HouseNews

This time of year is perfect for use of our grounds for classes and study… there are many spots that students on study lessons, or as a class group, find. The quiet yet purposeful way students are working, individually and with their teacher, is very pleasing. We can be too quick to focus on the negative in these times, and the past two years have been uncomfortable, yet a more significant approach is to focus on what is taking place. I take great delight in seeing our junior students play on the Kiss and Drop at break times, commend our Food Technology students with their baking, encourage our Kindies as they go for their PDHPE lesson, and know that the Year 10 students have the opportunity to engage with an indigenous community through the Red Earth program shared to the group last week. Meanwhile, the wonderful G8 students have reached out to the local front-line workers with their donation and sincere messages of support. 

We are a busy and community minded School. And what better way to engage with all that is on offer by practising the habit of mindfulness, a cornerstone of the secondary Resilience Project, that asks students to be consciously present in this moment. It further explores and asks students to be passionate about something and to engage fully in an activity or project that will bring us joy. This is not just for our secondary students… I commend this approach to all in our community. Such an approach may well have begun during Remote Leaning, in your home. I recognise that this can be a challenge for those young men and women who claim they are not really interested in anything… let alone express joy. As a family I would recommend a committed focus to be brave, to experiment, to try new things… to find this passion. Accomplishing this will often be difficult yet with effort and persistence, mastery will occur. And I would suggest, passion will likely follow. With this in mind, I trust that the Parent Information Evenings we have held in the past two weeks have given you all a sound understanding of the pastoral programme for your child’s year and you were able to see its positioning alongside the academic offering. The strong link between our curriculum and pastoral programme is key to the Academic Care of Pittwater House. 

This is a week of swimming… whilst times past allowed for parent involvement, alas the carnivals this year, like last, are a very slimmed down version. Nevertheless, we hope the same spirit will pervade… and now we are allowed to chant… whether it is for Butterwoth, Morgan, or Orrock. May the best House win at each of our three carnivals this week! 

Meanwhile, I look forward to waving as you drive through the Kiss and Drop zone… 

Year 6 Team Building Day

All Year 6 students attended a Team Building day at Narrabeen Sports Centre on Monday 6 February. Students participated in a range of challenging activities that required them to work as a team and support each other. Year 6 are the leaders of the Junior School and this is a great way for Year 6 to unite and start the year. 

Deep Learning is quality learning that sticks with you for life. There are six Global Competencies (6Cs) that describe the skills and attributes needed for learners to flourish as citizens of our world. The six Global Competencies are: Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking.

This year we have decided to shine a spotlight on the many ways our students already use these competencies both within the curriculum and outside of school. Each fortnight there will be an article written by one of our students to highlight one of the six Global Competencies.

If any student would like to participate throughout the year in writing an article, then please email our Coordinator of High Potential and Gifted Students for further information Victoria.james@tphs.nsw.ed.au

This week, Ella (C9), will be shining a spotlight on Creativity.

Following on from last term’s Creativity Competition, we would like to start the year with a whole School competition focusing on the importance of Communication.

All students across the Junior and Senior school will have the opportunity to harness their written communication skills by writing about their thoughts on how to lead a happy life. The past few years have been difficult on us all, so it is vital to maintain a positive outlook, and to remember what is important in life.

I am very much looking forward to hearing some inspiring and thought-provoking messages from our students.

Please read the following competition task and rules carefully and submit your competition entry to Mrs James in MG18 by the deadline.

2022 has started with a great interest in the Performing Arts. It is exciting to see high numbers of new students taking up Performing Arts opportunities. All ensembles are up and running so please come along and get involved. The ensemble schedule is available through TASS Parent Lounge and Student Cafe under the Links drop down menu then Performing Arts.

Junior, Intermediate and Senior Dance Company have begun. The students who have been offered a place in a dance company have been notified. We are looking forward to a year full of dance and performing arts.

We would like to welcome Ms Anna Hugo to our Performing Arts Team, she comes to us with a depth of knowledge in Dance and the Performing Arts. She will be working 3 days a week as part of the Administration Team alongside Ms Caroline Fechner. We are fortunate to have her as a part of the Pittwater House Performing Arts Team. 

Registration for 2022 Ensemble Membership

The ensembles’ structure has changed in 2022 to allow for greater inclusion and engagement throughout the entire school. If you require any further information, please email performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au

We welcome current ensemble members and new members to join our 2022 Instrumental, Vocal and Dance ensembles, and hope 2022 proceeds with less interruptions caused by COVID-19 than last year. Access the Ensemble Registration Form HERE.

Please come along even if you have NOT registered, as we welcome ALL new members to our ensembles.

Private Music Tuition

We have a group of private tutors who are experienced teachers and achieve great results.  If you are interested in having Private Music Lessons at Pittwater House during the school day please fill in the On-line Form here  If you have any questions, please email us at: performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au

Enrichment Opportunities

We are looking for students to perform in our Senior School Assemblies. If your child is interested in performing please email your child’s interest to performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au  

Athletics

Congratulations to both Leo (G9) and Ruann (G9) who represented Manly Warringah at the NSW Little Athletics Regional Finals this weekend (North and North East Sydney). Ruann won gold in Javelin with a throw of 52m 4th in shotput (11.87m) Leo got gold in 300m hurdles (time 43.69) Gold in 100m hurdles (15.16) Gold in 800m (2.08.40). Well done to both boys who have now automatically qualified for the NSW State finals at Olympic Park on March 19 and 20.

Baseball

CIS Open Boys Baseball Trials

On Tuesday 15 February the Open CIS Baseball Trials were held at the ELS Hall Park Baseball fields in Nth Ryde. We sent one student Ryan (G10) to the trials that were used to select this year's Open CIS Baseball team.

Over 50 very talented Independent Schools Baseball players attended the day. At the end of the trials 15 students were named as the CIS team for 2022.

Ryan trialled for selection in the Catchers position which is the heart of any Baseball team. He was impressive with his work behind the batters displaying some precise work with his Mit when taking some hot very fast pitches and looked comfortable when it was his turn to bat and when he was in the field. Although Ryan was not named in this year's team which was largely made up of Year 11 and 12 players, and some returning team players from last year's team, he performed with great skill and displayed the talent to go a long way in the great game of Baseball. Well done, Ryan 

Beach Volleyball

Congratulations to Stella (C8) who was inspired to give beach volleyball a try while in lockdown watching the Olympics on TV. Since then after learning how to play, attending beach volley camps, a lot of hard work and dedication, Stella has been selected into the Youth Beach Phoenix Team to represent NSW at the 2022 Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships. Well done Stella we are immensely proud, and wish you all the best in the upcoming championships.

Hockey

Congratulations to Hannah (C8) who has been selected in the U13 NSW State Hockey Turf Squad. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, the Squad never got to progress through to the trials for the State teams and did not have a National championship event. However, they did have a development day over the holidays. It was a fantastic event which Hannah thoroughly enjoyed and finally was given a NSW Hockey Jersey for all her hard work in the U13 Squad.

Last week in Orange, Hannah and her teammates from Northern Suburbs and Beaches, won the U13 State Indoor Hockey Championships Div. 1. Well done Hannah.

Congratulations to Lukas (G9) who has been selected in the 2022 U15 Boys State Team to compete at the U15 National Championships in April, well done Lukas and best of luck in your upcoming Championships.