Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
NSW Public Speaking Final
We wish Year 12 student James Peate all the very best as he competes in the final this weekend of the NSW Rostrum Public Speaking Competition.
James is the defending champion of this competition winning it as a Year 11 student last year. We also congratulate Dante Fearn (Y11) for making it through to the semifinals. Waverley was the only school in NSW to have two students competing.
The Final:
Date: Saturday, 21 June
Location: The Independent Theatre, Wenona School, 269 Miller Street, North Sydney
Time: 2pm to 5:30pm
Spectators (family, friends, teachers) are welcome – Admission is free.
A special thank you and congratulations also go to Ms Maisie Gordon, Ms Allison Fullman and Ms Alice Curtis for their invaluable support and contribution.
Titration Competition
On Friday, 13 June, eight of our Year 12 Chemistry students competed in the State Titration Competition at UTS.
Working in teams, they accurately determined the concentrations of three unknown ethanoic acid solutions and performed exceptionally well against schools from across Sydney.
They also had the opportunity to work in the UTS Superlab and hear from current university students about their research, inspiring thoughts about future pathways.
We’re proud of their efforts and look forward to competing again next year!
Reminder: Subject Selection Evening for Year 8 – Tuesday 24 June
Students and parents are invited to attend the Stage 5 Subject Selection presentations on Tuesday, 24 June, from 6pm to 7pm in the Kenny Building Classrooms.
This is a valuable opportunity to explore the courses available in 2026 and to speak directly with Heads of Department or their representatives.
The room schedule will be emailed to you next week. Students can wear either PDHPE uniform or casual clothing.
Reminder: Subject Selection Evening for Year 10 – Tuesday 24 June
A reminder that the Stage 6 Subject Selection Evening will take place next Tuesday, 24 June.
Students and parents are encouraged to attend, with the evening commencing in the Gym at 6pm, followed by individual subject presentations in the Kenny Building Classrooms from 7pm to 8pm.
This is a great opportunity to gain insights into the courses available for 2026 and to speak directly with Heads of Department or their delegates to ask any questions you may have.
The room schedule will be emailed to you next week. Students can wear either PDHPE uniform or casual clothing.
Reminder – Parent/Carer/Teacher/Student Interviews
A reminder that bookings for Term 3 Parent/Carer/Teacher/Student interviews opened 9am Friday, 27 June, and will close Friday, 18 July at 3pm.
An app notice and an email has been sent to each family with instructions on how to book.
Industry Careers Night
This week we hosted an Industry Careers Night. The evening offered students and parents real-world insights into the diverse paths available after school.
A group of Alumni returned to the College to share their unique career journeys. Not only did they share their experiences, but their challenges and successes. The audience heard from individuals who have forged careers in a wide range of fields, including engineering, construction and project management, real estate, the police force, finance, entrepreneurship, and physiotherapy.
It was a fantastic opportunity to ask questions, gain inspiration, and explore the many exciting possibilities that lie ahead. Thank you to Ms Kath Knowles and Mr Billy Nicholas for coordinating the evening.
Alumni Connecting
Back to Queens Park Day was a fantastic celebration of Waverley spirit with more than 150 Alumni returning to both Queens Park and then sharing a meal on the Centenary Building Rooftop.
It provided an opportunity to reconnect with classmates and reminisce. Alumni travelled from across Australia and New Zealand and one student returned from his work in Saudi Arabia to make the night.
The event highlighted the enduring bond of our alumni community.
Faith In Action Week
This week was packed with meaningful activities that celebrated community, compassion, and inclusion.
On Monday, Mental Health Day, students participated in the Push-Up Challenge, with representatives from each house gathering in the Centenary Quad for a fun and energetic event.
During Connection, Culture and Communication (CCC) time, a Kahoot competition was held, with prizes awarded to the winning wellbeing groups.
Tuesday’s Diversity Day was a vibrant celebration of our school’s diverse community, featuring a captivating performance by our Pasifika students in the Centenary Quad.
On Wednesday, Social Justice Day, students designed and created cards for people in need, which were later distributed to clients of the Salvation Army in Surry Hills.
A guest judge from the Salvation Army awarded prizes for the most inspiring cards. During Connection, Culture and Communication (CCC) time, a thought-provoking slideshow on homelessness from the Salvation Army was shared with the students.
Thursday’s highlight was the Wheelchair Basketball session, where students and teachers participated in an inclusive game and heard from guest speakers from Wheelchair Sports in the gym at lunchtime.
Over the week our students, parents, alumni and staff contributed to raising an impressive $1700 to support our major immersion works projects which includes – building a toilet block, painting classrooms, and constructing wheelchairs. Thank you!
Prefects Afternoon Tea
Students from schools around Sydney gathered in the College Library on Wednesday afternoon for our annual Leaders Gathering.
Prefects and Student Representative Council members engaged with leaders from other schools and discussed the challenges and opportunities that they have navigated this year.
Waverley Old Boy and current parent, Mr Owen Finegan, was our special guest. Owen spoke of his experiences playing for the Wallabies, further study after sport, professional coaching, and his last ten years as the CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project.
His story and leadership insights were inspiring, and reinforced the importance of servant leadership, and the transformative impact that a single person can make.
Thank you to Owen for sharing his story, and to the Year 12 leaders who put this fantastic afternoon tea together.
Year 12 Cadets Passing Out Parade
On Sunday morning, we proudly farewelled our Year 12 cadets at their Passing Out Parade — a special occasion marking the end of five years of dedication to the Australian Army Cadets program.
Before an audience of family, staff, and peers, the cadets delivered a flawless performance for Reviewing Officer Major Michael Lange, showcasing the discipline, leadership, and teamwork they’ve developed throughout their time in the unit.
We warmly congratulate the graduating cadets from Waverley College and St Catherine’s School on their achievements and thank them for their service and commitment. We wish them all the best in the future.
Cadets Dining In Night
On Sunday evening, alongside Ms Deb Magill, Headmistress of St Catherine’s School, we farewelled the Senior Ranks of 2025 at the annual Dining In Night – a formal military mess to conclude their time in Cadets.
I would like to acknowledge Ms Magill and the team at St Catherine’s for generously hosting us in the Multi-Purpose Hall of their Performing Arts Centre.
Thank you also to our Dining Stewards for preparing the venue and providing professional service throughout the evening.
School Fees
Payment 1 of the 2025 school fees was due on 12 February, and Payment 2 was due on 20 May.
Payment 3 is scheduled for 6 August 2025.
The next Fee Statements will be issued during the week beginning 21 July 2025 and will be sent via email. For your convenience, they will also be available on the Parent Portal under the Accounts and Payments tab.
We kindly ask that all fees are paid in full by the due date. If you’re unable to do so, please ensure a financial arrangement is made with the Business Services Team by the due date.
Withdrawal Notice
If you’re planning to withdraw your son’s enrolment from Waverley College, the College requires written notice to the Principal at least one full Term in advance, in line with the enrolment contract and as outlined on our website.
To help clarify, if you intend to withdraw your son at the end of Term 2, notice must be given by the first day of Term 2. Similarly, to withdraw at the end of Term 3, notice must be received by the first day of Term 3, and so on.
If this notice period is not met, a fee equivalent to one Term’s tuition will apply, as specified in the enrolment contract.
Beanstack Reading Challenge Update
Read a book Inside or Outside – Winners will be announced on Monday, Week 9
As you are aware, students and teachers have all been registered with the Beanstack Reading platform to track our reading.
Our aim is to continue to build a vibrant reading community at Waverley by reaching a community goal of 100,000 minutes. Students have almost reached this target and at the time of writing, we are sitting on an incredible 87,000 minutes.
We also set a Reading Challenge for Years 7-10 running from April 10th to June 18th. Using the Beanstack platform, students have been logging their reading in the hope of winning prizes and gaining recognition.
How It Works:
- Our challenge began on Thursday, 10 April and ended on 18 June
- All students logged daily reading
The Winners!
The winners of our reading challenge will be announced early next week (Week 9) and posted in next week’s Nurrunga. We will also acknowledge the incredible efforts of some of the students in our Academic Assembly next term.
Prizes will be awarded to:
- Top individual reader in each year group
- Top individual reader in each class
- Top class in each year group
Stay tuned for more details about our next Reading Challenge – Books to Movies which will be launched next week.
This will ensure students are actively reading over the holidays and can continue to log. Parents are encouraged to engage with student logging on Beanstack. Why not read the same book and watch the movie version too? Happy reading!
Surfing Success
The Waverley College Senior Surfing team achieved an impressive 3rd place finish out of 21 teams at the Sydney Surftag surfing competition held at Urbnsurf Wavepool.
The team, comprising of Years 10-12 students Fred Carmody, Hunter Norburn, Jacob Sheehan, Jet Corte, and Noah Bowler, showcased exceptional skill and teamwork.
Highlighting their performance, Fred Carmody scored an impressive 8.1/10 for a standout right-hander – one of the highest wave scores of the event.
A Legacy of Learning: Help Build Tomorrow Today
For over 120 years, Waverley College has been shaped by the generosity and spirit of our community. Since 1903, the support of families, Old Boys, and friends like you has helped make Waverley College one of the most trusted and respected schools in Sydney.
As we approach the end of the financial year, we’re asking for your continued support during a time of increasing financial pressure, including reductions in government funding. Your help is more important than ever as we prioritise our most important project to date: the upcoming Science & Innovation Centre.
This facility will provide our students with world-class learning opportunities in Science, Technology, and Innovation. Your donation to the Building Fund will help bring this visionary project to life.
We’re also offering exclusive naming opportunities – from individual laboratories and classrooms to entire floors or the building itself – so your family’s contribution can leave a lasting legacy.
You may also choose to support the Bede Kenny VC Scholarship Fund, giving students in need the chance to access a Waverley College education, or leave a longer-term impact through our bequest program.
All donations are fully tax deductible, making this the ideal time to this financial year.
How to Give
Please click on the link below to donate via our secure Giving Site:
https://www.charidy.com/WCGiving
Bank transfer to:
Building Fund – BSB: 062-124 Account Number: 10151703
Bede Kenny VC Scholarship Fund – BSB: 062-124 Account Number: 10133871
Post a cheque to: Waverley College Foundation, 131 Birrell Street, Waverley NSW 2024
Bequests or questions? Contact us at: foundation@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Thank you for standing with us and helping secure Waverley’s future for generations to come.
Farewell and Thank You – Ms Gabby Smith
We extend our heartfelt thanks and warm congratulations to Ms Gabrielle Smith, who concluded her outstanding seven-year tenure at Waverley College on Thursday, 19 June.
Ms Smith leaves us to take up the role of Deputy Principal – Students at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview. Her time at Waverley has been marked by unwavering dedication, professionalism, and a deep commitment to the wellbeing and development of our students.
Fittingly, in her final week, Ms Smith will co-present Waverley’s Wellbeing Framework at the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Conference in Boston, alongside Mr James Horrocks, Director of Student Wellbeing. This presentation reflects the lasting impact of her work in this vital area.
Our incoming Deputy Principal – Students, Mr John Allen, will also be attending the conference, providing an excellent opportunity for a professional handover and meaningful time together as we prepare for the next chapter in student leadership.
We wish Ms Smith every success and happiness in her new role and thank her sincerely for the energy, compassion and expertise she brought to our College community.
