Please see me if you require any further assistance or information.
Click here for the Week 3 Careers Newsletter
Ms Kath Knowles
Senior Studies & Careers Coordinator
kknowles@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Looking for some summer magic? There’s something for everyone at Summerama and its FREE!
When: Sunday, 26 February, 9:30am-12:30pm
Where: Bronte and Bondi Beaches
Questions?
Click here to view the Summerama 2023 poster
As part of our Career program for Year 10 at Waverley College, we offer a Career Assessment program to all Year 10 students to assist with senior subject selection and choosing a career pathway.
The program will begin with a four-hour online career testing session run by Dr Marian Kratzing, a Careers Psychologist. Dr Kratzing has developed a unique career profiling system which she and her colleagues provide to many schools in Sydney.
In the profiling session, students will complete several questionnaires and tests designed to assess a variety of factors that are important in helping students select a University (ATAR) or Vocational (NON-ATAR) career pathway at school and beyond.
These will include an:
The cost per student will be $153.00 which will be debited to your College account. This includes a comprehensive written report and a 25-minute individual interview. The testing will be conducted on Tuesday, 28 February, 2023 in the College Gymnasium. It is important that all Year 10 students are present and punctual on this day.
Following their interview, students will be provided with an action plan to follow in order to investigate career alternatives more thoroughly that they have selected through the assessment process. Students will be supported in their research into different career and course options.
Last Wednesday, our Year 11 Sport Life and Recreation students visited Point Piper Kayak Centre. The day involved lifesaving and paddle boarding activities along with a kayaking expedition to Shark Island in the beautiful Sydney Harbour.
Students grasped an understanding of the importance of physical activity in outdoor environments, and the incredible benefits this can have on their lifestyle and wellbeing.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Dear Parents and Carers,
Below is an invitation to a webinar presented by Elephant Ed on Puberty and Embracing Change.
When: 6pm – 7pm, Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Topic: Puberty and Embracing Change
Elephant Ed is a leading sexuality education provider to hundreds of schools around Australia. Elephant Ed’s workshops are evidence-based, age-appropriate and mapped to State and National curriculum guidelines. Elephant Ed is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider.
In advance of Elephant Ed’s workshops with Waverley College students, this webinar will include discussion around the physical, social and emotional changes associated with puberty, as well as strategies for starting open and effective conversations at home.
You are required to register in advance for this webinar:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Packaging a healthy and tasty lunch each day can become challenging. The Cancer Council Healthy Lunchbox website is a great resource that will hopefully give you some great ideas and inspiration.
Click here to view the Healthy Lunch Box website
Click here to view a 3-minute video on How to Pack a Healthy Lunch Box
On average, children eat two to three snacks every day, so it’s important to make them as healthy as possible. Here’s a guide to snacks that will power their brains and fuel their muscles throughout the day.
If you have not already signed up, you can sign up to receive our FREE Nutrition Snippets (five snippets every five weeks of the school term).
How to pack a health lunch box nutrition snippet
We have a number of school buses that leave from the Senior School each afternoon and in the mornings from our local areas. If you would like your son to catch these buses and are unsure of which one, please click the button below.
How to plan your school bus trip
The company that runs these buses is called ‘Transdev.’ They have provided instructions for you to easily plan a bus trip.
In the case your son misplaces their bag or another item please see the contacts below:
As of next week, classroom teachers will allow time for students to eat in the morning to ensure they are set up for a productive learning day. We understand that due to sports training in the mornings and full schedules, that some students miss breakfast. If your son would benefit from this, please pack extra healthy food for him. Some examples include: a sandwich, fruit, cereal or a breakfast bar.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Wednesday, 15 March, both 5 Gold and 6 Gold will attend Mass at Mary Immaculate Church beginning at 9:15am. Parents/carers are warmly invited to attend.
Enrolments for the Sacrament of Confirmation at OLR Kensington will close on Thursday, 23 February. If your son is in Year 6 and previously attended OLR Primary, you are encouraged to enrol before this date to avoid missing out.
Click here for further information
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School/Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The big week of Co-Curricular sport continues with Round 1 commencing from tomorrow (Saturday, 11 February). Having had such a big few weeks of sporting events and the commencement of co-curricular training, students are extremely excited about getting the Summer season underway.
Please ensure your refer to the Waverley College app announcements each week, as I will continue to send out the weekly Sports Fixtures for each round. Families can also locate all relevant Junior School Co-Curricular information through the College website below.
Click here to view Junior School Co-curricular Information
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-Curricular
jwachtel@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 3pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Click here to register your son
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.
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.
If you require any further information, feel free to email us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
If afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, as students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Try to avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
The Waverley Reading Challenge will begin in Week 3. This Challenge implements important strategies to assist your son to engage in reading in a positive manner.
The boys are challenged to read different genres, read nonfiction, listen to audiobooks, give recommendations to their friends and develop a love of reading.
Giving boys choices, also plays an important role in them developing a love of reading, as does making sure they have access to the books they would like to read, providing a welcoming, flexible and comfortable space, and lastly, time to read.
The Learning Hub is continually working to support young readers in the Junior School.
Developing a love of reading in boys can be challenging for some. Children’s attention spans can become short due to the constant allure of technology, especially as they get closer to adolescence. As a result, it’s crucial to instil good reading habits in children, early on. A Junior School reader will be highlighted each week. The purpose of these weekly spotlights is to recognise kids who like reading, and encourage reluctant readers to find the same love of reading.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Today we celebrated our very special Commencement Mass for 2023. The theme of our Mass this year is based on our Year 12 motto of “Speak with Respect, Act with Integrity.”
This Mass also saw the induction of 10 Eucharistic Ministers from Years 11 and 12. These included: Connor Andrews, Mitchell Cahill, Remy Frampton, Marcus Kastrissios, Oliver Malzard, Hugh McDonald, Lachlan Miranda, Jack Preller, Liam Russell, Tom Shahinian.
It is wonderful to see so many young men willing to take up the challenge of bringing Christ to our community and enriching our liturgies.
Thank you to all who made our Mass such a special celebration today from Fr Bernie, to our musicians and choir, our Maintenance Team, Mr Sposari, Mr Ghattas, Mr Stanton, and all our teachers and students who read or participated.
This year represents an important milestone in our College’s faith journey, and we look forward to celebrating our 120 Year Mass on 15 August, in conjunction with the Feast of the Assumption.
Ms Suzanne Walsh
Director of Identity
swalsh@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Thank you to all who helped celebrate 120 Years of Education at Waverley by attending our Garden Party at the end of January.
For the past 18 years, InspirationED (formerly HSC in the Holidays) has partnered with leading universities to support Years 11 and 12 students to achieve their best in the HSC. Over 100,000 students have benefited from this program since its inception.
To kick off the school year, InspirationED would like invite you to a free HSC Seminar, run in partnership with UTS and Macquarie University, taking place later this term. The dates and venues are below:
The presentation will be delivered by a former Senior HSC marker and will include insight into the following topics:
Spaces are strictly limited and registration is essential.
Please call 1300 677 336
Dear Parents/ Carers and Students,
The link to the Years 7-12 Assessment Booklets, on the College Website, was emailed to all Parents/ Carers and Students.
You can also access the link to the Curriculum page of the College Website HERE. Please scroll down to the relevant year group to access the downloadable booklets.
Students are advised to download a copy of their assessment booklet and transfer the key dates for their subjects into their diaries/ calendars.
As per the College Diary, this is a reminder that the Year 10 Elevate Session, Study Sensei, is held during the Year 10 Careers/Wellbeing – Period 1 on Wednesday, 15 February 2023.
Students will attend the session with their Careers/Wellbeing teacher in the following classrooms and arrive promptly at 8:40am:
Students should bring a pen to the session.
This session is delivered by a group of recent successful graduates and will cover:
Click here for more information about Elevate Education
Elevate Education works with our students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series you will learn how you can help better support your children at home, through reinforcing the skills they learn at school.
This first free webinar for the year will cover:
Click here to register for free
Click here to view registration information
Being up-to-date with the College’s response to vaping and how you can best educate and support your son is important. Over the holiday period we installed vape detectors in the Senior School bathrooms to deter students from vaping, and to ensure all students feel comfortable going to the bathroom.
Waverley College, like many other schools, has seen a recent spike in young people vaping. Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, often called ‘vapes’, are electronic devices designed to deliver vaporised liquids into the lungs. There are many different styles of vapes and types of e-liquids, or e-juices, available. Vapes come in many shapes and sizes and can be made to look like everyday items including highlighters, pens or USB memory sticks.
The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes. This is not true. Vapes are not safe.
Common vapes. Image: courtesy NSW Health
Tell-tale signs that your child might have started vaping include the symptoms of nicotine addiction such as feeling irritable or anxious.
The Laws Around Selling Vapes
Young people often purchase vapes online, from retail stores or from friends and contacts on social media.
There are a number of retailers who sell vapes to young people. This is a crime. If you suspect someone is selling vapes to minors, you can report it to NSW Health via its website or by calling the Tobacco Information line on 1800 357 412.
It is important for young people to understand the risks associated with vaping and make informed decisions about their health. It is also important for parents/carers to educate themselves and their children about the dangers of vaping, and to support policies that help reduce its use among young people.
I refer you to an article published in The Conversation on 23 January 2023 titled My teen’s vaping. What should I say? 3 expert tips on how to approach ‘the talk’. This article provides useful information strategies and support in regards to vaping.
Today, our Year 12 (Class of 2023) listened to an engaging address by Paul Dillon titled: ‘Last Year of School: What Do I Need to Know About Alcohol and Other Drugs?’ Paul Dillon has been working in the area of drug education for over 30 years.
In a frank and effective delivery, Paul spoke specifically about alcohol and drugs as they pertain to the lives of young males. He explained that young males take risks for longer and exhorted our students to plan ahead.
Paul Dillon
In plain terms and using useful statistical examples, he shared information about e-cigarettes, vaping, and the realities of the composition of liquid nicotine that is ingested when using vapes. He hammered home the speed of addiction via vapes, the toxicity of nicotine and its propensity to poison.
He gave practical advice about alcohol, driving, RBT (random breath tests) – particularly in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney – and positive Blood Alcohol Content, encouraging our students to make smart choices when they get behind the wheel. He also explained that Mobile Drug Testing (MDT) is not random, but selective, and clarified mobile drug testing protocols for students who may be taking ADHD medication.
He spoke freely about LSD and other psychedelics, naturally-occurring drugs, MDMA/ecstasy, and recent ecstasy-related deaths in Australia.
Our students listened intently to Paul’s direct delivery, and were privileged to have access to his good quality information and best practice drug education.
I encourage Year 12 parents/carers to talk with your son about what he learned today.
For the past four years, Waverley College has established successful initiatives to support our LGBTQIA+ students and community. These are deliberate actions to ensure that each individual feels valued, respected, and accepted at the College.
Waverley College is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students, in particular for same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people. This is living our values of the EREA ‘Safe and Inclusive Learning Communities Statement’ and our Inclusivity Touchstone.
We warmly invite any students who identify as LGBTQIA+ and students who are supportive allies, to join a supportive group.
Interested students are encouraged to have a conversation with their parents/carers about joining this group, then contact one of the following staff for more information:
Interested students, parents and carers should email:
Mr David Parnell dparnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au
or
Ms Stephanie Falk sfalk@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Through this event, and ongoing projects, the College aims to ensure all students feel a sense of connectedness and belonging, paramount to positive student wellbeing and self-esteem.
In keeping with College practices, conversations are affirming and empathetic; confidentiality and appropriate boundaries are respected.
Ms Gabby Smith
Deputy Principal – Students
gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This week Dr Prue Salter from Enhanced Learning Educational Services (www.enhanced-learning.net) ran a study skills evening with Year 11 parents/carers and students. The session focused on helping students identify changes and improvements they could make to their approach to their studies, to maximise their results in their final years of school.
The main areas covered with Year 11 were working effectively in the evenings and dealing with distractions, managing time efficiently, planning for assessments, making brain-friendly study notes regularly, and using a wide variety of active study techniques to suit individual learning preferences. Parents/carers are encouraged to review the handout from the session with students, and discuss the main areas identified where changes need to be made. Students are encouraged to work through the Post Session Checklist.
If you missed the study skills evening this week, or felt there was too much to absorb in one go, we have good news for you.
We have arranged for you to be able to access a filmed version of Dr Salter’s study skills session at home.
The study skills seminar has been broken down into bite-sized chunks, so if you do not want to do it all in one go, you can work through the session at your own pace. You can also watch any of the videos again up until Monday, 6, March 2023. The video page will prompt you to download the handout for the session, and show you at the end where you can then access all the slides from the session shown in the video. Students should use the handout and then complete the reflection after the videos.
The link to access the session from is: https://www.pruesalter.com/videos/waverley11.php
Username: waverley11
Password: expires6march
Please take advantage of this opportunity to learn strategies to become a more powerful learner.
Parents/carers can also find additional study skills tips on the following website: http://studyskillstoptipsparents.com/.
All secondary students and parents/carers at our school also have access to an excellent study skills website to help students develop their skills.
Go to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au and enter the username: forwaverleycollegeonly and the password: 94results.
There are lots of valuable handouts on the THINGS TO PRINT page on this site, and students can work through the units where they need additional help.
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
