From the Principal's Desk

Continuing my comments on the state of education today and the work of Independent Schools Australia, is the focus of this edition of HouseNews.

The policy shared with you is titled Building Choice into the Future. The huge demand for independent schools continues. And we are seeing this at Pittwater House where events in recent weeks have led to numbers the like of which we have not seen. As previously mentioned, our 2026 ACER Scholarship program drew a huge group of aspirants. And this week we had the inaugural Senior School Open Morning. This mirrored the approach we took in the highly impactful Junior School Open mornings last year. With over 100 attendees, groups of potential families begun with a combined session of key school wide information and then toured 4 different classes, showcasing girls, boys and coed settings, engaged with our students and teachers, and were supported by Year 11 students and members of the Executive team. We rounded off the morning with an opportunity to further engage with Executive staff, current parents and our senior students. 

With 200 already booked in for the next Open Morning, we clearly know demand for Pittwater House is high. These events are in addition to the small personal Tours and Q and A sessions that I run, and which have been so successful over the years. 

Whilst these numbers coming to our School show a strong future for us, I want to reassure you that we have no intention of growing the overall enrolment. Pittwater House must remain a family and community school, where students are known, families are known, and support is provided to ensure the best outcome in an environment where options allow for wide subject and activity selection. 

All this needs to occur within the parameters of adequate infrastructure to meet the demand for our School. This too requires us to maintain an innovative approach and ongoing professional learning for our Staff. 

Two reminders are needed for current families. First, we are running a Secondary School Open Morning for current families with children in Years 4 to 6 in the Junior School. This will be held on Friday 4 April from 8.40-10.40am. This is an exclusive opportunity for our Junior School families, so please look out for this and sign up to ensure your attendance. Secondly, a reminder is needed around sibling places. Demand is such that we are rapidly completing enrolment interviews for Year 7, 2027. If you or friends have not completed an application for 2027, please do so forthwith. The waitlist is already lengthy. 

Last week began with a fabulous Meet the Tutors Recital on Monday evening. Our Music Tutors performed both in ensemble settings and alongside their students in a wonderful night of music. Our students are very fortunate to have such professional talent guiding their music education. Additionally, our Music teachers were key to the evening, which was led by Mr Todd Hardy, both as Emcee, and on Trumpet. I always love hearing Mr Abraham playing our Organ and having a trumpet fanfare added to a magical beginning. 

Mid-week we were so happy to welcome Jake, and his mum Trish, back on Campus. Jake, the therapy dog has been a welcome sight at Pittwater House for some years now and he is always surrounded by students, young and old. He will often frequent the library during lunchtime, so if you are new to Pittwater House this year, make sure you form part of the large Jake Fan Club… 

The week ended with the inspiring Janine Allis Founder of Boost Juice undertaking a Q and A with the Secondary School. Students fired questions of all types and in the process, we were witnessing a very special opportunity to hear from such a successful Businesswoman. Are you a Mango Magic or a Cookies and Cream fan? Hearing from an Australian adventurer who opened her first juice bar in Adelaide in 2000 to a global success story with more than 900 stores, and adding to this total weekly, was a marvellous story to unfold. We are so very grateful to Ms Allis, a proud Northern Beaches local. 

With every good wish for the coming weeks.