Junior School News
- From the Head of the Junior School
- Junior School Sport
- From the Junior Resource Centre
- Junior Chess
- Junior School IPSHA Debating
From the Head of the Junior School
TEACHING AND LEARNING
This week in Science, Year 5 began their training to become an astronaut for their mission to Mars. The boys wrote an application letter to NASA and took part in some team building activities to practise the very difficult task of navigating a space vehicle into a docking port.
In HSIE, students are investigating migration to Australia from various countries. This research task provides the boys with opportunities to work in groups as well as on individual tasks. They will complete a comprehension task, a mapping activity, a photo interpretation activity, a research task, and a task where they are designing a memorial for the migrant group.
Narrative writing is the order of the day in Year 5 English lessons. The culmination of these lessons is a piece of writing that students will enter into the Willoughby Writing Competition.
Year 6 students have begun their Electricity studies in Science. They began by looking at what electricity is, and how it is produced. The boys are looking forward to the unit’s hands-on activities.
Year 6 have also begun looking at migration to Australia since federation. They began by investigating the countries these migrants came from and listened to the story of The Little Refugee, as told by Ahn Do.
The migrant story will be further explored by Year 6 through the writing of an empathetic recount. The boys will look at the journey and hardships faced by migrants and their families, along with the impacts of these experiences.
MERIT AWARDS
Congratulations to last week’s Merit Award winners:
CLASS CAPTAINS
Congratulations to these who were voted by their peers to be Class Captains for Term 2. The boys and I celebrated their appointments and talked about their roles over morning tea in the College Boardroom today:
Lachlan Y, Oliver H, Rory R, James L, Alexander N, Nicholas L, and Hugh S.
STUDENT ABSENCE
Just a reminder that if you know in advance that your son is going to be absent for a day or partial day, please send an email to studentmanagement@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au and copy your son’s teacher. If you can remember to do this 48 hours in advance, it would be greatly appreciated. If you need to request more than 2 days off school, please complete the Leave Application form found on the website and linked here for your convenience:
INSTRUMENT TUTORING
If your son has instrument tutoring at the college, can you please ensure he puts a reminder on his watch, if he has one. Although our music tutors search for students who have not turned up for their lesson, this can be difficult if the student is not in their homeroom. The boys need to be responsible for remembering when to go to lessons so that other students are not disturbed unnecessarily. Thank you for assisting your sons with this.
PARKING AT OXFORD FALLS
A reminder, as the winter sport season commences at Oxford Falls, to be respectful of our neighbours around our sporting fields in Dreadnought and Spicer Roads. Council rangers are out in force at Oxford Falls on Saturday mornings and will book anyone not parking in designated legal areas, including those parking on the grass verges.
IPSHA WINTER SPORT
What a cracker of a start to our winter sport campaign from the junior boys! We had at least 9 wins, 3 draws, and only 3 losses across the codes on Saturday. It was great to see so many parents braving the light rain to watch the boys represent the college so brilliantly both on and off the field.
Remember, teams and venues will be detailed in Mr Ryan’s Junior School Sport section – please ensure you check it each week.
As Mr Ryan is away this week, please direct any Junior School sport-related questions to me jgreenwood@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au and I will do my best to answer them.
YEAR 5 CAMP PHOTOS
For those of you who haven’t yet seen the Year 5 Camp photos, here is the link:
YEAR 5 PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of the Junior School
Junior School Sport
Thursday Sport: Winter sessions continue this week for Rugby, Football and AFL.
Winter Sport uniform and safety equipment: Please ensure your son has the correct Winter Sport uniform for Round 2 this weekend. Students must also have the appropriate safety equipment listed below, or they will not be allowed to play:
- Rugby – mouthguard
- AFL – mouthguard
- Football – shin guards
SPX App: Please continue to consult the SPX App for the most up-to-date information on sport/fixtures.
Football
Photos from the 10A Football game last weekend.
Rugby
The Junior Rugby season kicked off with two home games for the traditional teams. The 11As faced tough opposition in Trinity Grammar. Despite the scoreline, there were moments of individual brilliance and whole team positives. The Prep Firsts set the tone for the season ahead with an outstanding team performance against Redlands. They are looking to continue that momentum moving forward.
The U12 Rugby 7s team had a strong start to the season with a win. The Rugby 7s players are growing in confidence and enjoying rugby.
A reminder of compulsory after school training at Beauchamp Oval every Wednesday from 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm for ALL Junior School Rugby players.
AFL
Junior School Football Games Referee Opportunity
SPX Senior Football Students who would like to be paid to referee junior school football games at Oxford Falls, are encouraged to register and complete the online and free preliminary referee course offered by FFA in the 2023 football season. Please see the Senior Sport page of this Woodchatta for further information.
Mr Ben Ryan - Junior School Sports Coordinator
SPX Rugby Club Gala Dinner 2023 - Save the date
Save the Date - Saturday, 22 July, Kirribilli Club.
More information to follow shortly.
Watch out for a WhatsApp group message on this event.
For any questions regarding this event, direct your enquiries to spxrugby@gmail.com.
From the Junior Resource Centre
This week’s Highlights are: It’s Going to be MAY! – International Harry Potter Day and May the 4th Be with You – Star Wars Day
Tuesday 2nd May is International Harry Potter Day 2023
International Harry Potter Day on 2 May brings merriment to Potterheads around the world. The then UK Prime Minister David Cameron declared this day an official international holiday to honour the literary work of JK Rowling. Grab your wand and let’s revel in the magical history of Harry Potter. Celebrations in the JRC.
Why 2 May? The Battle of Hogwarts was fought on this date in 1998. The final conflict of the Second Wizarding War took place at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Order of the Phoenix proved victorious, ending the most devastating battle of that war and resulting in numerous casualties, most notably Lord Voldemort.
HARRY POTTER – Famous and powerful, the only person capable of destroying the creepy lord persona. And you? Do you already have the wand of the famous Harry Potter? Pop down to the JRC and see the wand and let the magic begin!
Minerva McGonagall - Powerful and talented witch with varied magical abilities, one of her greatest skills is transformations. And you? Do you already have the wand of the incomparable Minerva McGonagall? Pop into the JRC to see it on display!
May the 4th Be with You!
Whether you are a novice or seasoned veteran to the Star Wars universe take, as Luke Skywalker once did, "your first step into a larger world." Settle in, buckle up, and may the Force be with you; we're making the jump to lightspeed!
Before school happenings in the JRC
Term 2 library monitors
Welcome to Mason Mattar, Noah Menezes, Noah Solomon, and Nicholas Lindsell. We are looking forward to working with you in the library this term.
Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: August and Jones by Pip Harry
Told via the dual perspective of August, a bookworm who constantly feels he can’t meet his father’s high expectations, and Jones, a girl who lost an eye to childhood cancer and who also has a fierce love for adventure. This pair make the most unlikely of friendships but it’s a connection that’s strong and true. Bravery, inner strength and humour abound in this delightful contemporary middle-grade book. Reading this book may make you cry and worry, but it will also lift you up and believe in the power of friendship, love and hope. #Mrsmartinsbooktrail2023
Ms Elena Martin - Teacher Librarian
Junior Chess
Thank you to all the students who attended chess training this week in the JRC. Click on the Try Booking link for chess payment for the competition.
https://www.trybooking.com/1042851
The draw for this year's Primary Schools Competition is available on the NSWJCL website (see www.nswjcl.org.au and click on "Schools" in the homepage menu). The competition starts Friday 5 May 2023. All teams are at HOME.
Elena Martin - Junior School Chess Convenor
Junior School IPSHA Debating
The Junior school debating teams have been preparing solidly and will contest their first debate this Friday, 5 May, in the Sarto Centre at 1:00 pm against St Ignatius Riverview. Parents are most welcome to attend. The topic for the first debate is “That YouTube is better than TV.” Representing the College for the affirmative team are Michael C, Lachlan Y, Alexander N and Levi A. Representing the College for the negative team are James S, Charlie W, Will T and Lachlan T. Good luck to all the boys.
Mr Paul Cummins - Junior Debating Convenor