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Newsletter - Friday 17 September 2021

Principal's Message

A hand reached through the bars and dropped a large yellow envelope in the box on the other side of the fence. This is what I saw as I sat at my desk and looked out to the front gate at school. It could be a sad and lonely picture of COVID, but when I walked to the window and had a broader picture, what a different story it was. On one side was a Year 11 student dropping off their exams, on the other side of the fence was one of our chaplains and also an office staff member. The exam drop-off became a 20 minute catch up chat with the student as stories of life in COVID lockdown were shared.

Our perspective in life can make such a difference to how we cope in difficult times – while COVID restrictions have tested us on so many levels, we have still managed to keep connected, albeit online. Term 3 has been an extraordinary term and I am grateful for the amazing community that we are a part of at Wahroonga Adventist School. Thank you, parents, for your patience and resilience as you have been very close partners in your child’s learning this term. I am also grateful for the unwavering commitment of our staff in supporting academic learning and wellbeing of our students and not least for the tenacity of the students themselves. Year 11 and 12 have completed major exams online, and even our youngest students in Prep have developed independence as they engage in remote learning.

When we look back on Term 3, 2021, we will be able to say like Paul the apostle, we have ‘run the race set before us and fought the good fight’ 2 Timothy 4:7. May you have a safe and refreshing holiday.

Staffing Update

After two years of teaching at Wahroonga, Mrs Emily Cooper will be moving back to Western Australia in 2022. Mrs Cooper will remain with us until the end of the year and has expressed her appreciation for the time spent at Wahroonga. Emily has also ably led out in the Student Representative Council this year, supporting our student leaders in high school to organise schoolwide events and raise awareness and funds for community based projects. We wish her all the best for the future.

Chaplains' News

What a term this has been! So much has happened, and so much hasn’t happened, but all in all its been great to see God still at work within our school community.

Online chapels and bible studies have had a really positive engagement from the students, and despite being separated physically, we have still been able to connect with the students in a meaningful way.

We aren’t too sure what Term 4 will have in store for us just yet, but we are certain that it will be a great term. We look forward to seeing your kids back at school at some stage next term but for now we hope your families enjoy a well-deserved break from school and online learning, and that you will be able to spend some quality time with one another.

May we continue to trust God at all times. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

Stay safe, and have fun!

Blessings, WAS Chaplains

Whole School News

Supporting Your Child Through the Pandemic

We acknowledge how challenging Term 3 has been and that there is still a while to go before we are back on campus again. We hope that in the meantime, some of the ideas in these resources help you to better understand or make sense of what is happening for your child. Below are some resources about child and youth mental health.

If you have any questions about what you read, watch or listen to, please don’t hesitate to contact our counsellors.

Podcasts

Websites

Games Night Results!

At Wahroonga Adventist School, we take FUN seriously, and over the last 2 weeks students, families and staff have had a great time participating in the online games nights. It was beautiful to see so many happy, smiling faces and laugh together. We are all really missing the students and we cant wait to see all their happy faces again when we return to face-to-face learning. We actually had such a great time that we’re going to run another series of games nights while we’re still remote learning next term! It’s so important to be intentional about having fun, socialising and making the most of the small moments we have to connect with each other. Watch this space for more details on the timing of these nights…

CONGRATULATIONS to the following overall winners from each Games Night. Keep an eye out for some special packages with your prizes coming in the mail over the next few weeks.

For something to do over the holidays (and a bonus prize), download this Scavenger hunt list and see how quickly you can find all the items! The first student to email ben.stewart@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au with photo evidence of themselves with each of the items will get a bonus prize of free lunch orders for a week!

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 2021

Please click on the link below to view the school term dates and public holiday information for 2021.

Please see this link for further information regarding the Return to School Dates for Term 4.

2021 Yearbook Competition Cover Page Winner

Congratulations to the winner of our 2021 Yearbook Cover Competition, Claudia, with her wonderful digital artwork submission.

Students were asked to submit an artwork that represented our Chapel theme this year of “Look Again” and the Bible verse 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith, not by sight”. We had a huge range of creative artworks and we would like to thank all of the students who entered the competition. It was so great to see how students have interpreted and represented the theme and to see the creativity and effort that each student has put into their work. We look forward to completing the yearbook this year, our first time with Prep to Year 12, and filling it with wonderful memories of the 2021 school year.

Mrs Trappitt - Yearbook Coordinator

Parent/Carers Zoom Choir

Miss Tamika Sutton (High School Sport Co-ordinator and PDHPE teacher) is currently completing a Masters in Education. Miss Sutton needs to complete an action research project to discover if there is any effect on wellbeing and connectedness experienced by parent/carer’s through weekly participation in a school facilitated, parent/carer choir. Current literature highlights the many positive impacts choral singing has on participants regarding their wellbeing and social connections, and emerging literature is establishing that positive outcomes are experienced through parent/carer involvement in school activities. This research project seeks to identify if the positive outcomes associated with choral singing, are transferable to a school facilitated, parent/carer choir.

What does this mean?

This research project was initially going to be completed on the school campus, however, due to Covid, it has been necessary to take the project into the online environment. Each Tuesday, for four weeks, for 45min-1hr, parents/carers will need to be able to attend a Zoom choir session run by Mrs Kristina Vuceski. During these choir sessions, parents/carers will participate in vocal warm ups and exercises, as well as learning parts (bass, tenor, alto, soprano) to a song in both breakout groups, and together as a choir.

The volunteer parent/carers will also be required to complete a pre and post questionnaire.

This opportunity is open to parents/carers from both Primary and High School. If you are interested in participating in this research project, please express your interest via this link.

Chess Classes - Years 3 to 12

Please see attached notice from Sydney Academy of Chess outlining the details of their Chess Classes for Term 4, 2021. If you have any questions please contact Sydney Academy of Chess directly on info@sydneyacademyofchess.com.au.

Term 4 Fees and 2022 Enrolment

During this time of uncertainty, stability for families is of utmost importance. Should you be experiencing any financial difficulties with regards to school fees please touch base with Kelly by emailing accounts@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au, we are here to help. Term 4 Fees and any charges from Term 3 will be emailed during the school holidays.

A friendly reminder that should you wish to withdraw your student/s from Wahroonga Adventist School, as per our policy, at least one term’s notice (10 weeks) of withdrawal must be given, in writing to the Registrar, Carmen Wynstra, enrol@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au. Failure to do so will incur a charge of one term’s fees. Holiday periods do not constitute adequate notice of withdrawal.

Please note this year we will not be emailing an intention to re-enrol, your students enrolment will automatically roll over to 2022, if you wish to withdraw your student/s in 2022, at least one term’s notice (10 weeks) of withdrawal must be emailed to enrol@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au by Tuesday 6th October 2021. Holiday periods do not constitute adequate notice of withdrawal.

Primary School News

“What’s Your Favourite Colour?” Themed Dress Up Day

In week 9 students were able to show their favourite colour as they participated in the last theme dress up day for Term 3 “What’s your favourite colour?” It was great to see so many students getting involved in the theme day and sharing their photos on Seesaw. I am continually amazed and impressed with the creative ways that students are finding to create their photo posts. Thank you to all those who dressed up on the day. Stay tuned for more theme days next term.

Mrs Deppeler - Head of Junior School

Enrolling Now for 2022 - Kindergarten and Prep

We are currently enrolling for Kindergarten and Prep. If you are planning to send your child to Kindergarten or Prep in 2022, please ensure that you have completed an enrolment form. For enrolment forms, please refer to our school website, or contact the School Office. Orientation days for Kindergarten and Prep will be held later in Term 4 once students have returned to learning on-site.

Year 3

Year 3 students have been learning about research skills and report writing skills this term. They have thoroughly researched the frog and learned some important new skills for report writing. Our students have worked thoroughly and consistently, and now have had the joy of publishing their very own, unique book on-line.

These books look awesome and are very interesting, packed with so many facts about the frog. The most important thing we learnt about the frog is that it is a 'barometer' to the health of our climate because it is so vulnerable to toxins in the environment. If frogs are healthy then we can be reassured that the environment is healthy too. Sadly, 27 species of frogs are threatened right here in Australia.

If you are a Year 3 parent , please log on to book creator using your child's individual link, and have a fun read about our Frogastic Frogs.

Mrs Kemp - Year 3 Teacher

Year 6 - Poem Forest Poetry Excursion

Year 6 attended a poetry excursion held online last week, created by Red Room Poetry in partnership with The Australian Botanic Garden, called POEM FOREST. For every nature poem received a tree is planted to help heal endangered habitats.

The workshop celebrated Threatened Species Day with Bundjalung-Gumbayngirr poet, Dakota Feirer, who guided primary students from many schools through writing activities to help craft nature poems. There were even a bunch of cash prizes on offer!

The students did a great job writing about a place in the great outdoors that was special to them. Here is Heidi’s poem:

Mrs Jacobs - Year 6 Teacher

Change of OOSH Providers

Due to business restructuring reasons, Esteem Kids have made the difficult decision to cease their after school care at Wahroonga at the end of Term 3, 2021. We would like to thank Sofia and William and their staff for the wonderful care of our children for the past four and a half years. They would like to thank everyone for their support over the years and for allowing them to serve our community.

We would like to welcome Kids Klub Wahroonga as our new providers commencing Term 4, 2021. All families will need to register their details with them if after school care is needed. Please contact Yan at wahroonga@kidsklub.com.au or call on 0435 378 181.

Secondary School News

ADF Long Tan Award - Year 12

A very big congratulations to Grace Colville who has just been awarded the 2021 ADF Long Tan Award, and Jonathan Horsey for being a finalist and receiving the NSW School of Languages Principals Award!!

Both Grace and Jonathan study French at NSW School of Languages and were nominated by their teachers for their efforts throughout their French studies, as well as their extensive involvement at Wahroonga Adventist School and within the broader community.

The Long Tan Award is sponsored by the Australian Defence Force and acknowledges students who possess and exercise numerous qualities, including community involvement, strong communication and leadership skills, along with the ability to achieve team and individual success.

Congratulations to you both! We are so proud of your achievements and feel very blessed to have you as part of our school community.

"I was so excited to be lucky enough to receive the ADF Long Tan Award from the NSW School of Languages this year. It means a lot to me, particularly as I am currently in the process of applying to join the Defence Force. It was really amazing to hear the both Jonathan and I made it into the top 5 candidates! I am so grateful to Wahroonga Adventist for the support from my teachers and fellow students throughout the years I have attended - without this support, I would not be the person I am today." - Grace Colville

"I'm very honoured to be a recipient of an NSL Principals Award as it's a great acknowledgement of the diligence and hard-work I've put in as a student, and more importantly a school leader at Wahroonga. I believe that both Grace and I being two of the five Long Tan finalists at NSL reflects the support we've been provided at Wahroonga, and the opportunities granted to us to lead and serve our school community." - Jonathan Horsey

Years 7 & 10 Vaccination Schedule

Vaccinations for students in Years 7 and 10 will be held at school on Wednesday 24th November 2021.

  • Year 7 - HPV Dose 2. No action required - the consent forms submitted for Dose 1 also apply to Dose 2.
  • Year 10 - Meningococcal ACWY​​. Consent forms will be distributed to students on the 8th of November. Please ensure they are returned to the School Office by Wednesday 17th November.

Year 7 Art

This term in Year 7 Art, we have been learning about the Elements and Principles of Art and how we can use these in our artworks. The students have been practising a wide variety of art techniques using items that they have at home. We started the term creating a colour wheel and colour themes out of found objects around the house. We learnt about primary and secondary colours, warm and cool colours and complimentary colours. We moved onto line and began by creating our own continuous line portraits using string. The students then recreated these in their artbooks by following the line of string and not taking their pencil off the page! The students also used a few continuous line portraits as examples to create more advanced portraits in their artbooks. We moved to textures and patterns and finding these around our homes. The students also completed a funky textured Picasso portrait. And lastly, we have combined our skills with shading and creating tone to draw a series of still life compositions using items that we have at home. These artworks have turned out great! This term has been a great time of exploring and learning about new art techniques and we’re looking forward to working on our final artworks next term!

Mrs Trappitt - Visual Arts & Digital Photography Teacher

WAS Olympics - Years 7 to 10

This term, students in year 7-10 have been participating in the WAS Olympics for PDHPE and Sport. Each week, a list of challenges were given to students, with different levels of difficulty receiving different points.

Congratulations to our top 3 boys and girls winners, who will be receiving prizes for their efforts!

Library News

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Premier’s Reading Challenge

Congratulations to James B (KA), Radin T (KA), Cole A (KE), Benjamin E (KE), Elisabeth G (KE), Charles Y (KE), Neriah P (1K), Antonio Z (1K), Mateo S (1S), Georgina M (2B), Hugh A (2M), Ariya B (2M), Tate G (3H), Amy P (3K), Sam T (3K), Sophia T (3K), Christopher D (4R), Holly F (4R), Paradise D (5C), Hayden D (5C), Prardhana G (5C), Lucy M (5C), Noah M (5C), Benjamin V (5C), Angus W (5C), Lily A (5K), Heston B (5K), Isaac F (5K), Francis G (5K), Rebecca H (5K), Ryan J (5K), Violet W (5K), Tilly C (8A), Peyton S (8W), Alexander M (9W) and Angelica Y (10W) who have all finished the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Well done!

Congratulations to the 135 students who completed the 2021 Premier’s Reading Challenge with special mention to the Year 5 class who had 31 successful participants. Certificates will be handed out at the end of the school year.

• The Premier’s Reading Challenge is now finished for 2021. Any books read from now on can be listed on your 2022 challenge list, so please keep a written record of the books you’ve read so you can add them when the website becomes active again early next year.

Year 5 ‘Captain Mack’ and ‘Wonder’ Returns

The Year 5 classes will be swapping English novels between Terms 3 and 4, so we need these textbooks to be returned promptly so they can be reallocated to the other class and then sent out in the Term 4 book packs. These books can either be placed in the container that has been left in the basement carpark or placed in the school letterbox.

Library and Textbook Returns (Oct 6)

There will be two clearly labelled containers placed in the basement carpark for you to return your library books and textbooks when you come to pick up your Term 4 book packs on October 6. Please make sure you come prepared with your library returns, and any High School textbooks that are no longer needed and place them in the appropriate container. If you are unsure what books your children currently have out, please follow the instructions below to log into your child’s borrowing records in the Library Webapp. Thanking you.

Library WebAPP

The library WebAPP is a great place to keep track of your child/ren’s library loans, search the catalogue and read about upcoming library events. You can access it from any device at bit.ly/waslibrary. Instructions on how to log in to your child/ren’s personal details are on the home page.

World Book Online

Wahroonga Adventist School has a subscription to World Book Encyclopedia Online which gives all students and teachers online access to an amazing variety of resources which can be accessed using any device. If you would like to explore this resource, please follow the link below and use the word was for the log-in ID and password.

Canteen

The canteen is still open for students learning on campus during the school term, please see attached menu. During the lockdown food can only be purchased by online ordering, there will be no window service. Orders can be purchased through flexischools.com.au by 8am the same day. We hope all families are keeping safe and well.

Home and School

Gingerbread House Competition

Please note the time frame for ordering as we need to manage logistics of delivering the Gingerbread House in Term 4 when books will be collected.

Dad's Campout

Please note the original Dad’s Campout has been adjusted. More details to come... but the tent in the backyard or inside fort is the contingency plan.

Home & School Meeting Dates for 2021

TERM 4 - Tuesday 12th October and Tuesday 2nd November

Bits and Pieces