15 Oct 2020

A Message from Mr Holden

Dear Parents,

I hope that you have enjoyed some quality family time over the spring break and that your sons are well rested and ready for an exciting final term of learning. We are planning for Term 4 to be business as usual, as far as that is possible. However, as we continue to manage COVID-19, student and staff well-being remain our most important priority so I am sure that you will understand that some changes to our normal procedures remain in place. I have set these out below.

Term 4 School Day Procedures

  • Please refer to the latest NSW Government advice in relation to any families who might have visited any localised hotspots https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19 
  • Any student who is unwell, even with mild symptoms, must not attend school.
  • Students with flu-like symptoms will need to be tested and provide a copy of a negative COVID-19 test result and be symptoms free before being permitted to return to school.
  • Students who do not undertake a COVID-19 test result will not be permitted to return to school for a 10-day period. Additionally, they must be symptom free for at least 3 days prior to returning to school.
  • On arrival at school (no earlier than 7:50am please) students will need to hand sanitize on entry to school grounds.
  • Boys are only allowed entry to school via the car park or the side gate near Cambridge Street.
  • No parents are allowed on campus, except by invitation.
  • There will be regular handwashing and sanitising of students’ hands throughout the day.
  • Sport training sessions will continue to be split, with Years 3 and 5 on Mondays and Years 4 and 6 on Wednesday.
  • School camps and excursions are permitted if the organiser has an approved COVID-19 safety plan. We will provide further details throughout the term.
  • Due to ongoing restrictions, with parents not being permitted to be on campus, it is likely that we will live stream a number of this term’s major events and assemblies. We will send further information and invites in due course.

Parent attendance at summer sport fixtures

In light of recent NSW Health advice, a limited number of spectators will be permitted to attend summer sporting fixtures which commence this Saturday. Spectators must register their attendance at fixtures by downloading the Service NSW safe app, click here. Restrictions on the number of spectators permitted will vary between outdoor and indoor venues as well as for individual schools.  At Newington we will be able to have 2 parents on site for outdoor activities and 1 parent per boy for indoor venues, e.g. pool, indoor basketball courts. Gatherings before and after fixtures is to be minimised with participants and spectators leaving at the completion of fixtures. For further information please see the following link from Mr Wilson, click here

Wyvernbald Portrait Exhibition  

Year 6 students have worked very hard during the course of last term to create some very impressive portraits of people who are role models to the boys. The Wyvernbald exhibition can be viewed via the following link, click here. Please do take some time to look at these wonderful art works. 

2021 Class Allocation

The process for allocating students to their 2021 classes is well underway. It is my intention to inform you of your son’s new 2021 class towards the end of this term. Boys will have the opportunity to meet their new teacher on “One-Up Morning” on 26 November. Please note that the deadline for parental input into the process has now passed and unfortunately, as such, I cannot consider any further requests.

Ian Holden
Head of Wyvern House

Applications for Student Travel in 2021 is Now Open

Applications for student travel in 2021 opened on Monday 12 October 2020.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass for 2021 can now apply online. A new application should be submitted if a student is applying for a school travel pass for the first time or requesting an additional pass as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).

Students who have changed school/campus, changed address, repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should re-apply or update their details.

Where there is a change of distance eligibility based on a student’s grade, the system will automatically update a student’s entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition which is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2020 to ensure that current student entitlements are updated and their current entitlement/card remains valid. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2020, the system will automatically cancel an entitlement/card and a new one will need to be issued.

Students in the Opal network applying for a SSTS or Term Bus Pass entitlement for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2021.

Next Two Weeks

OCTOBER

Week 2

Mon 19 Wyvern Shop 7.30am – 9.00am (entry via driveway)
  Kindergarten 2021 Orientation, via Zoom
  K-2 Aquatics Program – 
  2B 9.00am – 9.45am
  2P 9.45am – 10.30am
  K-2 Assembly, 11.00am
  Summer sport training, 3 & 5, 1.40pm
   
Tue 20 Wyvern Shop 2.30pm – 4.00pm (entry via driveway)
  BASE Testing for Kindergarten
  Year 1 – 6 2021 Orientation, via Zoom
  K-2 Aquatics Program – 
  1S 9.00am – 9.45am
  1Y 9.45am – 10.30am
  KW 11.00am – 11.45am
  KE 11.45am – 12.30pm
   
Wed 21 BASE Testing for Kindergarten
  Summer sport training, 4 & 6, 1.40pm
   
Thu 22 Wyvern Shop 7.30am – 9.00am (entry via driveway)
  Cold Write – Recount
  BASE Testing for Kindergarten
   
Fri 23 BASE Testing for Kindergarten
  K-2 Chapel, 8.30am
  3-6 Chapel, 10.00am
   
Sat 24 Summer Sport Round 8 
   
Sun 25  

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

Week 3

Mon 26 Wyvern Shop 7.30am – 9.00am (entry via driveway)
  K-2 Aquatics Program – 
  2B 9.00am – 9.45am
  2P 9.45am – 10.30am
  K-2 Assembly, 11.00am
  Summer sport training, 3 & 5, 1.40pm
   
Tue 27 Wyvern Shop 2.30pm – 4.00pm (entry via driveway)
  K-2 Aquatics Program – 
  1S 9.00am – 9.45am
  1Y 9.45am – 10.30am
  KW 11.00am – 11.45am
  KE 11.45am – 12.30pm
  5-6 Second Step, 1.40pm
   
Wed 28 Summer sport training, 4 & 6, 1.40pm
   
Thu 29 Wyvern Shop 7.30am – 9.00am (entry via driveway)
   
Fri 30 K-2 Chapel, 8.30am
  3-4 Second Step, 9.30am
  3-6 Assembly, 10.00am
   
Sat 31 Summer Sport Round 9
   
Sun 1  

Term Dates 2020

Term 1  – Tuesday 28 January to Thursday 9 April

Tuesday 28 January Classes commence for Years 1-6 
Wednesday 29 January Classes commence for Kindergarten
Monday  16 March College Closed – Newington Long Weekend – Pupil Free Day
Thursday  9 April Classes conclude

Term 2  – Monday 27 April to Friday 26 June

Monday 27 April Classes commence 
Monday 8 June Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
Friday 26 June Classes conclude

Term 3 – Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September

Monday 20 July Classes commence 
Friday 14 August Staff PD – Pupil Free Day 
Monday 17 August College Closed – Newington Long Weekend – Pupil Free Day
Friday 25 September Classes conclude

Term 4 – Monday 12 October to Friday 4 December

Monday 12 October Classes commence 
Thursday 3 December Classes conclude – K-2
Friday 4 December Classes conclude – Prize Giving Years 3-6

Term Dates 2021

Term 1  – Wednesday 27 January to Thursday 1 April

Wednesday 27 January Classes commence for Years 1-6
Thursday  28 January Classes commence for Kindergarten
Monday 15 March College Closed – Newington Long Weekend – Pupil Free Day
Thursday  1 April Classes conclude

Term 2  – Monday 19 April to Friday 18 June

Monday 19 April Classes commence
Monday 14 June Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
Friday 18 June Classes conclude

Term 3 – Monday 12 July to Wednesday 15 September

Monday  12 July Classes commence
Monday 16 August Staff Day – Pupil Free Day
Wednesday 15 September Classes conclude

Term 4 – Monday 4 October to Tuesday 7 December

Monday 4 October October Long Weekend 
Tuesday 5 October Classes commence
Monday  6 December Classes conclude (K-2)
Tuesday 7 December Classes conclude – Annual Prize Giving Day Years 3-6

Stationery for 2021 – now available to order online

Dear Parents,

Campion Education supply the stationery requirements for our students for all year groups from Kindergarten to Year 6. Textbooks are supplied by Newington College and will be provided to students in the new year.

Please order student stationery online at Campion using the four-digit code EU4T by Friday 13 November 2020.

  • For students in Kindergarten to Year 2, stationery will be delivered to Wyvern House prior to students commencing in 2021.
  • For students in Years 3 to 6, stationery will be delivered to your nominated address in mid January 2021.

Placing your order online by the due date is the best way to ensure your son receives all available items in time for the start of the new school year.

Wyvern Office