Waratah Weekly - Term 1, Edition 1 - Friday, 31 January 2025
Welcome Back to Wollondilly Anglican College!
A warm welcome back to all our families as we begin another exciting year of learning, care and culture at Wollondilly Anglican College. I hope you enjoyed a refreshing Christmas and New Year break and that your children are enthusiastic about returning to the College.
Our dedicated staff have spent the last three days engaged in professional learning and preparing for the year ahead. As you may recall, our thematic goal for this year focuses on learning. While we are proud of our consistently strong academic outcomes in both NAPLAN and the HSC, we believe our students are ready to embrace new challenges and strive for even greater academic growth. Our teachers will be implementing a range of strategies designed to support your children in working hard and maximising their learning in every lesson, every day. Your support and encouragement in this endeavour will be invaluable. Throughout the year, we will share practical ways you can assist your children in their learning journey and academic achievements.
We are delighted to welcome back our returning families and eagerly anticipate welcoming our new students and families to the Wollondilly Anglican College community. We look forward to a wonderful year together.
Mr Trevor Norman
College Headmaster
From the Deputy Headmaster
Parents & Friends Association (P&F)
The first P&F Meeting of the year will be held on Wednesday, 5 February 2025 in the Deakin building commencing at 6.30 pm.
The P&F is a great opportunity to meet others within the College and wider community and plays a vital role in both friend-raising and fundraising. If you would like to know more about the P&F and meet our current members, join us for a meet and greet on Friday, 7 February at 6.00 pm at the Bargo Sportsclub.
Safe Storage of Medication
Please remember that any medication students need at the College must be managed by Nurse Sally and Nurse Emma. NSW Health provides guidelines for storing, managing and administering medication and the College follows these guidelines strictly. We also encourage parents to carefully consider how they store and administer medication in the home environment and the access that children can have to this medication. NSW Health, along with the Sydney Children's Hospital Network provide some useful guidance for parents in managing medication at home.
https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/kids-health-hub/child-safety-and-injury-prevention/medication-safety-kids
Mr Paul Burns
Deputy Headmaster
K-6 Primary Information/Meet the Teacher Evening Monday, 3 February
We are looking forward to another wonderful year in Primary. The starting point is our K-6 Primary Information/Meet the Teacher Evening on Monday, 3 February at 5.00 pm under the Shoulder to Shoulder Shelter. This has always been a well-attended event that starts off our year in a positive way. Students are not expected to attend, however, parents are welcome to bring their children if needed provided that they are supervised. After a short information session under the Shelter, parents will have the opportunity to meet their child's class teachers and receive year-specific information. Transition parents will have the opportunity to meet teachers at a later date.
Ms Jacqui Huxtable
Director of Teaching and Learning T-6
Welcome back Secondary Years
On behalf of all Secondary staff, I would like to welcome new and returning Secondary students and parents. The College hopes that you have had a safe and enjoyable break and are returning ready for a wonderful year. The three key areas the College focuses on are Learning, Care and Culture and in my section of the newsletter, communication relevant to these areas will be provided each week.
Learning
As we commence a new College year it is important for all students to be setting and working towards goals in their learning for 2025. Some important areas that we would like students to focus on:
Application to their studies - effort both in the classroom and at home
Engagement in lessons - active involvement and contribution to learning in the classroom
Completion of homework and assessment tasks as well as revision of learning
Submitting draft work to their teachers for feedback
Students can significantly contribute to improved effort grades and achievement in their studies.
Care
The College has a strong focus on caring for our students. In the Secondary Years, each Year Group has a dedicated Year Patron that follows the students from Years 7-12 acting as the first point of contact in relation to the care of your child.
- Year 7 - Mr Matt Stark - m.stark@wac.nsw.edu.au
- Year 8 - Mrs Jen Post - j.post@wac.nsw.edu.au
- Year 9 - Mr Chris Law - c.law@wac.nsw.edu.au
- Year 10 - Mr Josh Stewart - j.stewart@wac.nsw.edu.au
- Year 11 - Miss Kara Valente - k.valente@wac.nsw.edu.au
- Year 12 - Mrs Erica Bawden - e.bawden@wac.nsw.edu.au
In conjunction with the Year Patrons are the Leaders of Care and Culture. If you have concerns that have not been able to be addressed through your contact with the Year Patron or for more serious matters, please contact the Leaders of Care and Culture in the relevant stage.
- Stage 4 (Years 7-8) - Mr Stuart Houweling - s.houweling@wac.nsw.edu.au
- Stage 5 (Years 9-10) - Mr Craig Lobb - c.lobb@wac.nsw.edu.au
- Stage 6 (Years 11-12) - Mr Tim van Netten (Mrs Erica Bawden will be Acting in this role for the first 4 weeks of Term 1, 2025) - t.vannetten@wac.nsw.edu.au e.bawden@wac.nsw.edu.au
Culture
An important way students can contribute positively to the life of the College is through involvement in co-curricular activities. All students are encouraged to engage in an area of interest. Involvement in these activities actively contributes to students feeling a stronger sense of belonging. For more information on the range of co-curricular offerings at the College, please contact either -
- Performing Arts Coordinator - Mrs Sarah Talbot - s.talbot@wac.nsw.edu.au
- Sports Coordinator - Mr Mark Goldsbrough - sport@wac.nsw.edu.au
Secondary Happenings - Term 1 Week 2
- Tuesday, 4 February - Year 7 Information Evening
- Wednesday, 5 February - Year 11 Elevate Education
- Friday, 7 February - Secondary Swimming Carnival
Mr Liam Toland
Director of Care & Culture T-12/Head of Secondary Years
MyTech
Students returning to the College would be familiar with the expectation that a functional and charged laptop is a requirement of every College day. It would be timely for parents and students to check the functionality of any current device. If it is found that the battery life is starting to diminish, students will need to bring their charging cables to the College and connect to a charging station during Break 1 or Break 2. These lockable charging stations are found in the Johnson, Sturt and Flynn buildings. Due to WHS issues, students cannot charge their devices in classrooms.
Students are also reminded that there may be software available for them to download for specific subjects from the MyTech website https://mytech.wac.nsw.edu.au/
There are also online guides for students who have issues with connecting to the Wifi or downloading the SSL certificate. These and other helpful guides are found here https://mytech.wac.nsw.edu.au/
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
Year 10 Vaccinations
The Year 10 Vaccination Clinic will be held on Thursday, 13 February. For students in Year 10, they will be offered the Meningococcal ACWY vaccination. This will only be given if consent is provided, which is now done online. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. Students are permitted to wear their Sports Uniforms on the day.
Consent is given via the online consent portal at https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage/
To provide online consent you will need:
- Your Service NSW log-in details
- Medicare card details for you and your child
Please see the following information that you may find helpful.
Vaccination Parent Information
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/parent-info-meningococcal-menacwy.aspx
Meningococcal Disease Fact Sheet
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/meningococcal_disease.aspx
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via medical@wac.nsw.edu.au
Year 7 Vaccinations will take place later in the Year in May. Further information will be provided.
Mrs Sally Lloyd
Senior College Nurse
WAC App & Edumate
Wollondilly Anglican College App (on your phone)
Allows parents to:
- Verify and explain absences under "Absence" tab
- Give permission to attend events (sports teams, excursions, camps) under "To-Do" tab
- View permission notes (sport, excursions, camps) under "Events" tab once attendance is approved
- View reports and upcoming assessment tasks for Secondary students under the "Academic" tab
- View Student Timetable under the "Timetable" tab
- View College dates and upcoming events under "Calendar" tab
- Access the Waratah Weekly (College Newsletter) under the "Newsfeed" tab
Edumate (on your computer):
Allows parents to:
- View a copy of College fee invoices for payment
- View College Reports
- See results for assessments for students
- Update medical details including medications and preexisting conditions for students
- Update personal details for student or parent (phone number, email address etc)
- Update swimming capabilities
Term 1 Secondary PE Lessons
Years 7-10 PDHPE students have designated PE (Practical) lessons. These are shown in the timetable below. Students are to wear their Sports Uniform to College on these designated days. Students who do an elective course, Physical Activity and Sports Studies (Years 9 and 10) or Sports, Lifestyle and Recreation (Year 11) are required to bring their Sports Uniform to College to get changed. Students have been informed via email, assemblies, Edumate Broadcasts and their classroom teacher. If there are any questions, please contact the classroom teacher or Mr Josh Hewitt (Leader of Learning PDHPE).
A reminder that students require their Sports hat for each PE/practical lesson and must have sports shoes, not flat-soled casual shoes (eg Nike Airforce).
If there is a reason why students cannot participate in PE/practical lessons, a note is to be written in their College Diary.
Mr Joshua Hewitt
Leader of Learning - PDHPE
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
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
- Narellan Pools
- NSW Rail Museum
- ESP Security
Community News
Yerrinbool-Bargo Soccer Club
Yerrinbool-Bargo Soccer Club is now accepting registrations for the 2025 season. Register online to secure your spot now! For more information, visit https://linktr.ee/
Mittagong Hockey Club
We invite all new and returning players to come along to Mittagong Hockey Club’s Registration/Pre-Season Fun Morning on Saturday, 15 February 10.00 am to 12.00 pm at Welby Hockey Complex. 46 Meranie Street, Welby.
FREE BBQ & jumping castle obstacle course.
More information: juniorsmittagonghockey@gmail.
Buxton Netball Club
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.