Wyvern Music Showcase

Wyvern boys had an amazing journey last night at the Music Showcase as seen by the photos below:

Wyvern House Bell Shakespeare Biennial Festival

Wyvern House is delighted to announce the upcoming 2016 Wyvern Shakespeare Festival. A century ago, at the time of Shakespeare’s tercentenary, Newington boys raised money for a planned Shakespeare memorial that never eventuated: the anniversary of Shakespeare’s death coincided with the very first ANZAC Day commemorations. This year we join once again in the global celebrations for Shakespeare’s quatercentenary, in Week 9 (20-24 June) the students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be working with their classroom and specialist teachers along with – Bell Shakespeare’s ‘Artist in Residence’ program – to conduct in-depth studies of Shakespeare’s plays.

The creative powerhouse of the Bell Shakespeare Company has been inspiring new audiences for Shakespeare since 1990. A creative powerhouse committed to producing audacious and relevant plays for an Australian context, Bell Shakespeare has become one of Australia’s most influential cultural institutions.

This year, Wyvern is especially excited as members of the company will work intensively with our students, guiding them through the plot, characters, language, creative and critical thinking activities in some of Shakespeare’s best known plays. Years 5 & 6 are studying Macbeth, Years 3 & 4 are investigating A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Years 1 & 2 are looking at The Tempest while our Kindergarten classes will be introduced to Shakespeare through Twelfth Night.

Kindergarten – Twelfth Night
‘What country, friend, is this?’

Shipwrecked and abandoned on a foreign shore, our heroine Viola disguises herself as a boy and goes into service for the duke Orsino. Viola quickly develops feelings for the duke, but does not dare reveal her secret. Believing she is a boy, the duke sends the disguised Viola to woo the determinedly single Lady Olivia. In a comical turn of events, Olivia falls in love with Viola! As the plot twists and turns every character in this play is eventually forced to reveal their true nature. 

Year 1 and Year 2 – The Tempest
‘We are such stuff as dreams are made on’

On an enchanted island, the sorcerer Prospero lives with the spirits he has enslaved and his young daughter Miranda. As the play opens, Prospero conjures a huge tempest, washing ashore his usurping brother and other courtiers from Prospero’s past as the Duke of Milan. As Prospero uses his magic to taunt his enemies, Miranda encounters and rapidly falls in love with the young Ferdinand. Nothing can be resolved until Prospero gives the spirits their freedom, forgives his brother and agrees to destroy his books of magic.

Year 3 and Year 4 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
‘The course of true love never did run smooth’

On this strange midsummer night, the fairies make fools of mere mortals. Escaping an arranged marriage, four young people leave their court and enter the woods. There Oberon, the king of the fairies, orders his servant Puck to confuse them with a love potion. As the lovers run amok in the forest, a group of tradesmen rehearse a tragic play to unintentionally comic effect.

Year 5 and Year 6 – Macbeth
‘Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble’

The ‘Scottish play’. A victorious warrior chooses to heed the prophecies of a group of witches, betrays his king and descends into madness. In Shakespeare’s famously bloody meditation on the nature of reality, loyalty and predestination, nothing is as it seems.

Did you know?
Theatrical tradition has it that Shakespeare himself played the role of the king’s ghost in Hamlet. Be on the look out in Week 9, in case the ghost of Shakespeare appears in the halls of Wyvern.

If you have any interest in or experience with Shakespeare please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher with any suggestions or ideas to assist. The Wyvern Shakespeare festival is an opportunity to reflect on the impact that Shakespeare’s writing has had on the collective imagination, both within the English-speaking world and beyond, from the Globe theatre in Southwark to across the globe. Over four centuries the ways in which Shakespeare’s plays have been performed has changed constantly, as have the ways in which audiences and readers respond to the man who, as his contemporary Ben Jonson claimed, ‘was not for an age, but for all time’.

This event is sponsored and made possible Wyvern P & F.

Richard Baker
Deputy Head (Years 4-6) Wyvern House

Sausage Sizzle Day Flyer

Donut Day Flyer

National Simultaneous Storytime 2016

What an incredible year it was for National Simultaneous Storytime 2016. In Australia, there were over 500,000 participants, in over 3,000 registered locations. Our 134 Wyvern K-2 boys were counted among this number! It was the most successful year for NSS yet! Thank you to everyone who participated; the K-2 boys, K-2 teachers, Mrs Tall, Mrs Dalman and especially the Senior School boys and their teachers who came to Wyvern to be part of the celebrations. To read more about this exciting event, please click here.

Mrs Joanne Barnes
Teacher Librarian

Head Injuries

Dear Parents,

We would like to clarify Wyvern’s position on any bump to the head a boy sustains at school.

• Boys will be taken to the sick bay for observation
• Parents will be notified immediately
• Depending on severity an ambulance or medical attention may be required
• Boys will not be allowed to participate in sport without medical clearance.

We feel it is better to err on the side of caution. Thank you for your support in this matter.

Sandra Gray
Deputy Head of Wyvern (K-3)

Year 6 Canberra Excursion

This term the boys of Year 6 have engaged in an in depth study of Honour and Power. We have explored what it means to be honoured and have examined the various ways we memorialise the brave acts of our fallen Newington soldiers and the ANZACS in World War 1. As part of this study we have examined the path of Australia as a nation from Federation in 1901, the establishment of our government as we know it and have identified the ways in which the ANZAC story has influenced our Australian identity and our values such as fairness and mateship.

To conclude our study the boys of Year 6 and their teachers spent an amazing, action packed day in our nation’s capital, Canberra on Monday 30^th May. The day started very early with a 6:30am departure from Wyvern House. We managed to visit the Australian Electoral Commission, Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial which was undoubtedly the highlight of the day.

After a visit to the Newington Archives with Mr David Roberts a few weeks ago each of the boys was allocated the name of a Newington boy who died in World War 1. Each boy has carefully researched his soldier which will be presented in a museum style exhibit next week. One of the key moments for our visit to Canberra was when the boys had the chance to come face to face with their soldier’s name on the Roll of Honour. 

The names engraved on the walls used to mean nothing to me. I just thought well good for them, they served their life in a war. But now I have researched a solider, a Newington boy just like me and uncovered his story. I realised then that these names had a life, a family and in some cases a wife and their own family. Suddenly they meant something to me. They weren’t just names, they were people. People like me. They felt like family to me and I grew a respect and a sudden feeling that I will share this moment forever with all of those names. No matter how far away we are from each other. Lest we forget.
Nicholas Tucker, 6R

The boys represented the school and their families in Canberra with impeccable manners, outstanding behaviour and intelligent questioning. They made valuable links to their learning in class and drew upon all the texts we have studied in English this term to create a great bank of knowledge and understanding of this topic.

I’d like to thank the teachers who joined us on the tour, the parents who supported us with early morning / late night drop offs and the boys who engaged so enthusiastically with this learning opportunity. What an outstanding experience for all and one that we were fortunate to have subsidised by the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate.

Mrs Sara Ratner
Year 6 Team Leader

da Vinci Deathlon

On Thursday 26 May, 16 excited Year 5 and Year 6 students met early at school to board a coach and travel in peak hour traffic up the Pacific Highway to Knox Grammar School. We arrived in high spirits ready to participate in the annual da Vinci Decathlon.

The da Vinci Decathlon is a competition where teams of eight students from different schools compete against each other in academic challenges. Similar to a sports decathlon, this competition has ten events – but they involve problem solving, lateral thinking, maths, philosophy and the arts. More than 1,000 students from over 100 schools across NSW and the ACT attended the day.

We had an enormous amount of fun and true to Leonardo da Vinci’s quote ‘learning never exhausts the mind’ our energy never flagged as we worked in small teams on various tasks throughout the day. In the end, we were very proud to achieve first place in both Cartography and General Knowledge (Year 5 team), and Creative Producers (Year 6 team).

Everybody worked really well together as a team and we used nearly all of our BLP muscles through all the challenges with which we were presented. A very big thank you to Mr Baker and Miss Harding for helping to mark the papers and for enthusiastically motivating and supporting us throughout the day.

Congratulations to the Year 5 team:

• Vasili Filippatos- Year 5 Captain
• Toby Eastway
• Bodie Young
• Boyd Cornish
• Sebastian Parhash
• Jasper Walsh
• Nicholas Maratos
• Joshua Serone

Congratulations to the Year 6 team:

• Aiden Carter- Year 6 Captain
• Jack Earwaker
• Edson Whattam
• Luke Canter
• Joel Goh
• David Upcroft
• Will Douglas
• Jeremy Tran

Aiden Carter 6L

Year 3 Building Project

During the beginning of this term, Year 3 have been looking at a range of cities and settlements within Australia. We have discussed and researched many towns, familiar and unfamiliar to us, and compared them to each other. Rural and urban, beachside and countryside, cities and farmlands were all investigated. The areas that the classes have been looking at and recreating on a small scale were Bathurst, Bondi Beach, Stanmore, Zetland, Gloucester, Gerroa, Mudgee and Manilla (NSW).

In small groups we produced a small area of a given settlement and made a 3D settlement from our 2D map. Each group decided upon a specific process to lead them to success. The process included important and useful skills such as collaboration, planning, cartography and mapping, learning about recycling/reusing, 3D awareness, 2D awareness, adapting to different ratios and scales, using technology and creativity, among many other skills. A huge thank you to the families who contributed to our building project by keeping aside and bringing in reusable and recyclable objects.

This building project has equipped us to further understand how and why places change over time. What are the catalysts for change? Can we predict what might happen to cities or settlements in the future? How might this be helpful for societies and governments? The project also exposed us to a range of geographical tools and language.

More importantly, we had a great time learning with our classmates.

Hugh Scott
Year 3 Teacher & Team Leader

Combined Prep Schools’ Music Weekend

Over 200 boys from both Lindfield and Wyvern Prep Schools recently gave up their weekend to immerse themselves in Music making at the Senior School. On Saturday afternoon members of the choirs from the respective campuses joined their voices together to prepare 2 items for the Senior School Founders’ Concert in Term 3. They enthusiastically ‘grooved’ their way through ‘Hot Chocolate’ and then soared through the flowing melodies of ‘Sailing Home’ a piece written about Jessica Watson’s famous solo sail around the world at the age of 16.

On Sunday it was on to the instrumental groups with the string, brass, woodwind and percussion boys spending the day preparing items for this week’s showcase. It was an enormous weekend for all involved and I would like to thank the boys for their enthusiastic participation and the staff for their dedication and professionalism in ensuring that it was a productive and enjoyable weekend for all of our musicians.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the parent volunteers, especially Nicole Newson the co-ordinator of the catering, who gave up their time to make sure that the boys were adequately fed. This weekend would not be possible without the support of such volunteers so thank you again.

Rowena Tall
Acting Head of Prep School Music, Wvyern

Term Dates 2017

TERM ONE

Monday 30 January to Friday 7 April
Classes commence – Monday 30 January
Classes conclude –  Friday 7 April
10 Week Term followed by a 2 week break

TERM TWO

Wednesday 26 April to Friday 23 June
Classes commence – Wednesday 26 April
SPD Day – No Students – Friday 9 June
Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday – Monday 12 June
Classes conclude – Friday 23 June
9 week term followed by a 3 week break

TERM THREE

Monday 17 July to Friday 22 September
Classes commence – Monday 17 July
SPD Day – No Students – Monday 14 August
Classes conclude – Friday 22 September
10 week term followed by a 2 week break

TERM FOUR

Monday 9 October to Thursday 7 December
Classes commence – Monday 9 October 
Prize Giving – Years 3-6  – Thursday 7 December

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

Oshclub – Wyvern’s Before & After School Care 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 on 0428 131 700. OSHClub’s head office number is (03) 8564 9000 Click here for the OSHClub Information Flyer.

Kind regards

OSHClub Team

Flyers in Bookstand

Martial Arts

• Kung Fu Action at Wyvern

Clubs and Extra Curricular Activities at Wyvern – Term 2

• Clubs and Extra Curricular (Before and After School) Activities at Wyvern

Speech Pathology

• Gladesville Speech Pathology & Learning Centre

Hopalong

• Occupational Therapy for Children

Uniform Shop

CURRENT STYLE TRACKSUITS ARE NOW PRICED TO CLEAR!

$10 for the crested jacket (previously $75)

$10 for the plain black pants (previously $50)

 On Sale until Sold Out – so first in first served

 New style tracksuit is also available. The new style will be compulsory from 2017 and is the same style as the high school.

Tops $75       Bottoms $50

 As a size guide – Adam is wearing a size 8 in both styles

 (With sports polo and shorts underneath)

Wyvern Uniform Roster Term 2 Weeks 7 and 8 Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Order Form, Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Winter Price List 2016, Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Summer Price List 2016, Click here

Kind regards

Nicole Williams
Uniform Shop Convenor

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 2 Weeks 7 and 8, Click here

Everyday Menu and Price List, Click here 

Online Ordering Instructions, Click here

Online Ordering FAQs, Click here

Wyvern Office

Sport

Winter Sports Draw – Term 2 Round 6, Click here

Sports Newsletter, Click here

Sports Results and Match Reports, Click here

Sporting Venue Addresses, Click here

2016 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

Faith Matters

Conviction

Howard Hendricks says, “A belief is something you’ll argue about. But a conviction is something you’ll die for.” Knowing what to do (knowledge), when to do it (wisdom), and how to do it (ability), is worthless without the conviction to actually do it (obedience). People without conviction follow the crowd, which is why Paul wrote, “Don’t let the world…squeeze you into its…mould.” If we don’t take a stand for something, we’ll fall for everything! Ironically, a lot of us have strong convictions about weak issues such as rugby, fashion, etc., while having weak convictions about major issues such as what’s right and what’s wrong before God. Conviction helps us grow spiritually, but growth requires time and effort. Without a deep conviction of our need to grow spiritually, we become discouraged and give up. Don’t give up on God … He hasn’t given up on you!

Peter Morphew
Chaplain

Clubs & Extra Curricular at Wyvern – Term 2

Dear Parents

Please find attached Term 2 Club and Extra Curricular Activities at Wyvern below.

Term 2 Clubs and Extra-Curricular Activities at Wyvern

Please refer to Spaces for more information regarding the Clubs and Activities.

Regards

Wyvern Office

Artists of the Week

K – 2 Artist of the Week – Week 6

Lennox Kozak KB and Arun Thanigasalam KS

In Visual Arts, Lennox and Arun have been exploring self-portraiture and have created amazing mixed media self-portraits. Both boys demonstrated incredible craftsmanship as they explored a variety of painting and drawing techniques. Wonderful work, boys!

Lennox Kozak KB

Arun Thanigasalam KS

Heather Brodie
K-2 Visual Arts Teacher

Achievement Awards and House Points

House Points

A Message from Mr Holden

I am sure that those of us who were lucky enough to be part of the audience at last night’s music showcase for students from Year 3 -6 were enthralled with the wonderful talent on display. From beginner groups through to elite ensembles and massed choirs, it is very clear that Wyvern boys really enjoy their music making, hence there is no surprise when such a high standard of performance is achieved. Many congratulations to Wyvern students and the music team led so well by our Acting Head of Music, Mrs Rowena Tall, for a memorable concert.

Last week sixteen Year 5 and Year 6 students from Wyvern attended the 2016 da Vinci Decathlon at Knox Grammar competing against over 1,000 other primary school students from across NSW and the ACT. The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: engineering, mathematics and chess, code breaking, art and poetry, science, English, philosophy, creative producers, cartography and general knowledge. Our Year 6 team placed first in Creative Producers while our Year 5 team had a First Place in General Knowledge and First Place in Cartography.  Many congratulations to the hard work of our boys and Mr Baker (team manager) for these exceptional results.

Year 6 students James McGregor, Bililign Robertson and James Andrews formed an integral part of the Combined Independent Schools AFL team that competed at Nelson Bay last week. The CIS team were crowned NSWPSSA Champions for the first time in 37 year history of the competition. In another football code, Oliver Townsend has been selected to play in the Combined Independent Schools rugby team. Oliver will take part in the NSWPSSA Championships later this year held at Mudgee in August. These are very significant sporting achievements and we whole-heartedly congratulate all 4 boys.

A reminder that Friday 10 June is a pupil free day followed by the Public Holiday on Monday 13 June. I do hope that you are able to catch your breath over this long weekend after what has been a very busy few weeks at Wyvern.

Ian Holden
Head of Wyvern