Ms Gaby Bransby, Director of the Junior School
Welcome to 2024!
A big welcome to 2024 and a very warm welcome to our new families who have joined Waverley this year. We have already had such a busy start to the year!
It was so lovely welcoming our new Year 5 students and parents/carers on Monday. It is such a special day for the students who looked smart in their new uniforms and were keen to start their journey at Waverley College.
This week the boys were involved in Sports Trials for the upcoming summer season. This is always a highlight of the year for the boys as they meet new friends and enjoy being active. We understand there can be disappointment but we do instil in our students the need for being resilient and embracing the opportunity to be challenged and grow.
Our Meet and Greet Interviews were a huge success this week and I hope you all enjoyed meeting your son’s new teacher. We hope this gave you a chance to discuss any concerns as well as being able to set goals for the year. Please keep open communication with your son’s teachers as we progress through the year.
We welcome two new teachers to the Junior School this year. Ms Mikaela Turner who replaces Ms Charlotte Stephens in 5 Indigo while she is on maternity leave and our new Music teacher Mr Jonathon Bowden.
Attendance
Please see below the new contact details for reporting your son’s absence (including co-curricular). If it is for a long period of time please contact myself for approval by emailing ssanchez@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Absence and reporting an absence
- 1st contact: Waverley College app
- 2nd contact: Ms Bianca Machliss attendance@waverley.nsw.edu.au or Absentee Line: 02 9369 0632
Plan B
Please have a discussion with your son about always having a Plan B for when plans change. This is very important for our students, especially around sport and co-curricular activities. At times, these activities will be cancelled due to wet weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Please put together a plan so your son knows exactly what to do when circumstances change.
Pick-up and Drop-off
For those new to Waverley, there is a drop-off and pick-up space in front of the school but it is very limited. Most students have organised alternative spots to meet their parents/carers that don’t cause chaos on Henrietta Street. Please organise an appropriate pick-up spot that works for you.
There has also been a huge concern on the footpaths at the front of the school as it is very crowded, and I’m watching students cross the road not using the crossing. This is extremely dangerous as cars can not see the boys. Please refrain from calling them across the street and please ask them to use the crossing. Please also be mindful of the neighbouring houses by not blocking their driveways and parking in ‘No Stopping’ areas.
Term 1 2024: Coding
Coding class on a Monday will continue this year. If you would like your son to be part of the session please go to the booking link below. There is an Early Bird Offer (valid till 5 February 2024) – Save $15.
Please include this Discount Code: T124EB
Details: Monday, 12 February to Monday, 8 April – 8 sessions
Time: 3:15pm – 4:30pm
Please find the booking link HERE
Diary Dates
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College Calendar.
February
- 8 Feb – Swimming Carnival
- 10 Feb – Summer Sport – Round 1
- 17 Feb – Summer Sport – Round 2
- 17 Feb – Parents’ Association Cocktail Party
- 20 Feb – Elephant Ed, Puberty and Embracing Change, 6pm
- 24 Feb – Summer Sport – Round 3
- 28 Feb – Brennan House Mass & Supper, Chapel, 6pm
March
- 1 March – Class and Summer Sports photos
- 2 March – Summer Sport – Round 4
- 7 March – Aungier House Mass & Supper, Chapel, 6pm
- 9 March – Summer Sport – Round 5
- 13 March – Winter Sport Trials
- 16 March – Summer Sport – Round 6
- 13 – 25 March – NAPLAN Testing Window – TBC
- 21 March – Winter Sport Trials
- 26 March – Final Winter Sport Trials
- 28 March – Holy Thursday – Pupil-Free Day
- 29 March – Good Friday – Pupil-Free Day
April
- 1 April – Easter Monday – Pupil-Free Day
- 4 April – Lacey House Mass & Supper, Chapel, 6pm
- 5 April – Open Classrooms TBA
- 12 April – Classes Conclude
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
From Mr Steve Ghattas, Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
Pastoral Care Notifications
Throughout the year, you will receive notifications within the Parent Lounge and via email regarding Pastoral Care incidents. These include:
- Positive Notes
- Negative Notes
- Awards
- Detention Notifications (Lunch and Afternoon).
Please note that information and the reasons behind these notifications are given within the Parent Lounge, therefore it is important that you check details before contacting teachers.
With any questions or concerns you have about any of these matters, please reach out to your son’s class teacher first and then if you wish to discuss these matters further, please contact me.
Class Masses and House Masses
As part of our Catholic faith, the Junior School students will attend Mass at Mary Immaculate with the regular parishioners throughout the year. These Masses begin at 9:15am and parents/carers are warmly invited. Dates of when your son’s class will be in attendance will be sent to you by your son’s class teacher in the coming weeks.
Additionally, each House will have a Mass throughout the year. This Mass is held in the College Chapel in the Senior Campus, beginning at 6pm and is followed by a light supper. Once again, parents/carers are warmly invited to attend. Dates for these Masses are published in the College Diary and information will be sent to parents/carers and students via email from the Heads of House.
From Ms Jade Sparks, Assistant Director Co-Curricular (Junior School)
A warm welcome to all new families and returning families in our Waverley community. We are so thrilled to have you join us at the Junior School, and I look forward to getting to know you more as the year progresses. Please see the important Co-Curricular information shared at the information session on Day 1 for all new Year 5 families.
We have had a very positive and enjoyable Sport Trials, and look forward to welcoming your sons into their Summer Sport teams for 2024. Our new and continuing students have shown resilience and commitment and I look forward to an exciting season ahead.
Please remember the Junior School Swimming Carnival will be taking place on Thursday, 8 February 2024. Boys are encouraged to wear House shirts, which you can purchase from the Uniform Shop. More information will be sent out before the carnival. Parents are welcome to attend.
It is very important to label all articles of clothing, shoes, bags and equipment. There has been a lot of lost property during trials this week.
Co-curricular Information 2024
Please use this link to the College Website for all Junior School Co-Curricular information. On this page, you will find policies, expectations, Code of Conduct, the Training Schedule for the current Term, and the current Draw. Fixtures for each Saturday will be sent out via the Waverley App in the days leading up to each Saturday.
Download our Waverley App and turn on push notifications for urgent announcements, fixtures for upcoming Saturday matches, wet weather updates, training or game cancellations.
In our weekly Nurrunga newsletter, you will find upcoming dates, match results, and information about representative competitions.
It is crucial you use the Parent Portal to log absences (sickness/misadventure) from training or games. Exemptions from Saturday games are the only absences that need to be requested via email to Ms Jade Sparks jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Chess Club information can be found by clicking this link here. Please email Ms Samara Sanchez ssanchez@waverley.nsw.edu.au if your son wishes to participate this Term. All other Extra Co-curricular information will be sent out via the Waverley App in the coming weeks (a full list of options are on the Junior School Co-curricular page).
From Ms Natasha Zivanovic, Primary Literacy and Innovation Teacher
Home Learning Club Week 2
(NO HOME LEARNING Thursday, 8 February 2024 – Junior School Swimming Carnival)
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 via the link https://homelearningclub.youcanbook.me
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/carer’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 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 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.
Try to avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
News from The Learning Hub
As we welcome a new group of students to Waverley in 2024, The Learning Hub aims to nurture and guide them in their social, creative and academic development.
This week we saw the boys use this space in many different ways before school and during lunch.
Over the next few weeks, different initiatives will be on offer for the students to join. The initiatives aim to promote the 4 Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative thinking.
