A Message from Sandra Gray

The end of term is rapidly drawing near and no doubt boys are looking forward to the summer break. We have some important events coming up in the final weeks. The first is the Summer Sports Award Assembly (3-6) tomorrow at 9.00am in the New Gym at the Senior school. Kindy, Year 1 and Year 2 end of year Presentation Ceremonies are next week. Please note that due to the Wyvern Hall renovation they will be held at the Senior School Chapel commencing at 9.00am on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Year 6 Graduation is on Tuesday 5 December and finally our Annual Prize Giving Ceremony (Years 3-6) is on Thursday 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.

I wish to inform you that Mrs Michelle Brixen will be leaving us at the end of the year to take up a position much closer to home on the Northern Beaches. I thank Michelle for her 14 years of service to Wyvern as both a music teacher and a classroom teacher and wish her and her young family well in future years.

Students will have the chance to meet their 2018 class teachers next Thursday 30 November. 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 advice and request to parents is to communicate a positive message to your son about their 2018 teacher. We are very fortunate to have such high calibre staff who are excited about the prospect of teaching your son next year.

My sincere thanks for your wonderful support of the Barnardos Christmas Gift Appeal. The front foyer is a testament to the thought and generosity of Wyvern families in the choosing of suitable gifts for those less fortunate. The last day for gift donations will be Friday 1 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 our boys so much. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to President Mrs Lilian Fadel and her hardworking team. Paul Cartwright, Monica Baird and Dyanne Wayling will be stepping down from their roles at the end this year and I thank them for their immense contribution to the school.

Semester 2 student reports will be available on Newington Spaces in the last week of school. Please click here for further instructions on how to access your son’s Semester 2 School Report.

At Wyvern, we view your son’s education as a three way partnership between school, parents and student. I would like to thank all involved for the essential role each has played in achieving such a successful 2017. Enjoy the holidays and festive season with family and friends. We look forward to a wonderful 2018 utilising our marvellous new facilities.

Sandra Gray
Acting Head of Wyvern

Achievement Awards

 The following achievement awards were awarded at Assembly:

Artist of the Week

K-2 Artists of the Week

Liam Johnson KS and Lucas Pahis KS

This week, Kindergarten have completed their Henri Rousseau inspired jungle scenes. They have created and collaged a variety of jungle animals using mixed media to show texture and movement. Congratulations to Liam Johnson and Lucas Pahis for the high level of craftsmanship and unique composition displayed in their finished pieces.

Yelena Rubie
K-2 Visual Arts Teacher

3-6 Artists of the Week

Year 6 have been working on a huge collaborative ‘Celebration ‘ painting to hang in the new Year 6 wing of Wyvern. The boys have been contributing to the black, white and grey painting each lesson for a term. This is their gift to the school and was organised by Anne Potter.

Many thanks to the participation of Year 6 boys who will leave a legacy for others to come.

Meredith Buining
3-6 Visual Arts Teacher

Books & Stationery Orders 2018

Dear Parents,

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

Please order books and stationery online at www.campion.com.au using the four digit code K4J9 by 27th November 2017.

1. For students in Kindergarten to Year 2 – books and stationery will be delivered to Wyvern House prior to students commencing in 2018.
    
2. For students in Years 3 to 6 – books and stationery will be delivered to your nominated address in January 2018.

Wyvern Office

Clubs & Extra Curricular Activities at Wyvern

Dear Parents,

Please find attached Clubs and Extra Curricular Activities at Wyvern – Term 4 below. Once you click on the link below, select the activity you are interested in and it will take you to the relevant Page on SPACES. 

2017 Term 4 Clubs and Extra-Curricular Activities at Wyvern

All Clubs and Extra Curricular Activities commence in the first week back in Term 4.

Kind regards

Wyvern Office

Debating Workshop Day

On Friday 17 and Saturday 18 November, nine keen Wyvern debaters travelled across to Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College in North Sydney for their annual Primary Debating Workshop. This was the first time that any Wyvern boys had participated in this program. There were 90 students from many different schools in both Year 5 and Year 6.

Over the two days we spent many hours with an experienced debating coach. He introduced us to lots of word games and drills to develop our impromptu speaking and listening skills. It was lots of fun and a great way for us all to interact and get to know each other. One example was ‘half baked’ where we were given two random words, had to smash them together and advertise it as a product. We found it challenging but hilarious attempting to promote all kinds of things such as a ‘torch pug’, a ‘chicken segway’ and a ‘knife sock’.

Then we moved on to more debating skills training starting with the 3Ms of debating: Matter; Method; and Manner. We also spent time understanding characterisation, how to create a case, the role of each speaker, how to conduct our arguments and also how to approach rebuttal – an important part of debating. For some of us who have debated at Wyvern this coaching extended the skills we have already been learning with Ms Dillion and Mr Baker.

The workshop finished on Saturday afternoon when we all got to participate in a competitive debate. It was a fun two day workshop and I’d be really excited to attend again next year.

Adam Cooper 5B

Faith Matters

Pawned?

Ever been to a pawnshop? Cash Converters or the like? You’ll find them in most major cities. The idea is simple; if you need money, you take a valuable item like jewellery or a musical instrument to the shop where the pawnbroker appraises it and gives you cash. But if you don’t return within the specified time to redeem the item, you forfeit ownership. Although it was yours originally, you no longer have legal possession till you pay the price to get it back. And if you wait too long, it can be lost forever.

Have you ever thought of yourself as somebody who needs to be redeemed, so you can be returned to your rightful owner? The Bible suggests that we are all like that and Jesus is the one who offers to pay the redemption price for us. The story of redemption starts at Christmas and finds it culmination at Easter.

Rev Peter Morphew
Chaplain

Flyers in Bookstand

Martial Arts – Kung Fu Action at Wyvern

Term 4 Clubs and Extra Curricular Activities at Wyvern 

Sport

Greek School

School Student Opal Information

OshClub

Uniform Shop

• Summer Price List
• Order Form

Kids and Co Psychology

Newington and Community Christmas Carols Service

James Rogers & Julien Tam Raise Money for the Blind

Year 5 were challenged to raise funds for the charities, Fred Hollows Foundation and Guide Dogs Australia. Last Friday evening James Rodgers and Julien Tam baked a triple batch of Cornish Fairing to sell at their Saturday basketball matches. The next day they woke up wanting to do more so they raced up to the fruit shop before breakfast to buy punnets of fresh strawberries and melting chocolate. Together they also made chocolate dipped strawberries. Arriving with their Cornish Fairings and chocolate dipped strawberries they were ready to sell before their games at Wyvern. Unfortunately their matches were cancelled due to rain. Regardless, they managed to raise $20 from several other boys turning up and even had their own little game. Still determined to sell more they pushed onto the senior school. With some customers coming back to purchase seconds, they sold every biscuit and a had few chocolate strawberries leftover. Together, James and Julien raised $127.

Julien Tam 5J

Next Two Weeks

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 Luc Curling 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

P&F News and Events

I’d like to start by thanking the P&F Committee members and all the volunteers who have assisted so generously with their time throughout 2017.

Various events and activities conducted throughout the year have helped develop and foster our strong school community spirit. These include the Family Mentor Program, Welcome Picnic, Welcome Cocktail Party, WOW Dinner, Mother’s and Father’s Day breakfasts, Back to Newington Day, Father and Son Camps and Parent Information Nights.

Items that the P&F provided funding for in 2017 include: Poetry Competition, Music Weekend, Art Equipment, Art Exhibition, Musical Instruments, Sport Equipment, Literature Festival and the Lion King Musical.

On the fundraising side the P&F’s main source of income is the Uniform Shop which is solely run by volunteers. Thank you to everyone who has made this a success. To the parents who have given up their time to volunteer at school events, Back to Newington Day, Art Room and Tuckshop – your contribution is appreciated by the school, parents and students.

Thank you to all the class parents for being a great point of contact and for organising social events relevant for each year group.

To the committee members not returning in 2018 – Paul Cartwright, Monica Baird and Dyanne Wayling – a huge thank you for your contribution, involvement and dedication over the years.   

The P&F is also thankful for the tremendous support we enjoy from the Wyvern leadership team, teachers and staff. Once again I’d like to thank each and every one who has helped in their own way to make this a great year for all.

Lillian Fadel
P&F President

Sport

Sports Results and Match Reports, Click here

Sport Newsletter, Click here

Sporting Venue Addresses, Click here

2017 Sports Handbook, Click here

Term Dates 2017

Term Dates 2018

Tuckshop Menu & Roster

Please click here for the Spotless Food Safety Information for Volunteers Guidelines

Tuckshop Menu and Roster Term 4 Weeks 8 & 9, Click here

Everyday Menu and Price List, Click here

Online Ordering Instructions, Click here

Online Ordering FAQs, Click here

Kind regards

Wyvern Office

Uniform Shop

UNIFORM SHOP TRADING HOURS

Wyvern Uniform Roster Term 4 Weeks 8 and 9 Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Order Form, Click here

Wyvern Uniform Shop Summer Price List 2017/2018, Click here

Kind regards

Nicole Williams
Uniform Shop Convenor

Wyvern SRC 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 30th October and will end on Wednesday 6th 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.

Year 3 Camp at Narrabeen

The time had finally arrived! Holidays were a distant memory and the countdown to camp was down to zero. We had had our bags packed for days beforehand, and the thrilling dreams of Year 3 camp keeping us up at night were now starting to become a reality – the hype and milling around classrooms, the excitement of the bus ride, the impending announcement of camp rooms and activity groups, the late night games and purposeful lack of sleep, and the range of incredible activities we’d no doubt always remember. It was hard to tell who was more excited – us or the kids…

The 2 day, overnight camp to Narrabeen was a huge success. It provided opportunities for the students to take risks, exercise resilience and take part in activities they had perhaps never experienced. All the students used the camp to initiate, strengthen and maintain friendships amongst one another, which was so wonderful to witness and be a part of. The camp called on each individual to take responsibility of their possessions and personal organisation, as well as taking the lead on clean up kitchen duties for meal times. All in all, this camp, for many students, marked the beginning of the journey from boys to men.

There are too many memorable experiences from our activities to name, however, indoor archery tried our patience, strength and aim, kayaking tested our coordination, strength and team work, the night games worked our sense of fun and enjoyment and the flying fox was excellent for taking risks and supporting each other.

Newington College and the families and friends of the Year 3 students should be very proud of their behaviour and conduct on camp. Their attitude and approach meant they all extracted the most out of the experience and should enjoy reliving each moment for years to come 

Finally, a very large and sincere thank you to the Wyvern teachers who accompanied the students on camp, Ms Brown, Mr MacRae, Mr Jensen, Mrs Bryden and Mr Ko.

Hugh Scott
Year 3 Team Leader