Junior School News & Sport

From the Head of Junior School

• Junior School News:  Introduction & Information
• Transport
• Student OPAL Cards
• Swimming Carnival Wednesday 8th  February
• Performing Arts Information Evening - TONIGHT
• First 3 Thursdays of the Term - Requirements
• Sports Trial Day – Thursday 2nd February – Parent Afternoon Tea
• Parent Information Night for Years 5 & 6:  Monday 6th February
• Blazer Fittings:  Tuesday 7th February
• Swimming Carnival:  Wednesday 8th February
• Year 5 Camp:  Medical/Consent Letter
• P&F News:  Commencement Mass/Call for Year Group Parent Reps

Junior Chess Club

From the Junior School Sportsmaster

Junior School News

They are off and running!

The year has started well with Maths groups starting yesterday and the boys are beginning to settle in to their new surroundings.  It is imperative that you are positive with your son about the school and don’t demonstrate any anxiety issues you may feel.  Boys do pick up on their parents anxiety. In a few weeks the boys will be in the swing of things and they will know what day of the cycle it is and if they have PE etc.  Some boys are better at this than others, so some vigilance each night is wise, to ensure they have all their equipment.

You should have received a hard copy and an emailed copy of the Junior School Newsletter.  If your son didn’t give you the hard copy look in his bag, it is probably under the mashed banana!  If you didn’t receive the email could you please update your contact details on our website.  Open the SPX home page, click on the drop-down menu – Enrolment Information and then click on Update Family Contact Details - Submit.  In this way we should avoid any typographical errors or mistakes in interpreting poor handwriting.  This is the last printed newsletter for the year.

The newsletter and notes are also on the portal.  I understand there have been some issues with the portal and many new parents have not received an email with their access details.  If you haven’t received this email, I understand that we are working on resolving the problem.

TRANSPORT

Until Friday 3rd February, the Junior School teachers will be walking all the boys to their respective bus stops or the train station.  In week 2, from the 6th to the 10th February the boys will walk to their transport stops and the teachers will go up and supervise. In Week 2 we want the boys to become accustomed to walking themselves but still have a teacher presence. The boys will be shown a specific way to walk to and from school and they are not to deviate from this path.  This also includes the use of shops.  Boys must go directly to and from school.  If you wish for your son to buy something or meet you at the shops on a special occasion, please write a note to myself (Mr Long) and I will supply your son with an exit pass.  Otherwise any teacher at the shops will question why your son is there and a detention could ensue.

The route for the boys to the train and interchange involves walking up the mall.  The reason for this route is there are no driveways or crossings without lights.  It is deemed the safest way.

STUDENT OPAL CARDS

Applications for 2017 school travel should have been done by now unless you are a late enrolment. It can be done at www.transportnsw.info/school-students. 

A new application is required when:

• Applying for a school opal card or travel pass for the first time or
• Requesting an additional entitlement as a result of a shared parental responsibility situation

You will need to do an update if the student has a current travel pass and:

• is progressing from Year 6 to Year 7, or
• changes address, or
• changes school .

If you already have a school Opal card that does not need updating, or you’ve successfully reapplied, the opal card will automatically be updated for travel next  year. Do not throw it out as you’ll be able to use it when the school year starts in 2017.

Important information about travelling with Opal

• The School Opal card is only for travel to and from school on approved modes of public transport.
• The School Opal card doesn’t cover travel to activities away from school, such as, after school care, sport and school excursions.
• Remember: a grace period applies at the start of each new school year, where school students who have been approved for SSTS travel can travel without a valid pass while new passes are being issued. Students must be in school uniform or be able to provide evidence (such as a school ID or school books) that they are travelling to or from school during this time.
• Students should use a Child/Youth Opal card for travel after hours, on weekends, during school holidays or activities away from school.
• Boys do require their own child/youth card for some school activities.  Sometimes boys go by train for debating or an excursion in the city.  We can’t buy a bulk ticket anymore and the opal card for going to and from school is solely for that purpose.

PERFORMING ARTS INFORMATION EVENING - TONIGHT

The Performing Arts information evening will be held on Wednesday 1st February.  If you are interested please attend to have all you questions answered.

• Performing Arts Orientation: 6.00 – 7.00pm (New Parents)
• PAPA Meeting: 7.00 – 8.30pm (New and Old Parents)

Location: Band Room (drive into playground and it is near Junior School playground)

REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRST THREE THURSDAYS OF THE TERM

For the first three Thursdays of Term 1 the boys will spend the whole day at Oxford Falls.  This means that they need to bring their morning tea and lunch plus a water bottle.  Please ensure they have a school hat.  The boys meet at school and are bussed to Oxford Falls and in the afternoon they are bussed back to school unless you choose to collect your son from Oxford Falls at 2.15 pm. 

Please note that if you are late we must take your son back to school on the bus.  If you wish for somebody else to take your son home we require a note stating these details.  If it is an arrangement that will continue regularly, please state that in the note and then one note will suffice.

SPORTS TRIAL DAY - THURSDAY 2nd FEBRUARY - PARENT AFTERNOON TEA

We are having an afternoon tea for parents - please feel free to come up, from 1.30 pm onwards, to the Falls Room, the one with all the windows in the older building between the top and bottom ovals, and have a cup of tea and see the facilities.  The boys will be lined up at 2.20pm for the buses.  After roll call, you may take your son.   If you are going to regularly collect your son from Oxford Falls the normal procedure is to wait in the car park at 2.15 pm and we will walk all the boys being collected to the car park before the boys catching buses back to Chatswood.

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT FOR YEARS 5 & 6:  MONDAY 6th FEBRUARY

Next Monday evening, 6th February, there will be an Information Night that will commence at 6.00pm sharp.  We are making a change this year and the meeting will commence in two separate venues.  Year 5 parents will go upstairs to the  classrooms and Year 6 parents will go to the Sarto Centre, (The Sarto Centre is north of the school entrance on Anderson Street at the corner of Daisy Street - previously a church) where your son’s class teacher will explain how the classroom operates, homework, expectations, etc. 

Due to limited space in the classrooms, boys are not to attend this information night. Some parking will be available in the playground. However, please be aware that Year 7 parents have a meeting commencing at 7pm so there will be limited parking space available, and there have been times where somebody has been parked in. 

On the night we will ask for a volunteers to be Year Representatives for the P&F.  It usually involves organising social events, supporting the P&F to disseminate information by email. 

BLAZER FITTING TUESDAY 7th FEBRUARY

The boys require a blazer for Terms 2 and 3. The boys will have the opportunity to be measured up for a College blazer. It is done in school time and parents aren’t required. However, your son needs to know if he needs to be measured for a new blazer.  The norm is that most new boys are measured up.  There is no commitment to buy unless you confirm the order with the uniform shop.   Another option is to purchase a second hand blazer from the uniform shop. 

SWIMMING CARNIVAL - WEDNESDAY 8th FEBRUARY

Our swimming carnival will be held at Macquarie University Pool (Outdoors). You are all welcome to attend and offer support with your cheering and comments. On the full days at Oxford Falls and the swimming carnival the boys will need to bring their recess, lunch, drinks and wear their colour house sporting uniform.  (If they don’t have a house colour shirt-or it is being washed after the swimming carnival, they

Junior Chess Club

The NSW Junior Chess Competition is pleased to invite the SPX Junior School to take part in the 2017 Primary Schools Chess Teams Competition.

WHY CHESS? There are tremendous benefits for children involved in the competition – new outlook, new friends, intellectual stimulation, improved concentration, a new reason to develop self-esteem.

Registration is Week 3 17th February, 2017. Attached is a Chess Newsletter with all the relevant information if your son is interested. Please complete the form, detach and hand it to Mrs Martin by Friday 17th February, 2017. Training begins Week 8, Tuesday 21st March, 2017 at 7.30am in the Junior Resource Centre.

Mrs E Martin - Junior School Chess Convener 

Junior Sport

Welcome to all those new to the College and, to those returning, we are primed for another huge year of sport at St Pius X in 2017. We hit the ground running with two full days of summer sports trials and a Swimming Carnival in the first 8 days of School! A reminder that all pertinent information can be found on the College website (season draws etc. will be uploaded shortly): http://spx.nsw.edu.au/beyond-classroom/dsp-default.cfm?loadref=139

Thursday Sport:  The planner for Term 1 is below. Please note the all-day program for the first three weeks where a full packed recess/lunch are required. Sports uniform with House colour shirt is worn to and from school on all Thursdays throughout the year. This week Trials/Training takes place for respective summer sports (see below for further details). Parents are invited to join us from 1.30pm this Thursday for afternoon tea. Boys can generally be collected at 2.20pm from the car-park at the conclusion of Sport on a Thursday.

Swimming Carnival: Our annual House Carnival takes place on Wed 8th Feb at Macquarie University Pool. Whilst a fun, participation carnival, this also forms the basis for squad selection. Parents are of course most welcome to attend. A detailed information letter will be emailed shortly and will also be available on the school website.

Basketball: The first game of the 6 week, Term 1 season is on Saturday 11th Feb. Grading takes place as part of Sport for the next two weeks. A detailed information letter, team lists and a season draw will be posted on the school website.

Softball: The first game of the 6 week, Term 1 season is on Saturday 11th Feb. Grading takes place as part of Sport for the next two weeks. A detailed information letter, team lists and a season draw will be posted on the school website.

NSTA Tennis: The NSTA season commences on Saturday 11th Feb. Grading takes place as part of Sport at Oxford Falls this Thursday and then training continues at Thursday Sport each week. A detailed information letter and season draw will be distributed to all successful trialists.

Mr G Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster