Waratah Weekly - Term 3, Edition 5 - Friday, 29 August 2025

Thank You For Your Partnership

I am writing this week with a deep sense of gratitude for our community. As parents and carers, you make a significant investment in your child's education at our College, and I want to acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice that so many of you make to provide this opportunity. Your commitment is not something we take for granted.

Your partnership with us goes far beyond simply investing in your child's future; it is also a powerful contribution to our wider community. A new report from Independent Schools Australia highlights the remarkable value of this choice. The report shows that in 2023-24, Independent schools saved taxpayers across Australia an astonishing $12.5 billion in school operating and construction costs. In New South Wales alone, the sector provided almost 77,000 jobs and saved taxpayers $4.92 billion.

These are significant numbers that demonstrate the profound impact of your decision. Every family choosing an Independent school is not only shaping their own child's education but also supporting jobs, contributing to our local economy, and easing the burden on public resources.

As a College, we are proud to be a part of a sector that delivers such wide-reaching benefits to our community and our country. But more than anything, we are proud to partner with you. Your belief in a Wollondilly Anglican College education is what allows us to nurture and inspire the next generation of young people. Together, we are building a legacy of excellence that will benefit our students, our families, and our society for years to come.

Mr Trevor Norman
College Headmaster

WAC Country Fair - Saturday, 13 September

The WAC Country Fair will be held on Saturday, 13 September, from 10.00 am - 3.00 pm and will be another great day of family fun!

Key attractions this year include:

• Pig Racing
• Agility Dogs
  
• Reptile Show
• Carnival Rides
• Woodchopping
• Pony and Camels
• Medieval Knights Display
• Market Stalls
• Book Fair
• Much, much more!

Unlimited Rides Wristband!

Get ready for an action-packed day! Lock in your unlimited ride wristband for the WAC Country Fair and enjoy non-stop fun. For one great price, your wristband gives you all-day access to an incredible lineup of attractions, including:

• Dodgem Cars
• Sizzler
• Round Up
• Gladiator Duel
• Big Balls Wipeout
• Camel and Pony Rides
• Children's Chair-O-Plane
• Windjammer
• Giant Slide
• Tiki Island Inflatable
• Inflatable Mega Obstacle Course
• Super Hero

Don't miss out on the ultimate fair experience! Purchase your unlimited ride wristband online to save time on the day. Your wristbands will be available for collection from 9.00 am at the Administration Tent, located under the Shoulder to Shoulder shelter.

We Need Your Help!

If you'd like to help make this event a success, please consider signing up to volunteer at the link below. This event only happens due to the hard work of the College Parents and Friends Association.

Key Dates - Term 3, Week 6

From the College Nurse - Asthma Week

Asthma Week is Asthma Australia's annual awareness-raising activity held from 1-7 September 2025.

The aim of Asthma Week is to ‘put asthma on the kitchen table of all Australians’, which means to get people talking about asthma with family and friends and to improve awareness of the impact this chronic health condition has on so many lives.

For more information, visit https://asthma.org.au/get-involved/events/asthma-week/

A few reminders to the parents/carers of students who have asthma.

It is your parental responsibility to:

• Ensure ventolin/spacer and Action Plan are in your child's College backpack each day (Years K-12), clearly labelled. 
• Ensure the ventolin is well within expiry date and has at least 100 puffs on the meter. 
• Keep your child’s Asthma Action Plan up-to-date. Action Plans should be renewed annually as per guidelines from Asthma Australia. 
• Provide any updated Asthma Action Plan to Student Reception, so that it can be attached and uploaded to your child’s Edumate file.
• Clean your child's spacer monthly. 

Mrs Sally Lloyd
College Nurse

WAC P&F Father's Day Stall - 5 September

On Friday, 5 September 2025, WAC Parents and Friends' Association will be holding a Father's Day Stall at the College.

Students in Transition to Year 6 will have an allocated time during the day to visit the stall with their class. The allocated time for Secondary will be during Break 2.

All gifts must be pre-purchased for your child to make a selection on the day. Please note there is a limit of two gifts per child. There will be no cash or EFT payments available on the day.

(Transition 2-Day Program students will visit the stall on Thursday, 4 September).

Bookings close midnight Thursday, 4 September 2025.

Michael Matthews Memorial Service & Tree Planting

Join us on Wednesday, 3 September, from 3.00 pm under the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Shelter for a short memorial service followed by a tree planting in recognition of Michael’s service to the College. Please RSVP via the button below.

Creative Arts & Languages

HICES Music Festival
Congratulations to Harriette Martin, Annie Williams and Torin Ford-Macguire for their HICES Music Festival performances at Sydney Town Hall. It was a very impressive night of performance. Approximately 450 students performed on the night to a sold-out audience after having attended an intensive camp experience to practice performing with newly-formed ensembles and working with professional musicians as tutors and conductors. This is a fantastic achievement (and the students reported that it was also really fun).

Country Fair Performances
Students have had the opportunity to self-nominate to perform at our upcoming Country Fair. This year, we have scheduled performers to 'sets' and we are instructing performers to arrive at their designated warm-up or green-room space no later than half an hour before the performance begins. Please see the schedule below. 

All performers to be featured within a set are to move to the stage area before the performances begin, and they will be called directly onto the stage from there. We know that the students will enjoy the opportunity to not only perform but also support one another in their performances. Individual teachers and ensemble leaders may issue separate specific instructions for the performances they are coordinating. 

If your child did not sign up and would still like to be included in the program, please email the relevant Performing Arts Coordinator by 3.00 pm Monday, 1 September.

Mr David Hopkins (Primary Performing Arts Coordinator) d.hopkins@wac.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Sarah Talbot (Secondary Performing Arts Coordinator) s.talbot@wac.nsw.edu.au

Mrs Sarah Talbot
Leader of Learning Creative Arts & Languages / Performing Arts Coordinator 7-12

Primary CASA Athletics Carnival

The College had quite a successful day at the CASA Primary Athletics Carnival that was held on Thursday, 7 August 2025. Thankfully, the impending rain held off so that all of the events could be held!

There were a large number of students who were able to improve their personal best results from the WAC Athletics Carnival, even if they didn't quite make the podium this time.

Special mention to the 1500m runners who self-nominated to compete in the event before and on the day - such a test of endurance and mental toughness. Also, a huge congratulations to the relay teams who stayed until the end of the day to compete in this event - we received some fantastic results even without a lot of practice.

Congratulations to those students who were able to place in their events, they will be competing at the CIS Athletics Carnival on Friday, 9 September.

Mrs Lisa Grzasko
Credit Controller

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Secondary Years – Father's Day Breakfast

Secondary students and their fathers/carers/grandfathers are invited to attend a Breakfast on Friday, 5 September in the Warne Auditorium from 7.30 am – 8.30 am.

Students must attend with their primary carer, and an RSVP is essential.

RSVPs will close on Monday, 1 September (Term 3, Week 6) to allow for catering.

Food served will be bacon & egg rolls, fruit, granola cups, tea & coffee.

Mrs Kelly Evans
Director of Teaching & Learning 7-12

Temporary Change to PM21 Duck service for Balmoral students

Canteen News

Flexischools App
The College uses the Flexischools App for recess and lunch orders. If you don’t already have an account and would like to set one up for your child/ren please click on the following link:- https://flexischools.com.au/parents

Just a reminder that our ordering cut-off time is 7.30 am on the day of ordering. Limited food options will continue to be available for late orders up until 8.30 am. If you realise after this time that your child doesn’t have any food, please contact Student Reception to arrange a food voucher (sandwich and/or snack only) for your child. This will be charged to Parents' fee accounts.

Flexischools allows you to order in advance, and ordering the night before will ensure greater menu availability.

Re-heating Meals
Please do not send your child to the College with meals that need to be microwaved, toasted or have boiling water added to (eg two-minute noodles). The Canteen staff cannot facilitate this due to burn and allergy contamination risks.

Hot Chocolates
We are usually open Monday – Thursday mornings from approximately 7.35 am to 8:00 am. We do not serve any food before the College day starts. Both Primary and Secondary Students are welcome to pay with cash or EFTPOS (no mobile phones or smartwatches).

Small hot chocolates are $2.50, and large hot chocolates are $3.50

Primary Students
A reminder that Primary students cannot purchase from the Canteen (except for hot chocolates before the College day starts). All orders must be placed through the Flexischools App.

Secondary Students
A reminder that Secondary students must use a physical EFTPOS card or cash. Mobile phones and smartwatches will not be accepted.

Mrs Narelle Manuel
Acting Canteen Manager

We're Hiring!

We are currently seeking applications for the following roles to commence in 2026:

• Leader - Advanced Learning and Learning Support 7-12
• Leader of Care & Culture - Stage 4
• Assistant Leader of Learning English 7-12
• Mathematics Teacher 7-12
• English Teacher 7-12
• TAS Teacher

For further information on any of the permanent positions, please contact Mr Geoff Adams on 02 4684 2577 or at g.adams@wac.nsw.edu.au

Book Week

New Library Monitors!
Three Year 6 students have received their new Library Monitor Badges this week for consistent service in the Primary Libraries:

• Saachi Baxter
• Lachlan Underwood
• Zoe Napoleoni.

Book Donations for the Country Fair
The College Library will host a Book Stall at the Country Fair on Saturday, 13 September. We are asking for book donations in good condition that we can add to the stall. Please take donations to Student Reception or send them with your child to be put in the tubs located in each Library.

Other Book Week Events and Activities
In addition to the T-2 Book Week Parade, we have several other Book Week events during the Term:

• Week 6: Sami Bayly, author/illustrator, visit for Years 1-6 and Selected Secondary Students.

• Primary Book Week Competitions will take place during Library Lessons. Book Prizes for the winners.

• The Secondary Book Review Competition is now open. How to Enter: Just search on the Library Catalogue for a book you have read and click on the ‘Write a Review’ section. Write your Review on Oliver between now and 15 September. 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize will receive a Bowral Bookshop gift card. Contact j.colombo@wac.nsw.edu.au with questions.

Book Club Issue 6 - Orders Due Thursday, 11 September
The Book Club Issue 6 Catalogue is now available. Secondary students should select the class ‘Secondary’ when ordering.  Primary students 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

College Working Bee - Tomorrow!

We are writing on behalf of the College Prefects to encourage students and parents to join staff and College Student Leaders at the Term 1 Working Bee. This event will take place tomorrow from 8.00 am - 1.00 pm. 

As students of the College, we would like to promote this as an opportunity for service and community building. Your contributions can make a real and positive impact on the lives of others and your environment. Serving others helps you develop personally; by serving, you can inspire and motivate others to get involved and contribute positively. The Student Leaders at the College want to set an example in this area and would like to see as many students, staff and parents attend this event. It would be greatly appreciated if you could spare an hour of your day to serve at this event. All students who attend will be issued a Community Service Merit. This year, we will be adding additional House Points to the House of students, staff and parents that attend; these will accrue to the Overall House Shield. 

The College has reduced the number of Working Bees from four per year to two per year. With this in mind, it would be great to see our community prioritise the opportunities to build community and serve.

Please note that we only have a limited supply of tools and equipment, therefore, it is important that you bring your own gardening tools, blowers, gloves and anything else you think might help on the day. Mr Warland, the College Property Manager, will be onsite to assist students and parents if you have questions.

Kye James & Jessalyn Smiltnieks
College Community Service Prefect

Lowes 20% Off Sale - 27-30 August

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

Tahmoor District Cricket Club

Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre - Girls Gone Wild

Calling all dancers!
Perform in a Curtain Raiser for GIRLS GONE WILD
High School Years 10–12 | No experience needed | Free to join.

We’re inviting bold, curious, and creative young people to join a brand-new youth dance-theatre project and perform as the curtain raiser for GIRLS GONE WILD, a professional dance-theatre production coming to our stage this September.

No prior dance experience is needed - just a willingness to move, be creative, and work as a team. This is a unique chance for students to perform live in a professional venue and collaborate with a team of professional artists to create an original piece exploring identity, social norms, and self-expression through movement, comedy, and storytelling.

 What’s included:

• The chance to perform live on stage in a professional venue
• A fun, collaborative creative experience
• Skills in movement, storytelling, performance, and teamwork
• Mentorship from acclaimed choreographer Bonnie Curtis and professional dance artists
• A supportive environment where students’ voices and creativity are valued

We would love for Wollondilly Anglican College to be involved, and we’d be grateful if you could pass this opportunity on to any interested students or staff.

 Head to our website HERE for more info and registration.

Mittagong Junior Disco  

• Date: Saturday, 30 August  
• Time: 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm
• Venue: Mittagong RSL – Bessemer Street, Mittagong
• Cost: $5.00
• Ages: 0-14
• Please note this is a CASH-ONLY & ALCOHOL-FREE event.