Junior School News & Sport

• Junior School News
• Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
• Junior School Chess Club
• Junior School Sport

Junior School News

PRAYER/REFLECTION  

As Year 5 attended Mary MacKillop Place last Monday I will set the scene for the next article with the Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross prayer.  She is one of the Patron Saints of Australia.

Ever generous God,

You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop

To live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

and constant in bringing hope and encouragement

to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.

With confidence in your generous providence

and through the intercession of Saint Mary MacKillop

We ask that you grant our request……………….

We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit

so that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness.

Ever generous God hear our prayer.

We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.

MARY MACKILLOP PLACE  - YEAR 5 EXCURSION

The boys had a very rewarding experience on Monday when they visited Mary MacKillop place.  After an interactive museum experience and visiting an old house to see where Mary lived and how people used to live, they had the very touching experience of visiting Mary MacKillop’s tomb in the Chapel.  The boys were also impressed with being able to touch  items of furniture that Australia’s first Saint used.  We were blessed with no rain. The boys’ behaviour was excellent and there were plenty of questions.  Thank you to the guides and to Mr Carroll for organising the excursion.

OPAL CARD USE

We received an email this week from the Customer Operations Manager for State Transit Sydney Buses Willoughby Depot. Currently they are undertaking a project to ensure that all passengers of school specials and in route service buses are using their Opal cards correctly. They are asking that all students use the opal card correctly by tapping on and off in the mornings and afternoon.

The reasons for this project is to ensure that data collected by their organisation as well as TFNSW is correct. This data assists them as an organisation to add growth buses to the area.  If the boys do it correctly we could get an improved service so please remind your boy to always tap on and off.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION AT ST MARK’S DRUMMOYNE

Parents who reside in the parish of St Mark’s Drummoyne are welcome to enrol their children who are in years 6, 7 and above for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Enrolment letters are available in the Church foyer or from the Parish office from 8th June 2018.  Enrolments close on 29th June 2018.  The preparation sessions commence when third term starts.  The celebration Masses are Saturday 6pm 1st September and Sunday 9am Mass 2nd September. For further details contact the Parish Office on 9181 1795 or email: pa@stmarksdrummoyne.org.au

SPORT

We do not have Saturday sport this weekend so this Thursday will see the commencement of our Dance program.  For this week the boys won’t require their soccer, AFL or rugby gear. At the end of the term we have the dance finale and you are most welcome to attend.

The sporting program for the remainder of the term is below.  Please note times the buses leave to ensure your son has recess and to avoid missing an instrumental lesson.  We will arrive back at school at the normal times.  The performance on the last day of the term, 28th June, will be a lot of fun and parents are most welcome to attend at Oxford Falls.

JUNIOR SCIENCE ACADEMY:  SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMS AT MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

Details are in the flyer below or at www.mq.edu.au/about/holidays

*Please also see General Notices section on the 'Student & Parent Matters' page of this newsletter for more Holiday Program options.

P&F NEWS

Year 6 Parents' Night Out:  New Date Friday 15th June.  Venue will be the Willoughby Hotel.  Details to follow.

Year 5:  See details in the flyer below. RSVP to spx2025@gmail.com by Monday 2 July 2018.

TRIVIA NIGHT 2018 - Saturday 4th August at Chatswood

Start organising your tables now for the annual St Pius P&F Clubs' Trivia Night. BYO drinks and nibbles. A link to purchase tickets will be in Woodchatta shortly so keep an eye out for it!

Funds raised go directly to the Football, Rugby, Basketball, Cricket and Performing Arts Clubs, so come along and support your son's Clubs!

Year 5 - Other Dates for the Diary

• Sunday 9th September - Play in the park for kids & parents from 2pm to 4pm at Beauchamp Park, Chatswood. Set aside 23rd September as a back-up date if it rains on the 9th.
• Saturday 24th November - Year 5 Parents' Get-Together at 7:30pm - Venue TBA.

Entertainment Books 2018-2019:  Please support your P&F and our boys, and save loads of money at the same time! Order your Entertainment Books and Digital Memberships via the link below and 20% of your Membership fee contributes to St Pius X College P&F fundraising.

https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/2061c61

Digital orders are downloaded directly through the order process; hard copy books are sent home with your son.  Please contact Clare at clarehb@bigpond.com if you have any questions.

UPCOMING EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

• Friday 8 June:  We are hosting Round 3 Debating
• Queen’s Birthday Weekend: no IPSHA sport and College closed on Monday 11th June.
• Tuesday 12 June - Year 5 Incursion:  Willoughby Council story writing competition.  Boys introduced to the animal about which they will be writing a story.

Thanking you for your support.

Mr T Long - Head of Junior School

Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre

JIGSAW CONNECTION:   Help us piece the puzzle together.

We're excited to see lots of new arrivals in the JRC this week so head on in for spot-on book recommendations or just browse the shelves.

“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.” 

― Voltaire

MRS MARTIN'S BOOK TRAIL

Spies: The History of Secret Agents and Double-Crossers from prolific history writer Allison Lassieur and Rebecca Langston-George

Immerse yourself in the dangerous and daring lives of real-life spies. This book uses vivid images supplemented with timelines so that you can live the experience of some of the most notorious and ingenious spies in four different eras. Mata Hari – deadly spy or innocent dancer?  

If I’m missing, I’ll be traveling back through the 20th century and beyond to learn about the different ways spies have navigated the world.

Mrs E Martin 

Junior School Chess Club

Round 5 will see all our teams play AWAY this week.

Please check the draw for further details.

Mrs E Martin - Junior School Chess Convener

Junior School Sport

Thursday Sport: at Oxford Falls. Our first session of dance takes place. There will be no winter training leading into the Queen’s Birthday Bye Weekend.

Dance: Our Dance program begins this week and is integrated with our Thursday sport program of winter training. Please note the amendments to travel times in the table above. On the early departure days, boys will require a packed lunch. The cost of the 4 week program is $30 and will be charged to Term 3 Fees. Parents are warmly invited to attend from 12.45pm on Thursday 28th June for our Final Performance. Afternoon Tea will be served from 1.30pm.

Rugby:

Mr G Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster

Football:   Results Round 5

Mr P Cummins - Junior Football Convenor

AFL:  On a cold and windy early morning game against St Patrick’s we knew the conditions would be difficult. Instructions were to play a short passing and kicking game. Unfortunately the wind played its part and these tactics were blown straight to the opposition who put them to good use in a final quarter which, to say the least, was extremely disappointing for St Pius. While the scores were level right into the 4th quarter, a 5 goal blitz by St Pat’s saw them literally run away with the game. Apart from their effort and enthusiasm there were two reasons for this result. First was that our players started to blame their team mates for letting the other team score. Secondly, heads dropped, shoulders slumped and feet were planted. Every player gave up!

Boys, if there is anything that you should learn by playing a team sport, it is that not one player is responsible for winning or losing a game. It is the responsibility of the whole team.

Secondly, no matter what the score, you should NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!

Player Points:   3- Zavier Ferreira     2- Ollie Johnston    1 – Oscar Davidson

Long Weekend:   No games this Saturday, 9th June

Next game:   16th June 8:00am at Els Hall v Barker

Ms D Cummins - Junior AFL Convenor