Waverley will host students from our Junior School, the Science department and selected Year 7 students to celebrate this national event on Wednesday 19 May. This year is particularly exciting as we have astronaut, Dr Shannon Walker from the International Space Station reading the book.
This wonderful event (organised by the Australian Library and Information Association) is an annual event that started in 2001. Libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes and bookshops around Australia register to read the same picture book at the same time. In 2020 there were over one million participants in over 14,000 locations, including many locations outside Australia (New Zealand, Thailand, UK, Canada, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong).
Click here to find out more about this year’s event (with lots of links and ideas for activities)
We look forward to sharing some photos of Waverley’s participation in coming editions of Nurrunga.
Mr William Roberts
Head of Library Services
E: wroberts@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Justice and solidarity is an Edmund Rice touchstone. The 2021 Bondi SurfAid Cup provided a perfect opportunity for six Waverley College students and surfers to give back to communities less fortunate. This year’s participants were Noah Matet, Max Leedham, Judah Miller, Milan Mann, Kai Jones and Charlie Smith.
Operating in the Pacific Islands, Mexico and Indonesia, SurfAid is an organisation which assists remote communities connected through surfing. Providing a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out’, SurfAid delivers health and nutrition, clean water, and mother and child programs. SurfAid is also the case study used in Year 9 Geography, with students completing a formal assessment task in Term 1.
The 2021 event allowed students to rub shoulders with pro surfers, participate in a renowned community and global event, and gain a deeper understanding of how non-government aid can assist communities less fortunate.
This year is the sixth occasion Waverley students have participated in the event. The 2020-21 team (cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19) raised in excess of $5000, and the College community collectively have raised more than $20,000 since the relationship began.
In closing, I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone that has supported this activity and student experience since its inception. Your support and contribution has changed lives … literally.
Click here to read more about SurfAid
Judah Miller
Max Leedham
Milan Mann
Students with local pro surfer JJ Bortelli
SurfAid 2021
Mr Adam Wallington
Head of HSIE
E: awallington2@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Friday 30 April the Year 11 Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation students attended an excursion at Point Piper which related closely to the Unit they studied in Term 1 called Outdoor Recreation. Students took part in kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding on Sydney Harbour with each activity running for two hours. This gave the students an opportunity to experience some of the great outdoor recreation activities that we have available to us in the local area. The students represented the College in an extremely positive manner and thoroughly enjoyed the excursion.
SLR excursion Sydney Harbour
SLR excursion Sydney Harbour
Mr Ben Shorthouse
PDHPE Department
E: bshorthouse@waverley.nsw.
Business life cycle, profitability, business concept and innovation are common terms regularly discussed in Year 11 Business Studies classes. In short, a successful business relies upon a sustainable competitive advantage. This week the HSIE department and Year 11 students hosted a successful Shark Tank contestant Mr Sam Priestley.
Sam has a number of businesses and passive income streams including the Boss Scoop and booking agency Men on Fire. Sam delivered an insightful presentation to Year 11 Business Studies students about how to develop a business concept, tips and tricks to being a successful entrepreneur, and how to follow your dreams.
This invaluable experience will no doubt assist the cohort to develop their own business plan for their upcoming Term two assignment, and hopefully also provide some inspiration for new and innovative business ideas in the future.
If you do something you love, you will never need to work another day in your life, and in Sam’s words, success means ‘finding your niche market and doing everything better than the competitor.’
Mr Adam Wallington
Head of HSIE
E: awallington2@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Sam Priestley talking to Year 11 Business Studies students on being a successful Shark Tank contestant
Sam Priestley delivering an insightful presentation to Year 11 Business Studies students
On Friday evening Waverley College hosted the prestigious Lawrence Campbell Oratory competition, attended by staff and students from across each of the GPS and CAS schools. Since its inception in 1935, the Lawrence Campbell Oratory focuses on elocution and the art of speech, inspired by the three Ms of public speaking: Manner, Method and Matter.
On the night, each candidate was required to speak for eight minutes on one of three topics given to them 15 minutes beforehand. One of 13 competitors, Vice Captain Patrick Hoggett, represented the College with confidence and poise. His topic, ‘Both Sides Now’ explored universal ideas of equality, self-efficacy and global politics through an introspective and interpersonal framework. This auspicious moment solidified Waverley’s prominence in the pedagogical realm of public speaking. I congratulate Patrick on his composure and ability to frame ideas so fluidly under timed constraints and in front of an audience of his peers.
Patrick Hoggett representing Waverley at the Lawrence Campbell Oratory Competition
Ms Emma Halpin
Convenor of Debating and Public Speaking
E: ehalpin@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Wednesday evening Waverley hosted Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) in the first round of the CSDA (Catholic Schools’ Debating Association) competition, winning all of our Junior debates and narrowly missing out on a win in the Senior debates.
Students spoke about topics ranging from bullying and harassment to anonymity and social media in the modern world. Each of our debaters proudly represented the College, and are to be commended on their poise, manner and well-formed arguments.
Well done to our debaters on a fantastic start to the Catholic Schools’ Debating Association competition, and I look forward to Round 2 against Brigidine College this coming Friday 7 May.
Ms Emma Halpin
Convenor of Debating and Public Speaking
E: ehalpin@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Forty Waverley students participated in the 2021 Sydney Writers’ Festival over two days. The students attended sessions specifically targeted for school students with one day featuring leading children’s and young adult authors, and with the second day featuring writers analysing current events in society and big ideas.
We thank Mr Tall the College Literacy coordinator, Ms Stephens English teacher, Ms Falkinder librarian, and Mr Roberts for their participation and promotion of this delightful event. The event was held at the Seymour Centre in Chippendale and Carriageworks in Eveleigh.
Seymour Centre, Sydney Writers’ Festival 2021
Carriageworks, Sydney Writers’ Festival 2021
Mr William Roberts
Head of Library Services
E: wroberts@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We are extremely pleased to advise that we now have the ability to have volunteers back in the Waverley College Senior Canteen.
The canteen will continue to be open every school day of the year. Therefore, we are looking for as many volunteer workers as possible to assist us in our daily operations from 9.30am till 1.45pm.
Lunch is provided for all volunteers. Please know, we highly value the assistance and support of our volunteer workers as it allows us to be more efficient in our services for the students. We welcome all members of the Waverley College Community (mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, carers etc). We are also happy to take on any availability, it all helps.
Please click here for the Senior School volunteer roster.
Ms Nina Kormanyos
Canteen Manager
As you know, the Junior school is lucky enough to have a canteen that is open five days a week for breakfast/recess and lunch. We urgently need a full roster of volunteers each term to ensure that the canteen can continue to operate successfully.
The shift time is: Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8am to 8.45am
During the day: 9.30am to 1pm
We would be delighted to have you volunteer and would really appreciate the support. As a huge thank you for your continued support. Lunch is on us!
Please click here for the Junior School volunteer roster.
Ms Gabrielle Bransby
Director of Junior School
E: gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
Watch our video
