Waratah Weekly - Term 3, Edition 9 - Friday, 26 September 2025
Well Done Year 12
As we approach the end of the term, our Year 12 students are about to embark on their final journey—the study break leading up to their Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams. This is a significant moment, marking the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and growth. It's a journey they haven't taken alone. As a College, we recognise and are grateful for the incredible community that has supported them every step of the way.
For our students, this time is a crucial chance to refuel. Just like a great athlete who takes a moment to rest and prepare before the final leg of a race, our students are ready to pause, take a deep breath, and celebrate all they have accomplished.
This is a time for all of us to thank everyone in their team. To our parents, thank you for your incredible support and partnership with us. To our teachers, thank you for guiding Year 12 not just through their subjects but in the virtues of strong character and faith development. And to our Year 12 students, thank you for being such an incredible team. The friends and classmates around you have been your training partners, your running mates, and your cheer squad.
You have been wonderful ambassadors for our College and a testament to the character we strive to build here. We are so proud of the outstanding young men and women you have become, and we know you have what it takes to finish strong. We wish you all the best for a productive study break and success in your exams. Enjoy this final stretch of your academic journey.
Mr Trevor Norman
College Headmaster
Creative Arts & Languages
Musical
Secondary Musical Auditions were completed this week. Any student who was not able to complete all components of the audition on Monday afternoon may submit a film of their performance to the Canvas course this week.
Rehearsals will continue on Monday afternoon of the first week back next term (3.00 pm - 4.15 pm). We will kick off with a rehearsal of a chorus number before announcing casting decisions prior to dismissal.
Year 11 Drama
This week, our Year 11 Drama class stayed back after hours to complete some 'night filming' of a movie they are creating. It was a very productive evening, and we look forward to seeing the finished results.
End of Term Assemblies
Congratulations to our Formal Assembly performers, and thank you for your excellent preparation and delivery.
Mrs Sarah Talbot
Leader of Learning Creative Arts & LOTE/Performing Arts Coordinator 7-12
2026 Vietnam Service Trip Information Evening
Calling all current Year 9, 10, and 11 students! Are you ready for a life-changing adventure? The 2026 Vietnam Service Trip is an incredible opportunity to serve, grow, and explore.
Join us at the upcoming Information Evening to learn more about this unique experience. Parents and students are invited to attend.
When: Wednesday, 22 October at 5.00 pm.
Where: Warne Auditorium, Wollondilly Anglican College
What You'll Discover
This evening will cover everything you need to know, including:
- A detailed itinerary for the trip from 2 July - 11 July 2026.
- How this trip can count towards your Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
- The overall trip cost and application process.
- Answers to your questions and insights from past participants.
Trip Highlights
This 10-day trip is designed to be a blend of meaningful service and cultural immersion. Highlights include:
- Service Project: Work with a team to build a house for a family in need.
- Cultural Immersion: Experience a homestay with a local family during the build, visit local markets, and participate in a cooking class.
- Exploration: Learn about Vietnam's history at significant sites, contribute to a local orphanage, and relax in the stunning seaside town of Hoi An.
This trip is open to current Year 9, 10, and 11 students who will be in Years 10, 11, or 12 in 2026. For current Year 11 students who will be in Year 12, the trip is scheduled during the first week of the holidays to ensure you have two full weeks of study before your Trial Exams.
Don't miss this opportunity to embark on an adventure that will expand your perspective and create lasting memories. We look forward to seeing you there!
Mrs Erica Bawden
Year 12 Patron/Secondary Teacher Mathematics
Wheelchair Basketball
This term in PASS, we have been learning about “Sport for Specific Groups”. As part of this, we have focused on people with disabilities and the sporting opportunities available for them.
On Friday, 19 September, Stephan from the Wheelchair roadshow provided our class with the opportunity to play Wheelchair Basketball. As part of the experience, we got to encounter what it was like for people with disabilities. It was fun to try something new, but also eye-opening to realise the difficulties people in a wheelchair face. We also learnt that the ‘para’ in Paralympics isn’t referring to paraplegic. It means parallel, because the Paralympics run parallel to the Olympics. Overall, this experience was a great opportunity for the whole class to help realise the challenges and obstacles people with disabilities face on a day-to-day basis.
Caylen Goldsbrough
Year 9 PASS
Scholarships & Enrolments Updates
Scholarship Applications for 2027 Are Now Open!
For students who are currently in Years 5, 7 & 9, applications are now open to apply for an Academic, Music and/or Dance Scholarship for the 2027/2028 period.
Please find the information on the web page below and reach out if you have any questions.
https://www.wac.nsw.edu.au/enrolments/scholarships/
Students Leaving at the End of 2025
If your child will not be continuing on at the College in 2026, written notice must be provided by the end of Term 3 so that your bond may be refunded (if applicable) and you avoid the Term 1, 2026 fees and charges, as agreed upon in the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.
Should you have any further general queries, please do not hesitate to contact me on 02 4684 2722 or at enrolments@wac.nsw.edu.au.
Year 7 & Transition 2027 Sibling Applications
Applications have already begun to be reviewed for places for Year 7 2027. If your child is in this cohort, please submit their application online ASAP to avoid disappointment. Places are limited, and siblings are not guaranteed spots. If your child is already enrolled at the College, they do not need to apply.
We are also continuing to experience high demand for our Transition program. We encourage all siblings who are in the cohort for Transition 2027 to submit their applications now to again avoid disappointment.
Our Kindergarten entry year is trending to have less and less available places due to the numbers in Transition, so we do encourage you to apply for Transition if suitable for your child. Again, places are limited and siblings are not guaranteed spots.
Mrs Madilyn Shelley
Enrolments Officer
Come and Try Sporting Event
Cerbral Palsy Sporting and Recreational Association Connect is organising a 'Come and Try' sporting event for students with physical disabilities. This year, the event will be held on Friday, 31 October at the Sports Hub Courts at Wollongong University. More information can be located on the link: https://www.cpsara.org.au/
Mr Stuart McIntosh
Advanced Learning & Learning Support Coordinator T-6
Library News
Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025
We had another strong showing of students completing the Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) this year. This challenge rewards students for reading in their spare time and reading widely. Students who complete the challenge will receive a Certificate. Those who have completed four PRCs will receive a Gold Certificate. Those who have completed seven PRCs will receive a Platinum Certificate, and students who complete the PRC every year from Year 3 to Year 9 will receive the PRC medal at Presentation Assembly. The Certificates will be presented in Term 4.
Congratulations to the following students, who have completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2025.
Kindergarten: Lexus Benier-Alleaume, Helen Bowman, Joshua Chappelow, Arianna Grasso, Julianna Grasso.
Year 1: Quinn Ashley, Lyla Campbell, Alice Lavender, Henry Locont, Emmy Muharrem, Henry Scianski, Jed Shakeshaft, Zachary Sharpe.
Year 2: Roxie Chappelow, Austin Williams.
Year 3: Skylah Ann Alexander, Hadley Baxter, Lucas Benier-Alleaume, Blake Bird, Zac Bleeker (gold), Lucas Broadribb, Evie Carter, Olivia Castellano, Abel Coles, Hugh Davies, Swara Dhuniya, Harrison Fing, Liia Ford-McGuire, Tobias Georgopoulos, Lucia Goodlip, Asha Hallsworth, Lewis Haran, Emerson Hill, Isla Houghton, Lara Hurst, Eleanor Huxtable, Beau James, Jack Kelly, Macy Kosub, George Kowaliw, Madeleine Ledner, Lawrence Lightfoot, Matilda Lindsay, Layla Macdermott, Rawene Mcdonald, Ashleigh Mcintyre, Evie Meznarsic, Mateo Mileto, Emilia Mournehis, Sophia Ovski, Liam Patterson, Adelaide Pendleton, Charlotte Pendleton, Wyatt Poli, Knox Rainey, Brock Redding, Jace Rodden, Ruby Rook, James Santarosa, Max Kent Simmonds, Ashton Spiteri, Sophie Tregoning, Edith Walker, Isabel Westnedge, Micah Wilk, Eleanor Wright (gold).
Year 4: Carter Baxter, Mateo Boggian, Sienna Brand, Chloe Bronneberg, Hudson Brown, Arlo Bryant, Jaylah Clark, Scarlette Clarke, Jyron Daher, Sofia Dekleva (gold), Martha Dyson, Xander Egan, Lia Evans, Reeve Evans (gold), Lylah Fittler, Harper Ford, Sofia Gaete (gold), Anushree Ghose, Harrison Goddard, Fletcher Greaves, Harrison Gynn, Dalton King, Hudson Law (gold), Baxter Mangan, Sakson Mazur, Georgia McClelland, Dominik Messer, Bentley Mladineo (gold), Mason Molluso (gold), Hudson Morris, Maddie Morris, Charlie Multari (gold), Abbie Owens, Amelia Pendleton (gold), Jak Ribarevski (gold), Brody Rowe (gold), Evie Salisbury, Jack Sharp, Ryan Sharpe (gold), Emerson Simmons (gold), Abel Smythe, Sonny Smythe (gold), Bridie Steele, Isaac Thompson, Skyla Welch, Evie Williams, Scarlett Williams, Justin Zhong.
Year 5: Aviana Bazeley(gold), Charlie Bentham (gold), Zac Blunden, Isa Boland, Kendall Botha (gold), Jakson Bradshaw, Amelia Brierley, Paige Britten (gold), Mackinlee Brown, Georgia Carter, Jax Cassidy (gold), Eli Cross, Emil Deutschbein, William Dobbinson, William Douglas, Logan Ferrara, Abbey Frowde, Nathaniel Fussell, Ryan Grzasko, Harper Hallsworth, William Harris, Andy Huang (gold), Charlotte Joy, Indiana Law, Vivienne Lightfoot, Ryan Mason (gold), Delilah McClelland, Lewis McClelland (gold), Sarah McPherson, Levi McTaggart, Dylan Milner, Alec Murray, Darwin Noakes, Joseph Nyamadzavo, Lucy Ollerton, Isabel Opat (gold), Olivia Reeves (gold), James Reid (gold), Burton Shakeshaft, Liam Shepherd, Emerson Sproule, Amelia Valentine, Dakota Van Althuis-Jones (gold), Hudson Williams, Jake Wood, Lillian Woods.
Year 6: Michael Banks (gold), Sachi Baxter (gold), Charlotte Bertalan (gold), Killarney Bowers (gold), Harvey Bryant, Logan Butler (gold), Maya Cleland, Gemma Collins, Clare Compagnoni, Darcy Coskerie, Isaac Cragg, Dakota Craig (gold), Aleksandra Croft (gold), Jackson Dalrymple, Peter Dvorak, Mackenzie Field, Meganne Fitzgerald, Ava Flower, Oliver Frederiksen (gold), Camden Frendo (gold), Estelle Galea, Emma Grae, Gabriella Grasso (platinum), Edward Hallowell, Harlow Hallsworth, Savannah Hatton, Kaelum Hill, Gus Hobby, Holly Hughes, Frankie Hurst, Stuart Jones (gold), Cheryl Kapoor, Imogen Kelly, Nicholas Laukaitis, Mitchell Laverty (gold), Scarlett Levings, Matilda Lucaci (gold), Jacob Macdonald, Declan Maxwell, Paihana McDonald, Paul McKay, Lincoln Merchant, Gabriella Micari, Boston Mileto, Lachlan Morris (platinum), Milah Morris, Zoe Napoleoni, Lilly Owens, Henry Parr (platinum), Sally Parry, Willow Poli, Charlie Porter, Joseph Rebelo (gold), Will Rodden (gold), Aaliyah Ross, Jack Salisbury, Georgia Seery, Tejas Singh (gold), Layla Sly (gold), Crystal Su (platinum), Benjamin Taylor, Billy Thomson, Pippa Turner (gold), Lucinda Turnock (platinum), Lachlan Underwood (gold), Koa Van Althuis-Jones (platinum), Grace Welsh (platinum), Joshua Whittaker, Isabella Wilkinson, Emmett Williams (platinum).
Year 7: Hope Deutschbein, Torin Ford-McGuire, Reiner Groves-Young (platinum), Christian Kenniff, Harry White.
Year 8: Marcus Castellano (gold), Katelyn Davies, Harry Goldring, Eleanor Holloway, Kieran Lawrence, Thomas Longshaw Brooks, Nicholas Taylor, Hayden Valentine, Elizabeth Walker.
Year 9: Hannah Godkin (medal).
Book Fair Save the Date: 23-28 October
Our Book Fair will be in Weeks 2-3 in Term 4, from Thursday, 23 October to Tuesday, 28 October. The Book Fair will be open to students at Break 2 and to parents from 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm, in Cuthbert Library.
Mrs Justine Colombo
College Librarian
Book Week 2025: A Creative Celebration of Storytelling!
This year’s Book Week celebrations were a wonderful showcase of creativity and collaboration across all year levels. Guided by the CBCA's 2025 theme, students immersed themselves in a variety of competitions inspired by this year’s shortlisted picture books.
Stage 3: Board Games with a Bookish Twist!
Our Stage 3 students designed and built board games for their buddies, based on CBCA picture books. Each one was crafted to reflect the themes, characters, and settings of the stories. As part of the fun, they invited their younger buddies to join them for game time.
Winners of Stage 3: Layla Sly, Emmett Williams, Edward Hallowell, Will Rodden, Jacob Goodlip, Clare Compagnoni, Gabriella Micari, Bethany Manning; Darwin Noakes, Logan Ferrara, Jake Wood, Stefan Cugalj, Olivia Reeves, Mikelina Agius
Year 4: Woven Owls from Night Watch
Inspired by Night Watch by Jodi Toering, Year 4 students explored the mysterious world of nocturnal animals through art. They created beautiful woven owl artworks, patiently combining texture and colour.
Winners in Year 4: Dalton King, Reeve Evans, Skyla Welch, Jack Sharp (Highly Commended)
Year 3: Kombi Buses on the Move!
After reading We Live on a Bus by Dave Petzold, Year 3 students brought the story to life with colourful pastel crayon artworks of Kombi buses. Each piece beautifully reflected the students’ unique taste in design.
Winners in Year 3: Sean Callander, Laylah Castellano, Charlotte Cragg
Book Week 2025 reminded us again of the power of stories to inspire, connect, and spark creativity. A big congratulations to all students for their enthusiastic participation!
Deborah Reid
Primary Library Teacher
T-6 Fundraiser
College Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
- Hi-land Stationery
- Southern Quality Stockfeeds
Community News
Wollondilly Shire Council is excited to present the September–October School Holiday Program, filled with a variety of FREE activities for children and young people across the Shire.
This program offers something for everyone – from sport and fitness to creativity and skill-building – including:
NRL Clinics (5–15 yrs)
Tennis & Pickleball (6–17 yrs)
Macarthur Bulls Soccer Clinics (5–13 yrs)
Cricket Clinics (5–15 yrs)
Martial Arts (5–15 yrs)
️ Golf Clinics (5–14 yrs)
Paint a Repurposed Surfboard Workshop with Creative Kooks (5–12 yrs)
Skateboarding Clinics (5–14 yrs)
Expression Session – Music, Podcasting & Art (5–15 yrs)
Yoga & Mindfulness (4–12 yrs)
Youth First Aid Course (14–24 yrs)
Lawn Bowls (5–16 yrs)
Bunnings DIY Building Workshops (5–15 yrs)
…and more!
Registrations are essential – spots are limited and fill quickly.
View the full program and register now at:
www.wollondilly.nsw.gov.au/
We look forward to welcoming your children to a fun and engaging holiday program!
Free family fun at the Parliament of New South Wales - Friday, 11 October, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm
Visit us at Australia’s oldest Parliament as it opens its doors for Family Fun Day, an open day packed with fun educational activities for families with children aged from 4 to 12 years. This year’s highlights include:
- Visiting our heritage chambers
- Giving a speech for an election campaign
- Participating in a committee role play
- Enjoying live music
- Making craft animals and objects
- Learning how to vote
Entry is free and the event will be held at NSW Parliament, 6 Macquarie Street Sydney. Please use this link to search for directions and public transport options to Parliament House.
Bookings Essential:
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/visit/events/Pages/Family-Fun-Day-2022.aspx
P: (02) 9230 2047
E: dps.education@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Wollondilly Little Athletics
https://www.facebook.com/
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.