Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
Welcome back to all boys and families for the commencement of Term 2. It is a short and sharp term of eight weeks, where the boys need to hit the ground running and be well planned. At the assembly, I shared with them a short clip about leadership from Simon Sinek to assist them in filling out their SMART goals on page 87 of their school diary.
I would encourage you to watch this clip and have a conversation with your son about the processes he is going to change, develop or enhance, in order to achieve his goals for this term. I believe Simon explains very well the consistent approach required for improvement across the boys’ cognitive, social, emotional, physical and spiritual dimensions.
>>> Click here to view the 3:56-minute clip about leadership from Simon Sinek.
Health Update
Our community is currently in very good shape with low numbers of COVID-19 and close contacts being reported.
| As at 29/4 | COVID-19 | Close Contacts |
| Year 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Year 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Year 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Year 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Staff | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 2 |
Our health professionals predict that the Flu season will spike this year, due to many people having vaccine fatigue. Therefore, it is important to keep encouraging your son to maintain good hygiene standards. Carrying his own small container of hand sanitiser on his person, particularly when travelling on public transport and being far away from a wash basin, will reduce the risks of catching influenza which is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause significant illness.
This year, it’s even more important to get the influenza vaccine, as we are more vulnerable.
>>> Click here to view Australian Government Department of Health advice about the flu in 2022.
The College will be maintaining our regular spot cleaning of all surfaces across both campuses.
Close contact / Household contact
Please contact Ms Adele Cutbush, our College Nurse, if your son is deemed a close contact or household contact. Under the recent NSW Health Guidelines, he is permitted to attend school if he does not have any symptoms. He must wear a mask whilst indoors and take a daily RAHT test.
ANZAC Day
I have included an extract from my address at ANZAC Day assembly – the total number of Australians killed at Gallipoli is 8,709. In all, 61,522 Australians lost their lives in the First World War. As we know, it was not the war to end all wars, and the world was again at war some 20 years later, with the outbreak of World War II, where an even larger human price was paid.
This year, we again see war occurring in Europe with a number of countries including Australia supporting Ukraine with weapons and resources from afar. We pray that this war ends soon and does not escalate into something larger and more catastrophic. Former United Kingdom prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, sums it up well: “In war, whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losers.”
Congratulations to our Cadet Unit who proudly represented us at the Coogee and Waverley Council Services on Monday, and at our own service yesterday, along with St Catherine’s School students. I received a number of letters from members of the public who were impressed by their reverence, character and leadership.
Holocaust
I represented our community this week at the Yom Hashoah Day (Holocaust Remembrance Day). More than six million Jews were murdered or perished in the Holocaust, as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its accessories. Holocaust survivor Olga Horak OAM movingly told her story of survival and provided the audience with greater understanding of the atrocities of the Holocaust. Her message was clear: “Always remember. Please do not ever forget.”
Olga is one of the founding members of Sydney’s Jewish Museum. Please click the following link to watch this year’s commemoration. The speeches begin at the 20 minute mark.
>>> Click here to view this year’s Yom Hashoah Day commemoration.
Year 12 HSC
For more details about the Waverley Academic Tutorial Program, please read the newsletter article authored by Mrs Elizabeth Watson, Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning.
The below HSC resource is being offered by the Woollahra, Randwick and Waverley Council Libraries and is of benefit to our boys. The ‘Ride the HSC Wave’ lecture series is open to students of Senior HSC High School Years 11 and 12 from 9-26 May. The series provides workshops, tips, advice and insight into HSC topic areas and is delivered by educational professionals.
>>> Click here for more information about Woollahra Library’s ‘Ride the HSC Wave’ Lecture Program.
Cosi
This term St Clare’s College and Waverley College are staging Cosi, a classic Australian play by Louis Nowra in the PAC Theatre from June 7-9. Tickets will sell out fast!
To book tickets to Cosi, please go to the College website to choose your day and seat/s.
