Ms Gaby Bransby, Director of the Junior School
Diary Dates
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.
- 25 June – Semester 1 Reports Available
- 26 June – Classes conclude
- 27 June – Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
Semester 1 Reports
Semester 1 Reports will be available next Tuesday, 25 June at 5pm in the Parent Lounge. Please take the time to go through and read the report with your son. Please have any questions regarding the Semester 1 Report ready to discuss at Parent/Teacher/Interviews.
Reminder – Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews are scheduled for Thursday, 27 June. This will be a hybrid model to accommodate those who would like to come into the school or Zoom in from work or home. Each session will go for 10 minutes. Students are required to attend this session in full academic uniform.
Bookings are now available. Please select a time with your son’s teacher by logging into the Parent Lounge.
Please note that due to Mr Horry being on leave, 5 Red will have their Interviews on Monday 22 July.
Bookings will close Sunday, 26 June at 5 pm.
Year 5 Camp – Stanwell Tops
There was an exciting energy from all of our Year 5 students leading into the camp at Stanwell Tops. For many students this was their first time going to camp. I arrived Wednesday afternoon and it was clear that all students had quickly settled into camp life, getting stuck into the wide range of activities on offer.
These included:
- Archery
- Beach Walk
- Cart Racing
- Climbing Tower
- Giant Swing
- Speed Stacks
- Survivor
- Vertical Cluster
In spite of the chilly weather, students embraced all the adventures and activities that pushed them out of their comfort zone each day. All staff were very impressed with the students’ involvement, engagement and support for one another.
The overall experience of Year 5 Camp gave all students every opportunity to create new memories and connections, step out of their comfort zone to face challenges and conquer fears along the way. It taught our boys about resilience, compassion and genuine mateship for one another. It was an experience the boys will hopefully never forget for years to come.
I would like to acknowledge all the Waverley staff who gave up their time to be a part of the experience, and to Stanwell Tops staff who made everyday enjoyable and memorable for our students.
Year 6 History Showcase
On Wednesday 19 June, the Junior School playground came alive with stories from across the globe as the Year 6 students showcased their Digital Migration stories as part of their learnings in History. Every student had a unique story to tell, either about a close family member, a neighbour or an Australian identity who had their own story of migration. The staff and wider community were so impressed with the quality of I-Movies, costumes and the way the students knew their characters so well. What an amazing day!
Congratulations to Flynn Gilmore for winning the Year 6 Historian of the Year, an amazing achievement.
Thank you so much to all the Parents and Carers who were able to join us on this very special day.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of the Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Art Incursion
In partnership with the Senior School Art Department, Year 5 Classes have been venturing to the Senior School to work with clay and create their own pottery. This process has allowed Junior School boys to experience a subject in a Senior School setting while also expressing their creativity.
So far 5 Orange and 5 Indigo have participated in this immersive experience with other classes to come. Year 6 will also journey to the Senior School in Term 4 to partake in an art making experience.
We thank Ms Oates very much for providing this opportunity to our Junior School students.
Mr Elliott McKimm
Assistant Director of Curriculum
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Semester 1 Reports
As reports become available I encourage families to consider the following:
Assessment
Teachers do not rely solely on one piece of assessment to assess your child. In fact teachers will consider:
- Topic tests
- Examinations
- Assignments
- External testing
- Classroom observations
- Class discussions
- Group work
- Internal testing
- Ability to work individually and in groups as required
- Skills development and attitudes.
- Work samples
Grades
At Waverley we use an A to E reporting scale and it is important to understand what each grade represents:
An A grade means that a student is performing at Stage level above their current Stage and can do so on a consistent basis.
A B grade means that a student is performing at a higher level in their Stage in most situations.
A C grade means that a student is performing at the expected level for their Stage and meeting those outcomes.
A D grade means that a student is experiencing some difficulty at times in meeting the expected outcomes for their stage.
An E grade means that a student is performing at a level below their current stage.
Interviews and growth
Teachers look forward to discussing your son’s report at our upcoming Parent/Teacher/Interviews. It will be imperative to celebrate all grades as a measure of success in relation to individual growth from the beginning of the year to now. Teachers will then be able to provide boys and families with tailored feedback that will look to see boys continue further on the trajectory of individual growth.
Mr Elliott McKimm
Assistant Director of Curriculum
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Junior Sport
Despite all other matches washed out, the Yellow B AFL team had a convincing win over St Pat’s last Saturday. Congratulations to the boys for getting involved in the cold and showing great sportsmanship.
We are looking forward to the final round before the holidays. Please remember there is no training in Week 9 during the last week of Term 2. Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday break. Training and Saturday fixtures resume Week 1 of Term 3 starting Tuesday, 23 July.
Please see this weekend’s fixtures here.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Home Learning Week 8
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
Tuesday and Wednesday
Ms Gaby Bransby
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
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 for recognition 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 July 23, 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 here.
If you require additional support registering your son contact the customer service team on 1800 931 775
EXAM TIMETABLE TERM 3
All ICAS exams will be sat before school in the Learning Hub.
| WEEK | START TIME | DATE | ICAS EXAM |
| 3A | 8am | Wednesday 7 August | Digital Technologies |
| 8am | Thursday 8 August | Writing | |
| 4B | 8am | Wednesday 14 August | English |
| 5A | 7:45am | Thursday 22 August | Science |
| 6B | 8am | Wednesday 28 August | Mathematics |
Year 6 Public Speaking Finals
This week, we had the Year 6 Public Speaking Competition. All the boys put in an incredible amount of effort, with one stand-out student who took home the trophy! Well done to all the finalists and thank you Mr Jack Watchel, Ms Alice Curtis and James Peate for adjudicating the finals.
Congratulations to our finalists Toby Armson, Hugh Rachel, Luke Haddock, Joe Fanning, Ellis Cario, Finn Constable and our Public Speaking Champion 2024 Luke Haddock.
Teresa Haddock and Luke Haddock
Year 5 will compete in the in-school competition in Term 3.
L-R Mr Jack Wachtel, Toby Armson, Hugh Rachel, Luke Haddock, Joe Fanning, Ellis Cario, Finn Constable, Ms Alice Curtis & James Peate.
Book Week Competitions
Term 3 is nearly upon us and in August we will be celebrating Book Week at the Junior School. The theme this year is Reading is Magic.
All students from the Junior campus are encouraged to enter one or both of the competitions running for Book Week.
Pop-up Bookshop
An essential aspect of supporting your son with his reading is to allow him to make his own book choices. The Pop-up Bookshop will be running in Term 3 Week 4. This year I would like to continue with a sustainable and cost-effective Pop-up Bookshop.
If you would like to help with this initiative you can donate pre-loved books that will be sold a very reduced amount. The amounts raised will be donated to one of the Edmund Rice foundations.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Class Item – 5 White
The past few weeks have been buzzing with activity in the 5 White classroom as our students delved into various fascinating subjects, showcasing their impressive learning and creativity.
Our English lessons have taken an exciting turn with the introduction of the captivating text FOX by Margaret Wilde. This engaging tale, rich with themes of friendship and betrayal, has sparked lively discussions and deep analysis amongst 5 White students. The students have enjoyed dissecting the story, exploring the visual and literary techniques used by the author and illustrator to captivate the audience.
In History, the excitement reached new heights as students eagerly prepared for and hosted the History Showcase last week. This event was a fantastic opportunity for the students to present their newfound knowledge about significant figures and events that contributed to the colonisation of Australia. From engaging stories to creative displays, the students’ hard work and enthusiasm were evident, making the showcase a memorable event for everyone involved.
In Science, the 5 White students have been learning how to design and build circuits using copper tape, light bulbs, and coin batteries. This hands-on project has been both educational and exciting, as students apply their knowledge to create circuits that light up their vivid artwork.
I am so proud of how these young gentlemen have been applying themselves to their schooling in Term 2!
Ms Chloe-Jane Tweedie
5 White Teacher
ctweedie@waverley.nsw.edu.au
