There has been a sense of enthusiasm and energy throughout Week 1, and I encourage boys to find an early rhythm to their study and revision habits. Consistent habits across the entire term is what we are seeking as teachers and parents/carers. 15 minutes of reading and mathematics revision every day, on top of homework requirements, is much more effective than a last-minute swotvac before a test, or thinking that your literacy and numeracy skills can be just switched on suddenly.
This consistent effort and practice needs to also occur across your son’s sleep patterns, diet, hydration and use of technology. And as a parent/carer, you can play an important role in assisting him to find and maintain these patterns, which will greatly influence his academic performance and also his moods and energy levels.
Author and inspirational speaker, Simon Sinek strongly supports the notion that you only win across your life ‘with consistency’. Help your son maintain/find a consistent approach to his studies, his health, his control of technology and good results will follow.
Year 11 student Maximilian Fischer has demonstrated what can happen when you follow this strategy. Maximilian has recently achieved the national golf ranking of No. 1 for under 18 years in 2023.
Maximilian just qualified for his first professional event, the TPS Sydney in February 2023 at Bonnie Doon Golf Club. He will be the youngest junior golfer to qualify for this professional event.
At the College Assembly this week, I encouraged our 1,500-strong community to play their part in welcoming our new students and staff. Across Year 5 (156), Year 7 (75), Years 8-11 (10) and new staff (19), we welcomed 256 new people to our community, who will each bring new ideas and perspectives. We have all been the ‘new person’ at some point in our lives. We encourage everyone to embrace the teachings of Christ, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Luke 6:31 and Matthew 7:12).
Our ongoing high expectations have contributed to an encouraging lift in our literacy and academic standards across the College. This year, our whole-school approach to increasing boys’ literacy continues, with an expanded ‘Writer’s Toolbox’ program to improve writing efficacy via tangible strategies. This week, we were also excited to launch our Years 7 and 8 ‘Reading Rules’ Program, which aims to engage our students in the pleasure of reading, with the longer-term aim of creating lifelong, habitual and passionate readers.
Read more in the Nurrunga article by Ms Elizabeth Watson (Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning) and the Nurrunga article by Ms Mary Ryan (Literacy Coordinator and English Teacher).
Waverley spirit was certainly alive and well when over 900 parents, Old Boys, staff and special guests came together last Friday evening, to celebrate the College’s 120 years of service, care and education. Waverley College has come a long way in 120 years, but most significantly, in 120 years, Waverley College values have never changed. The College was founded on Christian values and these were as important then as they are now.
We are proud to cater for students from diverse backgrounds and we are proud to be a school that is unique in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for its authentic Catholic education and progressive approach to educating boys. This year we will graduate the 15-thousandth Waverlian. Each current student will receive a 120 badge that has been struck to celebrate this remarkable College milestone.
I would like to congratulate our Marketing & Development Manager, Ms Emma Laurence, and Mr Angus McPherson, who coordinated a wonderful evening to acknowledge this milestone. They were supported by Matt Laurence ( Emma’s husband), Sam Iremonger (Old Boy 2018 Duntroon Cadet), Simon Potter, Jon Phillips, Bishoy Wasef, Gerald Winch and the maintenance crew, Kylie Anderson, Tessa Holt, Darran Rawson, Vanessa Witton in their various roles.
We have already had a wonderful start to 2023. Ms Helen Barrie (Head of Academic Enrichment) and I, were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to present to staff on the application of metacognition skills and self-regulation strategies, to strengthen inferential reading skills. It was magnificent to collaborate with staff from both the Junior and Senior school, in order to target areas where students can be best supported to ensure reading achievement.
This week, Mr Roberts and I launched our reading program in Year 7 and Year 8. We are very excited to be welcoming all classes to the library once a cycle, to experience the luxury of reading a great book of their choice in this beautiful space.
We aim to engage students in the pleasure of reading, with the hope of creating lifelong habitual readers, who are passionate about reading. Everyone knows the positive knock-on effects; improved brain power, memory and creativity, building vocabulary, and developing empathy. Plus – reading makes us happier and live longer, according to the study ‘A Chapter a Day: Association of Book Reading with Longevity’ undertaken by Harvard University in 2021.
We encourage our parents/carers to take time to chat with their sons about the book they are reading (without passing judgment), while encouraging even 10 minutes of reading at home as part of a healthy reading diet.
NAPLAN is moving from May to March in 2023. Year 7 and Year 9 will be given lots of opportunities to prepare and work on improving their numeracy and literacy skills. Over the coming days, both Year groups will receive workbooks to complete independent learning at home.
The expectation is that students will come to class with the set work completed in a timely fashion.
Equally, through the integrated use of Writer’s Toolbox and other programs across faculties, students will continue to improve syntax, spelling, punctuation, fluency and precision.
Dear Parents and Carers
Please see important information on the dates for the 2023 School Vaccination Program for Year 7 and Year 10 students.
| Year 7 – HPV Dose 1 + dTpa | Year 10 – MenACWY | Year 7 – HPV Dose 2 |
| Wednesday, 1 March 2023 | Monday, 5 June 2023 | Tuesday, 19 September 2023 |
The following vaccines are offered free to students at school:
Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received.
To provide online consent for vaccination, parents/carers will need:
Please get in contact with the Health Centre nurse if you have any questions about the vaccinations or clinic.
*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.
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.
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 2022 are below:
There is clear evidence that purposeful professional learning for teachers is a key factor in improving student learning outcomes. A strategic priority for the school is to enhance teacher professional growth through quality professional learning and staff formation. Contemporary research suggests that effective professional learning needs to be ‘an ongoing process made up of epiphanic life moments that are professional and personal, formal and informal, in schools and out of schools, singular and collaborative.’ (Netolicky, 2016, p. 281).
As the academic year commences, we continue our commitment to providing quality professional learning for our staff, to ensure they are kept up-to-date with contemporary high-impact teaching strategies, emerging technologies and student wellbeing research. All professional learning is tailored to enhance teacher capacity and efficacy. Our teachers are encouraged to be reflective in their practice and each staff member has an annual Professional Learning Plan to set targets and goals. We dedicated time across our three Staff Days this week to address some strategic priority areas, with a particular focus on High Expectations, Lesson Routines, Data Analytics, Literacy, Deep Learning and Curriculum Reforms.
Below is a snapshot of some of the Professional Learning sessions delivered this week.
Cognisant that school-wide analysis and discussion of systematically collected data on student outcomes, including academic, attendance and behavioural outcomes, and student wellbeing are crucial to a school’s improvement agenda, throughout 2022 a team of teachers explored a number of Learning Analytics Platforms. Learning Analytics is the process of using educational data, statistical analysis, and modelling to gain insights into student and school performance.
TrackOne is our analytics platform of choice, and we are excited to upskill our staff in data literacy throughout 2023. TrackOne allows us to collate and analyse our academic and pastoral data more efficiently and effectively, and in turn enables us to better monitor and track student progress, growth and performance across Years 5-12. Additionally, we have engaged with Robert Allwell’s Academic Assessment Services to look at forecasting and predictive data. This will be invaluable in subject selection and monitoring student expected performance relative to achieved outcomes.
Thank you to Ms Helen Barrie, Ms Kaitlyn Downey, Ms Lynsey Porter and Ms Jenna Turnbull for facilitating these sessions.
Extensive analysis of our 2022 NAPLAN data, combined with insights from the 2022 Australian Council for Educational Research Conference, prompted our strategic design of an inferential reading focus across all faculties. The NAPLAN Reading test is designed with a knowledge gap between the question and answer, encouraging the student to connect prior knowledge with a strategic approach to reading text, in order to formulate an answer.
To prepare students for comprehension assessments such as NAPLAN, we have been examining the reading expectations for Stage 4 and 5 students across all subjects, and utilising current research to identify the cognitive and environmental elements that inform and strengthen the acquisition of higher-order reading skills. Staff will continue to curate a repertoire of cognitive, metacognitive and motivational strategies that seek to support our students to ultimately achieve self-regulated learning and high achievement in the reading domain. Thank you to Ms Helen Barrie and Ms Mary Ryan for facilitating this terrific session.
Deep Learning sessions were facilitated by lead AIS educational consultant Jorga Marrum with Religious Education and PDHPE design teams. To date, Jorga has worked with Stage 3 teachers and senior staff in Science, English, Visual Arts and Drama to deepen units of work. Deep learning is the process of students acquiring the six Global Competencies: Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking. These skills and attributes are essential for learners to flourish as citizens, and to engage and innovate successfully in our increasingly complex and connected world.
Deep Learning moves students beyond surface knowledge by creating learning experiences where students go deeper in knowledge, standards and assessment. Students are actively involved in the learning process as co-designers and co-learners. Deepening units of work enlivens our Teaching & Learning Framework. We look forward to continuing our work with Deep Learning and expanding this across all subject and year levels.
After the success of our whole-school approach to improving boys’ Literacy through Writers’ Toolbox in 2022, we are pleased to expand this program in 2023. Mr Rob Tall, Writer’s Toolbox consultant and Ms Mary Ryan, Head of Literacy, will continue to facilitate staff and student sessions across faculties and year levels this year. This comprehensive writing program, developed by Dr Ian Hunter, is designed to improve syntax, punctuation and paragraphing.
A range of tangible strategies have been shared with staff to improve writing efficacy, and the interactive software component of the program has been well received by our students. We look forward to strengthening this program with expansion and precision in 2023.
Of utmost importance is responding to and planning for the NSW curriculum reforms across each subject area. NESA has a staggered approach to implementation across a seven year time period (2021-2028) with a varied start and end point for respective subjects. This timeline includes syllabus consultation > syllabus release > syllabus planning and preparation > syllabus taught in schools > syllabus examined in HSC.
I commend our staff who are working assiduously to ensure that our curriculum programs accurately reflect these reforms, while continuing to embed high-impact teaching strategies, differentiated learning tasks, student adjustments and rich formative and summative assessments.
Below is an example of the K-12 Mathematics timeline.
Click here for further details
I would like to thank all staff for their active engagement with our sessions, and their collaborative programming across the three days. I look forward to regularly communicating the Professional Learning of our staff, as well as the ongoing developments and achievements in our key strategic priority areas. Next week, my article will explore the importance of High Expectations and outline our updated Lesson Routine for Years 7-10.
From Monday 30 January 2023, a TEMPORARY, adjusted timetable will be introduced to Sydney’s Eastern and South Eastern Bus Network (Region 9).
Several bus operators across Greater Sydney are making temporary service adjustments to help manage unprecedented driver shortages across the industry. The new timetable aims to be more reliable and to better reflect current customer travel patterns, most notably an increase in off-peak journeys.
As a consequence of the altered timetable of regular route services, some dedicated school route services will be affected by minor timing adjustments.
We also urge parents, carers and students to check transportnsw.info for the latest information on regular route services.
Should you wish to discuss any queries or issues you may have with these changes, please email schools@transdevjohnholland.
Transdev John Holland Buses (NSW) Pty Ltd
schools@transdevjohnholland.
02 7257 2400
Welcome to the December 2022 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.
Enjoy feature articles about Cadets, our special Walawaani program, our Ecology group, an insightful interview with Professor Ian Hickie AM (Class of 1976), our regular spotlights on co-curricular sport and culture, Old Boy reunions and so much more!
Click here to read Wavelength Issue 29 December 2022
“Take time to see the quiet miracles that seek no attention.” ~ John O’Donohue
We have come to the end of our school year, and we are looking forward to a rest, reflection time and hopefully a hot and dry summer break. At this time of year, we turn our attention to Christmas — but not yet! We await the arrival of Jesus Christ. We remember and celebrate his birth in a stable two thousand years ago, but we also wait upon his coming into our lives every day in the words of the gospel, in the eucharist, and through our unity as sisters and brothers.
This once and future arrival (adveniens) of Christ, is what we celebrate every year at Christmas. The season of Advent is a time to prepare. All our life is an advent. We await Jesus’ arrival, we prepare the way of the Kingdom of God, we celebrate the birth of each new day. United as sisters and brothers, and dedicated to serve one another, we celebrate the love that lights the world.
Thank you to all parents and carers, Old Boys and members of our wider community, for again supporting the College throughout 2022. Thank you to our students who have performed very well. And, I thank the teachers and support staff on your behalf, for their hard work and care throughout the year.
I wish everyone a safe, merry and holy Christmas.
As this year draws to its end,
We give thanks for the gifts it brought
And how they became inlaid within
Where neither time nor tide can touch them.
The days when the veil lifted
And the soul could see delight;
When a quiver caressed the heart
In the sheer exuberance of being here.
Surprises that came awake
In forgotten corners of old fields
Where expectation seemed to have quenched.
The slow, brooding times
When all was awkward
And the wave in the mind
Pierced every sore with salt.
The darkened days that stopped
The confidence of the dawn.
Days when beloved faces shone brighter
With light from beyond themselves;
And from the granite of some secret sorrow
A stream of buried tears loosened.
We bless this year for all we learned,
For all we loved and lost
And for the quiet way it brought us
Nearer to our invisible destination.
John O’Donohue (Irish Priest, author and poet)
Noah Nunn – Social Impact Award
Leo Vigil – Academic Achievement Award 5 Blue
Kalan Fisher – Christian Leadership Award 5 Blue
Leo Henderson – Class Achievement Award 5 Blue
Rio Kelly – Creative Arts Award 5 Blue
James Draper – Academic Achievement Award 5 Gold
Marcus Millard – Christian Leadership Award 5 Gold
James Ganson – Class Achievement Award 5 Gold
Harvey Smith – Creative Arts Award 5 Gold
Tom Brown – Academic Achievement Award 5 Indigo
Sebastian Karhan – Christian Leadership Award 5 Indigo
Sam Burrows – Class Achievement Award 5 Indigo
Fred Cross – Creative Arts Award 5 Indigo
Ryan Loughrey – Academic Achievement Award 5 Orange
Jack Burrows – Christian Leadership Award 5 Orange
Braxton Dow – Class Achievement Award 5 Orange
Boyd Haslam – Creative Arts Award 5 Orange
Max Service – Academic Achievement Award 5 Red
Jack Baker Sedgman – Christian Leadership Award 5 Red
Hopper Dyke-Miller – Class Achievement Award 5 Red
Joseph Madden – Creative Arts Award 5 Red
Byron Campbell – Academic Achievement Award 5 White
Cormac Maher – Christian Leadership Award 5 White
Harry McKeon – Class Achievement Award 5 White
Aristotelis Evgenidis – Creative Arts Award 5 White
Thomas Stillone – Academic Achievement Award
Cooper Mott – Christian Leadership Award
Frederick Crabbe – Class Achievement Award
Luc Frampton – Creative Arts Award
William Frinsdorf – Academic Achievement Award
Jack Stuart – Christian Leadership Award
Jack McCallum – Class Achievement Award
Henry Jones – Creative Arts Award
Ishaan Jeena – Academic Achievement Award
Vincent Kapos – Christian Leadership Award
Aiden McNee – Class Achievement Award
Beau Matheson-Rayner – Creative Arts Award
Liam Madden – Academic Achievement Award
Oscar Nicholson – Christian Leadership Award
Henry Walker – Class Achievement Award
Max Bracic – Creative Arts Award
Jasper Lumsden – Academic Achievement Award
Aiden Reay – Christian Leadership Award
Charlie Tucker – Class Achievement Award
Jeremy Pounder – Creative Arts Award
Raphael Winterburn – Academic Achievement Award
Lincoln Hamilton – Christian Leadership Award
Quinn Brodie – Class Achievement Award
Henry O’Donnell – Creative Arts Award
Thomas Stillone – The Edmund Rice Trophy for Academic Excellence
Henry Walker – Br J P Lacey Memorial Trophy for Study, Leadership and Co-Curricular Involvement
Lukas Pendleton – Br M M O’Connor Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship
Lincon Hamilton – The Judge Paul Urquhart Award for Social Justice
Charlie Griffin – The Waterford Trophy for Performing Arts
Harry Demetrios – Helen Newman Award for Service
Max Wu – Waverley Council Citizenship Award
Jonah Nioplias – The Old Boys’ Union Award
Henry Goldrich – Drama Equal First
Lachlan Chalmers – Drama Equal First
Richard Nestor – English
Axel Stapleton – Geography
Hamish Wilson – Technology
Ryan McNamara – Principal’s Award for Sport
Oliver Isaac – Drama Equal First; Music; Steve Frangos Memorial Prize for Musicianship
Alexander King – PDH&PE; Nicholas Farrow Memorial Prize for the Spirit of Year Seven
Finley Cromer – Science; 3rd in Academic Results
Alexander Avdalis – Mathematics; 2nd in Academic Results
Daniel Morrow – Fr Kevin Nolan & Ms Merle Frances Nolan Award for Religion; Dux of Year 7
Benjamin Darcy – English Equal First
Payton Tarau – Principal’s Award for Sport
Ryan Murphy – Prize for Musicianship
Luke Nezval – Martin Robinson Memorial Award for Service & Integrity
Dante Fern – Visual Arts; Equal 3rd in Academic Results
James Barber – Mathematics; 2nd in Academic Results
Benjamin Cromer – English Equal First; History; PDH&PE; Fr Kevin Nolan & Ms Merle Frances Nolan Award for Religion; Science; Spanish; Technology; Dux of Year 8
Finlay Wilde – Graphics Technology
Fred Carmody – Design & Technology
William Dawson – History Elective
Yianni Hatjinikitas – Industrial Technology Wood
Tomas Crosson – Information Software Technology
Mark Rede – Mathematics Level 3 Equal First
Harry Crewe – Mathematics Level 2
Ethan Rich – Mathematics Level 1
Lieme Chan – Music
Montgomery Armstrong – Photography
Yannick Hott – Science
Harry Papworth – Spanish
Hamish Whitten – Work Education
Sam Caro – Food Technology; Geography
Lachlan Marzol – Commerce; Fr Kevin Nolan & Ms Merle Frances Nolan Award for Religion; Equal First
Renato Rovacchi – STEM; Mathematics Level 3 Equal First; Visual Arts
Ben Pignatelli – Principal’s Award for Sport
Max Sheey – Prize for Musicianship
Lucas Craik – Ned Silva Award for Most Improved Effort in Year Nine
Kaden Baker – Applied Philosophy; Physical & Sport Studies; 3rd in Academic Results
Harrison Thorpe – Accelerated Mathematics; Drama Equal First; PDH&PE; Fr Kevin Nolan & Ms Merle Frances Nolan Award for Religion Equal First; 2nd in Academic Results
James Peate – Drama Equal First; English; Dux of Year 9
William Kirk – Information Software Technology
Will Hughes – Design & Technology
Luke Crosson – Drama
Ewan McDonald – History Elective
Jack Kerves – Industrial Technology Wood
Marcus Henderson – Mathematics Accelerated
Jock Edwards – Mathematics Level 3
Remy Frampton – Mathematics Level 2; Social Impact Award
David Eisho – Mathematics Level 1
Robert Muir – Music
Oliver Malzard – Photography
James Birbas – Spanish
Henry Whitehouse – Work Education
Otto Hulewicz – History Equal First; Visual Arts
Ehren Little – Principal’s Award for Sport
Robbie Muir – Prize for Musicianship
Lachlan Miranda – ADF Long Tan Award; Commerce; History Equal First; PDH&PE; Anthony Tarlinton Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievements in Study & College Activities
James Medland – Applied Philosophy; Physical & Sport Studies; 3rd in Academic Results
Ricardo Zanapalis – Food Technology; Fr Kevin Nolan & Ms Merle Frances Nolan Award for Religion; 2nd in Academic Results
Bailey Barker – ADF Future Innovators Award; English; History Equal First; Science; STEM; Dux of Year 10
Benjamin Stirling – Open High School Achievement Certificate
Bert Cottell – Premier’s Respect Award
Luca Holmes – Biology Equal First
Jett Wanda – Construction
Christopher Armstrong – Design & Technology
Sam Stewart – Drama
Lachlan McMunn – English Standard
Vasili Vertsonis – Extension English
Thomas Brenchley – Geography
Wilford Hyde – Hospitality
Mitchell Cahill – Industrial Technology Equal First
Thomas Gleeson – Industrial Technology Equal First
Penn O’Connor – Investigating Science
Jacob Walker – Mathematics Standard Equal First
Matthew Woods – Mathematics Standard Equal First
Frederick Le Vay – Music Course I
Angus Birrell – Music Course II
Daniel Palacio – Spanish Beginners
Finn Stranix – Visual Arts
Anderson Franulovich – Visual Design
Tom Hughes – Mathematics Advanced Equal First
Malachy Brough – Mathematics Advanced Equal First; Mathematics Extension
Leo Schmid – Studies In Catholic Thought; Sport Life & Recreation; Marine Studies; English Studies
Liam Russell – Ryan Shiels Memorial Prize for Musicianship
Zion Ahosivi Poitaha – Greg Carmody Memorial Prize for Best All Round Sportsman
Jack Preller – Food Technology; Year 11 All Rounder Award
Theo Varvaressos – Biology Equal First; Arthur & Mollie Burke Memorial Prize for English Advanced; Modern History; 3rd in Academic Results
Liam Wood – Ancient History; Spanish Continuers; Fr Kevin Nolan & Ms Merle Frances Nolan Award for Studies of Religion I; 2nd in Academic Results
Jake Perks – Chemistry; UNSW Australia Prize for Economics; Mathematics Accelerated; Physics; Dux of Year 11
Charles Hely-Hammond – Business Studies; Legal Studies; PDH&PE; Fr Kevin Nolan & Ms Merle Frances Nolan Award for Studies of Religion II; Dux of Year 11
Congratulations to Ms Natasha Zivanovic, on receiving the EREA Charter Award for Liberating Education. Natasha was selected from 4,500 staff of 55 EREA schools in Australia, for the amazing work she is doing liberating education at the Junior School. Natasha and her husband attended a ceremony down in Melbourne last weekend.
Ms Natasha Zivanovic with Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
The Waverley bi-annual alumni magazine Wavelength will be published soon, and posted to all Old Boys and Waverley families in December. Wavelength celebrates the achievements and news of our students and Old Boy community, with this edition featuring engaging articles about Cadet leadership, Ecology, our Indigenous Walawaani Program, coeducational achievements, Professor Ian Hickie AM (Class of 1976), Daniel Ardilley ASC (Class of 1984), a nostalgic contribution from Chris O’Sullivan (Class of 1965/66), and more.
Each year, students in Technologies and the Creative Arts are nominated for their HSC achievements in individual performance/s and projects. This is outstanding external recognition in highly competitive fields, and an acknowledgment that they are amongst the best in the State. I know you will join me in congratulating the following talented students:
Nominated for possible inclusion for a selection of performances and compositions in HSC Music:
Please consider attending the HSC Showcase, Encore, at the Sydney Opera House, on Monday, 27 February 2023.
Nominated for possible inclusion for individual performance in HSC Drama.
OnStage is a selection of performances and individual projects from HSC Drama students and will be held at the Seymour Centre in February 2023.
InTech 2022
Nominated for possible inclusion in InTech, the annual exhibition of outstanding Major Projects developed by HSC Industrial Technology students:
A number of projects will be selected for Shape 2022, the combined exhibition of HSC Technology projects at the Powerhouse, Ultimo, Sydney from 3 March to 21 May 2023.
Shape 2022
Design and Technology student/s nominated for possible inclusion in Shape 2022:
Shape is an annual exhibition of exemplary Major Projects developed by HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students.
As we conclude 2022, I would like to acknowledge the efforts made by so very many of our students, staff and parents/carers in the Waverley community during the course of this year. The extraordinary commitment made by all our staff, academic and support staff alike, means that we can continue to succeed and flourish as a learning community.
I would also like to express my gratitude to the community for welcoming me into this role. I will return for Semester 1, 2023 as (Acting) Deputy Principal – Students, and look forward to a continued partnership with all our families.
We have had an extraordinary year, having returned to full-time school after two years of instability. Students have had to reconnect with their peers and they have all shown great resilience and courage.
Due to the upheaval COVID-19 has brought, and the adjustments students have had to make to settle back into school, we have adjusted some of our College expectations. However, as we welcome our students back to 2023, I would like to draw your attention to updated College policies that we expect all our students to adhere to.
Waverley College has a strict haircut policy, which all students are required to adhere to.
◆ Hair should be neatly cut, combed and maintained. Hair should be shorter than the collar.
◆ Long hair or outlandish styles are not acceptable.
◆ Undercut styles, dramatic layering, tracks, mohawks, mullets, overuse of product, tinting, colouring, dreadlocks, strands of hair, buns, braids or lines are not acceptable.
◆ A number 2 cut is the shortest acceptable cut.
◆ If students do not comply with a request by their Head of House to address any breaches, they will then have three options:
If your son arrives at the College at the commencement of 2023 with a haircut that is not inline with College policy, he will be sent home on his first day at the College to rectify this.
Mobile phones are a distraction to students in school. During school hours, they should be focussing on learning and their relationships with the people around them.
Unfortunately, mobile phones are often used inappropriately. Students use them to photograph or video, often without the permission of the subject. They are also often the tool used by cyber-bullies and those who target others over social media. We believe that children should be protected from this, during school time.
We have seen an increase in students taking photos of staff members, sharing these or uploading them to social media. This is a massive invasion of privacy for our staff, and any students who do this, will receive a two-day suspension.
Therefore, for the safety and wellbeing of students, our mobile phone policy is as follows:
◆ Devices are to be stored in lockers, and preferably placed on silent or flight mode to eliminate loud ringtones. They can only be used next to one’s locker before school, recess, lunch, or after school for short periods of time.
◆ The only exception to this is when students are instructed to contact their parent/carer regarding variations to scheduled events, or, under direct teacher supervision, they may use their device.
◆ Devices cannot be taken to class (every student has a laptop in class).
◆ If a mobile phone is brought to any class, a student will receive a one-hour detention. If they continue to bring their phone to class, they will receive a three-hour detention.
◆ Parents needing to contact their son during class time, should contact school reception directly.
◆ Students found to have mobile devices switched ‘on’, using devices to ‘hotspot’ laptops to external data sources, bypassing the College’s network, or used in any way deemed inappropriate by College staff or supervising adult, can expect a one-hour detention. Mobile phones will be confiscated if it becomes a distraction to the learning process, has been a medium for a breach of privacy, or holds information pertaining to a crime. Parents or carers will be notified immediately about any confiscation.
◆ Devices are collected in the classroom at the beginning of the day, and placed securely in a locked cupboard. At the end of the school day, they are collected and returned to each student.
Wearing a uniform is a badge of pride, it creates an identity for a school, and is an important part of being a school student. Uniforms show that you are part of an organisation. Wearing it says, we’re all in this together.
We ask that students wear their uniform with pride, which includes wearing the shirt tucked in at all times.
We also ask that students ensure they are wearing appropriate footwear. Please see our expectations below:
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.
I ask that all families please support the College in adhering to these policies as we commence 2023. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I wish our entire community a safe and happy holiday, and look forward to the return of our students next year.
Ms Gabrielle Smith
(Acting) Deputy Principal – Students
gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
According to Kenny Pieper, author of “Reading for Pleasure: a Passport to Everywhere”, all adults have a responsibility to be reading role models. “We need to step up and be their reading mentors, getting involved in their lives, or at least be the ones who will properly encourage them to turn the key. It won’t happen by accident.”
Equally in “The Enchanted Hour” by Meghan Cox Gurdon, we, as adults, are asked to “Imagine an elixir so strong that a daily dose makes your family smarter, happier, healthier, more successful, and more closely attached. Now imagine that you can have it without spending a dime. It all starts with a story, a voice, and a place to sit…”
10 minutes each day, will have a significant impact on your son’s wider learning capacity and confidence, not to mention the benefits to their reading ability and mental health.
If you are still struggling to get your son to read for 10 minutes each day, hit them with this fact, from Yale researchers: “People who read live longer than those who don’t!” The results of a study conducted in 2016 are startling. “Analyses demonstrated that any level of book reading gave a significantly stronger survival advantage than reading textbooks. Book reading rather than reading in general is driving a survival advantage.”
Why might this be the case? Apparently it comes down to two factors. 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.
Ms Mary Ryan
Literacy Coordinator and English Teacher
mryan01@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Give your sons and families the beautiful experience of reading, this summer.
Waverley College is a member of the International Boys’ School Coalition, and they have produced a neat graphic outlining five simple things parents/carers can do, to help their sons read more.
This summer will be a great time to give these tips a go.
I myself, have found that setting small goals of even just reading for 10 minutes, can start the momentum.
To access books, one activity to consider, is to visit your local library as a family. Randwick City Libraries, for example, have current and engaging children’s and Young Adult fiction. This can be a helpful way to try out reading, to find what might be of interest to your sons and yourself!
And if in the city, drop into the City of Sydney’s Customs House Library, just opposite Circular Quay. A brilliant spot for a rest and a boost.
And of course, the College Library provides audio and ebooks via the Library CANVAS page, all summer long! Click on the Ebooks and Audiobooks icon.
As a family, review together the People’s Choice winners for the Macquarie’s Dictionary 2022 words of the year. Great fun!
Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year 2022
The concise article below by Mathieu O’Neil and Rachel Cunneen, gives an overview of the role Wikipedia can play. One key point is that the references listed in Wikipedia are a solid start, when beginning research.
Digital Literacy: using Wikipedia as a fact-checking tool
“Given the usefulness of Wikipedia as both a source of information and as a media literacy teaching tool, this article was intended to change the narrative around Wikipedia”.
If your sons like Wikipedia, this can be a way to boost reading as well. Use Wikipedia not just for research, but for reading around hobbies and interests, leading to further discoveries and reading.
Boys and Reading – A Quick Guide For Parents
Mr Bill Roberts
Head of Library Services
wroberts@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Waverley College Uniform Shop will operate with different trading hours during the December/January school holidays. It is open to all families.
* ‘Appointment Only’ time slots are available for 2023 new students/parents/carers. New parents/carers need to make an appointment for their son to be fitted for his uniform.
Please check the trading hours carefully, so that your son can be fitted before his first day of Term 1, 2023.
Uniform Shop Holiday Trading Hours
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
(02) 9369 0709
waverley@noone.com.au
We are slowly rebuilding stock levels and are pleased to offer lots more items for sale.
Please email us to check size and stock availability clothingpool@waverley.nsw.
If your son has outgrown his uniform, please consider donating it to the Secondhand Clothing Pool. This provides someone else with the opportunity to purchase a secondhand uniform well below the new price, whilst at the same time, raising funds for the students at the College through the Parents’ Association.
The Secondhand Clothing Pool will gladly accept the donation of all clean and wearable current uniform items for resale.
There is a $30 ‘buy back scheme’ for the donation of Blazers and All Weather Jackets in excellent condition.
Email us for more information or visit us on Monday mornings or Wednesday afternoons during term.
Where Can Donations Be Left?
At the Senior School campus reception in the blue Secondhand Clothing Pool donation box. (If leaving Blazers and All Weather Jackets, please include name and phone number inside the bag, and we will contact you to arrange ‘buy-back.’)
Contact
For more information on stock availability or to make an appointment, please email the Secondhand Clothing Pool.
clothingpool@waverley.nsw.edu.
(02) 9369 0703 — please leave a voicemail, and one of our volunteers will get back to you.
Location
We are in the main building on Birrell Street. Enter via the Senior School campus reception, and take the lift to Level 3. The Secondhand Clothing Pool is next door to the Uniform Shop.
Opening Hours
Mondays, 8:20am-9:30am and Wednesdays, 2:30pm-3:30pm during Term.
Secondhand Clothing Pool donation box in Senior School Reception
Camille and Kirsten
Secondhand Clothing Pool Coordinators
clothingpool@waverley.nsw.edu.
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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