Congratulations to the finalists of the inaugural Edmund Ignatius Rice Senior Essay and Speech Competition who presented their speeches in Round 2 of the competition on Monday, 6 May 2024.
Our finalists for 2024 are:
All three finalists were extremely impressive and the judging panel will have a tremendously challenging task to award first, second and third place. There was a discerning audience who attended to support the students including the College Principal, Mr Leddie, Old Boy, Dr David Curran (Class of 1970) and a range of staff and senior students.
The award winners will be presented in our Edmund Rice assembly next Thursday, 16 May alongside the students who will be receiving Highly Commended and Commendation certificates.
Many thanks to the judging panel: Dr Couani, Head of English, Ms Stewart, Head of Religion, and Mr Smith, Head of History.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This week our Senior students showcased their capacity for rigorous intellectual debate and ethical exploration at the annual Ethics Olympiad. Among the standout topics this year were discussions exploring the societal impacts of new AI technologies and the ethics of sporting investments from potentially questionable sources. Our Waverley students were commended by judges for their exceptional insight and empathy as they engaged with these current issues receiving honourable mentions in the results.
We would like to take this opportunity to celebrate James Barber, Ben Cromer, Dante Fearn, Xavier Kopsiaftis and Ryan Murphy from Year 10, as well as Alexander Avdalis, Henry Goldrich, Carter Hughes, Leo Owen, Evan Service and Luke Ibrahim from Year 9.
The collaborative spirit and respectful engagement from these two teams demonstrates that the Ethics Olympiad not only fosters intellectual growth but also encourages empathy and open-mindedness—a sentiment that was evident in the camaraderie of these teams and their interactions with teams from other schools.
As always, it takes a village to pull off these events, we would like to thank the Canteen for providing morning tea and lunch and to Mr Bill Roberts and Ms Bella Davies for their supervision and coaching.
Ms Helen Barrie
Head of Academic Enrichment
hbarrie@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Friday 4 May, James Peate (Year 11) took part in the Lawrence Campbell Competition at Scots College. This is a prestigious competition that has seen the likes of Malcolm Turnbull, Murray Gleeson and Adam Spencer as previous winners. On the evening of the competition, all competitors were given three topics:
1. Some rise through sin, others through virtue fall
2. The minority is always right, or so they think
3. The superfluous: a necessary thing.
James had 15 minutes to compose an eight-minute speech based on one of the topics. He then had to deliver the speech in front of a panel of judges as well as all the spectators. The focus of James’ speech was survivorship bias, the nature of objective truth and interpretations of history.
James should be both congratulated and commended for representing Waverley College at Lawrence Campbell. It is no easy feat to speak in front of a room of strangers especially with little time to prepare and he represented the school with pride.
Ms Alice Curtis
Teacher of English
acurtis@waverley.nsw.edu.au
UNSW EMU Robotics, is a student-led robotics competition team, participating in the first First LEGO League and First Robotics Competitions!
The upcoming ‘Open Nights’ are held at the UNSW Electrical Engineering building. The Junior team learn about robotics through their hands-on experience with LEGO EV3 and SPIKE robots. Senior teams design, build and code a robot from scratch using materials like aluminium and timber. This robot competes in an annual competition where it plays on an alliance with two other robots.
They are also trying to establish a regional First LEGO League competition within the Eastern Suburbs so that a local option is available to teams in the area.
If your child is interested, please see the flyers in the links below for more information and registration.
Image: courtesy UNSW
Ms Gemma Brown
Head of Science
gbrown@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Image: courtesy Law Week NSW
Linking to legal experts was on display today with our Waverley Council and Waverley College Library collaboration for NSW Law Week.
Our Year 11 students were fortunate that Waverley Public Library partnered with Legal Aid to foster community and student engagement with Law.
Legal Aid professional Caterina Mazza presented some compelling issues relating to young people and the criminal law in a workshop which delivered a very practical understanding of the Children’s Criminal Law jurisdiction. Based on syllabus outcomes for the Year 12 Legal Studies course, it illuminated:
Both students and teachers learned a great deal from this collaboration and share their reflections below.
“It was something new that I have never experienced, I would love the opportunity to learn about the law in real life more.”
“It was helpful and a worthwhile session.”
“It would have been good to be longer, there was more I wanted to ask and find out.”
“Handouts and support materials were good.”
“Next time can we have the two Legal Studies classes attend?”
“Can we attend the next session on consent?”
“The boys enjoyed it and lots of relevant questions were asked at the end.” – Mr Bill Roberts
“The partnership with NSW Law week was a resounding success, as it provided our Year 11 students with a unique opportunity to delve into practical aspects of the legal system. The students gained invaluable insights into the criminal jurisdiction of the Children’s Court, diversionary and sentencing options. This excursion not only enriched their understanding of the Year 11 Legal Studies syllabus but also fostered a deeper engagement with the complexities of the law, empowering them to become informed and conscientious citizens. Thank you Waverley Public Library, Legal Aid and Mr Roberts for all his assistance in organising this.” – Ms Michelle Joyce
We look forward to further workshops on Criminal Law and Consent coming up over the next Terms.
Mr Bill Roberts
Head of Library Services and Applied Philosophy Teacher
wroberts@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Angelique Theodorou
Assistant Head of HSIE
atheodorou@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Michelle Joyce
Legal Studies Teacher
mjoyce@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Waverley College Year 10 (2024) 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, 13 June 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 10pm (meet at Star City Casino Wharf at 5:30pm)
Venue: Bella Vista Cruise Ship
Embark/Disembark: Star City Casino Wharf, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
Dress: Smart formal attire for all guests – boys to wear suit with jacket, tie and trousers
Cost: $105 per person, which includes four hours of cruising, a three-course meal, unlimited soft drinks/juice package, DJ and security
RSVP: Essential. Bookings open at 6pm on Friday, 24 May 2024.
If you have any further questions, please email Ms Suzi Sucur (Administrator Wellbeing Centre) at ssucur@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dr Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist, researcher and leading expert in men’s mental health. He currently holds dual roles as Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember and Senior Research Fellow with Orygen at the University of Melbourne.
Dr Seidler’s work has focused on issues of masculinity, fatherhood, mental health challenges experienced by men and the advocacy for inclusive and sensitive approaches to men’s mental health.
Currently, Dr Seidler’s team is undertaking research to better understand the impacts of TikTok content on young men’s mental health and are looking for men aged 16-25 to participate.
Recent data shows, based on time spent utilising the app, TikTok is now the most popular social media app in Australia, with social media users spending an average of 42 hours and 13 minutes each month on TikTok. (We Are Social/Meltwater, 2024). Many of our young people are now opting to use TikTok for not only entertainment, but also as a search engine and source of information. Whilst being online can offer numerous benefits like facilitating connection, communication, and learning, there are a range of potential negative impacts including comparisons with others, poor self esteem, cyberbullying, #FOMO (fear of missing out!), feelings of isolation and alienation, over exposure to current affairs and screen addiction. This research is relevant in understanding how we may support our youth as they navigate the online landscape. (Khalaf A M, Alubied A A, Khalaf A M, et al. (August 05, 2023).
This research has been ethically approved by the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the charity Movember and your son’s data will be stored safely and securely.
If your son is interested in partaking in Dr Seidler’s voluntary research, you may access information via the link below.
Hey, are you a man ages 16-25 living in Australia, the UK, or the US? Do you frequently use TikTok? We want to hear from you. We’re a research team exploring TikTok’s impact on young men. Our study includes a 15-minute survey and sharing TikTok data now and in three months’ time. Your information will remain anonymous, won’t be shared beyond this study, and you can opt out anytime.
You’ll be compensated AUD$100 (around US$65/£50) for your time – AUD$40 after the initial survey and data share, and AUD$60 for the follow-up.
Interested? Sign up here: AUS LINK: https://unforgettable.me/projects/user/d2e04e60538c6b397f513addf66d64aa
First payment is immediate upon completion of the initial survey.
Do you have conversations with your children about social media? As parents/carers, social media can be a difficult topic to navigate with your children. However, facilitating open and non-judgemental conversations around online engagement can be an important step in better understanding and supporting your child’s digital journey. This may entail asking your child about his screen time including any perceived positives and negatives, setting boundaries collaboratively with your child about their usage, as well as modelling appropriate online usage as parents/carers.
If you require further assistance in guiding your child’s screen time or have concerns regarding their mental wellbeing, our Psychology team is readily available to provide support and guidance.
Ms Olivia Stelling
College Psychologist
ostelling@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Australian regulators have introduced new vaping reforms through changes to the therapeutic goods and customs regulations. These reforms aim to address the rising health concerns associated with vaping, while maintaining access to vapes for therapeutic use such as helping existing smokers quit under medical supervision.
On 1 January 2024, Australia banned the importation of disposable vapes, with few exceptions, regardless of their nicotine content or therapeutic claims. This means importing disposable vapes is illegal in Australia.
Therapeutic vape importers and manufacturers are required to notify the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) about compliance with the relevant product standards before importation to Australia or release for supply in Australia. The prohibition extends to personal imports of disposable vapes for therapeutic purposes, with an exception for international travellers who may bring a small quantity for personal treatment.
In addition to these importation bans, the government has also introduced further legislation to prevent the domestic production, promotion, supply, and commercial possession of disposable vapes.
Health practitioners, including doctors and nurse practitioners, can prescribe therapeutic vapes without needing TGA pre-authorisation, simplifying the prescription process for medically supervised smoking cessation.
The reforms also ban importing non-therapeutic vapes, prohibiting direct overseas orders for patients, even with prescriptions.
New pre-market standards for therapeutic vapes require importers and manufacturers to adhere to new TGA compliance standards, including flavour restrictions (mint, menthol and tobacco flavours are allowed) and device specifications. These reforms, part of a broader government strategy to reduce tobacco and vape use, do not criminalise personal vape possession or use, but aim to regulate vaping more stringently to protect public health.
We would like to take this opportunity to reinforce the topic of Opal Card Compliance for school students. It is a condition of the Student Code of Conduct when travelling that students must Tap On and Off with their School Opal Card or Child/Youth Opal Card every time when using public transport. This is so that Transport for NSW can understand customer travel patterns and adjust the services provided, if necessary.
If students do not meet these criteria, they will need to carry a Child/Youth Opal card with funds loaded onto it. If a student’s School Opal Card has expired or been damaged, lost or stolen, please visit transportnsw.info/school-travel-apply to reapply.
Transport NSW will continue to conduct random visits to school bus stops to reinforce this message to students throughout the year.
Ms Gabby Smith
Deputy Principal – Students
gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents and Carers
We are thrilled to report that the tickets to our August Blue & Gold Ball sold out yesterday! Congratulations to everyone who secured a ticket.
We recognise that the Ball may not be for everyone and hope that those not attending, or those who missed out on tickets, will consider supporting our silent auction. We have two exceptional raffle prizes on offer to our whole community!
All funds from the sale of raffle tickets support the Waverley College Foundation and raising valuable funds for the Science & Innovation Centre.
You are welcome to get involved by purchasing Raffle Tickets HERE.
Good luck!
Welcome back to term 2 and I hope your sons had a lovely break and are ready for a great term ahead. I acknowledge that many of our Year 12s would have done many hours of study over the break as they continue to prepare for their HSC trials and next steps in their life post school. I wish them the very best on their continued preparations.
I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome some new staff members to the College. We look forward to them sharing their experience, wisdom and perspectives with both colleagues and students.
Ms Bella Davies (English Teacher) holds a Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney. Previously, Bella worked as a Senior Coach and Session Leader at HSC CoWorks, and she also facilitated workshops at Elephant Ed, a company focused on sex education and promoting healthy relationships.
Ms Emma Brown (Mathematics Teacher) joins us from The Radclyffe School, Manchester, UK. She holds a Bachelor of Science with first class honours in Mathematics with Psychology.
Ms Madeline Eddy (Learning Support Assistant, Junior School) joins us from Waverley Public School and Forest Lodge Public School. She holds a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary/ Early Childhood).
Ms Leanne Chapman (Canteen Assistant) has been working casually with us in the Canteen and has now transitioned to permanent part time. Leanne has a long association with the College across four generations and with the Major General Chapman Award for Cadets in honour of her grandfather.
Welcome back to the following staff:
Congratulations to Ms Cassie Foster who has been appointed as the Acting Head of House – Brennan for Terms 2 and 3 while Ms Kaitlyn Downey is on maternity leave.
As we begin this new Term, I would like to take this opportunity to remind our students of the importance of using feedback from the Parent/Teacher/Student conferences to set academic goals and stay committed to their studies. This is a crucial time of the year, and we must all work together to ensure that our students strive for their best possible education outcomes.
Our thoughts and prayers are still with the families and friends who lost loved ones in the tragic events that happened at Bondi Junction over the holidays. I know that some of you were friends of some of the people who were killed and I also know a few staff, students and parents were in Westfield Shopping Centre that day and witnessed the traumatic events.
Some of you will have seen graphic images online or in the media or have previously spent a lot of time in Westfield and this is all quite upsetting for you still. Or maybe this event has brought up previous trauma that you have experienced. Either way, I would encourage you to talk with your friends, parents, wellbeing mentor about this or see one of our psychologists. No one needs to go through issues alone and we will all experience challenges along life’s journey where we need assistance.
With five of the six victims being female at the Bondi Junction event and 31 women having been murdered in Australia in the first four months of 2024, which is a 28% increase on 2023 figures for the same time period, a national crisis has been declared to address gender-based violence. And, whilst this is tragically the pointy end, there are thousands more women being abused, assaulted, controlled and humiliated in their own homes and across the community by men, and usually by men they trust.
You may have seen in the media one of the many marches across capital cities over the weekend calling for much more to be done to reduce gender violence. But this is not a new crisis in Australia or in fact across the world, as gender-based violence is one of the most widespread human rights abuses. This is a continuous tragedy in motion that needs our ongoing attention.
Gender-based violence is an umbrella term for harmful acts of abuse perpetrated against a person’s will and rooted in a system of unequal power between women and men. The perpetrators of gender-based violence are predominantly men, and the victims are most frequently women.
It’s not acceptable that one in three women in Australia experience physical or sexual violence. It is all of our responsibility to ensure that women and girls, and everyone, everywhere, can live free from violence. Violence of any type is not acceptable against anyone.
Clearly there is a need in Australia and other countries for greater institutional reforms in this space, greater accountability for perpetrators, and easier and quicker access to support for victims. But there is also a need for a deeper cultural change and this is where all of us have a role to play in ending gender violence, particularly males. As a parent, it should be as safe for my daughter as it is for my son to go out at night time and the statistics do not lie, it is not. So what can we do on an individual level and as a school community?
We can continue to challenge harmful norms and call out friends or colleagues when we hear them disrespecting women.
We can ensure we are building respectful relationships with women we interact with and with our local girls’ school communities.
We can ensure that misogynistic comments where hatred of women or a belief that men are better than women are not acceptable anywhere or anytime. For over 2000+ years this has been embedded into our societies and structures, but it is not the equality or improved world we are seeking.
We should recognise that most men are good men, but good men need to step up and play our part in this ongoing crisis that is affecting all women in our country.
We should understand that there are some social commentators out there who try to skew the argument that there are male victims of gender violence too and that is true, there are – but over 90% of gender violence is men being violent with females. This sort of argument is just an attempt to dilute from the national crisis, so don’t fall for that one.
And finally, I think Ms de Kantzow summed it up well in her ANZAC Day address, that all our relationships should be fundamentally based upon care, compassion and respect. Respect is sharing power and valuing difference equally.
Due to ANZAC Day falling during the school holidays, our College chose to commemorate ANZAC in a Commemoration Service on 1 May, displaying the ongoing successful partnership between Waverley and St Catherine’s cadets. Years 10-12 students, staff, official guests, and our College community assembled in the Gym to mark this national day of remembrance and Years 5-9 watched the service from their classrooms via livestream.
Commanding Officer – WCCU, MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow delivered a moving speech about the sacrifices of Australian women and men, focusing on the service of women in particular. She drew our attention to those women in the shadow of history – ANZAC women – whose names are not recognised on any cenotaph, and encouraged us all to live by their example.
“Without these women, without their care, compassion and respect for humanity, the mortality rate in Gallipoli would have been so much higher. Without their care, compassion and respect, many soldiers would have died without kindness on their side and connection to home.”
This ceremony was a time for our entire community to reflect and honour the contribution and sacrifice made by so many men and women who have served during battles and conflicts in various theatres of war.
We recognise the service of our cadets in the Catafalque Party, Flag Party, VC Guard, Wreath Layers and Flag Raisers. We also thank the students who spoke so reverently at the dais. Our talented Senior School Brass ensemble performed and Lachlan Issac (Year 11) played ‘The Last Post’ and ‘The Rouse.’
Lest We Forget.
Happy Orthodox Easter to those celebrating this weekend. This vibrant celebration is a time of profound significance for millions around the world, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hope you have a lovely weekend celebrating with family and friends.
On Wednesday, 8 May our House, sibling and Year 12 cohort photos will be taken in the College Gym. Students must be in full winter uniform including their blazers and ties please.
The next face-to-face meeting will occur on Wednesday, 8 May in The Grange Building Boardroom, 12A Carrington Road Waverley, 5:30pm-7:30pm. We encourage as many parents/carers to attend as possible. Our friendly and welcoming environment makes it easy for parents to meet, socialise and become involved in College life. The agenda for this meeting will include:
The 2025-2027 Strategic Planning process will begin shortly. The College will be seeking feedback from stakeholder groups. The information gathered will assist in furthering the growth and development of our school community. We will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.
The survey instruments that we are using have been created by the Association of Independent School NSW (AISNSW). These surveys have been specifically designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of stakeholders’ perceptions of five important areas: School Environment, Teaching and Learning, Student Wellbeing, Leadership and Community. All staff, students, parents/carers, leaders and board members will be invited to participate.
The surveys will be distributed via email to all from ‘evidence@aisnsw.edu.au’ on behalf of the school and will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. All information will be anonymous and no data information will be stored past the process.
Your input and contribution are important to the success of our continuous school improvement process as we aspire to improve the learning experience for everyone at our school.
This much anticipated event is fast approaching on Friday, 17 May. Almost 600 seats have been sold with only a handful remaining. Act fast if you would like to secure a seat! Read more in the Parents’ Association section HERE.
Please find below the schedule for the Year 12 Tutorials in Term 2, Week 2. Topics covered during the tutorials include content revision, study skills, exam preparation and practice papers. These tutorials have proven extremely valuable and, while not compulsory, are strongly encouraged.
| DATE | SUBJECT | TIME | STAFF | ROOM |
| Monday, 6 May 2024 | Studies of Religion II | 3:15pm – 5:15pm | Cooper/ Stewart | W40 |
| Visual Arts | 3:15pm – 5pm | Turnbull | C13 | |
| Tuesday, 7 May 2024 | Society and Culture | 3:15pm – 4:15pm | Theo | W32 |
| Maths Standard 2 | 7:30am – 8.30am | Guirguis | E42 | |
| Wednesday, 8 May 2024 | Industrial Tech Multimedia | 7:30am – 8:30am | Gibbs | W32A |
| Maths Standard 2 | 7:30am – 8:30am | Cornish | E33 | |
| PDHPE | 7:30am – 8:30am | Darvill | GHR | |
| Modern History | 3:15pm – 4:15pm | Brophy | K11 | |
| Thursday, 9 May 2024 | English Advanced and Standard: Craft of Writing in the HSC | 7.30am – 8.30am | Porter/Barrie | K21 |
| Friday, 10 May 2024 | Hospitality | 7am – 8am | B McCarthy | TF1 |
It is important that we know attendance numbers so teachers can prepare accordingly. To that end, the expectation is that students who register for the tutorial, attend. Rolls will be taken to assist us to manage the program. The cut-off time to register for morning tutorials is 3pm the day prior. Ms Brooke Kent has emailed the registration sheet to students to register their attendance at the tutorials.
For parents/carers seeking information regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important that you contact your local parish to find out the details regarding when the Sacrament will be celebrated, and when the preparation classes will be held.
For students who attend St Charles Borromeo Parish (Mary Immaculate Church) and attend Waverley College, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 23 June 2024 at 2pm.
Please be aware that the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated each year, therefore only Year 6 students will be enrolled to receive the Sacrament.
View the boundary map HERE to see if you are within the parish boundary.
For further information, important dates and to register your son to receive this Sacrament, click HERE.
The document below will also give you important information regarding the dates of the Preparation program.
View the Sacrament of Confirmation Preparation Note HERE.
The Cardoner Project, a not-for-profit organisation that offers immersion experiences for students post school, will be presenting to all Year 11 students on Tuesday, 28 May 2024 during Period 1 in the PAC. All students are required to attend this presentation please.
Can you volunteer to assist in our canteen in Term 2? We really need you! Lunch is provided for all volunteers. We welcome all members of the Waverley College Community – mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and carers. If you are interested, please volunteer as soon as you can by clicking HERE.
Have you outgrown your blazer? If so, please consider donating it to the Clothing Pool as soon as you can, so other boys can keep warm this Term! More information is HERE.
The Future Proofing Study, conducted by the Black Dog Institute, is the largest and most comprehensive longitudinal study of adolescent mental health in Australia. It involves thousands of the same group of students completing annual, online surveys about their mental health and wellbeing for six years during their adolescence. This data collection process is due to be completed in 2026.
Please view findings from the Future Proofing Study presented by Dr Lyndsay Brown from the Black Dog Institute at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference (March, 2024) HERE.
Parents are invited to attend a virtual event, “Raising Students to Thrive” facilitated by wellbeing and leadership specialist, Daniel Merzer.
This exclusive session will unveil practical strategies to empower parents to foster resilience, wellbeing, and tenacity in their teenagers, paving the way for a future of success and fulfilment.
Date: Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Time: 7pm – 8:30pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Location: Zoom
Register: HERE.
Please see message below from Transdev John Holland regarding bus services in Term 2.
As Term 1 comes to a close, we would like to thank you for your cooperation. From Monday, 29 April 2024 some Transdev John Holland bus services will be adjusted to improve reliability and capacity on services to meet the needs of our customers.
Some bus services will be adjusted throughout the area to improve reliability and provide additional capacity on busy bus routes. Please note, your school bus service will not change, however we ask caregivers and students to check timetables to ensure their normal route service time has remained the same.
For more detailed information on any changes, please visit transportnsw.info/trip#/trip and you may “refine” your search by adding in “school service”.
We would like to take this opportunity to reinforce the topic of Opal Card Compliance for school students. It is a condition of the Student Code of Conduct when travelling that students must Tap On and Off with their School Opal Card or Child/Youth Opal Card every time when using public transport. This is so that Transport for NSW can understand customer travel patterns and adjust the services provided, if necessary.
If students do not meet these criteria, they will need to carry a Child/Youth Opal card with funds loaded onto it. If a student’s School Opal Card has expired or been damaged, lost or stolen, please visit transportnsw.info/school-travel-apply to reapply.
We will also continue conducting random visits to school bus stops to further support you and reinforce this message to students throughout the year.
Again, we would also like to take this opportunity thank you for your time and patience and look forward to working with you all throughout the year.
Ms Gabby Smith
Deputy Principal – Students
gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
As we farewell Term 1, I’d like to acknowledge the busyness of the past 11 weeks and the great work that everyone in our community has done to make our College a terrific place to learn, listen, teach, grow, connect, build friendships, share and communicate. I’ve witnessed people step out of their comfort zones and recognise that they are capable of more than they realise, which is a very positive development.
In the coming April holidays, I encourage students and families to make time in their days to connect with one another, reflect, recharge and have fun! I wish all those travelling a safe and inspiring time away. And to all our winter activities that are playing both locally and travelling to Armidale and Orange, we wish them safe journeys and wonderful competitions.
For Years 11 and 12 students, I draw your attention to the article authored by Ms Lynsey Porter HERE and her crucial advice in the Study Guide and Holiday Planner. Pace yourself with a sensible balance of study and breaks, and remember that routine is essential.
Recent academic and sporting congratulations are in order for two talented Waverley College students.
Last Friday evening I had the honour of attending the UNSW Co-op Scholar Induction Ceremony for Jack Preller. Jack graduated from Waverley College in 2023 achieving second academically while being a House Captain, and a member of the first’s Tennis and Debating teams. He was also engaged with Youth UN, participating in the UN Youth State and National conferences in 2023 and awarded the UNSW Co-op Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Commerce – Marketing.
Jack Preller (UNSW Co-op Scholar) with his family
In 2022 Jack founded Student-Based-Tutoring (SBT) which is a student-led in-person peer mentoring program that has provided over 100 hours of free tutoring to help students achieve their academic goals. Congratulations, Jack!
The UNSW Co-op Scholarship had 827 applications and awarded 58 scholarships for 2024. Some characteristics that scholarship applications winners had were the following:
Jack Preller (UNSW Co-op Scholar) with Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
Jack Preller with three scholarship winners
Our last previous Co-op Scholarship winner was Adam Hegedus (Class of 2015) who is the Managing Director of Educating the Future who seeks to set up and develop primary schools in Timor-Leste and educate the next generation. Adam is currently studying at Oxford University for a Master of Public Policy (Education) and MBA.
This week at the Australian Age Swimming Championships, Ollie Moclair (Year 11) did a PB in the 16 years Boys 100m Freestyle, made the A final, and placed 9th overall. He also placed +9th in the 50m Freestyle. The Olympic trials qualifying time is coming up in June which will be a fantastic experience for him. We’re all gunning for you, Ollie!
In May, a two-hour community workshop for students, parents and staff will be held locally to gather feedback and ideas that will help shape Council’s long-term Bicycle Strategy and Action Plan.
Council is seeking input from diverse ages and backgrounds as well as people who have varying experience and comfort levels with bicycle riding throughout the Waverley Local Government Area. They are even interested to hear from people who have considered bicycle riding for transport or leisure, but are reluctant due to safety concerns.
This is a great opportunity for children and young people to give Council their feedback and brainstorm with other residents. Especially as safe transport options were raised as a priority for local action at the Waverley Youth Summit in 2023.
Date: Thursday, 2 May 2024
Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Venue: Waverley Library Theatrette, Level 2, 32-48 Denison Street, Bondi Junction
Dinner: will be provided.
Places are limited and registrations are essential. Register HERE.
*All ages are welcome, however, children under 18 years of age participating in the workshop must be accompanied by a parent/carer who is also participating.
All schools have been asked to highlight extra surveillance on the light rail during the school holiday period. Please ensure you make responsible and safe choices when travelling on public transport.
The police and light rail employees are reporting that more and more young people are making dangerous decisions such as ‘buffer riding’ on the light rail, especially during the school holidays.
Please know that during these holidays, light rail employees and hired security officers will be monitoring the light rail around the clock. They will work with police to identify any young person who is doing the wrong thing and criminal behaviour will be reported.
Have you heard of REELise? REELise is a registered Australian charity formed to safeguard youth mental health and wellbeing, advance education and advance culture.
Waverley students are invited to participate in the upcoming REELise Film Festival 2024 short film competition. Entry is free! Consider entering, because this is an incredible opportunity to exercise your thought leadership and showcase your creative work to a wide audience. We have had much success in short film productions over the years, so this is an opportunity to inspire others through your creative intelligence and purposeful use of digital media.
Submission deadline: Sunday, 7 July 2024
Competition theme: ‘Choices.’
More information: submission requirements are HERE.
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am thrilled to share with you some news from the Languages Department, and how our students are going in Spanish classes here at Waverley. It has been a Semester filled with enthusiasm, engagement, and outstanding learning from our students.
In Year 8, our students have been setting the foundations in their language journey, focusing on basic conversations and developing their cultural knowledge. A highlight has been their amazing work with their multimedia Footballer Profile Assessment, and their Passport Learning Checkpoint task.
Please take some time to have a look at a few amazing examples from some of our talented students below.
Meanwhile, our Year 10 students have also been putting their creativity to work with their Children’s Book Assessment. During their recent mini food unit, students teamed up with the wonderful Year 10 Food Technology class. It was inspiring to see their teamwork in action to create delicious empanadas.
I must also commend the hard work and dedication displayed by our Seniors studying Stage 6 Spanish. I want to commend their dedication to assessment preparation and attendance of tutorials.
The Languages faculty are planning exciting learning opportunities and excursions for students to engage more actively with the Hispanic world. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement in nurturing our students’ love for languages.
Mr Daniel Best
Head of Languages
dbest@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Two years ago, Waverley College participated in a significant research project affiliated with Deakin University, QUT, and the University of Canberra titled ‘Teen Reading in the Digital Era.’ Research was conducted with secondary students in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, giving a broad overview of the reading habits of teenagers across Australia.
The results make for interesting reading in this recent article published in The Conversation (5 April 2024).
Recommended Reading lists have been sent to all parents, carers, and students.
Books can be borrowed from the school library.
Last week, I published a list of writing and poetry competitions happening at the moment.
Below is another wonderful local competition that Randwick City Council is running.
The Lionel Bowen Young Writers’ Award, named in honour of former Mayor of Randwick and former Deputy Prime Minister Lionel Bowen AC, seeks to uncover the writing talents of young people in Randwick City.
This year’s theme is “The Future is Wild”. There’s monetary prizes to win!
Build your story or poem around the theme The Future is Wild. Let your creativity flow in words, your short story or poem can be based on reality or be completely out of this world and imaginary.
Good luck!
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday with lots of reading and writing.
Ms Mary Ryan
Literacy Coordinator/ English Teacher
mryan01@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last week our Student Leadership group met with 20 other students from a variety of schools for our annual Prefect Afternoon Tea. We were privileged to have Ms Kate Miranda the NSW Director of Red Cross, address the students outlining her leadership journey. Kate stressed the importance of learning throughout the different leadership opportunities you may be presented with and having a passion to make a difference.
Students then shared their leadership initiatives and challenges in groups and enjoyed hearing the experiences and opportunities presented. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to engage with many different schools and to hear about their leadership journeys.
“Everyone is a leader all the time, whether they know it or not.”
Now that our Year 7 cohort have settled into Waverley, we will be holding our SRC Elections for 2024/25 the second week of Term 2.
Students will be voting in their Wellbeing groups and will be able to elect one student from Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 to represent their cohort, whilst the Year 11 students will be able to elect two students as their representatives.
If elected, students would be required to attend an SRC meeting with the College and House Captains once every two weeks.
SRC initiative: Gaelic Football, 2024 St Patrick’s Day celebrations
This is a wonderful service opportunity for students to engage with the different Year groups and to develop their leadership potential. All students will receive an email today outlining the procedure of applying for these positions:
Servant leadership is at the heart of all we do here at Waverley. I look forward to working with the young men who are willing to put themselves into the service of others.
SRC initiative: Gaelic Football, 2024 St Patrick’s Day celebrations
Ms Sue Walsh
Director of Mission & Identity
swalsh@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dear Parents, Staff and Students,
For those of you who don’t know, Waverley College’s ‘Worlds Greatest Shave’ Campaign was recently launched at the CAS Swimming Assembly and was given a very warm reception by those who attended, which we are all very grateful for. This cause is held very close to the hearts of the Waverley College community and has been at the forefront of our many Social Justice initiatives for a long time.
The World’s Greatest Shave Foundation is one that I know many in our community cherish and support graciously every year and one that has directly supported some of our past and present families at the College. While our Campaign is led by Lacey House – the Lacey students, families and staff showing unwavering support since its inception at the College – the Lacey Leadership Team would like to thank you for your support. Almost $14,000 has been raised for this charity.
Thank you for your support and if you would still like to make a donation please click HERE.
Jai Brodie – Lacey House Captain
Mr Damien Thompson
Head of Lacey House
dthompson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The preparation is paying off for our Year 9 Da Vinci Decathlon team who were awarded third place on Wednesday at the Sydney Regionals in the NSW Da Vinci Decathlon.
A team of dedicated scholars who demonstrate their aptitude across a range of disciplines in a series of short, complex challenges. Congratulations are in order for Alexander Avdalis, Carter Hughes, Henry Goodrich, Leo Owen, Hudson Campbell, Finley Cromer, Luke Ibrahim and Evan Service who finished,
Placing them overall in third place at the event!
Well deserved results by a dedicated team of all rounders. Thank you to Ms Laura Bleakley for escorting them and participating in the Decathlon marking process and to Ms Helen Barrie who was instrumental in the success of the team.
It was a pleasure to present at this week’s assembly, the summer co-curricular awards across such a broad array of activities, with many splendid individual and team performances. Congratulations to all award winners. View the article by Mr Steve O’Donnell to see the award winners HERE.
The annual Year 12 Mother and Son Lunch took place on Sunday, 24 March, by the harbour. The event was enriched by inspiring speakers who shared their post-Waverley experiences, emphasising the importance of happiness and working hard, which can manifest in diverse ways.
Thank you very much to the organising committee of Ms Tina Lee, Ms Trudy Devereux, Ms Michelle Dubois and Ms Claire Anstis, and to the MC Mr Murph Renford who did a fabulous job.
With the holidays approaching, here are a number of exciting literary competitions to keep our students interested in writing busy. Please share this information with your sons and encourage them to enter at least one of these contests. More details about requirements and closing dates can be found in Ms Lynsey Porter’s article HERE.
We want to encourage as many staff, students, friends and family as possible to join the team ‘Waverley College For Premmies’, supporting local charity Running for Premature Babies. Fundraising is optional but anyone on the team who raises $300 will be REFUNDED their race registration fee so you can RUN FOR FREE!
Please watch this short message HERE from the charity’s founder Sophie Smith, a parent at Waverley, explaining why August 2024 marks a special milestone for her family and for the charity.
Click HERE to register.
When you register, choose to ‘JOIN A TEAM’ and enter the team name ‘Waverley College for Premmies’.
The Uniform shop has informed me that we have plenty of stock in all sizes of the student lightweight rain jacket @ $38. They also have in stock the all weather Japara @ $255 which is a top quality Canadian all weather jacket that the clothing shop sells at cost price. The link to the Uniform Shop is HERE.
The Uniform Shop holiday trading notice is HERE.
TERM 1
Thursday, 30 January 2025 – Classes Resume for Years 5-12
Thursday, 10 April 2025 – Classes Conclude
TERM 2
Monday, 28 April 2025 – Years 7-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student-free day for Senior School
Monday, 28 April 2025 – Staff Professional Learning day for Junior School – student-free day for Junior School
Tuesday, 29 April 2025 – Years 7-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student-free day for Senior School
Tuesday, 29 April 2025 – Staff Professional Learning day for Junior School – student-free day for Junior School
Wednesday, 30 April 2025 – Classes Resume for Years 5-12
Thursday, 26 June 2025 – Classes Conclude
TERM 3
Monday, 21 July 2025 – Years 5-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student-free day
Tuesday, 22 July 2025 – Years 5-12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews – student-free day
Wednesday, 23 July 2025 – Classes Resume for Years 5-12
Thursday, 25 September 2025 – Classes Conclude
TERM 4
Tuesday, 14 October 2025 – Classes Resume
Tuesday, 2 December 2025 – Presentation Day, Classes Conclude
By the end of this Term, most students will have received feedback and results for at least one task in most of their subjects. It is really important that students use this feedback to reflect and consider the focus of their Term 2 2024 Academic SMART goals. Our Parent Teacher Student interviews at the start of Term 2 provide an opportune time for students to share and refine these goals with their teachers and parents/carers.
How students respond to results and feedback is just as important as completing the task itself. Sometimes results meet expectations and sometimes students can experience a situation where they have found aspects of an assessment task challenging. Dr Carol Dweck’s seminal work on the Growth Mindset can really help parents/carers to support their children during these times.
Ms Helen Barrie’s article below outlines some further information on this topic from a professional learning session that she attended last week.
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
The process of drafting written work is a complex endeavour. In the drafting phase of an assessment, students value teacher feedback, in which teachers read drafted work and offer advice on how the student can improve their writing in preparation for formal submission. It is common to define feedback as any actions taken by a teacher or coach to provide individuals with information regarding some aspect of their performance. Yet as the demands of the academic year multiply, teachers and coaches must ask themselves, ‘how do I give feedback successfully so students will use it to improve their performance?’.
Author/consultant James Nottingham, creator of The Learning Pit, argues that to successfully support students to review, apply and adapt meaningful feedback, students must focus on three questions to maximise their learning potential.
This last question is particularly important as it gives the student an opportunity to “look forward” and plan for their next steps to achieve their ultimate goal.
In keeping with our focus at Waverley on unlocking student potential, the Head of Science, Ms Gemma Brown and I recently attended Organisational Psychologist, Professor Adam Grant’s Sydney event, complimenting the release of his book, Hidden Potential, which in its myriad of applications included educators and people responsible for unlocking the potential in students. When discussing optimal feedback to drive growth, he referred to Dr Carol Dweck’s work on adopting a growth mindset, encouraging learners to be aware of our reactive and ego-driven desires for a quick fix which short-circuits true learning,
“Learning is more likely when students are reactive to feedback and growth oriented, and the sweet spot is when students are proactive and growth oriented. They consistently take the initiative to expand themselves and adapt,” he argues in his latest book, Hidden Potential.
Nottingham’s three questions are a great strategy for parents/carers to keep in mind when supporting their children to successfully use feedback to drive their growth. Psychologists suggest that procrastination may be a result of discomfort and anxiety related to a task. Yet, as Grant shows in a plethora of examples in his book, seeking out discomfort by reviewing and applying feedback can be a way to learn faster and more effectively.
Ref: Grant, A. (2023). Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things. London : WH Allen.
The preparation is paying off for our Year 9 Da Vinci Decathlon team who were awarded third place on Wednesday at the Sydney Regionals in the NSW Da Vinci Decathlon.
A team of dedicated scholars who demonstrate their aptitude across a range of disciplines in a series of short, complex challenges. Congratulations are in order for Alexander Avdalis, Carter Hughes, Henry Goodrich, Leo Owen, Hudson Campbell, Finley Cromer, Luke Ibrahim and Evan Service who finished,
Placing them overall in third place at the event!
Well deserved results by a dedicated team of all rounders and thank you to Ms Bleakley for escorting them and participating in the Decathlon marking process.
Ms Helen Barrie
Head of Academic Enrichment
hbarrie@waverley.nsw.edu.au
With the holidays approaching, here are a number of exciting literary competitions to keep our students interested in writing busy. Please share this information with your sons.
Poetry Competition: “Poem Forest”
The website link is HERE.
Created by Red Room Poetry, in partnership with Wollongong City Council, Poem Forest invites students and teachers to use their words to make positive climate action. For every nature poem received, a tree is planted to help heal habitats and create a Poem Forest for future generations. Since 2021, over 17,100 poem trees have been planted.
All Poem Forest Prize entries are published in our digital library and have the chance to win $5,000 in prizes, including $500 cash for each category, book packs, garden tours, plants, journals and more.
The website link is HERE.
Stories are being judged on two key things:
CRAFT: Is your story well written and descriptive? Have you shown a strong command of language, structure, and vocabulary? Is it clear that you understand what key elements go into making a good story?
IDEA: How original and unique is your idea? Has your story got something interesting to share? Does it affect the reader emotionally? Does your story grab the reader and make them want to read more?
We encourage all students to enter the competition! We are judging based on ideas and passion for storytelling, just as heavily as on technical craft and command of language.
Entries are now open
Entries close Friday, 31 May 2024.
The website link is HERE.
Since 2004, we’ve been asking young people across Australia to raise their voices on the issues that matter most to them.
Inspired by Gough Whitlam’s lifelong commitment to involving young people in shaping Australia’s future, 20 years of this national competition has shown us that young people are deeply committed to making the change they want to see in the world. We believe that your voices are important and need to be heard in the conversations we are having as a society.
In 2024, the competition’s 20th year, we’re asking you to raise your voices louder than ever! Because what matters to young people matters to us all.
Entries are open
Entries close Friday, 17 May 2024.
The website link is HERE.
The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2024 is open! Enter your poems by 31 July 2024 HERE.
The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is one of the biggest and most prestigious poetry competitions for 11-17 year olds in the world. Every year, 15 top winners and 85 commended poets are chosen; together, they represent some of the most exciting new voices writing today.
This year’s judges are the fantastic Vanessa Kisuule and Jack Underwood, and they can’t wait to read your poems! If you’re aged 11-17, send in your poems for the chance to be among the 100 winners and kick-start your writing career.
Poems can be on any theme and in any style, but must be no longer than 40 lines. You can submit as many as you like. The Roots Belong to You (and anthologies from many previous years are available HERE).
If you have any queries, or if you would like any information about the competition in an alternative format, please contact us at fyp@poetrysociety.org.uk
Entries are open
Entries close Wednesday, 31 July 2024.
Ms Mary Ryan
Literacy Coordinator and English teacher
mryan01@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Our emotions are physical and mental states that communicate with us a range of information which naturally guides our behaviours and reactions. We all feel a range of different emotions each day and sometimes these emotions are more obvious or heightened than other days. Despite the intensity, our emotions are extremely important for our survival and wellbeing. But what happens when our emotions seem to get the better of us – or our children?
Worry Stacking is a term used by Dr Justin Coulson from Happy Families, a parenting expert from ‘Parental Guidance’. According to Justin, worry stacking happens when a seemingly trivial or small incident results in a huge emotional reaction from our children. In the moment, we may be alarmed and confused by our child’s emotional reaction, but in retrospect, the reaction may not be excessive as once perceived. Namely, our children may have experienced multiple worries that have added up to the crisis point – the straw that broke the camel’s back! “A lost school hat can quite literally feel like life or death”.
Image 1 – reference: Dr Justin Coulson, Worry Stacking, Happy Families
Justin goes onto say that to help our children (and ourselves), we can intervene sooner when the smaller issues arise to avoid this seemingly quick escalation. It may look a little something like this:
Image 2 – reference: Dr Justin Coulson, Worry Stacking, Happy Families
How can we help our children to learn to help themselves? Lots of ways! Arguably, the most important way is spending time building and maintaining a secure connection with your child, which is much easier to action when they are feeling calm and more like their usual self.
We all want to be heard and listened to, especially when we are having a hard day. However, often when our children are in distress, we want to ‘fix’ the situation for them sooner rather than later – this is a natural response! This approach however devalues the importance of listening actively and validating what is going on in your child’s internal world.
A strong connection requires judgemental-free listening as well as acknowledging your child’s feelings; this shows them that you know what they are upset about and are here to be with them during tricky times.
Practically, this may look like spending time together frequently in a distraction-free setting, saying ‘I love you’ often, creating fun and regular parent-child traditions, and even eating breakfast or dinner together. The more positive time spent together, the more your child will feel safe to share the not-so-fun parts about life and the more fruitful and trusting the relationship becomes.
Dr Justin Coulson recommends further tips on how to push the reset button to help our children. His e-book, Worry Stacking, is available free of charge on the HappyFamilies website for a limited time.
Access the Worry Stacking Resource HERE.
If you think your child may need some extra support in managing their emotions, our Psychology team information is listed below.
Junior School Psychologists:
Senior School Psychologists:
Fees paid before the prompt payment date attract a $25.00 discount.
Any payment received after the due date will attract an administrative fee.
Please see the last page of your account for payment methods and contact details.
If you wish to withdraw your son from Waverley College, you are required to give one full Term’s notice in writing to the Principal that your son’s enrolment will cease.
The last day you can give notice that your son’s enrolment is finishing at the end of a school Term, is the first day of the same Term. If not received by that date, you must pay one Term’s tuition fees.
The relevant dates 2024 are:
Kind regards,
Mr Jonathan Phillips
Director of Business Services
jphillips@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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