Year 5 & 6 Action Items Archives - Page 5 of 16

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.

Semester 1 Reports

Semester 1 Reports will be available today at 5pm in the Parent Lounge. Please take the time to go through and read the report with your son. Please have any questions regarding the Semester 1 Report ready to discuss at Parent/Teacher Interviews.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews are scheduled for Monday, 19 June. This will be a hybrid model to accommodate those who would like to come into the school or Zoom in from work or home. Each session will go for 15 minutes. Students are required to attend this session in full academic uniform.

Winter Co-Curricular Sport – Round 7

The Winter Co-Curricular season is now entering its final round for Term 2, with the mid-year break around the corner and the remaining three rounds at the beginning of Term 3.

Just a reminder that there will only be training on Tuesday, 20 and Wednesday, 21 June in Week 9 next week.

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.

All families can also locate all relevant Junior School Co-Curricular information through the College website by clicking the button below:

Home Learning Week 9

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.

Procedures

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

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.

2023 ICAS Competitions | Years 5 and 6 Students

What is ICAS? 

ICAS is an online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies.  Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.

If you would like your son to compete in the 2023 ICAS Competitions, you will be asked to nominate which competitions you would like him to be entered in through the Parent Payment System. At the Junior School, the following ICAS competitions are offered: Writing & Digital Technologies, Science & English and Mathematics.

This year all the competitions will be held in August / September, Term 3 and will be completed online in the Learning Hub before school starts. A timetable will be shared closer to the assessment dates.

Click https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps to register your son. Through this system, parents can pay for ICAS directly online while tests will still be held at our school. Please use the school’s access code details to register your child no later than 23 July 2023

Please consider carefully before choosing this enrichment opportunity for your son. It is a rigorous competition with many questions set beyond grade level. Participants are required to demonstrate a deeper, integrated and thorough level of learning. If you are unsure of your son’s suitability, please consult with his teacher. More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home

If you require additional support registering your son, contact the customer service team. Call Australian Toll-Free Tel 1800 931 775.

Reader of the Week

Creative Arts

Where to start? The Junior School boys have been busy (creatively speaking) in Semester 1. From performing on mallet percussion in music, storytelling in Year 5 drama, through to producing some fabulous digital compositions in Music Tech – we had great fun.

Both Years 5 and 6 have just finished a unit on pitch, where they used our mallet percussion instruments to play a melody part, three accompaniment parts as well as improvising. All of the boys did a great job on this unit. The Year 5 piece (‘Chatter with the Angels’) was a bright, happy song while the Year 6 boys explored ‘Zum Gali’ which (because of its minor key), sounded more serious.

In Drama, Year 5 has been exploring storytelling. We have developed our skills in this area by various activities including recounting, inventing interesting endings and weaving an original story around eight clues left by a detective. The resulting stories have ranged from funny to quite scary, but they have all been entertaining.

Music Technology is always a favourite. Year 6 have been working collaboratively to produce a soundtrack for an animated film clip (‘Mario or Zelda’). They produced original music for this project using BeepBox and GarageBand.

Year 5 have worked through three projects this semester. Each task asked them to import a different type of file into GarageBand and work on composing accompanying music.

If you are interested in hearing these compositions, the boys are starting a digital portfolio on their CANVAS page, where they keep their Music Tech work. Just look for the studio tab on the left hand side of the screen.

Click on the white triangular play button below to listen to one of the outstanding digital compositions produced this Semester.

The composition is called ‘Welcome to the Future’ and was composed by Xavier Condon in 5 Red – enjoy!

This year, the daVinci Decathlon makes its return as an in-person event after the last few years of being held via Zoom. The essence of the daVinci Decathlon lies in its ability to provide an immersive experience, and this is amplified when participants, up to 600 students, come together to compete under one roof.

The excitement of exploring diverse subjects, solving complex problems, and engaging in hands-on challenges becomes even more palpable when shared in real-time. For a lot of our students, this will be their first in person daVinci experience.

This all-day event will be taking place at Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga, on the following dates:

We wish our students all the best for their preparation for this extraordinary event!

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

Please select a time with your son’s teacher by logging into the Parent Lounge.

Year 6 History Showcase

Year 6 will be holding their annual History Showcase on Wednesday, 14 June. All parents and carers are welcome to attend to celebrate and acknowledge the amazing work our Year 6 students have put into their History project. We hope to see you there.

Home Learning Club

*NO HOME LEARNING Monday, 12 June and Thursday, 15 June 2023

Procedures

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/carer 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

Important

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.

2023 ICAS Competitions – Years 5 and 6 Students

What is ICAS? 

ICAS is an online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies.  Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.

If you would like your son to compete in the 2023 ICAS Competitions, you will be asked to nominate which competitions you would like him to be entered in through the Parent Payment System.

At the Junior School, the following ICAS competitions are offered: Writing & Digital Technologies, Science & English and Mathematics. This year all the competitions will be held in August / September, Term 3 and will be completed online in the Learning Hub before school starts. A timetable will be shared closer to the assessment dates.

Through this system, parents/carers can pay for ICAS directly online, while tests will still be held at our school.

*Please use the school’s access code details to register your child no later than 23 July 2023.

If you are unsure of your son’s suitability, please consult with his teacher. More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home

If you require additional support registering your son, contact the customer service team, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.

Debating Round 3

Waverley v Kambala

Last week the debaters had tough competition and a tough topic. Both Waverley teams put forward strong arguments and presented their cases clearly and firmly rebutting the Kambala team’s cases. The boys did themselves and Waverley very proud. One win and one loss.

I would like to thank our Year 10 mentors Nick Zanapalis and Thomas Jackson-Whitlock for their continued support at home debates and training sessions.

Every training session is packed with tips and activities to help the junior team develop their debating skills.

Public Speaking 2023

This week, we presented the Year 6 Public Speaking Competition. All boys put in an incredible amount of effort, with one stand-out student who took home the trophy! Well done to all the finalists and thank you Ms Emma Halpin and Harrison Rimell for adjudicating the finals.

Congratulations to our finalists and our Public Speaking Champion 2023, Ceilim O’Kelly.

Reader of the Week

English and Reconciliation Week in 6 Red by Olly

In our English class this Term, we have been studying Bruce Pascoe’s non-fiction book Young Dark Emu, which presents a more accurate portrayal of pre-colonised Australia’s history. The 6 Red boys have delved into the author’s background, analysed each chapter, and written reflective journal entries about their discoveries and questions.

During Reconciliation Week last week, the boys explored the significance of reconciliation and delved into their community connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The boys learnt that it is a dedicated time for fostering understanding, respect, and dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, aiming to build a more inclusive and harmonious society.

As a culmination of their learning, the students wrote persuasive letters to the Australian Government advocating for the inclusion of an Aboriginal voice in the Australian Parliament for the Referendum, later this year. This activity demonstrated their understanding of the importance of representation and the need for Indigenous voices to be heard in shaping the nation’s policies and decisions.

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.

After School Code Camp

Waverley College Junior School is looking to partner with Code Camp to offer a weekly coding After-School program, starting in Term 3. This is open to all students in Years 5 and 6.

Code Camp After-School allows students to hone their creative skills and keep practicing through weekly sessions over the Term! Their fun and engaging content ensures students learn new creative skills in a safe, educational environment.

At this stage, Code Camp is wanting to gauge an idea of families who would be interested in their child/children participating. If you are interested in your child/children participating in Code Camp in Term 3, please click here to learn more about the programs being offered and to complete the Expression of Interest form.

Nurrunga Newsletter and Social Media Pages

Just a reminder that it is important to check articles in the ‘Principal and Leadership’ section of Nurrunga, after you’ve read the articles in the Junior School section. Information relevant to Junior School students is often contained in this section, and we strongly encourage you to read it.

We’d be delighted if you could also follow Waverley College Social Media pages to support our student, staff and community successes. Please follow @waverleycollege on Instagram and Facebook

Year 5 History Showcase

We would like to invite all parents/carers to attend Year 5’s History Showcase next week on Thursday, 8 June at 2pm.

The students in Year 5 will be presenting their historical knowledge from their history unit learnt this semester. They have been involved in a history inquiry unit that explores the significance of people, groups, places and events that have led to the development of Australia.

We are looking forward to seeing you there and celebrating the hard work and creativity from our Year 5 historians.

Year 6 History Showcase

We would like to invite all parents/carers to attend Year 6’s History Showcase on Wednesday, 14 June at 1:30pm.

Year 6 has been learning about the many reasons why people have migrated to Australia over time. They have interviewed somebody they know, who has migrated to Australia. At the showcase, students will:

We are very excited to learn all about the diverse stories of migration to Australia that Year 6 has collected.

Winter Co-Curricular Sport – Round 6

The Winter Co-Curricular season is now over the halfway point, with two more rounds before the mid-year break and the remaining three rounds at the beginning of Term 3. This weekend is Round 6, on Saturday, 3 June. Just a reminder that there will be no Saturday sport next weekend due to the King’s Birthday Public Holiday.

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. All families can also locate all relevant Junior School Co-Curricular information through the College website via the link below.

Home Learning Club Week 5

Procedures

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/carer 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

Important

2023 ICAS Competitions – Years 5 and 6 Students

What is ICAS? 

ICAS is an online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies.  Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.

If you would like your son to compete in the 2023 ICAS Competitions, you will be asked to nominate which competitions you would like him to be entered in through the Parent Payment System.

Through this system, parents/carers can pay for ICAS directly online, while tests will still be held at our school.

*Please use the school’s access code details to register your child no later than 23 July 2023.

If you are unsure of your son’s suitability, please consult with his teacher. More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home

If you require additional support registering your son, contact the customer service team, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.

Reader of the Week

News From 5 Blue

Science

This Term, the boys have begun to learn all about energy and energy transformations. They have been looking at the Deep Learning Competency of working interdependently as a team, and participated in an exploratory learning task to create circuits.

Each group was provided with equipment and were instructed to construct a complete circuit. They needed to make the bulb light up using wires, a battery, a bulb and crocodile clips, and were then asked to share how they designed their circuits.

During the experiment, the students recorded the process in their classwork books, explaining their circuits through a labelled diagram. Some of the students challenged themselves by adding more electrical components into their circuit.

Alexander: “What I learnt about circuits was that you could put the wires into the power circuit then the light bulb platform and then put the crocodile clips around the circuit hole and it will make the light bulb light up. When I did my experiment, my team and I figured out how to turn it on and off by moving a little lever on the circuit board. We had a few goes but then we solved it and it turned out better than I ever imagined!”

Rufus: “What I learnt about circuits is that you can sometimes mess around with the wires and it will still work but if you put time and effort into it then it will work just as you want it to, maybe even better. When I tried to make the lightbulb light up I started off by placing the wires in different positions but then I improved to make it much more successful.”

English

In English, the boys have been studying the picture story book Voices in the Park by award-winning children’s author, Anthony Browne. They have been working extremely hard to plan and compose a story from the fifth voice perspective. When drawing their illustrations to match their text, the boys have been focusing on visual and language choices to convey mood, meaning, and character traits for their reader audience.

At the completion of their books, for their Term 2 English summative assessment, the boys will provide an explanation of their illustrations and explain the intended effect that the choices in technique should have on their audience.

Thomas: “I have learnt that visual literacy is so important in drawings and photos. It can show and highlight certain things or emotions, through colouring, body language, salience, lining and positioning. It is also useful if you want to exaggerate or emphasise certain aspects in your drawing. In his books, Anthony Browne uses lots of visual literacy to link the text to the drawing. I showed this in my book by trying hard to change the weather depending on the emotion, using body positioning to show the characters movement or action, resize certain objects to emphasise the feelings of the characters and change each person’s facial expressions to show how they are feeling.”

Blake: “Visual literacy can be background images that give you clues of what the picture is trying to tell us. It is very important to use it in pictures because it can really give a clue to what the author is trying to say. It can be useful in different ways e.g. over exaggerating, salience, body language and much more. I showed visual literacy by adding extra pictures in the background e.g. weather (depending on the emotions of the characters), faces, using certain objects to represent lifestyle and wealth and changing facial expressions. Lastly, I used lines in my pathway by the use of trees and so on.”

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.

It was wonderful to start the week off with a wonderful class assembly led by Mr McKimm and 5 Orange. They showcased all the amazing work they have done so far this Term and presented so well. Thank you 5 Orange for starting the week off with a bang!

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews will be held on Monday, 19 June. This is a pupil-free day for students however, they need to attend the interview. They need to be in their full academic uniform. This will be a hybrid session that will be split into two. The morning session will be face-to-face and the afternoon session will be Zoom. More information will be coming out over the next couple of weeks.

Free the Funk

On Tuesday, 30 May, we are asking students to come to school in fluro mufti to raise awareness of mental health. ‘One Wave’ is an organisation that runs a program called ‘Free the Funk’ which visits schools to start conversations, learn tips and tools for taking care of your mental health, and discuss how to support friends and family members.

One Wave will be holding a 30-minute session with Year 5 and Year 6 separately on Tuesday. We ask that students bring in a donation of $2 so we can support this wonderful organisation that visits schools for free, to start early prevention, which is critical for our students.

WriteOn Competition 2023

This is a reminder about the WriteOn Competition. If your son is looking for some extra inspiration over the next few weeks please direct him to this competition.

WriteOn is an annual writing competition open to all NSW primary students in Years 1 to 6. Students compose an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using the below image as the stimulus.

This competition provides students with the opportunity to become published authors and showcase their creativity.

Year 5 History Showcase

We would like to invite all parents/carers to attend Year 5’s History Showcase on Thursday, 8 June at 2pm.

Below are some amazing examples from last year to get you inspired, we can’t wait to see what this year’s Year 5 has in store for us!

Year 6 History Showcase

We would like to invite all parents/carers to attend Year 6’s History Showcase on Wednesday, 14 June at 1:30pm.

Examples from last year are below. We are so looking forward to learning about and celebrating the diverse stories of migration to Australia that Year 6 will be sharing with us.

Winter Co-Curricular Sport – Round 5

I wish all teams the best of luck this weekend, and hope for friendly competition and respect for our opposition teams. For the last several rounds I have been really impressed with how our teams have been performing, and I know it won’t be any different this weekend.

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. Families can also locate all relevant Junior School Co-Curricular information through the College website via the link below.

House Athletics Carnival (Years 5-12 Whole School Event)

Last Friday, 19 May Waverley College held its annual House Athletics Carnival at ES Marks Athletics Field. It was a glorious sun-shining day and the electricity was high, having both Junior and Senior students and staff together for a day of friendly House competition. It had been two years since having a whole school Athletics Carnival due to the redevelopment of ES Marks.

All Junior School students demonstrated true House spirit, along with a fire to compete in as many events as they could, throughout the day. Track and Field events included: 100m, 200m, 800m, 1,500m, Championship Race, Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Put.

It wouldn’t have been a House Athletics Carnival for the Junior School without the Novelty events that our students love participating in. This year they included: Three-Legged Race and the Wheelbarrow Race. All staff and Junior students got involved, including some Senior House Prefects, and it no doubt was the highlight for many students.

Students gave their all in each event they were involved in, and as a result, we can announce the following students who are the Junior School Age Champions for 2023 based on the final results and placings.

The IPSHA Athletics Team will not yet be announced until Term 3, as we still need to undertake Discus, and redo Shot Put due to Senior Staff not recording the distances. Once announced, those students will be invited to begin training as part of the Senior School Athletics Program.

CIS AFL

Freddie Fearon represented Waverley College at the AFL CIS trials and was deservingly selected in the NSW CIS team and participated in the annual tournament last week.

The team came away with a silver medal, doing a great job throughout the tournament – working hard and playing with spirit, grit and determination. Unfortunately they were beaten in the Grand Final but it was a great game.

A massive congratulations to Freddie for his involvement. Waverley is proud of you.

IPSHA Rugby Union Trials

Last Thursday, seven Junior School students were invited to be involved in the 2023 IPSHA Rugby Union Trial, in the hope of making it through to the NSW CIS Rugby Union Trials. Mr Olds was there as a coach and selector, which I’m sure gave all the students comfort, knowing a familiar coaching face and energy.

At the conclusion of the trial, we successfully had all seven students selected to be a part of the IPSHA squad to progress to the NSW CIS Trials coming up in June.

Congratulations to the following students: Kalan Fisher, Hugo Cummins, Jacob Roorda, William Carr, Henry Callen and Talin Opai.

6 Blue English Podcasts

Our focus text this Term in English has been Bruce Pascoe’s Young Dark Emu, a non-fiction text telling a ‘truer history’ of pre-colonised Australia. The 6 Blue students have studied the background of author Bruce Pascoe, analysed each chapter, and written thoughtful journal entries about their learnings and wonderings. Each student has been surprised, shocked and in awe of the knowledge shared in this book, adding more detail and a wider perspective to their view of history.

As the summative assessment at the conclusion of this deep-dive, students are required to script and record a podcast sharing their thoughts and findings about the text. Here are some of the students’ lines in their podcasts:

“Leo: So, Jethro I have one last question for you: What was terra nullius and how was it justified by claiming that Indigenous Australians were primitive?

Jethro: Well Leo, actually it was not justified to call it terra nullius because that actually means “land belonging to no one”, but the Indigenous people of Australia had been there for over 60,000 years and had many different ways of agriculture and aquaculture, as well as food storing and house building.”

“Jacob: The book says that the Aboriginal women were the first to make bread. They would do this by grinding up seeds and then mixing them with some water until it was a thick dough. After the dough had rested for a day they would place it over a fire to bake and voila, BREAD!

We are looking forward to completing our podcast recordings and listening to them as a class.

Running Club

Every Monday at lunchtime, a number of students and staff in the Junior School head to Waverley Park for Running Club. In its second year at the College, this initiative aims to support the mental health and fitness goals of its participants.

The reasons that runners and walkers have for attending is varied, however, all are welcome no matter your pace. Many of us are training for the City2Surf and are excited to support Running for Premature Babies once more.

If you have any questions about Running Club or the City2Surf, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Winter Cricket Training

While the winter sport season is in full swing at Waverley College, a group of very keen cricketers have been meeting every Wednesday at the Junior School nets. These boys have been batting and bowling with the purpose of keeping their skills active throughout the winter, so that they are ready to go when summer rolls around once more.

Home Learning Club Week 6

Procedures

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/carer 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

Important

2023 ICAS Competitions – Years 5 and 6 Students

What is ICAS? 

ICAS is an online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies.  Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.

If you would like your son to compete in the 2023 ICAS Competitions, you will be asked to nominate which competitions you would like him to be entered in through the Parent Payment System.

Through this system, parents/carers can pay for ICAS directly online, while tests will still be held at our school.

*Please use the school’s access code details to register your child no later than 23 July 2023.

If you are unsure of your son’s suitability, please consult with his teacher. More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home

If you require additional support registering your son, contact the customer service team, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.

Lunchtime Guest Speaker – Richard Simpkin

Richard Simpkin, Waverley Old Boy, proud Tevlin member and Dad of Ollie (Year 5), had the Waverley Junior School students buzzing with excitement during his presentation.

Richard, who is a photographer and writer, took the boys on a celebrity journey and shared the strong message of perseverance and believing in yourself.

You had the students captivated from start to finish. You are a natural-born storyteller. I look forward to reading more of your books. Thank you for taking the time to inspire the students to ‘dream big’ and follow their dreams.

Sorry Day 26 May and Reconciliation Week 27 May – 3 June

This week, the boys explored the very important theme of National Sorry Day and next week will focus on Reconciliation.

Rich literature was used to encourage valuable discussion on the cultural heritage of the First Nations Peoples.

The boys highlighted many important facts and we were involved in activities that promote creative and critical thinking.

Drawing Club

Good luck to the Drawing Club students who entered the Waverley Youth Art Prize 2023 competition run by Waverley Council. Your interpretation of this year’s theme, Climate Utopia, was creative and original.

Reader of the Week

Have you heard of the REELise Film Festival? It gives students the chance to see their work on the big screen.

The 2023 REELise Film Festival will screen in Cinema 1 at Randwick Ritz and be live-streamed for an Australian audience on 12 August 2023.

There are three age divisions: Junior (10-12 years), Intermediate (13-15 years), and Senior (16-18 years).

This year’s competition theme is ‘Footprint’ designed to elicit storytelling about how our actions or inactions imprint on our lives and the lives of others.

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.

Year 5 History Talk Presented by Gene Ross

Earlier in the Term, one of our parents, Gene Ross, came to talk to Year 5 about Indigenous Heroes of History. In our History lessons we have been learning all about the Colonisation of Australia. Gene opened our eyes to the often untold stories and experiences of Indigenous people throughout this time.

Gene shared his knowledge and experience of the history and traditions of Indigenous culture, and told us the stories of overlooked Indigenous people who have shaped our country. These included stories about Patyegarang, Australia’s first Aboriginal linguist, and Bungaree, the explorer, diplomat and negotiator, who made Matthew Flinders’ (British navigator and cartographer) circumnavigation of Australia possible.

I am sure that we have sparked the interest of Year 5 students, so that they might investigate some of these incredible historical figures through their History projects. Thank you so much to Gene Ross for taking the time to share his stories and knowledge with Year 5, and give them such a valuable experience.

Winter Co-Curricular Sport – Round 4

I wish all teams the best of luck this weekend, and know they will do everything in their power to demonstrate the utmost respect and sportsmanship towards their opposition teams.

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. Families can also locate all relevant Junior School Co-Curricular information through the College website by clicking the button below.

Year 5 Camp to Stanwell Tops

An announcement was shared earlier in the week which included the below letter outlining the proceedings for the upcoming Year 5 Camp in Week 8 (Wednesday, 14 June to Friday, 16 June 2023) at Stanwell Tops. I ask you to please read the letter carefully, to be fully prepared for the camp ahead.

Your son’s class teacher shared with you a Google Form on Wednesday, 17 May, which instructed you to provide relevant medical information to support Stanwell Tops with their dietary requirements preparation. This should now be completed, allowing class teachers to collate the information.

Another hard copy risk management form was sent home on Wednesday, 17 May, to be returned to your son’s class teacher. Please return this as soon as possible to assist us with preparation.

All other relevant information will be communicated to you as camp draws closer.

Home Learning Club Week 5

Procedures

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/carer 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

Important

2023 ICAS Competitions – Years 5 and 6 Students

What is ICAS? 

ICAS is an online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies.  Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.

If you would like your son to compete in the 2023 ICAS Competitions, you will be asked to nominate which competitions you would like him to be entered in through the Parent Payment System.

Through this system, parents/carers can pay for ICAS directly online, while tests will still be held at our school.

*Please use the school’s access code details to register your child no later than 23 July 2023.

If you are unsure of your son’s suitability, please consult with his teacher. More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home

If you require additional support registering your son, contact the customer service team, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.

Inspirational Lunchtime Guest Speaker

Last week’s guest speaker, interventional cardiologist Dr James Roy (father of Joe in Year 5), drew a large crowd of students to his lunchtime talk. The presentation was raw and real, and it allowed students to have a better understanding of the world of medicine and surgery.

It was wonderful to learn that Dr Roy chose to pursue a profession in cardiology in the same way that his father did. His compelling message of teamwork and helping others was great, two extremely important life qualities that students will need for the future.

Waverley sincerely appreciates Dr James Roy giving up his time to present with such engagement, to the upcoming generation of cardiologists.

Reader of the Week

News from 5 Indigo

We have had a wonderful start to Term 2 in 5 Indigo! Here is a snapshot of some of the learning that has been happening in some of our Key Learning Areas.

Science

In Science we have been learning all about forces. Earlier in the Term, we designed boats and conducted our own boat race. Here are some photos of the great 5 Indigo boat race!

English

In English, we have been reading the picture book Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne. Anthony Browne communicates so much about his characters through his visual literacy techniques and he also carefully selects his language to describe his characters. Currently, we are creating our own ‘fifth voice’ to add to his book. Here are some pictures of our work in progress, so far.

Visual Arts

In Visual Arts, we have been learning about the technique of cross-hatching. We used the picture book Matthew Flinders: Adventures on Leaky Ships by Carole Wilkinson, as inspiration to create our own artworks using this shading technique.

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.

May

June

Mother’s Day Mass

Today’s Mother’s Day Mass was absolutely beautiful. The church was full and vibrant. Celebrating our mothers, grandmothers and anyone that is like a mother, is one of the most special occasions of the year. Thank you for making the Mass such a special occasion and I wish you all an amazing Mother’s Day on Sunday.

May Procession

As you are aware, May Procession is on Friday, 26 May. Students need to be dressed in their full academic uniform. This is a very special event and we would love you to join us. Should you be able to attend, the Mass starts at 10:30am. Students come to school as normal, but will be dismissed at the conclusion of the Mass at 12pm.

If you are not attending, please have arrangements in place for your son to be picked up at this time, or make alternative arrangements at dismissal time.

Edmund Rice Activity Day

Last Friday, 5 May, Junior School students participated in the Annual Edmund Rice Activity Day. Throughout the morning, the boys learnt about the life of Edmund Rice through a variety of activities including trivia, research projects and a Prayer Service.

We welcomed Millie, Nathan and Jenny from Edmund Rice Camps, who spoke about the work that they do to help underprivileged children enjoy weekend activities and overnight camps, that we sometimes take for granted.

At assembly, awards were presented to students who demonstrate the same qualities of Edmund Rice, such as kindness, compassion, humility and a desire to put others first.

During the afternoon, the boys were involved in a number of different fundraising activities, aimed at raising money to go towards Edmund Rice Camps. There was a buzz of excitement around the school as a majority of the boys immersed themselves in the different games.

I am proud to say that over $2,500 was raised with all the money going to Edmund Rice Camps. Well done to all boys for their efforts.

Big Brother/Little Brother – Session 3

On Friday, 5 May, the Year 5 and Year 10 students were once again involved in a Big Brother Little Brother activity, which happened to coincide with the Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice. We were lucky to welcome the senior boys to the Junior School classrooms, where they engaged in a Kahoot Quiz based on the life of Edmund Rice.

Needless to say, all boys seemed to enjoy the morning activities, and a lot of fun was had competing for a podium finish. We look forward to our next session later in the term.

Winter Co-Curricular Sport – Round 3

Round 2 consisted of blue skies and an array of positive final results from all Winter Co-Curricular teams. Tomorrow marks Round 3 (Saturday, 13 May). I know our students will represent the College proudly and demonstrate the utmost respect and sportsmanship towards their opposition teams.

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. Families can also locate all relevant Junior School co-curricular information through the College website via the link below.

House Athletics Carnival (Years 5-12)

The Junior and Senior School will be holding our annual Years 5-12 House Athletics Carnival next Friday, 19 May. This will be held at ES Marks Athletics Field. All information regarding parent/carer permission has been sent out and should now be finalised by all class teachers, ensuring we can safely account for all Junior School students on the day.

Please view to the information document below for further information about the House Athletics Carnival. This document is written for both Junior and Senior School parents/carers.

Although, please refer to the below points of information that aren’t mentioned in the information document above:

Please view the House Athletics Carnival map below for reference to where events are taking place and House areas for where your son will be located.

IPSHA Rugby League Trials

Monday this week, the following students represented Waverley College Junior School at the CIS Rugby League Trials at The Kingsway Rugby League Fields: Kalan Fisher, Jackson MacAskill, Joey De Blasio, Henry Callen, Jacob Roorda.

All students gave it their all in the trial, and we were fortunate to have three out of the five secure a spot in the team. These included Kalan Fisher, Jackson MacAskill and Henry Callen.

A massive congratulations to these students and to Joey and Jacob for giving it their all.

Home Learning Club Week 4

Procedures

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/carer 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

Important

2023 ICAS Competitions – Years 5 and 6 Students

ICAS is an online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies.  Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.

If you would like your son to compete in the 2023 ICAS Competitions, you will be asked to nominate which competitions you would like him to be entered in through the Parent Payment System.

Through this system, parents/carers can pay for ICAS directly online, while tests will still be held at our school.

*Please use the school’s access code details to register your child no later than 23 July 2023.

If you are unsure of your son’s suitability, please consult with his teacher. More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home

If you require additional support registering your son, contact the customer service team, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.

Reader of the Week

Drawing Club

This week, the Drawing Club students had great conversations about their mums. This was the inspiration for our drawing sessions. The boys Googled their mums, drew from memory, or had a special photo saved on their laptop to create a Mother’s Day portrait.

6 Gold Class Item

This term, the boys in 6 Gold have been engaged in learning across the different Key Learning Areas. Here is a snapshot of some of their current work.

English

The boys have been studying Young Dark Emu, a book written by Indigenous man, Bruce Pascoe. This book highlights some of the misconceptions we have grown up with and gives us a truer perspective about the Indigenous way of life.

Here are some examples of diary entries written by 6 Gold students in response to reading information about their way of life.

In the chapter ‘Home’, I learnt about how the Aboriginal people lived in their houses and how their big huts could fit 40-50 people. Also, how their small huts would usually be for food storage and all their supplies.

In summer when they use their huts, they would leave the doors open to get fresh air because of how hot it was and in the winter they pretty much did the opposite. They would put leaves on the outside of the hut and shut the doors to keep warm. The British didn’t like it when they saw this, as they felt that they could not claim this as their own land. – Henry Callan

Aboriginal peoples’ technique of food storage was very civilised. It really questioned the settlers that said the Aboriginal people were hunter-gatherers. There were three different techniques: Caching, Stockpiling and Direct Storage. Caching was where they would wrap eucalyptus leaves and save them if they would ever run out of food. Stockpiling is where they would wrap food up in animal skins or hollow trees. They would then go back to their stockpile and use the food when they needed it. Direct Storage is where the Aboriginal people would make clay buildings or houses typically in a cold environment so they could store their necessary food. Therefore they would stay in their land and would store their food, meaning they were not Hunter-Gatherers and had a clear understanding of Agriculture and Aquaculture. – Freddie Fearon

What I have learned from Young Dark Emu is that the Aboriginal people had a couple of different approaches to catching fish. Some of them are: using spears and fishing rods, standing on a ledge, and throwing or casting into the water. Or they would fish in a canoe by going out into the middle of the lake, river, or pond and then casting or throwing when they saw a fish.

Another way they would fish was to use traps. One of the traps they used was one where they had a small outcrop of rocks, and there was a man kneeling to the side of the rocks with a stick. The wide end of the stick would be in the water, while the man would hold the thin end. He also had another stick that had a noose on it. As the fish swam in, it would swim into the noose, and it would be caught by the gills. On instinct, it would try to escape. As it struggled, the noose tightened, and more pressure would be applied to the stick. Then, the stick would flick back, and the fish would fly into a bucket. Then the man reset the contraption.

These systems are proof that Aboriginal people were more than just hunter-gatherers. They were civilised people and their land should not have been taken from them. – Marlow Moffitt

History

Our History unit for Term 2, ‘Waves of Migration’, looks at the timeline of migration to Australia and both the positive and negative impacts on Australian society. As a class, we read ‘The Little Refugee’ by Ahn Do, as an introduction to why people leave their home country and immigrate elsewhere. The book also delves into the different experiences Ahn and his family dealt with on their journey, as well as the early years settling into Australian life. Below are two mind maps which highlight these ideas.

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.

May

June

Young Archie Competition – Harvey Smith

Congratulations to one of our Drawing Club students, Harvey Smith, who entered the Young Archie competition. Harvey has received an ‘honourable mention’ in the Young Archie Awards. There were approximately 3,400 entries this year.

Harvey’s portrait will be hung at the SH Ervin Gallery as part of the Salon de Refusés exhibition from Saturday, 6 May – Sunday, 23 July. As well as being live on the Art Gallery of NSW website.

WriteOn Competition 2023

This is a reminder about the WriteOn Competition. If your son is looking for some extra inspiration over the next few weeks, please direct him to this competition.

WriteOn is an annual writing competition open to all NSW primary students in Years 1 to 6. Students compose an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using the below image as the stimulus.

This competition provides students with the opportunity to become published authors and showcase their creativity.

Mother’s Day Mass – Friday, 12 May 2023 – Request for Photos

Part of the Mother’s Day celebration will include a slideshow presentation. Can I please ask that you send through a photo of your son(s) with their mothers/grandmothers if you would like a photo included in this presentation. The last day for photo submissions is Wednesday, 10 May.

Sacrament of Confirmation at St Brigid’s Parish, Coogee

For families who are part of St Brigid’s Parish in Coogee, please see information below regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Children from Year 6 and above are welcome to start preparing to receive their sacrament of Confirmation.

*NB: Please have baptism, first reconciliation and first communion certificates ready when registering.

Termly Curriculum Overview and SMART Goals

A warm welcome back to another exciting and packed term of learning at the Junior School. Please find below the Termly Curriculum Overviews to see what your son will be covering in each of his Key Learning Areas in Term 2.

A new term is a fantastic opportunity to set new goals. Your son will be setting SMART goals in class using the diary as a guide, we recommend you use this to prompt a conversation about what he wants to achieve and how he can be supported in this.

Winter Co-Curricular Sport – Round 2

Albeit some consistent rain for Round 1, it all ran smoothly with some excellent results from all winter co-curricular teams. It’s time to draw our attention to Round 2 tomorrow, Saturday, 6 May. I know our students will represent the College proudly, and demonstrate the utmost respect and sportsmanship towards their opposition teams.

Athletics Carnival Permission Form

The Junior and Senior School will be holding our annual Years 5-12 whole school Athletics Carnival on Friday, 19 May. This will be held at ES Marks Athletics Field. More details will follow closer to the event date.

*Please click the button below to advise whether your son will be dropped off and picked up from E S Marks Field, or whether your son will need to be on the organised school bus to and from Carrington Road Gates.

Year 5 Athletics Trial

Next Tuesday, 9 May, Year 5 students will have their Athletics Trial after lunch at Waverley Park. All Year 5 students will run a timed 100m sprint to assist with placing students in their appropriate divisions specific to their age.

Please ensure your son wears his Waverley PE uniform on Tuesday, has his Waverley hat and a drink bottle. Students are allowed to pack spiked running shoes for the trial if they wish to. Recess and lunch will take place as usual; therefore, the canteen will remain open. Any Year 6 students who missed the Year 6 trial will also be trialled on this day.

External Sporting Achievements

Last Sunday, 30 April, Kai Freeman (5 Indigo) competed in the NSW State Title Jiu Jitsu Championship. Kai had actually moved up two weight divisions for this competition to challenge himself. He won his first fight by points and after a challenging second fight, Kai was able to secure 2nd place and take home the silver.

A massive congratulations to Kai for his achievement and the Waverley College community are truly proud of his efforts.

Home Learning Club – Week 3

Procedures

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/carer 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

Important

2023 ICAS Competitions – Years 5 and 6 Students

ICAS is an online academic competition designed to assess students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies.  Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.

If you would like your son to compete in the 2023 ICAS Competitions, you will be asked to nominate which competitions you would like him to be entered in through the Parent Payment System.

Through this system, parents/carers can pay for ICAS directly online, while tests will still be held at our school. Please use the school’s access code details to register your child no later than 23 July 2023.

If you are unsure of your son’s suitability, please consult with his teacher. More information about the assessments can be found at ICAS Assessments: Home

If you require additional support registering your son, contact the customer service team, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.

Lunchtime Guest Speaker

It was a privilege to have Jessica Buchanan our very first guest speaker for Term 2. Jessica is a writer for CANVA. She gave the Junior School boys an insight into the world of writing for CANVA, and the background on her journey to her writing career. Jessica had the boys captivated by her presentation, cleverly designed on a CANVA template.

Debating

The debating season has kicked off this Term, with one win and one loss for Waverley. The boys had their first debate against Kincoppal, Rose Bay. The debate topic was ‘That YouTube is better than TV.’

Both Waverley teams put forward solid arguments and presented their cases clearly and firmly, rebutting the Kincoppal team’s cases. The boys did themselves and Waverley very proud.

Debating develops essential skills that are transferable to other areas: exploring ideas, developing arguments, articulating opinions, building confidence, being able to think on one’s feet, and becoming a good public speaker. Congratulations on your first debate!

Reader of the Week

Year 6 Royal Botanic Garden Excursion

On Tuesday, Year 6 ventured to the stunning Royal Botanic Garden for a Year 6 Science Excursion, ‘Aboriginal Culture and Knowledge.’ This relates directly to the Science curriculum this Term, where we learn about sustainable farming practices.

The excursion also supports our learning in English and History, where we explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge through texts such as Who am I? by Anita Heiss and Young Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe.

The boys got to make lots of noise using “snake whistles” and try Davidson plums, a native fruit with 11 times the nutritional value of an orange. They thoroughly enjoyed walking on Country, and listening to the dedicated Aboriginal guides in the beautiful gardens on Gadigal Land.

“It was very interesting how the Aboriginal people used the plants to help them survive, and it was also cool how they used constellations to know when to hunt different animals.” – Tallis Merryweather (6 Blue)

“I really liked to learn about all of the different bush tuckers Aboriginal people used a long and still today.” – Jet Venning (6 Blue)

“I thought it was really cool how the lemon myrtle worked instantly to clear my nose and how it has other medicinal properties.” – Sam Peate (6 Blue)

“I thought it was quite interesting how Aboriginal people cloned the Wollemi pine to save it from extinction after disease had destroyed most of the remaining trees.” – Boyd Haslam (6 Blue)

A big welcome back to all our Waverley College families. I hope the Easter break gave you a chance to slow down and spend quality time with your family. We are back in full swing and excited for the Term ahead.

I have noticed some haircuts that do not align with the College Haircut policy, which can be found on page 25 of the College diary. If your son has been asked to have his hair rectified, please have this done by Monday.

Mother’s Day Online Stall

Some lovely Mother’s Day gifts are now available to purchase online. Don’t delay, orders close Friday, 5 May.

Diary Dates

Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.

April

May

June

Attendance

A reminder to please see the below process for reporting your son’s absence. If it is for a long period of time, please contact myself for approval by emailing ssanchez@waverley.nsw.edu.au

Steps: 1st contact – Waverley College app. 2nd contact – Ms Danielle Brown | attendance@waverley.nsw.edu.au | absentee line: 02 9369 0632

Mother’s Day Mass at Mary Immaculate Church, Friday, 12 May, 12pm

The celebration of mothers, grandmothers and significant others in the lives of our Waverley College Students, will be celebrated on Friday, 12 May at 12pm (Week 3, Term 2). This will be at Mary Immaculate Church followed by a light lunch at the Junior School.

Part of the celebration will include a slideshow. Please send through a photo of your son(s) with their mothers/grandmothers if you would like a photo included in this presentation.

Confirmation at Mary Immaculate Church

For parents/carers seeking information regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important that you contact your local parish to find out the details regarding when the Sacrament will be celebrated, and when the preparation classes will be held.

For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 19 June at 2pm.

Please be aware that the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated each year, therefore only Year 6 students will be enrolled to receive the Sacrament.

Click the button below for further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament.

Edmund Rice Activity Day – Friday, 5 May

On Friday, 5 May, the Junior School will participate in their Annual Edmund Rice Activity Day, which explores the life of the Founder of the Christian Brothers, Blessed Edmund Rice. Throughout the day, the students will participate in a variety of in-class activities as well as fun games at lunchtime to raise money for Edmund Rice Camps.

We will have a guest speaker during assembly who will highlight the wonderful work that Edmund Rice Camps do to help underprivileged children.

Painting portrait of Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers

Portrait of Blessed Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers

Year 6 Excursion – Royal Botanic Garden

On Tuesday, 2 May, Year 6 will embark on an excursion to the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, called ‘Aboriginal Knowledge and Culture.’ This excursion will support the teaching and learning of the sustainability concepts in our Science unit this term, as well as benefit our English and History curriculum.

The Program is a unique opportunity for students to investigate a wide variety of local native plants which were integral in the life of the First Australians. Aboriginal Education Officers will provide a personal perspective offering how Indigenous people of the Sydney area used plants for food, medicine, tools and weapons, giving students a unique opportunity to meet and interact with members of our Indigenous communities.

Image: courtesy Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney

Students are expected to wear full PE uniform on the day and bring their sports bag with a packed lunch, recess, water and a raincoat or umbrella. They still need to bring their usual school resources such as Macbook, diary, books etc as the excursion is half a day.

Students in 6 White, 6 Indigo and 6 Red are required to arrive at the Junior School at 8:15am in order to board the first bus on time.

Normal dismissal from the Junior School at 3pm for all students and training is on as usual, that day.

Please note: A notification has been sent to the Parent Lounge for you to approve your son to attend this excursion.

Image: courtesy Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney

Winter Co-Curricular Sport – Round 1

The heavily anticipated Winter Co-Curricular Sport season commences from tomorrow for Round 1 (Saturday, 29 April). Having had a shortened week of training, students are extremely excited about getting the Winter season underway.

Here you will find all Junior Sport Fixtures, results, training schedules and maps.

The Armidale School Rugby Carnival

During the school holidays, on the final weekend before the commencement of Term 2, 20 young men travelled to Armidale to compete and represent Waverley College in the annual TAS Rugby Carnival, consisting of school, club and representative teams across NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

Each team played five tough matches against other quality teams with the ultimate goal of ‘growing grass roots rugby’ and having fun playing the game we all love.

Our young men performed not only admirably, but respectfully and competitively, winning four of the five games for Waverley and making it all the way to the final of the Tournament Team Running Relay – ‘The Spirit of Rugby Relay.’

We are so proud of the boys for showing grit, resilience and great sportsmanship. A special thank you to our dedicated Waverley families for making the trip and sharing in such a special weekend, as well as our coaching staff Mr Tom Olds and Mr Elliott McKimm, and Convenor of Rugby, Ms Jade Sparks.

CIS Touch Football Trials

This Wednesday just gone, Waverley had six students represent Waverley College Junior School at the CIS Touch Football Trials at Werrington. The students included: Kalan Fisher, Jackson MacAskill, Jacob Coleman, Jordan Strbac, Talin Opai and Tio Norman.

Out of the 80 students who trialled, there were only 14 spots available for the final team selection. All Waverley students gave it their all to make the team, and came very close to securing a spot. Kalan Fisher was the only student of ours to make it through.

Well done to all our students for their performance during the trial, and a massive congratulations to Kalan for making the team.

External Sporting Achievements

Franklin Pyke, Aidan Rowley and Leo Vigil, after a gruelling six-week long selection process, competed in the U11 state baseball championships over the holidays. They Represented Cronulla Black and came 3rd overall. Ethan Uncle also competed for Cronulla Blue and came in 4th. They all represented Waverley brilliantly, both with performance and attitude. A massive congratulations to these Waverley Junior School students.

Home Learning Club – Week 2

Procedures

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/carer 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

Important

Public Speaking Competition Year 6

All Year 6 students will be participating in a school-based Public Speaking Competition in Term 2 and Year 5 Students will participate in Term 3.

The competition aims to allow students to develop their speaking skills. Speaking well in public prepares you for positions of responsibility, visibility and the future. Speak up, speak well, and many opportunities will be open to you.

Year 5 Rich Literature ANZAC Day

Rich literature was used to encourage valuable discussion on the theme of ANZAC Day, mateship, bravery, Gallipoli, Indigenous soldiers and commemorating.

The boys highlighted many important facts and we were involved in activities that promoted reading and critical thinking, through the use of Visible Thinking Routines.

One Minute’s Silence, Anzac Biscuits and Alfred’s War

Reader of the Week

I would like to take this opportunity to thank every family for a wonderful term. The Junior School is a very busy place that requires a lot of organisation and planning. Hopefully good habits and routines are now in place and students will return to Term 2 feeling in control and ready to thrive.

I wish everyone a very relaxing and happy Easter and I hope the school break delivers a much-needed holiday.

Mother’s Day Mass at Mary Immaculate Church, Friday, 12 May, 12pm

Part of the celebration will include a slideshow. Please send through a photo of your son(s) with their mothers/grandmothers if you would like a photo included in this presentation.

Confirmation at Mary Immaculate Church

For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 19 June at 2pm.

Please be aware that the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated each year, therefore only Year 6 students will be enrolled to receive the Sacrament.

Click the button below for further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament.

Edmund Rice Activity Day – Friday, 5 May

We will have a guest speaker during assembly who will highlight the wonderful work that Edmund Rice Camps do to help underprivileged children.

World’s Greatest Shave

Congratulations to Archie Poynting, Jack Finney, Reis Sharkey and Marcello Zanco on having their heads shaved for the World’s Greatest Shave. A special congratulations to Archie for raising over $900 to help such a wonderful cause.

Winter Co-Curricular Team Selections and Terms 2 and 3 Season

All Winter Co-Curricular Teams have now been finalised for the 2023 season. In preparation for the Winter Co-Curricular Sport Season beginning in Term 2, please refer to the link below where you’re directed to the Winter Season Draw and the Training Schedule for 2023.

Please be aware that the season draw is a guide – game venues and times can change from week to week. Always refer to the weekly fixtures I send out via the app as the finalised game information for each round.

Queries

Term 2 Extra Co-Curricular

Thank you to all students involved in any of the Extra Co-Curricular activities for Term 1. It has been great to see the enjoyment in all sessions weekly. A further thank you to all staff and instructors for their commitment to running the activities with enthusiasm and dedication.

All activities days and times will remain the same for Term 2. If you wish to withdraw your son from an activity, please let me know prior to the Term 2 commencement date. There are spots available for some activities in Term 2 and I will inform families about this at the beginning of the Term.

Hip Hop

There are plenty of spots available for HipHop. It is an exciting activity to be a part of, and the level of enjoyment is significant. Please view the video below for more information.

IPSHA Cross Country

It was a picture perfect Saturday morning at The King’s School, for the annual IPSHA Cross Country Carnival. Waverley Junior School had five students competing in each age group (U10/ U11/ U12).

The U12 Students were the first race for the day, and all of our students competed extremely well in tough competition. The final results were as follows for all students:

None of our students finished inside the top 15 to progress to CIS Cross Country, but we’re super proud of how they performed and how they gave it their all on the day.

CIS AFL Trials

On Monday, 3 April, Lachie Wright (Year 6), Freddie Fearon (Year 6) and Jordan Strbac (Year 5) were fortunate to be selected at CIS AFL trials at Frenchs Forest.

There were 100 boys at the trial, split across eight teams. Lachie, Jordan and Freddie played tough footy and had lots of fun, meeting new friends and playing AFL with kids from the country to the city. The Waverley boys can hold their heads high, knowing they gave 100% effort in the trial.

Congratulations to Freddie on being selected in the CIS team which is held later in the year in Batemans Bay.

Home Learning Club – Term 2 Week 1

Procedures

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/carer 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

Important

IPSHA Debating Training

I would like to thank our Year 10 students Nick Zanapalis and Thomas Jackson-Whitlock for offering to mentor our Junior School IPSHA Debating Team. It was a successful first training session. Waverley’s first debate for the season is against Kincoppal next term and the topic is ‘That YouTube is better than TV.’

Reader of the Week

Science Prac Lessons

This Term, Years 5 and 6 Junior School students have been introduced to the practical world of science. Students have loved using the brand new science lab facilities, incorporating scientific equipment into their new-look lessons.

Throughout the Term we have completed physics and chemistry experiments, as well as a biology investigation. Both cohorts have relished the opportunity to combine hands-on, practical experiences with new knowledge and information.

The boys should be congratulated on their attitude and enthusiasm towards learning and discovery in the science lab.

It is hard to believe we are close to the end of Term 1. It has been another busy week here in the Junior School with the major highlights being Open Classrooms with so many parents/carers excited to be in their son’s classrooms and some very happy students.

We also had the amazing workshop that celebrated the Jewish festival of Passover. The students were taught how to make their very own hand-made Matzah and the story of Passover. Matzah is a traditional bread of faith and its message is an integral part of the morals and beliefs within Judaism. It was a wonderful experience for our boys as they were able to immerse themselves in learning about another religion and culture.

WriteOn Competition 2023

If your son is looking for some extra inspiration over the next few weeks or holiday period, please direct him to this competition.

WriteOn is an annual writing competition open to all NSW primary students in Years 1 to 6. Students compose an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using the below image as the stimulus.

This competition provides students with the opportunity to become published authors and showcase their creativity.

Mother’s Day Mass at Mary Immaculate Church, Friday, 12 May, 12pm

Part of the celebration will include a slideshow. Please send through a photo of your son(s) with their mothers/grandmothers if you would like a photo included in this presentation.

Confirmation at Mary Immaculate Church

For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 19 June at 2pm.

Please be aware that the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated each year, therefore only Year 6 students will be enrolled to receive the Sacrament.

Click the button below for further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament.

Edmund Rice Activity Day – Friday, 5 May

We will have a guest speaker during assembly who will highlight the wonderful work that Edmund Rice Camps do to help underprivileged children.

Pantry 4 the People – Initiative by James Draper 6 Indigo

James Draper in 6 Indigo would love anyone who could assist in bringing in chocolate eggs for Easter for a worthy cause ‘Pantry 4 the People.’

‘Pantry 4 the People’s is a non-profit organisation established by Rachael Smith, a Waverley mum, for the less fortunate. Rachael created the Pantry 4 the People in 2021 to assist those struggling during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

It operates on the motto: “Take what you need, Give what you can” whereby a waterproof ‘pantry’ has been set up at 1555 Botany Road, Botany, and people donating are encouraged to leave non-perishable goods and ‘staple’ foods, and those in need can help themselves to the items in the pantry.

Big Brother Little Brother – Session 2

On Tuesday, the Year 5 and Year 10 students were involved in a very successful Big Brother Little Brother session. They participated in Rock and Water activities designed to build respect, trust and resilience from their respective partners.

They were spoken to about the importance of friendship and then demonstrated ways in which they could support one another, even if they felt they were not big enough or strong enough.

They were also encouraged to think about the times in their lives where they need to be strong and supportive, and other times where they need to let things go and learn not to let the little things bother them.

It was great to see the connections between the ‘brothers’ build during this session and we look forward to the activities in Term 2.

Open Classrooms

From Ms Stephens

It was so wonderful to have so many parents/carers join us on campus for Open Classrooms this week. Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to hear and see some of the learning that has been happening this Term.

Waverley is a very busy school with so many opportunities on offer. It is fantastic to be able to celebrate the academics and incredible learning that is happening every day in our classrooms. We hope, for those who did attend, that you enjoyed your son sharing their learning with you.

From Mr Stanton

During Open Classrooms, Year 6 White had a visitor all the way from England. Henry Simpson and his mum came to visit. Henry is a first cousin to Alf Griffin in 6 White. They thoroughly enjoyed going to all different parts of the school and were most impressed by what Waverley College had to offer our students.

Year 5 Innovation Club

The Year 5 Innovation Club members have had an amazing first Term learning all about basic programming, flow and working with hardware such as sensors. In their first session, they constructed their Mbots, a very difficult feat.

In the sessions since, the Innovators have been learning how to program their Mbots to automatically navigate their way through a maze using block code. Throughout this project, Year 5 has had to problem solve, think critically and creatively to find solutions, test and make adaptations to successfully navigate their Mbot through mazes.

Lachlan and I have been constantly impressed by their perseverance and enthusiasm. We are very much looking forward to Term 2!

Winter Co-Curricular Team Selections and Terms 2 and 3 Season

It was a great way to finish up our Winter Sport Trials today at Queens Park, with the sun shining and all of our students getting the opportunity to play competitive games for the final trial. All staff and coaches are extremely confident with their team selections, based on the ‘Selection Process’ that we at the Junior School utilise for all sports (refer to selection process document attached below).

Teams will not be announced until next week, when we have our sports meetings on Monday, 3 April. This gives staff and coaches a further chance to not rush the team selections, and to make any last minute decisions if required.

In preparation for the Winter Co-Curricular Sport Season beginning in Term 2, please refer to the link below where you’re directed to the Winter Season Draw and the Training Schedule for 2023.

Majority of training aligns with each winter sport, and all will have one training at Waverley Park and Queens Park. Any further information or documents will be shared with you soon if required.

External Sporting Achievements

NSW Junior State Age Swimming Championship

On the weekend of 25 and 26 March, five Waverley College Junior School students competed at the NSW Junior State Age Swimming Championship at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Hugo Bindner, Jacob Roorda, Charles Carrano, Tobias Panlilio and Ben Kostic tried their hardest swimming against the best swimmers in NSW.

Participation in this competition is the highest achievement swimmers of their age can accomplish. Each of the boys swam their hearts out and achieved some great results and times.

Special mention should go to Hugo who finished the weekend with two top-ten finishes, coming 5th in 200m free and 6th in 100m free.

A massive congratulations to all of our Waverley Junior School swimmers on this great achievement.

Congratulations, Charles Carrano, Hugo Bindner, Ben Kostic

Home Learning Club – Week 10

Procedures

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/carer 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

Important

Meet the 2023 Learning Hub Assistants

Congratulations to the following students who are now the 2023 Learning Hub assistants: Ellis Cario, Marcus Juhasz, Flynn Gilmore, Ben Mayne, Max Pargeter, Rhys McEvoy, Noah Nunn, River Sullivan, Jacob Pelletier, Jake Mussett, Lachlan Moore, Arlo Buchanan, Tom Brown and Luke Haddock.

I am excited to be working with a new group of boys who will help support old initiatives and make the Learning Hub even more exciting with new initiatives this year. I look forward to working with you and listening to your ideas and suggestions.

Reader of the Week

Term 2 Lunchtime Guest Speakers

I’m thrilled to share that Term 2 will have four Lunchtime Guest Speakers. The purpose of this initiative is to inspire young people to dream big, work hard and to never give up on their dreams.

Gratitude in 5 Orange

The word gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. In 5 Orange we acknowledge that we have so much on offer to us as students at Waverley College. We are extremely grateful for all the opportunities presented to us as Waverley boys and we aim to make the most of these.

Art

School Counsellor

Writer’s Toolbox

We love using Writer’s Toolbox and the support it provides us to become great writers.

These are just a few of the things that we are grateful for in 5 Orange. Most of all we are grateful for each other!

Under 10s
1st	Patrick Spencer
2nd	Kai Lopez
3rd	Leo Mithen
3rd	Hugo Cuschieri
4th	Reis McEvoy

Under 11s
1st	Charlie Carrano
2nd	Tio Norman
3rd	Oliver Burke
4th	Phillip Rizzo
4th	Louis Vereker

Under 12s
1st	Leonardo Rodella
2nd	Talin Opai
2nd	Sam Powell
3rd	Louis Coleman
4th	Noah Borlotti