HouseNews

In reading the myriad of materials coming across my desk and inbox regarding COVID-19, there is one I now wish to share, a piece from School TV. We cannot underestimate the impact these times have had on children and with you, we will be monitoring every student in coming weeks.

"Although the reality of the Coronavirus is ongoing, we are all experiencing various levels of transition across Australia and New Zealand. Whilst many children may be excited at the prospect of lockdown restrictions being lifted, others may feel mixed emotions.

As we adjust to new routines, keeping a check on our young people’s mental health and wellbeing will be vitally important. In the link that follows, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg shares a few ideas to help ease this time of transition and adjustment."  https://schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-coronavirus-transition-back

Our communications to you through these weeks have been constant, and I trust that at all times you have been clear as to the expectations we have for your children and for your role, as parent. It is wonderful having all the students back on Campus and seeing classes in action and activities on site gradually returning, allowing the students additional elements of their learning that have challenged us, in our remote weeks. Restrictions on large gatherings within our School such as Assemblies and calendared events will however be in place for some time yet, therefore we are focusing on year level meetings and are continuing to utilise zoom for communications with families.

As is always the case at Pittwater House, the strength of the home school partnership allows us to work with you to address concerns you feel are impacting your children; the sooner we are made aware of these, the better.

It is our intent to make personal contact with each family in the coming weeks and I look forward to speaking with many of you.

May you and your family remain healthy and may we all give thanks that we are once more operating on Campus.

My warm regards to you all.

The Pittwater House School is delighted to offer you an opportunity to experience a lifetime memory with your Year 7 student at the inaugural:

Time and Space - Mother/Mentor and Child Evening on Tuesday 23 June at 6.30pm.

This event was to be held on-site but with the current social distancing/isolation rules in place it is to be moved online. This innovative online program is part of some special transition events that we offer our Year 7 students.

Teenage years accelerate quickly as the adolescent roller coaster begins. They are growing up and the opportunity for mothers/mentors to reflect on the joys and challenges of this time is one not to be missed.

This is also a great night for the students as they witness you discussing what it means to be a mum or mentor and see how you handle the ‘letting go’ process as your child starts to forge some independence.

Bill Jennings, the creator and founder of ‘Time & Space’ will facilitate this unique experience for you.  ‘Time and Space’: www.time-space.com.au is a service he has developed to give people just that – ‘time and space’ for parents/guardians and their children to share important moments together. This program has a whole range of memorable moments that include carefully guided interactions with other mothers/mentors and their students.

Mothers will emerge from the night reassured and impressed by the way our students are able to speak up and share insights about their life. And be assured that the night is fun too… full of activities and conversations that will make us smile as well. Join in to enjoy some dedicated time together.

Further details about the evening will follow in the coming weeks, including a personalised video message from founder Bill Jennings and information about the registration process.

At this stage we ask that you save the date: Tuesday 23 June 6.30pm.

It has been a very exciting past 8 weeks in the Performing Arts. Throughout the lock down and remote learning the Pittwater House Performing Arts students have been truly exceptional in their commitment and focus. They have engaged in Zoom Band Rehearsals, collaborated in virtual bands, and worked in isolation on their Dance routines. 

As we are seeing a return to the ‘new normal’, we will be recommencing the Performing Arts program onsite over the coming weeks. This is a thrilling time for us all as we have missed the personal engagement that face-to-face teaching brings.

Looking forward through the year, we are planning how we will continue to offer Performing Arts opportunities to our students.

Major Production – High School Musical On Stage! (Years 7 to 11 in 2021)

High School Musical – Applications and Auditions

It gives us great pleasure to invite applications to be in the cast, orchestra and crew for our school production of High School Musical, to be performed in mid Semester 1 2021.

Our major productions are the highlight of the year for the school and a rewarding experience for those students who take part in it.

Thank you to all those who have already shown an interest in taking part in our production of High School Musical. Applications are still open. Access the registration form here – Major Production Application Form. Auditions will be conducted in Week 8 of this term. Audition times and requirements can be found on the Performing Arts Ensembles Canvas Page. 

If you do not have access to the Performing Arts Ensembles Canvas Page or have questions, please contact: performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au.

Ensemble NewsPerforming Arts Ensembles - Rehearsals: Staggered return from Week 5

As communicated through Skoolbag last week, from this week (Week 5) we will be moving our Performing Arts Ensembles back onsite. This will be staggered to allow for both staff and students to ensure the best practice throughout the process. We will continue to notify through Skoolbag as we add other ensembles over the coming weeks.

The following Week 5 ensemble practices will all be held in the Performing Arts Centre (PAC):

Thursday 28 May: Big Band at 7.30am

Thursday 28 May: Show Choir at Senior Lunch

Friday 29 May: Performance Band at 7.30am

Friday 29 May: Stage 1 Dance at Junior Lunch 

Enrichment Opportunities - Junior and Senior Music, Dance and Drama Festival (Previous Junior and Senior Music Festival)
We are pleased to announce the Junior Music, Dance and Drama Festival for 2020. This enrichment opportunity for students to present in front of a welcoming audience Music, Dance and Drama works that they have been working on independently.

Due to social distancing constraints we have modified this opportunity so students can showcase their skills to our school community.

Information and how to get involved will be communicated through SkoolBag over the coming weeks. If you have any questions please contact us at: performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au.

Bathurst Performing Arts Tour Postponed

We have made the decision to postpone the 2020 Performing Arts Tour. We are currently working on opportunities for our students once we have established our ‘new normal’ routines.

HICES Music Festival 7 to 12 (2020) – Postponed to 2021

The 2020 HICES Music Festival 7 to 12 will be moved to 2021. Information and further details will be communicated early 2021. Contact performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au for further information. 

Over the Autumn Recess, some of our Senior School students wrote some wonderful poems about the current pandemic. The following are a some examples of what was submitted:

Poetry in the Time of a Pandemic - Yarra, C8

Being in a pandemic can bring people together,
In ways nobody would’ve imagined,
Spending time with your loved ones,
Even if it is through a computer screen,

With bands compiling videos,
Making virtual concerts,
Trying out new things,
Taking leaps instead of steps,

While we may be isolated,
While we are at home,
We are one,
Even though we are apart,

We are in a time of crisis,
But we are united together,
We may be away from each other and not seeing each other face to face,
But we have learnt to adapt in our own quirky ways.

We may be learning through our computers,
We may not be doing the sports we love,
But everything has its positives,
We just need to look,

We are in a pandemic,
We are united,
We are together,
We are one.

Times Apart - Ella, C7

 I peer out my window
And stare at Time Square,
Once as busy as bees,
But now no one anywhere.

 You always think the horrible,
Will never happen to you,
But that is only what you think,
When you are scared of what is true.

 But your mind is not always right,
And the horrible can be true,
But who thought it was a sore throat?
And the symptoms of the flu.

 But I didn’t think it was the virus,
So, I just laid in bed,
My nose was like a waterfall
My chest throbbed with the beat of my head.

 And then all I remember
Was the sirens ringing in my ear,
I felt so awfully sick
And my body was filled with fear.

 It was so hard to breathe,
Even with the ventilator for air,
And then something worst happened,
News I could not bear.

 I had made my Dad sick,
And he was about to die,
And I couldn’t even see him,
And it was time to say goodbye.

 So, it was just me and the iPad
And the scene of my Dad alone,
As he slowly drifted away,
My tears listen as I moan and groan.

 And I knew that was it,
Was it all my fault?
I couldn’t take the truth,
My thoughts were in default.

A Crisis Starts Small - Ruby, C9

A crisis starts small
A single person ill
Not thinking about the spread
Just a common flu they thought
Out in the world they live
Touching, breathing, contaminating
Until others get this ‘flu’
And the spread is more apparent
And this ‘meaningless’ sickness
Takes its first victim
It strips you of your breath
Fills your lungs with pus
Forces you to rely on a machine
Doing the simplest human task
Breathing, in and out
More lives are claimed
And more people sick
Locked in their houses
Containing those who are sick
But this deadly virus still spreads
Those who seem healthy and thriving
May be infected with no symptoms
As they maintain a normal life
Or so that they think
They are spreading the virus
The world has no option
It has to stop this
Everything is closed
Schools, shops, parks
Only those who sell food
And those who save lives
Continue to work
Everyone else at home
Closing the door to this virus
They isolate and get restless
They want to return to their normal lives
But they can’t
They must stay inside to save lives
It has never been so easy
To save thousands of lives
The only challenge is to stay at home
But people being people
They act irrationally
Panic buying, spreading rumours
And also spreading blame
They look for people to blame
To attack for what is happening
To shun them and separate them
But this is unjust
For in this time of struggle
We must unite
Come together on a common goal
A goal to save lives
We must stay inside
Away from the rest
We must act accordingly
We must treat this as what it is
A crisis

2020 - Malie, C7

To the world of 2020,
I write these words to say,
Although this year has been different,
I know that we’re going to be ok,

Whether it be wearing a mask outdoors,
Or lying in your room alone,
We are all in this together,
Outside or inside your home,

The panic, loneliness and grief,
Are all extremely painful to cope,
But despite these terrible times,
There is always a bridge for hope,

So, people of 2020,
This virus is crowned none like any other,
But do not forget this everyone,
There is always a way to recover,

We Are All In This Together

A group of Year 8 and 9 students have come together to participate in the Community Problem Solving competition. The program entails identifying a challenge in the community and creating a solution in a creative and effective way. This year, the team has decided to promote the use of Indigenous plants and recipes on the basis that these ingredients are more sustainable in our fragile environment. The project is called Stick to your Roots! Throughout the year, the team will be releasing easy recipes to make at home so watch this space!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back! We hope the last 9 weeks of remote learning and social distancing have gone as well as possible for you and your families.  As our students get back into the rhythm of face to face learning and as parents we start to try  to make sense of what on earth has just happened, all whilst trying to return to the infamous ’new normal’, we wanted to use this opportunity to get in touch. Like all of us, the plans the PHPA had in place for 2020 have either been cancelled or altered considerably. This has given us the opportunity to assess what is important. We have all had our own journey through this storm, some good and some challenging and I hope that your connection with the school community has been able to provide you with some respite from it all.   The way our school community continues to connect this term and beyond will have to change for the time being at least. Those chance meetings in the playground at pick up or the class coffee mornings will not be as easy for most us for a while and therefore we need to find new ways to check in with each other and to promote our vibrant and thriving parent communtiy. The next opportunity in the diary for us to connect was the Term 2 Parent Communtiy meeting -  originally scheduled for this week,  which we have now rescheduled for the following Friday 5th June 9am. As meeting in person is not possible, we would like to hold a Zoom session (details to follow), to gather together any parents interested in discussing fun ways to engage our school community over the coming months. We will update you on the status of the planned events and other initiatives and we also hope some of you will care to share your iso stories  - the good and the bad! Until then, enjoy getting back to ironing school uniforms, sorting school lunches and dropping the kids at school. I don’t expect you realised how much you had missed it all!

Best wishes and stay well.

Kate Parsons 

PHPA Clothing Pool

The PHPA Clothing Pool (second hand uniform shop ) will continue with appointments only for the foreseeable future. 

Please send your email to: phpaclothingpool@tphs.nsw.edu.au to organise and a volunteer parent will meet you at the agreed time at the clothing pool. 

Parents with an appointment will need to go directly to and from the clothing pool without visiting other parts of the school. All visitors will be requested to use the provided hand sanitiser before entering the clothing pool.

A reminder that to support social distancing measures only one parent other than the clothing pool volunteer will be able to be in the shop at any time. If your child needs to accompany you for fitting purposes our volunteer will step outside in order to facilitate this.

We have received a few reports of tick bites to our students this week and as a result we are asking parents to please be vigilant checking your children for ticks.

Ticks are parasites that are found in moist bush land, parks and gardens, especially on the Eastern seaboard of Australia, most often in autumn. The most common tick along the East Coast is the paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus).

Ticks feed on the blood of humans and animals and can cause allergic reactions and transmit diseases to their hosts. They attach to the skin by piercing their mouth parts into it and like to attach to soft areas such as the armpits, groin and scalp.

Please familiarise yourselves with the latest information regarding the removal of ticks as it is important that ticks be removed appropriately.

School Uniform Shop - Fittings and Purchases
Due to the School’s desire to limit visitors to Campus, we ask that all fittings for winter uniform are by appointment only and that only one family member accompany the student to the appointment.  Please call Mrs Tess Spark on: 9972 5721 or email: school.shop@tphs.nsw.edu.au to book your appointment or for further inquiries. For other purchases we suggest you utilise the online order forms available here. The uniform shop manager will call or email you to let you know when the items are available for collection.  This will significantly reduce the number of people in the uniform shop at any one time.

New Track Suit: Students must only wear the New Track Suit. The old tracksuit is no longer a valid uniform item.

In Stock Now:

• Raincoats
• Fleeces
• Winter Scarfs
• Long Sleeve Stripe Shirts (K-6 boys only)
• K-6 Boys Winter Short