ICAS Writing and Spelling Results

ICAS WRITING RESULTS

ICAS SPELLING RESULTS

AFL Paul Kelly Cup – NSW State Finals Report

Having progressed through the Regional finals and the Greater Sydney finals undefeated, there was a great deal of excitement and optimism about our Newington boys’ chances at the state finals.

Playing at the home of the Sydney Swans on a picture perfect day was a rare opportunity that these boys would be able to treasure forever and the way they played did justice to such an occasion. Eight teams travelled from all over the state to compete for the title of Champion School in NSW. Newington were positioned in a pool of 4 teams from the Sydney Swans Academy catchment area and the other 4 teams were in a pool consisting of schools located in the GWS Giants academy catchment area.

Newington commenced their campaign with strong wins in their pool matches against St Therese CPS, Yamba PS and Dudley PS. This meant they finished on top in their pool and claimed the title of NSW’s best AFL school in the Swans catchment area across the state. Stirling Smith provided a strong target up forward while Harry Earwaker, James McGregor and Nick Tucker were clever around goals proving a headache for the opposition defence. In the midfield Reuben Palmer and Louis Bertram’s tap work in the ruck gave our smaller midfielders first chance to drive the ball into our forward line. Bililign Robertson, James Andrews and Oliver Townsend worked tirelessly around the ground. Our unsung heroes in defence repelled opposition attacks time and again by playing in front and getting to the ball first. William King, Jack Earwaker and Will Douglas proved adept at reading the play to fill this role perfectly. Owen Douglas, Ali Saab and Liam Carriline played with great courage and regularly won the ball for Newington when it was in dispute.

Prior to this year’s State Finals, teams from the Riverina and Wagga area had dominated the Paul Kelly Cup. Newington have been one of the few Sydney based schools to match and compete with these schools. In the semi-final Newington were matched up against Trinity Anglican from Albury. Experienced observers around the ground identified the winner of this match to be the likely State Champions. This proved to be the case. Newington started well scoring the first goal for the match.

Trinity then replied with a brace of goals to set up a match winning lead before Newington stemmed the flow and started chipping away at the lead. Late in the last quarter Newington had an opportunity to kick within 1 point of the lead. Unfortunately the kick didn’t hit its target and the subsequent rebound resulted in a goal to Trinity. In this modified form of the game, quarters are shorter than normal and Newington ran out of time to regain the lead. As anticipated, Trinity progressed to win the Grand Final comfortably.

While disappointed not to progress to the Grand Final, our boys did themselves proud. For this group of young men from a variety of sporting backgrounds, it was a memorable occasion and a tremendous learning experience.

Neil Brunton
Sportsmaster – Wyvern House

K – 2 Athletics Carnival Photos

Last Week K-2 had their Athletics Carnival at the senior school campus. Below are photos of the boys clearly enjoying themselves on the day.

Music, Co-Curricular and Winter Sport Team Photos – Monday 22nd August

Dear Parents,

Advanced Life Photographers will photograph all students in Music, Co-Curricular and Winter Sport Teams on Monday 22^nd August.  Please ensure that your son has his winter school uniform for the music and co-curricular photos and that he also has his winter sport uniform for the sport photos.  Please note that instruments are also required for the music photos.  Boys should wear their sport shoes for the sport photos, rugby/soccer boots are not required for the photos.

Wyvern Office

Faith Matters

Listen up!

Jim Carrey got himself in all sorts of trouble in the movie “Liar, Liar” when he had to speak truth. I suspect in real life if we all treasured integrity as much as we do other things, our world would be a much better place. Nowadays we question the promises of politicians, business can no longer be conducted on a handshake, and some parents have good reason to doubt their children.

In some cases the problem is those people who have little or no regard for the truth. However, more often than not many of our relational problems stem from poor communications. You would expect with the vast array of communication technologies at our disposal good communication would be on the rise but I fear this is not the case.

Undoubtedly, many people can put words together well to express a point of view, to debate, to argue or merely to respond. We are good with putting words into circulation. The question is, “are we equally as good at the other side of communication?’’ Are we expert listeners, as well as being expert wordsmiths? A lot of time and effort is put into teaching us to speak but I doubt that our society has spend an equal amount of energy and dollars on teaching us to listen.

One great piece of advice from the Bible that is, “Be quick to listen and slow to speak.” The old adage is true; God gave us two ears but only one mouth for a very good reason. If you are striving to be a good communicator then you’ll be striving to be a good listener.

Peter Morphew
Chaplain

Year 1 Excursion to Vaucluse House

On Thursday 11^th August Year 1 visited Vaucluse House – Sydney Living Museums. Students learnt about what it was like to live at Vaucluse House for the wealthy family of William Charles and Sarah Wentworth, with their ten children and many servants. The students explored the ways of life for different household members at Vaucluse House and made comparisons with their own lives today.

The tour of Vaucluse House began in the service wing, visiting the former well, dairy, scullery and kitchen, where students discovered how the Wentworths’ 40 servants ran the household without the help of plumbing, power or electrical appliances. An exploration of the kitchen prompted discussions of unfamiliar technologies and students also explored the front of the house, including the beautiful drawing room, where the privileged Wentworths’ led comfortable lives and entertained in style. Upstairs students saw the bedrooms and found out what children wore in the 19th century.

There was also a teacher-led component of the program that included a walk to the vegetable garden, an exploration of the stables and the boys had the opportunity to play some of the games enjoyed by children in the 19th century – croquet, skittles, cup and ball, quoits and hoops.

We had a great day out!

Year 2 Excursion to Rouse Hill

As part of our History Unit, Preserving the Past, Year 2 went to Sydney Living Museum at Rouse Hill. The boys loved dressing up and attending school in 1899. We were all a little bit scared of the cane! Luckily, all the boys and ‘girls’ were well behaved. Then we danced around the maypole and did some exercises with some dumbbells. We all learnt some interesting facts about silk worms and learnt a new skill called ‘sewing’. We enjoyed walking around the farm and being shown what children would have done before and after school on a farm. The children in 1899 must have been exhausted! Just like Mr Martin and Miss Wiseman were, when we got back to school.

Book Week 2016 at Wyvern

Book Week –  Monday 22nd August till Friday 25th August

What’s Happening?

Friday 19th August at 9:30am in Wyvern Hall – Years 3 & 4

Martin Chatterton – Author & Illustrator

UK-born Martin Ed Chatterton has been illustrating and writing successfully for thirty years. His book, The Brain Finds A Leg was shortlisted for the 2008 NSW Premier’s Award. He has illustrated books by some of the leading names in children’s literature including Anthony Horowitz, Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen and Geoffrey McSkimming.

Martin’s most recent book, Middle School: Rafe’s Aussie Adventure was a collaboration as co-writer (and illustrator) with the world’s best-selling author, James Patterson. Martin’s best-selling time-travel/history comedy series is Mort.

Time flies when you’re having fun . . .

Even if you’re Mortimer DeVere, the 10,000-year-old-boy. When unwelcome visitors arrive on spooky Unk Island, Mort and his sister Agnetha are plunged headlong into a dangerous race against time, tigers and the terrifying Trish. And, as their strange, secret collection of historical creatures begins to turn against them, the DeVere children discover that today may soon become the weirdest and wildest 24 hours of their very long lives!

Monday 22nd August at 1:45pm in Wyvern Library – Kindy to Year 2

A Bunyip has taken over the billabong and all the locals in town, along with young Tilly (despite her best efforts), are unable to get rid of it.  When a stranger comes to town hopes are high that he might be able to help, but Andy the Swagman finds the bunyip too much even for his larrikin skills to contend with.  However, just as things seem hopeless, Andy and Tilly find that together they might just have the answer to defeating the Bunyip by digging deep into one of the country’s greatest resources – its books! 

Here, they soon discover the means to confront the bothersome creature and re-establish peace and happiness in the town.  But the Bunyip isn’t giving up without a fight…

Fair Dinkum is a modern day fable that references classic Australian storytelling to create a brand new musical filled with adventure, audience participation and of course the best in contemporary Australian children’s books.

Tuesday 23rd August at 7:30am – Wyvern Library – Book Fair Launch

You are invited to come and browse the selection of books on offer at our Book Week Book Fair. Gleebooks will have representatives available should you wish to make a purchase.

The Book Fair will be open each day from Tuesday until Thursday the following times:

Wednesday 24th August at 9:30am in Wyvern Hall – Years 5 & 6

Luka Lesson – Slam Poet/Educator/Hip Hop Artist   

Luka Haralampou, aka Luka Lesson, is a spoken word poet and Hip-Hop artist of Greek heritage from Australia. With four years of international touring, 13 Writer’s Festivals, 9 years of workshop experience and almost ten years of writing, Luka has written commissions and performed for the likes of The National Gallery of Victoria, One Blood Music Festival (South Africa) and China’s most celebrated living poet Xi Chuan in Beijing. He is the Australian Poetry Slam champion of 2011.

Luka’s latest work, Odyssey Live was a project which turned a text of ancient poetry into a show of rap verses, spoken word, orchestral and electronic music and accompanying visuals. This project was a collaboration  between Luka, video artist Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore, music producer Jordan Thomas Mitchell (USA) and Sydney Conservatorium of Music composer James Humberstone.

Thursday 25th August at 4:00pm in Wyvern Library – Book Fair Closes

Book Parade Information

For families who are new to Wyvern, we do not have a Book Parade during Book Week. We have our very special Book Parade every second year in conjuction with our Literature Festival which will run next year from Tuesday May 2nd until Thursday May 4th 2017. More details about this wonderful literary event will follow in due course. Please save the date!

Joanne Barnes
Teacher Librarian

Growing Appetites

Dear Parents,

We have had an influx of students coming to the office asking for sandwich vouchers as they have already eaten all their food but are still hungry. It could be that your son is experiencing a growth spurt and needs extra fuel to get him through the day. Whilst the purpose of the sandwich voucher is purely in an emergency when your son doesn’t have any lunch (whether it was left at home or their lunch order from the Tuckshop didn’t get processed in time), we would never turn a student away if they are still hungry.

Can we please ask that you make sure that your son has extra food packed in his lunch box in the event that it is needed.

Your attention to this is greatly appreciated.

Wyvern Office 

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 and Afterschool 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 3

• 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

Wyvern Uniform Roster Term 3 Weeks 6 and 7, 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

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 Term 3 Weeks 6 and 7 Click here

Everyday Menu and Price List, Click here 

Online Ordering Instructions, Click here

Online Ordering FAQs, Click here

Wyvern Office

Sport

Sports Newsletter, Click here

Sporting Venue Addresses, Click here

2016 Sports Handbook, Click here

Next Two Weeks

Clubs & Extra Curricular at Wyvern – Term 3

Dear Parents

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

Term 3 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 Artists of the Week

Kindegarten

Kindergarten investigated the artist Donatello and found out about his very famous sculpture of the Marzocco Lion – the symbol of Florence representing strength, power, fearlessness and bravery. They drew and painted their own lion to connect with their learning. Amazing work boys! 

Zane Kolenc KB and Runjeet Khara KS

Year 2

Year 2 are working through a unit on Still Life. They are learning techniques based on observation and realism. George experimented with blending oil pastels and smudging with his finger to bring his apples to life. He created an effective colour wash background to complete his work. Amazing apples, George! 

George Mardini 2W

Heather Brodie
K-2 Visual Arts Teacher

Years 3 – 6 Artists of the Week

Year 4 are the stars of this week!

Boys finished their Nick Bottom artworks from  ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ – Shakespeare week, as well as the site specific group artwork from the Maritime Museum excursion.

Congratulations to Philip Antipas 4V and Sam Boiling 4P  for their unique and funny artworks of Nick Bottom.

Congratulations to:

1st Prize – Table 2 Class 4C – Benjamin Burshtein, Sam Chittendon, Lucas Hanmer, Luca Smith,Thomas Kosmas and Jerome Younan.

2nd Prize – Table 1 Class 4V – Frankie Alafaci, Jahn Knoph, Marcus Duggenini, Oscar McLeod, Zac Sherratt, Youssef Taleb and Anthony Bordina.

3rd Prize – Table 4 Class 4P – Sacha De Rosnay, William Richardson, Hunter Fadel, Charlie Gill, Guy Greenway and Nicholas Toskas.

Meredith Buining
3-6 Visual Art Teacher

Achievement Awards and House Points

House Points

A Message from Mr Holden

It is hard to imagine that we are already at the half way point of the term which, as usual, has been action packed for the boys. We are looking forward to Book Week which commences on Monday. A number of authors will working and talking to Wyvern students. In addition, there will be a Book Fair before after school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the Library. 

CLASS ALLOCATION 2017

The process for allocating students to next year’s classes is thorough and starts in Term 4. As part of this process some parents may feel that they can assist by offering additional information about their son. Should you wish to express a view about the style of classroom management you feel may best suit your son (e.g. particularly nurturing or greater structure, etc.) I invite you to contact me via email before the end of this term. Please note that I cannot consider requests submitted later than this deadline.

Requests for particular teachers or for a teacher based on his or her gender will not be considered in this process. Whilst we do welcome parental input in the process, the school has the final say in decisions regarding class placement for 2017.

NAPLAN 

Tomorrow parents of students in Year 3 and Year 5 will receive their son’s NAPLAN results. The school’s performance in all key areas tested (reading, spelling, writing, grammar and punctuation and numeracy) was very strong with our school average being significantly above the national average as well as for that of similar schools. As a school we have bucked the national trend where results have flat-lined in 2016. By contrast, at Wyvern, we have seen exceptionally positive growth in the areas tested. When interpreting the results I remind parents that the NAPLAN assessments were completed by the boys at the start of Term 2 and, as such, do not reflect subsequent progress over the last 2 terms.

PARENT SURVEY

I thank the many parents who took the time to complete the recent survey about all aspects of the school; we had a very high response rate of 60%. The results are very helpful for gauging how effective we are in teaching and caring for your sons. They also assist greatly with our future planning. The survey profile at Wyvern was overwhelmingly positive with parents expressing strong satisfaction ratings (in excess of 90%) in virtually all areas. In some ways the most important question is if Wyvern parents would recommend the school to another family? On this question 98% of parents answered in the affirmative. I will present a more detailed breakdown of the survey results at the next P & F meeting on Thursday 15 September at 7:00pm.

Ian Holden
Head of Wyvern