2016 Term Dates

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
Kindergarten Graduation Presentation – 28 November
Year 1 Graduation Presentation – 29 November
Year 2 Graduation Presentation – 30 November
Term Concludes for K-2 Students – Tuesday 6 December
Term Concludes for Years 3-6 Students – Wednesday 7 December
Years 3 – 6 Prize Giving – Wednesday 7 December

Donut Day Flyer

P & F News and Events

This is my third, and final year as President and I want to say a thousand times ‘Thank you!’ to every parent past and present who has given generously of their time to support our community by volunteering and all those who have participated in the wide variety of events and activities organised by the P&F every year.

It’s been an honour to serve the Wyvern community and I’ve loved being connected to the school in such a meaningful way. It has been a privilege to have a relationship with the teachers and staff that extended beyond the ‘everyday’. Wyvern parents and boys should appreciate how lucky they are to have this team influencing and shaping our future. We are blessed to have such caring and capable people looking after our sons.

This year, we introduced a Constitution, which sets out our goal to assist the development of Wyvern House by: promoting the welfare of our students; fostering community spirit; working in close co-operation with the Head of Wyvern House and supporting the school’s objectives; and providing funds or facilities as agreed with the Head of Wyvern House.

At the Information Night held each term, parents learned about cyber safety, how to get through puberty, financial literacy and Wyvern’s extension and enrichment programs, and Mr Holden provided his regular ‘school report’.

Thanks to our volunteers at the Uniform Shop, the P&F funded the Wyvern Music Weekend, Shakespeare Festival, Poetry Competition, Wyvernbald Exhibition, Year 2-4 flexible learning area, and art, music and sports equipment. And we reduced uniform prices (once again).

In addition, we organised and funded the Welcome Cocktail Party, Welcome Picnic, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day breakfasts to encourage community spirit and social connection among Wyvern parents and children. The breakfasts, in particular, have become increasingly popular with 500 guests attending each time, and our gift catalogues made it easy for the boys to purchase something for mum and dad.

The Welcome Cocktail Party and Welcome Picnic held at the start of the year are also well attended, but they serve an additional purpose of welcoming and introducing new parents to our community – and are complemented by our New Family Mentor Program. At the picnic, we organise supervised activities for children to get them playing together and to make it much easier for parents to meet, get to know each other and catch up on summer holiday stories.

For mums, the annual Women of Wyvern – WoW – dinner is a special feature of the social calendar and this year’s event, held at the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM), was surely the best yet.

Many dads once again spent the weekend with their boys at the K-2 (Narrabeen) and Year 3-6 (Berry) father and son camps, which always spark and cement friendships among the boys as well as their fathers.  Year 6 had its own father and son camp at Narrabeen, following a very special mother and son night out at the ANMM to celebrate the end of an era.

I would like to acknowledge the members of the P&F Executive team, whose care, energy and spirit drew me to join them in the first place and kept me with them for so long. Some have been on this team even longer than my four years, while others joined last year or this year, but all have made a mark on the school. Without this very special group, this space would be blank.

Natalie Mina
President Wyvern P&F 2016

Term Dates 2017

TERM ONE

Monday 30 January to Friday 7 April
Classes commence Years 1-6 – Monday 30 January
Classes commence Kindergarten – Tuesday 31 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

Seed Sports – Multi Sport Activities

Oshclub – Wyvern’s Before and 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.

Newsletter, Click here

Kind regards

OSHClub Team

Flyers in Bookstand

Martial Arts

• Kung Fu Action at Wyvern

Clubs and Extra Curricular Activities at Wyvern – Term 4

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

Speech Pathology

• Gladesville Speech Pathology & Learning Centre

Hopalong

• Occupational Therapy for Children

Wyvern Christmas Tree – Barnardos Gifts for Kids

EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO FEEL THE JOY, WARMTH AND HAPPINESS OF CHRISTMAS!

This year we are supporting Barnardos Australia Gifts for Kids to reach their goal of collecting a gift for every child in care this Christmas. Thousands of Australian children suffer from family violence and homelessness and Christmas can be a sad time for them. That’s why our school is helping Barnardos Australia and together we can make a big difference and bring smiles to children in need this Christmas. Gift collection will begin on Monday 31st October and will end on Friday 2nd December.

If you would like to donate online please go to barnardos.org.au/giftsforkids

Each year Barnardos struggle to receive gifts for infants/toddlers aged between 0 – 2 years and teenagers aged between 13 – 18 years.

Some suggestions of infants/toddlers appropriate gifts for 0 – 2 years are:

• Building blocks
• Sensory toys
• Push and pull toys
• Baby clothes
• Picture books
• Toy instruments
• Unbreakable mirrors
• Puzzles and train sets
• Bath toys – great also for playing with on the beach!

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 Fi, Hoyts Cinemas and Sports Girl

By supporting Barnardos Gifts 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.

Uniform Shop

EXTRA BACK TO SCHOOL OPENING TIME 2017! 

The Wyvern Shop will be open before the new school year begins, on Tuesday 24 January 2017 from 8:00am to 12:30pm.

IN 2017 THE UNIFORM SHOP WILL BE OPEN WEEKLY ON:

• Monday & Thursday mornings from 7:30am – 9:00am
• Tuesday afternoons from 2:30pm – 4:00pm

THE WYVERN HOUSE UNIFORM SHOP – CAN YOU HELP?

The Wyvern Uniform Shop is run by parent volunteers from within the School community.

We all work in a flexible and friendly environment and would love to have more mums and dads in the shop – whether you can come in on a weekly basis or once or term – or anything in-between.

If you are interested in donating an hour of your time next year to help out in the Uniform shop please send me through an email at wyvernuniform@newington.nsw.edu.au

In appreciation of your service in the Wyvern Shop throughout the year, volunteers will receive a discount of 10%.

With thanks

Nicole Williams
Uniform Shop Convenor

Wyvern Uniform Roster Term 4 Weeks 8 and 9, 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 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

Join our Tuckshop Team in 2017

We encourage you to volunteer in the Tuckshop by returning the attached form to Wyvern Office by mail, fax or email Karen O’Brien. We anticipate needing 2 volunteers each day except Monday. With this in mind please indicate with whom you would like to do Tuckshop duty and what year your son will be in 2017 (eg Kindy, Year 1, Year 6 etc.).

If you are interested in volunteering at the Tuckshop, please click here.

Tuckshop Menu and Roster Term 4 Week 8 and Week 9, Click here

Everyday Menu and Price List, Click here 

Online Ordering Instructions, Click here

Online Ordering FAQs, Click here

Wyvern Office

Stationery & Textbooks 2017

Campion Education supply the book and stationery requirements for our students for all year groups Kindergarten to Year 6.

Please order books and stationery online at Campion using the four digit code 247M by 27 November 2016.

For students in Kindergarten to Year 2 – books and stationery will be delivered to Wyvern House prior to students commencing in 2017.

For students in Years 3 to 6 books and stationery will be delivered to your nominated address in January, 2017.

Wyvern Office

Sport

Sports Newsletter, Click here

Sports Results & Match Reports, Click here

Sporting Venue Addresses, Click here

2016 Sports Handbook, Click here

Sausage Sizzle – Tuesday 6th December

Next Two Weeks

Faith Matters

School was out and 10-year-old Charlie was thrilled to be out of London celebrating Christmas in the country. Driving along the winding roads with his mother, he was captivated by the snowy winter landscape. But suddenly the snow got heavy, the visibility turned bad and the car slid out of control, ending up in a ditch. Charlie tried to push while his mother pressed the accelerator, but it was no use. They left the car and walked down the road where they knocked on the door of a little house and asked for help. Flustered, the lady invited them in to use the phone and warm up while she made tea and cookies.

“What’s so special about that?” you’re asking. “Just another everyday event, right?” No. At least, not to the woman who opened the door that day; she’s already told the story hundreds of times. And can you blame her? It’s not everyday the Queen of England and Charles, Prince of Wales turn up on your doorstep!

On a winter’s night over 2000 years ago, the Prince of Peace knocked on our door – and it was no accident. The Bible says it “happened to fulfil the Lord’s message … He will be called Immanuel … God is with us.” Christmas can be a lonely time if you’ve lost your job or your family or your sense of hope. And the joy of others can be a painful reminder of what you’ve lost. But you’re not alone. You may feel lonely, but you’re not alone – God is with you. He really is! Believe that, and have a blessed Christmas!

Peter Morphew
Chaplain

Does Your Son Have a Framed Masterpiece Hanging on Wyvern’s Walls?

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.

Prices:

• $50 for regular size framed works (A3 image size) – Small
• $65 for large framed works (A2 image size) – Large

If you wish to purchase your son’s artwork please click on the link below and follow these instructions:

Click on this link: http://www.newington.nsw.edu.au/payments/make-a-payment/

• This will take you to the On-line Payments page of Spaces.
• Click on ‘Events, Excursion and Activity’
• Then click on ‘Event/Activity/Excursion’ drop down arrow
• Then click on ‘Activity’
• Then click on ‘Event’ drop down arrow
• Then choose ‘Wyvern Framed Artworks’
• Then fill out son’s name and size of artwork.
• Then fill out Contact details and then Credit Card details for payment

The artwork is to be sold in “as is” condition (i.e. in its current mount and frame) and all purchased framed artworks will remain on exhibition at Wyvern until Week 5, Term 4.

Please collect the purchased framed work before the close of the academic year.  All remaining artwork will be returned unframed to the student the following year.

Purchased framed artwork will then be available from Wyvern office for transport home (with adult assistance, please, as the frame and glass are fragile and heavy!)

Meredith Buining & Heather Brodie
Visual Arts Teachers

Clubs and Extra Curricular at Wyvern

Dear Parents

Please find attached Term 4 Club and Extra Curricular Activities at Wyvern below.

term-4-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

Congratulations to ALL Kindergarten boys this week for their amazing dragonfly sculptures! All boys worked with focus and perseverance to twist, wrap, wind, thread, bend and decorate their beautiful pieces. They had to problem solve a way for their dragonfly to stand and balance on a watercoloured flower base. Fabulous work, boys!

Heather Brodie
K-2 Visual Arts Teacher

Years 3-6 Artists of the Week

This week’s artist of the week comes from Year 3 who are continuing on the theme of ‘Celebrations’.

The ‘Mexican Day of the Dead’ was a popular one when it came to observing all the design details of the sugar skulls.

Congratulations to Adam Williams 3M and Ethan Marriott 3B for their spectacular masks.

Adam Williams

Ethan Marriott

Meredith Buining
3-6 Visual Arts Teacher

Achievement Awards and House Points

House Points

A Message from Mr Holden

As we near the end of the term, I reflect on a very busy few weeks in which Wyvern students have been involved in an array of exciting and challenging activities. No doubt, the boys are looking forward to their summer holiday break.

Before we get there we have some important events to enjoy including the Year 6 Evening of Eminence on Tuesday 29 November, Kindy, Year 1 and Year 2 end of year presentations next week. Year 6 Graduation on Monday 5 December and finally our Annual Prize Giving Ceremony (Years 3-6) on Wednesday 7 December. Prize Giving is primarily an occasion to celebrate the very good contribution of all of our students across the year. We also acknowledge a number of boys who have excelled in a range of pursuits. Decision making around award recipients can be excruciatingly difficult for staff, but we do seek to be fair, transparent and ultimately reward effort. Our key message to the boys at this time is that no one is entitled to receive an award. If they are lucky enough to do so, we expect them to be proud but humble. For those who are disappointed, we encourage them to be generous in acknowledging the achievement of their peers.

Students will have the change to meet their 2017 class teachers next Thursday 1 December. Note, you will soon receive a letter informing you about your son’s class teacher. The class allocation process at Wyvern is exceptionally detailed and thorough involving the teachers, the boys plus the opportunity for parental input. Nonetheless with all change comes challenge (a good thing) and there will be a mix of excitement and nervousness as we approach ‘One Up’ morning. My advise and request to parents is to communicate a positive message to our son about their 2017 teacher. We are very fortunate to have such high calibre staff who are excited about the prospect of teaching your sons next year.

At the end of the term Mr Niall Martin, Year 2 teacher, who has been covering a maternity leave this year will be leaving Wyvern. We thank Mr Martin for his very good contribution and wish him well for his future teaching career. 

I am pleased to announce two new exciting appointments for 2017. Mr Tony Cross, current Year 4 Team Leader will be taking on the role of ICT Facilitator to the preparatory schools. He will spend 4 days at Wyvern and 1 day at Lindfield. The new position of STEM teacher will also start in 2017. The role is to enhance our Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths approach in a team teaching context. Ms Lindsay Bosch will be taking on this exciting new role. Ms Bosch has extensive experience as a leader and curriculum expert in independent schools in Sydney and has a strong science teaching background.

My sincere thanks for your wonderful support of the Barnardos Christmas Gift Appeal. The front foyer is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate due to your overwhelming generosity. The last day for gift donations will be Friday 2 December.

I also wish to acknowledge the tremendous work of the P&F this year. The steadfast support shown to all areas of the school benefits all boys so much. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to departing P&F Exec members whose contribution to the school has been immense. Manuela Ayoub, Sarah Alden, and Nicole Newson will be stepping down from their roles at the end of the year. Mrs Natalie Mina will also step down as President of the P&F after many years of support plus 3 years as President. Natalie has made a superb contribution and for that I sincerely thank her.

Finally, Semester 2 student reports will be available on Newington Spaces from 4.00pm on Monday 5 December. Please click here for further instructions on how to access your son’s Semester 2 School Report.

Ian Holden
Head of Wyvern House