Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
House Swimming Carnival
Today, students from Years 7 to 12 took part in our House Swimming and Activities Day. They competed in a round-robin format, engaging in swimming, tug of war, basketball shooting, dodgeball, and kick tennis. A big congratulations to Brennan House for taking the top spot with 498 points. It was fantastic to see everyone having a great time despite the rain. Great resilience building and fun!
1st Brennan House – 498 points
2nd Aungier House – 443 points
3rd Conlon House – 431 points
4th Quinn – 406 points
5th Tevlin – 379 points
6th O’Connor – 378 points
7th Lacey – 372 points
8th Green – 370 points
Student-Led Social Cohesion Roundtable 2.0 – Monday 23 February 2026
The second gathering of the Social Cohesion Roundtable, an initiative spearheaded by Allegra Spender and the Together for Humanity Foundation, was recently hosted at Cranbrook School. The event was designed as a crucial forum for building understanding and collaborative action across Sydney’s diverse student body, following up on initial discussions from the 2025 session. The roundtable offered a vital opportunity for a broad range of participants, including boys and girls from various schools, diverse faith backgrounds, and different schooling sectors, to come together in a spirit of shared purpose.
A primary objective of the gathering was to discuss the outcomes of the first session. This review ensured that the new cohort of participants could leverage the insights and groundwork established previously. Crucially, the focus quickly shifted to collaborative group projects aimed at generating practical, student-led strategies for strengthening social harmony within their school and the broader community.
The group projects were strategically designed around key themes essential for a cohesive society. These included Being an Upstander, Building Connection and Support, and Practical Ways of Dealing with Difference, Conflict, and Stigma. This project equipped participants with conflict resolution skills and communication techniques to navigate disagreements respectfully and combat social stigma. The collective work from the roundtable is intended to produce actionable frameworks that can be implemented across participating schools, fostering a more inclusive and resilient student environment. These initiatives will be shared with principals at a roundtable event in May.
The following Year 12 students attended the event with Mr Allen:
Cy Preketes, Will Solomon, Lachlan Jones, William Elliott (as pictured left to right)
Lifeguards for Life 24hr Run/Swim lifeline event – Official Opening
On behalf of our school community, I had the privilege of attending the official opening of the Lifeguards for Life 24-Hour Run/Swim Lifeline event at Clovelly Surf Life Saving Club today.
The opening ceremony commenced at 8:30am and brought together ministers, Members of Parliament, community leaders and other distinguished guests in support of this important initiative. The event highlights the vital connection between surf lifesaving, community wellbeing and the lifesaving work of Lifeline.
I was especially proud of our Walawaani students, who played a significant role in the ceremony. They respectfully supported the Smoking Ceremony and performed two of our cultural dances with confidence and pride. Their presence added great meaning to the occasion and was warmly received by all in attendance.
Thank you to the following Walawaani students for their involvement and representing the College;
Buddy Ross(Y8), Kai Mahoney(Y8), Aiden Matarangas(Y8), Brock Smith(Y10), Billy Beatson(Y10),
Joshua Raymond(Y10), Malakai Quinlan(Y11), Stirling Quinn(Y11), Aaron Hodge (Y12), Kai Towns(Y12),
This was a wonderful opportunity to showcase Waverley spirit and celebrate the strength of our Cultural Program on an important community stage. Our students represented the College with maturity, respect and enthusiasm, and they should be commended for the way they conducted themselves throughout the morning.
Congratulations to Ms Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Over the weekend, the Commanding Officer of the Waverley College Army Cadet Unit Julie-Ann de Kantzow was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (AAC), making her the first woman ever promoted to this rank in the New South Wales 2nd AAC Brigade within the Australian Army Cadets.
This well-deserved recognition reflects LTCOL (AAC) de Kantzow’s outstanding leadership, professionalism and unwavering commitment to developing young people through the Cadet program.
We congratulate LTCOL (AAC) de Kantzow on this significant achievement and thank her for the exceptional impact she continues to have on our cadet community.
Young Sprint Sensation Lachlan Chappell Shines on Today show
This week on the Today show, rising Athletics star Lachlan Chappell (Y8) captured the nation’s attention with his extraordinary achievements on the track. The 13 year old powerhouse has stunned coaches and competitors alike after clocking an eye-catching 100 m time of 11.10 seconds, a mark recognised as a world age record in his category.
Lachlan’s journey to the spotlight hasn’t stopped there. In addition to his blistering sprint, he also made headlines for breaking a 47 year-old 400 m record in his age group, showcasing his versatility and endurance across sprint distances.
During his Today show appearance, Lachlan spoke with enthusiasm about his love for running, the support of his coaches and family, and his goals for the future.
For athletics fans and aspiring young athletes alike, Lachlan Chappell is quickly becoming a name to watch in Australian sport.
Watch Lachlan’s full interview here.
Waverley Youth Art Prize – Dreaming Future Worlds
The Waverley Youth Art Prize is open to youths aged between 9 and 18 who are living, studying and playing in Sydney’s East. Each year, artists are asked to respond to a theme, with broad artistic interpretation of this theme encouraged. Entrants may utilise ideas relating to popular culture, science fiction, sustainability or something else. All mediums and interpretations are welcome.
There are multiple prize categories, and the work of finalists is exhibited at the Waverley Library Galleries.
In 2026, we invite young creators to create artworks inspired by the theme ‘Dreaming Future Worlds’. This theme encourages innovation and creative freedom, with young artists envisaging surreal new realms that defy the rules of reality, devising fantastical inventions that change the way we live, or depicting their dreams for the future.
Applications must be submitted via their online application form by 5pm on Friday, 1 May 2026, with artworks delivered to Waverley Library between 9:30am–5pm on Friday, 22 May 2026. View terms and conditions here.
Blue and Gold Ball – Save the Date
We are excited to announce the save the date of our major fundraiser the Blue & Gold Ball, to be held on Saturday, 15 August 2026.
Last year’s Blue & Gold Ball was a sell-out success, raising valuable funds for our building fund. This year we hope to inspire a new generation of families to contribute to the first step in our Master Plan, the Science and Innovation Centre. This inspiring appeal sees Waverley College embarking on the largest-scale construction project in its history.
Get set for a spectacular night at the 2026 Blue & Gold Ball with pre-dinner drinks and canapés under the stars followed by a formal gala dinner, drinks and dancing, live music and auction items.
We are looking for event sponsors, raffle donations and auction items, please reach out to: foundation@waverley.nsw.edu.au if you would like to get involved.
Save the Date: 2026 Mother/Carer and Son Dinner
The Waverley College Parents Association warmly invites families to our 2026 Mother/Carer and Son Dinner on Friday, 29 May 2026, at Randwick Racecourse from 6:30pm to 10:30pm.
This special evening will feature delicious food, soft drinks, entertainment, and a remarkable presentation by Li Cunxin, author of Mao’s Last Dancer, who will share his extraordinary journey from poverty to international stardom.
Ticket sales will open on Friday, 6 March at 9am.
Parent Webinar – Understanding Anxiety and Depression to Foster Resilience (Part I)
SchoolTV, is pleased to invite parents, carers, grandparents, school leaders and staff to attend an exclusive webinar supporting both primary and secondary students.
WEBINAR: Understanding Anxiety and Depression to Foster Resilience (Part I)
DATE: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
TIME: 7:30 pm
This presentation forms part of a broader webinar series designed to strengthen mental health literacy across school communities.
Join international experts Dr Emma Woodward and Dr Joe Stammeijer as they share valuable insights into recognising early signs of concern and practical approaches to supporting the wellbeing of young people.
Topics in this session will include:
- Understanding Anxiety and Depression
- Recognising Early Signs
- Supporting Neurodivergent Children
Participants can register by scanning the QR code on the flyer attached. link
