Junior School News & Sport
Last Wednesday four Year 6 students attended Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School Waitara for a Year 6 Leadership Day.
- Junior School News and Information
- Learning Enrichment Notices
- Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
- Junior School Sport
PRAYER: Peace begins with us - peace within.
CALM AND AT PEACE
I become quiet and focused on the Spirit of God.
Alone with the presence of God, I feel a great serenity.
I rediscover how refreshing it feels to be calm and at peace.
I feel as if waves of peace are washing over me and
clearing away any tenseness and anxiety.
I know that I am eternally one with God.
In Jesus Christ's name
Amen
CSO YEAR 6 LEADERS DAY: Thankyou to Mr Adrian Brannan for taking the Year 6 class captains to the CSO Year 6 Leadership Day. Thankyou also to Anthony Parissis for writing this report.
"Last Wednesday, 20 March 2019 James Terzian, Nathan Formosa, Ben Flynn and Anthony Parissis, attended Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School Waitara for a Year 6 Leadership Day. There we learnt how we can be a good leader in our school and what character traits are vital to be a consistent leader.
When we arrived, we were greeted by a member of the Catholic Schools Office of the Broken Bay Diocese. After that we played a game that allowed us to meet others from other schools.
We then were directed into the hall for a speech made by Father David Ranson. He spoke about the six lessons that he has learnt about leadership. These included:
- Leadership is never about power but about the people.
- Leadership creates community among people.
- It’s not about where am I going as a leader and individual but where are we going as a community.
- A leader does not pretend to know the answer to everything but should seek help from the community.
- Leadership never demands perfection. As I stated earlier, it’s not about the power.
- Leadership is a way of loving. If you don’t love and acknowledge your community, you are not deserving of being a leader. Acknowledge other’s traits.
Later on we joined with the other schools, Father David Ranson and other members of the Diocese in the Cathedral to celebrate in Mass the leadership of the Year 6 students gathered there on the day. The Mass was a beautiful celebration for the representatives. After Mass we had the privilege of taking a photo with Father David.
The whole day was a fun get-together with other schools all across the Diocese. We either got to meet many new people or caught up with our friends from our old school. James dominated the other schools in handball!! To sum up, it was a pretty fun experience and I left with a full understanding as to what a leader is." (Anthony Parissis)
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Thursday Sport: Winter trials - boys must have a complete change of clothes for training
Friday 29 March: Author John Larkin will be doing writing workshops with Year 5 - 5 Blue for the whole day.
Saturday 30 March: Rugby trials
Monday 1 April: Year 6 will be the audience for one of the last rehearsals for Great Expectations in Pers 4 and 5.
Tuesday 2 April: Period 2 – Junior School will listen to author Felice Arena speak.
Wednesday 3 April: Peer Support in Per 5.
Thursday 4 April: Sport – Winter trials/training- boys must have a complete change of clothes for training.
Friday 5 April: P & F Cocktail Party- see you there!
A THOUGHT TO PONDER
Harmony day was last Thursday and we prayed the Peace Prayer of St Francis in the morning.
Below are the thoughts on the Harmony Day posters on display in the Junior School area.
Thanking you for your support
Mr Tim Long - Head of Junior School
and the Junior School Staff
Learning Enrichment Notices
Da Vinci Decathlon 2019: This year the Junior School has two teams entering the Da Vinci Decathlon at Knox Grammar School. Congratulations to the boys listed below who will be representing the College. Training starts the first Wednesday back in Term 2, on 1st May. We wish each team best of luck in their preparation and teamwork leading up to this competition's Academic Gala Day on Thursday 30 May.
Year 5 Team: Aiden Lindsay, Michael Cheah, Kieran Yu, Enzo Gambino, Liam Godfrey, Louis Forbes, Aiden Kiem and Angus Gibson.
Year 6 Team: William Scaiff, Jaydon Akouri, Aiden Seifert, Lucas Youngman, Lachlan Richmond, Sam Cooper, Jimmy Furini and Robert Oner.
Junior School Debating Team: Congratulations to the following boys selected for the Junior School Debating team: Reilly Bois, Rory McCallum, Regan Yun, James Thomson, William Foire, Jet Stump, Anthony Parissis, Luke Mortimer, Ethan Auer, Dylan Turnell, Robert Oner, Isaac Donlevy and Adam Fitrzyk. Well done to all boys who tried out for the team as they were very impressive with their well prepared and persuasive speeches.
Training begins next Wednesday 3 April (Week 10 of Term 1) and then continues every Wednesday and Friday at lunchtimes in the JSR.
Competition Reminders:
- Write for Fun: Due date extended to 7th April - http://www.write4fun.net
- What Matters Writing Competitions: 400- 600 word opinion piece on What Matters to You?https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters/
Mindquest Workshops 2019 – Years 5 and 6: Mind Quest is an exciting enrichment program designed to challenge and extend gifted and talented primary students in New South Wales Schools. These challenging two-day workshops are designed to stimulate and extend students across a broad range of subject areas. Activities may include Minibeasts, digital animation and video, Dynamic Debating and Art Moves. Courses focus on developing critical and creative thinking skills, problem solving and broadening your child's interests. More information may be found at http://www.mindquest.net.au/ or see Mrs Spanyik for a brochure.
- Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
- Closing registration date: Friday 3 May 2019
Mrs Bettina Spanyik - Learning Enrichment Teacher
- Due Friday 10 May -
Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
On Friday 22 March Year 5 Gold students had their first full day Writer’s Workshop with Author John Larkin. We are looking forward to welcoming John back on 29 March for Year 5 Blue to begin their first full day's workshop.
Graphic Novels are being promoted in the Junior Resource Centre this week. We have lots of keen readers. Come in and Borrow a graphic Novel @JRC
Author Felice Arena will be visiting St Pius X Junior School on Tuesday 2 April 2019. Both Year 5 and 6 students will have the opportunity to listen to this engaging author speak.
Year 6 in Library have been listening to his novel The Boy and The Spy, a historical novel which is fast-paced, page turning, full of authentic characters - a narrative with heart. Great for readers 10 plus. His latest book The Great Escape is also out now. If your son would like to purchase a copy please return the order form (attached below) by Tuesday 2 April 2019.
Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: Two new great biographies, Big Dreams is a great series for younger students. The Graphic Adaptation of Anne Frank’s Diary is an important book. Great for Middle and High school. Worth a read! #MrsMartinsBooktrail2019
Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Librarian
Junior Sport
Thursday Sport: Thursday Sport: at Oxford Falls. Winter trials continue for Football and Rugby. Players require full training gear (does not have to be St Pius gear), including socks, boots and protective gear (mouthguards, shin-pads etc.). Players wear their PE uniform to school as per normal and change on arrival at Oxford Falls.
Rugby: Trial matches this weekend for all boys. Players will be assigned a squad during internal trials at Thursday Sport this week. Players require full playing gear for Sport this Thur including boots and mouthguard (does not have to be school issue strip for training).
Football (IPSHA): Congratulations to Riley Watt (6 Gold) who successfully trialled for the IPSHA squad last week. Riley now goes to the CIS trial, attempting to secure a place in the CIS team for the PSSA (State All Schools Championships). We wish him the best of luck.
Football: The 2019 season is fast approaching. St Pius X College field 5 graded U10/11 combined teams (A-E) playing 9 per side and 4 graded U12/13 teams (A-D), playing 11 per side. Boys play in the age group that matches the age they turn in 2019, with the exception of Year 6 players who turn 11 but qualify for the Prep 1st XI team due to their strong ability. We have trial matches scheduled for this Saturday 30 March at Oxford Falls. These are for half the 12/13 squad and most of the U11 Squad. Players will be assigned a squad during internal trials at Thursday Sport this week. They will require a full change of gear on Thursdays, including boots and shin-guards (does not have to be school issue strip for training).
Mr G Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster
Football (soccer) Referees: The Junior school requires qualified referees for our home games on Saturday mornings at Oxford Falls commencing in Term 2. The first game starts at 8.00am and the final game begins at 10:15am. Games are 40 minutes with a 5-minute half time. Referees are paid after each home round. Please contact Mr Paul Cummins via pcummins@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au for more information.
Paul Cummins - Junior School Football Coordinator
FOOTBALL CLUB NEWS
We need you!
The Committee is run by parent volunteers. Most of the existing members of the SPX Football Committee have boys in Year 12 and after six years or more will be retiring at the end of 2019, leaving one existing Committee member for 2020. We need your support to transition to a new group of SPX Football parents to maintain continuity and bring new ideas and initiatives into the College.
If we cannot form a Committee then all the good work we have done over the years such as specialist coaching and holiday camps will be at risk, and in some cases may cease to be provided. The effort required is a few hours a month. The roles required for the Committee in 2019 are Communication Manager, Events Manager, Shadow Treasurer and Shadow BBQ Manager.
Please consider joining in. This year is 2019 Unity in Community. Meet the challenge and Get Amongst It. Details on 2019 SPX Football Club activities are attached below.
Please email footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au if you are interested or want some more information, or just come along to the next meeting in April.
Term 1 Holiday Football Camp at Oxford Falls: The SPX Football Club will again be organising a two-day football camp during the Term 1 holidays. The camp will be run from 9.00am - 2.00pm on 17 and 18 April at Oxford Falls. Transport to and from the College will be available.
The camp will be run by professional coaches under the direction of Chris Semaan and suits all age groups from Years 5-10. We particularly encourage some of the older boys to come along and get ready for the ISA season starting in Term 2.
Trybooking details are https://www.trybooking.com/UPLP
Ms Christeen Berte - Football Club President
NSTA Tennis: Information can be found on the Senior Sport page.
Mrs Sam Iwatani - NSTA Convenor