Waratah Weekly - Term 1, Edition 8 - Friday, 21 March 2025

From the Headmaster

We are deeply grateful for the trust you place in Wollondilly Anglican College by choosing us for your children's education. Within the broader Wollondilly and Wingecarribee regions, families are fortunate to have access to a diverse range of educational options, both within the Independent and State school sectors. Each institution plays a vital role in shaping the lives of young people, and we appreciate the unique contributions they make.
When prospective parents inquire about our College, I consistently ask what draws them to Wollondilly Anglican College. The most frequent and heartwarming response is a testament to the strong community we have fostered: "We have heard wonderful things from [friend, neighbour, work colleague], and their children genuinely thrive here." This affirmation underscores the power of personal experience and the genuine connection families feel with our College.

It is with this spirit of community and choice that I address the broader conversation surrounding Independent school funding. Regrettably, the political discourse on this topic often lacks nuance and can be divisive, overlooking the considerable financial sacrifices many families make to secure an education they believe is best suited to their children's needs.

As we approach an election cycle, I encourage you to thoughtfully consider the educational platforms of our State and Federal leaders. The Independent sector advocates for fair and equitable funding for all students, regardless of their chosen school. This ensures that families retain the ability to make informed choices about their children's education, empowering them to pursue the path they believe will best support their children's growth and development.

We value your commitment to Wollondilly Anglican College and your dedication to providing your children with the best possible educational foundation. Your support enables us to continue delivering excellence in Learning, Care and Culture. 

Mr Trevor Norman
College Headmaster

From the Deputy Headmaster

International Women's Day
International Women's Day (IWD), celebrated on March 8, is a global occasion honouring the achievements of women.

At Wollondilly, we deeply value the contributions of women who enrich our community in various roles. Here are just a few examples. Our Clothing Pool operates smoothly thanks to dedicated volunteers who ensure uniforms are accessible and sustainable. The Parents and Friends Association (P&F), with significant involvement from women, strengthens our community through organising events and supporting the College. Many of our wonderful teachers and learning support team are women. In classrooms, female volunteers provide invaluable assistance, enhancing the learning experience for our students. I am thankful for the incredible job the team of women do in student reception and administration, showing great care for students and staff. 

Reflecting on the Bible, we find numerous examples of women who played pivotal roles in their communities. Deborah led Israel with wisdom and courage. Ruth demonstrated great loyalty and faith. I am always encouraged and challenged by the qualities exalted in the Proverbs 31 woman. She is diligent, hardworking, generous to the needy, and speaks with wisdom and kindness. Her strength and dignity are evident, and she is praised by her family and community for her noble character.

I would like to encourage our students to express gratitude to the mums and women who have had a big impact on their lives. Here are a few suggestions. Write a Thank-You Note, Perform some Acts of Kindness, give some Specific Compliments, and look for opportunities to spend some Quality Time Together this weekend.

Happy (belated) International Women's Day to all the remarkable women who make a difference every day!

Mr Paul Burns 
Deputy Headmaster

Secondary Years News

Culture
On Friday, 28 March all Secondary students will be engaged in a day with a number of house-based activities.

The focus of this is to continue to build on the House culture of the College and promote student belonging through this important aspect of College life.

Students need to wear their House Shirt and PE/Sports Uniform. It is expected that House shirts are worn on the day, these are available at Lowes and limited sizes at the Clothing Pool. https://www.lowes.com.au/schools-online/wollondilly-anglican-college

House Meetings - 8.10 am - 9.00 am
Line up in Care and Culture groups on the Winning Field facing the steps. Groups will then move to designated areas and have a House Meeting Staff House Champions and House Captains will run the meeting

Break 1 - 10.15 am - 10.45 am
House Challenges

Break 2 - 12.25 pm - 12.55 pm 
House Challenges
All of the points accrued from the challenges will be added to the Overall House Shield. Looking forward to an exciting day of challenges and student/staff involvement.

Secondary Happenings Week 9 

Monday, 24 March  - Year 12 Standard English Intensive Day and Year 12 Advanced English Henry IV Symposium

Tuesday, 25 March -  SHAPE Exhibition Excursion and Year 12 SLR Mountain Biking

Wednesday, 26 March - NSW All Schools Baseball Championships,  Year 12 SLR Outdoor Recreation: Bush Walking, Homework Club 3.00 pm - 4.30 pm, HSC PDHPE Exam Workshop 3.00 pm - 4.30 pm, Senior Study Evening 4.30 pm - 7.00 pm

Friday, 28 March -  CASA Secondary Tennis Gala Day

Mr Liam Toland
Head of Secondary Years

Transition NSW Police Visit

On Monday, 24 April and Tuesday, 1 April, Police Officers from Campbelltown will be coming to visit our Transition students. These visitors will discuss safety, emergencies, calling 000, road safety and asking the police for help. Our Transition students always love this visit and our associated police-themed crafts. We are looking forward to this exciting occasion over the next few weeks. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact

Mrs Danielle Barnes
Transition Teacher

Understanding Anxiety Support Groups

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges experienced by children and adolescents, with recent ABS data showing that almost a third (31.8%) of people aged 16-24 have an anxiety disorder of some kind. Over the past 2 weeks I’ve had the chance to speak to each Year 7 class about understanding anxiety. These in-class presentations are aimed at helping students understand what anxiety is, why we get it, and give them some quick tips on how to manage and cope with anxiety. At the end of the class, students are given the option of nominating themselves to be part of an Understanding Anxiety support group.

Understanding Anxiety is an awareness, early intervention, and prevention program designed to help children and teenagers who are struggling with anxiety and anxiety-related issues. It aims to help students gain knowledge and skills which will assist them in recognising and handling anxiety. By increasing their awareness and equipping them with coping strategies, it is hoped that they will be better suited to deal with the many challenges that life presents. Students have had the chance to self-identify that they need support, and some students are also nominated by the Care and Culture team, and by parents.

These groups are normally started in Year 7. New groups are started in Years 8-11 as needed. If you would like more information on these groups, please get in contact with me by either calling the school, or emailing m.barnes@wac.nsw.edu.au.

Mr Mitch Barnes
Educational Psychologist

College Working Bee

We would like to say a big thank you to all from our wonderful College community who turned up to serve at the College Working Bee on Saturday.

Your efforts and support are greatly appreciated and go a long way in helping to keep our College grounds looking fantastic.

Mr Daniel Warland
Property Manager

World's Greatest Shave - 27 March

We're excited to share some wonderful news from the heart of our College community. This year, Wollondilly Anglican College is proudly participating in the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave, a remarkable initiative that unites communities nationwide for people facing blood cancer.

What is the World's Greatest Shave?
The World's Greatest Shave is an annual event organised by the Leukaemia Foundation, which is aimed at raising funds to support families facing life with blood cancer. This year, the College is getting behind this incredible cause and we invite every one of you to be part of this meaningful journey.

How Can You Get Involved?

1. Sponsor our team: Our dedicated students, teachers and staff are ready to make a bold statement by shaving or cutting their hair, all in the spirit of solidarity. You can show your support by sponsoring them. Find our College team and contribute online at https://www.worldsgreatestshave.com/fundraisers/wollondillywarriors. We’re aiming to raise $2000.00.

Why Join the Cause?
Participating in the World's Greatest Shave is more than just a fundraiser; it's a chance for us to come together as a community, teach our children the value of empathy and solidarity and make a real impact in the lives of those affected by blood cancer.

Let's Spread the Word!
We encourage you to share this exciting news with family and friends and to make the World's Greatest Shave a resounding success at Wollondilly Anglican College. Together, we can contribute to the vital research, support services and care provided by the Leukaemia Foundation.

Thank you for being a part of this meaningful journey. Let's show the world the strength and compassion of our WAC community!

Ms Cara Manning
Primary Teacher

RESCHEDULED - WAC Family Night - The Wild Robot - Friday, 28 March

We regret to inform you that due to current weather conditions, wet ground and forecasted rain later today and this evening, we have decided to postpone the Primary Movie Night scheduled for tonight.

This event has been rescheduled to next Friday, 28 March. Please use the link below to RSVP even if you did so previously.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to seeing you next Friday night!

Canteen News

WAC FLOWERS Canteen Volunteer
At the FLOWERS Cafeteria, we are always looking for volunteers to work in our Canteen to help prepare nutritious lunches for our hungry growing children and to serve over the counter during Breaks 1 & 2. 

If you can spare any time to join our friendly team, we would greatly appreciate the extra help. With on-the-job training, it's easy and fun work, and you can dedicate as much or as little time as you like.

We are currently looking for a volunteer on Wednesdays. You can choose to either stay and help in the morning after College drop-off or stay for the day. 

All volunteers' efforts are rewarded with a healthy snack and plenty of tea and coffee. If you are interested, please email canteen@wac.nsw.edu.au

We would love to hear from you.

FLEXISCHOOLS – Ordering With Allergies/Intolerances
Please advise of allergies each time orders are placed through the Flexischools app. 

1. Allergy Disclosure: Every time you place an order, you'll need to alert the Canteen of any allergies, as Flexischools and Edumate don’t share allergy information between platforms.
2. Add "Allergy Alert": To notify Canteen staff that your child has an allergy/intolerance, you must manually add an “Allergy Alert” to your cart each time you order. The Canteen Manager will then check our records for each student’s allergy needs.
3. Location of Allergy Alert: The "Allergy Alert" option can be found at the top of the page under "Alerts" (see image below).

Once the Alert is added to your cart, you can proceed with your order as usual. This ensures that the allergy information is communicated clearly for each transaction.

If you would like to check ingredients or have a discussion regarding allergies, please feel free to send an email to canteen@wac.nsw.edu.au or visit the Canteen during College hours. 

Kind regards

Mrs Narelle Manuel
Acting Canteen Manager

Library News

Book Club Orders Due Thursday, 27 March
The Book Club Issue 2 catalogue is now available. Secondary students should select the class ‘Secondary’ when ordering. Primary should select their usual class (eg, 1H, 3J, 5F, Tembo). All orders are to be made online or through the LOOP App. 

Please note that the Book Club catalogue is set out with suggested age ranges for the books. Each page has a different age range, with age 10+ towards the back. The College does not necessarily endorse the books available through Book Club and parental discretion is advised.

Mrs Justine Colombo
College Librarian

P&F Clothing Pool

The Clothing Pool offers a selection of pre-loved uniform items from Transition to Year 12 at excellent prices. We also stock new ties, socks and Sports hats for purchase.

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!
It only takes 45 minutes of your time, 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.

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
• Thornton Bros Roses

Bronze Sponsors

• Narellan Pools
  
• Breakaway Education
• NSW Rail Museum
  
• ESP Security

Community News

The Shark Cage - Free Workshop

Mittagong Junior Disco  

• Date: Saturday, 29 March   
• Times: 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm
• Venue: Mittagong RSL – Bessemer Street, Mittagong
• Cost: $5.00
• Ages: 0-14

Please note that this is a cash-only and alcohol-free event.

All money raised goes back to the children in the Southern Highlands community.  

We hope to see you there.

PCYC Driver Training

The PCYC Safer Driver program runs locally each month. There is also an opportunity for any Wollondilly Shire residents to be enrolled under a grant for the shire and attend at no cost to them

Wollondilly Uniting Church - Playgroup Facilitator

Picton Rangers Football Club

UYGM Cricket Academy

Parenting in a Technological Age

The Oaks Anglican Church will bd hosting a parenting seminar in March, titled, "Parenting in a Technological Age", run by Mothers Union Sydney. The material presented has been well researched for parents as they navigate parenting in this rapidly changing world.

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/yerrinboolbargosoccerclub

Buxton Netball Club

LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health

RYPEN

RYPEN is one of Rotary International's regular Youth leadership events - held 4-6 April as a weekend-long camp for Years 11 & 12 students, designed for developing young people's potential through a mixture of lecture-style sessions and adventure-based learning.