With Years 7-10 Half-Yearly Examinations commencing next week and a number of assessment tasks scheduled through to the end of the term across all year groups, students should be developing and maintaining effective home learning habits, as per the Home Learning section of the College Diary. This is particularly important in terms of study beyond the work set by the teacher.
The Year 11 Elevate Study Skills session next Wednesday, 25 May is one of many sessions throughout the year that are mapped across the Years 7-12 curriculum to support students in developing good independent learning habits. Students are first introduced to these sessions at the start of Year 7 with Dr Prue Salter’s Study Skills session, where she covers a range of information/ strategies for making effective study notes, creating a productive study environment, planning time for home learning, and the benefits of becoming an independent learner.
This year, a working group of teachers has developed an initiative to embed these skills into Stage 4 formative tasks, leading up to examination periods. The first stage of this initiative is currently taking place in Year 7 Geography and Science, where students are taught how to create effective mind-maps as they study for half-yearly examinations and prepare Term 2 assessment tasks.
One impressive example of this initiative happened this week in Mr Nicholas Sposari’s Year 7 Geography class. His students created powerful mind-maps to prepare for their assessments.
“Drawn from their excursion to Centennial Park, they organised relevant information, used colour to express important concepts of key ideas, and represented connections between ideas. This flexible preparation is part of the Stage 4 Study Skills project that Mrs Lynsey Porter (Director of Curriculum) leads.” – Mr Nicholas Sposari (Teacher).
For the next phase of the initiative, Languages will work with Year 8 students in Spanish in their formative task leading up to the yearly examinations. We look forward to reviewing the impact of these tasks on the way students approach their study, and we will continue to work to support students in their study habits.
You can learn more on the Study Skills website.
>>> Click here to view more information on the Study Skills website.
Our College’s subscription details to the Study Skills Handbook are:
Username: forwaverleycollegeonly
Password: 94results
The Study Skills website also offers tips on writing assessment tasks for submission. A summary of these tips is outlined below.
When helping students with assignments, the focus is often just on the research process. These tips will focus on getting started with the writing.
Mrs Lynsey Porter
Director of Curriculum
E: lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We are so excited to already have 75 people register for our Waverley team in the City2Surf on 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. Can you help? You can easily register in the link below.
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!
This will be a wonderful community event, giving premature babies a better chance of survival.
>>> Click here to view more information about Running for Premature Babies.
Please direct any questions to:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Meyer family at this time. Year 9 father and Old Boy of the College, Mr Peter Meyer, sadly lost his fight with cancer last Friday night. Peter was an amazing father and community member, who fought incredibly bravely. He had a real zest for life and love for his family. I know the Waverley community will support the Meyer family wherever they can. Please keep his wife Di, and children Maddi, Billy and Ashton in your thoughts and prayers at this time.
May Peter Rest in Peace
Congratulations to our Years 5, 7 and 9 students who sat their respective NAPLAN tests this week. Although the weather threw an extra challenge their way to overcome, the boys applied themselves well across their reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy tests.
Our Director of Curriculum, Mrs Lynsey Porter, gave her tips on how to support students preparing for the HSC in this week’s edition of Eastern Suburbs Mums. Please click the link below.
>>> Click here to read Mrs Lynsey Porter’s article ‘How to Help Your Teen Prepare for the HSC.’
I encourage you to read Mr Brennan’s article ‘Lockdown Habits Proving Difficult to Break.’ Dr Michael Carr Gregg, along with some other experts, unpack some valuable parent strategies in this space on our SchoolTV platform.
This week, I attended the virtual Edmund Rice Congress which saw educators from Edmund Rice Schools come together in dialogue from over 20 countries. Throughout the Congress, delegates had the opportunity to engage in experiences and interactions that:
The Congress supported and committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were adopted by all Nations in 2015, and provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The four Edmund Rice Touchstones embedded across our curriculum, assist our College in embedding these goals and concepts across our programs.
There has been a noticeable shift in the amount of time people spend on screen-based devices. Families are transitioning back to pre-COVID routines, but many are still struggling to re-establish the boundaries and rules around screen use. Some continue to deal with digital conflict and ‘zombie-like’ children on a daily basis. The latest research found that 77% of teenagers spend more than five hours on screens per day, but it is important to note that not all screen time is considered equal.
Parents play a crucial role in modelling a positive and healthy approach to using screens, and assisting children to navigate the content they watch. It is better to model and mentor screen use, rather than monitor it. Children tend to do more of what they see us do, and less of what we tell them to do. However, it is still important to outline the risks and highlight the benefits of screen use, to ensure you keep a balanced attitude. Encourage discussions around the issues that people experience in monitoring their screen time, and be honest about your own difficulties.
Parents need to remain firm in their approach to managing screen time. Excessive screen time can be detrimental to a child’s overall wellbeing. Ensuring the correct privacy settings are in place is vital to prevent children from being inadvertently exposed to inappropriate content or online predators. Parents need to also be mindful of the potential impact screen time can have on a child’s social, emotional, educational, behavioural, and even physical domains.
In this edition of SchoolTV, parents and carers are provided with a range of guidelines and strategies to help manage screen time at home. 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 your son’s Head of House for further information, or seek medical or professional help.
>>> Click here to view Managing Screen Time.
The Waverley College Year 10 (2021) Dinner Dance provides a formal social opportunity for boys to host a partner at a dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour. This is a part of our Wellbeing Framework promoting respectful relationships.
Date: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Time: 6pm – 10pm (meet at Star City Casino Wharf at 5:30pm)
Venue: Bella Vista Cruise Ship
Embark/Disembark: 6pm Star City Casino Wharf, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
Dress: Smart formal for all guests
Cost: $100 per person, which includes four hours of cruising, three-course meal, unlimited soft drinks/juice package, DJ and security
RSVP: >>> Click here to book tickets.
Should you have any further questions, please email Ms Suzi Sucur (Administrator Wellbeing Centre) ssucur@waverley.nsw.edu.au
COVID-19 cases at the College remain relatively low during Week 3. Last week, the College distributed ten additional rapid antigen tests (RATs) to your son. In line with the Department of Education and NSW Health, we have moved from prescribed surveillance testing to what is termed ‘discretionary testing.’
We now require students to administer a rapid antigen test in the following circumstances:
Families are required to notify NSW Health and the College should their son receive a positive RAT or PCR test, and then isolate for seven days. Students should only return to school if they are free from cold and flu symptoms after the seven-day isolation period.
In line with the updated NSW Health guidelines and the CSNSW COVID-19 Advice Policy, Waverley College is implementing the following:
>>> Click here to view the NSW Health Guidelines for Household Contacts – 22 April 2022.
| 13/5/22 | COVID-19 | Close Contacts |
| Year 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Year 8 | 1 | 4 |
| Year 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 10 | 0 | 1 |
| Year 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Year 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Staff | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 7 |
Mr Patrick Brennan
Deputy Principal – Student & Staff Wellbeing
E: pbrennan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Tuesday, 17 May marks IDAHOBIT Day, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Waverley College proudly marks this in our calendar as a day to recognise and celebrate.
Last year, we had guest speaker Ian Roberts share his story with us. In the mid 1990s, Ian was the first rugby league player in the world to publicly come out as gay. He shared his experiences of homophobia, and challenged the young students of Waverley about views of masculinity and male stereotypes, stating that showing gentleness and affection does not make you less of a man – that it is okay to care for your mates.
Guest Speaker Ian Roberts in 2021
This year, some students have created posters which will be displayed around the College, with quotes Ian Roberts left with us: “What you’re willing to walk by, is what you’re willing to accept”, “It takes courage to care” and “As an ally you can help students feel accepted, included and respected.”
In addition to this artwork, we will be holding a lunch to celebrate IDAHOBIT Day. Any student is welcome to attend this – LGBTQIA+ identifying, or ally. If you would like your son to be part of this group, or would like further information, please email Mr David Parnell dparnell@waverley.nsw.edu.au or Ms Tessa Prior tprior@waverley.nsw.edu.au. Conversations in these settings are affirming, respectful and empathetic; appropriate boundaries and confidentiality are clearly established.
On the day, there will also be rainbow ribbons available, for any student or staff member who wishes to wear this, to show their support for IDAHOBIT Day. These can be collected from Mr Patrick Brennan’s office.
On IDAHOBIT Day there will be rainbow ribbons available, for any student or staff member who wishes to wear one, to show their support – collect from Mr Patrick Brennan’s office
Waverley College prides itself on being a safe and inclusive community for all of its students. This message is shown through the positive interactions with teachers, ongoing education in the space of interrupting homophobia and transphobia, and presentations at assemblies.
A range of student literature with an LGBTQIA+ theme is available in the library, we celebrate ‘IDAHOBIT’ and ‘Wear It Purple Day’ each year, and have recently developed a LGBTQIA+ staff advocacy group to discuss and embed initiatives that will continue to make Waverley College an inclusive school to attend.
Ms Tessa Prior and the Wellbeing Team
College Psychologist
E: tprior@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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.
All-loving God, we give you thanks and praise for mothers young and old.
We pray for young mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to our every need; May they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care for their families and themselves with great joy.
We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us; May they continue to guide in strong and gentle ways.
We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty, or conflict; May they feel the loving embrace of our God who wipes every tear away.
We pray for women who are not mothers, but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.
We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us, but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.
Amen.
Blessed Edmund Rice – Pray for Us
Mary Mackillop – Pray for Us
Live Jesus in our Hearts – Forever.
This week, I attended the inaugural Walawaani welcome evening. The evening has been delayed for over two years due to disruption from COVID-19. The evening saw all of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families come together. Walawaani means, “We hope you’ve had a safe journey here,” a motto chosen by the students themselves.
The key goals of the program are to assist emerging leaders develop across their spiritual, cognitive, social, emotional and physical dimensions. The program also seeks to build strong relationships and develop cultural awareness and understanding for all students of the College.
Representatives from our partners at GO Foundation were also present. Thank you to Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun – Assistant Director of Identity & Student Formation, Kevin Heath – Indigenous Liaison Officer, and Sue Walsh – Director of Identity & Student Formation, for organising the evening.
At Thursday’s assembly, Ms Sue Walsh and the College Student Leaders launched the Indigenous Interpretation of the Waverley College Crest. The same afternoon, it was also launched to the broader College community via Facebook and Instagram
Last year, local Indigenous artist Billy Reynolds worked with the College to design our Indigenous jersey, and following this, he created his own interpretation of our crest by using artistic elements to link to features of the College community. Please click below to view the crest and explanation of the design.
This week, I had the privilege of attending St Catherine’s School ANZAC ceremony, that had students from both Waverley and St Catherine’s schools’ Cadet Unit in operation. It was a wonderful and moving ceremony.
Dr Townsend (Headmistress, St Catherine’s School) at the lectern. Photo: courtesy Theo Miller.
Photo: courtesy Theo Miller.
Congratulations to Christian Kitas (Year 12) who represented the College at the annual Lawrence Campbell Oratory Competition, held this year at Sydney Grammar 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 Christian had to respond and speak to was a line from a Leonard Cohen lyric – ‘There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.’ Congratulations to the top three representatives that came from Scots College (1st), Aloysius’ College (2nd), St Joseph’s College (3rd).
The College has launched a range of supporters’ apparel that includes a cap, rain jacket, umbrella, towel and scarf. The umbrella, towel and scarf are in the uniform shop at present, and we are awaiting delivery of the cap and jacket in the next couple of weeks. These deliveries have unfortunately been affected by cargo delays.
The OBU AGM was held last Sunday. I would like to congratulate the elected members, both the Executive and Council Members for 2022/23.
President: Salvatore Riolo
Vice President: Peter Hannigan
Treasurer: John Hilton
Secretary: Chris O’Sullivan
Assistant Secretary: Tom Wallace
Council Members: Warren Boyd, Michael Burns, Michael Dignam, Peter Frost, Sam Hardjono, John Karas, Brandon Perry, Col Blake, Andrew Elliot and Charles New.
I encourage you to read the rest of the newsletter that has both key information across a range of important topics and opportunities for your son including: next week’s NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language and numeracy, Year 10 Allwell Testing, the College’s Piano Competition, City2Surf ‘Running for Premature Babies,’ Wakakirri starting in the Junior School, start of the Debating season, and the Year 6 Public Speaking Competition.
On Thursday, 5 May we celebrated Edmund Rice Feast Day and student leaders took the us through the history of Blessed Edmund. They reminded us that his charism emerged as a response to his experience as a son, a husband, a father, one who suffered loss, and one whose own brokenness enabled him to connect with those around him.
Through his faith and convictions, he found the strength and the courage to challenge political and social structures and set up a free school for boys living in poverty in Ireland. A school where he and the brothers provided an education which recognised the dignity, potential and wellbeing of the individual, empowering each learner to participate more fully in society.
This unyielding commitment to afford his students their human right to dignity and respect was formally expressed in the 1832 Rules of the Congregation, where Edmund decreed that:
“Each child, especially the poorest, resembles Jesus Christ and hence we as educators must act towards each one with kindness and be considerate of any faults and weaknesses. We must always treat them with consideration and respect.”
Portrait of Edmund Rice
Almost 200 years on from that decree, Edmund Rice Schools operate in 21 countries around the world, with 280 schools educating over 200,000 young people in the Edmund Rice Charism. Here in Australia, EREA is responsible for the governance of 55 schools and the care of over 39,000 young people and children.
The growth and development of EREA is a story for us to celebrate with pride. A story of gratitude to the Christian Brothers for continuing to animate the work of Edmund Rice and perpetuate his dream that, through education, the young people in his care have a hope-filled future.
In my secondment to EREA as the Director of Learning, I had the privilege of engaging with many of our Australian schools. These schools certainly reflect the diversity of the Australian community – Indigenous schools in remote and rural areas, early learning, primary and secondary, boarding, all-boys and co-education schools, diverse needs and flexible learning schools.
Despite such diversity, I witnessed a commonality that unites us in an Edmund Rice Education: The four Touchstones which underpin our educational endeavours. Every EREA school commits to offering a Liberating Education, based on a Gospel Spirituality, within an Inclusive Community committed to Justice and Solidarity.
What does that mean? It means that EREA schools commit to:
Edmund’s charism and mission is ours – ours to shape and to turn into a dynamic, contemporary force.
I asked how we, as members of the Waverley Community, live out Edmund’s charism and mission.
I suggested it can be as simple as starting with humility and all that that demands – patience, tolerance, compassion.
Mrs Elizabeth Watson
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
E: ewatson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Adele Cutbush, College Registered Nurse
Parents and Carers,
There have been a number of updates regarding Household and Close Contacts of people with COVID-19 and Rapid Antigen Home testing kits.
This week, the College will be distributing additional rapid antigen tests (RATs) to your son. In line with the Department of Education and NSW Health, we have moved from prescribed surveillance testing, to what is termed ‘discretionary testing.’
We now require students to administer a rapid antigen test in the following circumstances:
Families are required to notify NSW Health and the College should their son receive a positive RAT or PCR test, and then isolate for seven days. Students should only return to school if they are free from cold and flu symptoms after the seven-day isolation period.
In line with the updated NSW Health guidelines and the CSNSW COVID-19 Advice Policy, Waverley College is implementing the following:
>>> Click here to view the newly-published NSW Health Guidelines for Household Contacts.
Thanks in advance.
Our community is currently in very good shape, with low numbers of COVID-19 and close contacts being reported.
| As at 6/5 | COVID-19 | Close Contacts |
| Year 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Year 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 10 | 0 | 1 |
| Year 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Staff | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 8 | 4 |
Mr Patrick Brennan – Deputy Principal – Student & Staff Wellbeing
E: pbrennan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Adele Cutbush – College Registered Nurse
E: acutbush@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Waverley are proud to be entering a team into this year’s City2Surf, supporting the local charity ‘Running for Premature Babies.’ This charity provides life-saving neonatal equipment and helps save the lives of sick and premature babies Australia wide. The charity was founded by a Waverley mum after losing all three of her prematurely born triplet sons to their prematurity, 16 years ago.
>>> Click here to view more information about this incredible cause.
A free team running singlet will be given to all families who raise $200 for Running for Premature Babies – you can opt for your fundraising page to be created during the registration process.
This team is open to students, friends and family of Waverley College. Early bird entries are still available with free postage on running bibs. Entrants will also be given the opportunity to access a training program through Waverley College.
>>> Click here to join the Waverley College team and support a terrific cause.
The password to enter the team is: WavCol22
Please direct any questions to Cath Lipman clipman@waverley.nsw.edu.au or Jaz Dolso jdolso@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Cath Lipman
Religion Teacher
E: clipman@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Welcome back to all boys and families for the commencement of Term 2. It is a short and sharp term of eight weeks, where the boys need to hit the ground running and be well planned. At the assembly, I shared with them a short clip about leadership from Simon Sinek to assist them in filling out their SMART goals on page 87 of their school diary.
I would encourage you to watch this clip and have a conversation with your son about the processes he is going to change, develop or enhance, in order to achieve his goals for this term. I believe Simon explains very well the consistent approach required for improvement across the boys’ cognitive, social, emotional, physical and spiritual dimensions.
>>> Click here to view the 3:56-minute clip about leadership from Simon Sinek.
Our community is currently in very good shape with low numbers of COVID-19 and close contacts being reported.
| As at 29/4 | COVID-19 | Close Contacts |
| Year 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Year 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Year 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Year 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Year 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Year 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Staff | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 2 |
Our health professionals predict that the Flu season will spike this year, due to many people having vaccine fatigue. Therefore, it is important to keep encouraging your son to maintain good hygiene standards. Carrying his own small container of hand sanitiser on his person, particularly when travelling on public transport and being far away from a wash basin, will reduce the risks of catching influenza which is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause significant illness.
This year, it’s even more important to get the influenza vaccine, as we are more vulnerable.
>>> Click here to view Australian Government Department of Health advice about the flu in 2022.
The College will be maintaining our regular spot cleaning of all surfaces across both campuses.
Please contact Ms Adele Cutbush, our College Nurse, if your son is deemed a close contact or household contact. Under the recent NSW Health Guidelines, he is permitted to attend school if he does not have any symptoms. He must wear a mask whilst indoors and take a daily RAHT test.
I have included an extract from my address at ANZAC Day assembly – the total number of Australians killed at Gallipoli is 8,709. In all, 61,522 Australians lost their lives in the First World War. As we know, it was not the war to end all wars, and the world was again at war some 20 years later, with the outbreak of World War II, where an even larger human price was paid.
This year, we again see war occurring in Europe with a number of countries including Australia supporting Ukraine with weapons and resources from afar. We pray that this war ends soon and does not escalate into something larger and more catastrophic. Former United Kingdom prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, sums it up well: “In war, whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losers.”
Congratulations to our Cadet Unit who proudly represented us at the Coogee and Waverley Council Services on Monday, and at our own service yesterday, along with St Catherine’s School students. I received a number of letters from members of the public who were impressed by their reverence, character and leadership.
I represented our community this week at the Yom Hashoah Day (Holocaust Remembrance Day). More than six million Jews were murdered or perished in the Holocaust, as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its accessories. Holocaust survivor Olga Horak OAM movingly told her story of survival and provided the audience with greater understanding of the atrocities of the Holocaust. Her message was clear: “Always remember. Please do not ever forget.”
Olga is one of the founding members of Sydney’s Jewish Museum. Please click the following link to watch this year’s commemoration. The speeches begin at the 20 minute mark.
>>> Click here to view this year’s Yom Hashoah Day commemoration.
For more details about the Waverley Academic Tutorial Program, please read the newsletter article authored by Mrs Elizabeth Watson, Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning.
The below HSC resource is being offered by the Woollahra, Randwick and Waverley Council Libraries and is of benefit to our boys. The ‘Ride the HSC Wave’ lecture series is open to students of Senior HSC High School Years 11 and 12 from 9-26 May. The series provides workshops, tips, advice and insight into HSC topic areas and is delivered by educational professionals.
>>> Click here for more information about Woollahra Library’s ‘Ride the HSC Wave’ Lecture Program.
This term St Clare’s College and Waverley College are staging Cosi, a classic Australian play by Louis Nowra in the PAC Theatre from June 7-9. Tickets will sell out fast!
To book tickets to Cosi, please go to the College website to choose your day and seat/s.
>>> Click here to book tickets for Cosi.
Waverley College continues our commitment to provide quality professional learning for our staff to ensure they are kept up-to-date with the latest pedagogical research and are engaging with high impact teaching strategies (HITS).
The Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) Learning Statement asserts:
“Effective professional learning fosters self and collective confidence, promotes innovation in pedagogical practice and equips people with the skills to respond to current realities and alternative futures. This builds a learning culture of a shared sense of purpose and responsibility for improving the learning outcomes of young people.” (EREA 2022, p7).
Professional Learning this week focused on Working Memory and Cognitive Load Theory. Our sessions were facilitated by leading expert Amanda Hicks. Amanda has had over 26 years’ experience in education in numerous roles, has completed five university degrees in education, and is currently completing her doctoral studies in Mental Health and Social Work.
Cognitive load theory (CLT) emerged from the work of educational psychologist John Sweller and colleagues in the 1980s and 1990s. Contemporary educational researcher, Dylan Wiliam (2017) supports this research, and has described cognitive load theory as “the single most important thing for teachers to know.”
So what is CLT? In summary, CLT is about optimising the load on students’ working memories to help maximise their learning. This can be achieved when students are given explicit instruction accompanied by lots of practice and feedback. (NSW Government: Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, 2018).
Hattie summarises explicit instruction as an approach in which:
“The teacher decides the learning intentions and success criteria, makes them transparent to the students, demonstrates them by modelling, evaluates if they understand what they have been told by checking for understanding, and retelling them what they have been told by tying it all together with closure.” (Hattie 2009, p206).
| Educational researchers have identified a number of strategies that can help teachers to maximise student learning by optimising the load on students’ working memories. Amanda guided our staff through a series of evidenced-based practical strategies:
Strategy 1: Tailor lessons according to students’ existing knowledge and skill. Strategy 2: Use worked examples to teach students new content or skills. Strategy 3: Gradually increase independent problem-solving as students become more proficient. Strategy 4: Cut out inessential information. Strategy 5: Present all the essential information together. Strategy 6: Simplify complex information by presenting it both orally and visually. Strategy 7: Encourage students to visualise concepts and procedures that they have learnt. (CESE 2018, p3). |
Explicit instruction and CLT pedagogical strategies directly align with the three Learning Principles of the current Waverley College Teaching and Learning Framework: Visible Learning, Lifelong Learning and Dynamic Learning.
>>> Click here to view the Waverley College Teaching & Learning Framework.
Cognisant that “effective schools keep up to date with developments in research and professional knowledge” (Australian Council for Educational Research 2016, p12), Waverley College commits to critically reflecting on our teaching practices and principles of learning.
I look forward to sharing the next iteration of the Waverley College Teaching and Learning Framework in the coming months.
Mrs Elizabeth Watson
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
E: ewatson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Read more: Year 11 Dinner Cruise, ‘It’s Time We Talked’ parent event, TikTok and Teens, Terms 2-3 winter uniform.
The Waverley College Year 10 (2021) Dinner Dance provides a formal social opportunity for boys to host a partner at a dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour. This is a part of our Wellbeing Framework promoting respectful relationships.
Date: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Time: 6pm – 10pm (meet at Star City Casino Wharf at 5:30pm)
Venue: Bella Vista Cruise Ship
Embark/Disembark: 6pm Star City Casino Wharf, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
Dress: Smart formal for all guests – boys to wear suit with jacket, tie and trousers
Cost: $100 per person, which includes four hours of cruising, a three-course meal, unlimited soft drinks/juice package, DJ and security
RSVP: Essential. Bookings open Friday, 6 May. >>> Click here to RSVP.
Further information will be provided to Year 11 students this week.
If you have any further questions, please email Ms Suzi Sucur (Administrator Wellbeing Centre) at ssucur@waverley.nsw.edu.au
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the 100 parents and carers who attended this event on Tuesday evening. ‘It’s Time We Talked’ is a violence-prevention initiative that supports young people, parents, schools, government and the community sector to understand and address the influence of pornography.
At times confronting, the dangers of early and repeated exposure to pornography by our young people were made clear.
The College is committed to addressing this issue within our Years 5-12 Wellbeing Framework and in the PDHPE syllabus.
While many Waverley College students (and some parents) enjoy using TikTok and the ‘fun’ associated with it, recent investigations and research indicate that it presents a number of dangers, that in many cases the students themselves (and parents and carers) are unaware of, and, even when aware, can find difficult to address.
In recent years, and particularly during the lockdown periods of the pandemic, TikTok use seems to have grown exponentially, and the app seems to have taken on a ‘life of its own’, impacting many students’ wellbeing, mental health and learning.
The College is seeing a rise in targeted online bullying involving our students depicted in TikTok videos. A rise is also being seen in students appearing in TikTok videos wearing school uniform.
TikTok is a social media platform that has become increasingly popular since its rebranding in 2018. It hosts a myriad of content types, with the top category ‘Entertainment’ achieving over 535 billion views.
TikTok is primarily a video-sharing service that uses an algorithm to create targeted ‘for you’ pages, and it provides a never-ending stream of content. The minimum age requirements are 13 to have an account, and 16 to host a public account (which enables direct messaging between users). However, users don’t have to be logged in to see content and to use the ‘search’ function.
TikTok is now the most downloaded social media app in the world. It is especially popular with children and young adults.
The Cyberbullying Research Centre praises TikTok as a fun and engaging way to stay connected with each other and the things that young people love. Some of the platform’s positive impacts on young people are that it:
TikTok’s popularity continued to rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the platform providing an opportunity for connection and entertainment during lockdowns.
There are currently two ways to restrict content shown to children on TikTok:
‘Family Pairing’ allows a parent to attach their child’s account to their own, see the direct messages that their child receives and set usage time limits.
‘Digital Wellbeing’ allows a user to set their own limits on usage on their account.
However, these controls have not prevented dangerous trends and behaviours, predatory actions and privacy issues arising. It is not difficult to imagine a tech-savvy child avoiding these controls, by starting up a different account to the one that is linked to/has limits set by their parents. Some children may not have any parent controls on their use of TikTok.
Using any social media platform can compromise a person’s privacy. If you scroll through TikTok, you won’t have to look far to find Australian school students posting dances, parodies and pranks, providing the perfect opportunity for revealing personal and private details and for unsavoury behaviour. The reasons that these posts can be dangerous for students and their schools include:
In addition, the extent to which TikTok stores and shares user data is described by Business Insider as “extraordinary.”
TikTok’s own Privacy Statement says: “We share your data with our third-party service providers we rely on to help provide you with the Platform. These providers include cloud storage providers and other IT service providers. We also share your information with our business partners, advertisers, analytics and search engine providers…”.
TikTok can also analyse data stored on a device’s clipboard and its browser search history. A Privacy Australia article also outlines additional security concerns in relation to TokTok’s data harvesting and its links to China.
As well as privacy and child protection issues, TikTok has also been linked to physical dangers including increased mental illnesses and worsening attention spans.
In the past, the platform has also been used to encourage children to participate in dangerous Internet ‘challenges’ where a user records themselves doing an activity and prompting others to join in.
A challenge that has become popular in Australia is the ‘Black-out’ or ‘Thumb Blowing Pass-Out’ challenge, in which a person will make themselves hyper-ventilate and then hold their breath until they pass out. Earlier this year, a Queensland ambulance spokesperson said to 7-News: “There were four calls in one hour in southeast Queensland and all of those children needed transport to hospital.” There have been deaths of young children linked to this challenge.
The TikTok algorithm can also compound existing mental health problems. A recent ABC investigation into the TikTok algorithm describes the platform as “obsessive” and recounts how it influenced young people’s eating habits, resulting in obsessive calorie counting and eating disorders. The 2021 ABC article reports Dr Sukunesan from Swinburne University saying: “these TikToks effectively teach people how to have an eating disorder, and the algorithm can lead them to more severe videos, such as ones that promote self-harming.”
The College tracks TikTok usage and flags events involving names and images associated with the College. We keep abreast of the types of behaviours that are being promoted in trending TikTok videos, and have appropriate response mechanisms in place to promote the safety of students during Wellbeing time and at College assemblies.
Waverley College continues to:
The College continues to follow the advice of the eSafety Commissioner ensuring that we make resources available for parents to ensure that their children are being safe online.
The College also has risk management processes and controls in place to mitigate against student safety issues that may arise. These are regularly reviewed and include controls such as policies with rules and responses for:
All boys are now required to be in winter uniform until the end of Term 3. This includes a blazer and tie. The College has high expectations of our students, particularly when travelling to and from school on public transport. As was the case last year, boys failing to do this will be subject to a Friday detention. The positive message we give to the public through our uniform and appearance is a clear statement of what it means to be a Waverley College student and their pride in themselves and the College.
Some boys took the Easter break as an opportunity to experiment with different hairstyles. The expectation was that boys met the following guidelines on their return to the College. I thank the parents who supported the College.
If boys do not comply with a request to address any breaches by their Head of House, they will then have three options:
1) Go immediately to the barber at Charing Cross and have the inappropriate haircut rectified
2) Rectify the inappropriate haircut themselves with clippers supplied by the College
3) Return home until such time as the inappropriate haircut is rectified
Mr Patrick Brennan
Deputy Principal – Student & Staff Wellbeing
E: pbrennan@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.
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