Libby Gleeson

Libby Gleeson is one of Australia’s most respected and awarded children’s book authors. She has written more than 30 books for children and teenagers from picture books like Amy and Louis to Young Adult novels like Mahtab’s Story. Libby is a great advocate for children’s authors and Australian children’s literature and as such received the Order of Australia (AM) in 2007 for her services to literature and literacy learning. She has been shortlisted for, or has won, every major literary award in Australia for children’s literature including the 2013 Australian Prime Minister’s award for her novel ‘Red’.

Libby’s talk to parents will focus on ‘The Power of Words and Pictures’. Libby is an extremely engaging speaker and I urge you not to miss this wonderful opportunity to hear her ideas on the importance of literature, language and visual literacy. She will speak for 30 minutes with a 15 minute ‘Question & Answer segment’ to follow.

This is an RSVP Event. Please email Mrs Barnes jbarnes@newington.nsw.edu.au to register your intention to attend.

Joanne Barnes
Librarian – Wyvern House

Year 2 Playground Building

Throughout last term, the boys in Year 2 worked hard to design and build models to create their own playground equipment. In our planning and designing phases, we had some valuable assistance from Mr Murray Stewart – a qualified and practising architect. The boys learned a lot from his knowledge, ability and skills.

On the last day of term, all of Year 2 collaborated in small groups to build a piece of playground equipment. This was the final stage in our Science unit. Everyone involved had a great time seeing all their hard work come to fruition. We had some much needed support from a large number of parents. The boys and teachers could not have done it without them.

The students found great significance in the process of learning during the whole unit and enjoyed seeing their ideas come to life on the final day.

Hugh Scott
Year 2 Teacher

2015 Football Season Launch

2015 Rugby Season Launch

ANZAC 2015

Recently I visited the Australian War Memorial with the Lindfield Year 5 and 6 boys. As we were looking through, I was talking about how my grandfather fought at Gallipoli, 100 years ago. One of the boys asked … “Did we win?”

Nobody really wins in wars. It’s more about who loses less. Nobody wins because on all sides good people die, innocent people die, civilians die, and families and individuals are damaged forever. Does anyone win? Not really. Some people survive but their hearts and minds are scarred for the rest of their lives. Did we win? 60,000 Australian soldiers lost their lives in WW1 including 111 Newington Old Boys and 2 teachers.

Perhaps a better question is what did we learn?
At first glance not much. WWI was called the war to end all wars but 20 years later WW2 commences and even though the Australian casualties are less in number there were 6 million Jews killed. Civilians not soldiers. 6 million people the entire population of NSW killed. Since that time there have been wars in over 50 countries.

What did we learn?
Turkish Australian Friendship Wall in Auburn shows that it is possible with time, effort, forgiveness and goodwill for former enemies to come together in peace.

The Bible says that God’s desire is that our weapons of war be transformed into farming equipment and that there will be no more wars.

I guess the most important question we can ask is … what can WE do?
We can start by choosing wisely each day and helping each other to choose to do good each day. We can choose … talking over fighting. We can choose … forgiveness over revenge. We can choose … kindness over hurting.

We can choose to bring the things of heaven to earth, to Wyvern. Simplistic? Perhaps but these small choices produce peacemakers, which is what we all want our boys to be.

Peter Morphew
Chaplain

Reginald Stamp – Peter Morphew’s Grandfather who fought at Gallipoli

Term Dates 2016

TERM DATES 2016

TERM ONE

Thursday 28 January to Friday 8 April
Classes commence Thursday 28 January
11 week term followed by a 2 week break
SPD Day – Thursday 24 March
Good Friday Public Holiday – 25 March
Easter Monday Public Holiday – 28 March

TERM TWO

Tuesday 26 April to Friday 24 June
Classes commence Tuesday 26 April
Anzac Day Public Holiday – Monday 25 April
SPD Day – Friday 10 June – No students
Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday – Monday 13 June
9 week term followed by a 3 week break

TERM THREE

Monday 18 July to Friday 23 September
Classes commence Monday 18 July
10 week term followed by a 2 week break

TERM FOUR

Monday 10 October to Thursday 8 December
Classes commence Monday 10 October
Annual Prize Giving 3-6 – Thursday 8 December

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 5 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
Classes commence 14 July
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
Classes commence Monday 12 October
Annual Prize Giving 3-6 – Tuesday 8 December

OSHCLUB – Wyvern’s Before and 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.

OSHClub Newsletter Term 2 – Week 1, click here

Oshclub Program 1

Oshclub Program 2

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 Kylie Ann Mayer at kylieann@mayhemcorp.com.au

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

Martial Arts

• Kung Fu Action at Wyvern

Clubs and Co-curricular Activities at Wyvern

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

Uniform Shop

Wyvern Uniform Roster Term 2 Weeks 2 and 3 Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Order Form, Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Winter Price List 2015, Click here

Tuckshop Menu, Roster and 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 2 Weeks 2 and 3, Click here

Everyday Menu and Price List, Click here  

Online Ordering Instructions, Click here

Online Ordering FAQs, Click here

Traffic Update

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Please be aware that Marrickville Council does enforce traffic regulations in relation to school zones.  Please be considerate of our neighbours at all times when entering and leaving the school premises.

Term 2 Calendar

For the Term 2 Calendar 2015, 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 Sport Newsletter Term 2 – Week 1, Click here

Sporting Venue Addresses, Click here

2015 Sports Handbook, Click here

Next Two Weeks

Literature Festival

The 2015 Newington Literature Festival is less than two weeks away. Detailed information can be found on the Library page in SPACES. Please click here.

Below is a summary of the key events and their dates.

For your convenience, pre-order forms for the books of the visiting authors are below. Please return the forms to the Library. Books bought through the pre-order process will be signed by the author on the day of their visit.

Literature Festival 2015 Pre-Order Form K-2

Literature Festival 2015 Pre-Order Form Years 3 & 4

Literature Festival 2015 Pre-Order Form Years 5 & 6

If you have any questions about the Literature Festival, please email Mrs Barnes jbarnes@newington.nsw.edu.au.

For information about the 2015 Newington College Literature Festival events happening at Wyvern, please click here.

Joanne Barnes
Teacher Librarian

Clubs and Co-curricular At Wyvern 2015

Dear Parents,

Click here for the Clubs and Co-curricular at Wyvern 2015 – Term 2.

A Message from Mr Holden

Welcome back to what has been a wet and blustery start to Term 2. That said, students have coped remarkably well with being ‘house bound’ for the best part of the week and I have been very pleased with the calm and purposeful time in all class rooms.

We have an exciting term of learning ahead of us with a number of major events for the boys to look forward to. The biannual Literacy Festival takes place from 6th – 8th May. Mrs Barnes, our Librarian, has arranged a wonderful array of visiting authors and activities to truly inspire the boys. We are especially looking forward to the Mother’s Day breakfast and Book Character Parade on Friday 8th May.

Later in the term we will enjoy music showcases that will involve every boy in the school. The dates are 3rd June at 7.00pm for students in Years 3-6 and 19th June at 8.45am for students in K-2.

In Week 4 of the term students from Years 3 and 5 will participate in the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). School attendance during this week is especially important. Our approach to NAPLAN is to ensure boys are calm, relaxed and stress free when they take these tests. We follow strict guidelines in our preparation and do not ‘teach to the tests’. Our past experience shows us that boys will do their very best in these conditions.

Finally, with the very special ANZAC day approaching students have spent much time this week, in class and in Chapel, reflecting on this most important event. Encouragingly, our students have demonstrated deep respect for the sacrifice made by our servicemen and service women in WWI and other conflicts. The Wyvern Choir and the Year 6 cohort will participate in the ANZAC Day commemorations at the Senior Campus on Wednesday 29th  April.

Ian Holden
Head of Wyvern House