Diary Dates
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
- 28 March – Big Brother/Little Brother – Session 2
- 29 March – Class and Summer Sports photos
- 29 March – Lacey House Mass
- 30 March – Open Classrooms, 8:40am-9:10am
- 31 March – Final Winter Sport Trials, 1pm-3pm
- 5 April – Classes Conclude
Music Captain 2023
Congratulations to Joe Madden who was named Junior School Music Captain for 2023. Joe is a keen member of the Junior School band, sings with Cantores, and is part of the Stomp group. Joe has also featured as a soloist for Waverley College events such as the 2022 Chamber Concert and 2022 Speech Day. Joe will be a fine ambassador for music in the Junior School and will keep the boys informed about musical activities and performances.
World’s Greatest Shave
The World’s Greatest Shave is the Lacey House charity event. We are very proud of Archie Poynting in 5 Red on raising such a huge amount of money. If you would like to donate, please click the button below. Well done Archie!
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Harmony Day
It was great to see so many students and staff celebrating our diverse community in the Junior School on Harmony Day on Tuesday, 21 March. The main theme throughout the day was celebrating one another for who they are, and having respect for everyone’s cultures, and celebrating diversity.
The students were buzzing with excitement at the beginning of recess, sharing the variety of foods that everyone brought in. The playground was brought to life by our guest DJ, Alicia, who played music from different cultures all through recess. The students (and teachers) took a while to warm up, but before long, they were up dancing to the beat.
Project Compassion – Zooper Dooper Fundraiser
A big congratulations to Rory Palmer (6 Orange), James Ganson (6 Gold) and Harry McKeon (6 Gold) on their initiative to hold a Zooper Dooper sale at the Junior School to raise money for CARITAS during our Lenten Appeal. The boys were instrumental in organising everything, including the purchasing and selling of the ice blocks, raising in excess of $300. Well done to the boys and a special thanks to the boys in the Junior School for their support.
Big Brother/Little Brother
Tuesday 28 March (Week 9) is the second session of our Big Brother/Little Brother program. This session will focus on Rock and Water activities – a program designed to build confidence, self-awareness, resilience and more – all important skills for our students to develop. Students will need to come dressed in their PE uniforms on Tuesday.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Open Classrooms – Save the Date
On Thursday, 30 March, the Junior School warmly invites all parents/carers to join us on campus from 8:40am until 9:05am to be guided by your son as we open up our classrooms to you.
Open Classrooms is an opportunity for your son to show and tell you all about what he has been learning this term, and each student has selected three pieces of work that they would love to share with you.
This is also a chance for them to guide you around their classrooms, as well as the other spaces in the school in which their learning takes place, such as our brand new Science Lab!
Through strengthening our partnerships between school and home, we hope to help every student to develop an even greater sense of pride in their learning and academic achievements, classroom and school.
Year 6 Innovation Club
Year 6 Innovation Club has just come to the end of their first exciting STEM challenge for the year. In teams, they had to design a contraption to fly a marble as far as it could go. The parameters of their design were as follows:
- The distance that the marble travelled would be measured as soon as the marble touched the floor
- The maximum number of paddle pop sticks they could use was 30
- The contraption could only touch the ground in a 20 x 20 cms square
- Only two fingers could be touching the mechanism
It was so impressive to see the boys collaborate, test, make adaptations and refine their designs. Congratulations to the winning team of Owen Posada, Sam Burrows and Finley Norman-Nott, whose marble managed to fly half the length of the basketball court.
I am very much looking forward to seeing Innovation Club tackle their next project next week.
Ms Charlotte Stephens
Assistant Director of Curriculum
cstephens@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Home Learning Club – Week 8
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.
*No Home Learning Club on Wednesday 29 March, due to a staff meeting.
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.
Reader of the Week
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Completion of Term 1 Summer Sport
Thank you to all students for their involvement in the beginning term of the Summer Co-Curricular Sport season. It has been a pleasure to watch all students enjoying themselves week after week, with little to no interruptions or cancellations that we experienced at the same time last year.
I’d particularly like to thank all the coaches, which included Junior School staff, Waverley parents and carers, Old Boys and external coaches. Their passion and dedication to making sure their team(s) consistently improve and develop, was inspiring.
Lastly, thank you to all parents and carers for being there supporting your son weekly, regardless of the weather conditions, and driving all over Sydney to allow your son the joy of being involved in team sport at Waverley College.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Extra Co-Curricular at Waverley College Junior School
2023 Junior School IPSHA Debating Team with Ms Zivanovic
Debating season is around the corner and once again, I am astounded by the amount of interest and enthusiasm of the boys at the Junior School.
I would like to congratulate Ryan Loughrey, James Draper, Freddie Goldrich, Joe Madden, Sam Peate, Ethan Daemi, Boyd Haslam, Cormac Maher and Franklin Pyke who have been selected to represent the Junior School forming our IPSHA Debating team. I am eager to see what this season has in store for us. All the best for the season.
Drawing Club with Ms Zivanovic
Lenny and August are our budding artists behind this week’s drawing club inspiration. Create a drawing from a scribble. The drawings speak for themselves. Over the next few sessions, the students will add colour.
Before
After
Judo with Ms Tweedie
What a fantastic way to start the year with a new, excited and enthusiastic group of Year 5 and Year 6 students who are ready to learn a variety of Judo skills and techniques. With Judo being a dynamic sport that demands both physical prowess and great mental discipline, these young men have been dedicated to their training each week and are determined to master techniques that require patience, time, effort and energy. I am very proud of their progress so far and I look forward to the year ahead!
HipHop Dance Club with Mr Preisley
Hip Hop Club is off to a great start this year! The boys have been learning new skills and are always keen to master the new moves I give them each Tuesday. They also bring their own ideas like a plank competition or a new song they want to dance to. I love seeing the boys making friendships and building each other up. Come join the fun.
External Sporting Achievements
Last Saturday, 18 March, Kai Freeman from 5 Indigo competed in the 2023 Sydney Jiu Jitsu Championships. He was successful in submitting his opponents all within a minute, taking out 1st place in his division! A massive achievement, and the Waverley community congratulate Kai on this significant accomplishment in his division.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Lunchtime Guest Speaker
Dr Christy Norwood gave the Waverley boys a truly inspirational insight into the world of paediatrics.
The life of a doctor is not just restricted to a hospital. Dr Christy supports remote communities by providing ‘Telehealth’ services with children who live in Moree and being on call even when her shift at the hospital is finished.
Thank you for inspiring the next generation of medical students.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
News from 6 Orange with Mr Tom Olds
Our first Health assessment for Term 1 was based around the safety of students coming to and from school. The boys were tasked with creating a digital brochure for students who walk or ride their bikes to school, and catch public transport to and from school.
In the brochure, they needed to provide five safety support tips for any of the following topics:
- Pedestrian safety and responsibilities.
- Safe practices near roads and buses.
- Passenger safety on public transport.
- Safety when using bikes/wheels (including equipment)
Below, are some proud students showing off their finished safety brochures.
Mr Tom Olds
Classroom Teacher 6 Orange
tolds@waverley.nsw.edu.au
