Deputy Principal - Students, Ms Gabby Smith
As we conclude 2022, I would like to acknowledge the efforts made by so very many of our students, staff and parents/carers in the Waverley community during the course of this year. The extraordinary commitment made by all our staff, academic and support staff alike, means that we can continue to succeed and flourish as a learning community.
I would also like to express my gratitude to the community for welcoming me into this role. I will return for Semester 1, 2023 as (Acting) Deputy Principal – Students, and look forward to a continued partnership with all our families.
We have had an extraordinary year, having returned to full-time school after two years of instability. Students have had to reconnect with their peers and they have all shown great resilience and courage.
Due to the upheaval COVID-19 has brought, and the adjustments students have had to make to settle back into school, we have adjusted some of our College expectations. However, as we welcome our students back to 2023, I would like to draw your attention to updated College policies that we expect all our students to adhere to.
Haircuts
Waverley College has a strict haircut policy, which all students are required to adhere to.
◆ Hair should be neatly cut, combed and maintained. Hair should be shorter than the collar.
◆ Long hair or outlandish styles are not acceptable.
◆ Undercut styles, dramatic layering, tracks, mohawks, mullets, overuse of product, tinting, colouring, dreadlocks, strands of hair, buns, braids or lines are not acceptable.
◆ A number 2 cut is the shortest acceptable cut.
◆ If students do not comply with a request by their Head of House to address any breaches, they will then have three options:
- Go immediately to the barber at Charing Cross and have the inappropriate haircut rectified.
- Return home until such time as the inappropriate haircut is rectified.
If your son arrives at the College at the commencement of 2023 with a haircut that is not inline with College policy, he will be sent home on his first day at the College to rectify this.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are a distraction to students in school. During school hours, they should be focussing on learning and their relationships with the people around them.
Unfortunately, mobile phones are often used inappropriately. Students use them to photograph or video, often without the permission of the subject. They are also often the tool used by cyber-bullies and those who target others over social media. We believe that children should be protected from this, during school time.
We have seen an increase in students taking photos of staff members, sharing these or uploading them to social media. This is a massive invasion of privacy for our staff, and any students who do this, will receive a two-day suspension.
Therefore, for the safety and wellbeing of students, our mobile phone policy is as follows:
At the Senior School (Years 7 – 12)
◆ Devices are to be stored in lockers, and preferably placed on silent or flight mode to eliminate loud ringtones. They can only be used next to one’s locker before school, recess, lunch, or after school for short periods of time.
◆ The only exception to this is when students are instructed to contact their parent/carer regarding variations to scheduled events, or, under direct teacher supervision, they may use their device.
◆ Devices cannot be taken to class (every student has a laptop in class).
◆ If a mobile phone is brought to any class, a student will receive a one-hour detention. If they continue to bring their phone to class, they will receive a three-hour detention.
◆ Parents needing to contact their son during class time, should contact school reception directly.
◆ Students found to have mobile devices switched ‘on’, using devices to ‘hotspot’ laptops to external data sources, bypassing the College’s network, or used in any way deemed inappropriate by College staff or supervising adult, can expect a one-hour detention. Mobile phones will be confiscated if it becomes a distraction to the learning process, has been a medium for a breach of privacy, or holds information pertaining to a crime. Parents or carers will be notified immediately about any confiscation.
At the Junior School (Years 5 – 6)
◆ Devices are collected in the classroom at the beginning of the day, and placed securely in a locked cupboard. At the end of the school day, they are collected and returned to each student.
Uniform
Wearing a uniform is a badge of pride, it creates an identity for a school, and is an important part of being a school student. Uniforms show that you are part of an organisation. Wearing it says, we’re all in this together.
We ask that students wear their uniform with pride, which includes wearing the shirt tucked in at all times.
We also ask that students ensure they are wearing appropriate footwear. Please see our expectations below:
Shoes
Standard black leather lace-up shoes are the only acceptable footwear, except during sport.
No suede or branded shoes ie: Nike, New Balance, ASICS etc. Shoes must be of a leather type that can be polished to a shine. Shoes with coloured stitching or other embellishments such as buckles, are not acceptable. Boots of any type are not permissible.
I ask that all families please support the College in adhering to these policies as we commence 2023. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I wish our entire community a safe and happy holiday, and look forward to the return of our students next year.
Ms Gabrielle Smith
(Acting) Deputy Principal – Students
gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
