Junior School News 

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

From the Head of the Junior School

WELCOME BACK TO TERM 4

We were thrilled to welcome everyone back from holidays this week and have enjoyed hearing stories of overseas trips, fishing adventures, seaside sojourns and special stays at Grandma and Grandad’s.  I hope you were able to spend some enjoyable and restful time with your son/s and that he is well-rested for the busy term ahead.

YEAR 6 GRADUATION LITURGY AND AFTERNOON TEA

Please save the date:  Monday 27 November from 12:45 pm for the inaugural Junior School Graduation Liturgy and Morning Tea.  In the meantime, can you please upload a Kindergarten (or first year of school) photo via this link:

https://forms.gle/zsYTHx3N92DNrg6e9

SUMMER SPORT

Please see Mr Ryan’s Sports News for everything you need to know about this Saturday’s teams and venues.  To ensure Saturday sport is an enjoyable and positive experience for all, please familiarise yourself with the IPSHA Spectator's Code of Behaviour:

SPECTATORS’ CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

• Children play organised sports for fun. They are not playing for the entertainment of spectators only, nor are they miniature professionals.
• Applaud good performances and efforts from each team. Congratulate all participants upon their performance regardless of the game’s outcome.
• Respect the officials’ decision.
• Never ridicule or scold a child for making a mistake during a competition.
• Positive comments are motivational and encourage continued effort.
• Condemn the use of violence in any form, be it by spectators, coaches,
  officials or players.
• Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game.
• Encourage players to follow the rules and the officials’ decisions.
• Demonstrate appropriate social behaviour by not using foul language, harassing players, coaches or officials.
• Comments should not interfere with the running of the game.
• Focus on the efforts and performance of the children rather than the result.

NAP CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP ASSESSMENT

In October and November 2023, samples of students from Year 6 and Year 10 in schools in NSW, Qld, Vic, SA and WA will participate in the field trial for the Civics and Citizenship (NAP–CC) sample assessment, one of a set of assessments within the National Assessment Program.

NAP–CC measures not only students’ skills, knowledge and understanding of Australia’s system of government and civic life but also student attitudes, values, and participation in civic-related activities at school and in the community.

6 Gold has been chosen at random by ACER to participate in the NAP–CC assessment. This assessment will take place next Monday 16 October.  The online assessment will be supervised by myself and Mr Ure.

More information can be found here https://www.nap.edu.au/nap-sample-assessments/civics-and-citizenship

WELCOME 2024 STUDENTS

On Thursday of Week 3, the Junior School will welcome our 2024 Year 5 students and our new Year 6 students to the College for an orientation and assessment day.  The new Year 5s will start their day with an assessment that will provide teachers with valuable information to assist teaching and learning in 2024.  The new Year 6s will spend the morning with the current Year 5s, engaging in a range of “Getting to Know You” activities in the College gym.  The afternoon will be spent getting to know the College through an adventure-filled Scavenger Hunt.  Because of the number of students who will be on-site, current students will leave for Oxford Falls at the end of Period 2.

NEW PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

We look forward to showcasing all that the St Pius X Junior School has to offer at our New Parent Information Night on Wednesday 1 November.  The Information Night will start at 6:00 pm and is online. I’m wondering if there is a brave Year 5 parent out there who would like to volunteer to speak for a short time about what it’s like to be a new family starting at St Pius X.  If so, please let me know – it would be wonderful for our new parents to hear from someone who knows the ropes! 

IPSHA GALA DEBATING

We wish our Junior Debating teams the very best as they prepare for the IPSHA Gala Debating day at Abbotsleigh on Monday 30 October.  Representing Year 6:  Charles Wilcox, Will Woods, Lucas Korth, Lachlan Yu, James Pratt and representing Year 5:  Angus Rands, Hugh Slack-Smith and Michael Capra.  Reserves:  Nick Belov and Alex Nunes.

SURF/SWIM PROGRAM

Our four-week Surf Education and Swim programs begin on Thursday in Week 4 with Year 5 headed to the Macquarie Aquatic Centre for swimming lessons and Year 6 headed to Dee Why Beach.

KOKODA WALKWAY EXCURSION

On Tuesday 14 November, Year 5 will join Mr Brannan on a very special excursion to the Kokoda Walkway in Concord West.  Students will visit the Ralph Honner Kokoda Education Centre where they will learn of the Pacific War leading up to the Kokoda campaign.  They will attend a wreath laying service at the Memorial Centrepiece and visit some of the walkway’s 22 stations representing a major Kokoda battle or location.

BOOK LAUNCH

Congratulations to Alexander Zhang, Massimo Guerrera, Liam Gallery, Hugo Hasanoglu and Alexander Nunes whose work has been published in the Chatswood Library’s Wildlife Storybook. The Wildlife Storybook is a culmination of a Council-led program that sees each Willoughby Council primary school visited by Bushland Education Officers to learn about the local environment and the creatures within it. The students work with their teachers to research a particular animal and share stories with their classmates.

JUNIOR SCHOOL ANNUAL AWARDS

There has been a change of date for the Junior School award presentations this year. Our Sports’ Awards will be presented on Tuesday 21 November from 11:00 am in the College Gym while our Academic Awards will be presented as part of the whole-college Annual Awards Day at Oxford Falls on Tuesday 5 December.

SAVE THE DATES!

Year 6 Graduation Liturgy and Afternoon Tea

Monday 27 November.

St Pius X College Annual Awards Day and Mass

Tuesday 5 December.

Christian Brothers Centre

1 Dreadnought Road, Oxford Falls

Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.

Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of the Junior School

Junior School Sport

Fixtures Saturday 14 October

Looking ahead

Term 4 Swim Program: All students will take part in a specialised program, as per the schedule above in lieu of regular Thursday Sport. Year 5 will attend Macquarie Uni Aquatic Centre for a pool-based program and Year 6 will attend Dee Why Beach for a Surf Skills program. I will send a separate letter to families for each year group that outlines logistics and most importantly a swim grading form for Year 5 students and a SEA Australia Waiver for the Year 6 students.

Swimming Squad Training – Term 4, 2023: Those that were part of Swimming Squad in Term 1 are invited to resume training starting Week 2, Term 4. There is some room available for additional swimmers so please email me by Friday 13 October if you would like to be included. Students wishing to take part are expected to attend majority of the 10 sessions, as we strive to build a strong squad culture. Either Ms Proc (Senior Swimming Coordinator) or myself will be in attendance during each session. 

Training details:

• 7:10 am at Fitness First, Chatswood (24 Endeavour St, Chatswood) 
• Suitable swimwear, goggles and swim cap are all essential (no cap, no swim)
• Students wear PE/ Pius Sports Uniform to the sessions. At 8:15 am the boys are walked back to school by staff. They then change into school uniform. A snack/breakfast is also recommended at this point.
• Training days/dates:

CIS Athletics Summary:

Late last term several boys represented the College as members of the IPSHA Athletics team. You may recall the incredibly hot day in September we all experienced, and it was on this day that the carnival was conducted. Results from the day were as follows:

Leo Barnett (6 Green) – 5th in the 11yrs 100m (13.45s) and 5th in the11yrs 200m (28.98s)

Lukas Gazey (5 Blue) – 7th in the 11yrs Long Jump (4.22m)

Ryan Volpato (5 Red) – 6th in the 11yrs Discus (22.11m)

Benjamin Crichton (6 Green) – 18th in the 11yrs Shot Put (7.49m)

Hunter Austin (6 Gold) – 2nd in the 12/13yrs Shot Put (10.49m)

Parker Ball (6 Blue) – 9th in the 12/13yrs Long Jump (4.36m)

Patrick Butler (6 Gold) – 3rd in the 12/13yrs 200m (26.92s)

Cristiano Calcarao (6 Red) – 1st in the 12/13yrs 1500m (4m45.22s) and 3rd in the 12/13yrs 800m (2m21.41s)

3rd in the Senior Boys 4 x 100m Relay (Leo Barnett, Parker Ball, Cristiano Calcarao, and Patrick Butler)

Whilst not every athlete progressed to the CIS team to compete at the NSW PSSA Athletics championships in a fortnight’s time, I am pleased to report that the following boys were successful in being selected to go to the next level:

Hunter Austin (Shot Put)

Leo Barnett (4 x 100m relay)

Parker Ball (4 x 100m relay)

Cristiano Calcarao (800, 1500m, and 4 x 100m relay)

Patrick Butler (200m and 4 x 100m relay)

Based on boys’ schools competing at CIS level, St Pius X College had the equal second highest representation of athletes within the CIS team. It is a credit to their dedication and perseverance that they have reached this competitive level. We wish them well at the NSW PSSA carnival with a detailed summary provided in the Woodchatta at that time.

Basketball: The first game of the 6-week, Term 4 season begins this Saturday 14 October. Please ensure boys are correctly attired in College-only uniform and at their venue 20 mins prior to tip-off. Boys new to Basketball will have already received a singlet. If this is not the case please have your son come and see me before Friday 13 October. You will note that this round we are running internal fixtures.

A reminder that training has now commenced for all Basketball teams at Chatswood Campus from 7.30 am:

Monday – Teams C, D, E, F

Tuesday – Teams A, B, G, H

Thursday – Teams Blue 1, Blue 2, Gold 1, Gold 2

Softball: The first game of the 6-week, Term 4 season begins this Saturday 14 October. Wet weather procedures will be in place. 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 4 season begins this Saturday 14 October. Wet weather procedures will be in place. Please ensure boys are correctly attired in College-only uniform and at their venue 20 minutes prior to game commencement. Boys new to Touch Football will have already received a singlet. If this is not the case please have your son come and see me before Friday 13 October.

Please also note that team lists and venue information will be published on the College App by the Thursday evening in readiness for the weekend.

Mr Ben Ryan - Junior School Sports Coordinator

From the Junior Resource Centre

This week’s Highlights: 

So wonderful to have students back in the Library! It was awesome to hear them laughing and talking about the books they love, enjoying a game of UNO! Great to see a book in each child’s hands. This term we will be exploring the Horror genre! Ready for Halloween!

Count down to Halloween

Its getting rather spooky over in the JRC as we get ready for one of our most favourite times of the year. Its when I let my creative juices go crazy and create and do all the spooktakular things for the library. Who’s with me? #halloweeniscoming

Name that villiain!

 In preparation for our spooktakular festivities, the students are invited to enter the Name that Villiain competition!

Fill out a guessing sheet with the name of the book that each villiain can be found in. For an extra bonus, name the character. Drop you answers into Mrs Martin in the JRC for a CHANCE to win a prize! Remember to keep the answers TOP SECRET.

New Books have arrived in the JRC!

Some exciting new arrivals have just landed for your reading pleasure. #keepreading

Things That Go Bump In the Night by Patrick Carman

Some stories are best told in the dead of night. 3:15 means several things. It’s a time when Things Go Bump in The Night. A place where spooky stories find a home. A feeling…. that chill running down your spine. Each story is introduced, then if you are brave enough to continue, you’ll read for about ten minutes. Then the ending will be unlocked with a short video. I advise leaving the lights on.

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: Scar Town by Tristan Bancks

If you’ve got non-readers or reluctant readers, this might be the book that gets them started. Everything hinges on the moment Will and his friends Dar and Juno decide it is a good idea to explore Old Scarborough as it begins to emerge from the lake. What they find inside one of the houses will almost cost them their lives and uncovers the corruption all around them. Fast-paced action, a real page turner. .#mrsmartinsbooktrail2023

Mrs Elena Martin - JRC Teacher Librarian