From the Director of Wellbeing, Matt Porter
Wellbeing mentor time topic – Social Intelligence (Morals, Values and Beliefs)
The intention of this fortnight’s topic is to provide students with the opportunity to gain greater social and emotional awareness and to practice interpersonal skills such as empathy and compassion. Social and Emotional Learning can help students develop their self-awareness by setting aside time to identify and reflect upon what they believe in and why. The intention of this module is to promote respectful relationships and build student capacity to recognise and manage their own emotions and make responsible decisions. By exposing students to divergent views and perspectives on a range of issues and topics they should be able to articulate their values and opinions and effectively manage their emotions, behaviour and relationships with others.
What will you give up for Lent?
At the commencement of Lent, boys have been asked to reflect on two key questions.
- What can I do to make myself a better person?
- What can I do in order to benefit the lives of those that I care about or those in need?
Those who observe Lent often use it as a time for prayer and penance. By observing Lent we are remembering the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Some may choose to fast for the whole period of Lent, while others may fast only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Many people, choose to give up a particular vice, such as their favourite food, alcohol or social media for the period of Lent.
Instead of giving up chocolate, fizzy drinks or chips, many others use Lent as a period of time to help others. Hundreds of people take part in the Lenten Positive Acts Challenge, as another way to show praise for God. Participants perform one positive act for each of the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. These ‘positive acts’ can include calling up someone who is alone, donating to a worthy cause, doing extra chores around the house or letting someone go ahead of you in a queue.
During this time students at Waverley will be asked to participate and support a range of charities and social justice endeavors. More specific information on these events will be provided to students in their House Assemblies.
International Women’s Day Breakfast Address
Congratulations must go to those students selected as a 2017 student leader at Waverley College. These students are invited to our International Women’s Day Breakfast and Leadership Training Day. The breakfast will be held in the Lacey Gymnasium on next Wednesday 8 March 2017 from 7:30-8:30 am.
All College Captains, Prefects and SRC members are invited to attend along with one female guest per student. This is a fantastic opportunity to congratulate these boys and for them to thank the women in their lives who have supported them.
It is a great pleasure to welcome our guest speaker Kerry Chikarovski to appear at this event. Her public roles include:
- Board of Directors, Our Watch (current)
- Chair, NSW Women’s Rugby Union
- Director, NSW Rugby Union
- Board member, Humpty Dumpty Foundation
- Ambassador, Australian Indigenous Education Foundation
- Board member Adopt Change
- Former Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales (1998-2002) and Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Lane Cove (1991-2003)
- Chika is also a proud ambassador for YWCANSW, the Eggtober Foundation and the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF).
To read more about Kerry, CLICK HERE.
… and here is more information on her organisation ‘OUR WATCH‘. Our Watch has been established to drive nationwide change in the culture, behaviours and power imbalances that lead to violence against women and their children.
Guests will be asked to contribute a gold coin donation to support “Our Watch”.
Senior School Students will then attend a Leadership Training Session during Periods 3 and 4 on this day. This session will focus on leadership in action and be facilitated by guest presenter, Glen Gerryn, from the HopeFull Institute and our current College Captains and Year 12 Prefects.
For more information on Glen’s work please CLICK HERE.
World’s Greatest Shave
We’re helping to beat blood cancer by taking part in the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave! In the week starting Monday 13 March, the College will be asking for staff and student volunteers to “Brave the Shave” and lend their support to this worthwhile initiative. In 2016 Waverley College was one of the leading fund raisers in this campaign. We thank you in advance for your support.
Students who wish to participate must bring a note from home saying they have permission to have their head shaved and also contribute at least $10 in donations. We are also asking for parent volunteers to either loan a set of clippers for the day or act as hairdressers at lunchtime on Monday 13 March in the Centenary Quad. If you are able to help in anyway please email me directly.
Please sponsor us to give Aussie families facing blood cancer the emotional and practical support they need. You will also help fund vital research so more people survive blood cancers like lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma.
To support our fundraising in the World’s Greatest Shave, please CLICK HERE and sponsor Waverley College’s efforts.
