From the Principal's Desk

As we mark the halfway point of the Term, those promises and goals made in April should be reviewed. Have the students kept to their side of the bargain? Whilst a relatively short term compared with Term 1, it is nevertheless a time of deep learning and assessments across our School. We have had Parent-Teacher Meetings for Years 8 and 9 and our thoughts now turn to subject selection for Stage 5 and Stage 6. These decisions are often challenging given the wide selection on offer. Thus, to help students navigate the opportunities, our SRC has arranged for Senior students to provide a day of discovery, or ‘O’ Day for Year 10 to discuss possible selections with students who have travelled the same road.

I commend this initiative of our SRC. Anything we can do to support this important milestone in the Pittwater House journey is a great step forward.

The enjoyment of our students and their families across our full curricula and co-curricula offerings has as its premise: focus on the small things that in turn permit the mastery of skills. Daily, whether learning our times tables, dribbling a basketball, practising scales for that piece of music, or setting up a goal, are all in themselves, mundane actions. They need to be worked at. Over and over, and over again, for mastery. Cutting corners will not provide the product required for the sense of achievement, fulfilment, and success. Playing a difficult concerto, reciting Pi, or a ‘specce’ at soccer, occur through the hard work, the daily focus, and the self-management to challenge ourselves. 

I am guessing that many of us sometimes ponder the trivial and seemingly meaningless tasks we perform daily. What we may not give due recognition to, is the place that each of these pieces provide to the overall work, or puzzle. Our secondary students undertake activities in their Wellbeing classes using The Resilience Project, focusing on the acronym GEM, gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness. Part of this requires the students to appreciate the small things allowing them to be present, to understand the moment, the now… and thus to appreciate each day for the growth it provides. And at day’s end, or as we begin each day, to be grateful for what lies ahead or what has been achieved. 

Whilst all the opportunities on offer, or those yet to come through our appreciation of student voice, our community is privileged. However, these privileges require the basics to be conquered before achievement and a personal goal can be our measure of greatness. 

My challenge to all is simple. We must all learn to walk before we can run. No task is too small or mundane for the success it will later provide.

With this in mind, I look forward to sharing with you the Music evenings this Wednesday and Thursday, brought to you by our students across the Junior and Secondary schools, in our Performing Arts Centre.

A highlight of the week for everyone across both the Junior and Secondary schools was the Commerce Market Day brought to us by the Year 9 Commerce students. Almost 30 stalls were set up in the Hall, and in the case of Water Whack, outside. Much sugar was consumed… and creativity bought to the fore. Stalls where tap and go was offered definitely had the edge, and air fryers, sandwich presses, and Nutribullets, fairy floss machines, waffle makers, frypans for pancakes and blenders brought in from home all added to great variety for us all.