Director of Junior School, Ms Gabrielle Bransby
Diary Dates
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 3 events, please refer to the College calendar.
- 15 August – 120 Year Celebration Feast of the Assumption
- 16 August – ICAS English – selected students, 8am – 9am
- 21 August – Book Week – guest speaker Richard Simpkin
- 23 August – ICAS Science – selected students, 7:45am – 8:50am
- 25 August – Wear it Purple Day
- 30 August – ICAS Mathematics – selected students, 8am – 9am
- 1 September – Father’s Day Mass, 12pm
- 13 – 15 September – Year 6 Camp
- 18 September – Allwell Testing Year 6
- 21 September – Classes conclude
Wakakirri 2023
Having assisted backstage at Wakakirri for many years, Tuesday night was the first time I had the opportunity to watch a live performance from the audience and what an amazing performance it was. Their presence on stage, the way they told their story and their overall manner in which they represented the College was outstanding.
The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and received the major award for the night, the ‘Spirit of Wakakirri’ Award, highlighting their positive attitude, fabulous behaviour, teamwork and creative spirit. A special thanks to Mr Tom Olds, Ms Jade Sparks and Ms CJ Tweedie for their assistance on the night.
I would like to congratulate Ms Michelle Rollins on her 25 years of directing and choreographing Wakakirri performances for the Waverley College students. Her passion and dedication to ensuring that the students get to enjoy and participate in Story Dance and Creative Arts is truly inspirational.
Father’s Day Mass – Friday, 1 September 2023 – Mary Immaculate Church
The celebration of fathers, grandfathers and significant others in the lives of our Waverley College Students will be celebrated on Friday, 1 September at 12pm (Week 7, Term 3). This will be at Mary Immaculate Church followed by lunch at the Junior School.
Click here to view the invitation
Part of the celebration will include a slideshow. Can I please ask that you send through a photo of your son(s) with their fathers/grandfathers if you would like a photo included in this presentation.
Please send through all photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Steve Ghattas
Director of Junior School
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Winter Co-Curricular Season – Thank You
Now the Winter Co-Curricular Season has come to an end, I’d like to say a massive thank you to all coaches, students and parents/carers for their level of commitment and dedication to the season that was. Since I’ve been in the role, it’s the first year that there has been no weather-related interruptions to games and training.
It has been great to see all of our students enjoying every aspect of the season, which had many highs and some lows. We look forward to doing it all again next year, and now we can begin planning for the Term 4 Summer season.
There are three Presentation Nights to celebrate all Waverley College Winter sporting teams, beginning from tonight. Thank you to those who have purchased tickets. Please be reminded of details below:
- AFL – Friday, 11 August at East Rugby Club (5pm doors open)
- Football – Friday, 11 August at Waverley Senior Birrell Street Basketball Courts (5pm doors open)
- Rugby – Friday, 18 August at Easts Rugby Club (5pm doors open)
Armidale Rugby Trials (2024)
As mentioned during the week, Armidale Rugby Tour Trials for 2024 will take place next week.
It is confirmed that the trials will take place on Wednesday, 16 and Thursday, 17 August during Periods 5 and 6.
Mr Olds (Prep 1st Coach) and Mr McKimm (11As Coach) will undertake the trials. Please be informed that students trialling will be dismissed from Waverley Park on both days at 3pm.
The cost of the tour this year was $440 per student to attend. This gives families a rough idea what to expect and to plan ahead if your son is selected in the team.
If you haven’t already done so, please click the button below to complete the Google form if your son is interested in trialling for the upcoming 2024 tour.
Click here to view and complete the Armidale Rugby Trials permission
Shot Put and Discus Trials
Shot Put and Discus trials for the upcoming IPSHA Athletics Carnival will be undertaken next Thursday, 17 August 7:30am – 8:15am at Queens Park. Once completed, students will be walked to the Junior School to begin the school day. Students trialing can arrive in their PE uniform and remain in it for the day.
Please click the button below to complete the Google form if your son is interested in trialing for Shot Put and Discus, with the opportunity to make the IPSHA team and train with the Senior Track & Field squads.
Click here to view and complete the Shot Put and Discus Trials permission
External Sporting Achievements
Charlie Draper and his Basketball team won the State Cup, a Basketball tournament held on the Central Coast last weekend.
It was an incredible experience! The team has been undefeated throughout the whole representative season and again across the weekend, winning 20 from 20 games!
A significant achievement, congratulations Charlie and his team.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular Years 5-8
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Home Learning Club
NO Home Learning Tuesday, 15 August
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school to complete 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 – 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’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.
Lunchtime Guest Speaker
It was a privilege to have Philip Gartland as our guest speaker on Friday. Philip Gartland, the father of Aidan Gartland (Year 5), is the Director of Stonebridge Property Group, one of Australia’s leading retail, development site and commercial property agency.
He provided the Junior School boys with knowledge about the commercial real estate industry and his position as a business owner. Philip had the boys captivated with his wealth of knowledge about the industry and the figures of some recent retail sales.
There is a long list of students who want to do work experience with Stonebridge in their later years of study, and we appreciate you taking the time to encourage the Waverley boys to dream big. You made a significant impact on the students.
Guest Author for Book Week
We often hear from families, students, teachers and Old Boys that Waverley has a lovely community feel. Hence the decision this year to invite Richard Simpkin, Waverley Old Boy and father of Ollie (Year 5), to open our Book Week celebrations with a presentation on Monday, 21 August.
Richard will share motivational stories, writing advice, and the value of reading to the boys.
Richard’s current series, The Aussie Big Achievers, are a fun and educational way for children to learn about some of Australia’s most interesting and inspiring people who have helped shape our nation. Each book encourages children to always believe in themselves and never give up on their dreams.
If you would like to purchase books for your son or children, click the button below:
Click here to view Richard's books!
Richard will be happy to sign copies after his presentation.
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 6. This year I would like to introduce a new sustainable and cost-effective Pop-up Bookshop.
If you would like to help with this initiative I would like you to donate pre-loved books that will be sold a very reduced amount. The amount raised will be donated to one of the Edmund Rice foundations.
The books can be dropped off at the Learning Hub in Week 5.
Debating
Cranbrook v Waverley
Topic: That teachers are better than AI
Last week the debaters were faced with tough competition and an equally tough topic in their debate against the students from Cranbrook. Both Waverley teams put forward strong arguments and presented their cases clearly, and were firm in their rebuttal of the Cranbrook team’s cases.
The boys did themselves and Waverley College very proud with one win and one loss. A huge thank you to the parents/carers for their continued support in transporting the students to their away debates.
The teams are now preparing with the support of their debating mentors, Nick Zanapalis and Thomas Jackson-Whitlock, for their last debate against St Catherine’s and a Debating Gala Day later in the Term at Mount Sinai College.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
News from 5 White and Ms Tweedie
Around the Classroom, by Year 5 White
In our English class this Term, we have been studying one of Lance Balchin’s fiction texts, Mechanica. Set in the year 2203, Mechanica focuses on the extinction of wildlife due to the environment becoming polluted; causing uninhabitable areas around the world. A new style of wildlife to replace the old was designed, engineered and formed called Mechanica.
The 5 White boys have enthusiastically delved into the author’s background and have practiced using a range of comprehension strategies to analyse and annotate each species.
To enhance our understanding of Mechanica, we have partaken in a variety of tasks. One of our favourite activities was our Animal Fact File posters that are now displayed around our classroom. Each of us had the opportunity to choose a real life animal to research and also to design our own Mechanica version of that animal.
Check out some of the fact file posters below!
Another fun task that we did this week during Visual Arts was a Mechanica self portrait. Our instruction was to look through the text in search of ideas on how to draw our faces with mechanical engineering components. We had fun listening to music and drawing our portraits together!
Ms CJ Tweedie
Classroom Teacher 5 White
ctweedie@waverley.nsw.edu.au
