Director of Junior School, Ms Gabrielle Bransby
Diary Dates
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.
- 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
Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews are scheduled for Monday, 19 June. This will be a hybrid model to accommodate those who would like to come into the school or Zoom in from work or home. Each session will go for 15 minutes. Students are required to attend this session in full academic uniform.
There are two sessions to be aware of;
- 8:15am – 11:45am – Face-to-Face in the classroom
- 1pm – 5:15pm – Zoom Meetings
Please select a time with your son’s teacher by logging into the Parent Lounge.
Click here to log in to the Parent Lounge
*Bookings are now open and will close Sunday, 18 June at 5pm.
If you have any issues, please contact your son’s teacher.
Year 6 History Showcase
Year 6 will be holding their annual History Showcase on Wednesday, 14 June. All parents and carers are welcome to attend to celebrate and acknowledge the amazing work our Year 6 students have put into their History project. We hope to see you there.
Ms Gaby Bransby
(Acting) Director of the Junior School
Home Learning Club
*NO HOME LEARNING Monday, 12 June and Thursday, 15 June 2023
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.
2023 ICAS Competitions – Years 5 and 6 Students
What is ICAS?
ICAS is an online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies. Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.
If you would like your son to compete in the 2023 ICAS Competitions, you will be asked to nominate which competitions you would like him to be entered in through the Parent Payment System.
At the Junior School, the following ICAS competitions are offered: Writing & Digital Technologies, Science & English and Mathematics. This year all the competitions will be held in August / September, Term 3 and will be completed online in the Learning Hub before school starts. A timetable will be shared closer to the assessment dates.
Click here to register your son
Through this system, parents/carers can pay for ICAS directly online, while tests will still be held at our school.
*Please use the school’s access code details to register your child no later than 23 July 2023.
Waverley’s School Access Code FBT592
Please consider carefully before choosing this enrichment opportunity for your son. It is a rigorous competition with many questions set beyond grade level. Participants are required to demonstrate a deeper, integrated and thorough level of learning.
If you are unsure of your son’s suitability, please consult with his teacher. More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home
If you require additional support registering your son, contact the customer service team, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.
Debating Round 3
Waverley v Kambala
Topic: Sports should be banned on concrete playgrounds.
Last week the debaters had tough competition and a tough topic. Both Waverley teams put forward strong arguments and presented their cases clearly and firmly rebutting the Kambala team’s cases. The boys did themselves and Waverley very proud. One win and one loss.
I would like to thank our Year 10 mentors Nick Zanapalis and Thomas Jackson-Whitlock for their continued support at home debates and training sessions.
Every training session is packed with tips and activities to help the junior team develop their debating skills.
Public Speaking 2023
This week, we presented the Year 6 Public Speaking Competition. All boys put in an incredible amount of effort, with one stand-out student who took home the trophy! Well done to all the finalists and thank you Ms Emma Halpin and Harrison Rimell for adjudicating the finals.
Congratulations to our finalists and our Public Speaking Champion 2023, Ceilim O’Kelly.
Year 5 will compete in the in-school competition in Term 3.
Reader of the Week
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
English and Reconciliation Week in 6 Red by Olly
In our English class this Term, we have been studying Bruce Pascoe’s non-fiction book Young Dark Emu, which presents a more accurate portrayal of pre-colonised Australia’s history. The 6 Red boys have delved into the author’s background, analysed each chapter, and written reflective journal entries about their discoveries and questions.
During Reconciliation Week last week, the boys explored the significance of reconciliation and delved into their community connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The boys learnt that it is a dedicated time for fostering understanding, respect, and dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, aiming to build a more inclusive and harmonious society.
As a culmination of their learning, the students wrote persuasive letters to the Australian Government advocating for the inclusion of an Aboriginal voice in the Australian Parliament for the Referendum, later this year. This activity demonstrated their understanding of the importance of representation and the need for Indigenous voices to be heard in shaping the nation’s policies and decisions.
