Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Time: 9am – 10:30am (students to arrive at school at 8:15 am)
Location: Gym (Senior School)
Student Dress Code: Academic Uniform (No blazers)
Only the parents of students who are receiving an award have been invited to this event. These parents will be notified in a separate email.
Students who have permission can leave straight after, otherwise, they will return to the Junior School until 3 pm. Please give permission through the Parent Lounge.
Semester Two reports are now available in Parent Lounge. Please take the time with your son to reflect on the achievements and areas of growth. Any questions or concerns, please reach out to your son’s classroom teacher.
It was such a special day on Wednesday as we acknowledged and celebrated the end of a chapter for our Year 6 students. I am so proud of how far the students have come since they entered the Waverley community nearly 2 years ago.
We have prepared them for the next step in their educational journey and I can’t wait to see what they achieve.
Thank you so much to all the families that have contributed to this wonderful charity. The Hampers of Hope Box will be collected on Monday 2 December at lunchtime.
There is one last chance Monday morning to donate a block of chocolate (eg 180 g Cadbury’s, Whittakers, etc) or a box of chocolates (eg Cadbury Rose’s, Lindt, etc) to donate to the hampers. Canned goods are also appreciated.
Your individual contribution really makes a difference to those in need and will certainly create a very festive hamper. Thank you for your generous support.
As the year comes to an end we say our goodbyes to Maragraet Fitzgerald who has worked at the College as a Learning Support teacher for 10 years. We wish her all the happiness as she moves into retirement.
We also say goodbye to Mr Matthew Johnston who has worked at the Junior School for the last 4 years, we wish him all the best as he moves to Redlands for a P-6 PDHPE role.
As you know, I am also leaving the Junior School this year. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you for the support you have shown to me personally over the last couple of years and for some families it has been many years.
To say I am privileged and grateful for the opportunity to lead the JS community is an understatement. I have had the most rewarding and fulfilling experience being part of this community over the last 14 years.
The Waverley College community is unlike anything else. It is special and unique and each person has contributed to its greatness. I feel so honoured to be part of something so extraordinary.
The love and appreciation I have for Waverley College will live deep in my heart forever.
As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” As I embark on my dream and next chapter in life, I want you all to know my heart is full of all that Waverley has gifted me.
Wishing you all a Holy and Merry Christmas. It has been an absolute privilege.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Year 6 Excursion to Raging Waters was a huge success with all the boys enjoying their end of year celebration. Despite some drizzle the boys entered the park with plenty of excitement and energy as they took to the various attractions the park had to offer.
Everyone had plenty of fun as they raced around the park venturing down the many different waterslides, lazed around in the dinosaur lagoon or swimming in the wave pool. Their behaviour throughout the day was exceptional and I am sure they will hold onto some extraordinary memories.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to all the Junior School players on completing their 2024 Summer season with Waverley pride.
After 12 rounds of sport across terms 1 and 4, myself and the coaching staff have witnessed so much growth and development from each individual, not only in skill but in character.
We wish the Year 6 students all the best in their high school sporting endeavours, and look forward to welcoming our Year 5 players back next year in either their same sport or a new choice.
Information regarding 2025 Sport trials will be sent out in Week 1 of next year. Thank you for completing the Junior School Sport Preferences form, which will be closed on Tuesday 26 November.
The Basketball F team all signed Mr Stanton’s ‘Thank you & Farewell’ gift in recognition of his years of countless Saturdays hosting their home basketball games and as the last team playing the last game of the season before his retirement from full-time teaching.
It was a beautiful morning as Waverley took on St. Pat’s in a match filled with skill, teamwork, and excitement. St. Pat’s won the toss and elected to bat, but our bowling and fielding were exceptional. Flynn’s incredible spell of 3/0 off 2 overs, supported by Noah and Zach’s sharp bowling and fielding, restricted St. Pats to just 96 runs, with 9 balls remaining in their innings.
Our batting lineup rose to the challenge. Sam and Tom set the tone, both retiring with scores of 15 and 13, respectively.
Jack dazzled with a quick-fire 27 off 20 balls before retiring, while Charlie H added a composed 13. In a nail-biting finish, Charlie D and Archie took us home.
With 15 runs needed, Archie hit a boundary and a single, leaving 6 runs required from the last two overs. Then, in a moment to remember, Charlie D struck a massive six to win the game with 9 balls to spare!
Waverley’s junior team chased down the target without losing a single wicket— a perfect finish for the 6A’s in their last match for the JS . Congratulations to the team for an outstanding performance and for demonstrating fantastic sportsmanship throughout the year.
Go Waves!
Our mighty Water Polo B team finished the season on a high with a definitive win over Shore, 8 points to 2. Go Waves!
Thank you to all the families for supporting our sport program, ensuring your sons get the best opportunities for healthy competition, skill acquisition, character development and fitness building.
Tennis A’s
Touch Football Blue As
Touch Football Gold As
This semester has been a wonderful learning journey for the students of 5 White.
It has been filled with engaging activities such as the Lion King Musical, Super Suburbs in Geography, Extreme Weather Building in Science, SOWTEG Sustainability workshop, and so many more that have enhanced the students’ learning experiences.
5 White
What did the students have to say about their favourite learning experiences:
“I enjoyed the musical because we got to do it with our friends. We got to choose which animal we were. We had lots of fun and would do it again. The performance was fantastic and the leads all did a great job. The musical was a huge success and I hope we do one next year”
Lachie Smith
Geography Super Suburb
“I found making my super suburb fun because I could make a whole suburb up to me, no limitations, I could change where my schools or hospitals were, and I found that interesting. Firstly in Cruiser Central, I have ensured that my suburb contains a hospital, This is to ensure that everybody is safe and healthy. Secondly, it is important for the suburb to have a sporting facility. This allows citizens to exercise which will also keep them healthy and fit.”
Liam Morrissey
Science Extreme Weather Building
“I loved and enjoyed this activity because I got to make a 3D visual model of what was imagined in my head. Doing fun activities like this is better than doing bookwork because I can use my creativity and imagination to turn a few bricks into work. I also liked this activity because I can work collaboratively with my peers to do group projects like this extreme weather building design.”
Mikell Sales
“In the workshop, we answered some questions like if your family recycles, if you like fish, are the oceans clean and more and you either answered yes, no or maybe. It was fun making an arts and crafts project with a print of a fish and adding little pieces of plastic. We also learnt that there were 5.25 trillion tonnes of rubbish in the ocean. “
Getty McGuiggan
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
I would like to congratulate Ryder Darragh for his outstanding contribution to the charity Kids Giving Back last school holidays and for putting his Faith in Action.
He helped make more than 7,500 meals and care packs (including hot meals, salads, fruit kebabs, breakfast boxes, lunch boxes, snack cups, and care packs with empathetic messages) which was distributed to 21 charities around Sydney.
If you are interested in your son participating next holidays please see attached – December 2024/January 2025 School holiday programs | Kids Giving Back Bookings are now open!
We are very proud to be a supporting contributor to HAMPERS OF HOPE 2024. HAMPERS OF HOPE, based in Addison Rd, Marrickville, is a charity program in its fifth consecutive year of providing help to those less fortunate.
We ask if families could please make a difference this Christmas season by donating a block of chocolate (eg 180 g Cadbury’s,
Whittakers, etc) or a box of chocolates (eg Cadbury Rose’s, Lindt, etc) to donate to the
hampers. Canned goods are also appreciated.
The collection of donations will occur from Monday 4 November – Friday 25 November.
Please place your donations in the collection box with the HAMPERS OF HOPE sign, located
in reception.
Approximately 2000 hampers will be filled the week of 9 DECEMBER 2024 (from 8:30am –12noon) at Addison Road, Marrickville and will be distributed to a wide-reaching number of recipients including refugees, orphanages, domestic violence centres and flood/fire victims.
Your individual contribution really makes a difference to those in need and will certainly create a very festive hamper. Thank you for your generous support.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A reminder that the Year 6 Graduation is on Wednesday 27 November, beginning at 11:00am, followed by a BBQ at Queens Park to which everyone is invited.
A reminder that any Year 5 students who wish to nominate themselves for House Captains need to speak with their House Mentors.
This Monday, 25 November is the last chance they have to nominate as they will be delivering the speeches on Tuesday 26 November during our Wellbeing time.
Students will need to present a speech to their House before voting takes place. They can use the scaffold below to assist in planning.
Prepare a 2 minute speech addressing the following:
The Junior School are supporting the Year 11 Social Justice program, Night Patrol, which supports St Vincent de Paul’s charity to help feed the homeless men, women and children of Sydney.
We are asking students in 5 Red, 5 White, 6 Red and 6 White for the following donations for the final Night Patrol on Monday, 25 November.
Fresh Fruit – Bananas & Oranges (to be brought in on Monday, 25 November)
Packets of Chips, Instant Boodles, Cans of Tuna, Muesli bars – Chewy & Nut Free (any time before Monday, 25 November)
Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to Hayden Greenberg, Harvey Rumble and Finn Gadd who attended the CIS Cricket trials on Monday.
95 students from all over the state were put through a full day of rigorous trials at The King Schools.
The boys were outstanding in brutally hot weather testing their batting, bowling and fielding skills through nets sessions and centre wicket games.
Our three boys had a fantastic day and did themselves and Waverley College extremely proud. Well done boys!
Patrick Spencer (6 Gold) received a Gold medal running for Easts in the state Under 12 boys 4x100m relay on Sunday 9 November.
They set a new state record with 51.23 seconds, breaking the record standing from 2002. Congratulations to Patrick on this incredible achievement!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Procedures
Register your son via the link https://homelearningclub.youcanbook.me
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 disturb others.
Teachers
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
An important note to remember is that 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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
As the school year comes to an end, I would like to acknowledge all the students who actively participated in the various activities offered by the Learning Hub.
The Learning Hub is dedicated to inspiring, engaging, and empowering students through critical thinking and creative activities.
It provides a space for students to retreat, explore, and collaborate with peers, whether before school, during Learning Hub sessions, or at lunchtime.
All of these activities and more will be available again in 2025.
Dante Fearn, a Year 10 student, shared his insights from his immersion experience in Timor-Leste, serving as an inspiring conclusion to our Lunchtime Talks for 2024.
His reflections highlighted the invaluable lessons he learned during his time there.
Dante emphasised the privilege of engaging with the Timorese community, where he witnessed resilience and joy despite challenging circumstances. He spoke about the importance of gratitude, recognising how much we often take for granted in our daily lives.
Dante’s raw and honest account resonated deeply, reminding our Junior School boys of the power of connection and understanding across cultures.
His experience demonstrates the impact of Waverley’s immersion programmes, which encourage young minds to embrace empathy, communal spirit, and a larger worldview.
Thank you for sharing your journey and inspiring our students to reflect on their own lives and the world around them.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
On Thursday night, we held our annual Junior School Music Festival. I was in complete awe of the talent and skill that was on display.
It is remarkable to see the confidence and ability for their age. We witnessed a wide range of talent from the The Waterford Concert Band to soloist to the Rock Bands and more.
We ended with a wonderful glimpse of a scene from The Lion King Jr. All performances provided a fabulous night of entertainment for the audience as they shared their gifts and passions with us all.
Events like these do not happen without the support of many people. As such, the Junior School would like to thank – all of the boys who spent many hours of rehearsal in preparation for the festival, all of the tutors involved in preparing these items, in particular ensemble directors Dan Williams and Jesse Johnston, the Senior School Music Department and Ms Keiran Kossenberg for their continued support and the Music Supporters Club.
We would also like to thank all of the parents and carers of our performers for their ongoing encouragement.
It was a wonderful night of celebration.
It is hard to believe that Year 6 Graduation is just around the corner.
On 2 December we will have our Mass at 11am and then we will be heading down to Queen’s Park for lunch and games.
Parents are invited to celebrate with us at Queens Park where where you will be provided with a BBQ lunch. We hope you can make it.
Selected students were invited to participate in the G.A.T.E.WAYS ‘Eureka’ program, Mind Blown. This program allows gifted, talented and high-ability students from surrounding schools to participate in workshops led by specialist educators and hosted at Kincoppal Rose Bay School.
The Greek philosopher Plutarch once said that the mind is not a vessel to be filled, but rather a fire to be kindled. The G.A.T.E.WAYS Mind: Blown! workshops scaffold students through processes of philosophical inquiry, ideation, design, and acquisition of sophisticated critical and creative problem-solving strategies and techniques.
Every year the Parents Association organises group together gifts and cards to thank the incredible and dedicated staff at Waverley Junior School. No obligation, but we would love for you to write a thank you note and contribute towards a gift to the teachers who have made an impact on your son’s life this year.
Samara Sanchez has sent an email out with all the links if you would like to contribute. Any issues please contact Samara or the Parents Association.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents & Carers,
You are all invited to the Year 6 Graduation on Wednesday 27 November to acknowledge the end of your son’s primary school years.
Please see the invitation below.
At the conclusion of the Mass, you are all invited back to Queens Park to join us in a special BBQ lunch. Please note that all parents and family members have been catered for.
As part of the Year 6 Graduation, we will be putting together a slideshow presentation. It would be appreciated if you could send through a photo of your son’s Kindergarten photo (or their first day of Kindergarten, or similar), as this will form part of the presentation. (Please just one photo only)
If you could please send a labelled photo through to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au. This has been extended to Monday Week 6. Picture format as a JPEG or PNG file would be preferred. Please do not send through pdf files.
One of the ways in which the students can show their leadership qualities is to nominate himself for House Captain or Vice-Captain. If they would like this opportunity, they need to let their House Mentors know as soon as possible and begin thinking of ways in which they can best serve the Junior School community.
Students will need to present a speech to their House before voting takes place. They can use the scaffold below to assist in planning.
Prepare a 2 minute speech addressing the following:
Speeches will take place on Tuesday 26 November during Wellbeing Time.
The Junior School are supporting the Year 11 Social Justice program, Night Patrol, which supports St Vincent de Paul’s charity to help feed the homeless men, women and children of Sydney. We are asking students in 5 Red, 5 White, 6 Red and 6 White for the following donations for the final Night Patrol on Monday, 25 November.
Fresh Fruit – Bananas & Oranges (to be brought in on Monday, 25 November)
Packets of Chips, Instant Boodles, Cans of Tuna, Muesli bars – Chewy & Nut Free (any time before Monday, 25 November)
Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Attention current Year 5 parents:
Please fill out your son’s Junior School sport preferences for 2025 using this link. Read carefully all the information on the form before submitting.
This process will close on Friday, 22 November 2024.
Congratulations to the 6As Cricket who had a very close win over Shore last Saturday, getting ahead by 1 run 74/4 – 73/9.
Parker Recio (5 Red) competed at the Bronte Club Championships last weekend. Parker showed resilience and won the board race in a very competitive pack only 10 days after an injury. The below photo shows the top four after the board race. Ryder Darragh, another Waverley boy in year 5 came 3rd. Parker also achieved 5th in the ocean swim race. Go Waves!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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 3:00 pm 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
Register your son via the link https://homelearningclub.youcanbook.me
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, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Toby, Spencer, and Luke did Waverley proud on Friday, November 8. These three boys represented Waverley at the IPSHA Speakers’ Challenge, competing against 90 students from a variety of schools in NSW.
The boys showed strong speaking skills, and their manner and method were exceptional. I’m extremely proud of the growth the boys have made since Round 1, the JS finals, and now the challenge.
Our Junior School students had an insightful Lunchtime Talk with guest speaker Ms Stephanie Falk who is a teacher in our Senior School Art Department.
It was a full house with aspiring artists wanting to learn all about the world of digital art. Thank you for taking the time to inspire our creative Junior School students.
As we come to the end of a productive year of drawing club, the students worked on their Coogee Christmas card competition submissions.
A highlight for me this year has been witnessing the students engage critically with their artwork and expressing their creativity.
I’ve seen the boys make new friendships, share insights, and appreciate each other’s artistic efforts. With only two sessions remaining in 2024, I eagerly anticipate the return of the drawing club in 2025, where we will also introduce digital art into our program.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last term, as part of the very important and influential Activism Day, 5 Gold wrote physical letters addressed to people of high influence, asking them to take action on issues they felt passionate about. Recently, we made a team trip up to the Charing Cross Post Office and posted our letters the old-fashioned way. Although we didn’t necessarily expect any replies, we were hopeful. This week, we received something truly exciting from a very important figure in Australia.
Leven Kalmar’s letter, which advocated for action on climate change and specifically plastic pollution, included powerful statements like, “It’s not just our environment we’re affecting; we’re also affecting our marine animals,” and, “As a kid, I can’t name one thing these creatures have done to harm our environment; we can’t be killing them.” Our class was ecstatic to receive a response from the office of the Prime Minister of Australia, in a very fancy envelope, written on some very fancy paper.
In his reply, Prime Minister Albanese stated, “Protecting nature is a task for all of us; and it’s the responsibility of all adults, especially those in senior positions like myself, to ensure we pass on a safe and healthy environment to future generations.” The Prime Minister went on to commend Leven’s commitment and passion personally, underscoring the role young Australians play in shaping a better future. He finished his letter by saying, “We need young people like you… You are the thinkers and innovators of the future.”
This was a deeply moving and exciting moment for us all in the Junior School, highlighting the power of activism and the importance of each person’s voice, no matter how young.
Mr Luke Burns
5 Gold Teacher
lburns@waverley.nsw.edu.au
6 Red has been engaged in several summative assessments to wrap up the year. Students planned, illustrated, and wrote a graphic novel from the perspective of a refugee. This semester, they explored migration and refugee experiences in both History and English. It was fantastic to see their creativity shine, allowing them to showcase their artistic abilities and skill in figurative writing. Students annotated their own books upon completion, identifying the visual elements and purpose of their writing.
6 Red has also been immersed in our country studies unit. Comparing Australia and a neighbouring country through the key question. How do places, people and cultures differ between Australia and your chosen Asian country? The final results were incredible, bringing to an end our studies of Geography this year.
On Wednesday, Year 6 had the pleasure of a live performance concert by the wonderful Musica Viva Australia.
The interactive showcase was a brilliant opportunity for boys to learn about unique musical instruments and engage in numerous musical numbers.
Mr Oliver Knight
6 Red teacher
oknight@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This is a night where we come together to celebrate and enjoy musical performances from the various groups, ensembles and students of the Junior School.
The festival will take place in the Performing Arts Centre at the Senior School from 6pm on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The evening will feature performances from the:
Students will need to arrive at the PAC by 5:30pm at the latest to tune up, prepare, dressed in full academic uniform. The event is non ticketed.
The Music Supporters’ Group will be putting on a Supper Service with a choice of hot & cold food items, along with beverages available for purchase before the event from 5:00pm in the PAC Foyer. Bring the family and enjoy the night. Cash or EFTPOS will be available.
It would be greatly appreciated for catering purposes if you can fill in the form advising how many will be in attendance: JS Music Festival Attendance Form
Please reach out if you need further information or clarification. You are welcome to contact Mrs Kossenberg regarding the Music Supporter’s Group by E: kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au or Ph: 9369 0623.
We look forward to seeing you there for a wonderful evening of music!
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Cillian Stankard, Charles Draper, Jack Gibson and Alex O’Brien were selected to represent the Junior School at the inaugural Ecology Symposium.
The symposium featured a variety of speakers and presenters, including Uncle Dean Kelly, a respected Aboriginal Elder who has a strong connection to Waverley College, Mr Geoff Lui, Senior Project Officer – Indigenous Research at James Cook University, Ms Allegra Spender, Member of Parliament for Wentworth, Mr Costa Georgiadis, Australian author, landscape architect, environmental educator and television presenter, Dr Marjorie O’Neill, NSW Parliament Member for Coogee and Mr Sam McGuinness, Executive Manager, Sustainability, Waverley Council.
The overall takeaway message for the students was “You are the future of our planet. Keep learning, questioning, and advocating for a world that prioritises human and environmental sustainability.”
Click here to read more from the Senior School Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning, Ms Lynsey Porter.
We are very proud to be a supporting contributor to HAMPERS OFHOPE 2024. HAMPERS OF HOPE, based in Addison Rd, Marrickville, is a charity program in its fifth consecutive year of providing help to those less fortunate.
We ask if families could please make a difference this Christmas season by donating a block of chocolate (eg 180 g Cadbury’s,Whittakers, etc) or a box of chocolates (eg Cadbury Rose’s, Lindt, etc) to donate to the hampers. Canned goods are also appreciated.
The collection of donations will occur from Monday 4 November – Friday 25 November.
Please place your donations in the collection box with the HAMPERS OF HOPE sign, located in reception.
Approximately 2000 hampers will be filled the week of 9 DECEMBER 2024 (from 8:30am –12noon) at Addison Road, Marrickville and will be distributed to a wide-reaching number of recipients including refugees, orphanages, domestic violence centres and flood/fire victims.
Your individual contribution really makes a difference to those in need and will certainly create a very festive hamper. Thank you for your generous support.
We look forward to the Junior School Music Festival next week on Thursday evening, 14 November 2024.
The event will showcase the Year 5 and Year 6 students’ abundant talent in creative arts. The performances will commence at 6pm and will finish by 7:15 pm.
The Festival will take place in the Performing Arts Centre Theatre located at the Senior School campus, 131 Birrell Street, Waverley. Parents/Carers and friends are welcome to attend. The event is non-ticketed. Please arrive early to find a seat.
All performers will need to be at the Performing Arts Centre by 5:30 pm. Boys will need to wear their academic uniform unless they have been allocated an outfit for a specific performance.
Our Music Supporters’ Group will be selling snacks and beverages from 5:15 pm in the PAC Foyer. Cash or EFTPOS available. Please email pac_supporters@waverley.nsw.edu.au if you are able to help with a donation of cakes, any assistance with service in the evening would be greatly appreciated.
Please note: The Waterford Concert Band rehearsal will be held this week at the Junior School in the Auditorium at 7.30 am on Thursday, 7 November. Please note: next week the band rehearsal will be held in the Performing Arts Centre Theatre at the senior campus, before school on Thursday morning 14 November at 7.30 am, following this students will be escorted to the junior school campus. Students are reminded to bring their instruments and music.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents & Carers,
You are all invited to the Year 6 Graduation on Wednesday 27 November to acknowledge the end of your son’s primary school years. Please see the invitation below.
As part of the Year 6 Graduation, we will be putting together a slideshow presentation. It would be appreciated if you could send through a photo of your son’s Kindergarten photo (or their first day of Kindergarten, or similar), as this will form part of the presentation. (Please just one photo only)
If you could please send a labelled photo through to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au by no later than Friday Week 5. Picture format as a JPEG or PNG file would be preferred – Please do not send through pdf files.
On Wednesday 6 November, MSP Photography will be coming in to take a whole group photo of the Year 6 cohort. Students will need to come to school dressed in academic uniform including their blazer. If they have training before school, they will need to ensure that they have their full academic uniform with them to change into after training.
You will be able to purchase a copy of this photo. Details are in the attached flyer.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please fill out your son’s Junior School sport preferences for 2025 using this link. Read carefully all the information on the form before submitting.
This process will close on Friday, 22 November 2024.
Congratulations to the 5C1 Cricket team over the weekend. The boys caught the last ball denying Lindfield any more runs, winning by one point. Go Waves!
We are proudly supporting CaringKids by donating the excess prizes earned from our Junior School FunRun. We are so proud of each boy for carefully choosing prizes to generously and selflessly donate to children who have the huge responsibility of caring for adults.
CaringKids is a registered charity that recognises the role of young carers and works to reduce their feelings of loneliness and social isolation, by sending them Toy Boxes packed with toys, games and books. Individuals, community and corporate groups collect and donate new toys, games, stationery, art and craft materials and sports equipment on their behalf. They use these to create the Toy Boxes that are delivered to young carers across Australia.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
NO Home Learning Wednesday 13 November
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 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Procedures
Register your son via the link https://homelearningclub.youcanbook.me
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, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Dylan Littlehales recently returned to share his inspiring journey and achievements during Part 2 of his Lunchtime Talk, where he showcased his Paralympic Silver Medal.
This event captivated students, who were eager to learn about his experiences and the significance of the medal itself. Dylan graciously allowed students to wear the medal, creating a memorable experience that highlighted the importance of perseverance and dedication in sports.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The students in 6 Gold have been experimenting with different ways to produce Stop Motion videos over the last few weeks. Using whiteboards, the students were asked to create a short story titled ‘The Obstacle’ to showcase what they have learnt.
In the second activity, a group task, the students were then asked to produce a film using the human body.
Some very interesting and creative stories have been developed. See examples of both of these activities below.
As part of their work in Geography, they have been busy working on a ‘Country & Person Study’ working on the Key Question, How do places, people and cultures differ between Australia and your chosen Asian country?
Students have the opportunity to present their work using a variety of mediums including documentaries, Google Slides, and some students creating their own websites. Although these are not quite finished, the students’ effort into their presentations is amazing.
Wishing all the students in Year 6 a very smooth end to the year.
Mr Steve Ghattas
6 Gold Teacher
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Dear Parents & Carers,
You are all invited to the Year 6 Graduation on Wednesday 27 November to acknowledge the end of your son’s primary school years. Please see the invitation below.
As part of the Year 6 Graduation, we will be putting together a slideshow presentation. It would be appreciated if you could send through a photo of your son’s Kindergarten photo (or their first day of Kindergarten, or similar), as this will form part of the presentation. (Please just one photo only)
If you could please send a labelled photo through to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au by no later than Friday Week 5. Picture format as a JPEG or PNG file would be preferred – Please do not send through pdf files.
Next Friday, 8 November, the Parents Association will be raising funds to cover the cost of the photo booth at the Year 6 Graduation Party. They will be sold for $2. We are planning to do this every Friday where possible, until the end of the term.
On Wednesday 6 November, MSP Photography will be coming in to take a whole group photo of the Year 6 cohort. Students will need to come to school dressed in academic uniform including their blazer. If they have training before school, they will need to ensure that they have their full academic uniform with them to change into after training.
You will be able to purchase a copy of this photo. Details are in the attached flyer.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to all Junior School Sport teams on their efforts over the first two rounds of Term 4 Summer Sport. Our Basketball Ns team, coached by Cooper Flint, had a solid win against Scots 20-16 in Round 8 last weekend.
Best of luck to all teams in Round 9 tomorrow!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We are so excited to welcome Year 7 2025 students to the Cadet program in Term 3 2025.
In preparation, and to give our boys a taste of the exciting activities they can look forward to, our Support Company Commander and RHQ members are hosting a Cadet Orientation afternoon for all year 6 boys from 3pm – 5.30pm on Friday, 15 November.
You will get to see our senior cadets in action as they demonstrate their skills in the field and on the Parade Ground.
You’ll get to have a play with some of the specialist equipment cadets are trained in for camps.
You’ll be provided with afternoon tea and you’ll have the opportunity to ask lots of questions! Further information will be sent out this week.
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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 3:00 pm 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
Register your son HERE
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, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
It was a privilege to welcome Jethro Venning (Year 7) to present a Lunchtime Talk on healthcare in remote communities. Jethro’s insight into healthcare in Moree was very enlightening, highlighting the unique challenges families face in accessing essential services.
Jethro’s presentation not only informed the Junior School about the current state of healthcare in remote regions but also inspired us to think critically about how we can contribute to improving access and equity in health services for all. Thank you, Jethro, for sharing your valuable insights!
The Junior School students were given a creative brief to create a piece for the cover of Time magazine an influential publication.
The boys developed a deeper appreciation for both creative building and current affairs, linking design and real-world in an engaging way.
L-R Spencer Murphy, James Peate & Toby Pounder (Absent Luke Haddock)
I would like to thank James Peate the Captain of Public Speaking for generously dedicating his time to mentor Spencer and Toby for their upcoming IPSHA Public Speaking Competition. His guidance proved to be incredibly beneficial, providing the boys with excellent feedback. We truly value James’ ongoing support for the Junior School students.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
5 Blue has jumped right into a new term with special projects that have showcased their creativity, teamwork, and dedication.
Lion King Jr Musical by Leo Sager
This term we performed the much-loved musical of The Lion King. The whole thing was a blast—first, the auditions, then the holiday practice, then coming together as a whole school to rehearse. It was all leading up to the main performance, which occurred on Wednesday 23rd of October. The main characters knew the lines off by heart and were excellent. The audience burst into laughter every time a joke was made on stage; some costumes were hilarious, and some were elegant and mesmerising. All in all, we all agreed that we had a terrific time, and we left smiling. We all worked together to bring the vibrant story of Simba to life.
We made the masks for our performance in our art lessons. Our class performed the song, “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.” Therefore a variety of creatures were chosen, including zebras, flamingos, foxes, and more. I painted my mask as a parrot. Other classes did similar masks, and they all looked amazing up on stage.
By Henry Grantham
We made the masks by cutting out shapes and sticking them on them to represent the animal shape we chose. I chose a zebra because it would be very fun to make. After that we used paint to make a full base layer so that later, we could add the appropriate colours. After that, we added details to define our animal. We are very grateful to Mr. Bowden and Mr. Burns for their guidance and hard work; without you, we could not have succeeded.
By Henry Avenell
The Big Brother Little Brother program kicked off at the start of term, allowing our older Year 10 students to connect with their younger buddies and continue to make a positive impact.
Big Brother Little Brother by Tom Pendleton and Oliver Starkenburg
In week one we had Big Brother Little Brother. First, we did our secret handshake and spoke about our holidays. After that, we played the game, two truths and a lie. We also read a magazine about the Guinness World Records. We took turns reading the magazine with our Big Brothers. We learned some interesting world records. We had so much fun that day.
This week 5 Blue have been analysing poems using the SMILE technique! We examined three poems, ‘Tiger,’ ‘In My Eyes’ and a poem of our choice. We took a deep dive into the deeper meanings of poems and how they can connect to bigger issues in the world. Miss Hunt told us that whatever weird and wacky deep meaning you think of can always be correct as long as you can back it up with evidence.
The SMILE technique consists of 5 key aspects.
S-Structure: Identify the poem’s structure.
M-Meaning: Identify the key ideas and messages.
I-Imagery: Identify the visual details.
L-Language: Identify the poet’s language.
E-Effect: Identify how the poem makes you feel.
We are excited to learn more about poetry throughout the term.
Ms Elise Hunt
Teacher of 5 Blue
ehunt@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We are so excited to welcome Year 7 2025 students to the Cadet program in Term 3 2025.
In preparation, and to give our boys a taste of the exciting activities they can look forward to, our Support Company Commander and RHQ members are hosting a Cadet Orientation afternoon for all year 6 boys from 3pm – 5.30pm on Friday 15 November.
You will get to see our senior cadets in action as they demonstrate their skills in the field and on the Parade Ground. You’ll get to have a play with some of the specialist equipment cadets are trained in for camps. You’ll be provided with afternoon tea and you will have the opportunity to ask lots of questions. No need to bring anything!
This is a compulsory activity for all Year 6 boys enrolled in the Senior School in 2025. Please go to the Parent Portal to complete the Parent Permission slip.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
A huge thank you to the whole Waverley College community for supporting us in what was a spectacular Musical.
Mr Jonathon Bowden did an incredible job of including and preparing each student in The Lion King.
We are so grateful for the collaboration with St Catherine’s and for allowing our students to have a co-education experience in the Arts.
My Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents & Carers,
You are all invited to the Year 6 Graduation on Wednesday 27 November to acknowledge the end of your son’s primary school years. Please see the invitation below.
As part of the Year 6 Graduation, we will be putting together a slideshow presentation. It would be appreciated if you could send through a photo of your son’s Kindergarten photo (or their first day of Kindergarten, or similar), as this will form part of the presentation. (Please just one photo only)
If you could please send a labelled photo through to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au by no later than Friday Week 5. Picture format as a JPEG or PNG file would be preferred. Please do not send through pdf files.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We are so excited to welcome Year 7 2025 students to the Cadet program in Term 3 2025.
In preparation, and to give our boys a taste of the exciting activities they can look forward to, our Support Company Commander and RHQ members are hosting a Cadet Orientation afternoon for all year 6 boys from 3pm – 5.30pm on Friday, 15 November.
You will get to see our senior cadets in action as they demonstrate their skills in the field and on the Parade Ground.
You’ll get to have a play with some of the specialist equipment cadets are trained in for camps.
You’ll be provided with afternoon tea and you’ll have the opportunity to ask lots of questions! Further information will be sent out this week.
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Jacob Coleman’s (Year 6) team the Southern Rebels are now the Under 13 National Youth Touch Champions. They completed in Coffs Harbour in Week 10 of last term in some pretty challenging conditions. Well done to Jacob and his team on this amazing achievement!
Congratulations also to Liam Morrissey (Year 5) who competed in the national OzTag competition representing his team, the Orcas.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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 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
Register your son HERE
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 disturb others.
Teachers
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
A sincere thank you to Jagger Michael from Year 5 for organising last week’s inspiring Lunchtime Talk with his father, Dr Jake Michael, a high-performance sports coach, and Dylan Littlehales, a para-canoe athlete who recently won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and has represented Australia in both Tokyo and Rio.
Dylan shared his remarkable journey, detailing his experiences growing up with a congenital disability and the challenges he faced along the way.
Dylan delivered a powerful message about the importance of leveraging support from those around you, pushing your limits, seizing every opportunity, and persevering step by step without giving up. His story is a motivating reminder that determination and resilience can lead to incredible achievements.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
5 Indigo had a fantastic time immersing themselves in the creative process of the Lion King Jr Musical.
They practised their song, “They Live in You,” during music lessons and learned choreography to bring their performance to life. Some students were even given the exciting opportunity to take part in an additional scene.
In Visual Arts, they showcased their artistic talents by creating impressive lion masks by cutting and taping manes, applying base paint coats, and painting intricate designs. It was a memorable and rewarding experience for everyone involved!
Here’s what a few of the 5 Indigo boys had to say when asked about their experience:
“The whole experience has been extraordinary. My favourite part was definitely the dress rehearsal” – Hugo Lehmann
“It’s been really fun to be able to be a part of a wonderful musical and it’s been great to watch the stage and characters come to life” – Sam Jarrett
“It was good to practise and perform using our new acting skills which we learnt in our combined Music and drama lessons” – Atticus Boyle
“The experience was sublime. To experience this an extra co-curricular has been exhilarating” – Samuel Loughrey
Mikaela Turner
Year 5 Indigo Class Teacher
mturner@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A big welcome back to all our Waverley College families. I hope the break gave you a chance to slow down and spend quality time with your family. We are back in full swing and excited for the term ahead.Just a reminder that students no longer require a blazer’s in Term 4 except for special events.
We are extremely excited for our first Junior School Musical partnering with St Catherine’s. Witnessing this whole production from start to finish has been amazing to watch. I’m in awe of Mr Bowden and his ability to have over 320 students involved meaningfully. It is going to be a spectacular day and we hope as many parents and family members can attend.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the 2024 ICAS Assessments.
A special congratulations to the following students who received a credit or above in Writing.
Year 5
Credit
Hugo Lehmann
Spencer Murphy
Eric Rakoczy
Year 6
Distinction
Zac Hughes
Cillian Stankard
Thomas Taylor
Credit
Flynn Roberts
As they say, ‘The days are long, but the years are short’
Please join us as we celebrate our boys’ final year of Primary school before they head off to High School!
This is an event that is not funded by the school and is organised by the Year 6 parent representatives.
Your ticket cost will include:
– BBQ dinner (with all the trimmings) being served at 5:30pm
– Photo Booth to capture all the fun
– DJ
– A celebration cake
Each attendee over 2 years old must hold a ticket. Siblings are welcome to attend.
Soft drinks will be provided in your ticket price whilst alcoholic beverages can be purchased at the bar.
Adult supervision is required throughout the duration of the event.
Smart Casual attire will be required
Date: Mon 2 Dec 2024
Time: 5:PM – 8PM
Location: Coogee Beach Club, 51 Dolphin Street, Coogee NSW 2034
My Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Welcome back to Summer Sport at the Junior School! We are picking up right where we left off in Term 1, with Round 7 this Saturday, 19 October. I wish all the boys the best of luck at their respective fixtures, and look forward to hearing their results.
At Waverley, we know that playing sports in a team and attending training and games build fitness, character, skills and resilience. We look forward to the next six rounds of Saturday sport and appreciate the commitment from students and families. Go Waves!
By Sally Mann.
During the School Holidays, a number of Waverley College students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in an unforgettable week of sport, culture, and community on the Coral Coast.
The boys played two rugby matches against St Peter Chanel School and Ratu Filise Memorial School, both located in the region. These games went beyond competition, serving as a chance to build friendships and foster connections with the local students.
In preparation for the trip, the team collected and donated jerseys, shorts, socks and boots, sharing these resources with the two schools. Parents and students also came together to gift a brand-new set of 23 rugby jerseys in the schools’ colours, complete with their name and logo. The gesture was met with heartfelt appreciation from the local communities.
The boys also donated 10-12 rugby balls to each school to support their rugby programs. During the week, the group visited another nearby village, where they gifted additional rugby balls to the local children.
Both matches were played on scenic school grounds complete with bamboo goalposts. The games were lively, filled with running rugby, but the camaraderie off the field was equally remarkable. From singing hymns together in perfect harmony to spending time with new friends, the experience left a lasting impression on all involved.
This tour was not just about rugby; it was about giving back, building relationships, and creating lasting memories.
Boys included: Jack Mann, Jack Morahan Saliba, Hugo Tonga, Leon Dunkley, Luca and Oliver Robinson, Lachie Anson, Tom Pendleton, Patrick Madden, Winnie Cross and Oliver Stewart.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A warm welcome back to Term 4. I am pleased to share with you the Term 4 Curriculum Overviews for Years 5 and 6. These documents are a guide to the learning that your son will be covering in class this Term.
Term 4, Year 5 Curriculum Overview
Term 4, Year 6 Curriculum Overview
I hope this is a useful document that will help you to support your son and engage him in conversation about his learning experiences at school.
SMART Goals
At the commencement of each term, students are encouraged to set SMART goals for their learning with their classroom teachers. Goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timed will set our students up for success. We know that writing meaningful goals down allows students to revisit them throughout the term, encourages focus, and builds strategies to make sure they achieve their goal/s. The goals for Term 4 can be found on Pages 138 and 139 in the College Diary.
Charlotte Stephens
Assistant Director of Curriculum
cstephens@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Procedures
Register your son HERE
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, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Mike Sager, the father of Leo in Year 5 and Kobey in Year 9 launched our first lunchtime talk for Term 4.
As an entrepreneur, Mike captivated the students with insights into what a startup entails and shared details about the companies PAWSSUM & ANKOR he has founded.
He emphasised the importance of documenting all ideas, which for him have included themes like pets, videos, and superyachts. Mike, discussed the significance of building a successful team of tech experts, hustlers, and financial supporters to help his business ventures.
PAWSSUM started in 2016 is now the biggest pet startup in the Southern Hemisphere, where pet owners can book vets in every major city in Australia and New Zealand.
This is not the only startup Mike founded he and his friend Elliot founded Ankor in 2022 after identifying a significant technological gap in the yacht charter industry, where other luxury travel sectors had already embraced digital solutions.
Through research, they discovered high customer expectations but a lack of advanced technology in yacht chartering, leading them to create a platform that connects brokers, provides real-time availability, and streamlines booking processes.
This inspiring and engaging talk left the boys motivated to dream big!
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all families for another busy and rewarding term. Some highlights from this term have been the wonderful Year 6 Camp, Father’s Day Mass, City 2 Surf, Athletics Carnival, Book Week and Science Week to name only a few.
A huge thank you to Ms Jade Sparks for organising the Fun Run this week. A big thank you to all students and families for raising over $54,000 for our four special charities, Educating the Future, Edmund Rice Camps, RUOK and The Indigenous Literacy Foundation. This is a true example of Faith in Action and I am so proud of the efforts and the heart that went into raising this type of money for charity.
I hope the break provides much needed rest and family time. I look forward to seeing the students return to school in Term 4 renewed and ready to finish the year off strong.
The students have been working hard to pull this production together and we are almost there! We will have two performances of the Lion King Jr in Week 2 of Term 4, both on Wednesday, 23 October. There will be a matinee at 11:30am and an evening show at 7pm. We expect the show itself to run for approximately an hour. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at both shows.
Tickets can be purchased here. As there is limited seating, we have had to restrict the number of tickets to two per show per student. You will have until Wednesday 17th October to purchase your allotted tickets. When purchasing via the link above, you will need to use your son’s username as a password. If you are unsure of your child’s username, please see below…
Child Name : John Smith
Child Email: Jsmit2030@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Child Username : Jsmit2030
[First Initial] [4 Letter of Surname] [Graduating Year]
Lastly, students will need to have their costumes organised by the beginning of Term 4. The boys have been painting masks, shields, etc in class as a part of their costume, but will need to arrange clothing to wear in addition to this. You DO NOT need to spend a lot of money on the costume! In fact, we don’t want people to buy onesies, specially designed costumes, etc. We just need them to wear clothing that matches the animal they are portraying. For example, a child playing a zebra might wear a white shirt with black pants; a child playing a rhino would wear grey clothing. If you can’t find pants that match your animal, black pants are fine. Please avoid clothing with large logos, images, etc and keep it as plain as possible. If you are struggling or are unsure, please don’t hesitate to reach out for clarification.
Last week, we celebrated ‘Activism Day,’ which was a real highlight for all of us. We were lucky enough to have three incredible Indigenous sports stars—Cody Walker, Michael O’Loughlin, and Maurice Longbottom—come in to speak to all of Year 5. The students were captivated as these inspiring figures shared their personal stories and experiences in activism. The boys asked excellent questions, and it was clear they took away valuable lessons on how they, too, can make a difference in their communities.
The Prep 1st basketball team recently competed in a mini 6-team tournament at Barker College, facing tough competition from the start. In our first two games against Knox and St. Augustine’s, we were outplayed and unfortunately lost both matches. After shaking off the rust from a long winter co-curricular season, the team rallied with a strong performance in our final game against Kings, securing a dominant win. This victory showed the potential and promise of what’s to come as we look ahead to future challenges in Term 4!
On Wednesday, the Junior School celebrated their FunRun fundraising efforts in a very colourful, bright, wet and fun Colour Run! We were sprayed by the Fire Department and we are very grateful that they could fit us in amongst their busy schedules being first responders. Once the boys were soaked, they got sprayed with loads of coloured paint powder as they ran laps of the course. We had the best time running, singing, and of course sliming the teachers!
Thank you to our parent helpers on the day and to all parents who have been supporting their son’s fundraising efforts over the past weeks. We have fundraised almost $54,000 for our four special charities, Educating the Future, Edmund Rice Camps, RUOK and The Indigenous Literacy Foundation. This is a testament to the Waverley spirit in our boys, and the compassionate, generous nature of our community.
Patrick Spencer (6 Gold) played at Leichhardt Oval in the Under 11 Division 1 Rugby League Grand Final the weekend before last. His team, Paddington colts, were undefeated and won the grand final. Patrick was selected by league officials as man of the match. Well done Patrick!
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 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Register your son via the link https://homelearningclub.youcanbook.me
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.
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.
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday – Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday – Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Congratulations to Toby Pounder (Year 5) and Luke Haddock (Year 6) who were the 2024 Junior School Public Speaking champions. In November, they will be representing Waverley College at the 2024 IPSHA Speakers’ Challenge. We wish them all the best as they prepare for the competition.
I’m thrilled to announce that in Term 4, we will be continuing our Lunchtime Talks!
This initiative, which began a few years ago, is designed to ignite passion and inspiration in the next generation of learners, leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, scientists, and professionals across all industries.
Get ready for an incredible lineup of speakers who will share their insights, experiences, and stories that will motivate students to reach new heights. Each talk is an opportunity to engage with thought leaders and visionaries who are shaping the future. I have included Senior Students who are doing incredible work in the community to join this initiative.
In 5 Gold it is all about getting into our routines and making sure we’re improving every single day. Whether it’s reading, writing, or just tackling the day’s challenges, the boys know that even getting 1% better each day adds up to something BIG. We love our writing (IDEAWr) and reading (IDEAR) sessions, where we see daily growth, pushing ourselves to reach new goals and build on what we’ve already learned. It’s great to see how committed the boys are to making progress and really owning their learning journey.
Our focus in English this term has been on activism. The boys have been exploring what it means to stand up for causes they believe in and how they can make a positive impact on the world. From environmental concerns to social justice, we’ve had rich discussions and asked thoughtful questions. It’s been amazing to watch them realise the power of their own voices and how they can contribute to meaningful change. One of our favourite quotes we discovered through our studies was ‘You are never too small to make a difference ‘ by Greta Thunberg.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 3 events, please refer to the College calendar.
This week, the Year 6 students were invited to ‘A Kinder World Experience’, an excursion encouraging everyone to speak and always act with kindness. Here is an insight into the excursion from two of the 6 Gold students:
“My experience at the kinder world excursion was fantastic. We got to hear about Rivkys life and how she dealt with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Listening to her story and what she went through made me realise that everyone is going through their own problems. So we should always be kind to one another. Then we participated in many activities like creating an edible smiley face, playing kindness bingo, working together in ball games, playing in the kindness lounge, and decorating gifts and bags for the Sydney Children’s Hospital.
My favourite activity was decorating bags for children in hospitals. I liked this becuase we could decorate the bag however we wanted to and write kind and encouraging things on the bag. Then we got to put gifts in the bag. Each bag got a Lego set, pencils and pens, a bubble wand, and a book. We also got to write cards to the doctors and nurses who work so hard 24/7. Overall this was a very valuable experience to learn about teamwork and kindness.”
– Hugo Cuschieri
“This week, Year 6 went to the “A Kinder World” experience. After walking down Flood Street we arrived at Yeshiva College. After being greeted by the staff members we went inside where Rivky, the host, welcomed us and split us into three teams correlating with our classes. She then told us an unfortunate story about her life, how a disease a disease called jjuvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis made her have to take medicine, which in turn, made her feel self-conscious about the medicine’s side effects. She told how all the kids made fun of her, and how she began to lie and steal making the biggest mistake of her life, not taking her medicine, which left her fingers bent and crooked. Even though she suffered so much she said that her fingers are a reminder of her struggles and her life.
After that we split up, the first activity for Team Blue, my team was to make an edible smiley face to support positivity. We then played some fun bingo with positive words. The second activity was the ball pattern game outside.We had to stand in a circle and pass the ball to everyone, but we could only pass to someone who hadn’t had the ball. When we did that we would pass the ball to the leader and continue the cycle, except we added more balls into the mix for an extra challenge.
Everyone’s favourite activity, the kindness lounge, was next. After watching a video on kindness we were allowed to chill out. I played some air hockey with my friend Thomas and then some Super Smash Bros. Returning to the starting area we did the final activity, packing gift bags for sick children. We decorated a bag with stickers and wrote encouraging messages for the kids and then filled the bags with Lego, bubbles, a set of pencils, and a writing book. We also wrote handwritten letters to doctors thanking them for their work. After finishing all the activities we returned to the starting area where Rivky talked to use about kindness.
This was easily one of my favourite excursions and an experience that we will never forget.”
– Joey Oultram
Click on the link under ‘Training’ heading for the Term 4 Training Schedule.
Click on the link under ‘Games’ heading for the Term 4 Draw.
Please keep an eye on the weekly fixtures which will be sent out from Week 1 Term 4.
The FunRun ‘Big Show’ event is now less than a week away (Wednesday, 25 September) and we are so excited to have all students at Waverley Park to celebrate the fundraising with our Colour Run.
The Colour Run will be taking place between 10am and 12pm at Waverley Park. It will involve students running around the marked track through colour spraying sections and giant inflatables.
There will be an awards ceremony and staff members will be slimed at the end of the event. Parents are warmly welcome to attend and we look forward to seeing you there.
Once the event concludes, teachers will walk their class back to school for a sausage sizzle lunch catered for by the Junior School. Parents may take their sons home following the lunch by signing out with the students’ classroom teacher.
All other students will be dismissed from the Junior School at 3pm.
Please help your sons prepare for the day by:
We are looking forward to celebrating our incredible efforts in fundraising for our four special charities:
Thank you for all your support thus far!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Home Learning only on Monday 23 September
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 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Procedures
Register your son HERE
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, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
The Junior School boys participated in the “Write a Book in a Day” competition.
This engaging event invites teams of students to unleash their creativity and teamwork skills by writing and illustrating a complete book in a day.
With unique parameters and specific words to incorporate into their stories, the boys collaborated closely, transforming their imaginative ideas into a finished product that will be donated to children in hospitals across Australia.
This initiative fosters creativity and supports a great cause, as all funds raised will contribute to vital cancer research through The Kids’ Cancer Project.
The Junior School boys learnt valuable lessons in collaboration, problem-solving, and the power of storytelling, all while making a meaningful impact in the lives of others.
A huge shout out to Asher Thomasyu (Year 12) studying Advanced English || and preparing for the HSC who popped in to give the boys some words of wisdom and Mr William Roberts for facilitating the day.
Year 6 Team L-R Alex O’Brien, Sam Fisher, Sam Garrett, Thomas Taylor, Luke Haddock & Finn Constable.
Year 5 Team L-R Jack Bird, Leo Petit, Hugo Lehmann, Samuel Loughrey, Toby Pounder, Freddie Saville and Silas Murphy
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This term Year 5 and 6 students have been immersed in scientific exploration.
Year 5 students have honed their scientific inquiry skills through hands-on experiments, while also delving into the fascinating world of Mars rovers in their science tech lessons.
Meanwhile, Year 6 students have been experimenting with materials and reactions, culminating in the creation of borax crystals. They have also challenged their creativity and problem-solving abilities by designing a sustainable ocean cleanup device in their science tech class. Term 3 has also seen students collaborate in co-educational lessons with St. Catherines students, conducting experiments in the Junior School science lab and attending an upcoming coding competition at St. Catherine’s Junior School.
Finally, Science Week came to a close with a celebration of our young talents, as the winners of the coding and colouring competitions were announced and honoured.
Mr Max Mancinelli
Science Teacher
mmancinelli@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 3 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the 2024 ICAS Assessments.
A special congratulations to the following students who received a credit or above in Mathematics.
Mathematics Year 5
Distinction
Jensen Honey
Sam Jarrett
Leo Murphy
Credit
Mark Adamik
Hugo D’Amours
Jack Guille
Marlon Hair
Hugo Lehmann
Samuel Loughrey
Spencer Murphy
Nixon Oakes
Thomas Pendleton
Joshua Satya
Rohan
Mathematics Year 6
Credit
Charles Draper
Oscar Griffin
Liam Hagley
Jack Hunter
Marcus Rakoczy
Flynn Roberts
SAVE THE DATE – MONDAY DECEMBER 2ND
5PM-8:30PM
Please note this is a parent organised function and not a College event
Last Friday, Jack Morahan Saliba (5 Orange Class Captain) & Hayden Greenberg (5 Blue Class Captain) were invited to participate in a Leadership Forum with the Federal Member of Parliament, Ms Allegra Spender, to discuss important issues within our local community. The boys were engaged with student leaders from other schools within the Wentworth Electorate and were given many opportunities to voice their opinions. I am glad to say that not only did they enjoy the experience, they also represented our school remarkably well.
The R U OK? Day organisation plays an important part of the Waverley College community. Today we were fortunate enough to hear from Gus Worland, media personality and founder of the Gotcha4Life Foundation in 2017. He talked about the importance of mental fitness as well as social connectedness, and the need to be able to let others know when you are not feeling okay.
To continue our support of R U OK? Day, a cake stall was held at recess and lunch on Friday in the Junior School. We are pleased to say that we raised $$$$. Special thanks to all of our families who supported in the donation of cakes and other delicious treats.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of the Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Our wonderful Learning Support Department of Ms Fitzgerald and Mrs Edwards continue to provide exceptional dedication and expertise to our students. Their commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment is truly commendable.
Congratulations to our Ethics Team who competed in an Olympiad on Tuesday against other schools. Yr 5 received a top 10 finish and yr 6 received wonderful feedback from the judges. Both teams represented the school proudly with intelligent and respectful discourse.
Our team consisted of the following students
Yr 5
Mark Adamik (5W)
Sam Jarrett (5I)
Koby Leondis (5G)
Eric Rakoczy (5I)
Lachlan Smith (5W)
Yr 6
Arlo Buchanan (6I)
Sam Garratt (6I)
Luke Haddock (6W)
Tom Sheehy (6R)
Thomas Taylor (6G)
The Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee 2024 was conducted across our classes recently. Congratulations to the students who achieved top placings in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee, showcasing their dedication and impressive spelling skills!
| Nicholson | Rufus | 6 Orange | 1st Place JS |
| Taylor | Thomas | 6 Gold | 2nd Place JS |
| Buchanan | Arlo | 6 Indigo | 3rd Place Yr 6 |
| Fisher | Samuel | 6 Orange | 4th Place Yr 6 |
| Hagley | Liam | 6 Indigo | 5th Place Yr 6 |
| Johnson | Oliver | 6 Indigo | 6th Place Yr 6 |
| Sheehy | Thomas | 6 Red | 7th Place Yr 6 |
| Satya | Joshua | 5 Orange | 1st Place Yr 5 |
| Honey | Jensen | 5 Orange | 2nd Place Yr 5 |
| Grantham | Henry | 5 Blue | 3rd Place Yr 5 |
| Guille | Jack | 5 Indigo | 4th Place Yr 5 |
| Murphy | Spencer | 5 Gold | 5th Place Yr 5 |
| Gibbons | Billy | 5 Blue | 6th Place Yr 5 |
Mr Elliott McKimm
Assistant Director of Curriculum
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Training schedule and fixtures
Click on the link under ‘Training’ heading for the Term 4 Training Schedule.
Click on the link under ‘Games’ heading for the Term 4 Draw.
Please keep an eye on the weekly fixtures which will be sent out from Week 1 Term 4.
During Week 9, we will be holding a Junior School Winter Co-curricular Awards Assembly during Period 6 on Tuesday 17th September. This assembly is for students only due to capacity in our Auditorium. Students who missed presentation nights will receive their trophies. We will also acknowledge other co-curricular activities that students have participated in, and announce Athletics Age Champions.
Marley Fuller (Year 5) won the MVP for his state champion U12 Comets team on Friday night. Congratulations Marley!
The FunRun ‘Big Show’ event is now less than 2 weeks away (Wednesday, 25 September) and we are so excited to have all students at Waverley Park to celebrate the fundraising with our Colour Run.
The Colour Run will be taking place between 10am and 12pm at Waverley Park. It will involve students running around the marked track through colour spraying sections and giant inflatables. There will be an awards ceremony and staff members will be slimed at the end of the event. Parents are warmly welcome to attend and we look forward to seeing you there. Once the event concludes, teachers will walk their class back to school for a sausage sizzle lunch catered for by the Junior School. Parents may take their sons home following the lunch by signing out with the students’ classroom teacher. All other students will be dismissed from the Junior School at 3pm.
Please help your sons prepare for the day by:
We are looking forward to celebrating our incredible efforts in fundraising for our four special charities:
Thank you for all your support thus far!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Junior School boys had an absolute blast during Science Week! Participating in a variety of fun and interactive activities, they explored the 2024 theme ‘Species Survival’ while fostering teamwork and creativity. The enthusiasm was visible as students took part in hands-on experiments in class, The Great Big Science Show, lunchtime experiment workshops, a colouring competition and an exciting coding task, making it a memorable week for everyone involved.
Mr Max Mancinelli
Science Teacher
mmancinelli@waverley.nsw.edu.au
No Home Learning Thursday, 19 September
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 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Procedures
Register your son HERE
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, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This term, 5 Orange have been working hard to develop their persuasive writing skills. They have explored a range of techniques that can be utilised to make one’s persuasive writing stronger. 5 Orange have also read and listened to famous activists such as Greta Thunberg and Martin Luther King Jr who put these techniques to great use. Students are looking forward to choosing their own cause to write about and put these persuasive writing techniques into action. In doing so we will utilise the fantastic platform that is Writer’s Toolbox. We absolutely love the feedback that it provides us and we love to watch our writing strength score grow.
In Mathematics, we have been focusing on angles, position, 2D shapes, and fractions. The students have enjoyed participating in hands-on activities to consolidate their understanding of these concepts. 5 Orange has also fallen in love with the website 99Math, which provides fun, interactive, topic-specific math quizzes that help us transfer knowledge from our short-term memory to long-term memory. We understand how important having a growth mindset is in mathematics and we live by this quote from Winston Churchill:
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Our class has also been busy preparing for the upcoming Junior School Fun Run. The students are excited to participate in this event and raise money for four worthy causes: Educating the Future, Indigenous Literacy Foundation, RUOK and Edmund Rice Camps. We are also super excited about the upcoming school musical Lion King Jr and we loved the process of recording our song with Mr Bowden.
Mr Elliott McKimm
5 Orange teacher
emckimm@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
