From the Head of Junior School

A New Year Has Begun…

Welcome to the first HouseNews article for the Junior School in 2024! Having survived the opening week of the school year, I’d like to say that the rest of the year will be nothing but smooth sailing for all students and parents, although there will inevitably be a few ‘bumps’ along the way. However, key to overcoming these is communication. As mentioned in my recent Junior School welcome letter to parents contained within the ‘Principal’s Pack’, the most powerful tool to a successful year is clear communication between home and School.

Our teachers are incredibly invested in ensuring every student in their care flourishes in 2024, yet this cannot be achieved without parental support. As such, we very much look forward to you joining us on the learning adventure that awaits all our students this year!

Recently, the Australian Open Tennis Championships took place in Melbourne and although I may still be catching up on some sleep after a number of late-night matches, the Men’s Final, held between two top-5 tennis players in Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner really stood out to me. In my mind, there just were so many connections between the mammoth five-set match that took place and the beginning of a new school year.

Medvedev raced out of the gates to an enviable two sets to love lead, seemingly in full control of the match, yet he ultimately faltered as the contest wore on and Sinner found his rhythm. Similarly, our students must also learn that the school year is a marathon, not a sprint, and be prepared to last the distance! Whilst Medvedev’s dominant serve carried him throughout the tournament, this was only one measure of strength, which is rarely enough to determine victory. At school, we encourage all students to work on every aspect of their development and not solely rely on just one area of strength. 

Despite both being phenomenal tennis players, the two combatants committed errors, both unforced and forced. Hopefully our students realise that nobody is perfect and we all have areas in need of further development. A victory in five sets is as much a reflection of sheer endurance as it is one of skill and technique. Sinner’s ability to not give up when staring down the barrel of a convincing loss was ultimately rewarded as his persistence, focus and determination helped to turn the match around. 

Resilience and the ability to bounce back was key for both players as the match hung in the balance on multiple occasions, particularly in the last two sets. In other words, learning to reset after disappointment and not let setbacks define what happens next is crucial, as is understanding that the result rarely hinges on a solitary point. Being able to ignore outside noise and distractions is also vital to maintaining one’s eye on the ultimate goal. Additionally, making small adjustments and trying something different when a particular strategy isn’t working is key. So, too, is the ability to evaluate and tweak again as needed. These are all incredibly important skills for students to be aware of and hopefully implement in their own classroom context.

Similarities also exist when considering the support network present in each player’s own box as they are cheered on. It is important to recognise the impact that this can have on the performance of the individual, yet there is also a common understanding that it is ultimately up to that same individual to control what happens on the court...or classroom. Finally, the various congratulatory speeches showcasing humility in victory and praise for the winner in defeat are wonderful examples of how to behave, regardless of the result. As I’m sure you can see, the parallels between the match and the beginning of the school year were numerous and it is certainly my hope that our students draw on many of the characteristics displayed by the players during this ‘simple’ game of tennis.

Unlike the five-set match, we only have four terms in a year, although much of the highs and lows experienced along the way are still present! Every year is a new ‘adventure’ and whilst we would like it to be characterised by a stress-free journey rather than a rollercoaster ride, it is actually my hope that your children will be challenged to overcome obstacles and test their boundaries so that they truly grow and develop as young citizens of the world. For them, school is about much more than preparation for life; it is life!

So, as you prepare to sit in your child’s own ‘box’, ready to support and ride every point that is to be played, I encourage you to remember that we too are right there with you, hoping to see each child flourish in their specific endeavours throughout the year ahead.

I trust that 2024 will be a wonderful year of learning for all involved, and I personally cannot wait to be part of the ride that each and every student across our Junior School will hopefully enjoy! 

2024 Form Classes

As a staff, we are much looking forward to working with your children, in partnership with you, to make the most of their time in the Junior School throughout the course of the year ahead. Please view the list below outlining our wonderful form teachers who will be spending countless hours working with the students in their care and enabling them to hopefully reach their potential. 

Pre-Kindergarten

Junior College

Preparatory School

Parents are also reminded of the fact that we have an extremely dedicated team of specialist teachers, Diverse Learning staff and various other support staff members who all assist in making sure the needs of each student are being appropriately catered for at school. 

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the other members of the Junior School leadership team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to assist our students, staff and parents.

Mrs Amy Tickle – Assistant Head of Junior School

Mr Marcial Nunura – Wellbeing Coordinator 

Mrs Belinda Treloar – Curriculum Coordinator

Please do not hesitate to contact the relevant member of our teaching staff should you wish to discuss your child’s schooling at Pittwater House.

Friendly Reminders

• Car Park and Kiss and Drop – 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 Kindergarten students are asked to please utilise our Kiss and Drop area as this will not only help to ease traffic congestion, but will also assist in promoting independence. On another note, parents are kindly asked to remember that the car park is only a ‘short stay’ service as parking spots need to be vacated promptly to allow others to also utilise them, especially during peak times of the day before and after school.
• TheirCare – the after school care program run by TheirCare is available for all children at Pittwater House until 6:00pm each school day. To learn more about the wonderful services provided by TheirCare please visit the following website (www.theircare.com.au). 
• Morning Supervision – the Junior School playground is supervised by staff from 8:00am each morning until the school bell rings to commence the day at 8:30am. Unfortunately, there is no ‘Before School Care’ system in place for students to be supervised prior to 8:00am.  
• Mobile Phones and Smart Watches – students may only bring mobile phones to school after the appropriate form (available on the Pittwater House app) has been completed by a parent. Mobile phones are not to be used until the end of the school day, if needed. Students may only wear a ‘smart watch’ at school if parental controls have been set to disable texting and calling during school hours. These devices also cannot have the ability to take photographs.
• Late Arrivals and Early Departures – students who arrive late to school must sign in at Reception before heading to class. If it is necessary to collect your child/ren before the end of the school day, please send an email to the following address (school.admin@tphs.nsw.edu.au). Students leaving early from school must also sign out at Reception and be collected from this location by a parent/guardian.

If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone and I will endeavour to assist you in any way that I can.