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
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: 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.
Students who have parents/carers that attend the event, may leave with them straight after.
There will be supervision as normal, however, there is the option for your son to leave after the event, with written permission.
Each classroom teacher will send a Google Doc out on Monday where you may indicate if your son can go home and the arrangements, or if your son will require supervision until 3pm.
Over 150 Years 5 and 6 students took to the stage on Wednesday evening to perform at the 2023 Junior School Music Festival in our Performing Arts Centre.
The Waterford Concert Band, Junior School Guitar Ensemble, Stomp, Junior School Rock Band and Cantores all provided a fabulous night of entertainment for the audience.
Our Junior School music captain, Joe Madden performed a jazzy clarinet solo and our Wakakirri item provided a dramatic close to the program.
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 Mr Dan Williams, Mr Nick Yavtsev and Mr Jesse Johnston, the Senior School music department and Ms Keiran Kossenberg for their continued support, the Music Supporters’ Club and Mr Bishoy Wasef for his technical magic. We would also like to thank all of the parents and carers of our performers for their ongoing encouragement.
Ms Gaby Bransby acknowledges the substantial contributions of Music and Drama Teacher Ms Michelle Rollins over her 27-year career at Waverley
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents and Carers,
You are all invited to the Year 6 Graduation on Monday, 4 December 2023 to acknowledge the end of your son’s primary school years. Please see the invitation below.
Kids Giving Back is a NFP – DGR-status charity who offer meaningful volunteering opportunities to young people 6-18 years. Our mission is to create the next generation of generosity. Our philosophy embraces the triple impact of volunteering: creating empathic and responsible kids, supporting charities, and improving the society in which we live by creating a civic-minded population.
Kids Giving Back partners with over 50 charities and would love our support. I appeal to all students to please bring in the following essential items. With these donations, we enable children in the school holidays to create care packages, which are then donated to victims of domestic violence and the homeless community. Thank you for your support!
Thank you to Noah Nunn (6 Indigo) for bringing this charity to our attention once again this year.
Donations for this charity can be handed in to Ms Sanchez at the Junior School front office. We will collect donations up until Friday Week 8 (1 December 2023). Your generosity and support is very much appreciated.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Round 12 Sport (Saturday, 18 November 2023)
We’ve made it to the final co-curricular round for 2023 sport. I wish all teams the best of luck this weekend, and especially our Year 6 students who will be competing in their final round of sport at the Junior School.
Please click the link below to access the sports fixture for Round 12 this Saturday, 18 November. All adjustments to times and venues have been noted in red, please take note carefully.
>>>> Click here to view the College Website: Junior School Sports Fixtures and Season Draw.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular – Years 5-8
jwachtel@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.
Click here to register your son
Only register his name once to allow other students the opportunity to attend. The session is limited to 20 spots. There will be a roll call to ensure attendance.
Students are required to stay for the full session unless there is a message in the student diary requesting early leave, a parent’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 come to the end of a productive year of Drawing Club, I allowed the students to work on their mini drawings for the final sessions. Observing the students thinking critically about their drawings and watching them work creatively, is a highlight for me.
I have watched the boys make new friends, discuss and appreciate each other’s drawings. There are only two sessions left in 2023 and I look forward to seeing what they produce.
Toby and Ceilim did Waverley proud on Friday, 10 November 2023. These two boys represented Waverley at the IPSHA Speakers’ Challenge competing against 90 students from a variety of schools in NSW.
Both boys showed strong speaking skills, and their matter, manner and method were exceptional. I’m extremely proud of the growth both boys made since Round 1, the Junior School finals and now the challenge.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Boys in the Junior School have been exploring the musical concept of structure in Term 4. As a part of this topic, we have developed musical language to help us define and describe musical structure such as introduction, verse, chorus, bridge and coda. We used our listening skills to identify different sections of the music by comparing and contrasting melody, rhythm and instrumentation. We then used our knowledge of structure to develop a class performance of the theme from the TV series S.W.A.T. Once we learned the main melodies, we were able to experiment with different arrangements.
In Term 4 we have consolidated our skills into a final project including importing audio and video files into Garage Band, sampling sounds, creating loops and adding sound effects. Boys created a backing soundtrack for a small section of silent animated film. Students considered mood (tone colour), timing (duration) and sound effects (sampling). We are looking forward to sharing our work in class in Week 7, when every student will have the opportunity to show one of their 2023 Music Tech works to the class.
Term 4 is all about performing! Year 5 Drama students performed ‘Vulga the Vampire’ at the beginning of the Term. The characters were great fun and the boys developed voice projection, special awareness and teamwork.
As we come to the end of the year, our final play ‘Here comes the Judge’ is in rehearsal and is looking good. The boys will perform this play in Weeks 7 and 8.
We hope you enjoy some of the Music Tech works below that were produced in 2023.
School Blues by Leo Vigil, Charlie McKenzie and Freddie Fearon
Space Emergency (using genuine sound effects from NASA to create a soundscape) by Alex Banhidi
Dance Track by James Draper
Dance Track by Benedict Vanzella
Ms Michelle Rollins
Music and Drama Teacher
mrollins@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Thank you to those parents/carers who joined the Ysafe webinar last Thursday. If you missed the session, I have included the link below. This webinar has some really important information and I really encourage you to watch it.
>>> Click here to view the Waverley College Junior School ySafe Webinar.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents, Carers and Students
We look forward to the Junior School Music Festival next Wednesday evening.
The event will showcase the Year 5 and Year 6 students’ abundant talent in creative arts. The performances will commence at 6pm and will finish by 7:15pm.
The Festival will take place in the Performing Arts Centre Theatre located at the Senior School campus, 131 Birrell Street, Waverley. Parents/Carers and friends are welcome to attend. The event is non ticketed. Please arrive early to find a seat.
All performers will need to be at the Performing Arts Centre by 5:30pm. Boys will need to wear their academic uniform unless they are also in Wakakirri – (Wakakirri boys will wear their costume).
Our Music Supporters’ Group have organised a supper service and will be selling pizza slice, cakes and soft drinks along with beverages from 5:15pm in the PAC Foyer. Cash or EFTPOS available. Please email pac_supporters@waverley.nsw.edu.au if you are able to help, any assistance with service on the evening would be greatly appreciated.
The Waterford Concert Band rehearsal will be held in the Performing Arts Centre Theatre at the senior campus, before school on Wednesday morning 15 November, 7:30am.
Following this, students will be escorted to the Junior School campus. Students are reminded to bring their instruments and music.
Ms Keiran Kossenberg
Performing Arts Centre Coordinator
kkossenberg@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents and Carers,
You are all invited to the Year 6 Graduation on Monday, 4 December to acknowledge the end of your son’s primary school years. Please see the invitation below.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
My name is Charlie Barrett and I recently visited Nepal with my dad, my brother and another family. We first landed in Kathmandu and met our friends at the hotel. The next morning we woke up and went to our meeting with our lead guide, Ram, and met the owner of the company for some briefing. The day after, we woke up early and went to the airport and prayed that the flight would not be cancelled as the flight the day before had been cancelled. Luckily we got on a flight and off we went. It was the most spectacular flight ever as we were going through the Himalayas but we were also very nervous as this is one of the most dangerous flights. We landed on the runway with a large smack to the tarmac and we all bounced out of our seats.
The first village we visited was called Phakding which was a reasonably large village with a very nice bakery and a lot of nice things to do. The next day we went to Namche Bazaar and that day was one of the hardest days of the trek. The height of Namche is 3443m which was a lot of elevation in one day but it was worth it because it is one of the biggest and nicest villages in the trek.
We visited lots of villages such as Tengboche, which was quite small but had great views. Dingboche which was a large town with a lot of accommodation and some bakeries. The town of Lobuche was one of my favourites and the accommodation was very clean and nice.
The hardest day of all was the Cho-La Pass, one of the three passes (the trek that Miss Sparks did). It is the second hardest and boy was it tiring! We started our day with a group of people yelling at their guide to get them off the mountain and then we had a large rock climb to conquer and boy we thought that was the hard part but it was only the beginning. One of our guides got quite sick during the walk and halfway through, my own body had had enough and I toppled over and threw up all over the white snow. So a porter took my bag and l continued walking. When we got to the top of the pass, I felt like I was on the top of the world! It was the highest I’d ever been and we celebrated with some biscuits and a KitKat each, then I looked over the edge and saw the slippery steep rock face that we had to climb down. I didn’t look down there ever again.
Then the next day we went over a glacier to get to Gokyo, our guide said it was flat (Nepali flat means “a little bit up, a little bit down). Then it started raining which made it very slippery and hard to walk over the rocky surface. We had a great stay in Gokyo, it is a beautiful village. Then we enjoyed the town of Namche Bazaar again, eating lots of yummy food. In Lukla, our flights back to Kathmandu kept getting cancelled due to the weather, plus my brother got very sick. So my dad, Seb and I went to the hospital with Ram and my brother was given a drip and oxygen. He rested and started to feel better so we checked out and went back to the hostel.
Finally, our guide had luckily been able to do a deal with his friend who said he would take us back to Kathmandu in a helicopter. We jumped on with the propellers still spinning and then the helicopter did a sharp turn and took off. It was super exhilarating, we got an amazing view and were so happy to be on our way. Another special part of it was that we got special permission to fly directly to Kathmandu rather than have to do a six-hour bus drive on twisty, bumpy roads. When we got off, we collected our stuff and then went to surprise our friends… they couldn’t believe we’d made it and that night we all luxuriated in having a shower (after 10 days!) and eating a delicious meal. That night we fell asleep in our clean and cosy beds, what an adventure we’d all had!!
Only two more rounds of Summer Co-Curricular sport for the remainder of 2023. Please refer to the link below to access the sports fixture for Round 11 this Saturday, 11 November. All adjustments to times and venues have been noted in red, please take note carefully.
>>> Click here to view the College Website: Junior School Sports Fixtures and Season Draw.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular – Years 5-8
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
*No Home Learning on Wednesday, 15 November 2023.
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.
Click here to register your son
Only register his name once to allow other students the opportunity to attend. The session is limited to 20 spots. There will be a roll call to ensure attendance.
Students are required to stay for the full session unless there is a message in the student diary requesting early leave, a parent’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.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
It has been a busy start to Term 4 for 6 Red. With the year wrapping up, boys have been hard at work with a variety of summative assessment tasks. For Science, students were tasked with using a selection of recycled materials to craft an enjoyable, functional, and user-friendly game of their choosing. The boys displayed excellent teamwork in their collaborative efforts, resulting in the successful creation of numerous outstanding games, which they subsequently presented to the class.
The 6 Red team have also been actively engaged in developing health-related advertisements. They’ve been focusing on the promotion of the concept of being an ‘upstander,’ a subject of significant importance within the Junior School community. The boys have produced concise advertisements aimed at educating the audience about the role of an upstander and how we can collectively combat bullying.
Additionally, the students of 6 Red have found great enjoyment in delving into the creative world of stop motion animation during English. They have dedicated their efforts to exploring this fascinating medium, honing their skills and unleashing their imaginative talents.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 4 events, please refer to the College calendar.
I wanted to share the incredible trip that our 6 Blue teacher Ms Sparks journeyed on over the last month. Ms Sparks completed the Everest Three-Passes trek in Nepal. This was no small feat and I thought her story below was worth celebrating.
Next week, I will share Charlie Barrett’s adventure (6 Gold) who also went to Nepal and completed the trek to base camp.
Namaste! On the 30th September this year, I boarded an eight-hour flight to Singapore and then a five-hour flight to Kathmandu, landing in the early hours of the morning. I was greeted with a smack of heat and a buzz of human and car traffic, despite the time. In Kathmandu the next day, I met my World Expeditions leader and my fellow trek-mates, then we got on a bus to Ramechhap. After a breakdown and a swap of buses, we arrived safely at Ramechhap after six hours. Our first night at camp ended in the early hours of the following morning, when we woke in the dark to get to the airport for our final flight (18 minutes on something not much larger than a remote-controlled plane) to Lukla.
Once in Lukla we finally started walking. And for 18 days we walked, up to eight hours every day. Each day, walking was different, but never flat. “Nepali flat” means “a little bit up, a little bit down.” The first of our three high passes was Kongma-La (elevation 5,550m) where we battled altitude and many steep climbs to get to the top. The way down was always a relief, but mostly a sense of accomplishment. The second of our high passes was the Cho-La (elevation 5,420m) which involved wearing ice cleats over our boots to trek up the glacier (imagine walking on a snow cone). Finally, the third high pass was the Renjo La (5,360m) which we conquered after staying at the beautiful Gokyo lakes.
Gokyo Lakes
Amidst the three passes, we climbed Kalla Pattar, went to Everest Base Camp, stayed in Wilderness Camps, visited the Sir Edmund Hillary School, stayed in the tiered village of Namche Bazaar, and saw incredible views of Sagamartha (Everest), Ama Dablam and so many more of the highest peaks in the world. In total we walked 170km and climbed a total elevation o 8,500m. I am so grateful I had this experience which was made possible by our World Expeditions leader, Sherpa guides, porters and cooks.
Thank you to the support of the College and community whilst I was on leave in Nepal. I have returned more aware, grateful and fulfilled and I recommend traveling to Nepal to anyone who wishes to experience the stillness and serenity of the highest points on Earth, while being surrounded by some of the happiest people in the world. – Ms Jade Sparks
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents and Carers,
You are all invited to the Year 6 Graduation on Monday, 4 December to acknowledge the end of your son’s primary school years. Please see the invitation below.
As part of the Year 6 Graduation, I will be putting together a slideshow presentation. I would be very appreciative 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.
If you could please send a labelled photo through to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au by no later than Friday Week 5. Picture format as a jpeg or png file would be preferred. Please do not send through pdf files.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School/Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Round 10 Sport (Saturday, 4 November 2023)
Please refer to the link below to access the sports fixture for Round 10 this Saturday, 4 November. All adjustments to times and venues have been noted in red, please take note carefully.
>>> Click here to view the College Website: Junior School Sports Fixtures and Season Draw.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular
jwachtel@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.
Click here to register your son
Only register his name once to allow other students the opportunity to attend. The session is limited to 20 spots. There will be a roll call to ensure attendance.
Students are required to stay for the full session unless there is a message in the student diary requesting early leave, a parent’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.
A shout out to Hugh Rachel (Year 5) for going above and beyond to get the latest Learning Hub books signed by the incredible author Suzanne Leal! And let me tell you, the new release, Running With Ivan, is an absolute page-turner! It’s a thrilling read that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Don’t miss out on this fantastic book.
Monique Kalmar, actress and mum of Ashaan (Year 5), took us on a journey on why she became an actress. Monique’s insights and experiences were truly inspiring, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have learned from her.
Monique’s passion for acting and her dedication to her craft were evident in her life experiences, and the Junior School students were all captivated by the stories of her time in remote villages in developing countries.
Monique’s willingness to share her journey with us has left a lasting impression on our students, and I am confident that they have taken away valuable lessons from her talk.
Thank you for taking the time and for sharing your expertise with us.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This Term in English, our theme is “Life Is An Adventure,” a fitting topic for our last Term of Year 6 where change and adventure awaits our Year 6 students next year. We are immersing ourselves in a wide range of quality imaginative texts, through our own reading and being read to. We are exploring short stories (humorous and adventurous), particularly those of Australian authors, for example Paul Jennings and Oliver Phommavanh.
One way of presenting short stories is through stop-motion films. We have viewed some examples of stop-motion films through Literacy Shed and examined the themes, imagery, emotion and effectiveness of each short story. This Term we will create several short film projects individually and in groups. Our focus is using creative visual literacy skills to develop stop-motion films that use characters and stories to engage audiences.
See the images below of our creators at work, using their bodies to make a stop-motion film. We had to pay great attention to the shots and angles we used in order to create the illusion effect that is possible with stop-motion. For example, we could make our characters fly and flip in the air through a sequence of high-angle shots of someone lying on the ground.
6 Blue embraced the challenge and have now produced two high quality stop-motion films, with more to come.
Ms Jade Sparks
Teacher 6 Blue
jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Orientation Day for students in Year 7, 2024 will be held on Tuesday, 7 November, 2023.
Please drop your son to the Birrell Street Basketball Courts at 8:30am. The boys will participate in a number of activities including:
Students are required to wear their PE Uniform on the day and bring the following:
The day will conclude at 2:50pm. Students will be dismissed from the Birrell Street Basketball Courts and collected by parents or carers or they can make their own way home if permission is granted.
Ms Gabby Smith
Deputy Principal – Students
gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The local monthly magazine of the Eastern Suburbs The Beast has launched The Beast Young Writers Competition this month.
There will be two categories:
Anyone who lives in the area of The Beast’s distribution area and is aged 18 or under, is invited to enter.
The short stories need to be between 500-600 words and the poems need to be under 300 words. The only rule is that it needs to be original with local relevance, that hasn’t been entered in any other competition.
The judges will be Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos, Reddam House English Teacher Mr Compton, and Beast writers, including Nat Shepherd.
To enter, email your short story or poem to james@thebeast.com.au
Include your:
Prizes include $150 for 1st prize in each category and $50 for 2nd place.
Entries close on 30 November 2023 and winners will be announced in The Beast magazine before Christmas.
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
Watch our video
