From the Principal and Leadership Team

Ecology Symposium

Yesterday, Waverley welcomed 150 students and teachers from 13 schools across NSW for our second Ecology Symposium. Thank you to our Ecology Coordinator, Ms Silvia Baylie, and our Students of the World Ecology Group (SOTWEG) students for all of their work in organising this symposium. Gathering under the banner of the theme, ‘Think Globally, Act Locally,’ the day was a vibrant testament to our collective belief that positive global change begins with conscious, everyday actions in our local communities.

The symposium’s purpose was to empower our next generation of active citizens. The day’s agenda was packed with powerful insights and calls to action. 

Lottie Dalziel, founder of Banish, kicked off our keynotes, demonstrating how she transformed her frustration with eco-unfriendly products into a thriving sustainable business. Her story perfectly highlighted the potential of local entrepreneurship to drive global impact.

An Expert Panel Discussion of prolific people from government, the entertainment industry and young environmental activists was moderated by Julia Zemiro, providing diverse perspectives on environmental justice. The panel included: 

• Costa Georgiadis – Alumni landscape architect, environment educator, television presenter and Alumni 
• Dr Marjorie O’Neill, member for Coogee; youth ocean and climate advocate and Sutherland Shire Councillor, 
• Kal Glanznig, Australia’s 2025 Youth Representative to the United Nations 
• Satara Uthayakumaran; and Sophia Skarparis, youth change-maker who, at the age of 14, petitioned the NSW Premier in 2018 to advocate for the ban of single-use plastic bags to great success, 

The symposium also heard from PhD Candidates from Sydney University, who showcased how dedicated research and purposeful learning directly translate into meaningful environmental change.

The day underscored that while global challenges are vast, each young person has the power to turn dissatisfaction into positive, local action. We left the symposium believing that these emerging leaders will drive change with care, compassion, and unwavering commitment.

World Teacher & Support Staff Day

Today we celebrate World Teachers and Support Staff Day, an opportunity to pause and recognise the extraordinary dedication, professionalism, and compassion that each staff member brings to Waverley College every day.

Our students thrive because of the collective commitment of this community from the classroom to the library, across offices, online, the ovals, the kitchens, and the grounds. Whether teaching, guiding, counselling, coaching, mentoring, maintaining, or supporting, each staff member plays an essential role in shaping the learning, wellbeing, and spirit of our College.

Pope Francis reminded us that ‘education has always been one of the highest expressions of Christian charity’. Every lesson taught, every kindness shown, and every moment of care offered to our students is an act of service that reflects this truth.

Teaching and supporting young people is a vocation that requires patience, creativity, resilience, and heart. It is often the quiet acts, the extra time given, the encouraging word, the unseen preparation that make the greatest difference. 

As we mark this day, I want to extend my sincere gratitude for their ongoing service to your sons.  Waverley College is a stronger, more compassionate, and more dynamic community because of them.

GATSTA  (Gifted and Talented Secondary Teachers Association) network meeting

We had the privilege earlier this week to host the term four GATSTA network meeting which brings together educators across the state who design and implement teaching programs for high potential and high ability students.  As a community we are committed to ensure high ability and high potential students are supported by effective school environments, including quality teaching, learning and leadership, in order to ensure each student can reach their individual potential.

We were privileged to have Jae Jung, PhD, a Professor in the School of Education and the Director of the Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Centre (GERRIC) present on his latest research exploring the attitudes of key stakeholders toward gifted students/gifted education and its impact on the students. 

We are thankful at Waverley to be a part of such a strong network of expert teachers in New South Wales who meet together to learn from each other and the specialists who generously give of their time through the GATSTA network. 

Open Day for Potential enrolments

More than 300 individuals joined us for our Open Day morning, where they were warmly welcomed by our College Leadership Team. Students guided families on tours, showcasing life at Waverley and our stunning, historic campus along with our facilities. This event provides prospective parents a great opportunity to view us in action and ask any questions. If someone you know is looking to enrol their son and missed the open morning, the principal runs tours every few weeks which can be booked on our website.

Waverley Takes  1st Place at the Theatresports School Competition Heat

Waverley College’s Theatresports team has taken out first place at the recent Theatresports Schools Competition (TSC) Heat, held on 29 October at Sydney Girls High School. The event brought together six strong teams from across the Eastern Suburbs – including selective, public, and CAS schools – in a fast-paced and laughter-filled battle of wit, creativity, and teamwork.

Teams were judged on entertainment, narrative, and technique. Representing Waverley were Cooper Firth (Year 8), Sebastian Karhan (Year 8), Rafferty Mulligan (Year 7), Ethan Storie (Year 7), and Gabriel Wright (Year 8) – a dynamic group who impressed both judges and audience alike with their energy, humour, and chemistry on stage.

The team earned a perfect score of 5 out of 5 in the Entertainment category for both their one-minute and three-minute performances – an outstanding achievement and testament to their strong ensemble work.

The byos will now prepare for the upcoming semi-finals, where they will again face some of the best young improvisers in the region.

Staffing Update 

Ms Cassie Attard will be commencing leave from Monday 3 November. 

Mr Mark Neale will commence the acting Admin Coordinator role on Monday 3 November 

Ms Chelsea Hobson will commence the acting VET and SBATs coordinator role on 3 November.

Ms Rebecca Gair has been appointed to the Director of Student Wellbeing role from 2026.

Term 4 Literary Evening and Waverley Community Book Club

We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting our annual Literary Evening and Community Book Club on 25 November at Waverley College Library.

This year we will be joined by guest speaker, Gabrielle Mace, founder of ProReading Solutions and well-known literacy expert. Gabrielle is a literacy consultant and library services specialist who works with schools and communities across Australia and internationally to foster a culture of reading. In 2025, responding to the growing literacy crisis, she co-founded The Detective Experience – a global literacy initiative designed to bring young people and families back to reading through the power of story and mystery. The program is now shared worldwide at no cost to schools and families.  Gabrielle has presented most recently at the International Boys’ Schools Coalition Conference in the UK and the World Literacy Summit in Oxford, and is a sought-after speaker on boys and reading, digital distractions, and student voice.

Our pick for Book Club is the wonderful novel ‘The Strange Library’ by Haruki Murakami. This is a fantastical illustrated short novel about a boy imprisoned in a nightmarish library. Readers will find themselves immersed in the strange world of best-selling author Haruki Murakami’s wild imagination.  We will also have lucky door prizes and light supper.

Notice of Lockdown Drill at the Senior School

As part of Waverley College’s ongoing commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff, the Senior School will be conducting a lockdown drill on the morning of Tuesday, 4 November. To minimise disruption, the lockdown drill will take place when there are no HSC Exams scheduled.

These drills are a vital part of our emergency preparedness planning. They help ensure that students and staff know how to respond quickly and calmly should a real emergency ever occur. Practising these procedures allows us to:

• Familiarise staff and students with lockdown routines and locations.
• Test the effectiveness of our communication systems.
• Refine our response strategies in line with best practice and emergency services guidance.

During the drill, normal class routines will be temporarily paused, and students will follow the instructions of their teachers and supervising staff. The exercise will last only a short time and is designed to be calm and controlled.

Please be assured that there is no cause for concern, this is a planned exercise to help us strengthen our safety protocols.

If your son expresses any anxiety about the drill, you may wish to reassure him that this is a standard safety practice similar to a fire drill, and that such preparedness is part of our duty of care to the College community.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to maintain a safe and secure environment for all students and staff.

Parents’ Association Meeting and AGM – Monday 10 November

Our next Parents’ Association (PA) Meeting and Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Monday, 10 November.

AGM at 6pm and PA Meeting at 6:30pm.

As part of our annual process, we are now calling for nominations for PA representative roles, including Treasurer, as our current Treasurer will be retiring from the role at the end of this term. We warmly thank them for their dedicated service and valuable contribution to our school community.

If you’re interested in getting more involved or know someone who would be a great fit, please email Parents Association President Louise Lakomy at louisel@bdhl.com.au or Ms Robin Ball at rball@waverley.nsw.edu.au.

The Treasurer role is a vital part of the PA, supporting the ongoing success of our initiatives.

More information about the roles and nomination process will be shared at the upcoming meeting. All parents and carers are welcome to attend.

Waverley College 2025 Parent Impact Award 

A strong sense of community, service and faith has shaped the life of Waverley since its foundation.  Each year committed families give their time and skills to consistently enrich, inspire and enhance our school community. Many individuals and families have made outstanding contributions through their voluntary support and participation in college life during and often beyond their sons schooling, enriching the lives of many students, and having an enduring impact on the Waverly College community.

The Parent’s Association is delighted to open nominations for the Waverley College Parent Impact Award. The award recognises the outstanding achievement of a particular parent/carer who has gone over and above in supporting the College through their commitment to our mission and values, and who is an inspirational role model within our Waverly College family community.

Nominations are open to individual parents/carers or families with sons currently or previously enrolled at the school (with the exception of current members of the Parents Association and selection committee)

We warmly invite nominations and encourage parent nominations across all year groups. Parents/carers and current Waverley College staff are eligible to make a nomination.  See below link to the nomination form https://forms.gle/juFPZzjg9a28cjF47

The award will be presented after the AGM on Monday 10 November.

Secondhand Uniform Shop Coordinator Roles – Join the Team!

After five years, our current Coordinators are stepping down, and we’re looking for a pair/team to take the reins. This is your chance to put your own stamp on the role and help keep this valued service running for our school community.

 What’s involved?

• One shop shift per week
• Managing the volunteer roster
• A few minutes of email checking once a day
• Grab a friend and share the role! Full training and ongoing support provided. It’s a great way to get involved, contribute meaningfully and shape how the shop continues to run, all in 1-2 hours a week.

By volunteering, you’ll be:

•  Helping families access affordable uniforms
• Giving uniforms a valuable second life
• Ensuring the shop can stay open three days each week

Regular volunteers are also needed – even one shift every couple of weeks makes a huge difference!

If you’d like to join our friendly team or if you’re in need of more information (either as  a coordinator or a volunteer) please email clothingpool@waverley.nsw.edu.au

Shop Hours

Monday & Friday: 8:15–9:30am
Wednesday: 2:30–3:30pm

Vaping and the Youth Vaping Prevention Study – From the Deputy Principal – Students, Mr John Allen

The use of vapes in young people in Australia has continued to rise over recent years. This is a concern as there are a range of health harms and social implications associated with their use.

Last year vaping laws changed so that, now, all vapes and vaping products, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not, can only be sold in a pharmacy for the purpose of helping people quit smoking or manage nicotine dependence. 

People under 18 years should not be sold or provided with vapes. In some cases they may be medically prescribed a vape to help them quit smoking. In such cases they require a medical prescription to access vapes, where laws allow, to ensure they get appropriate medical advice and supervision. 

These laws are designed to protect young people. Vaping presents a number of health and social concerns. These are discussed on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s “About vaping and e-cigarettes” webpage and include: 

• irritation of the mouth and airways
• persistent coughing
• nausea and vomiting
• poisoning and seizures from inhaling too much nicotine or ingestion of e-liquid
• burns or injury caused by an e-cigarette overheating or exploding
• nicotine dependence (most e-cigarettes in Australia contain nicotine, even when packaging says they don’t)
• Exposure to cancer-causing agents
• respiratory problems and permanent lung damage
• harm to the developing adolescent brain

• mood changes
• decreased attention and memory
• feeling nervous, restless, irritable and/or
• anxiety.

Some chemicals in e-cigarette aerosols can also cause DNA damage. In addition vaping can be a “gateway” activity to other anti-social behaviour. There are also concerns about the impact on others such as exposure to second hand smoke and negative role modelling. Further, when vaping occurs in shared spaces, like toilets, it negatively impacts the environment, affecting the amenity and well-being of others.

Schools are considered vape free environments by law. As such, smoking or vaping in schools is prohibited. There are significant consequences for students found to be vaping, or being in possession of vapes, at school, travelling to and from school, at school related activities and while in uniform. Further details can be found on Page 24-25 of the College diary. 

As parents we can assist our children to make healthy decisions by discussing vaping with them at a relaxed time and place and listening without judgment. We can aim to provide accurate information about the health risks, be a positive role model and connect them with professional support like a GP, or Quitline, if required.

The University of Newcastle research team is conducting a Youth Vaping Prevention Study for parents concerned their child may be introduced to vapes. They aim to test if a text message program sent to parents and their adolescent child (aged 12-15) can help prevent vaping in youth. The text messages have been developed with parents and youth, and aim to educate them on the harms of vaping, provide social support, teach refusal skills and encourage positive discussion amongst families.

Parents and adolescent participants will receive a $20 e-gift card after completing each follow-up survey.

More information can be found at the website here. 

Research Project – Consent and Respectful Relationships Education Project

As part of the Phase 2 consultation process for the Consent and Respectful Relationships Education (CRRE) Project, our School and System Leaders completed a survey in March 2025. This survey was to gain a better understanding of the types of programmes being implemented in schools, as well as the goals these programmes aim to achieve. The next stage of this research is to gather insights from two additional stakeholder groups: parents and students.

Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) has commissioned the Australian Catholic University (ACU) to conduct the research on our behalf. The parent and carer survey is now live and will be open to complete until Friday 14 November. The purpose of this survey is to seek parent feedback about their experience of their child’s CRRE education, and to gain insights about the challenges they face. We also ask what support parents need to continue this important education at home.

The more parents who participate in the survey, the greater the insights we will gain, thus ensuring a strong parent voice contributes to this important work.

Parents can participate in the survey by simply clicking on the Survey link here

As for the student engagement component of this research, we acknowledge that this is a more sensitive area due to the ethical considerations of research involving minors. We anticipate that this research will take place in Term 1 2026 and will only be made available to Year 10 to Year 12 students

The purpose of completing research with students is to give them a voice and gather insights about their experience of CRRE in Catholic schools. It will provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their experience, as well as an avenue to recommend what they would like to see in a Catholic CRRE programme.

Waverley Annual Rock Band Concert

Get ready to turn up the volume and celebrate the incredible musical talent of our students at this year’s Rock Band Concert!

Date: Friday, 7 November
Time: 4:00 PM

Location: PAC Foyer, Waverley School

Join us for an afternoon of electrifying performances, great vibes, and plenty of fun as our student rock bands take the stage and showcase their hard work and passion for music.

Bring your friends, family, and your best rock spirit – let’s make some noise and support our amazing young musicians!

Auditions Now Open – Ascham’s 2026 Senior Production: Julius Caesar

Calling all performers! Auditions are now open for Ascham’s 2026 Senior Production of Julius Caesar. This is your chance to take the stage in one of Shakespeare’s most gripping political dramas – a timeless story of power, loyalty and ambition.

No previous experience is required, just enthusiasm, creativity and a willingness to collaborate.

Download the Audition Pack to find out more.

Free HSC Kickstart Seminars

In partnership with Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, and the University of Newcastle, are hosting Free HSC Kickstart Seminars this November to help students and parents prepare for success in 2026.

Presented by senior HSC markers and counsellors, these 45-minute sessions reveal what markers look for, how to manage anxiety, and strategies to boost performance in the HSC.

The dates are as follows: 

• Sunday 2nd November – Macquarie University
• Saturday 15th November – University of Newcastle
• Sunday 23rd November – the University of Sydney

All details, including dates and registration links, can be found at:

events.inspired.edu.au

Waverley Walk – Paver Update

We’re thrilled to announce that all 120 pavers on the Waverley Walk have now been sold!

The final pavers will be laid in early November  and we’re excited to invite all our generous donors to join us for drinks and a special viewing of their pavers at the end of November.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who purchased a paver and, in doing so, made a meaningful contribution to the Science and Innovation Centre. Your support helps bring this vision to life!

Also, a huge thank you to Ed Mott and Ben Starr from Starr Landscapes for their generous contribution in laying the pavers.

There are still many ways to support the Science and Innovation Centre. If you’d like to get involved, please contact Billy Nicolas, Foundation Manager, at bnicolas@waverley.nsw.edu.au or (02) 9369 0656.