From the Acting Principal's Desk

As we commence Term 4, I would like to extend a very warm welcome back to all our students, families, and staff. The energy and enthusiasm around campus is palpable, and it is wonderful to see our community reunited after the Spring break. A special welcome goes to the seven new students who joined Pittwater House for their first day this term, across both the Junior and Senior Schools. We are delighted to have you as part of our community.

This term, we are especially pleased to welcome Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge as our new Head of the Junior School. Mrs Breckenridge joins Pittwater House with significant experience in leading P-6 students and teachers, and her leadership touch has already been felt throughout the school. She has quickly made herself known to students and staff alike, greeting families at the gate, engaging with children in the playground, and visiting classrooms. Mrs Breckenridge is keen to meet as many parents as possible and immerse herself in our community through coffee morning teas and other events planned for this term. We are thrilled to have her as part of our Pittwater House family and look forward to the next stage of our Junior School under her guidance.

On Monday, we welcomed all staff back for a day of professional development, focusing on several key themes. Sessions included the role of AI in schools, new syllabus programming, and a particularly engaging workshop from Mrs Katie Jackson, our Director of Teaching and Learning on strategies to maximise student participation and learning in the classroom. It was a valuable day, setting a positive tone for the term ahead.

During the break, our students and staff were involved in a range of enriching activities. Year 10 and 11 French students embarked on a cultural and linguistic adventure to New Caledonia, broadening their horizons and deepening their understanding of the French language. Our Cadets attended a camp at Holsworthy, developing leadership and teamwork skills in a challenging environment. On campus, HSC revision classes were held almost every day, providing invaluable support to our senior students as they prepared for their final examinations. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the dedicated staff who gave up their time to plan and supervise these rewarding experiences for our students.

We are also excited to announce significant improvements to our facilities over the holidays. The pool change rooms have undergone a major size and fit out upgrade, now offering separate Junior and Senior School change areas and larger spaces for both boys and girls. These enhancements will make our growing school operate much more comfortably and practically in this space. Later this term, we look forward to a complete refit of our Food Technology laboratory, which will be stripped, expanded by a third, and fully refurbished, ready for day one of 2026.

We began the term with our 2026 Year 12 Students and Prefect Induction Assembly, a significant event in our school calendar. This assembly is an opportunity to recognise all our Year 12 students as leaders and role models within the school, and to publicly acknowledge those selected for formal leadership roles over the next twelve months. Our two Head Prefects were immediately called upon to deliver powerful speeches, sharing their vision for leadership and what these roles mean to them.

It is my pleasure to introduce the 2026 Student Leadership Team:

Head Prefect of College: Stella

Head Prefect of Grammar: Taiaroa

Deputy Head Prefect of College: Gemma

Deputy Head Prefect of Grammar: Henry

Prefects:

• Tahlia (Social Justice/Charity)
• Nehan (SRC)
• Xavier (Sport)
• Annika (Environment/Community JS/SS)
• Oliver (HEROIC)
• Zara (HEROIC)
• Hannah (Sport)
• Parker (Orrock House Captain)
• Amy (Butterworth House Captain)
• Matthew (Environment/Community JS/SS)
• Imogen (Morgan House Captain)
• Bede (Morgan House Captain)
• Lottie (SRC)
• Liam (Performing Arts)
• Tilly (Social Justice/Charity)
• Ike (Butterworth House Captain)
• James (SUO)
• Erica (Performing Arts)

• Charlotte (Orrock House Captain)

   

These students will lead their peers and represent the values and spirit of Pittwater House throughout the coming year.

On Tuesday evening, we welcomed new parents to the 2026 Senior School New Parent Orientation Evening. The Hall was filled with families eager to learn about our curriculum, pastoral care, and co-curricular programmes. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the panel of eight students, who answered questions about life at Pittwater House and provided parents with key insights and takeaways.

This Thursday marks the commencement of HSC Examinations, which will run for the next four weeks. Our Year 12 students have prepared diligently, sought guidance from their teachers, and approached this final stage of their school journey with maturity and determination. We are proud of their efforts and wish them every success. We are also delighted to share that several students have already been recognised by NESA for their outstanding practical work: in Music, Grace, Kai, and Harley have received Encore nominations, and Nick has received a NESA Shape nomination for his exceptional Design and Technology product. These are our early results, and we eagerly await further news from NESA in our other practical areas.

Finally, I would like to thank all members of our community for your support during my time as Acting Principal. It is a privilege to lead a school that has been such an important part of my life, and I am continually inspired by the quality of learning, the values, and the sense of belonging that define Pittwater House.

Best wishes for a successful and rewarding Term 4.