Sitting at my computer reflecting on the term, the image of students sitting outside in the sun with teachers or parents after the Easter Chapel comes to mind. The joy as Easter stories were read and hot-cross buns consumed represented connection within our community. Wind the clock forward 24 hours and this time it was students sitting in the sun with chickens wrapped in towels after being washed by Pr Daron ready for the Easter Show. Two images. Two glimpses of wholistic education in our school as we partner for the benefit of the students.
A special thanks to our Home and School Committee who have worked tirelessly throughout the term and for partnering with the Chaplains to make Easter a special event. Thank you also to our Environmental Ambassadors and their mentor teachers and parents who are entering produce from the school gardens and chickens in the Royal Easter Show.
It has been a big term, it has been an energetic and hopeful term and I wish to acknowledge the dedication of all staff as they have taught, cared for and supported students over the last 10 weeks.
As we look forward to the holiday and celebrate Easter let us be reminded of the hope that it brings to us as Christians. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the ultimate symbol of hope, and it is a reminder that no matter what challenges we face in life, there is always the promise of new beginnings.
This weekend may we all take time to reflect on the blessings in our lives and to renew our commitment to living a life of hope and kindness, a life filled with purpose and meaning. Happy Easter!
Julia Heise
Whole School News
Easter Chapel
Our combined Easter Chapel "I am the Resurrection and the Life" on Friday, 31 March was a wonderful opportunity for an all school event and an invitation to parents and grandparents to participate in the occasion.
Following the Chapel service parents and grandparents were able to share a cuppa and an Easter Bun. Primary students were invited to sit and read a book with their teacher and family members. There was a real sense of community as students, teachers, volunteers all come together to assist with the event.
Easter Colouring Competition
We had 2 lucky winners of the Easter Guessing vases. Well done to Georgina M (4R) & Evie B (3K) for guessing the closest to the amount in each vase!
Congratulations also to Marine B (Prep), Jocelyn C (Kindy), Ethan K (1/2J), Cade (2A), Jack C (3L), Oscar L (4K), Aleah M (5C) and Dhruv S (12) for taking out the win in each grade. Thank you to those who participated in these activities.
Michelle Roberts - Home and School President
Harmony Day
Last Friday, we came together as one to celebrate the diverse cultures and backgrounds represented at Wahroonga Adventist School during Harmony Day. We celebrated culture through language, dance, dress, song and food, sharing in one another's backgrounds.
Our SRC students ran quizzes during chapel, helped sell food at the food stalls during lunch time and organised fun activities throughout the day.
Congratulations to our winners of our gold coin mufti day challenge. As a whole school we raised more than $1400! Thank you to those who gave generously and donated their time and effort to donate food for our stalls!
We are so privileged to have so many countries and nationalities represented here at Wahroonga Adventist School.
Mrs Georgia Ah-You - On behalf of Primary & Secondary SRC organisers
Book Donations to Solomon Islands
Ken Long, part of a group of volunteers that send containers out to Adventist Schools in the Solomon Islands, came to school this morning to collect donations of unused textbooks and used/outdated uniform from Wahroonga Adventist School. We hope these donations will be a great help to our sister schools in the Solomon Islands.
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 2023
Please click on the link below to view the school term dates and public holiday information for 2023.
Enrolments
We are starting to process our applications for Prep and Kindergarten, 2024 and Year 7, 2025 during Term 2. If there are any siblings who have not yet applied to these grades please submit your application to enrol via the website as soon as possible.
Cindy Farkas - Registrar
Primary School News
Day of Worship
Just last week our year 5-8 students travelled to Hills Adventist College for the combined schools Day of Worship! This is a 3 hour event that runs over lunch time that includes worship, an age appropriate guest preacher, pancakes, and team building games. The heart behind the day is to unite our 7 campuses across Sydney and encourage a feeling of belonging and unity across all our students!
This year Pr Rahel Gungadoo – a youth pastor from Victoria – came and encouraged our students that no matter what your context, race, history is, God has an incredible love for each of us and a plan that is filled with adventure for each of us to discover!
We are really looking forward to taking our year 9-12 students to the senior school Day of Worship next term in week 4!
Pr Nick Kross - Chaplain
Year 6 Jerseys
Last Friday, Year 6 received their next right of passage as the oldest students in Primary School and donned their Year 6 Jackets for the very first time.
The students commented on how warm and fluffy they are and the quality won’t go astray during their Camp to chilly Canberra during the first week next term!
Miss Andrews and Mrs Costa - Year 6 teachers
Prep & Year 6 Quality Time
During Term 1 the Year 6 Students have been developing strong friendships with the Prep students as they participate in a range of activities including shared reading, worship, play and arts and crafts. The Students even had an end of term morning tea together!
The connections made between the Year 6 Students and the Preps have helped in providing confidence to the Prep students as they joined our school this year and provides Year 6 with the opportunity to be role models and leaders.
Miss Yap, Miss Andrews & Mrs Costa - Prep & Year 6 Teachers
Primary School Sport
CIS Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to Joshua P, Joel R, Jude S and Lukas W for winning the ASISSA relay race and beating their previous time at the next stage of CIS competition. Job well done also goes to Charles B (5C) for participating in the CIS AFL trials. We are very proud of their achievements!
Secondary School News
Year 10 Geography
Year 10W and 10S Geography class participated in an excursion to Cronulla Beach. The groups were led through fieldwork about coastal erosion and management. Students examined the protective measures put in place by Sutherland Shire Council to look after the beach, and they surveyed the biodiversity in the area. Thanks to Ranger Grace, Ranger Danika and Ranger Ramsey from Ranger Jamie Excursions for leading the activities for the day. 10A will participate in their excursion during Semester 2.
Karina Jones - Geography Teacher
Easter Show Competition
Our Primary and High School Environmental Ambassadors have worked extremely hard to care for our grown produce & chickens.
Our chickens were entered into Poultry & Pigeon Competition which provides all Schools with the opportunity to participate in agriculture and rear poultry with their students.
The produce was entered into the Sydney Royal School Produce Competition, which is judged by experts based on 5 different type of fruits, vegetables or herbs. Each School had to share a presentation detailing how students prepare, grow and maintain the garden, focusing on sustainability. Well done Environmental Ambassadors!
Mrs Leisly White & Mrs Mildred Zuze
Year 9 Textiles Project
Year 9 students were tasked with creating and producing a textile item that will bring joy and comfort to an animal living in a care facility. The projects were marked based on quality, safety & sustainability with Soks, our School well-being dog, testing the finished products out for herself!
Mrs Mildred Zuze - Textiles Teacher
Food Technology - Native Ingredients
Saltbush, a native ingredient grown in our school garden, is being used by the Year 11 Food Technology students in some new recipes.
The students collected the leaves, dried them in the oven and used these to flavour dukkah, crumbed tofu and carrot soup.
With sustainable practices in mind the soup was made from left over veggies in the pantry and the left over dukkah could be used on other foods like cereal and salads. Yum!
Food Techology - Birthday Cakes
The Year 10 Food Technology students were tasked with designing the best Themed Children's Birthday Party along with an imaginative cake to suit.
Party themes covered everything from 'Under the Sea' to 'In the Jungle'. You will agree these students created Fantastic Cakes!
Mrs Mildred Zuze - Food Technology Teacher
Year 8 Bible Excursion
The Year 8 students have been studying the themes of Providence & Leadership through the stories of Joseph & Moses throughout their Bible lessons this term.
On Wednesday, they were then able to attend and watch a musical based on the life and journey of Joseph at Capitol Theatre.
Students thoroughly enjoyed the dazzling production, with several students having their first musical experience on this day.
Miss Tepatasi Afele - Bible Teacher
Nespresso Pod Recycling
Did you know that Australian's used 3 million coffee pods every day and that only 10% of those are recycled with the rest ending up in landfill?
As part of their studies on the environment and how they can live sustainably, the Year 11 Geography class has implemented a Nespresso pod recycling program in the school.
We are hoping to expand this program into the wider school community so watch this space for further information!
Mrs Renee Stanculescu - Geography Teacher
CSSA State Swimming Carnival
On Tuesday 28 March, 7 secondary students represented Wahroonga at the CSSA State Swimming Carnival. All participants were competitive and with many of these students achieving great results. Special mentions must go to Nicholas L (Year 9), Salani S (Year 9) and Maile Wilson (Year 8) for coming first place in a swimming event, and Eliza M (Year 10) for being awarded Age Champion.
Mr Ignatius Ah-You - Secondary Sports Coordinator
Upcoming dates (Term 2):
Whole-school cross country - Tuesday 2 May (Week 2)
CSSA Zone Football(soccer) Gala Day - Wednesday 3 May (Week 2)
CSSA State Volleyball Gala Day - Wednesday 10 May (Week 3)
CSSA State Cross-country - Friday 26 May (Week 5)
Library News
Premier’s Reading Challenge
Congratulations to the following students who have now completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge: Anthony K (KW), Ethan K (1J), James B (2J), Emma L (3L) and Laura O (5C). Well done to all of you – Keep up the excellent reading!
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is achievable for all students, so please encourage your children to log their reading lists at https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html.
Email Mrs Savage at library@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au if you need your child’s User ID and Password.
Book Fair
A HUGE thank you to all those who came along and supported our ‘Bookaneer! Where books are the Treasure’ Book Fair! Thanks to your support our sales tallied up to almost $6200, with $461 worth of books being donated to the classrooms! A commission of just over $1400 will be used to buy new books and resources for our school library.
An extra big thank you goes to Janet and Richard Shirley, Grace Skinner, Jeanne van Warmelo, Helen Zou, Aimee Gwiza, Sharona Behrens and Jiefan Wu who gave their time to help set up, run and pack down the Book Fair. Your efforts are truly appreciated, and we cannot thank you enough for ensuring the success of the Book Fair.
Book Fair Prizes
There were 143 treasure coins in our Guess the Treasure jar! Whilst no one guessed the exact number of coins, 3 students came very close each guessing 140. Congratulations to our lucky winners: Marissa F (1J), Josephine L (4R) and Jackson S (6C). Each of these students won a bag of skittles and a prize from the Book Fair. A further 24 students also won prizes when their names were drawn out of the lucky draw jar. Thank you me hearties for joining in with the Book Fair fun!
Mrs Leonie Savage - Librarian
Uniform Shop
Uniform Shop Notice
The uniform Shop is open Thursdays during the school term from 8:30am – 12pm during the school term. After 12pm, fittings are by appointment only.
Students are expected to return to school Term 2 in full winter uniform. Unfortunately, the uniform shop will not be open during the school holidays. First day of service will be Thursday, 27 April.
Mrs Meagan Sullivan - Uniform Shop Manager
Home and School
Meals with Love
Many thanks to everyone who has helped make or distribute meals to school families this term. If you would like to support this Initiative in Term 2, we would gratefully accept any freezable meals, desserts or lunchbox snacks. If you have any questions or would like to suggest a meal for a family please email mealswithlove@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au.
Mother's Day - Afternoon Tea
Mother's/Grandmother's/Carers are invited to join us for a Mother's Day Afternoon Tea on Friday 12 May from 3pm to 4.30pm. Home and School will be providing a spread of food for you to enjoy and to meet other Mother's in our school community.
Students are also invited to stay and enjoy time with their friends but a parent/carer must be present to supervise child/ren from 3:30pm onwards.
Upcoming Home and School Meetings
The next Home & School meeting will be held on Tuesday, 2 May 2023. This meeting will in the "Wedge" on level 1 at 7pm.
The following meeting will be held on Tuesday, 13 June. If you have any questions, please email homeandschool@wahroonga.adventist.edu
Mrs Michelle Roberts - Home and School President