HouseNews

Orientation Day

In addition to all the new students, all returning students into Kindergarten and Year 7 spent time on Wednesday familiarising themselves with the Campus and ways of doing. I am indebted to the Prefects who came in on the day to support the newest members of our School. The orientation into the Early Childhood Centre has been phased in with those children who are a part of the 48 weeks program having already started. I did enjoy visiting them last week as they happily played and painted and appeared at ease in their new surrounds. 

Our First Day…

Traditionally we begin the School year with an Assembly attended by all students from Years 5-12 in the Hall. Of course, this is not possible as we ensure we are COVID safe. Thus, we zoomed the event to all secondary classes and had students in Years 5 and 6 seated in the Hall. At this event, our Dux of the Grammar School, Callum and Dux of the College, Mia were presented with their Dux Medallion and both Callum and Mia then shared some of their journey to provide a sense of the possible to all our students. Their message was not just aimed at those students who seek an ATAR in the high 90s but rather focused on what all students can do to achieve their potential and make sure that they find an appropriate stretch target. Every student must set and continue to measure their performance against personal goals. And these goals must not only be in the classroom but in the wide array of cocurricular offerings.

We are very proud of the achievements of Callum and Mia, and indeed the Class of 2020. Their presence sets the tone for all that lies ahead in 2021. 

In addition, we announced our Junior School leaders for 2021. The Assembly was zoomed to the parents of these leaders, who would normally be seated in the Hall and would pin the badge on their son or daughter. Sadly, these traditions are not possible as we ensure COVID procedures are followed. At the conclusion of the Assembly, we gathered for the customary photo.

As I wandered the School on Day 1, I witnessed a real sense of purpose; a sense of joy for students in their return to school and a sense of anticipation, tinged with an expected level of nerves for all students as they embark on a new academic year. 

May 2021 be the best year yet.

Each year Pittwater House offers a limited number of scholarships to students for outstanding academic potential and general excellence (creative arts and sports). These are open to students entering Years 7, 9 and 11 in 2022.

Applications for 2022 scholarships opened on 29 September 2020 and will close on 8 February 2021 (midnight AEDST). Students who apply are required to sit the academic examination administered by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) on Saturday 27 February 2021.

Scholarships are available to current students of Pittwater House as well as students attending other schools. Applicants must be Australian residents.

Note: Scholarship applications must be completed online. Please click on the link to the School's website for more information and/or to apply: Click Here

As I mentioned in my letter in the Principal’s Pack, the overarching theme for 2021 will continue to be RESPECT, focusing on Gratitude; being able to express thanks for all we have. This will play out in many and varied ways this year in the Junior School community, both inside and outside the classroom, so please expect to hear, see and encourage your children to exhibit gratitude at all times.

There are some exciting events taking place over the next couple of weeks, as outlined in The Principal’s Pack. This week there will be a notification from your child’s class teacher which outlines some important information and dates of events for this term which we would like to draw to your attention.

The K-2 Information Session will be held via a zoom link in Week 3 on Tuesday February 9 from 6:00 – 7:00pm. And, the Years 3-6 Parent Information Session will be held via a zoom link in Week 3 on Wednesday 10 February from 6:00 – 7:00pm.

The K-12 photo day will take place in Week 2 on Tuesday 2 February. The students will bring home an information sheet today (Friday 29 January) with a unique code for online ordering. More information is available on Skoolbag.

On Thursday at assembly Dr Hillier presented badges to the Year 6 leadership team, who will no doubt take on this very special role with great pride and enthusiasm. I would like to congratulate the following students:

Car Park

I would also draw your attention to adhering to the car parking arrangements in the morning at drop off and at collection time. For ease of traffic flow we ask you to follow the instructions outlined clearly in the Principal’s Pack. The speed limit of the car park is 5km per hour. If you need to escort your Year 1-6 child to the gate, you must use the surrounding streets to park. Kindergarten and ECC parents must have their coloured permits on display to park in the designated car spaces for 10 minutes only. With new staff on car park duty, please have your family name displayed on the dashboard to support the process of collecting your child quickly and safely. Please be reminded travel is in the one direction in the car park at 5km per hour. Speeding and negligence places our children’s lives at risk. Mobile phones cannot be in use whilst driving through and dropping or collecting your children. Other vital Car Park reminders for you are:

• Kiss Drop Go is used for students from Kindergarten
• Wait for crossing guard to escort families across the crossing
• 10 min only bays may be used to quickly deliver heavy or awkward equipment to rooms
• Only ECC and Kindergarten vehicles can park from 07:30 - 08:30am and 14:30-15:30pm
• There is no ‘Events’ days parking (carnivals etc) on campus during the pickup /drop off times
• The training sessions on the oval, gym, tennis courts and pool; vacate the car park by 7:30am
• Wherever possible seniors drop off / pickup at Westmoreland Ave.
• Staff on car park duty are not able to have ‘parent interviews’ whilst on duty
• Patience and politeness go a long way towards a pleasant car park experience.

Co-curricular Clubs

Junior School students’ clubs and co-curricular activities will begin in earnest next week. Specific flyers advertising new afternoon clubs and parental permissions will make their way home this week.

Our Drama classes are outsourced to Helen O'Grady Drama Academy - Northern Beaches. Please see the link below to enrol. The classes run on a Tuesday morning from 7:30am until 8:15am on the Junior School Deck.  sydneynthbeaches@helenogrady.com.au  

Chess Club and Code Camp will also recommence in Week 2. Please see the flyers below.

Our annual school photo day is taking place next Tuesday 2 February. This year MSP Photography will be taking online orders only. Therefore, they will be providing us with the ordering details to distribute to students on Friday 29 January. Parents will have three weeks from the 2nd February to complete the on-line orders. All students will get a photo taken regardless of whether they will be purchasing a photo as we use them for the student id cards, plus they will all be a part of the class or grade photos.

There is always an opportunity for sibling photos to be taken. These will take place in the Hall between 8:00am – 8:30am and 12:30am – 1:30pm. If you have more than one child at the school and you would like them to have a photograph taken together, please ask them to visit the Hall together during one of these times.

All students need to be in full school uniform. The secondary students will also need their blazer for the photos.

Please see Skoolbag for any further notices.

The School would like to remind everyone that nuts and nut products are not to be brought to school. This includes Nutella, peanut butter, nut milks and boxes of dried fruit/nuts. There are approximately 20 students throughout the Junior and Senior School that have anaphylactic (that is life threatening) allergies to nuts. It is imperative that we provide a safe environment for them. Please consider these students and their families when the lunches are packed.