It was wonderful to celebrate the 113th May Procession with our Waverley community here on campus, on a Friday morning. The event was graced by special guests, including Fr Bernie Thomas ofm, Parish Priest of Mary Immaculate Church Waverley, and Ned Weiland, a guest speaker and former student from the Class of 2019. Ned shared his inspiring life journey, highlighting his achievement as the youngest person to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming at the age of 16.
Ned Weiland has continued his incredible feats by conquering ultra-marathon swims to raise funds for the mental health charity ‘R U OK?,’ and he is now aiming to become the youngest male to complete the Oceans Seven. His dedication to both swimming and charitable causes is commendable.
During the procession, the Banners were carried, followed by the Marian Statue, into the Centenary Quadrangle. The honor of carrying the Marian Statue was bestowed upon members of the Year 12 class of 2022, known as the ‘new Old Boys.’
The dedication of the Rosary was led by representatives from various groups within the inclusive community, including Old Boys, the teaching community, and the Parents’ Association. It’s wonderful to see different languages being included, such as Italian, Spanish, and Gaelic, further emphasising the diverse and inclusive nature of the event.
A lot of time and effort goes into the staging of the May Procession, and I would like to thank all the staff who contributed in making the May Procession such a wonderful occasion.
Lastly, a heartfelt thank you goes out to all the students, parents, carers and Old Boys who attended the event. Your presence and active participation made the May Procession a truly memorable occasion.
26 May is National Sorry Day. It is a day of commemoration and remembrance of all those who have been impacted by the government policies of forcible removal of First Nations children.
As an Edmund Rice school, we are called to offer a Liberating Education, based on a Gospel Spirituality, within an Inclusive Community committed to Justice and Solidarity.
Reconciliation Week also holds immense importance in our calendar at the College, promoting healing, understanding, and respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It provides an opportunity for reflection, education, and action towards building a more inclusive and equitable society.
National Reconciliation Week, observed in May, serves as a reminder for all Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to consider how they can contribute to reconciliation efforts. It’s an opportunity for reflection on past accomplishments and the work that still needs to be done to achieve genuine reconciliation.
The 2023 theme for National Reconciliation Week, ‘Be a Voice for Generations,’ highlights the importance of being actively engaged in reconciliation efforts in everyday life. It encourages all Australians to contribute in tangible ways, whether it’s in their local communities, workplaces, or social circles, fostering respectful relationships and working towards a stronger and more inclusive nation.
By embracing this theme and embodying the spirit of reconciliation in your words, thoughts, and actions, you can play a significant role in creating a more united and equitable Australia.
Congratulations to Kayden Baker and James Peate who recently participated in this Emanuel-hosted symposium to share ideas about sustainability with other senior student representatives and staff from various schools. They collaborated in workshops and even a pickling session! You can read more in the article in the Australian Jewish News (25 May 2023).
I would like to congratulate Ms Alison Jinga on her appointment at Endeavour Sports High School.
Alison has worked at Waverley for the past 12 years and has contributed significantly across multiple areas of College life, particularly in her role as Head of Department – Drama and teacher of Drama across Stages 3-6 and HSC Entertainment.
She has also contributed beyond the classroom with her involvement in a number of very successful College musicals and drama productions over the years. She brings extensive HSC marking experience to our drama students, and has worked tirelessly to evolve individual and group performances into some outstanding results, and numerous nominations and entries into the HSC OnStage Showcase.
I thank her for sharing her passion for Drama and Entertainment, and for all of her hard work and great collaboration with students, colleagues and parents/carers.
I would also like to congratulate Mr Peter Lamb, who will step in as (Acting) Head of Drama and Mr Jeremy Godwin who will teach in the Drama department for us.
Alison will be finishing with us in the coming weeks.
This week, we spoke to each Year Group with discussions around the results of the Wellbeing Survey. This included the need for better hydration, less time on phones, appropriate focus on study for examinations and respectful relationships. The other big focus was on the students’ uniform.
Students’ uniforms will be inspected as they arrive at school next week. Students must wear their blazers to and from school in Terms 2 and 3. Standard black leather lace-up shoes are the only acceptable footwear, except during sport.
No suede or branded shoes ie: Nike, New Balance, ASICS etc. Shoes must be of a leather type that can be polished to a shine. Shoes with coloured stitching or other embellishments such as buckles, are not acceptable. Boots of any type are not permissible.
Shirts must be tucked into the trousers at all times and the top button of the shirt is to be done up with the appropriate College tie.
Detentions will be issued to students wearing incorrect attire.
All students also need to ensure they are fully attired on Saturdays in full winter uniform or their Waverley College sports attire. We cannot permit any variations that include some casual attire mixed with Waverley attire please.
I want to wish all Years 7-10 students the very best with their current examination period, and encourage those students to keep hydrated, reduce screen times and get enough sleep to enable strong performances in those assessments.
While we continue the conversation about artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, their place in an educational setting continues to evolve. It is essential that students remain aware of both the possibilities and limitations when using these tools in their learning.
AI software can be harnessed as a powerful learning aid — particularly if used as a sophisticated search engine — when students are conducting research into a specific topic. For example, some AI programs are useful, like the chess-playing programs in the 1990s. That was supposed to be the end of humans playing chess. No, it wasn’t the end of humans playing chess. Chess is a different game now and that’s interesting.
Some Valid Uses of AI Would be:
Limitations Around AI Software
It is also important that students are aware of the limitations around AI software, particularly regarding academic integrity when it comes to assessment tasks. Some of the things that students should be aware of are:
What can a student do to make sure they are using AI software with integrity?
We continue to place AI software firmly on our agenda in Curriculum and we will be seeking opportunities to educate our students further on the topic as we move into Semester 2.
One final thought. It is important to stay curious and open to new technologies like ChatGPT. We believe an open mindset and curiosity can help us to navigate this unchartered territory as a community.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Director of Curriculum
UN Youth National Conference 2023 – congratulations to Jack Preller for being selected to attend the UN Youth Australia National Conference 2023. The conference will be held in Perth in mid July. This conference is a unique opportunity for students to engage with other passionate young leaders from across the country, share ideas and perspectives, and gain insights into global issues.
On Wednesday, we welcomed back our Year 12 students from their Kairos Retreat. This retreat is a three-night, live-in immersive experience offered to students in Years 11 and 12. The retreat offers time for students to explore their relationships with self, others and God, and is part of Waverley College’s commitment to Gospel Spirituality and the holistic development of our students.
The students engaged very well throughout this student-led retreat where there were opportunities for personal reflection, group work and recreation. From the students I spoke to, their feedback indicated that it was a wonderful experience, with some reflecting that it was “life changing.”
I would like to thank Ms Sue Walsh (Director of Mission & Identity), Father Bernie, current staff and Old Boys who ran this camp. Without their support, this wonderful experience for the students would not have been possible.
Waverley College partners with a specialist company ‘Career Avenues’ who help students embrace their uniqueness, and explore options with meaningful insights into their next phase of career development.
The Program began in late February, with a four-hour online career testing session run by Dr Marian Kratzing, a Careers Psychologist. Dr Kratzing has developed a unique career profiling system which she and her colleagues provide to many schools in Sydney.
In the profiling session, students completed several questionnaires and tests designed to assess a variety of factors that are important in helping students select a University (ATAR) or Vocational (NON-ATAR) career pathway at school and beyond.
These included:
Following the assessment session, the results were scored and analysed. Dr Kratzing compiled individual reports for each student. The report details each student’s results and concludes with a list of career examples for each student to explore. The reports are discussed in an individual Zoom interview for each student, with a member of Dr Kratzing’s team who are Careers Specialists.
The student interviews are being conducted via Zoom in the College Library until 25 May 2023. Parents/carers are welcome to connect from home or the workplace should they wish to observe the interviews.
The College Athletics Carnival was a tremendous success due to meticulous planning, enthusiastic student participation, and strong community support. The event was carefully organised, ensuring a seamless experience for all participants. It was wonderful to see the enthusiastic participation of our students.
The carnival fostered a sense of camaraderie and healthy competition, inspiring students to showcase their talents and push themselves to their limits. The inclusive nature of the event ensured that every student had the opportunity to participate, regardless of their athletic abilities, instilling a sense of belonging and promoting a positive and supportive environment.
I would also like to acknowledge our staff. Their commitment to the students’ wellbeing, alongside their energy and enthusiasm was instrumental in making the carnival an unforgettable experience. Their tireless efforts ensured the smooth running of the event, fostering a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone involved.
After the Bell is an evening for parents/carers of students in Years 7-11 to support the safety of our youth ‘after the bell.’ The event will take place at Cranbrook School.
Tickets for After the Bell are now available for $10.00 per person with proceeds going to national youth mental health foundation, Headspace.
Click here to learn more and purchase tickets
In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, collaboration has become a vital skill for success in various fields. From the workplace to academia, the ability to work effectively with others is highly valued. In the classroom, collaboration fosters active engagement, promotes social and emotional development, and enhances student achievement. Teachers play a crucial role in fostering a collaborative classroom environment by designing activities that encourage teamwork, providing guidance on effective communication, and promoting a culture of mutual respect.
To that end, a team of our teachers are undertaking an Action Research Project on ‘Making Collaboration Work in the Classroom.’ The Action Research team, led by Jorga Marrum, AIS Deep Learning consultant, includes Mr Nick Sposari, Ms Stephanie Falk, Ms Alice Curtis, Ms Gemma Stead, Ms Margaux Walker, Ms Helen Barrie, Mr Oliver Knight and Ms Elizabeth Watson. Collaboration is one of the six global competencies in Deep Learning pedagogy, and is defined as learners working interdependently to achieve a common goal in a shared learning environment (Underwood and Underwood, 1999).
We recognise that collaboration in the classroom goes beyond group projects or assignments. It involves students working together in a cohesive manner to achieve a common goal, such as problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making. Through collaboration, students learn to communicate effectively, respect diverse perspectives, and contribute to a team effort. These skills are crucial in today’s globalised society where teamwork and cooperation are highly valued in the workplace.
One of the key benefits of collaboration in the classroom is that it encourages active engagement among students. When students collaborate, they participate in discussions, share ideas, and contribute to the learning process. This promotes critical thinking and creativity, as students are exposed to different viewpoints and are encouraged to think critically about complex issues. Collaboration also fosters a sense of pride and responsibility among students, as they take ownership of their learning and contribute to the success of the group.
Collaboration in the classroom also promotes social and emotional development. It allows students to develop interpersonal skills such as empathy, communication, and teamwork. Students learn to appreciate diversity and respect differing opinions, leading to a more inclusive and harmonious classroom environment. Collaboration also helps students develop resilience as they learn to overcome challenges and conflicts that may arise during group work. These social and emotional skills are essential for students to navigate the complexities of the real world and build healthy relationships.
Furthermore, collaboration in the classroom enhances student achievement. Research has shown that students who engage in collaborative learning tend to have higher academic performance compared to those who do not. When students work together, they are exposed to different perspectives, which can broaden their understanding of concepts and deepen their learning. Collaboration also provides an opportunity for students to teach and learn from their peers, reinforcing their understanding of the material. Moreover, collaborative activities can be tailored to different learning styles, accommodating diverse student needs and promoting inclusivity.
By nurturing collaboration skills in the classroom, we are preparing our students to engage and innovate successfully in our world. The Action Research team looks forward to sharing the outcomes of our inquiry.
Last week, all students were given an opportunity to provide feedback and have a voice in their wellbeing whilst at Waverley College. All students in Years 5-12 were able to complete the survey that canvassed a range of topics across the College, that included health, bullying, safety and security, as well as relationships.
We will continue to work with all key stakeholders at the College to keep improving and adjusting our programs, to provide well-rounded and positive educational approaches that allow all students to reach their potential.
Some of the notable points from the survey include:
The survey results provide some very useful data. We will analyse and adjust our Programs to ensure we are providing education around the importance of wellbeing and the effects of phones, sleep, hydration and effective relationships.
More guest speakers, lunchtime activities and reminders of the clear policies in regards to expectations of standards of behaviour in and outside of the classroom are opportunities we will keep working on for whole-school improvement.
The partnership we have with parents and carers at home to support the College and students in these areas is also critical to ensure the ongoing success and wellbeing of all students.
Happy Mother’s Day to mothers, step-mums, aunties, grandmothers and special women who are like mothers in the lives of Waverley College students. We thank you for the significant contribution you make to your family and to our community.
It was wonderful welcoming all the special women of the Waverley community to the College today. The Senior School was buzzing this morning where we celebrated as a Years 7 – 12 community, just as it was in the Junior School, where we gathered for Mass and afternoon tea.
Celebrating Mother’s Day at school is a wonderful way to recognise and appreciate the role that mothers play in our lives. It was lovely to see the boys express their gratitude for the love and support they receive from their mothers, and acknowledge the hard work and dedication that mothers put in on a daily basis.
We value the support of all mothers and the role they play in ensuring our school flourishes, and that sense of community and connectedness was very present today.
Junior School Mother’s Day Mass
Years 7-12 Mother’s Day Breakfast
Waverley College recently made the decision to change the date of the Annual May Procession from the first Sunday of May to the final Friday of May, after 113 years. The change was justified based on several factors.
Firstly, it aligns better with the academic calendar, avoiding conflicts with exams or assessments. This ensures that students and staff can fully participate, without compromising their academic responsibilities. Secondly, the new date allows for increased participation from the community. Family commitments and clashes with other events on the first Sunday of May sometimes led to reduced attendance, so moving the procession to a Friday provides a greater opportunity for families to join and celebrate the tradition.
By moving the May Procession from Sunday to Friday we are also avoiding overworking our staff and students. In the past, we have asked staff and students to work and attend College commitments for 13 consecutive days, followed by one day off, and then another six consecutive days, as all our staff and students are involved in co-curricular commitments on a Saturday. Moving the May Procession to Friday will create a better rhythm in the Term 2 schedule.
112th Annual May Procession and Celebration of the Feast of Blessed Edmund Rice in 2022
We have also seen in recent years an increase in the number of parent/carer and staff requests for permission to be absent for May Procession on a Sunday, due to family commitments. The trend of both parents/carers working has been in play for a number of years, and parents/carers are demanding that their family-time be protected wherever possible. A number of community sports have also moved their competition to Sunday, to accommodate students from schools like Waverley that play school sports on Saturdays.
The shift in date also allows for better planning and preparation, as it provides more time for organising the event, and involving a wider range of participants. Additionally, the final Friday of May holds special significance in the liturgical calendar, often falling closer to the Feast of the Visitation, which deepens the spiritual meaning of the Procession.
Lastly, the change reflects the evolving needs of the community, as Waverley College has grown and embraced new traditions. By adapting the date, the College ensures that the Annual May Procession remains relevant, accessible, and inclusive for all members of the community. Overall, the decision aims to improve participation, align with the academic and family calendar, enhance planning, increase spiritual significance, and accommodate the changing needs of the community.
|
Time |
Activity |
|
8:30am-9am |
Breakfast with Old Boys and Prefects in Braidwood |
|
8:45am-9:45am |
House Meetings – various venues
Old Boys to present to Houses for 10-15 minutes Other activities / include Waverley Trivia and Mr Peter Frost video |
|
9:50am-10:20am |
Recess |
|
10:20-10:30am |
Houses gather in Centenary Quad. Old Boys and banner bearers to assemble in the Gym |
|
10:30am – 12pm |
May Procession |
|
12pm |
Dismissal of students and staff |
You may have read in the news recently about the new, $3.5 million federal government ‘Engaged Classrooms’ initiative, which calls for new school rules as an approach to controlling chaotic classrooms. This project aims to train teachers to manage classrooms through bans on smartphones, and a lesson approach which favours ‘eyes on me’ via an explicit focus on setting routines.
The Australian Education Research Organisation will set rules and routines, and train teachers using online resources and video demonstrations. Dr Tim McDonald, former teacher and academic, and now Chief Executive of the YMCA in Western Australia, is leading the project.
At Waverley, we have long believed in reinforcing the importance of routines every day via our Lesson Routine, which is the Waverley way for deeper learning:
Your son reviews this Lesson Routine at the start of every lesson. You can help us by reminding him how vital this is.
Click here to view our Lesson Routine
After the Bell is an evening for parents/carers of students in Years 7-11 to support the safety of our youth ‘after the bell.’ The event will take place at Cranbrook School.
Tickets for After the Bell are now available for $10.00 per person with proceeds going to national youth mental health foundation, Headspace.
Click here to learn more and purchase tickets
Yesterday we hosted the inaugural Generations Breakfast in the Senior School Library, which was a success! It’s wonderful to hear that students and their older Old Boy relatives had the opportunity to enjoy a light breakfast together and view some archival photos and Year Books.
This provided a great opportunity for the older Old Boy relatives to reconnect with the College community, and for the students to learn more about the College’s history and traditions. It’s also great to hear that some attendees took a trip down memory lane doing a tour around campus, following the event.
Overall, it was a great initiative that brought together different generations and fostered a sense of community within the College. The oldest guest left in 1953 and the youngest in 2002. It was a lovely morning.
2023 Inaugural Generations Breakfast
Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, ‘Laudato Si’, on Care of our Common Home, is a theological response to the environmental crisis. He is calling not only the Church but the entire world to respond to the “urgent challenge to protect our common home” (LD#13), a home that is “falling into serious disrepair” (LD#61). He invites all of us to enter into new dialogue on “how we are shaping the future of our planet” (LD#14). He is seeking input and action inclusive of everyone, “since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all” (LD#14).
Pope Francis names our “throwaway culture” as a root cause of the ecological crisis. We face pollution and waste, scarcity of water, loss of biodiversity, decline in the quality of life and breakdown of society, and extreme consumerism with global inequality.
In response to Laudato Si, EREA calls for school communities to demonstrate leadership and proactivity to address key challenges which relate to the sustainability of the entire planet. This requires a strategic approach to creating a sustainable community, integrating ecological goals and outcomes into the intent of our planning, and developing partnerships with organisations committed to ecological and sustainable practices. (EREA Principal’s Ecology and Sustainability Statement)
So what are we doing at Waverley College in response to this call to action?
Under the skilful and energetic guidance of Ms Silvia Baylie, Waverley has a group of passionate students who meet once a week to plan and implement initiatives that aim to preserve our land and sea, and eradicate social injustice and inequalities. This group is called Students of the World Ecology Group, known as SOTWEG.
It was with great pleasure to present the following students with their badge pins at assembly last week: Luca Cornelius, Bertie Cottell, Tomas Crosson, Praman Gandhi, Lachlan Isaac, Oliver Isaac, Ethan Khatib, Oliver Lorimer, Taj Lynn, Max Sheehy, Axel Stapleton, Fox Stapleton, Oscar Wilson, James Peate and Kayden Baker.
2023 SOTWEG (Students of the World Ecology Group)
Aligning with SOTWEG’s values around sustainability, the badge pins have been designed by the group and manufactured from wood, onsite at the College.
2023 SOTWEG badge pin
Axel Stapleton spoke with purpose and passion to the assembly, appealing to our collective responsibility to find ways to look after our environment, highlighting that “if we choose to ignore it, then we choose not to care.” He outlined some of the focus areas for SOTWEG.
Recycling – Be thoughtful in correctly using the clearly labelled recycling bins around the school.
Eliminating Littering – Take pride in your environment and remember that rubbish left on the ground ends up in stormwater drains and ultimately, our oceans.
Soft Plastics – Working with the canteen to find alternative packaging to eliminate single use plastic.
Reducing our water consumption – Sydney Water will complete an audit of the school’s water usage to find ways to reduce the amount of water use.
Increasing native gardens – Building on the existing gardens in the Centenary Quad to have more native plants in our local area to attract bees and wildlife.
Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB) Global Classrooms – Connecting with Edmund Rice schools in other countries to learn from each other and working towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development goals.
Ms Baylie reminded us that creating a sustainable future is not one person’s job, nor up to a few individuals, but rather, we all have a part to play. She challenged us to make one change to support the initiatives of SOTWEG.
I admire the passion, dedication and innovation of SOTWEG and look forward to the Waverley community supporting the group with their integral ecology and sustainability initiatives.
A reminder that SOTWEG meet weekly on Tuesday during lunch in C13. New members are most welcome!
Waverley College School TV has is a very useful resource for parents, carers and students in a range of important areas, including youth mental health.
Parents and carers can play a crucial role in their children’s mental health. As a result, staying informed on the current state of youth mental health is vital, as it not only affects individuals, but also families and communities. According to recent research, the frequency of mental health disorders among young people is increasing, with anxiety, depression and self-harm being among the most common challenges.
One of the reasons being attributed to this rise is the heightened stress and anxiety that many young people face in today’s society. Academic success, social media, and family issues are all influencing factors. Many young people are still suffering the long-term consequences of the pandemic, such as social isolation, uncertainty, and loss.
Parents/carers can play an important role in their children’s mental health. Creating a safe and open environment for your children to talk about their emotions, thoughts, and feelings is vital. Encouraging healthy habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and proper sleep can help reduce their stress levels and boost your child’s overall mental health.
There are also many resources and services available to children, adolescents, and their families, such as school counsellors, various mental health organisations, support lines, and of course, mental health professionals. It is important to remember that seeking help is a show of strength, not weakness, and that early intervention is critical in addressing young people’s mental health difficulties.
This edition of SchoolTV, discusses some of the major mental health issues affecting young people and how to support a child experiencing them. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and we always welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact our College for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Our commitment to environmentally-sustainable solutions has seen the Senior School Library start using the world’s first fully biodegradable book covering. The new book covering is known as Bioguard80. When placed in the right landfill or compostable environment, books with this covering will fully biodegrade without leaving toxic microplastics.
It is also fully recyclable, so at the end of its life, the whole book can be placed into recycling bin/compost/landfill for full biodegradation. These environments must contain the right mix of moisture, micro-organisms and temperatures to trigger biodegradation. There are no toxic microplastics, worms eat it and produce nutrients to enrich soils.
Wow! Come to the library and ask to see books that we’ve covered in the world’s first fully-biodegradable book covering. It gives our much-loved books a longer life and is helping to save the planet one book at a time.
On Thursday, 4 May we celebrated the life of our founder, Blessed Edmund Rice. You can read more in the Nurrunga article here by (Acting) Deputy Principal – Students, Mr Steve O’Donnell.
It was also wonderful to hear from Axel Stapleton (Year 8) and Ms Silvia Baylie, Ecology Coordinator of the Students of the World Ecology Group, and some of the initiatives they are working on. It is important we all work together to support the below initiatives:
The Ecology Group will continue to keep us updated throughout the year on these projects, but they welcome any students to come along to their meetings and get involved. Congratulations to all Students of the World Ecology Group who received their badges today.
On Monday, Elder and visual storyteller Uncle John, passionately shared his culture with students of all ages in the Conlon art rooms. Uncle John is from the Dunghutti Nation in Kempsey on the mid north coast, where he says around 17,000 Aboriginal people live.
When he was young, he was taught to be his own mentor. His father was the first National Parks and Wildlife ranger and he followed in the footsteps of his mother, who is also a talented artist. Uncle John explained that as he grew up, he was nurtured by four generations of learning and listening; from his father, grandfather and great grandfather.
Uncle John has achieved a great deal in his life and is father to 11 children and 26 grandchildren! His artistic achievements are wide-reaching and he told us that in 2004 he was asked to create charcoal drawings to send back to Nelson Mandela (anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa 1994-99) in South Africa.
Uncle John has also worked as an artist for the annual Deadly Awards (2004-07) and was the first Aboriginal artist to have his work permanently hung in NSW Parliament House in the Bunyip Waratah Room. His work tells of the traditions and stories of the people of Dunghutti country. Uncle John told us that his work sells for pretty high prices!
Uncle John said that his uncle had taught him about painting by going into caves. He explained the process of ochre painting, its many different colours, and how it is crushed, mixed with water, and put in the mouth to then spray over rock. He said that some handprints in Australia are 65,000 years old. He teaches his grandchildren to share all their knowledge with others and said that he is always painting because he is always sharing.
He also shared a sad story about how when he was young, he and other Aboriginal kids were only allowed to be taken in to the picture/movie theatre once it was dark, so he never saw the start or the end of a movie.
Uncle John spoke about the specialness of his praying mantis totem and then helped students to each create a school totem. Uncle Kevin (our Indigenous Liaison Officer) handed out canvas, stencils and sponges and Uncle John asked students to make sure they remembered the name of their totem. Uncle Kevin and Ms Turnbull then mixed up the different colours of paint. Uncle John showed students how to carefully create dots using the end of the paintbrush. Students commented that their hands started shaking when they tried to paint the dots. The painting required a lot of concentration.
Congratulations to Harrison Rimell (Year 12), who represented the College at the annual Lawrence Campbell Oratory Competition, held this year at The King’s School. The competition sees one representative from each of the CAS and GPS schools deliver an address. The students do not know what the topic is, and they are given 15 minutes to prepare for an eight-minute address.
The topic that Harrison had to respond and speak to was: ‘Everything spoken should be true but not everything true should be spoken.’ Congratulations to the top three representatives who came from The King’s School (1st), Sydney Boys’ High (2nd), Newington (3rd).
The Ethics Olympiad was held on Thursday, 4 May. This competition promotes respectful, supportive, and rigorous discussion of ethics among thousands of high school students throughout Australasia. The Ethics Olympiad format is rooted in ongoing dialogue and deliberation: a series of two-way exchanges between equals. It is designed to get students thinking, talking, and ultimately working together on some of the toughest moral issues of our time.
Out of the 19 Sydney Metro senior school teams that participated, our Year 10 team placed 4th, and our Year 11 team placed 6th.
Well done to our following participants: James Medland (Year 11), Lachlan Miranda (Year 11), Anton Svensson (Year 11), James Birbas (Year 11), Campbell Porteous (Year 11), Kayden Baker (Year 10), James Peate (Year 10), Zoltahn Szabo (Year 10), Archie Godby (Year 10), Yannick Hott (Year 10).
S.M.A.R.T goals ensure that students set themselves up for success by making goals specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. The SMART method helps push you further, gives you a sense of direction, and helps you organise and reach your goals. I encourage you to talk to your sons about the goals they’re setting for themselves with their mentor, and take a look at the Term 2 S.M.A.R.T goals template on page 85 of the school diary.
Years 7-12 students will finish school at 2:30pm on Tuesday, 9 May. This is due to a Staff Professional Development meeting.
There will be no Co-curricular training on Tuesday afternoon. Morning training will still go ahead.
As we approach the exam season, it’s important to remember that with proper preparation and planning, students can confidently face exams and achieve the results they desire.
It is critical to start early and develop a study plan that allows you to cover all the necessary material thoroughly. Here are some tips to help you with your preparation and planning:
Remember, exams are an opportunity for you to showcase your knowledge and skills. With proper preparation and planning, you can perform at your best and achieve the results you deserve. Stay focused, stay determined, and stay positive – you’ve got this!
3:30-4:30pm – Library
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Click here to view further details about SBT
3:30-4:30pm- Library
Literacy: Monday and Tuesday
Numeracy: Wednesday and Thursday
7.30-8.30am – E15
Tuesday and Wednesday
Click here to view the Study Skills Handbook
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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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