HouseNews

Despite the record heat and humidity for the return to school on Thursday (which is just part of the start of any new school year), it was wonderful to have a cooler day on Friday. In our Opening Assembly all students from Years 3-12 were seated in the Hall; they arrived to the sounds of Ocean Alley’s Confidence… the winner of Triple J’s Hottest 100 is noteworthy and exciting for us, given that 3 members of the band are Alumni: Mitchell Galbraith (Class of 2009), Lachlan Galbraith (Class of 2010) and Baden Donnegal (Class of 2009).

We celebrate their success and look forward to their great future. As part of the Assembly, it has become our custom to welcome back the Dux of the Grammar School and the Dux of the College from the previous year. Unfortunately, Rebecca Wu is still overseas, however Finlay Dennison received his Dux Medal and both he and Rebecca will have their names placed on our Honour Boards as a permanent reminder of their achievement. Finlay spoke of his wonderful achievement and provided some tips; I trust too that his words inspired the students to get the very best from their time at Pittwater House. Our congratulations to our graduating Class of 2018 for the next phase of their lives. An increasing number of our students are pursuing degrees at the ANU in Canberra as well as the well-trodden paths at USydney, UNSW and Macquarie Universities. 

Another tradition at our Opening Assembly is the announcement of our new Junior School leaders. They were led onto the stage by their corresponding School Prefect and were then able to see their parents sitting in the Mezzanine in an act that was full of secrecy. A parent  of each new leader then came on stage to officially pin their newly acquired School Leader Badge on the lapel. 

AND SO, TO THE YEAR BEFORE US…

It seems it was only yesterday that we were farewelling 2018 with our marvellous Prize Giving ceremonies; we were certainly thrilled to have such inspiring Guests of Honour at the Secondary Prize Giving. Whilst we asked ourselves ‘Where has the year gone?”, we can equally ask ourselves and challenge ourselves at the start of a new year that this is an opportunity for accomplishments, for challenges and for being the best we can be in every way. That is what is being asked of all students. I should offer a word of warning… the year 2019 will pass so quickly and consequently I challenge every member of our community to make the most of every opportunity; to be the best you can be and at year’s end, look back on 2019 as the year where milestones were not only reached but achievements can be clearly articulated, and progress made on individual goals that you and your children are setting with their teachers as a new year begins.

This new beginning need not be feared; begin the new year seeking growth with each student using the combined tools of our academic and wellbeing programs to make this a truly happy and successful year.

I did enjoy mixing with many of you at our Welcome Drinks that we co-hosted with the PHPA last Friday night. Meeting in this relaxed way with the Staff brought to a closure our hectic yet exciting first week of School.  

My best wishes to you all and I very much look forward to engaging with you as students, parents and members of our wider Pittwater House family in the coming weeks.

We were a little concerned that many of our boys had been dragged out of the surf a day early and were not quite ready for school last week. However after a short rant from Grumpy Doc during Form, the boys returned on Friday with well-groomed hair, well presented uniforms and an extra air of confidence and pride. There are many things which are unique to our school, but feeling pride is something which is common to many students in all schools and often this can be manifest in the way students present themselves when they are wearing their school uniform. As we continue to raise our expectations of our students and ask a little more, we continue to request your support with hair, jewellery, makeup, ties, shirts, belts, socks and shoes. The beginning of the year is the ideal time to make our expectations crystal clear so we can get on with the business of providing a well-balanced and extensive education for your children. Thank you for your ongoing support and please contact us if you have any questions.

We continue to approach the management of our students from a positive perspective. We all have a myriad of choices thrown at us everyday and each choice we make has a particular consequence. As adults, we try hard to protect young people from the consequences of their actions for as long as possible. This allows them to learn from their choices and to grow into mature, respectful and perspicacious adults. However this is not always possible and hence all disciplinary systems include some punitive measures designed to address poor student choice and help them understand the consequences of some of these choices. Our goal is always to help students move forward from where they are toward a deeper understanding of human relationships and the human condition.

In 2019, our desire to extend our levels of support to students has resulted in some changes to our student wellbeing, discipline and bullying prevention policies. To further strengthen our support structures, we have added a number of teachers to help support your daughters and sons in the Senior School.

The School extends our thanks to each of these individuals as they support our College girls and Grammar boys to set goals, raise the expectations and monitor their interactions. Each is an outstanding educator and perfectly placed to lead our committed Form teachers in the strong and supportive pastoral care programs for which our School is justifiably proud. Central to student wellbeing is a focus on academic excellence, in all its forms. Year Coordinators and our Stage Leader will be monitoring student progress and goal setting as part of their commitment to our students to help ensure 2019 is a rewarding year for all our students.

The strength of the partnership between parents and the School is a critical one and requires regular and deep communication. We acknowledge the trust you have placed in the School with the enrolment of your daughter or son and we want to do everything we can to oversee their intellectual, emotional, physical and mental growth. The best way to do that is to communicate our expectations and standards to you as clearly as possible and to hear from you whenever you have any concerns or accolades to pass on. Good news is always welcome as well as concerns and we hope to be sharing many of the former with you over the coming year.

Once again, a warm welcome to 2019 and best wishes for a challenging and successful year as we remain semper diligens, always hardworking, together.

Ms Lorna Probst and Dr Col Harrison  

The Senior Maths Study Centre will be on in the Library on Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30pm until 4:20pm.  Maths Study Centre will start this week (Week 2) but will not be on Week 3 due to School Camps.

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 Start of Year Information here.

The speed limit of the car park is 5km per hour. If you need to escort your Year 1-6 child to the playground 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
• Do not turn right out of the car park. This action causes significant delays and inconveniences all other road users.
• There is no ‘Events’ days parking (carnivals etc) on campus during the pickup /drop off times
• For any before school training sessions on the oval, gym, tennis courts and pool, parents need to 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.
  

Junior School students’ clubs and co-curricular activities will begin in earnest next week (Week 3), if they haven’t already. 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 poster contained in this newsletter. The classes run on a Tuesday morning from 7:30am until 8:15am, in the sports centre. To enrol your child in these classes you need to contact sydneynthbeaches@helenogrady.com.au  

We have already started rehearsing Footloose for our performances in Week 1 of Term 2. All information for student and families involved will be posted in Canvas. If you are not a member of the Creative Arts Ensembles Group in Canvas please email musictutor@tphs.nsw.edu.au

All Creative Arts ensembles have started this week (February 4). The following ensembles are OPEN ensembles and we are always looking for new members. Junior Band, Performance Band, Show Choir, Cantabile Singers and Chamber Choir, Junior Strings and String Ensemble. If you have any questions, please email musictutor@tphs.nsw.edu.au.

All students that intend on auditioning MUST be current members of the Pittwater House music ensembles and show a continued commitment. If your child wishes to participate in this event please watch this space or email musictutor@tphs.nsw.edu.au for further information.  HICES Festival dates are 18 to 21 August 2019.

At Pittwater House we offer an extensive internal Instrumental Music Tuition Program. We offer instrumental tuition in all String, Wind and Brass Instruments, Percussion which includes Drumkit and Tuned Percussion, Vocal Lessons Guitar, Bass Guitar and Piano Lessons. For more information about private music tuition please email musictutor@tphs.nsw.edu.au.

Throughout the year our very talented Creative Arts students will be performing in numerous Eisteddfods competing in many sections such as: Contemporary Vocal, Solo Dance, Dance Groups, Solo Instrumental and Instrumental Groups. These students will be representing either Pittwater House, themselves or their own private studios. We would like to acknowledge the results of students, please let us know of their Creative Arts success throughout the year by emailing musictutor@tphs.nsw.edu.au and we will publish the results. 

Congratulations to Sam Barnett (G10) who was selected in the Manly Green Shield Cricket team this season and after 3 months of matches and training they go undefeated into the grand final. Congratulations to Sam who has had a great season representing Manly

Nominations are due soon for the following sports please click HERE for more information:

• Basketball Pathways
• Golf
• Hockey
• Netball
• Peninsula Cup Netball Competition
• Snowsports Raceweek
• Soccer  Pathways
• Penisula Cup Soccer Competitions
• Softball
• Swimming
• Tennis Pathways
• Triatholan Pathways
• Volleyball Pathways
• Water Polo 

During January 12th to 19th, the following students attended the  Army Promotions Course 1/19 at Richmond Air Base. All cadets were successful in completing their courses.

Warrant Officer’s Course:  Ewan L, Topaz E-D.
Sergeant’s Course: Hannah F, Dominic C, Bodhi C.
Corporal’s Course: Sean E, Duncan E, Matthew H, Christopher M, Callum M.

All students who will turn 13 or older in 2019 are able to join the cadet unit. Enrolment forms are available at Reception or click here.

Head Librarian: Ms Kayte Eyre
Junior School Librarian: Ms Trish White
Library Technician: Ms Michella McIntosh

Please note that the senior library is open BEFORE school and AFTER school only for year 5 and above. This is a Senior School environment. Childcare arrangements need to be made for younger students.

Monday - 8:30am-5:00pm
Tuesday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
Last day of term we close at 3:30pm

Students are expected to abide by the lending periods set for their resource. Students who have not returned their resources by the due date will receive one reminder from library staff, after this time the student account will be charged (item cost + processing fee) to replace the item. Refunds are not available.

Ms Kayte Eyre

Our annual book fair is arriving early this year!

Carnival Book Fair will be in the Great Hall and in the ECC between the 18th March – 29th March. We would love a bit of parent help this year to man the sales table. More information will follow but anyone interested can email the library team on library@tphs.nsw.edu.au.

The Library is excited to share a large variety of new engaging, entertaining imaginary and informative books. Over the next few weeks, all children will have an opportunity to read these books as well as familiarising themselves with the different sections of the library. Whether your child is interested in fiction or non-fiction books, audio or e books, there is something to cater to your child’s interests and reading level in our extensive catalogue.

Borrowing will commence in Week Two. If your child is in ECC- Year 3 please ensure that they have a library bag to protect the books as they travel home. Children in these year levels must have a library bag to borrow.

Depending on what year level your child is in there are different borrowing guidelines. Please see below:

• ECC- Year 2 – 1 book per 1 week
• Year 3- Year 6 - May borrow up to 2 books for 2 weeks

Thank you for your cooperation!
The Library Team 

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new Full Time Canteen Manager Amanda Corbett (Mandi) who joined us last week.  Mandi comes to us with over 15 years experience in hospitality and is looking forward to working with our current Canteen staff and our fabulous Volunteers.  

Each week is allocated to different year groups however you can still volunteer for any shift during the year regardless of which year your children are in.

To volunteer for a slot, please visit https://www.volunteersignup.org/BQDAD and put your name next to the time/date that suits you best.

Please click on image below for days where a volunteer is still required.

Canteen Manager is Amanda Corbett - Phone 9972 5718 after 8.00am

Thank you for your support!

For the latest menu and to find out the weekly specials visit the Canteen folder on the Skoolbag app.

Tuesdays from 8am-9.15am and Thursday from 2pm-3.15pm

Located next to the School Uniform shop the Clothing Pool is run by volunteer parents.

Please note: Purchaes cannot be charged to your School Account.

The Clothing Pool has a 7 day Return/Refund Policy.

The School Shop will be open Thursday 14th February 8.00am - 12 noon instead of Friday 15th of February. All students must have their swimming cap for the Swimming Carnival.

Junior School students must have a note from their parent or guardian to purchase items from the school shop. Junior School do not need their blazer until term two. Please label all uniform items. 

Congratulations:
Congratulations to 2001 Grammar School Captain Adam Player who last month was awarded the 2018 Sydney award for Best Supporting Actor in an Opera for his performances in the Australian Opera’s production of Candide. 

If you are interested in some basic training in Edumate and Skoolbag. Please call School Admin on 9981 4400 or email school.admin@tphs.nsw.edu.au to book a half hour appointment between 7.30am and 3pm.

Pittwater House is committed to using student images in a safe, dignified and responsible manner. If you DO NOT want images or film of your child/children engaging in School activities to be published to promote Pittwater House School please ensure you complete and submit the Photo/Film Opt Out form on Skoolbag. You may opt out at any time. No action from you will be taken as implied consent.