From the Head of Junior School

Students as Change Agents

A significant focus that underpins much of what we do in the Junior School is to explore how our children can have a positive influence on the world around them. In other words, how they can be change agents.

Kathy Caprino is a career and leadership coach and senior contributor for Forbes magazine who suggests nine ‘core behaviours’ of people who make a difference for the benefit of others and positively impact the world around them.

Whilst Caprino primarily works with adult leaders, the nine behaviours listed below are easily applied to the context of students’ own learning experiences at school.

1. Use what they’ve learnt to be of service to others
2. Always look for things to learn next
3. Build positive relationships with others 
4. Look for things that could change and be better 
5. Accept feedback because they want to improve
6. Share and teach what they’ve learnt
7. Believe in lifelong learning
8. Inspire and uplift others
9. Make decisions with compassion and care

All Junior School parents are encouraged to reflect with their child/ren on how they are demonstrating these nine behaviours, both at school and also in their everyday lives.

In light of the theme discussed above, I recently received an email from the ‘Kids Giving Back’ organisation which facilitates various meaningful, hands-on volunteering programs for children and their families to be involved in across Sydney. During a previous holiday period, one of our Junior School students took part in a community-based program aimed at helping others who are less fortunate in our society. 

Congratulations to Scarlett (J5) who led by example in reflecting the HEROIC values upon which Pittwater House is founded by willingly giving of her time to prepare food for others who would often be left without anything to eat.

During the regular school holiday periods throughout the year, there are often various programs which students can also participate in that will provide them with different opportunities to volunteer their time for the good of others and give back in age-appropriate ways. Please visit the following website here for further information about these worthy initiatives.

Ultimately, by remembering those in need and giving back, students not only make a tangible difference in the lives of others, but they also contribute to the collective efforts we are all encouraged to make towards building a more inclusive and caring society for everyone to benefit from.

‘End of Day’ Process for Students

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students throughout the Junior School, I wanted to bring to your attention an important procedure we have in place for the end of the school day.

As you may be aware, at the conclusion of each day, many students are walked by a member of our staff to the ‘Kiss and Drop’ area in order to be collected by car. However, there are a growing number of students who either have alternative methods of going home or they may have a specific co-curricular commitment on in the afternoon. To address this issue and to enhance the safety of all students, we have implemented a designated gathering area on the deck (up the stairs from the Junior School playground) for any children to meet at the end of each day if they are not being directly picked up from the ‘Kiss and Drop’.

This area will be supervised each afternoon by different staff members until 3.30pm, who will ensure that students are walked safely to their next destination. The deck has been chosen as the meeting area for its central location to the wider Junior School area, as well as for its accessibility and visibility, allowing our teachers to more effectively monitor student movements and ensure a safe and orderly dismissal process.

We kindly ask for parental cooperation and support in reinforcing the importance of students gathering at the designated location each afternoon. Additionally, parents/carers are asked to ensure that students do not play on the equipment or in the playground at the end of the day as teachers are not on supervision. By adhering to this procedure, we can minimise the risk of accidents and/or incidents occurring and provide a safer environment for all students.

Parents are kindly asked to please discuss with their child/ren the importance of following this necessary safety protocol and the reasons behind it. Reinforcing these messages will hopefully assist in further emphasising their importance and helping to instill responsible behaviour in our students.

Finally, parents are reminded that parking in the main car park off South Creek Road is limited and reserved for staff, visitors and the parents of our Pre-Kindergarten students only. Parents of children in all other grades are asked to please utilise our ‘Kiss and Drop’ service as this will not only help to ease traffic congestion in the area, but will also assist in promoting the independence of students.

Thank you in advance for your support with these essential safety requests so that our staff can help to ensure all students are appropriately supervised at the end of each day.

K-2: Robokids New Co-curricular Club – Semester 2

As we continue to broaden our range of co-curricular opportunities available for students to participate in, we are excited to highlight a robotics program run by the organisation, Robokids, as an after school co-curricular option for our students across Kindergarten to Year 2 throughout Semester 2 this year. 

Specific details about this new co-curricular club are outlined below:

Robokids (K-2) - After School Co-curricular Club (Semester 2)

Where:  Students are to meet immediately after school on the deck before moving to a specific Junior School classroom (tba)

When: Term 3, Week 2 to Week 9 (Mondays from 29th July to16th September) and Term 4, Week 2 to Week 8 (Mondays from 21st October to 2nd December)

Time: 3.15pm - 4.45pm

Cost: $517.00 (incl. GST) for Term 3 and Term 4

Please Note:  this club will run for a total of 15 weeks during Semester 2 and places are limited. 

To register, parents are asked to please access the following link and book prior to the 1st of July:  https://www.trybooking.com/CSFQE

If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via email: glenn.stephenson@tphs.nsw.edu.au or phone: 9981 4400 and I will endeavour to assist you in any way that I can.