Junior School – Week 1

A big welcome back to all our Waverley College families. I hope the Easter break gave you a chance to slow down and spend quality time with your family. We are back in full swing and excited for the Term ahead.

*Just a reminder that all students require a blazer in Term 2 and Term 3.

I have noticed some haircuts that do not align with the College Haircut policy, which can be found on page 25 of the College diary. If your son has been asked to have his hair rectified, please have this done by Monday.

Mother’s Day Online Stall

Some lovely Mother’s Day gifts are now available to purchase online. Don’t delay, orders close Friday, 5 May.

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar. 

April

• 29 April – Round 1 Winter Sport 

May

• 2 May – Year 6 Science Excursion 
• 3 May – Sibling Photos 
• 5 May – Edmund Rice Day 
• 6 May – Round 2 Winter Sport 
• 10 May – Conlon House Mass, 6pm
• 11 May – O’Connor House Mass, 6pm
• 12 May – Mother’s Day Mass
• 13 May – Round 3 Winter Sport 
• 17 May – Brennan House Mass, 6pm
• 19 May – Athletics Carnival 
• 20 May – Round 4 Winter Sport 
• 26 May – May Procession (half day)
• 27 May – Round 5 Winter Sport 

June

• 1 June – Tevlin House Mass, 6pm
• 2 June – Year 5 Retreat Day 
• 3 June – Round 6 Winter Sport 
• 7 June – Quinn House Mass, 6pm 
• 8 June – Year 5 History Showcase 
• 12 June – Pupil-Free Day – King’s Birthday 
• 14 June-16 June – Year 5 Camp
• 14 June – Year 6 History Showcase
• 16 June – Reports Available, 5pm 
• 17 June – Round 7 Winter Sport 
• 19 June – Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews 
• 22 June – Classes conclude 

Attendance

A reminder to please see the below process for reporting your son’s absence. If it is for a long period of time, please contact myself for approval by emailing ssanchez@waverley.nsw.edu.au

Area contact: Absence

Enquiry: Reporting an Absence

Steps: 1st contact – Waverley College app. 2nd contact – Ms Danielle Brown | attendance@waverley.nsw.edu.au | absentee line: 02 9369 0632 

 

Ms Gaby Bransby

Director of the Junior School

 

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Mother’s Day Mass at Mary Immaculate Church, Friday, 12 May, 12pm

The celebration of mothers, grandmothers and significant others in the lives of our Waverley College Students, will be celebrated on Friday, 12 May at 12pm (Week 3, Term 2). This will be at Mary Immaculate Church followed by a light lunch at the Junior School.  

>>> Click here to view the invitation and to RSVP.

Part of the celebration will include a slideshow. Please send through a photo of your son(s) with their mothers/grandmothers if you would like a photo included in this presentation.

Please email photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au

Confirmation at Mary Immaculate Church

For parents/carers seeking information regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important that you contact your local parish to find out the details regarding when the Sacrament will be celebrated, and when the preparation classes will be held.

For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 19 June at 2pm.

Please be aware that the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated each year, therefore only Year 6 students will be enrolled to receive the Sacrament.

View the boundary map below to see if you are within the parish boundary.

Click the button below for further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament.

Click here to view the Sacrament of Confirmation form

Edmund Rice Activity Day – Friday, 5 May

On Friday, 5 May, the Junior School will participate in their Annual Edmund Rice Activity Day, which explores the life of the Founder of the Christian Brothers, Blessed Edmund Rice. Throughout the day, the students will participate in a variety of in-class activities as well as fun games at lunchtime to raise money for Edmund Rice Camps.

We will have a guest speaker during assembly who will highlight the wonderful work that Edmund Rice Camps do to help underprivileged children.  

At lunchtime, there will be a Sausage Sizzle sale.

Click here to assist with catering and for payment

We look forward to celebrating a wonderful day.

 

Mr Steve Ghattas

Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation

 

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Year 6 Excursion – Royal Botanic Garden

On Tuesday, 2 May, Year 6 will embark on an excursion to the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, called ‘Aboriginal Knowledge and Culture.’ This excursion will support the teaching and learning of the sustainability concepts in our Science unit this term, as well as benefit our English and History curriculum. 

The Program is a unique opportunity for students to investigate a wide variety of local native plants which were integral in the life of the First Australians. Aboriginal Education Officers will provide a personal perspective offering how Indigenous people of the Sydney area used plants for food, medicine, tools and weapons, giving students a unique opportunity to meet and interact with members of our Indigenous communities.

Students are expected to wear full PE uniform on the day and bring their sports bag with a packed lunch, recess, water and a raincoat or umbrella. They still need to bring their usual school resources such as Macbook, diary, books etc as the excursion is half a day. 

Students in 6 White, 6 Indigo and 6 Red are required to arrive at the Junior School at 8:15am in order to board the first bus on time.

Normal dismissal from the Junior School at 3pm for all students and training is on as usual, that day.

We are looking forward to this outdoor, off-site learning experience! 

Please note: A notification has been sent to the Parent Lounge for you to approve your son to attend this excursion.

 

Ms Jade Sparks

6 Blue Classroom Teacher

 

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Winter Co-Curricular Sport – Round 1

The heavily anticipated Winter Co-Curricular Sport season commences from tomorrow for Round 1 (Saturday, 29 April). Having had a shortened week of training, students are extremely excited about getting the Winter season underway.

Please ensure you refer to the Waverley College app announcements each week, as I will continue to send out the weekly Sports Fixtures for each round. All families can also locate all relevant Junior School Co-Curricular information through the College website by clicking the button below.

Click here to view all Junior School Co-curricular information on the College website

Here you will find all Junior Sport Fixtures, results, training schedules and maps.

The Armidale School Rugby Carnival

During the school holidays, on the final weekend before the commencement of Term 2, 20 young men travelled to Armidale to compete and represent Waverley College in the annual TAS Rugby Carnival, consisting of school, club and representative teams across NSW, Queensland and the ACT. 

Each team played five tough matches against other quality teams with the ultimate goal of ‘growing grass roots rugby’ and having fun playing the game we all love. 

Our young men performed not only admirably, but respectfully and competitively, winning four of the five games for Waverley and making it all the way to the final of the Tournament Team Running Relay – ‘The Spirit of Rugby Relay.’

We are so proud of the boys for showing grit, resilience and great sportsmanship. A special thank you to our dedicated Waverley families for making the trip and sharing in such a special weekend, as well as our coaching staff Mr Tom Olds and Mr Elliott McKimm, and Convenor of Rugby, Ms Jade Sparks.

CIS Touch Football Trials

This Wednesday just gone, Waverley had six students represent Waverley College Junior School at the CIS Touch Football Trials at Werrington. The students included: Kalan Fisher, Jackson MacAskill, Jacob Coleman, Jordan Strbac, Talin Opai and Tio Norman.

Out of the 80 students who trialled, there were only 14 spots available for the final team selection. All Waverley students gave it their all to make the team, and came very close to securing a spot. Kalan Fisher was the only student of ours to make it through.

Well done to all our students for their performance during the trial, and a massive congratulations to Kalan for making the team.

External Sporting Achievements

Franklin Pyke, Aidan Rowley and Leo Vigil, after a gruelling six-week long selection process, competed in the U11 state baseball championships over the holidays. They Represented Cronulla Black and came 3rd overall. Ethan Uncle also competed for Cronulla Blue and came in 4th. They all represented Waverley brilliantly, both with performance and attitude. A massive congratulations to these Waverley Junior School students.

 

Mr Jack Wachtel

Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)

 

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Home Learning Club – Week 2

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

Click here to register your son

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/carer 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 and Wednesday – Ms Natasha Zivanovic – nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
• Tuesday and Thursday – Ms Gaby Bransby – gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au 

If you require any further information, feel free to email us.

Important

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. Try to avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.

Public Speaking Competition Year 6

All Year 6 students will be participating in a school-based Public Speaking Competition in Term 2 and Year 5 Students will participate in Term 3. 

The competition aims to allow students to develop their speaking skills. Speaking well in public prepares you for positions of responsibility, visibility and the future. Speak up, speak well, and many opportunities will be open to you. 

Year 5 Rich Literature ANZAC Day 

The boys explored the very important theme of ANZAC Day through stories. 

Rich literature was used to encourage valuable discussion on the theme of ANZAC Day, mateship, bravery, Gallipoli, Indigenous soldiers and commemorating.  

The boys highlighted many important facts and we were involved in activities that promoted reading and critical thinking, through the use of Visible Thinking Routines.

Reader of the Week

 

Ms Natasha Zivanovic

Literacy & Innovation Teacher