Ms Gaby Bransby, Director of the Junior School
Diary Dates
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
February
- 17 Feb – Summer Sport – Round 2
- 17 Feb – Parents’ Association Cocktail Party
- 20 Feb – Elephant Ed, Puberty and Embracing Change, 6pm
- 20 Feb – No Home Learning today
- 24 Feb – Summer Sport – Round 3
- 28 Feb – Brennan House Mass and Supper, Chapel, 6pm
March
- 1 March – Class and Summer Sports photos
- 2 March – Summer Sport – Round 4
- 7 March – Aungier House Mass and 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 and Supper, Chapel, 6pm
- 5 April – Open Classrooms TBA
- 12 April – Classes Conclude
Parent Webinar for Year 6 Parents – Elephant Education
Please see below for an invitation to a webinar presented by Elephant Ed on Puberty and Embracing Change.
When: Tuesday, 20 February 2024, 6pm-7pm
Topic: Puberty and Embracing Change
Elephant Ed is a leading sexuality education provider to hundreds of schools around Australia. Elephant Ed’s workshops are evidence-based, age-appropriate and mapped to State and National curriculum guidelines. Elephant Ed is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider and is endorsed as a quality-assured program in the NSW Department of Education’s Student Wellbeing external programs catalogue.
In advance of Elephant Ed’s workshops with Waverley College students, this webinar will include discussion around the physical, social and emotional changes associated with puberty, as well as strategies for starting open and effective conversations at home.
You are required to register in advance for this webinar. Please click HERE to register.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
From the Performing Arts Centre Coordinator, Ms Keiran Kossenberg
Music Ensembles and Private Music Lessons 2024
The Junior School offers a range of opportunities for our students in the Performing Arts. Please see a description of what is available and we encourage all students to join no matter what skill level they are currently at;
Cantores
The Waverley College Junior School Cantores is a choral group of approximately 40 students. The Cantores sing for liturgies, masses, concerts and competitions. The Cantores perform a mixture of contemporary and classical repertoire including choral works by Australian composers.
Joining the Waterford Concert Band and Beginning Band
The Waterford Concert Band welcomes anyone who has played in a concert band for at least a year, regardless of their instrument. This includes pianists and bass players with a year of concert band experience. Rehearsals are held Thursday morning from 7:30am.
If you’re thinking about trying a new instrument or starting with a band instrument for the first time, our Beginning Band is a great place to start. We’re open to anyone interested in exploring the world of band instruments, and we provide a supportive environment for those beginning this musical journey.
Whether your son is experienced or just starting out, we’d love to have you join the Waterford Concert Band community.
If you have questions or need more info, please contact me on dwilliams@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Rock Bands
There are a number of Rock Band Groups at the College. These groups are arranged by Year group and ability. The annual ‘Rock Band Festival’ gives each of the rock bands an opportunity to perform in front of their friends and family, and is one of the many highlights of the year in the Music Department.
Chamber Strings Ensemble
Students in the ensemble range from Years 5 to 12, and approximately Grade 2 to Grade 5 standard (AMEB). The ensemble extends and enhances students’ musical development and enjoyment through the rehearsal and performance of stimulating repertoire.
Guitar Ensemble
The College has a number of guitar ensembles allowing students to play in a group of students with a similar level of attainment. In most Chamber Music groups there will be only one player per part, giving added responsibility to the musicians.
Private Music Lessons
Private music tuition is available on a range of instruments. Students electing to take private music lessons must do so for a minimum of six months (one semester). There is an additional charge for the use of a College instrument.
Parents/carers who would like their sons to commence instrumental lessons or rock band must complete a private music registration form by clicking the Music Tuition Form HERE.
Music Ensembles Rehearsal Schedule
Please click HERE.
Ms Keiran Kossenberg
Performing Arts Centre Coordinator
kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au
From the Assistant Director of the Junior School / Identity & Student Formation, Mr Steve Ghattas
Spectacular Shrove Tuesday Fundraiser
The Shrove Tuesday fundraiser at the Junior School was a huge success, raising approximately $700 that will go to Caritas as part of our Lenten Appeal for 2024.
The staff and students thoroughly enjoyed their delicious pancakes topped with whipped cream and plenty of maple syrup.
Many thanks to all the parents/carers who donated pancakes to support this appeal.
Brennan House Mass
The first of our House Masses is coming up on Wednesday, 28 February 2024 (Week 5). Students in Brennan House are expected to attend and parents/carers are warmly invited to attend as well.
This will be held in the Senior School Chapel at 6pm and will be followed by a light supper.
Please look out for an email from Ms Kaitlyn Downey (Brennan Head of House).
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of the Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
From the Assistant Director of Co-curricular, Ms Jade Sparks
Welcome to the Summer Season
Round 1
Congratulations to all our sport teams on a fantastic Round 1, kicking off our Summer Season with pride. Our players have been working hard at training to demonstrate resilience and improve their skills. Thank you to our wonderful coaches and parents/carers for your support of our Junior School boys in their sports.
6A Cricket team won against St Patrick’s on Saturday
Cranbrook Invitational Reps Do Us Proud
We also took a squad of 11 swimmers to the Cranbrook Invitational Swimming Carnival on Thursday. I am so proud of our boys and how they represented Waverley with such dignity. Well done boys.
Extra Co-curricular Activities
You will have seen some communication from me on the Waverley app last week, regarding extra co-curricular activities at the Junior School.
I have contacted you this week if your son has been accepted to participate in Spanish, Judo, Hip Hop or Innovation Clubs (everyone who registered for Run Club is accepted). In the case I have not emailed you, unfortunately, your son was not selected this Semester due to capped class sizes. We certainly hope to accommodate him in future.
We have had a record number of students sign up to Run Club and we are looking forward to that commencing Monday, along with our other clubs!
Reminders
- All students must change into their correct uniform after morning training, or wear the correct uniform then change into their training gear before afternoon training.
- Remember to keep an eye out for all Year 5 or Year 6 Waverley app announcements, which all start with the title “JS:” meaning Junior School. Any other announcements relate to the Senior School.
- Please find all relevant Junior School Co-Curricular information (fixtures, results, training schedule and draw) through the College website via the links below.
>>> https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/events/senior-and-junior-sport-fixtures/
>>> https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/information/junior-school-sport/
We are looking forward to Round 2 sport tomorrow – go Waves!
Running Club
With the huge number of keen participants wanting to join Run Club we will be splitting the sessions into two days. This begins next week.
- 5 and 6 Gold, Blue and Indigo will be on Monday Lunchtime
- 5 and 6 Orange, Red and White will be on Wednesday Lunchtime.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
From the Director of Curriculum, Mr Elliott McKimm
Curriculum Term 1 2024
What a wonderful start it has been in the classroom. Our students have come back from a long break with enthusiasm to learn, and have already embraced the challenges we have set for them academically.
Students have started to set SMART goals with their classroom teachers this week. Goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely, will set our students up for success.
Students will set SMART goals each Term, and I encourage you to sit down and discuss what your son wants to achieve this Term. We know that having it recorded allows them to revisit their goal throughout the Term, and build on strategies to make sure they achieve their goal/s. These goals can be found on page 58 in the College Diary.
At the beginning of each Term, I will provide a Curriculum Overview of what your son will be learning in the classroom. It is clearly set out so that you can see the subject and the topics being taught across the curriculum. I hope you find it a useful tool to support your son and encourage conversation around the learning that is taking place in the classroom.
Mr Elliott McKimm
Director of Curriculum
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
From the Literacy & Innovation Teacher, Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Home Learning Club Week 4
*NO HOME LEARNING Tuesday, 20 February 2024
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 this 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 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 – Mrs 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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Waverley Reading Challenge 2024
The Waverley Reading Challenge began this week. This Challenge implements important strategies to assist your son to engage in reading positively.
The boys are challenged to read different genres, read non fiction, listen to audiobooks, give recommendations to their friends and develop a love of reading.
Giving boys choices also plays an important role in developing a love of reading, as does making sure they have access to the books they would like to read, providing a welcoming, flexible and comfortable space and time to read. The Learning Hub is continually working to support young readers in the Junior School.
3D Printing Gurus Lead Our Lunchtime Talk
Ethan Storie, Joe Fanning and Xavier Condon, our very own JS Waverley students, presented at our Lunchtime Talk on Friday.
The 3D print managers gave valuable tips on 3D printing, key elements for 3D design; simplicity, structure, and size and recommended design websites.
The JS boys loved every minute of the presentation and had many questions for our 3D printing gurus.
A huge thank you to Ethan, Joe and Xavier for giving up their time to inspire the next generation of innovators.
If you would like to volunteer to do a presentation, please email me directly at nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Drawing Club Inspires New Friendships
The Drawing Club has started! Our avid artists will meet weekly to discuss all things art. Our first session was on Tuesday, 13 February 2024, our theme for the session was getting to know what each student enjoys drawing. The atmosphere in the space was inspiring, and it was evident that new friendships were forming.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
