Last Friday morning, our Wollemi dads and sons were welcomed by the delicious aroma of an Aussie BBQ, sizzling with bacon, eggs, and sausages. Beyond the food, the true highlight was the incredible sense of Wollemi community spirit.

This year’s Father’s Day Breakfasthad it all: gourmet bacon and egg rolls, the classic sausage sandwich, vegetarian breakfast rolls, and, for the first time, samosas with chai tea.

Alongside the culinary delights was the wonderful opportunity for our boys to spend quality time with their dads—chatting, laughing, and enjoying a relaxed morning together. It was a sight to see.

Feeding a crowd, especially when it involves hungry boys, requires much planning, preparation, and organisation. This year, the amazing Annemarie B (Wollemi mum) took the lead in coordinating and facilitating the event, supported by many volunteers. A huge thank you to Annemarie and to her sons, Elijah and Oscar, for their efforts (her youngest son, Sebastian, unfortunately unwell, was very disappointed to miss his volunteering opportunity).

As you know, last Sunday, 7th September, Pope Leo celebrated the Canonization of St Carlo Acutis and St Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Combined Independent Schools Athletics Championships to see 3 of our amazing primary students compete against the best athletes from independent schools across the state. These 3 students Levi V (Long Jump), Kirbie A (100m and 200m) and Joseph G (Shot Put and Discus) represented Hills Zone and Wollemi College with pride, achieving pleasing results, highlighted by Joseph G placing 4th in Shotput.

The way in which these 3 young men carried themselves, made me consider the positive impact which sport and other extra curricular activities can have on the character development of our students.

We are blessed at Wollemi to have so many teachers who give up their time to allow our students to participate in a wide range of sports and other extra curricular activities - Rugby Union, Flag Football, soccer (indoor and outdoor), basketball, chess, debating and cricket. In addition to the valuable health benefits and skill acquisition from participation in these activities, it is the character traits which they develop along the way which are so valuable.

Matthias S, School Captain

On Wednesday, 3 September, we were fortunate to welcome Redfield Old Boy, Dr Michael Choi, who spoke to Secondary students about why medicine can be a rewarding career and how to get started on the journey.

Dr Choi shared his personal story, beginning with work experience at Westmead Children’s Hospital and leading to his current internship at Nepean Hospital, where he is working in the Emergency Department. He then gave a clear overview of the different pathways into medicine and other health professions, before finishing with a Q&A session.

This was an optional event, yet over 40 students gave up their lunchtime to attend.

A big thank you to Dr Choi for inspiring our students!

Mr Gerard Weber, Head of Science

A huge thank you to our coaches for their dedication, enthusiasm, and support — it has been a significant part of the boys’ success. We can’t wait to see both teams in action at the next level!

Mr Adam Bayliss, Sportsmaster

Our students had a fantastic day at the Hills Zone Secondary Athletics Carnival, with many strong performances across both track and field events. We are proud to share that a number of students placed in their events and have qualified for AICES Athletics next week. Congratulations to Royal R, Luke P, Matthew C, Timofey S, Micah A, Jacob J, Lucas L, and Jayden Y on their outstanding achievements.

Aloha Wollemi Ohana,

It feels like I say it frequently, but it has been a busy past few weeks in the world of primary athletics! From futsal, soccer, and American flag football, our fanatic student athletes dug deep and gave it their all!

Two weeks ago, Wollemi College was well represented at the Hills Zone Athletics Carnival. All of our boys represented their school and families extremely well. Not only in the way they performed, but also in the sportsmanship and support they showed each other.

Three of our boys were able to bring home five ribbonsthroughout various events, and one amazing athlete set TWO Hills Zone records! Please see below for the breakdown:

-Levi V (4B): 3rd place in 8-10’s High Jump - 1.15m

-Kirbie A (5G): 3rd place in U11’s 200m Sprint - 30.32 seconds

-Kirbie A (5G): 1st place in U11’s 100m Sprint - 14.57 seconds

-Joseph G (6B): 1st place in 12-13’s Shot Put - 9.58m (Hills Zone Record)

-Joseph G (6B): 1st place in 12-13’s Discus - 25.95m (Hills Zone Record)

All three will represent Wollemi College at the CIS Athletics Carnival, which would have happened by the time of this writing. (Can update)

On Friday, the 22nd of August, a bunch of Wollemi dads gathered together for our very first Fathering Project evening - what a great start it was! With some wine, cheese and nibbles to share, the room quickly filled with conversations, good yarns and deep reflections. We looked at The Father and His Familyby Michael Moynihan.

There was some initial guided discussion, but after a few prompts, the stories and anecdotes started flowing freely. Dads spoke about the joys of being present with their kids, the challenges of balancing work and family, and the quiet pride that comes from seeing their son or daughter grow in confidence and character.

What stood out to me most as a young father of three young boys was the sense of fraternity and the very special community that we have here. I was reminded of the great anthem (love them or hate them): “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. We all face ups and downs as fathers, and together, we can encourage and support each other in our journeys.

Please pray for our sick Wollemi family and friends:

Michael Lucas,grand uncle to Alexander (10G) and Achilles (11B);CarolGonzales,mother to Gena and Alan Soriano, grandmother to Matthias (12G), Ignatius (8B) and Lorenzo (7B); (4B);Joseph Valladores,father to Jose (9G);Carol Alvarez,grandmother to Ramon (9B) and Vincenzo Zamora (5B); Emmanuel Hanna,brother to George (8G); Victor Sciberras,father to Marianne and Carmel Spiteri, grandfather to Justin (9B); Mariano Valladores,father to Ela and Will O'Neill, grandfather to Michael (11B) and John-Paul (7B); John McAuley(101 yo) great-grandfather to Max Horsfall (5B) and Joseph McAuley (3G); Zoey de Villiers,sister of Jayson de Villiers (6G) and daughter of Mr Jean Pierre de Villiers(Wollemi Teacher).

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

We believe this book is a meaningful way to honour and celebrate our school's legacy for years to come. Additional copies are available for purchase at the Front Office, enabling you to share this cherished keepsake with extended family and friends. We deeply appreciate your continued support and hope this special book inspires you.

To order your copy today, click here.

Wollemi is excited to offer a range of commemorative merchandise, including custom-designed hoodies, beanies, caps, cufflinks, and ties. These items feature unique artwork inspired by Wollemi's motto and vibrant community.

Visit the front office today to secure your favourite items, as they are in limited supply.

Wollemi College is delighted to announce that Dion Palumbo will be teaching the guitar on Wednesdays in the Music Centre.

He has vast experience performing and teaching, including in London.

A career highlight was performing at the 2012 London Paralympic Games. He has conducted and arranged music for the British National Youth Jazz Orchestra and won best EP in the Jazz/Funk/Fusion section of the 2014 Independent Music Awards.

Dion is also a highly qualified Music Therapist and the College is in discussions with him to obtain his services in this area. Watch this space!

If you wish to start lessons with Mr Dion Palumbo, please contact Ms Melissa Lamrock, Head of Music – melissa.lamrock@wollemi.nsw.edu.au  

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

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

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. To help ensure the effective traffic flow and our Wollemi community's safety, I take this opportunity to remind you of the College’s pick-up procedures...

Throughout the school term our opening hours are 1:00pm – 4:30pm on Fridays.

Jesus Youth, a Catholic movement with canonical approval and active presence in Sydney,  other cities in Australia, and around the world, is offering an incredible opportunity for teenagers (Grade 7 to 12) to deepen their faith and experience spiritual growth. It promises to be an enlightening experience for all who attend. This retreat offers them the opportunity to step away from the daily hustle and immerse themselves in a nurturing environment where they can connect with God, strengthen their faith, and build lasting friendships with peers who share their values. It will feature engaging talks on topics relevant to teenagers, uplifting and vibrant music, reflective discussions, and interactive, fun activities designed to deepen their understanding of the beauty of living the Catholic faith. The program includes daily Holy Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and opportunities for Reconciliation. This will be a precious chance for teenagers to explore their spiritual identity, confront the challenges of the modern world, and grow closer to God.

Here is the Registration form to confirm seats. Please feel free to pass this to any other parents/teenagers who might be interested.