Director of Junior School, Ms Gabrielle Bransby
A warm welcome back to Term 2. We are already two weeks in and the students are off and running. Despite the rain, I was able to watch some students down at Queens Park last Saturday play their first round of Winter Sport. I can already see great team spirit and the eagerness to succeed. 5 Blue showcased all the wonderful work they have been completing in their Class Assembly this week and it was great to see the amazing goal setting happening in class.
We have had a very busy start, particularly this week with our Mother’s Day Mass and with Walk Safely to School Day today. Both events were a huge success and I want to thank everyone in the community for participating and making it so special. Our students had a wonderful start to the day with walking to school and having a healthy snack as they arrived.
We then were able to have a beautiful Mass with Fr Bernie which was organised by Mr Steve Ghattas, then moved into celebrating our mothers, grandmothers and anyone who is like a mother at a decadent afternoon tea.
A huge thank you to the Parents’ Association for organising the opportunity for our students to buy gifts for Mother’s Day this year on campus. There was so much joy in the room. A special thank you to our wonderful mums who made this possible – Daniella Strbac, Sam Mott, Nicole Draper, Trinity Borrows and Lynsey Ford.
What a great start to the Term for our students. I wish all our mothers, grandmothers and anyone who is like a mother a beautiful day on Sunday. I know I’m looking forward to breakfast in bed and lots of love from my three children.
Diary Dates
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.
May
- 11 May – Winter Sport – Round 2
- 15 May – Conlon House Mass and Supper, Chapel, 6pm
- 16 May – Tevlin House Mass and Supper, Chapel, 6pm
- 18 May – Winter Sport – Round 3
- 24 May – May Procession – classes conclude at 12 pm
- 25 May – Winter Sport – Round 4
- 30 May – College Assembly 5-12 Reconciliation Week
June
- 1 June – Winter Sport – Round 5
- 7 June – Athletics Carnival – ES Marks Field
- 10 June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
- 12 June – Year 5 History Showcase
- 12 June – Quinn House Mass and Supper, Chapel, 6pm
- 14 June – Year 5 Reflection Day
- 15 June – Winter Sport – Round 6
- 19 June – Year 6 History Showcase
- 19 – 21 June – Year 5 Camp
- 22 June – Winter Sport – Round 7
- 25 June – Semester 1 Reports Available
- 26 June – Classes conclude
- 27 June – Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Edmund Rice Activity Day
On Thursday 16 May, the Junior School will celebrate the life of Blessed Edmund Rice in the Annual Edmund Rice Activity Day. Throughout the day the boys will learn about the life of Edmund Rice through a variety of activities including trivia, research projects and a whole school assembly at the Senior School. We will listen to our guest speakers from Edmund Rice Camps who will speak about the work that they do to help underprivileged children enjoy weekend activities and overnight camps that we sometimes take for granted.
The afternoon will be a series of fundraising activities with all proceeds going to support the work that Edmund Rice Camps do. Please encourage your sons to take part in all the different activities we have planned. Boys are allowed to wear their PE Uniform for a $2 donation.
- Fundraising Games – Ball Toss, Basketball Toss, Rugby Passing, Soccer Kicks – $1 Entry fee (3 attempts)
- Table Tennis Competition – $2 Entry Fee (knockout competition – first to 7 points
- Lolly Guessing Competition – $1 per guess
- Raffle – $1 per ticket, $2 for 3 tickets, $3 for 5 tickets.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Co-curricular Sport
A warm welcome back to Term 2 and to Winter Sport for our Junior School boys. Despite several sporting fields closed due to rain, the Round 1 games that did go ahead were enjoyable to watch and have challenged our teams to continue working hard at training to develop their skills. Please remember to keep an eye on our app and website for updates to training and games.
The Junior School Sport website is HERE.
Recent Highlights
In Round 1, the 11F Football team had a great first game. Their teamwork and passing made it look like they’d been training together for weeks!
11F Football
Tymen Spierings (5 Indigo) was featured in Aquabumps last week! He is really gaining momentum with his surfing, now ranked 8th Nationally in the U12s and we are very proud of him.
Congratulations to Jacob Coleman (6 Indigo) who represented Waverley at the CIS Touch Football trials and was successful in making the team! We wish him the best of luck in August.
Finally, we are seeking expressions of interest from any Junior School student interested in joining our Hip Hop Dance Club on Wednesday lunch times. It is run by our talented and skilled dance teacher Mr Joel Peisley. The benefits of Hip Hop Dance include improved flexibility, reduced stress and anxiety, increased confidence and coordination, plus it is a lot of fun!
Please speak with your sons about joining our Club and email me at jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au with his expression of interest. We hope you enjoy the promotional video from Joel below.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Home Learning Term 2 Week 3
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Procedures
Register your son HERE.
Only register his name once to allow other students the opportunity to attend. The session is limited to 20 spots. There will be a roll call to ensure attendance.
Students are required to stay for the full session unless there is a message in the student diary requesting early leave, a parent’s signature will be required.
Behaviour
As it is important to respect the rights of others to learn and work, all students are expected to settle to work in the Learning Hub and not cause a disturbance for others.
Teachers
- Monday: Mrs Natasha Zivanovic nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
- Tuesday and Wednesday: Ms Gaby Bransby gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
- Thursday: Mr Steve Ghattas sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Public Speaking Competition
As part of our commitment to fostering essential life skills, all Year 6 students will participate in a school-based Public Speaking Competition during Term 2, while Year 5 students will take part in Term 3. This initiative is designed to help students cultivate their speaking skills, a vital asset for success in various aspects of life.
Effective public speaking is a key attribute for individuals who aspire to hold positions of responsibility, visibility, and leadership. By developing the confidence and ability to express themselves clearly and persuasively, students will unlock a wide range of opportunities that will benefit them throughout their lives. Waverley encourages students to “speak up” and communicate effectively, as this will undoubtedly open doors to new experiences and possibilities.
2024 ICAS Competitions | Years 5 and 6 students
What is ICAS?
ICAS is an online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies.
Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities forrecognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report.
Top performers will be eligible for medals.
If you would like your son to compete in the 2024 ICAS Competitions, you will be asked to nominate which competitions you would like him to be entered in through the Parent Payment System. At the Junior School, the following ICAS competitions are offered: Writing & Digital Technologies, Science & English and Mathematics.
This year all the competitions will be held in August / September, Term 3 and will be completed online in the Learning Hub before school starts. A timetable will be shared closer to the assessment dates.
Click HERE to register your son. Through this system, parents can pay for ICAS directly online while tests will still be held at our school. Please use the school’s access code details to register your child no later than 23 July 2024
Waverley’s School Access Code YGC063
Please consider carefully before choosing this enrichment opportunity for your son. It is a rigorous competition with many questions set beyond grade level. Participants are required to demonstrate a deeper, integrated and thorough level of learning. If you are unsure of your son’s suitability, please consult with his teacher. More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home.
If you require additional support registering your son contact the customer service team. Call Australian Toll-Free 1800 931 775.
Lunchtime Talk With Alexandra Fanning
Our lunchtime guest speaker Alexandra Fanning, architect and mum to Joe (Year 6) and James (Year 8), captivated the audience with an engaging discussion on all things architecture.
Drawing on her extensive experience, she delved into the intricacies of design, highlighting the importance of effective communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking within architecture.
Ali, thank you so much for providing a valuable learning opportunity, offering the boys a glimpse into the world of architecture and how professionals in this field approach problem-solving and creative expression.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
