Waratah Weekly - Term 4, Edition 3 - Friday, 1 November 2024

Community Links Hamper Support

The College has partnered with Community Links in an approach to support families in our community that are struggling or vulnerable. One area in which the College will be providing support in Term 4 is through a collection of non-perishable food items that will be collected by Community Links on 29 November. The collection of these goods will assist in the formation of Hampers for families in our community who are doing it tough, to make the Christmas period a bit more comfortable.

How Can Our Community Get Involved?
Donate an item from the list below. Collections will take place during Care and Culture Groups from Monday, 25 November to Friday, 29 November.

Each item donated will accrue one House Point.

The House Group that donates the most items across the week will have a Flag Raising and receive Ice Blocks.

The first Care and Culture Group that has all members donate at least one item will be invited with their teacher to a Morning Tea to thank them for their donations.

The items that can be donated are listed below. Please select from these options as they are the requested items by Community Links.

• Tinned Ham
• Cake/Cookie Mix
• Lollies/Chocolate
• Christmas Sweets
• Tinned Vegetables
• Tinned Fruit
• Cereal/Pancake Mix
• Long-life Custard
• Spaghetti/Baked Beans
• Pasta/Rice Sauces
• Pasta/Rice
• Tuna Cans
• Biscuits
• Pudding
• Tea Bags/Coffee
• Jelly Crystals
• Instant Noodles
  
• Bon Bons

Our thematic goal in 2024 has been focused on care, supporting this initiative would be a wonderful demonstration of the importance of caring for those in our community who may not be in as fortunate a position as ourselves.

Mr Liam Toland
Director of Care & Culture T-12

Primary News

Class Teachers and Placements 2025 
Please see below for the Primary class teachers for 2025 (please note these may change due to unforeseen circumstances, in this case, parents would be notified of their child's class changes).

Teachers will spend time over the next few weeks determining class placements for 2025. Should parents have specific concerns or requests regarding social placements, they should contact their child's class teacher. For example, you would like your child separated from a particular friend because they are distracted by them.

Parents should NOT make requests for specific teachers. There may be exceptional circumstances where you may feel you need to discuss teacher placement. These must be made directly to me via email - j.huxtable@wac.nsw.edu.au

Please note, parent requests will be considered, however, not guaranteed. The class teachers who have worked with students all year have an understanding of their needs and the dynamics between students here at the College. 

ANY REQUEST MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, 8 NOVEMBER TO BE CONSIDERED.

Meet the Teacher Afternoon K-5
Students from Kindergarten to Year 5 (2024) will be told their 2025 class placement on 9 December and will be given the opportunity to meet their new teacher and class. This can be a time when some students feel disappointed. Parents can help their children by having a positive attitude towards their placement. Our experience is that it is an exciting time and the students leave feeling happy.

Class Teachers 2025

Ms Jacqui Huxtable
Director of Teaching and Learning T-6

Primary Sports

Term 4 IPSSO - Summer Competition: 
Next few weeks of IPSSO in Term 4 (note switch to Summer competition)

• 6 November - WAC BYE
• 13 November - HOME vs Broughton Anglican College
• 20 November - SUMMER finals

Mr James Gooden
Secondary English Teacher/Primary Sports Coordinator

Performing Arts News

Music Tuition - Weeks 4 and 5
Due to Primary Assessment Week occurring in Weeks 4 and 5, our College Music Tuition timetable has had to be modified. All Music Tutors are aware of this change and have been asked to pass on these changes to the parents and students. If your child has Music Tuition, their lesson times may be different during these weeks, in order to navigate around the necessity of the Primary assessments. This will affect both Primary and Secondary students. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Grant (l.grant@wac.nsw.edu.au).

College Strings - QVNH Visit
The College Strings will be visiting the Queen Victoria Nursing Home next Thursday afternoon, during their regular rehearsal time, to perform for the residents. All parents of students involved should have received a notification via the College App.

Mr Lloyd Grant
Performing Arts Coordinator T-12

PDHPE: Health & Physical Education Day

On Friday, 25 October Health and Physical Education (HPE) Day, endorsed by the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER), was recognised at the College to conclude Wellbeing Week. The theme of the day was “Fitness”, where students had the opportunity to complete a number of fitness activities to earn points for their house.

Students who had PDHPE on the day all engaged in a PE lesson and there were a number of activities held at break times. Before College, there was a house “beep test” relay where house groups tried to get as high as they could by filling in for each other when a runner got tired. At both breaks, there were fitness challenges where students could earn points through metres or repetitions gained. The fitness challenges included the rower, ski machine, spin bike, push ups, battle rope and plank jacks. Well done to Grevillia who won the house point competition.

Mr Joshua Hewitt
Leader of Learning - PDHPE

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We're Hiring - TAS Teacher 7-12

We are currently seeking applications for the following roles to commence in 2025:

• TAS Teacher 7-12

For further information on any of the permanent positions, please contact Mr Geoff Adams on 02 4684 2577 or at g.adams@wac.nsw.edu.au

From the College Chaplain

The College Learner Disposition focus for Term 4 is Reflective. This is a habit that we are working on developing and cultivating in our students.

In this fast-paced world, the discipline of slowing down, pausing and thinking carefully before acting is becoming harder and harder. The art of reflection, considering what is important to us before choosing to act is vital.

This world causes us to feel a sense of urgency. We need to get the shopping done, the house cleaned, renovations, the car serviced, the lawn mown and the list goes on and on. It's endless. I think having a sense of urgency is a good thing, as long as it's not misplaced.

In 1 Peter 4:7, Peter contends that the best thing for us to have a sense of urgency about is our eternity. He reminds us that we are living in the last days, the period of time between Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension and when Jesus will return again the 2nd and final time. 

Peter encourages us to be people that are aware and alert, of a sober mind. He's encouraging us to remain focused on God. Why? Because Peter wants us to have a sense of urgency about how we live our lives as we wait for the Lord Jesus to return. What's most important in our lives now is going to be made clear when Jesus returns. The Bible contends that when Jesus returns all of us will have to give an account of our lives. At that moment it's going to become crystal clear where our priorities have been placed. I encourage you to consider where your sense of urgency lies; is it in the things of God or the things of this world?

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
1 Peter 4:7

Mr Matthew Roberts
College Chaplain

Book Fair

Thank you to all those who visited our Book Fair, it was a great success once again.

It is wonderful to see students and families getting so excited about books and reading (and stationary!). The Fair earns a 25% commission to be used for book purchases for the College Libraries. We are still waiting on several re-orders, which I anticipate we will receive next week.

Thank you for your patience.

Mrs Justine Colombo
College Librarian

Community Links Donation Bin

We now have a Community Links Donation Bin at Student Reception! Your contributions will support locals in need through the Community Links Wellbeing Emergency Relief Program. Donations of food items must be before the ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ dates and all items must be new and unopened.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can make a difference!

P&F Clothing Pool

The Clothing Pool offers a selection of pre-loved uniform items from Transition to Year 12 at very reasonable prices.

We also stock new ties and socks.

The Clothing Pool relies on donations of uniforms and needs volunteers to keep the Clothing Pool open. Donations can be left at the Clothing Pool during opening hours or at Student Reception at other times.

Payment: Card Only (no cash)
Location: White Cottage through the side windows
Monday to Friday 7.45 am to 8.30 am
Phone: (02) 4623 0286
Email: clothingpool@wac.nsw.edu.au

Have you been wanting to help out at the College but don’t have much time to spare?
The Clothing Pool is looking for volunteers! Volunteering for 45 minutes just one morning a week is a great, quick and simple way to really help the WAC community.

Training provided (but it’s so easy!) A great way to meet other parents.

Volunteers are needed for Monday - Friday mornings between 7.45 am to 8.30 am. If you are able to help at all, please get in contact.

Mrs Cristina Negi and Mrs Amanda Coles
P&F Clothing Pool Coordinators

College Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

SIMEC Tahmoor Coking Coal

Little Elves Childcare Centre

LOWES

Gold Sponsors

• PB Catering
• Prestige Landscape & Construction

Silver Sponsors

• Picton Eyecare
• Kwik Kopy Macarthur
• Momenta Advisors
• Thronton Bros Roses

Bronze Sponsors

• Narellan Pools
  
• NSW Rail Museum
  
• ESP Security

Community News

Thriving Together with ADHD Workshops

Community Links Wellbeing and Brief Therapy Solutions have come together to develop and implement a program to assist parents in the Camden LGA with children displaying traits of ADHD, or diagnosed with ADHD and not receiving NDIS.

Many parents fall through the cracks for support when it comes to this area and are on long waitlists to see specialised services and receive support, often struggling with parenting their ADHD child and their behaviours due to the immense stress they are experiencing.

Parents know their children best and it is our aim to raise further awareness on the topic by providing parents with some general support through education and some strategies (where possible) to help maintain their needs and support family connection whist they wait to see their specialist/practitioner.  

Each workshop will allow opportunity for parents and carers to present their questions to the speaker/s either on the booking form or at the session

The workshops will run each Thursday, 24^th October 2024 to 28^th November 2024. The location is proposed for Julia Reserve at Oran Park

We currently have the following workshop speakers:

• 07/11/2024 Understanding Sensory Needs and Executive function by Nicole Sharpe BAppSc(Hons)OT, PhD- Believe and Become
• 14/11/2024 Communication and School Support- Dept of Education and Speech Pathologist Libby Duffy- Community Links Wellbeing
• 21/11/2024 ADHD in the Family Context by Dr Steve Walker- Brief Therapy Solutions
• 28/11/2024 Understanding the relationship between ADHD and Eating Habits by Fofe Vrettos APD MNutri & Diet BSC (Nutr) Bowral Nutrician

Expressions of Interest/ Booking information and QR code is on the flyer or via this link https://forms.office.com/r/xV9w70icMe

Judy Hannan MP for Wollondilly Christmas Card Photo Competition. 

Educator Info Night - Wollondilly Family Day Care

Moss Vale Parents & Carers Tour - Education Pathways Program