Please continue to keep our Year 12 HSC ATAR students in your thoughts and prayers as they continue next week with their HSC trial examinations. The boys have turned up this week with enthusiasm, punctuality and in good spirits. We wish them all the best over the weekend with their preparations.
Congratulations to our Semester 1 Academic Award winners in Years 7-9. Their dedication and persistence has paid off and we congratulate them on their fine achievements. These boys were recognised at this week’s academic assembly.
>>> Click here to view the list of Years 7-9 academic award winners.
Parents, students and Waverley community members are invited to attend the St Clare’s and Waverley College annual ART and DESIGN HSC showcase on Wednesday, 17 August.
The event is a collection of Year 12 major works from the students of 2022. For further details, please read the newsletter article by Ms Natalie Oates – Head of Visual Arts.
>>> Click here to view the newsletter article by Ms Natalie Oates.
Waverley College entered submissions from Zac Coonan (Year 10) and a collaborative piece by James Iatrou, Finn Stranix and Anderson Franulovich (Year 11). Zac Coonan’s photographic work ‘My Connection to Heaven’ placed 3rd, receiving the Brian Jordan Prize.
Congratulations and well done to Zac, Finn, James and Anderson in their efforts to create such conceptual and reflective artworks of our faith.
Last Saturday before the 1st XV game, the community gathered to recognise that the greater understanding of Indigenous history and culture is essential in creating a more united future for all.
We were lucky enough to have Uncle Dean Kelly, Jeff Hardy and Richie Chan-Hampton lead our opening ceremony as well as a great halftime performance of ‘We Are Australian’ from respected Aboriginal singer and pioneer of the Indigenous Music Industry, Uncle Col Hardy.
All parents are warmly invited to attend Waverley College Parent Association (WCPA) meetings. The Principal and Deputy Principals will present reports on College activities and developments. WCPA meetings are normally held once per term.
>>> Click here to view the Zoom link.
Zoom link: Meeting ID: 882 5607 2239 | Passcode: 029937
There will be a Speed Mentoring Event in the Senior Library, Wednesday 10 August 4pm – 5.30pm which is open to all Years 9, 10 and 11 students.
We have over 10 incredible Old Boys who will be available to talk to students one-on-one about their respective careers and study pathways, and answer any questions the boys might have.
It is an amazing enrichment opportunity for the students, with mentors who are from fields including sport and sports science, business, engineering, entrepreneurship, IT and gaming and television production.
Light refreshments will be served.
Please encourage your sons to join if they are interested, and want to know more information in the following fields:
Please RSVP here by Monday, 8 August.
The winter period is particularly difficult for those in our society experiencing homelessness. Waverley is having a Winter donation drive during Weeks 3, 4 and 5 from 1-19 August to support the Matthew Talbot Hostel in Woolloomooloo.
>>> Click here to view more information about Waverley’s winter appeal.
The Australian Government requires certain information about non-government schools, staff and students to ensure that funding is calculated and managed correctly.
>> Click here to view information regarding privacy and the 2022 Non-Government School Census.
Recent wellbeing figures at the College have seen a slight increase in students making poor decisions in terms of their online interactions. At this week’s College Assembly I spoke about ‘catfishing.’ This theme was unpacked further by Heads of House at Friday’s House Assemblies.
Catfishing is when someone uses social media to create a false identity, usually as a joke or to scam someone else. Often people who catfish make up fake backgrounds, jobs or friends, so that they appear as someone else. Using this fake identity, they may even trick a person into believing they are in an online romance, before using this to ask for money or gifts or intimate information.
There are some clear flags that may suggest catfishing:
If it sounds too good to be true, chances are you’re probably right. Students should always be ‘on their guard’ if someone randomly makes contact out of the blue. If their story isn’t adding up, you are right to be suspicious of them.
It does not hurt to do some online investigating. If you’re feeling unsure about the person you’re talking to, you can always do your own online research. You can verify their picture using a Google reverse image search. If the photo is connected to lots of different names or is literally the picture of an actor or celebrity, this is a serious red flag. You can also check them out on other social media sites.
They may be a catfish if they:
Check your privacy settings. Make sure you are comfortable with the amount of personal information you put online, in general. If you’re not sure what’s out there, you can read our article about how to manage your digital footprint. The eSafety Guide has information about how to do this on different online platforms.
>>> Click here to view the eSafety Guide.
The best advice I always give, is to screenshot, report to your Mentor or Head of House, and block on the platform. The eSafety Guide has information about how to do this on different online platforms. Confidentially reporting fake accounts can help keep the platform safe for others, and you can do this before blocking them.
‘Sextortion’ has been an issue for over a decade, with many adults falling victim to this type of online crime. It is a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share intimate images of you, unless you give in to their demands. Organised criminal gangs across Eastern Europe, Russia, and Africa connect to their victims via social media, chat apps, instant messaging platforms and online games. More recently though, there has been a higher rate of adolescent males falling victim.
Since the beginning of 2022, there has been a 400% increase in this type of crime being reported to police in Australia alone. However, these figures are being replicated in most western countries. Having an understanding of how your young person can fall victim to such an offender may help to protect them from engaging or conceding to their demands.
It is vitally important for parents and carers to be aware of this serious issue, and to start having an age-appropriate conversation as early as possible. Be aware that even with an online account set to ‘private’, random people can still message your child. Emphasise to your young person the importance of only engaging online with people they actually know, not someone they think they might know.
Most importantly, keep the lines of communication open between you and your son. Young people who fall victim to these offenders will feel distressed and blame themselves. Let them know, that no matter what, they can come to you and ask for help, and that there is nothing so bad that they cannot come to you.
Managing devices can be difficult, especially with older teens, but it is important to weigh up the risks and the dangers. Sadly, even good kids who never make a poor decision elsewhere in their life, can and do make poor choices online. The information presented in this report is intended to alert, and not alarm, parents and carers of this potential issue.
Further information and resources relating to this topic can be accessed via the following websites:
Students and the College will continue to engage in online safety content in their Mentor groups, College Assemblies, House Assemblies, PDHPE lessons and ySafe incursions scheduled during the second part of the year.
We have had 5 new cases in the last 24 hours including:
| Year 5 | 3 cases |
| Year 6 | 3 cases |
| Year 7 | 6 cases |
| Year 8 | 3 cases |
| Year 9 | 4 cases |
| Year 10 | 5 cases |
| Year 11 | 1 case |
| Year 12 | 1 case |
| Staff | 2 cases |
| Total | 28 cases |
Mr Patrick Brennan
Deputy Principal – Student & Staff Wellbeing
E: pbrennan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
NESA launched the Stay Healthy HSC campaign on 28 July. Stay Healthy HSC is a cross-sector campaign, now running for its third year, and plays an important role in providing HSC students and their families access to essential health and wellbeing services and information.
This year’s campaign, with support from ReachOut, will roll out in three phases to encourage students to put their health and wellbeing first, connect with one another and reach out to support services if needed.
The three phrases include:
>>> Click here to view the Campaign Resource Hub.
>>> Click here to view the campaign assets.
Ms Elizabeth Watson
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
E: ewatson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This term we are very excited to be introducing all Year 7 Literacy and English students to an innovative program and online educational writing tool called Writer’s Toolbox.
This research-based online writing tool has been built expressly to raise student ability level in writing. The key advantage of this purpose-built educational writing tool is feedback. Artificial intelligence built into the tool reads student work, and provides individualised feedback according to the student’s age and ability level.
The program was designed by education innovator Dr Ian Hunter. Concerned about falling writing standards in his university students, Dr Hunter began a 25-year research project to develop a writing system that every student could master.
“The writing challenge our students and teachers face is significant. What I have endeavoured to do is to meet this challenge in a way that means teachers and students just get it – by removing the jargon around writing and by teaching explicit, easy-to-understand strategies to improve writing whatever the subject area.” – Dr Ian Hunter
The Year 7 students are now using Writer’s Toolbox at least three times each week, working on tasks and modules specifically structured to improve their writing skills, as well as their understanding of the units studied in English.
The writing tool is also being trialled in various classes and subjects across the curriculum. Initial feedback from teachers and students is overwhelmingly positive.
This is an exciting time for all students and staff involved. Thank you especially to Mr Tall and everyone involved in Year 7 Literacy and English for all your hard work and dedication in implementing this new program.
Ms Mary Ryan
Acting Literacy Coordinator
E: mryan01@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On behalf of the College Community, we wish our Year 12 HSC ATAR students all the very best with their upcoming trial examinations which start on Monday.
Congratulations to all academic award winners from Years 10, 11 and 12 who were acknowledged at Thursday’s College Assembly which was held in the Centenary quadrangle and live-streamed.
It was a beautiful Sydney winter day with the sun out and made even more special with the attendance of approximately 70 parents. In my address to the boys, I highlighted the once-in-a-decade CSIRO report released this week, which identifies seven global megatrends.
The report explores the geopolitical, economic, social, technological and environmental forces unfolding around the world, predicting their likely impact on Australia’s businesses, governments and people.
One of the questions I asked the boys to ponder was the megatrend that was of interest to them as an area for a possible future career. And, which megatrend will impact the business that they are currently thinking about developing post school?
The seven global megatrends are:
1) Adapting to climate change
2) Leaner, cleaner and greener
3) The escalating health imperative
4) Geopolitical shifts
5) Diving into digital
6) Increasingly autonomous
7) Unlocking the human dimension
I noted that these megatrends will provide them/us with challenges, opportunities and insights into where the most powerful innovation can be found. Disruption in our world is coming faster and larger than ever before. And, they will need to develop global competencies such as creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, character, citizenship, and communication to thrive in this space, pivot, develop trust and be able to change the world.
>>> Click here to view the list of Years 10-12 academic award winners.
Thank you for your support of the Years 7-11 parent/student/teacher conferences held on Monday this week. I hope they proved fruitful and allowed for good dialogue around strengths and areas for development. Research proves that when there is a strong partnership between parents and the school, better academic and wellbeing outcomes can be achieved.
Here at Waverley, we strive for a holistic education for our students and recognise the importance of acknowledging and celebrating success in all its measures. It was with great delight that we celebrated the scholastic successes of our 2021 Major Award winners at Thursday evening’s Academic Reception.
The boys are to be congratulated on their commitment, determination and hard work. These students understand that success does not come from luck or by accident, nor does it come from being in the right place at the right time. It comes from owning your learning, believing in yourself, critical reflection and engagement, setting and executing goals, being curious, stepping outside your comfort zone and having a growth mindset.
Congratulations on your outstanding academic achievements!
Please read Ms Pace and Ms Fernandez’s newsletter article for more information on Years 7-10 Science and ICAS Assessment for Years 7-10 students, and Ms Halpin’s newsletter article on the World Scholar’s Cup.
Thank you for your support of the precautions and measures we are implementing to reduce the transmission of the faster spreading new variants of COVID-19. Whilst I acknowledge the hassle and inconvenience of wearing a mask indoors for students and staff for the next few weeks during a spike in our community, and also the wider community, we support the clear advice given by Dr Kerry Chant (NSW Chief Health Officer) and Professor Paul Kelly (National Chief Health Officer) that where social distancing is not possible, masks should be worn.
My priority is to ensure face-to-face teaching is maintained and that our College operates as normal as possible. With the current teacher shortage in play even in capital cities, and the supply of casual teacher availability low, there is very little room to manoeuvre if COVID-19 numbers get out of hand.
We will continue to adapt and pivot to try to make sensible decisions that allow activities to continue. Debating, for example, will occur this evening, but instead of debating in a normal classroom space, all debates will occur in our larger venues across campus which are 4x the size.
I also believe we need to do everything possible to ensure our Year 12s are able to sit their trial examinations, which are a crucial preparation for their upcoming HSC examinations.
Congratulations to the Junior School who are supporting a number of charities at present through their work, action and fundraising.
The School Fun Run has raised $27,676.00 in the first two weeks of Term 3 and this initiative supports the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia, and Children’s Leukaemia & Cancer Foundation.
The Junior School began a Running Club which takes place each Monday lunch time with staff, students and parents. They are training for the City to Surf, supporting Running for premature babies. Waverley College is in 2nd place on the list of fundraising teams for City to Surf, with $17,100 raised so far.
The Junior School continues to sell Beanies for Brain Cancer, which the students have been able to wear at school until the end of Week 3.
I look forward to hearing the results from the Teacher v Student fundraising initiatives that are taking place over the next few weeks, including dodgeball, Pictionary, Basketball and Theatresports, to name a few.
It is with great pleasure that I announce and congratulate the senior appointments for the 2022/2023 Cadet Year:
The SUO is CUO Kayla Heng
The RSM is WO1 Angus Birrell
Adjutant – CUO Alistair Isaac
Training Officer – CUO Kitty Fitzpatrick
Operations Officer – CUO Sarah Teitler
Logistics Officer – CUO Lenny Joseph
A Company Commander – CUO Matteo Paolella
B Company Commander – CUO Kit Armstrong
C Company Commander – CUO Thomas Brenchley
D Company Commander – CUO Tom Gleeson
Support Company Commander – CUO Mitch Cahill
RSM – Regimental Sergeant Major
SUO – Senior Under Officer
CUO – Cadet Under Officer
WO1 – Warrant Officer Class 1
*As per the updated conditions of enrolment and as indicated on the College website from 2023, for all Years 5 and 7 enrolments, Term 1 tuition fees are charged in Term 4, in the year prior. This includes continuing Year 6 (2022) students into Year 7 (2023). This replaces the “continuing confirmation deposit” charged in the 3rd Payment to Year 6. Year 5 and 7 will still receive an invoice in Term 1, 2023 for any applicable sundries, 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.
Mr Bryn Gregerson
Director of Business services
E: bgregerson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The winter period is particularly difficult for those in our society experiencing homelessness. Waverley is having a Winter donation drive during Weeks 3, 4 and 5 from 1-19 August to support the Matthew Talbot Hostel in Woolloomooloo.
Matthew Talbot Hostel is a wonderful organisation helping over 35,000 Sydney men each year by providing accommodation, health, counselling and employment assistance.
Artwork courtesy Matthew Talbot Hostel
Waverley has had a long history of students volunteering in its kiosk in Woolloomooloo. I encourage all boys from all Houses in Years 5-12 to bring in toiletry and other essential items on the donation list below. These will be combined to provide packs for the homeless and marginalised groups to which the Matthew Talbot Hostel provides assistance.
*All donations can be brought into the Wellbeing Centre (Senior School), or Junior School Reception.
Tevlin House students have a Social Justice focus area of Homelessness, and will be actively promoting this request to contribute items across the College to maximise the impact of our collective effort.
The Tevlin Winter Sleep out in 2018
Tevlin students from Years 7-12 will also be having a Winter Sleep Out on Friday, 19 August 6:30pm in the College Gym, where they will hear guest speakers from the Matthew Talbot Hostel.
These speakers will lead discussions on the short and long-term treatments for homelessness and will also talk about many of their roles and experiences.
During the winter sleep out, Tevlin students will collate the donations and assemble key packs of toiletry and home-starter kits ready for distribution.
>>> Click here to view more information about the 2022 Tevlin Winter Sleepout.
Mr John McCallum
Head of Tevlin House
E: jmccallum@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The World Scholar’s Cup is an international team academic program with more than 15,000 students participating from over 65 countries every year.
This year, the regional competition will be held at Queenwood School on Saturday, 10 to Sunday, 11 September 2022, and we are looking for as many interested students as possible to participate in the event.
There are four events over the two days: collaborative writing, team debates, the Scholar’s bowl, and the Scholar’s challenge.
Does this sound like something you’d like to be part of?
>>> Click here to view further information about each of these events.
If you would like further information about this event, please don’t hesitate to email me.
Ms Emma Halpin
Convenor of Debating and Public Speaking
E: ehalpin@waverley.nsw.edu.au
To support sustainability and celebrate Schools Tree Day (Friday, 29 July), all students and teachers are invited to enter the POEM FOREST Prize. For every nature poem received, we’ll plant a native tree at the Australian Botanic Garden in Mount Annan.
• What: Write a poem, plant a tree
• Who: The POEM FOREST Prize is open to young people 18 and under and accredited teachers
• How: Download our free Learning Resource to guide young people in creating their own nature poem. Submit poems into the POEM FOREST Prize to have them published, see a tree planted, and go in the running for exciting prizes including $500 cash for each category!
• Where: Full details and entry form on the POEM FOREST webpage
• When: Entries close Friday, 23 September 2022
• Why: We plant a native tree at The Australian Botanic Garden for every poem received. The easiest way to plant a tree and help heal country is to write a poem!
All poets will be in the running for $5,000 worth of prizes including a $500 cash prize, book packs, plants and more.
Thanks for helping us grow the POEM FOREST and heal habitats for future generations. We can’t wait to read your students’ poems.
Yours in poems and trees,
The POEM FOREST Team
Red Room Poetry
E: poemforest@redroompoetry.org
P: (02) 9319 5090
Transport for NSW provides students with FREE school travel. In return they ask that students tap on and tap off with school Opal cards EVERY time, when travelling on public transport to and from school.
Tapping on and tapping off tells Transport NSW how many people are using the public transport service. This is important because Transport for NSW and Transdev John Holland Buses use this data to better plan buses and trains for students. This includes the planning of bus routes and frequency of services.
Tapping on and off also teaches students about following fare rules correctly. Once students are no longer travelling to and from school, it is a legal requirement to travel with a valid ticket. Embedding these behaviours from an early age minimises chances of adopting non-compliant behaviours later.
>>> Click here to view the Term 3 Waverley College school bus timetable.
>>> Click here to view more detailed information on any of the above bus routes.
>>> Click here to view further information about using school Opal cards.
>>> Click here to view information on eligibility and how to apply.
Applications for next year open at the start of Term 4.
Canice’s Kitchen in Elizabeth Bay warmly welcomes Waverley Senior School students aged 14-18, to be part of the Backyard Winter Sleepout.
If you’re passionate about, interested in, or even curious about social justice, this could be an experience for you.
“I would 100% recommend this service to others, the entire experience was outside my comfort zone and something I learnt a lot from. It made me more grateful for what I have and helped me truly realise what homeless people feel.” Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview Year 10 student, 2021 event
The Sleepout might also develop your understanding of the huge impact that homelessness can have on the life of another young person. This may also deepen your empathy.
When: Saturday, 20 August 2022
Where: In your own home! This is a unique virtual event, so you can do it in a safe sleep space in your backyard, car or balcony
Duration: 6pm-6am (12 hours)
Sponsorship: it is not compulsory for students to be sponsored or raise money for the event
Ms Sue Walsh
Director of Identity & Student Formation
E: swalsh@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Patrick Brennan
Deputy Principal – Student and Staff Wellbeing
E: pbrennan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
I hope your sons had a nice holiday and are ready for a great term ahead. At the whole school assembly this week, I spoke about the new opportunities that a new semester can bring through reflection and recalibration.
‘To reflect on one’s performance is a good thing, it encourages change in oneself, change in direction, change in behaviours and therefore the possibility of change in outcomes. But sometimes working out how to create change in yourself is the difficult part and that is where recalibration comes in. To recalibrate is to make small changes to an instrument so that it measures accurately. It is also to re-examine one’s thinking, system of values, and to correct it in accord with a new understanding or purpose. So, if recalibration is about making small adjustments to the instrument and the instrument is you, then what are some good examples that will bring about the desired change?
Exercise – it affects your mood and improves your body’s performance both physically, emotionally and mentally. Top academics ensure they exercise regularly.
Diet – what you put into the instrument, your body, affects performance and how it operates. It is the same with hydration, most headaches are fixed with more water consumption.
Sleep – the Coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Pete Carroll talks about sleep as his greatest weapon in delivering results as a coach. When his players get adequate sleep, they play better. I am sure he adds something else into his coaching matrix, but he rates sleep as the key performance indicator.
Repetition/Habits – one of my favourite authors Malcolm Gladwell states that it takes 10,000 hours of intensive practice to achieve mastery of complex skills – good behaviour in class every day, revision each night, 10 minutes of reading every day, and writing out your notes are proven ways to improve your learning. Make this one of your SMART goals for this term
Technology – humans were not designed to be connected to technology all day and night. It takes an hour for your eyes and brain to unwind properly from looking at a screen. I encourage you to get your technology usage under control for better overall wellbeing and to find other ways to relax – go for a walk, play with your dog, cook a meal, or help someone out.
Trial & HSC Examination tips
I was lucky enough to attend a session this week with all of the Year 12 HSC ATAR students and Old Boy and 2015 College Dux, Adam Hegedus. Adam shared with the boys his tips and approach to studying for the Trial and HSC examinations. I include some of Adam’s tips below:
I encourage you to read Mrs Watson’s article in this newsletter which unpacks Adam’s session in more detail.
Staff Farewell
On behalf of the College Community, I would like to thank Mr Brad Thompson for his service to the College over the last eighteen and half years. Brad served in the HSIE Department and also contributed significantly to Quinn House, basketball and our Cadet program as an officer and also heavy vehicle driver. We may see him as a casual teacher from time to time, but we wish him all the very best in his future endeavours as he makes the transition to retirement.
Mr Graham Leddie – Principal
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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