This coming weekend we have our final full round of activities for 2024. We are against local rivals Cranbrook and I am sure that we will finish strong as well as demonstrating the required respect and expectations in all areas.
Last weekend our Golf team won their first matchplay tournament against Newington with captain Max Jennings storming home to secure the victory. Our 1sts Touch Football started slowly but played a terrific second half to secure the win against Trinity. Our Swim Squad travelled to Cranbrook last Friday evening and performed well. The standout was Ollie Moclair who broke the College 50m Freestyle record on the night. In Basketball we won 82% of matches including a great performance by the 8A’s.
Our 2 Day Cricket (1sts, 2nds, 10As and 9A’s) along with the Diving Team also have fixtures the following weekend on November 29-30.
I want to also wish all of our Year 8 students and staff who are attending the Outdoor Camp at Somerset next week. This is a wonderful experience and I encourage all boys to embrace the challenges and opportunities in a beautiful environment.
Good luck to all activities this weekend.
The Uniform shop will open by appointment only on the following days over the Christmas school holidays.
Please note: On Friday, 13 December the Uniform Shop will close at midday.
For information on trading hours, size guides, click and collect and delivery information visit: www.noone.com.au/school/waverley-college
Phone: (02) 9369 0709
Email: waverley@noone.com.au
Location
Level 3, Centenary Building,
Senior School Campus
(Enter via reception and take the lift to the 3rd Floor)
131 Birrell Street,
Waverley NSW 2024
TERM 1
TERM 2
TERM 3
TERM 4
View the Week 6 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
Tickets are almost sold out for the Waverley College Long Lunch, scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2025. This fantastic community event will bring together parents and friends for an afternoon of food, fun, and live music.
Partnering with the College means aligning your brand with a 120 year old established institution and reaching a vast audience of over 13,000 individuals through advertising exposure.
Sponsorship also forms a pivotal part of the School’s fundraising effort, aimed at supporting the construction of our new Science & Innovation Centre. This facility is set to transform the future of our students’ learning and their subsequent career opportunities. Click here to see an architectural fly-through and witness the reactions of our Junior School students.
Billy Nicolas
Foundation Officer
bnicolas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Come along and enjoy a Christmas Music Concert to be held in the College Chapel!
You’ll have the pleasure of enjoying performances by the College Choir, Chamber Choir, Cliff Goodchild Concert Band, Jazz Bands, Brass Ensemble, Year 8 Rock Band, Year 10 Rock Band, Guitar Ensemble and Soloists.
Date: Thursday, 21 November 2024
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Location: Waverley College Chapel
Limited seats so please RSVP here.
As we approach the end of the year, this term is brimming with exciting opportunities for our students to grow, connect, and achieve.
With examinations, Year 10 Service Week, Year 8 Camp, a minute of loudness for World Children’s Day, Step Out Speak Up walk for Year 12 raising awareness of domestic violence, Christmas Music Concert, two rounds of summer co-curricular activities, and our final Presentation Day, there are numerous ways for students to embrace challenges and celebrate successes.
The end of the year also brings the joy of the upcoming holidays, the warmth of summer, and the anticipation of the Advent season.
Amid this excitement, it’s crucial for students to stay focused, remain connected to their school community, and manage the many distractions and demands that come their way.
Let’s encourage our students to finish strong, make the most of these enriching experiences, and step into the holiday season with a sense of accomplishment and pride. Thank you for your continued support in helping them thrive during this dynamic time.
On Monday this week, we paused at the 11th hour, on the 11 November, to remember and honour our service personnel who died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peace operations in the service of Australia.
Remembrance Day was originally called ‘Armistice Day’ to commemorate the end of WWI. At the end of WWII, the Australian government changed the name to honour personnel killed in both world wars.
These days we now include all people across all operations in the service of their country. Waverley was involved in three ceremonies across our community, with our largest contingent of students and staff at the College’s service, a number represented us at St Catherine’s School service and we were also represented at the Waverley Council service at Waverley memorial park.
Commemorating Remembrance Day is vital to honour the sacrifices of those who served in wars, preserve history, and teach students the value of peace and freedom. It fosters gratitude, empathy, and reflection, helping our students understand the human cost of conflict and the importance of resolving issues peacefully through dialogue, negotiation, empathy and compromise.
Last Sunday November 10, I represented our College Community at the 2024 Kristallnacht Commemoration – The ‘Night of Broken Glass’, held at Moriah College.
This year marks 86 years since Nazi forces destroyed over two hundred synagogues, damaged 7,000 Jewish-owned businesses, arrested 30,000 and murdered 91 Jewish people in Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland, on November 9 and 10 of 1938.
Kristallnacht serves as a prelude to the Holocaust, offering insights into how prejudice and hatred escalated into genocide.
Commemorating it helps people understand the dangers of unchecked hate and the steps by which such atrocities develop. It provides a platform to discuss contemporary issues like antisemitism, xenophobia, and human rights abuses, drawing parallels between historical events and present-day challenges.
A tribute was given to honour Holocaust Survivor, Ms Olga Horak OAM who passed recently for her decades of work keeping alive the memory and experiences of Holocaust Survivors in our community.
Many of our students have benefited from interactions with Olga over the years at the Sydney Jewish Museum where she shared her life story and message of forgiveness.
Congratulations to all our young performers who took part in last night’s Junior School Music Event! Your hard work, talent, and passion for music lit up the stage, leaving us all inspired. We are immensely proud of your confidence and enthusiasm, as well as the dedication you’ve shown in mastering your skills.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible music team for making this event possible. Your guidance and commitment are the foundation of these memorable performances. Well done to Ms Kieran Kossenberg, Mr Daniel Williams, Mr Jesse Johnston, Ms Jaz Johnston, Ms Jazz de Witte, Mr Chris Balkizas, and Mr Jonathan Bowden for your exceptional efforts in bringing this evening to life.
Come along and enjoy a Christmas Music Concert to be held in the College Chapel. Performances featuring the College Choir, Chamber Choir, Cliff Goodchild Concert Band, Jazz Bands, Brass Ensemble, Year 8 Rock Band, Year 10 Rock Band, Guitar Ensemble and Soloists.
Date: Thursday, 21 November 2024
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Location: Waverley College Chapel
Limited seats so please RSVP here.
As our Year 7-10 students wrap up their yearly exams next week, it is a great opportunity to pause and reflect on their learning journey throughout Semester 2. We encourage students to use the feedback from their teachers in the coming weeks. This valuable feedback will help them understand which learning strategies are proving successful and which areas might need adjustment.
For our Year 12 2025 students, Term 4 is already in full swing with various assessment tasks underway. Now is an ideal time to assess their workload management, study habits, and overall approach to assessments. By proactively addressing these aspects, students can set themselves up for a successful and less stressful final year of school.
To help with this, we subscribe to Dr Prue Salter’s Study Skills handbook which you can access in this link.
The login details are:
Username: forwaverleycollegeonly
Password: 94results
When students log in to this learning platform, they are presented with a dedicated section titled “Improving Your Study Habits” on the homepage. This section features a module named “After Tests and Exams,” which provides a range of valuable activities designed to support students as they engage with exam feedback and reflect on their approach to the exam period.
Our Year 9 students are delving into a new cross-curricular unit in Geography and Science this term. The Sustainable Biomes unit focuses on developing global citizenship competencies, with a particular emphasis on understanding the critical role of the environment for human life and survival.
Students are gaining scientific knowledge about various environments and then applying this understanding in their geography classes to explore associated environmental issues. The goal is to empower students to advocate for sustainable solutions that protect our planet’s biomes.
To kick off the unit, our Students of the World Ecology Group (SOTWEG) interviewed Mr Sam McGuinness, Executive Manager for Sustainability at Waverley Council. Mr McGuinness provided valuable insights into the importance of engaging with policymakers and community leaders to drive meaningful change.
For their main assessment, students will work in teams of three to four, taking on the role of environmental officers for the Red List of Ecosystems. They will assess the health of a specific biome, identify risk factors, and develop a presentation proposing drastic action to protect it.
Our Year 10 Food Tech students are participating in a fun and engaging activity this week. The ‘I’m a Waverley student get me outta here!’ activity exposes students to a variety of foods and ingredients that relate to the units of study covered in the Stage 5 course. This interactive experience aims to reinforce their learning in a memorable way.
As we approach the end of the school year, it’s fantastic to see our students actively engaged in their learning and developing the skills and knowledge they need to become responsible global citizens.
In June 2024 the NSW Government passed legislation modelled on Queensland’s ‘Jack’s Law’, to permit Police, with the proper authority, to “wand” or “scan” people using a handheld metal scanner for knives without a warrant.
The legislation forms part of the NSW Government response to community concern about access to knives and the incidence of knife crime.
Under the new laws, a senior police officer (Assistant Commissioner or above) can, by written instrument, declare public transport stations, sporting venues and other public places (prescribed by regulations) to be designated areas where police officers are authorised to use handheld scanners. An area can only be declared to be a designated area if the following happened at the place in the previous 12 months:
Please find enclosed the end of term arrangements for Year 10 students.
Year 10 students’ final day of classes is Friday 15 November. Students have been reminded to return their textbooks at the conclusion of their exams. Textbooks can be returned to Book Hire between 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday or they can place them in the returns box located at the main reception.
Congratulations to all our Year 10 Students who will be undertaking their Service Week Placements during Week 7. Thank you to all parents and carers who have assisted in this process. (Please see separate email regarding Service Week with further details coming Thursday 14th November).
To ensure students gain the most from their service to the community, could you please ensure punctuality, respect and that College expectations are upheld throughout the week. Teachers will be visiting students to assist and reflect on their progress, encouraging a meaningful and successful experience. We wish students all the best during this exciting week ahead.
Please note our Year 10 Reflection Mass will now take place at Mary Immaculate Church 45A Victoria St Waverley at 9:15am for parents and students. There will be NO Mass at the College Chapel or supper as was originally proposed due to renovations.
At the conclusion of Mass students will then proceed to Centennial Park with their Heads of House to take part in their Reflection day. College Sports uniform should be worn on the day. A BBQ lunch will be provided but students should bring their own water bottle and recess. Students will be dismissed from Centennial Park at 2:30pm.
Live Stream Link – https://youtube.com/live/alTaMj03mTA?feature=share
The uniform shop is very busy with bookings and walk-ins in the January holidays.
The uniform shop has requested that parents purchase a senior tie for their son, by the end of this term if possible.
As we move towards Christmas, we are reminded to reach out to those less fortunate than ourselves.
St Canice’s is a Jesuit parish in Elizabeth Bay, just behind Kings Cross, and their outreach centre works to provide weekly health, legal and employment clinics, daily showers with access to toiletries and personal care items and brand new clothing, along with daily meals and a coffee shop to those experiencing homelessness and social exclusion. These services are entirely funded by donations from generous parishioners, local residents, businesses, schools and the Waverley College community.
They are currently seeking donations of hamper items for Christmas, including:
If you are able and willing to, these donations would be greatly appreciated. All donations can be dropped to the Senior School reception. We will be making regular deliveries to St Canice throughout Term 4.
Once again, your kindness and generosity is very much appreciated.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
On Thursday night, we held our annual Junior School Music Festival. I was in complete awe of the talent and skill that was on display.
It is remarkable to see the confidence and ability for their age. We witnessed a wide range of talent from the The Waterford Concert Band to soloist to the Rock Bands and more.
We ended with a wonderful glimpse of a scene from The Lion King Jr. All performances provided a fabulous night of entertainment for the audience as they shared their gifts and passions with us all.
Events like these do not happen without the support of many people. As such, the Junior School would like to thank – all of the boys who spent many hours of rehearsal in preparation for the festival, all of the tutors involved in preparing these items, in particular ensemble directors Dan Williams and Jesse Johnston, the Senior School Music Department and Ms Keiran Kossenberg for their continued support and the Music Supporters Club.
We would also like to thank all of the parents and carers of our performers for their ongoing encouragement.
It was a wonderful night of celebration.
It is hard to believe that Year 6 Graduation is just around the corner.
On 2 December we will have our Mass at 11am and then we will be heading down to Queen’s Park for lunch and games.
Parents are invited to celebrate with us at Queens Park where where you will be provided with a BBQ lunch. We hope you can make it.
Selected students were invited to participate in the G.A.T.E.WAYS ‘Eureka’ program, Mind Blown. This program allows gifted, talented and high-ability students from surrounding schools to participate in workshops led by specialist educators and hosted at Kincoppal Rose Bay School.
The Greek philosopher Plutarch once said that the mind is not a vessel to be filled, but rather a fire to be kindled. The G.A.T.E.WAYS Mind: Blown! workshops scaffold students through processes of philosophical inquiry, ideation, design, and acquisition of sophisticated critical and creative problem-solving strategies and techniques.
Every year the Parents Association organises group together gifts and cards to thank the incredible and dedicated staff at Waverley Junior School. No obligation, but we would love for you to write a thank you note and contribute towards a gift to the teachers who have made an impact on your son’s life this year.
Samara Sanchez has sent an email out with all the links if you would like to contribute. Any issues please contact Samara or the Parents Association.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents & Carers,
You are all invited to the Year 6 Graduation on Wednesday 27 November to acknowledge the end of your son’s primary school years.
Please see the invitation below.
At the conclusion of the Mass, you are all invited back to Queens Park to join us in a special BBQ lunch. Please note that all parents and family members have been catered for.
As part of the Year 6 Graduation, we will be putting together a slideshow presentation. It would be appreciated if you could send through a photo of your son’s Kindergarten photo (or their first day of Kindergarten, or similar), as this will form part of the presentation. (Please just one photo only)
If you could please send a labelled photo through to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au. This has been extended to Monday Week 6. Picture format as a JPEG or PNG file would be preferred. Please do not send through pdf files.
One of the ways in which the students can show their leadership qualities is to nominate himself for House Captain or Vice-Captain. If they would like this opportunity, they need to let their House Mentors know as soon as possible and begin thinking of ways in which they can best serve the Junior School community.
Students will need to present a speech to their House before voting takes place. They can use the scaffold below to assist in planning.
Prepare a 2 minute speech addressing the following:
Speeches will take place on Tuesday 26 November during Wellbeing Time.
The Junior School are supporting the Year 11 Social Justice program, Night Patrol, which supports St Vincent de Paul’s charity to help feed the homeless men, women and children of Sydney. We are asking students in 5 Red, 5 White, 6 Red and 6 White for the following donations for the final Night Patrol on Monday, 25 November.
Fresh Fruit – Bananas & Oranges (to be brought in on Monday, 25 November)
Packets of Chips, Instant Boodles, Cans of Tuna, Muesli bars – Chewy & Nut Free (any time before Monday, 25 November)
Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Attention current Year 5 parents:
Please fill out your son’s Junior School sport preferences for 2025 using this link. Read carefully all the information on the form before submitting.
This process will close on Friday, 22 November 2024.
Congratulations to the 6As Cricket who had a very close win over Shore last Saturday, getting ahead by 1 run 74/4 – 73/9.
Parker Recio (5 Red) competed at the Bronte Club Championships last weekend. Parker showed resilience and won the board race in a very competitive pack only 10 days after an injury. The below photo shows the top four after the board race. Ryder Darragh, another Waverley boy in year 5 came 3rd. Parker also achieved 5th in the ocean swim race. Go Waves!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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 3:00 pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Procedures
Register your son via the link https://homelearningclub.youcanbook.me
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.
Behaviour
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.
Teachers
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
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.
Toby, Spencer, and Luke did Waverley proud on Friday, November 8. These three boys represented Waverley at the IPSHA Speakers’ Challenge, competing against 90 students from a variety of schools in NSW.
The boys showed strong speaking skills, and their manner and method were exceptional. I’m extremely proud of the growth the boys have made since Round 1, the JS finals, and now the challenge.
Our Junior School students had an insightful Lunchtime Talk with guest speaker Ms Stephanie Falk who is a teacher in our Senior School Art Department.
It was a full house with aspiring artists wanting to learn all about the world of digital art. Thank you for taking the time to inspire our creative Junior School students.
As we come to the end of a productive year of drawing club, the students worked on their Coogee Christmas card competition submissions.
A highlight for me this year has been witnessing the students engage critically with their artwork and expressing their creativity.
I’ve seen the boys make new friendships, share insights, and appreciate each other’s artistic efforts. With only two sessions remaining in 2024, I eagerly anticipate the return of the drawing club in 2025, where we will also introduce digital art into our program.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last term, as part of the very important and influential Activism Day, 5 Gold wrote physical letters addressed to people of high influence, asking them to take action on issues they felt passionate about. Recently, we made a team trip up to the Charing Cross Post Office and posted our letters the old-fashioned way. Although we didn’t necessarily expect any replies, we were hopeful. This week, we received something truly exciting from a very important figure in Australia.
Leven Kalmar’s letter, which advocated for action on climate change and specifically plastic pollution, included powerful statements like, “It’s not just our environment we’re affecting; we’re also affecting our marine animals,” and, “As a kid, I can’t name one thing these creatures have done to harm our environment; we can’t be killing them.” Our class was ecstatic to receive a response from the office of the Prime Minister of Australia, in a very fancy envelope, written on some very fancy paper.
In his reply, Prime Minister Albanese stated, “Protecting nature is a task for all of us; and it’s the responsibility of all adults, especially those in senior positions like myself, to ensure we pass on a safe and healthy environment to future generations.” The Prime Minister went on to commend Leven’s commitment and passion personally, underscoring the role young Australians play in shaping a better future. He finished his letter by saying, “We need young people like you… You are the thinkers and innovators of the future.”
This was a deeply moving and exciting moment for us all in the Junior School, highlighting the power of activism and the importance of each person’s voice, no matter how young.
Mr Luke Burns
5 Gold Teacher
lburns@waverley.nsw.edu.au
6 Red has been engaged in several summative assessments to wrap up the year. Students planned, illustrated, and wrote a graphic novel from the perspective of a refugee. This semester, they explored migration and refugee experiences in both History and English. It was fantastic to see their creativity shine, allowing them to showcase their artistic abilities and skill in figurative writing. Students annotated their own books upon completion, identifying the visual elements and purpose of their writing.
6 Red has also been immersed in our country studies unit. Comparing Australia and a neighbouring country through the key question. How do places, people and cultures differ between Australia and your chosen Asian country? The final results were incredible, bringing to an end our studies of Geography this year.
On Wednesday, Year 6 had the pleasure of a live performance concert by the wonderful Musica Viva Australia.
The interactive showcase was a brilliant opportunity for boys to learn about unique musical instruments and engage in numerous musical numbers.
Mr Oliver Knight
6 Red teacher
oknight@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We are accepting new applications for students in Year 8 to begin their Awards. There are also spots available to complete Adventurous Journeys at the upcoming Year 8 camp.
Click HERE for the registration form
Click HERE to make payment
Paramount to the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, is individual ownership and responsibility towards achieving goals in a skill, physical activity and voluntary service.
The onus will be on our gentlemen to ensure they are meeting the expectations and demands associated with completing their Award, utilising the many resources available to them through the College.
With a large proportion of boys at the College already part of many co-curricular and social justice commitments, the Award can be a meaningful way to recognise the wonderful achievements already being undertaken by many of our students.
There are also opportunities to progress towards Silver and Gold Awards, which also carry great reward, recognition and prestige.
Meetings are held during lunchtime on Week B Thursdays to track student progress and for key information and details about the Award.
When: Lunchtime, Thursday(Week B)
Location: N31
For more details and information please email:
Alon Horry: ahorry@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Laura McLarnon: lmclarnon@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Alon Horry
Coordinator of The Duke of Edinburgh International Award
ahorry@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Students, Parents and Carers,
Please find below the schedule for the Year 12 (2025) Tutorials in Term 4, Week 6.
Topics covered during the tutorials include content revision, study skills, exam preparation and practice papers. These tutorials have proven extremely valuable and, while not compulsory, are strongly encouraged.
| Date | Subject | Time | Staff | Room |
| Monday, 18 November 2024 | Spanish | 3:30pm – 5:00pm | Best | W25 |
| Studies of Religion II | 3:15pm – 5:15pm | Stewart | E40’s | |
| Tuesday, 19 November 2024 | Biology | 7:30am – 8:30am | Brown | K2L3 |
| Maths Standard | 3:30pm – 5:00pm | Mountfort | E26 | |
| Wednesday, 20 November 2024 | Visual Arts | 3:30pm – 5:00pm | Oates | C11 |
| PDHPE | 7:30am – 8:30am | Darvill | GHR | |
| Ancient History | 3:30pm – 5:00pm | Diamadis | K14 | |
| Thursday, 21 November 2024 | Industrial Technology- Timber | 7:30am – 8:30am | Barr | C01 |
| Friday, 22 November 2024 | Hospitality | 7:00am – 8:00am | McCarthy | T04 |
| Physics | 3:30pm – 4:30pm | Ayre | E13 |
It is important that we know attendance numbers so teachers can prepare accordingly. To that end, the expectation is that students who register for the tutorial, attend. Rolls will be taken to assist us to manage the program. The cut-off time to register for morning tutorials is 3:00pm the day prior.
Mrs Brooke Pannia has emailed the registration sheet to students to register their attendance at the tutorials.
Patrick Darvill
pdarvill@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Acting Director of Curriculum
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
Watch our video
