Director of the Junior School, Ms Alanna James
Diary Dates
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
- 7 March – Summer Sport – Round 4
- 12 March – Quinn House Mass
- 14 March – Summer Sport – Round 5
- 11 March – NAPLAN Testing window
- 19 March – Lacey House Mass
- 21 March – Summer Sport – Round 6
- 23 March – Winter Sports Trials
- 25 March – Quinn House Mass
- 26 March – Summer Sports Photos
- 27 March – Year 5 Retreat Day
- 1 April – Classes conclude
International Women’s Day
This week, our school community joined the global celebration of International Women’s Day, a time to reflect on progress, call for change, and celebrate acts of courage and determination by women who have played an extraordinary role in history, and in our own communities. To mark the occasion, we were incredibly honoured to host a true trailblazer, former Australian Cricket Captain and Hall of Famer, Lisa Sthalekar at our whole-school assembly.
Lisa’s story is one of profound resilience, beginning long before she ever picked up a bat. She shared her moving personal history, from being adopted from an orphanage in Pune, India, to finding her home and her passion for sport in Australia. The heart of her message centered on the courage it takes to be the “first” or the “only.” Lisa captivated the audience with stories of her early days on the pitch, where she was frequently the only girl in an all-boys cricket team. She spoke candidly about letting her talent do the talking and the sheer grit required to rise through the ranks, eventually leading her country to victory and lifting the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.
Perhaps the most impactful moment of the morning was seeing the reaction from across the room. It was particularly heartening to see our boys so deeply engaged and inspired by Lisa’s journey. They weren’t just hearing about ‘women’s cricket’; they were hearing a masterclass in leadership, mental toughness, and overcoming adversity.
International Women’s Day reminds us that a more inclusive world is a more successful world. By hearing from leaders like Lisa, our students see firsthand that boundaries are meant to be pushed and that every student at our school has the potential to rewrite the record books. We are grateful to Lisa for sharing her time and her story with us, and we wish a happy International Women’s Day to all the incredible women in our community.
Open Day
Our campus was buzzing with energy this week as we opened our doors to prospective families for the Junior School Open Day. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our vibrant learning environment, but the true stars of the day weren’t the classrooms or the curriculum, they were our students.
Leading the way were our Year 6 students, who took on the vital role of official tour guides. Stepping into a leadership position can be daunting, yet these students handled it with remarkable poise. They didn’t just show guests where the Learning Hub was, they shared personal stories of their favourite projects, answered questions from parents, and navigated the campus with the confidence of seasoned professionals. Their ability to articulate what makes our school special was a testament to their growth and maturity.
At the front gates, our Year 5 helpers provided the first impression of the day. With bright smiles and “can-do” attitudes, they greeted every visitor, handed out programs, and made sure our guests felt at home from the moment they stepped onto the grounds. Their warmth and enthusiasm set the perfect tone for the entire event.
One prospective parent noted that they were incredibly impressed by the students, mentioning that they didn’t just seem to be reciting a script, but truly loved their school. A huge thank you to all the staff who helped coordinate the day, and a special round of applause for our student leaders.
Caring for Country
Our Junior School is looking a little greener and a lot cleaner lately, thanks to a dedicated group of environmental stewards! Every Wednesday afternoon, members of our SOTWEG (Students of the World Ecology Group) gather for the ‘Caring for Country’ after-school club.
These students aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. From meticulously weeding our garden beds to ensuring our playgrounds are free of rubbish, their hard work is visible across the entire campus. However, their impact goes far beyond physical labor. They are the creative engines behind our school’s future sustainability. While you might see them with gloves and bags, the team is also busy brainstorming innovative ideas to improve our Junior School environment, looking for fresh ways to reduce waste and encourage biodiversity.
We want to extend a massive thank you to the students involved. Your time, commitment, and genuine passion for the environment are truly inspiring. You are leading by example and showing us all what it means to be responsible global citizens. We also share our sincere gratitude for Mr. Burns, whose leadership and guidance drive this group forward. Thank you for empowering our students to take ownership of their world!
Lunchtime Talk
We were delighted to host our very first Lunchtime Talk for 2026 with Talia Gusen, a Genetic Counsellor and Mum to Aaron, Year 6. Talia shared fascinating insights into her career, explaining how she helps families understand and navigate genetic risks and conditions. The boys learned about the intersection of science, communication, and empathy in this field. Talia also shared what makes us unique and how our family genes make up different aspects of us.
Talia also highlighted the unique aspects of each individual and how our inherited family genes contribute to various parts of who we are. Thank you for sharing your expertise and inspiring the next generation of scientists!
Home Learning Club
We offer all students in Years 5 and 6 the opportunity to attend Home Learning Club, a free after-school program designed to support the completion of home learning tasks. These afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised environment for students who wish to complete their home learning activities.
Home Learning Club runs from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Monday to Thursday, during school term time. Please note that the club will not operate on days when a scheduled Professional Development meeting is taking place.
Procedures
Register your son via the link https://homelearningclub.youcanbook.me
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.
Behaviour
Home Learning Club provides a calm, focused, and supportive environment where students work productively, show respect for others, and take responsibility for their home learning.
Teachers
Mondays 6 Gold Classroom
Ms Chelsea Hobson & Mr Conor De Courcey
Wednesdays 6 Gold Classroom
Ms Charlotte Stephens
Tuesdays & Thursdays Learning Hub
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
cstephens@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. Students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance, and the capacity is always reached.
Please avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Co-curricular Update from Ms Sparks
NSW Cricket Team Selection
This week, Jack Buxton (6 Gold) competed at the NSWPSSA Cricket Championships, representing CIS on the outstanding grounds of the Campbelltown Ghosts Premier Cricket Club. CIS played tough, tenacious cricket throughout the tournament, and, from a highly competitive field of 168 players from across the state, Jack earned selection to represent NSW at the School Sport Australia Cricket Championships in Newcastle in October.
Swimming
Congratulations to our IPSHA Swim Team, who represented Waverley with pride at Tuesday’s IPSHA Swimming and Diving Carnival. 12 students from Years 5 and 6 attended Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday and swam in several races and relays. Many ribbons were won and spirits were high as we competed against other IPSHA schools. Thank you to the parents and staff who supported them on the day and Go Waves!
After some practice competing at the Cranbrook Invitational and Brothers Invitational (hosted by Riverview), we couldn’t be prouder of how the boys showed up for IPSHA on the day. And thank you to the boys who stepped in to gain experience at the Invitationals.
Around the Grounds
In Round 3 of our Summer Sport Season, our teams are beginning to bond as a squad and develop their skills further after a few weeks of training under their coaches’ directions. Unfortunately the weather interrupted some sessions and games this week, but our boys did their best. Go Waves!
Recently, a few Waverley boys competed at the State Nippers carnival at Swansea yesterday (Friday 20th Feb). The day was a huge success and we are thrilled to share that Hugo Baumgartner won the under 10s boys relay, second year in a row! Jasper Close was also in his team of 4. So proud of these boys as they train 3 times a week and delivered the results for their club, Coogee Minnows.
Reminders
- Morning training – students meet at the location stated on the Training Schedule at 7am.
- Afternoon training – students meet their coach at the Junior School basketball court at 3pm and walk to training with their team. They are dismissed from the location at 4.30pm.
- Games – arrive 30 minutes before the start time on the fixture.
- Follow the fixture first and let Ms Sparks know of any discrepancies between Clipboard and the fixture.
- Clipboard is the name of the program we use for co-curricular attendance. You see it in the Waverley App > Co-curricular tile > “Schedule”.
- Absences for any training or game missed need to be requested via the Waverley App > Absences tile > “Junior School co-curricular absence”.
