From the Principal's Desk

The Easter Fair looked to once more be afflicted by challenging weather conditions, just as we experienced with the Christmas Fair. We persisted. We were determined to provide our community with a fun family activity that so many people had worked toward and then came forward to support. These opportunities to come together and support each other through the great work of the PHPA deserve special commendation. 

In particular I must acknowledge the extraordinary work of our PHPA President Sheridan Millward. Sheridan was inspirational through the Christmas Fair preparations, the about turn to the Easter Fair and then the amazing rework in 48 hours to turn an outside fair to an indoors event. Working alongside her were the miracle Marketing team of our Events Manager Alena, and our Head of Marketing, Leanne. With our Facilities team key to the changes and our Head of IT along with the Finance team, we had a simply fantastic event.

Thank you for getting behind our School by your presence and those who volunteered. 

Pictures speak louder than words…

753 laps of the Collaroy pool or 37.65 kms of swimming; and I may have missed a few laps in the count! I was so proud of the Prefect team in addition to several other swimmers for their marvellous feat at the 2025 Head Above Water 24-hour swimathon. Since its inception, Pittwater House has supported this important organisation on the Northern Beaches. Simply put, we are firmly behind this group who seek to build mental fitness to help prevent mental illness and reduce suicide. The excellence of the initiative is that the monies go back into the local community. And through their support of several programs including the Tomorrow Man Tomorrow Woman programs, our students are direct beneficiaries. Yet the key is the local community, knowing our School strongly engages, and wants to give back in every way possible. 

I am grateful to this Prefect led charity and we believe our School has raised close to $4,000 through their efforts. As part of the day, an Instagram reel was collated by the Head Above Water organisation, with our College Head Prefect, Mirabelle interviewed at 3.19-3.40.: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHmqRFwz1hz/?igsh=MWdqbWE1NnNsZWNtNQ==

I am most grateful to our Director of Teaching and Learning, Ms Katie Jackson for her work with Staff this year. She is ensuring Staff take ‘learning walks’, visiting classrooms across the whole school, with each group having a mix of Junior and Secondary staff, and across Departments. This allows for very valuable follow up conversations as staff reflect and refine their practice. We are also engaged with interesting material referencing brain engagement and cognitive overload. It is about the structure of lessons and recall ensuring the best learning is achieved. 

In a recent post to AHISA Principals, the CEO Dr Chris Duncan, noted “brain development, which is essential to learning and memory in all educational contexts, has become increasingly understood as a process of ‘self-organisation’. Computers need a program, but human brains don’t-hence the primary phenomenon of ‘self-organisation’-central to understanding how the human brain functions, and fundamental to the notion of free will. The unique structure of each brain ‘emerges’ in unpredictable ways and this ‘emergence’ is based on bi-directional feedback between neural regions and the selection of synapses for either growth or elimination… emotions have a powerful influence on development… and research documents the decline in self-efficacy and the enjoyment of learning during the late middle years of schooling…”.

All teachers are powerfully aware of this aspect of student learning. What Dr Duncan posits, quite accurately is why, when we know of these key events in adolescence, does national, and global testing occur, through NAPLAN and PISA? 

As he concludes, “this is a phase in development when the perception of value in school learning is least resonant, and the effect of emotions on academic learning most pronounced.”

What staff at Pittwater House are working through, is strategies to engage with students in the best possible way to maintain their interest and understanding. It is powerful work as we continue to push students to their best in academics and classroom opportunities.

Continuing my introduction of new members of Staff, it is my pleasure to share the comment below.

With every good wish.

Ms Brooke Hartley - EA to the Acting Head of Junior School

I am Brooke Hartley and I have recently started with the Pittwater House Junior School team as Executive Assistant to the Head of Junior School. In the last few weeks I have found the entire community, including the beautiful students incredibly warm and welcoming. Most recently I have worked in school enrolments but also have a background in marketing and events. When I am not working, I love spending time with my family that includes an 18-month Labradoodle who takes up more of my attention than my teenage children!