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Click here to access the Google College calendar.

Click here to download the wall calendar in PDF.

TERM 1

Tuesday, 4 March – Shrove Tuesday – Pancakes will be sold at Lunchtime

Wednesday, 5 March – Ash Wednesday

Thursday, 6 March – Aungier House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Monday, 10 March – Cambodia’s 1st Formation Night, 6pm – 7pm in the Library

Tuesday, 11 March – Open Day

Tuesday, 11 March – Pasifika Family Dinner, 6pm – 7.30pm in the PAC Foyer

Wednesday, 12 March – Quinn House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Monday, 17 March – St Patrick’s Day

Wednesday, 19 March – Lacey House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Thursday, 10 April – Classes Conclude

TERM 2

Monday, 28 April 2025 – Year 7-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day for Senior School

Monday, 28 April 2025 – Staff Professional Learning day for Junior School – student free day for Junior School

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 – Year 7-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day for Senior School

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 – Staff Professional Learning day for Junior School – student free day for Junior School

Wednesday, 30 April 2025 – Classes Resume for Years 5-12

Saturday, 17 May – Tuesday, 20 May – Kairos Retreat

Thursday, 5 June – O’Connor House Mass & Supper, 6pm

Monday, 16 June – Cambodia’s 2nd Formation Night, 6pm – 7.30pm in the Library

Thursday, 26 June 2025 – Classes Conclude

Friday, 27 June – Cambodia Immersion Departs

TERM 3

Monday, 21 July 2025 – Year 5-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day

Tuesday, 22 July 2025 – Year 5-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 – Classes Resume for Years 5-12

Thursday, 25 September 2025 – Classes Conclude

TERM 4

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 – Classes Resume

Tuesday, 2 December 2025 – Presentation Day, Classes Conclude

 

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar. 

Year 6 Parent Webinar – ‘Puberty and Embracing Change’

Thank you to all of our Year 6 parents who attended the Elephant Ed webinar, Puberty and Embracing Change. I hope you found the session informative and supportive. We are excited to begin our in-class workshops, with the first session taking place on Thursday, 27 February. Thank you for your continued support.

Aftercare Update

We have been closely monitoring attendance for aftercare, with a maximum of just four students on any given day. Due to these low numbers, we have made the decision to discontinue the program. We understand this may be challenging for some families—please reach out if you need support in this area. The final week of aftercare will be Week 5 (next week), and bookings can be made using the link provided.

For future families, we will continue to offer aftercare for the first half of Term 1, allowing students time to transition to Waverley Junior School and build independence in getting home.

Year 6 Kanyini Lesson

Today, our Year 6 students participated in their second Kanyini lesson in the Junior School. ‘Kanyini’ is a Pitjantjatjara word that embodies the values of support, nurture, protection, and care for both the land and one another. Originally introduced in the Senior School last year, this program has now been extended to Year 6 due to its positive impact.

During today’s session, Year 12 prefects led the Kanyini lessons within House groups, creating a meaningful opportunity for students to connect with their peers and build relationships with senior leaders. With a focus on teamwork, the boys demonstrated strong collaboration skills, confidently engaging in problem-solving activities and rich discussions. We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm and the way they worked together throughout the session.

Co-curricular Update from Ms Sparks

Congratulations to our students on their excellent efforts in Round 1 of Summer Sport for 2025.

It has been a busy time for our Waverley Junior School swimmers, who have been representing our school with pride at several Invitational Carnivals. Last Friday, Trinity Strathfield hosted us and this week we attended Cranbrook and Riverview. Well done to all our swimmers for their time and commitment in the lead up to our IPSHA Swimming Carnival.

Around the Grounds

At the recent Bronte Nippers Club Championships, Parker Recio (Year 6) achieved first in the swim, first in the board and first in the Iron Person race. Ryder Darragh (Year 6) achieved second Iron Person, second in board, third in swim and second in the sand sprint. Well done boys and all those who competed!

Congratulations also to a number of Junior School boys who played Touch Football at Wagga Wagga last weekend. 

Good luck for Round 2 Summer Sport and Go Waves!

Click here to access the Google College calendar.

Click here to download the wall calendar in PDF.

TERM 1

Tuesday, 25 February – Allwell late enrolments testing, Year 7, 9 & 11

Thursday, 27 February – Brennan House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Friday, 28 February – House Swimming Carnival

Tuesday, 4 March – Shrove Tuesday – Pancakes will be sold at Lunchtime

Wednesday, 5 March – Ash Wednesday

Thursday, 6 March – Aungier House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Monday, 10 March – Cambodia’s 1st Formation Night, 6pm – 7pm in the Library

Tuesday, 11 March – Open Day

Wednesday, 12 March – Quinn House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Monday, 17 March – St Patrick’s Day

Wednesday, 19 March – Lacey House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Thursday, 10 April – Classes Conclude

TERM 2

Monday, 28 April 2025 – Year 7-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day for Senior School

Monday, 28 April 2025 – Staff Professional Learning day for Junior School – student free day for Junior School

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 – Year 7-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day for Senior School

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 – Staff Professional Learning day for Junior School – student free day for Junior School

Wednesday, 30 April 2025 – Classes Resume for Years 5-12

Saturday, 17 May – Tuesday, 20 May – Kairos Retreat

Thursday, 5 June – O’Connor House Mass & Supper, 6pm

Monday, 16 June – Cambodia’s 2nd Formation Night, 6pm – 7.30pm in the Library

Thursday, 26 June 2025 – Classes Conclude

Friday, 27 June – Cambodia Immersion Departs

TERM 3

Monday, 21 July 2025 – Year 5-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day

Tuesday, 22 July 2025 – Year 5-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 – Classes Resume for Years 5-12

Thursday, 25 September 2025 – Classes Conclude

TERM 4

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 – Classes Resume

Tuesday, 2 December 2025 – Presentation Day, Classes Conclude

 

Long Lunch

Last Sunday, we were delighted to welcome over 500 parents and carers to our inaugural Long Lunch. To everyone who attended, we hope you had a fantastic time. Community and connection are at the heart of Waverley, and this event was a true reflection of the joy and sense of belonging that comes from being part of such a strong and supportive network.

Thank you to our Foundation Manager Mr Billy Nicolas and the Marketing team of Ms Krista Thomas and Mr Angus McPherson, as well as our Campus team, for their incredible effort in bringing this wonderful event to life. You also raised $40K towards the Science & Innovation Centre. Thank you!  

Photos from the event can be viewed here.

Parent/ Student/ Mentor Meetings 

Reminder, Year 7-12 Parent/Student/Mentor meetings are on next Monday afternoon, 1.30-3.30pm. Senior school students finish at 1pm as they are expected where possible to join their parents for the zoom interviews. 

Student Led Assembly 

This week, the College Student Leaders organised and presented an impressive assembly that unpacked the class of 2025 motto: “Driven by Passion; Inspired to Serve.” This motto highlights the numerous opportunities students have, both in and out of the classroom, to engage in activities they are passionate about.

The College offers a wide range of experiences to suit various student interests, including the Students of the World Ecology Group (SOTWEG), music, Ballroom Dancing in PDHPE, a Spanish excursion to the Machu Picchu exhibition at the Australian Museum in Sydney, Drama and Music trips to HSC showcases, Study Skills sessions from Elevate and Dr. Prue Salter, Future Problem Solvers, and the NRMA Future of Transport Challenge to name but a few.

The College encourages students to suggest new activities if their interests are not currently covered.

Student Opportunities

Recently, two significant opportunities have been announced for students. First, a new Japanese student exchange program is being offered to Year 10 students.

Mr. Lachlan Drew-Morris will provide more information to parents and carers via the College App. Second, the Edmund Ignatius Rice Senior Essay and Speech competition has been announced. Details for this competition can be found on the Year 11 and 12 English Canvas pages.

‘Kids Giving Back’ – Not For Profit Organisation

We are very proud of the following students who elected to spend part of their summer holidays volunteering to help provide over 6,500 meals, snack packs, care packages and wrote heartfelt messages to support 15 charities across Sydney.

If you would also like your son/s to experience meaningful opportunities to give back to disadvantaged people in our community, consider the Kids Giving Back Community Programs www.kidsgivingback.org

Joshua Fox – Year 6

Henry Grantham – Year 6

James Zimmermann – Year 7

Jack Gibson – Year 7

Max Chadwick – Year 6

Buddy Ross – Year 7

William Sorrenson – Year 7

St Catherine’s School 

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of attending the induction service for Ms. Deb Magill, the 14th Headmistress of St Catherine’s School.

It was a wonderful occasion celebrating leadership, learning, and the bright future of the school. In her address, Ms Magill reflected on her rich educational journey across both Australian and British schools, sharing her deep belief in the power of education to shape lives.

Her words served as a reminder of the profound influence teachers and schools have in nurturing curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

Year 7 Camp

Congratulations to our Year 7s who navigated their first Senior School outdoor education experience to Somerset Outdoor Learning Centre. Somerset is located about 90 minutes North-West of Sydney on the Colo River (known as the last pristine river in NSW). The Centre operates from a central Base Camp which services over 40km of the Colo Valley. 

The boys participated in a number of activities including canoeing, rafting, abseiling, hiking, cooking, obstacle course, rock climbing and the wombat hole challenge. It is a wonderful opportunity for the boys to take a break from screens and make new friends whilst challenging themselves in the outdoors. 

Health Care 

Please support the College Health Centre by making sure your son/s medical history and emergency contacts are updated. This will help us better manage students in our care and ensure we have the correct medications and management plans available.

Please also remember, students who fall ill at school should report to the Health Centre where their illness will be assessed by the College Nurse. Junior College Students will be directed by the Junior College Office Administrator.

Students are not permitted to call their parents/guardians themselves OR to leave the College without permission. Once a student has been sent home, the College will record the students as having left the College grounds.

Registered Nurses Ms Julia Ritoli works Monday – Tuesday and Ms Adele Cutbush works Wednesday to Friday. You can reach them on 02 9369 0644 or nurse@waverley.nsw.edu.au

Attendance 

Please be advised that when submitting a pass in Orah to advise that your son needs to leave school early, please also remind your son that they will be leaving early, and that they will need to have their belongings and be ready at reception at the appropriate time.

We cannot guarantee that the front office will always have someone available to collect the student from class if they forget. 

Online Parent Workshop – Toolbox Education 

Toolbox Education is running a ‘Thinking Traps’ Parent Workshop via Zoom on Monday 10 March. This workshop gives parents a set of tools to help young people catch their unhelpful thoughts before they spiral. See Flyer attached for more details. 

This is a network wide session, with parents from other EREA schools also invited to attend.

Date: Monday 10 March, 2025

Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Workshop: Thinking Traps

Zoom Links: https://zoom.us/j/96308272460

Social Media Ban

What happens now?

The new social media law is in motion-but it won’t take effect for at least 12 months. During this time:

Please follow the link to read practical tips on how to prepare your family for the social media ban.

Blue and Gold Ball – Save the Date 

We are excited to announce the save the date of our major fundraiser the Blue & Gold Ball, to be held on Saturday, 16 August 2025.

Last year’s Blue & Gold Ball was a sell-out success, raising valuable funds for our building fund. This year we hope to inspire a new generation of families to contribute to the first step in our Master Plan, the Science and Innovation Centre. This inspiring appeal sees Waverley College embarking on the largest-scale construction project in its history.

Get set for a spectacular night at the 2025 Blue & Gold Ball with pre-dinner drinks and canapés under the stars followed by a formal gala dinner, drinks and dancing, live music and auction items.

We are looking for event sponsors, raffle donations and auction items, please reach out to: foundation@waverley.nsw.edu.au if you would like to get involved.

Click here to access the Google College calendar.

Click here to download the wall calendar in PDF.

TERM 1

Thursday, 30 January – Classes Resume for Years 5-12

Tuesday, 11 February – Junior School Swimming Carnival

Thursday, 13 February – Commencement Mass, 12pm

Sunday, 16 February – Long Lunch, 12pm-6pm

Wednesday, 19 February – CAS Swimming Invitation at SOPAC

Wednesday, 19 February – Friday, 21 February 2025 – Year 7 Camp

Tuesday, 25 February – Allwell late enrolments testing, Year 7, 9 & 11

Thursday, 27 February – Brennan House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Friday, 28 February – House Swimming Carnival

Tuesday, 4 March – Shrove Tuesday – Pancakes will be sold at Lunchtime

Wednesday, 5 March – Ash Wednesday

Thursday, 6 March – Aungier House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Monday, 10 March – Cambodia’s 1st Formation Night, 6pm – 7pm in the Library

Tuesday, 11 March – Open Day

Wednesday, 12 March – Quinn House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Monday, 17 March – St Patrick’s Day

Wednesday, 19 March – Lacey House Mass and Supper, 6pm

Thursday, 10 April – Classes Conclude

TERM 2

Monday, 28 April 2025 – Year 7-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day for Senior School

Monday, 28 April 2025 – Staff Professional Learning day for Junior School – student free day for Junior School

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 – Year 7-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day for Senior School

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 – Staff Professional Learning day for Junior School – student free day for Junior School

Wednesday, 30 April 2025 – Classes Resume for Years 5-12

Saturday, 17 May – Tuesday, 20 May – Kairos Retreat

Thursday, 5 June – O’Connor House Mass & Supper, 6pm

Monday, 16 June – Cambodia’s 2nd Formation Night, 6pm – 7.30pm in the Library

Thursday, 26 June 2025 – Classes Conclude

Friday, 27 June – Cambodia Immersion Departs

TERM 3

Monday, 21 July 2025 – Year 5-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day

Tuesday, 22 July 2025 – Year 5-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student free day

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 – Classes Resume for Years 5-12

Thursday, 25 September 2025 – Classes Conclude

TERM 4

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 – Classes Resume

Tuesday, 2 December 2025 – Presentation Day, Classes Conclude

 

Commencement Mass

Our school community recently gathered for a beautiful 5-12 Commencement Mass, marking the beginning of a new school year. It was a wonderful opportunity for students and staff to come together in prayer, seeking guidance and blessings for the year ahead.

The Mass exemplified the Year 12 Motto of 2025, ‘Driven by Passion, Inspired to Serve’ encouraging students to embrace their passion and serve others. Father Ramesh Richards sj also highlighted the importance of each student finding their own passion and the importance of using this to inspire others.

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this event so special. We look forward to a year filled with growth, faith, and success.

Welcome to new parents evening

We held a Parent Meet and Greet evening on Tuesday night. It was wonderful to welcome both our new families and those transitioning from our junior school into Year 7. Seeing so many parents, guardians, and students come together was a great way to set the tone for the year ahead.

The event provided a great opportunity for families to meet our dedicated teachers and staff, learn more about our school values, and gain insight into the exciting journey ahead for our students. Conversations flowed effortlessly as parents connected with one another, forming new friendships and strengthening our vibrant school community.

New Polices

As we commence 2025, I will be sharing with you some of our important school policies and procedures in Nurrunga to ensure greater communication and collaboration with our community. I draw your attention to the below documents.

Right To Disconnect

We are dedicated to fostering a positive school community where our staff have a work-life balance and our families are supported. The ‘Right to Disconnect’ legislation emphasises the need for ensuring balance and we have reviewed our communication policies and procedures to support this. I ask that you please take the time to read the letter provided in this link outlining this in greater detail. Internally our staff are also being more respectful of each other’s work flow and life’s pressures and have incorporated ‘scheduled send’ into their communication options for email.

Community Code of Conduct

This Code has been developed so that Parents and those with parental responsibilities are aware of and meet the College’s expectations with regard to their interaction with the School, its Teachers, other Parents and Students. Adherence to this Code is important to promote positive and productive relationships within the School community. You are obliged to observe the following in this link in accordance with the Conditions of your child’s enrolment.

Attendance Policy

Student attendance is an important element of students Wellbeing at Waverley College as well as ensuring we are meeting our legal requirements. We thank you for your patience as we launched Orah at the beginning of the year. We understand there have been some technical issues and we continue to work through these to ensure a smoother process for our families to log attendance with the College. If you have any difficulty accessing Orah, please reach out to our IT Team – iassist@waverley.nsw.edu.au. Please follow this link to read our updated Attendance Policy.

 

Mr Graham Leddie

Principal

 


Edmund Ignatius Rice Speech and Essay Competition

Year 11 and 12 scholars are invited to submit entries for the Edmund Ignatius Rice Speech and Essay competition. Discover the competition insights here.

Engaging in Student Progress

Waverley College provides ‘Real-Time Reporting’ for parents and carers to become observers of students’ online Learning Management System – CANVAS. This means that parents and carers are able to access results, feedback on any tasks that are submitted through the system and assessment task notifications.

Instructions on how to access the parent and carer observer function can be found here.

Furthermore, parents and carers can also monitor and track students’ results from Semesterised Reports in the Parent Portal by following the steps below:

1. Student details – Academic Analytics

2. Academic Analytics

In the two screens above, you are able to see where your student is currently sitting with the cohort and course and how they are trending within their subject after the release of Semester 1 and Semester 2 reports.

We encourage you to check CANVAS and Parent Portal Academic Analytics during reporting periods, particularly prior to Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews.

If you need any assistance please contact the following;
IT Support – iAssist@waverley.nsw.edu.au or (02) 9369 0784.

 

For additional support, students can access after school study groups in the Library from 3.30pm-4.30pm:

Literacy on Mondays and Tuesdays

Numeracy on Wednesdays and Thursdays

 

Ms Lynsey Porter

Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning

Ms Jenna Turnbull

Innovation Coordinator and Visual Arts Teacher

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar. 

Parent Information Booklets

The Junior School Parent Information Booklet is intended to inform you of the more detailed aspects of life at Waverley College Junior School. The first section deals with overall aspects of the College and the second section is more class specific. I hope that you get involved in the many facets of life at Waverley College and enjoy being part of our great community.

Click here to view the Yr 5 2025 Parent Information Booklet

Click here to view the Yr 6 2025 Parent Information Booklet

Parent Webinar for Year 6 Parents – Elephant Education 

Please see below for an invitation to a webinar presented by Elephant Ed on Puberty and Embracing Change. 

When: 6pm – 7pm, Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Topic: Puberty and Embracing Change

Elephant Ed is a leading sexuality education provider to hundreds of schools around Australia. Elephant Ed’s workshops are evidence-based, age-appropriate and mapped to State and National curriculum guidelines. Elephant Ed is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider and is endorsed as a quality-assured program in the NSW Department of Education’s Student Wellbeing external programs catalogue.

In advance of Elephant Ed’s workshops with Waverley College students, this webinar will include discussion around the physical, social and emotional changes associated with puberty, as well as strategies for starting open and effective conversations at home.

The first in-class workshop for the boys will be Thursday 27th February. 

Co-curricular Update from Ms Sparks

What a fantastic start to 2025 it has been in the co-curricular life of the Junior School! We have had sports and swim trials, been placed into our Summer Teams, begun Summer training and met our coaches, started extra-curricular clubs, competed and shown House Spirit at the Junior School Swimming Carnival, and now we are set to play our first Saturday fixture tomorrow. Best of luck to the boys out there – I look forward to seeing a few matches and hearing how everyone goes.

I am proud of the resilience and excitement I have seen amongst our boys as they navigate this new aspect of Year 5 life or are returning to achieve their sporting goals in Year 6. 

We have a few celebrations to share, starting with Joshua Satya who was selected to represent Waverley at the IPSHA Tennis trials on Monday, 10th February. Despite getting rained out after the first round, Joshua did enough to wow selectors and has made the IPSHA Tennis Team. They will compete at the CIS Trials on Monday, 24th February and we wish Joshua the best of luck!

Secondly, we congratulate Walker Leondis (5 Orange) on winning the Oztag State Cup as the captain of his U10s Souths team. His team have managed to go back to back, winning two years in a row and also went undefeated. We are so proud of his achievement!

Also at the Oztag State Championships, the below Year 5 Waverley Boys represented Easts and did very well.

Will Collins, Tommy Walker, Freddie Hughes, Sonny Millis.

Andrei Szabo (5 Indigo), among other Waverley boys, competed in Sydney branch nippers carnival on the weekend competing against all the beaches from Bondi to Royal National Park. He did really well, coming 3rd in the 1km sand run;  winning two gold medals as part of the all ages board relay and another as part of the U11 board relay; coming 3rd in the Ironman and 3rd in board rescue team; as well as 2nd in individual board race and 3rd in team swim. Well done Andrei!

Congratulations to everyone on their achievements this term and I look forward to Round 1 of Saturday Sport tomorrow. Go Waves!

Through Term 1 the College offers several after school swimming programs which are available to College boys and the broader community.

Parents and carers are allowed on site and parking is also available.

For more information on the programs and how to enrol please go to the Waverley College Swim School website.

Kind regards,
The Swim School Team

Can you volunteer to assist us in our daily operations from 9:30am till 1:45pm? We really need you!

Lunch is provided for all volunteers.

We greatly value the assistance of our volunteer workers as it allows us to be more efficient in our services for students and staff.

We welcome all members of the Waverley College Community – mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and carers.

We are happy to take on any availability, whether it’s once a week, month, or even once a Term – it all helps.

The Term 3 2024 volunteer roster is online, so if you are interested, please volunteer as soon as you can by clicking HERE.

Thank you.

 

Ms Nina Kormanyos

College Canteen Manager

nkormanyos@waverley.nsw.edu.au

The Incarnation changes everything

At the root of the holiday season, sometimes buried beneath the well-intentioned array of lights, decorations and wrapping paper, remains the single transformational moment that we celebrate.

Jesus being born.

God entering our world.

That night in Bethlehem, in a humble manger, remains so awe-inspiring, that it’s difficult to imagine it ever being forgotten or overlooked during the holidays. 

Loving God,

Help us remember the birth of Jesus,

that we may share in the song of the angels,

the gladness of the shepherds,

and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate

and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift

and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing

which Christ brings,

and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning

make us happy to be thy children,

and Christmas evening bring us to our beds

with grateful thoughts,

forgiving and forgiven,

for Jesus’ sake.

Amen

 

I wish you and your family all a safe, holy and merry Christmas

Long Serving Staff Members

We bid farewell to several long-serving staff members whose dedication, passion, and commitment have profoundly shaped our community.

Ms Margaret Fitzgerald has served as a Learning Support Teacher for 10 years, providing unwavering guidance to students who needed extra care and attention in their learning journey. Her patience, empathy, and expertise have transformed countless lives, ensuring that every student she worked with felt seen, supported, and capable of achieving their best.

Ms Gaby Bransby, our Director of Junior School has worked at the College for 14 years, and has been an instrumental leader, shaping the foundation of our youngest learners. Her innovative approach to education, combined with her genuine care for each child’s development, has created a nurturing and stimulating environment that inspired both students and staff. Her influence will be felt in the smiles and successes of our Junior School students for years to come.

Mr Bill Roberts, our Head of Library for an incredible 22 years, has been a custodian of knowledge and a champion of literacy within our school. Under his stewardship, the library has been more than just a repository of books; it has been a hub of learning, curiosity, and discovery. His passion for fostering a love of reading and his ability to connect students with literature and resources have left an indelible legacy.

We wish them all the best in their next endeavors, knowing they will continue to inspire and make a difference wherever their paths lead them.

Parents and Carers

Your unwavering support underpins all that we achieve at the College with your sons. Whether it’s cheering on the sidelines, helping with homework, supporting fundraisers like the Blue & Gold Ball, running our Supporter’s Groups, or simply being there for your children, your partnership with the College is invaluable – Thank you! 

Parent Association 

Staff at Waverley were treated to a wonderful surprise luncheon yesterday. The invite read…

To our wonderful Teachers and Staff,

We’re excited to invite you to a special Gratitude Lunch as a heartfelt thank-you for all that you do!

Tomorrow, Tuesday 3rd December, between the Presentation Day assemblies, we invite you to visit the staff room and enjoy a cold fresh juice and snacks, on behalf of the Parent community and the Parent Association.

It’s a small token of gratitude, to thank you for your hard work, dedication, commitment, care and enthusiasm. You make a difference every day and we appreciate you!!!

Please help yourselves to some delicious snacks and refreshments—we look forward to celebrating you!

Kind regards

Parent Community and Parent Association

On behalf of the entire staff, thank you to the Parent Association and the following parents for organising such a beautiful spread Ms Daniella Strbac, Ms Jade Stapleton and Ms Camille Owen. The staff really appreciated the beautiful food and the very thoughtful gesture – Thank you very much!

Hot off the Press 

Congratulations to: 

James Birbas (Year 12) on his selection for HSC Showcase ENCORE which will be held at the Sydney Opera House on Monday 24 February 2025.

Xavier Kopsiaftis – NSW Languages 1st in Course Modern Greek

Presentation Day Awards 

Yesterday we celebrated the successes of Waverley College Years 5-11 students at our annual live-streamed Presentation Days in the Brother Lacey Gymnasium. On days like this, we pause to acknowledge the efforts, talents, gifts and achievements of selected students who have made remarkable gains during their 2024 learning journey. It was rewarding to see our well-deserved Junior and Senior School students receive their awards in the presence of their peers, parents, carers, teachers and support staff. Thank you to all performers and bands that presented and showcased their amazing musical and artistic talents. 

Thank you also to our special guests: 

Ms Allegra Spender, Member for Wentworth
Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Member for Coogee
Ms Keri Spooner, Deputy Mayor of Waverley
Ms Virginia Ryan, EREA NSW Board Member
Mr Patrick McClure, Advisory Council Chair
Mr Salvatore Riolo, OBU President

Mr Chris O’Sullivan (Class of 1965/66), former Secretary of the OBU Executive

Mr Chris O’Sullivan was acknowledged at the presentation recognising his 40 years of service to the College and Waverley College Old Boys Union. After a record-breaking 20 years as Secretary of the OBU Executive, Chris is stepping down this year, having made invaluable contributions across multiple roles. Chris’s journey with Waverley began as a student and continued as a parent, joining the P&F and later serving 30 years on the OBU Council, including two decades as Secretary. Over the years, he worked closely with many OBU Presidents and College Principals, helping shape the community we know today. 

Congratulations to our Award Winners

>> Click here to view our Junior School winners.

>> Click here to view our Year 7 winners.

>> Click here to view our Year 8 winners.

>> Click here to view our Year 9 winners.

>> Click here to view our Year 10 winners.

>> Click here to view our Year 11 winners.

Special Community Awards

TERM 1

TERM 2

TERM 3

TERM 4

As parents, we are constantly striving to support the development, well-being, and happiness of our children. One crucial way to do this is by fostering a sense of safety and connection. This isn’t always easy as there are so many external factors involved, but what is in our control as parents is to develop agreed-upon parental boundaries.

A child’s sense of safety comes from feeling part of a unit where boundaries are clear, consistent, and understood. Connection, on the other hand, comes when a child feels seen, heard, understood, and valued by their caregivers. When caregivers work together to establish collaborative boundaries, they create an environment where children feel secure and supported, making it easier for them to thrive emotionally, socially, and cognitively.

However, setting these boundaries is not always easy. In many families, each caregiver brings their own values, concerns, and emotional responses to parenting, which can lead to conflicting approaches. On top of that, each child has their own temperament, needs, and ways of navigating the world. These combinations can make it very challenging to find a unified approach.

Parents Agree on Boundaries

What to Do:
Parents need to have an open conversation with each other about their individual priorities and values regarding boundaries. It can be helpful for each caregiver to identify what are the most important boundaries for them in order of importance (e.g., cleaning, homework, socializing, sport, gaming—possibly just start with four). Then, work together to find common ground. Remember, having agreed-upon boundaries—even if imperfect—is more beneficial to the child than inconsistent rules. It may be helpful to seek support during this process to navigate this.

Example:
If you have different views on how much cleaning and responsibility your child should have, start by identifying what is important to both of you (e.g., being responsible or having balanced downtime) and identify non-negotiables (e.g., cleaning after dinner). What can then be negotiated is how often and how much.

Involve the child/teen in the Conversation

What to Do:
Children often have valuable insights into why they struggle with certain boundaries (e.g., they don’t understand the rule, feel overwhelmed, or face emotional challenges). Including the child early in the process fosters collaboration and helps them feel heard. Understanding the child’s perspective is key to finding a solution that works for everyone. Acknowledging and validating their feelings and thoughts regarding the topic is the first step in the conversation.

Examples:
For Cleaning:

For Gaming:

Together, find a balanced solution that respects everyone’s needs.

For Bedtime:
Your child might share that they have trouble winding down or want to stay up late as it’s important for them to connect with friends online. By listening to their reasons, you can work together to find a solution.

Set realistic and Collaborative Boundaries and Consequences

What to Do:
Rather than imposing a boundary unilaterally, collaborate with your child to co-create rules. This helps ensure the boundary is fair, reasonable, and likely to be respected. The goal is not punishment but learning and growth. It also supports the child feeling heard and valued.

Key Principles:

Example:
If the issue is gaming, collaborate with your child on:

As Dr. Greene of the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model says, “We need to be flexible about how we achieve the boundaries, but firm about the boundary itself.” Flexibility in how you reach the boundary is important because children’s needs, developmental stages, and circumstances can change. However, the boundary itself should remain clear and firm. His core philosophy is that children want to do well, but sometimes they face challenges that prevent them from meeting expectations. By collaboratively setting and respecting boundaries, you can help your children develop the skills they need to thrive.

WAYS Youth & Family’s Wellness Centre Services provide free short-term (up to six months) psychological therapy and family therapy and can help you create collaborative boundaries. For further information, please visit their website: ways.org.au/ways-wellness-centre.

Greene, R. W. (2016). The Collaborative & Proactive Solutions Model: A new way to think about kids with behavioral challenges. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 43(3), 323-334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-016-9529-1

 

Jacinta Lynch

Registered Psychologist

Mondays and Wednesdays