expectations. I would appreciate your support at home in encouraging your child to pause, listen, and respond with confidence and courtesy. These simple habits make a big difference and help our young people present themselves with pride and authenticity.

Staffing Update

Last week we farewelled Mrs Loughland as she commenced her maternity leave. Mrs Loughland has worked tirelessly to ensure that student reports and the Term 3 curriculum are well prepared and organised. She will be greatly missed during her time away; however, we are confident she has left everything in excellent order for a smooth transition.

In her absence, a Curriculum Committee has been established, consisting of myself and several staff members. This team will be responsible for unpacking the new curriculum and preparing upcoming professional learning days. For any curriculum-related enquiries, please feel free to contact me directly. If you wish to communicate with the Diverse Learning Team, please contact Leah Crowley, Head of K–12 Diverse Learning, at: leah.crowley@tphs.nsw.edu.au.

I am also delighted to share some wonderful news with our community. Our much-loved Year 1 teacher, Miss Nicole Saxby, is expecting her first child in December. We are absolutely thrilled for her and her family. Miss Saxby will remain with us for the rest of the year, and we look forward to celebrating this special time with her.

Junior School Curriculum

J5 Marble Run Engineers

The J5 classroom was buzzing with excitement as students took part in our Marble run Engineering Challenge on Friday 5 June. Working collaboratively in small teams, students designed, built, tested and refined their own marble runs using a variety of materials and plenty of creativity.

The challenge encouraged students to apply their understanding of forces and motion while developing important skills such as problem-solving, communication, resilience and teamwork. Throughout the session, students embraced the engineering design process, learning that setbacks and redesigns are often an important part of success.

After testing and improving their creations, teams competed in a range of categories including Fastest Marble Run, Longest Travel Time, Most Creative Design and Best Problem Solvers. The classroom was filled with cheers, encouragement and a healthy sense of competition as marbles raced through twists, turns, tunnels and loops.

Congratulations to our award-winning teams:

• Fastest Marble Run – Congratulations to team 'Creative Mangoes' whose marble raced to the finish line in record time.
• Longest Travel Time – Congratulations to the team 'Gravity Engineers' that engineered a marble run that kept the marble moving for the longest duration.
• Most Creative Design – Congratulations to the team 'Gravity Engineers' that impressed us with their originality, imagination and innovative thinking.
• Best Problem Solvers – Congratulations to the team 'Miami' that demonstrated outstanding teamwork, perseverance and clever solutions throughout the challenge.

A highlight of the day was the gallery walk, where students had the opportunity to view and celebrate the innovative designs created by their peers. It was wonderful to see students confidently explain their thinking, share ideas and learn from one another.

The Marble Run challenge was a fantastic example of hands-on learning in action, combining science, creativity and collaboration. Most importantly, it reminded us that learning is often at its best when students are actively engaged, taking risks and having fun.

Well done to all of our J5 Marble Run Engineers for their enthusiasm, creativity and determination!

From the Junior School PDHPE Co-ordinator

Year 3–6 Athletics Carnival 

Our Year 3–6 Athletics Carnival was a wonderful opportunity for students to demonstrate their athletic skills, House spirit and support for one another.

Throughout the day, students participated in a range of track and field events, including sprints, 800m, long jump, shot put and discus. Students approached each event with enthusiasm and were encouraged to challenge themselves, apply the skills they had practised during PDHPE lessons and strive to achieve their personal best.

A highlight of the carnival was the positive atmosphere created by our students. It was wonderful to see competitors encouraging one another, celebrating effort and showing respect towards officials, staff and fellow students. The House chants and enthusiastic support added to the excitement of the day and helped create a strong sense of community.

Our Year 6 House Leaders played an important role in supporting the carnival. They encouraged participation, led their Houses and helped younger students feel included and prepared. Their leadership contributed positively to the spirit and organisation of the day.

Congratulations to all students who participated, whether they were competing for a place, trying an event for the first time or working towards a new personal best. Every student had the opportunity to contribute House points through participation, effort and achievement.

Thank you to all staff, officials and volunteers who helped with the organisation and running of the carnival. Events such as this rely on the support and cooperation of many people, and their contribution helped ensure the day was safe, enjoyable and successful.

Most importantly, congratulations to all Year 3–6 students for the enthusiasm, resilience and sportsmanship they demonstrated throughout the carnival.

School Holiday Camps

We are pleased to announce that Code Camp will be running some of their programs during the Winter School holidays at Pittwater House Junior School.

For further information, follow this link School Holiday Camps at Pittwater House | Code Camp - don't forget to use the code SCHOOL25 at the checkout to save $25.

The options available include:

• "Spark" - where your child can design their own arcade-style video game. Perfect for beginners!
• "Animation Camp" - where storytelling, art and technology meet. Your child will make two movies from scratch using stop-motion animation. Lots of fun and very creative!
• "Minecraft Minis" - designed for beginners aged 5-7 years old will learn how to play Minecraft Education in a safe and supportive environment through a range of engaging activities, developing essential skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking
• "Roblox Studio Designers" - where your child can learn real game development skills by designing, coding and building their own playable game in Roblox Studio.