Waratah Weekly - Term 3, Edition 7 - Friday, 8 September 2023

Message from the Headmaster

Finding Strength in the Whisper of God In 1 Kings 19 
We find the prophet Elijah at a pivotal moment in his life. Just after the dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel, where he boldly confronted the prophets of Baal and witnessed God's mighty power, Elijah's world takes a dark turn. Threatened by Queen Jezebel, he flees to the wilderness, exhausted and feeling utterly alone. In his despair, Elijah cries out to the Lord, "I have had enough, Lord; take my life." He reaches a point of utter exhaustion, both physically and spiritually. Haven't we all felt this way at some point in our lives? Overwhelmed, discouraged, and ready to give up? But here's the beautiful truth: God hears our cries in the wilderness of our lives. He doesn't abandon us when we're at our lowest. Just as He did for Elijah, God sends an angel to provide for his physical needs. This is a reminder that even in our weakest moments, God cares for our basic necessities. Yet, God's provision goes beyond the physical. He shows up in a profound way when He instructs Elijah to stand on a mountain. There, Elijah experiences a series of powerful natural phenomena—a mighty wind, an earthquake and a fire. But in each of these dramatic displays, God is not found. Instead, God reveals Himself in a gentle whisper. It's a powerful reminder that God doesn't always speak through thunderous signs and wonders. Sometimes, He speaks to us in the quiet moments, in the stillness of our hearts. He beckons us to come closer, to listen carefully and to recognise His presence. God doesn't stop at comforting Elijah in his despair. He also gives him a purpose and a promise. He sends him back on a mission, anointing Hazael as King and reassuring him that he is not alone—there are still faithful followers of God in Israel. In our moments of exhaustion and spiritual low, let us learn from Elijah. Turn to God, seek His presence and listen for His whisper. He knows how to nourish us, strengthen us and guide us forward. Even when we feel like giving up, God has a purpose and a promise for our lives. Just as He sustained Elijah, He will sustain us, for His mercy and love endure forever.

Mr Trevor Norman
College Headmaster

From The Deputy

Country Fair Tomorrow!
I am really looking forward to a wonderful day at the College tomorrow. The Country Fair is a fantastic community event that raises funds that are put back into the College for the benefit of the students.

A huge thank you in advance to all the parents and staff who have and will contribute to making this a wonderful day. If you haven’t as of yet read the letter sent earlier in the week, I would encourage you to do this as it provides some important information about parking, volunteering and supervising your child.

Please remember that domestic animals such as dogs are not permitted on the College grounds. It is also not permitted to be smoking, drinking or vaping at schools in NSW. 

Click here to view the 2023 Country Fair Program

The P&F had a very difficult task in judging the Colouring in Competition. There were some excellent works and I encourage you to view all of these at the Cook building tomorrow. The following students either won 1st place or were awarded Highly Commended in their respective groups:

Transition

Kindergarten

 Year 1

 Year 2

 Year 3

 Year 4

Year 5

 Year 6

 Staff

Mr Paul Burns
Deputy Headmaster

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Pastoral Care - Study Tips

10 Tips for Parents
As students in Year 12 approach their final exams, they may grapple with a multitude of stressors, including the pressure to excel, the fear of failure, an overwhelming academic workload, and the uncertainty that looms on the horizon.

It’s important to recognise that stress is an inevitable part of life, and in fact, it plays a vital role in building resilience. While we cannot entirely evade stress, we have the power to manage it effectively. What we can steer clear of, however, is falling into the depths of distress.

“Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - (Joshua Marine)

As a parent, your support and guidance can make all the difference in helping your child navigate this crucial phase with confidence and resilience.

Here are 10 tips to help your child manage stress heading into their final exams, avoid distress and finish Year 12 with tenacity, optimism and empowerment.

1. Recognising the Signs: As a first step, tune in and stay connected. Watch for signs of distress like constant panic, agitation, nervousness, fatigue, nausea, isolation and sleeplessness. 
2. Open Non-Confrontational Dialogue: Talk openly with your child to understand the root of their distress (monkeys on their back). Create a judgment-free space for them to express their feelings. Listen actively and empathetically, without the urge to offer advice. Ensure they feel heard and understood.
3. Set Realistic Expectations: Collaboratively establish achievable goals and expectations. Instead of fixating on the elusive ATAR. emphasize the importance of their personal best.
4. Success in the Journey: Remind your child that success is not solely defined by exam results. It’s about the pursuit of excellence and personal growth, regardless of the outcome. The fruit is in the pursuit.
5. Explore Post-Year 12 Pathways: The ATAR is not the end-all, be-all. Encourage your child to explore diverse pathways available after Year 12, opening their eyes to a world of opportunities.
6. Avoid Comparisons: Comparison can be detrimental. Help your child focus on their progress and journey rather than comparing themselves to peers, siblings or relatives.
7. Prioritize Health & Prevent Burnout: Promote healthy eating, sufficient rest, and regular exercise for a healthy body and mind. Recommend short study breaks to prevent burnout.
8. Family Bonding: Keep the spirit of fun and connectedness alive with regular family activities. Your support system can provide a much-needed emotional anchor.
9. Behind-the-Scenes Support: Small gestures, such as cooking their favorite meal or ensuring a quiet study environment, can go a long way in reducing stress.
10. Daily Encouragement: Remind your child daily that your love and support are unwavering, regardless of their academic achievements.

While the final exams may bring stress, with your guidance and support, your child can thrive during this challenging period. By recognising distress signs, engaging in open dialogue, and promoting a healthy perspective on success, you can help your child build resilience and embark on a path to success that extends far beyond Year 12.

Merza (2023)

Mr Liam Toland
Director of Pastoral Care T-12

Primary Sports

Well done to our IPSSO finalists!
It was a very encouraging day for our IPSSO finalists. 

Mr Wayne’s Junior Boys’ Football Team - The Drought Has Finally Ended
Mr Wayne was reported to have shed a manly tear after his undefeated Junior Boys' Football Team surged all the way to a glorious victory in the Grand Final against Thomas Hassall Anglican College, winning 2-1. Mr Wayne has been coaching the Boys' Football Team for nearly 20 years and has worked hard to develop the profile of Wollondilly as a Footballing College amid very tough competition. It’s always great to see a drought end in spectacular fashion; Primary Wollondilly boys have seldom if ever, made IPSSO Finals for Football. It was heartening to see such a determined, yet cool-headed band of boys take out the competition. Mr Wayne remarked on the way Will Rodden stepped up and played a responsible and composed brand of Football, the silky skills of Nicky Laukaitis; the toughness and tenacity of Xavier Thompson, the hard-pressing and energy of the younger boys in the team, Jackson Bradshaw and Harry Aylott. 

Well done boys, we hope you stay humble and gracious in your victory and are able to continue your success into the future. 

Mrs Stark’s Junior Newcombe Ball Team and Senior Volleyball Team
Mrs Stark has never advertised herself as the most sporty member of staff, but somehow, she managed to steer both her Junior Newcombe Ball and Senior Volleyball Teams to dual Grand Final berths. This is a rare occurrence, even for the most seasoned of IPSSO coaches. 

The Juniors almost appeared to breeze through the competition; winning the Grand Final in straight sets! On the surface, the Junior Team play a disarmingly friendly and good-natured brand of Newcombe Ball. However, it is a widely accepted open secret that Mrs Stark has cunningly trained her team to spot chinks in the tactical armour of their opposition and in perhaps a Darwinian fashion, exploit these flaws for every ounce of benefit they can derive. Well done Junior Newcombe Ballers; we hope your future endeavours return many more laurels for the College. 

I would be amiss to forget the noble efforts of the Senior Volleyball Team who made it all the way to the Grand Final to only be narrowly bested by fellow Southern-pool rivals, Macarthur Anglican School. After such a strong season, they very much deserved a Grand Final berth. 

Mr Mayhew’s Senior AFL Team - hard pressed on every side, but not crushed (2 Corinthians 4:8)
After the most narrow and tormenting 39-40 loss to St Mark’s, a match that went down to the very last seconds, the Senior AFL Team were resolved to contend in the play-off for 3rd. After comprehensively dispatching William Carey 60-10 in the 3rd place play-off, there was a lingering yet unfilled feeling that the WAC Senior AFL Team should have been striving against St Greg’s in the Grand Final. However, not to be. 

Some memorable highlights in both Senior AFL matches follow: 

• The goal-hunting prowess of Lachlan Goldfinch who managed to snare a bounty of sixes against St Mark’s to give Wollondilly a fighting chance at making the Grand Final.
• The tough tackling and daunting defence of Walker Thompson. 
• The scrambling, tooth-and-nail goal-mouth defiance of Briella Anastasio.  
• The long-range punts of Indi Luhr during her attacking spells 
• Finally, the judo moves of martial arts master Abbey Cook made her a formidable force to contend with in both attack and defence. It was great to see Abbey fend off and slip through tackles left-right and centre. 

Primary NASSA AFL Gala Day - Rescheduled to Tuesday, 24 October
Due to scheduling changes, the Junior NASSA AFL Gala Day has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 24 October. The Gala Day will be held at Greenway Park, West Hoxton. (NOT Victoria Park, Minto)

WASP Academy - CRICKET - TERM 4
WASP continues in Term 4! Throughout Term 4, WASP will transition to cricket training and development sessions run by the professional staff from myPEAC.  https://www.mypeac.com.au/

All boys and girls from Years 4 to 8 are welcome to join. There will be eight sessions on Wednesday afternoons throughout Term 4 for a flat rate of $100 for all eight sessions (working out to $12.50 per session)

Please email sport@wac.nsw.edu.au to register your interest. 

College Sports - House Games (Week 8 and Week 9 of Term 3)

All students in Years 3-6 are to wear their House Polo Shirts for Sport on Wednesday. Students will be participating in house games for Week 8 and Week 9 of Term 3.

Please note: Primary CIS Athletics Carnival is to be held on Tuesday, 19 September at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre. 
Not Thursday, 9 October as was previously listed. More information to come on this event in the coming weeks. 

Upcoming events:

• CIS Athletics Carnival at Homebush - Tuesday, 19 September
• NASSA Boys' Cricket Gala Day at Woodbine Oval - Thursday, 19 October
• NASSA AFL GALA DAY at Greenway Park West - Tuesday, 24 October

Mr James Gooden
Primary Sports Coordinator

WAC Country Fair - Unlimited Rides Wristband

Unlimited Rides Wristband
Purchase your unlimited rides wristband before the day for just $30! The wristbands will be on sale for $45 on the day. The wristband will give you unlimited rides on the following attractions:

• Dodgem Cars
• Superhero Round-Up
• Jumping Castles
• Camel & Pony Rides
• Windjammer Sizzler
• Giant Slide Teacups
• Soccer Shootout
• Gladiator Duel
• Children's Chair-O-Plane
• Inflatable Obstacle Course
• Wipeout Balls

Wac Country Fair - Volunteers Needed!

In order to have our best Country Fair to date, we need your help! Even an hour or two would be greatly appreciated.

Performing Arts News

WAC Country Fair 2023
We have a wide variety of performances happening on the main stage at the Shoulder to Shoulder Shelter during the WAC Country Fair. Please see the schedule below, and come past to watch some entertaining Music, Dance and Drama performances from all different ages!

Mrs Sallyanne Barker
Primary Music Teacher/Acting Performing Arts Coordinator T-12

Primary Music - Year 4 Performances

Primary Music
Students in Year 4 will be performing on their instruments at the Primary Formal Assembly on Tuesday, 19 September at 8.30 am. This is a fantastic opportunity for the students to show what they have learnt on their instruments after completing nearly two years of the Instrumental Music Program. Parents are invited to the Formal Assembly. 

Mrs Sallyanne Barker
Primary Music Teacher/Acting Performing Arts Coordinator T-12

Transition - Farm Lessons

P&F Fundraiser
At the beginning of the term, Students in Years T–6 designed an artwork for this year’s P&F Fundraiser. These have now been sent away to Crazy Camel and loaded onto our own portal for you to view and order your child’s keepsake. The students have spent a lot of time and effort on their artwork and they are beautiful.

Orders will need to be finalised by Friday, 23 September. All money raised will go towards Wollondilly Anglican College.

Mrs Anita Belusic, Mrs Danielle Barnes & Mrs Emily Clayton.
Transition Teachers

College Chaplain - Relationships

The College Learner Disposition focus for Term 3 is Relationships. This is a habit that we are working on developing and cultivating in our students, their learning, their character and also in their faith.

I am not a musical theatre fan by any stretch of the imagination. Many years ago I remember being convinced by some friends to go along to the movies and watch Les Miserables. I was oblivious to the fact that it was based on a musical and the whole movie was people singing. I found it hard to stay engaged but decided to persevere to the end. I remember being struck by the way in which Bishop Myriel extended mercy to Jean Valjean.

Valjean is a thief who was imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving niece. Valjean is released on parole and is unable to get a job. Tired, hungry, bitter and at the end of his tether Valjean stumbles upon a church and is welcomed by Bishop Myriel. Valjean experiences kindness and mercy from Myriel, he is fed and cared for. However, in the middle of the night, Valjean takes advantage of Myriel's kindness and steals a plethora of silver. As Valjean attempts to escape, he is found by the French Police and brought back in chains to Bishop Myriel. The police say "here is a thief who has stolen your silver" to which Myriel responds by saying, "This is no thief, this is my friend. The silver was a gift, and friend here are the two golden candlesticks you forgot to take with you". 

This act of extravagant mercy frees Valjean from a return to prison. It causes Valjean to realise his own depravity, he is guilty and sinful and this man has shown him a mercy that is undeserved. From this point forward, Valjean's life is changed, he becomes a man of mercy extending it to many throughout the film. It causes me to stop and consider how do I respond to the mercy that God has shown me. As a result of great mercy given, am I becoming more merciful to others? Growing in compassion and care for others is the way which Valjean responds. So let me finish by asking you this, have you experienced the life changing beauty of God's mercy extended to you in Jesus? Just like Valjean, experiencing such profound forgiveness and mercy is life-changing and just like Bishop Myriel, the Lord God is offering you undeserved mercy. How will you respond?

Mr Matt Roberts
College Chaplain

Year 11 Textiles

Over the last term, the Year 11 Textiles class have been working on the design and construction of a duffel bag. As part of this project, students experimented with innovative decorative techniques including laser cutting fabrics, sublimation printing and various machine embroidery processes. They also explored different textile construction methods including zipper and lining insertion, topstitching and overlocking. This project was completed in conjunction with an investigation into the properties and performance of fibres, yarns and fabrics.

Miss Emily Bailey
TAS Teacher

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Year 10 Textiles Projects

Reduce Reuse Recycle
Students in Year 10 have recently completed their Reduce Reuse Recycle Textile Projects. Throughout the term they have investigated the issues surrounding fast fashion and developed strategies to help people become more ethical textile consumers. A part of this included up-cycling denim jeans and a plain tee. The textile items the students designed and produced were creative and innovative solutions to what would otherwise become textile waste sent to landfill.

Miss Emily Bailey
TAS Teacher

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History Competition Results

Year 8 High Distinction
Kiani Borthwick, Ryan Columbo

Year 8 Distinction
Arnhem Coles, Harriette Martin, Noah Tindall, Cameron Townsend, Ethan Walker

Year 10 High Distinction
Nicholas Birkett, Holley Dvorak

Year 10 Distinction
James Ford, Dean Haddock, Jasmine Hemans, Elise Hollingsworth, Emilia Hurst, Jess Lee

Year 8 Credits
Liam Boardman, Laura Carruthers, James Christodoulopoulos, Katie Douglas, Kellyne Gaju, Tapiwa Garakasha, Oliver Guido, Lachlan Lee, Balian Scrymgeour, Chris SuMeritsNoah Bawden, Lara Byrnes, Brooke Causer, Isabella Evans, Mikayla Frendo. Ruby Grae, Dylan Hemans, Ella Jones, Alyssa Keaney, Jessica Mallam, Zac Norris, Logan O'neill, Natasha Parasher,Beau Riashi, Brooke Turner

Year 10 Credits
Hollie Byrnes, Emily Elton, Grace Harper, Estelle Kluit, Eden Liddiard, Joshua Newman, Elaina Orr, Jessalyn Smiltnieks, Shontelle Wardle, Jorja Williams, MeritsRory Cronin, Jemma Dwyer, Sebstian Guido, Christian Higham, Abigail Hooper, Abby Jacobs, Laura Jefferys, Cara King, Cooper Lollback, Eden Miller, Noah Wilson, Melody ZhongWell done to all these students

Well done to all these students.

Mr Col Powter
HSIE Teacher

P&F Golf Day - Save The Date!

P&F Clothing Pool

The WAC Country Fair is just around the corner and the Clothing Pool will be open on the day! If you haven’t been able to visit before College hours, this is a great opportunity to see what we have to offer! 

We have a great selection of used uniforms for all Year Groups from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 at very reasonable prices! 

• Shirts and Polos $10
• Sport & Boys Shorts $10
• Tunics $30
• Blazers $60
• We also have new socks and ties available for purchase.
  

Come and say hello to our friendly volunteers and grab some uniform bargains!

Payment: Card Only (no cash)
Location: White Cottage through the side windows
Monday to Friday 7.45 am to 8.30 am
Phone: 4623 0286
Email: clothingpool@wac.nsw.edu.au

Have a great day! 

Mrs Melissa Whishaw
Clothing Pool Coordinator

Church Services

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.



Name the Feathered Friends Masked Owl Competition

Charity Car Rally
This October, my husband Brandon and I will be participating in the Cancer Council Charity Car Rally for Spring 2023. The Rally will see us driving our Holden Rodeo pictured below (purchased for $800) from PORT DOUGLAS to ADELAIDE through the centre of Australia with 550 other participants.

Last October we raised almost $8,000 and completed over 9,000kms driving to Darwin. A few photos of the trip are attached. 

WE NEED SPONSORHIP!

This year, the Rally aims to raise $2 million for Cancer Council, which is used to fund cancer research projects nationally. Since the Rally launched in 2009, it has raised over $30 million and is the largest private fundraiser for the Cancer Council in Australia.

Would you Like to donate? Please follow the link and Donate Here

Any assistance you could give would be most appreciated and will help our team achieve our goal.

Thank you very much for considering sponsoring us!

Mrs Lisa Cooper

Carers NSW Young Carer Program
Young carers are young people who help look after a family member or friend who lives with a disability, mental illness, medical condition or who is frail. Providing support can be very rewarding for young carers, however at times it can have a big impact on their education and wellbeing.

Our Carers NSW Young Carer Awareness Training is a free, one-hour session aimed at supporting professionals and educators to identify and help young carers.

The session will explore:

• Who young carers are and why identifying young carers is important
• Potential impacts (both positive and negative) of their caring role
• Practical support options available 

Carers NSW can help you to continue to reflect the principles of the NSW Carers Charter in your work to ensure that young carers across NSW are achieving their highest potential.

If you would like to organise Young Carer Awareness Training, please email the Carers NSW Young Carer team at yc@carersnsw.org.au or you are welcome to call me on 02 9280 4744. 

Natalie Elliott
Young Carer Project Officer
Carers NSW

Community Links Wellbeing (CLW) will be running the following Parenting Education courses commencing 2023:

• Managing Challenging Behaviours Collaboratively- October 18 to December 6  - An eight-part session of 2 hours each week at Tahmoor Community Centre.

A very popular and in high-demand course for parents of children exhibiting challenging Behaviours which can often co-exist with a diagnosis that impacts emotional regulation eg. ASD, ADHD, ODD, intellectual concerns etc. This is the course for parents if other popular parenting courses & strategies have not worked.

• Tuning in to Teens – October 26 to November 30 at Tahmoor Community Centre in partnership with CLW and Health SWSLD- Family Connect and Support: a six-session, evidence-based program for parents/carers who have young people aged 10 to 17 years old. The course teaches skills in emotion coaching and raises awareness of the developmental needs of their young person so parents can better respond to their teen’s emotions and needs which improves their connection with their teen.

When parents and carers respond to teens’ emotions in ways that validate and accept emotions but still guide them with appropriate behaviour, young people learn important skills in emotional intelligence. Over time young people use these skills in all aspects of their lives. Emotional intelligence helps teen’s to be more resilient so that when they face challenging experiences they can talk about their feelings and work through these experiences.

• 1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching: Coming Term 4, dates to be confirmed. Taking expressions of interest now. A three-session program of 2.5 hours for parents of children aged 2-12 years old with an extra booster session for support ( four sessions in total). The 1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching program aims to help parents and carers manage difficult child behaviour with a focus on strategies and techniques that promote positive behaviour; encouragement in developing the child's ability to manage their emotional reactions; and relationship-building. 

Priority placement is given to parents in the Wollondilly, Wingecarribee and Camden LGA’s. Parents outside these areas may still be able to attend, please contact the email below to discuss further.

HCS Study Camp
Wollondilly Library is supporting local Year 12 students in the lead-up to the HSC in a number of ways. We’d love for you to share this information with your students and staff. Please find a PDF flyer attached for distribution.

Extended Wednesday Hours:
In addition to our regular Thursday evenings (7 pm close), Wollondilly Library will be staying open until 7 pm on Wednesdays in September and October.

Events for HSC Students:
A number of events have been organised to support our Year 12 students while they are studying. Follow the link to our events page for more information and to book.

• 6 September: Study Skills Workshop
• 13 September: Thriving in the HSC (also suitable for Year 11 students)
• 4 October: HSC Pizza Night

HSC Collection:
Physical collection of up-to-date books for HSC students including Excel, Cambridge Checkpoints, ATAR Notes and A+ Study Guides, covering a range of HSC subjects. For use in the library and for borrowing.

View the catalogue here. 

HSC4Me Online Resource:
A free online resource filled with study notes, practice questions and responses and on-demand videos for 11 HSC subjects.

Register now for HSC4Me

Please note: This resource is for library members. Not a member? It’s free and easy to join online. 

Free Photocopying and Printing:
HSC students have access to free printing tickets to print study notes and past papers or photocopy from HSC resources.

Mindful Activities:
A break-out station offering a changing selection of mindful activities will be available upstairs at the Library, with activities including LEGO, jigsaw puzzles, colouring and crafts.

Additional Study Space:
In addition to our newly renovated community lounge and study rooms, extra study space for HSC students will be made available in our events space when it is not in use.

We hope to see your students soon at Wollondilly Library. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions. 

Kind regards,

Emma Kramarzewski
Children & Youth Librarian

College Sponsors