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Waratah Weekly - Term 1, Edition 7 - Friday, 10 March 2023

Message from the Headmaster

We place great importance on our students feeling safe, cared for, and connected to our College community. This is critical to our Learning, CARE, and Culture strategy. Research shows that when students feel supported, they are more likely to participate in their learning, less likely to experience sadness and depression, and less likely to be absent.

At Wollondilly, we employ a number of strategies to promote CARE. Firstly, our teachers and non-teaching staff seek to know each student personally. We understand that each young person brings unique life experiences into the classroom, and we want to know how we can support each student through them. Our teachers provide consistent classroom expectations to ensure that students understand what is expected of them. Predictable rules and procedures help students feel safe and cared for.

We also offer numerous co-curricular opportunities that students are encouraged to participate in. These provide a great way to connect with other students and explore areas of interest, making a student's time at the College more enjoyable. Additionally, we recognise the importance of developing strong friendships, and we strive to support students in making good friends and being a good friend through PDHPE and Pastoral Care lessons.

We are thankful for the positive, caring, and supportive culture that our students demonstrate and experience every day. Let us continue to work together to ensure that our College community remains a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all.

Mr Trevor Norman
College Headmaster

Developing Perseverance

Perseverance is important in learning because it enables individuals to overcome obstacles and challenges that arise during the learning process. Learning often involves encountering difficulties, setbacks, and failures, which can be discouraging and demotivating. However, by persevering through these obstacles, learners can develop resilience, persistence, and a growth mindset, all of which are essential qualities for successful learning.

Dr Eaton shared his journey of persistence through to the completion of his PHD. Further, he shared that when studying Science, drawing on the characteristics of resilience, persistence and a growth mindset all assist and support learners to succeed in this discipline.

Perseverance allows learners to stay committed to their goals, even when the going gets tough. It helps them push through frustration and boredom, and to continue learning even when progress seems slow or non-existent. Additionally, perseverance helps learners develop a sense of accomplishment and confidence as they overcome obstacles and make progress towards their goals.

The above were all very specific and real elements of Dr Eaton's experience and he outlined what this looked like for him. He was also able to convey the outcomes of this on the other side, by staying the course which can only be experienced when someone persists with their learning.

In short, perseverance is essential for successful learning because it helps learners overcome challenges, stay motivated, and persist in the face of obstacles. By cultivating perseverance, learners can develop the resilience and persistence they need to achieve their learning goals and become lifelong learners.

Thank you Dr Eaton for sharing your journey and highlighting the perseverance element related to the learner disposition of resilience. It is important that students have role models both at school and home that are helping cultivate this attribute and promote attitudes that lead to lifelong learning.

Advice for studying Science:

Mistakes and challenges are part of the process
Questions increase learning
Deliberate practice leads to long-lasting learning
Seek and apply feedback in your learning
Use practicals to further your understanding
Persevere through the mistakes and challenges

Mr Liam Toland
Director of Care & Culture T-12

7 -12 Teaching and Learning

How can eating breakfast be beneficial to your child’s learning?
I have currently asked our Secondary Year Patrons to send an anonymous survey to students in Secondary around eating patterns – but specifically, I am interested in the data on students’ breakfast eating patterns.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and students who eat breakfast tend to have more focus in class and are more likely to be successful in their learning than those who don’t.

Helping students build a healthy eating pattern including eating a nutritious breakfast can build a foundation for being more successful throughout the day, assist in the maintenance of energy levels, and have a positive impact on learning.

Eating breakfast is important for everyone, but especially for students and teenagers. After going without food for 8 to 10 hours during sleep, breakfast gives our bodies the fuel it needs for the day. Eating breakfast helps jump-start our metabolism for the day. Students who don’t eat breakfast will tend to feel an energy drain by mid-morning.

Eating a good breakfast also helps students to:

Be more active
Be more creative
Have better hand-eye coordination
Have better problem-solving skills
Meet daily nutritional requirements
Miss fewer days of school

I hope to use the information collected to gain a better understanding of some of the challenges students face and hope to share the results in the near future.

Year 12 Half Yearly Examination Period
Year 12 will undergo their Half Yearly Exams in Week 10 of this term, Monday, 27 March – Friday, 31 March

This is a great opportunity for students to apply the knowledge they have learnt in their specific courses and write answers to questions under timed conditions. More importantly, students will receive feedback on their performance and this will help to shape preparation as they head into their trials. I encourage students to dedicate time over the next few weeks, preparing for these exams and preparing study notes as part of continuous preparation, and for parents to be supportive of the need to do this.

Preparations leading into the examination periods should be regular and have high levels of repetition to ensure new learning is transferred into long-term memory. Students should limit distractions such as social media, phones, and TV and should be studying in an area free of distractions. Limiting the time spent in part-time employment is encouraged to ensure students are using this time to focus and prepare properly.

Mrs Kelly Evans
Director of Teaching & Learning 7-12

Primary Sports

IPSSO
Our next four weeks of IPSSO are below:

15 March: Away against Macarthur Anglican School. Cricket at Cut Hill. All other sports on MAS campus.
22 March: Away against St Gregory’s College
29 March: Away against St Peter’s Anglican School. Cricket, soccer and Oztag at Campbelltown Showground, Basketball at St Peter’s campus
5 April - Away against Broughton Anglican College (last round of Term 1)

Gymnastics
On Friday, throughout the remaining weeks of Term 1, Students in Years T-2 will be participating in Gymnastics lessons underneath the Shoulder to Shoulder Shelter. The lessons will be run by the coaches from Gymtastics.

CIS Swimming - Wednesday, 22 March
Congratulations to the following students who qualified for the CIS Swimming Carnival on Wednesday, 22 March at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. We know you will do your College very proud!

Lily Bartolo
Harrison Goddard
Joe Rebelo
Jeremy Frendo
Norah Rebelo
Camden Frendo
Lachlan Morris

Primary NASSA Touch Football Gala Day - Monday, 27 March
On Monday, 27 March, a Stage 3 Girls’ Team and a Stage 3 Boys’ Team will be competing at the NASSA Touch Football Gala Day. Tryouts for the team will be held on Tuesday, 14 March during Break 2 on the Front Oval (Winning Field).

Gymnastics for Stage 2 and Stage 3
Next term, for College Sports, students in Stage 2 and Stage 3 will have the opportunity to participate in Gymnastics sessions at the Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre with Gymtastics. More information about this to be made available soon.

Upcoming events:

Monday, 27 March - Primary NASSA Touch Football Gala Day
Wednesday, 5 April - Primary NASSA Netball Gala Day
Thursday, 6 April - Years 3-6 Cross Country

Mr James Gooden
Primary Sports Coordinator

Persevering In Your Faith

The College Learner Disposition focus for Term 1 is Resilience. This is a habit that we are working on developing and cultivating in our students, learning, character and also in their faith.

Have you ever found yourself wishing you were more patient, self-controlled, kind or generous? How do you respond? What action do you take to grow in the areas you'd like to see growth in? This week we've been looking at the book of James in devotions. It's a beautiful book that is incredibly insightful into the reality of what it means to be human.

In James 1:22 the word says, Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves but do what it says. James here highlights that being a Christian is much more than knowing how God wants us to live, it's about applying it. The way James describes it is as "doing what you know you should do". The Bible presents a message that God is shaping and developing our character. This is only possible because of God's power working in us, however, it's also something that we are actively responsible for. When God reveals to us areas in our character we can grow in, he does this in the same way as a loving Father would to a child, to help them grow. God doesn't abandon us; he walks with us and enables us to change. It's a long process that God does over time. Through the power of His Spirit, He chips away at us, and it's one that we are called to be actively involved in. How? By responding to the promptings that he places in our hearts and mind as we get to know him better. In the ups and downs of this life as a Christian we can have a confident hope that God is doing a good work in us and draw encouragement as we see the evidence of change, often slowly, in our lives.

So, I encourage you to bring the things you're wrestling with to God and ask him for his help to persevere, because as we persevere in our walk with him, he helps us grow. The next time you wish you were more patient, self-controlled, caring or kind, I challenge you to reach out to God and see what happens.

Mr Matt Roberts
College Chaplain

Performing Arts News

Singapore Collaboration - Performing Arts Students
This is a general reminder to all Singapore Collaboration students. A schedule of rehearsals and meeting times has been sent directly to those students involved. It is imperative that students provide as much notice to Miss Valente or myself if they are aware that they are unable to attend any of these rehearsals. Our next scheduled rehearsal/meeting will be Monday, 13 March 2.45 pm - 4.15 pm next week.

HICES Music Festival
This is another reminder to all students in Years 7-12 involved in one of the Music Ensembles at the College of the upcoming HICES Music Festival.

The HICES Music Festival brings together over 400 musicians from across HICES schools in New South Wales. Students will work with experienced conductors at The Tops Conference Centre in Stanwell Tops. All camp participants will be transported to Sydney Town Hall for final rehearsals, and the event will culminate with the Festival Concert on the evening of Wednesday, 16 August 2023.

There is a $595 cost involved in the festival, but it is a fantastic opportunity for students to partake in a joint effort of schools across the Sydney and greater Sydney area that share the same passion for Music making and performance in a range of ensemble contexts.

I am encouraging all students who play an instrument in an Ensemble or sing in our College Choir to consider applying. Please see Mr Law (Secondary Music Teacher) or myself for more information including an application link.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 29 March 2023.

Thirlmere Festival of Steam
Two of our Performing Arts groups will be participating in the upcoming Thirlmere Festival of Steam, to be held on Sunday, 19 March.

The College Strings (7-12) will be performing on the Main Stage at 10.15 am. Parents have been sent the permission note via the College App. They are to meet Ms Bridge and me at the College Tent at 9.45 am.

The College Cheer Group will be participating in the Parade. The Parade commences at 11.00 am, however, all students in this group will be required to meet Ms Valente and me at the College Tent at 10.30 am, before they will be escorted to the marshalling area as one group. Parents have been sent the permission note via the College App, with all necessary information including what to bring and what to wear. Students have also been informed of this during rehearsals. We wish them all the best as they are the reigning champions of the Parade, after last year’s spectacular SteamPunk routine. As you can see from the photos below, they have been practising intensely in preparation for the event.

If students or parents have any questions, please contact me at l.grant@wac.nsw.edu.au for more details or information.

Mr Lloyd Grant
Performing Arts Coordinator T-12

Year K-6 Parent-Teacher Evenings

All parents with students in Years K-6 should now have received an email with instructions on how to book online parent-teacher interviews on the following days:

Tuesday, 21 March: 3.00 pm - 7.30 pm (last interview)
ZOOM interviews. All teachers are available except Mr Hopkins (6F), Mrs Napier (KJ) and Mrs Grant (3F).

Wednesday, 22 March: 3.00 pm - 7.30 pm (last interview)
ZOOM interviews. Mrs Napier (KJ) and Mrs Grant (3F) ONLY

Thursday, 23 March: 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm (last interview)
Face to Face interviews. All teachers except Mr Hopkins (6F)

Please note: Mr Hopkins (6F) will carry out interviews early in Term 2 after his return from Parental Leave (to allow him time to get to know his students). We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause parents of 6F.

Your availability for these interviews needs to be submitted by 5.00 pm, Thursday, 16 March. On Friday, 17 March, interview schedules will be determined and you will then be sent details of your Parent-Teacher Interview booking(s). Any changes to these bookings can be made up until 8.00 AM on Monday, 20 March. If you have not received an email or have questions about booking Parent-Teacher Interviews, you can contact me at w.baulch@wac.nsw.edu.au or at (02) 46230264.

Mr Wayne Baulch
Administration Coordinator

Online Consent For Vaccinations

A message from NSW Health regarding online consent for your child’s College vaccinations in 2023.

If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10 this year, you will now need to provide online consent for their routine College vaccinations.

In Year 7, students are offered vaccines for diphtheria–tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV). In Year 10, students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received.

How to Provide Consent

To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://nswhealth.service-now.com/school
Follow the steps to log in to your existing Service NSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.
Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:
1. Enter your child’s personal details
2. Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child
3. Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and Privacy Statement
4. Provide Consent

The Benefits of Providing Consent Online

Easily update your child’s details
Receive SMS and/or email notifications when vaccinations are given
Faster upload of vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination

Mrs Sally Lloyd
College Nurse

The Importance of Wide Reading In The Secondary Years

Here at the College, we place a high value and importance on the practise of reading, in particular wide reading for enjoyment. All students in Years 7-12 will be engaged at some point in the year in reading a novel in English, however, this should not be the only time your child is reading a book.

Research has shown the social and educational benefits of reading over other forms of entertainment, including the use of social media. Students who regularly engage in reading books of their own choice not only increase their vocabulary skills but also improve their imaginative thinking, and social and emotional skills. Encouraging your child to be reading at home will also help to build their resilience in tackling new and complex texts as they move through the Secondary Years. Studies have also shown that children and young adults who are around others who read are more inclined to read than those who are not.

We are very fortunate here at Wollondilly that our students have access to a number of Libraries which stock a wide variety of age-appropriate fiction and non-fiction texts. Our students are encouraged to borrow regularly, and read these books for enjoyment during their roll-call period. Please encourage your child to speak to one of our College Librarians or their English teacher to assist them in finding a book that interests them.

Mrs Sarah Wellington
Leader of Learning - English

Stage 5 & 6 Music

What's Been Happening in Elective Music?
In Year 9 Music this term, students have been studying a historical overview of the music genre, Jazz, in particular its origins and development over time, particularly focusing so far on the Blues style and the use of syncopation, Blues notes and the Blues structure and chord progression. Year 9 students have also been revising and studying some elements of music theory including major scales and key signatures and the difference between simple and compound time.

In Year 10, students have studied twentieth-century compositional techniques across a variety of repertoire. These techniques include composing a melody using retrograde - a passage directed to move in reverse or moving backwards in pitch, the inversion - a passage played upside down to the original, or a combination of both, where it is played backwards and upside down, being retrograde-inversion.

In Year 11, students in the Music 1 course have been examining different methods of notating music. This has opened each of the student's eyes to different methods to notate sound on paper, such as tablature used by guitarists, graphic notation using a variety of colours and symbols to depict sound and neumes, a form of notation that was used during the Medieval period. Students in the Music 2 course have been examining works from 1600-1900 and the way common techniques were used to manipulate the concepts of music throughout this time period.

All students in Elective Music classes have also been reviewing and evaluating their practice, logging their skill development and analysing their progress by asking some simple questions after each session:

What’s the most important thing that’s happened in my practice today? Why is it important?
What difficulties did I meet in my practice today?
How did I resolve or sort these difficulties out?
What else could I have done?

These simple questions prompt the students to reflect upon their practice and ensure they are looking at both the positive progress they are making, no matter how small, but also examine what may be hindering their progress further. This reflection on their action is an element we are encouraging these students to persevere and be resilient in the face of challenges or tricky situations they may face during practice sessions.

Mr Lloyd Grant
Performing Arts Coordinator T-12
Music Teacher

Family Chapel - Term 1

The College has grown so much in recent years that it has been decided that our first Family Chapel of the year will only be for Kindergarten to Year 6. Since we are concentrating on the Primary Years, the evening will begin at 6.00 pm on Thursday, 30 March under the Shoulder to Shoulder Shelter.

To make life easier for our families, a sausage sandwich will be available at the BBQ area free of charge from 5.30 pm, however, these must be pre-ordered through Trybooking.

Click here to book.

Our College Chaplain Mr Matt Roberts will be speaking about one of Jesus' miracles. In addition, we will have the opportunity to listen to the Primary Choir, sing a song of praise together, and hear prayers for our community.

Finally, donations of gold coins or non-perishable food items will be accepted at the rear of the Shelter area. These will be used by the WAC Kids Care team to prepare nourishing meals for those in our community who are struggling with illness or hardship. House points will also be given which will go towards the House Shield.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Mrs Carolyn Clark
Family Chapel Team

College Speed Limit

Keeping our College Safe – 10kph on College Roads
The growth in the College community can certainly be seen at the start and finish of every day with the increase in traffic. Until we have another arrangement in place, a little bit of patience will be needed. To help keep everyone safe, please be reminded that the speed limit on College roads is just 10kph.

By being mindful of others, we can all contribute to making the College a safe place.

Mrs Merilyn Harris
Science Laboratory Assistant & WHS Officer

2023 Key Events & Dates

Click Here

We're Hiring! Maintenance/Gardener

Click Here To Apply Online

Premier's Reading Challenge

Books@WAC - NEW Year 7 and Year 8 Book Club
Do you like reading and talking about books? Would you like to get the first chance at reading new books and have a say in what books we purchase at the College? Would you like to be involved in a community of book reviewers and even influence the judging of major literary awards? Would you like to win prizes for your creative book reviews? These are some of the things you could be involved with at Books@WAC. If you are interested contact, please contact me at j.colombo@wac.nsw.edu.au

Meeting Fridays, Break 1 in the Johnson Library.

Book Club Orders Due Thursday, 23 March
The Book Club Issue 2 catalogue is now available. Secondary students should select the class ‘Secondary’ when ordering. Primary select their usual class. All orders are to be made online or through the LOOP App. Please note that the Book Club catalogue is sent out with suggested age ranges for the books, each page has a different age range, with ages 12+ towards the back. The College does not necessarily endorse the books available through Book Club and parental discretion is advised.

Important Changes to the K-2 Premier’s Reading Challenge
This year we are making some changes to the way we administer the Premier’s Reading Challenge for Years K-2. Years K-2 students will not take part in the Challenge as a group anymore. If parents would like their child to complete the PRC they can add books that they read at home to their child’s online record. Please email j.colombo@wac.nsw.edu.au and I will provide your child’s login details and instructions on how to do that. students in Years K-2 can either read or be read to for the PRC. Any questions please let me know.

Students in Years 3-6 will be logging into the Premier’s Reading Challenge during Library and Technology Lessons throughout the year and can complete the Challenge by reading for pleasure at home and adding books to their online records. The Year 3-6 students will be given their login details in Library Lessons.

Please note, completing the PRC from Year 3 to Year 9, every year qualifies the students for the PRC Medal.

Students in Years 7-9 can access their logins by contacting me for further information. Those students who have already signed up will receive their logins soon. I will also follow up with students that do the Challenge every year.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a way to be rewarded for your leisure reading, is a great addition to your resume and encourages wide reading, which is so important for literacy skills.

For all the PRC rules and regulations please visit the Rules Page.

Students can add their books via the PRC Student Site.

Any questions about the Premier’s Reading Challenge please contact me at j.colombo@wac.nsw.edu.au

Justine Colombo
College Librarian

Equestrian - Snowy Mountains Interschools Equestrian Competition

P&F Clothing Pool

Come and join our friendly team at the Clothing Pool!

Volunteers are needed for a Monday or Thursday morning for just 45 minutes, from 7.45 am to 8.30 am. The work is quick and easy, and is a great way to meet other parents!

Thank you to our current volunteers:

Monday: Renu Tondak
Tuesday: Claudia Hall, Janise Hawksworth, Deanna Parry
Wednesday: Kath Whittaker, Melissa Whishaw
Thursday: Kerrie Holloway
Friday: Cristina Negi, Amanda Coles, Annette Dalrymple

We had a lovely Morning Tea at La Crema Cafe this term with some of the team, it was a great catch-up and a nice way to acknowledge our volunteers!

If you would like to volunteer please contact me via email at clothingpool@wac.nsw.edu.au or phone at 0415402013.

Have a great week!

Opening Hours: 7.45 am - 8.30 am
Days: Monday - Friday
Location: White Cottage - side windows adjacent to the rear of the Canteen.
Phone: 0415 402 013
Email: clothingpool@wac.nsw.edu.au

Mrs Melissa Whishaw
Clothing Pool Coordinator

Church Services

Click Here

Community News

WAC Kids Care
From time to time, families undergo trauma such as severe or terminal illness. There are short-term support structures in place at the College to assist families during these times.

We have a collection of beautifully prepared meals that are ready for distribution to any families in need.

The WAC Kids Care Program offers support to families in the way of meals. Please contact Mrs Hay or Mrs Evans at the College. Confidentiality will be respected. If you know of anyone who may need meals at this time, please contact the College office.

MW Physie and Dance

Registrations are open for MW Physie and Dance. Part of the Australian Physie and Dance organistion. (https://www.mwapda.com.au/home/ ). New members are welcome. Come along to have a look. Class times below:

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.

College Sponsors

PLATINUM SPONSORS

SIMEC Mining

Tahmoor Colliery is an underground coal mine producing high-quality coal for steel production. Tahmoor Coal is a proud supporter of local charities, businesses, organisations and schools; and is committed to responsible mining operations, taking care of the community and environment.

Phone: 02 4640 0100 (within office hours) 1800 154 415 (after hours)
Email: tahmoorenquiries@simecgfg.com
Web: www.tahmoorcoal.com.au

Double Gold Sponsors

Little Elves Childcare Centre
T/ Little Elves OOSH
Bargo Public School
Ph: 0487 000 245
Email: littleelvesoosh@gmail.com

Thirlmere Quality Timbers
http://www.thirlmerequalitytimbers.com.au/
60 Oaks Road Thirlmere, NSW, 2572
Phone: Deb 0417 486 522
Office 02 46841 8580
Email: sales@thirlmerequalitytimbers.com.au

About our business:
We supply quality rural hardwood fencing products and quality seasoned firewood sourced from sustainable regrowth forests. We produce 90% of our stock on-site and strive to supply the best timber products in the area to our customers.

The Associates Insurance Broking Services Pty Ltd
Address: PO Box 56, Bowral NSW 2576
ABN: 90 638 881 660
Contact Person Name: Victoria Holt (Company EA)
Email address: victoria.holt@is-insurance.com.au

PRISM Human Capital
Address: PO Box 56, Bowral NSW 2576
ABN: 94 604 594 345
Contact Person Name: Victoria Holt (Company EA)
Email address: Victoria.holt@is-insurance.com.au

About our business:
Insurance Investment Solutions (IIS) opened its doors for business in 2017 and quickly built a reputation as one of Australia’s leading strata insurance specialist underwriting agencies. We provide brokers with market leading insurance solutions.