Director of the Junior School, Ms Alanna James
As another busy term draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey of learning and growth we’ve shared. The past few months have been filled with a range of academic, sporting, and cultural activities that have truly enriched our students’ learning opportunities.
This term, our students have continued to engage in our full and diverse program, showcasing their talents in many areas.
We celebrated the power of communication with the Year 5 Public Speaking competition. Our students demonstrated remarkable confidence and poise, delivering thoughtful and engaging speeches that were a true testament to their developing communication skills. We also saw our students’ intellectual curiosity on display during the IPSHA Debating competition, where they showed impressive critical thinking and collaboration.
Our athletic program also had a standout term. Our boys ran, jumped, and threw with spirit and determination at the IPSHA Athletics carnival. The camaraderie and sportsmanship on display were a source of great pride for our community.
The literary world came to life during Book Week. A highlight was our engaging guest speaker and the writing workshops that followed, which inspired our students to unleash their creativity and find joy in storytelling.
We’ve also been able to offer enriching co-educational experiences. Our students enjoyed a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with St. Catherine’s during both the Aladdin the Musical and National Health and Physical Education Day. These shared experiences are invaluable, helping our students develop important social skills and broaden their horizons.
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our dedicated staff for their tireless efforts in creating these wonderful opportunities. Their commitment to fostering a supportive and challenging learning environment is what makes Waverley College such a special place. I also want to thank you, our parents, for your continued support and partnership. It is through our combined efforts that we can help each child reach their full potential.
As we look forward to a well-deserved break, I hope our students can rest, recharge, and enjoy quality time with their families. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish next term!
Youtube Block
At Waverley, we are committed to preparing our students for a fast-paced, technological world while also ensuring they have a healthy balance away from screens. As a part of this commitment, and in response to the national ban on social media platforms set for December 10, we have made a change to how students can access YouTube.
Effective immediately, YouTube is blocked on all school devices while students are on campus.
We understand that YouTube can be a valuable educational tool. To ensure students still have access to engaging and relevant video content, we will be using an alternative platform: ClickView. This curated educational video library offers a wealth of safe, ad-free, and curriculum-aligned content for all year levels.
This decision aligns with our strategic plan to “Reimagine our Relationship with Devices” and foster a healthier balance for all students.
Looking ahead, we are exploring the introduction of charging stations in the Junior School from 2026. This would allow laptops to remain at school unless they are needed for special projects or assignments.
If you are interested in blocking YouTube on devices at home, please contact your internet service provider for guidance.
IPSHA Debating
It has been both a pleasure and a privilege working with the Junior School debating team and their dedicated Year 10 mentors, Carter Hughes, Alex Avdalis, and Henry Goldrich. Our debaters have shown remarkable commitment and perseverance throughout the season.
On Monday, the team attended the IPSHA Debating Gala Day at Pymble Ladies’ College, facing an intense schedule of four back-to-back debates. Under considerable pressure, the boys rose to the challenge, showcasing their skills, teamwork, and determination across each round.
Well done to our debaters for representing our school with pride.
Aladdin the Musical
We appreciate your cooperation in purchasing 2 tickets per show for our upcoming performance of Aladdin the Musical. There are still tickets available, so if you would like to purchase additional tickets, please use the link below.
Wednesday October 22 – evening 7 – 8:30pm
Thursday October 23 – matinee 12 – 1:30pm
Thursday October 23 – evening 7 – 8:30pm
You can book your tickets HERE
Co-curricular Update from Ms Sparks
Barker Mini Showdown – by Marlo Davis
On Saturday, the A’s basketball squad went to Barker College to play other teams in the Barker Mini Showdown. The Barker Mini Showdown is an invitational basketball tournament where there is a series of games against opposing teams.
The first game was our hardest game. It was against Knox. Knox was a tough game. The score was neck and neck, but Knox pulled away with it. The next game was Barker. The game should have been easy, but the score only ended up at one point.
It was definitely a stressful game, but we pulled away with a win. Mosman was next. Mosman was an easy game, but our next game, Trinity, arguably our biggest rivals, was a cliff-hanger.
The score in the end was a tie at 39 all. Even though the refs were not on our side, it was a very good tournament. We ended up coming in second place in our pool, so we played Thornleigh in a 3rd place match.
We lost the match, but it was very fun, and the boys and I enjoyed the experience.
Attention: Current Year 5 Parents
Dear Year 5 Parents and Carers,
It is that time of the year where sports preferences are collected in order to create draws and plan for 2026. Please discuss the below choices with your son/s and use the below link to nominate first and second preferences for 2026 Summer and Winter Sports.
Summer Choices:
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Tennis
- Touch Football
- Water Polo
Winter Choices:
- AFL
- Football (Soccer)
- Rugby Union
Please read all instructions on this form carefully. It will close on November 1, 2025.
