Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Ms Gaby Bransby
(Acting) Director of the Junior School
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.
Ms Charlotte Stephens
(Acting) Assistant Director of Curriculum
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.
Click here to view Senior and Junior Sport Fixtures, Results, Training Schedules and Maps
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.
Click here to view the Year 5 2023 Camp Letter
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.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
*No Home Learning on Wednesday, 24 May 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 until 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/carer 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 email us.
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.
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 here to register your son
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.
Waverley’s School Access Code FBT592
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, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.
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.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Teacher of Literacy & Innovation
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.
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!
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.
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.
Ms Charlotte Stephens
Class Teacher 5 Indigo and (Acting) Assistant Director of Curriculum
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.
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.
Junior School Mother’s Day Mass
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.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
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.
Congratulations to the following students:
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.
Raffle Results
Jelly Bean Guessing Competition Winner
Table Tennis
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.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
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.
>>> Click here to view all Junior School Co-Curricular information on the Waverley College website.
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.
Click here to view further information about the House Athletics Carnival
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.
2023 House Athletics Carnival map
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.
Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-12)
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.
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/carer 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 email us.
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.
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 here to register your son
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.
Waverley’s School Access Code FBT592
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, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.
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.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
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.
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.
Henry
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
Freddie
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
Marlow
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
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.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.
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.
What a wonderful achievement Harvey, we are so proud of you!
Click here to view his portrait on the AGNSW website
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.
Entries are due to me by Week 6 Term 2.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
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.
Please email all photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Important Dates
*NB: Please have baptism, first reconciliation and first communion certificates ready when registering.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
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.
>>> Click here to view the Term 2 Year 5 Termly Curriculum Overview.
>>> Click here to view the Term 2 Year 6 Termly Curriculum Overview.
Ms Charlotte Stephens
Assistant Director of Curriculum
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.
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.
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.
Click here to complete the Athletics Carnival permission slip
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.
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.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
*NO HOME LEARNING on Tuesday, 9 May 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 until 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/carer 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 email us.
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.
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 here to register your son
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.
Waverley’s School Access Code FBT592
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, Australian Toll-Free, 1800 931 775.
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.
Thank you for taking the time out to inspire the Waverley boys to dream big.
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!
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
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.
Our students expressed many interesting responses:
“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.
*Just a reminder that all students require a blazer in Term 2 and Term 3.
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.
Some lovely Mother’s Day gifts are now available to purchase online. Don’t delay, orders close Friday, 5 May.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 2 events, please refer to the College calendar.
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
Area contact: Absence
Enquiry: Reporting an Absence
Steps: 1st contact – Waverley College app. 2nd contact – Ms Danielle Brown | attendance@waverley.nsw.edu.au | absentee line: 02 9369 0632
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
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.
>>> Click here to view the invitation and to RSVP.
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.
Please email photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
For parents/carers seeking information regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important that you contact your local parish to find out the details regarding when the Sacrament will be celebrated, and when the preparation classes will be held.
For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 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.
View the boundary map below to see if you are within the parish boundary.
Click the button below for further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament.
Click here to view the Sacrament of Confirmation form
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.
At lunchtime, there will be a Sausage Sizzle sale.
Click here to assist with catering and for payment
We look forward to celebrating a wonderful day.
Portrait of Blessed Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
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.
We are looking forward to this outdoor, off-site learning experience!
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
Ms Jade Sparks
6 Blue Classroom Teacher
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.
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.
Click here to view all Junior School Co-curricular information on the College website
Here you will find all Junior Sport Fixtures, results, training schedules and maps.
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.
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.
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.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
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.
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/carer 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 email us.
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.
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.
The boys explored the very important theme of ANZAC Day through stories.
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.
The Anzac Puppy
Anzac Biscuits
One Minute’s Silence, Anzac Biscuits and Alfred’s War
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
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.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The celebration of mothers, grandmothers and significant others in the lives of our Waverley College Students, will be celebrated on Friday, 12 May at 12pm (Week 3, Term 2). This will be at Mary Immaculate Church followed by a light lunch at the Junior School.
>>> Click here to view the invitation and to RSVP.
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.
Please email photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
For parents/carers seeking information regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important that you contact your local parish to find out the details regarding when the Sacrament will be celebrated, and when the preparation classes will be held.
For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 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.
View the boundary map below to see if you are within the parish boundary.
Click the button below for further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament.
Click here to view the Sacrament of Confirmation form
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.
At lunchtime, there will be a Sausage Sizzle sale.
Click here to assist with catering and for payment
We look forward to celebrating a wonderful day.
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.
Before
After
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School/Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Rugby: email Ms Jade Sparks, Convenor of Junior Rugby on jsparks@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Football (Soccer) or AFL: email me, Mr Jack Wachtel on jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
>>> Click here to view all Junior School Co-Curricular information on the Waverley College website.
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.
*All Extra Co-Curricular Activities will commence from Monday, 1 May (Week 2).
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.
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:
U12 (3km)
U11 (3km)
U10 (2km)
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.
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.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
*Wednesday and Thursday ONLY
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
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/carer 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 email us.
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.
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.’
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
Mr Max Mancinelli
Specialist Science Teacher
mmancinelli@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
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.
Entries are due to me by Week 6, Term 2.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The celebration of mothers, grandmothers and significant others in the lives of our Waverley College Students, will be celebrated on Friday, 12 May at 12pm (Week 3, Term 2). This will be at Mary Immaculate Church followed by a light lunch at the Junior School.
>>> Click here to view the invitation and to RSVP.
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.
Please email photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
For parents/carers seeking information regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important that you contact your local parish to find out the details regarding when the Sacrament will be celebrated, and when the preparation classes will be held.
For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 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.
View the boundary map below to see if you are within the parish boundary.
Click the button below for further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament.
Click here to view the Sacrament of Confirmation form
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.
At lunchtime, there will be a Sausage Sizzle sale.
Click here to assist with catering and for payment
We look forward to celebrating a wonderful day.
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.
If you can assist, please bring chocolate eggs to the Reception by Wednesday.
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.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
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.
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!
Ms Charlotte Stephens
Assistant Director of Curriculum
cstephens@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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).
>>> Click here to view the Selection Process Document for all Sports Trials.
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.
>>> Click here to view all Junior School Co-Curricular information on the College website.
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
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
*Monday and Tuesday ONLY
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 3pm until 4pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – during school term unless there is a scheduled Professional Development meeting and the club will be closed.
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/carer 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 email us.
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.
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.
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.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
We love art as an opportunity to express ourselves.
We love that our school counsellor visited us to promote a message of kindness.
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!
Ubuntu – “I am because we are”
Mr Elliott McKimm
Classroom Teacher 5 Orange
emckimm@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Waverley Council’s colourful autumn school holiday program offers something for young people of all ages – from soccer, tennis and basketball at Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre, to LED workshops, creative writing and glass jar decorating at Waverley Library.
Check out Council’s diverse arts, culture and family programming by clicking the buttons below.
Click here to view school holiday events in Waverley
Click here to view and book school holiday events at Bondi Pavilion
Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun
Assistant Director of Student Formation
mmaakrun@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Annual Waverley Youth Art Prize is open for entry.
The purpose of the Waverley Youth Art Prize is to encourage creativity in young artists from Sydney’s Eastern Beaches. It is an open prize with all artwork entries hung to allow young people the experience of being an exhibiting artist, and seeing an audience appreciate their creation talents.
The theme for this year is ‘Climate Utopia’ – the theme which asks young artists of Sydney’s Eastern Beaches to create an artwork considering possible climate futures and solutions.
Broad artistic interpretation of this theme is encouraged. Entrants may utilise ideas relating to popular culture, science fiction or something else entirely. All mediums and interpretations are welcome.
The Prize is open to everyone aged between 9-18 living, studying and playing in Sydney’s East. Entries close 25 May. For further information about the prize, please click the button below.
Click here to view more information about the Waverley Youth Art Prize
Winners of the Youth Art Prize will receive a range of art materials to help with future creations, while the winner of the senior section will receive a voucher for a week at the National Art School’s Summer School.
For further information and help, speak to Ms Turnbull in the Senior School or Ms Zivanovic in the Junior School about submission.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
Congratulations to Joe Madden who was named Junior School Music Captain for 2023. Joe is a keen member of the Junior School band, sings with Cantores, and is part of the Stomp group. Joe has also featured as a soloist for Waverley College events such as the 2022 Chamber Concert and 2022 Speech Day. Joe will be a fine ambassador for music in the Junior School and will keep the boys informed about musical activities and performances.
The World’s Greatest Shave is the Lacey House charity event. We are very proud of Archie Poynting in 5 Red on raising such a huge amount of money. If you would like to donate, please click the button below. Well done Archie!
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
It was great to see so many students and staff celebrating our diverse community in the Junior School on Harmony Day on Tuesday, 21 March. The main theme throughout the day was celebrating one another for who they are, and having respect for everyone’s cultures, and celebrating diversity.
The students were buzzing with excitement at the beginning of recess, sharing the variety of foods that everyone brought in. The playground was brought to life by our guest DJ, Alicia, who played music from different cultures all through recess. The students (and teachers) took a while to warm up, but before long, they were up dancing to the beat.
A big congratulations to Rory Palmer (6 Orange), James Ganson (6 Gold) and Harry McKeon (6 Gold) on their initiative to hold a Zooper Dooper sale at the Junior School to raise money for CARITAS during our Lenten Appeal. The boys were instrumental in organising everything, including the purchasing and selling of the ice blocks, raising in excess of $300. Well done to the boys and a special thanks to the boys in the Junior School for their support.
Tuesday 28 March (Week 9) is the second session of our Big Brother/Little Brother program. This session will focus on Rock and Water activities – a program designed to build confidence, self-awareness, resilience and more – all important skills for our students to develop. Students will need to come dressed in their PE uniforms on Tuesday.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Thursday, 30 March, the Junior School warmly invites all parents/carers to join us on campus from 8:40am until 9:05am to be guided by your son as we open up our classrooms to you.
Open Classrooms is an opportunity for your son to show and tell you all about what he has been learning this term, and each student has selected three pieces of work that they would love to share with you.
This is also a chance for them to guide you around their classrooms, as well as the other spaces in the school in which their learning takes place, such as our brand new Science Lab!
Through strengthening our partnerships between school and home, we hope to help every student to develop an even greater sense of pride in their learning and academic achievements, classroom and school.
Year 6 Innovation Club has just come to the end of their first exciting STEM challenge for the year. In teams, they had to design a contraption to fly a marble as far as it could go. The parameters of their design were as follows:
It was so impressive to see the boys collaborate, test, make adaptations and refine their designs. Congratulations to the winning team of Owen Posada, Sam Burrows and Finley Norman-Nott, whose marble managed to fly half the length of the basketball court.
I am very much looking forward to seeing Innovation Club tackle their next project next week.
Ms Charlotte Stephens
Assistant Director of Curriculum
cstephens@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We offer all students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to receive free additional support after school for the completion of home learning tasks. The afternoon sessions also provide a quiet, supervised study space for students who want to complete their assigned tasks.
Home Learning Club operates in the Learning Hub from 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.
*No Home Learning Club on Wednesday 29 March, due to a staff meeting.
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/carer 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 email us.
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
Thank you to all students for their involvement in the beginning term of the Summer Co-Curricular Sport season. It has been a pleasure to watch all students enjoying themselves week after week, with little to no interruptions or cancellations that we experienced at the same time last year.
I’d particularly like to thank all the coaches, which included Junior School staff, Waverley parents and carers, Old Boys and external coaches. Their passion and dedication to making sure their team(s) consistently improve and develop, was inspiring.
Lastly, thank you to all parents and carers for being there supporting your son weekly, regardless of the weather conditions, and driving all over Sydney to allow your son the joy of being involved in team sport at Waverley College.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Debating season is around the corner and once again, I am astounded by the amount of interest and enthusiasm of the boys at the Junior School.
I would like to congratulate Ryan Loughrey, James Draper, Freddie Goldrich, Joe Madden, Sam Peate, Ethan Daemi, Boyd Haslam, Cormac Maher and Franklin Pyke who have been selected to represent the Junior School forming our IPSHA Debating team. I am eager to see what this season has in store for us. All the best for the season.
Lenny and August are our budding artists behind this week’s drawing club inspiration. Create a drawing from a scribble. The drawings speak for themselves. Over the next few sessions, the students will add colour.
Before
After
What a fantastic way to start the year with a new, excited and enthusiastic group of Year 5 and Year 6 students who are ready to learn a variety of Judo skills and techniques. With Judo being a dynamic sport that demands both physical prowess and great mental discipline, these young men have been dedicated to their training each week and are determined to master techniques that require patience, time, effort and energy. I am very proud of their progress so far and I look forward to the year ahead!
Hip Hop Club is off to a great start this year! The boys have been learning new skills and are always keen to master the new moves I give them each Tuesday. They also bring their own ideas like a plank competition or a new song they want to dance to. I love seeing the boys making friendships and building each other up. Come join the fun.
Last Saturday, 18 March, Kai Freeman from 5 Indigo competed in the 2023 Sydney Jiu Jitsu Championships. He was successful in submitting his opponents all within a minute, taking out 1st place in his division! A massive achievement, and the Waverley community congratulate Kai on this significant accomplishment in his division.
Mr Jack Wachtel
Assistant Director of Co-curricular (Years 5-8)
jwachtel@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dr Christy Norwood gave the Waverley boys a truly inspirational insight into the world of paediatrics.
The life of a doctor is not just restricted to a hospital. Dr Christy supports remote communities by providing ‘Telehealth’ services with children who live in Moree and being on call even when her shift at the hospital is finished.
Thank you for inspiring the next generation of medical students.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Our first Health assessment for Term 1 was based around the safety of students coming to and from school. The boys were tasked with creating a digital brochure for students who walk or ride their bikes to school, and catch public transport to and from school.
In the brochure, they needed to provide five safety support tips for any of the following topics:
Below, are some proud students showing off their finished safety brochures.
Mr Tom Olds
Classroom Teacher 6 Orange
tolds@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents and Carers
Please click the button below to view the Uniform Shop Holiday Trading Hours.
Please find below some reminders about upcoming events. For all of Term 1 events, please refer to the College calendar.
A reminder below on how to report your son’s absence. Please do not email the Junior School email or the class teacher. This needs to be logged in the system.
| Area Contact | Enquiry | Steps | Contact Person |
| Absence | Reporting an absence | 1st Contact
2nd Contact |
Waverley College App
Ms Danielle Brown attendance@waverley.nsw.edu.au Absentee line: 02 9369 0632 |
Students are expected to be at school by 8:35am. Late arrivals in Years 5 and 6 need to report to the Junior School Reception where Ms Sanchez will mark their name off.
Parents/carers requesting permission for up to three days of leave or extended holiday periods exceeding three school days, must apply for permission from the Director of the Junior School. Permission needs to be in writing at least two weeks in advance, and is not automatically granted.
There are a lot of parents/carers parking in the church car spaces before and after school. Fr Bernie has asked that I advise all parents/carers to not park in the driveway or in front of the church at any time, unless you are attending Mass or visiting Fr Bernie.
Driveways must be kept clear for emergency vehicles if attending the retired priests on the property.
Thank you for your support with this.
Just a reminder, that students are not allowed to go to the EzyMart at Charing Cross in their uniform before and after school, unless they are with a parent/carer.
Please make sure students are coming to school with healthy drinks and snacks in the morning, as there has been a rise in sugary drinks and snacks.
There have been issues around the drink ‘Prime’ and it has now been banned. Please do not allow students to bring these to school as they will be confiscated.
Thank you.
Ms Gaby Bransby
Director of the Junior School
gbransby@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A reminder that we will be celebrating Harmony Day on Tuesday, 21 March (Week 8). Children are to wear their PE Uniform on the day and to show their support, they are encouraged to wear a touch of orange as part of their uniform for the day. We are also asking students to bring in a gold coin donation to support our CARITAS appeal.
We would also like to celebrate our diversity by asking students to bring in a plate of food from home that best represents their culture, that can be shared amongst the class.
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.
>>> Click here to view the invitation and to RSVP.
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.
Please email photos to liturgy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Both 6 White and 6 Red will attend Mass at Mary Immaculate Church beginning at 9:15am. Parents/carers are warmly invited to attend.
Mr Steve Ghattas
Assistant Director of Junior School / Identity & Student Formation
sghattas@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Well done to Year 5 for completing their NAPLAN Writing assessment this week. We are so proud of their efforts to do their very best. We have three more to go this week, please see the information below.
| Monday, 20
March |
Tuesday, 21
March |
Wednesday, 22
March |
|
| Periods 1 and 2 | Reading (50 mins)
9am – 10am |
Conventions of Language (45 mins)
9am – 10am |
Numeracy (50 mins)
9am – 10am |
Catch up tests will be on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 March.
Students must bring their fully-charged laptops and headphones to school each day for their assessments. All students were given a set of headphones in their stationery pack at the beginning of the year, but some are now lost or broken, so please ensure that your son has working headphones by Monday.
We wish Year 5 all the best in their remaining NAPLAN next week.
Ms Charlotte Stephens
Assistant Director of Curriculum
cstephens@waverley.nsw.edu.au
It is our final round of Summer Co-Curricular Sport for Term 1 tomorrow (Saturday, 18 March). I wish all teams the best of luck and ask them to represent Waverley proudly, as I know they will. It has been a special term of sport for all students, and I hope your sons have enjoyed being involved.
Please ensure you refer to the Waverley College app announcements each week, as I will continue to send out the weekly Sports Fixtures for the Winter Sport Season in Terms 2 and 3. All families can also locate all relevant Junior School Co-Curricular information via the College website by clicking the button below.
Click here to view Fixtures and Venue Maps
Congratulations to the following students who not only tried for the IPSHA Touch Football team, but made it through and will now compete at NSWCIS against the best players in NSW: Talin Opai, Kalan Fisher, Jackson MacAskill, Jacob Coleman, Jordan Strbac, Tio Norman.
It’s a significant achievement and we wish the team the best of luck for the next opportunity to come.
ISPHA Touch Football Trials
Following on from last week’s results, a massive congratulations to the following students who also completed at State Nippers and medalled in their age group:
Patrick Spencer: U10 Gold Medal, Beach Relay (North Bondi); Bart Carmody: U11 Gold Medal Board Race, Gold Cameron Relay, Silver Board Relay, 6th-Ironman (North Bondi); Freddie Goldrich: U11 Silver Medal Board Relay (with Bart); Brynn Spierings: U11 Bronze Board Relay (North Bondi); Jake Coleman: U11 Mixed Beach Relay (Coogee); Jude McDermott: U11 Swim Final (Clovelly).
Waverley Water Polo students competed at the Orange Water Polo Tournament representing UNSW last weekend, finishing 3rd in their pool. What a great achievement by our Junior School students: Joey Di Blasio, Charlie Maynell, Oscar Barrow, Louis Coleman, Rory Palmer, and Hopper Dyke-Miller.
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 until 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/carer 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 email us.
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.
New books in the Learning Hub
This book, Barefoot Kids: Your Epic Money Adventure by Scott Pape (recommended by Ollie Burke Year 6), has been in high demand since numerous copies of it arrived.
After getting their hands on a copy, Edward Crabbe and Jake Mussett informed me that they had learned a great deal about the importance of doing household chores for no pay, how to create their own money buckets, and how to begin planning for the future.
This book holds the secret to raising smart, resilient, kind and hard-working kids who will grow up knowing how to manage their money.
These students are taking charge of their own reading objectives and regularly checking in to see what they should read next for the Waverley Reading Challenge.
Max Pargeter was the source of our drawing inspiration last week. His book, You Can Draw Animals, set the scene for all types of animals to be drawn – real, mythical, hybrid or favourite. It was busy, it was creative, it was fun and highly sociable.
I want to express my gratitude to all the boys in the Drawing Club who attend each session with passion and creativity.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic
Literacy & Innovation Teacher
nzivanovic@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Enjoying a terrific start to their Waverley College journey and making the most of all of the wide ranging learning opportunities available, 5 Red are well on their way towards greatness. The boys continue to grow and embrace the Waverley Core Values each and every day.
Our topic in English this term is ‘New Beginnings’, and the boys are exploring various text types such as interviews, podcasts and autobiographies.
Mr Alon Horry
Classroom Teacher 5 Red
ahorry@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents and Carers,
Enrolment applications for Years 5 and 7, 2025 will close in two weeks.
If you have a sibling enrolment you wish to enrol in 2025 and haven’t yet submitted an application, please ensure that you do so by the closing date on Friday, 31 March.
If your son is currently enrolled in the Junior School, you do NOT need to re-enrol for the Senior School.
If you have any questions regarding sibling enrolment please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
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