We are excited and proud to resume the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award at the College in 2023. The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global youth program which challenges young people to dream big, celebrate their achievements, and make a difference in their world. Doing the Award is a personal challenge, pushing participants to their limits, and recognising and celebrating achievements.
The Award is run in over 130 countries, with over 8 million young people participating worldwide. Our College currently offers this Award to students in Year 8 and above, and spans Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.
Please note, that enrolments for boys currently in Year 8 are not yet open. Any Year 8 boys who are interested in the Award are cordially invited to attend lunchtime meetings for the time being.
For more information, please email Mr Alon Horry ahorry@waverley.nsw.edu
This is a message for all parents/carers from the Better Health Company about a free fitness program for teens.
Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN) has supported Better Health Company to provide FREE healthy lifestyle programs to teenagers in Central and Eastern Sydney, who are either above a healthy weight, or are diagnosed with a chronic health condition.
It is a free program for teenagers to prevent chronic disease. At this stage they have 10 spaces left. The next online program starts Friday, 10 March 2023.
Together we can work to ensure more teenagers in Central and Eastern Sydney lead healthier, happier, active lives.
Please see me if you require any further assistance or information.
Click here for the Week 2 Careers Newsletter
Ms Kath Knowles
Senior Studies & Careers Coordinator
kknowles@waverley.nsw.edu.au
One of the great benefits of having so many cadets in the Unit, is the opportunity to be able to offer more diverse platoons to cater for different styles of engagement with Cadets.
One of our newest platoons is Media Platoon, and last week they covered Alpha Company’s activities at Waverley Park. ‘Hutchie Hell’ is designed to ensure all recruits know how to quickly set up and take down their hutchies and, more importantly, that they are structurally sound and weatherproof to provide adequate shelter from the elements on AFX.
In the words of our Media Platoon …
“Another exhilarating day for the recruits in A Company, as they were able to learn how to successfully structure a Hutchie down at Waverley Park in a time frame of two minutes. The recruits learnt how to work as a team and find the right location to place the hutchie. There were many recruits who learnt valuable skills in the lead-up to AFX.”
Intense knot-making by Alpha Company
Last-minute adjustments
Recruits proudly show off their excellent hutchie
We look forward to weekly contributions from Media Platoon as they hone their skills as journalists for the Unit. Thank you to Jack, James, Constantine, Priscilla and Erin for your ongoing service to the Unit.
Details about the Annual Field Exercise (AFX – Cadet Camp) have now been sent to all parents, carers and cadets by email. Please read through the information in the Joining Instruction carefully and complete the registration by Wednesday, 1 March 2023.
A reminder to all Waverley recruits that this camp doubles as the Year 9 School Camp and, as such, is a compulsory component of your Waverley College journey. Any requests for leave from camp need school approval, as camp week is a week of school.
Seven weeks to go!
Please note that the book hire operating hours remain the same, except for a slight amendment to the days open, as listed below:
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Please read this important school vaccination program update from NSW Health.
SCHOOL VACCINATION PROGRAM UPDATE
Keeping your child up-to-date with routine vaccinations helps to protect them from serious preventable diseases. As part of the NSW School Vaccination Program, students in Year 7 are offered free vaccines to protect them from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV). In Year 10, students are offered the free meningococcal ACWY vaccine.
Your consent is required for your child to receive routine vaccinations at school. If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10 this year, you can now provide this consent online.
This year’s school vaccination clinics will be held on Wednesday, 1 March 2023 and Tuesday, 19 September 2023. You can provide consent for your child’s vaccinations via Service NSW using this link.
From February 2023, only one dose of HPV vaccination is required to be fully vaccinated. This change has been endorsed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) based on the latest evidence, showing that one dose provides the same level of protection against HPV as two doses.
If you have already consented to your child receiving two doses of HPV vaccine, they will only receive one dose. If your child is in Year 8 or above and previously missed their second dose of HPV vaccine, they are now considered fully vaccinated and do not require a second dose.
A small number of students who are immunocompromised are still recommended to receive a three-dose course of HPV vaccine. If your child is immunocompromised, it is important to discuss their immunisation needs with their GP.
If your child misses a school vaccination clinic, the school immunisation nurses will try to catch them up at their next visit. Alternately, you can speak to a GP or pharmacist about catching up on vaccination.
More information on school vaccination: health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination
Questions: please contact South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit on 9382 8333 (Ext 2).
Click here for more information about HPV
Sydney Trains advises that there will be planned lift replacement works at Bondi Junction for 9 weeks commencing from Monday, 27 February 2023 to early May 2023.
The station lift between the Concourse and Platforms 1 and 2 will be closed for a lift replacement project, with escalators being the only other alternative.
Information for customers on the impact of this project will be available through:
Alternately, please speak to the team at Bondi Junction Station, who are more than happy to answer any questions.
Throughout the school holidays, Waverley’s 1sts, 2nds and High-Performance players continued to work hard at training to put them in the best position for the second half of the CAS season.
Towards the end of the holidays, the annual January Basketball camp was in the lead-up to the Trinity Challenge and Newington Classic tournaments. The two-day camp tested both teams’ dedication and commitment, as the gruelling sessions were exhausting.
The camp allowed the players to prepare and develop high levels of confidence going into the tournaments. The level of intensity was high for both teams, as they knew they had to win all their games in the tournament to guarantee finishing on top of the CAS ladder.
The Monday before the tournament was a real test for both Waverley’s 1sts and 2nds, with exhibition games against Riverview hosted in Lane Cove. The results of these games showed how ready and focused the teams were for the tournament and CAS season.
The day tipped off with the 2nds competing in a highly skilled and closely-fought game. Unfortunately, the 2nds lost with the final score 45-54 to Riverview. Throughout the game, the lead changes were continuous with both teams going back and forth. Late in the fourth quarter, the 2nds were down by 10 and needed to dig deep to make a comeback. Unfortunately, they were not able to crawl back and steal the lead, resulting in their third loss of the season. Tashi Harrison’s speed and Jock Edwards’ tenacity were valuable in keeping their team competitive in the close game.
The 1sts were eager to beat Riverview after watching them defeat the 2nds, however, as with the 2nds, the 1sts fell short with the end score 59-71. Right from the tip-off, Riverview were the more energised team, making the effort to grab those extra rebounds and run the lanes on the fastbreak. This killed Waverley, allowing Riverview to have a 15-point lead halfway through the second quarter.
The 1sts were able to slowly crawl back to make it a seven-point Riverview lead in the fourth quarter. Waverley then had to put the pressure on their opponent, but by the end of the fourth, they were short. The team was led by Daniel Palacio’s athleticism and Wylie Durrans’ hunger for the ball on the rebounds.
For the Waverley 1sts, the two days after the Riverview game were filled with high-intensity games at Cranbrook for the 23rd Annual Trinity Challenge. After coming from a tough loss to Riverview, the 1sts were determined to prove themselves, and they did by winning all three games on the first day, placing 1st in their pool. This included beating Barker (who they had lost to twice recently), in a well-fought game.
The next day commenced with the quarter-finals in which they matched up against Riverview, being fixated on beating them. At the tip off, the 1sts learned from their mistakes and got off to a hot start, working hard on defence. Riverview was able to adjust their game plan throughout the game to take the lead, and unfortunately stole the win knocking Waverley out of the tournament. The 1sts ended by placing an impressive 5th out of 16 teams.
Waverley’s 2nds played their games at Newington and successfully won the Newington Classic for the first time ever. The 2nds were heading into the tournament after a very successful first half of the CAS season, placing first on the standings. The 2nds pool was very competitive, and they were also able to win all three games, including defeating both Riverview and Knox, who they had previously lost against.
By the quarter-finals, the 2nds were sitting on top of their pool, and they knew that they had to do everything to win. After winning the quarter and semi-finals, they faced off against Newington in the grand final. Newington came out firing, forcing the 2nds to chase down the lead.
When it came to the fourth quarter it was a tied game, and anyone could win. Waverley was able to pull ahead and beat Newington 47-40, the first-ever Waverley team to win the Newington Classic. Big congratulations go to the team after their hard-fought tournament.
All the As teams from Year 8 including the 1sts and 2nds, competed in a tournament against the CAS teams, playing 20-minute games across multiple venues. All the teams played against St Aloysius’, Cranbrook, Trinity and Barker.
1sts
The 1sts competed at Knox, knowing that their matchups were going to be tough. Although the Blitz didn’t actually mean anything, it was a big weekend for the team as they wanted to win, so they would have confidence coming to the final five games of the CAS season.
The whole team played tremendously as they battled injuries, only playing with seven during the whole tournament. They played with maximum effort and heart, managing to win all four games including a 14-point comeback against Trinity. This was vital for the team, as they now know they can beat every team, and they have the confidence to compete against Knox in Round 6 of the CAS season.
2nds
The 2nds played at Barker College, where they knew that there were not going to be any easy wins. After the Newington Classic, they knew they were the team to beat, and worked very hard attempting to keep that top spot. Unfortunately, the 2nds lost to both Trinity and Cranbrook, in two very close matchups. Although this was a shock to them, they know that they will still have to work very hard to win the premiership, as they match up against Knox in their first game of the year. The 2nds were able to come together in the final game with their terrific defence, holding Barker to just three points for the entire game.
10As
After a tough first half of the season, the 10As were determined to come out on top of the CAS Blitz. Their fixtures were held at Cranbrook, where they worked continuously with a maximum amount of effort, to win two out of four games. They managed to start and end the day well by beating St Aloysius’ and Barker, but unfortunately losing to Cranbrook and Trinity. Looking ahead, the 10As know they will have a close game coming up against Knox, after losing to them by just six at the start of the season.
9As
The first half of the CAS season for the 9As was a very strong one, as they managed to win all five games. Heading into the Blitz hosted at the Willoughby Leisure Centre, they knew they were the team to beat, in everyone’s eyes. The team was only able to beat Cranbrook on the day, losing the other three games by close margins. Despite the solitary win, the 9As remain the team to beat in the CAS.
8As
At Waverley, the 8As competed in their first-ever CAS Blitz, an intense heart-pounding moment for them. After having some big wins and tough losses, they were determined to showcase who they were to the other teams. They started off slow, unfortunately losing to St Aloysius’ in a jaw-clenching game, but were able to pick it up, securing the win in the next two games. Although they were just coming from two wins on the day, they were not able to steal the win from Barker, only losing their lead in the last few plays. The 8As will surely bounce back to put up a tough game against Knox this Saturday.
Thank you
A special thank you goes to coaches Mr Joff Garvey, Mr James Spargo, Mr Linden Smith-Hyde, Mr Johnston, and to convener Mr Anthony Gibbs for taking time out of their holidays and families, to help develop the Basketball program at Waverley during the break.
Year 7s
Congratulations to the Year 7s for completing their first week in high school, and good luck to them as they play their first CAS game against heavyweights, Knox.
With half of the season completed for all but the Year 7 teams, we wish them good luck, and hope that they will enjoy their seasons. A big shout to the Year 12s to enjoy their last five Basketball games for Waverley, as they then transition into the Winter co-curricular season.
Daniel Palacio (Captain of Basketball)
Tom Gleeson (Captain of 1st V)
As we conclude the first week of a new school year, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the College. We have set high standards for the students as we enter 2023 and they have stepped up in an impressive manner.
I spoke at Assembly on Monday to ensure students are clear on College expectations, and I have included this information for you below.
In the Junior School, mobile phones are to be handed in to the class teacher at the beginning of the school day and collected at the conclusion.
In the Senior School, mobile phones are not permitted outside locker areas. If students have their phone outside these areas, in the first instance they will receive a one-hour detention. In the second instance, it will be a three-hour detention.
If students use their phone to film in class, it will be confiscated until an investigation has been completed. Taking photos or filming teachers/support staff is a massive breach of their privacy.
Students will need to use their student ID card when accessing the canteen. Please follow the links below to set up Flexischools:
How to Set up Your Flexischools Account
Getting started with Flexischools
We have seen an increase in students filming themselves, their peers and teachers on school grounds. If students upload images or videos onto social media – including Tik Tok – that brings the College into disrepute or involves a teacher, they will receive a two-day suspension. I have asked that students immediately delete any content from their account that would fall in this space.
All students are expected to adhere to our haircut policy. Horizontal meetings were held on Tuesday, in which students were given the opportunity to receive a haircut on site, or leave to rectify this. I thank you for your support on this day.
Shoes are to be black leather lace up, no brands including Nike, New Balance or ASIC are permissible.
All students are expected to arrive at school, assemblies, meetings and class, on time. Any students out of class during normal school periods in Years 7 – 12 will need a written note from their teacher.
Vape detectors are now in the bathrooms. It is a two-day suspension if you are found vaping or in the possession of a vape.
As we move through the year, I will bring to your attention important topics you need to know, to best support your son. All students have now been given their own laptop, therefore it is timely that you are given information on how to best protect your son online.
Parents and carers may recently have learned via the Australian media that predators are taking advantage of chat functions on gaming platforms to exploit and groom school-aged children online. eSafety, which safeguards all Australians from online harms, has delivered new research showing that over the past year, almost half of children were victims of online nastiness.
At Waverley, we are following the advice of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and encouraging parents and carers to be actively involved in their children’s activities online – particularly online gaming.
Communicate early and openly with your child and through each stage of their human development. This is essential in keeping them safe. The AFP considers the start of the school year, when children are frequently given an electronic device, a crucial time.
According to the AFP, predators might:
Some helpful resources for parents and carers include:
These free, live webinars will give parents and carers the tools to support their children to have online experiences that are safe.
Learn more and register now for Term 1 webinars
This essential child safety resource can help parents and carers, and contains content updates from: NSW Rural Fire, NSW Ministry of Health, NSW Police Force, Fire and Rescue NSW, Transport NSW, State Emergency Services, NSW Department of Family & Community Services, eSafety Commissioner and NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian.
Click here to view the digital Child Safety Handbook
Applications are open for Australians aged 16-24, to join one of five new Youth Advisory Groups to advise on Australian Government policies and programs across key issues facing young people.
Each of the five advisory groups will examine an issue of importance to young Australians. Focus topics and group membership will change each year.
In 2023 the topics are:
A dedicated First Nations Youth Advisory Group will also be set up to work with the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
The advisory groups will seek to represent young people from diverse backgrounds, and ensure all states, territories, and regional, rural, and remote Australia are represented.
The groups will work independently of the recently-established Youth Steering Committee. Their work, however, will complement each other in bringing the insights of young people to the Government.
Click here to apply through the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition website
Successful candidates will need to be available to travel to Canberra on 28-31 March 2023 for the first meeting of the Youth Advisory Groups. The Office for Youth will cover the cost of this travel.
Ms Gabby Smith
(Acting) Deputy Principal – Students
gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
All students in the Year 11 VET Entertainment course will take part in an excursion to the Lyric Theatre in Sydney to see the musical ‘Hairspray’ on Wednesday, 15 February.
Going to see a large-scale professional musical is a wonderful opportunity for the boys to examine how the elements of production such as lighting, staging, sound, costume design and direction, all come together to communicate a story to the audience.
Students will be accompanied by Mr Lamb and myself. When we get to the Lyric Theatre, the boys will be allowed to get themselves some lunch at the nearby shopping mall.
Date: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Time: 11am
Cost: $97.00
Dress: Full school uniform
Meeting point: PAC foyer at 11am
Parent/carer permission is required.
Click here to view excursion information and complete the google permission slip
I kindly ask all parents/carers to complete the Google form permission slip no later than Monday, 13 February.
Please do not hesitate to email me for further information.
Serving the community and Social Justice is at the heart of our College and Edmund Rice ethos. We are pleased to once again offer this opportunity to our Year 11 students this year.
Our Year 11 Service Learning Program will begin in Week 3 on Monday, 16 February, with the first team of boys volunteering in our local community, one afternoon after school.
All Year 11 students are required to nominate two community volunteer placements to attend this year. They attend in a volunteer capacity once per week, over a three-week period. Students nominating to attend Matthew Talbot Hostel will only attend for two weeks. Boys can volunteer at any time throughout Term 1, Term 2 or Term 3.
The program endeavours to provide students with meaningful volunteer experiences and opportunities, where they are able to witness first-hand, the transforming power of being able to make a difference to the lives of another individual in need.
Volunteering at Matthew Talbot Hostel
In the first week of school, all boys were given access to the Year 11 Service Spreadsheet to nominate their teams and add their name to an organisation.
*Parents/Carers: can you please check with your son to learn if he has done this, and enquire where and when he is doing his service?
Prior to attending, students and parents/carers will receive a reminder email from Ms Cooper, Head of Religion, confirming these attendance details. If a student is unable to attend, he is responsible for organising another boy to replace him, and will need to nominate another time slot.
If your son does not have a placement as yet, could you please remind him to add his name to any of the organisations below.
This year, we thank our partner organisations who are able to support our students:
Please direct these to either:
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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