From the Principal's Desk

From all of us to you… a very warm welcome to the 2024 academic year!

With a mere few days of school behind us, already we have had the opportunity of welcoming you in word and deed. Prior to Day 1 of Term, many of you have had opportunities to engage with Staff: Tess Spark in the Uniform Shop, Kellie Finlay in Admissions, the IT Team loading computer software, and the myriad of questions being posed as you familiarise yourself with our ways of operation. You have been chatting with our Heads of School: Mr Walmsley in his Acting Head of Grammar role, Mrs Thomas and Mr Stephenson as our new Head of Junior School.

Of course it was marvellous to engage with so many families at our Welcome Drinks and ribbon cutting of the Balcony Project last Friday evening. But more of that later. 

We have a large group of new students, and these 187 students are gradually finding their place, and feel welcomed. Large intakes at Years 5, 7 and 9 alongside new students in almost every year group, were grateful for the time they had prior to all students returning. I was grateful to the Prefect team who came in to assist with the integration of these new members of our School family. 

The Opening Assembly of the School year, presided over by Mr Walmsley this year, set the scene for our expectations. Although I was unable to be present physically, I prerecorded my message, including our ongoing focus on our Core Values. The word RESPECT is key to who we are. Our HEROIC approach to all we do, drives us daily. We value respect, we focus on respect with your sons and daughters, and in turn, I ask that you respect the Staff in your engagement with them. In a world and society so often lacking in graces, we do all we can to support you and your children; a simple please and thank you, are key words to be used by all, whether posing an online request or in face-to-face interactions. 

Importantly too, we delighted in awarding the Dux Medals for the Class of 2023 to Matthew Johnston and Angelina Hellawell, the respective Duces of the Grammar School and the College. As is our custom Matthew and Angelina (via recorded message), together with Tuckwell Scholar Rory MacLennan, responded with an insight to their journey, and what lies ahead for each. 

We congratulate these fine Alumni, once more.

And so, to Week 1…

Junior School Student Leadership Team

Our Junior School student leaders have been announced and are now taking on their duties and coming to terms with all that these roles require. Congratulations to the group: 

And of course, the start of the school year means school photos… an annual attempt to have the hair just right and the shiny shoes, and biggest smiles all round!

The School Prefects have returned with their wonderful initiatives from where they left off at the end of 2023. You would have received their videoed messages in the week prior to School returning, and hopefully those familiar faces supported your children as they focused on a new school year. And you would too have seen the social media posting before Christmas of the beach clean-up they undertook as part of their focus on our environment. It is a key element for us all with messages being shared regularly on the way we must all act. So, whether through Big Bros and CUP groups under the leadership of David and Clara, or Charity work of Amaya or the Performing Arts under Tiana, each of these fine group of Prefects will ensure 2024 sets the benchmark for years to come. 

Our Head Prefects, Nick and Sienna bring you now, a little of what they shared with the Secondary School at our Opening Assembly:

Welcome to what will be another exciting and eventful year!

We hope you have enjoyed a relaxing summer holiday and have made the most of a well deserved break with family and friends. 

Firstly, we would like to warmly welcome the 187 new students to Pittwater House. 

For the next year, the 2024 leadership team is committed to encouraging a school community that fosters and enhances each student's individual interests and talents. With a diverse team, we are eager to encourage each student to achieve their goals and full potential throughout academics, sporting and creative arts. 

Closely approaching we have our yearly swimming carnival where Morgan, Orrock and Butterworth battle it out to see which House brings the best swimming performance on the day. 

Filled with House spirit, friendly rivalry and a few belly flop competitions, the day never disappoints. For the students who have recently joined us, the swimming carnival is a great opportunity to get involved and make some new friends. 

In 2024, we want to specifically focus on 2 of the School Core Values:  Excellence and Honesty. Whilst we want all of you to continue to focus on our Core Values in 2024, this year we specifically want you to ask yourselves questions about those 2 values.

Why are these values important to me?

How do they shape my life when I’m here at school, at home, playing sport, performing in the arts and contributing in our community?

We believe that your values form an important part of your personal identity. They build you into your true self, and give you a sense of purpose and meaning, driving your personality, goal setting, and how you lead your life. Your values give you and others a better understanding of who you are. They shape your behaviour and influence your understanding of right and wrong. They help to cultivate how you think, act and feel. And ultimately, your values help you find happiness and purpose in life.

Excellence: Excellence is not an accomplishment, it is a spirit. It is the never ending process of hard work, perseverance, sacrifice and most important of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.

Honesty: Being honest with yourself means you can grow and develop by acknowledging and learning from your mistakes. You know the truth, do not pretend or try to deceive yourself, instead be fair and reasonable about your ability and your effort. Honesty cultivates truth, and the truth makes you happy and healthy.

Finally, we would like to remind every student that the real benefits of our time at school this year will not be fully recognised if we are not prepared to work hard and work smart. Big workloads in the classroom, assignment deadlines, and studying for tests and exams will stretch us mentally and emotionally. Your preparation and planning will be critical to helping you balance your school life and home life successfully. Be kind to yourself, and be kind to each other, ask questions, listen and support your school mates. Working hard together will help us to achieve the best results for ourselves and our student cohort. Remember that “success is not gifted, it’s earned” and you all have the diligence to earn it. Your efforts will pay off. 

We look forward to sharing every school day with you, especially with our new learning spaces and modern environment in 2024.

Sienna and Nick 

The Opening of the Balcony Project and Welcome Drinks

It was a wonderful scene on Friday evening. With a huge gathering of parents and our Staff mingling, we cut the ribbon and drank a toast to our key building project. The Masterplan has been years in the making and it was therefore fitting that representatives from across the Pittwater House family stood on the Balcony at the ceremony. My gratitude to Mrs Connie Pople, representing the Board of Governors, Nick and Sienna our Head Prefects, Mrs Sheridan Millward as President of the Parents’ Association and Sebastian Davies-Mills as President of the Alumni Association, to share the moment with me. 

There could be no better way to begin our 2024 journey than coming together in this way. 

Once we had performed this significant moment in the history of our School, we all moved into the Hall for the Welcome Drinks. I think photos are more significant than words… suffice to say, parents were able to chat with their children’s teachers, and importantly, meet new parents, and be reacquainted with those returning. Such a happy way for us to conclude a busy and successful first week of the academic year. 

In addition to the Balcony Project, the holiday period saw significant work on the former Early Childhood Centre. Our younger students are loving their Junior School Discovery Hub…

New Staff

It is my delight to welcome through this medium our new Staff for 2024. Over the coming weeks I shall ask these Staff to share a little of their background, allowing you to know each of these fine professionals. I know you will join me in welcoming them and supporting them as they come to understand Pittwater House.

In particular I welcome Mr Glenn Stephenson as Head of the Junior School. Mr Stephenson has made his presence felt as he visits each class several times each day and engages with the Staff in their varied roles. He has taken on sport on Fridays and has already had the pleasure of meeting with groups of parents. Mr Stephenson, together with Mrs Tickle, Mr Nunura and Mrs Treloar have new offices, located in the Junior School Discovery Hub.

The media has been awash with detail of the unprecedented shortage of teachers. This is not just in New South Wales, but nationally. There are literally thousands of staff shortages across our nation, and in almost every school. We are therefore most grateful to each of these new members of our community.

All around the world you’ll find them…

These words begin our School Song… and they allowed for an interesting and exciting meeting for our Deputy Head Prefect, Clara, as she holidayed in Japan during the Christmas break… I shall let Clara tell the story…

During the summer holidays, I had the pleasure of visiting Japan for a lovely ski trip with my family. On one of the days I was lucky enough to travel to a remote resort in a small town, with a community of around 300 local inhabitants. Located in this small town was a mountain, on which the resort operated Cat skiing exhibitions. As a form of guided backcountry exploration, Cat skiing takes you away from the borders of controlled ski areas to ride through untouched powder. Along with my dad and I on this day, were 12 other skiers and snowboarders, with origins from all across the globe. Out of all the people I met during this day, three were from Sydney, Australia. Funnily enough, all three were born and raised in Mosman. After a few chats in the snowcat on the way up the mountain, we get into the topic of school, and to my surprise, do I find out that one of them in fact attended Pittwater House in his youth. Graduated in 1998, he painted the picture of what Pittwater House looked like back then, and was very interested to know what it is like now. Of course, I was equally as curious to listen to his stories, and tell him everything about modern day Pittwater House. 

Across the world, in a remote place with just over a dozen people, a Pittwater House Alumni and a Pittwater House student meet, and together sing the School Song, which to my very surprise, he still remembered word for word. It really is true, that “all around the world you’ll find them, with the finest school behind them”. 

We have so much to look forward to in the weeks and months ahead. Please make sure you contact the relevant member of Staff for any clarification as your sons and daughters take on all that 2024 offers.

With every good wish.