From the Head of Teaching and Learning

As I write this, my first article of ‘HouseNews’ for the academic year, I am feeling uplifted and energized. I am uplifted by the presence of our new students on campus today. They look immaculate in their new uniforms and quietly confident to start the new year at their new school, albeit understandably, a little nervous. I am looking forward to seeing all students return to campus tomorrow and meeting each member of my own new classes when we officially launch the academic year. The emotional element of new beginnings is so important as they are long lasting. I still remember the way I felt on the first day of kindergarten and even more importantly, the way my teacher, Mrs Miller made me feel as a tiny, four-and-a-half-year-old, starting at Sans Souci Public School. Connection is key. Connection is palpable. It lasts long after the last school bell rings. The neuroscience of learning tells us so and so does our academic colleague; Dr Mark Williams, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience with whom we work closely. It was so lovely to see the natural connections formed this morning, student to student, teacher to student and colleague to colleague. These pivotal connections are what we value most in our academic care of students at Pittwater House and what makes our learning community so unique. We see our students and we work hard to know them well in the classroom, in the playground and on the sporting fields. As we grow excitingly closer to launching our HEROIC Learning Framework this year, it is important to consider that learning is about connection and as we differentiate the learning in single sex classes, we value the intrinsic connections formed between all our students on our slightly noisy, yet dynamically evolving co-educational campus.

At Pittwater House School we prioritize the professional learning experiences of each of our colleagues across the ECC, Junior and Senior schools, as they are foundational to our commitment to the provision of excellent teaching and learning programs for our students. I am energized by our very recent two-day professional learning program which laid the foundations for a great year of learning for our students. My talented and committed colleagues will continue to collaborate all year to ensure that the learning intentions we have established for 2023, are lived and breathed in the classroom and beyond. At Pittwater House, our continuous reporting provides our parents and carers with real time snapshots of your child’s learning, but If at any time you wish to discuss the progress of your child’s progress at Pittwater House, your child’s teacher in the Junior School, or subject teacher in the Senior School is best placed to field your questions and offer reassurance for the way forward. However, I always welcome holistic conversations about your child’s learning at Pittwater House. You can contact me at my email address; jasmin.mano@tphs.nsw.edu.au or on my direct line; 9972 5782. May the new academic year be a very positive one for your child and may each of our students see the fruits of their labors, buoyed by our school motto - ‘Semper Diligens - Always Hardworking’.