Waratah Weekly - Term 4, Edition 8 - Friday, 1 December 2023

Celebrating Student Achievements

Last night, we enjoyed a fantastic evening of celebration with our Secondary students and parents. The following is a summarised version of my address from the night.

In concluding this academic year, I reflect on the journey of our exceptional students, emphasising that the College experience extends beyond academics to shape character and values. Amidst societal decline, characterised by laziness and entitlement, we assert our commitment to God-designed virtues of hard work and self-discipline. Recognising societal shifts away from faith, Wollondilly Anglican College stands firm in its dedication to academic excellence and character cultivation, swimming against the tide to instil enduring values in our students.

Embracing the challenge of societal values, our mission goes beyond conventional education, aiming to empower young individuals for positive contributions. Despite potential challenges, we draw inspiration from Churchill's words: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts". Excellence, we affirm, is earned through responsible and disciplined daily choices.

Commending our dedicated staff, we echo Martin Luther King Jr.'s sentiment: "Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." The collaborative success of our students and the nurturing educational environment are attributed to the partnership between dedicated staff and devoted parents.

As we commemorate this year's accomplishments, we eagerly anticipate the opportunities and challenges of the next academic year. Together, as a united community, we persist in our mission to guide and inspire students, fostering knowledgeable, compassionate, resilient, and responsible members of society. I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your commitment and support. Congratulations to all students, and may God bless you and your families during the upcoming Christmas holiday.

Mr Trevor Norman
College Headmaster

Donations to Support Local Families

As we approach the end of the College year, we are encouraging our students and families to support the Community Links annual Christmas Hamper Collection.

Please see the list of items below that will be collected to form hampers for families in need in the Wollondilly area across the Christmas period.

The final day that items can be brought into the College is Thursday, 7 December. Baskets are in place at Student and Guest Reception to place items.

It would be great if all families could support this initiative by having their children bring in an item to donate prior to this time frame. It is really important that we continue to be outward in our thinking and support of others less fortunate, this is a small practical opportunity to do so.

Mr Liam Toland
Director of Pastoral Care T-12

Additional Morning Bus Service from Bingara Gorge

Picton Buslines is pleased to inform you that approval has finally been granted to commence the additional morning service from Bingara Gorge to WAC. This will remove the need for any student to stand from Wilton/Bingara Gorge to the College. It will also allow students currently travelling on the Berrima AM11 Lion service and transferring at Bargo, to travel directly to school on the AM13 Giraffe service. This service will commence from Monday, 4 December 2023

Secondary Presentation & Showcase Evening

It was with great excitement and anticipation that we celebrated the many wonderful achievements by the students last night at the Secondary Presentation and Showcase Evening. It was wonderful to see so many of our students applying themselves with diligence throughout the course of the year and we were able to celebrate their success both academically, from a sporting perspective and from a performing arts perspective. I was impressed with the students that also served the College in 2023 with a servant heart and looked to involve themselves in service-based activities and extracurricular.

On a personal note, I was excited to present the 'The Best of the Best' award. The Australian Institute of Culinary Arts is an organization that is designed to recognise outstanding practical skills specifically in the area of Culinary Arts. The ‘Best of the Best’ competition, is a competition for students studying Hospitality either through TAFE, a private organisation or school and is designed to recognise exceptional talent and skills of trainees working towards their Hospitality qualification. Students are nominated by their trainees and teachers are expected to have a commitment to their studies, outstanding study results and an ethos that is supportive of the industry.

It was with great pleasure that the College had two National Finalists - Rocket Middlebrook and Sohpie Waites. Sophie was announced the winner and is to be congratulated on this outstanding result. Well done Sophie!

Mrs Kelly Evans
Director of Teaching & Learning 7-12

Secondary Presentation Evening Awardees

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Performing Arts News

Sherlock Holmes - Musical - Leads ONLY in Week 9
For Week 9, ONLY the lead cast members will need to attend, due to the Year 6 Progress Dinner occurring on the same day. An email should have been sent home to parents informing them of this change in the schedule.

Students in the cast are encouraged to remind their parents to complete the Google Costume Sizing Form:

Click Here

Miss Bailey has requested that this be filled in before the end of the term so we can commence costume-making or ordering.

Festival of Lights - Cancelled
It was unfortunate that we received the news that the Festival of Lights event in Bowral scheduled for Friday, 1 December was cancelled due to the inclement weather. Our College Choir was preparing for this event. We thank Mr Richard Lane and Mrs Rigg for their work with the students preparing for this.

Formal Assemblies and Secondary Presentation and Showcase Evening Performances
It was fantastic to see and hear many noteworthy performances at the two Formal Assemblies and the Secondary Presentation and Showcase Evening this week. 

At the Secondary Formal Assembly on Wednesday morning, Luke Webber shined with a beautiful rendition of ‘Always With Me, Always With You’ on the electric guitar. We were also entertained by the College Strings performing ‘Running Up That Hill’ by Kate Bush and two Year 12 students, Natalie Watts and Sienna Lopez showcased their dance skills with an emotional performance entitled ‘Sisterhood’. This performance was a self-choreographed duo routine that they had performed earlier in the term at the Form Dance Sharp Short Dance Festival at Riverside Theatre. This event recognises young dancers under 21 years and provides a platform for aspiring performers and choreographers to share their works in a variety of genres. Unfortunately, due to the weather and safety of the students, our very large College Cheer contingent were not able to perform a routine they had been working on. But we thank Miss Valente and the students for being on standby, just in case.

At the Primary Formal Assembly on Thursday morning, the Primary Strings showcased their skills, Declan Maxwell performed a solo on the drums, Scarlett Bronneburg performed a dance solo and the College Bucketz shared a performance they had workshopped with Mr Michael Griffiths, our resident drum tutor. We thank him for his work with these students. We also had the opportunity to hear a selection of Year 6 students performing three short tunes they have been working on in their Music classes with Mrs Barker.

Thursday evening was yet another great event with quality performances in different areas. We witnessed our past Year 12 HSC Callback Nomination recipients Jessica Fraser and Jemma Noblett perform a duo of their Core Dance Performance, the College Band and Strings combined forces to perform ‘Santa and the Symphony’, a mix of classic tunes with Christmas carols, the renowned Dance Company perform a beautiful routine entitled ‘There Will Be Time’ and we were entertained by our Guest Artist and performers, Mr Michael Griffiths and the Highlands Pipes and Drums. Despite the weather this week, it was great that we were able to witness these performances under the Shelter.

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Week 9 - Performing Arts Groups Events
Below is a table that outlines the events that are occurring both at the College and in the wider community that our Performing Arts Groups will be in attendance. Please note specific times that students are required at the College for these events:

WAC Crew Events
The below table outlines the events that are occurring in the last couple of weeks of this term and which students from WAC Crew will be in attendance:

Thank You Mr Dollin
We would like to publicly thank Mr Jonathan Dollin for his work over the past couple of years with our Primary Band and his tutorage of students on Woodwind instruments. Mr Dollin will not return in 2024 and we wish him well with his future endeavours.

Mr Lloyd Grant
Performing Arts Coordinator

Stage 5 Dance Excursions

Over the past two weeks, Stage 5 Dance students have experienced a range of Dance Excursions to enhance their understanding of Dance as an art form.

Year 10 Dance went to the Sydney Opera House to see the Australian Ballet perform a double bill of works by Frederick Ashton ‘The Dream’ as well as ‘Marguerite and Armand’. Students were mesmerised by the beauty and elegance of the works performed by the professional ballet dancers on stage who displayed outstanding talent. There was great characterisation in the storytelling of these ballets that truly captivated the audience and inspired the students.

Year 9 Dance went on an Aerial Arts Excursion to Circus Monoxide which correlated with their studies of Circus Dance. The students were excited by the opportunity to learn skills in Trapeze, Lyra and Silks which required great strength and technique. They also learnt object manipulation of hoops and roller bowlers as well as refined their acrobatic and tumbling technique. The workshops provided by Circus Monoxide allowed students to experience new art forms of movement that were challenging and fun.

Overall, our Dance Elective students are able to learn in so many realms and styles of Dance which supports their lifelong learning and experiences as dancers, performers, composers and appreciators. The current Stage 5 Dancers have been so interested and engaged in these excursions and can’t wait to apply new things to their future Dance work.

Miss Kara Valente
Secondary Dance & PDHPE Teacher

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German News

It has been an exciting week in German with our Linguafest Competition being awarded "Best Setting" in the Finals. Well done to all students involved!

Year 7 has also enjoyed the experience of decorating Lebkuchenhäuser (gingerbread houses) and learning more about why they get to do this. See if your child can tell you some of the history of this German tradition!

To add to the fun, Herr Ping has been making Spaghettieis with Elective German classes and German Club. It was delicious!

Wishing all "Frohe Weihnachten"

Mrs Frau Holmes
German Teacher

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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, their learning, their character and also in their faith.

I love Christmas. It's a time of year when Chrissy lights come out in force, Summer is in full force, the days are longer and the weather is warm. In staff devotions, we've been working through the Gospel of Mark. In Mark 9:33-38, the 12 disciples had been arguing about who amongst them was the greatest, the best. Jesus waits until they've stopped then says, "If anyone wants to be first he must be the very last, and the servant of all" Mark 9:35. 

Jesus wants his disciples to know that to be great in his kingdom is very different to what it means to be great according to the world. The world says greatness is a result of using authority to your own advantage. Of advancing our wants and needs for our own personal gain. Jesus says this is not His way. His way is a life of humble service, where we consider the needs of others before our own. 
For me personally, I've been challenged to do exactly this, to be aware that Christmas is a really hard time for many people. For those who are socially isolated or have broken relationships, Christmas is a tough time. But it's also an opportunity for me, for us, to show the love of Jesus to our communities. As we strive to do that, I'm reminded that Jesus models to us what it looks like to consider others' needs before our own, the example He sets is the one He wants us to walk in. 

This Christmas, I encourage us to be people who consider other's needs before our own. This might look like having an eye for a neighbour, friend or community member who's doing it tough and reaching out to them with an offer of help. Who knows, perhaps this simple gesture can instill a sense of hope, and help them see the profound love that Jesus has for them. 

Mr Matthew Roberts
College Chaplain

We're Hiring! Assistant Canteen Manager

Due to the ongoing growth of the College, we are currently seeking applications for the following roles to commence in 2024:

• ASSISTANT CANTEEN MANAGER

For further information on any of the Permanent Positions, please contact Mr Geoff Adams on 02 4684 2577

College Sponsors

Little Elves Vacation Care -Dec/Jan

P&F Clothing Pool

The Clothing Pool has a great selection of pre-loved uniforms for purchase. Our lovely volunteers Renu, Rochelle, Janise, Phoebe, Melissa, Kath, Sonya, Kerrie, Katie, Amanda, Annette and Christina are ready to help you. The Clothing Pool is located at White Cottage, through the side windows, every morning from 7.45 am to 8.30 am.

Thank you also for the donations of uniforms, keep them coming in! 

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

Have a great day! 

Mrs Melissa Whishaw
Clothing Pool Coordinator

Community News

Picton Late Night Shopping
Picton will be a buzz with excitement on Wednesday, 6 December with a Christmas Choir entertaining shoppers in a street lined with fairy light lit trees

Endeavour Parks Christmas Fair