Junior School News & Sport
Barron House wins the Junior School Swimming Carnival
- Junior School News and Information
- Learning Enrichment Notices
- Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
- Junior School Chess Club
- Junior School Sport
PRAYER: The Prayer for The Merit Assembly This Friday
This prayer could be a good way of introducing goal setting for the semester or year with your son.
A Student's Prayer for a New School Year
Lord Jesus, I ask for Your help as I begin this new school year. Allow me to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before me.
Open my eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities that this new school year brings.
Open my heart and mind to new friends and new teachers.
Give me a generous spirit to be enthusiastic with my studies and courage to accept new opportunities.
Help me to be attentive to my teachers and let me experience Your presence in my new friends.
Jesus, inspire me to do my best this year!
Amen
It was great to see so many parents at the information evenings. All the boys now have their PLDs (except those who have been absent, and we will organise their PLDs on their return). Please ensure you have read through and co-signed the Acceptable Use Policy for Students and Technology (Page 17-18 in the Diary). This can be used as a valuable parenting experience where you can explain the expectations around the use of their personal learning device. This is a challenging area for parents and schools so I would recommend attending this evening. It is free, and more information is below including a try booking site so we are aware of numbers.
The Junior School swimming carnival was held today and it was great to meet so many parents and to witness the enthusiasm of the boys. I’m always amazed at how enthusiastically they support their colour house even though they have only been here for five days. It is very energising and a lot of fun. Congratulations to the following boys who have been voted in as House Leaders. They have done a great job leading their teams today.
A very special congratulations to the winning team - Barron, with Purton 2nd, Rice 3rd and Treacy 4th. A full report with age champions and photos will be in next week's Woodchatta.
HOUSE LEADERS
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Thursday 7 February: Sports day #2 - a full day of sport at Oxford Falls. Boys wear their sports uniform so blue shirt will be clean and acceptable. Boys need to bring morning tea and lunch plus a water bottle – obviously their school cap is compulsory.
- Saturday 9 February: First day of Junior School interschool sport – IPSHA Round 1.
WEEK 3
- Tuesday 12 February: The Commencement Mass at Our Lady of Dolours Church will be absolutely packed with the boys and staff, with the Junior School boys sitting on the Sanctuary. I would recommend coming to the P & F Mass on Saturday 16 February.
- Thursday 14 February: Sports day - whole day at Oxford falls. We have a play about Bullying and then sport as normal. Boys wear colour house sports uniform and bring morning tea and lunch, drink bottle and hat.
- Saturday 16 February: IPSHA Round 2. P & F Commencement Mass and Social begins at 5.30pm at Our Lady of Dolours Church (OLD) in Archer Street. Parking is available in the school playground. Supper is supplied and it's a great way to meet other people while the children have fun in playground. Catholic means universal – all are welcome! Please see the invitation below for full details, and to help the P&F to organise the catering please RVSP by clicking on this link
- Sunday 17 February: Please note that the Football Grading is only for boys in Years 7 to 12.
PORTAL: Please note that the Music Ensemble Timetable and the Application for Music Tuition note is on the portal, as is the Year 5 Camp Medical Note. If you are going on a holiday and are seeking Exemption from Attendance at College for your son, this note can also be found on the website and the portal.
P & F NEWS: Please see the P&F page of this newsletter for all P&F information, including events for Years 5 and 6 parents and students.
***We are in need of class parents / year group representatives for Years 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 so if you're interested, please contact Cassie Buono at cassiebuono@gmail.com. Thank you to those parents who have already responded to this request.
YEAR 5 CAMP ( not YEAR 6)
*** I have just received this information and it would be appreciated if you could complete ASAP. Thankyou.
COMMIT TO YOUR CHILD'S ONLINE SAFETY
eSAFETY FORUM: 7.00 - 8.30pm on Tuesday 19 February in the College’s Chatswood Gym
In an effort to develop an informed consensus of how we can keep our students safe in their responsible use of and learning from technology, all members of the wider College community are warmly invited to attend an eSafety Forum to be conducted by a guest speaker from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner between 7.00 and 8.30pm on Tuesday 19 February in the College’s Chatswood Gym.
Please refer to the flyer attached below and book a free ticket on the Trybooking site https://www.trybooking.com/453005 so that we can plan appropriately and cater with tea/coffee/ nibbles with the support of the College P&F. Further details can be found on the Pastoral Care page of this newsletter.
Cyberbulling involves the use of technologies to seriously harass, intimidate, humiliate or threaten a child or young person. These technologies include social networks, instant messaging, end email. By reporting cyberbullying to the eSafety Commissioner, and talking about its impact on victims, we can help stop it.
Please click on the flyer below for more information such as where to go for help and how to report serious cyberbullying.
Thanking you for your support
Mr Tim Long - Head of Junior School
and the Junior School Staff
Learning Enrichment Notices
COMPASS CLUB
What is Compass Club? Compass Club offers a range of competitions and is open to any boy wishing to register for a competition they are interested in. At Compass Club you can find out if you are eligible to register or enter competitions, obtain an entry form, seek assistance with your entry or work on your entry. Most competitions require you to submit your entry during Compass Club sessions.
When is Compass Club? Compass Club is held Wednesday lunchtimes beginning in Week 3.
Where is Compass Club held? Compass Club is held in the JSR (room off the Junior School yard).
Do I attend every week? Attend Compass Club if you are interested in participating in a particular competition. You can choose to work on your entry during Wednesday lunch or work on your entry at home and submit it when you have finished.
Who can I see about joining Compass Club? If you have any questions about Compass Club please see Mrs Spanyik.
COMPETITION REMINDERS
- Say No to Bullying Poster Competition: draw a picture of how you could help someone who is being bullied. Entries close 11 March. https://www.interrelate.org.au/get-involved/2019-poster-competition
- Da Vinci Decathlon Competition - enrich, excite, challenge. Held at Knox Grammar School on Thursday 30 May. NB compulsory training sessions in Compass Club. This competition is aimed at students celebrating their academic gifts. (Registrations of interest- Week 4 & 6)
Entry into this competition is based on demonstrated academic ability and an ability test. The competition will be run in Term 2 with compulsory training beginning Week 1 Term 2 on Wednesday lunchtimes during Compass Club. Further details will be given at the next Junior School Assembly and link: http://www.davincidecathlon.com/davinci/index
JUNIOR SCHOOL DEBATING – SELECTION TRIALS
Boys in the Junior School have the opportunity to become involved in Debating. The College enters two teams in the IPSHA Debating Competition. Twelve boys from the Junior School form the two teams and these are selected to compete. The teams debate fortnightly on a Friday afternoon (during school hours Periods 4-6) during Terms 2, 3 and 4 on a rotational basis. The emphasis is on learning the skills of debating and workshops will be held during lunchtimes leading up to the competitions. Training begins every Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes beginning Week 9 Term 1.
Boys are invited to present a short two minute speech to assist in selection of these teams. These speeches are to be presented during the set trial sessions on Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes:
The topic for the speech is 'WHICH IS BETTER - TELEVISION OR BOOKS?' Further details will be given to the boys at the Junior School assembly.
Mrs Bettina Spanyik - Learning Enrichment Teacher
News from the Junior Resource Centre
School is back for 2019! A big welcome back to the JRC. It’s been great to spend quiet time relaxing and ‘refilling the well’ so that we have the energy for the year ahead. This year’s stimulating library program is designed to develop students’ digital and information literacies and literacy generally. Much of this learning is connected to classroom studies.
Promoting recreational reading is a big part of our program. The Junior Resource Centre offers a range of opportunities for every student to enjoy reading and to develop their appreciation of literature.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” - George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons
This Year’s reading is promoted in a number of ways:
- Weekly reading’s from “Book of the Term” and Mrs Martin’s Book Trail.
- The Premier’s Reading Challenge: March to August.
- Writer’s Workshop with award winning author, John Larkin.
- Book Week celebrations 17-23 August 2019: ‘READING IS My SECRET POWER’ with studies of short-listed contenders for the ‘Children’s Book of the Year’.
- A visit to our next door neighbours, Willoughby Library, with memberships on offer and the chance for our students to borrow from this world class collection.
UNITY IN COMMUNITY - ‘GET AMONGST IT’: February is Library Lovers Month. The theme for Library Lovers Day 2019 is ‘Library Love Stories’ where students are encouraged to have a blind date with a book. This is just one of the many activities happening in the JRC. Watch this space!
#LibraryLoversDay #LibraryLoveStories
Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: Lenny’s Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee
Wow! I loved this book so much I read it again! This book is incredible. Lenny’s Book of Everything is a quirky novel about Lenny, the encyclopaedia–loving narrator and her brother Davey, who won’t stop growing. It’s hard to explain but easy to love. One to be enjoyed by all ages. #MrsMartinsBooktrail2019
Right: A big thank you to the P&F - we now have an amazing reading corner where the boys can enjoy a good book, or even play a game of cards or UNO.
Below: Year 6 Gold enjoying the Crash mats in the JRC.
#backtoschool #juniorresourcecentre
Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Librarian
Junior School Chess Club
The NSW Junior Chess Competition is pleased to invite the SPX Junior School to take part in the 2019 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 and a new reason to develop self-esteem. Registration closes Friday 22 February 2019.
Attached below 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 Week 4, Friday 22 February, 2019. Training begins in Week 8, Tuesday 19 March 2019 at 7.30am in the Junior Resource Centre.
Mrs Elena Martin - Junior School Chess Convener
Junior Sport
Thursday Sport: Our second trial day takes place tomorrow and so we again depart early. Please note the early departure times for the first 3 weeks and thus the need for a full packed lunch.
School App: If you have not already done so please download the St Pius X College App on your phone. Go to Settings-Subscriptions to tag the sports you wish to receive notices for. Also, tag the ‘General’ sports notices option so that you receive the notices pertinent to all students. (Instructions for downloading the App are on the Upcoming Events Page at the beginning of this newsletter.)
Twitter / Wet Weather Procedure: Follow @SPXJuniorSport for instant updates regarding late sporting changes, cancellations etc. Full details here.
House Captains: Congratulations to the following students voted by their peers and staff as leaders for 2019.
Basketball: The first game of the 6 week, Term 1 season begins this Saturday 9 February. Boys will be notified of their team and issued a singlet on Thursday/Friday after our final session of trials. All relevant information apart from team lists has been uploaded to the College App. Please ensure boys are correctly attired in College-only uniform and at their venue 20 mins prior to tip-off.
NSTA Tennis: Rd 1 is on Saturday 16 February. Boys will be notified of their team and will be given further team, draw and venue details once the Competition grading has been released. The summer competition is graded and run in conjunction with the Senior School. Boys are graded in ability groups and grading may transcend year groups. Please check under NSTA Tennis on the Senior School Sport page of this newsletter for future correspondence.
Rugby: Trials for the upcoming Armidale Rugby Tour will take place on Thursday 14 February as part of sport. Year 6 students playing Rugby for the College are invited to trial. The tour takes place from 12 – 14 April in Armidale, NSW. All tour management, including accommodation, coaching and meals are organised by the College. Players make their own way to Armidale and return by their own means. Parents drop boys to SPX staff at the school boarding accommodation on Friday afternoon. Whilst most parent/s attend in support, transport can also be arranged via car-pooling with another player. Accommodation books out very early but the Rugby Club has secured several rooms on behalf of St Pius parents. More information will follow after team selections are complete.
Softball: The first game of the 6 week, Term 1 season begins this Saturday 9 February. All relevant information has been uploaded to the College App. Wet weather procedures will be in place (as per the season draw and information letter). Please ensure boys are correctly attired in College-only uniform, have protective equipment and are at the venue 20 mins prior to commencement time.
Touch Football: The first game of the 6 week, Term 1 season begins this Saturday 9 February. Boys will be notified of their team and issued a singlet on Thursday/Friday after our final session of trials. All relevant information apart from team lists has been uploaded to the College App. Please ensure boys are correctly attired in College-only uniform and at their venue 20 mins prior to game commencement.
Mr Greg Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster