Ms Lynsey Porter, Deputy Principal - Teaching & Learning
Tech-Free Week: A Reflection
This week, we continued with our Tech-Free Week for Years 5-12. This initiative aims to reset our habits with technology and promote the benefits of handwritten notes and focused study techniques.
We are grateful for the overwhelming support and participation from our students, teachers and parents and carers even through the challenges that the initiative presented.
It was really exciting to hear that some of our parents and carers even committed to tech-free time at home during the period.
In the spirit of continuous improvement, we will be seeking feedback to review, reflect, and understand what aspects of Tech-Free Week were effective in our context.
Space Camp
Part of our commitment to offering liberating teaching and learning that celebrates curiosity, and critical thinking as well as nurturing globally-minded citizens at Waverley College includes exploring learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
We were fortunate to embark on an extraordinary journey to the United States Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to participate in their world-renowned Space Camp.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for 44 of our students resonates with C.P Bedford’s observation, “You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.”
By providing our students with real-world, hands-on experiences like Space Camp, we aimed to ignite their curiosity and inspire them to consider their future professions. James Barber (Year 10) notes of our students, “the mood was one of excitement, but also nervousness as most of us had never travelled without our family. These nerves were quickly quelled as we boarded our flight to Huntsville, Alabama in the U.S.A. With more engineers per-capita than any other American city, Huntsville is home to the Marshall Space Flight Centre where the Saturn V rocket that took the first man to the moon was designed”.
Upon arrival, students were immersed in an unforgettable experience, James emphasises this in his report, “while at Space Camp we engaged in realistic space mission simulations. We flew Space Shuttles, went on space walks, simulated space emergencies and even walked on Mars! We designed and tested heat shields that could endure the searing temperature of a blowtorch and astronaut suits that could withstand the hostile environment of space. We even designed and launched rockets that could carry a small passenger, in our case, an egg-stronaut. Most rockets landed successfully…some became lawn darts and others made omelettes. But we learned from NASA’s instructors that failure is necessary for success, helping us to learn and grow. The instructors also taught us how to pilot military jets and how to scuba dive, which we experienced in the Underwater Astronaut Trainer, a seven-metre deep pool in Space Camp. All were lessons and challenges that we could only experience at Space Camp.”
Our Year 9 attendees, Jake Barden and Hamish Wilson recount their experience on the Tour, as “it was amazing to learn about the universe from experts and see real NASA equipment up close. The best part of the trip was bonding with classmates during challenges that pushed us to think like scientists and work as a team. Every single day was packed with excitement and adventure, something that I know I’ll be talking about for years!”
This trip is just one example of how we are committed to fostering a holistic learning culture that extends beyond the traditional classroom.
We believe that providing our students with opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities, research projects, and community service initiatives is essential for their long-term success.
By cultivating their interests and experiences, we are privileged to play a role in shaping the next generation of experts.
Ms Helen Barrie
Head of Academic Enrichment
hbarrie@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Waverley College Book Club
We are incredibly excited to launch the inaugural Waverley College Book Club at Waverley College Library, open to students, parents, carers, and staff alike! We will also be joined by guest speaker, Paul MacDonald. Owner of the award-winning ‘The Children’s Bookshop’ and winner of numerous awards such as a Quality Teacher Award, The Premier’s English Scholarship, the inaugural Maurice Saxby Award and the 2016 Lady Cutler award for services to children’s literature and literacy in Australia, Paul is a passionate proponent of the value of quality Australian books. Paul is the current CBCA president.
Our first novel is the captivating Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. This heartwarming story, set in a small Tokyo café, explores themes of time travel, love, and second chances. It’s the perfect conversation starter for our first gathering!
The Book Club is not just about reading—it’s about building community through great stories, delicious food, and meaningful conversation.
Reading together helps strengthen our critical thinking, encourages empathy, and offers a wonderful escape from the everyday hustle. According to the International Boys’ School Coalition (IBSC), family time reading at home can encourage boys to develop as readers and develop a love for books.
Perhaps there is no better way to celebrate this shared reading experience than to discuss the book together with other families and friends in a beautiful literary space at the College.
Whether you’re an avid reader or just looking to try something new, we welcome you to join us for this enriching experience. Food will be provided!
Date: 20 November
Time: 6pm
Venue: Waverley College Library
“Everybody has a Book” Poster/ Bookmark Competition
In anticipation of our Term 4 Reading initiative across both Junior and Senior schools, we are also excited to announce our Poster/ Bookmark Competition for all students from Years 5-12. Please see the attached poster for details.
Closing Date is the end of Week 4.
