From the Principal's Desk

The term seems to be racing…

With the 4 Parent Information Evenings and the 3 Swimming Carnivals successfully concluded, we are well and truly into the new academic year. Information has been shared, and opportunities for student engagement and House passion, is well in place. 

Senior School Swimming Carnival

Junior School Swimming Carnival

I do hope you have attended at least some of these events and if new to our School, are feeling well informed and across the detail needed to support your children. Remember there are always people on Campus to support you, as you support your children. 

Last week saw a new longer style Secondary Assembly begin, one that will take place each fortnight. As always, the focus is on student presentations. Grammar Head Prefect Ruaan invited Alumni Connor Maggs (Class of 2023) to acknowledge and celebrate his recent Iron Man win. I enjoyed undertaking a Q and A with him across this great success and some of the lessons he has learnt. Connor’s reflection on our Core Values in his post school experiences was yet further fuel for the students as they put to the test key messages from not only Connor, but also our Head Prefect of the Grammar School, Ruann, in his elite Athlete journey. 

This coming Saturday, the largest group to ever sit the Cooperative Scholarship test, for entrance to Pittwater House, will undertake a battery of challenging tests. Additionally, there are internal applicants who seek to put their best foot forward for either an Academic, or General Excellence Scholarship. As always, I take the chance to speak with all interested parents to share a little of who we are. I am indebted to a group of our Year 11 students who will be on hand to welcome the students and provide student voice at the parent sessions.  

As we continue with this cohort building, I wish all our Year 7 students a happy and rewarding time at Camp next week. Each of the activities chosen and opportunities offered will grow the student’s confidence and experience through team building and connection. We are again using Land’s Edge as our external provider, a company with whom we work across many years of our Outdoor Program. The Year 7s are going to the Illawarra for snorkelling, surfing and rock pool swimming as they get to know each other and appreciate this beautiful part of our coastline. With mountain biking, bush walking and team games in addition, this further embeds the sense of community. Thus, by the end of Week 5 we hope to have a wonderfully cohesive cohort of Year 7 students: a great meld of students from the Junior School and from the 20-odd different Primary Schools joining us in Year 7 this year.

As the great educator John Dewey shared, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself”.

With life as the central focus of our daily experiences in a Pittwater House education, all manner of learning, teaching and experience, will provide education about character, and citizenship. The enabling of wisdom across these domains will provide the platform upon which we want our students to enter the world beyond Collaroy, richer for their time there, and ready for the challenges that inevitably will occur. I know there have been so many wonderful lessons to date; the positivity shared by staff, and the happy faces, and engaged conversations I have with the students augurs well for the year ahead.

I look forward to engaging with you in many ways, as the weeks unfold.

Finally, in the first of several such introductions in this medium of HouseNews, I have asked our newest Staff members to share a little of themselves with you. They have joined us from near and far, and these first few weeks, just as for your children, are times to provide an all-round onboarding. I thank these members of our Staff for their work to date, and plans across all parts of our School, working daily with your sons and daughters. 

Mr Todd Hardy, Co-ordinator of Music

It’s wonderful to be back on the Northern Beaches and joining the dynamic music team at Pittwater House!

Prior to moving my family to the Northern Rivers of NSW in 2017, where I held the role of Director of Performing Arts at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, I previously lived on the Northern beaches and always loved the lifestyle, Beaches and proximity to the city to catch a concert at the Opera House or other wonderful venues.

Why teaching? 

Music has been a passion of mine from a young age. I loved playing in my school bands, in community Orchestras and any other opportunities I had to perform. Throughout school and my studies at the Sydney Conservatorium I was inspired by a handful of very talented musicians who were not only great performers, but inspirational educators. This experience made it clear that a career in both education and performance was a natural path for me. To this day, I continue to find joy in both teaching and performing.

Mr Peter Strasser, English Faculty

My first few weeks at Pittwater House have been full of green flags and pleasant surprises. I have felt welcomed, supported, and encouraged at every stage of my introduction to the school and my classes. I've come from a small community school in western Sydney and love teaching, discussing, and conceptualising all things English. However, in my spare time I write and produce my own songs with an end goal of eventually writing a full album (perfectionism permitting), and I have mild obsessions with rollercoasters and cryptic crosswords. I’m eagerly anticipating becoming involved with the community here at Pittwater House, and am excited for my teaching future here.

Ms Helena Denis, English Faculty

I am really enjoying my time at Pittwater House. This is my first full-time teaching role as I have just finished university, and I have really appreciated how welcoming both the staff and students have been. There is definitely a great sense of community here. Outside the classroom I enjoy spending time with my dogs, reading and catching up with friends and family for food at a new restaurant or a cup of coffee and a walk. 

Mr Matt Stephenson, English Faculty

I am not only new to Pittwater House but also new to Australia, having arrived from Yorkshire in the UK only two months ago. My first couple of weeks at Pittwater House have been enjoyable, there is heaps going on and there seems to be a real buzz around the school. I am particularly looking forward to getting involved with the touch footy and hopefully having a successful year. Outside of school I am a keen runner and enjoy watching rugby league, I can't wait to watch my first game down at Brookie!

Mr Anij Choudhary, Science Faculty

Starting at Pittwater House has been fantastic—there’s a welcoming community, highly professional staff, and inspiring students. The school offers an impressive variety of science teaching resources, making it a great place to work.

I have taught in government, selective, and Catholic schools, helping students develop a deep appreciation for science. I’m passionate about making STEM exciting—whether it’s the physics behind a skateboard trick, the chemistry of a smoothie, or the engineering behind everyday innovations.

Outside of teaching, I enjoy playing guitar, camping, and tackling DIY projects around the home—though they often lead to more trips to the hardware store than planned!

Mrs Amy Maloney, Junior School PDHPE Co-ordinator

I have been teaching P-6 PDHPE for over 20 years in a variety of Sydney schools and am passionate about helping students develop a love for movement and sport. Since joining Pittwater House, I’ve really enjoyed the friendly nature of my students and their enthusiasm for PDHPE. Outside of teaching, I’m a keen marathon runner and love a good coffee. Whether it's on the sporting field or in the classroom, I enjoy seeing students challenge themselves and grow in confidence. I’m looking forward to getting to know the school community even more in the coming months!

Mr Adam Malcolm, Mathematics Faculty

I come to Pittwater House after teaching in High schools for an extended period now, mainly as a mathematics teacher and Sports co-ordinator. However, I have been involved in teaching my whole life- belonging to a sporting family who have been full time coaches and teachers.

My inquisitive nature led to acquiring a few diverse University degrees and travelling extensively. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in different cultures, languages and points of view for extended periods of time.

These experiences pathed the way to the rewarding career of teaching.

When not teaching I am out leading a typical active Northern Beaches lifestyle and cheering on the mighty Eagles and Sydney Swans.

My first impression of Pittwater House is that it embodies a positive, supportive and collaborative community. This really is evident from not only my Mathematics colleagues but all the way to Dr Hillier, and the wider school community.

I am told this impression shouldn’t change over time and thus I am looking forward to slowly settling into a long-term relationship with all of the PH community.

Mr Matt Jones, Assistant Co-ordinator of Mathematics

I am Matt Jones, and I am a new Mathematics Teacher here at Pittwater House. Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly over my first few weeks, and I am excited to be part of this community. I have worked in teaching for almost as long as I’ve been working, from teaching tennis in my youth, to working in after school care centers and teaching in classrooms was always the natural progression for me. I look forward to meeting and teaching as many of your sons and daughters as possible over the years!