From the Head of the Junior School
Junior School Sport
From the Junior Resource Centre
Junior Chess

From the Head of the Junior School

PRAYER

We thank you Lord, for this term. For the challenges, the successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt.

Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.

Give us strength and courage to do what is right; to be witnesses of our faith.

Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us, to give time and effort to help others, to be peacemakers in our family.

Keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun.

Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term.

We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents, and a community that cares for us.

May we always be conscious of you in our lives.

Amen

THE TERM IN REVIEW

Although teaching and learning continues in earnest in the Junior School this week, the end of term is, nevertheless, upon us, and I have been reflecting on our experiences over the last ten weeks. On the first day of term the empty hallways and classrooms returned to how they should be – full of laughing, excited students. We may have been wearing masks, but we were together.

The handball courts were the scene of renewed friendly rivalries, new friendships, and lessons in patience and sportsmanship. In just ten weeks the boys have done RAHTs, PATs, and PCRs. They’ve had sports trials and Teams meetings. They’ve had ID and sport photos, Friday afternoon assemblies, Maths Drop-Ins, and coped with COVID-19 and isolation. They’ve been to an anti-cyberbullying play, a Commencement Mass, Ash Wednesday Liturgy, Bible Liturgy, and Easter Liturgy. They’ve received awards, some yellow, some blue. They’ve become legends for their efforts in the rain at the swimming carnival and represented the College at IPSHA competitions. They have enjoyed glorious days, in sunshine and rain, at Oxford Falls. They’ve lost and found jackets, hats, socks, and shoes. They’ve forgotten, and remembered, to bring in homework. They’ve had their phones out when they shouldn’t, and away when they should. Their socks have been down, but mostly up, their shirts have been out, but mostly in, and I’ve tied enough ties to enter myself in the Guiness Book of Records. They’ve had the Year 5 camp cancelled, helped out on Open Day and been mesmerised by a dragon for Chinese New Year. They’ve been supported by their peers during and after Peer Support, watched Mum and Dad get dressed up for the Cocktail Party, and will be heading to Armidale for rugby. They’ve made solar ovens that melted marshmallows and raced electric toys that they made themselves. They’ve dribbled, rallied, bowled pace and spin, hit home runs and sixes, and crossed the line for tries at Saturday sport. They’ve raised money for Project Compassion, met one politician and been spellbound by several authors and illustrators. They’ve been to Boxercise, made catapults, sung in a chorale, debated, found solace in the library, and joined a band.

They’ve been busy!

I have been so impressed at how the boys have taken advantage of the vast range of opportunities on offer at St Pius X and seen them as an opportunity for growth. This is what we asked of them on the first day of school this year. We are so proud of them, and we wish them, and you their families, a safe and restful holiday.

THANK YOU

As the students, teachers, and I come to the end of our first term together, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for making me feel so welcome. I remember sitting in the Junior School in January, before school began, waiting for the day that the hall and classrooms were full of students. Once they arrived, so did the magic that is the school day. What a privilege it is. Thank you for entrusting your sons to us. We take the responsibility very seriously. The boys are an absolute joy, and the Junior School teaching staff are generous, kind, and absolutely committed to your sons’ academic progress and pastoral care. Thank you also to the staff beyond the walls of the Junior School who have helped me settle in with a great deal of patience and good humour. The College’s Leadership Team welcomed me with a warm generosity of spirit, and I am especially grateful to Mr Couani, Mr Casey and the rest of the Leadership Team for sharing their wisdom and experience with me.

To our Junior School parents, I would like to thank you for your support of the Junior School and our teachers. We are still in the midst of a challenging era for educators, students and their families, so it is important that we continue to work in partnership, treat each other with the respect and kindness that we all deserve, and, most importantly, keep the boys at the heart of all we do.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Students in 6 Gold have been reading and studying Bruce Pascoe’s novel, Fog a Dox, the story of a man and his dog, living a remote life surrounded by animals and birds. The boys tell me that all is going well in the story until Albert has an accident. Through their study of the text, the boys are learning about courage, acceptance, respect, Indigenous culture. Not a lot makes me happier than walking past a group of students engrossed in their books.

MERIT AWARDS

Congratulations, and well done to those boys who received a Merit Award this week. Special mention to Lucas P and Finn B on their Blue Awards.

P&F COCKTAIL PARTY

A great night was had by all on Friday night! Thank you to everyone who came and said “Hello”. It was lovely to meet so many of our new families, and to hear how well the boys have settled into a new year at St Pius X. To see photos from the night, head over to the P&F News page.

PROJECT COMPASSION

The Junior School families have given very generously to our Project Compassion fundraiser. If you are able to make a donation to our main Term 1 fundraiser, there is still time. Our funds ensure that sustainable projects are undertaken in developing countries so that others may lead more dignified lives and become liberated from their current circumstances which includes a lack of: education, clean drinking water, sanitation, health care and shelter. Our funds are always gratefully received.

You can also donate via this link:

ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICES

ANZAC Day falls during the school holidays. If any students would like to represent St Pius X (in full school uniform) at a Dawn Service, there are two opportunities:

5.30 am at the Chatswood Garden of Remembrance
7.00 am at Club Willoughby

Contact Mr Brannan for more details sbrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

YEAR 6 CAMP

Thank you to Mrs Iwatani for all her hard work preparing for the Year 6 Camp to Milson Island in Week 1 of Term 2. We leave on Wednesday 27 April and return on Friday 29 April. Keep an eye out for an email from Mrs Iwatani later this week – it will include the all-important packing information. General information about Milson Island can be found here: https://www.think-outside.com.au/milson-island

RUGBY TOUR TO ARMIDALE

Mr Morris, Mr Ure, Mr Carroll and I are looking forward to packing our wet weather gear and heading up to Armidale on Friday for a weekend of exciting rugby action. We wish all our players and their families a safe trip and an enjoyable weekend.

WINTER UNIFORM

Due to COVID-19, which has caused supply issues, the Uniform Shop is currently waiting on the delivery of long-sleeved shirts, trousers and blazers. Unfortunately there is not an estimated date for delivery.

If you wish to purchase trousers before the commencement of Term 2 there are very similar ones available at Lowes or a similar store. (They are called “MID GREY” and the fabric is poly-viscose.)

LOOKING AHEAD …

Friday 8 April | Last day of Term 1

Friday 9 – Sunday 10 April | Armidale Rugby Carnival

Tuesday 26 April | School resumes for Term 2

Term 2, Week 1 | Wednesday 27 April – Friday 29 April | Year 6 Camp to Milson Island

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Junior School.

Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of the Junior School

Junior School Sport

Thursday Sport

Given the high number of students isolating over the past few weeks, the Winter Sports trials may continue into the first few weeks of Term 2.

With all the wet weather, I strongly recommend sending your son to school on Thursday with an extra Rugby/Soccer jersey to train in.

Please ensure that your son has the correct safety equipment organised and ready e.g. mouth guards, football boots, shin guards, etc. Students without the correct safety gear will not be able to fully participate in the trials.

Week	Day	Date	Timing	Activity	Venue
10	Thursday	7/04/2022	11.00 am - 3.00 pm	Winter Sports Trials	Oxford Falls

Junior School Rugby

Rugby in the Junior School has started with a bang! In Week 9, the boys were presented with their training jersey by members of the Opens Rugby Squad.

The training sessions so far have been full of energy and enthusiasm and the boys are keen and ready to play their first game. There is a real sense of unity when the boys train together in their new jerseys.

The Armidale Rugby Tour Squad have been in full swing and are excited about the carnival which will take place this Friday 8 March - Sunday 10 March. We wish all of these boys the best of luck as they proudly represent St Pius X College. Mr Carroll, Mr Ure and Mr Morris will accompany the boys on the tour. Mrs Greenwood will be there showing her support throughout the weekend as well.

Rugby Holiday Clinic

A great way to start your son’s Rugby journey is with a 2-day Holiday Clinic being run in the upcoming school holidays. Please use the link below to sign up for the clinic (no need to register for the season, just sign up to the holiday clinic.)

We would love to have more boys participate in our great Rugby Program. If your son is interested in playing Rugby for St Pius X, please email Mr Antonio Morris at: AMorris@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au for further information about getting involved.

Mr Glen Carroll - Junior School Sports Coordinator

From the Junior Resource Centre

This week's highlights:

Autumn and Easter Reads –

A great week to come and browse and borrow for the School Autumn Easter Holidays. Lots of surprises in the JRC.

International Children’s Book Day – Saturday 2 April.

Read. Read. Read.

International Children’s Book Day is a yearly event sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People, an international non-profit organization. Founded in 1967, the day is observed on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday, April 2.

The Legend of Spud Murphy

Congratulations to the winners from 5 Red.

National School Librarian Day – 4 April – All our welcome in the library.

School Librarians are leaders of…..

Reader’s advisory

Traditional literacy

Information literacy

Digital literacy

Creative literacy

MakerSpaces

Collaboration

Professional development

Inquiry thinking

Empowering student voice

Infinite possibilities

"What is the School Library?

The school library is a refuge; a haven; an escape. It’s where you’ll find your fantasy or your reality; an adventure or a mystery. A place where animals roam the shelves, and mythological creatures flap their wings or swish their tails. Where people of both past and present sit on shelves and wait to tell you stories of their lives so that you may make better sense of your own. It’s where you’ll discover books in the shape of you; it’s here that, perhaps for the first time, you’ll find people like you do exist; and you can see more clearly that people different from you are more like you than you ever imagined. It’s a place to get lost or a place to find yourself. A place to learn and unlearn. It’s where truths about the world are unveiled; even the ones they don’t want you to know; the ones they want to hide from you are here on the shelves of the school library, because this is where we protect the truth; where we preserve the stories of people - all people - so that you may always have access to the world - its beauty and its ugly; its joy and its pain. So that you may move forward through the world armed with both knowledge and empathy; so that you may understand and act with power and grace in this life - in this story - of your own."

The Book Wrangler

New games in the JRC at lunchtime

Pass the Pigs

An old game with a new lease on life! Come and get competitive with Pass the Pigs. How exciting when someone gets a double snouter!

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail – Who Let the Gods Out? by Maz Evans.

The first story in a four-book series, Who Let the Gods Out? Is an awesome introduction to the world of the Ancient Greek gods and the prophecy involving one, Elliot Hooper. If you like Percy Jackson, this is another great series within this similar vein.

The Gods were humorous and helpful with clear throwbacks to the OG mythology, and a wonderful mix with the modern! Elliot is a pretty amazing hero! He is loving, incredibly loyal, determined to do what is right, even if his actions might be a little misguided. cleverly written, even the most reluctant of readers will find elements amusing. #MrsMartinsBooktrail2022

Mrs Elena Martin – Teacher Librarian

Junior School Chess Club

Thank you to all the boys who attended Chess training on Tuesday. See you all again on the first day of Term 2, Tuesday 26 April at 7.30 am in the Junior Resource Centre. Looking for something extra or chess? Chess Squad Academy is an exciting new chess program where children can play together, do lessons and solve challenges. Chess Squad Academy has been created by Sydney Academy of Chess and Skoolbo.

Click on the link below to find out more information and to join up.

https://www.chesssquad.com/

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior School Chess Convenor

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