At Waverley College, we are committed to caring for and supporting all students on their Literacy journey. Here is just a sample of some of the many strategic initiatives and activities we have in place to ensure that our students are best supported from Year 5 right through to Year 12.
We are delighted to expand the Writer’s Toolbox program in 2024. Writer’s Toolbox is a comprehensive writing program, developed by Dr Ian Hunter that is designed to improve syntax, punctuation, and paragraphing. The interactive software component of the program has been very well received by our students and teachers across all faculties.
Students in Years 7 and 8 have been assigned a year-long Writer’s Toolbox Home Learning Program. This program requires students to complete set tasks on their Learning Journey. Students’ progress will be checked on a weekly basis.
All Year 7 and Year 9 classes have one scheduled Library lesson for Wider Reading each cycle in Semester 1. (Year 8 Library Lessons will resume in Semester 2). These classes are run by myself, Mr Roberts, the library staff, and the classroom teacher. In our Library Reading classes, our goal is to ensure that students read for pleasure.
Students also have time during English classes to complete wider reading and it is essential that students bring their own reading books to every English lesson, including when they attend their library lesson. Suggested reading lists for students can also be found on the relevant English CANVAS pages.
As was the case in 2023, the NAPLAN assessments will take place in March. Specific dates will be set by the College in the next few weeks and then communicated with students, parents, and carers.
All Year 7 and Year 9 students will be given a NAPLAN writing booklet to complete for home-learning in preparation for the NAPLAN writing test. This is just one aspect of the holistic approach adopted by all teachers to ensure that students in Year 7 and Year 9 are well prepared for the NAPLAN tests.
All NAPLAN resources are located on the Year 7 and Year 9 English CANVAS page. Students are also encouraged to use the public demonstration NAPLAN site to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools available in the NAPLAN online tests.
Students are also encouraged to avail themselves of the following supports in the Library via our co-curricular program, run by expert teachers:
Shrove Tuesday is always an eagerly anticipated day at Waverley.
Pancakes will be for sale at lunch time in the Centenary Quad next Tuesday, 13 February 2024.
Cost is $3 with cash and card facilities available.
All proceeds to Project Compassion (Caritas Australia).
See you there!
Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day 2022
Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day 2023
Ms Sue Walsh
Director of Mission and Identity
swalsh@waverley.nsw.edu.au
As many in our community would know, Waverley College recently launched the Manchester City Football School to provide authentic and creative football coaching programs for students, utilising the coaching philosophy and methodology of Manchester City.
We’re excited to introduce Manchester City Football Schools Head Coach Australia, Mr Ben Charlton, who has joined us full-time to coach across the College with our co-curricular staff, mentor our co-curricular football staff and run the Manchester City Football School.
For someone who has delivered numerous successful football education programs in professional clubs across the globe, Mr Charlton is surprisingly humble when talking about his 18 years’ experience working in sports development. Quietly spoken with a thoughtful disposition, we were grateful that amidst the bustle of Week 2, he made time to share a little about his life with Nurrunga.
“How Australians play football and interpret the game. Especially during the winter season and winter fixtures. The students I’ve met have been great and have all the right ingredients – they’re enthusiastic, respectful, friendly, and whether this can translate into their training, competing and winning – is the real interesting thing. We’re hoping they’ll be able to participate in the ‘Australia Manchester City Football Schools Cup’ at Parade College in Melbourne [EREA school] to celebrate what they’ve done, later this year.”
“I love to travel and I’d always wanted to go to Australia, as it’s the furthest away from England! It was on my ‘to do’ list and like the English, Australians love sports and football. For the last few years I’ve been hearing great things from the coaches that are involved in the Australia programs in Edmund Rice schools and I wanted to experience the Edmund Rice partnership with kids in Australia. This partnership will be five years and we hope to extend and create a continuous pipeline. In only eight days in Australia everything has lived up to my expectations. The people have been so nice. I just did the Bondi to Coogee walk and harbour walks … in terms of location, everyone says it’s a ‘dream job.’ ”
“I’ve been with Manchester City Football Club since 2015, working in their Football Education Team, leading training experiences in Manchester at the City Football Academy for ages eight to adult. People travelled to us from all over the world, including Australians, to train on the field and learn tactics in the classroom. I also coached with the Manchester City Girls’ Academy focusing on our foundation and youth development players.
As well I was Head Coach of the Indian Football Schools Operations for two years at Karjat near Mumbai, and also developed talent in Vietnam, Thailand, China and New York, mainly youth football, university teams and training local coaches in schools. I was also the Head Coach in Cairo, Egypt and trained kids as young as three up to 18. I’ve been really lucky to have had these opportunities with Manchester City, I learned a lot and really enjoyed coaching people from many different cultures, and I really look forward to working here in Australia with Waverley college and Edmund Rice – we all speak football!”
“It’s good to know you have an influence on other people’s lives and you’ve guided others. When I was young, I loved athletics and football and I think these experiences have shaped my values and ways of thinking. Some of the players I trained have gone on to be selected for the national team in England and India, and awarded scholarships for higher education. Being able to return to work with these students now they’re adults, has been really nice.”
“I do like sport, but I’m getting a little creaky! [laughs]. I like the outdoors and nature. I loved travelling in India and Egypt – there are fascinating things in India in the middle of the jungle. 90 minutes from Mumbai there are monuments carved into rock from 3,000 years ago, incredible precision and geometry. You think … how did they do it? I’m very interested in ancient cultures and have done a lot of travelling. With my wife, we work hard, and then go away to places. I loved the Great Wall of China and also the north east of England, Newcastle and Northumberland. From York to the top of England to the border of Scotland, there are tons of castles, some in ruins and others with gardens and intact buildings. It’s fascinating.”
Launching in 2024 for Year 7 and Years 5 and 7 for 2025 and beyond, click HERE to view further information about Manchester City Football School.
The Term 1 Parents’ Association morning meeting will take place in Week 3. It will be face to face only.
When: Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Where: Grange Boardroom, 12A Carrington Road Waverley NSW 2024
Time: 7:30am-8:45am
Agenda: Click HERE.
*Parking: Parking for parents/carers is not available in the Grange carpark, as these spaces are reserved for teaching staff. We kindly ask that you please respect this directive.
Week one of Term 1 has flown by with much energy and enthusiasm across the College’s two campuses. I appreciated the work Year 12 did with assisting Year 7 with their start to high school and all Year levels have been encouraged to support new students and staff at the College.
Years 11 and 12 have received their assessment registers for the semester and all students have had course outlines explained in class this week. It has been impressive to see most boys hit the ground running and get back into our learning community’s rhythm. I encourage you to read Ms Porter’s (Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning) article on success habits HERE.
Due to the high temperatures predicted on Monday, 5 February 2024, all students may wear their PE uniform to school. Please note: If Senior School students have any practical TAS lessons scheduled on Monday, the students will need to bring their black leather school shoes with them to be able to access the workshops (e.g. Food Tech, Woodwork, Hospitality etc.).
I would like to welcome the following staff who are replacing staff who we farewelled last year, and also some staff taking leave from the College along with new positions created. We look forward to them sharing their experience, wisdom and perspectives with both colleagues and students.
Ms Laura Bleasdale (English Teacher) joins us from Davidson High School. She holds a Bachelor of Education and Graduate Certificate in Religious Education and is an experienced hockey, basketball, tennis coach and debating convenor.
Mr Jonathan Bowden (Music Teacher) joins us from St Thomas More Primary School and has previously taught at Bondi Public School. He holds a Bachelor of Music and Graduate Diploma in Education and has extensive expertise in directing music programs, coordinating bands and choirs, and leading co-curricular activities such as cricket and soccer.
Mr Nathan Brown (HSIE Teacher) joins us from Sydney Technical High School. He holds a Master of Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts and has been a convenor and coach of cricket and football.
Mr Ben Charlton (Manchester City Program Head Coach). Ben has been with the Club since 2015 and has run programs across UK, India, South East Asia and North America. Ben holds the UEFA B coaching license in the UK, whilst also possessing a degree in Sports Studies from Manchester University and a level 3 Sports Development NVQ.
Ms Gina Cohen (Drama Teacher) joins us from Danebank Anglican School. She holds a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts and has a Diploma of Education. Gina has directed and produced and also has experience in film making, script writing, writing short plays and acting.
Ms Carmela Diaz (English/Religious Education) joins us from De La Salle College Malvern Victoria and has previously taught at Ashwood High. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education and also has experience in debating and public speaking.
Ms Naimh Ennis (HSIE Teacher) joins us from EREA school, St Josephs CBS Ireland and has previously taught at Castlecomer Community School. She holds a Masters in Education and a Bachelor of Commerce and is a basketball and tennis coach.
Ms Alison Fullam (HSIE Teacher) joins us from East Hills Boys High School and has previously taught in Ireland at St Paul’s Secondary School. Alison achieved her Masters of Education with 2nd Class Honours and a Bachelor of Arts also with 2nd Class Honours and is a tennis and running coach.
Ms Maisie Gordon (History Teacher) joins us from Trinity Grammar School and has previously worked in an EREA school, St. Joseph’s CBS Ireland. She holds a Masters in Education (2nd Class Honours) and a double honours degree in Bachelor of Arts (Law and History) also with 2nd Class Honours. Maisie also coaches water polo, debating, and enjoys assisting in the production of school musicals.
Mr James Horrocks (Head of Student Wellbeing) joins us from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College where he sat on the School’s leadership team as Director of Learning Integration. James has previously worked at Waverley College as Head of Brennan House. He holds a Masters in Educational Leadership – Learning and Leadership and Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Arts (History and Languages) and is a water polo and rugby coach.
Mr Mohit Khadgi (IT Help Desk Technician) joins us from Unisys Australia and has previously worked at the NSW Department of Education, and IMI Solutions. He holds a Bachelor of Information Technology.
Mr David Magro (English Teacher) joins us from St Patrick’s College and has previously worked at Trinity Grammar School. He holds a Masters in Teaching, Master of Education and a Bachelor of Arts and is a rugby, cadet and debating coach.
Ms Fiona O’Connor (Mathematics Teacher) joins us from Ballymakenny College, Ireland. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and enjoys Science club and producing school musicals.
Ms Mikaela Turner (Junior School Teacher) joins us from Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School. She holds a Bachelor of Education and is a netball, touch football, and gym coach.
The leadership team and I look forward to meeting you at the Parents’ Association 2024 Welcome Cocktail party on Saturday, 17 February 2024, more details can be found HERE.
Welcome back to all our families for the new school year. It has been wonderful to see our students arrive back eager to learn. I am also impressed with the effort they have made to ensure their appearance is in line with College policy.
During the summer break, Young School Leaders from across the country gathered on Wadawurrung Country, at St Patrick’s College Ballarat, as part of the Edmund Rice Education Australia’s (EREA) Young Leaders’ Conference. Over 50 young people from 40 schools in almost every state and territory across Australia participated in the conference, and we were fortunate enough to have our College Captain Lachlan Miranda represent Waverley.
The theme of Conference was Voice and Agency. The Young Leaders explored an understanding of leadership from a Gospel and Edmund Rice perspective, and the importance of justice, Reconciliation, advocacy, service and global engagement. They networked together as they reflected on their own personal journey of leadership and how to look after their own and their peers’ wellbeing. The delegates also had the opportunity to be the first group consulted as part of the mission direction and strategy for EREA going forward.
The Young Leaders were joined online by past Edmund Rice young leaders from South Africa and India, who shared their own experience of leading in their nation’s context. The Australian Young Leaders were invited to collaborate globally this year with other young leaders from across the 20 Countries where Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition operate.
This was an incredibly rich learning experience for Lachlan and we are proud to know he is playing a role in shaping the future of EREA.
As part of our College wellbeing initiatives for students, Waverley College has a dedicated Psychology Service located in the Health Centre. One of our Psychologists, Samantha Jessen, completed specialised training with her golden retriever, Mabel, to be a certified therapy dog in training. In 2023, Mabel visited the College on a trial basis – you may have spotted her around campus getting lots of pats and cuddles. This year, Mabel will continue to visit the Senior Campus on occasion as she begins to settle in and get used to life at a very busy school.
Mabel is a two-year-old blonde golden retriever. She enjoys saying hello to absolutely everyone, going for long walks, and playing with her toys. She likes holding hands, playing tug, and will often remind you to keep petting her. Mabel is very playful as a young dog and is always eager to meet new friends.
As Mabel is quite young, she at times finds it tricky to stay calm and relaxed as she wants to play with everyone she meets! With time, we hope Mabel continues to regulate and relax a little bit more to attend the Senior Campus on a regular basis. Please be mindful that Mabel is classified as a learner until she finds her big dog paws and may need some extra patience and grace as she continues to adjust to life at Waverley.
College Psychologist, Ms Samantha Jessen with Mabel our Therapy Dog
Through Mabel’s presence within the school environment, it is envisaged that she will support student engagement, assist with social skill development, aid with self-regulation and calming, among many other benefits. Mabel may engage with students in a variety of ways including individual interventions, small group and class interventions, as well as a presence across a range of College events.
Understandably, some parents and carers will have concerns about their child’s interaction with an animal within the school environment. These concerns may relate to your child’s fear or phobia of animals, or a health and safety concern. We would like to assure you that interaction with Mabel is completely voluntary, and precautions are being taken to minimise risks. As a result, a risk management plan is available for your perusal should you wish to better understand our planning. In addition, further information about commonly asked questions and concerns is available upon request. Please inform the Health Centre if your child has any health-related concerns regarding animals.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Wellbeing Team.
In our recent Welcome Back assembly, we took a moment to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our 2023 HSC cohort. We will be commemorating their success in the upcoming High Achievers’ assembly next week. It is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and habits they cultivated during their time with us.
Success is not accidental; it is a result of intentional habits and a commitment to seizing opportunities. I emphasised that these accomplishments are not isolated events but part of a continuum that we aim to build upon and improve in our school community. It is the daily habits, the resilience to learn from challenges and failures, and the positive mindset that contribute to sustained success.
As we embark on the new academic year, I encourage students to reflect on the habits that will pave the way for personal success when they are setting their SMART goals with their Wellbeing mentors over the next few weeks. This is an excellent opportunity to consider what habits will help achieve the desired outcomes. Whether it’s staying organised, building a consistent study plan, summarising key lessons, or preparing for upcoming assessments – each habit contributes to overall success.
In the spirit of fostering a positive learning environment, we want to highlight the importance of classroom routines. Our lesson protocols, prominently displayed on interactive boards, ensure that every student has the best opportunity to learn and grow. Starting with strong and organised lesson beginnings, maintaining focus throughout, and ending with a review of learning in the classroom and planning study for upcoming tasks – these routines set the stage for an enriching academic experience.
I want to emphasise the significance of collaboration and proactive communication. Our teachers are here to support you. The message to students was clear: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you need help.” Being proactive and seeking guidance when needed is a key aspect of the learning journey.
In closing, I want to express my immense pride in the achievements of our students and extend heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated teaching staff for their unwavering support. Let’s continue to inspire, educate, and move forward together towards a future filled with endless possibilities.
Wishing everyone a successful and fulfilling academic year ahead.
At the heart of our commitment to excellence lies the recognition of the importance of ongoing, high-quality professional learning for our staff. The sessions conducted last week were carefully designed to address various aspects crucial to the growth and development of our school community and to equip our teachers with the knowledge and tools necessary for shaping our school improvement plans in 2024. Below is an overview of these days.
Our journey towards improvement began with a detailed review of the 2023 HSC results and the post-school achievements of our graduates. We commenced our analysis of these outcomes where we aim to identify areas of success and areas that may require further attention. This reflective process is integral to understanding how we can continuously enhance the learning experience for our students.
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students is a top priority. The professional learning days included comprehensive sessions on child safeguarding, providing our staff with the latest information and tools to create a secure and nurturing environment for all students.
To tailor our teaching methods to the individual needs of our students, staff engaged in workshops on using data effectively. This empowers our educators to gain insights into the unique learning requirements of each student, enabling a more personalised and effective educational experience.
With the impending Curriculum Reform, our faculties dedicated time to prepare for the upcoming changes. Additionally, we reviewed our annual goals from 2023 and collaboratively set action plans for the year ahead. This strategic planning ensures that we remain aligned with our overarching mission and objectives. Parents and carers can find further information about the curriculum reform by clicking the button below.
Click to view curriculum reform information
We also continued our work on Deep Learning – a framework that supports teachers in providing tools to design engaging and effective opportunities that reimagine learning as, ‘the process of acquiring… six Global Competencies: Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical thinking.’ [ref: Dive Into Deep Learning: Tools for Engagement (Quinn et al., 2019)]. Embedding these competencies into our teaching and learning programs aligns with the vision of the NSW Government curriculum reform to, ‘ensure students develop strong foundations for learning, life and work in a complex and fast-changing world.’ [NESA website].
As we move forward into 2024, these professional learning days have fortified our commitment to excellence and provided our educators with the tools to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders. We look forward to sharing the fruits of these endeavours with you throughout the academic year.
Quinn, J. McEachen, J.J. Fullan, M. Gardner, M. Drummy, M. (2019). Dive Into Deep Learning: Tools for Engagement. (1st ed.). SAGE Publications.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The latest edition of Wavelength has landed! The 31st edition features articles on our Co-Curricular achievements, 120 Year Celebrations, R U OK? Day, Immersions, the history of the Queens Park Pavilion, interviews with Old Boys and everything in between.
If you would like a printed copy they are available for collection at both Senior and Junior School Receptions.
Click the button below to view Wavelength digitally and happy reading!
Click here to read Issue 31, December 2023
Ms Vanessa Witton
Marketing Communications Specialist
vwitton@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This year the Health Centre would like to encourage more sun safety at Waverley College. With Australia having the highest rate of skin cancer in the world and skin cancer being the most common type of cancer in Australia, we would like to help protect our students and promote sun protection where possible.
As over 95% of skin cancers are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, skin cancer is the most preventable of all common cancers. Therefore, we recommend that students wear a hat to school, at recess, at lunch and on their way home. We also have sunscreen at the Health Centre and eventually sunscreen will be placed around the school premises to encourage use when students are out in the sun.
Every sun protection measure is decreasing the chance of your son being diagnosed with skin cancer, so thank you for your co-operation.
To view the current Australian skin cancer statistics, click the button below.
Click here to view the Sun Smart infographic
The Duke of Edinburgh International Award resumes for 2024 with a strong cohort of students continuing their participation.
Paramount to the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, is individual ownership and responsibility towards achieving goals in a Skill, Physical Activity and Voluntary Service. The onus is on the students to ensure they are meeting the expectations and demands associated with completing their Award, utilising the many resources available to them through the College as well as the wider community.
Lunchtime meetings will take place in N31 to provide students with an opportunity to troubleshoot any queries and receive support and guidance towards the completion of their respective Awards.
Please feel free to come to these meetings if you would like to register or show an expression of interest. There are currently no openings for students in Year 8 and below, with more information and details to be provided during the course of the year for students in those Year groups.
A warm welcome to OrthoBoutique our newest corporate sponsor!
OrthoBoutique excels in providing top-notch orthodontic services for all ages in Sydney, with exceptional patient care and flexible payment options.
Free consultations are offered for orthodontics for Waverley students, please contact OrthoBoutique for more information on: 1800 378 678
This kind of support for our goal of creating our state-of-the-art Science & Innovation Centre on the Senior School campus is extremely important and we thank the OrthoBoutique for their sponsorship.
If you are interested in exploring our sponsorship, please reach out to our Foundation Officer, Mr Billy Nicolas to learn more: foundation@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Today we celebrated the successes of Waverley College Years 5-11 students at our annual live-streamed Presentation Days in the Brother Lacey Gymnasium. On days like this, we pause to acknowledge the efforts, talents, gifts and achievements of selected students who have made remarkable gains during their 2023 learning journey. It was rewarding to see our well-deserved Junior and Senior School students receive their awards in the presence of their peers, parents, carers, teachers and support staff. We are all very proud of you.
Our expressive MCs, Constantine Iatrou and Lachlan Hoy, set a professional, animated tone and carried our Presentation Days with eloquence from start to finish. In terms of entertainment, we were spoilt for choice. Thank you to our ever-talented Junior School Cantores singers and the confident Waterford Concert Band that performed ‘Ghosts in the Graveyard’ by Scott Watson.
We acknowledge each and every one of our Senior School students who also provided captivating performances. Drama student Oscar Wilson (Year 10) provided a moving monologue from the three-act play All Our Sons (Arthur Miller, 1946) and the Year 7 Rock Band’s electrifying rendition of ‘Vertigo’ by U2 featured Oliver Bailey-O’Reilly, Daniel Murphy, Lachlan Crease, Larsen Johnston, James Fanning and Vinny Kapos.
Lieme Chan (piano), Alex Tarasov (violin) and Cameron Vincent Hull (clarinet) presented ‘Romanian Folk Dances’, a suite of six short piano pieces composed by Béla Bartók in 1915. Movements 1, 2, 4 and 5 were exquisitely performed.
The 2024 European Tour Band’s closing presentation of soundtrack music from Pixar Animation Studios, complete with animation on the big screens, was certainly something to remember.
Students, we appreciate your many hours practicing, learning and perfecting all of these pieces for our enjoyment. We also recognise the time and energy that College staff and your families have devoted to helping you get there.
Many staff have diligently worked behind the scenes to make special days like this possible. We hope you took something memorable from our Presentation Days today, whether you were there in person or experiencing them remotely.
As 2023 draws to a close, this day gives me the opportunity to genuinely reflect on everyone who has given back. I wholeheartedly thank each of our committed educators and support staff for an especially energetic 120th year of teaching, learning and growing. I thank our innovative Parents’ Association and our active Old Boy network. Our collective successes were celebrated in technicolour this year and will long be remembered.
Here’s to Virtus Sola Nobilitat and the next 120 years!
I wish you all a safe, happy and holy Christmas.
Years 5-8 Presentation: to be eligible for this draw, students had to receive a Major Award in Years 5 and 6 and a Gold Award during the year in Years 7 and 8.
Years 9-12 Presentation: to be eligible for this draw, students had to receive a Gold Award during the year in Years 9 to 11.
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
