On Tuesday, 29 March, myself and five members of the Students of the World Ecology Group (SOTWEG) were accompanied by Ms Sutcliffe to St Clare’s College to meet their Environmental Committee.
Inspired by Mr Brennan’s desire for increased collaboration between Waverley and the local girls’ schools, I reached out to St Clare’s a few weeks ago to see if they:
Fortunately for us, the answers to both these questions was “yes.” I was put in contact with Mr Burden, their head of Ecology, and, after a quick phone call, made plans to meet up in person.
Once we arrived at St Clare’s, it was clear that everyone involved was really enthusiastic. After we gave each other a brief rundown on who we were, such as how long SOTWEG has been running (since 2020), and the current and future projects we are working on, it became apparent that we had the similar objective of reducing the amount of waste and litter at our schools.
2021 Waste Management Audit – Waverley’s Students of the World Ecology Group
At the end of the meeting, we finished with plans to meet up again and to hopefully attend a workshop in Term 2 hosted by NetNada – a sustainability company St Clare’s are currently working with.
This was a fabulous opportunity for myself, members of SOTWEG, and Ms Sutcliffe to gain new perspectives, ideas and plans on how to improve the waste management situation at our College. It was great to meet and talk with people who are just as interested in Ecology as we are, and the girls’ insight was greatly appreciated.
Finally, a massive thank you to St Clare’s for hosting us and for giving us a room with really nice chairs!
P.S Just a friendly reminder: please put your rubbish in the (correct) bin.
Student author James Peate (Year 9)
Member of the Students of the World Ecology Group (SOWEG)
Ms Rebecca Sutcliffe
Ecology Coordinator and Geography Teacher
E: rsutcliffe@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Private music lessons are well underway.
Students are to be reminded to please:
We have excellent, well-qualified peripatetic teachers at Waverley College, and lessons are available on a large variety of instruments.
Any student who wishes to learn an instrument, or join an ensemble, or the Rock Band program, are welcome to visit the PAC (Performing Arts Centre), and speak to Mrs Kossenberg or any of the music staff.
Parents who would like to enrol their son to commence instrumental lessons, click on the link below to complete the online private music registration form.
>>> Click here to view the private music lesson registration form.
Please contact Mrs Keiran Kossenberg, Performing Arts Centre Coordinator.
Mrs Keiran Kossenberg
Performing Arts Centre Coordinator
E: kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au
P: 9369 0623
Woollahra Libraries invite Waverley students to attend their exciting April School Holiday program of events.
>>> Click here to view more information about Youth Week drop in gelato and games.
>>> Click here to view more information about Woollahra Libraries School Holiday Program.
Mr Bill Roberts
Head of Library Services
Years 9 and 10 Applied Philosophy Teacher
E: wroberts@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Students in Years 5-12 are encouraged to enter the Waverley Youth Art Prize, 2022.
All artworks are exhibited so that future artists get to experience the joy of exhibiting and see an audience appreciate their work.
The theme for this year is ‘Science, Space and Future Stories.’
The theme encourages entrants to consider the world around us, the possibility of worlds beyond ours, how we understand our existence, and what might be next in store for us.
If you’re in the Senior School and you’re interested in submitting a work for the prize, you’re welcome to collect a drawing pack from the Visual Arts staffroom to get you started.
If you’re in the Junior School and you’re interested in submitting a work for the prize, you’re welcome to collect a drawing pack from the Learning Hub to get you started.
>>> Click here to view the Waverley Youth Art Prize Submission Form.
>>> Click here to view more information about the Waverley Youth Art Prize, 2022.
Ms Natalie Oates
Head of Visual Arts
E: noates@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Youth Week is an opportunity for young people to express ideas, diversity and views, create and enjoy activities, and celebrate talents and contributions as members of our community.
From Monday 4 – Sunday 10 April, there are numerous opportunities and events planned for young people to get involved with in Waverley including: surfing at Bondi, tips and tricks for your HSC, concrete riders skateboard lessons and skate jam, silent discos, poetry and author talks.
>>> Click here to check out things to do during Waverley Youth Week 2022.
>>> Click here for further details on the Waverley Council website.
Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun
Assistant Director of Identity & Student Formation
E: mmaakrun@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Year 12 Academic Tutorial program will commence in Term 2, Week 2. 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.
It is important that we know attendance numbers so teachers can prepare accordingly. To that end, the expectation is that students register for the tutorial and attend. Rolls will be taken to assist us to manage the program. Should numbers fall below five, we may not be able to run that particular session.
Mrs Lauren Ryan has emailed an updated Tutorial schedule and registration sheet to students and parents today. I look forward to seeing a large uptake.
Mrs Elizabeth Watson
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
E: ewatson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We will be open at the following times during the Easter break:
Normal trading hours resume from Friday, 29 April.
We look forward to assisting you with your uniform.
P: 02 9369 0709
A big thank you to all parents who have generously donated their sons’ outgrown uniforms to the Secondhand Clothing Pool. This provides someone else with the opportunity to purchase a secondhand uniform well below the new price, whilst at the same time, raising funds for the College through the Parents’ Association.
We are steadily rebuilding stock levels and are so pleased to be able to offer some more items for sale. These are mostly academic uniform items with a few PE and very few extra curricular uniforms yet.
Email us to check on stock or pop in Monday morning.
The Secondhand Clothing Pool will gladly accept the donation of all clean and wearable current uniform items for resale. There is a $30 ‘buy back scheme’ for the donation of Blazers and All Weather Jackets in excellent condition.
Please wear a mask when coming into the shop as per current school policy.
At the Senior School campus reception in the designated Secondhand Clothing Pool donation box (courtesy of our fabulous Campus Maintenance Team). If leaving Blazers and All Weather Jackets, you may include name and phone number inside the bag, and we can contact you to arrange ‘buy-back’ if appropriate.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any rain jackets in stock.
We do have a good range of academic shirts available, and in addition, we have:
For more information on stock availability or to make an appointment, please email the Secondhand Clothing Pool: clothingpool@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9369 0703 — please leave a voicemail, and one of our volunteers will get back to you.
Location
Main building on Birrell Street. Enter via the Senior School campus reception, and take the lift to Level 3. The Secondhand Clothing Pool is next door to the Uniform Shop (turn right when stepping out of the lift on the uniform shop side).
Kirsten and Camille
Secondhand Clothing Pool Coordinators
E: clothingpool@waverley.nsw.edu.au
P: (02) 9369 0703
Please see me if you require any further assistance or information.
Ms Kath Knowles
Senior Studies and Careers Coordinator
E: kknowles@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last week, 55 students from Years 7-12 along with five staff members, attended the Annual Music Camp at Kiah Ridge Christian Conference Centre, located south west of Picton.
The ensembles in attendance included the Cliff Goodchild Concert Band, Matthew Coorey Concert Band, Jazz Band A, Jazz Band B, College Choir, Chamber Choir, Brass Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble and Chamber Strings Ensemble.
The students spent three days rehearsing within their respective ensemble, developing new friendships and coming together as a strong music community improving their skills, sound and repertoire.
A highlight was certainly the annual talent show, held on Thursday evening. The students and staff enjoyed watching over 12 acts perform on a range of instruments and voices. The talent show demonstrated the vast variety of talent and strong sense of camaraderie and spirit amongst this group of students.
I would like to commend the students on their exemplary behaviour throughout the camp, and thank the senior students in Years 11 and 12, and in particular the Music Captain Evan Hodges for their leadership displayed on camp.
I would also like to thank the wonderful music staff Mr Chris Blenkinsopp, Ms Jaz Dolso, Mr Dan Williams, Mr Alexander Lee and Mrs Keiran Kossenberg, for their dedication and selfless support for the students in helping develop their lifelong musical journey.
Mr Chris Balkizas
Head of Music
E: cbalkizas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The College Library is open for Senior students from Tuesday, 19 April – Friday, 22 April (inclusive) from 8am – 4pm.
The Library is rich in resources and is a quiet space, conducive to productive study.
Additional NESA Exam workbooks across the KLAs are available for loan and day use.
The Library has recently installed new soundproof study booths with Vivi screens, which are ideal for students to work collaboratively, or alternatively, for individual quiet study.
I encourage you to mix up your study environment and utilise this space.
Mrs Elizabeth Watson
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
E: ewatson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A glance through this week’s newsletter certainly gives good insight into a busy and thriving College community, with a wonderful variety of activities, experiences and learnings on offer including: Earth Hour, College representation at St Mary’s Cathedral for St Patrick’s Day, PDHPE excursion to Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, the Walawaani program for First Nation students, hospitality work placements, an invitation to join winter Art Club, Big Brother Little Brother gathering, homework club, Year 5 Camp to Stanwell Tops, Year 6 Camp to Collaroy, Year 12 retreat at four different destinations, commencement of winter activities and summer awards, Years 5-12 Student Reports update, and booking in for Years 7-11 Parent Teacher Student Interviews.
It is a great achievement of staff, students and parents that all of these can occur in these challenging times. I encourage your sons to get involved in the richness of College activities, as much learning can take place both inside and outside of the classroom.
Unfortunately, from time to time, we receive information from other schools where students have been targeted by people with possibly sinister intentions. Recently, on the North Shore, a young student was targeted by what the police would describe as an attempted abduction. The student was told that all buses were cancelled and that the school had sent ubers to get students home. Luckily, the student did not accept this offer of transport, and a concerned passerby intervened.
It is timely for all parents to remind their children to never accept a lift from someone they do not know. Encourage them to act immediately, to yell out to draw attention to the situation. Remind them to always be aware of their surroundings e.g. move away from slow-moving cars that come up alongside them.
Eight Year 10 STEM teams from Waverley were involved in the University of Newcastle Science and Engineering Challenge this week, competing against other schools in a fun and engaging day of activities and challenges.
These included designing an earthquake-proof tower, building a hovercraft, providing electricity to a city, and creating an environmentally-friendly house. All teams performed very well and took a lot out of the day.
I am excited to announce that our very own Tom Olds (Year 6 Orange Classroom Teacher) is representing Waverley College in the Cancer Council’s ‘Stars of the East’ event. This event is a high-energy, dance spectacular, bringing the Eastern Suburbs together and raising much-needed funds for The Cancer Council NSW.
Tom is fundraising for …
“My beautiful mother who has, unfortunately, had to battle the dreaded “C” word twice. She is the most influential woman in my life and is such a fantastic role model in terms of resilience, courage and dedication.
Thankfully, she has managed to win on both occasions and I hope that I can help in providing much-needed funds to support the future research, so others can share similar stories.”
Tom Olds – Year 6 Teacher
>>> Click here if you would like to donate and keep updated on Tom’s progress.
Thank you for your support of our snap mandated mask wearing this week, for all students, staff and parents, whilst indoors at the College. This action will certainly slow down transmission rates, and hopefully ensure we can stay fully operational.
Please find the latest COVID-19 numbers below. Please remind your son to wash his hands regularly, and carry hand sanitiser for when this is not possible.
| As at 25/3/22 | COVID-19 Positive | Close Contacts |
| 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 6 | 9 | 4 |
| 7 | 11 | 16 |
| 8 | 15 | 16 |
| 9 | 30 | 8 |
| 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | 11 | 6 |
| 12 | 6 | 8 |
| Staff | 12 | 2 |
| TOTAL (179) | 107 | 72 |
NSW Health will be visiting Waverley College on Tuesday, 5 April, 2022 to offer the following routine vaccines to Year 7 to protect them from preventable diseases:
| YEAR | VACCINE | NUMBER OF DOSES |
| Year 7 | Human papillomavirus (HPV) | 2 doses at least 6 months apart |
| Diphtheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough (dTpa) | 1 dose |
NSW Health will also be offering catch-up vaccination during 2022 to students who missed HPV, dTpa or MenACWY vaccinations in 2020 and 2021.
Where this is not possible, parents/carers will be contacted and recommended to access free catch-up vaccines for their child at their local GP.
Please note, that any vaccine offered to students at school requires the signed consent of parents/carers.
The vaccination consent packs have been distributed to all of Year 7 students today. Anyone absent today, can pick it up from the Wellbeing Centre on Monday.
Please ensure that you sign the consent form and ask your son to return them the following day.
>>> Click here to view more information about the NSW School Vaccination Program.
Enrolment applications for 2024 will close on Thursday, 31 March 2022. Should you have a younger son who you would like to enrol at Waverley College in Year 5 or Year 7 in 2024, please ensure you complete an application form through our website.
>>> Click here to view the application form.
Please note, if your son is currently enrolled in the Junior School, there is no need to place an additional application for Year 7.
>>> Click here to submit an online application.
For any further enrolment questions, please contact the College Registrar, Ms Kylie Anderson at registrar@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
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