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:
There has been a sense of enthusiasm and energy throughout Week 1, and I encourage boys to find an early rhythm to their study and revision habits. Consistent habits across the entire term is what we are seeking as teachers and parents/carers. 15 minutes of reading and mathematics revision every day, on top of homework requirements, is much more effective than a last-minute swotvac before a test, or thinking that your literacy and numeracy skills can be just switched on suddenly.
This consistent effort and practice needs to also occur across your son’s sleep patterns, diet, hydration and use of technology. And as a parent/carer, you can play an important role in assisting him to find and maintain these patterns, which will greatly influence his academic performance and also his moods and energy levels.
Author and inspirational speaker, Simon Sinek strongly supports the notion that you only win across your life ‘with consistency’. Help your son maintain/find a consistent approach to his studies, his health, his control of technology and good results will follow.
Year 11 student Maximilian Fischer has demonstrated what can happen when you follow this strategy. Maximilian has recently achieved the national golf ranking of No. 1 for under 18 years in 2023.
Maximilian just qualified for his first professional event, the TPS Sydney in February 2023 at Bonnie Doon Golf Club. He will be the youngest junior golfer to qualify for this professional event.
At the College Assembly this week, I encouraged our 1,500-strong community to play their part in welcoming our new students and staff. Across Year 5 (156), Year 7 (75), Years 8-11 (10) and new staff (19), we welcomed 256 new people to our community, who will each bring new ideas and perspectives. We have all been the ‘new person’ at some point in our lives. We encourage everyone to embrace the teachings of Christ, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Luke 6:31 and Matthew 7:12).
Our ongoing high expectations have contributed to an encouraging lift in our literacy and academic standards across the College. This year, our whole-school approach to increasing boys’ literacy continues, with an expanded ‘Writer’s Toolbox’ program to improve writing efficacy via tangible strategies. This week, we were also excited to launch our Years 7 and 8 ‘Reading Rules’ Program, which aims to engage our students in the pleasure of reading, with the longer-term aim of creating lifelong, habitual and passionate readers.
Read more in the Nurrunga article by Ms Elizabeth Watson (Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning) and the Nurrunga article by Ms Mary Ryan (Literacy Coordinator and English Teacher).
Waverley spirit was certainly alive and well when over 900 parents, Old Boys, staff and special guests came together last Friday evening, to celebrate the College’s 120 years of service, care and education. Waverley College has come a long way in 120 years, but most significantly, in 120 years, Waverley College values have never changed. The College was founded on Christian values and these were as important then as they are now.
We are proud to cater for students from diverse backgrounds and we are proud to be a school that is unique in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for its authentic Catholic education and progressive approach to educating boys. This year we will graduate the 15-thousandth Waverlian. Each current student will receive a 120 badge that has been struck to celebrate this remarkable College milestone.
I would like to congratulate our Marketing & Development Manager, Ms Emma Laurence, and Mr Angus McPherson, who coordinated a wonderful evening to acknowledge this milestone. They were supported by Matt Laurence ( Emma’s husband), Sam Iremonger (Old Boy 2018 Duntroon Cadet), Simon Potter, Jon Phillips, Bishoy Wasef, Gerald Winch and the maintenance crew, Kylie Anderson, Tessa Holt, Darran Rawson, Vanessa Witton in their various roles.
Dear Parents and Carers,
As referenced in the Year 8 Assessment Booklets, there are some mandatory subjects where classes are streamed to ensure that students are supported appropriately and according to their needs. These subjects are Mathematics Years 7-10, English Year 9-10, and Science Years 9-10.
An overview for each of these subjects is outlined below:
English:
Year 9
| Class | Structure |
| 2 & 6 | Streamed top classes of equal aptitude |
| 1,3, 5-9 | Mixed ability classes of equal aptitude |
Year 10
| Class | Structure |
| 1 | Top streamed class |
| 2 & 3 | Streamed classes of equal aptitude |
| 5-9 | Mixed ability classes of equal aptitude |
Mathematics:
Year 7
The Year 7 cohort study Mathematics across two lines. Classes 1- 4 are graded on one line and classes 5-9 are graded on their line.
The grading is as follows within their line:
| Line 1 | Line 2 |
| 07MA01 | 07MA05 |
| 07MA02 | 07MA06 |
| 07MA03 | 07MA07 |
| 07MA04 | 07MA08 |
| 07MA09 |
After the completion of the Term 1 Mathematics assessment task, the Mathematics Department will spend considerable time and effort to ensure that all students have been placed in the appropriate class.
Year 8
| Class | Structure |
| 1 | Accelerated (by invitation only) |
| 2 | Extension Class |
| 3 & 4 | Graded |
| 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 | Mixed ability |
Please note that in Year 7 our students study Mathematics on two different lines. If your son was in, for example, 7MA04 last year and is now in 08MA06, this does not mean he has been “demoted”. In Year 7, Maths classes are streamed across two lines (1-4 and 5-9) however, in Year 8, the full cohort is graded across all nine classes.
Year 9
The structure for the Year 9 Mathematics classes for 2023 is as follows:
| Class | Structure |
| 09MAA.01 | Accelerated (by invitation only) |
| 09MAL3.01 & 09MAL3.02 | Study Level 3 Mathematics and are graded. |
| 09MAL2.01 | Study Level 2 Mathematics and is graded. |
| 09MAL2.02, 09MAL2.03, 09MAL2.04 | Mixed ability and studying Level 2 Mathematics |
| 09MAL1.01 & 09MAL1.02 | Mixed ability studying Level 1 Mathematics |
Year 10
The structure for the Year 10 Mathematics classes for 2023 is as follows:
| Class | Structure |
| 10MAA.01 | Accelerated (by invitation only) |
| 10MAL3.01 | Extension |
| 10MAL3.02 | Studying Level 3 Mathematics |
| 10MAL2.01 | Studying Level 2/3 Mathematics |
| 10MAL2.02, 10MAL2.03, 10MAL2.04 | Study Level 2 Mathematics and are graded.
|
| 10MAL1.01,10MAL1.02 | Mixed ability and studying Level 1 Mathematics. |
Science:
Year 9
| Class | Structure |
| 1 & 5 | Both streamed top classes |
| 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8 | Equal mixed ability classes |
Year 10
| Class | Structure |
| 1 & 5 | Both streamed top classes |
| 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8 | Equal mixed ability classes |
If you have any questions, please contact the relevant Heads of Department who will be able to assist.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Director of Curriculum
lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A big welcome to 2023 and a very warm welcome to our new families who have joined Waverley this year. We have already had such a busy start to the year!
It was so lovely welcoming our new Year 5 students and parents/carers this week. It is such a special day for the students, who looked smart in their new uniforms and keen to start their journey at Waverley College.
This week, the boys were involved in Sports Trials for the upcoming summer season. This is always a highlight of the year for the boys, as they meet new friends and enjoy being active.
Our ‘Meet and Greet’ interviews were a huge success this week, and I hope you all enjoyed meeting your son’s new teacher. We hope this gave you a chance to discuss any concerns, as well as being able to set goals for the year. Please keep open communication with your son’s teachers as we progress through the year.
We welcome three new classroom teachers to the Junior School this year. Mr Oliver Knight, Ms Elise Hunt and Mr Luke Burns. We welcome Mr Max Mancinelli who is our specialist Science teacher, and Ms Samara Sanchez who is our new receptionist. We also welcome back Mr Kendall Robinson from his year’s leave.
This year, we have made the decision to move Spanish to an after-school program. We have made this decision for a variety of reasons and apologise to those families who are unable to attend the sessions on offer. We are currently still recruiting for the position, and look to commence the program at the end of the month.
The Spanish program will be the same program that was taught at Waverley throughout 2022. We believe it will provide a richer learning experience for those students who are motivated and keen to learn a language. We are currently looking at holding two sessions per week.
Over the holidays, we converted the old canteen space into a state-of-the-art Science Laboratory. This is a new specialist area, which will focus on providing a rich learning experience for our students in the area of Working Scientifically. This is an important skill that will provide greater understanding of, and engagement in, the Science and Technology curriculum.
Working Scientifically challenges students to imagine and pose questions, develop processes that can be used to solve problems and, explain observations and phenomena. These scientific processes are informed by the unexpected. An unexpected result, or no observable change, does not necessarily indicate that an investigation was unsuccessful, but rather can be used to direct further questioning and scientific investigation. Having this skill set will set students up for the future, and provide wonderful opportunities in latter years of their education.
We are very excited to have our specialist Science teacher Mr Max Mancinelli run this program, alongside our specialist Science teachers from the Senior School. We are hoping the laboratory will be completed by Week 3.
Please see below the new contact details for reporting your son’s absence. If it is for a long period of time, please contact me for approval by emailing ssanchez@waverley.nsw.edu.au
1st contact: Waverley College App
2nd contact: Ms Danielle Brown | attendance@waverley.nsw.edu.au | absentee line: 02 9369 0632
Please have a discussion with your son about always having a Plan B for when plans change. This is very important for our students, especially around sport and co-curricular activities. At times, these activities will be cancelled due to wet weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Please put together a plan so your son knows exactly what to do when circumstances change.
For those new to Waverley, there is a drop off and pick up space in front of the school, but it is very limited. Most students have organised alternative spots to meet their parents/carers, spots that don’t cause chaos on Henrietta Street.
Please organise an appropriate pick up spot that works for you. Please also be mindful of the neighbouring houses. Show your special brand of Waverley respect by not blocking their driveways and not parking in ‘No Stopping’ areas.
Below are some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Throughout the year, you will receive notifications within the Parent Lounge and via email regarding Pastoral Care incidents.
These include:
Information and the reasons behind these notifications are given within the Parent Lounge, so it is important that you check details before contacting teachers.
Should you have any questions or concerns about any of these matters, please reach out to your son’s class teacher first, and then if you wish to discuss these matters further, please email me.
As part of our Catholic faith, the Junior School students will attend Mass at Mary Immaculate Church, with the regular parishioners throughout the year. These Masses begin at 9:15am and parents/carers are warmly invited. Dates of when your son’s class will be in attendance will be sent to you by your son’s class teacher in the coming weeks.
Additionally, each House will have a Mass throughout the year. This Mass is held in the College Chapel, beginning at 6pm and followed by a light supper. Once again, parents/carers are warmly invited to attend. Dates for these Masses are published in the College Diary, and information will be emailed to parents/carers and students from the Heads of House.
At the end of 2022, Noah Nunn (now in Year 6), spoke to the school about organising a charity drive to assist ‘Kids Giving Back.’ Through the support of the Waverley College Junior School community and Claremont College (his brother Riley attends there), 199 care packages were distributed to the disadvantaged people of Sydney who are living on the streets and doing it tough.
Well done, Noah, for showing empathy and compassion, and taking the initiative to support such a worthwhile cause.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Training begins from next Monday, 6 February. Please refer to the schedule to be prepared in advance.
Regarding the summer draw, please be aware that games can change from week to week, due to various uncontrollable reasons. This is why I send out a weekly fixture for each round in the first half of each week, beginning from Week 2.
Please refer to the weekly fixtures as the correct details for games.
A warm welcome to all new families and returning families in our Waverley community. We are so thrilled to have you join us at the Junior School, and I look forward to getting to know you more as the year progresses.
Below is the important Co-Curricular and PDHPE information shared at the information session on day one, for all new Year 5 families:
Judo with Ms CJ Tweedie
Brilliant House spirit at the Junior School House Swimming Carnival 2021
Highest-achieving swimmers, athletes and players of each sport are chosen to represent Waverley at IPSHA Carnivals and Sport Trials. If successful, they progress to trialing for NSW CIS representative teams (combined independent schools).
Students/families select two sport preferences for both summer and winter season – ensuring students are given the opportunity to play one of their chosen sports.
Undertaken before each season to help place students into teams fairly and equitably.
Summer (full day and half day) / Winter (three sessions – separate afternoons)
In 2023, midday Chess classes will be offered in the Learning Hub for Junior School students on Tuesdays 12:30-1:30pm starting from Tuesday, 7 February. These stimulating classes will again be operated by Sydney Academy of Chess, and deliver multiple educational benefits.
Chess helps to enhance memory, develop problem solving skills, encourage creative thinking and accelerate emotional development.
If your child is interested in taking part, you can collect an enrolment form from either the school office or email enrol@sydneyacademyofchess.com.au
For all enquiries, please contact Sydney Academy of Chess on (02) 9745 1170.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
(NO HOME LEARNING Thursday, 9 February – Swimming Carnival)
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 then 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
An important note to remember: if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, because students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance, and the capacity is always reached.
Please try to avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
As we welcome a new group of students to Waverley in 2023, the Learning Hub aims to nurture and guide them in their social, creative and academic development.
This week, we saw the boys use this space in many different ways before school and during lunch.
Over the next few weeks, different initiatives will be on offer for the students to join.
As an educator, I believe it is vital for our boys to have a strong understanding of the advantages of reading. The boys were asked to use the thinking routine ‘Think, Pair, Share’ to answer the question ‘What are the advantages of reading?’
Reflecting on this question is an important part of their learning journey.
The boys’ reflections were exceptional. Here are some examples:
Next week, the boys will set personal reading goals for themselves. Goals are an important part of Waverley and of successful learning. These goals are specific to them, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. I am looking forward to working with the boys and their reading journey.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
In Week 2, Junior School boys will be asked to fill out the 2023 Performing Arts Survey, as part of their Home Learning. This will give boys a chance to share information about their previous experiences in Performing Arts, and also allow them to express interest in being involved in co-curricular activities in the Junior School.
These activities include:
Ms Michelle Rollins
Music and Drama Teacher
mrollins@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Expressions of interest are sought for a Music Tour to Europe including cities such as Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Padua, Lausanne and Milan in June 2024.
The tour is open to all new and existing Waverley College musicians, choir and ensemble members. If you are unsure as to your eligibility, please speak to a member of the music staff.
An information evening will be held on Tuesday, 7 March 2023 at 6pm in the Performing Arts Centre Theatre, Waverley College, 131 Birrell Street Waverley.
A Tour Operator representative will be attending to share details of the planned tour. EFTPOS facilities will be available on the evening for tour deposits.
Click here to indicate your expression of interest by Friday, 24 February 2023
Click here to view the Music Tour Concert Flyer
Please contact kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We have already had a wonderful start to 2023. Ms Helen Barrie (Head of Academic Enrichment) and I, were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to present to staff on the application of metacognition skills and self-regulation strategies, to strengthen inferential reading skills. It was magnificent to collaborate with staff from both the Junior and Senior school, in order to target areas where students can be best supported to ensure reading achievement.
This week, Mr Roberts and I launched our reading program in Year 7 and Year 8. We are very excited to be welcoming all classes to the library once a cycle, to experience the luxury of reading a great book of their choice in this beautiful space.
We aim to engage students in the pleasure of reading, with the hope of creating lifelong habitual readers, who are passionate about reading. Everyone knows the positive knock-on effects; improved brain power, memory and creativity, building vocabulary, and developing empathy. Plus – reading makes us happier and live longer, according to the study ‘A Chapter a Day: Association of Book Reading with Longevity’ undertaken by Harvard University in 2021.
We encourage our parents/carers to take time to chat with their sons about the book they are reading (without passing judgment), while encouraging even 10 minutes of reading at home as part of a healthy reading diet.
NAPLAN is moving from May to March in 2023. Year 7 and Year 9 will be given lots of opportunities to prepare and work on improving their numeracy and literacy skills. Over the coming days, both Year groups will receive workbooks to complete independent learning at home.
The expectation is that students will come to class with the set work completed in a timely fashion.
Equally, through the integrated use of Writer’s Toolbox and other programs across faculties, students will continue to improve syntax, spelling, punctuation, fluency and precision.
Dear Parents and Carers
Please see important information on the dates for the 2023 School Vaccination Program for Year 7 and Year 10 students.
| Year 7 – HPV Dose 1 + dTpa | Year 10 – MenACWY | Year 7 – HPV Dose 2 |
| Wednesday, 1 March 2023 | Monday, 5 June 2023 | Tuesday, 19 September 2023 |
The following vaccines are offered free to students at school:
Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received.
To provide online consent for vaccination, parents/carers will need:
Please get in contact with the Health Centre nurse if you have any questions about the vaccinations or clinic.
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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