Principal's Message
Being in a room of young people can evoke feelings of inspiration and energy, but it can also sometimes feel isolating and overwhelming. What makes the difference in these experiences? Often, it's our own sense of confidence and connection that plays a crucial role.
This week we celebrated Harmony Day with the theme of 'Everyone Belongs' and it was inspiring. There was a great sense of fun and community, marked by a variety of engaging activities. Particularly in the primary school, the vibrant sea of orange and cultural dresses not only added to the festive atmosphere but also symbolised hope and connection among us.
Events like Harmony Day contribute significantly to building a stronger sense of belonging. We understand that wellbeing goes beyond individual experiences; it encompasses creating a supportive and inclusive community. By intentionally fostering a culture of acceptance and understanding, we nurture an environment where both students and staff feel valued and respected.
Looking ahead, we have another exciting event next Thursday as we come together to celebrate Easter in a combined chapel service at Wahroonga Church, followed by a delightful treat of hot cross buns for students, parents, and staff, courtesy of the Home and School team.
Enjoy reading through the newsletter and seeing the wide variety of learning experiences our school community is engaged in.
Stay well and stay connected!
God Bless
Mrs Julia Heise - Principal
Chaplain's Message
As we approach the later half of Term 1 we already have so much to be thankful for! In the chaplaincy space we have celebrated the addition of 2 new worship bands, one formed from year 10 and the other years 7-8. Each new band is experiencing the joy of serving the school community through worship leading in chapel, visits to other schools to lead their chapels, and the potential of taking part in our week of worship band this year. We are also excited to share that we are beginning our song writing season now with the intention of releasing a short album by the end of 2024 with worship songs written and recorded by our very own Wahroonga Adventist School students.
Tonight we are excited to see all the high school students from the Greater Sydney Adventist School system coming together for the combined night of worship hosted right here in Fox Valley Community Church. The worship at this event, along with most of the other elements, will be lead by our own current students and some alumni!
We are excited to see God lead us forward from this day into the rest of 2024.
Pr Nick Kross - Head Chaplain - on behalf of the Chaplains Team
Upcoming Events
Calendar of Upcoming School Events
You can access the list of upcoming School events via the link below. The School Calendar is also available under the Parent Information tab on the School website.
Term Dates for 2024
Please click on the link below to view the school term dates and public holiday information for 2024.
Whole School News
Royal Easter Show
Our Environmental Ambassadors are competing at the Royal Easter Show in a number of events including the pure breeding egg layers and commercial egg layers categories. Thank you to Pastor Daron and Pastor Richie for all their support and guidance. Make sure to stop by and say hello to our chooks when you go to the show.
Some pretty impressive pumpkins have been grown in our school vege patch in last few months. They have now been delivered to the Royal Easter Show where they will be competing in the biggest pumpkin competitions. The students have also submitted entries into the best decorated pumpkin and celebrity look-a-like competitions. After the chickens, check out the pumpkins too!
Mrs Leisly White - Head of Science
Harmony Day
Harmony Week is a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Some people wear orange to show their support whilst others wear the costume or dress that celebrates their cultural heritage.
Our school campus was abuzz all day on Thursday with students and teachers celebrating Harmony Day with costumes, colour, food and performances. It was certainly a time of celebrating inclusion and diversity.
A huge thankyou goes out to all of the teachers as well as the SRC who were heavily involved in running the program for the day. The students definitely had a great day!
Baptism of Nico-Blue
In a school and church ceremony at Fox Valley Community Seventh-Day Adventist Church on the 2nd of March 2024, Nico-Blue M took a significant step in his journey with God. Nico-Blue’s beaming 96-year-old grandmother, Betty Catterall, watched from the first row, making this event incredibly special. Betty is a long-time member of the Waitara SDA church currently residing in Mount Colah and is known for her unwavering faith as well as being the beloved mother of Paul and Ross Catterall.
Reflecting on his journey, Nico-Blue shared, "Ever since I was young, I have always tried to be on the path of God. Sadly, I never did end up succeeding on that path until the start of year 7. I wanted to move towards the path of baptism so I could get closer with God and have a better bond with him. I studied with Mrs Metz for a year then early on this year we found out it was time to work out the baptism. I was very nervous to start the journey but I knew it was for the best. So now I am going to try my best to become the best Christian I can be".
Nico-Blue’s baptism stands as a testament to the transformative power of faith and the enduring support of family and the community. He is very excited at the opportunity to show his school friends and family the power of God’s love and kindness for humans. As he embarks on this new chapter of his spiritual life, Nico-Blue carries with him the blessings and prayers of all those who have witnessed his baptism and spiritual growth journey.
Mrs Jessica Metz - Head of Bible
Primary School News
Year 1 to Year 4 - Day of Worship
Recently we had the opportunity to take our primary school students to the annual Stage 1 and 2 Day of Worship.
This event exists for the purpose of bringing together all of our Adventist primary school students in the Sydney region for a huge combined worship service. This year we had around 1,000 students and staff united together in Dayspring Church, Castle Hill. The theme for the day was "Glow" which explored unpacking the joys and experience of living a life that allows God to shine out of us. Every school brought a special musical item to present in front of a huge audience of their peers. We hope that this day will be a memory that lasts for our young students!
VISUAL ARTS - Year 2 have been looking at different types of self-portraits this term in Art. Last week we made self-portraits based off the cubism movement by Pablo Picasso. They started by tracing a shape for their face, before choosing a left eye, right eye, mouth and nose to copy for their portraits. They finished by colouring their finished portraits. Check out some of the awesome portraits that were created!
Primary SRC and Environmental Ambassadors for 2024
It has been wonderful to see so many students applying for leadership positions in the Primary School. Student Representative Council (SRC) and the Environmental Ambassadors have now been elected for 2024. The SRC have already planned events such as Harmony Day. It is great to have such enthusiasm and I look forward to seeing positive impact these students will have within our school community.
Mrs Anne-Marie Deppeler - Head of Primary
Year 6 Jumpers
In an exciting rite of passage, Year 6 students recently received their highly anticipated Year 6 jumpers. The jumpers mark a significant milestone for these students as they step into their final year of primary school.
Just in time for their upcoming excursion to Canberra, the students were thrilled to don their new jackets, which not only provide comfort but also a sense of belonging and unity among the Year 6 cohort. The excitement was palpable as they proudly wore their jumpers, ready to embark on new adventures and create lasting memories in this pivotal year of their education journey.
Mrs Brittany Gates - Year 6 Class Teacher
Year 1 & 2 Science
During Science this Term, Stage 1 are looking at Materials and their purpose. We were able to complete a fun hands on experiment where we explored frozen berries. We looked at using our senses to work out the best way to thaw them. We thought they tasted a little sour!
Mrs Claire Code - Primary School Teacher
Primary Sport
K-2 Swimming Fun Day
Our Kindy to Year 2 students enjoyed a fun day in the pool for their swimming fun day. We were blessed with a lovely day and some amazing secondary students who assisted Mr Fulton on the day. Students participated in a variety of novelty events. The Year 6 students and parents contributed to the day by selling snacks as part of their fundraiser for the year. Thanks Mr Fulton making the day fun for all.
Mrs Anne-Marie Deppeler - Head of Primary
A New Soccer Program!
To complete the form mentioned in the flyer above you can click the button below. You can also contact Prime Sports via primesportsaus10@gmail.com.
Mr Jack Fulton - Primary Sports Co-ordinator
Secondary School News
Science and Engineering Challenge Day
A select group of Year 9 and 10 students attended the Science and Engineering Challenge Day at Sydney Olympic Park. They competed against schools such as Sydney Boys High, Strathfield Girls High and Northholm Grammar School. Students were presented with a variety of challenges including, engineering fish traps, decoding, designing earthquake proof buildings and creating wind turbines. Throughout the day our students worked hard and were leading with the most points at the halfway mark. Overall, our students placed 3rd for the day! Congratulations to our students for all their efforts, no matter the obstacles!
Mrs Leisly White - Head of Science
Year 8 Languages - Japanese
Our Year 8 Japanese class recently went on an excursion to experience Japanese culture. Students dressed in kimonos, learned traditional dances, played various festival games, and enjoyed delicious Japanese bento boxes. Everyone had a great time and truly enjoyed the excursion!
Miss Winnie Wu - Language Teacher
Heart Dissection for Year 8
This term Year 8 have been learning about our different body systems, and this week have been learning about the circulatory system and the heart. To learn more about the structures of the heart, they completed a dissection where they explored the atria, ventricles and all of the veins and arteries that go to and from the heart.
Miss Madeline Ferguson - Year 7-10 Science and Chemistry Teacher
Secondary Sport
On Wednesday 21 March, thirty secondary students represented Wahroonga at the CSSA Zone Swimming Carnival. All participants were competitive and with many of these students achieving great results. Special mentions must go to Maile W (Year 9) for being awarded Age Champion and Salani S (Year 10) for breaking the 50m backstroke record. Congratulations to all our students!
Mr Ignatius Ah-You - PDHPE Teacher & Secondary Sports Co-ordinator
Library News
‘Book Fair Luau: It’s a Reading Celebration!’:
ALOHA! Our ‘Book Fair Luau’ is currently in full swing in the library running until Monday, March 25 (8am – 4pm). A giant range of children’s books, novelty items and posters from the Scholastic Book Company are available for purchase. Choose books for your personal use, for gifts, or select books from your child’s class wish list and donate them to their classroom. Come and visit the Big Kahuna before the luau celebration finishes!
There will be no book exchange in the Library during the Book Fair so please keep your library books at home and return them once the Book Fair is finished.
Premier's Reading Challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge website is now up and running and we have made an outstanding start with 30 students already finished. The Premier’s Reading Challenge is achievable for all students, so please encourage your children to give it a go! Congratulations to Delta B (1L/C), Jaden K (1L/C), Marissa F (2A), Max G (3K), Hugh A (5M), Sophia C (5M), Iris L (5M), Shourya M (5M), Ian W (6A), Abigail G (7W) and Jemima S (7W) who have all completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Keep up the great reading!
If you need your child’s username and password, please contact Mrs Savage at library@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au
Last Week of Borrowing for Prep
Next week (Week 9) will be the last week of borrowing for the term for our Prep students. Please make sure all books are returned before the end of term so the Prep boxes can be changed over during the term break. Borrowing for all other classes will continue over the holidays.
Holiday Reading
Please email Mrs Savage at Leonie.savage@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au if you would like your child to collect extra books for holiday reading (maximum of 10 books per student).
Mrs Leonie Savage - Librarian
Uniform Shop
The Wahroonga Uniform Shop is open every Friday from 8.30am til 10am.
Online ordering is also available via Flexischools (www.flexischools.com.au) with orders processed on Tuesday and Friday of each week. Orders completed by 8am Tuesday or 8am Friday will be delivered to your child's classroom (Primary Students), or available for collection in the School Office (Secondary Students). Please note that uniform items can only be purchased from the school uniform shop.
For more information or to arrange a fitting please contact Mrs Kelly Oldfield via email at uniformshop@wahroonga.adventist.edu.au.
Mrs Kelly Oldfield- Uniform Shop Manager
Home and School
Parent Voice Meeting
Thank you to the parents of Wahroonga Adventist students who were able to attend our first Parent Voice session for the year. We plan to hold another in both Term 2 and 3 with differing topics, so watch this space. It is a great opportunity for parents and carers to meet others and share their thoughts on how we can continue to improve our school.
During the session we focused on communication platforms with some great discussion around what works well and what could be improved. As a group we agreed that Covid highlighted the flexibility of zoom meetings and we are looking for avenues in which to secure an online meeting option that enhances video and sound for future Parent Voice sessions.
Easter Chapel
Home and School along with the Chaplains Team are preparing for the upcoming Easter Chapel on Thursday the 28th March. We would love to see you at this event and enjoy a cuppa and a hot cross bun afterwards.
Events for Term 2
Mother's Day Afternoon Tea on the 10 May and a Movie Night on the 1st June.
Mrs Michelle Roberts - Home and School President (homeandschool@wahroonga.adventist.edu)
Bits and Pieces
Daughters and Dads Football is back in 2024 with a program located at Montview Oval, Hornsby Heights. We are searching for fathers/father-figures who want to strengthen the relationship they share with their primary-aged daughters through the uniting power of football. Get ready for fun and engaging sessions over 9 weeks! Term 2 sessions run weekly for 90 minutes, covering skill development and interactive activities while spending quality 1:1 time together. The program kicks off from Monday 6th May, and we hope to see you there!