Waratah Weekly - Term 4, Edition 8 - Friday, 6 December 2024
Secondary Presentation & Showcase Morning
On Thursday, we held our Annual Secondary Presentation and Showcase Celebration. Seeing so many students stepping up on stage to be recognised for their hard work throughout the year was a great encouragement. We celebrated our Sports men and women, our Creative & Performing Arts students, our Student Leaders and our academic achievers. This event is a recognition of the diligence, commitment and perseverance of our students across many different areas. I would like to thank our parents for their ongoing support of the College and for encouraging your children to be involved in the many opportunities available to them. I always enjoy seeing our students performing at our various events and yesterday's performances were fantastic.
I am looking forward to our Primary Presentation and Showcase next week and I hope to see many of you there.
Mr Trevor Norman
College Headmaster
College Holiday Hours
- 8.00 am - 3.30 pm
- The College will be closed from Christmas Day to Monday, 6 January 2025
Primary News
Upcoming Events
- Primary Presentation & Showcase Evening - Tuesday, 10 December
- Transition (2-day) Graduation - Tuesday, 10 December
- Transition (3-day) Graduation - Wednesday, 11 December
- Year 6 Survivor Day - Wednesday, 11 December
- Christmas Chapel (Parents Welcome) - Thursday, 12 December
Ms Jacqui Huxtable
Director of Teaching and Learning T-6
Performing Arts News
Formal Assemblies and Secondary Presentation and Showcase Morning
Congratulations to the students who performed at the recent Formal Assemblies and the Secondary Presentation and Showcase Morning this week. Despite the warmer weather, even in the mornings, they performed very well before a receptive audience of students, parents and invited guests.
Secondary Formal Assembly - Monday, 2 December
- College Band - under the direction of Mr Chris Law - that performed ‘I Want It That Way’
- Year 10 Music Elective Class - under the direction of Year 10 Music teacher Mr Chris Law - performing ‘You’re the Voice’, a performance they also presented at the recent MADDDD Night
- Dance Company - under the direction of Miss Kara Valente - that performed ‘Oceans/Where My Feet Fail’
Many thanks also to Mr Dave Hopkins who assisted with the AV for the assembly whilst I was on Long Service Leave.
Primary Formal Assembly - Tuesday, 3 December
- Year 6 students from the Primary Choir who lead the National Anthem
- Primary Pom - under the direction of Mrs Emma Kluit who performed a Christmas Cheer routine
- Primary Strings - under the direction of Ms Jillian Bridge who performed a fantastic piece entitled Kabuki Dance
- Primary Band - under the direction of Ms Corrina Clark who performed two works including Buglar’s Dream and Heavy Metal
Secondary Presentation and Showcase Morning - Thursday, 5 December
- Combined College Band and College Strings - under the direction of Mr Chris Law and Ms Jillian Bridge who performed ‘Thriller’
- Secondary Cheer - under the direction of Miss Kara Valente (and the guest artist representative Ms Lana Christie) who performed a workshopped cheer routine
- Our Guest Artist Stunt Group - PowerHouse Elite
- Returning Year 12 student Eve Jones - performing her HSC OnStage Nominated monologue entitled ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’
- Returning Year 12 students Natalie Watts and Sienna Lopez and Year 8 student Leah Dalrymple who performed a compilation of dance works nominated for the HSC Callback performances
Mr Lloyd Grant
Performing Arts Coordinator T-12
Transition 2026 Applications
If you have a child who will be in the cohort for Transition (Pre-Kindergarten) 2026, please ensure you submit an application online as soon as possible. Siblings who submit an application before Thursday, 12 December 2024 (last day of Term), will be placed on a Family Relationship Priority List for enrolment.
Any sibling, Alumni child or staff child applications that are received after this date will not be prioritised.
Students placed on the Family Relationship Priority List are not automatically guaranteed a place.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Mrs Madilyn Shelley
Enrolments Officer
PDHPE: Year 8 Beach Safety Day
On Friday, 29 November, Year 8 travelled to Sandon Point (Bulli, North of Wollongong) to engage in beach safety activities led by Surf Education Australia. The excursion complimented the “Summer Fun” unit they have been completing this term in PDHPE. Students were able to see, first-hand, the risks associated with coastal environments. As students engaged in practical sessions they learnt how to identify rips and other hazards, take precautions when faced with hazards, enter and exit the surf safely, stay calm and float, swim safely in the surf (eg catching waves), negotiate water-craft in the surf (eg surfboard) and developing a beach safety plan. Although the day was overcast with a light drizzle, it was a great day.
Mr Joshua Hewitt
Leader of Learning - PDHPE
PDHPE - Child Studies Picnic & Other Activities
On Monday afternoon, students from Year 9 Child Studies took the RealCare Baby simulators out for a picnic. Students had the opportunity to put into practice what they learned during the Term 4 unit on Newborn Care. They experienced a glimpse of the challenges new parents face when navigating public spaces, such as shopping centres and parks while caring for a newborn. The RealCare Babies are designed to simulate the realities of newborn care. The class was tasked with ensuring the babies were fed, burped, soothed and had their nappies changed at regular intervals—all while responding to realistic crying sounds, providing head support and maintaining proper body temperature regulation.
This semester, the Child Studies class have also been working with both Transition and Kindergarten students in Early Stage 1 to deepen their understanding of key growth and developmental milestones in children. This collaboration culminated in Child Studies students planning and running activities that promote physical, cognitive and social development. Throughout this process, the Year 9 students have grown significantly in their confidence and skill when working with younger students.
Additionally, the class had the privilege of hearing from new mothers this term. A heartfelt thank you goes to Mrs Barnes and Eleanor, Mrs Gooden and Pippa and Mrs Hamden and Guinevere for their generosity in spending time with the class and sharing their personal experiences of motherhood.
Mrs Ella McCan
PDHPE Teacher
Primary Christmas Chapel
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.
Can you believe it, Christmas is almost here! Christmas is a time that we get to be reminded of the reason for the season, the best gift ever, the Lord Jesus.
We'll be celebrating again this year at our Primary Christmas Chapel and I'd love to extend an invitation to all parents and families to join us. It's a great time to reflect on the year together and most importantly, celebrate Jesus. This year, our Primary Christmas Chapel is on Thursday, 12 December from 8.35 am under the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Shelter.
Any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me at m.roberts@wac.nsw.edu.au.
The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Luke 2:11
Mr Matthew Roberts
College Chaplain
German News - Year 7 Gingerbread Houses
Auf Deutsch bitte!
Christmas is almost here and Year 7 have begun to decorate Gingerbread houses in German. This traditional German Christmas activity can be traced back to its origins in the 13th century when medieval monks began to bake gingerbread in the city of Ulm.
Frau Carolyn Clark
German Teacher
P&F Clothing Pool
The Clothing Pool offers a selection of pre-loved uniform items from Transition to Year 12 at very reasonable prices.
For 2025, the Clothing Pool will open on Friday, 31 January 2025 from 7.30 am - 9.30 am.
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
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
- Narellan Pools
- NSW Rail Museum
- ESP Security
Community News
Christmas in the Gardens - Friday, 6 December
Yeronga School Uniforms - Holiday Hours
- Yeronga Tahmoor will be closing on Thursday, 19 December 2024 at 5.30 pm.
- Yeronga Tahmoor will reopen on Thursday, 2 January 2025 at 9.00 am.
- Trading Hours at this point will be Tuesday & Wednesday 9.30 am - 4.30 pm, Thursday 9.00 am - 5.30 pm, Saturday 9.00 am - 12.00 pm (18 & 25 January & 1 February only)
- Lines to get into the store can be long during January, so we ask parents to be patient. We may be asking all customers to wait until they are asked to enter the store to make sure we are not overcrowded and can serve each customer.
- You can also order online – www.yerongauniforms.com
Little Elves Vacation Care Program December
BreastScreen NSW Mobile Clinic Tahmoor
FULLY SUBSIDISED SAFER DRIVERS COURSE
Southern Highlands PCYC and Wollondilly Shire Council are offering a Fully Subsidised Safer Drivers Course for Wollondilly Residents Aged 16-25.
The course is TWO modules and after completion, participants will receive a 20-hour reduction off their Learner Log Book.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
Fully Subsidised Safer Drivers Course valued at $140
20 hours off your logbook
Fundamental information & training on safe driving
Want to book your spot?
Email southernhighlands@pcycnsw.org.au with your contact details.
Courses are running once a month. Please contact PCYC for dates and times.
Please note that the above is a service to the Community and items advertised do not necessarily carry the endorsement of the College. The College tries to be selective with what is advertised but cannot take responsibility. Please look into events advertised carefully.