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
Username: forwaverleycollegeonly
Password: 94results
This week, we celebrated Edmund Rice Day at both the Senior and Junior Schools. The senior school students attended an impressive assembly where we looked at and thanked some of our partners who are doing amazing charitable works in the community, including Edmund Rice Camps, Pantry 4 The People and CaringKids.
We were blessed to have some guest speakers from these groups, including Old Boy, Jake Smith. The Touchtones of Gospel Spirituality and Justice and Solidarity as part of our Edmund Rice Charism were highlighted, as as part of the wonderful work by our Social Justice groups.
You can follow the charities we heard from below:
Having an Inclusive Community is also one of the strengths of Waverley College. The diversity of our community is what makes Waverley so special. I was lucky enough on Wednesday evening to attend the celebrations for the anniversary of Israel’s 75 years of independence. This wonderful event people from all around NSW and Australia, as well as a number of other countries, come together in solidarity to celebrate as one.
Israel gained independence three years after the conclusion of World War II, where 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. Despite this and over 2,000 years of exile and persecution, they were able to maintain their identity, and despite many challenges, are a nation that is continuing to thrive. Australia and Israel have always had strong relationships, however, the amount of anti-Semitism in the world and in Australia over the past few years has, unfortunately, increased.
Waverley College will never accept any form of discrimination against another person. Regardless of race, religion, gender or any other difference, we need to be celebrating the differences that make us unique.
It is no secret that our students are not reading as much as we would like. At the recent Parent-Teacher interviews, so many parents/carers voiced their concerns about the lack of reading happening across all Year groups.
We also know from our participation last year in the Deakin University Study on Reading Among Teens in Australia, that reading is certainly not a priority among our students or many students in Australia. We are not alone.
This week I attended an online conference with the IBSC (International Boys’ Schools Coalition) entitled ‘Getting High School Boys to Read.’
It was wonderful to hear some strategies on how we can respond to this global decline in teen reading (particularly among boys). I was reassured by the fact that many of the strategies already put in place at Waverley College – in particular by Mr Roberts and the Library team – are best practice in terms of encouraging students to read.
Family reading time at home can encourage boys to develop as readers and develop a love for books
For parents and carers, one way in which we can all engage in this endeavour as adults is by modelling reading. “When children see adults reading a variety of books in the home, they are more likely to mirror that behaviour,” says Judy Newman, executive vice president and president of Scholastic Book Clubs. “Setting an example for your child as a lifelong reader will leave a vast impression.” Equally, if boys see male adults in their lives reading, they are more likely to follow suit.
At home, consider the idea of everyone reading the same books or listening to audiobooks on long car journeys and sharing some thoughts.
Everyone reads. Let’s show our boys that reading is part of everyone’s life, by reading diverse works that serve different purposes. Make a habit out of living through reading and remember that any reading is good reading. 10 minutes a day will suffice.
Click here for Year 7 reading lists
Click here for ages 12-13 reading lists
Click here for Years 8-10 reading lists
For nearly 20 years, the Whitlam Institute’s “What Matters?” Writing Competition has been empowering students to raise their voices and feel that their perspectives are valuable, no matter their age, background or point of view.
Part writing exercise, part civics and citizenship activity, “What Matters?” is the perfect platform for students to express what they care about and why.
Click the button below to view their website to learn more about the competition, get inspired by past entries, explore classroom resources, and view the amazing prizes on offer.
Click here to view more information about the What Matters? Competition
Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose of 600 words or less, and can be submitted quickly online.
*Entries close today!
Student-Based-Tutoring (SBT) is back and running again for Term 2 to continue providing academic support for students. SBT works with competent senior students to provide high-quality tutors to help other boys in reaching their full potential.
SBT is available to any students from Monday to Wednesday 3:30pm-4:30pm in the library. SBT runs parallel to the current literacy and numeracy tutoring sessions, so students may also be able to get help from experienced teachers at the same time.
Why pay for private tutoring when free quality tutoring is available for you? The goal of SBT is to help Waverley students achieve improvements in all areas of academic life.
It also allows boys to meet with senior students who can give invaluable advice to help them achieve set targets, while learning how to still schedule time for co-curricular and social activities. School is about learning but you also have to have fun along the way, and SBT can teach you how to achieve both simultaneously.
Whether you want to go from 50% to 60% in a subject or from 85% to 90%, SBT is here to help you. SBT tutors can help you find your mistakes and may be able to teach you content that you are struggling with. Nobody is perfect, and these senior students have gone through hundreds of hours of study to reach their success. From this experience, they can provide techniques that worked for them.
Moreover, SBT provides an efficient way to increase your marks, while also building crucial relationships with senior students.
SBT is the one-stop shop for your academic aid, so make use of it.
Click here to view further details about Student Based Tutoring
Centre 360 Youth and Family Service Tuning in to Teens program is starting on Monday, 8 May 2023.
Several spots are available for this free, six week evidence-based parenting program.
Please call (02) 9331 2691 or email enquiries@stfrancis.org.au
Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun
Assistant Director of Student Formation
When: Thursday, 11 May 2023, 6pm-7:30pm
Where: Woollahra Library, Double Bay – Level 1, 451 New South Head Road Double Bay
Cost: Free
This seminar is designed for parents and carers of tweens and teens (aged 10-17) who want practical information and strategies for effective communication and healthy relationships, and to better understand and manage adolescent behaviour.
The seminar will be led by clinical psychologist Dr Terri Said, CEO of WAYS Youth & Family and WAYS Secondary Principal, who will cover topics including:
Please click the button below to register and for further information.
When: Wednesday, 10 May 2023, 1oam
Where: online
Cost: Free
For parents/carers of children aged 9-14 years. Taught by Madeleine Winter, who is a Parent Coach and parent of a teen, with deep experience supporting parents/carers to build strong relationships with their children through every age and stage.
Click here for registration and bookings
2023 Fees
*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 3rd 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.
Discounts and Additional Fee
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 penalty equivalent to one term’s tuition fees will be payable. The relevant dates for 2023 are below:
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
