Now in its 25th year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual event where all Primary School children are encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a Community Event seeking to promote Road Safety, Health, Public Transport and the Environment.
Waverley College will be promoting this initiative as the below objectives are inline with the message we want to instil in our students;
The Objectives of WSTSD are:
We encourage our students to walk or catch public transport to school on Friday, 10 May 2024 or suggest parents and carers who have to drive, to park the car at least 10 minutes away from the school.
We will have fresh pieces of fruit and muesli bars to celebrate our students as they enter the school on the significant benefits that regular walking can have on their physical, mental and social health.
I wish all families a safe and restful break, and as always, we appreciate the unwavering support. We look forward to an exciting Term 2.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The World’s Greatest Shave Foundation Campaign is led by Lacey House. I know many in our community cherish and support graciously every year and is one that has directly supported some of our past and present families at the College.
The Lacey Leadership Team would like to thank you for your support. Almost $14,000 has been raised for this charity. There were four students in the Junior School who had their heads shaved this year and we are very proud of their efforts and support, as well as raising large amounts of money.
A huge thank you to Ollie Johnson, Arlo Buchanan, Ellis Cario and Marcello Zanco.
Thank you for your support and if you would still like to make a donation please click HERE.
Jai Brodie – Lacey House Captain
Mr Damien Thompson
Head of Lacey House
dthompson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Jai Brodie – Lacey House Captain
Mr Damien Thompson
Head of Lacey House
dthompson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The celebration of mothers, grandmothers and significant others in the lives of our Waverley College Students, will be celebrated on Friday, 10 May at 12pm (Week 2A, Term 2). This will be at Mary Immaculate Church followed by a light lunch at the Junior School.
View the invitation HERE.
RSVP HERE.
Part of the celebration will include a slideshow. Please send through a photo of your son(s) with their mothers/grandmothers if you would like a photo included in this presentation. If all photos could be emailed through by no later than Monday, 6 May 2024.
Please email photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
For parents/carers seeking information regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important that you contact your local parish to find out the details regarding when the Sacrament will be celebrated, and when the preparation classes will be held.
For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 23 June 2024 at 2pm.
Please be aware that the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated each year, therefore only Year 6 students will be enrolled to receive the Sacrament.
View the boundary map HERE to see if you are within the parish boundary.
For further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament, click HERE.
The document below will also give you important information regarding the dates of the Preparation program.
View the Sacrament of Confirmation Preparation Note HERE.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Wednesday and Thursday ONLY
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
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.
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.
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We have made it to the end of an amazing term of Summer Sport and Swimming. Congratulations to all the Junior School boys who played in their Summer Teams with pride and also to those who attended our various Clubs on top of sport.
At the Junior School, we offer so many opportunities for boys to extend themselves beyond school sport, such as Run Club, Judo Club, Hip Hop Dance Club, Chess Club, Coding Club, Spanish Club, Innovation Club and more. We are grateful for the skilled and passionate coaches and teachers who run these sessions for our students.
We look forward to the winter sport season beginning and our Clubs continuing next Term, but for now you have all earned a break!
A special shout out to the 20 Junior School boys who were selected last year to play at Armidale this weekend. We have been training hard and are raring to go. Thank you in advance to the families who are transporting and accommodating the boys out there. It will be such a memorable weekend and I look forward to sharing our results here next term.
Congratulations to our Swimming Age Champions for 2024, who were presented with their trophies at Assembly on Monday. The Swimming Age Champions are calculated on the points scored at our Swimming Carnival earlier in the year.
U10 Swimming Age Champions
U11 Swimming Age Champions
U12 Swimming Age Champions
Well done to Jordan Strbac, Louie Cummins and Alex Jenkins in Year 6 who competed at the CIS AFL Trials on Monday this week. The trial was tough with lots of good footy played! The boys all tried their best to showcase their talent amongst many other boys from Sydney to Coolangatta. Jordan and Alex were both selected in the CIS team and will compete at the championships in Aubrey in May. We wish them both the best of luck.
On Wednesday, twelve Junior School boys ran in the IPSHA Cross Country Trials, after the original carnival was rained out last weekend. Jagger Michael placed 14th in the U11 race, with a time of 12:17.35 which means he has been selected to run at the NSWCIS Cross Country Carnival in the IPSHA Team. This will be held on Thursday, 6 June 2024 at Sydney International Equestrian Centre. Well done to all our runners, go Waves!
U10 Cross Country
U11 Cross Country
U12 Cross Country
On Thursday, Jack Forde and Kai Hess swam at the NSWPSSA Championships after progressing through CIS earlier in the Term.
Congratulations to Kai Hess, who placed 6th overall in U11 50m Freestyle and a special mention to Jack Forde who came 4th place overall in U11 50m Freestyle, which means he progresses to Nationals!
We wish Jack the best of luck in Term 3 when he will represent Waverley at this incredibly high level. We applaud both boys for their incredible efforts in the pool this Term.
Please find the Draft Terms 2 and 3 Junior School Winter Training Schedule 2024, HERE under ‘Training’ and the Draft Winter Draw under ‘Games’.
Wishing you all a wonderful and safe holiday break.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Step back in time with our Year 5 students as they journeyed through the cobblestone streets of colonial Australia during their history excursion on Wednesday. Students immersed themselves in the tales of early settlers, exploring hidden laneways, buildings, and historical sites in The Rocks. From experiencing life as a convict to uncovering cautionary tales, this hands-on adventure brought history to life in a thrilling and exciting way. With passionate tour guides from Ranger Jamie Tours leading the way, our students walked away with a deeper understanding of Australia’s beginnings and a newfound appreciation for the past.
Ms Chloe-Jane Tweedie
Teacher of 5 White
ctweedie@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This Term in Science has been an exhilarating journey for our students! Year 5 delved into the captivating realm of forces and energy through hands-on experiments, while Year 6 students embarked on a fascinating exploration of the living world and adaptations.
Additionally, this Term marked a significant milestone with the introduction of our new VEX robotics kits, igniting passion and creativity as students delved into STEM challenges, building, exploring, and inspiring innovation.
Mr Max Mancinelli
Teacher of Science
mmancinelli@waverley.nsw.edu.au
I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter long weekend and enjoyed a well earned break from such a busy Term. We jumped straight into an exciting week here in the Junior School.
Our students engaged in a live theatre show ‘Cyberkindness’ on Wednesday. This performance addressed crucial topics such as online safety, cyberbullying, seeking help, and making informed decisions in the digital world in a fun and interactive way.
Some feedback from students;
“I learnt that if someone says something unkind, don’t text back.” – Jack Saliba
“I have learned some websites you can go to if you are getting bullied online like Kids Help Line and e-safety.” – Alfie Deal
“I learnt that if someone sends a mean comment, don’t be shy to tell a guardian.” – Romeo Bryen
“I learnt that you must be kind on the Internet and that the Internet can cause big problems. We are all so lucky that we got to go to that event.” – Elton Loveday
I would like to thank the families who were able to come to Open Classrooms today. There was a buzz in the air with how excited and proud our students were to showcase their classroom and the work they have created this Term. We are so grateful that you were able to share in this experience.
Coding class will continue on Monday next Term. If you would like your son to be part of the session please go to the booking link HERE.
Class Type: Coding
Day: Monday
Dates: 6 May – 24 June 2024
Time: 3:15pm – 4:30pm
View the coding flyer HERE.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The celebration of mothers, grandmothers and significant others in the lives of our Waverley College Students, will be celebrated on Friday, 10 May at 12pm (Week 2A, Term 2). This will be at Mary Immaculate Church followed by a light lunch at the Junior School.
View the invitation HERE.
RSVP HERE.
Part of the celebration will include a slideshow. Please send through a photo of your son(s) with their mothers/grandmothers if you would like a photo included in this presentation. If all photos could be emailed through by no later than Monday, 6 May 2024.
Please email photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
For parents/carers seeking information regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important that you contact your local parish to find out the details regarding when the Sacrament will be celebrated, and when the preparation classes will be held.
For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 23 June at 2pm.
Please be aware that the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated each year, therefore only Year 6 students will be enrolled to receive the Sacrament.
View the boundary map HERE to see if you are within the parish boundary.
For further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament, click HERE.
The document below will also give you important information regarding the dates of the Preparation program.
View the Sacrament of Confirmation Preparation Note HERE.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Winter Sport Teams have been announced this week, following three weeks of trials. While this can bring on strong feelings for our budding sportsmen, we ask families to support our players to exhibit the Junior School’s core values of respect, compassion and resilience. We are very much looking forward to the commencement of the Winter Sport Season, beginning Week 1 of Term 2.
In the recent NSWCIS Swimming Championships, we have some honourable mentions from our Waverley Junior School Swim Team:
We look forward to celebrating our Swimming awards at Monday’s assembly.
Congratulations also to Marley Fuller (Year 5) and Charlie Draper (Year 6) who represented the Sydney Comets Div 1 Gold Team in the Championships at the Adelaide Easter Classic over the long weekend. Playing six games in total, they beat the tournament favourites, however just went down in the semi finals.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
NO Home Learning Wednesday and Thursday
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
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.
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.
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
It was a privilege to have Brett Covell as our last guest speaker for Term 1.
Brett is a Waverley Old Boy and Dad of Lachlan in Year 5. Brett is the Head of APAC Media Electronic Arts. He gave the Junior School boys an insight into the world of advertising.
Brett had the boys captivated with his wealth of knowledge about the industry and the game trivia with prizes to win was so much fun.
The Junior School extends its sincere gratitude to Brett Covell for his invaluable contribution to our Term 1 Lunchtime Talk guest speaker series. His passion and dedication to inspiring the next generation of advertisers and innovators is truly appreciated.
When boys are given the opportunity to choose the books and texts they read, they tend to be more attentive and invested in the reading material. This aligns with research showing that allowing students to have a voice in their learning can boost motivation and engagement.
Empowering boys to have a say in their reading not only engages them more effectively but also helps build their confidence and sense of agency as learners. The Learning Hub’s priority is to source books that students want to read.
Jesse Araujo – Sneaker Obsession
“Reading books is not really my thing, but when I’m reading about something I love, I just can’t stop. Have fun reading and always read what you like in life.”
Fergus Samba Hoare – Pipe Dreams: A Surfer’s Journey
“I’ve been trying to read more and I have been so excited to get this book and start reading. I struggle to find books that interest me, but Miss Zivanovic helps me get the best book for me that I will enjoy.”
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy and Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
In Maths Enrichment classes this Term, boys have been tasked with the responsibility of designing the ‘perfect’ school from the very beginning of such a process. As we progress we are discovering that such a project requires knowledge across a broad range of mathematical concepts.
At the moment, boys are in the design phase using their knowledge of Area, Length and Scale to design the layout of our ‘perfect’ school.
Mr Tom Olds and Mr Elliot McKimm
Classroom teachers
tolds@waverley.nsw.edu.au
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
5 Orange has been learning this Term about the Four Touchstones of Edmund Rice Schools Australia in Religion lessons. The Four Touchstones that we value deeply at Waverley College are Liberating Education, Inclusive Community, Gospel Spirituality and Justice & Solidarity. Boys have reflected deeply on what Touchstone they value the most.
On Harmony Day we celebrated each other’s culture and heritage by sharing food.
At our Judaism Incursion we made Matzah Bread and learned all about the story of Passover. Both of these events were a shining example to 5 Orange of what an Inclusive Community looks like.
A special mention must also be extended to Leo Murphy from 5 Orange who recently represented NSW in the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships at Coolangatta.
Mr Elliott McKimm
Teacher of 5 Orange
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
I am excited to announce an upcoming event that aligns perfectly with our commitment to promoting cyber safety and digital literacy among our students. On 3 April, our Junior School students will watch a live theatre show ‘Cyberkindness.’ This performance is specifically designed to address crucial topics such as online safety, cyberbullying, seeking help, and making informed decisions in the digital world.
This educational experience draws on research-based insights from the eSafety Commissioner and is aimed at equipping our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the digital landscape responsibly.
Term 2 2024: Coding
Coding class will continue on Monday next term. If you would like your son to be part of the session please book HERE.
Details:
Class Type: Coding
Day: Monday
Dates: 6 May – 24 June 2024
Times: 3:15pm – 4:30pm
View the Code Camp flyer HERE.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The St Patrick’s Day Bake Sale was a huge success at the Junior School last Friday. We were so grateful for the many donations of cakes, lollies and jellies from the students in Green and Conlon House as well as our Class Captains and Vice-Captains.
As a result, we raised over $500 that will go towards CARITAS as part of our Lenten Appeal. Thanks to everyone who supported this wonderful cause. Your generosity does not go unnoticed.
Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
It was great to see so many cultures being celebrated at the Junior School as each class shared in delicious delicacies from around the world.
During class throughout the week, students were also busy creating posters that reflected their family’s cultural heritage. This brought a lot of interesting discussion as they were able to see the different nationalities of both staff and students in the Junior School.
The celebration of mothers, grandmothers and significant others in the lives of our Waverley College Students, will be celebrated on Friday, 10 May at 12pm (Week 2A, Term 2). This will be at Mary Immaculate Church followed by a light lunch at the Junior School.
View the flyer HERE.
RSVP HERE.
Part of the celebration will include a slideshow. Please send through a photo of your son(s) with their mothers/grandmothers if you would like a photo included in this presentation. If all photos could be emailed through by no later than Monday, 6 May 2024.
Please email photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
And that’s a wrap for Term 1 Summer Sport! Well done to our students for reaching what marks the halfway point of Junior School Summer Sport, to be continued in Term 4. I’d also like to send a huge thank you to the families for your support over the term with preparing your sons, doing morning and afternoon drop offs, offering car pools, spectating home and away games, and even setting up delicious post-match functions!
12C Cricket BBQ
12C Cricket
Basketball J
Basketball N
We are looking forward to our final Winter Sport Trial next Tuesday, 26 March. After this, winter teams will be announced to students on Wednesday.
Please see my latest app announcement for the Draft Winter Training Schedule. Final copies of the Winter Training Schedule and Winter Draw will be available on the College website by the end of Term 1, but are subject to change.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
*NO Home Learning Tuesday, 26 March 2024
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3pm-4pm – 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 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.
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: Ms Natasha Zivanovic nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Tuesday and Wednesday: Ms Gaby Bransby gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Thursday: Mr Steve Ghattas sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
It was a privilege to have Duncan Petit, the father of Jake in Year 7 and Leo in Year 5, as he shed light on his role as the Director of Restaurants for Uber in Australia and New Zealand. This company, established in 2008 by two friends waiting for a taxi in Paris, has evolved from a single idea at a specific moment into a globally successful company spanning over 10,000+ cities, 72 countries and six continents.
Duncan captivated his audience by revealing extraordinary statistics and insider insights about Uber. The boys are still talking about the stats shared!
Thank you for taking the time to inspire the Waverley boys to be brave, share their ideas, and pursue their passions wholeheartedly.
The primary goal of Lego Club is to foster Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Connections, Collaboration, and a touch of chaos. Recently, students applied these 5Cs to craft a Lego masterpiece centred around the theme of technology! From laptops and iPhones to Nintendo and emojis, this group consistently pushes boundaries and innovates with their imaginative creations.
The boys explored the very important theme of harmony through engaging literature.
Rich literature was used to foster meaningful discussions on the themes of harmony, inclusivity, respect, a shared sense of belonging, and cultural diversity.
The boys highlighted many important facts and were involved in a collaborative mind-mapping learning experience that promoted reading and critical thinking.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Starting their new Waverley journey tremendously, the boys in 5 Red are making the most of the teaching and learning opportunities available at the College.
Growing and developing relationships along the way, lifetime friendships are in their early days, as the boys continue their growth for knowledge.
We are loving the wide array of topics, courses and classes that the Waverley College Junior School sends our way.
We approach life’s challenges with optimism and a positive mindset, knowing that we have the support of our Waverley brothers by our side each day.
Here are a few snapshots of what we have been up to during Term 1.
Wishing everyone a lovely Easter with all of your friends, loved ones and sons.
Mr Alon Horry
Teacher of 5 Red
ahorry@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
As you are aware, our school will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 13 – 22 March 2024. The NAPLAN Writing went really well on Wednesday and we look forward to continuing NAPLAN next week. Please view the timetable HERE.
This year we will celebrate Harmony Day on Thursday, 21 March (Week 8). We are asking students to bring in a gold coin donation to support our CARITAS appeal.
We would also like to celebrate our diversity by asking students to bring in a plate of food from home that best represents their culture, that can be shared amongst the class.
*If you are making the food could you please list the ingredients on it, as we do have students with severe allergies.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A reminder that the Junior School are supporting the Year 11 Social Justice program, Night Patrol. We are asking 5 Blue and 6 Blue students for the following donations for the first Night Patrol on Monday, 18 March 2024:
Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.
For students who are part of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Kensington, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered at the Church by Bishop Umbers on Wednesday, 12 June 2024.
The parent enrolment night is Wednesday, 20 March at 6:30pm in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 4 Roma Avenue, Kensington. Parents/carers will need to bring information about the child’s Baptism: date, name of the Church and Parish of Baptism.
Please note: Waverley College assists in preparing only the students who are part of Mary Immaculate Church or live within the parish boundaries for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please ensure that you reach out to your local parish to check the dates of this Sacrament to ensure that you don’t miss out.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
It was a big week in Junior School Sport – wrapping up our Summer Sport with our final week of training and beginning our first of three Winter Sport Trials. I am so proud of our Junior School boys for their efforts at the first trial. While trials can be nerve wracking, our students showed determination and resilience, knowing they will be soon placed into one of our great teams.
Congratulations to our Water Polo A team, who played a full match and worked so well as a team, passing and lining up the balls for each other to score goals. Well done!
We also had Man City trials for future students who want to be part of our esteemed Football program. Well done to all boys who trialled.
Finally, congratulations to our Junior School students who competed in the Surf Lifesaving NSW State Age Championships on Saturday, 9 March.
The U12 Male Surf Team took home the bronze medal on Saturday in the U12 Surf Team final.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
*No Home Learning Tuesday, 19 March 2024
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3pm-4pm – 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 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.
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.
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
On International Women’s Day, Simone Condon, an esteemed Executive Producer and Mum to Xavier Year 6, shared her inspiring journey with Junior School students. Renowned for her drive, passion, and storytelling, she has made a significant impact in the industry through her work on live events across 195 cities globally.
Her list of shows and events is long and impressive, with her most recent on the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australian Ceremonies. Thank you for taking the time out to inspire the future executive producers to dream big.
Debating season is around the corner and once again, I am astounded by the amount of interest and enthusiasm of the boys at the Junior School.
I would like to congratulate Flynn Rigby, Thomas Taylor, Ellis Cario, Zachary Hickman, Luke Haddock, Ethan Uncle, Xavier Burns, Hugh Rachel and Finn Constable who have been selected to represent the Junior School forming our IPSHA Debating team.
The Waverley Youth Art Prize returns for 2024 and the drawing club students have been busy working on their artistic interpretations of the theme ‘Mysteries of the Deep.’
Embark on a captivating journey through Australia’s past as we explore the Federation era and the crucial development of Indigenous rights. In 6 Orange History classes, students have immersed themselves in the transformative Freedom Ride, led by Charles Perkins and University of Sydney students at the time.
Guided by curiosity, our students investigated the significance of the Freedom Rides, tracing the footsteps of those who challenged injustice across the country. Inspired, they assumed the role of journalists, crafting newspaper articles that echoed the call for justice and equality.
Here are a few examples of the articles created by some of our future journalists. These are some of our first drafts for the newspaper articles.
Max Roberts
Harrison Hughes
Jamie Pettit
Taj Cooke
Mr Tom Olds
Classroom Teacher 6 Orange
tolds@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
As you aware, our school will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 13 and 22 March 2024. Please see the timetable below.
On Monday 4 March, Mr Ghattas and myself had the privilege of accompanying the Year 6 Class Captains and Vice-Captains to the National Young Leaders Day at the ICC in Darling Harbour. It was an energising, fun and inspiring day for our students. They danced, met other students and listened to a range of different presenters (Anatasia Woolmer, Bryson Klein, Eva Amores, Matt Cosgrove and Stephen O’Keefe).
These inspiring people shared their personal stories and the journey they have travelled in order to reach their true potential and find their purpose. The main messages were around building resilience, the need for perseverance and what it takes to be a leader.
One of the highlights from the day was when Tio Norman was selected to ask Steve O’Keefe a question.
What did you enjoy most about the day? That I was able to ask Steve O’Keefe a question about what kept him motivated to pursue his cricket career. His reply was, “When he did not get selected for his team when he was younger, it made him want it more.”
What speaker did you enjoy the most and why? “The people who created the series The Worst Week Ever. I liked how they even put their own embarrassing stories into it.”
What’s one thing that you learnt after today? “That it is a lot more complex to become a leader and it takes perseverance. Also that there is a sport called Memory Games.”
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
To celebrate the Feast of St Patrick, on Friday, 15 March, the Junior School will hold a sale at recess time. Cupcakes (with green icing), green jelly, lolly bags and a few other items will be on sale for a gold coin donation.
All money raised will go towards our Lenten Appeal. We are asking for donations of these items from Conlon and Green Houses as well as our Class-Captains and Vice-Captains, who will also assist on the day.
All students are able to come to school dressed in their PE uniform on the day, wearing a touch of green to support the day (ribbon, socks, hat).
Once a month, as part of the Social Justice program, our Year 11 students will hit the streets to feed the homeless men and women of Sydney. This initiative is run by the St Vincent de Paul Society and gives the students an insight into the vast array of people (children, teens and adults from varying backgrounds) who are homeless and the journey that each of them are on.
As this face-to-face experience is not suitable for our Junior School students, we will ask the senior boys to come down and talk to the juniors about their experiences.
One way that we can assist is by offering donations throughout the year. We are asking 5 Blue and 6 Blue students for the following donation for the first Night Patrol on Monday, 18 March 2024:
This week we recommence teaching the Second Step Wellbeing program in the Junior School. Research has shown that a whole-school, evidence-based approach to Wellbeing will improve the socio-emotional skills of students which will positively affect their spiritual, emotional and academic life at Waverley.
The program focuses on skills that will help your son succeed in school and in life. These skills include:
You play a vital role in helping your student develop strong social skills. During these next few weeks, the focus of the lessons will be empathy and communication.
Ask questions about the skills your student is learning, such as:
If you have any questions about the curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Stephen Ghattas or Ms Jade Sparks for more information. Thank you for supporting your son in learning the skills that lead to success in school and in life.
Make sure to join www.secondstep.org with the activation key SSP5FAMILY75 to watch videos about the Second Step program and get information about what your student is learning.
For students who are part of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Kensington, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered at the Church by Bishop Umbers on Wednesday, 12 June 2024.
The parent enrolment night is Wednesday, 20 March at 6:30pm in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 4 Roma Avenue, Kensington.
Parents will need to bring information about the child’s Baptism: date, name of the Church and Parish of Baptism.
Please note: Waverley College assists in preparing only the students who are part of Mary Immaculate Church or live within the parish boundaries for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Please ensure that you reach out to your local parish to check the dates of this Sacrament to ensure that you don’t miss out.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School/Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
I enjoyed accompanying 11 students at the IPSHA Swimming Carnival at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday, 5 March. These boys swam extremely well for Waverley, even breaking some personal best times! A special mention to Kai Hess (Year 5) and Jack Forde (Year 5) who will both be representing Waverley at CIS for a combined total of seven individual races.
Furthermore, both our Senior Relay Team (U11/U12) and our Junior Relay Team (U10) made it in the top five fastest times against the competing schools, which means they also get to compete at CIS later this month.
Congratulations to all our swimmers and thanks to your families for supporting such a successful day.
Our 6A Cricket boys showed great resilience on Saturday, after needing 71 runs to win! They were 2/0 and then 3/8 however went on to win 3/72!
Thank you to all the parents who attend, support and even help out with scoring at their son’s sporting commitments. I am proud of our Waverley community and the benefit of community engagement on student success and enjoyment is unparalleled. We are so grateful.
Junior School Winter Sport Trials will begin next Wednesday, 13 March 2024. Please read the following information and prepare your son/s:
Dates/Times:
Location: Queens Park
Uniform: Students arrive at school in full PE uniform. It is a normal school day until 1pm.
Pack: Water bottle, sunscreen, and sport-specific gear for both preferences as below:
Your son will be reminded of his Winter Sport preferences by his class teacher and there will be no changes, as the numbers have already been used to create the Winter Sport Draw.
Teams will be announced on Wednesday, 27 March.
Please indicate permission for your son to be dismissed from Queens Park at the conclusion of each trial through the Parent Lounge Event “JS: Winter Sport Trials Dismissal”. Ensure you make a plan with your son for each trial date.
Please review the Sport Trials Policy HERE to understand the purpose and procedures of these trials.
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 3pm-4pm – 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 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.
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.
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
I’m thrilled to announce the upcoming Term 1 Lunchtime Guest Speakers.
The purpose of this initiative is to inspire young people to dream big, persevere through challenges, and never give up on their dreams.
Week 6 Lunchtime Talk
Week 7 Lunchtime Talk
Week 8 Lunchtime Talk
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We have been enjoying getting to know each other in 6 Indigo and learning more about ourselves along the way.
In Visual Arts, we designed our own personal symbol/s. The symbol/s could represent yourself, your family, a story, or something you love doing e.g. playing footy, spending time with friends.
We also completed some self-portraits that represented the mood we were in through the use of colour.
Mr Kendall Robinson
Teacher of 6 Indigo
krobinson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
A huge congratulations to the following students who volunteered their time during the Christmas break to support this wonderful charity.
Ayrton Barrie, Alessio Divic, Benjamin McGrath, Cooper Glenn, Dash Ingram, Flynn Oxborrow, Jack Gibson, Marcello Zanco, Oscar Griffin, Patrick Mahoney, Phoenix Tilly, William Sorrenson, Zachary Hickman.
These students were among 1,200 young people who assisted in providing over 11,500 hot and cold meals, breakfast boxes, snack packs, care packs, writing empathetic, positive messages to 15 charities around Sydney.
Kids Giving Back expressed that these students “demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, compassion, and a strong sense of civic responsibility. They truly embody the spirit of giving back and we wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude for their contributions. The commitment to altruism is truly inspiring and a testament to the values that your school instils in them.”
A wonderful representation of Waverley and our values. We are extremely proud of these students.
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
Our school will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 13 and 22 March 2024.
We do not recommend excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online, however, if you are looking for any resources to familiarise your son with the online testing platform, you can view the public demonstration site HERE.
We truly believe that we prepare our Waverley students through the quality teaching and learning experiences they already receive in the classroom. Our Year 5 teachers will be offering opportunities for Year 5 to become familiar with the NAPLAN interface and utilising Education Perfect to set some NAPLAN style practice questions in the lead up. We hope for this to be a stress free and supported experience for all of our students.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Aungier House Mass is coming up on Thursday, 7 March 2024 (Week 6). Students in Aungier House are expected to attend and parents are warmly invited to attend as well. This will be held in the Senior School Chapel at 6pm and will be followed by a light supper.
Please look out for an email from Mr John McCoy (Aungier Head of House).
Congratulations to the following boys in Years 5 and 6 who have been voted in by their peers and teachers as this year’s Class Captains. The Year 6 students will hold this position for the entire year, whilst an opportunity for other Year 5 students will take place at the beginning of Term 3.
I look forward to working with these boys throughout the year. I also wish to acknowledge all the boys who put their hands up and bravely stood in front of their class to deliver their own speeches.
| Year 6 Captain | Year 6 Vice-Captain | Year 5 Captain | Year 5 Vice-Captain | |
| Blue | Enzo Blackwell | Jordan Strbac | Billy Gibbons | Hayden Greenberg |
| Gold | Thomas Taylor | Reggie Horsley | Rosario Squadritto | Marlon Hair |
| Indigo | Ellis Cario | Tio Norman | Sam Jarrett | Samuel Loughrey |
| Orange | Sebastian Lopez-Heslop | Cruz Peralta | Luka Whalan | Jack Morahan Saliba |
| Red | Fergus Samba Hoare | Ashaan Kalmar | Hugo D’Amours | Valentino Guirreri |
| White | Lucas Marin | Jake Saad | Silas Murphy | Jagger Michael |
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of the Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This week, the Year 5 students were honoured to have Waverley parent, Gene Ross, present his knowledge about Indigenous heroes from Australia’s colonial period. He explained the four pillars of Indigenous culture in great depth (Family, Lore, Country and Spirituality). Gene, a proud Gadigal, Bidiagal and Birrabirragal man, connected with the boys sharing about family, background and his connection to Country.
Students and teachers joined in celebrating the lives of the notable First Nations Australians such as Patyegarang, Barangaroo, Bennelong, Bungaree, Pemulwuy, Tarenorerer, Yarri and Jacky Jacky. Gene captivatingly explained the importance of these figures in their historical context and helped the boys in understanding the different perspectives at the time of colonisation.
To the excitement of many, Gene also shared special significant artefacts such as an Aboriginal spear, hunting boomerang and axe. There is a buzz of excitement and curiosity in the air as the boys continue their inquiry in the lead up to the History Showcase in Term 2.
Ms Elise Hunt
Teacher of 5 Blue
ehunt@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents and Carers,
The Waverley College Junior School holds an internal Cross Country race. This is to aid in the selection of our long distance runners to represent Waverley at a high level.
This invitational race is not a ‘carnival’ and boys should only consider entering if they have aspirations of being selected to race at representative carnivals. This would require students to know they are able to run a competitive time for the set distances.
Athletes will be timed and notified of their selection in our College team in the days following our carnival.
When: Wednesday, 6 March 2024 (Week 6B)
Time: 12:45pm
Dress: Students participating may wear their sports uniform for the entire day.
Like with Run Club, students can eat their lunch upon their return to school.
Parents/carers are more than welcome to attend and support their sons.
Please complete the attached Google form HERE to indicate permission for your son to race in our invitational event.
Mr Elliott McKimm
5 Orange Teacher and Assistant Director of Curriculum
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Round 3 of Summer Sport was a success, with impressive results from all teams. Congratulations particularly to our Cricket teams, who all came away from Saturday with wins. Well done!
Year 6 Cricket B
Year 6 Cricket C
Congratulations to our Water Polo Bs who showed resilience after a close game against St Augustine’s, coming back from 5-2 to be equal 5-5 and just losing 6-5 in the last minute.
Well done to Charlie Burrows and his family who competed in the Husky Triathlon last weekend, where they had a great time and all came through with great results. The “Big Husky” Triathlon Festival has grown to become one of Australia’s most loved of the ‘Long Course’ events.
2024 marks 19 years of Shimano Husky excitement! Congratulations to Charlie and his family on their efforts.
We are looking forward to Round 4 sport tomorrow – go Waves!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular
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 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.
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.
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.
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
The Junior School debating tryouts are on Tuesday, 12 March 2024 (Week 7) in the Learning Hub Period 1.
If your son would like to try out for the IPSHA team he will need to do the following:
*Choose one of the below topics:
*Write a 1-2 minute speech taking the side of the affirmative or negative.
*On the day he will refute the student speaking before him. Then he will continue with his speech.
The drawing club operates at lunchtime once a week. In the last two weeks, the focus was on planning for the Waverley Youth Art Prize 2024. This year, the competition is asking aspiring artists to respond to the theme Mysteries of the Deep.
I’m extremely proud of the dedication and commitment to drawing these boys show weekly.
The LEGO Club, a creative and engaging platform for our Junior School enthusiasts, recently explored the theme of ‘Environment.’ Last week’s inspiration sparked a flurry of innovative builds and discussions centred around sustainability, conservation, and eco-friendly practices.
Participants delved into constructing intricate models depicting nature, showcasing the power of imagination. The session not only fostered a sense of community among members but also highlighted the importance of incorporating environmental awareness into the realm of creativity.
Joe Fanning “Love working under pressure and completing weekly challenges.”
Tristan Reay “Lego club is an amazing way to express your imagination when you think in your curious ways.”
Will Duffin “I like that everyone is very creative.”
Kai Taylor “Very fun and very creative!”
Orson Hayes “It’s just fun!”
Hayden Greenberg “Lego club is amazing and lets everyone express what they are thinking about into blocks.”
Dylan King “Very fun.”
It was an honour to host Dr David Heslop as our inaugural guest speaker for 2024. Dr Heslop, a distinguished professional in Science and Medicine, excels as a medical scientist, medical doctor, army officer, husband, and father to Seb in Year 6. His lunchtime presentation sparked curiosity among the students, particularly through his captivating stories of service as an army officer, showcasing his unwavering dedication to duty and honour.
Dr Heslop shared insightful experiences from working alongside the Special Operations team in Afghanistan, leaving the students in admiration of his stories and profound words of wisdom. His strong message, “take the opportunity when it is present,” resonated deeply with our audience. Thank you Dr David Heslop for generously dedicating the time to inspire the boys in our Junior School.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
I’m absolutely delighted to share the wonderful progress that 5 Gold has made since becoming part of the Waverley College Junior School. The students have smoothly settled into their new academic setting, embracing the spirit of Waverley with genuine enthusiasm and dedication. Witnessing their daily commitment to writing, reading, and engaging with quality literature is truly heartwarming, showcasing a sincere eagerness to immerse themselves in their own individual learning.
I am proud of how the boys have wholeheartedly embraced the philosophy of making 1% improvement every single day. This commitment to incremental progress is evident in the impressive improvements seen in their writing skills. The positive outcomes resulting from their dedication to literary activities are influencing various aspects of their academic journey, highlighting the significant impact of a well-rounded education.
As their teacher, I’m genuinely excited about the ongoing growth and development that the rest of the year holds for them. Given their current progress, I have every confidence that 5 Gold will continue to flourish throughout 2024.
Mr Luke Burns
Teacher of 5 Gold
lburns@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
Our school will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 13 – 22 March 2024.
We do not recommend excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online, however, if you are looking for any resources to familiarise your son with the online testing platform, click HERE to access the public demonstration site.
We truly believe that we prepare our Waverley students through quality teaching and learning experiences that they already receive in the classroom. Our Year 5 teachers will be offering opportunities for Year 5 to become familiar with the NAPLAN interface, and utilising Education Perfect to set some NAPLAN-style practice questions in the lead up.
We hope for this to be a stress-free and supported experience for all of our students.
From time to time you will receive an email letting you know your son has received a Pastoral Care notifications. Please click HERE to view instructions about how to navigate retrieving the notification on TASS.
Thank you to all the parents and carers who attended the Elephant Ed Parent Webinar on Tuesday evening. It was a great success and I hope everyone walked away with some valuable skills and knowledge to support your son.
Please see the Powerpoint Slides HERE for your reference.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Tuesday, 20 February 2024, the first of the Big Brother Little Brother sessions for our Year 5 and Year 10 students was held. This session focused on the boys getting to know one another through a series of questions. They were engaged in interesting conversations that will hopefully build relationships that will flourish over the course of the year, and develop into lifelong friendships. Upon their return, the Year 5 students were eager to share their experiences with their friends and teachers.
On Monday, 19 February 2024, a student-led initiative to raise finds for CARITAS was held at the Junior School. Nico Wyse, Thomas Taylor, Joey Oultram, Zac Hughes, Luke Haddock and Oscar Griffin, spent their weekend baking the brownies at home in a bid to raise money for our Lenten Appeal.
We are proud to say they raised $479. A big thank you to all the boys and their families, as well as the many students who supported by buying the delicious treats.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This week, the Year 5 students participated in a History Launch Event, igniting their curiosities about the history of Australia. The purpose of the launch was to create an environment for the students to become curious about significant events and people in the development of Australia. The students were filled with wonder perusing different artefacts, images and information presented to them. The launch was a great success, empowering the students to become motivated to learn and to prepare them for the immersion phase of the history inquiry unit.
Each class rotated around three different stations and completed a ‘pamphlet,’ recording three curiosities or questions they had for each topic. The different station topics were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, European Settlement, the Gold Rush period and the Rum Rebellion. A highlight for the boys was viewing the contribution of dioramas and posters from some of the Year 6 students from last year’s showcase. Thank you to the students who contributed their hard work!
Mr Elliott McKimm
Assistant Director of Curriculum
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Well done to our Junior School boys on their commitment in Round 2 of Summer Sport. With some tight matches resulting in two draws across the board, we had a very successful weekend including a worthwhile win from our Year 5 C1 Cricket team out at Bowral against The King’s College, Tudor House.
We also began our Extra Co-curricular programs this week, with Spanish Club, Run Club, Hip Hop Club, Judo Club and Innovation Club commencing.
>> https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/events/senior-and-junior-sport-fixtures/
>> https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/information/junior-school-sport/
We are looking forward to Round 3 sport tomorrow – go Waverley!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular
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 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.
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.
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
The Junior School debating tryouts are on Tuesday 12 March (Week 7) in the Learning Hub Period 1.
If your son would like to try out for the IPSHA team he will need to do the following:
*Choose one of the below topics:
*Write a 1-2 minute speech taking the side of the affirmative or negative.
*On the day he will refute the student speaking before him. Then he will continue with his speech.
The launch of Waverley’s first LEGO Club has been a tremendous success, fostering creativity, collaboration, and lifelong learning among students.
The students explored the boundless possibilities of LEGO construction, integrating STEAM education and promoting critical thinking and problem-solving. Additionally, it has fostered a culture of collaboration and teamwork, inspiring excitement for learning and cultivating resilience among students.
In essence, the inaugural LEGO Club is a shining example of the remarkable achievements that arise when passion meets opportunity, laying the groundwork for a future generation of innovators and creative thinkers. I’m looking forward to all our future sessions.
With great success, the Innovation Club started this week. With a wide range of creative initiatives underway and passionate members, it aims to push the limits of creativity and critical thinking – motivating and challenging its members to reach unprecedented levels of innovation.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy and Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Year 6 White of 2024 are a delightful, respectful and caring group of young Christian men. I am impressed by their demeanour and hard work. They enjoy the variety of lessons taught through a range of activities.
In the photos below, please note the happiness and seriousness they demonstrate in lessons. They genuinely respect and value each other, no matter what gifts they have.
6W in Week 1!
6W Legends, myths and fables
6W Science Robotics
6W Science STEM
6W collaborating in Mathematics
Mr Henry Stanton
Teacher of 6 White
hstanton@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Please see below for an invitation to a webinar presented by Elephant Ed on Puberty and Embracing Change.
When: Tuesday, 20 February 2024, 6pm-7pm
Topic: Puberty and Embracing Change
Elephant Ed is a leading sexuality education provider to hundreds of schools around Australia. Elephant Ed’s workshops are evidence-based, age-appropriate and mapped to State and National curriculum guidelines. Elephant Ed is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider and is endorsed as a quality-assured program in the NSW Department of Education’s Student Wellbeing external programs catalogue.
In advance of Elephant Ed’s workshops with Waverley College students, this webinar will include discussion around the physical, social and emotional changes associated with puberty, as well as strategies for starting open and effective conversations at home.
You are required to register in advance for this webinar. Please click HERE to register.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Junior School offers a range of opportunities for our students in the Performing Arts. Please see a description of what is available and we encourage all students to join no matter what skill level they are currently at;
The Waverley College Junior School Cantores is a choral group of approximately 40 students. The Cantores sing for liturgies, masses, concerts and competitions. The Cantores perform a mixture of contemporary and classical repertoire including choral works by Australian composers.
The Waterford Concert Band welcomes anyone who has played in a concert band for at least a year, regardless of their instrument. This includes pianists and bass players with a year of concert band experience. Rehearsals are held Thursday morning from 7:30am.
If you’re thinking about trying a new instrument or starting with a band instrument for the first time, our Beginning Band is a great place to start. We’re open to anyone interested in exploring the world of band instruments, and we provide a supportive environment for those beginning this musical journey.
Whether your son is experienced or just starting out, we’d love to have you join the Waterford Concert Band community.
If you have questions or need more info, please contact me on dwilliams@waverley.nsw.edu.au
There are a number of Rock Band Groups at the College. These groups are arranged by Year group and ability. The annual ‘Rock Band Festival’ gives each of the rock bands an opportunity to perform in front of their friends and family, and is one of the many highlights of the year in the Music Department.
Students in the ensemble range from Years 5 to 12, and approximately Grade 2 to Grade 5 standard (AMEB). The ensemble extends and enhances students’ musical development and enjoyment through the rehearsal and performance of stimulating repertoire.
The College has a number of guitar ensembles allowing students to play in a group of students with a similar level of attainment. In most Chamber Music groups there will be only one player per part, giving added responsibility to the musicians.
Private music tuition is available on a range of instruments. Students electing to take private music lessons must do so for a minimum of six months (one semester). There is an additional charge for the use of a College instrument.
Parents/carers who would like their sons to commence instrumental lessons or rock band must complete a private music registration form by clicking the Music Tuition Form HERE.
Please click HERE.
Ms Keiran Kossenberg
Performing Arts Centre Coordinator
kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Shrove Tuesday fundraiser at the Junior School was a huge success, raising approximately $700 that will go to Caritas as part of our Lenten Appeal for 2024.
The staff and students thoroughly enjoyed their delicious pancakes topped with whipped cream and plenty of maple syrup.
Many thanks to all the parents/carers who donated pancakes to support this appeal.
The first of our House Masses is coming up on Wednesday, 28 February 2024 (Week 5). Students in Brennan House are expected to attend and parents/carers are warmly invited to attend as well.
This will be held in the Senior School Chapel at 6pm and will be followed by a light supper.
Please look out for an email from Ms Kaitlyn Downey (Brennan Head of House).
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of the Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to all our sport teams on a fantastic Round 1, kicking off our Summer Season with pride. Our players have been working hard at training to demonstrate resilience and improve their skills. Thank you to our wonderful coaches and parents/carers for your support of our Junior School boys in their sports.
6A Cricket team won against St Patrick’s on Saturday
We also took a squad of 11 swimmers to the Cranbrook Invitational Swimming Carnival on Thursday. I am so proud of our boys and how they represented Waverley with such dignity. Well done boys.
You will have seen some communication from me on the Waverley app last week, regarding extra co-curricular activities at the Junior School.
I have contacted you this week if your son has been accepted to participate in Spanish, Judo, Hip Hop or Innovation Clubs (everyone who registered for Run Club is accepted). In the case I have not emailed you, unfortunately, your son was not selected this Semester due to capped class sizes. We certainly hope to accommodate him in future.
We have had a record number of students sign up to Run Club and we are looking forward to that commencing Monday, along with our other clubs!
>>> https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/events/senior-and-junior-sport-fixtures/
>>> https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/information/junior-school-sport/
We are looking forward to Round 2 sport tomorrow – go Waves!
With the huge number of keen participants wanting to join Run Club we will be splitting the sessions into two days. This begins next week.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
What a wonderful start it has been in the classroom. Our students have come back from a long break with enthusiasm to learn, and have already embraced the challenges we have set for them academically.
Students have started to set SMART goals with their classroom teachers this week. Goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely, will set our students up for success.
Students will set SMART goals each Term, and I encourage you to sit down and discuss what your son wants to achieve this Term. We know that having it recorded allows them to revisit their goal throughout the Term, and build on strategies to make sure they achieve their goal/s. These goals can be found on page 58 in the College Diary.
At the beginning of each Term, I will provide a Curriculum Overview of what your son will be learning in the classroom. It is clearly set out so that you can see the subject and the topics being taught across the curriculum. I hope you find it a useful tool to support your son and encourage conversation around the learning that is taking place in the classroom.
Mr Elliott McKimm
Director of Curriculum
emckimm@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 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.
Register your son via this 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.
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
The Waverley Reading Challenge began this week. This Challenge implements important strategies to assist your son to engage in reading positively.
The boys are challenged to read different genres, read non fiction, listen to audiobooks, give recommendations to their friends and develop a love of reading.
Giving boys choices also plays an important role in developing a love of reading, as does making sure they have access to the books they would like to read, providing a welcoming, flexible and comfortable space and time to read. The Learning Hub is continually working to support young readers in the Junior School.
Ethan Storie, Joe Fanning and Xavier Condon, our very own JS Waverley students, presented at our Lunchtime Talk on Friday.
The 3D print managers gave valuable tips on 3D printing, key elements for 3D design; simplicity, structure, and size and recommended design websites.
The JS boys loved every minute of the presentation and had many questions for our 3D printing gurus.
A huge thank you to Ethan, Joe and Xavier for giving up their time to inspire the next generation of innovators.
If you would like to volunteer to do a presentation, please email me directly at nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Drawing Club has started! Our avid artists will meet weekly to discuss all things art. Our first session was on Tuesday, 13 February 2024, our theme for the session was getting to know what each student enjoys drawing. The atmosphere in the space was inspiring, and it was evident that new friendships were forming.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
The Junior School Parent Information Booklet is intended to inform you of the more detailed aspects of life at Waverley College Junior School. The first section deals with overall aspects of the College and the second section is more class specific. I hope that you get involved in the many facets of life at Waverley College and enjoy being part of our great community.
The Parent Information Booklets are in the links below.
>>> Click here to view the YEAR 5 2024 Parent Information Booklet.
>>> Click here to view the YEAR 6 2024 Parent Information Booklet.
You are invited to a webinar presented by Elephant Ed on Puberty and Embracing Change.
When: Tuesday, 20 February 2024, 6pm-7pm
Topic: Puberty and Embracing Change
Elephant Ed is a leading sexuality education provider to hundreds of schools around Australia. Elephant Ed’s workshops are evidence-based, age-appropriate and mapped to State and National curriculum guidelines. Elephant Ed is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider and is endorsed as a quality-assured program in the NSW Department of Education’s Student Wellbeing external programs catalogue.
In advance of Elephant Ed’s workshops with Waverley College students, this webinar will include discussion around the physical, social and emotional changes associated with puberty, as well as strategies for starting open and effective conversations at home.
Registration: You are required to register in advance for this webinar. Please click HERE to register.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Term 1 2024: Coding
Coding class on a Monday will continue this year. If you would like your son to be part of the session please go to the booking link below.
When: Monday, 12 February to Monday, 8 April – 8 sessions
Time: 3:15pm – 4:30pm
Please click HERE to book.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
As part of our Lenten Appeal, the students have been asked to make a promise to help support CARITAS, an organisation that supports those who are less fortunate than others, both here in Australia and worldwide. Students are encouraged to use part of their weekly pocket money or do extra chores around the house, to help to fulfil their pledge. We thank you in advance for your generosity.
The first of several fundraising and awareness-raising initiatives begins with the sale of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (Week 3), the day before Ash Wednesday. Pancakes will be on sale during the day for $2. We are kindly asking for donations of pre-made pancakes to be delivered to the Junior School by Monday morning. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
One of the ways in which the students can show their leadership qualities is to nominate himself for Class Captain or Vice Captain. If they would like this opportunity, they need to let their class teachers 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 class before voting takes place. They can use the scaffold below to assist in planning.
Prepare a two-minute speech addressing the following:
Please be aware of the following dates:
Year 6: Speeches delivered during Week 4
Year 5: Speeches delivered during Week 5
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of the Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We have had a busy start to the term with Sport and Swim Trials, ending this week with our amazing Swimming Carnival on Thursday. I was very proud to watch all students participate and put 100% effort into everything they did.
The big week of Co-Curricular sport continues with Round 1 commencing tomorrow (Saturday, 10 February 2024) and we are very excited to get the Summer season for 2024 underway.
Please ensure you refer to the Waverley College app announcements each week, as I will continue to send out the weekly Sports Fixtures for each round, containing updated locations and times that may deviate from the Draw.
All families can also locate all relevant Junior School Co-Curricular information through the College website via the links below.
>>> https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/events/senior-and-junior-sport-fixtures/
>>> https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/information/junior-school-sport/
You will have received notifications via the Waverley app about the wonderful opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities this Semester. Information has been sent out for the following Clubs;
Registrations for Junior School Extra Co-Curriculars close on Friday Week 3, 16 February.
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular
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 3pm until 4 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 and Wednesday:
Ms Natasha Zivanovic nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Tuesday and Thursday:
Ms Gaby Bransby gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Try to avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Thank you.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A big welcome to 2024 and a very warm welcome to our new families who have joined Waverley this year. We have already had such a busy start to the year!
It was so lovely welcoming our new Year 5 students and parents/carers on Monday. It is such a special day for the students who looked smart in their new uniforms and were keen to start their journey at Waverley College.
This week the boys were involved in Sports Trials for the upcoming summer season. This is always a highlight of the year for the boys as they meet new friends and enjoy being active. We understand there can be disappointment but we do instil in our students the need for being resilient and embracing the opportunity to be challenged and grow.
Our Meet and Greet Interviews were a huge success this week and I hope you all enjoyed meeting your son’s new teacher. We hope this gave you a chance to discuss any concerns as well as being able to set goals for the year. Please keep open communication with your son’s teachers as we progress through the year.
We welcome two new teachers to the Junior School this year. Ms Mikaela Turner who replaces Ms Charlotte Stephens in 5 Indigo while she is on maternity leave and our new Music teacher Mr Jonathon Bowden.
Please see below the new contact details for reporting your son’s absence (including co-curricular). If it is for a long period of time please contact myself for approval by emailing ssanchez@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Absence and reporting an absence
Please have a discussion with your son about always having a Plan B for when plans change. This is very important for our students, especially around sport and co-curricular activities. At times, these activities will be cancelled due to wet weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Please put together a plan so your son knows exactly what to do when circumstances change.
For those new to Waverley, there is a drop-off and pick-up space in front of the school but it is very limited. Most students have organised alternative spots to meet their parents/carers that don’t cause chaos on Henrietta Street. Please organise an appropriate pick-up spot that works for you.
There has also been a huge concern on the footpaths at the front of the school as it is very crowded, and I’m watching students cross the road not using the crossing. This is extremely dangerous as cars can not see the boys. Please refrain from calling them across the street and please ask them to use the crossing. Please also be mindful of the neighbouring houses by not blocking their driveways and parking in ‘No Stopping’ areas.
Coding class on a Monday will continue this year. If you would like your son to be part of the session please go to the booking link below. There is an Early Bird Offer (valid till 5 February 2024) – Save $15.
Please include this Discount Code: T124EB
Details: Monday, 12 February to Monday, 8 April – 8 sessions
Time: 3:15pm – 4:30pm
Please find the booking link HERE
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College Calendar.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Throughout the year, you will receive notifications within the Parent Lounge and via email regarding Pastoral Care incidents. These include:
Please note that information and the reasons behind these notifications are given within the Parent Lounge, therefore it is important that you check details before contacting teachers.
With any questions or concerns you have about any of these matters, please reach out to your son’s class teacher first and then if you wish to discuss these matters further, please contact me.
As part of our Catholic faith, the Junior School students will attend Mass at Mary Immaculate with the regular parishioners throughout the year. These Masses begin at 9:15am and parents/carers are warmly invited. Dates of when your son’s class will be in attendance will be sent to you by your son’s class teacher in the coming weeks.
Additionally, each House will have a Mass throughout the year. This Mass is held in the College Chapel in the Senior Campus, beginning at 6pm and is followed by a light supper. Once again, parents/carers are warmly invited to attend. Dates for these Masses are published in the College Diary and information will be sent to parents/carers and students via email from the Heads of House.
A warm welcome to all new families and returning families in our Waverley community. We are so thrilled to have you join us at the Junior School, and I look forward to getting to know you more as the year progresses. Please see the important Co-Curricular information shared at the information session on Day 1 for all new Year 5 families.
We have had a very positive and enjoyable Sport Trials, and look forward to welcoming your sons into their Summer Sport teams for 2024. Our new and continuing students have shown resilience and commitment and I look forward to an exciting season ahead.
Please remember the Junior School Swimming Carnival will be taking place on Thursday, 8 February 2024. Boys are encouraged to wear House shirts, which you can purchase from the Uniform Shop. More information will be sent out before the carnival. Parents are welcome to attend.
It is very important to label all articles of clothing, shoes, bags and equipment. There has been a lot of lost property during trials this week.
Please use this link to the College Website for all Junior School Co-Curricular information. On this page, you will find policies, expectations, Code of Conduct, the Training Schedule for the current Term, and the current Draw. Fixtures for each Saturday will be sent out via the Waverley App in the days leading up to each Saturday.
Download our Waverley App and turn on push notifications for urgent announcements, fixtures for upcoming Saturday matches, wet weather updates, training or game cancellations.
In our weekly Nurrunga newsletter, you will find upcoming dates, match results, and information about representative competitions.
Chess Club information can be found by clicking this link here. Please email Ms Samara Sanchez ssanchez@waverley.nsw.edu.au if your son wishes to participate this Term. All other Extra Co-curricular information will be sent out via the Waverley App in the coming weeks (a full list of options are on the Junior School Co-curricular page).
(NO HOME LEARNING Thursday, 8 February 2024 – Junior School Swimming Carnival)
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school Term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
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/carer’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.
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Try to avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
As we welcome a new group of students to Waverley in 2024, The Learning Hub aims to nurture and guide them in their social, creative and academic development.
This week we saw the boys use this space in many different ways before school and during lunch.
Over the next few weeks, different initiatives will be on offer for the students to join. The initiatives aim to promote the 4 Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative thinking.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
This week we say our goodbyes to Ms Michelle Rollins who has been with us for 27 years. She will be truly missed by our whole Waverley community and we wish her the very best in her journey ahead.
Junior School Music Captain Joe Madden presents Ms Rollins with a floral token of our deep appreciation of her work
We also wish Ms Charlotte Stephens a wonderful maternity leave and look forward to seeing her return to the classroom in 2025.
I would like to congratulate Ms Jade Sparks who will be replacing Mr Jack Watchel in the position of (Acting) Assistant Director of Co-Curricular. Mr Jack Wachtel has made the decision to step down and work part time at the College. He has some wonderful business opportunities and we wish him all the best. He will continue to teach PDHPE in the Junior School next year.
I would also like to congratulate Mr Elliott McKimm who will replace Ms Charlotte Stephens as the (Acting) Director of Curriculum for Terms 1, 2 and 3 in 2024.
I want to thank all parents and carers for your support through such a fantastic year. I continued to be amazed by the commitment, dedication and resilience of each student and I am so proud of their growth and achievements this year in every facet of school life. Together our community has supported each other and made many special memories. I feel blessed to be part of such a wonderful community.
Have a fantastic Christmas break, stay safe, enjoy the sun and take care of one another. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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/carers of students who are receiving an award have been invited to this event. These parents/carers will be notified in a separate email.
A Google Doc was sent to you by Mr Ghattas for you to inform us if your son has permission to go home, or if they will require supervision until 3pm. If you have not already done so, could you please fill this out asap. Link HERE.
I hope you took the time to go through your son’s Semester 2 report and reflect on the achievements and areas of growth.
Term 1 2024: Coding
Coding class on a Monday will continue next year. If you would like your son to be part of the session, please find the booking link HERE.
Monday, 5 February to Monday, 25 March – 8 sessions
Time: 3:15pm – 4:30pm
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
What a delight it was to take the Year 6 students to Raging Waters and share in their end of year celebration. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day and the boys were full of excitement as they boarded the buses.
Plenty of fun was had by all as they raced around the park venturing down the many different waterslides, lazed around in the dinosaur lagoon or swam in the beach wave pool. Their behaviour throughout the day was exceptional and I am sure they will hold onto some very special memories.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
As I reflect, it has been an extremely special year for all areas of co-curricular at Waverley College Junior School. This includes all sports undertaken in both the Summer and Winter seasons and the growth, development and successes that followed.
This includes all of the extra co-curricular activities undertaken throughout the entire year (Innovation Club, Debating, Judo, Hip Hop, Chess, Drawing, Homework and Board Games Clubs), not to mention the amount of time and energy put into all areas of Music and Performing Arts by the amazing Ms Michelle Rollins and music teachers (Wakakirri, Stomp, Junior School Band and Ensembles, and Junior School Rock Band).
In working towards developing this Junior School Co-Curricular program over the past three years, it’s given me immense enjoyment, pride and appreciation to see how it’s grown from year to year.
As mentioned, I have some exciting new opportunities in sport and business taking place, which means I will be pulling back to working part time at Waverley College. I will still be based at the Junior School teaching PDHPE and look forward to working with the community.
I just wanted to say a massive thank you to all my colleagues, staff, coaches, parents and carers, and the wider Waverley community for your ongoing support while your son has been at the Junior School.
2022 Junior School Fun Run
Ms Jade Sparks, Junior School Rugby Convenor and classroom teacher of 6 Blue will be taking over my position. She will do an outstanding job and will no doubt continue to grow the junior co-curricular program for many years to come.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding Junior School co-curricular, please feel free to direct them to Ms Jade Sparks jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular Years 5-12
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
As the school year comes to an end, I would like to acknowledge all the students who immersed themselves in the many activities the Learning Hub offered.
The Learning Hub aims to inspire, engage and empower students through critical and creative activities, plus allow students to retreat, explore and collaborate with others, whether that be before school, during Learning Hub sessions or during lunch. I look forward to working with all the Junior School students in 2024.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Brad Burke, Jessica Buchanan, Bryn Tilly, Christy Norwood, Dr James Roy, Dr Matt Pelletier, Richard Simpkin, Nicole Draper, Ian Storie, Phil Gartland, Claire Petit, Mark Zimmermann and Monique Kalmar for your time and expertise as guest speakers this year.
Your contributions have been invaluable to our students, and we could not have achieved our goal to inspire the Junior Schools without your support. Your willingness to share your knowledge and experience with our boys has made a significant impact, and we are truly grateful for your generosity and dedication towards this initiative. The talks aim to inspire the next generation of learners, leaders, entrepreneurs, sportsmen, scientists, writers, and all the other industries.
If you would like to volunteer to do a presentation in 2024, please email me directly at nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy and Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
In an exciting cross-school collaboration earlier this term, Year 6 boys had a unique opportunity to engage in a co-educational STEM lesson at St Catherine’s School in Waverley.
Leveraging the institution’s state-of-the-art resources, our students immersed themselves in a hands-on experience that left a lasting impact. Back at our own campus, boys in Years 5 and 6 delved into the fascinating world of acids and bases through immersive experiments and keen observations.
This has been an exciting end to our first year in the new science lab. Both cohorts should be proud of their consistent dedication and enthusiasm to science throughout the year.
Mr Max Mancinelli
Specialist Science Teacher
mmancinelli@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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 8:15am)
Location: Gymnasium (Senior School)
Student Dress Code: Academic Uniform (no blazers)
Only the parents/carers of students who are receiving an award have been invited to this event. These parents/carers will be notified in a separate email.
A Google Doc was sent to you by Mr Ghattas for you to inform us if your son has permission to go home, or if they will require supervision until 3pm. If you have not already done so, could you please fill this out asap.
Semester 2 Reports will be available on Monday, 27 November at 5pm in the Parent Lounge. Please take the time to go through and read the report with your son. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the Semester 2 Report, please contact your son’s teacher.
Term 1 2024: Coding
Coding class on a Monday will continue next year. If you would like your son to be part of the session please click the button below to book.
Click here to book for 2024 After School Code Camp
When: Monday, 5 February – Monday, 25 March 2024 (8 sessions)
Time: 3:15pm – 4:30pm.
Today you will have received an email regarding the changes in Years 5 and 6 for Mathematics next year. Please click the button below to view the Mathematics PDF that was emailed to you.
Click here to view the Mathematics PDF
As mentioned, at Waverley College we are constantly reflecting on our practice and how we can continue to innovate and improve the learning of our students. We see this new syllabus as an exciting opportunity to build mathematical confidence and competence in our learners while developing a growth mindset.
We believe in a Primary setting, based on research, that we structure our Mathematics program in a mixed-ability setting and as such we will not be explicitly streaming our Mathematics classes in 2024. The opportunity to learn Mathematics in mixed-ability classes at this age leads to better cognitive and social outcomes, a greater sense of wellbeing and confidence in Mathematics.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents, Carers and Students
On Thursday 30 November 2023, the current Year 5 students will be voting for 2024 House Captains.
If your son would like to nominate himself for House Captain or Vice Captain for their Colour House, they need to fill out the Google Form below by Tuesday, 28 November. Click the button below to view the Google Form.
They will also need to present a speech to their House before voting takes place. They can use the scaffold here to assist in planning.
Responsibilities include:
On Friday 1 December, the Year 6 students will be going on their end of year excursion to Raging Waters. The information below outlines the important details of the day.
Raging Waters – Year 6 (2022)
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
As 5 Gold wraps up the Term and academic year, I am filled with pride witnessing the remarkable growth and achievements of the boys throughout their Year 5 journey. Their unwavering dedication and resilience have shaped a year marked by unparalleled success.
Notably, their collaborative scriptwriting and performance showcased creativity and teamwork, fostering a sense of confidence. Their addition of instrumental activities, including learning to play the guitar with Mr Jesse Johnston, enriched their educational experience this Term and also provided valuable skills in music.
Moving into Year 6, I am confident that the bright individuals of 5 Gold will continue to shine, embracing new challenges with the same enthusiasm that defined their extraordinary journey this year. I am wishing the boys all the best in all of their future endeavours!
Mr Luke Burns
5 Gold Teacher
lburns@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.
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