This year the Health Centre would like to encourage more sun safety at Waverley College. With Australia having the highest rate of skin cancer in the world and skin cancer being the most common type of cancer in Australia, we would like to help protect our students and promote sun protection where possible.
As over 95% of skin cancers are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, skin cancer is the most preventable of all common cancers. Therefore, we recommend that students wear a hat to school, at recess, at lunch and on their way home. We also have sunscreen at the Health Centre and eventually sunscreen will be placed around the school premises to encourage use when students are out in the sun.
Every sun protection measure is decreasing the chance of your son being diagnosed with skin cancer, so thank you for your co-operation.
To view the current Australian skin cancer statistics, click the button below.
Click here to view the Sun Smart infographic
The Duke of Edinburgh International Award resumes for 2024 with a strong cohort of students continuing their participation.
Paramount to the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, is individual ownership and responsibility towards achieving goals in a Skill, Physical Activity and Voluntary Service. The onus is on the students to ensure they are meeting the expectations and demands associated with completing their Award, utilising the many resources available to them through the College as well as the wider community.
Lunchtime meetings will take place in N31 to provide students with an opportunity to troubleshoot any queries and receive support and guidance towards the completion of their respective Awards.
Please feel free to come to these meetings if you would like to register or show an expression of interest. There are currently no openings for students in Year 8 and below, with more information and details to be provided during the course of the year for students in those Year groups.
Today we celebrated the successes of Waverley College Years 5-11 students at our annual live-streamed Presentation Days in the Brother Lacey Gymnasium. On days like this, we pause to acknowledge the efforts, talents, gifts and achievements of selected students who have made remarkable gains during their 2023 learning journey. It was rewarding to see our well-deserved Junior and Senior School students receive their awards in the presence of their peers, parents, carers, teachers and support staff. We are all very proud of you.
Our expressive MCs, Constantine Iatrou and Lachlan Hoy, set a professional, animated tone and carried our Presentation Days with eloquence from start to finish. In terms of entertainment, we were spoilt for choice. Thank you to our ever-talented Junior School Cantores singers and the confident Waterford Concert Band that performed ‘Ghosts in the Graveyard’ by Scott Watson.
We acknowledge each and every one of our Senior School students who also provided captivating performances. Drama student Oscar Wilson (Year 10) provided a moving monologue from the three-act play All Our Sons (Arthur Miller, 1946) and the Year 7 Rock Band’s electrifying rendition of ‘Vertigo’ by U2 featured Oliver Bailey-O’Reilly, Daniel Murphy, Lachlan Crease, Larsen Johnston, James Fanning and Vinny Kapos.
Lieme Chan (piano), Alex Tarasov (violin) and Cameron Vincent Hull (clarinet) presented ‘Romanian Folk Dances’, a suite of six short piano pieces composed by Béla Bartók in 1915. Movements 1, 2, 4 and 5 were exquisitely performed.
The 2024 European Tour Band’s closing presentation of soundtrack music from Pixar Animation Studios, complete with animation on the big screens, was certainly something to remember.
Students, we appreciate your many hours practicing, learning and perfecting all of these pieces for our enjoyment. We also recognise the time and energy that College staff and your families have devoted to helping you get there.
Many staff have diligently worked behind the scenes to make special days like this possible. We hope you took something memorable from our Presentation Days today, whether you were there in person or experiencing them remotely.
As 2023 draws to a close, this day gives me the opportunity to genuinely reflect on everyone who has given back. I wholeheartedly thank each of our committed educators and support staff for an especially energetic 120th year of teaching, learning and growing. I thank our innovative Parents’ Association and our active Old Boy network. Our collective successes were celebrated in technicolour this year and will long be remembered.
Here’s to Virtus Sola Nobilitat and the next 120 years!
I wish you all a safe, happy and holy Christmas.
Years 5-8 Presentation: to be eligible for this draw, students had to receive a Major Award in Years 5 and 6 and a Gold Award during the year in Years 7 and 8.
Years 9-12 Presentation: to be eligible for this draw, students had to receive a Gold Award during the year in Years 9 to 11.
A Christmas Prayer
Loving Father,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing
which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning
make us happy to be Thy children,
and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.
By Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you for the support of your sons, staff and the College this year. 2023 has been a great year with many successes across all dimensions of College life. Our school is not just a place of learning; it’s a community. Your active participation in your son’s education, supporting his passions and partnering with the College continues to be a strong recipe for success.
A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated and passionate educators and professional support staff who have worked tirelessly to inspire, guide, and nurture our students. Their commitment to fostering a love for learning has truly made a difference in the lives of our students.
I would also like to thank and acknowledge Mr Pasquale Guerrera who is stepping down as Chair of the College Advisory Council. Pasquale has been chair for the last three years and prior to that, Deputy Chair for four years. Pasquale has had a long association with the College – Old Boy (Class of 1987) and his son Nicholas, graduated from Waverley College in 2016.
During his time on the Council he has demonstrated exemplary leadership, unwavering dedication, and an unyielding passion for the values that define us. His work behind the scenes, collaborating, meeting and bringing groups into alignment with the College’s strategic direction and leadership has been impressive. Furthermore, Pasquale’s involvement in the finance committee has been instrumental in ensuring the fiscal responsibility and sustainability of our institution.
Pasquale will continue his role on the College’s Foundation Board and assist the College achieve the goals of the Master Plan which includes bringing the Science and Innovation Centre to fruition.
Mr Pasquale Guerrera
We congratulate Mr Patrick McClure AO (Class of 1967) who will take over as Chair of the Advisory Council. Patrick has worked in leadership roles in the social purpose sector over many years. During his tenure as CEO of Mission Australia, it was transformed into a national organisation with revenue of $300 million and 3,000 staff providing innovative employment, education, housing and youth services. He developed strategic partnerships with business and government.
He was also CEO of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (NSW/ACT) which is a major provider of homeless services. Patrick was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and an Australian Centennial Medal. He is an AFR – BOSS True Leader, recipient of the EQT CEO Award for ‘Lifetime Achievement’, Distinguished Alumni Award (Murdoch University, WA) and a Churchill Fellow. He has a Master of Arts (Public Policy), Bachelor of Social Work (Distinction) and Diploma of Theology.
Mr Patrick McClure
Wishing all our families a safe, restful and enjoyable summer break filled with Christmas joy, and quality time with loved ones.
All holidays, a great range of eBooks, audio books and reading features are available for your sons.
Find the links on the library CANVAS page. Click on eBooks & Audio Books.
We have included some reading for you as well, via our special purchase of new Australian short stories via the annual The Big Issue Fiction special edition.
See the Library CANVAS page and click on Library News.
Even better, read these stories together with your sons.
Find something for your son to read via Penguin Books.
Click the button below to try out this fun quiz to get recommendations on what to read for Young Adults!
In 2024 we will continue and expand our literacy library reading program.
This program is for all Years 7 and 8 classes who have one reading class every two weeks, predominantly offline in the library. Ask your sons about it!
Here is some of the feedback from a sample of students in Years 7 and 8 (2023), reflecting on their experience of the program.
We thank our guest readers throughout the year.
Ms Tanner assisting with a Waverley Local Heroes reading lesson
Throughout the year we have had a range of guests and staff devote their time to inspire reading via participating in our reading sessions. We thank all our dedicated staff who participated.
The new English Syllabus has dedicated reading outcomes. Of note, as we reflect on the role of reading, is that from 2024 there are new dedicated reading outcomes for Years 7 to 10:
As well there is the stipulation of:
Across each stage, the selection of texts must give students experiences of: ‘texts chosen by students for personal interest and enjoyment.’
Happy Reading!
Mr Bill Roberts
Head of Library Services
Stage 5 Applied Philosophy Teacher
wroberts@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Roberts and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all Year 7 and Year 8 students in 2023 to build their reading stamina and introduce them to some thought-provoking texts.
Our deep-learning focus has been on building empathy and integrity as well as instilling compassion for diverse values and world views.
We have reinforced the idea that 10 minutes each day has a significant impact on our wider learning capacity and confidence, not to mention the benefits to our reading ability and mental health.
Deep reading of novels is a slow process, where the reader engages with the book and seeks to understand it within its own context, and within the context of the outside world.
Emotional connection is where the reader empathises with the characters, and that promotes social perception and emotional intelligence.
There are no real downsides to reading, other than making the time for it.
There have been some wonderful book releases in 2023 and here is just a quick sample to suit all readers. All recommendations are suitable for parents/carers too.
10 stories. 10 mysterious situations. 10 brave kids. 30 minutes of clues. Read 10 dangerous stories, in 30 minutes* reading time!
*Based on average reading speed.
This touching graphic novel explores the story of how a young change-maker learned to find himself and never compromise. How the right decision is very rarely the easy one, but taking the road less travelled can make all the difference in the world.
The #1 New York Times USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Wings of Fire series soars to even greater heights with an all-new collection of stories and art from readers’ favourite dragon world!
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable – the story of a 23-year-old tradie who put his body ‘through hell and back 10 times’ to prove that anything is possible when you break past your own barriers.
It is an ordinary Thursday, and things should finally be returning to normal. Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club are concerned. A decade-old cold case leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers.
With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface takes on questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation not only in the publishing industry but the persistent erasure of Asian-American voices and history by Western white society. R. F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.
The explosive literary sensation: a mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Winner of the Booker Prize 2023.
A team of astronauts in the International Space Station collect meteorological data, conduct scientific experiments and test the limits of the human body. But mostly they observe. Endless shows of spectacular beauty witnessed in a single day.
Julia: A Retelling of George Orwell’s 1984. An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.
Ms Mary Ryan
Literacy Coordinator and English Teacher
mryan01@waverley.nsw.edu.au
“Are verbal promises as binding as written contracts?”
“Would your life be diminished in any way if you were surrounded by a completely artificial world?”
Does the overuse of external rewards diminish our capacity to value intrinsic rewards?
In a thought-provoking display of critical thinking and collaboration, our Middle School Ethics Olympiad teams delved into ethical quandaries last Friday, that nurture the decision-making processes and collaborative interdependence of our students.
Both of our school’s teams demonstrated exceptional collaboration and communication skills throughout the Olympiad, showcasing a commendable understanding of team frameworks. Their ability to navigate complex ethical quandaries and articulate well-reasoned arguments did not go unnoticed. The judges acknowledged their outstanding efforts with an honourable mention, a testament to the dedication and intellectual prowess of James Barber, Dante Fearn, Xavier Kopsiaftis, Ryan Murphy, Ethan Ooi, Hudson Langan- Stark, Liam Chalmers, Jack Ballinger, Liam Murray and Oliver Rahmat.
The retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, articulates the importance of exposing our students to ethical problem solving, “ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do” and we thank Matthew Wills for his tireless work around the world organising Ethics Olympiads for school students.
Ms Helen Barrie
Head of Academic Enrichment
hbarrie@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Our Year 10 students had a very successful Service Week last week to finish off their year. Students volunteered throughout the Sydney and surrounding region at a variety of placements. These included the Matthew Talbot Hostel, Our Big Kitchen, The Exodus Foundation, St Gabriel’s and Wairoa Special Schools for students living with disabilities, local primary schools and nursing homes, the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Salvation Army, just to name a few.
They assisted the homeless and disadvantaged and generally helped wherever there was a need. We have received an overwhelming number of wonderful letters from people whose lives were touched by the generosity of spirit and kindness that the students exhibited during their week of service.
We then had a Reflection Day and Mass to finish their experience. Congratulations and thank you to all the Year 11 students who facilitated the Reflection Day, and to Ms Maakrun for her co-ordination of Service Week placements, and all those staff who visited our students throughout the week.
It is great to hear about such wonderful experiences and I know that our Social Justice program will continue to provide unique formation opportunities for all students.
Last Friday, our four College Captains Lachlan Miranda, Asher Thomasyu, Ricky Zanapalis and Jack Anasson attended the Archbishop’s Student Leadership Conference. There were around 30 Catholic and Independent schools present who discussed major issues relevant to youth today.
Photos by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2023
A liturgy was then held in St Mary’s Cathedral and a special blessing was given to all the leaders. Our students led with distinction and it was a wonderful opportunity for them to network with the other schools’ leaders.
During Weeks 5 and 7, the Hospitality students completed their final work placement, a mandatory requirement of their course. Venues included cafés, restaurants, catering companies and clubs. The boys received excellent feedback, boosted their culinary skills and experienced how beneficial effective teamwork is. Practical elements of the course help to reinforce theoretical concepts whilst providing hands-on experience.
The Waverley College Parents’ Association would like to invite you to attend the 2024 Welcome Summer Vibes Cocktail party.
When: Saturday, 17 February 2024, 6pm-10pm
Location: Braidwood, Senior School campus, 131 Birrell Street, Waverley NSW, 2024
Theme: Summer Vibes
Your $35 ticket includes canapés and a welcome drink.
A range of beer, wine and champagne will be available for purchase at the bar (EFTPOS only).
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Congratulations to Luka Zonich (Class of 2023) in being selected for ARTEXPRESS 2023/2024. Luka’s artwork ‘What Would Pa Do?’ is a graphic design series inspired by Sydney-based artist Reg Mombassa. It is a visual chronicle of tales that his Pa has shared with Luka. Luka’s Body of Work will be exhibited at Ngununggula, Southern Highlands Regional Gallery in 2024.
Congratulations to Angus Birrell (Class of 2023) for being nominated for his Music Composition for possible inclusion in Encore. Encore is a selection of outstanding music performances and written compositions from HSC music students and will be held at the Sydney Opera House in March 2024.
Congratulations to our Year 10s who have made a significant impact across the community during Service Week. The boys have volunteered their time, care and efforts across a range of charities, primary schools, child care centres and nursing homes. Thank you to Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun and Ms Sue Walsh for coordinating the experiences.
Congratulations to our Year 8s who have performed very well on their outdoor education experience to Somerset Outdoor Learning Centre. Somerset is located about 90 minutes North-West of Sydney on the Colo River (known as the last pristine river in NSW). The Centre operates from a central Base Camp which services over 40km of the Colo Valley.
The boys participated in a number of activities including canoeing, rafting, abseiling, hiking, cooking, obstacle course, rock climbing and the wombat hole challenge. It is a wonderful opportunity for the boys to slow down from the fast-paced nature of big city living and no screen time.
Also our Duke of Edinburgh groups used this as an opportunity to complete some of their Program requirements. Thank you to our dedicated teaching staff who supported the boys on their adventures.
We are looking forward to celebrating our successes in 2023 as a College community at our Presentation Day events on Tuesday, 5 December.
It is compulsory for all students from Years 5-12 to attend the Presentation Day Ceremony for their respective Year group. All students are to wear their full academic summer uniform.
Mr Bishoy Wasef (ICT Support Staff) has again embraced Movember to raise funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. He has raised $670 thus far with five days left. If you would like to support this important cause, please donate via myMo Space by clicking the button below.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the students on a fantastic Term and a wonderful year. I am incredibly impressed with how all students handled the new ICT policy and have put phones away. I have watched students reconnecting on the playground and enjoying the company of their peers. It has been a very positive experience.
As we enter the final stretch, I encourage all students to persevere and finish strong, wearing their uniform with pride and modelling exemplary behaviour inside and outside the College, particularly on public transport.
I want students to reflect on their accomplishments, draw strength from their efforts, and approach upcoming challenges with the same vigour as we come to the end of another year.
This morning Waverley College participated in the Step Out Speak Out Walk which raises awareness about domestic violence and asks everyone to stand up and say no to domestic violence.
The annual Walk marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marking the beginning of 16 days of activism, culminating in Human Rights Day on 10 December 2023. The walk is organised by the NSW Police Eastern Beaches LAC and Randwick Council.
As a College, we are proud to participate in this important community event each year and walk together in solidarity in support of the elimination of violence towards women. Empowering change starts with every step.
Our Waverley College Year 12 students united at the Step Out Speak Out Walk hosted by Randwick City Council in solidarity with other schools in the local community, taking a powerful stand against domestic violence. Together, we raise our voices for a safer, more compassionate future.
Students Anton Svensson and Remy Frampton spoke about positive relationships and ended their speeches by strongly advocating for commitment to change and accountability.
Anton: “So, let us collectively commit to dismantling the silence surrounding coercive control. By acknowledging past behaviours and actively seeking improvement, we’ll pave the way for a future where empathy and respect will prevail.”
Remy: “As students and advocates for change, we call upon all of us to stand together, unified in holding one another accountable and vehemently opposing any form of violence or disrespect. Today, as we take these steps, let us carry forth the spirit of this walk. Let’s advocate for respect, equality, and healthy relationships not just during these 16 days of activism but as a commitment to every day that follows.”
We are looking forward to celebrating our successes in 2023 as a College community at our Presentation Day events on Tuesday, 5 December.
It is compulsory for all students from Years 5-12 to attend the Presentation Day Ceremony for their respective Year group. All students are to wear their full academic summer uniform.
Parents and carers of students who are receiving an award will be invited to attend and will be notified in a separate email including an RSVP form.
Arrival
Senior School students should arrive 15 minutes before the event begins, to be seated and have their attendance recorded.
Junior School students are to arrive at school at 8:15am to have their attendance recorded and then make their way to the Senior School gymnasium to be seated.
Departure
After the Years 5-8 Presentation Day ceremony, students in Years 7-8 will be dismissed from the Senior School at the conclusion of the event at 10:30am.
Students from the Junior School who have parents/carers attending the event, may leave with them straight after. There will be supervision as normal, however, there is the option for your son to leave after the event with written permission.
After the Years 9-12 Presentation Day Ceremony, students in Years 9-12 will be dismissed from the Senior School at the conclusion of the event at 1:30pm.
The Presentation Day events will be live streamed, see links below. The links will be shared via the Waverley App on the morning of Presentation Day.
The Presentation Day will be a wonderful celebration to conclude the school year.
Ms Gabby Smith
Deputy Principal – Students
gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Matthew Talbot Hostel is a wonderful organisation helping over 35,000 Sydney men each year in providing accommodation, health, counselling and employment assistance. Waverley has had a long history of boys helping in its kiosk in Woolloomooloo, and strongly contributing towards making Christmas easier for those in need.
All boys from all Houses from Years 5-12 are encouraged to bring in toiletry and other items in order to be able to provide essential packs for the homeless and marginalised groups which the Matt Talbot Hostel provides assistance for.
This will run from Week 4 for the whole month of November. Tevlin House students have their Social Justice focus area in homelessness, and will be actively promoting the request to contribute items, and reflect the new Waverley theme of “stronger together, united as one.”
All donations can be brought into daily Mentor Groups, or to the Wellbeing Centre (Senior School), or Junior School Office.
Item list for Waverley Students to Bring in (please note these items must be new):
Toiletry Pack Items – small traveller size ideal (150 toiletry packs are distributed each fortnight to the men accessing services at MTH)
Many thanks for your support of this great appeal.
Mr John McCallum
Head of Tevlin House
jmccallum@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to some of our Year 10 STEM students who volunteered their time during Term 3 to work on the NRMA Future of Transport Challenge as a joint initiative with some of the Year 10 girls at OLSH Kensington.
This Wednesday one of our boy and girl groups were declared winners of the challenge after pitching their shortlisted idea to a panel of judges and students from other schools. The aim of the challenge was ‘to encourage young people to follow their natural curiosity to solve real-world issues by innovating and thinking like entrepreneurs’.
You can learn more about the challenge by clicking the button below.
Click here to view information about the Future of Transport Challenge
The lead Waverley College teacher of this initiative was Mr Mark Neale and he has outlined below some further details.
The Year 10 volunteer STEM students and I found that this challenge was a great opportunity to connect with OLSH Kensington, particularly their Director of Learning Integration, Mr James Horrocks, and a volunteer group of Year 10 girls. We collaborated on a range of activities throughout Term 3 including the NRMA Transport Challenge. The boys and girls work in two groups—both split into a boy/girl mix—and they submitted two impressive ideas into the competition.
Congratulations to the following Waverley College students who were involved in this initiative:
One of the group entries, the SWIFTFORM app by Ben Pelikan, Axl Igra from Waverley College and Clarissa, Marta and Savannah from OLSH Kensington, aimed to address the issue of overcrowding on buses, linking with Opal and social media to track commuters’ movement through tapping on and off buses.
This idea not only made it through to the finals, but was voted the winner in the Stage 5 category of innovative transport ideas! On Wednesday, 22 November 2023, out at the NRMA HQ in Homebush, the students had to pitch their idea to a panel of judges in front of the other schools. Battling the nerves, these students presented their app, responded to questions and engaged the audience in their ideas. Waverley and OLSH should be immensely proud of the students’ achievements and their efforts over the term-long project.
“NRMA project was cool, thanks for putting up with us and our ideas” – Axl Igra
This collaboration sparks a new space for including more co-educational learning opportunities for the young men of Waverley as well as future prospects in our new relationship with the girls of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Kensington.
Special thanks to Mr James Horrocks, Mr Daniel Levitt and the girls involved in both groups:
Mr Mark Neale
TAS and VET Teacher
School Animal Welfare Officer
mneale@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please click the button below to view the Uniform Shop holiday trading hours over the festive season.
We look forward to assisting you with your uniform.
Waverley College Uniform Shop
Level 3, Centenary Building,
Senior School Campus
(Enter via reception and take the lift to the 3rd Floor)
131 Birrell Street, Waverley NSW 2024
(02) 9369 0709
waverley@noone.com.au
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
Watch our video
