Junior School News 

• From the Head of the Junior School 
• Junior School Sport
• From the Junior Resource Centre
• Junior Chess

From the Head of the Junior School

A PRAYER FOR THE END OF TERM

We thank you Lord, for this term.

For the challenges, the successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt.

Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.

Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith.

Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us,

to give time and effort to help others.

To be peacemakers in our family.

Keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun.

Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term.

We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents

And a community that cares for us.

May we always be conscious of you in our lives.

Amen

YEAR 5 CAMP

As you receive today’s Woodchatta, the Year 5 students, teachers and I have arrived back from three adventurous days at Point Wolstoncroft. Everyone has had a fantastic time participating in new activities, eating new foods, talking into the night, and making new friends.  No doubt you will hear lots of positive stories about an experience he will never forget.  For those boys who couldn’t join us, you were very much missed, and we can’t wait to go away with you to Canberra in Year 6!

A link to photos will be available in the coming days.

SEMESTER ONE REPORTS

Semester One reports will be issued on the Portal today.  Please take the opportunity to read through your son’s report prior to any Parent/Teacher/Student interviews on Friday.

DANCE CONCERT | TOMORROW AT OXFORD FALLS 12:45 PM – 1.20 PM

Raw Energy Dance Education dance lessons will culminate in a final performance tomorrow at Oxford Falls from 12.45 pm – 1.20 pm. Everyone is welcome to watch the boys perform and then stay for …

BLUE 'FIDE' AWARDS | TOMORROW AT OXFORD FALLS 1.30 PM – 2.00 PM

After the Dance Concert, we will present Blue 'Fide' Awards to those boys (three from each class) who have shown “Consistent effort leading to improvement” in Semester One.  Following the awards, the boys will be free to go home with parents or come back to the College at 2.20 pm for a normal dismissal.

PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT INTERVIEWS FRIDAY 24 JUNE | 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

I hope that you have managed to get your interview bookings into the system – apologies again for the technical issues last week.  Please call the office if you need further assistance. If you haven’t been able to secure a time that suits, please contact the relevant teacher to arrange a suitable time in Term 3.

BIRTHDAYS

We wish Mrs Fileman and Mrs Barrett very happy holiday birthdays and we look forward to celebrating with them when we return in Term 3.

COMING UP …

Thursday 23 June – Dance Concert at Oxford Falls at 12.45 pm

Thursday 23 June – Blue Fide Awards at Oxford Falls at 1.20 pm

Friday 24 June – Parent/Teacher/Student interviews

Friday 24 June – First day of three-week holiday

Tuesday 19 July – First day of Term 3 (Note:  Monday 18 July is a pupil-free day)

Thank you for your support throughout my first semester.  I look forward to more opportunities to meet and get to know you all in Semester Two. 

Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of the Junior School 

Junior School Sport

Round 7 Results:

Thursday Sport: After Recess, we will head out to Oxford Falls to conclude our Term 2 Dance Program. Upon arriving, our boys will have a final rehearsal in their separate House groups to hone their routines, before gathering in the CBC to compete for House points in the 2022 SPX House Dance-Off. Each routine will be heavily scrutinised by the Junior School staff, led by Chief Dance Adjudicator, Mrs Williams. Boys are reminded that there will be no training for Saturday sport at Oxford Falls this week – just pack your dancing shoes. 

Looking ahead to Term 3: In Week 5 of Term 3, the trials for the Summer season will commence. Students will take up the same sport that they played in Term 1; either Basketball, Touch Football, Softball, Tennis or Cricket. We conduct the trial process again to ensure your son is placed in a team befitting his skill and ability level, in time for the Summer season/Saturday games that will resume in Term 4. If you have any questions or issues, please make contact ASAP as the Term 4 Summer Draw will be arranged and finalised with our IPSHA colleagues in the coming weeks. 

Mr Glen Carroll - Junior School Sports Coordinator

Junior Rugby: Round 7 games were the final games for the term. The Prep Firsts had a tough day out going down to Mosman Prep. Despite the loss, there were some positives to take out of this game. Down 35 nil at half time, the Pius boys showed great determination and resilience to win the second half. The 11A’s ventured down south to Moss Vale and put on a display of skill. They walked away with a HUGE win over Tudor house. From all reports, a wonderful time was had by all. Thank you to all the parents, players and staff who were able to commit to the long trip away. Special mention to Mrs Williams, Mr Gleeson and Mr Harkin for stepping into the coaching role this week. The Rugby 7s teams played their final games for the term and finished with great results.

Mr Antonio Morris - Junior School Rugby Convenor

SPX Rugby Supporters' Club

Saturday, 30 July - Roseville Golf Club - from 7.00 pm to 11.30 pm - Special Guest Speaker former Wallaby, Ben Darwin.

Tickets $180 per head - includes drinks and canapés on arrival; three course meal; beer, wine & soft drinks - plus a complimentary $20 ticket in our raffle to be drawn on the night with the major prize of a three night ‘Port Macquarie Luxury Accommodation Get Away Experience’ valued at over $2,500 - (plus some surprises on the night!).

Book your tickets via the below TryBooking link from 10.00 am tomorrow (Thursday, 23 June).

https://www.trybooking.com/CAEGM 

Get in and book your tickets ASAP as initial indications are that we may well sell out early!

  Mr Paul O’Neill - President

SPX Rugby Supporters’ Club

Tel: 0418-634750

Email: paoneill21@gmail.com

From the Football Supporters' Club

Thank you

Thank you to the many volunteers from our wonderful SPX Football Supporters Community who gave their time to support our boys and the SPX Football Program, by selling raffle tickets and supporter gear, making coffee and being on the barbeque. Also thanks to those Supporters who made purchases. 

Thank you to Mr Couani, the SPX Rugby Supporters Club, the SPX Canteen Team, The Oxford Falls Grounds Keepers, Our Senior and Junior Football Convenors and Sports Masters, The SPX Accounts Department and many others from the SPX Staff Team. So many people came together to support such a successful day of football, fundraising and fun, for our SPX Football Community.

It was wonderful to see so many in our Football Supporters Community, coming together whilst socialising and enjoying the games.

We will report on what money was raised in the next P and F meeting, so be sure to come along to that. 

Book now for the SPX Football Holiday Camp at Oxford Falls Campus

Monday 27 June 2022 to Wednesday 29 June 2022

Improve your football skills at the SPX Football Holiday Camp with Coerver Coaching.

Coerver Coaching holiday camps offer a fun-filled football experience. Each day will include Coerver Super Skills competitions and challenges, Ball Mastery, Coaching sessions focusing on developing effective use of skill, small sided Coerver Games, and a mini Coerver Cup Tournament.

Trybooking:        https://www.trybooking.com/UPLP

When:                  Monday 27 June 2022 to Wednesday 29 June 2022, 9.00 am to 12.00 pm

Where:                 SPX Oxford Falls Campus

Cost:                     $60 per day, single or multi-day tickets available

Transport Options:

• Parents to drop off and pick up boys from Oxford Falls    OR
• Bus transport available from SPX Chatswood Campus (for up to 53 students per day only)
  • 8.15 am bus will depart from Anderson St, front of school.  Bus to depart 8.30 am sharp.
  • 12.10 pm depart from Oxford Falls. Arrive at Anderson St SPX Chatswood Campus at 12.40 pm subject to traffic conditions

Bring: 

• Football boots, shin pads, football training clothes (SPX sports uniform not required)
• Water bottle with name clearly marked
• Sunscreen, cap and rain gear and sneakers (for indoor football play for wet weather)
• Food for snacks and lunch
• A football for skills practice
  • Coerver footballs are available for optional purchase for $20 on the Trybooking link
  • You can also bring a football from, or use one of the SPX training footballs
  • Years 5 to 7 to bring a Size 4 Football
  • Years 8 and above to bring a Size 5 Football

Mrs Lorna Hammond - SPX Football Supporters Club President

footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au

From the Junior Resource Centre

This week's highlights: 

Refugee Week 2022 was launched on Sunday, 19 June, with a focus on “Healing”, a healing that promotes harmony and togetherness in our shared common humanity. It’s a great opportunity to share books with students and adults to raise awareness. Pop into the JRC to see our great selection.

Some books in our library which promote Refugee awareness:

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 ...A  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!

Hold tight!  If you could travel anywhere on Hagrid's motorbike, where would you go?  

The JRC, of course!

Term 3 – Publicity Tour with CBCA Short Listed Author Ashleigh Barton

Save the date - Monday 25 July, 2022

Ashleigh Barton- Promoting 'Solomon Macaroni and the Cousin Catastrophe' - For Year 5.

"You’ve never met a vampire like Solomon Macaroni before – he’s friendly, polite and makes a mean tofu Bolognese. Understandably, when his parents go on a one-hundred-year cruise without him, Solomon is not impressed. Especially because it means having to stay in creepy Transylvania with his six cousins, who are the rudest and naughtiest vampires in existence. (Well, apart from Lucy. He likes her.) Not even his uncle, Count Dracula, the oldest vampire in the world, can stop their pranks. Solomon wishes he could spend the next hundred years alone at his own house with his spider friend, Fred, instead. But when his cousins venture into the spooky Wildwood on a dangerous mission, Solomon – against his better judgement – agrees to help Lucy rescue them. At least, that's what he thinks he's doing. In the forest, Solomon must draw on all he knows – about old magic, wet wipes and the importance of a well-timed entrance – to save his catastrophic cousins and possibly the world.”  Ashleigh Barton

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: 

CBCA – Eve Pownall Category The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly

I loved the 60 ugly animals and the 60 dangerous animals, so why not double up and have over 120 plants / animals?! Prepare to explore the bizarre world of mutualism, commensalism and parasitism….

“Whether it be a rare tick living in the fur of a pygmy possum, a stick insect feasting and hiding out amongst the Melaleuca or a handfish laying its eggs on a sea tulip, incredible natural relationships deserve to be explored and celebrated. Investigating all types of relationships, from symbolic to parasitic, this is an eye-opening guide to the natural world. Many species steer clear of those who are different, but the animals and plants who are different in this book have evolved to form relationships with some of the most unlikely partners, and they couldn’t live without them.” Sami Bayly

 #mrsmartinsbooktrail2022

Mrs Elena Martin – Teacher Librarian

Junior School Chess Club

Chess Competition resumes in Term 3 Friday 22 July. It will be a HOME game for all players. 

Chess training has finished for the season. A big thank you to all the Chess participants who braved the early morning start for chess training on a Tuesday. 

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior School Chess Convenor