This week we continued our celebration of our high achieving students in our Academic Awards Assembly for students in Years 7-9 who have ranked highly in their courses. Congratulations to all award winners!
We were also privileged to be an audience for performances in Drama and Music. We were treated to a performance from some of our Year 7 Drama students who shared the excellent work that they are currently refining on James and the Giant Peach.
Performing his own arrangement of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, composed by John Powell on the piano, we congratulate Aidan Murray in Year 12 for his amazing recital.
As students are settling into Term 3, over the next few weeks they will have opportunities across many of their subjects to engage in feedback from formative tasks in their Learning Checkpoints.
The reflection and goal-setting activities in these tasks are designed to assist our students to tighten their Term 3 SMART goals, be aware of their progress and understand where to adjust their approach in future tasks.
We challenge our students to reflect on this feedback and strive to walk across the stage at the end of Semester 2 for their academic growth, performance and effort.
Throughout the year, our teachers work hard to organise and provide real-world excursions and activities to engage our students in authentic learning experiences.
Just in the last two weeks our Year 10 Visual Arts students have had a session on mixed media with Jody Graham, Year 11 Drama students have been to the Roslyn Packer Theatre to watch a production of Dracula, our Year 8 Spanish students had an authentic Spanish food experience, and some of our Year 9 students competed at the Stretch and Challenge competition at Ascham School to name but a few.
Next week sees the launch of Science Week. Please read Ms Emily Pace’s article HERE for further details.
For students in Year 11 who are building up their study notes leading up to their Yearly Examinations at the end of this Term, a representative from Atomi – a valuable online resource to support the HSC across a range of subjects – offered training this week to help our students use the platform well.
Whilst many courses embed Atomi modules in their online content on CANVAS, the platform also offers resources to assist students in building effective study notes, managing work overload and preparing for assessment periods.
For example, the presentation this week drew our students’ attention to an online lesson on how to build effective Cornell Study notes.
As I mentioned in our assembly last week, getting an early start on note-taking as students go, rather than waiting until the last minute, is an effective way to ensure the effective repetition and retrieval of key course material.
Click HERE for Atomi Parent and Carer Support Materials.
For additional study advice, please head to Dr Prue Salter’s Study Skills website, which is constantly updated with relevant resources to support students and parents.
Username: forwaverleycollegeonly
Password: 94results
Waverley College students have been invited to submit an entry to The Sidgwick Prize.
The Sidgwick Prize, Cambridge is an annual essay competition for high-school aged students from around the world. Each year students can choose to respond to an essay question from a list of three questions in eight disciplines: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Law, Theology, Psychology, and Art History.
Every submission receives substantive feedback from academic specialists, including Faculty at the University of Cambridge.
A prize is awarded for the best essay in each discipline and The Sidgwick Prize is awarded to the best essay in all disciplines.
The Sidgwick Prize supports the work of The Sidgwick Trust, a campaign to expand access to the humanities and social sciences.
For more information, click HERE.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last week we posted the Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9 students’ NAPLAN results to parents and carers.
These results provide great information about areas in which the students performed well and those items where additional work is needed.
Feedback to parents and students is an opportunity to reflect on student success.
During this Term, Heads of Department and key staff from the Curriculum Team will be analysing these results in detail to further develop our programming in the areas of Literacy and Numeracy.
Some highlights this year include a trend upwards in Year 5 students’ average scores in Reading, Grammar and Numeracy. The Waverley College Year 9 Inferential Reading Program, focusing on metacognition and self-regulation to strengthen inferential reading, is showing pleasing student growth indicated in the highest average Reading scores in a number of years. Average Reading Scores are sitting above State average: 35 – 36 score points above average in Year 5 and Year 7 and 18 score points above average in Year 9.
Since 2019, Writing scores at Waverley have increased and the move to the Writer’s Toolbox program has shown students’ writing develop exceptionally well. With the benefit of AI real-time feedback, students’ sentence and paragraph writing is more sophisticated as they have the ability to progress at their own pace. Writing is trending upwards and, this year, each Waverley cohort has performed at 16 score points or more above State average across Years 5, 7 and 9.
Spelling has been identified as an area for development. Students are entering Year 5 with weaker spelling ability than in prior years; a trend that is consistent across the State. To start turning this trend around, streamed spelling lessons and tailored programs, including Spelling Mastery, are timetabled for all Year 7 students to instil a more sophisticated knowledge of word morphology.
Grammar and Punctuation scores are trending upwards in Year 7 and are steady in Year 9, with a healthy 20 score points above average.
Numeracy Scores are 31 score points above average in Year 7 and Year 9. Programs, such as Strength in Numbers and Learning Support in-class assistance help to continue sound results in Numeracy.
Mr David Parnell
Head of Learning Support
dparnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We are thrilled to announce Waverley College has partnered with local Randwick business This is Africa – a leading African tour company – to offer a 12-day luxury family trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana!
Day 1-3: South Africa, Sabi Sand Reserve – Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge
Day 4-5: Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls – Pioneers Lodge Victoria Falls
Day 6-8: Botswana, Chobe region – Chobe Bakwena Lodge
Day 9-11: South Africa, Cape Town – Southern Sun Waterfront
Day 12: South Africa – End of services
This once-in-a-lifetime trip valued at over $30,000 will be up for grabs as part of the Waverley College Blue and Gold Ball silent auction, launching on August 12 at 9am. The auction is open to anyone and everyone, even if you’re not attending the Ball.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or looking to embark on your first grand adventure, this experience promises unforgettable memories and breathtaking sights.
The link to our auction website can be found HERE.
If you’re the winner of this incredible prize, all you’ll need to organise is flights, visas and select meals not included.
Bidding is easy! Simply head to our Blue and Gold Ball auction website HERE and place your bid. Bidding starts at 9AM on August 12 and ends at 9PM on August 24. Be sure to place your bids early and keep an eye on the auction page to secure this incredible prize.
Not only will you have the chance to win an unforgettable African adventure, but your participation also supports a great cause. The proceeds from the Blue and Gold Ball Silent Auction go towards the Waverley College Building Fund, dedicated to the construction of a state-of-the-art Science and Innovation Centre.
This visionary facility will set a new standard for education, conservation, and cultural heritage preservation. This Centre features a remarkable 14 purpose-built laboratories, including specialised spaces like the Marine Studies Lab, Engineering Lab, and a unique Rooftop Lab. It also stands as a beacon of sustainability and a testament to our profound connection with the rich First Nations Australian heritage.
For more information about the prize, please contact This Is Africa:
A: 51 Frenchmans Rd Randwick
P: 02 9664 9187
On Wednesday, 31 July, Year 11 Drama students were lucky enough to attend a showing of the Sydney Theatre Company’s newly adapted depiction of Bram Stoker’s much-adapted 1897 novel, “Dracula”.
Dracula, which debuted in early July to rave reviews, is whatSTC Artistic Director Kip Williams likes to call ‘cine-theatre’, an ambitious mash-up of live performance and live and pre-recorded video. This style of self-proclaimed ‘cine-theatre’ is Kip Williams’ speciality, as he previously utilised the same attributes of theatre and film in his productions The Picture of Dorian Gray and Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
These productions astounded audiences and critics alike with their innovative cine-theatre live video techniques that closely engaged audience members.
Dracula was a phenomenal production that was incredibly engaging and entertaining. Actress Zahra Newman performs all 23 roles in the play, from the vampire-hunter, Professor Van Helsing, to the mysterious titular count of the play. She puts on an incredibly transformative performance as she employs a variety of techniques to differentiate the varied characters she portrays, her subtle acting choices allow her to shape-shift between all roles
using only wigs, costumes and her extraordinary voice and physicality.
Newman carries this production on her back as she adapts spectacularly to the intense requirements of the show. It is a masterclass of acting within the two-hour runtime of the production. Assisting Zahra Newman in bringing these characters to life is the fabulous costume department which provides intricate appearances that add to the play’s gothic atmosphere. However, despite all the wonderful costumes seen, I felt the costume and look of the titular character felt off and disconnected from the rest of the play.
For example, the red wig that Dracula wears felt somehow incongruous in the interactions between he and other characters, and ended up being quite distracting. However, elements such as this are easy to forgive.
Alongside the acting chops put on display by Zahra Newman, are the spectacular technical elements of the play. The so-called ‘cine-theatre’ is performed expertly, as Williams takes you through the harrowing tale of Count Dracula and his hunters. The different elements of production, namely the live and pre-recorded film are incredible to witness and immerse you immediately.
The play achieves a captivating degree of world-building with minimal props and items on stage. The narrative voice often shifts from character to character to progress the story. Whilst this effect is effective for a majority of the time, it does become difficult at times to stay on track, as Newman weaves in between different character perspective.
The technical aspects of the moving screens and the implementation of their recording is unlike anything that you’ve seen before. The pre-recorded film is used with live vision as Newman interacts with herself playing multiple characters, conversing and exchanging, building the tension. The musical soundscape provided by the composer is always present, always evocative and menacing.
Overall, the Drama students thoroughly enjoyed the excursion and were grateful for the opportunity to watch both an intriguing interpretation of a classic novel and a style of theatre that is unique.
Oscar Wilson
Year 11 Drama Student
Friday, 9 August – Timor Leste’s June Immersion Debrief Dinner 6pm – 7.30pm in the PAC Foyer
Saturday, 10 August – Back to Queens Park Day
Sunday, 11 August – City2Surf – registrations are open!
Saturday, 24 August – Blue & Gold Ball, College Gym (Br J P Lacey Gymnasium)
Thursday, 29 August – Tevlin House Winter Sleepout for Matthew Talbot Hostel
Friday, 30 August – Fathers Day Breakfast, 6:30am – 9am
Thursday, 5 September – 2025 Immersion Information Night for Parents & Students, 6pm – 8pm in the PAC
Tuesday, 10 September – Timor-Leste September Immersion – 2nd Formation Night, Library, 6pm-8pm (friendly reminder for parents to please bring a plate to share)
Wednesday, 11 September – Fiji September Immersion – 2nd Formation Night, Library, 6pm-8pm (friendly reminder for parents to please bring a plate to share)
Thursday, 12 September – HSC Drama Showcase – PAC Theatre, 5pm-7pm
Thursday, 26 September 2024 – Term 3 classes Conclude
Friday, 27 September – Fiji & Timor Leste September Immersions Depart Sydney
View the Week 2 Careers Newsletter HERE.
Please see me if you require any further assistance or information.
Ms Kath Knowles
Senior Studies & Careers Coordinator
kknowles@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last week our Year 8 boys were taken on a culinary journey to Spain without leaving school! All students took part in an exciting Spanish incursion as students start their new module – Food and eating out – and it wouldn’t be fair to do a unit on food without trying some ourselves!
As the students gathered in the school courts, the air was filled with the irresistible aroma of traditional Spanish cuisine. Students had fun brainstorming session together and raced to complete their Spanish trivia in small groups. Competition was rife to say the least! All while Spanish chefs prepared their plato principal and postre for the day.
After a small delay due to cyclonic winds, the iconic paella, (a dish so colourful and flavorful it could only be described as a feast for both the eyes and the palate) was ready. The excitement was palpable, with many exclaiming how they had never tried paella before. The combination of flavours was a hit, and requests for a second plate came hard and fast, even before students had finished.
The students quickly inhaled the vibrant hues of saffron-infused rice, succulent pieces of chicken, seafood, and a medley of fresh vegetables. The paella was served in a traditional large, shallow pan – paellera, roughly the diameter of your average Year 8 student. Each serving was accompanied by a sprinkling of fresh herbs and a generous squeeze of lemon, adding the perfect finishing touch.
The students were then treated to churros. Watching the churros being made right before their eyes was a real treat. And of course, no churro would be complete without a velvety chocolate dipping sauce.
Throughout the incursion, it was clear that the students were not just enjoying the food, but also learning about the cultural significance behind each dish. The Spanish presenters shared interesting anecdotes and insights into how these traditional foods are enjoyed in Spain whilst students waited to be served, adding depth to the students’ appreciation of the cuisine.
The Year 8 Spanish incursion was a resounding success. The boys left with full bellies and happy hearts, having not only sampled delicious Spanish fare but also gained a greater understanding of Spanish culture. ¡Olé!
Mr Daniel Best
Head of LOTE
dbest@waverley.nsw.edu.au
It is an expectation that all students will complete their Year 12 studies at Waverley College.
When a student leaves Waverley in Year 12, they are expected to return all Waverley College equipment including laptop, charger and textbooks. In previous years we have had a significant number of students who fail to return laptop devices or other items of school issued equipment and as such we hold a Continuation Deposit to offset the cost to the College.
Textbooks are recycled at the College and returned laptops are shipped back to the leasing company at the end of Year 12. Unreturned laptops are unusable as they become locked after leaving in Year 12. All students who return all equipment will receive their deposit back in full.
Continuing deposits vary depending on the student start date, or when the Enrolment Contract was signed. Some of our Year 10 cohort will have paid the Continuation Deposit at the time of enrolment, others have been recently notified that the payment is going to be applied to their Term 3, 2024 Fees.
If the student is studying VET courses and is expected to leave before the end of Year 12, or if the student has planned on leaving the College before the end of Year 12, they are still able to receive the deposit back by notifying the Finance Department at schoolfees@waverley.nsw.edu.au and returning all College equipment on departure.
Johnathan Phillips
Director of Business Services
jphillips@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Thursday 1 August, our Walawaani students visited the Waverley Council Library to view their artworks on display at the gallery. This was a wonderful morning for Parents, Carers, our College Leadership Team and Council members to view these incredible artworks.
These artworks displayed the theme of Reconciliation Week ‘Now, More Than Ever’, our students’ Country and our local community & area.
These artworks will still be on display for the weekend and then will be returning to school for display.
The Year 12 Formal will take place on Thursday, 22 August 2024 at The Australian Turf Club, Randwick.
Click HERE to purchase tickets.
You are invited to attend an evening with Digital Resilience Expert, Yasmin London. She will be presenting on the latest online trends, social media dynamics, gaming landscapes, and pertinent research and legislation affecting children and families in the digital world. Yasmin’s insights promise to be both enlightening and essential for understanding the digital environment our children navigate daily.
This is a community event specifically for parents of children in Years 5-9.
Date: Thursday 8 August
Time: 6pm-7pm
Cost: $30.00
Venue: Ascham School, Packer Theatre, 188 New South Head Road, Edgecliff
RSVP HERE
Ask Izzy is an interactive website run by a not-for-profit organisation, Infoxchange.
The website is aimed specifically at providing young people with customised resources if they need help with support/counselling, food, housing, money, domestic/family violence, everyday needs, health, advice/advocacy and work/learning. It is free and anonymous, with thousands of services listed across Australia. And if a young person is on the Telstra or Vodafone mobile networks, they can access Ask Izzy on their phone even if they don’t have credit or access to wifi.
It is regularly updated and seeks to provide access to resources that are local to the young person engaging with their website.
On Tuesday, 3 September from 6:30pm-7:30pm, our Year 12 College Leaders are welcoming students from Years 8-10 and their parents/carers to attend an information evening about Alcohol and Addiction, Healthy Habits, Positive Relationships and Technology Usage.
RSVP HERE by Tuesday, 20 August to indicate your attendance.
Today, instead of sharing content on how to deal with anxiety or discussing some other psychological viewpoints, we’d like to offer a friendly and non-judgmental reminder: spend more quality 1:1 time with your teenage son.
Raising a teenage boy often involves a tug-of-war between their desire for more freedom and your (often justified) concerns about their maturity to handle it. This conflict usually leads to interactions centred around guiding them, setting boundaries, and establishing rules. Over the years, these interactions can overshadow the precious moments spent simply enjoying each other’s company without any agenda.
It’s also challenging with teenage boys, as they often claim they don’t want to spend time with you. Despite their efforts to appear independent, they do appreciate these moments together.
If you’re open to this reminder, consider finding an activity you both might enjoy—whether it’s a dinner, movie, exhibition, sporting event, or something more active. Ask him openly if he would like to join you, explaining that you just want to spend some 1:1 time together with no strings attached. If he says no, don’t take it personally; it’s not a reflection on you. Simply accept it and try again in a week or two. If he agrees, cherish this time together and resist the urge to bring up any concerns when his guard is down. Remember, parenting is a long game. By consistently creating these opportunities for trust and connection, you’ll likely find him more willing to engage with you in the future.
Greg Cameron
School Psychologist
The week started off with the Year 7, 8 & 11 Parent & teacher interviews, we had the final House mass for the year and we celebrated the Year 10-12 Academic Awards Winners at the assembly yesterday.
Congratulations to the following students who were presented with an academic award at this week’s Senior School College assembly.
These students should all be congratulated for their hard work, high skills and the competition that striving for excellence brings and benefits all. I hope other students are inspired by them to strive just a little bit harder in Semester 2.
The full Year 10-12 award winners list can be viewed HERE.
Congratulations to the following students who were presented at yesterday’s Assembly the Perpetual Shields for the OBU Award for Academic Integrity and Fortitude 2023;
Congratulations to James Peate who was recognised in our assembly this week for his tremendous achievements in public speaking. James was invited to the stage to present two perpetual shields to the community for two tremendous achievements.
Firstly, James was presented with the perpetual shield for our Waverley College Edmund Ignatius Rice Essay and Speech competition that he won earlier this year. Also, James was presented with the perpetual shield for the prestigious NSW Rostrum Voice of Youth Public Speaking Competition where he competed with 900 students in NSW to win the title.
James competed against the other state winners in the national finals over the weekend in Hobart and was a very commanding runner up. A massive thank you to Ms Alice Curtis who has supported this student in this very impressive journey.
HSC Study Guides were distributed this week to all Year 12 students sitting the HSC this year. The Study Guides include exam advice from teachers and past students along with tips on looking after students’ mental health and wellbeing, in the lead up to exams.
CLICK HERE FOR THIS YEAR’S GUIDE
Senior Teaching & Learning staff also went through the Trial HSC protocols this week, in preparation for the Trials which begin on Monday 5 August and conclude on Monday 19 August 2024. We wish all Year 12’s the best of luck with their Trials.
Wednesday, 7 August 2024 – 5.30pm-7.30pm
Senior Campus in the Grange Boardroom – All Welcome RSVP here
All parents/carers are warmly invited to attend the Waverley College Parent Association (WCPA) meeting which are normally held once per Term.
Cadets has been developing youth in resilience, citizenship and leadership at Waverley College since 1911. In order to support the Waverley College Strategic Plan in holistic education, we are extending this opportunity in 2025 to include Year 7 students.
All Year 7 students will commence Cadets in Term 3 2025 and continue until end Term 1 2026. This exciting initiative enables greater opportunities in the development of character, professional relationships in a coeducational setting, and servant leadership as students from Waverley College and St Catherine’s School progress through the Waverley College Cadet Unit across a 5 year program.
Students currently in Year 6 2024 will participate in a special Cadet Orientation Afternoon with our senior cadets in Term 4 this year, where they will get a taste of this engaging outdoor education program. Once in Year 7, they will be issued with their uniform and equipment in Term 2 2025, ready to begin Cadets in Term 3 2025.
Students currently in Year 7 2024 will be given the opportunity to join the Cadet Unit in a voluntary accelerated Recruit Induction Program in Term 2 2025. This one-off opportunity is a great way to commence the program as part of this exciting new program and forge the way for a new Senior Recruit Company in Term 3 2025 where they will continue their training at an elevated level.
As we look to promote excellent citizenship across our schools, the Waverley College Cadet Unit is integral in fostering collaborative and respectful relationships, fellowship and leadership, in our students from the beginning of their secondary Education.
The College will officially unveil a memorial plaque to commemorate the talents and dedication of our builder and architect Old Boys who together constructed the T&M Hayes Pavilion in Queens Park. This will occur on Saturday, 10 August at 2.30pm – 3pm, Queens Park Pavilion.
Read about the Green Gables and Queens Park Pavilion History
“My father certainly gave a lot back to the school – he loved the school. How cool in hindsight that a building designed by your Dad is opened by the Prime Minister of Australia (John Gorton). A very proud moment.” – Mr Peter Anderson (Class of 1973-74) about his father Professor Neville Anderson (Class of 1936).
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 3 events, please refer to the College calendar.
All Junior school students have been invited to watch the matinee of the Junior School Musical ‘Moana’ at St Catherine’s. This will be next Tuesday, 6 August during school time. This is very timely for our students with our upcoming Musical The Lion King. We are all very excited and we can’t wait to watch the spectacular performance.
Permission is required to attend. Please log into the Parent Lounge to action the permission slip. If you have any problems accessing the Parent Lounge please contact iassist@waverley.nsw.edu.au.
At the commencement of each term, students are encouraged to set SMART goals for their learning with their classroom teachers. Goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timed will set our students up for success. I have been visiting classes this week and I will continue next week to really motivate and guide them on the importance of goal setting and how to set goals that are meaningful to each individual.
Last term, all students received their Semester One Academic report and had a meeting with their teacher to identify areas for development. I encourage you to sit down and discuss the goals that your son has set for his learning so we can all work together to help him achieve it. We know that writing goals down allows students to revisit them throughout the term, encourages focus, and builds strategies to make sure they achieve their goal/s. The goals for Term 3 can be found on Page 112 and 113 in the College Diary.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A friendly reminder to please complete the Consent Form attached for the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee. We are encouraging all students in the Junior School to participate; however, it is not compulsory. It is a free online competition that we will run in classes during Week 4 this term. More information can be found on the English Canvas page.
The Consent form can be found HERE.
Mr Elliott McKimm
Teacher of 5 Orange
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Fathers, step-dads, uncles, grandfathers and special men who are like fathers in the lives of Waverley College students, are invited to accompany their boys to a special Father’s Day Mass in honour of fathers everywhere.
This will be held on Friday, 30 August, at 12pm. A BBQ Lunch will follow, which will be held in the Junior School.
Please HERE to RSVP or for more information click HERE.
Part of the Father’s Day celebration will include a slideshow. Can I please ask that you send through a photo of your son(s) with their fathers/grandfathers if you would like a photo included in this presentation. This needs to be emailed no later than Monday 26th August. Please send through all photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Once a month as part of the Social Justice program, our Year 11 students will hit the streets to feed the homeless men and women of Sydney. This initiative is run by the St Vincent de Paul Society and gives the students an insight into the vast array of people (children, teens & adults from varying backgrounds) who are homeless and the journey that each of them are on.
As this face to face experience is not suitable for our Junior School students, we are asking assistance in the form of donations.
Students in 5 Indigo & 6 Indigo are asked to donate the following items for the next Night Patrol on Monday, 5 August:
Fresh Fruit – Banana, Apples, Oranges (to be brought in on Monday, 5 August)
Packet noodles, Packets of chips, Poppers (to be brought in on or before Monday, 5 August)
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Click HERE.
It gives me great pleasure to share the National Swimming achievements of two of our Junior School boys, Jack Forde (5 White) and Kai Hess (5 Gold). They represented NSW PSSA at the School Sports Australia Games on the Gold Coast last week/weekend. This comes after progressing through several tough competitions against swimmers all over Sydney, from making the IPSHA team to the CIS team and then the PSSA team. Needless to say, Jack and Kai also train extremely hard before and after school throughout the year. The boys put a lot of pressure on themselves to succeed and we are so proud of them.
Kai Hess & Jack Forde
On Thursday, 25 August, Jack and Kai placed 3rd in their Medley Relay, Kai swimming the back leg and Jack the free leg.
Friday, 26 August, Kai got into the Finals for 50m Backstroke and ranked 7th fastest overall.
On Saturday, Jack touched the wall 4th in his 50m Freestyle heat, and swam a personal best at the competition.
Jack Forde
Jack and Kai were in separate 4x50m Freestyle relay teams for NSW. Jack’s team came 2nd and Kai’s team were 5th.
The boys had a lot of fun, met some new friends and idols and made Waverley very proud.
Jack Forde & Kai Hess
Congratulations to the below Year 6 and 7 boys, who were selected to represent Randwick at the U12 NSW Junior Rugby Union State Cup in Camden over the holidays. This event was scheduled to take place over the King’s Birthday long weekend but was postponed as Camden’s fields were flooded!
The team came 3rd overall in the state out of a total of 23 teams entered. Go Waves!
Jude McDermott (Yr 6), Nathaniel (Junior) Tauheluhelu (Yr 7), Ollie Burke (Yr 7) Thomas Walden (Yr 7), Malakai Toa (Yr 6), Jake Coleman (Yr 6)
Our Year 5 & 6 AFL Paul Kelly Cup squad represented Waverley with grit and sportsmanship on Wednesday at the Paul Kelly Cup Regional Final at Timbrell Park in Five Dock. The weather held out despite being cold, and the boys were not deterred.
Game 1 was a win over Orange Grove Public School, with a score of 20-15.
Game 2 was another convincing win over St Luke’s 52-0.
A third win came for Waves in Game 3, against Cronulla Public School, 15-3.
We then progressed to the semi-finals and unfortunately lost against Lilli Pilli 29-19.
The boys showed tenacity and Waverley pride throughout the day and we are so impressed with their performance, having done so well in the first round last term, and showing up the way they did on Wednesday. Thank you to our amazing coaches Elise Hunt and Cian Foley for leading the boys. Well done Waves.
Our 2024 Junior School Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday, 16 August. Students will be bussed to and from Sylvania Waters Athletics Track for an exciting day of track and field events. Parents are welcome to spectate and can take their sons home at the conclusion of the carnival by signing out with his classroom teacher. Please read all the information in Parent Lounge > Events and Payments > JS: 2024 Athletics Carnival and action the permission slip here too.
We are looking forward to an exciting day of Athletics house spirit, races and field events!
We held a student meeting on Thursday, 1 August to explain the ins and outs of Year 6 Camp 2024 and can see how excited Year 6 is becoming for our camp on Monday, 19 August – Wednesday, 21 August. While we are so enthusiastic about Camp and all the joys it brings, we understand that there can be some anxiety around it. Please ensure your sons that we will have a fun, safe Camp where they can enjoy getting to know others in the grade, face challenges in the activities, have fun outdoors, and spend quality time with their Waverley mates.
Year 6 Camp 2023
Year 6 Camp 2023
Please access the Parent Lounge to action the permission slip and remember to respond to the Collaroy Centre email with any dietary requirements (even if there are none for your son, you still need to submit the form).
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
In Term 3 our Year 6 pupils will be taking part in the Manchester City Football School Program, once per class in a double PE lesson throughout the Term. Head football coach Ben Charlton will be delivering the football sessions working alongside the junior school PE staff.
The year 6 pupils will learn to play ‘Beautiful Football’ which is the style of football developed and used by Manchester City Football Club across all age groups, from the academy to the first team.
They will also develop their individual football skills by practicing the ball manipulation skills used by Manchester City’s first team players and they will work on team development through technical and game based practices where they can practice applying their skills in game based training scenarios.
Ben Charlton
Manchester City Football School Coach
IMPORTANT: No Home Learning Wednesday 31 July
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks.
The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Register your son HERE
Only register his name once to allow other students the opportunity to attend. The session is limited to 20 spots. There will be a roll call to ensure attendance.
Students are required to stay for the full session unless there is a message in the student diary requesting early leave, a parent’s signature will be required.
As it is important to respect the rights of others to learn and work, all students are expected to settle to work in the Learning Hub and not cause a disturbance for others.
Monday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Tuesday & Wednesday
Ms Gaby Bransby
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
All ICAS exams will be sat before school in the Learning Hub. Please ensure that your son has a charged laptop and he is on time for each ICAS exam.
| WEEK | START TIME | DATE | ICAS EXAM |
| 3A | 7:30 am | Wednesday 7 August | Digital Technologies |
| 8:00 am | Thursday 8 August | Writing | |
| 4B | 8:00 am | Wednesday 14 August | English |
| 5A | 7:30 am | Thursday 22 August | Science |
| 6B | 8:00 am | Wednesday 28 August | Mathematics |
All Year 5 students will be participating in a school-based Public Speaking Competition this term, aimed at allowing students to develop their speaking skills.
Speaking well in public prepares you for positions of responsibility, visibility and the future. Speak up, speak well, and many opportunities will be open to you.
Debating has kicked off this term with one win and one loss for Waverley. The boys had their first debate for Term 3 against Ascham. The debate topic was ‘ Should we change the National Australian flag.’
Both Waverley teams put forward solid arguments and presented their cases clearly and firmly rebutting the Ascham team’s cases. The boys did themselves and Waverley very proud.
Debating develops essential skills that are transferable to other areas: exploring ideas, developing arguments, articulating opinions, building confidence, being able to think on one’s feet, and becoming a good public speaker. I’m extremely proud of the boys and their commitment to debating.
In Week 5 we will be celebrating Book Week at the Junior School. The theme this year is Reading is Magic.
All students from the Junior campus are encouraged to enter one or both of the competitions running for Book Week.
Your son will take part in a fun and engaging writing workshop that will encourage critical and creative thinking while working collaboratively in a small group to produce part of an imaginative text, which in turn will be part of a book. The final copy will be printed and placed in the Learning Hub for all to enjoy.
I am looking forward to working with Year 5 on Wednesday, 21 August and Year 6 on Thursday, 22 August.
Writing Workshop 2023
Reece Carter will be Waverley’s guest author for Book Week on Friday, 23 August.
Reece is an up-and-coming author who fell in love with writing stories when he was a young reader himself, Reece wants to help the next generation of storytellers reach into the quirkiest corners of their imaginations, so they might dream up characters and larger-than-life stories of their own.
Reece’s visit aims to inspire students to grow their imaginations – and to think big!
An essential aspect of supporting your son with his reading is to allow him to make his own book choices. The Pop-up Bookshop will be running in Week 4 on Thursday, 15 August and on Monday, 19 August.
This year I would like to continue with a sustainable and cost-effective Pop-up Bookshop.
If you would like to help with this initiative I would like you to donate pre-loved books that will be sold at a very reduced amount. The amounts raised will be donated to one of the Edmund Rice foundations.
2023 Pop-up Book Shop
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This week in our Academic Awards Assembly, we celebrated our high achievers who ranked first in their courses during Semester. In the assembly I spoke about why we celebrate these students at the half-way point. Of course, the main reason is to celebrate their wonderful achievements but, as we know, topping a course is no easy feat.
We also celebrated the strength of character that these students have demonstrated. These students have grafted. They have gone beyond the set work and have pushed for more. Whether it’s sticking to their study timetable, even when motivation is waning or taking the time to summarise their class notes as they go so that revision later on in the course is that bit easier, the Semester 1 academic first in course awards not only speak of a top ranking in a subject, they speak to character. To grit, tenacity, perseverance and resilience.
In class, many of our students, particularly in the younger years, will have started to practise measuring their own capacity to demonstrate character in the Deep Learning activities that we have embedded into Teaching and Learning programs. Our Deep Learning work with the Association of Independent Schools provides the tools for teachers to mentor our students to reflect on their own strength of character, measure their own tenacity, perseverance and resilience and set goals to develop that competency.
So why are we pushing this so much? Earlier in the year I wrote about NESA Curriculum Reform. One of the key changes is that – our students not just in Waverley College but all across NSW – will have experiences in the new courses where they actively learn about key life skills that employers are looking for. One of these is certainly strength of character. I challenged our students in the assembly to picture themselves in a future job interview or leading team building session with younger employees where they might be able to use examples of when they have demonstrated strength of character.
At Waverley College we celebrate the strength of character that it takes to drive academic growth and effort. To this end, we also celebrated the students who received the Old Boys’ Union Award for Academic Integrity and Fortitude 2023 at the start of this year by presenting them with the Perpetual Shield that will write their achievements into the history of the College for many years to come. The timing of this was crucial as the second challenge I gave to our students in the assembly was about whether they might contend for the 2024 awards. We will be monitoring academic growth from Semester 1 to Semester 2 to determine these awards so this week, at the halfway point of the year, was the opportune time to set this challenge.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Friday, 2 August – Fiji’s June Immersion Debrief Dinner 6pm – 7.30pm in the PAC Foyer
Thursday, 8 August – Cambodia Immersion Debrief Dinner 6.00pm – 7.30pm in the PAC Foyer
Friday, 9 August – Timor Leste’s June Immersion Debrief Dinner 6pm – 7.30pm in the PAC Foyer
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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