This is a reminder that the Online NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy will run next week from 10 to 12 May 2022.
The NAPLAN timetable can be accessed in the following links:
*It is also recommended that students reboot their laptops on the morning of a test, to minimise issues with the online portal.
At the start of each test, students must line up in base classes in alphabetical order in the Centenary Quad.
Students must bring:
Excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online is not recommended. Students do not need to be able to touch type to complete NAPLAN Online as the tests are not about keyboard skills (just as the paper test is not about handwriting skills).
Students can use the public demonstration site below, to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools available in the NAPLAN Online tests.
>>> Click here to view this public demonstration site.
If you have any questions regarding this practice test, please contact either Ms Lynsey Porter, Director of Curriculum, Ms Gabrielle Bransby, Assistant Director of Junior School/Curriculum, or Mr David Parnell, Head of Learning Support.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Director of Curriculum
E: lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Literacy and Numeracy tutorials recommence in the week beginning Monday, 2 May.
Mr Michael Couani
Head of English
E: mcouani@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Every year, Waverley places students from Years 5 – 11 in the da Vinci Decathlon, run through Knox Grammar School.
It is a fantastic opportunity to enrich academic studies and extend skills across a range of different domains, such as Art, Science, Creative Producers, English, Ideation, Mathematics, Poetry, Engineering, Cartography, Code Breaking and General Knowledge.
The da Vinci Decathlon is running in Term 2 online from 24 – 26 May, with specific year groups participating on separate days.
We are seeking a few more students for a combined Years 7 – 8 team.
If you are interested, please email enrichment@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please note, spaces are extremely limited, so students who do not get a spot on the team will be placed on a reserves list.
For those who have not participated, more information can be found below.
>>> Click here to view further information about the da Vinci Decathlon.
Ms Stephanie Boyce
Academic Enrichment Coordinator
E: enrichment@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Students in Year 7 will participate in a joint Geography and Religion excursion at Centennial Parklands and Wetlands Environmental Education Centre on Monday, 9 May 2022.
Students will undertake activities relating to the ‘Water in the World’ and ‘Stewards of Creation’ units of work.
Parent/Carer permission is required.
>>> Click here to view full excursion information and to complete the Google form permission slip.
I kindly ask all parents/carers to complete the Google form permission slip no later than Monday, 2 May.
Please note, students will walk to the venue from the College and will be dismissed from the venue at 3pm.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the College via email: nsposari@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Nicholas Sposari
Teacher of HSIE and Religion
E: nsposari@waverley.nsw.edu.au
From next Monday, 28 March, you will be able to make bookings for the Years 7-11 Parent/ Teacher/ Student Interviews to be held on Wednesday, 27 April from 8:30am – 6:30pm.
This will occur through the TASS Parent Lounge and bookings will close on Tuesday, 26 April at 5pm. It will not be possible to open the bookings after that time, so please ensure that you access the system by this date.
The interviews will be online via Zoom. Instructions and individual Teacher Zoom codes will be sent prior to the session.
These interviews are an opportunity to meet class teachers and to assist students to set goals for the coming term.
In order to have staff available to as many families as possible, interviews will be of five (5) minutes’ duration.
To make the process as efficient as possible, and to minimise lost time, we request that you:
Details on how to login to the Parent Lounge were sent to all parents earlier in the term. The link to the parent lounge is below.
>>> Click here to view the Waverley College Parent Lounge.
user id = your son’s student ID
password = if you cannot remember your password you can reset by selecting ‘forgot password’
Please contact iAssist at iassist@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Mr Chris Soden
Assistant Director of Curriculum
E: csoden@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life.
Students in Years 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
Our school will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 10 and 13 May 2022.
In preparation for NAPLAN Online, our Senior School will be participating in practice tests on Monday, 21 March for Year 5 students from 9am, and Thursday, 24 March for Years 7 and 9 students.
This will provide students with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the test. It will also give the College an opportunity to check that the correct infrastructure is in place. The practice tests are not an assessment of student ability and will not be marked.
Students must bring their fully-charged laptops and headphones to this session.
Excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online is not recommended. Students do not need to be able to touch type to complete NAPLAN Online as the tests are not about keyboard skills (just as the paper test is not about handwriting skills).
Students can use the public demonstration site to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools available in the NAPLAN Online tests.
>>> Click here to view the public demonstration site.
>>> Click here to view further information.
If you have any questions regarding this practice test, please contact either Ms Lynsey Porter, Director of Curriculum, Ms Gabrielle Bransby, Assistant Director of Junior School / Curriculum, or Mr David Parnell, Head of Learning Support.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Director of Curriculum
E: lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au
If your son is well-spoken, intelligent, and knowledgeable on current affairs, then he will benefit from choosing Debating as a co-curricular activity during the Winter season.
Debating can be joined alongside sport, as the competitions take place on Friday nights. Students train two sessions per week week, and these are flexible in order to accommodate students’ other commitments. Debating can also be a standalone Winter co-curricular option.
Each year, the Debating students in Year 12 achieve some of our highest ATAR results, including some of the members of the 2021 Honour Roll. These students compete in Debating their entire time at the College, proving the academic benefits of the activity.
Year 7 at the Catholic Schools’ Debating Association Competition in 2021
Year 8 students displaying rhetorical skill and confidence at the Catholic Schools’ Debating Association Competition in 2021
Waverley College competes in two Debating competitions during the Winter season:
We are currently looking for 10 Year 7 students who would be eager to represent the College in Debating.
If your son is interested in participating in Debating, please contact the convenor, Ms Emma Halpin at ehalpin@waverley.nsw.edu.au and she will provide your son with more information.
Ms Emma Halpin
Convenor of Public Speaking and Debating
E: ehalpin@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Do you often find your son with his head in a book? Does he like science fiction? War stories? Horror? Perhaps he has recently discovered crime fiction.
Parents, your Year 7 sons can come to the library at recess and / or lunch to share and talk about a book they are reading, have read, or to just consider a book they might like to read!
Library staff and student leaders will join in to make recess and lunches a place where your sons can connect to literature, have a bit of fun, and meet other students in their year.
Encourage your sons to come along! Biscuits and snacks will be provided, as we sit in a group together to share and inspire.
Mr Bill Roberts
Head of Library Services
Years 9 and 10 Applied Philosophy Teacher
E: wroberts@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This is a friendly reminder that the Year 7 Parent / Student Study Skills Evening is scheduled next Tuesday, 1 March, 2022 at 6pm – 7:30pm as outlined in the College Diary.
>>> Click here to view further details about the Year 7 Parent / Student Study Skills Evening.
Please note that, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will be running the session online as a live stream event via ‘Zoom’.
>>> Click here to view the meeting link.
Meeting ID: 852 5717 7100
The password required to join is: study123
Students should ensure that they have an electronic copy of the Family Handout. A hard copy of the Family Handout was also distributed during the Year 7 Assembly this morning, if you and your son would prefer that format.
>>> Click here to view the Family Handout.
This is a compulsory event for all Year 7 students, and the skills will be put into practice as students progress throughout the year.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Director of Curriculum
E: lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au
There was much anticipation in the lead up to camp, as we were all hoping that COVID-19 wouldn’t cancel our plans once again. All the activities we experienced at Somerset were lots of fun, as well as being challenging. We learnt to be resilient and work as a team during the time we spent together.
We also had the opportunity to make new friendships, and got to know the other boys in our House better. We were very lucky to participate in a variety of activities including the wombat hole, crate stack, kayaking, swimming, giants ladder, bushwalking, high ropes, initiatives and base 7.
One of our favourite activities at camp was setting up the tents. We slept in the tents with a friend from our House. Who knew that the night sky away from the city could be so dark? This tested a few of us at first, but with all the activities during the day, it didn’t take long to get to sleep.
Cooking dinner and breakfast was great fun because we not only cooked for our friends, but the rest of our group as well. We enjoyed cooking and eating the sausages and pancakes. Cleaning the dishes wasn’t that bad either! It made us feel like we were growing into young men and starting to do what our parents do.
We’d like to acknowledge the students who couldn’t attend camp because of isolation, and we hope that you can join us next year. We’d also like to thank all the teachers who took time away from their own families to take good care of us, and also make the camp such good fun.
Student Reporters
Oliver Lorimer (Aungier), Declan Shehadie (Aungier), Jordan Mano (Brennan), Archie Goulding (Conlon), and Axel Stapleton (Tevlin).
Footnote: On behalf of the staff who went to camp, we would like to thank all Year 7 students on the way they cooperated and participated in all aspects of the camp. Your sons are a credit to you all.
If your son did not return home with all his belongings, ‘Lost Property’ items can be found in the Wellbeing Centre.
Ms Cathy O’Sullivan
Head of Conlon House
E: cosullivan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Please see below for final details about Year 7 Camp.
Departure Date: Monday, 14 February
School arrival time: 7:45 am. Please ensure students are on campus no later than 7:45am. Students will assemble in their House groups in the Centenary Quad.
Return from Camp: Wednesday, 16 February
Approximate arrival time: 3pm. Camp staff will contact Reception to advise of the estimated time of return to school.
Students are to wear casual clothing and will need to bring their own recess on Monday.
NOTE: If your son develops an illness over the weekend and is unable to attend the camp, please email your son’s Head of House by 7am on Monday morning, to confirm that your son is unable to attend.
>>> Click here to view the Equipment List.
Please do not pack lollies, valuables or mobile phones.
Your son will be able to contact you via phone from the camp if required. If you need to contact your son, please phone 0424 151 364 (school mobile which we will have with us) or alternatively 0427 891 487 (Camp Somerset.)
If your son is required to take medication, please place the medication and instructions in a clear zip-lock bag with your son’s name clearly marked on the outside. This bag is to be handed to your son’s Head of House on Monday morning.
Rapid Antigen Testing
As per College policy, all students must be tested at home before school on Monday morning. Whilst at camp, if your son develops symptoms of illness or becomes unwell, you will be contacted.
If you have any questions or concerns at all regarding your son’s attendance at Camp, please do not hesitate to contact your son’s Head of House.
All Heads of House and accompanying staff are looking forward to getting to know your son at the Year 7 camp.
Ms Cathy O’Sullivan
Head of Conlon
E: cosullivan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Assessment Schedules for 2022 are now available for students in Years 7 here, and on the College website. Students should download a copy of their schedule, and add the dates and study plans to their College Diaries.
>>> Click here to view the Year 7 Assessment Booklet.
Ms Lynsey Porter
Director of Curriculum
E: lporter@waverley.nsw.edu.au