From the Principal's Desk

A very warm welcome to all members of the Pittwater House family for a new year that will be exciting and filled with great potential. With 150 new students virtually every year level has families keen to join the activities and opportunities before them. In addition, our new members of Staff are prepared and eager to meet their classes and provide their expertise to our existing programs and structures. Over coming weeks, I look forward to introducing each of these staff members through this medium. I shared details of some key Staff at the end of 2024; each will make their mark and engage with you in ways relating to their role. 

As always, it is marvellous to have all community members, students and staff, on campus again. The holidays are strange weeks; there is much work to achieve yet without the daily ‘noise’ of eager students and focused activity, it is without the life that makes our School.

Once more I share the joy we had in our stellar results for the Class of 2024. At our opening Assembly for the secondary school, it was marvellous to welcome back the Dux of the Grammar School, David Plumb, and the Dux of the Girls College, Chloe Mash. As they prepare for their new adventures at the University of Sydney for David, in Law/Commerce, and UNSW for Chloe in Law/Science, they are ready for all that will be asked of them. For David and Chloe, their acceptance of the Dux Medallion was followed by their address to the Secondary School. Giving useful tips on how to be successful, was the key message for all students as they begin a new year, with a blank canvas. With their permission, I share the essence of David and Chloe's 6 tips:

1. You should go your own way: students must approach study in their own way and discover their own study archetype.
2. ‘Get your ducks in a row’ (as they said, pardon the pun):  it is all about having an organised plan, a strategy and a schedule.
3. Do what you love: when it comes to selecting elective subjects, choose subjects you are passionate about; when you love what you do, success follows.
4. The best of both worlds: balance is key. There are so many competing priorities, it is important to preserve integral outlets with school commitments.
5. Teamwork makes the dream work: collaboration is fundamental, gather new ideas, perspectives and resources. Teamwork amongst the Class of 2024 contributed to the outstanding success of this year group. 
6. You’ve just got to ‘bunker down’: your study environment is critical. Find a variety of spaces and use these assiduously. 

And it would be remiss of me not to add, that both David and Chloe were fulsome in their praise and gratitude to all their teachers, from the Junior School years for Chloe, through early and mid-secondary, to finally their HSC teachers and year coordinators. As they shared, “no one has shaped our academic journeys more than our teachers. … they have seen every exam paper, every essay, and can pinpoint exactly what needs fixing. They are not just teaching content… they are teaching you how to succeed.” Their speech was widely acknowledged as the finest Staff had heard over many years of this traditional start to our academic year. 

It was also fitting that we celebrated the outstanding results of our Year 11 accelerants and Deputy Head Prefect of the College, Adele, who achieved 1st in State in accelerated Dance.

On Day 1 we celebrated the refurbished swimming pool with a representative of each year group across our school jumping in… thank you to all these students, including our Sports Prefects Harley and Zara as well as our youngest participant Arlo.

We are now well into Week 2 of Term. School photos have been taken, and in a first, we have had a whole School photo. This exciting moment had all 1018 students and 160 staff on the Oval. This was something I have dreamt of for several years. I am sure it will be an exciting memento for your children, marking a special moment in time.

I look forward to seeing you all at our Welcome Drinks this Friday evening at 6pm as we formally gather as a community. Not only will you meet other parents from your year group, but you will have the opportunity to meet the Staff. Please ensure you have completed the RSVP found under Notifications on the Parent Orbit App.

May 2025 be all you could wish.

With my warm regards to you all.