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AcademicAdministrationArchivesBeliefs & LifeCommunityCreative ArtsDevelopmentEnrolmentEventsExtra-CurricularJunior SchoolPast EventsPast NewsPreschoolSportTechnology & FacilitiesWellbeing

Year 12 Trials 

Please continue to keep our Year 12 HSC ATAR students in your thoughts and prayers as they continue next week with the second week of HSC trial examinations. The boys have turned up this week with enthusiasm, punctuality and in good spirits. We wish them all the best over the weekend with their preparations. 

Years 7, 8 and 9 Academic Award Winners

Congratulations to our Semester 1 Academic Award winners in Years 7, 8 and 9. Their dedication and persistence has paid off and we congratulate them on their fine achievements. These boys were recognised at this week’s academic assembly.

Click here to view the list of Year 7 Academic Award winners

Click here to view the list of Year 8 Academic Award winners

Click here to view the list of Year 9 Academic Award winners

Click here to view the list of Year 10 Academic Award winners

Parents’ Association Meeting – Come and Join us in Person!

Tuesday, 8 August 2023 – 5pm-7pm – Senior Campus in the Grange Boardroom – All Welcome

All parents/carers are warmly invited to attend the Waverley College Parent Association (WCPA) meeting. The Principal and Deputy Principals will present reports on College activities and developments. WCPA meetings are normally held once per Term.

>>> Click here to RSVP.

>>> Click here to view the Agenda.

Managing Anxiety

Please read the interesting article by our College Psychologist, Ms Samantha Jessen in regards to managing anxiety, although at times uncomfortable, is a natural part of the human experience.

>>> Click here to view the newsletter article by Ms Samantha Jessen.

Speed Mentoring Session – Register Now Years 9, 10 and 11

On Wednesday, 16 August we will host our annual speed mentoring evening. The evening will take place 4pm-5.30pm in the Senior Library. 

Students will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic discussions about careers, skills, and studies with Waverley College alumni.

Talk to mentors from the areas of: Technology, gaming, business, entrepreneurship, trades, film and TV production, sport and allied health, real estate, legal …to name a few!

Students must please register their attendance HERE. 

HSC Art and Design Showcase – Save the Date – Friday, 18 August 2023

Parents, students and Waverley community members are invited to attend the Waverley College annual HSC Art and Design Showcase on Friday, 18 August at 6pm. The event is a collection of Year 12 major works from the students of 2023. 

>>> Click here to view the invitation.

Literacy Opportunities

There are some wonderful opportunities available for our students to extend their literary skills in the newsletter article authored by our Literacy Coordinator, Ms Mary Ryan.

>>> Click here to view the newsletter article by Ms Mary Ryan.

Final Round of Winter Co-Curricular

Good luck to all teams in the final round of winter co-curricular for most activities and to those going for respective premierships. Congratulations to our 1st Debating Team who won their debate against Aloysius’ College last week and congratulations to our 1st V Volleyballers who have already wrapped up the second division premiership.

Good luck to our 1st XI Football and 1st XV Rugby who are both competing for respective premierships this weekend. Lastly, well done to our Cross Country runners, Joshua Peters (Year 8), Evan Rowbotham (Year 8) 1st place, Campbell Groves (Year 12), Hugo Morgan (Year 12), Christian Miletic (Year 10) and who represented CAS and beat GPS last weekend.

Interschools Invitational Surfing Competition – Maroubra Beach

Congratulations to Judah Miller (Year 11), Fred Carmody (Year 10), Milan Mann (Year 11) and Cooper Gee (Year 11). Waverley College came 2nd to Narrabeen Team A out of 16 teams, missing the top spot by two points. The boys were great ambassadors, helping staff from Surfing NSW pack up after the event. Well done to Mr Adam Wallington for organising.

Sydney Interschool Snowsport Championships – Thredbo

Congratulations to Archie Francis (Year 5), Rory Palmer (Year 6) who finished 2nd in Alpine and 3rd in Skier X, Oscar Litchfield (Year 6), Connor Moran (Year 5), Archie Hoiles (Year 7), Jordan Mano (Year 8), Patrick Palmer (Year 8), Aidan Giusti (Year 8) and Charles Thompson (Year 12) on their great performances representing Waverley College at the Sydney Interschool Snowsport Championships. RoryPalmer, Patrick Palmer and Archie Francis have each qualified for the NSW State Championships in their respective events to be held in Perisher, 21-25 August.

2023 Non-Government Schools Census

The Australian Government requires certain information about non-government schools, staff and students to ensure that funding is calculated and managed correctly.

>>> Click here to view information regarding privacy and the 2023 Non-Government Schools Census.

Monday Uniform Update

Students are invited to wear sports uniform on Monday with a touch of green and gold in support of the Matildas. Go Matildas!

Council of Catholic School Parents – Upcoming Online Seminar

As part of CCSP’s ongoing collaboration with eSafety the Term 3 parent education webinar Online relationships and consent: Sending nudes and sexting will be held on Tuesday, 15 August 2023.

This 30-minute webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people in secondary school.

It will cover:

• the impact of sharing nude images without consent
• practical suggestions for starting the chat about respectful relationships, consent and pressure to send nudes
• where to get support for a young person who has experienced abuse.

Webinar details

Tuesday, 15 August 7:30pm – 8pm AEST

Click here to register

Ms Gabby Smith

Deputy Principal – Students

gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au

Managing Anxiety

Anxiety, although at times uncomfortable, is a natural part of the human experience. With the help of our sympathetic nervous system, the anxiety response keeps us safe from danger and springs us to action to ensure we survive unsafe situations. A lot of us however may experience the symptoms of anxiety when there seems to be no threats of danger in our physical environment. You may notice a pounding heart, nausea, upset stomach, excess sweat, racing thoughts/over thinking, and generally feeling on edge.

Consequently, and understandably, you may start to notice changes in your behaviour – you may even feel different from how you usually do. You might start to withdraw from friends, find it tricky to concentrate, have trouble falling asleep/staying asleep, feel exhausted, and/or not have much of an appetite. If you start to experience these things on a regular basis, your overall sense of self and wellbeing may start to decline.

Research tells us however that doing small things each day can add up to reduce these uncomfortable experiences*. You may like to try deep breathing – this might sound very basic because our body breathes involuntarily for us 24/7! However, breathing deeply is a specific skill that is often overlooked. Deep breathing calms our sympathetic nervous system and signals to the brain there is no physical threat, which helps us move into our parasympathetic nervous system (feelings of calm and relaxation). One relaxation skill you can practice today is the 4-7-8 technique. Not only is this deep breathing skill effective, it’s also discreet and easy to use at any time or place.

4-7-8 Breathing Technique

• Breathe in slowly through your nose for four seconds
• Hold your breath for a count of seven seconds
• Exhale very slowly through your mouth for eight seconds and pause before the next breath in
• Repeat this cycle until you notice a difference (a short few minutes should do the trick).

If feeling anxious however is something that seems to be significantly interfering with your study/work, friendships, and physical health, it may be time to check in with a professional. Psychology services are available for students at Waverley College to help with understanding anxiety and how to manage it more effectively. Feel free to reach out to the Wellbeing Team or your Head of House for further information.

*Please note, anxiety techniques can help manage anxious symptoms however in most cases, long-term improvement comes from discussing your concerns with a trained professional.

McFall, A., & Jolivette, K. (2022). Mindful breathing: A low-intensity behavior strategy for students with behavioral challenges. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth. DOI: 10.1080/1045988X.2022.2132196

There are lots of exciting events happening at the moment to engage our students and Waverley community with an interest in reading and writing.

2023 My First Speech Competition

Entries close: Friday, 11 August 2023, 5pm EST

The 2023 My First Speech competition, run by the Parliament of Australia is open for entries. Australian students enrolled in Years 10-12 are invited to enter as a school or as an individual.

Imagine yourself as a newly-elected Member of the House of Representatives. Your task is to write a 90-second speech about issues you are passionate about, then record yourself presenting the speech on video. A winner from each Year – 10, 11 and 12 – will be invited to Canberra to deliver their speeches live, and undertake a program of meetings at Parliament House.

To enter the competition, submit your video via email, along with a written transcript of your speech and completed competition forms. 

Click here to enter

Lane Cove Literary Awards

Entries close: Wednesday, 16 August 2023, 5pm

The Lane Cove Literary Awards is a prestigious national writing competition organised by Lane Cove Council that recognises writing excellence and fosters Australian writing talent. Australian writers over 16 years of age are invited to submit unpublished works.

The Awards are now open and entries can be submitted for the following categories:

• Short Story Prize – $2,000
• Poetry Prize – $1,500
• Theatre Script Prize – $1,500.

The following additional prizes may be awarded:

• The Burns Bay Bookery Resident Prize – $500
• Be Your Own Boss Youth Prize (16 – 24 years) – $500
• Wise Sage Prize (65+ years) – $500
• By entering this competition, the entrant agrees to the requirements and terms and conditions of entry
• Entries must not have been entered in previous Lane Cove Literary Awards
• An entry fee of $15 per entry is applicable
• Only one (1) entry in each category is permitted per person – Short Story, Poetry and Theatre Script
• Submissions are to be made online 
• All entries must be received by Wednesday 16 August 2023, 5pm
• No changes can be made to submitted entries.

Click here for more information

Welcome to the August 2023 digital edition of Wavelength magazine, our alumni publication that creates an important connection between Waverley College and our wider community of Old Boys, families and friends.

As part of our continuing celebration of our 120th year, this edition proudly showcases feature articles about Waverley’s numerous high achievers and photos from our memorable 120 Year Party.

Read about: Rhodes Scholar Leonard King (Class of 1930), the faithful service of Mr Col Blake (Class of 1962), the Conlon marble honour boards restoration, an interview with music educator Mr Chris Blenkinsopp (Class of 1970), our two Federation Star recipients, the future of Science at Waverley, regular spotlights on co-curricular sport and culture, alumni reunions and so much more!

Click to read Wavelength Issue 30, August 2023

Should you wish to keep a hard copy of this edition of Wavelength, copies will soon be available to collect from the table in the Senior School and Junior School Reception.

When these are ready for collection, we will advise via Nurrunga and the Waverley app.

Warm regards,

Marketing Team

Years 10, 11 and 12 Academic Award Winners 

Congratulations to the following students who were presented with an academic award at this week’s Senior School College assembly. These students should all be congratulated for their hard work, high skills and the competition that striving for excellence brings and benefits all. I hope other students are inspired by them to strive just a little bit harder in Semester 2.

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Cadets Ceremony and Awards

Last Friday afternoon, the headmistress of St Catherine’s School, Ms Judith Poole and myself congratulated the new cadet leadership positions for the coming year.

The Unit celebrates 110 years of service this year, and the strength of candidature was such that we made the decision to commence a new Recruit Company (Echo Company with Platoons 13, 14 and 15) and a new Support Company Platoon with Engineers.

These developments provide additional leadership opportunities and allow the Unit to grow as it continues to flourish.

A full list of our new rank was published in last week’s Nurrunga. We congratulate our new Corporals, Sergeants, Warrant Officers and Cadet Under Officers as they lead the Cadet Unit into the 2023/2024 Cadet Year.

Foreign Languages

Students in Years 9-12 (2024) who are thinking of studying a language should read the newsletter article authored by Head of Languages, Ms Priscilla Quintana, for more information. The following languages are available to be studied: Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Strategies from our Psychologist

There are some great strategies in the newsletter article authored by our College Psychologist, Ms Samantha Jessen. She unpacks how to engage with Term 3 effectively by utilising Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Staff Update

The Director of Junior School, Ms Gaby Bransby, will be taking Long Service Leave from 31 July until 15 August 2023. Mr Steve Ghattas will be (Acting) Director of Junior School  during this time.

Year 12 HSC Guide / Trials 

HSC Study Guides were distributed this week to all Year 12 students sitting the HSC this year. The Study Guides include exam advice from teachers and past students along with tips on looking after students’ mental health and wellbeing, in the lead up to exams. 

Click here for this year's guide

Senior Teaching & Learning staff also went through the Trial HSC protocols this week, in preparation for the Trials which begin on Monday, 31 July and conclude on Monday, 14 August 2023. Our thoughts and prayers are with our Year 12s at this time and we wish them the best of luck with their Trials.

Health News 

Please read the newsletter article authored by Ms Adele Cutbush- College Registered Nurse, for the Third Vaccination Clinic for Year 7 HPV and Year 10 Meningococcal ACWY Catch Up Dose information.

National Tree Day

Celebrate National Tree Day with Waverley Council’s wonderful initiative. Come down to Waverley Park this Sunday to receive free native seedlings to restore garden habitats for birds and wildlife. Engage in insightful conversations with Wilderness Society volunteers and Transition Bondi, who will share their expertise in revitalising our native forests and fostering a sustainable community.

Time: Sunday, 30 July, 9am-12pm

Location: Waverley Park (near the BBQs), Bondi Road Waverley Park, Bondi Junction

Lights, Camera, Action!

Calling all budding filmmakers (Years 7-12). Don’t miss your chance to participate in the thrilling Parli-Flicks Short Film Award. Get creative and share your thoughts on this year’s theme, “Should the Voting Age be Lowered?” Explore the wonders of Australian democracy and make your voice heard.

Excitingly, the finalists will be treated to an awards night at the Parliament of NSW in Sydney in October, where the ultimate winner will be unveiled.

Entries close soon! Get your entries in by the Friday, 11 August deadline. 

Click here to participate

Waverley Council Safe Routes to School Survey

Waverley Council is kicking off our Safe Routes to School program, which aims to make walking safer and easier. We’re also looking to encourage parents/carers and children to choose walking, scooting or riding to school.

The well-understood benefits of walking to school include increased physical activity, better concentration in class, and improved wellbeing through a degree of independence. This is in addition to reducing car congestion around schools.

Waverley College has joined in our first round of the program. Achieving this requires teamwork. Council can improve footpaths, install crossings, improve lighting, and other infrastructure and safety upgrades where it’s needed most. We would like your feedback about the most important upgrades needed so your child can safely travel to school.

Please do so via the survey and map at https://haveyoursay.waverley.nsw.gov.au/safe-routes-school-survey by 30 August 2023.

You can use any existing Waverley Council Have Your Say login or create a new one by clicking “Join” on the Have Your Say homepage and following the prompts.

This Month on SchoolTV – Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity emphasises the natural variation in how an individual’s brain functions and how they perceive and interact with the world, leading to diverse ways of learning and communicating. While most young people are neurotypical, some exhibit variations in brain development, such as ADHD, autism or dyslexia, making them neurodivergent.

Embracing neurodiversity involves accepting, celebrating, and supporting neurodivergent children and adolescents without attempting to change or treat their differences. Using respectful language, challenging unhelpful attitudes, avoiding assumptions, and actively promoting inclusivity can help embrace neurodiversity effectively.

Acknowledging the unique ways neurodiverse young people do things and then adapting tasks and activities to ensure their full participation will encourage them to develop strategies that feel natural to them. It will help improve their mental health, wellbeing and sense of self. By recognising and nurturing their strengths, parents and caregivers can contribute to building an inclusive and compassionate society where all young people can thrive.

Learning more about neurodiversity, equips caregivers with insights into effective communication techniques, educational strategies, and parenting approaches tailored to the specific needs of their neurodivergent child. 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 the school for further information or seek help from a medical professional.

Click here for this month's edition of SchoolTV

Ms Gabby Smith

Deputy Principal – Students

gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au

28 July 2023

From the Director of Business Services, Mr Bryn Gregerson – 2023/2024 Fees Reminder and Withdrawal Notice Dates

2023 Fees

• 3rd Payment – Due date is this Friday 28/7/2023
• 4^th Payment – Only applies to Year 6* students continuing into Year 7 in 2024; due date 13/10/2023

*As per the updated conditions of enrolment and as indicated on the College website, all Years 5 and 7 enrolments, Term 1 tuition fees are charged in Term 4, in the year prior. This includes continuing Year 6 (2023) students into Year 7 (2024). This replaces the “continuing confirmation deposit” usually charged in the 3^rd Payment to Year 6. Year 5 and 7 will still receive an invoice in Term 1, 2024 for any applicable sundries, sibling discounts, excursion fees and camps. Please be advised that if this payment is not made by the due date, your son’s enrolment will be forfeited, and his place will be offered to a waitlisted candidate.

2024 Fees

• 1st Payment – Prompt payment date 19/1/2024; due date 26/1/2024
• 2nd Payment – Prompt payment date 26/4/2024; due date 03/5/2024
• 3rd Payment – Prompt payment date 19/7/2024; due date 02/8/2024

Discounts and Additional Fee

Fees paid before 4pm on the Prompt payment date attract a $25.00 discount.

Any payment received after the due date will attract an administrative fee of $110.00.

Please be advised that some financial institutions need more than 48 hours to process their payments (e.g. Internet/BPay/BPoint).

Please see the last page of your account for payment method and contact details.

Enrolment Withdrawal Notice

You are reminded that if you wish to withdraw your son from enrolment at Waverley College, you are required to give one Term’s notice in writing to the Principal that your son’s enrolment will cease.

The last day you can give notice that your son’s enrolment is finishing at the end of a school Term, is the first day of the same Term. If not received by that date, a withdrawal fee equivalent to one Term’s tuition fees will be payable. The relevant dates for 2023 are below:

• Students finishing at the end of Term 3, 2023 – Notice was required by Tuesday, 18 July 2023
• Students finishing at the end of Term 4, 2023 – Notice is required by Tuesday, 10 October 2023

I have been made aware of a current scam targeting parents of Commonwealth Bank school customers that requires your vigilance.

A summary of the scam being attempted is below:

• “Parents are being called by a scammer pretending to be from the school;
• They offer the parents a 30% discount on school fees if they pay straight away;
• The parent provides the scammer with their invoice details and credit card details to make payment;
• The scammer pays the school fees via BPOINT to the school with the parents’ actual card;    
• The parent receives a receipt from BPOINT advising payment received;
• The scammer then makes a second payment (again with the parents’ actual card), then calls the parent pretending to be the school to advise that payment was made twice and a payment would be refunded;
• School is then called by someone claiming to be the parent and asking for a refund, but requests the refund to a different card.”

Please be aware of these elaborate scams and contact the school immediately if you suspect something suspicious.

Mr Bryn Gregerson

Director of Business Services

bgregerson@waverley.nsw.edu.au

Navigating Term 3

As we navigate the first few weeks of Term 3, it can take all of us (even adults) time to adjust from being on holidays back into a routine. Whilst holidays can provide us with much needed rest and play, our brains absolutely love consistency and predictability which sometimes is reduced without a school schedule. In saying this, our brains may also find the transition back to school quite challenging! You might notice you feel a bit more tired, stressed, irritable, or overwhelmed than you did during the holidays. Although these experiences and feelings can be uncomfortable, they are a completely normal part of life.

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, to live fulfilling lives, a lot of emphasis may need to be placed on some of our basic needs that may be overlooked during a busy schedule during the Term time.

Firstly, we can gently help ourselves by acknowledging that it may take us a little bit of extra time to feel our usual selves again. We might like to place emphasis on rest (e.g., creating a consistent sleep schedule), designing an achievable study plan (e.g., setting realistic time aside for homework/assignments), prioritising time to move our bodies in a way that feels good to us (e.g., beach walk, stretching, taking our dogs to the dog park), eating nutritionally-dense foods, filling up our water bottles, and perhaps most importantly, connecting with our loved ones (e.g., having dinner together around the table each night).

If you feel like your basic needs may need a little tweaking, Psychology services are available for students at Waverley College to help with getting back on track in a way that works for you. Feel free to reach out to the Wellbeing Team or your Head of House for further information.

Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346

Image: courtesy Psychology Today

To continue our commemoration of 120 Years of Education at Waverley, we will have our onsite Years 5-12 day of celebration and fun on Tuesday, 15 August.

The day promises to be memorable, with the College community enjoying a live-streamed celebratory mass, a colourful carnival with food trucks and entertainment, and a vibrant talent show.

Click here for detailed information about the day

Happy 120 years!

Ms Sue Walsh

Director of Mission and Identity

swalsh@waverley.nsw.edu.au

Mr Nick Sposari

Teacher

nsposari@waverley.nsw.edu.au

Our onsite Years 5-12 day of celebration and fun will happen on Tuesday, 15 August 2023.

Please click the buttons below to view the menu options for this special day.

Click here to view the burgers and gozleme food and drink options

Click here to view the kebabs food and drink menu

The canteen will also be open on the day.

*Ticket sales for food/drink will open in early Week 4.

Ms Sue Walsh

Director of Mission and Identity

swalsh@waverley.nsw.edu.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

A Catholic School for boys in
the tradition of Edmund Rice

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