As part of Walawaani in Term 3 and Term 4, First Nation students will be taking part in an Indigenous cultural program run by the team at Deadly Ed.
The program will run on Tuesday afternoons. All workshops will be 1.5 hours in length.
Walawaani families are asked to please complete the permission note below before Friday, 22 July 2022.
>>> Click here to view and complete the permission slip.
For activity weeks at Centennial Park, both Junior and Senior school students will be walking to Centennial Park with Kevin Heath and Ms Maakrun at lunchtime.
If you wish for your son to be dismissed from Centennial Park at 3:15pm, please indicate this on the permission note. Staff will be walking back to school with any students who need to return to school.
We hope all boys will gain a great deal of value and personal knowledge through their participation.
Kevin Heath
Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun
Assistant Director of Identity & Student Formation
E: mmaakrun@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Uniform Shop will be closed from Friday, 24 June 2022
>>> Click here to view the Waverley College Uniform Shop Trading Notice flyer.
Waverley College Uniform Shop
P: (02) 9369 0709
Three weeks ago, I underwent back surgery which included a hemilaminectomy between my L4/L5 vertebra, which is the removal of one of the laminae to relieve excess pressure on the spinal nerve. I also had a discectomy on my left L4, which is the removal of abnormal disc material that presses on a nerve root. The piece the surgeon took out was 1.5cm in diameter.
One certainly reflects on how one got one’s self into this position. Perhaps it was the lifting and stacking up of pallets in my supermarket nightfill days, or twenty years of rowing and coaching in a tinnie, or perhaps it was the free gardener and landscaper my mother had in her youngest son, or perhaps a late night lift up of one of my children without bending properly, or sitting at my work desk incorrectly with bad posture. Either way, the recent lesson learnt has been a painful one, and one I will encourage our students not to follow.
Physical health is one of the five dimensions we focus on in our Wellbeing programs at the College. The others are the emotional, social, cognitive and spiritual dimensions. With the holidays approaching and particularly in post-COVID times (he says optimistically), ensuring your children embrace their physical health is the perfect opportunity during the winter break. The foundations for lifelong good health habits should be developed strongly during their time at the College, even if they state they are not ‘sporty’, there are plenty of options to encourage the inclusion of physical movement into their life and program including: Yoga, Table Tennis, Judo, Duke of Edinburgh, Cadets, Mountain Biking, Cross Country, Hip Hop (JS), Sailing, Touch Football, Duke of Edinburgh, Diving, Swimming, Tennis, Futsal, Cricket, Volleyball, Waterpolo, AFL, Rugby, Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Cricket, Track & Field, Fitness Group, Weights and Fitness, and Surf Lifesaving.
Congratulations and good luck to the over 80 Waverley community members who have registered to join the Waverley team to do the City2Surf. So far they have raised over $5,000 for local charity ‘Running for Premature Babies.’ There is still time to join the group, and please see details further in the newsletter.
Congratulations to the 33 students who competed in this year’s piano competition, judged by accomplished guest adjudicator, Mr Evan Streater. Well done to our four division winners. >>> Click here to view further news about the entertaining piano competition.
The College will again be supporting this year the Mark Hughes Foundation and the Beanie for Brain Cancer Initiative. The brand new 2022 designs have been released, and will be available for purchase both at the Junior School (Reception) and Senior School (Wellbeing Centre) over the final week of Term 2. These will be $25 each.
As we approach the end of term, we keep in our thoughts and prayers our Year 12s, who have the added pressure in their school program of preparing for their upcoming trial examinations early next term. They will receive a study program from the Teaching & Learning team next week, which I would encourage them to follow closely, so as to find a balance between studying, exercising and maintaining a good diet and sleep patterns.
The College Library will be open during the holidays for those students who like to vary their study locations or organise some small group study sessions. HSC tutorials will also be operating, across respective subject areas.
I also wish our Year 8s and 10s who have their Subject Selection Evenings scheduled for the next week, all the very best in their discernment around subject choices and study pathways. For more information, click the links below:
>>> Click here to view Ms Porter’s Stage 6 subject selection newsletter article.
>>> Click here to view Mr Soden’s Stage 5 subject selection newsletter article.
Our Australian Catholic Church has spent much of the last few years discussing its place in the nation and its pilgrim journey as a community of faith. Australia has had four previous Plenary Councils in 1885, 1895, 1905, and 1937, prior to the fifth Plenary Council of 2022. A Plenary Council is a formal meeting of the bishops and other representatives of all the dioceses and eparchies of the Catholic Church in Australia. Its purpose is to discern what God is asking of us in Australia at this present time.
While the church should be asking that question continually, a Plenary Council is a particularly graced instrument for seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It will present opportunities to address the challenges that the Church currently is facing, and ways for being a better Church in the decades ahead. The four-year journey of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia will reach the second and final assembly in July 2022. In the plenary council’s first phase, known as ‘Listening and Dialogue’, more than 222,000 people took part, making 17,457 submissions. I attended a session along with Mark Tannock, the principal of St Aloysius’ College, some time ago.
This formal process of a Plenary Council, has led to 30 motions being put to 277 members of Australia’s historic Fifth Plenary Council at next month’s second assembly. The motions include an apology to the survivors of Church abuse and their families, a greater role for women including new opportunities in ministries, and closer engagement with Indigenous Australians in the life of the Church.
The submission to the Plenary Council acknowledges that the Catholic Church in Australia has been caught up in this history of dispossession, Stolen Generations, the undermining of language and culture, and racism. The 30 motions for the Plenary Council can be found below.
>>> Click here to view A Framework for Motions.
| 17/06/2022 | COVID-19 | Close Contacts |
| Year 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Year 8 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Year 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Staff | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 4 | 11 |
As I start my renewed experience here at the College, I bring with me some special additions to the cohort.
Welcome ‘Carrot’ and ‘Spinach’ – two large bunnies who are now calling Waverley College home.
Waverley’s newest enrolments!
I, (Mr Mark Neale), had been blessed with working at a Marist school, who saw the potential benefits of animals in schools and ran with my ideas. Moving on from my previous school into Waverley, I had to bring the animals I had nurtured and raised around the students of Marist Catholic College North Shore, with me.
Having animals in schools is quite common, as St Ignatius’ Riverview employs two Labrador therapy dogs which make an appearance every few days. ‘Chicks R Us’ are a company who deliver hatching eggs to schools around NSW, and allow agricultural classes to observe the life stages of the chickens as they hatch, grow and mature. All these programs and initiatives bring their benefits to curriculum learning, wellbeing and life lessons.
Rabbits hold many benefits to wellbeing, counselling and to the TAS curriculum. These two siblings have been raised from birth, being constantly in the student spotlight. They are not shy for a pat or a feed, which makes them perfect companions for students when they are wanting a ‘cool-down’ option for the many stresses that the school day can bring, as well as bringing out a previously unseen character trait in students.
When looking at TAS, many units in the junior years focus on agriculture, cultivation and caring for animals in managed environments. The process of feeding, cleaning and maintaining their living space teaches responsibility, scaled-down life skills of the animal care industry, as well as sparks new interests in pets or companions other than the common cat and dog.
Carrot and Spinach hope to be welcomed by all the students as they adjust to their new surroundings, and some can expect to see them venturing around the hallways and classrooms as the year progresses.
Mr Mark Neale
Animal Welfare Liaison Officer
Rabbit Whisperer
E: mneale@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We are so excited to already have over 80 people register for our Waverley team in the City2Surf on Sunday, 14 August, and have already raised over $5,000 for local charity ‘Running for Premature Babies.’
There’s still time to join and help us reach our goal to raise $10,000.
>>> Click here to sign up and register.
All fundraisers will receive a free running singlet. We’ll also be providing a training program for those wanting to run the 14km. Walkers are most welcome to join too!
The Junior School students and teachers have been training hard for the event, participating in the Monday lunch runclub. This is a great opportunity to be part of the Waverley College team and support an important cause.
This will be a wonderful community event, giving premature babies a better chance of survival.
>>> Click here to view more information about this wonderful cause.
Please direct any questions to:
Ms Cath Lipman
Religion Teacher
E: clipman@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Are you a talented Australian student with an inspiring idea? The 2022 Edstart Achievement Awards Program recognises Australian students for their contributions and ambitions in their area of passion.
This far-reaching Program enables the next generation of innovators, creators and leaders to reach their potential across six award categories including:
Winners in each category will receive an award and $1,500 grant to fund a project, initiative or training related to their area of interest. Finalists in each category will also receive a $250 grant.
>>> Click here to view more information and to nominate.
>>> Click here to view the Edstart Achievement Awards Information Pack.
Well done to all cast and crew for the Cosi production this week, which was a resounding success. Congratulations also to Ms Alison Jinga and Mr Peter Lamb for all their hard work in producing such a high-quality Drama showcase.
Congratulations to the 23 student pianists who bravely stepped up to the Piano Competition challenge in the PAC Recital Room this week, and thank you to Ms Keiran Kossenberg, Mr Chris Balkizas, Ms Jaz Dolso and the music department, for their organisation of this annual event.
More information about these colourful and expressive performances will appear in next week’s edition of Nurrunga.
Unfortunately, the mental health of young people has been significantly impacted by the pandemic. The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression has risen dramatically amongst young people, and remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. It is not an exaggeration to say that the child and adolescent mental health system is currently in crisis, with general practices inundated, emergency departments flooded with demand, and medical services becoming disconnected, dispersed and diluted.
At the College, we have seen the students slow to find their normal balance and routine. The teaching and learning process has also been disrupted. After speaking with other deputy principals in the area, this is common across all schools.
As a result, many young people are at risk of not achieving the primary demands of developmental tasks such as independence, identity formation, and attaining and maintaining peer relationships. However, by maintaining their wellbeing through regular exercise, adequate sleep and healthy nutrition, young people can be in a better position to tackle them.
As many families settle back into their pre-COVID routines, there seems to be a pervasive sense of optimism about what lies ahead. If there is a panacea to the adversity caused by the pandemic, then it is the building of resilience. In this current environment, young people need support, understanding, empathy and encouragement from caring adults. Teaching them the skills to build resilience, will enable young people to thrive and develop healthy coping strategies.
On Thursday, 13 October, the College will proudly host parents from across the eastern suburbs, to look at strategies to deal with our students’ successful return to school, following several years of COVID-19 disruption.
Topics to be covered include:
More information and tickets will be released early in Term 3.
Psychologists work hard at building resilience in our students as they navigate challenges such as COVID-19 or a change to their routine.
There are seven integral and interrelated components that make up being resilient. These are explained in more depth in this Special Report which includes suggested strategies on how parents and carers can best facilitate them.
>>> Click here to view the SchoolTV Special Report on Building Resilience Post Pandemic.
You recently received an email from us inviting you to complete a survey about your experience with the Committee of Associated Schools (CAS). This is your final opportunity to participate in this survey. The survey closes this weekend.
If you have already completed the survey – thank you! If you have not yet had a chance, we would greatly appreciate you taking time to complete it. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and can be accessed via the links below.
We have commissioned McCrindle, an independent research organisation, to conduct this research. All responses will remain anonymous and completely confidential. Thank you very much for your input.
>>> Click here to view and complete the Waverley PARENTS Survey link
>>> Click here to view and complete the Waverley STUDENTS Survey link.
| 10/06/2022 | COVID-19 | Close Contacts |
| Year 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Year 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Year 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Year 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Staff | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 8 |
Wishing everyone in the Waverley family a healthy and happy long weekend.
Mr Patrick Brennan
Deputy Principal – Student & Staff Wellbeing
E: pbrennan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Waverley College will again be supporting the Mark Hughes Foundation and the Beanie for Brain Cancer Initiative. The brand new 2022 designs have been released, and will be available for purchase both at the Junior School (Reception) and Senior School (Wellbeing Centre) over the final weeks of Term 2. These will be $25 each.
Furthermore, we are encouraging Waverley College community to get behind the ‘Big Three Trek’ run by the Mark Hughes Foundation to launch the 2022 Beanie for Brain Cancer campaign. A group will be walking from NRL Headquarters in Sydney (Moore Park) to Newcastle.
We would love to see Waverley College families supporting the first leg of the walk from Moore Park to the Opera House (5kms) on Tuesday, 28 June 2022. Please wear your beanies and your Waverley College uniforms!
>>> Click here to view more information about the Big Three Trek run.
Mr John McCoy
Head of Aungier House
E: jmccoy@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Did you know that the State Library New South Wales have a selection of fun activities and online resources for you to enjoy at home?
>>> Click here to view the incredible range of activities for students of all ages.
Are you a storyteller? An aspiring author? Someone who loves to write and capture the world around you through stories? If you have answered ‘yes!’ to these questions, then their Young Writers Club is for you!
Brush up on your writing skills, get some inspiration, share ideas, and get stuck into writing. There will be lots of fun, fabulous writing tips and the opportunity to connect with real-life authors and other inspiring people!
In Term 2, the program is offered online, once a fortnight during school term. Suitable for writers aged 8-14years.
Contact: Alicia and Susan
E: learning.library@sl.nsw.gov.au
Ms Sherri Falkinder
Librarian
E: sfalkinder@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This week, Waverley recognised National Reconciliation Week in both the Junior and Senior Schools, with a short ceremony on each campus. Students in the Walawaani group participated in a smoking ceremony, and spoke on the 2022 topic ‘Be Brave. Make Change.’ We sincerely thank Mr Kevin Heath and the Walawaani student group for both preparing for and leading this annual event.
Mr Kevin Heath, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison, at the Junior School smoking ceremony
This week, EREA (Edmund Rice Education Australia), launched its Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (2022-2025), and last week acknowledged the Uluru Statement from the Heart on National Sorry Day. The EREA Stretch RAP seeks to embed the values of the reconciliation movement and initiatives into the culture of each EREA school – ways of being, knowing and doing – to be enacted daily.
Please take the time to read the National Reconciliation Week message below from Dr Craig Wattam, Executive Director, EREA. Dr Wattam writes of the need for greater cultural competency, the removal of barriers to inclusion, and listening more deeply to the voices of First Nations Australians, in the pursuit of justice, healing and restoration.
>>> Click here to view Dr Wattam’s National Reconciliation Week message.
As many parents, carers and students will be aware, new affirmative consent laws came into effect in NSW on 1 June, this week. This offers a great opportunity to discuss consent with your children and let them know about the changes to the law.
The significant change to the law sees the addition of communicative and affirmative consent language in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
The new law defines consent as a free and voluntary agreement that cannot be presumed, and involves ongoing, mutual communication. Under the new consent laws, people will not be able to assume consent from somebody because they don’t say no – silence is not consent.
The NSW Government community education campaign videos titled ‘Make No Doubt’, support the NSW Government’s sexual consent laws. Targeted at 13-24 year olds, they are available on Social Media platforms Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and Tinder. The videos were made with consultation with sexual violence service providers and community groups, over a period of nine months.
Transdev John Holland Buses have recently taken over many of the bus routes that students from Waverley College use each day.
In a pleasing consultative process, the company has reached out to the College to determine how they can best serve our transport needs.
As part of this process, a survey was sent to parents last term, and a consultant met with me and Jade Stapleton from the Parents’ Association.
This week, as part of the process, a customer experience ambassador representing Transdev John Holland Buses observed student numbers, traffic and bus punctuality on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.
The College welcomes these initiatives, and invites families to continue to provide feedback regarding buses to the Wellbeing Centre, so they can be passed on to Transdev John Holland Buses.
Students and their partners are invited to the Year 12 Formal which will be held on the evening of Friday, 24 June at Doltone House, Darling Island, Pyrmont.
Students received official information, including the invite and booking details earlier in the week.
Venue: Doltone House, Darling Island, Pyrmont.
Time: Formal photos from 6pm. Dinner/dancing from 6:30pm to 10pm.
Who: Student and partner. Partner’s name and contact details need to be registered at the time of booking. Photo ID is required to gain entry to the venue.
Cost: $160 per person, including three-course dinner and entertainment.
Dress: Formal attire for both men and women.
This is an alcohol-free event for all students and partners. All attending will be subject to security checks.
The booking window opens at 6pm tonight (Friday, 3 June 2022), and closes Sunday, 19 June.
>>> Click here to book your tickets.
The College wishes to thank Vi Elliott and Roz Barber for organising the fabulous Mother Son Lunch that was held at Doltone House last weekend. All reports suggest that a wonderful time was had by all.
While COVID-19 numbers are low, we are experiencing higher than usual numbers in staff and students being absent with cold and flu.
| 3 June 2022 | COVID-19 | In Isolation |
| Year 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Year 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Year 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Year 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Year 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Staff | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 9 |
Mr Patrick Brennan
Deputy Principal – Student & Staff Wellbeing
E: pbrennan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The ‘Worn Up’ Textile Rescue Program funded by our local council, has another collection coming up!
If you have any non-wearable textiles, please bring them into the secondhand clothing pool. This includes old Waverley branded uniform items along with any items that are ripped, stained and unwearable. We have regular collections by Worn Up, so please do keep items coming in.
The Secondhand Clothing Pool is next door to the Uniform Shop on Level 3, Centenary Building, North Admin Building, on the Senior School Campus. Enter reception and take the lift to the 3rd floor, exit and turn right.
These items will be collected by Worn Up and reformed into new products such as tables, tiles, dog beds, acoustic tiles and more! To find out more about them and their progress, follow them – @wornup on Facebook and Instagram.
Thank you for supporting our Students of the World Ecology Club and Secondhand Clothing Pool in this responsible textile disposal. Please note that any current branded uniforms that are still wearable, will be considered for secondhand resale.
>>> Click here to view further information about Worn Up.
Ms Rebecca Sutcliffe
Geography Teacher and Ecology Coordinator
E: rsutcliffe@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Kirsten Hott and Ms Camille Owen
Secondhand Clothing Pool Coordinators
E: clothingpool@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Since 1988, more than 14,000 young Australians aged 16-23 have joined the internationally-recognised, national sail training ship ‘Young Endeavour’ on a life-changing voyage.
Onboard, 24 youth from across Australia make up the youth crew for each voyage. The program, delivered by the Royal Australian Navy, teaches participants all of the skills required to sail the square rigged tall ship.
These activities include keeping watch on deck, handling lines, taking the helm, navigation using the ship’s charts, assisting the chef in the galley, and climbing the 30-metre mast to set and furl sails.
>>> Click here to view more information.
Ms Gemma Brown
Head of Science
E: gbrown@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
