Congratulations to Angus Peshos, who competed in the May 50K for MS.
Angus says: “I did the 50km in May because my Aunt had recently been diagnosed with MS and my uncle was doing it. Initially I thought I would donate $50 and hoped I might be able to get some more money, so I decided to register for the 50km in May charity. I ended up raising over $1,500 and I did over 50km. I was very proud of myself.”
You can read more or donate by clicking here.
Our Junior School students are to be commended for their wonderful generosity in supporting Project Compassion this year. During the season of Lent, the 6 Gold boys generously donated Easter Eggs to gift three beautiful Easter baskets as prizes. The money raised is donated to Project Compassion.
This year’s annual Easter Raffle had to be postponed until we returned to campus in Term Two. The support from the boys was magnificent. The Raffle raised over $735 for Project Compassion and the following boys were overjoyed when they heard their names called out as the winners.
1st prize: Finnian McCarthy – 6 White
2nd prize: Alex Moore – 5 Red
3rd prize: Christian Richardson – 6 Indigo
Our raffle winners
Reconciliation has been explored in 6 Indigo through English. The students participated in a variety of activities, developing a strong understanding of the need for them to be active citizens in the future. During Reconciliation Week, 6 Indigo took time to reflect on and learn about Aboriginal culture. As part of this, on Friday afternoon we participated in an outdoor art lesson. The class all traced their hands and created a dot painting. Looking over the newly cleared Wingara the students enjoyed exploring their new art techniques. They appreciate the patience and dedication it takes to create an amazing artwork.
6 Indigo
This week, the Junior School students continue to recognise and celebrate Refugee Week, which runs from 14 to 20 June. This is Australia’s peak annual activity to raise awareness about the issues impacting refugees, as well as recognising the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. The theme for 2020 is celebrating the ‘Year of Welcome.’
Students have been exploring the countries that many refugees in Australia originate from. Each boy has drawn a representative flag and learnt about the many challenges refugees face by coming to Australia. We have also looked at how our community can provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees. Most importantly, the students have been celebrating the contribution refugees make to our community.
Director of Identity & Student Formation, Ms Suzanne Walsh organised for a former student of hers to talk to the Junior School. Elijah Williams is a refugee from Sierra Leone and I too had the pleasure of teaching Elijah when he was in Year 7 at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview. On Monday, we welcomed Elijah to the Learning Hub, where he shared his story.
Elijah and his mother and brothers fled war-torn Sierra Leone in 2001 and arrived in Perth when he was only four years old. After nine months of living in a refugee camp, the family came to Sydney. Elijah attended Belmore West Public School and later became a boarder at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview in 2009-2014. He shared many of his experiences, emotions, hardships and successes with the boys and they were captivated by his dynamic personality, resilience – and, most importantly, by how grateful he is for the freedom and opportunities he’s had since living in Australia.
Elijah is a talented sportsman. He represented Riverview in basketball, AFL, rugby, football and athletics. Since leaving school he has competed as an elite sprinter at the Nationals. His real passion in life, however, is acting. Elijah has followed this dream and he is now a professional actor. In 2018, he was awarded Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production by Sydney Theatre Company. He has many exciting acting roles ahead and hopes to visit his home country, Sierra Leone, in the next few years.
The boys were moved by Elijah’s inspirational story and they were very excited to ask him questions. They loved hearing that Elijah had played Usain Bolt’s double for a television commercial. It was a wonderful experience for the boys to meet Elijah and we appreciate his generosity of time in sharing his extraordinary story.
It is with great pleasure that the Sustainability Club was able to meet again this week. The boys got their hands dirty – figuratively speaking, as they were wearing gloves! – and undertook a waste audit.
As part of the audit, the students had to go through the bins in the playground and separate its contents into different categories:
We discovered that a large amount of the rubbish going into our bins could be reused, recycled or composted. Recycling properly and composting would have a huge impact. The next step for the Sustainability Club is to educate our Junior School students on what can go in the recycling bins and what we can put in our brand new compost bins. The boys will be developing lessons and infographics to spread awareness. A big thank you to Sustainability Coordinator, Ms Emily Pace and Sebastien Van De Hoek for helping us conduct the audit.
Sustainability Club meets once a week in the 5 Red classroom. We welcome anyone who is passionate about sustainability and wants to have a positive impact on our school community. Next term we will meet on a Tuesday morning from 7:30-8:30am.
Sustainability Group
It has been great to see the enthusiastic way in which students have embraced the resumption of modified co-curricular training. A big thank you to the staff and coaches who have implemented the necessary hygiene, social distancing, role marking and other required measures. The students have certainly been very keen and are asking many questions about when we will be playing games. For students’ health and wellbeing, it is also vitally important that they attend their compulsory sessions.
We will continue to follow the Government and AIS advice on sport. With restrictions easing after Wednesday, 1 July, we will be publishing training opportunities in the upcoming holidays. For contact sports like rugby that have specific safety protocols in preparation, students will need to complete these components before being allowed to undertake trials and participate in game situations. We will also publish an updated training schedule for Term 3, as well as information regarding trials at the end of the upcoming holidays.
Thank you, also, to our Year 12 staff, who have been offering tutorials to senior students each Saturday. There has been a very pleasing commitment from these students in taking up these extra opportunities.
As you are aware, we were the House Track and Field carnival was scheduled for next Wednesday, 24 June at ES Marks. Unfortunately, due to current restrictions, this carnival will be cancelled for 2020. The day will be a normal school day for all students with face-to-face teaching.
It’s no surprise that our children’s technology use skyrockets over the school holidays. With Term 2 nearly at its conclusion and the break just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to learn how Family Zone can help make your life easier when it comes to online use. Join the Managing Screen Time During School Holidays webinar next Tuesday, 23 June, from 7 to 8pm.
To register for the webinar, please click here.
We recognise the significant collaboration required by staff, students and parents/carers to support wellbeing and learning during COVID-19. It is in these difficult moments that students look to teachers and parents for guidance. The modelling behaviours and support that have been provided have no doubt had a positive impact on students at Waverley College and we are endeavouring to continue to provide appropriate support for all students.
Here are some simple wellbeing tips that may be useful during this time:
Looking After Yourself is an interactive self-care tool from Super Friend, designed to guide adults through a quick wellbeing check-in. There are some great tips and tricks as well as a customisable wellbeing planning tool. Click here to access Looking After Yourself.
I would also recommend this six-minute video on boys and respectful relationships. Dr Justin Coulson discusses common issues for boys because many boys are raised in an environment that expects them to be tough, to take risks to prove their manhood and to disassociate from emotions. Dr Coulson talks about how to reframe ‘the boy code’. Click here to watch the video.
It has come to our attention that e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in the community over the past six months. Please see information below regarding e-cigarettes and a particular brand called Cuvie. We encourage you to have a conversation with your son addressing these issues.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Deputy Principal – Student & Staff Wellbeing, Mr Patrick Brennan, your son’s Head of House, or myself or Greg, the Senior School Psychologists. Contact details can be found at the bottom of this article.
A Cuvie is a disposable e-cigarette. They are small in size (8 x 2cm). Each Cuvie generates 300 ‘hits’ or ‘puffs’ per pod and costs approximately $10-20.
Yes. Each Cuvie has 50mg of nicotine in it. The 300 puffs equate to approximately one packet of cigarettes. This is a concern as young people may be using these discreetly at night and unknowingly consume the equivalent of a whole packet of cigarettes.
Young people may not be aware of some of the short and long term effects of using e-cigarettes. Research has shown that there is an increased prevalence of lung conditions such as asthma, wheezing and bronchitis. Even more concerning is the impact of nicotine on the developing brain. This can affect learning, memory and attention. Researchers also indicate the use of e-cigarettes as a young person increases chances of developing a cigarette or substance abuse problem later in life.
It is illegal to sell e-cigarettes and accessories to a person under 18 years of age. Anyone who sells cigarettes or e-cigarettes to someone under the age of 18 can be heavily fined.
It is school policy for any student who is seen with or using an e-cigarette at school to be suspended. If any student is caught buying or selling these at school, they will have a show cause meeting with the Principal. However, we want to encourage help-seeking behaviour. Please ensure that, if your son speaks to one of our staff regarding their use of e-cigarettes, there will not be punitive consequences.
Since many vaping devices, especially Cuvies, are inconspicuous in size and overall look, many adolescents may find it easy to hide their habits. The vapour from the E-Cigarettes is odourless (or has a sweet smell, depending on the flavour), so parents are less likely to detect an aroma.
It is important that parents sit down with their sons for an open conversation about the effects of nicotine. It is also important to encourage help-seeking behaviour. For information and examples of how to generate a conversation around this topic, please watch this School TV resource from Dr Michael Carr-Gregg: https://schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/ecigarettes-and-vaping-au.
To discuss this further, or receive support, please contact one of the members of staff listed below.
Mr Patrick Brennan: pbrennan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Tessa Prior (Quinn, Conlon, Lacey and Green): tprior@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Greg Cameron (Brennan, Aungier, Tevlin and O’Connor): gcameron@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Olivia Kite (Quinn): okite@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Catherine O’Sullivan (Conlon): cosullivan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr John McCoy (Aungier): jmccoy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr James Horrocks (Brennan): jhorrocks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr John McCullum (Tevlin): jmccullum@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Matt Barr (O’Connor): mbarr@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Damien Thompson (Lacey): dthompson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Scott Coleman (Green): scoleman@waverley.nsw.edu.au
With the end of the year fast approaching, parents are advised that applications for entry to Year 5, 2022 close on Friday, 31 July 2020.
Applications can be submitted via our website.
Please note that fees for the third payment of the 2020 school year are due on the following dates.
Prompt payment date: 17 July 2020
Due date: 31 July 2020
First Payment
Prompt payment date: 22 January 2021
Due date: 29 January 2021
Second Payment
Prompt payment date: 23 April 2021
Due date: 7 May 2021
Third Payment
Prompt payment date: 16 July 2021
Due date: 30 July 2021
Fees paid before 4pm on the prompt payment date attract a $25 discount. Any payment received after the due date will attract an administrative fee of $110. Please be advised that some financial institutions need more than 48 hours to process their payments (eg internet/BPay) and see the last page of your account for payment method and contact details.
If you wish to withdraw your son from Waverley College, you are required to give one term’s notice in writing to the Principal to confirm that your son’s enrolment will cease. The last day you can give notice of your son’s enrolment finishing at the end of a school term is the first day of that same term. If not received by that date, a penalty equivalent to one term’s tuition fees is payable. Dates are as follows:
Term 3, 2020: 22 July 2020
Term 4, 2020: 12 October 2020
Term 1, 2021: 29 January 2021
Term 2, 2021: 20 April 2021
Term 3, 2021: 13 July 2021
Term 4, 2021: 6 October 2021
This Friday will be the last in the series of Online Cadets as a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions. The good news is that we will return to Friday afternoon training and parades as of Week 1, Term 3. This will, of course, be in accordance with the College’s hygiene precautions for co-curricular activities. For the foreseeable future, we will also need to parade in school uniform and not DCPU (Cadet Uniform). However, it will be fantastic to come together as a Unit again.
I must commend everyone in the Unit for the way they have tried to stay engaged and connected during this time, while continuing to learn new Cadet skills and knowledge. It hasn’t been easy! Cadets is a very practical and hands-on co-curricular activity – and I have been impressed with the innovative ways in which our cadets have demonstrated their newly acquired skills during the course of the term. A special thank you to our leaders – our Cadet Under Officers (CUOs) and our Training Cadre – for keeping the enterprise together over this difficult term.
In light of the COVID-19 restrictions this year, we are taking the opportunity to review the Training Program and Cadet Calendar for 2020/2021. From our recruits through to our CUOs, we have amazing and dedicated cadets in the Unit – and developing them into fine young leaders and citizens in a safe and healthy environment is our number one priority.
Please click here for this issue’s Careers News. To register for TheCareerExpo, remember to click the poster below.
As part of World Environment Day on Friday, 5 June, the Senior School Sustainability Group carried out a campus rubbish audit. This was led by Sebastien Van De Hoek and Jayden Lim, along with sixteen Year 12 prefects.
The boys got stuck into sorting the rubbish into 5 groups:
The different categories were then weighed, revealing that over 50% of the rubbish going into the general waste bins could be composted! We also found that the use of mixed recycling bins could be improved by simply following the listed guidelines on the bins.
This event helped to raise awareness of what we need to do to improve our waste disposal and how we can move forward with our composting drive. This will make a huge impact on our overall sustainability as a College and reduce the amount of our waste that goes into landfill. Sustainability Group will now focus on creating resources to educate students on how best to recycle and use our fantastic new composting bins.
Senior Sustainability Group meets every Tuesday Lunchtime in E04. Anyone who is interested in improving sustainability on campus is very welcome to come along!
We are delighted to welcome new staff member, Ms Angie Williams, to the Library team. Angie comes to us from the Supreme Court Library Queensland and has previously worked in local government libraries, museums and legal services. Ms Williams can be found in the Senior Campus Library each day from 7:30am, where she can assist your son with any research and reading inquiries. Welcome, Angie!
Sometimes school is pretty frenetic and there just isn’t the time to physically get something to read from the Library. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you have to miss out on reading because Waverley College parents and sons have access to Wheelers Collection. This great collection includes e-books and audiobooks. We are trialling a special wellness collection that includes many titles to help you and your son with life issues.
And, you don’t even have to worry about getting the book back on time; it will simply disappear from your device. It can be used on phones, tablets and computers. There is lots of help available here. Alternatively, you can ask a member of library staff in person or via email at librarystaff@waverley.nsw.edu.au.
This week the College has celebrated and supported National Reconciliation Week and its theme ‘In this Together’. The dates for National Reconciliation Week remain the same each year from 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
In 2020, Reconciliation Australia marks twenty years of shaping Australia’s journey towards a more just, equitable and reconciled nation. A lot has happened since the early days of the people’s movement for reconciliation, including greater acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights to land and sea; understanding of the impact of government policies and frontier conflicts; and an embracing of stories of Indigenous success and contribution.
In speaking with a number of students this week, the boys questioned and raised the need for a greater rate of change, citing First Nations People’s constitutional acknowledgement, the placement of Australia Day in the calendar, a more representative national anthem, and better health and education standards for all Australians as ways we could improve reconciliation.
Throughout the week, students at the Junior and Senior campuses have been participating in a number of activities recognising Reconciliation Week. Activities included recreating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags, conducting smoke ceremonies and playing music during breaks, showcasing the documentary ‘In my Blood, It Runs’ and today we had a special virtual Reconciliation Week Assembly. Thank you to parents Ms Fran Grant and Ms Jasmin Speedy who assisted with this week’s reconciliation online assembly and gave students a firsthand insight into reconciliation.
Aboriginal Elder Aunty Maxine Ryan visited the College this week to consult on the design for Wingara at our Junior School campus. She will assist us in incorporating Aboriginal culture and fostering reconciliation in the spaces and elements of Wingara. Further information regarding the plans for Wingara will be shared in the next newsletter.
The senior campus underwent the highest possible grade clean last week over two days. Every classroom and building space was included in this clean. The clean included a biological deep clean and also a full fumigation disinfection service.
For the student who tested positive to COVID-19 last week and then negative, with the parents permission and support, I can inform the community that he has returned a second negative test result which is wonderful news for him and his family.
For further details regarding the College’s protocols surrounding the resumption of modified co-curricular training, please refer to Mr O’Donnell’s email sent to all parents and students earlier this week.
For further details regarding the College’s evacuation plan, please see the article following this one.
This award recognises consistently good effort, behaviours, achievement and service across a range of events and subjects. These students have been recognised as going above and beyond 15 times by different members of staff to achieve 3 Gold Awards. Congratulations to the following students on receiving the Principal Award:
Kayden Baker (7), Connor Andrews (9), Emmanuel D Bartolo (11), Aaron Dimovitch (11), Arch Gardner (11), Joshua Grant (11), Jack Hickey (11), Joshua Cornelius (12), Thomas McMahon (12), Jordan Swann (12).
Congratulations to staff and students who have embraced the Saturday Year 12 tutorials.
If you have any questions regarding these sessions, please make contact with Mr Stephen O’Donnell on sodonnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au. Please encourage your son to attend the relevant tutorials to his pattern of study.
Congratulations to the following Old Boys who have been appointed from last Sunday’s AGM to the Executive and Council Members for the next 12 months. I acknowledge their desire to give something back to the College that set them up well for their respective careers and a desire to support their peers through life’s journey. Our Alumni and Development Officer, Ms Venettia Miller will continue to work closely with our old boy community and can we contacted on vmiller@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Executive
President – Mr Salvatore Riolo, Vice President – Mr Col Blake, Treasurer – Mr John Hilton, Secretary – Mr Chris O’Sullivan, and Assistant Secretary – Mr Peter Hannigan.
Council Members
Mr Warren Boyd, Mr Michael Dignam, Mr Peter Frost, Mr Sam Hardjono, Mr John Karras, and Mr Brandon Perry.
The Edmund Rice Foundation Australia (ERFA) has supported for many years a school in Nairobi, Kenya called the Ruben Centre. For the last 20 years, the 500 Supporters Group has been the main source of fundraising for the Ruben Centre. The Ruben Centre provides services to the people of the Mukuru Slum – one of Kenya’s largest informal settlements. The Ruben Centre educates nearly 3,000 students, its medical clinic provides support to thousands and the Ruben Maternity Clinic has assisted in reducing mortality rates in childbirth significantly within the slum area. Staff members Ms Geraldine Cullen, Ms Trish Alborough, Ms Cathy O’Sullivan and Ms Martina Cooper have all visited the school.
Each year the 500 strong network gathers at the MCG for 2 lunches. The COVID-19 pandemic means they are unable to gather in person this year just when Ruben is relying on our network community more than ever. We all know how challenging this pandemic has been here in Australia, but it’s almost impossible to imagine the health and economic impacts on families living in 3m x 3m shacks in a slum with no running water and no jobs to go to. A lunch video has been created with AFL legends Johnathon Brown and Kevin Sheedy, and ex-politician Jeff Kennett. Please click here to join us and support the Ruben Centre.
I can appreciate how difficult it has been for our recruits to stay engaged with their Cadet training in the online environment. Cadets is an activity for physical engagement. The whole point of it, and the benefits it gives to the boys and girls in their development as strong and capable leaders, is so difficult to envisage in a Google Classroom.
While the content we have adapted for online learning is of absolute benefit to our cadets’ comfort and safety when we can eventually enjoy camp, it can seem like just another bit of homework that needs to be done (which certainly detracts from the enjoyment). I am therefore immensely proud of the engagement, diligence and creativity that our cadets have shown during this difficult time. A special thank you to the recruits who stayed back with me last week to catch up on missing tasks.
On Monday, we were saddened to hear of the loss of LT COL(AAC) Ian Cavanagh, who passed away peacefully following a long illness.
LT COL(AAC) Cavanagh dedicated 62 years of his life to Cadets, culminating in his position as the Assistant Commander of 2nd Brigade, of which Waverley College Cadet Unit is a part. His passion and tenacity were instrumental in developing the kind of program that our students are now benefitting from.
He was a wise and considered gentleman, and the AAC will greatly feel his loss.
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
Watch our video
