Principal's Message
As COVID restrictions are eased we look forward to more face-to-face opportunities in our School community. The Home and School and Chaplains are planning opportunities for families to connect and excursions and camps are returning to ‘normal’. At the same time, I encourage everyone to continue to use safe practices to minimise risk.
With the current developments on the world stage, it can be hard to avoid being affected by bad news. Knowing how to discuss it with young people can be even more of a challenge. Keeping an open conversation and acknowledging your child’s feelings can be helpful along with spending some ‘switch off’ time with them such as playing a game or going for a walk.
In a world of uncertainty, it is reassuring to know that we have the support of our school community and our faith. The daily routine of learning at school provides confidence and stability for students and there is also a range of co-curricular activities for students to be involved in. Already some of the music students have performed at a church, and this morning the Year 10 students cooked and served breakfast for our Year 7’s – just a small sample of the rich fabric of school life.
May God bless you and your family.
Mrs Julia Heise - Principal
Chaplains' News
What a start to the year we are having! Standing beside the road on Monday watching the traffic parked and going nowhere fast. The periodic dark grey clouds passed overhead, the sound of horns honking pierced through the storm gathering in the foreground, faces of people anxious to get to school and work, lights changing and organised chaos. Noticeably, a few vehicles were trying to cross an intersection and there were moments that looked like a leap of faith as the cars tried to run the traffic gauntlet. Mostly this was an educated and calculated act of faith!
If there was enough room, enough space, enough vision, enough time, then the driver would take an educated risk, a leap of faith by driving swiftly across the intersection with the hope that if someone was coming, they would see them and slow down, hopefully all would be well!
Life is a lot like these moments of twists and turns and intersections! There's a desired direction we travel with plans, hopes and dreams. A good few curves and intersections of various decisions, and we can at times see the faith required in good decision making and the hope for room to go forward. There's a certain reality that things don't always work out as expected, we don't journey in this faith/trust journey alone. God is dependable, stable, consistent and can be trusted! This term we'll explore taking the leap of faith/diving in that it takes to immerse ourselves in God. Hebrews 11:1 puts it this way, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." God can indeed be trusted to help us navigate life, grow and gain understanding but it takes a jump, a leap in His direction too! Who do you trust most? What evidence is there the trust is worth taking? Is it worth exploring if God can be added to the top of the to be trusted list!? Or is it that we just need to trust more at the moment?
Faith Hope Love
Pr Andy and Pr Daron - WAS Chaplaincy Team
Whole School News
Meet our New Secondary School Staff
David Parmenter is a highly experienced PDHPE and Biblical Studies teacher with a love of being active and connecting with students. You will often see him in the playground at lunchtime playing sport with students and he particularly enjoys mountain bike riding, basketball and playing the guitar. David has a strong faith, stating that Jesus brings him peace and hope.
Luke Metz is an enthusiastic History teacher who has received awards for his work in teaching. Luke enjoys connecting with students and teaching them skills. Some of his favourite hobbies are outdoor adventure and reading and he is keen to go on school camps with our students. Luke would recommend following Jesus as he can see God’s leading in his own life.
Jess Metz wanted to be a teacher since she was 5 years old and has an enthusiasm for life that is inspiring. With a dual background in teaching and chaplaincy she is well suited to teach Biblical Studies and HSIE. Like her husband, Jess also enjoys the great outdoors and mountain biking. She also enjoys running. Jess has found that her life is richer because of Jesus saving and transforming work in her life.
Winnie Wu is a competent Language teacher, speaking four languages herself - Chinese, Japanese, English and Korean. Winnie takes the role of guiding students towards becoming kind, considerate, and productive adults very seriously, and hopes that she can make a significant impact in their lives, recommending Jesus as a friend. Winnie enjoys listening to music, baking, drawing, playing badminton and table tennis.
David Cordiner is a passionate and experienced Mathematics teacher having taught up to HSC Mathematics Extension 2. Maths was his favourite subject at school, and he wants to impart to others some of the good experiences he had. David enjoys bodysurfing, tennis and giving maths homework! He recommends Jesus as a friend in time of need.
Caitlin McCartney can be found in either the Visual Art or English classroom. She is from the local area and excited to be a part of the Wahroonga Adventist School community, encouraging students to be creative. Caitlin loves Thai food, bushwalking, going to yoga and watching movies. In her spare time, you will find her completing artworks or cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
Extra-Curricular Sport
The extra-curricular sport programs are up and running for 2022, it has been great to see so many of our students being active, challenging themselves and learning new skills.
Basketball
Students have returned to Monday basketball training, with a huge group of new junior students learning the basics of basketball each Monday. Thanks to Mr Parmenter for joining the coaching team, and to Jayden King for his continued assistance as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award.
The senior basketball training session has been focused on preparation for participation in the Hornsby Men's Division 1/2 competition - the boys' team is off to a solid start with 3 wins and 1 draw for the season.
Running
Running training now takes place two days a week! On Tuesday mornings the high school students gather to begin training for the school cross country and athletics events coming up in 2022. On Friday mornings it is time for the primary school students to build their fitness and learn to love running! Both sessions are followed by breakfast provided through the canteen - many thanks to the canteen team!
A schedule of mountain biking dates and venues has been sent out, the first rides of the year are coming up, pending weather and trail conditions.
Running Training Program
In April of 2016 the Wahroonga Friday morning running training program began. Since that time the sessions have taken place nearly every Friday morning from 7.00am - 8.00am, and while the running component has been important, I am sure that most students who have attended over the years would not have come if it were not for the famous running training breakfasts.
Cheese toasties, cereals, juice, milo, chocolate milk and on special occasions - pancakes! It has often been stated over the years that students come to running training for breakfast first and foremost! The breakfast has happened every week over the past 6 years thanks to the committed effort of Cath and Andrew Colville.
When Cath and Andrew heard that running training was starting they were quick to offer their services and began organising a breakfast team. Over the years this team has included many parents; Natalie Miller, Michelle Smith, Liz Lees, Nicole Ryman, Mary Mellor, Tina Yuen, Dania Kennedy, Michael McManus, Angie Khoo, Rita Artinian, Jo Raftery, Kathryn Wright, Kath McKenzie, Samantha La Rosa, Sue Young and Winter Rosettenstein.
We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge THANK YOU to the Colville's and all of the parents who have volunteered over the years. Your contribution to the health and wellbeing of our students, as well as our school culture, has been extremely significant.
Running training is continuing with some adjustments. Secondary School students are now running on Tuesday mornings and Primary School students on Friday mornings. Breakfast will continue to be served through the school canteen - another huge thank you to Missy and her team in the canteen for taking the breakfast on.
Mr Chris Starrett - Head of Bible Department and Secondary School Teacher
Email: chris.starrett@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au
Calendar of Upcoming School Events
You can access the list of upcoming School events via the link below. The School Calendar is also available under the Parent Information tab on the School website.
Term Dates for 2022
Please click on the link below to view the school term dates and public holiday information for 2022.
Primary School News
STEM - Primary Classes
Over the past few weeks our Year 5 and 6 classes have been working on a new challenge during their STEM classes. They were given the task of designing and constructing the tallest tower that would hold a given item. The students participated in small groups to complete the challenge. It was great to see the students learn and continue to develop their skills in working collaboratively with other students.
Primary School Sport
2022 Swimming Carnival
We had such a great time at the combined Primary and Secondary Swimming Carnival on Thursday 17th of February. The children displayed all their spectacular skills; streamlining down the pool. Some amazingly fast times were recorded and congratulations to everyone who took part. Students will be informed shortly if they have made it to through to the ASISSA trial.
Sporting Achievements
Liam C (Year 2) competed at his first regional athletics on Sunday 13th of February, which is the highest level available for children under 8 years old. He came first in discus for the under 8 age group, obtaining a gold medal and everyone is very proud of him! :)
Emily H (Year 5) represented WAS in the ASISSA tennis trial on the 11th of February and although the weather was mixed and the competition was fierce she had an amazing time and enjoyed competing at a high level. Well done Emily!!
Upcoming Dates
- CIS AFL – Friday 4th March 2022
- CIS Girls Football - Monday 14th March 2022
- ASISSA Football Trials - Thursday 10th March 2022 (Please note change of date)
- ASISSA Swimming Carnival - Friday 18th March 2022
- CIS Swimming and Diving - Thursday 24th March 2022
- CIS Touch Football Boys & Girls - Tuesday 29th March 2022
- CIS Boys Football - Thursday 31st March 2022
Mrs Chloe Gilbert - Primary PE Coordinator
Primary Co-curricular Program
We are excited that IMT - Tai Kwon Do will be joining our Primary Co-curricular Program for students in Years 1 to 6 every Thursday from 3rd March 2022.
- Dates: Thursday 3 March to Thursday 7 April (6 week)
- Class Times: 3.20pm - 4.20pm (Year 1 to Year 6 students)
- Term fee (GST inclusive): Standard: $125 / Discount: $114, Annual Insurance: 13 years & under: $55 / 14 years & over: $66
- Uniform: FREE for new enrolments
- Where: "The Wedge" Wahroonga Adventist School
- Make up class options are available if you miss a class
- This program is run by a external provider, please contact Simon from IMT, simon@imt.org.au or 0422 947 630 for more information or to book.
Kids Church - 5th March 2022
Come and join us for an afternoon of fun and worship at Wahroonga Seventh-day Adventist Church. We look forward to seeing you there!
Blessings, Pr Eden
Secondary School News
Year 8 Robotics Elective
This Semester in Robotics the students are using the new Lego Mindstorms Robot Inventor kits to create different robots to complete set tasks. Each robot build will enable students to program different tasks from lifting and stacking blocks to programming their creations to compete in a game of soccer and our annual Robot Wars competition. This year's class is the largest robotics class we have run at Wahroonga. Students love the ability to work in groups and unleash their creativity with limitless options to play, compete and explore different robotics options.
Mr Nick Coyte - Design & Technology Teacher
Creative and Performing Arts
Year 7 Music
Music in Year 7 has started off with composition. Students have been using band lab to combine and manipulate sounds and music into their original composition. One resource that we decided to explore was the bush behind the school. All of the Year 7 music students recorded sounds that they could hear in the bush and have added them into their composition. All involved have had a great time listening and recording various nature sounds which have been added into their compositions.
Encore Excursion - Years 10 to 12 Music
On the 22nd of February the Year 10-12 music elective classes attended Encore. This is a concert which highlights the exemplary Year 12 student performances and compositions in the state. This year after a two year hiatus the concert was reignited at the Sydney City Recital Hall. Our students accompanied by Mrs Vuceski were fortunate to listen to a various repertoire of music. Ranging from jazz, classical and art music students explored and performed with grace and mastery throughout the night. It was a most valuable and fun experience for all music students who attended.
Years 10 - 12 Music Soiree - 14th March 2022
Our first Music Soiree Evening of the year is scheduled for the 14th of March at 6.00pm in the large Music Lab. This will be an informal concert where the elective music students will perform some of the works they have been preparing in music class.
It is very exciting to be able to perform again and this term we would like to invite you to our Soiree Evening.
Mrs Kristina Vuceski - Head of Department, Creative and Performing Arts
Visual Arts - Year 9
Year 9 Visual Arts have been spending their first few weeks of term studying the works of Environmental Artists like Andy Goldsworthy and Robert Smithson. Using these artists as inspiration, last week the students created their own land art installation pieces around the school. The students used natural items from around the school to create their artworks, highlighting the beauty found in the environment and also commenting on the evolution of the natural objects changing and morphing into plastic and man-made objects.
The students really enjoyed this activity and it was a great way to start the term through creativity and collaboration. We look forward to continuing to investigate, create and respond to a variety of environmental art over the term.
Mrs Emmeline Trappitt - Visual Arts Teacher
Secondary School Sport
Swimming Carnival
On Thursday the 17th of February, our school held the annual Swimming Carnival at Knox Aquatic Centre. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, we could only take the students who wanted to participate. Despite the carnival not including the whole of high school, it was special because we were able to combine Primary and High School Carnivals.
Below are the Age Champions and Runner Up for 2022.
CSSA Zone Cricket Gala Day - 14th February 2022
On Monday the 14th of February, the Opens Boys Cricket team braved the heat and attended the CSSA Zone Cricket Gala Day. Northern Beaches Christian School and Pacific Hills Christian School were tough competitors, pushing our team. Coached by Wahroonga Adventist School Alumni – Billy Jameson (2021 School Captain), the team rose to the occasion and gave their all. There were spectacular catches, fantastic batting and excellent bowling displayed by the team. Well done boys! We hope next year we will have enough interest to field both an Opens and U15s team at the CSSA Zone Cricket Gala Day.
Honourable Mentions
On Tuesday the 15th of February, Alex M (Year 9) participated in the Tennis trials for CIS. Alex won two of his tennis matches which is great achievement for the level of competition. Well done Alex!
Sam K (Year 8) participated at the Region Little Athletics on 12-13th of February. He achieved 3rd place in the 200m hurdles and has qualified for the State Championships in March. Congratulations Sam!
Upcoming Sporting Events
CSSA Zone Swimming Carnival – Wednesday 16th March 2022
Mr Ignatius Ah-You - Secondary Sports Coordinator
Library News
Premier's Reading Challenge:
The Premier’s Reading Challenge website (https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.htm) will become active for the 2022 challenge from Monday, 28th February. On this website you can read about the challenge, check the rules and regulations, view the extensive book lists, read the privacy policy and access your child’s reading record. Please use the same username and password as last year - if you have forgotten your child’s PRC details email Mrs Savage at library@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au . Please keep a record of these details for future reference as they will be needed each year your child completes the challenge.
Due to the Covid disruptions of the previous two years, Year 10 students may enter the challenge this year in order to receive their medallion if they missed completing the challenge last year.
Kindy students and those new to our school will receive their details along with an accompanying information sheet next week. If your child has completed the challenge elsewhere please contact me at library@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au so I can arrange for your challenge history to be brought over to our school – please include the name of your child’s previous school.
Library WebAPP
Wahroonga Adventist School Library has an online catalogue which makes searching for resources easy from any device with internet access. To visit our Library WebAPP go to bit.ly/waslibrary. On the guest page you will find instructions on how to access your child’s personal details.
Book Fair 2022
Get ready for some fun in the Library at our Term 1 Book Fair which is being held during Weeks 9 and 10 of this Term!!! Our theme is: Dive into Reading!
Book Fair will run from Wednesday, March 30 – Monday, April 4 (8.00am – 4.00pm & Thursday until 6.00pm) in the school library. Purchase books for your personal use, for gifts, or select books from your child’s class wish list and donate them to their classroom.
Mrs Leonie Savage - Librarian
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Home and School
Home and School met this past Monday via zoom on the 21st of February 2022. It was lovely to meet some new families and reconnect with some familiar faces. It was a productive and positive meeting looking at how we can work towards creating events for the year of 2022.
In Term 1 - Please keep an eye out for dates for Movie Family Date. We are also trying to organise Laser Tag for the High School students within school time.
We are exploring a number of Parent Master-Classes with students in attendance for this year.
What was super exciting from this first meeting was the new Portfolio that was created – the Gardening Group, more to come about this group once the subcommittee has met and discussed the purpose, structure and student interaction.
Our Community Engagement Portfolio holder – Bec Reid - has been working on our community connections. We are excited to be working on building a WAS Business Directory and Network, plus other initiatives this year. The purpose of this is to connect with one another, to build relationships in our school and help build our community. Keep an eye out in upcoming Newsletters on how to register for the WAS Business Directory and the other initiatives we are involved in this year.
The next Home and School Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 22nd March 2022 at 7.30pm.
Mrs Michelle Roberts - Home and School President
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Meals With Love
Do you know of a school family that has just welcomed a new baby, has a sick family member, or a family that just needs a little TLC? We would love to be able to support them on behalf of the school community with a Meals with Love meal. Please send us an email and we'll arrange for a meal to be sent home. As some Covid restrictions remain, all meals this term will continue to be prepared by the Canteen and the MWL team. However, if you would like to contribute, we would gratefully accept any dry ingredients such as pasta or microwave rice to accompany our dishes.
If you have received a MWL meal, please return the blue cooler bag to the Canteen.
Many thanks for your support.
mealswithlove@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au
Canteen
To view Term 1 menu, please click HERE. For more information or to order please log into flexischools.com.au.
If you have any questions please feel free to email canteen@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au
Bits and Pieces
Clothing Donations
Looking for somewhere to donate your old clothing?
Wahroonga Adventist Church (the big building next to our school) has 2 new collection bins out the front. All donations to the bin will go directly to those in need.