From the Head of the Junior School

WOODCHAT – for busy families who just want the facts, fast!

DATES FOR THE DIARY

WOODCHATTA

A DAY WITH JAZZ ROYALTY

We were very excited when Mrs Westhoff announced that Australian jazz legend James Morrison would be spending the day working with our jazz ensembles and even more thrilled to learn he’d be performing alongside them that evening.

During the day and throughout the evening, James was not only musically brilliant but also incredibly generous with his time, knowledge and trademark humour.

Our students were deeply appreciative of the opportunity, fully aware of how rare and special it is to learn from, and perform with, one of Australia’s most iconic musicians. It was a day - and night - they will never forget.

JUNIOR SCHOOL PHOTOS | Thursday 5 June

School photos will be taken during Period 1 (Year 5) and Period 2 (Year 6) on Thursday 5 June.

This means that students will need to come to school in full winter uniform (with blazer).

After photos, students will travel to Oxford Falls where they will get changed into their PE uniform. It is vital that you ensure that your son’s blazer, shirt and tie are labelled before this day so that if he misplaces it, it can be returned to him.

Students will need to bring their student ID card and completed photo order form to school on the day. Order forms will be distributed before the day for parents to complete. The attachment below contains order forms for Year 5 - 11 individual and family photos.

The full schedule for the day is as follows:

NEW MEMBERS OF THE GARDENING CLUB!

The Junior School Garden Club has just welcomed 1,000 new members. Under the expert care of Mrs Doheny, Mr Makhoul and Ms Gill, students have launched a worm farm that’s already squirming with activity.

Our new wormy recruits are helping students explore sustainability, the food cycle, and agriculture - one banana peel at a time.

Junior School students are encouraged to collect fruit and veggie scraps on Tuesdays and Fridays. These will be delivered to the worm farm, where our hardworking invertebrates will turn them into glorious, nutrient-packed compost for the school veggie patch.

It's recycling, science, and worm wrangling - all in one!

PEER MENTORING

Now in its second week, the SPX Peer Mentoring Program is already showing signs of success. Our older students have eagerly embraced their roles as mentors, beginning to build positive connections with their younger peers through meet-and-greet sessions and shared activities.

While it’s still early days, there’s already a warm sense of enthusiasm and encouragement in the air. The program aims to foster confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of community, and we’re excited to see these relationships continue to grow over the term.

Thank you to Mr Gillogly, Mr Ticli and Ms Boyle for facilitating this program in the Junior School.

JUNIOR CHORALE

The Junior Chorale will be performing two pieces this Friday evening, 30 May at 7:00 pm, at the Sarto Centre (corner of Daisy and Anderson Streets), as part of the Chamber Music Concert – 'Pius Unplugged.'

Performers are required to wear full school uniform with polished shoes.

The concert will run for approximately one hour. Out of respect for all performers, we kindly ask that everyone remain for the duration of the event.

Please note that no after-school supervision or food will be provided prior to the concert. The students have been working diligently in rehearsals and are sounding fantastic. We look forward to seeing you there – everyone is welcome!

Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.

Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School

Fixtures

Junior School Sport

Junior Sport Update

Last weekend, we unfortunately experienced several washed-out fixtures across various sports. However, for the matches that did go ahead at Oxford Falls, we were fortunate to enjoy excellent playing conditions.

While I always aim to share positive messages, I do need to address an area where we can improve as a community. Several teams were left short of players just moments before kick-off, with some games even delayed as a result. We absolutely understand that Saturday mornings can be busy for families juggling multiple commitments, but it’s essential that all players arrive at least 20-minutes prior to kick-off. Upon arrival, students must report directly to their coach or SPX staff member to have their attendance confirmed.

Logging an Absence

Despite the reduced number of fixtures last weekend, we still experienced several unexplained absences. These were not communicated via email or logged on Clipboard, which had a significant impact on team allocations and our ability to field balanced sides. If your son is unavailable for a game, please ensure you both:

Email me directly at jbourke@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au, and
Log the absence in Clipboard as early as possible.

This helps our coaches plan effectively and ensures a positive experience for all players involved.

Parent Helpers Junior School Athletics Carnival

Thank you to all the parents that have registered their support our Junior Athletics Carnival is coming up in Week 7 on Wednesday 11 June. We are still in need of a several more helpers, your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Junior School Dance Program Launches Next Week

We are excited to announce the start of our Junior School Dance Program, beginning next week and running as part of our integrated Thursday sport schedule at Oxford Falls.

Led by the experienced REDed Dance team, students will explore a variety of movement styles and choreographed sequences, focusing on creativity, coordination, teamwork, and confidence through performance. Dance is a valuable part of our cocurricular offering, helping to develop physical literacy, rhythm, and self-expression in a fun and inclusive environment.

The program will culminate in a Dance Showcase during the final week of term, where each House group will perform a routine they’ve worked on throughout the term. Families are warmly invited to attend this celebration of movement and school spirit. Further details about the event will be shared soon.

Winter Sport Team Photos – Saturday 31 May

Team photos for Winter Sports teams playing at Oxford Falls will take place this Saturday, 31 May. Please ensure your son arrives in full and correct playing uniform and arrives at least 30 minutes before his scheduled game time. A photo schedule is below. Teams playing away will be provided an alternate timeslot later this term.

Clipboard Draft fixtures

If you see a time entered in Clipboard of ‘11:00 pm’, this is a placeholder time until we have confirmation from the opposition. Even once the game is confirmed please note that players may move teams to cover, injuries, illness, etc. Please check Clipboard Thursday night and again Friday for any changes.

Game Day

Students must be in their Pius Uniform to and from games. Crocs, hoodies, etc are not permitted as part of the uniform.

Supporter Gear

Don't forget, there’s a great range of SPX Supporter's Gear available at the Oxford Falls canteen every Saturday, including hats, scarves, beanies, and jackets, perfect for these cooler mornings!

Weather

If games are cancelled or venues are changed due to weather, please check Clipboard for notifications and updates.

Rugby Dinner

A reminder that the SPX Rugby Gala Dinner is fast approaching, details are below. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the season and connect with the wider Rugby community.

Thank you for all you do to support Junior Sport at SPX.

Term 2 Weekly Sport Calendar

Winter Sport Results

Football

SPX Junior Football – Round 3 Wrap

Thank you to all the families who came out to support Round 4 fixtures at Oxford Falls over the weekend. It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout, and we truly appreciate your ongoing support of SPX Junior Football.

Despite the recent wet weather, we were fortunate to enjoy excellent playing conditions on Saturday. Across all Prep teams, the level of skill and teamwork on display was impressive. There were some outstanding results and closely contested matches, which reflect the students’ ongoing development and commitment. It’s encouraging to see improvement right across the board.

A special thank you to the families who generously supported the SPX Football Club BBQ and Bake Sale, your efforts helped create a wonderful community atmosphere on the day.

A reminder that all Year 6 Football players should now have received their SPX training shirt. If your son did not collect his, he will be able to pick it up at training this Thursday at Oxford Falls. All Year 5 Players will also be provided one for the season.

Training Shirts - Can be worn during the after-school training sessions and while training at OXF on Thursdays. They can not be worn during PE lessons or to and from school.

IPSHA Football Trials

Three of our SPX footballers attended the IPSHA Football Trials yesterday, and it was a day of high-level football and valuable experience for all involved. The standard of football on display was exceptional, with players from across the association showcasing their skills, discipline, and tactical understanding.

We extend our congratulations to Christian Castorina, Joshua Hallett, and Oscar Bevinetto for the way they proudly represented St Pius X College in the blue and gold. Each of them demonstrated outstanding effort, composure, and sportsmanship throughout the day.

A special congratulations to Christian Castorina, who was successfully selected to represent IPSHA at the upcoming CIS Tournament later this term. In addition, Joshua Hallett received a nomination for the Barbarian team, which will also compete at the CIS level.

Well done to all three students on their performances and for continuing to raise the bar for SPX Football.

Important Reminder - As mentioned above, players are expected to be at the game 20-minutes prior to the kick off to see their coach and allow enough time for a warmup. There have been a larger number of teams that have been starting the game short. Could I please ask this be a priority in coming weeks where we expect students away due to illness or injury. Please allow extra time for parking at all away venues as there could be limited parking and it may be some distance from the field.

PHOTOS: If there are any parents that capture some action shots or a team photo on Saturdays and would like to see them in Woodchatta, please feel free to email them through.

SPX Football Club

A heartfelt thank you to all the families and supporters who contributed to and attended last weekend’s BBQ and Bake Sale. Your generosity, time, and team spirit made the event a great success, and your support continues to strengthen the Football community at St Pius X.

Stay tuned for more updates and information about our upcoming events - there’s plenty more to look forward to this season!

Thank you once again for being part of the SPX Football family.

Mr James Bouke - Junior School Football Convenor

SPX Junior AFL – Round 4 Summary

Unfortunately the game was washed out last weekend.

Mr James Bourke - Junior Sports Coordinator

SPX Junior Rugby Round 4 Report

All games were unfortunately washed-out last weekend. This weekend, we look ahead to Reconciliation Round. The 11 As will be kicking off at 8:00 am, with the Prep 1st XV kicking off at 9:00 am. Year 6 students are encouraged to come early and support the under 11s, and Year 5 students are encouraged to stay behind and support the under 12s. The under 12s will be participating in a Smoking Ceremony pre-game as part of proceedings.

IPSHA Rugby Trials

On Tuesday, 7 SPX Junior rugby players represented the College at the IPSHA Rugby trials. Congratulations to Hudson B, Billy C, Nate F, Noah F and Angus W on their selection for the CIS rugby trials, held on 25 and 26 June. The whole of St Pius X will be behind you!

SPX Rugby Club

📣 HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT – Gala Dinner MC Confirmed!

We are thrilled to announce that Chloe Dalton, OAM will be our MC for the 2025 SPX Rugby Gala Dinner! 🎤✨

Chloe is one of Australia’s most inspiring triple-sport elite athletes – having played professional basketball (WNBL), won Olympic gold in Rugby 7s (Rio 2016), and now playing AFLW with the GWS Giants.

She’s the founder of The Female Athlete Project (TFAP) – Australia’s fastest growing women’s sport platform, a published author, and regular panellist on Channel 9’s Wide World of Sports.

🎙️ Chloe will be joined in conversation by our keynote speaker, Owen Finegan – Wallabies legend, 1999 Rugby World Cup Champion, and now CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project. He brings his incredible rugby insights and passion for making a difference to what promises to be a very special night.

⏰ With less than one week until ticket sales CLOSE, now’s the time to secure your place!

📅 Saturday 14 June 2025

📍 Dockside, Balcony Level 1, Cockle Bay Wharf

🎟️👉 BUY TICKETS HERE

❌ Can’t make the event?

You can still support SPX Rugby by donating a ticket or making a contribution of any amount via the same Humanitix link. Let’s come together to celebrate this incredible rugby community 💙💛Don’t miss out!

Mr Callum Montgomerie - Junior School Rugby Convenor

Information via Clipboard

To stay up-to-date with training schedules and game fixtures, please ensure you regularly check the Clipboard app. Training and fixtures are accessible directly within the app, and any changes will be updated there as well.

Important Reminder

To receive timely updates and notifications regarding changes to fixtures or training sessions, please ensure:

Notifications are enabled both within the Clipboard app settings and on your mobile device. The have the option to receive push notifications and/or email prompts.
Please regularly review the app for any schedule updates.
Fixtures will be initially entered as UNCONFIRMED, by Thursday each week they will be CONFIRMED by opposition schools and a notification will be sent to families.
Please check clipboard regularly for any changes to the schedule.
Some fixtures are subject to weather, on occasion this can lead to cancellations. This will occur via the Clipboard app, you should receive a notification if a fixture is cancelled, but please check the app on the morning before leave to ensure you are up to date with any changes.

Logging an Absence

If your son is unable to attend a Saturday fixture due to sickness or injury, you can log his absence directly through Clipboard by following these steps:

Log in to Clipboard using your parent account.
Navigate to the Calendar page.
Click on 'Log an Absence' and follow the prompts to submit.

As a courtesy, please email Mr Bourke at Jbourke@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au prior to the fixture, if possible, by Thursday. For all other absences a request needs to be sent to Mr Bourke for approval.

For normal school day absences, please continue to follow the standard school process.

Mr James Bourke - Junior School Sport Coordinator

Junior School Chess

Thank you to all the students who attended Chess training on Tuesday 27 May. A reminder that the NSW Junior Chess Competition continues this Friday 30 May.

All teams will be playing at HOME this week.

Division LN1 - Team A vs Neutral Bay A

Waterford Learning Centre.

Division LN2 – Team B vs Neutral Bay D

Waterford Learning Centre.

Division LN2 – Team C vs St Aloysius’ B

Waterford Learning Centre.

Due to the pupil-free day on 6 June, these games will be rescheduled for an alternative date.

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Chess Convenor

P&F News

Year 6 parent social event - 20 June

Year 12 parent social event - 31 May