Dear Parents,
Welcome to Pennant Hills Public School.
Pennant Hills Public School is a school where excellent results are achieved in a caring and nurturing environment. Set on two beautiful and spacious campuses, five hundred metres apart, the school has successfully served the community of Pennant Hills and neighbouring suburbs since 1925. It has a far reaching and strong reputation as a school of excellence in academics and creative arts.
The school’s motto of ‘Learning for Life’ is reflected in all programs implemented at the school. Our vision at Pennant Hills Public School is to empower students to become independent life-long learners, who are actively engaged and motivated. Our design of learning experiences will develop 21st Century learning skills of communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and citizenship. At Pennant Hills Public School staff and parents worked together to enable all students to strive for personal best, experience success, and promote individual student growth through focus on personal effort and mindset. Our students will be caring active citizens on local and global stages, with skills to realise their potential and excel in an ever dash changing world.
The school's vision is achieved by:
Student -centred, differentiated learning programs providing opportunities for problem-solving, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and self-reflection.
Providing challenging and stimulating opportunities to develop divergent and flexible thinkers.
Developing a growth mindset whereby students take charge over their own success and are enthusiastic, hard-working, persistent learners.
Developing digital fluency for students to create, demonstrate and share their skills and knowledge.
Maintaining a strong focus on quality literacy and numeracy programs which underpin success in all areas of learning.
Highly effective, motivated teachers committed to professional learning and pedagogy based on current educational research, working collaboratively to improve student outcomes.
Providing a safe, caring learning environment which encourages students to be resilient, confident, and tolerant.
Engaging the community in our shared vision.
Our school actively develops a growth mindset amongst our students – the belief that they can learn, change, and develop needed skills through dedication and perseverance. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. We foster the creation of a spirit characterised by innovation, risk-taking and student ownership of their own learning and persistently demonstrate to students that when a student works hard and intelligently, the result is consistent growth that enables people to accomplish their goals.
A greatly valued and close relationship exists between the school and its community. The P&C is a high-functioning body that works with the school to achieve its strategic directions. Parent involvement is strong, with parents participating in school activities, programs, and decision-making at all levels.
Pennant Hills Public School continues to boast an outstanding Performing Arts program. The program currently includes four bands, two string groups, four choirs and four dance groups. Children have opportunities to perform regularly at school, local and state venues including the Opera House.
There is a well-resourced STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) room onsite. A highly qualified STEAM teacher ensures the efficient running of technology throughout the school. All students K-6 engage in weekly STEAM lessons. The school has WIFI capability throughout, a Bring your Own Device program for Stage 3 students and access to a variety of technology tools that are integrated into the students’ learning.
A dynamic and newly refurbished library, with excellent resources to support classroom learning, is another feature of Pennant Hills Public School. Our full-time Teacher-Librarian is an enthusiastic member of our teaching staff and plays a special role in ensuring the development of students’ information skills. The school has participated in the Premier’s Reading Challenge since its inception.
The needs of all children are catered for at Pennant Hills Public School. Whether the needs be academic, emotional, social, or physical, the personalised nature of the school can accommodate them. This includes a Learning and Support Team that consists of one teacher who works five days a week and one who works three days a week that is funded by the school’s P&C, specialist counsellors who are available to provide counselling support, and an outstanding team of School Learning Support Officers. Students who have a language background other than English are given extra support by our English as a Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D) Team of two teachers.
Sport, personal development, and health programs contribute to the healthy lifestyle perpetuated in the school. A range of sports including basketball, netball, cricket, soccer, hockey, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, and athletics are played at both a formal and informal level. Our success in the sporting arena is a feature of the school. Several of our students have achieved success at zone, state, and national levels in a range of sports. Student participation and enthusiasm is exceptional.
Pennant Hills Public School students are encouraged to show consideration for their family and their peers and respect for all with whom they come in contact. Students benefit from participation in innovative leadership opportunities that help develop a high level of responsibility and initiative. They lead school assemblies, organise fund-raising activities and contribute to decisions made through participation in the Student Representative Council.
Student effort and achievement are regularly acknowledged in a variety of ways through our newly developed school wellbeing processes and associated awards. This program contributes to the high level of self-esteem and confidence of children at Pennant Hills Public School.
Our school is one where students thrive under the guidance of a dedicated, professional, and genuinely caring staff. We are proud of our school, proud of our achievements, proud of our students and proud of the citizens they become. Thank you for taking the time to visit us and share in our school community.
Warm regards
Mrs Alison Filipic
Principal
