Junior School News 

FATHER AND SON SPORTS DAY – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (MUMS OR DADS)

The Junior School Father and Son Sports Day is coming up on Thursday 3 September.

We are looking for 8 - 10 volunteers (traditionally Mums, but non-sporty Dads also welcome!) to arrive from 10:00 am to help with the morning tea and/or BBQ lunch for the fathers and students. 

If you can give one or two hours of your time, please contact Bridget Hawthorne in the Junior School at bhawthorne@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au. 

It is a fantastic day for our dads and their sons, so come along and be one of the few mums (or dads) with a bird's eye view of all the action!

WOODCHAT (For busy families who just want the facts, fast!)

Today saw the launch of the annual ASX Share market Game.  The ASX schools share market game offers students the opportunity to develop their knowledge of the share market, research companies, and discover the importance of wise investment decisions.  Make sure you ask your son about where he’s invested his $50,000!  Parent advice and input is encouraged! 

BOOK WEEK

On Wednesday, the Junior School celebrates Book Week with our annual parade in the College Gymnasium.  Guests are asked to arrive for a 1:30 pm start.  Students are to bring their costumes to school and change into them at lunch time.  Students will then need to change back into their school uniforms before returning home. I recommend that students wear sport uniform on Wednesday so that it is quick and easy to change in and out of their costumes.  Just a reminder that the parade is a celebration of books and reading, so please ensure that your son’s costume reflects a book he has read and enjoyed.  If you have any questions about the parade, please contact your son’s classroom teacher.

DANCE PROGRAM

Last Thursday, our students enjoyed the first of four dance lessons at Oxford Falls (although 'enjoyed' may be doing some fairly heavy lifting in that sentence!).  There were varying levels of enthusiasm as the boys learned some new moves, with plenty of awkward footwork and good humour along the way. With three lessons still to go, we’re confident they’ll be ready to impress at the Grandparents’ Day Dance Showcase on Thursday 27 August.  If haven’t had a chance to RSVP, please do so here:  https://forms.gle/dDuCbSDyj2YBu9RV6.

MATHS OLYMPIAD #3

Congratulations to Flynn S, James R, Sam W and Samual P, who achieved full marks in Maths Olympiad #3. An outstanding result - well done, boys!  The Maths Olympiad challenges students to apply their mathematical knowledge to some particularly tricky problems, requiring plenty of persistence, logical thinking and creative problem-solving. It has been great to see so many of our students embracing the challenge and having a go. Congratulations to all students who participated in this round!

INDEPENDENT PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADS ASSOCIATION (IPSHA) BRANCH MEETING

Last week, 57 Heads of Junior School from across NSW gathered in Orange for the annual IPSHA Country Branch Meeting. IPSHA provides a valuable opportunity for me to connect with other Heads, learn from their experience, share ideas and discuss the common challenges and opportunities facing primary schools.

This year’s conference focused on character and flourishing, with Damon Joseph from Character Builders leading a series of practical and thought-provoking sessions. Just as importantly, the weekend provided time to learn from other Heads about what is working well in their schools and to bring new ideas and perspectives back to our own Junior School.

One of the great privileges of being part of IPSHA is having access to such a generous network of experienced school leaders. While every school is different, there is enormous value in sharing our experiences, learning from one another and continually looking for ways to make our schools even better for the students in our care.

GROWING TOWARDS WHOLENESS

I hope you were able to join the Growing Towards Wholeness webinar last night. We hope the session provided some useful tips and practical strategies to support the important conversations you will have with your sons as they grow and mature. While some of these conversations may feel challenging or uncomfortable, having them openly and confidently can make an important difference in helping young people navigate the weeks, months and years ahead.

FATHER'S DAY MASS AND BREAKFAST BBQ

We’re seeking mothers from our wonderful SPX Community to help with cooking and serving at the Father’s Day BBQ in Chatswood on Friday, 4 September.

There are three one-hour shifts available, starting from 7:00 am through to 10:00 am.

If you’re able to assist, please add your name to the spreadsheet below.

PAPA COMEDY NIGHT

🎤 Get ready, SPX community, for a night filled with laughter and fun to support a worthy cause 

Now in it's 3rd year, the Performing Arts Parents’ Association (PAPA) presents a comedy line-up featuring some of the sharpest (and funniest) comedic minds on the scene. Expect belly laughs, witty banter and a whole lot of good vibes.

On the mic:

🙌 Tommy Dean

🙌 Fiona Cox

🙌 Bruce Griffiths

🙌 our very own Simon Kennedy!

PAPA is raising funds to help complete sound and stage upgrades that will facilitate the boys’ music and drama activities, so get on board to support this worthy cause.

$50 per ticket (includes 1 drink).

Beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and snacks available to purchase on the night.

Donations also welcome.

Use COMEDYNIGHTEARLYBIRD until 16 August (inclusive) to get $5 off each ticket!

Buy your ticket today –  https://events.humanitix.com/spx-papa-comedy-night-2026

PLEASE NOTE – This event is for attendees aged 18+ and current SPX students are not eligible to attend.

FOOTBALL END OF SEASON EVENT

It was great to see people registering for the SPX Football Social over the weekend.

It will be a great time to get together - please remember it's a casual gathering at our wonderful sponsor's venue, Chatswood RSL. The Football Supporters Club will put on food platters and be buying the first 2 drinks for everyone.  Please get your tickets now as we will need to confirm details with the venue.

Saturday 29 August, 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm 

Chatswood RSL - Yogi's Sports Bar

Full details and tickets can be found here - https://events.humanitix.com/2026-st-pius-x-football-end-of-season-event 

Dress Code: Casual

Note: This is an adults-only event for parents, carers and SPX staff.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you for your continuing support of the Junior School. 

Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School

Junior School Sport News

Summer Sport registrations via Clipboard is OPEN. 

Please refer to the information below regarding registration requirements for each sport.

• IPSHA Basketball, Softball and Touch Football: If your son participated in any of these sports in Term 1, his registration will automatically carry over to Term 4 and no further action is required. If your son is joining one of these sports for the first time in Term 4, you will need to register via Clipboard. If your son is transferring between Basketball, Softball and Touch Football, we will process this change in Clipboard using the information provided in the Summer Sport Survey. No further action is required.

• NSTA Tennis and MWJCA Cricket: These sports are commencing a new season in Term 4, 2026, which will continue through to Term 1, 2027. As a result, all students wishing to participate must complete a new registration via Clipboard.

• Mixed Sport: There is no registration required for students not participating in summer sport. Students will take part in mixed sport activities during our Oxford Falls Thursday sessions.

Please refer to Clipboard for more sport specific information. 

Term 3 Events

Junior School Dance Program Gets Underway

Another great session today. The routines are starting to form and the confidence was growing. Great signs for the Dance Showcase. 

Remaining Program Schedule

• Week 5: Dedicated Dance sessions as students continue to learn and refine their routines.

• Week 6: Junior Dance Showcase performance. Further details will be shared closer to the event, which will form part of our Grandparents' Day celebrations.

We are delighted to be able to offer this opportunity and look forward to seeing our students embrace the challenge, build their confidence and showcase their talents over the coming weeks.

Looking ahead, our Father & Son Day will take place in Week 7. An invitation and additional details will be distributed shortly.

We look forward to seeing our students embrace this exciting opportunity and showcase their enthusiasm, creativity, and teamwork.

Athletics Update

Selected students have received nominations for the Barker Invitational Carnival taking place on Saturday 15 August. 

As last Monday’s training was cancelled, there will be the last chance to run the 1500m event at Athletics training next Monday afternoon. This session is open to all athletes who wish to:

• Earn the remaining Age Champion points available; and/or

• Attempt to achieve the qualifying standard for IPSHA selection.

If your son would like to compete in the 1500m, please email me directly so that I can add him to the attendance list for next week's session.

Nominations for the BPSSA Carnival and the IPSHA Invitational will be shared following the Barker Carnival. 

Please note that participation in the Athletics Squad does not guarantee selection in the IPSHA team. Final team selection will be based on a combination of carnival performances, training attendance, results from invitational meets, and the achievement of IPSHA qualifying standards.

The final IPSHA team will be announced closer to the IPSHA Championships on Wednesday 27 August.

Term 3 Athletics Training Information

Training will take place at: Dunbar Park, Sobraon Rd, Marsfield

Time: 3:50 pm – 4:50 pm

Departure: 3:15 pm from Anderson Street

Training Schedule (only days with dates)

Students will receive an invitation to attend the sessions, any and all junior school students are encouraged to attend if they wish to improve fitness and athletics skills levels. 

Winter Sport 

As we conclude another wonderful winter sport season, I would like to sincerely thank all of our families for their support throughout the term. It has been fantastic to see the growth and development across our 10 football teams, 3 rugby teams and AFL team, with students embracing every opportunity to learn, improve and represent the College with pride.

A special thank you goes to our parents for their commitment on Saturdays, our dedicated external coaches, and our staff who generously gave their time for training sessions and early morning fixtures. The success of our sporting program is only possible through this collective effort and shared commitment to creating a positive, inclusive and supportive environment for our students.

Most importantly, thank you for fostering a culture that values participation, growth and teamwork. Through a collective belief in positive mindsets, continuous improvement and supporting one another, our students have enjoyed a rewarding season both on and off the field. We look forward to building on these foundations and continuing this momentum into our summer sport program.

Mr James Bourke - Junior School Sport Coordinator

End of Season Football Event

Please see Mrs Greenwood's section above for more details

Junior SPX Rugby

As another successful rugby season comes to a close, I would like to sincerely thank all of the students, parents and coaches for their support and commitment throughout the year. It has been fantastic to see the growth, resilience and sportsmanship displayed across all three rugby teams.

A special thank you to TryTime Rugby for their outstanding support and coaching, as well as to our families who spent countless Saturdays encouraging the teams from the sideline. Most importantly, thank you to the players for their effort, enthusiasm and willingness to learn and improve each week.

The positive culture that has been built within our rugby program is something we are very proud of, and I am confident we can carry this momentum into the upcoming Touch Football season. I look forward to seeing many students continue to develop their skills and represent the College with pride.

Mr Callum Montgomerie - Junior School Rugby Convenor

Cricket Registrations - 2026/27 Season

Registrations for the 2026/27 cricket season are now closed.  

Enquiries

Any questions regarding cricket registration should be directed to Mr Balboa at RBalboa@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.

Mr Ryan Balboa - MWJCA Cricket Convenor