At the Airport

Tomorrow we welcome back our World Youth Day students and staff returning from Portugal. Whilst they had to contend with very hot weather, our boys were enthusiastic in showing their appreciation for the Holy Father and his message. We are confident this has been an unforgettable experience and a source of much positive growth. We look forward to hearing all about their experiences on their return to Wollemi. 

This morning some of our staff and families travelled bright and early to the airport to welcome the Prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocariz on his arrival in Sydney for his Apostolic Visit to Australia and New Zealand. Following visits to the Philippines and Indonesia, this is the last leg of his trip and we are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to host him here at Wollemi, to show him our school and to listen to his words of advice and encouragement. More details regarding his visit to Wollemi will be shared shortly.

We hope on the day of the Prelate’s visit to have the whole school gather around the future Wollemi Shrine and have Monsignor Fernando bless the building and all the future spiritual fruits that it will facilitate. We are very close to finishing, but we still require the generosity of our families to - as a parent recently put it -  ‘dress up Mary’s house in style’, reflecting the deep devotion of this community. I encourage everyone to donate to our Innovation Fund through EdStart, or to contact the School Office for other ways to contribute.  

Japanese Visitors

We are also hosting successive groups of Japanese visitors from Kaimei High School in Osaka last week, who hosted our students last year, and Nagasaki Nisi High School this week, who were planning to host us this year. Whilst sadly this year's Wollemi visit to Nagasaki is unable to go ahead, this is an enriching experience we wish to pursue in the future as it offers our boys the opportunity to gain a wider understanding of other places and cultures. A big thank you to Mrs Hazama for her organisation, and to all the Wollemi families who are hosting a Japanese student. Their generosity in opening their homes to our visitors is much appreciated, and it gives our own boys a great example of openness and generosity that will bear positive fruits in due course.

Academics

Subject Selections for Years 9, 10 and 11 2024 are well underway. Many thanks to all the Year 10 families who attended the subject selection information evening last Tuesday. It is a momentous occasion in your son’s development and well-informed choices are crucial to his success in HSC and beyond. 

The Year 12 boys are fast approaching their Trial HSC examinations. Our Primary students are now all in possession of a prayer card and are committed to supporting one HSC student each. Perhaps it is not too much to ask if the entire family could ‘adopt’ this Year 12 in their prayers. It makes a big difference to our senior students and their families.

Coming up

The College Library is a hive of activity as we get ready for Book Week 2023. We will have Authors Visits on Wednesday 16 August and the traditional Book Week Parade & Family Picnic on Friday 18 August. Further details are below.

On 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption (and one of only two non-Sunday Holy Days of Obligation in Australia) we will have a Whole School Mass in honour of Our Lady. All our Wollemi families are cordially invited to attend. Further information and  RSVP will be sent shortly to assist us with logistics for the day. 

Finally, we have a tentative date for this term’s Dads’ Night on Friday 15 September. The theme will be Texas-style Low & Slow smoked BBQ. It looks like it will give last term’s Sub-Continental Cuisine Night a run for its money in terms of deliciousness. Don’t forget to save the date. 

James Ramos, Headmaster

Welcome to a brand-new section of the Wollemi Pine Newsletter: "Students in the Spotlight"! We are excited to shine a well-deserved light on our students' exceptional achievements and experiences beyond the College walls.

In this section, we'll showcase the remarkable talents, passions, and accomplishments that our students pursue in their lives outside of their studies. From participating in prestigious competitions, contributing to social causes, excelling in sports, arts, or music, to making a difference in their communities – these stories reveal the diverse and inspiring ways our students are leaving their mark on the world.

In this inaugural edition, we proudly showcase Andrei Kabiling (5B), a talented individual who recently participated in the prestigious Nunawading Spectres National Basketball Tournament. This event not only exhibited exceptional basketball prowess but also celebrated the values of sportsmanship, resilience, and dedication. Andrei, a shining star of the City of Blacktown Basketball Association (CBBA) Storm Representative Team, not only represented his team but also carried the Wollemi banner with pride. Throughout the tournament, Andrei faced formidable competition, battling against six teams from New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria. Demonstrating unwavering commitment, talent and teamwork, Andrei's team secured an impressive five out of six victories during the minor rounds. Their exceptional performance earned them the coveted top seed position on the ladder, propelling them to the Finals. We're thrilled to share that the CBBA Storm Team secured the title of Finals Runners Up, a testament to their dedication and teamwork. At the tournament's end, Andrei's individual achievements were celebrated as he claimed an impressive #12 ranking in the score (in excess of 70 points across the tournament) the statistics among 65 players in their division. This underscores his pursuit of excellence and exceptional basketball abilities. Let's congratulate Andrei for his outstanding journey at the Nunawading Spectres National Basketball Tournament 2023. He not only honours Wollemi Primary School but also embodies the qualities of a true sportsman and dedicated student-athlete.

We invite you to enjoy a special video featuring Andrei, where he shares insights into his representative journey and offers glimpses of his engaging participation throughout the tournament. You may notice that the Head of Primary takes on the role of the interviewer – while his interviewing skills might be a work in progress, there's no doubt that he's committed to improvement, much like our talented athletes! Thank you to Mr Justin Lockley for his exceptional editing skills in crafting the video. His dedication and talent have brought Andrei's journey to life, capturing the essence of his achievements and experiences.

Scott Williamson, Head of Primary

 Term 3 is well and truly underway and all years should be back into that school mindset. For the older years, especially Year 11 and Year 12s, some very important exams are coming up. For Year 12s, 30% of the first half of our HSC all comes down to Trials next week, and for the Year 11s, your Prelims are your final big mark. So for both sets of students, work hard and give it one more push. For the other students, Term 3 assessments will begin rolling in one by one, so get ready to work hard. But, working hard is much easier spoken than acted upon, so, allow me to help you find some reasons to work hard

The Founder of Opus Dei, St Josemaria Escrivá, understands that work is not easy, but he also knows that if we see the meaning behind it, we will find it much easier. St Josemaria said, “Work is part and parcel of man’s life on earth. It involves effort, weariness, exhaustion: signs of the suffering and struggle which accompany human existence and which point to the reality of sin and the need for redemption. But in itself work is not a penalty or a curse or a punishment (…) work is a gift from God.” See, even St Josemaria knows that work is exhausting, but what's also important is that he says it is a gift from God. Although work can be a pain in the rear, and forces you to put in excessive effort, I promise it will aid in your personal growth and development. An athlete trains vigorously, putting their body through immense physical pain, purely to improve in their sport. Similarly, we must fight through the struggle of studying and see it as a gift from God.

Not only is studying a gift from God, but we must also see studying as a way of prayer. St Josemaria said in The Way, “For the modern apostle, one hour of study is one hour of prayer.” Nice and simple right? Well, look at it like this. For students, one of the most important aspects of our lives is our study. So, to the same regard we place on prayer, we should place our study. Now I'm not saying you should study and not pray, or vice versa, but instead, I'm suggesting that when you study, offer your study up and complete the task as your version of a prayer to God. And when you do your separate 5-10 minute prayer, ask for the strength to complete your next task.

Steve J., School Captain

“Do you think nuclear power is the solution to energy issues?” wondered Justin as he eagerly asked the first question of the day. It was an amazing question by Wollemi and it astonished the Educators, resulting in them almost dropping to the ground. With eyes as wide as galaxies, they replied, “Well, not right now because of the laws, but possibly in the future.” The questions didn’t end there. A whole barrage of amazing questions from Shlock and so many others left them in total shock. On the 1st of August 2023, Year 5B travelled by coach to ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) for our Term 3 excursion.

When we got on the coach, we eagerly went to sit next to our friends, did our holy morning offering and were off. We went inside the Discovery Building to put away our bags and learn about science at work. Some students could do things like mixing the colours and light. My favourite one was when a laser beam came into the water and made a zig zag which was called total internal reflection. Then we played a game where we had to answer questions about the periodic table and place little containers of elements into the correct box. The final activity was to find out which elements were magnetic by using a magnet.

After this, there was a sudden SKADOOSH! The lights flickered with caution, making the room darker and darker. A radiant glow went forth across the wall. I saw a pink, green and blue light as Ms Stephanie asked for volunteers and we were all keen to be one. Mr Quan picked three people who strutted to the front and held the lights against the wall to show us how colours of light combine to make other colours. Next, it was time for learning about total internal reflection. A laser beam shone through tonic water and bounced off the glass like a zig zag. We were all astonished at how the light moved. The light show ended with a few other light and colour experiments using ultraviolet light.

Then we had to get on the bus and travel into Federal Government territory. We drew nearer and nearer and nearer to the ominous building housing Australia’s only nuclear reactor. First we ventured into a small room overlooking the Neutron particle accelerators named after native Australian animals such as Dingo, Wombat, Quokka and many more. These machines are used for a variety of purposes like splitting an atom and scanning through rock.

Finally, we went to see the OPAL nuclear reactor on CCTV because only scientists were able to enter the actual reactor for safety issues. After they told us about how the reactor works and the different types of water to keep the reactor safe, we left the site through the secure gate to return to the Discovery centre. We didn’t have time to visit the other Environmental Science site so we packed up and returned to school.

In my opinion ANSTO was the best excursion we’ve had yet.

Ethan, Lucas, Elias, Joseph, John-Paul, Zachary and Isaac (Year 5B)

Here are some examples of portraits of August Pullman, the main character from the book "wonder". The boys use Fauvism to make their portraits which is French style of art in which unnatural colours and bold outlines are used.

I am Ryan Stead, one of the Year 11 SRC representatives. On the 31st of July, our Year 11 class recently participated in a day of talks and discussions focused on the concept of leadership. We delved into the ways we can develop and maintain leadership roles both in and out of school, as well as how to overcome the challenges that may arise in Year 12. Throughout the day, we were fortunate enough to hear from a variety of speakers including Mr. Ramos, Mr. James, Michael Crossland, and Dave Brebner. They shared their personal experiences and perspectives on the true meaning of leadership, as well as how to navigate the obstacles we may encounter in life. After spending time reflecting on how to integrate their ideas and perspectives into our lives, our class was lucky enough to spend the remainder of the day strengthening the relationships that we have formed over the years. Whether that was joining in on the futsal derby or playing pool with mates. Overall the day was a great success bringing us closer and teaching us how to be the best versions of ourselves as we move forward into Year 12. Lastly, I would like to say a special thanks to Mr Johnson, Mr Wright and the Office ladies for coordinating this insightful day."

Ryan Stead, 11B

Last week, Year 11 attended a seminar that focused on leadership and overcoming challenges and obstacles. The Year 11 Seminar was a fantastic day that was both insightful and entertaining. It started with talks from the headmaster, Mr Ramos, and Mr James, who gave sage leadership advice. One of the next speakers, Michael Crossland, gave his inspiring life story that helped put into perspective the blessings we take for granted each day.

Year 11 then went to the Don Bosco Youth Centre, which provided a multitude of sports and recreational activities such as billiards, futsal, basketball, table tennis and many more. Guest speaker Dave Brebner added to Crossland’s words by explaining his life-changing story through the obstacle of Tourette’s Syndrome. His outlook on life despite the multitude of challenges he had to face exemplified the words of St Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The class then had lunch at the Don Bosco Centre before heading back to Wollemi. Overall, the day was both inspiring and fun, able to provide a meaningful experience as well as an opportunity to bond as a class.

Noah Pincevic, 11G

The Year 11 Biology class went on an excursion to Penrith Lakes at the Regatta Centre to study the ecosystem and investigate the sustainability of the water at the lakes. The day started with a bus trip to the lakes where the students then conducted a series of experiments that gave insight on the salinity, amount of phosphate, temperature, percentage of oxygen dissolved in the water and pH. Furthermore, the students spent time capturing and learning about the small organisms that dwell in the lakes. All the results and observations were used to determine the quality of the environment. Overall, the boys learnt many interesting facts and enjoyed a nice peaceful day outside of the classroom. 

Ekshvaak Manglik (Year 11 Biology Student)

 The School community is invited to pray for our young men as they prepare for their trials in the next few weeks and HSC exams later this year. 

A CoA Community HSC Prayermmunity HSC Prayer

A School Community HSC Prayer

Heavenly Father, we bring before you our HSC students. Give them the gifts of wisdom, right judgement, knowledge and courage. 

Bless them with calm hearts and clarity of mind as they sit for their exams. May they be affirmed in their efforts and may they know that you are there with them. 

We pray that they will stay calm under pressure and work to the best of their ability. May they feel your loving presence in their lives, now and always, and may they be strengthened by the prayerful support of us, their school community.

 We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen

Next Thursday (10 August) Year 12 will be hosting a ‘jersey’ mufti day for all Year 2 to 12 students. Boys are asked on this day to wear a ‘jersey’ of their choosing with smart casual attire (no thongs allowed). 

A gold coin donation will be collected by our Year 12 men as students enter the gates in the morning. 

All monies raised will go to the Year 12 Gift to the School.  Thank you in advance for your support of this Year 12 initiative.

Our annual Book Week Family Fun Day will be held on Friday, 18th August.

Year 2 and Year 3 parents, grandparents and relatives are invited to join us on the day for a costume parade, family picnic and an afternoon of fun and enjoyment. 

Costume Parade - 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Year 2 and Year 3 students will transform into their favourite literary characters and present to an audience of their family and peers.

Each student is asked to prepare two or three sentences to recite regarding their character. The first sentence should be an introduction in the following manner: “Hi! My name is character’s name from the book title of book ” This should be followed by an interesting fact or characteristic about the character and/or his adventures. This presentation should be no more than 3 sentences. 

It is important that the students rehearse their recital at home so they feel confident speaking on the day. An in-class rehearsal of their short presentation (no costumes) will be held the day prior to the parade. 

Students must inform their class teacher of their character the Monday before the parade (Monday of Week 5).

Students are to wear their normal uniform to school and change into their costumes before the parade (Mums and Dads are welcome to assist with costume preparation from 11:00 am).

Family Picnic - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. 

Following the parade, families are invited to join their sons for a picnic lunch on the college grounds. Bring along your picnic blankets, antipasto platters, sandwiches and snacks and enjoy a meal together as we celebrate Book Week 2023. 

Our class teachers have prepared a number of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy on the day.

During the afternoon parents will also have the opportunity to view student works created for Book Week 2023. 

If you are planning on attending, please complete this RSVP form. Please indicate the number of people from your family who will be attending on the day. This will help us to plan seating and activities throughout the day.  

If you have any questions, please email Mr Baxter via lukebaxter@wollemi.nsw.edu.au 

Mr Justin Lockley and Mr Luke Baxter

An invitation to Wollemi and Montgrove Dads.

Wollemi would like to extend an invitation to our Wollemi and Montgrove fathers to join us at a Dads’ Night on Friday 15 September 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.  

What: Spring Celebration!  

Where: Montgrove College Hall

When: Saturday 16th September 2023

Time: 8:00-10:00 pm

Come dressed in your favourite spring outfit and come for a night of good food and good fun with great company! Karaoke, games and lucky door prizes to be won!

Please RSVP by Saturday 9th September via this form. 

1.Absentee Photo Day will now be on Friday 11 August. Students participating (those who were away on Wollemi Photo Day, 26 July) are asked to wear their winter uniform on the day. Kindly bring in your sports uniform to change into if your son has a PDHPE class on that day (Friday, 11 August).

2. Orders will close 7 days after our Absentee Photo Day on 11 August. Parents that have not yet ordered can still do so without penalty; Parents are encouraged to order as soon as possible. Order online for an easy way to purchase before late fees apply.

Or visit: www.advancedlife.com.au
And enter online order code: RB3 AKJ 8B2

School photography information:

• Late fees - a late fee will be applied to each package purchased more than 7 days after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately
• Package delivery - School photographs will be returned approximately 6 weeks after the day of photography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.
• Previous Years’ photos - Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available to order under the 'previous years or group photo' tabs at your school’s advancedorder site when you click on the 'Order School Photos Here' button above. You can also order past packages, portrait images and gifts from your child’s unique, individual and secure advancedyou image archive site using the unique 9-digit image code found on packages you have ordered in the past

Advancedlife would like to express our appreciation to Wollemi College for placing your trust in us. Please remember we offer a 100% money back guarantee on our products to ensure your peace of mind. We would also love to receive your feedback or resolve any issues you may experience as fast as possible, to ensure your satisfaction. If you have any questions, comments or feedback relating to your advancedlife experience please contact us at: www.advancedlife.com.au/contact

Congratulations to Miryam and Benedetto  Asnaghi on the birth of Rebecca, sister to Giovanni in 2B.

Please pray for our sick Wollemi family and friends:

Joanne Pang, mother to Ian Chia in 4G; Margaret Miles, grandmother to Marissa and Vince Zinghini, great-grandmother to Anthony in 5B; Maria Mendoza, mother to  Noah in 7B; Joseph Valladores, father to Jose in 7B; Fr Andrew Fornal, Parish Priest of St Joseph's Kingswood; 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;  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:

Fr Carl Ashton PP, parish priest of Sacred Heart Mount Druitt, friend and supporter of Wollemi College; Wilson Filamor, father to Joel and Charisse Filamor, grandfather to  Lorenzo 11B; Michel Chaghouri, father to Joseph and Cristina, grandfather to Elias in 5B; Phillip Yassa, uncle to Shukr and Sara, great uncle to Luke in 9G; Antoine  Nohra, father to Alain and  Lisa Nohra, grandfather to Giovany in Year 12 and Mathew in 10G; Josip Blazevic, father to John and Julie Blazevic, (John Paul 2011, Daniel 2017) Viktor and Alison Blazevic (Josip 2013, Raphael 2015, Dominic, 2017 and Gabriel 2020) and Paulina and Renzo Trivarelli (Adrian 2013, Alex 2015, Luke 2017, Marcus 2020 and Michael Leaver 2021); Adele Doko, mother to Herg Christine Lay, grandmother to Jonathan in 4B and Joseph in 2B;  John Russell, grandfather to Emily and Anthony Di Natale, great grandfather to Joseph in 3G; Benilda Castro, grandmother to Jose and Christine Besa, great grandmother to Lucas in 4G; Chun Seng Chia, father to Chin and Jo, grandfather to Ian in 4G.

_{If you would like to add any intentions to the Prayer Board, please send them to newsletter@wollemi.nsw.edu.au.  Kindly notify newsletter@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

Fitting Service has resumed in Term 3. Normal Trading Hours are Fridays from 1 pm to 4:30 pm

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

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

Ordering online couldn’t be simpler.

1. Go to https://www.midford.com.au/school-shops-online  

2. Select Wollemi College from the online School Shops tab.

3. New users to click the ‘Register New Account’ button.

4. Start the registration process by selecting Wollemi College from the drop-down menu and add the

unique school pass phrase - Wollemi unique passphrase: Wollemi1999

5. Add your personal information, and create a username and password.

6. Order the items you need, select pick up from the school, or option of home delivery.