Yesterday we had the second consecutive Monday at the pool, and it has to be said: the Secondary boys yesterday had sunnier weather compared with Primary last week. A common element to both Swimming Carnivals was the multitude of Personal Bests from our students. In the context of our focus on a Culture of Excellence this year, sport offers an invaluable learning opportunity for our boys. I was particularly pleased by the number of less confident swimmers having a go despite the obvious difficulties, and also by the way the rest of the boys encouraged them with additional enthusiasm. A big thank you to Mr. Bayliss for ensuring both carnivals ran on time, safely and smoothly. Congratulations also to the boys who have now qualified for the next representative level. Go, Wollemi!

Today we had a large group of parents at school helping our boys celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Not only were the pancakes delicious, but the day was beautifully organised, despite the limited time available. A big thank you for their help, dedication, and flexibility.

Shrove Tuesday, as you know, is the last day before Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. We have so far received an uncommon number of RSVPs from parents for tomorrow’s Ash Wednesday Mass at 9:30 am in COLA. I read this morning a reflection that I found useful: the three common lenten practices or fasting, prayer, and almsgiving can be interpreted as a call for us to focus during Lent on oneself (giving something up), on God (some extra prayer) and on others (not just giving alms, but time, care, etc.). I encourage all our boys, and parents, to see how we can make this Lent our best one yet, with a small resolution in each of those three areas.

James Ramos, Headmaster

We are starting Lent! Fast, Prayer and Almsgiving are the three pillars of Lent. Let’s follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit to make of Lent 23 the best of our lives!!

Pope Francis gives us some suggestions in his message: Lenten penance and the Synodal Journey

The familiar smell of sunscreen and chlorine and the sound of 150-plus students cheering and chanting their house war cries were clearly evident last Friday at Wollemi Primary’s Swimming Carnival! Whilst the aim of the carnival is for students to compete against each other in a variety of swimming events, in true Wollemi style, our boys were also invested in supporting and encouraging their mates to do their personal best! The support for our primary students doesn’t stop with their peers. Our senior secondary students were also involved in the support and encouragement of our Primary boys. The Year 11 PDHPE students, along with the Spanish exchange students, jumped into one of the 7 swimming lanes and assisted, when necessary, our beginning swimmers in the 25-metre race - thank you, boys!  For me, this is a highlight of the carnival and reinforces the message of service Wollemi College supports. A special mention must go to our Year 6 students who worked tirelessly leading the chants and encouraging the younger years to try their best! 

This Wednesday, 22 February, is Ash Wednesday. The day we begin our Lenten commitments. “I'm going to give up chocolate. I'm going to give up Netflix. I'm going to give up TikTok.” These are all great, and if those are yours go for it. But sometimes we get too focused on the ‘fasting’ aspect of Lent, and not the other parts. The Catholic Church encourages us to do 3 things during the next 40 days, ‘Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving’.

We need to pray. Everyone needs prayers. Family, friends, teachers, and neighbours. People in the hospital and souls in purgatory all need you to pray for them. Prayer is one of the best tools we have to ask God for any help. So I urge you, whether it is a 30-second thanksgiving prayer or a 15-minute rosary, to find time once a day during Lent to pray.

My name is Nathan Quan and am so glad to have started as a Primary teacher at Wollemi this year. I currently teach Year 5 Blue and Year 2 Science. 

I have been teaching across Kindergarten to Year 6 at a school in South West Sydney for the past 8 years and have a passion for student wellbeing and personalised learning. I believe that every child deserves a champion and strive to instill a love for learning in every student that I encounter.

As a child, I always wanted to be a teacher but before listening to the dreams of my younger self, I dabbled in the world of IT and Finance,  working as a consultant at KPMG and CBA for 9 years,  working in various countries across the world, my two favourites being New York and Hong Kong.

In 2013, I decided to take the plunge and pursue teaching by completing a Masters at the University of Sydney. It was here that I met my beautiful wife Jessica, who was at the time a mutual friend that had also decided to change careers to teaching. Fast forward 10 years, and we have 4 little boys; Isaac 6, Jordan 5, Noah 3, and Levi 2, with another bub on the way to complete our basketball team. As a family, we enjoy bush walks in the local area, playing board games, and visiting friends. 

I have received the warmest welcome to the Wollemi and Montgrove community and the respect, support, and can-do attitude of the students, parents and teachers are next to none. I look forward to working together in the near and far future to help your boys grow into the best young men they can be. 

Nathan Quan, Primary Teacher

The Wollemi Student Representative Council (SRC) plays an important role in the fostering and developing of student leadership within the College. The Wollemi SRC has 19 members including The School Captain and Vice Captain, Senior School House Captains, two representatives for Years 7 to 11, one Year 12 representative, and the Captain and Vice Captain of the Primary School. This leadership model helps give significant representation within the school and the development of leadership across a larger range of year groups.

The Wollemi SRC has three key goals:

1.       To represent the interests of the student body, both at a year group and house level, to voice concerns and to present initiatives that will enhance the life of students at the College.

2.       Develop house spirit and School community

3.       Serve both the School and wide community

Congratulations to the following Wollemi men for their selection to the Wollemi Council for 2023.

Please note that Year 7 elections to the Wollemi Council will occur in Week 5 of this term - we have many new Year 7 students.

Special thanks to Mr. Bernard James (Formation Assistant) who took up the reins of leading and guiding the Wollemi SRC Council this year from Mr. Naylor. Mr. Naylor has done a fantastic job leading the Wollemi Council since its inception in 2020.

I look forward to seeing the great work and ideas of this student-led council. 

David Vassallo, Deputy Headmaster

This year, Ash Wednesday falls on 22 February, which is next week. We would like to extend an invitation to parents to attend our Ash Wednesday Whole School Mass at the College, which will begin at 9.30 am and conclude at approximately 11.00 am.

To assist us with the logistics for the day, could you please complete the google form below if you would like to attend the Ash Wednesday Whole School Mass.

Ash Wednesday Whole School Mass RSVP

An invitation to Wollemi Dads.

Wollemi would like to extend an invitation to our Wollemi fathers to join us at a Dads’ Night, the first one for 2023  will be on Friday the 17 March at 6 pm here at Wollemi.

This night will be an opportunity for dads to come together and enjoy a meal, beer, and one another's company.  A plate of something to share would be most welcome, to RSVP, kindly complete the form here.

I hope to meet you in person and catch up on the night.

James Ramos, Headmaster

Please pray for our sick Wollemi family and friends:

Benjie Santiago, father to Aryel (Class of 2020); Emmanuel Hanna, brother to George (6B) Victor Sciberras, father to Marianne and Carmel Spiteri, grandfather to Justin in Year 7B; Louise Varas, mother to Sebastian in 3B;  Mariano Valladores, father to Ela and Will O'Neill,  grandfather to Michael in 9B and John-Paul in 4B; Jacob Kuruvilla (Wollemi Staff); Amelia Acasio,  grandmother to Peyton (7B) and Angelo (5G); John Cassar, grandfather to Nicholas Cassar (6B).

Please pray for the soul of the recently deceased and the family left behind:

John Cotter, father to Tylie and Geoff Kerin, grandfather to Chase in 8G; Douglas Kerr, father to Nadine and Mark Brown, grandfather to Grady in 11B; Thresiamma Kurian,  mother to Sajamma and Bennichen Anthony, grandmother to  Abel in 9B; Charles Tabone, father to Joe and Joanna, grandfather to Noah in Year 12; Patricia Tight,  grandmother to Jacky and Warren Ward, great grandmother to Tobias Ward in 3B; Charlie Makhlouf, brother-in-law to Lydia and Tony Elias,  uncle to Fouad (10B)  and Emmanuel (3G).

_{If you would like to add any intentions to the Prayer Board, please send them to admin@wollemi.nsw.edu.au.  Kindly notify admin@wollemi.nsw.edu.au when your intentions can be removed.} 

The school gates will be opened at 8:15 am and students are not allowed onto the school premises before this time unless there are co-curricular commitments. If you are dropping your child/ren off before 8.15 am, please remind them that they are to stay outside the gates until it is opened. 

A reminder that when collecting your child/ren parents can either:

• Park their car in the outside car park and walk into the school/pedestrian gate to pick up their child
• Use the car line process where your child will come to the car. 

To help with the flow of the carline and traffic in the area we kindly ask that: 

• If you are using the car line, we ask parents to not exit the car.
• Please collect your child/children from 3.25 pm and 3.45 pm when Teacher supervision ends.
•  Reminder parents NOT to park along Gipps Rd in the afternoon as it causes congestion and risks the safety of our students.

ABSENCES

If your child is absent from school an Engage absence form must be completed first thing in the morning. It is a legal requirement to provide an absence note no more than 7 days after the last day of the absence.  Absences will remain as unexplained absences if a note is not received or is received more than 7 days after the last day of the absence.

Instructions on how to complete an absence form can be found below. 

How to Complete an Absence Form on Engage

Please find below some simple instructions on how to complete an absence form. 

• Select the heading Daybook and select "Pupil Daybook"
• Click on "add new entry"
• If your child is COVID positive or a close contact select: "01b Covid POSITIVE or ISOLATION Status" from the drop-down menu
• If your child is absent for any other reason, arriving late or leaving early please select: "01 Absent, Late or Early Departure Note" from the drop-down menu 
• Then click on the "add new entry" button to the right. It will bring up the form for you to complete
• Select which of your children is away in the left column and press the -> arrow button in the middle, so that the selected name goes from the left column to the right. If you select the double arrow it will move all your children's names to the right column if you need to do an absence form for all of them for the same reason. 
• Once you have completed the form make sure that you click "save and close" at the bottom of the page when completed (not "save") 
• You also have the ability to upload a doctor's certificate, if applicable.

Click on the links below to complete the relevant forms in Engage.  You will find these links under Announcements on the top right-hand side of this newsletter. 

● To update your contact details

● Submit an Absentee Form

● Submit an Extended Leave Form(for holidays, weddings, etc.)

● Submit an Exemption From School Form (for external activities, medical appointments, funerals etc.)

For more information on using the Engage Parent Portal please go to our Parent Portal Resource Site

Please be aware that the school zone times around Penrith Valley School (across Kurrambee School) have recently changed to 8:00-9:30 am AND 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. The speed limit for this area is 40 km/hr on school days. 

The well-being and safety of all our Wollemi Community are of primary importance.  Traffic around the School can be quite busy, and, unfortunately,  only get busier - especially in the afternoons.

I thank parents for their continued patience in this regard and would ask that we all continue to show courtesy and care to one another on our roads. This is especially important around schools as students can be unpredictable. The last thing we all want is for any of our students or family members to be injured. 

A current area of concern is our overflow car park. We are currently reviewing it in terms of its flow and setup - with the hope of making a number of upgrades. In the interim, we would ask:

1. Cars do not double park 
2. Students making their way to parked cars do so by walking around the white bollards on the outside of the carpark and do not cross the area in front of the pedestrian gate. 

Students will be briefed about these changes this week and we will have an increased staff presence in this area to help direct students. Thank you in advance for your help with this. 

The safety and well-being of our students are of paramount importance at Wollemi.  As you would appreciate, with the commencement of a new school term, and the continued growth of the school population, the volume of traffic in and around the College has increased during afternoon pick-up. As a result of this, we have taken some measures to improve the parking at the College with the expansion of the overflow car park (this project will be completed by the end of Week 2). To help ensure the effective flow of traffic and the safety of our Wollemi community, I take this opportunity to remind you of the College’s pick-up procedures.  

Main Carpark (inside the College)

1.     Entry into the school is via the second gate only.

2.    Students are only to be collected in the green pick-up area (see diagram above) 

3.    The curb by the buildings is set down and pick up only (noted in green) – no parking

·           Do not alight from the right-hand side of cars in the set-down lane.  Please be especially vigilant that children ONLY alight on the left.

4.   Please do not double park in the set-down lane but wait for space to be available on the curb.

5.    Please remain in your vehicle until your son arrives. 

6.   To ensure traffic flow and maximize space, when waiting in the carline to collect your son/s, please make sure you move to the front of the line or fill any empty space available along the pickup area. 

Please watch for young students crossing on the pedestrian crossing from the school veranda entrance to the carpark.

Overflow car park (outside the school)

7. Students are only to be collected in the green pickup area (see diagram above) 

8. Please Park only in the designated parking bays - as noted in yellow on the diagram  

IMPORTANT NOTES

Please ensure your son knows which carpark he will be picked up from in the afternoon. 

To further assist with the flow of traffic and to reduce parent wait time in the car line, please remind your son/s that they must be watchful at this time for the approach of your vehicle on Gipps Rd so that they can be ready for collection.

We hope that these measures will help allow traffic within the College to flow more effectively and reduce traffic congestion whilst ensuring student safety.  We appreciate that the afternoon pickup period can be busy, and we ask that we continue to be patient and courteous to each other. 

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

The battle between the number 1 team Wollemi Warriors and the number 2 team Wollemi Wildcats in Division 2 will be held this coming Friday at 6.30 pm at the Penrith Valley Sports Stadium (Herbert Street Cambridge Park)

Although they are already assured of the semifinals slot, it's still expected that this game will be exciting and full of action.

We invite everyone to watch this game and support both teams

Congratulations to Josip  Blazevic (School Captain, Class of 2013) who has been admitted as a lawyer on Friday 17 February. Well done Joey!

 As part of the Admissions Ceremony, Joey has asked his friend and fellow captain, John Buhagiar ( Vice Captain, Class of 2013) to be his "mover" to endorse his admission.  The 2 captains side by side once more making it all the more wonderful to see our Old Boys making their mark.

Normal Trading Hours are Fridays from 1 pm to 4:30 pm

Email: wollemi@midford.com.au Website: https://www.midford.com.au/school-shops-online     school passphrase: Wollemi1999

P: 02 8857 4959   E: wollemi@midford.com.au

Please Note: This is for Fittings & Try On Service Only. No sales or orders will be placed on-site - all orders will be placed online only.

All families are able to make their own uniform-fitting appointments through our online appointment system by using the below link. https://midford.as.me/WollemiCollege