Director of Junior School, Ms Gabrielle Bransby
Diary Dates
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
February
- 18 February – Summer Sport – Round 2
- 21 February – Elephant Ed, Puberty and Embracing Change – 6pm
- 25 February – Summer Sport – Round 3
March
- 8 March – Aungier House Mass
- 8 March – Open Day
- 11 March – Summer Sport – Round 4
- 14 March – Winter Sport Trials
- 15 March – NAPLAN writing – Year 5
- 18 March – Summer Sport – Round 6
- 20 – 24 March – NAPLAN Week
- 24 March – Winter Sport Trials
- 29 March – Class and Summer Sports photos, Lacey House Mass
- 30 March – Open Classrooms TBA
- 31 March – Final Winter Sport Trials
April
- 5 April – Classes Conclude
Spanish
After-school Spanish classes will begin on Monday, 27 February.
There are two sessions:
- Year 6 – 2:45pm – 3:30pm
- Year 5 – 3:30pm – 4:15pm
If you are interested, there are still some places available. Please email our receptionist ssanchez@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Parent Information Booklets
The Junior School Parent Information Booklet is intended to inform you of the more detailed aspects of life at Waverley College Junior School. The first section deals with overall aspects of the College and the second section is more class specific. I hope that you get involved in the many facets of life at Waverley College and enjoy being part of our great community.
>>> Click here to view the Year 5 2023 Parent Information Booklet.
>>> Click here to view the Year 6 2023 Parent Information Booklet.
Vending Machines – Cashless From Week 4B
As of next week – Week 4B – the vending machines in the Junior School will be cashless. Unfortunately, students can’t use Flexischools but they accept EFTPOS cards, this can also be prepaid EFTPOS cards.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Confirmation at OLR Kensington
Enrolments for the Sacrament of Confirmation at OLR Kensington will close on Thursday, 23 February. If your son is in Year 6 and previously attended OLR Primary, you are encouraged to enrol before this date to avoid missing out.
Click here for more information
Class Leadership Opportunity
In Week 5, students who wish to take on the role of Class Captains are encouraged to give a speech in front of their peers. They will have the responsibility of carrying out many different duties around the College, as well as attending important assemblies and meetings throughout the year.
You may wish to encourage your son, if you feel this is something he is interested in.
Some things for him to consider as part of his speech would be:
- Who are you and what are your interests?
- What will make you a good leader for your class?
- How will you help your classmates?
- What ideas do you have to make the College a better place?
Shrove Tuesday Fundraising
The first of several fund-raising and awareness raising initiatives begins with the sale of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. All proceeds will go to Caritas Australia, our chosen organisation for the Lenten period. Pancakes will be sold within class for $2. We hope that the boys are able to enjoy this whilst supporting such a worthwhile cause.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School/Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Co-Curricular Sport – Round 2
It was a great start to the Summer Co-Curricular season last weekend, with no weather or group closure interruptions and some outstanding results from teams. Round 2 continues tomorrow, Saturday, 18 February. I wish all teams the best of luck and ask them to please represent Waverley proudly.
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. 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
CIS Cricket
This past Monday, 13 February, Waverley Junior School chose four students to compete at the CIS Cricket trials at The King’s School in Parramatta. The students nominated included Oscar and Thomas Tindall, James Draper and Taj Gadd.
These students gave it their absolute all to impress selectors, and demonstrate their level of talent and experience in the sport of Cricket. Each student just missed out on making it through, but were truly proud of their efforts on the day. Waverley is very proud of all four students for representing the College so highly.
Oscar and Thomas Tindall, James Draper and Taj Gadd
Extra Co-Curricular Activities
I want to thank all families who signed up their son for any of the Extra Co-Curricular activities, for your patience on it all being finalised. It has been a busier start to the year than expected, which has made the process longer to finalise groups and get information out to those families.
All students who have been successful in making it into a group for Term 1, and continuing groups for last year, should now have been informed. This will have included any further information regarding the specific clubs and next week’s beginning date.
If your son does get selected, and it clashes with one of their sports training sessions, please let me know so that it can be recorded, and also so that their coach is informed.
Armidale Rugby Training
To all families with a son attending the Armidale Rugby Tour in the Easter holidays, please see the below information regarding when training will commence prior to the tour.
- Session 1 – Week 8 (Thursday, 23 March)
- Session 2 – Week 9 (Tuesday, 28 March)
- Session 3 – Week 9 (Thursday, 30 March)
- Session 4 – Week 10 (Tuesday, 4 March)
All relevant information regarding the tour will begin to be distributed towards the end of the term, once training has begun.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-Curricular (Years 5-8)
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Curriculum
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 timed 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 59 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.
>>> Click here to view the Year 5 Term 1 2023 Curriculum Overview.
>>> Click here to view the Year 6 Term 1 2023 Curriculum Overview.
Ms Charlotte Stephens
Assistant Director of Curriculum
cstephens@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Home Learning Club – Week 4
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.
Junior School Readers of the Week
Two of our readers are featured this week. This initiative has taken a positive uptake of students eager to share their reading habits, favourite books and their most recent book read. A nice reading atmosphere has been created in the Learning Hub as a result of this initiative.
Lunchtime Talk
Noah Nunn and Thomas Brown, our very own Junior School Waverley students, presented at our Lunchtime Talk on Tuesday.
The 3D print managers gave valuable tips on 3D printing, key elements for 3D design; simplicity, structure, size and recommended websites for creating your own designs.
The boys loved every minute of the presentation and had many questions for our 3D printing gurus.
A huge thank you to Noah and Tom for giving up their time to inspire the next generation of designers.
If you would like to volunteer to do a presentation, please email me directly at nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Maker Space
The Learning Hub’s creative space helps students think critically and creatively. Additionally, it encourages student collaboration as they plan and construct their works.
I enjoy seeing the boys work in this area and listening to the students’ comments for design advice and methods, especially when their designs are completed successfully.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
