Waratah Weekly - Term 4, Edition 9 - Friday, 8 December 2023

Thank You For Another Great Year

Thank you for another great year at Wollondilly Anglican College. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of this wonderful learning community and seeing all that our students have been able to achieve. It is difficult to express how proud and thankful I am for all of our parents and your amazing children.

Both the Primary and Secondary Presentation and Showcase Evenings were great demonstrations of the talents of our students. They also recognised the hard work that so many students have demonstrated across many areas of their College experience.

As we head into the Christmas break, I am thankful for all that God has provided us with throughout the year: caring and hardworking students, engaged and supportive parents, and a dedicated team of staff across all areas of the College. We have been blessed in so many ways, and yet the greatest of these blessings is the very reason for Christmas.

Jesus, all-powerful, all-knowing, the one who created the Universe and has existed forever, became a frail human child so that He could make a way for us to be with Him for eternity. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords became the humble, selfless Servant of all. We thank You, Jesus, for Your faithfulness to us, and for Your free gift of eternal life that is offered to all people.

Once again, thank you, parents, for your ongoing support of Wollondilly Anglican College. We look forward to further celebrations and achievements as we move into 2024.

I pray that you have a blessed, joyful, and peaceful Christmas holiday.

Mr Trevor Norman
College Headmaster

Senior Outdoor Learning Area Commences

It is exciting that the planned outdoor learning area has commenced this week. This will be built over the holiday period and throughout Term 1 2024. While it will mean that the area behind Flynn will be out of action, this will be short-term pain for long-term gain. The area will include seating, fridges, table tennis tables and 6 kitchenettes for our Senior students. We are excited to see the progress that will be made over January. On return, student parking will be relocated as much of the Senior Carpark will be used as part of the building site. 

Mr Paul Burns
Deputy Headmaster

College Uniform - Shoes

As we enter into the Christmas holiday break, to assist parents in purchases for the new College year, the following information is provided. The College recognises that providing parents with early communication in this area assists in ensuring the correct purchases are made over the holiday period as students can return to the College with uniform that meets the guidelines. Students will grow over the holiday period and require new school shoes and sports shoes. A visual selection has been provided to assist students and parents with making the correct purchases.
The visuals provided direction around shoes that meet guidelines for school shoes and sports shoe categories as well as shoes that do not. Please contact the College if you are unclear on this prior to purchase to aid in assisting with any questions.

A reminder that velcro options are available for K-2 in both school shoes and sports shoes. In the pictures directions are provided about ones that meet guidelines.

School Shoe Guidelines

• Black, polishable, leather, flat-heeled lace-up shoes (not black joggers or boots)
• K-2 students are permitted to wear the above school shoes with velcro instead of laces
• Transition wear Sports/PE shoes that are predominantly white or black sports shoes and can be velcro
• Sports/PE shoes need to be predominantly white or black sports joggers
• Shoes need to be joggers, not street, skate or casual shoes
  

Mr Liam Toland
Director of Pastoral Care T-12

Years 7-10 Reports Available Now

The Years 7-10 Reports are now available to be viewed online via Edumate.

We wish you a fantastic holiday break and we look for to your return in 2024 for another fantastic year of learning.

Mrs Kelly Evans
Director of Teaching & Learning 7-12

Performing Arts News

Sherlock Holmes - Musical
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.

Queen Victoria Nursing Home Visit
Students in the College Choir visited the Queen Victoria Nursing Home on Tuesday afternoon to sing a few Christmas songs that they had prepared for the cancelled ‘Festival of Lights’ event in Bowral. The residents thoroughly enjoyed the singing and the time that the students spent interacting with the residents. We hope that more visits will start to occur in 2024 with restrictions easing around visiting aged care facilities.

Carols in the Garden - Picton
Reminder to parents that the Years T-2 and Years 3-6 Choirs are singing at the Carols in the Garden event on Friday, 8 December during the evening. This was an optional event to attend due to the date falling outside of term time. Students/parents who are attending are reminded to meet the respective teachers in Picton Botanic Gardens at 5.45 pm. 

Music Tuition 2024
Mrs Molluso and I are working on the 2024 timetable for Music Tuition. We have received some interest in tuition in recent days and intend to contact tutors about availability. In last week’s Waratah Weekly article, I thanked Mr Jonathan Dollin, our outgoing Woodwind tutor. I am pleased to let you know that we have Ms Corrina Clark on board as our new Woodwind tutor who will conduct our Primary Band ensemble. 

Corrina Clark will join the College in 2024 as a woodwind specialist and conductor with 15 years of teaching experience. Corrina has worked in Catholic, Independent and Public schools in Sydney and the Southern Highlands with children in prep, primary and secondary schools, as a band and orchestra conductor, private and group lesson instrumental teacher, band program coordinator and music educator. Corrina brings enthusiasm, dedication and passion for music to every lesson and every child.

Mr Lloyd Grant
Performing Arts Coordinator

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.

And just like that, the year is almost over! Christmas is almost here and before we know it, it'll be 2024. As we approach Christmas can I ask this question, "What brings you joy"? What presents are you hoping for? Whether it's a gaming device or a book, the joy that we initially receive from a gift gradually dwindles over time. How can we experience lasting joy? I think when we choose to give, when we emphasise thinking about others then we can experience a more profound joy. A joy that is based on considering others, not consumed with our own wants. 

In the Christmas story from the book of Matthew (2:9-11), we learn about three wise men who were overjoyed when they discovered baby Jesus. They recognised Jesus as a special gift from God, this gift offers humanity a joy that doesn't perish, spoil or fade, a joy that lasts for all eternity. Jesus entering into this world shows that God cares deeply about us. The wise men when they found Jesus not only gave gifts, but they worshipped Him. As we enjoy opening presents, let us be people who can see that as good as these gifts are, they point to something better, the greatest gift ever - Jesus. I encourage us, this Christmas, to have the same response as these wise men, to see Jesus for who He truly is and worship Him. 

Praying you have a great and restful holiday break.

Mr Matthew Roberts
College Chaplain

Student IT Reminders

As we finish up for the year, I would like to remind current Secondary students and their parents of a few things for 2024.

1. If you still have a loan device, these are now due back to Student Reception.
2. Please ensure that you have a working device for the start of the College year.
3. If you have made a new purchase in the holidays, please visit the MyTech page https://mytech.wac.nsw.edu.au/software.php and download the correct SSL certificate and whatever software you need for your classes.

Please note that there will be a change to how students connect to wifi in 2024. All students connecting with their device will be required to use their full email address as the username. Eg, a student named Peter Smith would connect to the wifi named WAC-BYOD with the details:

Username - petersmith@student.wac.nsw.edu.au

Password - their normal WAC password

If you have any questions about the MyTech program in the College please email mytech@wac.nsw.edu.au

Mr Craig Russell
Secondary Learning Innovations Coordinator

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

Community News

Endeavour Parks Christmas Fair