ICAS Writing, Science, English & Mathematics Competition Results 2014

ICAS WRITING SKILLS RESULTS

ICAS SPELLING RESULTS

ICAS ENGLISH RESULTS

ICAS MATHEMATICS RESULTS

Young Justice Workshop

YOUNG INJUSTICE WORKSHOP: NSW PARLIAMENT HOUSE

On the first day back of Term 4 ten students from Year 5 and 6 were lucky enough to attend a ‘Youth Justice Day’ at Parliament House, along with seven other schools.

Our first workshop was with a UNICEF worker named Mia who talked about the struggles of children and what UNICEF [United Nations International Children’s Fund] does to help. Her example to us was about a young girl who lives in Timor Leste and how she has to walk 3 hours every day to get water and has to carry 2 litres on a 3km walk. Mia also said how each vaccine to immunise HIV costs 33 cents yet governments can’t supply it but UNICEF helps communities unable to provide it to their citizens by giving the communities the vaccines.

Our Second activity of the day was a talk by a volunteer worker from an organisation working in war torn areas of Sri Lanka called Palmera which helps citizens who’s wealth and businesses were destroyed during the civil war and create small businesses so they can become entrepreneurs by selling things to the local areas. We were given a task to create business ideas using materials that can be found in the local areas. We then shared our ideas and pointed out the flaws in each idea or if they were suitable how they could help the communities make money off it.

Our third activity was about animal rights and what we eat. A passionate speaker named Jordan  talked to us about factory farms and the cruelty involved. We learnt cows will mourn for their children and feel pain the some way we do if they’re young is ripped away from them. Chickens will be crammed into cages half they’re size and will be given hormones to expand in size to the point where they’re legs can’t even sustain they’re body weight. In so called free range eggs they are also crammed in to 10,000 chickens per Hectare giving them hardly any room to roam around.  He also told us that these farms are placed in the middle of nowhere hidden secretly so no eyes can be set on the cruelty given to the animals.  This was powerful stuff!

Our fourth and final workshop was about Australia’s wealth and wellbeing and how unevenly spread our economy is. Our workshop leader Leo used real life facts from the Australian economy to prove his opinions. 43% of Australia’s wealth belongs to 10% of our population categorised A and then J the lowest group has 0.5% of the wealth and none of them have jobs showing how unfair it is. We discussed an idea that could spread out the wealth evenly enough to give everyone jobs and opportunities.

As the day came to an end we were once again gathered in the theatre to be given the concluding speech to the fascinating day. Social justice is about the fair distribution of wealth and the opportunities for all members of society so everyone can strive to achieve the best of their abilities. We left the day well informed and aware of what problems and social justice issues are occurring in the world around us.

By Max Langford and Luca Fotea (6C) 

Music, Sport and Co-curricular Photos

Dear Parents,

The Winter Sport, Music and Co-curricular photos taken on 11^th August, 2014 are now available to order online from Advanced Life Photographers.  Order instructions can be found on SPACES  – click here

The Sibling photos taken on 11^th August cannot be ordered online.  For those families interested in purchasing sibling photos, an envelope from Advanced Life Photography has been given to your oldest son today.  Please complete the sibling order envelope and return to Wyvern office by Wednesday 22^nd October, 2014.

Wyvern Office

Interschool Chess Challenge

On Friday 12th September Ben Nguyen, Adrian Lo, Hamish Thompson, Kim Long Lam and Fallon Fotaras competed in the Interschool Chess Challenge at Strathfield. The boys competed in a 7 round competition and came a credible 8th out of over 300 schools! Special mention to Hamish Thompson who came 15th on the individual table.

Congratulations boys!

Joanne Ryan
Chess Co-ordinator

Young Inventor in the Midst!

Young Inventor Running Rings Around The Competition

Many students at Wyvern House achieve incredible success at the school level and even the state level. We are proud to announce that one of our Year 6 young men has recently been recognised for his work at a National level. Nicholas Lawton-Wade (6K) entered an Australia-wide competition this year, forwarding an invention he had devised to the Origin Energy LittleBig Ideas Competition.

In an effort to counteract obesity, Nicholas wants to keep the world fit, healthy and make people aware of the amount of time they spend on the computer. Programmed into computers as part of the log in process, ‘The Origin Energy Fitness App’ asks users to complete some physical activity before they are allowed to access their device. Each activity will earn you a different amount of ‘energy points’ and an ‘energy gauge’ will indicate the amount of screen time available. “The more exercise done, the more energy points gained and the longer the computer can be used,” explains Nicholas. He thinks it will make a great difference in schools, ensuring students to exercise regularly and moderate the amount of time spent in front of a computer screen.

Not only was Nicholas recognised as one of only 4 finalist in the Year 5 and 6 age bracket across Australia – he then went on to the claim runner up award at a lavish ceremony at The Powerhouse Museum and receive a variety of well-deserved prizes. We look forward to many more innovative ideas from a young man with huge potential – Well done Nicholas!

David King
Year 6 Teacher

Term Dates 2015

Each year much thought goes into term dates to ensure the most appropriate balance across the year with a focus on the boys’ learning from Kindergarten to Year 12. This process, conducted by the College’s Senior Executive, takes many hours to ensure all options are considered. By now, you have probably realised that next year we have only a 2 week break between Terms 2 and 3 and a 3 week break between Terms 3 and 4.

Every year the calendar gets challenged by a number of factors. They include when Australia Day lands, when Easter lands, not wanting to start too early when it is hot, not wanting to finish too early at the end of the year with working parents, ensuring state school holidays coincide with our holidays, getting a balance of days between each Semester right (the aim is for 92 in one and 93 in the other), and finally getting maximum time possible for Year 12 for Terms 1, 2 and 3.

This balance is illustrated in the following summary:

2014 – Semester 1: 92 and Semester 2: 93

2015 – Semester 1: 93 and Semester 2: 92 (based on 3 week break between Terms 3 and 4)

2016 – Semester 1: 92 and Semester 2: 93

2017 – Semester 1: 93 and Semester 2: 92

Given the unusual situation of 2015, if we had a 3 week break between Terms 2 and 3 it would have resulted in 88 days in Semester 1 and 97 days in Semester 2 and Year 12 would have effectively lost a week.

It is important to understand that each school has different organisational and learning structures and requirements, thus the difference between other independent schools next year.

Please note that the change in holidays is only for 2015.  In 2016 we will return to a 3 week holiday break between Terms 2 and 3.

TERM DATES 2015

TERM ONE
Thursday 29 January to Thursday 2 April
Classes commence Thursday 29 January
10 week term followed by a 2 week break

TERM TWO
Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June
Classes commence Monday 20 April
Staff PD Day – Friday 3 June  – No students
Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday – Monday 8 June
10 week term followed by a 2 week break (for 2015 only)

TERM THREE
Tuesday 14 July to Friday 18 September
Staff PD Day – Monday 13 July
10 week term followed by a 3 week break (for 2015 only)

TERM FOUR
Monday 12 October to Tuesday 8 December
Classes commence Monday 12 October
Annual Prize Giving 3-6 – Tuesday 8 December

Term Dates 2014

TERM ONE
Wednesday 29 January to Friday 11 April
11 week term followed by a 2 week break
Classes commence Wednesday 29 January

TERM TWO
Monday 28 April to Friday 20 June
Wyvern Staff PD Day (Student Free Day) – Friday 6 June
Queen’s Birthday (Pubic Holiday) –  Monday 9 June
8 week term followed by a 3 week break

TERM THREE
Monday 14 July to Thursday 18 September
Wyvern Staff PD Day (Student Free Day) – Friday 19 September
10 week term followed by a 2 week break

TERM FOUR
Wednesday 8 October to Monday 8 December
Labour Day Public Holiday – Monday 6 October
Wyvern Staff PD Day (Student Free Day) -Tuesday 7 October

OshClub – Wyvern’s Before & After School Care Program

Wyvern’s Before and After School Care Program is run by OSHClub. Enrolment for all students is recommended and allows parents to easily manage their before and after school care needs via an online account. Visit  www.oshclub.com.au to use the free enrolment service.

For all late bookings, please contact the Coordinator, Eleanor, on 0428 131 700. OSHClub’s head office number is (03) 8564 9000 Click here for the OSHClub Information Flyer.

For OSHClub Newsletter Term 4 – Week 2, click here

For OSHClub Holiday Program, click here

Kind regards
OSHClub Team

Newington Crested Ware

There are a range of crested ware on offer at the Black and White shop. They range from memorabilia, clothing, keepsakes as well as an exclusive Sesquicentenary line which can be found on the Sesquicentenrary site. For more information about crested ware, please contact Rollanda Rosenstrauss.

To download the crested ware catalogue and price list  click here

To view the crested ware page on the public website, click here

Flyers in Bookstand

Basketball

• Year 2 Got Game Basketball Program
• Year 3-6 Basketball Skills Sessions

Cricket

• Year 5/6 Cricket Development Sessions

Tuckshop

• Everyday Tuckshop Menu

Martial Arts

• Kung Fu Action at Wyvern

Co-curricular

• Co-curricular (Before and After School) Activities at Wyvern

Speech Pathology

Uniform Shop

Wyvern Uniform Roster Term 4 Weeks 3 & 4, Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Order Form, Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Summer Price List 2014, Click here

Tuckshop Menu, Roster & Online Ordering

Dear Parents,

As a parent volunteer working in the Tuckshop can you please make sure that you adhere to the rules and regulations regarding appropriate footwear – closed in footwear with a rubber grip sole (ideally leather trainers). No sandals, thongs, open toe shoes or fabric trainers (fabric shoes may bring bacteria) may be worn.

If your son suffers from an allergy it is imperative that you advise the Wyvern Office and the Tuckshop so that we are aware of it. Click here for the ‘Alliance Catering  – Food Allergens Advisory Statement’.

Please click here for the Spotless Food Safety Information for Volunteers Guidelines

Tuckshop Menu and Roster for  Term 4 Weeks 3 & 4, Click here

Everyday Menu and Price List, Click here  Please note that there have been a few changes made to this for ‘Items from the Freezer’

Online Ordering Instructions, Click here

Online Ordering FAQs, Click here

Sport

For all Saturday morning sport at Newington Senior School, parents are requested to park off site along the street. The schools onsite car park is maintained for officials, emergency vehicles and staff only. With the summer sport season upon us, the car park area can become very busy early in the morning. Please consider this simple request to ensure the smooth management of Saturday morning sport at Newington.

Wyvern Sports Draw, Click here

Wyvern Sports Newsletter, Click here

Sports Results and Match Reports, Click here

Sporting Venue Addresses, Click here

2014 Sports Handbook, Click here

P & F News and Events

Hello!

It’s easy to take human rights for granted when living the lives we do in the city we live in.

Children are among the most vulnerable people in our society and have a right to special protection. This includes less obvious protection from intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviour that this year’s national enquiry into intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviour in children by the Australian Human Rights Commission is aiming to inform. We are privileged to have the National Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, herself discuss early findings of her enquiry with us. This is an issue that, sadly, could affect all of us indirectly or directly.

It is an honour to have Ms Mitchell visit Wyvern House and I ask that you please make the effort to come to the last P&F general meeting of the year on tonight Thursday, 16 October, from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. One of my goals for supporting the parent community is to have more of us attending the P&F meetings and benefiting from what we learn at them. We’ve had super attendance this year (except for Term 3 when the awful weather and illness got the better of many of us) and I think it’s important to show our guest of honour how well parents support this school and how interested we are in the issues that affect our children. 

We will be in the hall from 6:30pm with pizza for everyone and supervised play on the rooftop for children, to save you the angst of organising childcare.

Ms Megan Mitchell was formerly the NSW Children’s Commissioner and is the first person appointed to the new national role. In addition to presenting early findings from the enquiry, Ms Mitchell will tell us about her role and responsibilities as an advocate for children’s rights and take questions from the audience.

Until next time, be well and happy

Natalie Mina
President, Wyvern P&F
natalie.mina@accenture.com; 0414 850 455

Dates for your diary

• Year 4 Parents’ Dinner, 18 October, Vicinity
• Kindy mums meet at Paper Cup every Wednesday and Friday morning at 8:15am
• Year 3 Parents’ Coffee & Chat is on every Thursday from 8.15am at the Little Treasures Café, 313 Stanmore Rd, Petersham (up the road from the senior school, opposite the fruit market)

Next Two Weeks

Wyvern’s Christmas Tree – Barnardos Gifts for Teens – 13-18 Years of Age

Every child deserves to feel the joy, warmth and happiness of Christmas!

This year we are supporting Barnardos Australia to reach their goal of collecting a gift for every child in care this Christmas. Our school can make a huge difference in the lives of many children around Australia and together you can bring smiles to kids in need this Christmas.

Each year Barnardos struggle to receive gifts for teenagers. Some suggestions of teenage appropriate gifts for 13 – 18 years are:

• sporting equipment (footballs, cricket set, soccer balls)
• baseball caps
• girls make-up
• perfume
• beach towels
• jewellery
• skin care products
• books/novels

Gift vouchers are the easiest for this age group, examples of appropriate gift vouchers include vouchers from:

• Rebel Sport
• itunes
• JB-Hi
• Hoyts Cinemas
• Sports Girl

By supporting Barnardos Gifts for Teens you are helping make a difference to these children at Christmas Time.

Why We Ask For Unwrapped Gifts

Please do NOT wrap gifts as we need to view the gifts to ensure their safety and to allocate gifts according to a child’s age, gender and individual circumstances.

Please feel free to donate wrapping paper for our centre staff to wrap presents once allocated.

Faith Matters

Overcoming

At 19 months, Helen Keller contracted the illness that eventually left her without hearing and sight. Back then those labeled ‘deaf and dumb’ were classified as idiots. But Helen’s parents didn’t agree. They hired teacher Anne Sullivan to work with her and eventually she learned to read and write using Braille. Amazingly, in 1904 she graduated with honours from RadcliffeCollege, then devoted her life to helping others. Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie paid her an annual income; writers Mark Twain and Robert Louis Stevenson praised her and almost every President of her day invited her to the White House. Even though Helen died in 1968 her legacy of courage lives on. When asked if there was anything worse than being blind, Helen replied ‘Yes, having sight but no vision’. At 12, Thomas Edison developed such severe hearing loss that his teachers recommended he be taken out of school. Instead Edison used his handicap to drown out distractions and focus on his work. As a result the boy who was labeled ‘a slow learner’ gave the world over 1000 inventions, including the light bulb, the phonograph and the motion camera.

Who gets to define ‘normal’ anyway? Is it being short versus tall, or rich versus poor? The truth is, God’s given all of us unique abilities that He expects us to explore. And interestingly, the real handicaps don’t belong to those who are born with physical and mental challenges. No, they belong to the so-called normal people who’ve accepted lethargy and limitation as part of life.

God said “My power works best in your weakness”, so you can let your difficulties impede or inspire you. Which will it be?

Peter Morphew
Chaplain

Before & After School Co-curricular Activities at Wyvern

Please click here for the 2014 Co-curricular Activities at Wyvern – Term 4

Artist of the Week

K – 2 Artist of the Week

Adhitya Vasanthan – Year 2

Adi recalled a memory from the Year 2 excursion to The Art Gallery of NSW. He used confident brush stroke and realistic colour to paint the façade of the gallery with its huge columns and decoratively carved sandstone.  

Years 3 – 6 Artist of the Week

Nicholas Disher – Year 4

Nicholas was chosen for Artist of the Week for his lovely dual print of an Australian Butterfly. Last term, students were looking at Colonisation. In art we studied various Australian Fauna.

Well Done Nicholas.

‘New Enigma’ Launch

Last Friday, 10th October, several students from Wyvern attended the ‘New Enigma’ launch. This publication is compiled by a number of senior English students, and is made up of prose, poems and artworks selected by the editorial crew.

Daniel Maxwell, Je Min McFadden and William Richardson spoke about their work and process. Mrs Bourke and I were very proud of them as they spoke clearly in front of many students, teachers and parents from the Senior School.

Other artists featured in this publication were, Flynn Gannon ‘ Mask’,  Liam Spiropoulos ‘Sydney Sun’ and Samson Tuqiri ‘Dragon’.

Daniel Maxwell

Je Min McFadden

William Richardson

Flynn Gannon

Liam Spiropoulos

Samson Tuqiri

Meredith Buining
3-6 Art Teacher

Achievement Awards & House Points

House Points

A Message from Mr Holden

A very warm welcome back to Term 4. I very much look forward to a purposeful, energetic and productive last few week for the school year.

Towards the end of last term a number of students accomplished remarkable achievements in diverse activities. Our Tournament of Minds, Maths and Engineering Team won their regional competition and will be representing NSW at the National finals in Melbourne this weekend. In Athletics, three boys, Atticus Bertrams, Bili Roberton and Alec Peterson will represent the CIS at the State Carnival next week. Flynn Gannon and Toby Phillips performed exceptionally well in their Snowboard Cross event at the Australian National Championships assisting the Combined Newington team to a 6th place. Finally, Nicholas Lawton-Wade achieved a 2nd place in the National Little Bay Idea Competition sponsored by Origin. Further details about Nicholas’ ideas are included in this newsletter. Congratulations to all of these students for their wonderful efforts.

I would also like to mention and thank our Year 5/6 music students and staff who last term participated in a very successful South Coast tour where they performed with and a number of schools. Well done.

The end of the school day is a very busy time, and for safety and security reasons we do request for parents not to enter the school building (unless they have a specific appointment) but rather wait for their sons in the designated area (Playground A). Also, parents should not access the building via foot, through the carpark entry. Thank you for your co-operation with this matter.

Finally, I wish the Year 3 students and staff a very successful two day school camp at Narrabeen Sport and Recreation Centre. Such activities present wonderful learning opportunities beyond the classroom. The Year 3 students will return to school at 2.00pm on Friday afternoon.

Ian Holden
Head of Wyvern