Graham Leddie, Head of College
From Head of College, Graham Leddie
EREA National Apology to Victims of Abuse
On Thursday 1 June 2017, Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) Principals will be in Canberra for their national conference, focusing this year on the issue of sustainability and integral ecology. I will be present, representing Waverley College.
The principals will gather from 8.30am to 9.15am at the National Arboretum, a unique place of regeneration, renewal and healing and EREA will make a National Apology to Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse on behalf of all EREA schools.
It is a response by the current EREA school communities to abuse that took place in some EREA schools in the past.
Ray Paxton, National Director of Identity and Liberating Education, has led the development of the Apology ritual, supported by John Crowley, Principal of St Patrick’s College Ballarat, in consultation with survivors, who will be represented at the National Apology.
The message of hope which will emerge from the National Apology will provide us with a new voice and a firm resolve to acknowledge the shameful abuse that took place in some EREA schools in the past, to stand beside the victims and actively support those who have suffered.
Giving at Waverley College
This is an exciting time for Waverley College as we head into the next stage of the masterplan for College facilities: We’re looking towards building a dynamic and sustainable school that inspires current and future generations of students to learn, create, innovate and develop their skills.
Now more than ever, we need to ensure our school, your school, is future-proofed while maintaining links to our past.
The buildings that house the majority of classrooms at the College have served us well, but they are in need of an upgrade and to turn them into 21st century learning spaces, where every student will benefit.
There are opportunities and challenges for our school, and in keeping with all that we have achieved in our first stage of building, we also need to:
- Enhance the learning spaces at both our Senior and Junior campuses that create dynamic, flexible and technology-rich learning spaces
- Increase the seating, shade and greenery on the campus which will have a positive impact on the boys’ wellbeing and connection to their environment
- Take advantage of architectural design, our geographical location, reduce our carbon footprint and, encourage sustainable practices
- Create playground spaces that challenge our boys physically and enhance their social learning through team activities.
In the coming weeks, information about the above will be mailed to you. With your help, I think we can achieve the much needed changes to our College landscape.
Andrew Fuller
I was delighted that we had a huge response to our Parent Association Forum with clinical psychologist Andrew Fuller on Monday night when 780 parents and carers registered to attend the event. Importantly, this shows that our parents are engaged and enthusiastic about working with the college to support the wellbeing of students.
The chart below shows which student year groups were represented by the parents who attended the forum. It shows that parents of students entering their early years of high school were particularly keen to be supported with information and expertise on parenting techniques, but it is pleasing to see that we had great representation from across the full range of year groups.
I’m very pleased to be able to announce that we will host a second forum this year on Safe Partying, featuring well known presenter Sonya Karras. You can read more about this forum here: https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/events/parent-association-forum-safe-partying/
Both forums could not have occurred without the financial support of our Parent Association and I wish to extend my sincere thanks for the wonderful working relationship they have established with the college.
Inspiring Teachers
Congratulations to Ms Mary Ryan and Mr Nick Brophy who competed in the recent Blue Mountains Ultra Marathon (100km) and raised money for Edmund Rice Camps. These camps provide assistance for those less fortunate to experience a camp learning experience and provide some respite for parents and carers.
Congratulations to Ms Sherri Faulkner who has hosted again for the Cancer Council – Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea event. We all know someone close to us that has been affected by cancer, funds raised go to research that aims to find cures to a variety of cancers.
2017 da Vinci Decathlon
Congratulations to the following boys who represented very well at the 2017 da Vinci decathlon which is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: engineering, mathematics and chess, code breaking, art and poetry, science, English, philosophy, creative producers, cartography and general knowledge. Thank you to Ms Nehal Badiani, Mr Dominic Hearne, Mr John McCoy, Mr Steve Wilmot for supporting and coordinating the teams.
Year 7
Dominic McGrath
Ian Vuk
Noah Culkzar
Jake Deale
Damian Pulos
Sachiel Bass
Pablo Berdaa
Henry Kopsiaftis
Year 8
Joseph Agius
Perri Quirk
Mark Gaponov
Dante Bryan
Flynn Herbert
Max Hooker
Fergus Braham
Patrick Hoggett.
Year 9
Joshua Cornelius
Ethan King
Sam Markert
Jasper Anderson
Patrick Smith
Riley Finnane
James McMahon
Nic Algie
Year 10
Cooper Flynn
Matthew Gallagher
Sanm Hall
James Ritchie
Josh Hamilton
Roman Kotecsky
Alexander bayas
Ash Backlund
Year 11
Harley McGuiggan
Adam McCabe
Allan Cannes
Andre Vumbaca
Oliver Read
Oliver Small
Dominic Abruzzese
Jesse Douglas
