Pastoral care from the very beginning
At Pittwater House, pastoral care begins the moment your child walks through the gate in Kindergarten, and it’s woven into every day of their Junior School journey.
We understand that the early years of schooling are not just about academics. They’re about developing confidence, emotional resilience, friendships, and a strong sense of self. So our wellbeing program evolves with each stage of childhood, to help students grow with support that’s age-appropriate, emotionally intelligent, and always grounded in kindness.
Structured Form-Time programs
In both the Junior Girls’ College and Boys’ Preparatory School, every student from Kindergarten to Year 6 is supported by a dedicated Junior School Wellbeing Coordinator, under the guidance of the Head of Junior School.
The foundation of this care is a daily pastoral lesson. These sessions, run by the home class teacher, give students the space to explore topics like:
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Friendships and social awareness
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Emotional regulation and resilience
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Values, empathy, and inclusion
These are an integral part of each student’s day.
The Buddy Program
From day one, our youngest students are never alone.
Every child in Pre-Kindy and Kindergarten is paired with an older buddy – a student who becomes a mentor, friend and guide. These relationships are nurtured through regular wellbeing lessons and school events, helping younger children build confidence and older students develop leadership skills.
It’s a simple yet powerful way to foster belonging and kindness across year levels.
Service Learning
As part of our commitment to developing compassionate, community-minded students, the Junior School offers a Service Learning program for Year 6 students.
They provide meaningful opportunities for students to engage with the wider community, including visits to schools for children with disabilities, local retirement villages, and Early Learning Centres.
These short, supervised service experiences are scheduled throughout the year and take place during school hours.
Through these interactions, students strengthen key life skills, such as empathy, leadership and communication, while living out our HEROIC Core Values in real-world settings.
Staff are present at all times to ensure each experience is both safe and enriching.
Leadership opportunities
We believe leadership is for everyone. Across both the Junior College and Preparatory School, students are encouraged to step into roles that grow their confidence, responsibility, and community outreach. Leadership positions allow students to get involved in guiding assemblies, managing activities at key events, engaging in community activities and mentoring younger peers.
Formal leadership programs:
- Junior School Leaders (Year 6): Students may be nominated as:
- Leaders
- House Captains
- SRC Leaders
- HEROIC Leaders
Every student leader reflects our school’s values and has the opportunity to make a lasting impact on our community.
Camps
Our camps are more than outdoor adventures – they’re an essential part of student development.
From Year 2, each year level attends a purpose-designed camp that builds independence, leadership, resilience, and connection to others, all while reinforcing our HEROIC values.
Here’s what each year group experiences:
Student Health Team
Health Centre
Our on-site Health Centre is open daily from 8:30am to 3:30pm and staffed by two registered nurses. They care for the entire school community, including managing medication and coordinating immunisations.
Counsellors & wellbeing professionals
Our school counsellors support students through the everyday ups and downs of school life – from friendships and emotions to learning pressures.
When more specialised care is needed, we refer students to trusted external professionals who work closely with our team to ensure seamless, supportive care.
Above all, we prioritise the emotional and physical safety of every child – so they can feel confident, cared for, and ready to thrive.