Being an effective teacher is more than just improving test scores – it’s also about making a difference in students’ lives. Some of the traits of an effective teacher are their passion for learning, believing in their students’ strengths, and knowing how to help students to reach their full potential.
The Heads of Department, Mr Spargo and Ms Quintana, took the opportunity to create an experimental cross-curricular Spanish and TAS activity, touching upon the importance of cooking and safety, responsible food preparation and good food choices. Aligned and cooperative collaboration is all about diverse departments getting together and planning, so that topics of study are taught concurrently.
Led by Ms Quintana, students from 803 were provided with a cooking demonstration class in Monday’s lesson, sampling the savoury and traditional Spanish tortilla. The following day they were tasked with preparing the dish during their practical lesson by following a detailed recipe. They did an outstanding job and would make their families proud, perhaps even given their parents a night off every week to prepare something nutritious and delicious for the whole family.
Research has shown that students can achieve deeper learning when professional educators combine their efforts and reinforce the same message in each subject area. This helps clarify the information for the student, the learning activities become more fluid, and the student’s knowledge and skills improve.
Needless to say, the smiles on the students’ faces were priceless after successfully completing their cooking lesson, with the knowledge that they could devour the fruits of their labor – once they had cleaned up, of course!
Ms Priscilla Quintana
Head of Languages Department
E: pquintana@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Waverley College Senior School celebrated ‘Wear it Purple Day’ today, 26 August. This day celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and is a day which exemplifies the inclusive nature of the College, underpinned by the EREA touchstones.
This year, we created a video, with a script written by our LGBTQIA+ student advocacy group, and spoken by some of our current and future leaders. In the video, we highlight the importance of being kind and accepting towards one another, and how to be a supportive ally.
Two very special guests, Ian Roberts and Peta Friend, worked with the students to create this video, that was screened at assembly this week. In addition, we handed out purple ribbons to students who wished to wear one, to show their support today.
We hope you enjoy our special ‘Wear it Purple Day’ video below.
We are committed to creating a safe and caring school environment for every student. We use Wear it Purple Day and IDAHOBIT day to celebrate the changes we are creating, which are both part of a bigger, three-year strategic plan.
In line with the EREA Safe and Inclusive Schools Policy, Waverley has been developing this strategic plan to underpin a range of initiatives that will continue to enhance the inclusion of staff, students and community, who identify as part of our LGBTQIA+ community. This plan will deliver initiatives and adjustments across the following areas:
It will be rolled out by members of our LGBTQIA+ staff advocacy group, who meet twice a term to discuss and update each initiative. In addition to this, we have a well-established LGBTQIA+ student advocacy group, who meet two to three times per term.
This group offers support to each other while respecting individuals’ privacy and personal boundaries. The students have input into the strategic plan, with the content of our meetings ranging from delivering an initiative, to eating lunch in a safe, shared space.
Students interested in joining our LGBTQIA+ group should ask their Head of House, or contact me for more information.
Ms Tessa Prior
College Psychologist
E: tprior@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Year 10 Service Week will take place over four days in Term 4, from Monday, 21 November to Thursday 24 November, 2022 (inclusive).
Student placements are now due. All students are required to register their placement with the College by completing the form below. Thank you to those students and families who have already done this.
>>> Click here to view and complete the Service Week Form.
If you have any further questions or are unable to locate a service placement, please see Ms Maakrun or Ms Walsh as soon as possible.
Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun
Assistant Director of Identity & Student Formation
E: mmaakrun@waverley.nsw.edu.au
>>> Click here to view the weekly Careers Newsletter.
Please see me if you require any further assistance or information.
Applications are now open for the THALES AWS 2023 Apprentice and Traineeship Program.
Multiple disciplines are available including:
>>> Click here to view application information.
Over the past 10 years, AWS has assisted more than 100 apprentices and trainees qualify in their chosen field, delivering quality outcomes for our business to support the Navy, to keep Australia safe.
Next year, we have positions available at Garden Island. AWS plays a critical role at Garden Island, managing the Captain Cook Graving Dock and providing critical ship repair, maintenance and engineering services to the Royal Australian Navy.
Image: courtesy Australian Department of Defence
On Tuesday, 30 August 6pm, they are hosting a useful online information session, so that interested candidates may learn more about the apprenticeship opportunities available.
>>> Click here to view information about how to register for the online session.
For more information on positions available, please email Ms Amanda Duval: amanda.duval@thalesgroup.com.
Ms Kath Knowles
Senior Studies & Careers Coordinator
E: kknowles@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This week, creative Year 9 students collaborated against the clock to illustrate and ‘Write a Book in a Day.’ This popular 12-hour competition really challenges students, because they must include unique parameters in their story, which stretches their intellectual flexibility and innovation. It’s also a lot of fun!
We’re so proud that these student authors and illustrators got involved. Here’s what a couple of them had to say about the five-chapter project:
“The collaborative process works really well, because in the end, each piece comes together from each individual to paint the full picture … and I learned that we’re all creative in different ways.” – Archie Godby
“Having many people writing, creates a lot of variation which adds to the creativity of the writing.” – Max Sheehy
We can’t wait to read the digital edition of their story, The Search for Happiness, in the Online Library shared with hospitals right across Australia, with sponsorship funds gifted to the Kids’ Cancer Project.
Thank you Archie Godby, Thomas Jackson-Whilock, Kobe Jones, Toby McDonald, Max Sheehy, Luca Cornelius and Renator Rovacchi for sharing your storytelling magic.
Ms Sherri Falkinder
Librarian
E: sfalkinder@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Vanessa Witton
Marketing Communications Specialist
E: vwitton@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Friday, 19 August, members of the Students of the World Ecology Group attended the annual Eco Edmund Rice College Sustainability Conference at Wollongong. These included myself, Christopher Kallo (Year 12), Liam McEvoy (Year 10), James Peate (Year 9), Max Sheehy (Year 9), Archie Godby (Year 9) and Lachlan Isaac (Year 9).
The conference began with a presentation by Ms Lara Pugh, from Wollongong City Council who spoke about their sustainable approaches. Following Lara, was Dr Carl Hopley, a Buildings and Facilities Sustainability Planner. One of his projects utilised Bluetooth technology to perfectly illuminate the building only when and where individuals are present. Essentially, the LED lights follow you around by communicating with each other. He also implemented a solar panel scheme, significant enough to hide an Olympic Swimming Pool on the top of one of his projects. These initiatives alone saved $300,000 and absolutely astonishing volumes of energy.
Following these presenters was each school’s presentations on their energy audits and initiatives implemented to address them. We presented a variety of Waverley initiatives as well as our energy audit results, focusing on areas of high-energy consumption within our school. Initiatives that we and others have implemented include, solar panels and solar buddies initiatives, collaboration with St Clare’s, food waste audits and management, green initiatives, and finally, utilising Indigenous plant species in greening projects.
| Results and Initiatives of the Other Schools Presenting | |
| St. Edwards | Implemented the “FLICK” acronym to reduce unnecessary energy consumption, flick the fans off, lights off, computers off and key to lock the door |
| Illawara | Significant costs of energy and to approach sustainability, they implemented a Beeswax Wraps initiative for Year 10 students |
| St. John’s | Discovered that lights, fans and air conditioning were all left on during lunch and times of vacancy, whereby they implemented Johnie’s Action Group and even a beehive to address and reduce this |
| CHBS | Discovered significant energy usage in Music Departments, however sought advice from this conference to address this issue |
| ERC | Discovered that 2019 was an astonishing year in terms of energy consumption and implemented battery recycling and paper recycling |
| St. Mary’s | Discovered that specialist rooms consume more energy than regular classrooms, whereby they instilled ‘No Tech Tuesdays’ where for two periods on a Tuesday, students and teacher plan and complete lessons without the use of technology, with the exception of senior years |
| Lindsey Park | This primary school had incredible young students implementing change through the presentation of their energy consumption and watching other initiatives |
| Holy Spirit | Discovered the impact of leaving, fridges, freezers and microwaves on, every day of the year, and plan to instil more energy-saving initiatives in the future |
Kylie Flament then elaborated on the importance of implementing sustainable initiatives through a series of four key assessors: People, Planet, Finance and Capability – supported by the community, good for the planet, financially fundable and achievable. Additionally, Kylie ran a workshop tackling behaviour, whereby each table of students (all from different schools) developed an initiative that they believed could be implemented and was sustainable either in schools or across the community. A quote from Kylie speaks volumes about our society: “Systems are easier to change than the opinions and behaviours of people.”
Following Kylie’s workshop, was an astonishing presentation by an inspiring young entrepreneur and student of Edmund Rice College, Sean Staniforth who discussed the importance of turning your passion into a sustainable and even profitable reality. Sean started his own business known as “Sean’s Unique Woodworking” utilising reused and recycled timber in collaboration with Acacia and PCA Furniture, using their offcuts to produce his sustainable and authentic work. He has every angle of his business covered in terms of sustainable practices, whereby he recycles sawdust and gives wood shavings to his family and friends to utilise in their chicken’s nesting coops.
Finally, Mr Costa Georgiadis, a Waverley Old Boy, presented an incredibly engaging and active presentation, exemplifying the fact that we should not stand in the way, however provide an alternative to progress towards a solution. He also elaborated that inclusivity is the best policy, we need collaboration and that we need to talk about our failures. The most crucial component Costa wanted to exhibit, was that story comes from the heart. We can let others share our ideas, and we don’t have to force our ides down the throat of others however respond in an open manner, “Well, since you asked..” Costa’s inspiring presentation paved the way to approach our ideas and the best way to have success in doing so.
Conclusively, the conference was extremely enjoyable, insightful and enlightening, enabling us to know the best way to approach our solutions, respectfully adapt the behaviours of people, and instil an initiative and achieve an optimal outcome.
I would like to thank Ms Rebecca Sutcliffe and Mr Brad Thompson for their transportation, organisation and incredible guidance during the event. I would also love to thank the younger students in our Ecology Group: Oliver Isaac, Patrick Blackhall and Oliver Lorimer who helped tremendously in preparing our presentation for the event.
By Kayden Baker (Year 9)
Ms Rebecca Sutcliffe
Geography Teacher and Ecology Group Coordinator
E: rsutcliffe@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We finish every prayer at Waverley with three important lines.
Blessed Edmund Rice – pray for us
Mary of the Cross – pray for us
Live Jesus in your hearts – forever
The first of the three, refers to the Founder of the Christian Brothers, Blessed Edmund Rice. The third, refers to the Son of God and the central belief of Christianity. Whilst the second, refers to Mary MacKillop, an Australian religious sister who was declared Australia’s first saint by the Catholic Church in 2010.
Mary MacKillop made a significant contribution to education in Australia. She dedicated her life to Catholic education, particularly to the poor of her time and to those in remote communities. She inspired the formation of the Sisters of St Joseph, who also lived among the poor and offered special care to the needy and the marginalised. Mary MacKillop was also tenacious and resilient when faced with her own challenges within the Catholic Church. Her life, like that of all Saints, can be an example to us in our daily lives.
“Never see a need without doing something about it.”
These words of Mary MacKillop are as relevant to our world today, as they were when she was confronting injustice and hardship in the latter half of the 1800s, and the early years of the 1900s. Mary MacKillop is now known as ‘Mary of the Cross’ and her feast day is celebrated on 8 August. Her tomb is at North Sydney in the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel.
Our thoughts and prayers are with our College Chaplain and Parish Priest, Fr Bernie Thomas. Fr Bernie’s mother, Ann Thomas, passed away recently in New Zealand. Ann had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for the past seven years and recently succumbed to COVID-19. May Ann Rest in Peace.
Congratulations to our Year 12 Art and Design students on their successful combined exhibition held this week. Many were impressed with the high quality of their work. Thank you to Ms Natalie Oates, Head of Visual Arts, and Mr James Spargo, Head of TAS, and their respective departments for their hard work in supporting the students and coordinating this fascinating exhibition.
Congratulations to our Junior School students and Michelle Rollins on their performance at Wakakirri last Thursday evening at NIDA. Wakakirri is a festival where the students share a story through dance, and from all accounts, the students’ performance was spectacular.
Years 7-12 students will finish school at 2:30pm on Tuesday, 23 August. This is due to a Staff Professional Development meeting. Athletics training will commence immediately after school at 2:30pm next Tuesday at Queens Park.
Congratulations to Mr Daniel Kroll who has been promoted to Acting Head of Green House until the end of the year, while Mr Scott Coleman is on leave.
And welcome to Ms Olivia Spelling who joins our Psychologist team and will be working with Psychologist, Mr Greg Cameron.
The College is travelling well this week, with a reduction in COVID-19 transmission. Thank you to students, staff and parents for their support of the precautions we have taken.
| Total Current Cases | 9 (Years 5-12) |
| Year 5 | 2 cases |
| Year 6 | 1 case |
| Year 7 | 1 case |
| Year 8 | 2 cases |
| Year 9 | 3 cases |
| Year 10 | 0 cases |
| Year 11 | 0 cases |
| Year 12 | 0 cases |
Please find below the schedule for the Year 12 Tutorials in Term 3, 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.
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 3pm the day prior.
| Date | Subject | Time | Room | Teacher |
|
Monday, 22 August 2022
|
Drama | 3:30pm – 5pm | P118 | Colette Brus |
| Business Studies | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | W33 | Adam Wallington/ Sean Picone | |
| Tuesday, 23 August 2022 | English Standard: Mod B | 7:45am – 8:40am | K22 | Sam DiSalvo |
| Wednesday, 24 August 2022 | Mathematics Ext 1 | 7:30am – 8:30am | E32 | Steven Hall |
|
Thursday, 25 August 2022
|
Engineering Studies | 7:30am – 8:30am | Library | Silvia Baylie |
| Geography | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | W33 | Adam Wallington |
Ms Lauren Ryan has emailed the registration sheet to students to register their attendance at the tutorials.
Ms Elizabeth Watson
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
E: ewatson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below key event dates you need to be aware of for the Junior School in Term 3. For all of the College events, please refer to the College calendar.
August
September
Science week started with a bang with our incursion ‘Window to the World.’ The students were mesmerised as they learnt about the everyday impact of glass, how it helps our communications and health, and how it is driving a sustainable future.
We look forward to sharing more from Science Week in our next edition of Nurrunga.
Ms Gabby Smith
Director of Junior School
E: gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A huge congratulations to all members of Team Waverley who completed the City to Surf on the weekend past. It was a beautiful day for running and this iconic course reminded us all how amazing our city is. The views were spectacular and the opportunity to all see all walks of life finish the run, was inspirational.
I hope all team members feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that they raised vital funds for babies born prematurely, and at the same time conquered a mammoth distance of 14km.
The Final Numbers
Our Top 6 Fundraisers
Mr Elliott McKimm
Class Teacher Year 5 Orange
E: emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Over the past two weeks, both Year 5 and Year 6 have been involved in their first ever retreat days at Waverley College. Both days focused on themes of friendship, leadership, inclusiveness and being an Upstander.
All activities were led by our Year 11 students including making House Wristbands, defining qualities that make good leaders and good friends. They also had the chance to listen to Old Boys Daniel Andrews, Harley McGuiggan, Pat Clifton and Andrew Green (Riverview), talking to the students about leadership qualities beyond their schooling years.
The day was completed with some House team building games including tunnel ball and kick tennis, which the boys thoroughly enjoyed.
Retreat Day Liturgy
>>> Click here to view your Father’s Day Invitation.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Identity & Student Formation
E: sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This past Wednesday, 17 August the Junior School finally participated in our House Athletics Carnival after its postponement in Term 2. The weather was on our side, with blue skies and the sun keeping everyone warm. It was amazing to have so many parents supporting and celebrating their son in all of his nominated events.
The day started with field events (Shot Put, High Jump, Long Jump and Discus) which ran the entire day.
Midway through the morning we began the track events (100m, 200m, 800m), which demonstrated some amazing results for all age groups.
The highlight of the day was the involvement of a large portion of students in the novelty events (Three-Legged Race, Wheelbarrow Race and Tug of War).
The day finished with some exciting events including the 100m final, 8x100m House Relays and the infamous Staff/Parents vs Students relay. We had widespread involvement and participation from all students, which made the day that much more enjoyable and engaging for our students and parents.
A massive congratulations to Brennan for being the Junior School House Champions for 2022! They finished on 386 points.
Congratulations to the other Houses for their efforts:
A further congratulations to the following students who were announced and celebrated as the age champions for the carnival:
U10 Students
1st – Charlie Carrano
2nd – Ollie Burke
3rd – Jaden Truscott
4th – Sam Rogers
4th – Marcus Juhasz
U11 Students
1st – Louis Coleman
2nd – Hugo Cummins
3rd – Cristiano Zanapalis
4th – Hugo Spierings
U12 Students
1st – Vaidas Levi
2nd – Lukas Pendleton
3rd – Reese Araujo
4th – Jayden Newrick
Now that the Carnival is completed, I will send out information to parents, inviting students to train with the Senior School across the next four weeks for the athletics season. This will be dependent on the Carnival results, and more students than just the age champions will be invited to be involved.
Nominations for IPSHA Athletics Carnival are due on Monday, 22 August and I will be sure to let those families know, as soon as those nominations are sent.
The FunRun Fundraiser has seen some amazing achievements within two weeks of the fundraising period. Two weeks into the event, I’ll thrilled to share the following milestones reached:
The FunRun ‘Big Show’ event is now only a week away (Friday, 26 August) and we’re ecstatic to have all students at Waverley Park to conclude the fundraising at an absolute high point.
The event itself will take place from 10am – 12pm at Waverley Park. Students will move around the created running track, through colour spraying sections and giant inflatables.
There will be an awards ceremony, and seven staff members will be slimed at the event. Parents are warmly welcome to attend this event, and we look forward to seeing you there.
I please ask parents to prepare for this, by ensuring your son has a white t-shirt that he can wear on the day. This is because all students will be sprayed with safe/sustainable coloured powder.
Thank you to all families for being on board and we further encourage you to spread the message far and wide in this final week of fundraising, explaining the causes we’re fundraising for, and the meaning behind each chosen charity.
If you wish, you may pass on the following Waverley College Junior School fundraising link for other people to use. Students may also send out their personal link to increase their fundraising efforts:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/waverley-4812a57b-0562-43bd-aaca-8f442f30ea3d
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
E: jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
>>> Click here to register your son.
No Home Learning on Tuesday 23 August.
If your son is unable to attend, please email the College at nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au or call reception.
If you have entered your son in the ICAS ‘Science’ and ‘Spelling Bee’ exams, they will be running in the Learning Hub next week. View the timetable below.
Please make sure your son charges his laptop the night before. Students need to arrive at least five minutes before the start time.
| WEEK | START TIME | DATE | ICAS EXAM |
| 6 | 8am | Tuesday, 23 August | Science |
| 8am | Thursday, 25 August | Spelling Bee
Earphones required |
Our Pop-Up bookshop which is proudly supported by ‘The Children’s Bookshop,’ will be on campus Monday, 22 August. Allowing your son to make his own reading choices is an important part of encouraging reading.
There will be three options for payment on the day. Students can pay with cash, EFTPOS or complete the Book Fair PDF note below.
>>> Click here to view the PDF Book Fair note.
If your son is absent on the day, you can purchase books via the link below.
>>> Click here to view the link to the Book Fair.
All books will be delivered to Waverley and distributed by Week 8.
Thank you to all the students who entered the Book Week Competitions.
Ms Mary Ryan, Acting Literacy Coordinator, will have a tough job judging the Poetry.
Ms Natalie Oates, Head of Visual Arts, and Ms Jenna Turnbull, Visual Arts Teacher, will also have a tough job judging the creative pieces of art by students who interpreted the theme ‘Dreaming with eyes open…’
Winners will be announced on Thursday 25 August. Good luck to all the students who entered!
Junior School Art Critics
Visual Arts Submissions
Harvey Smith
Dash McDonough
Poetry Submissions
I lay awake
With eyes wide shut
I think of places
I love a lot
I dream of peace across the oceans
I’m dreaming with eyes wide open
By River Sullivan – 5 White
I was in my bed
Thoughts are rushing through my head
I can’t go to sleep
Will I ever go to bed?
By Max Green – 6 White
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
E: nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The 6 White classroom does play host to a variety of meetings and lessons. On a Tuesday and Thursday, Aungier House all meet together in our classroom for Wellbeing Time. The students are always respectful and attentive to the ways we make ourselves better people. Some boys from Aungier are below.
Students from Aungier House
Every day, boys arrive here from across the grade for at least one Mathematics lesson. The boys learn much about Mathematics in our world and have a lot of fun while doing activities. The picture below shows a student problem solving with markers on his desk.
Cameron Spies
Finally, the home class of 6 White take their Visual Arts lessons quite seriously, and there are many talented artists with a distinct individual flair.
The boys studied the sculptures of Michelle Reader. They then designed and sculpted their own monsters last term in the Art Room.
Sculptures using spoons and rubber bands based on works by Jill Townsley, were constructed.
They are currently designing their own masterpiece pagodas using lead pencil, black marker, tissue and crêpe paper.
Cash, Cameron and Max
Henry’s Monster
Spoon and rubber band sculpture
Vaidas, Jake and Quinn
Creating a background for the pagoda
Completed pagodas
Mr Anthony Stanton
Class Teacher 6 White
E: astanton@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last Sunday, three Year 11 Waverley young men, Bert Cottell, Elliot Witten and Mathew Woods, went to the Cardoner Project with Mr Ben Steel and Ms Sue Walsh, for the inaugural Burritos and Brownies social justice initiative.
After making and wrapping the burritos and brownies, they headed off to Wade Park in Strawberry Hills. Here they met up with many homeless clients, and others in need, for a chat and a meal.
It was a fantastic opportunity for our boys to participate in activities that engaged them with the excluded and disadvantaged in our community, and the students enjoyed this wonderful new initiative immensely. Feedback from the students was very positive, as they developed a genuine understanding and respect for diverse communities.
“We showed up to The Two Wolves Cantina at 10am and we were put straight to work. We made, wrapped and packed over 80 burritos and brownies to hand out to the Surry Hills Housing Commission community. Taking part in this experience made me realise how often we dismiss individuals who are homeless. We walk past them at the train station or at Bondi junction and don’t think twice about it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and from now on make a conscious effort to stop, talk and help individuals who experience homelessness where I can. I strongly believe that this experience changed me in a way that I really didn’t expect it to.
If, like me, you feel compelled to put yourself out there, help people who have fallen on hard times and just need a helping hand, or just have a conversation with someone you wouldn’t normally have one with, this experience is for you.” – Year 11 student, Bertie Cottell
This initiative will be available once a month with hopes that the program will also spread to the Redfern area. The Cardoner Project (a not-for-profit volunteer organisation) are currently donating all the food, but would greatly appreciate some sponsorship or ingredient donations to fray some of the costs.
If anyone is interested in donating, please email Ms Sue Walsh: swalsh@waverley.nsw.
Ms Sue Walsh
Director of Identity & Student Formation
E: swalsh@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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