The world has seen in the last week, the passing of two significant world leaders in Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) and Mikhail Gorbachev (1931-2022). Both certainly left their mark on their respective countries and the rest of the world.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, was the monarch for 56 nations and 2.5 Billion people. She exemplified devotion to duty and service above self, leading with grace and dignity across her historic seven-decade reign. Queen Elizabeth was steady in the face of constant change. She is credited in bringing stability to the monarch, steering the British Empire to a mostly peaceful orderly end, modernising the monarchy, assisting in the breakdown process of ‘apartheid’, reducing tension between Ireland and the United Kingdom, her tireless service and love for the people within her country and within the Commonwealth, and above all, her significant charity work throughout her life (600 charities).
Mikhail Gorbachev, the President of the Soviet Union in 1990 – 91 and the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. Gorbachev was the single most important initiator of a series of events in late 1989 and 1990 that transformed the political fabric of Europe and marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War. By the summer of 1990 he had agreed to the reunification of East with West Germany. Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1990.
After an extensive Prefect and Captain selection leadership process that included House, peers, and staff, it is my pleasure to announce that the four College Captains for Term 4 2022 and 2023 are:
Each of these students articulated their genuine desire to serve the community and seek improvement across the spiritual, cognitive, social, emotional, and physical dimensions for all students. The College Leadership look forward to working with this new student leadership team. The House Prefects positions will be announced post-Year 11 examinations.
2023 College Captains
Congratulations, Jay Palm (Year 12), who received the prestigious Archbishop’s Award for Excellence for his service work today (Friday, 9 September). The annual awards were started in 1999 by Cardinal Edward Clancy, to honour leadership qualities and service to school and parish communities.
Congratulations, Jay Palm
Yesterday was R U OK? Day, a day and cause with an extremely close connection to Waverley College. This year’s theme ‘Ask R U OK? No Qualifications Needed,’ emphasises that everyone regardless of job, qualification, training and position, can play a vital role in supporting the people in each of our worlds with the four simple steps of an R U OK? conversation:
Thank you to parents and students who contributed to the R U OK? bake sale with funds being donated to the charity. A focus on R U OK? will continue in next week’s College assembly.
The next Parents’ Association meeting and AGM will take place on Tuesday, 1 November 2022, where a number of office bearers for 2023 will be elected.
I’m grateful to Jade Stapleton for her tireless work as President for the past two years. She will be stepping down from this role at the AGM. Thank you also to Treasurer, Deb Johnson and Secretary, Stephanie van Dam, who have made sterling contributions to the Parents’ Association for many years, and will also be retiring from their roles.
Consider getting involved in the Parents’ Association, a vital part of the Waverley College community. With our ‘120 Year’ celebrations happening in 2023, there will be numerous exciting events throughout next year, and your ideas and energy are very welcome.
Please submit expressions of interest for the following positions for 2023 and beyond to Ms Emma Laurence – Marketing & Development Manager elaurence@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Sunday, 4 September 2022 marked the beginning of National Child Protection Week 2022. As you are aware, National Child Protection Week is an Australia-wide initiative that draws particular attention to the importance of the safeguarding and protection of all children and young people.
The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) have facilitated National Child Protection Week for over 30 years, and in that time EREA schools and the National Office have worked closely with NAPCAN to promote the safety and wellbeing of children. Most recently, we were fortunate to receive a keynote address from Dr Brenda Dobia at our 2022 Safeguarding Conference regarding respectful relationships, and the work Dr Dobia does with NAPCAN in this important space.
National Child Protection Week culminates on Sunday, 11 September 2022 with Safeguarding Sunday, an initiative of the Australia Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC); further information and resources regarding Safeguarding Sunday can also be found on the EREA public website below.
>>> Click here to view this website.
Farewell to Ms Tina Pasfield, who finished up on Wednesday, 7 September at the College. I would like to thank Tina for 15 years of service to the College in the fast-paced world at the front of College reception. She has assisted parents, carers, staff, students, visitors and contractors. With every possible issue, she has assisted them all with great efficiency and care.
Last week, National Cabinet announced that the isolation period for positive COVID-19 cases would be reduced from 7 days to 5 days from Friday, 9 September with the following caveats:
All staff, students and visitors who test positive to COVID-19 should continue to follow the NSW Health guidelines.
Thank you for your ongoing understanding.
Deputy Principals from schools in the Eastern Suburbs meet each term, as we believe there is enormous value and under-utilised potential in schools collaborating, sharing ideas and resources, to support our community and students.
Our key focus is working together to raise awareness and provide parents and carers with strategies to help them manage and influence teenage behaviour.
We believe that it is essential for parents and carers to see that our schools stand united, with shared values on social and emotional issues.
We have come together to organise a parent event, which Waverley College will host, on Thursday, 13 October.
Yasmin London is an ex-World Champion athlete, police officer and now Director of ySafe, Australia’s largest provider of online safety education. Yasmin has built a team that empowers over 1 million young Australians and their communities to take control of their digital journey.
Please save the date. Tickets will go on sale soon, with proceeds going to Headspace.
| Total Current Cases | 1 (in Years 5-12) |
| Year 5 | 0 cases |
| Year 6 | 1 case |
| Year 7 | 0 cases |
| Year 8 | 0 cases |
| Year 9 | 0 cases |
| Year 10 | 0 cases |
| Year 11 | 0 cases |
| Year 12 | 0 cases |
Our College Track & Field team has continued to perform well, leading up the 91st CAS Track and Field Championships on Thursday, 15 September at Homebush.
In the week of the championships, the whole squad will train on Monday and Tuesday afternoon, with ‘Carbo Night’ also on Tuesday evening. We will then present the whole squad at assembly on Wednesday, 14 September. Following the championships next Thursday, we will then have a presentation evening at the College on Friday evening.
On the day of the championships, the students competing will arrive at school at 9am and head straight to the PAC. Squad reserves and all other students will be in class for Period 1. At 11am the competitors will depart for Homebush, and all students elected for events must have the correct College Athletics attire (singlets and shorts).
At 1pm, Years 7 and 12 will also depart for their compulsory supporters’ duty at the championships. We will provide students with a packed meal for the carnival. There are canteen facilities at the venue, however, prices are high and the queues are always long.
The event concludes at 8pm and students will be bused back to the College by 9pm or students can sign up to return on one of the two buses that comes back to either Maroubra Junction or Hurstville train station. The sign up sheets are in the Wellbeing Centre, and once these buses are full, we will not be able to add any more students.
Years 7 and 12 must be in full College uniform and all squad members can wear their College tracksuit.
If students are departing the event with parents/carers, they must seek permission from their Head of House or a relevant staff member.
Any parent/carer or spectator is welcome to attend, but must pre-purchase tickets via the link below:
https://www.ticketebo.com.au/CASt&f
We still have one more invitational carnival this Saturday at ES Marks, and it is not too late for students to still try to make the squad.
On Saturday September 17, our Water Polo, Basketball, Tennis and Touch Football teams will all have their first round of summer trials. It is compulsory for students to attend these trials for selections, and these teams will commence their training with all other activities on the first day of Term 4.
We will publish the fixtures and training schedule on the College website this week.
We have also commenced pre-season training for Cricket, Tennis and Basketball for a number of students. All other activities will commence at the start of Term 4.
Finally, congratulations to all of the Waverley College students who took part in a range of Rugby Union, Football, AFL and Rugby League Grand finals over the past two weekends. There were many successes and some disappointments, however, it is a wonderful achievement to see so many Waverley College students successful in their endeavours.
Special mention also goes to Owen Lloyd-Jones who competed in the NSW Junior Short Course Swimming Champs over the weekend. Some impressive results in some tough U12 events:
Congratulations Owen Lloyd-Jones
Old Boy Stuart Swinburn, (brother of Scott in Year 11), has been selected to compete in the Australian Dolphins Team at the 16th FINA World Swimming Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre from 13-18 December. This is a brilliant achievement and we send him our best Waverley wishes.
Mr Steve O’Donnell
Director of Co-curricular
E: sodonnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au
In order for our cadets to enjoy water activities on the Annual Field Exercise (AFX), all cadets need to be swim tested in their cadet uniform, and 12 Platoon started this process last week. Over the course of the next two terms, each platoon will have the chance to demonstrate their capacity to swim 25m and tread water for 2 minutes in their DPCU shirt and pants. We are grateful to St Catherine’s for providing the venue for this competency test.
All Recruit Companies have now been trained in the AAC Defence Youth Safety Program which guides our young people in appropriate behaviours when interacting with each other, with rank, with staff, and in the online environment. Those who have not yet completed this training will need to complete it online with the AAC. An email with further details will follow.
Next week, Friday 16 September, is the last Cadets for this term. We wish all in the Unit a safe and enjoyable break over the school holidays, and look forward to welcoming you back in Term 4, when we will enjoy archery, the climbing wall, the Golden Boot Competition, among other activities building fieldcraft skills in the lead up to AFX.
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
As Coordinator of the College’s Indigenous Education Program, Walawaani, Ms Maakrun was fortunate to join ten other EREA staff from across Australia on the Edmund Rice ‘Let’s Talk’ cross-cultural immersion program within Aboriginal communities in rural NSW.
Over 2,750 km Travelled
The partnership between the Edmund Rice Centre, Edmund Rice Education Australia and the Aboriginal communities of North-West NSW, is based on a philosophy of experiential learning and critical social analysis, supporting the educational achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and furthering reconciliation in Australia.
Bush Food Education
The program makes a connection across the urban-rural divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, focusing on issues of peace, identity, human rights, socio-economic issues and reconciliation.
The group visited Dubbo, Myall Creek, Moree, Lightning Ridge, Goodooga and Brewarrina, with the journey integrating dialogue with locals and elders in visited places, and engagement with places of significance to the Aboriginal people of north-west NSW.
Visited sites included: the Myall Creek Massacre site of 1838, the 1965 Freedom Riders protest at Moree Baths, an Aboriginal Cemetery, the Brewarrina Missions and the Hospital Creek massacre site. The immersion included knowledge about bush foods, medicines, artwork and awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spiritualities.
Myall Creek Memorial
The experience was truly inspirational and very memorable, with a number of relationships built with other EREA schools to further enhance our Walawaani program. It is also hoped that this unique experience could possibly be shared by some of our students and staff in the future.
Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun
Assistant Director of Identity & Student Formation
E: mmaakrun@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Friday, 2 September our Years 11 and 12 Senior Geography students embarked on their field trip to North Narrabeen Coastal Environment Centre (CEC).
The day was heavily centred around the Preliminary course topic Biophysical Interactions, looking at Coastal Sediment Budgets and Dune Succession, as well as the HSC topic Ecosystems at Risk, in particular the beach itself, the Lagoon and Dune systems. A further key syllabus point for these courses is the management strategies that can aid in the ecological sustainability of this environment.
Upon arrival at the CEC, Tim, one of the qualified educators, provided Waverley students with an innovative presentation. Tim discussed the local landscape, its history and the issues being faced due to natural beach movement, urban development and storms such as East Coast Lows.
Students learned about Narrabeen’s geographical structure, and how it makes it significantly susceptible to coastal erosion. This was highlighted by watching a short time lapse video of the annual changes the beach, dunes and lagoon endure.
The most vulnerable Australian coastlines are those that are made up of unconsolidated sediments, such as beaches, dunes and sand cliffs; areas that experience erosion and longshore drift. Narrabeen on the Northern Beaches has seen its fair share of storms, also known to geographers as East Coast Lows. In 2016 and again in 2020, the beach profile was extremely impacted with approximately 25 metres of the beach being swept away due to storms, abnormal high tides and strong winds.
Students were shown the following timelapse video of the 2016 East Coast Low and its impacts on a set of 10 residential buildings:
>>> Click here to view the video Narrabeen Coastal Imaging Timelapse June 2016.
Students then embarked on a bushwalk to Narrabeen Headland (a high vantage lookout area), to visualise Narrabeen’s topography and to utilise their field sketching skills. A walk along the beach followed, where each student used geographical instruments to obtain primary data at regular intervals across the dune transect. A pod of dolphins joined in on the action, happily playing not far from the shore.
The day ended with a visit to South Collaroy, the location of two enormous sea walls designed to mitigate any future impacts of East Coast Lows. The seawalls consist of a Vertical Sea Wall and an angled rock wall called a Rock Revetment. Students were surprised to learn that 80% of the money required to build these walls came from local residents, with the remaining 20% being paid equally by the Local and the State Governments.
I was particularly impressed by the students’ enthusiasm to learn and participate. Undoubtedly, this experience will be of great benefit in preparation of their upcoming exams. Lastly, a special thanks is extended to Mr Brad Thompson for being our designated driver on the day.
Ms Rebecca Sutcliffe
Stage 6 Geography Teacher
E: rsutcliffe@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The NSW School of Languages is a distance education school run by the Department of Education that offers 12 languages for study from Years 9-12. The courses are taught in a blended mode, including online coursework (completed during the scheduled school study lessons in the library), and a weekly 20-minute speaking lesson (delivered online).
The languages available in 2024 are:
Enrolments are being accepted for students from Waverley College who would like to study an accredited course with NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) and in Years 11 and 12 which count towards your ATAR.
NSW School of Languages Course Information
Should you require further specific details about your course of interest, please view the NSW School of Languages website www.nswschoollang.schools.nsw.
Ms Priscilla Quintana
Head of Languages
pquintana@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Private music lessons are well underway. Students are to be reminded to check their schedule, be punctual to their lessons and inform the teacher at least the day prior, if they are unable to attend their scheduled lesson. We have excellent, well qualified peripatetic teachers at Waverley College and lessons are available on a large variety of instruments.
Parents who would like to enrol their son to commence instrumental lessons are encouraged to complete the following online application form. Private Music lessons are not compulsory, but are strongly encouraged for students performing in the many ensembles on offer at the College.
>>> Click here to view and complete the Private Music Tuition Form.
Any student who wishes to learn an instrument, or join an ensemble, or the Rock Band program, are welcome to visit the PAC and speak to any of the music staff.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to call the Music Office 9369 0623 or email kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Keiran Kossenberg
Performing Arts Centre Coordinator
E: kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to Guy Hammerschmidt (Year 12) on completing and receiving his certificate for his 8th Grade AMEB Trombone Examination. A huge milestone in his musical journey!
Waverley is very proud of you.
Guy Hammerschmidt
Mr Chris Balkizas
Head of Music
E: cbalkizas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The term ‘Literacy’ is all too often considered to belong solely to the domain of English; the task of developing reading and writing skills assigned to the English teacher. However, as our Year 12 students prepare diligently for their upcoming HSC examinations, it is clear that reading, writing and literacy skills play an integral part in ensuring success in every single subject.
The Australian Curriculum defines Literacy in broad terms stating that:
“students become literate as they develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to interpret and use language confidently for learning and communicating in and out of school and for participating effectively in society. Literacy involves students listening to, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating oral, print, visual and digital texts, and using and modifying language for different purposes in a range of contexts.”
With this in mind, as part of their ‘Ed Sheeran Mathematics Tour Assignment’, students in Years 7 and 8 have been given the task of composing a ‘Compare Contrast’ paragraph using Writer’s Toolbox, our new innovative program and online educational writing tool.
In order to ensure quality teaching and learning, Mr Bill Roberts (Head of Library), Ms Phoebe Guirguis (Head of Mathematics), Ms Mary Ryan (Literacy Coordinator and English teacher) and Mr Michael O’Connell (Maths teacher), have worked collaboratively to deepen the learning of our students.
The specific goal is to develop students’ literacy skills through the subject of Maths, while allowing students to take ownership of their learning through meaningful and relevant tasks that reflect their interest. Mr Roberts composed a wonderful Literacy task which reflects the need for cross-curricular literacy skills.
Publishers Studio, an initiative supported by Northern Beaches Council Arts and Creativity Grants Program, provides budding writers between the ages of 10 – 18 with a wonderful opportunity to publish their work. Publishers Studio also offers invaluable advice to all students who wish to write and need some helpful tips on how to get started. This is a wonderful initiative and their website is well worth a look.
>>> Click here to view information about Publishers Studio.
Ms Mary Ryan
Literacy Coordinator and English Teacher
E: mryan01@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.
Watch our video
