Health Alert – Whooping Cough

Dear Parents,

There is an outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) in NSW, mainly affecting school-aged children.

Coughing spreads the infection to others nearby. Whooping cough can spread to anyone at home, including younger brothers and sisters. Whooping cough can be especially dangerous for babies.

Whooping cough starts like a cold and progresses to bouts of coughing that can last for many weeks. The infection can occur even in fully-vaccinated children. Older children may just have a cough that is persistent and may be worse at night.

• Children with these symptoms should see a doctor.
• If your doctor diagnoses whooping cough in your school-aged child, please let the school know and keep your child at home until they have taken 5 days of antibiotics. Keep coughing children away from babies.
• Whooping cough vaccines give good protection against infection but immunity fades with time. Check that all your children are up to date with their vaccines, due at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, 4 years and 12 years of age (offered to all Year 7 students through the NSW school-based vaccination program). A booster is also recommended at 18 months of age.

A booster dose of vaccine is also recommended for adults that are in contact with young children, such as school staff and parents. Pregnant women are recommended to have a booster dose during each pregnancy and this is funded by NSW Health. Those who are new parents or carers of babies should consult their general practitioner about appropriate immunisation.

Your local public health unit can provide advice about whooping cough on 1300 066 055 or visit the NSW Health website http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/whoopingcough/Pages/Information-for-childcare-and-schools.aspx

Wyvern Office

Artists of the Week

K – 2 Artists of the Week

This week’s Artists of the Week are Aidan Ho-Shon (1W), Zack Kristallis (1W), Alex Nicholias (KL) and Charlie Kirakau (1W). Aidan demonstrated his understanding of aerial view perspective in the completion of a puzzle. He cleverly used drawn symbols to represent landmarks such as trees and buildings. Zack also investigated aerial view perspective, this time using a cut/paste collage technique to make a picture of a River Market. Zack deserves special commendation for completing this detailed work within the lesson time frame. Alex explored the idea of self-portraiture by colouring to add shadows to a black and white photo of himself then tracing the shape of his face in soft pencil. Charlie carefully examined the colours and shapes in the painting by Henri Matisse titled ‘The Goldfish’ and painted his own version using water colour paint.

Debbie Bourke
K-2 Art Teacher

3 – 6 Artists of the Week

This week ‘Artist of the Week’ is brought to you by Year 5 – Sydney Suns by John Olsen. Students observed the painting ‘Sydney Sun’, and completed a ‘step inside’ thinking routine. They put themselves in the picture and were able to deduct from the images what John Olsen was really painting about.

The boys were asked to draw their version of the ‘Sydney Sun’ using images about their own journey and what they see and feel in the summer holidays. They completed this work with an assortment of different materials, poster paint, spray water colours and crushed up chalk pastels.

Congratulations to Stirling Smith, James Hewish and Edward Neale for their beautiful and interesting artworks.

Also from Year 5 ‘Ceramic Rockets’. The boys worked hard with clay slabs and joining techniques to enhance their learning about Space. They observed different rocket technology in the 1960s, and made whimsical and colourful cartoon rockets.

Congratulations to Michael Malafouris, Will Douglas and Dylan Sleet for these amazing sculptures.

Year 6 were lucky enough to have a live model come and pose for them last week. Mr Lillicot is a professional artist model and posed as a Roman Warrior to complete the unit on ‘Strength’ and ‘Warriors’.

Boys completed 4 or 5 sketches using different materials and techniques. Some of these are displayed next to the sports notice board. Well done Year 6.

Meredith Buining
3-6 Art Teacher

Year 4 Excursion to Hyde Park Barracks

Boys in Year 4 have been exploring colonisation and the events that occurred once the First Fleet arrived in Sydney Cove. Along with their studies boys have researched a convict and have been writing letters in roll back to loved ones. Boys have even written to Captain Arthur Phillip himself asking for leave.

In order for boys to experience life in the early colony, an excursion was arranged to visit The Hyde Park Barracks on Monday 19th October 2015. During this excursion boys learnt first-hand about the lives of convict prisoners who lived at the Hyde Park Barracks between 1819 and 1848. Our boys learnt about the daily rigours, routines, misdemeanours and punishments of the convicts. Experienced staff helped students explore the barracks as a site of archaeology. As they investigated rats’ nests beneath the floorboards, students learnt about the unusual role of rats in conserving the building’s history.

Boys put on convict shirts, and as new arrivals to the barracks, met Jim the assistant overseer. Jim taught them how to sleep in a hammock and the importance of following the many rules of the barracks. Under the expert tuition and the watchful eye of Jim and the Overseer, students got their hands dirty making bricks and discovered how to lay them to make a sturdy wall.    

Below is a link to a Google Story Phil Stanton put together for Class 4P.

https://goo.gl/photos/gNNg3fw3ZwMWAzBx8

SRC Cupcake Fundraiser Day

K – 2 BLP Day

The Great Garden Party

The 2015 School Fees Raffle

Term Dates 2016

TERM ONE

Thursday 28 January to Friday 8 April
Classes commence Thursday 28 January
SPD Day – No Students – Thursday 24 March 
Good Friday Public Holiday – 25 March
Easter Monday Public Holiday – 28 March
11 week term followed by a 2 week break

TERM TWO

Tuesday 26 April to Friday 24 June
Classes commence Tuesday 26 April
Anzac Day Public Holiday – Monday 25 April
SPD Day – No Students – Friday 10 June
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 Wednesday 7 December
Classes commence Monday 10 October
Years 3 – 6 Prize Giving – Wednesday 7 December

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 – No Students – Friday 5 June
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 – No Students – 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
Kindergarten Presentation Ceremony – Monday 30 November
Year 1 Presentation Ceremony – Tuesday 1 December
Year 2 Presentation Ceremony – Wednesday 2 December
Annual Prize Giving 3-6 – Tuesday 8 December

Oshclub – Wyvern’s Before & After School are Provider

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, Natalya, on 0428 131 700. OSHClub’s head office number is (03) 8564 9000 Click here for the OSHClub Information Flyer.

Newsletter – Term 4 Week 3, click here

Oshclub Program 1

Oshclub Program 2

Kind regards
OSHClub Team

Flyers in Bookstand

Martial Arts

• Kung Fu Action at Wyvern

Clubs and Co-curricular Activities at Wyvern – Term 4

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

Speech Pathology

• Gladesville Speech Pathology & Learning Centre

Hopalong

• Occupational Therapy for Children

Uniform Shop

Wyvern Uniform Roster Term 4 Weeks 4 & 5 Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Order Form, Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Summer Price List 2015, Click here

Tuckshop Menu, Roster & Online Orders

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 4 & 5, Click here

Everyday Menu and Price List, Click here 

Online Ordering Instructions, Click here

Online Ordering FAQs, Click here

Sport

Wyvern Sport Draw Term 4 – Round 10, Click here

Sports Newsletter Term 4, Week 3, Click here

Sports Results and Match Reports, Click here

Sporting Venue Addresses, Click here

2015 Sports Handbook, Click here

Next Two Weeks

Have you Forgotten to Place a Lunch Order?

Dear Parents,

When ordering your son’s recess/lunch orders online please ensure that you do this before the cut-off time of 8.45am each day to ensure that your son gets his lunch order. If you order after the cut-off time of 8.45am his order will not be processed.

Please note that no late orders will be accepted by the Tuckshop and no money will be loaned out. There are no exceptions.

In the event that your son does not have any lunch or recess with him he will be given a sandwich/es of either vegemite, jam or cheese. These sandwiches are free of charge.

Thank you for your consideration and attention to this matter.

Kind regards

Wyvern Office

Framed Artwork Purchases

Families are invited to purchase their son’s currently framed artworks.  All proceeds directly fund the purchase of new frames for future exhibition of boys’ work at Wyvern.

Click here to purchase your son’s framed artwork.

Faith Matters

What will your masterpiece look like?

Art and Soul reminded me of this story …

Leonardo da Vinci had started work on a large canvas in his studio. For a while he worked at it – choosing the subject, planning perspective, sketching the outline, applying the colours, with his own inimitable genius. Then suddenly he ceased, the painting still unfinished, and, summoning one of his students, invited him to complete the work. The student protested that he was both unworthy and unable to complete the great painting which his master had begun. But da Vinci silenced him. “Will not what I have done inspire you to do your best?”

Our Master began two thousand years ago – by what he said, by what he did, what he suffered and supremely by the way he loved. He illustrated his message and left us to finish the picture on the canvas of our days.

Peter Morphew
Chaplain

Clubs & Co-curricular at Wyvern – Term 4

Click here for the Clubs and Co-curricular at Wyvern 2015 – Term 4.

Achievement Awards & House Points

House Points

A Message from Mr Holden

Our final term of the year continues to gather pace with students, teachers and parents being fully involved in many activities.

CLASSES FOR 2016

Last week we held orientation days for new students joining Wyvern in 2016. Many of the ‘new boys’ had the opportunity to spend some time with students from their equivalent Wyvern year group providing the chance for some early friendships to emerge. Currently we are in the final stages of formulating 2016 classes. This is a detailed and rigorous process.  I will write to parents in due course to inform you of the 2016 teaching arrangements for your son. On Thursday 3 December we will be holding our ‘One Up’ morning where all of our students, plus the new student intake, will meet their class teacher and class mates for 2016. Please note that the deadline for parental input into the class allocation process has long passed (end of Term 3) and as such I have to inform you that further requests from parents at this late stage cannot be considered.

STUDENT LEADERS 2016

At this time of the term we also consider which of our current Year 5 students have the potential to undertake a number of specific student leadership positions next year. Again we give this much thought and provide opportunities for every staff member and student (Year 3- 6) to have input into the process. We use the following criteria to help us to form our judgements.

1. Care for others
   How the student has demonstrated a service ethic and a capacity to think of others: e.g. selfless behaviour, assistance provided to others, capacity to work as part of a team; in other words evidence of ‘servant leadership’.
2. Capacity as a role model
   How the student conducts himself on a day to day basis in relation to our values, standards and behavioural expectations.
3. Presentation skills
   The ability of the student to speak confidently and persuasively to different audiences: e.g. large and small groups of peers and adults, in both formal and informal settings and within prepared and impromptu speaking situations.

Students also have an opportunity to nominate themselves for a leadership position. Students who do so will be required to give an impromptu speech to other students from their ‘House’ on a topic provided by their teacher: Note, we intentionally do not disclose either the topic or the date of the speech.

It is important to stress that I do consider all Year 6 students to be our school leaders and role models for the rest of the school and as such I have extremely high expectations about their conduct and behaviour. A leadership training day for the whole Year 6 cohort is planned in early Term 1, 2016.

Finally, well done to our Year 5 and Year 6 debating teams who competed with great success in a Gala debating day last week. This area of the school continues to go from strength to strength.  I thank the parents, Mr Baker and Ms Dillon for their tremendous support of our debating students.

Ian Holden
Head of Wyvern House