Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
It has been another exciting and eventful week at Waverley College Junior School. Our students have participated in Winter Sports Trials, our school leaders attended National Young Leaders Day, and Year 6 students enjoyed The Kinder World Experience excursion.
In addition to their engaging classroom learning, students have been making the most of lunchtime clubs, including Lego Club, Drawing Club, and Board Games Club, while also building friendships and developing important social skills.
Year 6 student leaders had the privilege of attending the National Young Leaders Day at the International Convention Centre Sydney this week. This annual event aims to inspire and empower young people to develop their leadership potential.
The day involved a series of engaging presentations from prominent leaders across various fields. Students had the opportunity to hear from Anthony “Harries” Carroll, renowned for his community service initiatives and also a Waverley Dad; Thomas Duncan-Watt, an accomplished figure in the arts; Emma McKeon, Australia’s most successful Olympian; and Catherine Laga’aia, a rising star in the arts. Each speaker shared their personal journeys, emphasising themes of resilience, passion, and the importance of setting and pursuing goals.
Throughout the event, our students participated in interactive sessions that included question times, short videos, learning exercises, and music, all designed to foster student involvement and reflection. The program concluded at 2:30 pm, leaving our young leaders inspired and equipped with valuable insights to bring back to our school community.
We are proud of our Year 6 leaders for their enthusiastic participation and are confident that the lessons learned during this event will positively influence their leadership journeys within our school and beyond.
This week, our Year 6 students attended a unique and meaningful excursion run by The Kinder World team, based out of the Synagogue next to Our Big Kitchen. This program, led by dedicated Jewish youth workers from the local community, aimed to inspire our students through lessons in kindness, empathy, and giving back.
The highlight of the session was hearing from Rivky, the main guest speaker, who shared her powerful personal story of resilience. Having faced bullying due to a degenerative disease, Rivky spoke about how these challenges inspired her to establish the GEM Foundation and dedicate her time to working with children at Sydney Children’s Hospital. Her message of strength, kindness, and inclusion deeply resonated with the boys.
Throughout the session, students engaged in hands-on kindness activities, including an interactive ball game promoting equality, a quiz about acts of kindness, and the packing of gift hampers for homeless individuals. They also wrote heartfelt cards to remind those in need that they are valued and thought of.
This excursion was a valuable opportunity for our Year 6 boys to reflect on the importance of kindness and empathy in their own lives.
We are excited to be once again entering a Waverley College team into the City2Surf this year on 10 August in support of local charity Running for Premature Babies. The charity raises funds for lifesaving neonatal equipment, saving the lives of sick and premature babies from all over Australia, including some of our Waverley students! Join us in walking or running the 14km to Bondi beach, and raise funds to save a baby’s life!
Fundraising is optional but anyone who raises $300 will have their race entry refunded.
Find out more and sign up at https://www.runningforprematurebabies.com/events
Well done to all Junior School teams who played their final round of Summer Sport on Saturday 22 March. Thank you to all the families for your support over the first 6 rounds of Summer Sport. We will continue in the same teams when Summer Sport recommences in Term 4.
Winter Sport teams were announced this week and we are so excited for the season to commence next term. Please refer to the App post for the current Draw and Training Schedule.
Good luck to the Prep 1st Football team who are playing at Sydney Grammar St Ives at the Grammar Cup tomorrow, Saturday 29 March.
Congratulations to the Waverley boys who represented IPSHA at the CIS Swimming Championships on Wednesday. Jack Forde won the U12 100m Freestyle, came 3rd in the 50m Butterfly and 4th in the 50m Freestyle. Kai won the 50m Backstroke, came 4th in Butterfly and 6th in 100m Freestyle. Well done to Hugo D’Amours and Jack McKenney who also attended for the U12 4x 50m relay.
A huge shout out to Rohan Sharma (6 White) who played at The LBW Trust Backyard Cricket charity event last Friday afternoon. The event was a fundraiser supporting education initiatives for disadvantaged young men and women in developing countries such as Nepal, India, Kenya and other cricket playing nations. We love to see Waverley boys giving back!
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Today, we were excited to celebrate Harmony Day as a community. This special day is an opportunity for our school community to come together and embrace the values of inclusivity, respect, and belonging. Harmony Day is a celebration of our cultural diversity and a reminder that ‘Everyone Belongs.’
As a school, we believe that diversity enriches our learning environment and strengthens our community. Throughout the week, students engaged in a variety of activities that highlighted different cultures, traditions, and perspectives. These activities included storytelling, music, art, and cultural presentations, providing students with meaningful opportunities to appreciate and learn from one another.
On Harmony Day, students and staff were encouraged to wear a touch of orange, the official colour of the day, symbolising social communication and meaningful conversations. This simple act was a powerful way to show our commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
Our students brought in a plate of food from their culture, creating an opportunity for students and staff to learn more about each individual child and their background. The array of food was incredible and the boys’ (and staff) thoroughly enjoyed their feasts! Thank you to our wonderful community for your donations also – it was a special day!
St Patrick’s DayWe had a fantastic day celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on Monday. The day was filled with joy, laughter, and a wonderful display of school spirit as students and staff embraced the festive atmosphere.
A huge thank you to Conlon and Green Houses for their incredible effort in providing delicious ‘green treats’ for our St. Patrick’s Day Bake Sale. Their creativity and generosity made the event extra special, and we are thrilled to share that we raised an impressive $700! These funds will go towards capital works projects in Fiji, Timor Leste and Cambodia., and we truly appreciate the support from our school community.
Throughout the day, students participated in fun activities and learnt about the traditions and history of St. Patrick’s Day. It was wonderful to see everyone come together to celebrate and learn about this cultural event.
Thank you to all who contributed, participated, and helped make the day such a success.
Brett Covell, a Waverley Old Boy and father of Lachlan in Year 6, is the Director of Growth Markets (APAC and LATAM) at Electronic Arts. He shared his extensive knowledge of the advertising industry with the Junior School boys, captivating them with engaging insights. The session included fun trivia with prizes, making it an enjoyable experience.
The Junior School expresses heartfelt thanks to Brett for his significant contribution to the Term 1 Lunchtime Talk series. His enthusiasm and commitment to inspiring future advertisers and innovators are truly appreciated.
For the remainder of the term, we have two more exciting Lunchtime Guest Speakers who will share their experiences and insights, further enriching our students’ educational journey.
Well done on our second Winter Sport Trials on Wednesday. We are looking forward to the third and final trial on Monday, 24 March and then team announcements on Wednesday, 26 March.
Good luck for final Saturday Sport of Term 1. Summer Sport will continue in Term 4 (same teams, coaches and training times). Draw and Training Schedule will come out at the end of Term 3.
The mighty Blue Touch Football team enjoying their last sunrise training session. The boys are commended on their wonderful teamwork, camaraderie and skills.
Congratulations to Marley Fuller who has been selected after a second trial today for the CIS Basketball team. What an amazing achievement and good luck at CIS.
A huge congratulations to Jude Large and Jagger Michael (among other Waverley boys) who represented North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club last weekend at the NSW State Championships in Queenscliff.
Both boys competed across multiple events with Jude placing 6th in the U11 individual 1km sand run and 2nd in the 2×500 relay, whilst Jagger came 3rd in both the U12 1km and 2x500m relay, 4th place in the board relay, and 12th place in the individual board final.
Freddie Hughes (Year 5) competed on Friday in the beach events and came away with a silver in the beach relay. Liam Morrissey (Year 6) came away with Gold in the U11 Boys Relay and Bronze in the U11 Mixed Relay. Andrei Szabo won a bronze medal in individual boards and came 6th in state in Ironman. Go Waves!
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
We are incredibly proud of our Year 5 students for their dedication and perseverance during this week’s NAPLAN assessments. Despite some unexpected changes to the schedule, they demonstrated remarkable flexibility, resilience, and a positive mindset. Their hard work and determination have been truly commendable. We look forward to continuing to support them as they complete their remaining NAPLAN tests next week.
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. In the Junior School, we will celebrate Harmony Day on Friday 21 March. Please see details below:
Date: Friday 21 March
What to Wear: Students are encouraged to wear a ‘Touch of Orange’ to school that day. They may choose one item of clothing to represent this (to work in conjunction with their Waverley College uniform) e.g. shirt, socks, hat, scarf, ribbon, etc.
What to Bring: Students are encouraged to bring a plate of food to be shared amongst their classmates that acknowledges their cultural background. (Note: Please ensure ingredients are listed on all foods to ensure the safety of any students with allergies)
Donation: Students are encouraged to bring in a gold coin donation to go towards our capital works projects in Fiji, Timor Leste and Cambodia.
It was a privilege to have Markus Svensson, the CEO of QANTAS domestic airport present at Waverley Junior School’s Lunchtime Talk, inspiring young minds to dream big. Markus, the father of Jakob Year 6, and Anton Class of 2024, shared stories of perseverance and ambition, motivating students to pursue their passions.
The Lunchtime Talks initiative at Waverley Junior School continues to bring influential figures to inspire and educate its students, fostering a culture of innovation and aspiration.
For the remainder of the term, we have an exciting lineup of Lunchtime Guest Speakers who will share their experiences and insights, further enriching the educational journey of our students.
If you are interested in volunteering to give a presentation, please email nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Cross Country Trials
Congratulations to all students who ran on Monday morning at the Junior School Cross Country trials. A special shout out to the following boys who have been selected to represent Waverley at the IPSHA Cross Country Carnival in April.
Under 10s: Beckham Bolder, Oliver Tharenou, Leo Chashule
Under 11s: Sonny Milis, Andre Szabo, Hardy Macpherson, Reggie Gillespie, Alexander Achurch, Dylan Plumb
Under 12s: Jagger Michael, Ziggy Coombes, Dexter Billington, Jack Darvill, William Rodgers, Jude Large
AFL Paul Kelly Cup
Well done to the 15 AFL players who represented Waverley at the AFL Paul Kelly Cup on Monday. The boys put in a solid effort over the day, coming out victorious with a convincing win of 26-7. Regional Finals in June, here we come!
Winter Sport Trials commence
A positive attitude and energy was in the air when we had our first of three Winter Sport Trials. Spreading across Upper Queens Park, boys trialled in AFL, Rugby Union or Football. We look forward to seeing this strong approach continue into the next two trials, on Wednesday 19 March and Monday 24 March.
Wishing all the Junior School Waves good luck in Round 5 Summer Sport this weekend!
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
A huge thank you to all of our Waverley community for your pancake donations for Shrove Tuesday. Together, we raised an incredible $800 for CARITAS! It was wonderful to see our boys enjoying their pancakes and donating to such a wonderful cause. Thank you Mr Ghattas for organising this special event.
On Thursday, we celebrated International Women’s Day by attending a whole school assembly and honoring the incredible women in our lives. We were also fortunate to hear from Elka Whalan, an Olympic swimmer, who shared her experiences and delivered key messages to our boys about the progress made in gender equality, particularly in sports. Inclass, our students took part in research activities to learn about prominent and trailblazing women in society.
NAPLAN will commence Wednesday 12th March for our Year 5 students. Please see the recent app notification which outlines further details and information. We look forward to supporting your child through the NAPLAN period, and if you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
AFL Paul Kelly Cup Trials
Well done to all students who trialled for the AFL Paul Kelly Cup on Monday morning. We selected a team of 16 students who will compete on Monday, 10 March at Queens Park. We wish them all the best at the competition and look forward to hearing how they go! Thank you in advance to Ms Hunt and Coach Vas for taking them.
IPSHA Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to all 14 students who competed in the IPSHA Swimming Carnival on Tuesday. It was a massive day out at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre and all the boys gave their best efforts. Some PBs were made and a shout out to the boys who made it through to CIS Swimming (26 March):
IPSHA Touch Football Trials
Thank you to Mr Horry for taking 5 keen Touch Football players from the Junior School to the IPSHA Touch Football Trials on Thursday – Liam Morrissey, Walker Leondis, Koby Leondis, Billy Kehoe and Freddie Saville. All the Waves did extremely well and congratulations to Koby, Freddie and Billy who were selected for the CIS Touch Football Trials (30 April).
CIS Basketball
A huge congratulations to Marley Fuller, who has made the CIS Basketball team after trialling on Friday. We are so proud and wish you all the best on May 13 at the PSSA Basketball Trials.
Finally, a friendly reminder about Cross Country Trials at 7.30am on Monday, 10 March. Meet Mr McKimm at Waverley Park to run.
Good luck to all our teams for Round 4 Summer Sport tomorrow!
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
This week, we held a special assembly to induct our Year 6 Class Captains and Vice Captains for 2025. It was wonderful to welcome parents to the event and to hear the boys reflect on the responsibilities that come with their leadership roles.
At Waverley Junior School, we are committed to providing students with meaningful leadership opportunities; whether as Class Captains, Vice Captains, Directors of various clubs in the Learning Hub, or Debating Leaders. However, leadership extends beyond titles and badges. Our students demonstrate leadership every day through their actions, working collaboratively in the classroom, showing sportsmanship on the field, and navigating challenges with their peers.
A key message we continue to reinforce is the importance of being an upstander, not a bystander. We encourage our students to call out negative behaviours and seek support from teachers when needed. We are incredibly proud of the way our boys are developing their leadership skills, and we look forward to recognising and celebrating their efforts throughout the year.
On Thursday, our Year 6 Class Captains and Vice Captains attended the EREA (Edmund Rice Education Australia) Young Leaders Network day in the Senior School. There were 300 students from other EREA schools in NSW, ranging from Year 5 – 12. Here are some of the boys’ reflections:
“I met some nice kids from other schools and they told us about the different events they have at their school.” – Billy Carroll
“One of the school’s main things was being respectful, so we spoke about that and how they have immersions at their school.” – Jack Bird
“I liked Peter Cosgrove’s approach to leadership where he spoke about not giving up. When he was 16, he was not at a high ranking in the army or cadettes, but he kept trying.” – Winnie Cross
“It was good to meet students from other schools, and I liked Peter Cosgrove’s speech about leadership.” -bMax Dillon
What a wonderful opportunity for our students!
This is a reminder that our aftercare service has finished due to low numbers, therefore no aftercare service from next week. Please contact me if you need support with this change, and we can discuss options to support you.
On Tuesday, 4 March, we will be holding a pancake sale with all proceeds going to our chosen charity CARITAS for the Lent period.
To make this day a success, we are asking for donations of pre-made pancakes, as well as cream and condiments.
If you could please deliver these to the Junior School by Monday, 3 March, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your generosity and support.
Congratulations to the five Year 6 students who represented Waverley at the IPSHA Basketball Trials today. It was a tough selection process and we are very proud of each of them for their efforts – Marley Fuller, Marlo Davis, Seva Signh, Leo Petit and Artie Shaw.
A special shout out to Marley Fuller who was selected to represent IPSHA at the CIS Basketball Trials on Friday, 7 March.
Best of luck to all students competing in Round 3 Summer Sport tomorrow – go Waves!
A reminder that the Paul Kelly Cup trial is on Monday morning, 3 March at Waverley Park 3 (grass field nearest Birrell St) at 7.30am.
This is open to any students who have put AFL as their first preference for Winter Sport 2025. The Paul Kelly Cup competition will take place 1 week later on Monday 10 March, with team selection and more details to follow.
Well done to the Waverley boys who competed in the NSW OzTag State Champs on the weekend in Coffs Harbour.
The Easts 12s team finished Runners Up in an epic weekend. 38 teams and the boys finished 2nd best team in the state!
Mason Helliar
Lachlan Anson
Freddy Saville
Jack Morahan Saliba
Patrick Spencer
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Thank you to all of our Year 6 parents who attended the Elephant Ed webinar, Puberty and Embracing Change. I hope you found the session informative and supportive. We are excited to begin our in-class workshops, with the first session taking place on Thursday, 27 February. Thank you for your continued support.
We have been closely monitoring attendance for aftercare, with a maximum of just four students on any given day. Due to these low numbers, we have made the decision to discontinue the program. We understand this may be challenging for some families—please reach out if you need support in this area. The final week of aftercare will be Week 5 (next week), and bookings can be made using the link provided.
For future families, we will continue to offer aftercare for the first half of Term 1, allowing students time to transition to Waverley Junior School and build independence in getting home.
Today, our Year 6 students participated in their second Kanyini lesson in the Junior School. ‘Kanyini’ is a Pitjantjatjara word that embodies the values of support, nurture, protection, and care for both the land and one another. Originally introduced in the Senior School last year, this program has now been extended to Year 6 due to its positive impact.
During today’s session, Year 12 prefects led the Kanyini lessons within House groups, creating a meaningful opportunity for students to connect with their peers and build relationships with senior leaders. With a focus on teamwork, the boys demonstrated strong collaboration skills, confidently engaging in problem-solving activities and rich discussions. We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm and the way they worked together throughout the session.
Congratulations to our students on their excellent efforts in Round 1 of Summer Sport for 2025.
It has been a busy time for our Waverley Junior School swimmers, who have been representing our school with pride at several Invitational Carnivals. Last Friday, Trinity Strathfield hosted us and this week we attended Cranbrook and Riverview. Well done to all our swimmers for their time and commitment in the lead up to our IPSHA Swimming Carnival.
At the recent Bronte Nippers Club Championships, Parker Recio (Year 6) achieved first in the swim, first in the board and first in the Iron Person race. Ryder Darragh (Year 6) achieved second Iron Person, second in board, third in swim and second in the sand sprint. Well done boys and all those who competed!
Congratulations also to a number of Junior School boys who played Touch Football at Wagga Wagga last weekend.
Good luck for Round 2 Summer Sport and Go Waves!
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.
Click here to view the Yr 5 2025 Parent Information Booklet
Click here to view the Yr 6 2025 Parent Information Booklet
Please see below for an invitation to a webinar presented by Elephant Ed on Puberty and Embracing Change.
When: 6pm – 7pm, Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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.
The first in-class workshop for the boys will be Thursday 27th February.
What a fantastic start to 2025 it has been in the co-curricular life of the Junior School! We have had sports and swim trials, been placed into our Summer Teams, begun Summer training and met our coaches, started extra-curricular clubs, competed and shown House Spirit at the Junior School Swimming Carnival, and now we are set to play our first Saturday fixture tomorrow. Best of luck to the boys out there – I look forward to seeing a few matches and hearing how everyone goes.
I am proud of the resilience and excitement I have seen amongst our boys as they navigate this new aspect of Year 5 life or are returning to achieve their sporting goals in Year 6.
We have a few celebrations to share, starting with Joshua Satya who was selected to represent Waverley at the IPSHA Tennis trials on Monday, 10th February. Despite getting rained out after the first round, Joshua did enough to wow selectors and has made the IPSHA Tennis Team. They will compete at the CIS Trials on Monday, 24th February and we wish Joshua the best of luck!
Secondly, we congratulate Walker Leondis (5 Orange) on winning the Oztag State Cup as the captain of his U10s Souths team. His team have managed to go back to back, winning two years in a row and also went undefeated. We are so proud of his achievement!
Also at the Oztag State Championships, the below Year 5 Waverley Boys represented Easts and did very well.
Will Collins, Tommy Walker, Freddie Hughes, Sonny Millis.
Andrei Szabo (5 Indigo), among other Waverley boys, competed in Sydney branch nippers carnival on the weekend competing against all the beaches from Bondi to Royal National Park. He did really well, coming 3rd in the 1km sand run; winning two gold medals as part of the all ages board relay and another as part of the U11 board relay; coming 3rd in the Ironman and 3rd in board rescue team; as well as 2nd in individual board race and 3rd in team swim. Well done Andrei!
Congratulations to everyone on their achievements this term and I look forward to Round 1 of Saturday Sport tomorrow. Go Waves!
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
11 Feb – Swimming Carnival
15 Feb – Summer Sport – Round 1
18 Feb – Elephant Ed, Puberty and Embracing Change – 6pm
22 Feb – Summer Sport – Round 2
27 Feb – Brennan House Mass & Supper, Chapel, 6pm
1 March – Summer Sport – Round 3
6 March – Aungier House Mass & Supper, Chapel, 6pm
8 March – Summer Sport – Round 4
12 March – Quinn House Mass
15 March – Summer Sport – Round 5
17 March – NAPLAN Testing window
19 March – Lacey House Mass
20 March – Class and Summer Sports photos
22 March – Summer Sport – Round 6
24 March – Winter Sport Trials
10 April – Classes Conclude
It is with great excitement and gratitude that I welcome you all to Term 1 of the 2025 school year. As the newly appointed Director of Junior School, I feel both privileged and inspired to join a community that is deeply committed to nurturing the growth and potential of every student.
It has been a pleasure to welcome our new Year 5 students and their families to Waverley College this year. The first day of school is always a special milestone, and our boys looked smart in their new uniforms, eager to begin their Waverley journey. Equally exciting was seeing our Year 6 students return, reconnecting with friends and teachers, and filling the school with smiles and enthusiasm.
Thank you to all the parents who attended Tuesday night’s cocktail function. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to mingle, build connections, and for me to meet many of you in person. If we haven’t had the chance to meet yet, I look forward to connecting with you in the coming weeks.
It has been a busy week in the life of our school with Summer sports trials, swimming trials, Year 5 laptop deployment, Meet & Greet Interviews and setting up learning routines in classrooms. There is certainly a buzz and positive energy as you walk the corridors and throughout the playground.
Thank you for your warm welcome and for entrusting us with the education and wellbeing of your boys. I am looking forward to a great year ahead!
We welcome Roisin Quinn to the Junior School teaching team. Roisin has been teaching in the High School, and is joining the Junior School as one of our Learning Support teachers.
She brings with her passion and expertise in embedding the latest teaching pedagogies to both support and enrich learning for our students.
This year, we are implementing a new system to record attendance. Please refer to communications sent from ORAH and reach out to our IT team if you are having any difficulties with this process. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
A huge thank you to Jade Sparks and the whole staff team for running the sports trial this week. It was a wonderful display of skill and character from all of our boys as they gave it their all.
It is understandable and normal for boys to feel disappointment during team announcements, however with the consistent message of ‘every boy is in a team, and every team is valued’, our boys responded with resilience and maturity.
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.
As communicated last week, we have started an aftercare service at the Junior School. For further information and to book online, please visit this link.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Time: 9am – 10:30am (students to arrive at school at 8:15 am)
Location: Gym (Senior School)
Student Dress Code: Academic Uniform (No blazers)
Only the parents of students who are receiving an award have been invited to this event. These parents will be notified in a separate email.
Students who have permission can leave straight after, otherwise, they will return to the Junior School until 3 pm. Please give permission through the Parent Lounge.
Semester Two reports are now available in Parent Lounge. Please take the time with your son to reflect on the achievements and areas of growth. Any questions or concerns, please reach out to your son’s classroom teacher.
It was such a special day on Wednesday as we acknowledged and celebrated the end of a chapter for our Year 6 students. I am so proud of how far the students have come since they entered the Waverley community nearly 2 years ago.
We have prepared them for the next step in their educational journey and I can’t wait to see what they achieve.
Thank you so much to all the families that have contributed to this wonderful charity. The Hampers of Hope Box will be collected on Monday 2 December at lunchtime.
There is one last chance Monday morning to donate a block of chocolate (eg 180 g Cadbury’s, Whittakers, etc) or a box of chocolates (eg Cadbury Rose’s, Lindt, etc) to donate to the hampers. Canned goods are also appreciated.
Your individual contribution really makes a difference to those in need and will certainly create a very festive hamper. Thank you for your generous support.
As the year comes to an end we say our goodbyes to Maragraet Fitzgerald who has worked at the College as a Learning Support teacher for 10 years. We wish her all the happiness as she moves into retirement.
We also say goodbye to Mr Matthew Johnston who has worked at the Junior School for the last 4 years, we wish him all the best as he moves to Redlands for a P-6 PDHPE role.
As you know, I am also leaving the Junior School this year. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you for the support you have shown to me personally over the last couple of years and for some families it has been many years.
To say I am privileged and grateful for the opportunity to lead the JS community is an understatement. I have had the most rewarding and fulfilling experience being part of this community over the last 14 years.
The Waverley College community is unlike anything else. It is special and unique and each person has contributed to its greatness. I feel so honoured to be part of something so extraordinary.
The love and appreciation I have for Waverley College will live deep in my heart forever.
As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” As I embark on my dream and next chapter in life, I want you all to know my heart is full of all that Waverley has gifted me.
Wishing you all a Holy and Merry Christmas. It has been an absolute privilege.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Year 6 Excursion to Raging Waters was a huge success with all the boys enjoying their end of year celebration. Despite some drizzle the boys entered the park with plenty of excitement and energy as they took to the various attractions the park had to offer.
Everyone had plenty of fun as they raced around the park venturing down the many different waterslides, lazed around in the dinosaur lagoon or swimming in the wave pool. Their behaviour throughout the day was exceptional and I am sure they will hold onto some extraordinary memories.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to all the Junior School players on completing their 2024 Summer season with Waverley pride.
After 12 rounds of sport across terms 1 and 4, myself and the coaching staff have witnessed so much growth and development from each individual, not only in skill but in character.
We wish the Year 6 students all the best in their high school sporting endeavours, and look forward to welcoming our Year 5 players back next year in either their same sport or a new choice.
Information regarding 2025 Sport trials will be sent out in Week 1 of next year. Thank you for completing the Junior School Sport Preferences form, which will be closed on Tuesday 26 November.
The Basketball F team all signed Mr Stanton’s ‘Thank you & Farewell’ gift in recognition of his years of countless Saturdays hosting their home basketball games and as the last team playing the last game of the season before his retirement from full-time teaching.
It was a beautiful morning as Waverley took on St. Pat’s in a match filled with skill, teamwork, and excitement. St. Pat’s won the toss and elected to bat, but our bowling and fielding were exceptional. Flynn’s incredible spell of 3/0 off 2 overs, supported by Noah and Zach’s sharp bowling and fielding, restricted St. Pats to just 96 runs, with 9 balls remaining in their innings.
Our batting lineup rose to the challenge. Sam and Tom set the tone, both retiring with scores of 15 and 13, respectively.
Jack dazzled with a quick-fire 27 off 20 balls before retiring, while Charlie H added a composed 13. In a nail-biting finish, Charlie D and Archie took us home.
With 15 runs needed, Archie hit a boundary and a single, leaving 6 runs required from the last two overs. Then, in a moment to remember, Charlie D struck a massive six to win the game with 9 balls to spare!
Waverley’s junior team chased down the target without losing a single wicket— a perfect finish for the 6A’s in their last match for the JS . Congratulations to the team for an outstanding performance and for demonstrating fantastic sportsmanship throughout the year.
Go Waves!
Our mighty Water Polo B team finished the season on a high with a definitive win over Shore, 8 points to 2. Go Waves!
Thank you to all the families for supporting our sport program, ensuring your sons get the best opportunities for healthy competition, skill acquisition, character development and fitness building.
Tennis A’s
Touch Football Blue As
Touch Football Gold As
This semester has been a wonderful learning journey for the students of 5 White.
It has been filled with engaging activities such as the Lion King Musical, Super Suburbs in Geography, Extreme Weather Building in Science, SOWTEG Sustainability workshop, and so many more that have enhanced the students’ learning experiences.
5 White
What did the students have to say about their favourite learning experiences:
“I enjoyed the musical because we got to do it with our friends. We got to choose which animal we were. We had lots of fun and would do it again. The performance was fantastic and the leads all did a great job. The musical was a huge success and I hope we do one next year”
Lachie Smith
Geography Super Suburb
“I found making my super suburb fun because I could make a whole suburb up to me, no limitations, I could change where my schools or hospitals were, and I found that interesting. Firstly in Cruiser Central, I have ensured that my suburb contains a hospital, This is to ensure that everybody is safe and healthy. Secondly, it is important for the suburb to have a sporting facility. This allows citizens to exercise which will also keep them healthy and fit.”
Liam Morrissey
Science Extreme Weather Building
“I loved and enjoyed this activity because I got to make a 3D visual model of what was imagined in my head. Doing fun activities like this is better than doing bookwork because I can use my creativity and imagination to turn a few bricks into work. I also liked this activity because I can work collaboratively with my peers to do group projects like this extreme weather building design.”
Mikell Sales
“In the workshop, we answered some questions like if your family recycles, if you like fish, are the oceans clean and more and you either answered yes, no or maybe. It was fun making an arts and crafts project with a print of a fish and adding little pieces of plastic. We also learnt that there were 5.25 trillion tonnes of rubbish in the ocean. “
Getty McGuiggan
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
I would like to congratulate Ryder Darragh for his outstanding contribution to the charity Kids Giving Back last school holidays and for putting his Faith in Action.
He helped make more than 7,500 meals and care packs (including hot meals, salads, fruit kebabs, breakfast boxes, lunch boxes, snack cups, and care packs with empathetic messages) which was distributed to 21 charities around Sydney.
If you are interested in your son participating next holidays please see attached – December 2024/January 2025 School holiday programs | Kids Giving Back Bookings are now open!
We are very proud to be a supporting contributor to HAMPERS OF HOPE 2024. HAMPERS OF HOPE, based in Addison Rd, Marrickville, is a charity program in its fifth consecutive year of providing help to those less fortunate.
We ask if families could please make a difference this Christmas season by donating a block of chocolate (eg 180 g Cadbury’s,
Whittakers, etc) or a box of chocolates (eg Cadbury Rose’s, Lindt, etc) to donate to the
hampers. Canned goods are also appreciated.
The collection of donations will occur from Monday 4 November – Friday 25 November.
Please place your donations in the collection box with the HAMPERS OF HOPE sign, located
in reception.
Approximately 2000 hampers will be filled the week of 9 DECEMBER 2024 (from 8:30am –12noon) at Addison Road, Marrickville and will be distributed to a wide-reaching number of recipients including refugees, orphanages, domestic violence centres and flood/fire victims.
Your individual contribution really makes a difference to those in need and will certainly create a very festive hamper. Thank you for your generous support.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A reminder that the Year 6 Graduation is on Wednesday 27 November, beginning at 11:00am, followed by a BBQ at Queens Park to which everyone is invited.
A reminder that any Year 5 students who wish to nominate themselves for House Captains need to speak with their House Mentors.
This Monday, 25 November is the last chance they have to nominate as they will be delivering the speeches on Tuesday 26 November during our Wellbeing time.
Students will need to present a speech to their House before voting takes place. They can use the scaffold below to assist in planning.
Prepare a 2 minute speech addressing the following:
The Junior School are supporting the Year 11 Social Justice program, Night Patrol, which supports St Vincent de Paul’s charity to help feed the homeless men, women and children of Sydney.
We are asking students in 5 Red, 5 White, 6 Red and 6 White for the following donations for the final Night Patrol on Monday, 25 November.
Fresh Fruit – Bananas & Oranges (to be brought in on Monday, 25 November)
Packets of Chips, Instant Boodles, Cans of Tuna, Muesli bars – Chewy & Nut Free (any time before Monday, 25 November)
Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to Hayden Greenberg, Harvey Rumble and Finn Gadd who attended the CIS Cricket trials on Monday.
95 students from all over the state were put through a full day of rigorous trials at The King Schools.
The boys were outstanding in brutally hot weather testing their batting, bowling and fielding skills through nets sessions and centre wicket games.
Our three boys had a fantastic day and did themselves and Waverley College extremely proud. Well done boys!
Patrick Spencer (6 Gold) received a Gold medal running for Easts in the state Under 12 boys 4x100m relay on Sunday 9 November.
They set a new state record with 51.23 seconds, breaking the record standing from 2002. Congratulations to Patrick on this incredible achievement!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school to complete home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Procedures
Register your son via the link https://homelearningclub.youcanbook.me
Only register his name once to allow other students the opportunity to attend. The session is limited to 20 spots. There will be a roll call to ensure attendance.
Students are required to stay for the full session unless there is a message in the student diary requesting early leave, a parent’s signature will be required.
Behaviour
As it is important to respect the rights of others to learn and work, all students are expected to settle to work in the Learning Hub and not disturb others.
Teachers
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
An important note to remember is that if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan. Students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance, and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
As the school year comes to an end, I would like to acknowledge all the students who actively participated in the various activities offered by the Learning Hub.
The Learning Hub is dedicated to inspiring, engaging, and empowering students through critical thinking and creative activities.
It provides a space for students to retreat, explore, and collaborate with peers, whether before school, during Learning Hub sessions, or at lunchtime.
All of these activities and more will be available again in 2025.
Dante Fearn, a Year 10 student, shared his insights from his immersion experience in Timor-Leste, serving as an inspiring conclusion to our Lunchtime Talks for 2024.
His reflections highlighted the invaluable lessons he learned during his time there.
Dante emphasised the privilege of engaging with the Timorese community, where he witnessed resilience and joy despite challenging circumstances. He spoke about the importance of gratitude, recognising how much we often take for granted in our daily lives.
Dante’s raw and honest account resonated deeply, reminding our Junior School boys of the power of connection and understanding across cultures.
His experience demonstrates the impact of Waverley’s immersion programmes, which encourage young minds to embrace empathy, communal spirit, and a larger worldview.
Thank you for sharing your journey and inspiring our students to reflect on their own lives and the world around them.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
On Thursday night, we held our annual Junior School Music Festival. I was in complete awe of the talent and skill that was on display.
It is remarkable to see the confidence and ability for their age. We witnessed a wide range of talent from the The Waterford Concert Band to soloist to the Rock Bands and more.
We ended with a wonderful glimpse of a scene from The Lion King Jr. All performances provided a fabulous night of entertainment for the audience as they shared their gifts and passions with us all.
Events like these do not happen without the support of many people. As such, the Junior School would like to thank – all of the boys who spent many hours of rehearsal in preparation for the festival, all of the tutors involved in preparing these items, in particular ensemble directors Dan Williams and Jesse Johnston, the Senior School Music Department and Ms Keiran Kossenberg for their continued support and the Music Supporters Club.
We would also like to thank all of the parents and carers of our performers for their ongoing encouragement.
It was a wonderful night of celebration.
It is hard to believe that Year 6 Graduation is just around the corner.
On 2 December we will have our Mass at 11am and then we will be heading down to Queen’s Park for lunch and games.
Parents are invited to celebrate with us at Queens Park where where you will be provided with a BBQ lunch. We hope you can make it.
Selected students were invited to participate in the G.A.T.E.WAYS ‘Eureka’ program, Mind Blown. This program allows gifted, talented and high-ability students from surrounding schools to participate in workshops led by specialist educators and hosted at Kincoppal Rose Bay School.
The Greek philosopher Plutarch once said that the mind is not a vessel to be filled, but rather a fire to be kindled. The G.A.T.E.WAYS Mind: Blown! workshops scaffold students through processes of philosophical inquiry, ideation, design, and acquisition of sophisticated critical and creative problem-solving strategies and techniques.
Every year the Parents Association organises group together gifts and cards to thank the incredible and dedicated staff at Waverley Junior School. No obligation, but we would love for you to write a thank you note and contribute towards a gift to the teachers who have made an impact on your son’s life this year.
Samara Sanchez has sent an email out with all the links if you would like to contribute. Any issues please contact Samara or the Parents Association.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents & Carers,
You are all invited to the Year 6 Graduation on Wednesday 27 November to acknowledge the end of your son’s primary school years.
Please see the invitation below.
At the conclusion of the Mass, you are all invited back to Queens Park to join us in a special BBQ lunch. Please note that all parents and family members have been catered for.
As part of the Year 6 Graduation, we will be putting together a slideshow presentation. It would be appreciated if you could send through a photo of your son’s Kindergarten photo (or their first day of Kindergarten, or similar), as this will form part of the presentation. (Please just one photo only)
If you could please send a labelled photo through to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au. This has been extended to Monday Week 6. Picture format as a JPEG or PNG file would be preferred. Please do not send through pdf files.
One of the ways in which the students can show their leadership qualities is to nominate himself for House Captain or Vice-Captain. If they would like this opportunity, they need to let their House Mentors know as soon as possible and begin thinking of ways in which they can best serve the Junior School community.
Students will need to present a speech to their House before voting takes place. They can use the scaffold below to assist in planning.
Prepare a 2 minute speech addressing the following:
Speeches will take place on Tuesday 26 November during Wellbeing Time.
The Junior School are supporting the Year 11 Social Justice program, Night Patrol, which supports St Vincent de Paul’s charity to help feed the homeless men, women and children of Sydney. We are asking students in 5 Red, 5 White, 6 Red and 6 White for the following donations for the final Night Patrol on Monday, 25 November.
Fresh Fruit – Bananas & Oranges (to be brought in on Monday, 25 November)
Packets of Chips, Instant Boodles, Cans of Tuna, Muesli bars – Chewy & Nut Free (any time before Monday, 25 November)
Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Attention current Year 5 parents:
Please fill out your son’s Junior School sport preferences for 2025 using this link. Read carefully all the information on the form before submitting.
This process will close on Friday, 22 November 2024.
Congratulations to the 6As Cricket who had a very close win over Shore last Saturday, getting ahead by 1 run 74/4 – 73/9.
Parker Recio (5 Red) competed at the Bronte Club Championships last weekend. Parker showed resilience and won the board race in a very competitive pack only 10 days after an injury. The below photo shows the top four after the board race. Ryder Darragh, another Waverley boy in year 5 came 3rd. Parker also achieved 5th in the ocean swim race. Go Waves!
Ms Jade Sparks
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Junior School)
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3:00 pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
Procedures
Register your son via the link https://homelearningclub.youcanbook.me
Only register his name once to allow other students the opportunity to attend. The session is limited to 20 spots. There will be a roll call to ensure attendance.
Students are required to stay for the full session unless there is a message in the student diary requesting early leave, a parent’s signature will be required.
Behaviour
As it is important to respect the rights of others to learn and work, all students are expected to settle to work in the Learning Hub and not cause a disturbance for others.
Teachers
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Thursday
Mr Steve Ghattas
If you require any further information, feel free to contact us.
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
An important note to remember, if afternoon training sessions are cancelled, unfortunately, you cannot send your son to Home Learning as an alternative plan, students are registered for the afternoon sessions in advance and the capacity is always reached.
Avoid messaging your son during this period, unless it is urgent.
Toby, Spencer, and Luke did Waverley proud on Friday, November 8. These three boys represented Waverley at the IPSHA Speakers’ Challenge, competing against 90 students from a variety of schools in NSW.
The boys showed strong speaking skills, and their manner and method were exceptional. I’m extremely proud of the growth the boys have made since Round 1, the JS finals, and now the challenge.
Our Junior School students had an insightful Lunchtime Talk with guest speaker Ms Stephanie Falk who is a teacher in our Senior School Art Department.
It was a full house with aspiring artists wanting to learn all about the world of digital art. Thank you for taking the time to inspire our creative Junior School students.
As we come to the end of a productive year of drawing club, the students worked on their Coogee Christmas card competition submissions.
A highlight for me this year has been witnessing the students engage critically with their artwork and expressing their creativity.
I’ve seen the boys make new friendships, share insights, and appreciate each other’s artistic efforts. With only two sessions remaining in 2024, I eagerly anticipate the return of the drawing club in 2025, where we will also introduce digital art into our program.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last term, as part of the very important and influential Activism Day, 5 Gold wrote physical letters addressed to people of high influence, asking them to take action on issues they felt passionate about. Recently, we made a team trip up to the Charing Cross Post Office and posted our letters the old-fashioned way. Although we didn’t necessarily expect any replies, we were hopeful. This week, we received something truly exciting from a very important figure in Australia.
Leven Kalmar’s letter, which advocated for action on climate change and specifically plastic pollution, included powerful statements like, “It’s not just our environment we’re affecting; we’re also affecting our marine animals,” and, “As a kid, I can’t name one thing these creatures have done to harm our environment; we can’t be killing them.” Our class was ecstatic to receive a response from the office of the Prime Minister of Australia, in a very fancy envelope, written on some very fancy paper.
In his reply, Prime Minister Albanese stated, “Protecting nature is a task for all of us; and it’s the responsibility of all adults, especially those in senior positions like myself, to ensure we pass on a safe and healthy environment to future generations.” The Prime Minister went on to commend Leven’s commitment and passion personally, underscoring the role young Australians play in shaping a better future. He finished his letter by saying, “We need young people like you… You are the thinkers and innovators of the future.”
This was a deeply moving and exciting moment for us all in the Junior School, highlighting the power of activism and the importance of each person’s voice, no matter how young.
Mr Luke Burns
5 Gold Teacher
lburns@waverley.nsw.edu.au
6 Red has been engaged in several summative assessments to wrap up the year. Students planned, illustrated, and wrote a graphic novel from the perspective of a refugee. This semester, they explored migration and refugee experiences in both History and English. It was fantastic to see their creativity shine, allowing them to showcase their artistic abilities and skill in figurative writing. Students annotated their own books upon completion, identifying the visual elements and purpose of their writing.
6 Red has also been immersed in our country studies unit. Comparing Australia and a neighbouring country through the key question. How do places, people and cultures differ between Australia and your chosen Asian country? The final results were incredible, bringing to an end our studies of Geography this year.
On Wednesday, Year 6 had the pleasure of a live performance concert by the wonderful Musica Viva Australia.
The interactive showcase was a brilliant opportunity for boys to learn about unique musical instruments and engage in numerous musical numbers.
Mr Oliver Knight
6 Red teacher
oknight@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This is a night where we come together to celebrate and enjoy musical performances from the various groups, ensembles and students of the Junior School.
The festival will take place in the Performing Arts Centre at the Senior School from 6pm on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The evening will feature performances from the:
Students will need to arrive at the PAC by 5:30pm at the latest to tune up, prepare, dressed in full academic uniform. The event is non ticketed.
The Music Supporters’ Group will be putting on a Supper Service with a choice of hot & cold food items, along with beverages available for purchase before the event from 5:00pm in the PAC Foyer. Bring the family and enjoy the night. Cash or EFTPOS will be available.
It would be greatly appreciated for catering purposes if you can fill in the form advising how many will be in attendance: JS Music Festival Attendance Form
Please reach out if you need further information or clarification. You are welcome to contact Mrs Kossenberg regarding the Music Supporter’s Group by E: kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au or Ph: 9369 0623.
We look forward to seeing you there for a wonderful evening of music!
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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