In line with the PDHPE curriculum, all students in Year 9 will be participating in ballroom dancing lessons and an evening of dance during Week 4 of Term 1. The dance will be conducted in association with St Clare’s College and will be led by The Joan Carmody School of Dance. The details for each event are as follows.
Ballroom dancing lessons will be conducted in the Lacey Gymnasium at Waverley College during Periods 1 and 2. All students are required to bring their PE shoes to change into.
Students will participate in an organised dance with St Clare’s College. Students have been asked to arrive and assemble in Braidwood on the school campus at 6.15pm. The dance will begin promptly at 6:30pm at the College Gym and will conclude at 8.30pm.
Students are requested to wear collared shirts or polo tops, long pants and trainers. The dance will be supervised by both Waverley and St Clare’s staff members. Students are required to get their name marked off as the enter the dance.
This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn the skills of ballroom dancing and to enjoy a social evening with their peers. Boys are reminded that they will be representing and therefore normal school expectations for behaviour and cooperation will apply.
Should you have any further inquiries, please contact Patrick Darvill (pdarvill@waverley.nsw.edu.au).
Holiday camp
The mid-season training camp run under the direction of Mr Gibbs and coaches Mr Jovine and Mr Noreika was a key part of the 1st and 2nd teams’ preparation for the second half of the CAS season, with around 20 players attending.
During the camp it became evident just how strong Waverley was, thanks to the team meets, rigorous fitness regimen, and the USA/Canada Basketball Tour. The team gelled and this was evident on the court.
The first day of camp involved several gruelling physical challenges to prepare for the CAS Blitz and improve overall fitness. The second day focused on key areas of improvement; running through current plays and learning new ones. The boys worked as a unit through the drills, pushing each other along the way. In day three a scrimmage, running all the new plays and then a well-earned break to recover and focus on perfecting their offense and defence.
The camp was a great success in for preparing the players for the CAS Blitz tournament and for the season.
CAS Blitz
1st V
After the holiday training camp, the 1st V squad was ready to show the CAS competition the hard work they had put in and assert their drive to become a bigger threat.
The first game against Trinity (a school we had previously beaten in CAS Round 4) started off well, both defensively and offensively, getting us scores and stops. Ultimately the early lead the 1st V built, allowed us to take out first victory of the day.
Next up were competition leaders Barker, who had previously beaten Waverley in the CAS by a large margin. From the tip-off Waverley kept the strong Barker side on edge as the game was tight for the first five minutes, however, a series of consistent turnovers throughout the second half led Barker to build the lead and take control. With one last push, Waverley was able to minimise their defensive errors and capitalise on their improved offence, but we came up short, losing by just two points.
Our third game was against Cranbrook. Waverley dominated the game early on, generating a lead of over 20 points. Despite making a good start, the team began to ease off, allowing the young Cranbrook team to outscore them over the next five minutes. After a talk during a time-out and substitutions, Waverley picked it up again and finished strong with a 30-point win.
Finally, the last game for the 1st V was against St Aloysius’, who had previously defeated the 1st V in their regular CAS fixture earlier in the season. The 1st V players used this as motivation to take it to St Aloysius’. Knowing what we needed to do, Waverley started off firing, controlling the game and doing what we could to avoid letting it slip. Although some crucial moments shortened the lead, the players didn’t give up and eventually came away with a double digit win.
Although the Blitz was a great success, there are still errors and improvements to be worked on for before the season commences with our first game against Knox.
2nd V
The 2nd V also had a tough competition throughout their Blitz tournament. With Trinity as their first opponent, the players knew they had to start off strongly. The boys were unable to keep their structure and fell apart at times, which ultimately resulted in their first loss. The next match for the 2nd V would be another tough game against CAS leaders Barker. The 2nd V knew they had to play a physical game against a big opposition to have a chance and they did just that.
Throughout the game the Barker opposition took advantage of their size, however Waverley matched it with good perimeter shooting and creating shots to keep them in the game. With time ticking down, the score was tied up, and with seven seconds left Barker shot a three pointer to win the game, which devastated the 2nd V, however they should be proud of their hard work and for playing a great game and will hopefully get some payback during the regular season. Up against Cranbrook, the players knew they couldn’t be over confident as they only won by a small margin earlier in the season. With this is mind, they played strategically and worked well as a team to take out a win. Unfortunately, this came with consequences as Sam Frazer sprained his ankle midway through the game.
With the final game being against St Aloysius’, the boys wanted to finish on a high and that is just what they did. Keeping up their momentum, the 2nd V continued to run their plays successfully and created good shots throughout the game, which troubled St Aloysius’. Although the opposition had a good inside game, Waverley was able to keep the score in their favour, finishing with a 2-2 record in the day.
The junior A teams had some success in their Blitz tournaments to achieve some great results. The 8A and 10A pulled through, dominating most games to finish with three wins and one loss, while the 9A managed to finish 2-1-1. Our A teams should feel confident going into the second half of the CAS season.
In 2018 a number of students in Years 10 and 11 will have the opportunity to undertake an immersion experience in Timor-Leste.
The students will spend time interacting with the young people of Timor-Leste, building friendships, participating in community-support tasks and learning about subsistence economies. Students will also develop an understanding of Timor-Leste’s recent past through visits to places of historical significance.
Immersion is a different type of experience. It is people from different backgrounds walking beside each other, sharing a journey and gaining understanding.
Sunday 15 July to Thursday 26 July
This involves the last week of the mid-year holidays and the first week of Term 3. You will need to consider carefully what other commitments you may have at this time.
We anticipate that the cost will be approx. $4,000 per participant.
This cost includes;
Please respond to the following questions and submit your response via email to Mr Davis (pdavis@waverley.nsw.edu.au) or Ms O’Sullivan (cosullivan@waverley.nsw.edu.au).
Q1. Can you describe yourself and your special interests?
Q2. Why are you interested in participating in the Timor-Leste experience and what do you hope to achieve?
Q3. Travel in a developing nation such as Timor-Leste can have its challenges…What personal qualities do you think you have that suit an experience like this?
Q4. How will you share your insights and learning with the Waverley College community on your return?
The deadline for expressions of interest is Monday 19 February 2018.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to talk to Ms O’Sullivan, Mr Thompson or Ms Downey
EducationUSA
This U.S. Government Website provides advice to students interested in applying to U.S. colleges and universities. Information includes how to apply, testing, financial aid, visas, and more. The U.S. Consulate General in Sydney has an EducationUSA Centre, and students, parents and career advisers can make appointments to visit the centre.
https://www.educationusa.info/australia
Changes to Police Officer Recruitment Process
The main changes to the recruitment process include no minimum academic requirement, introduction of a University Certificate in Workforce Essentials, the entrance exam is now known as the Police Entrance Exam, copies of transcripts and other mandatory documents need to be certified by a Justice of the Peace, online application via JobsNSW and a case office will contact applicants once applications are received.
https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/recruitment/home
ADFA
Australian Defence Force Academy applications are now open. To avoid having to do the application when you are busy with year 12 exams, think about starting your application soon!
https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/education/adfa/how-to-apply/
Good Careers Guide
A resource that provides students and career advisers access to the relevant tools to explore career, education and employment options.
The 400+ job descriptions covered by the guide include information about personal requirements, education and training, employment opportunities and related jobs.
https://goodeducationbookshop.com/products/the-good-careers-guide
ATO Tax File Number Applications
A tax file number is a unique nine-digit number issued to individuals and organisations to help administer tax and other Australian Government systems. Students need a TFN before they can start any type of paid work.
For information on how to apply visit: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Tax-file-number/
Breaking bad study habits
Start the new school year off right with these great tips for staying focused while studying.
Check them out – https://learningfundamentals.com.au/blog/breaking-bad-study-habits-16-effective-habits-for-success/
Smartphone Apps to Help with Studying
This article features some smartphone apps that can help students to improve their study habits.
Think Education Surviving Year 12 eBook
Think Education have produced a free eBook with tips on how to master your final year of school.
https://beyou.think.edu.au/surviving-year-12
TSFX Exam/Study Tip 3 & 4
https://www.tsfx.com.au/hsc-study-tips
TSFX Edge Online
Edge Online is an online resource portal that provides exclusive resources designed to provide students with the best opportunities to optimise their Year 11 and 12 scores.
https://www.tsfx.com.au/resources/
TSFX: HSC Study Tips – Top Tips from Past Year 12 Students
https://www.tsfx.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/HSC-2016-Study-Tip-1.pdf
Tips for note-taking
https://this.deakin.edu.au/study/students-take-note-and-ace-your-exams
Tips for volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to give to your community, meet interesting people, and learn new skills. It can also be a great way to get some experience on your resume before you get a job. Youth Central have some tips on finding a volunteering position and making sure you’re not being exploited in the role.
https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jobs-careers/volunteering-work-experience/volunteering
Find out which occupations have skills shortages
Choosing a job in an industry where they need more workers is usually a smart decision. Right now, most professions are adequately supplied with large numbers of qualified candidates competing for vacancies. There are shortages for architects, surveyors, sonographers, audiologists and veterinarians, and many trades need more qualified people.
Find out where more people are needed here – https://www.employment.gov.au/occupational-skill-shortages-information
Careers in Sport
This website is for anyone interested in a career in sport and fitness. There is information about recommended qualifications and pathways, along with a list of available positions and courses.
https://www.sportspeople.com.au/
What is being a forensic scientist like?
It sounds like the coolest job in the world – find out what it actually involves from a forensic scientist over at Careers with STEM.
Read the article – https://careerswithstem.com/mythbusting-jobs-forensic-scientist/
Where could STEM take you?
https://www.mskills.org.au/media-centre/news#NewsHint=14168
https://upto.com/embedded/detail/5HQ1O?pt=a1SO
STEM Subjects – Why are they in Demand?
https://www.skillsroad.com.au/parents/career-planning/stemsubjects
Surviving Year 12
This article from Youth Central has some great tips on surviving and succeeding in Year 12. Start your year off right by thinking about how you’re going to balance your year.
Read the tips – https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/studying-training/secondary-study/6-tips-for-surviving-vce
TSFX Free HSC Survival Guide
The School for Excellence (TSFX) have put together a 36 page guide to help year 12 students achieve the best possible marks in end of school exams. The guide has advice about goal setting, managing stress and procrastination, time management skills, effective learning techniques, planning study timetables and more.
Download it here: https://www.tsfx.com.au/hsc-survival-guide-edge-teachers
Good Universities Guide Resources
This page has electronic resources on a number of topics, including comparing universities by state or by degree. The information is all sourced from The Good Universities Guide 2018.
https://australiancareersservice.com.au/resources/ – good-university-guide-downloadables
How to focus on wellbeing in times of stress
https://www.utas.edu.au/news/2017/10/6/422-how-to-focus-on-wellbeing-during-times-of-stress/
Reachout.com
ReachOut is Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people and their parents.
There’s a section on school and study, to help you work through the big decisions.
Find it here – https://au.reachout.com/everyday-issues/school-and-study
Surviving Year 12
This article from Youth Central has some great tips on surviving and succeeding in Year 12. Start your year off right by thinking about how you’re going to balance your year.
Read the tips – https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/studying-training/secondary-study/6-tips-for-surviving-vce
In our 115th year, we welcomed all 1450 students from Years 5-12 at our start of Semester 1 assembly today. The assembly began with an ancient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander custom known as a ‘smoking ceremony’. Some believe that the ceremony has cleansing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits. For others, it supports the beginning of something new and a sign of respect for people past and present. I also believe it is an incorporation of First People’s culture and customs into an important signpost moment for the students, the start of a new school year of learning, reflecting and developing.
The assembly set the tone for the year for all students with four non-negotiable school behaviours discussed:
1) Learning community
Every student and teacher has the right to an environment that is conducive to good learning. Students who interrupt the class or someone else will be challenged. Learning is seen as a lifelong process.
2) Safe, respected and valued
One of our touchstones is inclusive community; do not put others down to make yourself feel better. Some individuals excuse derogatory comments as ‘banter’, but you never know how resilient another person is feeling, so if it is not positive, do not say it or post it online.
3) Connection
We are all neurobiologically driven as humans to want to feel connected. In fact, our drive for connection is more important to us than shelter and food. Extend the hand of friendship and if you see someone on the fringe, invite them to your table.
4) All the small things count and mean more than you think
Why do you wear your uniform properly? You wear it properly because it tells people you respect yourself, you respect others and you respect the College. The uniform also represents every Waverley College Old Boy over the last 115 years and by wearing it well, you also honour them.
Further to these four non-negotiable behaviours, all College policies and procedures regarding academic and student wellbeing matters can be found in the College Diary A-Z of student wellbeing and A to Z of studies. I encourage families to have a good understanding of the College’s expectations and policies.
I was reminded over the holidays of the importance of gratitude. I am sure many of you were too, whether it was a beautiful summer’s day down at the beach, holidays away, spending time with family and friends at Christmas, or just having food on the table.
My reminder was 38 minutes long and started at 8:30am on 13 January. I was in Hawaii and my daughter alerted me to a text she had received, which said:
“BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER THIS IS NOT A DRILL”
The same message was on all of the local TV and radio stations and outside our room everyone in the resort was running into buildings. Sitting on a volcanic rock in the middle of the Pacific with an inbound nuclear missile on its way I prayed that my children’s lives were not going to be cut short and reflected on life and its gifts.
The word gratitude derives from the Latin gratia, which, depending on the context, translates either as ‘grace’, ‘graciousness’ or ‘gratefulness’. We were all very grateful in Hawaii that it was human error and that someone had pressed the wrong button. But gratitude is deeper than this, it is the recognition that the good in our life can come from something that is outside us and outside our control, be it other people, nature, or a higher power.
Positive psychologists see the benefits of embracing gratitude in a world with rising anxiety and depression rates. Gratitude encourages us to experience joy, tranquility, awareness, enthusiasm, and empathy, while removing us from anxiety, sadness, loneliness, regret, and envy, with which it is fundamentally incompatible. I will certainly be encouraging my two children to remember what it means to be grateful and I encourage you to do the same.
Please note that the college has made a change to the protocol parents are asked to follow for seeking leave from school, as follows:
Warm congratulations to the Waverley College Board Chair, Associate Professor Mark Davies, who was awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division on Australia Day 2018. Dr Davies’ award was for service to medicine, particularly to neurosurgery. The award recognised many years of distinguished service to the community.
Dr Davies is Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at St George Hospital as well as Chair of their Clinical Council and Supervisor of Neurosurgical Training. He is on the Medical Advisory Committee of St George Private Hospital and is Visiting Medical Officer at a range of hospitals, including Sutherland Hospital, St George Private Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital.
Dr Davies is Conjoint Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales and is a past President and Executive Board Member of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia.
He is Chairman, Surgical Education and Training Board in Neurosurgery, since 2016 and Member since 2014 of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Dr Davies’ awards and recognition includes:
In November 2017 the college announced the appointment of Dr Davies as the College’s new Board Chair. He has been Deputy Chair since 2014 and a Board Member since 2011. Dr Davies is a Waverley Old Boy of the Class of 1981.
2018 Board Chair, Mark Davies
I wish all members of the Waverley College Community a great start to the year.
I would like to welcome our parents, students, staff and other readers to the 2018 School Year. At the start of each school year, information is supplied in column in order to provide insight into the service we provide, as well as provide useful information about how to support your son’s journey through school.
Waverley College has an outstanding commitment to mental health and wellbeing. Waverley College’s wellbeing model promotes a positive environment for students to grow. Our focus on wellbeing grants many opportunities to not only treat, but also prevent psychological issues. This makes Waverley College an exciting and encouraging place to work as a psychologist.
The college employs four psychologists, Ms Prior, Mrs Schmitz, Ms Bateman and Mr Fleming. We are all passionate about supporting the development of our students and helping them to achieve their potential.
The role of college psychologists
Waverley College’s counsellors are registered psychologists. The service we provide is called counselling.
The role of the College Psychologist is to provide supportive counselling for students. Additionally, we provide support for teachers and parents so that the best outcomes for students can be achieved.
Our role does not have to be restricted to working with students in crisis. We provide support when things go wrong, but we also want to provide assistance to prevent things from going wrong.
When we can’t help
There are a few rare situations where we cannot provide counselling.
Accessing counselling
Every student at Waverley College is able to access a school counsellor. Many students particularly enjoy the confidential nature of the service, as well as having a safe forum to explore their thoughts and feelings without judgement. Students are able to approach any of us to request counselling if they require. In addition to approaching us directly, they can speak to their head of house, wellbeing mentor, or teacher, and request to see one of us.
If you have any concerns regarding your son, please feel free to contact the school and request counselling. The best people to contact are the head of your son’s house, or to contact me directly via email gfleming@waverley.nsw.edu.au for inquiries. I am always happy to have a chat, so let me know if there is any way that I can help.
Co-curricular activity is a vital part of a student’s overall development. A growing body of evidenced-based research suggests that regular exercise, playing a musical instrument, performing or public speaking, significantly improves young people’s cognitive abilities and academic performance. In addition to the immediate and long-term health and wellbeing benefits, a student will experience improved self-esteem, stress release, better sleep patterns, as well as developing an understanding of team dynamics.
During the break, staff, coaches and parents facilitated a wide range of activities for our students. I thank them for their commitment. Some highlights are as follows:
Dane Towns finished 4th in the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships after having to compete in the under 14 age group, one age up from his proper age group which is under 13. He jumped 1.73m, setting a new college record.
Congratulations to Will Cooley, who won the 2018 Nacra 15 Australian Championship and Oceania Youth Olympic Qualifier over the break.
Over the break there were 15 rugby preseason training sessions held for Years 9 to 12. In total we had 86 students attend rugby preseason training during this time. My thanks go to Scott Coleman, Paul Cornish, Kyle Newbury, Lachlan Drew-Morris, Matt Serhon (Randwick), Chris Talakai (Sydney Uni), James Horrocks and John McCoy, for their commitment to running these sessions.
A successful Progression Course was held during December for boys continuing in cadets beyond Year 8. High temperatures impeded some activities, but the course fulfilled all its aims. Thanks to Peter Frost, Anthony Evans, David New and Garth Aird for running this course.
A number of staff and students were also involved in other cocurricular activities during the holidays, among them the Swim Squad, Rugby group and Basketball camps. I’d like to extend my thanks to them all.
We will recommence our full summer cocurricular program from Monday 5 February. The training schedule is available here.
Pease note that exemptions from co-curricular events will be granted on medical grounds or for a valid reason as approved by the Head of College. As per the terms of enrolment, it is expected that parents will not make arrangements that conflict with Saturday sport. Parents and Carers can apply for up to two cocurricular event exemptions each academic year. These must be in writing no later than two weeks prior to the date of leave and sent to the Director of Co-curricular.
Cadets have the WCCU Reveille Dinner at Stamford Hotel, Sydney Airport at 7:00pm on 10 February. This is an opportunity for Old Boys, current Senior Ranks and fathers to come together in a celebration of the valuable contribution the Cadet Unit makes to the development of each Cadet’s leadership potential.
Attendance by students at the Annual May Procession is compulsory and of the highest priority. All families should ensure that the first Sunday in May is cleared of all other commitments as exemptions from this day are rarely granted.
Other compulsory events are:
We have Team App available for many co-curricular activities featuring news, fixtures, competition ladders, live scores and photos. Click here to get the app.
All the best for trials this weekend!
As Term 1 resumes, so does an exciting period of Cricket for all our Cricketers across Years 5 to 12. Waverley has welcomed new Year 5 and 7 boys into Cricket with sports trainings and trials. It’s fantastic to watch the team spirit grow with enthusiastic attitudes and participation from these boys. In the meantime, recent Year 12 graduate Jason Sangha continued a successful start to his Cricket career, as he captained the Australian Under 19s to the final in the World Cup in New Zealand. They are playing Pakistan on Saturday, with the match televised on Fox Sports. We all wish him and the Aussies the best in the final.
Waverley also has 4 representatives in the CAS Cricket Team trial on Saturday, with Ryan Connolly, Jack Hardwicke-Owen, Ben Scarf and Alex Ferrara all rewarded in squad selection for their impressive season thus far. We wish them, and Waverley’s Mr Elliot as CAS Coach, the very best.
26 Boys from Years 10 to 12 enjoyed a highly successful 2-week Cricket Tour of New Zealand in December 2017. With 7 wins from 10 games from our two sides, the boys have come away with a greater belief in what they can achieve on the field, a greater match awareness, and the value of partnerships. An example was an unbeaten 184-run partnership between Ridley Owens and Jack Hardwicke-Owen to lead the chase against St Bede’s Christchurch.
Off the field, the boys bonded magnificently, building stronger friendships and great memories with each other. Year 12 students showed strong leadership, including younger boys and using times on and off the field to mentor and build confidence in others.
A cultural highlight was the Maori village of Te Puia, where boys experienced a cultural show, thermal geysers and a traditional Hangi feast – voted by the boys as best meal on tour.
The boys also experienced an element of social justice in learning about the impact of the Christchurch Earthquakes. A guided bus tour and a visit to the Quake City Museum allowed the boys to explore the humanitarian and environmental ramifications of the quake. Moved by what they saw, the boys made a presentation and donation to the quake victims appeal at the end of their tour.
An action packed visit to Queenstown – which included white water rafting, jet-boating and the gondola and luge ride – was an ideal way to end a memorable and successful tour.
Centuries:
50 + in 1st or 2nd XI on NZ Tour:
Most wickets for the tour was Harry Whitaker with 13 wickets, with over 20 boys taking a tour wicket. The on-field tour highlight was Andreas Fragias bowling a hat trick ball against St Patrick’s with the whole tour squad eagerly hoping for his success.
I’d like to thank all the boys for their co-operation and dedication in making the tour both enjoyable and successful. The way they shared roles and were often selfless in their attitude is to be commended.
Thank you also to the parents for their support of their son’s and the College in all aspects of the Tour and Cricket at Waverley.
I’d finally very much like to thank the tour staff who were incredibly dedicated and committed to ensuring boys had a fun and safe experience. Greg Elliott, Richard Bryant and Sam Rowlings were fantastic in their roles as coaches, providing guidance to the boys individually and collectively throughout the tour.
On Wednesday morning we welcomed the new Year 5 and 7 boys into the Waverley College community. The excitement, nerves and anticipation were clear for all to see as the boys geared up for their first day of school. Their families looked on with part relief that the long holidays were over, and part anticipation, and perhaps apprehension – all normal, healthy emotions, and a sign that our sons are growing up. One day, in the not too distant future, it will be their turn to act as a Year 12 mentor to another new Waverlian.
All Year 7 students were paired with a Year 12 “Big Brother” and met their Wellbeing Mentor and Head of House. They spent the morning navigating the school grounds, coming to terms with the nuances of a 10-day timetable and familiarising themselves with the College routines and practices. Each boy will have the same Wellbeing Mentor and the same Head of House until the end of Year 12. These longstanding relationships are one of the cornerstones of the new Wellbeing model at Waverley College.
A new school year means a fresh start for all of our students, regardless of their year level. A nice long summer break provides a welcome opportunity for them to re-evaluate their priorities and set new goals and challenges for the year ahead.
Here are some tips to help your son seize the momentum and springboard into a truly fantastic 2018.
Open channels of communication with your son’s school, his friends and his friends’ families. Andrew Fuller, in his 2017 College presentation, discussed the importance of a “trio of care” around the individual. This consists of the peer group, the home environment and the school. Together is better!
A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast and some words of encouragement will help set a positive tone for a day of learning. This may mean that you adjust your morning routine so that kids have plenty of time to get up, eat and get ready for the day ahead without having to rush.
The most successful students are those who develop regular study habits that suit their lifestyle and learning style. Establish a regular work routine that fits in around sporting commitments, family routines and chores. The key to all things is moderation. Do a little bit and do it often. This is far more effective than the feast and famine or cramming study style which occurs far too frequently in male adolescents.
Far too many young people are sleep-deprived, which has a negative impact on their well-being, mood, concentration, energy levels and immune system. A good night’s sleep consolidates memory and aids concentration, assisting future learning. We should aim for 8-10 hours sleep as a minimum, more in younger students. Have a regular bed-time and get-up time each day. Aim for a 45-minute wind-down time each night and remove screens and mobile phones from bedrooms.
With our reliance on technology, children today get far less exercise than those of past generations. National Physical Activity Guidelines recommend a minimum of 60 minutes of exercise per day for children and adolescents. Where possible, role model healthy behaviours and positive physical activity patterns. Consider increasing your child’s green time and decreasing screen time for good physical and mental health.
Schools are very social places requiring kids to negotiate many different social situations each day. Encourage kids to be open and tolerant; to be friendly; to be involved in plenty of activities and to seek opportunities to establish new friendships. Teach empathy, encourage them to keep an eye on others and extend a helping hand to those in need. Talk to your son about how to manage disagreements and challenging situations without letting their emotions get the better of them.
Adolescence is a challenging life stage. Knowing where, when and how to access appropriate support is an essential step in navigating the pitfalls of male growth and development. Self-awareness is the first step in self-management and self-care. Knowing when we are at our best and when we feel great makes it so much easier to identify when things may be getting on top of us. This will also enable us to bounce back from setbacks or adversity more readily. Know where to turn to for help, and remember to keep an eye out for your friends.
A comprehensive list of resources is available in the A-Z Wellbeing section of the student diary.
Term 1 is a fantastic time to break some old habits and establish new ones. We look forward to working closely with all of our Waverley families and helping your sons get the most out of 2018.
Lacey House Mentors, Year 7 and Year 12 students getting to know each other.
God of New Beginnings,
We thank you for bringing us to this day where we begin our journey together here at Waverley College Junior School.
We give thanks for the opportunity we have had to rest and to spend valuable time with our families and friends. We now look to the new year as one of hard work, study and achievements, academically and in all of our other cocurricular activities.
Bless in a special way all the students and families of Year 5 who are new to our community. May they find their first year challenging, yet rewarding and full of many happy memories.
Bless all the teachers of the Junior School so that they may develop and challenge us into becoming the best that we can be.
Amen
Prayer: Our Father
Blessed Edmund Rice: Pray for Us
St Mary of the Cross: Pray for Us
Live Jesus in our Hearts: Forever
Welcome to the 2018 school year. It was terrific to see the boys in their new uniforms and polished shoes ready to start the year with tremendous energy. I hope they can keep up this standard all year round. I hope everyone had a great holiday and a chance to recharge their batteries ready for another exciting year.
The boys have been challenged to be the best they can be in everything they do. I would appreciate if the parents could follow this through at home as well.
A big welcome to all our new students in Year 5 and look forward to their active involvement in all things Waverley. I look forward to meeting many of our new and ‘old’ parents at the Parent Association Cocktail Party on Saturday 24 February.
Our complete staff for 2018 is as follows:
The laptops will be issued on Wednesday 14 February with the program starting at 3.30pm and concluding at 5.00pm. The venue is the Junior School Auditorium. All boys need to be present with at least one parent. All information and forms were emailed during the holidays.
Your son should have returned home this week with his blue College diary and the school calendars (large and small). The diary is expected to be signed by parents each week and to have homework and assignments listed.
If you are facing any difficulties at the Junior School please use the table as a guide on who to contact.
| Area | Issue | Steps | Contact Person |
| Curriculum | My son’s progress in a subject / the content of a subject / his performance in assessments / his conduct in class |
1st contact 2nd contact 3rd contact |
Class teacher
Learning Support Junior School Director |
| Pastoral Care | My son’s academic, social, physical and spiritual development, including discipline, peer relationships, attendance | 1st contact
2nd contact
3rd contact |
Class teacher
Junior School Director If needed, the school counsellor |
| Sport | Matters relating to training sessions of my son’s team / team expectations / selection and venues / times | 1st contact
2nd contact 3rd contact |
Team coach
Sportsmaster Junior School Director |
| Fees / Finance | For payment of fees and general enquiries. | 1st contact
2nd contact |
Assistant Business Manager
Business Manager |
| Travel | Opal Card applications and replacements | 1st contact
2nd contact |
Administration Secretary
Deputy Director |
| Contact details | Change of address / phone number / email | 1st contact | Registrar 9369 0698 |
| Other | For general information / absences / illness | 1st contact 2nd contact |
Administration Secretary 9387 5022
Junior School Director |
We will be asking for God’s blessing, for the year ahead, at our Commencement Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral next Thursday 8 February, 10.00am. College Chaplain Fr Bernie Thomas ofm will be celebrating this Mass.
A Memorial Service for past staff member Mr Brian Sheedy will be held in the College Chapel on Tuesday 13 February at 6.00pm. Mr Sheedy was a member of the Waverley College Staff from 1982 to 2008, and was Year 11 Coordinator for much of his time at the College.
House Masses will begin at 8.00am this year in the College Chapel, with the Aungier House Mass happening on Friday 16 February. Parents are most welcome at the House Masses.
The Timor-Leste Immersion will take place on Sunday 15 July to Thursday 26 July. Information and Expressions of Interest have been emailed to Year 10 and 11 students and parents. Expressions of Interest are required by Monday 19 February.
Mary Ramsay
I’d like to welcome to all new families to the College. It was great to meet you at the Parent Association breakfast on Wednesday. We had so many parents attending the event – a positive indicator of a highly engaged parent community!
For those of you who I have not had the pleasure of meeting, I am Mary Ramsay, and this is my first year as the President of the Waverley College Parent Association. I’m a mother of two boys here at the College.
We are:
Our governing principles are that we:
There are many ways parents at Waverley College can be involved:
Supporter Groups assist with various activities at the College, creating to a friendly and inclusive community. Some are formally run and have regular meetings whilst others operate as the need arises. You can attend meetings and/or volunteer to perform a role. Just do what you can when time permits. Read more about Supporter Groups here.
It’s a great way to meet other parents from your son’s year, have your say and stay informed. The more support we have from parents, the better. Find out more about becoming a Parent Year Representative here.
Download the SkoolBag App to read the weekly newsletter – the source of truth of all information.
Join the Parent Facebook Group for your son’s year group, which are run by the Year Parent Representatives. Think of it as a hub to catch up on all your son’s year group news and to connect online with other parents. These don’t replace normal communications from the School. If you don’t have Facebook, you will still receive all the information relevant to your son’s year group.
Waverley College is an amazing school. I hope you enjoy these precious years as much I have.
Mary Ramsay
President
Waverley College Parent Association
passociation@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
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